Queens Chronicle Spring Guide 2022 by Queens Chronicle

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2022 SPRING GUIDE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 14, 2022 Page 2

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2022

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• Community theater spring shows. . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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• How to use trusts to maintain control of inheritances? • What is the probate process without a will? • What are the top 10 questions to ask a probate lawyer? • What are the typical costs and fees associated with probate? • What does one do after a will is admitted to probate?

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• Swing into tennis at these courts . . . . . . . . . . . 17 • Events at parks and rec centers . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Queens Farm’s Apple Blossom Carnival, above, returns later this month.

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On the cover: Kids “bee” learning about pollinators at the Queens Botanical Garden. Photos by Lily Landes / courtesy Queens Farm, above, and courtesy QBG

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 14, 2022 Page 4

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Wildflowers galore and Earth Day Outdoor spots in Queens offer opportunities to learn, explore and give back by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

Every day is Earth Day at parks, gardens, farms and outdoor spaces across Queens but with the designated week upon us, events and programs across the borough offer additional opportunities to learn, volunteer, compost and more. With Covid restrictions rolling back and an increased urgency to care about the planet, communities across Queens are stepping up. “I think this spring is probably our busiest in a long time,” said Anne Tan-Detchkov, marketing manager at the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing. The garden has not had a festival in over two years due to the pandemic and is finally able to bring the event, which often draws two to three thousand visitors, back on April 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the first time, the event will now be the Climate Arts Festival instead of the Arbor Fest. “We see it as not just a festival, but really a call to action,” said Tan-Detchkov. “It’s so easy to feel helpless, like it’s an international climate crisis so it’s easy to feel like you can’t do much but what we offer at the garden really does combat these things on a local level.” There will be educational and actionable events all season long and the Climate Arts Festival, in partnership with the Southeast Queens Arts Alliance, is loaded with workshops, exhibits, performances, tours and demonstrations for all. Composting, which helps keep food waste out of landfills, will be a big focus of the day, with sifting

activities and an opportunity to build a worm bin to bring home and use for composting. Free red wiggler worms will be given out! There will also be a sustainable vendor fair, a tree giveaway with the New York Restoration Project, crafts, opportunities to visit the bee garden, tours of sustainable landscapes and the farm and story time. For adults age 21 and older, the beer and wine garden will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Live performances will include Nate & Hila, a hip-hop duo that raps about ecoscience. One of the many festival activities that Tan-Detchkov is looking forward to is the wildflower seed ball sling. Attendees can launch a wildflower seed ball into the meadow to bring flowers and pollinators to the gardens. “The festival is on Earth Day weekend, but we’re hoping that people walk away with things that they can do forever,” said Tan-Detchkov. Other events at the garden this season include Horticulture Community Volunteer Days and a Spring Break week filled with activities for kids home from school. The Flower Patch at the QBG farm is also back for three weekends in a row, starting on April 30. Visit queensbotanical.org for more information on all programming and to register for events. Another place where visitors can see wildflowers already blooming but not sown by seed ball is at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Wildflower Wednesdays are back every week through summer, rain or shine, starting at 3 p.m. and running for an hour and a half.

The Queens Botanical Garden features rose, bee, herb, wedding and perennial gardens, an arboretum, an art gallery PHOTO COURTESY QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN and more throughout its 39-acre site. Explorers will see if naturalist Aldo Leopold’s words, “During every week from April to September there are, on the average, ten wild plants coming into first bloom,” ring true. On May 1 at 2 p.m., a walk entitled An Introduction to Climate Change will explore the past, present and future of climate change in national parks and will visit the repaired West Pond breach that was caused by Hurricane Sandy. A park trivia event will take place on Sunday, May 8. More events are coming soon to the greater Gateway National Recreation Area, said spokesperson Daphne Yun, and celebratory programs over the summer will honor Gateway’s 50th birthday. Visit nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/ for more information. The Queens County Farm also has a schedule packed with springtime fun including the Apple Blossom Carnival, the Bee-A-Pollinator

Earth Day Service Day and the Sheep Shearing Festival. A Barnyard Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, April 16, and there will be photo ops with Whiskers the Bunny and more. Visitors can buzz over to the farm for Earth Day on Friday, April 22 from noon to 4 p.m. for the service day. The free program includes an afternoon of hands-on farm projects for all ages, highlighting ways to support the Queens Farm and Mother Earth. Activities include sifting compost, a trash flash mob, spring garden prep and mulching apple trees. There will also be apiary talks with the resident beekeeper, a farm-wide scavenger hunt and free giveaways. For an additional fee, visitors can enjoy hayrides and feed the farm’s goats and sheep. The farm also hosts weekly service days every Tuesday and Sunday through November for those 18 and older.

Service days at the Queens Farm fosters environmental citizens through education and volunteerism, left. Workshops, tours and f arm volunteer days at PHOTOS BY DOMENICK TOTINO, LEFT, AND COURTESY QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN Queens Botanical Garden, right, give visitors the tools to take the lessons home with them.

The farm’s annual Apple Blossom Carnival will run for two consecutive weekends, the last one in April and the first in May. Daily admission includes unlimited carnival rides and recycling crafts for kids at the Con Edison Ecology booth. Visitors can enjoy hayrides, midway games and classic carnival fare from local food vendors. The Sheep Shearing Festival on Saturday, May 14, will prepare the sheep for warm weather with their annual spring haircuts. This special event will highlight the cycle of fiber production with artisan wool spinning, natural dyeing and weaving demonstrations and feature live music and more. The Alley Pond Environmental Center is honoring Earth Week too and a four-day workshop for kids during spring break will teach them about the park’s habitats and species and they will produce recycled artworks. It costs $208 per child and runs from April 19 to 22 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Another kid-friendly event will be on Wednesday, April 20, called Critter Clues, at which attendees will learn from what animals leave behind. A relaxing Earth Day StrollerFriendly Stroll on Friday, April 22, will teach about flora and fauna in the park. On Earth Day there will also be a trail challenge for adults. Spot trail markers and maybe earn an APEC water bottle! An Earth Day Story Hike and Scavenger Hunt is a drop-off event for kindergarteners through second graders. Spots are limited for events. Visit alleypond.org to register.

