Winner of Vol. 71, No. 10
the Pulitzer Prize
Thursday, April 16, 2020
$1.00
What’s inside?
Nurses say no masks, gloves only the beginning
School battle
By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN
Debate over whether to reopen schools this year rages on between mayor and governor. But who is right? Page A6
kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File
Protesters paste up mock eviction notices for landlords dubbed the borough’s ‘worst evictors’ by tenants rights groups during a rally outside the Bronx Housing Civil Court on the Grand Concourse last year. Since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, renters have worried how they might make rent and what the ramifications would be if they can’t.
Can’t pay rent? Dinowitz wants to help By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN
Joining the line Sen. Alessandra Biaggi takes a town hall online to find ways to get unemployment funds to those who need it. Page A3
kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com
April 1, 2020, was dramatically different from the April 1 of decades past. New York City is largely quiet, with businesses closed and people staying home in light of the coronavirus pandemic that grips the nation. Yet, some things remain the same, like paying rent. Except as millions apply for unemployment nationwide for the first time, there are many who won’t be able to cover the check. As part of his overall shutdown of “non-essential” businesses last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also instituted a moratorium on evic-
tions. While it doesn’t compel landlords to waive or reduce rents during the pandemic, it does stop them from removing tenants who might not be able to pay right now. The goal is to stop the streets being flooded with new homeless because of the current economic struggles, making it much harder to enforce social distancing and other “shelterin-place” practices designed JEFFrEy DINOwITz to curb the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The original plan, however, was designed to prohibit evictions for just 90
days. That means beginning June 20, if someone doesn’t have their rent for that month — or any other months they’ve missed during the pandemic — they could find themselves without a place to live. While it seems new infections and hospitalizations are leveling off in New York, it’s become clear to some lawmakers like Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz that the 90-day moratorium just isn’t enough.
Looking for a little more time
Dinowitz partnered with state Sens. Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger to introduce the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, intended to extend RENT, page A4
‘Fab Four’ of Fieldston are female finance forerunners By ROSE BRENNAN Intern
Adding TV to his CV Anthony Parker moved to the Bronx to find something important missing. He finds it on his BronxNet show. Page A7
Seeing coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations level off over the past several days has been encouraging for New York in the midst of a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean hospitals and other health care facilities are out of the woods just yet. Hospitals across the city still are at and over capacity, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, taxing not only doctors and nurses needed to fight the pandemic, but making it difficult to keep in stock personal protective equipment for them. Personal protective equipment, or PPE, includes gloves, masks, gowns and face shields, all designed to protect those treating patients who could just as easily infect them. Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, a registered nurse at Montefiore Medical Center who also is president of New York State Nurses Association union, said some of her colleagues in the industry have been forced to buy their own masks and gloves online in an effort to keep themselves safe from the coronavirus. “We’ve had to fight for evNURSES, page A4
A career path in finance is one with a notable gender gap. According to Forbes, only 15 percent of financial executives are women despite the fact they account for 46 percent of all employees in the field. Career advancement for women in finance isn’t impossible, but it’s difficult. But at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, four young women are looking to change that. Fieldston’s Females in Finance Club formed just this year, but its members already are making waves in finance and investing. And, as evidenced by its name, all four of the club’s members — and its advisor — are women. Rosemary Jiang, the club’s founder and team leader, was interested in finance long before she came to Fieldston. Both
‘I understand the biggest impact I can make is to start educating the young, because if anything, my school has taught me to be the change you want to see.’
— Rosemary Jiang
her father and her brother pursued careers in finance, so the Fieldston junior decided to follow in their footsteps. Once she began learning about the field, however, she quickly learned of its gender gap. “I knew that much like other fields, finance is male-dominated,” Jiang said. “For me, it is often
Courtesy of Olivia Pollack
Natalie Chen, left, rosemary Jiang, Vivian Lee and Olivia Pollack had a productive first year with the Females in Finance Club at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, earning national attention. discouraging (to see) the lack of women in the field, which is why I created Females in Finance.” A school club, however, needs
an advisor. Jiang looked no further than Fieldston’s math club, which was advised by Robyn Deakins. It didn’t hurt that Jiang al-
ready knew Deakins, since she’s a proud member of that club as well. “I know (Rosemary) specifically wanted a female advisor since part of the club’s mission is female empowerment,” Deakins said. “As a woman in mathematics, I hope I can act as a role model and inspiration.” The club finally took shape when three fellow students joined Jiang: junior Olivia Pollack and seniors Vivian Lee and Natalie Chen. Pollack’s background includes Model United Nations, and although she also was a member of Fieldston’s math club, she didn’t exactly have a defined interest in finance before joining the team. But now Pollack sees how her extra-curriculars inform each other. “I never truly understood the financial aspect of international politics,” Pollack said. “As such, FAB FOUR, page A4
Not even social distance can interrupt good art By JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL jmotal@riverdalepress.com
A
fter the initial panic subsided, Cathy Sanacore knew exactly what she had to do. Since last fall, Sanacore has made weekly trips to a side room to Yo-Burger on Riverdale Avenue. Not because she’s hungry, but because every Tuesday afternoon, Sanacore would gather as many children as she could, helping them use paints to create their best approximations of Leonardo da Vinci. That came to an end, however, when restaurants were forced to eliminate their dine-in option as part of a citywide shutdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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As schools and workplaces have shifted online, so too have other aspects of life — happy hours, dinner parties and art classes among them. Sanacore turned to the popular video conferencing program Zoom in a bid to recapture some of the magic and joy of her in-person painting classes. “For now, I love it,” Sanacore said, “but there’s nothing like being in the same room.” In a recent online class, Sanacore brought her signature pep, offering individual attention to the 10 or so children participating. She’d call out a name, and that child would hold up their creation to the camera, bringing a wealth of good cheer and encouragement from Sanacore. ONLINE ART, page A4
Courtesy of Tasha Marie Ellin
Milania Ellin uses markers to color in a garden scene during a weekly art class led by Cathy Sanacore on the video conferencing program zoom.
A2 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020
Business Briefs A8 Business Card Directory A13 Classified Ads A12-13 Corrections A2 Dining Guide A6 Obituaries A6 Op-Ed A11 Opinion A10 Physicians Directory A9 Police Beat A2 Political Arena A3 Professional Directory A8 What’s In? A7 How to reach us: Our office is located at 5676 Riverdale Ave., Suite 311, Bronx, N.Y. 10471. We are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., every weekday.
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POLice beaT
By KiRStyn BRendLen
Presents
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL
Surprise free storage, complete with bonus A man parked his 2019 Honda CR-V on the corner of Hillman and Sedgwick avenues on April 8, and then went about his day. But when he returned later, he already could see something was amiss. The front passenger-side window was shattered, and the back passenger-side door was damaged. When he looked inside, he found that two containers used to organize shelves had been stolen from the backseat, alongside $1,000 in cash. The thief likely has some nice and tidy shelves, and with no witnesses and no cameras, they might be able to evade investigation for a while.
Missing money, but no checks
A woman living on University Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights opened her bank statement to find something strange: just over $200 was missing that she was pretty sure she hadn’t spent. The woman reported the loss to police, but said she was still in possession of all her cards, and hadn’t been subject to any of the myriad checkfishing schemes that have become common in the northwest Bronx recently. Police believe someone must have nabbed her card details, and are still investigating.
cat scratch fever
A woman was feeding stray cats on the 2500 block of Palisade Avenue on the afternoon of April 6, when a man believed to be in his 70s walked up to her and hit her on the back with his cane, police said. That knocked the woman to the ground, but the man reportedly would not stop, standing over her while hitting her with the cane some more. Luckily, the woman wasn’t seriously injured, according to a report, but she did report “slight knee discomfort.” The detective squad is still on the lookout for a white man, about 5-foot-7, and weighing 190 pounds.
in case of emergency, be sure to break glass
It was nearly 2 a.m., on April 5, when a man inside his apartment near Jerome Park Reservoir awoke to a commotion on the street. He may have opened his eyes just in time, however, because when he headed out of his Webb Avenue home, he found the noise was coming from his own car. The back windshield had just been shattered, police said, and the perpetrator was nowhere to be found Nothing had been stolen from the vehicle, police said.
Private school teacher arrested for child porn By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com
Police in Greenwich, Connecticut, have arrested a Riverdale Country School teacher, accusing him of victimizing a child in their city. John Mueser, 69, was handcuffed April 1 after an “extensive investigation” that began last October that included digital evidence and photographs. Other than the fact that the victim was younger than 16 and lived in Greenwich, police are not providing any additional details on what exactly they are accusing Mueser of doing. But they can say what he was charged with: possession of child pornography, risk of injury to a minor, sexual assault and voyeurism. Mueser was arrested in his Yonkers home. He reportedly waived extradition to Connecticut where he was arraigned in nearby Stamford. Mueser was a learning lab coordinator and a technology integrator at Riverdale Country School, according to Greenwich Time, although the school has since removed Mueser’s biography page from its website. He also was a camp director for TCR-on-the-Hudson Day Camp held at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, according to a 2017 brochure. Mueser’s bio said he was an educator at Riverdale Country for 36 years at that point, and had spent 20 years with Camp Riverdale. Mueser has not been on Riverdale Country’s campus since October, according to school head Dominic A.A. Randolph. “I had been notified by the Greenwich Police Department on the morning of Oct. 3 that Mr. Mueser was under
corrections and clarifications It is the policy of The Riverdale Press to correct errors of substance and clarify misleading stories promptly and prominently. Typically, corrections and clarifications from previous issues can be found on A2. To bring errors to the attention of The Press, contact editor Michael Hinman at mhinman@ riverdalepress.com, or at (718) 543-6065, Ext. 374.
investigation,” Randolph said in a statement. “I immediately placed Mr. Mueser on leave, and cooperated fully with the investigation.” A security firm was hired to investigate if there were any issues on campus, Randolph added, and reviewed Mueser’s personnel file. “Nothing came to light that would have raised concerns regarding his behavior in our community,” Randolph said. The Greenwich Police Department worked alongside the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force in the investigation. Mueser was released on a $250,000 bond, and is due back in court June 4.
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One Bronx Lawyer’s Story By Julie Hyman
Family law attorney Julie Hyman decided on a home office after the September 11th attacks, for added security and peace of mind. It was her line in the sand for doing business after the attacks. But she never knew how prepared the living/work space would make her for working in the time of the coronavirus. Her home and home office at Solaria Riverdale provided a perfect place to enjoy her pets Rocky, Angel, Coco and Sandy and seamlessly continue working in her practice, while reducing exposure to the deadly, flu-like pandemic, also known as COVID-19. When Julie’s not working on motions or speaking with clients on the phone or online, she’s enjoying daily walks with her dogs, all the while practicing social distancing. Sadly, four clients showed symptoms but never were tested. Julie has worked with them by email and phone, and has forgone in-person meetings after Solaria Riverdale took the added measure of not allowing visitors during the pandemic. Supplies from Amazon eliminate her need to go out shopping at Staples. Amazon also is keeping her and her family entertained with Amazon Music, courtesy of Alexa requests, and movies on Amazon Video. Being forced to stay home, she’s also found more time for cooking and sharing in chores. And she even expects she’ll find time to play some of her favorite tunes on her baby grand. Julie interestingly learned of the outbreak after New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker accidentally had a fender bender with her Range Rover Sport in the garage. Dr. Zucker was the gentleman who left her a note about the accident and paid for the $18k+ repair on his insurance. He also alerted her that life in New York was about to change dramatically because of the virus. Here’s how it impacted her clients: Julie has worked on multiple downward modifications of support cases due to significant loss of income from the pandemic. She received several calls from residential custodial parents who were afraid they and/or their child would contract the virus due to the other parent being considered an essential employee or first responder during the outbreak. This was especially an issue for parents living in different counties or states. There were added concerns about exposure to public transportation. One violation that required modification of visitation during the pandemic was due to a father’s failure to do homework with the child on his shared midweek parenting time.
Julie at work Sandy inspecting Julie’s wine order
The client says that home schooling was comprised mostly of homework and 1 1/2 hours of class time on Zoom in the morning and 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon. She has had to catch up on the child’s homework. Another client asked Julie for an immediate separation because she could not shelter in place with her husband. She is willing to move out since her husband said no. Then there are others who have decided to suck it up because of significant loss of income. No one is practicing kindness. It is yet another opportunity to fight without the help of the court, Julie says, since divorce is NOT an essential service. Speaking of court, Julie says she sent a messenger service to Bronx family court with pandemic corona litigation in accordance with the exception A rules. The messenger, however, could not file. The next step was sending a courtesy copy to the other side and letting them know the court did not accept the papers. Julie informed the other party that she will be requesting a retroactive date to April 1st nunc pro tunc. The court closing did make Julie wonder if the shut down would encourage resolution without court intervention. As the virus continues taking its toll on the city, Julie has made sure she’s supported local businesses that continue to operate during the outbreak including Minuteman Press, Skyview Wines, Vacuum World, and Salvatores Pizza. She also intends to buy pizza this weekend to feed the Solaria building staff that have continued to show up for work. Until life returns to normal in the city, it’s as normal as it can be at Julie’s home and office.
