Neighborhood Notes

April 17, 2008

By Norwood News

Free Computer Tutoring
The Mosholu Preservation Corporation is offering free computer tutorials to anyone 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.

College Preparation
The International Leadership Charter School, 2900 Exterior St., Suite 1R, is offering three more open houses on preparing your child for college. The event is open to all families whose children are entering ninth grade this fall. The open houses are on Thursday, April 17; Monday, April 21; and Tuesday, April 29, all from 5 to 7 p.m. at the school. For more information, call (718) 562-2300.

Book Fair
The Bronx Greens Backyard Book Fair will be held on Saturday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 286 Reservoir Oval Place. New and used paperback, soft cover, and hardcover books will be available. All proceeds will be used to help fund Bronx Greens community outreach projects. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call Carl Lundgren at (718) 792-1728 or e-mail fiveborogreens@verizon.net.

Disease Management Workshops
CMO, the care management company of Montefiore Medical Center, is presenting a series of free health education workshops led by nurse educators, focusing on chronic health issues such as diabetes and hypertension. The first three sessions will be held 10 a.m. to noon on April 21 at Co-op City Community Room, 177 Dreiser Loop, 2nd floor, room #8; April 24 at MMG Grand Concourse, 2532 Grand Concourse; and April 28 at the MMG Bronx East, 2300 Westchester Ave. For more information or to register for a program, call 1-800-MD-MONTE.

Free Oral Cancer Screening
Montefiore Medical Center will offer free oral cancer screenings on Monday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Montefiore-Einstein Cancer Center, 1695 Eastchester Road, 1st floor, and Friday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MMC’s Moses Campus Ambulatory Oncology Department/Gold Zone, 1st floor, 111 E. 210th St. Screenings are open to the public and will include a brief and painless exam by a dentist, information about oral cancer prevention and referrals as needed. No appointments needed. For more information, call 1-800-636-6683.

Prenatal Care Assistance Program
The Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP) is now available for women and teens in the Bronx who are pregnant and meet certain income guidelines. The program, offered by the Montefiore Medical Center and the New York State Department of Health, provides medical care during pregnancy, delivery and for at least two months after delivery. The program is available at the Family Health Center (FHC), 360 E. 193rd St.; Comprehensive Health Care Center (CHCC), 305 E. 161st St.; and Comprehensive Family Care Center (CFCC), 1621 Eastchester Road. For more information, call (718) 933-2400, (718) 579-2500, or (718) 405-8040.

MetroCard Van Coming
MTA MetroCard buses will make scheduled stops in the Bronx during April, including Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse on April 25 from noon to 2 p.m.; Scott Tower (3400 Paul Ave., corner of East 205th Street) on April 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.; and in Van Cortlandt Village at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. on April 25 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may apply for the Reduced Fare MetroCard and obtain applications from the vans. Senior citizens must present photo I.D. proving they are at least 65. For more information, call (212) METROCARD or visit MTA’s Web site, mta.info.

Social Security Assistance
Representatives of the Social Security Administration will be at Congressman Eliot Engel’s Bronx office, 3655 Johnson Ave., on Wednesday, April 23, to assist people with questions and issues concerning Social Security. The service is available by appointment only, which can be made by calling Engel’s assistant Richard Fedderman at (718) 796-9700.

SYEP Applications
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Applications are now available at the Mosholu-Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave., for 14-21 year olds. Applications can be picked up and dropped off Mondays through Fridays from 2:30 to 6 p.m. or candidates can apply online at www.nyc.gov/dycd. For more information, call (718) 882-4000 ext. 279.

Upcoming Events at the Methodist Home
The Methodist Home will host a free lecture about bedbugs on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. On April 24 at 6:30 p.m., The Home will feature a free Contemporary Fine Art Exhibition with oil paintings by Colombian artist Viviana Puello. On April 30, at 10:30 a.m., the home will host a free educational forum about diabetes. For any of these events, RSVP to (718) 548-5100 ext. 321. The Methodist Home is located at 4499 Manhattan College Parkway, Riverdale.

Block Party
The PS/MS 20 PTA 52nd Precinct NYPD Explorers Community Awareness Day Block Party will be held on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mosholu Parkway North between Webster and Decatur avenues. The event will include several guest speakers, live salsa dancers, raffles, vendors, music, and the PS/MS 20 cheerleaders.

Registration Open for Annual 10k and 5k Runs
The Bronx Community College (BCC) “Run for Fun, Fitness and Health” 10k (6.2 miles) and 5k (3.1 miles) runs, for ages seven to 80, will be on Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m. at BCC, West 181st Street and University Avenue. To get an entry form, call (718) 289-5989, or download a form at www.bcc.cuny.edu/10krace. Registration can also be completed online with a credit card at www.active.com. Runners should check in from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Junior Naturalists Exploration Education
The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park is offering the opportunity for junior high school students to learn about the ecology of Van Cortlandt Park. The free weekly club will have hands-on activities, forest restoration and a free field trip. Meetings will be in the park at Bainbridge and Jerome avenues, every Wednesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., from April 30 through June 18. To apply, call (718) 601-1553 or visit www.vancortlandt.org. Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis. Application deadline is April 25.

Clean Up the Bronx
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr., invites local residents to participate in “Team Up to Clean Up the Bronx,” a borough-wide clean up campaign, on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The designated clean-up date for Sabbath observers is May 4. The team registration deadline is April 24. To register a clean-up activity in your neighborhood or for additional information, call the Borough President’s office at (718) 590-3914.

Methodist Home Art Classes
The Methodist Home will offer art classes every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. The classes will focus on abstract landscape art, and will be suitable for a wide range of artistic abilities. A fee of $5 per class will be charged at the door. To register, please call (718) 548-5100 ext. 231. The Methodist Home is located at 4499 Manhattan College Parkway, Riverdale.

Foreign Exchange Students Need Hosts
The Pacific Intercultural Exchange is seeking local host families for foreign high school students who are scheduled to arrive soon. Prospective host families can review student applications and select the perfect match. Interested parties should contact the program immediately. Call toll-free, (866) 546-1402.
AFS, the leading international high school student exchange program, also 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.

Housing Available
New Destiny Housing Corporation is accepting applications for 19 studio and 2-bedroom rental apartments in Marcello Manor, a newly constructed elevator building in the Fordham-Bedford section of the Bronx. Applications can be downloaded from New Destiny Housing Corporation’s website (www.newdestinyhousing.org) by going to the left hand corner of the homepage and clicking under ‘general population.’ Applications can also be requested by mail until April 18: Citywide Supportive Housing Inc., Attn: Applications Request, 1140 Broadway, Suite 1002, New York, NY 10001. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the application request. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than May 1. Section 8 voucher holders are encouraged to apply.

FTC Materials Available
The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has Federal Trade Commission (FTC) materials on credit acquisition and protection available to the public or for groups. To obtain copies of any of these materials, call Mr. Kathryn Speller at (718) 365-0910, ext. 133. Materials may be picked up at the CAB office, 2054 Morris Ave., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call to schedule a pick-up. Materials may also be sent by mail upon request. For more information, visit cabny.org, or call (718) 365-0910 ext. 122.

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.

Research Patients Needed
Doctors at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center are looking for women ages 18 to 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.

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. Music from Bangladesh is on April 19 at 2:30 p.m. Call (718) 882-8239 for more information.

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.

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.

Financial Education Seminars
The Ridgewood Savings Bank will be hosting financial education seminars during April, May and June. Topics covered will include the benefits of savings and checking accounts, mortgages, and saving for emergencies, financial goals, and retirement. The seminars, entitled “Money Matters” will be held on April 22, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at 3445 Jerome Ave., May 6, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at 711 Allerton Ave., May 20, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at 3824 White Plains Rd., and on June 10, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 1626 Bruckner Blvd. For more information call (718) 881-3430 or (718) 882-2220.

Summer Youth Employment
The Mosholu-Montefiore Community Center is giving out applications for 14-21 year olds who are looking for summer work. Applications can be picked up and dropped off at 3450 Dekalb Ave, Mondays through Fridays from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Those interested can also apply online at www.nyc.gov/dycd. For more information, call (718) 882-4000 ext. 279.

Oral Cancer Screenings
The Montefiore Medical Center will be offering free oral cancer screenings on Monday, April 21, at the Montefiore-Einstein Cancer Center, 1695 Eastchester Rd., 1st Floor, and on Friday, April 25, at the Montefiore Medical Center’s Moses, 111 E. 210th St., 1st Floor. For more information, call (800) 636-6683.

Retirement Planning Seminar
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is hosting a free seminar on Retirement Planning. The seminar, which will feature Dario Rodriguez, a Financial Advisor for Citi Smith Barney, is on Monday, April 28, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Space is limited. RSVP to Bob Altman, (718) 882-4000.

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Out & About

April 17, 2008

By Judy Noy

Onstage

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center hosts a Passover Program featuring cellist Yoed Nir and his accompanist Anat, on April 24 at 1 p.m. preceded by a Passover lunch at noon. Suggested contribution for lunch is $3. The center is located at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. For more information, call (718) 549-4700.

