[BwayDems] Upcoming events, meetings & opportunities (2/27/14 edition) <62 items>

[Elizabeth Lorris Ritter]

*Thursday, February 27th, 2014*



*Dear Neighbor,*



*It's impossible to list everything in the district, but here are 62 ways
to get informed, inspired, involved +/or entertained, including Sen.
Espaillat et al.'s Dominican Heritage & Independence Day TONIGHT, FREE
classes, job opportunities, educational programs for kids and adults; grant
opportunities, safety/security tips; the Grand Re-opening of the Washington
Heights branch library after a 4-year renovation, how YOU can get involved
in the fight against LG's proposed development across the River, and
important traffic information regarding this Sunday's Salsa / Shamrocks /
Blues 5k race. *



*Scroll down for information about things happening:*

·         *Tonight & Tomorrow (7 items)*

·         *This weekend (11 items)*

·         *Next week (12 items) *

·         *Next weekend (6 items)*

·         *Looking ahead (8 items)*

·         *How You Can Help: **the latest on LG / Protect the Palisades*

·         *Educational & vocational opportunities (5** items) *

·         *Help with your Taxes (3 items)*

·         *News, information, opportunities & ongoing events (9 items)
**exhibits,
safety warnings, and general info*



*Please share this e-mail with friends/neighbors. If you know someone who'd
like to subscribe, have them e-mail me with their ZIP code**. If you have
an event you'd like to list here, email me the details (text or .doc
format, please, not .pdf or .jpg).*



*Best,*

*Liz Ritter*



--------

Elizabeth Lorris Ritter

Community Liaison

State Senator Adriano Espaillat, 31st SD

5030 Broadway, Suite 701 NYC 10034

(212) 544-0173 ph)

(212) 544-0256 (fx)







****TONIGHT & TOMORROW*** (7 items)*



*TODAY / THURSDAY (5 items)*

*Dominican Heritage Awards Luncheon: *in association with the American
Dream Service Center will present a tribute to Dominicans in Washington,
DC, including Congressional Aides Socrates Solano & Stephanie Baez. NYS
Sen. Adriano Espaillat will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The
afternoon will feature musical performance and more.  At Marisco Centro,
1490 St. Nicholas Ave. (btw. W. 184th & W. 185th Streets). For information,
sponsorship opportunities and tickets call Victor Gutierrez at 646-499-4493
or email vgut2008 at gmail.com. *Thursday, February 27th, 11:30am - 2pm. *



*Celebrate Dominican Heritage Month* with Senator Espaillat, Councilmember
Ydanis Rodriguez, Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa, and Catholic Charities of
the Archdiocese of New York. Honoring Manhattan Deputy Borough President
Aldrin Bonilla, NYC Council Speaker Deputy Chief of Staff Elizabeth deLeon
Bhargava, and Latin American Composer Rafael "Bullumba" Landestoy. Hors
d'oeuvre and live entertainment. Free and open to the public. At the
Alianza Dominicana Triangle Building, 530 W. 166th St., 2nd floor (@St.
Nicholas Ave.). *Thursday, February 27th, 6pm-9pm. *For more information or
to RSVP: (212) 544-0173 or email EventsRSVP at adrianoespaillat.org with any
questions.



Go Green -- Save Money and Save the Planet! An opportunity for residential
property owners to get information on such issues as green financing, water
& energy conservation, recycling, weatherization, utility incentives and
much more. Sponsored by the NYC Department of Housing, Preservation &
Development, with many other City governmental and non-profit agencies, and
in partnership with WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Inc. (WE ACT) & and
the Harlem Community Development Corporation. At the Adam Clayton Powell,
Jr. State Office Building (163 W. 125th St.), 8th floor. Thursday, February
27th, 6:30pm - 8pm.



Concert at the Hispanic Society of America: *Musica Ficta* is one of
Spain's leading early music groups, founded in 1992 and having released 18
albums and toured internationally. In their Music of the Americas debut,
the ensemble will perform vocal and instrumental music written in Bolivia,
Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Spain during the 16th & 17th centuries. At the
Hispanic Society of America, Audubon Terrace (Broadway btw. W. 155th & W.
156th Streets). Reservations required. Free for members; $20 for
non-members. Thursday, February 27th, 7pm. Purchase tickets online:
http://www.as-coa.org/events/musica-ficta-%E2%80%93-columbus-gateway-new-world.




*Face Out: Rosemari Mealy, author of* *Fidel and Malcolm X*. The combined
reflections of a number of persons who played important roles in this
historic summit, coupled with Malcolm's and Fidel's own writings about the
encounter and rare photographs of the two men together, yield an authentic
accounting of a remarkable meeting of the minds. At Word Up, author
Rosemari Mealy will be in conversation with longtime activist *Joe Kay*,
whose deceased wife Sarah E. Wright is featured in the book, which was
first published in 1993. Free. At Word Up Community Bookstore, 2113
Amsterdam Ave. @ W. 165th St. 347-688-4456. *Thursday**, February 27th, *
*7pm-9pm*





*TOMORROW / FRIDAY (2 items)*



*#stopLG webinar training: *Join the Protect the Palisades coalition for a
WEBINAR and TRAINING on the Action Network toolset and a discussion on the
upcoming day of action. Friday, February 28th at 9:30am.



