This weekend, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined State Senator Daniel Squadron and Council Member Rosie Mendez at Tompkins Square Park for the 16th annual MulchFest, a citywide event where Christmas trees are recycled by converting them into wood chips. New Yorkers participated by bringing their trees to 70 locations throughout the five boroughs. This year's MulchFest recycled a record-setting 24,231 trees.

Parks, in partnership with the Department of Sanitation and GreeNYC, provides New Yorkers with a fun and convenient opportunity to recycle their Christmas trees and pick up mulch for their gardens. MulchFest 2012 brought more than 24,000 trees from around the city. New Yorkers from Manhattan brought out the most trees of any borough at 9,789, followed closely by Brooklyn's 9,450. Queens' residents brought out 2,405 Christmas trees. The Bronx chipped 1,416 trees while 835 were mulched at the event on Staten Island. The amount of trees recorded this year is 616 trees above the total for 2010, which held the previous record, and is 7,726 more than last year's total.

"We are thrilled to see so many New Yorkers chip in to make their city more sustainable by bringing their Christmas trees to Parks' 16th annual MulchFest," said Commissioner Benepe. "Recycling your tree leads to less waste at landfills, and more mulch for the city's flowers, shrubs, and more than 500,000 trees planted under MillionTreesNYC. We encourage all New Yorkers to resolve to "go green" in 2012."

"The Department is very pleased to partner with the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide Christmas tree collection and recycling options for residents that results in environmentally valuable benefits for our neighborhoods," said Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty. "Our curbside tree collection program and MulchFest allows residents to take part in the recycling process and permits them to even reuse their composted Christmas trees to fertilize for the spring."

Recycling trees we can't plant helps MillionTreesNYC, an initiative to plant one million trees by 2017, by providing mulch to keep the City's newly planted trees, parks and green spaces healthy and beautiful. Woodchip mulch moderates soil temperatures, helps retain soil moisture and deters weed growth while slowly adding nutrients to the soil. The mulch will be used to line street tree pits and flowerbeds in parks. Wood chips may also be used in homes and gardens to enrich soil and control weeds.

This year's event was sponsored by Cabot Cheese, Hot 97.1 FM, and 98.7 KISS FM.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"You don't have to specialize - do everything that you love and then, at some time, the future will come together for you in some form."

Francis Ford Coppola
(1939 - )

This week, Parks kicks off New Year, New You, an eight-week challenge that encourages physical activity, healthy eating, and overall wellness. Ten Shape Up NYC fitness class sites are offering a kick-off day, when staff will take "before" measurements including weight and body fat percentage, to allow participants to track their fitness and weight loss goals.

On Tuesday, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined representatives from Equinox Fitness Clubs and NYC Service at Metropolitan Recreation Center in Brooklyn to encourage New Yorkers to join the "New Year, New You" challenge to get fit and healthy in 2012.

"Through innovative programs such as Shape Up NYC, Parks offers New Yorkers a chance to get fit and healthy for free," said Commissioner Benepe. "By taking part in the New Year, New You challenge with the help of trained professionals, people will be able to meet achievable goals of losing weight and staying in shape. Parks is grateful to our partners at Equinox, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Department of Health, and NYC Service for helping us keep our resolution to offer the best free fitness in the city."

"Shape Up NYC provides an invaluable resource to NYC communities facing overwhelming health disparities," said NYC Service's Chief Service Officer Diahann Billings-Burford. "Shape Up addresses this pressing challenge by tapping the power of volunteer fitness instructors to offer free fitness classes in over 36 locations throughout the city. This program is another great example of New Yorkers using their skills to serve their neighbors and city."

The kick-offs give participants the opportunity to set goals for themselves during the challenge, and become familiarized with good wellness habits. Trainers and staff volunteers will provide them with guidance on how to track their goals, as well as encourage them to visit BeFitNYC, Parks' free fitness search engine, to take advantage of free exercise programs through Shape Up NYC.

The challenge will conclude on March 2 and prizes will be awarded to the top three "Most Improved" participants at each site, based on weight loss, inches lost, and healthy behavior.

The Shape Up NYC program is a partnership of Equinox, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Department of Parks & Recreation, NYC Service and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which offers free fitness classes every week at 36 locations across the five boroughs. Shape Up NYC classes are taught by talented, enthusiastic and knowledgeable fitness instructors who know how to make fitness fun. Class offerings are varied and include Yoga, Pilates Fusion, Zumba, Kickboxing and Cardio Sculpt. Classes are completely free, open to the public and no pre-registration is required, so participants just find the location in their neighborhood and start to Shape Up.

The Department of Parks & Recreation provides the most affordable and extensive network of recreational services throughout New York City. Our recreation centers offer facilities such as indoor pools, weight rooms, basketball courts, and dance studios, art studios, game rooms, and libraries. All of our recreation centers offer a range of programs for people of all ages. To find a Recreation Center near you, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call 311.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
"Intellectual tasting of life will not supersede muscular activity."

Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803 - 1882)

Shape Up NYC: New Year New You Challenge Kickoff at Al Oerter Recreation Center
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Al Oerter Recreation Center, Queens

Family Art Project: Freedom Pillows
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Wave Hill, Bronx

Wilderness Survival
11:00 a.m.
Blue Heron Park, Staten Island

Historic New York Walking Tour: Native Americans
1:00 p.m.
Crotona Park, Bronx

Where Does Our Drinking Water Come From? Part 3 of Your Park Is Nature's Classroom for Kids
1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Highbridge Recreation Center, Manhattan

Sunday, January 15

Animal Tracks Exploration
11:00 a.m.
Bloomingdale Park, Staten Island

Nature Exploration (Light)
11:00 a.m.
Forest Park, Queens

Wilderness Survival
1:00 p.m.
Pelham Bay Park, Bronx

Nature Crafts for Kids
1:00 p.m.
Marine Park, Brooklyn

Historic New York Walking Tour: Strawberry Fields
1:00 p.m.
Central Park, Manhattan

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

Martin Luther King Jr.
(1929 - 1968)

Join the all-staff New Year, New You Challenge!

This 8-Week TEAM Challenge will run from January 17 to March 9, 2012. It will include measurements of weight and body fat, both "BEFORE" and "AFTER" the Challenge.

Teams representing each borough, plus the staff at The Arsenal, Arsenal West, and Arsenal North, will weigh-in at each of the seven sites during the first week of the challenge.

The schedule for weigh-ins is as follows:

Staten Island: Tuesday 1/17 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Greenbelt Recreation Center
The Arsenal: Tuesday 1/17 from 4 - 6 p.m. in the Arsenal Gallery
Arsenal North: Wednesday 1/18 from 12 - 2 p.m., outside of Room 201
Queens Recreation/Olmsted: Thursday 1/19 from 12 - 2 p.m. at the Overlook Conference Room
Brooklyn: Thursday 1/19 from 1 - 3 p.m. at Litchfield Villa, in the lobby
Bronx: Thursday 1/19 from 1 - 3 p.m. at Ranaqua
Manhattan Recreation/Arsenal West: Friday 1/20 from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at Arsenal West, Conference Room A

At the end of the challenge, teams will be recognized for the greatest percent of weight lost. The top individual within each team will also be recognized. Last year, the winning team was Arsenal West/Manhattan Recreation, which won a walk in Central Park with Commissioner Benepe.

Improve your chances of success---try Shape Up NYC! To find one of the 190 free Shape Up classes in the City, visit BeFitNYC.gov and start to Shape Up today.

FAREWELL TO ESTELLE!

After 17 years of service to NYC Parks, Estelle Cooper has resigned from her position as the Administrator for Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Estelle has announced that she will begin a new career as a partner in a political communications firm. Under Estelle's tenure, the park has seen many transformations. A set of synthetic soccer fields were constructed and Parks built the new Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center and the new Al Oerter Recreation Center. The United States Tennis Association expanded and Citifield was built as the new home for the New York Mets. We all wish Estelle the best as she embarks on her new endeavors.

As we seek a new Administrator, Janice Melnick, Administrator for Northeast Queens Parks will oversee Flushing Meadows Corona Park and be available for any issues that may arise.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Talking much about oneself can also be a means to conceal oneself."

Friedrich Nietzsche
(1844 - 1900)

Last year, Magary participated in Climate Ride California, a five-day, 320-mile charity ride from Eureka to San Francisco to support sustainable solutions, bike advocacy and environmental causes. Magary had such a great experience that he'll be making another epic ride this May-from NYC to DC-and he's hoping to recruit fellow-Parkies to join him!

We caught up again with Magary to learn more about last year's triumphant journey, and what he (and potential teammates) can expect from this year's ride.

Q: Three-hundred and twenty miles is no small feat, what motivated you to participate in last year's Climate Ride California?
I saw it as a win-win-win life experience. I got to exercise, sight-see, and support environmental causes all at once. I had clipped the ad out of a magazine and showed it to my girlfriend (she's a physical education teacher). She said "Let's do it!" We decided to ride together, so she helped motivate me too.

Q: For how long have you been cycling?
I've been riding for three years, mostly for leisure. I'll ride from Valley Stream to Olmsted, to the Rockaways, to Riis Beach. My girlfriend inspired me to take biking to the next level, so I got a race bike two years ago.

Q: What were some of the challenges you faced during Climate Ride California? The ride was not easy. Cycling up the hills of Northern California is not easy. There were many times when I asked myself "Why did I do this?", but by day three I felt so strong, and stopped questioning myself. It's a great thing to do. Challenging yourself is great. And so is supporting a cause you're passionate about. I'm passionate about sustaining the planet.

Q: Can you explain how the Climate Rides benefit the planet?
Climate Rides raise funds for organizations that focus on clean energy, sustainability, climate education and bicycle advocacy. The Rides help raise awareness of these initiatives, and brings together like-minded people to build a network of supporters.
Also, the Climate Ride organization offsets all carbon emissions associated with its operations, and all staff and rider travel to and from their events. Plus they use hybrids and biodiesel support vehicles-just like at Parks!

Q: And so this year, you'd like to build a team to ride with from NYC to DC. What should potential Climate Riders know?
Firstly, this will be great fun. The ride (I'd like to emphasize that it's not a race, it's a tour) goes from NYC to DC between May 19-23. I'm looking for as many Park teammates as I can get-the more the merrier-and all levels of bike enthusiasts are welcome to join me. It'd be great to form a team by February. We can train together or apart. I'd recommend taking a spin class twice weekly and joining an organization that trains on the weekends (such as the Five Borough Bike Club). The route is planned for Climate Riders, so once training is over, the fun really begins on the Ride.

Q: Besides the commitment to train, how much money are participants required to raise?
Climate Riders register for $75 and need to raise $2400 to go toward the above-mentioned climate-minded organizations. Last year it was relatively easy to raise the money because I got a lot of support from co-workers here at Parks. My colleagues were very supportive. In total, my girlfriend and I raised $6,700 to support several environmental organizations. It was such a great experience.

