Book Talk and Signing in Murray Hill—John Freeman Gill’s 'The Gargoyle Hunters'

Writer John Freeman Gill gave a talk on Sunday, November 4th at The Society of Jewish Science. Mr. Gill, a native New Yorker is the author of The Gargoyle Hunters, and this was also the topic of his talk. The author credited the immigrant artisans who came mostly from the British Isles, Italy and Germany in the nineteenth century with creating the architectural sculptures on many New York City buildings, leaving their indelible, individual imprints. He talked about the fanatical real life gargoyle hunters, including the famed Ivan Karp, who rescued these artifacts from demolition. Bob Dawson performed on the piano during the book signing and reception. This event was co-sponsored by the Preservation & Design Committee of The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and The Society of Jewish Science / Center for Applied Judaism.

The 70th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was commemorated at Roosevelt House

On October 11th, Murray Hill Neighborhood Association members attended an event to commemorate Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in the creation of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the 70th anniversary of its adoption by the United Nations in 1948. There wasn’t one empty seat in the auditorium at Hunter College’s Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute as the audience also observed Eleanor’s birthday on the same day 134 years ago. On the parlor floor of Hunter’s Roosevelt House there is an exhibit with photos and text describing the process of drafting the UDHR and Eleanor’s leading role. The event included a panel discussion about the progress of human rights and a reception. This event was co-sponsored by the MHNA Preservation & Design Committee and The Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College.

Photo (detail) by Susan Demmet: (left to right) Harold Holzer, Andrew Gilmour and Babatunde Olugboji

The MHNA’s Annual Meeting covered issues, projects and programs

The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association annual meeting was held on October 4. This meeting provides us with the opportunity to hear guest speakers who update us on neighborhood issues. The meeting also enables us to tell our neighbors about the work of the Association, and allows us to hear from you, the people who live and work in Murray Hill. 

Guest speakers included Marilyn Noa, NYPD Neighborhood Coordination Officer for the 17th Precinct Sector A, David Frank, Chief Engineer for the Infrastructure Replacement Project on 2nd Avenue and surrounding areas and our new City Council Members Keith Powers (District 4) and Carlina Rivera (District 2). Community and volunteer awards were given to Terry Katz, Executive Director of the Society of Jewish Science/Center for Applied Judaism, Enid Klass, MHNA Honorary Trustee and Marisa Bulzone, past trustee. The committee chairs spoke also spoke about MHNA programs. Break-out sessions were a chance for you to speak with committee chairs.

Photo: Susan Demmet, co-chair of the Preservation & Design Committee speaks with neigbors and Police Officer Ryan on the right.  

Your responses to the survey help us prioritize our work!

During the summer, The Murray Hill Neighborhood circulated a survey to find out your most important issues in Murray Hill and also to hear how we are doing as your Association. 177 people responded. The issues that you consider the most important are traffic, noise, construction, loss of affordable housing and businesses and loss of our historic buildings. In addition your comments indicated that neighborhood cleanliness, the homeless and panhandlers, and the need for more trees and green spaces are also important.

We thank everyone who responded, as we use your responses to prioritize our work. 

MHNA welcomes Sarah Carroll new Chair of the LPC

Three New Cultural Medallions Honoring Distinguished Murray Hill Residents Are Unveiled

Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, Charles Dana Gibson, and Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn were honored in April in ceremonies unveiling cultural medallions placed on the façades of each of the brownstones where they once resided in Murray Hill. 

To commemorate other illustrious residents who once lived in Murray Hill, the P&D Committee is exploring several names to add to our list of cultural medallion honorees. These include the songwriter, Cole Porter, the architect Marcel Breuer, the playwright Tennessee Williams and the actress Helen Hayes. 

Funding for the research, fabrication of the medallions and the videotaping of the ceremonies comes from individual sponsors, honored building owners and private donations. If you would like to sponsor or contribute to the Medallion Program, please visit our website at www.murrayhillnyc.org and click Donate. Email Susan Demmet at sldemmet@gmail.com when you donate so your contribution can be properly acknowledged, or if you know of a significant person who lived in Murray Hill whom you believe should be nominated for a Cultural Medallion.

We are grateful to the supporters of the Murray Hill Malls on Park Avenue!

For the last three years, Patrons of Park Avenue has been diligently working towards creating new, sustainable plantings on our malls that will not require as much water or maintenance and will also allow us to save money by purchasing fewer seasonal plants. 

We are in the midst of our ANNUAL FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN for 2018. Ask your building owner or your Board of Directors if they have contributed to the beautification of the Murray Hill Malls on Park Avenue this year. If they have not, please urge them to do so.

If you would like to join us as a Benefactor, a Patron, or a Gardener, please contact John Chadwick at jchadwick@rcn.com. It is a wonderful way to show your support for our beautiful historic community.

Shop Amazon and support The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association at the same time!

Shop amazon.com via this link, and support The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association!

Donald Lipski’s Spot installed in front of the new Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital

As a neighbor, I’m proud to have just installed a sculpture in front of NYU’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital [in the new Kimmel Pavilion, but with its own driveway and lobby], on 34th Street between 1st Avenue and the FDR Drive.

The sculpture, Spot, is a 2-1/2 story tall Dalmatian dog, balancing an actual taxi on her nose. Spot will be out there for everyone to see, but it was made primarily for children coming to the hospital. Art has healing power. That’s a fact! I like to think that the parents, the doctors and nurses and staff, my neighbors, will all love this sweet young dog doing the impossible.

Do you have a complaint?

Call 311 or post a complaint on the 311 website: www1.nyc.gov/311.