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Co-op City Times / June 11, 2016
2nd Combing Co-op City Find out what’s going on in Co-op City here...
Baychester Library Book Sale today The Baychester Library Association’s annual Book Sale is being held today, Saturday, June 11th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the library. All proceeds from the sale stay in our community and are used for library programs, such as holiday events for children and teens and lectures and concerts for adults. The association is made up of dedicated volunteers. If you would like to help with the sale, please call Trudie at 718-671-6832.
Next CB #10 meeting to be held June 16 The next monthly meeting of Community Board #10 will be held on Thursday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. at Providence Rest, 3304 Waterbury Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465. For more information, please contact CB #10 at (718) 892-1161.
FRONT PA G E
New Office Services Manager puts Javits experience to work for Riverbay Corp. BY ROZAAN BOONE
Valerie Stone, Riverbay’s new manager of office services, has already begun putting her more than 30 years of experience as director of events solutions at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center to work for Riverbay, and shareholders who were at the Bartow Center to pay their carrying charges last week certainly saw signs of that. Ms. Stone began her employment at Riverbay Corporation in April, and since that time, has been meeting with her staff and other employees to not only learn Riverbay procedures, but to also challenge everyone to think outside the box and get used to a new way of doing business around the corporation. “I have some really great people that I share my day with,” said Ms. Stone. “The great part about it is that they know their jobs, but my challenge to them is what do you see that you would like to do differently, what would you like to implement, how would you like to see things flow, so that’s what’s happening as well. They are coming up
Valerie Stone
Photo by Rozaan Boone
with ideas …and that’s what you want.” Ms. Stone said that she is a firm believer that if you give people the tools, there is no stopping them. Her department encompasses the staff members who work in the mail room, file room, office supplies and the front desk receptionists. With a little more than one month
with their new manager at the helm, Riverbay’s office services employees are taking a more proactive role in the corporation where they are increasing interaction with the various departments to address needs and to help improve support and customer services. “In this way, many of them have been here for a while, but they get to deal with fellow employees in a different capacity,” said Ms. Stone. As director of events solutions at the Javits Center in New York City, Ms. Stone was responsible for putting together the Auto Show, the Boat Show, and Comic Con, to name but a very few of her events. “I enjoyed it immensely; it was a lot of fun,” she said. At Javits, Ms. Stone said she worked very closely with unions, managed people and kept stock of inventory and her new position at Riverbay incorporates many of those skills. Ms. Stone was born and raised in the Bronx and lives in the Throggs Neck (Continued on page 4)
Co-op City centenarian receives NY City Council Proclamation sional dressmaker. In 1981, she retired to come to the U.S. and live with her daughters, Sylvia Anthony and Lucille Francis, in the Bronx. Ms. Francis is a cherished member of Sharon Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where she has volunteered to assist in community service work. She is such a widely admired member that she is fondly known as “Mother Francis” or “Sister Francis.” At the blessed age of 100, Ms. Francis is to be commended for distinguishing herself not only for the length of her incredible life, but for the impact she has had in so many lives. While she has excelled in so many roles over the years, she continues to prize several titles, most of all: “mother” to her five children—Joan Severin, Patrick Francis, Stephen Francis, Sylvia Anthony and Lucillia Francis, as well as “grandmother,” “greatgrandmother,” and “great-great grandmother.
BVA exhibit at Baychester Library During the month of June, the Baychester Visual Arts Association will have paintings on display at the Baychester Library in celebration of Bronx Month. Come and see the artwork and support local artists. You will be impressed with the fine quality of paintings.
Ms. Christina Francis (sitting) is joined by Council Member Andy King (standing behind Ms. Francis) and her family and friends after receiving her Proclamation last weekend. Photo courtesy of the Office of Council Member King
Co-op City resident Christiana Francis received a NYC Council Proclamation from NYC Council Member Andy King last Saturday after she turned 100 years old. The proclamation was presented to Ms. Francis during a service at her church, Sharon Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Christiana Francis was born on June 2, 1916, on the beautiful island of St. Lucia, West Indies. With unwavering love and dedication, her parents, Lucy Auguste and Shadrach Francis, worked tirelessly to secure a good life for their two girls and two sons. Christiana Francis, a longtime resident of Co-op City, and her brother, Elias Auguste, who lives in St. Lucia, continue to embody those successful efforts today. Ms. Francis was educated in St. Lucia and became a profes-