Exclusive: A Potential Espada Challenger Emerges

January 28, 2010

By Alex Kratz

Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, a Bronx activist who became the face of last year’s strong community push for living wage jobs at the Kingsbridge Armory, is exploring the possibility of making a run at the state Senate seat occupied by Pedro Espada, Jr.

In the past two weeks, in preparation for a possible run, Pilgrim-Hunter has begun assembling a team of advisors and has quietly reached out to potential donors and supporters.

“The next few weeks will basically be a stress test to see what kind of support is out there for me,” Pilgrim-Hunter, 53, said in an interview over the weekend. “But I am taking steps to prepare myself should I decide to run. Because one thing is for certain: if I get in, I’m getting in to win. And it’s as simple as that.”

So far, Pilgrim-Hunter said she has received positive feedback, including this accolade from the head of the retail workers’ union.

To read the full story, click here.

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Out & About

January 28, 2010

By Judy Noy

Onstage

The Bronx Library Center, at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road, presents Flamenco Music and Dance, with Arts Flamenco, Jan. 30 at 2:30 p.m.; and A Musical Tribute to Sam Cooke, Feb. 6 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. E., presents the following performances: Soweto Gospel Choir, featuring 26 South African singers performing African gospel music, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. (tickets are $25 to $35; $10 for ages 12 and under; $5 discount for all students, seniors, and Lehman staff and alumni); and Back to the ‘80s: El Concierto, featuring salsa hits by performers including Jose Alberto (El Canario), Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. (tickets are $35 to $50). For more information, call (718) 960-8490/8833.

Events

The Bronx Council on the Arts presents a free Poetry Reading featuring two BRIO award winners, at the Riverdale Library, 5540 Mosholu Ave. (at West 256th Street), Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (718) 931-9500 ext. 33.

The Harlem River Ecology Center, located at the southern end of Roberto Clemente State Park, presents Nature in the Urban Wild, Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m., featuring live encounters and demonstrations with volunteer environmental educators of the Harlem River, followed by a movie matinee on the river from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Celebrate Eagles Fest: Birds of Prey, With Ludger will be featured on Jan. 30. Book a seat for the annual Eagles Watch bus field trip, Feb. 6 ($45 per family of three, includes membership). Advance reservation is required. For more information, call (347) 224-5687/5828.

Wave Hill, located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, offers two family art projects: Shaping the Land, to sculpt a mini landscape with rock, clay and natural materials, Jan. 30 and 31; and Parfleche & Bandolier, to combine Native American traditions of Northern Plains and Woodlands peoples in a folded container made with two textures of paper, Feb. 6 and 7; both in the Kerlin Learning Center from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, call (718) 549-3200 or visit www.wavehill.org.

The Bronx River Art Center, together with the NYC Department of Transportation, present an abstract wooden art sculpture, Aurora, 14 feet tall, 11 feet wide and 11 feet deep, to be on view for 11 months at the center of West Farms Square Plaza located at the base of the West Farms Square/East Tremont Avenue subway station on the corner of East Tremont Avenue and Boston Road, one block away from BRAC which is located at 1087 E. Tremont Ave. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/urbanart.

The Bronx Culture Trolley, a replica of a 20th-century trolley, transports visitors on the first Wednesday of every month (except January and September) to Bronx hot spots, ending at the Bruckner Bar & Grill with music, food, and drink. A reception is held at the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th St.) at 5 p.m., where rides originate, followed by three trolley departures at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. New attractions are added monthly; admission to most venues is free. Trolley ride is free. Riders can get on and off at any scheduled stop and spend as much time as they wish at any or all of the featured venues. The next trip is Feb. 3. For more information, call (718) 931-9500 ext. 33 or log on to www.bronxarts.org.

Exhibits

The Museum of Bronx History, located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. (at 208th Street), presents The Bronx: Then and Now, a comparison of the Bronx of today with that of the 19th century, via prints and photographs; and Edgar Allan Poe – A Bicentennial Celebration,.to learn about Poe, his life and his time spent in the Bronx; both through April 15. For more information, call the Bronx County Historical Society at (718) 881-8900.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., in partnership with The Bronx Tourism Council, presents Robert Seyffert’s Water Paintings, through the end of March 2010, free, at the BP’s Art Gallery, Bronx County Building, 851 Grand Concourse. For more information, call (718) 590-3989.

Library Events

The Bronx Library Center, at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road, presents the following programs for preschoolers and school-aged children: Preschool Story Time, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and 11 at 11 a.m.; Toddler Story Time, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m.; Polar Opposites, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.; films, Feb. 3 and 10 at 4 p.m.; and Folk Tales From Around the World, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

The Mosholu Library, at 285 E. 205th St., hosts Toddler Story Time, Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m.; and Preschool Films, Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m.; both for children. Adults can attend Arts and Crafts: Knitting, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

The Jerome Park Library, at 118 Eames Place, presents Arts & Crafts, Feb. 2 at 4 p.m.; Yoga for Parents and Preschoolers, Feb. 5 at 11 a.m.; films, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m.; and Making Music, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m.; all for children. For more information, call (718) 549-5200.

NOTE: Items for consideration may be mailed to our office or sent to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org, and should be received by Feb. 1 for the next publication date of Feb. 11.

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Neighborhood Notes

January 28, 2010

By Norwood News

Free Tax Prep at MPC
The Mosholu Preservation Corporation is offering Federal and New York State Tax Returns preparation by IRS certified volunteers. It will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3400 Reservoir Oval East. You are eligible for this service if you earned less than $50,000. Space is limited, so call for reservations at (718) 324-4461.

Free Tax Prep at UNHP
University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP) and Ariva will offer FREE income tax preparation services to low and moderate income residents at the Refuge House, 2715 Bainbridge Ave. Returns are e-filed, which means clients who opt for direct deposit will receive returns in as little as 10 days, without having to pay unnecessary Rapid Anticipation Loans (RAL), Pay Stub Loans, and/or costly tax preparation fees. Service is available for individuals and families whose gross income in 2009 was $56,000 or less on: Wednesdays, Feb. 3 and 17, March 3 and 24, and April 7 (from 1 to 7 p.m.) and Saturdays, Feb. 6 and 27, March 27, and April 10 (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Appointments are required. Call UNHP at (718) 933-2539 to schedule an appointment or for more information.

At Ridgewood Savings Bank
Ridgewood Savings will be providing free tax prep to eligible Bronx residents on Saturday, February 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the bank’s Jerome Avenue Branch, 3445 Jerome Ave. Residents are eligible for free tax filing if they are single with no dependents and earn less than $18,000 or file with dependents and earn less than $50,000. Space is limited, so call to reserve an appointment, (718) 881-3430.

After-School Youth Program
Youngsters ages 11 to 16 are invited to participate in the newly re-opened free after-school program at The COVE, located in the basement of 3418 Gates Pl. The program will have recreation, dance/talent shows, trips, homework help, and it will teach participants how to create, film and edit their own videos. The program runs with open enrollment through May and takes place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. For more information or to enroll, call Doug Knepper at (347) 374-7928.

Give Art to the Park
The Mosholu Preservation Corporation is looking to bring an assortment of art to Bronx parks. Local artists who would like to donate art pieces for display in a park should contact Christin Cato at (718) 324-4461 or e-mail intern2@mpcbronx.org. If an art piece is chosen, the artist will be recognized by their name next to their art.

Kindergarten Registration
PS/MS 20, located at 3050 Webster Ave., will begin accepting Kindergarten registration applications on Feb. 1 for the 2010-2011 school year. Children must be five years old on or before Dec. 31, 2010. Documents required: birth certificate; record of immunizations; two forms of proof of residence. For more information, call Rosemarie Ryan (718) 515-9370, ext. 1153.

St. Brendan’s Blood Drive
In conjunction with the Hudson Valley Blood Bank, St. Brendan’s Parish is holding its annual blood drive on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the School Cafeteria on East 207th Street (near the corner of Hull Avenue). Photo ID is required. For more information, call (718) 547-6655.

Lehman Choruses Accepting New Members
Two Lehman choruses are accepting new members for the spring semester. The Lehman College Chorus will be holding its first rehearsal on Monday, Feb. 1 and the Lehman College Community Chorus will begin rehearsals on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Community members may rehearse for either chorus. No fee is required to participate. For more information, call (718) 960-7795.

Free Career Seminars at Lehman
The Office of Continuing Education of Lehman College is holding free career seminars on a range of professions from child care to the medical field between Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 at CUNY on the Concourse, 2501 Grand Concourse (Fordham Road), 3rd floor. For more information, call (718) 960-8512.

Flea Market Needs Donations
Donations are needed for the Bedford Mosholu Community Assn. Flea Market on March 6. Bring new and used items (except clothing) to the BMCA office at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So. (apt. B1, lobby floor) on the following dates: Wednesdays, Feb. 17 and 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and March 3 from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 27 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Paid Lifeguard Training Program
The Department of Parks and Recreation will be recruiting and training summer lifeguards for the city’s 54 outdoor pools and 14 miles of beaches. The paid training program consists of 40 hours of instruction in swimming and rescue techniques, First Aid and CPR, and includes a final swim test and written exam. First-year lifeguards will earn at least $13.57/hour, and work 48 hours a week. For more information, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/parks.

