Our Town Downtown - July 11, 2019 by OurTown Downtown

The local paper for Downtown wn ART NOUVEAU FOR THE MASSES ◄ CITY ARTS, P. 12

CONFRONTING A CONTROVERSIAL CLEANUP DEVELOPMENT

14TH ST. BUSWAY PLAN STALLS TRANSPORTATION

BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM

Developers are set to begin a controversial mercury cleanup in the backyard of two South Street Seaport schools after a state agency gave its approval in recent weeks. The Department of Environmental Conservation concluded a review of the application the Howard Hughes Corporation submitted to enter the state’s Brownﬁeld Cleanup Program — a review that was significantly prolonged by opposition from local groups that headed a letter-writing campaign and staged a rally to voice their concerns that the cleanup could expose children to toxins. The site, which the developer purchased for $180 million last year, takes up a city block and currently functions as a parking lot. Historically, it was the site of a thermometer factory. The Howard Hughes Corp. applied to the Brownfield program after discovering mercury and other contaminates in the soil in January. The program is typically used to revitalize economically blighted communities, incentivizing private-sector cleanups with tax credits.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

11-17 2019

INSIDE BLOOD ON THE STREETS Following bike deaths, the mayor calls for new safety plan, P. 6

Temporary restraining order halts plan that would have blocked private through traffic

FREE MEALS FOR A HEALTHY SUMMER

BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM

After a community protest over a “poison parking lot,” new concerns about contamination

WEEK OF JULY

After a lawsuit halted the launch of the 14th Street busway, the city is ﬁghting a court battle against a group of neighborhood block associations to get its plan back on track. The busway, which would have turned 14th Street between Third and Ninth Avenue into a mostly bus-only throughway to speed up buses for 27,000 daily riders during the L Train slowdown, was blocked by a temporary restraining order from a State Supreme Court judge just three days before the traffic shift was to go into effect. The city attempted to appeal the decision in court on July 3, according to Arthur Schwartz, an attorney representing the residents from the West Village, Chelsea and Flatiron neighborhoods who oppose the plan, but the court did not take up the appeal. “They came into court extremely arrogant,” Schwartz said of the Department of Transportation’s lawyers. The DOT will likely try to appeal again, he said, but the next official date the two sides will meet in court is set for Aug. 5.

Opponents Fault DOT The corridor would have blocked private through traffic on 14th Street between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., limiting traffic to buses and trucks for an 18-month test run. Cars

A city program provides breakfast and lunch at no cost for children 18 and under, P. 9

A DOT plan to reconﬁgure 14th Street into a busway has met with resistance from some neighborhood groups, who ﬁled a lawsuit to block the effort. Image: NYC DOT/ MTA

would still be permitted to make pickups and drop-offs or access parking garages. The suit did not affect the city’s plan to implement Select Bus Service for the M14 route. A spokesperson for the agency did not respond to questions about the ongoing legal proceedings, but issued a statement lauding the bus initiative. “We look forward to ultimately prevailing in court and to implementing Transit & Truck Priority, which will improve mobility and increase travel speeds for thousands of bus riders each day along the critical 14th Street corridor,” a spokesperson said. “Select Bus Service is designed to operate with dedicated lanes to make it most effective and that is why the full project needs to be implemented

as soon as possible.” In their suit, the opposition argued that the DOT did not go through the necessary comprehensive review to study the busway’s environmental impact. Additionally, Schwartz said the busway would likely increase traffic, contribute to pollution and ruin the character of the historic neighborhoods. With this suit, Schwartz said his clients hope to make DOT go through the “proper environmental process” and conduct an Environmental Impact Statement before going through with what he called a “radical” plan.

East vs. West There is a contingent of residents along 14th Street, particularly on

WHEN BREATHING IS NOT SO EASY How to manage asthma in hot, sticky weather, P. 2

(SOME) DOGS NOT ALLOWED Emotional support animals can be blocked in NYC establishments, P. 16

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 Downtowner

OurTownDowntown

O OTDOWNTOWN.COM @OTDowntown

Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts

3 8 10 12

Restaurant Ratings 14 Business 16 Real Estate 17 15 Minutes 21

WEEK OF APRIL

SPRING ARTS PREVIEW < CITYARTS, P.12

FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE

is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He ﬁrst writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereﬂect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice

9-16

MANHATTAN'S APARTMENT BOOM, > PROPERTY, P.20

2015

In Brief MORE HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS

The effort to help small seems to businesses in the city be gathering steam. Two city councilmembers, Robert Margaret Chin and Cornegy, have introduced create legislation that wouldSmall a new “Office of the within Business Advocate” of Small the city’s Department Business Services. Chin The new post, which have up told us she’d like to would and running this year, for serve as an ombudsman city small businesses within them clear government, helping to get through the bureaucracy things done. Perhaps even more also importantly, the ombudsman and number will tally the type small business of complaints by taken in owners, the actions policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s give us the first quantitative with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step fixing the problem. of for deTo really make a difference, is a mere formality will have to the work process looking to complete their advocate are the chances course, velopers precinct, but rising rents, -- thanks to a find a way to tackle business’ is being done legally of after-hours projects quickly. their own hours,” which remain many While Chin “They pick out boom in the number throughout who lives on most vexing problem. said Mildred Angelo,of the Ruppert construction permits gauge what Buildings one said it’s too early tocould have the 19th floor in The Department of the city. number three years, the Houses on 92nd Street between role the advocate She Over the past on the is handing out a record work perThird avenues. permits, there, more information of Second and an ongoing all-hours number of after-hours bad thing. of after-hours work the city’s Dept. problem can’t be a said there’s with the mits granted by nearby where according to new data jumped 30 percent, This step, combinedBorough construction project noise Buildings has data provided in workers constantly make efforts by Manhattan to mediate BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS according to DOB of Informacement from trucks. President Gale Brewer offer response to a Freedom classifies transferring they want. They knows the the rent renewal process, request. The city They 6 “They do whatever signs Every New Yorker clang, tion Act go as they please. work between some early, tangible small any construction on the weekend, can come and sound: the metal-on-metal or the piercing of progress. For many have no respect.” p.m. and 7 a.m., can’t come of these that the hollow boom, issuance reverse. owners, in business moving The increased beeps of a truck has generto a correspond and you as after-hours. soon enough. variances has led at the alarm clock The surge in permits

SLEEPS, THANKS TO THE CITY THAT NEVER UCTION A BOOM IN LATE-NIGHT CONSTR NEWS

A glance it: it’s the middle can hardly believe yet construction of the night, and carries on full-tilt. your local police or You can call 311

n OurTownDowntow

COM

Newscheck Crime Watch Voices

for dollars in fees ated millions of and left some resithe city agency, that the application dents convinced

2 City Arts 3 Top 5 8 Real Estate 10 15 Minutes

12 13 14 18

CONTINUED ON PAGE

We deliver! Get Our Town Downtowner sent directly to your mailbox for $49 per year. Go to OTDowntown.com or call 212-868-0190

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

SUMMERTIME, WHEN THE BREATHING IS NOT SO EASY HEALTH

asthma symptoms.

How to manage asthma in hot, sticky weather

So what can an asthmatic do?

BY DAVID STEIGER, MD

For most of us summer means more rest and relaxation, but for millions of Americans with asthma, summertime can also mean greater respiratory problems. During the summer, sudden changes in weather such as extreme humidity or sudden cooling can trigger an asthma attack. Winds can spread pollens and molds that affect asthmatics who have grass, tree pollen or mold allergies. And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that levels of ozone — a gas responsible for smog/hazy conditions — is increased in the summer due to more sunlight and decreased winds. As the temperatures rise, so do levels of ozone, and ozone can trigger asthma.

What is asthma? There are at least 25 million Americans who have asthma, representing

The local paper for Downtown

Asthma check. Photo: Bread for the World, via ﬂickr

approximately eight percent of the population, affecting more than seven million children up to age 17. Asthma is associated with intermittent symptoms of shortness of breath, cough and wheezing. A patient with asthma may have one to all of the above symp-

toms. Since these symptoms can be mimicked by other conditions, the diagnosis is confirmed following a complete medical history, physical examination and from diagnostic tests such as pulmonary function tests, which may show variable, and revers-

Advertise with Our Town Downtown today! Call Vincent Gardino at 212-868-0190

ible airway obstruction. Asthma is diagnosed by age seven in 75 percent of patients. Asthma severity varies in intensity and may be triggered by diverse stimuli, resulting in an excessive narrowing of the airways, resulting in inflammation of the airways and

Avoiding triggers, such as environmental allergens like pollens and grasses, molds, cold air, exercise, house dust mites, animal dander, respiratory infections and occupational exposures, will help to reduce the need for medication. However, some triggers such as viral respiratory infections, and signiﬁcant or occupational exercise, may be difficult to avoid. If you have asthma, make sure to check local weather sources that provide pollen count reports. Staying in a cooler room that is less humid and air conditioned will reduce asthma symptoms in hot sticky weather. Signiﬁcant exercise in hot, humid weather should be avoided as it can also trigger an asthma attack, although swimming may prevent the usual rapid cooling and drying of the airways during exercise. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, the state Medicaid program may pay for one, so call 311 for details. If an air conditioner is unavailable,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

NORTHERN MANHATTAN STUDY OF METABOLISM AND MIND

NOMEM The purpose of NOMEM is to learn more about how blood sugar and other factors relate to the brain and mental abilities of persons living in Northern Manhattan. We are seeking your help to conduct this study. You are eligible to participate if you: x Live in Manhattan or the Bronx x Are between 60 and 69 years of age x Are able to do an MRI and a PET scan of the brain Participation will include these activities: 1. Questionnaires 2. Blood tests 3. A brain MRI 4. A brain PET scan with contrast We will compensate your time for participating in these 4 activities with $350. We will also give you the results of important blood tests.

otdowntown.com

PLEASE CONTACT US @ 212-305-4126, 646-737-4370, LS960@CUMC.COLUMBIA.EDU

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG STATS FOR THE WEEK Reported crimes from the 1st precinct for the week ending June 30 Week to Date

Year to Date

2019 2018

% Change

2019

2018

% Change

Murder

n/a

0.0

Rape

0.0

-50.0

Robbery

-100.0

-13.5

Felony Assault

n/a

71.4

Burglary

0.0

93.9

Grand Larceny

21.1

462 497 -7.0

Grand Larceny Auto

-100.0

ASSAULT AT VARICK ST. ESSEN A verbal dispute turned violent the evening of June 29 inside the Essen Fast Slow Food shop on Varick St. between Charlton and Vandam streets, according to police. A 33-year-old man and his friends got into an argument with a man they did not know inside the eatery. The man allegedly struck the 33-year-old with a blunt object, causing a laceration to the back of his head.

-18.2

SENIOR PEPPER SPRAYED A 70-year-old man told police that he was sprayed with pepper spray inside of the Mariebelle chocolate shop at 484 Broomes St. on June 28 by a stranger who was angry over a parked car. The suspect confronted the victim about the vehicle and then pulled out a canister of pepper spray. The spray caused pain, irritation, redness and swelling to the victim’s face. Police were unable to ﬁnd the suspect, who ﬂed west on Broome St.

Photo by Toni Webster via Flickr

$6,000 CREDIT CARD THEFT

COACH PURSES PINCHED A 37-year-old woman told police that two of her credit cards were stolen from a locker at the Alo Yoga studio at Spring and Mercer Sts. The woman said she locked her purse inside the locker, but when she returned about three hours later, the cards were missing. In an email from her bank, she was notiﬁed of charges on the cards totaling $6,181. The woman told police she had not given anyone permission

GET LOW

DINNER FOR TWO

MAY 28 - AUGUST 27

EVERY TUESDAY

WEEKLY DOWNTOWN DINING DEALS

to use her credit cards.

According to a police report, a man stole merchandise from the Coach store at Prince St. and West Broadway on June 26. The suspect took four Coach purses valued at $1,735.

BACKPACK SNATCHED A 26-year-old woman reported to police that her backpack carrying

$1,410 of personal property was stolen while she was riding a packed Brooklyn-bound A train on June 25. The woman, who was holding her infant child, set her backpack on the adjacent seat. When the train stopped at Fulton St., she said, an unknown man took her bag and ran off the train into the crowd. The bag contained an iPhone 8 Plus, an LG Stylo Plus, $150 in cash, a New York State driver’s license, birth certiﬁcates, a US passport and two Social Security cards.

20% OFF

DOWNTOWNNY.COM/GETLOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

#DownIsWhatsUp @DOWNTOWNNYC

#GetLow2019

DOWNTOWN.ALLIANCE

@DOWNTOWNNYC

SOMEWHERE NEW

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Useful Contacts

Drawing Board

POLICE NYPD 7th Precinct NYPD 6th Precinct NYPD 10th Precinct NYPD 13th Precinct NYPD 1st Precinct

19 ½ Pitt St. 233 W. 10th St. 230 W. 20th St. 230 E. 21st St. 16 Ericsson Place

212-477-7311 212-741-4811 212-741-8211 212-477-7411 212-334-0611

FIRE FDNY Engine 15 FDNY Engine 24/ Ladder 5 FDNY Engine 28/ Ladder 11 FDNY Engine 4/ Ladder 15

25 Pitt St. 227 6th Ave.

311 311

222 E. 2nd St.

311

42 South St.

311

ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmember Margaret Chin Councilmember Rosie Mendez Councilmember Corey Johnson State Senator Daniel Squadron

165 Park Row #11

212-587-3159

237 1st Ave. #504

212-677-1077

224 W. 30th St.

212-564-7757

250 Broadway #2011

212-298-5565

1 Centre St., Room 2202 3 Washington Square Village 59 E. 4th St. 330 W. 42nd St.

212-669-7970

COMMUNITY BOARDS Community Board 1 Community Board 2 Community Board 3 Community Board 4

212-979-2272 212-533-5300 212-736-4536

LIBRARIES Hudson Park Ottendorfer Elmer Holmes Bobst

66 Leroy St. 135 2nd Ave. 70 Washington Square

212-243-6876 212-674-0947 212-998-2500

170 William St. 10 Union Square East 4 Irving Place

212-312-5110 212-844-8400

46 East 23rd

813-964-3839

201 Varick St. 128 East Broadway 93 4th Ave.

212-645-0327 212-267-1543 212-254-1390

HOSPITALS New York-Presbyterian Mount Sinai-Beth Israel

CON EDISON TIME WARNER POST OFFICES US Post Office US Post Office US Post Office

HOW TO REACH US: 212-868-0190 nyoffice@strausnews.com otdowntown.com

TO SUBSCRIBE: Our Town Downtown is available for free below 23rd Street in select buildings, retail locations and news boxes. To get a copy of downtown neighborhood news mailed to you weekly, you may subscribe to Our Town Downtowner for just $49 per year. Call 212-868-0190 or go online to StrausNews.com and click on the photo of the paper or mail a check to Straus Media, 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918

NEWS ITEMS: To report a news story, call 212-868-0190. News releases of general interest must be emailed to our offices by 12noon the Thursday prior to publication to be considered for the following week. Send to news@ strausnews.com.

CALENDAR ITEMS: Information for inclusion in our calendar should be posted to nycnow.com no later than two weeks before the event.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Include your full name, address

212-460-4600

and day and evening telephone numbers for veriﬁcation. Letters that cannot be veriﬁed will not be published. We reserve the right to edit or condense letters for libel, good taste, grammar and punctuation. Submit your letter at otdowntown.com and click submit at the bottom of the page or email it to nyoffice@ strausnews.com.

BLOG COMMENTS: We invite comments on stories at otdowntown.com. We do not edit those comments. We urge people to keep the discussion civil and the tone reﬂective of the best we each have to offer.

PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call 212-868-0190. Classiﬁed ads must be in our office by 12pm the Friday before publication, except on holidays. All classiﬁed ads are payable in advance.

PREVIOUS OWNERS: Tom Allon, Isis Ventures, Ed Kayatt, Russ Smith, Bob Trentlyon, Jerry Finkelstein

ABOUT US Our Town Downtown is published weekly by Straus Media-Manhattan, LLC. Please send inquiries to 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918.

