e-NEWSLETTER

JULY 2010

RECENT NEWS ARTICLES

Sister Mary Celine Graham, 83, Is Killed by a Van Fleeing the Police in Harlem (Source: The New York Times)

"An 83-year-old Roman Catholic nun was killed and four others were injured after a minivan racing to flee the police crashed into another car in Harlem, sending the minivan over a traffic island and into a group of pedestrians. The nun, Sister Mary Celine Graham, of the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, in Harlem, was with a home health aide waiting to cross the wide expanse of Lenox Avenue and West 122nd Street around 9:30 a.m. when the blue Chrysler minivan slammed into them. Sister Mary Celine was pronounced dead at Harlem Hospital. The aide, Patricia Cruz, 58, was in critical condition at the hospital with internal injuries but was expected to recover, family members said." Click here to read the rest of the June 22nd article by New York Times reporters Karen Zraick and Ray Rivera.

East Harlem Health Care Crisis Continues: North General Hospital Bankrupt and Shuttered; Harlem Hospital Ends Investigation of Unread Heart Tests; and (In An Unrelated Case), Former Employee Charged With Computer Trespassing

BRIDGES: Free 6-Week Summer Camp for 8th Grade Middle School Students @ Isaac Newton Middle School on Pleasant Avenue at 115th Street (July 12 through August 20)

Don't wait! Register now for BRIDGES, a free, 6-week, summer camp for students entering the 8th or 9th grade in September. The program runs July 12 through August 20th (Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm). Activities will include dance, digital photography, "green" art, robotics, sports, college tours, leadership, and weekly trips to Great Adventures, Bear Mountain, Seaport). For more information, call program coordinators Robert Johnson at (646) 326-1860 or Sarah Kaplan at (646) 326-1879.

Free Summer Camp for Middle School Students, August 23-27 @ the Mount Sinai Medical Center (100th St and Madison Ave.) DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 16!

Want to (1) learn what it's like to be a doctor: (2) be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); (3) have fun with others your age? If so, you can apply to the MedStart Summer Camp! Need more information? Contact us via e-mail at: medstart.sinai@gmail.com or call (347) 640-3509 for an application.

NYC Launches Innovative Urbancanvas Design Competition To Beautify Construction Sites With Temporary Art; Application Deadline: July 19th

The urbancanvas Design Competition is a unique contest seeking to challenge professional artists and designers to use temporary protective structures (construction fences, sidewalk sheds, supported scaffolds and cocoon systems) throughout NYC as blank canvases on which to express their creativity through public art. The design competition jury will recommend six to eight proposals to a design commission for review. Finalists will then be featured in a public vote. Registration deadline is July 19th. Visit: www.nyc.gov/urbancanvas for more information about the contest.

SUMMER NIGHTS: Free Concerts Every Thursday through August 5, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm @ El Museo del Barrio @ 1230 Fifth Avenue / 104th Street

El Museo del Barrio celebrates the diversity of contemporary Latin music with this free summer concert series sponsored by Bloomberg. Don’t miss this exciting line-up of performers from around the world as they bring a host of styles to the El Museo stage. From die-hard Salsa to Afro-beat, Charanga and Reggaeton, a world of music awaits! Admission: Free. Space is limited. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Harlem in July: Activist Vandana Shiva, Wednesday, July 7th from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Riverside Church South Hall, 490 Riverside Drive

Join philosopher, environmental activist, eco-feminist and author Dr. Vandana Shiva in a discussion at Riverside Church. Dr. Shiva has argued for the wisdom of many traditional practices, as is evident from her work at Navdanya, a 20 acre organic farm in Uttranchal, North India, where she is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. One of the ongoing programs at Navdanya is "Diverse Women for Diversity," which seeks to herald a global campaign of women on biodiversity, cultural diversity and food security. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to thecssr@gmail.com.

Space for Potential: Mixing Affordability and Green Design Wednesday, July 7th at 7pm / 7:30 reception @ Tapestry - 245 East 124th Street

No Longer Empty, in collaboration with the newly formed Columbia University's GSAPP Alumni Association and the Columbia University Affordable Housing Group, invite you to visit Tapestry for a cocktail reception and panel discussion exploring the affordable housing, architecture and the impact of green design on local communities.

Four-Week Play-writing Workshop with OBIE-Award-Winner Carmen Rivera, Thursdays, from 6:00 - 8:30 from July 8th to 29th @ Julia de Burgos Cultural Center 1680 Lexington Avenue / 106th St.

