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Senate Showdown: Gustavo vs. Pedro
August 26, 2010
By Alex Kratz
Daniel Padernacht, the Kingsbridge Heights lawyer who was one of two candidates challenging incumbent State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. in next week’s election, abruptly dropped his bid on Sunday, announcing in a statement that he would instead get behind former opponent Gustavo Rivera.
His decision stemmed from the reality that he might lose, Padernacht said in a phone interview.
“I sat down with my family to talk it over, and we thought we had a good shot, but we didn’t think that it was an iron-clad win,” he said. “We talked about the cons — that if we didn’t win, and if Gustavo didn’t win, and that was basically Pedro getting back in office. None of us wanted to drop out. In our hearts we wanted to keep going, but we thought the best thing to do is to join forces with Gustavo. We know how powerful Espada is, and we figured just a unified Democratic force was a much better way to go about it.”
His announcement came as a shock to many, with Padernacht—as recently as last week—previously blasting Rivera for having done little in the community. But he said a long phone conversation he had with Rivera this weekend changed his mind and relieved him of some of his concerns.
“I think he’ll be open to listening to residents, and he has promise for learning the community,” Padernacht said, adding that he’ll be willing to work with Rivera and frequently voice his concerns to him should he get elected.
Padernacht also reached out to state Democratic Party Executive Director Charlie King, who himself had dropped out of a bid for lieutenant governor just before the primary in 2002. King reassured him that he was making the right decision, Padernacht said.
Padernacht had been getting pressure to drop his bid for months, as Rivera’s campaign picked up political steam and a long list of major endorsements, including Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the city’s public advocate and comptroller and former mayor Ed Koch.
The anti-Espada camp has rallied hard for the Senate majority leader’s defeat, based on a number of issues. Espada played a crucial role in the Senate coup last summer that froze the state legislature for nearly a month; he has been accused by the state attorney general of siphoning more than $14 million from his network of nonprofit health clinics; he is widely believed to live in Westchester, and not the Bronx district that he represents; and he’s incurred the wrath of many tenant advocates for accepting campaign money from landlords and for dragging his feet on important housing legislation (Espada heads the Senate Housing Committee).
Those who want Espada out argued that Padernacht would have taken precious votes away from Rivera, making the primary race—where voter turnout is historically low—Espada’s to lose.
Meanwhile, Espada has been upping his political game in the last few weeks before the election. He’s hosted a number of “giveaways” in his district, handing out free bags of groceries and school supplies. He has organized a forum to discuss immigration issues with Majority Conference Leader John Sampson, and led a “march for peace and unity” to commemorate the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic march on Washington.
“Espada has got lots of supporters and lots of detractors,” said Christina Greer, an assistant professor of political science at Fordham University. “It means whether or not he can mobilize his base to really vote for him the way they have in the past, and even more so.”
Padernacht’s withdrawal, however, could be a clear boost for the Rivera camp, said Hank Sheinkopf, a political consultant who has also contributed money to Espada’s campaign.
“It should certainly assist Rivera,” he said. “It will all get down to who turns out to vote.”
Padernacht’s name will still appear on the ballot, which could result in some voter confusion. Haile Rivera, who works for Espada’s campaign, said they aren’t worried.
“I think the Padernacht voters will not vote, because their leader was Padernacht,” he said. “I don’t see them going to Gustavo at all.”
Padernacht says he’ll spend the next week spreading word to his supporters. He held a press conference Tuesday to formally back Rivera and he has spent the last few days making phone calls.
“The most difficult part is hearing the disappointment on the other end of the telephone,” he said. But he says he also knows he made the right choice.
“This was purely sacrificing my candidacy for something bigger,” he said. “I think this race is bigger than me.”
Tonight: 33rd Senate District Candidates Debate!
August 26, 2010
By Norwood News
The Bronx News Network (which the Norwood News is a member of) will be moderating a debate tonight at 7 p.m. at Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2430 Walton Ave. (just south of Fordham Road) between candidates of the 33rd Senate District.
The debate is being hosted by nonprofit groups Transportation Alternatives and Picture the Homeless, so there will be questions about transit and homelessness. We will also be asking about other issues affecting the 33rd District and taking questions from the audience. Come, participate and get answers so you can make an informed decision on Sept. 14 (if you’re a Democrat) and Nov. 4 (if you’re a voter of any party).
(Note: if there are burning issues you would like discussed, leave the questions or issue topics in the "comments" section and we’ll try our best to address them at the debate tonight.)
The incumbent Pedro Espada Jr. has declined to attend tonight’s debate (or any other debate or even answer a simple survey of questions that we gave out to all of the 33rd District Democratic candidates).
But candidates Gustavo Rivera and Dan Padernacht (both Democrats) as well as John Reynolds (Green Party) have all confirmed with Transportation Alternatives that they will be attending.
Out & About
August 26, 2010
By Judy Noy
Note: For an updated list of Bronx events, visit the Bronx News Network’s "What’s Going On?" page.
Onstage
The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road presents An Afternoon of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican Folkloric Music, Aug. 28 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.
The Bronx Council on the Arts and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz present a free concert featuring jazz vocalist Alma Micic, Aug. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Amalgamated Train Park at the corner of Orloff Avenue and Gale Place. Rain location is at Vladeck Hall, Amalgamated Houses, 74 Van Cortlandt Pk. S. at Hillman Avenue. For more information, call (718) 601-7399 or (718) 931-9500 ext. 33.