BY SUSAN FAIOLA

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

BP BREWER HELPS KEEP SENIOR CENTERS OPEN FUNDING Elected officials negotiate with the de Blasio administration to head off a proposed budget cut BY JASON COHEN

A dozen senior centers were set to close this summer, but now, with the help of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and other elected officials, 10 of them will remain open. In a cost cutting move that would have saved the city $9,000, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s budget proposal originally called for the closure of 12 NYCHA senior facilities. According to Courtney McGee, a spokesman for Brewer’s office, the BP worked directly with the centers to learn their concerns and advocate for them. She also wrote a letter to the administration asking them to keep the centers open, and worked to keep the issue at the forefront of the budget talks by putting it front and center in her letter to the Mayor outlining her budget priorities. Jennifer Fermino, communications director the New York City Council, said that the council negotiated with the administration to keep the clubs open and that they will be funded by the administration. Fermino added that work will be done to improve the centers. Under the 2020 budget, the Frederick Dou-

glass Social Club at 868 Amsterdam Ave., the Senior Center at the Martin Luther King Jr. Towers, 50 Lenox Ave. and the Lincoln Houses Senior Center, 60 East 135th street, will all stay open. Of the 12 centers originally targeted for closure, Baisley Park Houses in Queens and Taft Senior Center, 1365 Fifth Avenue, will shutter their doors. While an alternative senior center, Lehman Social Club, 1641 Madison Ave., will be located within three-quarters of a mile from Taft, Fermino said the council is still ﬁghting to keep Taft open. “The council worked really hard to advocate for our seniors in this year’s budget,” Corey Johnson, “and we are proud of the end result, which will not only restore funding for ten senior clubs, but also will transfer operation of all clubs to the Department for the Aging,” With the Department for the Aging now operating all of the centers, the agency will work to address problems at the facilities. According to DFTA Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez’s budget testimony, many of the senior clubs do not meet essential senior center health and safety standards, are not ADA compliant and have chronic leaks, ﬂooding and sewage back-up. Charles Taylor, a long time visitor to Douglass, was upset when he initially heard it was closing, but is now elated. “I’m just happy that it is open,” Taylor said. “You got people that have been coming here since they retired.”

Charles Taylor, shooting pool, and June Jordan inside the Douglass senior center. Photo: Jason Cohen

Are you experiencing stress or anxiety? Our Behavioral Health clinic is the only one in the US designed for people dealing with the effects of vision loss on their emotional health. Our team is here to help people of all ages cope with: ï Depression ï Trauma ï Addiction ï Post-traumatic stress GLVRUGHU 376'

ï Anxiety due to:

vision loss multiple medical issues family crises chronic illness

We are a Medicare and Medicaid provider and accept many insurance plans. :H DUH OLFHQVHG E\ WKH 1<6 2IĆ FH RI 0HQWDO +HDOWK 20+

Located: :HVW WK 6WUHHW EHW $PVWHUGDP :HVW (QG $YH

Call us for an appointment 212-769-6263 Ask about Open Access to get the services you need sooner

lighthouseguild.org The entrance to the Frederick Douglass senior center. Photo: Jason Cohen

@LighthouseGuild @LighthouseGld @LighthouseGuild

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

BLOOD ON THE STREETS STREETS After a rash of cyclist deaths, the mayor calls for a new bike safety plan BY STUART MARQUES

Hours after a cement truck killed a 29-yearold cyclist — the third bike death in a week and 15th of the year — Mayor Bill de Blasio declared an “emergency,” ordered an NYPD crackdown on reckless motorists and told transportation officials to develop a new bike safety plan. “We absolutely have an emergency on our hands,” the mayor said, calling the rash of deaths “a dangerous surge.” He said his Vision Zero strategy has been working, “but what we’ve seen these last weeks and months is not acceptable. We’re going to do a full court press to stop it.” But some bike safety advocates were skeptical. Marco Conner, interim co-executive director of Transportation Alternatives, said de Blasio’s words “are only as good as the tangible action they produce.” Connor urged the City Council to pass a “Vision Zero State of Emergency Omnibus Bill” to upgrade safety measures and use new technologies to protect bike lanes. He said the mayor “must have the courage to say that every New Yorker’s life and limb is worth more than any of the three million free parking spaces (in New York).” Gersh Kuntzman, editor of streetsblog. com., was equally blunt. “The devil is in the details,” he said. “We have heard this mayor talk like this before. It’s a matter of persistence, not just a reaction ... He must make this the norm.” Kuntzman also noted that the NYPD’s “crackdown” is just a three-week ticketing blitz focusing on moving violations and cars that block bike lanes. The war of words erupted shortly after a cement truck crushed Devra Freelander in Brooklyn. She was the 15th cyclist killed on city streets this year — ﬁve more than in all of 2018. The horrendous three-death week started June 24, when bike messenger and aspiring Olympian Robyn Hightman, 20, was killed on Sixth Ave. and 24th St. in Chelsea. Three days later, a driver struck and killed cyclist Ernest Askew, 57, in Brooklyn. The deaths sparked outrage, “ghost bike” protests and a vigil where more than 100 cyclists blocked traffic and condemned what they called “legal murder,” because drivers are not charged with vehicular homicide unless they were drunk or high.

The Most Bike-Friendly Cities The deaths also came shortly after a Danish-based urban design company issued a list of the 20 most bike-friendly cities in the world: New York was not one of them. The three safest cities for cyclists, according to Copenhagenize, which has issued the

CPW BIKE LANE APPROVED AFTER RAUCOUS MEETING COMMUNITY

We lead the world in a lot of ways, but definitely not in bike safety. Joe Cutrufo, a Transportation Alternatives spokesman biennial bike-friendly list since 2011, are Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Utrecht. No U.S. city made the list. New York made the 2011 list but has not made the cut since because, a company spokesman said, the city “has not seen the same sustained investment and development” as those on the list. “We lead the world in a lot of ways, but deﬁnitely not in bike safety,” says Joe Cutrufo, a Transportation Alternatives spokesman. The city’s Department of Transportation says it has installed 83 miles of protected bike lanes since de Blasio took office in January 2014 as part of Vision Zero. It called the latest death “another senseless tragedy on our roads,” and said the agency would redouble efforts to “engineer safer streets and add more bike lanes.” Advocates and people who have lost loved ones or friends to fatal collisions say it’s outrageous that community boards, including some on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side are “playing the NIMBY game” and giving in to residents who oppose losing parking space to bike lanes. At a raucous meeting on July 2, Community Board 7 voted to approve a protected bike lane on Central Park West. Every new death brings back “horrific” memories for Mary Beth Kelly, whose husband, Dr. Carl Henry Nacht, was hit near the city tow pound at 38th Street and the West Side Greenway right in front her eyes 13 years ago. “We had the green light and were in the middle of the intersection when a tow truck suddenly veered in and killed my husband,” she said. “The city is moving at a snail’s pace as far as Vision Zero is concerned. This will continue if community boards put parking spaces over lives.” Jason Lewis, a friend of the young woman killed in Chelsea last month, said Hightman was a “tremendous athlete who was on the way to a career as an Olympics competitor ... Robyn was an accomplished cyclist and the safest rider we all knew.” He said the carnage won’t end until Albany legislators toughen up the vehicular homicide laws. “It’s crazy that drivers can’t be charged with manslaughter unless they were drunk or high.” Lewis said. “If you kill a cyclist you should go to jail. 100 percent.”

A controversial plan that sacrifices 400 parking spaces in favor of cyclist safety sparked a furious debate BY JASON COHEN

Residents and Community Board 7 members yelled and interrupted each other for more than two hours in a tension-ﬁlled meeting last week before the board passed a resolution approving a northbound protected bike lane on Central Park West. The contentious session, on July 2nd, came after three cyclists were killed in the city in the space of just eight days. A total of 15 cyclists have been killed on city streets so far this year, compared to 10 in all of 2018. During the meeting, people chanted “Someone died!” and held up signs that read “Board 7 do the right thing.” The anger on display was in sharp contrast to a CB7 transportation committee meeting in June, where the bike lane was discussed and approved with calm civility. The Department of Transportation proposal for the CPW bike lane includes dedicated space for cyclists, safer pedestrian and cyclist crossings, dedicated turn lanes and the removal of 400 parking spaces. Sara Lind, co-secretary of CB7, expressed her frustration with the constant rude behavior throughout the evening. She told the audience the protected bike lane had been under discussion for about a year. “I think the bike lane should be implemented as quickly as possible,” said Lind. “If people had concerns, there’s been plenty of time for input. If someone else dies, that can’t be taken back.” Board member Jay Adolf introduced a substitute resolution, which would have required the DOT to take six months to conduct traffic and environmental studies. It was voted down. “I feel like the board was asked to make a decision with a lack of information,” Adolf said.

A Death on CPW It was the death of tourist Madison Lyden on CPW last summer that triggered efforts to add a protected bike lane on the busy avenue. As Lyden was riding north on Aug. 10, 2018, a livery vehicle blocked the painted bike lane, forcing her into the traffic lane, where she was struck and killed by a private sanitation truck. Lyden’s death prompted renewed calls from bike activists and local politicians for the DOT to replace the painted bike lane with a protected lane, a step supporters say would almost certainly have prevented the collision. In addition to Lyden’s death, the DOT found that 22 people have been severely injured on Central Park West from 2013 to 2017. On streets where protected bike lanes were installed, such as Columbus Avenue from West 59th St. to West 110th St., there has been a 15

Some residents at the meeting waved yellow signs reading “Board 7 do the right thing.” Photo: Jason Cohen

percent decrease in all crashes with injuries and a 21 percent drop in pedestrian injuries from 2007 to 2017.

Bike Lane Proponents Resident Nevona Friedman held back tears as she spoke. She could not fathom how people could care more about losing 400 parking spaces than someone’s life. “People here really value parking over neighbors’ and friends’ lives?” she said. “Oh my God it’s unbelievable. We need bike lanes.” Board members Richard Robbins and Kenneth Coughlin said delaying the vote or not implementing the bike lane will hurt the community, not help it. Coughlin noted that having parking spots is important, but safety comes first. “We’re risking lives if we delay this,” Robbins said.

Bike Lane Opponents Resident Sean Donovan was angry that the DOT would attempt to install a protected bike lane without an environmental study. He stressed that the bike lane would create more havoc, not less. “Where is the environmental study?” he asked. “None of this should be done until that has taken place. It’s bullshit. As an engineer, I’m appalled at what you’ve done.” Many speakers said the real issue is that bikers don’t obey the laws or know them. “This is a new and terrifying movement,” said Gregory Nixon. “Bikers often ignore whatever lanes have been set up.” An emotional Laura Jenkins said it would be a disaster if 400 parking spots were removed. She said that not everyone on the UWS is rich and can pay the $500 or $600 fees for parking garages. “I’m a middle class person,” said Jenkins. “I’m not rich. I have a garbage Pontiac. A lot of Upper West Side parents are struggling to survive. It’s very hard, and I can’t afford to not have my car. We need our parking spots.” Board member Sheldon Fine opposed the bike lane and supported Jay Adolf’s substitute resolution. Fine said he wanted a traffic study done, and needed to know what would happen with parking if the spots were removed. “We’re seeing tonight that there are many issues that have not been addressed,” Fine remarked. “Delaying is not going to hurt anybody.” The protected bike lane was approved by a vote of 27-7, with three abstentions.

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

PARKING LOT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Children First, a group of parents formed amid the turmoil, have voiced their disappointment with the DEC’s decision and have asked the department and local politicians to provide the community with grant money to hire an independent engineer. “We will continue to ﬁght for a third-party to oversee the remediation of the site,” Megan Malvern, co-founder of Children First and a parent of children who go to the neighboring Peck Slip School, said following the decision. “We call on the NYSDEC and our elected ofﬁcials to provide the community with a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) to fund an independent engineer to represent the community throughout the process.” The DEC has stressed throughout the uproar that any cleanup of the site would be carefully monitored by its agency. “During the cleanup of sites in the program, DEC rigorously monitors all activities and requires that remedial parties undertake efforts to ensure there is no exposure to any contamination at the site, including comprehensive investigations to determine the full extent and nature of contamination,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement. Before the cleanup can take place, according to the DEC, the developer must submit a detailed plan to investigate the site that includes

Michael Kramer, a steering committee member of Save Our Seaport and a public member of Community Board 1, addressed a rally in May. Photo: Emily Higginbotham

We will continue to fight for a thirdparty to oversee the remediation of the site. Megan Malvern, co-founder of Children First measures to protect the public from exposure, which will then be reviewed by the DEC and the State Department of Health and subsequently issued for public review and comment. The Howard Hughes Corp., which did not respond to a request for comment, has not submitted any plans for a prospective project to the city. The developer has only hinted that it might attempt to transfer air rights it owns at nearby properties. Residents fear that Howard Hughes Corp. are planning to transfer those air rights to build a 70-plus-story structure at the lot, which is not within the architectural context of the Seaport. In 2003, a rezoning effort set the limit at 12 stories, but the developer could sidestep that standard through a rigorous process and community board approval.

SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO DO HAVE Email us at news@strausnews.com? YOU

This is more than great rates This is more savings for wherever you’re going.

Platinum Savings Account

2.00

µÜÜãÏÚ ÄÓàÑÓÜâÏÕÓ Í×ÓÚÒ ÔÝà _` ÛÝÜâÖá å×âÖ ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç ÒÓÞÝá×âá ÝÔ Ïâ ÚÓÏáâ r`c ^^^ ÏÜÒ Ï Û×Ü×ÛãÛ ÒÏ×Úç ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ ÝÔ r`c ^^^ Ýà ÛÝàÓ_

Guaranteed Fixed-Rate CD

2.10

µÜÜãÏÚ ÄÓàÑÓÜâÏÕÓ Í×ÓÚÒ ÔÝà Ï e#ÛÝÜâÖ âÓàÛ å×âÖ ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç ÒÓÞÝá×âá ÝÔ Ïâ ÚÓÏáâ r`c ^^^`

