Upcoming Events

· April 30, 2011 – Million Trees Day - MillionTreesNYC will continue host two large-scale volunteer planting days this year (Citywide). For more info please visit: www.milliontreesnyc.org

· May 7, 2011 – Udall’s Cove Park Ravine is hosting an annual Wetland Clean UP (local event) for more info please visit: www.littleneck.net/udallscove/cleanup.htm

· May 21, 2011 - It's My Park Day (Citywide) For more info please visit: www.itsmyparkday.org and call 718-520-5948

GOING GREEN IN QUEENS
On Saturday, March 26th the Al Oerter Recreation Center at 131-40 Fowler Avenue in Flushing is hosting a greening, education and networking conference. There will be giveaways, food, exhibits and you can tour the new pool building. For information call 718 341-1395 or visit www.goinggreeninqueens2011.eventbrite.com. Free parking is available.

CON EDISON
Con Edison customers can apply to schedule a home energy survey. For $50.00 an energy professional will evaluate lighting, heating and cooling equipment and appliances and offer suggestions to save energy and money and provide free energy-savings items including compact florescent bulbs, power strips and will make minor repairs. Call 800-430-9505 for more info or go on line at www. ConEd.com/home.

THINK SUMMER
The Dept. of Parks and Recreation is starting recruitment efforts for lifeguards. Qualifying tests for entry is being offered at locations around the City. Visit the website www.nyc.gov/parks for locations or email lifeguard@parks.nyc.gov for more information. Training is free and lifeguards will earn at least $13.57 an hour.

TAXI, TAXI!!!
The Taxi and Limousine Commission have introduced a new proposal to allow a new category of livery cars to make on-street pickups outside of Manhattan, just like yellow cabs do. TLC would like to hear from the public about what they think about this new proposal for taxis and car service. The online survey is available at www.nyc.gov/tlc.

WHAT DO YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT?
For the first six months of this fiscal year, July, 2010 through January, 2011 the most service requests received by 3-1-1 from CB 11 residents were complaints to the Dept. of Parks, 3,557 in total. All but 68 were requests for pruning and maintenance of damaged or dead trees and for root damage to sidewalks and for new trees. The second most number of complaints are directed to the NYPD for blocked driveways (384) and illegal parking (362) and noise (253). The Dept. of Transportation comes in at number 3 with 993 for various conditions, from street sign damage to street, sidewalk and curb conditions. The Department of Environmental Protection numbers are counted separately. In December they clocked in 281 calls, with the most being for leaks, catch basin clogged or flooded and sewer back- ups. Based on service request statistics from3-1-1 you will be pleased to know that residents of CB 11 in Queens have a lot less to complain about than all other district in the City (except 2 in Brooklyn and 2 in Manhattan). So, what’s your complaint?

READY NEW YORK
The American Red Cross offers free presentations to civic groups, schools, non-profit agencies, government agencies and other community organizations. Ready New York is a free 30 minute emergency preparedness presentation. Participants receive an interactive CD Rom that can be used to create a customized evacuation plan. They also have programs for children on various health and safety behaviors, such as hand washing, first aid and water hazards. If your group is interested, contact the Queens office of the Red Cross at 718 558-0053. Please notify them about a month before the scheduled event.

FAMILY RESOURCE DAY
On March 19th from 11 am -3 pm the Queens Library in Flushing is hosting Family Resource Day. Representatives from a variety of community groups will be available to provide information about summer camps, child care programs and educational resources. For more information call 888-469-5999 or visit www.nychildcareconsortium.org.

CITY BUDGET
The Mayor’s FY 2012 Preliminary Budget was presented on February 17th. All the budget documents are available on-line at the Office of Management and Budget website, www.nyc.gov/omb. These documents include the “Community Board’s Register of Community Board Budget Requests” and the agencies’ responses to the Board’s requests for capital and expense budget requests in our community.

Every one had a good time at the wine party, The orderves were good, the wine was great. We are all looking forward to the 2011 Wine Tasting party!