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Out & About

By Judy Noy

Onstage

• JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center hosts filmmaker and cellist Biana Kovic’s independent film Virtuoso, March 27 at 11:15 a.m., about 89-year-old Matty Kahn who learns to play the cello for the first time. Also, Broadway and Night Club Sounds of New York, with singer and pianist Tom Smith is scheduled for April 10 at 1 p.m., preceded by lunch at noon for a $3 donation. The center is located at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. For more information, call (718) 549-4700.

 

• The Bronx Library Center presents Orlando Marin Quintet in Concert, March 22 at 2:30 p.m., and Praise: A Gospel Inspired Ballet, performed by the Contemporary Ballet Theatre, March 29 at 2:30 p.m. The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Road off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

 

• The Mosholu Library, located at 285 E. 205th St., presents Silk and Sword by the Red Silk Dancers, April 5 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

 

• Lehman College’s Lovinger Theatre, located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., hosts A Morning with FDR, performed by actor Jonah Triebwasser, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, reenacting famous episodes of his presidency. It’s free and on March 26 at 11 a.m. For more information, call (718) 960-8975.

 

• Mozart’s Requiem and Poulenc’s Gloria, will be presented, free, by the Fordham University Choir and the Bronx Arts Ensemble, April 6 at 3 p.m., in the Fordham University Church. For more information, call 718-817-4504.

• Bronx Arts Ensemble is sponsoring Babar the Elephant – and his journey from baby to king of the jungle – at New York Botanical Garden’s Arthur and Janet Ross Lecture Hall, March 23 at 1 and 3 p.m. For more information and tickets, call (718) 601-7399.

Events

• Lehman College’s Lovinger Theatre, located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., hosts Inviting Popular Culture into Literacy Instruction, a free lecture on the widening gap between traditional in-school literary practices, like reading and writing, and growing extracurricular literacy practices, like e-mail and instant messaging, March 26 at 4:30 p.m. Reservations are required. For more information, call (718) 960-8307.

 

• Lehman College’s Music Department will host its Seventh Annual Jerome G. Sala Wind Competition, March 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. and March 29 from noon to 4 p.m. It will be held in room 306 of Lehman’s Music Building. High school seniors who can play a wind band or mallet percussion instrument may bring along an accompanist, and will be judged on technical skill and artistic presentation. First prize is a $500 scholarship. Lehman is located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W. For more information, call (718) 960-8247 or contact music.department@lehman.cuny.edu.

 

• The New York Botanical Garden presents Chocolate and Vanilla Adventures for children in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden through April 6, weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kids learn about the origins of vanilla; examine vanilla beans with hand lenses and microscopes; observe live vanilla orchids; and grind, examine and taste chocolate seeds, culminating in vanilla and hot chocolate tasting. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.

 

• The Museum of Bronx History, located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. at East 208th Street, holds a Book Talk and Signing on March 29 at 1 p.m. on “The Study and Writing of History” by Dr. Gary Hermalyn. For more information, call (718) 881-8900.

 

• The Bronx Culture Trolley, a replica of a 20th-century trolley, transports visitors to Bronx hot spots on the first Wednesday of every month (except January and September). The next trip is on April 2. A reception is held at the Hostos Art Gallery, 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th Street) at 5 p.m., followed by three trolley departures at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. The ride and all events are free. Riders can get on and off at any scheduled stop and spend as much time as they wish at any or all of the featured venues. For more information, call (718) 931-9500 ext. 33 or visit to www.bronxarts.org to confirm.

Exhibits

• The New York Botanical Garden hosts The Orchid Show through April 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and in the Orchid Rotunda on the first floor of the Library building. Docent-led tours are available. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.

 

• Sound the Alarm, an exhibition of photographs, paintings and video that reveal landscapes in distress, runs through June 1 at Wave Hill’s Glyndor Gallery, located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in Riverdale. Admission is free to members and children under 6, and free all day Tuesdays and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call (718) 549-3200 or visit www.wavehill.org.

 

• See the Bronx from the perspective of Hunts Point photographers ages 9 to 19, with 35 black and white photos on view as part of I Love the Bronx, until May – just one of many rotating exhibitions at The Point, located at 940 Garrison Ave. at Manida Street. For more information, call (718) 542-4149.

 

• The Bronx River Art Center, located at 1087 E. Tremont Ave., presents Trappings: Stories of Women, Power and Clothing, through April 12. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (718) 589-5819.

 

• Inspired by the Feminist Movement, the new exhibit at the Bronx Museum of the Arts explores women artists working collectively in new ways to engage communities and address social issues in Making It Together: Women’s Collaborative Art and Community through Aug. 4. Also on view at the museum is Teen Council Presents: Jamel Shabazz through July 27 in the North Wing. The museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse and is open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m.; Friday to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 681-6000.

Learning

• The Bronx Library Center located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd.has events for all ages:

Babies, toddlers and children can enjoy Preschool Stories, April 3 at 11 a.m. For children, there are video screenings on March 26 and April 2 at 4 p.m. Also, for school-aged children, there is Picture Frame Making, March 27 at 4 p.m.; Little Red Riding Hood, March 29 at 2 p.m.; and Reading Aloud, April 1 at 4 p.m.
Young adults can Play Chess! in a workshop with Ramon A. Hernandez on March 24 and 31 at 4 p.m.; attend Bring That Beat Back! with Urban Word NYC, March 26 at 4 p.m.; and participate in Game On: B-Balling NBA 2K8 Tournament, March 24 and 31 at 4 p.m., and Game On, March 25 and April 1 at 4 p.m.
For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

• The Mosholu Library presents YTWL: You Talk! We Listen, for young adults, March 26 and April 2 at 4 p.m. Also for young adults is Action Racket Theatre Lab, April 2 at 4 p.m. Younger children can enjoy Toddler Time April 3 at 10:30 a.m. The library is located at 285 E. 205th St. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OUR CHRISTIAN READERS!

NOTE: Items for consideration should be received in our office by March 24 for the next publication date of April 3.

Neighborhood Notes

By Norwood News

Holy Week Masses
The Bedford Park Congregational Church, 201 St. and Bainbridge Ave., is offering services for Holy Week. Their Holy Thursday Communion Service will be on March 20 at 7:30 p.m. Good Friday service will be on March 21 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Easter Sunday service will be on March 23 at 11 a.m. All are invited to attend.

Charter School Info
The final information session for the Bronx Community Charter School, a new progressive public school scheduled to open in District 10 in fall 2008 with a kindergarten and first grade, will be held at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, on Saturday, March 22 at 12 p.m. Admission to the school is by lottery. Applications will be available at the information session, by calling (347) 668-5229 or by e-mailing bronxcommunity@gmail.com. Applications must be received by April 1.

Blood Drive
A blood drive will be held on March 25-27, at Montefiore Medical Center, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Social Security Assistance
Representatives of the Social Security Administration will be at Congressman Eliot Engel’s Bronx office, 3655 Johnson Ave., on Wednesday, March 26 to assist people with questions and issues concerning Social Security. The service is available by appointment only. To make an appointment or for more information, call Engel’s assistant Richard Fedderman at (718) 796-9700.

Free Computer Tutoring
Free computer tutoring from the Mosholu Preservation Corporation is being offered to anyone who is interested. Lessons will cover topics ranging from basic computer skills to Internet navigation. Lessons are offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Mosholu Preservation Corporation is located at 3400 Reservoir Oval East. For an appointment, call Brenda Lucio or Jennifer Mitchell, (718) 324-4461.

Fordham Road Public Workshop
The Fordham Road Business Improvement District invites the public to attend a design workshop on Wednesday, March 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bronx Library Center, 310 Kingsbridge Road, to discuss potential streetscape improvements for Fordham Road from Jerome Ave. to Third Ave. Representatives from the BID and the design firm RBA will be available to discuss the project. For more information, call (718) 562-2104 or visit www.fordhamroadbid.org.

Bike Tour Registration
Registration for the Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour is currently underway. The 42-mile tour through New York City on car-free streets, highways, and bridges, will be held on Sunday, May 4. A discounted registration fee of $43 is offered until Friday, March 28. After April 4, only online registrations will be accepted as space permits. For more information and to register, visit www.BikeNewYork.org or call Bike New York at (212) 932-BIKE.

Food Co-Op
The Norwood Food Co-op is accepting registration for members for the 2008 season. Members of the Co-op receive organic vegetables from the weekly harvest of the Norwich Meadows Farm, a New York State organic farm. The season lasts from mid-June to early November. To get more information, attend an information session at the Keeper’s House at 3400 Reservoir Oval East on Saturday, March 29 at 11 a.m. or Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. To register for more info, call (718) 670-3727, or email Norwoodcsafoodcoop@yahoo.com. Visit www.norwoodfoodcorp.org for more information.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Registration for Pre-K and Kindergarten at PS/MS 20 is currently underway. To pick up an application for Pre-K or register for Kindergarten, go to the school’s main office from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. For more information and a list of what is required for Kindergarten registration, call Mrs. Ryan in the Main Office at (718) 515-9370.

Essay Contest
The National Bar Association is seeking submissions for its ninth annual essay and oral competition, the 2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition. Seniors who are applying to a college or university for the 2008-2009 school year are invited to submit an essay of no more than 600 words on the topic of disparity in juvenile criminal charges. For more information call Tanya McDuffie, (516) 668-4359. Submissions are due April 1.

Orientations for Volunteers
Orientations for new volunteers for New York Cares, the city’s leading volunteer organization, will be held twice in March. Volunteers are required to attend one orientation to start with the program. The first orientation along with a project to create Surgi Dolls will be held on March 21 from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. at the Bronx Library Center, 310 East Kingsbridge Road. The second orientation will be held at the Grand Concourse Library Branch, 155 East 173rd Street, on March 26 from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. To register or for additional orientation dates, visit www.nycares.org or call (212) 228-5000.

Hosting an Exchange Student
AFS, the leading international high school student exchange program, needs local families to host high school students for an academic year or six months. Students arrive in August. AFS is also looking for volunteer liaisons to work locally with families and their hosted students. Anyone interested in hosting or volunteering should visit www.afs.org/usa/hostfamily or call 1-800-AFS-INFO.

Research Patients Needed
Doctors at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center are looking for women ages 18-50 with a vaginal herpes blister or sore to undergo a gynecologic exam for a research study. A free, confidential screening will determine eligibility. Participants need to attend 3 visits in 2 weeks, and monetary reimbursement will be given for each visit. For more information, contact Julie at (718) 430-3253, Tara at (718) 430-3061 or e-mail Microbicide@aecom.yu.edu.

Fresh Air Camps Registration
The Fresh Air Fund is currently registering New York City boys and girls, ages 6 to 12, for free vacations in country and small-town communities. The program gives inner-city children from low-income communities a chance to experience the country at one of five Fresh Air camps or with a volunteer host family. For a referral to a participating agency or for more information about the program, call (212) 897-8900 or (800) 367-0003, or visit www.freshair.org.

Energy Assistance
Older New Yorkers can apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grant to help meet the challenges of paying for heating and utility costs during the cold winter months. This federally-funded program provides financial assistance to limited-income households to offset costs of heating and energy bills. Applicants must meet income guidelines and be 60 or older. To receive a HEAP application, call 311 or visit DFTA at www.nyc.gov/aging. For more information about the HEAP program, seniors can log onto ACESS NYC at www.nyc.gov, call the Human Resources Administration’s Info Line at 1-877-HRA-8411 or visit HRA’s Web site at www.nyc.gov/hra.

