Lalondriz-Castillo pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the second degree and will serve 15 years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. The district attorney applauded the sentencing and used the crime as an example of underreported dating violence that he said in a statement can be “just as serious as domestic violence between adults.”

Brain-Tickling Conversation
The New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute will host a discussion between Dr. Lois Oppenheim, professor of literature and psychoanalysis, and Adam Gopnik, award-winning journalist and writer for The New Yorker, Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Gopnik has won acclaim as an art critic as well as for his work as a travel writer and essayist, and has written extensively about his time spent in France. He will discuss his career and creative process with Oppenheim and will sign copies of his latest book, The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food. 247 E. 82nd St., second floor auditorium. Tickets are $25, $10 for students with ID. Call 212-879-6900 or email admdir@nypsi.org to RSVP.

Local Reps Denounce National Public Transit Cuts
East Side Rep. Carolyn Maloney joined local legislators and transit leaders on Monday to decry a Republican effort to cut federal spending for public transit, a move that they say would directly impact New Yorkers. Opponents of the proposed spending cut say it would deprive New York State of $1.7 billion that would go to fund capital improvements for subways, buses and commuter rails. The bill, H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, just passed the House Ways and Means Committee, and would use revenue from expanded domestic drilling permits to fund infrastructure projects while cutting certain funding streams.

“The Republican transportation bill isn’t worth a warm bucket of asphalt,” Maloney said in a statement. “The Republicans need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a bill that keeps the dedicated funding stream for mass transit that we’ve had since the Reagan administration. The MTA receives more than $1 billion every year from the Highway Trust Fund; we need this funding to ensure that the MTA’s system continues to be safe and reliable for the long term.”

“The Republicans are proposing nothing less than the dismantling of mass transit,” said West Side Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the senior northeastern member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in a statement. “In the GOP bill, mass transit would be dependent on appropriations from general revenue for the first time in 30 years, rather than being funded, as it has been, from the Highway Trust Fund. Such a shift in federal priority could be catastrophic for urban centers like New York, which rely on mass transit for basic mobility and economic functioning.”

Nadler said that the bill is “nothing less than the dismantling of mass transit,” and MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota said that the bill would undeniably “hit the MTA hard.” Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for New York Public Interest Research Group’s Straphangers Campaign, also derided the bill.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly condemned the bill for keeping cities out of the 21st century. “Eight million people take mass transit every day in New York, which helps to cut traffic, reduce pollution, spur our economy and improve public health,” he said. “The bill passed today ignores the needs of cities across the country by relegating transit to an ‘alternative’ transportation with an uncertain funding stream.”

Following a press conference at City Hall on Monday, Nadler went even further in an op-ed for The Hill’s Congress Blog. He wrote that H.R. 7 is the worst transportation bill he’s ever seen and called it “such an outdated way of thinking that it would, if enacted into law, set us back decades.”

Speaker John Boehner said that the House will be moving to vote on the bill in the coming months.

Kellner Supports Lawsuit Against Nuke Commission
Upper East Side Assembly Member Micah Kellner signed an amicus brief to support a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The lawsuit contends that the NRC illegally granted federal fire safety exemptions to the Indian Point Nuclear Facility in 2007 without holding a public comment period.

“It’s clear from the tragedy at the Fukushima plant in Japan that we need to increase safety standards at nuclear facilities, not secretly reduce them behind closed doors,” said Kellner in a statement. “This really makes me wonder what else the NRC isn’t telling us.”

Other East Side elected officials, including State Sen. Liz Krueger, have called for the closure of the Indian Point facility based on the potential danger to New York City if a meltdown or other accident were to occur at the plant.

Lappin Speaks Out Against Churches in Schools
As the state Legislature considers passing a bill that would unequivocally allow religious organizations to hold worship services in public schools, Upper East Side City Council Member Jessica Lappin has been one of the few in the Council to speak against the measure. Thirty-five council members have signed onto Resolution 1155, which calls upon state legislators to pass a bill “amending the New York State Education Law to afford houses of worship maximum access to school property,” but Lappin contends that its passage would amount to state-subsidized religious services and would violate the separation of church and state.

