Our Town May 12, 2011

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Healthy Manhattan: Summer Weight Loss

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Since 1970

Waste Station Fast Tracked

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On the Hunt For Writers

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The Sage of Sutton Place

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Be nign Ne gle c t?

In th e Pa st De cade , th e M in or it y ia lized Po pu lati on at th e Ci ty’s To p Two Sp ec nc e— ie Sc x on Br d an nt sa ve uy St s— ol ho High Sc in 1971 ed ss Pa w La e at St a t Bu . ed dl in Dw s Ha Was Su pp os ed to Preven t Th is .

Who K illed Th e Di sc over y Prog ram At Th es e Scho ol s? t A Spe c ia l Jo in ith w n io t a ig t s e In v e ws N m a d r e t s m Th e A Pa rt 1

By Meg a n Fi n neg a n a n d Steph on Jo h n so n

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PrOduCtiOn Manager Mark T. Stinson editOriaL LayOut and design Monica Tang advertising design Heather Mulcahey assistant PrOduCtiOn Manager Jessica Balaschak production@manhattanmedia.com OUR TOWN is published weekly Copyright © 2011 Manhattan Media, LLC 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10016 Editorial (212) 284-9734 Fax (212) 268-2935 Advertising (212) 284-9715 General (212) 268-8600 E-mail: editorial@manhattanmedia.com Website: OurTownNY.com OUR TOWN is a division of Manhattan Media, LLC, publisher of West Side Spirit, New York Press, Chelsea Clinton News, The Westsider, City Hall, The Capitol,The Blackboard Awards, New York Family, and Avenue magazine.

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RESOURCE FAIR—The 96th Street Library, 112 E. 96th St., hosts an age-friendly resource fair Tuesday, May 17, from 1–6

Community

meeting Calendar

Uwe Trockels, visiting from Germany, takes a closer look at the “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads” created

by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. Comprised of 12 large bronze animal heads from the Chinese Zodiac, the sculptures are on display at the Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza until July 15.

andrew schwartz

exeCutive editOr Allen Houston ahouston@manhattanmedia.com sPeCiaL seCtiOns editOr Josh Rogers jrogers@manhattanmedia.com staFF rePOrter Megan Finnegan mfinnegan@manhattanmedia.com PHOtO editOr/editOriaL assistant Andrew Schwartz aschwartz@manhattanmedia.com Featured COntriButOrs Nancy J. Brandwein, Alan S. Chartock, Bette Dewing, Jeanne Martinet, Malachy McCourt, Lorraine Duffy Merkl, Josh Perilo, Thomas Pryor

Thanks to a major push from Assembly Member Micah Kellner and other public officials, Roosevelt Island residents will now have additional safety measures in place when calling 911 for emergencies.

Emergency Medical Services is partnering with Roosevelt Island’s Public Safety Department to share information from emergency calls. Public Safety routinely informs the FDNY whenever a medical emergency call is made from Roosevelt Island, and now the FDNY will inform Public Safety directly when they receive a 911 call for emergency medical assistance.

With the only ground access point to the island being the Roosevelt Island Bridge, connecting it to Astoria, Queens, residents have sometimes faced extremely long response times from emergency services. Now Public Safety, which is comprised of 38 officers, each certified in CPR, Automated External Deliberator use and First Aid, will automatically be able to respond to 911 calls in the event that their teams can arrive first.

Kellner was joined in his support of the measure by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Jose Serrano, City Council Member Jessica Lappin and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

“I applaud their quick action on this common-sense request to ensure that all New Yorkers receive the fastest available response in an emergency,” said Kellner in a statement.

—Catharine Daddario

p.m. Events include free computer classes, reading aloud workshops, flamenco music, refreshments, a raffle and the showing of the film Growing Old in East Harlem.

—Megan Finnegan DISABILITY FORUM—Manhattan Borough

President Scott Stringer’s Disability Task Force hosts Spring Forum: Pedestrian Safety in the Changing NYC

Streetscape Friday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to noon. Breakfast is included and there will be a keynote speaker as well as an audience Q&A on the topic of making streets safe for those with disabilities. Fully accessible facility. Sign language interpreter present. Lighthouse International, 111 E. 59th St. To RSVP, call 212-669-4519.

—CD

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Monday, May 16 • Community Board 8 Landmarks Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Hunter College School of Social Work, 129 E. 79th St., Room 1010.

Wednesday, May 18 • Community Board 8 Land Use/Full Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., New York Blood Center, 310 E. 67th St., Auditorium.

This schedule is current as of Tuesday, May 10. For more information, including full agendas, please contact the community boards directly.

Community Board 8: 212-758-4349, cb8.com.

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N EW S YO U LIV E B Y

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‘Smell’ of Victory Eludes Waste Transfer Opponents of the city’s Solid Waste Management Plan, the new station was intended to decrease the number of garbage trucks on the streets and make the disposal of the city’s solid waste more efficient.

But many people in the neighborhood, as well as elected officials, say that while the purpose of the transfer station is necessary for the city, the location is completely inappropriate.

City Council Member Jessica Lappin recently called the station “an outrageously expensive bad idea” in a statement released after the mayor’s announcement to reinstate the project. “We can’t afford this garbage dump and we shouldn’t build it,” Lappin said.

Lappin also pointed out that the proposed site—Asphalt Green—is a park and athletic facility that has over 675,000 visitors every year and is located within 600 feet of public housing projects; Holmes Towers on East 93rd Street houses 943 residents in its two buildings.

“I fundamentally oppose opening and operating a Marine Transfer Station in any residential neighborhood,” said State Senator Liz Krueger. “However, a Marine Transfer Station at 91st Street would be

andrew schwartz

By Megan Finnegan After savoring what seemed like a victory a few weeks ago, some Upper East Siders are now smelling defeat after the mayor restored funding to construct a waste transfer station at East 91st Street.

Last month, the Department of Sanitation announced at a City Council budget hearing that they did not have the funds to complete the station and it would be delayed until 2018. Opponents of the project were jubilant, but their celebration was short-lived. Mayor Bloomberg included funding in his capital budget proposal, and if it gets approved, construction would begin in the very near future.

The Department of Sanitation applied for the requisite permits from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to construct a new Marine Transfer Station in 2007. The application specified that the 63,521-square-foot, fully enclosed facility would be newly constructed on the site adjacent to the East River and FDR Drive, where a defunct station currently exists. The new station would be capable of processing 4,290 tons of municipal solid waste per day and transporting it to barges for transportation out of the city. As part

The proposed Marine Transfer Station. particularly damaging to our parks, traffic, noise, air quality and overall public health, and it cannot be allowed. There simply must be a better site in Manhattan than one which would have a devastating impact on a recreational facility serving thousands of children.”

At a hearing in October 2007 on the original proposal, Lappin was joined in speaking against the marine transfer station

by City Council Member Dan Garodnick, State Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Micah Kellner, as well as members of the surrounding communities. A group called Gracie Point Community Council, formed in 2003 to stop any plans

to build a new marine transfer station at the 91st Street site, also testified against the proposal, and they’ve been fighting it through the courts for years.

“It’s a bad idea for not only our neighborhood, but for any neighborhood that’s a populated residential neighborhood,” said chairman Tony Ard. “A facility like this, which is basically a noxious facility, doesn’t belong in any neighborhood, whether it be in the South Bronx or Brooklyn or anywhere.”

But several prominent environmental groups have spoken in support of the marine transfer station, including the Environmental Defense Fund, the Organization of Waterfront Neighborhoods, New York League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resources Defense Council. They applaud the transfer station as part of the city’s plan to reduce truck-based facilities and to take some of the waste disposal burden from other boroughs.

While community leaders continue to push against the transfer station, whether or not it moves forward will depend largely on if the City Council approves the funds for it.

ANNOUNCING A NEW CHOICE IN HOME CARE THAT COMES WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE North Shore-LIJ Home Care Network now provides home care right here in Manhattan. That’s good news, because we’re also one of the most experienced home care agencies in New York State. And we know your neighborhood, because we’re part of the same health system as Lenox Hill Hospital.

So whether it’s for a child, an elderly parent or yourself, call us to bring the highest standard of care to your door.

Call (866) 651-4200 to find out more.

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File: 14194a NS-LIJ Home Care Ad N EW S Size: 10” x 5.541” Publication: Our Town/ West Side Spirit Publication Day: Weekly

YO U LIV E B Y

THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER’S JUNIOR COMMITTEE

hosts

PAW Day 2011

Pet And Wellness fun

A health fair for families and their pets

Sunday, May 15 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Furry friends are invited!

Carl Schurz Park (84th St. and East End Ave.) Featuring: AMC veterinarians, information on preventative care, children’s area with Spot the dog, pet safety information and much more!

Special thanks to our sponsors: Best Pet Rx, Charlee Bear Treats, Doggone Safe, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, New York City Office of Emergency Management and PetSmart For more information or to make a contribution please call 212-329-8660 or visit www.amcny.org

2011 JUNIOR COMMITTEE Co-Chairs: Travis Acquavella and Kristin Fisher Allen Cass Adelman, Christina Floyd Di Donna, Alexandra Goelet, Kris Huegel, Sara Mercer, Kay Nordeman, Kimberly Ovitz, Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler, Marie Rentschler, Sommer Scafidi and Sarah Jane Sculco

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From Pen To Publishing

Hunter’s “Writers’ Conference” brings together newbies and bestsellers is the author of seven books, host of a radio show on WPAT-AM and is on the board of editors at The Writer Magazine.

“It’s like the Wild West out there in the publishing world and we’re trying to help

“Writers are going to learn more in one day than they would in a year,” Lewis Burke Frumkes said.

writers navigate that terrain,” he said. The conference is aimed, he said, “at anyone who has ever wanted to publish a book.”

In the days leading up to the conference, writers will also have the chance to take part in fiction and agent intensive workshops June 1–3 at the college.

Novelist/screenwriter Bruce Friedman will lead the Fiction Intensive class; Meg Wolitzer heads the Memoir Intensive class; and Betsy Lerner will head the

Agents Intensive.

“Writers are going to learn more in one day than they would in a year,” Frumkes said. “Not only will you learn from the best authors, agents and publishers, it’s also a great chance to network and make contacts.”

The Writers’ Conference has limited space, with seating for only 200 to 300 people. The Conference is $185 if you register before May 27. The Conference and Intensive class together are $530 before May 27.

Before he was at Hunter College, Frumkes was director of the Writing Center at the Marymount College Manhattan Campus. He ran a similar confer- Lewis Burke Frumkes, director of the Writing ence there for several years and Center at Hunter College, said the school’s Writhopes to establish it as a tradition ers’ Conference June 4 is a chance to learn from at Hunter. some of the best authors in the country.

