The Neighborhood Stories project at the NYC Department of Records and Information Services Is Looking for Your Story

Good afternoon,

I’m writing to let you know about the Neighborhood Stories project at the NYC Department of Records and Information Services and to ask for your help in reaching out to the members of Sara D Roosevelt Park Community Coalition to invite them to participate.  Neighborhood Stories is?a storytelling initiative?that gathers oral history interviews with New York City community members and permanently preserves them in the collections of the Municipal Archives and Library. This inspiring project empowers the residents of your block to share their own rich historical narrative and personal insights on their lives and the communities that shaped them.

We hope you’ll share information on Neighborhood Stories at your meetings and in your communications.  I’ve included a brief announcement below, which can be used to spread the word.  Please let me know if you need any more information. Here is a link to the project website:?https://www.archives.nyc/neighborhoodstories.

Help Us Tell New York’s Neighborhood Stories 

The Neighborhood Stories project is an inspiring storytelling initiative by the NYC Department of Records & Information Services that aims to gather oral history-style interviews from New Yorkers across the five boroughs and permanently preserve them in the collections of the Municipal Archives.

Recording and preserving personal memories of life on our block is simple and accessible, thanks to a new virtual format. Whether you are a long time resident or have lived here for just a few years, you’re invited to include your own story in the archive.

Visit the Neighborhood Stories website to learn more and sign up to share your story: www.archives.nyc/neighborhoodstories.

Best regards,

Valerie and Elena

Valerie Warner

Marketing Consultant

Department of Records and Information Services

31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007

T:? 212-788-8647 I vwarner@records.nyc.gov

Elena Abou Mrad

Neighborhood Stories Project Coordinator

The NYC Department of Records and Information Services

31 Chambers Street, Suite 305, New York, NY 10007
(646) 858-5276 | eaboumrad@records.nyc.gov

The Tale of the Peregrine falcon found recently in Sara Roosevelt Park at Broome Street. The falcon didn’t survive but it was such a powerful effort from all quarters trying to save him. (we hear that he was, likely, attacked by a Red Tail Hawk)

With thanks to Elizabeth, the Broome Street Park’s staff, Urban Park Rangers and Wild Bird Fund.

(warning: photo at the end may disturb)

From Elizabeth Hardwick, Bird Whisperer of Sara Roosevelt Park:

“Good morning, everyone!

To all who expressed interest in the fate of the recently found, and injured, Peregrine Falcon, here is his story:

After he was found on Broome St., and placed in a wire mesh shopping cart by the guys who found him, my neighbor Larry saw him and called me.  I came over, asked Larry to get a black cloth and large box, and as I was about to organize sending someone with him uptown in a taxi to the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side, a Parks Dept. worker came out of the little building in the Park, saw the bird, and said that he worked in that building, and that it was a Communications Center for the Parks Dept., and that he would go and call the Urban Bird Park Rangers.  Who even knew there was such a group in the NYC Parks Dept.!

The worker left to call, and came back to tell those of us waiting with the bird that the UBPR’s would be there in about 30-40 minutes.  In fact, they showed up much quicker than that, and with a private car and large animal carrying case, which they used to transport the falcon.  There were 5 Rangers, and they could not have been nicer, although they were dressed up like police staff, and not in Parks uniforms.  They told us that any time we find a bird on Parks property that needs help, they will come and take a look and do whatever would be the next logical step, such as taking the bird to a care center, such as the Wild Bird Fund.

A day later I emailed up to the Wild Bird Fund to check on the status of the majestic patient, and this morning received the following email from them:”

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The Wild Bird Fund Animal Care Team:

Dear Elizabeth,

Unfortunately, the peregrine falcon you helped bring to us was unable to pull through. Upon intake, he had likely been injured by a natural predator and had sustained extremely severe injuries. The large wound on his neck/chest area revealed that his esophagus had been torn open, and intestinal contents were found in the esophagus. While we can sometimes repair esophageal tears with surgery, the damage was too extensive in this case. This bird was at great risk of infections and further complications from the attack; and would never be able to eat again, as his digestive tract was too damaged. On top of this, both of his legs were broken at the hock. Overall, he had a very poor prognosis for recovery. Because of this, we made the decision to humanely euthanize him and prevent further suffering.

I know this is not the outcome you were hoping for, but please know that by helping to bring him in to us, you saved him from a great deal of future suffering. In cases like this, the kindest and most humane thing we can do is allow the animal to pass in peace and without pain.

Sincerely,
The Wild Bird Fund Animal Care Team.

We do not charge for our services, but a donation would be appreciated. Your generous donations allow us to continue our important work. Please help WBF keep NYC wild.

