Our Town October 29th, 2015

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The local paper for the Upper er East Side WHAT TO DO ON HALLOWEEN

WEEK OF OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

29-4

< TOP 5, P.13

2015

CROSSTOWN BIKE LANES GET A LOOK Groups’ survey results will yield recommendations to city officials, DOT

SETTLING INTO A RETIREMENT ROUTINE THIRD OF SIX PARTS

BY MICKEY KRAMER

Under cloudy skies and cool temperatures last weekend, roughly two dozen cyclists and pedestrians crisscrossed a few Upper East Side streets on Saturday with a purpose. Organized by Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives, Saturday’s so-called Street Scan sought to survey and identify crosstown streets that might be best suited for protected bike lanes and accompanying streetscape improvements, such as pedestrian islands and curb extensions. On bikes and on foot, the group surveyed 61st, 62nd, 67th, 68th and 72nd Streets from Fifth Avenue to as far east as each street extended. “Call it selfish if you will, but having a (crosstown) bike lane will make my ride safer,” said Joe Enoch, an avid cyclist, who bikes to work every day from the East 90s to 11th Avenue in the 50s. Perhaps not surprisingly, Enoch concluded that all the streets he studied should have the bike lanes. He said that 61st and 62nd Streets were “particularly wide” and had a natural connection to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge used by cyclists riding to and from Queens. Sharon Pope, the community outreach manager for Bike New York, and Thomas DeVito, the director of organizing for Transportation Alternatives, said they would be releasing a report — as well as the organizations’

BY HEATHER CLAYTON COLANGELO/ EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS DIRECTED BY DORIAN BLOCK

It’s 7:15 a.m. on a Tuesday in late spring. Hank Blum has been lying in bed for almost an hour “chilling,” as he calls it, and wondering what to do for the day. Fifteen minutes later, he gets out of bed and shuffles into the kitchen. He pours grinds into the coffeemaker to brew a pot for his wife Patti, and then pours kibble into a bowl for his dog, Ethel. He then begins his daily regime of medicines - six pills and two or three inhalers a day - to control his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and atrial fibrillation (AFib). Next, Hank turns on the

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GRAYING NEW YORK A series looking at growing older in the city

Photos by Heather Clayton Colangelo

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Newscheck Crime Watch Voices Out & About

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City Arts Top 5 Food & Drink Business

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Our Take THE PRICE OF GETTING OLDER Fact Number One: New York, like the rest of the country, is getting older. Demographers say that of the 8 million people who live in the city, more than 1 million are over the age of 60. Over the next two decades, that number will rise by 50 percent. Fact Number Two: New York is getting much pricier. Housing prices in the city have never been more expensive, and the number of new affordable units being built isn’t nearly enough to house the number of people who need them. The clash of those two facts is creating a crisis for seniors in our city. The soaring costs of living here, juxtaposed against the fixed income that most seniors must live on, is souring the city for its fastest-growing group of residents. Our “Graying New York” series, published in cooperating with the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, has sought to put a face on the issues that senior New Yorkers deal with everyday. Their stories have inspired us. Now, it’s your turn to weigh in. Join us on Nov. 23 for a public forum on how to create a more livable community for all of us. The Town Hall, which we’re holding in cooperation with AARP, is from 2-4 p.m. and is free to everyone, and we hope you’ll come. RSVP at rsvp@strausnews.com

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WHAT’S MAKING NEWS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Photo: Tina Leggio, via Flickr

CITY OFFICIALS STYMIED BY HIGH HOMELESS POPULATION

– including rent subsidies, anti-eviction efforts and other initiatives — have failed to keep pace, the paper reported.

Efforts to bring down the homeless population have frustrated city officials, not least Mayor Bill de Blasio, just months after he vowed to curb the number of people living on the street, The New York Times reports. By nearly all accounts, the number of homeless has remained at near-record levels, with city shelters accommodating increasing numbers of individuals and families, the paper reported. And once in the shelter system, people remain there for longer periods. As of last week, 57,448 people were staying in shelters administered by the city’s Department of Homeless Services, according to The Times. More than 40 percent of those people are children, it reported. And as colder weather settles in to the region, the number of homeless are of course expected to increase. Although de Blasio vowed to reduce the number of homeless as he entered office, his administration’s efforts

HIGH-RISE COULD COME TO EAST 60TH The World Wide Group has purchased and been approved to demolish six low-rise buildings on East 60th Street, and rumors have began to swirl that the property may be the footprint for a high-rise development on the former site of the Subway Inn tavern, according to DNAinfo. The high-rise could well tower more than 1,000 feet high and boast 100 floors, the news site reported, likely attracting a wide range or residential clients. The World Wide Group declined to comment on their plans for the site. Bob Knakal, the chairman of New York investment sales for Cushman & Wakefield’s said in a statement, ”I have rarely seen a foreign buyer move so swiftly, yet carefully, to acquire such a major site.”

FIFTH AVENUE BUILDING COULD GROW A historic 75-foot apartment building at 1143 Fifth Ave. may

be growing taller soon if the aspirations of the building’s owner, Jean Claude Marian, who owns the building, are approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, DNAinfo reported. Residents of the Carnegie Hill neighborhood, however, have come out in full force against the plan to nearly double the structure’s height from a sevenstory, 75-foot building to a 13-story, 140-foot structure. Members of Community Board 8 also worried Marian’s plan could compromise how historic buildings in the district are considered. “What is the point of having a historic district if its major architects will be challenged and their work defaced by changing the form, the proportion and the materials ... altering history?” DNAinfo quoted board member Michele Birnbaum as saying. CB 8 voted to deny Marian’s application but the proposal comes before the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Nov. 10. The building, on the avenue’s renowned Museum Mile, was built in 1920 and designated as part of the Extended Carnegie Hill Historic District in 1993, DNA reported.

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

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CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG

GUN FOUND AS PART OF PROBE INTO OFFICER’S DEATH Divers searching the Harlem River recovered a gun “consistentâ€? with the weapon used to kill a police officer during a foot chase in Manhattan, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Manhattan detectives William Aubry said the weapon was found around 3 a.m. Sunday. The gun will be tested for fingerprints and DNA, as well as test ďŹ red, to determine whether it is the same gun that was used to shoot Officer Rudolph Holder in the head. “That ďŹ rearm is consistent with the ďŹ rearm that we were looking for,â€? Aubry said. The police also shut down part of a major roadway in the area of the shooting for a few hours Sunday

STATS FOR THE WEEK Reported crimes from the 19th Precinct for Oct. 5 - 11 Week to Date

Year to Date

2015 2014

% Change

2015

2014

% Change

Murder

0

0

n/a

1

0

n/a

Rape

0

0

n/a

8

8

0.0

Robbery

2

0

n/a

81

65

24.6

Felony Assault

4

4

0.0

100

80

25.0

Burglary

0

3

-100.0

126

178

-29.2

Grand Larceny

28

29

-3.4

1,019

1,046 -2.6

Grand Larceny Auto

1

2

-50.0

60

65

morning as they conducted a ground search. Holder and his partner had responded to a report of shots fired near a public housing development in East Harlem on Tuesday night. When they arrived, a man said his bike had been stolen at gunpoint and the thief ed. The officers caught up to a man with a bike on a pedestrian overpass that spans a highway and traded gunďŹ re, police said. After Holder was shot, the gunman ditched the bike and took off, police said. He was caught several blocks away with a gunshot wound to his leg, Bratton said. Shell cases from the test ďŹ ring would

PREMONITIONS IN RETROSPECT

STOOL STEAL

An eyewitness report enabled police to arrest a local burglar. At 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, a woman saw a man attempting to break into a building at 317 E. 91st Street. The witness called 911, and police apprehended the man after he had entered the building and stolen a box belonging to one of the residents, containing property valued at more than $1,000. The 46-yearold man, whom police did not further identify, was arrested and charged with burglary, as well as criminal possession of stolen property and burglary tools.

At 1 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, three women left their property on stools at a bar located at 1431 Third Avenue while they went outside the rear of the building to smoke a cigarette. While there were outside, someone entered the premises through the front door and took their belongings valued at more than $1,300. The incident is still being investigated.

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be compared with discharged cases police recovered on 120th Street next to Holder’s body -- in addition to the cases at 102nd Street where the ďŹ rst shots were ďŹ red, Aubry said. The chief of detectives said the searches were a “24/7 operationâ€? since the night of the shooting. He said the scuba team’s work was “very difficult.â€? The gun was under 20 feet of water and “they’re on their belly and they’re searching for it by hand.â€? Tyrone Howard has been charged with murder and robbery in Holder’s death. His lawyer has said there are many missing details in the case.

STRONG-CUEVAS SCULPTURE

BURGLARY ARREST

At 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, a 29-year-old man was walking on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and 92nd Street when he was struck in the head multiple times with closed ďŹ sts by two men, aged 26 and 22, who took his property. Stolen items included sunglasses, a bag and electronics valued at $400. Two plainclothes officers witnessed the incident and managed to apprehend the two muggers, one at 91st Street and First Avenue and the other at 89th Street and Third Avenue, arresting them and charging them with robbery in the second degree and possessing stolen property.

CROSSED-OUT CROSSOVER Thieves manage to steal cars even on well-populated thoroughfares. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, a woman parked her blue 2008 Honda CR-V outside 1127 Third Ave. When she returned the following Wednesday, her ride was missing. Parking authorities conďŹ rmed that they had not relocated the vehicle. The stolen crossover was valued at $20,000.

HUNG OUT TO CRY At 9:30 p.m. on Sat. , October 17, a woman had hung her handbag on a hook under the bar in a restaurant at 117 E. 60th St. While she was eating, an unknown perpetrator took her wallet from the bag and used her debit card to charge $2,384 worth of merchandise at Bloomingdale’s. Police said an investigation is ongoing.

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Useful Contacts POLICE NYPD 19th Precinct

153 E. 67th St.

212-452-0600

159 E. 85th St.

311

FDNY Engine 39/Ladder 16

157 E. 67th St.

311

FDNY Engine 53/Ladder 43

1836 Third Ave.

311

FDNY Engine 44

221 E. 75th St.

311

FIRE FDNY 22 Ladder Co 13

CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Daniel Garodnick

211 E. 43rd St. #1205

212-818-0580

Councilmember Ben Kallos

244 E. 93rd St.

212-860-1950

STATE LEGISLATORS State Sen. Jose M. Serrano

1916 Park Ave. #202

212-828-5829

State Senator Liz Krueger

1850 Second Ave.

212-490-9535

Assembly Member Dan Quart

360 E. 57th St.

212-605-0937

Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright

1365 First Ave.

212-288-4607

COMMUNITY BOARD 8

505 Park Ave. #620

212-758-4340

LIBRARIES Yorkville

222 E. 79th St.

212-744-5824

96th Street

112 E. 96th St.

212-289-0908

67th Street

328 E. 67th St.

212-734-1717

Webster Library

1465 York Ave.

212-288-5049

100 E. 77th St.

212-434-2000

HOSPITALS Lenox Hill NY-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell

525 E. 68th St.

212-746-5454

Mount Sinai

E. 99th St. & Madison Ave.

212-241-6500

NYU Langone

550 First Ave.

212-263-7300

CON EDISON

4 Irving Place

212-460-4600

POST OFFICES US Post Office

1283 First Ave.

212-517-8361

US Post Office

1617 Third Ave.

212-369-2747

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THE BOOK CLUB AS COMIC BOOK NEWS An East side reading group is now on its 205th book BY MICKEY KRAMER