The Bronx Library Center presents An Afternoon of Flamenco Music and Dance, featuring Jose Ramos and Julissa Cadenillas, the Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble and a guitar solo on April 19 at 2:30 p.m. A Marimba Concert, performed by the Marimba Maya Quetzal is set for April 26 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, 285 E. 205th St., presents Music From Bangladesh by the Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts, April 19 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

The Mosholu Beacon Youth Center, at PS 8, 3010 Briggs Ave., presents a Magic Variety Show, including comedy, surprise, and a juggling act on April 23 at 1 p.m. Please arrive at 12:45 p.m. for seating. For more information, call (718) 329-0595/6.

Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts, located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., is host to Legends of Salsa, all performing with the Jimmy Delgado Orchestra, April 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $55. For more information, call (718) 960-8833.

The Bronx Arts Ensemble Orchestra presents Los Clásicos de la Salsa, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture, 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street. For more information, call (718) 601-7399.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Havana Film Festival of New York present Azúcar!, April 18, 6 to 10 p.m., featuring a live DJ and band performance celebrating the arts and music of Cuba, and a screening of the film, “Havana Kidz II.” The show will take place at the museum, located at 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street, in the South Wing, Lower Gallery. For more information, call (718) 681-6000 ext. 120 or cwanliss@bronxmuseum.org.

Events

The Bronx County Historical Society is holding a Book Talk and Signing, April 19 at 1 p.m. at the Museum of Bronx History, 3266 Bainbridge Ave., at 208th Street. Anthony Greene will discuss “Annotated Primary Sources: From the Bronx County Historical Society Collections.” For more information, call (718) 881-8900.

Exhibits

The Bronx Library Center at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., hosts One Soul: When Humanity Fails, an exhibit about the Holocaust featuring video, audio, and graphic narrative. This free program, which runs through April 30, focuses on the personal experiences of concentration camp survivors and their U.S. Army liberators. For more information, call (718) 579-4244.

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.

Classical techniques of painting and sculpture twist and turn in a new exhibition at the Bronx River Art Center, featuring the works of New York artists Benjamin Entner and Omar Chacón, curated by José Ruiz. It opens May 2 with a free reception from 6 to 9 p.m. where the artists will be present. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.bronxriverart.org.

Learning

The Bronx Library Center has events for all ages:

For children, there are films on April 23 and 30 at 4 p.m. Also, for school-aged children, there is Monkey Steals the Heavenly Peaches, April 19 at 2 p.m.; Lion Book Making, April 24 at 4 p.m.; and Little Red Riding Hood, April 27 at 2 p.m.
Young adults can Play Chess! in a workshop with Ramon A. Hernandez on April 21 and 28 at 4 p.m.; and participate in a Poetry Writing Workshop, April 23 at 4 p.m. and Urban Poetry Slam! April 25 at 4 p.m.
For adults, there is an Immigrant Resource Fair, including information on GED and ESL classes, health insurance and services, jobs, and free immigration forms, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and How to Buy a Computer (register online), April 26 at 2 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 YTWL: You Talk! We Listen, for young adults, April 23 and 30 at 4 p.m. Also for young adults is Action Racket Theatre Lab, April 23 and 30 at 4 p.m. School-aged children can attend Gadgets and Gizmos: Robots, April 22 at 4 p.m. The library is located at 285 E. 205th St. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

The Jerome Park Library at 118 Eames Place, hosts Multicultural Stories from Around the World for school-aged children, April 17 at 6 p.m. Young adults can attend Poetry Writing Workshops, April 17 and 24 at 4 p.m. For more information and to confirm, call (718) 549-5200.

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY PASSOVER TO ALL OUR JEWISH READERS!

NOTE: Items for consideration should be received in our office by April 21 for the next publication date of May 1.

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Where is the Housing?

April 17, 2008

By None

I am homeless, disabled and I sleep on a recliner. In 1999, I was in a car accident and lost my apartment. My 15-year-old son had to move in with his father who lives in Pennsylvania, and we’ve been separated since September, when school started there. I have gone to Housing Court, the Social Security welfare offices, and Citizen’s Advice Bureau. I receive a once-a-month payout from SSI, pay my bills and on the 2nd I have no money left to my name.

I don’t want to move to a shelter. I’ve been going from my son’s apartment to my friends’, but I have overstayed my welcome in each place.

I have been looking for help, but I have not found any agency that helps a person on SSI get an apartment unless it’s in a drug-infested area. I have also applied for housing in Section 8.

I know that it’s only a matter of time and luck before I find an apartment for my son and me. I just have to let someone know that the rumors of housing for low-income people being built in the Bronx are false. Houses and condos are being built all over the Bronx, but I have not seen anything being built for low-income families. It feels like they are pushing out the people in Bronx who can not afford to live here!

Maria Rivera

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Library Needs Crosswalk

April 17, 2008

By None

I am a citizen living in the Fordham area and I have younger siblings who visit the Bronx Library Center at 310 Kingsbridge Road. I began to notice that there are no crosswalks conveniently located near the library center when I witnessed a group of children jaywalking across the street from the Briggs Avenue side of the street to the front of the library.

This is a busy and wide street that is dangerous for pedestrians. I began to look for a solution by writing to my council member, Joel Rivera, and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. Also, by contacting 311, I was able to write a letter to the Department of Transportation. Then, I began to research to see if this issue had been previously raised so that I may have some substantial community support behind me, but found none. Am I alone in this concern?

I would love to see a crosswalk there, or some kind of stop sign so vehicles can be aware of children crossing. By putting that in place, I feel that it can help the patrons of the library and the people on their way to the Fordham shopping center.

Azucena Liranzo

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Prostitutes Still in Bronx

April 17, 2008

By None

The Bronx has the largest number of known public street locations for prostitution in the city, and yet according to the citywide arrest statistics they have the lowest number of arrests for this crime. The locations include: West Farms area and East Tremont Avenue, St. James Park, Hunts Points, Bronx Terminal Market, Jerome Avenue between Gun Hill Road and Woodlawn, East 241st Street and White Plains Road, Jerome Avenue from 4 a.m. until 7 a.m. between Fordham Road and Kingsbridge Road, Westchester Square and East 233rd Street and the New England Thruway area.

The Office of the Patrol Borough Bronx has over 25 officers from the ranks of police officer to deputy chief who could address this condition without impacting the patrol precincts. The personnel there perform important clerical work, however, I’m sure all would agree taking them out two days a month to address these locations would have a positive impact on the quality of life in the Bronx. I would like to see a focus on the “john” customer who keeps this illegal activity going. The seizure of their cars and printing their names in newspapers would be a powerful deterrent to future customers. The Bronx should be leading the city with arrests for this crime and this letter should be the mandate to insure that.

Anonymous

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One Giant Megaphone for Armory

April 17, 2008

By Editorial

Maybe it’s a Bronx thing or an “other boroughs” thing. Apparently up here the city doesn’t announce the advancement of huge neighborhood-changing development projects. They just sort of leak them and rumor them and move forward without saying much.

We’re talking, of course, about the Kingsbridge Armory, the massive vacant building slated to be renovated sometime in the near future. Community Board 7 Chair Greg Faulkner has said publicly, at a general board meeting, that The Related Companies, whose principal is pals and former business partners with former deputy mayor Dan Doctoroff, has been awarded the contract to revamp the Armory. The Daily News reported the same story using anonymous sources three weeks ago. The city Economic Development Corporation is not denying it, but they’re not admitting it either.

How sad. The biggest project to hit the northwest Bronx in generations is limping past a major milestone as if it doesn’t really matter. This situation only reinforces the century-old public impression that the city administration, regardless of who is mayor, only really cares about Manhattan.

Fortunately, we are a community that has found its voice and struggled mightily for this project and is now gearing up for face-to-face negotiations with the developer.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), founded by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, should rightly claim victory after working on this for years and forging a coalition of elected officials, unions and community leaders, to demand a project that includes benefits for the community, such as good paying jobs, strong local labor participation, more community space and, of course, schools. Now KARA wants to be the one community voice and the one negotiating body to try to make sure their demands are met.

At the same time, Community Board 7 is set up, according to the city charter, to be the place where the community has its say. CB7’s Faulkner hasn’t signed on to KARA’s principles or process because he doesn’t want to lose the board’s bargaining power.

To its credit, the board has undergone a noticeable transition over the past couple of years. It’s growing in numbers and strength. Its members are actively engaged in the community. And new district manager and Bedford Park resident Fernando Tirado has strengthened the board’s outreach and openness. But it would be unwise to go it alone on a project of this scale.

Given the teeth pulling required to get this thing off the ground, we sincerely hope the community board and KARA can combine forces to form one giant megaphone of a community voice. They both want what’s best for the community.

At this point in the game, when we start getting into the nitty gritty of hammering out a community benefits or project labor agreement with a developer, our community institutions should find a way to work together. For instance, the coalition can use the board as a forum to lobby for its agenda and the board should show up to coalition meetings and rallies. The point is that when you’re trying to lift something, say a large rock or a Bronx community, two hands are better than one.

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Walton Dominates Clinton

April 17, 2008

By Graham Kates

The DeWitt Clinton and Walton high school varsity baseball teams met on Wednesday, April 9, at the Clinton’s school field, just two days after Clinton was no-hit by Walton’s Peter Ozuna in an 11-0 blowout.

