Chelsea Now - October 17, 2019

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Chelsea VOLUME 11, ISSUE 41

YO U R W E E K LY C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S E R V I N G C H E L S E A , H U D S O N YA R D S & H E L L’S K I T C H E N

SLOWER SIDE

New speed limits hit West Side Hwy. Page 3

OCTOBER 17, 2019

‘Imagine Bus’ visits school Page 3

Cops battle recent grand larceny spike Page 4

THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY NEAR WEST 34TH STREET. (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ROGER ROWLETT)

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October 17, 2019

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City slows down West Side Highway Footwear frenzy hits A this Soho shoe store

BY GABE HERMAN

large stretch of the West Side Highway is getting a lower speed limit as part of an effort to improve traffic safety under the Vision Zero program, officials announced on Oct. 10.

Starting Oct. 12, the speed limit will drop from 35 mph to 30 mph from Battery Place up to 59th Street — an area that has had 10 traffic deaths since 2013.

Other changes include extending walk times for pedestrians at several crosswalks; adding curb extensions at intersections to keep cars from turning too close to sidewalks; adding rightturn traffic signals for cars; and installing speed cameras. Most changes will be implemented in the coming weeks and done overnight to minimize traffic disruptions.

“With the growth of Hudson River Park and the Greenway, the country’s busiest bike path and … great gathering places like Chelsea Piers, it is quite clear that the old ‘West Side Highway’ is now more boulevard than highway — and this new speed limit reflects that evolution,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

A 2017 effort by local elected officials and community boards asked the state’s DOT to study the road’s safety from Lower Manhattan to Midtown.

The new traffic changes from state and city agencies are a response to that study that found that conditions could be made safer, according to a rep for State Senator Brad Hoylman.

“I am thrilled that New York State is responding to our calls for safety enhancements by making crucial changes to the street design and by working with New York City to reduce the speed limit on the West Side Highway,” Hoylman said. “These enhancements will protect

New Yorkers from harm and create a safer West Side Highway for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.”

In lowering the speed limit, the state DOT cited a nationwide study which found that reduced speeds in cities can significantly lower pedestrian deaths and injuries. The state agency has asked the NYPD to increase enforcement of traffic violations along the road.

“The reduction of speed of the West Side Highway by 5 mph to 30 mph may not seem like a lot,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler, “but it cuts the chances of pedestrians dying from being hit by a vehicle in half.“

John Lennon Bus rolls through Chelsea

PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY

A police officer stands guard outside the Totokaelo store in Soho on Oct. 10.

BY TEQUIL A MINSK Y

BY GABE HERMAN

H

T

he John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is in the midst of a month-long residency in the city, giving students and community groups throughout the boroughs a chance to record in the nonprofit’s studio and promote activist causes.

The nonprofit, in its 22nd year, offers a state-of-the-art mobile facility and free workshops on using digital media equipment. Three on-board engineers help students through the process of creating and recording original songs, music videos, documentaries and other video productions.

This is the sixth annual “Come Together NYC” residency for the bus.

This year’s theme is “Imagine a City with No Gun Violence,” highlighting that there have been over 1.1 million gun deaths in the U.S. since John Lennon was killed in 1980. Lennon would have turned 79 on Oct. 9.

At a Sept. 16 event at City Hall, elected officials, Bronx-born musician Prince Royce and over 200 city students joined Yoko Ono Lennon to launch the month-long NYC residency for the bus.

“John would be very proud to know that this project encourages young people everywhere to embrace their creSchneps Media

COURTESY JOHN LENNON EDUCATIONAL TOUR BUS

Students from Chelsea’s L AB School and Hudson High School on the Lennon Bus on Oct. 2.

ativity, and share their ideas for ending gun violence,” said Ono Lennon. “I am so happy to be celebrating the Lennon Bus’ 22nd year.”

The Bus’ NYC stay has included an Oct. 2 stop at Chelsea’s Lab School for Collaborative Studies and Hudson High School, both at 333 West 17 St. Students from the Hudson and LAB schools created an original music video for a song called “Words Speak More

Than Bullets.”

Speaker Corey Johnson, who represents Chelsea, said in a statement about the nonprofit bus, “John Lennon’s genius and commitment to peace is an inspiration to me and billions of people around the globe, and I am so proud to welcome the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus this year.

undreds of people seeking the hottest new Nike sneakers overwhelmed a Soho store on Thursday to the point that cops had to be called to disburse the crowd.

The footwear frenzy took place at 11 a.m. on Oct. 10, when officers were called to Totokaelo, located at 61 Crosby St., to respond to an apparent ruckus that broke out inside the store.

Scores of people lined up at the store to get their hands on the new Nike X Sacai Blazer shoe. Listed at $140, online scalpers have been known to sell the sneakers for as much as $385.

About 60 to 80 customers were inside the store when the cops came in to clear it out, according to one Strategic Response officer at the scene. Another 200 people outside the shop were sent away.

By 11:20 a.m., police had blocked entry into the store, and by noon, the shop was cleared and closed.

October 17, 2019

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Cops battle huge Chelsea larceny spike

BY GABE HERMAN

G

rand larcenies have skyrocketed 50 percent from the previous year in Chelsea, according to the NYPD’s 10th Precinct.

Police officers met with local residents on Oct. 8 to discuss issues that included drug activity and quality of life issues related to homelessness, and said that the increases in grand larcenies are, in part, due to nightlife around 16th Street, where people often stagger out drunk late at night.

“There’s people that want to take advantage of that,” Neighborhood Coordination Officer Samuel Baez-Veras said.

Thieves will wait outside and pretend to help people or hail a taxi for them —meanwhile they’re going through their pockets, the officers said.

“Try to be vigilant, and use a buddy system,” Baez-Veras said.

There is also an ongoing problem with package thefts from apartment buildings and officers said they have spoken with superintendents about providing a secure area in lobbies, like a cage or other space that needs key access.

“It will be a safer area than to just leave them,” Baez-Veras said. People were also told not to let any unknown people into buildings, especially late at night.

Bicycle and electric bike thefts have also been a trend in the neighborhood

PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN

A police car has been stationed on Eighth Avenue and W. 20th Street to prevent drug activit y in the area.

because people often lock their bikes but leave the seat exposed, which can be lifted off in a matter of seconds, officers said.

The meeting also included a followup discussion about drug dealing and heavy drug use around Rainbow Station, an adult entertainment store at 203 Eighth Ave. between West 20 and 21 Streets. Police have set up a fi xed post there, with officers stationed in a police car to ward off drug activity on Eighth Avenue.

Some residents said that drug dealing can still be seen, sometimes near the cop car, and also that much of the

drug activity has simply moved off of Eighth Avenue and to the nearby side streets.

Acknowledging that drug activity has continued away from Eighth Avenue, Baez-Veras said, “now we have to figure out how to flood the side streets as well.”

Sgt. Ahmed Deeb said that he would tell the officers stationed on Eighth Avenue to get out of the car and patrol the area, to prevent activity on nearby streets as well.

Officer Baez-Veras assured community members that the drug problem wouldn’t be solved right away, but that

the precinct is working to fi x the issue, including investigations and more foot patrol.

Officers have also been doing homeless outreach with Goddard Services, which offers food and shelter — though nine out of 10 homeless people decline the offer, Baez Veras said.

Police have also been issuing summonses for homeless people seen breaking the law — for urination, defecation or littering in public usually along Eighth Avenue from West 18 to West 21 Streets — but they said a summons can’t always be issued. Instead the homeless are offered help and services.