Kill Your TV may resemble a typical book club, but it has a most unique element: a member who documents each monthly outing in comic book form. Artist Peter Pereira worked at Logos Book Store, where the club meets, from 2007 to 2010, and has been attending the first-Wednesday-of-everymonth-gatherings for five years. “First I started doing sketches of what the books meant to me, but then wanted to do an homage to this group … to show that the participants are as important as the great characters in the books we read.” Pereira, 50, said that he has between 40 and 50 pages of book club remembrances in graphic novel form. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Dead Souls” by Niko-

lai Gogol, and Thomas Hardy’s “Far from the Madding Crowd” are a few 2015 selections for the club, which celebrated its 17th anniversary on Oct. 7 with a discussion of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood.” “In light of all the mass shootings … Capote hits on every nerve,” said Rachelle Bijou, a poet who has been attending the club for over two years. The reading group was started in 1998 by Lynn Sarro and the first book was “A Thousand Acres” by Jane Smiley. Sarro explains, “I was a ‘lit nerd’ and wasn’t happy with any of the book clubs I tried, so I figured I’d start my own. I didn’t want it to be too ‘clubby,’ but more focused on the literature.” Sarro found the perfect partner and host in Harris Healy, longtime owner of Logos. Healy, in fact, took over the leadership role when Sarro moved out of the neighborhood three years later. Healy, a participant for all 17 years, points to “Wild Swans,” by Jung Chang, “an amazing oral history of communist Chi-

na,” as his favorite book discovered via Kill Your TV. Evelyn Wilkens, 57, has been attending for over five years and calls Healy “a wonderful moderator” and considers getting to know people in the neighborhood a special aspect of the club. Her favorite books to date are “Far from the Madding Crowd,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” and “White Tiger.” Wilkens also points out that although most of the participants are from the Upper East Side, there are attendees who come from the Upper West Side and even Westchester. In addition, a married couple commutes from the Lower East Side, but since they now have a baby, the spouses attend alternate months. At least 15 people show up every month, and weather permitting, hold their discussions in the garden outside behind the store. Leena Penttila, 66, who is a journalist from Finland, has been attending Kill Your TV for three years and regrets not knowing about it

sooner. “Every book has its message and it widens your perspective when you hear other opinions … Much more interesting than being bored on the couch watching a soap opera or something.” Penttila reads up to three books a week and strongly encourages people to join. “It’s always a very stimulating discussion. Reading keeps you active and you can also make friends,” Penttila said. For quick readers interested in joining, the next gathering is Nov. 4 and the selection is “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” by Thornton Wilder. Healy said it’s the 205th book discussed and that they have had no repeats. (“Ulysses” by James Joyce, though, was discussed over two sessions.) Pereira loves spending time in the garden and the “intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and creative points of view,” all gathered under one roof. And adds that, “as diverse as the books are, so are the people.”

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

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SETTLING INTO A RETIREMENT ROUTINE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 shower. When the couple downsized a decade ago and moved from a three-bedroom apartment on Park Avenue into their one-bedroom on 79th Street, they converted the bath tub into a shower stall because it was easier for Hank to get in and out of. A grip bar was installed a couple of weeks ago. He says the bar gives him peace of mind as he has become less stable and more afraid of falling. After toweling off, Hank gets dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and walks back into kitchen. Patti has left to meet some friends for brunch, so he’s eating breakfast alone. He decides on a Cheerios-Fiber One mix topped with banana and skim milk, rejecting his other morning go-tos, eggs or a swiss cheese sandwich. With the decision to retire finally made - a decision he waffled over for 15 years - he’s now figuring out how to structure his days. After breakfast, Hanks gets dressed and walks to his desk in the living room where he pushes the power button on his desktop PC. As he waits for it to boot up, he turns the television to CNBC. He watches for a few minutes before returning to his desk. Back at the computer, he logs onto Fidelity.com to check how the stock market and his investments are doing. Next he logs into his email, checks the daily forecast on weather.com and then reads a few articles on foxnews.com. Lunchtime is approaching and Hank has to decide: will he make a baked bean omelet or sweet potato, the extent of his culinary repertoire (“I don’t cook”), or head out to one of his regular Upper East Side hangouts. And so begins Hank’s new post-retirement life. For more than six decades Hank worked as an optometrist on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx serving tens of thousands of people. He loved his work deeply but decided at age 70 that it was time to retire. Bored and failing to come up with a new daily routine, he was back at the office within weeks. Three more retirement attempts followed, the last being at the end of 2014. He really thought he was done for good, but last month, he couldn’t resist being pulled back into

I just found lately a little bit of the edge being taken off. This time I am not lying to myself. This time I am not doing it. I’ve seen my last patient. -- Hank Blum on retirement working a few days a month when his former boss, John Bonizio, called him. After clocking in a few 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. days, though, he decided it was just physically too much. “I just found lately a little bit of the edge being taken off,” he says. “This time I am not lying to myself. This time I am not doing it. I’ve seen my last patient.” Hank still seems reluctant to close the door on his career permanently. This past Saturday, he had dinner with John. “I said, ‘If you need me, you know I’ll be there for you but I have to be the last resort,’” Hank recalled. “If he calls I’m not going to do it. I’ll give him an excuse. I don’t want to do it anymore. 62 years is enough.” But immediately, he waivers. “He’s been so nice to me. I don’t want to totally close the door.” *** It’s past noon and Hank has decided to make his way over to one of his usual lunch spots, 40 Carrots, housed in Bloomingdale’s on Lexington and 59th Street. He discovered the cafe two or three years ago, but now with more time on his hands, he’s been spending most afternoons there, often meeting Patti for an afternoon frozen yogurt, in between tagging along on her frequent shopping excursions. It’s become a ritual of sorts for them and Hank loves it. “Almost seven days a week I’m here for soup or yogurt,” he says. He usually gets the coffeeflavored frozen yogurt, sometimes with a large dollop of chocolate yogurt on top, ironic because he had to give up both the drink and sweet because of his health issues. Occasionally he’ll mix it up and get coffee and butter pecan, or coffee and blueberry yogurt. “When I get down to the end I get sad,” he says. “There is nothing you could say to convince me to give up yogurt.” When Hank came in around his 85th birthday this winter, the staff surprised him a huge

Two months later, on a sweltering day in August, Hank has new company lapping at his feet. He has the air conditioning cranked high in his apartment. Hank follows his morning routine, once again pouring a bowl of half Cheerios, half Fiber One cereal topped with sliced bananas and skim milk, showering, and changing into a grey T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. “At this stage of my life, if I can’t wear

workforce people

55 and older of

8 million people more

than

who live in NYC,

1 million over the age of 60 the

denim, I don’t go.” As he washes his breakfast bowl, a small nine-month-old black puppy with a white belly, toes and tail weaves in and out of his legs, yipping for food. Ethel - almost named Dezi, but Hank’s idea was squashed - has been part of the family for a few months now. Patti had found an internet listing for the Washington State-based pup and after arranging the cross-country travel, they took a taxi to pick her up from Delta cargo at JFK airport. While Patti and Hank love their new addition, training has not gone entirely smoothly. “I’m not sure I was ready. She’s a handful,” says Patti. “It will be worth it if we don’t throw her out the window,” she jokes. “[But] It’s been fun.” Last night Ethel had an accident. After successfully going to the bathroom, Patti and Hank saw no harm in playing with Ethel on their bed. Before they knew it she had peed on the mattress. “She thinks the bedroom is her bathroom. We were up in the middle of the night washing. Lucy learned quicker. I was younger then. I just had more patience with her.” Hank’s already plopped down $1,500 on multiple trainers and says they’ve not been successful. “Hell no. It cost me a fortune of money for nothing,” he says. “The only thing she can do is sit.” Still, they haven’t given up and hired yet another trainer to come tomorrow. “I’m addicted to her,” he says. “I think she’s one of the prettiest dogs I’ve ever seen. She’s very affectionate.” Hank says a women recently stopped him on the street and offered to give him

NYC’s

the

Our Town will spend six weeks chronicling Hank Blum’s struggle with retirement. For more on Hank -- and for the stories of New Yorkers followed by our sister publications in other parts of Manhattan -- go to www.ourtownny. com

Graying New York: Who Are They? 20% of

over next

20 years, that number will grow 50% by rise

***

FOR MORE IN THE SERIES

a large amount of money for the Havanese, but Hank immediately declined. “My wife would go crazy,” he says. He has jokingly encouraged his brotherin-law to borrow Ethel for walks. “I tell him, ‘You’d meet a lot of girls,” Hank says, laughing. Most importantly Patti has deeply bonded with her. “This is her dog and I think it is important I took into consideration the fact that when I’m gone instead of being alone she’ll have a companion.” Hank takes the bag of Eukanuba puppy chow out of the cupboard before pouring a few kibbles into the brown and pink ceramic bowl. Ethel yaps and yips in anticipation as Hank bends down slowly to place the bowl on the floor. Ethel demolishes her meal in a matter of seconds. Later, Patti will walk her. Hank rarely does so because it is too taxing on his breathing. Today, at 90 degrees, it’s way too hot. In the living room, Patti is looking through old photos. Ethel tries makes her way into the living room to join her but her attempt is thwarted by the baby gate Hank and Patti installed to keep her out. The albums Patti flips through contain hundreds of photos documenting the beginnings of their marriage and years raising their kids. Hank has taken many of them. “He was fantastic,” she says. Once an avid photographer, he would travel around the city on his time off and spend hours snapping photos with his Minolta. His framed photos line the walls of the apartment. As the technology changed from film to digital, it was the beginning of the end. Hank says the digital format stifled creativity, the new technology was too difficult to learn and physically, photography became too taxing. Commuting down to Chinatown, a past favorite neighborhood of his to shoot in, was too much. He hasn’t picked up a camera in years. “I’m not picking it up again. Nope. nope. nope. I’m not happy with digital.” Patti wishes he would. She’s supportive of Hank’s retirement and the timing - “there was no question, physically it’s just too much” - but is eager to figure out new daily routines for both of them now that they’re both home. She’s still adjusting to leaving behind the convertible three bedroom they raised their kids in on 85th Street and says it’s tight in their one bedroom. “Having him home was just as much as a change for me,” she says. She suggests they join a local swimming pool. With a look at her watch, Patti realizes it’s time to leave to meet her friends for lunch. She says goodbye, grabs her pocketbook and hurries out. Alone today at lunch time, Hank decides to head to one of his nearby hangouts, the Highlands Cafe Restaurant, another place where he is “known.” Tomorrow, he’ll make the same decisions, all over again. This series is a production of the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. It is led by Dorian Block and Ruth Finkelstein. It is funded by the New York Community Trust. To find all of the interviews and more, go to www.exceedingexpectations.nyc

are

“cake” constructed out of yogurt, crowded around him and sang “Happy Birthday.” Hank loves the familiarity, particularly as he navigates the unknown waters of retirement. “I’m known,” he says. When he enters the restaurant today, he looks around for his favorite waitress, Betty, before remembering that it’s her day off. Before he can be disappointed he’s greeted by another regular waitress, Anna. She quickly ushers him over to a table in the back as they exchange pleasantries. Without looking at the menu Hank orders a split pea soup, hold the bread. Anna asks if he wants his usual for dessert. Hank says, of course, coffee frozen yogurt with a dollop of chocolate. “What do you think of the Bruce [now Caitlin] Jenner news?” she asks. “I wouldn’t want to date him. He’s not my type,” he says. But “whatever is going to make you happy, do it,” he advises. In his later years Hank has grown increasingly mellow and less judgmental. He’s decided that he wants to spend the remainder of the time he has focusing on what makes him most happy - his family. Patti and Hank are parents to two adult children, along with Hank’s son and daughter from his previous marriage. Between them, there are five grandchildren, the center of his life. Most weekends they travel to their daughter Randi’s house in Connecticut and spend time with their grandkids. They often babysit their young granddaughters Leah, 7 and Dylan, 2. “I couldn’t live without my grandkids,” he says. Making his family happy makes him happy and that’s informed a recent decision that he made. In December their beloved Havanese, Lucy, named after Patti’s favorite comedic actress, passed away at age 13. Patty has been inconsolable and wanted to get another dog. “I said to Patti, ‘no more dogs,’” he says. He wasn’t keen on the responsibility or the fact that he will likely die before the dog - a Havanese’s life span averages 14 years but the more he reflected on the reality of his life winding down and leaving his family behind, the more he liked the idea. “I’m going to be gone. She’s going to be alone,” he says of Patti. A dog, he thought, would provide her with companionship, and that comforted him greatly, even if she doesn’t want to face the thought of losing him yet. “She thinks it’s going to be the same but it’s not. Life is nothing but a series of transitions.” Besides, he learned along time ago that it’s best to concede to Patti’s wishes. “I had two kids. I said no more. I had another. I said no more, and then another. I had a dog, you see how this goes?” he laughs.

