Please feel free to share these upcoming events and opportunities in Northern Manhattan!

 

Apply to NYC Pre-Kindergarten seats offered in Community-based Organizations!

New York City children who turn four by December 31, 2014 (born in 2010) are eligible to attend free pre-kindergarten in public school or community-based organization settings.  All New York City pre-K programs share a common goal: to prepare children for school and life by giving them a solid foundation. 

Although the deadline to apply for pre-kindergarten seats in public schools has passed, there are still seats available in Community-based organizations!

Community-based organization (CBO) pre-kindergarten programs manage their own admissions.  Families must contact CBOs directly to submit an application.

For more information, for the directory of available programs and to apply: 
       Call: 311 or 718-935-2009 for information. 

 

 

Pre-K solicitation for CBO's
The Department of Education is inviting Community-based Early Childhood Centers that wish to provide full-day universal pre-K in September, 2014 to submit an application.
Applications will be available Monday, April 28th, 2014 and will be due back to the Department of Education via email on Monday, May 12.   The DOE engages an extensive review process to ensure that all students will receive a high-quality pre-kindergarten education in a safe, secure environment.
Eligible organizations such as daycare centers, private schools, preschools and group family daycare providers with a DOHMH permit and others including libraries and museums may apply to provide UPK instruction daily, Monday through Friday, for at least 5 hours and up to 6 hours and 20 minutes per day, for 180 days between September 4, 2014, and June 30th, 2015.
If you are interested in applying, visit http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/EarlyChildhood/default.htm and download an application on April 28. Information about an informational session at the start of May will be posted soon.  The DOE will carefully screen all applicants to ensure safe, secure, high-quality options for parents.

  

FREE Monthly Film Series! 

Cine Art Entertainment Productions, Alianza Dominincana, City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and Catholic Charities are pleased to announce KidCienmaFest's Year-Round Children, Teens & Families' Film . This new program will offer a lineup of educational, creative, fun and culturally diverse films for children and young people from around the world. It will include a range of genres from fiction, animation, documentaries, and short films. Best of all, this event is totally FREE for all children and families! First up: Eleanor's Secret (animated; ages 3+), an inspiring tale of a boy who discovers his newfound ability to read not only sets his imagination wild, but also saves the day! At the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center located (530 W. 166th St. at Amsterdam Ave.). Sunday, April 27th at 2pm

   

Transportation Alert!

Due to the GWB Bus Terminal construction on Fort Washington Avenue and 178th Street, the Fort Washington Avenue bus stops between 178th Street and 179th Street are closed in both directions for approximately one year.  Customers for the M4 to Penn Station can access the M4 at the next bus stop on Fort Washington Avenue between 177th Street and 176th Street.  Customers for the M4 to the Cloisters can access the M4 at the previous bus stop on Fort Washington Avenue between 177th Street and 178th Street. 

 

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. 145th 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. 145th St. Thursday evenings, April 3rd - June 12th, 7pm - 8:30pm For further information, call 212-694-3624

 

Fresh Youth Initiatives Summer of Service Day Camp 2014:

For boys & girls 10-13. FYI's summer camp exposes campers to hands-on community service activities, enrichment trips, arts and crafts, sports and recreation, and other fun activities all around the city.  Camp also makes time for "Bridging The Gap," an academic support element to help curb summer learning loss - and we make it fun!  The session is July 7 - August 15, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm.  Registration is open from April 7 until June 30. Space is limited, act soon! Camp Fee is $500. Payment plan available. For more info, call 212-781-1113 and speak with Jeremiah or check our website www.freshyouth.org. Applications are available at www.freshyouth.org/summer-camp-forms

 

 

This Month at MJM: There's Always Something New at Manhattan's Oldest House

May Event

"Home" En Plein Air (Watercolor Workshop)

 

Saturday, May 3rd

1PM - 3PM
"Home" artist Elizabeth Allison will lead an outdoor watercolor workshop.

Come paint a picture of the Morris-Jumel Mansion or your favorite house.

This event is recommended for ages 10 and above.

The event is FREE with Museum admission

Support provided by

The West Harlem Lo�cal Development Corporation Fund of the Tides Foundation.

Music at Morris-Jumel

Sweet Songs to the Broadwood

Saturday, May 10th

4PM - 6PM

Clara Rottsolk, soprano, and Sylvia Berry, fortepiano, perform works by Mozart, Haydn, and Rossini.

Ms. Berry will play on her newly restored 1806 Broadwood piano, featured on her recent recording Haydn in London.

Tickets are $25 per person and $20 for members. Advanced registration is required (call 212 923 8008)

Voces/Voices Theater Performance

Sunday, May 18th

3PM - 5PM

Upper Manhattan teens join with the People's Theatre Project and Seven Stories Institute

for the culminating performance of their VOICES/VOCES program.

The participants study the role of youth throughout history in the struggle for justice and work together

to create their own theatrical protest piece on their role as youth and artists in Northern Manhattan today.

