Cleaning up without city help

Residents on one block in southeast Queens couldn’t wait for city crews to come and clean up the uprooted trees on their street. Within hours, the three downed trees on their block were chopped up and tied up into neat bunches – the only thing left on the street: sawdust.
Councilmember Ruben Wills said the residents on Pinegrove Street (between Lakewood and 107th Streets) in his district took the initiative to chop the trees and clean up their block before cleaning crews made their way to the street.
Wills said he was going to give those residents a citation for their efforts.
The goodwill didn’t stop there.
Local restaurants came together and donated a hot meal for evacuees at York College, who were left with canned food and whatever provisions provided by the city’s evacuation center.
“It wasn’t what people wanted,” said Wills.
Eateries like the Rib Shack on Linden Boulevard donated some of their classic soul food and Sangria’s, a Spanish and Portuguese restaurant in Jamaica donated a tray of penne a la vodka.
“I was born and raised in Jamaica,” said Joey Oliveira, owner of Sangria’s. “So it’s good to help out.”