March 11: Umbrella Weather

Correction, 1:43 p.m.: State Senator Tony Avella, D-Bayside, was named this week to the executive committee of the Italian-American Legislators Conference. We regret the error.

Happy soggy Friday, Little Neck! The end of the workweek brings the continued threat of minor flooding on side streets, avenues and highway underpasses as a late-winter, early-spring storm continues to park itself over our 'Neck of the woods. 

However, there are sunny skies ahead with partly cloudy and seasonable temperatures coming up for our weekend. Here are your 5 Things for this TGIF:

1. An 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan earlier this morning prompted tsunami warnings for as far away as the California and Oregon coast. 

2. State Sen. Tony Avella was named [correction: see above] of the Italian-American legislative conference in Albany yesterday. Avella, a second-generation Italian American, held a similar post while serving in the City Council.

3. EMC Frontline Pregnancy Care, a group representing 12 walk-in crisis pregnancy centers in the city, called for recent legislation passed by the City Council  to be revoked because the required public hearings before the vote were not held.

4. In case you missed it: Howard Beach's Pia Toscano survived another week on the 10th season of American Idol last night, winning over viewers with a soulful rendition of "All By Myself."

5. Mark it on your calendar: tomorrow is the Samuel Field Y's , which kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. Kosher snacks for the kids will be served.