“I like to think that this would P05298 Bus-Riverside:Layout 3 For 5/9/11 PM Page add to Calverton Hunter’s already distinguished more 12:13 information, call1 212-772reputation,” he said.

4292 or visit hunter.cuny.edu/ce. andrew schwartz

By Allen Houston Hunter College will crawl with authors during its first annual Writers’ Conference Saturday, June 4, at its campus on 68th Street and Lexington Avenue.

The conference brings together 70 distinguished authors, editors, agents and publishers in 12 panels that will take place over the day. The keynote speakers are Walter Mosley, author of Devil in a Blue Dress and other mystery novels, and Nelson DeMille, author of the The Charm School and The Lion, among others.

The panels cover a range of topics, from Children’s and Fiction Writing to Memoir and Mystery Writing. Some of the writers taking part in the panels include Peter Straub, Mary Higgins Clark, Lawrence Block, Susan Issacs and Richard Peck. Other panels will cover subjects such as how to publicize your book, how to get an agent and examining publishing in the digital age.

The conference is the brainchild of Lewis Burke Frumkes, new director of the Writing Center at Hunter College. Frumkes

RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL CHAPEL Hosts Annual Bus Trip to Calverton National Cemetery celebrateisraelparade.org

SPEND THE DAY WITH A MILLION GOOD FRIENDS

As the seasons change and Memorial Day approaches, we find ourselves thinking about the men and women who are serving our country around the world. We also remember those who gave of themselves when our freedom was threatened, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation.

We here at Riverside Memorial Chapel are sponsoring a trip to Calverton National Cemetery for those individuals who do not get an opportunity to visit their loved one who served our country.

This trip will take place on June 1, 2011. e bus will leave from 81st Street and Madison Avenue at 8:30 am and will return approximately 4:30 pm.

A continental breakfast will be served at Frank E. Campbell between 7:30 am – 8:15 am. A box lunch will be provided on the bus at Calverton National Cemetery.

If you are interested in joining us, please call James Torrellas at 212-362-6600

by May 26, 2011, to reserve your place. Please have your Grave Information available when you call.

Sunday June 5, 11am - 4pm 57th - 74th Streets, 5th Ave, NYC Don’t miss the fabulous floats, marvelous marching bands, and special celebrity guests.

Including performances by Beit Habubot, SOULFARM, Kosha Dillz and Diwon, Mama Doni and lots more!

Please visit our website celebrateisraelparade.org for an up to date list of the parade attractions.

Also on June 5: Take part in the Celebrate Israel Run in Central Park. Register @ www.nyrr.com.

A special project of:

R I V ER S I DE M E MOR I A L C H A PE L 180 WEST 76TH STREET 212-362-6600

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NEW YORK, NY 10023

800-262-6609

A special thanks to our sponsors: Owned by A Subsidiary of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019 (713) 522-5141

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N EW S YO U LIV E B Y

ation r t s i g e R w! o n s t r a st eats available S -5. es Pre K in grad

Small Classes...Big Difference ••Zone

Free••

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After School Program 121 E 3rd Street

You’re invited!

Turtle Bay Association 224 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017

between 1st Ave & Ave A

You’re invited!

Katharine Hepburn Garden Party and Wildflower Celebration

Katharine Hepburn Garden Party and Wildflower Celebration

East 47th Street between 1st & 2nd Aves, Manhattan

Saturday, May 14, 1 PM to 3 PM Rain date, May 15, same time

dag Hammarskjold Plaza Park

East 47th Street between 1st & 2nd Aves, Manhattan

Live music with favorites from the Great American Songbook Tour of Katharine Hepburn Garden. Learn about plants, exotic and native species. Find out about Kate’s favorite wildflowers.

Lady Slipper

Tour of Katharine Hepburn Garden. Learn about plants, exotic and native species. Find out about Kate’s favorite wildflowers.

Dramatic readings by your thespian neighbors FREE cake, coffee and friendly vibes

Poster display of Katharine Hepburn, actress and neighbor

INFORMATION: 212-826-8980 Presented by Friends oF dag Hammarskjold Plaza in PartnersHiP witH tHe turtle bay association in cooPeration witH

The wildflower/native species public program was made possible in part with a grant from Four-time Oscar winner Katharine Hepburn, in ofcostume for Plaza The Corn is Green Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to the Friends Dag Hammarskjold

www.hammarskjoldplaza.org O u r T o w n N Y. c o m

pburn Garden Party_2011.indd 2

Dramatic readings by your thespian neighbors

Trillium

FREE cake, coffee and friendly vibes

nyc dePartment oF Parks & recreation

Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

Saturday, May 14, 1 PM to 3 PM Rain date, May 15, same time Live music with favorites from the Great American Songbook

Poster display of Katharine Hepburn, actress and neighbor

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Turtle Bay Association

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INFORMATION: 212-826-8980 Presented by Friends oF dag Hammarskjold Plaza in PartnersHiP witH tHe turtle bay association in cooPeration witH

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nyc dePartment oF Parks & recreation

The wildflower/native species public program was made possible in part with a grant from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to the Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

www.hammarskjoldplaza.org

May 12,

Turtle Bay 2011 • Association

Bluebell OUR TOWN

www.turtlebay-nyc.org 4/25/2011 11:21:34 AM

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In the past decade, th e black and Hispanic populati on at the city’s top two spe cialized high schools—Stuyve sant and Bronx Science— has dwindled. A state law passed in 1971 was supposed to prevent this.

Who killed the Discove ry Program at Bronx Scie nce and Stuyvesant?

Be nign Ne g le c t ?

PHOTO BY ANDREW

SCHWARTZ

Part 1 of a joint investigation with

A

mong New York’s specialized high schools, it’s no secret that Stuyvesant and Bronx Science are considered the best. It’s also not a secret that both of these schools admit disproportionately low numbers of black and Latino students—less than 2 percent of students in 2009-2010 at Stuyvesant were black, and t less than 3 percent were Hispanic. At Bronx Science, just over 3 percen This ic.

Hispan were t percen of students were black and just under 8 d at is a precipitous drop from the 10 percent of black students enrolle Stuyvesant in 1971 and 10 percent at Bronx Science.

The numbers have consistently declined since at least 1999.

What is largely kept secret, however, is the fact that through the Discovery Program, disadvantaged students who scored just below the cutoff on the admissions test may go through a sum-

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mer course that enables them to gain entrance to a specialized high school— but neither Stuyvesant nor Bronx Science utilize this program.

The decision to run the Discovery Program is at the discretion of the Department of Education, but it’s not

By Megan Finnegan and Stephon Johnson entirely clear why these schools stopped using it. Our Town made repeated requests to interview any person at DOE with knowledge of the Discovery Program; DOE denied these requests and responded only with a prepared statement. When reached by telephone after several attempts to arrange an interview, Head of Middle School Enrollment Sandy Ferguson, whom a DOE spokesperson named as the person with the most knowledge about the Discovery Program, refused to comment on the record.

Stuyvesant Principal Stanley Teitel twice referred questions back to DOE, despite being given permission to speak to the press. Valerie Reidy, principal at Bronx Science, did not respond to several email

and phone requests for an interview.

According to a DOE statement, Stuyvesant and Bronx Science terminated their Discovery Programs sometime in the early 2000s—the department wouldn’t confirm the exact date or year—because they consistently fill their seats from the traditional admissions method alone.

But that doesn’t preclude schools from running a Discovery Program—it’s possible that a school can set aside a certain number of seats for the students coming through the program.

The Discovery Program was born of a 1971 law written by State Senator John Calandra and Assembly Member Burton Hecht, both of the Bronx, which enshrined the criteria for admission to the city’s speN EW S YO U LIV E B Y

cialized high schools to be based solely from low-income or non-English speaking on the admissions test. At the time, Mayor families, as well as children in foster care.”

Lindsay and some education advocates While the language of the law leaves called for a broadening of the schools’ race out of the equation, then-Assembly standards in order to admit more minority Member G. Oliver Koppell was quoted in a students, citing the claim that standard- New York Times article from May 20, 1971, ized tests are inherently biased against referring to the Discovery Program as a minorities. In order to preserve the admis- “protection for minority-group students.” sions process as based on the test alone, To be eligible for the program when the legislature passed the Calandra-Hecht it’s offered, a student must score below, bill, but it also included provisions for the creNo one at DOE will say why the Disc over y ation of the Discovery Program. (See text of the Prog ram was axe d at Stuy vesa nt and Bro nx bill on the right.)

Today, the law’s intent Scie nce, beyond the exp lanation that the re seems to have varying was n’t spac e for it—which prin cipa ls and interpretations.

“The Discovery DOE could create if incl ined .

Program has a very specific purpose, which is to make sure disadvantaged students who have shown the but close to, the lowpotential to compete in specialized high est qualifying score for that school on schools are able to secure open spots in the Specialized High School Admissions those schools, should they become avail- Test. They must also be “certified as disable,” said DOE spokesperson Jack Zarin- advantaged,” which can be determined Rosenfeld in a statement. “This has never by household income, whether a fambeen a race-based program; rather it is a ily receives government aid, if a child is program targeted for students who come CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

The Discovery Program Changed My Life

TEXT OF CALANDRA-HECHT BILL AMENDING SEC. 2590G, SUBDIVISION 12 OF THE EDUCATION LAW (a) Establish and maintain special high schools which shall at least include the – The Bronx High School of Science, Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn Technical, High School, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and the Arts -- and such further high schools which the Board of Education may designate from time to time. (b) Admissions to The Bronx High School of Science, Stuyvesant High School and Brooklyn Technical High School and such similar further special high schools which may be established shall be solely and exclusively by taking a competitive, objective and scholastic achievement examination, which shall be open to each and every child in the City of New York in the eighth or ninth year of study, in accordance with the rules promulgated by the N.Y.C. Board of Education, without regard to any school district wherein the child may reside. No candidate may be admitted to a special high school unless he has successfully achieved a score above the cut-off score for the openings in the school for which he has taken the examination.

The cut-off score shall be determined by arranging the scores of all candidates who took the examination and who then commit themselves to attend the school in descending order from the highest score and counting down to the score of the first candidate beyond the number of openings available. (c) Candidates for admission to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and the Arts and other schools which may be established with similar programs in the arts, shall be required to pass competitive examinations in music and/or the arts in addition to presenting evidence of satisfactory achievement. (d) The special schools shall be permitted to maintain a Discovery Program to give disadvantaged students of demonstrated high potential an opportunity to try the special high school program without in any manner interfering with the academic level of those schools. A student may be considered for the Discovery Program provided the student: (1) be one of those who takes the regular entrance examination but scores below the cut-of score (2) is certified by his local school as disadvantaged (3) is recommended by his local school as having high potential for the special high school program and (4) attends and then passes a summer preparatory program administered by the special high school. All students recommended for such a Discovery Program are to be arranged on a list according to their entrance examination scores, in descending order, from the highest to the lowest. Each special high school will then consider candidates in turn, starting at the top of the list for that school. A candidate reached for consideration on the basis of this examination score will be accepted for admission to the Discovery Program only if his previous school record is satisfactory. Any discovery program admissions to a special high school shall not exceed fourteen (14) per cent of the number of students scoring above the cut-off score and admitted under the regular examination procedure of (b) and (c) above.

