Our Town - January 26, 2017 by Our Town

The local paper for the Upper East Side

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WEEK OF JANUARY-FEBRUARY

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2017

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ONWARD: 400,000 TAKE TO THE STREETS Huge turnout at the NYC Women’s March BY CHARMAINE P. RICE

Solemn Mass at Our Lady of Peace on East 62nd Street on July 30, 2015, the evening before the church was closed. Photo: Richard Khavkine

PARISHIONERS TO CONTINUE APPEAL OF CHURCH’S CLOSURE They say a Vatican decree contains a number of inconsistencies BY RICHARD KHAVKINE

Parishioners of Our Lady of Peace will appeal a Vatican decree upholding the closure of the nearly 100-year-old church by the Archdiocese of New York and its merger with a nearby parish. The decree, by the Congregation for the Clergy, followed ﬁve extensions by the Vatican body to allow it to gather and review more information from parishioners and the Archdiocese. Since appeals by various churches within the archdiocese also shuttered in 2015 were being looked at individually, parishioners were hopeful the Congregation would overturn the Archdiocese’s decree. “We had very high hopes,” said Janice Dooner Lynch, a longtime parishioner who is on the church’s appeals committee. “I don’t know what happened. I thought we had a good case.” Parishioners received a letter con-

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taining the decree on Jan. 9. They intend to appeal to the Apostolic Signatura, in effect the Vatican’s Supreme Court. “We move on and we won’t give up,” said Lynch, whose family has worshiped at Our Lady of Peace since 1921. The Archdiocese cited declining attendance, shifting demographics, ﬁnancial constraints and a shortage of priests for the closure and merger of Our Lady of Peace and dozens of other parishes in the city and across the region in late July 2015. Parishioners at Lady of Peace have since disputed each of the Archdiocese’s assertions to close the East 62nd Street church, whose parish was merged with the Church of Saint John the Evangelist on East 55th Street. The church’s appeals committee sent the Congregation roughly 10 volumes of documents, including ﬁnancial records, to try and persuade the Vatican the Archdiocese acted

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

ART OF FOOD Our Town’s

Presented by

The anti-Trump sentiment was strong, the signs spirited, and the chants, loud. By all accounts, the crowds attending the New York City Women’s March exceeded expectations. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s press secretary said the official count topped 400,000. Organizers had expected 100,000 to show up. Regardless of the exact turnout ﬁgure, women and men of all ages, families, millennials and teens turned out in full force the day following President Donald Trump’s inauguration to rally around the issues they care about. Vaughn Bobb Willis, a law student who walked with his two sisters, held up a sign that read “Quality men do not fear equality.”

Violet Smith, left, and Christine McGregor at the march Saturday. Photo: Charmaine P. Rice

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“Tiny hands Tiny feet, all you do is tweet, tweet, tweet.” Photo: Charmaine P. Rice “It’s important for men to do their part,” Willis said on East 55th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, near the march’s ﬁnish line. “If women aren’t equal, then none of us are. Women’s rights are human rights.” Whoopi Goldberg and actors Rosie Perez and Taylor Schilling kicked off the event at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza just before 11 a.m. Chirlane McCray, the ﬁrst lady of New York City, attended, as did actors Helen Mirren and Cynthia Nixon. Star power aside, marchers came from all walks of life to support a variety of causes, the vast majority of them progressive. “I came down here from New Hampshire. I fear for the future of the country and the future of my kids and grandkids,” said Violet Simpson. Simpson’s friend, teacher Christine McGregor, held up a sign listing issues and institutions she supports, among them unions, public education, refugees and LGBTQ rights. “My sign says it all,” she said.

Indeed, many signs said it all, with some depicting caricatures of Trump, catchy slogans and images of cats as a cheeky nod to Trump’s “locker room banter.” One sign gleefully proclaimed “Tiny hands, tiny feet. All you do is tweet, tweet, tweet!” Another stated “Make America tolerant again.” One was a riff on the Serenity Prayer: “I am no longer accepting things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” Inside the 57th Street subway station on Seventh Avenue, discarded signs were arranged into a display. “I’m here because I am appalled at his [Trump’s] attitudes toward

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UWS CHURCHES RECEIVE ‘SACRED SITES’ GIFTS The Landmarks Conservancy issues grants for the institutions’ architecture — and their commitment to community service BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

The $25,000 grant issued to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at West 91st Street and West End Avenue could almost be considered a birthday present. Annunciation turns 125 this year, and will use the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s gift to restore six water-damaged lancet windows and to repair interior water damage to walls and window sills, according to choir director Michael JanarosCoﬁeld. “It’s such a remarkable building,” Janaros-Coﬁeld said. “We’ve got one of the largest windows Tiffany studios ever created, we have stained glass by Benjamin Sellers, we’ve got a 1927 Skinner organ upstairs.” He added that the church is also hoping to renovate its E. Howard and Co. clock, which has not been functional in years. The building was designed by the archi-

tecture ﬁrm Heins and LaFarge, which also designed the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, and was completed in 1894. Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church at West 87th and West End also received a $25,000 grant for “structural repairs to the steel and masonry vaults supporting the sidewalk, as well as restoration work at entrance stairs [and] keeping water out of the basement,” according to the conservancy. Saint Ignatius, designed by Charles Haight, was completed in 1903 and features a vault by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino. Peg Breen, executive director of the Landmarks Conservancy, said her organization is careful to survey and study the religious institutions that receive money. ”We really try to keep up relationships with them to see who they’re working with and make sure that the work is done correctly,” Breen said. “They’re beautiful buildings. They really add to the history and the character and the streetscape of the neighborhood. They really show immigration patterns and different beautiful architectural styles.”

Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church at West 87th and West End will use a $25,000 grant for structural repairs and restoration work. Photo courtesy New York Landmarks Conservancy Annunciation and Saint Ignatius were standouts because of their architecture (though they are not New York City landmarks), and their commitment to community service. Annunciation’s programs, including a Russian language preschool and rehearsal space for the New York Gilbert and Sullivan players, welcome about 1,000 community members to the church every year. Saint Ignatius hosts more than 18,000 annually for

programs such as music groups and counseling for the mentally ill. The Conservancy Challenge Grants, as they are called, require that the receiving institution match the amount of the grant. According to Janaros-Coﬁeld, who also serves as church historian, Annunciation has raised $30,000 to supplement the Conservancy’s $25,000. The grant will certainly help address the most pressing needs, but repairs at both Annunciation and

Saint Ignatius are expected to cost each institution around $300,000. The Landmarks Conservancy is a private, nonproﬁt organization that helps preserve historic architecture, and recently awarded a total of $260,000 to religious properties throughout the state. Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@strausnews.com

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CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG STATS FOR THE WEEK Reported crimes from the 19th precinct Week to Date

Tony Webster, via ﬂickr

Year to Date

2017 2016

% Change

2017

2016

% Change

Murder

n/a

Rape

n/a

Robbery

200.0

0.0

Felony Assault

-50.0

100.0

Burglary

-62.5

-50.0

CENTRAL PARK WORST

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?

ASSAULT

Grand Larceny

-24.1

-14.5

Riding the subway can be enough of an ordeal, but for one man getting off it was even worse. At 11:10 p.m. on Jan. 10, a 35-year-old man had just left the subway station at 88th Street and Central Park West when a man approached him from behind at 86th Street and pointed a ﬁrearm at his stomach. The perpetrator demanded cash, and the victim removed his wallet from his pants before giving the thug $40 and his headphones. The mugger then ordered the victim not to move or call the cops while he ﬂed the location. Police searched the area but couldn’t locate the armed robber. The victim was not injured.

Three bad guys added injury to insult after a store employee tried to retrieve a stolen tip jar. At 1:55 a.m. on Jan. 11, an employee of the Hot & Crusty Bakery Cafe at 2393 Broadway followed three perpetrators into the street after one of them had taken the store’s tip jar and some cookies. When the culprits realized they were being followed, they hit the employee and reached into his left jeans pocket, taking his iPhone 6. The trio ﬂed northbound on Broadway. Police couldn’t ﬁnd them, but the tip jar did turn up on West 90th St. The total value of the items and cash stolen came to $430.

At noon on Saturday, January 14, an 18-year-old woman and her boyfriend got into a dispute inside her West 101st Street residence because her baby was throwing up, according a police account. The boyfriend got upset and pushed her against a wall before punching her on her right hip. He then took her cellphone and ran out of the building. The woman told police she was not hurt and refused medical attention.

Grand Larceny Auto

n/a

-100.0

JARRING EXPERIENCE

RAISING CANE

A young man got more than cold cuts at a local deli following an altercation. At 10:10 a.m. on Jan. 12, a 26-year-old man was having a verbal dispute with another individual inside the West Park Deli at 19 West 103rd Street when the latter struck the 26-year-old in the back of his head with a glass jar, cutting him. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. The cause of the dispute is unknown.

Police arrested a man in a cane attack. At 1:40 a.m. on Jan. 14, a witness went to retrieve a 42-year-old man’s mail from behind the front desk at 2508 Broadway. A third individual, a 50-year-old woman, had her back turned to the 42-year-old man who then struck her in the back with his cane. The victim complained of pain and discomfort in her back but refused medical attention. Israel Ogundola was arrested January 14 and charged with assault 2, using a blunt instrument.

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LOCAL TRUMP SUPPORTER GOES TO INAUGURATION A Manhattan Republican reflects on the long road to the swearing-in ceremony BY STEPHEN M. EVANS III

I had to be in Washington to witness Donald Trump become our nation’s 45th President. I am a New York Republican who volunteered up to 21 hours a day to help Trump win the Republican presidential nomination and ultimately the presidency. Being in Washington for the inaugural activities filled me with many emotions and observations. Several times, I found myself moved to tears. Seeing Trump place his hand on the Bible and take the oath of office was the end result of the exhausting work I did last year. It felt like something I had made a reality. It was exciting, rewarding, and miraculous. As Trump gave his inaugural address, it became clear that Trump intends to keep his campaign promises. I expect politicians to backpedal on their campaign promises. His decision to reaffirm those promises produced more tears of joy and pride. Surrounded by iconic symbols of our great nation, Lee Greenwood’s performance of “God Bless the U.S.A.” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial also brought me to tears. Volunteering on the Trump campaign, I came to know Trump supporters as mostly being good, decent people with a passionate love for this nation. At the swearing-in cer-

emony, I found myself in a sea of people wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats. By the thousands, those hats came off the moment anyone started to sing the National Anthem, say the Pledge of Allegiance, or offer a prayer. Sometimes my fellow Trump supporters embarrassed me. Some booed Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, and Charles Schumer. As a Republican in Manhattan, I am well-acquainted with how painful it is to lose an election. Clinton and Sanders were digniﬁed in their loss, and they deserved to be treated with dignity. Not everyone lost with dignity. Protesters blocked the entrance to the swearing-in ceremony. I discreetly ﬂashed my tickets to a National Guard member. A mix of soldiers and police officers had to get me through the wall of protesters to attend the swearing-in ceremony. The media seems far more interested in reporting on the size of the crowd on the mall, but I have seen few stories on the blocked entrances to the National Mall. Except for the blocked entrance, I otherwise encountered few protesters until I tried to leave Washington. I missed my train due to protesters clogging streets and the Metro the day after the inauguration. I did not attend the Deploraball, which seemed to be the focus of the worst protests.