For more information on Climate Rides go to http://www.climateride.org/
To talk with Magary about joining the Ride or cycling in general, send him an email at: magarya1@gmail.com

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid."

Frank Zappa
(1940 - 1993)

The guide suggests ways Parkies can further align their individual actions with agency-wide initiatives. Recommended actions span from the commonplace (print double-sided), to the creative (start a bike-sharing program with colleagues).

"We are thrilled to publish the Agency's first Sustainability Resource Guide," said Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Strategic Initiatives Susan Donoghue. "As leaders in the environmental sustainability field, Parks must constantly raise the bar on sustainable practices. I encourage all employees to browse through the new Resource Guide for simple tips on how to think and go green in the workplace, and to share the Guide with friends and colleagues."

The guide is divided into six chapters that ask: How can I reuse materials?, How do I recycle?, How can I save water?, How can I save energy?, How can I improve my health?, and How can I save gas? Each chapter explains Parks' guidelines, lists examples of agency-wide initiatives underway, and includes a "What you can do" section providing examples of environmentally-friendly actions that employees can take at work. So if you're curious to know "How can I save gas?," the guide suggests checking vehicle tire pressure on a regular basis, among other actions.

Leaf no Trace also spotlights some of the extraordinary green leadership prevalent at Parks. It provides a directory for Parks' 27-member Green Guru network-staff who voluntarily serve as on-site resources for going green-and highlights individual actions Parkies are already taking to be the greenest. For example, staff at the Olmsted Center started a book exchange program, while a Director for Central Forestry & Horticulture installed programmable thermostats to better manage energy consumption.

David Barker, Director of Sustainability Initiatives says, "While these ideas are not all novel, all sustainable actions can stand to be reinforced in the workplace. Plus, we created this guide for a broad audience--not only for the sustainability-minded, but also for those who want to be greener."

Leaf no Trace was largely written and designed by a team of summer and fall Sustainability Initiatives Interns in 2011. Although this is Sustainable Parks' first resource guide, it will not be its last. The guide will be updated regularly on the Agency's intranet.

The guide is another example of how Parks is fulfilling the goals of its Sustainable Parks Plan, released in July 2011. The Education and Outreach chapter of the Plan lays out goals and milestones for increasing staff awareness and training around natural resource management, and the strategic reduction of fuel, energy, and materials consumption. The resource guide is a new tool to help achieve the education and outreach goals.

To contribute your own thoughts on how The Parks Department can further reduce its environmental impact, email: sustainableparks@parks.nyc.gov.

Written by Anna Hurley, Sustainability Initiatives Intern

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable,
but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."

George Bernard Shaw
(1856 - 1950)

Saturday, January 21

Yoga in the Greenbelt
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Greenbelt Nature Center, Staten Island

Family Art Project: Hibernators' Masks
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Wave Hill, Bronx

Nature Crafts for Kids
11:00 a.m.
Fort Totten Park, Queens

"I Have A Dream" Basketball Tournament
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Brownsville Recreation Center, Brooklyn

Plant Survival Strategies: Part 4 of Your Park Is Nature's Classroom for Kids
1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan

Sunday, January 22

Youth Pass, Punt and Kick Competition
11:00 a.m.
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, Manhattan

Civil War New York Walking Tour: Fort Totten
1:00 p.m.
Fort Totten Park, Queens

Exploring Our Climate
1:00 p.m.
Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Bronx

Chinese New Year: Year of the Dragon
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Greenbelt Nature Center, Staten Island

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK

In July 2011, Sustainable Parks set an ambitious goal of collecting 1,000 Green Pledges and after only six months we have our 1,000th pledge! Congratulations to Sergeant Marc Sanchez, a Park Ranger stationed in Queens, for making the Agency's 1,000th Green Pledge to reduce our impact on the environment. He pledged to "Not print unless necessary and use the electronic format of documents. Also, when printing multiple pages use both sides of the paper." Join Marc and your colleagues to elevate your commitment to the environment today. You can make a Green Pledge on the Parks Intranet Page or by emailing sustainable.parks@parks.nyc.gov. You will receive a prize for making a pledge.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."

Ovid
(43 BC - 17 AD)

Dmitry Tadson is the Capital Projects Employee of the Month for December.
Dmitry is an Accountant and has been with Parks since May 1, 1995. He oversees all aspects of construction payments for Capital Projects and ensures that the process goes smoothly. Dmitry ensures that paperwork is in order, calculates payment amounts, and enters payment vouchers into FMS3. In Fiscal Year 2011, Dmitry processed 2,483 payment vouchers for a total of $347,683,000 or 89% of the payments processed in the accounting department. Hard working and dedicated, Dmitry is always willing to tutor colleagues in FMS3 or assist with other tasks. For his efforts he was nominated by Deputy Commissioner Therese Braddick and Director of Finance Ghislaine Pierre.

Melvin Carey is the Management Employee of the Month for December.
Melvin is a Job Developer in the Parks Opportunity Program and has been with Parks since May 9, 2006. Melvin works with Job Training Participants (JTPs) to gain employment after their seasonal lines at Parks ends. He aids JTPs in compiling their resumes, prepping for job interviews, and in their search for employment. Melvin created a mini job fair in Manhattan to assist in their job search. So far in FY12 he has already placed 49 JTPs into jobs. For his dedication he was nominated by Deputy Commissioner Robert Garafola and Chief of the Parks Opportunity Program Liza Ehrlich.

