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Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
Wednesday, April 2
nd, 2014
Dear Neighbor, It’s impossible to list everything in the district, but here are 97 <!!> ways to get informed, inspired, involved +/or entertained, including Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez’ State of Northern Manhattan address on SATURDAY, a diabetes education event at Wilson Major Morris Community Center next Friday, as well as scores of other interesting offerings and news throughout the district. Scroll down for information about things happening:
Tonight / Tomorrow / Friday (10 items)
This weekend (18 items)
Next week (13 items)
Next weekend (7 items)
Looking ahead / Save-the-Date! (13 items)
How You Can Help (9 items): share your money / stuff / time; update on the Palisades / LG project
Educational & vocational opportunities (5 items)
Public Safety & Health (5 items)
Help with your Taxes (5 items)
Summer Camp / Summer Youth Employment (3 items)
News, information, opportunities & ongoing events (9 items) Please share this e-mail with friends/neighbors. If you know someone who’d like to subscribe, have them e-mail Liz Ritter at [email protected] with their ZIP code. If you have an event you’d like to list here, email Liz the details (text or .doc format, please, not .pdf or .jpg). ***TONIGHT / TOMORROW / FRIDAY*** (10 items) TONIGHT (4 items) Housing Workshop on City-wide Housing Related Campaigns Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal, Goddard Riverside's SRO Law Project, and The Urban Justice Center host a monthly housing clinic. There will be a presentation, followed by a question and answer session, and an opportunity to meet with a staff attorney to provide free, bilingual legal advice on specific issues. The event is free and open to the public. At the Goddard Riverside Community Center, 593 Columbus Avenue (between W. 88
th &
W. 89th
Streets). Wednesday, April 2nd
, from 6pm to 8pm. For questions, call the Urban Justice Center at 646-459-3017. Live Healthy Program EmblemHealth and Inwood Community Services are hosting a Zumba class and health event to kick off the EmblemHealth Live Healthy program in Washington Heights & Inwood! Come in your exercise gear and take the class. NMIC, Inwood Community Services, and Community League of the Heights have partnered with EmblemHealth to bring the Live Healthy program to residents uptown. Live Healthy inspires New Yorkers to take
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
the first small steps toward a healthy lifestyle, free fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, and healthcare education seminars. A full roster and schedule appears below in the “Public Safety & Health” section. The program will launch on Wednesday, April 2
nd at 5pm at Holy Trinity Church (20 Cumming Street).
Panel Discussion on Consumerism featuring Pop-Up Repair Sandra will be appearing on a panel TONIGHT, Wednesday April 2
nd at 6:30pm, at Barnard. At the Dana Center Event Oval; call 212-854-2037 for information.
Screening of “Inequality for All” This new documentary by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich focuses on the widening inequality gap in the US. Co-sponsored by Democracy for NYC & Screening Liberally. At Bunga's Den, 137 W. 14
th Street between 6
th & 7
th Aves. Free and open to the public, though RSVP is requested at
[email protected]. Wednesday, April 2nd
at 7pm TOMORROW (5 items) Blood Drive: Give the Gift of Life! NYPD 26
th Precinct (520 W. 126
th St., Muster Room). Call 1-800-933-2566 to
schedule an appointment. Please bring identification with photo or signature. For questions about eligibility to donate due to travel outside the U.S., medications or medical conditions, click here or call 1-800-688-0900. Thursday, April 3
rd, 8:30am - 2:30pm.
For the Love of Salsa: Sign up for Riverbank State Park’s hottest Spring class! Get in on the ground floor for instructor Jesse Hamilton’s beginner/ intermediate/advanced salsa classes for teens and adults. Jesse, who started out dancing at downtown’s Palladium, has been teaching dance for 25 years. Salsa is a spiritual quest for him, a means of finding his spirit and culture. Once Jesse gets a student to a certain level of skill – some of whom started out as beginners – he invites them to go on tour with him. He’s taken his troupe of 25 dancers to perform classical jazz & salsa in Cuba, and in the Mardi Gras in Brazil, salsa shows in the Dominican Republic, Paris, and Barcelona, Spain. It’s the same the world over. You may be one of the lucky ones – sign up for this popular class now! At the Riverbank State Park (679 Riverside Dr. @ W. 145
th St.) For further information, call 212-694-3634 or 917-680-
1319. Thursday evenings, April 3rd
– June 12th
, 7pm - 9pm – or - Sunday afternoons, April 6th
– June 15th
, 2pm - 4pm. “Ballet Sculpting” Workshop Learn the secrets of developing a dancer’s body! Tone up from head to pointed toe with this ballet-inspired, cardio sculpting routine led by certified instructor Cecily Horner. No formal training or prior dance experience is required. Learn the classical style of ballet fundamentals combined with a heart pounding, body-sculpting workout. Focus on targeting your arms, abdominals, thighs and ‘glutes while warming the muscles to deepen stretching and lengthening muscle mass. At the Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Dr. @ W. 145
th St. Thursday evenings, April 3
rd - June 12
th, 7pm - 8:30pm For further information, call 212-694-3624
Full Frontal: A Naked Exploration of Sex & Sexuality, by Uptown’s own Eddie Antar (Author) & Leslie Kincaid Burby (Director), is a combination of five short stories that create a journey through the different stages and variations of sex and sexuality. There are only eight performances (click here for details http://www.workshoptheater.org/jewelbox/2014/full_frontal) and the venue is a small (30-seat) theater; those interested should consider purchasing tickets quickly as the show is bound to sell out. NOTE: there is no nudity, however the language and behavior in the stories are explicit and meant for a mature audience. It is not recommended for anyone under 16 years of age. In the Jewel Box at the Workshop Theater, 312 W. 36
th St. @ 8
th
Ave., 4th
fl. For more info call 866-811-4111 or visit www.workshoptheater.org. April 3rd
– 12th
. Face Out: Carl Unegbu & Sissy Van Dyke Where does comedy stand in an increasingly polarized world? Carl Unegbu's Comedy Under Attack: The Golden Age and the Headwinds has the lowdown on what’s going on in Comedyland and how comedy can beat the obstacles in its path as it struggles to get on with the great business of laughter. The show must go on. Joined by Sissy Van Dyke, a comedy writer and performer from Brooklyn, introducing her new book Further Adventures of Sissy Van Dyke. At Word Up Community Book Shop (2113 Amsterdam at 165
th St.). Thursday, April 3
rd, 7pm – 9pm.
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
FRIDAY (1 item) Artexpo: Celebrating Art & Design Each year thousands of art industry insiders flock to Artexpo New York in search of the art and artists that will shape trends in galleries worldwide. Ms. Carvalho will be launching her modern contemporary new works in the media of oil and acrylic on canvass in various sizes from 9”x12” to 7.8’x10’. Hosting more than 15,000 avid art enthusiasts annually, Artexpo is the largest international gathering of qualified trade buyers. We are proud to host Marcel Carvalho’s outstanding work at Artexpo for the third year. Marcela Carvalho at Pier 94. April 4th – 6th. ***THIS WEEKEND*** (18 items) SATURDAY (9 items) Pop Up Repair will be at two Manhattan Greenmarkets during the month of April. Meet Pop.Fix! the Pop Up Repair VAN, April 5
th – 27
th in Inwood (Isham & Seaman) Saturdays, 9 am - 3pm and at Columbia University (W.