“Most New Yorkers probably don’t realize that, right now, about 160 New York City schools are doubling as churches,” said Lappin in a statement. “I’m not talking about a religious after-school club or Bible study group; these churches use the same public space, at the same time, in the same school each and every week for free or just the cost of custodial fees.”

Lappin cited a decision by the Second Circuit Court last year supporting the Department of Education’s argument that allowing regular worship in public school spaces is essentially state-sponsored religion, and asserted that the state bill’s language would force the city to allow any group, including “the Ku Klux Klan or a pornography club,” to hold meetings in public schools.

Churches and other religious groups that have regularly held services in public schools, some for many years, have until Feb. 16 to move out, according to a directive from the Department of Education, unless the state legislation stopping that move passes first.

Vudu Lounge Closed
According to the 19th Precinct, the infamous Vudu Lounge on First Avenue between 77th and 78th streets is closing its doors for good and handed over its liquor license to the State Liquor Authority this week. The nightclub, which was popular with young partiers and reviled by neighborhood residents, has been plagued with problems over the past few years. The NYPD closed them down temporarily last May, but the club came back and was holding mandatory quarterly meetings with residents to address their concerns over the noise and late-night loitering.

“I was relieved to hear Vudu Lounge has finally closed its doors,” said State Sen. Liz Krueger, who has worked with other local officials to quell the problems coming from the establishment. “With numerous State Liquor Authority investigations and multiple counts of violent behavior and underage drinking to its name, Vudu Lounge simply didn’t belong in our neighborhood.”

Calls to manager Michael Stein for comment were not returned, but a source said that the owners were hoping to find a more amenable location downtown.

Bar Gets a Sports Fan Facelift
When the Giants face off against the Patriots this Sunday for a Super Bowl rematch, Mayor Michael Bloomberg can rest easy knowing he’s scrubbed as many references to the New England team as possible from the city. Just as they did four years ago, the mayor’s office is targeting establishments whose names might falsely belie an allegiance to the enemy (we’re guessing anything with the words patriots, Boston or Gisele Bundchen) and asking them to make a temporary moniker switch in support of the home team. On the Upper East Side, Brady’s Bar, on Second Avenue near 82nd Street, will again take up a new mantle for the weekend: Manning’s. The quarterback switch is fully supported by owner Dan Brady, a diehard Big Blue fan. He said that the mayor should be in attendance for the renaming ceremony on Friday afternoon; check their website bradysbar.com for updates and the exact time.

Bill to Protect Jobs of Pregnant Women
State Sen. Liz Krueger is sponsoring a bill that would require employers to make “reasonable accommodations” for pregnant women on the job. Currently, employers are barred from discriminating against pregnant women and must make accommodations for disabled workers. Because pregnancy is not considered a disability, however, employers are not required to make any concessions for pregnant woman and can legally fire them for, say, taking too many bathroom breaks or requesting to sit. Krueger’s bill, which is being introduced in the assembly by upstate Democratic Assembly Member Aileen Gunther, would close that legal gap.

The bill’s language states that employers must take action to “allow pregnant women to perform in a reasonable manner the activities involved in the job or occupation sought or held and include, but are not limited to, provision of an accessible worksite, acquisition or modification of equipment, support services for persons with impaired hearing or vision, job restructuring and modified work schedules; provided, however, that such actions do not impose an undue hardship on the business, program or enterprise of the entity from which action is requested.”
Dina Bakst, founder and president of A Better Balance: The Work and Family Legal Center, wrote on Tuesday’s New York Times op-ed page that the law is a “public health necessity” and called it a necessary measure to ensure the safety of pregnant women who may not ask for accommodations if they fear being fired.

New Show Parodies Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a popular home base for fictional characters, and now ABC has commissioned a new show set in the ritzy section—this time with a supernatural twist. The show, 666 Park Avenue, is based on a book series by Gabriella Pierce and revolves around a Midwestern couple who comes to live at and manage the eponymous address and soon discovers that the tenants have all made deals with the devil in order to attain their fantastic lives and have their darkest desires fulfilled.

