View this email in your browser ([link removed])
Dear John,

We finally have enough Pre-Kindergarten seats on the Upper East Side, but while the Mayor has promised of "3K for All" by 2021 next, there are still no plans for most of Manhattan: we've got to start pushing now. Make sure to apply for 3K or Pre-K (#prek) , sign the petition (#3Kexpansion) and join our rally (#3Krally) .

Our nearly snowless winter is one more reminder of the realities of climate change, and we need to do everything we can to minimize our harm on the environment, including by reducing plastic waste. Mayor de Blasio signed an executive order implementing my proposed ban on the sale of single use plastic bottles (#BottleBan) in city parks, beaches and even Trump's golf courses. With the plastic bag ban now in effect you can get your free reusable bag from my district office (#PlasticBag) .

New Yorkers won an incredible victory in court when a judge ordered 20-stories off the top of a supertall (#Orders) on the West Side and we are filing a motion to re-argue our case at Sutton.

This month any resident age 11 years or older can vote on how to spend $1 million ([link removed]) from March 28 through April 5.

New York City has been preparing a proactive response to contain Coronavirus. Here are some simple steps (#Coronavirus) you can take to stay healthy.
Sincerely,

Ben Kallos
Council Member

P.S. With love in the air in February, I was proud to officiate multiple weddings including one on Valentine's Day (#Marriage) , so if you didn't already know, I do weddings!

SPECIAL EVENTS
Ben Kallos Chess Challenge (#Chess)
Saturday, 3/21, 9am

MWBE Job Fair ([link removed])
Wednesday, 3/25, 6pm

3K Rally (#3Krally)
Saturday, 3/28, 11am

Participatory Budgeting (#PB)
3/28 - 4/5

MONTHLY SPONSORED EVENTS
Drag Queen Story Hour (#DQSH)
Saturday, 3/7, 12pm–1pm

$10 Tennis Senior Tennis (#Tennis)
M-F: 6am, 7am, 1pm, 2pm

$10 Drop-in Tennis (All Ages) (#Tennis)
M-F: 6am–8am, 1pm–3pm, 10pm–12am
Sa/Su: 6am–8am, 8pm–12am

MONTHLY DISTRICT OFFICE EVENTS
First Friday ([link removed])
Friday, 3/6, 8am–9:30am
(note early end time)

Free Legal Clinics
(By Appointment Only)



TABLE OF CONTENTS
(If you experience trouble with the links below, click here ([link removed]) to read on the web)

HEADLINES (#Headlines)
0. Apply for Pre-K and 3K Now (#prek)
1. Fighting to Expand 3K for All Citywide - Including to UES (#3Kexpansion)
2. Court Orders 20 Floors Off Supertall Tower (#Marriage)
3. A Month of Love and Marriage (#Marriage)
4. Coronavirus Update (#Coronavirus)

CLIMATE CHANGE (#Environment)
6. De Blasio Implements My Ban on the Sale of (#Bottle Ban) Single-Use Plastic Bottles in City Parks (#Bottle Ban)
7. Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags Takes Effect (#PlasticBag)

INVITES (#Invites)
8. 3K Rally (#3Krally)
9. Participatory Budgeting Ballot/Drop-off Info (#PB)
10. Ben Kallos Chess Challenge (#Chess)
11. Drag Queen Story Hour (#DQSH)
12. MWBE Job Fair (#JobFair)
13. Indoor Tennis $10 All Winter and Free All Summer (#Tennis)

YOUTH & EDUCATION (#Education)
14. Free Summer Camps For All NYC Kids (#Free)
15. Ribbon-cutting for New STEM Preschool (#Stem)
16. Fighting for French Dual Language Program (#DLP)
17. Celebrating 150 Years of Hunter College (#HC)
18. Recognizing Nightingale’s Centennial (#Nightingale)
19. CyberNYC (#Cyber2)

HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY (#Health)
20. Office of Food Policy Passes (#Food)
21. Opening the First Pediatric Urgent Care Center in Manhattan (#Pediatric)
22. Ribbon-cutting for ExpressCare at Metropolitan Hospital (#Metropolitan)
23. Banning Toxic Pesticides in Parks Gains Support (#Pesticides)
24. Give Kids A Smile NYC 2020 (#GKAS)
25. Standing in Solidarity with NYPD (#NYPD)

GOOD GOVERNMENT (#GG)
26. Questions Continue Around Rivington Scandal (#Scandal)
27. Tech “Moonshot” Division Proposed for City Government (#Moonshot)
28. Bringing Transparency to City Contracts (#MOCS)
29. Getting Online Voter Registration in Time for Elections (#Voter)
30. Property Commission Tax Report (#Commission)

CELEBRATING GENDER & DIVERSITY (#Diversity)
31. Maloney Passes Equal Rights Amendment and Women’s Museum (#ERA)
32. Honoring Black History with Mayor de Blasio (#BHM)
33. Celebrating Black History Month at Stanley Isaacs (#Isaacs)
34. NYSABPRL Caucus Weekend (#NYSABPRL)
35. 12th Annual Asian Pacific American City Advocacy Day (#AdvocacyDay)
36. Celebrating the Chinese New Year with Chinese-American Planning Council (#CPC)
37. A Lunar New Year Celebration (#KAFSC)

JOBS (#Job)
38. Rallying with Labor Unions Against Worker Abuse (#Labor)
39. Worker Abuse Brings Protest to the German Consulate (#German)
40. City and State NY’s Diversity Summit 2020 (#Summit)

RESOURCES (#Resources)
41. Helping The Homeless (#HTH)
42. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and AARP Tax Services (#Lenox)
43. Isaacs Center AARP Tax Aide (#AARP)
44. 92Y Teen Art Week (#92Y)
45. College Scholarship for 11th Grade Young Women (#Scholar)
46. PS 198M Sneaker Drive (#Sneaker)
47. Get Counted NYC (#Counted)

OFFICE UPDATES (#Update)
48. Free Legal Clinics (#legal)
49. Here to Help (#help)
50. Mobile District Hours (#mobile)
51. Ben in Your Building (#beninyourbuilding)
52. Community Boards (#Community)
53. NYPD Events (#NYP)
54. Neighborhood and Tenant Associations (#Nata)
55. Events for Adults (#adults)
56. Events for Kids (#KIDS)

[link removed]

After years of fighting for Pre-Kindergarten we have more than 1,000 seats available for children born in 2016 who are already or will be turning four years old this year. Last year every family that applied received a seat in the neighborhood. Pre-K applications are due March 16, 2020 at nyc.gov/prek ([link removed])

Following my advocacy during budget negotiations to expand 3K to provide free childcare to every three-year-old, Mayor de Blasio announced the rollout of School District 1 on the Lower East Side for this September. While 3K provides preference to residents in the district, if you want it to come to the Upper East Side, or anywhere else in Manhattan, please consider applying now to show City Hall how great the need is in our district. 3K is available a short walk north of 96th Street or a quick ride on the Q or 4/5 to Union Square. It never hurts to apply, and in this case it will help. You can always decline, and who knows, you might even win a spot!