Enroll in a branch by August 30, 2019. ¶ãá×ÜÓáá ÝåÜÓà Ask about our business savings rates. ÃøÓàá ÏäÏ×ÚÏÐÚÓ ×Ü ·È ¸¹ ºÀ Â¾ ÂÍ ÏÜÒ Äµ Portfolio by Wells Fargo] ÑãáâÝÛÓàá ÏàÓ ÓÚ×Õ×ÐÚÓ âÝ àÓÑÓ×äÓ ÏÜ ÏÒÒ×â×ÝÜÏÚ ÐÝÜãá ×ÜâÓàÓáâ àÏâÓ ÝÜ âÖÓáÓ ÏÑÑÝãÜâá 3 1. ÈÝ ßãÏÚ×Ôç ÔÝà âÖÓ ÏÒäÓàâ×áÓÒ µÄÍ çÝã Ûãáâ ÓÜàÝÚÚ çÝãà ÜÓå Ýà Óæ×áâ×ÜÕ ÄÚÏâ×ÜãÛ ÇÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ×Ü âÖ×á ÝøÓà ÐÓâåÓÓÜ ^e*^f*`^_g ÏÜÒ ^f*a^*`^_g Ðç áÞÓÏÙ×ÜÕ âÝ Ï ÐÏÜÙÓà ÏÜÒ àÓßãÓáâ×ÜÕ âÖÓ áÞÓÑ×ÏÚ àÏâÓ ÃøÓà ×á áãÐØÓÑâ âÝ ÑÖÏÜÕÓ Ïâ ÏÜç â×ÛÓ å×âÖÝãâ ÜÝâ×ÑÓ ÏÜÒ ×á ÏäÏ×ÚÏÐÚÓ ÝÜÚç âÝ ÄÚÏâ×ÜãÛ ÇÏä×ÜÕá ÑãáâÝÛÓàá ×Ü âÖÓ ÔÝÚÚÝå×ÜÕ áâÏâÓá ·È ¸¹ ºÀ Â¾ ÂÍ Äµ ½Ü ÝàÒÓà âÝ ÓÏàÜ âÖÓ ÇÞÓÑ×ÏÚ ½ÜâÓàÓáâ ÆÏâÓ ÝÔ _ gf° (ÇÞÓÑ×ÏÚ ÆÏâÓ) çÝã Ûãáâ ÒÓÞÝá×â r`c ^^^ ×Ü ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç âÝ âÖÓ ÓÜàÝÚÚÓÒ áÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÏÜÒ ÛÏ×ÜâÏ×Ü Ï Û×Ü×ÛãÛ ÒÏ×Úç ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ ÝÔ r`c ^^^ âÖàÝãÕÖÝãâ âÖÓ ÞàÝÛÝâ×ÝÜÏÚ ×ÜâÓàÓáâ àÏâÓ ÞÓà×ÝÒ ÂÓå ÛÝÜÓç! ×á ÛÝÜÓç ÔàÝÛ áÝãàÑÓá Ýãâá×ÒÓ ÝÔ âÖÓ ÑãáâÝÛÓà á ÑãààÓÜâ àÓÚÏâ×ÝÜáÖ×Þ å×âÖ ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ¶ÏÜÙ Â µ Ýà ×âá ÏûÚ×ÏâÓá (åÖ×ÑÖ ×ÜÑÚãÒÓá ÏÚÚ ÒÓÞÝá×â ÐàÝÙÓàÏÕÓ ÏÜÒ ÚÝÏÜ*ÑàÓÒ×â ÏÑÑÝãÜâá) ÈÖÓ ÑÝààÓáÞÝÜÒ×ÜÕ µÜÜãÏÚ ÄÓàÑÓÜâÏÕÓ Í×ÓÚÒ (µÄÍ) ÔÝà âÖ×á ÝøÓà ×á ` ^^° ÈÖÓ ÇÞÓÑ×ÏÚ ÆÏâÓ å×ÚÚ ÐÓ ÏÞÞÚ×ÓÒ âÝ âÖÓ ÓÜàÝÚÚÓÒ áÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÔÝà Ï ÞÓà×ÝÒ ÝÔ _` ÛÝÜâÖá áâÏàâ×ÜÕ ÝÜ âÖÓ ÒÏâÓ âÖÓ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ×á ÓÜàÝÚÚÓÒ ×Ü âÖÓ ÝøÓà ¼ÝåÓäÓà ÔÝà ÏÜç ÒÏç Òãà×ÜÕ âÖÏâ _` ÛÝÜâÖ ÞÓà×ÝÒ âÖÏâ âÖÓ ÒÏ×Úç ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ ×á ÚÓáá âÖÏÜ âÖÓ r`c ^^^ âÖÓ ÓÜàÝÚÚÓÒ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ å×ÚÚ ÜÝâ ÐÓ ÓÚ×Õ×ÐÚÓ ÔÝà âÖÓ ÇÞÓÑ×ÏÚ ÆÏâÓ ÏÜÒ å×ÚÚ ×ÜáâÓÏÒ ÓÏàÜ âÖÓ ÏÞÞÚ×ÑÏÐÚÓ ÇâÏÜÒÏàÒ ½ÜâÓàÓáâ ÆÏâÓ ÔÝà Ï ÄÚÏâ×ÜãÛ ÇÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ µá ÝÔ ^c*a_*`^_g âÖÓ ÇâÏÜÒÏàÒ ½ÜâÓàÓáâ ÆÏâÓ ÏÜÒ µÄÍ ÔÝà Ï ÄÚÏâ×ÜãÛ ÇÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ×Ü ·È ºÀ Â¾ ÏÜÒ ÂÍ å×âÖ ÏÜ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ ÝÔ r^ ^_ ÏÜÒ ÏÐÝäÓ ×á ^ ^c° (^ ^c° µÄÍ) ÏÜÒ ÔÝà Ï ÄÚÏâ×ÜãÛ ÇÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ×Ü ¸¹ ÏÜÒ Äµ å×âÖ ÏÜ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ ÝÔ r^ ^_ âÝ rgg ggg gg ×á ^ ^c° (^ ^c° µÄÍ) ÏÜÒ å×âÖ ÏÜ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ ÝÔ r_^^ ^^^ ÏÜÒ ÏÐÝäÓ ×á ^ _^° (^ _^° µÄÍ) ¹ÏÑÖ â×Óà áÖÝåÜ àÓúÓÑâá âÖÓ ÑãààÓÜâ Û×Ü×ÛãÛ ÒÏ×Úç ÑÝÚÚÓÑâÓÒ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ àÓßã×àÓÒ âÝ ÝÐâÏ×Ü âÖÓ ÏÞÞÚ×ÑÏÐÚÓ µÄÍ ½ÜâÓàÓáâ ×á ÑÝÛÞÝãÜÒÓÒ ÒÏ×Úç ÏÜÒ ÞÏ×Ò ÛÝÜâÖÚç ÈÖÓ ÏÛÝãÜâ ÝÔ ×ÜâÓàÓáâ ÓÏàÜÓÒ ×á ÐÏáÓÒ ÝÜ âÖÓ ÒÏ×Úç ÑÝÚÚÓÑâÓÒ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓá ×Ü âÖÓ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÉÞÝÜ âÖÓ ÓæÞ×àÏâ×ÝÜ ÝÔ âÖÓ _` ÛÝÜâÖ ÞàÝÛÝâ×ÝÜÏÚ ÞÓà×ÝÒ âÖÓÜ#ÑãààÓÜâ ÇâÏÜÒÏàÒ ½ÜâÓàÓáâ ÆÏâÓá ÏÞÞÚç Á×Ü×ÛãÛ âÝ ÝÞÓÜ Ï ÄÚÏâ×ÜãÛ ÇÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ×á r`c µ ÛÝÜâÖÚç áÓàä×ÑÓ ÔÓÓ ÝÔ r_` ÏÞÞÚ×Óá ×Ü ÏÜç ÛÝÜâÖ âÖÓ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÔÏÚÚá ÐÓÚÝå Ï ra c^^ Û×Ü×ÛãÛ ÒÏ×Úç ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓ ºÓÓá ÛÏç àÓÒãÑÓ ÓÏàÜ×ÜÕá ½ÜâÓàÓáâ àÏâÓá ÏàÓ äÏà×ÏÐÚÓ ÏÜÒ áãÐØÓÑâ âÝ ÑÖÏÜÕÓ å×âÖÝãâ ÜÝâ×ÑÓ ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ÛÏç Ú×Û×â âÖÓ ÏÛÝãÜâ çÝã ÒÓÞÝá×â âÝ Ï ÄÚÏâ×ÜãÛ ÇÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâ âÝ ÏÜ ÏÕÕàÓÕÏâÓ ÝÔ r_ Û×ÚÚ×ÝÜ ` µäÏ×ÚÏÐÚÓ ×Ü#ÐàÏÜÑÖ ÝÜÚç çÝã Ûãáâ áÞÓÏÙ å×âÖ Ï ÐÏÜÙÓà âÝ àÓßãÓáâ âÖÓ áÞÓÑ×ÏÚ àÏâÓ µÜÜãÏÚ ÄÓàÑÓÜâÏÕÓ Í×ÓÚÒ (µÄÍ) ×á ÓøÓÑâ×äÓ ÔÝà ÏÑÑÝãÜâá ÝÞÓÜÓÒ ÐÓâåÓÓÜ ^e*^f*`^_g ÏÜÒ ^f*a^*`^_g ÏÜÒ àÓßã×àÓá Ï Û×Ü×ÛãÛ ÝÔ r`c ^^^ ×Ü ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç ÐàÝãÕÖâ âÝ ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ÂÓå ÛÝÜÓç! ×á ÛÝÜÓç ÔàÝÛ áÝãàÑÓá Ýãâá×ÒÓ ÝÔ âÖÓ ÑãáâÝÛÓà á ÑãààÓÜâ àÓÚÏâ×ÝÜáÖ×Þ å×âÖ ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ¶ÏÜÙ Â µ Ýà ×âá ÏûÚ×ÏâÓá (åÖ×ÑÖ ×ÜÑÚãÒÓá ÒÓÞÝá×â ÐàÝÙÓàÏÕÓ ÏÜÒ ÚÝÏÜ*ÑàÓÒ×â ÏÑÑÝãÜâá) ÄãÐÚ×Ñ ºãÜÒá ÏÜÒ ËÖÝÚÓáÏÚÓ ÏÑÑÝãÜâá ÏàÓ ÜÝâ ÓÚ×Õ×ÐÚÓ ÔÝà âÖ×á ÝøÓà µÄÍ ÏááãÛÓá ×ÜâÓàÓáâ àÓÛÏ×Üá ÝÜ ÒÓÞÝá×â ãÜâ×Ú ÛÏâãà×âç ½ÜâÓàÓáâ ×á ÑÝÛÞÝãÜÒÓÒ ÒÏ×Úç ÄÏçÛÓÜâ ÝÔ ×ÜâÓàÓáâ ÝÜ ·¸á ×á ÐÏáÓÒ ÝÜ âÓàÛ ºÝà âÓàÛá ÚÓáá âÖÏÜ _` ÛÝÜâÖá (adc ÒÏçá) ×ÜâÓàÓáâ ÛÏç ÐÓ ÞÏ×Ò ÛÝÜâÖÚç ßãÏàâÓàÚç áÓÛ×#ÏÜÜãÏÚÚç Ýà Ïâ ÛÏâãà×âç (âÖÓ ÓÜÒ ÝÔ âÖÓ âÓàÛ) ºÝà âÓàÛá ÝÔ _` ÛÝÜâÖá Ýà ÛÝàÓ ×ÜâÓàÓáâ ÛÏç ÐÓ ÞÏ×Ò ÛÝÜâÖÚç ßãÏàâÓàÚç áÓÛ×#ÏÜÜãÏÚÚç Ýà ÏÜÜãÏÚÚç µ ÞÓÜÏÚâç ÔÝà ÓÏàÚç å×âÖÒàÏåÏÚ å×ÚÚ ÐÓ ×ÛÞÝáÓÒ ÏÜÒ ÑÝãÚÒ àÓÒãÑÓ ÓÏàÜ×ÜÕá ÝÜ âÖ×á ÏÑÑÝãÜâ ÇÞÓÑ×ÏÚ ÆÏâÓá ÏàÓ ÏÞÞÚ×ÑÏÐÚÓ âÝ âÖÓ ×Ü×â×ÏÚ âÓàÛ ÝÔ âÖÓ ·¸ ÝÜÚç µâ ÛÏâãà×âç âÖÓ áÞÓÑ×ÏÚ àÏâÓ ·¸ å×ÚÚ ÏãâÝÛÏâ×ÑÏÚÚç àÓÜÓå ÔÝà Ï âÓàÛ ÝÔ d ÛÝÜâÖá Ïâ âÖÓ ×ÜâÓàÓáâ àÏâÓ ÏÜÒ µÄÍ ×Ü ÓøÓÑâ ÔÝà ·¸á ÝÜ àÓÜÓåÏÚ ÒÏâÓ ÜÝâ áãÐØÓÑâ âÝ Ï ÇÞÓÑ×ÏÚ ÆÏâÓ ãÜÚÓáá âÖÓ ¶ÏÜÙ ÖÏá ÜÝâ×ùÓÒ çÝã ÝâÖÓàå×áÓ _ ` ¸ãÓ âÝ âÖÓ ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç àÓßã×àÓÛÓÜâ ÜÓå ÏÑÑÝãÜâá ÛÏç ÝÜÚç ÐÓ ÝÞÓÜÓÒ Ïâ çÝãà ÚÝÑÏÚ ÐàÏÜÑÖ ÏÜÒ çÝã Ûãáâ áÞÓÏÙ âÝ Ï ÐÏÜÙÓà âÝ àÓßãÓáâ âÖÓ áÞÓÑ×ÏÚ àÏâÓ ÝøÓàá ÔÝà ÐÝâÖ ÜÓå ÏÜÒ Óæ×áâ×ÜÕ ÏÑÑÝãÜâá ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ àÓáÓàäÓá âÖÓ à×ÕÖâ âÝ ÛÝÒ×Ôç Ýà Ò×áÑÝÜâ×ÜãÓ âÖÓ ÝøÓà Ïâ ÏÜç â×ÛÓ å×âÖÝãâ ÜÝâ×ÑÓ Á×Ü×ÛãÛ ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç ÒÓÞÝá×â àÓßã×àÓÛÓÜâ ÝÔ Ïâ ÚÓÏáâ r`c ^^^ ×á ÔÝà âÖ×á ÝøÓà ÝÜÚç ÏÜÒ ÑÏÜÜÝâ ÐÓ âàÏÜáÔÓààÓÒ âÝ ÏÜÝâÖÓà ÏÑÑÝãÜâ âÝ ßãÏÚ×Ôç ÔÝà ÏÜç ÝâÖÓà ÑÝÜáãÛÓà ÒÓÞÝá×â ÝøÓà ½Ô çÝã å×áÖ âÝ âÏÙÓ ÏÒäÏÜâÏÕÓ ÝÔ ÏÜÝâÖÓà ÑÝÜáãÛÓà ÒÓÞÝá×â ÝøÓà àÓßã×à×ÜÕ Ï Û×Ü×ÛãÛ ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç ÒÓÞÝá×â çÝã å×ÚÚ ÐÓ àÓßã×àÓÒ âÝ ÒÝ áÝ å×âÖ ÏÜÝâÖÓà ÜÓå ÛÝÜÓç ÒÓÞÝá×â Ïá áâÏâÓÒ ×Ü âÖÓ ÝøÓà àÓßã×àÓÛÓÜâá ÏÜÒ ßãÏÚ×ùÑÏâ×ÝÜá ÃøÓà ÑÏÜÜÝâ ÐÓ 0 ·ÝÛÐ×ÜÓÒ å×âÖ ÏÜç ÝâÖÓà ÑÝÜáãÛÓà ÒÓÞÝá×â ÝøÓà 0 ÆÓÞàÝÒãÑÓÒ ÞãàÑÖÏáÓÒ áÝÚÒ âàÏÜáÔÓààÓÒ Ýà âàÏÒÓÒ a ÈÖÓ ÄÝàâÔÝÚ×Ý Ðç ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ÞàÝÕàÏÛ ÖÏá Ï ra^ ÛÝÜâÖÚç áÓàä×ÑÓ ÔÓÓ åÖ×ÑÖ ÑÏÜ ÐÓ ÏäÝ×ÒÓÒ åÖÓÜ çÝã ÖÏäÓ ÝÜÓ ÝÔ âÖÓ ÔÝÚÚÝå×ÜÕ ßãÏÚ×Ôç×ÜÕ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓá r`c ^^^ Ýà ÛÝàÓ ×Ü ßãÏÚ×Ôç×ÜÕ Ú×ÜÙÓÒ ÐÏÜÙ ÒÓÞÝá×â ÏÑÑÝãÜâá (ÑÖÓÑÙ×ÜÕ áÏä×ÜÕá ·¸á º¸½·#×ÜáãàÓÒ ½Æµá) Ýà rc^ ^^^ Ýà ÛÝàÓ ×Ü ÏÜç ÑÝÛÐ×ÜÏâ×ÝÜ ÝÔ ßãÏÚ×Ôç×ÜÕ Ú×ÜÙÓÒ ÐÏÜÙ×ÜÕ ÐàÝÙÓàÏÕÓ (ÏäÏ×ÚÏÐÚÓ âÖàÝãÕÖ ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ µÒä×áÝàá ÀÀ·) ÏÜÒ ÑàÓÒ×â ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓá (×ÜÑÚãÒ×ÜÕ _^° ÝÔ ÛÝàâÕÏÕÓ ÐÏÚÏÜÑÓá ÑÓàâÏ×Ü ÛÝàâÕÏÕÓá ÜÝâ ÓÚ×Õ×ÐÚÓ) ½Ô âÖÓ ÄÝàâÔÝÚ×Ý Ðç ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ àÓÚÏâ×ÝÜáÖ×Þ ×á âÓàÛ×ÜÏâÓÒ âÖÓ ÐÝÜãá ×ÜâÓàÓáâ àÏâÓ ÝÜ ÏÚÚ ÓÚ×Õ×ÐÚÓ áÏä×ÜÕá ÏÑÑÝãÜâá ÏÜÒ Ò×áÑÝãÜâá Ýà ÔÓÓ åÏ×äÓàá ÝÜ ÝâÖÓà ÞàÝÒãÑâá ÏÜÒ áÓàä×ÑÓá å×ÚÚ Ò×áÑÝÜâ×ÜãÓ ÏÜÒ àÓäÓàâ âÝ âÖÓ ¶ÏÜÙ á âÖÓÜ#ÑãààÓÜâ ÏÞÞÚ×ÑÏÐÚÓ áâÏÜÒÏàÒ ×ÜâÓàÓáâ àÏâÓ Ýà ÔÓÓ ºÝà ÐÝÜãá ×ÜâÓàÓáâ àÏâÓá ÝÜ â×ÛÓ ÏÑÑÝãÜâá âÖ×á ÑÖÏÜÕÓ å×ÚÚ ÝÑÑãà ãÞÝÜ àÓÜÓåÏÚ ½Ô âÖÓ ÄÝàâÔÝÚ×Ý Ðç ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ àÓÚÏâ×ÝÜáÖ×Þ ×á âÓàÛ×ÜÏâÓÒ âÖÓ àÓÛÏ×Ü×ÜÕ ãÜÚ×ÜÙÓÒ ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ÄÝàâÔÝÚ×Ý ·ÖÓÑÙ×ÜÕ Ýà ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ Äà×ÛÓ ·ÖÓÑÙ×ÜÕ ÏÑÑÝãÜâ å×ÚÚ ÐÓ ÑÝÜäÓàâÓÒ âÝ ÏÜÝâÖÓà ÑÖÓÑÙ×ÜÕ ÞàÝÒãÑâ Ýà ÑÚÝáÓÒ \ `^_g ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ¶ÏÜÙ Â µ µÚÚ à×ÕÖâá àÓáÓàäÓÒ ¸ÓÞÝá×â ÞàÝÒãÑâá ÝøÓàÓÒ Ðç ËÓÚÚá ºÏàÕÝ ¶ÏÜÙ Â µ ÁÓÛÐÓà º¸½·

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Voices

Write to us: To share your thoughts and comments go to otdowntown.com and click on submit a letter to the editor.

