As you may be aware, Crafts on Columbus, a 34-year-old crafts fair on the Upper West Side in which I have been participating for the past 15 years, just concluded what may be its final weekend--ever. I will write more about the history behind the fair at another date, but right now, I am calling for action.

First, I'd like to thank all of you who have signed the change.org petition http://www.change.org/petitions/gale-brewer-save-crafts-on-columbus. If you haven't yet done so, please sign and send to everyone one you know, especially those who live in the 10023, 10024 and 10025 zip codes.

We had our first success last week when Helen Rosenthal, City Councilwoman for the Upper West Side, spoke on behalf of continuing the fair at the full board meeting of Community Board 7. The thousands of signatures already collected at that time really helped, as did the testimony of local residents who support the fair.

Klari Neuwelt, the chair of the Parks and Environment Committee, has agreed to revisit the issue at the next committee meeting on Thursday, May 22. (See the agenda on the CB7 site.)

Especially if you live in CB7 (west side 59th-110th Streets), and even more so, if you live between 76th and 82nd Streets, your presence at this meeting in support of the fair could help influence the Parks and Environment Committee that WE WANT THE FAIR TO CONTINUE.

For further reading about Crafts on Columbus, see these stories.

West Side Rag:

Locals rally to save Crafts on Columbus (2014/05/01)

Community board to reconsider decsions to shut down Crafts on Columbus (2014/05/07)

DNAinfo:

Upper West Side residents rally to keep decades-old craft fair on Columbus Avenue (2014/05/01)

Booted Columbus Avenue crafts fiar could return following outcry (2014/05/08)

CB Votes for Return of Shortened Columbus Ave. Crafts Fair (2014/06/03)

Jeremiah's Vanishing New York:

Crafts on Columbus (2014/05/06)

Editor's note: This post was updated on May 14, 2014 to correct the date of the community board committee meeting and to add a link to the committee's agenda.