Queens Chronicle Back to School 09-03-2020

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Back To School & Fall Guide 2020

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• Queens’ new schools and new seats. . . . . .4 • Helping children cope with the stress . . . . .6 • How private schools are managing . . . . . . .8 • College student recruiting goes virtual. . . . .9 • Living on campus in Queens today . . . . . . 10 • College contingency plans for COVID . . . . 12

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COVID delays? SCA’s got it covered

by Michael Gannon

The agency also recently inspected ventilation systems in 1,500 buildings to assist the Planning for and creating new school seats is Department of Education in determining which a 12-month-a-year process in New York City. rooms are safe for occupancy when schools Doing it in Queens, the most overcrowded bor- reopen.

And while Grodenchik had the same conough in the city, also is a never-ending process.

Doing so with the COVID-19 outbreak cerns as everyone else as the schools begin to wreaking havoc with construction schedules and reopen, he told the Chronicle that completed September deadlines adds exponentially to the projects are not one of them after a telephone headaches, but the borough is getting more than conversation with Grillo last week.

“I’m told the buildings will be ready,” said 1,500 additional seats as buildings open up Grodenchik. beginning next week.

The good news is spread throughout Queens.

“This month will mark the opening of five In College Point, PS 129, the Patricia Larkin new schools and three 3K centers in Queens,” said Lorraine Grillo, commissioner of the city’s School, is getting an addition with approximateDepartment of Design and Construction and ly 549 seats. An extension at PS 143, the Louis president and CEO of the School Construction Armstrong School in Corona, will add 980.

The addition at PS/IS 128, Authority, in an email to the the Lorraine Tuzzo Juniper Chronicle.

Valley Elementary School in “These projects will open Middle Village, will host on time despite facing the more than 400 students. The extraordinary challenge of new PS 256 annex in the being paused for weeks and Rockaways will cater to 132. then accelerated to compleIn Grodenchik’s district, tion while maintaining our the city is leasing the St. rigorous safety and new New building Robert Bellarmine School in social distancing protocols,” projects Bayside and the Our Lady of Grillo added. “We’re adding Lourdes School in Queens nearly 5,400 new seats Village, with more than 700 throughout the City. This is seats combined. The city also a remarkable accomplishis in the process of renovatment given this year’s unprecedented circumstances. At a time when ing the former Eagle Academy Charter School our kids needed these seats more than ever, the site at 207-01 Jamaica Avenue in Queens Village SCA was able to deliver. It’s a triumph for the with more then 120 slots.

A member of the Council’s Education ComSCA, but most importantly for our kids and mittee, Grodenchik said the SCA handled the families.”

Councilman Barry Grodenchik (D-Oakland last few months with the perfect combination of Gardens) knew back in the spring that his dis- professionalism and creativity.

“Lorraine Grillo is one of the best commistrict was due for nearly 900 new seats through the leasing of existing buildings, two of which sioners we have,” Grodenchik said. “The SCA are recently closed schools owned by the Roman decided to concentrate only on projects that could realistically impact the 2020-21 school Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens.

On top of that, the SCA has also played a year.”

An example Grodenchik gave was the ongomajor role in the city’s efforts to find sites for school social distancing and the mayor’s initia- ing addition at Benjamin N. Cardozzo High tive to provide childcare for 100,000 children, School in Bayside, a major undertaking.

“That is about 800 seats,” Grodenchik said. known as Learning Bridges.

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The St. Robert Bellarmine School in Bayside, shown under renovation, will be known as PS 361 PHOTO BY KATHERINE DONLEVY to its 292 new students.

More than 400 students will be served by the new expansion of the PS/IS 128, the Lorraine PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON Tuzzo Juniper Valley Elementary School in Middle Village.

“But it’s not opening until 2022.”

He said the outreach to the Diocese of Brooklyn addressed many needs. He credited one of his own staffers for advocating the former Eagle Academy building, which has been talked about for years in discussions of new city or charter school space.

“He pushed for it and the city got it.”

Our Lady of Lourdes, the former Eagle Academy building and the refurbished city school on 222nd Street in Queens Village all will serve as new 3K sites when opened.

The leased buildings have been undergoing renovations to bring them up to date. Of course, being Queens, Grodenchik also said students could probably have filled 2,000 or more seats if they were ready available.

“I think so,” he said.

But he added that the SCA’s creativity with outreach, leasing and coordination of its resources — at least in his district — worked out for his constituents in a timely fashion.

“For less than the cost of a new school, my district is getting more than 800 seats.”

Construction workers on Tuesday were applying some of the finishing touches to a new 3K facility on Jamaica Avenue in Queens Village.

The Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Queens Village will be opening up to 3K students, one of three new sites for the youngsters in Eastern Queens.

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Coping with back-to-school stress

by Katherine Donlevy

“Those demands of that extra attention and self-control and organiKids should be heading back to zational skills, those are real chalschool in just a few days and the situ- lenges,” said Roderick, noting that the ation looks a little different for every- comfortable environment of the home one. Many will be returning to the and not having a teacher standing in classroom part time on a rotating front of a student could make it diffischedule, but will be asked to wear cult for a youngster to stay connected masks all day and keep at least 6-feet mentally while connected virtually. apart from all their friends, while othAnother significant stressor for ers will tune in each day from the those getting their education from kitchen table, a situation they got a home is the sense of isolation that taste of in the final months of the last comes with it. School provides daily school year. Some children, but not socialization for students that can’t be those attending regular public school, replicated by virtual learning. will go full time to their private or “Young people benefit tremenparochial academies. dously from the opportunities to The unprecedented experience for spend time with their peers. It’s an this academic year presents unique important aspect to healthy developchallenges for kids. Children heading ment, and learning that becomes difback to school may be confronted by ficult with the virtual learning experistressors they have yet had to deal ences,” said Roderick. with, regardless of which of the three Despite the unprecedented chalfashions by which they are receiving lenges, Roderick stated that there is a an education this year. plethora of coping mechanisms to For those returning to the class- relieve stress and anxiety caused by Whether it be for in-person instruction, remote learning or a hybrid of the two, children are headed back to school in room, whet her the new school just a few days for the 20-21 academic year, and the unprecedented times could come at the cost of substantial part time or full year: PHOTOS BY STEVE FISHER, ABOVE, AND ANTHONY O’REILLY, BELOW LEFT stressors and anxieties for many students. time, the risk of • construct and contracting the • dedicate time to relaxation and toward adults, and explained that it’s ing skills will help children rise to maintain a daily virus may be a routine, including to evaluate one’s feelings and stress equally important for parents to take the challenge. tremendous fear, “That’s the emotional intellicare of themselves during these wakeup and bed- levels; and said Dr. Helena • seek professional assistance if times so that they can adequately be gence piece. It’s so important to times, as well as Roderick, a child Challenges with paus e, r ef le ct , id ent i f y you r time frames dedi- the stress becomes too much to deal there for their kids. psychologist at “Parents’ own mental wellbeing thoughts, feelings, actions, and cated to school with on one’s own. in-person and Northwell Health Roderick noted that parents can has a tremendous impact on their manage those difficult feelings as work, fun activiZucker Hillside remote learning take a variety of steps to ease their children,” said Roderick. “Adult best you can,” she said. ties and meals; Hospital in Glen “Mental health concerns are • stay physical- children’s anxiety for returning to caregivers need to prioritize their Oaks. Children ly active, even if the classroom, such as encouraging own self-care. They need to allocate common in our country today, even leaving the safety it’s just a walk to their kids to communicate their their energy and resources, such as before the pandemic,” Roderick of their homes their own adult social support, and continued, adding that about one in the park or around concerns. and entering a higher-risk situation the neighborhood; “Having a kid-friendly conversa- find activities that restore them, five children experience a mental may experience a level of anxiety that • set up time to socialize with tion in a way that makes sense to whether through exercise, reading disorder, such as anxiety or ADHD, can only be quelled by taking the friends by utilizing FaceTime and them so they walk in feeling kind of medication, healthy diet and rest.” but only approximately 20 percent necessary precautions to prevent ill- other virtual connection mechanisms; empowered,” she said. “I’d encourThe best way to get through the of those affected receive mental ness, such as wearing masks, practic• look into picking up a new hobby, age the parents to talk honestly, but challenging times ahead is by high- healthcare. “We can hope someing social distancing and properly such as dance, artistic expression, cre- to reassure them about the issues lighting the positives and focusing thing good comes from these chalhand washing. on the bright side. Taking time to lenging times — to shine this light ative writing, reading, board games, they’re concerned about.”

