Wils to Head Tribeca Film Institute Madelyn Wils, chairwoman of Community Board 1 and a director of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, was named on Jan. 27 as the president and CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, effective this month. The institute was founded after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack to help revitalize Downtown through film and other cultural projects, including the Tribeca Film Festival. It was created by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, who founded the Tribeca Film Center in 1988, and Craig Hatkoff. Wils, a former television producer, will create and oversee non-festival programming, such as film-related panel discussions, lectures and educational activities for children. “It’s exciting,” Wils said. “There are lots of great ideas to look at. As we rebuild Lower Manhattan the arts will increasingly come into focus and will be very important for the community.” Her new work “will be connected to so much of what I’ve been doing already,” she added. Wils said she will serve out her term as CB1’s chairwoman, but is undecided about running for re-election in June. As a board member for 15 years she has been active on many neighborhood issues including Tribeca’s rezoning, battles against large-scale development, and efforts to create schools, park spaces and a community center. She is a trustee of the Alliance for Downtown New York business improvement district and the Conservancy for Historic Battery Park, and a director of the Hudson River Park Trust. Greenmarket Leader Tom Strumolo, a resident of Tribeca’s Independence Plaza North, was named last month as the new director of Greenmarket, New York City’s network of farmer’s markets. Strumolo, who has worked at Greenmarket for 20 years, started as a part-time manager of the Tribeca market on Greenwich Street and most recently was deputy director. He said he wants to work with the city on long-term commitments for market sites to give farmers more economic security. The organization now has 44 markets in 31 locations in the city. Free Dance Workshop Get in touch with your inner Martha Graham. Four professional dancers who are artists-in-residents at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center are offering a free modern dance workshop on Feb. 11, from 4–6:30 p.m. Each artist will choreograph a piece for up to 25 people, who will give a public performance onstage at 7 p.m. No experience is necessary, but participants must be at least 15 years old. To make a reservation, call 212-220-1459. The Tribeca Performing Arts Center is at Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers St. More BPC Traffic Lights? Responding to community concerns, the city’s Department of Transportation is considering new traffic lights for several Battery Park City intersections. DOT said last month that it was studying vehicle and pedestrian traffic at the corner of West Thames Street and Battery Place and the corner of Chambers Street and River Terrace. The agency is also considering a light, or a crosswalk with a stop sign for cars, mid-block on South End Avenue between Albany and Liberty Streets, in front of the Gateway Plaza residential complex. Make a Valentine Who needs Hallmark? Artist Louise Johnson will help kids and adults turn simple materials into valentines at a card-making workshop on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 2–3:30 p.m., at Stuyvesant High School, 345 Chambers St. Refreshments will be served. $3 per person. Call 212-267-9700, ext. 342. Glee Club Auditions The Down Town Glee Club is holding open auditions for male singers on Tuesdays from 6–8 p.m., on the second floor of 74 Trinity Pl. The club is seeking singers for its May concert. Prior experience and ability to read music are not necessary. Call Jerry Osterberg at 516-248-7549. Art Auction a Success Sold! Last month’s art auction organized by the P.S. 234 PTA raised about $23,000, which will support music and other enrichment programs at the school. Of the 80 donated works on the block, 77 found buyers, including a Sol Lewitt print, Four Color Isometric Figure, and a sculpture by Jon Kessler titled Dancer #2. The event was held at Michael Perez Pop Art Gallery on Harrison Street. The Women’s Corner Community Board 1 last month voted to support a bid by the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Trust and the Susan B. Anthony House to call the intersection of Park Row and Nassau Street “Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton Corner.” In 1868-69, the pair published a woman’s rights newspaper at 37 Park Row, which no longer stands. Free Financial Advice Tribecan Robert Ince, a certified financial planner, will give advice on investing, saving and retirement for individuals and small business owners on Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments at 6 p.m. Call 212-406-3616 for location.