Produced by the team that delivered Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries, the show seems to be taking advantage of the most popular aspects of both of those successes. Something tells us that it won’t be portraying Upper East Siders in the best light, but then again, neither does Gossip Girl, and that’s been a hit.

Musical Open House for Kids
The 92nd Street Y is holding a free open house for its School of Music on Sunday, Feb. 5 from 1–4 p.m. Children ages 3 to 9 can take mini classes in the different styles offered and parents can meet instructors and discuss the methodologies of each class. Offerings include Delcroze, a program for toddlers that helps them develop rhythmic skills through musical interpretation of children’s stories, courses in using GarageBand to record original music and introductory violin instruction for little ones. At 1395 Lexington Ave. Visit 92Y.org for more information.

Local Doorman and Driver Made Richer
The New York Post reported earlier this week that millionaire music exec and high stakes poker player Alan Meltzer, who died at 67 this past Halloween, left a huge chunk of change in his will to his Park Avenue doorman and personal chauffeur. Meltzer was divorced and had no children, and both of his former employees, who received about $1 million and $500,000 respectively, told the Post that their boss was always kind and generous to them.

2nd Ave. Air Quality Study Says “No Problem”
MTA Capital Construction released the results of an air quality study last week that monitored the effects of construction activity between East 69th and East 87th streets along Second Avenue. The study and resulting report, by the consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, found that while some pollutants were found at slightly elevated levels, the increases were due more to vehicle traffic and dirty boilers in the neighborhood than the subway construction.

The study was completed by collecting samples over a four-week period in the fall of 2011, and samples were taken at various times to test for levels or particulate matter of different sizes. Specialists also interviewed residents about odor levels and recorded what they reported to compare with blast times.

The study found that the levels of particulate matter equal to or smaller than 10 microns (PM10) were “below the reference level used as the benchmark to indicate no adverse PM10 health effects during the monitoring period.” While daily levels of PM2.5 (particles equal to or smaller than 2.5 microns) were found at higher than reference levels on three different days, the study concluded that these spikes were “primarily attributed to local traffic emissions, other local sources such as commercial and residential boilers and regional or background levels, with no significant contribution from blasting activities.”

The analysts also determined that the acrid odors some residents have complained about did not emanate from the blasting sites.

Garodnick Makes Bank
Upper East Side City Council Member Dan Garodnick is sitting on a campaign war chest of over $1 million, according to his most recent campaign filings, which show him raising $1,015,455 between 2010 and the most recent Jan. 17 filing. The three-term council member, who was elected in 2005 and has held the seat for the 4th District since, is running for an as-yet-declared citywide office in 2013. He has pulled in $282,895 in the past six months, $274,895 of which came from individuals and partnerships and $8,000 from “other monetary” sources like PACs and government groups. Garodnick’s campaign, which is widely rumored to be aiming for the comptroller’s race if current Comptroller John Liu runs for mayor, spent $33,930 during the filing period, mostly on consulting and fundraising.

Brooklyn Council Member Domenic Recchia, chairman of the Finance Committee, is another likely contender for the comptroller’s seat and reported a $541,559 closing balance in his campaign filings last week.

Fight Back Against Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and Lenox Hill Hospital, in conjunction with the American Heart Association, has created an event to help curb those numbers. Go Red for Women will be held at the hospital’s Einhorn Auditorium at 103 E. 76th St. on Friday, Feb. 3 from 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. The hospital will offer blood pressure and cholesterol screening, nutrition and pharmacological counseling and peripheral vascular disease assessment by a leading cardiologist, all free of charge.

New Bridge to the East
For over 70 years, the 78th Street pedestrian bridge has been allowing residents to safely cross the FDR for a scenic excursion on the East River Esplanade. Last Friday, after a major overhaul by the Department of Transportation, the newly renovated bridge reopened to foot traffic.

Council Member Jessica Lappin, Assembly Member Micah Kellner, Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner Bill Castro and members of the 79th Street Neighborhood Association joined Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan at the reconstructed bridge for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“With the reconstruction of the 78th Street pedestrian bridge, New Yorkers can better connect to the East River

Esplanade to get exercise and enjoy its wonderful views of the river and Roosevelt Island,” said Commissioner of Parks & Recreation Adrian Benepe.