Arsonist tried to torch Masonic Hall in Chelsea

BY GABE HERMAN

C

ops are still looking for the firebug who tried to torch the Masonic Hall in Chelsea on Tuesday night.

Around 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 8, in front of the building at 46 West 24 St., at Sixth Avenue, police said that a man threw an “incendiary device” at the unoccupied building, causing a fire.

The fire was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries reported, according to police..

An official familiar with the investigation said there is no known motive for the arson attack.

There was no description available of the suspect, but police did provide surveillance images of the man wanted for arson.

Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website, nypdcrimestoppers.com, or send a direct message on Twitter @ NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.

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October 17, 2019

COURTESY NYPD

Police are looking for this man in relation to an arson in Chelsea.

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B U S I N E S S , B R O O K LY N S T Y L E

New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows Next Generation of Non-Profiteers Get Ready to Take The Helm

9P :8D@CC< JG<II8QQ8 New York’s more than 40,000 nonprofit organizations are facing a massive challenge.

As a generation of baby boomers and post-baby boomers move into retirement, the city’s nonprofits are scrambling to identify the next wave of trained leaders to help them as they address some of New York’s most pressing issues.

The New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows Program offers an important model for helping fill the nonprofit community’s leadership pipeline.

Each year, the program – the result of a partnership between The Trust and the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College of The City University of New York -brings together a fresh cohort of mid-career nonprofit professionals to help them prepare to take on more challenging leadership roles in their

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Jgi`e^ )'(0 :f_fik $ Dlj\ld f] :`kp f] EP organizations and beyond.

In turn, it increases the quality and diversity of the individuals who will be leading the next generation of New York City nonprofits, preparing them to tackle the challenges of the jobs.

“It provides a safe space to discuss issues, learn skills, and share lessons,” says Pat Swann, The New York Community Trust’s senior program officer, who has led The

New York Community Trust’s work on the program since its inception in 2015.

Since then, The Trust has invested more than $2.3 million in the program, which has now trained more than 200 mid-career leaders. The latest cohort of more than two dozen fellows took part in a graduation ceremony on Oct. 4th at God’s Love We Deliver on Spring Street in Greenwich Village.

Participants have said that developing their own personal and professionals networks is a huge benefit of the program. They have also said the curriculum is a well-developed one that meets their needs, allowing them to become more involved in strategic decision-making within their organizations. Nearly one half have earned promotions the year after completing the program.

Diversity is one of the program’s hallmarks. More than half of its graduates to date – 55 percent – are people of color and more than threequarters were women.

This 12-week professional certificate program features: s¬ ,EARNING¬ SEMINARS¬ WITHdistinguished faculty including Baruch College professors and experienced practitioners s¬ !¬ CURRICULUM¬ TAUGHTthrough the lens of real-world issues and trends. s¬ 2EAL TIME¬ PROJECTS¬ THAT¬

address a particular challenge or opportunity. s¬ ,EADERSHIP¬ CONVERSAtions hosted by Dean David Birdsell of the School of Public Affairs, connecting fellows with leaders of the nonprofit sector and government. s¬0ROMINENT¬MENTORS¬WITHdecades of experience in the field.

Upon completion of the program, fellows receive a certificate from the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College.

With today’s growing economic inequality, the work of the city’s robust nonprofit sector has never been more important.

New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows [909 Third Ave. in Manhattan, www.TrustFellows.org]. Applications for the spring cycle begin in January. For more information, contact Mike Bawa: Gaurav.bawa@baruch.cuny. edu.

October 17, 2019

5

Police Blotter 10th Precinct Greenwich Village

inches tall and 180 pounds, and with a short afro hairstyle.

— Gabe Herman

Aggressive scooter user A man was arrested after his reckless scooter driving turned into a confrontation with police, officials said. On Saturday, Oct. 12, at 9:55 p.m., two police officers said they saw a man riding a scooter on the sidewalk at 466 West 26 St., weaving in and out of people in a reckless way that endangered people

around him. When officers tried to write the man a summons, police said he became irate and began cursing and yelling. The man’s behavior caused a large crowd to form at the scene. The man, 23-year-old Dramane Guitti, then allegedly took an “aggressive stance” with the officers, forming fists with his hands, the NYPD said. The cops told him to lower his voice and for the crowd to disburse, but his behavior continued and he was arrested. After being searched, Guitti was found to be in possession of a bag of alleged marijuana.

— Gabe Herman

Groper rode the R Train

Cellphone robber on the lam COURTESY OF NYPD

This man is wanted by police for a recent cellphone robber y.

Chelsea cellphone robbery caught on video Police are looking for a suspect in a sidewalk cellphone robbery in Chelsea on Thursday, Sept. 12. Around 1:25 p.m., in front of 532 West 22 St., a man approached a 37-year-old woman and grabbed her cellphone from her hand, officials said. The woman tried to hold onto her phone, which was a white iPhone 5S, but suffered pain and abrasions to her wrist.

The victim refused medical attention, and officials said the man fled on foot with the stolen cellphone. Police released surveillance video of the robbery, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

— Gabe Herman

Forcible touching incident on West 17th Street A woman was groped on a Chelsea street on a recent Thursday morning, according to police. On Oct. 10, at 11:10 a.m., a 38-year-old woman said that she was walking when a man grabbed her privates through her clothing in front of 250 West 17 St. The woman followed the man, who then fled on foot in an unknown direction.

Police conducted a canvass of the area but could not find the man. He is described as about 45 years old, 5 feet 8

Cops need the public’s help in finding a pugilistic robber who beat up a 19-year-old man at a train station in Midtown earlier this month.

Law enforcement sources said the beating took place at 1:10 p.m. on Oct. 4 on the Queens-bound platform of the 7th Avenue station, located below 7th Avenue and 53rd Street.

According to authorities, the 19year-old victim was waiting on the platform when the unknown suspect began throwing punches at him, striking his face and body repeatedly.

The crook then grabbed the victim’s cellphone, then exited the station.

Police said he was last seen exiting at the corner of 7th Avenue and 53rd Street, but apparently dropped the stolen phone while fleeing.

Officers from the Midtown North Precinct responded to the incident.

The victim suffered pain and swelling to his face, but refused medical attention.

Call Crime Stoppers at 800-577TIPS with info on the case.

— Robert Pozarycki

Property damage at homeless shelter A man broke the window of a homeless shelter with a trash can, according to police. The incident occurred on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2:30 p.m., at the Covenant House at 550 10th Ave. when a police officer saw a man grab

a metal trash can and throw it at the building, causing a window to break.

There was no reason given for the incident. Perry Kwarteng, 26, was arrested for criminal mischief.

— Gabe Herman

Police need the public’s help fi nding a man who sexually assaulted a woman on the R train in Midtown Manhattan last month.

The NYPD released on Oct. 10 a cellphone photo of the perpetrator involved in the Sept. 4 incident, which occurred at 5:20 p.m. on Sept. 4 on a Queens-bound R train.

As the train approached the Lexington Avenue-59th Street station, law enforcement sources said, the suspect approached the 45-year-old woman from behind and grabbed her buttocks.

He then exited the train and fled in an unknown direction.

The incident was later reported to the Midtown North Precinct and NYPD Transit District 4.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website, nypdcrimestoppers.com, or send a direct message on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls and messages are kept confidential.

— Robert Pozarycki

For more news & events happening now visit www.TheVillager.com 6

October 17, 2019

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City’s jail pop projected to reach historic lows

BY GABE HERMAN

T

he city projects its jail population will reach historic lows by 2026 after revising its figures from 4,000 down to 3,300, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced today.