116th
& Broadway) Thursdays & Sundays, 9 am - 3pm. Come early: the first 10 customers at each location get their second repair ½-off! BIG thanks to GrowNYC for supporting our VAN experiment. Shearing of the Heather with Skraptacular The 3-acre Heather Garden is the site of our annual rite of spring: the shearing of the heather by members of the Northeast Heather Society and our garden staff. In addition to the shearing, visitors can take tours of the garden, learn what’s so special about Heaths and Heathers, hear Scottish bagpipes, and join a Skraptacular children’s workshop while enjoying the garden’s spring beauty and panoramic views of the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades. Meet in the Heather Garden at Fort Tryon Park. Bring your own instruments and drums for the neighborhood procession through the Heather Garden. Saturday, April 5
th,
10am – noon. Early Years are Learning Years: Closing the Experience Gap How do you prepare for kindergarten Success? How do we as a community invest in the early years? How leaders impact the early years zero to age 3? Join panelists at the Harlem State Office Building, 163 W. 125
th St., 8
th floor conference room. Free and open to the public,
click here to register (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-years-are-learning-years-closing-the-experience-gap-tickets-8852358643?aff=es2&rank=4&sid=7387429cb29311e3a5be12313d2241ae). Saturday, April 5
th, 10am to
1pm. “Home” Sewing and Crochet Circle Please join "Home" artists Kathleen Granados and Anne Mailey as they lead a sewing and crocheting workshop while discussing their work. Knitting, needlepoint and embroidery are welcome too! Tea will be served. This event is recommended for adults & families with children ages 10 and up. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, located between 160
th and 162
nd Streets just east of St. Nicholas Avenue. The event is
free with museum admission, reservations are strongly encouraged, please call 212-923-8008. Saturday, April 5th
, 1pm – 3pm. Shakespeare Saturdays Cinema is hosting a free afternoon Shakespeare movie through the Inwood Library. Come see the love-resistant Beatrice and Benedick battle it out as love wins out. Much Ado About Nothing will be shown in the downstairs auditorium. At The Inwood Branch of the New York Public Library (4790 Broadway, btw. Dyckman & Cumming Streets). Free! Saturday, April 5
th; film begins promptly at 2:15pm. (Don’t be late!)
Music at Morris-Jumel: Recorder Madness Join frequent Music at Morris-Jumel performers Gregory Bynum, Theresa Salomon, Carlene Stober, and Rebecca Pechefsky for a program of uplifting instrumental works by Telemann, Uccellini, Brunnemüller, and van Eyck. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, located between 160
th and 162
nd
Streets just east of St. Nicholas Ave. Tickets are $25 per person and $20 for members. Advanced registration is required; call 212-923-8008. Saturday, April 5
th, 4pm – 6pm.
Open Mic Night: Open to all kinds of performers including singers, actors, poets, story-tellers, comedians, jugglers, magicians, dancers, and instrumentalists. Tables will be set up: Bring your dinner! $2 General Admission (PPCT/Delphi comps do not apply). At the Theatre Space at Holy Trinity Church, Inwood, 20 Cumming Street (btw.
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
Broadway & Seaman Avenue, one block north of the Dyckman Street A train station). To sign up in advance - please email [email protected] with your name, act and approximate length (7 minutes max including setup). NOTE: THIS IS A FAMILY THEATRE! Management reserves the right to shut down any acts that are deemed inappropriate for a family environment. Saturday, April 5
th at 6:30pm.
“Light Graffiti” / An Art Intervention: Join visiting artist Vicki DaSilva as she “paints” with light and slow-shutter photography to create whimsical images at night in iconic indoor and outdoor locations. This is part of the North River Arts / East River Flows Arts Initiative of the West Harlem Arts Fund. To see more of Ms. DaSilva’s work, visit http://vickidasilva.com/. Meet at Dinosaur BBQ on W. 125
th St. & Twelfth Ave. Saturday, April 5
th at 7pm.
Artexpo: Celebrating Art & Design See Friday’s listing above. April 4
th – 6
th.
SUNDAY (9 items) Pop Up Repair will be at two Manhattan Greenmarkets during the month of April. Meet Pop.Fix! the Pop Up Repair VAN, April 5
th – 27
th in Inwood (Isham & Seaman) Saturdays, 9 am - 3pm and at Columbia University (W.
116th
& Broadway) Thursdays & Sundays, 9 am - 3pm. Come early: the first 10 customers at each location get their second repair ½-off! BIG thanks to GrowNYC for supporting our VAN experiment. Protect Your Identity / Shred Personal Come join the NYPD's Crime Prevention Section to shred your documents containing your personal / sensitive information. This is a FREE service. You can also register your electronic devices with the NYPD's Operation ID Program. In front of the Popular Community Bank at W. 145
th Street &
Broadway. Sunday, April 6th
, 11am – 2pm. Historical Bloomingdale Walking Tour Monthly walking tour led by Jim Mackin. FREE, but RSVP required. Meet @ SE corner of 96
th St. & Broadway. For more info and to RSVP, call the BID at 212-666-9774 or email
[email protected]. Sunday, April 6th
at 1pm. Garden Walking Tour Take a tour of the "Park for All Seasons." Take a walking tour of the Heather and Alpine Gardens of Fort Tryon Park. Discover which plants are in bloom in each of the seasons. Learn about the gardens' history, future, and secrets from a member of Fort Tryon's expert horticulture staff. These tours are wheelchair accessible but persons with mobility issues may find them challenging because of the park's many steep paths. Meet at the Entrance to the Heather Garden at Margaret Corbin Circle. Sunday, April 6
th, 1pm – 2pm.
Earth Day at the “Y” Join us at the YM/YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood (54 Nagle Ave.). Raffles, Giveaways, eco-friendly activities for kids, interactive activities for adults, and more! Learn how you can make our world a better place. Help the environment by bringing in your old textiles or cloths to recycle. Activities include: Pop Up Repair Shop; Word Up Community Bookshop; Mano-A-Mano Mexican crafts We Care recycled art; Corbin Farms raw food cooking demonstrations; Yiddish Farm: pick up for matzah for Passover; Time Bank: crafts program; Hazon: food sales/ literature; Wingspan: arts & crafts; dramatic story-telling performances from the New Victory Theater; reading and crafts with local author Elizabeth Balaquar; literacy programming; face painting; free refreshments and more! Sunday, April 6
th, 2pm-5pm.
Council Member Rodriguez's State of Northern Manhattan Address Save the Date! Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez will deliver his 4
th Annual State of Northern Manhattan Address discussing the past year in Northern
Manhattan and future plans for the district. This event is open to all so please share with friends and family! Sunday, April 6
th at 2:30pm. RSVP to [email protected].
Novels with a Social Conscience: a Book Discussion Group at Word Up Join us to discuss Junot Diaz’ Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. (Please prepare in advance by reading the book.) At Word Up! Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Ave. @ W. 165
th St. 347-688-4456. Sunday, April 6
th from 3pm - 5pm.
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
Triple Divide, a new documentary on fracking The film includes many issues not addressed in other other documentaries on this issue. New York is still at a crossroads with regard to this controversial form of energy extraction. The more we learn from other states’ experiences, the more informed we will be as New Yorkers with an interest in protecting our air, land, water, food and agriculture from toxic chemicals and methane contamination. Sponsored by Beloved Earth Community of the Riverside Church, United for Action and the West 80’s Neighborhood Association. Suggested donation: $10. At the Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Crive at W. 120
th
St. Sunday, April 6th
at 6pm. Artexpo: Celebrating Art & Design See Friday’s listing above. April 4
th – 6
th.
***NEXT WEEK*** (13 items) Smoke-Free Youth Summit Calling all teens! Join us, and discover how you can make a change. Help increase awareness of tobacco control issues in your community. Help support neighborhood-based efforts for effective and long-term change throughout the borough of Manhattan. Learn how to: communicate the benefits of smoke-free environments more effectively through letter/e-mail campaigns, social media, advocacy & education of elected officials, and news outlets. Discover how you can be a youth leader in your school, building, neighborhood, and community! In conjunction with the Manhattan Smoke-Free Partnership. For venue information and to register for the Summit, contact Patrick Norberto at [email protected]. Monday April 7
th, 5:30pm – 7pm.
Onward & Upward! Honoring Marcella Xavier of Bread & Yoga with the “Standing UP” Award. Join us for the 4
th
annual evening to benefit the UP Theater Company. Raffles, auction items, and GREAT entertainment. (What’d’ya expect from a theatre company?!) At Papasito Mexican Grill & Agave Bar, 223 Dyckman Street. Purchase discounted tickets or make a donation through our website, www.uptheater.org. Monday, April 7
th, 6pm-8pm.
