What’s inside?
Music, identity and faith
Riverdale Temple welcomes new rabbi Page A3
Community bounty
Kids learn by running local farmstand Page A5
Bolstering the Bronx
How Camelia Tepelus has shaped a community Page A6
Local elder abuse hotline expands service across precincts
By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com
The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice located at RiverSpring Living, 5901 Palisade Ave, has expanded its Service Provider Elder Abuse Coordination Helpline, or SPEACH, to every New York City Police Department precinct.
The initiative is a partnership with Safe Horizon, the largest victim advocacy nonprofit in the nation. The consultation line connects crime victim advocates embedded in precincts with elder abuse specialists who can help navigate the legal, medical and social issues unique to cases with older adults. The expansion builds on the program’s rollout last fall in the city’s five
Police respond to claims of lacking action on car theft
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
As the issue of stolen cars and car parts persists across greater Riverdale, some residents are critiquing what they believe is a lack of New York City Police Department action. But police told The Press solving the problem is not so simple.
Riverdale-based filmmaker Lisa Stockton-Wilson has been taking initiative, and rallying neighbors to document their incidents of car and car part theft on a shared spreadsheet. She intends to deliver the list — which recorded 11 incidents as of July 17 — to elected officials and demand an increase in neighborhood police patrol.
Twenty-six incidents of grand larceny auto were reported in the 50th Precinct— which patrols Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Kingsbridge and Marble Hill — in the last month, according to the NYPD’s crime stats through July 12. In the last year, 146 incidents were reported through July 12, according to police.
“Why aren’t they protecting us?”
Stockton-Wilson asked about the police.
“Why are they just letting this happen?
We pay our taxes like everyone else.”
Stockton-Wilson had the catalytic converter stolen out of her Mazda6 in late June. According to a complaint filed to the police, the incident occurred June 20 in front of 5914 Riverdale Avenue at 12:26 p.m. Stockton-Wilson recalled starting up her car, and hearing a “rocket-ship loud” noise, as if the car was about to explode.
Perpetrators want catalytic converters CAR THEFT on page A4
Family Justice Centers, where advocates now regularly consult Weinberg staff on elder abuse cases.
Safe Horizon’s Crime Victim Assistance Program places at least one advocate in every NYPD precinct to help victims understand their options, whether they ultimately decide to pursue criminal charges or not. The program grew out of the Domestic Violence Police Program, first established in 1984, and expanded citywide in 2015 and 2016.
According to the New York City Department for the Aging, roughly 15 percent of New Yorkers over age 60 experience some form of mistreatment. By extending the partnership into precincts, older adults entering the criminal justice system will
receive more specialized support before critical decisions are made, said Dierdre Lok, director and managing attorney at the Weinberg Center.
“This was a big launch for us because it affects a wide geographic range and area, and it is enhancing and further developing a relationship that we had already begun in terms of training on elder abuse and elder mistreatment,” she said, adding abuse cases involving older adults are often more complex than a single criminal act.
In 2022, the NYPD responded to more than 19,000 domestic incidents involving victims aged 60 and older. Yet advocates estimate only one in 24 older adults experiencing abuse ever sought professional
HOTLINE on page A4
Environmentalists raise alarm over rising heat
By Michelle Mullen
With another stretch of summer heat pushing air conditioners into overdrive, environmentalists are questioning whether New York’s electrical systems can withstand a drastically warming climate. The concern goes beyond keeping the lights on. Electricity powers hospitals, subways, and drinking water and wastewater plants alike. Environmentalists say the July 4 failure at the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant, which sent tens of millions of gallons of partially treated wastewater into the Hudson River, according to Westchester County, showed what happens when that infrastructure is pushed to its limits.
Robert Fanuzzi, president of the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, called it a warning, saying hotter summers and a growing population mean demand for power increasingly tests the systems everyone depends on. He believes New York is entering an era in which rising demand for power could increasingly test the resilience of its infrastructure.
Con Edison appears to be preparing for that future, announcing a $3.9 billion investment in May to strengthen its electric delivery system in New York City and Westchester County. Demand is expected to reach 12,690 megawatts next summer, the utility said, nearing its alltime record of 13,322 megawatts set during the 2013 heat wave. Demand is rising even without hotter summers, said Karen Argenti, a Bronx Council for Environmental Quality member. The department of city planning said the city’s population is projected to approach nine million by 2055, putting significant strain on existing energy systems. The Bronx alone is projected to reach roughly 1.65 million people, according to the department.
“The problem is the bad weather, crazy weather, very hot, extremely hot weather, and the high need for electricity,” Argenti said. “You do have to bring in more electricity because you have more people. So there’s a double thing.”
UMSV announces new approach to pursuing trade school and degrees
By Michelle Mullen
mmullen@riverdalepress.com
The University of Mount Saint Vincent, or UMSV, and Apex Technical School are joining forces to bring skilled trades training to the university’s Riverdale campus, creating a pathway for students to combine technical credentials with a college education.