The event is FREE with Museum admission, but advanced registration is required ( 212-923-8008).

Baroque Cello Recital

Saturday, May 31st 3PM - 5PM

Anthony Albrecht, an Australian cellist and 2014 graduate of Juilliard's Historical Program, will present a farewell recital

featuring a repertoire of favorites studied during his time in New York City.

All proceeds will go towards the restoration of Morris Jumel Mansion.

 

Morris-Jumel Mansion is Manhattan's oldest house.  Built in 1765 by British officer Roger Morris, the house was later inhabited by George Washington during the Battle of Harlem Heights in 1776 and the Jumel family from 1810 to 1865.  The house, now a museum, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday 10am to 5pm.  The museum is located between 160th and 162nd Streets just east of St. Nicholas Avenue and can be easily reached via the C train to 163rd Street, the A train to 168thStreet, or the M2, M3, M101 or M18 bus to 160th Street. 

 

The Municipal Art Society Celebrates "Jane's Walk" 

New York's hundreds of diverse neighborhoods contain hidden treasures: architecture, art, and above all, people. This May 3-4, we invite you to join us and explore the unique fabric of our city. Each year, in the spirit of the great urban animator and activist Jane Jacobs, MAS hosts 100+ free guided walks, bike rides and boat tours that celebrate New York City's diverse neighborhoods. Part of an international movement, Jane's Walk NYC facilitates thousands of "walking conversations" that get New Yorkers out to explore our city, and engage with our streets, public spaces and each other. We hope you'll join us. With walks in hundreds of neighborhoods across all five boroughs, you'll discover, or rediscover, a unique angle, in a neighborhood you know well, or one two boroughs away. Opportunities are also still available to lead a walk or to sign up as a Jane's Walk Wrangler, managing the crucial logistical side of a walk. Then, once you've enjoyed Jane's Walks (or bike rides, or boat tours) - join us at Jane's Birthday Party. We've partnered with the Hester Street Fair to celebrate what would have been Jane Jacobs' 98th birthday with food, drinks, a photo booth, craft projects, a photo wall and more. Become a MAS Member by May 1 and receive a FREE tote bag, as well as exclusive giveaways and discounts at the party. For more information, visit www.mas.org/janeswalk. And don't forget to follow and contribute to the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with #JanesWalkNYC. We hope to see you this May 3rd & 4th. NOTE: there are many walks led by your own neighbors exploring treasures in our district with which you may not be familiar.

 

Spring 2014 Conference for Parents of High School Students: Fostering Parent Leadership for Student Success 

Presented by the NYC Department of Education and the Coalition for Education Justice. Free. Includes breakfast and two workshop sessions; childcare and translation services provided. At the High School for Fashion Industries, 225 W. 24th St. Visit http://hsparentrsvp.eventbrite.com or call 212-374-4118 to register. Saturday, May 3rd, 8:30am - 1pm.

 

Convergence & Diversity: Art of the Hispanic World 

 Jos� Agustin Arrieta's career centered on the city of Puebla, whose common citizens and typical foods became the subjects of his arrestingly realistic compositions. His portrait El Coste�o, representing a young man - possibly a servant in a wealthy household or a seller of fruits - who is thought to have come from the Afro-Hispanic communities on the Mexican coast near Veracruz. The place of this picture in Arrieta's oeuvre and in the development of Mexican art will be the subject of the program. At the Hispanic Society of America, Broadway between W. 155th & W. 156th Street. Saturday, May 3rd at 11am.

 

Baby and Wee Classes

Celebrating Mothers: An event for you AND your little one (0 - age 3)

Join us with your infant and toddler age zero to 3 years old for activities, art, music, story time & cooking

Bring a t-shirt for you and your little one you don't mind getting messy.

This is a day for fun!

Dads and grandparents invited and welcomed

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014

Location: Harlem State Office Building

8th flr conference room

163 West 125 St NY, NY 10027

Session I: 10:00am - 11:00am

Session II: 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Choose 1 session

Registration required by email or phone:

DasetaGray@gmail.com

Daseta 347-524-4178 OR

Reeshemah  917-721-3648

 

NYPC Career Day The NYPD

This event is the premier law enforcement agency in the country, with more than 300 specialized units. If there's a job skill that you specialize in, the NYPD can match it. In addition to many areas of law enforcement, the NYPD needs IT staff, medical/health professionals, writers, paralegals, pilots, teachers, skilled tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, mechanics), and more, even dog handlers for the K-9 unit. Come learn more, and meet police officers from all around the NYPD. Activities include demonstrations from specialized units, rock climbing, promotional items, face painting music, and more! Bring your resum� for positions not requiring an entry exam. For more info call 212-RECRUIT. At the Lafayetter High School, 2630 Benson Ave., in Brooklyn. Saturday, May 3rd, 11am - 4pm.

Re-opening of Highbridge Recreation Center:

First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh, NYC Parks, Council Member Rodriguez, District 10, Executive Dean Joel Towers, Parsons The New School for Design  invite you to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of Highbridge Recreation Center.