Events
JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center, located at 3880 Sedgwick Ave., presents the following events: Trips: Fairway on Sept. 1 at 11 a.m.; Circle Line on Sept. 7 at 9 a.m.; Empire City on Sept. 8 at 11 a.m.; and Classes at 1 p.m.: Meditation for Relaxation, Sept. 7 and 14; Latin Dancing on Sept. 2 and 16; and Jewelry Making on Sept. 3 and 17. For more information, call (718) 549-4700.
UBA Sports Club 4 Kids with Field Place Allstarts present End of Summer/Back to School Event, featuring a basketball tournament, stick baseball games, games for kids, singing and dancing, relay races and food, Aug. 28 from noon to 7 p.m. at Morris Avenue and Field Place. For more information, email ubasports@aol.com.
The Church of the Mediator, located at 260 W. 231st St., will hold a flea market, Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on its outdoor grounds, weather permitting, to benefit the church. Table rental is $20 for one and $35 for two. For more information, call (718) 549-8660 or (347) 992-4361.
The Bronx River Alliance offers Bronx River Community Paddle, to get to know your stretch of river, Aug. 28; and Bronx River Ramble, to learn about the river’s history and ecology, Sept. 4. Call (718) 430-4665 or visit www.bronxriver.org for details, fees, and times.
The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park invites the public to 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 and Mosholu Avenue and meet at the riding stables, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. For more information, call (718) 601-1553.
Exhibits
Lehman College’s Art Gallery at 250 Bedord Pk. Blvd. W., hosts a free Art Department Faculty Exhibition, Aug. 30 through Sept. 30, Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The reception is Sept. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, call (718) 960-8731.
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 in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden through the fall; The Edible Garden, a festival about growing and preparing good food, through Oct. 17, featuring numerous activities for the entire family; and 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. 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: Arts & Crafts: Picture Frame Making, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m., for ages 7 to 12; and Treasure Island, presented by the Hampstead Stage Company, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m., for ages 5 and over. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.
The Mosholu Library, at 285 E. 205th St., hosts Knitting Circle, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. for adults; and A Summer Reading Celebration: The Dan & Conrad Show, for ages 3 to 12. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.
NOTE: Items for consideration may be mailed to our office or sent to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org, and should be received by Aug. 30 for the next publication date of Sept. 9.
Neighborhood Notes
August 26, 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.
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.
Business Workshop
NYC Business Solutions is hosting a workshop on “Managing Your Business in Turbulent Times” on Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Hutchinson Metro Center, 1200 Waters Pl. RSVP to Gloria Wortherly, (718) 960-7988 or email her at gwortherly@nycbusiness-solutions.com.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
Challenger: Naomi Rivera Needed a Primary
August 26, 2010
By Alex Kratz
Robert Giuffre didn’t necessarily want to spend his summer fighting an uphill primary battle against incumbent Naomi Rivera.
But Giuffre said Rivera’s actions, or inaction, as the Assembly representative for his Morris Park neighborhood compelled him to throw his hat in the ring.
“I felt like Naomi could use a primary,” Giuffre said.
In general, Giuffre said Rivera takes the job for granted, doesn’t speak up about community issues and is rarely visible or responsive.
Rivera did not respond to several interview requests for this article.
Giuffre points to Rivera’s attendance record, which was the fifth worst in the entire assembly in 2009, according to the Albany Times-Union. She missed 25 of that year’s 84 session days, meaning she was absent nearly 30 percent of the time.
According to Giuffre, Rivera also failed to stand with residents who were against the closing of a Morris Park senior center and hasn’t worked to pass any meaningful legislation in her six years in office.
“If I did that, I’d hope they’d vote me out,” said Giuffre. “Can she point to any accomplishments she’s made?”
Giuffre, who calls himself “a liberal,” said if elected, he would be present and accountable. He said he would address the traffic problems, the lack of parking, high taxes and rising crime in the area. He would raise taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of New Yorkers and lower other taxes and tolls that he said hit middle-class disproportionally.
Even if he doesn’t win (and he doesn’t expect to), Giuffre said it’s been worth it. “I couldn’t sit around and see [Rivera] run unopposed in my backyard,” he said.
Upstart Survives ‘Frivolous’ Petition Challenges
August 26, 2010
By Alex Kratz
Sometimes Robert Giuffre, the 27-year-old candidate for assembly in the Bronx’s 81st District, which includes Norwood, Morris Park and Allerton, thinks he might be going crazy.
It’s usually when he looks at the state government’s petitioning process that determines which candidates get on the ballot during election season and sees how discouraging it is to potential challengers.
“I’m up at night thinking, ‘Am I the only one who sees how insane this is?’” Giuffre says.
Giuffre managed to get on the ballot despite being challenged by the incumbent Naomi Rivera’s lawyer, Bronx power player Stanley Schlein. But Giuffre says defending himself cost him valuable hours that he could have spent campaigning, or at least sleeping.
“The biggest open secret [in New York government] is the whole petitioning process,” Giuffre says. “Everyone knows about it. But nothing ever changes.”
To get on the ballot, an assembly candidate needs 500 signatures from registered voters who live in the district. Giuffre, his girlfriend, his mom and a couple of friends captured 1,033. But Schlein challenged 568 of them.
Giuffre called the challenges “frivolous.” Schlein, who works for the Bronx Democratic Party and is also lobbyist for the real estate industry, called the signature of one of Giuffre’s best friends from grade school a forgery. He also questioned the validity of the signature of the wife of Joe Thompson, a retired NYPD cop and community activist, who challenged Rivera in 2008.
Rivera did not respond to several requests for an interview.
Giuffre, a political junkie who helped an insurgent Queens City Council candidate named Tom White get on the ballot last year, spent countless hours going through every objection and making sure his defense was solid. He also received help from Ezra Glazer, a northwest Bronx lawyer, who took on Giuffre’s case pro bono.
