| Dear Neighbor, For those who celebrate, Happy Purim, as the weather gets warmer and you may be preparing for the celebrations of Passover and Easter we wish you the best. My wife and I were blessed this month with a baby girl. Thank you to everybody who has sent congratulations. Your support has meant a lot to me and my new family. I believe every New Yorker should have access to paid family leave, and I hope more men who often don't will start to take full advantage of their leave, which is why I joined with Brooklyn Council Member Antonio Reynoso, who is also on paternity leave, to publish an op-ed in City and State and lead by example. I look forward to returning from the first half of my family leave on March 12 and will complete my leave over the summer. Please remember our city’s conflicts of interest rules prohibit any gifts.
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Special Events
3/6, 5:30PM Monthly Events First Friday |
HEADLINES
- Fixing Democracy from the City Council
- Apply Now for Universal Pre-Kindergarten - 200+ New Seats
- Every New Yorker Deserves Paid Family Leave, and More Men Should Take It
MARCH EVENT INVITATIONS
- Sotheby’s Student Art Show
- Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
- Himan Brown Senior Program at the 92Y
- Finding Solutions to our Transportation Crisis
LAND USE
- Filed in Fight Against Overdevelopment
- Ribbon Cutting for 21 Units of 100% Affordable Housing on the Upper East Side
- Tenant Blacklist Bill Reintroduced
SUPPORTING BUSINESS
IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION
- East 86th Street & Lexington Station, Petition for ADA Access
- Pushing for Transportation Improvements
- Citibike Station Valet Hiring Event
PARKS and THE ENVIRONMENT
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
- Special Events
- District Office Events
- Community Board Meetings
- New York Police Department
- Events for Adults
Fixing Democracy from the City Council
Improving democracy by increasing transparency, tackling corruption and making sure more New Yorkers get their voice heard at the ballot box were some of my main objectives during my first term. I am excited to see the Mayor make improving democracy in our City a top priority of his second term. Last term, as Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations I led the City Council in passing a series of laws meant to improve access to the polls, decrease the influence of lobbyists, and make it easier for first-time candidates to run for office. And there is more to do. Three initiatives which I have introduced could be passed by the Council without the Charter revision the Mayor is calling for. These bills would go a long way towards further reforming our democracy:
- Full Public Match: Former Introduction 1130-A eliminates the arbitrary 55% cap on public funding of elections and allows every small dollar raised from city residents to be matched at 6 to 1. By doing so we are creating a path for candidates to run competitive elections that reach the total spending cap on contributions of just $175. Doing so eliminates the need to seek max checks from millionaires and incentivizes candidates to seek small donations from within the neighborhoods they seek to serve.
- Young Adult Voter Registration Act (YAVRA) former Introduction 628: To ensure compliance with existing law that requires graduating students receive a voter registration form with their diploma, the legislation requires those registration forms contain a unique code the City can scan to determine which schools are complying with the law and helping their students get registered to vote. Additionally, the Department of Education would be required to report annually to the Council on their efforts to comply with the law from borough to school level, with details including the number of eligible students, the number of forms distributed by language, and the number completed and returned.
- Online Voter Information Portal: Passed the City Council in 2016 and phased into law later that year, this law allows any voter to look up their voter registration status, poll site location, and voting history. It allows voters to track the status of an absentee ballot from request to submission, ensuring that even if someone can't physically vote at a poll site, they can still ensure their ballot gets counted. However, since the Board of Elections has not implemented it yet, it is promising to see this administration take it on.
You can help push reform forward by signing our petition at benkallos.com/BIGMONEYOUT
Apply Now for Universal Pre-Kindergarten - 200+ New Seats
If your child was born in 2014 please apply no matter what to show the need and even if you've put down a deposit you get an offer that could save you tens of thousands. Applications are due by March 30. Apply Now for Universal Pre-K.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, since I was elected I have worked with parents, community leaders and many school administrators in District 5 to bring more Pre-K seats to our neighborhoods. In 2014 following reporting by WNYC that Yorkville, Lenox Hill, and Roosevelt Island had 2,118 four-year-olds and only 123 Pre-Kindergarten seats; my pressure on the City to add more seats intensified. Some of that work and applied pressure is finally paying off as the Department of Education announced in January that by fall of next year the Upper East Side will have at least 400 new Pre-K seats. Last year 736 families applied for 550 slots leaving many out of families with no real viable options. Now thanks to this new addition the demand for seats could be met by fall of 2019 as new centers open on East 57th, East 95th and East 76th Streets. On the Upper East Side where a private Pre-K education averages 24,000 a year the new slots will go a long way in helping middle-class families who are priced out. Although the fight for more Pre-K seats is not over just yet. I want to thank the various partners I have had over the last four years that helped fight for seats sometimes just a handful at a time. For more information on the rallies and work we’ve done to fill the need and to join the fight email upk@benkallos.com.
