Tidal Toast 2022
Celebrating 20 Years of Newtown Creek Alliance
Since 2002, the Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) has served as the voice of Newtown Creek; working with community members, local businesses, environmental organizations, and agencies to promote awareness, remediation, access, resilient businesses, and ecological improvements for our local waterway and upland communities. At this year’s Tidal Toast, we will celebrate NCA’s two decades of work by raising a glass to all of NCA's friends, supporters, and partners who enable us to restore, reveal, and revitalize Newtown Creek.
In celebration of our 20 years, we are honoring three distinct individuals whose extensive contributions have advanced cleanup, connection, and care of our beloved Newtown Creek:
Capt John Lipscomb (Restore Award):
Since 2000, John has served as the Hudson Riverkeeper’s boat captain, patrolling approximately 4,000 nautical miles each year, from New York Harbor north along the Hudson River Estuary to the Mohawk River and Upper Hudson, to identify, document and deter sources of pollution that harm the River. Working with community partners, scientists and attorneys, he identifies and advocates for opportunities to protect and restore the River. John’s initial patrol of Newtown Creek on October 25, 2002, helped expose the troubled state of the waterway and catalyze interest from community members and the city council to form an organization solely dedicated to the cleanup of the waterway – thus the start of NCA. In his 20 years of patrolling Newtown Creek, John has documented innumerable instances of pollution and helped instigate key legal actions to cease both historic and ongoing threats to the waterway and community health.
Christine Holowacz (Revitalize Award):
Christine is a founding member of Newtown Creek Alliance and longtime community activist in Greenpoint where she has lived since immigrating from Poland in 1972. Christine has played an important role in numerous large scale Creek related projects including serving as Community Liaison at both the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment plant for the Newtown Creek Monitor Committee (1999 to 2012), and the Kosciuszko Bridge Project (2013 to 2020). Christine has also played a lead role in numerous other local organizations and projects including: Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning, the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth, the Superfund CAG, and the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund.
Mitch Waxman (Reveal Award):
Mitch has served as Newtown Creek Alliance’s historian and unofficial photographer since 2009. During this time Mitch has introduced thousands of NYers to his beloved Newtown Creek, through his numerous illustrative, and sometimes harrowing, tours; as well as his profound catalog of photographs and online posts through his Newtown Pentacle website. With a deep understanding and appreciation for the often overlooked, yet critical role that Newtown Creek plays in the functioning of the City Mitch has spent countless hours traversing the watershed, engaging with local stakeholders, and advocating for the cleanup and improvement of the area. In addition to his Newtown Creek work, Mitch has served a leading role with the Working Harbor Committee and a recent member of Queens Community Board 1.
This year, we are excited to partner with Colossal Media, who will be generously hosting the Tidal Toast event at their Creek-side facility on Metropolitan Avenue. In addition to a spacious interior, this unique location also offers an outdoor section overlooking the English Kills tributary of Newtown Creek.
Dress: Festive attire! Please note that the facility is indoor/outdoor and will have large doors open so dress appropriately for the weather (current forecast says 55 degrees during the event).
Auction: We have some amazing auction items available, so come prepared to bid. Full list of auction donors: Citibike, CODA Skateboards, Cozy Royal, Crest Hardware, Devin Rahal, Five Leaves, Glasserie, Jan Mun, John Kitses, Lisa Ludwig, Meat Hook, Minnows, Monte Antrim , Noah Clothing, Patagonia, Pilgrim Surf + Supply, Sweetwater Restaurant.
Drinks: Interboro Spirits and Ales + Dandelion Wine
Food: Small bites and canapes by Eric B Catering, a North Brooklyn based company
Music: Gabriel Willow, AKA DJ Stylus.
Entertainment: Newtown Creek Oracle
Directions:
Subway: Grand Street Station on the L Train
Bus: Q54 and Q59
Bike: Park on the street + Citibike is nearby
Driving: No on-site parking is available. Look for curbside spots on the surrounding streets.
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*Volunteers Needed* No NCA event would be possible without the contribution of our dedicated volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please fill out this form.
