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Dear Friend,

I am proud to have helped secure $75 million for the East River Esplanade as Co-Chair of the Taskforce with Congress Member Maloney that brings the total public and private investment in our parks to $275 million.

This has been an amazing month for residents winning out over big money from real estate. Voters just elected the first citywide candidate to the office of public advocate with no real estate money under a public campaign finance system I helped create. My office and I have toured Community Boards throughout Manhattan to pass a citywide zoning text amendment to stop super tall towers propped up on empty voids.
 
We are fighting to protect our children with Healthy Happy Meals legislation, which received overwhelming support at a public hearing, and new legislation we are drafting to put stop arm cameras on schools buses.

This month please consider joining me as I give keynote speeches at the Historic Districts Council or the School of Data and remember that with Participatory Budgeting every resident over 11 years-old can vote on how to spend $1 million.

Sincerely,


Ben Kallos
Council Member
OFFICE EVENTS 
 
Drag Queen Story Hour
3/14, 11am – 12pm 

Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
3/16, 8:15am – 4pm

Shred-A-Thon
3/16, 10am – 2pm
 

MONTHLY EVENTS
 
First Friday
3/1, 8am – 10am

Mobile Hours
3/4, 3/5, 3/6, 3/11, 3/25  11am – 2pm

Policy Night
3/12, 5pm – 6pm
(By Appointment Only)

HEADLINES

  1. $75 Million Secured for the East River Esplanade   
  2. Mechanical Voids: Closing the Loophole  
  3. Public Advocate Special Election Won with No Real Estate Money  
  4. Hearing on Healthy Happy Meals
  5. Protecting Our Children from Reckless Drivers With Cameras on School Buses

INVITES

  1. Vote on How to Spend $1 Million in District
  2. Keynote Speaker at Historic Districts Council’s 25th Annual Preservation Conference
  3. Open Data Week: Keynote Speaker at School of Data
  4. Drag Queen Story Hour at the Roosevelt Island Library
  5. Shred-A-Thon “Erin Go Bragh” Edition
  6. Ben Kallos Chess Tournament

EDUCATION

  1. Eleanor Roosevelt Gym Petition Reaches 4700+ Signatures!
  2. Sotheby's Art Show: Thank You!
  3. Community Board 8 Small Business Student Art Contest
  4. Dial-a-Teacher
  5. Spence School Works with Community to Commemorate Historic Remnant
  6. Apply Now for Over 1,000 Universal Pre-Kindergarten Seats in the Neighborhood

HOUSING AND OVERDEVELOPMENT

  1. NYCHA's 50-Story Infill Tower
  2. Home Stability Support
  3. Online Platform for City Zoning

JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

  1. Red Flag Gun Bill Signing with Cuomo and Pelosi
  2. Legalizing Marijuana
  3. Just Cause for Fast Food Workers
  4. The Marine Transfer Station Opens this Month
  5. Congestion Pricing: Rallying to Safer Streets 
  6. Amazon

GOOD GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY

  1. Commission on Public Information and Communications (COPIC)
  2. Stanley Isaacs Center Awarded $30k Digital Education Grant from Spectrum
  3. Diversity and Multilingualism in a Megacity
  4. Thank You for Attending Drag Queen Story Hour at the Webster Library
  5. Black History Month Celebration

RESOURCES

  1. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and AARP Tax Prep
  2. GrowNYC Job Fair
  3. Avenue NYC Grant Opportunity for Community-Based Organizations
  4. Sundays at JASA
  5. College Scholarship for 11th Grade Young Women
  6. Helpline for Concerned Persons
  7. Cancer Care: Counseling Support Groups
  8. Military Mondays

OFFICE UPDATES

  1. Legislative Corner
  2. Free Legal Clinics
  3. Here to Help
  4. Mobile District Hours
  5. Ben in Your Building
  6. Community Boards
  7. NYPD Events
  8. Neighborhood and Tenant Associations
  9. Events for Adults
  10. Events for Kids
$75 Million Secured for the East River Esplanade

As Co-Chair of the East River Esplanade Taskforce with Congress Member Carolyn Maloney, I was proud to join Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver in announcing $75 million in new funding. We were joined for the announcement by Community Boards 8 and 11 and staff from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez and Council Member Diana Ayala. As Upper East Side Patch reported the new money will be used to get repairs and improvements at three East River Esplanade projects: 
  • East Harlem: E. 114th to E. 117th streets - $25 million
  • Upper East Side: E. 90th to E. 94th streets - $35.5 million
  • Midtown East: E. 62nd to E. 63rd streets - $22.3 million
  • Esplanade-wide Site Inspections: E. 60th to E. 125th streets - $21 million

We now have a total of $275 million dollars for the East River Esplanade:

  • $1 million from my office in 2017 for irrigation from 96th to 90th Streets.
  • Opened the 90th Street Pier in 2016 to the Public.
  • $35 million for renovations from 90th to 88th Streets funded in 2014 with work started in 2017 for 2018 completion.
  • $1.8 million from Council District 5 funding to modernize Carl Schurz Park Playground on 84th Street.
  • $500,000 from my office in 2016 to renovate John Finley Walk following recommendations of CIVITAS from 84th to 81st.
  • $1 million secured from Brearley to renovate the overhang above John Finley Walk following recommendations from CIVITAS from 83rd to 82nd.
  • $15 million to rebuild the crumbling stairwell from 81st to 78th opened in 2017.
  • $1 million secured from Hospital for Special Surgery for a master plan from 78th with irrigation, planters, and noise barriers from 72nd to 70th with maintenance in perpetuity.
  • $1.25 million from my office in 2016 for irrigation and planters from 70th to 68th
  • $10 million secured from Rockefeller University in 2014 for 68th to 62nd with work started in 2016 on a seawall, new design, irrigation, noise barriers, and maintenance in perpetuity.
  • $29 million in public-private funding secured as a community benefit from Memorial Sloan Kettering to build Andrew Haswell Green Phase 2B from 61st to 60th.
  • $4.6 million to rebuild Andrew Haswell Green under the Alice Aycock sculpture with accessibility, game tables, seating, and a new lawn opened in 2017.
  • $100 million in funding in 2016 from the Mayor with completion slated for 2022 to connect the esplanade from 61st to 53rd.
Read more in Upper East Side Patch, read the release at BenKallos.com/press-release, or watch the press conference at BenKallos.com/video


Mechanical Voids: Closing the Loophole 

During the month of February, I toured nearly every Community Board in Manhattan to share the importance of a proposed zoning text amendment from the Department of City Planning to stop super tall buildings that use empty voids to gain height solely to build apartments for billionaires.
 
Advances in construction technology combined with a real estate market incentivizing apartments for billionaires led to buildings like 432 Park, which got 25% of its super tall height by exploiting the mechanical voids loophole. Voids are large spaces in a building meant to house mechanicals, but when abused are mostly empty and used to add height to the building because they currently do not count as zoning floor area. Rafael Viñoly, who designed 432 Park, also proposed 249 East 62nd, which has a base of 12 stories and 150-foot mechanical void to raise up 11 stories above. Another proposed building, at 50 West 66th Street, uses a 161-foot mechanical void to reach a height of 775 feet.

Proposed Solution to Discourage Mechanical Voids:
  • Discourage Tall Voids: Voids taller than 25 feet will count as zoning floor area.
  • Discourage Clustering to Pad Building Height: Voids within 75 feet of each other will count as zoning floor area.
  • Prevent Voids in Mixed-Use Residential Buildings: Non-residential mechanical space will be subject to the same 25-foot limit if non-residential uses occupy less than 25% of a building.
Following my election in 2014, I've held numerous public meetings on over development and invested member item funding into community-based non-profits focused on preservation and planning to address the issue. In June 2017, I wrote to the Department of City Planning (“DCP”) to close “loopholes” such as mechanical voids. In October 2017, I joined Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts (“Friends”) for a meeting with DCP to share their research and proposal. In January 2018, Mayor de Blasio committed to closing the loopholes at a town hall that I hosted in response to a question from Friends. In July 2018, Friends and I joined Borough President Gale Brewer and LANDMARK WEST! to form a borough-wide coalition to close the loopholes. On January 25, 2019, DCP wrote to Brewer and I with a proposal to close mechanical voids in residential districts and a promise for a new proposal governing commercial districts in the summer. This is supported by Congress Member Carolyn Maloney, State Senators Liz Krueger and Jose Serrano, Assembly Members Richard Gottfried, Harvey Epstein, Daniel O'Donnell, Dan Quart, Robert Rodriguez, and Rebecca Seawright, and City Council Members Diana Ayala, Keith Powers, and Carlina Rivera. The City Planning Commission (CPC) certified the residential application on January 28, 2019, marking the beginning of a public hearings process at Community Boards and Borough Boards, which will conclude on March 8, 2019. CPC will take public testimony at a citywide public hearing that will tentatively be held on March 13, 2019.