Apply Now!
Pre-K Applications due March 16, 2020: nyc.gov/prek ([link removed])
3K Applications due April24, 2020: nyc.gov/3k ([link removed])

Email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) when you apply so we can support you and your family.

[link removed] 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the roll out of "3K for All" by the 2021 school year. As of this year, 3K for All is only planned for half of school districts, serving only two-fifths of children, leaving an estimated 39,000 children without 3K throughout our city.

You can make your voice heard by bringing a sign and your family to our
Rally for "3K for All" Citywide
Saturday, March 28, 11am
St. Catherine's Park, 1245 1st Ave
RSVP ([link removed])

No matter what, please sign and ask everyone you know to sign our petition demanding the expansion of 3K for All Citywide at BenKallos.com/3K ([link removed])

[link removed] you may have read in the New York Post ([link removed]) , a Supreme Court Judge recently ordered 20 floors off a 59-story tower at 200 Amsterdam after the developer tried to get away with using an illegal 39-sided gerrymandered zoning lot.

As reported in Our Town ([link removed]) , I believe the Sutton Supertall and 200 Amsterdam have a lot in common. In both cases developers flagrantly broke the law while the city was complacent. That why I joined the East River Fifties Alliance in filing a motion to re-argue to take 400 feet off the Sutton Supertall.

For more information on this topic, read the coverage in New York Post ([link removed]) , Fox 5 ([link removed]) , Real Estate Weekly ([link removed]) , CityLand ([link removed]) , Bisnow ([link removed]) , The Real Deal ([link removed]) , Upper East Side Patch ([link removed]) , Our Town
([link removed]) and Construction Dive ([link removed]) .

In February we celebrated Valentine’s Day, and nothing is more romantic than a wedding. You may have thought I was kidding when I said "I do weddings and bar mitzvahs," but it is true. I had the pleasure of officiating the union of one of my staff members on Valentine's Day itself as well as a beautiful Sunday wedding on Roosevelt Island at Four Freedoms Park. Pictured are my wife and I at our wedding right after I was elected. If you or someone you know is getting married and would like for me to officiate your wedding, email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

[link removed]
Recently, a new Coronavirus was detected in thousands of people worldwide, starting in China and spreading from there. There is evidence the infection can be spread person-to-person.

As of March 4, there have only been three New York City residents who tested positive for Cornavirus with at least 8 testing negative.

Here's what you need to know:
* Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause mild illnesses like a cold, to more serious illnesses like pneumonia.
* Infections with this new virus have been reported in many countries, including the U.S. For an updated list of affected areas, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.
* The virus is likely to be spread from person to person, but it is currently unclear how easily it spreads.
* Commonly reported symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
* Most people (80%) with COVID-19 will feel like they have a bad cold or the flu. Some people will require hospitalization. People who are at most risk for severe illness are elderly or have other health conditions.

At this time, New Yorkers do not need to:
* Limit travel within the city.
* Avoid public gatherings and public transportation.
* Change anything about where you get your food or how you prepare it.
* Wear a face mask if you are not sick. Face masks are only recommended if directed by a health care provider.
+ People wear protective face masks for many reasons, including seasonal allergies, pollution or protecting those around them from a common cold. They should not be harassed or targeted for wearing one.

If you are being harassed due to your race, nation of origin or other identities, you can report discrimination or harassment to the NYC Commission on Human Rights by calling 311 and saying “human rights.”

There are no specific vaccines or treatments available for this new coronavirus, or any other coronavirus.

If you are planning any travel outside the US, visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health webpage ([link removed]) for the latest travel health notices.

As the Verge ([link removed]) recently reported, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order this month to officially implement my proposed ban on the sale of single-use plastic bottles in city parks, beaches, and even Trump's golf courses. City agencies will also no longer be able to purchase single-use plastic bottles. Before it was repealed by the Trump administration, President Obama’s ban of the sale of plastic bottles in National Parks resulted in waste reduction of as much as 300 tons. We can't risk the next Mayor overturning this order just like Trump did to Obama, so please join me in calling on the City Council to pass my legislation into law by signing and sharing my petition at BenKallos.com/Petition/BanTheBottle

[link removed]
Stop by my District Office during business hours for your free reusable bag courtesy of the Department of Sanitation.

The statewide ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags went into effect on March 1. New Yorkers use 5.2 billion carryout bags per year, the vast majority of which are not recycled. As a result, New York City pays an estimated $10 million to transport 100,000 tons of plastic bags to landfills in other states each year. As a co-sponsor on the initial law that was delayed for years by Albany, I fully support plastic bag diversion and believe this bill will encourage New Yorkers to use fewer plastic bags.

Stop by my District Office during business hours for your free reusable bag courtesy of the Department of Sanitation. I can also bring them to you during your next cooperative or condominium meeting for Ben in Your Buildinging—if you are interested, just email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


[link removed]
In 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the roll out of "3K for All" by the 2021 school year. As of this year, 3K for All is only planned for half of school districts serving only two-fifths of children, leaving an estimated 39,000 children without 3K throughout our city.

You can make your voice heard by bringing a sign and your family to our
Rally to Expand "3K for All" Citywide
Saturday, March 28, 11AM
St. Catherine's Park, 1245 1st Ave
RSVP ([link removed])

[link removed] year residents in my district, ages 11 and older, get to vote on how to spend one million dollars in the community through Participatory Budgeting. Starting March 28, you can vote online, absentee, in my district office or at pop-up sites. You can learn more at BenKallos.com/PB ([link removed])

Voting Week is March 28 – April 5

Vote Absentee by April 1 at BenKallos.com/PB/Absentee

Vote Online, 3/28 – 4/5 at BenKallos.com/PB/digital ([link removed])

Vote in Our District Office at 244 East 93rd Street
Monday – Friday, 3/30 – 4/3, 9am – 5pm
Starting at 8am on First Friday on April 3

MOBILE POLL SITES
Saturday, 3/28, 10am – 2pm, East 67th Street Greenmarket - RSVP ([link removed])
Sunday, 3/29, 12pm – 4pm, Carl Schurz Park - RSVP ([link removed])
Saturday, 4/4, 10am – 2pm, Roosevelt Island Farmers Market - RSVP ([link removed])
Saturday, 4/4, 10am – 2pm, East 82nd Street Greenmarket - RSVP ([link removed])
Sunday, 4/5, 12pm – 4pm, District Office, 244 East 93rd Street - RSVP ([link removed])

Pledge to Vote: BenKallos.com/PB/Pledge ([link removed])


[link removed]
Join me at the 2020 Ben Kallos Chess Tournament hosted by Chess in the Schools at Eleanor Roosevelt High School on Saturday, March 21st. Last year students from dozens of schools competed in the tournament. The tournament registration is free with fees funded through my office and open to students from K – 12. For more information visit ChessInTheSchools.org ([link removed])

Ben Kallos Chess Challenge
Saturday, March 21, 9am–4pm
Check-in 7:15am–8:30am
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
411 East 76th Street

Registration due by Tuesday, March 17 at 5PM at ChessInTheSchools.org ([link removed])

[link removed]
Join HARMONICA SUNBEAM for Drag Queen Story Hour (#DQSH), happening twice this month. Stories, songs, and crafts for kids ages 3-8. Drag Queen Story Hour captures the imagination and play of gender fluidity in childhood and gives kids glamorous and unapologetically LGBTQ role models. A drag queen will read inclusive books as well as storytime favorites and lead participants in a fun craft!