Russel Reiner is an Operations Employee of the Month for August.
Russel was unable to attend September's ceremony and was honored at last week's ceremony instead. Russel is a Forest Restoration Field Crew Member in the Bronx and works on the Croton Forest Restoration Project. Russel has been with Parks since September 19, 2005. Russel is a dedicated employee and works diligently to curb the growth of invasive species, promote plant diversity, and remove dead or downed trees. Since the beginning of the restoration project five years ago, he along with Ruben Aristy have been the only field staff and have worked with volunteers to plant 56,982 trees and 68,194 herbaceous plugs over 15 acres. Forest restoration is an important aspect of our PLANYC environmental agenda, and Russel is on the ground and in the woods making it happen. For his efforts he was nominated by First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh and Project Manager Richard Love.

Wister Dorta is an Operations Employee of the Month for December.
Wister is a forester and has been with Parks since January 14, 2008. Wister manages all aspects of the tree planting program in Brooklyn including tree procurement contracts and the permit system for Central Forestry. He works on inspecting and issuing permits as well as communicating with the public on many tree related issues. During the Fall 2011 season Wister was instrumental to keeping our plantings on track. Recently, he has taken the lead in the development of the new software program HUB which will allow the agency to track the thousands of plan reviews and permits that are issued citywide. For his efforts he was nominated by First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh and Chief of Forestry Bram Gunther.

Emily Stringer-Akesson is an Operations Employee of the Month for December.
Emily is a gardener and has been with Parks since March 1, 2004. She works at the Silver Lake Greenhouse to ensure plant propagation and the maintenance of Staten Island's 327 green streets, 84 greeting gardens and 65 operation releaf sites. She is a master gardener and often exceeds propagation goals. Emily knows her plants inside out and is adept at determining when to plant them, prune them, feed them, and care for them when they're under attack by other species. For her efforts to beautify Staten Island she was nominated by First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh, Borough Commissioner Adena Long and Director of Horticulture Adriana Jacykewycz.

Bonnie McGuire is the Public Programs Employee of the Month for December.
Bonnie is the Deputy Director of the Urban Park Rangers and has been with Parks since September 4, 2002. Bonnie develops, markets and implements Ranger programs such as the Junior Ranger summer camp, the adventure course and the natural classroom. She also oversees all grant funded programs and assists in the recruitment and hiring of full time and seasonal staff. Recently, Bonnie was instrumental in the Rapid Process Improvement Exercise run by Public Programs. In addition, she addressed some of the recurring challenges to obtaining the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's approval of our summer camps. Bonnie worked diligently to apply the principles of "lean six sigma" and "kaizen" to these programs and in streamlining our summer camp operations. For her hard work she was nominated by Assistant Commissioner Annika Holder, Chief of Programming and Strategic Management Emily Chase and Director of Urban Park Rangers Sarah Aucoin.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously."

Henry Kissinger
(1923 - )

At the same time, Bronx youth were enjoying WinterFest at the Hunts Point Recreation Center. There was a full line-up of programming, including performances from the St. Mary's and Hunts Point dance troupes, the vocal talents of local teens Tatiana and Love Star, and the local rock music group The Point 3 Band.
Attendees were also able to shake their hips to a Zumba aerobics class and a hula hoop competition. A free karate clinic was also held with Sensei Hiram Diaz, as he demonstrated basic self-defense techniques. If that wasn't enough, they day also included arts & crafts, fitness tips, board games, raffles, and much more.

Snow Day and WinterFest -- bringing the winter fun to New York City's kids!

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, need not be lived again."

Maya Angelou
(1928 - )

Last fall MTNYC, in partnership with Recyclebank, the company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with points that can be redeemed for discounts and deals from local and national businesses, launched the Green Points Challenge for NYC schools. This pilot program is an online recognition and rewards program designed to encourage New York City schools to learn about the benefits of trees in our urban environment and actively participate in the MTNYC initiative.

Through the Green Points Challenge, NYC educators and classrooms can earn Recyclebank points by getting involved in any of the following activities:
* Participating in environmental education programs
* Planting a tree
* Adopting a tree
* Taking a MTNYC quiz
* Signing up for the MTNYC newsletter
* Integrating free tree-themed curricula into lessons
Educators can redeem their points for Recyclebank rewards throughout the year while also accumulating points for the Green Points Challenge. Recyclebank rewards include deals on everyday household and grocery items, as well as discounts at local restaurants, retailers and services. The top four classrooms that earn the most points in the Green Points Challenge each semester will win exclusive prizes.

Spring 2012 prizes include a Swindler Cove campout for the class, an afternoon of games with New York Knicks Groove Truck, brand name backpacks for the classroom, and free classroom admission to a Garden Exploration Tour at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, thanks to generous donations by the New York Knicks, New York Restoration Project and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

To learn how your class can participate in the Green Point Challenge, visit www.Recyclebank.com/MTNYCGreenPoints or contact the MTNYC Education Outreach Coordinator at schools@milliontreesnyc.org.

Congratulations to the Fall Semester 2011 winners which include:

The Earth School
Grand Prize: Classroom celebration of trees with New York Knicks Legend John Starks

P.S. 166
First Prize: Afternoon of games with the New York Knicks' Groove Truck

P.S. 166
Second Prize: Free classroom admissions to the Big Apple Circus Performance

Young Urban Foresters of I.S. 123
Third Prize: A day at the Alley Pond Park Adventure Course

The fall semester was generously sponsored by the New York Knicks, Big Apple Circus and the Urban Park Rangers.