The partnership comes as more students rethink the traditional four-year college path. Enrollment at trade-focused public two-year colleges has jumped nearly 20% since 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Even as undergraduate enrollment numbers drop across the country, the research center found, these vocational-focused institutions made up close to a fifth of all public two-year enrollment last year. Omar Acevedo, post-secondary program manager for Riverdale Neighborhood House’s Teen Program, said he has watched that shift play out firsthand during his nearly nine years helping students plan for life after high school. Rather than asking where they want to attend college, many now ask what career a particular educational path will lead to, while families are paying closer attention to tuition costs, scholarships and “return on investment.”
He said careers as electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and welders are increasingly viewed as respected, wellpaying professions rather than backup options.
“I feel like students don’t see college and the trades as mutually exclusive,” Acevedo said. “Some are interested in earning certifications first and then pursuing the degree later on.”
Mount Saint Vincent’s partnership with Apex aims to meet that changing mindset by breaking down what educators describe
Courtesy Jim Malatras
HVAC, weld-
GARY JEAN-JUSTE
The einberg Center for Elder Justice has partnered with nonpro t Safe Hori on to broaden the Service rovider Elder Abuse Coordination Helpline.
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Arrest made after woman pronounced dead
Elizabeth Baron, a 27-year-old woman from Riverdale, was pronounced dead July 19 after being taken to the hospital from Bereshit Lifestyle Center at 3190 Riverdale Avenue, police said. Police responded to a 911 call around 1:20 p.m. of an aided female at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where hospital staff told them the woman was taken unconscious and unresponsive
from Bereshit, authorities said. The woman was subsequently pronounced dead, police said.
The same day, around 9 p.m., police said they arrested Luis Rojas Cabrera, a 55-year-old man from New Jersey. Cabrera was charged with reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of profession, police added. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Man stabbed on Riverdale Avenue
Police said a 34-year-old man was stabbed in the chest July 20 around 5 p.m. in front of 3190 Riverdale Ave. The man was taken to the hospital in stable
condition, police said.
Three persons of interest were taken into custody and the investigation remains ongoing, police added.
Sexually motivated robbery on Broadway, police seek suspect
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual wanted in connection with a sexually motivated robbery.
An unidentified individual approached a 56-year-old woman from behind July 12, around 10 p.m., opposite of 6661 Broadway, police said. This address is near West 262nd Street and Broadway. The individual put the woman in a chokehold, forcibly touched her chest and tried to remove her clothing, police said.
The individual then struck the woman in the face, took her purse and fled to parts unknown, according to police.
Police said the woman sustained minor injuries and refused treatment.
The NYPD is asking any other victims to please come forward by calling the NYPD’s Sex Crimes Hotline at 1-212-267-7273 or 1-646610-7272, the Crime Stoppers
Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.
Gas station robbery, $2,000 stolen from register
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual who is wanted in connection with a robbery.
Inside 6571 Broadway, which is a gas station, July 4 around 3:45 p.m., an unknown individual pointed a gun at the 32-year-old worker, police said. The individual took about $2,000 from the register, before fleeing on a bike southbound on Broadway, according to police.
No injuries were reported as a result of this incident, according to police.
POLITICAL ARENA
Dinowitzes demand action on Van Cortlandt Park safety
In response to reports of crime near Van Cortlandt Park this month, Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Council member Eric Dinowitz released a joint statement July 16 on safety in the neighborhood.
The Dinowitzes said they convened an emergency meeting with Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the New York Police Department, the city departments of transportation, parks and recreation, and education, and Bronx Community Board 8. Residents have raised serious concerns that reinforce the need for better lighting and a patrol presence in the park, the release said.
“We made clear to every agency that the community expects action,” the Dinowitzes said.
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The NYPD reportedly assured the Dinowitzes there is a team and vehicle for the Broadway corridor, as well as additional foot patrols in the area, the release said. The Dinowitzes added the city’s department of transportation is expediting its study to install street lighting.
The push for a dedicated Parks Enforcement Patrol command at Van Cortlandt Park continues, according to the Dinowitizes.
Rivera on Citizens Bank cutting financial ties with ICE
Citizens Bank announced in a July 17 press release two private prison companies that partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement — CoreCivic and The GEO Group — would no longer be Citizens’ clients. Citizens said it was a business decision.
State Sen. Gustavo Rivera said in a release July 19 he was proud to stand with neighbors in the De-ICE Citizens Bank Coalition to protest Citizens.
The coalition is a network of community groups that pushed for Citizens to end its relationships with CoreCivic and The GEO Group, according to the coalition’s website. “I stand in solidarity with those of us resisting ICE’s terrorizing and kidnapping of our community members,” Rivera said in a statement. “Which includes standing up to the forprofit companies complicit in their violence.”
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Courtesy NYPD Crime Stoppers
The suspect put the woman in a chokehold, police said.
Courtesy NYPD Crime Stoppers Police said the suspect fled on a bike.
Michelle Mullen
The NYPD and the city’s department of transportation have both taken action to improve safety, the Dinowitzes said.
Riverdale Temple’s new associate rabbi on music, identity and vision
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
Rabbi Max Chaiken is Riverdale Temple’s newest associate rabbi for music.
