Dear Friend,
After years of fighting overdevelopment in our neighborhood, we won a citywide victory closing the mechanical voids loophole. As we fight for more protections please join us at our forum to learn how you can fight overdevelopment.
I joined Eleanor Roosevelt High School students who gathered more than 5,000 petition signatures to announce a new $6.5 million gymnasium. Like this high school, many schools in the neighborhood don't have a gym, which is why I have now secured gym space for three schools as we fight for Physical Education for All.
I also had the honor of cutting the ribbon and formally opening the $500 million Stavros Niarchos Foundation-Rockefeller River Campus dedicated to bio-medical and bioscience research that will advance research, generate jobs, and keep New York City competitive.
I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day, as you may have heard my wife, daughter and I got left behind with 50 other Upper East Siders by an overcrowded ferry and I used the opportunity to call for better service.
Please join us for free tennis, theater, jazz, movies, and family days in our parks, cooking at our green markets, and order a fresh food box from our office.
Sincerely,
Ben Kallos
Council Member
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SPECIAL EVENTS
EVENTS IN OUR PARKS
MONTHLY EVENTS
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HEADLINES
- New Gym for Eleanor Roosevelt High School
- Rewriting Our Founding Document for a Better City
- Opening Rockefeller University’s New Campus
FIGHTING OVERDEVELOPMENT AND FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- Council Closes Voids Loophole and City to Study “Gerrymandered” Lots
- New Affordable Housing on East 92nd & 2nd
- Fighting in Albany for Fair Rent Reforms
- Symposium on “Saving Small Business” with Historic Districts Council
SPECIAL EVENTS INVITES
- Overdevelopment Forum
- Roosevelt Island Town Hall
SUMMER IN OUR PARKS EVENTS
- Mary Poppins at Carl Schurz Park
- Family Day at John Jay Park
- Jazz Concert at Ruppert Park: The Blue Dahlia
- Star Wars the Last Jedi at St Catherine's Park
- Jazz at Andrew Haswell Green: Brandon Tyler
- New York Classical Theater: The Importance of Being Earnest
EDUCATION
- Update: State Paves the Way for School Bus Stop Arm Cameras Bill
- STEM Center at Boys & Girls Club of Harlem
- Fighting for Children in Foster Care
- Yeshiva University Social Work School Graduation
- Honored by Child School
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND CLEANING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD
- Power Washing East 86th Street with Wildcat
- Healthy Kids Meals Enacted Into Law
- Plastic Pollution Forum
- Waterfront Alliance on Climate Change
- Ban Toxic Pesticides in Parks
- Opening the Oval
TRANSPORTATION
- Ferry Service Lines
- Bike Month: Riding the Five Boro Bike Tour and Bike to Work Day
- Working to Expand the Second Avenue Subway
COMMUNITY
- Fresh Food Box Is Back on June 6th
- Cooking with Kallos
- Vaccine Round Table with Congress Members Maloney and Shalala
- Rally for Funding for Community-Based Organizations
- Make Music Celebration at James Cagney Place
- NY Classical Theatre Honoring Gale Brewer
- Planning for Fair Census Count in 2020
- Basketball With Ben
- “Figment” Festival Comes to Roosevelt Island
RESOURCES
- 2020 Census Job Listings
- CityParks Free Senior Fitness
- Bike NY
- MSK Free Skin Cancer Screening
- Moving for Life
- Silver Circles
- VA Woman Veteran Town Hall
- Fall Prevention Training
- Community Board 8 Sexual Harassment Forum
- Community Board 6 Senior Resource Fair
- Social Security Imposter Scams
- Families For Safe Streets Wellness Retreat Night
OFFICE UPDATES
- Free Legal Clinics
- Here to Help
- Mobile District Hours
- Ben in Your Building
- Community Boards
- NYPD Events
- Neighborhood and Tenant Associations
- Events for Adults
- Events for Kids
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New Gym for Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ElRo) is getting a $6.5 million double-height gym for its students, which we announced this month with School Construction Authority (SCA) President Lorraine Grillo. The announcement, covered by Patch and Our Town, which was also attended by State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, follows advocacy by ElRo students who worked with my office to start a petition on our website that got over 5,000 signatures. The new gym will occupy the 6th floor of a new Pre-K center located at 355 East 76th Street.
I commend Mayor de Blasio for his commitment to universal physical education. We are committed to working with him and the SCA to find gym space for all of our public school students on the Upper East Side, where ElRo is now the third public school to get a gym. As reported by Our Town, I have also successfully worked to arrange a deal with the Spence School so that when it opens its 54,000-square-foot athletics complex on East 90th Street, it will allow physical education classes for P.S. 151, the Yorkville Community School, and P.S. 527, the East Side School for Social Action. For more information on the new gym, read the release
or coverage in Patch and Our Town.
Rewriting Our Founding Document for a Better City
The best part of democracy is that there is always room for improvement.
When I testified in 2018 before the previous Charter Revision Commission they had just approved ballot language that included proposals I had put forth on campaign finance reform, as well as urban planners and term limits for community boards. Campaign finance reform received the most support, an overwhelming 80%, with 1.1 million votes in favor, almost as many as voted for Mayor on the Democrat and Republican lines combined. I commend this Charter Revision Commission for respecting the will of the voters by not revisiting the issue areas covered by the previous ballot questions and for focusing on amendments to the Charter that can only be accomplished through a vote of the people.
At last September’s hearing, I proposed 72 recommendations for amendments to the Charter for this Commission’s consideration. The City Council included 16 of those recommendations in our Report to the 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission this past January. Now this Commission has identified 9 of my recommendations - in whole or in part - for further discussion in its Preliminary Staff Report. Here are just a few of the recommendations I made.
- Lifetime Lobbying Ban
- Eliminating Conflicts of Interest for the City Attorney
- Legislative Approval of City Agency Heads: Police, Buildings, Sanitation, Parks, Homeless Services, Children's Services, and Housing Preservation and Development
- Public Hearings at the Outset of Any Land Use Applications
- Empowering the Borough President
- Budget Transparency Down to the Penny
- Independent Budgets for the Borough President, Public Advocate, City Council Members and Civilian Complaint Review Board
Read my full testimony at BenKallos.com/press-releases
Opening Rockefeller University’s New Campus
I joined Rockefeller University in opening the Stavros Niarchos Foundation-Rockefeller River Campus this month and cut the ribbon with Congress Member Carolyn Maloney, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, and Rockefeller University Executive Vice President Timothy O'Connor. The $500 million research facility contains 160,000 square feet of both bio-medical and bioscience laboratories, which fits sleekly along the river-edge of their campus, rather than towering over the community. This will help New York City compete with cities like Boston and states like California for jobs in this field. Rockefeller University boasts 25 Nobel Laureates in the fields of medicine and science which I must finally admit is more than my alma mater the Bronx High School of Science which has 8 (the most for any high school in America). It has been exciting to see this project advance from coming before me at the City Council for a vote, to the groundbreaking in 2015, to joining university officials in 2017 as they lowered large sections of the building on to the FDR from a barge in the East River overnight.
