Critical Environmental Area

Two bills have been introduced in the New York State Legislature for a vote – calling for community gardens to be designated as Critical Environmental Areas
Both bills have the same wording and purpose which read in part as follows: 

Requires the community gardens task force [of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets] to conduct an assessment of all community gardens located on publicly owned land in the state to facilitate each garden’s designation as a critical environmental area. 

A Critical Environmental Area (CEA) is a geographic area with exceptional or unique character with respect to one or more of the following: 

  • a benefit or threat to human health
  • natural setting such as fish and wildlife habitat, forest and vegetation, open space, and areas of important aesthetic or scenic quality; 
  • agricultural, social, cultural, historic, archeological, recreational, or educational values; or 
  • an inherent ecological, geological, or hydrological sensitivity that may be adversely affected by any change. 

On Monday,  the State Senate passed CEA Bill S629A.

Now Assembly Bill A4139A is before the members of the State Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee.

Assembly Bill A4139A calls for a regulatory Process by which community gardens can be officially designated as CEAs.

When passed this will raise the “environmental impact review process” bar in order to help preserve & protect community gardens as CEAs. 

Both bills have the same wording and purpose which read in part as follows: 

Requires the community gardens task force [of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets] to conduct an assessment of all community gardens located on publicly owned land in the state to facilitate each garden’s designation as a critical environmental area. 

The State Senate bill was sponsored by State Senator Leroy Comrie. He represents the 14th Senatorial District of Queens 

The State Assembly bill (A4139A) is sponsored by State Assemblymember Donna A. Lupardo and co-sponsored by State Assemblymember Steven B. Raga

Assemblymember Lupardo is the Chair of the Agriculture Committee She represents the 123rd Assembly District, which includes  Binghamton,  Vestal, and Union, the villages of Johnson City,  and Endicott 

LupardoD@nyassembly.gov

Assemblymember Raga represents the 30th Assembly District of Woodside, Elmhurst, Maspeth, Jackson Heights, Astoria, and Middle Village. 

ragas@nyassembly.gov

The Assembly bill A4139A is currently in the committee review phase before the very powerful Assembly Ways and Means CommitteeThis is the link where you can see information regarding the status of the Assembly bill: 

Please visit by email, phone or in person, the members of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, including the Committee Chair, Helene E. Weinstein, in order to communicate yoursupport for the Critical Environmental Areas Designation of community gardens along  

Albany Office: Legislative Office Building, Room 612, Albany, NY 12247, 

PROTECT COMMUNITY GARDENS 

Contact members of the Ways and Means Committee and tell them why you support this effort to protect the gardens and why the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee should vote in favor of the bill. The members of the Ways and Means Committee can be found HERE
 
 

SPRING AWAKENING 2023

SPRING AWAKENING kicks off with our parade led by BATALA, through the Streets beginning at 11am at El Sol Brillante, 522 E. 12th St between Aves A & B, walking east to Avenue C, south on Avenue C to E. 7th St, west on 7th to Tompkins Square Park, meandering through the Park and ending at Avenue B and 9th St.

Avenue B & 8TH ST

1 PM FREE Pony rides, WITH CHARLIE AND NUGGET

PLEASE sign the pony ride waiver to saddle up

Toy Makers workshop

BRING Your old and broken toys and make them into new.
Sonny & Sara reinvent timeless characters and cherished heroes into new, one-of-a-kind friends and legends. You are invited to get creative and build your own creations out of up-cycled toys!

2pm Hawk Nest Tour with NYC Park Rangers Rob and Grant, meet at 8th St & Ave B

In the GARDENS

DeColores, 313 E.8th St btwn Aves B & C

2pm Poetry 

with Eileen DOSTER and friends 

Music

3pm Victor & Carmine and friends

4pm “FAITH” with Felice Rosser

5pm Kid Java

6B  GARDEN, the corner of Avenue B & 6th St

1 pm Let’s make Art!!

Outside on garden fence Art around the Garden, we provide canvas 

La Plaza Cultural, the corner of Avenue C & 9th St

12-3pm Earth Celebrations Climate Solutions Mural Workshop

Crafts from Campos Garden

GreenThumb bringing us the Goods

Loisaida Center Ecolibrium Project

1 pm Wendy Brawer’s Green Infrastructure Tour

1pm time’s up Bike repair class

2pm time’s up garden tour bike ride

4pm time’s up free sailing school
PLUS in Conjunction with

the Earth Month convergence!!

11th Street Community Garden, 422 E.11th St, Between First Ave & Ave A

3-7pm MUSIC

Gina Healy & James Tilson

Coby Petric

LUNGS HOLIDAY PARTY

FUN, FOOD, MUSIC, DRINKS, POTLUCK, PLEASE JOIN US AND CELEBRATE THE SEASON!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2022 from 6:30 pm – 10 pm
428 E 10th St, (between Ave C & D)
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!

