Office of Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez 

 Upcoming Events and Opportunities!

Home Grown Holiday Market: One-stop holiday market experience featuring local vendors and artisans' homemade holiday gifts and treats for all ages and price ranges. Saturdays, December 14^th & 21^st, 2pm-8pm. At Bread & Yoga's new home, 5000 Broadway (enter on W. 212^th St.)

Holiday Concert at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, featuring Renaissance and Baroque works by the Mansion's ensemble-in-residence, Brooklyn Baroque. Free with admission to the Mansion. Saturday, December 14^th, 4pm-6pm; Jumel Terrace at 162^nd Street. Call 212-923-8008 to reserve a seat.

The Concerts in the Heights series provides extraordinarily good chamber music in our neighborhood for very little money -- just about the best deal in town. Their next concert is Sunday December 15^th at 3pm at the Nagle Avenue Y (54 Nagle Avenue), $12/7. The program features Monica Bauchwitz, Karl Kramer and Dena Levine on violin, horm and piano, playing the music of Dvorak, Berge and Brahams.

***MID-DECEMBER*** (7 items)

(Recommended Reading: Oct. 28^th article in GothamSchools.org describing the NYC Department of Education's recent special education reforms.) Monday, December 16^th, 5:30pm - 8pm. Cosponsored by the Community league of the heights, the AME Zion Church on the Hill and Total Equity Now. 2005 Amsterdam Avenue (between W. 159^th& 160^th St.), 2^nd floor Community Room. For information email Jrodgers@totalequitynowharlem.org

33^rd Precinct Community Council: meeting and holiday party at the Morris-Jumel Mansion. Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 6pm. For more information call 212-927-3891.

34^th Precinct Community Council: On behalf of Inspector Barry Buzzetti, we would like to remind you that the next 34th Precinct Community Council meeting will be on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 7pm at the 34^th Precinct located at 4295 Broadway, @ W. 183^rd Street. As in previous December meetings, there will be no public session. However, this is an opportunity for you to meet the Commanding Officer and hear his report on recent events. Inspector Buzzetti will make himself available after the meeting for those persons who wish to speak to him confidentially. In addition, you don't have to wait for a meeting to have your concerns heard; you are encouraged to contact Inspector Buzzetti directly (212-927-9445 /34precinctco@gmail.com). For more information, contact the 34^th Precinct's Community Affairs office at 212-927-0576.

The Washington Heights Film Class is proud to show excellent films by local artists and provide the opportunity for you to meet the filmmaker in a Q&A following the show. In December, see Across Three Wildernesses, Mary Ellen Will's documentary about a Cambodian poet who survived the Khmer Rouge killings. Shot in Cambodia, Washington Heights and the Bronx. Saturday, December 21^st, 7:30 p.m. In the Social Hall at the Hebrew Tabernacle, 551 Ft. Washington Ave., @ W. 185^th St. Open to the public; admission is $15 (free if you join the Film Class). For more information email wahifilmclass@gmail.com or visit www.wahifilmclass.com.

Bloomingdale Walking Tour: Meet at Straus Park on 106th and Broadway on Sunday, December 22^nd at 1pm for a free neighborhood walking tour led by Jim Mackin. Please call 212-666-9774 to RSVP and receive additional information.

"It's a Wonderful Life" Special screening at the United Palace Theatre (4140 Broadway @ W. 17^th St.) with introduction by Mary Owen (Donna Reed's daughter), holiday carols & sing-along, and more! Guests who bring an unwrapped toy for the annual Threee Kings Day celebration in January can purchase discount tickets: $5 online, or $10 at the door. Sunday, December 22^nd. Doors open at 5:00pm (box office opens at 4pm); program begins at 5:30pm; film begins at 6pm. For more information visit: http://www.unitedpalace.org/index.php/events/376-it-s-a-wonderful-life-with-intro-by-mary-owen.

Blood Drive at the New York Presbyterian Hospital's Milstein Building (Ft. Washington Ave. btw W. 165^th & W. 168^th Streets). Tuesday, December 10^th,  9am - 6pm. To schedule an appointment call 800-933-2566, or just show up. Please bring identification with photo or signature. If you are unable to attend this blood drive, you can call that same "800" number for information on other blood drives throughout the NYC metro area which may be convenient for you.

Help the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights (NMCIR) raise $40k in 40 days on IndieGoGo: Dear friends, colleagues & supporters, the $40,000 will enable 140 eligible immigrants to become U.S. citizens: people who for many reasons can't go through this complex and intimidating process on their own. In exchange, we are offering amazing perks, from a group hug to a delicious dinner of succulent pernil with rice and hearty black beans for eight! To contribute or to learn more about the campaign, go to http://igg.me/at/NMCIR/x/5316090. "NMCIR needs our support. There are so many individuals who have no one to help them, no one to guide them through this incredibly difficult process," said author and NMCIR supporter Junot D�az. "I think the work they do is absolutely essential."