Register for Charitable Event
New York Cares, a volunteer organization, has opened registration for its 14th Annual Hands On New York Day, a charitable event in which volunteers revitalize parks, gardens, community centers, and homeless shelters. The event will take place on Saturday, April 12. Last year’s event included 4,500 volunteers at 89 locations. For more information, or to register, go to www.handsonnewyorkday.org.

R.N. Program at Monroe
Monroe College is now accepting applications for its new R.N. program that begins on April 29. Students can earn their L.P.N. in the first year of the program and their Associates Degree in Registered Nursing after successful completion of their second year. Those interested in applying need to take two entrance exams, the NLN and the ATI, before the first week of April. The cost of the exams is $100. To schedule an appointment to sit for the exams or for more information, call Paulette Foreman at (646) 393-8620.

Lectures at the Methodist Church Home
Two lectures will be held at the Methodist Church Home, 4499 Manhattan College Parkway in Riverdale. The first, a lecture about mold and mildew awareness by the DHPD, will be on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. The second, called “Staying Healthy in Body, Mind, and Spirit” by Dr. Salomon Reuben, will be held on March 31 at 6:30 p.m. Both events are free but reservations are required. Call (718) 548-5100 ext. 231 to make a reservation or for more information.

Food Drive
The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture is seeking canned food donations to benefit the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Marble Hill Food and Hunger Project, Inc. The food drive is ongoing. Please leave food donations at the Society, 4450 Fieldston Road, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. No perishable foods accepted. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.

Adult Programs at Mosholu Library
The Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., is holding a number of adult programs on Saturdays in the upcoming month. Silk and Sword (Red Silk Dancers) is on April 5 at 2:30 p.m. Music from Bangladesh is on April 19 at 2:30 p.m. Call (718) 882-8239 for more information.

Teen Internship Program
The Educational Counseling Center, MMCC, is offering an internship program to young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not currently in school. The city funded short-term employment program targets low-income, job-ready youth. The program lasts 14 weeks and begins on March 10. For more information, contact Assistant Director Edith Bolanos at (718) 652-0470.

Summer Camps at Community Center
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is offering sports day camps this summer. The City Sports Camp teaches skills in baseball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, kickball, flag football, and other organized games. Boys and girls entering 3rd through 8th grades in September can sign up for a 2-week session, a 4-week session, or a 6-week session. Swim Camp takes place at Fordham University on Monday through Thursday mornings, under Steve Plotsklan, the Head Swim Coach of Fordham. Ages are 5 through 16; for information call Mr. Plotsklan at (718) 817-4256. Karate Camp, taught by Luis Morales, head Sensei at the Center, takes place on Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 5 p.m. for boys and girls entering 1st through 8th grades. For more information and free brochures, call the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at (718) 882-4000.     

High School Salon Reopens
The beauty salon at Grace Dodge Career and Technical High School has opened to the public. The salon, which employs seniors from the school’s hair and nail salon-training program, is supervised by a licensed cosmetologist, and is open on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call the school’s Assistant Principal, Marilyn Soto, (718) 584-2700.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
The Alzheimer’s Association’s New York City chapter provides a support group for Spanish and English speaking caregivers who have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia in Norwood. The support group meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5 to 6:15 p.m. For exact location or more information, call Mark Goodwin at (718) 920- 7377.

Free Programs for Cancer Patients
The Albert Einstein Cancer Center is offering two free research programs for patients with cancer. The Yoga-Based Cancer Rehabilitation Program includes 12 weeks of yoga classes as part of a research study to see if yoga can help patients with breast, lung and colorectal cancer. The Mind-Body Cancer Program includes eight weeks of mind-body groups as a part of a research study for patients with most types of cancer. Some restrictions may apply and both programs are taking place in the Bronx. For more information or to find out if you are eligible, call (718)-430-2380.

Girls Softball League Enrollment
Registration is now being accepted for the Spring Girls Softball League at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. The league accepts girls ages 9 to 15. Each player receives a uniform and a trophy for participating. For complete information and to register call (718) 882-4000 ext. 0 or ext. 280, or stop by the community center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. near Gun Hill Road.   

English, Civics and Computer Classes
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center offers free English as a Second Language classes (ESL), and civics and computer classes Monday through Saturdays. To apply, visit the Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. (corner of Gun Hill Road). For more information, call (718) 882-4000, ext. 216.

ESL and GED Classes
Fordham Manor Reformed Church is offering free ESL and GED classes at its building on 2705 Reservoir Ave. The ESL classes will be held on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the GED classes are on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The ESL class requires a 15-minute test for enrollment. A longer three-hour test is necessary to take part in the GED class. For more information, call (718) 796-4980 ext. 16.

Citizenship Test Preparation Course
Two Bronx High School of Science seniors and a student in the Macaulay Honors Program at Lehman College are offering a free Citizenship Test preparation course. The course will be held in Room 131 of the Bronx High School of Science, 75 W. 205th St. on Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Andrew Levin at (917) 532-7727.

Adult ESL and Computer Classes
Now through June, PS 94 at 3530 Kings College Place is offering beginning and intermediate ESL classes as well as beginner computer classes. All classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up, go to room 105 or call the parent coordinator, Ms. Seminario, at (347) 563-4772, (718) 405-6345 ext. 1050 or (718) 863-4057.  

Housing and Job Help
National Student Partnerships provides no-cost help with job searches, housing searches, education, job training, resume-writing, childcare, legal services and much more.  There are no eligibility requirements, and all services are completely free.  NSP is located at 2715 Bainbridge Ave. at East 196th Street. Call (718) 733-3897 to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a student to obtain services. Se habla espanol.

Little League Registration
The Fordham Bedford Little League is currently accepting applications for interested boys and girls from ages 5 to 18. For more information, call Pete at (917) 645-9514 or visit www.fbllnet.org.

Foster Parents Needed
The Foster Care Network currently has an urgent need for adults who want to become foster parents for the hundreds of area children who need a home. For more information, call (800) 454-3727 ext. 110.

Mess of the Year

By Norwood News

Here’s another mess the Norwood News would like to highlight near 199th Street and Marion Avenue. Notice the sheer magnitude of messiness. This trash-strewn parking lot is not only surrounded by graffiti, but its sole inhabitant is an abandoned old car on one wheel. In fact, we’re nominating it for mess of the year right now and it’s only March. We dare you to top it. Please send Mess of the Year entries to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org.

Calling Cards Duping Users

By None

Re: “Card Companies Called Out,” March 6–19 issue:

One doesn’t only have to make calls overseas using a prepaid calling card to get scammed. Using a calling card between states can cheat us out of part of the value of the card or number of minutes noted on the card.

There are some calling cards that subtract minutes if they’re not used within a specific amount of time. For example, if the caller uses a card meant for 60 minutes, but speaks for less time, then puts the card aside for future use, he may be unpleasantly surprised to find that upon subsequent use, the balance of unused minutes has either expired due to delayed use of that card or that minutes have been subtracted between uses. Sometimes a charge is tacked on to the cost of a call, referred to as a “connection” charge.

Many cards have numerous rules, restrictions, and instructions written on the back in type size so tiny, it discourages reading through it all.

Your article refers to a report released by The Hispanic Institute on international calling cards delivering only 60 percent of their stipulated usage. Perhaps there’s an agency out there that can do a study on national usage of these cards. Interstate callers also experience deception.

Having terms and conditions written on the card doesn’t alleviate the problem. Card users will still suffer a loss of minutes and/or partial cost. The result is that these so-called bargain cards aren’t a bargain at all.

Shouldn’t there be a crackdown on card companies that dupe the public?

Judy Noy

Norwood

Better Bronx Train Service

By None

Re: “New Mega-Station at Gun Hill Road,” March 6–19 issue: Elliot Sander offered the Bronx even more hope in his March 3 State of the MTA address. 

In addition to Metro North and the extension of the D train to Gun Hill Road, Sander stated that he hoped to extend the Second Avenue subway into the outer boroughs and even showed a diagram containing a Bronx extension. Amtrak offers such an easy, efficient and relatively inexpensive route that this proposal is very realistic.

Sander also mentioned that the third track on Bronx lines can be used for more express service.  As I have argued many times, express service (in the direction of heavy travel) can be initiated on the No. 1 line from 96th to 145th streets; on the No. 2 from Third Avenue to Gun Hill Road; and from 149th Street to Burnside Avenue on the No. 4.  As with the No. 6 express, these services should be all-day and not rush hour-only, as should the current express service on the D and the No. 5. 

If these services are supplemented by service diversification (new routes for a one seat ride to more locations), mass transit in the Bronx would be far more rapid, efficient and attractive.  Sander also spoke about off-board loading which can easily be implemented for our local buses at busy stops such as Fordham Plaza and Westchester Square.

 None of these things will happen, however, unless our elected officials become more interested in fostering the borough’s transit needs.  Manhattan got the Second Avenue subway only because the elected officials of that borough organized the people and actively campaigned for it.  Our officials must do the same or nothing will happen.

John Rozankowski

Bedford Park

The Freedom of Information

By Editorial

Information is the lifeblood of our democracy. Yet, too few citizens know that they have the right to see much of the information that our government produces.

The American Society of Newspaper Editors and dozens of other press organization hope to change that with Sunshine Week, which began March 16.

It can’t come soon enough, as more and more public information is being declared off-limits by government agencies, especially at the federal level.

Though it’s sponsored by press organizations, this is an event for all New Yorkers and Americans to participate in.

Why? Because secrecy in government is antithetical to American democracy and is harmful to its citizens.

Here’s a very local example: In the mid-1990s, the Norwood News investigated repeated delays in the construction of PS 20 on Webster Avenue. The school was supposed to take about three years to build, but ended up taking six. By filing a request under New York State’s Freedom of Information Law, known as FOIL, this newspaper was able to acquire documents that revealed severe problems at the site, including construction piles being driven into unstable parts of the ground, and lapses in oversight.

We believe that our dogged reporting on this issue prevented further delays at PS 20 and provided an incentive for the city School Construction Authority to finish several other area schools on time in subsequent years. Much of that reporting would not have been possible without the FOIL.

Reporters all around the country use state and federal freedom of information laws to gather information that sometimes has life-and-death consequences.

But it’s not just the news media that have used FOIL requests effectively. Community organizations and private citizens have successfully used this law to get public documents about a variety of community projects including the water filtration plant and the Kingsbridge Armory.

Many government agencies have begun to clamp down on information, using the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 as an excuse. We hope it will become clear to most Americans that withholding public documents and choking off the flow of information threatens our democracy. These are not just the rights of newspapers or TV stations. They are the rights of all of us. And, like a muscle, these rights will atrophy if they are not regularly exercised.

Education about the right to information, and how to secure it, should begin in grade school. Kids can learn how many housing code violations their apartment buildings have by looking up their address on the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Web site. They can look up how their precinct is doing on crime prevention by viewing the weekly CompStat reports on the Police Department’s Web site. And if there’s information that’s not available on-line, they can call the appropriate city agency. If that is unsuccessful, they can file a FOIL request.

Sunshine Week would be a great time to try this out (more information at http://www.sunshineweek.org/). Feel free to call us if you need some guidance at (718) 324-4998.

The state’s Committee on Open Government, a public entity that was formed in 1974 by the Freedom of Information Law, publishes a pamphlet entitled “Your Right to Know” that explains the FOIL and provides a sample letter to government agencies. Just call the Committee at (518) 474-2518 to request a copy. It can also be found on-line at: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/Right_to_know.html.

Or e-mail us at norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org and we’ll send you one while supplies last.

We’ll give James Madison, the fourth U.S. president and shaper of the Constitution, the last word here.

“A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy — or perhaps both.”

