Information that may be of interest… May 3, 2020 This information is provided by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association. We are sharing it as a service to our members. If this notice does not interest you, please disregard it. You can also find these weekly newsletters online in PDF (printable) format at www.murrayhillnyc.org in the News section, look for Weekly Eblasts 2021. Please share this email with a friend, neighbor or colleague. You can sign up for these emails at www.murrayhillnyc.org, scroll down the Also Happening column. (new) Food Scraps Drop-Off Site at St. Vartan's Park (for composting) Starting May 8 you can drop off food scraps for composting at St. Vartan's Park (near the entrance at 1st Avenue and 36th Street). Open Saturdays from 10am-4pm. See flyer with guidelines on what types of food scraps to drop off. Learn more and volunteer online or email [email protected]. Vote for the AKC Museum of the Dog! Best New Museum The American Kennel Club MOD has been nominated for Best New Museum for USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice travel awards! Voting is open for only a few more days, and you can vote once a day. Vote for the AKC MoD at 10best.com/awards/travel/best-new-museum-2021/american- kennel-club-museum-of-the-dog. American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, 101 Park Avenue (40th Street on the Plaza), New York, NY 10178, 212-696-8360, museumofthedog.org. Astro Gallery of Gems is having a mother’s day sale. Save 35% by using keyword MOMDAY at checkout. Learn more at astrogallery.com/collections/all-except-giftcards-1. (they accept bitcoin), 417 5th Avenue (between 37th & 38th Street), 212-889-9000. 1 Maryel School of New York will be relocating to a new home at 9 East 29th Street. The new location will be able to accommodate students from preschool through 8th Grade, and will have two entrances: Preschool (2’s, 3’s, and Pre-Kindergarten) at 22 East 30th Street and Elementary School (K-8th Grade) at 9 East 29th Street. The new space is 17,000 sq ft divided into three floors, and includes a garden, new classrooms, lunchroom, indoor playroom, science room, music room, art room, and more. They are signing a long term lease. Construction of their new space will start in May, and they intend to begin the 2021-2022 school year in their new home. Maryel is currently located at 28 East 35th Street, New York. NY 10016, telephone 212-213-2097. NY Project Hope helps New Yorkers understand their reaction and emotions during the COVID- 19 public health emergency. Through an emotional support helpline, educational materials, and trusted referrals, NY Project Hope helps people manage and cope with changes brought on by COVID-19. Share this free, confidential, and anonymous resource nyprojecthope.org. Sign The Petition to NYC Mayoral Candidates: Our Next Mayor Must Value Preserving Landmarks and Neighborhoods The campaign for Mayor of New York City is in full swing, with primary elections June 22. The next Mayor needs to know that historic preservation makes for a better and more resilient NYC. It encourages investment and economic development, it’s green, it helps preserve, protect, and uplift diverse histories and communities, and makes it easier for longtime residents and small businesses to stay in their homes. Big real estate is pouring millions into the Mayoral race, and they’re gunning for longstanding landmark and zoning protections that put people and communities first. Let the candidates know you want a diverse, sustainable, equitable and beautiful NYC, and that historic preservation is a key part of that. Sign the petition to Mayoral candidates sponsored by Village Preservation and a coalition of NYC preservation and neighborhood organizations. Sign the petition chng.it/cRRPvhWwD7. The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association endorses this petition. Photos 2 ‘Pincushion’ flower arrangement by Floratorium (at 39th Street at 7th Avenue in the Garment District) 3 Murray Hill House landscaping (Lexington at 35th Street) Tulips on Park Avenue courtesy of Patrons of Park Avenue (from 34th to 39th Street) How you can help Citizen Public Health Training (several dates available) 4 New York State’s free new online course to help people recover from the pandemic and prepare for future health crises. In partnership with Cornell University, the 16-hour course will focus on health communication and community engagement to empower New Yorkers as public health leaders. Register at nypublichealth.cornell.edu/nyspublichealth and preview course materials at youtube.com/watch?v=diOOpJZZvQM. Blood Donations Are Urgently Needed The NYC blood supply is at a very low level. If you want to donate, a nearby blood center is: New York Blood Center - Grand Central (please make an appointment) 115 East 41st Street, 800-933-2566, nybloodcenter.org