In July of 2011, the bridge was taken down and a prefabricated metal bridge was constructed in place of its concrete predecessor. The new bridge has been outfitted with improved safety guard rails, wider sidewalks, structurally sound construction and ADA-compliant ramps for added safety and improved access.

The project was funded by the Parks Department and cost $11.9 million to complete.

Healthy Food Drive
The NorthEast Community Bank’s Upper East Side branches at 1751 2nd Ave., at 91st St., and 1470 1st Ave., between 76th and 77th streets, will host themed charity drives each month of the year starting in February. The first drive will focus on obtaining the healthy foods that are often in short supply to those with limited incomes.

The bank recommends that donations should fall into the category of nutritious foods such as whole-grain items—dry rice, oatmeal, packaged beans, cereal bars and other similar items. The proceeds will be donated to the Yorkville Common Pantry on East 109th Street. For business hours and more information, visit necommunitybank.com.

Ocean Exploration
The Explorer’s Club will host a public lecture with the crew of Tara Oceans, a 118-foot schooner that travels the globe diagnosing the health of the oceans. The French-owned ship, which will be docking in the East River Feb. 5-11, has spent the last several years collecting and categorizing plankton, which is responsible for half the planet’s oxygen, in order to study the relationship between climate change and the oceans.

Tara Ocean’s chief scientist, Eric Karsenti, and Romain Troublé, French sailor and chairman of Tara Foundation for Marine Research USA, will speak at the event. Explorers Club member Mara G. Haseltine, an artist and environmentalist, will unveil “La Boheme: A Portrait of Today’s Ocean’s in Peril,” her latest sculpture based on her discoveries on board Tara Oceans. The lecture will be held Monday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at 46 E. 70th St. Tickets are $20, $5 for students with ID, and seating is limited. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 212-628-8383.

HOME PLANNING FOR AGING
State Sen. Liz Krueger is sponsoring a discussion for boomers and seniors entitled “It Starts at Home: Planning Your Environment as You Age,” on Thursday, Jan. 19, 8–10 a.m. at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, 331 E. 70th St. The talk will cover how to make decisions about living arrangements as you age. Panelists include Ted Finkelstein, from the NYC Commission on Human Rights Project for Equal Access; Audrey Berman Tannen, of the EIS Housing Resource Center; and Sheila Roher, from Age Friendly NY. A light breakfast will be served. Call 212-490-9535 for more information.

NORA EPHRON AND HER PLAYWRIGHT PROTÉGÉ
Acclaimed writer, director and humorist Nora Ephron will be in conversation with Nathan Englander at Symphony Space to present a behind-the-scenes at look at the adaptation of his short story, The Twenty-Seventh Man, into a play, which will be produced this fall by The Public Theater. Ephron, known for the screenplays of such classic romantic comedies as When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, is serving as Englander’s playwriting mentor during the process and will introduce readings of the original short story. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m., at 2537 Broadway. Tickets are $27 or $15 for those 30 and under. Call 212-864-5400 or visit selectedshorts.org for tickets and information.

SPECIAL U.N. SHABBAT
The United Nations is hosting an International Holocaust Commemoration Shabbat on Saturday, Jan. 21 to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp at Park East Synagogue. There will be a morning shabbat service at 8:30 a.m. followed by a commemoration at 10:45 a.m. Senior Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, will lead the services, joined by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and President of the General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, as well as Holocaust survivors and the diplomatic corps. At 163 E. 67th St. Call 212-737-6900 for information.

MUSIC OF EAST AND WEST
Gotham Early Music Scene presents a concert entitled La Serenissima: Music of Venice and her Others, Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. Soprano Jessica Gould and organist Bradley Brookshire will be joined by The Rose of the Compass Ensemble for a unique performance of the music of West and East in the Venetian Empire. The music celebrates the peaceful diversity of the former republic, with a mix of Arabic, Armenian, Dalmatian and other cultures providing the backdrop for the music’s inspiration. At The Chapel of St. Bart’s Church, 325 Park Ave. Tickets are $25 or $15 for students and seniors. Call 212-866-0468 or visit salonsanctuary.org for information.

