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Co-op City Times / February 8, 2020
COMBING
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Valentine’s Day Senior Dance
“Wear your best red” and come out to the Bartow Senior Center, rm. 31 on Thursday, February 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., for the annual senior Valentine’s dance. Enjoy music, dancing and light refreshments. Please RSVP to 718-684-5511 or 718-684-0599.
NAMI Meeting
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) invites you to a support group on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in room 35 of the Einstein Community Center. NAMI is a grassroots organization that provides support, education and advocacy for families and people of all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds who live with mental illness. The support group gives individuals an opportunity to talk freely about their challenges without the fear of judgment and offer practical information for coping with stress. The facilitator for NAMI’s sessions in Co-op City is shareholder Marie Smith. For more information about NAMI-NYC Metro Support Group and their classes, email Helpline@naminyc.org or call their helpline at 212-684-3264.
Call for Talent
The National Council of Negro Women and the Riverbay Fund are looking for talented youth for their annual Black History celebration, Saturday, Feb. 29, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Interested youth who are Spoken Word artists, dancers, singers and other musicians are encouraged to call 917-826-5644 or email ncnw coopcitysocial@gmail.com for more information.
Valentine’s Day is Friday, February 14th!
Front Page Co-op City’s Paulina Afriyie finishing her career at NCCU a 1000 point scorer
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Leading her team in scoring so far this high. The bar doesn’t get lowered—the standard remains the same.” year has been one of the many highlights for Growing up in Co-op City, Paulina, now Co-op City resident Paulina Afriyie’s senior 21, spent a lot of time practicing in the courts season at North Carolina Central University. of Section 5 before eventually attending In addition to being selected on the MEAC Lehman High School where she averaged Commissioner’s All-Academic Team and 20.7 points and 15.9 rebounds per game. She earning Third-Team All-MEAC honors, the originally planned to major in law enforceforward was also voted team MVP. ment before deciding to switch to biology With a pair of free throws in the third with a concentration in pre-med. quarter of a game versus Bethune-Cookman University last month, Paulina became only Paulina’s mother, Kendra, continues to the fourth NCCU Eagle in school history to live in Co-op City, along with Paulina’s brother, Prince, a college freshman. Paulina reach 1,000 points. Now, with seven games will attend medical school when she graduates left in the season, she also has a strong chance this May. to move up to second all-time in scoring in Paulina Afriyie “I am beyond proud of Paulina,” said Kendra. team history. Paulina is currently averaging 13.8 points shooting 52% from the field to go along with 8.3 “It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice to get what you want in life and she’s proven that it’s possible.” rebounds per game. Asked what advice she would give other young people, As a senior and leader on a team that had six new incoming freshman players, Paulina had to be a stabilizing presence Paulina stated: “The most important things to have a successful future is to have good time management and always have coming into and throughout the season. “We’ve got players confidence in your abilities. Also, surround yourself with that love to be in the gym and want to be in the gym,” head positive and truthful people so that you know the advice you coach Trisha Stafford-Odom said of her team’s culture in a get is coming from a good place.” preseason press conference. “I don’t have to settle. I don’t —Brandon Ortiz expect my players to settle and I’m going to keep the bar
Riverbay acknowledges personnel with perfect attendance in 2019
On Thursday, Feb. 6, Riverbay Corporation commended 118 personnel who had perfect attendance in 2019. The employees were treated to a special lunch, expressions of appreciation from Executive General Manager Bob Klehammer, General Manager Noel Ellison, Human Resources Director Inelle Cooper and Board Directors Bernard Cylich (also on behalf of Board President Linda Berk), and Board Director Mary Pearson. The staff members were applauded for their dedication and excellent work in keeping the business of the corporation moving forward as they support the goals and mission of Management and the Board to provide services and upkeep the community for the thousands of families who live in Co-op City. Each employee was also presented with a certificate of appreciation. The staff members who were recognized included: Anthony Barzelatto, David Best, Amy Bizardi, Betsy Boiko, Rozaan Boone, Stephen Brugman, Claudia Budnitskiy, Chris Bulat, Hugo Castillo, Akim Challenger, Michael Cowans, Jose Cruz, Marissa Cruz, Oman DeLos Angeles, Dzevat Dervisevic, Heriberto Diaz, Victor Dickson, Nyema Dolma, Kenneth Duchnowski, Luis Duquela, Anton Dusaj, Margaret Echevarria, Noel Ellison, Lois English, Pedro Medina Fernandez, David Fraguada, Ryan Francis, Vincent Francis, Ranee Gaynor, Mark Giacoia, Michael Gjoni, Mark Gordon, Blanca GuzmanMendez, Elroy Henry, Franc Hota, Nurissa James Cox, Averil James-Bonnette, Theodore Jefferson, Collado Nelson Jorge, Kirsten Kale, Toma Kastrati, Ray Kenny, Sina Kim, Ramira King, Filip Kocovic, Leka Kocovic, Vasilj Kocovic, Lynn Krantz, Dede Lasku, James Lee, Keithley Liburd, Anthony Ligato, Larisa Lipovetskaya, Alberto Lizasoain-Velasquez, John Lowe, Rene Mahadeo, Kalmadeo Mangroo, Petar Markolovic, Michael Marsanico, Anginet Martinez, Therese Mavinga, Nashawn McEwan, Hector Melendez, James Melendez, Peter Merola, Warren Mitchell, Joseph Monahan, Roberta Morgan, Michael Munns, Trenise Myrie, Irfan Nadeem, Hector Narvarez, Oscar Norales, Danielle O’Connor, Kingsley Oforio, Humberto Olivares Quintana, Obed Ortiz, Alfonso Pagan, Pable Palacios, Toma Paljevic, Luz Pena, Dindyal Persaud, Rosalind Pierce, Linda Pujols, Eduardo Ramirez, Julio Ramirez, Omarine Ramlall, Matos Reyes, Joseph Riley, Alvin Rivera, Daniel Rivera, Franklyn Robinson, Benjamin Samalot, John Samura, Michael Sanders, Richard Schmidt, Mark Shapiro, John Sue, Shenese Talton, Bob Tausch, Ezer Tossas, Justo Waldes, Rudy Vargas, Marcelino Vargas, Filomena Velasquez, Felicia velez, Greaville Walker, Anthony Warner, Mark Warren, Kirk Williams, Carl Wight and Filip Zadrima. Photo by Brandon Ortiz