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Yick Wo Elementary School | San Francisco, May 2019

Opinion
THE WARRIORS CROSS THE BRIDGE
DELAYS, DELAYS,
DELAYS!
By Miles Bernson
It took 11 years to build the new span
of the Bay Bridge! The Central Subway line,
which will run from the Caltrain station near
the Giants’ ballpark to Chinatown, is going on
10 years so far.

How long will it take to complete? The Central


Subway was originally scheduled to open to
the public in early 2018 but has been pushed
back to early 2020. It’s infuriating when a
project that we rely upon keeps changing its
opening date.
The Chase Center is under construction right now. (Photo by Aanya Shah)
The Central Subway is an extension of the T
(Third Street) Line, which already runs from
the Bayview neighborhood to the waterfront By Aanya Shah
near the ballpark. The Central Subway will It’s game night. Whoosh! Slam after a slight delay. It is supposed to open
extend that train line to the North Beach- dunk! Kevin Durant scores the winning in August 2019. The arena is located at
Chinatown neighborhood. It will connect basket, and the Golden State Warriors 1601 3rd Street in San Francisco’s Mission
Chinatown with Union Square, Yerba Buena win their first game at the Chase Center! Bay neighborhood near the San Francisco
Gardens (where the Children’s Creativity (Hopefully.) Bay Trail. Once completed, it is expected
Museum, bowling alley and ice rink are), to have a lot of restaurants so visitors will
the Giants’ ballpark, and the Warriors’ new The Golden State Warriors’ new arena in have a good selection of local foods. It
arena. When it opens, 73,000 passengers are San Francisco is called the Chase Center also boasts space for 29 stores and has a
expected to ride the Central Subway every day. and is still in the middle of construction continued on page 2
continued on page 7

A PEEK INSIDE
THE CHRONICLE
By BenNoah Arnold
We were all in awe when we were told
that we were going to the morning editors’
meeting at the San Francisco Chronicle,
the biggest newspaper in our city.

“You guys,” Chronicle Editor in Chief


Audrey Cooper told us, “are the only class
that is not in high school that we allow
to come into this morning newspaper
meeting.”
continued on page 3

Page 1
COMMUNITY NEWS

This is what the arena is supposed to look like when it is done. (Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors)

THE WARRIORS
continued from page 1
5-acre bay-front park across the street. In The Warriors want to move because the The pricing for the tickets is expected to
addition to this, another unique feature arena in Oakland is too old and San increase a lot. The team will not tell us
will be special parking for 300 bikes to help Francisco has more rich fans. Philadelphia the exact amount for different tickets,
with traffic around the arena. Why drive was the original home for the Warriors, although the courtside tickets are about
when you can bike? and then they moved to San Francisco. $615-$716 each … I mean whoa! Also, the
Our district supervisor, Aaron Peskin, arena is estimated to cost almost $1 billion!
“This will be the best NBA arena,” said recalls going to the Cow Palace stadium
Rick Welts, the Golden State Warriors’ to see the Warriors play when he was a Some fun touches to the arena include a
president. kid. The Warriors moved to Oakland in kitchen, weight rooms and hot and cold-
1971, now they are moving back. Coach water therapy pools dedicated for visiting
A not-so-good fact is the number of seats Robinson said: “It’s great for San Francisco; performers and athletes, just like the home
will go down from the 19,596 seats at the people will get more jobs here. The prices team. They will be used for events like
Warriors’ current arena in Oakland to will go up a lot, though, and the Oakland concerts, Disney on Ice and more, too!
18,064 seats. That is 1,532 fewer seats. Al fans might not be too happy about the Cool, right?
Saracevic, a sports journalist at the San move, but they can just take the BART.”
Francisco Chronicle, said: “This is kind of You don’t need to go to a game to enjoy
complicated and sad. … What’s happening The money to pay for the Chase Center the new arena. You can enjoy the bay-front
with modern day arenas is that they are got a major boost when JPMorgan Chase park, restaurants and more.
putting in less seats that are available to the bank got the naming rights for 20 years at
kind of average people and putting in more a price estimated to be $300 million! The So the big news is that the Golden State
luxury suites, so the team makes more bank pays that money to have the building Warriors are moving to San Francisco,
money. You know those little fancy rooms named after them. It is the richest arena and their new arena is said to be the best
where everyone is in there and there is free naming rights deal ever in the U.S.! The arena ever!
food and drinks and it’s really fancy? That’s Chase Center isn’t funded by the city, so
a luxury suite.” the city will not have to pay for it.