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This is one of many awards Jamaica Hospital has received for delivering high-quality care

Page 5 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 14, 2022

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to be named one America’s Best 250 Hospitals by Healthgrades

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 14, 2022 Page 6

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Theater troupes eager to perform Community stage stars bringing you comedy, drama and even a fairy tale by Mark Lord

now resides with his wife, Virginia, the group’s co-founder. The Harmons both got involved in local theater productions not long While the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the local theater scene, after arriving in New York in 2017 as multiple groups were forced to from their native Philadelphia, frequently sharing stages together. ring down their final curtains, the “We wanted to find some commucompanies that survived are gearing nity,” Harmon said. Their first show up for a busy spring and summer season, including a burgeoning troupe in the borough was “Spider’s Web,” at Parkside Players. “My wife was the that was temporarily detoured by the lead. I was typecast as her husband,” virus just as it was about to make its Harmon said. debut back in 2020. “The Weir” ran in the back room That new company, City Gate Productions, plans to dedicate itself to at the pub for five performances in October of last year. Harmon said all “telling stories that challenge the 30 seats for each performance sold mind, inspire the heart and reflect the out early for the entire run. beautiful diversity” of the borough. “It put the final wings in my sails,” Coming soon will be a production of “Lobby Hero,” Kenneth Loner- he said. Now he is concentrating on helmgan’s play about a luckless young ing the production of “Lobby Hero,” security guard who is drawn into a murder investigation, leading loyal- which will be performed at The Moore Lodge Theatre (72-15 Grand ties to become strained to the breakAve., Maspeth) on April 29 and 30 at ing point and proving that truth can 8 p.m., May 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. and be elusive and justice quite costly. According to City Gate’s president May 1 and 8 at 3 p.m. The play is recand co-founder Thom Harmon, the ommended for adult audiences. Tickets are $20. To order tickets or for group’s first effort turned out to be a staged reading of Lucas Hnath’s play further information, visit citygate productions.org. “The Christians,” which was presentThe group’s next production will ed via Zoom in July 2020. That was followed by a full- be Terrence McNally’s play “Mothers and Sons,” to be fledged production of directed by Bill “The Weir,” a play by Logan in the fall. Conor McPherson Looking toward that is set in an Irish the City Gate’s more pub. distant future, HarHarmon said in a mon says one goal is recent telephone inter“to develop a Rolodex view that, as Broadof different venues way and other theatriaround the borough. cal venues began to As we grow, we will reopen, he had the find venues that fit the shows. idea to produce the play in an actual Since January, members of The bar. He found just what he was looking for in Yer Man’s Irish Pub in Gingerbread Players, a mainstay of Glendale, the neighborhood where he Forest Hills for decades, have been

back in rehearsal for an upcoming production of the musical “Babes in Toyland.” The group originally planned to present the show, a tale also familiar to many as “The March of the Wooden Soldiers,” in 2020. But, according to its director, Louise Guinther, it was “shut down when Covid struck.” It was hoped it would see the lights by fall 2021, to coincide with the group’s 50th anniversary, but again, expectations were dashed with a resurgence of the virus. Now, Guinther said, “We are absolutely thrilled” to be back in business, following what she calls “a state of suspended animation.” That’s not to suggest that the intrepid performers were idle the past

Peforming in the Douglaston Community Theatre show “Social Security” will be, at left in the back, Kathleen Nadal Eberhardt, left, Jonathan Baker and Terri Bonica; in the front, Frank DiSpigno, and Toni Allen; and at right, Cathy Chimenti and Christopher Tyrkko. PHOTO BY GARY TIFELD

City Gate Productions’ “Lobby Hero” will feature, clockwise from top left, Mark Ashin, Ian Duhart, Chris Leoni and Natalie Ahn. COURTESY PHOTOS

Chronicle Contributor

Appearing as Toy Soldiers in the Gingerbread Players’ “Babes in Toyland” will be Sonia Allhaj Saleh, left, Julian Hayes-Díaz, Retal Abdelwahab, Xavier Gonzales, Pauline Voronova, Ryan Elazar and Joaquin Hayes-Díaz. Jillian Smith PHOTOS BY PJ SMITH and Jim Chamberlain portray Bo-Peep and Barnaby. two years. During the forced hiatus, they presented several online performances, a partially mounted version of the classic comedy “You Can’t Take It with You” and a more fully realized rendering of Shakespeare’s “Henry V.” This “Toyland” version is based on the original Victor Herbert operetta but is “nicer and kinder,” said Guinther, who wrote a new book that centers around “a gallery of familiar storybook characters in a tale in which good is triumphant over wickedness.” The music has been arranged by William Ryden. The cast is headed by Gingerbread veterans Jillian Smith as shepherdess Bo-Peep, Ronan Finley as her love interest Tom-Tom, the piper’s son, Bart DeFinna as the mysterious Toymaker and Jim Chamberlain as the heavy, Barnaby. Musical direction is by Olivia Smith. Everyone is “looking forward to a live audience to respond to what we’re doing,” Guinther said. Performances will take place at St. Luke’s Church (85 Greenway South, Forest Hills) on April 30 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., May 1, 7 and 8 at 2:30 p.m., and May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The suggested donation is $15. For more, call (718) 261-7772 or visit gingerbreadplayers.org. The oldest active theater company in the borough, Douglaston Community Theatre, established in 1950, is also planning a return to live performances with a production of Andrew Bergman’s comedy “Social Security,” which focuses on a married couple

whose lives are turned upside down with the arrival of the wife’s nerd sister, her uptight CPA husband and her archetypal Jewish mother. With cast members Toni Allen, Terri Bonica, Cathy Chimenti, Frank DiSpigno, Kathleen Nadal Eberhardt, Jonathon Baker and Christopher Tyrkko, the production will mark the directorial debut of Gary Tifeld, generally known for his appearances on stage. Performances at Zion Church Parish Hall (243-01 Northern Blvd., Douglaston) are on May 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. and May 14 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22; or $20 for seniors and students. For more, call (718) 482-3332 or visit dctonline.org. Maggie’s Little Theater will present its long-aborning production of Cole Porter’s musical classic “Kiss Me, Kate,” which has been delayed two years thanks to Covid. Performances will take place in July at St. Margaret Parish Hall in Middle Village. For more information, visit maggieslittletheater.org. The JC Players will offer “Seussical the Musical” the first two weekends in August; visit jcplayers.com for more as it becomes available. Several other Queens community theater groups are planning productions for the upcoming months, including St. Gregory’s Theatre Group in Bellerose (sgtg.org), the Parkside Players in Forest Hills (parksideplayers.com) and Royal Star Theatre in Jamaica (royalstartheatre. squarespace.com).

