Bedford Park Bred, Now She’s Broadway Bound

July 30, 2010

by ALEX GIBBONS

Over a veggie burger and fries at the Bedford Café in Bedford Park, Julie Wallach loudly, almost theatrically, retells the highlights of her Bronx childhood.

Amongst her escapades of playing in open fire hydrants and walking to Arthur Avenue for homemade Italian ice, Wallach specifically recalls the senior skate at her high school, the Academy of Mount St. Ursula, a day when seniors roller-skate down the Grand Concourse together.

“So you have to picture this: a bunch of seniors wearing the Catholic school uniform and hats that we decorated ourselves roller-skating down the Concourse. I was holding on to cars, railings, anything to help me balance,” Wallach said. She added, “I’m lucky I didn’t kill myself!”

The multi-talented Wallach, whose burgeoning career in show business is pushing her toward midtown Manhattan, still resides where she grew up.

“I like leaving the hustle and bustle behind and coming back to the Bronx,” she said. “I really do consider this my home.”

Wallach is a director, actress, comedienne, stage manager, writer and producer of both theater and film. These days she’s working on a screenplay, filming comedy sketches and directing a show for a Manhattan theater festival, which she is sure will be “a smash hit.”

In the interview, she opted not to disclose her age, saying she usually gets cast for roles younger than she is and she doesn’t want her actual age to sway directors. Her bright pink top and wavy blonde hair only augment her youthfulness as she tells the story of her Manhattan career and her Bronx roots.

Wallach underwent a thorough Catholic education first at St. Philip Neri School and then at Mount St. Ursula. After taking improvisation classes at Lehman College when she was 13, Wallach signed up for weekend acting classes in Manhattan.

Drama came naturally to Wallach, says Michael Henry, her former teacher at Mount St. Ursula.

“Julie could tell a story,” he said. “Julie would come in, I guess this is part of where her acting comes from, and she could tell a story about dropping a book. But you would put everything down and listen to everything she said because everything came from the heart.”

After high school, Wallach attended Fordham University’s College of Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Since graduating in 2001, Wallach has started an improvisation league with which she performs at Manhattan comedy clubs such as Caroline’s Comedy Club and Gotham Comedy Club. She writes original sketches and plans to film her improvisation shorts to start a Youtube.com following.

While her career forms downtown, the Bronx continues to shape everything she does.

“I grew up surrounded by such a mix of ethnicities and religions. I have friends from every religious and ethnic background,” she said. “It helps me as a writer and as an actor. I can understand other people’s upbringing, how it’s different from mine.”

This Bronxite’s big break might be next. She is directing a show for the Strawberry One Act Festival in Manhattan in mid-August.

“The Session” is a dark comedy set in 1982. It follows a Jersey City psychologist and an overbearing mother as they discover the consequences of pushing a Mafia captain too far.

“It starts off with a bang and goes up from there,” said Chris Ferretti, the show’s playwright and main actor.

Ferretti chose Wallach to direct his play after being impressed with her work as stage manager for the show’s previous off-Broadway run at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. “Her vision is in complete sync with me as the playwright,” he said. “It’s about bringing the characters to life, really exploring and exhausting every single possibility, so that the audience sees something really happening, not something rehearsed.”

If the festival audience votes the one-act show “the overall best play,” the Riant Theatre Company will develop it into a full-length play. The directors, actors, managers and playwright can also win monetary awards.

Feretti and Wallach both hold high hopes for the play’s reception. Ferretti said, “Once other people see my writing and Julie’s direction, look out!”

Ed. Note: Julie Wallach’s play “The Session” will be shown for the Strawberry One Act Festival at St. Clement’s Theater, 423 W. 46th St., on August 13 at 7 p.m. For tickets, call (646) 623-3488 or visit therianttheatre.com online.

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Neighborhood Notes

July 29, 2010

By Norwood News

Free ESL and GED Classes
MS 80, located at 149 E. Mosholu Pkwy. N., is offering free ESL and GED classes to members of the community, ages 21 and older, Saturdays starting Sept. 25. Registration will be held every Saturday beginning Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The courses require a 50-adult minimum, and a commitment is expected. For more information, call parent coordinator, Mrs. Alejandro, at (718) 405-6300 ext. 1131.

PS 94, at 3530 Kings College Place, is offering free ESL classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 5:10 to 8:30 p.m. Interested parents can sign up in room 256 or call parent coordinator, Miriam Seminario, at (347) 563-4772.

MS 80 Dress Code
MS 80 will be implementing a mandatory dress code beginning on the first day of school, Sept. 8, and all students must be in full uniform from day 1. Uniforms can be purchased at the school’s contracted store, Cookies Department Store, 2543 Webster Ave. (tel: (718) 295-9100). When at Cookies, inform employees that you are from MS 80. For more information, call parent coordinator Mrs. Alejandro, at (718) 405-6300 ext. 1131.

Free Summer Meals for City Kids
The Department of Education is offering free breakfast and lunch, weekdays through Aug. 27, to youngsters ages 18 years or younger at more than 1,000 locations, including schools, pools and parks in all five boroughs. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 9:15 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. For more information and details, call 311.

Volunteers Sought for Brain/Aging Study
The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University seeks volunteers ages 18 to 25 and 58 to 70 to participate in a study on aging and brain activity. The study will examine the link between age, brain activity and day-to-day functioning. It will include two visits, one for a 3-hour screening and the second a reading of brainwaves while participants complete a series of tasks, which will last from 4 to 6 hours. Participants will be paid $12/hr. For more information or to participate, call (718) 862-1828.