Blood Drive: Give the Gift of Life! New York Presbyterian / Milstein Building lobby (622 W. 168
th St.) Call 1-800-
933-2566 to schedule an appointment. Please bring identification with photo or signature. For questions about eligibility to donate due to travel outside the U.S., medications or medical conditions, click here or call 1-800-688-0900. Tuesday, April 8
th, 9am – 6pm.
100 años de La Doña: A Tribute to María Félix To celebrate the l00th anniversary of the birth of Mexican actress María Félix, a muse for poets, musicians and painters, our three organizations will present two of her short films, a panel discussion and reception, as well as six of her films. This icon film actress, who refused to get caught up with the Hollywood lifestyle, was called “La Doña” by her critics and fans. She was beautiful, seductive and clever – a powerful combination! NoMAA in partnership with The Mexican Cultural Institute of NY and the Cervantes Institute:
Screening of two shorts, a panel discussion including NoMAA’s own Sandra García-Betancourt, and reception. At Octavio Paz Gallery, the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, 27 East 39
th St., 2
nd floor RSVP:
[email protected]. Tuesday, April 8th
at 6:30pm.
Screening of six of La Doña’s films (with English subtitles)
El Peñón de las animas (1942) 117 min. & Doña Diabla (1949), 89 min. Wednesday, April 9th
at 6pm.
La Escondida (1956), 105 min. & Enamorada (1946), 96 min. Wednesday, April 16th
at 6pm.
French Cancan (1954), 105 min. & Tizoc (1957), 110 min. Wednesday, April 30th
at 6pm. At Instituto Cervantes, 211 East 49
th St. (btw. 2
nd & 3
rd Aves.). Free and open to the public.
Media Workshops for NY Immigration Coalition Members The Center for Community & Ethnic Media at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism is hosting a series of media workshops free of charge for NYIC members! Getting Out Your Message: This four-hour workshop will provide concrete and effective techniques for nonprofits to harness the power and ubiquity of SmartPhones to engage their target communities and various stakeholders. You'll explore best practices for using SmartPhones to capture professional-quality images, video and audio that
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
can be showcased to spread your message. You'll learn how to harness multiple social media networks to connect with and to engage your target communities. At the CUNY School of Journalism, 219 W. 40
th St., 3
rd floor. For more
information or to RSVP, visit: http://thenyic.org/blog/springmediatraining2014 or email Thanu Yakupitiyage ([email protected]) or Jehangir Khattak ([email protected]). Space is limited. Wednesday, April 9
th,
9am-1pm. Word@4F's Spoken Word Workshop & Open Mic for Teens is back to host a spoken word workshop and bilingual open mic for high school students. For this month's workshop, Danny Matos will co-facilitate. Teens will have the opportunity (but are not required) to perform their pieces (new and old) in front of their peers and Word Up's general audience. Although attendance at the workshop is encouraged, it is not required for participation at the open mic. At Word Up Community Book Shop (2113 Amsterdam at 165
th St.). Wednesday, April 9
th, 4:30pm –
6pm. Building Owners’ Forum Sponsored by WeAct for Environmental Justice in partnership with Harlem Community Development Corp., Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation and NYC Clean Heat. This seminar will give building owners and managers, co-op shareholders and condo owners representing building that are still burning #6 oil a chance to learn about conversion to greener options, as well as “green” financing incentives, water and energy conservation, recycling, and much more. At the Isabella Geriatric Center, 515 Audubon Ave. @ W. 190
th St.
Wednesday April 9th
, 6:30pm – 8pm (Doors open at 6:15pm.) RSVP/info: 212-961-1000 ext.313 or [email protected]. CB12M Licensing Committee Meeting will be held off-site, at IS52, 650 Academy Street (btw. Vermilyea & Broadway). For further information and a complete list of establishments applying for new or renewal licenses, please contact the Community Board 12 Office at 212-568-8500. Wednesday, April 9
th at 7pm.
Immigrants’ Day of Action This year, we will be joining groups around the country for a nationwide mobilization demonstrating the power of our movement and calling on lawmakers at the city, state and federal level to enact policies that promote immigrant rights. Please join the New York Immigration Coalition and New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform together with our allies across New York City for a rally to demand fairness and equality for immigrants in New York and across the country. We hope you can also join the New York Immigration Coalition in the morning for legislative meetings with our City Council and our new Mayoral Administration to push NYIC’s City Policy & Budget Priorities, which, if enacted, would strengthen New York City as a national leader on immigrant rights. Join us Thursday, April 10
th and help raise the voice of immigrants in New York City! Click here to RSVP.
Annual Gala at Riverstone Senior Life Services celebrating their Anniversary, and honoring individuals who have been real leaders in our community: Becky Carel, Robert Jackson and Dr. Jose Luchsinger. It should be a fun event with buffet dinner and drinks; I hope you will be able to join us. At the Shabazz Center, Broadway at W. 165
th St.
Info/RSVP: Ilana Dunner ([email protected]). Thursday April 10th
, 5:30pm-7:30pm Art & Activism Through Origami: The film, Between the Folds, is a Peabody Award-winning documentary about ten fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paperfolders. As they converge on the unlikely medium of origami, these artists and scientists reinterpret the world in paper, and bring forth a bold mix of sensibilities towards art, expressiveness, creativity and meaning. And, together these offbeat and provocative minds demonstrate the innumerable ways that art and science come to bear as we struggle to understand and honor the world around us—as artists, scientists, creators, collaborators, preservers, and simply curious beings. The Washington Heights Film Class will be showing ”Between the Folds” at Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation (185
th St. & Ft. Washington Ave.). Our special guest will be Vanessa
Gould, the director of the film, who will introduce our screening with some brief remarks at 7pm. The film will be shown at 7:30pm; Ms. Gould will take questions and host a discussion immediately after the film. Thursday, April 10
th, beginning at 7pm.
Face Out: WC Poets Poets from Columbia's Writing Center will be joining us for a reading. Michael Keenan, Jason Ueda, Adam Pellegrini, and Alexander Landfair spend their days in classrooms and writing centers around the NYC
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
area. Known as teachers, educators, and expert readers, inside they are poets and inside they are poetry. Tonight they will unveil this poetry, this secret self, to anyone who dares to listen. At Word Up Community Book Shop (2113 Amsterdam at 165
th St.). Thursday, April 10
th, 7pm – 9pm.
Living Healthy: FREE Diabetes Program Do you have questions about diabetes? Talk to a nurse educator about ways to prevent or manage diabetes. Why is healthful eating important? Ask a dietician about ways to improve your diet. Are you seeing the best you can? Talk to an eye doctor and learn ways to keep your eyes healthy. Refreshments; informational materials; giveaways. At the Wilson Major Morris Community Center (459 W. 152
nd
St., btw. Amsterdam & St. Nicholas Aves.) Sponsored by the Lighthouse Guild in partnership with Sen. Adriano Espaillat & Councilmember Mark Levine. For more information, please call 212-234-4661 or email [email protected]. Friday, April 11
th, noon – 2pm.
***NEXT WEEKEND*** (7 items) Nature and Birding Walk through the Heather Garden Learn to identify and value the flora and fauna of Northern Manhattan with Leslie Day, author of Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City and Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City. Learn about New York's many birds and plants with this expert naturalist. Please bring binoculars. Meet at the entrance to the Heather Garden at Margaret Corbin Circle in Fort Tryon Park. Saturday, April 12
th, 9am -10:30am.
Fort Washington Library Centennial Celebration The New York Public Library invites you to join us to celebrate the centennial of the Fort Washington Library. In honor of the branch’s 100
th birthday, NYPL has planned a full day of
activities for the community, programs for all ages, and a birthday cake to celebrate the branch’s official birthday on April 16
th. A neighborhood institution, the Fort Washington Library offers a wide array of resources and
services, including books in Spanish and Russian, educational programs for adults, desktop and laptop computers, technology workshops, and programs for children and teens. 535 W. 179
th St., btw St. Nicholas & Audubon
Avenues. Saturday, April 12th
; ribbon-cutting & remarks at 11am; special activities from noon-5pm. Springtime Gospel at Riverbank Presented by the Harlem Renaissance Choir and Riverbank State Park. Saturday April 12
th, 1pm-2:30pm in the Park’s Cultural Theatre. 679 Riverside Drive @ W. 145
th St. Free!