As Crain's and City Limits reported, the text amendment had public hearings in Community Boards around the City. Many Community Boards approved of the text amendment for their area including way to improve the text that I support.

Join the fight against super tall with mechanical voids and sign the petition at BenKallos.com/voids


Public Advocate Special Election Won with No Real Estate Money

Jumaane Williams made history as the first person elected to citywide office without taking ANY real estate money. Our next Public Advocate is Jumaane Williams, who started off as a housing organizer and has never stopped being an activist, putting his body on the line for what he believes in. After a law I authored applied the new campaign finance system voted for by 1.1 million New Yorkers in November to the special election for Public Advocate and every election that follows, almost every single candidate, including the winner Jumanee Williams chose the new campaign finance system which I helped create.

The old system matched contributions up to $175 at a 6-to-1 rate for only 55% of the money candidates needed and allowed contributions by individuals to be as high as $5,100. The old system led to nearly half the money coming in big contributions that were the maximum allowed under law. The new system matches every dollar up to $250 or under for citywide and $175 for others with 8 public dollars, providing matching funds to cover up to 75% of a campaign's spending limit. It also lowered the individual contribution limit to $2,000 for citywide campaigns, $1,500 for borough wide, and $1,000 for City Council.
 
Our success by the numbers according the NYC Campaign Finance Board:
  • 73% of the money available to candidates on the ballot came from public matching funds,
  • 75% of contributions came from from New York City residents, and
  • $10 was the most common contribution amount, compared to $100 in previous Public Advocate elections.
Sign our petition to get big money out of politics at BenKallos.com/BigMoneyOut


Hearing on Healthy Happy Meals

One out of every four New York City public school students in grades Kindergarten through eighth is obese. The New York Post reported on a hearing where the American Heart Association, physicians, experts, and high school students  testified in favor of "Healthy Happy Meals" legislation I have introduced that makes healthy drink options like water, milk, and 100% real fruit juice the default choice in kid’s menus in all restaurants in New York City.  With this legislation, we aim to get as much as a third of the sugar our kids drink per day out of their diet. For more information read the release at BenKallos.com/press-releases


Protecting Our Children from Reckless Drivers with Cameras on School Buses

ABC 7 and CBS 2 reported on legislation I will be introducing that will require stop arms on school buses to include cameras to issue tickets to vehicles that pass while children are getting on and off. Right now, fines of $250 to $400 can only be issued if drivers are caught in the act by a police officer. As part of this year's budget Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed allowing local governments to enact laws such as the one I am drafting with fines starting at $500 and escalating to $1,500. The stop arm camera would operate just like a red light camera with computers flagging offenders for police review and a summons with a fine issued to the owner of the vehicle. With cars passing our students at high speeds and even driving up on curbs, we need this technology now. For more information check out coverage from PIX 11, NY 1, and the New York Post.  



MARCH EVENT INVITES
 

Vote on How to Spend $1 Million in District

Each year residents in my district, ages 11 and older or in the sixth grade, get to vote on how to spend one million dollars in the community through Participatory Budgeting. Voting will be available at dozens of Participatory Budgeting voting sites and throughout the district and by absentee ballot. See a number of dates and locations for mobile poll sites on the calendar. You can learn more at BenKallos.com/PB and see the ballot suggested by residents just like you at BenKallos.com/pb/ballot

Voting Week is March 30 – April 7
Vote in our District Office at 244 East 93rd Street 
Monday – Friday, 4/1 – 4/5, 9am – 5pm and at First Friday in April
Vote Online by Digital Ballot 3/30 – 4/7 at BenKallos.com/PB/digital

We will also make voting more convenient by bringing the ballots closer to you at mobile voting sites throughout the district. We hope you will consider volunteering with our office to help us provide mobile voting locations.

MOBILE POLL SITES

  • Saturday, 3/30, 10am – 1pm, East 82nd Street Greenmarket - RSVP
  • Sunday, 3/31, 10am – 1pm, Saint Catherine’s Park - RSVP
  • Monday, 4/1, 4pm – 7pm, F train at Roosevelt Island - RSVP
  • Tuesday, 4/2, 4pm – 7pm, John Jay Park - RSVP
  • Wednesday, 4/3, 4pm – 7pm, Lexington Houses, 1538 Lexington Avenue - RSVP
  • Thursday, 4/4, 7am – 9am, P.S. 527, 323 East 91 Street - RSVP
  • Saturday, 4/6, 10am – 1pm, East 67th Street Greenmarket- RSVP
  • Sunday, 4/7, 10am – 1pm, District Office, 244 East 93rd Street- RSVP

Pledge to Vote: BenKallos.com/pb/pledge


Keynote Speaker at Historic District Council’s 25th Annual Preservation Conference

I will be the Keynote speaker at the Historic Districts Council’s 25 Annual Preservation Conference. The event is open to the public and will dive into a range of topics and of-the-moment campaigns to preserve communities and sites throughout the city, with sessions led by the participants themselves, as well as two planned panels, on engaging people with new sites in old ways, and positive and negative rezoning experiences. Get your tickets at HDC.org/events
 
Historic District Council’s 25 Annual Preservation Conference
March 2,  9:30am to 3:30pm
New York Law School, 185 West Broadway
RSVP


Open Data Week: Keynote Speaker at School of Data
 
Open Data Week is a celebration to raise awareness of the City’s open data law, co-founded in partnership with BetaNYC and in collaboration with 50+ partners from across New York City. From March 1 - 9, New Yorkers are invited to experience more than 40 events, exhibits, panels, and workshops across the city that explore how NYC Open Data is being used by New Yorkers.
 
Events kick off with the NYC School of Data, a day-long community conference with discussions and workshops focused on government data, technology and innovation programs. The day will also include agency Open Data Coordinators hosting offices hours, and community-based organizations hosting workshops or showcasing their work. Other events include a data art exhibition on unrepresentable features of people and places, a discussion with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development about their Speculation Watch List, a data scavenger hunt across the city organized by Measure of America, workshops for student entrepreneurs on how to use open data to build their businesses, and more. The full schedule is available at Open-Data.nyc

 

Drag Queen Story Hour at the Roosevelt Island Library

Drag Queen Story Hour captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity in childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present their genders as they wish, and where dress-up is real. For more information, visit BenKallos.com/Events
 
Drag Queen Story Hour
March 14,  11am–12pm
Roosevelt Island Library, 524 Main St
RSVP


Ben Kallos Chess Tournament

Please join hundreds of students from across the five boroughs at the 2019 Ben Kallos Chess Tournament by Chess in the Schools on Saturday, March 16th. Last year students from dozens of schools competed in the tournament. The tournament registration is free with fees funded through my office and open to students from K – 12. For more information visit ChessInTheSchools.org.
 
Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
March 16 at 10am–3pm
Check-in 8:15am–9:30am
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
411 East 76th Street
 
Register by Tuesday, March 13 at 5PM at ChessInTheSchools.org


 Shred-A-Thon "Erin Go Bragh" Edition
 
On Saturday, March 16th at the 82nd Street Greenmarket from 10am to 2pm, the Upper Green Side will be holding a Shred-A-Thon sponsored by Grow NYC. Come by and get rid of those documents that contain personal information to protect your privacy. You bring the paper, and the giant shredder truck turns it into microbits while you watch! You can also bring compost, eyeglasses, corks, batteries, and cords.

Shred-A-Thon "Erin Go Bragh" Edition
Saturday, March 16, 10am – 2pm
82nd Street Greenmarket
(between First and York)
RSVP



EDUCATION
 
Eleanor Roosevelt Gym Petition Reaches 4700+ Signatures!

Despite being a top competitor in high school sports, Eleanor Roosevelt High School does not currently have a space of their own large enough to hang a basketball hoop or volleyball net. As Upper East Side Patch reported, it is my intention to change that by bringing the Universal Physical Education Initiative to the Upper East Side. Last month, the community responded with incredible support by spreading the word about a petition we organized with Eleanor Roosevelt students. In just 72 hours over 2 thousand residents had signed the petition calling on the Department of Education and the School Construction Authority to build the school a gym. Currently, the petition has 4,700+ signatures as the community continues to show support and believe that Eleanor Roosevelt High School deserves a gym of its own.
 