Volunteer Gardeners Sought
Join Friends of Van Cortlandt Park on Thursdays through Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., tending a vegetable garden that will grow produce to be donated to Part of the Solution (POTS), a soup kitchen and homeless shelter. Pull weeds, turn and shift compost bins, and tend to plants. The group meets near Broadway and Mosholu Avenue. For more information, call (718) 601-1553 or visit www.vancortlandt.org.

Support Group for the Heart
Montefiore Medical Center is organizing the first support groups for patients with heart assisting devices in the New York metropolitan area. For more information, call (718) 920-8279.

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.

Shape-Up NYC
The Department of Parks & Recreation, in partnership with Equinox Fitness Clubs, is offering classes aimed at getting New Yorkers into a new habit of fitness. Classes will include yoga, pilates, zumba and intensati. All classes are ongoing, open to the public, and free of charge at St. James Recreation Center, 2530 Jerome Ave. For more information, visit nyc.gov/befitnyc.

Place for Teens with Issues
The Power Project is a free program for teens ages 12 to 18 that 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.

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 Cancer Programs
Albert Einstein Cancer Center is offering two free research programs for cancer patients to help cope with the stress and concerns of the disease. The “Yoga Based Cancer Rehabilitation Program” includes 12 weeks of yoga classes as research to see if yoga can help people with breast, lung and colorectal cancer. There is also the “Stress Management for the Mind, Body & Spirit Program,” which is for eight weeks and offers group discussions on how to cope with stress and other physical and emotional difficulties along with helping patients become more in touch with their spiritual side while dealing with cancer. For more information or to find out if you are eligible to participate, call (718) 430-2380. In addition, free workshops are offered to cancer patients and loved ones by the Bronx Oncology Living Daily Program, featuring fitness and nutrition. For more information, call (718) 430-3613.

Summer Resort Worker Training Program
Lehman College and City Tech of the City University of New York, along with Councilman Oliver Koppell, are offering a summer employment program for college students interested in working in the hospitality industry. They are currently looking to recruit 30 students to work at camps and resorts throughout New York and the Metro area. Applicants must be 18 or older and have a valid college ID. Applicants must by motivated and willing to live in a camp, hotel or resort for the summer. There is limited enrollment. For more information, call Arlene McLaren at Koppell’s office (718) 549-7300.

Autism Study Recruitment
The Children’s Research Unit at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is recruiting participants for a study that examines whether multisensory integration is impaired in people with autism. The researchers are currently recruiting both children and adults who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Compensation of $12.00 per hour is provided. For more information, call (718) 862-1821.

MMCC Youth Centers
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center continues to keep open their free Beacon Youth Centers throughout the Bronx for teens in 7th to 12th grades, Monday through Friday nights and Saturdays. Beacon offers sports, clubs, classes in the arts, drama, dance, help with schoolwork, groups, and much more.
For Mosholu Beacon at PS 8 in Bedford Park on Briggs Avenue near Mosholu Parkway, call Director Andre Clark at (718) 329-0595.
For Reservoir Beacon at PS 86 by the Kingsbridge Armory, 2756 Reservoir Ave., call Director Bernie Hernandez at (718) 563-7410.
For Willamsbridge Beacon at MS 113 at 3710 Barnes Ave., call Director Jackie Valez-Gutierrez at (718) 654-5881.
For Seton Falls Beacon at MS 142 at 3750 Baychester Ave., call Director Damont Singletary at (718) 798-6670.

Food Drive
The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture, located at 4450 Fieldston Rd., is having an ongoing food drive, seeking canned food, that will benefit the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Marble Hill Food and Hunger Project, Inc. Perishable or expired foods will not be accepted. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.

Service Changes on 2 and 5 Trains
Beginning Saturday, March 27 and for the next 18 months through August 2011, there will be no weekday rush hour 5-train express service in either direction between East 180th Street and 3rd Avenue/149th Street. During this time, 5-trains will make all 2-train local stops. The service change is necessary in order to support two projects on the 2 and 5 lines, including new signal equipment and various station improvements. These service changes are anticipated to add five minutes to riders’ trips. For travel information, call (718) 330-1234.

Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention Program
Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano wants to remind parents concerned about their child’s inappropriate interest in fire that the free Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention Program is available to help them. For more information, call 311.

Crime Prevention Alert
Due to the high rise on the theft of removable automobile GPSs, the NYPD offers some crime prevention tips: Park in highly visible areas, detach GPS and mounting bracket from windshield, eliminate all evidence that a GPS is in the car including suction cup marks and wires. Do not leave any other electronics or any property visible in the vehicle. Keep your vehicle’s console and interior free of clutter. For more tips, visit the crime prevention website at www.nyc,gov/html/nypd.

Youth Leadership Club
The 4-H Club youth organization, whose goal is to develop citizenship and leadership skills for ages 9 to 19, will hold meetings the first Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m., through June 7 at the Riverdale-Yonkers Society of Ethical Culture’s Meeting House, 4450 Fieldston Rd. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.

Help With College Applications
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center’s FREE College Bound Program, located at 3512 Dekalb Ave., is offering assistance to high school students who need help with the entire college application process. Students will receive professional, individual counseling and supportive services. For more information or to set up an appointment, call (718) 652- 0282.

Volunteers Needed at MS 80
MS 80 is calling on parents/guardians to volunteer as little as one hour per week. The school needs student mentors, math/reading tutors, cafeteria aides and part-time sports coaches. For more information, contact Mrs. Alejandro, Parent Coordinator, at (718) 405-6300, ext. 1131.