 Monday, May 5, 2014 3:30 p.m. at Highbridge Recreation Center

2301 Amsterdam Avenue (at West 173rd Street) New York, NY 10033

RSVP to Special.Events@parks.nyc.gov or by calling (212) 408-0111.

 

Free Summer Music & Art Program Information Meeting

Statement Arts' partners up with the legendary   United            Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA) to bring   a free Summer Program to underserved kids. The summer program will consist of two programs:

The StART PLAYERS: Program 1: Grades 3-6 (Limited to 20 students) & Program 2: Grades 7-10

(Limited to 20 students)

Taught by professional theater artists, The StART Players are devoted to Musical Theater. Children will learn to sing and dance and will create and perform their own original show with songs from Broadway musicals!

*Classes, Monday - Friday 9am-2pm With a Performance on Friday.

Musical Theater College Preparatory Program: (Three Weeks: July 7th - July 25, 2014) High School Seniors

(Limited to 10 Students)

*Master Classes & Private Voice Lessons & An Advanced Writing Workshop

*Classes in Auditioning and Performance Techniques, Interpretive Coaching, Culminating in a Showcase Performance

Attend the informational meeting at the word-up bookstore Wednesday, May 7th form 5-7pm (2113 Amsterdam Ave at 165th St.) to apply and learn the application process

 

Help Clean and Beautify Our Green Areas and Water Fronts

On Sunday May 4th at 12PM tour Wildlife Sanctuaries along the Harlem River as part of the MASNYC's annual Jane's Walk. Click here for details

On Saturday, May 10 from 10AM-2PM, join the Harlem River Park Task Force for It's My Park Day/Riverkeeper Sweep/Greg Hopper Day. Click here for details

The Riverkeeper Sweep will extend up to the North Cove on Saturday where Conservancy North and Manhattan Wetlands and Wildlife Association will also  host a clean-up on May 10 from 12PM-4PM

Peace between Israel & Palestine? 

Can the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions ("BDS") against Israel help achieve a peaceful and just settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict? The Northern Manhattan Neighbors for Peace & Justice invite you to a discussion. Speakers include Rebecca Vilkomerson [Executive Director for Jewish Voice for Peace, resident of Israel from 2006-09, and recognized by the Forward as one of the "50 most Influential US Jewish Leaders"] and Dan Fleshler [author of "Transforming America's Israel Lobby - the Limits of Power and the Potential for Change, Board member of Ameinu and Americans for Peace Now, and Advisory Council of J Street]. At the Holyrood Church, enter on W. 179th Street near Ft. Washington Ave. Sunday, May 4th, 3pm-5pm.

 

Overlook Concert in Riverside Park at 116th, sponsored by Riverside Park Conservancy. 

Featuring the Columbia Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jason Noble. Fifty woodwind, brass, and percussion players fill the air with the finest wind-band music from the Renaissance to the present. Free and open to the public. Sunday, May 4th at 2pm.

 

Novels With a Social Conscience: A Book Discussion Group at Word Up.

  Join us to discuss Carson McCullers The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1940, 359 pp.). Free and open to all; please prepare in advance by reading the novel. At Word Up Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Avenue @ W. 165th St. Info/RSVP: 347-688-3456. Sunday May 4th, 3pm-5pm.

 

The debut of opera at the Palace with a FREE concert
Sunday, May 4, 2014 @ 4 pm (Running time: 1 hour)
In the Palace foyer
FREE with RSVP to underworldprod@gmail.com
Limited seating!
Underworld Productions Opera (UPO) will present "TROUBLESongs," an afternoon of Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti" plus the staged premiere of "Outerborough Songs" for voice and electric guitar by Thomas Deneuville.
This will be:the debut of opera at the Palacethe first public classical music performance staged in the spectacular gilded foyer AND the first performance on the new baby grand piano that will become a permanent fixture in the front of the house, made possible through a generous contribution by Beethoven Pianos in Midtown.

A talk with the composer will follow.

For details click here 

 

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 8th/10th) though there will be open lab on the 10th. 4790 Broadway, near Dyckman Street. For more information and a complete schedule, call 212-942-2445 or visit 

http://www.nypl.org/locations/inwood

 

Help Manage a Perennial Problem: Dog Waste 

Save the Date: Saturday, May 3rd, to join in a community-wide blitz in attempt to greatly deter dog-owners from allowing their pets to poop and pee on our living trees. Not only is this dog waste destroying the necessary nutrients in the soil that helps feed our growing trees, thereby harming and even killing these needed trees, but it is a health hazard to us and especially to our young children and an ongoing eye-sore.  This is another part of the ongoing Rotary Club of Inwood project called: Greening and Cleaning of Inwood. Find us on Facebook to learn more or e-mail Rotarian KyWilliams2@aol.com to begin to lend your support in our planning stages or be added to the list of folk ready to participate in our Inwood Blitz.