Add your name at BenKallos.com/elrogym


Sotheby's Art Show: Thank You!

Thank you to the hundreds of parents, students, and teachers who made the 5th annual Sotheby’s public school Art Show a huge success. We were treated to hundreds of pieces of art by student artists from nearly a dozen public schools in the Upper East Side, with participants ranging from grade school kids to high school seniors.  By working with Sotheby’s to give students this unique opportunity to display their art work in a hall that has hung the works of Picasso we hope to inspire. 

Thank you to P.S. 183 Principal Martin Woodard, University Council for Art Education Vice President Wan Ling Fahrer, and PTA President of P.S. 183 Patricia Correge for making this event such a special night for our student artists and their parents. As always, the event would not have happened without the help of Sotheby’s employees like Karen Sutton, Elyse Dreyer, Jennifer Burns who took care of logistics inside the gallery. Thank you all and see you next year.

To see photos of the artwork, visit FaceBook.com/BenKallos/photos


Community Board 8 Small Business Student Art Contest
 
Community Board 8's Small Business Committee is holding a annual Student Art Contest until March 25. The contest celebrates student talent and the importance of local businesses in our community. Selected art will receive a certificate of recognition and will hang in Tenny & Betsy Cafe at 197 E 76th St from April 4th to May 31st. Student submissions must be 2D art from a current high school or middle school student that resides or attends in the CB8 district.  No more than three (3) digital photos of submissions can be sent to art@cb8m.com and must include name, age, school, grade, address, artwork title, size dimensions, and media of the artwork. Please email any questions to art@cb8m.com.

 
Dial-a-Teacher

Last month I visited the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Dial-A-Teacher program first-hand to see teachers answering the homework questions of NYC’s students. Classroom teachers in the program work one-on-one with students who call the helpline. Dial-A-Teacher began in 1980 with five classroom teachers, with one of them being proficient in Spanish. Thanks to Council funding the program expanded in 1986 to include 45 teachers assisting in schoolwork ranging from elementary to high school material. As we have continued to expand funding the City Council, the call center now offers help in Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Tagalog. If your child needs help with his or her homework, call (212)-777-3380.


Spence School Works with Community to Commemorate Historic Remnant

The New York Times covered Our Town's reporting on the efforts of Father Boniface Ramsey of St. Joseph’s Church to memorialize an orphanage that dates back to the 1800s whose wall was recently exposed. As a result of the reporting and a meeting I organized with the Reverend, Community Board 8 Chair Alida Camp, and the Spence School, we managed to find common ground with a memorial in the form of a metal plaque on the outside of the building and a permanent exhibit in the new facility. For more background and history read Our Town.
 

Apply Now for Over 1000 Universal Pre-Kindergarten Seats in the Neighborhood

All New York City children born in 2015 are eligible to attend free, full-day Pre-K this upcoming fall. Sign up now at nyc.gov/prek
 
With help from parents, advocates, and fellow elected officials we have successfully septupled the number of seats in District 5 since I took office in 2014. In 2018, I cut the ribbon on new Pre-Kindergarten Centers at 252 East 57th Street with 144 seats and 1683 3rd Avenue with 90 seats. We will be opening 180 new seats for the 2019 school year at 355 East 76th Street. Please contact our team for assistance or with any questions at UPK@BenKallos.com.

All New York City children born in 2015 are eligible to attend free, full-day Pre-K this upcoming fall. Sign up now at nyc.gov/prek



HOUSING AND OVERDEVELOPMENT
 
NYCHA's 50-Story Infill Tower

As Patch reported in February, NYCHA has selected a developer to build a 50-story tower on a 99-year ground lease in between the two Holmes Towers on a children's playground. The developer is only paying $25 million upfront to fund partial repairs to NYCHA. The project includes 50% affordable housing and 50% luxury housing on public land. The long delayed project is now seeking to ignore local city planning regulations which include:
  • Height Limits by piercing the "sky exposure plane" to build twice as tall leaving low-income residents below in the shadows of the wealthy above;
  • Building Distance Requirements with a ramp for NYCHA residents to use to access an athletic field so they do not have to enter the new building with luxury tenants;
  • Open Space Requirements with 2.3 percent less open space than allowed.
Rather than go through a Uniformed Land Use Review Process (ULURP) community review with a public hearing before Community Board 8, Borough President Brewer, the City Planning Commission and finally the City Council where I could negotiate and potentially vote the project up or down, NYCHA is seeking to go around the community with a Mayoral Zoning Override. As I and Borough President Brewer have said all along, this project and all NYCHA projects must go through ULURP. For more history on the deal, read our press release at BenKallos.com/press-release


Home Stability Support
 
I rallied with members of the Coalition for the Homeless, Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi, Council Members Grodenchik, Levin and Holden to call on Governor Cuomo to establish the Home Stability Support (HSS) program for struggling individuals and families. Sponsored by Assembly Member Hevesi and State Senator Liz Krueger HSS would provide rent supplement for residents who are eligible for public assistance benefits and facing eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing because of domestic violence or dangerous living conditions. In the meantime I will continue to lead the Eastside Taskforce for Homeless Outreach Services (ETHOS) with Senator Liz Krueger and Borough President Gale Brewer to do our part on the local level. Learn more at HomeStabilitySupport.com.
 

Online Platform for City Zoning

As reported by Cityland, on February 6, the 1,570-page Zoning Resolution's physical form became outmoded when the Department of City Planning launched a new digital version on its own Digital Zoning Resolution. The platform has an intuitive layout for quickly jumping between articles and appendix sections as well as hyperlinks related to zoning legislation. This new format for the Zoning Resolution will make understanding city law easy to understand for every New Yorker. Be sure to also check out the interactive zoning and land use map at ZoLa.Planning.NYC.gov.



JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
 
Red Flag Gun Bill Signing with Cuomo and Pelosi
 
It was a pleasure to join House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Governor Andrew Cuomo as he signed the Red Flag bill into law in late February. The bill works to prevent individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing guns. Every year, 900 New Yorkers die from gun violence. Around the country, school shootings have become all too common. With this legislation, I hope New York State serves as an example for other states to do the same.


Legalizing Marijuana

Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature have made it clear that they intend on making New York State the 11th state to legalize marijuana and I have been working to ensure proper regulations are enacted to both heal and protect our city. As Co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, I have been leading the effort to ensure that tax revenue go to providing consumer protections, rehabilitating those impacted by criminal records for low-level possession, along with healthcare and mental health as well as job training and placement. As we wait to see what passes in Albany, I've introduced a resolution to prohibit vertical integration of the marijuana industry to prevent big corporations from taking over. Read more about legislation being pushed by the Progressive Caucus at NYCProgressives.com or watch the rally at BenKallos.com/Videos
 

Just Cause for Fast Food Workers
 
The $15 minimum wage has just gone into effect in New York City and we continue to focus on improving working conditions for fast food workers. We are proud to join SEIU 32BJ along with bill sponsors Council Members Adams and Lander to require "Just Cause" in terminations.

 

The Marine Transfer Station Opens this Month


On March 25, the Department of Sanitation is opening the East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station. As Our Town reported in 2018, and according to the New York City Department of Sanitation:

“On most days, the MTS will receive, on average, between 40 and 50 trucks,” the commissioner wrote.

This is far fewer than the hundreds and hundreds of truck we had feared. I remain steadfast in my opposition to opening an MTS is this neighborhood. Over the past five years, we’ve fought the building of the MTS at every step. After years of advocacy, we won some important victories that will the community safer:
  • Exposed high costs
  • Introduced air quality monitoring legislation
  • Ensured zoned trash pickup is done fairly
  • Brought attention to dangers of garbage trucks
  • Secured funding for guardrails on garbage trucks
  • Moved the ramp to protect thousands of children that play at Asphalt Green
  • Won a commitment for zero waste by 2030 that will render marine-transfer-to-landfill obsolete
  • Co-sponsored and passed a Waste Equity Law that will protect our neighborhood from receiving more than 10% of the city’s waste
To join the fight, visit BenKallos.com/MTS.


Congestion Pricing: Rallying to Safer Streets 

In 2013 the New York Times endorsed me in part for my support for congestion pricing. As details for a plan emerge I joined Transportation Alternatives and Four Freedoms Democratic Club at Tramway Plaza at the entrance to the 59th Street Bridge and one of the most dangerous intersections in my district to call for a congestion pricing plan that will make us safer. Watch our rally at StreetFilms or read coverage in the Upper East Side Patch
  

Amazon

I was one of many elected officials who signed a letter inviting Amazon to build its new HQ2 in New York City. I even advocated for using the Amazon cloud to save the city millions.