Chess Tournament The Right Move Chess Foundation proudly announces our 24
th season of FREE scholastic chess
competition serving the greater metropolitan area. At Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive @ W. 145th
St., in the Auditorium. Pre-register at website before 8am the Friday before (i.e., April 11
th) at www.therightmove.org.
You can also check the site for the latest updates in case of weather or other emergency delays. You MUST arrive by 9:15 for registration / check-in; pairings will be posted by 9:45am. There are four rounds of 30 minutes each, with about an hour to the next round; awards ceremony is at 3:30. You may enter as an individual without the team section. Team plaques awarded to 1
st & 2
nd in each section. Teams are made of the top four scorers in each
section (min. 3 players). Sets and boards are provided for the tournament *only*; bring your own set and board for between-games. Bring a chess clock if you have one. Emergency check-in number is 212-729-7060. Sunday, April 13
th.
Playground Physics with Dr. A: Attention budding scientists and young geniuses at large! Join Dr. Leonissa Ardizzone of Storefront Science to explore physics all around us. Discover the many fascinating properties of physics through fun, hands-on science and math activities! Appropriate for Ages 7-12. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the south entrance to Javits Playground on Fort Washington Avenue. Sunday, April 13
th, 10am - 11:30am.
Gallery Exhibition Opening & Fundraiser featuring Word Up's own Emmanuel "Dj Boy" Abreu Join Word Up for a fun day/night of photography, film, and music provided by Emmanuel "Dj Boy" Abreu. This event is a fundraiser for one of our founding volunteers, to send him off to an artist residency in Mexico, for which he was the first photographer ever accepted! We are joining together as a community to help him out with plane fare, extra travel
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
expenses, and the opportunity to gear up so he can bring us back more awesome photos. For more information: http://igg.me/at/EAbreudoesmexico. Exclusive RSVP through Indiegogo: You can get a framed 4 x 6 print by paying $15 in advance on the Indiegogo page (choose the "Let's Party!" perk: http://igg.me/at/EAbreudoesmexico.) Sunday, April 13
th, 3pm – 9pm. (Gallery reception, 3pm-5:30pm; film
screening of selected shorts, 5:30pm-6pm; party with live DJ and refreshments, 6pm-9pm. Gallery and screening are FREE to enter, though there is a $10 suggested donation for entry to the party starting at 6pm. At Word Up Community Book Shop (2113 Amsterdam at 165
th St.).
Friends & Neighbors Concert at “the Lounge” Check out brand new works created by our friends & neighbors as well as the "tried and true" oldies! The concert promises another wonderful bouquet of uptown talent. Internationally renowned cellist Astrid Schween will perform music for electric cello written by her husband Gordon Green. Among the composers and performers will be Neil Rolnick, who has been described by as " a prolific and inventive composer of electronic music... revisiting the joys of acoustic instruments...." (New York Times), Evelyne Luest, David "Doc" Wallace and the amazing singers Alec Spencer and Darrell Lauer who will sing "oldies but goodies" by Mozart, Bach, Britten and Vaughn Williams. The Lounge at Hudson View Gardens, W. 183
rd
St. & Pinehurst Ave. $12 donation includes post-concert reception with the performers. Sunday, April 13th
at 5pm. ***LOOKING AHEAD / SAVE THE DATE*** (13 items) “Home” Family Garden Art Workshop Come paint with “Home” artist Shira Toren and get inspired by our garden. Feel free to bring your plants as inspiration. Art supplies will be provided. Appropriate for ages 8 and up with an adult learning partner. The event is free with museum admission, reservations strongly encouraged; please call 212-923-8008. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, located between 160
thand 162
nd Streets just east of St. Nicholas
Avenue. Wednesday, April 16th
, 2pm – 4pm. Lonnie Holley (w/ Will Glass on drums) The amazing and renowned sculptor and musician from Birmingham, Alabama, brings his improvised song world to Word Up, where he will be accompanied by Word Up volunteer Will Glass! Lonnie was recently profiled in the New York Times Magazine; read the article here. At Word Up Community Book Shop (2113 Amsterdam at 165
th St.). Wednesday, April 16
th, 7pm – 9pm.
Harlem Adult Education Conference Total Equity Now, in partnership with CUNY’s Continuing & Professional Studies, the Harlem YMCA Literary Zone and the New York Public Library, is proud to present the Inaugural Harlem Adult Education Conference. Peer-to-peer workshops conducted by Harlem's outstanding instructors will address timely issues in the field of adult education, including adult literacy & basic education, the test assessing secondary completion (TASC) and the common core, English as a second language, college- and career-readiness, digital literacy, and advocacy. If you work for, volunteer with, or administer an adult-education program in Harlem, mark your calendar and register today for this groundbreaking opportunity to learn from and with your counterparts serving adult learners throughout our community. At the City College of New York’s Harris Hall (Convent Avenue near W. 140
th Street). FREE, but you must pre-register: bit.ly/HarlemAdultEdConference. Questions? Email
[email protected] or call 646-543-5695. Thursday, April 17th
, 5pm - 9pm. Good Friday Please be aware of brief traffic closures and/or parking restrictions to accommodate processions around several of the Catholic Churches in the District, including Good Shepherd (Isham/Broadway), St. Rose of Lima (W. 165
th & Amsterdam) and others. Friday, April 18
th.
“Home” Artist Symposium “Home” artists Eric N. Mack, Jennifer Packer and Cristina Razzano will discuss the exhibition and their artistic process in the Mansion’s Octagon Room. The event is free with museum admission, reservations strongly encouraged, please call 212-923-8008. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, located between W. 160
th and W. 162
nd Streets just east of St. Nicholas Ave. Saturday, April 19
th, 2pm – 4pm.
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
Media Workshops for NY Immigration Coalition Members The Center for Community & Ethnic Media at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism is hosting a series of media workshops free of charge for NYIC members! Mastering the On-Camera Interview: Learn how to get publicity for your research, book, cause, or business and how to handle a television interview. This four-hour workshop will cover the fundamentals of getting the broadcast media interested in your story. You will have the opportunity to be interviewed on-camera and to see how you can improve. At the CUNY School of Journalism, 219 W. 40
th St., 3
rd floor. For more information or to RSVP, visit:
http://thenyic.org/blog/springmediatraining2014 or email Thanu Yakupitiyage ([email protected]) or Jehangir Khattak ([email protected]). Space is limited. Wednesday, April 23
rd, 9am-1pm.
Waterfront Conference We are pleased to let you know MWA's 2014 Waterfront Conference, Rebuilding Our Waterfront: From the Water In, From the Grassroots Up, will be held aboard the magnificent Hornblower Infinity at Pier 40 (cross at W. Houston Street). The morning panels will take place dockside, followed by an afternoon cruise around New York Harbor. The Hornblower Infinity will return to Pier 40 by the end of the program. The 2014 Waterfront Conference will explore progress on the waterfront over the last 12 months with a special focus on the remarkable grassroots, community-based waterfront plans developed before and after Superstorm Sandy. For more information on the panelists and program schedule, or to purchase tickets, visit www.waterfrontalliance.org/2014_Waterfront_Conference. Thursday, April 24
th from 9am – 5pm.
A Town Hall Meeting to Discuss the Impact of Alcohol on Public Health with expert panelists on public health, partner violence and youth development. Co-Sponsored by NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat, Assemblymember Gabriela Rosa, Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez, Community Board 12-Manhattan, the Partners of the UNIDOS Coalition, and Inwood Community Services; funded in part by a grant from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. At the Isabella Geriatric Center, 515 Audubon Avenue @ W. 190
th Street. Thursday, April
24th
, 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Decoding the Tablecloth In this award winning, critically acclaimed, autobiographical one-woman show, Gabriela Kohen questions and explores Latina and Jewish identity. Forced to flee Poland in 1938, Kohen’s grandmother found herself in Argentina with the one possession she took from home, a tablecloth. Years later, Gabriela finds herself growing up Latina and Jewish in New York with this same tablecloth. From 1970s Brooklyn, to the tango halls of Argentina, to the Warsaw ghetto of the 1940s, Kohen portrays over twenty characters in English, Spanish, and Yiddish in this poignant family story. Reserve tickets: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/decoding-the-tablecloth-tickets-11059744995?aff=eorg. Presented by the People’s Theatre Project and Word Up Community Bookshop; written and performed by Gabriela Kohen; directed by Connie Grappo. At the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center (530 W. 166
th St. at St. Nicholas Ave.) Thursday, April 24
th at 7:30pm.