Drag Queen Story Hour
March 7, 12pm – 1pm
New York Public Library, 524 Main St.
RSVP ([link removed])

[link removed]
In partnership with Silicon Harlem, my office will be hosting the Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Job Fair, offering job and contract opportunities for businesses owned by women and people of color. This job fair will include resume-writing and interview skills services.

MWBE Job Fair
March 25, 6 - 8pm
Silicon Harlem, 2785 Frederick Douglass Blvd
RSVP ([link removed])

[link removed]
During the 30-week winter season ending April 12, 2020, $10 per person:
Senior Cardio or Clinic:
Monday – Friday: 6am, 7am, 1pm, or 2pm

Drop-in Hours:
Monday – Friday: 6am – 8am, 1pm - 3pm, 10pm - 12am
Weekends: 6am - 8am, 8pm - 12am

Play FREE starting April 13 through Labor Day with a Parks Tennis Permit ([link removed]) : $10 children, $20 seniors, and $100 for all others.
Learn more at BenKallos.com/Tennis ([link removed])

[link removed] summer break approaches, tens of thousands of low-income public school students and their families are relying on Summer Youth Programs to keep them safe, fed, and positively engaged. However, $20 million in funding for Summer Youth Programs serving at least 34,000 middle school students was excluded entirely or in part from the preliminary budgets in Fiscal Years 2020 ([link removed]) , 2019 ([link removed]) , 2018, 2017, and 2016 ([link removed]) with funding
restored each time by the City Council in the Executive Budget.

As reported by the New York Daily News ([link removed]) , I co-authored legislation with Youth Service Chair Debi Rose that would eliminate proposed budget cuts and mandate the Universal Summer Youth Programs that our City's children deserve. For more information, read our press release ([link removed]) or additional reports from Time Out New York ([link removed]) , New York Metro Parents ([link removed]) and 1010 Wins ([link removed]) .

Help secure Summer Youth Program funding be sharing this link and adding your name at BenKallos.com/UniversalSummerCamp ([link removed])

[link removed] you to nearly 200 families who signed our petition for a French Dual Language program in School District 2 and pledging to participate. Following our December meeting and outreach to the Department of Education we were met with concerns. With your petition signatures we were able to press on and secure a meeting on Tuesday, March 4 with Deputy Chancellor Wallack to discuss launching a French Dual Language program at the East 76th Street Pre-Kindergarten Center. Please be sure to apply to 3K ([link removed]) or Pre-K ([link removed]) and don't forget to sign the petition at BenKallos.com/petition/French-Dual-Language ([link removed])

With help from the founder, staff and students, I had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon at the official opening of Iken Science Academy, a newly re-opened STEM-focused preschool center in my district.

In honor of the 150th Anniversary of Hunter College I presented President Jennifer J. Raad with a proclamation from the City Council signed by me and Council Keith Powers.

Honoring the Nightingale-Bamford School on its 100-year Anniversary with a proclamation from the City Council signed by me and Council Member Powers.

Discussing the importance of cyber security and trust frameworks following lightening pitch sessions from student entrepreneurs at NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Cyber NYC ([link removed]) .

In one of the wealthiest cities in America, or even the world, there is no reason anyone should go hungry. Gotham Gazette ([link removed]) recently reported on the passage of my bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Corey Johnson, that codifies the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy who will be responsible for coordinating initiatives among relevant agencies, conducting outreach to key stakeholders and promoting efforts that increase equitable access to nutritious food. Read more in Gotham Gazette ([link removed]) .

As City Biz List ([link removed]) reported, last month I cut the ribbon on ProHEALTH Pediatric Urgent Care ([link removed]) , the first pediatric urgent care center in Manhattan, with its president and CEO Zeyad Baker, M.D.The new urgent care center is located at 1601 Third Ave and will be open from 7am until 11pm, seven days a week.

As AM New York ([link removed]) reported, I joined Council Member Diana Ayala in cutting the ribbon on Metropolitan Hospital’s new "ExpressCare" Urgent Care Clinic at 1901 First Avenue in East Harlem. The $1.6 million clinic will operate seven days a week and help connect patients to primary care doctors in the NYC Health + Hospitals system for follow-up care. For more coverage on the new facility, visit BenKallos.com/press-clips ([link removed])

[link removed] AM New York ([link removed]) reported, Community Board 5 has officially endorsed my bill to ban glyphosate pesticide use in City parks. Even though many countries have partially or fully banned glyphosate for its link to cancer, Monsanto's Roundup (a glyphosate product) is the City’s most heavily used herbicide. I am happy to speak at your local community board meetings in support of ridding our parks of this chemical and I encourage other community boards to consider passing a resolution in favor of this bill. Support this legislation by signing the petition at BenKallos.com/Petition/BanToxicPesticides ([link removed])

At Give Kids A Smile NYC’s annual Give Kids A Smile Day, dentists from all over the city volunteered to provide $150,000 in free dental care to over a thousand children in communities across Manhattan.

I joined Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in condemning criminal gun violence after the attempted assassination of an NYPD officer in the Bronx. Any attack against a uniformed police officer is not just an attack against a law enforcement official, but against the City’s community as a whole.

[link removed] after the initial fallout of the Rivington House scandal, I’ve continued to ask questions about people who have been fired, as well as any further deed sales to ensure that we don’t see another scandal like Rivington while I’m in office. In an unrelated hearing, I asked about an employee who was terminated and it turns out the administration’s response may have landed them in hot water. As the New York Post reported ([link removed]) , new evidence came out in a suit investigating whether the former deputy commissioner’s firing from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services was in retaliation for Rivington that brought to question whether false testimony was provided by the administration. As this case is decided, I will be paying close attention to make sure that the
administration was telling the truth under oath. For more information on this topic, read the coverage by The Chief-Leader ([link removed]) or New York Post ([link removed]) .

[link removed]-“moonshot”-division.htmlCity & State ([link removed]-“moonshot”-division.html) recently reported on the legislation I authored with Technology Committee Chair Robert Holden to establish an Office of Technology and Digital Services complete with a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the city. The purpose of this Office would be to drive down costs, build forward-thinking agency technology, and taking on "moonshot" challenges to bring city government into the 21 st Century. For more information, read our press release ([link removed]) or additional coverage by StateScoop ([link removed]) .