While the fear of getting sick from exercise or other outlets for recreRoderick noted that in times of refuel one’s mental tank, find reas- on mental health concer ns on classmates during a pandemic may be ational relief; uncertainty and stress, children look surance and develop emotional cop- young people.” an obvious stressor, the uncertainty of the school year is a more subtle one.

“We’re living in a situation none of us ever experienced before,” said Roderick. “A huge challenge is the uncertainty ... even if kids know today that the plan is to go back to school, we’ve seen that those plans can be modified and things change at a rapid rate.”

The only certainty is the presence of uncertainty, Roderick explained, and that the privilege of receiving an education inside a classroom is fragile. Cases could rise just weeks into the academic year, forcing all students to return to the virtual model.

For those already opting to learn remotely, a substantial source of stress could result from the extra responsibility to stay attentive Some kids are headed back to the classroom full time, or for a few days of the week, left, while others have opted to receive their education entirely from through the computer. the comfort and safety of their own home via virtual learning, right.

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Private schools adapting to COVID

by David Russell

ly packaged, though children will not eat in the cafeteria to avoid congregation and crowding The Kew-Forest School has around 225 stu- issues.

“We cannot deliver food that way at the curdents, about 25 fewer than usual, but Head of School Carla MacMullen believes the number rent time,” MacMullen said.

All extra furniture in each classroom will will increase in the coming weeks as students and parents may have concerns about public be stored in order to provide the maximum amount of usable space. school reopenings.

“It’s been a project,” MacMullen said. “I “I think that will happen and I have already seen it happen to a slight degree,” she told the think that we as a small school have the ability to really move and pivot quickly, which I’m Chronicle last Friday.

MacMullen said the small school, which grateful for.”

Schools have been adapting to a situation serves children in prekindergarten through 12th grade, might manage a remote environ- that few could have foreseen at the beginning of the year. ment better than a public school.

“We’re doing it and we’re going to make it “I’m not sure the public schools are able to work but if you step back and think did we carry that off as well as we could,” she said.

Because of space and adherence to social ever imagine that this would be the case, most distancing precautions, not all the students can of us would say no ... people would have been incredulous,” MacMullen said. be in the building at the same time.

She said many schools are seeing fluctuat“We prioritized our youngest students because in-person learning for them is so ing enrollment rates because of families that much more crucial than it is for our older have left the area and the financial impact of the shutdown on people’s kids,” MacMullen said. income.

Pre-K through f ifthThere has been a grade students will all be decrease in interest for preo n - s it e fo r i n - p e r s o n school programs. classes.

“I think that families in a Sixth- and seventh-gradtime like this, if they have ers will be in the school A new reality something else available for five days per week but the their children, whether it’s classes will be in-person for private in-home care or day care, only half of the time, with education they’re going to stay in that the other half delivered place they know well,” Macremotely via Zoom or Mullen said. streaming.

She said the school’s She said parents of sixthremote learning went well and seventh-grade students may not feel comfortable having students by in the spring, something she expects to continthemselves at home and that they are pleased ue, though there is an eye on a possible second wave of COVID. that their children will be in the building.

“We are excited but we are mindful and “For a lot of parents that has been a blessing,” MacMullen said. “They are happy that watchful of what’s going to happen in the city their children will be at school, there will be and the state,” MacMullen said, adding that if the rate goes up it means the school would some socialization going on at a distance.”

Eighth- through 12th-grade students will have to make more changes.

Another private school adapting is the Lawattend in a hybrid schedule that alternates by week. Half the students will attend in-person rence Woodmere Academy on Long Island, a while the other half are at home and vice versa. few miles from Queens.

Parents, students and staff will fill out an Lunch will be served, with food individual-

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School

Private schools are adjusting to classes during the coronavirus with socially distanced desks, face masks and other changes. online questionnaire before the school year begins. There will be new drop-off regulations and a temperature check prior to entering the school.

Face masks and distanced desks will be implemented and there will be tents for an outdoor learning environment as well as outdoor eating.

“They’ll have to bring their own lunches here, which is new to our school,” said Head of School Brian O’Connell.

Band, chorus and physical education classes will be outside as much as possible.

Classes can be in-person or remote but teachers are planning as if they will be teaching remotely even in class.

“The kids who are at home can be socially integrated with their brick-and-mortar peers here on campus,” O’Connell said.

The school’s slogan is “At home with the world,” and it serves students from all over the globe, including Israel, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Spain, Italy and China.

The school is offering core courses, art each

day, Mandarin as a world language for kindergarten through seventh-grade students and coding classes.

There is also a period every Friday combining social and emotional learning activities, wellness and civics as well as trying to raise awareness about bias in the world.

“We want to make bet ter people,” O’Connell said.

In addition to science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes, the school is proud of its arts programs.

In fact, Andrew Feldman, a 4.0 student, performed as the lead on Broadway in “Dear Evan Hansen” in 2019.

The school, which has classes for students in pre-K through 12th grade, has 140 students enrolled. O’Connell said the number is going up and there has been a 50 percent increase in inquiries for students in lower grades.

“Lower schoolchildren need to be in school.

Obviously, everyone needs to be safe,” he said, adding, “It’s very difficult to teach your children at the kitchen table.”

