Check out this week's top news stories for the Upper West Side!
Titanic Love Story to Be Honored at Straus Park
Long before director James Cameron put the fictional Jack and Rose on the Titanic, two Upper West Siders lived and died a true tale of love and sacrifice aboard the doomed ship. Their moving story will be celebrated on Sun. April 15, when Landmark West! and the Friends of Straus Park mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic at Straus Park. Preservation group Landmark West! will host a 2 p.m. tour and history talk, and at 3:30 p.m. the Friends of Straus Park will hold a candle light vigil and tree-planting ceremony where music from the Titanic will be played. Read More
Lifeguards in Training May Crowd Out Locals at Reopened 59th Street Pool
Upper West Siders fear their dreams of finally swimming at a state-of-the-art public pool are about to belly flop. The city will soon unveil a $15 million renovation to the neighborhood's only public pool at the long-closed 59th Street Recreation Center. But neighborhood officials, who fought a 15 year battle to build the new pool, believe the rec center will be clogged with hundreds of trainees from the city's lifeguard training program, which will be headquartered at the refurbished facility. Read More
LaGuardia High School Mourns 'Legendary' Slain Teacher Karyn Kay
Grief counselors will be stationed at LaGuardia High School beginning next week to help stunned students cope with the loss of beloved teacher Karyn Kay, who was allegedly beaten to death by her son, the school's parent association announced. Kay, 63, an English teacher and guidance counselor, was allegedly murdered by son Henry Wachtel, 19, Tuesday morning inside their West 55th Street apartment, police said. Wachtel was arraigned on second degree murder charges Wednesday afternoon. Read More
New York’s Upper West Side Gets First Realty Café
You’d never suspect that Blu Cafe is also a realty office if it were not for the apartment listings posted on its windows. The first things customers take in when they enter is the brightly sunlit modern décor and the cake trays displaying assorted cupcakes. People come to grab a drink, work on their computers, and seek real estate information. Blu Realty Group and Tavalon paired up to create a new business model, a cafe and realty office hybrid. It is currently the only one of its kind in New York. The goal is to help customers feel relaxed and enjoy the experience of looking for a place to live. Read More
New Members Bring Youth and Experience to Community Board 7
An auxiliary cop, an architect, a lawyer, and a staffer for a state politician are bringing fresh faces and young blood to Community Board 7. The four new members, appointed recently by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, are all in their 20s and 30s, while most of Community Board 7's current members are in their 50s or older. The new members bring a range of experience and backgrounds to the community board, a volunteer panel that makes recommendations about neighborhood issues like restaurant liquor licenses and sidewalk cafe permits. Read More