40 JULY 21 - JULY 27, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
New Utrecht library dances cheek to cheek
BY DANIELLE KOGAN
EDITORIAL@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Seniors kicked up their heels
for the grand finale of a senior
ballroom dancing program on
Thursday, June 29 at the New Utrecht
Library.
Leading the class on that cloudy
morning with dance partner Audrey
Martinez was Walter Perez, who emigrated
from Argentina over 15 years
ago. "I believe in dancing socially," he
said. "It's very important to connect,
link, dress up, have that motivation."
Perez, who taught the class for the
last nine weeks, said tango saved his
life because it helped him cope at the
age of 21 with his mother's death. Four
years after the creation of a non-profit
whose mission is passing on the art of
dance to seniors and children, Perez
currently organizes the Queer Tango
Festival in New York, challenging the
unbreakable gender roles solidified
in dance.
"I think it’s a wonderful opportunity
for people to get together and broaden
their horizons. Here, Asian-Americans
are exposed to Latin dancing and
that's not something you typically see,"
said Frank Fernandez, 61.
"It's my first time here," said Jimmy
Pelser, 70. "I like to dance, and I could
do the free styling. I don't feel intimidated,
and I definitely would come
back."
And that is the ideal for Sonia Valentin,
president of the Friends of the
New Utrecht Library, who wants to
see the library increasingly become
a community center.
With a $5,000 grant from City
Councilmember Vincent Gentile,
the library has so far been able to do
watercolor and macrame workshops
apart from the dance program. With
the money left over, the library has
stocked up on the supplies needed
for a mural coming soon. Looking
ahead, the branch, as a finalist in this
year's Library Awards, is slated to be
awarded at least $10,000, money that
will likely go toward programs that
diversify and address the interests of
the community.
"Programs like this, like our senior
dance program, need to be kept in
any capacity. It's such a diverse group
of people, and we want to bring in as
many people as possible as much as
possible," Valentin said.
Over 50 people ended up attending
the class in total, with the majority
staying through the warm ups and
The New Utrecht Library’s senior ballroom dancing program held its grand finale late last
month.
grabbing a partner when music
erupted from the speakers. Even
Valentin participated in the dancing,
eventually kicking off her shoes with
fellow members of the community to
dance across the carpet.
"It's fun. It's bringing a lot of people
who may not come on a regular basis
into the neighborhood. Libraries
can offer more activity than books
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Danielle Kogan
and reading, and this is something
different," said a man named Victor,
husband of Library Information Supervisor
Diane Barranca.
During a break, Perez and Martinez
did a solo tango performance for the
group and the day ended with an instrumental
performance by violinist
Liya Touvh and up-and-coming pianist
Ayako Hirasawa.
"Programs for the aging, I think,
help keep people motivated in a physical
and emotional way. It helps their
creativity," said Friends group Secretary
Treasurer Ruth Dallas. Dallas,
who has worked with the library for
three years, said the next steps could
include expanding the branch's reach
toward the Chinese community along
with a language or reading program.
60th Precinct honors school crossing guards
BY JONATHAN SPERLING
EDITORIAL@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
The 60th Precinct paid tribute
to 19 school crossing guards
as part of Community Board
13’s general board meeting on the
night of Wednesday, June 28.
The crossing guards, who were
honored for their years of service to
the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach,
Coney Island, Gravesend and SeaGate,
accepted Certificates of Service from
School Crossing Guard Coordinator
Police Officer Aida Acevedo in the
auditorium of Coney Island Hospital
(2601 Ocean Parkway).
The crossing guards honored are
as follows:
• Ivy Reid for 30 years of service
• Rita Krieger for 25 years of service
• Ann Prince for 20 years of service
• Elsa Fontaine for 20 years of
service
• Anna Weinberg for 15 years of
service
• Ruby Williams for 15 years of
service
• Robin Kane for 10 years of service
• Evelyn Cirino for 10 years of service
• Hilda Frias for 10 years of service
• Lorraine Castrofilipo for 10 years
of service
• Christine Semidei for 10 years of
service
• Diana Vivas for 10 years of service
• Serafina DiLorenzo for 10 years of
service
• Chantel Bradley for 10 years of
service
• Shavaughn Campbell-Avery for 5
years of service
• Jackie Marrugo for 5 years of
service
• Eliria Hernandez for 5 years of
service
• Edna Caro for 5 years of service
• Tawana Sano for 5 years of service.
Photo courtesy of the NYPD
Crossing guards at the 60th Precinct were honored for their years of service during the June
Community Board 13 meeting.