New greenmarket opens for business
at Astor Place Plaza in East Village
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
The Village Alliance announced that
a new greenmarket has opened in
the East Village to give city residents
more access to fresh fruits, vegetables and
other local goods.
The Astor Place Greenmarket, located at
Astor Place Plaza South (East 8th Street &
Lafayette Avenue), is open every Tuesday
through Nov. 24. The market will be open
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. those days. Opening
day was Aug. 11.
GrowNYC’s Greenmarkets work to
preserve local farmland, while ensuring
that New Yorkers across all fi ve boroughs
have access to fresh, healthy food grown
right here in our region. The market will
feature a selection of locally-grown vegetables
and orchard fruits, baked goods,
cider, jams, maple syrup and honey from
regional farmers.
Farmers who will be participating in the
Astor Place market include Kernan Farms
(Cumberland County, NJ) Remsburger
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREEN MARKET NYC
Honey & Maple (Dutchess County, NY)
and Wilklow Orchards (Ulster County,
NY).
The Astor Place greenmarket will be
enforcing social distancing guidelines for
customers, staff and producers.
Face coverings will be required and customers
must stay six feet apart from each
other and vendors, and limit your group to
one to two people. Keep your trip as quick
as possible, and do not bring you dogs or
bikes into the market. Do not pick up any
products or produce at the farm stands,
ask an employee to help you.
Cash, SNAP/EBT, P-EBT, Debit/
Credit, and Farmers Market Nutrition
Program checks are accepted at this
farmers market, with Health Bucks now
available year-round. For every $5 SNAP/
EBT/P-EBT users spend, they will get a
$2 bonus.
For more information and to see a full
list of the market’s COVID-19 guidelines,
visit the Astor Place webpage on grownyc.
org.
Village Democrats mourn the loss of Tom Connor
BY THE VILLAGER STAFF
One of the most active members
of two Village-based Democratic
clubs, Tom Connor, died on Aug.
6.
Tom Connor, 88, was a beloved member
of the Village Independent Democrats and
the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
He was also active on the civic scene for
many years as a member of the Greenwich
House, Center on the Square and Manhattan
Community Board 2.
According to the Village Independent
Democrats, Connor focused most of his
passion on improving the lives of the
disabled and seniors. An openly gay
man, Connor also championed LGBTQ
causes at a time when few others did,
according to Jim Owles club president
Allen Roskoff.
“Part of Tom’s legacy is that he was
openly gay at an early age when few people
were. And he stood up for his and the community’s
rights always,” Roskoff said. “He
was a solid progressive and he deserved
to be called one. I am certain that our
members will miss Tom.”
Laura Marceca, the senior center administrative
coordinator at Greenwich
House, remembered Connor’s involvement
at the senior center on a daily basis,
“always there to assist seniors on a variety
of issues, including social action.”
“He was a strong advocate for senior’s
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK/VILLAGE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS
Tom Connor, 88, a long-time member of the Village Independent Democrats,
has died.
rights. Tom always maintained an active
role with the Department for the Aging,
and their involvement with the senior
centers,” she said.
Former Village Independent Democrats
president Jonathan Geballe recalled how
Connor worked to secure additional public
benches throughout the community just
to give seniors and the disabled an opportunity
to rest.
“Such a simple, inexpensive fi x, and so
easy for most of us to be blind to, as we
hurry about. But so important to those
who need a temporary resting spot,” Geballe
said. “Tom was ready to raise his voice
whenever, so there was also something to
learn in courage and determination, all the
more so if he was the only voice who saw
that need and spoke for it.”
Other remembered his style and good
humor.
“Tom was a fastidious spiffy dresser.
He had a great collection of shirts,” recalled
Board 2 and Village Independent
Democrats Member Lois Rakoff. “When
I invited him to a Washington Square Music
Festival Benefi t concert in the music
school’s garden on Barrow, he wore an
ascot and blazer. Till the very end, Tom
cut a noble and striking fi gure.”
“We went out after meetings for a drink
and a bite, and an opportunity to gossip
about the club and politics,” added Kathy
Slawinski. “When he was stronger, we
went out to events together–he was great
company. In recent years, after a series
of misadventures, he became more debilitated,
but we were defi nitely in touch. I’m
still feeling the urge to call him and discuss
the latest news and the latest gossip. He
also enjoyed voicing his own opinions on
the news of the day, and I miss that.”
Connor’s life will be celebrated through
a Zoom memorial between the Village
Independent Democrats and Jim Owles
Democratic Club on Aug. 18, and at a
memorial on Sept. 23 at the Greenwich
House Senior Center.
In lieu of fl owers, donations may be
made in Connor’s memory to SAGE,
https://sagenyc.org/nyc/
4 August 13, 2020 Schneps Media
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