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.

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. Registration takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting Nov. 7. For more information, call Mrs. Alejandro, Parent Coordinator, at (718) 405-6300, ext. 1131.

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.

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. It is 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 to receive 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.

Summer Reading 2010
The New York Public Library will be launching this year’s Summer Reading Program on Thursday, June 10, 2010.The Library will present a free outdoor kick-off celebration including games, appearances by special guests, and more on the morning of June 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.

Autism Study Recruitment Announcement
The Children’s Research units at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University are currently recruiting participants for a study that examines whether multisensory integration is impaired in people with autism. The researchers are currently recruiting both children and adults who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Compensation of $12.00 per hour is provided. Please call (718) 862-1821 if interested or to find out more about the study.

Open-House
an open house to obtain guidance for the Lehman College Continuing Education “More than a camp-Kidz at Lehman” July and August programs will be held on Thursday May 20, 2010 at 6:30 pm in Carman Hall, Room 129. For more information or a catalog of all adult and children classes, call (718) 960-8512 or visit www.lehman.edu/ce.

Shape-Up NYC
The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation in partnership with Equinox Fitness Clubs are offering classes aimed at getting New Yorkers into a new habit of fitness. Classes will include yoga, pilates, zumba and intensati, all classes are open to the public and free of charge. Classes begin May 17 at St. James Recreation Center, 2530 Jerome Ave, or visit nyc.gov/befitnyc.

Summer Youth Employment Program
SYEP provides New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with summer employment and educational opportunities. The program is designed to emphasize real-world expectations, increase awareness of services offered by community-based organizations and provide opportunities for career instruction, financial literacy, academic improvement and social growth. Apply now at application.nycsyep.com.

Summer EcoCrafts
Join Friends of Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Park South and Gouverneur Ave., to create picture frames, puppets, masks and more natural and recycled crafts using everyday items in exciting ways.
Tuesdays, July 6 through August 24, from 11am to 2 pm.
For more information visit www.vancortladt.org or call (718) 601-1553

Garden & Compost Crew
Join Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, Thursdays July 8 through August 26 from 10 am to 1 pm, to donate to Part of the Solution, help pull weeds, turn sift compost bins, and tend to plants. Group meets near Broadway and Mosholu Avenue.
For more information visit www.vancortladt.org or call (718) 601-1553

Electronic Medical Records Training
The Bronx Community College will offer high technology medical courses to information technology and healthcare professionals in a new health information technology training program.
For more information call (718) 289-5178 or e-mail: Elizabeth.oliver@bcc.cuny.edu

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Out & About

July 29, 2010

By Judy Noy

Onstage

The Bronx Arts Ensemble Jazz and Dixieland Band will perform free concerts at Van Cortlandt Park, Rockwood Drive Circle near Mosholu Avenue and Broadway at 2 p.m. and at Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus at 4 p.m. Aug. 1: Sunday in the Park With Bach; Aug. 8: All You Need is Love. Seating is provided, but the audience is urged to bring folding chairs. Rain location for the Van Cortlandt concerts is at Vladeck Hall in the Amalgamated Houses at Hillman Avenue at 74 Van Cortlandt Park South. Call BAE after 11 a.m. on the day of the performance at (718) 601-7399 or visit bronxartsensemble.org.

The Bronx Council on the Arts presents free Thursday lunchtime concerts, 12:15 and 1:15 p.m., at the Hutch Metro Center, located at 1200 Waters Place (between Eastchester Road and Westchester Avenue). July 29: Contemporary Pop, Gospel and R&B; Aug. 5: Jazz and Pop; Aug. 12: Latin Jazz. Featured at each concert will be artisans having a trunk show and sale. Also presented is 8 y Más, a free outdoor concert of Latin music, Aug. 4 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at 52 Park/Teatro Miranda, located at Kelly Street between Avenue St. John and Leggett. Rain date is Aug. 11. For more information, call (718) 931-9500 ext. 33.

The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road hosts Doo Wop, with the New York Exceptions, July 31 at 2 p.m.; Live From Harlem – New Amsterdam Musical Association Jazz, Aug. 7 at 2:30 p.m.; Ivo Tirado, Jr. and the Latin Jazz Element, Aug. 14 at 2:30 p.m.; and A Musical Tribute to Soul Legends: Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Sam Cooke and Michael Jackson, Aug. 21 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

Events

St. Ann’s Church, located at 3519 Bainbridge Ave., will hold summer flea markets, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Aug. 21. Vendors are wanted. For more information, call (718) 547-9350.

The Church of the Mediator, located at 260 W. 231st St., will hold a flea market, Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on its grounds, weather permitting, to benefit the church. Table rental is $20 for one and $35 for two. A health fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. providing blood pressure screening, and glucose and HIV testing. For more information, call (718) 549-8660 or (347) 992-4361.

“Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration,” will be shown July 29 at 7 p.m. at Bay Plaza 13, 2210 Bartow Ave. Unit 12. This film commemorates the 75th anniversary of Elvis’s death and features both seen and unseen footage of his performances. Tickets are available at box offices and online at www.fathomevents.com. Theatre location is subject to change. For more information, call (212) 576-2700 ext. 250.

The Bronx River Art Center offers summer visual arts classes for ages 7 to 18 through Aug. 5, ending with a celebratory student exhibition and reception in the BRAC gallery at 1087 E. Tremont Ave. Students may select from drawing and painting, cartooning, ceramics, and portfolio prep. For more information, call (718) 589-5819.