This act shall take effect on the First day of January, 1972.

Apr-21, 1971

BILL MOORE

By Stephon Johnson Earlier that year, I had taken the During the spring of 1996, I was pre- Specialized High School exam with the paring for the Sequential 1 Math Regents hopes of going to Brooklyn Tech. Being exam in 8th grade. My math teacher, Dr. a Bronx native, I was excited to finally school liked me, I could stay.

Serigne Gningue, who is of Senegalese travel and curious about going to school The Summer Discovery Program was decent, had been hard on my case all in another borough. But Mr. Gningue a godsend. Not only did I meet people school year. It wasn’t any different had other plans. Once I got the scores to who have become friends for life, but my from the other years I spent with him at the test back (I got into Brooklyn Tech, four-year experience at Bronx Science Thomas C. Giordano Middle School 45 so I was excited, but missed Bronx was unlike any other. While I had my in the Bronx’s Little Italy.

Science by a few points), he pushed for share of ups and downs there, the work Ever since I stepped foot in the me to try the Summer ethic that I solidified at school, Gningue was on my case. I did Discovery Program Bronx Science has helped well in his class, but I always me in my adult life.

The Summer Discovery got in trouble for talking too But it seems as if much or talking back to him. the Summer Discovery Program was a godsend.

While I wasn’t a bad kid, I did Program is either being have a mouth on me when I Not only did I meet people phased out or ignored. felt like being a pest. I spent The number of black and who have become friends many afternoons in detenLatino students at Bronx for life, but my four-year tion, usually with Gningue.

Science, Stuyvesant and But he eventually told me Brooklyn Tech has steadily experience at Bronx Scithe reason why he pushed been declining. According me so hard once I got to 8th ence was unlike any other. to InsideSchools.org, the grade and took Sequential 1 number of blacks and Math with him. As one of the few black (which helps kids Stephon Johnson.

Latinos at the three aforestudents in my Giordano Prep program from “disadvantaged mentioned schools are 8 (reserved for the so-called “gifted” kids backgrounds” make their way to the percent Hispanic and 3 percent black at in the school), he saw potential in me city’s specialized high schools) at Bronx Bronx Science, 3 percent Hispanic and and wanted to make sure I capitalized Science because I’d have “more opportu- 2 percent black at Stuyvesant and 12 on my talents. Even when it came to nities there.” He figured that if I tried the percent black and 8 percent Hispanic at choosing my high school, he was in the program and didn’t like it, I could just go Brooklyn Tech. picture. to Brooklyn Tech. If I did like it, and the “This year has shown you that you

O u r To w n NY. c o m

can achieve whatever you want to achieve in your life if you do the right thing!” Gningue wrote in 1996 in my middle school yearbook, which I still

The Summer Discovery Program put me on the path to great relationships and a great foundation. It’s a shame that so many of the city’s top specialized high schools are trying to avoid it like a disease. have. “Keep that in mind! Work hard as you have always done. You’re bright and you would know that you can go as far as you want.” Gningue was there for me and alerted me to the Summer Discovery Program, which put me on the path to great relationships and a great foundation. It’s a shame that so many of the city’s top specialized high schools are trying to avoid it like a disease.

Stephon Johnson is a reporter for Amsterdam News.

May 12, 2011

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NEWS

The Sage of Sutton Place hood moniker: the Sage of Sutton Place.

Clad in a navy blazer, cashmere turtleneck and loafers, Werth looks the part of sage or historian, noting that the neighborhood was founded as working-class tenements full of immigrants until Effingham Sutton, a dry goods merchant, built European-style townhouses in 1885 on what was then Avenue A, and a recently-divorced Virginia Vanderbilt took a liking to them.

“She thought it a good alternative to the ostentatiousness of Fifth Avenue,” he laughed. Now, he said, the neighborhood is “exclusive,” and the Vanderbilt house is the official residence of the secretary general of the United Nations.

Werth arrived to New York quite a bit after Vanderbilt, following his Princeton graduation and two years in the army.

Originally from Virginia, he landed a job with American Airlines and found an apartment to share with an army buddy in the West Village. He became a New Yorker in 1959, and never looked back.

For the past 45 years, though, Werth’s corner of this world has been a small studio apartment in an old tenement building on 58th Street, a place piled high with news clippings and paperwork from his

historical committees, the walls a patchwork of maps, photographs (including one of his Princeton years, where he’s posed behind Einstein in a group photo) and his roommate, a rescued cat, napping on a dining room chair.

Werth points out how the neighborhood has changed over his lifetime—the closing of mom-and-pop shops, the rise of 50-story apartment buildings once billed as “luxury residences.”

“When the Sovereign opened, it was a luxury rental,” he explained of the building that faces his, on 58th Street between First Avenue and Sutton Place. “It went for $3,000 a month, high stakes in those days!”

The building was featured often in the columns of Werth’s neighbor, Russell Baker, who wrote for The New York Times, he explained.

These days, Werth wanders around a mix of pre-war apartment buildings, former tenement houses that are now condo associations and sprawling mansions with private lawns that nearly drop into the East River. Small public parks sit at the edges of 56th, 57th and 58th streets, offering views of the river and a quiet reprieve from the city, despite sitting atop FDR Drive.

ANDREW SCHWARTZ

By Colleen Curry Herndon Werth stepped on to East 58th Street like he has stepping on to a stage: “Greetings, greetings,” he called—to neighbors, to children, to dogs—and tipped his hat to the world.

In the play of his life, Werth shares stage credits with Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, secretary generals of the United Nations and even Albert Einstein. But for Werth, 77, it’s not the stars but the setting—this stretch of 58th Street from Second Avenue to the East River—that has been the defining feature of his New York life.

“It’s a little bit of old New York here,” Werth said, tapping his cane along the sidewalks of the Sutton Area Community, which he helped officially define in 1975 as the area from 53rd to 59th streets, east of Second Avenue. “People say how-do.”

For nearly 40 years years, Werth has worked on historical preservation causes in the neighborhood, including offering bi-annual walking tours that, though they’re only about three blocks long, take about an hour and a half and fill a reporter’s notebook full of information. They’re also the reason behind Werth’s neighbor-

Herndon Werth is a local historian who has lived in Sutton Place for 45 years.

“It’s an interesting juxtaposition of public and private,” Werth said, pointing to the gated, immaculate green lawns of the private residences once owned by Aristotle Onasis, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Jack Warner, of the Warner Brothers Corporation.

It’s a real community, Werth said, in the middle of the city.

“I’m close to everything. I can get to the airports, to the train stations. It’s residential but in the heart of New York.

And I get to have my one-bedroom studio apartment,” he smiled, “and live next to ‘The Rich!’”

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Hampton Classic Horse Show

August 28 - September 4, 2011 8 days of premier Show Jumping and the highlight of the Hamptons summer social season featuring the

McCall: SUNY Fees Must Rise

By Megan Finnegan Former state comptroller and onetime president of the Board of Education Carl McCall is enjoying his “active retirement”—advocating for the governor’s fiscal agenda, serving on the SUNY board of trustees and working to increase opportunities for minorities. We met him at his favorite Upper West Side breakfast spot, Sarabeth’s, to talk about why he’s supporting his one-time political rival and education in the city and state.

Q. Let’s talk about what you’ve been doing in support of the governor.

A. The governor and I started off on different sides. When I ran for governor in 2002, Andrew Cuomo challenged me in a primary. It was a difficult primary, and it was pretty contentious because there were a lot of people who felt I had paid my dues. So obviously there were some—not bitter feelings, but some negative feelings.

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Q. At what point did you patch things up with Cuomo?

A. There were people who were floating the idea that Andrew Cuomo was running against David Paterson because David Paterson was black. I dismissed that. I said, “Look, let’s not make this an issue about race.” I just thought that would be very destructive.

When [Cuomo] won, he asked me to be on his transition committee. There was some criticism of the ticket. The fact that in the past we had had an African-American governor, and African-American majority leader in the Senate, and now we have a ticket that’s all white. And so Andrew countered this by saying that he was going to have the most diverse administration ever.

Q. Has he followed through on that?

A. He has, actually. His counsel to the governor is an African-American woman.

The appointment secretary is an AfricanAmerican male. The chairman of the commission of tax and finance is an African American. He appointed a Latina [Yrthya A. Dinzey-Flores] as chief diversity officer, which is a new position to bring more diversity into the administration. There was a general goal for state agencies to do business with firms owned by women and minorities. [Cuomo] has now doubled that to 20 percent [of state contracts].

Q. Are you happy with the progress

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Carl McCall. the state is making in terms of higher education?

A. I have a commitment from the governor that he is going to support something that we call a Rational Tuition Policy. The legislature has been reluctant to allow us to increase tuition [at SUNY]. I think it can still be affordable, but at the same time, I think students and their families could pay a little more. If you want to provide access for students, you still have to provide a quality program when they get there. We want gradual, moderate increases, so we’re proposing a five-year plan where tuition will increase at a very moderate rate over the next five years.

Q. How would you rate Mayor Bloomberg so far in education?

A. It’s mixed. I applaud him for making it a priority, for saying that he will be accountable for the results. Where I find fault with his approach is that for whatever reason, parents don’t feel as involved.

Q. Do you have optimism that Dennis Walcott will be able to change that?

A. Dennis has been around, he understands the issues, he has a lot of credibility with the various stakeholders, parents and others, and I think he can also push the mayor back a little bit. He bailed the mayor out. The mayor made one big mistake, and Dennis gave him a solution everybody feels good about.

Q. Is the Mayor right about getting rid of Last In First Out? A. It needs to go. You really need to keep your most talented people, and the most talented people aren’t necessarily the people who have been there the longest.

N EW S YO U LIV E B Y

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Healthy Manhattan

a monthly advertising supplement

Healthy Ways to Drop the Weight

The pounds can’t come off as fast as the heavy clothes

L

By Lisa ELainE HELd ast month, on one of the first days that the temperature rose above 60 degrees, NYU students sprawled out in bikinis in Washington Square Park, soaking up the sun next to signs that warned them to keep off the freshly seeded lawn. Young women in sundresses scoured the aisles of DSW in Union Square for sandals to show off their brand-new pedicures. All of this compulsive skin baring associated with the first hint of summer’s approach comes with a related phenomenon—an obsession with weight loss. The sun is out in New York, and so are carbs.