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Information for inclusion in the Out and About section should be emailed to hoodhappenings@strausnews.com no later than two weeks before the event.

Waiting to see the President at the Freedom Ball reminded me of waiting to see the ball drop in Times Square. Both required waiting hours in a prime viewing location. I had to be careful purchasing souvenirs. The cheap ones were for the Clinton-Kaine Inauguration. I could not imagine why these were produced more than two months before

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Stephen M. Evans III and his sister, Jenny Wennerberg, at President Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday.

President Donald Trump speaks in front of the Capitol during his inaugural address. Photo: Voice of America, via Wikimedia Commons

the event. I think I received my tickets to the swearing-in ceremony from Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who boycotted the ceremony. I am thankful his office gave me this experience. Stephen M. Evans III is the New York Republican State Committeeman in the 75th Assembly District and a former city council candidate.

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THE CLIMATE CONVERSATION HEATS UP

AL GORE AN EVENING WITH

Wednesday, February 22 | 7:30 PM

Ten years after the release of the Oscarwinning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, the community of nations put the historic Paris Agreement into force, committing to work together to solve the global climate crisis. Now, on the heels of the US presidential election, the way forward on climate action is uncertain.

Joining us to discuss the issue is climate advocate and former vice president Al Gore, who is confronting the climate crisis with ever more determination. During his inspiring presentation, he will pose key questions about our ability to ensure a sustainable future, then, using the latest data, offer solutions that are good for the planet and good for our economy. As the climate conversation heats up on the national and world stage, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss this illuminating event.

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JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN: WHY I LOVE ART AND FOOD ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE There are many wonderful Upper East Side restaurants participating in Our Town’s Art of Food at Sotheby’s on Saturday evening, February 4th. Which are some of the restaurants you like to go to? There are so many Upper East Side places that I love to frequent. I try to get to Sant Ambroeus as often as I

Upper East Side deliver excellent quality product yet still have that wonderful “neighborhood place” feel.

You run so many successful restaurants, you have a thriving TV career, how do you balance work and family life? There is no such thing as balance. You

can in the mornings for an espresso. Tony Fortuna at T Bar is one of my best friends so going to his restaurant feels like going home - I love it. And the kids pull me in to Magnolia every chance they get.

are always running from one side of the pendulum to the other depending on who needs attention. It’s a wonderful struggle that makes me thrive.

At the event, there will be art for sale from Jeff Koons, Christo and Yayoi Kusama, to name a few. Do you believe art and food intersect, and if so, how? Of

Tell us a little bit about your cookbook, “My Perfect Pantry” and Pro For Home? I wanted to write a

course! Chefs nourish people physically as well as entertain, and one could say we deliver pleasure to the senses in a similar way that artists do. Fine Art lasts a bit longer, but Food Art, although short-lived, you can taste.

Would you like to open up a restaurant on the Upper East Side in the future? Yes. Ideally, very small, very French and very fun...

How does art influence you as a restaurateur? I admire the way an artist can use an obscure perspective to translate emotion, beauty, sadness...all intangible emotions. They can put them down using different mediums to become tangible. Food start as tangible but translates in to many different emotions once you eat it. Taking in to account the artists process, I consider food or recipe ideas I may have and say “How can I look at this differently”. Similar to what Picasso and his peers did with Cubism. It was an entire new way - taking something 3-D and translating it in 2-D keeping the same effect as when it was in the traditional still life form. It makes me think, in what way can I manipulate ﬂavors or combine two things that weren’t obvious previously. It’s hard to completely quantify the inﬂuence that art has on me as a restaurateur but for sure, I continually turn to many different artists for inspiration. I love the impact it makes.

Our Town’s Art of Food hosts Margaret and Geoffrey Zakarian. Photo: Ramsay de Give

What makes the Upper East Side neighborhood unique? Can you share with us three things that make the Upper East Side distinctive? The proximity to Central Park. Walking the Poet’s Walk

to Bethesda Fountain then exiting and strolling up Madison to get a coffee is second to none. The shopping is world class with boutiques and service unparalleled. And the restaurants on the

book that describes how the essential items that you need in your pantry. No one has paid attention to that before and showing people that you don’t need everything, you just need the right things I thought was an important message. The message you always hear is about the fresh ingredient or the seasons, but really, you need an organized and complete set of pantry items to be a successful cook and or chef. This was the goal of the book. People have loved it and we keep selling out. It’s that perfect countertop resource book. You think, “I have breadcrumbs...what can I make with breadcrumbs?” I’ve given the reader 3 recipes per pantry item. It makes it all so easy. And starting with this idea, we knew we needed to design storage. It is another often overlooked area, and I wanted to give home cooks similar tools and methods that we have in the restaurants for prolonging the freshness of their food. Zakarian Pro For Home radically changes how we store food and make our dollars go further to decrease food waste. They are air tight, they stack, they nest and you can label directly on the front of the lid. Most importantly, they look beautiful and save you loads of space in your fridge.

Anything else? Margaret and I look forward to welcoming you at Our Town’s Art of Food at Sotheby’s Saturday, February 4. Tickets are available at artoffoodny.com. -Sponsored Content

FOOD THAT WARMS YOUR BONES Philippe Roussel has been working in kitchens for 30 years, 23 of them in New York City. A third-generation chef hailing from Brittany, in France, Roussel presides over the kitchen at Café D’Alsace, on Second Avenue at 88th Street. Who inspired your love of cooking? My father was a chef. I grew up watching

him in the kitchen, eating and trying everything he would create. Once I realized traditional school wasn’t for me, my father connected me with wonderful mentors and I ended up following in his footsteps. What are some of the classic Cafe D’Alsace dishes? My menu is based on traditional, rustic dishes. The kind of old fashioned foods that warm your bones, so the Choucroute Gar-

nie, Baeckeoffe, Duck Choucroute and Tarte Flambée are cornerstones of my menu. What do you like to cook at home? When I’m at home I like to keep it simple. A grilled or sauteed ﬁsh or meat and a salad. Something delicious but simply prepared. Your number one cooking tip? Cook what you like to eat.

Philippe Roussel, Chef at Café D’Alsace

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

Meet some the chefs Saturday, February 4

ART OF FOOD Our Town’s

AT SOTHEBY’S

Presented by

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CRAFTING ART Magnolia Bakery’s Bobbie Lloyd learned from three generations How did you get in the culinary world? What inspires you? My original inspiration came from baking with my greatgrandmother, my mother and my grandmother at a very young age. We were always baking, cookies and pies and desserts relating to the holidays. I was really lucky to get to bake with my great-grandmother. She was from that generation where you didn’t go to someone’s house without bringing something with you that you actually made — now you bring a bottle of wine and open it — it wasn’t like that back then. I took my first professional cooking course at the age of 8, it really inspired my love of food and cooking, which ended up with me going to culinary school in Boston in my early 20s. Why baking over cooking? Pastry is really zen-like in the way you work with it. With cooking, you taste and test and along the way, but pastry is an art form in the sense that you don’t know what the end is going to be until you finish the product and have it in front of you. Your number one baking tip? Read your recipe thoroughly from beginning to end and set up ingredients before you start baking. So often, people don’t measure properly, or their oven isn’t preheated — which is always the first thing a recipe tells you — preheat your oven!

There are details in a recipe for a reason; patience is a virtue when it comes to baking. What is the best part of job as chief baking officer? Well, first of all, I have this awesome fun title — and I get to create new product. How fun is that? Who gets to do that? It’s a great thing to be able to come up with, develop, and recreate flavors and watch people be happy as a result. What is your favorite menu item at Magnolia Bakery right now? I’m happy that you said “right now,” since my favorites are always changing. Currently, it’s definitely our cupcake of the month for January called Magic Cake, which is kind of a play on the Girl Scouts Samoa cookie. It’s coconut cake with coconut-caramel-pecan filling, chocolate ganache glaze, caramel buttercream and caramel drizzle and coconut ganache. It is so incredibly good. Are you into art at all? Yes, of course! Last night my husband and I went to an arts fair downtown, and after an hour and a half I couldn’t walk around anymore because it was all just too great. Our walls are full of art, we actually can’t buy anymore artwork because there’s really nowhere it put it. I find that I’m drawn to early 20th century modern art Impressionism. It’s really hard to pick a favorite artist, it’s like having to pick a favorite food, but if I had to pick one it’d have to be Picasso.

FROM THE HEART Chef Alberto Andrei, of Sant Ambroeus Madison Avenue, concocts Italian delicacies with traditional accents

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comes from the heart. There doesn’t have to be an explanation, it’s the same when you love someone: you can’t really tell why ... if you could, it wouldn’t be love!

Where are you from? I’m from Desenzano del Garda, a very nice city located on the southern shore of Lake Garda ... . Growing there gave me a lot of chances to know different cultures and languages, since it is a well-known touristic place. Tourists visit from all over the world, especially from northern Europe.

What is your number one cooking tip? The golden rule: cook everything as it is for a loved one.

Where does your passion for cooking come from? My love of cooking ... as any other love, it

Your favorite thing about New York City? Manhattan makes me feel part of something bigger ... full of opportunities!

