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Co-op City Times / August 10, 2019
Rivers Run Community Garden
Thank you, Yasmin Hecker, for your remarkable teaching abilities. We learned to use tools safely and made all kinds of goodies out of recycled pallets. On Sunday we are doing Karaoke in the garden. Be prepared to have lots of fun. Next Sunday, we will paint and chat. All events are family oriented and sponsored by Councilman Andy King. Please tell your friends and family about this amazing place where we not only grow fruits and vegetables, but we grow knowledge and friendships. Rivers Run Community Garden is a movement toward improved mental and physical health. We provide all types of workshops including nutrition, meditation, edible and medicinal wilds identification, planting, building and crafting. We are the outdoor classroom for the local schools, daycares as well as residents and neighbors. We are a place of beauty and peace. Visit. Stay. Experience us. Event dates, all are welcome: Sunday, Aug. 11 – Karaoke at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 – Paint and Chat at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 – Paint and Chat at 3 p.m. Beginning May 1, 2019, Rivers Run is open: Tuesday – 4 p.m. to dusk Wednesdays and Fridays – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Membership requirements $20 per year fee and 20 hours of work. There is a waiting list for beds. Members who are actively fulfilling the 20 hours of volunteer work requirement are moved up on the waiting list. Volunteers are welcome. If you’d like to reach out to us, please email us at Rivers_run@yahoo.com or call Denise Shelley at 917-232-2982 or me at 718-671-3801. —Gail Sharbaan
National Night Out
and friends, organizations and clubs — to come with chairs and blankets out to the Section 1 Greenway in support of National Night Out. Sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, the Riverbay Fund, the 45th Precinct Community Council, and hosted by two community stalwarts: Bob Bieder, president of the 45th Precinct Community Council, and Noel Ellison, general manager of Riverbay Corporation, the message of the evening was clear. “We are a law abiding community and will never give up our neighborhood to those who would come in and destroy the good we work hard to achieve,” Mr. Ellison said. This year, unfortunately, weather was not the only pall cast over the event with the nation still reeling from mass murders in Ohio and Texas last week. Speaker after speaker condemned those acts and offered prayers to the families with hope for change in the hearts and minds of the nation’s leaders and fellow men. Moreover, this year’s event saw, for the first time, a call for a prayer circle on behalf of law enforcement. Led by Riverbay Board Director Bishop Angelo
Co-op City Democratic Club
Come one, come all. There are just a few more seats left on our fundraiser to the Nordic Lodge, “eat all you can” scrumptious seafood meals on September 21. We will also go to gamble and shop at the “lucky” Mohegan Sun Casino – two stops all for $180 pp for the day. Our coach bus will be leaving from Asch Loop in front of the library at 9:15 a.m. sharp. Come with us and bring a friend. For further information, please call June Grimes at (347) 4578249. The next election for our Inspectors (82nd A.D. Part A) will be held November 5. Those inspectors who will be working will be called soon for training classes. We were lucky to have the summer off but we must get energized to get to work and protect our elected officials (state and federal) who all have races. None of them can work for us individually, but look at their voting record because all three levels of government work just a little bit differently from the other. Our incumbents work for us collectively – as a team. So let’s get ready to roll up our sleeves and put on our walking shoes and hit the streets. Our hearts goes out to the families of those who were killed in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Although the two shooters are supposedly victims of severe mental illness, the whole issue of “HATE” must stop. White supremacy must stop, and it starts from the top. Our President is destroying families, lying to us about healthcare, migrants, North and South Korea, China, Russia, etc. This type of cruelty must stop. We have to work on bring back the respect to this country that we deserve. Help us please. If you are interested in joining the Co-op City Democratic Club, please call Shirley J. Saunders, Female District Leader, at (646) 245-1795 for further information. —Shirley Saunders
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L-R: Riverbay GM Noel Ellison, NYC DFTA Commissioner Lorraine Cortéz-Vázquez, Board Director Claudia Sampson, Capt. Thomas Fraser and Bob Bieder, president of the 45th Pct. Community Council.
Rosario everyone was summoned to the stage to form a circle in remembrance of fallen police officers, regardless of stature, who have lost or taken their lives — in the line of duty or not. “Every life matters,” Bishop Rosario said, providing a moving tribute as people got up from their seats wherever they were standing to join the prayer circle on stage. Following invocation and pledge led by Bishop Rosario, the program included a dance performance by one of Co-op City’s popular senior dance groups, The
Chase Johnson and Sky Lawson were the winners of the bike raffle.
Bartow Swingers, led by Voncile Mallory. Although the entire group did not perform, their agility and style belie the term “senior.” They are known to have a specialized repertoire for every dance craze. Gospel Soloist Brother Josiah Spellman of Family of God Church performed as well. The 45th Precinct Youth Explorers demonstrated their skills in military style drill exercises. For the youngsters, officers from Community Affairs Department raffled off two bikes. The lucky winners were 9-year-old Sky Lawson and 8-year-old Chase Johnson, who could hardly contain himself. The bikes were donated by the 45th Precinct Community Affairs Department. U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, state Assemblyman Mike Benedetto and Commissioner for the Department on Aging Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez from the mayor’s office all stopped by with words of thanks for the great job maintaining Co-op City low crime rate and encouragement for continued success. 45th Precinct Commanding Officer Captain Thomas Fraser was presented with several proclamations and awards. He said he wished he could share the awards with his officers, staff and all those whose help he receives in his department. CCPD Chief Joseph Riley was also commended and presented with proclamations. He thanked everyone and said he enjoys working with everyone in Co-op City and looks forward to continuing to bridge the gap between community and police. Blossom Johns, co-chair of Co-op City’s Ad-Hoc Committee Against MTA Bus Cuts, addressed the crowd and implored everyone to sign the petition against the bus route redesign proposal draft plan the MTA has put forth. “The community completely rejects this plan,” Ms. Johns said. Community organizations and clubs manned tables with resources, gift bags and helpful safety information. Free food was provided by the CERT team. At the end of National Night Out everyone headed out to sit under the stars and watch The Incredibles 2.