[link removed] Gotham Gazette ([link removed]) reported, I’m proud to announce that, now, information regarding the City’s $20 billion in contracts will be available for the public at an inspection terminal and online through a new public access platform, thanks to a joint effort by Council Member Brad Lander, the Mayor’s Office of Contracts (MOCS) and I. After nine months of working to upgrade the City’s Public Access Center to include information from the Procurement and Sourcing Solutions Portal (PASSPort), I can confirm that every single resident of the City of New York and members of the press can use the new PASSPort terminal at 253 Broadway to access information on City contracts without appointment. For more information or to watch the announcement, view the press release at
BenKallos.com/press-releases ([link removed]) or read more in Gotham Gazette ([link removed]) .

[link removed] Voter Reigstration is ready for New York City thanks for a law I authored that's been blocked by Albany. Fortunately, as Gotham Gazette ([link removed]) recently reported on legislation authored by State Senator Zellnor Myrie that passed the Seante to allow our system to go online. I am grateful to the Senator for his leadership and hope the Assembly will pave the way for a new generation of voters to particiapte in this years elections.

[link removed] I met with the New York City Bar Association’s Condemnation and Tax Certiorari Committee to discuss the recent report on the New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform Preliminary Proposal ([link removed]) . I am looking to residents like you and experts for guidance as we move forward with these 10 preliminary proposals. Please consider testifying as part of the process. The next hearing is:

Public Hearing
Thursday, March 12, 2020; 6:30 PM
Petrides School - Auditorium (C-Building)
715 Ocean Terrace
Staten Island, NY 1030

*Hearings in other boroughs will be announced soon.


Last month marked a victory for women everywhere, as the House of Representatives voted to pass Congress Member Carolyn Maloney’s legislation to remove the deadline to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and create a Smithsonian Women’s History Museum, both of which she has advocated for decades. As a the author of a resolution in support of the Women's Museum and as a Constitutional scholar, I was happy to show my support at the press conference celebrating this historic moment. The vast contributions women have made to our nation deserve a place in the Smithsonian, where I can take my daughter one day soon to show her that women are capable of accomplishing anything. Furthermore, the Equal Rights Amendment is important as a legal remedy against sex discrimination, and allowing for its nationwide ratification is a victory for all: "What do we want 'Strict Scrutiny,' when do we want it 'Now!'"

It was an honor to represent the City Council at Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Black History Month Celebration.

I would like to thank Stanley Isaacs Community Center for hosting a celebration of Black History Month on the Upper East Side with my office and the Office of Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez. This year’s theme “African Americans and the Vote” reflected on the struggles for voting rights that the Black community has faced throughout American history and still face today. Thank you to all the speakers and performers who participated.

It was my pleasure to attend the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators’ 49th Annual Conference. Pictured here catching up with my friend and brother President Shaun D. Francois I, President of DC 37 and Local 372.

At the 12th Annual Asian Pacific American (APA) City Advocacy Day, I joined the coalition calling for equitable funding. The APA community has the highest poverty rate across all race/ethnic groups, yet they do not receive a fair share of City funding dedicated to social services.

I had a great time celebrating the Lunar New Year with Chinese-American Planning Council.

I joined Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer who gave the Korean-American Family Service Center a proclamation for their great work fighting domestic violence.

On my birthday, I joined my friend Public Advocate Jumaane Williams along with my brothers and sisters at the Laborers, and New Immigrant Community Empowerment in protesting the New York Construction Alliance (NYCA) whose founding member New Line allegedly owes more than a dozen workers some $70,000 in wages. So far, six workers have been paid and we will not stop until all of the workers get paid. Read more in LaborPress ([link removed]) .

With international conglomerates buying buildings in New York City, I've taken my advocacy for workers' rights international, fighting alongside IUOE Local 94 to get two of their building engineers rehired by the German-owned company Oetker. We rallied outside the German Consulate, and I appreciate the Deputy Consul General sitting down with me and IUOE Local 94 leadership to hear our concerns. Our fight alongside IUOE Local 94 continues.

At this year’s City & State Diversity Summit, I joined a panel on the effort to increase diversity and inclusion for women and people of color seeking to do business with the city through the MWBE program. As I said at the Summit, I am here to help. You can email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or you can join us at our MWBE Fair (#JobFair) .

As temperatures begin to drop, homelessness in New York remains at crisis levels with 21,612 children, 17,207 family members, 4,207 single women, and 11,911 single men in our shelters, and more than 2,794 people on the streets. Because of this, in 2016, I launched the Eastside Taskforce for Homeless Outreach and Services (ETHOS ([link removed]) ) with Borough President Brewer, Senator Krueger, Council Member Garodnick, Department of Social Services ([link removed]) (DSS), community and faith leaders and service organizations. We’ve already been able to help a chronically homeless individual in the community who we believe had long been suffering from mental illness, after a resident was willing to come forward working with me, the 19th Precinct, the District Attorney and DSS to get them the help they needed. We hope to get every unsheltered person living on the street the help they need. If you see one of our
City’s most vulnerable on the street, please call 311 or use the NYC 311 App ([link removed]) (Android ([link removed]) /iPhone ([link removed]) ) to ask them to dispatch a “homeless outreach team.” They will ask where you saw the person, what they looked like, and offer report on whether the person accepts our city’s offer of shelter, three meals a day, health care, rehabilitation, and job training. By connecting our dedicated nonprofits and religious institutions with city services, ETHOS is really making a difference.

For more information visit BenKallos.com/Homelessness ([link removed])

Be ready for tax season with some help this year. AARP is partnering with Lenox Hill Neighborhood House this year through April 15th. AARP Counselors will be on hand to help those interested each day between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Please be prepared to spend several hours there with proper documentation such as Government ID and SSD. Taxes for other states may be processed if you notify an AARP Counselor. Services to prepare tax returns for 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 are available. Counselors can amend 2016 or 2017 statements if you used Lenox Hill Neighborhood House with AARP in those years. For more information or locations near you visit aarp.org/taxaide ([link removed]) .

The AARP tax aide program will return to Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center at 415 E 93rd St every Friday in March from 9:30AM to 2:00PM. Please note these services are of no cost to you and on a first come, first serve basis. Please bring all required documents, if you are claiming dependents please bring original social security cards for each individual. The IRS requires this to prevent fraud.

Join the 92Y for the first-ever citywide celebration of the arts for teens, by teens. Leading cultural organizations in all five boroughs will present free classes, workshops and performances for teens March 2–8. Events enable teens to gain hands-on experience in different areas of the arts, engage with professionals in the creative industries, and explore pathways to future leadership within the context of the arts. Open to all NYC teens 14+ with a valid school ID. Educators are encouraged to bring student groups, both during and after regular school hours. Check out amazing events in all 5 boroughs & sign up at 92y.org/teenartsweek ([link removed])

NYRR Run for the Future is a free, seven-week scholarship program that teaches 11th-grade high school girls how to run. The program highly encourages young women who have not previously participated in organized sports to apply. Those accepted into NYRR Run for the Future who fulfill the program requirements will receive a $2,000 college scholarship. Please visit nyrr.org to access the application and eligibility requirements. Summer season applications are due April 12, 2020.