At gyms like Equinox, there’s a huge bump in business that starts in March and climaxes in June, according to David Harris, vice president of personal training.

“My business takes off this time of year,” said Christy Maskeroni, a registered dietician who is the nutritionist-in-residence at the luxury fitness center CLAY on 14th Street.

Maskeroni said that 80 to 85 percent of her clients are women, and they come to her already seeded with the latest ideas about weight loss. Should I try the Dukan diet like Kate Middleton? Should I start a juice cleanse?

While juice cleanses are more mainstream, and diet pills are still out there, increasingly, nutritionists are focusing less on ways to help their patients lose as many pounds as possible for that week in the Hamptons, and more on helping them make a Continued on page 17

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Health&Wellness S

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The Dark Side of the Sun Catching skin cancer early makes a huge difference

F

By Dr. Cynthia Paulis irst, Mollie Biggane noticed a small mole at the back of her thigh. Six months later, she was dead at the age of 20. The mole was melanoma, a lethal skin cancer that is the number one killer in young women between the ages of 25 and 29 today, and one that is rising at an alarming rate.

May has been designated as melanoma awareness month and the foundation named for Biggane is running PSAs to encourage people to examine themselves carefully for any changing or new moles on their body. Melanoma is 95-percent curable with early detection. Once it spreads, the prognosis is poor.

The majority of malignant melanomas are brown to black pigmented lesions.

Melanoma will often develop from a preexisting mole or look like a new mole.

Warning signs include any change in size,

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Healthy Manhattan

shape, color or elevation of a mole. The appearance of a new mole during adulthood or new pain, itching, ulceration or bleeding of a preexisting mole should be checked out immediately.

The underlying cause of all skin cancers is the end result of ultraviolet rays, which is why some skin cancers such as melanoma may occur in areas that are not even exposed to the sun. “Ultraviolet rays not only do direct damage to the skin and the DNA in the skin cells, it also suppresses the immune system in the skin,” Dr. Peter O’Neill, chief of dermatology at Winthrop-University Hospital, explained.

“Part of the immune surveillance in the skin is to wipe out cancerous cells. If you suppress the immune areas of the skin, cancer can appear in other areas of the skin.”

Melanoma can be found anywhere on the body, but it is mostly on the trunk

How to Prevent Skin Cancer

Charles A. Mack, M.D. Arash Salemi, M.D.

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and make sure it blocks both UVA and UVB rays.

• Sunscreen should be applied frequently and at least 30 minutes before you go out, even on cloudy days.

• Reapply the sunscreen every two hours, especially after sweating and swimming.

• Avoid intense sunrays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.

• If you are light-skinned and prone to sunburn, wear long sleeves.

• Sunglasses should protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays, not just look fashionable. Sun exposure to the eyes can cause cataracts.

• Tanning beds are not safe; they emit ultraviolet rays.

SPRING IN CENTRAL PARK

Time: All seminars will begin at 6:30 pm.

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in men and on the legs and trunk in women. When a melanoma is suspected, the lesion is biopsied and, if confirmed, treatment needs to begin immediately.

“If the melanoma is less than 1 millimeter, then a wide excision is enough for treatment, which is 95 percent effective,” said O’Neill. “Most melanoma start very thin and are easy to detect and very curable. Once they grow to a certain depth in the skin and become more invasive, the mortality rate soars and the other treatment modalities are not very effective.”

Basal cell skin cancer is the most common skin cancer. It is slow growing and usually occurs in the areas of the body exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, scalp and upper trunk, but most commonly on the face. Basal cells appear as a shiny translucent or pearly nodule, a sore that continuously heals and then reopens, a pink slightly elevated growth, reddish irritated patches of skin or a waxy scar. Unlike melanoma, it rarely spreads to other parts

Continued from page 14

complete lifestyle shift in which healthy habits based on whole, unprocessed foods rule out the need for dieting.

“In my eyes, people still want the quick fix—what can I do as quickly as possible,” said Maskeroni. “My goal is to explain the importance of food as fuel and the process of how weight loss works.”

Even Weight Watchers, which used to assign the same amount of points to an Oreo as an apple (because the calorie counts were the same) has jumped on the whole foods bandwagon. Last December, they updated their system for the first time in 14 years, allowing participants to enjoy unlimited fruits and vegetables and assigning higher point values to processed foods.

“We had to change the system because of what we now know about nutrition,” said Janice Mielarczyk, the head of New York City Weight Watchers.

“There’s so much information about how our bodies process the food, and it’s not just about calories.”

Andrea Moss, a health counselor and founder of Moss Wellness who specializes in weight loss, welcomes this change.

Before she attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she was 45 pounds heavier and had tried every diet out there, including one that only allowed her to eat for one hour per day. Now, she helps her clients achieve balance over dieting. She calls whole foods like produce, whole grains, nuts and fish “honest foods” because the body knows how to get nutrients from them and is left feeling satisfied.

“If you’re eating an imbalanced diet— for example, not getting enough protein

of the body. If the cancer is not removed it can cause extensive damage and disfigurement to the surrounding tissues.

Squamous cell cancer is usually seen in fair-skinned, middle-aged and elderly people who have had extensive sun exposure. The squamous cell lesion will have a crusted or scaly area of skin with a red, inflamed base that looks like a growing tumor, non-healing ulcer or crusted-over patch of skin. Squamous cells can be found anywhere in the body, including the inside of the mouth and genitalia, and can spread and spread to other areas of the body.

The key to reducing your risk of skin cancer is prevention, namely using sunscreen.

“Just because you apply sunscreen, don’t think it’s a coat of armor,” O’Neill emphasized. “Check yourself frequently for signs of skin cancer.” As for advice for the nude sunbathers, he laughed and said, “Cover up, use sun screen, get under an umbrella and wear a hat.”

or complex carbohydrates—your body may send up sweet cravings all the time,” she explained, “and it’s very hard to deny those cravings since your body can be screaming them at you.”

For example, lots of women trying to lose weight reach for artificial sweeteners like Splenda, but the body recognizes the sweet taste and prepares itself for sugar intake. When it doesn’t get it, it craves sugar for the rest of the day, making weight loss harder.

Some of Moss’ top tips for safe, healthy weight loss are to increase fiber intake, switch to wheat bread and brown rice, eat healthy fats found in fish and nuts and to switch from refined sugar to a natural alternative like honey, maple syrup or stevia. Plan ahead, and choose healthy foods and exercise that you enjoy.

If you really need to drop more weight quickly, juice cleanses can be OK, but listen to your body. If you feel faint, make a beeline for the nearest Shake Shack.

Another unlikely component to weight loss? “Most importantly, sleep, sleep, sleep,” stressed Maskeroni. “The hormone that makes you feel hungry is elevated in those that aren’t sleeping enough, so you’ll feel hungry more often.”

Following an integrative nutrition plan like Moss’ or Maskeroni’s will allow you to shed about a pound per week. So, you may not be the svelte figure you’d imagined by the time you make your first trip out to Long Beach in June, but it will likely last much longer.

“If you want to lose weight and keep it off, it has to always be about a lifestyle shift,” said Moss. “There is no quick fix that will last forever.”

Yoga and movement for every body at any age and any stage of life

At the Breathing Project, we offer yoga and movement classes for our diverse community.

Our sunny studio provides a welcoming and supportive space for beginners and experienced practitioners alike to explore body, breath and wellness.

Through a rich variety of techniques and movement approaches our students tap into their own powers of self-healing. For the healthy, the healing, and people living with chronic physical and mental conditions, our classes are therapeutic, fun, relaxing and restorative.

Has your doctor recommended Yoga?

We Offer:

• Small classes with individualized attention • A class to meet your special needs • A class for people over 40 • Gentle yoga • A non-competitive atmosphere

www.breathingproject.org 212.979.9642

15 West 26th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10010

Here’s a sampling of our spring offerings.

Check our website for a full description of classes and teacher bios:

Tue

Developmental Fundamentals Yoga for Mental Wellness MELT Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program MELT for MS & Parkinson’s

7:45-9:00am 10:00-11:15am 12:30-1:30pm 2-3pm 5-6pm

Amy Matthews Elizabeth Plapinger Edya Kalev & MELT instructors Lynn Crimando Edya Kalev & Anita Wong

Wed

Yoga for Mental Wellness Yoga for Midlife & More

10:30-11:45am 12:30-1:30pm

Elizabeth Plapinger Melissa Elstein

Thu

Developmental Fundamentals Yoga for Fibromyalgia Gentle Yoga

7:45-9:00am 3:30-4:45pm 6:30-7:45pm

Amy Matthews Lynn Crimando Julia Hough

Fri

Babies!

11:00am-12:00

Amy Matthews

Sat

Viniyoga

9:00-10:30am

Steve Rooney

• • • •

Led by Robin Reiter, Unity Minister

Experience...

Sunday, May 15th 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Vibrant Health Profound Love Limitless Wealth Overflowing Joy

At The Unity Center of New York City

What People are Saying: “This experienced helped me heal pain from abuse that I have carried for 50 years!”

“That was the single most powerful workshop I have attended in 30 years I have spent on my spiritual journey!”

“That was truly life-altering, thank God for the angel that is Robin!”

213 West 58th Street / (212) 582-1300 The Sacred Abundance Workshop is Experiential, Multimedia, Eye-Opening, and Unforgettable!

Rev. Robin Reiter is the founder of “Sacred Abundance

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She is one of the most sought-after speakers in the New Thought movement, and is the host of “Sacred Abundance” on Unity Online Radio. She has dedicated her life to raising the abundance consciousness on the planet and currently travels all over the country speaking, teaching, training and leading retreats that deeply heal, inspire and transform people. Robin is a phenomenal teacher and visionary leader, who has captivated audiences for years with her spellbinding storytelling, passionate delivery, and signature flair for the dramatic. Robin’s mission, through Sacred Abundance , is to help all people claim their Divine and overflowing inheritance of good and realize Heaven on earth.

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New York Downtown Hospital

Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist

Dr. Joshua Levinger provides accessible, comprehensive care for patients, young and old, in his practice at New York Downtown Hospital in Lower Manhattan.

Dr. Joshua Levinger provides accessible, comprehensive care for patients, young and old, in his practice at New York Downtown Hospital in Lower Manhattan.

Dr. Levinger specializes in the management of sinus disease, including advanced, endoscopic sinus surgery and image guided surgery. He also treats sleep apnea and other ear, nose, throat, head and neck disorders.