LUNGS SUMMER THEATER FESTIVAL UPDATED SCHEDULE 2022

Saturdays, June 4 & 11, 2022  2-7pm

6B Garden, Ave B & 6th St, NYC

12pm
SHOW UP, KIDS!
Written by Peter Michael Marino & The Kids
Directed By Michole Biancosino & The Kids
This fresh twist on the traditional kids’ show blasts off into unknown comedy zones when Pete enlists the Audience to help write, design, and Direct it. What could possibly go wrong?

June 11: Performance in Spangish by Denisse Estefany Mendoza

1pm
TALES WITH STRINGS,
Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre
Czech and Slovak Tales with antique marionettes, performed by Master Puppeteer, Vit Horejs

2pm & 5pm
COFFEE WITH MY TATA
Written and directed by RIKI COLON
Performed by Saarah Medrano (as Tata)  and Joseph Johnson Afthonidis (as Ricardo.)
This is the story of Tata, a shy mother of six, living in Spanish Harlem. She had a secret festering in her soul that she was ready to share with Ricardo, her grandson who had an energetic seeking spirit.

3pm & 6pm
THE GORGON APPROACHES
Written and directed by JUSTIN ELIZABETH SAYRE
Performed by Peter Donnelly and Judy Darling
A comedic dialogue about growing up, growing wise, and perhaps growing kind.

4pm
BY YOUR SIDE
Written and Directed by CHARLY WENZEL
Performers: Kevin Hobaichan, Fernando Rockenbach, Nancy Yao, Nya Yeanafehn
An elderly Chinese woman on the Lower East Side of New York City is immersed in an imaginary birthday party for her late husband. She is yanked back into reality by the frantic knock on her apartment door.
7pm
POST TENEBRAS SPERO LUCEM (After the darkness I hope for the light) Written and directed by ROMAN PRIMITIVO ALBEAR
Performers: Computer – MacBookPro
Mistress – Charly Wenzel
Servant – Andrew Chapman


A mixed media play featuring a dystopian New York with AI as the oligarchy state controlling everything and a tribe of survivors trying to get off the planet.

Sundays, June 5 & 12,  2-7pm
Green Oasis Garden, 370 E.8th St, btw Ave C & D, NYC

2pm & 5pm
SHOW UP, KIDS!
Written by Peter Michael Marino & The Kids
Directed By Michole Biancosino & The Kids
This fresh twist on the traditional kids’ show blasts off into unknown comedy zones when Pete enlists the Audience to help write, design, and Direct it. What could possibly go wrong?

June 5: Performance in English by Peter Michael Marino.

June 12: Performance in Spangish by Denisse Estefany Mendoza

3pm & 6pm
TALES WITH STRINGS,
Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre
Czech and Slovak Tales with antique marionettes, performed by Master Puppeteer, Vit Horejs

4pm & 7pm
INKTOMI
by Charles Krezell, Directed by Susan McKeown
Performed by Stephen Carlsen, Ryan Opalaniete Pierce and Shabbi Sharifi
Inktomi is the trickster spirit of the Lakota people with the ability to change shape or gender at will. He is a mischief maker who delights in leading others astray and he’s coming. for you.

LUNGS SUMMER THEATER FESTIVAL 2022

We are having a Fundraiser for the LUNGS Summer Theater Festival 2022 April 18, 2022.
 
This is A FREE Arts Event. In 1956, Joe Papp began the outdoor theater tradition on the Lower East Side when he introduced “Shakespeare in the Park” in East River Park Amphitheater. From the 1950’s to the present, the Park was the site of frequent free Evening-in-the-Park concerts and plays.
One of the last performances was in 2021, Jody Oberfelder Projects immersive dance and music event called “Amphitheater”.
 
In June 2022, LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) will continue to honor the tradition with the FREE LUNGS Summer Theater Festival, at East Village community gardens.
The theme of the 2022 Festival will be Mother Earth/Nature. Everyone is welcome! We are hoping audiences to enjoy a great experience Free Theater in our community gardens!
 
The LUNGS SUMMER Theater Festival will present 6 thirty-minute plays performed in two community gardens.
Three plays will be performed on Saturdays, June 4 & 11 at 6B Garden, corner of Ave B & 6th St. And three other plays will be presented on Sundays, June 5 & 12 at Green Oasis Garden, 370 E.8th St.
 
Each set of three plays will be performed twice on Saturday, June 4 and another set of three plays will be performed twice on Sunday, June 5. Each program will be repeated the following weekend, Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12.
 
Festival Schedule:
SATURDAY Programs: in 6B Garden, Ave B & 6th St begins at 2pm with a play presented every hour on the hour, with the final performance at 7pm Saturday June 4 2-4pm and again Saturday, June 11.
SUNDAY Programs: in Green Oasis Garden, E.8th St, btw Ave C & D begins at 2pm with a play presented every hour on the hour, with the final performance at 7pm and again Sunday June 12.
 
This inaugural LUNGS SUMMER Theater Festival is curated by Penny Arcade, Erez Ziv, Riki Colon, Roman Primitivo Albear, Bonnie Sue Stein and Charles Krezell.
 
Please join us and support free theater in the community gardens.  Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens Inc is a registered non-profit 501 (c) (3) so your contribution is tax deductible and will have an impact. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your support.