******************

Peregrine falcons

Peregrine falcons have made a spectacular recover in the US after populations were decimated by pesticide poisoning in the mid-20th C.  They have been clocked at speeds of greater than 200 mph, and they are one of the most widespread birds in the world.  They can range in size from 13-24 inches in length, and have been reintroduced on the East Coast after extinction as mentioned.

The falcon that was found was an adult male, although young.  Keep your eyes up in the skies to see more of his kind flying in our neighborhood!

Communications Center for NYC Parks Dept on Broome Street:

Phone number for Communications Center for NYC Parks Dept: (646) 613-1200

OR call 311

—

Kind regards,

Elizabeth Hardwick, Architect
Giants in the Dirt

Saturday October 23, 2021

The Stars:

The Turtle Whisperer, Richard and the Turtle Guardian Angel, Ted:

The Talent:

The Teaching:

Off to their Winter home:

all photos taken by Steve Elson.

He was killed in during the mugging. There is a Go Fund Me page HERE 

From the page:

“The world lost Salauddin bablu unexpectedly as a result of horrific brutally murder by robber.. while [on] his bike during bike delivery in lower Manhattan. The world never be the same without him. He was a loving son, best big brother and friend to everyone who he crossed paths with.

Salauddin bablu was the only earning person in his family. He leaves behind a loving family his son and daughter who have been devastated by this loss. Salauddin bablu was the hardest worker. He was driven to provide the lifestyle he felt his family deserved. It was important to him that he can continue to support his family.”

Grateful to the Borough President Gale Brewer and her staff, Brian Lewis, for standing with the neighborhood in this harsh time, funding the Rivington Playground and the Stanton Building renovations.

And especially for this letter of support for the park. It is thorough. And kind.

Also grateful to Council Member Chin and her staff Gigi Li and Pat Olan, for advocating for needle boxes for this park, tracking the MTA work and the funding to renovate the Rivington Playground and the Stanton Building.

Thank you to District Manager Stetzer for relentlessly advocating for needle boxes for this park.

Thank you to Jamil Phillips, Park’s staff, the 5th Precinct, Goddard and Alliance, and all our volunteers (housed or not) and gardeners in this Park who go above and beyond.

For a glimpse of the years of activism on behalf of the search Stanton Park House, Stanton Building, Design Trust, etc

Photograph from July 1st, 2017 Town Hall with Mayor de Blasio: https://sdrpc.mkgarden.org/town-hall-with-council-member-margaret-chin-and-mayor-de-blasio-on-sdr-parks-stanton-buildings-return/

Celebration of What Was and What Could Be in Sara Roosevelt Park 2019

Photo from Psychology Today

Lee passed away on October 3rd, 2021 after a two week hospitalization with severe pneumonia.

He was an artist, advocate, imaginer, a beloved Clinical Social Worker/Therapist, neighbor and activist, husband and father. In particular he was an advocate for people who were blind or seeing impaired.

Kind and loving and determined to set the world right, he filled the room with his vibrant ways.

“An education and community-building art project with Neighbors to Save Rivington House, local artist Lee Brozgol, and the youth of University Settlement.”

Lee was the architect of the “Hands Around Rivington House” action. An very different kind of activism.

“one of our most lovely and moving protests regarding Rivington House” – K Webster.

Ted Glass: “I am so sorry to hear this shocking and sad news about Lee. I was thinking about him recently seeing the nice piece in the Washington Post about “Die Jim Crow” and Fury [Lee’s son]. I dug around in my files to look at the images of Lee’s ceramics and murals on his old website. This is a great loss to you, your boys, his patients and this neighborhood. I am so sorry.”

There was a Memorial held for Lee in the M’Finda Kalunga Garden last weekend.

Condolences to Alizah, Fury and to the entire family.

We lost a good man.

Rest in Peace Lee.

The best kept secret in the Sara Roosevelt Park:

“Every year about this time, we pull the turtles out of the pond and move them indoors for the winter. It’s one of our small garden events of interest to children and adults alike and is actually a bit dramatic. We net the fish into tubs temporarily and pump most of the water out of the pond. Someone climbs down into the bottom of the pond and searches around in the muck for reluctant turtles, then passes them up to into tubs that we take to their winter quarters in the basement of my building.

Neither Richard, our turtle guru, nor I are spry enough to do it this year. Or more correctly, to climb back out. So I’m looking for a volunteer willing to get wet up to the knees and wallow around in the muck, and who will enjoy handling turtles. We’re expecting to find 20 turtles of all sizes, Cooters, Red Bellied Sliders, Yellow Bellied Cooters and 3 small Painted turtles. Let me know if you’re interested.

We’ll start around noon on Saturday, Oct. 23.”
Ted

Thank you Alisanne, Elizabeth, Jen, Jenifer and Bud! And Audubon NY for the binoculars (and of course thank the birds). (photographs by Jen, flyer by Alisanne)

Registration Period October 6 – November 3 2021