Shoreline Cleanup a Success

In a recent Weekend Edition, I mentioned that the annual Shoreline Cleanup was happening. Well, it did (I was there!), and it was a great success! Green Shores, the organizers, sent out a message to participants, which I will share with you below:

Green Shores NYC thanks everyone who helped make our 5th ANNUAL SHORELINE CLEANUP in Astoria Park a success!

Our partner organizations—the Astoria Park Alliance, Partnership for Parks, and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation—helped the day run smoothly. Volunteers from Forest Hills High School, International High School and members of the Astoria-Long Island City community braved the rain to join us. We filled over 70 bags of trash in only a few hours!

You can watch coverage of the cleanup on NY 1 here.

Thanks to all who participated!

Astorian Weekend Edition 10.07.08

This weekend provides a number of opportunities to contribute to your community! First, on Saturday is the Shoreline Cleanup at Astoria Park. From 1-4 p.m that day come join your fellow Astoria residents to help clean up the shoreline. Gloves will be provided as well as trash bags. Meet at the War Memorial on Shore Blvd. Wear comfy clothes and durable shoes - that means no sandals or flip flops (glass and crud, gross). Older kids and teens should be accompanied by a parent.

Saturday night come by Fresh Start Market (29-13 23rd Avenue) for a night of live music by Agua Trip, wine, cheese, and freelance photography to raise money for Smile Train, the world's leading cleft surgery charity. The event is in their back garden patio and goes from 7-9 p.m.

On Sunday, Seeds of Love is having their first sale of the summer. The proceeds from this sidewalk sale will go to help 9- year old cancer fighter Jessica Easle. She has Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer and has relapsed recently. The sale lasts from 2-7 p.m. at 24-37 Crescent Street. Free gift while supplies last, too!

On Friday night, the Whiskey Dregs are doing an open mic night at Freeze Peach (22-00 29th Street). Bring whatever you want. This is a free for all. Hosted by Carlos Detres, and signups start at 8 p.m.

On Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., head down to Queensbridge Park for CityParks Dance: Eleone Dance Theatre & Silver Brown Dance Company. Free!

And remember that one way to beat the heat (it's supposed to be hot and humid) is a dip in Astoria Pool. Otherwise, grab some ice cream! There's great gelato at La Guli (29-15 Ditmars) and Martha's Bakery (36-21 Ditmars), and ice cream at Igloo (22-26 31st Street), ColdStone (34-20 Broadway) and Baskin Robbins (multiple locations). If you know other ice cream/gelato sources, please share in the comments.

Shoreline Cleanup Pictures!

On Saturday, members of the community got together to clean up the shoreline at Astoria Park as part of the International Coastal Cleanup. We were joined by the super volunteers from RockCorps - all teenagers, and really helped make a difference with there hard work. I took a lot of pictures of the event, and am including some of my favorites below.

Hooray for community involvement!



Photo credit: Meg Cotner via a Creative Commons license

Shoreline Cleanup - Reminder!

Tomorrow is the Shoreline Cleanup at Astoria Park - starts around 9am and goes to about 12:30 or so. Check my previous post for more info. Hope to see you there!

Upcoming: Shoreline Cleanup

Last night I attended the first fall meeting of the Astoria Parks Alliance. We talked about a lot of things, and one of them was the upcoming Shoreline Cleanup. I've participated in it since I moved to Astoria two years ago, and plan on being there this year too, in an organizational role. I'll probably be one of the people you see as you arrive and sign in.

The Shoreline Cleanup is part of the 21st Annual International Coastal Cleanup, a national event organized by the American Littoral Society. Thousands of volunteers around the world (80 countries, to be exact, and 20 sites in Queens) will be cleaning up their beaches and shorelines, as well as recording the garbage they collect there. The shoreline cleanup will be taking place here in Astoria at Astoria Park. There will also be cleanup events at Hallets Cove (near Hallets Cove Playground) and at Socrates. Here are the details from Green Shores:

• What: 21st Annual International Coastal Cleanup
• When: Saturday, September 15, 9am-12:30pm
• Where: Astoria Park Registration in front of the War Memorial, Astoria Park, along Shore Boulevard.
• Who: All are welcome, though young folks should be accompanied by an adult. Wear hard soled shoes and be prepared to get a bit wet and dirty. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided, though if you have your own gloves please bring them.
  
• Sponsored by: Green Shores NYC, Astoria/LIC Waterfronts Park Alliance, and Partnership for Parks

The cleanup is open to anyone who wants to help, who is 14 years an older. If you need more information or have questions, feel free to contact Karen Overton at 718-706-8044 or Karen.Overton@parks.nyc.gov . We hope to see you there!