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From its June 3 kick off at the Hispanic Society at W. 155th Street in Washington Heights, to its wrap party at the Garden Café on W. 207th Street in Inwood, this year’s 2010 Uptown Arts Stroll literally covers all of Northern Manhattan.

In January, Angela Fernandez, Executive Director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, attended a press conference downtown called by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to announce a lawsuit against a glamorous cable news spokesperson for immigrants and the president of two immigrant services nonprofits in the city – Edward Juarez.
Residents of Northern Manhattan who were forced out of their apartments by the Pinnacle Group can now join in a group lawsuit against the company.

Raquel Batista, the former head of Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, has a new job. Batista is now vice president for corporate responsibility and compliance for Vantage Properties.

Inwood Boxing Association owner Joe Brender is hosting a fundraiser at his gym on Academy Street. The gym recent had a makeover from the Discovery Channel reality program Construction Intervention. PHOTO: Christopher Auger-Dominguez
After a few rounds in a boxing ring, you’d expect anyone to look a little tired. The same goes with the ring you’re fighting in. But after a visit from the Discovery Channel reality show Construction Intervention, the Academy Street gym is in fighting form.
Inwood

Volunteers needed to compost
The compost club started by Ranger Kathryn Clifford at the Inwood Hill Park Nature Center is expanding to accommodate more food scraps from area residents and more drop-off hours. A large-scale, three-bin system will be constructed on Sat., May 29, Memorial Day weekend, and the project is in need of volunteers to help.

by George Espinal, president 34th Precinct Community Council
In early May Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly announced a shift in roles for 40 of his top commanders. One of them included our very own Deputy Inspector Andrew Capul, the long time commanding officer of the 34th Police Precinct. Deputy Inspector Capul, who has been in command of the precinct since January 2006, has moved on to Patrol Borough Manhattan North to work closely with Chief Phillip Banks, who is the commanding officer of Manhattan North.

Will Glass often thinks about moving to Brooklyn. Not only his job in the borough, but a majority of his band’s gigs, and most of his friends live there. But Glass, who live on of W. 158th Street and Amsterdam Avenue can’t bring himself to move, he said. If he moved he would have to give up his daily ride.

by Elyssa Ramirez
Over 350,000 children a year. Over four million children since 1975. One hundred and eighty active centers in action, dozens more in the works. Venezuelan music education program El Sistema’s numbers speak for themselves.

On Dyckman Street and Broadway on a sunny morning, the foot traffic is plentiful. Most walk by the endearing 50-year-old Paulino Luna with a polite smirk. His pitch rhymes in Spanish, he says, with a wide smile: “Buenas dias, buenas dias, tenemos el especial del dia [good morning, good morning, we have a special of the day].”

Alan Sidransky is a full time Health & Wellness Consultant, classically trained chef and author. He owns his own health and wellness consultancy, Focused Fitness NYC, with venues on both the Upper West Side and in Washington Heights. He lives in Washington Heights with his wife and son. He is a life long New Yorker.

Harlan Pruden and his partner were surprised when their monthly rent bill had an extra $10 charge. They ignored it for the first few months, and then finally decided to pay it when they saw the charges adding up.

May 17 – May 22
I am feeling exhilarated as I write this recap, having just returned from the 8th annual Drums Along the Hudson Native American festival, which took place at Inwood Hill Park. It is the only open-air pow wow in all of Manhattan, and includes exhibitions of world dance and drumming traditions. Those of us who call Uptown home are truly blessed to live in such a vibrant, diverse and dynamic neighborhood.
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