Quit Smoking Program
The Albert Einstein Cancer Center/Montefiore Medical Center will be hosting an 8-session Quit-Smoking program created by a licensed health psychologist. Groups are now forming at Montefiore’s North Division at 600 E. 233rd St. (between Bronx Boulevard and Carpenter Avenue). For more information or to register, call (718) 430-2697 or email besmartquitsmoking@gmail.com.

Scholarship Opportunity
The Albert Shanker College Scholarship Fund is looking for high school recipients for a $5,000 scholarship. Students interested in the opportunity should speak to their college advisors. The deadline is Jan. 31.

Job Fair
Promoting Specialized Care and Health (PSCH) is hosting a job fair with on-the-spot job interviews every Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. Those interested in working in health and human services who have relevant requirements should attend one of the fairs, which are held at 30-50 Whitestone Expressway, Flushing, NY. For more information, call (718) 559-0576. Resumes can be e-mailed to Recruiter2@psch.org or faxed to (718) 358-6790.

Free ESL and GED Classes
MS 80 at 149 E. Mosholu Pkwy. N. offers free ESL and GED classes. Applicants must be 21 years or older. For more information or to register, call (718) 405-6300.

Free GED Classes
Bronx Community College at 2155 University Ave. (at West 181st Street) offers free GED classes from Jan. 7 through March. Space is limited. For more information or to register, call (718) 289-5834.

Children’s Baseball Sign-Up at MMCC
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. is accepting baseball registration for ages 5 to 15 in divisions by age, and girls softball for ages 9 to 15. To register, stop by the Center with your child’s birth certificate weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., or Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to volunteer as a coach, call Chris Pinto (718) 882-4000, or visit www.mmcc.org.

Alcohol & Drug Use Council
The New York City Federation for Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services invites consumers to attend meetings to help shape the future of substance abuse services. MetroCards will be available to consumer program participants. Meetings are held at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center Conference Room 4, 234 E. 149th St. (between Park and Morris avenues) on Feb. 17 and March 17 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Free Classes for Immigrants at NAWC
The Bronx YMCA New Americans Welcome Center (NAWC) is a “safe haven” committed to serving the immigrant population to achieve literacy, cultural competence, and self-sufficiency. They are currently offering four free classes: English as a Second Language (ESL) Beginners; ESL Intermediate; Citizenship Preparation; and Computer Literacy and Job Readiness. Classes will be held at Ellis Preparatory Academy, 99 Terrace View Ave. For more information, contact Irma Salvatierra Bajar at ibajar@ymcanyc.org or call the Bronx YMCA at (917) 673-8688.

Theodore Roosevelt H.S. Reunion
Theodore Roosevelt H.S. is celebrating its 30 year class reunion, and will be honoring the classes of 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981 on June 19. This event will take place at the Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers, NY. Guests should call the hotel for discounted room rates. Tickets are on sale online at www.showclix.com/event/7922. For more information, call Diana Diffut at (917) 476-3458.

Free “Family Resource Days”
The New York City Child Care Resource & Referral Consortium will hold information sessions on summer camp, childcare and enrichment programs on five separate days and locations. The Bronx date will be April 24, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Bronx Public Library Center Pre-function Lobby, 310 East Kingsbridge Road. For locations and dates of the other boroughs, or for more information, please call (888) 469-5999.

Networking and Career-Building Travel Experience in Turkey
The Atlantic Council of the United States, in partnership with the Istanbul Policy Center at Sabanci University, is seeking participants for a one-month exchange program in mid-2010. They are seeking Turkish and American young professionals, aged 22-30 who have started careers in the fields of public policy, business and journalism. All expenses for the program will be paid. For more information, and to be considered for the program, contact David Kirk at dkirk@acus.org.

Youth Internship Program
Attend an information session, given in half hour intervals, Tuesdays (3:30 to 5:30 p.m.), Wednesdays (3:30 to 7 p.m.) or Thursdays (4 to 6 p.m.) between now and Jan. 15 to learn about the “This Way Ahead in School Youth Program” – a paid internship program for work at the Gap and Old Navy stores, paying $8.75 an hour. Applicants are required to become members of The Door, and should be ages 16 to 21. Apply at The Door, 555 Broome St. in Manhattan daily 2 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays till 7 p.m. For more information, contact Chevon Sherrod at (212) 941-9090 ext. 3372.

Participate in Medical Research Studies
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is inviting all interested parties to sign up for ResearchMatch.org, a new online medical research volunteer registry. Once registered, research institutions across the country can contact you to participate in various research studies based on your qualifications.

Free Classes at State University
The North Bronx Career Center of The State University of New York, located at 2901 White Plains Rd., offers free basic to advanced daytime and evening classes, including computer courses, college prep courses, and more. Some restrictions may apply. For more information and to register, please call (718) 547-1001.

Place for Teens With Issues
The Power Project is a free program for teens ages 12 to 18 who are dealing with substance abuse and other problems. Located at 3464 Webster Ave., Power Project provides case management, individual and group counseling, trips, and is just a place to get away from it all. For more information, call (718) 515-7971.

Winter Programs at MMCC
Sign-ups for winter programs at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center have begun. The center, located at 3450 DeKalb Ave., is offering a range of programs catering to all age groups, from break dancing classes for children to GED classes for adults. Saturday classes meet for eight weeks from Jan. 16 to March 6. A free baseball/softball clinic will take place on Feb. 28. A Driver’s Safety Program will be held from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information or a schedule, visit www.mmcc.org or call (718) 882-4000.

NMCIR Immigration Assistance
The Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights is offering immigration assistance to Bronxites. There is assistance with U.S. citizenship, family petitions, and travel permits. It is offered at Refuge House, 2715 Bainbridge Ave., Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (718) 484-8294 or email info@NMCIR.org.

Scouting for Girl Scouts
Girls from 5 to 17 years old looking to serve the Bronx community, make friends and learn life skills are encouraged to join the Girl Scouts of the Bronx. For more information about joining a Girl Scout troop, visit www.girlscoutsnyc.org or email webbx@girlscoutsnyc.org.

School Salon Reopened
The School for Professional Beauty Care at Grace Dodge Career and Technical High School, located at 2474 Crotona Ave., has reopened its after-school beauty parlor, The New Image Salon, for the fall semester. The salon, whose services are reasonably priced, is open every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is staffed by graduating seniors of the school’s cosmetology program. To schedule an appointment, call (718) 584-2700.

PS/MS 20 School Shirts on Sale
PS/MS 20 requires that all students wear the appropriate uniform shirt. If parents wish, they may buy the shirts directly from PS/MS 20. Parents can call Rosa Rosado at (718) 515-9370 ext. 2154, to request an order form. Shirts for Pre-K to 5th graders are $10, and $12 for 6th to 8th graders.

Register for MMCC Classes
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave., offers a variety of classes for all ages from infants to seniors, including daycare, after school programs and senior center activities. Fees vary. For more information, call (718) 882-4000 or visit www.mmcc.org. Most class registrations are open until January 16, 2010.

Fall Into Fitness at MMCC
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. has begun its fitness schedule. Classes range from step aerobics and zumba classes to belly dancing. For details and/or to register, call (718) 882-4000 ext. 256 or 280.

Volunteer at North Bronx Healthcare
The North Bronx Healthcare Network is seeking volunteers for the Sexual Assault Treatment Program run at North Central Bronx Hospital, Jacobi Medical Center, and Lincoln Medical Center. Those interested should be willing to volunteer twice a month and commit to serving the program for one year. For more information, call (718) 519-4788.

Free Medicine Programs for Cancer Patients
The Complimentary Medicine Program at 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 to see if yoga can help patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. A certified yoga instructor teaches classes in both English and Spanish. The Mind-Body Cancer Program includes 8 weeks of Mind-Body groups (The Stress Management Education Group and the Spiritual Support Group) for patients with most types of cancer. Some restrictions apply to these groups, which have been specifically designed by a psychologist and an oncologist. For more information and to find out eligibility, call (718) 430-2380.

Foster Parents Needed
The Foster Care Network is reaching out to potential foster parents in the Bronx. Hundreds of foster children in the area need loving and caring families to make a difference in their lives. Foster parents receive tax-free financial assistance for the expenses of each child, free training, and Foster Parent certification. For more information, call (800) 454-3727 or visit www.fostercarenetwork.org.

Workshops: Children With Disabilities
The Jewish Child Care Association at 555 Bergen Ave. will host monthly workshops through June of 2010 for families and professionals requiring services for children with disabilities. For detailed information and to register, call (212) 677-4650 ext. 20 or visit jccany.org.

Breast Oncology Program
The Breast Oncology Living Daily Program also known as BOLD living offers a variety of free educational, support, and mind-body workshops. They are designed to empower and nurture breast cancer patients, survivors, and loved ones, but are open to all. For more information or to register, call (718) 430-3613 or email outreach@aecom.yu.edu.

Donate Backpacks to Homeless Kids
Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. is encouraging Bronx residents to donate backpacks and school supplies to “Operation Backpack.” “Operation Backpack” provides homeless children and students in New York City with backpacks and school supplies to help them succeed in school. To contribute, drop off a new backpack at the Bronx BP office at 851 Grand Concourse, Room 209. To find out more information about Operation Backpack or to make a donation, visit www.OperationBackpackNYC.org.