From February 3rd to April 3rd, donate your used, gently worn, or new athletic sneakers & cleats! The athletic sneakers & cleats we collect will be kept out of landfills, help others in developing countries start small businesses to create a sustainable income, and be recycled into tracks, playgrounds & other athletic surfaces. Only accepting athletic sneakers & cleats, no canvas sneakers other than Converse will be accepted. The Donation box is located at Office of Ben Kallos 244 E. 93rd St (b/w 2nd & 3rd Ave)

Time is short. The census forms will arrive in the mail beginning March 12. Would you like to get your census questions answered ahead of time? Join Get Counted NYC on March 10 for an uplifting educational evening with plenty of time for networking with speakers and attendees in the beautiful, historic home of the NYC Bar, which is a New York City Landmark. Register online at Eventbrite.com/e/Get-Counted-NYC ([link removed])


Need a lawyer? Every month I sponsor legal clinics where you can get free legal advice in my District Office at 244 East 93rd Street from 3pm – 6pm:
* General Civil Law, By Appointment Only
* Life Planning Clinic, 3rd Wednesday
* Family Law and Domestic Violence, 1st Tuesday
* Housing Clinics, Mondays and 1st Wednesday

Please call my office at 212-860-1950 in advance to schedule your appointment.

We are here to help. My social work team can help you find out what services you are eligible for and assist you in your application. Some examples include:
* Seniors: Medicare savings, Meals-on-Wheels, Access-A-Ride
* Housing: searching for affordable units, free legal housing clinic at my office
* Job Resources: training resources and assistance, unemployment benefits
* Families: Universal Pre-K, Head Start, After-School programs
* Finances: cash assistance, tax credits, home energy assistance
* Nutrition: WIC, free meals for all ages

Please also call us at 212-860-1950 or email us at [email protected] with any unresolved 311 complaints.


We bring our office to you on Roosevelt Island on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 11am to 2pm at Roosevelt Island Senior Center ([link removed]) , 546 Main Street, 4th Wednesday.


The "Ben in Your Building Program" is a chance to discuss issues of importance to you and your neighbors in person, in your home. Please consider inviting me to your cooperative or condominium annual meeting or tenants association meeting and I will be happy to join you. Over the past year, I have visited several buildings to discuss matters of importance in the neighborhood, including street furniture, road conditions, homeless outreach, sanitation issues and you name it. Please schedule a "Ben in Your Building" today by calling 212-860-1950 or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

3/11: Community Board 6 Full Board Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU School of Dentistry), Room 220

3/17: Community Board 11 Full Board Meeting
6:30pm, Terrence Cardinal Cooke Medical Center, 1249 Fifth Avenue

3/25: Community Board 8 Full Board
6:30pm, New York Blood Center, Auditorium 310 East 67th Street (first-second)

3/24: 17th Precinct Community Council
6:30pm-7:00pm, Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 E. 51st Street

3/25: 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, 23rd Precinct Station House, 164 E. 102nd Street

First Wednesday, 3/4: Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Meeting
8:00pm-10:00 pm, Good Shepherd (Downstairs), 543 Main Street

Second Wednesday, 3/11: Lexington Houses Tenant Association
6:00pm, 1539 Lexington Avenue

Second Tuesday, 3/10: Stanley Isaacs Tenant Associations
7:00pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street

Third Tuesday, 3/17: Holmes Towers Tenant Association
7:00pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street

Events

2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29: English Conversation Group
11am 67th Street Library
Talk with native speakers and other language learners about current events, New York City, family life, holidays, and much more. For adults 16 years old or older.This program is provided in partnership with New York Cares, a leading volunteer organization that helps people find easy ways to make meaningful, rewarding contributions to their communities. Led by New York Cares volunteers, this program provides an opportunity for intermediate level ESOL speakers to practice speaking English and improve their conversational skills.

2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29: Computer Tutoring Sessions
11am & 12pm 67th Street Library, Computer Classroom
Join us for an one-on-one tutoring sessions! Our computer tutors can help you with everything from learning how to use a mouse, formatting a resume, setting up an email address, posting photos on the internet, starting a blog, using Microsoft Office, and more. Stop by the branch to sign up for one of our help sessions and get a personal tutor at your service!

2/1, 2/15, 2/29: Computer Tutoring Sessions
12pm Webster Library, Auditorium
Join us for an one-on-one tutoring sessions! Our computer tutors can help you with everything from learning how to use a mouse, formatting a resume, setting up an email address, posting photos on the internet, starting a blog, using Microsoft Office, and more. Stop by the branch or call to sign up for one of our help sessions and get a personal tutor at your service! We welcome walk-ins as space allows. This program will run every other Saturday. Space is limited.

2/1, 2/2, 2/8, 2/9, 2/15, 2/16, 2/22, 2/23, 29: Valentine’s Tour: 19th Century Romance in New York
11am Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
Grab someone you cherish and visit us for a special Romance-themed Tour. Held on weekends in February, this special tour explores the surprising myths and mores of 19th-century mating rituals. Learn the secret language of fans, intimate letter writing, and romantic hideouts for couples in the early part of the new Republic. Free with admission. Reservations requested. Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 4pm.

2/1: Computer Tutoring Sessions
2pm Webster Library, Auditorium
Rolf Sturm (guitar) and Tomas Ulrich (cello) play the American Songbook and original compositions inspired by these wonderful composers.

2/2: Hand-In-Hand
2pm Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
A specially designed program for visitors with memory loss and their care partners.Explore the Museum’s historic rooms and reflect on this month’s theme: 19th-Century Kitchen Chores & Soap-making. Connections between life today and life in the 19th-century are nurtured through conversation and a handicraft workshop. Admission is free but reservations are required by calling 212-838-6878 or emailing [email protected]

2/3: Start Your Day with Art: Galentine's Day Cards
11:30am Webster Library, Auditorium
Visit the Webster Library for a relaxing morning of creative expression. We'll be making Galentine's Day cards today- all supplies provided! Join us and take home a piece of art to share with family and friends. First come, first served. No registration required.

2/3: Mystery Mondays
4pm 67th Street Library
Join us to discuss In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear Sunday, September 3rd, 1939. At the moment Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain broadcasts to the nation Britain’s declaration of war with Germany, a senior Secret Service agent breaks into Maisie Dobbs’s flat to await her return. Dr. Francesca Thomas has an urgent assignment for Maisie: to find the killer of a man who escaped occupied Belgium as a boy some twenty-three years earlier during the Great War. Within days, in a London…

2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25: Adult Coloring
11am 96th Street Library
When we color, it brings out our inner child. We are reminded of the days when life was simple when we worry less. Coloring is the latest craze where you might expect to see children, you find adults. They have emerse themselves in patterns of mandalsas, curved flowers and runaway stems. This is a world they create and escape to. come join us at the 96th street Library.

