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Co-op City Times / May 21, 2011
2nd Combing ty Blood p Cinext Co-oDrive Lighting candles for fallen soldiers Co-op City resident Mark Bruh, founder and director of “From the Warfront to the Homefront Foundation Inc.,” a registered charitable organization which attempts to support returning veterans, asks Coop City residents to join others throughout the Tri-State area to light a candle from 7 to 8 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, May 22nd, to honor the memory of all U.S. servicemen who gave their lives during this nation’s military conflicts over the past 235 years. Residents can also join others in lighting candles in public spaces like parks and houses of prayer, or in the privacy of their homes.
Next Community Board 10 meeting scheduled The next meeting of Community Board 10 will take place on Thursday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. at the Throggs Neck Senior Center, 2705 Schley Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. 10465.
Community Fair and Caribbean Heritage celebration next month On Sunday, June 26, the Riverbay Fund and the Bronx AmeriCaribbean Chamber of Commerce will present the annual community fair and Caribbean Heritage Month celebration on the Section 5 Greenway. From 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be food, drinks, entertainment and much more. Everyone is encouraged to mark the date and plan to attend. For vendor information, please call Riverbay’s Community Relations Office at (718) 320- 3300, Ext. 3532.
No Parking on Rombouts Avenue Sunday There will be No Parking signs on Rombouts Avenue between Co-op City Boulevard and Givan Avenue, Sunday, May 22, for Shredfest. Shredfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Triangle Plaza next to the Municipal Credit Union at Co-op City Boulevard and Rombouts Avenue, where residents can bring their personal papers and have them shredded for free.
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Memorial Day observance planned for May 29th BY BILL STUTTIG Next Sunday, May 29th, Co-op City residents will honor the memory of those who gave their lives for their country during military conflicts as part of a Memorial Day Ceremony scheduled for 1 p.m. at the community’s Harley J. Moseley Veterans’ Memorial Park on Bartow Avenue. Each year, Co-op City’s Veterans Memorial Council (consisting of American Legion Post 1871, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Jewish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vietnam Veterans) hosts the community’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony honoring those who served in the many wars of the United States and all those who are currently serving in the military on active duty, in the National Guard or in the Reserves. Riverbay Board Director and American Legion Post 1871 Finance Director William Gordon will serve as the emcee and speakers will include representatives
of various veteran organizations throughout the community and the Bronx, elected officials, and local residents who recently returned home after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Guest speakers will include Co-op City resident Mark Bruh, founder and director of “From the Warfront to the Homefront,” an organization which attempts to support returning veterans. After the numerous remarks, Amazing Grace will be sung by resident Almira Sessions. A wreath will be placed at the community’s memorial for local veterans by Post 1871 Executive Officer Kenneth Nelson and Post 1871 Adjutant Silas Stanford. The laying of the wreath will be followed by a gun salute by the American Legion Honor Guard comprised of Charles Lirio, Wilson Sepulveda, Norman Thomas, and Llewelyn Waterman. Two Public Safety officers, who are also veterans, will then lower the flag to half mast. Other highlights of the day include The
Star of the Sea Cadets, under the command of Col. Joseph Ronda, performing marching and precision drills. There will be an informal reception after the ceremony where light refreshments will be served by members of the American Legion Auxiliary of Post 1871. Charles Lirio, a chief organizer of the event for the Co-op City Veterans Memorial Council, said: “Co-op City’s annual Memorial Day observance has been a great tradition in the community for many years. I would like to encourage as many residents as possible to attend and help pay respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.” The day is sponsored by Riverbay Corporation, in association with Compare Foods, Emigrant Savings Bank, Con Edison, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Bravo and Section 5 Pizza. For more information, contact the Veterans Memorial Council at (917) 7344186.
Truman Principal wins Partnership Award from PENCIL while NAACP honors Truman teacher Two of Truman High School’s distinguished long-time educators – Principal Sana Nasser and teacher Michael Stevens – were each presented distinct honors last week from separate organizations for their dedicated and innovative service to the students of the Coop City-based high school. Truman Principal, Sana Q. Nasser, was awarded the partnership award from the PENCIL organization at a gala that took place at Cipriani’s in Manhattan. The gala also featured a cooking demonstration from Truman’s successful culinary students. PENCIL, an organization that connects principals with corporate leaders in order to improve New York City schools, honored Principal Nasser for her outstanding work with her PENCIL partners, Charles Bendit, CEO of Taconic Investments, and a member of the New York State Board of Regents, and Paul Neuman of Neuman Caterers, both of whom have been instrumental in further developing Truman’s successful theme-based academies. “Through my PENCIL partnership, I have grown to see my role as not only a principal, but as a CEO,” stated Principal Nasser. “Regent Bendit and Mr. Neuman have been two of our biggest supporters, and we are most grateful for the work that they do with our students because it has brought us to new heights of success.” Truman students Michael Gonzalez, Lealy Irizarry, Brandi Soloman, Nyaisha Lee, Shenell Campbell, and Jonathan Harrington, shone at the event with a cooking demonstration in front of more than 800 guests. Lealy Irizarry, a senior who will be studying culinary arts at Monroe
College in the fall, said: “It was exciting, and we are always so honored to share the skills we have learned from Chefs Chase and Brylski. We are very grateful to Mr. Neuman for his support.” PENCIL recognizes the success of Truman’s academies, where students take courses in one of the four following areas, in addition to their core course work: Media, Law & Legal Studies, Culinary Arts, or Preengineering. Statistics show that students enrolled in these academies perform better in their classes and have higher attendance rates—a feature of Truman that has kept it in the news for the last four years. “Great things are always happening at Truman, and we are honored that the public, particularly organizations like PENCIL, recognize it,” said Principal Nasser. Truman High School has also announced that Mr. Michael Stevens, a teacher for nearly 10 years, was recognized by the NAACP’s Williamsbridge branch for being an outstanding educator. On Saturday, May 7th, Mr. Stevens was awarded this prestigious honor at Maestro’s Caterers in the Bronx; the event honored outstanding African-American educators and support staff in District 11. Mr. Stevens has taught in Truman’s social studies department for the last eight years, and he is also a dean. “We are extremely proud of Mr. Stevens’ accomplishments both as a dean and as an educator,” stated Principal Sana Q. Nasser. “He has served the Truman community for many years, and he continues to be an integral part of our students’ success.” “Mr. Stevens has dedicated himself to keeping our school safe and fair,” said
Assistant Principal of Security, Deana Blake. “Mr. Stevens—through peer mediation and conflict management—has helped us to build a positive environment in which all students are safe and encouraged to learn.” Mr. Stevens, who is popular among both faculty and students, was honored to receive the award. “It is a privilege to be recognized by my colleagues at Truman and by such a tremendous organization that I so highly respect,” Stevens said. As Truman heads towards the end of the year, Mr. Stevens is busy helping his students prepare for the United States History Regents examination, but he and the Truman faculty were excited to take time away from the books to celebrate his many accomplishments. “We know how dedicated Michael Stevens is to the Truman community, and we were thrilled to share this moment with him,” said Principal Nasser. Harry S Truman High School is committed to excellence by offering a variety of programs that build success in academics, the arts, and athletics. Truman’s administrators, faculty, and staff believe that scholastic success and extracurricular activities will prepare students to become well-rounded and productive adults beyond their high school years. While many large neighborhood schools have been replaced with smaller schools, Truman has remained intact, serving more than 2,200 students. Truman’s success is attributed to its specialized programs and academically rigorous curriculum across the content areas.