“We firmly believe that students exposed to the arts will not only lead more fulfilling lives, but be better prepared for higher education and careers in the 21st century economy,” Reynold Levy, president of Lincoln Center, said in a statement.

LINCOLN SQUARE GYMNASIUM OFFERS FITNESS CLASSES FOR KIDS
The Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, 250 W. 65th St., is now offering dodgeball and general fitness classes for girls and boys ages 7 to 11.

Starting Tuesday, Feb. 5, there’s a fitness/dodgeball program for kids ages 9 to 11. Sessions are from 4 to 6 p.m.; $20 per session or 10 sessions for $180.

A similar program for kids ages 7 and 8 starts Thursday, Feb. 7. The times and prices are the same.
Register Jan. 24, 29, 31 and Feb. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the center.

More classes are coming in April, including Saturday Recreation. All classes are held in the Lincoln Square Center Gymnasium and directed by certified PE teachers.

Learn more by calling 212-874-0860 or visit lsncny.org/.

STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
Celebrate tolerance with the Jan. 29 panel “Making the Connection and Organizing for Change: Anti-Muslim Hate Speech, Government Policies, Police Surveillance and Stop and Frisk.” This event will be held at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew at West 86th Street, with panelists including Muneer Awad, the executive director of the New York Chapter for Islamic Relations, and Alan Levine, a civil rights attorney.

This is the second in a series of three civil rights talks sponsored by the Jews Against Islamophobia Coalition.

RESTAURANT WEEK UNDER WAY
Restaurant Week, which is now more like three weeks, kicked off on Monday, Jan. 14. Hungry customers can choose from a wide array of NYC’s best restaurants, and eat a three-course gourmet dinner for just $38 per person ($25 for lunch). The deals end on Feb. 8. Upper West Siders wanting to stay in the neighborhood can enjoy a meal at participating restaurants like the famous Bar Boulud (Broadway and 63rd Street), the Mediterranean seafood joint Fish Tag (79th and Broadway) or the upscale Mexican Rosa Mexicano (near Lincoln Center).

HELP FIND TRACY HARPER
A missing-person poster has appeared at a bus stop at Amsterdam Avenue and 66th Street. Tracy Harper, an African-American woman, age 48, was last seen at this intersection. She was last seen on Jan. 7 wearing a gray peacoat, jeans and black shoes. Anyone with further information is urged to call the NYPD tips hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

CANE ATTACK
An elderly man reported being caned by an acquaintance on Friday. According to the 81-year-old West 73rd Street resident, he was standing outside a store on West 72nd Street around 6 in the morning in September when a man he knew approached him and hit him twice on the side of the face with an aluminum walking cane. The reason for the attack was not reported, but the victim said that he remains fearful for his safety. He waited to be advised by a city social worker to report the case. The attacker remains at large and is wanted for assault.

BACKPACK SWIPE
A 29-year-old man was grabbing a quick bite at a fast food restaurant on Saturday when his backpack was snatched from right beneath his feet. The West 95th Street resident stopped by the restaurant on Broadway at 7 p.m. to eat. After he had ordered, he sat down with his food and put his backpack on the floor. 10 minutes later, he happened to look down and saw that the backpack was missing. Along with the pack, the victim lost an iPad, a Lenovo ThinkPad, a textbook and his wallet with two credit cards and $100 cash. Police have yet to gather any details on the thief.

ONE HEAVY ROBBERY
An unknown robber or group of robbers broke into a diner on Tuesday, Dec. 11, and got away with $100 in coins. The robber(s) approached the restaurant on West 67th Street at 5 a.m. and smashed the front window to enter. Once inside, the perp(s) located a toolbox beneath the cash register that contained a bunch of coins—200 quarters, 600 nickels and 200 dimes ($50, $30 and $20, respectively). The perps managed to lug the toolbox out of the store and escape without being detected. No security cameras were in the diner or around the area, and the robber(s) are now wanted for burglary.