 

 "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 (95th St. & Broadway). Saturday May 17th 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 4th at 4pm at the United Palace, 4140 Broadway @ W. 175th Street; FREE performance and composer Q&A; reservations required: underworldprod@gmail.com. (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.)

 

Literacy, Inc.'s "Moving Monday" incorporates literacy with yoga activities!

Yoga is a great way to build focus and concentration-essential skills for learning. Join us for an afternoon of both physical and mental health. In the PS 5 Trailers, 3703 10th Ave. @ Dyckman St. Monday, May 5th at 3pm.

 

Literacy, Inc.'s Reading Ladder to Success celebrates the journey we take to become strong readers. 

During the event your family will set reading goals, play literacy games, and create book posters. At the Inwood Library, 4790 Broadway. Tuesday, May 6th at 3pm.

 

Literacy, Inc.'s Curious George Celebration Curious George is a classic children's book character.

 Join us at Roal Wallenburg Playground to celebrate the Curious George book series, and participate in themed games, activities, and crafts. At the Raoul Wallenberg Playground, Amsterdam Ave. @ W. 189th St. Wednesday, May 7th at 3pm.

 

Housing Workshop on Preferential Rents, SCRIE, & DRIE 

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. 88th & W. 89th Streets). For questions, call the Urban Justice Center at 646-459-3017. Wednesday, May 7th, 6pm to 8pm.

 

Literacy, Inc.'s Dream Big 

Inspiring words help us to dream big and reach our goals. The Dream Big event uses quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. to engage your family  in artistic representations of your hopes and dreams. At the PS/IS 18 Playground, 4124 9th Ave. @ W. 220th St. Thursday, May 8th at 3pm.

 

Tenant Interim Lease Apartment Purchase Program

Where do we go from here? Today, thousands of low-income families have been waiting for the opportunity to purchase their apartments through TIL. Many families have waited 10+ years and while there has been some headway in assisting TIL tenants, there is still a long road ahead. Come for a transparent discussion on how we can move forward. At the Isabella Geriatric Center, 515 Audubon Ave. @ W. 190th

 St. Thursday, May 8that 6pm.

 

Literacy, Inc.'s Blossoming Readers Spring is in full bloom!

 

Literacy, Inc.'s "Moving Monday" incorporates literacy with yoga activities! 

Yoga is a great way to build focus and concentration-essential skills for learning. Join us for an afternoon of both physical and mental health. In the PS 5 Trailers, 3703 10th Ave. @ Dyckman St. Monday, May 5th at 3pm.

 

Literacy, Inc.'s Reading Ladder to Success celebrates the journey we take to become strong readers. 

During the event your family will set reading goals, play literacy games, and create book posters. At the Inwood Library, 4790 Broadway. Tuesday, May 6th at 3pm.

 

Tenant Interim Lease Apartment Purchase Program Where do we go from here? Today, thousands of low-income families have been waiting for the opportunity to purchase their apartments through TIL. Many families have waited 10+ years and while there has been some headway in assisting TIL tenants, there is still a long road ahead. Come for a transparent discussion on how we can move forward. At the Isabella Geriatric Center, 515 Audubon Ave. @ W. 190th St. Thursday, May 8that 6pm.

 

Literacy, Inc.'s Blossoming Readers Spring is in full bloom! Not only are plants and flowers growing, your children are growing as readers. This spring event is filled with nature themed literacy activities. At Word Up Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Ave. @ W. 165th St. Friday, May 9th at 3pm.

2nd Annual Riverkeeper Sweep at North Cove and Preliminary Study for the Four Coves Biodiversity Project. Join Manhattan Wetlands & Wildlife Association (MWAWA) and Conservancy North to celebrate the second annual Riverkeeper Sweep Community Clean-up. What started as a desolate dumping ground is now one of the richest habitats in Manhattan and a bird watcher's paradise. The community clean-up begins with an hour and half long talk on biodiversity at noon with James Cole of Conservancy North and Jim "Birdman" Cataldi, EPA award winner, wildlife rehabilitator, and head of MWAWA. Please arrive a little early and come ready to muck around! (Sturdy shoes or boots and long sleeves recommended.) RSVP to andrea@conservancynorth.org. At the Harlem River, end of Ninth Avenue, just north of 207th Street. Saturday, May 10th, noon - 4pm.

 

Second-Career Night at the Jewish Theological Seminary An Evening of Information and Conversation on Mid-Career Religious and Graduate Jewish Studies.

 Includes dinner, information, and discussion on how to pursue a new path at JTS toward meaningful study and fulfilling careers in the Jewish community and beyond. The program is designed for adults at mid-career, parents with families, and others for whom graduate study could represent a significant transition. For more information and to register, visitwww.jtsa.edu/secondcareer or contact Admissions at admissions@jtsa.edu or 212-678-8022. Thursday, May 8, 5:30-8:30 pm.

