On October 20th, 2022 Newtown Creek Alliance celebrated our 5th annual Tidal Toast benefit event where we honored the 20th Anniversary of our community’s work organizing and advocating for the health and restoration of Newtown Creek and our Creekshed communities. Friends, neighbors, electeds, and stakeholders of all stripes gathered at the Colossal Media headquarters to help us celebrate our 2022 honorees in style.
Attendees were greeted by The Oracle of Newtown Creek, who was available all evening to answer any and all questions about science, history, and state of Newtown Creek. Check out selected questions featured here in the Oracle’s poem.
After awards and congratulations, we danced the night away under the waning crescent to tunes from naturalist and urban birder Gabriel Willow aka DJ Stylus, fueled by Eric B Catering of North Brooklyn and libations generously subsidized by Newtown Creek neighbors Dandelion Wineshop and Interboro Spirits & Ales. Check out photos from the evening by Karan Sharma on our Flickr here.
Meet the Honorees:
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.
Thanks to Our Generous 2022 Sponsors:
And our auction sponsors:
Citibike, CODA Skateboards, Cozy Royal, Crest Hardware, Stylist Devin Rahal, Five Leaves, Glasserie, Jan Mun, John Kitses, Lisa Marie Ludwig, The Meat Hook, Minnows, Monte Antrim, Noah Clothing, Patagonia, Pilgrim Surf + Supply, and Sweetwater Restaurant!