What is your favorite thing to prepare at home? Bread, just simple, tasty, nice bread.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE At Lusardi’s, Claudio Meneghini fuses traditional northern Italian dishes with modern technique How did you get started in the culinary world? I am from the northeast of Italy, a white wine producing area, Frioli. I started in the kitchen when I was about 13 years old, and lived and cooked in Italy there until I was about 26, and then I went to London for seven years, then back to Italy for another two to run a family restaurant with my parents. But after a few years I realized it wasn’t for me. It was too countryside, too slow. I needed something else, so I decided to come here to New York. Tell me about Lusardi’s. I started at this restaurant started in 2001, they had an existing menu, but I put in some additional items and we do seasonal specials as well. This time of year we do a lot of white mushrooms, root vegetables, butternut squash, chestnuts, artichokes and so on. The owners, Mario and Luigi Lusardi, are from Emilia-Romagna, which I consider to be the food capital of Italy, which is why I’ve been

with them for such a long time, because we are on the same page in many ways. Your favorite thing to make at home? Well, at home, the easiest thing to make for an Italian is a plate of pasta. Spaghetti with tomato sauce is the number one thing that anyone can eat: a kid, a grandfather, a mother, anyone. It’s the thing Italians enjoy the most when they cook at home. But of course, there is a variety of things I like to make, such as fricco, which is a traditional Friulian dish made with potatoes, Vidalia onions and Montaggio cheese. It becomes crispy on the outside and soft inside and is served with fresh polenta. This is something people from my region make at home when they have friends or somebody over. What is your number one cooking tip? My main suggestion is very simple, when cooking Italian use three ingredients — maximum four, and don’t go over. Keep it simple, and straight to the point. This way, you don’t confuse the ﬂavors and you don’t confuse the customers.

FASHIONING FLAVORS Lee Anne Wong of Sweetcatch Poke brings a taste of Aloha to the city What is the story behind Sweetcatch? Bobby wanted to open a poke shop. We’ve known each other for years. The goal was to bring something authentic and better to what the mainland had been introduced to as “poke,” which are more build your own sushi bowls than anything. I think my motivation was to create the real deal and use a higher quality ﬁsh than what is currently being served at other poke shops. There has been a lot of controversy here in Hawaii regarding how Hawaiian chefs feel about the new poke trend on mainland which for the most part is a far cry from the quality and traditional styles that we see here. I felt this was a great opportunity to introduce true Hawaiian style poke to my old hometown of NYC. How did you get into the culinary world? I didn’t begin cooking for myself until I was in college. I had worked in restaurants since I was a teenager so food service was part of my life already but I went to college for fashion design and eventually ended up going to culinary school when I turned 21. My friends were actually the ones who told me to go to culinary school. I had been living in a 200-square-foot apartment in Times Square with a futon mattress on the ﬂoor

and a 13” box TV on the floor. I got channels 2 through 13 and by some miracle, I got channel 50 which was the Food Network. I began obsessively watching and the cooking for my friends. To this day I believe they told me to go to school to improve the quality of what I was cooking for them! What is your favorite thing to cook at home? I like long cooking stews and braises like chicken and dumplings or short ribs. It’s hard to enjoy as much now that I’m in Hawaii and it’s constantly 70-plus degrees out year round, but I love things that take time to cook. The end result is so satisfying when you get it right. Does your background in fashion inﬂuence your culinary career at all? I think my background in art has helped me in developing my plating style. Obviously both involve working with your hands, but cooking is so much more tangible and immediate than fashion design: I view my plate as the canvas and how I decide to plate as my expression. I think about color, texture, height, architecture, contrast, positive and negative space on the plate. Different looks for a dish will illicit different reactions so we are always thinking about how to make it taste great ﬁrst and how to make it irresistible to the eyes secondly.

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

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

PASTRAMI AND A CUP OF JOE EAST SIDE OBSERVER BY ARLENE KAYATT

From the mouths of tourists — Can’t beat or resist a midday $3 Mango Mojito — a really good one — at Eastern Pacific Thai restaurant on 34th/Third and Lex, where I learned from tourists visiting from Vermont that the Affinia Hotel, a block east between Third and Lex, is going condo. A husband and wife, who have been coming to New York twice a year for the last 15 years, were bemoaning the loss of their favorite places in New York. And now their go-to hotel was going condo. Things were changing at the hotel in the last few years. The hotel’s restaurant, Barking Dog, with its patio for outside dining, was an oasis in mid Manhattan. The couple found their way to the Thai restaurant because one of the waiters from Bark-

ing Dog was now working there. Kind of sad when tourists are losing and missing the New YOrk they’ve been coming back to over and over again. At least they get to go back to a place that’s been there forever and probably stays pretty much the same. Not like us Manhattan denizens who just keep losing and missing parts and pieces of the fabric of New York. Change is inevitable. Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes not. Whatever, you feel the loss. When Carnegie the Deli met Trump the food court — The buzz was, after the Carnegie Deli closed its doors forever, that only Madison Square Garden was selling Carnegie Deli pastrami. And Noah Remnick’s recent New YOrk Times article, “Where the Carnegie Deli Yet Lives, on Certain Nights,” reported on the fate of the famous deli’s pastrami. Well, Noah, you missed the hot table at Trump Tower food court in the

atrium where the printed menu on the counter explicitly says, “Carnegie Deli Pastrami.” Somewhat surprised, I inquired of the counter staff — they actually sent out the chef — about their carrying Carnegie Deli pastrami. They couldn’t conﬁrm or deny, but “if that’s what it says, then that’s what it says,” they assured me. The chef was a little more Trump-savvy by suggesting that maybe Trump’s butcher was the same as Carnegie’s. Good try, Chef. Maybe. At the end of the day, I can see Trump ads promoting the pastrami by saying that MSG’s not the only NYC seller of the Carnegie Deli brand. And that pastrami at Trump doesn’t have MSG. There you go. FIKA/MTA redux — Several weeks ago I noted what I called newly opened “headquarters” for at least one bus facilitator/captain at FIKA coffee shop at the 42nd and Lex bus stop. Not to worry. It’s alive and well and up and running. The captain — looked like the same guy to me — is still sitting front and

Voices

center at the FIKA window counter facing the bus stop. His paperwork paraphernalia still at the ready along with a cellphone and a cup of joe. When a bus arrives at the stop, he still gets up from his seat, goes out, and meets the driver. Life is good at the MTA. New contract. Leisurely gig for the captain. Too bad the same can’t be said for MTA bus service. It’s as bad as ever. Long wait times. Off schedule. Drivers skipping bus stops along the route if no one is standing at the bus stop or a rider forgets to hit the Stop Request. Empty buses whizzing by without stopping at designated bus stops. A caravan of four, ﬁve, maybe six, buses in a row in various stages of being Limited, Not in Service, In Training. And bus stops are not in locations where they’ve always been. And there’s nothing letting riders know where to ﬁnd the nearest bus stop. This is now a yuge problem on 57th Street between Fifth and Madison in front of Tiffany’s at Trump Tower where there was a bus stop for the M31 and M57. No more. The

bus stop sign hasn’t been removed and there’s no sign saying where the nearest bus stop is located. Oh, FIKA, 57th Street needs you. The Republicans want your money — I found it hard to believe — well maybe disconcerting — that the Manhattan Republican Party and The Metropolitan Republican Club on East 83rd were charging a $10 admission fee for those on their email list to come hear prospective Republican Mayoral candidates talk about their vision for NY. On Jan 30, mayoral hopeful Paul Massey will be telling the gathered about his vision. The Party and Club assure that other possible contenders, including former candidate John Catsimatidis will be invited to speak in the future. I’m assuming that there will be another $10 admission. They promise light refreshments and a survey to ﬁll out so the Club and Party can endorse around April 1. How nice of them.

LIFE CYCLE MOMENTS GRAYING NEW YORK BY MARCIA EPSTEIN

Thirteen years ago, John and I walked across Central Park after we got a phone call that my grandchild was about to be born. When we arrived at Mt. Sinai Hospital, I learned that the baby was a girl, and that her name would be Jessica Rose. Little Jessica grew into a bit of a hellion: she upturned the salt at restaurants, when she was not under the table or running around between the tables. But of course she was an adorable child and her pretty little face and impish smile captivated us all. Along came two little brothers, and time marched on. On Saturday, Jan. 7, I watched as my devilish little granddaughter, transformed into a beautiful young woman, chanted the haftarah at her bat mitzvah. I am not religious and neither is my daughter, but tradition is tradition and Jessica wanted to do this. My little Jessica, now on the verge of

womanhood, cheeks blooming and eyes sparkling, handled the event with such self-confidence and dignity that it brought tears to my eyes. I thought again of how my Aunt Chana, who left Poland for America with my father, always said, “Let the family grow.” Well, it has, and how I wish she could somehow know about “this little bud that is now flowering,” as my daughter said to her own daughter at the ceremony. I was a proud grandmother, indeed. On to other subjects. I went to lunch on Long Island with John and his sister on a recent Saturday. At the next table were two young women, somewhere in their 20s. One of them was on her cell phone the entire meal. I couldn’t help noticing that she didn’t say a word to her dining partner; didn’t even lift her head. Along came the owner/manager with a slice of birthday cake and candle. In the most amazing voice, he sang “Happy Birthday” to the one without the cellphone. His beautiful voice, flourishes and all,

Photo: Candida.Performa, via ﬂickr awed the whole room. Except for the young woman on the cellphone, who never looked up. Not once did she glance at her friend or the singer or the cake or the meal. Her friend might as well have been alone. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, just waiting for her to smile or talk or somehow acknowledge what was happening around her. It never happened; she never took her eyes off her phone. Is this the new norm? I’m sure this was

an extreme case of ... what? Rudeness, or just what is happening in the culture now. I surely hope not, because if it is, someday humankind will lose all ability to voice their thoughts and need machines to do it for them. I was both mesmerized and appalled at the scene. We all gave the singer a hearty bravo to make up for the disinterest of the cellphone-struck young woman. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief. I ﬁrst heard of Joan Price on Senior

Planet when she responded to a woman who felt she had to give up on sex because of insecurity about her body and her ability to please a man. Joan reassured the woman that she was not defective because her body was aging. Price is the author of “The Ultimate Guide to Sex after 50: How to Maintain — or Regain — A Spicy, Satisfying Sex Life.” Visit her blog (www.nakedatourage.com) and her Facebook page. She has also written a memoir, “Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex after Sixty.” Older women need these positive messages and need to know that they are not undesirable or “defective” because they’re not 25 anymore. Joan calls herself an “advocate for ageless sexuality.” Joan fell in love at the age of 57 after long years of being single. This new passion is what led her to write her memoir. I know many women who are not at all interested in sex after 60, but I know many who are. Neither should be judged; we are who we are. But positive messages about our aging bodies and varying needs is so important. I’m about to order Joan’s books, and know I will ﬁnd them inspiring. Perhaps you will too.