All New York City children born in 2014 are eligible to attend free, full-day Pre-K this upcoming fall. Sign up now at nyc.gov/prek.
Every New Yorker Deserves Paid Family Leave, and More Men Should Take It
My wife and I were blessed this month with a baby girl. Thank you to everybody who has sent congratulations. Your support has meant a lot to me and my new family. I believe every New Yorker should have access to paid family leave, and I hope more men who often don't take it will start taking full advantage of their leave, which is why I joined with Brooklyn Council Member Antonio Reynoso, who is also on paternity leave, to publish an op-ed in City and State and lead by example. I look forward to returning from the first half of my family leave on March 12 and will complete my leave over the summer. Please remember our city’s conflicts of interest rules prohibit any gifts.
Read an excerpt from the op-ed:
In the United States, new parents seeking time with their child face both a legal and cultural challenge. There is no national mandate for paid family leave. Even where it is offered, fathers remain a lot less likely than mothers to take full advantage. As elected officials and as fathers, we hope that taking leave will help empower other new fathers who are considering their leave options to take time as well.
Being at home following the birth or adoption of a child should not be a luxury reserved for elected officials or those who can afford to forgo their salaries. Everywhere outside of the United States, it’s not. Some form of paid family leave is mandatory in every other nation in the world, with the exception of Papua New Guinea.
Read the entire joint op-ed.
MARCH EVENT INVITATIONS
Sotheby’s Student Art Show
I love the arts, so I am excited to announce our annual public school art show at the world famous Sotheby’s, taking place March 6 at 5:30pm. Each year, we feature work from hundreds of Upper East Side students of all ages. The show is organized in partnership with P.S. 183, the Department of Education and Sotheby's. To learn how to get your students involved, please contact artshow@benkallos.com. We hope to see you at the opening reception! RSVP
Sotheby’s Student Art Show
March 6 at 5:30pm
Sotheby's, 1334 York Ave
RSVP
Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
Please join hundreds of students from across the five boroughs at the 2018 Ben Kallos Chess Tournament by Chess in the Schools on Saturday, March 17th. Last year students from 94 schools competed in the tournament.
The tournament registration is free with fees funded through my office and open to students from K - 12. Please register by Tuesday, March 13 at 5PM at ChessInTheSchools.org.
Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
March 17 at 10 AM-3PM
Check-in 8:15AM - 9:30AM
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
411 East 76th Street
Register by Tuesday, March 13 at 5PM at ChessInTheSchools.org
Himan Brown Senior Program at the 92Y
I will be at the 92nd Street Y speaking to seniors about issues like homelessness and how to access City services. The meeting is open to the public as part of the Social Action Committees’ Himan Brown Seniors Program. The meeting will begin at 1:00pm inside the Warburg Lounge Monday, March 26th.
Himan Brown Senior Program
Monday, March 26 at 1PM-2PM
Warburg Lounge at the 92Y
1395 Lexington Avenue
Finding Solutions to our Transportation Crisis Forum
A panel discussion on Finding Solutions to our Transportation Crisis will be hosted jointly by State Senators Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger. My office is excited to be a co-sponsor of this event. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP.
Finding Solutions to our Transportation Crisis
Thursday, March 1st, 6pm to 8pm
CUNY Graduate Center, Proshansky Auditorium, 365 5th Avenue
RSVP
LAND USE
Lawsuit Filed in Fight Against Overdevelopment
AM New York reported on a lawsuit that I filed in late January in New York County Supreme Court with State Senator Liz Krueger, Carnegie Hill Neighbors, and FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, contesting the City’s approval of the 524-foot skyscraper at 180 East 88th Street, which is currently under construction. Our suit states that the developer is attempting to skirt the zoning code to build a taller building than allowed.