I am proud of this public-private partnership created between my office and the University showing that the city's land use process can work to the benefit of institutions and the community that also included a $15 million investment in the East River Esplanade from 63rd Street to 68th Street. We cut the ribbon last month and Rockefeller University has agreed as part of our partnership to maintain it in perpetuity.
I consider this world-class institution a true asset to the Upper East Side, the city, state, country and world at large. Keep an eye on this newsletter for upcoming public events at Rockefeller University. For more information on the new building, read the release or read the commitment letter from the University at BenKallos.com/Press-Releases
FIGHTING AGAINST OVERDEVELOPMENT AND FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Council Closes Voids Loophole and City to Study “Gerrymandered” Lots
We won another victory against supertalls by strengthening and passing a zoning text amendment addressing empty spaces in buildings that are used to prop up apartments to give billionaires better views. In May, the City Planning Commission also committed to exploring minimum lot size for non-residential projects. As reported by Curbed, this commitment comes in response to my advocacy with Borough President Brewer, Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, and Carnegie Hill Neighbors. As I said to Curbed:
“The BSA’s explicit approval of this tactic has given developers looking to evade zoning regulations a new tool. If it is broadly realized that simply slicing off a portion of a zoning lot can insulate a development from certain zoning regulations, the sky will literally be the limit to the at-will sculpting of zoning lots that serve no legitimate purpose.”
We have called on City Planning to ban “gerrymandered” lots that enable developers from slicing off tiny slivers of land to abuse loopholes that otherwise would trigger zoning and height caps. One example is 180 East 88th Street, where the developer created an unbuildable zoning lot to exempt the building from the residential height restrictions it would otherwise have to follow. Last month, I sent a letter to City Planning asking them to move forward with this issue following the passage of the Mechanical Voids amendment, and am pleased that they have committed to doing so. Read the latest coverage on this in Curbed.
For more information on mechanical voids and gerrymandered zones visit BenKallos.com/voids. Join the fight against voids by signing the petition at BenKallos.com/petition/stop-super-scrapers
New Affordable Housing on East 92nd & 2nd
As Patch reported, Extell Development CEO Gary Barnett and I cut the ribbon on 28 units of affordable housing on the corner of 92nd Street and 2nd Avenue. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was preceded by songs from a class of three-year-olds from Alef-Bet Preschool that will relocate to the building’s ground floor. The 28 units of affordable housing were open for applications in April using New York City’s Housing Connect lottery system. In total, 68,000 New Yorkers applied for the two to three bedroom units that are perfect for new families that will have childcare right in their building. Thank you, Gary Barnett, for building a model of affordable housing investing $14 million to build affordable housing on the Upper East Side using as of right benefits without any discretionary city subsidies. Read the release, watch the video, or learn more from Patch.
Fighting in Albany for Fair Rent Reforms
 New York State rent regulations are set to expire on June 15. This means now is the time to reform the rules governing rent control and rent stabilization in New York City and around the state. With a Democratic State Senate, we can win major rent protections to keep tenants in their homes and units affordable. To fight for your rights in Albany, I sponsored a bus and led the Progressive Caucus on a trip up to the Capitol and rallied alongside over 2,000 other New Yorkers to remind the state legislature that now is the time to rewrite the rules to protect tenants. The nine key bills we are trying to pass are:
- Expand the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (S5040/A7046)
- Universal Rent Control (Prohibit evictions "without good cause") (S2892/A5030)
- End vacancy decontrol (S2591/A1198)
- Eliminate the vacancy bonus (S185/A2351)
- Make preferential rents permanent until vacancy (S2845A/A4349)
- End rent hikes for "major capital improvements" (S3693/A6322)
- End rent hikes for individual apartment improvements (S3770/A6465)
- Extend time for overcharge complaints (S4169/A5251)
- Rent control and rent stabilization parity (S299A/A167)
At the same time as we fight for new rent laws in Albany, we are calling on the Rent Guidelines Board to do the right thing and freeze rents for the upcoming year. Thank you to all the residents who attended my annual Tenants' Rights Forum to discuss both campaigns as well as our rights as renters. I also joined a panel of housing experts at Columbia University to discuss the current state of New York City’s affordable housing stock. Join the fight for a rent freeze in 2019 by signing the petition at BenKallos.com/petition/RentFreeze
Symposium on “Saving Small Businesses” with Historic Districts Council
6sqft covered a symposium I helped fund and participated in by the Historic District Council "The Shop Around the Corner: Celebrating New York’s Immigrant Businesses."
SPECIAL EVENTS INVITES
Overdevelopment Forum
Join my office and a coalition of expert neighborhood groups such as Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District, CIVITAS, East River 50s Alliance, The Municipal Arts Society, and Historic Districts Council as we discuss community initiatives, closing loopholes & our fight against overdevelopment. The event is co-sponsored by Congress Member Carolyn Maloney, Borough President Gale Brewer, Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Members Richard Gottfried, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright, and Council Member Keith Powers.
Overdevelopment Forum
June 27, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
The CUNY Graduate Center, 365 5th Avenue
RSVP
Roosevelt Island Town Hall
Join Congress Member Carolyn Maloney, the Roosevelt Operating Corporation and I at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd to hear updates on local issues from your elected officials and have an opportunity to discuss neighborhood topics or concerns.
Roosevelt Island Town Hall
June 13, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 543 Main Street
RSVP
SUMMER IN OUR PARKS EVENTS
Mary Poppins at Carl Schurz Park
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) will screen on Saturday, June 1 in Carl Schurz Park as part of Free Movies Under the Stars. Come early for free ice cream, popcorn, and face painting.
Mary Poppins Returns
Saturday June 1, 2019 - 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Carl Schurz Park, East 84th Street &, East End Ave
RSVP
Family Day at John Jay Park
Join NYC Parks and Council Member Ben Kallos in a fun afternoon of crafts, games, inflatables, transformation face painting with Agostino Arts, an obstacle course, carnival booths, sports, a photo booth, and more!
Family Day at John Jay
Saturday June 8, 2019 - 12:00- 3:00pm
John Jay Park, Cherokee Place & East 77th Street
RSVP
Jazz Concert at Ruppert Park: The Blue Dahlia
Join Council Member Ben Kallos, NYC Parks, Friends of James Cagney Place, and Muslim Volunteers for New York and for a free afternoon of jazz in the park. Characterized by the sensual voice of jazz and French chanson, The Blue Dahlia offers an organic sound with electric energy.
Jazz Concert at Ruppert Park
Saturday June 8 1:00- 2:30pm
Ruppert Park, 1741 Second Avenue
RSVP
Star wars the Last Jedi at St Catherine's Park
Star Wars the Last Jedi
Tuesday, June 18 at 8 pm (showing begins at dusk)
St. Catherine's Park
First Ave between E 67th & E 68th St Street
RSVP Required for Free Light Up Foam Saber
Limited to First 100 RSVPs
Jazz at Andrew Haswell Green: Brandon Tyler
Brandon Tyler is a multifaceted musician, vocalist, and lyricist. He focuses his music in R&B, but finds inspiration in the work of other soulful musicians, his everyday life, and nature. Some of his influences are Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, The Foreign Exchange, and KING. For accessibility information, contact (212) 360-1430 or accessibility@parks.nyc.gov before June 18, 2019.