The Lawrence Woodmere Academy is implementing face masks and spread-out desks for the school year. The LWA has 140 students enrolled, though the head of school said the number is going up. Meanwhile, the Kew-Forest School is below its usual student size but Head of School Carla MacMullen believes there may be more interest if there is growing concern about the reopening of PHOTOS COURTESY KEW-FOREST SCHOOL, LEFT, AND LAWRENCE WOODMERE ACADEMY public schools in the city.

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Queensborough Community College has shifted tours and information sessions for prospective FILE PHOTO students to a virtual setting. ing, with many com ing from pr ivate institutions.

Sept. 1 was the last day QCC is accepting students for the fall as the focus shifts to processing spring applications.

Di Dio said it wouldn’t be fair to allow more

School

students now because they would be coming in too late and national data shows students don’t do as well when they start after the first week.

“We want to set our students up for success.

We really don’t want to go past that first week,” he said.

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schools that bears the borough’s name, there are several others here, from LaGuardia ComQueens College has once again been named munity College in Long Island City to York one of the country’s best institutions for under- College in Jamaica, each with its own admisgraduate education by the Princeton Review — sions processes that can be found online.

Queensborough Community College is for the 29th time. The school has made it into every edition since the guide was first pub- another school that shifted tours and information sessions to a virtual environment for prolished in 1992.

So what happens to high school students in spective students.

Stephen Di Dio, executive director of marthe age of the coronavirus who are thinking keting and communications, noted that junior about attending the celebrated school?

Student visits and parent information ses- college students tend to walk in and apply on sions are virtual for the fall semester at Queens the spot as the school offers same-day decisions on the spot.

College and other borough schools.

“We’ve really had to reimagine every single “It’s a new experience but this way our prospective students, rising seniors that will be thing that we do,” he said.

The semester started Aug. 26 and the school starting their senior year, could actually talk and engage a current student, which is one of received an unusually high number of last-minthe advantages of the campus tour,” said Rich- ute inquiries.

“Our admissions counselors were working ard Alvarez, vice president for enrollment and student retention and former president of the all weekend to process students,” Di Dio said, New York State Association for College adding that they have been basically working around the clock to recreate in-person Admission Counseling.

He said the virtual tours have received posi- experiences.

He said the school is seeing more students tive feedback.

“I give credit to high school students,” Alva- who started at a four-year school coming to rez said. “They had to pivot to virtual education QCC because they don’t want to lose progress in their respective high schools at the same time on completing their degree, so they go to the that the rest of the world did and they appear to two-year school for general courses and continue to earn college credits. be well-adjusted.”

“It’s two-fold,” Di Dio He said high school said. “I think that they are juniors he has heard from not comfortable traveling have a positive outlook on and also there is a signifithings. cant expense.”

“They are optimistic He added that some stuwhen they start college a Recruiting dents are even coming from year from now that life will area private schools to save be a little bit different than it goes money and others who will is today,” Alvarez said. “I online enroll at the Bayside college hope that optimism continin the spring so they are not ues and we can get there.” out of school for a year.

However, Alvarez admitStudents might have rested there are questions about ervations about going to colhow things will change as a part of the school experience is forging a sense lege as an uncertain job environment awaits of community and close social relations, them but Di Dio said nine of 10 QCC students though he doesn’t envision that the next five graduate without student loan debt and there is also a coronavirus community fund. years will be spent in a virtual world.

“The financial burden, the financial “How do we deal with wanting the students to have that experience and develop but how do aspect, we’re doing our best to be able to take we do it in a post-COVID world?” he said. care of that so finances are not a barrier for “And we still don’t know what that’s going to students who are looking to build their skills and their resumes to either go and transfer to look like.”

Fortunately, the application process for a four-year institution or gain the technical admissions has been virtual for years. Alvarez skills and knowledge to go into the workalso noted schools are making the SAT option- force,” Di Dio said.

The school is working to connect students al, which he said means a “more holistic with career counseling, resume building and review” of a student.

“Grades in high school courses continue to internship opportunities.

And there are mental-health services as well. be the best predictor of how they succeed in “In this environment, we’re trying to not college,” Alvarez said.

Queens College saw a 30 percent increase in only support the academic needs of students summer enrollment and Alvarez believes each but we’re trying to support the emotional and institution offering a specific type of education mental-health needs of students as well,” Di will still offer the same kind of attractiveness, Dio said.

Remote services include students being able especially with CUNY and SUNY being reato have a Zoom meeting or text a counselor. sonably affordable.

Alvarez said a bigger concern is that the “That’s something new and it’s very relevant to number of high school graduates is projected to the time,” Di Dio said.

He said it is difficult to tell if enrollment is decrease in the next decade, meaning more up or down this early in the semester but sumcompetition among colleges.

Though Queens College is one of two mer enrollment at the school was record-break-

by David Russell

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, September 3, 2020

Colleges changing to virtual reality

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, September 3, 2020 Page 10

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How COVID reshaped Queens Colleges

by Max Parrott

in your dorm room area, so that’s kind of different. So it’s harder to meet new people. So you’re As college life has resumed on campuses kind of — not trapped — but enclosed to your around Queens for the fall semester, students roommates in your suite,” Mansfield said.

After a week of classes, Raquel Ringgold a report that even in the one open campus in the borough, university life continues to be trans- graduate student working toward a masters of business administration after finishing her formed by the coronavirus.

As became clear this summer, the reopening undergraduate requirements in three years at St. John’s last spring, still plans would be starkly hadn’t been to campus yet, divided between the CUNY but she’d heard what it was system and St. John’s Unilike from her friends. versity, Queens’ largest pri“It’s definitely not the vate school, which was the hangout spot. Normally peoonly institution here to open ple would get food on camits residence halls back up pus, and meet up with to students.

Campus gets friends but now you’re Most CUNY classes are almost strictly coming to complicated almost exclusively online. learn or for classes,” said Queens College, the largest Ringgold.

CUNY campus in the borRinggold added that it’s ough, for instance, has 99 remained a challenge for her percent remote learning this semester. Its one dormitory that remains open sorority. Now that she’s a graduate student she’s had stayed open throughout the entire pandem- not directly involved in the organization, but her ic for students who had no other housing senior sorority sisters are holding their meetings over Zoom and figuring out service projects that options to turn to.

St. John’s, on the other hand, has opened its they can do remotely.

Kathryn Ruiz, a sophomore planning to doors even to first-year students who will be experiencing their first taste of college life major in government and politics, is also under a new pandemic-resistant arrangement. involved in Greek life. She told the Chronicle Though all of the city’s COVID infections that she had recently been initiated into her sorority over Zoom. remain low, the choice to “That was just all online venture out into a college and it was interesting how campus remains a gamble in they had made a whole preother ways. sentation for us so that we Aidan Mansfield, a firstwould be able to follow year resident student who along, a nd t hey really just moved onto campus last worked hard on it. But that’s weekend, said he was set on never been done before,” dorming because he wanted Ruiz said. the full college experience.

Ruiz’s one on-campus He wanted to immerse himself in the area, and explore a Raquel Ringgold, class ironically enough was on infectious diseases, a life outside of his home in St. John’s graduate student choice that she made back in Scarsdale.