The new lower estimate would mark the city’s lowest jail population in a century and be the lowest jail population rate among large cities nationwide, officials said.

The new figure will factor into the city’s plans for building four smaller, borough-based jails to replace the one on Rikers Island. Last week, the City Council officially banned Rikers Island from housing detainees after 2026. Based on the new estimates, each borough-based jail would hold fewer than 1,000 people, which is less than half the current population at Rikers Island.

“Mass incarceration did not begin in New York City, but it will end here,” said Mayor de Blasio when the announcement was made. “With the lowest rate of incarceration of any major city, we are proving you don’t need to arrest your way to safety. New York is telling a different story, one where we can keep fathers at home and kids in schools and still be the safest big city in America.”

“Just a few years ago, the Lippman Commission’s projection of a 5,000 average daily population was considered by many to be overly optimistic,” Speaker Johnson said. “To now reach 3,300 is an extraordinary achievement, and the culmination of years of hard work to move away from the failed policies of

FILE PHOTO

An aerial view of detention centers on Rikers Island, which will no longer be used for jails star ting in 2026 thanks to a resolution passed by the City Council Land Use Committee.

mass incarceration. But we will not rest. We will keep fighting to bring this number down even further. New York City should be a model of progressive criminal justice reform nationwide.”

The new estimate is based on city officials analyzing the impact of recent reform measures, including the Supervised Release diversion program. That program will expand to reduce the number of pretrial detainees, who represent a majority of people incarcerated in city jails. Other changes have included bail

reform and other state measures aimed at lowering pretrial detainees.

“The new city jail population estimate of 3,300 by 2026 reflects a new model of safety being built in New York City in which police, prosecutors and courts have lightened the touch of the criminal justice system while crime has continued to drop,” said Liz Glazer, director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.

Glazer cited the Supervised Release program in lowering the number of incarcerated people.

“Our robust reentry services such as Jails to Jobs help people from coming back,” Glazer added. “And our community-based violence interruption programs, such as the Crisis Management System, helps people steer clear of the justice system entirely. This foundation of reform, built over the last five years, will provide current and future generations of New Yorkers with an even smaller, safer, fairer justice system.”

“Getting here has not been easy,” said Donna Hylton, Senior Justice Advisor at Brooklyn’s Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice. “Directly impacted advocates, activists and organizers have been working tirelessly with local, City and State legislators to not only decarcerate our city but build communities as well. I applaud the New York City Council and the mayor for working alongside us to shut down the inhumane and cruel penal colony that is Rikers Island.”

The City Council is scheduled to vote Oct. 17 on replacing the Rikers Island facility with the four new borough-based jails.

City seeks input on NYCHA capital needs in Chelsea

BY GABE HERMAN

C

helsea public housing residents protested this spring after the mayor proposed a plan that would let private developers build on public land as a way to raise needed funds for the NYCHA developments.

Now, before the plan goes any further, elected officials have announced a working group that will include local residents and housing advocates to gain more community input on Chelsea’s NYCHA capital needs.

The Chelsea NYCHA complexes — Fulton Houses, Elliot-Chelsea and Chelsea Addition — need $344 million for repairs and upgrades to prevent further deterioration, according to the city.

The de Blasio proposal announced in April included demolishing two 36-unit buildings and building three new mixed-income buildings at Fulton Houses. Local residents protested the idea of turning some of the land over to a private developer and there were also fears of displacement.

The mayor’s proposal was part of a plan to raise funds for NYCHA developments by allowing mixed-income housing on NYCHA lands, with all of the proceeds then going to the capital needs of the nearby developments.

Protests in Chelsea after the pro-

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October 17, 2019

PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN

Chelsea’s Fulton Houses includes 11 buildings located bet ween Ninth and 10th Aves., stretching from 16th to 19th Streets.

posal’s announcement also centered around the idea that the plan was being imposed by the city without any community input.

Local officials praised the formation of the working group, which will convene for 10 weeks, as a way for local residents to have a say in what needs to be addressed at the Chelsea NYCHA

developments.

The group will include local NYCHA residents, several housing advocate groups, local elected officials, members of Community Board 4, city officials from NYCHA and the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development.

“My neighbors who live in Fulton and Elliot-Chelsea Houses deserve bet-

ter than the current state of their buildings and we all agree that we must act to improve their homes and their lives,” said Speaker Corey Johnson, who represents Chelsea.

Officials said the working group will address NYCHA’s funding crisis and explore all options for raising money for Chelsea’s developments, while also discussing tenant protections.

“We look forward to joining a productive conversation about how NYCHA can best improve quality of life for the residents of the Fulton Houses, Chelsea-Elliot Houses, and Chelsea Addition,” said Andrew Rein, president of the nonprofit Citizens Budget Commission. “Finding a timely solution to addressing the developments’ significant capital needs by improving management and better utilizing NYCHA’s assets will benefit thousands of public housing tenants and ensure that their deeply affordable housing units will be preserved for future generations.”

“The Fulton Tenant Association is pleased that the Mayor’s Office and all other elected officials are giving the opportunity to the residents to be heard through this working group,” said Miguel Acevedo, president of the Fulton Houses Tenant Association.

The working group is scheduled to launch later in October, officials said.

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October 17, 2019

9

Hidden gem of Haitian art on the Lower East Side

BY TEQUIL A MINSK Y

T

he William Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba House, at 219 East 2nd Street— is a Lower East Side treasure — but even as its fans and followers mourn the June 4 passing of its co-founder/codirector painter Joe Overstreet, the shows go on.

Corinne Jennings, Joe’s wife and Gallery cofounder makes sure they do.

Jennings and Overstreet, along with Samuel C. Floyd, founded Kenkeleba House in 1974 to support African American culture. The gallery is known for educating the public and promoting artists often ignored by the mainstream art world.

Kenkeleba showcases a broad range of art with emphasis on African-American, Latino, Asian and Native American artist. Currently, “Passion and Perseverance in Haitian Art” showcasing Emmanuel Merisier, Michele Voltaire Marcelin, and Jean Dominique Volcy, is the fifth exhibition in the last two decades exclusively highlighting Haitian artists.

The show represents a curation by artist and art critic Andre Juste and Paul Corbanese, president of the Toussaint Louverture Cultural Foundation, which published a 33-page accompanying catalogue.

The Foundation promotes artists and the culture of Haiti — the restoration of Haitian cultural heritage, infrastructure and art works, and is particularly focused on the rebuilding of the Musée d’Art Haïtien, destroyed during the 2010 earthquake.

At the gallery, the front two rooms pay homage to the talent and spirit of Emmanuel Merisier, who has turned 90 during this show’s run, and with fragile health is too in unable to attend the show’s events.

Merisier has continuously lived a life in the arts and it

ERZULIE BEWARE PITY, ACRYLIC/MIXED MEDIA ON WOOD PANEL/NAILS. (1999) WITH THE ARTIST MICHELE VOLTAIRE MARCELIN.

was during his New York artistic wanderings when he discovered this gallery and introduced its owners to the complexities of Haitian art.

As the catalogue states: “Symbolically (this exhibition) represents the gallery coming full circle in its support to Haitian art as the three artists took part in the 1998 and

2013 exhibits.”

All three artists are Haitian-born and have lived in the U.S. for decades. Scenes, themes, objects and colors all reflect their Haitian heritage while their influences and styles differ considerably.

Most of Merisier’s paintings with bold use of color depict Haitians’ everyday life including the commonplace, markets and vodou ceremonies.

