Councilmember Rosie Mendez (left) with drive organizer Teresa Falcon Judge David Cohen Phyllis Lehon

Teresa Falcon and her small troop of assistants from LoHo Realty dotted the neighborhood with red signs leading to the community room at Seward Park Housing, and with invitation leaflets in almost every building from the FDR Drive to Essex Street. The occasion was a blood drive, but it also marked the end of summer on Grand Street, and the beginning of the season, with its tasks and obligations.

As folks moseyed into the white walled community room at 385 Grand, there were easily as many gawkers as donors. People came in to beat out the summer dust and to take in the sights and sounds of the new fall, complete with familiar faces we hadn’t seen in a while. Like former Grand Street News reporter Frances Madeson, just back from a month in the Italian countryside; Councilmember Rosie Mendez, who came to show solidarity with the event; Phyllis Lehon, mother of the BID’s Dara Lehon, who looked terribly brave on the foldup gurney; and Judge David Cohen, who’s in a three-way race for the Civil Court and stopped by for a tap with wife Gila and both photogenic kids.

The event sponsors were local businesses who provided a basket of gifts to each donor: LoHo Realty, Noah’s Ark Deli, 41 Essex 41 Deli, 718-INSURANCE, Flowers on Essex, Special Touch Cleaners, Frank’s Bike Shop, Kossar’s Bialys, M&M Dairy Appetizing, and Full City Coffee.

Altogether, 42 people registered to donate blood on the occasion, out of whom 17 were deferred for a variety of reasons and 25 gave. See you next bloodgive!