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in history

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Voices

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

Letters BEWARE THE PHONE SCAMS

To the Editor: I am a senior and your article “Phone Scammers Target Seniors” applies to me. In less than two years I have received 587 scam calls from almost every state in the United States, including Lenox. Mass., Phoenix, Ariz., Los Angeles, Calif., Texas, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, etc Because I have an answering machine and a caller ID showing the dialer phone number, I do not answer scam calls. I received three scam calls recently from L.A., saying it is from the Treasury Dept. and I will be arrested for not paying taxes. When I receive a scam call, I write down the phone number. Most of the time they hang up after my answering machine message. Some leave a message telling me about lowering my credit card interest rates (received 100 calls to date), free medication, home security that the FBI says homes are broken into--want to put a sign in my yard--want my address, free food coupons, increase in electric bill rate, medical emergency alert system, customer service dept -- five days of free food and drink and a getaway -- too many for me to list. These calls all want private information and offer something in return. For calls that phone more than one time (and most do) each call has a different telephone number.

Seniors must protect their vital information, if possible do not answer these calls, do not call back. Do not get involved. Name withheld upon request To the Editor: I meditate. I burn candles. I drink green tea. And I still want to smack someone. This is how I feel about the person calling me several times pretending to be from the Treasury Department telling me to respond to their commands or else I will be arrested. Yes, I would love to slap her silly! No sane person can tolerate this sort of invasion and harassment. I am approaching 80 years old, and I certainly do not appreciate the emotional upset I have experienced. The caller gives her name as Judy Smith and requests a call-back. I never have, in fact I have either not answered when I see the number on my caller ID or if I do while on another call, I will hang up immediately. The first call I had some time ago a very young voice requested money and sounded like a 10-year-old boy. In the background I could hear an adult female voice asking “What is he saying?” The boy-caller repeated to her what I said: “It sounds like a scam!” With that I hung up. The person responsible -- or persons -- should be arrested. Catherine

STRAUS MEDIA your neighborhood news source

Vice President/CFO Otilia Bertolotti Vice President/CRO Vincent A. Gardino advertising@strausnews.com

THE DOWNSIDE OF CLOTHES SHOPPING SENIOR LIVING BY MARCIA EPSTEIN

As Bette Davis once said, “Aging is not for sissies.” We can’t be sissies to put up with the losses of old age, such as glowing health, work and careers, family, friends and the life we once took for granted. Even we lucky oldsters who get around well and live full lives no longer have the capacities we once had. Many of us have diminished hearing and finally give in to hearing aids. We deal with less than perfect vision, and often cataracts. Falls are more common and lead to more complications. We don’t have the energy we once had. I know fatigue is a problem for me and if I’ve had a busy day, I’ll often need more rest the next day. I’d love to travel, but my bad back and knees and that aforementioned fatigue make me wonder if I still ought to. And then there’s the subject of memory impairment, which so many of my friends are dealing with and which causes the terrible fear of impending Alzheimer’s. Often it’s not Alzheimer’s at all but something that happens over the years; we’ll go into a room and forget why we’re there. We’ll lose our keys and find them in a coat pocket. We’ll lift up the phone and forget who we were going to call. All normal, all scary. What’s going on with me?, we ask. We’re getting older is what’s going on. There’s no winning that battle. There’s no use

Associate Publishers, Seth L. Miller, Ceil Ainsworth Sr. Account Executive, Tania Cade

pretending that things are the same as they once were. The only way to deal with it is to accept what is true today and to try to make the best of it. This sounds Pollyanish, and I am no Pollyanna, believe me, but I can’t turn back the calendar. I think I’ll go hug my grandson. That always works! Sometimes it’s the smaller challenges that can ruin that beautiful sunny day. Clothes shopping used to be an exciting excursion to department stores or small shops, but for women of a certain age, it’s no longer fun. Most of us don’t want sleeveless garments that end at our belly buttons, or

skirts and dresses that expose our tender parts. We also don’t want pants that end at the hips and have to be constantly hiked up. I want my pants to button at the waist, and in fact, I sometimes want stylish pants with elastic waists if I’m wearing long tops. So shopping for clothes has become a hassle. Luckily, my partner and I have a car and can get to Kohl’s on Long Island, which has classic, comfortable clothing for adults. Also, the department stores ouside of Manhattan tend to carry more merchandise for older people, but for Manhattanites without cars, it’s become a challenge.

President & Publisher, Jeanne Straus nyoffice@strausnews.com Account Executive Editor In Chief, Kyle Pope Fred Almonte, Susan Wynn editor.ot@strausnews.com Director of Partnership Development Deputy Editor, Richard Khavkine Barry Lewis editor.dt@strausnews.com

Staff Reporters, Gabrielle Alfiero, Daniel Fitzsimmons

Liberty House on Broadway and 112th has some good sales, and Eileen Fisher and Oska, both on Columbus Avenue, also have looser clothing that still has some style. There’s also Chico’s, which caters to the more mature woman. Basics can be found at the Gap and Ann Taylor Loft. One problem I have is that I’ve shrunk! I can no longer wear even petite pants but must find the very few short petites, or else spend $20 to have pants shortened, which I often must resort to if I want any clothes at all. This is a good opportunity to tell you about the Service Program for Older Adults (SPOP), an organization dedicated to enhancing the life of adults 55 and older. SPOP offers mental health treatment for those 55 and older; bereavement support for adults of all ages, free of charge. They have substance abuse counseling for adults with a primary diagnoses of mental illness. They also have services for adults with severe mental illness, home visits for homebound clients an appointments at designated senior centers in Manhattan. SPOP can be reached by calling 212787-7120, ext 514.

HAVE AN IDEA FOR OUR SENIOR LIVING COLUMNIST? We want to hear what you think about living in New York as a senior. Write us at news@strausnews.com

Block Mayors, Ann Morris, Upper West Side Jennifer Peterson, Upper East Side Gail Dubov, Upper West Side Edith Marks, Upper West Side

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

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Op-Ed

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A Jury Of My (Distracted) Peers BY FREDRICKA R. MAISTER o say that I am not a huge fan of jury duty is an understatement. However, based on past stints of being summoned downtown, I have found jury duty has its redeemable qualities: the proximity of the courts to Chinatown and the possibility of crossing unexpected paths and bonding with interesting New Yorkers. During the requisite long periods of tedious waiting between calls to the courtroom, I could always strike up a conversation with a prospective juror on any number of subjects, form an instant friendship and share a lunch at a local Chinatown restaurant. I once met a woman who lived in my uptown apartment complex; we had lunch and have been friendly ever since. If I looked around the jury room, I could observe and hear other similar connections being made between former strangers. Sadly, that human interaction I remember so fondly had all but disappeared when I was recently called again for jury duty. To my utter amazement, the jury waiting room had morphed

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into a library, quiet, serious, with everyone’s gaze directed downward, ďŹ xed on their smartphones or tablets. Not wanting to intrude on another’s privacy, I, unlike my usual “Chatty Cathyâ€? self, never spoke to anyone. Nor did anyone say a word to me. I was glad I brought my iPad along to play Jumbline 2, the word game to which I am helplessly and hopelessly addicted. To be sure, about seven years ago, the time of my last jury service, I did notice some in the jury pool sitting in front of court-provided desktop computers or their own laptops, but they were in the vast minority. Everyone else, myself included, waited to go home to check e-mail or surf the Internet. Not so this last time around. With the exception of three women with no visible electronic devices, who were heard chatting in Spanish, we were all immersed in our own virtual cocoons. I could not help but be struck by how invasive and entrenched the global technological revolution had become in our lives. Even though I was an active participant in this new reality, the isolation and lack of human connection I experienced among such a large group of my fellow New Yorkers felt disappointing and disturbing. Since I had not cultivated any “new friends,â€? I took off for Chinatown alone. Not being in the mood to lunch by myself in a restaurant and feeling hungrier for human contact than for food, I opted

to take out a sweet bun with red beans, an almond cookie and a coffee to savor in Columbus Park, where I knew I would ďŹ nd a bustling social scene with hordes of elderly Chinese locals. Besides, the early spring weather after a particularly brutal winter was glorious, warm and sunny. Busy, full of life with no cell phone in sight (I looked around!), Columbus Park did not disappoint. It seemed as if the senior population, closeted for the winter, had been let loose, free at last to congregate, laugh, gossip and enjoy each other’s company. Clusters of elders played Chinese chess, checkers, mahjong and card games or practiced Tai Chi. A Chinese performer sang traditional Chinese music backed up by musicians playing classical Chinese instruments. I was lucky to ďŹ nd a corner spot at a concrete picnic table next to a group of four animated ladies who were gambling with cards. Since I didn’t speak Chinese and their English, I surmised, was limited or non-existent, we exchanged smiles a lot. I felt very welcomed as if I belonged just by being there. I closed my eyes, pretending that I was in China. I wish I could have stayed in the park all afternoon basking in the human warmth, but that story would have to wait. Jury duty was calling and I had to get back to my iPad. Fredricka R. Maister is a longtime Manhattanite and freelance writer.

www.CarmelLimo.com

Here learning happens every day. Isabella’s Early Childhood Education Program features a little bit of everything to keep your child challenged, engaged and constantly learning.

OPEN HOUSE

Wednesday, November 11th, 2015 10:00am – 12 Noon And 3:00 pm – 6:00pm 515 Audubon Avenue, New York, NY 10040 Call for more information: 212-342-9436 Let your child learn and grow in our rich and dynamic environment where safety comes first. Our Early Childhood Education Program offers developmentally appropriate educational programs for the children and prepares them for future learning. Our award winning and unique intergenerational program provides opportunities for playful interaction between children and older adults in our that helps to develop lifelong social skills in children.

Full Time & Part Time care is available Program features: / Developmentally appropriate education programs / Computer based literacy program / Storytelling / Music

/ Creative Arts / Indoor and Outdoor Physical Activities / Gardening

We provide breakfast and beverages. Parents provide baby food and formula for infants and lunch for toddlers and preschoolers. We respect various dietary laws.