MillionTreesNYC is a 10-year initiative to plant and care for one million new trees throughout the City's five boroughs and a key aspect of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC to create a healthier, more livable city. MillionTreesNYC will ultimately expand the City's urban forest, provide New Yorkers important health, economic and environmental benefits, and create a more sustainable urban environment. Since its launch in October 2007, public, private and non-profit organizations have rallied over 10,000 citizen volunteers to plant trees in what has become an unprecedented tree planting campaign and citywide environmental movement. To learn more about MillionTreesNYC, visit www.nyc.gov or call 311.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Perpetual devotion to what a man calls his business, is only to be sustained by perpetual neglect of many other things."

Robert Louis Stevenson
(1850 - 1894)

"The arrival of S'MAC to First Park introduces a time-honored culinary tradition with a new twist for New Yorkers to enjoy, whether they are visiting the park or in the middle of their morning commute," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Across the city, Parks is working to provide high quality and diverse choices to our visitors. As part of this initiative, we are thrilled that New Yorkers can now satisfy their mac and cheese cravings at First Park."

"We are delighted to have S'MAC at First Park, it is a natural fit," said Caesar and Sarita Ekya. "This location reaches out to our commuting customers and ones who are just below Houston Street who don't feel like trekking it up to our original location at 12th Street."

S'MAC, which is short for Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese, opened on June 24, 2006 in Manhattan's East Village as the first restaurant to dedicate its entire menu to macaroni and cheese. First Park's free-standing kiosk, which is located at First Avenue and Houston Street, is their first expansion effort. The kiosk opens at 7:00 a.m. for coffee service and starting at 11:00 a.m. will serve the entire macaroni and cheese menu which includes options for restricted, gluten-free and vegan diets. S'MAC @ First Park will serve options for commuters such as coffee, pastries, and more.

Serving over twelve menu options and offering the opportunity to create your own macaroni and cheese, S'MAC has something for everyone.

S'MAC @ First Park continues the Parks Department's effort to enhance the parks of New York City with high quality, diverse and healthy food vendors.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties."

Aesop
(620 BC - 560 BC)

Fitness & Nutrition Boot Camp
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Faber Park, Staten Island

Seal Exploration
10:00 a.m.
Orchard Beach Nature Center, Bronx

Historic New York Lecture: Native Americans
11:00 a.m.
Blue Heron Park, Staten Island

Chinese New Year Celebration
12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sunset Park Recreation Center, Brooklyn

Wilderness Survival
1:00 p.m.
Forest Park, Queens

Sunday, January 29

Birding: Eagles
8:00 a.m.
Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan

Moses Mountain Hike
1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Greenbelt Nature Center, Staten Island

Tu B'Shevat Celebration
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Central Park, Manhattan

Garden & Conservatory Walk at Wave Hill
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Wave Hill, Bronx

Astronomy
6:00 p.m.
Fort Totten Park, Queens

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK

Make energy saving automatic - Install a programmable thermostat. You can program it to reduce your home temperature while you're at work or school, and raise it up before you return. You can program it to reduce temperatures in the evening when all are sleeping, and raise it up before the first person rises in the morning.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Every increased possession loads us with new weariness."

John Ruskin
(1819 - 1900)

We are disappointed to have to announce that due to the unusually warm weather, the Parks Department made the hard decision to cancel Winter Jam 2012, originally scheduled for Saturday, February 4th in Prospect Park. It is simply too warm to make snow, and the long-range weather forecasts and current ground temperatures make it extremely unlikely that snow could be made.

Winter Jam has been an official NYC Parks tradition for the past ten years, and has afforded thousands of New Yorkers the opportunity to try out winter sports for free. We are grateful to our partners at the Olympic Regional Development Authority, Lake Placid, I Love NY, and other sponsors for their continued support of this one-of-a-kind event, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the outdoors this month by visiting one of the six skating rinks in City parks, or checking out a nature program offered by the Urban Park Rangers. For New Yorkers who are really missing the snow this season, I hope you'll consider a trip to one of New York State's great ski areas. And for those who crave exercise in a warmer environment, our indoor recreation centers are also open for use.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."

Robert Orben

Dannette brings more than four years of experience at Parks and a lifetime of high-level competitive sports experience to her new role. Since 2008, she has been the Center Manager at the Al Oerter Recreation Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and has also administered the new contract with USA Pools for the operation of the Flushing Meadows Corona Aquatics Center. She has managed these facilities, two of the most state-of-the-art and popular within Parks, very effectively. Collectively, these sites host more than 42,000 current members. Dannette has also been instrumental in planning and launching innovative programming at the Aquatics Center, including the development of water polo and kayaking programs.

In her new role, Dannette will use her expertise to continue to further Recreation's mission "to enable all New Yorkers to lead physically active lives through sports, fitness and outdoor adventure" within the borough of Manhattan. Dannette will work closely with Recreation Center Managers on initiatives and program strategies to increase membership, improve customer service, and diversify program offerings. Additionally, Dannette will lead other fitness projects in partnership with other agencies, outside organizations, and volunteer groups, all in an effort to keep New Yorkers moving.