*WHIN Music Project "It Takes a Village to Raise A Child" Children's
Concert *at the Cornerstone Center, 178 Bennett Ave. @ W. 189th St. *Friday,
February 28th, at 5pm. *(Doors open at 4:30pm.) For more information, email
info at whinmusicproject.org.







****THIS WEEKEND*** (11 items)*



*SATURDAY (8 items)*



*CEC 3 Parent Academy workshop:* Join Community Education Council 3 and the
NYC Department of Education's Parent Academy for a morning of engaging and
informative workshops. Free breakfast and raffle prizes, with childcare and
transportation available as well. Saturday, March 1st, 8:30am to 12:30pm at
PS149 Sojourner Truth Elementary School, 41 West 117th Street between
Malcolm X Blvd. & 5th Avenue. Free and open to the public. To register,
call 718-780-6534 or email info at nycparentacademy.org, or register online at
eventbrite.com (keyword Parent Academy).



*CB #12, Manhattan Youth & Education Committee* is having a Panel
Discussion on Youth & Mental Health on *Saturday, March 1st at 10am* at
Isabella Geriatric Center Larson Library, located at 515 Audubon Ave at the
corner of West 190th St.



*Creative Arts Workshops for Kids* will once again partner with UPCA to
travel back in time to groove through the 1960s by providing a FREE
Saturday morning workshop for 3rd-, 4th- & 5th graders. The class, called
"Twist and Shout: A Multimedia Exploration of the 1960s," will engage
students in art projects that investigate all aspects of the decade,
including popular art, music, and literature. Students will develop a
practical understanding of these concepts and practice values of teamwork,
diversity, conceptualization and critique. They will explore techniques
such as sculpting, painting, etching, collage and more. *The 13 classes
begin March 1st, 10:30am-12:30pm, **and go every Saturday (except April
12th & 19th) through June 7th. **. *Registration is on a first-come,
first-served basis; class size is limited. *Registration deadline was
Weds., 2/26, but contact Keith Fasciani at keithf at unitedpalace.org
<keithf at unitedpalace.org> / 212-568-6700 x41 to see if there's still room!*



*MAS Celebrates Women's History Month: Notable Women of Uptown Trinity
Church Cemetery *This tour honors several women buried or associated with
Trinity Church Cemetery, Manhattan's only active graveyard--listed on the
National Register of Historic Places--in Washington Heights. Learn about
many of the fascinating women who have contributed notably to New York
City's historical and cultural fabric. Gravesites of interest include that
of a storied adventuress; the initiator of the idea to create Central Park;
the host of New York's first respectable masquerade ball; the preeminent
African-American matriarch of antebellum West Harlem; the imperious doyenne
of Gilded Age polite society; an enslaved great-granddaughter of a Founding
Father; the legendary American beauty of Belle Epoque Paris; and the
lesbian paramour of one of the most important women of the twentieth
century. *Saturday, March 1st at 11am. *For tickets and information call
212-935-2075 or, visit www.mas.org.



*17th Annual College Fair* presented by the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation & Historical Preservation Riverbank State Park. Open to Middle
School and High School students seeking to pursue a degree from a Junior or
Senior College, including Masters' programs and trade schools. 60+ national
colleges and universities represented. Free workshops in Admissions Prep,
SAT, financial aid, careers in medicine, opportunities in the music
industry, and more. This event is FREE and open to the public. RSVP helpful
for planning purposes, but not required. For additional information please
call Pat Vitucci, College Fair Coordinator, 212-694-3656. *Saturday, March
1st, noon-4pm.* Riverbank State Park is located at 145th Street & Riverside
Drive.



*Literacy Across Harlem Day *It's the first day of the month, and once
again Total Equity Now (TEN) will engage an intergenerational team of
community volunteers in promoting reading as a key component of who we are
and what we do here in Harlem. For 90 minutes we will: hand out Literacy
Across Harlem Day flyers, ask passersby about their reading habits, tell
folks why we love reading and why it's so important, and encourage others
to carry their "reads" outside of their bags! #RockThoseReads, by carrying
reading materials publicly, conspicuously and proudly! On the northwest
corner of 135th Street & Malcolm X Boulevard, just outside the Schomburg
Center for Research in Black Culture, which joins forces that day with the
Studio Museum of Harlem day to celebrate the centennial of Ralph Ellison.
famed writer of the Harlem Renaissance, author of *Invisible Man*, and a
true #RockThoseReads champion. *Saturday, March 1st, 12:30pm-2pm. *Other
ways to #RockThoseReads:

·         Tweet a photo of yourself, "read" of the day in hand, to
@TotalEquityNow<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017GAyGmY2DVVt6pNeU10LbT5khn8SdQI46NcgfOWpnVpK9ddEPfhw32Dr0TdQB6oGlZP0HUGm7r9SlLEgjWzoE7t6yW475uIHoppJG0kbn683WRwEEVOSq8nT3HCWe3j8KiamJh5qz3goW-YSelSpaH95cz5aYIhBj9JAdA9BYR7RfZo9MbajVo_hbylnUydH&c=ffXwLoVOZOHy8Gwp87-Y0lQyA2CqIp8oHdqiwELCIMqLMLmG0i3c8A==&ch=nEzM8Z9AIRS131HNJ0BjPlC6EIChql149T0zCce7_dkue6w6rwLX2w==>with
the #RockThoseReads tag