Ed. note: This editorial is largely the same one we ran last year. But the issues are no less relevant or urgent.

Re-Creating Latin American Cultures

By Jennifer DeYoung

Bright, colorful art projects decorate the art room at PS 340, from replicas of ancient Mayan masks to papier-mâché gourd bowls. They are all the work of the students.  

The inspiration for the art show was South America – from the Mayans to residents of the Caribbean, all of the art was representative of older cultures. Two students gave small group tours, explaining how each piece of art was made. Art teacher Mrs. Curley was also in attendance, watching as the parents and other students looked around at the colorful works

PS 15 Promotes Healthy Lifestyles Choices

By Alex Kratz

A crate of apples greeted parents and students at PS/MS 15 last week, as part of a school expedition on health and wellness. A long table was filled with healthy food – vegetables, whole wheat cereal and bars, juice boxes, and low-calorie snacks, all part of a free raffle.

Pamphlets in both English and Spanish offered information on how to eat healthy and various other health and wellness issues.

The Wellness Table was part of the school’s new wellness program, funded with a $5,000 wellness grant from the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Food Change. The school plans to have continuing programs, as well as a monthly newsletter.

PS 15 is the only school in the Bronx to have won the grant.

Making Science Fun at Clinton

By Alex Kratz

Students sit on stools in a lab, all of their attention focused on the guest professor standing at the front of the classroom. He pulls a rubber ball out of a container of liquid nitrogen, and tosses it to the ground as if he were going to bounce it. Instead, the ball, frozen, shatters into pieces. The students think it’s awesome.

Professor Stanton Ching is one of the six guest professors from Connecticut College who were performing science experiments with students at DeWitt Clinton High School on March 17. The hands-on experiments were part of a program that Connecticut College recently launched called Science Leaders, which tries to get students engaged and interested in science while they’re in high school.

The program is also designed for students who have already discovered a love of science, fostering their interest through research and close work with faculty.

Each of the six professors taught a few classes at Clinton on Monday, and there were a variety of experiments. In addition to the liquid nitrogen demonstration, students in another classroom worked on extracting the DNA of a strawberry, and others learned how to use household items for experiments.

Police Report

By Alex Kratz

Shooting at the X Bar

The only other shooting so far this year in the Five-Two happened at the X Bar on Feb. 1. An unknown gunman drove by the entrance of the West Fordham-area bar and shot one of the assistant managers in the stomach.

Police said the assistant manager had forcibly removed at least one patron earlier in the evening, but they couldn’t identify anyone. There’s no car description and no other witnesses have come forward.

Cops Supervise Fat Joe Appearance

On a lighter note, several cops from the Five-Two were on hand when the Boogie Down’s own Fat Joe came by the X Bar last Wednesday night to promote his new album. Bronx hip-hop legend KRS One was also there, as was Felicia “Snoop” Pearson, who plays a character named “Snoop” on HBO’s The Wire. Pearson spent eight years in jail for murder and is now featured in at least two hip-hop videos.  

One Bronx police officer told the Norwood News that The Wire is his favorite television show and that it’s the most realistic depiction of urban police work he’s ever seen.

Sidekick Robberies Near Fordham

Police from the 52nd Precinct want people, especially young ladies, to beware of thieves while walking around writing text messages on their cell phones, Sidekicks, Blackberries and other PDA devices. There has been a rash of snatch-and-run robberies by a group of teenagers around the Fordham Road commercial corridor over the past few months. Police say people should not walk and text, a popular pastime here in the Bronx. But they should be especially wary of doing so around Fordham Road.

Local Resident Hit by Truck on Gun Hill Road

By Graham Kates

Longtime Norwood resident Anna Rogovin, 91, was struck by a tractor-trailer on Thursday, March 13, at about 10:35 a.m. as she crossed Gun Hill Road. She had been on her way to the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, where she had been an active participant in senior activities for more than 20 years.

The truck, which had a green light, struck Rogovin on its passenger side, causing severe leg trauma.

On Thursday, hours after the accident, Rogovin made it through emergency surgery. Both of her legs had to be amputated. She is now breathing on her own and in stable condition.   

Rogovin is a “wonderful, positive person,” said Bayla Lovens, the community center’s senior center director. “She is one of the kindest people I know.” Lovens added that Rogovin is a “very active” member of the center’s senior advisory board.

A friend of Rogovin, who declined to be named, said that she was also a vocal member of the center’s “Bluebirds Club,” a weekly women’s social gathering.

A Norwood resident, Rogovin is a veteran of Navy WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), having served in Washington, D.C. during World War II as a chemist. Rogovin also worked for Sloan Kettering, Colgate Palmolive and the American Petroleum Institute.

She lives just a block from the community center on Rochambeau Avenue.

Police are still looking for the driver of the truck, a large white 18-wheeler with blue stripes. An NYPD spokesman says they are treating the matter as an accident, and that the driver is wanted only for routine questioning, not a criminal investigation.

If anyone has information, please call the 52nd Police Precinct at (718) 220-5811.

"Green Eyes" Sought in First Five-Two Murder of 2008

By Alex Kratz

If not for his vivid eye color, Andrew Maestre might not have been so easily fingered as the prime suspect in the first murder case of the year in the 52nd Police Precinct.

Known as “Green Eyes,” or “the man with green eyes,” Maestre, 24, is wanted for shooting two men, one of whom later died, while they sat in their car in the early morning hours of Feb. 24, near the corner of 198th Street and Valentine Avenue in North Fordham.

According to police, an argument between Maestre and another man over a woman escalated over the course of several hours that Saturday night, Feb. 23. Later, police said, the man Maestre was arguing with received a phone call from a friend who said Maestre was beating on his car, which was parked near the site of the shooting.

It’s unclear who Maestre was arguing with, but one of the victims, George Torres, 25, of Orlando, Florida, and another man, drove to the corner of 198th and Valentine, where the argument with the suspect escalated. At some point, according to police, Maestre took out a gun and fired at the victims. Torres was struck once in the back and the other man, whose identity police have yet to reveal, was struck in the leg.

Both victims were transported to the trauma center at St. Barnabas Hospital. The victim struck in the leg is expected to make a full recovery, but doctors pronounced Torres dead later that Sunday morning.

Monsignor John Jenik, the longtime pastor of Our Lady of Refuge, located two blocks from the crime scene, stumbled on the crime scene early that Sunday morning while jogging. For the past 25 years, Jenik has railed against the non-stop cycle of violence and drug dealing in his neighborhood. He initially assumed the shooting was drug-related.

Following the shooting, Jenik said it was widely suspected that “the man with green eyes,” Andrew Maestre, had committed the crime. He said Maestre was feared in the community and that many local residents had attributed other violent deeds to him.

Police said that Maestre had never been charged with a violent crime before this shooting, but had been picked up on smaller charges. The Bronx detective squad is now handling the search for Maestre. Aside from the green eyes, Maestre is described as being about 6-feet tall and 180 pounds. He drives a 1998 Red Lexus with the license plate number EAA567.

At this time last year, there were already three murders in the 52nd Precinct.

Public and Community Meetings

By None

• A celebration of the Williamsbridge Oval Park renewal is being held on Wednesday, March 26 at 6 p.m. at the Epiphany Lutheran Church, 302 E. 206th St. Speakers include Transportation Commissioner Constance Moran and Parks Department officials, who will talk about making the Oval’s entrances safer and improving the dog run. Co-sponsored by the Northwest Bronx Commuity and Clergy Coalition. For more information call (718) 655-6464 or (718) 584-0515 ext. 510.

• Community Board 7’s Education Committee will meet on Monday, March 24 at 6 p.m. at the Community Board Office, 229A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• Community Board 7’s Health/Hospitals Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 26 at 6 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• The 52nd Precinct Community Council will meet on Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bedford Park Senior Center, 243 E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 220-5824.

• The Community Education Council of District 10 will meet on Thursday, March 27 at 6:15 p.m. at PS 59, 2185 Bathgate Ave. For more information, call (718) 741-5836.

• The Bedford Mosholu Community Association will meet on Wednesday, April 2 at 8 p.m. at 400 E. Mosholu Parkway S. Apt. B1 (Lobby Floor). All are welcome.

Engel: Less Dependence On Oil Needed

By Graham Kates

Congressman Eliot Engel is supporting the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008. The legislation seeks to curtail nearly $18 billion in tax subsidies for oil companies, and reallocate them for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

According to a statement from Engel’s office, the bill would “extend and expand tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes.”

President Bush opposes the legislation and has said he would veto it, claiming the bill “will lead to higher energy costs to consumers and businesses.”

Crude oil prices recently rose above $110 per barrel for the first time ever, leading analysts to predict that gasoline might soon reach as high as $4 per gallon. “I remain hopeful that President Bush will reconsider his veto threat and provide relief to all Americans at the gas pumps,” said Engel. —Graham Kates

Alternate Congestion Pricing Plan

By Allison Grande

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, along with a number of city and state legislators, is supporting an alternative to Mayor Bloomberg’s Congestion Pricing Plan. Under this alternate plan, which is headed by Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, the burden for reducing congestion would be moved off  regular motorists commuting to Manhattan and placed onto cab and limousine riders.

The new proposal calls most notably for a new surcharge of $4 (on top of the $2.50 already charged to enter a taxi) to ride cabs and livery cars short distances in Manhattan. To try to lessen the blow, the cost of a cab ride would be reduced to 35 cents per one-fifth mile from 40 cents. This change would mean more expensive rides within Manhattan but very little change for longer trips to neighboring boroughs and Westchester. According to Brodsky, this increased fare would result in $187 million a year in new taxi revenue and $80 million in new limousine revenue while reducing vehicle miles of travel about 2 percent.

“This alternative plan will generate revenue for the city, reduce congestion, promote cleaner air, and, best of all, does not punish the Bronx and outer boroughs,” Dinowitz said in a statement.

This alternate plan also calls for increasing the number of taxi stands to reduce cab cruising, which Brodsky says wastes gas and adds to congestion. There would also be increases in fines related to parking, moving, and block-the-box violations.       —Allison Grande

New Recourse for City’s Harassed Tenants

By Chris Matthews

Several hundred tenants, activists, and city officials gathered on the steps of City Hall on March 13 to celebrate the enactment of a new law that gives tenants the right to take their landlord to court for harassment.

The scene downtown was animated. Tenants at the rally wielded dozens of colorful signs. One placard read “My landlord sued me, why can’t I sue him?” Another: “End landlord terror.”

Sponsors of the Tenant Protection Act, or Local Law No. 7, joked and patted each other on the back as the crowd behind them began cheering excitedly. As Council Speaker Christine Quinn took the podium, Mayor Bloomberg appeared beside her and the crowd erupted. Quinn thanked the mayor, who waved to the crowd and departed moments after arriving.

The bill was passed by the City Council 46-0. Initially, it was up against a rival bill (Intro. 638), sponsored by two local Bronx Council members, Maria Baez and Joel Rivera. Tenant advocates labeled their bill “pro-landlord,” claiming it narrowed the definition of harassment, making it harder to hold negligent landlords responsible for their actions. Intro. 638 also would have allowed landlords to sue tenants for harassment.

Last November, tenant advocates held a protest outside Baez’s Grand Concourse office. In the end, both Baez and Rivera backed down. Both ultimately voted for the pro-tenant act.

“After more than a year of hard work, I am proud to say that starting today, the Tenant Protection Act is the law of the land,” Quinn said. “We hope landlords hear the message. The days where they can harass tenants freely, those days are over.”

 Under the old legal setting, tenants were afforded little protection from landlord harassment. They could take their landlords to court only when they were deprived of essential services or the physical condition of their apartment was not up to code. The old laws did not recognize a pattern of harassing behavior by landlords.