Merisier came to New York in the mid-80s and studied what was done in the art world and, as Picasso was influenced by African art, Merisier’s Haitian background provided inspiration and nurtured his creativity. He attended the Art Students League and School of Visual Arts as well as being a constant museum visitor.

“My works are often expressionistic, and raw and reflect some definite currents of modern art—art brute, expressionism and primitivism,” he is quoted in the catalogue.

The exhibition of his work, relying on his memory to represent, presents the artist as what he has professed to be — a modernist primitif.

Michele Voltaire Marcelin’s work is that of a selftaught visual artist (she is also a poet and performer) whose textured surfaces range from stark to vibrant. Her art reflects strong opinions of current situations in Haiti or the United States.

After seeing Rufino Tamayo’s work in Mexico in 1988, she felt she was given permission to be a visual artist she said during the panel on the exhibition, last week. “I was blown away by his use of color, texture of his paintings, the freedom… I felt he gave me permission to paint,” she said.

This exhibition opened mid-September. The closing event, scheduled for Oct. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m., will include music and poetry.

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October 17, 2019

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October 17, 2019

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All creatures great & small blessed in Village

BY TEQUIL A MINSK Y

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nimal lovers from across The Village and beyond brought their four-legged creatures to Judson Memorial Church on Oct. 6 for a special “Blessing of the Animals.”

Reverend Micah Bucey of Judson Memorial Church cares deeply about animals, kids and the environment, so it’s no surprise that he presided over the special service, which included a meditation on animals and reflections on animal companions.

Congregants who had lost animal companions were invited to bring photos of their departed friends while others brought stuff animals. Many dogs joined their owners at the morning service for the blessing—from the smallest of canines to a hefty thickly-coated Great Pyrenees dog.

The canines frolicked and met others or their other owners while Reverend Bucey blessed each one. Later, during the service Micah read the names of animal companions that could not attend the service or had died.

World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare, was celebrated annually on Oct. 4, and many religious institutions mark their blessing of the animals around that date.

PHOTO : TEQUILA MINSKY

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October 17, 2019

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October 17, 2019

13

Editorial

Making our city’s streets even safer F or the 25th time this year on the streets of New York City, a cyclist has been killed in a collision with a driver.

It happened in Broad Channel, Queens on Oct. 13 along a stretch of Cross Bay Boulevard undergoing resurfacing. Normally, the stretch of roadway through the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve has demarcated bike lanes in either direction, so the lines had been erased long before the incident occurred.

Still, the absence of those bike lane lines is no excuse for what transpired.

New York finds itself in a battle between cyclists and drivers over who owns the road. Both sides stake their claim in very vocal ways.

In truth, however, no one group owns the streets. We New Yorkers, who contribute our taxes toward their maintenance, own the streets — regardless of how we get around.

As such, all of us need to demand that our roads be made safe for anyone to travel by car, by bike or by foot.

The de Blasio administration’s Vision Zero plan, while well-intentioned, has not been effective as it should have been, with a stark increase in traffic deaths this year compared to last year. Too many of these deaths involve cyclists who do not

stand a chance against a 2,000-pound (or greater) vehicle traveling at speeds of 30 mph or more.

It’s easy for drivers to dismiss the need of bike lanes for cyclists, as it normally results in the loss of traffic lanes and generally forces a reduction in speed.

The statistics, however, prove that the lanes are necessary. More people are purchasing bikes and using them to get around, as these vehicles are far cheaper, lack insurance requirements and do not need sizable tracts of land for storage. The increased mortality rate on the city’s streets only underscores the necessity for separate lanes where bicyclists can ride in relative safety.

If the city hopes to make the streets safer for everyone, then it must continue expanding the bike lane network — taking care, of course, to ensure that the lanes are carefully placed along streets wide enough to safely accommodate bicycles and vehicles.

One more thing: Everyone needs to follow the rules of the road. We must also accept responsibility for driving and riding safely, and crossing the street with the light and within crosswalks.

Recklessness only leads to tragedy, and all of us must do our own part to discipline ourselves on the streets.

PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL

Publisher of The Villager, Villager Express, Chelsea Now, Downtown Express and Manhattan Express PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER CEO & CO-PUBLISHER EDITOR IN CHIEF REPORTERS

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PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for others errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue.

Published by Schneps Media One Metrotech North, 3rd floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 Phone: (718) 260-2500 Fax: (212) 229-2790 On-line: www.thevillager.com E-mail: news@thevillager.com © 2019 Schneps Media

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October 17, 2019

VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS JOSHUA SCHNEPS ROBERT POZARYCKI GABE HERMAN ALEJANDRA O’CONNELL MARK HALLUM MICHELE HERMAN BOB KRASNER TEQUILA MINSKY MARY REINHOLZ PAUL SCHINDLER MARCOS RAMOS CLIFFORD LUSTER (718) 260-2504 CLUSTER@CNGLOCAL.COM GAYLE GREENBURG JIM STEELE JULIO TUMBACO ELIZABETH POLLY

T Member of the New York Press Association

Member of the National Newspaper Association

Member of the Minority Women Business Enterprise

his photo is from the front page of the Oct. 29, 1987 issue of The Villager. The caption read: “Youngsters from the Village Neighborhood School model some of the Halloween masks they have created for their own Halloween Parade, set for Friday at the Sullivan Street school. The route of march will take the kids through Washington Square Park between 1:15 and 2:15 and they will be collecting holiday donations for UNICEF. This is the school’s 13th annual Halloween event.”

-Gabe Herman Schneps Media

Op-Ed

Letters to the Editor

Giving back to our seniors

BY COREY JOHNSON We owe everything we have to our seniors.

They built this City into what it is today, and they spent their lives working to better the lives of their families and their communities.

That’s why it is so important to make sure they have everything they need to live happy, healthy and secure lives, right here where they belong, in their community. I’ve made that one of my top priorities as the representative of Council District 3.

I’m proud to have increased funding for all our senior centers since taking office in 2014, and this includes creative programs that help our seniors live full, active lives.

We funded a new Adult Choir program at Greenwich House Senior Center and a theater program at Hudson Guild Senior Center at the NYCHA Elliot-Chelsea Houses.

This year we allocated $100,000 to purchase two new meal delivery vans for Encore Senior Center in Hell’s Kitchen. We more than doubled the amount of funding received by Penn South Program for Seniors.

Outside of our senior centers, we are also funding some great programming for older adults in the community.

Nancy Gabor’s acting program at Westbeth Artists Housing is very popular, as is the Dances For A Variable Population program at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center. These programs have a tremendous positive impact on the lives of local seniors.

Early in my term, I learned that many seniors at Westbeth Artists Housing and West Village Houses in the Village were in need of case management services, especially those people with complex needs who have to navigate city agencies. Many of these seniors are unable to travel to the Greenwich House to see a case manager.

That’s why my office allocated $85,000 to the Greenwich House to provide on-site case management services at Westbeth Artists Housing and West Village Houses. These services are already making a tremendous difference for seniors who live there.

Supporting our seniors also means protecting the services we already provide them. I am especially proud of the work we did to save the Greenwich House Judith C. White Senior Center on Barrow Street from closure.

Great things can happen when communities come together to solve tough problems and we’ve seen that in District 3.

Last year, when Hartley House, the 121year-old settlement house in Hell’s Kitchen, reluctantly listed its historic buildings for sale, the community stepped up to the plate.

Founded in the era of the settlement house movement, Hartley House has been serving seniors and young people since 1897. I wasn’t going to let these buildings go without a fight.

Working with the community, we rolled up our sleeves and came up with an alternative plan to save Hartley House. This involved creating a partnership with Clinton Housing and Hudson Guild, and allocating Council discreSchneps Media

tionary funds to the project. As a result, these properties were taken off the market and they will now continue serving generations of seniors in the community.