As previously reported by The Wall Street Journal, since late 2016 my office and local community groups have been fighting to bring this building's height down. When the developer carved out a four-foot lot to exploit a loophole, we won a stop work order, but now the Department of Buildings is letting construction move forward with an only slightly larger lot. We believe this is a blatant attempt to abuse loopholes in the zoning code, and we will continue to fight it.
This case has citywide implications: If allowed to be built pursuant to current permits the tactics used at 180 East 88th Street would provide a road-map to any developer who doesn't want to comply with the sliver building and “tower-on-a-base” rules. By giving developers the ability to sculpt a zoning lot at will to evade the City’s zoning rules; this precedent would also allow other abuses and overdevelopment citywide. For more information read the release or coverage from Crain’s New York, Curbed, The Real Deal and the Jewish Voice.
Ribbon Cutting for 21 Units of 100% Affordable Housing on the Upper East Side
After fighting to bring affordable housing to the Upper East Side, I was proud to cut the ribbon on 100% affordable housing for middle-income New Yorkers in our district. We worked with the New York City Housing and Preservation Department and Azimuth Development through the City Council to provide a decades longs tax exemption for the developer to build and keep this housing permanently affordable. For more information read the release or watch the press conference.
Tenant Blacklist Bill Reintroduced
At the beginning of each term, legislation that did not become law and that legislators still want to push for has to be reintroduced. Gotham Gazette reported on the many bills from the last session that are being carried over. The bills range from enhancing tenant protections to new proposals to help deal with the recent controversy facing the New York City Housing Authority.
One of the bills I have reintroduced forces landlords to fix building facades within a reasonable time in order to decrease the amount of unnecessary scaffolding in New York City. The other bill is designed to protect tenants from being placed on blacklists by rating companies simply for exercising their right to take landlords to court.
SUPPORTING BUSINESSES
Scaffolding Bill Reintroduced
PIX 11 reported on the over 300 miles of scaffolding that cover New York City’s sidewalks and how New Yorkers have to deal with them each and every day. The story highlighted that although scaffolding is meant to be up for safety, sometimes the scaffolding itself becomes dangerous when it is not properly installed and inspected as was the case in last year’s scaffolding collapse in downtown Manhattan, which injured several pedestrians. I continue to push for my scaffolding legislation, re-introducing it in this second term and now working with organizations like the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce to gain even more support. For more information on the reintroduction read the release on BenKallos.com/Press-Releases see the coverage in Our Town or watch PIX 11.
Business Improvement District Progresses
Since early on in my first term, my office and I have worked to put together a business improvement district (BID) for the 86th street business corridor on the Upper East Side. In late January, Our Town reported on the recent progress in the ongoing process. The 86th Street business corridor (a 20 block area within First Avenue and Park and East 84th and 88th Streets) receives heavy foot traffic from the M86 Select Bus Service, the Second Avenue Subway, and the 86th Street (4)(5)(6) subway stop which is one of the city’s tenth busiest, with 20.7 million riders per year. Due to the incredible volume of pedestrians and commuters, this part of our neighborhood has for a long time suffered from issues like overflowing trash cans and litter on the sidewalks in front of the businesses.
By creating a BID with the help and support of area businesses, services such as sidewalk sweeping, trash pickup, Big Belly solar compactor maintenance, rodent control, public safety and small business support would be provided. I believe this will once and for all bring cleanliness and order to this part of the neighborhood. Although the process is still ongoing and not in the final stages just yet, 2018 is a pivotal year that could see most of the process completed. Read more in Our Town.
IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION
East 86th Street & Lexington Station, Petition for ADA Access
The Lexington Avenue East 86th Street Subway Station is the tenth busiest in New York City serving more than 20 million riders each year, but it remains inaccessible to the disabled and residents who have difficulty with steps. A new 210 foot tower has gained permission from the MTA to build over this important station in exchange for providing an elevator that will only serve uptown 6 local service. There is no downtown elevator at all, and the uptown elevator will not reach the 4 and 5 express service, shutting millions of riders out and wasting an opportunity for full uptown accessibility for riders headed north or returning home.