2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25: Word for Beginners
3pm 96th Street Library
Learn the basic features of Microsoft Word 2010, a word processing program you can use to create documents. Topics include: entering and editing text, saving files, and various formatting options. This is a comprehensive course, so please make sure you can attend all sessions. Call 212-289-0908 to register.

2/4, 2/11, 2/18: Terrific Tolkien Discussion
4pm Roosevelt Island Library
Calling all elves, hobbits, orcs and dragons! Join us for a 7-part discussion of the epic poems of J.R.R. Tolkien at the library!

2/4, 2/18: Webster Writing Circle
6pm Webster Library, Auditorium
Let your stories unfold! Join Webster for an exploration in creativity. This writing circle is informal in style and structure: there is no experience necessary. We’ll spend time writing and talking about what we have written.

2/5: Film: Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)
11:15am Webster Library, Auditorium
When Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his foolhardy campaign to root out Communists in America, CBS News impresario Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) dedicates himself to exposing the atrocities being committed by McCarthy's Senate "investigation." Murrow is supported by a news team that includes long-time friend and producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney). The CBS team does its best to point out the senator's lies and excesses, despite pressure from CBS' corporate sponsors to desist. This movie is 93 minutes long.

2/5, 2/19: Adult One-on-One Computer Help Workshop
11:30am Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Work one-on-one with a volunteer tutor. Improve Internet skills, create, and use e-mail, cell phone help, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point). Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pre-registration required in person or by phone at 212.744.5824. Seating is Limited

2/6: Film: Born to Kill (1947)
2pm 96th Street Library
A man marries a rich woman, but soon wants her sister instead. This film is 92 minutes long.

2/6: Women's Writing Group
4:30pm 67th Street Library
Women's Writing Group First Thursday Every Month, 4:30pm – 6:15pm Hannelore Hahn, who directed the International Women's Writing Guild for 37 years, hosts a monthly informal women’s writing & discussion group. Everyone welcome for discussion too!

2/6: Memoirs That Make a Difference: Sissy by Jacob Tobia
6pm Webster Library, Auditorium
"As a young child in North Carolina, Jacob Tobia wasn't the wrong gender, they just had too much of the stuff. Barbies? Yes. Playing with bugs? Absolutely. Getting muddy? Please. Princess dresses? You betcha. Jacob wanted it all, but because they were "a boy," they were told they could only have the masculine half. Acting feminine labelled them "a sissy" and brought social isolation. It took Jacob years to discover that being "a sissy" isn't something to be ashamed of. It's a source of pride. Following Jacob through bullying and beauty contests, from Duke University to the United Nations to the podiums of the Methodist church--not to mention the parlors of the White House--this unforgettable memoir contains multitudes. A deeply personal story of trauma and healing, a powerful reflection on gender and self-acceptance, and a hilarious guidebook for wearing tacky clip-on earrings in today's world, Sissy guarantees you'll never think about gender--both other people's and your own--the same way
again.”

2/6: Book Discussion: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
6:30pm 96th Street Library
Please join us for our February 6 book discussion. We will be reading Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. Copies are available at the 96th Street Library one month before the book discussion. About the book: Trevor Noah’s memoir of growing up in South Africa with a black South African mother and a white European father at a time when it was against the law for a mixed-race child like him to exist.

2/7: The Muslim Volunteers for New York (MV4NY)
3rd annual nationwide “Sweet Dreams” Pajama and Book Drive to benefit underserved babies and children ages 0-16. The children are served by two outstanding programs; “The Pajama Program” and “Room to Grow”.
The Pajama and Book Drive will run from February 7th to February 16th.
The MV4NY pajama and book drive is designed to help at-risk families and young children. Too many kids in our communities experience poverty, abandonment, and hunger. The simple comfort that a pair of new pajamas provides and the escape that a lovely book offers is priceless in a world that seems uncertain and insecure.
Donations are made easy as you can contribute online using MV4NY’s wish list for this drive at MV4NY Sweet Dreams Drive ([link removed])

2/10: Around the World Book Discussion: Love in the Time of Cholera
5pm Roosevelt Island Library
Explore the world through the works of international authors. This stop takes us to Columbia, where you can join in on the conversation of the book Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. Copies of the book will be available to borrow at the circulation desk with your library card.

2/10: Reading about Identity Parent Workshop
5:30pm 67th Street Library
Learn about book titles that will help facilitate a conversation about identity with your children. Pre-registration required by phone (212) 734-1717 or in person.

2/12: Film: The Ides of March (2011)
11:15am Webster Library, Auditorium
As Ohio's Democratic primary nears, charming Gov. Mike Morris (George Clooney) seems a shoo-in for the nomination over his opponent, Sen. Pullman (Michael Mantell). Morris' idealistic press secretary, Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling), believes in his candidate's integrity and the democratic process. But Meyers' meeting with Pullman's campaign manager (Paul Giamatti) and a dalliance with a young intern (Evan Rachel Wood) set in motion events that threaten Morris' election chances. This movie is 101 minutes long.

2/12: Author Talk: Emmy Favilla- A World Without "Whom": The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age
5:30pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
A World Without "Whom" is Eats, Shoots & Leaves for the internet age, and BuzzFeed global copy chief Emmy Favilla is the witty go-to style guru of webspeak. As language evolves faster than ever before, what is the future of "correct" writing? When Favilla was tasked with creating a style guide for BuzzFeed, she opted for spelling, grammar, and punctuation guidelines that would reflect not only the site's lighthearted tone, but also how readers actually use language IRL.

2/13: Film: It’s Love I’m After (1937)
2pm 96th Street Library
A famous acting couple doesn’t get along so well behind the scenes. This film is 90 minutes long.

2/13, 2/27: Computer Tutoring Sessions
5:30pm 67th Street Library, Computer Classroom
Join us for an one-on-one tutoring sessions! Our computer tutors can help you with everything from learning how to use a mouse, formatting a resume, setting up an email address, posting photos on the internet, starting a blog, using Microsoft Office, and more. Stop by the branch to sign up for one of our help sessions and get a personal tutor at your service!

2/14: Volunteers of Legal Service at Carter Burden Center
2:00pm, Carter Burden Center, 415 East 73rd Street (bet. 1st and York Ave)
The Volunteers of Legal Service is dedicated to providing the good will, resources, and talents of New York City's leading law firms to provide pro-bono legal assistance to low-income New Yorkers. All clinics are conducted on a walk in basis and seniors are seen first come first serve. If a senior cannot make it to the clinics, please call 347-521-5704 or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to arrange for an individual referral.

2/18: Building an Operational Plan
1pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Many businesses fail not because of a bad business idea, but because there was no system that standardized, measured, and improved its operations. The goal of this course is to help you translate your business concept into an efficient operation that continuously improves and raises your bottom line. For more information visit Yorkville Library’s website.