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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020 - A3
Biaggi, Yang stand up for better tipped employee wages By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com
What kind of town hall could bring together state lawmakers, a former presidential candidate, and dozens of New York City workers? One held by One Fair Wage, a national advocacy group focused on ensuring tipped workers across the country make what they say is a full and fair minimum wage. As thousands of hourly workers across the country lose their jobs in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, One Fair Wage has tapped into its own money to help provide emergency funds for tipped employees trying to keep their heads above water. The group gath- ALESSANdrA ered supportive lawBIAggI makers for its town hall as well as restaurant owners and workers, all talking about how lives are being navigated after layoffs and wage reductions. One of the high-profile attendees of the online video conference was Andrew Yang, a former Democratic presidential candidate and entrepreneur, who founded the job-creating non-profit Venture for America in the wake of the national housing market collapse a decade ago. Yang’s presence made sense, considering one of his primary campaign planks was providing a universal basic income for all Americans. He was joined online by state Sens. Alessandra Biaggi, Brad Hoylman and Robert Jackson, as they guided workers through unemployment options and applying for emergency funds. “We estimate that about 9 million service workers have lost their jobs,” said Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, during the live-streamed town hall. “In the last weeks, we estimate that 540,000 service workers have lost their jobs in New York state. About 315,000 in New York City.” Lower pay means tipped workers
are eligible for less unemployment insurance money, Jayaraman said. “We see that a server in California is getting unemployment insurance measured on a $15 an hour wage plus tips,” she said. “That same worker in New York state, if they’re outside of New York City, is going to be getting it on a $7.50 an hour wage plus tips, or in New York City, $10 an hour plus tips.” The organization is not interested in going back to the old normal, Jayaraman said, but finding a “new normal” with one living minimum wage, plus tips for those workers who currently receive them. Yezica Tutic, a Brooklyn-based artist and bartender, told town hall attendees that prior to the pandemic shutting down ANdrEw the city’s bars and yANg restaurants, she had been working two jobs — one “under the table.” “Our hourly wage was so low that it actually doesn’t show in our checks,” Tutic said. “So it doesn’t make a difference, so people actually don’t care if they’re on the books or not.” But when she was fired from both jobs and applied for unemployment, Tutic said her benefits were calculated based on her on-the-books hourly wage, giving her just $130 per week — not nearly enough to keep up with New York City rent, or any other expenses. Biaggi has been a vocal supporter of a single living wage, bringing tipped workers in the city up to the $15 per hour minimum wage. “When you share your stories, it informs the way that we legislate, and it informs the way that policy is designed,” the senator said. “A lot of people don’t think about politics when they think about their lives, but there is not a thing that anybody does that doesn’t have an impact as a result of politics.” How the city moves forward following the pandemic is as important
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File
Tipped workers are facing a new crisis since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic has forced many businesses to either close completely or work at a reduced capacity. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi spoke about emergency funds available for people who had lost their jobs or had their hours cut during a recent virtual town hall meeting. as how the city functioned during the crisis, Biaggi said. The pandemic has shined a light on systemic inequalities, and it’s time to address those inequalities moving forward. “It’s hard to get by on a tip wage in good times, let alone in a pandemic,” Biaggi said. “To hear that the benefits the state would be giving anybody would be $130 … to be able to approve that check, and think that this is a conscious and smart decision. While $130 is a great thing to have in your hands, it is unconscionable to think that someone could live on $130 a week.” Biaggi and her senate colleagues are pushing to resume the legislative session in Albany, working with temporary chamber rules that would allow them to vote remotely rather than
gathering in Albany. “The business of the people is still in front of us, and we intend to fight very hard for all of these things,” Biaggi said. Yang said he appreciated that One Fair Wage had decided to give money directly to workers in need. “There are not many organizations that are putting money right into working people’s hands,” Yang said. “Except for OFW. That is actually the best, most direct, most impactful thing that we could do.” Biaggi said she supports canceling rent during the crisis, and described waiving mortgage and rent payments as “essential.” “To come out of this and have only a moratorium will mean that the
months we missed rent on, or mortgage payments on, will be tacked on to the end,” the senator said. “During a moment where people are not making an income, it seems impossible that that would be something that would be helpful for New Yorkers.” Rather than spending federal dollars to bail out corporations and large businesses, Yang said money should instead be spent helping regular people. “We clearly have the money, we’ve had the money the whole time,” Yang said. “That’s why I was running for president, to try and make that happen. No one should be working in the United States of America and not be able to put a roof over their heads, food on the table, and live a good life.”
POLITICAL ARENA Albany pays attention to COVID-19 in budget The recent state budget is not quite the final product — as Gov. Andrew Cuomo hinted recently during one of his daily coronavirus briefings — but there is help for those trying to get by in the midst of the pandemic.
By Michael hinMan
One of the key pieces passed through the budget is $200 million of additional support to the Child Care Development Block Grant, as well as another $1 billion to the state’s unemployment insurance war chest to prepare for a large increase in claims. It also will ensure that all private sector employees have between five
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to seven days of sick leave with their jobs, and even provide earned income tax credit to everyone who qualifies, even if they haven’t applied for it. The budget also expands access to physical and mental health care providers over the telephone for those on Medicaid, and caps out-of-pocket expenses for a 30-day supply of insulin
at $100. If any prescription drug price jumps by 50 percent, the state’s financial services department will have the power to investigate why the price went up, and if there is any fraud taking place. “This is not the budget we had hoped to pass at the beginning of session, or even the budget we had envi-
sioned just a month ago,” said senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in a release. “Our state’s financial situation has been thrust into a true economic crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yet even in this crisis, we managed to achieve a balanced budget that includes victories for the people of New York.”
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A4 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020
Lawmakers explore ways to better protect renters RENT from page A1 the moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent until the end of the current state of emergency in New York — and for six months after the emergency declaration is lifted. The standing moratorium is a “ticking time bomb,” Dinowitz said, since non-essential businesses are expected to remain closed until at least April 29. Meanwhile, some applying for unemployment in New York have said that the task is akin to a full-time job as the state website struggles to handle the new traffic and process claims. “Countless people around the city, around the state, are facing extreme economic hardship,” Dinowitz said. “We have around the country, 15 million — at least 15 million — people who are unemployed.” While he expected some landlords might struggle with the legislation, Dinowitz believes protecting tenants from becoming homeless in the middle of a crisis is much more important right now. Still landlords will have a chance to recoup losses after the fact since they’ll still have a claim on unpaid rent when the state of emergency is lifted. Such a bill will work well with Cuomo’s 90-day mortgage relief program, the Assemblyman added, which allows those paying mortgages a chance to waive payments if certain criteria related to the coronavirus are met. Cuomo’s program includes a grace period for loan modification, the governor said last month, adding that late fees or online payment fees also would be waived. Some homeowners, however, have found that relief a little more challenging to access, Dinowitz said. “Whether it’s an individual who lives in a co-op or a landlord who has a mortgage, I think they should be able to access the type of relief that we thought they were going to be able to access,” he said. “Apparently, it seems much more difficult than was original-
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File
Members of Community Action for Safe Apartments voice their frustration over landlords dubbed the borough’s ‘worst evictors’ by tenants rights groups during a rally outside the Bronx Housing Civil Court on the Grand Concourse last year. Eviction has become a renewed concern since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, especially for tenants who may be unable to make rent. ly touted.” Mortgage relief so far has only been available for single-family homeowners, not for small commercial businesses or landlords of multi-family homes, leaving some who had hoped for relief without options. Those measures might help both people who own private homes and small landlords who are trying to extend such relief to their tenants.
Thinking about renters, too
For many in the city, the promise of mortgage relief won’t cut it. New York
is the home of millions of people who rent space, and many of those people are struggling to pay rent. The Housing Justice For All advocacy group hosted a digital news conference April 1 to announce the release of what it’s calling its rent strike toolkit, which provides instructions on how to organize a rent strike within a building and communicate the needs of tenants with their landlords. The toolkit is just part of the organization’s campaign calling for a rent moratorium. “We are in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis,” said Winsome Pendergrass, a tenant organizer
with Housing Justice. “That has put all of New York on lockdown. Still we are reaching out for people who are frightened, are renters, all across the state.” As many as 39 percent of New Yorkers don’t have enough money for one month’s rent, Pendergrass said. Those renters would be unable to pay without their usual income. “This is something that we have been echoing for the longest while,” she said. “Because the rent is too damn high, we can’t save anything for emergencies such as this. So now the chickens have come home to roost.” Elan Cohen, a tenant leader with Woodside on the Move, a Queens-
based tenants rights organization, gathered neighbors in his apartment building to craft a letter to their management company asking for relief as neighbors lost their jobs or started receiving reduced income. “The truth is, whether we can work from home or not, in the upcoming weeks and months and perhaps over the next year, we will all have to make difficult financial decisions that will impact us for a very long time,” Cohen said. “My hope is that, in the short term, doing our best to conserve our financial resources will allow us to make a better recovery in the long run.” He believed that was true for renters and landlords, but still, some tenants are too hung up on the short-term implications of rent and mortgage moratoriums. “I personally think that landlords, generally speaking the ones that could do it, should have waived everybody’s rent for the month of April,” Dinowitz said. “Most buildings in New York City, for example, are owned by these big conglomerates now.” While smaller landlords might struggle to waive rent, larger companies likely have cash reserves that would allow them to cover for a month, or even two. “But, you know, I guess that’s expecting too much of them,” the Assemblyman said. But residential renters aren’t the only ones on Dinowitz’s mind. Commercial property also is threatened, especially in retail hotspots like Johnson Avenue, where closed doors and piling up delinquent rent could create even more empty storefronts. “If they’re paying rent for a few months and they’re not doing business, some of them are going to go under,” Dinowitz said. “That’s in nobody’s interest. Do the landlords really want a number of their tenants to disappear? How could they possibly want that?”
Making art, even with no burger on the side Opening doors for women ONLINE ART from page A1 Ahead of each class, Sanacore emails each young participant the picture they will work from. During the class, they use whatever they have on hand to color it in, which during this recent class, happened to be a playground scene. Among those in the class was Claire, the 3-year-old daughter of Jacqueline Novello. “It’s nice because she has some connection to her regular life,” Novello said of her up-and-coming artist. The rapid pace of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has upended nearly every aspect of life, from restaurants and recreation, to employment and education. Routines have been shaken up in ways big and small. One person certainly missing those Yo-Burger classes is Alessandra Caro. “It was the easiest food night of the week,” Caro said. Caro works as the human resources director at Columbia University, and was responsible for hiring Sanacore as an art teacher for the university’s after-school program. Sanacore has taken her work for Columbia online as well. But for the Yo-Burger crowd, the return of that particular class was a relief. Even the mere mention of that burger joint can elicit excited reactions. “I can’t even say Yo-Burger in front of” Claire, Novello said. Before the shutdown, whenever Novello would go to Yo-Burger, Claire would eagerly look in the direction of the side room where the art class would normally be. Novello would have to reassure her that Sanacore isn’t there all the time. Now the class is inside Claire’s home — at least her computer.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL
Cathy Sanacore holds up a drawing during an online art class. Sanacore shifted to an online model as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Before that, she ran her weekly class at Yo-Burger on Riverdale Avenue. One of the biggest transformations, especially for young children, has been the shift to online learning as schools closed in the wake of the pandemic. In fact, some parents like Tasha Marie Ellin have found the change can be taxing on their children, like her 5-year-old daughter Milania. “She was on the computer for like
six hours the other day, completely drained with no human interaction,” Ellin said. An educator herself, Ellin heralded the return of Sanacore’s class as a welcome respite. “It was the most decompressing stress relief that my daughter and I needed,” she said. Ellin is a single parent, and is
balancing her parental responsibilities with her job as a teacher at P.S. 132. It is a delicate needle to thread, and the first few weeks of working from home were particularly difficult. When word circulated Sanacore was going online, it felt like an old friend had come back into her life. “On that day I wasn’t solo,” Ellin said. “On that day, I had Cathy.”
Nurses struggle to stay protected in pandemic NURSES from page A1 erything there,” Sheridan-Gonzalez said. “It’s been horrible. We’ve had fight after fight after fight for PPE, for staffing, for appropriate clothing, for patient load.” Jamaal Bowman, a longtime principal in the east Bronx and a challenger for U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel in his congressional seat, rallied with health care workers at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers demanding better protection as the state works to “flatten the curve,” that is, slowing the infection rate as to not overwhelm hospitals any more than they already are. “That’s what our nurses are doing,” Bowman said. “They are on the front lines. They’re not protected. They’re getting sick. They’re putting their families in harm’s way. That’s what I’ve been hearing from doctors and nurses across the district.” While Queens has consistently lead the five boroughs in both coronavirus case numbers and deaths, the Bronx has the highest death rate per 100,000 people, according to a recent report by Gothamist. “The Bronx is disproportionately impacted because of the lack of adequate health care in the Bronx for a number of years,” Bowman said. “That community is most vulnerable.
The federal government, the Trump administration, has been negligent, slow in their response.” The “social determinants of health” — things like stable housing and jobs, dealing with racism or sexism, and having stable access to food — all contribute to how a community could be impacted by a pandemic, SheridanGonzalez said. “Even when it comes to social distancing, the capability of engaging in social distancing,” she said. “I sent a woman home at the very beginning of this who was a grandma, who lived in a one-bedroom apartment with six grandchildren and her daughter. How does she social distance?” The nurses union has pushed hospital administrators, Cuomo and even President Trump to properly supply hospitals overrun with COVID-19 patients with the right equipment and personnel. Last week, Cuomo called on Trump to use the federal Defense Production Act to make more tests — something that has been in very short supply since the start of the pandemic. While New York has tested tens of thousands of people, it’s still unable to test many more who show mild symptoms, or even those who might not have fevers
or other symptoms at all. The federal law — first developed to help the United States produce vital resources in a time of war or emergency — already is compelling private companies to produce equipment like masks and ventilators. Cuomo, however, says it should be used for tests, too. Bowman wants to see the Trump administration step up to help the already straining state governments. “The federal government’s responsibility here is to respond, so I don’t want to let them off the hook,” Bowman said. “I’ve seen that in California, that the governor was able to negotiate 200 million masks, or PPE, for his state. I think that’s great, right. But while we’re negotiating, people are dying. And that’s unacceptable.” And while the federal government’s slow response is a factor, SheridanGonzalez said, the for-profit health care system has been unprepared for a pandemic for a long time. “It is not profitable for a for-profit system to accumulate PPE, ventilators, preparation, training,” she said. “It doesn’t pay anything when you train staff for a disaster.” In past years, nurses had pushed for temporary spaces to accommodate patients even during annual flu sea-
sons, when patients would sometimes sit in beds in hallways. After their rally, Sheridan-Gonzalez said the Yonkers hospital replenished its supplies. “All the sudden, it was like, from heaven, we got all this stuff overnight,” she said. “It’s still not where we need to be. We really want those hazmat suits like they had in China, because we want to be protected. But it’s certainly better than it was.” While nurses at her own hospital, Montefiore, have enough supplies for now, Sheridan-Gonzalez worries the federal government might continue its practice of raiding states’ efforts to buy supplies, and not share them where needed with states like New York. At least five nurses in New York City have died from complications related to COVID-19, she said. And, in her own co-op with a high population of older residents, Sheridan-Gonzalez said that death notices have skyrocketed. “What they do is when somebody passes on, when somebody dies, they put a little notice on the bulletin board,” Sheridan-Gonzalez said. “There’s like five notices on that board every day. (Usually) you have maybe one a month.”