 

Mothers on Post Fair Celebrate Mothers' Day with Literacy, Inc. and Inwood Community Services with a fun-filled block party for Mom. 

LINC will have literacy art crafts, and games for the entire family. Free! Post Ave. between Academy & W. 204th Streets. Saturday, May 10th, 11am-3pm. 

 

New York City Ballet Presents "An Exploration Choreography"

What is choreography and what does a choreographer does?New York City Ballet warmly invites you and your guests to a Family Saturday program on May 10th at 11am at the David H. Koch Theater (63rd street and Columbus ave), where these questions will be explored by NYCB artists in an hour long family friendly presentation.  Tickets are $20 per person 

 

"THE VILLA-LOBOS EXPERIENCE" AN EVENING OF MUSIC COMPOSED AND INFLUENCED BY THE BRAZILIAN VISIONARY HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS

The Association of Dominican Classical Artists 2013-2014 Fourth Season presents an evening of music composed and influenced by the Brazilian visionary Heitor Villa-Lobos.

May 12, 2014, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The City College of New York Aaron Davis Hall, Theater B

135th Street and Convent Avenue

FREE ADMISSION

 

CITY & STATE present the STATE OF NEW YORK CITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Much of New York City's aging infrastructure is in disrepair, with over 1,000 miles of water mains, 170 school buildings and 165 bridges being constructed over a century ago. With the recent gas explosion causing a Harlem building collapse, and a recent report by the Center for an Urban Future highlighting specific deficiencies, City & State looks to highlight where immediate improvements can be made, what needs long term federal, state and city capital programs will help fix, and the social cost of New York City's aging infrastructure in a half day conference.

 Thursday, May 15, 2014 New York University

60 Washington Square S * Rosenthal Pavilion, 10th Floor * New York, NY

8:45 - 9:30 am: Transportation Infrastructure in New York City

Co-moderator: Jonathan Bowles, Executive Director, Center for an Urban Future

* Joan McDonald, Commissioner, New York State DOT

* Polly Trottenberg, Commissioner, New York City DOT

* Thomas F. Prendergast, MTA Chairman

* Hugh O' Neil, President, Appleseed

9:40 - 10:20 am: Buildings Infrastructure

Co-moderator: Jonathan Bowles, Executive Director, Center for an Urban Future

* Thomas Fariello, R.A. Acting Commissioner, NYC Department of Buildings

* Shola Olatoye, Chair & CEO, NYCHA

* Vicki Been, Commissioner, HPD

* Lorraine Grillo, President, School Construction Authority

* Paul Williams, Executive Director, DASNY

* Seth Pinsky, EVP, Fund Manager, RXR Realty

10:30 - 11:30 am: Utilities Infrastructure

Co-moderator: Jonathan Bowles, Executive Director, Center for an Urban Future

* Con Edison Representative

* Emily Lloyd, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection

* NYS Public Service Commission Representative

* Matthew Driscoll, NYS Environmental Facilities Corp

 

Spanish (ELE) Reading Assessments 

 All students who receive native language arts instruction in Spanish must take the Spanish (ELE) Reading Assessment, which will be administered on May 20th. For a complete list of assessments see the 2013-2014 City and Statewide Assessment calendar <http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F28E5F39-B926-4487-B164-02D6853A2D63/0/AssessmentCalendar20132014.pdf>. For a list of all calendar visits the visit the Calendars' website <http://schools.nyc.gov/Calendar/2013-2014+School+Year+Calendars.htm>. Please contact your school with specific questions about your child.

 

Borough-Wide Workshops for Families of Middle School Students Interested in Applying to Arts-Based High Schools 

Join us for an evening of learning and community building at the NYCDOE Office of the Arts and Special Projects', "Middle School Parents Info Session." Families will have the opportunity to attend a workshop conveniently located within the borough where they reside,  receive information regarding their children's preparation for high school auditions, and speak with experts from the Arts and the Enrollment Offices. At the Lincoln Center Institute (70 Lincoln Center Plaza). Seats are limited. Families must register to attend! To register, click here: http://www.cvent.com/Surveys/Welcome.aspx?s=8861fbb8-0055-4ffe-a8a3-f6b30c8b5cb9. Contact: Darleen Garner dgarner@schools.nyc.gov / 212-356-8557. Wednesday, May 21st, 6:30pm - 7:30 pm. Additional sessions in other boroughs on May 5th, 7th, 8th & 17th.

Hike the Heights

Join the 10th annual community celebration and exploration of Northern Manhattan's parks on June 7th

North Hike Times and Locations:

Meet at 9:45 am; Depart at 10 am

RING Garden (Dyckman & Broadway)

Meet at 10:30; Depart at 11 am

Swindler Cove (Dyckman & 10th Ave)

South Hike Times and Locations:

Meet at 9:45 am; Depart at 10 am

Central Park (110th St & Central Park West)

Meet at 10:20 am; Depart at 10: 30 am

Morningside Park (118th St & Morningside Ave)

Meet at 10:50 am; Depart at 11 am

St. Nicholas Park (135th & St. Nicholas Ave)

Meet at 11:20 am; Depart at 11:30 am

Jackie Robinson Park (148th St & Bradhurst)

Community Celebration 11:30 am-3pm

Highbridge Park at the Sunken Playground (167th St & Edgecombe Ave)

Event includes art, dancing, music, food and fun

hiketheheights.org - facebook.com/hiketheheights - crg.climb@gmail.com

  

 

***HOW YOU CAN HELP*** 

 

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 189th 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.