However, even as an Amazon Prime Member, I was disappointed in Amazon and our government when I learned that a deal was made behind closed doors without any input from the public. As Chair of the Land Use Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Concessions I was concerned about a failure to go through the public review process (ULURP) where the Council could negotiate and vote as well as the $3 billion in subsidies to a company that didn't seem to need them. As a software developer I was concerned about Amazon's privacy policies. As policy maker in a city where even billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg took the subway, I was concerned about creating a precedence for giving billionaires their own helipads. As a union-side labor lawyer I was concerned about Amazon's treatment of workers. In all cases I was eager to negotiate a better outcome for all involved, a public review, ensuring the right amount of subsidies, opening a private helipad to the public, and an opportunity to organize workers to win higher wages and better working conditions. Ultimately none of my questions ever really got answered and it appears that is was the last item that was the deal breaker.

As Bloomberg reported, Amazon executives had already agreed to a deal with the city and labor leaders that would allow the deal to move forward. "We all agreed to it, and we said the next step was to start drafting language and getting our wordsmiths involved,” Stuart Appelbaum said. “We all agreed it was a productive meeting, and so we were amazed that Jeff Bezos would decide to just cancel— to announce today that he's canceling the project." Read for yourself in Bloomberg.



GOOD GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY

Commission on Public Information and Communications

The New York Times and Gotham Gazette reported last month that the Commission on Public Information and Communications (COPIC) of which I am a member. Founded in 1989, the 11-member majority Mayoral appointment commission, chaired by the city’s Public Advocate, is tasked with publishing a list of city data, webcasting, and providing opinions on access to public information in the same way as the New York State Commission on Open Government. I have been asking the city to invest funding in COPIC in order to meet a Charter mandate for an Executive Director and Counsel along with several good government groups. I look forward to working with the next Public Advocate as a member of COPIC to make public information even more accessible. You can watch the Charter Mandated annual meeting held in February 2019 at BenKallos.com/videos
 

Stanley Isaacs Center Awarded $30k Digital Education Grant from Spectrum

It was a pleasure joining Charter Communications and Spectrum TV and internet donated $30,000 for digital education and new technology training programs aimed for seniors and youth. The grant includes plans for free mobile technology labs and digital literacy training at Stanley Isaacs Center. Spectrum held a charity contest in 2018 offering digital services education and resources to non-profit organizations around the city. Stanley Isaacs center was one of 23 institutions in the Spectrum market area granted the digital labs and digital literacy training. Thank you to the folks at Charter communications for their generous donation to our community. The money will go a long way to helping combat the digital divide.
 

Diversity and Multilingualism in a Megacity

February 21 was International Mother Language Day and I had the opportunity to join world-leading researchers in sociolinguistics from the University of Cologne (UoC), NYU, and CUNY as part of a panel discussing the diversity of languages in megacities like New York. There was a consensus in the belief that special care must be taken to protect and foster these languages and the fact that multilingualism in children should be valued and encouraged by teachers and school administrators. Since diversity is New York City’s strength it was wonderful to be a part of this topic being discussed at such a high level. Thank you to Dr. Rosemary Feal for moderating and to Dr. Eva Bosbach Executive Director at University of Cologne New York Office for taking to the time to organize the event.

 

Thank You for Attending Drag Queen Story Hour at the Webster Library

I had a great time with parents and children and Drag Queen Story hour with Angel last month. More than 20 kids showed up with parents to hear and watch Angel read them a story. Drag Queen Story Hour is a children's literary program featuring drag queens reading picture books to kids in libraries, schools, and community spaces. By providing role models and affirmation for LGBTQ youth, DQSH helps to curb bullying and can be a life-changing experience for kids and teens who may not otherwise see themselves reflected in the broader culture.


Black History Month Celebration

I would like to thank Stanley Isaacs Community Center for inviting me to share the festivities of Black History month on the Upper East Side. I love visiting the community center, and I believe it’s one of my most visited places in around the District. Each year the center celebrates the history, the culture, and the amazing contributions made by African Americans. This year included various speakers and performances in the community center’s main hall.



RESOURCES
 
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and AARP Tax Services
 
Be ready for tax season with some help this year. AARP is partnering with Lenox Hill Neighborhood House this year through April 10th. AARP Counselors will be on hand to help those interested each day between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Please be prepared to spend several hours there with proper documentation such as Government ID and SSD. Taxes for other states may be processed if you notify an AARP Counselor. Services to prepare tax returns for 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 are available. Counselors can also amend 2016 or 2017 statements if you used Lenox Hill Neighborhood House with AARP in those years. For more information or locations near you visit aarp.org/taxaide.
 

GrowNYC Job Fair

GrowNYC is hosting its first seasonal job fair on March 11th at Project Farmhouse to allow members in our community to get the chance to learn about working with GrowNYC. They hire many seasonal staff starting in the early spring.
 
GrowNYC is a non-profit organization founded over 40 years ago and operates farmers markets, Youthmarkets, food scrap collection locations, Fresh Food Box distribution points, and more. Every day, GrowNYC employees see first-hand the impact they have on the environment and the lives of New Yorkers in all five boroughs.
 
If you are interested in working for this dynamic organization to provide fresh food for all and reduce New York City’s carbon footprint, bring your resume to the job fair and get the chance to meet the GrowNYC team. Snacks and possible raffle prizes will be provided. To learn more about the job fair’s requirements visit grownyc.org/blog/grownyc-seasonal-job-fair
 

Avenue NYC Grant Opportunity for Community-Based Organizations

I am an avid supporter of funding small, local organizations that help better our community as a while, therefore, we have collaborated with the Avenue NYC Grant program which funds community-based development organizations to carry out programs targeting commercial districts in low and moderate income communities.
 
The grants include up to $100,000 per year (for up to three years),  assistants that aid the local organizations to hire a full-time program manager, complete a Commercial District Needs Assessment, and enact projects related to business support and retention, public space activation, district marketing, neighborhood beautification, and more.
 
Applications for the grant are open until March 10th, 2019. There will be two sessions for those who are interested to attend and learn more about the application process. To learn more about eligibility and to apply, visit nyc.gov/avenuenyc.
 

Sundays at JASA

Sundays at JASA is a one-of-a-kind, college-level continuing education program for adults 55+. Each semester offers a wide range of courses and lectures. Their instructors include leaders from the worlds of politics, the arts, media, and more. Spring semester begins March 3rd at John Jay College.  Please contact acollier@jasa.org or (212) 273-5304 or visit www.jasa.org.
 

College Scholarship for 11th Grade Young Women

 NYRR Run for the Future is a free, seven-week scholarship program that teaches 11th-grade high school girls how to run. The program highly encourages young women who have not previously participated in organized sports to apply. Those accepted into NYRR Run for the Future who fulfill the program requirements will receive a $2,000 college scholarship. Please visit nyrr.org to access the application and eligibility requirements. Spring season applications are due February 17, 2019. Summer season applications are due April 14, 2019.
 

Helpline for Concerned Persons
 
The Helpline for Concerned Persons is a program of Weill Cornell Medicine’s NYC Elder Abuse Center. It is a free, confidential service for the family members, friends, and neighbors of elder abuse victims who live in New York City’s five boroughs. Available Mon-Fri, 9–5 pm, a social worker provides supportive counseling; information about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; guidance for next steps; and referrals. Calls received during evenings, weekends, and holidays will be responded to by next business day. Phone: 212-746-6905 or E-mail: helpline@nyceac.org. For more info visit: https://bit.ly/2ycJ2st Note: The Helpline is not an emergency service. For safety and health emergencies, call 911.
 

Cancer Care: Counseling Support Groups

A cancer diagnosis can turn a person's life upside down. The physical, emotional and financial impact of cancer affects not only the person but also their family and loved ones. For the last 75 years, CancerCare has been the leading organization providing free services and support to anyone affected by cancer.
 
Our comprehensive services include counseling and support groups over the phone, online and in-person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts.
 
To learn more, visit www.cancercare.org or call 800-813-HOPE (4673).
 

Military Mondays

The next session of Military Mondays will be held on, March 4th from 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM in the Atrium of the Manhattan Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System at 423 East 23rd Street. Veterans who may need legal assistance in the areas of disability applications, housing concerns, child support modifications, or life planning should call Legal Services NYC’s hotline at 917-661-4500 to schedule an appointment.
 