January before COVID had One week into classes, he said he’s happy with his living arrangement, spread its way into American life.

She and Ringgold agreed that this time but quickly realized that his life is going to revolve around his new suite-mates for the around their professors seemed to be perfecting their online instruction coming year.

“For dorms in general, there are far less peo- practices after being sudple. And you’re not allowed to have any guests denly thrown into the fray

School

“

It’s definitely not the hangout spot.

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”

St. John’s has rearranged many of its common spaces to reduce the threat of infection.

St. John’s University has opened its campus back up to students, including its dormitories but not without transformative changes to how students interact with one another, including a rule PHOTOS COURTESY ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY that requires masks both indoors and outdoors. during the spring semester.

When Ringgold tunes into a hybrid class during the days when her section is online, she notices her professors are mindful about where they stand and how they’re addressing the camera broadcasting the video. Ruiz said that one professor projects comments from the remote students onto the board, so the in-person students can relay any concerns or confusion to the teacher.

It’s not just the hybrid instruction that professors are improving, it’s also the technical details of remote learning. York College student Angel Aguire said that his professors had experimented on online platforms like Dischord that faciliatated conversation among students more easily.

As far as remote instruction is concerned at Queens College, Student Association President Zaire Couloute said the online learning hadn’t changed much from the spring and summer,

but she hadn’t heard from any of the lab students who were going onto campus.

“I’m basically getting the same good and bad reviews about it,” Couloute said.

Some students relish the opportunity to work from home, while others, especially those who are studying from a bustling household, report the obstacles of loud family members and lack of privacy.

One change for the Queens College students who live in proximity of campus and need a reprieve from background noise is the reopening of the campus library for students.

Despite the college’s transition to majority remote learning, like St. John’s University, student groups have tried to maintain the college’s sense of culture. They are planning on holding a Zoom-based fair for campus clubs.

“I am happy to be back, but from a selfish perspective, I miss the campus life,” Couloute said.

Student Association President Zaire Couloute at Queens College said that she was getting many of the same reviews PHOTO BY MAX PARROTT of online instruction in the fall that she was getting in the spring.

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A backup plan for Queens colleges

by Max Parrott

it, get ahead of it,” Cuomo said in a written press release.

By Sunday Cuomo proved that he As colleges across the country have begun to report major COVID-19 spikes means business. He announced that he in recent weeks as dorms have reopened would be shutting down SUNY Oneonta and classes have started, with some and deploying a SWAT team to contain exceptions, New York City’s numbers infection after an outbreak that infected more than 100 students and faculty remain low so far.

That doesn’t mean that the state is not members.

If clusters of positive cases emerge on preparing for worst-case scenarios as uniparticular areas of a versity and college camcampus that remain puses open across the below 5 percent or st ate. Gov. C uomo under 100 students, but announced last Thursstrain the college’s abiliday that colleges and ty to isolate and contact universities in New trace, it must return to a York will be forced into distance lear ning remote learning for at Cuomo model, with limited onleast t wo weeks if campus activity. enough people test posisets COVID As it per tains to tive for COVID-19. threshold Queens colleges, St. Cuomo set the John’s University has threshold at more than the most to cope with, 100 positive coronavias it is the only college rus cases or an outbreak equal to 5 percent of the population. If the in the borough with a significant number of infection rate on any college campus dormitories open to students.

That being the case, as of the first day of exceeds one of those parameters, it would be forced to temporarily cancel in-person classes last Tuesday, York College was reported to have six cases, the highest classes over a two-week period.

“We should anticipate clusters and number of cases of any school in Queens. that’s what we’re seeing. Be prepared for The only other CUNY institution in

School

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Queens to report any cases was Queensborough Community College with three cases, according to a college campus COVID tracker that The New York Times set up.

St. John’s, on the other hand, did report its first case within its Queens campus community on Sunday, Aug. 23, according to the university website’s Reported Cases landing page.

As of Aug. 30, the number of individuals who had tested positive expanded to six active cases, but the latest update did not specify how many of those were within the campus community.

The university reported that on Aug. 28 it would undertake COVID-19 testing of a sample of commuter students, and would report the results of those tests as soon as they are available.

In addition to transforming its campus to facilitate social distancing, St. John’s has set out precautions that involve contact tracing, a daily online self-monitoring questionnaire, and a rule making masks mandatory inside and outside on campus.

Queens College, which has not reported any cases yet, has made 99 percent of its courses and services online for the fall semester, according to its website. To obtain permission to come to campus, students and staff must request access from the administration.

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Gov. Cuomo announced that colleges and universities in New York will be forced into remote learning for at least two weeks if enough people test positive for COVID. Less than a week later he shut down SUNY Oneonta for at least FILE PHOTO two weeks.

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by Michael Gannon

river from Peekskill in Westchester County though Putnam County just across the river State parks are open, and with fall right from West Point, and wending its way to Beaaround the corner, any one of a dozen or more a con in Dutchess County. It is open from 9 a.m. short drive from New York City in the Hudson to 6 p.m. and its concessions are open..

Hudson Highlands’ website of the 8,000-acre Valley can be just the cure for people and families looking for the farthest thing they can find park says its “extensive hiking trail network contains terrain that varies from easy to chalfrom being stuck in their homes.

Or they can present an opportunity to experi- lenging.” One trail, Breakneck Ridge, is 5.5 ence a wholly different —and far more pleasant miles long and rises 1,250 feet over a stretch of — definition of isolation than Queens residents just 3/4 of a mile.

The website also posts a suggested checklist have been forced to grow accustomed to in for proper clothing and equipment and reminds recent months.

Some parks do have closures of certain hikers to choose a trail suited to their abilities.

But it also says the park also is hospitable for areas, and most have parking and capacity restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 precau- activities from bird watching to boating.

Its address is 3260 NY-9D in Cold Spring. tions. Many tend to fill up fast by late morning and close to incoming traffic early. Masks and The park’s website is parks.ny.gov/parks/9/ details.aspx, and the phone number is (845) social distancing are required.

But hikers, campers, cyclists and those just 225-7207.

Where to start with the Walkway Over the looking to get away can call ahead to individual parks or check out opportunities, links to indi- Hudson State Historic Park, located in Highvidual parks and directions online at parks.ny. land in Ulster County?

T he second-longest gov or travelhudsonvalley. pedestrian bridge in the com to f ind someplace world at 6,768 feet crosses ready to welcome them. the Hudson River between Historic Bear Mountain Poughkeepsie and Highland.

State Park, founded in 1913, The cantilever deck steel is on Route 9W North, truss span was built as a raillocated on the western bank road bridge in 1889 and of the Hudson River in Hudson Valley functioned as one until 1974.

Rockland and Orange counday trips The pedestrian and bicyties. It has more than 5,200 cle path — and an acres of opportunity for bikunmatched, 360-degree view ing, hiking trails, camping of the Hudson Valley — and picnicking. The boat opened in 2009. It connects launches also are open the Hudson Valley Trail in Its pool is closed for the season, as is the merry-go-round and the trail Highland with the Dutchess Rail Trail. It is up to the top of the mountain. Also temporarily open weather permitting.