BAD BULLY
A 12-year-old boy was robbed on Amsterdam Avenue on Monday, Dec. 12. The boy was walking home with a group of friends in the middle of the afternoon when a teenaged stranger approached the group and asked the boy if he could use his cellphone. The boy refused, so the teen grabbed the boy around the neck. He reached into the boy’s pocket and snatched his wallet, then ran on the street toward Columbus Avenue. The teen has yet to be identified and is wanted for robbery.

SCAFFOLDING MOTOR HEIST
A scaffolding company reported last week that two motors were stolen from the top of one of their scaffolds in a residential building on West End Avenue. The motors were last seen on top of the scaffold on Friday, Dec. 7, then were found to be missing last Wednesday. Video surveillance of the area might be able to help police identify the thief or thieves. The motors were worth $10,000 each.

People entering their retirement can expect a shift from constant work to spending more time developing their creative talents. Many seniors spend their golden years learning how to paint, draw and make pottery at local art classes.

Dr. Gail Lowenstein, a geriatrician and concierge doctor serving the North Shore of Nassau County and the surrounding area, explained that once people retire, they tend to lose their sense of purpose and begin searching for something to fill the gap.

She shared the story of a man who lost his wife and started to paint. Even though he had never painted before, this gentleman had the urge to create artwork and donated it to local charities.
“He found his purpose, and it saved him and got him through a difficult time,” she said.

Throughout Manhattan, there are many places that give seniors the opportunity to embrace the art world by creating their own masterpieces.

For the past 10 years the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, located on Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street, has offered numerous art programs, including a class specifically designed for seniors. Elders learn how to paint and draw, with the use of still life and photographs.

Accomplished artist Gene Wiseniewski teaches the class and explained that the program is open to anyone over the age of 50, regardless of prior experience in painting. He also noted that some skilled painters use oil paint while others prefer acrylics.

The program has been a success for the past the few years, and is offered three times a year on Fridays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

“Seniors are the best to work with, because they are very serious, but they also know how to have fun. They are very inspirational too,” Wiseniewski said.

Another location on the Upper West Side is the Art Students League of New York, which offers a range of classes for those looking to kick-start their creative impulse. For more than 100 years, the league has taught the language of art. Some of America’s most prominent artists have studied at this school, including Georgia O’Keefe, Norman Rockwell and George Bellows.

“Most of our 100 studio classes in drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture include students ranging in ability from beginners to established artists and ranging in age from their twenties to folks in their seventies and eighties,” said Ken Park, the school’s director of communications.
For seniors who are interested in the arts but not necessarily in making art, they offer a seminar series that discusses classic art and artists through literature.

“Folks love the camaraderie and community of the League. Students learn not just from the professional artist-instructors but also from other students,” Park said.

Putting a spin on art classes is Mugi Pottery, located on Amsterdam Avenue between 108th and 109th streets, which teaches individuals how to mold clay while on a spinning wheel. Mugi’s adult classes allow anyone from the age of 16 and up, but many seniors enroll in the classes.

Offering classes for people ranging from 2 to 102 years old, the Art Studio NY, located on West 96th Street, provides unique painting and drawing classes in an intimate classroom. For beginners, the school offers basic classes such as Oil Painting 101 and Portrait and Figure Painting 101.

Whether it is drawing, painting or sculpting, seniors are exploring and enjoying different aspects of art. By doing so, they are not only learning something new, they are remaining active and continuing to live a healthy, vibrant lifestyle.

After lighting candles, Rabbi Allen Schwartz (far left) leads a group at the Jewish Center in prayer during a show of support for the families of the victims of the shooting at the Ozar HaTorah Jewish School in Toulouse France. Joining the rabbi on stage were Lea Tolub Frank from Toulouse, France, Emmanuel Fhal, Lyor Dahan and Ron Meir from the Anti-Defamation League.