Self-Defense and Boxing at MMCC
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. is offering self-defense classes on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 5:30 p.m. Its boxing program meets on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. for ages 7 and up. For more information, visit www.mmcc.org or call (718) 882-4000 ext. 0 or ext. 256.

Aid for Veterans and Their Families
The Warriors Family Assistance Program, launched by the American Legion Auxiliary, comes to the direct aid of veterans and their families in New York State. Veterans and their families can apply for up to $1,500 in aid in maintenance grants, medical grants and employment opportunities. Any veteran who has served honorably within the last four years, or is currently serving in one of the Armed Forces, and is a NYS resident, is eligible to apply. All grants are non-repayable. For an application or more information, call (800) 421-6348.

Free Career Information Seminars
Lehman College Office of Continuing Education is holding free career information seminars for its non-credit certificate programs. For dates, times and locations of seminars, please call (718) 960-8512 or visit www.lehman.edu.

Free Prescription $aver Card
The NY State Health Department is accepting applications for the free New York Prescription $aver Card. The program offers discounts on thousands of prescription medications. It will serve low-income New Yorkers who are disabled or between the ages of 50 and 64. To be eligible, income for single individuals must be $35,000 or less, and $50,000 or less for married individuals. Medicaid and EPIC recipients are not eligible for the Prescription $aver Card. To learn more or apply, visit www.nyprescriptionsaver.fhsc.com or call (800) 788-6917. (TTY users should call (800) 290-9138.) Applications are also available at pharmacies.

Healthy Women Needed for Two Research Studies
Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, 1695 Eastchester Road, are looking for healthy women between the ages of 18-40 to test a vaginal gel for 12 weeks that could help prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In addition, Doctors are looking for healthy women to test a vaginal gel for 14 days that could help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). In this research study, doctors want to learn about the cells that protect women from infection when using the gel. Participants will be compensated for time and travel in both studies. For information call Anna at: 718-430-3253.

English, Citizenship and Computer Classes
MS 80 at 149 E. Mosholu Pkwy N., is offering English as a Second Language (ESL) and General Equivalency Diploma (GED) classes. For those interested, or if you have any questions, call Mrs. Alejandro at (718) 405-6300 ext. 1131.

St. James Recreation Center at 2530 Jerome Ave. offers free classes in Microsoft Office, Resume/Cover Letter Writing, Computer Basics, and much more. For more information, call Justin Young at (718) 367-3659.

Fordham University, 557 E. Fordham Rd., is currently holding free computer and English Language classes for parents, Mondays through Thursdays and on Saturdays. Classes can either stand alone or as an 8- to 12-week series. For more information or to register, call (718) 817-3503.

Senior Employment
The American Association of Retired Person (AARP) and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) are assisting low-income Bronx residents, 55 and older, to receive employment through their outreach, training, and internship programs. For more information, call AARP located at 384 E. 149th St., Ste. 608 at (718) 585-2500.

MS 80 Needs Love
MS 80 is asking parents and community members to show some love and volunteer for just an hour each week. The school needs mentors, math and reading tutors, part-time coaches and volunteers to help with cafeteria duty. For more information, call Ms. Alejandro (718) 405-6300 ext. 1131.

MMCC Grade School & Teen Programs at Tracey Towers
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is accepting registration for their free after school program at Tracey Towers, 40 W. Mosholu Pkwy. The program meets Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and is open to children in the third through sixth grades. From 6:30 to 9 p.m., the free Teen Center is open for youth ages 12 to 18. Programs include homework help, computers, arts and crafts, sports, acting, and quiet games. To register, stop by the Youth Community Room on the second floor of Tracey Towers and speak to Antoine Fields, or call (718) 733-4260.

Programs for Teens, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., is offering various activities for children and teens. On Mondays at 4 p.m., teens can enjoy playing free Wii video games, and can meet on Wednesdays and 4 p.m. for “Teen Tech Time.” Toddler Storytime for children 1-3 years of age is held on the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. For children from 3 ½ – 5 years, Preschool Films is held on the second Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

Free Career Workshops
The State University of New York, located at 3950 Laconia Ave., is offering free career workshops, including job readiness training, resume and cover letter preparation, help with job searches and computer skills, job placement assistance, an Office Skills Certificate Program, college prep and more. For more information, call (718) 547-1001 or visit www.NBX.SUNYEOC.org.

After School Care
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave., provides after school care for children in elementary school. Children are transported from their schools in Norwood, Bedford Park, Williamsbridge and Van Cortlandt Village. The center provides a snack, help with homework, and an array of activities to keep children busy. Financial aid is available. For more information, call Ruth Moore, program registrar, at (718) 882-4000.

Free Respite Program
Kingsbridge Heights Community Center (KHCC) is offering free after-school services to families with mentally retarded or developmentally disabled children ages 5 to 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. KHCC is also offering a Saturday Respite Program for ages 15 to 25, and on Sundays another Respite Program is provided for ages 18 to 65. Weekend Respite Program hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are held at the KHCC, 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace (near Sedgwick Avenue) at West 230th Street. To register or for more information, call Hanna Gabris at (718) 884-0700 ext. 202.

Aphasia Clinic Accepting Clients
The Lehman College Speech and Hearing Center, which provides therapy on a sliding scale payment schedule, is now accepting new clients in its recently expanded aphasia clinic. The clinic will provide individual and group therapy sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m.; group therapy sessions also take place on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. Diagnostic and therapeutic sessions will be supervised by faculty members who are licensed by the NYS Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and certified by ASHA (American Speech Language Hearing Association). For more information, call Wanda Adams at (718) 960-8138.

Adult ESL Level 1and 2 Classes
Through June 2010, P.S. 94x will be offering Level 1 and 2 ESL classes on Tuesday and Thursdays from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. For more information, contact Ms. Seminario, at (347) 563-4772 or (718) 405- 6345. You can also come to room 201 for more information and for sign up.

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Simple Solution’ for Armory

January 28, 2010

By Norwood News

I grew up right by the armory on Kingsbridge Road, as did my mother (now age 77). There is such a simple solution to the armory dilemma — so simple that everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves. Does anyone ever go to Chelsea Piers in lower Manhattan? Well, just bring it to the Bronx! Ice skating, rock climbing, gymnastics, skateboard park, eateries, basketball, batting cages, and so on. Get the idea? Do not kill the surrounding area with a shopping mall. Give our families what we do not have anywhere in the Bronx! Include an animal shelter and so much more. I hope someone with some intelligence reads this and gets the word out.

Annette Melendez

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Clinton Holds Off Surprising Bronx Science

January 28, 2010

By Alex Gibbons

The DeWitt Clinton Governors (white) beat the Bronx Science Wolverines (green), 55-31, in a boys high school basketball game on Jan. 20. Clinton extended its record to 9-6 with the win. Two days later, Bronx Science came back to defeat Evander Childs last Friday, to push its own record to 9-6.

The surprising Science squad is enjoying its best season in recent years and already has more wins this year than the past two combined.

In other basketball news, JFK pushed its overall record to 14-1, asserting its position as a top contender in the Bronx AA standings.

Evander Childs and Walton both continue to struggle toward the end of their seasons. Walton has won just two of its last three games, holding on to an 8-8 record. Evander Childs, also 8-8, has dropped four of its last five contests.

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Public and Community Meetings

January 28, 2010

By Norwood News

•    The 52nd Precinct Community Council will meet on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at 52nd Precinct Headquarters, 3016 Webster Ave. For more information, call (718) 220-5824.
•    The Bedford Mosholu Community Assn. will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., apt. B1 (lobby floor).
•    Community Board 7 (CB7) will hold a general meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Scott Tower, 3400 Paul Ave. For more information, call (718) 933-5650 or visit bronxcb7.info.
•    For a list of CB7 committee meetings, visit bronxcb7.info/calendar.
•    The Community Educational Council District 10 will be having their Calendar/Business meeting on Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. For location and more information, call the District 10 office at (718) 741-5836.
•    The Croton Facilities Monitoring Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the DEP community office, 3660 Jerome Ave. For more information, call (718) 231-8470.

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Dems ‘Explore Other Options’ on Health Care

January 28, 2010

By Norwood News

With the loss of the late Sen. Kennedy’s Massachusetts seat to a Republican last Tuesday, Democrats no longer have the 60 votes required to push healthcare reform through the Senate (and consequently, Congress as a whole).

Late last week, Bronx Congressman Joseph Crowley downplayed the impact of the loss and promised to continue fighting to give all Bronx residents access to healthcare, but it was unclear how, exactly, he planned to do it in this changed political landscape.

“Obviously the election was disappointing from a Democrat/Republican standpoint,” said Crowley, one of three members of Congress representing the Bronx, “but the fact that we lost the seat doesn’t change the fact that 40 million people don’t have health insurance.”

Back in the comparatively hopeful days of August, Crowley launched an interactive healthcare forum on his House Web site, designed to dispel misinformation and engage constituents in thinking about the best way to reform the system. Now, he’s just hoping to get something passed.

“We have to explore other options to make the changes that we were initially setting up to do,” he said. Crowley suggested that his party might use a parliamentary loophole called budget “reconciliation” to pass parts of the bill.

“We might have to break up the bill a bit, to do it piecemeal,” he said. “I think we will get something through—it may not be everything we want at first but it will be substantial.

