As summer temperatures start to heat up, New York City is seeking additional community partners to serve as cooling centers during periods of extreme heat. Cooling centers are air-conditioned facilities that provide residents with a safe place to stay when temperatures become dangerously high. Community-based organizations, nonprofits, faith-based institutions, and other public-facing facilities may be eligible to participate. City officials are particularly interested in identifying locations that can remain open on Sundays and holidays, when cooling center options may be more limited. Extreme heat is one of the deadliest weather conditions, especially for seniors and others with health conditions. Expanding the network of cooling centers can help protect vulnerable New Yorkers during heat emergencies. Organizations interested in learning more about becoming a cooling center partner please read the documents below and contact NYC Emergency Management for additional information. Read the Cooling Center Fact Sheet Read the Cooling Center Rules for Operation

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Projekt NYC is offering several exciting opportunities for NYC students this summer including financial literacy training, community service opportunities, and publication opportunities for young writers and artists. Financial Literacy Day On June 20, Projekt NYC will host a free Financial Literacy Workshop for students in grades 5–8 at the Steinway Library in Astoria. Participants can learn about budgeting, saving, smart spending, and money-management skills through interactive activities led by high school students. Students who complete the workshop will receive two hours of community service credit and a Certificate of Completion. Publication Opportunity In addition, students in grades 4–12 are encouraged to submit original poetry, artwork, photography, opinion pieces, reviews, and other creative work for upcoming youth publications and teen magazines. These programs provide students with valuable opportunities to learn new skills, earn volunteer hours, and share their voices with the wider community. Learn more about what Projekt NYC is up to here.

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OANA is pleased to share some news and highlights from the Hallets Playground Alliance June 2026 Newsletter. On June 6th the Alliance is hosting a community cleanup at Hallets Cove Playground (30-02 Vernon Boulevard). Residents are invited to come together to care for the park, improve shared green space, and meet neighbors while getting their hands dirty and helping the community. Immediately following the cleanup on June 7th, the Alliance will host a new member registration, meeting and  community potluck. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share. Alongside membership engagement, the meeting will also discuss funding priorities and planning for the 2026 season. The newsletter also highlights wellness themes, planetary movements and other useful information. OANA encourages our readers in the area to signup for the Hallets Playground Alliance newsletter here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGMC8P80I3XpFrIZp1UiFKo1mo1OnW_QZIbs5na3-MJHJClA/viewform

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OANA is pleased to share news of these events from Central Astoria—please check them out below. Astoria Park Carnival 2026 Firstly, there will be the Astoria Park Carnival 2026 happening from June 3rd thru June 7th. Find it at the corner of Hoyat Ave North and 19th Street, Under the RFK Bridge (in the parking lot). The Carnival will feature rides, games and food. Admission is free but tickets are required for the attractions. We hope you can make it! Independence Day Celebration Central Astoria is also hosting an Independence Day Celebration on June 25th at 7:30pm with a festivities and a beautiful firework show at sundown.

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Green Space and Valerie Green/Dance Entropy (VG/DE) will present two June programs featuring new contemporary dance works and open creative processes at their Long Island City studio. Beauty — Open Rehearsal (VG/DE) Tuesday, June 10 Green Space will present an open rehearsal of Beauty, the latest work-in-progress from VG/DE, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the development of new contemporary choreography. This free rehearsal invites the public into the creative process as the company explores and shapes new material in real time. RSVP is encouraged. To RSVP please email programs [at] greenspacestudio [dot] org Fertile Ground: New Works Showcase Saturday, June 21 Green Space will present its Fertile Ground: New Works Showcase, featuring an evening of original contemporary dance works by emerging and established choreographers. Performing artists include Lola Jenkins, Macee Eppard, Jackie Dodds, Isaac Knuteson, Naliah Hernandez, and Susanna Procario-Foley. This ongoing showcase series highlights new choreographic voices developing work through Green Space’s performance and residency platform. Tickets and RSVPs are available through Green Space here.

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We are pleased to share an update from the Astoria Park Alliance as summer activities and volunteer opportunities open up at Astoria Park. The Alliance’s first outdoor movie night of the season will feature F1 on Friday, June 5, around sunset. They are also seeking volunteers for several upcoming park improvement events: May 30, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Gardening & Litter Pickup June 5, around sunset — Outdoor screening of F1 June 6, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Shoreline Cleanup June 20, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Litter Pickup & Park Beautification The Astoria Park Alliance encourages community members to participate and help keep Astoria Park clean, welcoming, and vibrant throughout the summer. View the Astoria Park Alliance here: https://www.astoriaparkalliance.org/events

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The Old Astoria Neighborhood Association (OANA) has released a new op-ed, “City of Yes Needs a Tax Cap for New Construction,” examining a major obstacle facing small property owners who want to create new housing under the City of Yes initiative. The piece argues that while the city encourages homeowners to add apartments and accessory dwelling units, the current property tax system can impose sudden tax increases on those improvements, discouraging participation. OANA calls for a phased-in tax approach for new housing created through City of Yes projects, helping align the city’s housing goals with its tax policies. The op-ed highlights the need for practical reforms that support both neighborhood growth and housing production across the five boroughs. Read the op-ed here.  

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CUNY Citizenship Now! will host a free Citizenship Application event in Queens on June 6 in partnership with Council Members Tiffany Cabán, Shekar Krishnan, and Sandra Ung. The program, which is the nation’s largest university-based immigration legal services initiative, provides free and confidential help with citizenship applications, DACA and TPS screenings, and fee waiver assistance for eligible New Yorkers. Community members interested in applying for citizenship or learning more about immigration benefits are encouraged to attend. To set up an appointment visit https://cuny.edu/callback 

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A new affordable housing opportunity has opened on the Astoria waterfront through the Astoria Cove Phase 1(A) Housing Lottery, giving eligible applicants the chance to live in a brand-new luxury development at below-market rents. Applications must be submitted before June 2, 2026. Located at 4-34 and 4-42 26th Avenue in Astoria,Astoria Cove offers modern waterfront living right here in Astoria. The newly constructed apartments feature bright layouts, high-end countertops and finishes, dishwashers, in-unit washer and dryers, air conditioning, and energy-efficient appliances designed for comfortable city living. Residents will also have access to a wide range of amenities, including a recreational room, game room, gym and yoga studio, business center, outdoor terrace, rooftop terrace, package lockers, bike storage, and additional storage space. For eligible applicants, the Astoria Cove housing lottery represents a rare opportunity to secure affordable housing in one of Queens’ premier waterfront communities. Those interested should apply as soon as possible and share the opportunity with friends and family before the June 2 deadline. Apply here: https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/details/7467

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In March 2026, we shared with our readers that open admissions for Socrateens was taking place and now the program is underway. Socrateens is a year-long, paid art program for teens ages 13–19 at Socrates Sculpture Park. This spring/summer cohort meets weekly in the Park, working on hands-on projects in sculpture, drawing, photography, horticulture, and environmental design. The 2026 program, in collaboration with Earth Convergence and Socrates staff, focuses on environmental justice and how art, technology, and community work can respond to ecological challenges. Teens also visit studios, museums, and galleries across New York City, and take part in public programs and events at the Park while developing their own projects through making and collaboration. You can learn more about the program here.

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