On Aug. 6, Schlein dropped the objections. But three other candidates — Marcy Gross, Irene Estrada, and Julio Munoz — were knocked off the ballot because of challenges. “Although I made the ballot — eventually — many people who would’ve made good candidates did not, and that is wrong,” Giuffre said in a statement.
Giuffre says the system is stacked against challengers.
For one, it benefits candidates with the money who can hire lawyers like Schlein. Secondly, the members of the Board of Elections, who decide which candidates get on the ballot, are political appointments, meaning they have an incentive to side with the political machines like the Bronx Democratic Party, which this year is backing incumbents almost exclusively.
Giuffre says the system can be remedied, either by allowing candidates to get on the ballot by simply paying a small fee, as other states do, or by hiring civil servants to objectively determine the validity of a candidate’s signatures.
A lifelong Morris Park resident, Giuffre acknowledges that he’ll probably lose to Rivera in the Sept. 14 primary, but his experience has reinforced his desire for reform.
“I’m going to work for amending the system,” Giuffre says. “I’m going to help as many candidates get on the ballot as possible.”
After Struggles, Back to Work and Beautifying Bronx
August 26, 2010
By Gina Ciliberto
After years toiling in employment limbo and struggling with inner demons, David Scott and Lawrence Carrington spent the last six months working with their hands — chopping, cleaning, pruning, digging and planting in Bronx parks.
They have helped beautify the borough through a new welfare-to-work program focused on horticulture and coordinated by the nonprofit Mosholu Preservation Corporation (which also publishes the Norwood News).
Now that they’ve completed the program, which ended in early August, they’re hoping to continue to reap the fruits of their labor by landing careers in horticulture. (A second crew completes the program in September.)
Scott, 49, and Carrington, 52, enrolled in the horticulture program through University Behavioral Associates (UBA), a program funded with stimulus money and run through Montefiore Medical Center’s psychology department.
Like everyone who participates in UBA, the pair applied for public assistance while struggling with substance abuse.
“Individuals who apply for public assistance who have a Bronx address and need an assessment for substance and alcohol abuse are sent to us,” said Susan Lally, the vocational supervisor for UBA. An evaluation of substance abuse is mandatory for public assistance applications, she said, but participation in UBA is voluntary.
Those who enroll in UBA have access to “whatever services they need, such as medical treatment or work activity, and all the resources they need so that they can be healthy and on the pathway to employment,” Lally said.
Initially, UBA participants spend two days per week in the classroom doing pre-employment activities and three days per week on a work experience program, such as public maintenance or clerical work. Once they complete their work experience, participants can apply for paid experience, such as the horticulture program.
According to Lally, UBA helps 300 out of 1,200 participants find jobs every year, making it the city’s most successful welfare-to-work program.
After spending eight months in UBA, the men joined the horticulture program in February. They were immediately put to work in various parks across the Bronx.
They found the work taxing, but they stuck with it.
“A lot of mornings I dragged myself out of bed just to be with the fellas,” Carrington said, noting that the eight-man crew began to refer to themselves as the “Magnificent Eight.”
“The best part about it was we all grind together,” Scott added. “There were times when we had to stand together to create heat. And let me tell you, that creates a bond.”
While they bonded, they also made progress. They have worked on a total of seven parks in the Bronx, including stretches along the Bronx River. They also achieved Citizen Pruner licenses, which allow them to care for trees in the city.
Jennifer Beaugrand, director of the horticulture program, is pleased with the group’s performance. “It’s been amazing, really. I couldn’t have asked for a more hardworking, dedicated group of employees,” she said. “They’ve just been phenomenal and the work that they’ve done has been amazing.”
With their licenses, good friendships, and a solid skill set under their belts, both men are now seeking full-time jobs in horticulture. Steady employment will be their last step in abandoning welfare for good.
“For so long I took so much for granted,” Scott said, recalling his history of procrastination and ambivalence. Despite his past, he remains optimistic about his future and says, “Now I’m right where I need to be.”
Now that they’re on their own, Carrington and Scott want people know they are interested in private contracts. “If anyone in the area needs their lawn and shrubs cut, we will be available,” Scott said. Carrington added with a nod, “We have a lot of talent.”
The Quest for a Healthier School Lunch
August 26, 2010
By Jeanmarie Evelly
French Fries are not vegetables.
That’s the message that Tyshawn Davis, a teacher at IN-Tech Academy, wants to drill into his students. The apples in the school cafeteria sit untouched for days on end, he said, until they’re thrown away.
When asked what vegetables are being served for lunch that day, Davis said both his students — and the cafeteria workers — pointed to the deep fried potatoes.
“There’s no nutrition taught to these kids at all,” he said.
In many neighborhoods in the Bronx, access to fresh fruits and vegetables is often limited to the corner bodega. The health problems associated with poor nutrition, such as diabetes and obesity, are pandemic in New York City and across the country.
Many advocates say a key to eradicating this, and in changing the way young people think about food, is to start with what’s dished up in our school cafeterias. New York City’s public school system serves 860,000 meals a day, according to the Department of Education.
“The way the cafeterias are described are really like reheating centers,” said Milyoung Cho, of NYC Health Equity Project, which has conducted food research projects with students in Brooklyn and the Bronx. “On the website they say they’re serving x, y, and z, but when you go to the cafeteria, they’re only serving fries and pizza,” Cho said.
Marge Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the DOE, said that there are 80 kitchens throughout the Bronx where actual cooking takes place, and another 120 “modified kitchens” which serve only pre-cooked foods. The DOE also relies on satellite locations equipped with refrigerators and warming units to supply food to some schools, she said.
Cafeterias must work from a list of foods approved by the DOE, which has contracts with 28 food vendor companies.