Crowley was careful to emphasize the continuing need for healthcare reform in the Bronx. “There are tens of thousands people in the Bronx that don’t have healthcare coverage today, and we are trying to make it affordable for them,” he said.

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Espada Opens New District Office

January 28, 2010

By Norwood News

State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr. has opened a new office at 3328 Bainbridge Ave. in Norwood. You can reach him at (718) 652-4329.

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As Cuomo Investigates, Espada Finds Himself in Hot Water Again

January 28, 2010

By Alex Kratz

Pedro Espada, Jr., the embattled state senator who represents a large swath of the northwest Bronx, is once again defending himself against accusations of impropriety and illegal activity.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office says it has discovered “extensive evidence” of illegal activities by Espada involving his nonprofit Soundview Healthcare Network and a private for-profit management company he created in the months leading up to his 2008 state Senate campaign. Cuomo’s office says the evidence suggests Espada funneled money from Soundview into his campaign, violating several state laws.

No charges have been filed yet, but Cuomo’s office says Espada and his attorneys have refused to cooperate with a nine-month-old investigation.

Espada, who is no stranger to this type of controversy, said the Cuomo investigation is nothing more than a “witch-hunt.”

On Jan. 13, in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, Cuomo’s office filed a “motion to compel” Espada to produce documents related to the attorney general’s investigation. Cuomo’s office subpoenaed documents on Aug. 25, but it says Espada failed to produce all but two of them.

In a statement, Espada said he has already complied by sending “tens of thousands of documents” that Cuomo, who is eyeing a gubernatorial run later this year, has requested.

“This is an Andrew Cuomo witch-hunt driven by his political ambitions, as evidenced in the fact that our attorneys had to learn of this complaint through the media,” Espada said in the statement.

Regardless, Cuomo wants more and he will probably need it if he wants to come up with something that sticks on Espada, who has narrowly escaped punishment in the past.

Cuomo’s office says that Espada set up a for-profit management company called Soundview Management Company, which he controls. In 2008, the nonprofit Soundview Health Care Network, which Espada heads, awarded the management company a $400,000-a-year maintenance contract.

Before 2008, court documents reveal, Soundview spent $270,000 on maintenance. Cuomo’s office says that Espada’s management company didn’t do any additional work and that at least a portion of that contract money was used to pay for his 2008 campaign expenses, including a salary for his son, Pedro G. Espada.

The court filing by Cuomo’s office notes that this scenario is similar to the one that landed four of Espada’s employees in prison in 2005. Those employees pleaded guilty to “diverting monies and grants to pay campaign expenses for Espada.” It also notes that Soundview paid the legal fees for those employees, “which may also be a violation of the not-for-profit law and is currently under investigation.”

Since Espada was elected in the fall of 2008, he has been under investigation by the Bronx District Attorney for allegedly not living in the district where he was elected. His health care network is also being investigated by Cuomo’s office for possibly lying on a grant application.

Ironically, Espada took over the 33rd District Senate seat from Efrain Gonzalez, who pleaded guilty last summer to using state funds for his own personal use.

Espada is up for re-election this fall.

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PS 56 Sings for Dr. King

January 28, 2010

By Alex Gibbons

The PS 56 Children’s Chorus celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a school concert on Friday, Jan. 22. Children paid tribute to the civil rights leader in song before parents, teachers, family and classmates. The concert expounded upon the importance of equal rights and social justice for all peoples, honoring the philosophy of Dr. King and declaring in verse “excellence is our goal.”

Sandra Boozebailey, a teacher at PS 56 for the past five years, directed the concert. The Children’s Chorus is a project she started just a year ago. Students participating in the chorus, of which there are 32, met with Boozebailey after school for weeks in order to practice and prepare for the event. Boozebailey is also a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Urban Voices program, a community-based organization that seeks to introduce choral music to children of all ages.

Principal Priscilla Sheeran lauded the outstanding efforts of the children’s chorus, reminding students that social awareness is a luxury and urging them to continue striving for Dr. King’s dream. Also in attendance was Cliff Frazier of the New York Metropolitan Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolence, who said listening to the children’s chorus was the equivalent of listening to “angels.”

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Diner Owner Arrested On Arson Charges

January 28, 2010

By Alex Kratz

From the time he purchased the American Diner in 2006 to the moment his Norwood-area restaurant went up in smoke six weeks ago, Mohammed Quadir tried everything to keep his business afloat. He changed the name, focused on cleanliness, tweaked the menu and introduced new specials and discounts. He even hosted play readings and a gothic-style wedding.

He often solicited his customers’ advice, looking for any way to bring back the crowds that once packed the East 204th Street diner, a popular neighborhood gathering spot since it was the Chariot Diner under different owners in the 1990s.

Nothing seemed to work.

This winter, according to city fire marshals and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, in a final attempt to recoup something from his flailing business venture, Quadir hired a man to set fire to the American Diner — a fire that destroyed not only the restaurant but also the sole neighborhood supermarket and a dentist’s office — and then filed a hefty insurance claim. (The New York Times reported that Quadir had taken out a $500,000 insurance policy before the fire.)

On Jan. 13, city fire marshals arrested Christopher Gooding, 52, in connection with the diner fire. Two days later, fire marshals arrested Quadir, 51, and charged him with paying Gooding to set the blaze.

On Dec. 21, investigators say Quadir left the diner’s front door open for Gooding, who, during the middle of the night, entered the diner and went down into the basement. Gooding then took a quart of gasoline, poured it onto a shelf laden with cardboard boxes and then used a match to ignite the fire, investigators said.

Quadir is now out on bail, while Gooding remains locked up on Riker’s Island. Both have pleaded “not guilty” to arson and other charges. Quadir did not return phone messages seeking comment.

The fire that engulfed the diner, supermarket and dentist’s office came on the heels of another devastating inferno, just down the block on Bainbridge Avenue, which leveled 10 businesses and damaged four others only two months earlier.

The magnitude, proximity and timing of the fires immediately sparked rumors of arson among local residents.

William Law, the northern division commander of the Fire Department’s Bureau of Investigation, said two of his investigators were called to the scene of the diner fire while it was still in progress. Law said his office heard the arson rumors.

Law wouldn’t go into details about the evidence against Quadir and Gooding, but said the arrests were the “result of a lot of hard work, a significant team effort.”

Law said investigators have not found any connection between the Bainbridge Avenue and 204th Street fires. The latter, Law said, is still under investigation. Just last week, Law and his team looked on as a back hoe ripped through some of the rubble on 204th Street, clearing the way for further investigation.

Residents say the American Diner, formerly the Norwood Star Diner, had been struggling to attract customers for the last couple of years.

“For some reason, the neighborhood kind of walked away from it,” said John Andert, who has lived in the area with his partner for several years.

When he considered moving to Norwood, the diner’s presence, with its long hours, steady business and comforting menu, reassured Andert that he would be able to live in the neighborhood.

Ken Small has lived in the area for 20 years. Over the past five or six years, he and his daughter met for dinner at the American Diner, and its previous incarnations, once or twice a month. When they first started dining there, Small said the place was packed on Sunday nights. “Lately, if [Quadir] was lucky, the diner would be half full,” he said.

In 2007, a year after Quadir bought the restaurant, it was shut down for a week after amassing too many health code violations. State Senator Jeff Klein publicly called the restaurant out for being among the dirtiest in the city. Quadir soon remedied the violations and received a clean bill of health from inspectors, but said he lost at least $30,000.

In the months leading up to the diner fire, Andert, his partner and another local, Narani O’Shaughnessy, brainstormed ways to bring people back to the diner. They put on a play reading and talked about doing a Bingo night.

“He’s a really sweet guy who had really high expectations,” Andert said of Quadir. “I don’t know why the business didn’t thrive.”

After the Halloween fire destroyed several indirect competitors – a Dunkin’ Donuts, a bakery, a Latin restaurant – business seemed to pick up, Andert said. But Andert and others said Quadir appeared down about the state of his business and often talked about cutting staff and scaling back hours.

O’Shaughnessy called Quadir a “very gentle man,” but said he seemed “sad and anxious” lately.

“It was shocking,” she said. “It is shocking.”

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Vampire, Ink

January 28, 2010

By Amber Rodriguez

No one expected a tattoo parlor with Gothic appeal to open on Bainbridge Avenue, a low-key commercial strip surrounded by family-style apartments, hospitals, parks and churches. But Oscar Zaldivar, owner of the new tattoo shop, The Coven, between 206th and 207th streets, has never been one to act in line with people’s “expectations.”

Zaldivar, known as “Oz,” has lived in the Bronx for over 30 years. He used to own a comic book store down the street, and has also worked in a nearby grocery store and pet shop. “I’ve even volunteered at the St. Brendan School, on Halloween of course,” Oz adds, chuckling, his smile revealing another side of him.

Oz has permanently adopted vampire fangs in place of his incisors and dons an impressive array of gothic tattoos up and down his arms.

His appearance has led to some unfortunate (and downright mistaken) assumptions about his character. “People think we’re devil worshippers!” Oz says, adding that he is occasionally required to wipe spit off the storefront’s window. The jovial Oz finds humor in these reactions.

Despite the Gothic décor, Oz says he is running a “family-oriented” business. “We want to treat you like you’re being invited into our home,” he says.

The atmosphere inside is small and friendly: the inside of the shop being just big enough for two tattoo chairs, a small waiting area, and a little room to maneuver.