Since its inception in August 2016, Military Mondays has assisted 262 veterans at 31 clinics.  The Military Mondays clinic dates for the remainder of 2019 are March 4th, April 1st, May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st,  August 5th, September 9th, October 7th, November 4th and December 2nd.
 
Attached please find the Military Mondays flyer; we hope that you will continue to share it within your organization.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
OFFICE UPDATES
 
Legislative Corner

This past month I sponsored or co-sponsored 16 pieces of legislation that passed the City Council and were enacted into law. The newly elected Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and I co-sponsored A Local Law in relation to enforcement of the ban against unauthorized commuter vans.

This law clarifies that for the purposes of enforcing bans against unauthorized commuter van services, the definitions of “for-hire vehicle” and “commuter van” do not include a public bus service operating pursuant to a contract with the city, any county within the state of New York, the state of New York or any other state or local government. This law will allow for Access-a-Ride vans and other contracted van services to continue to provide services to New Yorkers that require them.
 

Free Legal Clinics

Need a lawyer? Every month I sponsor legal clinics where you can get free legal advice in my District Office at 244 East 93rd Street from 3pm-6pm:
  • General Civil Law, 3rd Tuesday
  • Life Planning Clinic, 3rd Wednesday
  • Family Law and Domestic Violence, 1st Tuesday
  • Housing Clinics, Every Monday and 1st Wednesday
Please call my office at 212-860-1950 in advance to schedule your appointment.


Here to Help

We are here to help. My social work team can help you find out what services you are eligible for and assist you in your application. Some examples include:
  • Seniors: Medicare savings, Meals-on-Wheels, Access-A-Ride
  • Housing: searching for affordable units, free legal housing clinic at my office
  • Job Resources: training resources and assistance, unemployment benefits
  • Families: Universal Pre-K, Head Start, After-School programs
  • Finances: cash assistance, tax credits, home energy assistance
  • Nutrition: WIC, free meals for all ages
Please also call us at 212-860-1950 or email us at bkallos@benkallos.com with any unresolved 311 complaints.
 

Mobile District Hours

Get assistance wherever in the district you are when we bring our office to you. Please join us at monthly mobile district hours from 11am–2pm:  
Ben in Your Building
 
The "Ben in Your Building Program" is a chance to discuss issues of importance to you and your neighbors in person. Please consider inviting me to your cooperative or condominium annual meeting or tenants association meeting, and I will be happy to join you. Over the past year, I have visited several buildings to discuss matters of importance in the neighborhood, including street furniture, road conditions, homeless outreach, and sanitation issues. Please schedule a "Ben in Your Building" today by calling 212-860-1950 or email Scheduler@BenKallos.com.


Community Board
 
3/4: Community Board 6 Transportation Committee Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU School of Dentistry), Room 210
 
3/5: Community Board 11 Housing Committee
6:30pm, CB11 Board Office 1664 Park Avenue Ground Floor
 
3/5: Community Board 11 Public Safety & Transportation Committee
6:30pm, Bonifacio Senior Center 7 E. 116th Street
 
3/6: Community Board 11 Land Use, Landmarks & Planning Committee
6:30pm, Bonifacio Senior Center 7 E. 116th Street
 
3/13: Community Board 6 Full Board Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU School of Dentistry), Room 210  
 
3/13: Community Board 8 Land Use Committee
6:30pm-9:30pm, New York Blood Center 310 E 67th St
 
3/18: Community Board 6 Housing, Homeless, & Human Rights Committee Meeting
6:30pm, CB6 Board Office - 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite 1404
 
3/19: Community Board 11 Full Board Meeting
6:30pm, Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility 1752 Park Avenue
 
3/20: Community Board 8 Full Board Meeting
6:30pm, New York Blood Center 310 E 67th St


NYPD EVENTS

3/4: 19th Precinct Community Council
7:00pm-8:00pm, 19th Precinct Station House, 153 E. 67th Street
 
3/26: 17th Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, Sutton Place Synagogue, 224 E. 51st Street
 
3/27: 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, 23rd Precinct Station House, 164 E. 102nd Street


Neighborhood and Tenant Associations
 
First Wednesday, 3/6: Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Meeting
8:00 pm-10:00 pm, Good Shepherd (Downstairs), 543 Main Street
 
Second Wednesday, 3/13: Lexington Houses Tenant Association
6:00pm, 1539 Lexington Avenue
 
Second Tuesday, 3/12: Stanley Isaacs Tenant Associations
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street
 
Third Tuesday, 3/19: Holmes Towers Tenant Association
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street
 

EVENTS
 
Events for Adults
 
3/1: Movement Speaks with Dances for a Variable Population
10:30pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join us celebrating moving in strong and creative ways! From January 2019-March 2019, Naomi and company will lead seniors on the Upper East Side in a series of dance fitness classes for older adults of all ages and abilities.
 
3/2, 3/16: Yorkville Writing Circle
11:00am, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Want to meet local writers? Commit to a writing schedule? Practice your craft through writing prompts? Read original work to get and give feedback? Then come to the biweekly meetings of the Yorkville Writing Circle! Writers of all genres and styles, at all levels, are welcome to participate. No sign-ups required. For adults (ages 18 and up) For more information, please email: YorkvilleWritingCircle@gmail.com
 
3/2: Design a Flower Bouquet
12:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Want to design your own flower bouquet? Join us at the Webster Library! Webster has teamed up with Uprooted Flower Truck to bring you this fun, creative workshop. You’ll learn about different flowers, tips and tricks for design, and take home your own hint of spring! Space is limited! First Come, First Served: Limited to 14 Participants Open to Adults 18+. First come, first served.
 
3/2: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Petco Sheepshead Bay 1610 Avenue Y Brooklyn, NY 11235
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/2: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Petco Union Square 860 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/2: Make 2019 Your Best Year Ever: Goal Setting
2:00pm, Yorkville Library Children’s Room
Research suggests that setting and making progress on goals that are important to you is a key determinant of sustainable happiness. Speaker, trainer, and certified professional coach, Barbara Phillips, will help you create a core set of meaningful, realistic goals for the New Year.
 
3/3: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Petco Forest Hills 7507 31st Ave, East Elmhurst, NY 11370
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/3: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Petco Gun Hill Road 1750 E Gun Hill Road, Bronx, NY 10469
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/3: Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Online Workshop
7:00pm
Learn the basics and feel the benefits of mindfulness meditation in a convenient online setting. Meditation can be a way of doing something to care for ourselves and to take control of stressful situations. This class is for all people with cancer, caregivers, and cancer survivors. We recommend this class for anyone who is new to practicing meditation or other mind-body therapies. You will need to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a high-speed internet connection. Your device must have a webcam, speaker, and microphone and Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser. Call 646-888-0800 to register. There is a $150 fee to participate in this workshop.
 
3/4: Digital Theatre + Matinee: Billy the Kid
11:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
Do you love theatre? Join us on select Monday mornings to watch a handful of the finest theatre productions from over the pond. Billy the Kid March 4, 11:30 AM, 58 min, 2012 Michael Morpurgo Michael Morpurgo’s Billy the Kid is told through the eyes of an 80-year-old man, recounting his life as a star footballer and how the outbreak of the Second World War impacted his life forever.
 
3/5, 3/7, 3/12, 3/14, 3/19, 3/21, 3/26: Preventing Heart Disease Class
10:30am - 11:30am, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Greenberg 4 North Patient Lounge
Interactive talk discussing tips to lower risk for heart disease. Topics include mindful eating, heart-healthy diet education and reducing the risk of coronary artery disease through lifestyle factors.
 
3/5, 3/19, 3/26: We Speak NYC: English Conversation class
11:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
Come to the Webster Library and meet other people who are practicing English, just like you! We Speak NYC (formerly We Are New York)  is an Emmy Award-winning TV show created to help people practice English.  Each story is about everyday situations, like going to the doctor or talking with a child's teacher.  The characters speak slowly and clearly. Adult learners will have the opportunity to learn English by watching We Speak NYC  videos and discussing them with other adults from around the world.  The program works best for people who speak some English and want to practice.  *This is a conversation class*
 
3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26: Techconnect Word for Beginners
3:00pm, 96th Street Library
Learn the basic features of Microsoft Word 2010, a word processing program you can use to create documents. Topics include: entering and editing text, saving files, and various formatting options. This is a comprehensive course, so please make sure you can attend all sessions. Call 212-289-0908 to register.
 