Another important role of a Council Member is to connect seniors with important resources. Every year we host SCRIE/DRIE workshops, Medicare rights enrollment events, flu shot days, and in partnership with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, our annual “Fresh Food for Seniors Program,” which provides fresh food for seniors at centers throughout Council District 3.

For only $8, participants receive a bag of fresh, locally grown produce. Last year, we delivered 1,678 food bags to senior centers throughout Council District 3. Now in our sixth year, we have delivered 1,422 food bags and are on pace to deliver our highest number of food bags yet!

At the end of this month, I am also sponsoring a Senior Resource Fair in partnership with Council Member Helen Rosenthal. At this event, constituents can connect with city agencies, healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups that provide services to seniors throughout Manhattan. The fair will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Project Find Clinton Senior Center, located at 530 West 55th St. from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

This is just some of the work we are doing to help our local seniors thrive. How we treat our seniors says a lot about us as a society. Our seniors must be given the resources, respect, and dignity that they deserve. That’s why I am proud to work on behalf of our seniors, to whom we owe so much.

Johnson represents Manhattan’s Council District 3 and serves as New York City Council Speaker.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Donald Trump is following in the footsteps of his father Fred Trump, who according to a 1927 New York Times article, was arrested while marching in the KKK contingent of a Queens Memorial Day parade that led to a riot.

The father Donald must have adored, who trained him and left him a real estate empire business, had to be his childhood model which he now displays before the public.

President Trump has become an inspiration for all the other angry, bigoted, disturbed individuals who act out their prejudice, hatred, murder and mayhem on a local, national level.

Trump’s critics and the media totally ignore this personal, understandable source of Trump’s outspoken racist white nationalism and bigotry.

Sy Schleimer

KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE With all due respect to my fellow Americans, most of us simply don’t know that a “liberal/progressive” is not the same thing as a “socialist.”

A true “socialist” is someone who wants all of the businesses and workplaces to be owned and controlled by “the state” or “the government” or “the workers” or “the people” and not by individuals and groups of people who run them for profit as we have here in the USA. The overwhelming majority of Democrats want our federal government to spend more on social programs to help the lower and middle classes as they struggle to survive and pay their bills. They are not “socialists.” They are “liberal/ progressives” who want our market-based capitalist economic system to become more human (and not replaced) by having our federal government spend more to help the lower and middle classes.

They know all too well that there has never been a truly “socialist” economy in which socialism produced enough wealth to meet people’s basic needs. To put it simply, it has

never “worked” on a largescale.

Thus, while most Americans seem not to be aware of this, and while conservativeRepublican politicians and the conservative news media do not want the American people to become aware of this, most Democrats want our federal government to be more like those of almost every one of our traditional allies (Canada and western Europe) which spend more than we do, in proportion to their population sizes, to help their citizens.

None of our allies are “socialist,” they know it, and they will tell you so.

Stewart B. Epstein

SAVING EAST RIVER PARK Editor’s note: The following letter was submitted by the author to Council Member Carlina Rivera.

I’m one of the many advocates trying to save the East River Park from total Destruction in Mark Hallum’s photograph for this article (attached) regarding the Oct 3 City Hall Meeting.

I was holding the crime scene photos protest signs, which weren’t taken away from me. What’s being taken away is a neglected but beautiful and tranquil 60 acre park serving the people since 1939.

The original and common sense plan was to build a Sea Wall along the whole length east-end of FDR Drive. So why did the city change gears and will build a Sea Wall to 14th St.; then stop and then resume the Sea Wall again past Corlears Hook? What’s the logic behind this?

Why would you destroy 2 miles of beautiful scenery, wildlife, and take away free and healthy activities for all the people and instead City Hall decides to use 19th Century technology and build a Levee that will cost more money and is more hazardous, and totally destructive?

In good conscience, Rivera, vote NO and come out against this terrible plan of destruction.

Andre Dupuis October 17, 2019

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October 17, 2019

Schneps Media

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS

P.C. Richard & Son – The Appliance, Electronics, and Mattress giant – is celebrating its 110th Birthday!

A fixture in the retail world since 1909, P.C. Richard & Son is the place where shoppers discover an unbeatable selection of appliances, TVs, electronics, mattresses, smart home products, and more. Still family-owned, still going strong after over a century, generations of consumers know that P.C. Richard & Son is the spot for superior products, exceptional service, and the guaranteed lowest prices.

Originally a small hardware store in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, P.C. Richard & Son was founded in 1909 by Dutch immigrant Peter Christian Richard. It was transformed Schneps Media

by his son A.J. into what is now America’s largest family-owned and operated appliance and electronics and mattress retailer. Today, P.C. Richard & Son proudly operates 66 brick-and-mortar store locations across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, as well as a thriving online ecommerce presence for consumers all over the country.

The instantly-recognizable P.C. Richard & Son whistle has been heard on TV, on the radio, and during sporting events since 1987.

P.C. Richard & Son is headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island, New

York – the same location of its main distribution center.

The company has 1.5 million square feet of warehousing in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, plus 3 owned-and-operated, stateof-the-art service facilities for repairs on appliances and electronics.

All of P.C. Richard & Son’s nearly 3,000 employees are dedicated to providing Superior Service Before, During and After the Sale, and delivering a wonderful and rewarding shopping experience. It starts with friendly and knowledgeable salespeople guiding customers through all the features of

today’s high-tech products, then continues with next-day delivery and professional installation, as well as any necessary repair service by their very own crews. An expanded catalog of products can be found online at pcrichard.com, where live chat, e-mail, and a toll-free phone number are readily available for customer support.

“Generations of customers have trusted us to bring them the best service possible across all aspects of our business, and we take that trust seriously,” says President and CEO Gregg Richard.

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a giant selection of quality merchandise, a great delivery experience, professional installation and reliable repair service before, during, and after the sale—these are all things our customers expect and we do well, but we need to do them better every day. These are the secrets to our longevity, and we need to keep raising the bar. 110 years later, our story is just getting started!”

The company is currently run by the 4th and 5th generations of the Richard family.

P.C. Richard & Son is built on 110 years of honesty, integrity and reliability. Richard IS Reliable!

October 17, 2019

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October 17, 2019

Schneps Media

Simple health tips for busy moms M others are the CEO of the home. Organizing schedules, paying the bills, doing food shopping, managing pick-ups and drop-offs, and making sure everyone is healthy is just part of the job. Unfortunately, because they are so busy taking care of others, many moms often put off taking care of themselves or scheduling their own health appointments.

Making your health a priority can help you stay healthy and keep illnesses at bay. Here are a few tips to help: Sleep consistency You harp on the kids about the importance of a good night’s sleep, but when it comes to your own sleep, it’s often the first thing that’s sacrificed. Sleep deprivation is common among moms for a variety of reasons. Make it a priority to get 7 or 8 hours of quality rest each night. Keeping the bedroom quiet, cool, dark and free from the distractions of devices such as cell phones and tablets can help you relax

Schneps Media

and sleep.

Annual physicals Just like with your kids, proactively seeing a doctor every year can help you tackle health issues head on rather than putting them off until they become a bigger problem. During wellness visits, your doctor will use health indicators like weight, blood pressure and heart rate to screen for common conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Doctors can then recommend treatments to help you stay healthy and feel your best.

Fill prescriptions Your doctor’s treatment plan may include a prescription medication. Doctors advise that it’s important to fill and use the medication as prescribed.