On a recent afternoon, Oz’s wife, Gloria Lampell, stood at the front desk and the second tattoo artist, Mike Figueroa, sat nearby, waiting for customers. Though they have only been open for a few weeks, Oz says business is slowly trickling in, mostly at night.

Safety is the new shop’s top priority, Oz says, which helps separate The Coven from any competition. “There are plenty of tattooists working from home in the area, but we’re tattoo artists,” he says. “The shop offers us security, and we offer completely sterile equipment.” This, Oz hopes, will assuage potential customer’s fears about the possible transmission of AIDS and hepatitis through used needles.

Oz urges everyone in the neighborhood to stop by, not just for tattoos, but also for the conversation. “Come in, ask us questions,” he says. “See what we’re really about.”

Ed. Note: The Coven tattoo shop is located on Bainbridge Avenue, near 206th Street. It’s open Tues. thru Thurs., noon to 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., noon to midnight; and Sun., noon to 4 p.m.

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Locals Reach Out in Wake of Haiti Earthquake

January 28, 2010

By Alex Kratz

Two days after returning from Haiti on a brief aid mission, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, his voice hoarse from sickness and exhaustion, described some of the horrific scenes he encountered in days after an earthquake ravaged the area around the Caribbean nation’s capital.

“It was like if you walked down Broadway and every other building or more were completely destroyed,” he said.

“It was horrible,” he said. “I saw dead people. One house was crushed. There was a girl, you could tell she almost made it out because her hand was sticking out.”

Last Monday, Cabrera, his daughter and about a dozen members of the Latin African-American Chaplain Association (LACA), flew a few thousand dollars worth of supplies — antibiotics, bandages, water purification tablets, baby food and more – to the Dominican Republican and then drove the load into Port-au-Prince. Cabrera raised money through donations from his church, New Life Outreach International.

It was just one of several local efforts to help those suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake.

On Monday, local Bronxites and nurse practitioners, Colleen Kelly and Miriam Ford, carrying bags full of medical supplies, headed to Haiti (via the Dominican Republic) to help out at a free clinic in Port-au-Prince.

Their mission is twofold. The primary goal is to provide immediate medical assistance and bring in much needed supplies. Their secondary objective is to set up infrastructure for extended aid efforts at the clinic.

“I’m blessed to have the skills that can be useful in a situation like this,” Kelly said, adding that she’s received overwhelming support from her family, friends and employer.

Much of the monetary support was provided Montefiore Medical Center’s School Health Division, Kelly said.

Montefiore also sent a medical team of its own — Dr. Dominique Jan, the chief of surgery at the Children’s Hospital; Dr. Alexandra Bastien, an anesthesiologist; Lynoid Wallerson, a trauma technician; and operating room nurse Rachael Jones — to join The Surgeons of Hope Foundation in Port-au-Prince. “It is undoubtedly our responsibility to step forward and extend our help and support,” said Montefiore President and CEO Dr. Steven Safyer, in a statement.

The day after the earthquake hit, Miriam Neptune, who moved to Norwood two years ago and is on the board of a Brooklyn-based nonprofit called Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, found out a distant aunt and uncle had died in the disaster. A couple of days later, she turned her son’s one-year birthday into a makeshift fund-raiser for relief efforts. On Sunday, she decided to join an aid mission and flew to the Dominican Republic on Monday.

Everyone, it seemed, had a few extra dollars to spare. Our Lady of Refuge Church, located in a low-income section of North Fordham, held an impromptu collection for Haiti and raised $5,795.

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Out & About

January 14, 2010

By Judy Noy

Onstage

The Bronx Library Center, at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road, presents Ivo Tirado and the Latin Jazz Element Sextet, Jan. 16 at 2:30 p.m.; and Doo Wop, with the New York Exceptions, Jan. 23 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. E., presents the following performances: Ultimate Doo Wop featuring classic hits, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. (tickets are $30 to $45); and Salsa Lebron y La Trompeta de Perico featuring Latin music, Jan 23 at 8 p.m. (tickets are $35 to $50). For more information, call (718) 960-8490/8833.

The Bronx Arts Ensemble presents chamber music performed by pianist Stewart Goodyear and saxophonist Christopher Sacco, Jan. 24 at 5000 Goodridge Ave. For more information, call (718) 601-7399.

Events

The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture, located at 4450 Fieldston Rd., presents the following programs: Music on Film featuring classical music performed by violinist David Oistrakh ($5), Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and a book reading (“The Gerbil Farmer’s Daughter”) by author Holly Robinson, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.

The Harlem River Ecology Center, located at the southern end of Roberto Clemente State Park, presents Nature in the Urban Wild, Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m., featuring live encounters and demonstrations with volunteer environmental educators of the Harlem River, followed by a movie matinee on the river from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The Ectoderms of NY State’s Estuary & Urban Watershed will be featured on Jan. 16, about reptiles that live in and along the Harlem River. For more information, call (347) 224-5687/5828.

Wave Hill, located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, offers two family art projects: Bits of Cloth and Lots of Freedom, to create a colorful fabric vision quilt of your personal dream of freedom, in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jan. 16 and 17; and Collage the Colors of Winter, to create a collage of winter plant materials, Jan. 23 and 24; both in the Kerlin Learning Center from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, call (718) 549-3200 or visit www.wavehill.org.

Exhibits

The Bronx Library Center, at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road, presents the following programs for preschoolers and school-aged children: Preschool Story Time, Jan. 14, 21 and 28 at 11 a.m.; Abracadabra, a magic show, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m.; films, Jan. 20 and 27 at 4 p.m.; and Penguin Book Making, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. Adults can attend Barack Obama: People’s President – The Campaign That Changed History, a special film screening, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

The Mosholu Library, at 285 E. 205th St., hosts Preschool Story Time, Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m.; and Polar Opposites, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m.; both for preschool and school-aged children. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

The Jerome Park Library, at 118 Eames Place, presents Toddler Story Time, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m.; Art, with Jeannette Ornstein, Jan. 19 at 4 p.m.; and Yoga for Parents and Preschoolers, Jan. 22 at 11 a.m.; all for children. For more information, call (718) 549-5200.

NOTE: Items for consideration may be mailed to our office or sent to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org, and should be received by Jan. 18 for the next publication date of Jan. 28.

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Foster Named Interim Board Chair

January 14, 2010

By Norwood News

With former Chairman Greg Faulkner moving on to become new Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s Chief of Staff, longtime Community Board 7 member Paul Foster will step into the leadership void.

Foster, a board member since 2002 and the former first vice chair, becomes the interim chairman. In March, the board will hold a special election to determine who will complete the remainder of Faulkner’s term.

Foster comes in with a list of goals for the board. “I want to continue working with City Planning on important issues regarding Webster Avenue and work to achieve a waterfront park on at the Fordham Road landing area,” Foster said in a statement. “I also want to come out with something that will benefit and that will be of satisfaction for everyone in the community regarding the Armory.”

Fellow board member Ozzie Brown expressed confidence in Foster. “He has a great vision for the community at large and he has demonstrated this by his consistent effort that he is capable to do an outstanding job.”

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Patricia Klass Honored

January 14, 2010

By Norwood News

Longtime Norwood resident and Montefiore Medical Center employee Patricia Klass was honored during the recent homecoming event at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Epiphany in Norwood.

Born in Barbados, and one of 10 siblings, Klass moved to the United States in 1968 and worked as an RN at MMC for 27 years before retiring in 1996.

Known for her “broad smile and beautiful singing voice,” Klass was recognized as the homecoming guest of honor for her work running Epiphany’s thrift shop, overseeing the altar guild, and other community and church services.

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Neighborhood Notes

January 14, 2010

By Norwood News

Free Tax Prep at UNHP
University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP) and Ariva will offer FREE income tax preparation services to low and moderate income residents at the Refuge House, 2751 Bainbridge Ave. Returns are e-filed, which means clients who opt for direct deposit will receive returns in as little as 10 days, without having to pay unnecessary Rapid Anticipation Loans (RAL), Pay Stub Loans, and/or costly tax preparation fees. Service is available for individuals and families whose gross income in 2009 was $56,000 or less, and are provided on 10 dates from January through April by professionally trained Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) preparers as follows: Wednesdays, Feb. 3 and 17, March 3 and 24, and April 7 (from 1 to 7 p.m.) and Saturdays, Jan. 23, Feb. 6 and 27, March 27, and April 10 (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Appointments are required. Call UNHP at (718) 933-2539 to schedule an appointment or for more information.

Gun Buyback Program
Various locations throughout the Bronx are holding a “Cash for Guns” program on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For each operable gun surrendered, you can earn a $200 bank card. Up to three guns can be traded in for credit (up to $600), but you can surrender as many guns as you wish at the following locations: St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 623 E. 138th St.; Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 763 Prospect Ave.; St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 1183 Franklin Ave.; Our Lady of Grace, 3985 Bronxwood Ave. For more information, call 311.

Free Small Business Classes
The NYS Small Business Development Center offers free classes on small business skills such as writing business plans (Jan. 20), and marketing (Jan. 27), from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CUNY on the Concourse, 2051 Grand Concourse, 3rd floor. Seating is limited. Call (718) 960-8806 to register.

