The ratty old newsstand formerly at the corner of Fresh Pond Road & Metropolitan Avenue has been gone for almost a year, but there has been recent activity at the corner. Bollards were placed to prevent cars from being parked there and the sidewalk was extended to form a sea of concrete. We were hoping to see a nice swath of grass and maybe some flowers, but we envision that taking another 5 years to accomplish. Across the street, murals made of vinyl have been draped across the chain link fence to hide the graffiti-covered former gas station that constitutes the other city-owned eyesore at that intersection. We have not heard of any plans to demolish it. Sadly, but not unsurprisingly, after more than 15 years from when it was first announced, the reconstruction of the bridge over the LIRR is still not scheduled to start anytime soon.