While the Governors managed to squeeze out two hits and two runs on Wednesday, the Walton Wildcats once again out-hit and out-pitched Clinton for a 12-2 win. It was the Wildcats’ fourth win in five games this season.

The loss sunk Clinton to 2-2 this year.

Walton’s hitting has been solid all season, scoring at least six runs in each of their wins. But it’s their pitching that has been the true key to their success. So far this season, the Wildcats’ team ERA is a ridiculous 1.00, giving up just seven runs, five earned, in five games.

Clinton’s lone bright spots came from team Captain Mauricio Matos, the designated hitter, and Joseph Flores, the Governors’ catcher. Flores had hits in each of his at bats, and Matos had the team’s only RBI, as well as two walks, and two stolen bases. Flores and Matos are currently tied for 2nd in batting average in the Bronx East A division. They are each hitting .667.

James Monroe’s Nelson Arroyo, who leads the Bronx East A division in batting average, is hitting .833 after three games.

The Wildcats were led by Andy Mendez, who pitched all five of the innings in the “mercy rule” shortened game. Mendez, who also leads the team in batting average, (.500 before Wednesday’s game), as well as steals, five so far this year, carried a shutout into the fifth inning.

But after Walton’s hitters batted around the order for a six-run fourth inning that lasted over half an hour, Mendez appeared to lose some of his command. He walked the first two batters, drawing a visit to the mound from Coach Jason Norman. Norman says he asked Mendez how he felt, and Mendez replied, “I’m fine. I’ll pick it up.”

While both runners would eventually score, due to an error by Walton’s shortstop, Mendez effectively shut down Clinton’s hitters. Mendez struck out two batters, separated by the misplayed ground ball, and induced a pop fly to end the inning.

“When I made mistakes (against the first two hitters of the inning), I lost focus,” Mendez said. “But I put my head back into it, and got the outs I needed.”

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Baseball Season in Full Swing in the Bronx

April 17, 2008

By Alex Kratz

During the next month, temperatures won’t be the only thing heating up in the Bronx. The arrival of spring brings the start of another baseball season for the high school teams in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL). This season, some local teams are looking to build on strong performances last spring while others are trying to fight their way into contention.

The biggest difference on the playing field this season is at home plate, where a recent City Council ordinance has forced all high schools to play with wooden bats for the first time. Most coaches admit the new bats will take some getting used to. “The ball doesn’t jump off the bat the way it does with aluminum bats,” DeWitt Clinton coach Robert Miller said. “You really have to earn your hits.”

John F. Kennedy High School

Last season, the Knights finished first in the Bronx West A Division and made it to the PSAL semi-finals. After losing 10 players from last year’s squad, Coach Alex Torres is faced with the challenge of preparing their replacements. So far, the team has been successful, jumping out to a 6-0 record to start their season. “We have a young team with lots of new faces who need to learn our system,” Torres said.

Still, this year’s squad does not lack talent. Torres is relying on three of his returning seniors, Will Burgos, Antonio Rivera, and Bienven Martinez, along with fellow returning players Frankie Estevez and Sammie Dominguez, to lead the young team. Dominguez, who will assume the role of starting catcher this season, batted .512 with five homers and 18 RBIs last season.

Torres said the strongest part of his team is the starting pitching, led by Burgos who relies on his fastball and an arsenal of off-speed pitches to keep his opponents guessing at the plate. “As long as we play solid defense, pitch well and make the routine plays, we’ll have a chance to compete in every game,” Torres said.

DeWitt Clinton High School

The Governors enter the season having graduated every position player from last year’s 13-3 squad. Clinton started its season with two convincing wins over Bronx Science, before falling to rival Walton twice.

Coach Miller, in his sixth season at the helm, admits his players have their work cut out for them. “This is probably the toughest year I’ve had coaching so far,” he said. “There’s a lot of teaching going on.”

For a team that has a lot of “physical talents but not a lot of baseball instincts,” Miller focuses on the basics and reducing fielding errors during practices and games. The team’s strength lies in its pitching, led by senior Nelson Colon. Second baseman Arjenis Carmona and catcher Mauricio Matos also provide senior leadership.

Miller says the key to the season will be whether or not the Governors can hit the ball with consistency. “If we hit, we’ll be a better than .500 team,” he said. “If not, it’s going to be a long season.”

H.S. of American Studies

At a school with only 332 students, the Senators have significantly fewer players to choose from when fielding a baseball team. Despite this disadvantage, third year head coach Howard Blitz is pleased with the 17 players he has on his team, whose main goal is to increase their win total from last year’s 4-12 season.

“We have a great bunch of guys who are dedicated and work hard,” Blitz said.

Led by co-captains Matthew Bollati and Jake Walkup, along with catcher Jasper Klein and pitcher Andrew Michalski, the Senators are off to a strong start. Despite an 0-6 record, two of the losses came in close 2-0 contests against division front-runners.

Strong pitching and smart play will be the keys to the team’s success in the upcoming month. “The game is 90 percent pitching,” Blitz said. “We need to take advantage of what we have. We don’t have the greatest physical talent, so we need to play smart baseball, which we do well.”

Bronx High School of Science

Despite a slow 0-5 start, the Wolverines continue to focus on defense and hitting. Led by senior pitcher Robert Wong and junior centerfielder Robert Shimasaki, the team is looking to improve on last season’s 3-13 record. Sixth-year head coach Rafael Lajara says, “Our strongest part is our pitching.”

This strength came out at a recent game against South Bronx. Pitchers Andrew Stormont and Bryan Weisgal combined to allow only one earned run in seven innings in a tough 2-1 loss for Bronx Science.

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Public and Community Meetings

April 17, 2008

By None

• The Croton Facility Monitoring Committee will meet on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. at the DEP Office, 3660 Jerome Ave. For more information, call (718) 231-8470.

• The Community Education Council of District 10 will meet on Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at PS 79, 125 E. 181st St. For more information, call (718) 741-5836.

• The Liberty Democratic Association’s 80th Assembly District Club will meet on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. at Janel Towers, 801 Neill Ave. For more information, call (347) 575-5045.

• Community Board 7’s Education Committee will meet on Monday, April 21 at 6 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229-A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• Community Board 7’s Land Use/Zoning Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229-A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• The 52nd Precinct Community Council will meet on Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at 2545 University Ave. For more information, call (718) 220-5824.

• Community Board 7’s Senior Services Committee will meet on Monday, April 28 at 10 a.m. in the President’s Conference Room at Monroe College, 2501 Jerome Ave. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• Community Board 7’s Youth Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229-A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• The 204th St./Bainbridge Ave. Merchants Association will meet on Wednesday, April 30 at 8 a.m. at the McKeon Funeral Home, 3129 Perry Ave. at 204th Street, to discuss the possible formation of a Business Improvement District along the 204th St./Bainbridge Ave. Business Corridor. For more information, call Roberto Garcia of the Mosholu Preservation Corporation at (718) 324-4461.

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Bronx Council Members Playing Hooky

April 17, 2008

By Graham Kates

An investigation by the New York Times revealed that many City Council members have incredibly poor attendance records. According to the report, the average Council member attends 84 percent of all full Council meetings and hearings.

Maria Baez, a Democrat who represents the Bronx’s 14th District, recorded the poorest attendance record of any member. The Times reported that “Ms. Baez…has missed 203 of 608 hearings and full Council meetings since 2004. Only 19 of her absences were excused, for an overall attendance rate of 66.61 percent, according to Council records.”

Calls to Baez’s offices in Manhattan and the Bronx seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Including Baez, four out of the six worst attendance records belonged to Council members from the Bronx – Larry Seabrook (67.86), Foster (71.14 percent), and Anabel Palma (72.47 percent).

Democratic Majority Leader Joel Rivera, a possible candidate in the next race for Bronx borough president, showed up 77.21 percent of the time, the report said.

The Bronx members with the best attendance records were Carmen del Arroyo, who was in attendance 93.9 percent of the time, and Jimmy Vacca, who showed up at 91.94 percent of the meetings and hearings. —Graham Kates

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Comptroller’s Office to Audit Filtration Plant

April 17, 2008

By Allison Grande

The city comptroller’s office has decided to audit the nearly $3 billion Croton Water Filtration Plant project.

In the past five years, the price tag for the largest municipal project in the city’s history has risen to $2.8 billion from an estimated initial cost of $992 million.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and the Croton Facility Monitoring Committee had both been urging the comptroller to investigate the finances behind the site selection and construction of the project.

The comptroller’s investigation will determine if the construction is being carried out “effectively, and in accordance with all applicable regulations and governmental requirements,” according to a letter City Comptroller William Thompson sent to Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Emily Lloyd on April 1.

But this audit, says Dinowitz, does not go far enough. “It does not get to the bottom of why this monstrosity has unnecessarily destroyed a large section of Van Cortlandt Park… and will ultimately result in an over-priced, outmoded facility that was built in the wrong place,” he wrote in an April 14 letter to Thompson.

Dinowitz also said the investigation should look into “who has gained financially from the DEP’s decision to build an experimental underground project.”

