5 Things

Good morning, Douglaston.

Two Bayside schools - P.S. 130 and P.S. 159 - were designate Blue Ribbon schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Check out Patch's story.

This morning, we will post our weekly gas prices roundup, so be sure to stop by and find the best place to fill up in your community.

The Westmoreland Association discussed the controversial median on Little Neck Parkway at this week's meeting and Community Board 11 recently called for capital budget expenses for Fiscal Year 2013.

What are some improvements to the neighborhood that you'd like to see? Any upgrades or additions to the community that you believe are long overdue? If so, please email the editor at nathan.duke@patch.com or post your answers in the comments section below. 

Here are 5 Things You Need to Know Today:

1. Take a look at Patch's story on two northeast Queens schools that were designated the Blue Ribbon.

2. Stop by later this morning for our weekly gas prices roundup and this afternoon for Great Escape, which gives readers a tip on a borough venue where they can go to kick back and relax.

3. The Bayside Public Library is hosting its Mother Goose Time program at 10:15 a.m. today and a writer's workshop at 6 p.m.

4. Be sure to check out our posts on this upcoming weekend's two big neighborhood events: Alley Pond Environmental Center's Estuaries Day and the Douglaston Village Arts Festival.

5. Prosectors will reportedly ask a grand jury to indict 17 city police officers for their alleged roles in a ticket fixing scandal. Click here to read NY 1's story.