FAB FOUR from page A1 I chose to join this club so I could become more financially literate and have a more robust understanding of foreign policy.” The club’s members then began a yearlong process of preparing for the Knowledge@Wharton High School Investment Competition. Part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton school, the competition’s competitors create investment strategies for $100,000 in virtual cash. Preparation included creating reports and other documentation for the competition. Although Females in Finance is a new club, the young women from Fieldston advanced to the regional finals. There they had to prepare a 10-minute presentation detailing their investment strategy — something that was supposed to happen in-person in San Francisco last month. But the coronavirus pandemic had other plans, and the trip to California was canceled. But even in the world of finance, if life throws a curveball, you still have to take a swing. That’s what Jiang and her teammates did, presenting a video submission instead. The strategy paid off because Fieldston’s team has now advanced to the global finals. The Females in Finance Club is also committed to women’s empowerment and teaching financial literacy to women. That means preparing even younger girls for potential roles in the industry through a branch in Fieldston’s middle school known as GIFT — Girls in Finance and Trading. Jiang isn’t stopping there. Once the pandemic subsides, she plans to bring GIFT to the Goddard Riverside Community Center on Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side. Ultimately, Jiang wants to expand Females in Finance outside of Fieldston to schools all across the country. Pollack finds herself bringing lessons she learns in Females in Finance to other parts of her school life. She’s the only woman on Fieldston’s varsity squash team, for example, and Females in Finance taught her how to thrive in a male-dominated environment. “Because of (Females in Finance), I was no longer intimidated by my teammates and commanded their respect,” Pollack said. Jiang originally felt discouraged when she saw so few women in Fieldston’s investment club. Now her goal is to ensure girls have the same opportunities men seem to typically get by default. “I took it upon myself to create a club where young women can feel safe and accepted to pursue their interest in finance,” Jiang said. “Even though I am still in high school, I understand the biggest impact I can make is to start educating the young, because if anything, my school has taught me to be the change you want to see.”
THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020 - A5
Lehman study: Coronavirus could Antibody tests take spread through ventilation systems major step forward STAFF REPORT
By MICHAEL HINMAN
Keeping six feet away has become the accepted norm for social distancing. But two physicists at Lehman College say the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread in other ways too — like a building’s ventilation system. The study was co-written by Luis Anchordoqui and Eugene Chudnovsky, and published late last month on arXiv, an opensource publication sponsored by Cornell University. Unlike many other major medical journals, however, arXiv does not require peer review — which allows other scientific experts in specific fields to conduct their own tests seeing if they come to similar conclusions. A release issued by Lehman did not indicate if the study conducted by Anchordoqui and Chudnovsky was peer-reviewed, but a spokesman for the two later confirmed there has not been enough time to have others test their results. The physicists claim that while larger droplets from sick people — generally produced from coughing or sneezing — would fall to the ground within six feet of the person producing them, smaller droplets can remain suspended in the air, and maybe even travel as far as 20 and even 40 feet because of moving air flow. Because of that, the two said they “cannot find a good justification for a stationary six-feet separation in a situation when people spend long times together in a room,” according to the study. Some closed spaces with air-forced heating and air-conditioning — like meeting rooms, offices spaces, department stores
mhinman@riverdalepress.com
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File
Two researchers at Lehman College believe the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can spread further than six feet, if given the right conditions in poorly ventilated, indoor areas. and supermarkets — can continue circulating infected droplet particles until they finally evaporate, the two physicists said. Even then, it could still infect people in aerosol form. “It depends on the location of air-conditioners, radiators, windows, and all items in the room, as well as on people producing vortices (masses of swirling air) by moving around,” the two wrote. “The existing vortices in the air can make a location far away from the source of droplets more dangerous than the location six feet away.” Such data, if confirmed, could be effective in helping determine whether there should
be mandatory use of protective masks. New York followed New Jersey’s lead this past weekend in requiring those who interact with the public for work to be supplied with masks by their employer at no charge. The state and city already had encouraged people to wear masks if they are out in public in any way, even if they are not sick. “Obviously, such a recommendation would have to come from public officials and epidemiology experts,” Anchordoqui said, in a release. “But if I had to go out to shop in public, I would wear a mask. I would recommend that to all my family. Doing that, I feel more secure.”
Restarting New York’s economy — as well as the rest of the nation’s — is going to require a number of factors coming together to ensure there is no resurgency of the coronavirus following the pandemic. One of those factors may have made a significant step forward in California. Last week, officials in Los Angeles County began testing the blood of 1,000 randomly selected people — including those who have demonstrated no COVID-19 symptoms — to see if any of them have, or had, the SARSCoV-2. Checking to see if the virus is present is one thing. Seeing if someone had it once the virus is no longer active is another, requiring something known as serological testing. The idea behind serological testing goes with how the body naturally tries to fight off viruses and other biological invaders using a blood protein known as antibodies. What kinds of antibodies are created depends on the
disease, and researchers believe they have isolated the antibody people’s bodies are creating to fight off SARSCoV-2. The idea is that if this specific antibody is present in the bloodstream, that person has been exposed and recovered from the coronavirus — even if he or she never showed any symptoms — and thus is likely significantly immune from being re-infected in the near-term. Such a test being available could help restart the economy, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “The big question for everyone is when do we reopen?” Cuomo said during his Sunday daily coronavirus briefing. “People want to get on with their lives, and people want to get out of the house. We need the economy working, people need a paycheck, life has to function. The answer is that we want to reopen as soon as possible.” But not too soon. “The last thing we want to see is an uptick in that infection rate,” the governor added, “an uptick in those numbers that we worked so hard to bring down.”
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A6 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020
Mayor says schools closed, governor says not so fast By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com
In what seems like Round 2 of the power struggle between Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the jury remains out on whether public schools in New York will close for the rest of the academic year. de Blasio announced over the holiday weekend that after talking to schools chancellor Richard Carranza and other experts, he made the decision to close schools through June, looking to reopen them again next fall for the 2020-21 academic year. Even after hearing Cuomo proclaim soon after that no decision had been made on the fate of schools this year, de Blasio doubled down during his Sunday daily coronavirus briefing. “The painful reality is that schools will not be able to reopen again for this school year,” de Blasio said on Sunday. “As we explained previously, this was the right thing to do in terms of health care and safety.” The struggle between the two elected leaders seem to be a pick-up from just a month ago when de Blasio pushed for Cuomo to close the schools, and the governor hesitating for more than a week before shutting them down. de Blasio says his administration is responsible for 1.1 million students in the city. Cuomo, however, told reporters a short time later on Sunday that he’s responsible for the whole state, and that such a decision had to be made on a much more macro level
— even beyond New York. Like New Jersey and Connecticut, whose economies are closely intertwined with New York — especially New York City. “We have a coordinated approach on their activation,” Cuomo said. “Schools, businesses, work force, transportation, it all has to be coordinated, and it all has to be coordinated regionally.” While it might be erring on the side of caution to simply close schools through the end of the academic year, Cuomo warned that an overabundance of caution could be detrimental to the state as well. “All the schools are closed,” Cuomo said. “They will remain closed. We are not going to open any school until it is safe from a public health point of view. We will not open them one minute sooner, and we will not open schools one minute later than they should be open either.” de Blasio touted the success New York City schools have had in creating distance learning for its students banned from campuses. It’s a system that seems to be working, especially with the help of corporate partners that have provided technological help like tablet computers and internet connectivity. That might all be well and good, Cuomo said, but there is still more to consider when it comes to whether schools should reopen this academic year. “If you say schools are closed through June, then you are effectively saying that businesses are
JULiUs CoNstaNtiNe MotaL / File
there is a lot of confusion about when public schools will reopen. Mayor bill de blasio believes it will be next fall at the earliest, while Gov. andrew Cuomo wants to keep his options open. closed through June, because you can’t restart the economy fully without restarting schools,” Cuomo said. “Schools provide not just education, but in many ways, child care for people who can then go to work.” June, the governor added, “is a long way from now,” and that while he can’t predict yet what might happen by then, he will formulate regional plans with his counterparts in New Jersey and Connecticut to create a path “driven by data and science.” Even more, if local governments
start deciding to take their own paths, Cuomo said, it could disrupt any economic restart when the region is ready for it following the coronavirus pandemic. “You can’t have one gear spinning if the other gears aren’t spinning,” the governor said. “You can’t have New York City work without Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut. “About a third of the work force in New York City comes from outside New York City, or leaves New York
City to go work in those other areas. It has got to work for the whole region, or that doesn’t work.” It’s not necessarily clear who might have final say on the fate of New York City schools. While decisions are generally left at the local level, Cuomo was given broad powers to make decisions for the entire state in light of the pandemic. Public schools, for example, didn’t close in New York City — or the rest of the state, for that matter — until Cuomo ordered them closed. It’s expected he would then be able to re-open them, although the possibility remains that de Blasio and Carranza could retake control of the schools. de Blasio downplayed any animosity between him and Cuomo over the fate of schools. “I respect the governor, and I think the governor has done a very good job in this crisis,” de Blasio said. “We have talked a lot during this crisis, and our teams talk literally many, many times per day. There has been a lot of agreement on the direction that we have had to take.” Cuomo seemed to agree, but still pushed that some decisions in light of the pandemic must be made at a higher level. “I understand the mayor’s position, and he represents that in New York City that schools should be closed,” Cuomo said. “That is not an unreasonable decision. But he doesn’t have to worry about Nassau and Suffolk. He doesn’t have to worry about New Jersey and Connecticut. “But I do.”
OBITUARIES
Socially distant
Mark Robert Weiss, who worked on the Watergate tapes, 90 Longtime Riverdale resident Mark Robert Weiss, an electrical engineer who specialized in sound and acoustics, died April 6, 2020. He was 90. He was called upon to examine the “18-minute gap” in the tape recordings made by President Richard Nixon from 197173. He and a team of engineers determined the tapes were intentionally tampered with. This revelation led to Nixon’s resignation in 1973. Born in Brooklyn on Dec. 12, 1929, he attended Brooklyn Tech and City College of New York, before earning a master’s in engineering at Columbia University. Other highlights of his career include working as a researcher for Columbia, as a vice president at Federal Scientific Corp., and eventually as a professor and researcher for CUNY — first at Queens College, and then at the Graduate Center. Throughout his career, he was frequently hired on proj-
ects by the New York Police Department, the U.S. Air Force, the FBI, and the National Security Agency. Known by his middle name “Bob” since childhood, he had a deep fascination for music, aeronautics and science from an early age. In addition to his professional pursuits, he became a licensed pilot at 50. He owned three different models of Cessna aircraft during his lifetime, and continued to fly until he was 82. He also was a skilled harmonica player, and after retiring from flying, learned how to play the piano. He moved his family to Riverdale in 1955. They first lived in Northern Riverdale before relocating to Southern Riverdale in 1962. Remembered by all who knew him as kind, thoughtful, funny, and a sincerely interested listener, he is survived by his wife Cynthia, daughters Shelley and Eve, son-in-law James, and grandchildren Moss, Sarah and Jonathan.
JULiUs CoNstaNtiNe MotaL / Photos
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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020 - A7
Parker raises voice to normalize queer folk
What’s in
By RAPHAEL LASSAUZE
Family history from home
By RAPHAEL LASSAUZE
rlassauze@riverdalepress.com
The tale of the LGBTQ community in the Bronx is a long and messy string of accounts and histories, lost bars, and new cafes which, when approached, seem to disappear. Navigating the terrains of myth and legend and embellished fact for those who are trying to determine a place for themselves in the world, for queers who search for representation, it is a hard road — a matter of hearsay and imagination. Anthony Parker wanted to change that. He originally studied journalism courses at Pace University, but switched to film, finding a job soon after graduation. When he moved to Spuyten Duyvil in 2018 with his boyfriend, Parker noticed something was missing. “I wondered where all the other queers were, as there were so many outlets in Manhattan, and I felt almost isolated,” he said. “Then I saw a billboard for BronxNet and thought, ‘I can do something about this.’” BronxNet is a public access cable channel with studios located in different parts of the Bronx, including one on the Lehman College campus. Getting a program does take a little work, however, including attending a series of classes — one of which, according to Parker, required him to formulate the show while learning production details. “I wanted to do something for the greater good,” Parker said. “So I thought of a classic interview-style show where I spotlight queer folk from around the borough. I wanted to make a show that helped the community.” There were some good teachers leading these classes, Parker said, and he learned quickly, especially for anyone who doesn’t really have a sense of what goes into a television production. But not all of it was easy. “The only thing that made me nervous, at first, was putting myself in the spotlight, there on the camera,” he said. That stage fright, however, had nothing to do with Parker being an out gay man. If anything, his pride assisted him in the execution of the show, helping him interact smoothly with the numerous personalities he’s invited to sit across from him in the show he ultimately called “Out Loud.” “I make sure my guests are comfortable,” Parker said. “I always say, ‘Forget the cameras as much as you can, and let’s just talk.’ A lot of the time, a theme organically manifests
Fill in the time and keep your mind active with an online genealogy webinar with Riverdale Senior Services. Genealogy librarians present the webinar from the Center for Jewish History to guide participants with their own family history research. It all takes place Friday, April 24 at 1 p.m. For more information, visit RSSNY. org.
neighborhood house comes to your door
The Riverdale Neighborhood House is now providing remote programs and classes to keep what has become a quarantined community engaged and prepared. Classes include: • An after-school program for families with children 10 and younger • Remote support for families transitioning to online courses and activities For more information, visit RiverdaleOnline.org.