NYC’s reopening New York City is in Phase 4 of the coronavirus reopening, but some activities are on temporary PAUSE or open with reduced capacity due to a relatively high community rate of coronavirus infections. New York Forward Phase 4 webpage. New York State reopening pages: phases, micro-cluster strategy, travel advisory, testing, etc. at forward.ny.gov. New York City reopening guidance www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/article/reopening-guide. New York State coronavirus page coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. New NYC Small Business Services’ Fair Share program will help small businesses apply for Federal government funding www1.nyc.gov/assets/sbs/downloads/pdf/businesses/covid19/fairsharenyc/PPP-flyer.pdf or call 888-SBS-4NYC. (open now) The application portal for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (formerly Save Our Stages) is now open sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/shuttered-venue- operators-grant. 5 (registrations are open, applications open May 3 at 12pm) Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19. Get the program details such as eligibility, funding amount, allowable use of funds and more at sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund. Sign up for RRF email updates at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USSBA_354. Prepare your application. You can register and prepare your application now by reviewing the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart. You will be able to apply through SBA-recognized Point of Sale Restaurant Partners or directly via SBA on the online application portal. Registration with SAM.gov is not required. DUNS or CAGE identifiers are also not required. When to apply. Starting May 3 at 12pm. For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize reviewing applications from small businesses owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Following the 21-day period, all eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications. Key reopening dates See NY Forward for guidance and details forward.ny.gov/phase-four-industries April 26, audience capacity limits for movie theaters increased to the lesser of 100 or 33%, and capacity limits have increased to 50% for museums, aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and other places. May 3, seating inside at bars in NYC and masked dancing at catered events, socially-distanced by household groups will be permitted. Catered events at private residences can resume. May 7, indoor dining capacity in NYC will expand to from 50% to 75%. May 15, offices will increase to from 50% to 75% capacity. May 17, curfew will be lifted for bar and restaurant outdoor service and catered events. And on May 31 curfew will be lifted for bar and restaurant indoor service and all events. May 19, capacity for large-scale arts and sport venues will increase to 25%. Until May 19, capacity is capped at 20% for outdoor venues with 2,500+ capacity, and 10% for indoor venues with 1,500+ capacity. Proof of a negative Covid-19 test or immunization is required for all attendees. Social distancing and face coverings are required for all attendees, as well as strict adherence to all applicable NYS Department of Health guidance. Small and medium performances and live entertainment events are allowed to reopen. Indoor venues with a capacity of less than 1,500 attendees can reopen at 33% capacity up to 100 people or 150 people with proof of a negative Covid-19 test or immunization from all attendees. Outdoor venues with a capacity of less than 2,500 attendees can reopen at 33% capacity, with up to 200 people or 500 people with proof of a negative Covid-19 test or immunization from all attendees. Social distancing and face coverings will be required for all attendees, as well as strict adherence to all applicable NYS Department of Health guidance. 6 May 29 Beaches will open on Memorial Day Weekend. June 26 Outdoor pools across the city will open the day after the last day of school. July 1, Mayor De Blasio set a goal for NYC to be fully reopen (if all goes well with vaccinations and community covid rates). See murrayhillnyc.org for additional COVID-19 information, including Reopening Testing Vaccinations Neighborhood houses of worship, museums, educational and cultural institutions Neighborhood restaurants, food & spirits that are open for delivery & pickup Neighborhood retail, health care (including pets) & services that are open The positive Covid-19 test rate for Murray Hill (zip code 10016) has declined significantly in the past weeks. Keep bending the curve, Murray Hill! The above data is from the NYC Department of Health website COVID-19 tracker www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data.page The view is the 7-day Percent Positive and Test Rate by ZIP code (for Zip code 10016).