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Queens’ car clubs get in gear For enthusiasts young and old, the love of classics is here to stay by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

On a given Tuesday night, the Queens Classic Car Club and car enthusiasts from all over gather at the 300-spot Bay Terrace Shopping Center parking lot for a bi-monthly car show, filling the lot to capacity with everything from ’50s hot rods to boxy ’80s luxury rides as attendees admire each other’s wheels and enjoy live music. “To anyone, it’s, like, a Tuesday night. But then all of a sudden, here’s 300-plus hot rods coming in,” said Jackie DeLuca of the QCCC. “You’re just like, ‘Where are you hiding?’ You see things you’ve never seen before. We’re like, “Where do you live? Where has this car been?’” Though the QCCC’s first car show of the year isn’t until May 24, both it and the East Coast Car Association are getting in gear for the season as spring begins. The ECCA has stepped on the gas with its programming already — the group led the Ridgewood Glendale Middle Village Maspeth Little League’s parade on April 2. Through their numerous events, the QCCC and ECCA aim to bring people together over their shared love of classic cars. “It’s hard to find that free space where you can get together, see one another and see cars in your community, and meet new people or see people that you haven’t seen in a while,” said DeLuca. “It’s a lot of fun.” In doing so, DeLuca said, the

QCCC is able to create a network of support for other classic car enthusiasts. “We try to become a community that helps each other out,” she said. While that may come in the form of meetups or cruises for the QCCC, the ECCA holds “coffee and cars” sessions every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to accomplish a similar goal. During those meetups, which are held in Juniper Valley Park, Mike Bilski of the ECCA estimated about 75 people and their cars come to compare notes and enjoy each other’s company. But cars and coffee also present a bit of competition: Bilski said that the best car of the day is awarded a trophy, often picked by a Queens elected official or other neighborhood figure. One member who frequently attends cars and coffee, Bilski noted, has won numerous trophies for his original 1951 Buick Special — once his uncle’s — and, more recently, his new 1984 Riviera. The two are bookends of a sort, the first one the marque’s entry-level four-door of its era, and the second one of the most expensive cars General Motors produced that year. Of course the Special bears Buick’s trademark portholes on the front fenders while the Riv does not. And the two give just one hint of the diversity of rides you’ll see at either group’s events — workhorses, personal luxury coupes, muscle cars from the ’60s and beyond, even some real old-timers like Model T Fords.

A 1973 Plymouth Duster at an ECCA event last fall. PHOTOS COURTESY ECCA

Throughout the spring and summer, more than 300 cars gather at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center parking lot for PHOTO COURTESY JACKIE DELUCA the Queens Classic Car Club car shows on Tuesday nights. The ECCA’s cars and coffee are slated to start the first week of May, Bilski said. Two weeks after that, on May 15, the group will host its Spring Dust-off Car Show at Maspeth Federal Savings in Maspeth. In holding these kinds of events, both the QCCC and the ECCA collect money for charity, particularly for St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside. Bilski said that, over the last 20 years, his organization has donated roughly $250,000 in cash and toy donations to the facility. For Bilski, that charity work is — aside from his devotion to the hobby — a big motivator. “That’s what drives me to do all my volunteer service,” he said, “and St. Mary’s means so much to me.” For that reason, the ECCA drives members’ cars at several parades in Central Queens, in addition to this month’s Little League parade. For Memorial Day, the group will take part in the Forest Hills, Maspeth and Glendale parades to mark the holiday. Similarly, Bilski and his wife are well-known for driving around the area to spread joy in his 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT convertible — an official pace car at the Indy 500. While he dresses up as Santa Claus and greets the neighborhood at Christmastime, in the spring, the Easter Bunny rides shotgun and hands out plastic eggs with candy in them as Bilski plays

Easter music through a PA system. The tradition is a product of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, but is still immensely popular. “I got people [saying], ‘Oh, come to my house,’ this and that — no,” Bilski told the Chronicle. “[If] you hear the music, you hear the music, because I only can do it one day.” He added, however, that the one house he makes a point of stopping at is that of Councilman Bob Holden (D-Middle Village). Asked about their groups’ demographics, Bilski said that the ECCA tends to be made up of an older crowd. DeLuca, on the other hand, said that the QCCC is quite diverse. “You have people from all dif-

ferent ages, from all different backgrounds, that grew up in different areas,” she said. “It changes as far as who you meet and who moves away. It’s always a changing dynamic of people.” Asked about the growing shift away from the reliance on autos, DeLuca said that because of the diversity she sees, she is not worried about car clubs going anywhere any time soon. “As much as the electric cars are coming into play, the classics — they just will never die,” she said. “It’ll always be something that someone’s going to be into, that people are going to want to see and drive and work on and learn about. I just don’t see that going anywhere.”

A 1976 NYPD Pontiac Catalina makes its way downtown.

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A tour of Queens’ fresh bike lanes Route that can be ridden in one shot or in parts includes new pathways by Max Parrott Time to strap on the helmet and oil up those gears, spring weather is here and there’s no better time to be a cyclist in Queens. Whether you’re just dusting off the bike after winter or whether you’re a hardened, perennial cyclist, the borough has some new infrastructure for riders of stripes to explore. Two years into the pandemic, numbers show that the increased interest in bicycling has continued. Last spring saw the highest numbers of bikers using the Ed Koch Queensboro bridge to get to and from Queens since the Department of Transportation began recording such data. While the 2021 numbers on that particular bridge, which constitute one of the clearest indications of Western Queens’ cycling habits, started to slightly decrease from the late summer into the winter from the previous year, the ridership figures are still clearly above where we were prepandemic. To help generate some bike route ideas, the Chronicle has highlighted a number of areas that have seen bike infrastructure improvements over the past year. Hardened lanes The DOT has just recently started to implement a strategy of hardening bike lane separations. As part of the plan, the agency is targeting three bike lanes in Queens, formerly “protected” from the roadway by plastic bollards, and replacing them with concrete jersey barriers. The move is one that bike advocates have been calling on the agency to do for years. The increased protections may help a beginner bicyclist feel more comfortable learning the ropes. In Queens, the agency plans to make these improvements on Crescent Street from Queens Plaza North to Hoyt Avenue, on Vernon Boulevard from 46th Avenue to 30th Road and on Queens Boulevard from 73rd Street to Yellowstone Boulevard. The DOT began installing these barriers in March.