Photos courtesy of Anthony Parker
Anthony Parker, right, host of the monthly LGBTQ television show ‘Out Loud,’ interviews Arthur Aviles and Charles Rice-Gonzalez of the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance for his first episode on BronxNet. At right, Parker stands with local personality Apollonia Cruz, left, better known as ‘Queen of the Bronx,’ as well as Audrey DeJesus, right, an entrepreneur who hopes to open a gay bar in the borough. itself in the segment, and I think that happens because my whole goal is just to tell people’s stories. That’s why it’s called ‘Out Loud.’” And the stories that have graced Parker’s set are extensive and layered, from the directors of the Bronx Academy of the Arts and Dance Charles Rice-Gonzalez and Arthur Aviles, to the “Queen of the Bronx” herself Apollonia Cruz, to everyday people like Audrey DeJesus, who just wants to open a gay bar that actually stays open in the Bronx. But one interviewee stood out in Parker’s mind the most. “I grew up in Westchester,” Parker said. “There weren’t any big queer events or stuff going on, the bars would close quickly, there wasn’t a lot of community. I was so excited to have Queery on the show because they’re
based in Westchester, but also because they do what I try to do with my show: to normalize queerness.” Queery describes itself as an artbased violence prevention educational program led by James Young, Geoff Peckman and Jeff Gurkin-Young. They joined Parker for a discussion about the ways to educate and inform the general public about the different kinds of queerness and how people express it. While Queery often uses provocative artwork in order to elicit reactions, Parker hopes to continue “Out Loud” in order to do almost the opposite. “I really like to think that there’s a little kid watching my show,” Parker said. “And they’re just looking at the people I’m speaking to and think, ‘Hey, that’s me. That’s what I feel like I look like, or sound like, am like.’ I want to make sure that anyone watching could
see these kinds of queer people and not think something reactionary or negative, and just see them as interesting people.” By creating the show, Parker has done his best to provide a platform for those in the community to be seen by all, not just on television, but also on his website OutLoudTalk.com. There archived episodes and previews grace its pages. “I wanted a place where people could find a good record of all the fabulous people I’ve spoken with,” Parker said. “It’s exciting. This show is so important to me, and I want it to keep growing. “I’m trying to cast the light on everyone on all the different kinds of diverse people in the LGBTQ community, and for them to have a place on my show where people can see them is so rewarding to me.”
nYC parks reveal new opportunities
The Urban Park Rangers have joined with various New York City parks to provide a series of virtual tours, meditation, fitness and art classes, and children’s activities. Classes and activities include: • Mondays: Motivational fitness • Tuesdays: Live tour with the rangers • Wednesdays: Live walks in a park • Thursdays: Public arts and culture programs • Fridays: Meditation For more information, visit NYC. gov/parks.
Gallery turns interactive in some hard times
The Lehman College Art Gallery, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., continues its family fun day online, expanding its list of programs, which now include: • Interactive tours and art workshops focusing on work currently on display at the gallery. • Online classes about the use and experimentation of color with a focus on the work of Georgia O’Keeffe. • 2-D animation courses for students 18 and younger. • Cityscape and portraiture collage classes. For more information email lcageeducation@gmail.com.
NEW YORKERS:
STAY HOME TO STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS New Yorkers working together and staying home can slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City. When you go out for essential needs, work or to get fresh air, keep distance between yourself and others and take the following precautions.
• Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others. • Wash your hands with soap and water often. • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing. • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands. • Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms.
IF YOU ARE SICK • Stay home. • If you have a cough, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat and do not feel better after 3-4 days, consult with your doctor. • If you need help getting medical care, call 311. • NYC will provide care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.
PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE • Stay home if you have lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system. • Stay home and call, video chat or text with family or friends who have one of these conditions.
Text COVID to 692-692 for real-time updates or visit nyc.gov/coronavirus. Call 311 to report harassment or discrimination. Call 888-NYC-WELL, text "WELL" to 65173 or chat online at nyc.gov/nycwell to connect with a counselor. *Messages and data rates may apply. Check your wireless provider plan for details.
REDUCE OVERCROWDING • Stay home. • Telecommute if possible. If you do go out: • Stagger work hours away from peak travel times. • Walk or bike. • Do not gather in crowds.
Bill de Blasio Mayor Oxiris Barbot, MD Commissioner
1085044
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS
A8 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020
Full-time student, full-time teacher, full-time hustle By ROSE BRENNAN Intern
Taylor Aloisio’s alarm wakes her up at 6:30 a.m., heralding the beginning of another 16-hour day for the college senior. But instead of learning from a teacher, for the first half of the day, she is the teacher. Student teaching isn’t unheard of at Manhattan College. It’s actually required of all students majoring in childhood, adolescent or special education at some point during their senior year. Aloisio’s experience as a student teacher before the coronavirus pandemic closed down campuses everywhere was different from her peers, however. She’s a childhood education major, meaning she’ll be certified to teach first through sixth grade. However, Aloisio wanted to be certified to teach kindergarten as well, meaning she TAyloR had to spend time in AloISIo front of preschoolers this past semester in order to fully complete the program. Balancing a full-time job as a fulltime student can be stressful. But for Aloisio, there is an extra commitment. She’s a member of the Jasper Dancers, Manhattan College’s national championship-winning dance team. That was supposed to include practicing five days a week, dancing at all home basketball games, and competing at the National Dance Alliance competition in Daytona Beach, Florida in April. Of course, the coronavirus crisis wiped all that out, but not before Aloisio was responsible for finding a way to teach, take classes, and keep up with all her extra-curriculars.
Courtesy of Taylor Aloisio
Taylor Aloisio watches as a student circles sight words — words they are encouraged to memorize by sight — during a February class at Riverdale Nursery School and Family Center. Aloisio didn’t get paid to teach, instead earning credit as part of her coursework for her Manhattan College education degree. Her commitment to the dance team was the primary reason why Aloisio chose the fall to teach full-time. “Our schedule becomes more hectic in the spring semester,” she said. “I knew that both student teaching in the spring and being a member of the Jasper Dancers would become too overwhelming to me, so the fall semester was the better option.” Aloisio’s schedule was about as packed as it could be. Her day at the Riverdale Nursery School and Family
Center on Waldo Avenue began at 8 a.m., where she taught preschool until 2:30 p.m. The kids headed home after that, but not Aloisio. She would return to campus to work a job at the college’s ID office. After that, it was classes from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Most days, Aloisio would top it off with dance practice until 11 in the evening. With a schedule this hectic, it would be easy for anyone to be overwhelmed. But for Aloisio, it just means
some serious time management skills. She likes to give her undivided attention to one task at a time. “I really try to use any free moment that I have to get all of my work done that I need to so that when I am at practice, I can be totally focused on dancing and defending our title and not worrying about grading homework and writing lesson plans,” Aloisio said. While her time teaching at the Riverdale Nursery School drew to a close last month, her road to becom-
ing an educator began much earlier. Aloisio knew she wanted to be an elementary school teacher from the moment she started elementary school herself. “I also always loved school as a kid and admired my teachers,” Aloisio said. “I wanted to follow in their footsteps.” After grad school, Aloisio sees herself teaching at any level between kindergarten and third grade. But she already understands the positive impact a good teacher can have on a student’s life. Aloisio met a student who recently moved from the Dominican Republic. She had difficulty connecting with the student, as there was a language barrier between the two. Most of the time, she played alphabet games on an iPad so she could learn English. Then, one day, Aloisio attempted to close the gap. “I decided I was going to read a book with her in English to give her a change of scenery and not do the same old boring thing every day,” Aloisio said. “I wrote the vocabulary words on sentence strips for her so that we could practice together.” Aloisio and the young girl read the book together. Aloisio would read one word at a time, and the girl would repeat the words back to her. Her attempt to connect paid off. “At the end of the day when (the students) were walking out of the classroom to go home, she ran up to me and said, in English, ‘Bye!’ and gave me the biggest hug with a smile on her face that I haven’t seen before from her,” Aloisio said. “This was a moment where I realized just how much of an impact I am going to have on so many students throughout my years of teaching, and I went home feeling very good that I helped her feel even just a little more comfortable in school.”
BUSINESS BRIEFS City lawyers offer COVID legal help The City Bar Justice Center, the pro bono affiliate of the New York City Bar Association, is offering a pro bono, remote legal clinic to help small businesses understand and access options available under the federal government’s coronavirus stimulus package. The free 45-minute consultations will help answer broader legal questions surrounding
By Michael hinMan
the pandemic for small business owners as well, according to a release. Available topics include loans, grants, business contracts, labor and employment, commercial leasing, tax, and insurance. For more information on how to apply, visit tinyurl.com/ COVIDProBono.
DOL struggles with blocked numbers
While there are a number of
issues plaguing the state’s labor department when it comes to new unemployment claims, there is one aspect Councilman Fernando Cabrera believes can be fixed right away: Stop calling applicants using blocked numbers. In order to complete paperwork, labor department employees have to follow up with an applicant on the phone. Those calls typically come from blocked numbers — something many people avoid fearing it
might be a scammer, the councilman said. “Now is not the time for anyone who has lost their job to miss calls from the DOL about their claim,” Cabrera said, in a release. “It’s totally understandable that DOL employees who are working from home and might be using a personal mobile number to call applicants would want to keep that number private. But the agency must resolve this issue so that applicants who need to take ad-
ditional steps to finalize their claims will get the information they need.” How the labor department will do that, Cabrera couldn’t say. But it is something that needs to be fixed. “We’re all in uncharted territory, trying to figure out how to get our jobs done and help the people who most need it, having never experienced being the nation’s epicenter of a pandemic,” Cabrera said. “DOL’s services are critical to people’s
lives, and we need a process that works.”
Big donation from big box retailer BJ’S Wholesale Club has donated $1 million to COVID-19 relief efforts, including $200,000 to New York City entities. That includes $50,000 to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, as well as $100,000 to the New York Community Trust.
Professional Ser vices Director y inDex Attorneys Audiology Dentists Organizing Professionals
Physical Medicine Physical Therapists Podiatrists Psychotherapy Tutoring
Attorneys Lawrence Cooper,
esq.
165 West 231 Street 718.548.2100 Estate Planning, Wills, Probate Purchase or Sale of Real Estate, Co-ops Powers of Attorney, Guardianships, Article 81 Proceedings Incorporations, Bankruptcy, Personal Injury
LORRAinE COYLE, esq • • • •
Wills, Trust, Estate Planning - Probate Medicaid Planning & Guardianships Real Esate - Buying & Selling Member Nat’l Academy of Elder Attorneys 5911 Riverdale Avenue 718.543.2200
Susan M. Dunn, esq. (Lic. NY & FL)
•Real Estate/Co-ops: Buy, Sell & Refinance •Wills, Trusts, Probate & Estate Admin. • Incorporation, Contracts & Leases • Divorce & Separation Agreements 3600 Fieldston Road 718.796.0837
Divorcing? with Julie Hyman, p.c. www.JulieHyman.com specializes in: •Child Custody, Support, Equitable Distribution •Post-divorce Modification & Enforcement •Prenuptial & Separation Agreements Solaria Riverdale, 640 W.237 St.,
Tel: 347.449.6398
DAn PADERnACHT, esq.
