Teams rebound: When Basketball City was forced to leave Pier 63 in the Hudson River Park, there was concern that the public school basketball teams that don’t have their own courts that played there would be left out in the cold. However, Urban Dove, a group that helped get the kids court time at Basketball City, with the help of the City Council, has worked something out where the young hoopsters will now be able to play, only not all at one court as before. The teams will play at Chelsea Piers, Hunter College, Baruch College, John Jay College, the Harlem Armory, the Police Athletic League Center of Harlem, Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Center, the Salvation Army, Chinatown YMCA and Riverbank State Park. An announcement was planned on the City Hall steps on Wednesday morning to which Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff was invited, as well as former Knick John Starks — who reportedly helped with the arrangements — Councilmembers Chris Quinn, Alan Gerson and Gale Brewer and players and coaches from the teams.
B.P. on N.Y.U.: In January, Borough President Scott Stringer will hold the first meeting of a new task force he’s put together on New York University issues. N.Y.U. President John Sexton will join the Beep, community members and others on the task force at Stringer’s office to discuss — “What do you think?” Stringer quipped — development, use of the community facilities bonus and other pressing matters affecting the Village area. “It’s the first time we’re going to have a real, productive exchange on the issues relating to N.Y.U,” Stringer said.
Police story: Jeremiah Shea, the outgoing president of the Ninth Precinct Community Council, tells us that “the latest rumor” on when the precinct’s rebuilt Fifth St. stationhouse will reopen is the spring. The reopening is already a year behind schedule.
Pencil pusher: Michael Haberman has been appointed president of PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning). Most recently vice president of community development at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Haberman needed a new job now that the L.M.D.C. — the post-9/11 rebuilding agency — is being phased out. Previously, Haberman was New York University’s director of government and community relations, chairperson of the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce and, of course, let’s not forget, an assistant editor at The Villager. At PENCIL, Haberman will spearhead the nonprofit organization’s efforts to provide quality educational opportunities for the city’s students through partnerships between the business community and schools. Under PENCIL’s signature program, Principal For A Day, thousands of individuals from the private and public sector have visited local public schools to share their expertise with the students. “With his impressive track record in public service and communications experience, Michael Haberman is just the right person to lead PENCIL forward,” said PENCIL board member Howard Chatzinoff, a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, who led the search committee.
Jane’s lane: On Dec. 5 Mayor Bloomberg signed legislation giving the honorary street co-naming of Jane Jacobs Way to the block of Hudson St. in front of Number 555, the house in which Jacobs lived and wrote about in her “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation had requested the co-naming.
Treemendous: Last week’s photo caption on the 15th Annual Tompkins Square Christmas tree lighting failed to mention that singing was provided by members of the Carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City and music was by the Lydon Trio. The event was hosted by The Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition, East Village Parks Conservancy and Third Street Music Settlement. Refreshments and hot cocoa were provided by Veselka restaurant. Other facts about the event: The spruce evergreen was donated by the Parks Department in 1992, at the request of former Community Board 3 Chairperson Albert Fabozzi, in remembrance of Glenn Barnett — an advocate of the park’s restoration — and the continuing efforts of neighbors to maintain the park, and to remember those of the community who have been lost to AIDS.
PC pet: Marcia Lemmon’s cat, PC, is up for adoption. According to Lemmon’s friend Clayton Patterson, the cat is 14, gray and white, and sweet and well mannered. The bane of Downtown bar owners, Lemmon, of Ludlow St., died on Dec. 2. Contact David at 212-495-9914 or by e-mail at troutraa@yahoo.com, or e-mail Patterson at clayton161@earthlink.
Regime change: After William Stricklin was term-limited as president of Village Independent Democrats, Katharine Wolpe ran unopposed and last Thursday night was elected the club’s new president. “It was unanimous. She’s so popular. She’s been a member of the club forever,” Stricklin said, reporting the results. “But I’m not ruling out running again in the future,” he added, noting he could run in a year or two. An East Villager, Wolpe is also a member of Coalition for a District Alternative and St. Mark’s Church.
Let ’em walk: In the wake of Eric Ng’s being killed on Dec. 1 by a drunk driver on the Hudson River Park bike path, one reader e-mailed us the following suggestion on how to prevent such tragedies in the future: “Here’s a simple way to limit it: No parking at commercial uses on the waterfront. The drunks can walk it off a bit.” Not a bad idea.