3/5: Life Insurance Workshop
5:30pm, 96th Street Library
Come learn about How much life insurance do I need? What type of life insurance should I buy? Life Insurance options/benefits. Life Insurance action plan. Join us at the 96th street Library with our Guest Kamran J. Keypour from Foresters Financial.
 
3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27: Learn To Play Chess For Adults
2:00pm, Webster Library
Learn to play the most popular game ever: A game of strategy and problem-solving. Whether you are beginner or a more advanced player you can learn the strategies that will make you a better chess player. Best part of all CHESS IS FUN!
 
3/6: Author Talk: Joanna Cantor - Alternative Remedies for Loss
5:30pm, Yorkville Library Children’s Room
When 22-year-old Olivia learned that her mother had only months to live, she pulled up roots, leaving Vassar and her career plans far behind to be with her mother for her last days. And yet, just four months after her mother's death, everyone in Olivia's family already seems ready to move on. A profoundly moving and keenly observed contemplation of the debts we owe to the past and the ways we discover our futures, Alternative Remedies for Loss is the rare sort of book that can break and mend your heart in a single and unforgettable read.
 
3/7: 1-on-1 Tech Help
12:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Work one-on-one with a staff member. Use this time to improve Internet skills, navigate emails or Microsoft Office, or bring in your device for an e-reading tutorial. Space is limited to 6 20-minute slots per session. Phone or in-person
 
 3/7: Refresh and Destress
12:00pm, 12:30pm.  NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Starr 541  
Learn stretches, exercises, and breathing techniques! No change of clothes necessary.

 3/7: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the F.B.I.
6:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join us to discuss Behold the Dreamers on March 7, 2019 at 6:00 pm. Admission is free. Book club participants must reserve copies of each title through the Library's catalog system. You can reserve your copy by placing a hold on-line at www.nypl.org or visiting your local branch.

3:7: Wheeling & Healing
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe - 126 Crosby St 
The OPEN DOORS Reality Poets will be hosting a book launch party for their first book, “Wheeling & Healing: A Poetry Anthology Edited by The OPEN DOORS Reality Poets.” For this collection, the Reality Poets invited residents of the long-term care facility where many of the poets live, neighbors on Roosevelt Island, mentors, and friends to contribute their voices towards a message of realness, resilience and healing. This event will be on Monday, March 11th at 7pm at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in SoHo and will include readings and an opportunity to meet with the poets, hosted by Ashley C. Ford
 
3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28: Techconnect Computer Lab
12:00pm, 96th Street Library
At the 96th Street Library Computer Lab our tech volunteers assist you with almost any computer topic you want to learn. Topics include computer basics, Microsoft Word, online shopping, email, downloading eBooks, resume assistance, Facebook, phone apps and more!  Students are encouraged to bring their own laptop or tablet device. If you can't bring yours, we will lend you one for the duration of the class. Space is limited and sign-up is required.  Late arrivals may be turned away, so please arrive on time to secure your spot. Sign up in-person or call 212-289-0908.
 
3/7: Film - BEAU GESTE (1939)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
Beau Geste (1939) 112 min., b&w, William A. Wellman, Dir. Stars: Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston. Three brothers join the French Foreign Legion to escape a dark past. ADMISSION FREE
 
3/7: 96th Street Library Book Discussion: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
6:00pm, 96th Street Library
Please join us for our March 2019 book discussion. We will be reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Copies are available at the 96th Street Library one month before the book discussion. About the book: Ng's second novel traces the intertwined fates of a picture-perfect suburban family and the mother and daughter who upend their lives. Book Discussion Group Book groups are hosted at libraries throughout the city and facilitated by The New York Public Library staff.

3/8: Lunchtime Lecture- The Irish in New York in the 19th Century
12:30pm- 1:00 pm, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden
The Irish made their mark on America long before the middle of the 19th century. Irish tailors, seamstresses and milliners were dominant in the burgeoning garment trade, Irish teachers had advanced education for women, and Irish bare-knuckle boxers were changing the idea of “sports” into the widespread pastimes we have today. Find out about the early 19th century achievements won and battles fought in the name of Ireland
 
3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29: Tax Prep with AARP
10:00am, 67th Street Library
It’s tax time! Get your refund. From now through April 12th at our branch. We're hosting tax prep with AARP who can help you prepare and file your tax return electronically—all for free. To participate in this program, you must: Have a valid e-mail address and basic computer skills Bring all necessary documents and information (review the relevant PDF below see what information you will need to bring with you to file your taxes).
 
3/8, 3/15, 3/22: Movement Speaks with Dances for a Variable Population
10:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
Join us celebrating moving in strong and creative ways! From January 2019-March 2019, Naomi and company will lead seniors on the Upper East Side in a series of dance fitness classes for older adults of all ages and abilities.
 
3/9: Volunteer Gardening
9:30am - 12:30pm, 86th Street at East End Avenue
Join neighbors and friends and pitch in at this fun, local event! Please note: the Carl Schurz Park volunteer Gardeners are an adult group that meets monthly to work in the park. Student or children who wish to participate must be accompanied by adults or parents who work along with them.
 
3/9: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Petco Bensonhurst 2601 86th Street Brooklyn, NY 11223
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/9: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Popcorn Pawz Riverdale 3700 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY 10463
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/9: Music - Massenet’s WERTHER recital by New York Opera Forum
1:00pm, 96th Street Library
New York Opera Forum performs the complete opera of WERTHER by Jules Massenet. A live musical recital performed in concert with piano accompaniment. The musical program is cosponsored with New York Opera Forum which was founded by Richard Nechamkin in 1983 to give classically trained singers the opportunity to learn and perform standard operatic repertoire in the original languages. ADMISSION FREE
 
3/9: Memories of Yorkville’s “Kleindeutschland”: an Exhibit and Lecture
1:00pm, St. Jean Baptiste High School 173 East 75th Street
In a time when New York City was home to the third-largest population of German speakers in the world, Yorkville — and 86th Street in particular — was known for its German immigrant community of artisans, butchers, brewers, and shopkeepers. Join local historian and lifelong Yorkville resident Kathy Jolowicz of the Yorkville/Kleindeutschland Historical Society, as she presents her pictorial exhibit on the history of this neighborhood once known as the Upper East Side’s “Kleindeutschland” or Little Germany. The exhibit is a nostalgic exploration of Yorkville’s history with a particular focus on her personal memories that evoke the village feel of the area’s German heyday with reminiscences of famous restaurants, ethnic shops, dance halls, schools, churches, and a common language. Photography will not be permitted at this event. $15 Friends members, $25 non-members.
 
3/9: 19th Century Tea Tasting
1:30pm, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden 421 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065
Hear about the history of the world's most popular beverage and how it was prepared in early 19th-century America.  Historic teas and herbal infusions will be served on 19th-century ceramics, accompanied by period appropriate refreshments. $20 Adults, $15 members and Students with ID.
 
3/9: Mount Vernon Hotem Museum & Garden, 19th-Century Tea Tasting
1:30pm, 421 E 61st St.
Hear about the history of the world’s most popular beverage and how it was prepared in early 19th-century America.  Historic teas and herbal infusions will be served on 19th-century ceramics, accompanied by period appropriate refreshments. $20 Adults, $15 members and Students with ID.
 
3/9: Start a Revolution Film Series: Coalfields (1984)
2:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
A film made in the coalfields of West Virginia. While primarily a landscape, the film interweaves the story of Fred Carter, a retired coal miner and black lung activist, who was framed by the Federal government in order to undercut the black lung movement and to stop his bid for president of the United Mine Workers of America.
 
3/10: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Petsmart 1107 Broadway Ste. 101, Manhattan, NY 10010
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/10: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Unleashed by Petco 81 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (Park Slope)
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/10: Second Sundays: Navatman Dance
2:00pm, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House 331 East 70th Street
Navatman Dance is a bharatanatyam dance group known for its dynamic footwork, bright and powerful choreography, alongside deeply emotional storytelling.
Suggested donation is $5; children 12 and under are free. Complimentary admission for members of Lenox Hill Neighborhood House programs.
 
3/11: Start Your Day with Art: Design a Tote!
11:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
Let your creative juices start flowing and come to Webster Library to design a tote to take home. Space is limited to the first 15 people. No registration is required. First come, first served.
 