If you are not insured, or if your health insurance plan doesn’t cover the medication you were prescribed, you can check a free prescription savings program called Inside Rx which can help save an average of 40 percent off brand-name and 80 per-

cent off retail on generic medications. Eligibility requirements and a complete list of the medications offered through the program can be found at InsideRx.com.

Boost nutrition You meticulously pack your kids’ lunches, but when it comes to your own, sometimes you eat whatever you can grab. Eating well helps fuel the body and mind, so skip the junk and instead eat wholesome meals three times a day with healthy snacks in between. Stock the fridge and pantry with healthy foods that are easy to eat on the go and always have nutrient-packed snacks, such as dried fruit or nuts. Meal planning can help everyone enjoy healthy homemade foods throughout the week.

These simple tips will help you prioritize health as you take care of your family, so you can feel your best today and in the future!

November is National Family Caregivers Month.

Courtesy BPT October 17, 2019

19

Ways to eat healthy and eat safely You try to eat healthy, but the one thing you can’t control is who has been handling your food and whether they are practicing adequate food safety.

Each year, foodborne illnesses sicken close to 50 million Americans and lead to more than 130,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. A lot of these illnesses are caused by simple things like restaurant employees’ failure to properly wash hands, cooking surfaces and fruits and vegetables.

Foodborne illnesses present a greater challenge to certain groups of people with reduced immunity, such as children younger than age 4 and people older than age 50. Food can also become compromised much earlier in the production process, and for this reason food producers are using a variety of means to keep our food safe.

One approach uses the concept of hurdle technology in which a variety of mild steps (hurdles) are used to limit microbial growth at each stage of production. These include combinations of weak acid treatments with gentle heating and reduced humidity, or alternating low heat and chilling treatment. The fresh-bagged salads you see at the grocery store are a good example of this. Vacuumpacked products, prepared under rigorous hygienic conditions and heated at lower temperatures, are another.

Other technologies include the addition of antimicrobial agents such as enzymes and other natural compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria or

prevent oxidation. Salt too is a very effective antibacterial in food. In fact, it is the oldest known food preserver. Salt is widely used in the production of

all cheeses, cured meats and many fish dishes.

Salt preservation works by influencing the amount of water that all microorganisms require to survive and grow. The use of salt in controlling water means that the levels of other preservatives or processes can be reduced. This means that microbiological safety can be achieved with reduced heat, acidity and other preservatives. This results in a product of vastly improved taste and nutritional quality because of the improved retention of other nutrients.

However, as the federal government pushes companies toward lower salt content there are some concerns that it could affect food safety and increase the amount of preservatives that must be used. Many prefer salt as the more natural choice.

Fortunately, food safety is a leading concern of the Food and Drug Administration and its Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, and the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner, Frank Yiannas, who was previously Vice President of Food Safety at Walmart, and Director of Safety and Health at Walt Disney World.

Food safety is an ongoing challenge for an enormous and complex food system, and although challenges continually arise, exercising caution and attention in food purchasing, storage and preparation will minimize the risks. Remember to not only eat healthy but to also eat safely.

Courtesy BPT

Improving breast cancer outcomes for older women This October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want to highlight the importance of early detection and treatment – especially for older women and women of color who do not get annual exams. Time and again, studies show that race, age and income often lead to health disparities and poor outcomes. I know because I am an 18-year breast cancer survivor.

This simply won't do. All women deserve quality care. I found out that I had breast cancer during a routine visit to my gynecologist. I was overwhelmed and shocked by the diagnosis, as were my friends and family. Cancer is a disease that impacts all of your loved ones and their support is invaluable during such a trying time. Thanks to my treatment, which included six chemotherapy and eight radiation 20

October 17, 2019

therapy sessions, I am one of the lucky ones who beat cancer.

Still, not every woman is as fortunate. As women age, they may also believe that there is no need for continued breast cancer screenings, but nothing could be further from the truth. Self-exams, clinical breast exams, mammograms and MRIs are powerful tools to detect cancer early. This spares many women from the effects of prolonged treatment and even death.

According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 13% of U.S.-born women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis from a doctor at some point. The risk only increases with age. In fact, 1 in 28 women starting at age 60 is likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

That increases to 1 in 25 starting at age 70.

Some people show no signs or symptoms of having breast cancer, but routine screenings can help your doctor detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Most insurance plans cover mammograms without a copay, but if you don’t have insurance, you can find affordable health care through NYC Care (https://www.nyccare.nyc/). To find a low- or no-cost mammogram screening site in your area, call 311.

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez is commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging. Prior to joining the de Blasio administration, she served in executive leadership roles with AARP, EmblemHealth and other organizations. She also served as New York’s first Latina Secretary of State.

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RETURNING TO CITI FIELD THIS WINTER theworldsfare.nyc

Enjoy Championship Dumplings and Himalayan Home Cooking at Nepali Bhanchha Ghar

BY JOE DISTEFANO

As the Culinary King of Queens, I’m so very fortunate to live in the most diverse and delicious destination in all of New York City. Really I’m not royalty though, I’m an ambassador, and a hungry one at that.

Today, we visit Nepal via Jackson Heights, a neighborhood I have taken to calling Himalayan Heights due to the profusion of Tibetan and Nepali eateries. There’s none quite like Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, a two-level love letter to the country’s cuisine.

“Authentic Nepali Food & Asian Fusion,” reads the small print in green beneath the name of Chef Yamuna “Bimla” Shrestha’s four-year old temple to Nepali gastronomy. The menu features many dishes including musky goat sukuti—an air dried jerky—and chicken choila, an appetizer that gets its incendiary heat from red chilies and ginger. That chicken along with other spicy nibbles like Wai Wai sandheko—crushed instant noodles shot through with tomato, garlic, onion, and green chile—is a popular snack for the men who gather nightly in the restaurant’s downstair’s dining room to sip BYO bottles of whiskey.

I love all those dishes, but for now we’re going to examine one that’s a cold weather staple for me, jhol momo. It consists of the dumplings beloved throughout the Himalayan diaspora, in a chicken broth that gets its hue from tomatoes, and its warming flavor from green chili, garlic, and ginger. I like to get them filled with chicken.

Shrestha’s jhol momo are so good that come winter I eat them at least once a week. In fact they’re award winning. For the past three years they’ve taken top honors at the Momo Crawl, a yearly event that brings hundreds to the hood every fall to vote for “Best Momo in Town.” The prize, a yak hide leather wrestling belt with a gilded momo in the center, adorns the upstairs dining room/kitchen.

“Can Bhanchha Ghar be defeated? Are they the Joey Chestnut of the Momo Crawl?,” asks Jeff Orlick founder of the Momo Crawl, com-

Nepali Bhanchha Ghar lies in the heart of Jackson aka Himalayan Heights.

The restaurant has won the Momo Crawl three years in a row.

paring Shrestha and her team to the competitive eater who has won the Nathan’s Famous annual July Fourth hot dog eating contest 12 times. “You can bet there are plenty who want to bring the Momo Belt back to Tibetan soil.”

There are of course other things to eat besides momo at the restaurant whose name means “Nepali Eating House.” Chief among them is the thali, a platter bearing a mound of rice and the protein of your choice—goat and goat jerky are both excellent as is the chicken curry—ringed by various tiny heaps of pickles, including bitter melon and radish, and a bowl of buttery lentil daal. It’s a feast that’s meant to be eaten South Asian style with one’s hands by taking small amounts of rice and mixing them with the various flavorful components.

