Some new Friends: Friends of Hudson River Park this week announced that its board of directors has six new members. “We are proud to add such a variety of strong nonprofit, real estate and financial management experts to our already impressive board,” said A. J. Pietrantone, Friends’ executive director. “As we sharpen our focus on the park’s long-term financial stability, the ongoing support of our leadership team will be critical to ensuring future success and sustainability.” The new directors include Deborra-lee Jackman, an entertainment professional and philanthropist; Scott Lawin, managing director and chief operating officer of Moore Capital Management, LP; Mitchell Rudin, president and chief executive officer of U.S. commercial operations for Brookfield Properties; Diana Taylor,
[/media-credit]
- And now up to bat…: Lois Rakoff of Community Board 2 wore her Mets T-shirt proudly at Wednesday’s announcement at Borough President Scott Stringer’s Office that New York University had agreed to scale back its superblocks development plan by about one-fifth. The Mets are 4 and 1 and leading the National League East. Amazing! It’s not surprising that the Bleecker St. activist is crowing happily about it like a “Raven” since, after all, she also runs the community events at N.Y.U.’s Poe Room. But, let’s face it, it’s still early. Hopefully, by the end of the season she won’t be quothing, “Nevermore.”
managing director of Wolfensohn Fund Management, LP, and chairperson of the Hudson River Park Trust; Alexandra Tosi, executive director of Gilbert Tweed Associates; and Paul Ullman, a principal at Asset Based Lending, LLC, and a board member of the Hudson River Park Trust. “We’re thrilled to be working alongside these new members and the entire board of the Friends to ensure the future growth of the park,” said Madelyn Wils, the Trust’s president and C.E.O. “Their active participation is a key component of completing the transformation of one of New York’s great open spaces.” The nonprofit Friends of Hudson River Park is the park’s chief private fundraising organization, and is working to ensure the completion and ongoing maintenance of the 5-mile-long waterfront park. Ross Graham recently stepped down as Friends co-chairperson, and was given a fond sendoff at the Trust’s recent board meeting. Meanwhile, Bob Trentlyon, a longtime waterfront parks activist from Chelsea, groused that the Friends is all about money now and is making space on its board for deep-pocket types. Nowadays, a ticket to the Friends’ benefit dinner is unaffordable to anyone who isn’t rolling in dough, Trentlyon said. But, after all, raising money for the park is the group’s new mission.
‘Squadron con’: State Senator Daniel Squadron will be hosting his annual 25th Senate District Community Convention on Sun., April 22. Last year Squadron held the convention in the Brooklyn part of his district, but this year it will be held in Lower Manhattan at the High School of Economics and Finance, at 100 Trinity Place (between Cedar Sand Thames Sts.). Squadron has arranged for Joseph Lhota, chairperson and C.E.O. of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to deliver a keynote address. Lhota will share his thoughts on the transit system and discuss ways straphangers can get involved to help the system better serve their needs. Squadron’s community convention last year was attended by more than 250 community members who shared their thoughts on everything from school overcrowding to tenants’ rights. The state senator uses the forum to solicit ideas from district residents and takes their concerns to the Senate floor in Albany. To R.S.V.P. for this year’s convention, call 212-298-5565 or e-mail squadron@nysenate.gov .
Everybody loves Ray: Whatever he needs, people just seem to give it to Ray of Ray’s Candy Store, at Avenue A and Seventh St. A few weeks ago, we stopped by and he pulled out a new iPhone that Eryn, a former worker of his, had given him. “It’s fun,” he said. This past week two young women from Stuyvesant Town stopped by his counter for a snack. Noticing that Ray is missing his teeth, one of them, in the dental field, told him she’d make him a free set of chompers. Ray a.k.a. Asghar Ghahraman said the woman planned to come back soon to make a mold of his mouth so that they can make his new teeth.
Correction: The article in last week’s issue on Downtown Manhattan’s “Titanic trail” stated that one of the doomed ship’s most famous victims, John Jacob Astor, was buried in the Trinity Church graveyard. That is correct. What isn’t correct is that that article said it was the Trinity cemetery at Broadway and Wall St. In fact, Astor is buried in Trinity Church’s other, larger graveyard, at 155th St. and Broadway.