“A lot of it is processed, packaged food,” said Heidi Hynes, director at the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center in Crotona, which runs a DOE-supported afterschool program. (The center has its own kitchen that turns out fresh, hot meals daily—since the program pays for its food supplies independently of the DOE, they are not subject to the same food requirements.)
Experts say reform is difficult for New York City, the biggest school district in the country.
“Just by nature of it being so large, I think there’s some lack of control there,” said Kate Adamick, a food systems consultant and professional chef who specializes in reforming school lunches.
“And because the people in charge are just so busy getting food on the plates every day, I don’t think there’s anyone there to step back and look at the whole picture in a very holistic, comprehensive way,” she said.
The Department of Education, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has made strides to improve school nutrition – banning soda and other junk food from school vending machines and trying to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables onto lunch trays.
Educators in the Bronx are trying other tactics. At Discovery High School in Kingsbridge Heights, science teacher Steve Ritz had his students growing their own fruits and vegetables as part of their Living Environments class. The gardens and indoor green walls were a hit, and produced enough produce to feed hundreds of students and guests at two separate healthy luncheons they hosted last spring.
Perhaps Ritz’ tactics will catch on. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. organized the first ever Bronx Food Summit in May—a day of workshops and panel discussions about nutrition, as well as hands-on classes for parents to learn how to cook fresh fruits and vegetables for their families, or start their own herb gardens at home.
The goal, Diaz told the crowd, was to help lead the Bronx into a future where high school cafeterias had their own salad bars and elementary students tended to vegetable gardens during science class. A future, perhaps, where French fries aren’t the only vegetables on a student’s cafeteria tray.
“Imagine,” Diaz said. “Walking and picking a strawberry off the wall and eating it.”
Ed. Note: This article was written as part of an education reporting fellowship granted by New York Community Media Alliance.
School Guide: What You Need to Know
August 26, 2010
By Norwood News
SCHOOL STARTS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2010!
1. DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO REGISTER NEW STUDENTS
Proof of home address, which can be one of the following:
• An original lease agreement, deed, or mortgage statement for the residence
• A current tax bill for the residence
• Documentation on letterhead from a federal, state or local government agency
• NYCHA document
• Utility bill (gas, electric, or water)
• Medical or insurance card with address
• Official payroll documentation from an employer such as a form submitted for tax withholding purposes or payroll receipt.
Proof of child’s immunization
Child’s transcript or most recent report card
Proof of child’s birth; i.e. a birth certificate or passport
2. DETERMINE ZONED SCHOOL
Most elementary and middle schools are zoned. Your child’s zoned school is determined by your home address. If you don’t know your zoned school, CALL 311 or contact your Borough Enrollment Office.
Students can also apply to charter schools, alternative schools, magnet schools or gifted and talented programs. For additional information on these options, you can contact the Office of Family Engagement at (212) 374-4118.
3. REGISTER YOUR CHILD
You can register a child for any grade level at any time in August at a Borough Enrollment Office.
1 Fordham Plaza, 7th floor, Fordham Road at Third Avenue, (718) 741-8495 or (718) 741-8517. Residents of districts 7, 9, or 10 only
1230 Zerega Ave., between Ellis and Newbold avenues (718) 828-2975 or (718) 828-6426. Residents of school districts 8, 11 or 12 only
4. FIND TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL
General Education Eligibility
Eligibility for transportation is determined based on grade level and the distance between your residence and the school.
Special Education Eligibility
State education law mandates that the City provide transportation for special education children residing in New York City to and from the school they legally attend. The type of transportation provided (yellow bus or MetroCard) is determined by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
If you have any problems or questions with bus service, you should contact the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) hotline at (718) 392–8855.
FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
To find out about available programs and questions concerning placement you should contact the Office of English Language Learners at (212) 374-6072 or (718) 329-8111.
For translation assistance, follow the instructions on the Language Assistance Sign at the entrance of every school building or Borough Enrollment Office. Assistance is available in many languages.
Recent immigrant students with foreign transcripts, who want to register, should have their transcripts translated into English either by a certified translation agency, their consulate, the school they wish to attend, or DOE.
DOE Translation and Interpretation Unit (718) 752-7373
FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
If you need additional assistance for Special Education Services, call the Committee on Special Education #1, which serves districts 9 and 10, at (718) 741-7070 or (718) 329-8091.
For districts 8, 11 and 12, you would call the Committee on Special Education #2, at (718) 794-7428 or (718) 794-7429, or call 311.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR ASSISTANCE
Advocates for Children
AFC offers a Helpline four days a week to assist parents. You can call their Helpline between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays at (866) 427-6033.
BRONX BOROUGH ENROLLMENT OFFICES
1 Fordham Plaza, 7th floor, Fordham Road at Third Avenue (718) 741-8495 or (718) 741-8517. Residents of districts 7, 9, or 10 only
1230 Zerega Ave., between Ellis and Newbold avenues, (718) 828-2975 or (718) 828-6426. Residents of school districts 8, 11 or 12 only
For additional help for parents, call the Office for Family Engagement and Advocacy Central Office at (212) 374-4118.
Source: Bronx Borough President’s Office. For assistance, contact Jesse Mojica, Director of Education and Youth, Office of the Bronx Borough President at (718) 590-3515.
Stretch of E. 197th Street Closing
August 26, 2010
By David Greene
The city has authorized the closure of East 197th Street, between Decatur and Marion avenues (see map), for the next three months as John Civetta & Sons, Inc. reconstructs a retaining wall there.
According to a release sent to Community Board 7, the construction company said the road will be closed from Aug. 19 to Nov. 18. But as of Tuesday, construction had yet to begin and a sign on the road said the project wouldn’t be completed until December.