Page 2
COMMUNITY NEWS
A PEEK INSIDE
continued from page 1
stained glass windows and talked about
the history of the newspaper, which was
started by two brothers in 1865. Then we
met one of the veteran reporters named
Steve Rubenstein.

“I walked into the newspaper this


morning, and I was excited to come
because I like my job,” Rubenstein said.
“It is different every day. As a newspaper
reporter, I don’t know what is going to
happen the next day.”

Besides doing something new every day,


there are other reasons he enjoys his job.

“I like to find things out, and I like asking


people questions,” Rubenstein said.

Later he also said, “I would rather


interview the president’s chef than the
president.” That might sound surprising,
but Rubenstein said that because he thinks
From left, Editorial Page Editor John Diaz, Metro Editor Demian Bulwa and Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper that the president’s chef would tell him the
as the Yick Wo Newspaper Club reports about what happens at the Chronicle. (New Yick Times staff photo) true story and he would have more time
with the president’s chef than he would
The morning editor’s meeting is where the of Paradise, where they lost churches, with the president.
editors decide the day’s most important schools, supermarkets and thousands of
stories. We made our way through the houses. It has caused the Bay Area to be At the Chronicle I learned that newspapers
Chronicle and to the newsroom where the choked with smoke and a lot of schools are important because they report news of
meeting was happening. Once we were in have cancelled classes.” the people, for the people. Newspapers are
the meeting we started reporting. We were a way people learn news about the world.
reporting about the Chronicle’s big stories This reporting trip all started when we The Chronicle is important because it
that day, like the California wildfires, got out of Ubers at the San Francisco informs people in the Bay Area, including
a NASA satellite, and Thanksgiving Chronicle. When we were inside the lobby people at our school and members of
foods, (we went to the Chronicle in mid we received name tags and went upstairs. our community, about the environment
November), although the main story was Once we were upstairs we looked at the around us.
the California wildfires.

Cooper told us what they do at this news


meeting.

“These are all the top editors at the


Chronicle, and they all run different
departments,” Cooper said. “We talk about
the website and how many people were
reading our newspaper yesterday, and we
talk about whether we thought we did a
good job yesterday with writing stories and
taking pictures, and then we talk about big
stories today.”

Metro Editor Demian Bulwa said: “The


main story is the California wildfires Chronicle reporter Steve Rubenstein explains the fun parts about being a journalist.
and the utter devastation of the town (New Yick Times staff photo.)

Page 3
SCHOOL NEWS
Meet Our New 4th+5th Grade Teacher!
By Felix Ramirez for 12 years and 5th graders for 14 years. I NYT: How has elementary school changed
Calling all students! Welcome our new especially enjoy the older grades who can since you were a kid?
4th and 5th grade teacher, Ms. Ng! Here’s an drill deeper into subjects. Ms. Ng: The biggest change is the
interview with the new teacher so everyone expectations for students and teachers have
can know a little bit about her. increased tremendously. We never had any
homework in elementary school and had
New Yick Times: Why did you become a three recesses each day. (Author’s note: 2nd
teacher? grade and lower still have three recesses.
Lucky.) I don’t remember writing one single
Ms. Ng: My kindergarten teacher, Miss paper in elementary school. Students are
Burdette, was my inspiration. She really learning so much more now.
took the time to know each of her students.
This was demonstrated to me when she NYT: Have you had any pets?
bought me a dress for Picture Day, replaced
the ice cream that I accidentally dropped Ms. Ng loves class, libraries and nature. Ms. Ng: I grew up with a tortoise (Tommy),
on the sidewalk when she treated the class (Felix Ramirez staff photo) chicks (no names since they didn’t last
to ice cream cones, and taught me how through the night; we think the neighbor-
NYT: Where would you like to work if you hood cat got to them), a pit bull (Buttons),
to dribble a ball. Miss Burdette taught me weren’t a teacher?
phonics, and I would go home and teach a mixed-breed dog (Gentleman), and two
my mom. I wanted to be just like her! Ms. Ng: I would work in a library because I Jack Russell terriers (Jackie and Cassie).
We kept in touch with each other every love books and the smell of a library. There’s
Christmas when I called her until I was 18 something so peaceful about being in a
place surrounded by shelves and shelves NYT: What’s one thing that you would like
years old and she passed away. to accomplish this year?
of books, where I can be in one place and
at the same time be in another time, place, Ms. Ng: To provide many opportunities for
NYT: When did you start teaching?
and meeting new people, all from books. my students to challenge themselves and
Ms. Ng: I started teaching in 1988 to The other place I would work would be give their best, to not be afraid to be in
preschoolers, then worked with students in a national park. Being outdoors and an uncomfortable space. For those uncom-
in an afterschool program for three years exploring nature brings me a great sense of fortable spaces provide the most growth.
before teaching full time to 3rd graders peace as well.

New First Grade Teacher Ms. S Loves Star Wars!


By Bonnie Addison-Burns
Ms. Swerdlin: I would probably go back to
Ms. Swerdlin, also known as Ms. S, is
Europe during the Renaissance. (This was
a new first grade teacher at Yick Wo. The
a time hundreds of years ago when art,
New Yick Times interviewed her to learn
reading, writing, thinking, creativity and
more about her. Here is what we learned:
science became important again and grew
quickly.)
New Yick Times: If you could live anywhere
in the world, where would you live?
NYT: Do you like “Star Wars”? Why or why
Ms. Swerdlin: Venice in Italy because it is not?
unique and magical.
Ms. Swerdlin: Yes, I love “Star Wars.” I
NYT: Would you rather be trapped in remember seeing it in the movie theatres,
a small glass box with thousands of and I loved Princess Leia. I thought that
doughnuts which are frosted and topped Princess Leia was the coolest princess.
with sprinkles, or in a 50-acre box with not
one person or thing in it but you? All in all, Ms. Swerdlin is a great teacher,
Ms. Swerdlin: A 50-acre box, because I do and I think that anyone that is in her class
not like small spaces. I like open spaces. should be honored and thrilled to have
such a wonderful and inspiring person to
NYT: If you could go back in time, where New First Grade Teacher Ms. Swerdlin teach and guide them through the year.
would you go? (courtesy photo)

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SCHOOL NEWS
Six Quick Questions for Ms. Natasha
By Jillian Hickox
I’m writing about Ms. Natasha to help NYT: How do you want to encourage your Ms. Natasha: The Nigella, also called “love
everyone get to know her better, since she students? in a mist,” because I love that something so
is the new gardening teacher at school. Ms. Natasha: I want to show them tiny can be so beautiful and seem so big.
She loves gardening and teaches the everything that’s possible by planting
kindergartners through second graders. I everywhere we can.
interviewed her and asked her some quick
important questions about her.
NYT: Have you been a teacher before?
New Yick Times: What is your favorite part Ms. Natasha: I was an assistant 5th grade
of your job? teacher for two years in Cape Cod,
Ms. Natasha: Helping students connect Massachusetts.
with nature and seeing them connect.
NYT: What made you move from Cape
Cod to San Francisco?
Ms. Natasha: My husband lived in San
Francisco and didn’t want to move.

NYT: What made you want to teach


gardening?
Ms. Natasha: I love gardening, and I love
Yick Wo.

NYT: What’s your favorite plant and why?


These are Nigella, or “love in a mist.” (courtesy of Ms. Natasha in our school garden.
crabchick, licensed under CC BY 2.0) (Jillian Hickox staff photo)

The New Kindergarten Teacher Loves Art!


By Erik Alden
Seeking a good kindergarten teacher, Ms. Boles: Good question! I started
parents? Look no further! Ms. Boles is on teaching kindergarten overseas in Taiwan.
the scene! She has been a teacher for a long That was in 2008. Then I moved on to
time, but she joined Yick Wo Elementary pre-school in 2011.
this year.
NYT: If you weren’t a teacher, what job
New Yick Times: Do you have any hobbies? would you want to have?

Ms. Boles: I think I would like to be an


Ms. Boles: Well, I like making music, ancient art curator (that means keeper, or
making art, and … most of all, reading! custodian) or a librarian.

NYT: What do you like to do outside of NYT: What was your inspiration to
school? become a teacher?

Ms. Boles: I got my inspiration from the


Ms. Boles: When outside of school, I thought of having a lot of fun, wearing
usually like to hike and go to art openings. lots of hats, doing different things in the
classroom, and as a teacher, it’s like that!
NYT: When, in general, did you start
teaching? Ms. Boles knows all about art, reading and hiking.
(New Yick Times staff photo)

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COMMUNITY NEWS
New Fun at Washington Square Park
By Lola MacPhee

Though the statue still stands, the You can see there is no more sand, instead,
playground has completely changed. they used green artificial turf.

Washington Square Park’s playground has


recently been rebuilt and is now open to the
public. There are many fun structures to play
with, and little “creatures” roam around. The
statue funded by Lillie Hitchcock Coit of
firefighters carrying a woman is still in good
shape and was unharmed in construction.
The new playground is still really fun.

Washington Square Park was first created


in 1849.
This is a musical instrument, but not just any
“This is one of the oldest parks in the city,” instrument, an outdoor one.
said San Francisco Recreation and Parks
General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “There were “This is my favorite structure in the whole
a couple of times where kids and parents park,” said Levi Conover, the Recreation and
had to fight to make sure to keep the park. Parks project manager for the playground,
At one point, (the city) wanted to take some talking about the new musical instrument.
buildings and put it right in the middle there. This part of the park has a slide, a climbing Each arch has a different sound. There were
They wanted to take a library and stick it area for young kids, and a swing set for six notes total. You can hit with your hands
right in the middle of the park and make babies, toddlers and little kids. The slide is and make all kinds of cool sounds. I thought
the park go away, and we said, ‘No, we don’t a duo slide, and they are stuck together side this was amazing.
want to do that.’ And then another time, they by side. The slide is quite short, but still fun.
wanted to turn this into a parking lot, and we The swing set has a nice little touch: a parrot
said, ‘No!’ to that. So we’ve kept it as a park sitting on top in the middle of the set. The
… and people and kids for generations and parrot is there because there are so many
generations, like when your parents and their parrots flying around this part of the city
parents and their parents were kids, they all the time. The babies might also feel they
used to come here to this playground.” are flying in the sky with all the parrots. But
there is another swing set for older kids, too
Today, our playground is not only still there, (photo located below).
it has been updated.

The San Francisco Recreation & Park


Department found the money to do that
from people who voted for the park to
be rebuilt and from private money. The
department runs 224 parks and 179
playgrounds. Starting next month, they will
be closing the grass area for six months. They
will be doing this for a water conservation
project that will save 2 million gallons a year.
That’s enough water to fill three Olympic-size
swimming pools. This area of the park includes a frog statue
and a tunnel for kids to climb through. The
frog is a nice little touch that little kids can
play with. They can climb on it, sit on it, as
well as stand on it. The tunnel in front of the
frog is just something that kids can climb
This is a swing that is meant for older kids through from either side with snail and
and not much for babies and toddlers. This butterfly engravings on both sides.
is a round swing that’s different from all
the others. Though you still sway back and In conclusion, the Washington Square Park is
forth, the design is interesting. You can sit really fun and exciting for all ages.
in the middle criss-cross or however you
This structure that is a part of the playground would like. Then, you can have your parents,
is a monkey bar set that includes frog leaps. siblings, or friends push you. (Photos by Lola MacPhee)

Page 6
COMMUNITY NEWS
Listening to the Air
By Matteo Mohammadi
While visiting the Exploratorium, At first I thought they were wind chimes, the Chabot Space and Science Center. The
I came across a set of bells with an but then I found out that they were bells highlight differences in air quality
interesting sound, and I wanted to know actually an environmental art project around the different neighborhoods. At
what they were. about the air we breathe. The name of the the Exploratorium and the Chabot Space
artist is Rosten Woo. He makes projects and Science Center they don’t chime very
that help us understand the relationship often.
of people with their environment. The
name of the project is Mutual Air, and the
bells measure air pollution in the form of According to Chabot volunteer Steve Berl,
particulates, like dust, pollen, soot, smoke the bells don’t chime there often, “but they
and small drops of liquid. The bells chime were going crazy during the Camp Fire
whenever they detect it. back in November.”

The idea behind the project is to get people They do chime more often in
to notice the air quality they are breathing, neighborhoods where there is industry,
because it usually doesn’t cross our minds. like factories that make things, and near
When we hear the bells it makes us think freeways because there are more particles
about it and hopefully do something to in the air. This means that the people who
make our air better, like driving our cars live in these areas breathe more unhealthy
less or not burning wood. air every day. Rosten Woo made this
project to get us thinking about this and
Besides the Exploratorium, the bells are in hopefully get us to take action.
Photo courtesy of Mutual Air place around Oakland neighborhoods and

DELAYS
continued from page 1
The original cost of the project was $942.2
million. Much of the funding came from
a Federal Transit Administration program
called New Starts in 2012. The rest is being
paid for by the State of California, the The main reason has to do with the longer than the trench digging technique that
Metropolitan Transportation Commission, complicated underground excavation of they used downtown, which was more like
the San Francisco County Transportation the Chinatown station at Washington and digging a trench, building a station, and then
Authority, and the City of San Francisco. Stockton streets. It uses mining techniques to covering it back up with dirt. They have also
dig deep underneath the ground to build the blamed problems on delays from relocating
Now let’s get to the meat of the issue. What’s station, which keeps the Chinatown streets Pacific Gas and Electric Co. electric lines near
up with all these delays? open during construction. This took a lot the Chinatown station at Stockton Street.

Work crews also encountered harder-than-


expected rock while digging the tunnels.
Construction giant Tutor Perini Corp. was
contracted to do the project. Hopefully they
can finish the job.

Delays, delays, delays! Will they ever


end? Visit the San Francisco Municipal
Transportation Agency’s official project
schedule for more info about Central Subway
progress: https://www.sfmta.com/projects/
central-subway-project or call the project
The Central Subway under construction. (Photo and charts courtesy of the SFMTA) information line at 415-701-4371.

Page 7
COMMUNITY NEWS
What Francisco Middle School is Really Like
By Harrison Cote
Some Yick Wo students might be nervous more than you even need. Because of all of talking to friends, getting to know people you
about going to Francisco Middle School, if that the friends there, you never feel left out. don’t have classes with. I think it’s enough time.
is their next school. But they don’t need to be
nervous. These three students who used to go to NYT: Are there lots of tests and homework? Selah: Sometimes. But there are a lot of clubs
Yick Wo tell us what Francisco Middle School (Some examples from NYT reporting: Girls
is like. Leo: It really depends how fast you can get Learn International, library club, chess club,
work done in class. … It’s about the same as Minecraft club). Sometimes doing a certain
New Yick Times: What do you like about Yick Wo. Sometimes it’s actually a little bit club you are more focused on the club than
Francisco Middle School? less if you get your work done on time. eating.

Leo: I like the choices that you have. You have Selah: To me, yes. Lars: No, I don’t. I don’t think so. It gives you
the option to take different classes and do enough time to think about what you have to
different lunchtime clubs and afterschool clubs. Lars: No. Barely any tests, but there is a good do and get set for your next class, but it’s not
amount of homework. enough to eat lunch at the same time and get
Selah: I like the teachers. Some of them are some exercise.
really funny, and they’re really good at teaching NYT: Do you think there is enough time for
the subject that they have. your combined lunch and recess? Other information we learned about Francisco
Middle School: It’s in a really good location.
Lars: Because all of the staff are so nice. If you Leo: I do. You don’t really play around much There are three stores near it where you can get
need help, they provide lots of help, maybe at recess anymore. It’s more for eating and sandwiches, snacks and other stuff.

Lars Vandenberg, 7th grade Selah Gale, 6th grade Leo Wingate, 6th grade

PIZZA WARS! WHICH PIZZA PLACE WILL WIN?