Aspiring playwrights of all ages are encouraged to attend a four-week workshop led by Carmen Rivera, co-author of the Broadway musical biography "Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz" and other award-winning plays. The focus will be on the creation of a one-act play for children and young audiences, with the possibility of development, informal and public readings, and final production. Plays can be written in English or Spanish. Limited Space. Registration/application by email to Danisarte@aol.com.

Sinergia's Artist Contest (Deadline: July 16th)

Calling all East Harlem artists! Sinergia, a community based, multi-service organization for families of children with disabilities, will be closing its exhibit of Puerto Rican artist Samuel Lind's work. Sinergia is looking for talented local artists to showcase their art in the agency's beautiful gallery space. If you or someone you know would like to be considered for an exhibit, please join Sinergia's Facebook page and submit pictures of your artwork with your contact information. Sinergia will be accepting submissions until Friday, July 16th at 11:30pm. For more information email info@sinergiany.org.

Learn About the Harvest Home 104th Street Play Street! Wednesday July 7th from 5:30-7:00 pm @ Union Settlement Association (237 East 104th Street

Starting July 15th, running through the end of August, a new Play Street is coming to 104th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues on Thursdays, from 10am to 2pm! Come to this informational meeting to learn more and get involved! Questions? Email: nycsafh@gmail.com or call (646) 672-2403.

A conversation With Photographer Frank Stewart, Thursday, July 8th from 6:30 – 8:30pm @ the National Jazz Museum Visitors Center, 104 East 126th Street, Suite 2C (FREE)

Frank Stewart is a world-renowned photographer whose image-making work rises to the level of fine art. Stewart is a member of Kamoinge, a New York-based collective of African-American photographers. In addition to showing examples of his excellent jazz photography, Stewart will share anecdotes about his world travels. For more details call (212) 348-8300.

Sinergia's 7th Annual Family Picnic, Friday, July 9th from 12 – 4 pm, Central Park West Entrance at 67th Street (across from "Tavern on the Green")

Sinergia, East Harlem's community based, multi-service organization for families of children with disabilities invites their clients to attend the agency’s annual picnic. There will be food, beverages, games, and lots of fun! Parents, bring your children and blankets, we'll take care of the rest! Please call your Service Coordinator to confirm your attendance toll free at: (866) 867-9665.

Stickball Hall of Fame Annual Ceremony, Friday, July 9th @ 6:00 PM, The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue / 104th Street (Free)

Stickball, the quintessential New York game, transforms the city’s streets into ball fields and serves as a powerful community builder. The Stickball Hall of Fame works to preserve and continue the game and recognizes distinguished players and community activists at this annual induction ceremony. For more details, call (212) 534-1672, ext. 3395.

SummerStage with Jimmy Cliff, Trevor Hall & Victor Démé, Sunday, July 11th from 3:00pm - 7:00pm, Central Park SummerStage (Rumsey Field)

Jimmy Cliff is possibly the best-known living Jamaican reggae musician and songwriter. Trevor Hall‘s unconventional mix of acoustic rock and reggae serves as a vibrant landscape for his thought provoking, inspiring lyrics, which he delivers with a surprisingly soulful voice. Victor Démé was born in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. In 2009, his self-titled debut of rootsy blues was released internationally. Cost: $5 suggested donation.

El Museo del Barrio, in collaboration with La Casa Azul Bookstore, presents "Efrain’s Secret" by Sofia Quintero, Tuesday, July 13th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm en El Cafe de El Museo del Barrio @ 1230 Fifth Avenue / 104th Street Free Admission (RSVP Required)

In Sofia Quintero’s stunning debut, ambitious high school senior Efrain Rodriguez dreams of escaping the South Bronx for an Ivy League college. But how is his family going to afford to afford it? Left with few options, Efrain embarks on a double life—honor student by day, drug peddler at night—convinced that by temporarily capitulating to society’s negative expectations of a boy like him, he can eventually defy them. Author will be present for discussion. Please note: a printed RSVP confirmation is required to check-in.

Do you want safer streets? Join Transportation Alternatives' East Side Streets Coalition! Meet Up On Wednesday July 14th from 5:30pm - 7pm @ the Vanderbilt YMCA, 224 East 47th Street

Coalition members will be part of the first community-driven East Side organizing initiative aimed at reducing vehicle crashes and improving pedestrian, bicyclist and transit rider safety over the next 10 years. This is an exciting opportunity to truly affect NYC and make the entire East Side accessible to everyone. RSVP to Julia De Martini Day by email: julia@transalt.org or phone: 646-873-6026.