·         Visit one of our Literacy Partners - including Sisters Uptown
(1942 Amsterdam @ W. 152nd) and Café One (1619 Amsterdam Ave. at W. 140th)
to "swap those reads": leave a gently used book and take one that another
Harlemite dropped off. (Go to www.totalequitynow.org for more partners)



*Turtles Meet and Greet *Bring the whole family to meet the turtles of New
York with Lorri Cramer, NYS-Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator and Turtle
Specialist. Lorri will be joined by some of her shelled friends as she
speaks about what makes turtles so special and what you can do to help
them. Meet inside the Payson Education Center on Dyckman Street, just west
of Payson Avenue in Inwood Hill Park. *Saturday, March 1st, 2pm - 3:15pm.*



*Free concert @ The Shrine: * Mark your calendars and make sure you know
how to get to the Shrine (2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., btw. W.
133rd& W. 134
th Streets)! Singer songwriter James Tristan Redding arrived in New York
City last fall with an acoustic guitar, a laptop, and 4 changes of clothes.
He's since released a debut solo album, and he's going to sing it for you
live at the Shrine on *Saturday, March 1st, 8pm - 9pm,* FREE.





*SUNDAY (3 items)*

*Salsa, Shamrocks & Blues 5k Race *Formerly known as the "Coogan's Salsa,
Blues & Shamrocks 5k." Begins on Ft. Washington Ave. near J. Hood Wright
Park (W. 174th St.) and goes north to Fort Tryon Park, around the
Cloisters, and back to the Armory at . 169th St. Runners are serenaded by
musical groups playing - you guessed it! - salsa, blues and Irish folk
music, plus gospel, meringue, and jazz! A race within the race honors
Captain Frederich Ill, Jr., a local firefighter who lost his life on 9/11.
Races for youngster ages 2-12 between 25 yards and a half-mile on Ft.
Washington Avenue are held after the 5k. They'll sprint to the finish
banner, where every kid will receive a medal from NYC firefighters and
police officers. *Sunday, March 2nd at 9am.*The entry fee for kids' races
is $6 in advance, $8 on race day, payable at the number
pick-up/registration. Kids race times are as follows:



10:15 a.m. - Ages 2-4
10:30 a.m. - Ages 5-9
10:45 a.m. - Ages 10-12

Parents: To pick up your child's race number, please report at least 20
minutes prior to posted starting time. To ensure the safety of our
participants, kids' races are run in small groups, and actual start times
may vary slightly depending on the number of children in each age bracket.
Use the posted times as a guideline for when to report to the race start
line for your child's age bracket.



*PLEASE NOTE THESE IMPORTANT TRAFFIC & PARKING RESTRICTIONS DUE TO THE
RACE: Tow away zones 10pm Sat - 2pm Sun* on W. 169th & W. 170th Streets
between Ft. Washington Ave. & Broadway, and Ft. Washington Ave from W.
168th- W. 175
th Streets, and on the west side of Broadway between W. 168th & W. 169th.
St. *Fort Washington Avenue will be closed to traffic *all the way to
Margaret Corbin Circle / Ft. Tryon Park from 8:30am - 11:30am, though cars
that are parked there will not be towed.



*Garden Walking Tour in Fort Tryon Park* Take a winter walking tour of the
Heather and its surrounding areas in Fort Tryon Park. Discover which plants
are in bloom in each of the seasons! Learn about our numerous evergreens
and conifers, some of which predate the park, from a Fort Tryon Park
horticulturalist. These tours are wheelchair accessible but persons with
mobility issues may find them challenging because of the park's many steep
paths. Meet at the entrance to the Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park. *Sunday,
March 2nd, 1pm-2pm.*



*Novels with a Social Conscience: a Book Discussion Group at Word Up* Join
us to discuss Gloria Naylor's THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE (1982, 193 pp.).
At Word Up Community Bookstore, 2113 Amsterdam Ave. @ W. 165th St.
347-688-4456. *Sunday, March 2nd from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. *







****NEXT WEEK*** (12 items)*



*Washington Heights Branch Library Grand Re-opening *A full day of free
programs and fun for the whole community! The New York Public Library
invites you to join us for the grand reopening and centennial celebration
of the Washington Heights Library! The newly renovated branch features
materials and dedicated spaces for adults, teens, and children, a
multipurpose community room, nearly 50 brand-new desktop computers, and
more than a dozen laptop computers with Wi- Fi capability. *Monday, March
3rd @ 10am *program and ribbo--cutting*. *1000 St. Nicholas Ave. @ W. 160thSt.