The park is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. closed are the Bear Mountain Inn Restaurant & until Sept. 7, when it closes at 7:15 p.m.

Cafe and the Bear Mountain Inn Spa. According to its website — walkway.org — Bear Mountain’s website can be found at parks.ny.gov/parks/13/details.aspx, and its the elevator is closed in consideration of the COVID-19 outbreak. phone number is (845) 786-2701.

Its address is 87 Haviland Road in Highland.

Hudson Highlands State Park is a non-contiguous park running on the east bank of the The phone number is (845) 834-2867.

Season

The Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park lets visitors cross over the river on a former railroad bridge that lends itself to fantastic views of the Hudson River Valley.

PHOTOS COURTESY NYS PARKS / PARKS.NY.GOV

Minnewaska State Park Preserve consists of more than 23,000 acres of wild and scenic land located on Route 44/55, five miles west of the intersection with Route 299 in Gardiner up in Ulster County.

The park’s website has said for the past week that Lake Minnewaska itself has been experiencing extensive congestion on good-weather days, as has Sam’s Point Preserve, the highest section in the Shawangunk Mountains.

Park officials encourage those interested in visiting to get there early as parking has been reduced by 50 percent because of construction and new entries are not permitted once the lots have filled to capacity. The Stony Kill Area and Foordmore areas are closed until further notice.

The park’s hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Gates close each evening to accommodate nighttime construction, so all visitors must be out of the park promptly by 7.

Further information is available on the park’s website at parks.ny.gov/parks/127, or by phone at (845) 255-0752.

For pure hiking enthusiasts, Blauvelt State Park in Rockland County is a rustic alternative.

The 590 acres of forest can be accessed only via hiking trains. The park’s website reminds hikers that it is underdeveloped — not a single restroom to be had and parking is limited. But the reward at the end of the hike is a spectacular view of the Hudson River from high on top of the west bank.

T he park’s website is parks.ny.gov/ parks/49/details.aspx. General information is available by phoning (845) 359-0544.

Harriman State Park in Ramapo is open in a limited capacity. At more than 47,000 acres, it is the second-largest park in the state system, sprawling across Rockland and Orange counties.

Hiker parking lots, boat launches, Lake Welch Beach and Lake Silvermine are open, though many facilities, including the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, remain closed.

The park has 31 lakes and reservoirs, 200 miles of hiking trails, beaches and public camping grounds.

Further information can be found online at parks/ny.gov/parks/harriman/details/aspx or by phone at (845) 947-2444.

Bring your good hiking boots — and your sense of wonder — to the many trails available at Hudson Highlands State Park.

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Bear Mountain has long been a favorite spot for hikers, picnickers and those just wanting to take in the breathtaking scenery in any season.

Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, September 3, 2020

Fun is just a walk in the parks

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, September 3, 2020 Page 14

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Taking advantage of outdoor fun

by Katherine Donlevy Cooler days and longer nights are quickly approaching, with the first day of autumn only three weeks away, and it seems like the city can’t reopen fast enough. Some institutions, such as bowling alleys, museums, aquariums and other low-risk cultural facilities, reopened their doors to the braver members of the public with plenty of precautions, such as capacity restrictions, limited hours and sanitary regulations. But where can those not ready to face the crowds in a pandemic turn for fun activities, especially in the short weeks before the chillier weather ushers them indoors?

Luckily there is a plethora of outdoor venues that have activities lined up to quench everyone’s desire for fun, and they can all be found in Queens.

participate in the seasonal Queens Night Market, which usually takes place in the NYSCI parking lot each summer, but was postponed due to the pandemic.

Art City parks were deemed essential early in the pandemic, so Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City never closed its gates. Instead, artists from the five-acre stretch of outdoor land along the East River adapted to the chaotic moment and produced the “Monuments Now” exhibition to reflect it.

The “Monuments Now” exhibition “seeks to address the role of monuments in society and commemorate underrepresented narratives such as diasporic, Indigenous, and queer histories,” the park said in a press release.

Movies The exhibition features three cumuFree Wednesday Movie Nights at the 2020 Queens Drive-In, an ongoing series initiated by lative parts: Part I was revealed in June, Socrates Sculpture Park’s “Monuments Now” exhibition features Jeffrey Gibson’s “Because Once You acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, and Parts II and III are scheduled to Enter My House It Becomes Our House,” above, and will unveil several more pieces in October. The will continue until Sept. 30 as an opportunity open on Oct. 10. All three parts will exhibit will remain on view through March. to visit the big screen while movie theaters in remain on view through March 2021.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT LYNCH, ABOVE; COURTESY QBP OFFICE, LEFT, BY VICTORIA ZUNITCH, CENTER, AND COURTESY NYC GREENMARKETS Socrates Sculpture Park is located at the city remain indefinitely closed.

The movie schedule includes “Wall-E” on 32-01 Vernon Blvd. and operates from 9 a.m. to tle Neck Pkwy. farm. Ticket prices vary Trails in Broad Channel, the Bayswater Park depending on a participant’s age and they are Hiking Trails in Rockaway and the Alley Pond Sept. 9, “The Farewell” on Sept. 16, “Iron sunset every day with free admission.

Trails in Oakland Gardens. available for purchase at queensfarm.org.

Man” on Sept. 23 and appropriately closes on Puzzles Sept. 30 with “Men in Black,” which was partFarmers markets Hiking The Queens County Farm in Floral Park is ly filmed in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens hosts eight Greenmarket locations With all the green space in Queens, it should hosting its annual Amazing where the series is being Maize Maze, but with a come as no surprise that the borough is home where New Yorkers can purchase fresh proscreened. duce directly from the regional and small famitwist — the 3-acre cornfield to a number of hiking trails. “ F lu sh i ng Me a d ows The Glendale side of Forest Park has three ly farmers who grow them. was crafted in the image of Corona Park is a vibrant While some of the markets do stay open on Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sun- trails of various difficulty levels, including the community hub that offers easy 1-mile-long Yellow Trail, the 1.7-mile- select days throughout the year, such as the flowers” masterpiece. a welcoming escape from To accommodate social long Blue Trail through a native hardwood for- Jackson Heights, Sunnyside and Forest Hills stress and anxiety,” Parks distancing guidelines, the est and kettle ponds, and the 2.4-mile long locations, the rest are closing before the end of Commissioner Mitchell SilFresh air November. paths inside the maze were Orange Trail along the perimeter of the forest. ver said in a statement activities The Corona Greenmarket, located at 103-28 Cunningham Park in Fresh Meadows boasts made wider than in previous an nou ncing the ser ies. years and par ticipants’ three miles of numerous unnamed trails Roosevelt Ave., operates Fridays until Nov. 27, “We’re proud to host this entries will be staggered. through a diverse ecosystem to support abun- while the Elmhurst Greenmarket at 80th Street exciting film series for Despite the slight changes, dant wildlife — “the parks’ Kettle Ponds fea- and 41st Avenue is open Tuesdays until Nov. Queens residents and famithe challenge will still ture the sounds of Spring Peepers and other 24. The Ridgewood market at Myrtle and lies to enjoy. include a preliminary Stalk species of frogs throughout the spring and Cypress avenues and the Ditmars Park FarmThough admission is free, pre-registration via queensdrivein.com is Talk with farm staff, and participants can still summer season,” the Parks Department lists on stand at 22-52 Steinway St. both operate Sundays and their last day will be Nov. 21. The required for each screening because space in enjoy finding clues, solving puzzles and figur- its website, nycgovparks.org.