The Bronx Museum presents Africanisimo 4, a free outdoor film and performance program, as part of its African Film Festival, Aug. 13 from 6 to 10 p.m., at the Andrew Freedman Home, front lawn, 1125 Grand Concourse at McClellan St. between 166th and 167th streets. Rain location is the museum at 1040 Grand Concourse, 2nd floor, at 165th Street. For more information, call (718) 681-6000 ext. 154.

The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD), located at 841 Barretto St., 2nd floor, presents “Made Here,” a free screening of the latest episodes of a series about the offstage lives of artists, followed by refreshments and public discussion on activism, Aug. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (space is limited; RSVP to rsvp@madehereproject.org by Aug. 4); and Uranus!, a free art, fashion and performance extravaganza, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. For more information, call (718) 842-5223.

The public is invited to ride the Aug. 4 free Bronx Culture Trolley, a replica of a 20th-century trolley, which transports visitors on the first Wednesday of every month (except January and September) to Bronx hot spots, all featuring a variety of entertainment options and ends at the Bruckner Bar & Grill for music, food and drink. Trolley night starts with a 5 p.m. reception at the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th St.). From there, the trolley departs at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. New attractions are added monthly; admission to most venues 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. For more information and a detailed schedule, call (718) 931-9500 ext. 33 or log on to www.bronxarts.org.

Wave Hill, located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, offers free family art projects: T’s of Summer, to explore and sketch gardens and woods, followed by using fabric markers and special crayons to put your favorite scenes onto a T-shirt you can wear, July 31 and Aug. 1; Spray a Garden, to paint a garden made without brushes by combining watercolor and blossoms fashioned from color-soaked coffee filters, Aug. 7 and 8; Flutter With the Butterflies, to sketch them, then make a butterfly hat, Aug. 14 and 15; and Fishy Fun, to view the goldfish in the Aquatic Garden, followed by turning colorful paper bags into 3-D fish that can swim through the air, to take home, Aug. 21 and 22; all in the Ecology Building from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Cooking Demonstration: Who’s Who: A Salute to Plant Families, provides an opportunity to sample seasonal recipes prepared by chefs from Great Performances, beans and peas on Aug. 14 on the grounds at 2 p.m. Grounds admission is free until noon on Tuesdays and Saturdays. For more information, call (718) 549-3200 or visit www.wavehill.org.

The Bronx River Alliance offers Bronx River Ramble, to learn about the river’s history and ecology, Aug. 7; and Bronx River Tidal Paddle, to explore the tidal flats of the Bronx River in the south Bronx, Aug. 15. Call (718) 430-4665 or visit www.bronxriver.org for details, fees, and times.

The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park invites the public to the following events: Summer EcoCrafts, to create picture frames, puppets, masks and more natural and recycled crafts using everyday items, Tuesdays, through Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Classic Playground, Van Cortlandt Park South and Gouveneur Avenue; and Healthy Community Hikes, to walk through Van Cortlandt Park and receive free giveaways for participating. Bring water, a snack and wear comfortable walking shoes. Enter the park at Broadway ad Mosholu Avenue and meet at the riding stables, Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. For more information, call (718) 601-1553.

Exhibits

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. invites the public to attend the free photo exhibit, “The Bronx: Mi Barrio, Mi Orgullo,” through September, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (718) 590-2509.

The Museum of Bronx History, located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. (at 208th Street), presents Parkchester: City Within a City, through Oct. 3. For more information, call (718) 881-8900.

The New York Botanical Garden hosts the following events: Resplendent Roses, on display through the fall; The Edible Garden, a festival about growing and preparing good food, through Oct. 17, featuring numerous activities for the entire family; Greenmarket, which offers fresh local produce, to take place Wednesdays through Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the base of Library Allée; and Waterlily Concerts, Aug. 5, 12 and 19, all from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, details, and program schedules, call (718) 817-8700/8747.

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 through August 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.

Library Events

The Bronx Library Center, at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road, presents the following programs for preschoolers and school-aged children: films, Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.; Arts & Crafts at 3 p.m.: July 29 – City Pencil and Pen Holder; Aug. 5 – T-Shirt Making; Aug. 12 – Subway Book Making; Aug. 19 – City Door Hanger Making; and Aug. 26 – Picture Frame Making; and Little Red Riding Hood, puppet show, July 31 at 2 p.m.; Pinocchio, a play, Aug. 7 at 2 p.m.; and Stories and Tales From Around the World, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. Young adults can attend Conscious Cravers, to make a cultural dish with provided ingredients, Aug. 3 and 10 at 4 p.m. Seniors ages 50+ can enjoy Senior Fun Day, with games and activities, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.

The Mosholu Library, at 285 E. 205th St., hosts films for preschoolers, July 29 at 10:30 a.m.; Toddler Story Time for ages 18 to 36 months, Aug. 12 at 10:30 a.m.; Anime Addicts and Manga Mania for teens, Aug. 4 at 4 p.m.; and Knitting Circle, July 29, Aug. 5 and 12 at 3 p.m. for adults. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

The Jerome Park Library, at 118 Eames Place, presents Arts & Crafts, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m.; and A Summer Reading Celebration: Presley & Melody, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m.; both for school aged children; and Mask Maker, Mask Maker, Make Me a Mask, clay and sculpting for teens, Aug. 10 at 4 p.m. For more information, call (718) 549-5200.

THE NORWOOD NEWS WILL BE ON HIATUS AND WILL RESUME PUBLICATION ON AUG. 26. WE WISH ALL OUR READERS AN ENJOYABLE SUMMER!