Run out of rice? The server will be around soon enough to offer you more. Eating with one’s hands is a skill that doesn’t come easy to Westerners, including this one. A more manageable alternative to the rice-based thali is one featuring dhedo, a greyish blob of nutty tasting buckwheat and millet dough, that’s easy and fun to eat with one’s fingers.

For dessert there’s milky rich chai and tsel roti. The name may call to mind a South Asian bread, but it’s actually a doughnut made from a batter of rice and ghee. The golden nubbly crust gives way to a sweet interior, a perfect finish to a Nepali repast.

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The award-winning chicken jhol momo in a spicy tomato broth are pure Nepali comfort food.

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Chef Yamuna “Bimla” Shrestha fries up a batch of goat.

74-06 37th Rd, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Phone: (718) 806-1409

October 17, 2019

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BY BOB KR ASNER

D

rag queen,” “femme,” “queer,” “trans,” “drag king” — if any of these terms interest you, you’ll want to see “A Night at Switch n’ Play,” a new documentary that examines the Brooklyn-based drag and burlesque collective “Switch n’ Play.”

The film, directed by Cody Stickels and produced by Chelsea Moore, is a loving and lively look at a group of performers who won the title of “Best Burlesque Show” at the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The core group of seven, usually augmented with guest stars, can be seen twice a month at the Branded Saloon, where most of the doc was filmed.

The film, which switches back and forth between performances, provides glimpses behind the scenes and interviews.

The project makes it clear that the artists are interested in moving forward with both drag and burlesque, subverting many of the assumptions one might have about both genres. In addition, it stresses the feeling that everyone in the room — performers and audience — are in a safe space where they can do some “exploring, subverting, defying the rules of social acceptability” (in the words of performer Zoe Ziegfeld) while being seriously entertained. After a recent Halloween themed evening, the entertainers shared their thoughts on the movie and their art.

“Burlesque can be sexy, sad, hilarious, grotesque, tender,” Ziegfeld explains. “But sometimes it’s the hottest milk man you’ve ever seen in your life (K. James) or a giant stripping Twinkie

‘Switch N Play’ offers night of drag fun

(Divina GranSparkle) or a terrifying fetish dentist in rubber gloves spitting loose teeth into the audience (Nyx Nocturne).”

The performances range from laugh-out-loud funny to characters worthy of a horror movie, but even the edgiest personas have a personal message.

Nyx Nocturne uses the stage to stimulate their audience in more than one way.

“As a fat, [person of color], non-binary queer person, the way I have experienced desir-

See behind the scenes of Brooklyn™s Switch n™ Play crew in A Night at Switch n™ Play.

PHOTO : BOB KRASNER

Miss Malice in the dressing room doing a touch-up.

PHOTO : BOB KRASNER

ability in more mainstream communities comes weighted with a certain amount of fetishizing curiosity, fear, and disgust,” they noted. “On stage I tend to blend scary and sexy in a way that intentionally blurs people’s idea of what excites their desire and what scares them.”

Divina GranSparkle, who discusses her upbringing and describes herself as “filthy and ludicrous” in the film, has a similar approach.

“I like to create acts that come from a source of personal discomfort,” she said. “The challenge of taking something that normally would make me feel uneasy, isolated or even hopeless and make something out of it. It’s an opportunity to address the things that

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October 17, 2019

at times hold me back in life by making something beautiful out of it.”

Miss Malice, the “Femmecee,” says that the film is allowing many more people to “experience the joy and energy of our little back room at the gay bar.”

“The film is such a loving portrait of us, both as individual performers and as a queer family that supports each other,” she added. “It was such an incredible gift to see what we were doing, this whole beautiful world we are creating as a group, through their eyes, and through the eyes of the audience. Our story is absolutely one about resilience and resistance — but joy, celebration, community are such vital forms of resistance. And glitter, too!”

Director Cody Stickels feels that they and producer Chelsea Moore accomplished what they set out to do.

“Chelsea and I realized early on that we were really writing ‘Switch n’ Play’ a love letter with this film,” they said. “Like they do for many folks, they made us feel seen and celebrated and we wanted to celebrate them in return.

Our goal was to capture and document this decades-long icon of Brooklyn nightlife, and most of all to portray Switch n’ Play like the superheroes that they are.”

“A Night at Switch n’ Play” makes its NYC premiere at the Newfest on Oct. 26, followed by an extended performance by the Switch n’ Play collective.

Info at newfest.org/film/a-night-atswitch-n-play/ More info on the collective at http: switchnplay.com Schneps Media

Li-Lac Chocolates returns to the West Village

BY SHAYE WEAVER

L

i-Lac Chocolates is offering a sweet deal for its return to the West Village — handmade treats at 1923 prices.

On Saturday, Oct. 19, the 96-yearold chocolate shop celebrates its grand opening at 75 Greenwich Ave., by selling its beloved chocolate mousse rolls, almond bark, fudge, coconut clusters and pecan chews for 23 cents apiece and giving away free hot chocolate and tasty holiday characters.

The first 100 customers in line will get discounts on both 1 pound of almond bark and Li-Lac’s 16-piece truffle assortment box — each will go for $9.23, instead of $36 and $35, respectively. The discounts run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The prices call out that we have been in business for 96 years and harkens people back to the era of the 1920s,” said Li-Lac’s co-owner Antho-

ny Cirone.

Using an inflation calculator, Cirone found that if something cost 23 cents in 1923, when the shop first opened, it would be about $3.45 today, which is in the range of what most Li-Lac chocolates cost, he said.

About 300 people lined up down the street four years ago when Li-Lac ran a similar promotion at its Bleecker Street shop, according to Cirone.

Walking into any one of its six shops, visitors are met with playful chocolate sculptures — the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, animals, handbags, high heels, and, depending on the holiday, turkeys, snowmen, Santa Clauses and pumpkins.

The new shop, which sits on Greenwich Avenue near 11th Street, is the company’s return to the West Village after losing its lease on Jane Street about three years ago. It had been a neighborhood staple there for nine decades, so coming back was vital.

“We have such a long, deep history with the residents of the West Village,” Cirone said.

“All the time we have customers in their 70s and 80s who say ‘I went to P.S. 3 and as a child, I walked by Li-Lac everyday.’ We feel very connected to the village, so as a brand, Li-Lac Chocolates is opening a new store in we need to retain a presence in the West Village with a hot chocolate bar.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LI-LAC CHOCOLATES the heart of the Village.”

The new shop has one thing the 1920s, Cirone said. the others don’t — space. At “When this place became open, it felt 800 square feet, it boasts a hot chocolike a really great spot for us,” Cirone late bar that serves hot and iced Li-Lac “sipping” chocolate and café mocha said. “It’s a bigger store and part of beand a 14-foot display case that shows ing bigger means that we could bring in the hot chocolate station.” off all of the company’s treats.

The New York City institution has It is a sort of “flagship” with all of other locations at 162 Bleecker St. in Li-Lac’s available chocolates including the almond bark, butter crunch and Greenwich Village, Grand Central hazelnut truffle squares that are still Market at 43rd Street and Lexington created the same way that its founder Avenue, Chelsea Market at 75 Ninth George Demetrious made them at the Ave., its Brooklyn factory/store at 68 original Christopher Street kitchen in 35th St. and at the new Hudson Yards.

Daily Goods brings its healthy options to Chelsea Market

BY GABE HERMAN

D

aily Goods, a healthy fastcasual shop, has opened a location in Chelsea Market. This is the store’s second location, after a spot in the Financial District at 116 John St. The nutritionist-curated menu comes from Director of Nutrition Molly Knauer and Executive Chef Christopher Patt. The new location expands its menu beyond smoothies and toast offerings to include custom bowls like RaspSome of the Daily Goods breakfast berry Oats, Berry Parfait, Eggocado, Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl bowls PHOTO BY BEN HIDER/COURTESY DAILY GOODS and Cherry Almond Chia Bowl. have avocado toast.