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uous path along the roadway between Alley Pond and Cunningham parks. The addition provides another artery for cyclists to take a ride along the eastern Queens Greenway System.

Chronicle Contributor

Tour of new corridors and open streets In addition to new barriers, the DOT finished work on at least two major bike lane corridors in the borough: Northern Boulevard from Queens Plaza North to 60th Street, Queens Boulevard from Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside to Union Turnpike in Kew Gardens. Based on suggestions from Queens Transportation Alternatives spokesperson Juan Restrepo, the Chronicle has outlined a route that could take riders through several of the borough’s main new bike improvements if traveled all at once, or that could be split up into small rides for new bikers. It’s loosely based on a group ride that the TA previously organized. The route covers about 15 miles and weaves through several of the borough’s new bike lanes. Going on a weekend allows riders to take advantage of several Open Streets programs that are only operational then.

A cycling route from Astoria to Flushing Meadows Corona Park includes sections with new bike lanes and, on weekends in particular, streets closed to motor vehicles. GOOGLE MAPS IMAGE The ride starts on Shore Boulevard next to Astoria Park under the Hell Gate Bridge. It then traverses down Astoria Park South to the newly barrier-protected Crescent Street bike lane down to 31st Avenue, where Astorians have established a thriving Open Streets program from noon to 8 p.m. on the weekend between 33rd and 35th streets, where the roadway closes to all motor vehicle traffic and parking. From there the route continues south onto the new Northern Boulevard bike lane, which ends at 58th Street. Riders can go south one block and turn left onto the 34th Avenue bike lane, which turns into Jackson Heights’ “gold standard” open street. The route follows 34th Street for several miles until the intersection at 108th Street, which riders can take south to get to Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Staying in bike lanes on the outskirts of the park, riders can travel south to the loop around Meadow Lake in the park’s southern half, where the city has closed off 1.5 miles of roadway to cars. At the southern tip of the lake, bikers will have to make their way along 69th Road for four blocks over to the southeastern end of the new Queens Boulevard bike lane. Be advised that there are no painted bike lanes or shared-lane signs on this stretch between Meadow Lake and Queens Boulevard, so riders can decide whether to proceed with extreme caution for four blocks or walk their bikes, depending on their level of experience. The route then takes riders up Queens Boulevard all the way to its northwestern apex in Sunnyside Gardens. If riders are up for one last

pit stop for food as they cruise up Queens Boulevard, they can turn north on 74th Street and explore a new business-focused open street in “Little Thailand” on Woodside Avenue from 76th to 78th streets. After the pit stops, riders can continue along Queens Boulevard to the route’s northernmost point, using bike lanes on 49th or 51st Street to get back up to 34th Street in Astoria and make their way back to the starting point using the bike lanes that made up the first leg of the trip. Eastern Queens Though the aforementioned route does not connect to Eastern Queens, that’s not to say bikers in that area out of options. The DOT did make a notable set of street improvements in Oakland Gardens, building several new bike lanes along 73rd Avenue so that there’s a contin-

Safety It should be noted in considering any bike route in New York City that the streets have been exceptionally dangerous for bikers as well as pedestrians over the past year, with the highest levels of traffic deaths since Vision Zero. The aforementioned route sticks mostly to painted and protected bike lanes with a few junctures that involve shared-lane signs or riding in an unprotected lane, so bikers must be alert. Even on painted lanes, however, bikers are often blocked by car drivers who decide to park in the lanes illegally. Restrepo said that when experiencing blocked lanes he would caution riders to be extremely diligent as they get around the blockage. “There are cars going really fast and it’s important for the person biking to know at times you have to take the sidewalk because a car is literally blocking the only way you can go through,” he said. He also cautioned riders to be aware of car doors: “Oftentimes it feels safer to bike away from the middle of the street, but that brings people closer to the danger of car doors that can swing over and hit you when you’re biking.” Citi Bikes There’s one more bike infrastructure improvement that should be mentioned for those without a bike of their own: Citi Bike. Queens did get some new stations in 2021, and there are more Citi Bike rollouts that will be happening over the next couple months. In the first quarter of 2021, Astoria got a new batch of stations, extending Citi Bike’s service area north of Ditmars Boulevard and east of Steinway Street. The DOT is planning a new phase of Sunnyside and Woodside stations to reportedly be installed in May, and it also is planning to install more than 50 stations throughout Maspeth and Middle Village, with a yet-to-be-determined timeline. A single Citi Bike ride of 30 minutes or less costs $3.99, and a day pass costs $15.

Cruising the bike lane on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON / FILE

C M SG page 11 Y K Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 14, 2022

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Queens shops have spring staples Way more than florals: easy transitions, happy colors and fine details on trend by Deirdre Bardolf Associate Editor

Easing back into regular life following the pandemic-era lockdowns and scaled-back events continues to influence women’s fashion trends. “Happy colors are what a lot of people need right now,” said Briana Vozzo, store manager at The Brass Owl, a hip and casual boutique in Astoria. That would explain the push toward vivid and bold pops of color seen on the runways heading into the spring. Yellows, pinks, strong blues and Kelly greens are all in play, said Robbin Soleimani, owner of Jacklyn’s on Austin Street in Forest Hills. And those yellows are not mellow, noted Vozzo, who has seen both bright and mustard hues at The Brass Owl. Strong colors and statement jewelry stand out, even if it is still just on a Zoom call. Anita Manfredonia, owner of Pippy and Lily’s in Flushing, agreed that “moodboosting” colors are needed coming out of the pandemic and that versatile clothing that blends the Covid-era sweatsuits with transitional dayto-night clothing is also in demand. It is all about balance, Manfredonia said, calling the trends “flex-leisure.” “Basically now fashion has turned into a balance of home, work and comfort,” she said. “People are now either hybrid or they’re still working from home,” she said. “And although for the last two years, everybody wanted lei-

sure and comfort and soft clothes, now they’re looking for a balance. They want something they could wear in the day ... and then they want to take it into the nighttime.” Utility pants are coming back, she said, as women want an “upgrade from their jogger.” Although she could not “give jeans away” at the height of the pandemic, she said, they are finally coming back — mainly high-waisted flares. And it is not just the jeans that echo the 1970s, she said. Vintage frills and “fun, flouncy” dresses that hit right above the knee are an easy and flattering look for all. Like those flares, Jacklyn’s too was a product of the ’70s, having served over three generations of women in Forest Hills, and today Soleimani stocks contemporary styles that work for the broad range of ages that she serves. “We keep them stylish and up to date but not childish,” she said. Blazers are back, she said, and they complement any look, serving as this year’s go-to spring jacket. Soleimani loves them over jeans or shorts and with matching trousers: the other trend of the season. One of her favorites is an off-white and blue cotton tweed-blend blazer with shoulder pads and ’80s vibes from Veronica Beard. It comes with a removable denim dickey, making it perfect for New York’s unpredictable springtime weather. At all three boutiques, it is the feminine, delicate and intricate details that stand out, like a crochet maxi dress at Jacklyn’s.

