SCAN-Harbor, the largest youth service provider in Harlem, East Harlem, and the South Bronx, held a fundraising gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York recently, featuring appearances from partners such as the New York Yankees, Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s Garden of Dreams Foundation, YouTube Music, New York Life Foundation, and an enthralling performance from hip hop legend Doug E. Fresh.

Photos courtesy of SCAN-Harbor

The stars of the show, however, were the performers from SCAN-Harbor’s Performing Arts Academy, which is composed of program participants from SCAN-Harbor’s services. Young people ranging in age from 5 to 22 performed for nearly an hour, belting out rousing renditions of classics and a few originals.

The post Harlem’s SCAN-Harbor’s gala shines spotlight on talented youth appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

For one week only, PLAY Airlines is offering flights as low as $79 to dreamy European destinations. The entire limited-time promotion is in celebration of the Fourth of July as a way to “cool off” fares, as summer temperatures rise (and most often, flight prices).

Whether you’re hoping to visit Iceland and cross catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights off your bucket list, or you want to feel the energy following the 2024 Olympics with a trip to Paris, PLAY Airlines will take you there.

Travelers can book their vacations from New York Stewart International Airport to cities including Berlin, Dublin, Reykjavíc, Paris, and London. If you are traveling from a different departure point than New York, PLAY Airlines also services Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.

Flights to Iceland are as low as $79, whereas flight to the remaining European countries are as low as $99. Passengers can take advantage of these prices from July 2 – July 8, 2024. Bookings are only valid for travel between September 2 – December 15, 2024 for Iceland, September 5 – 23, September 25 – November 9, November 11 – 30 and December 2 – 15, 2024 for Dublin, Berlin, Paris and London. Purchase your ticket now here.

To learn more about the deal and restrictions, go to the PLAY Airlines website. Be sure to also check out our guide to scoring cheap flights when trying to travel on a budget.

The post Score Flights Under $80 From NY To Europe Right Now On This Airline appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

In their latest effort to curb fare evasion, the MTA has announced a new pilot program which will require LIRR passengers to show their tickets to a railroad employee prior to boarding.

The pilot program, known as “gating,” began in November of 2023 for trains departing following MSG events, though recently it’s been extended to rush hour timeframes as well. Pix11 writes that it’s also already been in use at some additional stations including Mets-Willets Point and Forest Hills.

The MTA mentioned the process in a Facebook post back in March of this year, stating:

We may check your ticket before you board some trains at Penn Station. This is a pilot program to ensure everyone has a valid ticket. Our goal is to improve fare collection and discourage fare evasion. Thank you for your cooperation.

Many Facebook users took to the comments to show their disagreement with the program, with one person writing “Not helpful when the subway delays you and you are trying to catch a train that’s about to depart. Think smarter.”

Another stated, “You have created a logistical nightmare daily for paying commuters.”

LIRR officials, on the other hand, say “the operation has been orderly and does not inconvenience riders,” according to WLIW-FM. Moreover, Newsday writes that LIRR president Robert Free said that “he could see [gating] become a permanent practice and in place every weekday.”

Free added, “We felt this was the best way to combat fare evasion, and this is the path we took to address that.”

The purpose of gating is to prevent fare evaders from waiting until they see a conductor to activate their e-ticket–or from boarding the train without a ticket altogether. Back in May of 2023 the MTA stated that fare evasion had reached “crisis levels,” with the MTA losing an estimated $690 million in unpaid fares and tolls in 2022.

The MTA has attempted to curb fare evasion in a number of ways, including using AI Software to track fare evaders, delaying the opening of subway emergency exits, tweaking turnstiles and unveiling brand new turnstile prototypes, and keeping bus rear doors closed.

LIRR is currently gathering and analyzing data during the program’s pilot stage.

The post Some LIRR Passengers Will Have To Show Their Tickets Prior To Boarding appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Back in November of last year it was announced that NYC libraries would be forced to stay closed on Sundays following city budget cuts–and this past March they were potentially looking at only being open five days a week–but after months of fighting against this (along with pressure from the City Council) NYC libraries will once again be open on Sundays!

After months of negotiations, Mayor Eric Adams and City Council leaders announced a historic $112.4 billion budget that restored many of Adams’ proposed cuts.

Thankfully, the budget will positively affect NYC libraries and cultural institutions, as $58.3 million worth of library cuts will be reversed, thus allowing them not only to reopen on Sundays but to additionally remain open on Saturdays.

The Adams administration also baselined $42.8 million in funding every year moving forward.

In a joint press release from Mayor Adams and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Speaker Adams stated that restoring libraries’ funding had been a “top priority” for the Council.

According to the press release “libraries are a critical part of NYC’s social fabric, which New Yorkers depend on for children’s growth and the vibrancy of the city.” It added that seven-day service will begin in branches that previously offered it on a rolling basis, and by July 14th there will be a branch open seven days a week in every borough.

Moreover, newly renovated locations will open across all five boroughs.

Mayor Adams stated:

I understand firsthand how important libraries are for children, families, and every New Yorker in leveling the playing field…From providing spaces to prepare our young people for a bright future to being a vital partner in the creation of affordable housing, libraries are a lifeline for countless communities. Today, we can all be proud that our city has a budget that invests in our libraries and invests in the future of our city.

The post NYC Libraries Will Once Again Be Open On Sundays appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here