Governors Island Alliance

Murray Fisher dreamed of a school oriented to the harbor nearly 10 years ago. Umpteen hurdles later, it opened in 2004 in the middle of Brooklyn, far from the harbor. On September 8 it starts new life on the waterfront, where it was always meant to be - in the totally remodeled hospital building on Governors Island.

Continue reading "Three R's and H for Harbor " »

Led by members Margaret Chin of Manhattan and James Gennaro of Queens, Council Education Committee Chair Robert Jackson and Speaker Quinn, the City Council has voted funds for the Harbor School's Marine Science and Technology Center in a city building on Buttermilk Channel. Student-led programs at MAST, its adapted acronym, will teach the students themselves and the public about the Harbor and its ecology, aquaculture and serve as a boat shop. The Council's funding matches privately raised money to rehab the building. The Alliance is working with the National Park Service, Harbor School and other partners to identify possible interpretive programs for Island visitors - programs that can use this valuable new facility.

The National Park Service has put Island history on display this summer with three undertakings - Army Heritage in June, a Civil War weekend in August, and ongoing free "Biking Through History" tours led by NPS Rangers.

Continue reading "The NPS's History Hat Trick" »