We are open: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm Fees are structured on the basis of each family’s schedule and the age of the child. We are Licenses by the New York State Department of Health. If you cannot come to our Open House, call or e-mail for an appointment. Dr. Karen Ellefsen, Director, 515 Audubon Avenue, NY, NY 10040 Isabella Early Childhood Education Program (212) 342-9436 Kellefsen@isabella.org www.isabella.org/childdaycare

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Out & About NEWYORK-PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL AND WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE FALL SEMINAR SERIES

More Events. Add Your Own: Go to ourtownny.com 7 p.m. Free For more than 40 years, Madhur Jaffrey, the “godmother of Indian cooking,� has introduced Western home cooks to the vibrant cuisines of her homeland. stores.barnesandnoble.com/ event/87403-0

Fri 30

NOVEMBER

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Food Allergies and Nutrition: Was it Something I Ate? Amina H. Abdeldaim, M.D., M.P.H. Alexandra L. Weinstein, R.D., C.D.N.

over nine months, “Because Meâ€? explores behavior and ethos of millennials stumbling into their 30s. 866-811-4111. www. stablecablelabco.org/#!becauseâ–˛ BECAUSE ME: A NEW me/c1mw6

Thu 29

PLAY BY MAX BAKER Time: All seminars will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Place: All seminars held at Uris Auditorium Weill Cornell Medicine 1300 York Avenue (at 69th St.) For more information: If you require a disability-related accommodation, or for weather-related cancellations, please call 212-821-0888 and leave a message on the recording. Or visit our website at: www.weill.cornell.edu/seminars All seminars are FREE and open to the public. Seating is available for SHRSOH RQ D ÂżUVW FRPH ÂżUVW VHUYHG EDVLV

The Wild Project, 195 East Third St. Tonight through Saturday, Nov. 07. 7:30 p.m. $2-$20. An un-romantic comedy about self-proclaimed artist Else Barnes. Observing Else’s life

VEGETARIAN INDIA: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE BEST OF INDIAN HOME COOKING Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th St., at Lexington

GREAT MUSIC AT ST. BART’S — JOHN ZORN: “THE HERMETIC ORGANâ€? â–ź St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue at 51st Street. 12 a.m.$35, $25, $15 student/ senior. Modern music icon John Zorn performs his epic solo organ improvisation “The Hermetic Organâ€? on the largest pipe

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

organ in New York City, the magniďŹ cent Aeolian-Skinner at St. Bart’s. 212-378-0248. mmpaf.org

5TH ANNUAL ASPHALT SCREAMS Asphalt Green, 555 East 90th St. 4–6 p.m. Free Spooky fun and Halloweenthemed ďŹ tness fun, games, treats and more for costumed New Yorkers of all ages 212-369-8890. www. asphaltgreen.org/mission/ special-events/asphaltscreams

Sat 31 TEACH NEW YORKERS HOW TO RIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME East River Park, East Sixth Street and FDR Drive. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Classes are 2-3 hours and taught all over the city, every weekend. 212-870-2075.

â—„ SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

KAY RYAN 92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, Buttenwieser Hall 7:30 $22.00 Kay Ryan’s new new book of poems is “Erratic Facts.� She will be introduced by John Freeman. 212-415-5500. www.92y. org/Event/Kay-Ryan.aspx

Mon 2 19TH PRECINCT

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR PARENTS 92 Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd St. 7 p.m. From $30. Learn techniques and tips to help develop effective communication skills and improve your parent-child relationship. 212-415-5500. www.92y.org/ Event/Effective-CommunicationSkills

Wed 4

153 East 67th St. 7 p.m. The precinct community council meets at the precinct station house. 212-452-0615.

NEW YORKERS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE EDUCATION FUND BENEFIT â–ş 10 on the Park, 60 Columbus Circle, 10th oor. 6:30-9 p.m. $200. NYAGV Education Fund BeneďŹ t raises money to help reduce gun violence in New YOrk. The honorees this year are comedian Lewis Black, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Smart Tech Challenges. 646-893-4652. www. nyagvedfund.org

328 East 67th St. 2-4:30 p.m. Free Murder, mayhem, and the ultimate revenge. Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece returns to life in a bold new performance by the New York Philharmonic, starring Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson. 212-734-1717. www. CINÉSALON • MATHIEU nypl.org/events/ AMALRIC THE BLUE programs/2015/10/31/67thstreet-presents-lincoln-center- ROOM â–ź local-free-screenings-sweeneytodd FIAF, Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th St. 7:30 p.m.$14; $3 members; $7 students. Mathieu Amalric, 2014. Color. 76 min. DCP. With Mathieu Amalric, StĂŠphanie ClĂŠau, LĂŠa Drucker In French with English ON NIGHT AND subtitles. DREAMS 212-868-0190. www.ďŹ af.org/ The New York Society Library, events/fall2015/2015-11-03-cs53 East 79th St. 3 p.m. $20 with advance registration, $25 at the door. Tow gifted young musicians explore the inuence of night and dreams on poetry and song, through the music of Franz Schubert, Richard Strauss, Hector Berlioz and others. 212-288-6900, x222. www. nysoclib.org/events/how-registerevents

Tue 3

Sun 1

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JONATHAN SEGAL: 2015 EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Temple Israel, 112 East 75th St. 6:30 p.m. $35. The VP & senior editor with Alfred A. Knopf, will be presented with Biographers International Organization’s Editorial Excellence Award. A panel of distinguished biographers will also take up the topic of “How Great Biographies Get Made and Why They Matter.� 212-288-6900 x222. biographersinternational.org

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Don’t forget when it’s all over and all the candy has been eaten, it will be time to get your teeth checked and cleaned! Deena Pegler, D.M.D., P.C. Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 133 East 58th Street, Suite 416 New York, NY, 10022 t %31&(-&3 $0.

THEATER FIGHT OR FLIGHT FIAF, Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th St. 7:30 p.m.$50; members $45. dapted and directed by StĂŠphanie ClĂŠau Based on the novel by Eric Reinhardt Starring Mathieu Amalric and AnneLaure Tondu. 212 355 6100. www.ďŹ af.org/ events/fall2015/2015-11-04ďŹ ght-or-ight.shtml

We salute the East Midtown Partnership on its 13 years of outstanding service to the businesses, employees, residents and visitors to East Midtown.

east sixties neighborhood association, inc. 1173A Second Avenue, #110, New York, NY 10065 212 713-5826 www.esna-nyc.com

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THE AWESOMENESS OF THE MET REVIEW BY A SEVENTH GRADER A self-taught Egyptologist on the appeal of the Met’s collection BY ASHER HUROWITZ

Photo by Daniel Fitzsimmons

Ancient Egypt, the land of the pharaohs. This early empire achieved a lot of firsts – the first board game, the first paper making. Four thousand years ago, with no cranes of any kind, the Egyptians built the pyramids, stone structures taller than any other. What isn’t amazing about that? Egypt is, to me, magical. The mind-boggling part about studying ancient Egypt is that there are 3,000 years to choose from and that doesn’t count the 10,000 years of the Pre-Dynastic period before the pharaohs. There is always something new to learn, no matter how obscure. You may ask me where I get this information. It comes from two main places. One is my library. I have been collecting books on ancient Egypt since I was three years old. Some are even in foreign languages! But my biggest source of information is the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, one of the greatest in the world. The Met is a really fun place. The Met’s Egyptian wing is organized as a “time loop.” When you enter room 100, the under-rated Tomb of Perneb in front of you offers the opportunity to walk inside. Most people will then head left, through the Roman Period and backwards in time because it is the fastest way to the spectacular Temple

of Dendur. But the true way through Egyptian history is to take a right past the granite lion. This will take you first to the Pre-Dynastic Period, then onto my favorite, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom. Only then do you arrive at the Temple of Dendur, one of the most amazing rooms in New York. I like to concentrate on the Old Kingdom. My favorite piece of Egyptian art at the Met is the stele of Raneb, the 2nd pharaoh of the 2nd dynasty who lived around 4,800 years ago. The stele is a granite stone that shows the boundary of a place and which some people think is the oldest of its kind to be written on. It’s easy to find, right in the first room of the Egyptian collection. I like it because it’s the only object from the time of my favorite (and obscure) pharaoh that I can see in person. I also love the Meketre Miniatures. Commissioned by a rich nobleman, the models are of little wooden people doing various activities of everyday life. They are often mistaken for toys and kids love to see them. What are they? The ancient Egyptians believed that any object of effigy with a spell inscribed on it would come to life and serve you in the afterlife. So these figures would turn into Meketre’s servants. There are even small luxury boats that show him enjoying himself on the water! Some of the models are currently on display in a fantastic special exhibition at the Met on the Middle Kingdom that I highly recommend. Another object I enjoy is often missed. If you look care-

fully at a hole in a false door in the Old Kingdom collection, you can see a small wooden figure peeping out. It is amazing that a wooden statue survived for as it is such a fragile and corrosive material. It lacks a face, but still has the ability to make you laugh if you peek in with its sudden surprise quirkiness. I think that’s a great quality for an artifact. When and how did I get into this? It’s not your usual “I saw the art in the museum and fell in love” story. I was actually watching “Little Einsteins,” an educational TV show that aired 10 years ago with a red plane inexplicably called “Rocket.” There was a special episode on Egypt entitled “Secret of the Sphinx” and something triggered my mind and my passion began. I immediately read every book I could get my hands on and my parents brought me to the Met. I loved it! Since then, I have continued to learn and have become friends with many famous archeologists. I love Egypt. I think you should, too. You can read about what they thought (since they actually wrote stuff down), see the art they made, and even play the board games they played! And for me it all started at the Met. I hope you swing by the Met sometime soon and visit the Egyptian collection. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get as obsessed as me! Asher Hurowitz is a seventh grader in Manhattan. His Q&A with a Met curator, about the mummification process, is part of #MetKids, a new online feature from the Met made for, with, and by kids. For more information, go to www.metmuseum.org/metkids

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TOP A creature stands on a stage during “The Grand Procession of the Ghouls” at the Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of Ghouls, 27 October 2006, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. The annual event features ghoulish charactors by puppet and mask maker and theater director Ralph Lee, who created New York City’s Halloween Parade. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA

FILM SCARY MOVIES The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s ninth annual horror series features new, chilling films and suspenseful classics, including a free showing of the 1931 James Whale film “Frankenstein.” Also slated to screen is Bernard Rose’s modern update of “Frankenstein,” set in current-day Los Angeles, along with a rare showing of the director’s 1988 film “Paperhouse,” about a young girl who escapes into her increasingly terrifying drawings, and filmmaker David Keating’s “Cherry Tree,” about a 15-yearold girl who comes under the spell of the new field hockey coach—and witch—who claims she can restore the girl’s ailing father to health, but at a price. Scary Movies Through Nov. 5 Film Society of Lincoln Center Walter Reade Theater 165 W. 65th St., between Broadway and Amsterdam

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FOR

HALLOWEEN

BY GABRIELLE ALFIERO OUR ARTS EDITOR

THEATER HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA AT CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE A haunted evening awaits at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. F.W. Murnau’s silent 1922 creeper “Nosferatu” screens, with accompaniment by organist Timothy Brumfield, along with the annual theatrical march of demons, witches and ghosts from Mettawee River Theatre Company that creeps and winds down the church’s nave. Halloween Extravaganza at Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine Friday, Oct. 30 Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine 1047 Amsterdam Ave., at 112th Street 7 p.m., with second film screening at 10 p.m. Tickets $20 To purchase tickets, visit http:// www.stjohndivine.org/ or call 212-3167540 for more information

Assorted show times All access pass $99; 3+ film package, $10 per film; $14 individual tickets For more information, visit http://www.filmlinc.org/ festivals/scary-movies-9/ or call 212-875-5232

“NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD” As part of its ongoing free Friday night music series, the Rubin Museum of Art screens the 1968 black and white zombie classic “Night of the Living Dead” in its downstairs theater, while garnishing themed beverages like “The Wrathful Deity” and “The Thirsty Ghost” with plastic severed fingers. Museum entry is free from 6-10 p .m. “Night of the Living Dead” Friday, Oct. 30 Rubin Museum of Art 150 W. 17th St., near Seventh Avenue 9:30 p.m. screening; free entry to museum at 6 p.m. Tickets $10 For more information, visit rubinmuseum.org or call 212-

Our Perspective A Disgraceful Attack on Workers

620-5000

KIDS ASPHALT SCREAMS Halloween comes to Asphalt Green, where families can don costumes for trick-or-treating and sports. The event is free, though donations benefit Asphalt Green’s community programs. The first 500 trickor-treaters get a free goodie bag. Asphalt Screams Friday, Oct. 30 Asphalt Green 555 E. 90th St., between York and East End Avenues 4-6 p.m. Free, donations accepted For more information and to rsvp, visit asphaltgreen.org or call 212-369-8890

MUSEUMS “TALES FROM THE CRYPT: HORROR ON HALLOWE’EN” The Merchant’s House

Museum, reportedly haunted by members of the Tredwell family who once occupied the downtown residence, hosts an evening of ghost stories with a recreation of the funeral of Seabury Tredwell, complete with a coffin and drapes of black. The macabre scene sets the stage for dramatic readings of Gothic literature and tales of actual spirit sightings from within the museum. “Tales from the Crypt: Horror on Hallowe’en” Saturday, Oct. 31 Merchant’s House Museum 29 E. Fourth St., between Lafayette Street and Cooper Square 7 p.m. Tickets $25 To purchase tickets, visit http://merchantshouse.org/ calendar/reservations/ or call 212-777-1089 for more information To be included in the Top 5 go to ourtownny.com and click on submit a press release or announcement.

By Stuart Appelbaum, President Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, RWDSU, UFCW

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ew York City’s new Car Wash Accountability Act, designed to regulate an industry that has long operated without any oversight and which has a disgraceful history of worker exploitation, is under attack. The would-be destroyers are members of the Car Wash Association who want to maintain the status quo, and the high-priced lawyers they have hired to gut the new law with a bogus suit that will keep the immigrant ‘carwasheros’ trapped inpoverty and working in unsafe conditions. Members of the association are being hypocritical: This is an industry with an appalling track record and they have done nothing to change that. In fact, the association was formed for the sole purpose of trying to stop passage of the law and to protect their ability to operate in the shadows. In recent years, car wash owners have agreed to settlements worth millions of dollars. These settlements are restitution for money taken from workers – workers who are struggling to get by in a difficult and demanding industry. This is an industry that desperately needs to change. This new law for the first time gives the city regulatory power over the industry and requires them to be licensed, to obey environmental guidelines, and obtain a bond to protect workers and consumers. The owners have made much of the bond issue, but they have been disingenuous about it. The law states that owners must post a $150,000 surety bond to ensure that money is available to pay any claims workers or consumers may have. If the owner has a proven system of monitoring the workplace to ensure that wage theft will not occur, they would have to post just a $30,000 bond. One way recognized by the law to achieve that is through the presence of union representation for workers. But it is certainly not the only way. Owners who have consented to a government-ordered monitoring system also qualify. The point is that when a union is present or when there is other workplace monitoring, issues of wage theft can be quickly remedied. The owners also say that they don’t have the money to pay for the bond, but the fact is they are not putting up those amounts; they are simply buying insurance at a small percentage of that cost. And at the same time that they complain about the cost, they are spending tens of thousands of dollars – or more – on lawyers to kill this historic legislation. It is plain to see that the bond issue is a red herring. The owners don’t want to open their books and don’t want their workers to join a union because a union provides monitoring and a grievance procedure that empowers and protects workers. Ten shops have voted to join the RWDSU and nine have won union contracts. The City Council, led by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, stood up for workers in enacting the legislation, which Mayor de Blasio courageously signed it into law. And you can be sure that we at the Car Wash Campaign will fight back against this suit and do everything possible to reform this industry and improve the lives of thousands of workers.

For more information, visit

www.rwdsu.org

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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

In Brief DOGS NOW ALLOWED TO DINE

On Oct. 26, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill allowing dog owners to dine with their pets in outdoor sections of eateries, the New York Post reported, which goes into effect immediately. Still, restaurant operators cannot be forced to allow dogs in outdoor dining areas and are free to set the rules at their restaurants. Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration opposed the bill, with the Department of Health citing health and safety concerns for diners and restaurant employees, and some opposed to the policy suggested that large dogs are apt to eat food from patrons’ tables. Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal sponsored the bill, telling the Post that “…No longer will our beloved companion animals be relegated to staying at home while we enjoy outdoor dining.”

RESTAURANT GROUP CHALLENGING $15 MINIMUM WAGE Lobbying group the National Restaurant Association is set to battle New York’s minimum wage increase for fast food workers, Eater reported. The wage increase, which was approved in September by the state’s Department of Labor, will incrementally grow the minimum wage, currently set at $8.75 an hour, until it reaches $15 an hour in July 2021. The restaurant group filed a 26-page petition last week to the state’s Industrial Board of Appeals, the Gannet Albany Bureau reported. The documentation suggests that the policy is an attempt by Governor Andrew Cuomo to skirt state Legislature. In May, Cuomo asked the labor commissioner to form a Fast Food Wage Board, which suggested an increase in pay to $15 an hour pay for fast food employees. The National Restaurant Association argues that the wage board did not include a member of the restaurant industry.

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

Food & Drink NOURISHING THE HOMELESS DEFIES EASY SOLUTIONS As population of people living on the street continues to increase, funding challenges are just one obstacle BY LIZ NEUMARK

Our focus on the city’s homeless population is part of an ongoing conversation engaging politicians and citizens alike. We discuss the count, cause, interventions and solutions, while griping or sympathizing or just feeling numb about the acute suffering at our doorstep. For the most part, we watch from the sidelines as a multitude of professionals and volunteers work daily to house, feed, heal and address our roughly 60,000 neighbors without homes. A month ago, I wrote about the ad hoc network of soup kitchens and feeding programs, which provide thousands of meals daily in a multitude of formats and locations. But what of the meals within the system of 271 shelters themselves? It has been frustrating — the attempt to find out what the men, women and children in the shelter system of New York City are fed is obscured to the point of evoking my intense curiosity and borderline suspicion. On the surface, one might imagine that the struggle to find shelter, a bed, a safe haven for a family or mentally ill individual to spend the night eclipses the mundane conversation of “What’s for dinner.” That is until you realize that for any of us, skipping one or two meals is cause for alarm. My search yielded limited information that requires further exploration. While I ate a meal served in a shelter, I wanted to experience several — a goal I will pursue. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I fell into trying to understand more about homelessness as well as the theories of causation, the history of the city’s responses, the contentious political landscape over funding solutions and the array of strategies to alleviate, or more accurately, solve the problem for individuals and for families. I spent several hours with Muzzy

Rosenblatt, executive director of the Bowery Residents’ Committee, a remarkable professional who has led the 43-year old organization with the most sensitive and respectful ideology. Touring the West 25th Street facility in Chelsea brought people and problems into clear view, which no one would associate with this trendy neighborhood. BRC has outreach teams in the city’s transit system offering the persistently homeless an opportunity to get off the street when they are ready to come in. The operating philosophy was completely unexpected: “What matters more than what we do is how we do it. We don’t see problems or illnesses — we see people and opportunities. We don’t simply repair ... we help each individual to understand and overcome the challenges they’ve faced.” The kitchen at BRC was as unexpected as its mission. A lot of scratch cooking of simple dishes by a staff engaged in their daily tasks of chopping, slicing and watching simmering pots or rotating pans in the oven. Some cooks had worked their way up, off the streets to stability and a culinary job. The inventory included frozen and canned items in the walk-ins and pantry as well as fresh ingredients; meals served at other BRC sites were prepared here. Lunch was satisfying and simple. This population has serious health challenges and meals that are easily digestible, with low sodium and sugar and not expensive to produce is critical. Over 75 percent of individuals in BRC programs have addiction and/or mental illness issues. Eating lunch was the easy part. Walking through the dormitories was not. The sights and smells will stay with me. What’s more, this is a good shelter. For 10 years, Karen Cotugno of The Salvation Army worked with homeless families including at one of the city’s largest family shelters, Carlton House (a former Best Western Hotel near JFK Airport) and eight years with the Department of Homeless Services as a program analyst. In 2013, she returned to The Salva-

tion Army, at the Franklin Avenue Armory Women’s shelter, an intake and assessment shelter. She’s now deputy director of Social Services Administration with the organization. She shared her perspective, derived from an obvious dedication to helping people along with an informed view of the political, economic and social threads of the current crisis. The hardcore homeless population with mental illness and substance abuse travels the route between jail, hospitals, streets and, at times, shelters. The surge in homelessness has been met with increased oversight and guidelines despite insufficient resources to address the growing needs. I learned about performance targets at shelters and the work done to move families out of the system. A good staff actively involves residents in programs, has relationships with brokers to assist in finding suitable apartments, and push clients to get services and support. Asking her about food made me feel silly, but then again, eating is an essential human function, never mind the intangible significance of meals. The Salvation Army contracts with Whitson’s Culinary Group, a Long Island based food service company, which counts schools, healthcare, corporations and emergency dining among its clients. While it doesn’t list shelters on its website, their menus follow Health Department guidelines regarding analysis of calories, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, fiber and protein (as were the menus at BRC). If given a magic wand, Karen would make supportive housing available and affordable (read, subsidized). Here is where the economics of the situation started to overwhelm me: the cost of renting rooms/property for shelter at premium pricing; the cost of emergency services and the cost of the overall exorbitant and unaffordable system. What are the different scenarios that might mitigate homelessness, what are those costs? The city shoulders 73 percent of the cost for single adults while the

federal government foots 58 percent of the cost for sheltering families. The Coalition for the Homeless is an incredible resource for information; advocacy; direct support to the homeless while providing a measure of transparency on the subject we wish would go away. Their website reports the monthly count of the homeless population, broken down by families and single adults. They championed the landmark Legal Aid case that established the right to shelter for homeless adult men (Callahan v. Carey, settled in 1981), which is unique to New York City. The coalition’s program director, Tim Campbell, talked easily about food in the shelter system. “It is important for everyone,” he said, to highlight its connection to the ability to respond to immense challenges when you are homeless. “How much sleep, how much food. Diet makes you feel. Tastier food feels good.” He outlined the hierarchy of needs starting with shelter and stability but connected the general outlook directly to what you eat. This population has enormous health issues – from diet-related disease to obesity and chronic physical illness. Processed and carb heavy food is poison — and there is great variation in what shelters serve despite DOH guidelines. Not all shelters provide food and the expanded (and growing) use of hotels means no on-site meals. These residents need to access food stamp allowances to shop, which sounds OK but for the fact that families in crisis are not shoppers or cooks like you and me. We talked for a long time and I am deeply grateful for the education and insight. Tim would use his magic wand exactly like Karen — to provide affordable housing with support services. In the end, this story does not have a conclusion. Homelessness is not new and is perhaps unavoidable. But how we address it and what role each of us plays in finding solutions is a test of who we are. And — what is on a plate is in a very small way a measurement of our humanity.