Tenant rights advocates, including many groups from the northwest Bronx, claim landlords frequently abused this loophole to push out rent-controlled tenants and deregulate their apartments. “There was recognition by City Council that harassment was reaching a crisis level,” said Jackie Del Valle, the lead organizer for Bronx-based New Settlement Apartments. “It had always been going on, but there was a dramatic increase with the soaring housing market.”

Local Law No. 7 defines harassment as a series of actions intended to cause tenants to vacate their apartment or give up their rights. If a Housing Court judge finds a landlord guilty of harassment, he can be fined up to $5,000 and slapped with a class “C” violation, the most serious kind.

“Starting today, we will be able to assist in the preservation of existing affordable housing and ensure that tenants have new standing in housing court,” said Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito.

Monroe Juggernaut Rolls to National Championship

By Allison Grande

At a school with a two-year athletic program, it can be difficult to put a winning basketball team on the court year after year.

The Monroe College Lady Mustangs don’t seem to be having a problem.

On Saturday night, March 15, the team took home the winning trophy for the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship, after a convincing 79-48 win against second seeded Mohawk Valley Community College.

This victory comes after a very successful season. With only three players returning from last year’s squad, the Lady Mustangs recently won their 103rd straight Region XV conference game, a streak that began in December 2003. the team set a new National Junior College Athletic Association (NJAA) record by winning their 46th straight home contest dating back to January 2004.

The Mustangs finished the season with a 26-2 regular season record on their way to capturing their fifth consecutive Region XV Championship.

According to the coaches, the secret to their success is a combination of how they play and the people who support them on and off the court. “We’re successful because of our great coaching staff who teach and train our talented girls,” seven-year Head Coach Seth Goodman said.

First year Assistant Coach James Robinson agrees. “The girls come to us not completely polished, and we help them polish their games,” he said.

Goodman, along with his three assistant coaches, spend the off-season finding new recruits. Although most of their players are from New York, the roster also boasts players from Connecticut, Florida, and the Virgin Islands. All five sophomores on the roster plan to continue their playing careers when they transfer to other programs this fall.

Sophomore forward Tiana Gilliam came from Queens to play for Monroe. The Murry Bergtraum High School graduate said she picked the school because, “it was a good fit and gave me an opportunity to continue my playing for the next two years.” Gilliam was also excited to play for a winning program.

Robinson also credits the college for the team’s success. “The school itself really supports all its teams,” he said. “They help make men and women who come here better people when they come out.”

Gilliam, who is majoring in business administration, admits that it’s tough to balance school and basketball, but says her coaches make sure the team brings homework to away games and has plenty of time at the library when they are not practicing.

How all these factors translate onto the court is the biggest reason for the team’s success. “These girls play hard, play with passion and aggression, and are fun to watch,” Robinson said.

The team relies on their defense and speed to shut down their opponent’s offensive game. Goodman credits the depth the team enjoys at every position. When Player of the Year Monet Johnson racked up two fouls in the first nine minutes of the Region XV Championship game, the rest of the team stepped up to fill the gap.

The team came together again during the National Championship game when point guard Tierra Cleaves, a member of the All-Region Second Team, was forced to the bench with an injury four minutes into the game.

“This team has bonded well and has built a tight unit,” Goodman said.

Said Gilliam, “Coach is like a father figure, and these girls are like my sisters. I’m going to miss it a whole lot. I love being a Mustang.” 

A Portrait of a Soldier as a Young, Wounded Man

By Alex Kratz

By Alex Kratz

When his Humvee struck a roadside bomb in Iraq three years ago, life for Private Roberto Reyes, Jr. – a local Bronx boy from Mosholu Parkway – would never be the same.

But thanks to some unlikely collaborators, Reyes, Jr. and other disabled vets may soon receive some help in the healing process.

The Accident

Reyes, Jr. was a “tanker” in Iraq. His Army unit provided security for large oil-toting trucks. On their way to home base after another successful shepherding, an explosion jolted Reyes, Jr.’s Humvee, sending him flying 10 feet from the vehicle. A 14-inch piece of metal shrapnel had embedded in the back of his brain. Even more twisted metal scarred his legs and torso.

After coming out of a three-month coma, Reyes, Jr.’s body couldn’t handle the trauma. He suffered a massive stroke, leaving the strapping young soldier legally blind (a result of the shrapnel) and paralyzed on the left side of his body.

Now Reyes, Jr., 26, is under 24-hour care at the Bronx VA Hospital. His memory is shot. He can’t walk, brush his teeth or take a bath. He rarely understands what’s going on around him and gets angry when large groups come into his room.

But there is hope and small victories.

He still recognizes his family, especially his nieces, whom he adores. His aunt, who visits him several times a week, is looking to build Reyes, Jr. a home that can accommodate his disabilities. Doctors say that, with the right therapy, he may walk again and perhaps regain some of the other daily skills that most of us take for granted.

When he’s happy, Reyes, Jr. gives a thumbs-up, or a two-fingered peace sign.  

A Friendly Collaboration

A collaboration between old friends of Reyes, Jr.’s doting aunt, Maria Mendez, recently brought such joy to the soldier. Mendez grew up in the south Bronx and went to high school at Alfred E. Smith with Luis Flores and Keith Brown. After graduating, Brown enlisted in the Army and Flores went to art therapy school. Mendez would keep in touch with them both throughout the years.

Flores put his life-long love of drawing and designing to work, teaching seniors how to improve their lives and express themselves through art, first at Bainbridge Nursing Home in Norwood and now at the St. Vincent de Paul Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center.

Meanwhile, Brown moved his way up the ranks in the U.S. Army and is now a Sergeant Major in the 10th Mountain Division.

Toward the end of his latest tour in Afghanistan, in the fall of 2007, Brown decided he wanted to create something special for his soldiers, a memento, something to help them remember their experience in Afghanistan. It’s called a “legacy gift,” Brown says.

So he called up his old buddy, “Lou.” Brown says Flores is his “go-to guy for all things I want done artistically. He has a very good eye.”

An amateur photographer, Brown began emailing digital images to Flores of soldiers in daily life in Afghanistan: meeting with local military and tribal leaders, handing out candy to local children, street scenes. The idea was to accurately illustrate the military’s mission in the Middle East: “Help those in need and go after the bad guys,” Brown says.   

 While the media focuses too much on the violence in the Middle East, Brown said, “The majority of our year was focused on the humanitarian effort: schools built, medical aid. That’s what I accomplished.”  

When Brown returned from Afghanistan, he went to visit Flores in New Jersey, where the art therapist now lives with his family. Flores had lined the street leading to his house with big yellow ribbons. A huge sign on his porch read: “Welcome home.”

“I was really awestruck when I saw [the print],” Brown says. “It captured everything I wanted.” Brown made 150 copies of it and gave it to the rest of his unit as their legacy gift. “Everybody was really impressed with it,” Brown says. He added later, “When I look at the print, I think about the good that we did.”

An ‘Enduring’ Effort

A couple of months later, Brown received a call from Flores, asking him if he could re-use the print, perhaps re-package it and tweak it to encompass all of the military efforts in the Middle East, collectively known as Operation Enduring Freedom. Maybe he could sell the prints to veterans and their families and use the proceeds to help out disabled soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Flores is currently talking to officials at the Bronx VA about selling his print at the hospital gift shop, with half of the proceeds going to disabled vets and the other half going to create more prints.

“I think that it’s important to remember that the folks that join our service are human beings, and that we’re remembering our veterans who come back, whether their wounds are visible or not,” said Jim Connell, spokesman for the Bronx VA and a disabled vet himself.

In January, to get the ball rolling on his new charity effort and at the suggestion of his good friends from high school, Flores gave away the first copy of his revamped “Operation Enduring Freedom” print to a badly injured soldier at the Bronx VA  – Roberto Reyes, Jr.

Though Maria says her nephew will never be the same karaoke singing, practical-joking weightlifter he once was, Reyes, Jr. is slowly healing. Two months ago, in fact, he started eating on his own. And when she hung up the print in his hospital room a week after Flores presented it to him, Reyes, Jr. gave her the thumbs-up.

Out & About

By Judy Noy

Onstage

•  Albert Einstein Symphony Orchestra presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, “The Pirates of Penzance,” March 16 at 2 p.m. in the Robbins Auditorium, located in the Forchheimer Building of Albert Einstein College of Medicine at 1300 Morris Park Ave. Contributions are suggested. For more information, visit einsteinorch.tripod.com.

 

•  Constant Wonder and the Wonder Band, a New York metro area singer/songwriter duo that performs interactive numbers with a green message for kids ages three through nine, performs at Vladeck Hall, 74 Van Cortlandt Park South, March 9 at 11 a.m. The event will benefit the Amalgamated Nursery School, and will feature a live animal demonstration, food as well as arts and crafts for kids. Tickets are $8 or free for adults accompanying children. For more information, call 646-334-9993 or tarin.rivera@hotmail.com.

 

•  JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center, 3880 Sedgwick Ave., hosts Music of Latin America performed by classical guitarist Anthony Purdy, March 9 at 1 p.m. and a celebration of Purim on March 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. featuring music, drama and dance with singer Hagit Avnon and keyboardist Tzvi Klein. Both events are preceded by lunch at noon with a suggested donation of $3. The center is also throwing a St. Patrick’s Day Sing-Along Celebration on March 14 at 11:15 a.m. with pianist Marilynn Seits, followed by lunch at 12:15 p.m. For more information, call (718) 549-4700.

 

•  The Bronx Library Center hosts Silk and Sword, performed by the Red Silk Dancers, March 8 at 2:30 p.m. and  A Musical Tribute to Sam Cooke, March 8 at 6 p.m. The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Road off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

 

•  The Mosholu Library, located at 285 E. 205th St., presents Caribbean Guitars, featuring songs from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and more on March 15 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

 

• n Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts presents Forever Freestyle II with Lisa Lisa, Stevie B, Noel, Nayobe, Safire, Johnny O. and Sweet Sensation, on March 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $45. Also at the Center is Solid Gold Salsa from Puerto Rico to El Barrio featuring Ralphy Leavitt y La Selecta and Spanish Harlem Orchestra, on March 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $55. The college is located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W. For more information, call (718) 960-8833.

 

•  Lehman College’s Lovinger Theatre, located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., hosts A Morning with FDR, performed by actor Jonah Triebwasser, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, reenacting famous episodes of his presidency. It’s free and on March 26 at 11 a.m. For more information, call (718) 960-8975.

 

•  Wave Hill, located at 675 W. 252nd St., hosts David Ying with a cello recital on March 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (718) 549-3200 ext. 385.

 

•  Bronx Arts Ensemble presents classical music on piano and violin at the home of William and Paula Luria Caplan, 761 W. 231st St., March 9 at 3 p.m. In addition, the Ensemble is sponsoring Babar the Elephant’s visit to New York Botanical Garden’s Arthur and Janet Ross Lecture Hall, March 23 at 1 and 3 p.m. This story of growing from a baby to become king of the jungle is told by mime and storyteller W.T. McRae. For more information and tickets, call (718) 601-7399.

 
Events

•  JASA    Van Cortlandt Senior Center, located at 3880 Sedgwick Ave., hosts a trip to the Metropolitan Museum’s new 19th century galleries on March 13 at 9:15 a.m. For reservations and further information, call (718) 549-4700.

 

•  The New York Botanical Garden presents Chocolate and Vanilla Adventures for children in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, through April 6, weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kids learn about the origins of vanilla; examine vanilla beans with hand lenses and microscopes; observe live vanilla orchids; and grind, examine and taste chocolate seeds, culminating in vanilla and hot chocolate tasting. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.