3/11, 3/25: Yorkville Writing Circle
5:15pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Want to meet local writers? Commit to a writing schedule? Practice your craft through writing prompts? Read original work to get and give feedback? Then come to the biweekly meetings of the Yorkville Writing Circle! Writers of all genres and styles, at all levels, are welcome to participate. No sign-ups required. For adults (ages 18 and up). For more information, please email: YorkvilleWritingCircle@gmail.com
 
3/11: OPEN DOORS Book Launch Party
7:00pm, Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Soho
PEN DOORS supports the creativity and leadership of people who have been harmed by gun violence. Through storytelling, poetry, hip-hop, and more, OPEN DOORS members inspire action for safer, more just communities.The OPEN DOORS Reality Poets will be hosting a book launch party for their first book, “Wheeling & Healing: A Poetry Anthology Edited by The OPEN DOORS Reality Poets.” For this collection, the Reality Poets invited residents of the long-term care facility where many of the poets live, neighbors on Roosevelt Island, mentors, and friends to contribute their voices towards a message of realness, resilience and healing. This event will be on Monday, March 11th at 7pm at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in SoHo and will include readings and an opportunity to meet with the poets, hosted by Ashley C. Ford.

3/12, 3/14, 3/19, 3/21: Preventing Heart Disease Class
10:30am,  NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Greenberg 4 North Patient Lounge  
Interactive talk discussing tips to lower risk for heart disease. Topics include mindful eating, heart healthy diet education and reducing the risk of...

3/12: Book Discussion Group
5:30pm, 67th Street Library
Get the neighborhood read. Join our lively discussion! We've got the books, now we need you to talk!
 
3/13: Author Talk: Caleb Scharf - The Copernicus Complex
5:30pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Join the Yorkville Library in welcoming Astrobiologist Caleb Scharf as he discusses his book The Copernicus Complex. Caleb Scharf is the director of the Columbia Astrobiology Center. He writes for The New Yorker, New Scientist, Science, Scientific American, and Nature, among other publications, and has served as a consultant for the Discovery Channel, the Science Channel, and The New York Times.
 
3/14: Techconnect Computer Basics
12:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Learn about the various types and components of computers, including basic computer terminology, an overview of operating systems, and popular software applications.
In-person, in advance
 
3/14: Film - THE BIGAMIST (1939)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
Beau Geste (1939) 112 min., b&w, William A. Wellman, Dir. Stars: Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston. Three brothers join the French Foreign Legion to escape a dark past. ADMISSION FREE

3/15: Storytime-for kids 2-6 and their caregivers!
10:30pm, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden
Take a break and bring the little ones to the museum to hear stories about families. What does it mean to be a family? Who is in your family? Draw pictures and make puppets of family members!
 
3/16: 44th Precinct NYPD Mobile Adoption Event
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Franz Sigel Park, E 153rd and Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/16: Pet Adoption
12:00 - 4:00pm, Petco Jackson Heights 7507 31st Ave, East Elmhurst, NY 11370
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/17: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Bronx Resource Center 464 East Fordham Road Bronx, NY 10458
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/17: TMPL Gym Mobile Adoption Event
12:00pm - 4:00pm, 125 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/18: Coping with Caregiver Stress
5:30pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Caring for someone with Alzheimer's /dementia can be a stressful and emotional journey that can affect the health of the caregiver. Join us at the Webster Library to understand how to identify the signs of caregiver stress. Experience and learn stress management techniques that will help you reduce stress and avoid caregiver burnout.
 
3/18: Trees Tree Stewardship Seminar
6:00pm, 1326 Madison Ave. at 94th St. Garden Level CHN Conference Room
Sam Bishop, Trees New York’s Arborist will provide an overview on how to properly care for street trees while they are dormant and give you some tree stewardships tips to make sure your street trees have a strong start in the spring. RSVP at TreesNY.org
 
3/19: Foresters Financial Services: Social Security Planning Workshop
5:30pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Want to learn how to maximize your Social Security? Foresters Financial Services will answer your questions. Refreshments will be served. This workshop is informational in nature-no specific product recommendations will be made.
 
3/20: Resume Workshop
6:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Learn how to write your resume in this workshop. You'll be guided through what to include, what not to include, and the library's resume resources.
 
3/20: Archbishop john Hughes and the Making of Irish America: a Book Talk
6:30pm, American Irish Historical Society 991 Fifth Avenue
Yorkville and the Upper East Side are well known throughout their respective histories for a mix of Gold Coast Patricians to the west as well as German, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian immigrants to the far-east. However, dispersed throughout both of these areas between opulent Fifth Avenue and the commercial and industrial East River waterfront was a large population of Irish Immigrants and their families through the 19th and early 20th Centuries. This event will shed a light on the lives of Irish Americans on the Upper East Side and other parts of Manhattan through the lens of the history of Archbishop John Hughes, a nearly mythic figure and Irish community leader. $15 Friends members, $25 non-members.
 
3/21: Mobile Constituent Hours with the Office of Council Member Keith Powers
12:00pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Bring your questions and concerns to your local city council person. The Office of Council Member Keith Powers of Council District 4 will address your questions, concerns and connect you to city services and agencies.
 
3/21, 3/28: Introduction to the Internet
This two-part workshop will teach you: How to define the internet and what it can be used for How to recognize and use hardware and software to access the internet How to break down a web address How to use browsers such as Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox How to use search engines How to sign up for and use email. In-person, at registration
12:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium

3/21: Film - INTERMEZZO (1939) & MUSIC IN MY HEART (1940)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
Intermezzo (1939) [1st of double feature] 70 min., b&w, Gregory Ratoff, Dir. Stars: Ingrid Bergman, Leslie Howard, Edna Best. A famous violinist has an affair with his Swedish accompanist, despite the presence of his wife. Music in my Heart (1940) at 3:10 pm [2nd of double feature] 70 min., b&w, Joseph Santly, Dir. Stars: Tony Martin, Rita Hayworth, Edith Fellows. An immigrant wants only one thing—to be a star on Broadway. ADMISSION FREE
 
3/21: Author Talk: The Second Coming of the KKK by Linda Gordon
5:30pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join professor and author Linda Gordon for a discussion of her book, The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition.
 
3/23: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, PetHealthStore 473 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 100024
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/23: Pet Adoption
12:00pm - 4:00pm, Vinny’s Pet Shop 451 Bay Ridge Ave Brooklyn NY 11220
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/23: Webster @ the Movies: Mission Impossible - Fallout
2:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: Mission: Impossible - Fallout Saturday, March 23th @ 2PM Ethan Hunt and the IMF team join forces with CIA assassin August Walker to prevent a disaster of epic proportions. Arms dealer John Lark and a group of terrorists known as the Apostles plan to use three plutonium cores for a simultaneous nuclear attack on the Vatican, Jerusalem and Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
 
3/24: Pet Adoption
12:00 - 4:00pm, Boris & Horton 195 Avenue A New York, NY 10009
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/24: Pet Adoption
12:00 - 4:00pm, Petco College Point 13311 20th Ave, College Point, NY 11356
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/24: Movie Night: The Hunt for Red October
6:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
The Hunt for Red October (PG) (1990) Based on the Novel by Tom Clancy, Starring Sean Connery, and Alec Baldwin.
 
3/25: Start Your Day with Art: Write Your Story
11:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
Let your creative juices start flowing and come to Webster Library. We'll be writing our own stories in our very own mini books. Space is limited to the first 15 people. No registration is required. First come, first served
 
3/26: FRIENDS’ 36th Annual Meeting & Awards
6:30pm, The Cosmopolitan Club 122 East 66th Street
Mark your calendars! We are pleased to hold our 36th Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony at The Cosmopolitan Club. The Regency Revival-style building was designed by architect Thomas Harlan Ellett in 1932 and is a fitting setting to recognize the fine restoration, renovation, and advocacy work on the Upper East Side over the past year. Free for FRIENDS members.
 
3/26: The Peggy Rockefeller Concerts: Natalie Clein
7:30pm - 9:30pm, The Rockefeller University Caspary Auditorium 1230 York Avenue, NY 10065
Natalie Clein has built a distinguished career, regularly performing at major venues and with orchestras worldwide. A keen recital and chamber performer, she has recently performed Bach’s Complete Cello Suites in London, Southampton, and Oxford. She is a proud artistic director of her own chamber music festival in Purbeck, Dorset.
 
3/27: Author Talk: Audrey Murray - Open Mic Night Moscow
5:30pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Join the Yorkville Library in welcoming Comedian and Author Audrey Murray as she discusses her experiences in Russia and Central Asia. This is a raucous and surprisingly poignant story of a young, Russia-obsessed American writer and comedian who embarked on a solo tour of the former Soviet Republics, never imagining that it would involve kidnappers, garbage bags of money, and encounters with the weird and wonderful from Mongolia to Tajikistan.
 