Adopt a Pet
The ASPCA is bringing a Mobile Adoption Center to the Bronx on Jan. 16 at Petland Discounts at the Bay Plaza Shopping Center, 2100 Bartow Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. All dogs and cats at the adoption center are available for same-day adoption, are spayed or neutered and are up to date on vaccinations. Adoption fees are between $75 and $200. Adopters must bring a photo ID and another form of identification with their current address, such as a bill. For more information, visit www.aspca.org.

Honoring Dr. King
The Trinity Baptist Church, in conjunction with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., invites you to an interfaith service in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., celebrating the National Theme “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On… Not a Day Off.” The service will be held on Monday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Trinity Baptist Church, 808 E. 224th St. (between Barnes and Bronxwood avenues). Please RSPV to (718) 590-3989.

Free Workshop for Ex-cons
“Work and a Criminal Record: What You Should Know” is a free workshop for the prevention of recidivism through employment, presented by the director of the Legal Action Center’s National H.I.R.E. (Helping Individuals with criminal records Reenter through Employment) Network Project. It will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Gethsemane Baptist Church, 771 Fairmount Place (at Prospect Ave). For more information, call Sister Dolores Steele at (718) 506-6533.

Job Fair
Promoting Specialized Care and Health (PSCH) is hosting a job fair with on-the-spot job interviews every Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. Those interested working in health and human services who have relevant requirements should attend one of the fairs, which are held at 30-50 Whitestone Expressway, Flushing, NY. For more information, call (718) 559-0576. Resumes can be e-mailed to Recruiter2@psch.org or faxed to (718) 358-6790.

Free ESL and GED Classes
MS 80 at 149 E. Mosholu Pkwy. N. offers free ESL and GED classes. Applicants must be 21 years or older. For more information or to register, call (718) 405-6300.

Apply for a Bronx Artist Award
The Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) Awards, hosted through the Bronx Council on the Arts, awards local artists for their work each year in dozens of fields. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 29. Applications can be found online or at any Bronx public library, the BCA Writers Center, or BCA’s Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College. Applicants are urged to attend one of several free workshops offered before the deadline. For submission guidelines and application assistance, please visit www.bronxarts.org or call (718) 931-9500. Eligible applicants must be 18 years or older.

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Funding Cuts Won’t Slow Down Popular Acting Program

January 14, 2010

By Molly Ryan

Director Carlos Laboy is not letting a little thing like money stop him from putting on his eighth annual theater performance with Stagekids, a program he created and runs out of the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC) in Norwood.

As they say in the business: The show must go on!

In December, when he heard that a chunk of his program’s budget was being cut — just one of several painful cuts MMCC is being forced to make due to a recent drop in funding — Laboy took to the streets and raised over $800 in donations to put on his 2010 spring play.

So far, Laboy has raised enough money to buy scripts and put the show in motion. But he still needs another $800 for costumes and scenery. “We just want to have enough money to present the play,” Laboy said.

With 30 years of drama and dance experience under his belt, Laboy started the Stagekids program eight years ago at MMCC to give kids a way to express themselves. “My favorite part is seeing [the kids] get into the arts,” Laboy said, adding that several of his students have gone on to work in the industry.

Michael Shanley’s 14-year-old son Tiernan joined the program in October. For him, the program is not just about learning how to act.

“It’s giving Tiernan the experience of getting up in front of a group, and public speaking,” Shanley said. “So many different skills are incorporated into this theater program.”

Laboy has become more than just a teacher for many of the students. “Carlos has been very supportive, even in other things,” said parent Diana Velez. “He calls my son ‘Matthew DeNiro,’ but he always tells him that he needs a backup plan: take up other interests, go to school. He’s really a family member to us.”

Youth who participate in the Stagekids program spend one afternoon a week, from September to May, learning the ins and outs of a theater production.

During the first half of the program, Laboy teaches his students, whose ages range from 10 to 17, different acting methods. Halfway through, the class picks a play to perform in the spring.

This year, the class of 30 students chose “Guys and Dolls Junior,” the youth version of this classic Broadway musical. On Fridays, Laboy volunteers his time, working on building scenery and costumes with the kids.

In addition to soliciting contributions from his students’ families and the local community, several parents wrote letters asking for donations from Bronx politicians.

If Laboy keeps raising money, as he plans to, “Guys and Dolls Junior” will be performed on May 28 and 29 of this year.

Parents said they had tried other paid acting programs, but they became too expensive and weren’t as good or as inclusive as Stagekids. “It’s a great group,” Shanley said. “Carlos cares so much about the kids, and everyone cares about each other.”

Ed. Note: Stagekids is still enrolling kids to participate. For more information or to enroll, call the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, (718) 882-4000, e-mail carloslaboy@optimum.net or visit www.stagekids.cityslide.com.
—Additional reporting by Amber Rodriguez and Alex Kratz

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Changing Lives One Volunteer at a Time

January 14, 2010

By None

By Linel Salcedo and Christin Cato

Volunteer. Make a difference. Give back.

These powerful mantras resonated with us as we decided to dedicate a year of service through the NYC Service initiative, the NYC Civic Corps. In response to President Barack Obama’s call to service, Mayor Michael Bloomberg began NYC Service in April 2009 to make New York City a model of how volunteerism can influence people to become leaders in their communities. Led by Diahann Billings-Burford, the nation’s first chief service officer, NYC Civic Corps is the largest NYC Service initiative tasked with strengthening the key areas of education, environment, health, emergency preparedness, and strengthening the city overall. The nearly 200 Civic Corps members have been placed at 60 agencies in the five boroughs to address the capacity gap at the local level.

We are Michael Brennan, Christin Cato, and Linel Salcedo, three recent college graduates. Last July, we began our journey to make a difference in the Bronx. As Civic Corps members, we wish to influence the apathy and negative perceptions that many people have toward volunteering in the Bronx. We are deeply committed to making the Bronx a place where people want to volunteer.

We now serve at Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC), a not-for-profit corporation created by Montefiore Medical Center in 1981 to combat the housing decay and abandonment that had ravaged the Bronx. (It also publishes the Norwood News.) MPC’s goal is to preserve and revitalize Norwood and surrounding communities.

As a volunteer coordinator in parks and horticulture, Michael Brennan works to recruit residents to volunteer in the beautification of their local Bronx parks.

As volunteer coordinator of health, wellness and recreation, Linel Salcedo is tasked with getting community members to become more interested in their health. This includes biking, walking, and creating spaces where community members can be physically active.

And finally, Christin Cato, the Arts Program developer, is working to create a new arts initiative that would increase awareness and appreciation of artwork from local Bronxites. We all work with volunteer groups to plant daffodil bulbs/trees, mulching, raking leaves, and erosion control. This creates park space that is clean, friendly and more approachable.

In the words of Robert F. Kennedy, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others… he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

This is the essence of the work that we hope to achieve and one of the many reasons we have chosen to work in the service of others.

Do you desire to help your neighbors and give back to your community? Then volunteering with the Mosholu Preservation Corporation is the place for you!

To get involved, call us anytime at (718) 324-4998 or e-mail us at intern1@mpcbronx.org.

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Cabrera Takes the Stage

January 14, 2010

By Editorial

Fernando Cabrera didn’t wait until Jan. 1 to become the councilman for the 14th District. Right after the November general election, without an office, a Council salary or a paid staff, Cabrera attended community meetings and events, met with community leaders, and helped lead the charge for the Bronx delegation in defeating the Bloomberg administration’s plans to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into a shopping mall.

The hard work and passion he has exhibited thus far is promising and fills a giant gap left by his predecessor, Maria Baez, who had the worst City Council attendance record and was rarely seen at important community meetings.

We do worry he will be spread thin by other substantial professional obligations. He is pastor of New Life Outreach International Church on Morris Avenue and he still plans to teach courses on-line for Mercy College, where he has been a professor of counseling. Only time will tell if he can handle it all, but we hope he prioritizes the position he was just elected to. His constituents are counting on him.

It also troubles us that Cabrera said during a televised debate that he had a good attendance record at Community Board 7 meetings. In reality, for the meetings the Board has records for during Cabrera’s two-year tenure (the Norwood News submitted a Freedom of Information Law request to obtain them), Cabrera attended only half the meetings (seven out of 14). Maybe he’d chalk that up to a harmless campaign exaggeration, but we hope Cabrera will hold himself to a higher standard going forward.

All in all, though, it seems that after too long a wait, constituents of the 14th District will be getting the energetic leadership they deserve.

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Public and Community Meetings

January 14, 2010

By Norwood News

• Community Board 7 (CB7) will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bedford Park Senior Center, 243 E.t 204th St. For more information and for all committee meetings, call (718) 933-5650 or visit bronxcb7.info.
• The 52nd Precinct Community Council will meet on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at 52nd Precinct Headquarters, 3016 Webster Ave. For more information, call (718) 220-5824.

• The Community Educational Council District 10 will be having their Calendar/Business meeting on Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at PS 79, 125 E. 181st St. (between Morris and Creston avenues).

The Croton Facilities Monitoring Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, Jan. 21 at the DEP outreach office, 3660 Jerome Ave. For more information, call (718) 231-8470.

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Koppell: On Armory, Administration ‘Bargaining in Bad Faith’

January 14, 2010

By Jordan Moss

As a vote neared in the City Council on the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment, only Oliver Koppell was publicly expressing reservations about joining with the Bronx delegation in rejecting the project.