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JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

Almost Sold Out! Sat February 4 at Sotheby’s

Some of the Artists featured include:

ED RUSCHA YAYOI KUSAMA CHRISTO JONAS WOOD GERHARD RICHTER JEFF KOONS WAYNE THIEBAUD ALEXANDER CALDER SOL LEWITT ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG & MORE

AMERICAN CUT Daniel Eardley ATLANTIC GRILL Joyce Rivera BLAKE LANE Kevin Wilson CAFE D’ALSACE Philippe Roussel CANDLE 79 Angel Ramos CRAVE FISHBAR Todd Mitgang EAST POLE Joseph Capozzi EASTFIELDS KITCHEN & BAR Joseph Capozzi FREDS AT BARNEYS NEW YORK Mark Strausman FLEX MUSSELS Rebecca Richards JONES WOOD FOUNDRY Jason Hicks LUSARDI’S Claudio Meneghini MAGNOLIA BAKERY Bobbie Lloyd MAYA Richard Sandoval

MIGHTY QUINN’S BARBEQUE Hugh Mangum NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN Ross Posmentier 5 NAPKIN BURGER Andy D’Amico ORWASHERS BAKERY Keith Cohen PAOLA’S Stefano Marracino SAHIB Hemant Mathur SANT AMBROEUS MADISON AVENUE Andrea Bucciarelli SEAMSTRESS Jordy Lavanderos SHAKE SHACK Mark Rosati SWEETCATCH POKE Lee Anne Wong T-BAR STEAK Benjamin Zwicker THE MEATBALL SHOP Daniel Holzman THE PENROSE Nick Testa VAUCLUSE Michael White

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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

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JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

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Sat 28

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New York Society Library, 53 East 79th St. 6:30-8 p.m. $16 Donna Kaz, a.k.a Aphra Behn, shares experiences as a Guerrilla Girl who created comedic art and theater, blasting blatant sexism of the theater world. 212-288-6900. nysoclib.org

French Institute Alliance Francaise, 22 East 60th St. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free From photos of hydroelectric facility and nuclear power plant in Alsace, Mathieu Bernard-Reymond has mutated industrial landscapes into troubling poetic compositions. 212-355-6100. ďŹ at.org

ANCIENT SUNDIALS â&#x2013;˛

CANADIAN SOUNDS

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The Kosciuzko Foundation, 15 East 65th St. Noon-1:30 p.m. $10 Ensemble Resonance celebrates Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 150th birthday with new works that integrate acoustic and electroacoustic music with multimedia elements. 212-734-2130. thekf.org

St. John Nepomucene Slovak Roman Catholic Church, 411 East 66th St. 8-10 p.m. $150 Recording artists from Northern Ireland, The Priests, performing at beneďŹ t concert. 212-734-4613. eastrivercatholics.org

Inst. for the Study of the Acient World, 15 East 84th St. 6-7 p.m. Free Lecture considers one type of Roman sundial represented in exhibition not sufficiently appreciated from geographical, cultural and social perspectives. 212-992-7800. isaw.nyu.edu

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MOON OVER MANHATTANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Asia Society, 725 Park Ave. 1-5 p.m. $12 Adults $5 Kids. Asia Society rings in the Year of the Rooster with performances and traditional craft activities inspired by Lunar New Year traditions across Asia. 212-288-6400. asiasociety. org

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com AT THE CHURCH OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA 980 PARK AVENUE between 83rd and 84th K. SCOTT WARREN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Heavenly Music in the Neighborhood

Sun 29 ‘TAKE FIVE’ ▲ All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington Ave. 5-7 p.m. Award-winning Aeolus Quartet are featured in a unique arrangement of Paul Desmond’s jazz standard “Take Five” for piano quintet. 212-794-3646. musicaviva. org

RUSSIAN EXODUS Ida K. Lang Recital Hall, 695 Park Ave. 3 p.m. $30 Among the great artists who escaped Russian in 1917, like Rachmaninoff, Heifetz, Gretchaninoff, was Vladimir Drozdoff, whose work is performed this evening. 212-772-4000. hunter.cuny. edu

Mon 30

7:30-10 p.m. $28 The novelist discusses his recent novel, “4 3 2 1.” 212-415-5500. 92y.org

Tue 31 ‘IMMERSION ROOM’ Cooper Hewitt, 2 East 91st St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $16 Immersion Room offers visitors experience of selecting digital images of wallpapers, or their own designs, and to project them onto walls at full scale. 212-849-8400. cooperhewitt. org

Wed 1 ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC St. Ignatius Loyola, 980 Park Ave. 7 p.m. $20+ The leading proponent of Arvo Pärt’s music in the world, perfromed by the Grammy award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. 212-288-2520. smssconcerts.org

PHOTO: LAURIE LAMBRECHT

ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER CHOIR: Music of Arvo Pärt

GOLDA MEIR PIANO TRIO ▼ Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria, 121 East 62nd St. 7 p.m. Free Classical program includes works by Schubert and Haydn interpreted by Georgy Valtchev, violin, and Lora Tchekoratova, piano. 212-935-4646. consulbulgaria-ny.org

Temple Emanu-El, 1 East 65th St. 10:30-11:30 a.m. $36 Private tour with curator: gain deeper understanding of the American-raised woman who became a founder of Israel and its fourth prime minister. 201-552-1818. emanuelnyc. org

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1—7 PM

The leading proponent of Arvo Pärt’s music in the world, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir has won two Grammy awards for recordings of Pärt’s works. Co-presented with the Arvo Pärt Project at St. Vladimir’s Seminary

UPON THIS HANDFUL OF EARTH

World Premiere Opera by Gisle Kverndokk FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24—7 PM Inspired by and featuring Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s “Mass on the World,” Kverndokk’s opera tells the stories of people whose lives have been irrevocably altered by environmental catastrophes. Co-presented with The New York Opera Society

‘PETITES HISTOIRES’ PROGRAM

PAUL AUSTER 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave.

OTHER UPCOMING CONCERTS

ȏ Eric Whitacre Singers: Music for Sacred Spaces Sunday, March 5—4 PM ȏ N.P. Mander Organ Recital: K. Scott Warren Sunday, March 26—3 PM

La Librairie des Enfants, 163 East 92nd St. 2 p.m. $42 Join a series of sessions for children including reading and song in French language. 646-590-2797. lalibrairiedesenfants.nyc

PHOTO: KAUPO KIKKAS

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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

CAMP GUIDE

2017 WELCOME TO DAY CAMP! BY MARLA COLEMAN

Children learn life skills that become habits of the heart. Another mother wrote that the family was on a ski trip. The son got to the top of a steep hill and started to panic. The mom said, “What would you do if you were at camp?” and he proceeded to engage himself in positive self-talk that was part of the camp culture: “It may take time, it may be hard; but stick with it, and you’ll be fine!” He skied down with a huge sense of accomplishment and perseverance. It’s tough to be a kid these days. It’s tough to be a parent. In a society where the nature of the family, the work place, and the community have changed dramatically, we can no longer assume that the natural process of

growing up will provide children the experiences and the resources they need to become successful, contributing adults. In sharp contrast to the traditions of growing up in the 50s and 60s, today we live in the ﬁrst moment when humans receive more of their information second-hand than ﬁrst! We are in a climate where it is harder to know what we need to survive, so drawing on experiences that give children healthy alternatives and opportunities to instill capabilities, the hallmarks of thriving, is the greatest gift you can give a young child. Does it really matter if my child doesn’t go to day camp, especially since she will go to overnight camp in a few years? She is only four years old

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Photo: Anthony Quintano, via ﬂickr

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

WELCOME TO DAY CAMP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; why does she need day camp? Camp provides one of the very few links with a world larger than the consumer culture we inhabit â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and day camp is one important choice in a quiver of options. The camp experience helps children and youth develop an appreciation of their place and their responsibility in a much larger universe. A preschooler â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or even an older child who might be reluctant to go to overnight camp â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can join a community that is created especially for her to practice growing up. Why wait until age ten when the beneďŹ ts of feeling connected and being able to contribute and navigate at an earlier age can be reaped? Under the supervision of inspiring guides and passionate coaches, children can feel successful and make new friends while having the time of their lives; they can experience belonging and contribution; they can have a sense of consistency and predictability in times of turbulence and change. Day camp can begin as early as age three, and is geared to children who get to experience camp and still return home each evening! They have the best of both worlds â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the camp community which is built exclusively for kids and their own home which provides the security they need at a

tender age. One day camp parent said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;While my children and I are constantly bombarded by the news which is focused on what is wrong with the world, camp is a living example of what is right.â&#x20AC;? Day camp is a terrific first experience. Reminiscent of less complicated days, when people connected with nature, thrived on inter-generational relationships, and made new discoveries, everything is designed and scaled to ensure that children feel included, cared about, and capable. Beginning camp at an early age provides important advantages. Camp is the best demonstration of moral and spiritual order â&#x20AC;&#x201D; democracy is the core purpose. Children learn life skills and behaviors that become habits of the heart. While many then move on to overnight camp, others will be content to continue the day camp experience: after all, there is a camp for everyone â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and that might well be day camp! To learn more about camp and child development, please visit the American Camp Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family-dedicated Web site: www.ACAcamps.org or call the toll-free number 1-800-428-CAMP (2267). Marla Coleman is the parent liaison at Camp Echo in Burlingham, New York. A past board chair of the American Camp Association, she is a co-owner of Coleman Family Camps, which includes Camp Echo and Coleman Country Day Camp.