The cost inflation for the filtration plant has been particularly concerning to Dinowitz because out of the three sites considered for the project, the Van Cortlandt site was the least expensive. Now Dinowitz wonders if original cost estimates for the Bronx site were deflated and fraudulent.

The DEP has blamed the inflation on an unprecedented spike in construction, material costs, and labor expenses. The project has recently come under intense public scrutiny, especially after Anthony Delvescovo, the director of tunnel operations at Schiavone Construction, one of the lead contractors of the project, was indicted on corruption charges relating to a federal probe that collared dozens of alleged mobsters and mob associates in February.

In December, the Croton Monitoring Facility Committee passed a resolution calling on the city comptroller, as well as the Independent Budget Office (IBO) and state comptroller, to conduct audits on the project. While the state comptroller’s office said in February that it had “no plans to conduct an audit at this time,” the IBO took up an investigation of the massive cost overruns of the project.

IBO officials had planned to give an update of their investigation at the facility committee’s April 17 meeting, but the IBO recently informed the committee that an update would not be ready for Thursday night’s meeting because they need more time to complete their analysis.

—Allison Grande

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Mixed Reaction to Congestion Pricing Plan’s Defeat

April 17, 2008

By Allison Grande

Local politicians responded to the State Assembly’s defeat of Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan last week with mixed reactions. The plan would have implemented an extra charge on drivers entering congestion zones in Manhattan during peak hours and given the city $354 million in federal funds to implement the new system.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, a major opponent of congestion pricing, called the defeat “a huge victory for the people of the Bronx and all of New York.”

One of Dinowitz’s main objections was that city residents would have been charged the $8 fee for driving into mid-Manhattan while New Jersey residents would not.

Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr. agreed that the defeat was a victory for working families who would have had an “unfair financial burden” placed on them. Assemblyman Michael Benjamin joined his Democratic constituents by opposing the plan because of the impact it would have on the middle class and small business owners.

Bloomberg criticized the politicians who couldn’t “embrace new concepts and ideas” and promised that he and his supporters would continue to work for a greener New York. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, and Council Member John C. Liu released statements expressing their disappointment at the State Assembly’s decision.

Even with the bill’s defeat, all agree that congestion remains a problem, and some type of improvement must be made in the future. “Congestion pricing didn’t win today, but the problems it addresses are not going away,” said Michael O’Loughlin, director of the Campaign for New York’s Future, a coalition of community, environmental, health and labor groups.

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PS 94 Students to Be Bused to Other Schools

April 17, 2008

By Alex Kratz

About 100 students who would typically go to PS 94 in Norwood this fall will instead take buses to PS 23 and PS 159 in Tremont, while the city spends the next two school years building a new early childhood center adjacent to the elementary school.

On March 26, the City Council approved construction of the new school, which is expected to accommodate 515 students from pre-K to 2nd grade, and will contain 21 classrooms, a new library, a play yard, a cafeteria and a multi-purpose room.

The building will replace portable classrooms and a small building next to PS 94 that now hold 325 of the elementary school’s 1,050 students.

The PS 94 annex on Gun Hill Road, which currently houses another 125 students, will remain in operation until construction is completed, at which time they, too, will move to the new school.

The project is part of a city Department of Education plan to alleviate overcrowding in a few District 10 schools.

PS 94 Principal Diane DaProcida said the temporary classrooms must be cleared out by July 1 so that construction can begin. The center is slated for completion by September 2010.

PS 94, on Kings College Place between Gun Hill Road and East 211th Street, serves children in grades kindergarten to 5th.

While DaProcida said it is still unclear how students will be chosen for busing, City Councilman Oliver Koppell said in a statement that he expects bilingual students to be sent to PS 159, as it is a bilingual school. Each school is about 2.5 miles from PS 94.

DaProcida expressed regret that her students will have to travel to get to school. “I don’t think it’s right to penalize those students who live in the community,” she said. But, she added, overall the plan is “fine.”

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Gonzalez Trial Delay Could Lead to Showdown

April 17, 2008

By Alex Kratz

Federal authorities postponed embattled Bronx State Senator Efrain Gonzalez’s trial for corruption and fraud charges until Oct. 6, a month after this year’s state Democratic primary election, setting up what could be a showdown with another local politician with a checkered past.

Gonzalez stands accused of bilking more than $400,000 in taxpayer money for his own personal use.

Originally, Gonzalez’s trial was slated to begin May 28, but the trial was pushed back to October because one of the senator’s co-defendant’s lawyers underwent triple-bypass heart surgery, according to Gonzalez’s lawyer Murray Richman. (The U.S. District Attorney’s office, which is handling the case, wouldn’t comment on the health issue and didn’t give a reason why the trial was postponed.)

This reprieve allows Gonzalez to ramp up his campaign against possible Democratic or Republican challengers, including former State Senator Pedro Espada, who has pledged allegiance to both parties at different times in his career. Last year, Espada established residency in Bedford Park, fueling speculation that he would challenge Gonzalez for his seat, especially if the senator were convicted before the election.

Now, it looks like Gonzalez’s trial will not conclude until after the Nov. 4 general election. If he were to be convicted after winning the election, Gonzalez would be removed from office and a special election would be called.

Gonzalez’s chief of staff, Miguel Ponce, said he’s heard the rumors about Espada running and that he’s received mailings for free mammograms from Espada out of a Webster Avenue address (Espada also heads the Soundview chain of health clinics), but it doesn’t concern him.

“You always hear rumors about this guy or that guy,” Ponce said. “It doesn’t matter. We’re preparing as if we were running against the President of the United States.”

Ponce acknowledged that fund-raising was down because of trial speculation, leaving him somewhat vulnerable to a challenge from someone like Espada, who avoided corruption charges himself just a few years ago. “He’s proven he can raise cash and anybody who can raise cash is formidable.”

Aside from the money, Ponce said the indictment wouldn’t matter much to voters who overwhelmingly re-elected him in 2006 under the cloud of scandal.

Others, including Gary Axelbank, host of the political talk show Bronx Talk, said he’s also heard the Espada rumors and isn’t encouraged by them. “Let me say that, in general, this is a wholly disenfranchised electorate,” Axelbank said. “People are sick and tired of reading about indictments, back-room deals,” and other stories of political scandal and ineffectiveness.

“Pedro Espada comes to the district with his own baggage, too, not to mention that he moved in [to Gonzalez’s 33rd District] to run,” Axelbank said. “Not the best way to make people confident in his ability to represent their particular interests.”

Espada, who is also rumored to be considering a run at the Bronx borough presidency, could not be reach for comment. Gonzalez did not return phone calls requesting comment.

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Neighborhood Notes

April 3, 2008

By Norwood News

[Neighborhood Notes 4’1]

Turnout Training
The Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition is having Turnout Training and a Community Meeting on Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to get people to a parents meeting, religious service, or block party; meet your neighbors and help improve the community. The training and meeting will be at 2500 Jerome Avenue, between 190th and St. James Park, one block north of Fordham Road.

Life After Incarceration Seminar
Lehman College will host a seminar on April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room on the challenges people face after incarceration, the possibilities for their success and the ways the community can help them reenter society. The panelists will include Lehman Professor Carl Mazza, Glenn E. Martin from the Fortune Society, Lehman social work major Dwight Stephenson, and representatives from New York Cares and The College Initiative. The discussion is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information contact Hannah Tran at hanh_tran@nycares.org or (212) 402-1116.

Food Co-Op
The Norwood Food Co-op is accepting registration forms 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 Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. To register for an info session, please call (718) 670-3727, or email Norwoodcsafoodcoop@yahoo.com. Visit www.norwoodfoodcorp.org for more information.

Flea Market
Post 2052 Law Enforcement Explorers is sponsoring a fundraising Flea Market on Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Ann’s Church, 3519 Bainbridge Ave. A variety of items, including electronics, food, and toys, will be available for purchase. If you would like to donate an item to the event, call (718) 220-5824.

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.

Walk for Health Walkathon
The first annual Walk for Health Walkathon will be held Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. The event, which will be at Van Courtlandt Park, will benefit organizations that fight against autism, asthma, breast cancer, childhood obesity, and diabetes. Anyone interested in participating can pre-register online at www.nationalpuertoricandayparade.org or www.bronxchamber.org. The registration fee is $10.00 per person. For more information, call (718) 401-0404, (718) 828-3900, or (212) 243-1177.

Spring Art Classes
The Bronx River Art Center (BRAC), 1087 East Tremont Ave., is offering free art classes for youth and teens ages 9-12 in fine arts, digital media, and eco-media as well as fee-based art classes for adults in darkroom photography, painting, and advanced ceramics. The spring session runs from April 28 to June 30. Registration for the spring session will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. and from Monday through Friday, April 14-18, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the first floor gallery space of the BRAC. For more information, call (718) 589-5819 or visit bronxriverart.org.

MetroCard Van Coming
MTA MetroCard buses will make scheduled stops in the Bronx during April, including Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse on April 11 & 25 from noon to 2 p.m.; Scott Tower (3400 Paul Ave., corner of East 205th Street) on April. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.; and in Van Cortlandt Village at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. on April 11 & 25 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may apply for the Reduced Fare MetroCard and obtain applications from the vans. Senior Citizens must present photo I.D. proving they are at least 65. For more information, call (212) METROCARD or visit MTA’s Web site, www.mta.info.