 

Summer Help at Jewish Tabernacle

The Hebrew Tabernacle is looking for temporary summer help, to provide custodial services on Sundays from 8am-2pm from May 18th through September 7th. ( We have someone in place for now but that person will be leaving NYC at the beginning of May.) The salary for the position is $10 an hour. This is a perfect job for someone in the city for the summer or a neighborhood person who'd like to earn some extra money. The Hebrew Tabernacle is located at 551 Ft. Washington Ave. @ W. 185th St. Please contact our Building Manager, Mike Klein, at mkleinnyc@rcn.com, or call the main office, 212-568-8304, with any inquiries about the position.

 

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 25th through Sunday the 27th. 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 hannaht@inwoodcs.org. If you are dropping off a donation other than cash/check/giftcard, please wait until April 23rd, especially if your items require refrigeration.

 

Entre dos tierras:

Motherhood in NYC and the DR

Researchers at Teachers College, Columbia University invite you all to participate in a research project meant to describe how Dominican mothers:

• Experience being a mom in New York City and the Dominican Republic
• Express the challenges of being a "dos tierras mom"
• Describe how this experience has affected their children's education
• Talk about how their aspirations have affected their children
• Share their ideas on the role that schools and the community play in their children's education.
• In order to tell these stories, we would like to interview Dominican mothers living in New York City. All these interviews will:

• Be confidential
• Last less than an hour
• Be conducted in either English or Spanish, your choice
• Take place at any time or location (we would love to invite you for a coffee!)

If you would like to participate, or know someone who could participate, please contact:

1.       Cynthia Carvajal at cnc2140@tc.columbia.edu
2.       Victoria Mart�nez-Mart�nez at vem2116@tc.columbia.edu
3.    Aldo Anzures Tapia at (917) 288-7835 or at aldo.anzures@tc.edu

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 27th 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.

 

The WHIN Music Project recently launched the Orchestrating Dreams online campaign through IndieGoGo. This is a wonderful program to bring music and orchestral instruction to our neighborhood's children. With 3 weeks to go, they are more than halfway to their goal of $6,500. Visithttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/whin-music-project-orchestrating-dreams to view their video, learn about WHIN, and help them reach their goal! As you will see, they not only have very talented musicians but also actors and public speakers! For more information, email David Gracia: david.gracia79@gmail.com.

  

"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. 183rd 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: donald.wilen1@verizon.net. Saturday, April 26th, 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.

 

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, rcarel101@gmail.com.

 

2)  SAVE THE DATE: April 30th 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 ***

 

Pre-Kindergarten Teaching Opportunities in New York City

 The City of New York is seeking talented early childhood educators to lead high-quality pre-K classrooms in public school and community-based organizations across the city. To learn more about teaching opportunities and candidate qualifications visit the Careers page <http://schools.nyc.gov/Careers/Teachers/PreK> for detailed information. Interested candidates should click here to complete a brief survey <https://survey.vovici.com/se.ashx?s=705E3ED04A509ADD>.

 

Global Scholars: My Meal Matters 

Kids from 9-13 are invited to participate in a weekly workshop exploring food both here and globally while making online friends from such far-off places as Hong Kong, London and Mumbai.  This is a great opportunity for kids to practice writing skills while they learn more about global citizenship. Free. At the Inwood Library (4790 Broadway). Every Wednesday at 4pm.

  

Build a Better School Contest: Win $10,000 for Your School Schools

You can win $10,000 to help students achieve their academic goals while improving their school. Middle and high school students are invited to work with a member of their school's staff to submit a three-minute video explaining why their school is in need of additional funding and what improvement they can undertake to build a better school. PA/PTAs are also invited to collaborate with their Parent Coordinator/and or other staff member and students on a project. Principals must review and approve all submissions. A completed submission form <http://schools.nyc.gov/ParentsFamilies/Build%20a%20Better%20School%20Submission%20Form> should accompany all video submissions to the address identified on the attached forms. The winners will be selected based on school's need, the spirit of students' collaboration as demonstrated in the video, project creativity and the project's connection to an academic goal. For more information see attached informational flyer or send inquires to eb@schools.nyc.gov. Deadline: May 9th.

