💉Polio Disaster Emergency Extended +Promising Curbside Compost Program

Good morning, Queens!🔋

Happy Monday to those who celebrate. Let's get this week started off right with some news you need to know:

• 💉 Gov. Kathy Hochul extended the state disaster emergency due to the ongoing spread of polio until Nov. 8. The state health department encourages all unvaccinated adults and minors to get inoculated against the virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis!
• 🥦 Food for thought... Queens' newly inaugurated organic food waste composting program may be the way of the future...
• 🧾 A new bill passed unanimously by the City Council could simplify the overly-complicated process of opening, owning, and operating a small business in the city.

🌞 Mostly sunny. High: 67 Low: 52.

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Here are the top stories in Queens today:

1. Gov. Kathy Hochul extended the state disaster emergency due to the ongoing spread of polio until Nov. 8 after genetically related poliovirus has continued to be detected in wastewater samples from Queens and other NYC counties. Under this order, state government must support counties in their efforts to facilitate and administer vaccinations and tests for poliovirus. The state health department encourages all unvaccinated adults and minors as young as two months to get inoculated against the virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis in some cases. While all people are at risk, the virus primarily affects children aged three and younger. Currently, around 79% of 2-year old children in New York are vaccinated against polio, though that percentage is significantly lower in several counties and zip codes.

Governor Kathy Hochul Executive Order

2. Queens’ newly inaugurated organic food waste composting program is the first project of its kind to divert food scraps from landfills, no sign-up required. Currently, optional curbside composting is available in only a few community districts in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, but the program’s expansion has stagnated due to a lack of participation. However, according to Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch, organic waste may be the “largest untapped opportunity for [diverting waste]” from the landfill. Nearly one third of the 24 million pounds of trash and recycling collected from NYC residences each day is made up of organic waste. If composting became compulsory, like recycling already is, the mass of waste dumped into landfills each day would shrink significantly.

The Guardian ; CBS New York

3. New legislation passed unanimously by the City Council could simplify the overly-complicated process of opening, owning, and operating a small business in the city. “It takes at least 13 different city agencies to open a small business and that is way too many,” said Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, which worked closely on the legislation. The new bill would require the Department of Small Business Services to create an online portal where all permit and license applications, and other related documentation, could be found. If the bill becomes law, the portal would have to be up and running by November 2023.

Queens Chronicle

4. Queens elected officials, community leaders, parents, and students gathered on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Jamaica to celebrate the official renaming of P.S.48Q to The David N. Dinkins School for Community Service. The school was renamed after former Mayor Dinkins, the first African American Mayor of New York City. “My vision for renaming P.S. 48Q was grounded in service to the community,” said Patricia Mitchell, who served as the school’s principal for 14 years. “We honor the legacy that David Dinkins left, by our commitment to excellence in education. His legacy will live on as we continue to serve this community.” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Eric Adams attended the ceremony.

Queens Courier

🗞 Hungry for more news? 🍴 Snack on these headlines:

• Four-alarm firm rips through Ridgewood apartment building, injuring eight (AM New York Metro)
• Newspaper boxes for Jewish press defaced (Queens Chronicle)
• Queens gunman who took pot shots at empty cars busted for attempted murder (New York Daily News)
• Man gets 12 years for hitting NYPD officer in the face with crowbar in Queens (PIX11 News)
• Small businesses get creative to hire hard-to-find labor (Yahoo Finance)

🗓 To Do Today in Queens:

• Socrates Sculpture Park Free Admission Monday (9 a.m.)
• Queens County Farm Museum Free Admission Monday (10 a.m.)
• Commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Queens Botantical Garden (Free Admission) (11 a.m.)
• Celebrate Free Laundry Day in Queens (11 a.m.)
• Rockaway Fall Festival (12 p.m.)
• Yoga On The Waterfront (6:30 p.m.)
• Online Queens Sangha With Lani Miller (7 p.m.)

🗣 Queens Chatter:

• 📚 Free college prep!: "College prep expert Dr. P. from Crimson Coaching will tell students and parents how they can use a variety of free online resources to develop a college list that's realistic, both academically and financially. Join us on Wednesday, October 12 at 6PM. https://queenslib.org/3rfQgoB" (Queens Public Library via Facebook)
• 💌 "Spread Love" mini murals now on display: "On exhibit now through 12/20: "Spread Love" mini murals! ... This exhibition is by @UnfamousNY featuring local artists. The exhibition features an array of multidisciplinary local artists coming together to create a variety of mini murals with themes ranging from environmental awareness to mental health awareness, and more. @UnfamousNY is a local multi-disciplinary art and lifestyle collective based in Queens, NY. Driven to create lasting experiences while representing the unique cultural identity of our city, we continue to develop our footprints in the New York urban art world." (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• 🌾 Happy Sukkot: "Chag Sameach to everyone who will begin observing Sukkot with their loved ones at sundown. I wish all a safe and joyous celebration, and hope this harvest festival brings you closer to your faith and family." (Council Member Linda Lee via Twitter)
• 🤝 Queens stands with Tiffany Cabán: "It’s fine to disagree with an elected official. But threatening them and their staff with violence because of a disagreement is grotesque, unacceptable and an affront to democracy. #Queens stands with @CabanD22 and her team. Our discourse must be rooted in respect and humanity." (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Twitter)
• 🎃 Get ready for Halloween: "OCT 28–30: Celebrate the 100th anniversary of F. W. Murnau's horror classic NOSFERATU! Featuring a special #35mm screening on 10/30 with piano accompaniment by @unpianistique : https://movingimage.us/event/nosferatu-2/2022-10-28/" (Museum of the Moving Image via Twitter)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Celebrate Free Laundry Day at 4 Clean Rite Center locations (October 10)
• “Fence Your Best” Film Screening (October 12)
• Poppenhusen's Fall Festival (October 15)
• Hamish the Hedgehog book party (October 15)
• Add your event

Other classifieds:

• Behind The Scoreboard – Mini-Pitch Soccer Arrives In Yonkers (Details)
• Add your classified

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday off right! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Emma Radu Fighera

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Queens Daily? Contact me at queens@patch.com