 

•  Urban beekeepers at Wave Hill present a Beekeeping Day on March 8, which features a hands-on look at beehives. Wave Hill is located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in Riverdale.  For more information, call (718) 549-3200.

 

•  The Museum of Bronx History, located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. at East 208th Street, holds a Book Talk and Signing on March 29 at 1 p.m. on “The Study and Writing of History” by Dr. Gary Hermalyn. For more information, call (718) 881-8900.

 

•  Lehman College, located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., presents Social Business Is the Solution, a lecture by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, March 9 at 2:30 p.m. in Lehman’s Lovinger Theatre. Confirm attendance with deborah.farley@lehman.cuny.edu or (718) 960-8766.

 

•  The Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History, located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. at East 208th Street, presents The Irish in Bronx History, an illustrated lecture by Anthony C. Greene, March 9 at 2 p.m. For more information, call (718) 881-8900.

Exhibits

•  The New York Botanical Garden hosts The Orchid Show, through April 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and in the Orchid Rotunda on the first floor of the Library building. Docent-led tours are available. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.

 

•  Sound the Alarm, an exhibition of photographs, paintings and video that reveal landscapes in distress, runs from March 8 through June 1 at Wave Hill’s Glyndor Gallery, located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in Riverdale. A reception with the artists is on April 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free to members and children under 6, and free all day Tuesdays and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call (718) 549-3200 or visit www.wavehill.org.

 

•  See the Bronx from the perspective of Hunts Point photographers ages 9 to 19, with 35 black and white photos on view as part of I Love the Bronx, until May – just one of many rotating exhibitions at The Point, located at 940 Garrison Ave. at Manida Street. For more information, call (718) 542-4149.

 

•  The Bronx River Art Center, located at 1087 E. Tremont Ave., presents Trappings: Stories of Women, Power and Clothing, March 7 (free opening reception 6 to 9 p.m. with artists in attendance) through April 12. Gallery hours are free, Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (718) 589-5819.

 

•  Inspired by the Feminist Movement, the new exhibit at the Bronx Museum of the Arts explores women artists working collectively in new ways to engage communities and address social issues in Making It Together: Women’s Collaborative Art and Community through Aug. 4. The exhibit coincides with the opening of P.S. 1’s WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution, showcasing innovative examples of activist art created in the 1970s and early ‘80s. A series of panels and public programs will be presented in conjunction with the exhibition, including Words and Sounds in the Soul of Life, Celebrating Women’s History Month, March 7 from 6 to 10 p.m., free, in the South Building’s Lower Gallery; and Family Affair: The Art of Togetherness, an intergenerational hands-on workshop exploring ideas related to the exhibitions, with guided tours, music and snacks, March 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the North Wing, third floor (free with museum admission). Also on view at the museum is Teen Council Presents: Jamel Shabazz through July 27 in the North Wing. The museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse and is open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m.; Friday to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 681-6000.

Learning

•  The Bronx Library Center has events for all ages:

Babies, toddlers and children can join Baby and Me, a lapsit program including parents, March 8 at 11 a.m. For children, there are video screenings on March 12 and 19 at 4 p.m. Also, for school-aged children, there is Tales from Dr. Seuss, March 10 at 4 p.m.; Bunny Basket Making, March 13 at 4 p.m.; Rosie, March 15 at 2 p.m.; and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, March 16 at 2 p.m.
Young adults can Play Chess! in a workshop with Ramon A. Hernandez on March 10 and 17 at 4 p.m.; attend Music Discovery: Get an Earful, March 7 at 4 p.m.; participate in Game On: B-Balling NBA 2K8 Tournament, March 10 and 17 at 4 p.m.; Game On, March 11 and 18 at 4 p.m.; Get Food Smart with Green Gourmet, March 12 and 19 at 4 p.m.; and Turn It Up, March 14 at 4 p.m.
Adults can attend Good Lessons from Bad Women: A One Woman Show, performed by Dorothy Leeds, March 15 at 2:30 p.m.; and Meet Dra. Isabel, author and “angel of the airwaves,” March 19 at 6 p.m.
The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

•  The Mosholu Library presents Chinese Dance Workshop for school-aged children, March 11 at 3:30 p.m.; and YTWL: You Talk! We Listen, for young adults, March 12, 19, 26 and April 2 at 4 p.m. The library is located at 285 E. 205th St. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

 

•  The Jerome Park Library, located at 118 Eames Place, presents Big Jeff Music for school-aged children, March 18 at 4 p.m. For more information, call (718) 549-5200.

Public Service Announcement

Daylight Savings Time starts sooner beginning this year. Turn clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m.

NOTE: Items for consideration should be received in our office by March 10 for the next publication date of March 20.

Neighborhood Notes

By Norwood News

Free Computer Tutoring
Free computer tutoring from the Mosholu Preservation Corporation is being offered to anyone who is interested. Lessons will cover topics ranging from basic computer skills to Internet navigation. Lessons are offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The Mosholu Preservation Corporation is located at 3400 Reservoir Oval East. For an appointment, call Brenda Lucio or Jennifer Mitchell, (718) 324-4461.

Open House for Monte Volunteers
On Friday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Montefiore Medical Center will open its doors to area residents who would like to learn about its volunteer opportunities. Volunteers provide services such as visiting patients, reading to children at bedside or greeting patients and visitors at outpatient treatment areas. The open house will be at 111 E. 210th St., Brown Zone-Ground Floor. For more information, contact the Volunteer Department at (718) 920-4191 or email mhamer@Montefiore.org.

Register for Charitable Event
New York Cares, a volunteer organization, has opened registration for its 14th Annual Hands On New York Day, a charitable event in which volunteers revitalize parks, gardens, community centers, and homeless shelters. The event will take place on Saturday, April 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Last year’s event included 4,500 volunteers at 89 locations. For more information, or to register, go to www.handsonnewyorkday.org.

Open House for Freshmen
The International Leadership Charter School is having its Annual Freshmen Open House. The event, which will be held at the school on Thursday, March 6, Tuesday, March 11, and Tuesday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., is titled: “Prepare Your Child for College.” It is open to all incoming freshmen for the 2008-2009 school year. For more information, call (718) 562-2300.

Blood Drives
Blood drives in our area will be on March 9, at Our Lady of Refuge Church, 290 E. 196th St., from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; March 11, at Fordham Prep, 4786 3rd Ave. off East Fordham Road, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and March 25 to 27, at Montefiore Medical Center, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Homeowner Resource Fair
The University Neighborhood Housing Program and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition are sponsoring the Northwest Bronx Homeowner Resource Fair. Topics covered at the event include “How to lower your energy costs through weatherization,” “What to do in the event of financial hardship,” and “Low-cost state-backed refinance options.” The fair will be on Thursday, March 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Concourse House, 2751 Grand Concourse (at 196th St.). Space is limited. To RSVP, call (718) 933-2539.

Long Term Planning Seminar
A free seminar for those who would like to learn how to protect their assets during retirement, will take place on Wednesday, March 12. The seminar, called “Looking to the Future: Long Term Planning Options,” will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kittay House, on the campus of the Bronx Division of Jewish Home Lifecare, 2550 Webb Ave. A light dinner will be included. For more information, or reservations, call (718) 410-1441.

Charter School Information Sessions
The Bronx Community Charter School, a new progressive public school scheduled to open in District 10 in fall 2008 with a kindergarten and first grade, is holding three information sessions throughout the next month. The first will be held at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave., on Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m. The final two will take place at the Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., on Saturday, March 15 at 11 a.m. and at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, on Saturday, March 22 at noon. Admission to the school is by lottery. Applications will be available at the information sessions, by calling (347) 668-5229 or by e-mailing bronxcommunity@gmail.com. Applications must be received by April 1.

Meeting on 8th Grade Promotion
The Department of Education is holding a town hall meeting on its proposed 8th grade promotion policy. The meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Evander Childs High School, 800 E. Gun Hill Road. Members of the public can also submit comments via e-mail to promotion@schools.nyc.gov. Contact David Cantor or Andrew Jacob at (212) 374-5141.

Medicare Health Plan Tips
Council Member Oliver Koppell, along with other local politicians and organizations, is offering a program on Medicare topics, including how to choose a Medicare, health or drug plan; how to protect yourself from fraud; and who to notify if you suspect Medicare fraud. Speaker Betty Duggan from the Medicare Rights Center will lead the program, which will take place on Wednesday, March 12 from 3:15 to 5 p.m. at PS 24, 660 W. 236th St., through the 235th Street entrance. There will be light refreshments.

Free Tax Preparation Days
Ridgewood Savings Bank will be hosting an Ariva’s free Tax Preparation Day on Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the bank’s Soundview branch, 1626 Bruckner Blvd. The free tax preparation program is available to eligible Bronx households with a 2007 income of less than $45,000. Because of limited space, qualifying taxpayers must call the bank’s Soundview Branch at (718) 589-1323 in advance to schedule an appointment.

Fresh Air Camps Registration
The Fresh Air Fund is currently registering New York City boys and girls, ages 6 to 12, for free vacations in country and small-town communities. The program gives inner-city children from low-income communities a chance to experience the country at one of five Fresh Air camps or with a volunteer host family. For a referral to a participating agency or for more information about the program, call (212) 897-8900 or (800) 367-0003, or visit www.freshair.org.

Energy Assistance
Older New Yorkers can apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grant to help meet the challenges of paying for heating and utility costs during the cold winter months. This federally-funded program provides financial assistance to limited-income households to offset costs of heating and energy bills. Applicants must meet income guidelines and be 60 or older. To receive a HEAP application, call 311 or visit DFTA at www.nyc.gov/aging. For more information about the HEAP program, seniors can log onto ACESS NYC at www.nyc.gov, call the Human Resources Administration’s Info Line at 1-877-HRA-8411 or visit HRA’s Web site at www.nyc.gov/hra.

Food Drive
The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture is seeking canned food donations to benefit the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Marble Hill Food and Hunger Project, Inc. The food drive is ongoing. Please leave food donations at the Society, 4450 Fieldston Road, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. No perishable foods accepted. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.

Teen Internship Program
The Educational Counseling Center, MMCC, is offering an internship program to young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not currently in school. The city funded short-term employment program targets low-income, job-ready youth. The program lasts 14 weeks and begins on March 10. For more information, contact Assistant Director Edith Bolanos at (718) 652-0470.

Summer Camps at Community Center
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is offering sports day camps this summer. The City Sports Camp teaches skills in baseball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, kickball, flag football, and other organized games. Boys and girls entering 3rd through 8th grades in September can sign up for a 2-week session, a 4-week session, or a 6-week session. Swim Camp takes place at Fordham University on Monday through Thursday mornings, under Steve Plotsklan, the Head Swim Coach of Fordham. Ages are 5 through 16; for information call Mr. Plotsklan at (718) 817-4256. Karate Camp, taught by Luis Morales, head Sensei at the Center, takes place on Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 5 p.m. for boys and girls entering 1st through 8th grades. For more information and free brochures, call the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at (718) 882-4000.    

Adult Programs at Mosholu Library
The Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., is holding a number of adult programs on Saturdays in the upcoming months. Guitarras del Mar Caribeno (Caribbean Guitars) is on March 15 at 2:30 p.m. Silk and Sword (Red Silk Dancers) is on April 5 at 2:30 p.m. Music from Bangladesh is on April 19 at 2:30 p.m. Call (718) 882-8239 for more information.