Jazz at Andrew Haswell Green: Brandon Tyler
Friday, June 21, 2019
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Andrew Haswell Green, 60th Street & FDR Drive
(Enter at 60th St. & York Ave, walk up to the top of the ramp)
RSVP
New York Classical Theater: The Importance of Being Earnest
Join us as we ask, "Who really wears the pants in 19th century England?" At every other performance, the entire cast switches genders & roles. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are traditional casting. Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays are reversed. Carl Schurz Park (East 86th Street) from June 25 to 30.
To receive ADVANCE program info, including RAIN CANCELATION NOTICE,
make a FREE RESERVATION at nyclassical.org/earnest
This production is being staged in our signature Panoramic Theatre style, and the audience will move twice during the performance—once for each scene change. Approximate runtime: 2 hours.
New York Classical Theater: The Importance of Being Earnest
Tuesday, June 25-30, 2019 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Carl Schurz Park, East 86th Street & East End Ave
RSVP
EDUCATION
Update: State Paves the Way for School Bus Stop Arm Cameras Bill
 As New York 1 reported, State Senator Tim Kennedy passed State legislation that will allow me to introduce and pass a law in New York City to mount cameras on school buses to automatically enforce stop arms. A study by the New York State Association of School Pupil Transportation estimated that 30,252 drivers statewide illegally passed a school bus on any given day. Of those, 280 drivers passed on the passenger side of the bus where students board and exit putting hundreds of children at risk. For example, so far in 2019, the NYPD reported writing over 700 citations for this same offense. In my recent op-ed in AmNY, I explained that the camera and GPS technology must be implemented as soon as possible to prevent a tragedy from happening. With these stop-arm cameras, authorities can not only automatically fine drivers but also access video files necessary for investigations. For more information on the stop arm bill read the release or my op-ed in AmNY or watch New York 1.
STEM Center at Boys & Girls Club of Harlem
 It was a pleasure to join Assembly Member Al Taylor and State Senator Brian Benjamin in Harlem for the grand opening of a new Boys and Girls Club STEM center. The new facility is designed to spark youths’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). It will be outfitted with modern technology such as 3D printers, high-definition video conferencing and other tools to brainstorm ideas and collaborate on community improvement projects. After School activities play a huge role in developing the minds of our children as well as keeping them off them busy and off the streets. For more information on the new facility visit BGCHarlem.org
Fighting for Children in Foster Care
 It was a pleasure meeting with students involved in the Citizens Committee for Children of New York during their advocacy day for foster care. An area often overlooked in the foster care system is finding housing for kids/young adults that age out of the system and do not find a family to adopt them. My meeting with the organization was a result of the experience shared by Ava one of my office’s interns whose life and family has been impacted by New York City’s foster care system. If you interested in adopting or learning more about the foster care system in New York City visit www.cccnewyork.org/get-involved
Yeshiva University Social Work School Graduation
 Thank you to Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work for inviting me to speak at their 2019 graduation. I believe that those in social work have a desire to make people whole, to fix what is broken and to assist the vulnerable and that deserves admiration. As a result of countless hours of hard work put in by caring social workers, people in need get the help they are looking for, and more often than not, after they speak to a social worker they feel better. As your City Council Member for the last 5 and a half years, I can attest that the help Yeshiva University MSW candidates bring to our office is invaluable and that the work they do for my constituents every day is a big deal. Congratulations to all the 2019 graduates, especially Evan who has interned at my office since late 2018. I wish you all the best of luck in your future and hope the Wurzweiler School of Social Work keeps sending great Social Workers out to repair the world.
Honored by Child School
 Thank you to The Child School / Legacy High School for the amazing work they do educating students with learning challenges and honoring me at their Annual Benefit Dinner. At the award ceremony and fundraising gala, I also had the opportunity to award two proclamations to alumni for their success. Please consider supporting this school which boasts a 94% graduation rate by joining their Annual Fund.
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND CLEANING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Power Washing East 86th Street with Wildcat
 If you have walked on East 86th Street, you may have noticed that the sidewalks are cleaner and perhaps even brighter. As part of my ongoing pilot program with Wildcat Cleaning services, over the last couple of weeks, the sidewalks have been power washed. I even rolled up my sleeves and took the opportunity to lead one of the power washing crews in getting the job done. As part of our cleanup initiative, we have been able to win twice a day garbage pick up from the Department of Sanitation in areas that need it. We have bought hundreds of new domed trash cans to keep the streets litter free. We also continued to work with Wildcat as they sweep up streets, tree pits, and bike island. They have been able to successfully remove old plastic bags that were stuck in tree branches. Thank you to Wildcat for all the great work.
Part of my plan to keep the neighborhood clean involves starting a Business Improvement District (BID) along the East 86th Street business corridor. This would mean that parts of the district near 86th Street would get more needed attention and help with cleaning. My work to get the BID started continues as area businesses join the list of participants. For more information, on my cleanup initiative visit BenKallos.com/cleanup
With our success on East 86th Street, we will be moving on to East 79th Street in June to power wash overnight from 9PM to 5AM.
Healthy Kids Meals Bill Becomes Law
 I am proud that the Healthy Happy Meals Law I authored, introduced and passed went into effect on May 2. This new law requires all restaurants in New York City that have a kids menu to default to water, low-fat milk, and 100% fruit juice instead of sugary drinks for children. Over 24,000 restaurants that have kid meals on their menus will now replace sugary drinks with water and will be held accountable in the event that they violate this law. Defaulting to healthy beverage options helps teach our children healthy eating behaviors and improves the quality of their diets. For more information, read the release on BenKallos.com/press-releases
Plastic Pollution Forum
 As reported by the Gothamist, Hudson River Park banned single-use plastic bottles in their park.
New Yorkers use 1 billion single-use plastic water bottles annually, and although some of these bottles get recycled, many still end up in landfills or in our bodies of water polluting local fisheries. That is why I introduced legislation banning the sale of single-use plastic water bottles in City parks to try and help the environment by decreasing our dependence on plastic. I discussed my legislation with experts at a forum at Pace University titled “Beyond Plastics” last month. The panel was full of experts who all agreed on one thing: we have an over-dependence on plastic that is hurting our environment.
Please help reduce the number of trucks coming to our neighborhood by signing up for textile and electronics recycling or composting for your building. You can sign the petition at Benkallos.com/petition/BanTheBottle
Waterfront Alliance on Climate Change
 On a beautiful day along the Hudson River, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Waterfront Alliance’s Rising Risk Climate Change Conference in May. The conference featured discussions on climate change and the waterfront resilience of New York City. The Waterfront Alliance is doing incredible work protecting our coastlines. The Alliance was also crucial in helping me re-establish the Waterfront Management Advisory Board (WMAB) to improve the City’s planning for coastal risk and resiliency in order to be prepared for a future sea level rise. The conference was an opportune time to highlight our ongoing progress on restoring and preserving the East River Esplanade. By spending millions of dollars fixing and rebuilding seawalls we are making sure that when another big storm like Sandy rolls through Manhattan it will not destroy the waterfront.