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

Celebrate Halloween in East Midtown! We’re inviting children 12 and under and their families to trick-or-treat at East Midtown businesses from 4:00–8:00 PM on Friday, October 30th! Interested in joining us as a trick-or-treater? Check-in and pick up your trick-or-treat bags and maps: @ Tramway Plaza, E. 59th Street & 2nd Ave, where we’ll have a spooky photobooth for family photos! @ Harman Flagship Store, 527 Madison Avenue, where there will be treats for adults too! Then join us @ Whole Foods, 226 E. 57th Street, for a 6:00 PM free screening of “Hocus Pocus” in their 2nd floor cafe. A huge thank you to our participating businesses! Amali * American Apparel * Baked by Melissa * Bank of America * The Bar Room The Benjamin Hotel and The National Bar & Restaurant * Bianca Jewelers * Bloom’s Tavern C’est Bon Café * Capital One 360 Café Carvi Hotel * Child Mind Institute * ChouBox * Duxiana Dr. Erika Faust, Elite Orthodontics * Eileen Fisher * Eyes on the World * Extraordinary * Fifty NYC Hotel Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel * Fresh & Co * Galerie Pierre Dumonteil * Dr. Cynthia Gomez, DDS Harman * Insomnia Cookies * Jacques Torres Chocolates * Just Bulbs * Kurant Wine Bar * La Villetta Lapicida * Mon Petit Cafe * Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden * Oak & Barrel * Palace Restaurant Partnership for Parks * Dr. Deena Pegler, DMD * Piquadro * Popular Community Bank * Rigby & Peller S.J. Shrubsole * Samuel and Sons * San Carlos Hotel * Silverleaf * Sprinkles Ice Cream * Talbots T-Moble * Tufenkian Artisan Carpets * Turtle Bay Music School * Vanderbilt YMCA The Wellness Center of NY * Whole Foods * Yuva Frontier Grill * Zales 875 Third Avenue, Mezzanine New York, NY 10022 212-813-0030 www.EastMidtown.org

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OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

Business

In Brief

Amy’s Bread, with locations throughout the city, was among the finalists.

EDC: $11.6 MILLION BENEFIT PER GAME AT CITI FIELD The New York City Economic Development Corporation said that the New York Mets 2015 postseason games generate an economic impact of $11.6 million per home game. The analysis accounts for ticket sales, spending from nearly 30,000 visitors from outside of New York City, and additional earnings for seasonal employees at Citi Field, as well as other factors. The agency said such an impact stimulates growth in the local economy, creating opportunities and jobs for New Yorkers, and spending that is reinvested in the City of New York. According to Major League Baseball’s postseason structure, at least two games of the 2015 World Series will be played at Citi Field. The EDC also said the city set an all-time record of 56.4 million visitors last year, generating a record $61 billion in overall economic impact, supporting 362,000 jobs and $21 billion in wages. The city’s hotel inventory includes more than 105,000 hotel rooms, while selling a record 32.5 million total hotel room nights, an all-time high. “Big events like the World Series attract visitors who may book rooms, eat out, explore neighborhoods and go shopping,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company. “But the value of hosting big events goes far beyond immediate economic impact.”

THIRTY PERECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ANNOUNCED FOR PIER 40 Administration officials announced a new proposal, negotiated with Councilmember Corey Johnson, to save Hudson River Park’s Pier 40 and deliver nearly 500 affordable apartments to the community, especially for seniors. The transaction, which will undergo a full public review process, would generate approximately $100 million to repair Pier 40 by transferring development rights to the nearby St. John’s site, located across the West Side Highway from Pier 40. The funds, subject to approval by the Hudson River Park Trust’s Board of Directors after an independent appraisal process, will be used to make long-overdue repairs to the severely damaged and dilapidated Pier 40, which is the park’s largest pier. Portions of the aging pier have been closed in recent months out of concerns for public safety. As part of the new proposal, the St. John’s Center Partners – Westbrook Partners and Atlas Capital Group, LLC – have committed to ensuring that 30 percent of apartments built on their nearby site receiving the pier’s development rights will be permanently affordable to low income and moderate income families, including an entire building of affordable homes for seniors. The plan also includes removing much of the existing overpass structure above Houston Street, creating an elevated publicly accessible open space as well as improving the access to Hudson River Park.

INSTAGRAM FALL PHOTOS THIS WEEKEND The de Blasio administration said the city’s official Instagram channel will host another online contest encouraging New Yorkers to submit photos of the city with an autumn theme. Following in the tradition of the first #SignsOfSpringNYC contest this past spring, winners of #AutumnInNYC will serve as Instagram ambassadors on @nycgov, the official Instagram account of New York City government. In a press release, City Hall said the #AutumnInNYC contest will once engage New Yorkers from across the five boroughs, giving voice to a diverse range of perspectives and photographic styles on the city’s official Instagram account. Submissions will be accepted via a web form hosted on nyc.gov, and one ambassador from each borough will be selected by a panel of judges. In order to be eligible, photos will need to be submitted in a square format by end of the day on November 1. The judging and vetting period will take place from November 2 to November 7. Winners will be announced on Nov. 14 and the winning photos will be showcased on the @nycgov Instagram and Medium channels, as well as other city social media accounts. Ambassadors will serve through Spring 2015, and will also have special access to InstaMeets coordinated by the city.

AGE-SMART FINALISTS NAMED NEWS Awards recognize businesses that hire and retain four generations of employees Thirteen New York City businesses and nonprofits were recognized as finalists for the 2015 Age Smart Awards. The award, in its second year, recognizes New York City businesses and nonprofit organizations that use policies and practices that help to hire, retain, and engage four generations of workers. The finalists include: Large Businesses (100+ employees) •Amy’s Breads—a bread and pastry bakery, featuring three retail cafes and distribution to over 250 wholesale customers daily throughout New York City •Brooks Brothers, LIC Factory—the facility that manufactures the neckties and bowties—1.5 million ties a year—for this world-renown oldest clothing retailer in the U.S. •CBRE—the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment company •North Bronx Healthcare Network—serves the Bronx Community by providing high-quality healthcare, regardless of ability to pay, through the Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital •NYU Langone Medical Center—one

of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, with a trifold mission to serve, teach and discover •Sunnyside Community Services— a community-based organization in western Queens that provides a continuum of care to over 14,000 individuals of all ages annually Small Businesses (less than 100 employees) •ADSPACEink & Magicink Interactive—agencies providing a range of print, digital and cutting-edge design services as well as developing unique branding opportunities •Ben’s Best Kosher Delicatessen—a restaurant and catering business in Rego Park, Queens •Eneslow Pedorthic Enterprises—a footwear store specializing in readymade and custom-made footwear and related products to reduce foot pain and improve balance and gait •Indiana Market & Catering—a high– end special events catering company •Metro Optics Eyewear—an ophthalmic services company with four stores in the Bronx •The Queens Tribune—a local newspaper for 44 years that also runs the South East Queens Press, an AfricanAmerican focused publication •VISION/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired—promotes independence of people of all ages who are blind through skill training, congregate programs and support for caregivers

“Workers of all ages are good for business and these finalists are proof positive that creating a work environment that values older workers pays off big time,” says Ruth Finkelstein, director of the Age Smart Employer Awards program and associate director of the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at the Mailman School of Public Health. “What this diverse set of employers have in common is a focus on creating a great place to work—for workers of all ages. They do this in different ways—through flexible work arrangements, training and cross-training, staff development and promotion from within or great benefits. ” The 13 finalists were chosen from an original group of 52 applicants by a selection committee of nine experts in the field of employment and aging. The applicants submitted extensive applications addressing their respective approaches to engaging older workers. Each finalist is now participating in an employees’ survey about those practices. The selection committee will evaluate the employee surveys and after further deliberation will identify three to four winning organizations in the large and small business/nonprofit categories. The winners of the 2015 Age Employer Awards will be announced at a ceremony on December 9, 2015. For more information, go to http:// www.agesmartemployer.org

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

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Sports The only dedicated Assisted Living Facility in New York City specializing in Enhanced Memory Care.

ASPHALT GREEN SOCCER TEAM IN FIRST PLACE

Ensconced in the landmark neighborhood of the Upper East Side, Residents continue to enjoy the heart and soul of this incomparable city they have always loved. • Beautiful Upper East Side Environment • Each floor a “Neighborhoodâ€? with Family Style Dining & Living Room • 24-hour Licensed Nurses & Attendants specially trained in dementia care • Medication Management • Around the clock personal care, as needed • Housekeeping, Linen & Personal Laundry • Courtyard & Atrium Rooftop Garden • Chef prepared Meals Nation’s first recipient of AFA’s Excellence in Care distinction.

80th Street Residents in Central Park with the Essex House Hotel peeking from behind.

430 East 80th Street, New York, NY 10075 Tel. 212-717-8888 www.80thstreetresidence.com

The Asphalt Green Soccer Club GU11 Surge is ďŹ nding success in their ďŹ rst season of premier competition in the New York Premier League. The squad is currently in 1st place among eight teams from Westchester County, Long Island, and the ďŹ ve boroughs. In ďŹ ve games, the Surgettes scored 18 goals and conceded only 5.

Resident Manager of The 80th Street Residence Recognized for Expertise The only licensed Assisted Living Residence in New York City Entirely Devoted to Enhanced Memory Care The 80th Street Residence is proud to announce that their Resident Manager, Leah Gallagher, LMSW, has completed the “Positive Approach to Care (PAC)� Consultant Training and has been awarded with a “Certificate of Expertise.� The PAC program was created by dementia-care education specialist Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, an occupational therapist with over 30 years in clinical practice. Ms. Gallagher completed pre-requisite training work, a multi-modal classroom training and participated in weekly post-classroom calls with a coach to further exemplify her knowledge and skills. Clare Shanley, Executive Director says, “Leah Gallagher walked in the door 6 years ago and immediately immersed herself in supporting our Residents, Families and Staff. When we learned of the opportunity to train with Ms. Snow, who has long been known as the dementia-care guru, it was clear that this was an opportunity that just couldn’t be passed up. Leah’s unbridled enthusiasm for continued education is a perfect example of how she strives to provide the best support that she can for those navigating the difficult terrain of dementia. We couldn’t be more proud of her successful completion of the training and receiving a ‘Certificate of Expertise’.� With the highest level of Assisted Living Residence licensure by the New York State Department of Health, The 80th Street Residence is the only dedicated assisted living community in New York City Specializing in Memory Care. In their boutique setting, 80th Street offers unique neighborhoods, each, composed of no more than eight to ten Residents with similar cognitive abilities. All neighborhoods have cozy and homelike dining and living rooms and are staffed 24 hours a day with personal care attendants. The intimate setting allows for an environment that is conducive to relaxation, socialization and participation in varied activities. A true jewel of care on the Upper East Side.

&BTU UI 4USFFU /FX :PSL /: t t XXX UI4USFFU3FTJEFODF DPN

Book Talk Series & Reception “The Future of China and Doing Business with the West� Thursday, November 12, 2015 6:00pm-8:00pm

Dr. Danny Quah Professor, Economics, LSE

Michael Zakkour

Tompkins International Consulting

Confucius Institute for Business at State University of New York SUNY Global Center | 116 East 55th Street | New York, NY 10022 | 212-317-3518 To register go to http//confuciusbuiness.suny.edu then select Register now! “The Confucius Institute for Business at SUNY (CIB) is the destination for people and companies currently or seeking to be engaged with the China business wold.�

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

Neighborhood Scrapbook MARYMOUNT INAUGURATES EIGHTH PRESIDENT

Marymount Manhattan College inaugurated Dr. Kerry Walk, pictured, as its eighth president, in a ceremony at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An array of notable figures participated in the ceremony, including Daniel R. Garodnick, New York City Council Member; Merryl Tisch, Ph.D., Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents, and Marcia V. Keizs, Ed.D. President of York College/ The City University of New York.