High School Salon Reopens
The beauty salon at Grace Dodge Career and Technical High School has opened to the public. The salon, which employs seniors from the school’s hair and nail salon-training program, is supervised by a licensed cosmetologist, and is open on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call the school’s Assistant Principal, Marilyn Soto, (718) 584-2700.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
The Alzheimer’s Association’s New York City chapter provides a support group for Spanish and English speaking caregivers who have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia in Norwood. The support group meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5 to 6:15 p.m. For exact location or more information, call Mark Goodwin at (718) 920- 7377.

Free Programs for Cancer Patients
The Albert Einstein Cancer Center is offering two free research programs for patients with cancer. The Yoga-Based Cancer Rehabilitation Program includes 12 weeks of yoga classes as part of a research study to see if yoga can help patients with breast, lung and colorectal cancer. The Mind-Body Cancer Program includes eight weeks of mind-body groups as a part of a research study for patients with most types of cancer. Some restrictions may apply and both programs are taking place in the Bronx. For more information or to find out if you are eligible, call (718)-430-2380.
Girls Softball League Enrollment
Registration is now being accepted for the Spring Girls Softball League at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. The league accepts girls ages 9 to 15. Each player receives a uniform and a trophy for participating. For complete information and to register call (718) 882-4000 ext. 0 or ext. 280, or stop by the community center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. near Gun Hill Road.   

English, Civics and Computer Classes
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center offers free English as a Second Language classes (ESL), and civics and computer classes Monday through Saturdays. To apply, visit the Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. (corner of Gun Hill Road). For more information, call (718) 882-4000, ext. 216.

ESL and GED Classes
Fordham Manor Reformed Church is offering free ESL and GED classes at its building on 2705 Reservoir Ave. The ESL classes will be held on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the GED classes are on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The ESL class requires a 15-minute test for enrollment. A longer three-hour test is necessary to take part in the GED class. For more information, call (718) 796-4980 ext. 16.

Citizenship Test Preparation Course
Two Bronx High School of Science seniors and a student in the Macaulay Honors Program at Lehman College are offering a free Citizenship Test preparation course. The course will be held in Room 131 of the Bronx High School of Science, 75 W. 205th St. on Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Andrew Levin at (917) 532-7727.

Adult ESL and Computer Classes
Now through June, PS 94 at 3530 Kings College Place is offering beginning and intermediate ESL classes as well as beginner computer classes. All classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up, go to room 105 or call the parent coordinator, Ms. Seminario, at (347) 563-4772, (718) 405-6345 ext. 1050 or (718) 863-4057.  

Housing and Job Help
National Student Partnerships provides no-cost help with job searches, housing searches, education, job training, resume-writing, childcare, legal services and much more.  There are no eligibility requirements, and all services are completely free.  NSP is located at 2715 Bainbridge Ave. at East 196th Street. Call (718) 733-3897 to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a student to obtain services. Se habla espanol.

Little League Registration
The Fordham Bedford Little League is currently accepting applications for interested boys and girls from ages 5 to 18. For more information, call Pete at (917) 645-9514 or visit www.fbllnet.org.

Foster Parents Needed
The Foster Care Network currently has an urgent need for adults who want to become foster parents for the hundreds of area children who need a home. For more information, call (800) 454-3727 ext. 110.

Monroe Hoops Squads Head to Playoffs

By Allison Grande

The Monroe College men’s and women’s basketball teams both completed successful regular seasons last week and played in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XV Tournament.

The Lady Mustangs finished the regular season as the top ranked team in the NJCAA Division III with a 26-2 record. The team picked up its 100th consecutive victory against Region XV teams Feb. 16.

With a home victory on Feb. 19, the team set a new NJCAA record by winning its 46th straight home contest. Sophomore Monet Johnson, who averaged a team leading 18.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game for the season, won the NJCAA Division III Player of the Year Award.

This past weekend, the Lady Mustangs snagged their fifth consecutive Region XV Tournament. Monroe moves on to the National Tournament, which will be played March 13 to 15 in Utica, NY.

The men’s team finished the regular season with a 23-6 overall record, 4-2 in conference record. Freshman Westley Perryman was named Region XV, Division I Co-Player of the Year.

The Mustangs began the Region XV Tournament on Thursday with a victory over TCI, 95-88. On Saturday night the team fell to Globe in the Tournament Championship, 88-70.

With a second place finish, Monroe hosts the District Tournament on March 8 and 9 at Westchester Community College. They play Vincennes University (Ohio) in a semifinal game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with the winner playing for a championship Sunday afternoon. The winner of the tournament qualifies for the National Tournament in Kansas.  

Lehman Ladies Lose CUNY Final

By Allison Grande

In a rematch of last season’s CUNY Athletic Conference Championship game, the No. 1 seeded Baruch College Bearcats women’s basketball team beat the No. 3 seeded Lehman College Lightning on Feb. 22. Despite a late run to pull within three points of Baruch, the defending champion Lightning fell to the Bearcats 71-60.

With the victory Baruch earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Meanwhile, Lehman will play in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro NY/NJ Tournament.

The fierce rivals, who split their season series with one win each, battled the entire game. Baruch built its lead to as many as 22 points in the second half, but Lehman refused to quit. In the last 10 minutes of the game, Lehman outscored Baruch 30-13 to close a 20 point deficit to just three with two minutes to play.

But with 1:30 left in the game, Lehman junior standout Sally Nnamani launched a three pointer that would have tied the game. Instead, the shot bounced off the front rim. Baruch promptly went on an 8-0 run to seal the victory.

“We fought all the way to the end,” said Lehman Head Coach Eric Harrison. “We battled back from 22 points down and gave it every effort, but it was too big of a hill to climb back from.”

Lehman had a slow start, and Baruch capitalized on their mistakes, scoring 21 points off Lehman’s turnovers and grabbing 21 offensive rebounds.

Baruch senior Chiresse Paradise led Baruch with 21 points and nine rebounds to be named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Nnamani, the Conference Player of the Year for the past two seasons, led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Nnamani and Paradise along with Lehman junior Whitney Barnes and Baruch senior Dominique McClendon were named to the All-Tournament team after the game.

“Tonight’s victory was probably one of the most important because it gave us redemption from the loss [against Lehman on Feb. 9] that ended our 38-game win streak,” Paradise said.

Shop Till You Drop

By Graham Kates

Acting as if every second counted, Melinda Figueroa and Carla White frantically flew around Cookie’s Kids Department Store, grabbing clothes with abandon.

As it turns out, they only had a total of 90 seconds.

Two weeks ago, Figueroa and White were chosen from about 10,000 contestants to embark on the minute and a half of manic shopping, during which they could collect up to $500 worth of clothing.

Figueroa, who made the trek from Brooklyn to the Cookie’s on Webster Avenue, said her strategy for maximizing her intake was to “not think about the time and just go for it.”

The event included a live radio broadcast by the Ebony and Ivory Radio Show, on 93.5 FM.

As part of the day’s festivities, the store and the radio show jointly presented the Children’s Aid Society with a $1,000 Cookie’s Kids gift certificate. The Children’s Aid Society is a nonprofit organization that focuses on child development and family support.

Mosholu Parkway Station Reopens

By Jennifer DeYoung

After months of construction, the Mosholu Parkway #4 subway station has reopened, with the unveiling of an entrance that hasn’t been used in over 30 years.

The reconstruction project comes as part of the MTA NYC Transit’s plan to rehabilitate five stations along the Jerome Avenue #4 line.

There is still some work to be done at the station, says Fernando Tirado, district manager of Community Board 7. The city plans to renovate the park area surrounding the station. Tirado said that during the repairs on the station, trucks and other construction equipment drove on the grass, sections of which were damaged. Come spring, he said, “they’re going to rebuild and beautify the area.”

In addition, new artwork will be installed in the station, much like that currently found in the Bedford Park station.

The initial idea was to have mosaics in some of the Bronx stations, akin to those along the 4 and 5 lines in Manhattan. In Bedford Park, the new mosaic depicts the Bronx Botanical Garden. It is not yet known what the decorum at Mosholu will be.  

For now, local residents are particularly happy about having the southside entrance back after decades without it.

“It’s good that it’s opened closer to us,” said Sam Gillian, a resident of nearby Tracey Towers and a member of the building’s tenant association. Since the entrance closed, Gillian and his neighbors have had to walk further to get in to the subway.

Gillian’s one concern: “City agencies haven’t decided who’s shoveling the snow yet,” he said, adding that neither the transit nor the park authorities have cleared snow around the staircases at the station. “It’s just dangerous,” he said.

Parks Department Surfs Turf Battle

By Allison Grande

A week after directing park employees to stop using rubber infill in artificial turf fields, city Parks Department officials retracted that decision, explaining that they made a mistake and plan to continue to consider “the newest and most innovative synthetic turf technologies” in future projects.

“There is no change in the Park Department’s policy on synthetic turf, and in the internal memorandum, I incorrectly made a blanket statement,” Deputy Commissioner of Capital Projects Amy Freitag said in a statement on Jan. 22.

A week earlier, members of the nonprofit group NYC Park Advocates obtained the internal memo written on Jan. 14. They released it to the public, resulting in news stories in the New York Times and Metro.

Freitag’s retraction quickly followed, much to the disappointment of some park advocates. “I was saddened because it was so clear that the city was trying to avoid liability,” said Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates. “They have been backing away from turf since the summer, and it was sad they couldn’t be honest with the public.”

The Parks Department began installing synthetic turf made with rubber tire pellets in city parks in 1997. Since then, some park advocates and environmentalists have claimed that this material contains potentially carcinogenic material.

Some park architects like the FieldTurf, as the material is called, because it has more of a grass-like feel, since the rubber pellets soften the turf.

In the past decade, 77 synthetic turf ball fields have been installed across the city and 23 more are currently in design or construction.

While the Parks Department’s Jan. 14 memo stated it was suspending use of rubber infill synthetic turf, the Jan. 22 statement said carpet style turf was ”advisable” for asphalt conversions because the carpet can be laid directly on top of the ground.

Two local fields, Williamsbridge Oval Park in Norwood and Harris Field in Bedford Park, are currently undergoing renovations. According to a Parks Department spokesperson, Williamsbridge Oval will have one multi-use field made with rubber pellets, while two multi-use carpet-style turf fields are under construction at Harris Field.

Other groups are feeling the pressure to abandon rubber infill turf. Troy Farmer of the nonprofit group Trust for Public Land, which builds playgrounds throughout the five boroughs, said his organization will be switching to a tufted nylon surface on the 24 projects planned for the next few years. They are also researching other alternatives to rubber pellet turf. Although they have two crumb rubber playgrounds currently under construction, Farmer said increased public concern caused the group to change its policies.

“There is no reason to believe the tire pellets are not safe,” Farmer said, “but with this concern, we felt that because we go into schools and build playgrounds for children, we wanted to take the safest route.”

Last year, activists, educators, and environmentalists began to question the safety of the materials used to make turf. They were also worried about the heat retention of these fields, which can become twice as hot as natural grass fields during the summer.

The Parks Department and FieldTurf countered with studies of their own claiming this turf is “more environmentally friendly than ‘natural’ grass fields.”

The preliminary $100,000 review of scientific turf studies, paid for by the New York Community Trust and sponsored by the city Health Department, stated, “We believe that health risks are unlikely from exposure to the levels of chemicals found in the rubber pellets.”

The full report is scheduled to be released this spring.

The Parks Department has also tried to alleviate concerns about the heat retention by installing “misting stations” at a few city parks.

Card Companies Called Out

By Graham Kates

International calling cards don’t always deliver on their promises of inexpensive telephony, according to a recent study. The report, which was released by The Hispanic Institute, claims that despite lofty promises of cheap calls from the United States to countries such as Mexico and Guatemala, on average, international calling cards delivered only 60 percent of their stipulated usage.

