Journey to Willow Lake in Queens (And There and Back Again, Out of the Bog)

In this post, I take a walk to a hiking trail next to Willow Lake in Queens. It's a marshland in the middle of a metropolis.

View of Willow Lake in Queens (Looking Northwest)

Would you believe me if I told you I'm still in New York City but surrounded by marshland, wet bugs, bees, and butterflies born from under the weeds of the milkweed plant? I am. 

Pat Dolan Trail

If you wend your way down a nature trail (near 72nd Avenue in Queens and Regent’s Park), you'll find a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Van Wyck Expressway. I expected to see a bloated corpse — left by a serial killer — the area does have a veil of secrecy and hiddenness. But maybe it's because I trekked the trail near evening fall — just a hint of daylight in the sky. Now — I need to find a way out of this bog

The Author, in situ and in sweat

Another view from Willow Lake

How To Get to the Pat Dolan Willow Lake Preserve Trail:

By Subway: Take the E, F, M, or R trains to Forest Hills / 74th Avenue. Alternatively, take the F train to 75th Ave. Walk to the trailhead at 72nd Road and Jewel Avenue. 

By Bus: The Q64 bus will take you to Jewel Avenue and 136th Street. Walk the rest of the way.

By Car: Take the Grand Central Parkway and Get off at Jewel Avenue (Exit 11).  You can also take the Van Wyck Expressway. Turn on Park Drive E., going south. The entrance to the trail is between 72nd Avenue and 72nd Terrace. Alternatively, access the trail on the Forest Hills side of the trail — next to the Willow Park playground.

Note: I don't claim to know every route to get to this trail. Trains, buses, and routes are apt to change due to scheduling delays, and other delays. When in doubt, use a map!

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Going Digital in the Classroom: Pros and Cons (And Notes on Teaching During a Global Pandemic)

The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the education world upside down in so many ways. Schools have had to shut down, parents have had to take on the role of homeschool teachers, and even traditional educators have had to find ways to adapt to a digital environment.

During the waning days of the pandemic, I spent a few afternoons with colleagues and friends in a small park in Queens (the so-called "Landing Lights Park," where we could socialize while maintaining distance.

Before the pandemic, creating a digital resource for students might have been seen as innovative but only sometimes necessary. After all, printable worksheets and textbooks have been the norm for so long, and they still work just fine. But the pandemic has forced us all to think outside the box and develop new ways to reach our students and ensure they still receive a quality education.

For those of us who are old-school teachers, the transition to a digital environment has been challenging. We've had to learn new technologies, figure out how to use them effectively in our classrooms, and adapt our teaching styles to fit this new format. It's been a challenge, to say the least.

But despite these challenges, the shift to digital resources has been a good thing for education. For one thing, it's made it easier for students to access materials and resources from anywhere. No longer are they tied to a physical classroom or limited by the resources available at their school. They can access a wealth of information and resources online, which has opened up a new world of learning opportunities.

Additionally, digital resources are often more interactive and engaging than traditional print materials. They can include videos, animations, simulations, and other multimedia elements to help students better understand and retain the material. And because they are often more interactive, they can also be more fun and engaging for students, which can help keep them motivated and interested in their studies.

While the shift to digital resources has not been without its challenges, I believe it has been a net positive for education. It has made it easier for students to access materials and resources and has opened up new opportunities for interactive and engaging learning experiences. As we move forward in the post-pandemic world, I hope that we can continue to embrace the benefits of digital resources and find ways to make education more accessible and engaging for all students.

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Planespotting at the Planeview Park in Queens

From a bench in Planeview Park spectators watch commercial jets take place and land at La Guardia Airport in Queens.

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Today, I took the Q47 bus in Queens to the Marine Air Terminal at La Guardia International Airport. The bus line meanders through East Elmhurst, a neighborhood of detached homes north of Northern Boulevard that conforms to the crescent shape of the Grand Central Parkway. Considering that a busy airport abuts the neighborhood, it's a relatively quiet place for New York City. Along the route, I notice small neighborhood parks, a centrally located shopping mall (which is home to Cannelle Patisserie, one of the best bakeries in the city). The bus crosses Astoria Boulevard and terminates at the airport terminal. If you have never been to the Marine Air Terminal, it's worth a visit even if you are not scheduled for a flight.  The building marks the first structure on the site of the airport when commercial flights were chartered seaplanes (yes, these planes landed in Bowery Bay). Inside the terminal, look up, and take pleasure in a 360° mural detailing humanity's contributions to technology. It's a lightly traveled terminal; however, it is good to note that there are rather clean bathrooms at the entrance and a small café (at which I did not have lunch). I felt like exploring more of the airport's grounds and remembered a place where one can watch planes take off and land on one of the airport's two landing strips. So I walked along a security fence that borders the strip and watched a few commercial jets take off. Apparently, my presence invoked the curiosity of the Port Authority security task force because within minutes I noticed a police van pull up and a security officer said, "Hey. This is a restricted area. We would like it if you didn't stand here." I said meekly that I liked watching the planes take off and land. The guy was unmoved by my sudden confession of loving planes. For a brief moment, I had this terrible thought that he may think I am doing something suspicious. Before I had a chance to speak, he gave a half-apology and said, "Yeah. But you make the guys nervous. You know." I acquiesced to his gentle command to remove myself and asked him where I could safely watch the planes. That's how I found out about the Planeview Park. "Just walk that way," the guy said, pointing in the direction of the expressway. "I think there is a park on the other side of the Grand Central Parkway."

Eating a Beignet in New Orleans: Classic Portrait Photography

A photo of a cousin’s friend eating a beignet at the Café du Monde in the old casino building in New Orleans’s City Park.

I was home for the Summer. We went to the Café du Monde in City Park 🌃. A kid eats a beignet with glee. One rule when eating a New Orleans-style powdered fried cake - always eat it with glee.

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Canadian Geese Family in Philadelphia's Schuylkill River Park

Goose Mother and Her Babies, © 2016 Greig Roselli

I was walking along the banks of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia and I came upon a goose mother and her yellow-haired babies.

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"Air" by Walter Hancock - Sculpture along the Schuylkill River Trail

The Backside of "Air"

A photograph of the backside of Walter Hancock's sculpture "Air".

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