History of the Bedford Barrow Commerce Block Association
Nearly 30 years ago, a core of Villagers committed to their community decided to give something back. They founded the Bedford Barrow Commerce Block Association (BBC), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of both its neighbors and neighborhood. For 30 years, the BBC has done just that, raising funds through its annual Ye Olde Village Fair. All proceeds from the fair go directly back to the community, helping to green our streets and support programs that benefit a mix of individuals as diverse as the Village’s population. Over the years, these funds have totaled over $275,000.

One of the BBC’s favorite—and oldest (29 years)—recipients has been the Village Center for Care, specifically, its Birthday Fund, which ensures that every resident receives a gift for his or her birthday. Other beneficiaries have included The Caring Community (Meals on Wheels, Homebound Repair, Alzheimer Respite Program—both BBC Treasurer Bill Lavelle and President Kathy Donaldson are on the Board of Directors of the Caring Community), St. Luke’s Garden, St. Luke’s People with AIDS Saturday Night Suppers, Hudson Park Library, Greenwich House Music School (includes scholarships for neighborhood children), Greenwich House Pottery, St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen, West Village Chorale and the Christopher Street Patrol.

The BBC has also exerted a leadership role in the creation and support of other community organizations. It was a founding member of the Christopher Street Patrol, which consists of neighborhood volunteers and members of the Guardian Angels who, since 1991, have walked our streets, making both residents and visitors feel safer. The BBC has the most number of civilian patrollers in this program. (Kathy Donaldson is the Treasurer of this organization and has been a patrol leader from the beginning.)

The BBC is a founding member of the Greenwich Village Block Associations (GVBA), a coalition of block associations that work together on issues of importance to the general Greenwich Village community (see newsletter). (Kathy Donaldson is Treasurer.) In September 2000, the GVBA launched a Bishop’s Crook Lamppost Project. Marilyn Dorato (Waverly-Bank 11 Neighbors) and Kathy Donaldson coordinated funds to purchase lampposts throughout the Greenwich Village area. The BBC was awarded funds from Assemblymember Glick and six lampposts were installed. Monies for the remaining nine lampposts were raised by house tours organized by Kathy Donaldson. Neighbors opened their homes and The Grange Restaurant donated a cocktail party on its premises. The project took three years and only one lamppost needs to be installed (hopefully this summer.)

The BBC has also been a longtime supporter of the Federation to Preserve the Greenwich Village Waterfront and Great Port. Bob Oliver, past President of the BBC, was instrumental in founding this organization. (Kathy Donaldson is on the Board of the Federation.)

The BBC is also an active member of the Greenwich Village Community Task Force(GVCTF). This organization reviews zoning issues and works to maintain the balance between commercial and residential interests in our community, particularly along the waterfront.

A newer tradition is the June, BBC-sponsored neighborhood boat trip, now in its 4th year. (Kathy Donaldson has arranged for the rental of the boat and asked the other block associations to join.) The idea is for neighbors, especially seniors and folks who never come down to the waterfront, to get out and have some affordable fun.

The BBC has maintained an active greening of our neighborhood, and is very proud of our tree program. Since its beginning, it has planted over 100 trees, installed and maintained tree guards, pruned all trees periodically, sprayed and deep-root fed young trees. Every spring, volunteers clean and green our neighborhood. BBCers tend plants and trees throughout the summer.

Every December for the last 25 years, the BBC has hosted a Holiday Party, which has become a tradition at Greenwich House Music School. For many of these years Larry Selman, the “Mayor of Bedford Street,” has been our Santa. We give stockings to all children and free raffles to the adults. (Most everyone goes home happy, with gift in hand.) A puppet show delights both young and old and everyone sings holiday favorites off-key. All of this after we have enjoyed a buffet dinner (including Bill Lavelle’s delicious baked beans and BBCer Dora Nyffenegger’s famous home-baked cookies and cakes).

One of the BBC’s proudest achievements has been the establishment of a Supplemental Needs Trust Fund for Larry Selman. Larry is a community activist with developmental disabilities who every year raises thousands for charity. He has lived in the neighborhood for some thirty years, giving tirelessly of himself to many worthy causes, especially the BBC. The Supplemental Needs Trust Fund—the first to be established with the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) by an organization on behalf of an individual—is enabling Larry to stay in his home and live his life with dignity. Block Association members pledged $25,000 so that Larry could begin to get services and they did it in pledges in only two years!

The BBC was also instrumental in giving seed money to neighbor Alice Elliott for the filming of I’M  A COLLECTOR—a short documentary about Larry Selman. This film will be used for educational purposes by agencies, advocates, attorneys, parents and people with mental retardation. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003. The BBC celebrated by having their own Academy Award party with 100 neighbors and friends watching the event on a big screen in the Cherry Lane Theatre. That evening, we raised $2,000 for Larry’s trust fund.

BBC members receive 9 issues of the BBC Newsletter (from October through June), which informs BBCers who’s who and what’s what in the neighborhood. And what the City is planning for us next. Special issues include the BBC Guide to Holiday Happenings and the annual BBC Home Improvement Referral List (made available only to BBC members).

The BBC also hosts monthly meetings at the Greenwich House Music School. Speakers prominent in a variety of fields are featured at each meeting. Some recent notables included couturier Gabrielle Carlson, of Commerce Street; Beth Silberg, founder of  Stray from the Heart, the animal rescue organization; Tracy Johnson, manager of  The Cherry Lane Theatre;

BBCer Jeanine Johnson Flaherty and Susan Sipos, Market Garden Horticulturist, of The Jefferson Market Garden; and Lester Bates, the new Director of The Caring Community. Local electeds, such as Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, have also been featured. A half-hour before each meeting, neighbors gather for coffee and chat.

The BBC also sponsors the Historical Plaque Program, in which the BBC pays half (approximately $275) of the cost of acquisition and installation of plaques. One honoring longtime BBCer, and Academy Award-winning actress, Kim Hunter, has been installed on the wall of the Cherry Lane Theatre building, Kim’s home for over fifty years. And another honoring another longtime BBCer and friend and neighbor, Marge Connor, has been installed on the BBC Bulletin Board, at the corner of Barrow and Bedford Streets.

The BBC will celebrate its 31st street fair in 2005. The BBC and its members have been honored to be the 2001 recipient of the Village Center for Care’s Special Award for Distinguished Service, and the 2002 recipient of the Spirit of Greenwich House Award. When asked about our longevity, we respond by saying that our guiding principle has been (as past BBC President Bob Oliver long ago said) “giving to others is really giving to ourselves.”