2/19: Film: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
11:15am Webster Library, Auditorium
Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) is having difficulty adjusting to his hard-labor sentence in Mississippi. He scams his way off the chain gang with simple Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) and maladjusted Pete (John Turturro), then the trio sets out to pursue freedom and the promise of a fortune in buried treasure. With nothing to lose and still in shackles, their hasty run takes them on an incredible journey of awesome experiences and colorful characters. This movie is 106 minutes long.

2/19: RI Senior Center Book Discussion: Inheritance by Dani Shapiro
4pm Roosevelt Island Library, Carter Burden Senior Center
Join your peers for a discussion of "Inheritance: A Memoir of Geneology, Paternity, and Love" by Dani Shapiro! From the acclaimed, best-selling memoirist, novelist and host of the hit podcast Family Secrets, comes a memoir about the staggering family secret uncovered by a genealogy test: an exploration of the urgent ethical questions surrounding fertility treatments and DNA testing, and a profound inquiry of paternity, identity, and love.

2/20: Film: Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
2pm 96th Street Library
Bubbles loves to dance, but she also likes to eat. Her friend Judy may choose to suffer for her art, but not Bubbles. She swaps her ballet shoes for the burlesque hall. This film is 90 minutes long.

2/20: Film: Good News (1947)
2pm 96th Street Library
The gone-but-not-forgotten college days of the 20's are brought alive again in this adaptation of the Broadway musical hit. This film is 93 minutes long.

2/21: Volunteers of Legal Service at Stanley Isaacs Senior Center
10am Stanley Isaacs Senior Center, 415 E 93rd Street (east of 1st Ave)
The Volunteers of Legal Service is dedicated to providing the good will, resources, and talents of New York City's leading law firms to provide pro bono legal assistance to low-income New Yorkers. All clinics are conducted on a walk in basis and seniors are seen first come first serve. If a senior cannot make it to the clinics, please call 347-521-5704 or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to arrange for an individual referral.

2/22:Music: Mozart's LA CLEMENZA DI TITO recital by New York Opera Forum
1pm 96th Street Library
New York Opera Forum performs the complete opera of LA CLEMENZA DI TITO by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A live musical recital performed in concert with piano accompaniment. The musical program is cosponsored with New York Opera Forum which was founded by Richard Nechamkin in 1983 to give classically trained singers the opportunity to learn and perform standard operatic repertoire in the original languages.

2/22: Film: Downton Abbey (2019)
2pm Webster Library, Auditorium
The beloved Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives. A royal visit from the king and queen of England soon unleashes scandal, romance and intrigue -- leaving the future of Downton hanging in the balance. This movie is 122 minutes long.

2/26: Film: Up in the Air (2009)
11:15am Webster Library, Auditorium
An idea from a young, new co-worker (Anna Kendrick) would put an end to the constant travel of corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), so he takes her on a tour to demonstrate the importance of face-to-face meetings with those they must fire. While mentoring his colleague, he arranges hookups with another frequent-flier (Vera Farmiga), and his developing feelings for the woman prompt him to see others in a new light. This movie is 109 minutes long.

2/26: Author Talk: Adam Chandler- Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America's Fast-Food Kingdom
5:30pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Most any honest person can own up to harboring at least one fast-food guilty pleasure. In Drive-Thru Dreams, Adam Chandler explores the inseparable link between fast food and American life for the past century. The dark underbelly of the industry’s largest players has long been scrutinized and gutted, characterized as impersonal, greedy, corporate, and worse. But, in unexpected ways, fast food is also deeply personal and emblematic of a larger than life image of America.

2/27: Medicare for 2020
1pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Come for the latest information on Medicare Part A and Part B, Medigap/Medicare Supplement insurance, Medicare Advantage/Medicare Health Plans, Medicare Part D and programs that help with Medicare costs including the Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help/LIS and EPIC. Get your Medicare questions answered by experts in Medicare and related insurance from the Health Insurance Information, Counseling, & Assistance Program (HIICAP) of the NYC Department for the Aging.


2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29: Read to our New York Therapy Dog!
10:30am Webster Library
Come read to our therapy dog Tugboat! These licensed therapy dogs and their owners can't wait for you to come read them a story. Enjoy one-on-one, no-pressure reading time with a furry friend! Pre-registration is required for each 15-minute slot and opens 1 week in advance. For ages 5 and up.

2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29: Kids’ Coloring Club
10am Yorkville Library, Childrens Room
Join us every Saturday morning from 10am-12pm for our Kids' Coloring Club -- children of all ages are invited to color coloring sheets featuring their favorite characters, seasonal designs, and more. Feel free to bring your favorite coloring book!

2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29: Read to Fritz, our New York Therapy Dog!
11am Yorkville Library, Childrens Room
Come read to our therapy dog Fritz! These licensed therapy dogs and their owners can't wait for you to come read them a story. Enjoy one-on-one, no-pressure reading time with a furry friend! Pre-registration is required for each 15-minute slot and opens 1 week in advance. For ages 5 and up.

2/1: Tween Time: Make Your Own Sticker
3pm Webster Library
Tweens join us every first Saturday of the month. For an activity. Bring or create any image about 2-2.5 inches to make your own sticker. ages 8 and up

2/1: Lunar New Year
11am – 6pm, Met Museum 1000 5th Ave
May art bring you good fortune! Mark the Year of the Rat, one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, with performances, interactive gallery activities, and artist-led workshops. For all ages.

2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24: Toddler Storytime
11:30am Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Toddlers from 18-36 months old (Walkers) and their parents/caregivers can enjoy great books, lively songs, and rhymes, and meet other toddlers in the neighborhood. Programs are first come, first served, space is limited Please note: There is no elevator available, and stroller parking is limited.

2/3: Spring Festival & Chinese Zodiac Paper Cutting
4:30pm Roosevelt Island Library
The Chinese Zodiac assigns an animal and it's reputed attributes to each year. In this workshop, we will introduce the Chinese Zodiac to teens to help them understand more about their specific animal and what is the best strategy for year 2020- the year of the rat. We will also cut and design red paper rat cutouts for good luck. For 13-18 years old. Presented by Wall Street Chinese.

2/3: Let It Snow: Storytime and Activity
4pm Webster Library
Avoid the cold and join us for some snow stories, snow making, and a snowball fight!

2/4, 2/7, 2/11, 2/14, 2/18, 2/21, 2/25, 2/28: Baby Storytime
10:30am Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Babies from birth to 18 months old (Pre-Walkers) and their parents/caregivers can enjoy great books, lively songs, and rhymes, and meet other babies in the neighborhood. *Program will be ticketed to 30 children and their caregivers. *Tickets will be distributed at the door 15 minutes prior to the start of the program Please note: There is no elevator available, and stroller parking is limited.

2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25: Teen Space
3pm Webster Library
Come hang out with your friends on Tuesday afternoons! Play board games, work on homework, read a book, exercise your creativity, or just chill. Laptops, assorted art supplies, and light snacks available. For ages 12-18.