Dannette is no stranger to taking on new challenges and reaching her goals. She was a member of the United States Olympic Handball Team in 1992 and 1996, the Georgia Games Co-Chairperson for Team Handball in 1997, 1998 and 2000, and she has been inducted into the Bloomington, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota (where she earned her bachelor's degree in secondary education) Softball Hall of Fame. She was also Parks' Rookie of the Year in 2008. Dannette is married and has a two-year old son.

PLEASE JOIN US!

You are cordially invited to the opening reception for the exhibition Faith, Courage & Purpose: Artists of the Diaspora, a collection of 29 artworks by seven artists that highlight a rich tradition of Diaspora artists whose faith and courage have enabled them to continue on course in spite of racial adversity and exclusion.

Artists include Betty Blayton, Stacey Brown, Leroy Campbell, James Denmark, Essud Fungcap, April Harrison, and Charly Palmer. The exhibit is curated by: Karen and Sharon Mackey, founders of Mackey Twins Fine Art.

The opening reception is on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. in the Arsenal Gallery, located on the third floor of the Arsenal (64th Street and 5th Ave). The exhibition is on view through February 28, 2012.

Join us for good company and to celebrate a rich tradition of African American vanguards. Additional refreshments will be served courtesy of Argo Tea.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact Jennifer Lantzas, Arsenal Gallery curator at 212-360-8163.

A fuller article on this exhibition will run in tomorrow's Daily Plant.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"There's an old saying about those who forget history.
I don't remember it, but it's good."

Stephen Colbert
(1964 - )

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce Faith, Courage & Purpose: Artists of the Diaspora, an exhibition of seven artists with more than twenty artworks on view at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park.

On display through February 28, 2012, visitors to the Arsenal can view this rich tradition of Diaspora artists whose faith and courage have enabled them to continue on course in spite of racial adversity and exclusion.

Curated by Karen and Sharon Mackey, founders of Mackey Twins Art Gallery, the exhibition includes: internationally renowned artist James Denmark's captivating signature collages; co-founder of the Studio Museum in Harlem and Children's Art Carnival Betty Blayton's noted circular canvases of "spiritual abstracts"; Leroy Campbell's captivating images of rural and urban life on backdrops of old newspaper prints, fabrics and objects; Charly Palmer's complex collaged images make use of stenciled patterns and textured mixed media; Stacey Brown's watercolors of serene and peaceful getaways; works by Essud Fungcap, the "composer of color, mediums, and emotions," and April Harrison's tapestry-like images of love.

Located in Mount Vernon, New York, the Mackey Twins Art Gallery was founded in 2005 by twin sisters Karen and Sharon Mackey. Dedicated to supporting artists of color, who are not sufficiently represented in larger art venues, they remain true to cultivating communities of collectors. Artworks from this exhibition are available for purchase.

This exhibition is organized by Parks & Recreation's Art & Antiquities division in conjunction with Parks' Ebony Society Black History Committee, which has helped to organize an annual Black History Month exhibition in the Arsenal Gallery since 1991.

The Arsenal Gallery is dedicated to examining themes of nature, urban space, wildlife, New York City parks and park history. It is located on the third floor of the Parks Department Headquarters, in Central Park, on Fifth Avenue at 64th Street. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., excluding holidays. Admission is free. For more information on the Arsenal Gallery, please call 212-360-8163.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Pregressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the socity in which they live, but also about the intensity social character of their interior lives. Ultimately, it can propel people toward social emancipation."

Angela Davis
(1944 - )

Dear Parkies,

A busy, if balmy, winter at the Parks Department continues, with several exciting developments this past week.

Last Week at Parks...

* As our Operations division continues to focus on finding ways to work smarter and more efficiently, First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh looked to the past for inspiration, reviving an initiative first launched under Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern. The concept behind a 5x5, a strategy first utilized in the 1980s, began as a way to bring resources from around the borough to assist a district in one park, and a project would happen in five parks, one in each borough, usually for five days. For this season's 5x5s, it's a citywide effort, with each borough providing a combination of forestry staff and equipment for each project. In the first project at Prospect Park, they removed dead trees and limbs and hauled out 56 loads of shafts and large limbs. At Cunningham Park from January 23 through January 28, crews worked to clean up the trees damaged by Hurricane Irene damaged trees, and prune or remove any hazard trees. Crews from every borough, as well as the Million Trees Training Program, PACT and NYC DOT assisted on this project.

* Meanwhile, our Revenue division, under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Betsy Smith, continued to make steady progress toward establishing a new vision for one of the city's most iconic locations-Tavern on the Green. After releasing a Request for Proposals in late December, Commissioner Smith and Central Park Administrator Doug Blonsky both spoke about the project at a Community Board 8 meeting on January 25. Also at this meeting, a presentation of the planned renovation was made by Elizabeth Moss of Swanke Hayden Connell Associates, the firm that is working with DDC on the design. Yesterday, prospective restaurateurs toured the space, which is going through significant renovation, including the restoration of its historic fade, replacement of the slate roofs, and the removal of non-historic building additions. We look forward to seeing Tavern on the Green mark a new chapter in its life during the Bloomberg administration.

* And finally, Public Programs saw another successful fundraising month and has now raised $422,500 for the Swim for Life program since December. Launched in January 2011, Swim for Life is offered to New York City public school children to help ensure that they know the basics of water safety before leaving the second grade. Key to our success has been the development of a NYC Swim Council. Launched in August 2011 and made up of leaders from the public and private sector, the NYC Swim Council's mission is to advocate and raise funds for drowning prevention. The Swim Council board includes Ann Buttenwieser (Neptune Foundation), Deborah Krulewitch (Estee Lauder), Peter Sloane (The Heckscher Foundation) and Peggi Einhorn (RWJF).

