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West 9th Street BA Newsletter — July, 2007
West 9th Street Block Association Newsletter — September, 2006
West 9th Street Block Association Newsletter —
February, 2005
In PDF format — Free Adobe Acrobat Reader necessary
Wonderful West 9th Street —
by Janet Marshall
The West 9th Street Block Association was founded by Geraldine Mindell (also founder of the Jefferson Market Garden) and Hilda Hollyer ( a founding member of the Village Home Owners Association and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation GVSHP). They were the group’s first co-chairmen and were followed in this position by Martin Hutner.
Our first meeting was held on June 17, 1971 at the Jeffeson Market Library. The initial committees were”Beautification, Noise & Air Pollution, Traffic, Sanitation, Communication (membership and PR) and Legal. Membership dues were $3.00 and $5.00. Our first accoplishements were installing wickets around tree beds and replacement of street lamps (not wanting to wait for the city to do it.)
 We held two house tours with 14 apartments open for view in 1973 and 1974. The block won Beautificaion Awards around the time GreenwichVillage was designated a Historic Distric. Our members attended monthly meetings of Community Board 2 as well. There was and still is a Holiday Decorating and Wreath Hanging Day in December, a Spring Planting Day, and our popular Summer Outdoor Street Sale including the “Pooch Parade” (with prizes). Another donation sale raised money for “Stop Westway” legal fees in 1978. A West 9th Street Walking Tour brochure came out in 1979. Membership meetings (now bi-monthly) take place in various apartments, and once a year, there is an open meeting with a speaker, and a bi-annual election of officers.
West 9th Street Cooks, our recipe book came out in 1993. The tour bus demonstrations (to prevent West 9th Street from serving as a thruway for private bus tours) under President Lyn Cannastra took place in May 1994. With the help of the Department of Transporatation the tour buses were halted by October 1994 (up to 65 buses an hour had been counted).
The BA prints greeting cards of the block as well as t-shirts, coffee mugs, caps, tote bags, and umbrellas –– these items are available for sale. Block parties are provided once a year, free to members, by Nat Simon’s Penguin (The Second Most Charming Restaurant in the World”), Marylou’s, Bondini’s and the Village Restaurant. In June 1998, West 9th Street won a Village Award for “creating a street of neighborhood civility in Greenwich Village from the GVSHP
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Over the years, Chairman was changed to President (volunteers, fourteen so far). Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Currently, Richard Korchak is President. Our newsletter is published and distributed bi-monthly, edited by Allan Ishac and appreciated by all. Membership stands at 225. We have an Archive Book with a documented history of the West 9th Street Association and photographs. There are commemorative plaques to former members and friends of the block on many of the wickets surrounding the tree beds. The trees are identified by names as well.
The monies raised go mainly into replacement of wickets, trees and plant beautification of all tree beds and planters. Presently, we are working to replace the street lighting with bishop crook lamps. Along with all this the security funds for block security is a separate fund and many buildings and residents contribute to it. If you live on West 9th Street, join us as a member.
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