Street Beat: Elaine - A Part of Our Lower East Side Village

Sylvie Goldner, ‘21

December 2019

How often do you meet a person whose 3 words they would use to describe themselves is: awesome, awesome, and awesome? I would think not very often -- if ever. This truly awesome person is Elaine. Elaine is a school crossing guard and has worked on the corner of Columbia and Rivington for 7 years, but she has been a part of the community for 59 years. “I went to school right in the neighborhood and still live on this block today. My sister lives right across the street in 105, and my brother lives near here also,” she told me.

Elaine is fully embedded in the neighborhood, and people tend to gravitate towards her energetic and kind demeanor “My favorite part of my job is meeting new people. I’m a people person. Getting to know everyone’s names and watching the NEST kids grow up is super special.” Elaine went on to explain how she is always here to help people: “I am sort of like 411. Whenever someone needs help, I’m here to help them. And if I can’t, I always find someone else who can.”

While Elaine works right in front of NEST, Bard students often cross the street as well. When asked about how her interactions have been with all of the students, she revealed “Bard students give me the utmost respect. They are awesome. But Bard students walk fast. They be hustling down the block from the train station ... NEST students are in training.”

When Elaine is not getting students safely to school each day, she is at home involved in different art projects: “When I’m at home. I like arts and crafts, HGTV is my news. Anything with a nail, a hammer, or even sewing relaxes me. I have made slipcovers for my couch for every season.” She also loves to cook: “I make shrimp, pasta, loberts, crab leg.”

There was not a moment during our interview when Elaine did not stop smiling and focusing on everything surrounding her. Because Elaine has been in the city her entire life, I asked her what her favorite area is, and her response was not a surprise: “My favorite part of the city is the Lower East Side. The people here say good morning and acknowledge me each day, which makes me want to do my job for free.”

I asked Elaine is there is anything she would like to share directly with Bard students, and three things came to mind:

“Stay focused, focused, focused. Education is key to succeeding in life.”
“If everyone respects one another and loves each other, we will be alright. You have to learn to love each other now, to love each other later”
“In a couple of weeks Stanton street will be reopened and people will be able to cut through the park to get to the Deli and Key Foods.”

We paused the interview momentarily as an ambulance was approaching the street, leading Elaine to clear all of the cars and pedestrians out of the way. After the ambulance passed by, Elaine thoughtfully added, “I love this corner and I would not want to be doing anything else. This is my village.”