Social Security Assistance
Representatives of the Social Security Administration will be at Congressman Eliot Engel’s Bronx office, 3655 Johnson Ave., on Wednesday, April 23 to assist people with questions and issues concerning Social Security. The service is available by appointment only, which can be made by calling Engel’s assistant Richard Fedderman at (718) 796-9700.

Clean Up the Bronx
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. invites local residents to participate in “Team Up to Clean Up the Bronx,” a borough-wide clean up campaign, on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine. The designated clean-up date for Sabbath observers is May 4. The team registration deadline is April 24. To register a clean-up activity in your neighborhood or for additional information, call the Office of the Bronx Borough President at (718) 590-3914.

Housing Available
New Destiny Housing Corporation is accepting applications for 19 Studio and 2-bedroom rental apartments in Marcello Manor, a newly constructed elevator building in the Fordham-Bedford section of the Bronx. Applications can be downloaded from New Destiny Housing Corporation’s website (www.newdestinyhousing.org) by going to the left hand corner of the homepage and clicking under ‘general population.’ Applications can also be requested by mail until April 18: Citywide Supportive Housing Inc., Attn: Applications Request, 1140 Broadway, Suite 1002, New York, NY 10001. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the application request. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than May 1. Section 8 voucher holders are encouraged to apply.

Scholarship Opportunity
The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, will award a scholarship to one female high school senior from the Bronx, who plans on attending a four-year college or university. The recipient of the scholarship “will be a high school female who participates in community service, proves to be a role model for other young women and has excelled academically.” For more information or to apply, go to www.zphibkez.org/scholarship, or call (866) 841-9139.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. For a route map of the tour, visit BikeNewYork.org/rides/fbbt/route_map.html.

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.

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Out & About

April 3, 2008

By Judy Noy

Onstage

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center hosts Broadway and Night Club Sounds of New York, with singer and pianist Tom Smith on 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 the David Glukh Klezmer Ensemble, April 5 at 2:30 p.m.; Retumba, April 12 at 2:30 p.m.; JD/Dansfolk, a dance performance on April 12 at 6 p.m.; and African Dance, April 13 at 2 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.

The Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Live in Definition’ Series continues at Lehman College’s Lovinger Theater with Puccini’s La Boheme on April 5. Experience bohemian life in Paris in the 1840s from a comfy seat in the Bronx beginning at 1:30 p.m. for free, but tickets are required, so reserve yours at (718) 960-8025. Find it at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W. Also on April 5, at 8 p.m., Gladys Knight struts a very different kind of vocal style at Lehman’s Center for the Performing Arts, for tickets ranging from $55 to $100. For these tickets, call (718) 960-8833.

n Lehman College is host to the arts from at home and abroad. First, a Composer’s Concert on April 9, featuring works by recent alumni, at noon, free, in the Music Recital Hall. Also there’s Bizet’s Carmen, by the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre on April 13 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $35. The college is located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W. For more information, call (718) 960-8833.

In celebration of Quebec’s 400th anniversary, Lehman College hosts A Man and a Woman, a musical program performed in French with commentary in English, free, by Quebec actor and singer Jean Brassard. It is to take place in the Music Building’s Recital Hall on April 3 at 12:30 p.m., accompanied by pianist and singer Kathleen Landis. Also, at Lehman’s Art Gallery, hear Montreal’s Expo 67: The Discovery of Quebec’s Pride and Modernity, a free lecture led by Professor Magali Deleuze of the Royal Military College of Canada, on April 14 at 3 p.m., about Montreal’s 1967 World’s Fair. It’s all at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W.

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.

Wave Hill, located at 675 W. 252nd St., hosts The Jazz Piano with Aaron Diehl, April 13 from 2 to 3 p.m. in Armor Hall. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (718) 549-3200 ext. 385.

Events

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 chocolate and vanilla through science and the senses.. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.

The Bronx County Historical Society is sponsoring a Walking Tour from Mott Haven to SOBRO, led by Prof. Lloyd Ultan, on April 12 at 1 p.m., departing from East 138th Street and Lincoln Avenue. The fee is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. For more information and to reserve a spot, call (718) 881-8900.

Exhibits

Take a peek into the story of Freedomland – New York City’s Disneyland, April 10 to Oct. 19 with a reception on April 10 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History. The exhibition tells the story of the American History themed amusement park opened in 1960 on the 205-acre site now home to Bay Plaza and Co-op City. The museum is located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. at East 208th Street. For more information, call (718) 881-8900.

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 of 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 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. and Friday to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 681-6000.

Learning

The Bronx Library Center has events for all ages:

Preschoolers can enjoy Family Time, April 12 at 11 a.m. For children, there are films on April 9 and 16 at 4 p.m. Also, for school-aged children, there is The Tortoise and the Hare, April 5 at 2 p.m.; Sensational Sharks, April 7 at 4 p.m.; and Scrapbook Making, April 10 at 4 p.m.
Young adults can Play Chess! in a workshop with Ramon A. Hernandez on April 7 and 14 at 4 p.m.; attend Music Discovery: Get an Earful!, April 4 at 4 p.m.; and Get Food Smart With Green Gourmet, April 7 at 4 p.m.; and participate in a Poetry Writing Workshop, April 9 at 4 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 YTWL: You Talk! We Listen, for young adults, April 9 and 16 at 4 p.m. Also for young adults is Action Racket Theatre Lab, April 9 and 16 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.

The Jerome Park Library at 118 Eames Place, hosts Multicultural Stories from Around the World for school-aged children, April 17 at 6 p.m. For more information and to confirm, call (718) 549-5200.

NOTE: Items for consideration should be received in our office by April 7 for the next publication date of April 17.

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Parents, Pols Call for More School Aid

April 3, 2008

By Jennifer DeYoung

Parents, students, teachers and administrators, including many from the northwest Bronx, crowded sidewalks near City Hall on March 19 to protest proposed cuts to the city’s education budget. The rally was organized by the Keep the Promises Coalition, a group of more than 70 community and education groups and labor unions which banded together in February in response to recent city and state proposals to cut education budgets.

With signs and fliers in hand, and umbrellas braced up against the rain, people were ready to fight for their schools.

Elected officials from all five boroughs attended the rally, and most said they would vote against the mayor’s proposed budget if funding for public education is reduced. Mayor Bloomberg has proposed a $324 million cut to education programs for fiscal year 2009. This is on top of a $100 million mid-year cut imposed on city schools in January.

In total, the state and city cuts to education proposed for next year could come to as much as $800 million, according to the coalition.

Coalition members called on city and state officials to hold to the agreement made in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity’s court settlement, which said that city schools should receive a multi-year $2.35 billion increase in basic classroom operating aid, or $528 million this year.

At press time, Gov. David Paterson and the state legislature were ironing out the details of the state budget. The state assembly had passed a budget bill a few weeks ago calling for an additional $300 million in education funding to former Gov. Spitzer’s proposed budget. According to the New York Times, it seemed as though the assembly may have succeeded as of the afternoon of April 1.

At the rally, people chanted, “Sí se puede,” [“Yes we can”] and repeated the rally’s theme, “Keep the Promises.” Among the paraphernalia handed out at the rally were fliers from Teachers For A Just Contract, asking what it would take to stop the budget cuts from happening, both now and in the future. —Jennifer DeYoung

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Holocaust Survivor Visits PS 246

April 3, 2008

By Graham Kates

PS 246’s sixth graders sat in the school’s library, listening attentively as Clara Feldman spoke of the heartbreak and injustice she endured during the Holocaust.

Feldman’s visit to PS 246 was the culmination of the sixth graders’ tolerance and empathy unit, during which the students read “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank, and “Night” by Elie Wiesel. They also watched the documentary “Paper Clips” about a middle school that collected 11 million paper clips, one for each person killed in the Holocaust.

One student, Abu Mohammed, 13, says he liked reading Anne Frank’s diary, which she wrote as an adolescent, because it helped put the Holocaust into perspective for him.

Many of the students in teacher Melissa Murphy’s class had never heard of the Holocaust prior to reading these books. However, Murphy says her students became “really interested” in the subject, and eventually one of them suggested writing letters to a Holocaust survivor asking her to come visit.

Feldman, whose visit was arranged by the New York Tolerance Center, spoke to the students about her own experiences, as well as the broader themes of hate and discrimination. “Hate is like a cancer,” Feldman said, “a cancer that cannot be cured.”

Feldman told students of the day that she considers the end of her childhood. She recalled her first-grade teacher hitting her with a ruler over and over again to show the class “how much pain a ‘Jew pig’ can endure.” Feldman said she would never forget how the children in her class, many of whom she had been friends with, laughed as the teacher hit her.

After Hitler’s rise to power, Feldman’s family fled Germany and eventually settled in Italy. Although Feldman lived a “normal life” in Italy for three years, in 1938, after Mussolini allied with Hitler, her life was torn apart. Feldman says she was “condemned to death for the crime of being born” Jewish.

She recalled being loaded onto a truck and told by a soldier, “You don’t have a name here, your number is 7964.”

Feldman was interned at a concentration camp, but managed to escape when the guards were in disarray during an Allied air attack.