Earlier that week, Koppell held a town hall meeting in Bedford Park where he verbally tussled with constituents who were virtually unanimous in their position that he should vote down the plan if it didn’t include a living wage provision.

“If you want to be responsible for an empty building for next 10 years, that’s you,” Koppell told his audience then. “I don’t want to be responsible for that.”

Add to those concerns Koppell’s support of Mayor Bloomberg in the November election and you’ve got the Bronx Council member most likely to give the project a green light.

But when the vote came, he voted with the Bronx delegation and 44 of his colleagues, in a stunning rebuke of the mayor and one of his top outer-borough economic development priorities.

The Norwood News interviewed Koppell to find out why he voted the way he did.

“I wanted the project to go ahead,” Koppell said, “but I hadn’t made up my mind because we were involved with quite lengthy negotiations with the city to try and get some concessions on the living wage.”

Koppell said the negotiations with the Bloomberg administration were “going ahead fairly positively until Friday [the vote was on Monday], and then at the last minute, the administration took all of their tentative offers off the table, and wanted us to proceed with no concession on living wage,” and no progress on other matters either.

On the day of the vote, Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera told the press that the city’s top lawyer said that one of the offers — giving direct financial support to eligible workers — might run afoul of the state Constitution.

But Koppell, a former state attorney general, said he believes even that “could have been worked out in my opinion if the city and Related wanted to proceed with it.”

In the end, he said, “everything fell apart.”

Koppell put the blame on the administration. “I felt it was bargaining in bad faith," he said.

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Espada Wants More Charter Schools

January 14, 2010

By Alex Kratz

With a deadline for federal education funding looming, State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. wants to increase the cap for charter schools in New York.

At a press conference at the Bronx Community Charter School in the Fordham area, Espada said increasing the cap would give the state a better chance of landing a “Race to the Top” federal grant. Applications for the grant are due Jan. 19.

“Increasing the cap on charter schools, from 200 to 400, would place the state in a competitive position for obtaining its share of Race to the Top funds, which would benefit children not just in public charter schools, but in all public schools. It will also clear, in a very significant way, the long waiting list of parents and children seeking charter school enrollment.”

Espada is introducing the legislation with one-time adversary, and the senate’s president pro tempore, Malcolm Smith of Queens.

The cap increase would also benefit low-income and minority students, Espada said, citing a study by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes.

“The longer children remain on charter waiting lists, the longer they are being denied the high quality education that charters offer,” said Sasha Wilson, co-director of Bronx Community Charter School. “Legislation that increases the cap on charter schools will open the door to a better education to children throughout the state.”

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Politcal Stars Hit the Bronx

January 14, 2010

By Alex Kratz

As Bill de Blasio, the city’s new 6-foot-5 public advocate and a rising star in the Democratic party, made his way to the front of Bronx Community College’s Gould Auditorium for new Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s inauguration, he was stopped by Tony Cassino, who lost his primary bid to unseat Oliver Koppell in the 11th Council District.

“Who was the tallest mayor in the history of New York?” Cassino asked.

De Blasio smiled. “I think it was Lindsay,” he said.

It was just one of many little political interactions at Cabrera’s inauguration, which brought out several Democratic heavyweights, including de Blasio, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, new Comptroller John Liu, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and a host of other Council members and state representatives.

All this on a night when the state’s top-ranking official, Gov. David Paterson, was giving his State of the State speech.

Schumer and Quinn spoke and left, but the majority hung around for the entire two-hour-plus ceremony and subsequent handshaking and hugging.

Many gave speeches praising Cabrera and talking up the positive changes in Bronx politics, led by Diaz and Bronx Democratic Party Leader Carl Heastie.

Not surprisingly, the Rivera clan — former party leader Jose Rivera, Councilman Joel Rivera and Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera — were not in attendance.

Assemblyman Nelson Castro (86th District), a Rivera ally, however, did show up toward the end of the ceremony. He is up for re-election this year and is already facing opposition in district leader Hector Ramirez, a favorite of the new, Heastie-led Democratic Party.

Ramirez followed Cabrera as the Councilman made his official entrance and was also mentioned in Cabrera’s speech. ‘

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Fire Update: Bank of America Future Uncertain

January 14, 2010

By Jordan Moss

Bank of America at 299 E. 204th St., which suffered some damage in the massive blaze that destroyed three neighboring businesses, is still in the hands of the city.

A Bank of American spokesman, T.J. Crawford, told the Norwood News, “The city hasn’t released the building back to us.” The bank did briefly allow customers to access their safety deposit boxes, Crawford said. The extent of the damage was unclear at press time.

Whether the branch will eventually reopen is still uncertain. “Once we’re back in the space, then we’ll make that assessment,” Crawford said.

In the meantime, customers can go to two other local Bank of America branches, one at 700 Allerton Ave., and the other at 248 E. Fordham Rd. There is also an ATM on Jerome Avenue in Norwood.

In other fire-related news, Pricebusters at 340 E. 204th St., which is owned by the same family that owns Foodtown, is now carrying groceries. The Katzes plan to rebuild Foodtown and make it larger.

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A Local Comic Book Artist’s Counter Culture

January 14, 2010

By Ashley Villarreal

Norwood artist Ivan Velez, Jr. often worries about the future of comic books.

A born and bred Bronxite of Puerto Rican descent, Velez has risen to what some might consider great heights in the industry he frets over.

He’s worked with the biggest brands in the business, DC and Marvel, created a short film, an award-winning miniseries, and had his writing from the Ghost Rider comic translated to the big screen.

But Velez, who recently spoke and exhibited some of his work at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD) with other local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) artists, says he lives gig-to-gig and feels as if he still has to prove himself.

“I always feel like I have to keep trying out for work and there’s only like two Latinos in the industry that were ever in comics,” he says, adding half-jokingly: “Doesn’t that give me a little street credit?”

He says this feeling reflects the reality of a narrow-minded industry that he is actively working to change.

In high school, Velez says he was “kinda fat and homely.” While most teens were busy making friends or partying, Velez spent most of his time drawing. After college, Velez began writing and giving voice to his characters, while struggling to find an outlet to talk about homosexuality during a time, the 1980s, when HIV and AIDS were ravaging the gay community.

“A lot of people around me were getting sick during that time and many friends and family were dying from AIDS,” he says.
In the mid-‘80s he wrote his first successful series, “Tales of the Closet,” about a group of teenagers from Queens battling with their sexuality and society’s repercussions. The books earned him several awards and were used at the time by Bronx high schools (part of a short-lived multicultural initiative) to personalize LGBT issues for teens.

Since then, the industry has seen little progress in terms of LGBT and Latino representation, Velez says. Main characters remain mostly muscular white males and busty blondes, he says.
The industry has changed in other ways, Velez says, but not for the better.

“Kids used to get a lot of their morals from comics,” says Velez, who thinks comic creators have begun to choose violence over depth to turn a buck. “Nowadays producers only want something that is marketable, something they can turn into a movie.”
With sales falling over the last decade and videogame popularity skyrocketing, it’s no surprise illustrators feel the need to fit a certain formula. But they shouldn’t have to, Velez says.

On a recent trip to Japan, Velez says everyone was reading comics, widely known as “manga.” Velez says manga themes stretch across boundaries of age, sex, and creed. “They are braver in their writing,” Velez says. “They aren’t afraid to talk about things like sex.”

These days Velez, who says he’s in his 40s, can be found at Bronx libraries teaching “Comic Culture,” a free design workshop for kids. He wants to transform the climate of comic writing from the ground up. “You don’t change things unless you change the culture,” he says.

Comics should teach us to keep an open mind, Velez says. “I always tell kids to look at images to see what they really mean, how they talk to you and what they want you to think, and then I say, ‘Take that and go think for yourself.’”

Ed. Note: Velez’s 10-series comic, “Tales of the Closet,” was recently featured as the first American comic in Manga’s Netcomics. He is now working on a series called “Dead High Yearbook” and in his free time, finishing up his first novel, “Opaline’s Secret.”

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Lifting Spirits and Safety

January 14, 2010

By Amber Rodriguez

Despite a rough year, economically and otherwise, the holiday spirit was not lost on the Barajona family.

Leroy Barajona, along with the help of his wife Shirley, their three children and neighbors, transformed the entire first floor and lobby of their Fordham-area apartment building into a winter wonderland.

“Without all their help, I would have never gotten this done,” Barajona said, laughing as he pointed upwards toward a ceiling draped with multicolored garlands and twinkling paper chandeliers.

One wall was draped in wrapping paper and festooned with large bows, beneath each one an apartment number of someone who contributed to the decorating cause, either through a small monetary donation or giving actual decorations.

The Barajonas say their efforts have changed the culture and atmosphere of the building, which sits in the middle of a tough neighborhood (194th Street, between Decatur and Webster avenues) known for rampant drug dealing and occasional violence.

“We used to have police stand here in the lobby,” Barajona said. “Drug dealers used to hang around.”

The safe atmosphere is not limited to just the Christmas season. Shirley Barajona waved toward the walls. “We go all out for Halloween too!” she said. “We hang spider webs and bugs, and the kids love it!”

“We want to make this a safe place to live,” Barajona said. “We want to lift spirits. This is our home.”

The Barajona family and a helpful neighbor, Ashley Alicea. From left to right: Alicea, Shirley, Zelaka, Leroy, Tevin and London.