IT’S A GIRL!
Congratulations to Upper East Side Assembly Member Dan Quart and his wife Miriam, who just gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Gabriella Rose, this week. They also have a son, Samuel.

WE OTTY KNOW
Do you know a police officer or firefighter going above and beyond on the Upper East Side? A member of the clergy who is making a difference in the neighborhood? Someone who is helping build a better neighborhood community? A block association leader who is doing something extra? Nominate your Upper East Side hero or heroes for an OTTY—Our Town Thanks You— Award by sending their name along with some info about why they deserve an OTTY to jrogers@manhattanmedia.com.

BABY BOOMER RETIREMENT PLANNING
State Sen. Liz Krueger is hosting a Senior Round Table forum from 8-10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, 331 E. 70th St. These discussions are part of a series called “Planning Ahead: Senior Living in the 21st Century,” a five-part series for boomers and seniors. This week’s topice will address how baby boomers and seniors can plan ahead so that they can live comfortably as they age. A light breakfast will be served.

To attend this event, RSVP to Dore Mann at 212-490-9535 or doremann@gmail.com.

FAITH AND BUSINESS ETHICS
The Jewish Learning Insitute is offering a class to combat the amoral attitudes that led to the recent economic collapse called “Money Matters: Jewish Business Ethics.” The class will be taught by Rabbi Elie Weinstock of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 and will continue for six consecutive sessions. Classes will take place at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun,125 E. 85 St.

The classes will be taught with the idea that “business should be a force for good…that’s why we’ll be presenting students with timeless Talmudic insights into real-world ethical dilemmas,” Weinstock said in a statement.
“Money Matters” will delve into the ethics of bankruptcy along with when one should pay back debts and the social ethics of living wages, insider trading, CEO compensation and collective bargaining.

This program is designed to appeal to followers of the Jewish faith at all levels and does not require membership within any one temple, synagogue or other house of worship.

To enroll or for more information, call 212-774-5678 or email JLI@ckj.org.

SIDAMON-ERISTOFF DIES AT 81

Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff, who served as the head of the MTA for 15 years as well as regional administrator of New York’s EPA region under President George Bush, died at his Upper East Side home Dec. 26. 

Sidamon-Eristoff, 81, also served under numerous other mayors, including as adminstrator of the New York City Transportation Administration from 1968 to 1973. He served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Highways as an assistant to the mayor. He was also chairman of the board of Audubon New York and a board member of the National Audubon Society.

He is survived by his son Andrew, who represented the Upper East Side on the City Council from 1993-1999, as well as his wife Anne, children, Simon and Elizabeth and several grandchildren.

PARKS RELEASES RFP FOR TAVERN ON THE GREEN

New York City’s Department of Parks & Recreation recently announced the release of a request for proposals (RFP) for the operation of a high-quality casual restaurant and outdoor café at Tavern on the Green in Central Park, just west of the Sheep Meadow near 67th Street.

“Tavern on the Green has long been one of the city’s most unique settings and today marks a new chapter in its life. Now is the right time to re-envision the historic space and give it a new look and a new use,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We look forward to proposals for the creation of a casual restaurant and outdoor café that everyday parkgoers, neighbors and visitors can enjoy.”

All responses to the RFP must be submitted no later than Friday, March 30 at 3 p.m. The parks department will hold a recommended proposer meeting and site tour on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m.

At Tavern on the Green, the department envisions a casual restaurant, outdoor café and bar that will honor the original design intent of the Olmsted and Vaux park plan and exist in harmony with its naturalistic park setting.

The building is currently being restored by the city to a smaller, more historic footprint. The city is performing significant structural and exterior work, allowing a future concessionaire the opportunity to focus on building out the interior to meet their specifications.

The parks department will evaluate proposals based on several specific criteria listed in the RFP, including planned operations for the restaurant, the proposer’s operating experience, plans for capital improvements, the fee offered to the city and the proposer’s financial capability.