Ban Toxic Pesticides in Parks
 New York City’s parks are an oasis for residents to escape the City grind, a place where residents go to rest and children go to play. I continue to push for the passage of Int 1524 which I authored and re-introduced in April to prohibit the use of toxic pesticides like Roundup in City parks and open spaces. The bill would also prohibit spraying toxic pesticides within 75 feet of a body of water. Patch and Environmental Health News have recently reported on how the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, as a probable carcinogen. This classification has led to the glyphosate being partially or fully banned in many countries throughout the world. According to reporting by Common Dream media, at least 13,400 lawsuits have been filed against Roundup and at least three have resulted in Bayer the parent company being told by a jury they have to pay a total of $3 billion in damages. For more information on the toxic pesticide ban and to sign our petition visit BenKallos.com/petition/bantoxicpesticides
Opening the Oval
 PLAY FREE TENNIS AT THE OVAL
All Summer Long in Air Conditioning with a Parks Department Tennis Permit
$10 for youth, $20 for seniors, or $100
Get Your Permit Now: nycgovparks.org/things-to-do/tennis
The Queensboro Oval will be opening to the public with an expanded summer session, more affordable drop-in hours, and new programming, making the facility more accessible for all New Yorkers on Father’s Day 2019.
The change comes after years of our advocacy alongside my fellow elected officials and Community Board 8. The Parks Department listened to our concerns that the prices at the tennis club were expensive and that public access should be the top priority when awarding the next contract. Some of the victories we won for the community include:
- An expansion of the summer public access season from 10 weeks under the old contract to 22 weeks of FREE tennis for anyone with a tennis permit from the Parks Department for $10 for youth, $20 for seniors, or $100.
- $10 walk-in rate hours for six hours a day during the Winter Season
- Free and $10 per person programs for Youth and Seniors during the Winter Season
Our advocacy to fix this issue involved supporting a rally at the space in 2016 organized by CB 8 members Susan Avery and Peggy Price. Last year I also wrote a letter to the Parks Department where I raised several concerns and made my demands and this past month I testified before the Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC) and Parks Department. Now that Parks has awarded the new contract and listened to many of my request on behalf of residents I am looking forward to seeing the community be able to enjoy this land.
PLAY FREE TENNIS AT THE OVAL
All Summer Long in Air Conditioning with a Parks Department Tennis Permit
$10 for youth, $20 for seniors, or $100
Get Your Permit Now: nycgovparks.org/things-to-do/tennis
TRANSPORTATION
Ferry Service Lines
 I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day, as you may have heard from New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal and CBS 2, my wife, 15-month old daughter and I got left behind with 50 other Upper East Siders by an overcrowded ferry and I used the opportunity to call for better service on Twitter. NYC Ferry has 21 landings in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan serving 4.1 million riders in 2018 and must be a reliable form of public transportation, even more so than the MTA. I appreciate that NYC Ferry did respond to my tweets with four more boats added to the fleet on Memorial Day weekend, 20 additional agents placed at the busiest landings and a citywide “alert” was issued to anyone with the NYC Ferry App. See coverage New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal and CBS 2.
Bike Month: Riding the Five Boro Bike Tour and Bike to Work Day
 May was Bike Month in New York City, and thanks to Bike New York, I started off the month with the Five-Boro Bike Tour alongside members of my staff and 32,000 other riders. The Five-Boro Bike Tour is a New York City tradition since 1977 that has grown every year. The second event I was able to take part in was Bike to Work Day. This is my sixth consecutive year riding from my district office to City Hall, and it was the largest Bike to Work Day yet. It is a pleasure to celebrate the victories the City Council has won on behalf of cyclists: like adding brand new infrastructure, improving existing infrastructure, educating drivers on how to share the road and funding organizations like Bike New York. Our biggest victory so far this year is beginning of the process to close the Second Avenue bike gap. This is important because it will create a safe way for residents on Upper East Side to be able to bike downtown I hope to continue to create more bike infrastructure this. For more information on Bike Month visit Bike.NYC
Working to Expand the Second Avenue Subway
 The Second Avenue Subway has offered residents better commuting options from the Upper East Side to Coney Island, Brooklyn, and other points in between. This multi-billion dollar project improved transportation for hundreds of thousands of people, but it is far from finished. The Second Avenue Subway still needs to expand to 125th Street to complete phase 2 of its planned route. With an estimated cost of $6 billion dollars Representatives of the neighborhoods, it will go through are looking to get the ball rolling on all possible sources of funding.
It was a pleasure to join Congress Member Adriano Espaillat as he advocated to receive the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in order to adequately fund the expansion of the Second Avenue Subway. Once completed the expansion will connect East Harlem to Midtown and neighborhoods in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The plan includes stops at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets & Second Avenue. A projected completion date for this project is 2029.
COMMUNITY
Fresh Food Box Is Back on June 6th
Grow NYC’s Fresh Food Box is back at my district office beginning Thursday, June 6. This summer every Thursday between 3:30pm and 6:30pm, you will be able to place your order and pay just $14 (cash, credit/debit, SNAP/food stamps, greenmarket bucks) and pick up a bag of farm fresh produce the following week.
Fresh Food Box
Thursdays, June - November, 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Office of Council Member Ben Kallos
244 East 93rd Street
$14 paid a week in advance (cash, credit/debit, SNAP, greenmarket bucks)
GrowNYC's Fresh Food Box Program lets customers benefit from fresh farm to table produce from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share, with the flexibility of week-to-week purchasing. Sign-ups will begin June 6th and the first pickup will be June 13th and will continue through November. Learn more visit http://www.grownyc.org/greenmarketco/foodbox
Cooking With Kallos at the 82nd Street Greenmarket
 Cooking with Kallos is back this summer, for the sixth year of fresh affordable and tasty recipes alongside Grow NYC. We will be cooking up recipes made up of the day’s best picks for anybody who comes by our stand at the market. Come by the Greenmarket, sponsored by my office, and help me cook up some of Grow NYC’s best produce from local farms. Cooking with Kallos will be held at 82nd Street between York Avenue and First Avenue on Saturday, June 8th from 10am to 12pm.
Cooking With Kallos
Saturday June 8, 10am -12pm
East 82nd Street Greenmarket
RSVP
Vaccine Round Table with Congress Members Maloney and Shalala
Congress Member Carolyn Maloney convened and live-streamed on Twitter a Vaccine Round Table with Congress Member Donna Shalala who was Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001. I was humbled to participate and report on what was happening in New York City.
Rally for Funding for Community-Based Organizations
Fighting for more funding for community-based organizations which serve resident's needs.
Make Music Celebration at James Cagney Place
Make Music New York Inc. is New York City’s only music festival for the people and by the people! Make Music New York is a not-for-profit organization whose mission celebrates the musician in all of us, connects New Yorkers to their communities and with each other, brings bold new artistic creations to life, unites diverse communities in a spirit of celebration and energizes the shared social spaces that make NYC a cultural capital.
On Friday, June 21 on East 91st Street between 2nd and 3rd avenue, enjoy fan favorite the Wandering Jewbury's opening at 5pm. Music will go on till 8:30 with Yingling Porter, and Blue Flicker and more! RSVP at facebook.com.
