Volunteers Needed for Four May Events

We have a couple of immediate needs for volunteers, starting with giving 30-second testimony at this Wednesday's Community Board 4 meeting at 6:30 PM in support of the West 55th Street July 4th picnic. Please take a look below and send an email to the Block Association at west55ba[AT]gmail[DOT]com to say whether you can help with any or all of the items below.

1. Wednesday, May 4 at 6:30 PM. The West 55th Street Block Association is asking Community Board 4 to support us in a street closing permit so that we can have a pre-fireworks picnic on West 55th Street on the Fourth of July. We need people to show up at CB4 meeting, register to speak and in 30-60 seconds say why they want W55th street closed on July 4. I'll send out the place where CB4 is meeting as soon as I learn it.

If you come early to the meeting, you'll get a high spot on list of folks to speak and can say your piece and leave right after. You do NOT have to stay for the whole meeting.

We already have an okay from CB4's quality of life committee and the Midtown North Precinct. Now we need to go before the full board and ask for their support. We have been told that since this is a new event, there may be some skepticism and we should show up in force to show that the community really wants this.

The picnic will be BYO food and blankets and the first Block Party we've had in many years. We'll organize some silly races like a relay race to fill a glass of water using just a teaspoon. We'll need volunteers to handle setup and cleanup and other stuff but right now we need people to testify on Wednesday evening that they want this to happen.

2. May 8, starting at 10 AM. We're fixing borders and preparing tree beds for the May 22 planting

3. May 15, Tag Sale. The permit came through for us to have a Tag Sale on May 15 and May 16. We need volunteers to help make signs, organize buildings, collect items to sell, etc. Reminder: this is the weekend of the Ninth Avenue Food Festival so there will be lots of foot traffic on West 55.

4. May 22, Flower Planting. We need volunteers to help plant flowers in our 37 tree beds. We had a blast last year when we did it. It's a lot of fun.

Please email west55ba[AT]gmail[DOT]come to let us know which activity you can help with.