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

Photo: Peter & Joyce Grace, via ďŹ&#x201A;ickr

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JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

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TOP 10 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT CAMP

A Premier Day Camp for Boys and Girls LOCATED IN NEARBY ROCKLAND COUNTY, JUST 30 MINUTES FROM THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE

A UNIQUE CAMP EXPERIENCE for Boys & Girls, Ages 3-15

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Photo: Clarkston SCAMP, via ďŹ&#x201A;ickr BY THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION

Camp has become a staple of the summer season. Each year, millions of children, youth, and adults head to the hills, lakes, valleys, and parks to participate in the time-honored tradition of camp. And, while most people easily conjure up images of campďŹ res and canoes, there is a lot more to the camp experience. Here are ten of the things you may not have known about the camp experience. 10. Camp is older than dirt, almost literally. Started in 1861, the camp experience turned an impressive 150 years young in 2011. The secret behind the longevity? â&#x20AC;&#x153;One hundred and ďŹ fty-ďŹ ve years later, there is a camp for every child,â&#x20AC;? said Tom Rosenberg, president and chief executive officer for the American Camp AssociationÂŽ (ACA). â&#x20AC;&#x153;from specialized camps to

general, traditional camps, the essence of the camp experience is stronger than ever.â&#x20AC;? 9. Camp is worth its weight in gold, and then some! The camp experience is life-changing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; developing friendships and memories that last well beyond the ďŹ nal campďŹ re. And, there is a camp for literally every budget. Often camps offer special pricing or ďŹ nancial assistance, and some camp experiences qualify for tax credits or for payment with pre-tax dollars. Visit ACAcamps.org for more information. 8. Green is â&#x20AC;&#x153;zen.â&#x20AC;? Research shows that first-hand experience with nature, like those at camp, reduce stress in children and help them better handle stress in the future. In addition to teaching children how to be good stewards of the environment, camps are teaching

children how to enjoy the world around them and take a minute to breathe deep and feel the nature, which ultimately teaches them how to de-stress the natural way. 7. Mommies and Daddies do it too. Camp is not just for children and youth. There are family camp experiences, and camps for single adults, senior adults, and any adult that wants to relax and enjoy all camp has to offer. Adults beneďŹ t from the same sense of community, authentic relationships, and self-discovery that children do. Camp is an excellent vacation option, allowing adults to try a variety of new activities in a safe and fun environment. 6. Try this on for size! Camp is a great place to try new activities and hobbies. Afraid of rock walls? According to ACA

Discover the Magic of Camp Ramaquois!

(845) 354-1600 WWW.RAMAQUOIS.COM 30 MOUNTAIN ROAD, POMONA, NEW YORK 10970

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JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

THE MAGIC OF CAMP BY MICHAEL THOMPSON

Why are people so loyal to their sleep away camps? What exactly happens at camp that makes people rhapsodize about the experience thirty or forty years later? Whenever I tell people that I am curious about the camp experience, the stories start to pour out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I loved my camp,â&#x20AC;? they say in a dreamy voice. What is it about the summer camp experience â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just a few weeks away for perhaps two or three seasons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that goes so deep under their skin? As a psychologist, I am curious about the mystery of camp. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the magic ingredient? After a whole summer of sitting in on campfires, cabin chats, and dining hall sing-alongs; after laughing through a lot of silly campfire skits; after watching kids compete in color wars and canoeing contests and stage first-rate productions

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www.cotef.org Contact us at 609-971-1799 or info@cotef.org

Finally, if camps are successful, they create a private world with its own rules and rituals and magic. Deep down, all children want to have their own adventures with no (apparent) safety net. Suburban life and school donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide children with much of an arena for adventure or their imaginations. Camps have the ability to create that world that belongs only to a child and his or her friends. Now that is magic. Michael Thompson, Ph.D., is the coauthor of Raising Cain. He is presently writing a book about camps and overnight school trips called Homesick and Happy and can be contacted at michaelthompson.phd@gmail.com. Adapted from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Magic of Camp?â&#x20AC;? Originally published in the September 2010 issue of Camp e-News. Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association. ÂŠ2010, American Camping Association, Inc.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? Email us at NEWS@STRAUSNEWS.COM

Photo: Peter & Joyce Grace, via ďŹ&#x201A;ickr

Children of the Earth Foundation

of Broadway musicals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m closer to an answer. First, it is absolutely magical for kids to be away from their parents. The sweetest, most satisfying moments of childhood (think back to your own life) are almost always when you are away from your parents. Children are suddenly free to face challenges and accomplishments that are theirs alone â&#x20AC;&#x201D; experiences that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be run through the parental cognitive-ruminative-metabolic-judicial machinery. Secondly, the relationship between campers and counselors is pure gold. The younger kids love and admire the counselors, and that respect brings out the best in young adults. They are at their most responsible, compassionate, and loving when they are put in charge of younger children, and the younger children knock themselves out trying to impress these young demi-gods.

The Cathedral Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer STEAM Camp The Cathedral Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer STEAM Camp is a chance for inquisitive 5-12 year old girls and boys to delve deep into the ďŹ elds of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math while still having traditional summer fun. Our campers explore programming, robotics, circuits, stop-motion video, engineering, game development, chemistry, 3-D printing art, and music. Each Friday, the campers experience STEAM in the city by going on fun and exciting ďŹ eld trips. Cathedralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s STEAM camp takes advantage of the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state-of-the-art classrooms, talented faculty, and dedicated young Cathedral alumni counselors. Outdoors, campers can enjoy the 13-acre Cathedral Close, Morningside Park, and Central Park.

SIX WEEKS OF STEAM FUN Sign up for one - or all six - of our terriďŹ c STEAM weeks: t -JWJOH (SFFO XJUI 45&". VSCBO TVTUBJOBCJMJUZ UISPVHI TDJFODF t 8IBU %P :PV ,OPX "CPVU ) 0 XBUFS XBUFS FWFSZXIFSF t $JSDVJU $JSDVT DPNQVUFS DPEJOH DJSDVJUSZ BOE UIF QPXFS PG DPNQVUFST t #FZPOE 3 % PVS WFSZ QPQVMBS SPCPUJDT XFFL t #MPDL CZ #MPDL CVJMEJOH UFTUJOH BOE DSFBUJOH BT FOHJOFFST t 'FFM UIF 3IZUIN 'FFM UIF 7JCF DSFBUJOH FMFDUSPOJD NVTJD BOE TPOHXSJUJOH Sign up today at cathedralnyc.org. For more information, contact Camp Director Emmanuel Saldana at steamcamp@cathedralnyc.org

Asphalt Green Summer Day Camp 2017 Get ready for the best summer ever! Ages: 4Â˝ to 15 4XJN t 4QPSUT t "SUT t 'JFME USJQT t 4QFDJBM FWFOUT t 5IFNF EBZT "OE NPSF "SF ZPV SFBEZ GPS ZPVS DBNQFS UP FOKPZ B TVNNFS PG GVO m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

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

AGES 4½ TO 15 SWIM • SPORTS • ARTS • FIELD TRIPS • SPECIAL EVENTS • THEME DAYS • BUS SERVICE

Join the fun! Camp starts June 29. Full summer, four-week, and ﬁve- or six-week ﬂex options available. Register today at asphaltgreen.org

UPPER EAST SIDE 555 E. 90th St. (at York Avenue) • BATTERY PARK CITY 212 North End Ave. (at Murray Street) 212.298.7900

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JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

10 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT CAMP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 research, 74 percent of campers reported that they tried new activities at camp that they were afraid to do at ﬁrst. And, those activities often leave lasting impressions. In the same survey, 63 percent of parents reported that their child continued new activities from camp after returning home. 5. Manners matter, and often linger. The camp experience teaches more than just archery or lanyard making. The entire experience is made of teachable moments, perhaps one of the biggest is how to live with a group of people. Campers learn to pick up after themselves, respect each other’s property, and to say “Please” and “Thank You.” 4. Veggies taste better with friends. Hollywood and ﬁctional nov-

Photo: Fort A.P. Hill, via ﬂickr

Dear Parents and Guardians, The Vanderbilt YMCA welcomes all of our returning and new campers to our 2017 Summer Camp Programs. We are excited to embark on another summer of fun and learning with you and your children. From sports and swimming to arts and culture, Vanderbilt Y camps span a broad range of interests, while focusing on developing young minds and bodies. In 2016, the YMCA of Greater New York served over 12,000 campers in communities throughout New York City. We are proud that in midtown east, the Vanderbilt YMCA is able to engage your child in a summer of new friendships, skills and exploration. Thank you for choosing our Y summer camp. We look forward to getting to know your camper! Sincerely, Robin Nathaniel Summer Camp Director YMCA of Greater New York Vanderbilt YMCA 224 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017 Phone (212) 912-2500 Direct (212) 912-2559 Fax (212) 755-7579 rnathaniel@ymcanyc.org www.ymcanc.org/vanderbilt

ibidPREP fights summer brain cramps with activities and prep for grades 4&up. Join ibid’s Brain Camps in our sunny, UWS office. We challenge and entertain rising 4th and 5th graders with riddles, puzzles, and math games that stress lateral thinking and creative problem solving. Each camp ends with a fabulous Friday scavenger hunt at the Museum of Natural History! Older students readying for summer or fall exams benefit from our summer intensive courses. Rising 7th graders can prepare for the new SHSAT in two-week, Monday-Friday sessions, while small-group ACT and SAT classes are available for high schoolers. Special summer packages for one-on-one prep in-office, in-home or via Skype available too! Register now at www.ibidprep.com www.ibidPREP.com | info@ibidprep.com 2328 Broadway, 3rd fl (@ 84/85th Sts.) NYC 10024 212.787.0374

els may have given camp food a bad reputation, but in truth, camps are constantly exploring healthy food options, and often are at the forefront of things like allergy speciﬁc diets, healthy snack options, and vegetarian meals. According to ACA’s 2011 Emerging Issues survey, 90.7 percent of responding camps indicated that healthy eating and physical activity was an important or very important issue. 3. If everyone else went to camp, maybe there’s something to it! Camp has played an important role in the lives of some of the most talented people in history. ACA’s family resource site offers a list of notable campers — including business professionals, celebrities, artists, and great thinkers. 2. Camp gets those neurons pumping! Education reform debate and concern over summer learning loss have pushed academic achievement into the spotlight. Research shows that participation in intentional programs, like camp, during summer months helps stem summer learning loss. In addition, camp provides ample opportunity for developmental growth, which is a precursor to academic achievement. And, because of the “hands-on” nature of camp, often children who struggle in traditional education settings do well at camp. 1. Camp builds leaders for the 21st century and beyond! Independence, resiliency, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and the ability to relate to other people — these are the skills that tomorrow’s leaders will need, and the skills camp has been adept at building for 150 years. “Camp gives children and youth the critical tools

CAMP RAMAQUOIS Camp Ramaquois, “A day camp as complete as sleep-away camp”, situated on 44 acres in nearby Rockland County. Only 30 minutes from the George Washington Bridge, via the Palisades Parkway. From adventurous activities to creative arts to athletic activities, boys & girls, ages 3-15 experience a traditional day camp program filled with a variety of stimulating activities. Facilities include group bunks, a 5-acre crystalline lake, 9 heated swimming pools, a splash park, aerial adventure park, tennis, basketball, volleyball & pickle ball courts, hockey rinks, ball fields, soccer fields, nature area with petting zoo, horseback riding, special events & much more. Optional Adventure Trip Program for grades 3-10. 10th Grade Leadership Program. Many air-conditioned buildings Ramaquois is a magical camp where children experience a sense of adventure, meet new challenges, create wonderful memories and make lasting friendships. Tuition includes Air-Conditioned Door-to-Door Mini School Bus Transportation, Hot Lunch (Nut Aware), Towel Service, 2 Camp Shirts, Snack, Camp DVD & Group Photo.