By Lola MacPhee
Which pizza place do you like best in North Beach? We’ll have to see if your favorite place wins the New Yick Times Pizza Wars Survey.
Will it be … Tony’s Pizza? Tommaso’s? Golden Boy Pizza? Or will a majority of people like other places more?
continued on page 9

A slice of Golden Boy pepperoni. A slice of Tony’s pepperoni.

Page 8
COMMUNITY NEWS
Pizza
Tony’s Golden Tommaso’s Other
Place
Boy

1570 Stockton St, 542 Green St, 1042 Kearny St,


Address San Francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco,
CA 94133 CA 94133 CA 94133

Wood-burning
Kind of
Napoletana Sicilian oven, thin-crust
Pizza
pizza

Founded
2009 1978 1935
Year

How Long All 5th graders 40 y/o, 10 more years 17 more years until
They’ve Been were born by the before Golden Boy’s Tommaso’s will be 100
Around For time Tony’s was pizza will be 50 y/o years old
founded

There is another place


called Tony’s Slice If you didn’t know Round Table,
House right next to They have always
Interesting already, there is Il Casaro, Costco,
Tony’s Pizza, which is used the wood-
Facts the restaurant. If you
another Golden Boy Za Pizza,
burning oven.
go here, you won’t Pizza in San Mateo! North Beach Pizza
have to wait in line.

Vote
Percentage 25% 36% 5% 34%
Says Editor-in-Chief
Says Harrison Cote, Audrey Cooper and
Top Says Aaron Peskin, Says Aanya Shah,
our school Food Editor Paolo
Pick Lucchesi of the San our city supervisor our school president
vice president
Francisco Chronicle

Placing 3rd place 1st place 4th place 2nd place

AND THE WINNER IS… Golden Boy Pizza!


Survey Sources: Ms. Fernandez’s 4th-5th class, Ms. Ng’s 4th-5th class, Ms. Lipscomb’s 3rd grade class, and Ms. Dixon’s 3rd grade class. To the
classes who helped with the survey results, thank you for voting and helping with this article!

Page 9
Page 10
YICK WO NEWSPAPER CLUB
2018-2019

Members of the Yick Wo Newspaper Club on their November 9 visit to the San Francisco Chronicle. Behind them is the entryway to the Chronicle’s
executive offices and newsroom.

Reporters:
Bonnie Addison-Burns, Erik Alden, BenNoah Arnold, Miles Bernson, Harrison Cote, Jillian Hickox, Lola MacPhee, Matteo Mohammadi,
Felix Ramirez and Aanya Shah
Parent Editors: John Cote, Jenna Welch and Serena Satyasai The New Yick Times
Graphic Design: Georgi Belev Established 2010
Special thanks to: Principal Sarah Van Velsor, Susanna Wong, Stephanie Dominguez, George Loew, The Newspaper of Record for
Aaron Peskin, Sarah Madland, Tamara Barak Aparton and Christina Noori for Yick Wo Elementary School
their support. 2245 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94133
May 2019
Printing costs paid by the Yick Wo PTO.

Page 11
LOV E W H E R E YO U L I V E
WE ARE LOCAL. WE ARE PARENTS. WE ARE PASSIONATE. WE GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNIT Y.

NEED MORE SPACE ?


WHAT IS YOUR HOME WORTH?
SHOULD YOU SELL BEFORE YOU BUY ?
WHEN IS TH E BEST TIME TO BUY OR SELL?

The San Francisco real estate market can be daunting.


We can help answer all those questions and more!
We have more than 75 years of combined knowledge and experience in home sales, construction, and development.
Buy, Sell or Refer to us and we will donate a portion of our commission to the Yick Wo PTO!
Please contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.
Have a great summer Yick Wo families!

Julie Peisner
Sotheby’s International Realty Melanie Lombardi
julie@juliepeisner.com | 415.823.0824 415.533.1417 | melanie@evolve-us.com
© MMXIX Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material is based upon information which we consider reliable but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be
relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We
are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents
affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal housing opportunity. Julie Peisner: 01418710 Melanie Lombardi : 02077839

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