Cemetery Makes Changes After Racism Charges
August 26, 2010
By Bobby Rice
Following an independent review prompted by charges of racism and discrimination by employees, Woodlawn Cemetery says it will make significant changes to employment and training practices.
Still, cemetery employees remain skeptical about the depth of the investigation and say the cemetery’s response was inadequate.
The review findings have led to a “series of changes designed to upgrade the cemetery’s human resources structure and function and strengthen and reinforce its anti-discrimination program,” according to a statement released on Aug. 2.
The cemetery would not release any details from the review and did not respond to follow-up questions. But the findings compelled the famous cemetery to implement racial sensitivity training and reconfigure its personnel, including the firing of at least one supervisor.
Howard Cannon, a spokesman for the cemetery who works for the public relations firm Rubenstein Associates, said the supervisor’s termination had no connection to the findings of the investigation.
But one black cemetery employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity, called Woodlawn’s response a “partial victory” because “the most racist of them all is out of here.”
For the cemetery to say the supervisor wasn’t fired because of the racism charges “is an insult to our intelligence and an insult to the community” the employee said. He added that if Woodlawn wanted to unify its employees it would “get rid of the management team who is still practicing discrimination at the cemetery.”
An Hispanic employee, who initiated the allegations of discrimination, said he was skeptical about the depth and comprehensiveness of the investigation. “How can the investigation be complete?” he said. “I was never interviewed. None of my coworkers were ever interviewed.”
The investigation began earlier this year following a letter sent by Ramon Jiminez — a lawyer and community organizer with the South Bronx Community Congress — to cemetery administrators alleging a culture of racism and discrimination towards minority employees.
The employees said previous complaints to cemetery administrators and the Equal Opporunity Commission went ignored.
In late July, Jiminez’s group and Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron protested the discrimination practices outside of the northeast gates of the cemetery. In response to the protest, the cemetery said it had already contracted out an independent review of the complaints and that the investigation was in its early stages.
On Aug. 2, the cemetery, which is the final resting place of numerous famous personalities and celebrities, released its statement saying the investigation was complete.
In the statement, John P. Toale, Jr., the cemetery’s president and chief executive officer, said the investigation “concluded that we can do better, and so we shall — immediately.”
Mayor Reminds Us What We’re Made Of
August 26, 2010
By Editorial
Mayor Bloomberg, in perhaps the most courageous move of his mayoralty, got it precisely right when he stood up for religious freedom to support the creation of a mosque and community center in lower Manhattan.
It’s unfortunate that we have to remind ourselves of freedoms so elemental to our Constitution and national DNA, not to mention to the gloriously diverse and tolerant city we all call home.
How can it be that we would consider depriving members of any religion the right to worship wherever they please as long as they adhere to the law?
“We would betray our values — and play into our enemies’ hands,” Bloomberg said with the Statue of Liberty as his backdrop, “if we were to treat Muslims different than anyone else.”
This debate has been fueled by the demagoguery of national politicians like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, who regularly demonize New York. It would be a grave mistake to bow to them.
By all reputable accounts, Feisal Abdul Rauf, the leader of the Park 51 mosque, is a bridge-builder who has involved Jews and Christians in the project and has even been sent abroad by the State Department as an American emissary of moderate Islam.
Abdul Rauf’s project is an extension of those efforts, looking to create a community center akin to the 92nd Street Y, a Jewish hub of intellectual and cultural activities on the upper east side open to all comers.
Polls have generally sided with those who think the project should be built somewhere else. But the Bill of Rights exists to protect our eternally fragile democracy from the heated political winds of the moment.
We should all be thankful to Mayor Bloomberg for reminding us of that.
Ed. note: We love, welcome and encourage letters to the editor and opinion articles from readers. Write to: Editor, Norwood News, 3400 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx, NY 10467. Fax: 324-2917; or e-mail: norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org
Public and Community Meetings
August 26, 2010
By Norwood News
• Community Board 7 will hold its general board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The location has yet to be decided. For more information, and for details of upcoming committee meetings and other CB7 meetings and events, visit bronxcb7.info/calendar or call (718) 933-5650.
• The Croton Facilities Monitoring Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, Sept. 16, at the DEP’s community office, at 3660 Jerome Ave. Call the office nearer the time at (718) 231-8470 to confirm the day and time.
• The 52nd Precinct Community Council will meet on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at St. Ann’s Church at 3519 Bainbridge Ave. For more information, call (718) 220-5824.
• The Bedford Mosholu Community Association is meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., in Apt. B1, located on the lobby floor.
One Dead, 8 Injured in Kingsbridge Road Accident
August 26, 2010
By David Greene
One man was killed and eight others were injured on Aug. 10 when a livery taxi driver violently crashed into a bus stop after swerving to avoid a minivan making an illegal U-turn on busy West Kingsbridge Road.
Police and fire rescue teams were called to West Kingsbridge Road, between University and Webb avenues, where several victims were briefly trapped under the wreckage and debris from the metal and glass bus stop shelter, which partially came down on top of the victims.
Police said seven pedestrians were struck, including 76-year-old Marcelino Adraneda, who was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Barnabas Hospital.
The more serious of the injured included a 40-year-old woman whose left foot was amputated and a 71-year-old woman who suffered head trauma and a crushed leg.
The still-unidentified driver of the livery taxi, registered to “First Class” car service, described by investigators as a 57-year-old Hispanic male, was taken to Jacobi Hospital with contusions and abrasions, but was expected to recover.
The driver of the minivan, who is believed to be responsible for the accident, described as a 58-year-old black male, was given a Breathalyzer test on the scene and later taken into police custody. Police said the breathalyzer test turned up negative.