Visit us at www.ramaquois.com or call 845-354-1600 for a personal tour. Accredited Camp, American Camping Association.

they will need to become successful adults,” said Rosenberg. For more information on preparing your child for an independent, fun-ﬁlled summer, visit ACA’s family resource page at ACAcamps.org. Or, follow ACA on Facebook and Twitter for helpful hints and camp information. Contact Public Relations at 765.346.3391 or pr@ACAcamps.org to interview an ACA spokesperson or for more information about preparing for camp. For customizable public service announcements or article reprints, visit our Media Center at www.ACAcamps.org/ media. The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization with more than 10,000 individual members and nearly 3,000 member camps. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy and evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accredits approximately 2,400 diverse camps nationally. ACA-Accredited® Camps meet up to 300 health and safety standards. Accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s commitment to the health, safety, and overall wellbeing of both campers and staff. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org. Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association. ©2017 American Camping Association, Inc.

In search of the perfect sports and adventure day camp with a traditional camp feel! Look no further by joining Corbin’s Crusaders Day Camp! Experience a summer alive with weekly tournaments and hidden adventure at Corbin’s Crusaders Day Camp. Located at their new beautiful 38-acre campus in Greenwich, CT, where exciting outdoor fun awaits. Catering to campers’ diverse interests, we offer professional, dedicated and enthusiastic instruction in various sports including: baseball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, swimming and more! Our adventure program includes hiking, waterslides, skateboarding, archery and much more! We have door-to-door transportation from Manhattan, Westchester and Connecticut, daily nutritious meals and ﬂexible schedules. Join us for one week or the entire summer; partial weeks available. Check out our videos, https://corbinscrusaders.com/videos/

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

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Matthew Christian, playing violin, and Marc Orleans, on mandolin, performed Jan. 19 in the 72nd Street Second Avenue subway station to protest what buskers claim is unfair treatment at the hands of police.

DISSONANT NOTES IN THE SUBWAY Musicians protest what they say is a police crackdown in the new Second Avenue stations BY MICHAEL GAROFALO

The newly opened Second Avenue subway stations, with their high ceilings and spacious mezzanines, would seem to be ideal venues for any musician seeking to earn a few dollars entertaining commuters. According to some buskers, however, overzealous police have made the spotless new subway line an inhospitable performance environment. Music echoed through 72nd Street station last Thursday as buskers gathered to protest what they characterized as an NYPD crackdown on subway performers in the Second Avenue subway. “Unfortunately, actually performing music here has very often resulted in performers being wrongfully ejected from the stations or ticketed,” said Matthew Christian, 25, who helped organize the demonstration. Christian recently posted a video to YouTube of

an officer telling him to leave the 86th Street station, where he was playing his violin. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority permits musicians to play in subway stations provided they adhere to certain rules, such as not blocking foot traffic, not performing near station booths, and not using ampliﬁcation devices on platforms. But buskers say that police often expel them anyway. “This is an ongoing situation that everyone who plays the subway a lot has encountered,” busker Marc Orleans said. Orleans said he was playing his mandolin on the platform in the 72nd Street station recently when an NYPD officer asked him to move upstairs to the mezzanine. Though he was not obstructing traffic and was within his rights to play on the platform, Orleans said, he complied with the officer’s “very respectful” request. “The opening of the Second Avenue subway is a heavily publicized event, so they want

to keep it squeaky clean,” he said. Thursday’s demonstration was organized in response to recent encounters with police, but Orleans believes that officers who try to eject buskers from the subway are often simply unaware of the rules. “I think the MTA has to be responsible in educating the police of what their own regulations are,” he said. “I think that’s where the problem lies.” According to the MTA, the authority will work with the NYPD to remind officers of the rules regarding musical performances in the subway. “The MTA is proud to support and promote the arts and musical performances,” MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said in an emailed statement. “Any musician is welcome to perform in the New York City subway system as long as they follow the Transit Rules of Conduct.” As the dozen or so buskers at Thursday’s rally performed on the mezzanine, a group of NYPD officers standing nearby did not react or intervene. “What demonstration?” one officer

asked, when approached. Police on the scene declined to otherwise comment on the buskers’ complaints. Chief Joseph Fox, commanding officer of the NYPD’s Transit Bureau, would not address speciﬁc incidents along the Second Avenue subway line, but said in an emailed statement that officers “work to protect the rights of everyone who lawfully uses the transit system — artistic performers and commuters alike. This often means a balance between protecting the uniquely New York experience performers provide, while at the same time ensuring safe passage for subway riders.” The MTA’s Music Under New York initiative officially sanctions certain subway performances, which are marked with official MTA banners, but most of the city’s buskers operate outside of the program. Christian said that MUNY has had a negative impact by creating a misconception among police and the public that only musicians performing under the MUNY

imprimatur are legally permitted to play in the subways. “I think it’s clear that they spend public funds on public art in a way that endangers public artists,” he said. In order to clarify the rules, Christian said, MUNY banners should include a disclaimer noting that membership is not required in order to legally perform. Christian is the co-founder of BuskNY, an advocacy group that he said has helped secure over $110,000 in NYPD settlements for subway musicians in wrongful arrest lawsuits since 2013. Theo Eastwind, a guitarist and singer who said he has been arrested “numerous times” since he began playing in the subway in 1995, said that buskers represent an essential part of New York’s fabric. “We’re at the forefront of the First Amendment just by expressing ourselves,” he said. “We help people feel safe and comfortable,” Eastwind continued. “It’s a very good thing for the city. It enriches the culture.”

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

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WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MARCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 women. I also have concern about healthcare for men and women. Obamacare is dismantling before our very eyes,â&#x20AC;? said an elderly gentleman who declined to share his name. He walked carrying a large banner he designed himself, reading â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hands off Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s women.â&#x20AC;? Trump supporters were far and few between. One, a bystander who declined to identify himself, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Demonstrators should be marching to destroy ISIS if they actually cared about all women.â&#x20AC;? Some protesters literally wore their stance on their sleeve. Kate Gerhart, a student at Barnard College, wrapped herself in the signature LGBTQ ďŹ&#x201A;ag. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policies are so harmful for so many minorities,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a white woman of privilege, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even more important to show support.â&#x20AC;? Deva Woodly, a politics professor at the New School who marched with her husband and two young children, said the family was taking part in a show of opposition to the incoming administration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to show our support for the resistance and for the 65 million folks who did not vote for Mr. Trump. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here to stand up for civil rights. The whole idea of liberty is in jeopardy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to the people now â&#x20AC;&#x201D; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the last check. My kids will need to keep ďŹ ghting,â&#x20AC;? Woodly said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I found his inauguration speech highly disturbing. In short, Mr. Trump lacks empathy.â&#x20AC;? Nearer Trump Tower, longtime New Yorker Anne Parente marveled at the turnout. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so great to see so many young people here,â&#x20AC;? she

CHURCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 without merit in closing the church. Parishioners argued that the church had a vibrant and growing congregation and had long been in the black. Shane Dinneen, a 10-year congregant at Our Lady of Peace and the president of Friends of the nonproďŹ t Our Lady of Peace, said the Congregation for the Clergyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seven-page letter, while detailed, failed to reďŹ&#x201A;ect the vibrancy and vitality of Our Lady of Peace. While the Congregationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decree says that the parishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s documentation had been carefully examined, at least one error, as well as an omission, suggests that did not happen, Dinneen said. However paradoxically, that is reason for optimism, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What encourages us is the actual letter itself,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is so bad itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good.â&#x20AC;? While the Congregationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter states that church attendance at Mass had quadrupled in a year, documents relayed to the Vatican said only that the congregation had grown by about 7 percent in each of the ďŹ ve years before the church was closed. The letter, correctly noting that the church is about 100 years old, also said Our Lady of Peace would therefore â&#x20AC;&#x153;need substantial maintenance and repairs in the coming years.â&#x20AC;? It neglected to note a $450,000 renovation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; paid for by the congregation itself â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of the church completed in 2009, Dinneen said. It also failed to mention that, following the Archdioceseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decree, congregants raised more than $500,000 through a nonproďŹ t,

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Dignified, Affordable and Independently Owned Since 1885 WE SERVE ALL FAITHS AND COMMUNITIES 5 )/'&1 /'+$1)-,0 $2250 -+.*'1' 5 )/'&1 2/)$*0 $2850 5 4.'/1 /' *$,,),( 3$)*$%*' Deva Woodly, an assistant professor of politics at the New School , with her family at Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March in New York. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to the people now â&#x20AC;&#x201C; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the last check,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My kids will need to keep ďŹ ghting.â&#x20AC;? Photo: Charmaine P. Rice said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m usually here for Pride and this turnout surpasses that. Donald Trump has insulted everybody, so everyone can come to this parade!â&#x20AC;? Although the march was expected to end with a rally outside Trump Tower at 4 p.m., police redirected crowds south, onto East 55th Street. Despite the scope and magnitude of the crowds, and while some marchers periodically ďŹ&#x201A;ipped the bird in unison towards Trump Tower and a topless woman darted through the crowds, the march was peaceful and relatively orderly. Police said there were no arrests. Periodically, marchers broke out an arsenal of chants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Show me what democracy looks like,â&#x20AC;? went one call; â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is what democracy looks like,â&#x20AC;? went the response. Another, referencing Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pledge to build a partition along the U.S.-Mexico border went â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your hands are too small, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t build a wall.â&#x20AC;? The crowdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s zeal echoed well past 4 p.m.

an amount they said would pay church expenses for 10 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It makes you wonder how carefully they examined our documents,â&#x20AC;? Dinneen said. Dinneen went on to rebut the Archdioceseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reasons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all buttressed by the Congregation for the Clergy decree â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for closing Our Lady of Peace. He emphasized a passage within the letter that says â&#x20AC;&#x153;just causeâ&#x20AC;? to shutter the church â&#x20AC;&#x153;must primarily be the betterment of the pastoral provision for the salvation of souls,â&#x20AC;? also known as care of souls, which in Catholic doctrine centers around the celebration of the Eucharist. But citing results from a survey of Our Lady of Peace congregants taken a year following the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closure, Dinneen said regular Mass attendance for former church parishioners had declined 30 percent, with 12 percent not having attended Mass at all. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You tell me is that demonstrating care of souls?,â&#x20AC;? Dinneen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not getting the Eucharist. â&#x20AC;Ś How can that be good for the care of souls?â&#x20AC;? The survey also revealed that more half of former Our Lady of Peace parishioners felt either unwelcome or very unwelcome at St. John the Evangelist. By contrast, he said, about three-quarters of the Our Lady of Peaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 443 registered parishioners attended Mass at the East 62nd Street church when it was open, a number he said was double the average attendance of a typical U.S. parish. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a real need for this to be appealed,â&#x20AC;? Dinneen said of the Congregation for the Clergyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decree. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still waiting for the real reason why Our Lady of Peace was closed.â&#x20AC;?