NY Classical Theatre 20th Anniversary Honoring Gale Brewer
Recognizing New York Classical Theater with a proclamation on their 20th Anniversary alongside honoree Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer
Planning for Fair Census Count in 2020
 I met with Congress Member Maloney and members of the National Action Network to discuss the importance of making sure every New Yorker is counted in the coming census. Other speakers and participants included State Senator Brian Benjamin, Assembly Member Al Taylor, and Assembly Member Michael Blake. We are about one year away from the 2020 Census, where we stand to lose between one and two congressional seats statewide.
Inaccurate Census data could result in less representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and Electoral college and less critical funding for healthcare, infrastructure, and education in New York. Based on the latest Census estimates, about 36% of New York’s current population live in hard to count neighborhoods such as parts of Queens and Harlem, which are defined by the Census Bureau as areas with a self-response rate of 73% or less in the past census. That is why it is important to get the word out about the census and what it means.
New York City is at risk of being undercounted, especially as the threat of a question on citizenship status being added to the census. According to experts, such a question would undermine the accuracy of the once in a decade count by discouraging unauthorized immigrants from filling out the forms due to a fear of being deported. We need to be mobile to sustain our urban democracy and ensure that over $800 billion of annual federal funding and our voice and power in Congress are not compromised. For more information visit, ny.gov/programs/2020-census
Basketball with Ben
Thank you to all the interns, fellows, social work students and staff for another great semester capped off by Basketball with Ben.
Figment Comes to Roosevelt Island
FIGMENT NYC 2019 is a free two-day inclusive, participatory arts event held in multiple cities and drawing tens of thousands of participants each year. FIGMENT's mission is to offer free, family-friendly and participatory art to entire communities.
This year, for the first time, it will be held in our district on Roosevelt Island. The program will showcase art that encourages participants to play, dance, sing, create, engage, experiment, and explore their environment. For one weekend this summer, it will transform Roosevelt Island into a large-scale collaborative artwork. Figment will be open Saturday, June 1st 10am-10pm and Sunday June 2nd 10am-6pm. Please do not enter the park after close. The event is FREE but will require a TICKET in advance which can be found at eventbrite.com/e/figment-nyc-2019. For more information, visit NewYork.Figmentproject.org/event_details
Figment NYC
Saturday June 1, 10am -10pm
Sunday June 2, 10am - 6pm
Lighthouse Park
RESOURCES
2020 Census Job Listings
With the upcoming 2020 census, there are over 12,000 available positions for hire in the City. The hours per week will depend on the job and applicant. Office Operations Supervisors ($26/hour) and clerical staff ($20.50/hour) are expected to work 40 hours a week performing in-office tasks that support field positions including managing payroll, recruitment, and supply management. Field positions, including enumerators ($25/hour), field supervisors ($27.50/hour), and recruiting assistants($27.50/hour) are expected to work however many hours their availability permits them, between 10 and 40 hours by canvassing assigned areas and reporting the results they find. Please note that the enumerator positions allow the most flexibility and are based upon the individual employee and available work. For more information, visit 2020census.gov/jobs or USAJOBS.gov. You can also contact the New York Regional Census Center Recruiting at new.york.rcc.recruiting@2020census.gov or 212-882-7102.
CityParks Free Senior Fitness
Throughout the rest of June, come out and get active in your neighborhood park with CityParks Foundation. New Yorkers the age of 60+ are invited to participate in free tennis lessons, yoga, and fitness walking in Carl Schurz Park and 15 neighborhood parks across the city. Activities in this six-week Seniors Fitness program take place twice a week and all equipment is provided. Register online at cityparksfoundation.org/seniors-fitness or call (718) 760-6999 for information. On-site information is also available day-of.
Bike NY
Bike New York has FREE youth programs for established after-school programs and for established summer programs. Registration is on-going.
Bike New York is also looking for several youth instructors. They provide curricula and training! There is the possibility of extending employment to future seasons including summer and fall 2019. for more information visit www.bike.nyc/jobs/youth-instructor/
Position: Youth Instructors
Reports to: Youth Programs Manager
Salary: $20/hour
Classification: Part-time, non-exempt, seasonal. Approximately 15 hours a week, from April 2019 to June 2019 with the possibility of extending to future seasons.
MSK Free Skin Cancer Screening
Memorial Sloan Kettering will provide free skin cancer screenings on Thursday, May 30th from 4:00-7:00 pm at 16 East 60th Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 302. This screening is by appointment only. The appointment line opens on Wednesday, May 22nd at 9:00 am. To make an appointment, community members should call 646-888-6410. The appointment line will close after all appointment slots have been filled.
Moving for Life
Moving for Life is a program that raises awareness for cancer recovery and prevention and teaches Dance Exercise for better health in our communities. Moving for Life will be holding classes at the John Jay Park and the Y on 92nd street. For any questions or concerns, contact info@movingforlife.org.
Silver Circles
Silver Circles offers one-on-one tutoring for older adults, age 60+, in my office, using a desktop, or your own laptop, tablet (like iPad or Kindle), and/or a cell phone.
Ever wanted to learn more about how to use a computer or cell phone but were afraid to ask? Whether you have some computer experience or none whatsoever, we can help you learn:
- The ABC’s of using a keyboard and computer for the very first time.
- How to set up and use email to connect with family member.
- How to safely search online for recipes, news, and other topics.
- How to set up easy online bill paying, or refilling your MTA senior-fare Metrocard.
- How to use your cell phone.
Silver Circles is a fee-free service from Search and Care, a not-for-profit community social service agency, helping older Upper Eastsiders since 1972.
Sessions are 45 minutes every Wednesday, 1:30 - 3:00pm, from July 10th to August 28th at 244 East 93rd Street, 10128.
Fall Prevention Training
Did you know: One in four people aged 65 or older has a fall each year. Back by popular demand, the Fall Prevention Training program will be led by Robert Curran, Injury Prevention and Outreach trauma specialist from New York Presbyterian, and in partnership with the New York City Council. Visit eventbrite.com/e/fall-prevention-training-tickets to RSVP for free. Please contact joanna@chneighbors.org for more information regarding this information forum series.
VA Woman Veteran Town Hall
On Saturday, June 8, 2019
Women Veterans of all eras are encouraged to attend this town meeting to obtain information about applying for VA benefits, Compensation, pension, burial benefits,
Women Veteran organizations, VSOs, New York City and State benefits. Following a Q&A session, Veterans may enroll in the VA Health-care System On-the-spot. The Queens Central Library will also be providing information about Its job and business-related services and assistance with applying for library cards. Veterans with questions who wish to attend should contact Outreachnyhhs@va.gov or call 1-212-686-7500 ext.4263
Community Board 8 Sexual Harassment Forum
On June 13, Community Board 8 will be holding a forum on the new New York City rules to combat sexual harassment at 6:30 pm in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Special guests to the forum include Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., Deputy Director of NYC Commission on Human Rights Dana Sussman, and CUNY Law Professor Rick Rossein.
No registration required for this free event, For more information email info@CB8M.com.
Community Board 6 Senior Resource Fair
Join Manhattan Community Board 6 for a Senior Resource Fair for all members of the senior community at Baruch College on Thursday, June 20 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. At the fair there will be access to: Information on rent assistance, Caregiver support, Blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, screenings by Karpas Health, Vision tests from the Eye & Ear Institute, and Mental health resources.
RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/CBSIXSENIOR Or call 212-319-3750
Social Security Imposter Scams
Social Security Imposter Scams are getting bolder and more threatening. Remember, the IRS or SSA will never directly call you or ask you to give sensitive information over the phone. According to Fraud.org and the FTC, here are some important things to remember:
- Don't trust your phone's caller ID. Scammers can make it look as if the Social Security Administration is calling and even use the agency's real number.
- Don't give your Social Security number, other personal information, to a caller on the phone.
- Social Security will never suspend your number, according to Fraud.org. If anyone tells you something different, you're being scammed.
- Social Security will never call you and demand money. No government agency will demand you pay something using gift cards or Bitcoin either.
- If you have a question, check with the real Social Security Administration. The administration will never contact you out of the blue. The agency's number is 1-800-772-1213.
- Talk about the scam with friends, family and neighbors. Report government impostor scams to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Constituents can also report Social Security scam calls to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271.
Families For Safe Streets Wellness Retreat Night
Have you been injured or lost a loved one in a traffic crash? Do you care for a loved one who was injured? You are not alone!
Join Families for Safe Streets for a special night of well-deserved pampering. Nourish your mind, body and spirit with an array of wellness practitioners -- and share snacks, stories, resources and more with members of Families for Safe Streets. This event is Ideal for first-timers and long-time members.
The event will be held at the New York Open Center at 22 E. 30th Street.
This special evening will include Spanish interpretation. For other language needs, please contact chana@familiesforsafestreets.org.
Wheelchair accessible
*This event is not affiliated with the Open Center RSVP: transalt.org/FSSRSVP
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OFFICE UPDATES
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 tenant’s 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.
6/12: Community Board 6 Full Board Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU School of Dentistry), Room 210 [TBD]
6/18: Community Board 11 Full Board Meeting
6:30pm, Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility 1752 Park Avenue [TBD]
6/19: Community Board 8 Land Use & Full Board Meeting
6:30pm, New York Blood Center, Auditorium 310 East 67th Street (first-second)
NYPD Events
6/3: 19th Precinct Community Council
7:00pm-8:00pm, 19th Precinct Station House, 153 E. 67th Street
6/25: 17th Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, Sutton Place Synagogue, 224 E. 51st Street
6/26: 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, 23rd Precinct Station House, 164 E. 102nd Street
Neighborhood and Tenant Associations
First Wednesday, 6/5: Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Meeting
8:00 pm-10:00 pm, Good Shepherd (Downstairs), 543 Main Street
Second Wednesday, 6/12: Lexington Houses Tenant Association
6:00pm, 1539 Lexington Avenue
Second Tuesday, 6/11: Stanley Isaacs Tenant Associations
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street
Third Tuesday, 6/18: Holmes Towers Tenant Association
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street
Events For Adults
6/1, 6/15, 6/29: Free Resume Critique
10:30am, 96th Street Library
SHERRY NATKOW is a career specialist and certified resume writer in private practice on the Upper East Side. When she's not delivering lively workshops, she's helping job seekers, one-on-one, work smarter on their job search. Bring a hard copy of your resume for a 20-minute one-on-one critique.
6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29: Computer Tutoring Sessions
12:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join us for an one-on-one tutoring sessions! Our computer tutors can help you with everything from learning how to use a mouse, formatting a resume, setting up an email address, posting photos on the internet, starting a blog, using Microsoft Office, and more.
6/1, 6/15: Cello Concert with Tomas Ulrich & Students
2:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Be soothed by the sounds of music! Join cellist Tomas Ulrich and his students as they perform music by Bach, Vivaldi, Purcell, Dvorak, Schumann and many more.
6/3, 6/17: Yorkville Writing Circle
6:45pm, 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.
6/3: Start Your Day with Art: Watercolor Open Studio
11:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
Let your imagination run wild. Spend the morning working with watercolors! No specific instruction is provided and no prior experience necessary.
6/3: Mystery Monday
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
June 3: a Hero of France by Alan Furst.
6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25: Adult Coloring
11:00am, Roosevelt Island Library
Come to the library and relax by coloring some beautiful artwork. Feel you troubles and bitter cares melt away at each stroke of your pencil!
6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25: 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.
6/4, 6/10: BE HAPPY – NOW! How to Cultivate High Levels of Happiness
5:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
We all want to be happy. But many of us find happiness to be elusive, at best. Speaker, trainer, and certified professional coach, Barbara Phillips, will share practical steps for cultivating happiness and building your capacity to live your life by design rather than default.
6/4, 6/18, 6/25: Summer Garden Concert Series
6:00pm, The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden 421 East 61st Street
Listen to music while relaxing in the garden. Museum tour and complimentary beverages included. June 4th: PACC Recorder consort, Colonial music. June 18th: Cellist Christopher James and violinist Jon Block. June 25th: Frank Hendricks and Bob Conroy of STOUT.
6/5: Author Talk: Alanna Okun: The Curse of The Boyfriend Sweater: Essays on Crafting
5:30pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Join Yorkville as Alanna Okun discusses her newest book. The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater is a memoir about life truths learned through crafting.
6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26: Learn to Play Chess For Adults
2:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
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!
6/5: The Heiress — 70th Anniversary Celebration
5:00pm (reception) 7:00pm, Merchant’s House Museum
To Benefit the Merchant’s House Museum Legal Fund. Based on Washington Square, Henry James’s classic novel of mid-19th century New York City, The Heiress (1949), winner of four Academy Awards, tells the haunting story of young love – and a dominating father who didn’t approve.
6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27: 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.
6/6: Film - THE MORTAL STORM (1940)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
When the Nazis come to power, the Roth family is divided and a family friend is caught up in the turmoil. This film is 100 minutes in length.
6/6: Sunset Gala at the Park
5:00pm, Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park
June 6, 2019 will be the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Four Freedoms Park Conservancy will commemorate the invasion and battle set in motion on that day, which launched the final phase of World War II. President Roosevelt and General Eisenhower led the prayers of our country, not for victory alone, but also for the continued inspiration to build a world committed to the Four Freedoms. Join us for a memorable evening with music and cocktails in view of the United Nations.
6/6: Poetry Reading - Andrey Gritsman
6:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Andrey Gritsman writes poetry, essays, and short stories in Russian and English that have been published in more than 60 literary journals and several poetry books. A native of Moscow, Andrey Gritsman emigrated to the United States in 1981. He is a third generation physician, specializing in cancer diagnosis. He is the founder and editor of the Interpoezia magazine. This program is presented in partnership with the Pushkin Society in America. The program will be held in Russian.
6/6: Memoirs That Make a Difference: I Can't Date Jesus by Michael Arceneaux
6:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Join us for the Memoirs That Make a Difference book discussion group. On June 6th, 2019 at 6pm, we'll discuss I Can't Date Jesus by Michael Arceneaux. Registration is recommended but not required. Copies of this title can be reserved online, over the phone, or at your local branch.
6/6: 96th Street Library Book Discussion: The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
7:00pm, 96th Street Library
Please join us for our June 2019 book discussion. We will be reading The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. The book will be available at the 96th Street Library one month before our book discussion.