Pedro Jaquez, 33, a resident of Fordham who was working a few doors away from the accident, witnessed the gruesome scene. “The bench was dislodged and it flew and hit other people. It was horrible,” he said.
Out with family along West Kingsbridge Road, Edward Guerrero, 14, of Claflin Avenue, said shortly after the crash, “I was a little bit scared because it could have been one of my family members.”
Police said one summons was issued to the minivan driver, but the incident was deemed an accident.
Senate Candidates on the Issue
August 26, 2010
By Norwood News
Here are three ways to find out where the candidates in the 33rd Senate District stand on the issues you care about:
Attend a debate sponsored by Transportation Alternatives, in partnership with Picture the Homeless, and moderated by the Bronx News Network on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. at Fordham Lutheran Evangelical Church, 2340 Walton Ave. Candidates will discuss their positions on a variety of public transit issues and other critical issues facing the district. All candidates have been invited.
Watch a debate among the candidates on BronxTalk on BRONXNET channel 67 (Cablevision) on Monday, Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. The debate will be re-aired at the same time throughout the week. All the candidates have been invited to participate.
Read the candidates’ responses to a Norwood News survey on the Bronx News Network web site, www.bronxnewsnetwork.org. Just click on “33rd Senate District Survey” in the upper right hand corner of the page. (The incumbent, Pedro Espada, declined to participate.)
Between now and the primary election on Sept. 14, continue to visit bronxnewsnetwork.org for the latest information.
Padernacht Says Let the Voters Decide
August 26, 2010
By Alex Kratz
Despite a poll showing him in last place in the three-way race for the 33rd District Senate seat and all the endorsements and funding going to his fellow challenger, Dan Padernacht still believes he has a chance to emerge victorious in the Democratic primary on Sept. 14.
“I think I’m the best candidate and I can do the best job,” Padernacht said last week.
Padernacht, a third generation resident of Kingsbridge Heights who practices law out of an office on Sedgwick Avenue, said his community credential will go a long way with voters. I think people are more likely to connect to me because I’m a community insider,” he said. “People will be able to relate to me.”
Padernacht said his opponents, the incumbent Pedro Espada, Jr. and fellow challenger Gustavo Rivera, were both community outsiders.
Two years ago, while working as a legal intern with the Bronx County Democratic Committee, Padernacht said he compiled a boat-load of evidence pointing to Espada lying about having his permanent residence within the district, but a judge ruled in favor of Espada. (Espada owns a condo in Bedford Park, but is widely believed to spend most of his time at his home in Mamaroneck.)
Padernacht, a member of Community Board 8, added that most of Rivera’s resume is full of experience as a political aide in Albany, but lacking in community involvement. “He’s a community outsider, but an Albany insider,” he said. (Rivera counters that he’s lived in the district for 10 years and his work for progressive elected officials has been on behalf of local residents.)
Padernacht added, “I think in the end of the day, people will say, ‘he’s from the neighborhood, he’s going to stand by us.’”
In the end, Padernacht said he’s happy to let the voters decide. “That’s democracy. That’s our political system. That’s America.”
Espada? Yeah, I’ve Heard Of the Guy
August 26, 2010
By Alex Kratz
Most residents of the 33rd Senate District, which stretches from Norwood to Tremont in the northwest Bronx, have heard of their representative, Pedro Espada Jr. But very few could place Espada’s two opponents in the upcoming Democratic primary, Daniel Padernacht or Gustavo Rivera, according to interviews with more than two dozen randomly selected local residents.
Most of those interviews held a low opinion of both Espada, and politics in general. And several said they didn’t follow politics at all. Some said they didn’t have the time to keep up.
“I don’t even watch the news, too many problems of my own,” said Jose Perez, a parking attendant on 179th Street. “I didn’t know [there was an election coming up] until you told me.”
Others said there was a reason they didn’t pay attention. “It doesn’t make a difference,” said a man on Kingsbridge Road named Robert who declined to give his last name. “They’re all crooked and it’s been like that since I was a kid.” Robert said he had just read a story in the Daily News about how Espada is being sued by a Manhattan tailor for allegedly stealing $7,200 worth of suits.
There’s that name again. Espada.
“He got a lot of problems,” said Carlos Benitez while smoking a cigarette outside a pharmacy on Burnside Avenue, adding that he thought the problems stemmed from “fraud, money.”
Indeed, on top of being sued by a tailor, Espada is being investigated for defrauding the nonprofit network of health centers he founded. Espada has adamantly maintained his innocence in both cases.
“That the short guy?” asks Debra Villa, who says she saw him recently come into the Burnside Avenue deli where she works to talk about his campaign.
While finishing his breakfast at the McDonald’s on East 204th Street in Norwood, Arthur Buggelson said he can’t escape Espada. “That guy, he’s sending around tons of circulars,” he said. “He must be desperate. And everyone’s just leaving them on top of the counter [near the mail slots in the lobby of the building].” He added, “It would be a miracle if [Espada] gets re-elected.” Buggelson said he had heard of Gustavo Rivera from an article in the Norwood News.
At the corner of East Tremont and Prospect avenues, Tito Rivera said he wasn’t aware that there was a local election coming up.
He said he was registered to vote, but couldn’t remember if he was a Democrat or a Republican. When asked about Espada, Rivera nodded enthusiastically. “He’s a good man,” he said. “He does a lot of good things for the poor.” Rivera had never heard of Gustavo Rivera and was surprised to learn he was challenging Espada. “Why would he want to do that?” he asked.
Josephine Santos said she probably wouldn’t make up her mind about who to vote for until she arrived at the polls on Sept. 14. “I’ll decide when I get there,” she said.