Earth Day Celebration III The Rotary Club of Inwood, IS 52, and many, many community partners are pleased to announce our third annual celebration. Even though we have been given so many of these vital trees over the past few years as part of the MillionTreesNYC initiative and we have incredible NYC Parks on all side of us here in Inwood, there remains a tremendous need for care of our street trees locally and forests globally as they are being destroyed. We hope to show how all of this affects us humans immensely. We will be sending out flyers, but in the meantime do call, write, or yell out if you are ready to join in and please do Save-the-Date, to help Save our Trees and Clean our Streets...! At IS52 (650 Academy St., just off Broadway). Friday, April 25
th, beginning at 9am. For
more information, contact Ky [Kyla] Williamson: 212-304-8882 / [email protected] / PO Box 535, NYC 10034. King Kong at the United Palace, 4140 Broadway at W. 175
th St., visit:https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/9903266.
Join your friends & neighbors for this 1933 classic! Sunday, April 27th
. Doors open at 4pm; program at 5pm; film at 5:30pm. Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal First Town Hall. My first town hall is around the corner! Submit your questions on my website, http://helenrosenthal.com/. We'll kick off the night with the questions you've sent in, and we'll have an open mic Q&A after in case you come up with more questions as the night goes on. Representatives from the Department of Sanitation, the MTA, the Department of Buildings, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and New York State Homes and Community Renewal have
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
all confirmed attendance. Stay tuned for a flyer, and spread the word! In the theater at John Jay College. For more info or to RSVP, call 212-873-0282. Wednesday, April 30
th, 6pm-8pm.
"TROUBLEfuturesongs" Underworld Productions Opera presents a triptych of works on desire, denial and domestication: an evening of Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti" plus two shorts. staged premieres of two shorts: "Voice for a Future Nightingale" by Justine F. Chen and "Outerborough Songs" by Thomas Deneuville. The evening explores desire, denial and domestication in the context of these three short operas, each of which has a couple at its center. The evening is conceived and directed by Gina Crusco and will be conducted by Mark Shapiro. At Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Peter Norton Symphony Space (95
th St. & Broadway). Saturday May 17
th at
8pm, Sunday, May 18th
at 2pm and Monday, May 19th
at 7:30pm. Tickets $45, $40 in advance and for seniors/students. Visit www.symphonyspace.org or call the box office: 212-864.5400. PREVIEW: Sunday May 4
th at
4pm at the United Palace, 4140 Broadway @ W. 175th
Street; FREE performance and composer Q&A; reservations required: [email protected]. (Preview includes a piano-only performance of "Trouble in Tahiti," plus "Outerborough Songs" for voice and electric guitar. "Outerborough Songs" is a 10-minute compilation by Thomas Deneuville based on poetry by D. Nurkse, in which a couple grapples with each other and with the great city, revealing moments of passion, both in hot arguments and the oblivion of forgiveness. A talk with the composer will follow.) ***HOW YOU CAN HELP*** (9 items) Blood Drive: Give the Gift of Life!
NYPD 26th
Precinct (520 W. 126th
St., Muster Room) Thursday, April 3rd
, 8:30am - 2:30pm.
New York Presbyterian / Milstein Building lobby (622 W. 168th
St.) Tuesday, April 8th
, 9am – 6pm. Remember, all lifesaving blood and platelet donations earn Donor Advantage points redeemable for a wide variety of gifts and gift cards. You can even donate your points to support a charitable organization. For more information about the Donor Advantage Program, visit www.mydonoradvantage.com. Call 1-800-933-2566 to schedule an appointment. Please bring identification with photo or signature. For questions about eligibility to donate due to travel outside the U.S., medications or medical conditions, click here or call 1-800-688-0900. The Dominican Women’s Development Center & NueveVIDA: DWDC thanks you for helping us give birth to this dream. As we celebrate 25 years in the Washington Heights/Inwood community, we are ready for 25 more years to continue to fulfill our mission. We need you to nurture, feed and love this new process in our organization! We ask our supporters to join us in opening the doors for infinite possibilities for this NuevaVIDA in El Centro. We are launching a 1 year campaign event on Facebook through which you can get details on events, programs, information in our community and also make your donation to NuevaVIDA. Please visit us at www.dwdc.org to learn more, and to make a donation. You can all reach us by mail or in person: Dominican Women’s Development Center 519 West 189
th Street Ground Floor, New York, NY 10040. Visit our FaceBook page to get weekly
information on events, program updates, and what is going on in the Washington Heights/Inwood Community. Call for Action: Washington Heights and Inwood's first annual No Limits Coed Basketball Tournament is just around the corner! The event will take place in three locations (Manhattan Bible Church, the Salvation Army Building in Harlem and IS52) on the last weekend of April, Friday the 25
th through Sunday the 27
th. Preparing for a community
even takes time and commitment, and we need your help! In order for No Limits to be a success, we believe the quality of food being sold is important. If anyone is interested in donating food services, making a trip to Costco, or contacting food service businesses who are interested in donating please RSVP to this email ASAP. We especially need donations of food: hot dogs, nachos, chips, candy, pastelitos, and/or mozzarella stix, in servings of 20+. If you are interested, please contact Hannah Tejede at 212-942-0043 ext.178 or [email protected]. If you are dropping off a donation other than cash/check/giftcard, please wait until April 23
rd, especially if your items require
refrigeration.
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
Food Drive. The office of Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal is collecting healthy foods for our neighbors in need, and we could use your help! We've partnered with the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, and we're collecting food at our district office at 87
th & Columbus Ave. PLEASE: cans and boxes only (no glass!) of non-perishable, healthful
food; toiletries also accepted. For more info, call 212-873-0282. Until Monday, April 7th
. Help the United Palace Replace its Silver Screen Since returning film to the Palace last year with screenings of "Dracula," "Casablanca," "It's a Wonderful Life," and several NYC classics we have learned how much this town loves going to movies in a magnificent setting. The greatest compliment we hear from audience members is that watching a movie at the Palace with a large crowd has the same electricity as seeing live theatre on Broadway. It has encouraged us to take the next step in the ongoing process of improving the theatre so that it lives up to what amNY newspaper called "The Best Way To See Movies The Way They Used To Be." The first thing we need to do is replace the over 50-year-old screen. The decades-old layers of dust, holes and scratches severely detract from the audience's enjoyment of the movies. After cleaning it last year we realized that it is beyond repair. We need your help to raise $20,000 to install a new screen before April 27
th when we show the original "King Kong." Among the
great perks you can receive for your contribution are: free tickets; a movie pass through the end of 2015; reserved seats; private screenings. To contribute or learn more about the campaign please visit: http://igg.me/at/upca-screen/x/1974676. We have been surprised by how popular our screenings have become and want to continue to give our audiences the finest cinematic experiences that we can. Thank you for helping out by contributing or spreading the word about the campaign. Hope to see you back at the Palace soon. Book Drive LiteracyINC is sponsoring a book drive in the lobby of 5030 Broadway, where they have their offices. (For those who work in the building, there is also a collection bin in the 6
th floor lunchroom.) We are collecting
story and chapter books for children in Pre-K through Third grade. The books are distributed to children who attend our programs in all five boroughs. The books will be distributed during our month-long Reading Everywhere Celebration, where we host read alouds and have literacy-based activities for children. Our Reading Everywhere Month celebration kicks-off in Inwood the first week in May and ends in Queens during the last week of May. For more information, contact Barhynn Johnson: 212-620-5462 ext.110 / [email protected]. Through April 18
th.
