Michael Nies, Vice President of the Luis Rojas Foundation, was selected as the New York Red Bulls Community MVP for 2013 for his work with the local charity. Through Mr. Nies' stewardship, the Foundation raises money to run after-school soccer & fitness programs for children in the poorest of NYC schools.
Mr. Nies will now be entered into a national competition with the winners from the other eighteen MLS clubs for a grand prize of a $10,000 charitable donation from MLSWORKS, the philanthropic arm of MLS. From July 1st through July 12th, online voting here will determine the winner.
"We're a small charity, and to be recognized shows our work is paying off. Our foundation is desperately trying to help kids living in extremely difficult situations, and the chance to win $10,000 from MLWORKS is an incredible opportunity and could enable us to expand to other local schools," Nies said.
March organizer Susan Howard said the eviction, followed by years of watching the building deteriorate, has been a “devastating blow."
"I don't think the owner knows how much damage he has done and how deep the hurt is," said Howard, who is also part of the group Save Our Community Center CHARAS-64 (SOCCC-64).
"It was a cross-pollination of so many people — activists and artists," Howard said of when the building operated as a community center. "You had [singing practice] in the plaza. You had AA meetings in the gallery, computer classes, English classes."
"There is no room, and no desire, and no way we will live with a dorm in our backyard," declared Councilmember Rosie Mendez, shouting to the crowd from a bullhorn. "Cooper Union needs to rescind whatever deal I believe it doesn't have so Singer can give us back our building," Mendez added.
Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh was equally strident.
"As a community, we have to at some point draw the line and say this is a battle we are not going to lose, and this is a fight we're not going to quit," Kavanagh said.
for LES residents: free sandwiches & coffee at 1pm, FREE MEDICAL CARE from 1-6pm. @drdaveores's office: 189 e 2nd at ave b. (cc @evgrieve)
— lia bulaong (@lia) November 2, 2012
Annual 9th Street A-1 Block Association Block Party
(9th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A)
Saturday, September 15, 11 am – 5 pm (no rain date)
Live Music (from noon - 4 pm) featuring
* Bluesco Band
* Navivan
* Nick Palumbo & the Flipped Fedoras
Resident artists, crafts people and photographers will be showing and selling their work, and residents will be selling a la "stoop sale" — antiques, bric-a-brac, clothing, accessories, music, jewelry, etc.
Raffles for gifts, discounts or coupons from block businesses, who will also be offering their wares
Block businesses include:
* Boutiques and Antiques: Bridal Veil Falls, Cloak & Dagger, Devorado, Dorian Grey Gallery, Dusty Buttons, Enchantments, Flower Power, Grey Era Vintage, Ollie's Place, Pink Olive, Polytima, Pork Pie Hatterie, Puppy Love Kitty Kat, Reason Outpost, The Upper Rust
* Restaurants: Cigkoftem, Dirt Candy, Empanades, Exchange Alley, Good Beer, Kajitsu, Whitman's, Zucker Bakery
* Hair Salons/Barbers: Lovemore & Do, Maria Mok Salon, Neighborhood Barber
A community get together at CHARAS/El Bohio marking the 10th anniversary of the eviction from the building at 605 E. 9th St in the East Village/Lower East Side, New York City.
The party, led by the Hungry March Band, marched over from Tompkins Square Park to the boarded up building. Performers roped off an impromptu stage and began entertaining the crowd. Perfomers included Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping "Earthalujah" choir; Great Small Works performing "the true story of charas"; and several speakers including carlos chino garcia. The occupy wall street statue of liberty puppet also made an appearance.
At the end the crowd was asked to join in on a protest action involving banging on the blue construction fence with wooden sticks. As they did so, the police began mobilizing and several arrests were made. Gregg Singer the developer was also seen walking past the building.
As the banging progressively grew louder the New York Police Department became aware of the disruption, dispatching five cars which pulled up only minutes after the drumming began. From then on, they attempted to get the situation under control, resulting in at least three arrests and numerous confrontations. Police at the scene declined to comment on what those arrested were charged with, and as The Observer was leaving one of the arrestees was let out of the car, but remained in handcuffs.
The crowd, who were ushered to the other side of the street, stood on the sidewalk chanting “Viva Charas!” and “Tear it Down!” while officers cleaned up the mess.