–Additional reporting by James Fergusson and Jeanmarie Evelly
Groups See Gustavo Rivera As Best Shot to Oust Espada
August 26, 2010
By Alex Kratz
Aside from the fact that he’s running for the 33rd District Senate seat currently held by Pedro Espada Jr., here’s something you may not know about Gustavo Rivera: the guy is a huge Trekkie.
“Dude, I was a mega nerd,” said Rivera, a 34-year-old native of Puerto Rico who moved to New York in 1998 to pursue a master’s degree in political science and has been knee-deep in state politics ever since.
After picking up a slew of institutional support over the past several weeks in his bid to unseat Espada in the Democratic primary, Rivera is hitting the campaign trail hard, introducing himself to voters, many of whom have never heard of him.
Nerdy or not, the bald, goateed Rivera is incredibly outgoing.
Out with his campaign staff recently in the Knox-Gates neighborhood near Mosholu Parkway, he effortlessly navigated conversations with a young mother, a Puerto Rican grandma and an African-American on disability who railed against President Obama, the man Rivera helped into office as a campaign field operative director.
“I run into people like that all the time,” Rivera said after his run-in with the Obama hater who eventually pledged to vote for Rivera in the primary. “We can disagree and have a conversation about it, but you have to be open to everybody and, at the end of the day, we really care about the same things.”
Those things, he said, include education, health care, tenant protections and jobs. They are all things Rivera says he will work toward if elected.
Since announcing his candidacy in May, Rivera has gone from an unknown entity in a crowded race of Espada challengers to becoming the most heavily-backed candidate in the race.
He’s received endorsements from an army of state lawmakers, unions, and other Democratic-leaning institutions, including the Working Family Party and the New Roosevelt Initiative, a privately-funded political reform group that has promised to spend $250,000 to oust Espada.
“This is serious,” Rivera said. “There’s a reason why everyone is putting so much effort [into the campaign in getting Espada out of office].”
Up until recently, much of that support has come from outside the borough, which has led to accusations from Espada that he’s an “outsider.”
But last week, former borough president and mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer and Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera, whose 14th District lies entirely within the 33rd Senate District, both endorsed Rivera. He’s also received endorsements from Bronx Council members Annabel Palma, Oliver Koppell and Melissa Mark-Viverito.
Espada’s name is synonymous with controversy — he’s being investigated by the Attorney General for allegedly defrauding the nonprofit health care centers he founded, he led a coup that put Albany at a standstill for more than a month last summer and he’s being sued by a Manhattan tailor for allegedly stealing $7,200 worth of suits.
But good or bad, at least people know who Espada is. More than a dozen area residents interviewed by the Norwood News had never heard of Rivera or his fellow challenger Daniel Padernacht (see page 2).
A Kingsbridge resident for the past decade and a veteran of several political campaigns, Rivera said he would be facing the same name-recognition challenges as any first-time candidate.
“This Senate district is huge,” he said.
His plan to get his name out there is simple: knock on doors and speak to as many Democratic voters in the district as possible.
But he knows it will take more than talk to win over residents who are used to being disappointed by their politicians. (Espada came into office by beating Efrain Gonzalez who is now serving a prison sentence for fraud.)
“You win your argument through action, not words,” said Rivera. “The main thing I tell people is that I want to work for you and I want you to hold me accountable.”
And if he wins the Sept. 14 primary, Rivera, the self-professed “mega nerd,” said he might take a couple of hours to spend with his long-neglected Xbox.
Carlos Laboy, Beloved Drama Teacher, Dies
August 26, 2010
By Jeanmarie Evelly
When doctors told Carlos Laboy this spring that he had a rare blood cancer, he didn’t cry—he was his usual upbeat self, cracking jokes to lighten the mood and make those around him laugh. The only time his illness got to him was when he was told that, because of treatment, he would have to leave his job at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC), where he’s directed the drama program for nearly 15 years.
“The only time he cried, the only time he showed emotion, is when the physicians told him he could not return back to work,” said Laboy’s younger sister, Seffiyah Nichols. “That was what he was distraught about.”
Laboy passed away Sunday after a months-long battle with Mantle cell lymphoma, a non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He was 59. His sister’s anecdote is a testament to what many say made Laboy such a beloved figure: his love and passion for the theater, and his dedication to helping others—especially youths—discover theirs.
“He was just a special person,” said Don Bluestone, executive director at MMCC. “He loved to act, he loved to create, and he had a special love of working with young people.”
Laboy founded “Stagekids” at the Center eight years ago, a theater program for kids ages 10 to 17, and also ran “Teen to Teen,” a program where students film and produce their own news show.
Michael Shanley says Laboy was instrumental in helping his son, Tiernan, prepare for his audition at Talented Unlimited High School, a performing arts school in Manhattan (Tiernan was accepted and will start classes there this fall.)
“Carlos was such a monumental figure that just gave fully of himself to the youth of the Bronx. He brought so much talent and creativity,” Shanley said. “It’s certainly a blow to us all.”
Born in Spanish Harlem and raised on the Upper West Side, Laboy caught the theatre bug young, after seeing several productions of “Shakespeare in the Park,” the free plays performed every summer in Central Park. It wasn’t long before he was choreographing his own performances and giving free shows with friends on the streets of his Manhattan neighborhood, Nichols remembered.
In addition to Nichols, Laboy is survived by his sisters Leticia Cruz and Delia Laboy, and his brother, Ismael Laboy.
Bluestone said the center is dedicated to keeping Laboy’s programs up and running. They plan to begin looking for a replacement director in the coming weeks.