During the question and answer session after Feldman’s presentation, a student asked what Feldman was thinking as she fled her concentration camp. Feldman replied, “I wish I could say I was thinking, but really I was just surviving.” —Graham Kates

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Veteran Health Care

April 3, 2008

By None

Re: [“Home From War, Vets Battle for Housing, Health Care,” March 20 – April 2]:

First and foremost, it should be noted that enrollees for VA Health Care can be seen by a primary care provider the same day they enroll for care, or within a period of time to be specified by them.

Health care coverage for any Iraq or Afghan returnee is an automatic entitlement for which they have qualified by virtue of their service to their country. They do not have to “prove” anything whatsoever, to anyone. VA Health Care providers stand ready to serve them.

Compensation benefit checks — an open-ended monthly check to compensate for a service-related disability — are something else. Compensation checks, whether they are issued by the Department of Defense, VA or the Social Security Administration, must be awarded based upon the filing of a claim, and the appropriate physical examinations to support them. There will be, inherent in the application and exam process, a delay between the time of application and the award of benefits.

In my view, the process will never be responsive enough to provide instantaneous support for someone who has no other means. That said, the process is, by nature, reactionary. Designed to be fiscally sound, and a means of basic support (not a windfall), there are many steps to the process. It just seems inherently disingenuous to call a group of applications awaiting disposition a “backlog.”

Also important to keep in mind is the fact that compensation processes, rating schedules, payment amounts and cost of living increases are all dictated and mandated by Congress, not by VA, the Department of Defense or the Social Security Administration.

Why do I care about all this misinformation? Because as a service-connected disabled Marine veteran who waited 25 years to finally seek VA health care, I know only too well how false rumors and bad information can play on the fears of returning service members, sometimes delaying, for years, the health care they need, deserve and have earned.

I have been there and I plan to be here for my fellow veterans for as long as God is willing to keep me going.

James E. Connell, III

Director of Community & Government Relations, Bronx VA Hospital

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Bronx Parks Dept. Unresponsive

April 3, 2008

By None

I’m a community member and was one of the speakers at the Celebrate the Renewal of Williamsbridge Oval Park event on March 26. I want to thank Councilman Koppell’s office as well as Commissioner Moran’s office for sending such well-spoken, well-prepared representatives.

Bronx Borough Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte, however, should be ashamed to have sent Arnyce Foster to represent his office. She sat through the entire celebration with a look of disgust even as the Friends of the Oval were thanking her for her work on the dog run. And when asked pre-released questions regarding the park, Ms. Foster’s argument that she is not Mr. Aponte was completely unacceptable.

After the event, Ms. Foster even got into a yelling match with a community member.

No matter how far in advance we contact Mr. Aponte to work with us directly, he repeatedly avoids our plea. There is a $13.5 million renovation taking place in our community, and the least Mr. Aponte can do is show up to answer questions. If he’s unable, then he should send someone who will answer questions, or better prepare someone to answer the questions.

Whether Mr. Aponte instructed Ms. Foster to be so evasive, or if she just doesn’t know how to do her job, it’s time Mr. Aponte stepped up to the podium. If not, it’s time for New York Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe to step in.

William Adriance

Norwood

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Still Waiting for Immigration Reform

April 3, 2008

By John M. Reilly

Immigration remains among the most complicated and contentious issues our nation faces. Congress failed to act in a comprehensive manner last year, leaving the problem to worsen for everyone involved. It will not be solved by fences or walls and it won’t get fixed from the mean spirited rantings of Mitt Romney or Lou Dobbs. We’ll make progress when we look at what causes people to risk their lives and often leave their families in order to find work in the United States, and what their prospects are when they arrive.

Oppressive governments drive thousands to seek asylum here, but many of our underlying immigration issues are economic. Congress needs to look at a variety of failed economic policies, especially as they affect our own country and our nearest neighbors in Latin America. Free trade has too often shifted well paying jobs in the States to become poor paying jobs in other countries. As long as our own economic policies contribute to leaving millions destitute nearby, we have to expect some of those millions to seek jobs here.

And we need many of those workers. But how many remains a mystery because by keeping so many undocumented, we have created a huge underground economy. Businesses and governments may benefit from this situation, but it is not in the long term interest of our nation to leave millions living here without rights, often separated from their families and in poverty despite working long hours at dangerous jobs.

We need to stop considering providing legal status as amnesty. None of the proposals Congress has considered recently call for amnesty. They involve paying taxes, fines, steady employment and long waiting periods. Only when we allow these millions to come out of the darkness can we begin to seriously address our overall immigration policies and needs.

Then we can separate out those who are here for some criminal purpose. Then we can make sure that those working here are paid competitive wages and provided health care. Then we can collect Social Security and taxes from individuals and businesses to pay for the things we look to government to provide.

That’s also when we can begin to determine how many additional workers our economy needs, and we can permit people to enter the country properly documented with a clear road to citizenship when they choose it and when they’ve earned it.

John Reilly is the executive director of Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation.

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Bluestone Honored with Lewis Hine Award

April 3, 2008

By Allison Grande

The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) honored Don Bluestone, the executive director of the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, for his work with inner city children and youth in the Bronx by presenting him with the Lewis Hine Award on March 31. Named for the acclaimed photographer who documented the exploitation of child labor in the early 20th century, the Lewis Hine Awards are given annually to 10 unheralded professionals and volunteers from around the country who devote their time to helping children and youth.

Bluestone has made his community center on DeKalb Avenue a safe alternative to hanging out on the streets for children and youth in the Bronx while providing stability in the neighborhood. Bluestone’s goal is to help children and youth become happy, successful adults by providing them with teen centers, youth sports leagues, and after-school leagues. His community center offers numerous programs that assist students with admission to high schools and colleges, help youth obtain jobs and internships, and provide services for children and youth with special needs. The center currently serves approximately 20,000 youth.

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Vicar Bob is on the Case at Epiphany

April 3, 2008

By Alex Kratz

Vicar Robert “Bob” Rainis, the new part-time spiritual leader of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Norwood, was a law enforcement officer for 24 years before realizing his calling to ministry.

Some might say going from being a cop to a preacher would be a rough transition, but Rainis says the two jobs have more in common than one might imagine.

“Both vocations are a calling to help others,” just in different ways, Rainis says. As a cop, you’re helping people by putting away the bad guys who might do them harm. As a minister, you’re helping people stay on a righteous spiritual path through God.

Rainis tells a story about his son that illustrates this perfectly. Years ago, when Rainis was still a cop, but had begun playing a more active role in the Lutheran church, his son Andrew brought a friend home. Andrew pointed to the table where his father’s shield and his Bible were laying side-by-side. “One way or the other, my father’s going to get you,” he told his friend.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Rainis began his law enforcement career as a city cop in Washington, D.C. He later returned to New York to serve as a transit detective in Penn Station. From there he took a job as an investigator for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, working on federal cases. In 1999, he ruptured his Achilles tendon chasing a suspect and retired two years later.

Since then, he’s been pursuing theological studies and working as a vicar (basically a part-time pastor) at a couple of Lutheran churches in the city, commuting from his home on Long Island.

Because its congregation has shrunk over the years, Epiphany needed someone to lead the church, but only on a part-time basis. (They’ve been using guest preachers for the past year.) Starting this spring, Rainis will take on that role.

His first day on the job was Easter Sunday. He gave a great sermon, according to members of the congregation. Before service that morning, a young couple with children passed by Rainis as he stood in the church’s entrance. He greeted them and they stopped and told him they were new to the area and looking for a church to attend. Rainis told them to go to the end of the block, get the kids a hot chocolate, and come back in a half hour. They came back for Easter service and returned again the following week.

Rainis, of course, saw this as a great omen for a struggling congregation. “And by the grace of God we will survive,” he said.

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A Retrospective and Portrait in Courage

April 3, 2008

By Judy Noy

I first met Anna Rogovin almost 20 years ago, quite by accident. It was on the day of my son’s eighth birthday and he and I were outdoors, me with a camera in hand, looking for a good place to use as a backdrop to photograph him to commemorate the occasion.

We found the perfect spot when we got to a corner store loaded with beautiful colorful flowers on display on the sidewalk outside the shop.

As I took my son’s picture, a woman I didn’t know came up to me and volunteered to take a picture of my son and me together. That woman was Anna Rogovin. We soon learned that she and my son shared a common birthday, albeit a few years apart. We also learned that we lived only a block apart. Ever since that day, Anna and I would always stop to chat whenever we ran into each other, and she would, more often than not, ask about my son.

So, knowing Anna all these years, it came as a complete shock to me when I read that she’d been involved in a hit-and-run accident that had put her in the hospital and taken both her legs. After crying, I composed myself and visited her in the hospital the very next day.

Popular Anna already had had a number of visitors, both family and friends. Everyone has only nice things to say about her. I walked into Anna’s room which was filled with flowers and cards, not knowing what to expect, and was greeted cheerfully by an upbeat, friendly Anna who seemed like someone hosting a party instead of a patient lying in a hospital bed.