NOTE: Items for consideration may be mailed to our office or sent to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org, and should be received by Aug. 16 for the next publication date of Aug. 26.

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New Fordham Sneaker Shop

July 29, 2010

By Dardinia Joseph

Victor’s Footwear & Apparel, which opened less than a year ago in New Jersey, has now expanded to the shoe mecca of the Bronx: Fordham Road. It is Victor’s only location in New York.

In addition to shoes, the store sells men’s graphic tees and shirts as well as fitted caps and hats.

Prices are competitive with custom Nike SB Dunks and Blazers running as low as $50.

Store workers, Calvin Bello, 20, and Miguel Gutierez, 21, say the prices are low to attract customers.

Other well known brands being sold include: Supra, G-Shock, Rock Smith, Dockers, Gore-Tex, Nike, Kid Robot, Crooks & Castles, Play Clothes, etc.

Bello says, “The store’s stuff has a more urban and downtown-look to it, so as to attract a lot of people.”

Ed. Note: Victor’s Footwear & Apparel is located at 207 E. Fordham Road near the Grand Concourse.

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Evergreens Spruce up Fordham

July 29, 2010

By Norwood News

The Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID) unveiled new evergreen shrubs, flowers and ground covers in outdoor containers at Muller Triangle on East Fordham Road and Creston Avenue at East 190th Street. Sustainable South Bronx’s Best Eco graduates assisted with the plantings earlier this month.

The BID will provide ongoing care and maintenance of the planters with daily watering and the Best Eco graduates will assist with pruning as needed.

The planter containers, soil and compost were made possible through a partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Monroe College also participated in sponsoring the project.

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Espada’s Committee a Dead End for Tenant Bills

July 29, 2010

By Alex Kratz

Soon after Pedro Espada, Jr. toppled indicted incumbent Efrain Gonzalez to take over as the state senator in the Bronx’s 33rd District in the fall of 2008, he began negotiating an appointment to chair one of the state’s most coveted committees, the Housing Committee.

That fall, Democrats in the Senate had wrested power — albeit by a slight 32-30 margin — from Republicans for the first time in more than 40 years. Malcolm Smith, the Senate’s highest ranking Democrat, was poised to take over as majority leader and president. At the same time, pro-tenant housing groups were anticipating a positive sea change in the Senate’s attitude toward their favorite pieces of housing legislation, which had gone nowhere during the Republicans’ reign.

Espada, however, threatened to withhold his support for Smith unless he received some kind of leadership role in exchange. Espada began negotiating this deal with the help of Stanley Schlein, a lawyer with deep political roots in the Bronx, who is also a registered lobbyist for the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and the Rent Stabilization Association (RSA), the two most powerful pro-landlord groups in the city.

Before appointing Espada chair of the Housing Committee, Smith called Michael McKee, the head of an umbrella organization of pro-tenant housing groups called the Real Rent Reform Campaign, which had pushed hard over the previous eight election cycles to put Democrats back into the majority.

McKee says he told Smith at the time, “You’ll be very sorry you dealt with this man.”

During the first half of 2009, Real Rent Reform Campaign, which includes the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, a large local grassroots organizing group, held Espada’s feet to the fire. They protested at a Manhattan luncheon sponsored by pro-landlord groups that Espada attended. They pestered him in Albany and demanded he take action on tenant protection bills.

Finally, in early June of last year, Espada put a series of tenant protection bills — including the repeal of vacancy decontrol, which McKee says would preserve 300,000 affordable housing units in New York City and which landlord groups are adamantly opposed to — on a Housing Committee agenda for Monday, June 8.

Before that Monday, Espada rescheduled the meeting for Tuesday, June 9. But on Monday, the senate announced that all upcoming meetings were cancelled. Espada and fellow Democrat Hiram Monserrate had suddenly decided to side with Republicans and vote in new senate leadership. Democrats immediately cried foul and the senate was effectively shut down for more than a month.

“That’s Espada,” McKee said.
Espada eventually returned to the Democrats, with a new title: Senate Majority Leader.

Last November, at a rally held by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School in University Heights, Espada told 500-plus people he would support the repeal of vacancy decontrol during the upcoming legislative session.

As chair of the housing committee, Espada enjoys complete control over what gets introduced, debated and voted on during meetings.

This year, Espada held nine Housing Committee meetings that lasted an average of 3 minutes and 45 seconds each, according to senate records. (The shortest meeting was 2 minutes, 27 seconds; the longest: 10 minutes, 10 seconds. By comparison, the Education Committee met 10 times for an average of a little more than 31 minutes per meeting.)

Instead of offering up any of the tenant protection and affordable housing bills favored by pro-tenant groups, which have easily passed the heavily Democratic Assembly on an annual basis, Espada created a new bill that he said would freeze the rent for 600,000 low-income tenants for five years. It was his primary, almost singular, focus this year in the Housing Committee.

The landlord lobby, including the RSA and REBNY, blessed the bill. Pro-tenant groups blasted it for being a pro-landlord bill in disguise because, as part of the legislation, landlords could pay back capital improvement tax breaks they received in exchange for allowing them to de-regulate the improved apartments. (Last year, a court ruled that landlords receiving tax breaks for capital improvements could not de-regulate the improved apartments they received tax breaks for. In essence, Espada’s bill gave landlords a loophole to get around the ruling. In the past two years, landlords and other real estate groups have contributed more than $178,000 to Espada’s campaign committee.)

“[Espada] knows it’s a phony bill, it’s never going to go anywhere,” McKee said. “It’s basically a de-control bill in disguise.”