6/6 - 7/3: Carter Burden Gallery Exhibition
6:00pm, Carter Burden Gallery
Carter Burden Gallery presents three new exhibitions: Suspended States in the East Gallery featuring Nieves Saah and Jacqueline Shatz; Paper Works in the West gallery featuring Elisabeth Jacobsen and Susan Skoorka; and On the Wall featuring the installation SEAWALL by Beth Barry. The reception will be held June 6th, 2019 from 6 - 8 p.m. The exhibition runs from June 6 through July 3, 2019 at 548 West 28thStreet in New York City. The gallery hours are Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
6/6: Building Community - The Architecture of the Rhinelander Family
6:00pm, Meeting location provided upon registration.
The history of New York real estate and architecture is awash in German-American heritage, counting among its ranks such tycoons as John Jacob Astor and John G. Wendel. But in Yorkville, no name stands out as prominently as Rhinelander. One of New York’s most prominent early land-owning families, the Rhinelanders arrived in New York in the late 17th century, and began developing their holdings in Yorkville in the 1880s, as the neighborhood’s growing immigrant communities made the area a magnet for progressive housing reform. On this tour, led by FRIENDS’ President Franny Eberhart, we’ll explore highlights of the Hardenhergh/Rhinelander Historic District, focusing on how the family’s community-minded architectural commissions, and significant philanthropy, left a rich architectural and social legacy in the neighborhood. Along the way, we’ll see some of the city’s first “Modern” apartment buildings, learn what the “French Flat” has to do with Yorkville’s German heritage, and discover the district’s “verdant treasure.”
6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28: Creative Aging - Painting 1-2-3
10:30am, Roosevelt Island Library
Creative Aging program series is geared for older adults aged 50+. From now through June 28, 2019 at our branch, we're hosting painting workshops. An introduction to the basic concepts of painting by exploring different techniques and styles. Discover color theory and learn to mix paint colors. Your appreciation of art will be enhanced as you learn to see things differently as an artist does and have the opportunity to capture this on canvas. Presented by Brandon Arana. Limited to ten participants. To participate in this program, you must pre-register
6/8: Roosevelt Island Day
9:00am, Good Shepherd Plaza 543 Main Street
Celebration of Roosevelt Island which includes a focus on island beautification and clean-up projects, carnival games and rides, food, live entertainment, information booths, giveaways, and more! For more information visit rioc.ny.gov
6/8: Organic Gardening Workshop - Garden Pests & Disease - How to Combat With Natural, Organic Remedies - Integrated Pest Management
12:00 noon, Roosevelt Library
This workshop will discuss some of the different diseases and pests that may affect your garden. We will also explore how to combat them with Natural Organic Remedies, also referred to as Integrated Pest Management. We will also discuss pesticides and their negative effects on the environment. The program will begin at the Roosevelt Island Library for a presentation and discussion, followed by a quick walk over to the Roosevelt Island Living Library & Think Park Gardens for a hands-on workshop.
6/8: Start a Revolution Film Series: Before Stonewall (1985)
2:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Traces the development of the homosexual community from the social experimentation of the Roaring Twenties, the persecutions of the McCarthy era, and the development of the gay rights movement. This film is 87 minutes in length.
6/10: Author Talk: S.A. Chakraborty: The Kingdom of Copper and other works
5:30pm, Yorkville Library
Join the Yorkville Library in welcoming Best Selling Author S.A. Chakraborty as she discusses her work.
6/11: 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!
6/13: Film - THE GREAT McGINTY (1940)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
A petty thief and a bum get a political career off the ground, but it may not last. This film is 82 minutes in length.
6/15: Ice Cream Garden Social
1pm, 421 East 61st Street
Join us for family fun during this Path Through History Weekend at our old-fashioned ice cream social. Come to the garden to make ice cream, try our historic toys and games, take a Museum tour and hear about the mouth-watering history of this sweet treat. For more information and tickets, see www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4242511
$10 Adults, Members and Children.
6/15: Volunteer Gardening
9:30am, 86th Street at East End Avenue
The Carl Schurz Park Volunteer Gardeners are an adult group that meets monthly to work in the park. Students or children who wish to participate must be accompanied by adults or parents who work along with them.
6/15: Ascend with Pride: An Afternoon with Friends & Family at FDR Four Freedoms State Park
12:00pm, Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park
Get your cameras ready: a 12’ x 100’ Pride flag is coming to FDR Four Freedoms State Park!
From Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 30, the Park’s monumental staircase will transform into a massive LGBTQ Pride Flag to celebrate the universal human rights articulated in FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech: freedom of speech & expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. On Saturday, June 15 from 12:00-6:00 PM, the Park will host a free WorldPride celebration for all ages, with VideoOut onsite all day capturing coming out stories for their online library, food trucks for a picnic on the lawn (and for the 21+ crowd, wine and beer will be available for purchase), and a visit from Drag Queen Story Hour, at 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM, featuring books that focus on diversity and inclusivity, from Little Bee Books. Free; event details subject to change.
6/20: Film - THREE ON A MATCH (1932); & FEMALE (1933)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
Three on a Match: A successful woman throws away her accomplishments by descending into a life of debauchery and drugs. This film is 63 minutes in length.
Female: A tough-minded executive of an automobile factory succeeds in the man's world of business until she meets a design engineer. This film is 60 minutes in length.
6/20: Reel Classics: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
A screenwriter is hired to rework a faded silent film star's script, only to find himself developing a dangerous relationship. This film is 110 minutes in length.
6/20: Step in, Stand Clear, Drink Up!
6:30pm, 350 East 85th Street
Thanks to the Second Avenue Subway, you can get all the way from the Upper East Side to Coney Island via the Q Train. We’re kicking off summer, and celebrating this new route to the beach, with a transit history talk and beer tasting at Ryan’s Daughter. As we relax over summary sips, architectural historian Francis Morrone will trace the development of transit on the Upper East Side from horse cars to steam engines to subways. We’ll find out how the 2nd and 3rd Avenue Els carried newcomers to Yorkville, helping the neighborhood’s immigrant communities flourish; see how transit on Park Avenue “went electric” and made the area one of the most prestigious addresses in the country, and discover who’s behind the MTA’s new spectacular subway art.
6/21: Make Music New York
4:00pm, John Finley Walk at the top of the East 86th Street staircase
Enjoy this city-wide concert series to celebrate the first day of summer! In collaboration with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
6/22: Webster @ the Movies: First Man (2018)
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969.This film is 141 minutes in length.
6/23: Grand Victorian Garden Tea
4:00pm, The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden 421 East 61st Street
In conjunction with Gemini and Scorpio. Put on your best period finery and come for a proper afternoon tea in the Museum garden. Enjoy finger sandwiches and scones, music and much more.
6/24: Falls Prevention for Older Adults
11:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
DID YOU KNOW? Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death and hospitalization for older adults in New York City. Falls can affect your quality of life, sometimes making it harder for you to live independently- but FALLS CAN BE PREVENTED! A Healthy Homes expert from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will share falls prevention tips concerning: Muscle weakness, Trouble with mobility or balance, Medication side effects, Fear of fallings, Falls prevention exercises …and more! Presented by Bellevue Hospital Center
6/26: Privacy and VPNs
6:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
With all the debate about privacy, security and corporate interests all internet users need to know how to protect their identities and data. In this class you will learn how to securely and anonymously surf the web.