MAILBOXES AND LATE NIGHT NOISE EAST SIDE OBSERVER BY ARLENE KAYATT

Reader readback — All in a day’s work; it’s part of the job. In the last issue I observed what I thought was funny, a “Mailman/postal worker wheeling an empty mail cart to a street mailbox to mail a bunch of letters.” Well, reader extraordinaire, “Alan Mr. Flacks,” disabused moi of the “funny” notion by providing an historical (not hysterical) explanation. Here goes: “Years

ago (around the time of Ted Weiss’s death), the post office stopped collections from the mailboxes inside multiple dwellings. That is to say, no collectors like those who collected mail from the street collection boxes. Instead, the delivery carriers now take the mail from the house collection boxes in residential and commercial buildings and may carry the mailed items back to their p.o. station OR deposit them in a street collection box. What does this most often do? Delay the mail one day. You deposit a letter in your building’s collection box inside; it’s

taken out and put in a street collection box which is collected the next day.” So now we know — and for those who may not — Ted Weiss, who died in 1992, held the congressional seat now held by Congressman Jerrold Nadler. Noisy rich — The late night noise coming from what was supposed to be a “top-tier” restaurant is the basis of a legal wrangle between the residents of The Beekman, a top-tier co-op at East 63rd Street and Park Avenue, and its restaurant tenant Vaucluse. Venue to the rich and famous, Vaucluse converted half of its

restaurant space into Omar’s Club in March 2018, without prior notice, according to The Beekman. In the lawsuit, ﬁled in NY County Supreme Court, as reported in the Patch, the conversion is a violation of Vaucluse’s “contractual obligation to operate only a top-tier restaurant,” as is the noise and vibrations coming into residential apartments late at night which interferes with the residents’ “quality of life and the building’s reputation.” Sounds (pun intended) like noise may be good for Vaucluse’s bottom line, but not for the residents’. Unless there’s

an agreement, a gavel will make the final sound. Or there will be a resounding appeals process through courts of NY. Sounding off costs. Strange pairing — The bus stop at Hudson and Horatio Streets is odd. No, make that dangerous. Within the boundaries of the bus stop, there’s a parking garage. Yes, where cars are driving in and driving out of the parking garage as you stand and wait for the bus, get on and off the bus, or just pass by. It’s just so so obvious? Is there something I’ve missed?

WHAT ARE THE KIDS DOING THESE DAYS? BY MARGARET BARNSLEY

Photo: Margaret Barnsley

Well, for one thing, they’re reading feminist literature and drinking tea. Nestled on the sixth-ﬂoor of The Calhoun School on 81st and West End Avenue, better known to some as the TV building, is a tight-knit high school club dedicated to those two pursuits. After being inspired during spring break of my sophomore year, I reached out to another student, Theo, and proposed that we join forces to start that very club. Theo was already running a club about tea, and I wanted to pair it with a feminist book club. We agreed that we wanted to create a fun, supportive, and thoughtprovoking space dedicated to feminist issues. It would be open to all high school students and geared towards those who wanted to expand their feminist knowledge. For Theo, as someone who identifies as a feminist but still didn’t know much about the subject, this new club would provide a place “to

learn from people whom [he] respected.” Once the club was set in motion, we met weekly to discuss the literature we read and its connection to our personal experiences, as well as brew delicious tea. Our tea selections included birthday cake tea, Christmas tea, black tea, and the club favorite — rooibos. With caffeine to stimulate our early morning brains, we had many lively discussions centered on student-chosen literature such as Bell Hook’s collection of essays “Feminism is for Everybody, and “Women, Race, and Class” by Angela Davis. As one club member, Phoebe, put it, “The things we read opened my eyes ... and made me look at parts of the world in a different light.” These discussions not only helped club members gain a critical feminist perspective, but also developed the sense of community within the club. With the freedom and desire to read and discuss academic texts without a teacher around, we had to set our own agenda, hold ourselves

accountable, and be responsible for each other’s learning. By simply deciding to read a book and then talk about it, we had collectively formed a space where we grew both as learners and people, deepening our friendships along the way. And isn’t that what feminism is all about? During one of our meetings, a club member, Kitty, pointed out that “the origins of the feminist movement are women, sitting around kitchen tables talking about experiences shared and not shared.” The club had served as a reminder of the roots of what is now a hugely influential social movement. Despite how feminism has recently expanded into corporate and academic realms, what really makes feminism so unique and powerful is its kitchen table origins. “It evolves from experience,” said Kitty. “And when we practice this type of feminism, like we do with our club, we make it a movement that will always be able to evolve and change with our experiences, both internal and external.”

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

FREE MEALS FOR A HEALTHY SUMMER NUTRITION

NEIGHBORHOODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST To place an ad in this directory, Call Douglas at 212-868-0190 ext. 352.

A city program provides breakfast and lunch at no cost for children 18 and under

EDUCATION

HEBREW SCHOOL

BY EMA SCHUMER

Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out for summer, and while some kids are thinking about how to have fun in the sun, others have a different worry on their mind: going hungry during the day. Every day of the school year, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) serves over 700,000 free meals, according to the Manhattan borough presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. For students who rely on these meals, summer can be a source of angst. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from June 27 to August 30 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the DOE serves free breakfast and lunch to children 18 and under at approximately 1,200 sites throughout the city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our focus on the health and well-being of young people continues throughout the summer months, and we want all New Yorkers to know that we provide free breakfast and lunch across the City,â&#x20AC;? Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said in a DOE press release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Free Summer Meals for Kidsâ&#x20AC;? is a federally-funded program that operates in public schools, community pool centers, recreation facilities, parks, churches, and more. On weekdays, children can go to any of the locations for breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The menu features pancakes, cheese omelettes, beef tacos, cheese pizza, fruit salad, and more.

All Are Welcome Brooklynite Joshua McKie, 20, said that growing up he and his three siblings depended on food provided by the DOE. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mom was able to use the public school breakfast and lunch program to feed us over the summers, and it saved massive amounts of money. We would go pretty much every day,â&#x20AC;? he said. McKie â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who graduated from the Trinity School on the Upper West Side and at-

NATURE IN RHYME ELIZABETH EUGENIA I. KAPP

7UDGLWLRQDO Â&#x2021; (JDOLWDULDQ

A warm community for sacred, social and educational events & experiences.

Scott N. Bolton, Rabbi

Hebrew School registration is open!

Free breakfast and lunch â&#x20AC;&#x153;for everyone 18 years old and underâ&#x20AC;? are available at more than 1,200 sites in the city, including P.S. 9 Sarah Anderson, at 100 West 84th Street. Photo: Ema Schumer

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re allowed to feed anyone. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re open, and there is no discrimination.â&#x20AC;?

9 Sarah Anderson on West 84th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. As a mother of four, CarterCooper said the program beneďŹ ted her family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to spend money to feed them ... My kids and I were very appreciative.â&#x20AC;?

Linda Carter-Cooper, DOE school aide

Raising Awareness

tends college at the University of Chicago â&#x20AC;&#x201D; remembers using the program one summer during high school when he was working at the New York Public Library. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would jog over from 42nd and Seventh to about 54th and Tenth every day to get free lunch. It was a great way to cut expenses. It saved me about $1,000,â&#x20AC;? McKie said. To Angela Rodriguez, an UWS mother whose children used the summer meals program in elementary school, the city has a responsibility to provide free meals to kids over the summer. For many kids, Rodriguez said, the free meals they eat during the school year are their main source of food. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The city canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look the other way and think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get meals for those eight weeks,â&#x20AC;? she said. Linda Carter-Cooper, a DOE school aide, said that the summer meals program beneďŹ ts a wide range of New Yorkers. Families who cannot afford to provide meals for their children and more financially-stable families alike bring their children, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re allowed to feed anyone. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re open, and there is no discrimination,â&#x20AC;? said Carter-Cooper, who is working this summer at P.S.

For Roxanne Mootreddy, a mother of two boys ages four and six, the program is convenient and cost-effective. Mootreddy appreciates the efforts to introduce healthier foods into kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; diets. The meals are â&#x20AC;&#x153;trying to push something fresh...trying to incorporate things that kids might not want to eat...I like that they put a whole food item in there, like bananas, apples, and oranges,â&#x20AC;? Mootreddy said. Not all New Yorkers might be able to take advantage of these healthy offerings, however. Carter-Cooper recognizes there may be barriers to entry for families who do not have access to the internet, where information regarding the program is posted. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer works to spread awareness so that more families can take advantage of the summer meals. Her office disseminates information at schools during the school year and hands out ďŹ&#x201A;iers in English, Spanish and Chinese. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Too many New York City children go hungry during the summer break from school â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that will never be something that sits well with me,â&#x20AC;? Brewer wrote in an email to Straus News.

Contact Sigal Hirsch

A Trip To The Country is designed to help children and adults learn about the natural world. It answers questions children might ask, such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;What makes rain, wind, thunder and lightning?â&#x20AC;? Order now at: www.atriptothecountry.com Barnes and Noble or Amazon

Director of Youth Education and Programming VKLUVFK#RU]DUXD RUJ 212-452-2310 x15 ($67 1' 675((7 Â&#x2021; 1<& Â&#x2021; WWW.ORZARUA.ORG

LOCKSMITH

HOME CARE PERSONALIZED HOME CARE

SKY LOCKSMITH & HARDWARE NOW OFFERING FULL SERVICE PAINT COLOR MATCHING & MIXING

$5 OFF $5 OFF COUPON COUPON

34 Years Experience

1-GALLON 1-GALLON VALSPAR VALSPAR PAINT PAINT ANY ANYCOLOR COLOR

Call 24/7 for a free consultation!

(877) 212-4222

toll-free

CUSTOMIZED CARE DEMENTIA TRAINING FOR THE AIDES SOCIAL WORK SERVICES INCLUDED Visit cohme.org or email referrals@cohme.org

STORE ONLY VALIDVALID IN IN STORE ONLY USE BY 06/19 USE BY 06/19 1-GALLON PER COUPON 1-GALLON PER COUPON

Store Locations: 1574 1st Ave / 2212 Broadway 24/7 EMERGENCY LOCKSMITH SERVICE 212-288-7773

MEDICAL

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Voted #1 Vein Doctors In New York

Give your legs new life Quick and minimally invasive treatments

REAL ESTATE KARPOFF AFFILIATES Senior Move Manager Real Estate Broker

KARPOFF AFFILIATES is your single stop for senior life transitions and real estate brokerage needs. Compassionate Senior Move Manager & Expert Real Estate Broker

Marilyn Karpoff www.KarpoffAfďŹ liates.com mkarpoff@karpoffafďŹ liates.com 212.358.8044 290 Third Avenue, Ste 26C, NYC 10010

Most treatments covered by major insurances and Medicare

SPIRITUAL

WINDOW TREATMENTS

Upper West Manhattan Church of Christ 80 YEARS!

Meeting at 891 Amsterdam Ave. @ 103rd St. In Hosteling International For more information: Call 212-729-8356 www.uwmchurchofchrist.com

Draperies Shades Shutters Blinds Motorization Window Film Upholstery Fabric & Trim Flooring Paint

SEMI-ANNUAL CUSTOM DECORATING SALE GOING ON NOW! UPPER WEST SIDE 469 AMSTERDAM AVE. 212.501.8282 WINDOWFASHIONS.COM

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Tired of Hunting for Our Town Downtown?

Calendar

Subscribe today to

Discover the world around the corner. Find community events, gallery openings, book launches and much more: Go to nycnow.com

Downtowner

NYCNOW

EDITOR’S PICK

News of Your Neighborhood

July 11 - Sep 16

that you can’t get anywhere else

THE TIBETAN BUDDHIST SHRINE ROOM

Dining Information, plus

crime news, real estate prices - all about your part of town

The Rubin Museum 150 West 17th St 11:00 a.m. $19 rubinmuseum.org 212-620-5000 Since it ﬁrst opened, the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room has been one of the most popular installations at the Rubin Museum, providing an immersive experience inspired by a traditional shrine. For Museum visitors, this richly detailed installation provides an oasis for peaceful contemplation..

Cultural Events in and around where you live (not Brooklyn, not Westchester)

Now get your personal copy delivered by US Mail for just

49/Year for 52 issues

To Subscribe : Call 212-868-0190 or go online to otdowntown.com and click on subscribe

▲Thu 11

Fri 12

Sat 13

THE WHITNEY’S COLLECTION: SELECTIONS FROM 1900 TO 1965

A WALKING TOUR OF MAGS CORNERS

IT’S A LONG STORY

The Whitney 99 Gansevoort St 11:00 a.m. Free with museum admission Join for a free, guided tour of The Whitney’s Collection: Selections from 1900 to 1965 led by a Whitney docent. whitney.org 212-570-3600

The Magnet Theater 254 West 29th St 7:00 p.m. $7 Welcome to Mags Corners, a small town with a big heart! Join Farmer Tom as he guides you through the historic sites of Mags Corners. You’ll meet the Mayor, swim the mighty and deadly Hoosic River, and so much more! Written and Performed by Sam Rogal. Directed By Joanna Simmons. magnettheater.com 212-244-8824

Subculture 45 Bleecker St 11:30 p.m $14 This comedy show features the city’s hottest stand-up comedians telling their longer, hilarious and true stories. subculturenewyork.com 212-533-5470

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

us to

you You’d look

T. C. CANNON: AT THE EDGE OF AMERICA | EXHIBITION TOUR National Museum of the American Indian 1 Bowling Green 10:00 a.m. Free Join a Museum Ambassador for a 45-minute tour of an exhibit about one of the most inﬂuential, innovative, and talented Native American artists of the 20th century. americanindian.si.edu 202-633-6644

into

something

have

Sun 14►

Email us at news@strausnews.com ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND

thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY

Mon 15

Tue 16

The Life & Death of Alexander Hamilton

HYPATIA AND THE HEATHENS: A NEW MUSICAL IN CONCERT

WALKÜRE: FEMALE COMPOSERS AND THE ARTWORK OF THE FUTURE

Trinity Church | 74 Trinity Pl. | 212-602-0800 | trinitywallstreet.org

Caveat 21 A Clinton St 6:30 p.m $25 Described by fans as “Great Comet” meets “Jesus Christ Superstar” (with a dash of “A Funny thing Happened on the way to the Forum”), “Hypatia and the Heathens” features an original score with inﬂuences ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to Bach-Rock to Sappho to Gospel. One thing is for certain: it’s like no toga party you’ve been to before. caveat.nyc 212-228-2100

Hudson Park Library 66 Leroy St 6:00 p.m. Free Join 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid; noted author, playwright/director and poet IONE; International Contemporary Ensemble Artistic Director Ross Karre; and composer and NewMusicBox co-editor Frank J. Oteri, as they confront, affirm, and expand Wagner’s “The Artwork of the Future.” nypl.com 212-243-6876

FRIDAY, JULY 12TH, 5:30PM Mark the anniversary of Hamilton’s 1804 death with a reading of his eulogy at his gravesite. The evening will also include a conversation with Eliza Hamilton, portrayed by Kim Hanley of The American Historical Theatre, and a Revolutionary War tour of the churchyard ($20).