The RSA and REBNY did not return calls seeking comment. Curt Tucker, Espada’s legislative director, also did not return calls seeking comment.

Political leaders, including Vito Lopez, the head of the Assembly’s housing committee, and the mayor’s office, said the bill was entirely unrealistic and fiscally irresponsible. An analysis of the bill by the Community Service Society said the legislation would cost taxpayers $1.8 billion over the next five years.

Still, Espada’s bill passed through the committee, 6-2, on June 1. Three Republicans and two Bronx Democrats, Ruth Hassell-Thompson and Ruben Diaz, Sr., voted for the bill, while two Democrats, Liz Krueger and Daniel Squadron, voted against it. It’s now languishing in the Finance Committee.

Hassell-Thompson did not address why she voted for the rent freeze bill, but lamented the committee’s general failure to act this year. “There are substantial bills that the Housing Committee has not yet taken up,” she said in an e-mail in late June. She added that although she was optimistic that something might still happen, “I am doubtful.” (None of the other members of the Housing Committee returned calls seeking comment for this article.)

McKee and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition continue to protest Espada’s inaction, but will no longer deal with him directly. “We refuse to do it,” McKee said. “It’s like dealing with the landlord lobby.”

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Verizon Supports Youth Journalism

July 29, 2010

By Norwood News

The Verizon Foundation has given a grant of $2,000 to the Bronx News Network in support of its Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative for high school students. The grant will go toward the publication of Bronx Youth Heard, the newspaper produced by the students. Bronx Youth Heard is inserted into the Norwood News, as well as the Mount Hope Monitor and the Tremont Tribune.

“This grant from the Verizon Foundation will help us give Bronx teens real-world journalism experience and give their articles exposure to more than 60,000 Bronxites,” said Bronx News Network executive editor Jordan Moss.

“Helping the young people in our communities is one of the most rewarding things we can do,” said April Horton, Verizon’s Bronx director of Government and External Affairs. “This grant not only helps the students in their education and to gain work experience, it will also bring a different perspective on important local news to Bronx residents.”

The next session of the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative begins in September. Students must live in the Bronx and/or attend a Bronx high school. For more information or an application form, e-mail bronxyouthheard@gmail.com.

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Dead Body Mystery at Harris Field

July 29, 2010

By Alex Gibbons

After reports of a foul odor, NYPD investigators discovered a dead body of a man at Harris Field in Bedford Park on July 15.

Harris Field has been closed off to the public because of lead contamination, but for months people were easily bypassing the weak chain-link fence surrounding the fields and continuing to use the park.

Investigators believe the man may have been homeless. Ellen Borakove of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner stated the cause of death was not confirmed, pending further tests.

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Bainbridge Bakery Reinvents Itself

July 29, 2010

By Alex Gibbons

The Bainbridge Bakery, which was destroyed along with nine other businesses on Bainbridge Avenue last Halloween, has re-opened with a new a name and a new location.

The bakery, which suffered two devastating fires last year (the other happened in April) and is owned and operated by mother-son team Anna and Jon Mirdita, is reinventing itself as Anna’s Bakery and Cafe. It will fill two storefronts and feature a bakery as well as an area to enjoy sit-down dining for breakfast and lunch.

The new shop is located at 2125 Williamsbridge Road, between Pelham Parkway and Lydig Avenue. They officially open their doors on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. Through the early morning hours, they will be offering free coffee and perhaps other goodies.

Ed. Note: For more information about Anna’s Bakery and Cafe, call (914) 400-4505.

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Foodtown Waiting on Steel Arrival

July 29, 2010

By Alex Kratz

The owners of the Foodtown supermarket on 204th Street in Norwood that burned down in a horrific fire last winter say they have successfully navigated the city’s building bureaucracy and are poised to begin construction on a new facility. Now, all they need is the steel that will form the framework of the structure.

Last week, Dan Katz, one of the supermarket’s co-owners, said in an e-mail that acquiring the steel would take six to eight weeks. After the arrival of the steel, Katz said “the community should see constant activity” at the constructions site.

“The construction plans have been approved which means that, pending some additional paperwork that the Department of Buildings requires, we will then be allowed to pull the construction permit,” Katz said in the e-mail.

Once the steel is on site, Katz said the company should have a better idea of when they will be open for business again. “Nobody wants to see the store reopened faster than the company,” Katz said.

The new supermarket will be much larger and offer many more options than the old one. Foodtown is expanding into the space formerly occupied by the American Diner and a dentist’s office, which were both destroyed along with the supermarket in a fire last Dec. 21.

In January, Mohammed Quadir, the owner of American Diner, was indicted and charged with hiring someone to set fire to the restaurant, which resulted in the destruction of all three businesses. Pre-trial hearings for Quadir’s case are scheduled to begin in September, according to a spokesperson for the Bronx District Attorney’s office.

Meanwhile, the Bank of America branch adjacent to the Foodtown site that sustained significant damage from the fire is hoping to re-open in September, according to spokesman T.J. Crawford.

“We’re looking forward to once again serving the community,” Crawford said, adding that customers have been able to access the branch’s safe deposit boxes on Monday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon throughout the renovation process.

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Corrections

July 29, 2010

By Alex Gibbons

In the article “Big Bellies, Big Environmental Boost” (June 17-30, 2010, p. 9), we failed to mention that a substantial amount of reporting in the story was taken from an article written by Peter Jackson in the Hunts Point Express, one of Norwood News’ sister papers and a member of the Bronx News Network.
In the article “Gustavo Rivera Get Anti-Espada Backing” (July 15–28, 2010, p. 2), we wrongly stated that U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is running for “re-election.” In fact, Gillibrand was appointed by Gov. David Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton in 2009. She is now running for the office of U.S. Senator for the first time.
The Norwood News apologizes for the errors.

