February Newsletter

This Newsletter Includes The Following Sections

- Community Info and Resources - Open Streets - Environmental - Bloomingdale Library - Art & Exhibits - Bloomingdale History Group - Farmers Markets - St. John The Divine

Community Info and Resources - NYC Childcare Tax Relief Programs: Mayor Adams announced new childcare tax credits. View the Office of the Mayor’s Childcare Plan for more information. - Food Service Businesses: NYC Commercial Organics Requirements began on July 31. By law, staff-handled organic waste must be source separated for collection. For more information, visit here. - Outdoor Dinning Bill Passed: The bill allows outdoor dining on sidewalks year-round and on city streets April 1 through November 29 each year. For more information, visit NYC Hospitality Alliance. Starting March 1, 2024, all businesses in NYC must use bins with secure lids when setting out trash for collection. This new rule is an important step in keeping our streets clean! This rule applies to any business in New York City, regardless of what is sold. Any perishable material (trash or organic material) must be in a bin with a secure lid when set out on the curb for collection. This requirement does not apply to businesses that have waste collected from a loading dock. Store bins inside or outside Bins should be stored inside or in a rear yard if possible. If space is not available, bins can be stored within three (3) feet of the building line when not set out for collection. Bins must be maintained in a neat and orderly manner and always allow for a clear path of pedestrian travel on the sidewalk. Join an info session! Need more information to prepare your business? Join one of the Department of Sanitation’s trainings, held weekly through March: Register in Spanish 2/12/24 Register in English 2/21/24 Register in Chinese 2/26/24 More Info Bloomingdale Chinese Restaurants Celebrate the Lunar New Year by eating at one of our neighborhood's many Chinese restaurants! Explore Them Here

Columbus Amsterdam BID Membership Registration If you are a Commercial Property Owner, Property Manager, Property Representative, Commercial Tenant, Residential Tenant within the BID boundaries of W96-w110th between Amsterdam and Columbus make sure to sign up to become a registered member we will be providing resources to our BID members. Register Here

Community Events Free English Classes / US Citizen Classes Environmental Bring Your Own Container In the coming weeks, look for the Bring Your Own Container/UWS Reduces Waste stickers at neighborhood businesses and go in with confidence that the store will accept your reusable container to fill and you won’t be bombarded with single-use plastic that you don’t need or want. BYO Container/UWS Reduces Waste is a new project of It’s Easy Being Green, your neighborhood climate education and personal action group. We will ask our neighborhood coffee, tea shops and restaurants to display our BYO Container sticker in their window to let you know that they will accept your travel mug and/or food container to fill. We hope to include prepared food stores in the future when the NYS health codes are updated. (We’re working on this too!) Join our effort!  Please help us find conscientious businesses who would like to put the BYO sticker in their storefronts.  Send your ideas and  recommendations to BYO.itseasybeinggreen@gmail.com. Want to know more about It's Easy Being Green? Click here to sign up for our monthly newsletter. It's Easy Being Green Website Bloomingdale Library One-on-One Tech Help Wednesdays, 1PM - 2:30 PM | On-going This event will take place in person at Bloomingdale Library. If you have a tech problem, question, or would just like some individualized tech tutorials, this is your time to work with a librarian and receive their personal attention and instruction. More Info

Art & Exhibits Museum of the City of New York

Midwinter Recess Family Activities Monday, February 19th-24th, 11:00am Free Registration | Families The Museum of the City of New York welcomes children of all ages and their families to join us this midwinter break for activities for all to enjoy! More Info

Uptown Jazz: Harlem on My Mind Saturday, February 24th, 1:00pm Free w/ Museum Admission | Families Dance along to a performance by bandleader and entertainer Dandy Wellington and his seven-piece jazz band with songs inspired by our centennial exhibition. More Info

Bloomingdale History Group Register Here Farmers Markets GrowNYC

GROWNYC 97th Street Greenmarket W 97th St. between Amsterdam and Columbus Open Fridays, Year-round Market Hours: 8AM-2PM  Compost Program Hours:  8AM-12:30pm GROWNYC Columbia Sunday GreenMarket Broadway between 114th-116th St Open Sundays, Year-round  Market Hours: 8AM-4PM Compost Program Hours:  8AM-12:30pm Clothing Collection Hours:  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Down to Earth

TEXTILE RECYCLING  Saturdays 10am-2pm  Amsterdam 109-110th Green Tree Textiles will collect unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, towels, and household linens for reuse and recycling. No rugs or blankets, please.

Both GROWNYC & Down to Earth Offer: FOOD BENEFITS PROGRAM WELCOME! Go to the Manager's Tent to use your SNAP EBT card and get tokens to spend with our vendors. Health Bucks available ($2 for every $2 in SNAP, up to $10). Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks can be used at the farm stands June 1st - November 30th 2024 St. John The Divine CCC CLOTHING CLOSET  Tuesdays and Wednesdays | 10AM-12PM | Town Building The Clothing Closet distributes emergency clothing through the Nutrition, Health, and Clothing Center, and also provides workplace-appropriate clothing for individuals returning to the workforce. Persons seeking professional clothing must have a referral from an agency familiar with their employment search. Clothing distribution is free of charge and based on availability, and clients can obtain clothing once per month. Identification is required. The Clothing Closet accepts donations of gently-used, freshly-laundered clothing. Donations can be dropped off at the Cathedral from Monday-Friday, 9AM-4PM CCC SUNDAY SOUP KITCHEN  Sundays | 10AM-3PM | Town Building With no eligibility restrictions, meal services are offered to all without regard to age, gender, race, income, or denominational affiliation. Sunday Soup Kitchen meals consist of a healthy, diverse menu that includes fresh produce, a wide variety of meat/proteins, and low-salt, heart-healthy food options. Food Pantry Monday, Thursday, Friday | 9AM-5PM | Town Building Tuesday & Wednesday | 12PM-5PM | Town Building Anyone is welcome to walk in for shelf stable items, produce (when available) and an array of items from our common refrigerator. Health First: A Plentiful Pantry This CCC partnership with PLENTIFUL makes it possible for clients to go online and register to receive an assortment of shelf stable goods, hygiene products and cleaning products (that are not allowed to be purchased with food stamps), produce (when available), fresh breads/rolls/bagels and meat or poultry. Anyone is welcome to register at Go to app.plentifulapp.com. FIND RESTAURANTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OUR BLOOMINGDALERESTAURANTS.NYC TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY GUIDE Restaurants in the Neighborhood Copyright @ 2024 Columbus Amsterdam BID, All rights reserved. Our email address is: info@columbusamsterdambid.org

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