What Charters and Public Schools Have in Common?
Unions will need to analyze role, charters will need to adhere to rigorous standards
There has been a spate of articles recently about alleged wrongdoing in specific charter schools in New York. These instances mirror the inevitable wrongdoing that we hear about in our old-style public schools. In both cases, it is almost inevitable that some rotten apples will spoil a good idea. Public education, be it in charter schools or in the old-style schools, is our best hope. The charter schools model was established as one way to challenge our earlier model public schools to do better; in some cases, this is already happening.
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COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS
By Karen Zheng
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine has multiple community events promoting health and well-being coming up in August.
There is a community breast health education and screening program on Monday, August 8, from 12 to 3 p.m. at 212 E. 106th St., between Second and Third avenues. Drop-in support groups for women coping with breast cancer will take place on Mondays, 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 16 E. 98th St. 1B (Bell #30). Group crafts and yoga sessions will be available Wednesdays; for more information, contact 212-987-3053. Mount Sinai is also holding a greenmarket every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 99th Street and Madison Avenue, during which choosing sweets, monitoring salt intake, building a healthy plate and screening for blood pressure will be discussed.
OFFICIAL QUESTIONS DISAPPEARING COMPLAINTS
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is investigating the case of the vanishing pothole complaints. Earlier this year, his staff began submitting pothole complaints via the online 311 system. Upon following up by phone, they discovered that 311 had no record of the complaints. Overall the staff has noted 134 missing complaints that the Department of Transportation has no way to address.
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SYMPHONY WINS NATIONAL AWARD
By Ashley Welch
The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and its music director, David Bernard, won First Prize in the 2011 American Prize competition in Orchestra Performance for its piece, Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2.
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COMMUNITY STREET FAIR
By Karen Zheng
The East Sixties Neighborhood Association (ESNA) is holding its 11th annual street fair on Sunday, August 7 from 12 to 5 p.m. The festival will run on East 60th Street between Fifth and Madison avenues and will include a wide selection of vendors selling food and beverages, jewelry, clothing, crafts, gifts and items from a white elephant table.
PUBLIC FORUM FOR ESPLANADE IDEAS
By Ashley Welch
State Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh and Council Member Dan Garodnick announced last week that they will hold a series of public forums in August and September to seek the public’s input on a plan that would allow the United Nations to construct a new building on a portion of a public park in exchange for major park and waterfront open space improvements on Manhattan’s East Side.
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LOCAL LEADERS TALK SHOP
Upper East Side for Change will hold the second of a series of informal talks with local Democratic legislators on Thursday, July 28, 5-7 p.m. at 301 E. 75th St. #19A. Council Member Jessica Lappin will share insights from her experience on the City Council and an update on the proposed marine waste transfer station at East 91 Street. A UESFC general meeting will immediately follow. Refreshments will be served. To sign up, contact Monica at uesforchange@gmail.com.
Hot Topic
Whether or not to talk weather
Last week I was waiting for the elevator, preparing to go outside and brave the scorching “heat dome” (as many weathermen dubbed it), when I realized I was not only steeling myself for the oppressive blast of heat but also, in a much more minor way, for the inevitable chitchat with my neighbors about the temperature.
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Getting Beyond the Grocery Grind
How a visit to the brand-new Fairway got me thinking about food shopping
There was a fuss over Fairway.
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Medicare and Social Security Aren’t Bargaining Chips
To the Editor:
As members of Congress and President Obama seek a resolution to the nation’s fiscal woes, seniors in New York and around the country must not be sacrificed for the sake of a stronger balance sheet.
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