The Annual Jerome Gun Hill (JGH) Business Improvement District (BID) Fall Festival returned to Norwood on Saturday, Oct. 25, with various members of the community honored during the event.

 

The festival took place, as usual, along Jerome Avenue between East Gun Hill Road and Mosholu Parkway, where residents, young and old, mingled around the various stalls, soaking up the atmosphere.

Musical highlights included Ayanna Williams and her band, Kat Abreu, Luis LaFama and his band, as well as a live DJ. There was also a dance performance by Danza Fiesta, during which dancers paid tribute to Puerto Rico by waving flags and more due to the fact that the festival took place during Puerto Rican Heritage Month (celebrated in November).

 

Elsewhere, in addition to a host of food, drink, clothing and other gift stands, there was a pumpkin patch, face-painting, a fun BID photo booth, other family-friendly activities, and tabling by several community associations and organizations providing helpful health-related and other information.

These included Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7), Montefiore Health System, Montefiore Mosholu Community Center, New York Public Library, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, Heart to Heart Home Care, and Norwood Community Library.

 

Bronx CB 7 District Manager Karla Cabrera Carrera received this year’s public service award from BID Executive Director Daniela Beasley, who thanked all who attended, organized or sponsored the event, as well as those who ensure the local business district thrives.

“We honor our public service award recipient with someone who is making a true difference in our community, and so I’d love to welcome to the stage Karla Cabrera Carrera from Community Board 7 (CB7),” said Beasley.

 

“Let’s give it up for Karla,” she added. “If you don’t know about Community Board 7, you can attend their meetings to know everything that’s going on in the community. They do amazing work and we can hear a word from her.”

Greeting those gathered, Cabrera Carrera, accompanied on stage by her young daughter, said it was an honor to serve as the district manager for Bronx CB7. Gesturing to CB7’s table located on Jerome Avenue, she said, “If you’re unfamiliar with what community boards are, and what they do, and their role in the community, you can drop by our table.”

 

She continued, “I’m just so grateful to have great partners that I work with here at the Jerome Gun Hill BID, Daniela and her whole team. I’m not going to name them all because I will leave someone out but thank you.”

 

Franklyn Polonia, founder of Haven Staffing Solutions and Poliris Akinci, co-owner of Haven Staffing Solutions, who was not present at the festival, received this year’s awards for community service. “We recognize those who serve with heart and dedication,” Beasley said of the award.

Of Polonia, she added, “He is such a great partner to the BID. He helps with all our clean-up days and any projects that we have that we need some extra hands [with] or his expertise with staffing. He’s always the absolute best so let’s hear from him.”

 

Accepting the award, Polonia said, “Thank you. This is an honor and such a pleasure to work with the Jerome Gunhill BID and with Daniela and the entire team. Thank you.”

 

In reference to the Sallie Caldwell Lifetime Leadership Award, presented this year to Esme Sattaur Low, who is also a Bronx Community Board 7 board member, Beasley also paid tribute to Caldwell, a former BID board member who died in recent years and who she said was a great active member of the community.

Of Sattaur Low, Beasley said, “She is great in the community. She’s very active and she served alongside Sallie so we really wanted to honor her.” As she accepted her award, Norwood News was unable to hear the first section of Sattaur Low’s remarks but she later said, “Looking down now, I have several hats that I wear and I don’t know where to put this because it’s going to be crowded now with my [inaudible] or whatever but thank you very much.”

 

Festival sponsors included Montefiore Einstein, Healthfirst, Agape, Mosholu Preservation Corporation, MetroPlus, New York State of Health, NYC Health + Hospitals and Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (A.D. 80).

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) stopped by the festival and later said, “The weather this weekend was perfect to be outdoors at the Jerome Gun Hill BID’s Annual Fall Festival.” He added, “It was great to be surrounded by the community residents and vibrant businesses that make our neighborhood so unique.”