2/5: Engaged Roosevelt Island: Eco-Ambassadors Meet Up, Take Action Survey Results for Sustainable Planning
6:30pm - 7:30pm Good Shepherd Chapel, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island - FREE
Special Guest from the Department of Sanitation's Outreach, Sem Sepulveda, conveys the latest tips to keep waste out of landfills.
Join us for updates on the survey and to finalize our Eco-Ambassadors plan. Let's design the neighborhood we want, one that's healthy for us and earth.
Share your ideas for next step solutions to issues important to you.
An Opportunity Grant from Cornell University's Office of Engagement Initiatives funded this community-engaged workshop to promote environmental understanding and boost sustainable practices on Roosevelt Island. RSVP on Eventbrite or email: [email protected] or call 646-220-1505 This is a zero waste event.

2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26: Hora de Cuentos (Spanish Storytime)
11am 67th Street Library, Community Room
¡A leer y a cantar en español! Para todas las edades.

2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26: Early Readers Storytime
4pm 67th Street Library, Community Room
This program aims to continue the practice of storytime for older children. Each week, participants will discuss a book within the framework of an opening question. At the conclusion of storytime, there will be a craft or related reading activity. For ages 5-7. Parents and caregivers welcome.

2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26: Game On! @ Webster
4pm Webster Library
Come in and test your gaming skills against your peers, with games such as Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart for Wii. Feel like trying something new try playing on our PS4 with games such as Street Fighter 5 and TMNT, just to name a few. Also laptops will be available for anybody that's just wants to sit down and relax.

2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27: Family Storytime
11am, 11:30am, & 11:45am Webster Library
Toddlers from birth to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood. There is a limit of 15 children and their caregivers. Tickets are given out the morning of the program on a first come, first serve basis. Times of the programs are approximate.

2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27: Free Play
11:15am Webster Library
Join us on Thursday mornings for a fun chance to socialize with other kids from the community! Toys are provided. Please note: This program is for both caregiver and child. It is not a structured program. *Take care to supervise children at all times.

2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27: Pre-School Storytime
4pm Yorkville Library, Children’s Room
Come meet your friends at the library and listen to some of your favorite picture books. It's a great way to end a busy day. Ages 3 and older.

2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28: Learn to Play Chess
3pm Webster Library
Are you a chess champion? You want to show off your best moves against other chess fans? Whether you're a chess master or just starting out, come join us for some board time Fridays at 3 p.m. Learn how to play, practice your skills, or to play a game. All materials will be provided, and an experienced instructor Timothy Mobley will lead the group

2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28: Puzzle Fun for Kids
3pm Yorkville Library, Children’s Room
Come to the library for some puzzles and fun! This program is great for all ages.

2/10, 2/24: Art Buffet
4pm Webster Library
Let your imagination run wild! Join us for an hour of uninterrupted, creative fun. Pick and choose from our craft supplies to make a masterpiece to take home.

2/10: Read to Murphy, our New York Therapy Dog!
4pm Yorkville Library, Childrens Room
Come read to our therapy dog Murphy! These licensed therapy dogs and their owners can't wait for you to come read them a story. Enjoy one-on-one, no-pressure reading time with a furry friend! Pre-registration is required for each 15-minute slot and opens 1 week in advance. For ages 5 and up.

2/11: My Own Kaiju
4pm 96th Street Library
In this workshop, we'll be learning how to make your very own paper plush toy making project! For 13-18 years old. Presented by DJ SpazeCraft.

2/11: Wildlife at the Library
4pm Webster Library
Animals in the library? Join Andrew Simmons and his traveling zoo as he introduces you to a golden eagle, barn owl, Burmese and ball pythons, black throat monitor, alligator, and opossums. Learn about the fierce competitors in the wild! For 13-18 years old. Presented by Andrew Simmons.

2/11: Poof! Life in a Vacuum
4pm Yorkville Library
Where does space begin? How far away is the Moon? Where did the space shuttles go? These questions and more are answered as students discover the USS Intrepid’s role in the Space Race. Using a bell jar and vacuum pump, Museum educators will mimic the vacuum of space! Your students will first predict, then discover what happens to various objects when they are exposed to a vacuum and then make the connection to how the human body would react to the vacuum of space.

2/12: Engaged Roosevelt Island: Nature Meet Up for Environmental Understanding
6:30pm – 8pm Good Shepherd Chapel, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island
Join us to acknowledge, discover and learn more about nature and green spaces on Roosevelt Island.
Come continue the Engaged RI conversation to promote environmental understanding.
An Opportunity Grant from Cornell University's Office of Engagement Initiatives funded this community-engaged workshop to promote environmental understanding and boost sustainable practices on Roosevelt Island. RSVP on Eventbrite or email: [email protected] or call 646-220-1505. This is a zero waste event.

2/12:Washington’s Birthday Ball: Kick Up Your Heels!
Mount Vernon Hotel & Museum
In honor of Presidents’ Day, celebrate the birthday of our Nation’s First President as New Yorkers did in the 19th century. Costumed dancers will perform and teach traditional country dances and encourage everyone to join in. Festivities include toasts to George Washington and historic refreshments, including Washington Cake and Cherry Bounce.

2/13: STEM: Learning About Architecture
2pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Join us for Preschool STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math! Joins us as we venture off into the fun exciting world of architecture!

2/13: Film: Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
4pm Webster Library, Auditorium
Max the terrier encounters canine-intolerant cows, hostile foxes and a scary turkey when he visits the countryside. Luckily for Max, he soon catches a break when he meets Rooster, a gruff farm dog who tries to cure the lovable pooch of his neuroses. This movie is 86 minutes long.

2/14: Valentine's Day Craft Time
3pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
It's Craft Time at Yorkville!!! Drop in for a quick craft. Bring your creativity and make something special to take home. Ages 3 and up.

2/18, 2/19, 2/20, 2/22 Winter Break: STEM
1pm Webster Library
Spend your winter break creating STEM projects. Tuesday: 2/18- Create a marshmallow catapult Wednesday: 2/19- Balloon Powered Car Thursday: 2/20- Pompom drop challenge Saturday: 2/22- Balloon Rocket Ages 5 and up Supplies are limited, first come first served.

2/18: Winter Break History Days and Week – Children 8 to 12
9am, Mount Vernon Hotel & Museum
Music, cooking and exploration of the solar system! See the world and the universe beyond. Each day is a new adventure into the past: take a look through the eyes of a very interesting New Yorker of the 19th-century. $60 per day, or $200 for all four days. Members receive 10% discount on registration.

2/21: Storytime and Crafts
9am, Mount Vernon Hotel & Museum
Don’t forget to bring the little ones to Storytime to hear all about our Presidents! Listen to funny stories about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and then make a presidential finger puppet. Designed for children under 6.

2/24: Kid Flicks
4pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Join us in our community room for our children's film showing. Watch short films based on popular picture books. The perfect way to meet up with friends and end a busy day. All films subject to last minute substitutions. Showing: Happy Birthday Moon & The Cat in the Hat

2/25: Early Literacy Workshop: Learn and Play Activity Hour
2pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Joins us for this fun, interactive, and educative workstation themed early literacy workshop.

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