According to Anna’s description of the events of that fateful day, she said she was heading for the local senior center which she attended regularly, and had just stepped off the curb on Gun Hill Road, about to cross the street facing the center. She thought she had time to cross since the traffic light was still blinking. Unfortunately, the driver of the large truck, reported to be an 18-wheeler, which was stopped at the light in front of her, started moving at just about the same time, striking Anna as she began to cross.

Since the driver kept going, the wheels of the truck rolled over Anna’s legs, crushing them.

It is a miracle for Anna to have survived at all. Those trucks are humongous, about the size of a double-length city bus.

In trying to piece together the chain of events of the accident, I spoke with Diomaris Rosario, who was also visiting Anna at the hospital that day. Diomaris explained that on the morning of the accident, she was at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center dropping off her young son at daycare. When leaving, she came down the stairwell and nonchalantly glanced through the window. She saw a crowd of people surrounding someone lying in the street. Even though she didn’t know the victim, she hurried out to offer assistance.

Diomaris called 911 and waited with Anna, holding and supporting her all the while, even removing her own coat to cover Anna, until an ambulance arrived. She helped the medics place Anna into the ambulance. Diomaris said that Anna remained conscious and alert despite the fact that her legs were crushed.

Diomaris continues to visit her at the hospital to keep abreast of her condition.

A week after my first visit, I visited Anna again, this time accompanied by my son, and she seemed genuinely pleased to see him. We went down memory lane. Anna recalled that he had been dressed in a white suit the day we first met all those years ago. I showed her the photo she took of us back then, which I had brought with me on that visit.

Thankfully, Anna continues to be on the mend. She had been moved from intensive care to geriatrics, and during our visit, was out of bed, and sitting in a chair. Anna appreciates all the shows of support she has received. About her situation, she said, “Ours is not to reason why….”

The loss of legs is a life-altering event. Anna is a trouper and accepts her daily therapy without complaining. She may be diminutive in size, but big in spirit. Kudos to Anna for her positive outlook. She was a Navy WAVE during WWII and certainly now serves as a role model and inspiration for disabled vets.

Meanwhile, police continue to work to find the truck driver. They have placed notices on signposts in the area of Anna’s accident offering a reward for any information about the mishap. In addition, a large blinking traffic sign has been placed on Gun Hill Road at the corner of DeKalb Avenue facing cars traveling west toward Jerome Avenue. It reads, “Accident. Serious Injuries. Thursday, 3/13/08, 10:30 a.m. Witnesses call 1-800-577-TIPS.”

“Serious injuries” is an understatement.

For now, we all wish Anna well with best wishes for a speedy recovery and a future filled with good health. G-d bless.

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Coming Together for the Love of Oval Park

April 3, 2008

By Alex Kratz

At a community forum attended by city agency representatives, Norwood residents came out in force last week to demand improvements to Williamsbridge Oval Park, a social and recreational hub for thousands of locals.

The park is in the process of undergoing a $13.5 million renovation. But the renovation project doesn’t address some of the community’s ongoing safety concerns, especially with regard to the dog run and pedestrian access.

While the plan addresses some of the demands, earning praise from the crowd of nearly 125 park lovers who packed into Epiphany Lutheran Church on March 26, others were left up in the air, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of some of the more active residents who make up the Friends of Williamsbridge Oval.

“We didn’t want to surprise anyone, or try to embarrass anyone with our questions,” said William Adriance, a Norwood resident who moderated some of the forum. “We just wanted to get the answers that our community deserves.”

Several of the Friends group worked hard for months to set up the forum after first coming together earlier this winter to push the Parks Department into fixing the deteriorating dog run at the Oval.

While the Parks Department made some upgrades, the group decided they wanted further improvements to the dog run and, at the same time, better and safer access to other parts of the Oval and its surrounding streets and entrances. After several meetings, the group came up with a checklist, or scorecard, of demands they wanted to address with the Parks Department, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the local City Council member, Oliver Koppell.

With the help of organizers from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, the Oval Friends made it happen in a big way. Some local leaders said they couldn’t remember the last time more than a hundred people showed up for a community meeting.

While they couldn’t quite corral the borough commissioners of the parks or transportation departments, two representatives – Charles Ukegbu, the deputy borough commissioner for transportation, and Arnyce Foster, the local parks manager – did show up to answer questions from the moderators and audience.

Jamin Sewell, Koppell’s counsel, showed up late, but bearing good news. Sewell said the councilman promised he would allocate $50,000 for the dog run and other park improvements. He said he hoped to get another $150,000 on top of that, but added that the Council was experiencing budget constraints.

Ukegbu also scored points when he said the DOT would be studying the entrances, signage and streetscapes around the park for the next two months and would check back with the Friends groups periodically. He said the DOT would commit to making safe zone markings in front of the tunnel entrance to the park near Bainbridge Avenue, a dangerous crossing area for families and kids. It would be done by the summer, he said.

Meanwhile, Foster was noncommittal when asked if the dog run would be moved to another location and completely revamped, as the $13.5 million renovation plan calls for. The dog run relocation is part of the final stages of the plan. If the money runs out, the dog run will stay where it is.

Adriance and others were upset with Foster because she repeatedly said she couldn’t answer for Bronx Park Commissioner Hector Aponte, even though he had been asked to come and had been sent the questions two weeks in advance (as had the DOT and Koppell’s office).

“Beyond our December meeting with him, we tried repeatedly to contact Hector Aponte so that we could discuss these issues with him directly before the March 26 event,” Adriance said. “His office kept giving us the run-around.”

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Public and Community Meetings

April 3, 2008

By None

• Community Board 7’s Housing Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• Community Board 7’s Economic Development Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. The Fordham Plaza Conceptual Design Study will be discussed. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• Community Board 7’s Public Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229-A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• Community Board 7’s Traffic and Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229-A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• The Community Board 7 General Board will meet on Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tracey Towers Community Room, West Mosholu Parkway and Jerome Avenue. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

• The Croton Facility Monitoring Committee will meet on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. at the DEP Office, 3660 Jerome Ave. For more information, call (718) 231-8470.

• The Community Education Council of District 10 will meet on Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at PS 79, 125 E. 181st St. For more information, call (718) 741-5836.

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Criticizing War on 5th Anniversary

April 3, 2008

By Norwood News

On the 5th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, Congressman Jose E. Serrano issued a stinging rebuke of the ongoing military engagement.

“Five years ago, this President launched a misguided war based on falsehoods,” Serrano said. He added, “It is a war that has now cost us almost 4,000 lives and $600 billion.”

Serrano criticized the war from both domestic and foreign relations standpoints, saying it damaged some of our more stalwart alliances, and has failed to make our homeland safer. However, Serrano did have praise for American soldiers in Iraq. He commented, “The troops have done an admirable job given the lack of planning from the leadership in Washington.”

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Battling Teen Pregnancy In Albany

April 3, 2008

By Norwood News

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz scored two legislative victories in his push to combat teen pregnancy. On March 14, legislation that Dinowitz sponsored called the “Healthy Teens Act,” passed the State Assembly. The Act establishes a grant program for sex education.

In addition, on March 20, the Assembly passed a Dinowitz-sponsored bill that will allow emergency contraception (EC), commonly referred to as the “morning after pill,” to be dispensed without prescription.

Of the “Healthy Teens Act,” Dinowitz commented, “Statistics have shown that intensive educational programs, with parent involvement, have a dramatic effect on teenagers’ decision-making skills.” According to Dinowitz, the state of New York had almost 40,000 teen pregnancies in 2004.

Dinowitz believes that his EC legislation will also help prevent unwanted pregnancies. Dinowitz’s office noted in a statement that in 2002, 123,048 abortions were induced in New York State, 9,400 of which were performed on girls aged 17 and younger.

“These statistics are a real eye opener to what women face,” Dinowitz said. “Immediate access to EC is so important because the critical window of time for its effectiveness will likely have passed by the time a woman can get an appointment with a doctor.”

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Bronx City Council Delegation Signs off on Congestion Pricing

April 3, 2008

By Alex Kratz

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial Congestion Pricing plan, which would charge drivers $8 to pass into Lower Manhattan, passed through the City Council on Monday by a vote of 30 to 20.

Every Bronx council member voted in favor of the plan, except Helen Foster, who was absent and did not vote. Other outer borough members, especially from Queens and Brooklyn, were decidedly more opposed to the plan.

Most Bronx Democrats in the city council and state legislature, including a ringing endorsement by Bronx County Democratic Party Chairman Jose Rivera, signed on to the plan last fall.

While not openly opposed to the plan, Council member Oliver Koppell expressed concerns about some of the details in the plan. But, in an interview on Tuesday, he said most of those concerns had been addressed.

One of his biggest concerns, he said, was that commuters trying to avoid the Lower Manhattan entry fee would keep their cars in Bronx and take up scarce parking spots. He said the mayor’s plan to expand residential parking permits would help mitigate that problem.

He still has some concerns, including the fact that New Jersey commuters essentially get a free pass, but in the end, Koppell said he probably would have voted for the plan anyway. “I’m an environmentalist at heart,” he said. He added that the money made from congestion pricing could go a long way toward helping rehab some of the borough’s dilapidated subway stations.

One dissenting opinion in the Bronx came from State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., who wrote a letter to Bronx state lawmakers, urging them not to vote for congestion pricing in Albany, where it must gain approval in order for the city to receive $350 million in federal funding to start the initiative.

