April 7: E-Waste

Good morning, Little Neck! With the beginning of spring, many residents will be thinking about cleaning out the garage, basement or toolshed of some unused items. And we're guessing that a good number of those castaways will end up on the curb as trash. 

However, what many might not realize is that many commonly used electronics like TVs, cellphones and computers contain toxic substances that can make their way into the environment.

So instead of sending yesterday's gadgets to a landfill, consider taking those working and non-working electronics to Queens Library's  on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 40-20 Broadway in Long Island City.

And for those who can't make the event this week, here's a list of other e-cycling drop-off points across the city. 

Here are your 5 Things for this Thursday:

1. Got something to say about senior centers, education or the state budget? Well, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein wants to hear from you. The freshman state legislator will be holding his first Meet & Greet in Bayside on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

2. Chances are you've already read about the . Now, here's a chance for residents of two of the biggest cooperatives in the Little Neck-Douglaston area, Deepdale Gardens and Beech Hills, to have their say. The meeting takes place Thursday, April 14 at 7:15 p.m. at  in Little Neck. 

3. On the national front, a late night meeting Wednesday on the federal budget at the White House failed to produce an agreement between House Republicans and Democrats. Meanwhile, Friday's deadline for passing a budget to keep some federal agencies operating drew ever closer. 

4. Enough is enough — especially when it comes to hard-to-remove neon stickers, apparently. A Brooklyn Councilman recently introduced a bill to ban the use of the green decals that the city Department of Sanitation sticks on vehicles in violation of alternate side parking rules.

5. And speaking of parking, those alternate side rules are in effect today.