Share your news and what’s going on in your life. Go to ourtownny.com and click on submit a press release or announcement.

More neighborhood news? neighborhood milestones? neighborhood events? neighborhood celebrations? neighborhood opinions? neighborhood ideas? neighborhood feedback? neighborhood concerns?

Bonjour! New 5-Week French Classes Start November 7 Register Today! fiaf.org

ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND

thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY

1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR—Two Tales of Politics, Betrayal, and Unlikely Destiny

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 6:30PM Mid-Manhattan Library | 455 Fifth Ave. | 212-340-0863 | nypl.org Historian and author David Pietrusza gives an illustrated talk on two very different leaders and two pivotal elections in the turning point year of 1932. (Free)

Explore Okinawa: Art, Culture and Cuisine from the Ryukyu Islands

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 6:30PM Japan Society | 33 E. 47th St. | 212-832-1155 | japansociety.org The chain of islands of Okinawa Prefecture has a unique tropical culture. Delve into it with the help of experts in its history, culture, art and cuisine. ($18)

Just Announced | Idris Elba, Cary Fukunaga and Abraham Attah

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 6:30PM The TimesCenter | 242 W. 41st St. | 888-698-1870 | timestalks.com Go behind the scenes of the buzz-driving new film Beasts of No Nation, the first theatrical release from Netflix. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective), actor Idris Elba (The Wire) and newcomer Abraham Attah will discuss telling the story of a child-soldier in Ghana. ($40)

Email us at news@strausnews.com

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

sign up for the weekly Thought Gallery newsletter at thoughtgallery.org.

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Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com Residents of Holmes Towers and their allies marching from the public housing complex on East 93rd Street to Gracie Mansion to protest the New York City Housing Authority plans for a development at the site of a children’s playground. Photo: Daniel Fitzsimmons

TENANTS PROTEST NYCHA’S HOUSING PLAN Holmes Towers residents continue to stand against agency’s revenue plan BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS

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The Dignity MemorialÂŽ Personal Planning Guide, is a valuable tool that allows you to record financial and personal information that your family will need during and after your final arrangements. Preplanning puts your family first by making your wishes known and removing the burden from loved ones. To receive a complimentary Personal Planning Guide or to learn more about preplanning options, call or visit us.

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

Public housing residents marched five blocks south to Gracie Mansion last week with a message for Mayor Bill de Blasio: hands off our land. The residents were protesting a recently unveiled plan to build a mixture of affordable and market rate housing on playground space at Holmes Towers on East 93rd Street and First Avenue, where they live. Under the terms of the plan, the New York City Housing Authority would partner with a developer to build 350 to 400 apartments on playground space between the two Holmes Towers, 175 to 200 of which would be affordable. The rest will be offered at market rate. The main goal of the initiative, named NYCHA Next Gen Neighborhoods, is to close the agency’s $17 billion budget gap. In exchange for residents’ blessing, NYCHA is promising to make much-needed repairs at Holmes and give residents ďŹ rst priority when the affordable apartments are built. The agency predicts the program will generate $300 million to $600 million over the next 10 years, revenue that will be split between infrastructure needs at Next Gen sites like Holmes

and NYCHA’s larger capital needs. A similar program was announced in September at Wyckoff Gardens in Brooklyn. But residents aren’t going along with the plan. Holmes residents, with assistance from a public housing advocacy organization, staged a walkout at a recent outreach meeting with NYCHA officials. The residents feel as if key decisions regarding the playground space at Holmes have already been made, and that the agency is merely feigning at including them in the planning process. With guidance from Community Voices Heard, a public housing organization made up of NYCHA tenants across the city, Holmes residents gathered at the very park space they believe will be built over at Holmes to begin their march to Gracie Mansion, where de Blasio was hosting a party for the Gracie Mansion Conservancy to celebrate the grand reopening of the mayor’s residence. “GentriďŹ cation is really what this is,â€? said Sandrea Coleman, a Holmes resident, at a rally before the march. “Who in their right, sane mind takes away a public park for little kids?â€? After the rally about 100 residents headed south on First Avenue with a light police escort. Residents marched with handmade signs calling on de Blasio to nix the plan altogether, reaf-

firming their stance that private development has no place on public land. Some marched with canes, walkers and strollers, while children who use the park at Holmes kept step alongside their parents. Councilman Ben Kallos headed the pack with a Community Voices Heard banner, as organizers led chants along city streets. Kallos said he was no longer welcomed by NYCHA to address residents at meetings organized by the agency concerning Next Gen NYCHA. “The mayor said he’s committed to a process but the process doesn’t seem to provide a role for community members,� Kallos said during an interview at the march. Arriving at Gracie Mansion, residents were kept on the west side of East End Avenue, in a cordoned-off area across the street. About a dozen police officers kept order at the scene, while guests of Gracie Mansion stepped out of luxury vehicles at the entrance to the mayoral residence. “De Blasio!� residents shouted from across the street, in a chant led by Kallos. “No private development on NYCHA land! No luxury units on NYCHA land! De Blasio, do not build on our playground!� Lakeesha Taylor, a Holmes resident with two young children, one of which uses the

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Residents of Holmes Towers and their allies marching from the public housing complex on East 93rd Street to Gracie Mansion to protest the New York City Housing Authority plans for a development at the site of a children’s playground. Photo: Daniel Fitzsimmons playground at the development, said there’s no reason she or her neighbors should agree to the plan. “I don’t believe it’s right that they think they can just place a building in front of us and claim it’s for our beneďŹ t when they’re taking our air, our land, our space,â€? said Taylor. “You’re over-populating this area, which is already overpopulated. Your over-populating the schools, the subway system, everything. And you say it’s for our beneďŹ t?â€? Milagros Velasquez, a Holmes resident and tenant organizer, noted in an interview in September when the plan was announced that many who live at Holmes wouldn’t qualify to apply for the affordable units due to the income requirements. In order to qualify for the afford-

able apartments, a potential resident would need to make a minimum of 60 percent of the area median income, which is equivalent to a family of three making $46,600. As an alternative to Next Gen Neighborhoods, residents and organizers are calling on de Blasio and state and federal authorities to properly fund the agency. When reached for comment after the march, a NYCHA spokesperson said the agency is going to continue with their community outreach efforts to engage residents in the process, and said that Next Gen NYCHA is a necessary program that will provide affordable housing and much needed revenue. “ N YCH A is proceed in g with scheduled community

engagement — it’s critical for residents to understand NYCHA’s financial crisis and the consequences of inaction,â€? an agency spokesperson said. “NYCHA plans to use every tool available, including NextGen Neighborhoods, to save public housing and improve living conditions at Holmes. We are committed to continuing to answer questions, debunk myths and address resident concerns as the process moves forward.â€? Community Voices Heard pressed back against the claim that the agency’s plan will save public housing. “While Mayor de Blasio and NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye say that this is the only way to raise sufficient resources to preserve the housing stock, residents believe that the lack of deeply affordable units being proposed will only exacerbate gentriďŹ cation in their communities and that NYCHA residents will not get enough out of this deal,â€? said Community Voices Heard in a press release. “Instead, given how critical the public housing stock is to our city’s infrastructure, residents believe that signiďŹ cant resources need to be invested by the city and state, much like the recently agreed upon commitment to the MTA.â€?

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Events: Chinese Book Talk / “Saving China’s Art: The Heiress, the Diplomat and the “American Emperor� Saturday, October 31, 2:00pm-4:00pm, Illustrated Lecture & Reception | Free Margaret Stocker, India House Foundation, will discuss the book she is writing about the Asian art collection of Dorothy Payne Whitney Straight and Willard Dickerman Straight, which also features the “American Ambassador� President Theodore Roosevelt. Presented in conjunction with the Renwen Society at China Institute. Chinese Business Talk / “The Future of China and Doing Business with the West� Thursday, November 12, 4:00pm-6:00pm, Includes Q&A and Reception | Free Dr. Danny Quah, London School of Economics and Mr. Michael Zaddour, Tompkins International Consulting - world-renowned experts on China business and politics - will discuss and assess future Western/ Chinese business and relations and the impending release of the 13th 5-Year. Courses: Chinese Business Communications 101 Mondays, November 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7, 14, 6:00pm-8:00pm | $100 The first in our Business Communication series, this course will help you begin to communicate in Chinese business environments. Basic business etiquette and business culture will also be covered. Weekend Intensive Friday & Saturday, Nov. 20, 6:00pm-9:00pm & Nov. 21, 9:30am-4:00pm | $50 This intensive introduction offers a quick understanding of Chinese language, culture and business. Topics include business protocol, food and restaurant etiquette, contemporary Chinese values systems and history highlights. Please go to https://secure.jotformpro.com/confucius/program-offerings to register for the above events and courses. For more information please e-mail us at confucius.institute@suny.edu or call 212-317-3518. CIB is conveniently located on the East Side of Midtown Manhattan

Confucius Institute for Business at the State University of New York SUNY Global Center | 116 East 55th Street / New York, NY 10022 | 212-317-3517

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PUBLIC NOTICE

CROSSTOWN BIKE LANES GET A LOOK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

recommendations — in a few weeks. The organizations will then submit any suggestions to local decision makers and to the Department of Transporta-

tion, which oversees the design and installation of the city’s bike lanes. Regardless of the survey results, any conclusions are cer-

MAGNET RECOGNITION PROGRAMÂŽ SITE VISIT Ä‘Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ? !)+.% (Ĺ? (+ *Ĺ? !00!.%*#Ĺ? * !.Ĺ? !*0!.Ĺ?$ /Ĺ? ,,(%! Ĺ?0+Ĺ?0$!Ĺ? )!.% *Ĺ? 1./!/Ĺ? .! !*0% (%*#Ĺ? !*0!.Ĺ?Ĩ ÄŠĹ?"+.Ĺ?0$!Ĺ?,.!/0%#%+1/Ĺ? !/%#* 0%+*Ĺ? +"Ĺ? #*!0Ä‹Ĺ? $!Ĺ? #*!0Ĺ? !/%#* 0%+*Ĺ?.! +#*%6!/Ĺ?!4 !((!* !Ĺ?%*Ĺ? *1./%*#Ĺ?/!.2% !/Ä‹ Ä‘Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ? 0%!*0/ÄŒĹ?" )%(5Ĺ?)!) !./ÄŒĹ?/0 ĂťÄŒĹ? * Ĺ?%*0!.!/0! Ĺ?, .0%!/Ĺ?3$+Ĺ? 3+1( Ĺ?(%'!Ĺ?0+Ĺ?,.+2% !Ĺ? +))!*0/Ĺ? .!Ĺ?!* +1. #! Ĺ?0+Ĺ? +Ĺ?/+Ä‹Ĺ? *5+*!Ĺ?) 5Ĺ?/!* Ĺ? +))!*0/Ĺ?2% Ĺ?!ÄĄ) %(ÄŒĹ?" 4ÄŒĹ? * Ĺ? %.! 0Ĺ?) %(Ä‹Ĺ? All phone comments to the Magnet Program Office MUST be followed up in writing. Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ä‹Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? ÄŒĹ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? ÄŒĹ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ä‹ Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ?November 28, 2015Ä‹ .!//Ä?Ĺ?Ĺ? )!.% *Ĺ? 1./!/Ĺ? .! !*0% (%*#Ĺ? !*0!.Ĺ?Ĩ ÄŠĹ? Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ? #*!0Ĺ? ! +#*%0%+*Ĺ? .+#. )Ĺ? Ăž ! Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ä‰Ä†Ä Ä†Ĺ? !+.#% Ĺ? 2!Ä‹ÄŒĹ? 1%0!Ĺ?ąĀĀČĹ? %(2!.Ĺ? ,.%*#ÄŒĹ? Ĺ?Ä‚Ä€ÄŠÄ Ä€ÄĄÄƒÄ…ÄŠÄ‚ 4Ä?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?ÄƒÄ€Ä ÄĄÄ‡Ä‚Ä‰ÄĄÄ†Ä‚Ä Äˆ ÄĄ %(Ä?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?) #*!0ÄŽ * Ä‹+.# $+*!Ä?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ?Ä‰Ä‡Ä‡ÄĄÄ†Ä‰Ä‰ÄĄÄƒÄƒÄ€Ä Ĺ?Ĩ0+((Ĺ?".!!ÄŠ

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Photo: Sharon Pope

The 25th Anniversary of Jamie deRoy & friends and Jamie’s 40th Annual 30th Birthday WITH

JOY BEHAR ROBERT CUCCIOLI LARRY GATLIN JAY JOHNSON DAISY JOPLING MICHELE LEE LUBA MASON AND MORE!

