Turtle Bay News A Publication of the Turtle Bay Association April 2017 Vol. 60, No. 2 Greenacre Park Fights for Light Against Current Version of East Side Rezoning Plan he Greenacre Foundation has mobi- the proposed Midtown East Side Rezon- lized the “Fight for Light” on behalf ing plan. of Greenacre Park to preserve the T Greenacre Park is situated on 51st Street park’s sunlight. The goal is to prevent between Second and Third Avenues and the onset of shadows that would darken is one of only three “vest-pocket” parks the space in the afternoon if develop- in New York City. The singular outdoor ment of several taller buildings is per- space – about the size of a tennis court – mitted, to the south, through adoption of was designed for maximum beauty and function by internationally acclaimed landscape architects Sasaki Associates. It has become a beloved haven for those moveable tables and chairs, and an out- who live and work in Turtle Bay. door cafe. The space even accommodates First opened in 1971 through the efforts nature; the sight of sparrows indulging of the late Mrs. Jean Mauzé, the former in a daily bath where water runs into a Abby Rockefeller, the park features a granite basin is a delight. Today, the care 25-foot-high waterfall sculpted from of the park remains “in the family” in huge granite blocks, honey locust trees, that Ms. Mauze’s granddaughter, Gail lush plantings, sunny seating areas with continued on page 3 Jay A. Litwin, 40-Year Chairman of 17th Precinct Event Calendar Community Council, Retires Katharine Hepburn Birthday Party A celebratory crowd of police officers and Saturday, May 13, 1 - 3 pm community residents gathered at the 17th Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Precinct, on March 23, to celebrate Jay A. (47/Second) Litwin’s achievements as Chairman of the Entertainment and Garden Tour Free Coffee and Birthday Cake 17th Precinct Community Council. After a _______ record, event-filled 40-year term of service Sing For Hope Piano in the post, Jay has officially retired. The Painted by Artist gathering coincided with Jay’s birthday June 7 through June 27 and afforded the opportunity for tributes Dag Hammarskjold Plaza and walks down memory lane by those (47/Second) _______ who know Jay and have worked with him Jay Litwin accepts plaque from TBA Director over the years. A custom-made bench with Bunny Blei. TBA Spring Street Fair a plaque was dedicated to Jay and now sits Saturday, June 24, 10 am - 5 pm police and community residents and lead- in the 17th Precinct where it will be seen Proceeds go to charity. ers, clergy, and business owners. As part Lexington Avenue, 42nd - 54th Streets and put to good use every day. of the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau Rain or Shine The NYPD’s Community Councils were their mission is to establish and maintain established in 1943. Today, there are 86 relationships and open lines of communica- councils throughout the five boroughs that tion with the community; address questions act as conduits of information between the continued on page 3 Turtle Bay Association • 224 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 • (p) 212-751-5465 • (f) 212-751-4941 • [email protected] • turtlebay-nyc.org Recent News from Elected TBA Who’s Who Newsworthy Notes Officials Turtle Bay Association Sing For Hope Piano Coming to Dag 224 East 47th Street Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney New York, NY 10017 Hammarskjold Plaza Introduced a bill Phone: 212-751-5465 A unique artist-painted piano will reside designed to in- Fax: 212-751-4941 in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, watched crease loan oppor- Email: [email protected] over by a “piano buddy,” and available for tunities for small Website: www.turtlebay-nyc.org visitors of all ages to play. The piano will businesses in de- Check our Bulletin Board: be one of 50 to 60 such pianos placed in veloping commu- East side of Second Avenue public spaces throughout the city and in- nities. If passed as between 48th and 49th Streets, dividually painted by a professional and drafted, the Invest- outside wall of supermarket. emerging artist. The piano will stay in the ing in America’s park from June 6 through June 27 and will Small Businesses then be donated to a city school. Act of 2017 would Board of Directors Sing for Hope’s programs aim to bring provide grants to Officers the power of the arts to under-resourced Community De- President: William E. Curtis Secretary: Mary Marangi communities, including schoolchil- velopment Financial Institutions (CD- Treasurer: Dick Irwin dren, health care patients, veterans, FIs) to establish loan-loss reserve funds for small business loans under $50,000. Vice Presidents: Millie Margiotta seniors and the disabled. Dolores Marsh, Bruce Silberblatt This year, Sing for Hope President Trump’s recent budget proposal is working with the New