The American Museum of Natural History's legal fight against a tiny nonprofit

There is a new executive director at Lantern Community Services. Diane Louard-Michel, formerly the senior director of real estate and development for Unique People Services, assumed the role, effective Nov. 5. She succeeds Eric Rosenbaum, who left in May, according to an email from the Manhattan-based nonprofit, which provides services to youth, families, veterans, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the mentally ill.

The New York City Administration for Children’s Services plans to award a $905,136 contract to Cumberland Hospital. The three-year contract – which runs until June 30, 2021 – will fund foster care services for kids with extraordinary needs, according to the City Record. Asia Trading International, an Irvington, N.J.-based company, has won a $150,000 contract from the agency to provide uniforms for juvenile counselors.

Visiting Nurse Service of New York Homecare will provide $5 million worth of case management services for people with substance abuse problems on behalf of the city Department of Social Services. The District Attorney Office in Manhattan has a new request for proposal for organizations interested in youth development and violence prevention services through the Saturday Night Lights Program. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is awarding a $3.3 million contract to Phipps Neighborhoods to fund mental health services and supportive housing.

The Citizens Committee for New York City has grants to give. Money is available for projects of all sizes that will help youth, seniors and other underserved residents of the Chelsea and Hudson Yards neighborhoods of midtown Manhattan. There are three grant levels: $2,500 and less, $2,500 to $5,000, and $5,000 and above. The deadline to apply is Dec. 3. Read more about it here.

The American Museum of Natural History has won a legal victory against a smaller nonprofit that wanted to stop its expansion.

A Manhattan judge had issued a restraining order against the museum last month that halted work on the Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation. The Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park had filed a lawsuit that asked for the project to be stopped because they said it would detrimentally affect the park, which is adjacent to the museum, but their legal victory was short-lived. Here’s what David Paget, attorney for the museum, said in a Nov. 2 statement:

“Today the American Museum of Natural History won a significant victory that will allow work to proceed immediately on the Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. Interior work and other necessary exterior work will begin Monday.  For the time being the Museum will not proceed with the removal of 7 trees pending determination of the overall merits of the case, on which we fully expect to prevail. We further expect the Gilder Center will move ahead as proposed, because both the authoritative legal precedent (from the highest court of New York State, as well as other court decisions) and the civic purposes of the project are clear.  The City and the Museum have relied on and acted consistently in accordance with the more than 140-year-old New York State legislation, authorizing use of the Park for the Museum, and lease, and a full, transparent, and open engagement with the public, including hundreds of meetings, public hearings, and town halls. This project continues the Museum’s steadfast commitment to improve Theodore Roosevelt Park and the surrounding neighborhood, while also advancing its scientific and educational mission.”