Compiled by Megan Bungeroth

ESPAILLAT GUNNING FOR CONGRESS
Several weeks ago, State Sen. Adriano Espaillat denied any interest in running in a primary against Rep. Charlie Rangel, who currently occupies the northern Manhattan congressional seat, in an interview with City & State. “He’s a well-liked guy and he’s a legend. It’s tough to run against a legend,” he said. Several weeks later, Espaillat opened a congressional exploratory committee. Now, sources close to Espaillat confirm that the state senator has begun circling petitions to collect signatures for a run for Congress.
He testified in federal court last week in support of a congressional district that solidifies an African-American voting block as well as the creation of a new Latino seat. After all his advocacy for a Latino-majority district, Espaillat had little choice but to put his money where his mouth is. Rangel responded by releasing a laundry list of his 30-plus-year career in Congress and reaffirmed his intent to run for re-election.

ANOTHER GROCERY STORE GONE?
Last week we reported on the labor dispute that may force neighborhood favorite Food City, on Amsterdam Avenue between 94th and 95th streets, to close its doors. Now we’ve discovered that another nearby grocery store may be on its way out. A neighbor reports that the shelves of the Associated Supermarket on Amsterdam Avenue near West 99th Street are looking mighty bare, and a person answering the phone at the store on Tuesday said that they may indeed be closing for good. The store is slated to get the final word on its fate from the bigwigs this Friday.

ROSENTHAL SUPPORTS WORLD WATER DAY
Last week, on International World Water Day, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal highlighted this year’s theme of  “Water and Food Security” by emphasizing the link between access to and maintenance of sustainable fresh water resources and the security of the global food supply.
“We live in an increasingly interconnected, globalized society, and we must be aware of how our consumption patterns, combined with the impact of global climate change, affect the availability of fresh water and food around the world,” said Rosenthal.
She cited the fact that climate change is expected to reduce the amount of rainwater available for agriculture, creating an increasingly competitive fight for resources in developing countries.
Joining in the public awareness campaign, Upper West Side company Rubicon Property invited people to walk through the still-unfinished doors of its new storefront on Columbus Avenue hauling jerricans, the containers that many people in developing countries use to carry fresh water long distances. The company donated $1 for every person who did so to Charity:Water, the international organization that digs fresh-water wells in developing countries. Rubicon confirmed that they raised about $600 during the event, including donations from curious passersby who wandered in, to be donated to the charity, and that they plan to host similar community events when their office is fully functional.

Health Care Plea: Patients from the St. Mary's s Healthcare System for Children gather to deliver handmade cards to the district office of State Assembly Member and Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried, asking him to protect Medicaid for the growing number of medically fragile children across the state. Photo by Andrew Schwartz.

BROCKHOLST TENANTS UP IN ARMS
Some tenants of the The Brockholst Apartments, at 101 W. 85th St., are once again decrying their landlord’s alleged disregard for safety. Resident and president of the tenants’ association Marta White says that the building’s management, a company called 85th Columbus Corp, is aiming to rent their improperly modified basement space to a preschool this fall, which the company’s website confirms. White claims that the backyard the company purports to offer the little tykes is nothing more than a fire trap and is actually just the rear holding area for the building. White is also concerned about the noise and safety concerns that might result from having kids running around the very small, concrete-covered area.
“The yard is around my whole apartment,” White wrote in an email. “It also, of course, faces the whole of the interior block with the adjoining brownstones and big apartments on West 86th Street.”
The building has come under local scrutiny in the past, from elected officials as well as the Department of Buildings (DOB), for making illegal and unsafe modifications to the landmarked building. City Council Member Gale Brewer told the West Side Spirit last year that she didn’t “understand how the city can allow this kind of enterprise,” and the DOB continues to issue violations and stop work orders. It’s unclear who the supposed new tenant will be or if they really will move the little charges into the space this fall, but until they do, the tenants’ committee is fighting against it.

CARBON SQUEEZE, TAKE TWO
Upper West Side group The Carbon Squeeze is hosting its second community event designed to educate and inspire locals to reduce their carbon footprints. On Monday, April 2, 7 p.m., the group will welcome Colin Beavan, also known as No Impact Man, to speak about his experience living in Manhattan totally “unplugged.” Beavan led his family to produce no trash, consume no power from the grid, travel only by human power and buy nothing except local food for an entire year. He will share his experiences and tips for cutting back (though probably not as drastically) to reduce individual environmental impact.
The event is free, but an RSVP is required to carbonsqueeze@gmail.com. It will take place at Goddard Riverside, 593 Columbus Ave.