*Celebrate Armory Arts Week with the West Harlem Arts Fund, presenting TWO
events uptown *

·    *Studio Museum in Harlem Tour & Lunch at Red Rooster in Harlem **The
Shadows Took Shape Exhibition *is a dynamic interdisciplinary exhibition
exploring contemporary art through the lens of Afrofuturist aesthetics --
explore science fiction, fantasy, magical realism and pan-Africanism. The
twenty-nine artists featured in *The Shadows Took Shape* work in a wide
variety of media, including photography, video, painting, drawing,
sculpture and multimedia installation. Guests can opt for lunch afterwards
at the famed Red Rooster restaurant owned by Marcus Samuelsson. Meet at the
Studio Museum, 144 W. 125th St. near AC Powell, Jr. Blvd. *Tuesday, March
4th, noon-3pm. *Participants must bring their paper ticket. To purchase
tickets go to: *https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harlem-armory-uptown-at-studio-museum-tickets-10607095107
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harlem-armory-uptown-at-studio-museum-tickets-10607095107>*

·    *El Museo del Barrio*, founded in 1969 and located in the East Harlem
at the northern end of Museum Mile, El Museo specializes in Latin-American
and Caribbean art, with an emphasis on works from Puerto Rico and NYC's
Puerto Ricans. The museum also features an extensive collection of more
than 8,500 traditional and pre-Columbian artifacts. A South American
wine-tasting follows. Participants must bring their paper ticket. Meet at
El Museo del Barrio, 1230 5th Ave. near W. 104th St. *Tuesday, March 4th,
4pm-6pm. *To purchase tickets go to:
*http://www.eventbrite.com/e/harlem-armory-uptown-at-el-museo-del-barrio-tickets-10608224485
<http://www.eventbrite.com/e/harlem-armory-uptown-at-el-museo-del-barrio-tickets-10608224485>*



*Blood Drives **Due to severe winter weather, we are currently in a
BLOOD* *EMERGENCY.
Your blood* * donation is urgently needed. Give the gift of life! At *New
York-Presbyterian/Milstein Hospital Building (622 W. 168th St.) *Wednesday,
March 5th, 9am-6pm.  *To schedule an appointment visit
http://nybloodcenter.org/ or call 1-800-933-2566. Please bring
identification with photo or signature.



*Immigrant Awareness Day: Join t*he NY Immigration Coalition invites you to
join us as we head to Albany. This year, we are working in collaboration
with the Task Force for New Americans, and we will host a panel to discuss
issues affecting our communities. Box lunch included. The afternoon will be
centered around visiting with members of the Senate and Assembly. Buses
will be leaving New York City from 275 7th Ave. Help pass the New York
State DREAM Act, provide access to driver's licenses for all New Yorkers
and increase funding for immigrant services across the state. *Wednesday,
March 5th. Buses depart NYC at 6:30am, and return by about 7pm (departing
Albany at 4:15pm). *Email arosas at thenyic.org to reserve your seat.



*Women in the Heights: Reflections on Creating. Opening Wednesday, March
5th, 6pm-8pm. *At the NoMAA Gallery, 178 Bennett Ave. @ W. 189th St. There
will be an Artists Talk on Wednesday, March 19th, 6:30pm-8:30pm.



*Housing Workshop on DHCR Overview, including MCIs and 1/40ths *Manhattan
Borough President Gale Brewer, Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal, Goddard
Riverside's SRO Law Project, and The Urban Justice Center host a monthly
housing clinic. There will be a presentation, followed by a question and
answer session, and an opportunity to meet with a staff attorney to provide
free, bilingual legal advice on specific issues. The event is free and open
to the public. At the Goddard Riverside Community Center, 593 Columbus
Avenue (between 88th & 89th Streets). *Wednesday, March 5th, from 6pm to
8pm.* For questions, call the Urban Justice Center at 646-459-3017.



*The Museum of Tolerance invites you to a book launch and discussion* with
Washington Heights Author Ed Levin: *A Child of Christian Blood / Murder
and Conspiracy in Tsarist Russia: The Beilis Blood Libel *A Jewish factory
worker is falsely accused of ritually murdering a Christian boy in Russia
in 1911, and his trial becomes an international cause célèbre. Despite a
complete lack of evidence linking the accused to the crime, Beilis was
imprisoned for more than two years before being brought to trial, to be
found not guilty. FREE, but advanced reservations required; seating is
limited. 226 E. 42nd Street (btw. 2nd & 3rd Avenues). *Wednesday, March 5th
at 7pm**. *For more information or to reserve a seat:
http://www.museumoftolerancenewyork.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lkIYLdMMJpE&b=6768723&ct=13645739&notoc=1
.



*John Jay College Spring '14 Job & Internship Fair* at John Jay's  Centers
for Career & Professional Development, 524 W. 59th St. For more information
call 212-237-8754 or email recruit at jjay.cuny.edu. *Thursday, March 6th,
1pm-5pm.* To register, visit https://jjay-cuny-csm.symplicity.com/employers/
.



*Help Plan for the High Bridge Reopening!* Save the date: Planning
meeting *Thursday,
March 6th. *Details to follow.



*Support Fresh Youth Initiatives* with a social event/fundraiser at a great
local venue, Heights Tavern (Broadway @W. 164th St.). $25 for drink and aps
plus great DJ! If you can, please stop by, bring a friend, enjoy! Our goal
is to make a few new friends and just spread a little FYI love. After all,
Thursday is a great after-work happy hour day, so why not get happy with
us?! If you're an FB person, our events page is
*here*<https://www.facebook.com/events/526043457493784/> so
please do check it out and add your name to the guest list! *Thursday,
March 6th, 6pm - 9pm. *



*Labor Rights Forum *Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and his Labor
Bureau Chief Terri Gerstein will be joined by a panel of Labor Rights
experts to discuss important issues impacting our community including
minimum wage, overtime, laws related to tipped workers, new laws, and
immigrant workers. At the Gregorio Luperon High School, 501 W. 165th Street
at Amsterdam Avenue.* Thursday, March 6th at 6:30pm. *To confirm your
attendance or for more information, please email Lilliam.Perez at AG.NY.GOV or
call 212-416-8754.







