NEWS YOU CAN USE
Lane closures on approach to GW Bridge
Beginning April 15, three of the four upper level approach lanes to the George Washington Bridge will be closed during weekend overnight hours until August.
From 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday, the lanes will be closed.
Two lower level westbound lanes on the Trans-Manhattan Expressway will also be closed during these times through July.
These projects are part of the Port Authority’s capital investment in the bridge helping to ensure safe and efficient travel and keep it in a state of good repair.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
The Whitestone Volunteer Ambulance is holding a family fundraising breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, April 17.
The fundraiser is being held at Dabby’s in Whitestone from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The fundraiser costs $10 and includes tattoos, face painting, balloon animals, a picture with the Easter Bunny, an Easter egg hunt, raffles, prizes, bagels, cupcakes and juice.
For more information call Devon at 718-757-8546.
Fundraiser to help libraries
A fundraiser to help save local libraries will take place on Sunday, April 17 at the Nueves Tapas Lounge in Elmhurst.
The event is being presented by Councilmember Julissa Ferreras and sponsored by the Corona Barbershop Plus.
There is a $10 minimum donation at the door and a donation of three books comes with a free drink.
J Train Suspended
Planned work on the J train this weekend has been suspended due to reports of inclement weather.
Gas Prices approach $4
Gas prices in New York City are averaging $3.99 per gallon as of Sunday, April 11, a ten cent rise from week ago, according to gasbuddy.com.
Nationally the average is $3.75 per gallon.
The city’s average gas price is a dollar per gallon higher than at the same time a year ago and has risen 20 cents in a month.
Lane closure on RFK Bridge ramp
Beginning Monday, April 11, the left lane will be closed on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge’s Queens to Manhattan ramp and the closure will last until late fall.
The several months long, round the clock closure is necessary while old concrete is drilled and removed, repairs are made to steel rebar and a new roadway deck is installed, said the MTA.
In addition to the concrete work, contractors will be cleaning and replacing existing steel rebar as needed and repairing roadway joints.
The work involves about 1,200 feet of roadway and should only impact traffic minimally with traffic being reopened after the work zone, said the MTA.
Tax Day April 18
Due to a legal holiday in the District of Columbia the deadline for filing taxes this year is April 18, not April 15.
Also, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has released a video “Avoiding Common Income Tax Error.” The video provides tips on identifying and avoiding common errors on tax returns that can delay your return and refund.
The video is available at https://www.youtube.com/user/NYSTaxDepartment#p/u/0/E-MVjnCE5gE
No. 7 subway weekend work scheduled
Due to switch replacement work, the No. 7 line will be out of service between the Mets-Willets Point and Flushing-Main Street stations during four weekends over the next two months, the MTA announced.
The No. 7 line will not be running between the times of 4 a.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday on the weekends of March 26 – 27, April 2 – 3, April 16 – 17 and May 14 – 15.
Free shuttle buses will be available to carry passengers between the Mets-Willets Point and Flushing-Main Street stations on these weekends.
Also, from March 23 to May 13, the last Manhattan-bound express train will leave Flushing-Main Street at 9 a.m. rather 9:55 a.m.
Transit personnel will be on hand during the weekends to provide assistance for those using the shuttle buses.
The No.7 line was also out of service on the weekend of March 11 due to heavy rains on the night before that damaged the signal system in the tunnel.
For more information, visit www.mta.info and click on “Planned Service Changes.”