Staff Spotlight...

These successes wouldn't have been possible without the talent and ingenuity of the hardest working staff in the City. This week, I'd like to commend Paul Fontana, Chief of Staff to Assistant Commissioner for Public Programs Annika Holder. Along with volunteer consultant Peter Konstamm, Paul has played a pivotal role in the development of the Swim for Life program, and much of our fundraising success is a direct result of Paul's hard work and diligent follow through. Paul is the first into the office each morning, and the last to head home at night, leading some to speculate whether he in fact sleeps at his desk. Paul is thorough in following up on every fundraising lead and prepares proposals for potential donors and briefings for my meetings with them. Paul is a great example of what it means to put in the extra effort to ensure a project's success, and I am grateful to have him on our team.

Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

Adrian Benepe

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Statistics: The only science that enables different experts
using the same figures to draw different conclusions."

Evan Esar
(1899 - 1995)

Saturday, February 4

Creative Corner
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Park, Manhattan

Removal of Invasive Bittersweet at Van Cortlandt Park
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx

Exploring Our Climate
11:00 a.m.
Forest Park, Queens

Lefferts Historic House 2nd Floor Tours
1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Adult Art: Wondrous Winter Trees
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Greenbelt Nature Center, Staten Island

Sunday, February 5

I ♥ Worms: Heart-Shaped Compost Cookies, with the NYC Compost Project in Queens
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Queens Botanical Garden, Queens

Winter Tree ID and Craft
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Greenbelt Nature Center, Staten Island

Nature Exploration: Hunter Island (Moderate)
1:00 p.m.
Orchard Beach Nature Center, Bronx

Exploring Our Climate
1:00 p.m.
Blue Heron Nature Center, Staten Island

Castle & Its Kingdom
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Central Park, Manhattan

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK

Keep Out the Drafts: Install or upgrade your doors' weather stripping. Have someone stand on the other side of the door and shine a flashlight around the door's perimeter. If you can see light through the cracks, your door needs some sealing. You can use sand-filled door draft stoppers or even rolled up towels/blankets to keep drafts from coming in from beneath.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Lets Go Giants!"

"Big Blue gave us a game to remember, and on Tuesday we're going to give them a parade to remember," said Mayor Bloomberg.

The City will conduct a public giveaway for 250 winners (500 tickets) to the ceremony in City Hall Plaza on Monday, February 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. through www.nyc.gov and 311. People will also be able to access the entry form through the New York City Mayor's Office Twitter page. Tri-state area residents 18 years and over will have an opportunity to enter the giveaway by visiting www.nyc.gov or calling 311 and selecting the Ticket Giveaway menu option. There will not be an opportunity to enter the giveaway before 9:00 a.m., and it will end promptly at 11:00 a.m. Entrants may only enter once and will be asked to give their name, email address and phone number in order to enter. Winners will be notified beginning at 2 p.m. and will have to pick up their tickets at a location in Midtown by 8 p.m. Monday night. Members of the public can become a follower of the New York City Mayor's Office Twitter page by visiting www.twitter.com/NYCMayorsOffice

While the sidewalks lining Tuesday's tickertape parade up the Canyon of Heroes along Broadway from the Battery to City Hall are open to all members of the public, there is limited space on City Hall Plaza for the ceremony with the Giants players and owners. The City will set up three large screens around City Hall for members of the public to watch the ceremony. In addition to tickets for Giants friends and family, additional tickets for seats on City Hall Plaza will be distributed to the public by Members of the City Council and other City elected officials, community organizations that work in partnership with the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit in all five boroughs, City and State agencies, and municipal unions.

Sweepstakes winners will have to present photo identification to pick up tickets and to enter City Hall Plaza. All guests will have to go through security on the east side of City Hall only, and all bags will be examined. Access to City Hall Plaza for the ceremony will begin early, and attendees will likely not have an opportunity to attend preceding parade.

The City's 311 Call Center representatives use a state-of-the-art database of information and services about City government. Information can be updated in real time, and 311 works closely with other City agencies to maintain the most current information. All calls to 311 are answered by a live operator, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Immediate access to translation services in over 170 languages is available.

There have been reports in the past of fraudulent offers for tickets to the parade - including access to floats - and to the ceremony. There are no tickets or passes to any portion of the parade, and any such offers are fake. Ceremony tickets are not for resale. If you are aware of any tickets or passes being sold, please call 311.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"They can conquer who believe they can."

Virgil
(70 BC - 19 BC)

This past fall, at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, 180 youth gathered for the Citywide Flag Football Championships. Parks' Flag Football League gives youth ages 8-17 the chance to compete on a citywide level. The league focuses on teamwork, sportsmanship, and how to play the game competitively. Teams were formed in all five boroughs, but only a few had the opportunity to advance to the citywide championships.

All eyes were on St. Mary's teams to see if they would falter or once again win their division title. Their 12-14 league team has won the division title since 2007 and the 8-11 league team has won the division title for the past two years. A win this year would be special for St. Mary's since it would be the first time in recent history that the championship games were held in their home borough.

The day started off chilly but sunny as the teams took the field. In the 8-11 division, Hunts Point defeated Tony Dapolito to win division title. St. Mary's retained their reign. They overcame Sorrentino's defense in the 12-14 division title game. St. Mary's also won the championship game against Sorrentino in the 15-17 division. It was a victorious day for the borough's flag football teams.