Dr. Levinger is a caring physician who is dedicated to his patients and their families. He is available to his patients at all times.

Based on his education and training, you can be assured of his clinical expertise and quality service.

New York Downtown Hospital is proud to have Dr. Levinger as a member of our healthcare team.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Levinger, please call

(646) 898-4719.

New York Downtown Hospital – closer to you!

83 Gold Street, New York, NY 10038 Telephone: (212) 312-5000 • www.downtownhospital.org 18

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Healthy Manhattan

a monthly advertising supplement

Tips for a Safe Summer

Summer is a great time of year, but there are hazards that you need to be aware of that can ruin a great vacation. So be vigilant and use common sense.

POISONOUS PLANTS As the saying goes, “Leaves of three, let them be.” Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac all have three leaves and can cause an itchy rash through direct or indirect contact (touching the fur of a pet that has brushed against them), and even through airborne particles if someone is burning any of these plants and you are in the path of the smoke.

TICKS: LYME DISEASE A tick the size of a poppy seed can crawl under your clothes, latch on to your skin and draw blood, infecting you with Lyme disease. Always check yourself for ticks. If you have a fever, bull’s eye rash, headache and joint pain, seek medical attention immediately.

WEST NILE VIRUS Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus, although the chances are low. Never leave standing water out and cover up when going outside at dusk and use a mosquito repellant.

DEHYDRATION When the temperature rises, it is important to continue to hydrate yourself with plenty of water, with a minimum of 64 ounces daily or more if you are exerting yourself. Dehydration can lead to muscle cramps, heat exhaustion and, the worst case scenario, heat stroke.

SUN PROTECTION Always wear sunscreen SPF 30 and wear a hat and protect your eyes from the sun with sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays.

FOOT CARE Never go barefoot, which can lead to cuts, burns and foot fungi. Always wear shoes when walking on boardwalks to prevent splinters.

FOOD POISONING Rapid onset of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea and abdominal cramps occur with food poisoning. This happens if foods with mayonnaise and dairy products are left uncovered and exposed to heat. Always keep all food products chilled properly.

BEE STINGS Bee stings can cause a serious allergic reaction. It’s always a good idea to keep some Benadryl on hand until you can seek medical attention. [Dr. Cynthia Paulis]

N EW S YO U LIV E B Y

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May 12, 2011

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Healthy Manhattan

a monthly advertising supplement

More Than a Headache How to get fewer migraines

By Dr. Cynthia Paulis f you feel like your head is being held in a vice grip and the slightest sound and light puts you into intense pain, you may be experiencing a migraine headache.

Migraine is the most common form of disabling headache, affecting 29.5 million Americans, and the headache most seen in emergency rooms.

I

Migraines affect people between the ages of 15 and 55, and are most commonly found in women. Often there is a family history of migraine. The migraine headache is a vascular headache brought on by the enlargement of blood vessels that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. When these blood vessels stretch,

they cause the nerves to release chemicals.

This in turn causes inflammation and pain.

People who have migraines tend to have certain factors or events that trigger these headaches. Such triggers include lack of or too much sleep, hormone changes during the menstrual cycle, missing meals, loud noises and bright lights, weather changes and stress. Food also factors into causing headaches, especially food products containing MSG, nitrates found in hot dogs and lunch meats, and tyramine, found in aged cheese, sausages, smoked fish and soy products.

Connecting HPV and Head and Neck Cancer What You Need To Know

This program will provide an overview of the risk factors for head and neck cancer, define the human papillomavirus (HPV) and explain how it is introduced into the body, explore who is at risk, treatment options and why HPV-induced cancers are treated differently. The prognosis of HPV-induced head and neck cancer will be discussed, as well as what’s on the horizon— including vaccines, deceleration of therapy and protocols.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

NYU Langone Medical Center

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

550 First Avenue (at 31st Street) Alumni Hall B

Presenters David Myssiorek, MD, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology Brian Schmidt, DDS, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Mark D. DeLacure, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology and Surgery (Plastic) Nicholas J. Sanfilippo, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology Nagashree Seetharamu, MD, Instructor, Department of Medicine (Oncology) To RSVP, call 212-263-2266, email: NYUCIcommunityprograms@nyumc.org or reserve online at www.nyuci.org/rsvp.

Please provide your name, phone number, the name of the lecture and the number of people attending.

An NCI-designated Cancer Center 20

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May 12, 2011

Understanding cancer. And you.

www.nyuci.org

Alcohol, specifically red wine, also tends to be a trigger, along with caffeine if you are withdrawing from it or having too much.

There are many forms of migraines, but the two most common ones are those with and without an aura. The migraines with an aura are considered the “classic migraine” and are experienced by only one out of five people. When a person experiences an aura they tend to have sensory symptoms 30 minutes before the attack of the headache.

With an aura they will see flashing lights, blind spots, have numbness or tingling in the face or hands and have a disturbed sense of taste and smell. Men seem to be more prone to auras with migraines than women.

Not all migraines are the same, but studies have shown that hours before a headache strikes some people have symptoms of thirst, irritability, drowsiness or depression. They can also have feelings of elation or intense energy coupled with the cravings for sweets.

With a migraine, the person is often incapacitated due to the severity of the pain, many times accompanied by nausea and vomiting. These migraines can last hours to days.

Treatments for migraines run the gamut from over-the-counter meds, such as aspirin and nonsteroidals (Motrin, Advil), to prescription medications. A class of drugs known as Triptans seems to be effective for severe migraines, relieving the pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound which occurs during the attack. Some of the older medicines such as Ergotamine’s and Butalbital have fallen out of favor.

There are some preventive drugs such as antidepressants which seem to help some patients. One of the newest lines of treatment for chronic headaches is Botox, which has mixed results. Injections are made into the forehead and neck muscles and are given every three months.

Prevention is key for migraines, and a helpful tool is a headache diary. Take notes on when your headache starts, how long it lasts and if anything provides relief. Also keep track of the foods you ate in the last 24 hours. Try to avoid the triggers that cause migraines. Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and try to manage your stress. Limit your caffeine to no more than two cups daily and don’t skip meals. Try to keep your sleeping patterns regular.

When a migraine hits, lie down and rest in a dark, quiet room. Place a cool cloth over your head and eyes. If you are not nauseated, drink water and try to take your pain meds immediately. Massage your temples and rub or apply pressure to the spot where you feel pain.

There is no cure for migraines, but lifestyle changes and leading a healthy lifestyle can minimize them. If the headaches are constant and nothing is relieving the pain, then it is time to consult your doctor.

N EW S YO U LIV E B Y

There’s so much you want to see Your daughter’s wedding Your son’s children Tonight’s sunset

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Your eyes are a precious gift.

Don’t trust their care to just anyone.

5K MINITHON Saturday, June 4, 2011 9:00 a.m. at Bridgehampton Militia Park, Ocean Road Register Online at www.danshamptons.com/potato2011

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P05297 Calverton Bus-Campbell:Layout 3

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Frank E. Campbell – The Funeral Chapel Hosts Annual Bus Trip to Calverton National Cemetery As the seasons change and Memorial Day approaches, we find ourselves thinking about the men and women who are serving our country around the world. We also remember those who gave of themselves when our freedom was threatened, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation.

We here at Frank E. Campbell, “The Funeral Chapel” are sponsoring a trip to Calverton National Cemetery for those individuals who do not get an opportunity to visit their loved one who served ourHcountry.

This trip will take place on June 1, 2011. The bus will leave from 81st Street and Madison Avenue at 8:30 am and will return approximately 4:30 pm.

A continental breakfast will be served at Frank E. Campbell between 7:30 am – 8:15 am.

A box lunch will be provided on the bus at Calverton National Cemetery.

If you are interested in joining us, please call 212-288-3500 by May 26, 2011, to reserve your place. Please have your Grave Information available when you call.

Dr. Grace Sun is a board certified Ophthalmologist providing comprehensive eye care at New York Downtown Hospital in Lower Manhattan.

As a member of Weill Cornell Eye Associates, Dr. Sun offers a range of ophthalmic services including cataract, cornea and external disease, retinal and vitreous disorders, glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics, and neuro-ophthalmology.

Dr. Sun provides services covering the entire range of complexity, from accurate eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions to the most complex surgeries such as artificial corneal replacement and vitreoretinal surgery for diabetic retinopathy or complicated retinal detachment.

Dr. Sun is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

She is on the faculty of the Weill Cornell Medical Center.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sun, please call (212) 312-5250.

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Hudson valley

A speciAl Advertising section

Art, History And Activity Dutchess and Sullivan, a tale of two counties As temperatures climb and humors decline this summer, sometimes the best course of action is to pack a bag and get out of the city—even if it’s only for one day. Just 90 minutes north, Dutchess and Sullivan counties in upstate New York make great destinations for daytrips or weekend getaways.

Bordered by the Hudson River and the state of Connecticut, Dutchess County offers a wide range of places to visit. One of the most popular attractions is the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, which first opened in October 2009.

“It’s sort of like the High Line—it’s an old railroad bridge,” said Nancy Lutz, spokesperson of the county’s tourism office. The pedestrian bridge, which spans the river between Poughkeepsie and Highland, is 1.28 miles long and 212 feet above the water. Cars are not allowed on the walkway, but bikes and dogs (on leashes) are welcome. “The panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River from the walkway are spectacular in any season,” Lutz said. The

walkway is open every day—and it’s free.

For those interested in history and architecture, Lutz recommends touring the six great estates in the county. “All of these estates were also farms, so they have extensive gardens and lots of land where you can picnic and hike,” Lutz said.

The historic estates include Springwood in Hyde Park, the former home and final resting place of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The grounds at Springwood also include the Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Another popular historic site is Wilderstein, a Queen Anne-style home in Rhinebeck. Starting May 21, a free outdoor sculpture exhibit of contemporary art will open on the Wilderstein grounds.

The Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, the Mills Mansion in Staatsburg, Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie and Montgomery Place in Annandale-onHudson also offer tours to the public.

Art fans can also visit the Dia: Beacon contemporary art museum in Beacon, as well as the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie and the Hessel Museum of Art at Bard

Dutchess County, NY

Relax and rejuvenate with a getaway to nearby Dutchess County, NY, just 90 minutes north of New York on the majestic Hudson River.

Dutchess offers so many fun things to do and see!

Stroll the Walkway Over the Hudson 1.25-mile pedestrian bridge, 212’ above the Hudson.

Catch thrills on Big Bear Ziplines. Sightsee on a river cruise. Tour the homes of FDR, Vanderbilt & Morse. Tour & taste at wineries & farm markets. Indulge in gourmet

dining at The Culinary Institute of America.