According to Gus West, president of The Hispanic Institute, “American consumers lose up to a million dollars a day because of fraudulent phone cards.”

Using automated generators to make calls with phone cards from New York, Florida, and Washington, D.C., to Mexico and Guatemala, The Hispanic Institute tracked how much time each card provided, as well as the listening quality for the calls. While a few cards provided calls that lasted the entirety of their promised time, many delivered less than half of their advertised minutes, and a few never managed to connect at all.

Cards from New York that were tested included those manufactured by the companies Diamond, STI, RTG, Lycatel, and GEO. While some New York based phone cards performed well, most notably the GEO “I Love NY,” and STI “World” cards (although the GEO card provided poor sound quality), other New York cards failed to fulfill their promises.

Most of the calling cards that were manufactured by RTG, Lycatel, and Diamond stayed connected for less than 60 percent of their promised time. The RTG “Cocktail Mexico” card supplied a mere 20 percent of its advertised minutes.

West feels that members of the Hispanic community in particular have been dealt the brunt of the calling card industry’s deception. “So many of us use calling cards to keep in touch with friends and family abroad,” he said.

In August, Congressman Eliot Engel introduced the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act, which seeks to require calling card companies to include terms and conditions on all advertising, cards, and packaging, as well as details related to additional fees.

“The ones who need these cards most can afford [hidden charges] least,” said a spokesman for Engel.

Connecticut’s “Miscellaneous Consumer Cards” statute does much of what Engel is seeking to do.

One of the companies operating in New York, STI, was among a slew of prepaid calling cCard corporations that were subpoenaed by Florida’s Attorney General Bill McCollum’s Economic Crimes Division this past June.

“The investigation will examine the allegations that immediately after the first call is made on a card, companies begin deducting various fees, service charges, taxes, and in some cases, round call times up in three minute increments,” according to a statement released by McCollum.

Mess of the Month

By None

On a Saturday afternoon, Amy, 3, helps her father Ebelio Veras, the superintendent of 300 E. 201st St., blot out fresh graffiti. Veras said it had just been put there within the hour, and that he touches up the walls of the apartment building every week.  He said he has notified police, who say there is nothing they can do unless they see the writers in the act.

Security Officer Options

By None

As Jennifer DeYoung is absolutely right that “changing union representation can get complicated” [“Fordham Guards Rally for Job Security,” Feb. 21–March 5 issue], please let me clear up two misconceptions about union recognition and job security for the security officers at Fordham University. If a new security contractor replaces Summit Security, they do not have to recognize Allied International Union — particularly if a majority of officers sign cards withdrawing their support for them. Even if Allied had a 10-year contract with Summit, the contract would have no effect at Fordham if the university hired a different security contractor. As for job security, new contractors typically retain the incumbent security guards because they don’t have their own pool of guards sitting around doing nothing waiting for a job. Even if that wasn’t the case, there is nothing stopping Fordham from requiring the new contractor to hire the incumbent workers.

If the choice for security guards is between continuing to work for Summit Security with Allied as their union or taking their chances with a new contractor, I think you will find that most would like to take that chance. But don’t take it from me. Go ask some campus security officers.

Matt Nerzig, Spokesman

Local 32BJ SEIU

Shining a Light on Information

By Editorial

The Greek philosopher Diogenes walked around Athens in the daytime with a lighted lamp. He said he was looking for an honest man. There are no reports that he ever found one. We can all be excused for feeling like Diogenes while walking along, say, Jerome Avenue up by Van Cortlandt Park.

To the left is a filtration plant construction project where people in charge of large portions of it are accused in a 170-page indictment of taking money in return for hiring particular trucking companies. These latest revelations come on the heels of truly unbelievable cost overruns (see page 2).

To the right is 213th Street, a block that has long had a serious drug problem. Twenty-two people have been arrested for participating in that trade and four related murders (see front page).   

While it’s been a bad few weeks for a very small area, with crimes left and right, there is an up side to the situation. In the first place, we know that crime really is down from the really bad old days, though clearly still too prevalent. But more importantly, it would seem people involved in very bad things are actually getting caught.

People have exited the Deegan and driven down to 213th Street and back again for decades like it was a drivethrough drug mart. While the latest arrests won’t put a stop to the drug trade, there is a chance that things can be cleaned up a bit and the decent people in the neighborhood will be a little safer.

The mess that has long surrounded the Croton Filter plant, from the technological, legal, land use, financial and every other standpoint, has gotten completely out of hand. We hope that promised investigations will start to get to the bottom of whatever has really been going on.  

For us, that’s what it all comes down to, knowing what is really going on. There really is a lot of drug dealing going on in our communities. There really is corruption of big public projects. And there also really is unfairness in how resources are handed out in this city and how people are treated.

This brings us to the final point. There is a scientific principle that things are changed by observing them. Anyone who has ever had children knows that this is also true of people. Newspapers are here to watch what’s going on and then to tell people, so things can change for the better. Sometimes people don’t like people knowing what they are doing, but it’s like highway cops and speeding tickets: We don’t like them but we drive slower and more safely because of them.

If the public doesn’t pay attention and they don’t have a free press to help them pay attention, all sorts of bad things would get worse.

Advocate Takes Foreclosure Battle to Washington

By Alex Kratz and Graham Kates

Bronx housing specialist Greg Jost took his experience and knowledge to Capitol Hill last week, testifying about the subprime mortgage crisis during a hearing chaired by a local lawmaker.  

Early last fall, Jost, a Norwood resident and longtime advocate for the University Neighborhood Housing Program, began pointing out that the nation’s fast-approaching home foreclosure hurricane had already touched down in the Bronx.

Jost and other advocates also noted that low-income and minority areas were glaringly affected by the foreclosures. Large percentages of homeowners in areas such as University Heights and Fordham had either willingly or unwittingly been victimized by risky subprime mortgages – home loans with small down payments but ever-increasing interest rates.  

Many Bronxites thought they had achieved the American Dream. Now many can’t afford the payments and are losing their homes. The instability of the housing market is infecting Wall Street, causing a rippling effect that has some economists predicting a national recession.

Last Thursday, Jost testified about the roots of the foreclosure/subprime crisis at a hearing in Washington in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which is chaired by Bronx Congressman Jose E. Serrano (Bronx 16th District).     

According to the testimony of Michael Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit policy group, residents of the 16th Congressional district, which includes Fordham and University Heights, are at high risk of suffering significant damage from foreclosures, since 42 percent of mortgages made in the district in 2005 and 2006 were subprime.

At the hearing, Serrano argued for action to be taken to prevent foreclosures and end predatory lending schemes. “My district is being hit hard by the subprime crisis, as well as the effects of other predatory financial schemes aimed at consumers,” Serrano said in a statement. “High interest ‘refund anticipation loans’ and other shady lending practices are rampant. It must end.”

Refund Anticipation Loans (RAL) are short-term cash advances, offered at high interest rates, which are offered against a person’s expected income tax refund. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, last year there were over 12 million RAL borrowers nationwide.

In his testimony, Jost said the lack of traditional banking and lending institutions in low-income and minority areas such as University Heights and Fordham enabled shady lending practices and exacerbated the financial problems of residents.

“Traditional banks continue to have a relatively small branch presence in our neighborhoods, opening up the door to fringe financial institutions such as payday lenders and check cashers who often double as mortgage brokers pushing subprime products,” Jost testified. ”It is three times as hard to find a bank branch in the Bronx as it is nationally.”

He also criticized the lenders’ vetting practices, saying “huge numbers of loans were made without regard to the borrower’s ability to repay.”

For his part, Serrano also recently voted to approve an economic stimulus package passed by President George W. Bush, saying he did so partly because it promised to increase the limits on Federal Housing Loans in order to provide refinancing options for homeowners who were hit hard by the subprime crisis.

Public and Community Meetings

By None

•    Community Board 7 will meet on Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kittay House, 2550 Webb Ave. in the auditorium (basement level). For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

•    Community Board 7’s Traffic & Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

•    Community Board 7’s Parks & Recreations Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

•    Community Board 7’s Land Use/Zoning Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Board Office, 229A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

•    Community Board 7’s Education Committee will meet on Monday, March 24 at 6 p.m. at the Community Board Office, 229A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

•    The 52nd Precinct Community Council will meet on Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bedford Park Senior Center, 243 E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 220-5824.

•    The Community Education Council of District 10 will meet on Thursday, March 27 at 6:15 p.m. at P.S. 59, 2185 Bathgate Ave. For more information, call (718) 741-5836.

IRS Wants to Give You Money

By Norwood News

The Internal Revenue Service is mailing out letters throughout the month of March to over 130 million American households, reminding them to file a 2007 tax return to receive a 2008 economic stimulus payment.

The notice alerts people that they may be eligible for a one-time stimulus payment starting in May. The notice does not seek any financial information and will go to taxpayers who filed a tax return last year.

According to the notice, “To receive a payment in 2008, individuals who qualify will not have to do anything more than file a 2007 tax return. Income tax refunds for 2007 will be made separately from this one-time payment.”

Some people do have to take an extra step. Later this month, the IRS will send a special mailing to certain recipients of Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits. In order to receive a stimulus payment, people in this group need to file a tax return if they have at least $3,000 from a combination of certain Social Security benefits, Veterans benefits and earned income.

Details on eligibility, payment amounts and requirements are available at www.irs.gov.

Engel Promises Support for 9/11 Victims

By Norwood News

Congressman Eliot Engel is cosponsoring the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2007.” The bill provides for guaranteed medical assistance for anyone who has been injured as a result of the 2001 World Trade Center attacks.

Engel met with proponents of the bill, including Joe Zadroga, father of James Zadroga, who recently died at the age of 34 as a result of exposure to toxic fumes from Ground Zero. Engel assured the bill’s supporters that it will provide “care for area residents, workers, and schoolchildren as well as for the thousands of people who came from across America to assist with the recover and cleanup efforts.”

The bill also provides for economic compensation for victims by reopening the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. Included in the legislation as well, is a provision for grants to be made from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in order to address mental health needs relating to the terrorist attacks.

 

Koppell Against Seniors "Modernization" Plan

By Norwood News

Council Member Oliver Koppell expressed disapproval of a number of the ideas in the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA)’s “modernization plans” at a public forum in February.

Koppell opposed the citywide expansion of the Senior Options program for the delivery of meals to homebound seniors, which gives elderly individuals a frozen meal delivered, rather than one that is freshly prepared. He also said that the depersonalized nature of the twice-a-week deliveries deprives the seniors of daily contact with a person who may be one of the few visitors they have each day.

He added that that centers shouldn’t be forced to close their kitchens.

New Mega-Station at Gun Hill Road?

By Norwood News

During Monday’s so-called State of the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) address, Executive Director Eliot Sander talked about expanding Metro-North service to Co-op City, Parkchester and Hunts Point in the Bronx.

As for the northwest Bronx, Sander also mentioned a possible northeastern extension of the D train to connect it with the 2 and 5 train subway stations across the Bronx River at Gun Hill Road. He said the Metro-North Williams Bridge station nearby could then be combined into a new mega-transportation hub offering easier access to Manhattan.

Water Plant Investigators Won’t Rule Out Crime Connection

By Alex Kratz

At a meeting two weeks ago, city investigators would not say whether or not there had been any criminal influence involved in the enormous, highly controversial and over-budget Croton Water Filtration Plant project in Van Cortlandt Park.

They did say, however, that the investigation into potential mob ties related to the project is ongoing.