The day was not just about flag football. Stan's Pepper Steppers Double Dutch team amazed the crowd with their acrobatics and fancy footwork. As an aside, the Double Dutch team performed at the Apollo Theater on December 4, 2011. They are a truly amazing team and if you haven't had a chance to see them, you are missing out!

We look forward to next year's flag football league and the excitement that the championship games bring. We congratulate the winners of the 2011 teams and all the players who gave it their best.

Submitted by Adrienne Meryl

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling,
but in rising again after you fall."

Vince Lombardi
(1913 - 1970)

Each April, we celebrate Arbor Day, a celebration of all-things-trees that dates back to the 1970s. However, the sentiment behind Arbor Day can actually be traced back to rabbinic times. Talmudic scholarship sets aside the 15th day of the month of Shvat to honor our planet's grandest plants. In Israel's early days after World War II, it was a rallying point around which people rushed to put as many in the ground as possible. Their success in turning a desert environment into a lush green oasis (and in the process creating a thriving agricultural industry) is testament to our indebtedness to the tree.

In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg's homage to trees comes in the form of PlaNYC, a signature element of which is an effort to add a million of them to our parks, streets and natural areas. Thanks to the dedication of the MillionTreesNYC team and our partners at the New York Restoration Project, we're more than halfway towards that goal. Our spring and fall planting days over the last several years have become great ways for families and friends to breathe some fresh air while beautifying neighborhoods. However, while it might be a bit cold to plant trees right now, New Yorkers can still celebrate Tu B'Shvat by eating! Tradition dictates that Tu B'Shvat be a time for enjoying trees' bounty and snacks like figs, dates, almonds and walnuts.

You can also use the occasion to express appreciation: renew your membership with the New York Restoration Project, TreesNY or one of our other partners; go on an Urban Park Ranger tree identification walk; or, simply take a moment to say "thanks" next time you pass by your favorite tree.

Edited from an article printed last year, written by Gary Rozman

More on Tu B'Shvat from Chabad.org:

Tu B'Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar-celebrated this year on Wednesday, February 8, 2012-is the day that marks the beginning of a "New Year for Trees." This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.

Legally, the "New Year for Trees" relates to the various tithes that are separated from produce grown in the Holy Land. These tithes differ from year to year in the seven-year shemittah cycle; the point at which a budding fruit is considered to belong to the next year of the cycle is the 15th of Shevat.

We mark the day of Tu B'Shevat by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. On this day we remember that "man is a tree of the field" (Deuteronomy 20:19) and reflect on the lessons we can derive from our botanical analogue.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now."

Chinese Proverb

* Last month, the Sustainability Initiatives Office collected its 1000th Green Pledge from Queens Urban Park Ranger Marc Sanchez. Marc pledged not to print unless necessary, to use the electronic format of commonly printed documents, and to print on both sides of paper. The pledge program was launched in March 2011 to inspire dialogue about sustainable practices at Parks and help the agency conserve energy, fuel, paper, and other resources. Parks' network of 30 Green Gurus helped us surpass the 1000 pledge mark through their enthusiastic outreach and education efforts. It's not too late to follow in Marc's footsteps and make a pledge.

* Out at the Olmsted Center, we marked the beginning of Parks' area-wide green infrastructure contracts. Forestry and horticulture staff have been busy out in the field locating green infrastructure projects in the Bronx River and Flushing Bay sewersheds. Eventually, these contracts will build almost 200 stormwater capture installations, including greenstreets and right-of-way bioswales that capture street runoff. Capturing storm water runoff and keeping it out of the storm sewers will help keep our harbor waters cleaner and reduce the need for expensive storm sewer projects. I'm excited about this cutting-edge initiative and look forward to watching it develop.

* Two weeks ago at our state of the art Urban Field Station, Parks hosted the second in a new series of seminars aimed at keeping Parkies informed about current research and developments that impact the way we manage our natural resources. It's also an opportunity for Parks staff to showcase all their great work. This most recent seminar was on reforestation and featured Tim Chambers, of our Natural Resources Group (NRG) speaking about propagation experiences at the Greenbelt Native Plant Center. The next seminar will take place in April and will focus on urban wildlife ecology. Keep an eye out for details and try to attend this informative series.

Staff Spotlight:

There are many Parkies making these sustainable initiatives possible, and chief among them is Jacqueline Lu, Director of Research & Analysis for Forestry, Horticulture, and NRG. Jackie juggles an array of complex projects that dramatically improve the functioning of Forestry, Horticulture, and Natural Resources but often go unnoticed as they are behind-the-scenes. Her portfolio is impressive; Jackie played a large role in the creation of the Forestry Management System (ForMS) database, which manages all street and park tree information, oversees the Urban Field Station, completed a mapping analysis that has helped us prioritize our street tree planting work, and has given us a crucial view into how vegetation cover has changed in the city over the past two decades.

What is most impressive about Jackie, though, is that she is an excellent supervisor who invests in both the personal and professional development of her staff, a quality that is becoming more and more important in these tough budget times. In fact, I heard about Jackie's good work from Peter Tiso, one of the Parkies who works with her. I was particularly struck by one thing Peter said: "My own career at parks would be much poorer without Jackie's guidance."

Thank you for all the good work that you do, Jackie.

Sincerely,

Adrian Benepe

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"It's wonderful what we can do if we're always doing."

George Washington
(1732 - 1799)