Movie star and all-stars: In their first season of existence, though they gave it their all, the Lower East Side Lady Furies were knocked out of the playoffs, ending their hopes of making it to the Little League World Series. Now the age-10-and-under ball players are facing the prospect of a tough, all-out winter clinic when they get into top shape to hit the diamond next season and show the world. But last week, at their final practice for this season, the mood was light as they were joined by a local legend, actor Luis Guzman.
Fields BIDs adieu: Longtime director of the NOHO NY Business Improvement District, Harriet Fields, released a farewell statement to the community this Monday, announcing her retirement from the BID. “It has been a great experience working with you for our area,” she said, in part. “I am truly proud of the work and effort that we did together. I wish you much success in the future and will continue to care for the NOHO NY BID.”
Taking care of bin’ness: On Wednesday, City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, of Brooklyn, announced he is co-sponsoring an “aggressive bill” that will empower the Department of Sanitation to “immediately remove” the fake clothing donation bins that have proliferated around the East Village and other areas. In a post on his Facebook page, he said that he was proud to announce his co-sponsorship of the legislation aimed at the bogus bins “that have littered our streets.” The bill, he noted, “will impose stiff penalties on companies engaged in this illegal practice.” Menchaca thanked residents and neighborhood organizations, specifically in Sunset Park and Red Hook, for their input and advocacy. “Residents from across [my] district helped shape the final bill by pointing to regulations hindering the city from taking immediate action that we have addressed in the local law we will introduce,” he said. “Community-driven bills like this set an example for the kind of legislative work that you should expect from my office.” Meanwhile residents of the East Village and Lower East Side, where the pink bins have recently mushroomed, will be thanking Menchaca if the bill passes and the receptacles start being removed more rapidly. Visiting in Gowanus, in Brooklyn, we recently noticed one pink bin that had been stickered by Sanitation as illegal was removed, but that another one that has been there for a few weeks, at Dean and Butler Sts., has no stickers, and is collecting a sloppy and growing assortment of clothes on and around it.
Ahoy! I do! John Doswell, one of the founders of the Hudson River Park, is getting married on Fri., July 25, to Jean Preece. The couple have been together for almost 40 years, and they are set to tie the knot onboard the John J. Harvey, a decommissioned fireboat docked on the Tribeca waterfront at Pier 25. The wedding guests are set to arrive at 5:30 p.m., and will wait nearby aboard another historic vessel, the Lilac, for the bride and groom to arrive. The ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m., with Captain Jonathan Boulware, interim president of the South Street Seaport Museum, officiating. We hear from a source that The New York Times’s Vows section is going to cover it, which means no other media are allowed, since — well, you know the Times — they need to have the exclusive. It’s all good, though. We can think of no better nautical nuptial event on this season’s calendar, and we’re looking forward to reading all about it!