Other hiking spots in the borough include Flushing Greenmarket, located at Maple Avethe Hall of Science parking lot is limited to ing their way out of the maze in the shortest the Willow Lake Hiking Trails in the Kew Gar- nue and Kissena Boulevard, will remain open amount of time. approximately 200 vehicles.

The adventure will run 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. dens Hills portion of Flushing Meadows Coro- Wednesdays until Nov. 25. All locations operAdditionally, moviegoers can contactlessly order food and beverages from vendors who from Sept. 18 through Oct. 30 at the 73-50 Lit- na Park, the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge ate from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Movies, such as “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” are being shown every Wednesday in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, left. Hiking trails, like the various ones found in Alley Pond, center, are open all year round, while some NYC Greenmarkets, right, will start shutting down locations at the end of November.

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Season is no battle of the star networks

by Lloyd Carroll COVID-19 has impacted all segments of life and its ugly effects will of course still be felt in the fall. Normally, the new television season aligns with the start of the new school year. But even as municipalities are wrestling with whether to open schools, TV network executives are grappling with how to provide fresh programming when the taping of new shows ceased because of the coronavirus.

The cable networks and the various streaming services seem to be positioned better than their venerable broadcast networks are with respect to fresh material. ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW all canceled their panels for the Television Critics Association summer tour. The Cable Television Association of Marketing, or CTAM, was able, however, to host a week of virtual Zoom confabs for the press with many of the cable networks and streaming services.

NBC tried to present its fall slate of shows by reuniting the cast of “30 Rock” for a mid-July special as a way for them to introduce the new shows to the public in an entertaining way.

Kenan Thompson, who has been the longesttenured cast member in the history of “Saturday Night Live,” was scheduled to star in his own sitcom with Don Johnson that was going to be simply titled “Kenan.” Thompson and Johnson bantered for two minutes through Skype before they admitted that production hasn’t begun because of COVID-19.

The only new show NBC, or any of the commercial broadcast networks, has lined up for the fall is a medical drama, “Transplant,” which must have been shot at least a year ago.

PBS does have an intriguing series scheduled for mid-October, “Generation Nation,” which looks at how different age groups look at life in our country.

Here is a look at what some of the cable networks and streaming services have in store for us:

the title role. The showrunners of “Genius: Aretha” told the press that five episodes are in the can but no timetable has been set for the remaining three.

AMC The network which has given us “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” is understandably looking for another tentpole series in the vein of those shows.

It may have found one with “Soulmates,” a show that looks at relationships in the age of computerization. Anyone who has even seen a commercial for eHarmony or Match.com has heard claims of how technology can help one’s love life. “Soulmates” asks the question, “Would you take a test and meet the person a computer thinks is perfect for you if you are already involved in a relationship?”

“Gangs of London,” a show about organized crime families in the UK, debuted on that country’s Sky Atlantic cable channel this past spring. Series creator and director Gareth Evans was reticent to cite “The Sopranos” as an influence but it sure looked like a British knockoff of it. Hey, that’s not a bad thing.

HBO If you want to see top entertainers portraying characters who discuss the issues of 2020 then you’ll enjoy “Coastal Elites.” Bette Midler, Issa Rae, Sarah Paulson and Dan Levy all play slightly neurotic characters speaking to the audience from their homes as the series will be produced through social distancing guidelines.

Showtime Showtime is set to debut “The Comey Rule,” its two-part dramatization on the up and ultimately down relationship between former FBI Director James Comey and President Trump, at the end of this month. Jeff Daniels portrays the somber Comey while Irish actor Brendan Gleeson plays the famous Fall TV Queens native currently Nat Geo preview residing at 1600 PennsylvaNat Geo, which is now nia Ave. owned by the Disney Corp., “The Circus,” Showwas originally a broadcast time’s must-watch Sunday extension of iconic National evening show for politics Geog raph ic Maga zi ne. fanatics, is back with new “Virus Hunters” returns the network to its magazine roots as correspon- episodes after it was put on hiatus, like nearly dents travel to remote corners of the world to everything else, when the pandemic struck. examine which animals are responsible for Court TV transmitting viruses to humans.

The network that cut its teeth with the OJ Host James Longman believes bats, which will always be associated with COVID-19, get Simpson trial 25 years ago and then faded a bad rap because the vast majority of the spe- after it was acquired by Time Warner (now cies are not venomous nor do they transmit Warner Media) is back under new ownership.

“Judgment,” hosted by former NBC News anything harmful to people.

When Aretha Franklin died two years ago it reporter Ashley Banfield, who is best rememwas inevitable Hollywood would delve into her bered for her work during the Gulf War in life. Jennifer Holliday is portraying her in a 1991, anchors a series about grisly crimes and movie named after her most recognizable hit, the pursuit of justice. How this will differ from NBC’s “Dateline,” CBS’s “48 Hours,” Oxy“Respect.”

Not to be outdone, Nat Geo is having an gen’s “Snapped” or anything you will ever see eight-part dramatization about the Queen of on Discovery Network’s ID channel is to be Soul, “Genius: Aretha,” with Cynthia Erivo in seen.

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Glenn Howerton, center, stars in Peacock’s “A.P. Bio” as Toledo high school teacher Jack Griffin.

IMAGE COURTESY PEACOCK

Netflix Streaming services have certainly benefitted from COVID-19 as the demand for home entertainment has grown exponentially. They were doing well even before the pandemic as more and more consumers have been ditching cable for other options such as Roku.

Since we’re talking about streaming services let’s start with the industry leader, Netflix.

Netflix started out as a competitor to Blockbuster Video, as a way of delivering recent theatrical movies to consumers’ homes. With Blockbuster and other retail competitors long gone, Netflix has turned its attention to episodic television.

Anyone whoever saw the 1976 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” will remember Louise Fletcher’s chilling Nurse Ratched character, who was the foil to Jack Nicholson’s Randle McMurphy as they matched wits and wills in an asylum.

Mildred Ratched is being revived in “Ratched” with Sarah Paulson taking over for Louise Fletcher. Sharon Stone and failed New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon co-star. The Randle McMurphy character apparently will not be part of the series.

Baby boomers and some Gen-Xers will fondly remember “The Partridge Family” and the animated Saturday mor ning series “Archie” and “Josie & The Pussycats,” where teens formed pop music bands and wound up having hits. “Julie and the Phantoms,” starring Madison Reyes, is about a budding composer who finds inspiration to form a band thanks to the ghosts of three musicians from way back in 1995. Nothing like that plot device to make a lot of us feel really old.