Puffy and statement sleeves set tops apart and eyelets on sundresses are indicative of the season. Soleimani has a variety of cardigans, which she said are popular too, and feature those feminine details like perforated graphics. Fun and playful graphics are seen elsewhere, too, like peace signs, hearts and — you guessed it — florals printed on sweaters at Jacklyn’s or lemon and watermelon stud earrings. It is the little details that are driving shoppers who were cooped up in their loungewear for two years and are ready to get back out to parties and events but do not want to give up the comfort they got used to during the pandemic. “We had a customer come in just the other day and she was like, ‘I will only justify purchases that I can wear to work as well as going out,’” said Vozzo. The answer to that is jumpsuits, rompers and maxi dresses. “Whether you put on a sneaker or a heel really makes a difference to where you can wear it,” she said. “Low-key drama,” Manfredonia called it, like a party top with exaggerated sleeves but “not too crazy.” The other era making a comeback is the 2000s with memories of Y2K. Think asymmetrical looks, cutouts, vests and butterfly everything. Find some of these looks at Jacklyn’s where a bold butterfly tank signals warmer weather on the horizon and silky, off-the-shoulder blouses are headturners. Soleimani styled a light, oneshoulder blouse with white pants, serving also as an example of the monochrome palettes taking over this year. For a more casual take on the matching set, or mix and match the

Braided details, especially on accessories, are all the rage, like at The Brass Owl in Astoria. Pair them with a bold maxi, too. PHOTO COURTESY THE BRASS OWL comfy pieces, Soleimani loves the airy gauze sets perfect for backyard chilling or walks on the beach. “They’re lightweight, washable cotton that feels like you’re not wearing anything,” she said, and her favorite is a bright blue, one of the colors of right now. Mixed textiles are defining accessories at these Queens shops, too. Look for braided details, rattan and raffia on shoes and bags. Wedges might match a sunhat or the wicker patio furniture you will be lounging on soon and chunky, braided sandals will go with the hairdos perfect for warmer weather. Soleimani and her sales associate were surprised to hear people looking for belts, too, and tucking shirts into their pants again — but not all

the way. Go for a French tuck. And each boutique offers more than just clothing too, like New York- and Astoria-themed baby gifts at The Brass Owl, or face masks fueled by pandemic-inspired self-care trends, said Vozzo. Face masks from the variety of designers brought phenomenal business throughout the pandemic, recalled Soleimani. The other trend that many hope never goes out of style is a desire to support small businesses, local artisans and sustainable, environmentally friendly items. Candles and other products at Pippy and Lily’s are made in America and by women-owned-businesses and stationary, jewelry and more at The Brass Owl are made my local artists.

Happy colors, like the vibrant blues and greens above, and versatile, comfy outfits are what women are looking for as some norm alcy returns following the pandemic. Styles at Pippy and Lily’s in Flushing, left, and at Jacklyn’s in Forest Hills, center to right, cater to women of all ages and promise looks for home, work and going out. PHOTOS COURTESY PIPY AND LILY’S, LEFT, AND BY DEIRDRE BARDOLF

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by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

With the bloom of spring comes flowers, fresh fruits and a new farmers market season. GrowNYC, an environmental group in the Big Apple, has year-round and seasonal green markets and farmstands in Queens. “Right now, market visitors will find apples, greenhouse-grown leafy greens, root vegetables, baked goods made with local grains, honey, meat, maple syrup, milk and cheeses — all grown and produced here in the Northeast,” GrowNYC Regional Coordinator Winnie Lee said. “Some plants require 60 days in the ground before they are ready for harvest. But the bounty of wonderful produce, including rhubarb, asparagus, radishes and strawberries, is just around the corner!” The Jackson Heights Greenmarket, on 34th Avenue between 79th and 80th streets, is open year-round on Sundays, according to GrowNYC. It will be open until 2 p.m. through May and to 3 p.m. from June to December. The Sunnyside Greenmarket is open yearround on Saturdays. Located on Skillman Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets, the market is open until 2 p.m. this month and then until 3 p.m. May through December.

The last farmers market to be open yearround is the Forest Hills Greenmarket, which is located at 106-28 Queens Blvd. at 70th Avenue, on the south side of the boulevard. It has the same schedule as the one in Jackson Heights. All three year-round farmers markets accept EBT/food stamps and collect food scraps for composts, according to GrowNYC. Sunnyside Greenmarket also recycles textiles. GrowNYC’s seasonal markets are open in June and July in Elmhurst, Corona, MyrtleWyckoff and Flushing. “The farmers market at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst returns on Tuesday, June 14th from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.,” said a spokeswoman Health + Hospitals. “They’ll be there every Tuesday serving fresh fruit, vegetables and baked goods.” The market at the hospital is located along the hospital’s entrance on 41st Avenue between 80th and 81st streets and closes its market Nov. 22. The Corona Greenmarket will open on Fridays starting June 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and close on Nov. 18. It is located at Roosevelt Avenue and 103rd Street. The Myrtle-Wyckoff Greenmarket will be from July 7 to Nov. 17 on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is located on Wyckoff Avenue between Gates and Myrtle avenues. The Flushing Greenmarket will run