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Decatur Tenants Fight Landlord in Court

January 14, 2010

By Ashley Villarreal

In November, after years of what they considered severe landlord neglect, the residents of 3525 Decatur Ave. banded together to fight back. Now, the landlord’s continued unresponsiveness and some confounding legal setbacks have only strengthened their resolve.

For the past four years, residents had pestered the landlord to rid their 86-unit Norwood-area apartment building of mass bedbug infestations, fix crumbling ceilings, and most recently, to fashion a new wheelchair ramp for handicapped residents.

Resident Maria Torres was forced to call the Fire Department because a leak had finally reached an open fuse. “When the firefighters came I just started crying,” she said.

This fall, residents began organizing themselves and calling in reinforcements. At their first tenants association meeting in November they invited professional tenant organizers, a new pest control company, the NYC Commission on Human Rights, and 11th District Councilman Oliver Koppell’s office.

Rosemarie Morales, the landlord’s representative from 3525 Decatur Avenue, LLC, attended and said it was the first she had heard of most complaints. She vowed to fix what she could, but said tenants were refusing to open doors to workers.

Some tenants said they were wary to let people in without identification. Others said those hired by the landlord were unqualified.

Leigh Shaun Gregory, who let the landlord’s exterminators treat her bedbugs, said a short visit, a spray bottle, and advice to throw out more than $2,000 in furniture was all the treatment she received. Later, she discovered her exterminators were only certified for termites.

Despite Morales’ reassurances, eight residents decided to file a lawsuit against Robin Shimoff, daughter of Bronx landlord Jacob Selechnik, who regularly tangles with tenants and housing organizers because of his history of neglecting buildings and short-changing tenants.

At their Dec. 3 trial, Judge Francis M. Alessandro separated their case and each was denied the majority of their evidence, residents said.

Dane Pookrum, a resident who has struggled since 2008 for concessions on a previous water damage case, said Alessandro seemed to have no real intention of listening to their case. Alessandro, who retired at the end of 2009, was admonished by the Court of Appeals in October after the NY State Commission on Judicial Conduct recommended his removal for omitting information on a loan application. He didn’t return phone calls seeking comment.

“At one point in the trial the judge blurted out ‘sustained’ and the attorney was talking at the time and had not even said ‘objection,’” Pookrum said.

Alessandro rejected a letter from The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to the landlord stating it was forced to enter his apartment for emergency repairs, Pookrum said. This would have proven the landlord’s negligence, he said.

“The judge saw that a lot of evidence didn’t have anything to do with the case,” Morales said.

Gregory said it felt like residents had no chance to defend themselves. “He wouldn’t allow us to question the representative and we were representing ourselves so weren’t we supposed to cross-examine?”

In upcoming weeks, residents are looking for help from elected officials, and have appealed to the city’s Public Advocate and the Bronx Borough President’s office.

Sarah Hausman, an organizer with Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) who has tracked complaints at the building since it was purchased by Selechnik in 2005, said the tenants’ situation is common. “Chances are this building is a case of predatory equity since it seems like they’re harassing them in a lot of ways,” Hausman said. In the last several years, Hausman said, landlords looking to turn a quick profit have neglected or harassed existing tenants in an effort to force them out and hike up rents in their apartments.

One disabled resident, who wished to remain nameless, said she falls into this category. After writing a letter refusing to pay rent until obstacles (trash, furniture, etc.) to the basement exit were moved and/or new ramps were put in, she received a reply from Shimoff’s office saying she would have to appear in court. “I’m just a tenant and it’s only my rights,” she said. “I’m a little scared.”

Despite the fear of some, Pookrum is leading the charge to fight back. “They think they can just give people the runaround and they’ll just give up,” he said. “I’m not giving up until someone looks into it, and that’s when their whole house of cards is gonna fall.”

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Praise, Prayer and High Hopes for New Councilman

January 14, 2010

By Alex Kratz

Fernando Cabrera’s inauguration last Wednesday night at Bronx Community College played out like a star-studded spiritual revival, complete with song, dance and plenty of prayer, as a small army of politicians lined up to congratulate and predict a bright future for the Bronx’s newest City Council member.

That was the main event. Several hours earlier, another event of perhaps equal importance, involving the Councilman’s staff, his new district office and a distressed young homeless couple, unfolded to less fanfare.

On Jan. 2, Cabrera opened up his new district office on the second floor of a building on Burnside Avenue near Morris Avenue, right in the heart of the 14th District, which stretches from 167th Street to Kingsbridge Heights.

By Wednesday morning, Cabrera’s three-person staff was still unpacking boxes and waiting for Con Ed to turn the heat on. They were also dealing with their first constituents in need of assistance.

First Problem, Solved

Kicked out of their apartment on Christmas Eve, a homeless couple with two kids needed shelter after the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) denied them temporary housing.

Someone had referred them to Cabrera’s office for help.
After listening to the couple’s story, Chief of Staff Greg Faulkner called DHS.

After an hour, Faulkner called the agency again, this time with more urgency, he said. DHS responded to say a case worker would be there in 10 minutes. Approximately eight minutes later, the case worker showed up and after talking with Faulkner, said DHS would put the couple into a shelter while the agency worked out paperwork problems.

On Monday, Faulkner said the couple’s paperwork had gone through and the family is now officially in the city’s shelter system.

Faulkner, who spent the last four years trying to get city agencies to respond to problems as the chairman of Community Board 7, said he’s fast learning how much weight comes with the title of City Councilman. “Agencies respond differently than when it comes from a community board chair,” he said. “I think [strong and vocal advocacy] sends a message. The word is: don’t mess with people in the 14th District.”

‘New, Dynamic Leadership’

Later that night, Cabrera made it clear that his office is open for exactly this kind of business. His winding, stream-of-consciousness sermon of a speech culminated a night of great hope — for the Councilman and Bronx politics in general — inside the domed Gould Auditorium at BCC.

Speakers, from U.S. Senator Charles Schumer to new Public Advocate Bill de Blasio to Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., hailed Cabrera’s election as another big step in the positive reshaping of the Bronx political landscape.

“Something wonderful is happening in the Bronx,” said de Blasio, going on to praise the “new and dynamic leadership” in the borough.

De Blasio and others said Diaz and new Bronx Democratic Party leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie had made great strides in uniting the borough’s historically-fractured gaggle of elected officials.

This unity manifested itself at the end of 2009 with the Council’s nearly unanimous rejection of a Bloomberg-backed plan to turn the Kingsbridge Armory (which sits in Cabrera’s 14th District) into a shopping mall. That wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the Bronx Council delegation’s cohesion during the failed negotiations of a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with the Armory’s designated developer, The Related Companies.

Diaz, who opposed the Armory plan without a CBA that would include guarantees of good-paying jobs, heaped praise on Cabrera for showing “leadership and courage” in stepping up during the negotiating process in December, though he had yet to take office.

“It was there that he showed that, over the next four years, we’re going to have a productive time,” Diaz said.

Prayer and Promises

In addition to praise for the pastor and college professor, there was prayer. Bishop Fernando Rodriguez of the Latin/African American Chaplain’s Association (LACA), who played a big role in Cabrera’s campaign, offered an opening prayer. Two LACA chaplains flanked the stage throughout the two-hour-plus ceremony. Two others, wearing bulletproof vests, looked on from the back of the room. The auditorium was packed with members of Cabrera’s New Life Outreach Inernational Church. The ceremony ended with a prayer and words of encouragement by Pastor Ron Bailey of Love Gospel Assembly.

In between prayers and speeches, singers and dancers from MS 244 performed.

Cabrera, thanking God and promising a “new day” in District 14, spoke at length about the problems facing the area’s youth and pledged to work hard to improve schools and educational opportunities. He talked about improving conditions for small businesses and creating good jobs in the community.

Toward the end of his speech, Cabrera quoted Jesus Christ about the rewards of public service and said it’s time “to change the destiny of our community.”

“We can do it!” he said. “It’s going to happen!”

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Praise, Prayer and High Hopes for New Councilman

January 14, 2010

By Alex Kratz

By Wednesday morning, Cabrera’s three-person staff was still unpacking boxes and waiting for Con Ed to turn the heat on. They were also dealing with their first constituents in need of assistance.

First Problem, Solved

Kicked out of their apartment on Christmas Eve, a homeless couple with two kids needed shelter after the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) denied them temporary housing.

Someone had referred them to Cabrera’s office for help.
After listening to the couple’s story, Chief of Staff Greg Faulkner called DHS.

On Monday, Faulkner said the couple’s paperwork had gone through and the family is now officially in the city’s shelter system.

‘New, Dynamic Leadership’

“Something wonderful is happening in the Bronx,” said de Blasio, going on to praise the “new and dynamic leadership” in the borough.

De Blasio and others said Diaz and new Bronx Democratic Party leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie had made great strides in uniting the borough’s historically-fractured gaggle of elected officials.

“It was there that he showed that, over the next four years, we’re going to have a productive time,” Diaz said.

Prayer and Promises

In between prayers and speeches, singers and dancers from MS 244 performed.

Toward the end of his speech, Cabrera quoted Jesus Christ about the rewards of public service and said it’s time “to change the destiny of our community.”

“We can do it!” he said. “It’s going to happen!”

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