Real Estate - Purchase, Sell and Refinance Co-ops - Condos - Single Family - Commercial Business Formation and Lease Drafting 3605 Sedgwick Avenue (at West 238th Street) Tel: 718-543-3500 email: dan@padernachtlaw.com
Lisa Fischel-Wolovick, esq. Attorney at Law 5911 Riverdale Avenue, Riverdale, New York 10471 Tel: 212.245.6125 Family Law, divorce, custody, and child support Offices in Riverdale and Manhattan Author of Traumatic Divorce and Separation: The Impact of Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse in Custody and Divorce (Oxford University Press: 2018)
AuDiology Advanced Care Audiology Meagan Ruth aud, ccc-a
Hearing Evaluations, Treatment of Hearing Loss, Wax Removal, Treatment of Tinnitus, Hearing Aids. 3533 Riverdale Ave., Bronx, NY 10463 718.980.7700 www.advancedcareaudiology.com
Dentists
PhysicAl meDicine PM&R, Physical Medicine & Rehab Center
Comprehensive Spine, Sports & Occupational Center DONALD LISS, M.D. PHIL TASCA, M.D. REBECCA BROWN, M.D. Pain Management • Physical Therapy Occupational & Certified Hand Therapy 6132 Riverdale Avenue (718) 884-1200 www.Rehabmed.net
TALLER DEnTAL
Riverdale Oral Health Sidney Adler, dds, m.a.g.d. Beth Berson, dds Quality Dental Care
General and Cosmetic Dentistry in a modern and relaxing setting, accommodating all your personal needs. Services include… • Implants • Veneers • Teeth Whitening • Bonding • Invisalign • Dentures • Facial filler injections … and much more. Visit us online or call for an appointment today to see how we can help you! 611 West 239th Street, Bronx, NY 10463 718.548.3353 riverdaleoralhealth.com
facebook.com/riverdaleoralhealth
Gabriel Shalmi,
dds
Family Dentistry. All phases of modern dentistry. Implants, braces for adults & children. Evenings. Most Insurances accepted. NEW PATIENT SPECIAL — $89.00 — includes initial exam, x-rays (full mouth) and hygienist cleaning. 444 W. 259th Street #200. 718.601.0900
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Efficiently store vital documents while Securely destroying outdated, yet sensitive, Documents. Be clutter free FINALLY! Homes and businesses. Free Initial consultation. Discounts for seniors. 718-548-1282, LifeFilesPros.com, Riverdale, NY
Cambridge Podiatry Center Dr. Donald Spector Board Certified, Diplomate in ABPOPPM Practicing over 30 years Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Laser treatments available Medicare/Most Insurances Accepted 259 W. 231st Street, Bronx, NY 10463 718.548.3080
Lance Greiff, dpm
Samuel H. Taller, ms, dmd, fagd
ExpEriEncE and innovation S pecial H ourS D uring c riSiS • Modern Facilities • cosMetic dentistry • iMplants • laser treatMents • tooth Whitening • nitrous oxide Emergencies Welcome 3601 Waldo Avenue 718.543.3704 www.DrTallerDental.com
PoDiAtrists
BOARD CERTIFIED PODIATRIC SURGERY PODIATRIC ORTHOPEDICS
PhysicAl therAPists Judith Kahn, md, pc Board Certified Physiatrist • Pain Management • Sports Injuries • EMG’s Holistic Management of Musculuskeletal Conditions 545 West 236th Street, Suite C, 718.884.8115 30 W. 60 Street Suite 1C, between Broadway & Columbus Ave. Website: www.judithkahn.com
Participating in: Medicare, GHI, Oxford, Healthnet, Healthease, Blue Choice, Aetna, Pru-care, Magna-Care, Chubb Health, PHCS, Nylcare HMO/PPO, Multiplan, PHS, Select-Pro, Local 1199, Magna-Select, Anthem, & more. HOUSE CALLS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverdale, NY 10463 718.601.2100
PsychotherAPy Leslie Robert Blumgold, lcsw-r
PM&R, Physical Medicine & Rehab Center
Comprehensive Spine, Sports & Occupational Center JOE LEIBOWITz, MSPT MADELEINE LAxAMANA, PT, DPT BRYAN DAGARAGA, PT, DPT LALAINE YAP, PTA KATIE RICHTERI, M.S. OTR/L Pain Management • Physical Therapy Occupational & Certified Hand Therapy 6132 Riverdale Avenue (718) 884-1200 www.Rehabmed.net
Riverdale Sports Physical Therapy
In and out of Home Counseling/Telehealth Individuals, Couples, Adolescents and Families. Areas of Expertise - Drug Treatment, Adolescents, LGBTQIA, Family Work and Geriatric Populations. Excellent Outcomes and Engagement Skills. 646-496-2032 LRB4U7@aol.com
Maria M. Kargman, LCSW-R
Bi-lingual (English, Spanish) as preferred 30+ years clinical psychiatric social worker See PyschologyToday.com listing for Bio, in-network insurances accepted 914-348-1226, maria.kargman@gmail.com Office: 45 Palisade Street Ste216, Dobbs Ferry
Tara Fitzgerald Quimby, lcsw-r pc
ALExANDER SHERMAN, P.T. •Orthopedic Injuries • Post Surgical Rehab •Arthritis • Pain Management • Sports Injuries THE PROFESSIONAL BUILDING 531 W. 235th Street, 718.432.1323
PoDiAtrists Michael L. Merenstein, dpm Board Certified - American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics. Surgical, geriatric, diabetic shoes. Pediatric, whirlpool & orthotic treatments. Medicare, Oxford, HIP & most insurance. Day & evening appts. HOUSE CALLS AVAILABLE 3636 Fieldston Rd. (W. 236 St.) 718.548.6732
Teens - Adults - Couples M. 917.273.6995 A. 3600 Fieldston Road, Suite 2G Riverdale, NY 10463 E. TaraQuimbyLCSW@gmail.com Evening and weekend hours available
tutoring Professional Home Tutor
Tutoring available in all general subject areas. Grade Levels K-12 • Certified NYS Teacher in Childhood Education (General Education and Special Education, 1-6) • MS in Childhood Education (1-6) • Dual Certification in General Education and students with Disabilities Call zach 917.667.7185 zNilva1@gmail.com
THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020 - A9
Author returns home, fighting for immigrants PRESS POINTS By RAPHAEL LASSAUZE
By MICHAEL HINMAN
rlassauze@riverdalepress.com
Cities are the keepers of all kinds of people. A neighborhood can be a community of shared history and culture, a home within a home. For some, it is a home away from home as well. That’s just one of the claims made by Andrew Sandoval-Strausz, a professor of Latino studies at Pennsylvania State University, in his new book, “Barrio America: How Latino Immigrants Saved the American City.” Sandoval-Strausz brought those ideas to Manhattan College in February, in a lecture based on his book, returning to the borough he grew up in. “I was born here, and lived here until I was around 4,” Sandoval-Strausz said. “Once, my friend and I went to see a film called ‘Fort Apache, the Bronx,’ featuring Paul Newman and other cops who thought they couldn’t leave their cars or they’d die. Lots of violence and murder. Oddly enough, when I left the cinema with my friend that day, the Bronx didn’t look like that.” According to Sandoval-Strausz, that 1981 film from Twentieth Century Fox was just one in a long line of anti-city movies, a series of films that dominated theaters in the 1970s and 1980s, depicting urban areas as dangerous and filled only with crime and the undesirables of the world. More often than not, Sandoval-Strausz posits, those undesirables were depicted as African-Americans and Latinos. “Films made us have ideas like that,” Sandoval-Strausz said. “People thought the age of the major city had died, but by the 2000s, they had to recognize that they were wrong. They had to recognize that immigrants are necessary to accommodate a deteriorating area, and bring it back to life. “In Dallas and Chicago, the areas with the highest population growth are the Hispanic communities.” Sandoval-Strausz’s parents divorced when he was young, so his time was split between his mother’s home in New Rochelle and his father’s home in Manhattan. He moved back to Manhattan in his college years, then to Chicago for graduate school. After living in enormous cities, Sandoval-Strausz had seen and researched the opposition immigrant communities face in this country, and has found himself agreeing with one contemporary factor has been a sort of plague in urban areas: those who are more affluent, pushing the not-so-wealthy out of a neighborhood. “The gentrification story has become very, very intense,” Sandoval-Strausz said. “Particularly in Puerto Rican and
Bloomberg, World Central Kitchen feed those on front lines
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL
Andrew Sandoval-Strausz talks about the impact of Latino immigrant communities on American cities during a lecture last February at Manhattan College Latino neighborhoods. I keep referring back to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’ because the whole backdrop of that is gentrification. Latino neighborhoods are caught between people that really hate them — like immigration authorities — and people who love them too much and destroy them by moving in and inadvertently kicking them out.” Sandoval-Strausz admits that his memories of the Bronx are nothing like the borough’s present day. A CNBC report from 2018 even highlighted how some real estate developers had begun referring to the South Bronx as “SoBro” in an attempt to mimic the chic neighborhoods of Manhattan, a turn of events which seemed laughable 30 years ago. “Cities are strange places,” Sandoval-Strausz said. “A neighborhood like Dumbo in Brooklyn was just a place where people worked, but now it’s a place where yuppies live. Yuppies also want to live in South Bronx now because it’s so close to Manhattan. You get these young professionals that either want a cache of area, that has a great view, or a cache of proximity and culture, like South Bronx.” Sandoval-Strausz didn’t just focus on gentrification. Efraim Tello, a sophomore at Manhattan College, was particularly struck by Sandoval-Strausz’s statements on how a neighborhood’s population was divided in previous decades, and how that could still be seen today.
“I’m Mexican, and I wanted to see how he’s showing immigration in America,” Tello said. “A lot of what he said made sense — how there are buffers between black, Mexican and white populations in different parts of cities, or even towns like back in Arkansas where I live — and also how Mexican and black populations are mistreated.” Sandoval-Strausz maintains that areas like Tello’s central Arkansas home are dying due to a combination of job scarcity and population decline, and that more immigrants could revitalize those kinds of places. “As of 2000, more immigrants move directly to suburbs than they do to cities in the United States,” Sandoval-Strausz said. “Fewer of them are going to rural areas. But in terms of population growth in rural areas, Latino population growth is much faster in non-metropolitan counties.” Although Sandoval-Strausz and several other theorists, academics and activists have presented carefully detailed statistics and facts regarding the supportive nature of immigration, the professor finds that not enough has changed when it comes to overall optics. “Think about a Rust Belt factory town,” Sandoval-Strausz said. “That area needs new people. But immigrants have famously been mistreated in public and in school. I really wonder if in the age of the Trump presidency people will think
Where can you buy it? Pick up your own copy of Andrew Sandoval-Strausz’s ‘Barrio America: How Latrino Immigrants Saved the American City’ by visiting tinyurl.com/BarrioAmerica.
that a smaller community is just too unfriendly, and that community will die. “What’s funny about yuppies in cities is that, at the very least, they reliably don’t vote for Trump. That’s the best that can be said. That can’t be said for small towns, however.” In Sandoval-Strausz’s eyes, the necessity of welcoming an immigrant community with open arms is the only way a revitalized city population can spread out and save the rest of the country as well. “America’s birth rate has slowed pretty dramatically,” Sandoval-Strausz said. “Slowed to 30-year lows. It’s far too slow to maintain our economy and our institutions — be it in the work force, Social Security, military — there aren’t enough Americans. Immigrants are the only ones keeping us out of a demographic downward spiral. “We must return to our greatest tradition of welcoming immigrants.”
Daily meals are coming to more than 30,000 health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic thanks to a $6 million donation from a former New York City mayor. Mike Bloomberg, who most recently made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, gave the money so that World Central Kitchen could begin food service operations at two NYC Health + Hospital locations Wednesday, before expanding to all facilities in the chain by April 27. World Central Kitchen — the international not-for-profit organization run by Chef José Andrés — will feed all acute ad post-acute care staff, as well as additional personnel who have joined their ranks — regardless of their department, discipline or tour — seven days per week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in what is being described as a “uniquely designed grab-and-go cafeteria,” according to a release. The cafeteria is designed to ensure there is no wait for food to be served, and that meals are also available to those working overnight shifts. “As the coronavirus sweeps across the world, health care workers are risking their lives every day to protect ours — and they need our support now more than ever,” Bloomberg said, in a release. “It’s a way for our team at Bloomberg Philanthropies to express our deep appreciation for them — and to help them keep saving lives and battling this disease.” “We know that together we are sharing so much more than just meals, but also hope, dignity and nourishment for the future,” said Nate Mook, chief executive of World Central Kitchen, in a release. “It really instills these brave and tireless workers with the knowledge that we — the people of New York, and of America — are with them.”
Physicians Ser vices Director y indEx Cardiology ENT - Adult & Pediatric Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatric Medicine Internal Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ophthalmologists Pediatricians Pediatric Subspecialty Care Pulmonary Medicine Psychiatry Rheumatology
CaRdiOlOgy ColumbiaDoctors gerald neuberg, md, fAcc
For appointments, please call: 646.317.0130
Kung-ming Jan, md
For appointments, please call: 718.601.4800
david i. Sahar, md
For appointments, please call: 718.601.3700 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
EaR, nOSE and thROat adult & PEdiatRiC
EndOCRinOlOgy ColumbiaDoctors Sophia hu, md Sees general endocrinology; specializes in thyroid disease including thyroid cancer, diabetes, weight management, women’s health, osteoporosis, adrenal disease, and pituitary disease/tumors. Speaks conversational Spanish and fluent in Mandarin Chinese. 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Now accepting new patients For appointments, please call: 646.317.0129 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
gaStROEntEROlOgy ColumbiaDoctors Jennifer Caceres, md david S. lee, md
3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 212.932.4534 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
PLACE YOUR AD HERE
• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Adult and Pediatric Otolaryngology
Carolina Mora, np
• Adult and Pediatric Otolaryngology
Flora holderbaum, Aud
• Audiology (hearing aids, hearing testing, evaluation and rehabilitation) • Adult and Pediatric 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 202 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 212.305.8555 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
The deadline for any additions, changes or cancellations for the May Directory is Wednesday, April 29th at 2pm.
Call 718.543.6065 ext. 3 or email advertising@riverdalepress.com to get in touch with our marketing team who can help you reach out to your clients.
ColumbiaDoctors nydia E. Providence, md
Riverdale Pediatrics
NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-152 New York, NY 10034 For appointments, please call: 212.932.4564 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. The Century, 2600 Netherland Ave., Suite 120 By App’t, 718.796.3580
The Century, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Suite 125 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 718.601.7505
Stuart R. Framm, md • Travel Vaccines
NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-152 New York, NY 10034 For appointments, please call: 212.932.5190 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
Sherry R. Kohn, np NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-152 New York, NY 10034 For appointments, please call: 212.932.5190 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
OBStEtRiCS & gynECOlOgy
• Otology, Neurotology, Skull base Surgery • Adult and Pediatric
Elliot Regenbogen, md
PEdiatRiCianS BaRBaRa E. StRaSSBERg, M.D., F.A.A.P. CaRlyn a. OPPEdiSanO, M.D., F.A.A.P. MaRtin ROdRiguEz-EMa, M.D., F.A.A.P. Pediatric & adolescent medicine.
PEdiatRiC SuBSPECialty CaRE ColumbiaDoctors anu Mallapaty, md
Allergy and Immunology (through Adult)
Patricia M. Vuguin, md Endocrinology
ali Mencin, md Gastroenterology
270 West 231st Street Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 855.550.KIDS Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital
PulMOnaRy MEdiCinE
ColumbiaDoctors Justin golub, md Susannah hills, md
intERnal MEdiCinE
gERiatRiC MEdiCinE ColumbiaDoctors Bindhu thomas, md xiaoshuang yin, md nana Makalatia, md deborah Smyth, gnp NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-159 New York, NY 10034
ColumbiaDoctors anita holman, md Sarah Freeman, do doreen Kramer, cnm • Board Certified Physicians • Comprehensive Gynecologic, prenatal and obstetric care 270 West 231st Street, 1st floor, Suite 101A Bronx, NY 10463 Now accepting new patients For appointments, please call: 212.305.9779 www.columbiaobgyn.org/riverdale Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
Now also at a convenient Riverdale Location The Century, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Suite 125 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 718.543.3031 Now accepting new patients. All clinical staff are Board Certified in Geriatric Medicine Medicare and most major insurance plans accepted. Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
For appointments, please call: 646.317.0127 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
PSyChiatRy NYC Neuropsychiatry Paul Campion, md Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry 444 West 259th Street, Suite 301 Bronx, NY 10471 201.292.7987
RhEuMatOlOgy ColumbiaDoctors teja M. Kapoor, md
For appointments, please call: 212.932.6036 or 212.932.4080
nana Makalatia, md
ColumbiaDoctors Manuel R. Cabrera, md
OPhthalMOlOgiStS Jonathan d. Boniuk, md, pc Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Eye MD •Catering to all ages & eye problems including eye surgery, routine and preventive eye care. • Board Certified • El Medico Habla Español The Riverstone, 3220 Arlington Avenue, Suite 7 Call 718.432.2299 Fax 718.432.2069 Office Hours: Monday - Friday, including eves.