from July 9 to Nov. 19. The first two farmstands are from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The latter is from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Down to Earth Farmers Markets, which manages farmers markets in and around New York City, will host one at Cunningham Park on Sundays April 24 to Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a parking lot off Union Turnpike near the tennis courts in Fresh Meadows. “We will be offering everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to pickles,” said Carol Alexander of vendor relations at Down to Earth. The Sovereign Markets, a community health and economic organization dedicated to providing fresh foods, music and artisanal products from minority vendors and artists, will have its third Laurelton Farmers Market Saturdays starting May 8 to October from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Long Island Rail Road Laurelton station parking lot at 225th Street and 141st Avenue. There will be 531 vendors throughout the season participating at the market, accordLaurelton Farmers Market expects 531 vendors ing to its founder, Dianna Rose. PHOTO COURTESY SOVEREIGN MARKET this season. “We’ve had two businesses so far that used from July 27 to Nov. 24 on Wednesdays from 8 the farmers market as a springboard and they a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maple Playground on Kis- opened up brick-and-mortars,” said Rose about Earnest Foods supermarket in St. Albans and sena Boulevard and Maple Avenue. Forest Park Farmstand located at Myrtle Prince Abou’s Butchery, which is in the process Avenue and Park Lane South, Ridgewood of opening up a brick-and-mortar store. “I feel blessed that people would like to be a part of Farmstand on Cypress Avenue between Myrtle and Putnam avenues, and Ditmars Park Farm- Sovereign Markets ... The goal for this year is not to have just a packed market, but packed stand on Steinway Street between Ditmars Boulevard and 23rd Avenue, will be open Saturdays markets that are growing.”

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America’s birthplace beckons Philadelphia has history, culture, fantastic food and a NY Mets nemesis by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

website historicphiladelphia.org states its narrow, winding stairs are not accessible to strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, or motorized scooters. For guests with mobility issues, the museum offers a “first-floor tour,” which includes some walking and two steps up and down. The courtyard, including Ross’ grave and a seasonal garden, the museum store and exhibition gallery, gift shop and restrooms are accessible. For those who cannot tour the house due to mobility challenges, Betsy will come out and visit if she is available. More information is available by phone at (215) 629-4026 or by email at visitorservices@historicphiladelphia.org.

Just about 95 miles and a little over two hours away by car is the place that brought America independence and Rocky Balboa, and invented the cheesesteak. Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, has history, museums of art and science and Penn’s Landing, its own answer to the South Street Seaport, on the Delaware river. It makes a great place for a road trip, and you can even catch the Mets there seven times this year. Information on the following attractions and more is available online at visA Founding Father itphilly.com. A representative of visitphilly. The gravesite of Benjamin Franklin, the com told the Chronicle that the city does not have any mandatory Covid protocols in scientist, statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence, is in the Christ Church effect. Masks are optional in most places. Burial Ground on Arch Street, two blocks west of the Betsy Ross House. It is open 11 Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 The birthplace of the United States, where for children 12 and under. the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution The arts, Rocky and Harry were signed, is on Chestnut Moviegoers are familiar Street. Built in 1732, it also is with the montage of fictional the place where George Washboxer Rocky Balboa training ington was appointed to head in the streets of Philadelphia, the Continental Army in 1775. ending with a sprint up the It is operated by the U.S. steps of the Philadelphia National Park Service, as is the Museum of Art at 2600 BenjaLiberty Bell Center in the park min Franklin Pkwy. far to the just across the street. Independence Hall visits are by tour only, with reser- west of the historic district. One can pose vations available between 9 a.m. and 4:40 with a bronze statue of Sylvester Stallone’s p.m. Free timed tickets can be reserved for a Hollywood heavyweight outside the museum $1-per-ticket fee at recreation.gov or by call- before heading up the steps and checking out ing 1 (877) 444-6777 from 10 a.m. to mid- the works inside. The collection includes works of some of night. The Liberty Bell Center is at 526 Market St. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and history’s most acclaimed artists, including Edouard Manet, Andy Warhol, Claude admission is free. Monet, Peter Paul Rubens, Paul Cézanne, Georgia O’Keefe and Auguste Rodin. First American flag Hours are Sunday, Monday, Thursday and The Betsy Ross House, at 239 Arch St., is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday where Ross sewed the first 13-star American flag. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults; $23 for seniors 65 and over; $14 for Self-guided tours are $8 for adults and $6 for students with valid ID; $12 for guests of memchildren, students, seniors and members of the bers; and free for members and those 18 and military. Audio tours are $10 and $8. The house is nearly 300 years old, and the under. Advance tickets are recommended, and can be bought online at philamuseum.org/visit. Three blocks away at 2151 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. are more works of the French sculptor Rodin (1840-1917) at the Rodin Museum. It is open Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults; $11 for seniors 65 and over; $7 for students with valid ID; and free for members and those 18 and under. Two-day tickets are $25. Tickets can be purchased at rodinmuseum.org/visit. Back at 222 North 20 St., the Franklin Institute Science Museum is dedicated to science, technology and discovery. It has a planetarium, an observatory and numerous educational programs. A special attraction going on now is “Harry Potter: The Exhibition,” an interactive and immersive experience incorporating Where it all began: Independence Hall, where modern technology on a journey to Hogwarts the Declaration and Constitution were created. and its surrounding environs. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Visitors to Philadelphia flock to the Liberty Bell Center, across the street from Independence PHOTO COURTESY U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Hall. Admission is free. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., while “Harry Potter: The Exhibition is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last entry to the exhibition is 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets not including the Harry Potter exhibit are $23 for adults and $11 for children 3 to 11. Combination tickets for general admission and “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” are $43 for adults; $39 for children; and $41 for seniors and members of the military from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last exhibit entry at 3:30 p.m.; and $30 to visit the exhibition from 5 to 8 p.m., which does not include the normal museum general admission). VIP tickets are $59. Tickets and information are available online at fi.edu. Congregation Mikveh Israel, founded in Philadelphia in 1740, was known as “the synagogue of the American Revolution.” The founders’ descendants in 1976 founded the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, located at 101 South Independence Mall East, just up the block and across the street from the Liberty Bell Center. The galleries are temporarily closed, but the museum’s collection and exhibits can be seen in a virtual tour online at theweitzman.org/visit. Food and recreation The City of Brotherly Love also loves and prides itself on the five-star dining delicacy known as the cheesesteak, in which beef can be combined with chopped peppers, onions and maybe mushrooms on a long roll and transformed into a religious experience augmented with one’s choice of cheese. Among most noted locations, in no particular order, are: • Pat’s King of Steaks, billing itself as inventor, at 1237 E. Passyunk Ave.; • Geno’s Steaks, billing itself as the best in Philly, at 1219 South 9th St.; • Joe’s Cheesesteaks + Soda Shop, billing itself as having perfected the cheesesteak, at 1 W. Girard Ave. in Fishtown and 6030 Tor-

