New York IS the Greatest City on Earth

As a New Yorker it is obvious to ME that New York is the greatest city on earth.

But it was really nice to have Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center say so at the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of New York.

What Mr. Miscavige said exactly was:

"...when you consider New York is the hub of everything from American Publishing, to fashion, the nation's financial capital and epicenter of global trends, not to mention the international center for entertainment and media. And all in addition to the most diverse culture on earth, which sets the trends across every generation and spectrum of life.

"Well, what more need be said? New York is the greatest city on earth.Yet even that doesn't say it all. Rather, this one is special for another reason. Because, what we are bringing to New York Scientologists today, with this new church, is what you inspired across the rest of the world three years ago. In fact, it can be said in a single phrase that now drives a global movement bringing hope and salvation to millions, world over.

"For in the darkest of times and worst of places, you stood tall amongst it all, as a shining beacon of light, proclaiming in action that: SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT."

New York is a Summer Festival

When I was a kid there was a popular phrase "New York is a Summer Festival."

I think the idea was to counter the general idea that the thing to do if you possibly could do it was to get OUT of the City for as much of the summer as you could afford.

Part of the "stay loyal to the City" campaign was to create art, music and theater performances for free or at greatly reduced cost.

This has continued and there are lots of great things to do all summer long.

Here's one example - The Washington Square Music Festival


Here's what their web site says about the festival:

"...a free outdoor classical and tango/jazz/salsa concert series, is celebrating its 48th season by presenting four evenings of great music under the stars performed by musicians who regularly play in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan and New York City Opera orchestras and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Performance space is in the southeast quadrant of Washington Square Park at the foot of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Rainspace TBA.

"The Festival was founded in 1953 by violinist and neighbor Alexander Schneider, member of the famed Budapest String Quartet, and the Washington Square Association. Over the years the concerts have become a venerable summer tradition, shaped by Peggy Friedman, executive director, our late music director Henry Schuman, and our current music director, Lutz Rath, as well as countless patrons, volunteers and neighborhood agencies that make the Festival such a popular Tuesday evening event.

"The sole activity of The Washington Square Music Festival is to present free concerts. New York has other free outdoor classical concert series, but only the Washington Square Music Festival s sponsored by a local civic organization—that organization, the Washington Square Association, Inc., which dates back to 1903."

While you're in Manhattan visit the Church of Scientology of New York.

A great way to make the most of your summer vacation is to learn more about Scientology and resume your regular working or school year with an edge, with the tools you can learn from Scientology and Dianetics books and courses.

Church of Scientology of New York

In his speech at the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of New York, Mr. David Miscavige said:


"...when a culture falls away from spiritual pursuits into materialism well that is when man becomes just another animal and with no belief-in let alone hope of the hereafter, of something greater than just day-to-day existence then what does anything matter anyway?

"Moreover, our sense of community occurs by reason of mutual experience with others and the first sense of community is religion. Without that, real trust and integrity can be destroyed. And society itself becomes defenseless to the onslaught of evil and degradation. And that is why it is so important that every church own up to the responsibility, and role it must perform."

The Church of Scientology of New York takes this responsibility very seriously and has a very active Scientology Volunteer Ministers program where anyone can receive personal help.

The Church is open every day and from 9 am to 10 pm there is always someone there to answer questions or provide personal help.

The Church is located at: 227 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 921-1210
newyork@scientology.net

NASCAR Dianetics Car

Sports Illustrated ran an AP wire this week on the Dianetics NASCAR:

The Church of Scientology, the religion for which actor Tom Cruise crusades, will attempt to spread its "Ignite Your Potential" message into auto racing through sponsorship of a race car in one of NASCAR's lowest levels.

Kenton Gray, a 35-year-old Californian, will attempt to make the field for a late model race Saturday night at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. His No. 27 Ford Taurus will be sponsored by Bridge Publications, which publishes Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's bestseller "Dianetics."