6/27: Film - THREE COMRADES (1938)
2:00pm, 96th Street Library
Three friends in 1920s Europe suffer through, with a little levity provided by the sole object of all three’s attention, a local tubercular girl. This film is 98 minutes in length
6/27: Movie night - Telefon
6:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Telefon (PG)(1977) Starring Charles Bronson. Running time: 102 minutes.
6/29: Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance present FADE, a new play directed by Shawn Williams
3:00pm & 7:00pm, 548 Main Street, Roosevelt Island
Written by World Slam Finalist Joel François in collaboration with OPEN DOORS Reality Poets, an artist collective who have flipped the script of their lives, FADE takes you into The Barbershop—a place where humor, courage and wisdom transform tragedy and injustice into a redemptive force. Moving through time “before and after the chair” FADE delivers a message of realness, resilience and healing with a hip-hop beat. Learn more at opendoorsnyc.org
Event for Kids
6/1: Chess Tutorials
10:30am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, 2:30pm Roosevelt Island Library
FREE chess tutorials for beginner to intermediate players and US Chess Federation rated players under 900. Register online Tuesday, May 28 at 1 pm. This is for the Saturday, June 1 10:30 AM session. Registration required online.
6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29: Read to our New York Therapy Dog!
10:30am, Webster Library Auditorium
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.
6/3: Baby Storytime
10:15am, 10:45am, 11:00am, 11:30am, Roosevelt Island Library
Babies from birth to 18 months old and their parents/caregivers can enjoy great books, lively songs, and rhymes, and meet other babies in the neighborhood.
6/3, 6/17: Read to Murphy, our New York Therapy Dog!
4:00pm, Yorkville Library Children’s Room
Come read to our therapy dog Murphy! 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.
6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24: 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.
6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25: Free Play
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
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.
6/5, 6/12, 6/19: Toddler Storytime
10:15am, 11:15am, Roosevelt Island Library
Toddlers from 18 months to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive storeis, actions songs, fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood. First come, first served.
6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26: Toddler Play Time
10:45am, 11:45am, Roosevelt Island Library
Toddlers can play with toys and get to know their neighbors. For ages 18 months to 3 years.
6/5: Summer Reading - The Universe
3:15pm, Roosevelt Island Library
A Summer Reading Kick-Off During this show we will explore our universe. Every song, beginning with our introduction “Hello Song” will be altered to include a mention of galaxies, stars, the sun, moon and planets. During our Adventure song we will visit the milky way, visit Martians, see satellites and spaceships. We incorporate other music and movement songs as we jump on the moon, and blast off in our rocket ships. Best for ages 0-8 years old with their parent/caregiver. Presented by Rockness Music.
6/5: Summer Dance Party @ 96th Street
4:00pm, 96th Street Library
Celebrate books and reading with Mr. Patrick, his guitar and his silly puppet friends. Cut loose with Dr. Seuss and get ready to party like a “Wild Thing!” It’s going to be a “wild rumpus!” For children of all ages.
Presented by Music with Patrick
6/5: Summer Reading - Poof! Life in a Vacuum
4:30pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Where does space begin? How far away is the Moon? Where did the space shuttles go? These questions and more are answered as students discover the USS Intrepid’s role in the Space Race. Using a bell jar and vacuum pump, Museum educators will mimic the vacuum of space! Your students will first predict, then discover what happens to various objects when they are exposed to a vacuum and then make the connection to how the human body would react to the vacuum of space. For ages 13-18 years old. Presented by Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27: Family Storytime
11:00am/11:30am/11:45am, Webster Library Auditorium
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.
6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28: Open Playtime
10:30am, Roosevelt Island Library
Enjoy a warm and inviting space where parents/caregivers can play with their child, listen to music and socialize with others in the community. Recommended for Ages: 1-3 years.
6/8: Chess Tutorials
10:30am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, 2:30pm, Roosevelt Island Library
FREE chess tutorials for beginner to intermediate players and US Chess Federation rated players under 900. Register online Tuesday, May 28 at 1 pm. This is for the Saturday, June 8, 10:30 AM session. Registration required online.
6/10, 6/17, 6/24: Baby Play Time
10:45am, 11:30am, Roosevelt Island
Babies can play with toys and get to know their neighbors. For children ages 0-18 months.
6/10, 6/24: Art Buffet
4:00 pm, Webster Library Auditorium
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.
6/13: Webster @ the Movies: Disney's Christopher Robin
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Christopher Robin -- now a family man living in London -- receives a surprise visit from his old childhood pal, Winnie-the-Pooh. This film is 120 minutes in length.
6/15: Ice Cream Garden Social
1:00pm, The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden 421 East 61st Street
Join us during this Path through History Weekend event: an old-fashioned ice-cream social. Come to the garden to make ice-cream, try our historic toys and games, take a Museum tour and hear about the mouth-watering history of this sweet treat. $10 Adults, Members and Children.
6/16: Pop-Up Library
11:00am, Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
In cooperation with Uni Project, join us for a fun-filled weekend with this family friendly event! Come sit outside, read, draw, enjoy the view, and explore a curated collection of books and hands-on materials. Story Time will take place at 12:30pm and again at 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. Drag Queens trained by children's librarians read picture books, sing songs, and do craft activities with children. Kids love the bright colors, glamorous costumes, and sparkling energy of the drag performers, but more importantly, DQSH teaches children to celebrate gender diversity and curbs bullying of LGBTQ children. Come celebrate freedom of expression and freedom from fear at Drag Queen Story Hour! Free; registration recommended.
6/17: Space Collage: The Final Frontier @ Webster
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Using the library's vast resources relating to outer space, participants will be inspired to create an image that expresses their personal view of the universe beyond our own. We'll explore the art form of collage and utilizing papers and fabrics, we'll fashion a piece of art of what fascinates us out there. Join us for this amazing journey!
For ages 13-18 years old. Presented by Community Word Project
6/24: Kid Flicks
4:00pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Join us in our community room for our children's film showing. Watch short films based on popular picture books. The perfect way to meet up with friends and end a busy day. All films subject to last minute substitutions.
6/25:Celebratin' Babies and Children
4:00pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Join LuAnn Adams in stories and music and travel to the farm, the sky, under the sea and more. LuAnn will use music, props and visuals to make her stories come alive and so much fun to Play Along With! Best for 5 years old and younger with their parent/caregiver.
6/25: Space Collage: The Final Frontier @ 96th Street
4:00pm, 96th Street Library
Using the library's vast resources relating to outer space, participants will be inspired to create an image that expresses their personal view of the universe beyond our own. We'll explore the art form of collage and utilizing papers and fabrics, we'll fashion a piece of art of what fascinates us out there. Join us for this amazing journey!
For ages 13-18 years old. Presented by Community Word Project
6/27: Afternoon at the Movies
1:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Come and enjoy a feature film with family and friends in the afternoon! Enjoy the latest feature films at the Roosevelt Island Library. Featuring: Christopher Robin (PG).
6/27: Summer Dance Party @ Webster
4:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
Celebrate books and reading with Mr. Patrick, his guitar and his silly puppet friends. Cut loose with Dr. Seuss and get ready to party like a “Wild Thing!” It’s going to be a “wild rumpus!” For children of all ages.
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