Join us in demanding that the MTA follow the Americans with Disabilities Act and open up our subways to more disabled riders by requiring the developer to extend their elevator to serve local and express uptown service by signing the petition at BenKallos.com/petition/accessible-subway
Pushing for Transportation Improvements
It's no question that our city’s public transportation system is not living up to its reputation. If you commute to work on the subway or even by bus you are familiar with the delays and cancellations that plague the system on a weekly basis. A recent analysis by Big Board NYC, a local blog dedicated to reporting on New York City’s transportation infrastructure, exposed rising “maximum wait times, the longest period of time a rider could be stuck waiting for a train, are sometimes double what is prescribed by the schedule” for the Lexington Avenue corridor. The reason for this is simple; during some peak times on average, the MTA is running two fewer trains per hour. This amounts to an 11 percent reduction in promised service.
Citibike Station Valet Hiring Event
Citi Bike is hiring station valet attendants! On Monday, February 26, from 12-5pm they will be holding group interviews for Station Valet Attendants.
The company is looking to hire 20 or more people for this role.
Applicants must apply online beforehand and register for their desired interview time. If they do not, they will not be interviewed or considered for the position.
Citi Bike offers Valet Service for expanded bike and dock availability at high volume stations during peak usage times. Each station will be staffed by a Citi Bike team member allowing the station to operate at increased capacity- Station Valets!
PARKS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
New Senior Space for John Jay Park
Last year I provided $350,000 in funding through my office for a Senior Space at John Jay Park after more than a decade of advocacy by the East 79th Street Neighborhood Association led by Betty Cooper Wallerstein. The next step in this important process is to review the plans that the Parks Department and the Neighborhood Association have come up with and share your ideas for this vital space.
Parks Department Community Presentation on John Jay Park Senior Space
Thursday, March 8, at 6:30 PM
The Town School
540 East 76th Street
RSVP
Perfect Score from the League of Conservation Voters
Each year the New York League of Conservation Voters conducts a study of New York City council members, looking into their pro-environment votes and co-sponsorships of pro-environment bills, to release an individual scorecard for each council member. With a perfect score of 100, I have reaffirmed my commitment to creating a greener New York City that we all can enjoy. Throughout the past year, I volunteered in community gardens and added new parks while beautifying our current open spaces.
COMMUNITY
Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop-Off Site
The NYC Compost Project funded by the New York City Department of Sanitation with the help of Big Reuse continues to collect food scraps for composting. The scraps should be dropped off at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market located at 543 Main Street on Saturdays beginning at 9:00 am and ending at 2:30 pm. Some of the scraps that are accepted include fruits and vegetable, coffee and tea filters, beans, flower, breads and pasta. Since 2015 almost 60,000 pounds of scraps have been collected. For more information visit bigreuse.org
Run for the Future
New York Road Runners' Run for the Future is a free summer running program for young women going into their senior year of high school. This unique opportunity welcomes those with little to no prior athletic experience and introduces them to the sport of running. Along with support and guidance from NYRR’s coaching staff. At the conclusion of the seven-week program, the runners participate in their first 5K race at the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run in late August. Those who complete all the requirements receive a $2,000* college scholarship. Learn more about the program.
Apply to the program or call 212-548-7360 for more information. Key dates are listed below:
April 1: Application Deadline
May 1: Participant Notification
Early June: Team Orientation
July 9-August 25: Program Dates
OFFICE UPDATES
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
- Jobs: 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 call my office at 212-860-1950 in advance to schedule your appointment. Please also call us at 212-860-1950 or email 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:
- Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street, 2nd Tuesday
- Carter Burden Center for the Aging, 351 East 74th Street, 3rd Wednesday
- Roosevelt Island Senior Center, 546 Main Street, 4th Wednesday
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 annual cooperative, condominium or tenant 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, sanitation issues and you name it. Please schedule a "Ben in Your Building" today by calling 212-860-1950 or email scheduler@benkallos.com.
EVENTS
These meetings are subject to change after the publication of the newsletter. Please check updated websites and notices for confirmation.
SPECIAL EVENTS
3/6: Sotheby’s Art Show
5:30 - 7:30 pm, Sotheby's Art Gallery, 1334 York Ave
RSVP 212-860-1950
3/8: New Senior Space for John Jay Park
6:30 - 8:30 am John Jay Park
540 East 76th Street
RSVP 212-860-1950
3/17: Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
9:00 am, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, 411 East 76th Street
RSVP 212-860-1950
3/26: Himan Brown Senior Program
1:00 pm Warburg Lounge at 92Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue
RSVP
DISTRICT OFFICE EVENTS
First Friday
CANCELED for Paternity Leave
Brainstorming with Ben
3/13, 5PM - 6PM, District Office of Council Member Ben Kallos
I am happy to meet with you 5pm-6pm by appointment. A good brainstorm starts with advance preparation. In order to make our session productive, please contact my office ahead of time to prepare with staff and schedule your meeting by calling 212-860-1950 or emailing bkallos@benkallos.com.
