Northwell Health Imaging at Lenox Health Greenwich Village opened its brand new state-of-the-art, 13,000-square-foot imaging center on August 2, 2016 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Patients will now have access to a full spectrum of non-emergency radiology services. Northwell Health’s Imaging Program, the first radiology practice in New York State designated by the American College of
-
-
VID Stays Active During the Summer
On Thursday, August 18th, the Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Club president Nadine Hoffman reported on a variety of Democratic Party political activities, including State Committee and Judicial Delegate races. (Judicial delegates help to select candidates running for a variety of judgeships.) Tony Hoffman gave an
-
Mulry Square Project
On August 15, 2016, Artists Who Care’s (AWC’s), 9/11 Tiles for America Project, honored the finished Mulry Square Project, by celebrating the sixth anniversary of the Love Bench, and the return of the Tiles for America. Over 600 neighbors, tourists, and passersby joined Paul McClure, Dusty Berke, and numerous AWC volunteers, assisting guests in rehanging
-
Lolo’s Birthday
Save the date of Saturday, October 15th at 4pm. Hellen’s cockatoo Lolo Chocon is about to celebrate 21 years with us humans. So come enjoy park musicians and entertainers at LOLO’s birthday bash! (More to follow next month.)
-
Recent Developments in the Village
St. Luke’s Expansion: The expansion of St. Luke’s School is progressing at 657 Greenwich Street. This 19th-century structure will gain nine new classrooms with 100 seats, as well as a 4,000-square-foot gym. The $25 million renovation project will expand the school by 50 percent, and the building will grow to 60,000 square feet. The condos,
-
An Argument for Term Limits
In his first term, a politician works for you. In his second, for the guy who takes him to lunch. In his 3rd, for his largest contributor. In the 4th, for the company who is ready to give him a job whenever he is ready to quit. —George Capis
-
Village Independent Democrats Plans for November
On Thursday July 14th, the Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting in St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Club president Nadine Hoffman reported on several party matters, such as the election of judicial delegates and state committee members, and on the recent renovation of the VID clubhouse on Perry Street. Tony Hoffman gave several
-
What Shall We Name Our New Hospital?
Minutes before we closed the July issue, I got an unexpected e-mail from Doctor Kaufman (who now lives and works in Portola Valley) with an article about the legal stay by the City Club to hold off the start of construction of “Diller Island” along with these words… “Some good news for a change.” Oh,
-
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation’s Annual 2016 Awards
Text and photo © Jill Lynne 2016. On a lovely summer eve, hundreds of supporters still chose to pack The New School auditorium for the celebratory annual meeting and presentation of the 2016 Village Awards by the important Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. These awards are given in recognition of those people, places, and
-
Union Calls for Skills Testing
As you are lifted into an ambulance you hope that the emergency medical worker who puts an oxygen mask over your nose knows what he or she is doing and did not get a promotion because he or she was somebody’s friend. That question is being asked in a law suit by the EMS union
-
VID Remains Active During Summer
The Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting on Thursday, June 9 at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Erik Coler, standing in for club president Nadine Hoffman, reported on a variety of club activities. District leader Keen Berger reported on Democratic Party activities, including her own proposals to reform the New York City Board
-
Villagers Headed to the Democratic Convention
As a result of the Democratic Presidential Primary held on April 19, some delegates to the Philadelphia Convention of the Democratic Party were awarded that day and some were elected at the State Democratic Party Convention. Arthur Schwartz, Westview Contributor, was elected at a State Democratic Convention as an At-Large delegate, and has been tapped
-
Big Primary Vote on June 28th (Yes, Another One)
On Tuesday June 28th there will be a primary election for the Democratic candidate to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Jerry Nadler, who has represented the West side of Manhattan including the Village for about 24 years, is running against newcomer Oliver Rosenberg. Although both candidates have websites that detail their backgrounds and
-
VID Prepares for Elections
On Thursday May 12, the Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Democratic district leader Keen Berger and club president Nadine Hoffman reported on a variety of issues, including the renovation of the club’s office on Perry Street. A slate of judicial delegates, which serve on committees to
-
TAIL WAGGERS’ REUNION
Neighborhood dogs (and owners) were obviously delighted to be reunited in their elegantly upgraded Leroy Street Dog Run, complete with pool and water fountain. Though clearly most appreciative, they could hardly be blamed for barely noticing the official ceremony going on outside the gate, where people from the Hudson River Park Trust, with Councilman Corey
-
VID Endorses
On Thursday April 14th, the Village In-dependent Democrats had their monthly meeting at St. John’s Church on Christo-pher Street. There were reports on a variety of political issues by club President Nadine Hoffman and District Leader Keen Berg-er, followed by reports on election activity (mostly petitioning for Jerry Nadler) by Tony Hoffman, and an update
-
A Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fundraiser!
The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Committee of the West Village Houses is organizing our first Fundraiser to be held Saturday afternoon, June 11, rain date Sunday, June 12. It’s in a courtyard, entrance on Washington St. between Morton and Barrow Streets. We will have a silent auction of goods and services, baked goods and snacks for
-
Meet Mia
WestView’s Mascot Playful, exuberant Mia still acts like a puppy at the age of thirteen. She probably has more Poodle in her than anything else but when her owner surrendered this charming girl to Maltese Rescue, Mia immediately became an honorary Maltese. Mia is truly WestView’s mascot, attending all the monthly Contributor & Production Meetings.