****NEXT WEEKEND*** (6 items)*



*FREE Tax Preparation Day *sponsored by NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer,
Food Bank for New York City & the Goddard Riverside Community Center. See
"Tax" section below for details. *Saturday, March 8, 10am - 4pm*



*MAS Celebrates Women's History Month: The Hidden Impact of Women on
Downtown Manhattan *Discover the rich history of women's influence in
downtown Manhattan on this tour that traces the foundation of NYC.
Developed by the award-winning non-profit news service Women's eNews, this
tour celebrates women's contributions to our city and society. Join
uptown's own *Rita Henley Jensen*, founder and editor-in-chief of Women's
eNews, as she highlights pioneer writers, agitators, abolitionists,
suffragists and those we now call activists, as well as three heroes who
gave their lives on September 11, 2001. *Saturday, March 8th at 2pm. *For
tickets and information, call 212-935-2075 or visit www.mas.org.



*6th Annual Gala for the Friends of PS187: *Save the Date! *Saturday, March
8th, 7pm-10pm.* Get ready for a fabulous night of food and drink,
entertainment, silent & live auctions - all to benefit PS / IS 187! In the
Mother Cabrini High School Gym (enter on Cabrini Boulevard). Advance "early
bird" tickets only $50 now through Feb. 22nd at
http://friendsof187.org/the-gala/; $65 thereafter. All funds go to Friends
of 187, a 501(c)3, funds school-day enrichment programs and part-time
teachers in everything from science to art to architecture. Programs and
teachers funded by Friends of 187 reach every student in every grade.



*Shakespeare Saturdays* presents *The Shakespeare Saturdays Sign-Up:
Scenes, Sonnets, Soliloquies and Songs*, with guest emcee Lela Frechette
and keyboardist-composer Donna Kendall Stearns. Audience members can sign
up to perform anything Shakespearean. It's like an open mic variety show.
At the Inwood Library, 4790 Broadway near Dyckman Street. FREE and open to
the public. For more information, visit
www.ShakespeareSaturdays.com<http://www.shakespearesaturdays.com/>.
*Saturday, March 8th, 3pm-4:30pm**.*



*Nature Crafts: Make Your Own Backyard Bird Feeder* Birding with youth is
the perfect way to use our senses and learn more about our natural
environment right here in the city! What better time to learn about
wildlife and bird migration than at the first sign of spring! Join Robin
for a fun indoor kids program to learn about the many native birds species,
while making recycled bird feeders and nesting bags in preparation for
spring. Kids can then take their crafts home to discover and observe
wildlife right out their own back window! Please bring an empty milk or
juice carton from home (extra cartons will be available). Meet inside
Payson Education Center at Payson Avenue and Dyckman Street. *Sunday, March
9th, 1pm - 2pm. *For ages 5-10; children must be accompanied by an adult.



*Intermarried: photographs by Yael Ben-Zion *Exhibition On View: March
9th- April 9
th. Opening Reception and Book Signing with the Artist, *Sunday, March 9th,
3pm-5pm*. Discussion with Yael Ben-Zion and Lise Funderburg, author of *Black,
White, Other: Biracial Americans Talk About Race and Identity*, and
moderated by Gabriel de Guzman, *Sunday, March 30th at 5:30pm*. At Word Up
Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Avenue, at 165th Street, New York, NY,
10032. All events are free and open to the public. For more information,
call 347-688-4456 or visit http://wordupbooks.wordpress.com/.







****LOOKING AHEAD*** (8 items)*



*Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp. Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP)
*application deadline is *March 10th. *Scroll down to the Education /
Vocational section  for details. THIS PROGRAM IS FREE.



*Uptown ArtStroll Poster Contest: help choose the winning design! *Join us
for our annual voting party & from the 5 finalists choose the design for
the 2014 Arts Stroll Poster. Snacks & drinks will be served. Open mic. At
the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center, 3940
Broadway @ W. 165th Street. *Monday, March 10th, 6pm-8pm.* Info/RSPV:
nomaaprog at nomaanyc.org



*CUriosity3 at Columbia University: The Brain in Art and Science *Understanding
how we perceive the world around us and process the raft of conscious and
unconscious stimuli that bombard our senses is a source of constant
inspiration and intrigue for artists and scientists alike. Join us for
short talks and audience led panel discussion, where we will discuss our
current understanding of the brain in relation to neuroscience phenomena
such as "inattention blindness" and the "power of the mutual gaze".
Speakers Mickey Goldberg, Ellen K. Levy and Suzanne Dikker; moderated by
Noah Hutton, author of *The Beautiful Brain*. In Amphitheater 1, CU's
College of Physicians & Surgeons, 630 West 168th St. *Thursday, March 13th
at 7pm. *FREE, but please register and get a ticket by visiting:
https://curiosity3-thebrain.eventbrite.com. CUriosity3 is a free public
program addressing the intersection between Arts and Science with the goal
of initiating discussions and debate around the common ground of creative
practice and scientific discovery. For more events in this series, visit:
bit.ly/Curiosity3.



