FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
Elmhurst volunteers help clean
up community’s rain gardens
BY ALICIA VENTER
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Volunteers in Elmhurst helped clean
up the community last month during a
neighborhood rain garden cleanup day,
where they planted sustainable vegetation,
leveled the soil and cleaned the rain
gardens in the area.
Th e event, which took place on
Wednesday, Oct. 20, was a collaborative
eff ort between the P.S./I.S. 102Q Bayview’s
Parent Association (Q102PA) volunteers,
the Offi ce of the Public Advocate Jumaane
Williams and the NYC Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP).
Beginning at Seabury Street and Grand
Avenue in Elmhurst, volunteers were
given training by the NYC DEP about the
importance of rain gardens, wastewater
management and infrastructure.
“With recent devastating fl ooding in
Queens, we saw the consequences of failure
to upgrade NYC’s climate infrastructure
or plans,” Williams wrote on Twitter
following the cleanup. “But yesterday, we
saw what neighbors can do to help protect
our communities against future fl oods as
we cleaned rain gardens and improved
resiliency.”
Soon aft er being thanked by Williams
and DEP Commissioner Vincent
Sapienza, the volunteers got to work.
“Over the last several years, DEP has
built about 11,000 rain gardens across the
city to augment the sewer system during
rain storms and reduce fl ooding,”
said Ted Timbers, a DEP spokesperson.
“Engaging the community on the critical
role the rain gardens play in keeping New
Yorkers safe, and the importance of keeping
them free of litter will help to improve
everyone’s quality of life.”
All the equipment needed for the event,
such as planting tools, gloves, safety vests
and grabbers, were provided by the DEP.
With their motto, “Together We Soar!,”
the Parent Association proudly helped
their community, and plans to do more
community service events in the future.
Queens College library expands hours for students on weekends
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e Benjamin Rosenthal Library at
Queens College is now open on weekends
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for all students
who meet the COVID-19 campus access
requirements, as well as students working
at Elmhurst Hospital, faculty and staff .
In light of many students trying to fi nd
a quiet place to focus on their degree
studies, state Senator Toby Stavisky
reached out to administrators at Queens
College in order to come up with possible
solutions.
“We have men and women who have
been out on the front lines during the
COVID-19 pandemic supporting themselves,
their families and their community,
while trying to earn a degree,” Stavisky
said. “Opening Rosenthal Library on
weekends will provide a focused, dedicated
work environment for these students
and others. Th e faculty will not only be
open to students working at the hospital,
but for all students who meet the COVID-
19 campus access requirements, and I am
grateful to President Frank Wu.”
In a recent meeting at the NYC Health +
Hospitals/Elmhurst, Stavisky spoke with
hospital CEO Helen Arteaga Landaverde,
who revealed that many hospital employees
were continuing their education at
QC, but were struggling to fi nd a place
to study outside of regular school hours.
Aft er discussing the matter with Wu and
Simone Yearwood, associate dean/chief
librarian, it was eventually decided that,
in addition to the 24-hour a day access
to the university library that was already
provided, the Rosenthal Library should
be available for all students who meet
the COVID-19 campus access requirements,
students working at the hospital,
faculty and staff .
Landaverde thanked Stavisky, whom
she referred to as a “great champion of
education” in the borough, for helping
Queens College to expand their library
operations to include weekends.
“Th is will greatly aid and support our
frontline workers and others in the community
who are continuing their education
and need fl exibility regarding hours
of study,” Landaverde said.
Wu said they’re pleased to work with
Stavisky, a longtime supporter and alumna
of Queens College, in providing weekend
access to the Rosenthal Library to the
college community.
“In addition to the 24-hour a day access
to the library we already provide during
fi nals, this weekend availability will help
students in need of a quiet and safe space
for their studies,” Wu said.
Prior reservation for study space should
be made the night before a planned visit
at QC-CUNY.libcal.com/ by those cleared
for campus access.
Photo courtesy of Queens College
The Queens College Rosenthal Library
Photos courtesy of public advocate’s office
Volunteers held a neighborhood rain garden
cleanup day in Elmhurst in October.
/QC-CUNY.libcal.com
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