The Manhattan Times

Story and photos by Robin Elisabeth Kilmer

Columbia University professors participate in a panel discussion
about the work ahead at the newly endowed Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind, Brain and
Behavior Institute.

The news of the day was provided by the owner of the tabloid daily that bills itself the city's "Hometown Paper" this past Mon., Dec., 17th.

On what might soon be celebrated on campus in the years to come as "Z-Day," Mortimer Zuckerman, publisher of The Daily News, visited the Columbia University campus on Monday to pledge $200 million for the university’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute.

The sizeable gift created an endowment for the Institute, which might well change the nature of the study of human behavior, and perhaps bring new victories in the strides made against mental illness.

“What you’ve given us today is a mandate to discover man’s fate,” said Thomas M. Jessell, a professor in the departments of Neuroscience, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia, to Zuckerman, before the audience that filled the rotunda of the Low Memorial Library.

“Let’s call this Z-day,” he added.

Historia y fotos por Robin Elisabeth Kilmer

“Hay tanto que aprender y tanto potencial,” dijo Zuckerman, con su hija.

El lunes 17 de diciembre, la noticia del día la ofreció el dueño del periódico conocido como “El Periódico de la Ciudad”.

En lo que se celebrará en los años venideros como el “Z-Day”, Mortimer Zuckerman, ‘publisher’ del Daily News visitó la Universidad de Columbia y  regaló $200 millones para el Instituto del Comportamiento del Cerebro y la Mente Mortimer B. Zuckerman.

El regalo significativo creará una dote para el Instituto lo que potencialmente cambiará la naturaleza del estudio del comportamiento humano y tal vez conseguirá nuevas victorias contra la enfermedad mental.

“Lo que nos está dando hoy es un mandato para descubrir el futuro del hombre” dijo Thomas M. Jessell, Profesor de los departamentos de Neurociencia, Bioquímica, y Biofísica Molecular, dirigiéndose a Zuckerman y a una audiencia que llenaba la rotonda de mármol de la Biblioteca Low Memorial.  “Lo llamaremos el Z-Day”.

Story and photos by Sandra Evangelina Garcia

The Rat Collective founder Rainey Cruz (center) seeks to support young skaters: “We
want them to participate.” Cruz is joined by (from left to right) Claudio Cabrera,
artist Tony Peralta, and The Sound of Art founder Leopold Vásquez.

Skaters stick together.

A recent movie screening drew uptown skaters and their friends and supporters out in full force.

This past, Sun., Dec. 16^th, the Rat Collective and the 596ArtistUnion gathered at La Sala 78 for a screening of the new film Pretty Sweet from female skate crew Girl and Chocolate.

The usually busy uptown eatery was dark, illuminated only by the light of the projection and the gaze of the attentive audience.

As skaters landed their ollies and 360’s in the film, appreciative viewers murmured, “Ooh’s” and “Ahh’s.”

“I was the only one out of those who won a raffle who demanded my gift,” said a grinning Tato, an uptown skate crew member, as he posed with his newly won skateboard (or deck, as it’s commonly referred to by skaters).

Historia y fotos por: Sandra Evangelina García

Una proyección de la película skaters Pretty
Sweet se llevó a cabo en La Sala 78. 

Los patines se mantienen unidos.

La reciente proyección de una película atrajo un gran número de patinadores del norte de la ciudad y a sus amigos y seguidores.

El pasado domingo de diciembre, 16 rata y el Colectivo la 596ArtistUnion se reunieron en La Sala 78 para la proyección de la nueva película Pretty Sweet del equipo femenino de patinadoras Girl and Chocolate.

El generalmente concurrido restaurante del norte de la ciudad estaba oscuro, iluminado sólo por la luz de la proyección y la mirada atenta del público.

A medida que los skaters aterrizaron sus ollies y giros de 360 grados en la película, los espectadores atentos reaccionaban con "Oohs" y "Ahhs".

"Yo fui el único de los que ganó una rifa que exigía mi regalo", dijo un sonriente Tato, miembro del equipo de patinadores del norte de la ciudad, mientras posaba con su patineta recién ganada (o ‘deck,’ como se le conoce comúnmente por los skaters)

El Barrio’s community
organizer and activist Carmen Villegas was waked after succumbing to cancer.

Story and photos by Robin Elisabeth Kilmer

Just a few months ago, Carmen Villegas officiated at the funeral of her close friend, Ada María Isasi-Díaz.

Her smiling face and bustling gait belied the fact that Villegas was very sick.

She had battled breast cancer for years.

But, for a while, it seemed like this indomitable woman had defeated an equally powerful foe.

Friends and family were shocked to learn otherwise when on Wed., Dec. 5, when Villegas succumbed to her illness.

“None of us knew the severity,” Patricia Rodríguez, who, along with Villegas, was a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish.