CB1 Divided Over West Street Plan Debate over planned improvements to Route 9A (West Street), the state highway that separates Battery Park City from the rest of Lower Manhattan, had Community Board 1 members in a divide of their own on July 1 as they struggled to reach consensus on which construction plan, if any, should earn their recommendation. Construction options for West Street, as outlined by the state Department of Transportation, include restoring the highway back to eight lanes at street level (it was reduced to six after the terrorist attack) at the cost of $175 million, digging a 950-foot-long tunnel adjacent to the World Trade Center site for additional lanes at the cost of $860 million, or leaving the highway as it is. By the end of the meeting, the only option board members could agreed upon was in reserving the option for more debate. All this followed hours of committee review earlier in the month of the projects' Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and a heated public hearing on June 24 at which 86 percent of those that spoke were against the West Street tunnel. Opponents of the tunnel called the plan wasteful. "It's a dip in the road," said board member Joe Monroe. "Driving through it at 40 mph would take you 15 seconds. I don't see that as being worth the money," "Would anyone here give up a single Downtown project for this?" asked board member Jeff Galloway. Others on the board called that "parochial" thinking. "If we operate only out of fear of the cost and the construction, we are doing our neighborhood a disservice" said board member Jennifer Hensley. Members were expected to take up the matter again at an Executive Committee meeting on July 14. Said board chairwoman Madelyn Wils, "We may not all agree, but at the end of the day, we will all vote on this." Crab Crunch Crabs will be discussed and eaten on Aug. 7 at the River Project on Pier 26. Speakers from the Hudson River Foundation will prepare crabs while giving a presentation on the Hudson River invertebrates. Free samples and a cash bar will be available. Night out with NYPD Police Officers with the 1st Precinct and members of the Police Community Council will be on hand to mingle with the public from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 3 at Duane Park as part of National Night Out, an annual crime awareness event. Refreshments will be served. History Lesson A talk on the history of the Tribeca waterfront will be offered by historian Oliver Allen on July 13 at 12:30 p.m. on Pier 25 at North Moore Street. The talk, sponsored by Friends of Hudson River Park, is free and a light lunch will be served. Tour Tweed, City Hall Tours of the interiors of Tweed Courthouse and City Hall are set for Aug. 18 beginning at 2 p.m. The tours are sponsored by Friends of City Hall Park. RSVP to Marilyn Granald at 212-393-1264 or Mgranald@aol.com. Camp for Downtowners Low-cost, non-denominational day camp outings, including hikes through the woods and horseback rides, are being offered on July 31 and Aug. 28 for Lower Manhattan residents by the Tribeca Spiritual Center. Call William Grant, 917-887-4816. Baby Talk A free seminar series for parents begins this summer at Happy Baby Toys, 51 Hudson St. Pilates and prenatal Pilates will be discussed on July 14; the role of creativity, picture books and art in children's learning is the topic on July 28; and parenting methods that foster self-reliance in children is on the agenda for Aug. 11. A seminar for postpartum mothers will be held Aug. 25. All events are at 7 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Call 212-406-7440. Free Classics A free five-week classical music recital series starts July 12 at Pace University's Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, at 3 Spruce St. The series, which begins with a performance by 12-year-old piano prodigy Kit Armstrong, runs each Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are free but tickets are required. Go to www.pace.edu/culture or call the box office, beginning July 12, at 212-346-1715. Park Progress The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and city parks officials cut the ribbon last month on the $715,000 make-over for Tribeca Park. Renovations include new pavement, lighting and benches and new shrubs and perennials. The park will also get a new perimeter sidewalk. The park, at West Broadway, Walker Street and Beach Street, is one of 13 Downtown park projects being funded by a $37 million allocation from the LMDC.