Week In Review: Raccoons, Poetry and Fort Totten Park

On Monday, Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, and Assemblymen Andrew Hevesi, D-Forest Hills, continued their war on raccoons with a press conference held outside a vacant lot in Flushing, where neighbors say the presence of the masked mammals poses a constant threat to their pets, children and unsecured garbage cans. Read more .

On Tuesday, we spent a few minutes chatting with Jamie White, a Manhasset-based poet who regularly performs at Starbucks in Little Neck Plaza as a member of Performance Poets Association. Read about him , and check out some of his work.

The Samuel Field Y awarded an array of local leaders for their continued support of the organization's Community-Based Autism Initiatives. Honorees included State Senators Tony Avella, D-Bayside, Edward Braunstein, D-Whitestone, Toby Stavisky, D-Bayside and City Council Member Mark Weprin, D-Oakland Gardens.

was the destination for this week's cycling column. Conclusion: Fort Totten Park is an excellent place to explore by foot or bike. Other conclusion: We definitely recommend bringing a sandwich.

A packed house of family members, friends, associates and colleagues paid their last respects Thursday morning to former Governor Hugh Leo Carey at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown. Read more .

Finally, the answer to this week's Look Around Little Neck is the Little Neck LIRR station.