38 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • OCTOBER 29, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
38 kids THE QUEENS & education
COURIER • OCTOBER 29, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM City launches mental health initiative to help students
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
adomenech@qns.com
@AODNewz
Mayor Bill de Blasio and fi rst lady
Chirlane McCray are launching a new
initiative to help the mental health of
young people living in neighborhoods
most heavily impacted by the coronavirus
pandemic.
“Now, more than ever, we want all of our
students to know that they are not alone,
and there are compassionate, trained professionals
ready to help them process anxiety,
grief and trauma that have intensifi ed
during the pandemic,” said McCray.
Th e new initiative comes a day aft er
Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed rising
mental health concerns stemming
from the pandemic telling reporters that
“we have a serious problem of the emotional
stress and anxiety that COVID has
caused, and the longer it goes on the worst
it gets.”
Governor Cuomo admitted that at fi rst,
he did not fully understand the expression
“COVID fatigue,” mistakenly believing
it referred to growing tired of wearing
face masks or maintaining social distance.
“To that I said, you don’t have the luxury
of fatigue because the virus isn’t fatigued
… but there are diff erent facets to fatigue
that are frankly more problematic.”
Th e pandemic has pushed 325,000 children
into poverty across New York state
and 4,200 children have lost a parent
or caregiver to the virus, according to a
report from the United Hospital Fund.
Th e report found that the virus has had
a disproportionate eff ect on communities
of color with Black and brown children
having lost parents to COVID at
twice the rate of white children. Stress
over increased food insecurity as well as
isolation and loss of routine are also negatively
impacting children’s mental health
during the pandemic, according to Alice
Bufk in, director of child advocacy group
the Citizens Committee on Children’s
Policy Director.
Th e organization works with dozens
of child psychiatrists in the city, many of
whom are growing increasingly worried
over the high number of families seeking
mental health services for their children
during the pandemic and the intensity
of their symptoms. Although Bufk in is
appreciative of the mayor’s initiative, she
thinks that more long-term investment is
needed from the city and state in order to
allow for communities to fully mentally
recover from COVID.
“When mental health care needs go
unaddressed in childhood, we see them
get frequently exacerbated as children
become adults,” Bufk in told amNewYork
Metro.
Under the initiative, current city mental
health workers will become specialists
and lead group therapy sessions with students
at 350 schools. Specialists will serve
up to fi ve schools and will also educate
students and their caregivers.
Best family-friendly corn mazes in Queens and beyond
BY QNS STAFF
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Corn mazes are back this season! It’s no
surprise that fall would look diff erent this
year with limited activities, however, these
farms are doing their best to keep families
safe with new safety guidelines so that you
don’t have to compromise on the fun.
Fall is the best time to take a break and
head to one of these nearby farms to enjoy
the many family-friendly activities during
this time of harvest. Spend the dayapple
picking, searching for the perfectpumpkin
to take homeand carve, or even enjoying
farm-baked goods such as apple cider
donuts.
However you choose to spend your day at
the farm, make sure to check out these corn
mazes located near New York City. Wander
through and solve the clues to these mazes
with the family and see just how long it will
take to make it out on the other side!
Amazing Maize Maze at Queens County
Farm (73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Queens, NY
11004; 718-347-3276)
As the longest continually farmed site in
New York state, Queens County Farm opens
their pumpkin patch and other attractions
again for families to enjoy. Pumpkin month
at Queens County Farm is full of excitement
with their 3-acre Amazing Maize
Maze that is fi lled with tons of clues and
adventure. Th e Amazing Maize Maze is
open Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, from
Oct. 2 to 30, 2020, and Monday, Oct. 12.
Hours: Friday, noon to 4:30 p.m. / Saturday,
Sunday
Outhouse Orchards (139 Hardscrabble
Road, North Salem, NY 10560; 914-277-
3188)
Outhouse Orchards attracts plenty of
families year aft er year — you can even
bring your family dog! Choose from
pumpkins, gourds, and an assortment of
Halloween decorations as you celebrate
the fall season. Th ey also have a corn
maze full of clues ready for you and your
family to solve. You can evendownload
this corn maze mapas a guide to fi nd the
hidden clues and learn interesting facts
about space. Th e corn maze is $10 per
person and children under the 5 years old
can enter free but require the supervision
of an adult.
F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm (26
Pinelawn Rd., Melville, NY 11747; 631-
271-3276)
Catch the Annual Fall Festival at F&W
Schmitt’s Family Farm for pumpkin picking,
hayrides and more! Th e festivities run
from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31. F&W really
encourages parents to bring their children
to pick pumpkins, so come on out
for this family tradition. Check out LI’s
largest straw pyramid, play mini-golf and
have playground access. Th ey also have
a daytime, 7-acre corn maze, which this
year’s theme is “Arabian Nights, Legend of
the Lamp.” Th is maze is open weekends,
Columbus Day, and holidays. $9 for maze
admission.
Elwood Pumpkin Farm (1500 E Jericho
Tpke., Huntington, NY 11743; 631-368-
8626)
As Long Island’s most western pumpkin
farm, Elwood Pumpkin Farm opens up
pumpkin picking off the vine to you and
your family this fall! Kids also will love the
child corn maze and wagon ride around
the farm. Pumpkins are priced by size.
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends in
October and Columbus Day. Open weekdays
at 3 to 5 p.m. or by appointment.
Hank’s PumpkinTown (240 Montauk
Hwy., Water Mill, NY 11976; 631-726-4667)
Th e name says it best, as Hank’s
PumpkinTown truly is a pumpkin town
with pumpkins of all sizes! Other fall decorations
available include gourds, corn
stalks, straw bales, Indian Corn, mums,
Montauk daisies, door hanging and more.
New this year is the Pink Tractor, which
features pink porcelain doll pumpkins!
Kids can also enjoy three interactive corn
mazes with diff erent challenges for all
ages. All corn mazes will be contactless
this year. Be sure to also check out Th e
Market which includes apple cider slushies,
apple cider and pumpkin donuts, kettle
corn, candy and caramel apples, corn
dogs, chicken tenders and many more
treats. Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily.
Harbes Family Farm (715 Sound Ave.,
Mattituck, NY 11952; 631-298-0800)
With 8 acres of on-the-vine pumpkins,
Harbes Family Farm has a huge selection
of pumpkins just waiting for you to take
home! Th ere are many diff erent varieties
available, so you will have no shortage
of options here. Enjoy their apple cider
donuts and other options as you pick
your pumpkins. Pumpkins are sold by the
pound. Kids will also love fi nding beloved
characters from “Th e Wizard of Oz” in
their Wizard of Oz Maze. And come
nighttime, their orchard maze is transformed
into a spooky night maze every
Saturday in October — best for older kids.
Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Offi ce
File photo
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