LogicLounge with Eva Galperin: Spouseware and Stalkerware

MONDAY, JULY 15TH, 5PM The New School | 63 Fifth Ave. | 212-229-5150 | newschool.edu Cyber security specialist Eva Galperin, Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), talks about the new class of spyware apps. She’ll raise a debate on the dark side of the technology: its use in sexual harassment and violence against women (free).

Just Announced | Screening & Talk: Our Boys

MONDAY, JULY 29TH, 7PM The TimesCenter | 242 W. 41st St. | 888-698-1870 | timestalks.com The new HBO series Our Boys, ﬁlmed in Israel, is based on the killings of three Israeli teenagers and a retaliatory murder, which led to the outbreak of war in Gaza. See the ﬁrst episode, which follows the investigation of the latter killing, followed by a discussion with the creators ($25).

For more information about lectures, readings and other intellectually stimulating events throughout NYC,

Follow Our Town Downtown on Facebook and Twitter ▲Wed 17 STRAND SUMMER STUDIO - LESSONS IN REALISTIC WATERCOLOR The Strand 828 Broadway 7:00 p.m. $15 Join us in the Rare book Room for a watercolor demo from painting master Mario Andres Robinson. No wet materials will be allowed in the space, so please leave your paints at home. strandbooks.com 212-473-1452

Downtowner

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

JULY 11-17,2019

ART NOUVEAU FOR THE MASSES The newly opened Poster House, the first museum of its kind in the U.S., showcases the strong, feminine graphic works of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha

IF YOU GO WHAT: “Alphonse Mucha: Art Nouveau/Nouvelle Femme” WHERE: Poster House, 119 West 23rd St. WHEN: Through October 6 www.posterhouse.org

BY VAL CASTRONOVO

The name may be in no way familiar, but the works are instantly recognizable. The Czech-born painter, illustrator and graphic designer Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), whose name is synonymous with Art Nouveau, rose to fame virtually overnight when he accepted an eleventh-hour commission to create a theatrical poster for actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was starring in a production of the Greek drama Gismonda in Belle Époque Paris. Call it being in the right place at the right time. It was the day after Christmas, 1894, and Mucha was checking proofs after hours at a printing house when the call came in for a poster to advertise the legendary actress’s latest play — ready for distribution on New Year’s Day. The quick turnaround proved no obstacle for the wildly inventive draftsman, even though he had never created a poster before and had had little success up to that point as an illustrator in Paris. The end product deﬁed the cardinal rules of poster design — it was nearlife-sized, pastel-colored and highly ornamental, with gold metallic. But it was nonetheless embraced by Bernhardt, who immediately enlisted Mucha to use his poster prowess to promote her performances and to design the programs, costumes, sets and her jewelry, too. “He became her go-to guy for five years because of this poster. This poster hits the streets of Paris on New Year’s Day, and it breaks all the rules. People had never seen an ad like this,” chief curator Angelina Lippert said on an opening-week tour. Heretofore, posters were roughly 3-feet by 4-feet, used primary colors and were very “free form.”

Actress Sarah Bernhardt takes center stage. She hired Mucha to create posters, sets and costumes for her numerous roles. Photo: Stephanie Powell. Image courtesy of Poster House

An Intuitive Understanding of His Subject The first section of this inaugural show in the museum’s main gallery is dedicated to the alliance between the actress and artist. Her fame is a draw, his curvy, sensuous renderings of the female form — in spaces chock-a-block with ﬂoral motifs, Byzantine mosaics, roundels, arches, “macaroni” hair, sinuous lines and extraordinary detail

— an even bigger one. The approach, heavily inﬂuenced by Czech folk art, was dubbed “le style Mucha.” The two got on because Mucha had an intuitive understanding of his subject. Bernhardt loved the Gismonda poster, “because this is the ﬁrst time an artist sees her the way she wants to be seen,” Lippert said. “Everyone who had done a poster prior to that ... represented her as an ingénue. This woman was a single mother, a powerhouse businesswoman and her own PR machine, so this is how she saw herself.” Mucha’s ingenuity extended to taking photographs of his subjects prior to creating the drawings for his posters. “No one else was doing that for advertising. He was re-inventing what commercial advertising meant, what it involved,” Lippert said.

Bernhardt and Biscuits

Mucha’s “Cycles Perfecta” (1902), a bicycle ad, markets pleasure and freedom. On loan from the Richard Fuxa Foundation. Image courtesy of Poster House

Walls of posters with Bernhardt in the guise of Hamlet, Medea and a variety of historical and Biblical ﬁgures give way to an appealing section devoted to product advertisement. Think biscuits, cigarette rolling papers, chocolate, bicycles, champagne and liqueurs. The common denominator: an attractive, self-assured woman, with big hair, subtly shilling. The biscuit maker, Lefèvre-Utile, which is still in existence, became simply “LU” for Mucha. And that’s

how the cookie is known today, the curator said. “He hides [the initials] throughout his posters as a brand re-emphasis,” she said, encouraging her audience to search for the letters embedded in the ads, rather like hunting for the “Ninas” buried in an Al Hirschfeld drawing. And Mucha imagines elegant settings for the cookie, like an opera box or a private garden (see “Flirt,” 1900). “He makes it an aspirational item. He creates environments that are lush, classy and sexy, and he makes the products associated with stuff like that” — but accessible to everyone because, hey, it’s only a cookie and the poster is behind the counter or in the window of the shops for all to see. He democratizes Art Nouveau and gives it mass appeal.

Dream-Like States The final section, in a lower-level gallery, offers Mucha’s decorative panels — allegorical images of beautiful women representing the seasons, time of the day, precious stones and ﬂower types, sans lettering or text of any kind. The designer and the printing house that owned the rights to his work were catering to dealers and collectors who wanted to purchase “a Mucha.” Stripped of commercial claptrap, these works are like mood pieces. They are soft hued and airy, meant to transport viewers into a pleasing, dream-like state, a kind of reverie. Fed up with the daily grind of churning out incredibly intricate pieces for commercial clients, Mucha gave it all up and traveled to the U.S. in 1904, where he failed to gain traction as either an illustrator or a portrait paint-

Mucha’s 1894 breakout poster for Sarah Bernhardt’s star turn in Gismonda. It made him an overnight sensation. On loan from the Richard Fuxa Foundation. Image courtesy of Poster House

er, his dream job. He eventually found his way back to Czechoslovakia, where he completed “The Slav Epic” (1911-28), a masterful painting series marking key moments in Slavic history. None are included in the breezy show here, a long-dive into his creation of strong, empowered female ﬁgures at the turn of the last century — a.k.a. the nouvelle femme (new woman). As the organizers state, “These women were part of a budding 20thCentury world wherein they had newfound independence and social agency. Through them, Mucha changed the world of advertising and brought Art Nouveau to the streets.”

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

REMEMBERING JFK JR. BOOKS On the twentieth anniversary of his death, a look at 10 books about a New York and American icon BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL

I did not know John F. Kennedy, Jr., but he was one of those high-profile New Yorkers who I had happily in my orbit purely by happenstance. In the early 90s, I lived on the Upper West Side. Many a morning when I walked from The Ansonia to my midtown ad agency, I would spy him in a suit coming out of Daryl Hannah’s building to join fearlessly Broadway’s downtown traffic on his bike. Because I too was a cyclist back then, I also used to pedal beside him in Central Park, along with a thousand other star struck bikers, joggers and rollerbladers. (Alas, I never saw him in his shirtless, frisbee-throwing splendor.) When I relocated back to the Upper East Side, I’d catch him entering his sister’s building on Park Avenue. Even after he moved downtown with his wife, I saw him exiting one of his haunts, Bubby’s, as I was entering. I spent many years having there-heis-again moments, but those all ended on July 16th, 1999, when the light aircraft he was flying crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. John Jr.’s senseless demise affected me as it did many New Yorkers — I missed him. And so, over the years I read a number of books written by those who knew him. Although each has its own take, there are some common themes throughout all the accounts: What he lacked in academic achievement, he made up for in sophistication, savvy, and manners; he was deferential to his mother, giving up his dream of being an actor; and most of all, John was reckless, throwing himself into extreme sports with abandon. Some works are written by the authors, while others are “as told to.” Regardless, they all give glimpses into what it was like to have had this icon be part of one’s day-to-day, and how suddenly life became bigger and more interesting for it. For those who are too young to remember him, and for those who, like me, remember all too well being captivated by his public image and personal story, I give you ...

America’s Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr., by Steven M. Gillon (July 2019) “I took John and I put him under the

microscope,” says Gillon, close personal friend, noted historian, and New York Times bestselling author of this new, over 400-page biography. Gillon’s book bares JFK Jr.’s highs and lows, conﬁrms hiss political aspirations and reveals ls relationships never before disiscussed publicly. Gillon also shares res 54 exclusive interviews, and details tails from previously classified Secret ecret Service documents, which discloses closes info such as Jackie’s “tense relationationship with the men assigned to protect rotect her son.” Just when you thought there was nothing new under the Kennedy nnedy sun. In the end, Gillon proves that John’s life was far more than another tragedy — rather, it’s the true key to underd standing both the Kennedy legacy and how America’s First Family continues to shape the world we live in today.

The Good Son: JFK Jr. and the Mother He Loved, by Christopher Andersen (November 2014) From the coffin salute to the aftermath of his own funeral, this recaps America’s son and his sometimesstormy relationship with Jackie O. Part I, quite frankly, is more about her than him with a whole lot of Ari; while Part II is called “John On His Own,” with a double dose of Daryl Hannah.

JFK Jr., George, & Me: A Memoir, by Matt Berman (May 2014) The author was the creative director for George magazine, and shares his daily work-bro relationship with his boss-cum-friend. Full of behindthe-scenes photos, the book gives insight into the magazine industry and George’s place in it, as well as John Jr.’s. — messy office and all. It was not a friendship of equals, though. Although it’s believable that John liked and respected Matt (he comes off as a very nice and talented guy), it’s clear that what the latter experienced was more like hero-worship. No surprise that he was crushed by his mentor’s death. Berman eventually moved to Paris and currently resides in L.A. and is still a creative director, which is a relief given that at the end of the book he seemed to want to never work again if it couldn’t be at George with John.

Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss, by RoseMarie Terenzio (January 2012) The fairy tale the author recounts is not that of the marriage between John and Carolyn, but her own as the Bronx Cinderella who became the personal assistant to a prince, aka the George

Photo s via a mazon .com

editor in chief. She portrays her late boss as patient, protective, goofy, occasionally thoughtless and self-involved, yet capable of extraordinary generosity and kindness, and herself as more of a friend than an underling. Terenzio can’t be blamed for wanting her job and the exciting, high-proﬁle, fame-by-proxy life that went with it to last forever. When that didn’t happen though, let’s just say, Caroline Kennedy appeared to move on with her life sooner.

Come to the Edge: A Memoir, by Christina Haag (March 2011) Although a lot of the book’s focus is on the author’s Upper East Side childhood and her struggles to become an actress, Haag does chronicle their poignant story of young romance, with NYC of the ‘70s and ‘80s as the backdrop. John was a prep school friend, before they went to Brown together, but didn’t start dating until after graduation when both were cast in an offBroadway play. “One day he’ll leave you,” said actor Bradley Whitford, the college boyfriend she’d broken up with for the prince of Camelot. And he was right. After five years, John thought they should see other people (in his case, the aforementioned star of “Splash.”) But there’s no bitterness here, only fondness for Haag’s first adult love.

Forever Young; My Friendship with JFK Jr., by William Sylvester Noonan (September 2006) “He told me many times, ‘If I stop to think about it all, I would just sit down and fall apart.’” So, John never sat still. “He was always moving.” Noonan’s father served in the Kennedy administration, and eventually, the sons of the fathers became friends. Actually, it was more like big and little brother, but with a role-reversal twist:

the younger was the star. The author paints a picture of a young man, capable of organizing the clandestine nuptial event of the century, yet needed a Post-It note on his front door to remind him to take his wallet and keys. The night Kennedy died, it was “Billy” whom JFK, Jr. was going to visit to help celebrate his best friend’s fifth wedding anniversary.

What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love, by Carole Radziwill (September 2005) If you only know this author as a Real Housewife of New York City, all I can say is: don’t judge. Radziwill is an Emmy- and Peabodywinning journalist and war correspondent, as well as a novelist. Hers is a story of love and loss at its most heart wrenching. Beautifully written, the book shares how she and her husband, Jackie O.’s nephew Anthony (an actual Polish prince) met at work, married and become a foursome with his cousin John Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. After ﬁve years of marriage, Anthony died of cancer, and three weeks before that, Radziwill buried her two best friends. This is a story crafted by someone with resilience, who truly had it all, at least for a little while.

The Men We Became: My Friendship with John F. Kennedy, Jr., by Robert T. Littell (June 2004) From Brown University pal to NYC roommate to secret Cumberland Island wedding guest to honorary pallbearer (John’s body as well as those of Carolyn and Lauren Bessette were cremated), what this author offers reads like an extended eulogy. Littell met JFK, Jr. during college orientation, and his I-don’t-care-whohe-is-I’m-treating-him-like-anybodyelse attitude became part of his appeal

or “irreverence” as John referred to it. He recounts the debauchery young men are known to embark upon, until the day Jackie summoned them from their post-grad Upper West Side apartment to 1040 Fifth Avenue so she could “suggest” they grow up. Only one of them actually got to go the distance.

The Other Man: John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette and Me, by Michael Bergin (March 2004) Ok, if you want a smidge of tabloid, this is it. The author was a Calvin Klein model who dated Carolyn, the director of publicity for CK’s ﬂagship store in Manhattan, then got dumped for JFK, Jr. Bergin hung around in the wings, an available muscular shoulder — although in the modeling biz he was actually known for his “abs” — that Carolyn could cry on whenever she was mad at her husband. In his fantasy world, if she’d lived, they would have ended up together. A guy can dream.

American Son: A Portrait of John F. Kennedy, Jr., by Richard Blow (May 2002) The only book in the bunch where the author does not claim to be John Jr.’s friend. Blow knew Kennedy only in a professional capacity during his four years as a writer at George; a POV experienced from a close distance. His journalistic objectivity gives a respectful and matter-of-fact report, which concentrates on the progression of the celeb-covered monthly into a mustread, and especially the evolution of the heir-to-Camelot into a magazine editor. On November 25, 2019, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. would have been 59 years old. Lorraine Duffy Merkl is a NYC freelance writer and novelist.

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS

Three Owls Market

800 Washington St

Not Yet Graded(29) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Ofrenda

113 7 Avenue South

The Warren

131 Christopher St

Grade Pending(44) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours. Food worker does not use proper utensil to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

Pastis

54 Gansevoort St

Not Yet Graded(19) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. 2) Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

Boil Boil Ramen

353 W 14th St

Closed

Fabrique

348 W 14th St

Not Yet Graded(16) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

The Pho 3

152 7th Ave S

Not Yet Graded(29) Food from unapproved or unknown source or home canned. Reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) ﬁsh not frozen before processing; or ROP foods prepared on premises transported to another site. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed.