Go antiquing. Shop for crafts and art. Golf the links and hike and bike the trails. Be awed by art at Dia: Beacon. Spend a romantic weekend at a B&B/inn.

You Deserve Dutchess!

Call/click for FREE travel guide, www.DutchessTourism.com or 800-445-3131

Albany County, NY

Albany has enticed visitors for over 400 years with historic sites, fabulous attractions, family-friendly amenities, and entertaining events. World-class museums, delicious cuisine, and welcoming accommodations ensure your Albany experience is legendary.

Begin your journey at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, at historic Quackenbush Square. Then take in Albany’s unique skyline where century old architecture lies against contemporary marvels.

Continue your journey on board the WWII USS Slater, or by touring the State Capitol or one of Albany’s historic homes. Next, let Albany entertain you with an abundance of inexpensive professional theatre, concerts, sporting events, and a backyard full of boating, kayaking, biking, and other recreational splendors.

To discover more contact the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-258-3582 or www.albany.org

Albany, An Amazing Discovery!

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College in Annandale-on-Hudson.

Families may want to check out the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum in Poughkeepsie. And the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome also offers family-friendly activities, including air shows with historic planes June 11 through Oct. 16 on Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting).

Sullivan County also offers many outdoor and cultural activities. Located in the Catskill Mountains, the county borders the Delaware River, which separates it from Pennsylvania.

Sullivan County is well known for being the site of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival. The concert site is now home to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. This year’s summer line-up

May 12, 2011

Time Savor

Spend your vacation time savoring every moment.

Begin your getaway with water park fun, museums, historic sites, and river cruises.

Stay a few days more to pick peaches, follow the wine trail, or tour the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Come to the Heart of the Hudson Valley, where an affordable getaway is time well spent.

Simple and Sophisticated.

You Deserve Dutchess.

As gas prices continue to rise, it’s nice to know all of this and more is less than two hours away in Dutchess County.

Photo Courtesy of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau

® NYSDED

By EllEn KEohanE

includes Janet Jackson, the Goo Goo Dolls and the Doobie Brothers. There’s also the Museum at Bethel Woods, which features exhibits on the festival.

The Forestburgh Playhouse’s season opens this summer with the musical Idaho!, a cross between Oklahoma! and Monty Python’s Spamalot, according to the theater’s website. “It’s our little Broadway in the woods,” Byron-Lockwood said.

Those who like to take a gamble on their vacations may want to stop by the Monticello Casino and Raceway. There are no table games, but there are about 600 video terminals. In addition, Monticello offers live entertainment and harness racing.

Needless to say, there are plenty of outdoor activities to engage visitors.

People can swim, kayak, canoe and fish in Sullivan County’s many rivers, creeks and lakes. Fly fishing enthusiasts may want to visit the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in Livingston Manor. Golfers can tee off at the “Big G” at the Grossinger Country Club in Liberty, as well as the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon.

From the arts to the outdoors, both Dutchess and Sullivan counties offer a range of activities and sites to explore. And you don’t have to travel far to get there.

For additional information, including places to stay, visit dutchesstourism.com and scva.net.

DutchessTourism.com

800-445-3131

NYPRESS.COM l May 11-May 17,N 2011 E WlSNEW Y OYORK U L PRESS I V E 15 BY

RELAXING GETAWAYS

RETREATS

GREAT BASE TO EXPLORE

In The Heart Of The Hudson Valley

Casual elegance in a spectacular mountain setting. Twenty-six rooms adjacent to 26,000 acres of the Minnewaska State Park and the Mohonk Preserve and just 25 minutes to the Walkway Over The Hudson. Stay here—go everywhere.

Private decks • Dramatic cliff views • High-speed internet Home-baked breakfast • Adventure Concierge

Minnewaska Lodge 845-255-1110 MinnewaskaLodge.com 3116 US Rte 44/55 Gardiner, NY 12525 O u r T o w n N Y. c o m

$10 Student/Youth Lawn $60 Family 4-Pack ALL-IN PRICE includes all service charges.

KIDS FREE 12 & UNDER on the Lawn Tickets at BethelWoodsCenter.org Bethel Woods Box Office • Ticketmaster • 1-800-745-3000 All dates, acts, times and ticket prices subject to change without notice. All ticket prices increase $5 on the day of the show.

Bethel, New York • Route 17, Exit 104 at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival.

May 12, 2011

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hudson Valley

A speciAl Advertising section

Putting the ‘Fun’ in Functional

Montgomery and Albany counties have plenty to do this summer

By AlAn KrAwitz The folks at the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau say that the county has attracted visitors for more than four centuries with an array of varied activities from theater, concerts and sporting events to exhilarating recreational activities such as boating, kayaking and biking.

If getting “jazzed” is on your list of priorities, then you might want to check out the Saratoga Jazz Festival (spac.org/ jazzfest) June 25 and June 26. The festival is set in the Saratoga Spa State Park, home to colorful blankets and tents for fans who covet the live, outdoor concert environment. Featuring R&B, swing, Latin jazz and fusion, the 34-year-old festival celebrates the music of artists from every corner of the jazz tradition.

Need some culture? Albany is home to several noteworthy museums including the New York State Museum (nysm.nysed.

gov), where New Yorkers can learn all about the history of the great state of New York. In addition, the Albany Institute of History and Art (albanyinstitute. org) reveals much about the Upper Hudson Valley’s place in American art. And you can even get your groove on at the National Museum of Dance (dancemuseum.org) in Saratoga Springs.

For those who live to bike and bike to live, travel guidebook editor Nikki Goth Itoi, who wrote Moon Hudson River Valley, a book that covers both Albany and Saratoga Springs, suggests tackling the challenging 41-mile Hudson-Mohawk Bikeway, a bike-hike trail that connects Albany and Schenectady Counties in New York’s Capital District. The scenic trail is part of the statewide Canalway Trail that follows the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany.

An interesting upcoming run in Albany, Saturday, June 4, is the 33rd Annual Freihofer’s Run for Women (freihofersrun.

The Arkell Museum in Montgomery County.

com), a 5K road race that features 4,200 women representing 20 states and 19 nations. The start and finish lines are located on the capital’s Madison Avenue, between the Empire State Plaza and the New York State Museum. According to the organizers, the race combines some of the top international and American women distance runners from the Capital Region and across the nation.

And, in nearby Montgomery County, all types of special events and attractions are starting to heat up along with the weather. At the beautifully modern Arkell Museum (arkellmuseum.org), American art and Mohawk Valley history are featured in both exhibitions and programs. Visitors will discover paintings by remarkable American artists such as

You’ll Love My Sullivan County Catskills!

Winslow Homer, George Inness, Ralph Blakelock and Thomas Hart Benton. The museum’s collection also includes objects and archives related to the Mohawk Valley.

Now through August 14, the museum features the exhibit Drawn to the Same Place: Rufus Grider and Fritz Vogt.

Wrestling fans familiar with Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock will be in their glory May 21 and May 22, as the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame holds its induction weekend in Amsterdam (pwhf.org).

Also on May 22, Montgomery County holds its first May Fest celebration, showcasing local industry, arts and entertainment, including the Mohawk Valley Farmers’ Market, crafters, vendors, draft horse hay rides, Big Al’s Cruise-In Car Show, Made in Montgomery County business expo, music and more. It all takes place at the Fonda Fairgrounds.

Fans of stock car racing and vintage autos will not want to miss the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park 2011 Season, now through September 9 at 213 Mary’s Lane, Fultonville, N.Y. (thenewglenridgemotorsportspark.com).

For more information on Albany events and attractions, visit albany.org.

For events in Montgomery County, visit visitmontgomerycountyny.com.

So Much to Do... Here in our Sullivan County Catskills, there’s plenty of fun to keep everyone in the family happy.

Take a drive through the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, a 70-mile stretch of charming, historic and natural river towns full of restaurants, antique shops farm fresh produce, rafting, fly fishing, full-service hotels, and camping under the stars...

Time Savor Begin your getaway with water park fun, museums, historic sites, and river cruises.

Stay a few days more to pick peaches, follow the wine trail, or tour the Walkway Over the Hudson.

As gas prices continue to rise, it’s nice to know all of this and more is less than two hours away in Dutchess County.

Come to the Heart of the Hudson Valley, where an affordable getaway is time well spent.

Simple and Sophisticated.

You Deserve Dutchess.

ONLY 90 MINUTES FROM NEW YORK CITY AND EVEN LESS FROM NORTH JERSEY

1-800-882-CATS | scva.net DutchessTourism.com

1 N 216 4SCVA_HVTRAVEL.indd • OYORK U R PRESS TOW May 2, NEW l May• 11-May 17, 12011

2 NYPRESS.COM 011 l

® NYSDED

Spend your vacation time savoring every moment.

800-445-3131

PMY N E W S Y O U 5/5/11 L I V 1:15 E B

Dutchess County, NY

Relax and rejuvenate with a getaway to nearby Dutchess County, NY, just 90 minutes north of New York on the majestic Hudson River.

Dutchess offers so many fun things to do and see!

Stroll the Walkway Over the Hudson 1.25-mile pedestrian bridge, 212’ above the Hudson.

Catch thrills on Big Bear Ziplines. Sightsee on a river cruise. Tour the homes of FDR, Vanderbilt & Morse. Tour & taste at wineries & farm markets. Indulge in gourmet

dining at The Culinary Institute of America.

Go antiquing. Shop for crafts and art. Golf the links and hike and bike the trails. Be awed by art at Dia: Beacon. Spend a romantic weekend at a B&B/inn.

Visit Montgomery County, NY

You Deserve Dutchess!

Call/click for FREE travel guide, www.DutchessTourism.com or 800-445-3131

Sullivan County – The Catskills

May 21 – Opening Day at Old Fort Johnson www.oldfortjohnson.org May 21 – Amsterdam Main Street Spring Fling www.visitmontgomerycountyny.com May 21 – Stroll along Church Street www.historicamsterdam.org

May 21 - Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs - The Sacrament of Confirmation www.martyrshrine.org May 21 – May 22 – Fort Plain Museum - Scottish Living History Weekend www.fortplainmuseum.com

Our Sullivan County Catskills are legendary. We’ve long hosted summer vacationers. Anglers fish in our world-famous Willowemoc and Beaverkill Rivers. And we’re best known as the hosts of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair that attracted half a million.

May 21 – May 22 – Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Weekend www.pwhf.org

We still host people from the world over in fine country style and always with a smile.

See a concert one night and sweeping opera the next. Jump in a lake. Shop for antiques. Shoot a hole in one, bike a mountain trail. Whatever you love to do, you’ll love MY Sullivan County Catskills!