resdale Ave. in Torresdale; and • Sonny’s Famous Cheesesteaks, billed by GQ Magazine as the best in the city, at 228 Market St. Back at 1136 Arch St., #400 is the famed Reading Terminal Market where one can find an eclectic assortment of fresh or prepared produce, meat, seafood, baked goods, sitdown dining and more. Details are available at readingterminalmarket.org. Penn’s Landing is named in honor of William Penn’s arrival in Philadelphia in 1682. It offers parks, recreation, entertainment, cultural offerings and fine dining year ’round on the west bank of the Delaware River. Details are available at visitphilly.com. Play ball Unable to make the Philadelphia Phillies’ visit to Citi Field April 29 to May 1 and want to add a road trip aspect to a Mets game with a heated rival in the National League East? The Amazin’s play at PNC Park on May 5, 6, 7 and 8; and again on Aug. 19, 20 and 21.

Rocky Balboa greets visitors on the west side of town by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. PHOTO BY J. FUSCO FOR GPTMC / VISITPHILLY.COM

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Someplace that’s green Community gardens thrive in Queens by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

If you have a talent for gardening, an interest in developing one or just like to steal away to a small patch of green near your home, there is a community garden somewhere in Queens that is waiting to welcome you. The GreenThumb program, run by the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, sponsors more than 550 gardens run by volunteer groups, including 40 in the Borough of Queens from the Rockaways to East Elmhurst, and from Long Island City to Cambria Heights. “Community gardens are publicly accessible open space that is stewarded collectively by a group of volunteers,” a Parks and Recreation spokesman said in an email to the Chronicle. “These spaces may use shared or individual plots and may grow botanical plants, fruits, and/or vegetables. Community gardens and the gardeners who steward them contribute to the environmental sustainability, public health and community resilience of their

neighborhoods and cities.” Established in 1978, according to Parks and Rec, the GreenThumb helps more than 20,000 volunteers with gardening materials, technical assistance, educational workshops and seasonal programs. A list of gardens in Queens and information on how to join them can be found online at on.nyc.gov/3va0s3l. The list also contains links to social media pages that some of the volunteer groups maintain. All licensed and registered GreenThumb gardens must, under normal circumstances, remain open to the public for at least 20 hours per week during the official gardening season of April 1 to Oct. 31. There are exceptions, of course, such as the Project Eden Garden in Rego Park, located at 67-02 Kessel St. at the intersection with Yellowstone Boulevard. While daffodils have bloomed from a few of the raised beds, it is not open to the public as it still is undergoing work to repair damage suffered during the remnants of Hurricane Ida last Sept. 1. Parks and Recreation is hoping for a reopening by late April.

City-supported community gardens like this one in Rego Park next to Forest Hills always are looking for more volunteers and visitors. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON For those interested in starting their own garden, the website has information on that as well. After filling out a preliminary form available on the website, interested groups must identify a plot of land that would be suitable — city-owned land is said to be preferable, and the GreenThumb web page has a link to city properties that have been identified as being possibly suited for a garden. If a privately owned parcel is preferable,

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there are links for identifying the owners as the first step in obtaining permission. Organizers must then demonstrate that they have a large enough group to adequately maintain a garden. The group then must draft a proposal and secure area support, including from the neighborhood’s community board. Parks and Recreation also offers assistance with gaining access to water, creating healthy soil, identifying suitable plants and accessing funding.

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Where to play tennis in Queens by Sophie Krichevsky

classes start as early as May 1, with the opportunity for free match play if you sign up for two instructional programs. Cunningham Tennis, located in Fresh With its world-famous Billie Jean King Meadows’ Cunningham Park off of Union Tennis Center and Forest Hills Stadium, there’s no question that Queens has tennis Turnpike, offers both indoor and outdoor play for juniors and adults alike. Among the venrunning through its veins, and has for some ue’s numerous options for play is its “Spring time. And Queens tennis fans not need wait Mini Sessions,” during which players can for the US Open to return to Flushing Meadows Corona Park to get back in the fine-tune their serves, swings and more swing of things. You don’t need to be Rafael through drills with Cunningham’s coaching staff. Though the venue’s winter Nadal to play, either. For session is still ongoing, the those looking to hit the spring edition will kick off in courts and sharpen their early May and run through the skills this spring, the opporend of June. The dates are not tunities are endless. confirmed, however, as that Even if you aren’t the next depends on when the venue is Serena Williams, you can able to open up its dome for the play where she plays this season. For adults, the clinic is spring: The Billie Jean King $25 and “drill and play” is $44. Tennis Center is offering Prices for juniors vary, dependplenty of programming this ing on the student’s level of play. Sign up for spring. For adults, weekly classes in the eveall spring minisessions will open when the nings begin April 25 and run through June 26, which start at $396 for eight classes. program begins in May. Cunningham Tennis also offers adult There are some more affordable options during the day, however, including the 60-plus leagues, in which players are matched with opponents at similar skill levels. For addiRound Robin, which runs Mondays, Wednestional information on that, send an email to days and Fridays starting April 27. That program costs $110 for eight weeks. For juniors, info@cunninghamtennis.com. Associate Editor

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 14, 2022

Hitting the court this spring

Queens residents can get in the swing of things at the borough’s numerous tennis courts this PHOTO BY BUD TAYLOR / FILE spring, including at Fresh Meadows’ Cunningham Tennis, above. But for those looking for a more casual setting, Cunningham offers outdoor play at $35 per hour. Indoor rates vary and depend on the time of day. Alley Pond Tennis in Queens Village also offers classes for adults and juniors. Adult lessons are expected to begin the second week of May, depending on the number of sign-ups. Juniors lessons will begin on May 7. While those offer more instruction, Alley Pond Tennis also has “drill and play” ses-

sions, which focus more on repetition Spots for those should be reserved in advance, and have a 24-hour cancellation policy. These are just a handful of the places Queens residents can make a racquet this spring — many other courts are open, as well. Those include Juniper Valley Park’s courts in Middle Village, the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center in St. Albans, Astoria Park and more. To find a city tennis court near you, visit nycgovparks.org/facilities/tennis.