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JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

MARCHING MILLENNIALS For young people, the Women’s March was a chance to make history—and bond with their mothers and other generations BY ALICIA ALONSO

Most millennials are not acquainted with losing. For most of our lives we have experienced a presidency that has represented our values, with policy accomplishments that expanded affordable health care, legalized samesex marriage, protected Planned Parenthood, and promoted green initiatives to ﬁght climate change. So Trump’s election triumph was exceptionally shocking. It marks a change of tone for our country’s future. For many of us, we now have a president that we did not elect, either because we did not vote for him or, like me, were too young to participate in this election. It seems the next four years will bring setbacks instead of progress, a concept almost foreign to my generation. We believe millennials can make a difference; we’re the next generation and we must work to-

ward a better future. For many of us, the Women’s March on NYC was not our ﬁrst protest since Election Day. This march was much quieter than the protest I had attended on November 9, 2016, the day after Trump’s presidential victory. Instead of screaming and voicing my anger as I walked with others my age for miles through Manhattan, this recent demonstration was peaceful, quiet, and slow-moving. For me, this march resembled a sit-in; thousands gathered to occupy Midtown Manhattan, instead of to attack. The size of the crowd immediately stupefied me; I felt so small while being a part of something so large. I had expected a massive crowd, but nothing could have prepared me for the moment I got an aerial view from the bridge outside Grand Central Station. I instantly felt an immense sense of pride. I was so appreciative to live in New York, surrounded by such an inspiring and active community. It was exhilarating to exercise my First

Statues of Liberty at the Women’s March on New York City on Jan. 21. Photo: Alicia Alonso

A couple of the participants and their signs at the Women’s March on New York City on Jan. 21. Photo: Alicia Alonso.

Amendment rights, and take advantage of the unique opportunities that American democracy allows. We shut the center of Manhattan down, all by attending a peaceful protest. In this new era, where so many of my friends and family feel deflated by Trump’s success, it was beautiful to stand up, raise awareness, and unite with one another to show that we will not be silent. It was breathtaking to know that I was among the more than one million people protesting around the world, to make history and demonstrate that America will still be a nation of the people. It was also remarkable to see all generations marching together. Witnessing families of multiple generations holding signs and cheering together was profound as well as bittersweet; a grandmother held a sign reading, “I never thought my granddaughter would have fewer rights than I did.” Almost all of my friends, young fellow millennials and I, marched with our mothers. There seemed to be some unspoken importance of marching with them. Maybe because as our role models, they are the heroines we seek for advice, especially in the hard times we now face. From my

At the Women’s March on New York City, Jan. 21. Photo: Alicia Alonso mom’s perspective, she felt an obligation to show me that standing up for my beliefs matters. My mother, a photojournalist, who has attended and covered many protests, feels that not only was the Women’s March the largest demonstration, but it was the ﬁrst march where simultaneous global involvement strengthened our voice and effort. She also said that it made the experience all the more meaningful to participate with her daughter, the next generation. Throughout the march, I felt honored to stand up, be counted, and take part in history. I bonded with others in the crowd, of all ages, over our perseverance; together we planned to begin grassroots action. Posters

Participants at the Women’s March on New York City on Jan. 21. Photo: Alicia Alonso

and signs sparked feelings of unity. A little boy held a sign reading, “If your generation builds a wall, mine will tear it down!” Bright letters explained, “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” Lady Liberty signs branded phrases such as “A woman’s place is in the revolution,” “My body, my choice, my country, my voice” and “I’m with her.” It became evident that it was only the beginning. Each of us contributed to the many people marching in solidarity worldwide, with millennials inspiring hope for everyone’s future. Alicia Alonso is a New York City high school student.

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

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CUOMO UNVEILS STATE BUDGET City Council members react to the governor’s proposals for free tuition and cuts to Medicaid BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

Governor Andrew Cuomo released his proposed state budget for the upcoming ﬁscal year on Jan. 17 after completing a State of the State tour with six addresses in various cities, concluding in Albany. In the process of detailing his $152.3 billion plan, Cuomo described New York as “doing better than it has in many, many decades.” “The economic and social progress is up all across the board,” Cuomo said in Albany on Jan. 11. “You would have to go back to the history books and ﬁnd a time since FDR and Robert Moses where the government actually produced more, or achieved more, or passed more meaningful legislation or built more things for people than this government has done.” Cuomo’s budget contains, among

other things, $2 billion for investment in clean-water infrastructure, a new version of the currently suspended 421a property tax and $10 billion to overhaul Kennedy International Airport. The governor also proposed to make tuition at state colleges free for families with less than $125,000 in annual income. “[College] shouldn’t just be for the people who can afford it,” Cuomo said in Albany. “Average debt now for a child coming out of college is $30,000.” A $1 billion increase in state-wide education funding is also included. Doug Turetsky, chief of staff at the Independent Budget Office of the City of New York, said the additional $1 billion for education would mean about $295 million more for the city, to be allocated by the New York City Department of Education. “I think one of the main takeaways at this point in terms of the governor’s education budget proposal is he’s gutting the Campaign for Fiscal Equity agreement, the 10year lawsuit that said the state was not providing enough funding for sound,

balanced education,” Turetsky said. “A lot of legislators from the city and outside the city have been urging the state to get back to that agreement.” The Campaign for Fiscal Equity, a group of parents and education advocates, won its lawsuit in 2006 to provide better, more extensive education to New York City students, but the city has yet to receive the fully mandated funding from the state. Council Member Corey Johnson, who represents Manhattan’s West Side between West 62nd and Canal Streets, called the free tuition proposal “exactly the kind of bold policy making that New York families need.” “I’m also thrilled about some of the infrastructure investments, including in my District at Moynihan Station,” Johnson said. He praised Cuomo’s focus on updating the city’s transportation infrastructure, and expressed confidence that the governor would follow through. The governor proposed $50 million in cuts to Medicaid for pre-kindergarten and school health services, how-

Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivers his 2017 State of the State Address at the University at Albany. Photo: The Governor’s Office. ever, which troubled Lower Manhattan Council Member Margaret Chin. “I pledge to work with my state and local colleagues to increase Medicaid funding while maximizing cost savings to ensure that New York remains on solid ﬁscal footing,” Chin said. According to Turetsky, Medicaid will be cut unless New York City can leverage $100 million more for the program from the federal government. Given the uncertainty surrounding the new administration of President

OVERCROWDING TOPS DOWNTOWN CONCERNS CB1’s Quality of Life Committee addresses bills that could relieve congestion in Lower Manhattan BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

What detracts most from downtown residents’ quality of life? At Community Board 1’s Quality of Life Committee meeting last week, the answer was clear: overcrowding. The area has tripled in size since the revitalization efforts and construction boom that have taken place since 9/11. “Just think of the amount of garbage we have,” said Pat Moore, the committee’s chairwoman. “Garbage and rats.” On the agenda at the Jan. 19 meeting were two pieces of legislation that could, if enacted, have an impact on the congestion that plagues downtown. One, introduced by Upper East Side Council Member Ben Kallos, would limit the time that some scaffolding can stay in place. There are nearly 9,000 sidewalk sheds in the city, many of which have been up for years without reason.

“The key thing that I’ve been focused on is ‘where are there problems in government that are broken?’” said Kallos, who attended the CB 1 committee meeting to advocate for his bill. “I have a couple of tenants that have said to me that scaffolding goes up to force rent regulated tenants out of ﬁrstand second-ﬂoor apartments. How many of you have ever been caught in traffic for construction work on a roadway and then you get to the construction and no one’s actually there? Under the bill, [developers] would have to do the work within one hour of the cones going up.” The committee was generally supportive of the bill, with caveats. Members asked Kallos about exceptions for certain kinds of buildings — like co-ops — and brought up the issue of pedestrians being struck and killed by falling debris. Scaffolding helps reduce such incidents. No action was taken on Kallos’ scaffolding bill, but the committee will take it up again next month. The other item up for discus-

Upper East Side Council Member Ben Kallos has introduced legislation that would limit the time that some scaffolding can stay in place. Photo: Carl, via ﬂickr sion was the Street Vendor Modernization Act, which was introduced last October by Lower Manhattan Council Member Margaret Chin. The collection of bills would double the number of permits available to food vendors over seven years, create a dedicated street vendor law enforcement unit and establish a street vendor panel to monitor enforcement and make recommendations, among other things. Several residents of 88 Greenwich St. waited patiently through the scaffolding discussion to get to the street

vendor issue. Outside their building, they said, a vendor had recently appeared and would not go away. What’s more, residents added, the 9/11 Tribute Center will soon move into the commercial space on the ground ﬂoor of their building. They worry that visitors to the site will add to the congestion issues they already experience due to their proximity to the Rector Street No. 1 train station. Moore, who lives only a few blocks from 88 Greenwich, understood their concerns. The 9/11 Tribute Center is cur-

