(BPT) - Sprucing up your home’s curb appeal brings new energy and life, not only to your property, but also to the entire neighborhood. It creates a welcoming and appealing environment, while also making it a better candidate for resale, if that’s in your near future.

There’s a 20-foot sycamore tree on the curb in front of Carla Errico’s house on 90th Street in Howard Beach and Errico says it needs to go.

Most of the tree is bare. A few leaves are growing on a branch in the middle of the tree.

Middle Village was given its name because it was midpoint between points on the East River and Jamaica. The area was served by a trolley, which was replaced by the B53 bus in 1949.

One of the last surviving landmarks of old Middle Village was Niederstein’s, a hotel at what became 69-16 Metropolitan Ave. Officials didn’t file and keep records in the 19th century like we do today, but the building is estimated to have gone up in 1835. New wings were added over the years.

Twenty years ago Swiss curator Hans Ulrich Obrist started “do it.”

Supposedly he was having drinks with two artists, Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier, in Paris when the idea of the ultimate “work in progress” show was birthed.

A St. Albans man who engaged in a one-hour felony spree in February 2010 was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison last week on charges that included the attempted murder of a police officer.

Darius Lowery, 25, was one of two men convicted in March in connection with a rampage that went through three precincts and involved a stolen car, a home invasion robbery, an armed street robbery and shots fired at officers Steven Betts and Shawn Phillips during a brief but wild car chase.

“Gravity of the Sculpture: Part II” will remain on display at The Dorsky Gallery, 11-03 45 Ave., Long Island City, through July 3. Call (718) 937-6317, email david@dorsky.org or visit dorsky.org.

A former Woodhaven church is being renovated and will reopen as a day care center for children with developmental disabilities.

Christ Congregational Church at 85-27 91 St. has been closed for several years and is now being renovated by a Nassau County-based group called Kings Point High.

(NAPSI)—A recent national survey found that only one in six U.S. drivers is “tire smart” when it comes to checking tire pressure-a quick and simple step that can optimize vehicle safety and fuel economy and helps tires last longer.

(NAPSI)—Investing a little time and effort to make sure your tires are road worthy can pay dividends when it comes to safety. Experts say the first step is to make sure your tires are properly inflated.

(BPT) - Your home is a place to kick off your shoes, relax and enjoy precious time with friends and family. Nothing quite tops the feeling you get when you walk through your foyer, close the door behind you and forget the day’s troubles. But as families expand, promotions require unexpected relocations or a coveted residence down the street goes up for sale, you might find yourself looking for a new oasis to call home.

(BPT) - In warmer weather, patios transform into the ultimate gathering space for backyard barbecues, reading, relaxing or even exercising. These outdoor rooms become an extension of the house, seamlessly merging the outdoors inside and vice versa.

(BPT) - As the seasons change, turn over a new leaf and give your home an energy makeover. You can improve your home’s comfort while helping the environment by making your home more energy efficient, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, a variety of compatible technologies are available to help manage your home’s comfort systems more efficiently and economically. Here are some tips to get you started.

A St. Albans man who engaged in a one-hour felony spree in February 2010 was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison last week on charges that included the attempted murder of a police officer.

Darius Lowery, 25, was one of two men convicted in March in connection with a rampage that went through three precincts and involved a stolen car, a home invasion robbery, an armed street robbery and shots fired at officers Steven Betts and Shawn Phillips during a brief but wild car chase.

(BPT) - Few things are as exciting as bringing home a new puppy. Whether Chihuahua or Great Dane, a pup’s playful antics delight people of all ages. Having a dog can bring many years of companionship and precious memories, but before you ask, “How much is that doggie in the window?” consider a few expert tips for positive housetraining.

(BPT) - New jobs, first jobs, relationships and looking for a change in weather – these are just a few reasons people have for moving. Most families move during the warmer months, and many choose to move to warmer locations.

(BPT) - Often, we don’t think about heroism until we see it in action - when disaster strikes and ordinary people exhibit extraordinary courage and compassion to help victims in their time of need. The truth is, however, that the best of human nature is on display every day in the lives of millions of Americans who work in public service jobs across the country. Sometimes all it takes to tap that inner hero is an opportunity – and the education – to serve others.

(BPT) - The bath serves a variety of uses, from a functional room to a serene sanctuary, a storage facility to a salon. And, whether you enjoy it yourself or share with the family, every bathroom is in need of one major thing – organization. To help keep your bath feeling more serene and less insane, follow these eight ideas to help improve your organization, maximize space and even add a bit of style.

When you search “New Music” on Google, the results are overwhelming. New hip-hop, pop, Latin, new wave, classical and other genres are listed for what seems to be an infinite number of pages. But while none of these genres are new music, they aren’t entirely wrong either, as the new music genre cannot be confined or compared to any other music type.

New music is classical, in that many composers write for violin, piano or flute, but it is also pop in that it uses electronic sounds and riffs; even still, it is also opera, rock, hip-hop and other music types.

“Gravity of the Sculpture: Part II” will remain on display at The Dorsky Gallery, 11-03 45 Ave., Long Island City, through July 3. Call (718) 937-6317, email david@dorsky.org or visit dorsky.org.

An inactive construction site that has been stalled for years is frustrating the residents of Briarwood.

The lot located at 84-03 Lander St. was supposed to be developed into a six-story apartment house. But years later, the building remains unfinished, with metal columns that have since rusted over and a plywood fence that has become weather-worn and covered in graffiti.

An 18-year-old Brentwood, LI teenager pleaded guilty last Thursday to burglary as a hate crime for committing three separate thefts in Queens in one day, duping three elderly men into allowing the defendant and his cohorts into their homes so they could steal cash and valuables.

“The defendant in this case shamefully targeted his victims because their advanced age and frailties made them easy targets,” said District Attorney Richard Brown.

Last Thursday a man allegedly terrorized his home neighborhood of Long Island City, stealing cars and money while wielding a gun that wasn’t all that it seemed.

Police briefly closed down part of Borden Avenue in their pursuit of the suspect. About eight hours later they arrested Nicolas Almonte, 27, who lives on Borden Avenue.