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Parks and Recreation in Queens Puppetry, dancing, biking, tea and more at World’s Borough green spaces by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

Spring is finally here, and what better way to soak in the sunshine or meet new people than enjoying activities in green spaces or swinging by recreational centers throughout the World’s Borough? Lost Battalion Hall The Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center in Rego Park is offering dance classes to help seniors swing into the spring season. On April 14, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 93-29 Queens Blvd. the classes will help the young at heart find their groove again. For more details call (718) 896-8511 or email jesschin@qchnyc.org. The recreation center will also help the 60 and over release stress from their minds and bodies with Tai Chi lessons on April 15 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. At the center, seniors could learn cultural dances on April 25 from 2 to 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the program is to help assisting with movement and fluidity, according to the Parks Department. On May 5, the center will have four art classes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., teaching guests four distinctive styles.

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Al Oerter Recreation Center Like music? Looking to stay fit? Shinzuyo Zayo, a Zumba instructor at Al Oerter Recreation Center, will start teaching dance fitness classes every Saturday April 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. “She uses pop music for routines,” said a spokeswoman for the

recreation center. “Her classes fill up the whole gym with 30 to as much as 50 people.” The Downtown Flushing recreation center is located at 131-40 Fowler Ave. Cunningham Park Are you a bikehead? While it may not be as competitive as the Tour de France, a woodland bike tour through Cunningham Park, which is sandwiched between Fresh Meadows and Oakland Gardens, may be a far more picturesque way to spend the day. If interested in the April 16 excursion, registration information can be found at nycgovparks.org/ events/2022/04/16/woodland-biketour. The cycling affair is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the meet-up spot is at Union Turnpike and 196th Street. Thinking about getting a green thumb? What better way to get a start than planting a tree in the lush forest of Cunningham Park on April 23 or 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Parks Department’s Stewardship team will teach the proper technique for planting trees and those who are interested in volunteering at the event, which is at the 210th Street Playground on 73rd Avenue, are asked to wear sturdy boots, long pants and clothing that they don’t mind getting dirty. Youths under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone and face masks may be worn at one’s own discretion. Email stewardship@ parks.nyc.gov for more details. “Trees provide so many benefits to New Yorkers such as improved air and water quality, reduced pollution, and lower energy costs,” according to the Parks Department.

Kids learn to plant basil seeds at Rufus King Park from a representative at PHOTO COURTESY NYC PARKS the Growing Up Green Charter School II in Jamaica.

The Japanese American Association of New York will host a Cherry Tree Celebration at Flushing Meadows Corona Park’s Cherry Grove on April 30. There will be a tea ceremony, dance and music, featuring Taiko or traditional drums PHOTO COURTESY ALLIANCE FOR FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK from the East Asian country. Flushing Meadows Corona Park Flushing Meadows Corona Park continues its annual Earth Week Series and it will kick off ahead of Earth Day, April 22, which coincides with Spring Break (April 15 to 22) for New York City public schoolchildren. “There will be events running from April 17 to April 24, with various activities for volunteers to participate in — from plantings to shoreline cleanups and more!” said Sarah Khan, the stewardship coordinator at the Parks Department. On April 17 there will be a bird walk along the Pat Dolan Trail, at the park located between Grand Central Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway. There will be bird blind maintenance and a lakeside cleanup at Ederle Terrace on April 18. On April 19 there will Meadow Lake Boathouse perimeter maintenance and Rocket Thrower area maintenance. Volunteers can return to Meadow Lake for a rain garden planting on April 20. The Henry Hudson Entrance will need some tender, loving and care on April 21, which is when there will also be more bird activities at the park’s boathouse. On Earth Day, there will a bird planting at Meadow Lake. A shoreline cleanup is scheduled for April 23 at Flushing Bay. A final planting will be at Willow Lake on April 24. “Show your support for environmental preservation and FMCP by coming out and volunteering with us.

All ages are welcomed and no experience is necessary.” To learn more details about the events at FMCP visit allianceforfmcp.org/stewardship. If interested in volunteering at the park register at forms.gle/LynGsXyNZUzJf4H48. After Earth Week, The Japanese American Association of New York will host a Japanese Cherry Tree Celebration at FMCP’s Cherry Grove on April 30 with dance, Taiko drums and a tea ceremony, according to the Queens Tourism Council. “We will also perform a marching song,” said a spokeswoman of JAA. “The Japanese Consulate General will also come from Japan.” Dutch Kills Playground The Central Astoria Local Development Corp., a community organization dedicated to enhancing Astoria, will host a children’s event on April 19 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. at the Dutch Kills Playground at 36th Avenue and Crescent Street. A puppet show will kick things off, followed by a musical performance at 1 p.m. and arts and crafts at will start at 2 p.m. To learn more call (718) 728-7820 or email centralastoria@aol.com. Forest Park At Forest Park folks will have the chance to explore nature and plant trees. Guests will meet at 10 a.m. at the Forest Park Visitor Center at Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive.

“Join the Urban Park Rangers and the Forest Park Trails Crew for a light hike around Strack Pond: a haven for wildlife, trees and other plants,” said a Parks Department spokeswoman. “The Trails Crew will lead a tree-planting activity, so that participants may give back to the park and help grow a thriving forest for all to enjoy.” Go to nycgovparks.org/programs/ manage-your-programs-account to register. Rufus King Park King Manor Museum, a historic house, on a Colonial-era estate in Jamaica that is now Rufus King Park, located at 150-03 Jamaica Ave., will host several events at the green space. There will be a free book fair with organizations Reading for Black Lives and the BlaQue Resource Network on April 24, according to Kelsey Brow, executive director of King Manor. Councilman James Gennaro will host an e-waste recycling event on May 5. On May 28, the park will host a painting party with Mural Project NYC. All aforementioned events will be from 12 to 4 p.m. King Manor will also host a two-day festival featuring arts, artisans and a variety of local small businesses representing multiple cultures throughout the World’s Borough on June 3 and 4 from 12 to 5 p.m.

C M SG page 19 Y K Page 19 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 14, 2022

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Queens Chronicle Spring Guide 2022

Articles inside

Happy colors in women’s fashion

Swing into tennis at these courts

Community theater spring shows

A perfect time for outdoor events

Farmers markets set to produce

A historic day trip to Philadelphia

Events at parks and rec centers

Community gardens sprouting up