*Breast Cancer Screenings *Celebrate Women's History Month with
Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa & the American Italian Cancer Foundation. For
woman 40+; NYC residents only. Outside of 210 Sherman St. *Saturday, March
15th, 10am - 5pm.* Free, but you *must *have an appointment; to schedule,
call 212-544-2278 or email eventsgabrielarosa at gmail.com.



*Celebrate International Women's Day* Asociacion de Mujeres Progresistas
invites you to an exciting evening of empowering conversations and great
friends. AMP is convening a panel of experts from The Human Rights
Commission of NYC to discuss topics women, immigration, workers' rights,
employment inequalities, and many other interesting human rights issues in
our changing world. Olé to women for their service and the commitment to
work on progressive ideas for a bright future! Come with friends and family
to the Isabella Geriatric Center (Larson Library), 515 Audubon Ave. *Saturday,
March 15th, 7pm-10pm**.* Space is limited; RSVP to amujeresp at gmail.com /
212.795.0331.



*Purim Carnival* Games! Booths! Prizes! Hot dogs! Hammentaschen! A play
about Queen Esther, the evil Haman, King Ahashverosh & the hero Mordechi!
The Purim Carnival is perfect for younger children so grab your neighbors
and come to this fun event. At the Hebrew Tabernacle, 551 Ft. Washington
Ave. @ W. 185th St. *Sunday March 16th, 11am - 3pm.* Info: 212-568-8304.



*Celebrate Purim with Inwood Jews & UP Theatre!* Performance by UP Theater
begins at about 5:30pm, followed by a festive meal, music, arts & crafts,
clown, and other entertainment. Great fun for all - celebrate the holiday!
As you have come to expect from Inwood Jews, we are a community building
organization that seeks to build a Jewish community in Inwood, Manhattan
but also is open to helping all segments of the broader community as well. At
Columbia University's Milstein Hospitality Pavilion at the Columbia Sports
Center.* Sunday, March 16th*



*Mermaids: Visual Art by Jane LeCroy & Shari Elf *at the Indian Road Café
(W. 218th Street & Indian Road, two blocks west of Broadway.) *Now through
March 29th*. Free. Live music and *reception,* *Monday,* *March 24th,
6pm-10pm. *







****HOW YOU CAN HELP: the latest on LG's Development / Protect the
Palisades*** *LG's plan to build its U.S. headquarters high above the tree
line of the Palisades will spoil a world renowned National Historic and
Natural Landmark. *But we can stop them. *

·    *WRITE LG: *LG needs to hear what you think about its plan to spoil
the Palisades. Go to http://www.protectthepalisades.org/koo_letter to tell
LG's CEO what you think.

·    *TELL CONSUMERS: Join us on Saturday, March 8th for a Day of
Action.*We'll fan out to stores in the region (and in other locations
too) that
sell LG products. Our goal: Urge customers to take LG's plan to spoil the
Palisades into account when they're making their next purchase of a new TV,
cell phone, washer, fridge or computer monitor. Sign up now at
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-us-on-march-8

·    *SPREAD THE WORD: *We'll win only if add voices to our battle. Ask
your neighbors and family to join you in pressuring LG to alter its plan.
Recruit them to write letters, join us on March 8th. Contact us about
organizing a town hall meeting: Write Joe at contact at protectthepalisades.org.
You can find us on Facebook & Twitter! #STOPLG.



We've had a great week: The Palisades Park Interstate Commission voted
unanimously for a resolution expressing their opposition to LG's plan - in
an auditorium filled with folks from our side - and six NJ mayors released
a letter against the project, proving once and for all that there is real
opposition to this project in New Jersey. There was a solid piece in
Sunday's Daily News, and a great editorial on Tuesday.



So please join us on Friday, February 28th at 9:30am. for a WEBINAR and
TRAINING on the Action Network toolset and a discussion on the March
8thday of action. (We apologize for the late notice.) The Action
Network will
allow all of us to share in the organizing of this and other actions by
embedding events on our own websites, creating actions independently under
the Protect the Palisades banner, and organizing all the data created from
this. It's a way for us all to work together easily and flexibly, getting
collective impact without having to be in lockstep. It'll be an open line
for discussion and questions, so make sure to be in a quiet place, if
possible.



WHEN: February 28th at 9:30 a.m.

CALL-IN NUMBER: 267-507-0400; code 7234838#

COMPUTER ACCESS: Screenshare: http://join.me/actionnetwork

RSVP: Joe Rappaport, jgrappaport at rocketmail.com / 646-284-1078







****EDUCATIONAL & VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES** *** (5 items)*



*City Harvest is looking for a Community Development Manager* for their
"Healthy Neighborhoods" program in the South Bronx. This is a great
opportunity at City Harvest for anyone experienced in community development
and community organizing. If interested, please apply on-line by visiting
http://www.cityharvest.org/contact/, clicking on "JOBS" (on the right) and
then clicking to the appropriate listing.



*Global Scholars: My Meal Matters. *Kids from 9-13 are invited to
participate in a weekly workshop exploring food both here and globally
while making online friends from such far-off places as Hong Kong, London
and Mumbai.  This is a great opportunity for kids to practice writing
skills while they learn more about global citizenship. Free. At the Inwood
Library (4790 Broadway). *Every Wednesday at 4pm.*



*The Edward McFadden Scholarship Award *was established to benefit
community youth. The Fund provides college scholarships in the range of $1k
- $3k, to outstanding students who have participated in voluntary community
service and reside in the greater Washington heights / Inwood area (north
of W. 155th St. to the tip of Manhattan) or Marble Hill (10th NYC Council
District). Open to all HS seniors. You must submit a completed application
questionnaire signed by a parent/guardian and a school official, current
school transcript, SAT scores, 2 recommendations (one from a teacher, and
one from a volunteer program supervisor) , and a personal essay. All
finalists will be interviewed by the Scholarship Committee. For questions
or to get an application, email scholarship at isabella.org, or download the
application at http://bit.ly/McFaddenScholarship2014. *Applications are due
by Friday, March 21st. *



*Local Theatrical Production Seeks Director *The Delphi Theatre, a
community theatre in Inwood, needs a Director for their upcoming production
of *"Twelve Angry Jurors"*. Audition dates are still TBA but would need to
happen soon as rehearsals are set to start March 24th. The production
rehearses on Mondays, Thursdays and weekends. The show opens April 25th,
with a two-weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun) run closing on May 4th. This is a
community theatre and as such is a non-equity house. The folks auditioning
will likely be a mixture of WH/I community members who act as a hobby, or
want to try acting, as well as young non-union actors who are looking to
build resume credit. The Director is paid a stipend at the close of
production. Please email Matt Antar (mantar1803 at gmail.com) if you are
interested.



*Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp. Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP)
*can help you take the next step to explore, expand and evolve. This is a
PAID INTERNSHIP opportunity. Earn up to $2,500 in this 14-week program for
young adults, aged 17-24 who are currently unemployed and not enrolled in
school or GED/HSE program, and do not have an associate's or bachelor's
degree. Learn resume revision, interviewing skills, resume revision,
education/training  planning, time management, financial planning,
professional communication skills, and more! Call NMIC at 212-453-5381,
5366 or 5394 for more information or to apply, or visit NMIC's offices, 76
Wadsworth Ave., between W. 176th & W. 177th Streets. Bring state-issued ID,
birth certificate, Social Security card and proof of address. *Application
deadline is March 10th; program starts March 17th.* THIS PROGRAM IS FREE.







****HELP WITH YOUR TAXES*** (3 items)*



*FREE Tax Preparation Day *sponsored by NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer,
Food Bank for New York City & the Goddard Riverside Community Center.
Federal and NYS tax returns prepared by IRS-certified volunteers. Families
(with dependents) earning less than $52,000 and individuals earning less
than $20,000 are eligible for free tax preparation. You must bring with you:

   - Photo ID & Social Security/Tax ID cards for everyone being claimed
   - W2 and/or 1099 Statements
   - If claiming child care expenses, bring documentation and care provider
   Tax ID Number
   - Last year's income tax return
   - If you received unemployment insurance in 2013, bring Form 1099-INT
   - If self-employed, bring a self-declaration letter stating your income
   in 2013 and receipts/ledger stating your business expenses
   - Any relevant tax information

At the Goddard Riverside Community Center, 140 West 140th Street (between
Lenox Ave. and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.) *Saturday, March 8th, 10am - 4pm*



*NMIC free tax assistance *provided by the Food Bank for New York City in
partnership with the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation. Bring your
Social Security card or Tax ID # for everyone to be claimed on your return;
a photo of yourself and spouse (if applicable; W-2s for all jobs you held
in 2013 and any other tax-related documents; a sample check or deposit slip
with routing number and account number if you want direct deposit of your
refund. Now through April 15th, Mon-Thurs noon-7pm; Saturdays 9am-5pm.
(Closed on Mondays in March.) You may also use our self-prep tax program on
Saturdays. We also offer assistance to seniors and the disabled (limited to
25 people/day): Mon-Thurs, 8am-noon; Tues-Thurs, 8am-noon during March.
NMIC is located at 76 Wadsworth Avenue (near W. 177th St.), First floor.
Info: (212) 453-5391



*Tax Online Filing assistance* To be eligible, you must be filing less than
$55,000 per tax return, have some basic computer literacy and a valid email
address. Free. At the Inwood Library (4790 Broadway). three days a week,
Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am-1pm. This program will run
through April 15th.







****NEWS, INFORMATION & ONGOING EVENTS*** (9 items)*



*INDIvisible: African-Native-American Lives in the Americas* The topic of
African-Native Americans is one that touches a great number of individuals
through family histories, tribal histories and personal identities. We find
commonalities in our shared past of genocide and alienation from our
ancestral homelands. This exhibition acknowledges the strength an
resilience we recognize in one another today. At the Malcolm X. & Dr. Betty
Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center, 3940 Broadway @ W. 165th St. Free.
Now through March 30th, Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. For more information, call
212-568-1341 or visit www.theshabazzcenter.net.



*Venus Theater Festival announces the "Venus / Adonis
Competition,"*running NOW through April 1
st. First prize, $2,500; Best Actor: $500; Best Actress: $500. Twenty-four
plays, with evening and weekend performances. At the Cabrini Repertory
Theater, in the Mother Cabrini High School campus, 701 Fort Washington Ave.
(near W. 190th St.). For more information and program schedule, visit
venustheaterfestival.com.



