Community Alerts 5.8.25

Traffic Advisories

4th Annual Japan Parade: The 4th Annual Japan Parade returns this Saturday, May 10. The parade will take place at 1:00pm on Central Park West between W 67th Street and W 81st Street, and the street fair will be from 11:00am-5:00pm on W 72nd Street between Columbus and Central Park West. May is AAPI Heritage Month, and this year’s Grand Marshal is Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto. The street fair will feature 25 food tents and interactive cultural experiences such as origami, calligraphy, and yukata fitting.

Multi-Block Street Fair: This Sunday, May 11, there will be a multi-block street fair on the east side of Broadway between W 60th and W 65th Street. The fair will begin at 10:00am, but set-up may begin as early as 8:00am. It will conclude by 6:00pm, but the breakdown may end as late as 8:00pm. Broadway will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the event.

Residents and Buildings: Mandatory Composting is Here

As of April 1, ALL NYC residents are subject to fines if they do not separate organics from regular trash. About 40% of all residential waste is organic waste, which creates greenhouse gases in landfills as it decomposes. That’s why separating organic waste from trash and recycling can be a step towards solving the climate crisis. Learn more about the City’s Curbside Composting program here.

Need a compost bin? Attend Assemblymember Rosenthal’s composting bin giveaway at her district office (230 W 72nd St, Suite 2F, between Broadway and West End Ave) on Friday, May 16. The event runs from 10:00am until supplies last, so come early!

The NYC Department of Sanitation is continuing to host free information sessions about the City’s mandatory composting rules. The next one will be held on Thursday, May 29, at 4:00pm. You can also watch a recorded info session here or this recorded webinar for building staff.

Children’s Shoe Drive

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal is partnering with the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan to host a shoe drive. Now through Friday, May 16, you can donate new and gently used children’s shoes. Drop off items to Assemblymember Rosenthal’s district office (230 W 72nd Street, Suite 2F, between Broadway and West End Ave) between 10:00am and 5:00pm. 

Bike Helmet Giveaway & Bike Swap

On Sunday, May 18, from 11:00am until 2:30pm, there will be an Upper West Side Bike Helmet Giveaway & Bike Swap at Tecumseh Playground (Amsterdam Ave at W 78th Street). Helmets for kids and adults will be available as long as supplies last, and you can have your helmet properly “fitted” by representatives from the NYC Department of Transportation. Bike NY will also be teaching kids how to ride safely in their new helmets. Bring a bike your child has outgrown, 24” or smaller, and swap it for someone else’s the next size up at the Bike Swap.

“Operation Safe Travel” Free Virtual Workshop

On Tuesday, May 20, at 12:30pm, the Lighthouse Guild Outreach Department presents a virtual conversation on safety tips at home and when traveling for individuals with vision loss. Please RSVP to Lisa Beth Miller, LCSW-R, BCD at millerl@lighthouseguild.org, and then click here to join the Zoom meeting (meeting ID: 949 1696 3423). If you have any questions, please call Lisa Beth at 212-769-7820.

Home Sharing for Seniors Program

New York Foundation for Senior Citizens has managed the free Home Sharing Program since 1981. The program helps link adult “hosts” with extra private spaces in their homes or apartments with appropriate adult “guests” to share their space. One of the matchmates must be age 60 or older. Here’s a new listing of their current availabilities and pricing in all five boroughs. To learn more, email info@homesharingnyfsc.org or call 212-962-7559, ext. 247, during business hours.

Upper West Side Recycling Eco Letter

The new edition (May/June) of the Upper West Side Recycling Eco Letter is out; sign up for the newsletter to find out about environmental events taking place during the next two or three months, along with a commentary on an environmental topic relevant to the Upper West Side.