Residents in support of the retail rezoning plan. Photo by Andrew Schwartz.

Last night dozens of supporters and a fair number of detractors showed up at Community Board 7’s meeting to express their views on the proposed retail rezoning initiative for the Upper West Side. The proposal from the City Planning Commission would limit storefront widths along certain sections of Broadway, Amsterdam and Columbus Avenue, in an effort to encourage small individually-owned “mom and pop” shops and keep big banks and chain stores out.

Several small business owners came to speak in support of the measure. Bruce Stark, one of the owners of Beacon Paint on Amsterdam Avenue between W. 77th and 78th Streets, said that his family’s hardware store has been in the neighborhood for 112 years and hopes that this rezoning would allow them to stay another 112 years.

“This is a very important [thing] for me, because what would stop my landlord from saying, you know, let’s take that store and the one next to it and the one next to it and make one big store and triple the rent,” Stark said.

Monica Blum, president of the Lincoln Square BID, came to beg the board not to approve it for fear that it may come to her district next and to defend the big box stores other were railing against.

“We think drug stores [like Duane Reade] today are the five-and-dimes of the past,” Blum said, a comment that elicited booing from the crowd. She continued, stating that large, established chains are better, more stable bets for landlords to rent to, and said that the BID fears that this zoning would lead to empty retail chains. Barbara Adler, president of the Columbus Avenue BID, asked the board to amend the proposal to exclude their area, a move that the board considered but ultimately rejected.

Anne Shirazi spoke to represent the West 100th Street Block Association, and testified that she and her neighbors support the proposal because they see too many small businesses ousted in favor of larger retail outlets.

“Columbus Avenue is like a New Jersey mall,” Shirazi said. “It’s not a neighborhood. We must pass zoning to protect what is left of small independent businesses.”

Others spoke about how small businesses often contribute to the neighborhood, by sponsoring Little League teams, participating in Safe Haven programs for kids, or just having the flexibility to be available for special circumstances. Others warned that this proposal would do nothing to actually protect the beloved small shops.

“Contextual zoning doesn’t lower rents, it doesn’t prevent someone from being kicked out of their space, it doesn’t protect anyone from the higher costs,” said resident Alexander Medwedew. “There’s too much competition for the same amount of space.” He advocated opening up other areas for small business instead of changing the currently zoned areas.

Ultimately the board approved the proposal, after considering and rejecting an amendment to carve out individual landmarks. They did, however, adopt an amendment asking for City Planning to adhere to a 90-day time limit in approving variances to the zoning for existing small businesses. The proposal will now move to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer’s office for the next phase of approvals, and the City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on April 11 to hear community concerns.

Police released surveillance video of a man they believe tried to sexually assault a woman on the Upper West Side Sunday, Aug. 29.

At approximately 3:40 a.m., police believe the man, in his mid-twenties, followed the victim into a building on Amsterdam Avenue within the 24th Precinct, which stretches from West 86th to West 110th streets. Inside the building, the man supposedly threw the woman to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her. He fled south on Amsterdam Avenue.

Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, submit tips online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or text tips to 274637 then enter TIP577.

Granny-Made, the 24-year-old store that sold sweaters and knitwear from owner Michael Rosenberg’s grandmother, has reopened shop on West 82nd and Amsterdam Avenue, just north of the original West 78th Street store.

“Twenty-four years ago, this part of Amsterdam Avenue wasn’t someplace you’d walk unless you lived here, but it’s changed a lot. It seems we’ve moved closer to our customer base,” Rosenberg said.

A lot has changed for Granny-Made beyond location. Rosenberg says he saw the recession coming and made drastic changes to inventory. The store largely sold women’s clothing in the late 1980s and 1990s and has since become a children’s store.

“It was a surprise, but we went with it,” he said of the change.

The store will continue its neighborhood spirit in a larger space, offering even more selection to customers. With room to grow, Granny-Made is now offering toddler’s furniture, christening gowns, dresses for girls 10-12 and expanded women’s selections. Watch for a celebration of the new location after Labor Day.