Used Musical Instrument Drive for NYC Public Schools Music is just the beginning of what a student gets from playing an instrument! Music has the power to change lives. Students who study music in school have higher grades, self-esteem and are more likely to graduate. NYC public radio (WQXR & WNYC) are working in partnership with Sam Ash Music Stores and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to collect gently used instruments, which they will repair and give to NYC public schools. So far more than 1000 instruments have been collected. Donate your instrument and change a life. Pass it on. For information, and drop-off locations throughout New York City, Northern New Jersey, Westchester and Long Island, check the FAQ at http://www.wqxr.org/#!/kids/about/; for specific questions, [email protected]. Through April 7
th.
“Gift of Love Benefit” An evening of food, Filipino dance performance and a silent auction to benefit survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. At the Lounge, Hudson View Gardens (Pinehurst Ave. @ W. 183
rd St.) The organizers are looking
for donations of products or services for the fundraiser, as well as sponsorships and journal ads. For more information about the event or to get involved in planning, email Donald Wilen: [email protected]. Saturday, April 26
th, 3pm-7pm.
Palisades Update By now the word about LG's intended egregious ruination of our gorgeous Palisades view has reached just about everyone. Four Former New Jersey Governors Stand Up to LG in New York Times Editorial Four former New Jersey Governors – Republicans and Democrats among them – wrote a compelling editorial in the New York Times last week (http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/opinion/the-threat-to-the-palisades.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0&referrer= ) about the need to Protect the Palisades and have LG Electronics modify their building design so that a National Natural and Historic Landmark is not severely compromised. According to these local lawmakers, “The solution is clear: Build out rather than up. Generate jobs and economic stimulus while conserving the area’s scenic beauty. The building can be redesigned. The Palisades and the Hudson River cannot.” We need your help! Find out the steps that you can take to help preserve the Palisades and the public enjoyment of them from Fort Tryon Park.
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
If you are a letter writer, and you haven’t already done so, please write a letter to CEO Bon-Joon Koo and ask others to do the same. For more ways to help protect the Palisades, please visit our Take Action page. And this from neighbor Becky Carel:
1) VOLUNTEER! With warmer weather we have a good opportunity to raise awareness about LG’s threat to the Palisades by going to Ft. Tryon to distribute leaflets and get people to sign up with Protect the Palisades. Have an hour to give? Recruit a friend and do it together! 10am – 2pm, Saturday & Sunday, for the next few weekends. Inwood Farmers’ Market is a good venue. To coordinate times and get literature, contact Becky Carel, [email protected].
2) SAVE THE DATE: April 30
th The Englewood Cliffs Planning Board is meeting sometime that evening regarding
proposed zoning plan changes. It is imperative that a large crowd shows up to reflect the keen interest in doing no harm to the Palisades. (You need not give testimony. Just show up.) Details and directions to come. 10 Kahn Terrace.
3) HIKERS, TRAIL RUNNERS & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the Escape to the Palisades 6k Trail Run/Walk Sunday,
May 4, 2014 Escape to the Palisades for a morning of spectacular cliff top and Hudson River views - while protecting the Palisades from overdevelopment. Lace up and speak out as you enjoy a scenic loop hike or run on the Long Path, right across from the proposed LG Tower which, if built as designed, will disrupt a national scenic landscape. Sign up now to hike or run the historic Long Path, Shore Trail, Carpenters Trail, and Dyckman Hill Trail - for a great cause! Sign Up for the Race here: www.escapetopalisades.com; sign Up to volunteer here: www.nynjtc.org/webform/2014escapetothepalisades. All net proceeds will support Protect the Palisades efforts.
***EDUCATIONAL & VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES*** (4 items) The City Parks Foundation has openings for summer work in youth development, and in various production, operations and planning capacities on their Summer Stage; they also are looking for a membership coordinator. Visit their website for more information http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/get-involved/corporate-programs/employment-opportunities/ Dominicanos USA is looking for a Field Organizer to help design, implement and manage an on-the-ground field civic engagement operation serving New York’s Dominican-American communities, primarily in Northern Manhattan, Bronx and Queens. Essential Duties and Responsibilities include: develop, plan and execute voter engagement operation; recruit, train and manage canvassing teams; cultivate relationships with community leaders and organizations. Interested individuals please call or email Eddie Cuesta: 718-664-2616 / 717-664-2617 / [email protected]. Media Workshops for NY Immigration Coalition Members The Center for Community & Ethnic Media at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism is hosting a series of media workshops free of charge for NYIC members! Nervous about doing media interviews? Want to sharpen your on-camera interview skills? Not sure how to use social media to enhance the work of your organization? Learn how to be a more effective communicator in two remaining workshops. Space is limited.
Getting Out Your Message: This four-hour workshop will provide concrete and effective techniques for nonprofits to harness the power and ubiquity of SmartPhones to engage their target communities and various stakeholders. You'll explore best practices for using SmartPhones to capture professional-quality images, video and audio that can be showcased to spread your message. You'll learn how to harness multiple social media networks to connect with and to engage your target communities. Wednesday, April 9
th, 9am-1pm.
Mastering the On-Camera Interview: Learn how to get publicity for your research, book, cause, or business and how to handle a television interview. This four-hour workshop will cover the fundamentals of getting the
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
broadcast media interested in your story. You will have the opportunity to be interviewed on-camera and to see how you can improve. Wednesday, April 23
rd, 9am-1pm.
Both workshops are held at the CUNY School of Journalism, 219 W. 40th
St., 3rd
floor. For more information or to RSVP, visit: http://thenyic.org/blog/springmediatraining2014 or email Thanu Yakupitiyage ([email protected]) or Jehangir Khattak ([email protected]). FREE Computer Classes at the Library The Inwood Branch of the New York Public Library is offering a new round of FREE computer classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays in April. Classes are generally from 11am-1pm, with open lab on Tuesdays from 1pm-2pm. There is no class next week (April 8
th/10
th) though there will be open lab on the 10
th.
4790 Broadway, near Dyckman Street. For more information and a complete schedule, call 212-942-2445 or visit http://www.nypl.org/locations/inwood. Legal Bound: HS Summer Internship in the DA’s Office A rigorous 6-week internship with the Manhattan DA’s Office provides an insider’s view of the criminal justice system and law enforcement. Interns are assigned to various units and assist attorneys and support staff. They also attend many law-related presentations and prepare for a mock trial. For more information, visit www.manhattanda.org. This opportunity is open to rising HS juniors & seniors residing in Manhattan. Applicant MUST COMMIT to attend the entire program, July 7
th – August 15
th,
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-5pm. Application must include a current résumé; a 2-page (or shorter) essay explaining your interest in the law; a letter of recommendation from your current school; and a second letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor or other individual with whom you have worked. <ail to Carol Ragsdate, NY Co. DA’s Office, One Hogan Pl., rm. 843, NYC 10013, or email to [email protected]. Questions? Contact the program supervisors: Jennifer Cariño (212-335-9064) or Denise Liriano (212-335-3055). Applications due by Friday, April 18
th.