Specializing in Lupus, sees general rheumatology patients & performs musculoskeletal joint injections. 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Now accepting new patients For appointments, please call: 212.3054308 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
A10 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020
Opinion Editorial
Now is just not the time
B
ill de Blasio leads more people than the governors of 38 states. Yet, getting respect as a mayor is fleeting more often than not, especially from de Blasio’s own governor, Andrew Cuomo. Which is strange, because there was a time long ago when de Blasio and Cuomo were actually allies. When Cuomo led the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department during the Clinton years, and de Blasio worked directly under him, handling New York. When Cuomo fell on his face trying to run for governor in 2002, de Blasio — by then a city councilman — was there to help pick up the pieces. By the time de Blasio ascended to the mayor’s office in 2013, Cuomo had succeeded in moving into the governor’s mansion, and even proclaimed that he didn’t have a “better political friend” than Bill de Blasio. But somewhere along the line, the relationship between these two Democrats soured into a ¿quién es más macho? — each of them fighting to be New York's alpha dog. The latest bone? When schools will reopen. Last month, de Blasio suddenly found himself unable to order public schools closed, because such emergency power had shifted to Cuomo, intended in light of the coronavirus pandemic. de Blasio eventually got what he wanted — dark campuses — but now the mayor wants to be the one to decide when students will finally return. His decision, announced over the weekend? Next fall. But Cuomo disagreed, saying it's too early to decide when schools will reopen, and that no one can see what social distancing will be like in New
York two months from now. de Blasio says keeping schools closed is the best way to protect students and teachers. Cuomo says opening schools when it's safe to do so means the state's economy can restart, since many workers depend on schools as a de facto day care. Both have entrenched themselves in this latest battle which ultimately will be a loss for everyone. Sure, not knowing if schools will reopen can be frustrating, but being told they're not reopening by one leader, and that they might reopen by another is exactly the kind of confusing message all of us can do without during this crisis. In the end, however, Cuomo is right. While there is a chance schools may not reopen this academic year, that's not a decision we can make in the middle of April. “We are not going to open any school until it is safe from a public health point of view,” Cuomo said last week. “We will not open them one minute sooner, and we will not open schools one minute later than they should be open either.” This is a decision that must be made at a regional level, not just with New York, but with its neighboring states as well. That's a decision for a governor, not a mayor, no matter how big his city is. While there might be a time in the future to once again enjoy watching the battle between Cuomo and de Blasio, it’s not now. We have a state — a nation — with people sick and dying. With families short on cash, trying to figure out how to buy food and pay rent. There’s just no room right now for these playground antics.
Point of view
Many horrors of COVID-19
By MICHAEL GOLD
C
OVID-19 feels like watching a horror movie, except I’m in it. We’re all in it. The loneliness of the lockdown, the shut-in nature of the sensible response to the insidious virus has made my daughter so desperate, she misses being in her middle school. She misses walking to school in the morning. She misses waiting with her friends in the cool mornings for her school to open for the day. She misses the clicking sound her lock makes when she opens her locker. Even though she is now receiving assignments online from her school, she feels she is not learning as much as she could as if it were there. On a recent Friday afternoon, my daughter and I went for a walk after a day of work inside. Our ordinarily vibrant Westchester County village, with its tightly constructed main street, bustling diner, crowded coffee shops, pizzerias and restaurants, and its charming book store — dense with books — looked nothing so much like an empty, dusty Texas town whose denizens have fled in the face of an oncoming tornado. I visualized tumbleweeds, and nothing else, rolling down the street. I worry about my mom. She’s 90 and quarantined in an assisted living facility in Connecticut. None of the residents there can eat their meals in the common dining room. They must eat in their rooms, alone. My mom is allowed to walk the hallways and visit other residents in their rooms, as long as they stay far apart. I guess they’ll end up shouting conversation at each other from way across the length of their apartments. Since I’m a kindergarten teacher in the Bronx, I’m no longer in a classroom. Nobody is. I spent March 20 on the phone, calling the parents of all my students, urging them to sign up for Google Classroom, which provides assignments to the children so they can learn while at home. By March 22, nine parents out of 25 had signed up. Two parents had no computers or email addresses. I had briefly fantasized that week that I could visit students and parents in their homes, to give
the children instruction. To read books to them, and provide them with word games that I have to help them learn how to read. That hope was quickly dashed by the reality of the situation. Everything is locked down tighter than a row of storefronts on a snowy Christmas Eve. I’ll be working at home every day to talk with parents about what they’re doing to help their kids learn, and monitoring student use of Google Classroom and reviewing the assignments the students complete. My wife’s uncle, who lives in Quincy, Massachusetts by himself in a big, handsomely constructed home, is 79 and has diabetes. His kidney function is way down from the diabetes. My wife and I are worried that he will not get the treatment he needs to recuperate. He would not be a top candidate to get a respirator, which are in such short supply. My mother-in-law, a widow, is stuck in her home in New Jersey. All her clubs and meeting places are closed — bridge game, canasta, mahjong, senior center, the library. She’s cleaned everything in the house, done the laundry, washed all the dishes. She’s bored and lonely. My wife is working from home, too, of course. She’s tense. I’m dealing with it differently. I watch CNN incessantly in the evening, and read The New York Times and Washington Post, as well as a half-dozen other news sites on the web. I got really scared when I read about a 17-year-old South Korean boy who died from multiple organ failure. His body is being tested for the presence of the virus. This SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, this genetic monster which exists only to make more copies of itself, is threatening everything we hold dear — our families, friends, work, way of life, our existence. I’m scared, but I’m also angry. Recently, Trump said he knew all along that the virus would cause a pandemic. Leaving aside the obvious and ridiculous untruth of that statement, my question to Trump is this: If you knew all along that this would be a pandemic, why didn’t you do something about it? Why did you wait so long to act?
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Letters to the editor
We deserve truth on coronavirus To the editor: New Yorkers must question Dr. Howard Zucker, the state’s health commissioner, who had previously served as assistant director-general at the World Health Organization. According to his online bio, Dr. Zucker had a previous role as first deputy commissioner, where he worked on the state health department’s preparedness and response initiatives in natural disasters and emergencies. Dr. Zucker had previous experience as a White House Fellow during 9/11, under thenU.S. Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson. Given Dr. Zucker’s extensive background, access to health experts, and experience at the WHO, one must ask what Zucker knew about the coronavirus during the months from December to March. Why did Dr. Zucker mention a surge of flu cases in December as part of a Jan. 9 news release, but did little until March? Why did every single news release omit references to China and other countries until Jan. 24? In the Jan. 24 news release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “I want to assure New Yorkers that we are prepared.” How exactly was New York state prepared for a disaster? In the same news release, Dr. Zucker said, “This virus is being carefully monitored at federal, state and city levels to ensure the public’s health and safety, and while awareness is important, the current risk to New Yorkers is low.” Really, a surge in flu cases in December and now the risk to New Yorkers is low? As far back as Jan. 3, the news release from the state’s health department says the latest influenza surveillance report shows another sharp increase in flu cases and flu-associated hospitalizations, that labconfirmed influenza was up 34 percent from the previous week. Was the state’s health commissioner reaching
out to hospitals to make sure they were prepared for this “surge”? Any records of phone calls or emails sent? According to the April 12 edition of The New York Times, U.S. Heath and Human Services secretary Alex Azar II directly warned President Trump of the possibility of a pandemic during a Jan. 30 call. Was our state’s top health official also informed, and if so, were any alarms sounded at our state level? After Trump limited travel from China, did Dr. Zucker or Gov. Cuomo discuss the situation and map out a plan of action? In a Feb. 2 news release, Dr. Zucker said, “Bottom line, as this public health response evolves, we continue to be prepared.” On Feb. 20, Dr. Zucker publicly recommended that “people should remain vigilant by getting vaccinated.” This is followed by Gov. Cuomo, in a Feb. 27 news release, stating, “if you haven’t already been vaccinated, it’s not too late. I urge you to get a vaccine.” Within a week, in a March 1 statement, Gov. Cuomo informs the public of the first case of the coronavirus in New York state, adding, “There is no reason for undue anxiety — the general risk remains low in New York.” Wouldn’t Dr. Zucker, a former White House Fellow, have access to his former colleagues and a presumably long list of contacts and health experts with the WHO and around the world? Did he discuss the situation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or anyone at the federal, state or city level? What exactly did he know, and did he fail to disclose information either to his boss, or all New Yorkers? If Dr. Zucker was negligent, he should be held accountable. These are numerous questions that must be answered. New Yorkers deserve the truth. michael WeiNsTeiN
Mosaic still makes difference here To the editor:
(re: “Mosaic’s ‘teletherapy’ efforts featured on CBS News,” First Online, April 6)
Thank you for your coverage of the enlightening April 5 CBS “Sunday Morning” report on Mosaic Mental Health and its use of teletherapy to make a crucial difference in this time of especially deep need. To be featured on America’s most-watched Sunday morning news program underscores the vital nature of the work Mosaic does to assist people of all ages, from all walks of life, and the example Mosaic is setting for the whole country. Hundreds of people annually show their support and raise
awareness of Mosaic, as well as its mission to end the stigma of mental illness and treatment, by participating in the organizations “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” 5K Run/Walk at Van Cortlandt Park. This spring’s 5K, scheduled for April 26, had to be canceled because of the coronavirus crisis. YES Network analyst David Cone, the former All-Star pitcher for the Mets and Yankees, was going to be the honorary 5K starter. He is a dedicated backer of Mosaic’s programs for individuals, families and the community, and he recently tweeted the following: “Mosaic Mental Health — Every mind
matters. Check out Mosaic if you need to talk. Great resource serving the Bronx for over 50 years. Please join me in supporting Mosaic Mental Health.” The months ahead are going to be a struggle, and traditional sources of funding will be in jeopardy because of the pandemic. We hope everyone embraces David Cone’s message and gets behind Mosaic. And we look forward to future 5K gatherings. To all, be safe and be well. William WeiNbaum The author is vice president of Mosaic Mental Health.
A manifesto on the lost Olympics To the editor: The Olympic torch entered an empty stadium in Athens on March 19. Within this same marble arena, more than a century ago, the first International Olympic Committee brought together, in competition, 14 nations, dedicated to the sustained vision of a peaceful, better world — in friendship, solidarity and fair play. Now we are withdrawn in a terrible fear that challenges all nations, or sovereignties so unstated, humbled by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. We are met on the flattened, globalized plane of that crisis. Though vacant seats in the Panathenaic Stadium are no unfamiliar sight, the occasion of their vacancy this year is unprecedented. The IOC canceled the Summer Games of 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to World War I and World War II. For Tokyo 2020, current uncertainty offers the IOC little basis for a definitive choice to proceed. We must recognize this broken journey, and its terminus, for those who here will give their lives, so all nations might join again. Nurses and doctors, selfless and persistent, who arise each day, lift us far above the feeble efforts of senseless leaders to diminish the epidemic curve. The IOC may note no triumph in this year, nor celebrate its creed, but it can never unfasten itself from the educational value of good example. In an egalitarian sense, we cannot falter, we cannot isolate, we cannot hollow this movement.
