2014-4 April Newsletter 4-3-14 PROOFED
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BLOCK ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER April 15, 2013 EDITOR: Jon Smith Noreen Whysel - Block Association Web Developer The Community Corner th We are thrilled to introduce you to one of our West 104 St. block Information on Current Community Issues residents: Noreen Whysel. Noreen and a team of fellow students at Pratt Institute’s School of Library and Information Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Science have graciously agreed to revise our website to make it more user-friendly and suited to your needs. As many of you are aware, we have had three pedestrian Noreen has been a resident of 895 West End Ave since 2006 fatalities which occurred on Broadway, 96th Street and West along with her husband Brett and their two girls. Noreen and her End Ave. Wide, car-centric streets are the most dangerous family have lived in many areas of the to walk in New York City and Broadway has been deemed city prior to moving to our west side the most dangerous road according to the Tri-State community and comparatively she Transportation Campaign’s study of the number of rates our neighborhood as the best she pedestrian and cyclist fatalities from 2010 through 2012. has lived in so far and particularly appreciates our focus on the residents Based on NYPD preliminary figures, 168 pedestrians and 10 and community interests. cyclists were killed by city motorists in 2013 and 16,059 th Noreen graduated in 1990 from pedestrians and cyclists were injured. In the 24 Precinct, Columbia University with a degree in 15 pedestrians and 2 cyclists were injured in 2013. While Psychology. As an employee of Price our seniors make up 12% of the population in New York City, Waterhouse in the early 1990s, she they account for 39% of the pedestrian fatalities. The causes developed and maintained many of these accidents include, in order of occurrence: speeding, websites and has worked as a driver inattention or distraction, failure to yield right-of-way, consultant for Information Architecture alcohol/drug use, and improper lane changes or backing up. Institute and other website development and technology On January 30, 2014, DOT presented a proposal for safety management projects. improvements at the intersection of Broadway and W. 96th Noreen obtained her Master of Science in Library Information St at a special meeting of Community Board 7. The proposal Science in February of this year. As we know, the libraries are will reduce conflicts between pedestrians and motor vehicles moving towards technology as their means of operation – no at the busy intersection while increasing pedestrian crossing more Dewey Decimal System! As a result, her advanced degree options and reducing wait time. On February 4, 2014, included study on website development and maintenance using Community Board 7 passed a resolution incorporating the the most advanced technological means available today. She DOT’s proposals which include: worked on a number of local history and cultural heritage th projects, including a timeline visualization of Gil Tauber’s • Change the timing of the lights at Broadway & 96 architectural history, which will be featured on the new site. Street so vehicles just making the light at Broadway will be unable to continue all the way across Currently, our website is hopelessly outdated and perhaps the Broadway. reason why many of you rated the website low on our recent Continued on Pg 2 Continued on Pg 3 Donate to Help Victims of the Harlem Gas Explosion As you are probably aware, part of the East Harlem Additionally, non-perishable items are being collected at two community has been devastated by the gas explosion on locations: the East Harlem Merchants Association, 309 E. 116th Street & Park Avenue. Many lives have been lost and 108th Street, 212-427-1445, and La Casa Azul Bookstore, many people are left homeless. 143 E. 103rd Street, 212-426-2626. Also, State Senator Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker, Melissa Mark- Jose M. Serrano's District Office, located at 157 E. 104th Viverito have established a fund for contributions to support Street will be accepting donations of clothing and canned the victims of the explosion. Contributions to the fund will goods for the victims and their families. Phone number: help victims and families pay for housing, funerals, 212-828-5829. replacement of lost possessions and counseling services. We know that you will respond to their need as you always You can send your contributions by mail and make checks do when such tragic events affect others. payable to "Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City", 253 Thank you. Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Please note on your check that the donation is for the "East Harlem Building Miriam Febus - President, West Side Federation of Collapse Relief Effort." Neighborhood & Block Associations West 104 Newsletter April 2014 1 www.bloomingdale.org Web Developer Continued from page 1 W 104 ST BLOCK ASSN FINANCIAL REPORT March 2014 Opening Balance (3/01/14)! $35415.67 Income !Dues! !9604.00 ! Newsletter Ads!! 595.00 ! Interest ! ! 3.61! ! Total ! !+10,202.61 !!+10,202.61 Disbursements ! Guard service !! 3423.47 The Team: Jan Diolola, Storey Radziunas, Eleanor Meyer, Noreen Whysel ! Guard Supplement!! 200.00 ! Total ! ! -3623.47 !! -3623.47 survey. Noreen and her team Noreen targets June 2014 as our Deposit delayed!!!! +300.00 have agreed to update our “go-live” date for our new website website so that it will be easier to and will include the many navigate, find information, and features you have requested Closing Balance (3/31/14) !! $42294.81 include electronic payment of plus: your dues through PayPal. In • Access to the website via If you would like to write for the 104th Street Newsletter, order to ensure your needs are devices such as iPads and we’d love to hear from you. Please send Jon an email met, Noreen’s team conducted an mobile phones informal survey on what elements at: people would like to see on a • School Page [email protected] block association website. You • Community Interest Page may have met some of them at • PayPal for dues payment Contributors to the April issue: the Yard Sale in September. They Barbara Boynton, Barbara Bryan, Bonnie Dry, interviewed all types of people • Quick searches – easy Miriam Febus, Mary Koval, Nancy Lian, Joyce Mann, which included seniors, young navigation Lynn Max, Cherlyn Smith, Jon Smith singles, and couples with • Legible font children. They compiled the The ability to send newsletters th results which Noreen presented • West 104 Street Block Association Board electronically to the Board on January 14, 2014. These features are just a few of President Gary Waskow 320 RSD 212.932.9082 the enhancements to our VP Alex Grannis 895 WEA 212.316.1644 The respondents to the survey website. Most importantly, all Secretary Mary Koval 895 WEA 212.866.3556 requested that the website be re- Board members will have the organized to find information Treasurer Barbara Boynton 905 WEA 212.864.1011 ability to change, add, or delete more easily with an emphasis on Members Beverly Block, 320 RSD 440.935.0607 sections of the website so it will portraying a “neighborhood feel”. Barbara Bryan 315 RSD 212.864.5663 always be current and They would like a legible font and Bonnie Dry 315 RSD 212.222.2102 informative. quick searches. Our seniors Trudie Grace 308 W 104 212.222.2303 would like to have clear, legible We are very lucky to have an Jeff Howitt 315 RSD 212.866.5569 information on services available information architect on our block Nancy Lian 320 RSD 212.316.6112 to them in our neighborhood and to develop our “new and Joyce Mann 309 W 104 212.721.6341 improved” website that will be our families requested a School Martin Mann 309 W 104 212.721.6341 informative for all our residents. Page on which school alerts Lynn Max 315 RSD 212.666.3129 could be posted and also On behalf of you, our block Jon Smith 320 RSD 212.222.4431 perhaps an on-line forum. All residents, I thank Noreen and her respondents requested more fellow classmates for their efforts Phyllis Sperling 315 RSD 212.595.8981 information on community activity in creating the new website. Steven Zirinsky 315 RSD 212.866.6732 and building safety. Mary Koval Emeritus Sid Herzfeld, 895 WEA 212.749.0085 www.bloomingdale.org 2 West 104 Newsletter April 2014 COMMUNITY CORNER Community Corner Continued from page 1 • Change the timing of the lights on 97th Street, Pedestrians: Amsterdam Avenue to Riverside Drive, so that vehicles § Cross at intersections and marked crosswalks. cannot make all lights without stopping. § Use sidewalks; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing • Change the timing of the lights at 96th and West End traffic so you see vehicles and drivers see you. Avenue, so that vehicles turning left (south) from 97th § Stay visible after dark and in bad weather by wearing Street onto West End Avenue cannot make the light at light-colored or reflective clothing. 96th Street and West End Avenue (towards the HHP.) § Watch for vehicles backing out of parking spaces and exiting driveways. • Change the timing of the lights on West End Avenue, § Make eye contact with drivers so they see you. th for streets between 106 and 96th so that vehicles § Look left, look right, and then look left again before cannot make all lights without stopping. crossing a street. For more information on the resolution, visit the CB7 website at: § Do not text or be distracted while crossing intersections www.nyc.gov/html/mancb7/html/home Cyclists: • Ride in the street, not on the sidewalks (unless rider is There are many initiatives underway to address the problem of age 12 or younger and the bicycle's wheels are less pedestrian and cyclist safety.