Celebrating 20 Years of Newtown Creek Alliance
Since 2002, the Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) has served as the voice of Newtown Creek; working with community members, local businesses, environmental organizations, and agencies to promote awareness, remediation, access, resilient businesses, and ecological improvements for our local waterway and upland communities. At this year’s Tidal Toast, we will celebrate NCA’s two decades of work by raising a glass to all of NCA's friends, supporters, and partners who enable us to restore, reveal, and revitalize Newtown Creek.
In celebration of our 20 years, we are honoring three distinct individuals whose extensive contributions have advanced cleanup, connection, and care of our beloved Newtown Creek:
Capt John Lipscomb (Restore Award):
Since 2000, John has served as the Hudson Riverkeeper’s boat captain, patrolling approximately 4,000 nautical miles each year, from New York Harbor north along the Hudson River Estuary to the Mohawk River and Upper Hudson, to identify, document and deter sources of pollution that harm the River. Working with community partners, scientists and attorneys, he identifies and advocates for opportunities to protect and restore the River. John’s initial patrol of Newtown Creek on October 25, 2002, helped expose the troubled state of the waterway and catalyze interest from community members and the city council to form an organization solely dedicated to the cleanup of the waterway – thus the start of NCA. In his 20 years of patrolling Newtown Creek, John has documented innumerable instances of pollution and helped instigate key legal actions to cease both historic and ongoing threats to the waterway and community health.
Christine Holowacz (Revitalize Award):
Christine is a founding member of Newtown Creek Alliance and longtime community activist in Greenpoint where she has lived since immigrating from Poland in 1972. Christine has played an important role in numerous large scale Creek related projects including serving as Community Liaison at both the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment plant for the Newtown Creek Monitor Committee (1999 to 2012), and the Kosciuszko Bridge Project (2013 to 2020). Christine has also played a lead role in numerous other local organizations and projects including: Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning, the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth, the Superfund CAG, and the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund.
Mitch Waxman (Reveal Award):
Mitch has served as Newtown Creek Alliance’s historian and unofficial photographer since 2009. During this time Mitch has introduced thousands of NYers to his beloved Newtown Creek, through his numerous illustrative, and sometimes harrowing, tours; as well as his profound catalog of photographs and online posts through his Newtown Pentacle website. With a deep understanding and appreciation for the often overlooked, yet critical role that Newtown Creek plays in the functioning of the City Mitch has spent countless hours traversing the watershed, engaging with local stakeholders, and advocating for the cleanup and improvement of the area. In addition to his Newtown Creek work, Mitch has served a leading role with the Working Harbor Committee and a recent member of Queens Community Board 1.
This year, we are excited to partner with Colossal Media, who will be generously hosting the Tidal Toast event at their Creek-side facility on Metropolitan Avenue. In addition to a spacious interior, this unique location also offers an outdoor section overlooking the English Kills tributary of Newtown Creek.
Dress: Festive attire! Please note that the facility is indoor/outdoor and will have large doors open so dress appropriately for the weather (current forecast says 55 degrees during the event).
Auction: We have some amazing auction items available, so come prepared to bid. Full list of auction donors: Citibike, CODA Skateboards, Cozy Royal, Crest Hardware, Devin Rahal, Five Leaves, Glasserie, Jan Mun, John Kitses, Lisa Ludwig, Meat Hook, Minnows, Monte Antrim , Noah Clothing, Patagonia, Pilgrim Surf + Supply, Sweetwater Restaurant.
Drinks: Interboro Spirits and Ales + Dandelion Wine
Food: Small bites and canapes by Eric B Catering, a North Brooklyn based company
Music: Gabriel Willow, AKA DJ Stylus.
Entertainment: Newtown Creek Oracle
Directions:
Subway: Grand Street Station on the L Train
Bus: Q54 and Q59
Bike: Park on the street + Citibike is nearby
Driving: No on-site parking is available. Look for curbside spots on the surrounding streets.
----------
*Volunteers Needed* No NCA event would be possible without the contribution of our dedicated volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please fill out this form.