We cannot weaponize concord, goodwill and brotherhood to defeat an infectious virus. It is for us, the people rather, to be entrenched in the universal, ethical principles of health care, which the IOC, thus far, have so nobly advanced in sport. Without the distraction of sport, we become re-engaged in true matters of consequence, as COVID-19 gently unveils the centralized fractures in our weakened state. It is a wretched irony, but altogether fitting, and now manifested, that we should embrace this Olympic year. We do not need an Olympic Games to affirm the globe is in solidarity with itself again. We only needed the games to show what was always possible. Even in isolation, the pandemic reminds us: We are borderless, we are together, and we stand upon the precipice of Olympism. This moment is our cause to think. From these sidelined athletes, we take increased devotion to our cause, which suspended their measures of devotion — to heal one another, and our broken systems — to strengthen friendships, and our poor unions. To level the playing field, and its fair play. That we highly resolve the victims of COVID-19 shall not have died in vain — that all nations, under quarantine, shall find mutual understanding in its care of people, and that governments return to the people. So shall our Olympic flame burn brightly, and not perish from the Earth. Noah KamiNsKy
THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020 - A11
Op-Ed
St. Margaret
OF CORTONA SCHOOL where faith and knowledge meet
Point of view
Essential New Yorkers left on subway platforms
By DESTINY MEDINA
Y
our alarm goes off. Groggily, you shut it off and sit up on the edge of your bed, doing your best to mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead. Then up you go, another morning routine for the books. No time for breakfast this morning as you run out the door, but not before saying a quick goodbye to the ones you hold dear. You cross the street, run down a flight of stairs, and sprint past those waiting along the edge of the block for the next crowded bus as you hear the upcoming train overhead. You climb up a new flight of stairs, push through the double doors, and swipe through the turnstile with just enough time to squeeze in between the mass of people inside before the train doors shut and move on to the next station. You made it, although there is no moment for relief as there are no more seats, and at least four other bodies press up against you, annoyed that yet another person made it in before the bell chimed of closing doors. After a few stops, many exit, only for even more to enter. Finally, your stop, and as quick as you entered, you exit down a long path with echoes of water pipes dripping, teenagers mumbling, the occasional beat blasts from someone’s too-loud headphones, and the overwhelming smell of those who seek shelter here through the cold nights. Up the stairs to not-quite-so-fresh air, briskly past the mass of people, stopping at your favorite newsstand for today’s paper and a mediocre cup of joe, before walking into the office ready to start another day. This is what a typical New Yorker experiences on a daily basis. Except now, nothing about our days are typical in the city that isn’t supposed to sleep. We are New York strong, that’s for sure. But the new virus in town has brought us to our knees. No more are the streets crowded with tourists as you push through simply trying to make it from Point A to Point B. Instead, we have all been sent to our homes to stay inside until this vicious virus can subside. Of course, this isn’t the case for those labeled “essential” to keep the city turning. While many have the luxury of staying safe in their beds able to bicker about being quarantined, more than you know still wake at the sound of the alarm to begin another day of work. Except now it seems more like a game of Russian roulette. Each moment outside poses a risk to themselves, and the ones they love most. But what does it mean to be “essential”? Every day we hear about the nurses, doctors,
police officers and firefighters who still show up to stand at the front lines to wage battle against COVID-19. But there are so many more who work behind the scenes to keep our city afloat. They are the delivery people who bring you your excess supplies and 48 rolls of toilet paper. The service workers who work tirelessly to wipe down surfaces, change hospital beddings, and mop floors. They run the trains and buses we always have depended on. They are the men and women who still have Apply here - https://mytads.com/a/stmargaretofcortona to show up to make sure your lights stay on, gas and heat, and that your basic human rights stay Interviews will be conducted via video and phone. protected. Virtual tour of our school can be found in our website: www.smcsriverdale.org Apply here - https://mytads.com/a/stmargaretofcortona And how do you think these hundreds of men and women are traveling to their now undeInterviews will452 beWEST conducted viaBRONX, videoNYand 260TH STREET, 10471phone. sired destinations? They are still New Yorkers, Virtual tour of our school can be found in our website: www.smcsriverdale.org of course, and our main source of transportation 718-549-8580 @smcsriverdale @SMCRiverdale @smcriverdale452 has always been our imperfect Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While the number 452 WEST 260TH STREET, BRONX, NY 10471 of riders has dropped dramatically from the city’s norm, still hundreds depend on our mass 718-549-8580 @smcsriverdale @SMCRiverdale @smcriverdale452 system of transit to get them where they are Apply here - https://mytads.com/a/stmargaretofcortona needed most. Interviews will be conducted via video and phone. But while they are in high demand, the city has reduced its number of viable transit, a minor Virtual tour of our school can be found on our website: attempt to “lower the curve,” a term so aggressively used nowadays. www.smcsriverdale.org However, isn’t it possible that this reduction of service will ultimately undermine the demand Apply here - https://mytads.com/a/stmargaretofcortona of social distancing? There are still so many who rely on our train Interviews be conducted 452 WEST 260THwill STREET, BRONX via NY video 10471and phone. system, and instead of a mass array of transporVirtual tour of our school can be found in our website: www.smcsriverdale.org tation, too many people are left on the platform 718-549-8580 waiting for delayed trains, desperate to remain at least six feet apart on the small platforms stuck 452 WEST 260TH STREET, BRONX, NY 10471 between railings. Maybe it’s time to take a more aggressive @SMCRiverdale @smcsriverdale452 @smcsriverdale approach if we truly want to reduce the number 718-549-8580 @smcsriverdale @SMCRiverdale @smcriverdale452 of hospital beds needed. Maybe, just as the rest of the city, the MTA should be temporarily put to rest (with adequate pay, of course). And instead of those deemed “essential,” should be shuttled into work, more forms of private sanitized transportation to reduce the risk of public exposure. Maybe there are other options our governor and mayor should consider and explore. But one thing is for sure, reducing transit service while the need for essential personnel remains high in-demand works against our goal of protecting our fellow neighbors and friends. Social distancing is nearly impossible on slivers of platform in unventilated underground stations, and the curve will never lower if our necessary workers continue to be stranded in unsanitary conditions simply trying to get to and from where they are needed most.
WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS 2020- 2021
WE ARE 20202021
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS 2020-2021 Our building is closed, but our classrooms and our hearts are open!
WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS 2020- 2021
Letters to the editor
Making your downtime count To the editor: I have sent this letter to friends who might be interested in a worthwhile activity in which to engage while cooped up at home. I hope people will forward this letter to everybody on their email lists. The non-profit, non-partisan organization Vote Forward at VoteFwd.org has created a mechanism whereby volunteers everywhere in the United States can write letters to unregistered, potential voters, asking them to register to vote, and to people who are already registered, urging them to vote in special elections, or on our national Election Day on Nov. 3. I have been writing such letters since last October explaining why I vote in every election, and although I have written the same message thousands of times, I never tire of doing this, because I feel a connection to each of the strangers to whom I am writing, and because it keeps despair at bay. This activity truly gives me hope. It’s also endlessly intriguing to see given names that I’ve never seen before. I’ve come across literally hundreds of possible unique names like Falante, Julita, Johndavid, Addles, Dejahne, Raeleesha and Desareese. Interesting street names, as well, like Maltese Falcon Street, Winding Valley Trail. And I’ve learned of towns that I never knew existed, like two towns in Florida named Palatka and Land O’Lakes. If you are interested, log on to the website. After you register, you can get lists of 20 voters in a
particular state and form letters for each of those 20 people. Vote Forward gets names from public records, and each individual’s name and address appears not only on the list, but at the bottom of the letter. On each letter, you write your own personal message explaining why you vote in every election. You sign your own name, and you write your own name on the outer envelope. The return address is that of a Vote Forward office in the person’s state. You will need a printer (or have someone else print it for you, as I do), envelopes, stamps, and a pen that writes easily, so your hand won’t get tired. I buy inexpensive envelopes and gel pens, and I get my stamps from eBay sellers who apparently stocked up years ago, intending to make a profit, who now sell at prices lower than the 55 cents you pay at the post office. Obviously, this can be costly if you do a great number of letters, so I feel fortunate that I can do this. I try to write as neatly as I can, and I add bells and whistles to keep people’s attention. For example, at the top of each letter, I write in very fancy, old-fashioned-looking script, “We the people of the United States,” and after the alreadyprinted “sincerely,” I write, “with best wishes and hope for our future.” I also affix a sticker I ordered through eBay that says, “The best cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy,” from Edward Abbey. miRiam Helbok
Community board is here to help To the editor: During unprecedented times like these, it is most important that we all stay well and safe. It is also important that we stay connected and become part of a larger community seeking information and friendships. Although we are apart, we can still come together, virtually. Let me share what Community Board 8 is doing to stay involved with you in our community. From your home, we welcome you to join our committee meetings and board meetings
About letters
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by video conferencing or telephone conferencing. CB8 is using Zoom to host meetings. All meeting links and call-in information are listed on our meeting agendas. Our community board office, while closed, remains working and accessible by telephone or email. The district manager and staff are working from home and stand ready to assist you with questions, problems, etc. All your emails and phone calls continue to be answered, and our goal is to run the office the same way we always have.
Lastly, the community board continues to send out information from government sources and not-for-profit institutions that may be of interest to you and your family. Please encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for CB8 emails and follow us on Facebook. Again, stay well, stay home, and let’s stay connected. RosemaRy GinTy The author is chair of Community Board 8, writing on behalf of her fellow board officers including Laura Spalter, Lisa Daub and Rosalind Zavras.
The Riverdale Press welcomes letters to the editor. It is committed to providing an open forum for opinions. All we ask is that you sign your letter and give us an address and daytime telephone number. We won’t publish your address or phone number. They’ll be used only to verify a letter’s authenticity. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. You can mail your letter, fax it to (718) 548-4038, or send it via e-mail to letters@riverdalepress.com.
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Legal Notices Legal Notice
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF WOW WINGS ON WHEELS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/10/2020. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/ her is: 641 east 169 street W.o.W Wings On Wheels LLC. The principal business address of the LLC is: East 182nd Street Southern Blvd. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3232
Legal Notice
Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 3/11/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000100-20/BX, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, grants me the right to assume the name of (First) Christopher (Middle) Diego (Last) Vidal. My pres-
ent name is (First) Christopher (Middle) Kenny (Last) Ramirez (infant). The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Bronx, NY. The month and year of my birth are December 2016. 3254
Legal Notice
PUBLIC NOTICE: Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to build a 65-foot COW/COLT communications tower. Anticipated lighting application is medium intensity dual red/white strobes. The Site location is 15-00 Hazen Street, East Elmhurst, Bronx County, New York, 11370. Lat: 40-47-28.65, Long: -73-53-0.42. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Antenna Structure Registration (ASR, Form 854) filing number is ASR # A1158154. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS – Interested persons may review the application (www.fcc.gov/asr/applications) by entering the filing number. Environmental concerns may be raised by filing a
Request for Environmental Review (www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalrequest) and online filings are strongly encouraged. The mailing address to file a paper copy is: FCC Requests for Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. HISTORIC PROPERTIES EFFECTS – Public comments regarding potential effects on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Jessica, j.cilento@trileaf.com, 1051 Winderley Place, Suite 201, Maitland, Florida 32751. 3255
Legal Notice
Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 2/24/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000628-19/BX, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, grants me the right to assume the name of (First) Richard (Middle) Yariel (Last) Chavez. My present
name is (First) Richard (Middle) Yariel (Last) Henk AKA Richard Yanli Henk, AKA Richard Henk (infant). The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Manhattan, NY. The month and year of my birth are April 2013. 3256
Legal Notice
Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 2/24/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000712-19/BX, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, grants me the right to assume the name of (First) Conner (Middle) James (Last) Rodriguez. My present name is (First) Conner (Middle) James (Last) Dross (infant). The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Manhattan, NY. The month and year of my birth are April 2017. 3257
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Brown Harris Stevens, ..........................212.317.7746 New Bedford Management Corp.........646.453.5279 Tobias B. Schapiro...........................917.846.9846 John Edwards Real Estate...........929.474.6900 x101 Douglas Elliman...................................718.884.5815 OOAKB&F Inc......................................347.686.0825 Fieldston Properties.............................718.601.1000 Robert E. Hill, Inc ................................718.884.2200 Foxworth Realty, Eugenia Foxworth ...212.368.4902 Sherman NYC......................................718.884.0011 Halstead Property Riverdale.................718.878.1700 Stillman Brokerage, Angie Chin...........914.813.1923 HSC Management Corporation...........718.543.2800 Stillman Property Management……...914.813.1900 or....................................................914.237.1600 Trebach Realty ....................................718.543.7174 Hudsoncreast Properties Inc, Gil Perez...................... Veritas Property Management, LLC.......................... 718.796.5022 ext. 215......www.GmcRealty.com Carl Borenstein...............................212.799.2365 McDonagh Properties, Inc....................718.548.2828 Vivian J. Oleen ....................................917.538.9639 Realtors: To purchase a space in this listing, please call Cheryl Ortiz at 718.543.6200 ext. 379
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3531 Johnson Avenue | 718.878.1700
Riverdale 5.375 X 5.25
THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020 - A13
The homes of
VillanoVa heighTs* Now AVAILABLE For short tErm rENtALs 5021 Grosvenor Avenue
Make this part of your estate planning. When making your estate plans, don’t forget cemetery arrangements. Taking care of this important issue avoids leaving the burden on loved ones, locks in current prices, and safeguards your savings. Join the many families protecting loved ones by including cemetery arrangements in your estate planning. Call today or go to ferncliffcemetery.com and click on the Advance Planning link.
280 - 284 Secor Road | Hartsdale, N.Y. 10530 | 914/693-4700 | ferncliffcemetery.com
9 bedrooms/ 6 full baths/ 1 half bath/ Elevator/ Pool
976426
Where Memories Live Forever
Prices have been in effect since January 1, 2020
Too busy To clean? leT us do iT for you!
5041 Goodridge Avenue
Professional maid service with a difference: • Dusting • Vacuuming • Linen Change • Mopping • Waxing Floors • Bathrooms • Ironing • Towel Change • Laundry • Refrigerator Cleaning Also... • Home Health Aide, live-in/live-out • Interior Painting, Installing & Removing Floor & Wall Tiles, etc.
elite complete cleaning service 1012965
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H eAltH A ide A vAilAble f oR H iRe
///////////////compAnion
10 bedrooms/ 6 full baths/ 1 half bath/ Elevator/ Pool
John E. FitzgErald • 914.613.5510
(Brokers ProTecTed)
VisiT our weBsiTe for floor Plans and PhoTos of all homes
call us or your Broker for aVailaBiliTy of homes and renTal raTes w w w .V i lla n oVa h ei g h t s . co m
live in/live out Licensed, Professional, Reliable
718-670-3214
*Villanova Heights is a rental community of fine homes on 25,000 Sq. Ft. lots. We periodically feature all of our homes in these ads, whether or not currently available.
Call for rental prices and dates of availability.
RefeRences AvAilAble
Business Card Director y COMPUTER REPAIRS
CONSTRUCTION
Computer Repair, Upgrade, Troubleshooting Virus Removal, Data Recovery Cracked Laptop Screen and Broken Power Jack Replacement
CALL James 646-281-4475 718-324-4332
FITNESS Lic # 2075711-DCA
- General Contracting - Kitchen Remodeling - Home Remodeling - Custom Home - Bathroom Remodeling - Flooring Installation - Siding Installation / Repair
•�Fitness Coach •�Group Instructor� •�Nutritional Counselor� •�CPR Certified •�Kids Adults Seniors
127 Brewster Avenue 212-729-1072 - Office Yonkers, NY 10701 201-257-2912 - Cell E-mail: Info@loyalgc.com
Saifsets@aol.com • 646.596.6428
CONSTRUCTION
computer services KMA Tech Riverdale-Based / Prompt Service
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917-642-0195
CONSTRUCTION
MR. FIXIT CONSTRUCTION Honest, Reliable, Professional Construction Specialists “FULLY LICENSED, ACCREDITED AND INSURED” RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
RENOVATIONS, REMODELS, ADDITIONS & EXTENSIONS
• Kitchens and Bathrooms • Deck Layout and Construction • Basements and Attics • Garages and Sheds
DIVERSE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS
• Carpentry and Masonry • Painting Interior/Exterior • Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Leaders • Furniture Refurbishment • Sewers, Drains, Pipes, Roto Rootering • Conduit and Wiring • Basement Waterproofing • General Repairs • Closet and Space Organizing • Snow Removal – All Terrains NO JOB TOO BIG FREE ON-SITE ESTIMATES OR TOO SMALL
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YONKERS# 5688
Home Inspections and
Gutters • Leaders • Fences • Painting Kitchens • Baths • Basements • Decks • Doors Brick Pointing • Concrete • Stucco
All Windows & Apple Products We come to you – always available by phone Home Computers & Other Devices Small Business Installations & Services Ask us about our computer training packages Special TLC for Older Learners!