would cut all grant funding from the CDFI Directors Ethel Bendove, Bunny Blei, York City Department of Fund. “This is not the time to cut funding Meryl Brodsky, Orin Buck, Education. for CDFIs; it’s a time to expand,” Malo- ney said. Paul Crawford, William E. Curtis, To learn more and help make this an an- Lee Frankel, Phyllis Gitomer, nual city event visit singforhope.org Senator Liz Krueger Vivian Gordon, Denise Hamilton, Marie-Louise Handal, Bill Huxley, Co-sponsor of an Dick Irwin, Florence Kelly, initiative to enact a Mary F. Marangi, Millie Margiotta, Sing-Along reproductive health Mark P. Markowski, Dolores Marsh, act and to create a Pat McDougald, Michael Resnick, Leader Wanted new article of the Carol Rinzler, Bruce Silberblatt by Public Health Law Honorry Emeriti Grand Central (PHL) that revises Barbara Connolly Library Branch existing provisions relating to abortion. Would you enjoy leading a The bill in its current form upholds “… Community Calendar regular informal sing-along? comprehensive reproductive health care, 17th Precinct Community Council including contraception and abortion, [a] A recent sing-along at Open Meeting s a fundamental component of a woman's the library left participants Last Tuesday every month, 6 pm health, privacy and equality. The proposed wanting more. Sutton Place Synagogue bill declares that it is the public policy of 225 East 51st Street If interested, please contact: New York State that every individual pos- 212-826-3228 Laura Stein sesses a fundamental right of privacy and (No meetings July, August, December) Adult Librarian equality with respect to their personal re- Grand Central Library continued on page 4 135 E. 46th St., Community Board 6 New York, NY 10017 Full Board Meeting 212-621-0670 Second Wednesday every month, Email: [email protected] Welcome 7 pm New Business Member NYU Medical Center 550 First Avenue ♦ Shih Lee Good Eats 212-319-3750 Editorial Committee 311 East 45th Street Now live online at Editor: Lee Frankel Tel: 917-903-2888 http://wp.cbsix.org/live Layout: Hilary Black www.shihlee.com Photographs: Vivian Gordon 20% Discount with TBA card 2 Turtle Bay News www.turtlebay-nyc.org Greenacre Park continued from page 1 “The sunshine makes an indispensable Caulkins, oversees its operations as the contribution to the park’s unique appeal.” President of the Greenacre Foundation. Fight for Light is focusing on building “Greenacre Park has provided innumer- public awareness of the issue, and in- able moments of welcome serenity and cludes the launch of a website, the un- escape for residents, families, visitors, veiling of Facebook, Twitter, and Insta- and local workers,” says Ms. Caulkins. gram channels, outreach to local media, and ongoing communications with city officials. The campaign is making an impact. “cannot afford to allow development un- Through the efforts of park supporters, der the East Midtown rezoning proposal Community Board 6 adopted a resolu- to cast such an important resource as tion on March 8 calling upon the City Greenacre Park in additional shadow.” Council to modify the rezoning plan so that the park’s sunlight could be pre- And while it is premature to predict the served. Advocates also attracted the sup- final outcome of the rezoning plan, the port of a prominent ally when they were message seems to be getting through. joined by the Municipal Arts Society in More information about Greenacre Park pushing for mitigating measures. In a and the Fight for Light is available at March 7 letter to Community Board 6, GreenacrePark.org, Facebook, Twitter the Society said that the neighborhood and Instagram. Jay Litwin Retires continued from page 1 volved. Open meetings take place on the and concerns; and work to improve the last Tuesday of the month (except July, Board at Work quality of life in neighborhoods. The Com- August and December), at 6 p.m., at Sutton Working with advocacy groups for the munity Councils gather intelligence, dispel Place Synagogue, 225 East 51st Street. The preservation of Turtle Bay in light of the rumors, disseminate accurate information precinct is comprised of Beekman Place, proposed East Side Rezoning Plan. and collaborate with other city agencies Kips Bay, Midtown East, Murray Hill, Sut- Tracking development plans and construc- ton Place, Tudor City and Turtle Bay. The tion at building sites in Turtle Bay and in and community-based organizations. They nearby Manhattan. help raise awareness and ensure that the 17th Precinct is located at 167 East 51st Street, 212-826-3211. Maintaining connections with the federal, needs of the community are reported and state and city elected officials who represent addressed. Those who serve on Commu- us. nity Councils are volunteers who give their Collaborating with local representative time and effort, and are committed to the agencies, such as Community Board 6, to betterment of their communities.