Wolfnights

235 Bleecker St

Orient Express

325 West 11 Street

Nb Wing Wong

42 Bowery

Grade Pending(4)

Nha-Trang Centre Vietnam Restaurant

148 Centre Street

Grade Pending(22) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Tokyo Bay Japanese Restaurant

183 Duane Street

Benito One

174 Mulberry Street

Grade Pending(26) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Sun Sai Gai Restaurant

220 Canal Street

Grade Pending(32) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

JUNE-JULY 26 - 2, 2019 The following listings were collected from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website and include the most recent inspection and grade reports listed. We have included every restaurant listed during this time within the zip codes of our neighborhoods. Some reports list numbers with their explanations; these are the number of violation points a restaurant has received. To see more information on restaurant grades, visit www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/services/restaurant-inspection.shtml. Kaffe 1668

275 Greenwich Street

Woodrows

43 Murray Street

Larra’s Poke Bar

11 Park Pl

Go Go Curry

12 John St

Grade Pending(3)

Andy’s Cafeteria (Hpd Building)

100 Gold St

Grade Pending(26) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food worker does not wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet, coughing, sneezing, smoking, eating, preparing raw foods or otherwise contaminating hands. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Ketch Brewhouse

6 Platt St

Tomorrow

200 Water St

Nassau Bar

118 Nassau Street

The Irish American

17 John Street

Grade Pending(27) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, crosscontaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/ sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Pisillo Italian Cafe

99 Nassau St

New Chatham Seafood Restaurant

6 Chatham Sq

Grade Pending(49) Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

The Musket Room

265 Elizabeth St

Grade Pending(75) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, crosscontaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided. Records and logs not maintained to demonstrate that HACCP plan has been properly implemented. Food not labeled in accordance with HACCP plan.

Sakura Sushi And Thai

273 Mott Street

About Coffee

71 Sullivan St

Deb’s

200 Varick Street

Extra Virgin

259 West 4 Street

Ramen Thukpa

70 7 Avenue

Wafels & Dinges/Landing

393 West St

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

14 STREET CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The busway plan was devised to speed up buses carrying 27,000 daily riders on 14th St. during the L train slowdown. Photo: Michael Garofalo

the east side, who are in favor of the busway. Among them is Mary Garvey, a Stuyvesant Town resident, who spoke at a rally in support of the bus corridor on the day it was meant to be implemented. “Those people in the West Village ... they have all the transit available to them and still they’re defending their cars and parking spaces because they live in a private little community in their own mind,” Garvey said. “Those streets do not belong to them. They may live there but the streets and the transits of the city belong to all of us.” City Council Member Keith Powers, who represents 14th Street residents east of First Avenue, also attended the rally, calling on the

ASTHMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 there are “cooling centers” in schools, libraries or civic centers.

Managing your asthma Treatment with medication is the cornerstone of managing asthma. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines provide guidance on how to best treat asthma. Asthma severity is determined by the frequency of a patient’s symptoms, and changes in lung function, as well as by a recent history of hospitalizations for what are known as asthma attacks, or a recent requirement for oral steroid therapy. Intermittent, infrequent symptoms are treated with short-acting symptom relievers/ rescue therapy, and anti-inﬂammatory medication, including inhaled steroids which are used if a patients’ symptoms are persistent and increasingly severe. Oral steroids are reserved for severe persistent symptoms. Patients should be evaluated in the ER, and may even be admitted if the severity of the patient’s asthma exacerbation requires intravenous steroids. As symptoms of asthma improve, the patients’ medication can be reduced in a step-wise fashion. National and international guidelines on asthma management have been have been validated in clinical trials, ensuring that the treating physician can follow estab-

“We look forward to ultimately prevailing in court.” Department of Transportation spokesperson opposition to drop the lawsuit. “Today was going to be a special day for transit in New York City,” Powers said. “We were going to take a big thruway — 14th Street — and say it is for buses and pedestrians ﬁrst.”

lished and tested treatment regimens tailored to the severity of the symptoms. Some patients may benefit from new advanced medical treatment with “biologics” for severe, difficult to control steroid-dependent asthma. Biologics include omalizumab for patients who have evidence of severe allergic asthma. In addition, injectable medications are now available for a subtype of asthma called “eosinophilic asthma,” which is characterized by an increase in eosinophils — white blood cells that are a normal part of the immune system, which increase in number following certain triggers and are responsible for significant airway inflammation. In general, a patient with asthma should be referred to pulmonary and allergy clinics when the patient has been to the hospital for asthma, or has required frequent courses of oral steroids for unstable asthma. If the patient is not responding to treatment, the diagnosis of asthma may be incorrect, so be sure to see a specialist. If you think you have asthma or have been diagnosed with it, talk to your doctor to develop strategies to minimize your risks of suffering asthma attacks during the summer months, and limiting certain exposures and taking corrective action. Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations to best manage your symptoms and asthma conditions this summer. David Steiger, MD, is the chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.

Everything you like about Our Town Downtown is now available to be delivered to your mailbox every week in the Downtowner From the very local news of your neighborhood to information about upcoming events and activities, the new home delivered edition of the Downtowner will keep you in-the-know.

And best of all you won’t have to go outside to grab a copy from the street box every week.

It’s your neighborhood. It’s your news.

Yes! Start my mail subscription to the Downtowner right away! 1-Year Subscription @ $49

Name

________________________________________________

Address _________________________________ Apt. #

________

New York, NY Zip Code __________ Cell Phone _________________ Email Address___________________________________________ Payment by

Check # __________

Money Order

Credit Card

Name on Credit Card (Please Print) ___________________________ Card # _______________________ Exp. Date

____ //____ // ____

Signature of Cardholder ___________________________________

Return Completed Form to: Straus News, 20 West Avenue, Chester, NY, 10918 or go to otdowntown.com & click on Subscribe

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

JULY 11-17,2019

Business

(SOME) DOGS NOT ALLOWED Owners accompanied by emotional support animals can still be refused service in NYC establishments BY NICOLE ROSENTHAL

New York City is certainly no stranger to man’s best friend. From hosting the annual Westminster Dog Show to having its own dog museum, you can be sure to see a furry friend on every corner. However, all canines are not treated the same under NYC law, especially when it comes to animals who provide services to their owners. While New York’s Civil Rights Law requires public facilities (including restaurants and other food establishments) to allow guide dogs, service dogs and hearing dogs, emotional support animals — therapist-approved animals that assist owners with mental or emotional disabilities or conditions — are not included in the legislation. And that can create serious problems for people who depend on their animals to help them navigate life in the city. “Personally, I know that my anxiety is often worse in public spaces,” said Faith Marnecheck, 20, a student at New York University and owner of an emotional support Rottweiler mix named Roxie. “By not allowing my emotional support animal (ESA) in public, I do not have the comfort and anxiety-reducing effects my dog provides for me.” The de facto ban on ESA’s can make people who need them more likely to not leave their house, or to be more symptomatic in public, Marnecheck added.

The law distinguishse between emotional suport animals and service animals, such as seeing eye dogs, who are trained to perform a speciﬁc task or service. Photo: Nicole Rosenthal

Store Owners Decide Although these animals can provide a sense of safety, companionship, and comfort to their owners, they are not trained to perform speciﬁc tasks and are therefore not protected as service animals, according to the NYC Human Rights Law. That leaves it up to the owners of public accommodations to allow or ban ESAs from their establishments.

Therapy dogs have been very successful in alleviating the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Clinical social worker Sean Grover

Roxie, a Rottweiler mix, serves as an emotional support animal for her owner, Faith Marnecheck. Photo: Fait Marnecheck

Marnecheck said she has been refused service at Shake Shack and Starbucks with Roxie in tow, making it increasingly difficult to ﬁnd a cheap meal on a college budget with her four-legged friend. “It’s very easy to receive a letter from a health professional for a therapy dog — I have written many,” said Sean Grover, a clinical social worker based in the East Village. “Therapy dogs have been very successful in alleviating the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Caring

for an animal can also bring comfort and meaning into one’s life.” While ESAs are allowed in nopets housing under the federal Fair Housing Act, and are also allowed to ﬂy in airplane cabins, owners of emotional support animals still do not have guaranteed access to public spaces such as restaurants, hotels and retail stores. Although recent legislation has been increasingly restrictive on the rights of service animals, some ESA owners, including Marnecheck, hope to see more

inclusive laws in the near future. “I really hope that laws change to recognize the importance of having ESAs in all spaces,” said Marnecheck. “I would be so happy if the laws changed because I feel so much better when I have my dog with me, and I hope that I will soon have the same rights as people who need service dogs. I think that progress is being made, but I do not think these laws will change soon.”

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Real Estate Sales

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

JULY 11-17,2019

QUICK, DOCTOR — PASS THE HONEY! HEALTH

HOW TO HANDLE HONEY

The new science behind an ancient remedy BY CAROL ANN RINZLER

It’s summer. The ﬂowers have bloomed and so have the allergies as busy bees ﬂit from one plant to another, pollinating and collecting nectar which converts in the hive to honey, a sweetener with a long medical pedigree. The three great Greek physicians, Hippocrates, Galen and Dioscorides, used honey to bind more than 60 other ingredients into theriaca, a paste to cure or ameliorate everything from an aching tooth to the Big S as in sexual hesitancy. Middle Easterners picked up on that last one, feeding honey to newly-married men, questionable therapy — but one possible explanation for why the honeymoon is called the honeymoon. On the other hand, if your mother served you a cup of honey sweetened tea for a cough, cold and sore throat, she was right on target. The warm liquid loosens mucus and the sweet honey triggers the release of endorphins

Store honey at room temperature in a tightly closed container to keep it from absorbing moisture and odors from the air. Over time, the sugars in honey may naturally form crystals. To remove them, put the jar into a bowl of warm water at a temperature below 40C/104F so as not to damage flavor or consistency. kitchen, open a jar of any old honey and lather it on. Medihoney’s “magic” ingredient is antibacterial-rich manuka honey from a plant family native to Australia and New Zealand. More important, Medihoney isn’t a sandwich spread. It really is medicine that’s been irradiated to eliminate contaminants such as spores of Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria which produces a paralytic toxin. Because infants do not have an immune system rigorous enough

ar’ when it comes to diabetes.” As for weight control, she adds, spoon for spoon honey has more carbs and calories than ordinary granulated white or brown sugar. But if you’re neither an infant, a diabetic, or someone trying to lose that last ﬁve pounds, honey is a lovely sweetener. Which one to choose? First, the darker the honey, the sweeter the ﬂavor. Second, raw honey describes honey taken from the comb and poured directly through a mesh or nylon cloth to separate out impurities such as beeswax or — ick! — dead bees. Strained honey is honey that has been heated or chilled to melt and separate out extraneous stuff so as to make the honey prettier and give it a consistent texture. As you might expect, some think that straining also takes away valuable nutrients. Actually, honey is

Photo: Coral Pceb, via ﬂickr

from your brain to soothe the pain. Honey’s most valuable medical property, however, is its ability to heal an open wound, a benefit so long honored that it is listed in the Bible and the Koran. Like cellulose fibers, cotton and sugar, honey is hygroscopic, meaning that it attracts and holds moisture. When applied to a wound, it kills bacteria which cannot survive without liquid. The result, says WebMD.com, is reduced infection, inflammation and pain and speedier healing. In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration agreed, putting its stamp of oval on a honeybased wound dressing called Medihoney™. No, that doesn’t mean that next time you scrape your knee you can hobble into the

against infection, the is that the Centers for Control bans plain honey younger than 12 months. destroys the bacteAmerican Academy of Committee on Nutrition to feed a baby cooked taining honey. But don’t feed that to because, says Toby a spokesperson for the Diabetic Association, “A

to defend bad news Disease for children But heat ria, so the Pediatrics says it’s safe cereals cona diabetic Smithson, American sugar is a sug-

Your neighborhood news source

otdowntown.com

Honeycomb. Photo: Leo Gaggl, via ﬂickr

pretty much all sugar. Just about two percent of the honey is B vitamins plus a bouquet of minerals. True, heat may destroy the B’s but not the minerals, but in a balanced diet where you’re just looking to add sweetness, this is not a big deal. What does matter, is moderation. Honey has been around since Biblical times. In fact, it’s kosher food because bees do not digest it, they simply store it in a honey sac in the hive until the beekeeper collects it. Given its seductive sweetness, it’s no surprise that ancient sages warned right there in Proverbs 25:16, “Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be ﬁlled therewith, and vomit it.” Translation: Restrain your sweet tooth the better to enjoy the honey. Especially if you have a cold.

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

MOMOTION IN ACTION PARKS Popular basketball program helps raise money to improve Riverside Park courts BY EMA SCHUMER

I spent the summer of 2013 playing pickup basketball on courts in Riverside Park. As a 13-year-old girl standing under five feet tall, I was an unlikely competitor. I came to expect and almost enjoy the invariable glare that boys at the park would give me from afar, reluctant to be on my team or to defend me. These boys learned a valuable lesson that summer, however, which is to not judge someone based on their gender or size; I may not have looked like a basketball player, but I had game. I could dribble as well as anyone else on the court; I could see the floor and pass better than anyone else; I had a decent shot, I played defense, and I hustled. I had honed these basketball skills at MoMotion — an Upper West Side youth basketball organization. As one of its many programs, MoMotion runs a summer camp that takes a group of middle school boys and girls to Riverside Park to play bona fide New York City hoops. I learned a lesson that summer too. Fending for myself on the Riverside Park courts gave me grit, thick skin, and the courage to speak up for myself — characteristics that all too often are elusive in teenage girls. I look back on that time as formative. Without public basketball courts like the ones in Riverside Park — courts that bring together New Yorkers from all walks of life to play a game of pickup — I may not be as confident or fearless as I am today.

A Worthy Cause Six years later, in addition to hosting clinics and private lessons, MoMotion still brings kids to the Riverside Park courts to play pickup. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, MoMotion — which enrolls approximately 750 kids — is fund-raising to improve the conditions of the courts located at West 76th Street. The first phase of the project is raising $28,000 by August 1 to replace the courts’ seven rims and backboards by this fall ($15,000 has been raised so far). The second phase is raising $50,000 to repatch and repaint the ground. MoMotion is collaborating on the projects with Riverside Park Conservancy, a non-profit committed to the maintenance and restoration of the park. Dan Garodnick, president and CEO of the Conservancy, said that without MoMotion’s efforts, the courts would not get the fix-up that they deserve. “We’re happy that Mo[Motion] is stepping up to help us to get this done because [the courts are] clearly in need of a refresh,” he said. The city installed the courts at West 76th Street in the 1960s, explained Department of Parks & Recreation spokesperson Crystal Howard. The courts were restored in the early 2000s and only small improvements have

been made since. The need for a makeover is apparent to anyone who plays on the courts: the rims are crooked and under regulation height. They don’t have nets to catch the ball; when someone sinks a shot, the ball continues on its trajectory and hits the nearby fence rather than dropping nicely to the ground. The backboards are rusted, turning an attempted kissoff-the glass shot into an ugly bite. The pavement is laced with cracks. Despite these conditions, the courts continue to host boisterous pickup games. Nathan Cates, 20, who lives on West 70th Street, said that he has played pickup on the courts almost every weekend for the past six years. Cates — who attended Booker T. Washington Middle School and the High School for Math, Science and Engineering — described the courts as a fulcrum of community for the neighborhood. “These are the best courts in the neighborhood for competition. 50 to 100 people are out here on weekends. People pull up with lawn chairs and speakers to watch,” he said.

Plans call for new hoops and backboards at the West 76th St. courts in Riverside Park. Photo: Courtesy of Maureen Holohan

The Mo of MoMotion Maureen Holohan, 47, known by kids and parents around the city as just “Mo,” is the eponymous founder and executive director of MoMotion. Born and raised in Wynantskill, New York, Holohan received numerous accolades for her achievement on the court, including high school All-American and New York state MVP. She received a scholarship to play Division 1 basketball at Northwestern University, where she earned All-Big Ten honors for three seasons. After college, Holohan played professional basketball overseas before returning to New York, where she has coached in various positions. In 2008, Holohan founded MoMotion after a group of seventh grade boys she had coached asked her to start her own team. “It was accidental. I didn’t think it would be the biggest program arguably in New York,” she said. With no gym space and a group of middle schoolers eager to play basketball under Holohan’s instruction, she used the courts at Riverside Park to grow her program. At the time, she was living with her sister and her sister’s boyfriend on West 73rd Street because she had “no money.” “It all sort of started there, which is why we’re renovating it. I’ve always thought to myself, ‘It’s such a shame that these courts have so much potential to bring people together. However, they’re not the greatest rims and boards.’ I’ve been waiting for years for people to change them and then I realized that person should be me,” she said.