Donald Trump, Turetsky called this “a somewhat cynical bargain.” “You have a new president, along with a Congress that seems intent on cutting Medicaid,” he said. “The likelihood of the city getting $100 million would appear to be pretty slight.” Mayor Bill de Blasio was expected to present his budget for the city on Jan. 24. Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@strausnews.com

rently housed in her building at 125 Cedar Street and she, too, has had problems with a street vendor on her block. “He threatened a lawsuit when we asked him to leave,” Moore said. “And he set a precedent, so now there’s another one. I feel it’s disrespectful to the 9/11 Tribute Center.” However, she added, vendors have come before the community board before and she is aware of the struggles they face as smallbusiness owners. The Quality of Life Committee has been going back and forth on the Street Vendor Modernization Act for months, but was determined to vote on a resolution last week. In a preliminary straw poll, all but one member planned to vote in favor of the legislation, but when the time came, the committee unanimously voted it

down. According to Moore, committee member Bob Schneck made such convincing arguments against the bill that everyone else changed their minds. He expressed a strong desire for more details on how community input will be considered once the act is put in place, which streets will be included in the vending zones and how permit applicants will be screened. “[Schneck] had a really strong, valid point,” Moore said. “We can’t support it as written and we enumerated certain points we would like to see revisited.” The committee will present its resolution against the Street Vendor Modernization Act this week for the full board to vote on. Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@ strausnews.com

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IN STEP IN NEW YORK Jennie Begley on living off of Ramen noodles, dancing to honor David Bowie, and her stint on “So You Think You Can Dance” BY ANGELA BARBUTI

At just 2 years old, Jennie Begley began her life as a dancer, and at 10, knew she wanted to pursue that talent professionally. As she trained as a ballerina in her hometown of Aurora, Colorado, she was also sure she wanted to eventually settle in New York City. “As a typical artist’s dream, I wanted to go there and do something. So I bought a one-way ticket, packed up two suitcases and moved out there. I didn’t have a job; I didn’t have a home,” she said. Although she got her start in classical ballet, it was after she was introduced to the work of a contemporary choreographer that she realized she wanted to explore that style. “I was kind of over the fluffy tutus and the pretty tiaras and the pink tights and pink shoes. ... And then all the sudden doing this piece with the choreographer, we were barelegged, wearing ﬂesh-toned shoes, a leotard and doing all this crazy stuff on pointe.” The 28-year-old joined Complexions, a contemporary dance company based in Midtown West, as a soloist in 2014, and calls it one of the hardest, but also most rewarding things she’s ever done. Founded in 1994, the company is celebrating its 23rd season at The Joyce Center from Jan. 24 to Feb. 5.

Did you always know you wanted to dance professionally?

I think when I knew for sure that I wanted to dance professionally, I was about 10 years old. My mom was actually a professional dancer in England and trained me my whole life as a ballet dancer. She introduced me to Gelsey Kirkland and I watched a “Nutcracker” that she and Mikhail Baryshnikov did. And she immediately became my idol and I was like, “I want to do that.” So I was very young, and that’s when it started. The obsession began.

What was it like for you when you first got here? It was absolutely terrifying. I honestly thought that I was going to end up dead in a ditch somewhere after six months. I grew up in the suburbs in Aurora, Colorado, and then to move to New York City by myself, I was just like, “Oh my gosh, what is happening?” Because everything moves so fast. All the sudden you have all these responsibilities. So my big girl pants were pulled up to my eyeballs real quick. [Laughs]. That first year, it was really hard. I found an apartment and a retail job and it was really frustrating because you don’t have any money. I was living in an apartment that had no heat or hot water. I was living off of coffee and bread and peanut butter my first year. And my mom would send me care packages with Ramen noodles. I didn’t have enough money to take class, so I was giving myself class in the park every day and then going to work. And it just got really frustrating because I’m like, “I moved to New York to work retail and pay rent. What am

Complexions Contemporary Ballet company dancer in Dwight Rhoden’s new ballet honoring David Bowie, “Star Dust.” Photo: Breeann Birr

Complexions Contemporary Ballet company dancer Jennie Begley. Photo: Tristan Pope Photography I doing?” Finally, you start to get into a little bit more of a groove and I was able to work two jobs and take class every day and then when audition season started rolling around, I had to sink my teeth in.

And I held it together on the phone. ... And afterwards, I just dropped to the ﬂoor and just cried. I was like, “This is my dream right now. This company is my dream.” It was something out of a movie ...

people come through New York, so I’m able to catch up with a lot of them.

So what was the audition like for Complexions?

What’s a typical day like for you?

I think this Joyce season is going to be really interesting. The new piece that Dwight is working on, called “Gutter Glitter,” I think is going to be a really different route from what he’s originally done before. ... It’s kind of like ﬁnding the beauty in a really dark place. Even the title says it in itself. This piece is really intense. It’s got different types of music. Drums, craziness, ugly sounds and then you have a beautiful piano pas de deux ... kind of the grungy meets the elegant. And the David Bowie piece is, by far, my favorite. It’s definitely an emotional rollercoaster. The costumers are brilliant and the lighting is just absolutely spectacular. And the journey that the audience is going to be taken on is just really amazing. We did the world premiere in Detroit and it was really well received. The audience was just going crazy over it. So I’m hoping that New York has the same type of reaction to the David Bowie piece. I mean who doesn’t love him and his music? But putting a visual aspect to his music and the way Dwight does it is so brilliant.

I remember this so well. It was on a Sunday, I believe, and the audition process was 8 hours. They were like, “Come warm. Ladies have your pointe shoes on.” The ﬁrst thing we did was adagio in the center on pointe. And you have all these huge people looking at you. [Company founder] Desmond Richardson walks in and [founder] Dwight Rhoden is sitting in the front. And then you have all these Complexions alumni and current company members at the front of the room. I just remember my heart just sank into my stomach. They just made cuts after cuts after cuts. ... All the sudden, come like 6 o’clock, the last 10 girls and 10 boys were in a room and we learned more repertoire. And we did it in groups. It was just learning a lot because I think they wanted to see how well you can pick up and how well you can execute right after. ... So at the end of the audition they said, “If it’s a ‘yes,’ you’ll get a call from us. If it’s a ‘no,’ you’ll get an email.” And I just remember Desmond running up to me after and saying like, “Who are you; where are you from?” And I was like, “Um, um, um, hi.” [Laughs]. So I told him where I’m from and that I’ve never done any of Complexions’ Intensives or workshops or anything. So I was just this little girl hot off the streets from Aurora, Colorado. And then I remember getting that call.

So, for me, I get up at around 7:30 and make some coffee, eat a little breakfast. And I like to get to the studio an hour before class starts. I have all these rituals that I do- stretching exercises, crunches and stuff. And I just like to be there to gather myself before the day. And we have an hourand-15-minute class and then we have about six or seven hours of rehearsal after that. So yeah, it’s a pretty intense day. We get a ﬁve-minute break every hour and then, depending on the day, we either get 45 minutes or an hour for lunch.

You were also on “So You Think You Can Dance.” How did that come about? I was teaching in Colorado and all my students were like, “Miss Jennie, you need to audition for “So You Think You Can Dance.” For three years they were saying this and I was like, “Guys, no, that’s crazy. There’s no way.” So finally, one year, my family and I made it work. My brother and I flew out to Boston and stood in line in the freezing cold for five hours until we were finally seen. And it was a two-day production of just standing around to dance for five seconds, and then you were done. I ended up doing much better than I anticipated. [Laughs]. I made it to the finals in Las Vegas and then had a little bit of airtime on television. So that was a really cool experience and I made lifelong friends from that. ... I just saw a couple of them. A lot of

Tell us about this season at the Joyce Center and what makes it different. I see you’re doing a tribute to Davie Bowie.

www.complexionsdance.org

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CROSSWORD by Myles Mellor

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

52 55

Across 1. Junk mail 4. Outmoded, with been 7. Something you could be drafted into 10. Boot part 11. Protection 13. Muhammad ___ 14. Ditty 15. About to explode 16. The “I” of T.G.I.F. 17. Cheerleader’s gear 19. As a whole 21. ___ vapeur (steamed) 22. CSI stuff 23. Bowling equipment 27. Robin Hood weapon 31. Fig Newton alternative 32. Quill point 34. Palm tree 35. Powerful person out East 37. Starts up the computer 39. SW Missouri river 41. Grasped 42. Separate seed 45. Ugly treatment (2 words) 49. “That’s a laugh!”

50. Marketing dept. concern 52. Fraternity letters 53. Temper 54. Alpha opposite 55. Troublemaker 56. Calypso alternative 57. Apple or pecan? 58. Play (with) Down 1. At the summit of 2. Dumb cluck 3. Feel as if 4. Writer, ____ Hesse 5. Turkish title of honor 6. Placed 7. Cry out 8. Highest male voice 9. Computer processor, for short 11. Garlic mayonnaise 12. Plant with showy yellow ﬂowers

18. Native American baby 20. Bird of the night (2 words) 23. Truck weight 24. Pitcher performance measurement 25. Kan. neighbor 26. Elton John, for one 28. Brazilian town 29. Select 30. Equaled 33. Surround 36. Male singing voice 38. Exceedingly light wood 40. Winner 42. “___ Is It,” Michael Jackson ﬁlm 43. “Listen!” 44. Flightless bird 46. Apartment 47. Big guy wrestling 48. Detect 51. Orchid arrangements

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WORD SEARCH by Myles Mellor

SUDOKU by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan

15 states are listed by the puzzle. Words can go horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight directions.

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

V Q S H S R K C F B L I T U C

K Y M X D A F N D Y Z Y E E A

Z D J I N E V Q S N M N X G L

R Y H S N J L Q H I S L A E I

D O A C I N F A C A L P S O F

P S W X A L E H W N P S W R O

G Q A A O N I S Y A Q A N G R

P F I R C G V W O Z R A S I N

G P I C A K R H T T R E I A I

Q D K N V T V O K I A A A H A

A Y G J M L R J Z B W L Y V T

U D N A H E I O G C A L G K A

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I N E O X A J A K I B N H K B

E G N V A P V A J P K U T A H

Alaska Arizona California Delaware

Hawaii Iowa Kansas Maine

6 7

5 2

2 4 6

4 7

Michigan Oregon

8 7

Texas

7 3

Minnesota

Utah

Florida Georgia

1 5

5 9

3 1

1 7

Level: Medium

JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1,2017

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