News

From the Lo-Down:

“Ahead of its opening later in the spring, Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel is already annoying some of the neighbors. In the past week or so, a giant illuminated sign appeared on the top floors of the 28-story tower at 215 Chrystie St. It’s visible throughout the Lower East Side.”

There is a petition on line to ask that the lights be turned off.

This Health Care Plan would further undo the little money there is for nursing homes and home care.

“The state gets only 91 cents in federal funding for every dollar it sends to Washington — one of just 11 states that give more than they get, state Controller Thomas DiNapoli”

Call 1-202-224-3121. Just provide your zip code to be connected to your rep. (might need full zip code)

From: New York’s Medicaid Director re: current proposed gutting of ACA health care plan.

“This bill would take health care away from 2.7 million New Yorkers, and cost state taxpayers $6.9 billion in additional costs. …affects all New Yorkers and will be the biggest blow to health care in our state’s history. Worse still… an amendment [was proposed] that hurts New Yorkers even more and is against the interest of …all New Yorkers.

If New Yorkers join together and make our voices heard we can still defeat this attack on our health care system. The House of Representatives plans to vote on this devastating legislation tomorrow — so we need New Yorkers like you to speak out now.

Call (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your representative and say vote NO on the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. You can also look up your representative and find out more information on how to contact them up here.

The more we learn about repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, the sicker New York gets. …New Yorkers face dire circumstances if this bill passes…:

• 2.7 million New Yorkers will lose coverage
• New York’s total loss in funding would amount to $6.9 billion
• Nursing Home Payments would be cut by $401 million
• Home care payments would be cut by $360 million
• Hospital payments would be cut by $355 million

….

Will you call your member of Congress now and tell them to vote NO on the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act? Call (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your representative now.

Thank you for pushing back against this dangerous piece of legislation.”

Sincerely,

Jason Helgerson, New York State Medicaid Director

The Wheelchair-Accessible Table-Top raised bed workshop today, Tuesday, March 21^st 

GreenThumb: “Gardens should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or mobility”

(GreenThumb Handouts below)

Thank you GreenThumb!

The Wheelchair-Accessible Table-Top raised bed workshop happened today, Tuesday, March 21^st .

GreenThumb and Park’s Staff: Anthony Reuter (Outreach Coordinator GreenThumb), Mara Gittleman (Special Programs Coordinator, GreenThumb), Victor Polanco (GreenThumb Outreach Manager), Chris Noel (Accessibility Coordinator for NYC Parks) and Eric Thomann (the ‘builder’ -who will also be running a workshop called: “Toys from Twigs” at the GreenThumb Grow Together Conference this weekend) were on hand to instruct and help out.

 M’Finda Kalunga Gardeners Bob (Head Gardener), Debra (Co-Chair), Jenifer (Children’s Programming) and Carol (the worker) and K (pretend gardener) also were on hand.

It was heartenning to see all the participants from around NYC! And we all left with birdhouses for our feathered friends.

Published March 4, 2017

33rd Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference

“Sustaining Garden Legacies”

March 25, 2017
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Hostos Community College
450 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451

Come celebrate the official kick-off of the community gardening season in New York City. The day will be packed with 30+ workshops on garden related topics including: food systems education, kids’ activities, vegetable growing techniques, and designing your community garden for the present and future. The conference will also include a panel discussion on ways to sustain your garden legacy. This year’s keynote speaker is Tony Hillery and is the Founder and Executive Director of Harlem Grown. Tony founded Harlem Grown to address the health and academic challenges facing public elementary school students in Harlem. Our youth speaker is Kadiatou Ba and has been a youth participant at Harlem Grown since its inception 5 years ago. Read more about our keynote speakers here.  NYC Parks Bronx Recreation will have many activities for kids including; indoor bowling, hula hoop contest, basketball, arts and crafts, table games and raffle prizes!

$5 for adults Kids 12 and under free

Pre-registration Online: HERE

Please register online by Thursday, March 23, 2017

By Mail:

The Arsenal/GreenThumb 830 5th Avenue New York, NY 10065.

Postmark by Friday, March 10, 2017

In person at the GreenThumb’s Office:

100 Gold Street Suite 3100 New York, NY 10038

Delivered by Thursday, March 23, 2017

Day of registration: 9:00a.m.-10:00a.m.

$7 for adults on the day of the conference, kids 12 and under free

*GreenThumb cannot guarantee lunch or a t-shirt to walk-in participants.

Bus Service

For those gardeners from Brooklyn who would prefer to take a bus, GreenThumb has scheduled bus pickup in two locations in Brooklyn. Departure is at 8:00 a.m. sharp! To reserve your spot on the bus, check off which site you will depart from. This does not confirm your spot on the bus. You will receive an email or call for confirmation.

Please note: there are a limited number of seats available. Once the bus is full we will not be offering any additional seating. The two pick up locations are below.

Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street, between Utica Avenue and Schenectady Avenue

Thomas Jefferson High School, 400 Pennsylvania Avenue, between Dumont and Blake Avenues                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Yoga sessions will be held in the gym at the following times, courtesy of Shape Up NYC, which offers 300 free fitness classes weekly at more than 150 locations across the five boroughs.

12:00pm – 12:45pm: Vanessa Tirado (Aerobic Easy Workout)

1:00pm – 1:45pm: Suraiya Jahan (Stretch)

2:00pm – 2:45pm: Esmeralda Alba (IntenSati)

Interested in becoming a sponsor at GrowTogether or sending any in-kind donations contact Twywana Bush at twywana.bush@parks.nyc.gov

Follow us: #GrowTogetherConference2017 #growtogether

For more information please call 212-602-5300

Downloads:

Download 2017 GrowTogether Conference Guide 

Download GrowTogether 17 Registration Form