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Local Elections: The Rundown

July 29, 2010

By Jeanmarie Evelly

While there’s been no shortage of talk about the candidates running in the 33rd State Senate District—the seat currently occupied by Pedro Espada, Jr.—we thought we’d provide a rundown of who’s competing in myriad other local races.

Here’s a synopsis of local candidates who’ve filed petitions with the City and the State Board of Elections. These might not necessarily be the names you’ll see on the ballot this fall, as a candidate’s signatures petition can get thrown out for a number of reasons. The deadline for challenging a candidate who filed was July 19, and the final primary ballot will be set Aug. 9 after the signatures are reviewed.

The state’s primary will be held on Sept. 14, while the general election will be Nov. 2. Not registered to vote yet? Call 1-800-FOR-VOTE to have a registration form sent to you.

Office: U.S. House of Representatives
In District 17, which covers a large portion of the northern Bronx, longtime Democratic incumbent Eliot Engel will face possible Republican candidates Anthony Mele and York Kleinhandler. Mele, of Rockland County, is an army vet identified with the conservative Tea Party movement. Engel has been in Congress since 1989, and often has a primary challenger, but not this year.
Congressman Jose E. Serrano, whose 16th District covers the south Bronx, will run against Republican Frank Della Valle. Serrano’s held his position for over 20 years.

Office: State Senate
The race in the 33rd District, arguably this season’s most watched, has embattled incumbent Pedro Espada, Jr., facing three democratic challengers in September: lawyer Daniel A Padernacht, political aide Gustavo Rivera and Community Board 7 district manager Fernando P Tirado. Republican John E. McCarthy will also run. Visit our website, www.bronxnewsnetwork.org for more coverage on this race.

Office: State Assembly
Peter Rivera in the 76th District is up against lawyer Luis Sepulveda in the primary. Sepulveda made headlines recently for mailing out fliers that accused Rivera of misusing campaign funds. In November, Steven Stern will run on the Republican ballot.

Attorney and retired NYPD officer Sergio Villaverde, of Kingsbridge Heights, will challenge Assemblyman and former party boss Jose Rivera in the 78th District primary. Republican William J. Sullivan will also make a run for this seat.

Two candidates are running in the Democratic primary against incumbent Naomi Rivera in the 80th District: Robert Giuffre and Julio Munoz. We’ll have more on this race soon, so stay tuned. Republican Joseph DeLuna and Conservative Robert Goodman will run against the winner.

Assemblyman and Bronx Democratic Committee chairman Jeffrey Dinowitz has no Democratic opponent, but will run against Republican Joseph McLaughlin in the general election.

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Political Group Launches Anti-Espada Campaign; Gets Behind Rivera

July 29, 2010

By Jeanmarie Evelly

Bill Samuels has pledged $250,000 to help get Gustavo Rivera elected in the 33rd Senate District, though he’s only ever met the man for 30 seconds, total.

Samuels, a businessman whose family has political roots and founded the plastics company Kordite (think Hefty Trash Bags), is on a mission to get State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., voted out of office. He recently dropped out of the race for Lieutenant Governor to focus on his New Roosevelt Initiative, an independent expenditure campaign trying to reform Albany — one bad politician at a time, they say.

The first on their list is Pedro Espada. A leaflet the group hands out to passersby outside of subways and in parks in Espada’s 33rd District is a laundry list of the Senate Majority Leader’s apparent misdeeds: the lawsuit filed against him by Andrew Cuomo, his history of snubbing renters’ rights, his role in the Senate coup last summer.

“The damage that’s been done by this man is astounding,” Samuels said, while handing out fliers in Crotona Park on a recent afternoon. “It’s corrupted the process. It’s made people cynical. It’s tied up the legislature.”

Getting Espada out means getting someone else in. So Samuels and his New Roosevelts are throwing their weight behind Rivera, an adjunct politics professor and former political aide who’s one of three candidates challenging Espada in the September primary.

The New Roosevelts (modeled and named after FDR) endorsed Rivera earlier this month, working as an independent campaign group. That means they aren’t confined by contribution limits — though none of their money can go directly to Rivera, and they aren’t allowed to coordinate with him or his campaign. Which is why Samuels’ only contact with the man he’s endorsed was when he ran into him once on his way out of an event.

Samuels says the $250,000 his group’s set aside will be spent to hire organizers to knock on doors, hand out leaflets and talk to voters in the district, pushing one central message: Don’t vote for Pedro.

Their next challenge is to get voters in the Bronx familiar with the name Gustavo Rivera.

“I usually only vote in the big elections,” said resident Dorothy Matthews, as she walked away from Samuels, flier in hand. “I don’t know what this guy is about.”

In making its endorsement, the group had narrowed its decision down to Rivera and community activist Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, who was also running at the time. Rivera seemed more articulate, well liked, and to have an overall better chance of winning, Samuels said.

“I think he will be an immediate statewide figure,” he said. “He’s extremely bright, and he’ll be a positive image for the district.”

Pilgrim-Hunter, citing lack of funds, dropped out of the race in June, a move Samuels called “courageous.” He’s urged the other challengers, Fernando Tirado and Dan Padernacht to follow suit. The idea being that the fewer candidates running, the better the chance Rivera will win, Samuels says, and Espada will lose.