*** PUBLIC SAFETY & HEALTH*** (5 items) Twelve Weeks of Classes to Help You Get Well, Stay Healthy, and Live Better! Inwood Community Services, Inc., Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, Community League of the Heights and EmblemHealth invite you to a series of FREE fitness classes, cooking demonstrations and health care education seminars. Sign up today:
Yoga: Tuesdays, 2:30pm-3:30pm, April 1st
- June 24th
or Fridays, 7pm-8pm, April 4th
- June 27th
Zumba: Wednesdays, 6pm-7pm, April 2nd
- June 25th
or Fridays, 6pm – 7pm, April 4th
- June 27th
Health Lectures: Wednesdays, 7pm – 7:45pm (See Schedule)
Cooking Classes: Tuesdays, 3:30pm – 5pm (See Schedule)
At the Holy Trinity Church, 20 Cumming Street (btw. Seaman & Broadway) For more information or to sign-up, click here : http://emblemhealthlivehealthy.com/upcoming-events/ or call 1-877-444-3674. Do you have lupus? Are you interested in meeting others who have lupus? If so, please let us know. The YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood is exploring the possibility of hosting a support group for those affected by lupus, and is looking for people in the Washington Heights/Inwood area who might be interested in a lupus support group, in association with the SLE Lupus Foundation. Support groups offer the opportunity to connect with others, share your thoughts and feelings, and learn more about resources. If interested, please contact Deborah Katznelson at 212-569-6200, ext. 219 or at [email protected]. Share the Road with School Buses In the NYPD’s our quest for Vision Zero, the 34
th Precinct will participate in
Operation Safe Stop through April 3rd
. The focus will be on vehicular traffic near schools and around school buses. Operation Safe Stop will involve an educational period which will include handing out flyers that explain the New York State law when driving near school buses and shares tips for sharing the road with school buses. Help keep our children safe. New York State transports 2.3 million children with more than 50,000 school buses to school every year. School buses are most likely to be on the road during a three hour window in the morning and a three hour window in the afternoon, the timing of which is consistent from day-to-day. School buses are noted for
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typically traveling at lower rates of speed and making frequent stops. When a school bus is preparing to stop, the driver will activate the yellow flashing lights at approximately 300 feet before the stop. At the stop the vehicle will be put into neutral or park with the parking brake set to open the door and activate the red flashing lights with the stop arm/stop sign being extended and flashing. New York State law requires motorists to stop for school buses that are receiving or discharging passengers. A vehicle must stop when encountering a school bus in the process of loading or unloading students on a public highway; on multiple lane roads; on opposite sides of divided highways; on a public street; on a private road; in a parking lot; and on school property. The driver of the vehicle must stop from either direction. The driver must also stop if the school bus has another bus in front of it to receive or discharge passengers. Keep in mind that violation o f these rules of the road also carry stiff fines: $250-$400, 5 points and up to 30 days imprisonment for a first offense, up to $750-$1k, 5 points and up to 180 days imprisonment for a third offense within three years. Safeguard your Auto Vehicles are stolen for parts, insurance fraud, retagging, exporting, and joy-riding. To help prevent the theft and damage to your vehicle, the NYPD suggests the following: always lock your vehicle; always activate your alarm every time you leave your vehicle; NEVER leave your keys unattended in the ignition, even if it’s for a short time; do not leave your property (GPS, cell phone, iPad, laptop, etc.) in public view; whenever possible, park in high-traffic or well-lit areas; entroll in the NYPS’s anti-theft programs (Operation ID, CAT, CCAT, HEAT) by contacting your local precinct Community Affairs or Crime Prevention Officers, or visit www.nyc.gov/nypd. IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN, report the theft to the Police by calling 911, and notify your insurance company. GreenDot Money Scam The NYPD Crime Prevention Section has published a public awareness video on the “GreenDot Money Card” scam that is taking place citywide. Below is a link to the video, which is available on the NYPD’s YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/Aks5FivTMjM. Take a moment to watch this video, and share it with your family and friends. It will provide crime prevention tips to help you protect yourself and your loved ones from this scam. ***HELP WITH YOUR TAXES*** (5 items) NMIC free tax assistance provided by the Food Bank for New York City in partnership with the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation. Bring your Social Security card or Tax ID # for everyone to be claimed on your return; a photo of yourself and spouse (if applicable; W-2s for all jobs you held in 2013 and any other tax-related documents; a sample check or deposit slip with routing number and account number if you want direct deposit of your refund. Now through April 15
th, Mon-Thurs noon-7pm; Saturdays 9am-5pm. (Closed on Mondays in
March.) You may also use our self-prep tax program on Saturdays. We also offer assistance to seniors and the disabled (limited to 25 people/day): Mon-Thurs, 8am-noon; Tues-Thurs, 8am-noon during March. NMIC is located at 76 Wadsworth Avenue (near W. 177
th St.), First floor. Info: (212) 453-5391
Tax Online Filing assistance To be eligible, you must be filing less than $55,000 per tax return, have some basic computer literacy and a valid email address. Free. At the Inwood Library (4790 Broadway). three days a week, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am-1pm. This program will run through April 15
th.
If you need help preparing your tax return, learn about the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.
VITA Program: If you make $52,000 or less, IRS-certified volunteers can inform you about tax credits for which you may qualify, and prepare a basic tax return with electronic filing.
TCE Program: If you are 60 years of age or older, you may qualify for free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers who specialize in issues unique to seniors.
There are thousands of locations across the United States where you can get free tax help through the VITA and TCE programs: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers.
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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a special federal tax program that helps low- and moderate-income working individuals and families reduce their income taxes and put more money in their pockets. The credit reduces the amount of federal tax owed, and may even result in a refund. If a qualifying individual or family owes income tax, EITC will reduce the amount of taxes owed. If your tax credit is more than your tax bill, you will receive a refund check—even if you don’t owe any taxes. Furthermore, New York State offers its qualifying residents an additional tax credit equal to 30% of the federal EITC for the previous tax year. To qualify for EITC, workers can file as “single,” “head of household” or “married filing jointly.”
• If you are a worker with one qualifying child, your total earned income and your federal
adjusted income must each be less than $38,511 (or $43,941 for married workers). • If you are a worker with two children, your total earned income and your federal adjusted
income must each be less than $43,756 (or $49,186 for married workers). • If you are a worker with three or more children, your total earned income and your federal adjusted
income must each be less than $46,997 (or $52,427 for married workers). • If you are a worker without children, your total earned income and your federal adjusted
gross income must each be less than $14,590 (or $20,020 for married workers). Workers with qualifying children must file federal income tax return form 1040 or 1040A and must complete and attach Schedule EIC. Workers without qualifying children can file any tax form — including form 1040EZ. These workers write “EIC” (or the dollar amount of their credit) on the Earned Income Tax Credit line on the tax form. They do not file Schedule EIC. A correct name and valid Social Security number must be provided for every person listed on the tax return and Schedule EIC, including infants born before December 31. If this information is incorrect or missing, the IRS will delay the refund. For more information on the federal EITC, call the 24-hour Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Hotline at 1-800-TAX-1040, or visit www.irs.gov. To order federal tax forms, call the IRS at 1-800-829-3676. For more information about the New York State EITC, call the informational hotline of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance at (518) 457-5181, or visit www.tax.ny.gov. AARP Tax Aide at the Bloomingdale Library (150 W. 100
th St.) For more info, call 212-222-8030. Friday, April 4
th &
April 11th
, 10:30am-2:30pm. ***SUMMER CAMP / SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT*** (3 items) The 2014 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is accepting applications NOW! SYEP provides New York City youth with paid summer employment for up to six weeks in July and August. All youth aged 14-24 who permanently reside within the five boroughs of New York City are eligible and encouraged to apply. Participants work in a variety of entry-level jobs including parks, summer camps, hospitals, community based organizations, small businesses, museums and retail organizations. In addition to work experience, SYEP also provides workshops on job readiness, career exploration, financial literacy and opportunities to continue education and social growth. Programs are located in community-based organizations in all five boroughs of New York City. Youth can apply for the program online or at a community-based organization during the application period. Participants are selected by lottery for the program. Specialized programming for disabled, foster care, runaway/homeless and justice-involved youth are also available. To apply for SYEP, you only need to submit a completed application by going to www.nyc.gov/dycd. For more information, call 1-800-246-4646 or visit www.nyc.gov/dycd. Application period is open from now through Friday, April 25
th.