3/27: Unbought and Unbossed: The Lives of Nellie Bly and Shirley Chisholm
6:30pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Celebrate Women's History Month with a film screening and discussion of two short films highlighting women who worked for change in New York City communities: Nellie Bly and Shirley Chisholm.
 
3/28: Film - LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN (1948)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) 87 min., b&w, Max Ophüls, Dir. Stars: Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan, Mady Christians. A beautiful film set in old Vienna about a woman pursuing a debonair pianist who may never be truly interested. ADMISSION FREE
 
3/28: Reel Classics: An American in Paris
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Webster Library Presents: An American in Paris Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman. Directed by: Vincente Minnelli 113 minutes; 1951 Film will be shown on 16mm film reel, borrowed by the Library for Performing Arts’ Reserve Film and Video Collection.
 
3/30: Pet Adoption
12:00 - 4:00pm, Garber Hardware 207A 9th Avenue (between 22nd and 23rd) New York, NY 10011
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/30: Pet Adoption
12:00 - 4:00 pm, RX Plus Pharmacy 71-30 Myrtle Ave Glendale, NY 11385
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/30: Career Transition: Job Search 101
2:00pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Speaker, trainer, and certified professional coach, Barbara Phillips, will help you get greater clarity on key elements of the job search process and explain key tools for finding a “best fit” job.
 
3/30: Celebrating Women’s Voice in Music
3:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join Webster Library and singer-songwriter Sheri Miller for a celebration of women's voices in music. We'll honor female singers and songwriters, featuring songs written, or made recognizable by artists like Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys and others.
 
3/31: NYPD Mobile Adoption Event
12:00pm - 4:00pm, W 73rd between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 
3/31: To The Rescue Pet Shoppe (Joint event with Anarchy Animal Rescue)
12:00pm - 4:00pm, 587 Midland Ave Staten Island, Ny 10306
ACC Care Centers are open for adoptions daily, but you can also meet your new best buddy at a Mobile Adoption Center or off-site adoption event. Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.
 

Events for Kids
 
3/1, 3/8 , 3/15, 3/29: Learn to Play Chess at Webster
3:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Are you a chess champion? You want to show off your best moves against other chess fans? Whether you’re a chess master or just starting out, come join us for some board time Fridays at 3 p.m. Learn how to play, practice your skills, or to play a game. All materials will be provided, and an experiences instructor Timothy Mobley will lead the group.
 
3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/30: Read to our New York Therapy Dog!
10:30am, Webster Library
Come read to our therapy dog Tugboat! These licensed therapy dogs and their owners can't wait for you to come read them a story. Enjoy one-on-one, no-pressure reading time with a furry friend! Pre-registration is required for each 15-minute slot and opens 1 week in advance. For ages 5 and up. Available every Saturday!
 
3/2: Design a Flower Centerpiece
2:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Want to design your own flower centerpiece? Join us at the Webster Library! Webster has teamed up with Uprooted Flower Truck to bring you this fun, creative workshop. You’ll learn about different flowers, tips and tricks for design, and take home your own hint of spring! Space is limited! First come, first serve to 12 participants.
 
3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25: Preschool Storytime: Petite Picasso
4:00pm, 96th Street Library
Read aloud and messy art projects for young children. Wear your art clothes. Smocks will be provided. Limited to 24 participants.
 
3/4: Author Talk: Jimmy Cajoleas
5:30pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join author Jimmy Cajoleas for a discussion of his two latest books, geared toward middle grade readers and the YA crowd respectively: Goldeline and The Good Demon. First come, first served
 
3/5, 3/26: Free Play
4:00pm, Webster Library
Join us on Tuesday afternoons for a fun chance to socialize with other kids from the community! Toys are provided. Please note: This program is for both caregiver and child. It is not a structured program. *Take care to supervise children at all times
 
3/5: Musica Viva NY Concert for Families
5:30pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join Webster Library and Musica Viva NY for an evening of singing and fun. The program is a vocal recital featuring a vibrant variety of classical and folk music. Performers are classically trained, professional vocalists representing the four sections of the traditional choir: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. The recital will conclude with singers teaching children and families a simple folk song for an audience singalong. First come, first serve.
 
3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27: Preschool Storytime
10:30am, 11:15am 96th Street Library
Store, fingerplays, and movement for preschoolers.
 
3/6, 3/13, 3/27: Game On!
4:00pm, Webster Library
Come in and test your gaming skills against your peers while playing games such as Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart for Wii. Feel like trying something new try playing on our PS4 with games such as Street Fighter 5 and TMNT, just to name a few. Also laptops will be available for anybody that's just wants to sit down and relax.
 
3/7, 3/14, 3/28: Family Storytime
11:00am, 11:30am, 11:45am, Webster Library
Toddlers from birth to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood. There is a limit of 15 children and their caregivers. Tickets are given out the morning of the program on a first come, first serve basis. Times of the programs are approximate.
 
3/7: Camouflage: Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
3:30pm, Webster Library
Wait...is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes, it's a plane! Learn how animals have influenced military camouflage by creating your own camouflaged ship and plane. For ages 13-18 years old. Presented by Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
 
3/11, 3/25: Art Buffet
4:00pm, Webster Library
Let your imagination run wild! Join us for an hour of uninterrupted, creative fun. Pick and choose from our craft supplies to make a masterpiece to take home.

3/11: GrowNYC Seasonal Job Fair
5:30pm - 7:30pm, Project Farmhouse, 76 East 13th Street (at 4th Avenue), Manhattan
At the GrowNYC Seasonal Job Fair, you will meet staff from each of our programs, hear more about seasonal jobs available at GrowNYC, and get a chance to ask questions about working with GrowNYC. You bring your resume and we’ll provide the snacks and raffle prizes! Free event, please register here: grownycjobfair.eventbrite.com

3/12: Diabetes Seminar 
6:00 -7:00,  Cornell Tech, The Bloomberg Center 2 West Lopp Road, RSVP by calling 646 891 0038 or emailing RIseniora@gmail.com
1 out of 10 people have diabetes, 1 out of 4 don't know they have it. Join this seminar and learn everythithereeir is to know about this disease.
 
3/12: The Rock Show
4:00pm, Webster Library
This program is filled with non-stop action and hip-shaking music, the children and families will be thrilled! Best for ages 0-8 years old with parent/caregiver. Presented by Rockness Music.
 
3/13: Storytime Fun!
11:00am, 11:30am Webster Library
Join Lex, children from birth to 3 years, and their parents/caregivers for interactive stories, action songs, fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood. There is a limit of 15 children and their caregivers. Tickets are given out the morning of the program on a first come, first serve basis. Times of the programs are approximate. First come, first served.
 
3/14: Webster @ the Movies: Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost Thursday, March 14th @ 4p.m. Mystery Inc. have retired from solving crimes after they botch a case. But when Vincent van Ghoul contacts them about an unfinished investigation the gang springs back into action to catch the 13th Ghost, which escaped from the Chest of Demons. Warner Bros. Directed by Cecilia Aranovich Rated PG 72 minutes; 2019 Copyright Swank Motion Pictures, Inc.
 
3/19: Glorious Gothic Calligraphy
4:00pm, 96th Street Library
Dress up your writing with this beautiful script! A great favorite during the Middle Ages, Gothic-style letters are very appealing to most artists with their bold forms made from simple strokes. For ages 13-18 years old. Presented by Elinor Holland.
 
3/20: Jungle Explorers
4:00pm, 96th Street Library
Monkeys, butterflies, and Venus fly traps come to life in this highly interactive song and dance-filled performance for toddlers! Come sing and clap along with Bianca the butterfly as she travels across the jungle searching for courage. Best for ages 3 to 6 years old. Presented by Urban Stages.
 
3/21: Songs That Count
4:00pm, Yorkville Library
Do you like to count? Do you like to read books? Do you like to make hip-hop beats? Join Turtle Dance Music for hands-on music, movement and counting activities. By the end of each class, the students create an original song, from any genre of music they want, about their favorite things they counted that day and get a chance to try out all the awesome instruments used by the Turtle Dance Musicians!
 
3/26: Inspired World Poetry Workshop
4:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
An exciting poetry workshop/series of workshops where student work is generated/inspired by the world around them using “Found Material” techniques. Students will earn how to draw inspiration for their writing and spark creativity using prompts from current events, literature, cultural cues, interesting places, and a host of other stimulating clues that offer a fresh look at their communities.
Copyright © 2019 City Council Member Ben Kallos, All rights reserved.


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