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Rivera Gets Endorsements, but Race Stays Crowded

July 29, 2010

By Alex Kratz

State Senate candidate Gustavo Rivera has picked up significant support in his bid to topple incumbent Pedro Espada, Jr. in the 33rd Senate District. The Working Families Party and the New Roosevelt Initiative have gotten behind Rivera, and the latter promises to independently spend $250,000 on his behalf.

Meanwhile, Daniel Padernacht, a Kingsbridge Heights housing lawyer, and Fernando Tirado, the district manager of Community Board 7, are committed to staying in the race, despite pressure to withdraw so Rivera can take on Espada one-on-one in the Democratic primary on Sept. 14. (Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter withdrew from the race two weeks ago, citing a lack of money.)

Conventional political handicapping holds that multiple challengers will favor Espada in the primary. But Rivera, a longtime Democratic political operative who is stepping out from behind the scenes as a candidate for the first time, is gaining powerful backing.

The Working Families Party will supply pro-Rivera organizers and foot soldiers essential to energizing voters and getting them out to the polls, critical efforts in what usually is a low-turnout race.

Councilman Oliver Koppell endorsed Rivera in an announcement at Amalgamated Houses last week, and the Riverdale-based Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club is also backing Rivera.

Padernacht said he received numerous calls asking him to step down in the days leading up to the July 19 deadline to remove candidates’ names from the ballot.

Specifically, Padernacht said he received pressure from SEIU 1199 (the healthcare workers union) and the office of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. Neither SEIU or de Blasio’s office returned calls seeking comment.

Padernacht said he was not convinced by the primary argument made by those wanting him to withdraw, which is that he will take away votes needed to defeat Espada.

“I don’t agree with their numbers,” he said, adding that he believes there will be a higher turnout for this race than the last one in 2008 because there will be much more interest. That race pitted Espada against indicted incumbent Efrain Gonzalez, now serving a seven-year prison sentence for fraud. Espada won with a little less than 5,000 votes out of a total of 8,352.

Tirado, who was ordered to take a leave at Community Board 7 during his campaign, said Rivera asked him if he would step down in the interest of defeating Espada. Rivera also told him that he was officially challenging his petition signatures.

Tirado says he has more than 1,500 signatures, while Padernacht, who says he’s also being officially challenged by three different people, says he has around 4,500. Rivera says he has 6,200.

“I told [Rivera], ‘This is the democratic process and if you feel strongly about it [you should let it take its course],” Tirado said. If others called, he said he would tell them the same thing: he’s staying in the race.

Padernacht said it was a tough decision to stay in the race and that he did “a lot of soul searching” in the hours leading up to the deadline. But he said that calls for him to step down did not put much faith in voters’ ability to make up their minds. “If I accept their view, I’m accepting a cynical pessimistic view of our community.”

At the press conference with Koppell last week, Rivera, who most recently worked as an outreach coordinator for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, brushed off concerns that a more crowded race would hurt his chances at victory. But he added that all the challengers could agree on one thing: Espada needed to go.

Local resident Kristin Hart, who attended the press conference, said the piling on of political endorsements for Rivera made her uneasy, like there was a backroom deal in place. “It feels like they’re telling the electorate it’s not intelligent enough to make its own decision,” she said. “They have no faith in the democratic process.”

After the press conference, Rivera went up to Hart and asked if he could address any concerns she had.

“I tell everyone I meet that I want to be accountable to [them],” Rivera said later. “The last thing I tell them is that I hope this is not the last conversation we have.”

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Murder in Oval Park

July 29, 2010

By Bobby Rice

A local man was shot dead two weeks ago inside of Williamsbridge Oval Park, apparently after a dispute involving an iPhone.

Police identified the victim as Diego Sinchi, a 28-year-old Hispanic male, of 345 E. 209th St., which is just two blocks from the park. At about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, Sinchi was found shot multiple times in the torso. He was later pronounced dead on arrival at Montefiore Medical Center.

Blood from the shooting was still visible on Friday morning as family members lit candles at a makeshift vigil inside the north entrance to the park, where the murder occurred.

Sinchi was allegedly involved in a dispute over an iPhone with an unidentified male just after dark. Police said the dispute, which became physical, ended in gunfire, according to Resso Santiago, a local resident who spoke to NYPD detectives who were investigating the murder early Friday morning.

“My son has an iPhone,” said Santiago. “I don’t want him to get killed over his phone. I cannot feel safe with my family around here any longer.”

As park crews began covering the bloody cobblestones with mulch in Oval Park Friday morning, family members had already began gathering around a vigil of candles and prayer cards.

Outside the family home shortly before Sinchi’s funeral on July 18, one family member, who declined to give her name, said, “He was a very good man, very quiet and peaceful.” Family members said Sinchi had been a painter in Manhattan.

“He was a good guy,” said Corey Marquisano, who lives in Sinchi’s building. “It’s sad that the people who [probably] did it still live around here. You can’t replace a life.”

It was the first murder in Williamsbridge Oval Park since 2002, when a city bus driver was bludgeoned to death with a tree branch.

A week after the murder, the group Friends of Oval Park held a meeting near where the murder took place. The murder was one of several topics of conversation. “It’s sad and scary,” said one Friend. “I hope it doesn’t discourage people from coming to the park or have a negative effect on building projects in the park. I’m scared. I won’t walk my dog in the park at night anymore.”

Another Friend suggested an increased police presence, while another wanted cameras installed around the park.

No arrests have been made in the case, but police say the investigation is ongoing.

Police are offering a standing $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a perpetrator in any violent crime. Anyone with any information on Sinchi’s killing can call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.