May 23 - Lecture: The Art of Where We Are: Working with Vogt and Grider in the 21st Century www.arkellmuseum.org

Call: 1-800-882-CATS or visit: scva.net

May 22 – Montgomery County May Fest at the Fonda Fairgrounds www.visitmontgomerycountyny.com

www.visitmontgomerycountyny.com 1.800.743.7337

R

 RAYMOOR :  HE  UDSON  ALLEY ’ S  PIRITUAL  REASURE

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raymoor, often called the Holy Mountain, is home to the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement. nestled in Putnam county, 50 miles north of new york city, Graymoor’s picturesque grounds, shrines, and chapels are open to the public year-round. e summit of Graymoor’s Mount Atonement provides a sweeping hudson Valley view and a life-size replica of michelangelo’s Pieta. of special interest is the World Trade Center Memorial Cross. erected by ironworkers assisting at Ground Zero, the cross is made from steel girders and ash from the north and south towers. Located in the St. Jude Meditation Garden, with its statues, benches, water fountain and pond, this is a setting of serenity and remembrance. every June, thousands pilgrimage to Graymoor’s St. Anthony Shrine. summertime beckons others who come to picnic or hike the appalachian trail which crosses through miles of Graymoor’s expansive grounds. roughout the year, the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center welcomes hundreds to spirituality retreats and workshops, recovery programs, and special events. many come for Bible study, centering prayer, and daily mass and reconciliation.

While you are here, you will also find the perfect gift at the Graymoor Book & Gift Center, the Bethlehem Gift Shop, or the at Nothing Be Lost rift Shop.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.AtonementFriars.org 845.424.3671 Graymoor Spiritual Life Center 845.424.2111 That Nothing Be Lost Thrift Shop 845.424.3635 Graymoor Book & Gift Center 845.424.3671, ext. 3155

SUNDAY MASS: 11 AM, PILGRIM HALL

Franciscan Friars oF the atonement Graymoor 1350 route 9, Garrison, ny 10524 atonementFriars.orG O u r T o w n N Y. c o m

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hudson valley

A speciAl Advertising section

Four Favorites in the hudson valley

By Patrick Wall The H udson Valley—“America’s Rhine,” a National Heritage Area where soldiers fought during the Revolutionary War and romantic painters journeyed for inspiration—is home to a broad array of historic and scenic travel destinations.

Here are four of our favorites.

Storm King Adventure Tours Storm King Mountain, near the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson in Orange County, towers more than 1,300 feet above the Hudson River. Over a thousand visitors a year hike along the mountain, or kayak in the river below, on tours led by Storm K ing Adventure Tours.

“Everybody wants something different,” said Kris Seiz, who opened the outdoor adventure service in 2007.

To accommodate visitors’ varied interests, Seiz offers a range of hiking and kayaking tours. Hikers can learn about leaves on a dendrology tour, hear the history of the mountain while treading its trails, or practice outdoor yoga on a scenic summit. Tours cost $25 per hiker and last about three hours.

Adventures who aren’t afraid of getting wet—and maybe sunburned if you don’t slather on the sunscreen—can take a kayak tour. Different tours let you explore a hidden cove or paddle under the moonlight. The company’s most popular excursion includes a hardhat tour of Bannerman’s Castle, a century-old arsenal that rests on a secluded island. Most kayak tours cost $60, though the four-hour castle tour costs $120.

Minnewaska Lodge The Minnewaska Lodge in Ulster County caters to rock climbers, horse riders, wine lovers and escaped citydwellers from around the region. “They’re looking for that perfect getaway,” said sales manager Gunter Spilhaus.

The 26-room mountain lodge sits on 17 acres near the foot of the Shawangunk Mountains. The mountains—known to locals as the Gunks—feature more than 800 climbing routes.

The lodge features decks with scenic views of the surrounding forest and mountains, hot homemade breakfasts and a fitness center. Guests can ask the onsite

“adventure concierge” to help them plan a wine-tasting tour, farm visit, bike ride or day at the spa. Room prices vary, from $155 to $359, depending on the season and the view.

The Atonement Friars New Yorkers in need of some peace and quiet can visit The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at their sprawling friary and retreat center, 50 miles outside of Manhattan. Their property, called Graymoor, sits adjacent to the small town of Garrison, in Putnam County.

“There’s a train station,” said Father Bob Langone, associate director of the retreat center. “And if you sneezed, you’d blow right past it.”

Set on a rise that locals call “Holy Mountain,” the Friars’ property includes 403 acres of forests and hiking trails, ideal for outdoor reflection. For indoor prayer or meditation, visitors can choose from five chapels atop “Holy Mountain.”

Langone estimates that more than 10,000 visitors travel to Graymoor each year. Some come to enjoy one of the Friars’ many festivals—the Festival of St.

Anthony in June, and a pet blessing in October are both popular.

Others participate in the weekend retreats that the Friars offer year-round in the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center.

Recent or upcoming retreats include “Spirituality of the 12 Steps,” “BuddhistChristian Dialogue” and “Married Couples Retreat.”

Retreat participants can stay in one of the Center’s 55 rooms, or in a single room in the old friary. Single rooms cost $180 for the weekend; double rooms go for $130.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts The psychedelic traveler may wish to visit the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

The 15,000-seat outdoor performance venue and accompanying museum sit on the grounds of the original, 1969 Woodstock festival.

The museum focuses on the festival and its impact on 1960s America. Visitors can marvel at more than 160 artifacts from the famous festival, or take a walking tour of key sites at the hippy mecca. A video archive at the museum includes oral histories from the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Phil Lesh and someone named Wavy Gravy. Tickets to the museum range from $15 for adults to $6 for children under the age of 8.

Albany County, NY  RAYMOOR :  HE  UDSON  ALLEY ’ S  PIRITUAL  REASURE

Albany has enticed visitors for over 400 years with historic sites, fabulous attractions, family-friendly amenities, and entertaining events.

World-class museums, delicious cuisine, and welcoming and Sisters of the Atonement. nestled accommodations ensure your Albany experience is legendary.

G

raymoor, often called the Holy Mountain, is home to the Franciscan Friars in Putnam county, 50 miles north of new york city, Graymoor’s picturesque grounds, shrines, and chapels are open to the public year-round. e summit of Graymoor’s Mount Atonement Begin provides your journeya atsweeping the Albany hudson Heritage Area Visitors Center, at historic Quackenbush Square.

Then take in Albany’s unique skyline Valley view and a life-size replica of michelangelo’s Pieta.

where century old architecture lies against contemporary marvels.

Continue your journey on board the WWII USS Slater, or by touring the State Capitol or oneatof Ground Albany’s historic assisting Zero,homes. Next, let Albany of special interest is the World Trade Center Memorial Cross. erected by ironworkers entertain you with an abundance of inexpensive professional theatre, the cross is made from steel girders and ash from the north and south towers. Located in the St. Jude Meditation Garconcerts, sporting events, and a backyard full of boating, kayaking, den, with its statues, benches, water fountain and pond, this is a setting of serenity and remembrance. biking, and other recreational splendors.

To discover more contact the Albany County Convention &

beckons others who come every June, thousands pilgrimage to Graymoor’s St. Anthony Shrine. summertime Visitors Bureau at 800-258-3582 or www.albany.org to picnic or hike the appalachian trail which crosses through miles of Graymoor’s expansive roughout the Albany, grounds.

An Amazing Discovery! year, the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center welcomes hundreds to spirituality retreats and workshops, recovery programs, and special events. many come for Bible study, centering prayer, and daily mass and reconciliation.

While you are here, you will also find the perfect gift at the Graymoor Book & Gift Center, the Bethlehem Gift Shop, or the at Nothing Be Lost rift Shop.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Photo Courtesy of the Albany County

Convention & Visitors Bureau www.AtonementFriars.org 845.424.3671

Graymoor Spiritual Life Center 845.424.2111 That Nothing Be Lost Thrift Shop 845.424.3635 Graymoor Book & Gift Center 845.424.3671, ext. 3155

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Celebrate cultural, arts and entertainment in a family friendly environment! Spend the weekend nestled in the foothills of the Adirondacks, just a short drive from many of New York’s premier destinations, the Great Sacandaga Lake, the Adirondacks, Lake George Region, the Capital District, Cooperstown and beyond! Explore our great historic sites, take a drive along our scenic byways, and reconnect with your family at one of the many community events happening throughout our County. Stop by a farm or farm stand; enjoy the fruits of our labor. Stay at one of our unique bed and breakfasts, surrounded by tranquility and scenic treasures.

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home to the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement. If quiet reflection is your goal, there are beautiful chapels, shrines and gardens.

The nearby Appalachian Trail calls to hikers, and picnickers are welcome. The That Nothing Be Lost Thrift Shop (Wednesday – Sunday, 10am - 5pm) is a treasure trove of vintage items; , the Graymoor Book & Gift Center (Tuesday – Sunday, 9am - 4pm) is the area’s largest ecumenical book store.

The Graymoor Spiritual Life Center hosts retreats exhibits, events, and more.

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RESTAURANTS 1770 House Almond Restaurant Babettes Beacon Beachhouse Blue Parrot The BoatHouse Cittanuova Estia’s Little Kitchen The Frisky Oyster Fresno Georgica The Grill at Pantigo Gurney’s Pasticceria Jamesport Manor Inn La Plage Love Lane Kitchen LT Burger Luce & Hawkins Montauk Lake Club

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Benign Neglect?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE

9

“I do n’t un de rst an d ho w such an im po rt an t prog ram as Dis co ve ry wa s cu t back ; in my vie w do ing so wa s a se rio us er ro r. If it ha pp ened inten tio na lly, th at ’s sc an da lous. If by inadverte nc e, it sp ea ks to ca llo us ne ss of admi nis trat ion .

It sh ou ld be re ins tate d.”

—Ha ro ld Le vy, fo rmer NYC Sc ho ols Ch an ce llo r disadvantaged black and Latino students to get into the predominantly white and Asian schools of Stuyvesant and Bronx Science.

Former schools chancellor Harold Levy asserts that Discovery was working, and he said it clearly was helping minority students.

“I believe in that kind of high school affirmative action because it promotes racial justice and ensures an exception-

Racial Breakdown of Stuyvesant and Bronx Science Asian

Hispanic

Black

White

All public high schools

15.67%

39.26%

32.15%

12.52%

Stuyvesant

69.51%

2.84%

1.77%

25.79%

Bronx Science

63.62%

7.68%

3.26%

25.23%

DATA FROM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR.