Film: Nina Simone Great Performances: College Concerts and Interviews, Wednesday, July 14th from 7:00 – 9:30pm @ Marcus Garvey Park (Lawn A, on the Madison Ave. side of the park / 122nd and 124th St.) FREE

A rare film of a radical artist Nina Simone in performance and in interviews, where she shares her views on race relations, and the role artists play in culture and society. This event is brought to you by the Maysles Cinema and The National Jazz Museum of Harlem. For more information call (212) 348-8300.

Annual Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Friday, July 16th 449 East 115th Street 1st Avenue / Pleasant Avenue

The Our Lady of Mt. Carmel annual feast (July 16) continues a tradition brought by Italian immigrants from Polla, Salerno more than 100 years ago. In the 1930s, the festa drew tens of thousands of people from across the city. Pilgrims often walked barefoot from neighborhoods miles away, camped out in nearby Thomas Jefferson Park, and then carried elaborate candles in the procession. These candles were shaped like the body parts for which the supplicant was asking grace, or their weight corresponded to the body weight of the person for whom prayers were being offered. Today a few Italians are joined by hundreds of new immigrants from Haiti and the Dominican Republic as the icon of the saint (brought from Italy in 19th century) is paraded on a float through the streets of East Harlem.

Know Your Rights 2-Day Workshop, Saturday July 17th and Sunday, July 18th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm @ the Maysles Cinema, 343 Malcolm X Boulevard / Lenox Avenue (bet. 127th and 128th Streets)

Know what to do if a police officer stops you on the street? Know what to do if a police vehicle pulls you over while driving? Know Your Rights! FREE For All Youth (aged 13-23) $10.00 suggested donation For Adults (No one turned away for the lack of funds). Free food, refreshments & materials for youth. For details and reservations contact Bro. Shep: panthershepcat@aol.com or (212) 650-5008.

Panel Discussion on Clean Heating Oil Conversion, Wednesday, July 21 at 6:30 pm, Doyle New York, 175 East 87th Street

Please join CIVITAS to learn more about the process for large apartment buildings to switch to cleaner heating oil. What are the financial, environmental, and social benefits? Stay tuned for a panel of leading experts on the conversion process, including the Environmental Defense Fund’s Isabelle Silverman. RSVP to info@civitasnyc.org.

Play Ball: The 80th Anniversary of the First Negro League Game at Yankee Stadium, Monday, July 26th @ 6:30 PM, The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue / 104th Street (Free)

On July 5, 1930, the first Negro League baseball game was played at Yankee Stadium, ushering in a new era in American professional sports. Join players Bob Scott and Jim Robinson, author Dr. Lawrence Hogan, and baseball historian John Thorn for a conversation about the game, the times, and what the anniversary tells us about how America has, and hasn't, changed in the last 80 years. $ Reservations required. For more information call (917) 492-3395.

Communities and Justice 2-Day Conference: Partnerships & Challenges for the 21st Century, July 28th - July 29th @ John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 899 10th Avenue

Learn about national trends in prosecution, crime prevention, and criminal justice strategies from expert prosecutors, community advocates, and academic specialists. Format will include moderated panels and breakout sessions. Be a part of this collaborative effort to keep our communities safe and vibrant. Call (212) 335-9006 or e-mail: conference@dany.nyc.gov to RSVP.

Despite Legal Victory, East Harlem Residents Still Without Equitable Access - RISF Celebrates New "Fields" While Private Schools Retain Control Over Public Parkland on Randall's Island

© Copyright 2010
East Harlem Preservation, Inc. is a volunteer advocacy organization founded in 2005 to promote, preserve, and protect the neighborhood's rich cultural, architectural and environmental history. We provide news and updates on large-scale development, displacement and other issues of public concern in East Harlem and surrounding areas through a regularly updated web site, detailed email bulletins, and an extensive electronic and photographic library. Our web site is also available to help promote the work of neighborhood organizations and nonprofit cultural, educational, health, business, and environmental agencies. East Harlem Preservation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Secure donations can be made through the PayPal button on our home page. Feel free to drop us a line if you’d prefer to volunteer your talent, services, or time. Please also be sure to also keep us informed abut your own activities as we continue to promote the good work that we all do for our community!