COMMUNITY BOARD MEETINGS
3/14: Community Board 6 (East 59th to 96th Streets) Full Board Meeting
7:00 pm, LOCATION TBD
3/21: Community Board 8 (East 59th to 96th Streets) Land Use and Full Board Committee
6:30pm-9:30 Lenox Hill Hospital, Einhorn Auditorium 131 East 76th St.
3/20: Community Board 11 (East 96th to 145th Streets) Full Board Meeting
6:30pm-9:30pm LOCATION TBD
NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT
First Monday: 19th Precinct Community Council
7:00 pm, 153 East 67th Street
Fourth Wednesday: 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00 pm, 162 East 102nd Street
Last Wednesday: 17th Precinct Community Council
6:00 pm, Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 E 51st Street
EVENTS FOR ADULTS
3/1: The Presidents' Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families
6:30 pm, 421 East 61st Street, New York
James Beard award-winning author Adrian Miller tells the stories of the African Americans who worked in the presidential food service as chefs, personal cooks, butlers, stewards and servers for First Families since George and Martha Washington. From Samuel Fraunces "onions done in the Brazilian way" prepared for George Washington, to Zephyr Wright's popovers, beloved by LBJ, Miller highlights African Americans' contributions to our shared American foodways, and how food related work first became professionalized, empowering newly freed African American communities. $40 Adults, $25 members, $22 Senior members, $10 Students with ID.
Reservations required. Call 212 838 6878.
2/27: Tour of Gracie Mansion
11:00 a.m.–11:50 a.m. Gracie Mansion E 88th St & East End Ave, New York, NY 10028
Gracie Mansion Conservancy presents New York 1942. Our newest installation marking the 75th Anniversary of Gracie Mansion as the official mayoral residence.
2/27: Wheelchair Basketball Open Gym Hosted by the Axis Project Wheelchair Basketball
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. At Recreation Center 54, Manhattan 348 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022
Have you ever wanted to learn how to play wheelchair basketball and know the rules inside and out? Well, here's your chance to learn from the best!
Tuesdays 2/27-3/20: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP
6 - 8 pm, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, 331 E. 70th Street
Learn how to take control of your finances at our Financial Empowerment Workshop! Participants will be able to see and learn how to read their Credit Report, meet one-on-one with a financial adviser for individualized advice, open a free savings account and more. To sign up, contact Lauren Bernstein at lbernstein@lenoxhill.org or 212-218-0413. Click here for more information.
3/1: Hands Only CPR
1:30pm to 2:30pm, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065
Hands Only CPR can be a life-saving difference for someone who has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. There are over 350,000 cardiac arrests yearly in the United States and less than half of them receive CPR. To register - call (212) 746-9294 or email perelmanheartedu@nyp.org
3/1: Talking to People with Cancer and their Families
5:30 pm, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Zuckerman Research Center, 417 East 68th Street Auditorium New York, NY 10065
Can healthcare providers learn skills that help them communicate with people who have cancer and their families? In this talk, Drs. Banerjee and Parker will describe MSK’s Communication Skills’ Training Program (Comskil) and discuss ways to enhance communication with people who have cancer and their loved ones.Pizza will be served at 5 pm in the lobby. The talk begins
3/1, 3/8, 3/15: Tai Chi for Beginners
9:30am, Evelyn H. Lauder Breast & Imaging Center, 300 East 66th Street, New York, NY 2nd floor Fitness and Seminar Room. In this class you will learn and practice Tai Chi, a classical form of exercise known for its smooth and gentle movements that strengthen muscles of the ankles, knees, hips and legs.
3/1, 3/8, 3/29: eBook Help
11:00am, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Get one-on-one help downloading library and audio e-books through their SimplyE, 3M and OverDrive platforms. Bring your phone, tablet, or e-reader. Registration is required; please register by calling 212-744-5824 or signing up personally at the library. Only three slots are available, each one lasting for fifteen minutes.