-
William B. Dunham, Storied Greenwich Village Band Leader, Dead at 88
William B. Dunham, founder and leader of the Grove Street Stompers, arguably the world’s longest continuously running jazz gig—same band, same club, same night, for over 50 years—died on January 11, 2016. Led by pianist Dunham, the Stompers, considered one of New York’s top traditional jazz bands, played every Monday night from 1962 at Arthur’s Tavern, 57
-
A Toast to Bill O’Donnell
Surprisingly for a bar owner, Bill O’Donnell, who, sadly, died last month, was truly ‘the quiet man’. Though a vital contributor to our West Village world, unlike other local personality publicans of the 50s-60s era, with bars bearing their own names—Louie’s, Stefan’s, Bradley’s, etc.—Bill didn’t play the front of the house. When I first hung
-
VID
On Thursday March 10th, the Village Independent Democrats met at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Keen Berger reported on national and local election issues and club President Nadine Hoffman reported on club activities and state proposals to bring early voting to New York State. Tony Hoffman reported on plans for petitioning, which is needed
-
Save Our Graffiti
By George Capsis I like to get calls—it gives me an excuse to break off from the tedious keying and talk to a human—any human. I got a call shortly after the March issue came out where I documented my frustration at not being able to talk to a responsible person in the U.S. Post
-
Briefly Noted: VID Meeting
On Thursday, February 11th, the Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting in St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Democratic party district leader Keen Berger and District leader Arthur Schwartz discussed upcoming primaries and a tentative schedule of related club activities was approved. Jen Hoppe gave a report on the upcoming VID gala, and newly
-
Briefly Noted: Correction
An observant reader wrote to let us know that the picture of Arthur Schwartz that ran correctly with his “Inside Bernie Sanders” piece in the print version of last month’s paper was incorrectly included next to Corey Johnson’s “WestView Op-Ed” article on our website. We apologize for this accidental misplacement and have corrected it online.
-
Briefly Noted: Call Central Casting
In the golden era of Hollywood, MGM had “Central Casting” – an office that could, on very short notice, produce any type of actor or even performing animal a director or producer needed after exploding to a hopeless performer “You’re fired!” The production could take a lunch break and when, in an hour, they reconvened a new
-
The IRS Never Does That
…is what my accountant told me in October after I received a voice mail telling me the IRS was suing me. Upon discovering there had been a rash of such calls in our neighborhood, WestView News ran a piece in November alerting readers. However, I guess the scammers didn’t read my piece, since I had
-
Notorious Bar Disturbs Neighbors
Dear Mr. Capsis! We have been reading the Westview News for many years. Your openness and frankness has impressed us and we believe the City would be better off if we had more journalists of your caliber. We would need this type of advocacy in our longstanding fight against Automatic Slims, the notorious bar right
-
The Real Terror
One phrase Obama did not repeat was if a person is willing to give his life, there is no protection. And the fact that this Muslim couple left their newborn daughter and drove back to face a group of fellow employees to open fire means that this act will be repeated and repeated. —George Capsis
-
VID Meeting
The Village Independent Democrats (VID) held its monthly meeting on Thursday, December 10th. Nadine Hoffmann, President of VID, started the proceedings by giving her President’s report. She announced that a forum dealing with gun safety and regulation is being planned for March in conjunction with the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club and possibly with other reform
-
VID November Actions
On Thursday, November 12th the Village Independent Democrats had their monthly meeting in St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. The meeting was chaired by long time member Katharine Wolpe. There were reports and updates on a variety of club activities including Democratic party election planning, a presidential candidates forum at the SVA theater on November
-
Bird in the Hood
A short story. I was walking to see someone on 10th Street midday and ran into a group of photographers encircled around something—not sure what it was. Thought it might be Sarah Jessica Parker since she was the last reason I saw that many paparazzi. When I got close enough to look over their shoulders
-
Briefly Noted: Democratic Clubs Get Together for $15 Minimum Wage
The monthly routine for the Village Independent Democrats and the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club changed in October as they held a joint meeting and forum concerning the proposed $15 minimum wage. The meeting was held on Thursday October 17th at the community room of the Fulton Houses on Ninth Avenu The forum started with a
-
Briefly Noted: Transit Funding
For a couple of weeks in early October, the Transport Workers Union (TWU), which I am co-General Counsel of, took out a series of newspaper ads blasting Mayor de Blasio for not committing enough money to the MTA’s ten year Capital Plan, a plan needed to upgrade the infrastructure of the subway system. The
-
Briefly Noted: Developments Related To My Arrest
On October 15, the District Attorney appeared with me and my lawyer, James Roth, in Supreme Court, a date set for the grand larceny charges against me to go to a grand jury. A supervisory attorney made an appearance and made a motion to the Judge that the charges be reduced to Petit Larceny (which
-
Briefly Noted: Let’s Go Out! Released
By Westview Editors Westview News would like to congratulate our own Keith Michael on the release of his new book Let’s Go Out! A Birder’s Year in the West Village. Regular readers will be familiar with Keith, his Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Millie, and his tales of their exploits out and about in the city. The
-
Stanford White’s Gravestone
Following up my article on the history of the Jefferson Market branch library as a courthouse (WVN, Dec. 2014), and the arraignment there of Harry Thaw, the killer of architect Stanford White, here is a photograph of the gravestone for White and his wife, Bessie Springs Smith White. They are buried in the Saint James
-
City Finds It Cheaper to Keep Tenants in Rent Stabilized Apartments
On Monday, September 28th Mayor De Blasio announced he was allocating $12.3 million to hire lawyers to fight off landlord evictions and avoid an increase in homelessness. A landlord association quickly responded that the money should be used to pay back rent, which they feel is the principal cause for eviction. City assigned lawyers may
-
New Planters Brighten the 6th Precinct
By Stephanie Phelan If you’ve passed by the 6th Precinct over the last few years, you’ve seen the disgraceful deterioration of the long horizontal planters on either side of the front door. There was a time, long ago, when a volunteer, an Auxiliary Police Officer who loved gardening, planted and maintained flowers in those planters,
