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BSR11242016

4 NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 1, 2016 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP Day of unity and solidarity hosted in Sunset BY JAIME DEJESUS [email protected] Sunset Park residents stand united. In response to concerns many members of the neighborhood have expressed over President-elect Donald Trump, Councilmember Carlos Menchaca hosted a march called a “Day of Unity and Solidarity.” The peaceful march, held on Sunday, November 20, that started on 44th Street and Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park and ended at 60th Street and Fifth, was highly attended as members from the community voiced concerns over how minorities have been treated since election night, as well as a message to stick together. Signs such as “Build love, not a wall,” were held by children. “I believe that love is love,” said Menchaca before the march. “I believe in our immigrant community. I believe in the solidarity that I see in the faces of all of you today. And I believe that no matter what is to come, if we’re united like we are today in this cold, freezing moment, that it is our hearts that are going to be filled with hope and courage that are going to get us through the darkest times in front of us and that will melt anything that’s in front of us today.” The day included a meet-and-greet with Menchaca, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and members of NYPD’s 72nd and 76th Precincts. Menchaca had invited Sunset residents to join him at a Manhattan rally the week before, but felt that holding something local would unify the neighborhood. “A lot of people told us they felt unsafe going to Manhattan so we said let’s do something here,” he told this paper before the march. “So we’re going to give an opportunity for people to express themselves and there’s a lot of voice and expression that is ready to happen here and we want to give that space.” Following the march, OLPH, 526 59th Street, played host to an afternoon of fun and games for kids. “We also want to create a space indoors for people to play soccer and a festival for the community,” Menchaca said. “One of the things we value so much in this neighborhood is family,” he went on, stressing that the goal had been to create “a family-friendly event for them to be together from all parts of the community.” The event was also intended as a response to the bullying taking place in some schools. “I’m seeing bullying coming from schools that are not reporting it to their own administrators,” BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Arthur de Gaeta Scenes from the Sunset Park Day of Unity and Solidarity. Menchaca said. “They’re talking about cafeteria workers, teachers bringing very distinct messages about deportation of kids, that are removing the feeling of safety in our classrooms. That is unacceptable and we shot out an email to the Department of Education demanding a response.” Bay Ridge boutique opens plus-size outpost BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK [email protected] Bay Ridge’s premiere plus-size boutique is open for business. Towne Plus — the second coming of local clothing store Towne — has opened up at 8313 Third Avenue, just three storefronts down from its predecessor. The sister shop — which specializes in unique and affordable plus-size clothing — was the brainchild of Towne’s own patrons. “I had customers coming and saying ‘I love this store but nothing fits me,’” said owner and longtime Bay Ridge business-owner Sallyann Russo, who first opened the business’ flagship store in Huntington, Long Island in 2012 and, shortly after, settled into a second shop at 8319 Third Avenue. “These women were constantly telling me that they had nowhere to shop that’s on trend. They wanted unique, high fashion at an affordable price, but could only walk out of our stores with accessories and pocketbooks.” And so, Towne Plus was born. “Just like Towne, the store is all private-label, which means that you’re not going to see these things anywhere else. It’s ours and ours alone,” Russo explained. “And the pricepoint is modeled after the other two stores in that everything is under $100, maybe even 75 percent of it is under $50.” “It’s guilt-free shopping,” she went on. “The theme of all of the stores is that we want it to look expensive but not be expensive, so you’re not spending your mortgage or your car payment on your closet.” According to Russo, Towne Plus is the first of its kind for the neighborhood. “I’ve been a Third Avenue merchant for over 25 years and I don’t recall ever seeing a plus-size store on Third Avenue, or even in the BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Maria Devito Bay Ridge boutique Towne has opened up a plus-size sister shop. neighborhood,” said Russo, who, before her time with Towne, owned the long-shuttered Bay Ridge clothing store Threads for 17 years. The feedback, she said, has been incredible. “I can’t even begin to tell you how excited people are. They’re pinching themselves,” Russo said. “All the customers are so gracious. It’s been so overwhelming.” Both Third Avenue locations are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.townenyc.com.


BSR11242016
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