Healthy lunch and dinner offer“We’re incredibly proud to be joinings include Vegan Avocado Kale Caesar, Summer Cobb Salad, Vegan Pad ing the Chelsea Market community this fall,” said JD Methfessel, founder Thai and Santa Fe Chicken Salad.

The smoothie and toast bar options of Daily Goods. “All of our menu items include a Morning Joe Smoothie with and third-party product offerings at cold brew coffee, Ricotta Love It, and Daily Goods are carefully chosen with Berries and Crème. And yes, they also our customers health at the forefront of our minds, friendly to all dietary restrictions, organic wherever possible and easy to transport.

We are here to prove that you don’t need to give up quality for convenience.”

There will also be a “build your own bowl” bar at the 240-square-foot space in Chelsea. More information can be found at dailygoods.co.

The Forbidden Salmon Bowl at Daily Goods.

PHOTO BY BEN HIDER/COURTESY DAILY GOODS

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Manhattan Happenings

Great events around Manhattan, Oct. 17-23 Thursday, Oct. 17 Mystery and Apparition Cultures and other influences mix to create a unique display of emotionfilled work from 11 artists. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Agora Gallery, 530 W 25th St., www.nycgovparks.org. Free.

Friday, Oct. 18 Bridge Club Meet and play against other Bridge lovers of all levels with Bridge Club. 10 a.m. at Riverside Library, 127 Amsterdam Ave., www.nypl.org . Free.

Saturday, Oct. 19 Manhattan Country School Farm Festival Support Manhattan Country School and enjoy fall activities by coming to the annual festival.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Manhattan Country School, 150 W 85th St., www. manhattancountryschool.org. Free.

NYC Autumn Wine and Food Festival Try seasonal food and selections of wines from around the world at Chelsea’s Altman Building. Some New York State wines will also be available for purchase. 2 to 10 p.m. at Altman Building, 135 West 18th St., www.newyorkwineevents.com. Between $72.25 and $165.

In | Between Listen to different artists discuss feeling displaced and trying to find community. 5 p.m. at New York Live Arts Theater, 219 W 19th St., www. newyorklivearts.org. Free.

FILE PHOTO

Have a howling good time with your favorite canine during the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade this Sunday, Oct. 20.

Park, www.tompkinssquaredogrun. com. Free.

Artisanal Sweet Treats Bazaar This national Dessert Month, get a taste of sweet treats from around the city. Some of the food showcased will be truffles, fresh cookies, macaroons, and unique donuts. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 100 West 77th St., www.grandbazaarnyc.org. Free.

Morning Fitness Trained professionals will lead you in walking, strengthening and stretching exercises for one hour. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park, Cabrini Blvd. and Fort Washington Ave., www.nycgovparks.org. Free.

Sunday, Oct. 20

Wednesday, Oct. 23

The Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade Join thousands of spectators and hundreds of dogs in the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade. Dress your pup up or just come to see the adorable participants decked out in their costumes.

12 to 3 p.m. at East River Park Amphitheater, Grand Street in East River

Bryant Park Tour The Bryant Park Corporation’s executive staff will lead a walking tour through the park. 11 to 11:45 a.m. at

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Tuesday, Oct. 22

Fountain Terrace in Bryant Park, 6th Ave. and 41st St., www.bryantpark.org.

Free.

Restart your career Considering a career change? What to know and where to start? Listen to words of encouragement and advice from Amy Spelman, a career-transition specialist. Learn about transferable skills and how to improve your resume and LinkedIn profile. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Science, Industry and Business Library, Conference room 018, 188 Madison Ave., www.nypl.org.

What’s going on in your neighborhood? Tell us!

Email your events for our calendar to news@thevillager.com October 17, 2019

25

Rockefeller skating rink opens for the season

BY SHAYE WEAVER

I

t’s never too early for ice skating, at least, according to Rockefeller Center.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center officially opened for its 83rd season on Saturday, heralding in a new season of wintertime fun.

The Rink is offering guests a chance to do their figure eights on the ice with a “first skate of the day” — a package that includes a 7 a.m. session, skate rentals and free coffee and hot chocolate from Cucina & Co for $40-$65 per person.

For those with a bigger appetite, The Rink also offers a package that includes food at Rock Center Café to partake in after your icy jaunt, at $55-$90 per person.

Otherwise, the rink opens to the public at 8:30 a.m. daily through midnight, now through Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Each year, the rink sees more than 250,000 skaters.

Columbus Day weekend has typically been when The Rink opens, with prices at $25 per session to use, rising to $32 during peak season, which runs from Nov. 20 through Jan. 1.

The rink is open daily. See a full schedule at therinkatrockcenter.com.

PHOTO: DONALD TRAILL

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center has returned! Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to midnight, the iconic rink is now bringing winter time fun to Midtown.

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Real Estate

PHOTO : RACHEL HOLLIDAY SMITH/THE CITY

CUNY is soliciting developers interested in a John Jay College building on Amsterdam Avenue.

CUNY looks to boost coffers through real estate

BY R ACHEL HOLLIDAY SMITH AND GABRIEL SANDOVAL THE CIT Y This story was originally published on OCT. 11 by THE CITY.

T

he financially strapped City University of New York is looking to mine another valuable asset: its prime Manhattan real estate.

The city’s public university system put out a call last week asking real estate developers to suggest projects for a site within shouting distance of Billionaires’ Row. The former shoe factory at 1 Amsterdam Ave. at 59th Street, last occupied

by John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has been nearly empty since the school relocated in 2011.

CUNY is asking developers to submit proposals that would supply at least 300,000 square feet for college opera-

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October 17, 2019

tions, to be sold or leased to the state Dormitory Authority.

That would leave up to about 500,000 more square feet of space a developer could devote to other purposes — and wring as much money out of the property as possible, according to the solicitation.

The development must “maximize the financial return to CUNY,” the document states.

CUNY has previously identified 1 Amsterdam Ave. as a home for the relatively new Guttman Community College, currently in rented space near Bryant Park.

Frank Sobrino, a CUNY spokesperson, said only that the university is “looking to see how we might be able to make better use of an underutilized asset.”

Red Ink and Big Bucks Real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller said the four-story, 1950s-era John Jay

building may be one of the last large development parcels west of Columbus Circle, following a development boom.

“Many property owners, long-term property owners, don’t realize how valuable some of the assets they possess are today versus when they acquired them decades ago,” he said.

The city acquired 1 Amsterdam Ave. in 1980 through a foreclosure action, deed records show.

The John Jay project comes as CUNY has weathered years of budget cuts and copes with aging facilities. An independent audit prepared for the university last year shows CUNY had a nearly $700 million net deficit.

CUNY has previously teamed with private partners to build dorms in Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan, and moved its law school from Flushing to Long Island City, thanks to a partnership with Citigroup.

The John Jay plan stands out as an

effort to not only build a new CUNY facility but also extract potentially significant sums from university-owned real estate.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been pushing CUNY for years to consider selling or using its properties to generate revenue for the university system, which is funded primarily by the state.

In his 2017 financial plan, Cuomo called for the sale of 450 West 41st St., the location of Hunter College’s Master of Fine Arts program, and encouraged consideration of sales of other CUNY properties, POLITICO New York reported.

Proposals from developers for the John Jay site are due back to CUNY by Nov. 20.

This story was originally published

by THE CITY, an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

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