Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2011 Co-op City Times
Vol. 46 No. 45
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Riverbay’s energy capacity sales estimated to generate $233,000 in winter sales BY ROZAAN BOONE Riverbay’s energy management consultants have estimated that capacity sales, which is the ability to make energy when required by the grid, will generate approximately $233,000 for the housing corporation during the upcoming winter period. In a memo to the Board dated November 1, Riverbay’s management informed the Board that Energy Spectrum, Inc. has estimated that the community may be able to sell $233,000 worth of capacity during the winter period which spans from November, 2011 to April, 2012. The memo further states that the income streams are mainly available from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), wich operates the electrical grid in New York, and from Con Edison. David Ahrens, a Director at Energy Spectrum, Inc., the company managing the various revenue streams available to the shareholders of Co-op City, explained that capacity sales, like energy savings, is another revenue stream that has been identified for the community since its invest-
ment in its own cogeneration plant. “There are two capacity periods—one for the summer and one for the winter— at NYISO, and the cogeneration plant at Coop City is participating in both of these markets via Spectrum,” said Ahrens. “Although capacity is much more valuable in the summer, there’s still a capacity market in the winter in case additional capacity is need for the grid, for example, if there’s a snow storm or other similar events. It’s almost like having a reserve, if you will.” The cogeneration plant recovers up to 80% of the steam created when it operates the turbines to create electricity and converts that steam into excess electricity which can be exported/sold to other utilities. In addition to providing energy savings, the plant can produce enough energy to handle the needs of the community, as well as excess energy and capacity, which can be exported and sold to other utilities and to NYISO. This past summer alone, Riverbay was paid $489,000 by Con Edison for excess
Hundreds turn out for hearings into post office closures BY BILL STUTTIG Co-op City residents turned out in huge numbers Tuesday and Wednesday night to voice their anger over a proposed U.S. Postal Service plan to shut down one or both of Co-op City’s on-site post offices in Dreiser and Einstein Centers. The first hearing was held in Dreiser Center’s west auditorium on Tuesday evening and the room was filled to capacity with more than 200 residents determined to make sure that postal officials learn that closing either of Co-op City’s two post offices would be a hardship on the community, particularly thousands of seniors who are not computer savvy, rely
on traditional means of corresponding through the mail, and would find it extremely difficult to trek over to the Conner Street station to receive their needed postal services. The second hearing held in Einstein Center Wednesday evening drew an even bigger crowd, estimated to be close to 400, according to the Riverbay Community Relations Department which oversaw the setting up of the chairs in Room 45. Bronx Postmaster Howard Sample made it clear that all the oral testimony submitted by the residents and their supporters (Continued on page 2)
(Continued on page 4)
Riverbay open for business on Veterans’ Day Riverbay Corporation, including the administrative offices, will be open for business on Veterans’ Day, Friday, November 11. Shareholders are reminded that the last day to pay their carrying charges on time is Thursday, November 10th. Payments received after Nov. 10th are subject to a $50 late fee. We wish the community an enjoyable Veterans’ Day holiday weekend.
JASA hosts Medicare summit for Co-op City seniors BY BILL STUTTIG A Medicare Summit to help hundreds of Co-op City seniors cut through the confusing maze of different Medicare plan options was offered by the Co-op City Senior Services program on Thursday, October 27th in the Dreiser Auditorium. A panel of experts charged with assisting seniors in making the right choices for their specific medical and financial needs explained over more than two hours the different options available and with each stressing that the right decision is dependent on the specific needs of each applicant taking in a variety of factors, including
25¢
medical history, employment history, annual income and the prescription drugs that the applicant is taking. Moderated by Danielle Palmisano, the Bronx District Director for JASA, and coordinated by Jennifer Neumann, Director of Co-op City Senior Services, panelists for the afternoon program included: Bernard Rosen, Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration (SSA); Molly Krakowski, JASA’s Director of the Joint Public Committee for Older Americans; Ilana (Continued on page 4)
Co-op City residents speak out at a hearing this week called by the U.S. Postal Service to solicit response from the community about proposed closures of the Einstein and Dreiser Post offices. Photo by Bill Stuttig
Police seek suspect in attack on woman in Building 4A elevator Police are asking for the community’s help in finding a man who violently attacked and robbed a woman in Building 4A shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday. The victim, a 55-year-old woman, suffered cuts to the face and a broken rib in the violent attack in which she was dragged from an elevator to the fourth floor stairwell. In the attack, the victim was robbed of a cell phone, cash and jewelry. A wanted poster displaying two images of the attacker captured on surveillance cameras in the elevators, have been put up throughout the community by NYPD, and Public Safety. The attacker is not believed to be a resident of Co-op City and was said to be stalking in the elevators for several minutes before he came upon and attacked his victim. The attacker is described as a male, black, 30 to 35 years old,
approximately 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue jean jacket, blue jeans and a gray hat. Anyone who thinks they have information about this attack or the suspect and his whereabouts is asked to call Detective John Ferrell of the 45th Precinct Detective Squad at (718) 822-5414. Co-op City General Manager Vernon Cooper said that at all times, but especially during these times of heightened alert, shareholders must be certain not to buzz anyone into their building that they do not know and without first checking the identity of the person on your television’s closed circuit front door surveillance channel. Residents are also asked to never hold the front door open for someone entering the building behind them unless they recognize that person as a resident of the building.