“Deaf U” is a reality series that follows the lives of students at the famous private university for the deaf, Gallaudet, located in Washington, DC.

the very near future.

HBO Max’s big fall entry will be “The Flight Attendant,” which stars “Big Bang Theory” alum Kaley Cuoco, who also is serving as its executive producer. Cuoco plays a carefree flight attendant who wakes up next to a murdered corpse after a one-night hookup. Think of this as “The Fugitive” with a touch of dark comedy.

“The Murders at White House Farm” has nothing to do with American presidents but rather a real-life 1985 murder of a family in a London suburb. A cast of British actors gives its interpretation of a crime that shook England to the core 35 years ago.

“On the Trail: Inside the 2020 Primaries” is a look at how the media covered the battle to become the Democratic Party nominee to go up against President Trump. This appears to be a less playful answer to Showtime’s “The Circus.”

HBO Max Warner Media launched its streaming service, HBO Max, shortly after Memorial Day. The company sees this division of its massive empire as its main source of future revenue in

Peacock Peacock is Comcast’s new streaming service, which was launched on July 15. Unlike the others listed here, Peacock has a basic continued on page 19

Hulu Hulu is celebrating its 10th anniversary in business as a subscription streaming service. It was launched in 2010 as a joint venture between NBC and Fox but through a series of corporate mergers and other transactions it’s now under the umbrella of the Walt Disney Corp.

Actor and comedian Larmorne Morris, who recently co-starred with Vin Diesel in the action film “Bloodshot,” stars as real-life cartoonist Keith Knight in the topical “Woke.”

“No Man’s Land” is a dramatization of the Syrian civil war and stars French actor Felix Moati as Antoine, who believes ISIS is holding his sister captive and will stop at nothing to reunite with her.

Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are back for a second season of “PEN 15,” in which they humorously recall their junior high school days.

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Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, September 3, 2020

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Doors to culture begin to reopen

by Mark Lord

It is housed in Kingsland Homestead, the borough’s first New York City landmark, an For most of 2020, New York City, like much example of a late 18th-century half-house style of the world, has been brought to her knees by structure.

Tours of the home are available. Changing the cataclysm of COVID-19.

For weeks or even months, everything from exhibitions are on display.

Due to the pandemic, visitors will be asked schools and stores to hotels and restaurants, parks and theaters to sporting events and much to fill out a screening form. They will be asked of our public transportation system has been about their recent health conditions and their temperature will be taken. Face coverings and empty, dark and without life.

Slowly — very slowly — things are begin- physical distancing will be required.

The house is open Tuesdays and Saturdays ning to turn around. Of course, there’s much talk these days about how schools will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. with limited capacity reopening this fall. Eateries have reimagined and entry by advance timed tickets, which must themselves as outdoor cafes. And spectator-free be reserved online.

Kingsland Homestead is located at 143-35 37 stadiums have been playing host to athletes who have been brave enough to get back into their Ave. in Flushing. Admission is $5; or $3 for students, seniors and veterans. For further inforuniforms and hit the field.

Among the last establishments to reopen are mation, visit queenshistoricalsociety.org or call some of the very attractions that give our town (718) 939-0647.

MoMA PS1 in Long Island City reopens its specialness — museums and other cultural Sept. 17 with an intriguing new attraction, institutions.

Gov. Cuomo indicated a couple of weeks ago “Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarthat, as of Aug. 24, such places could begin to ceration,” scheduled to be on display through reopen, albeit at no more than 25 percent capac- April 4, 2021.

According to the museum’s website, the ity. And plenty of new regulations, all designed to curb the spread of the virus and keep exhibition explores works by artists within U.S. employees and visitors as safe as possible, must prisons and the centrality of incarceration to contemporary art and culture. be in place.

Founded in 1971, the museum is the first A few of the borough’s popular cultural nonprofit arts center in the sites have already begun to country devoted solely to welcome back the public, contemporary art. while others have dates for In view of the pandemic, their planned comebacks in new safety measures are the near f ut ure. Some, planned. Those include limu nfor t u nately, are still ited capacity, and admission unable to see their way Museums by advance timed ticket only. clearly to reopening. and educational Tickets must be reserved One of the first area online. facilities to reopen was the institutions Visitors will be required Queens County Farm Museto wear face masks, which um, which began welcomwill be available for free if ing guests again on Aug. 2. needed. Temperature checks Naturally, certain restricwill also be in effect. tions have been put in place MoMA PS1 is located at 22-25 Jackson Ave. on the farm. Visitors can hand-feed some of the animals, but the popular petting zoo is closed in Long Island City. Hours are Thursday to indefinitely. One-way foot traffic is enforced Monday from 12 to 8 p.m. Admission is free to inside the buildings, and every individual who all NYC residents. For more information, visit enters must submit to a temperature check. Six moma.org/ps1 or call (718) 784-2086.

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden feet of social distance must be observed and face coverings must be worn when that is not Museum in Long Island City is set to reopen to the public on Sept. 23, according to Amelia possible.

But the outlook includes some positive steps, Grohman, its manager of digital communications and graphic design. too.

Grohman said, “the well-being of our visiThe facility, which encompasses a 47-acre parcel, includes an apiary that is being expand- tors and staff is our top priority,” and cited seved, with completion expected by the fall. Also eral new protocols that offer enhanced safety.

Those include a timed reservation system to scheduled to open, on Sept. 13, is the three-acre cornfield known every year as the Amazing limit the number of visitors. The museum will Maize Maze. It will remain open Fridays offer morning and afternoon sessions, closing down in between for one hour for a thorough through Sundays until Oct. 31.

The Queens County Farm Museum is locat- cleaning. All staff and visitors will be required ed at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Floral Park. It to wear masks at all times and to stay at least 6 is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is feet apart from different households.

According to the museum’s website, the free, but tickets must be obtained online in advance. For further details, visit queensfarm. exhibitions will include “The Sculptor and the Ashtray,” which chronicles Noguchi’s efforts to org or call (718) 347-3276.

Reopening on Aug. 25 was the Queens His- design the perfect ashtray, and “Composition torical Society, an organization founded in 1968 for Idlewild Airport,” which was inspired by its to promote research into the social, political and then-planned International Arrivals Building.

Both exhibits testify to Noguchi’s interest in economic aspects of the borough’s history.

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An extensive collection of Isamu Noguchi’s sculptures are on display at The Noguchi Museum in PHOTO BY NICHOLAS KNIGHT / COURTESY NOGUCHI MUSEUM Long Island City, reopening Sept. 23. making sculpture everywhere out of everything. They will run through May 23, 2021.

The Noguchi Museum is located at 9-01 33 Road. It will be open Wednesdays thorough Fridays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. All visits must be scheduled in advance. Admission is $10. Seniors 65 and up and students with ID pay $5. For further information, visit noguchi.org or call (718) 7088.