Dear Parents: You are cordially invited to attend one of our OPEN HOUSES at York Preparatory School Tuesday, November 3rd Tuesday, November 10th Tuesday, November 17th Tuesday, December 1st Tuesday, January 5th Tuesday, January 26th Tuesday, April 19th Tuesday, May 10th

9:10am-10:30am 9:10am-10:30am 9:10am-10:30am 9:10am-10:30am 9:10am-10:30am 9:10am-10:30am 9:10am-10:30am 9:10am-10:30am

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Monday, November 9th, 7:30 pm The Gerald W. Lynch Theatre SEATING: $75/$100/$150/$250 PREMIUM SEATING: $500 Includes premium seating, post-show reception (by phone only) 212.221.7300 ext. 133.

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT

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OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015 tain to spur opposition. Michele Birnbaum, an Upper East Side resident, considers the First Avenue bike lane already too intrusive, and notes that crosstown streets are far narrower, said that adding crosstown bike lanes would be “entirely inappropriate.� “As much as biking has increased, it is still a teeny tiny percentage of the population and there’s no reason to turn this city upside down to accommodate them,� Birbaum said. Susan P. Siskind, a member of the New York Alliance for Pedestrian Safety and a First Avenue resident, said any crosstown lanes would merely increase what she characterized as bicyclists’ unruly conduct. “Adding crosstown bike lanes is like rewarding a spoiled child with a new toy when they misbehave,� she said. “I witness the lawless behavior of bicyclists every day and until all bicyclists obey all the rules of the road and the NYPD provide enforcement, a great majority

of pedestrians will continue to feel unsafe.� But Pope, who on Saturday walked from 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue to the cul-de-sac east of York Avenue and back again, said the survey and any conclusions are designed to ease any tensions. “We don’t see this as car vs. bike vs. pedestrian. We really want a collaborative community effort where everyone follows the rules of the road, and can share the streets safely,� Pope, a recreational cyclist, said. Pope and DeVito both point out that with the recent expansion of the Citi Bike program and a rise in the number of twowheelers and their riders, the Street Scan survey is timely. “The increase in cyclists creates both a greater need for infrastructure to keep them safe, as well as heightens the need to rationalize the streets so all users — whether on bike, foot, or in cars — have predictable spaces they can commute on ... sidewalks for pedestrians, pro-

23

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com tected bike lanes for cyclists, and regular moving lane for cars,� DeVito said. Nancy Lustgarten Wessel, who along with her 16-year old son, is a recreational cyclist and participated in the survey, said she often feels unsafe, even in bike lanes, because of turning cars and people standing within the lanes. But, while she understands that adding dedicated bike lanes along 72nd Street might not be possible, she is hopeful that least something can be done to make it safer leaving Central Park. “It would be lovely if there’s room for it even if it has to zigzag a little bit,� she said. Despite the opposition, Pope said she’s hopeful that with a greater emphasis on education and understanding, all sides can share the streets more peacefully. “There might be a need (for crosstown bike lanes) and Bike New York is hoping that if that’s what the community wants, we’ll help facilitate it.�

The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden Thanks the East Midtown Partnership for its support of the community.

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OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

AMAZING IS NEVER GIVING UP THE FIGHT. Daniel Jacobs was a rising star in boxing when his legs started to go numb. An MRI revealed the cause: a large tumor wrapped around Daniel’s spine. The surgical team at NewYork-Presbyterian used precise three-dimensional imaging to navigate the path to Daniel’s spine. They removed the tumor and rebuilt the damaged area of the spinal column. How well did the surgery work? Three years later, Daniel became the WBA Middleweight Champion of the World.

nyp.org/amazingthings

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

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YOUR 15 MINUTES

To read about other people who have had their “15 Minutes” go to ourtownny.com/15 minutes

MAKING POLITICS LAUGHABLE Comedian Katie Halper riffs on Zabar’s and socialist summer camp BY ANGELA BARBUTI

Katie Halper refers to herself as a stereotype of the Upper West Side. “My dad’s a psychiatrist. My mom’s an English professor and a novelist,” she explained. She identifies as Jewish, but in the secular sense, and uses that in her comedy. “I’ll do stuff about anything from Zabar’s to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” The 34-year-old is making a name for herself in the political comedy world of New York City. Describing herself as “liberal, progressive, left,” she is very much aware of the fact that she’s not alone in her thinking here in the city. “It’s funny, people are always like, ‘You’re preaching to the choir,’ but the choir deserves to be entertained,” she said. This year, she was given her own weekly radio show on WBAI, “The Katie Halper Show,” where she brings on guests such as historians, journalists, organizers and of course, fellow comedians, and they give their takes on the news, the arts, politics and pop culture. On November 18th, she will host Laughing Liberally, an offshoot of Living Liberally, the troupe, of which she is a member, that creates social events around progressive politics. Her documentary “Commie Camp” about Jewish activist-founded Camp Kinderland, which she attended as a youngster, will play at Anthology Film Archives on December 14.

How did you get started in comedy? I’ve always been very political. I went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut and when I was in college, I thought that I would go to law school. I remember one day at Wesleyan, people were like, “Katie, you should be in the standup show.” And I said, “I don’t do standup. I’m not funny on command.” Because they thought I was funny. So I did the show. I just basically told stories about my family, and my grandmother, in particular. There was a really nice and funny woman who was the headliner named Susan Prekel and she was really encouraging. But I was reluctant to perform. There was something I always thought was kind of obnoxious about actors and performers. I was also more political, so it took me a while to admit that I liked performing.

What was it like growing up on the Upper West Side? Well, I’m the product of a mixed marriage, my mom is Bronxian and my dad

is Queensian. But I’m a walking stereotype of the Upper West Side. It’s very Woody Allen. Actually, there’s a part in the film “Annie Hall” where Allen meets a character named Allison Portchnik, who is played by Carol Kane, and tries to size her up and says, “You’re like New York, Jewish, left-wing, liberal, intellectual, Central Park West, Brandeis University, the socialist summer camps and ... father with the Ben Shahn drawings, right, and ... strikeoriented kind of, red diaper ...” But I grew up on Riverside Drive, not Central Park West, and went to Wesleyan, not Brandeis. I even went to the socialist summer camp, Camp Kinderland, which was founded by secular Jewish workers in the 1920s. My mom, uncle and grandmother worked there and I made a documentary about it called “Commie Camp.” It’s funny because I didn’t use to identify as Jewish because I’m not at all religious. But now I realize that there is a secular Jewish identity and tradition, which I very much have.

New York Magazine called you “Stephen Colbert crossed with Sarah Silverman.” How do you describe your comedic style? Like Colbert. I am ironic or satirical and sometimes pseudo self-congratulating, but I break character all the time. My normal character is just me. Actually someone just gave me a blurb today and she’s like, “You’re quirky and incisive, but never mean.” I like to get people to tell me stories. I really like listening to people and asking them questions. Often I’ll have people talk, not just about the current events, but also about their lives. I like to get them able to relax. And when I do standup, it varies between short, cerebral jokes or storytelling. Sometimes it’s sarcastic. It’s about politics. It’s about dating. More and more it’s about dating, actually. Thank God for small favors, like terrible dates, which make great art. It’s all going in the book that I want to write one day.

You started a weekly radio show in July. How did that come about? Someone at the station had seen me perform, and saw me on “Morning Jew,” a YouTube show I did with Heather Gold, who’s a comedian from Canada, and they invited me to join “The WBAI Morning Show.” I was a cohost with this great engineer, but also host named Michael G. Haskins. That was early, 6 to 8, and I’m not really a morning person, especially because I do standup. And it just evolved into my getting an evening show, which is

really fun. And I have this comedian named Gabe Pacheco who’s a good friend of mine. Originally I was just going to have a different guest every week who’s a comedian, but Gabe and I had such good comedic chemistry that I kept him. He’s my co-host. The Robin to my Howard.

Explain how Laughing Liberally started and the event that’s coming up at Beauty Bar. Living Liberally is this empire that my friend Justin Krebs started. It started with Drinking Liberally and actually, our first show had Baratunde Thurston in it, who is the digital director at the “Daily Show” and Aziz Ansari. It was fortuitous; we had programming that fell through at this place called The Tank, a performing arts space. We needed to do a show and Baratunde was in town, at this point he was living in Boston and the chair of the Drinking Liberally chapter there. We decided to do a comedy show and said, ‘Let’s just call it Laughing Liberally,’ and it kind of just stuck. After 9/11 especially, it was hard to be political for some people and the managers of the venues would discourage you from it. And Laughing Liberally was always a place where people could try out and perform political material. We’re having one at Beauty Bar in November. It’s going to be political standup.

Do you incorporate the presidential candidates into your routines? I’ll do stuff about Trump. In terms of comedy, he provides as much comedy as Bush used to. In fact, Julie Goldman who was on my show a couple of months ago who’s hysterical, she and I were talking about Trump. He’s like the gift that keeps on giving for comedians. It’s just like a dream come true. I talk about Bernie, just because his accent is so great. I love that a guy lives in Vermont and is a senator there, and has the thickest Brooklyn accent I ever heard. For more about Katie, visit www.katiehalper. com and follow her on Twitter @kthalps You can listen to The Katie Halper Show on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/thekatie-halper-show/id1020563127?mt=2 or SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/katiehalper/sets/the-katie-halper-show

Know somebody who deserves their 15 Minutes of fame? Go to ourtownny.com and click on submit a press release or announcement.

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OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

TOW N H A LL

M AKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS MORE LIVABLE ARE THERE NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEW YORK CITY THAT ARE GETTING IT RIGHT? Join Editor-in-Chief Kyle Pope, A ARP and leading policy makers, including Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and concerned citizens for a discussion about the factors that go into making New York City a more livable place. We’ll hear from top local officials on the problems faced by New Yorkers in an increasingly unaffordable city, and will explore exclusive new AARP data on neighborhoods that are getting it right.

Monday, November 23 2-4pm The Society for Ethical Culture 2 West 64th St.

The event is FREE but space is limited RSVP today at rsvp@strausnews.com or call Molly Colgan at 212-868-0190 The local paper for the Upper East Side

The local paper for Downtown

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4,2015

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

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