The City Parks Foundation 

Has opennigs 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/

 

Seasonal Job Vacancy Notice 

Summer Camp Counselors with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) serves as the steward for over 29,000 acres of land, which includes 1,000 playgrounds, 35 recreation centers, 66 pools and 14 miles of beach. Within the many divisions, Public Programs operates Summer Camp at 19 locations. NYC Parks Experience Summer Camp offers children ages 6 - 13 opportunities to participate in sports, fitness and outdoor adventure. During this 7 week fun-filled summer day camp children will go on trips throughout the five boroughs, participate in structured team sports, physical fitness programs, field days and make lasting friendships. DPR currently is looking for Summer Camp Counselors for the 8 weeks beginning July 1st. Civil service titles include Playground Associate ($14.90/hour; 49 positions citywide) and Community Service Aide ($13.60/hour; 34 positions citywide). For responsibilities, qualifications and other details please visit http://www.nycgovparks.org/. To apply, please e-mail resume & cover letter to: SummerCampJobs@parks.nyc.gov.

 

Union Apprenticeship Opportunities 

The Joint Apprenticeship Committees for the Laborers (#731) & Ironworkers (Locals #40 & #361) Unions have open applications for their apprenticeship programs. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Other requirements apply; for information visit http://www.labor.ny.gov/pressreleases/ApprenticeshipArchive.shtm, or call the Local 731 Training Fund at 718-752-9860 or the Local Union #40 & #361 at 718-433-4195. You can also link there to a complete list of recruiting and  apprentice opportunities throughout the NYS Department of Labor.

 

 

***HEALTH & WELLNESS *** 

 

Measles Outbreak

 The Department of Health & Mental Hygiene reports an ongoing measles outbreak in NYC, involving Northern Manhattan, the Lower East Side and the South Bronx. Twenty-five cases of measles have been confirmed since February, consisting of 12 children & 13 adults so far. Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by a virus. Symptoms include a rash involving your whole body & high fever, as well as cough, red eyes, & runny nose lasting 5-6 days. The illness typically begins with a rash on the face & moves down the body, may include the palms of the hands & soles of the feet. Measles can spread easily through the air to unprotected individuals. If you suspect you have measles, call your medical provider before seeking medical attention to avoid exposing others. Make sure your children have been vaccinated against measles. The first vaccine should be at 12 months old. Learn more:http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/diseases/immmea.shtml

 

FREE CAMPERSHIPS at Columbia University's summer athletic camps for children.

The deadline to participate in the lottery is May 2nd. (Click here for more information: 

http://conservancynorth.org/index.php/component/content/article/88-internal-pages/110-com-ben and to download an application.

 

 

NYC's new Paid Sick Leave Law 

This law went into effect on April 1st. Employers with five or more employees who work more than 80 hours per calendar year in New York City must provide paid sick leave. Employers with fewer than five employees must provide unpaid sick leave. (There are some exemptions.) Domestic workers who have worked for the same employer for more than a year and who work more than 80 hours a calendar year earn two days of paid sick leave. Accrual and use of sick leave for domestic workers follows New York State Labor Law. To determine number of employees, employer should count full-time, part-time and temporary employees if they work more than 80 hours per calendar year in New York City. (There are some exemptions.)  Employers must give their employees the required Notice of Employee Rights created by the Department of Consumer Affairs. Employees accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours of sick leave per calendar year. An employer's existing employees began accruing sick leave on April 1st; new employees begin accruing sick leave on their first day of employment; existing employees can start using sick leave starting July 30 and may start using sick leave 120 days after the first day of employment. The law sets the minimum requirements for sick leave. An employer's leave policies may already meet or exceed the requirements of the law. For more information, visitwww.nyc.gov/PaidSickLeave, email PaidSickLeave@dca.nyc.gov or call 311.

 

Camp Yomawha 

Young people build a sense of community, realize new passions and skills and foster identities rich in values, confidence and collaboration. From exploring the natural beauty that surrounds us, to swimming, sports and the arts, Camp Yomawha delivers an exceptional program with a familiar sense of neighborhood and community that you and your kids will love for years to come. In today's competitive market, it is hard to find high-quality summer programming at an affordable price. Camp Yomawha takes pride in giving your family a remarkable value year after year. Camp Yomawha is available for children who have completed kindergarten through tenth grades. We are located in Rockland County, NY at the picturesque Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, with busing to and from northern Manhattan. Don't miss out on an unforgettable summer! Camp Dates:June 30 - August 15. Join us for one of our 3 upcoming Open Houses, Sundays, April 27th, May 4th & June 1st. This is the best opportunity for parents and kids to see camp, meet our staff and make an informed decision about camp. For more information visit our website at www.ywashhts.org/summer-camp/camp-yomawha-day-camp, or contact our Camp Director Adam at 212-569-6200 ext.236 /ABenmoise@ywashhts.org.

 

Harlem YMCA Summer Day Camp 

The Camp provides children with positive and fun experiences that build confidence, new friendships, lifelong memories and a feeling of community that will last beyond the summer. Our camps are accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA). Staff go through rigorous training to ensure the safety and positive experience of each child. At the Harlem Y, 180 West 135th St. Stop by an Open House to learn about offerings for every age. Saturday, April 26th or May 17th, 10am - 3pm. Download an application here:http://b.3cdn.net/ymcanewyork/2637c43a3b658c0ada_aim6b9dne.pdf. For more information, contact Caroline Sanchez: 212-912-2167.