3/2: 1-on-1 E-Book Help
11:00am, Webster Library Auditorium
Get one-on-one help downloading library and audio e-books through their SimplyE, 3M and OverDrive platforms. Bring your phone, tablet, or e-reader. Registration is required; please register by calling 212-288-5049 or signing up personally at the library. Only two slots are available, each one lasting for thirty minutes. If neither slot works, sign up for another slot at the library’s reference desk.
3/3, 3/17, 3/31: Supervised Open Lab
12:00pm, 67th Street Library
TechConnect instructors will help people on a variety of technology issues you’re having, ranging from trouble with your email to struggles with how to cut and paste. This event is first-come, first-served.
Every First Monday: NYPD 19th Precinct Community Council
7:00 pm, 153 East 67th Street
Monday-Sunday: CARTER BURDEN/LEONARD COVELLO SENIOR PROGRAM
8:00am - 4:00pm, 312 East 109th Street (between 1st and 2nd Aves.) New York, NY 10029
Carter Burden/Leonard Covello Senior Program (Covello Program) is one of NYC'S Innovative Senior Centers that provides socialization, recreation and education through a wide array of daily activities including: breakfast and lunch; exercise; dance and yoga classes; computer training; health and wellness activities; arts programs; special events & holiday parties; and other activities. Exciting day trips are also planned on a regular basis. Tel: 212-423-9665
Every Monday: AARP Free Tax Help
11:00am, Webster Library
AARP volunteers who are certified by the IRS will help prepare tax returns at the Webster Library during every Monday in March. This service is at no cost, but it is first-come, first-served. Make sure to bring all of your materials with you and arrive early.
3/6: Caregivers’ Group: The Three R's of Self-Care: Rest, Relaxation, Rejuvenation
2:00 pm, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Zuckerman Research Center 417 East 68th Street Auditorium New York, NY 10065
This is a live, online group for caregivers of people undergoing treatment at MSK. It offers caregivers a brief introduction in mindfulness meditation. They will learn how to take time to rest the mind, relax the body, and feel ready to resume caregiving responsibilities with more clarity and energy. Sessions are led by a social worker. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month from 2:00 to 2:30 pm and the third Thursday of each month from 11:00 to 11:30 am.
Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 11:00 am
To register or learn more, please contact virtualprograms@mskcc.org.
3/6: Sotheby’s Art Show
5:30 - 7:30pm, Sotheby's Art Gallery, 1334 York Ave
RSVP 212-860-1950
Every Tuesday: Microsoft Word for Beginners
3:00pm, 96th Street Library
Every Tuesday in March, the library will host classes that teach people how to use Microsoft Word 2010, a word processing program. You will learn features such as entering and editing text, formatting, and how to save files. Make sure you can attend every class. Call 212-289-0908 to register.
Every Tuesday: FRESH FOOD BOXES FROM GROWNYC
3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Year Round
Center @ Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
Purchase high quality, farm fresh produce at below retail prices. For only $14, receive 10-15 pounds of healthy and seasonal fruits and vegetables that are sustainably grown on family farms! To sign up, go to www.grownyc.org/foodbox and contact your site coordinator, Abby Lee, at alee@grownyc.org.
3/7: Preschool Storytime: Stories and Crafts
4:00pm, 96th Street Library
This will provide storytime and art projects for kids. Wear your art clothes. Space is limited to 24 participants.
Every Fourth Wednesday: NYPD 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00 pm, 162 East 102nd Street
Every Last Wednesday: NYPD 17th Precinct Community Council
6:00 pm, Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 E 51st Street
3/8: Healthy Hearts
11:30am, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, NYC Richard L. Menschel Education Center, 2nd Floor
This lecture will cover issues such as treatment options and heart disease prevention. Visit hss.edu/pped to register. For more information, call Maggie Wimmer at 212-774-2647 or email pped@hss.edu.
3/8: New Senior Space for John Jay Park
6:30 - 8:30 am John Jay Park
540 East 76th Street
RSVP 212-860-1950
Every Thursday in March Except 3/15: Computer Lab
12:00pm, 96th Street Library
Tech volunteers will help you answer any of your technology questions or issues, ranging from Microsoft Word to using Facebook. You are encouraged to take your own laptop or tablet, but if you can’t, the library will give you one.
Sign-up is required. To sign up, do so in-person or call 212-289-0908. Please arrive on time so that you don’t lose your spot.
