Deal Keeps Ferries Running
New York Waterway, the financially troubled ferry company, struck a preliminary deal on Dec. 22 to sell half of its operation to a private investor, ensuring that Hudson River ferry service will continue undisrupted for the immediate future and allowing the company to try to restructure its finances.

Under the deal, Manhattan attorney William B. Wachtel would buy 16 New York Waterway ferryboats and assume about $20 million in debt on the vessels, and would take over routes between Lower Manhattan and terminals in Hoboken and Jersey City. NY Waterway would continue to operate other routes, including those between Lower Manhattan and Weehawken.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey gave the two parties 60 days to finalize the deal.

"This is a step in the right direction," the Port Authority said in a statement. "The Port Authority will be meeting with New York Waterway and Mr. Wachtel over the next several weeks to iron out any financial and customer service issues."

Steve Coleman, a Port Authority spokesman, said last month that construction plans for a permanent, $55 million ferry terminal at the World Financial Center in Battery Park City were moving forward. The new terminal is scheduled to open in the spring of 2006.

"At this point in time we have no plans to change that project," Coleman said. "If circumstances change, there may still be time to make some changes."

Wachtel was involved with Wings Point Associates, a group that has been working to redevelop Pier A just south of Battery Park City and turn it into a tourist attraction with shops, restaurants and a ferry hub for harbor tours.

Pre-School Primer
A Downtown pre-school fair for parents interested in enrolling their tots for fall 2005 or 2006 will be held Jan. 24 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Stuyvesant High School.

Representatives from Battery Park Day Nursery, Buckle My Shoe, Church Street School for Music and Art, Education Alliance, Downtown Little School, Park Preschool, Montessori School of Manhattan, Washington Market Preschool, FedKids Early Childhood Center and others will be on hand to speak about their schools. The Battery Park City Neighbors and Parents Association is sponsoring the event.

For more information, call 212-786-9306.

Libeskind on the WTC
Daniel Libeskind, the architect behind the rebuilding plans for the World Trade Center site, will lecture, answer questions and sign copies of his book, "Breaking Ground," on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. at Tribeca Hebrew, 67 Hudson St. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 212-608-0555 or visiting www.tribecahebrew.org

Third Thursday Lectures
Paul Goldberger, author and architecture critic for The New Yorker, will speak about the rebuilding of the World Trade Center on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Custom House, One Bowling Green. Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. The talk, sponsored by the Downtown Alliance, is part of a free lecture series about Downtown architecture and history to be held on the third Thursday of each month.

Reservations are required. Call the Downtown Alliance, 212-835-2789 or go to www.downtownny.com.

Baby Sitter Training
The American Red Cross will offer 11-to-15 year-olds a two-session course on the basics in baby sitting with topics that include safety, first aid, safe play and care skills on Jan. 22 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, 2 South End Ave.

Registration is required for the $30 course. Call 212-267-9700, ext. 366.

Free Arbitration Clinic
A free securities arbitration clinic for investors who feel they have a claim against their stock broker is being offered at New York Law School, 57 Worth St. The clinic, overseen by the school's professors and staffed by students, is a free service for investors who have suffered up to $50,000 in damages due to negligence by their stock broker or brokerage firm. For information, call Prof. Howard Meyers, 212-431-2892 ext. 6.

Hearing Tests
Free hearing screenings will be offered on Jan. 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Downtown Information Center, 25 Broad St. The three-minute tests will be conducted by audiologists from the League for the Hard of Hearing. For more information, call 212-425-4636 or email events@downtowninfocenter.org.

Fitness Training Talk
Looking to shed a few holiday pounds? A free lecture by personal trainer and psychotherapist Pamela Haber on the physical and psychological approaches to weight loss will be held Jan. 23 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 280 Rector Pl., second floor. Go to www.bpcnpa.com for information.