LUNGS FEST schedule Sunday 10/3/2021

Sunday 10/3

14th Annual Art and Music Festival at the ~ Sam & Sadie Koenig Garden

3:30pm ~ Music starts at 4pm

ART , Andre Lucien ~ painting, Anne Edris ~ painting and sculpture, Kathy Creutzburg ~ sculpture, Alicja Sobieraj-Litwinski ~ drawings and paintings.

MUSIC with jazz stylist Carla Savoy & her trio with special guests, Dan Rosengard ~ Keys, Paul Shapiro ~ Tenor and Flute, Tony Lewis ~ Drums

Guest singers ~ Matthew Sarles & Michael Austin, celebrating the lyrics and music of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and Anthony Newley

Green Oasis, 8th St (Aves C & D)

5 pm Theater with Bina Shariff’s ,“Life is a One Act Play “

Children’s Magical Garden, St

Free JAZZ Presented by Arts for Art, Arts for Art is dedicated to the exceptional creativity that originated in the African American multi-arts jazz culture that utilizes improvisation to express a larger, more positive dream of inclusion and freedom.

1:30 Ishito/Carter/Nebula , Ayumi Ishito – tenor saxophone/fx / Nebula – theremin /Daniel Carter – reeds, flute, trp

2:30     Patrick Holmes Trio, Patrick Holmes – clarinet / Jesse Dulman – tuba / Ryan Sawyer – drums      

3:30     NoLand – Poet / Luke Stewart – bass 

4:00     Sound & Cry, Patricia Nicholson – text, dance / Jean Carla Rodea – vocals / William Parker – gimbre    

El Jardin de Paraiso, 4th St & 5th St (Aves C & D)

3pm Vít Hořejš’s Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, presents Czech and Slovak Tales with Strings

Beginning On the corner of 10th St and Ave B and ending at 6th St and Ave B

5pm- Procession with Batala and Earth Celebrations

Batalá New York is a part of a global arts project made up of over 30 bands around the world. The music of Batalá originates in Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil.

VOLUNTEER & SIGN-UP to wear a specular Climate Solution Costume:  https://earthcelebrations.com

6th&B Garden Ave B (6th St)

6pm Cubracabras

A seven-piece band of brothers, Chupacabras peppers Afro-Cuban beats with jazz, rock and a captivating stage presence, inspiring audiences to move, love and live like never before.


Schedule LUNGS X Saturday 10/2/2021

This Schedule is subject to change!

Orchard Alley Community Garden 350 E 4th (C&D)

9 am Yoga Classes – 45 minute hatha flow!By Alex Royals of YesYeahYoga! Bring your own mat!

CLINTON St Garden, Clinton and Stanton Sts.

2pm-5pm LUNGS Amazing Domino Tournament, Free and Open to All, Prizes and Fun

 

 

De Colores Community Yard & Cultural Center 8th St (Aves B & C)

3pm Vít Hořejš’s Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, presents Czech and Slovak Tales with Strings, accompanied by Shoko Nagai on accordion and Satoshi Takeishi percussion

Children’s Magical Garden, Stanton St & Norfolk St

Free JAZZ Presented by Arts for Art, Arts for Art is dedicated to the exceptional creativity that originated in the African American multi-arts jazz culture that utilizes improvisation to express a larger, more positive dream of inclusion and freedom.

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1:30     Behroozi /Cooper-Moore/Mela, Daro Behroozi  – reeds/ Cooper-Moore – diddley-bow,mouth-bow/ Francisco Mela – drums

2:30     Michael Wimberly Trio , Waldron Madhi Ricks – trumpet / Adam Lane – bass / Michael Wimberly – drums

3:30     Yuko Otomo – Poet

4:00     Steve Swell Kende Dreams, Steve Swell – trb / Rob Brown – alto / William Parker – bass / TA Thompson – drums

11St Community Garden, First Ave & Ave A

Noon to 6pm Gina Healy Band and friends

Green Oasis, 8th St (Aves C & D)

3pm Joan Reinmuth’s Satire workshop, 2nd PART PERFORMANCE

30 FULA FLUTE

Sylvain Leroux is, without a shadow of a doubt, a major musician. He is also an activist who is deeply committed to preserving the music of the people of the West African country of Guinea. In doing just so, Mr Leroux has also helped preserve and grow an important aspect of the Guinean music tradition as well as the little-known musical instrument of the Guinean “Fula” people – the tambin (or “fula” flute)

5pm- DASO – Afro-Caribbean Soul

DASO El AfroCaribeño calls his eclectic mix of styles “Afro-Caribbean Soul” fusing Salsa Tropical, Hip Hop and Reggae – which reference his early influences of Afro Caribbean Rhythms, like Bomba and Musica Jibara

6pm  Drag Show, Isaac Miss Isaac presents an hour of drag. In this set there will be live singing, live painting, and full on drag numbers! Exploring themes of harvest and feasting in connection to the garden, this show made of Broadway songs and pop music with performance art elements is sure to be one of a kind.

Campos Garden E.12th St C & D

7pm Afro-Cuban Jazz– Ray Santiago and friends