The local paper for the Upper er East Side NEW YORK, FROM EVERY POSSIBLE ANGLE < CITYARTS, P.12
WHAT’S NEXT FOR SECOND AVENUE BUSINESSES?
2014
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OurTownEastSide @OurTownNYC
STRINGER TO AUDIT CHARTER SCHOOLS On Thursday, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer announced that his office had commenced audits of the financial and operating practices of four New York City charter school entities. “My office is going to make sure that taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately and that proper controls are in place to ensure that all young New Yorkers are getting the quality education they deserve,” Stringer said. Merrick Academy in Queens, Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School, South Bronx Charter for International Cultures and the Arts, and Success Academy Charter Schools-NYC were selected based on objective criteria, including geography, size and publicly available financial data.
East Side leaders look for ways to protect Second Avenue businesses once the subway project is completed BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS
UPPER EAST SIDE Since 2008, when the Second Avenue subway project began, Upper East Side residents have tolerated the mess, noise, confusion - and sometimes danger - of a major infrastructure project occurring beneath their feet and outside their doors.
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6-12 In Brief
SAVING SMALL BUSINESS
The neighborhood’s portion of the project, from E. 63rd St. to E. 96th St., is slated to be completed in December 2016. And the small businesses that have long sat in the shadow of a construction command center or next to a muck house are looking forward to the increased foot traffic and popularity of an area rejuvenated by a new transportation option. But how long will that last? How long until the five-story row houses come down and are replaced by high rises with retail rents that only large and established brands can afford? What will become of the small businesses that have stuck it out for eight years hoping for a brighter day? These are questions that members of Community Board 8 are asking, some of whom already see signs of increased interest from developers in the neighborhood. “The developers are here now, putting together sites, buildings are already coming down on First, Second and Third Avenue and the side streets in between,” said Dave Rosenstein, a member of the board’s Second Avenue Subway Task Force. “The impact of this is just beginning.”
WEEK OF NOVEMBER
TAYLOR SWIFT AS N.Y.C. AMBASSADOR Principal Dimitres Pantelidis has brought an innovative approach to P.S. 171 in East Harlem
RAISING THE BAR AT AN EAST SIDE SCHOOL EDUCATION An innovative approach to data and teacher teams have produced results at P.S. 171 STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARY NEWMAN
Among the competitive grade schools in Manhattan, it is rare to hear about a public school that is testing in the top percentages across both city and state scores. It may be even more surprising that this school is located in East Har-
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lem. Under the leadership of Principal Dimitres Pantelidis, the Patrick Henry Preparatory School, or P.S. 171, has seen incredible student success in an extremely structured environment, largely developed by Pantelidis himself. Pantelidis grew up in Queens, and attended public school before going on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He started working at P.S. 171 as an assistant principal 16 years ago, then was hired as principal two years later. Throughout his tenure, Pantelidis has relied heavily on data to monitor
student performance, using 14 different instruction and assessment systems. Data from a number of programs is collected throughout the semester, and given to each teacher during a monthly meeting with Pantelidis and other members of the administration. The main meeting room, adjacent to both the main office and Pantelidis’s office, is lined with graphs, spreadsheets, signs outlining annual school goals, and large information maps that walk you through the curriculum system they use. “It’s a progression of looking at the best practices, and what has had the
Swift’s new gig as New York City’s global welcome ambassador is getting a Bronx cheer (not that she knows what that is) from locals who questioned her street cred and mocked the videos she made for the city’s tourism agency, NYC & Company. In the videos, she explains how to pronounce Houston Street (HOW-ston, not YOU-ston); defines “bodega” as a corner 24-hour store, and declares her love for the perfect latte. But NYC & Company spokesman Chris Heywood defended Swift as the perfect choice. “She is the No. 1 global pop star in the world right now,” he said. “She is a new New Yorker. This is all about the wonderment and excitement you have when you first come to New York City.” Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candle every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday November 7 – 4:28 pm For more information visit www. chabaduppereastside.com.