EAST 79TH NA MEETING

The East 79th Street Neighborhood Association will meet Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. at the City University of New York, 535 E. 80th St. (at East End Avenue). There will be a special crime prevention presentation by police officers from the 19th Precinct. Meetings are free and open to the public.

With the help of artist Ron Agam, Upper East Sider Andrew Scharf lights the giant menorah on 59th Street and Fifth Avenue in celebration of Hannakah. Photo by Andrew Schwartz

STAY UPTOWN ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
You don’t have to drag yourself downtown or, heaven forbid, to Times Square on New Year’s Eve to have a blast. Here are just a few ways to ring in 2012 in the comfort of the Upper East Side.

Midnight Run in Central Park
The Emerald Nuts Midnight Run kicks off at the stroke of 12 from Central Park’s 72nd Street Transverse just south of Cherry Hill. Runners proceed around a four-mile course, heading east and north before looping around at the 102nd Street Transverse and finishing back at 72nd Street. The brave-legged can still register for the race at New York Road Runners headquarters (9 E. 89th St.), and while times aren’t recorded for this fun run, it does count as one of the nine required races for NYRR members to automatically qualify for the 2012 NYC marathon. For those more interested in celebrating on the sidelines, there’s a DJ and dancing at 10 p.m. at the Bandshell followed by a costume contest at 11 p.m. The race kicks off with fireworks and a laser light show at midnight. More info at nyrr.org.

Uptown Dance Party
Great news: You don’t have to go to the Meatpacking District to kick it club style on New Year’s Eve. The 92nd Street Y is hosting the Millenium Dance Party, an evening of Latin, classic, new-style hustle and West Coast swing dancing with party hostess Lori Brizzi and a team of fantastic DJs. The first portion of the night is reserved for mixed ballroom dancing, with lessons from 8–9 p.m. and sashaying around until 10 p.m., then the club beats start and last until 2 a.m.

If you’d rather stay low-key until the big 12 hits, there’s also a concert in Kaufmann Hall by the Knights Orchestra, featuring a champagne toast at intermission. Your concert ticket gets you a $20 entrance to the dance party, which will still be going strong at Buttenwieser Hall afterward. 1395 Lexington Ave., $35 in advance, $50 at the door. Cash bar until 1 a.m. More info at 92y.org.

Wallet-Friendly Bar Night
Brother Jimmy’s, the barbecue and beer joint whose original Upper East Side location is at 1485 Second Ave., between East 77th and 78th streets, with another outpost uptown at The Baitshack, 1644 Third Ave. at East 92nd Street, is the perfect low-key, low-cost destination. They’re serving up their regular menu and have a no-cover cash bar evening, with $3 drafts of Bud and Bud Light from 7 p.m. to midnight. The Baitshack also boasts live band karaoke. More info at brotherjimmys.com.

Fun With the Kiddies
For those who want to celebrate with little ones in tow, the Big Apple Circus is putting on a special New Year’s Eve performance at Lincoln Center. Following their 9:30 p.m. presentation of “Dream Big,” complete with music, juggling, magic, acrobatics and animals, there will be live music as kids are invited to dance in the ring, grab goody bags and toast a glass of sparkling cider (champagne for the grown ups) at midnight. Kids tickets from $25, adults from $50, children under 3 who can fit on laps are free. Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St. More info at bigapplecircus.org

FREE FITNESS FOR SENIORS AT THE LIBRARY
The 67 Street Branch of the New York Public Library holds free exercise classes for seniors every week. On Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 12 p.m., class leaders trained by the Department for the Aging take seniors through a series of moves focusing on strength, balance and flexibility. No special equipment or clothing required. On Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m., the library hosts a knitting group where anyone can drop in to work on projects or help with the “sock dolls for charity” project. All materials and knitting needles provided. 328 E. 67th St., call 212-734-1717 for more info.

