24 The QUEE NS Courier • october 9, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Underfunded parks to receive funding: de Blasio BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ @ericjankiewicz [email protected] Mayor Bill de Blasio visited a Flushing park on Oct. 7 to announce that the city will invest in revitalizing underfunded parks across Queens and New York City. “It’s a place that needs a lot of support,” de Blasio said about Bowne Playground, where he made the announcement. “It’s been decades of disinvestment in our parks. There’s not much greenery here, as you can see.” The administration identified 215 parks across the city that each received less than $250,000 in the last two decades. According to de Blasio, this level of funding doesn’t allow the Parks Department to repair the “wear and tear” of parks such as Bowne Playground. In the first phase of the administration’s attempt to fix up these parks, they aim to invest more than $130 million to rebuild 35 small community parks. While this initiative will be focusing on 35 parks, the administration wants to eventually treat all of the 215 parks that are underfunded to some green. Queens alone has more than 50 parks that are underfunded. Bowne Playground will be one of the parks to receive funding for expanded recreational programming and increased maintenance. De Blasio also expressed a desire to have less concrete and more trees and grass. “This park is an example of why we’re doing this,” de Blasio said, citing the neighborhood’s high population and few public spaces. “Parks are so many things to us,” he said. “It’s truly a necessity in urban environments.” Mayor Bill de Blasio visited a Flushing park on Oct. 7 to announce that the city will invest in revitalizing underfunded parks across Queens and New York City. THE COURIER/Photo by Eric Jankiewicz When It Comes to Cancer Screening, It’s Time to Start Using Your Head (and Neck) Head and neck cancers affect the tongue, mouth, lips, throat, voice box, nose, salivary glands and thyroid. This year, more than 55,000 people will develop new cases of head and neck cancers. Are you at risk? You might discover early indications of head and neck cancer, such as sores, pain, lumps or red/dark patches in your mouth, but the best way to determine your risk is to be screened by a doctor. Come to the screening at the Hearing and Speech Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center on October 16. It’s free and the actual screening takes just 10 minutes. Plus, it can save your life. Now that’s using your head. Free Screening for Head and Neck Cancers Date: Thursday, October 16 Time: 5:30 – 8:30pm Location: Hearing and Speech Center Long Island Jewish Medical Center 430 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park Call: 1-855-858-8550 Call to schedule an appointment. Space is limited. 18289f-Cancer Head & Neck Screening Ad - Queens Courier Size: 8.785” x 5.6875”
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