The Beneﬁts of Pickup Even after establishing MoMotion as Manhattan’s preeminent program in youth basketball development, Holohan often prefers to bring kids to public courts to play pickup rather than playing in state-of-the-art indoor

The author at 13, playing defense during a MoMotion game. Photo: Courtesy of Maureen Holohan

facilities. She is a believer in pickup basketball’s ability to develop kids as both basketball players and problem solvers — in ways that organized basketball cannot. “I really believe in the kids interacting and solving problems,” Holohan said, “like how do you get through a bad pickup game? How do you figure out how to guard the old sweaty guy who doesn’t move or the high school kid. How do you figure out how to guard the girl?” Mo said. MoMotion player Mary Ashley Groot, 14, a rising ninth grader at The Dalton School, said playing pickup at West 76th Street has instilled confidence in her. “As an eighth grader playing pickup it’s a little weird at first because you’re playing with a lot of guys who are older, stronger, and bigger, But it’s also a really empowering experience to know you can play with people of all ages and all genders,” she said. Pickup was also influential for Holohan.

“That’s how I learned about myself — on the playground, solving those problems, without someone fixing them for me.” These are not the first courts that Holohan has fixed up. Over the years, her organization has financed improvements to courts at P.S. 191, P.S. 75, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, West Side High School, and Dunlevy Milbank Center. Groot’s mother, Ashley Stevenson, said that by improving the Riverside Park courts, Holohan “will help not only the Upper East, Upper West Side typical private school kid, but she’ll also reach thousands of more kids.” Tax-deductible donations to restore the courts can be made on the Riverside Park Conservancy website’s donation page by including “West 76 St Basketball Courts” in the gift line.

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Stay Up To Date About What’s Happening In Your Neighborhood Yo Ou ur pe r r Sin Townsonal ce 1 e 972 Easts dition ide of r WEEK OF M AY-JU NE

MA LGBT PPING HIST SOC IE T Y ORY

Yo Ou ur pe r r Sin Townsonal e ce 1 972 Down dition tow of ner

Yo Theur pe r Sin Spiri sonal ce 1 t W edi 972 ests tion ide of r

305 20 19

‘I THELKOVE IDS’

COM

His NY toric cult C lan sites ure dma proje rks ct h for igh act ligh ivis ts k A m a ey BY me s New nd M

MUN

A sc mo hool reco re th safety wa gniz an 40 offic rm ed fo yea er -hea r rs wit rted her d on th h app edic e job roa atio is P BY ch n a to eople EM nd m IL h

WEEK OF M AY-JU NE

305 20 19

IT Y

Yo Ch ur pe e r Sin lsea C sonal ce 1 l e 972 inton dition Ne of ws WE

WEEK OF M AY-JU NE

30HUND 5 REDS PROT HU EST A PROTNDREDS D A We BORT BORoTIEOwSNT n sts ION L LAWStow ide AWS ner r A C T IV

20 19

IS M

Mo dem re th in onst an 50 to o down rators 0 legis ppose town M gath la sta tio anti anh ered tes n p -ab att ass ortio an ed in n oth BY er NIC Hu OL

Phot o: N icol eR osen thal

‘IT A C WAS RA AL ZY L A IDE BIT A’ OF

30EK O-F MAY-JUNE 5 20 19

Cli nto n

‘IT VO L. 8 0, A C WAS ISS RA AL UE 22 ZY L A IDE BIT A’ OF

Ż ere ndre ER VO 15 OS L. 5 ICH Tu d in ds o the mora York EN VO MIN VO AE , IS TH L. 4 L. 5 LG the esday Fole f pe on Sto te th Cit AL SU S, P 5, AR Ż YH , IS E2 the ake ave ISS isla rest eve y S ople ten e gro newa e 50 y pre OFA . 19 IGG 2 15 SU UE a re age sch a lot LO E2 INB MIN Ż ate tion up is ll up th an pares and tion rictiv ning qu a regathŻ 22 2 OT 15 15 ad flex of sc ools of ide oth enac e ab to p S bis d pa to th see risin nive to co a o H , d h sa M n M a n A ro P to o ort er d te M INS fe s a for gua . 21 INS in ol n it exua st of e oft king g th rsary mTh Midw state d in ion test 43 rds sta shoo , esp bout , P. , P. A e le lan y th l and the c en u to b is Ju of s e e N ll h la y ti ra 19 st in th ba g21 e ea and me ng ciall ow n ro r d n it CO Mo rs, Pla w Yo lly, org. pu tal s. T y in e S ma Th mark u gh tran y’s le derap ing a e, NT re s n t rk o h s e d IN c n uth ect, N s. gath th e a fo sex sbia pre tkey ed e ho up UE C aniz a te re’s ol DO cu ual n, cihis lau YC LG to ered an 50 York note Paren it y c ed b safe rmo ctors s o co gay NP set toria nche BT H n h mm , Str Cit speak thoo hapte y the AG ty r. Bu , passoppose in do 0 dem E9 ag t isto udiv out to ns an d in 2 isto ed in anti wnto onst torn inge y Co ers su d, incl r of en ric t cu ersit doc d pre 015 ric Sit McQ ey G r, wommptr ch as uded oth -abo wn M rato er st rtio an rs ma lt u re y of ume serv by a es P of P uad loria A en’s oller New ate n le hatt Sch lan e, p llre rig Sco gro p fea in a New nt th ation group rojDO s gisla an Hu tt re n oo e h d tu F is Y w e n ts b o si ou a CO dP curr ing rin in ork rea ts, BY Fo B ndre ndatl safe tion PA N’T are dent nd Lau atNT h f te leyy b d NIC d g C DOAID A re INU ion ty offi nth and ra to Th ently list o rese rac ity’s th an as a OL s S w n DO . Pho ce DO IN W LET J ood CE ED NY nder ER 196 e S fea f sig arc tive LG d DO leg aproete ’reqouanreinogf pe WE NS’TacLtivi C S ing ON OS to: r Can N’T O . isla CA of o a s N b P ers 9 cla tonew ture nific h on on li BT E EN Str WN EAR OIN P n t o b d m o o A AG WE ’T L Str AR Est th Ts a the ily H i Rod TH tirt thly b n Tortple g E5 LG and shes all s ove ant si an ev ne dea ategie AL YO T asnn uesionsath gym iggi rig we Perrosteta onioens e re DO IN W LET J dea ategie YOU JtOaIN 198 Str AR ET J lin n u nb .” s s d nas Cit BT ri police betw Inn —r 150 tes th erU tr ez in s fo e tesr acte ic g ay, re otha , ri form ling w s and rm g wit and OIN Str WN EAR OIN D T8 Prid T t. ium dea ateg YO Rinen d in tivseafeeve d in m ght, cou y and ghts tha een g sit entrie at of a h th trea Yo he ra to b eM of a ith th trea OW PA dea ateg YO T th Pho form ling wies an U DO T P rece n e Je IN rthri e m tme nu rse, acro move t help ay N e of s. eb arc rthri e m tmen N to: N aSmo Alab abor ing U en rk Cit lly, o ives form ling wies an W AIN uilt of a ith thd trea W tis. ost nts h in tis. ost ts eusth icol wic mber inclu ss th men ed spew Yo the JO on a ch rthri e m tmen N P. 6 com for on,a ama tion New su thood y ch rga of a ith thd trea P. 6 com for eR the unde want eck the h Vil of o ded o e cou t in N ark rktis. ost ts 19 osen nd and rthri e m tmen mo York sixt mo ler ch as , inc apte nized TH E NA ers peo for P. 6 com for Mid n th is ti o n cu neig lage ther n the ntry ew Y the lu h ts r s. C st S $ al N ta floo ity. 10,0 att cott ew ded of by P. 6 com for mo CH E HE MAT Bu lture hbo site prom map — is ork r of wa Ameri nd th ple to Phot n 00 mo Mc orne Str York keyn Plan the N an from o: E Cit bro t par and rhoo s tha inen , as a , of n Th HisAM ART H: ew co nt to can h at LG ugen Pla Qua y Glo inge Cit ote s ned P ew pre Pau ing ade t of thactiv d a t hav t Gre re a OF g y y ann of NeYHato ri PIO nn d e , ria r, w y C pea arin mmu show istory BT his -k fa eG la O ed Ce llla c site N A ord som of L n the e p ism hub e m enquacuFam Roomnasi ounce peo ... W tory cilit lsie N fluen nity Pa pres A llre ome omp kers on/N CO ndm s pro lture rter wsk ew yn h sev um s pla ren id c n’s tro p als eti GBT pub rojec for d of LG ade is a e e N le d ea b ew st d e el TIN ark ject tho nt r la r Ele su th Ke i, proYork on t H space ns to -Yor love ill m ack tiv o pla mes histo lic’s t’s g ecad BT UE s fo hig od a n nd L ights .S. oa ism yed ov kH u e for bu r NY n Lusgram Cit Ameri ch a at the DO HU . an d by uch Aan r act hlig d C au isto HU ID or Roo b C L tba direcy c an ke erlo y to nders l is tos. Ele ild n NP rical E O ra His S ac CO d c y ro ok en go d with fans, His ivis hts k GB der, toult can a ig ano ew ‘I L His P ND A AG toric tiviseve BY c ta AB NDR ult e NT Soc T H co r, A ure of m a ey r BY E9 at long P. c1oodAresaN lt MIC NY toric ure les in d sit omp ndINU al S sts at hig toAricROT RED iety isto -dir lfre .” nd A sc OV MIC nd 9m soe HA Dem OR EDS ocie Haigh S . ED site E wil Elean stand sha es th ass S Lib cult C lan sites ric ectod P. S , Yo HA sar me nw EL lan hlighB ye hoo E TH ty L 198 choo ON rary l PR o Sit pin ing dow onst TIO EL GA ure dma proje loan ts ORs proST ibra 8 P l. PA C soo r R E the es P r of th Ju y of thmora rk C GA RO and dinmDaem g a at for ars on l safe We rks ct h anti ntow rators N LA OT ry rideImag GE ne, rksonkstey NTIOjeN ct RO FAL pla ity o n be fuoose wish cC her the ty o KID it y te ro 5 e cu w E th d e h a 7 0 fo -a ig n v M W F e: je ow Y on und ant els tt O ST th S We th AL ded job ffic e r act hlig to ltu nforratorsC L arch bort Ma gath ct S p for ns to ff icia lfill elt H of st ect, O ea pre enti e gro tonew e 50 rep icati is re er w ’ ers peo hav ion nhatt ered S in N ivis hts k gath AW th is Stone anniv leg oppreosetowanctiv is ta N a o la sch the buil ls h ed. igh uden h th B c J J u e A r n ta le a is le on. cog ith 4 u is M iate to p is ll Ssee Ju w ers Y Misla ew m a ey ws e Sch ts O gisla an to in er Ou BY me s New th nte e som Yor OE N wa Ameri nd th ple to P. 1 niz 0 We cal ool, Ea s d a n ave a Ou ICHtion anti-a anhm set toria nche to h nd d p th se upri anniv s to oo rT MIC att ed to king ne, a ll u ar tion opp TkHC gay A TH E NA rTo NE CHEL NY stS AE . P. 5 ed l ast e o ekin sin o A the mora York siz educ whic t 76 ew g nno e div out to ns an d in 2 own HA excis schod athle e very . P. ose com nt to s can h at LG L G 5 bortio an cia the to b one pr is y of wn pa s JNe ide T st it WS SE mu , bise of th fte g to g th rDow EL o g AR ri 015 CH itEy.HPhoEto MAT Eas 5 res OwE on Sto te th Cit CH E HE MAT ited ol, tes isto BT neiged d ation h has th S ymn unce Sp cu ersit doc d pO h do he ne s sp GA nu m nit xu th 20 OFA n lesb ted ften ng a rou in g is re in A OU T o Y y N e n a b n e la tr b tSid ir lt a u H A d e s o w A o w lo @ R h to D u a : y p a e se n w ri N to fl p 15 TH c Ark W c si cit nd it Eug hb ten gro wa 50 re nd y th al a OFA The ma u re of me : M R O y a gro wn the n th gy rts te Ch Y.C RT rv The AM ART H: opp t they and th o I’m v t ori ce st lasse ng h eet h um y’s er ng e New uenc nity ha peop ry ... W istory E HommMCitAy LO transian, gpaast ofunderattentionis h ans anby a g LO p fe in Ne nt th aW OM els sit Hall PIO TenO P Th mark roug nd tr six e s m w am SP EST tioN OW ate tion up is ll up th an pares eG q ap ng ud s in eld H g le g C o ig O u w o e ’l a u IO e ro e le e e a a th f e n F a a T th sb or S ro p d l a own rtun ha nkfu ry tr H E e Tp a y, se ll th il ect, NY s. a_n h York on A su tha p d h a ans sch io a N p b e of Ke OWp of NN bis d pa to th see risin nive to co Adon/N still rterb of F ian N FA curr wing turin n in York e brea ists sla rten fa floo eet l be s. IRIT IDE qu Fame the s set prese up of foc sex Th AM ARmToraHre: - tori roug xual bisex e cit reoo nd an un hysiew gym ity to ve th l , of lau C LG Y.C ers twee the 19 C m ch t Sa g re tera Cit @dth , haN NY n Lus ew-Y by mu ack ame ls’ n it exua st of e oft king g th rsary mh us ua P s_N @W .CO y’s u on ted o cilit r of a from locate is starterb c rv his c o eH O te o bre ou T entl list @O C L tba ity c eric a big the y gy relied derOM a s .CO on l co M ists h isto nche BT H ork hav e me die W .” go fans, ch loveis lan y th l and the c en u to b is Ju of m 196 he S y fea of sig searc c tive ’s OLTGD nd GB de u a M quaf Fameall ION F A SitThe Nlandmaa focuosmmuanl and cu f New adth t to doationistori- mspa rkand pon gay N69 cla pro the pen y at new ER H d juestS ‘IYL mu ill ack urT his mn ro e th spa on r d n it Crim bas mber enge T H r, co lture n and bre , ha ria n d in istori ow P. od rea and w d tori es YC rks. on ity ers 9 cla tonew ture nific h on on li BoTwnto of ject $6.5 in Se 355 E pre-k S, o st ideS love ch Th mark u gh tran y’s le derap ing a e, is rter ces eir on lture York and d cum ts, C ove the lice th ew shes ketb of E r, se nN A sc OVE isto -dir .” Pro LG c e N s. Cit adth s set s a n 2015 c Sit pirit 14 son. ith Voic e W h is wn lo still m back a fo ssex sbia pre tYC LG and shes all s ove ant si an ev ne fan d by comthis y w ill milli ptem ast 7 inde n ric ecto all te RH nior TH jec BT yea hoo sea line m in an City ivers ent tr ity a men LGB at h York YC ve 6 ro tiv y’s L and out d pr by a es Pro Sit e cu ual n, cib t, la His NY es atch Crim Cit BT ri police betw Inn —r 150 tes th erLG Crim wit s, and and d by uch am S girls Crim her rs on l safety E K s o co gay T plete ar a eg n g ber. th S es P r of th ing rch ap fe inte ’s LG ity c y — nd a t in T r elped CN entr a BT un tori y a ghts th een hg on e onli GBT dive to do eser gro je wit fans, mm , cro Ne ig h on e th d n B ID o g re lu pro he M d by nd is in in ymn Workt. s V ra C t li V W c ed ro a o W o o f o H e T Voic e Wa it n rs v is u e o th c a it st a h h is oic g ie cti ss w ic an tu atc jec isto ts icati job fficer S’ ed c yA w atc , W 3 can an e ne m ultu ity cum atio p a de a P. 1 od rea h are cours d acromove t help ay N e of s. P. 6 son, od tch of ject ay 23 202 exp Dec asiu tor uh NY es t NY es rts in h ove t cu of sig eve ring ve n num d on of c the York ric NY es on. is re wit 4 son ecte em m ic Res ove t sit ver-g ap fe re in of Ne ent th nco th o 8 rn re Gre a n e, in ss men ed spew Yo the r Sit gy a mu mark anno 1. r P. 9 cog h 4 ME HEN A b e . City C Now City C Now City C Now d to ber r 15 es th row atu an w Y e es Th 150 e rentl ifican grow - si nt G er o e ma u rse, unnized 0 10 Bus taura 3 ma enw umbe clud the c t in N ark rkstu m sp lti-ye ed th unce Pro 3 3 Art ND Art e S ntr y o 0e in Off T D in ri Art t - n tes ree f oth p, a inbe de ich r o ed o oun ew the CO s for s jRest ntr at cu g li ng re tera rk s th ton ies. featu sites 12 nw e ed dentsace th ar ca e c men 8 YS Rea iness nt Rati Rest s Rest e 8 8 of ice sa ON the Vil f o n th try York NT ies rre st o sea ct lea m u ew CO LG ig hb at ha ich r pro are ngs INU res 10 Busi aura AC 10 10 . Busi aura ders , pare at bro paig lmin of th ne lag ther e m — Busi aura 15 l Esta W a nov bota DR ntl f sig rch NT a ll 14 ED igh e si p is Min te ism BT c orho ve m Villa miy fe n INU nts ug n fo atio e CO . 12 Rea ness nt Rati era ears P el tha ge is APE HS In n 12 12 Rea ness nt Rati Rea ness nt Rati ON bo tes rom ap, a , ute NT , st ht to r n n ED atu ifi. P. rad t pla the for ultu od a ade ge 1 n l o rh l s P l n E R 6 n g in f — th IN E s E 15 a O g gs 14 AG s 14 re 15 8 a” in ce sub res th 15 oo d ff a ge ew s 14 NP UE h th Min state E7 Min state d a at h ent Min state 17 nd the CO e pro ecade and ub o e DO AG the s “Th ject Jew ute ute ute 16 E 15 NT ele r hu ave NP 16 “M e D 16 19 s s s INU ject’s s. Bu activ f bo ctthe ish w AG AG ad evil TH 17 t f E9 ED Men 17 17 can worl ome ON goal part TH TH YM T ” 21 Ap EG 20 21 is to PA 18 dles e d by lig n and OC GE Ap EG sh opula AE Cit EIR Fri minute very htin girls 7 shu opula AEL gym y ann OW AL newuts do r UES L IS d For ay, M s be Friday g the light u oun L ts d r UE N IS n n deve wn to est GO R a ew fo Sh ay oose sium ces ww more 31 re su even abb p dev own to S esta GO lop ma ablis NE velt sp plan – in w.c at me ke hm elop m blis NE a s H hab inform 8:02 nset. g ce nt, wa ent to men ake hm .S. pm adu P. 1 y fo P. 1 for Ele build t. P way ent ppe ation . 6 r 5 . 8 for ano new reas visi r trsi t de.c om .