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• Interior Design & Home Décor • Windows, Doors, Fences & Enclosures • Patios, Porches, Terraces & Canopies • Flooring – Ceramic, Parquet, Vinyl
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BRICKPOINTING, CONCRETE WORK, ROOFING, WINDOWS, RETAINING WALLS, PAINTING, SHEETROCK WORK, OUTDOOR DECKS, POWERWASHING, GUTTER WORK OFFICE: 917-566-8147
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CONTRACTING CORP.
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We Specialize In: Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations Tilework & Roofing Experienced & Insured • FREE ESTIMATES
Family Owned
525 West 235th Street Bronx, NY 10463
646.407.3913
Senior Discount Available
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INVITATIONS / PRINTING
INVITATIONS / PRINTING
Invitations Plus
Designer Clothing for Sale 231 West 231st Street (1 Block West of B’way)
Tel (718)543-0021 • Cell (917)318-3675 OPEN 7 DAYS: Mon-Sat 9-8 • Sunday 9-6
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Est.1959
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“It is so refreshing to work with people with such integrity and a comfort to know that I am doing the best for my company. M&R truly sets a standard for excellence”
600 West 246th 246th Street, Riverdale, 600 West StreetNY (718) 548-3900 Riverdale, NY www.invitationsplus.info
(718) 548-3900 Sun. 10 am - 2 pm • Mon.-Thur. 3 pm - 7:30 pm www.invitationsplus.info CLOSED Fridays and Saturdays
By appointment only
WINDOW INSTALLATION/REPAIR
“America’s Most Exquisite Invitations” “America’s Most Exquisite Invitations”
“60 Years Serving Riverdale” RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL 914-423-1000 718-324-5000
Major Alterations done for Men, Women & Children
NEW LOCATION • Same Day Service Available
888-757-9022
Lic.#2091374-DCA
Professional Alterations Rafael The Tailor
Michelle Z.
718-652-1300
info@mandrwindows.com FREE CONSULTATION
NEW WINDOW INSTALLATION * NEW DOOR INSTALLATION * REPLACEMENT WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLATION * WINDOW REPAIRS * DOOR REPAIRS * INSULATED GLASS * SCREEN REPLACEMENT
Sun. 10 am - 2 pm • Mon.-Thur. 3 pm - 7:30 pm DeaDline for the May Business CarD DireCtory is Fridays WeDnesDay, april 29th @ 2 pm CLOSED and Saturdays
Contact your sales representative or call 718.543.6065 ext. 3 to get in touch with our marketing and sales team who can help you reach out to your clients.
A14 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, April 16, 2020
TrebachRealty.com
718.543.7174
Family Owned & Operated Since 1972
exclusive
NeW exclusive
FieldstoN Web #844 Classic & Elegant 4-bdrm, 3.5-bath with abundant French doors leading out to expansive front terrace, a stone patio, an open, shady side porch and a level grassy yard. Living room with WBFP, formal dining room and eat-in kitchen. $1,895,000
West oF parKWay Picturesque 4-bdrm, 3-bath Tudor-Style house on double lot with grassy yard and river views on private cul-de-sac. House features a living room with WBFP, formal dining room, sunroom, finished basement, C/A/C and an attached 2-car garage. $1,690,000
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exclusive FieldstoN Web #839 Stylish and bright 4-bdrm, 3-bath solar modern home with patio and garden. Living room with WBFP, dining room with pass-through to an eat-in kitchen with peninsula. Loft like 2nd floor, family room and office. C/A/C and central vacuum. $1,750,000
NeW exclusive
NeW exclusive
FieldstoN Web #877 Renovated bright and airy 6-bdrm, 5.5-bath house with spacious grounds. Features entry hall, living room with fireplace, spacious and inviting eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, sunroom with radiant-heat floors and finished basement. $3,450,000
south riverdale Web #871 Spacious 4-bdrm, 2.5-bath house with living room with WBFP, formal dining room and eat-in kitchen. $1,800,000
NeW exclusive West oF the parKWay Web #856 Classic 3-bdrm, 2.5-bath house features a center hall, living rm with WBF, formal dining rm and eat-in kitch. $1,200,000
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exclusive ceNtral riverdale Web #859 4-bdrm, 3-bath detached brick house with high ceilings, and lovely rear deck perfect for entertaining. Living room with brick WBFP, formal dining room, updated eat-in kitchen, finished walk-out basement, laundry area and storage room. $925,000
NeW exclusive
NeW exclusive FieldstoN Web #874 Contemporary 4-bdrm, 4-bath house on a leafy cul-de-sac. Living room with WBFP, dining room with bay windows, eat-in kitchen, study/playroom, storage attic, rear porch and finished basement with recreation room. 1-car garage. $1,600,000
NeW co-exclusive
NeW exclusive
vaN cortlaNdt crest Web #869 Spacious 7-bdrm, 3-full and 2 half bath Tudor-Style house with grassy yard on double lot along tree lined st. $825,000
North riverdale Web #875 Bright 3-bdrm, 2.5-bath house on quiet cul-de-sac w/ rear deck and fenced yard. WBFP & formal dining rm. $695,000
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KiNgsbridge Web #879 Fully renovated 3-bdrm, 1.5-bath house with entry foyer, dining rm, front porch, patio, garden & 3-car garage. $895,000
NeW exclusive south riverdale Web #872 Three vacant lots with R2 Zoning and Single-family 4-bdrm, 2.5-bath, stucco, Tudor-style house. $3,000,000
exclusive
FieldstoN Web #804 4-bdrm, 3-bath stucco & stone home. Living room with WBF, formal dining room and eat-in kitchen. $1,499,000
estate area Web #855 7-bdrm, 5.5-bath newly built house with open-plan living rm, dining rm, centerisland kitchen and patios. $2,295,000
exclusive
exclusive
West oF parKWay Web #867 This estate consists of 2 dwellings on a nearly one-acre double lot (2 separate lots). There is a 4-bdrm main house (built in the 1950’s) plus a 2-bdrm guest house (built in the 1920’s) with an impressive backyard that is level and grassy. $3,495,000
south riverdale Web #858 Stone and Stucco house with 4-bdrms, 3 full & 2 half baths, WBFP in LR, FDR and renovated kitchen. $1,195,000
KiNgsbridge Web #854 3-bdrm, 1.5-bath semi-attached house. FDR w/ French door out to the rear deck & yard and renov kitch. $719,000
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exclusive south riverdale Web #805 4-bdrm, 3.5-baths, Tudor-style house with living room with WBF, FDR, updated kitchen & study. $1,395,000
NeW exclusive
exclusive
FieldstoN Web #848 Rare opportunity vacant land of over a third of an acre with R1-2 Zoning to build exactly the house you need. $1,200,000
NeW exclusive
exclusive
West oF parKWay Web #846 Spacious 3-bdrm, 2.5-bath house features a living room with bay windows and marble WBF, dining room with sliding glass doors to large level backyard, eat-in kitchen, MBR suite & den with a wet bar. 2-car garage plus plenty of off street parking. $1,599,000
ceNtral riverdale Web #865 New Construction: 2-Family Townhouse w/ 4-bdrm duplex over 1-bdrm w/ deck & level, grassy backyard. $1,275,000
FieldstoN Web #632 5-bdrm, 5.5-bath house with spacoius living room, dining room, den and center island kitchen. $2,495,000
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co-ops, condos and REntals
house For reNt
NeW exclusive
NeW exclusive
West oF parKWay Web #rr876 Spacious and bright 5-bdrm, 4-bath house with patios and garden. Modern updates and 2-car garage. $9,000
3875 Waldo aveNue Web #cc639 Spacious & charming corner unit Jr-4 features a large dining foyer, windowed dining area and hardwood flrs. $249K
5715 mosholu aveNue Web #cc635 Bright L-shaped 2-bdrm postwar co-op. Hrdwd flrs, South & West expos. Top flr corner unit. $229,000
NeW exclusive
NeW coNdo exclusive
house For reNt
3515 heNry hudsoN prKWy #cc638 Spacious 3-bdrm, 2-bath corner unit w/ large entry foyer, renovated kitchen, parquet floors and balcony. $695,000
445 West 240th st Web #cc637 Postwar 2-bdrm condo with large entry foyer, living room, windowed kitchen, dining area and hrdwd flrs. $399,000
south riverdale Web #rr872 3-bdrm, 2-bath brick house with entry hallway, living room w/ wood burning fireplace and eat-in kitch. $4,200/mo
No board approval West oF parKWay - 3-bdrm, 2-bath, w/ balcony, L-shaped LR/DR area, DM, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. Indoor parking available. $515K West oF parKWay - 2-bdrm, 1.5-bath, w/ balcony, L-shaped LR/DR area, DM, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. Indoor parking available. $420K sold - North riverdale - Renov Jr-4 with entry foyer NeW exclusive living rm, dining rm and windowed eat-in kitchen. $299K 3636 FieldstoN rd cc641 iN coNtract - ceNtral riverdale - Newly renov studio Updated studio on second with hrdwd flrs, seperate kitchen and sleeping area. $185K floor with separate kitchen and sleeping area. $175K
proFessioNal & oFFice space
house For reNt
house For reNt
FieldstoN vic. rr641 8-bdrm, 6.5-bath, 10,700+ sq. ft. Multiple porches, swimming pool. 4-car garage. $21,000/mo
FieldstoN vic. rr655 Grand 8-bdrm, 6.5-bath, 10,700+ sq. ft. Private swimming pool. 3-car garage. $17,500/mo
NeW reNtal
NeW exclusive
house For reNt
FieldstoN vic. rr642 6-bdrm, 3.5-bath, 7,500 sq. ft. house w/ Expansive wraparound porch & pool. $22,500/mo
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exclusive 3530 hh parKWay cc628 Huge 3-bdrm conv 4, 2-bath at Parkway House. Low floor, high ceilings. $649K
house For reNt
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West oF parKWay rr704 Charming 4-bdrm, 3-bth. Living room w/ fireplace, eat-in kitch & finished basement. $6,900/mo
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cc605 West oF parKWay rr873 555 KappocK st Pet friendly 3-bdrm, 2-bath. Bright 1-bdrm with dining balcony, DM and fitness rm. area, C/A/C, Hudson River Partial fee paid. $2,995/mo view and 24-hr DM. $179K
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4455-65 douglas cc622 3755 hh pKWay - the imperial - Walk-in level doctor’s Spacious Townhouse with $360K 3-bdrms, 3.5bths, sunken office with reception area and 2 exam rooms. North riverdale - Office Space Available. $1,500/mo LR, WBFP & patio. $1.699K
exclusive 3601 JohNsoN ave. cc587 Walk-in level doctor’s office with seperate entrance and reception area. $295K
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NeW exclusive 290 West 232Nd st cc626 2-bdrm with entry foyer, living room, kitchen, dining area and balcony. $329K
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cc634 sunrise dining $279K
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exclusive 5355 hh parKWay Updated Jr-4 with balcony, living rm, rm and eat-in kitch.
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pet-FrieNdly reNtals West oF parKWay - 3-bdrm, 2-bath, sunset balcony, DM & fitness room. Dogs OK. Owner pays partial fee $2,995/mo JohNsoN aveNue - 3-bdrm, 1.5-bath with dining area and yard in multi-family house. $2,700/mo
NeW exclusive
3875 Waldo ave cc640 Charming and updated Jr4 w/ lrg dining foyer, sunken living rm & windowed dining rm. $249K
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No Fee reNtals
West oF parKWay - Luxury 2-bdrm, 2-bath with balcony, $3,595/mo doorman, tennis courts and fitness room. West oF parKWay - Luxury renovated 2-bdrm, 2-bath $3,395/mo with doorman, tennis courts and fitness room. West oF parKWay - Luxury spacious Jr4, balcony, 24-hr doorman, health club w/ pool. 1 month free rent $2,925/mo West oF parKWay - Luxury 2-bdrm, 2-bath, 24-hr doorman, pool & tennis courts. 1 month free rent $2,795/mo West oF parKWay - Luxury large 1-bdrm with river views. 24-hr doorman, gym w/ pool. 1 month free rent $2,725/mo West oF parKWay - Luxury 1-bdrm with balcony, doorman, tennis courts and fitness room. $2,295/mo West oF parKWay - Luxury studio in 24-hr doorman building with pool and tennis courts. 1 month free rent $1,850/mo
exclusive 290 West 232Nd st cc631 Spacious 3-bdrm, 1.5-bth corner unit with open views, living rm & kitchen. $425K
NeW exclusive 3875 Waldo ave. cc636 Charming 1-bdrm with entry foyer, sunken living rm & windowed kitchen. $295K
exclusive
exclusive coNdo
exclusive
3755 hh parKWay cc623 Spacious 1-bdrm with entry foyer, living room, renov kitch & dining area. $199K
3205 arliNgtoN ave cc633 Contemporary 3-bdrm, 2-bth w/ southern balcony, lndry in unit & indr prkg. $725K
5355 hh parKWay cc629 Renovated Jr-4, living room, dining room & eat-in kitch. No board approval. $299K
Trebach Realty, Inc. • 3801 Greystone Avenue, Riverdale Open 7 Days • www.TrebachRealty.com