KELLNER HAILS NEW TAXI BILL
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the long-awaited and much-debated taxi bill last week after negotiating specific terms with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and agreeing to include provisions for an increase in handicapped accessible vehicles. Upper East Side Assembly Member Micah Kellner, a vocal disability rights advocate who has been pushing for a more accessible taxi fleet, expressed his approval of the bill after loudly criticizing the Bloomberg administration’s previous ideas on how to overhaul the taxi system.

“This is a taxi agreement we all can hail. I applaud Governor Cuomo for once again championing the civil rights of a disenfranchised community,” Kellner said in a statement. “Not only does this plan add thousands of accessible vehicles to our city’s streets, but it forces the city to develop a long-term plan that is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

The new bill will add 1,500 medallions to the taxi fleet, all of which would be required to be fully accessible, bringing the total percentage of accessible taxis from 1.7 percent to 12 percent, and will also add 6,000 new livery cab street hail medallions, 1,200 of which will be accessible. The bill also allows all livery cabs to pick up street hails in the outer boroughs and northern Manhattan. The city estimates that the sales of the new medallions will bring in $1 billion in revenue.

LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING TIPS

Final sales and super-crowded stores can be overwhelming. For some tips on how to weed through the craziness, we asked the personal stylists of My Wardrobe LLC, an East Side company, for their fashion and shopping expertise.

What’s one foolproof style gift for women? For men?
Stylist Latoya Parsons: A foolproof style gift for women is costume jewelry—nothing big and overbearing, but something simple and classy that will spruce up any woman’s outfit. For men, either cuff links or a sport jacket for a classic or trendy look, paired with a button-down shirt and polished jeans.

What’s your favorite fashion gift this season?
Stylist Kristie Cherry: My over-the-knee boot socks are hands down my favorite fashion gift; they are trendy and chic and I wear them in so many different ways and styles. I can wear them with a nice dress and Mary Janes or shorts and knee-high boots.

Do you have advice for shopping for someone else’s style/wardrobe when gift giving?
CEO Keesha Parsons: I visualize their particular style first—what clothes does he or she usually wear? What do they look good wearing? I take into account their skin complexion and their best colors. I think of the fashion designers who target that style, then visualize that person in particular pieces that I like based on color, style and their personality.

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR AMAC

The Association for Metro Area Autistic Children (AMAC) is seeking contributions that will last for the entire year through their Rewards Store. AMAC employs an Applied Behavior Analysis approach to working with children with autism spectrum disorders. Kids are given rewards as reinforcements for positive behaviors and are able to earn points to save up for bigger items like CDs, books, video games, sneakers and clothes, sports gear, makeup and healthy snacks. Donations will be used to stock the Rewards Store so children are provided with incentives all year round. For more information, call 212-645-5005.

SHOW SOME LOVE: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

For those interested in starting a new tradition of service for the holiday season, here are a few worthy organizations that will happily accept extra hands and hearts.

NYC Rescue Mission
90 Lafayette St., 212-226-6214, www.nycrescue.org

Established in 1872, The New York City Rescue Mission feeds approximately 400 people a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The New York City Rescue Mission looks for people year-round and at the holidays to serve meals, help with dinner prep, clean up, set up tables and chairs, stuff and open envelopes and fill and staple food bags. For education buffs and bookworms, try your hand at GED tutoring (morning and afternoon sessions available).

Coalition for the Homeless
129 Fulton St., 3rd Fl., 212-776-2090, www.coalitionforthehomeless.org

The Coalition for the Homeless sponsors the Grand Central Food Program, a mobile soup kitchen that provides hot nutritious meals to 1,000 homeless New Yorkers every night. Operating between 6:30-10 p.m., meals are packed into three vans and delivered to approximately 31 locations in Manhattan and the Bronx. In addition to meals, thousands of blankets, scarves, hats, gloves, coats and other items of clothing and toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and deodorant) are distributed. Those interested in volunteering should email volunteer@cfthomeless.org.

Room to Grow
54 W. 21st St., Ste. 401, 212-620-7800, www.roomtogrow.org

Room to Grow provides low-income families with individualized parenting support, developmental information and infant and toddler items (toys, clothes, etc.). Volunteers are needed for in-kind donations for families, obtaining donations of new and nearly new baby items, preparing the donations by cleaning, fixing and organizing them, organizing collection drives, assisting with fundraising and events and other special projects.