Nature lovers should be pleased that two more of the borough’s most popular outdoor attractions are open once again.

The Queens Botanical Garden is operating with limited hours, which will adjust over time. Those interested in visiting should check the website for the latest updates on hours of operation.

For now, the garden is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free hours are on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 9 to 11 a.m. If you plan to visit during free hours, you are encouraged to make timed entry reservations.

Admission is $6 for adults; $4 for seniors 62 and older and students with ID; $2 for children ages 4 to 12; and free those age 3 and under.

Visitors must wear a face covering and maintain 6-feet distance from others. Indoor facilities remain closed.

The garden is located at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing.

By the time you read this, Alley Pond Environmental Center in Oakland Gardens will like-

Kingsland Homestead is home to the Queens FILE PHOTO Historical Society.

ly already be open again for visitors, though the date was tentative at press time.

Executive Director Irene Scheid indicated in an email to the Chronicle that “we began conducting all outdoor programs recently and they have been doing well,” adding, “We will be continuing to offer them, even once our door reopens.”

Various in-person and virtual programs are being offered by APAC. A couple of outdoor-only programs are coming up on Sept. 8, both taking place from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. “Exploring Our Surroundings” is aimed at introducing youngsters in grades 1 to 3 to the animals, plants and scents of Alley Pond Park. “A Wildlife Walk” will teach children in grades 4 to 6 about the animals and plants that compose the ecosystem.

New classes are being created for Sept. 26, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. “Critter Care Outdoors” will teach youngsters about the specialized care required by different animals. At the same time, “The Animal Club Outdoors” will deal with animals’ diets, adaptations and how they need to be cared for.

Ticket prices and protocol rules for all events may be found on the center’s website.

The center’s hours for the remainder of September will be Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We will re-evaluate our hours for future months based on how the first couple of weeks go,” Scheid said.

Masks will be required to attend programs and to enter the building. The new capacity will be limited to only 40 people, including six to 12 staff members, at any given time.

Alley Pond Environmental Center is located at 224-65 76 Ave. in Oakland Gardens (its relatively new, temporary home while its Douglaston facility is rebuilt). Parking and entrance to the building and grounds are free. For further information, visit alleypond.org or call (718) 229-4000.

Several borough venues will remain closed at least for the time being.

Among them is the New York Hall of Science, a science and technology center located in continued on page 19

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continued from page 16 service that is free to consumers as their omnipresent TV ads remind us.

They have some intriguing programs in the hopper. The popular ’90s NBC Saturday morning high school comedy “Saved by the Bell” is being rebooted. Elizabeth Berkley, who played a student in the original, now plays a guidance counselor at her alma mater, Bayside High. Mario Lopez reprises his Slater character, who is now a gym teacher there. Issues that were not on the radar in the early ’90s such as transgender students’ rights are promised to be episodic themes in this updated version.

Will Forte created his MacGruber character when he was a cast member of “Saturday Night Live.” It was a sendup of “MacGyver,” an action-adventure show that ran on ABC from 1985-1992. In that show, Richard Dean Anderson’s character, Angus MacGyver, could get out of any predicament with just everyday items such as a pen or a nail clipper. Forte will be starring as MacGruber on Peacock.

“A.P. Bio,” which had a short run on NBC, will have a third season on Peacock.

The show stars Glenn Howerton as Toledo high school teacher Jack Griffin, who is not exactly the second coming of Mr. Chips.

Howerton’s burned-out and cynical Jack Griffin makes this show a fun watch even if it covers nearly the same ground as Cameron Diaz’s 2011 film “Bad Teacher.”

Topic and Shudder The advance of technology has opened the doors for a number of niche streaming services.

Topic caters to those with eclectic tastes who want programming that is not always available th rough the mass market streamers.

Topic offers the kind of documentaries that might play at the Film Forum in SoHo, such as the biography of the late Caroll Spinney, titled “I Am Big Bird.” It also offers offbeat series such as “What’s Your Ailment?” in which celebrities discuss therapy and mental health.

“The Accidental Wolf,” starring Broadway veteran actress Kelli O’Hara, is a drama about Katie, a wealthy but bored housewife living in a Manhattan penthouse who receives a phone call from a mysterious man whose life appears to be in jeopardy after she hears gunshots. When she hears him pleading to spare the life of his wife and young child, Katie decides to try to find them.

Shudder is a streaming service that is dedicated to the horror genre. If you need a Vincent Price or Christopher Lee fix, you’ll love Shudder. Halloween is the real holiday season for Shudder, and among the titles they are showcasing this fall are “The Mortuary Collection,” “May the Devil Take You Too,” “The Cleansing Hour” and “Scare Me.”

Museum reopenings and more visitors on campus.”

The museum is, however, preparing its first virtual exhibition, scheduled to run from Sept. 10 to Jan. 7. Entitled “Human/ Nature: Portraits from the Permanent Collection,” it will encompass prints, paintings and sculptures to “reveal the rich treasures held by the museum,” including many unseen for decades. In addition, all planned education programs remain on the museum’s agenda — virtually, with dates to come. They will include curator conversations, artist talks and family day workshops. For further information, visit gtmuseum.org.

King Manor Museum in Jamaica is also offering online educational materials, offering free lessons and activities to help families connect with history and community. A live, free book giveaway with family-oriented activities is set for Sept. 5. More is posted at kingmanor.org.

The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, better known as JCAL, is offering its Making Moves Dance Festival 2020, featuring 11 New York City-based professional choreographers, as a virtual event this year. It will be available on Sept. 25 and 26 on JCAL’s digital platforms. JCAL is also presenting an assortment of virtual exhibitions. For further information, visit jcal.org.

Among the borough’s other major cultural attractions that remain closed for now are the Queens Museum, Museum of the Moving Image and Kupferberg Holocaust Center.

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In a statement, NYSCI President and CEO Margaret Honey said, “As a hightouch, highly interactive museum, the New York Hall of Science faces some unique challenges to reopening. As such, we have made the decision to reopen our regular museum experience in mid-2021, which will give us time to re-imagine our offerings, create new exhibitions, and streamline entry and purchasing experiences.”

NYSCI is taking advantage of the closure to undergo renovations, including rehabilitating exhibits and creating new ones. And it plans to continue its virtual experiences, including original digital resources for science learning at home, and to explore the possibility of offering some outdoor activities.

For further information, visit nysci.org.

Similarly, the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona remains active through various virtual exhibits and educational programs. Its website, louisarmstronghouse.org, indicates the museum will “assess future steps” about the reopening.

The Godwin-Ternbach Museum, located on the campus of Queens College in Flushing, will remain closed to visitors for now. According to Co-director Maria C. Pio, “We will not be opening our doors to the public this fall in order to reduce the capacity of staff, students and external

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The LIC community is strong and we will pull through this together.

Thanking everyone who is lending a helping hand!

The Kirby, Pfohl, & Quigley Families and all of us at Plaxall For more information on where to donate and how to help, visit:

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