NYC NOW - August 16, 2023: Midday News

Episode Date: August 16, 2023

Madonna's August 27th Madison Square Garden concert is canceled after a reported health scare, but ticket holders can attend a December 16th show at Barclays Center. Also, Queens officials will advise the public how to safeguard mail in a surge in theft in the borough. Meanwhile, an un-housed man was murdered in Murray Hill on Sunday night, with locals suggesting he was a known figure often seen sleeping on East 33rd Street. Finally, New Jersey has designated Cranberry Juice as its official state beverage, thanks to the dedicated efforts of fourth-grade students from Eleanor Rush Intermediate School in Cinnaminson. Michael Hill discussed the initiative with their teacher Erin Zarzycki and students Gabriella Fennell and Robert Minniti, highlighting the fruit's deep historical ties to the region.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, August 16th. Here's the midday news from Michael Hill. Madonna's ready to resume her celebration tour after her reported health scare. But if you were looking to get into the groove at Madison Square Garden, there's some news for you. The August 27th MSG show has been canceled. ticket holders will have first dibs on tickets to a newly added Barclay Center show on December 16th. The Material Girl will do three shows in Brooklyn in mid-December.

If you have the MSG tickets and you cannot make it December 16th, you'll get a refund. Madonna will return to the Garden in January of 2024. And in our officials in Queens will tell the public how to safeguard mail amid a surge and theft in the borough and across the city. And June officials arrested two men from mail thefts and mass pass. Two congressmembers have introduced a bill to crack down on criminal organizations driving the male theft. Someone beat an unhoused man to death Sunday night in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood. Officers say they found the middle-aged man unconscious around one Monday morning on the sidewalk of East 33rd Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues.

Neighbors say his description matches a man they often saw sleeping on the sidewalk and in building buildings. 79 and mostly cloudy. Slim chance of showers after 2 o'clock this afternoon, partly sunny in a high of 80, and then tonight a low around 71. Tomorrow, slim chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, partly sunny and 81. Right now, 79. Cranberries in New Jersey have a long history together. The Lenny Lanoppe people harvested wild cranberries to use them in food, drinks, even medicines. Commercial cranberry farming began in New Jersey in 1835 and a bog in Burlington County. And now cranberry juice is officially New Jersey's state juice. It's an effort made possible because of dedicated letter writing, lobbying, and even testimony at a state Senate

hearing by fourth grade student from Eleanor Rush Intermediate School in Sinaminson. I'm joined now by their teacher, Aaron Zorsicki, and two of the students rising fifth graders, Gabriella Finnell and Robert Menetti to tell us how this all came together. Erin, let's start with you. This project actually goes back years even before Gabriella and Robert joined the class. How did this all get started? So back in 2019 with my, I guess now rising eighth graders, we noticed while we were doing our unit of study on New Jersey that a lot of the kids in past classes in the 70s and the 80s, they created state symbols with, like, So we decided to try it ourselves. And we researched what our state didn't have yet and what we could learn about. And the kids came up with cranberry juice. And I just kind of led them on that journey and gave them some resources and taught them how to write letters to senators and assembly people. And we did it. So it started then. It's been a long three year process. And we're back in action and just got signed the other day.

That is fantastic. Congratulations on that. So, Gabrielle and Robert, I bet you learned a lot about cranberries working on this project. Tell us a little bit about what's so great about cranberries and cranberry juice and why they're so important to the garden state. Gabrielle, go first, if you would. I think cranberries are very helpful to New Jersey because if you lose weight and they're very healthy for you. and I just think that the cranberry juice is very helpful. How about you, Robert?

This cranberry was a symbol of peace to the Lena Lenape. It's very healthy, and it's a key food if you want to live a happy, healthy life. And it's a superfood, and it tastes well. It's a good berry all around. I understand both of you testify before the state legislative, this year about making cranberry juice, the official juice of the state. What was that like getting to advocate for an idea that it becomes so important to you, to people who make so many important decisions? It was nerve-wracking, but it was fun. How about you, Robert?

It really helped us. We learn a lot about cranberries and the history of New Jersey, and it was really, it was nerve-wracking at first, like Gabriela said. But then once he did it, it was worth it. What was so nerve-wracking about it? Tell me about that day that you were there at the state legislature. What was that day like? It's just like we walked in and it was like so many people there, like just, wow, like this is a big deal. So I just think that was a little nerve-wracking. You were nervous? Yes. But how did you get over being nervous, though, to say what you had to say?

What did you do to get over that? I just thought to myself, like, this is a very important thing, and cranberries are very important. And if you think that, then, like, you'll be able to do it. Like, if you really think that you can do something, you'll be like, okay, I can do this. It's okay. And Robert, what was the day like for you? It was nerve-wracking and it was also exciting at the same time. Once you got in the building, you were like, it's now we have to do it.

And it was really nerve-wracking because it was professional. If you messed up, you felt like it was the end of the world. But once you did it, you were, it was worth it. I'm curious, have you done anything ever like this before? No way. And how did it feel when the vote came through? I was so excited. When I found out, I was like jumping up and down, running in circles.

I was just very proud of myself. You know, there aren't a whole lot of fourth graders who ever testify before the state legislature for anything at all. When you were done with your testimony, what did the lawmakers, what did they say? What did they do when you were done? They mostly, they were, like, smiling. And they were like, we'll see if the bill passes. And they were giving, like, very positive energy. That's right.

And Senator Troy Singleton and Senator Madden spoke on our behalf and about their perseverance and how long and hard they worked to get here. And so at that time, Senator Beach made the kids try to feel at ease. gave them a couple jokes and asked them if they worked for ocean spray. And it was just really fun for them. They were laughing and giggling. And I think the kids felt really great by the end that they had done something amazing to get a five-o vote in that committee that day. That's really something, Aaron, isn't it? Yes. It's quite amazing. And I'm so glad that, you know, I had this brainstorm idea with them and it went this far. So we really all learned so much. Aaron, I have to ask you,

this. What do you hope your students took away from this very hands-on experience with civics? Well, I love what I do, and it's one of my favorite classes to teach. So what I told the kids that we had started this process a few years back, they were so excited to take over, take the reins, and try again and bring it to fruition. And so I just taught them that good things may not happen overnight, but with hard work and perseverance, you really can achieve. your goals. Now I have to ask you, Erin, Gabriella, and Robert,

do you drink? Do you like cranberry juice? Yes. Yes. It's unanimous. That's been Senator Minson, New Jersey teacher, Aaron Zarzicki, and two of her students, Gabriella Fennell and Robert Menetti, both heading to the fifth grade. State Senate President Nicholas Scudgeon. Tari signed the cranberry juice bill they lobbied for on Monday while they were serving as acting governor.

Erin, Gabriella, Robert, thanks very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day, for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcast. We'll be back this evening.