The People's Theatre Project is looking to "Storm the Palace!" We officially launched our IndieGoGo campaign at our Kickoff party this past Sunday. By the end of the day we had already raised more than 25% of our $50,000 goal! THANK YOU to the 100+ people who came to wish us a Happy Birthday and made a contribution!! We are right where we need to be to reach our goal, and we need full participation from our community to do it. No contribution is too small or too big and every dollar will support the free arts programming that hundreds of people look forward to each week. Together, We'll Storm the Palace!! To contribute, go to http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-s-storm-the-palace.

NYPD Coat & Food Drive: The 34^th Precinct is a designated site for the 25^th Annual New York Care's Coat Drive, running through February 7th 2014. Anyone can drop off coats at the Precinct any time during the day. (Anyone is in need of a coat can call the Coat Drive Hotline: 646-801-4022.)  The 34^th Precinct also is a designated site for this year's City Harvest Food Drive, running through January 10th, 2014. Anyone can drop off food items at the 34th Precinct any time during the day; the most helpful items are canned fruit, canned vegetables, peanut butter (plastic jars), packaged mac-and-cheese, packaged hot or cold cereals. The 34^th Precinct is located at 4295 Broadway near W. 184^th St. If you have any questions, please call the 34^thPrecinct Community Affairs office at 212-927-0576 or 212-927-0287.

***TRAINING, EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT ***

Youth Empowered to Succeed ("YES") Program: This is an exciting educational and career-building opportunity with the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (located at 76 Wadsworth Ave., btw. W. 176^th & W. 177^th Streets, 2^nd floor). Applications now being accepted, for program beginning December 1^st. YES is a Workforce Investment Act / Out of School Youth program. Services provided include but are not limited to: GED Instruction (classroom and 1:1); construction training; cover letter, resume writing, and interviewing workshops; career & academic counseling; college application & FAFSA assistance. To be eligible applicants must be: aged 17-21; not attending any school or GED program; NYC resident; a member of low income qualifying family. Application appointments are available daily; call: Scott McDonald or Dwight Williams at 212-453-5399; Edwin Rosado at 212-453-5381; or TDD/TTY 1-800-662-1220.

SAVE THE DATE: Hearing on DoE's Capital Budget: The District 6 Community Education Council invites you to a public hearing on the Department of Education's Capital Budget Plan Amendment. Principals, teachers and parents will provide updated information on school overcrowding; the lack of science, art music and physical education rooms; and the need for repair/replacement/upgrade of electrical wiring, HVAC, plumbing, and school yards/playgrounds. Monday, January 6th; time/venue TBA. Come and mobilize our community for adequate school funding!

***NEWS, INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES & ONGOING EVENTS***

Uptown Games: Sen. Espaillat, in partnership with Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Assembly Member Gabriela Rosa, the Armory Track & Field Center and the New York Road Runners, is pleased to announce the date for this season's UPTOWN GAMES, a day of FREE fun and fitness at the Armory for elementary- and middle-school aged children. ***SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 29, 2014*** If you can't wait 'til then, there are many meets and events upcoming at the Armory; including. 

• 12/18  - Armory Middle School Invitational
• 12/22 - Armory Youth Holiday Classic
• 1/06 - Armory Middle School Championships
• 12/17 - Armory Youth Classic
• 3/09 - Armory Youth Championships

 For more information about the Armory's programs, visit http://www.armorytrack.com/Calendar/Armory, email tfulton@armorytrack.com, or call 212-923-1803.

Learn more about your City! Since 1956, the Municipal Arts Society has been offering walking tours of New York's cityscape, led by architectural, urban and art historians, preservationists, urban geographers, architects, teachers and writers. There's a wide range of tours, in all 5 boroughs. From the Grand Concourse to Dyker Heights to Uptown's own Trinity Church Cemetery (on December 22^nd @ 1pm), there's something for everyone. Tours sell out quickly; alas they are not free. ($20; $15 for MAS members.) Most tours last approximately two hours unless otherwise noted, and proceed rain or shine. For more information, email info@mas.org or visit their website: www.mas.org and click on "tours".

Bothered by RoboCalls? New Federal Communications Commission rules that just went into effect will put you in better control over who can call you, on both your landline and your wireless device. To help them enforce these new rules, the FCC wants to know more about what you are currently experiencing.  Among your new rights:

*         A telemarketer will have to get your written consent to receive a call or message. You can give your OK for them to call through paper or electronic means - web forms, a telephone keypress, or email.

*         Robocalls to your home landline are no longer allowed based solely on an 'established business relationship' with you. Simply buying a product, or contacting a business with a question, no longer gives them permission to call you.

*         Telemarketers who call will now have to let you immediately opt out of receiving additional calls through an automated menu.

The Consumers Union is collecting information to share with the FCC about people's experiences with robocalls in an effort to hold telemarketers accountable: https://stori.es/share/annoyed-by-robocalls

Arts Stroll Poster Contest Deadline **EXTENDED**: Show us what will make the 11^th Stroll a special one. NEW deadline: Friday, January 10^th @ 5pm. For more information go to: http://www.nomaanyc.org/2013/11/call-for-submissions-2014-uptown-arts-stroll-poster-contest/.