The hood of the car will say "Dianetics" on it, along with a volcano to mimic the book cover.

Jazz Night at the Church of Scientology of Buffalo

I read this story on the web site of the Church of Scientology of Buffalo.

Scientologists Spearhead "Brighter Future for Buffalo" Efforts

Forging a brighter future for any American city requires many shoulders to the wheel, and putting their weight behind a better Buffalo Wednesday night were community officials, leaders and parishioners of several local churches, and more than 100 community activists and dedicated Buffalonians.

The event was the Church of Scientology's "Brighter Future for Buffalo" Jazz Night, featuring "Taylor Made Jazz," a group known for its humanitarian benefit performances. The venue was the Church's community hall on Virginia and Main. The inspiration for the effort came from Mayor Byron Brown who has, in the city's promotional literature and ads, urged citizens to work together in building a brighter future for the city. And even soul impresario Isaac Hayes added his shoulder from Harlem by contributing an effective tool for bringing greater respect and peace to the community.

Hosting the event as part of its "Creating a Brighter Future for Buffalo" campaign, the Church of Scientology of Buffalo honored Mark Fuller, executive director of the Stop the Violence Coalition with the Rev. Mary Lou Reile "Brighter Future for Buffalo" Award. "We applaud this coalition for being out there every day, on the front lines, whenever and wherever needed," said Teresa Reger, president of the Church in Buffalo. "Because of their non-stop efforts to make this city a brighter, safer place, I can't think of a more deserving group to be the first recipient of this 'Brighter Future for Buffalo' Award."

Following the award ceremony, the Rev. Jonathan Reece, executive director of the Church of Scientology of Buffalo, announced that, in collaboration with the Healing Tree Ministries, the Evangelical Deliverance Ministries and the Stop the Violence Coalition, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers are inviting people of all colors, creeds and cultures to join in distributing Isaac Hayes-sponsored copies of The Way to Happiness, a common-sense moral guidebook that serves as a centerpiece for a new campaign to reduce violence in Buffalo. Hayes has sponsored the printing of more than 9,000 copies of the book, which will be passed out in the city's most problematic areas starting at 10:00am this Saturday, May 27, at 1279 Sycamore Street.

"Being of mixed ethnicity myself, I have seen racial discrimination and intolerance on both sides of the fence," said Rev. Reece. "But that mindset is born of ignorance and it all too often ends in hurt and violence. This little book has proven time and again—no matter where in the world it is given out—to be a powerful peacemaker."

When broadly distributed and read, The Way to Happiness has chilled violence and strife in apartheid-era South African townships, and in Los Angeles, where one million copies were distributed throughout strife-torn neighborhoods following that city's riots in 1992. Immediate, observable and very positive change resulted. In its wake, gang members even joined forces to remove graffiti from 130 neighborhood buildings and to pass out more copies of the booklet. Today The Way to Happiness is doing much the same in Palestine and Israel, where more than 1 million households now have and use copies.

Recognizing the pacifying power of this publication, written by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, have been opinion leaders in diverse fields—from the Palestinian Authority's Deputy Secretary of Education Zeinab Habash, to Roots author, the late Alex Haley, to South Africa's National Deputy Commissioner for Corrections Alfred Tsetsane, to the National Basketball Association's preeminent championship coach, Phil Jackson, and others.

"Members of the Church of Scientology know that something can be done about the problems we face as a community—and we want to help revitalize Buffalo by bringing like-minded individuals and groups together to build a better society here," said Reger. The "Jazz Night," featuring jazz musicians noted for their support of child development and educational programs, "is the Church's way of spotlighting and thanking those who are actively improving the community," said Reger. "They deserve it, wholeheartedly."

For more information about the Church's ongoing "Creating a Brighter Future for Buffalo" campaign, or to take part in this weekend's Way to Happiness distribution event, contact the Church of Scientology of Buffalo at (716) 856-3910.

This sounds like it was great fun!

Reminds me of the excitement of their Grand Opening a little while back.