The NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) says that the tanker MARY A. WHALEN will be in Atlantic Basin by May 29. We don't know exactly when or on what terms, except that we think we will have a two or three year contract. Councilman Carlos Menchaca has been been very helpful in advocating our cause. We're not blasting this as public news yet, we're only telling close friends and family, folks who are involved with us like you. Thanks for all your interest and help!
All this means that, for the
first time since PortSide was founded in 2005, we can lay long term plans.
So here is a calendar that looks forward!
Sat 3/7 11-5pm small volunteer day to ready the ship for school visit next week. Please RSVP via
email or call 917-414-0565.
Tues 3/10 1-2:30pm
International School of Brooklyn visits the ship to learn about simple machines in a maritime context. We could use 2-3 people with TWIC cards to be docents, with one of those shooting video or freeing up John Weaver so he can shoot video.
Sun 3/22 6-9pm PortSide appreciation party for volunteers and host committee of our October fundraiser. At 351 Van Brunt Street storefront where we temporarily have our office. Pizza, salad, beer, dessert on us!
Week of April 6-10 during two days TBD, we will have preservation interns from the Field School program of the World Monuments Fund. They will paint the fidley deck. We might want 1-2 people to help then. This is thanks to Stephanie Ortiz, who was a graduate student intern from Pratt with us in 2011.
Moving the MARY A. WHALEN When we move the ship, we will turn the ride into a celebration with food, music, invited guests. You shall be invited!
Summer, some highlights of what's already in the works:
We have requested two preservation interns for the summer. More on that if it is a go.
We will likely have two college summer interns from Spain for a short project.
A July fundraiser is under discussion. A few days ago, we got a surprise email from Switzerland from a flutist who had just seen an ARTE documentary including us, and she was so inspired by the tanker that she offered to play on the ship along with someone she described as "the leading flamenco guitar player in Switzerland." We know little about the category "flamenco guitar players of Switzerland, but this generous offer has inspired the idea of a fundraiser paella dinner with flamenco music - if they're willing to play for that. Anyone know the music o
f
Nick Perrin, guit
ar, and
Regula K�ffer, flute?
Yesterday, we got a surprise email from a Department of Defense school in Bahrain asking for a brochure for their culture day.
Seems we are hot overseas!
More as we know it!
Regards from Chiclet!