*Uptown Games Return on* *Saturday March 29th.* Enjoy a day of competitive
track-and-field events for elementary- and middle-school children
(3rd-8thgrades) in the historic Washington Heights Armory. Register
solo, or as
part of your school's team. For more information and registration forms,
call 212-544-0173 or email eventsRSVP at adrianoespaillat.org.



*The Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") is now in effect.* You can sign up
for affordable and comprehensive health insurance for you and your
family. Visit
New York State's own website: nystateofhealth.ny.gov. You *must* enroll by
March 31st to get coverage this year and to avoid any possible penalties.
If you don't qualify for Medicaid, the federal government will provide tax
credits to reduce insurance premiums for many people (e.g., a family of 4
with income up to $94,200). If your income is above that level, you can
still get cheaper insurance than what was previously available. Protect
yourself / protect your family. You can get free help from these authorized
navigators:

·    Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp. ................................................212-822-8341

·    Morris Heights Health Center......................................................................718-483-1260

·    NY Women's Chamber of Commerce (businesses and individuals).....
212-304-5122

·    Dominican Women's Development Center...............................................212-740-4335



*Pop-Up Repair* is an itinerant repair service for household items of all
kinds. Break the cycle of 'use and discard'! Think twice before you throw
something away, bring your broken stuff to the Y! Pop-Up Repair will be at
the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood (54 Nagle Ave.) starting
February 23rd - March 2nd. (2/23 11am-5pm; 2/24, 3pm-9pm; 2/25, 9am-1pm;
2/28, 1pm-5pm; 3/2, 11am-4pm for pick-ups *only*! No hours 2/26, 2/27 or
3/1.) For more information and for timing, visit http://www.popuprepair.com/.
And look for Look for the Pop Up Repair VAN, appearing soon at select NYC
Greenmarkets! Also, congratulations to the folks at Pop-up repairs on
receiving an "Awesome without Borders" grant from the Harnisch Foundation,
and on being accepted into the "Start Small, think Big" Entrepreneurship
Pipeline Program.



*Potholes making for a rough trip? *Keep calling 311. This winter's harsh
and variable weather has made for an especially tough season for our roads.
DOT reports that they already have filled 61000 (!!) potholes, and as we
all can see, that's barely made a dent in the problem. DOT has encouraged
everyone to continue to use 311 to report potholes, and (where practicable)
to include photos both of the pothole itself, and the larger context of the
surrounding  road.



*Engaging the Harlem River: NYRP EDGEucation Pavilion & Sherman Creek
Park*<http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=calendar&evtid=6886>
 In July 2013, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) launched the EDGEucation
Pavilion Design Competition, inviting eight emerging New York City
architecture firms to create designs for a storm-resilient education and
recreation center in Sherman Creek Park. The winning design by
Brooklyn-based firm Bade Stageberg Cox is featured in the exhibit,
including architectural drawings and a scale model, along with the 7 other
submissions. The EDGEucation Pavilion will reside in Sherman Creek Park,
behind and just south of PS. 5, near Dyckman Street on the Harlem River. In
addition to expanded education programs, the pavilion will be available for
use by community groups, and the boat storage facility will enable
increased local participation in Harlem River oriented activities. The
EDGEucation Pavilion represents a new vision for the Harlem River,
connecting the community to its waterfront and fostering environmental and
social resilience. At the AIA Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place.
Gallery Hours: M-F / 9am-8pm; Sat, 11am-5pm. Info: 212-683-0023 /
info at aiany.org. I've seen this exhibit and recommend it: interesting stuff!



*Beware of phone scammers looking to steal your money! *The NYPD informed
us that there is a telephone scam where criminals call potential victims
using one of the following ruses:

1.       they owe back taxes to the IRS which must be paid immediately;

2.       a family member had a car accident and the caller demands
immediate reimbursement for damages; or

3.       they owe money to an utility company, and gas/electric will be cut
off without immediate payment .



The scammer demands immediate payment by Green Dot Money-Pak. Please be
suspicious of ANYONE who demands immediate payment for any reason. Anyone
who has the number on a Green Dot Money-Pak card has access to the funds on
the card. NEVER give our personal or financial information to anyone who
emails or calls you unsolicited. Never wire money, provide debit or credit
card numbers or Green Dot Money-Pak card numbers to someone you do not
know. Utility companies and government agencies will NOT contact you
demanding immediate payment by Money-Pak. The NYPD warns that the elderly
and minority small business owners are the target for the above mentioned
scam.



*Pedestrian Safety Tips *from the 34th Precinct: before you step off the
curb to cross the street, make sure you STOP / LOOK / LISTEN for bicycles
and other vehicles. Remember that bicycles are quieter than motor vehicles*.
*MAKE EYE CONTACT with drivers and cyclists to be sure they see you before
you start to cross. Give yourself the most time to cross by waiting for a
"fresh" green or "walk" signal. Keep scanning as you cross, especially for
turning vehicles. Don't stand or walk in a bike lane. Be cautious and avoid
texting on your cell phone when crossing the street.









--------

Elizabeth Lorris Ritter

Community Liaison

State Senator Adriano Espaillat, 31st SD

5030 Broadway, Suite 701 NYC 10034

(212) 544-0173 (ph)

(212) 544-0256 (fx)
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