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In Brooklyn, Steam and Whistles Usher in 2009

by Laura Silver

January 01, 2009

It's not just about dropping crystal balls and confetti. On the Clinton Hill campus of Pratt Institute, a few hundred revelers gathered last night for a once-a-year cacophony: factory whistles, steam....

A Yuletide Tradition: Dim Sum

by Laura Silver

December 26, 2008

Even for those who don't celebrate Christmas, yesterday was a chance to observe some other time-honored traditions - like enjoying a meal at a boisterous Chinatown restaurant. Kim Newman, of Brookly....

The Christmas Tradition of Volunteering

by Laura Silver

December 25, 2008

REPORTER: Not everyone was rushing to open their presents first thing this morning. Volunteers at the Soho nonprofit Gods Love We Deliver started cooking at 4 am. Now another crew is helping to di....

Officials Look to Quell Crown Heights Tension

by Laura Silver

May 22, 2008

Black and Jewish officials are standing together to fight the recent spike in Crown Heights violence. State Assemblyman Dov Hikind says the six-month-old Black-Jewish alliance of politicians is alar....

Campaign Promotes Baby Sleep Safety

by Laura Silver

May 09, 2008

Babies Sleep Safest Alone - that's the message of a new public education campaign. The city's Administration for Childrens Services says 11 babies have died of suffocation this year. Commissioner Jo....

City At Risk for Major Flooding

by Laura Silver

May 07, 2008

A Katrina-sized hurricane could put the city out of commission. That's what scientists and infrastructure experts told the City Council's Infrastructure Task Force yesterday. The city's Office of L....

City Schools Slacking on Phys Ed Requirements

by Laura Silver

May 05, 2008

Third graders in New York City's public school system are supposed to have gym class every day. But only 4 percent of them get to run around as part of the school day. This according to a report by t....

National Library Week Makes Noise at City Hall

by Laura Silver

April 17, 2008

A City Hall celebration for National Library Week was anything but quiet. Staff members from libraries around the city, set-up tables in City Hall Park and invited passersby to sign up for library c....

Jewish Children Plan to Welcome Pope

by Laura Silver

April 15, 2008

When the Pope arrives in New York on Friday, he'll make an historic visit to an Upper East Side synagogue. Children there, in the Park East Day School, are practicing songs in Hebrew to welcome the ....

Top Judge Sues for Pay Hike

by Laura Silver

April 11, 2008

New York's chief judge has sued the state because she and her colleagues haven't had a pay raise in 10 years. Judith Kaye's attorney, Bernard Nussbaum, says New York's refusal to grant annual cost....

Comptroller Demands Cleanup of Brooklyn Rec Center

by Laura Silver

April 10, 2008

City Comptroller Bill Thompson is calling for immediate action to clean up a city-owned athletic center in Brooklyn that houses day care and pre-kindergarten programs. He says his auditors found d....

City Council Holds Hearing on Tainted Water

by Laura Silver

April 04, 2008

The city's Department of Environmental Protection says trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in New York's water supply do not pose significant health risks. At a City Council hearing, Deputy Commissione....

City Kayakers Celebrate Water Trail

by Laura Silver

March 27, 2008

On your mark, get set, paddle. A dozen kayakers hit the water at Valentino Park to celebrate the city's water trail — 30 sites where it's legal — and safe — to launch a canoe or kayak in the f....

CSI Workers Protest New Rules

by Laura Silver

March 26, 2008

City officials say it's no different from punching a clock. But crime scene investigators are complaining about having to use palm-print scanners to track how many hours they've worked. The palm-pri....

Webster Hall Granted Landmark Status

by Laura Silver

March 19, 2008

Now, it's more than just a place to dance. Webster Hall became a landmark yesterday. The Landmarks Preservation Commission has added the Queen Anne-style brick and brownstone building to its rost....

Red Hook Vendors Get Permits

by Laura Silver

March 12, 2008

This preserves what's become a weekend tradition of sidewalk snacking for soccer players, spectators and foodies. Ed Levine, founder of seriouseats.com, says Red Hook's fields are a great place to s....

New Yorkers More Likely to go Green

by Laura Silver

March 06, 2008

A new survey shows New Yorkers may be more inclined to go green than the rest of the country, with 78 percent believing global warming will have a direct effect on their lives, compared to 72 percent....

Turf May Be Unsafe

by Laura Silver

February 29, 2008

REPORTER: Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, Christian DiPalermo, says artificial turf contains black pellets made from recycled tires, which are potentially harmful. DIPALERMO: There are ....

Parks Dept. Settles Discrimination Suit

by Laura Silver

February 27, 2008

REPORTER: The city will pay more than $20 million to black and Hispanic Parks Department employees to settle claims that they were promoted less than white co-workers. Kathleen Walker has been with ....

Parks Dept. Settles Bias Suit for $21 Million

by Laura Silver

February 26, 2008

A nine year old class action lawsuit against the city's Parks Department for passing over minorities for promotion has been settled. The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund says the city will pay....