Heart to Heart is Back

Mark Your Calendar!!
Heart to Heart Concert is LIVE again from Symphony Space!
HEART TO HEART CONCERT – The Sounds of Gospel!
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2022
Time: The concert begins at 6:00pm EST 
Location: Peter Norton Symphony Space
Address: 2537 Broadway, NY, NY
(Located on the southwest corner of 95th St and Broadway) 
 
We’re back and ready to “Raise the Praise!” 
Labor of Love Association hosts Heart to Heart Concert – New York’s Premiere Event for Authentic Traditional/Contemporary Gospel Music!
 
What A Thrilling Line-Up! Our Featured Performers for the 2022 Concert
The Labor of Love Ensemble, Reverend Vandell Atkins, Brother Jospeh Ellis, Brother Alson Farley, Jr, Elder George Heyward, The Richard Curtis Singers, and Brother Henry Mitchell

This year Heart to Heart presents, “The Sounds of Gospel!” Join us as we celebrate the origins of Gospel, one of the most prolific genres of American music!
Don’t miss this evening that will take you on a journey through the phases of Gospel from the early days of “call and response” to the energizing sounds of contemporary Gospel music!
 
Plan now to be with us on Saturday, September 17 for an evening of high-energy gospel music and a fascinating trip down musical memory lane! You don’t want to miss this year’s concert experience. Tickets are available now.

We can’t wait to see you in person in September!
The Labor of Love Ensemble
Visit our website

Another Primary Is Coming on August 23rd

This summer has two primaries instead of one. We chose candidates for statewide races like Assembly and governor in June. On August 23, we’ll choose nominees for Congress and the State Senate.
Early voting runs between August 13 but, before you head to the polls, however, make sure you double check your polling location using the city Board of Elections poll site locator tool — and keep in mind that, often, your early voting site will be different than your election day site.
Where’s Your District, and Who’s Running?If you’re not sure where your new political districts are after the big political reshuffling earlier this year, find out with this redistricting tool and interactive map.
You can also use the map to find out who’s running for each office. Or, you can find your sample ballot from the city BOE — with a list of candidates who will appear for each contest — by plugging in your address here, then clicking the dark blue “View Sample Ballot” button on the right hand side of the page.
Note that a potentially primary-changing election law fluke last week that will effectively turn August’s election into an open primary.Because of a loophole opened during the court-mandated redistricting reshuffling this year, voters can switch parties and vote in whatever primary they choose in August — and can do so up until or on primary day.
That means a voter registered as a Republican right now could, in theory, switch their party to Democrat and vote in the Democratic primary this month, for example.
In a low-turnout primary, it could have a major effect on races’ outcomes.
Here’s a guide from WNYC/Gothamist about how to switch parties, and the limitations of the rule change.

11 1/2

With a facade of only nine and a half feet wide, 75 1/2 Bedford Street is the narrowest house in New York City. The interior space is even cozier, at its widest, 8 feet 7 inches, and at its narrowest, only 2 feet. Some sources suggest it was constructed in 1873 on what was a former carriage entranceway, while others believe the narrow home dates to earlier in the century.

In the late 19th century the building was home to a cobbler’s shop and candy factory. In 1923 the building was leased (with its surrounding neighbors) by a group of artists and actors, who established the Cherry Lane Theatre around the corner. Poet and playwright Edna St. Vincent Millay and her husband moved into the building in 1923 and only stayed a year. During their tenure, the building, which was constructed in a typical Italianate style with a cornice at the top, was renovated. Architect Ferdinand Savignano installed a skylight and made the top floor a studio for Millay. The original cornice was removed, and a small Dutch stepped gable was added (possibly as a reflection of the Dutch heritage of Millay’s husband). According to numerous accounts, the house also was the residence (however briefly) to cartoonist William Steig, his sister-in-law anthropologist Margaret Mead, and actors John Barrymore and Cary Grant.

The building was purchased in 1952 by a Greenwich Village local (saving it from redevelopment) and sold and renovated a number of times since the mid-1990s. It was sold in 2013 for $3.25 million.

Homes with fractional addresses are quaint historical reminders of how messy development and human systems (postal routes, zoning, building, etc.) often are.

The NY post had a great article on how many of those 1/2’s came to be:

https://nypost.com/2018/11/07/the-origins-of-new-york-citys-mysterious-fractional-addresses/

but one thing it fails to mention is Harlem’s fractional address, 11 1/2 East 129th Street.

In this case, it’s not a quirk in a postal route, a small lot built inexplicably, or anything like that, it’s simply to avoid the unlucky number 13 in the way that many taller buildings go from the 12th to 14th floor, somehow.

The Historic Districts Council Weigh In

The Historic Districts Council (HDC) reviews every public proposal affecting New York City’s landmarks and historic districts and provides testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) whenever it is needed. Below are their comments regarding the Church of All Saints Parish House:

47 East 129th Street – Church of All Saints (Roman Catholic), Parish House and School – Individual Landmark CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS, LPC-22-01916A Italian Gothic Revival style parish house/rectory designed by Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell and built in 1886-1889, as part of an Italian Gothic Revival style ecclesiastical complex. Application is to alter the stoop and install a barrier-free access lift.  Architect: Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell  HDC finds the option with a lower concrete base and increased decorative ironwork to be the favorable design choice. It is more visually stimulating and creates a nicer relationship with the rest of the entryway. However, it should be ensured that the quality and detail of any additional ironwork matches that of the existing.  

47 East 129th Street – Church of All Saints (Roman Catholic), Parish House and School – Individual Landmark CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS, LPC-22-01916A Italian Gothic Revival style parish house/rectory designed by Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell and built in 1886-1889, as part of an Italian Gothic Revival style ecclesiastical complex. Application is to alter the stoop and install a barrier-free access lift.  Architect: Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell  HDC finds the option with a lower concrete base and increased decorative ironwork to be the favorable design choice. It is more visually stimulating and creates a nicer relationship with the rest of the entryway. However, it should be ensured that the quality and detail of any additional ironwork matches that of the existing.  

August Primaries will be held for the State Senate and US House of Representatives.

How To Apply For An Absentee Ballot
Deadline MONDAY 8/8/22; BUT DON’T DELAY Request by FRIDAY 8/5/22

Absentee Ballot Application portal: https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/
OR go in person to your local county board of elections Deadline 8/22/22
Note: You can request an absentee ballot even if you are NOT going away. EVERYONE is eligible to request an absentee ballot due to a temporary illness (including being unable to appear due to the risk of contracting or spreading a communicable disease).

How to Submit An Absentee Ballot
Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than August 23rd.
Bring it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than August 23rd by 9 pm.
Bring it to an early voting poll site in your county between August 13th and August 21st.
Bring it to a poll site in your county on August 23rd by 9 pm.