A GY

SCH

OOLS

Ea sts ide r INSI

M TO

C A LL

THEI R OW

‘IT A C WAS RA AL ZY L A IDE BIT A’ OF

INSI

SOC

MAP PING LGBT HIST ORY

IE T Y

IS M

INSI

MAP PING LGBT HIST ORY

SOC

A C T IV

MAP

SOC

IE T Y

INSI

PING

LGBT

HIST OR

Eastsider Westsider Clinton $49 For 1 Year or Name

$78 For 2 Years

______________________________________________

Address _______________________________ Apt. #

________

New York, NY Zip Code _____________ Cell Phone ________________________________ Email Address_________________________________________ Signature______________________________Date

_______________

Return Completed Form to: Straus News, 20 West Avenue, Chester, NY, 10918 or go to strausnews.com & click on Subscribe

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a week, you get the latest, most local news about comings and goings, schools, events and more delivered to your mailbox.

JULY 11-17,2019 Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

PUNK JUNK: THE RAMONES MEET PROUST CULTURE Ephemera and artifacts from a gritty musical era pack a surprising wallop BY VIRGE RANDALL

The punk graphics show “Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die: Punk Graphics, 1976—1986,” at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is so vibrant the building could shake. Its 400 graphic items (flyers, posters, album covers, promotions, zines, and other ephemera) had many of the older, well-dressed visitors (who still had pink hair and earrings, and that was just the men) smiling and pointing, while younger people hit the turntables. And that’s just the way the curator wanted it. “The time seemed right” said exhibition curator, Andrew Blauvelt, “enough time had passed to make it more historical, but not too much time so that there would be an audience who would have lived through the era.” Blauvelt, director of the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, was recently appointed Curator-At-Large for Design at MAD. The exhibit originated at Cranbrook, and is almost completely derived from the collection of New Yorker Andrew Krivine. The show is just a fraction of his collection. The exhibit, some three years in the making, is a two-floor mashup of color and form that feature the art and the milieu that spawned it. You see the big guns as soon as you step off the elevator: huge posters, vivid colors, bold typefaces that command attention. David Bowie looks positively sedate near The Slits, topless in full jungle gear, Devo and the aggressively suited Kraftwerk.

The Visual Language of Punk You’ll want to pull out your old vinyl, but the exhibit spares you the effort. There are turntables on each of the two floors of the show, with bins of vintage vinyl to flip through: The Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Blondie, the Ramones ... you’ll probably find the album you used to roll your joints on in the dorm. The Elvis Costello fan I went with was ecstatic. The show is divided into nine sections that Blauvelt said “represent different ways of understanding the visual language of punk and the kinds of strategies used by design-

The exhibit includes hundreds of posters and other examples of punk graphics. Photo: Virge Randall

ers to communicate to this new kind of audience: techniques such as collage, or attitudes such as irony, or pop culture influences such as comix and sci-fi and horror, for instance.” The flavor of the show is driven by the energy and pushback against a formulaic rock industry and a society that had become increasingly complacent. The show is laid out by visual strategies and design techniques (cut and paste, or typography) and outsider influences like comics, horror movies and ironic takes on ‘modern’ art. Subversion was the driving force and no subject was sacred: not even the Queen ... or the American Express card. The section “From NYC” tugs at the heartstrings. The art is held to the walls by magnetic pins similar to the pushpins that secured the originals to the walls of Tower Records, J&R Music World, and the bulletin boards of The Mudd Club, CBGB’s and other clubs and dive bars. Visitors of a certain age will enjoy seeing posters of the concerts and shows they attended hanging in a museum; the vibrancy of the time and the performers lingers. The effect is not unlike Proust’s Madeleines, and sets a mood simultaneously distant and immediate.

Patti, Frank and Some Rats The show moves into its own with “Agitprop: Power to the People,” addressing the subversive quality of punk. Here the bold graphics deliver a startling message and the Clash pretty much owns the room.

Their art uses Communist flags, provocative graphics and photos with in-your-face messages. The “Atlas of Give ‘em Enough Rope” is a world map with arrows to selected hot spots. “For Arts Sake” seems the most focused of the sections. The amount of art in the other rooms offer so much competition for the eye that it is almost too much to take in at once. This room focuses on large, single works — the iconic black and white photo of Patti Smith from the “Horses” album (doing her nod to Sinatra with a coat casually flung over one shoulder). The showstopper, though, is a series of huge, glorious photo portraits in simple colors of punk icons like Ian Dury, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello by Barney Bubble (aka Colin Fulcherry). The neat graphics and clean bold colors in these huge, sharp and well detailed portraits show the range of skill by this graphics artist, whose work is peppered throughout the show. Not all the art in this room is tied to music or performers. Running along the wall, near the floor, is a disturbingly realistic photo series of rats. The work, “Rats” by The Rat Patrol, was a commentary on downtown’s vermin infestation in the wake of the 1979 garbage strike and the authorities’ apathetic response. The Sex Pistols’ famous reworking of Queen Elizabeth II’s 25th anniversary portrait is naturally in The Appropriated Image section, but familiarity dulls its impact.

Ian Dury and the Blockheads looking good with electric shavers for faces. Photo: Virge Randall

One of the strongest images of the punk era, the Sex Pistols queen. Photo: Virge Randall

The Finishing Touch This show is almost too much to take in at one go. The wit and creativity of the Comics section will resonate for anyone who collected Zap Comics (or anyone who loved the Ramones), Scary Creatures and Super Creeps, is best saved for a visit after lunch. Cut & Paste, Collage and Bricolage and Riding a New Wave all demonstrate the willingness to borrow from wildly diverse influences — public domain images (the statue of liberty) or randomly placed geometrics or splatters of color, or unlikely juxtapositions or substitutions (Ian Dury and the Blockheads’

facial features are replaced with electric shaver heads). Make sure to visit the last room, featuring Eccentric Alphabets. Random typefaces sprawl across the walls, all drawn from the ‘ransom note” school of typography and design pioneered by the Sex Pistols. The ﬁnishing touch here is in the center of the room — a huge display case of the buttons touting artists and albums, and a selection of concert tickets. As the Elvis Costello fan I saw the show with said, “Wow, imagine seeing Lou Reed for seven bucks.” Virge Randall is a freelance culture reporter who blogs about city life at newyorknatives. com/author/virge/

28. Containing an unusual amount of grease or oil 29. Sea in the North Atlantic 30. Dance step 32. Lucky ﬁsh 34. Let up 36. Cheek cosmetic 38. Understand 40. “You said it, brother!” 41. Anger 42. Take off 43. Poetic conjunction 45. Turner in Atlanta

WORD SEARCH by Myles Mellor S D Z T G X L U V P Y O J E B

L K U Y M P O D O M O C T E Q

O W U A V O Y S L T O S A E G

Q T V N M P M U E Y G R S R B

C F T R K O E O O H K M I U S

G P L E G R J T U P W Z Z L M

S X U G R C E U P S Z H U Z R

T I P K N U O G A L E T A X C

C G I T S P N Q Y A L Y N X T

O U T Z D I F N R W S P B F X

N Y B D E N Q A R U O O U Z B

N E A Z I E B P K Q B L P N H

Q F B P N B L N U C U U F I A

T K G G I S G R A J M S R K R

The puzzle contains the following words. They may be diagonal, across, or up and down in the grid in any direction.

B T W T R G H T L A B H G H E

Bear Bobcat Coyote Grizzly Hare Lynx Mouse Otter Porcupine Possum Puma Rabbit Skunk Vole Wolf

47. Kind of truck

ANSWERS E

G O

A M E M S

33 31 26

R 28

I T

A S

A M O 6

E N

O O

A W E

L 5

A 29

M A

G A

13 4

E W G O

G N

S 39

E M U

12 1

L 22

S A P

14 9

H S A

Y A B

S D Z T G X L U V P Y O J E B

L K U Y M P O D O M O C T E Q

O W U A V O Y S L T O S A E G

Q T V N M P M U E Y G R S R B

C F T R K O E O O H K M I U S

G P L E G R J T U P W Z Z L M

S X U G R C E U P S Z H U Z R

T I P K N U O G A L E T A X C

C G I T S P N Q Y A L Y N X T

O U T Z D I F N R W S P B F X

N Y B D E N Q A R U O O U Z B

N E A Z I E B P K Q B L P N H

Q F B P N B L N U C U U F I A

T K G G I S G R A J M S R K R

B T W T R G H T L A B H G H E

7 4

2 8

3 7 4 1 6 5 9

6 8 5 1 2 3

6 5 1 9 3 2 8 7 4

3 1 6 8 7 9 5 4 2

4 2 7 5 6 3 9 1 8

8 9 5 2 1 4 7 3 6

9 6 2 4 5 7 3 8 1

5 3 8 1 2 6 4 9 7

1 7 4 3 9 8 2 6 5

42. Wreath 44. Corrodes 46. Welcome site 48. It needs reﬁnement 49. S-shaped curves 50. The “I” thing 51. Consistent with 52. Japanese martial art 53. Not used Down 1. Grazing locale 2. Between 3. Wise guy 4. NFL players 5. Frazier foe 6. IHOP offering 7. Manicurist’s need 8. Civil Rights heroine, Parks 9. Scrumptious 10. Dusty grey 11. Reddish-brown horse 19. Catch-22 21. Zilch 23. Emmet 25. ___ Star State 26. Cooking abbr. 27. Above

5 3

Across 1. Time delay 4. Miter user 9. Big pooch 12. Walking only bird 13. Battle site to remember? 14. TNT alternative 15. Clear the ___ 16. Marching band instruments 17. Lacking conﬁdence 18. Type of ranch 20. Old money in Paris 22. Nation formed in 1870 24. Lamp liquid 26. The point of a joke or humorous story 29. Bend over 31. Jim Cramer’s dot com with The 32. Big shot 33. Odes 34. Small lemurs 35. Cooking spray 36. Have the throne 37. Asian starches 39. Ice cream thickener

4 5

Level: Medium

2 8

D O

8 7

34 35

2 7 4

5 2

9 1

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares. To solve the puzzle each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult.

SUDOKU by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan

by Myles Mellor

CROSSWORD

Downtowner 1

JULY 11-17,2019

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

JULY 11-17,2019

CLASSIFIEDS ADOPTION

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

HELP WANTED

Telephone: 212-868-0190 Email: classified2@strausnews.com

POLICY NOTICE: We make every eďŹ&#x20AC;ort to avoid mistakes in your classiďŹ ed ads. Check your ad the ďŹ rst week it runs. The publication w only accept responsibility for the ďŹ rst incorrect insertion. The publication assumes no ďŹ nancial responsibility for errors or omissions. reserve the right to edit, reject, or re-classify any ad. Contact your sales rep directly for any copy changes. All classiďŹ ed ads are pre-pa

HELP WANTED

MASSAGE

Call Barry Lewis at (212) 868-0190 or email

barry.lewis@strausnews.com TO PLACE YOUR NOTICE HELP WANTED

Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES

alone Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m never

One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7.

Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021;

Seeking Full or Part-Time Counter Help

+HOS DW +RPH with

GPS ! ÂŽ

:Yll]ja]k F]n]j F]]\ ;`Yj_af_&

Upper East Side Retail food/meat market/bakery

Life AlertÂŽ is always here for me even when away from home.

Sell it in the &ODVVLÂżHGV

HELP WANTED

! FREE

FIRST AID

KIT

WHEN YOU ORDER!

+HOS 2Q WKH *R

For a FREE brochure call:

1-800-404-9776

Food experience preferred but not required. Seniors welcome. Fax resume to 212-772-8436; apply in person at 1549 York Ave (ask for Peter or Frank); call 212-772-8423, ask for James Discover the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best walk-in bathtub from

Do you know THESE MEN? Anthony Failla Romano Ferraro Robert A. Ferro William E. Finger James I. Frost Vincent Gallo William Houston

Edward J. Huckemeyer Brian Keller Joseph Lahey Francis J. Manzo Edward L. Maurer Henry McCloud Robert J. McConnin

If you have information regarding alleged abuse or its cover-up involving these men, CONTACT US.

The NY Child Victims Act may be able to help you!

646-493-1850

57 West 57th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10019

5 Reasons American Standard Walk-In Tubs are Your Best Choice 1 2 3

Includes FREE American StandardRight Height Toilet

Limited Time Offer! Call Today!

888-609-0248

Receive a free American Standard Cadet toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath, Liberation Shower, or Deluxe Shower. Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchaser. See www.walkintubs.americanstandard-us.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY:55431H; NYC:HIC#2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

Backed by American Standardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 140 years of experience $ Ultra low entry for easy entering and exiting ÂŽ Patented Quick Drain fast water removal system Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation, INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard 44 Hydrotherapy jets for an invigorating massage

1,50

SAVING0S

FREE IN-HOME EVALUATION!

D O N AT E YO U R C A R Wheels For Wishes benefiting

Make-A-Wish ÂŽ Metro New York * 100% Tax Deductible * Free Vehicle Pickup ANYWHERE * We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not * We Also Accept Boats, Motorcycles & RVs

WheelsForWishes.org Call:(917)336-1254 * Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. To learn more about our programs or ÂżQDQFLDO LQIRUPDWLRQ FDOO RU YLVLW ZZZ ZKHHOVIRUZLVKHV RUJ

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

It’s Back!

n e h c t i K dir t

’s

Sunday August 11 10am-8pm Peep local veggie patches on a self-guided tour or hop on Dirt’s school bus with our garden geeks! Learn how your neighbors are harvesting in their own backyards Hit up the after party at Mohawk House: complete with beer, wine, live music & local eats

Know someone who has an awesome garden? Submit a garden at

kitchengardentours.com

Get Your Tickets Before They’re Gone Visit kitchengardentours.com or call 845.469.9000

dirt

dirt-mag.com

Want to be a sponsor? Contact Frank Curcio at sales@strausnews.com

JULY 11-17,2019