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May 12, 2011

al education for the next generation of minority leaders,” Levy said. “Education in New York’s specialized high schools is diminished if it becomes racially exclusionary and, at the same time, New York misses an opportunity to develop gifted minority children in those schools.”

did not respond to several requests to be interviewed for this story.) Now the DOE only requires these students to be “disadvantaged,” and race does not play a factor in admission to the SHSI or Discovery Program, but the uneven numbers of minority students in some of the specialized high schools is still viewed as a public problem.

When showed statistics of the minority populations at Stuyvesant and Bronx Science in 2006, thenDeputy Mayor Dennis Walcott was quoted in the New York Times referring to the specialized high schools: “We have to make sure they’re open to all of our students.”

Now the chancellor, Walcott did not respond to several requests to comment for this story.

A December 2008 article, “Racial Disparity at Stuyvesant,” in the student newspaper The Spectator, addresses the same issue, with teachers at the school calling it “quite jarring” to see the low numbers of black and Latino students.

Next week, the Stuyvesant High School Black Alumni Diversity Initiative is hosting a Gathering in Support of a Diverse Stuyvesant, featuring a discussion with prominent alumni (including Manhattan Media’s president, Tom Allon) on why the numbers of black and Latino students continue to decline at the prestigious school.

DOE is certainly following the letter of the law—Discovery Programs are not mandated—and no single program could address the complex issues surrounding minority access to some of the specialized schools. It’s clear, however, that DOE is not interested in reinstating the Discovery Program at Stuyvesant and Bronx Science.

“With the introduction of five new specialized high schools, students who miss out on Stuyvesant and Bronx Science by one or two points now receive offers to other specialized high schools—whereas before they would have been prevented from attending a specialized high school,” said Zarin-Rosenfeld in the DOE statement.

“I don’t understand how such an important program as Discovery was cut back; in my view doing so was a serious error,” said Levy. “If it happened intentionally, that’s scandalous. If by inadvertence, it speaks to callousness of administration.

It should be reinstated.”

ARTZ PHOTO BY ANDREW SCHW

in foster care, or for recent immigrants where English is not the primary language spoken at home. Finally, a student has to be recommended by his middle school.

None of the factors include consideration of a student’s race.

No one at DOE will say why the Discovery Program was axed at Stuyvesant and Bronx Science, beyond the explanation that there wasn’t space for it—which principals and DOE could create if inclined. A former principal at one of the specialized high schools, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Discovery Program was too problematic and that the students who came through it were not adequately prepared.

Jason Griffiths, the principal of Brooklyn Latin, has a different take on the Discovery Program; he says it’s a wonderful asset.

“It’s been a huge success for our school,” said Griffiths. He said that he gets a list of students from DOE who qualify for the program, and they are invited to participate in a five- to six-week summer program, with courses in English, math and Latin. Over 90 percent of the students receive offers to attend Brooklyn Latin in the fall, according to Griffiths, and these students are often more motivated and prepared than those admitted through the regular process.

Griffiths said Discovery students fare similarly to those admitted through the test alone—some excel, some are average and some don’t do as well, just as with the non-Discovery students.

“Basically we have a conversation with the Department of Education around how many spots we’d like to add to our class,” Griffiths said. “It really depends on what enrollment coming off of the test looks like.

“We’ve had a great experience from the Discovery Program,” said Griffiths.

“We’ve probably been able to offer close to 75 students the opportunity to come to our school who wouldn’t have had the opportunity. I think that’s important, especially for students who may have

some hurdles in terms of being new to the country and not being able to speak the language, or financial hurdles.”

Brooklyn Latin is the most diverse, though also the smallest (at about 330 students) and newest, of the eight specialized high schools. Griffiths could not say why he thought other schools would not choose to utilize this program, but did point out that there are huge differences among specialized schools, so what works for one may not work for another.

One former education official said that the Discovery Program was clearly understood as an affirmative action measure intended to help

Stephon Johnson, now a reporter with the Amsterdam News, says the Discovery Program was a “godsend,” enabling him to enroll in Bronx Science in 1996 [see sidebar on page 9]. DOE is quick to point out that Discovery does not take race or ethnicity into account when allowing kids into the program, but the program did provide more opportunities for minority students to get into these schools.

The Specialized High School Institute, a program for 6th- through 8th-grade students designed to prep them for the Specialized High School Admissions Test, was geared toward minority students until a 2007 Supreme Court ruling found it was unconstitutional for white and Asian students to be denied entry to public schools solely based on their race. Until as late as 2007, however, according to a memo from Richard D’Anria, a superintendent under then-chancellor Joel Klein, the SHSI was open only to students who met the criteria for an “underrepresented minority.” (Klein

N EW S YO U LIV E B Y

new york gal

Through the Bridal Shower Looking Glass How I decided that I wouldn’t live a “parallel” life

By Lorraine Duffy Merkl “I feel like her life is going off and getting perfect, and mine’s just like…

PLURRRRRRF,” says Kristen Wiig’s character in the new movie Bridesmaids.

It’s as though the screenwriters had been eavesdropping on the conversations of many a New York woman still looking for love. I know it sounds a lot like I did decades ago when I found out my cousin Donna was getting married.

She and I had grown up together in the Bronx: both born in June (a week apart), reared in Italian households and products of Catholic school. It wasn’t until after high school that we stopped living parallel lives. I went to college and she went to work.

I had been going along just fine, as a 20-year-old college sophomore, seeing a guy steadily for about two years. Then Donna announced her engagement.

The fear that came over me was not because I second-guessed the path I had taken or that I might be asked to wear a

hideous bridesmaid’s dress. It was from the anticipation of facing what I considered the lynch mob who would be at her bridal shower.

The downside of growing up side-by-side was that Donna and I were constantly compared. If one made the honor roll or got a lead in a dance recital, the other was made to feel less than: “Well if you tried harder, you could have gotten it, too.”

Even though our family supported my decision to pursue higher education, most of them were not invited to the party. Donna’s wedding was going to be very small. Since she was closer to her father’s side than her mother’s (by which we were related), the guests led by her paternal grandmother may not have been my blood, but felt we were “enough like family” to be intrusive.

Then there were her friends who, just like her, had left ring fingers all a twinklin’.

The engagement party scene from the movie, where everyone focuses on the maid of honor’s marital status (“I was so distraught when I was single,” says one of the married bridesmaids) mirrors the experi-

ence, or should I say assault, that took place in between oooos, aaaaahs and oooooohs at the toaster, bedding and place settings the bride-to-be was opening as she sat under

The fear that came over me was not because I secondguessed the path I had taken or that I might be asked to wear a hideous bridesmaid’s dress. an upside-down, beribboned umbrella and Showers Of Happiness banner.

“So when are you getting married?”

“Why aren’t you engaged?” “Can’t you meet anybody?” my co-attendees barked what seemed like all at once.

“I have a boy…” I tried to reply before I was interrupted with assumptions galore.

“But he doesn’t want to get married?

Dump him,” interjected Old Biddy One. “There’s a lid for every pot,” prophesized Biddy Two. “Don’t be jealous, it’ll happen for you

too some day,” condescended Engaged Girl, while wiggling her digits so that her rock caught the light and almost burned my cornea.

I looked across the room for the save from Donna, who was now wearing a paper plate hat decorated with bows and holding up her latest acquisition.

“Hey, is that a fondue set?” I shouted.

“Oooo! Aaaaaah! Oooooh!”

Phew!

It took me almost a decade to stop feeling less than, especially after she added children into the mix. It took that long to realize that, even though this is a very competitive city and it’s hard not to measure your progress without comparing yourself to others, I didn’t move to Manhattan to be “parallel” but to do things my own way.

I got married two weeks shy of my 30th birthday and am about to celebrate my 23rd wedding anniversary.

Lorraine Duffy Merkl’s debut novel, Fat Chick, from The Vineyard Press, is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Dewing Things BeTTer

Respecting Those Whose Pain is Rarely Noted Grandparents and extended family’s grief are often forgotten in coverage of tragedy

By Bette Dewing How could we not begin with thoughts inspired by the New York Times’ “The Quiet at Ground Zero” editorial: “The silence was the best way to honor the victims of 9/11 terrorist attacks.”

There were no speeches from the president as he placed a wreath on this most hallowed of grounds. Those gathered on nearby streets were also quiet—and reverent. And don’t we need that.

From the Times: “No words were needed to remind Americans of our continuing pain” I would add that we who were spared need to remember the bereaved families’ continuing pain, especially those of mothers, fathers and also siblings and other close kindred.

A most cherished column reader’s response from the sister of a 31-yearold brother who perished on that most terrible of days said how grateful she was for my column, “because elsewhere we hear only about bereaved spouses O u r To w n NY. c o m

and young children. And yet I know my mother and father’s grief is forever and to a somewhat lesser degree is a sibling’s.”

Grandparents and other close kindred and friend mourners are rarely noted.

More needs to be said and written about the re-marrying of some of the bereaved spouses and the added heartbreak that happens when ties to grandchildren are lessened or severed.

Not completely unrelated to how a grandparent in society is viewed is how there has been more written about the First Dog than the First Grandmother, who so importantly looks after the First Daughters.

Speaking of changes in our society that we need—let’s start with overcoming the aversion to the extended family that many people have. And the “family rich” must try to include the “family poor” a bit more.

Communication and relationship skills must be taught from toddlerhood on out to enable us all getting along!

Regarding the other news of the week, The Royal Wedding—I loved the service, but more interest was given to the bride’s and bridesmaids’ gowns than the presence of the grandmother of the groom, the Queen of England. Ah, but really “un-royal” was the so-called joke Prince Charles made about his son’s bald spot.

Indeed, I rejoiced at the sight, hoping most mightily this future king would protest the false and obsessive worry about hair loss and physical appearance in general. And he would declare, “I’m bald and I’m proud! What goes on inside the head is what counts!” Amen!

May this celebrated young couple stay vitally connected with their extended families of origin and include the “family poor” in this “it takes-a-village” type circle. It would help a lot to revive the wedding message given to Lady Diana and Prince Charles by the Most Reverend Robert Runcie, then Archbishop of Canterbury in 1981. Put it to music and

whatever it takes to make it part of the cultural psyche.

“Any marriage turned in on itself, in which the bride and groom gaze obsessively at one another, goes sour after a time. A marriage which really works is one which works for others. Marriage has both a private and a public importance. If we solved all our economic problems and failed to build loving families, it would profit us nothing, because the family is where the future is created, good and full of hope— or deformed.”

It’s not only for couples or biological families, but also for the non-couple and unfamilied to build caring, multigenerational communities of friends, neighbors and faith and other responsible group members. But it will take some notable role models!

And bless WNYC 810 AM radio for continuing to air Danny Stiles’ incomparable “Music Museum” on Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. dewingbetter@aol.com.

May 12, 2011

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