COPS SEEK UPPER EAST SIDE IPHONE NABBERS
Two young men have been teaming up to terrify locals at gunpoint into handing over their smart phones—but these criminals are picky. So far, they’re only targeting iPhones. In three separate instances over the past few weeks, the pair has hit Madison Avenue near East 70th Street and East 74th Street and East 70th Street near Lexington Avenue.
The first suspect, Hispanic, approximately 20 years old, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, approaches unsuspecting Apple lovers armed with a handgun and demands their iPhone, while the other suspect, Hispanic, about 17 years old, 5-foot-7, acts as a lookout.

Anyone with information about the crimes can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477), submit tips online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. Just make sure to borrow your friend’s BlackBerry to make the call if you’re strolling through the Upper East Side.

LOCAL ELECTEDS BLAST CITY FOR SLOW PCB RESPONSE
While many elected officials and concerned teachers and parents have been working for years to shine the light on the toxic effect of PCB exposure in schools, the most recent studies have shown even more alarming effects on women’s reproductive health. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) have been detected in lighting ballasts and fixtures in over 800 city school buildings, and while the city acknowledges their danger, it has only agreed to a removal timeline over the course of 10 years.

“As an elected official, but more fundamentally as a woman, I find it outrageous that the city has chosen to drag its feet in removing these toxic lights from our schools,” said Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal at a press conference last week to publicize the most recent findings of the deleterious effects of PCBs on women’s reproductive health.

She was joined by Dr. David Carpenter, a PCB expert and professor at the University at Albany, Reps. Jerry Nadler and José Serrano, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, New York Communities for Change, Planned Parenthood of New York City, NARAL Pro-Choice New York and the National Organization for Women NYC.

PCB exposure has been linked to endometriosis, infertility, longer conception times and miscarriage, as well as menstrual disorders and early puberty and menopause.

Rosenthal cited the case of a teacher at an Upper West Side school known to contain high levels of PCBs who quit her job after learning she was pregnant, for fear of the exposure she would receive.
Rosenthal recently introduced a bill to the Assembly that would require the Department of Education to remove all toxic lights from schools within three years.

JEWISH MUSEUM LIGHTS UP FOR SEE THE LIGHT(S)
The Jewish Museum’s annual See the Light(s) Hanukkah celebration features family festivals, exhibitions from the museum’s collection of menorahs, eclectic music and other events to honor the holiday season. This Sunday, Dec. 18, Hanukkah Family Day runs from 12–4 p.m. Kids can make Hanukkah lamps and sculptures from found objects, design holiday scenes with illustrator Nancy Cote and dance to the tunes of Ben Rudnick and Friends. The museum’s Lox at Café Weissman will offer a special menu, featuring potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce; sufganiyot (donuts) filled with apricot, hazelnut or mixed fruit jam; Napoleon-style layered latkes with house sour cream, dill sauce and lox; and homemade cheesecake.

Other upcoming events include family concerts by The Macaroons Dec. 25 and Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Band Allstars in concert Dec. 27. Special exhibitions on view include The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats and The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936-1951.

Hanukkah begins at sundown Tuesday, Dec. 20, and continues until sundown on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
Maloney Intros New Small Biz Bill

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who represents the Upper East Side, announced last weekend her introduction of new legislation designed to help small businesses. The bill would give federal grants to Community Development Financial Institutions to make micro-loans up to $25,000 available to help entrepreneurs start or expand small businesses. Maloney was joined by several small business owners who have started their companies in New York City thanks to similar loans.

“This bill will expand a vital source of seed money for entrepreneurs who don’t have access to bank loans,” Maloney said in a statement. “The billion-dollar corporation that began in a dorm room or a garage is no urban myth, as the employees of Facebook and Hewlett-Packard can tell you, but the Great Recession has made it harder than ever for entrepreneurs to access credit.”

Maloney said she hopes the availability of small loans through certified CDFIs will make start-up capital more readily available and help local economies grow.