In the letter, Diaz called Bloomberg’s congestion pricing effort a “detrimental, dangerous, abusive and almost discriminatory plan that will possibly affect our neediest members of our community.”

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Volunteers Plant Flowers, Clean Up Aqueduct Walk

April 3, 2008

By Graham Kates

Half a dozen rakes scraped along the dirt where Aqueduct Walk meets Fordham Road, last Saturday. Their spindles, leaving in their wake manicured soil, dragged paper, glass, and other odd bits of trash to piles where the garbage would eventually be bagged.

The people wielding the rakes were volunteers for Columbia Community Outreach Day, Columbia University’s annual community service event.

The students and alumni cleared away garbage from the site, and scattered wildflower seeds, in the hopes of bringing a new look to the narrow, winding park. Columbia volunteers came to the same stretch of parkland last year on Outreach Day, but instead of raking away litter and planting seeds, “last year was more about moving large debris,” said Project Manager Richard Garey.

Among the items found by the volunteers were hypodermic needles, as well as a plethora of bottles, cans, and assorted mess.

Monica Nania, a Morningside Heights resident who was visiting the Bronx for the first time, sees potential in Aqueduct Walk. “If the community takes care of it, plants flowers, and cleans it up, it could be very nice,” said Nania.

Garey, a Columbia alum who was raised in the west Bronx, says that while the condition of Aqueduct Park has improved since his childhood, much of its potential beauty is unrealized due to its lingering trash problem.

“This park, in some ways, makes or breaks the neighborhood,” said Garey, explaining that, if beautified, the park might become a main thoroughfare for walkers who might not feel comfortable there now.

Garey feels that the owners of the buildings next to the park should be responsible for the trash that piles up behind their lots. The landlords of properties bordering the park between 188th Street and Fordham Road, where the volunteers were cleaning, could not be reached for comment by press time.

As for what he expects the community service project to accomplish, Garey said, “We don’t have the power for dramatic change, but we can show the community that we care.”

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Fordham Road Express Buses to Get A Little Faster

April 3, 2008

By Jessica Glazer

The city Department of Transportation has been working for almost two years to make the express bus that runs along Fordham Road a little faster. This summer the program will hit the streets.

Beginning June 29, the Bx12 Limited bus will be replaced with a new bus system that city officials say could reduce commuting time by up to 20 percent.

Called the Bx12 SBS, or Select Bus Service, the $10 million program will make some noticeable changes to the bus line. The more visible of these changes will be the brightly painted terra cotta bus lanes in effort to remind other drivers not to use these lanes meant for public transportation. The buses will also make a few fewer stops than the Bx12 Limited.

The bus route itself will not change much, extending from Broadway and 207th Street in Upper Manhattan, across the central Bronx along Fordham Road and Pelham Parkway and ending at the Bay Plaza Mall Terminal in Co-op City. During the summer, Bx12 Select Bus Service will extend to Orchard Beach. The bus will make stops at six subway lines and two Metro-North stations.

But at the heart of this plan are two features completely new to the Bx12 Limited. First, riders will be required to pay—with MetroCards or cash—at machines in or near bus shelters before boarding. Transportation officials hope customers will pay before the bus has even arrived to avoid the delays of long lines as riders wait to pay and board. (Riders will be randomly asked to show their receipts on the bus.)

In addition, the Department of Transportation is introducing technology that will allow the buses to communicate with traffic signals, telling them to stay green a few seconds longer to let the bus through, or cutting down its red time when a bus is approaching. Called Transit Signal Priority, the program recently was tested on Staten Island. Department of Transportation officials say it reduced travel time by about 17 percent.

The city plans to install the technology at 30 intersections along six miles of Fordham Road by this summer.

Transportation officials hope these changes will save riders time and, in turn, inspire more New Yorkers to use the city’s buses.

“If we demonstrate to our customers that they can look forward to fast, reliable service it will encourage even more New Yorkers to use mass transit to travel around the city,” said MTA Executive Director Elliot Sander in a statement released March 25.

News of these upcoming changes has been met with mixed reactions.

Riders like Joyce Jin, who takes the Bx12 to work at Fordham Plaza, worries that the bus fare machines on the street “would still be backed up” if the bus takes too long to arrive and riders change their minds about taking it. Rather than risk losing their fares if they decide not to wait, customers might not pay until they see the bus approaching, defeating the entire concept of the off-board fare collection.

While he believes the plan will have positive results, Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign, a transit advocacy group, admits, “If buses are slow, the system will fail.”.

Transportation spokesman Craig Chin said the bus fare machines will be installed inside or adjacent to bus shelters where they will not obstruct pedestrian traffic.

Local business will be affected by the changes, too. To keep trucks from blocking bus lanes during rush hour, the Department of Transportation plans to restrict delivery time for businesses along the bus route to 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., depending on the side of the street.

Community Board 7 district manager Fernando Tirado worries this restriction could be hard on some stores, which would risk citations if they don’t comply.

Payless Shoe Source manager Kelseys Mejia said his store’s delivery truck currently comes before 9 a.m. and has a tight schedule to stick to, stopping at three Payless stores on Fordham Road.

“I don’t think [the delivery truck] is going to come by in the afternoon,” Mejia said, shaking his head.

Others, though, aren’t fazed by the change, especially since many stores, like Lane Bryant, Foot Locker and Conway, have loading docks on side streets and not on Fordham Road.

Dan Bernstein, director of the Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID) is satisfied with the loading and unloading times, saying that they are what the BID suggested in numerous meetings with the DOT and MTA. Bernstein said he was happy he could meet with the city in advance to iron out specifics so the new plan works with the community.

“Moving people faster is great, but we want them to come here to shop,” he said.

Although conclusions about the success of the plan on Fordham Road can only be made once the program has been implemented, people are optimistic.

“I am very happy about it,” said Council Member Oliver Koppell. “I think it will be a great innovation and improvement.”

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Murders Begin to Pile Up After Rough Weekend

April 3, 2008

By Alex Kratz

It took nearly two months for the first murder to happen in the 52nd Precinct. It took just two days, during one noisy weekend a couple of weeks ago, for that number to triple.

Though murder numbers are still down – from four during this time last year to three this year – violent crime is picking up after a welcomed slow start to 2008.

While the first murder of the year took place in North Fordham, around 198th Street and Valentine Avenue, the second occurred on a Bedford Park side street.

In both cases, the victims were sitting inside a car when they were attacked.

On March 22, at 2:15 in the morning, police found David Marquez, 23, sitting in the driver’s seat of a silver 1997 Ford Expedition, dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Marquez was parked on East 205th Street near Briggs Avenue – about eight blocks from where the first murder of the year happened.

A week later, police arrested two young men, both under the legal drinking age, for the crime.

It appears Marquez, whose address is listed as being near the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx, may have encountered some territorial young men in Bedford Park. The two suspects arrested for the murder – Michael Molinero, 20, of 2869 Grand Concourse, and Jose Delgado, 17, of 2983 Briggs Avenue – live just blocks from the crime scene.

It’s unclear what the suspects’ motives were.

Less than 48 hours after Marquez was killed, gunfire erupted at Oasis Café, a sports bar and restaurant in the middle of Norwood’s bustling Jerome Avenue commercial district.

Sunday night had just crept into Monday morning, March 24, when Luis Paulino, 47, who had earlier been removed from the Oasis Café for arguing with another man, returned to the bar and opened fire, according to police.

Manuel Saico, 25, an Ecuadorian immigrant and a construction worker, was pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital after taking a bullet to the chest. The other victim, who was shot in the torso, was considered in stable condition after being rushed to St. Barnabas.

Police said neither of the victims was embroiled in the argument with Paulino earlier in the evening. Paulino fled the scene, but was later tracked down and arrested. Police have charged him with murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

The incident has made some people who frequent the area nervous. Soon after the shooting, 31-year-old Melissa Santelises, who works at a nearby tax preparation service, told the Daily News, “They let everybody drink at whatever time. They don’t care…They have no consideration.”

The Oasis Café re-opened the next day, but their owners refused to talk to reporters. A week later, the bar and restaurant were empty aside from a few staffers. The owner of the Dominican-themed restaurant, a middle-aged man, was arguing with a waitress in Spanish and in no mood to talk to the press – in any language.

“Why are you asking me this?” asked the irritated owner, who would not give his name. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I know that I have other problems. I have child support payments. I don’t know nothing.”

Other business owners and shopkeepers in the area said the Oasis doesn’t have an overly-raucous crowd, but one local resident said she had witnessed a couple of blatant drug transactions there about a month ago while she sat down for a drink.

Across the street from Oasis, at an old Irish pub called Lynch’s, several older white men sat around drinking beer in the late afternoon.

The bartender, who didn’t give his name, said he heard about the shooting on the news at his home in Jersey City. He said he recognized Paulino from the mug shot photos they were showing on television and that the man had come by to drink at Lynch’s on a couple of occasions. But he hadn’t been by for probably a year. Before learning about the shooting, he said he was barely even aware that the bar was still open.

As one of the bar patrons stepped out for a cigarette, he looked and pointed in the direction of the Oasis Café and said half jokingly, “Don’t go there if you want to live.”

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