Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens) broke ground on renovations to two baseball fields in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in conjunction with the New York City Parks Department as the result of a $250,000 allotment from Hevesi’s office to enhance two baseball fields used by local youth athletic leagues. The grant, known as a Community Capital Assistance Program (CCAP) provided by the New York State Assembly, makes up the majority of the necessary funding for the project, while the remaining $150,000 will be provided by the New York City Mayor’s office. According to the New York City Parks Department, the work on the fields, which began in March of this year, includes re-grading the infield, adding in new grass turf in the center of the infield to prevent clay movement and for better drainage, new backstops, fencing, benches, and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility.

As August through October is peak hurricane season, New York City’s Office of Emergency Management is working to bolster emergency preparedness within the community to successfully equip residents with the skills and resources they need to protect themselves and their families in the event of a weather-related emergency. If a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued, here are some useful tips to consider: bring inside loose, lightweight objects. Top off vehicles and generators with fuel, and charge cell phone batteries. Turn refrigerators and freezers to a colder setting so items that need refrigeration will stay cooler for a longer period of time. Refill essential medication prescriptions. Keep a few of these items in a bag in case of an evacuation: First-Aid kit, battery-operated AM/FM radio, extra batteries, flashlight, nonperishable canned foods and manual can opener, bottled water, an extra set of car and house keys, and copies of important documents in a waterproof and portable container (insurance cards, photo ID, etc.) If taking shelter, stay away from windows and stay indoors to avoid hurricane hazards. For more information on Hurricane Evacuation Zones and procedures for pets, please visit www.nyc.gov/hurricanezones, or call 311.

The Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring their annual Fall Festival Street Fair on Sunday, September 28, 2014. The festival will take place on Austin Street, between 69th Road and 72nd Road from 12:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and will include food, games, and shopping vendors. For more information, please contact the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce at (718) 268-6565, or visit their website at www.foresthillschamber.org.