Ahmad Abu-Hammour, whose 12-year-old son Lawrence has been taking Laboy’s classes since he was kindergarten, said it just won’t be the same.
“Carlos, he’s the one who started the whole thing,” Abu-Hammour said. “It was too fast, and too soon.”
Ed. Note: In lieu of flowers, Laboy’s family is asking people to donate to the Teen Program at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. Contributions can be sent to MMCC at 3450 DeKalb Ave., Bronx, NY, 10467. Just write: “Re: MMCC Teen Program” in the memo line. A wake is being held on Wed., Aug. 25 between 3 and 9 p.m. at Ortiz Funeral Home, 2580 Grand Concourse.
Death of Popular Homeless Man Raises Questions
August 26, 2010
By Alex Kratz
Sitting on benches inside Whalen Park, the concrete-covered corner near the Mosholu Library in Norwood, a group of five friends, most of them homeless, slowly drank beers and speculated about the mysterious death of their compatriot, Billy “Peanut” Murphy.
Days earlier, on Sunday, Aug. 15, Murphy, 47, had succumbed to injuries suffered from what appeared to be a severe beating.
“I believe he was killed,” said Murphy’s best friend, Savcho Sanev, in a thick Bulgarian accent.
As of Tuesday, police had yet to classify Murphy’s death — a spokesman for the Medical Examiner’s Office said they were still awaiting test results before making a determination — but many who knew Peanut believe he was the victim of a savage attack.
“He was so badly beaten that I could hardly recognize him,” said Vicar Bob Rainis of Epiphany Lutheran Church, who read Murphy his last rites at St. Barnabas Hospital hours before he died.
A String of Brutality
Murphy’s death is the latest in a string of violent incidents involving the local homeless population and has sparked concern among residents.
At the end of July, locals say a man named Billy Flynn was beaten so badly that he remains in the hospital and will probably never recover.
In February 2009, a 48-year-old homeless man named Sangh Shingeia died after being found with severe injuries at the East 205th Street D-Train station. Doctors at Montefiore Medical Center said it was the result of a possible assault.
A couple of years ago, Murphy’s friends say a homeless man named Richie was never seen again after being brutally beaten just blocks from Whalen Park.
All were part of the same group that hung around the park peacefully drinking beers. Last week, Sanev called those left, “the last cowboys.” At one point, he stared blankly into the hard concrete. “I’m so [expletive] sad,” he said.
‘Peanut’ Grows Up
Born premature on Aug. 25, 1962, Billy Murphy was a tiny baby who looked like a little peanut, one of his older brothers said at the time. The name stuck.
Murphy grew up in Norwood. After a scaffolding accident as a young adult (that left him permanently hobbled), he received a settlement and became part-owner of Derby Pub on Bainbridge Avenue, one of nearly 20 Irish bars in the area at the time. When the business died, friends say Murphy never recovered, turning to alcohol and the streets.
By all accounts, Murphy was a nice guy who struggled mightily with alcohol. According to friends, he stubbornly refused public assistance aside from the kindness of friends and the congregation at Epiphany Lutheran, where he often slept and helped out with the soup kitchen and thrift shop. Up until the last six months, Murphy tended to the church’s garden, which the congregation called “Billy’s garden.”
“Believe it or not,” Rainis said, “Billy was one of our greatest ambassadors.”
“He’s the sweetest man I ever met,” said Jeanie Brady, one of Murphy’s friends. “He used to help everyone but himself.”
Cobra for Breakfast
His friends said Murphy could get mouthy when he drank, but had a great sense of humor and was always nice to women and children. “He would tell kids in the neighborhood not to grow up like him,” Rainis said.
For years, Murphy slipped in and out of odd jobs in the neighborhood. He worked as a super at a couple of different buildings and worked at the Family Grocery mini-market on East 206th Street for a time. Anything he would earn went to fuel his addiction. Brady said Murphy arranged it so the mini-market owners would pay him in cigarettes and beer.
He almost solely drank Cobra, a cheap and potent brand of malt liquor. “He never ate,” Brady said. “Breakfast was Cobra, lunch was Cobra, dinner: Cobra.”
Brady and others said Murphy was devastated by his mother’s death in 2003 and took Shingeia’s early-2009 death, which police eventually classified an accident, very badly.
Rainis, a former NYPD homicide detective, said Murphy’s wounds, which included a huge gash on the back of his head and ugly bruises to his face and neck (others said police told them Murphy had 10 broken ribs as well), led him to believe he was murdered.
No Coincidence
The piling up of incidents, he said, appears to be more than coincidental. Rainis said it is either teenagers preying on a vulnerable population for kicks or “there’s some psycho out there targeting these guys.”
Most of Murphy’s friends at Whalen Park say there is a youth population in the area that picks on them because they’re easy targets. They say they’ve had rocks and bottles thrown at them and they point to their dwindling numbers as evidence.
“I believe it was a bunch of young kids, caught him out there,” said a man named Terry, who knew Murphy well.
On Wednesday night, Aug. 11, a woman named Phyllis said she and Murphy left Whalen Park at the same time. She went left, toward her apartment, and Murphy went right, passing Mosholu Library, and walking toward Bainbridge Avenue to get more beer. His friends said Murphy probably got jumped either going to the store or returning from it.
It was the last time anyone saw him conscious. He died four days later.
At the emotionally-charged funeral service on Aug. 19, arranged and organized by McKeon Funeral Home, locals packed into Epiphany Lutheran to say their final goodbyes.
A couple of hours before the service, a local woman named Mary Ellen said, “When I was down and out, he held me up.” Later, after acknowledging that Murphy was “in a bad way for a while,” she said, “I’m happy for his release, because I loved him.”
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