🌱 Flushing Branch Reopening + Supply Drives For Ukraine

Up and at 'em, Queens! Let's get this Wednesday started. Here's everything you need to know around town today.

First, today's weather:

Snow and rain, 1-2"; colder. High: 36 Low: 30.

One of the easiest ways to connect with local customers and stay top-of-mind in town is to sponsor the Queens Daily. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Queens today:

1. After being closed since March 2020, the Flushing branch of the Queens Public Library is scheduled to reopen in April. Although the library closed with the rest of the library system at the start of the pandemic, the branch hadn't reopened due to a faulty HVAC system and the construction of a second elevator. Prior to its closure, the library was the busiest in the country, drawing 1.7 million visitors in 2019 and serving as a hub for Flushing’s diverse community. (Flushing Post)
2. Elected officials and residents throughout Queens have launched various supply drives for Ukraine. These drives are taking place across the borough, and are asking for participants to provide canned food, clothing, children's toys without batteries, sealed pet food, toiletries, first-aid kits, and more. In the next week, well over half of Queens’ City Council delegation will host supply drives. (Queens Daily Eagle)
3. Police are asking the public for help in finding two serial thieves accused of stealing thousands of dollars from homes and businesses across Queens. According to authorities, the man and woman duo has stolen thousands of dollars in at least five incidents since last year. In their biggest robbery, the pair made off with $40,000 from a home store. (WABC-TV)

From our sponsor:

Today's Queens Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at GoodRx — the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com.

Today in Queens:

• What Are You Reading?, At Laurelton Branch Library (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Come meet successful women-run companies and business coaches at the Queens Chamber of Commerce's Women's Mentoring event today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Harvest Room, located at 90-40 160th Street in Jamaica. (Facebook)
• Remember to pick up your free at-home COVID-19 tests at the Queens Botanical Garden! Distribution at the Garden takes place Tuesdays through Fridays, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tests are given out on a first-come, first-served basis and while supplies last. (Facebook)
• Over 200 groups signed up to testify during Queens Borough President Donovan Richards' budget hearing to solidify the borough's priorities in the mayor's 2023 preliminary budget, which was released on Feb. 16. (Twitter)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• The Learning Experience- Summer Camp Ages 2-10 years old (March 10)
• Clean Energy is Coming to Astoria: Community Info and Q&A Session (March 10)
• Beating the Odds, The Al Rosen Story Film Screening (March 14)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• St Patrick's Day Bar Experience at Doha Bar Lounge (Details)
• Add your announcement

For sale:

• Close-out Sale! (Details)
• Add your item

Loving the Queens Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business showcased in front of readers

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.