Riverbank State Park Summer Camp For boys & girls, 7-12. From Monday - Friday, July 7
th - August 8
th, 8:30 am -
5:30 pm. Registration begins Wednesday, April 16th
, ends Saturday, June 28th
. Camp Fee: $550 plus $4 registration fee & $10 for ID. Late pick-up (6pm) also available for an additional $100 fee You must bring an birth certificate or passport, an immunization card and a current physical (stamped, dated and signed by the doctor’s office); bring the original documents and a copy of each in order to register.(We do not have the ability to make copies. You
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must bring copies.) You may pay by cash, credit card (AmEx, MC, Visa, Discovery) or money order; no personal checks. Payment accepted at the Cashier’s Booth in the Skating Rink, every day from 9am-5pm; (Weds until 7pm). Mandatory Orientation will be held Saturday, June 28
th @ 1pm in the Cultural Theater. Summer Camp Open
House Dates: April 12th
& May 17th
, 11am - 3pm. At the Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive @ W. 145th
St. For more information, call 212-694-3632, 3634 Storefront Science Summer Camps Storefront Science summer camps are inquiry-based, exploratory and thematic, allowing kids to "go deep" in a particular science area. Each week, we offer two topics - morning and afternoon - so kids can spend their summer doing things they are interested in. You can select as few or as many weeks as you’d like, and half-day or full day options! “StoSci” camps are based at the First Baptist Church, 265 West 79
th Street (@ Broadway). Experiments and explorations in Riverside Park and Central Park, as well local
museums, landmarks and the streets of the UWS. Eight weekly classes, from Monday, July 7th
– Friday, August 29th
, for ages 4-12. Morning (9am-noon) & afternoon (1pm-4pm) sessions for $350/wk; full day (9am-4pm) for $600/wk. Sibling and multi-week discounts available. Snacks provided; please pack lunch. There are a total of 8 topics, each offered for a morning and an afternoon session: playground physics; building; urban naturalism, atoms-to-solar-systems, physiology, paleontology, kite-flying, robotics/kinetic art Visit www.storefrontscience.com to register. ***NEWS, INFORMATION & ONGOING EVENTS*** (9 items) "Through Women's Eyes" In celebration of Women's History Month, The Grady Alexis Gallery at El Taller Latino Americano is pleased to present an art exhibition featuring the work of New York-based artists Antonia Guerrero (Mexico,) Shifi Rathaus (Israel) and Nina Talbot (US). Curated by Andrea Arroyo. At the Grady Alexis Gallery at El Taller Latino Americano, 2710 Broadway (@ W. 104th Street). Through April 19
th. For more information, visit
http://tallerlatino.org/ArtExhibits.php. TokoNoMAA: Stories of Home in the Heights This NoMAA / MoMA multidisciplinary project installation is based on the concept of the “tokonoma,” the focal point of the Japanese home in which a simple but beautiful object is placed for contemplation. Interpreting the format of the scroll, the artists explored various meanings of “home” in the Washington Heights/Inwood through photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media. Participating artists: Yael Ben-Zion, Ferlaisa Gomez, Denise Laurin, Rafaela Luna, Joiri Minaya, Daya De La Rosa, Tamara Rose and Gesche Würfel. Curated by G. Romero. In the Gold Wing Gallery, at the Hebrew Tabernacle, 551 Ft. Washington Ave. @ W. 185
th St. Through the end of April.
Ice Rink @ Highbridge Park NYC Parks has been working with Councilmember Rodriguez on the development of an ice rink at the Highbridge Recreation Center. With the reopening of the historic High Bridge at the end of 2014 linking the Bronx and Manhattan communities and connecting uptown to the citywide greenway network, we expect a big influx of park visitors to Northern Manhattan's facilities. NYC Parks has also partnered with Parsons/New School and Councilmember Rodriguez to make the Highbridge Recreation Center a year round facility, with construction completion scheduled for later this spring. With these two developments, expanding the recreational amenities at our parks is essential. The RFP for the seasonal ice skating rink was issued on March 14
th.
Bid proposals are due back May 8th
at 3pm, with a recommended bidder's tour on April 8th
at 10am. A full copy of the RFP can be found on NYC Parks' website (www.nyc.gov/parks) under "opportunities". Please help spread the word about this wonderful opportunity so that Parks can get multiple bid proposals to consider for operating the facility. Got Street Trees? Through MillionTreesNYC, the City, with the help of thousands of volunteers, community groups and businesses, has planted a total of over 834,000 trees to date. Starting this March, MillionTreesNYC began working with local contractors to plant street trees in communities throughout New York City per individual requests from residents and prioritization through our block planting program with the goal of increasing tree canopy within the public right-of-way. The spring planting season runs through June 30
th. For more information on
NYC Parks street tree planting and tree procurement procedures, please visit:
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/about/getting_parks.shtml. For more details on the planting process, please visit: www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/plant/street.shtml. Best wishes during this spring planting season! The Paid Sick Leave Law went into effect in New York City on Tuesday, April 1
st. As a result, certain employers must
give their employees sick leave. (Employers with 5 or more employees must give 5 paid sick days per year; employers with 1-4 employees must give unpaid leave. The Department of Consumer Affairs is coordinating the City's public education to help employers and employees to understand their responsibilities and rights. For more information regarding the implementation of this new law, contact Luis Hernandez, Legislative Affairs Coordinator, at [email protected] or 212-436-0219. Call for Artisits! The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance announces a call for artists for the 11
th annual Uptown
ArtStroll in Washington Heights & Inwood (from W. 155th
– W. 220th
Streets) this June. The Stroll showcases the painters, photographers, writers, musicians, sculptors, actors, dancers and filmmakers in Northern Manhattan. Please see www.artstroll.com for more information on how to participate. And save the date for the ArtStroll’s opening reception on Thursday, May 29
th, 6pm-8:30pm (location TBA).
ConEdison Gas Safety: SMELL GAS? ACT FAST! Gas leaks can create fires and explosions. It's important that you and your family know how to recognize a gas leak and what to do if you suspect a leak. Watch this video: http://bcove.me/jec5z6ug
SIGNS OF A GAS LEAK
Smell - A distinctive, strong odor similar to rotten eggs.
See - A white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, blowing dust or vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no reason.
Hear - Roaring, hissing or whistling.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU DETECT A GAS LEAK
If the odor is strong, leave immediately and take others with you.
If the odor is faint, open windows before leaving.
If you are outside, leave the area immediately.
Do not light a match or smoke, turn appliances or lights on or off (including flashlights), use a telephone or start a car. Doing so can produce sparks that might cause the gas to explode.
Find a phone away from the area and call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633), or 911. You can report leaks anonymously.
Do not assume someone else will report the condition.
National Grid customers should call 1-718-643-4050.
Tell us if there is a problem with your electric service.
Follow directions from emergency responders who are on site. Con Edison has a comprehensive plan for maintaining and enhancing the integrity of natural gas pipelines. For more information visit: http://www.coned.com/customercentral/sp_gassafety.asp or www.coned.com/gassafety-sp Join Us in Welcoming Our New Parks Commissioner! It’s great news that Mitchell Silver is our new Parks Commissioner! A Brooklyn native, he received his undergraduate degree at Pratt and his Masters of Urban Planning from Hunter College. He was head of the national American Planning Association, and has been working on park policy, public health issues and urban revitalization for decades. He is internationally recognized for his work and will be a fabulous asset to the City of New York. We are excited about his leadership, his technical expertise and his focus on health, sustainability and quality parks for all!
Contact Liz Ritter at [email protected] to receive updates via email
“Saturday Night Lights” Weekend Professional Sports Weekend Professional Sports Training (basketball drill/play) and Weekday Academic Support for kids ages 11-14 (first sessions) and 15-18 (second sessions) through the DA’s Office in partnership with the NYPD, PAL and many CBOs at sites throughout Northern Manhattan including:
PAL Harlem Center (441 Manhattan Avenue @ W. 119th
Street) on Fridays (6-8pm / 8-10pm) and Saturdays (5-7pm / 7-9pm)
Johnson Houses Community Center (1829-39 Lexington Ave. btw E. 112th
& E. 115th
Streets) on Fridays (5-7pm / 7-9pm)
Polo Grounds Community Center (3005 8th
Ave. btw W. 155th
– W. 156th
Streets) on Fridays (6-8pm / 8-10pm)
George Washington HS (549 Audubon Ave. @ W. 192nd
Street) on Saturdays (5-7pm / 7-9pm) (Volleyball also offered in this location at these times.)
Fred Samuels Community Center (669 Malcolm X Blvd. btw W. 144th
& 143rd
Streets) on Saturdays (5-7pm / 7–9pm)
For information call 212-678-0647 or visit us at www.manhattanda.org/saturday-night-lights. -------- Elizabeth Lorris Ritter Community Liaison State Senator Adriano Espaillat, 31
st SD
5030 Broadway, Suite 701 NYC 10034 (212) 544-0173 (ph) (212) 544-0256 (fx)