Every Thursday: Computer Basics
12:00 pm, Webster Library Auditorium
By attending this class, you will learn about computer terminology, types of computers, and popular software applications, to name a few. Please register in advance.
Every Friday: AARP Tax-Aide
10:00am, 67th Street Library
AARP volunteers who are certified by the IRS will help prepare tax returns at the 67th Street Library during every Friday in March. This service is at no cost, but it is first-come, first-served. Make sure to bring all of your materials with you and arrive early.
3/10: Carl Schurz Park Conservancy Volunteer Gardening
9:30am, 86th Street at East End Avenue
This group meets monthly to work in the park. Students or children who participate must be with adults or parents who will work with them.
3/14: Embodied: Coping with Cancer and Body Image Changes
5:30 pm, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Zuckerman Research Center 417 East 68th Street Room ZRC-136 New York, NY 10065
This program will cover common body image concerns for male and female cancer survivors of all ages. It will go over how physical changes after treatment can impact one’s sense of self in both private and social lives.
Please call 646-888-8106 or email rlac@mskcc.org.
3/14, 3/21, 3/28: Meditation 201: Softening the Heart
3:15 pm, Location: Bendheim Integrative Medicine Center, 1429 First Avenue at East 74th Street, New York, NY 10021
Meditation 201 Softening the Heart is a six-week course designed to build upon practices introduced in Meditation 101. Your mind-body teacher will empower you to practice “loving kindness”, self-compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness. Acting on these attitudes help us to behaviors that reduce stress, build resilience and flexibility, and empower us to meet challenging situations with greater ease.
Please call the Integrative Medicine Service at 646-888-0800 to join.
3/15: Migraines
2:30pm, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, NYC Richard L. Menschel Education Center, 2nd Floor
This lecture will cover issues such as the role of genetic and environmental factors in migraines, treatment options for migraines, and ways to prevent migraine headaches. Visit hss.edu/pped to register. For more information, call Maggie Wimmer at 212-774-2647 or email pped@hss.edu.
3/15 and 3/22: Introduction to the Internet
12:00pm, Webster Library Auditorium
The two-part workshop will teach people how to use the internet for functions such as how to break down a web address, how to use search engines, and how to use email.
3/17: Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
9:00am, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, 411 East 76th Street
RSVP 212-860-1950
3/19: Cardiac Corner - Blood Pressure Screening
10:00am to 11:00am, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065
Blood pressure is one of the most important screenings. High blood pressure can greatly increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms and can only be detected by measuring it.
February 26th, March 19th and March 26
For questions: call (212) 746-9294 or email perelmanheartedu@nyp.org
3/22: Don’t Shrug it Off: Shoulder Injury Treatment & Prevention
5:30pm, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, NYC Richard L. Menschel Education Center, 2nd Floor
This lecture will cover issues such as types and causes of shoulder injuries, treatment options, and injury prevention. Visit hss.edu/pped to register. For more information, call Maggie Wimmer at 212-774-2647 or email pped@hss.edu
3/24: Career Transition: Job Search 101
2:00pm, Yorkville Library Meeting Room
Barbara Phillips, a speaker, trainer, and certified professional coach, will help people understand more about the job search process and how you can get a “best fit” job. She will talk about strategies such as how to have an effective job search strategy, strategies for networking, and how to have a strong resume.
There will be a question and answer session so that participants’ concerns can be addressed.
3/25: Carl Schurz Park Conservancy Easter Egg Hunt
11:00am, 86th Street at East End Avenue
There will be egg hunts every twenty minutes between 11:00am and 1:00pm. Kids can meet the Carl Schurz bunny and kids will also get a egg collection bag and glitter cheek, or hand stamp.
3/26: Himan Brown Senior Program
1:00 pm Warburg Lounge at the 92Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue
RSVP
3/16 Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
Storytime for Kids 2-6-year-olds
This week it’s all about families. What do families mean today? Play games and do crafts too.
3/26: Resume Workshop
6:00pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Do you need help with your resume? If so, come and learn about different resume types and about how you can write your own resume. Please register in advance.
3/27: Healthy Heart Talks - Cooking Demonstration
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
1:00 - 2:00pm525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065
Healthy Heart Talks are presentation related to heart health by NYP professionals. The presentations are informal and interactive allowing you the opportunity learn in a relaxing environment.For questions: call (212) 746-9294 or email perelmanheartedu@nyp.org