It was recently discovered that a prominent executive from one of the job’s primary contractors, Schiavone Construction, a New Jersey outfit, had been indicted for his connection to the Gambino crime family.  

The indicted executive, Peter Delvescovo, is Schiavone’s director of tunneling. Most of Schiavone’s $300 million-plus contract for the filtration plant is for digging, tunneling and hauling dirt.  

Following the indictment on Feb. 8, Schiavone project manager Patrick Rooney sent a letter to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which is running the project, saying they would need to suspend work partly because of the indictment. Their files had been confiscated by law enforcement and its trucking subcontractor, T & M Maintenance, had been shut down, Rooney wrote. Investigators say T&M’s shutdown was also related to the indictment.

The DEP responded the same day in a letter to Rooney. “You are directed to immediately resume all work performance towards the timely completion of this project,” wrote DEP Director of Facilities Construction Michael Borsykowsky.

While he refused to go into details about the investigation, David Kantor, a commissioner for the city’s Department of Investigation, said the Croton project was probably the most tightly monitored project in the city. 

Officials Lament Dropout Rate

By Graham Kates

On the heels of a recent citywide education budget cut, and a decrease in expected funding for education from the state, city and state leaders met at Lehman College in the Bronx to discuss strategies for getting more students to stay in school.

The goal of the forum, called “Dropout Summit II,” was to develop a plan to combat New York City’s rampant dropout problem. According to a statement released by the office of Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión, Jr., “more than 21,000 NYC high school students left without a degree last year.”

At the Summit, Jesse Mojica, Carrión’s director of education and youth, said, “We should not legally allow 16 year olds to have the power to drop out of school.” The Summit’s delegates were unanimous in agreeing with Mojica that the compulsory school attendance age in New York should be raised to 18.

Other speakers at the Summit included the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee’s Chairman, Rep. Charles B. Rangel; New York’s First Lady, Silda Wall Spitzer; Former Governor of West Virginia Bob Wise; New York City Comptroller William Thompson, Jr. and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.

Many of the speakers were critical of some of the mayor’s education initiatives. Rangel commented, “I think you’re going to have to have a little more outrage when you find public officials putting dollars and cents where they’re doing nothing.”

 

School Budget Cuts to Hit Hiring, Summer School

By Graham Kates

By Graham Kates

When school principals got to school on Jan. 31, many were surprised to discover that their school budgets had shrunk overnight.  

The city Department of Education (DOE) announced it is cutting $100 million from school budgets across the city. That means each school will face a 1.75 percent reduction, ranging from $9,000 to $447,587 per school.  

According to Marvin Shelton, president of Community District Education Council (CDEC) 10, school administrators “went into this year possibly expecting a budget cut for next year,” but were caught off guard by the sudden mid-year change. 

It is not yet clear what exactly these cuts will mean for individual schools. Department spokesperson Margie Feinberg said only that “money that’s unscheduled or uncommitted” was removed from schools’ coffers.

DeWitt Clinton High School principal Geraldine Ambrosio says the department cuts “curtailed our spending on computers, smart boards and other enrichments.”

Staffing at the schools may also be affected. While Feinberg insisted there will be “no layoffs, and no staffing changes,” Angel Namnum of the city’s Integrated Service Center in the Bronx said at a recent District Education Council 10 meeting that the city was eliminating a “reserve” of funds that had been allocated for hiring 113 new English Language Learner teachers. Feinberg confirmed that these funds had been re-allocated.

In addition, Ambrosio said some of DeWitt Clinton’s class sizes will remain larger than expected, as the school has been unable to replace three retirees.

Namnum attributed the awkward timing of the cuts to the recent economic downturn, saying, “We’ve heard for a year the economy’s not doing well, the economy’s not doing well…Finally it caught up to us.”

Fearing the worst following the cuts, both parents and principals gave emotional testimonies at the CDEC meeting last month. Said one principal, who would not give his name, “When I found out, I was crying inside. Education should be recession free.”

Another principal contested an assertion by Namnum that the 1.75 percent cut would affect each school equally. “The intent was that cuts are equitable, based on size,” said the principal. “But there are new buildings and old buildings, and the maintenance of an old building costs more.”

The meeting became heated when Namnum attempted to cast a positive light on the cuts, pointing out that the city schools still have more money today than they had eight years ago. In response, parents and principals in the crowd yelled about the rising costs and increased needs of modern education.

While representatives of the city insist that the $100 million cut will have little impact on student services, Namnum did acknowledge that there would be a citywide reduction of over $4 million for the summer school budget.

This revelation in particular irked CDEC 10 member Nubia Moreno, who said that she relies on summer school for her son because, as a mother who does not speak English fluently, she is unable to assist him with much of his homework.

Feinberg confirmed the summer school cuts, but said, “Summer school will still be there for anyone who needs it.”

At the meeting, District Superintendent Sonia Menendez reminded parents and administrators that “it’s important to raise our voices” and let the mayor know that cuts are not acceptable. Menendez added, “In education, it’s more critical when you have to take a cut because it affects our future in our children.”

A Century Old and Still Evolving

By Norwood News

As a prime example of how this rock of an institution has evolved since it first began 100 years ago, St. Brendan’s Catholic Church held a spirited multicultural festival a couple of Saturdays ago on Feb. 23.

Designed to celebrate the church’s increasingly diverse congregation, the festival began with performances of traditional dances from native lands such as Mexico (pictured above) and Ireland.

Later, guests dined on foods from Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Ireland and various parts of Africa.

St. Brendan’s began its 100-year anniversary celebration this past October and will continue with periodic events until the birth-year party concludes this coming October.

Feds Take Down Violent Norwood Drug Gang

By Alex Kratz

For the decade that ended last spring, the DeKalb Avenue Crew operated as a vast and violent drug organization that collected some $5 million in drug money and killed at least four people in the process, according to a federal indictment released two weeks ago.

A total of 22 members of the Crew were indicted on 35 charges of murder, racketeering, armed robbery, attempted robbery, firearms offenses and drug conspiracy. All of them, with the exception of Carmen Moore, who remains at large, have been arrested and placed in federal custody, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting the case.

Of those indicted, nine of them – Bobby Saunders, Bobby Moore, Jr., Tyrone Moore, Hisan Lee, Hibah Lee, Andre Davidson, Selbourne Waite, Delroy Lee and Robert Morrison — appear to form the inner core of the DeKalb Avenue Crew, as they were singled out and specifically charged with “racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering for their participation and management of the DeKalb Avenue Crew.”

All 22 are facing drug charges for “conspiring to sell large quantities of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana in the vicinity of 213th Street and DeKalb Avenue,” a small triangle of residences wedged between Woodlawn Cemetery and Van Cortlandt Park.

While the Crew sold drugs in the Norwood area, according to the indictment, they also ventured east to the neighborhoods of Wakefield and Eastchester (mostly near Seton Falls Park) to violently rob people they believed held drugs or drug money.

The beginning of the indictment reads like a character list for The Wire, HBO’s show about urban drug trade in Baltimore. Every suspect has a catchy alias. There’s “Pops,” “Puss,” “Ice,” “O Dog,” “Silky,” “X Box,” and “Ace,” just to name a few.

U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said the arrests were the result of the combined effort of a handful of federal enforcement agencies as well as the New York City Police Department.

Mosque Accuses Landlord of Harassment

By Alex Kratz

Leaders at a Norwood-area mosque say their landlord is not only verbally threatening and harassing them, but also using them as a scapegoat for $9,000 worth of repair work that they say they had nothing to do with.

Last Friday, the leaders of the North Bronx Islamic Center filed a harassment complaint with police because they feared their landlord, Robert Gocjaj, might try to do them harm.

Earlier that day, mosque leaders said they initially called police because Gocjaj had, without notice, locked them out of their basement mosque space at 3156 Perry Ave., which they have leased for the past 13 years. Police arrived shortly afterward and told Gocjaj they would not file charges against him if he switched the locks back, according to mosque leaders.

Gocjaj changed the locks back and left the apartment complex, but returned after police had left, mosque members said. The mosque leaders – fearful of retaliation because, they said, earlier in the day Gocjaj had threatened the mosque’s president with physical violence – decided to file harassment charges with the 52nd Precinct.

Gocjaj has not returned repeated phone calls requesting comment. He was not in his office when the Norwood News tried to contact him in person.

For years, mosque leaders said, they had enjoyed a collegial relationship with Gocjaj’s father David Gocjaj. But since the younger Gocjaj took over the family business a couple of years ago, they said they’ve had repeated smaller disagreements with him.

“His father was great, very respectful,” said Syed Jamin Ali, the mosque’s president and a local landlord himself. “But the son, he is nothing like that. He has no respect.”

This latest episode appears to have brought the situation to a head.

On Feb. 15, a note was posted from Con Ed on the entrance doors to 3156 and 3158 Perry Ave., two adjoined buildings located across from Whalen Park, owned and managed by Gocjaj. It said that “somebody” had turned off the building’s gas. The gas valve is located in the basement where the mosque is. No further information from the landlord was provided.

Without gas for their stoves, tenants in the 50 apartments above the mosque began asking their landlord what happened. Several tenants, all of whom wished not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said the landlord told them the same thing: It was the people from the mosque who turned it off.

All of the tenants the Norwood News spoke with expressed disbelief, saying they believed Gocjaj was blaming the mosque to get its members to pay for the needed repairs.  

“He finds in us an easy target,” said Mohammed I. Hussain, the mosque’s secretary who owns a convenience store down the street from the building.  

Jamin Ali, Hussain and a handful of other mosque leaders said they had no idea they even had a gas valve in their mosque and wouldn’t know how to turn it off in the first place.

“Why would we want to do something like that? We’ve been here for 13 years,” Hussain said.

At around 4 p.m. that Friday, Gocjaj called Hussain to say somebody at the mosque had turned off the gas about 1 p.m., during one of the mosque’s regular prayer times. They also pray early in the morning, at 5 a.m., in the early evening, at about 5:45 p.m., and then again later at night.

But at least one tenant reported that the gas stopped working much earlier than that, at about 10:30 a.m. when she was cooking breakfast.

Hussain told Gocjaj that it wasn’t them.

For the next two weeks, tenants suffered without the use of their stoves and heard nothing from their landlord. He told them he was doing the best he could, but that it could take weeks if not months to fix the problem. The exact time line is unclear, but tenants say at some point a plumber came to inspect the gas line and said there was a leak that would take time to fix.

By last Friday, Feb. 29, the repairs were made and the gas was back on. Tenants were prepared to sue, they said, if it had taken any longer.

That day, before the lock-changing incident with police, Gocjaj called Hussain, Jamin Ali and another mosque leader into his office. According to Hussain and Jamin Ali, Gocjaj showed them a sheet of paper with two handwritten bills with little description, one for $3,500 and another for $4,500, a total of $9,000. He wanted them to pay that amount, but would not let them even handle the copy, according to the mosque leaders.

When Jamin Ali told him he would not pay anything without an official, itemized bill detailing exactly what the charges were for, Hussain and Jamin Ali said Gocjaj became irate, cursing and literally shoving Jamin Ali out the door. Jamin Ali said Gocjaj called him names and told him he would blow his head off.

“I was friendly with [Gocjaj],” said Hussain, who corroborated Jamin Ali’s story, “so he thought he could push them around.”  

Later, after the lock-changing incident, Jamin Ali said he called the police when Gocjaj returned because he thought the landlord might have brought a gun back with him because of the earlier threat.

Jamin Ali said he doesn’t fear for his life, but doesn’t know what to expect from Gocjaj so he is continuing to press charges. Outside of the building on Monday afternoon, he wondered if Gocjaj might be willing to sell it to him.

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