 

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 DKatznelson@ywashhts.org.

 

Share the Road with School Buses 

In the NYPD's our quest for Vision Zero, the 34th 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 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. 

 

Second Annual African American Hepatitis C Action Day 

Hepatitis C is a serious and often deadly health disparity in black communities throughout the nation: 

          Blacks are twice as likely to have ever been infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

          More than 75% of adults with Hepatitis C are Baby Boomers (people born between 1945 and1965). Baby Boomers are five times more likely to be infected with Hepatitis C, and most of them don't know they are infected. Death related to the Hepatitis C virus is almost double the rate for black Americans compared with non-Hispanic white Americans.

 

On July 25, 2013, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. (NBLCA), in partnership with HARM Reduction Coalition and the Coalition on Positive Health Empowerment (C.O.P.E.), launched the First Annual African American Hepatitis C Action Day, a community mobilization initiative aimed at reducing the high incidence of HCV infection in black communities by drawing attention to this neglected health disparity and promoting education, testing, and treatment. Many hundreds of people in communities of color were encouraged to visit testing centers and be screened for HCV infection-a silent killer that, if left undetected, can lead to life-threatening liver disease, including liver cancer.

  

In preparation for the Second Annual African American Hepatitis C Action Day, co-sponsored by NBLCA, C.O.P.E. and Harm Reduction, we are asking your organization to support the day by agreeing to host activities in your City on or leading up to July 25, 2014.

 

          One-day Summits - targeting healthcare practitioners, nurses, physicians, pharmacist, public health professionals, social workers and counselors

          Public Policy Town Hall meetings - to inform community stakeholders and policy makers of the impact of Hepatitis C within the African-American Community

          HCV Health Literacy - workshops and trainings to educate the community on the impact of Hepatitis C

          Outreach & Testing events- to as many African-Americans tested for Hep C and if positive linked to care and treatment

          July 25, 2014 - Second Annual African American Hepatitis-C Awareness Action Day

 

Your organization's participation will help to ensure the success and impact of this critically important campaign-namely, increased Hepatitis C awareness, increased Hepatitis C testing, increased access to treatment for individuals infected with the Hepatitis C virus, and, ultimately, a decrease in the number of people infected with HCV.      

 

Please contact Deborah Levine at dlevine@nblca.org or 212.614.0023 ext. 104 about participating. We look forward to collaborating with you on this effort. Together, we can help our communities get educated, get tested, and get the word out about HCV. 

 

***SUMMER CAMP / SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT*** 

 

Riverbank State Park Summer Camp 

For boys & girls, 7-12. From Monday - Friday, July 7th - August 8th, 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 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 28th @ 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

 

Young Adult Internship Program The Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP) 

YAIP is a 14-week workforce development internship program. YAIP targets young adults ages 16-24 who are not working and not in school. YAIP begins with a two- to four-week orientation conducted by DYCD-funded community-based organizations (CBOs), and followed by a 10 to 12-week paid internship that offers structured work opportunities incorporating ongoing education as well as additional participant and employer support. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dycd <http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/html/jobs/internship.shtml> or call DYCD Youth Connect at 800-246-4646.

 

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 79th 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 Visitwww.storefrontscience.com to register.

 

 

***NEWS, INFORMATION & ONGOING EVENTS***

  

The Ephemeral Arts Project

Display your work in one of NYC's public parks! The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) and New York Restoration Project (NYRP) are accepting submissions for The Ephemeral Arts Project, a series of temporary art installations to be on display during June 2014. Please see www.artstroll.com for how to participate and more information.

 

Heat & Hot Water

We are grateful that spring, and warmer weather are upon us. However, it's still "heating season," and City and State Law require building owners to provide heat and hot water to all tenants. In addition to being required to provide hot water 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, building owners are required to provide heat through May 31st:

         Between the hours of 6am and 10pm, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit; and,

         Between the hours of 10pm and 6am, if the temperature outside falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Tenants who are cold in their apartments should first attempt to notify the building owner, managing agent or superintendent. If heat is not restored, the call the City's Customer Service Center at 311. (311 can be accessed outside of New York City by dialing 212-NEW-YORK; the TTY number for the hearing impaired is 212-504-4115.) The Center is open 24-hours a day, seven-days a week. You may also file a complaint athttp://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/

 for heat and hot water conditions.

 

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 W�rfel. Curated by G. Romero. In the Gold Wing Gallery, at the Hebrew Tabernacle, 551 Ft. Washington Ave. @ W. 185th 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 14th. 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 30th. For more information on NYC Parks street tree planting and tree procurement procedures, please visit: 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!

 

Call for Artisits! 

The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance announces a call for artists for the 11th 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 29th, 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

 

"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.