Chaiken — who was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, and has built a career in leading song and worship spanning more than 25 years — has a vision for the temple. First, is to build a strong relationship with the congregation, Chaiken said. From there, they can introduce new melodies that make services feel fresh and lively, while still maintaining the deep emotional connection the congregation feels to music, they said.
Chaiken, 40, will help Rabbi Thomas Gardner lead Friday evening and Saturday morning Shabbat services, the temple said, as well as festivals and special services. They will also support B’nei Mitzvah students at the learning center.
Aside from their position at Riverdale Temple, Chaiken is also finishing up a chaplain residency at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey, and recently started part time as a chaplain at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, also in New Jersey.
Chaiken’s professional path has unfolded alongside their own identity.
Chaiken said they had two formative coming out experiences in their life. At 15, Chaiken told their parents they were gay, something they’d known since fifth grade and had confided in close friends about. More than two decades later — as language around gender identity evolved, and Chaiken’s own self-understanding deepened — Chaiken came out as nonbinary at 37.
“It’s important to me that people know I’m nonbinary, that I’m out and proud,” Chaiken said. “It’s also important to me that aspect of my identity … doesn’t impede my ability to create good music and do good work.”
Sometimes, Chaiken said, their work and identity exist in tension with one another. It’s less socially accept-
able for a nonbinary individual who is assigned male at birth to dress traditionally feminine, Chaiken explained. Professionally, it could be distracting. Personally, it could result in judgement. Chaiken described it as a continuous journey figuring out what it means to be themself in public.
Being the only out nonbinary rabbi at Riverdale Temple represents a broader cultural shift for Chaiken.
“We’re living in a time where we’re starting to build strength in a network of queer clergy who are increasingly able to help support each other,” Chaiken said. “And help shape their congregations and the movement to better live up to our values of inclusion.”
For Riverdale Temple members specifically, Chaiken said they don’t anticipate acceptance being an issue, as they’ve already been embraced with genuine warmth. The bigger problem is “they’re gonna try and set me up with their sons,” Chaiken joked.
Throughout their years of navigating identity, music has been a constant in Chaiken’s life. The first time they felt God’s presence was a musical moment at camp, Chaiken said, when they were 10 years old.
Chaiken recalled it was during a Torah service, when the congregation reached the Shema, or a communal declaration of faith. The memory of being surrounded by woods, rays of light breaking through the leaves as hundreds of voices joined together, is still so vivid Chaiken feels physical awe from it.
“Music can transport us,” Chaiken said. “It can bring us from our mourning to our dancing, our despair to our joy. It can give voice to that which we can’t have words for.”
They picked up the guitar at 15, and it has been their leading instrument since.
Chaiken’s journey to Riverdale Temple was unique. Jewish identity was always important growing up, Chaiken said, recalling years spent leading songs at Camp
“There’s something about
Harlam, an overnight camp in the Poconos. But, originally, Chaiken wanted to be a lawyer. In 2009, Chaiken graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and public policy. Fallout from the 2008 financial crisis made it difficult to find entry-level work, but luckily, a rabbi Chaiken knew from Boston reached out offering a spot as a music educator at Temple Beth Shalom. Chaiken said they felt their call to the rabbinate was confirmed.
Looking for a change from the East Coast, Chaiken went to Los Angeles for a master’s degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
and its
Religion, where they were ordained as a rabbi in 2018. From there, they took on roles at Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood and Temple Emanuel of Andover in Massachusetts. Chaiken moved back to Teaneck a few years ago to help take care of family before joining Riverdale Temple. Shelley Ast, chair of the temple’s communications and marketing committee, said the choice between Chaiken and other candidates was easy. If the hiring team had a list of all the things they wanted, needed and liked in a cantor, Chaiken would check off every box, Ast said.
This Thursday, July 23, we fast in mourning for our Holy Temple in Jerusalem (which is Zion), just as we have on the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av every year for nearly 2,000 years.
We are not ‘settler colonial’ interlopers in the Land of Israel — we are the indigenous nation of the Land, returning to our home in Zion after staying true to the message of Psalm 137:
‘If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cleave to my palate if I cease to think of you, if I set not Jerusalem (Zion) above my highest joy.’
Olivia Young photos
singing
physicality that really can refresh our bodies in a way and renew us,” Chaiken said.
Chaiken was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2018.
Weinberg Center expands its elder abuse support
CONTINUED from page A1
help, according to the National Council on Aging.
Lok said cases can involve financial exploitation, neglect, coercive control or spiritual abuse, and the person responsible is frequently someone the older adult relies on, such as a family member or caregiver. That can make decisions about seeking help or pursuing criminal charges especially difficult, she said.
An older adult may need help determining whether cognitive impairment affects decision making, identifying alternatives to an abusive caregiver or finding a safe place to live while preserving important family relationships, she noted. Those are issues that often fall outside the expertise of a traditional criminal investigation.
While the Family Justice Center partnership connected domestic violence advocates with elder abuse
specialists, Lok said the Safe Horizon precinct expansion reaches professionals who often become one of the first points of contact after a crime is reported.
“What we recognize is the need for this particular group of professionals to have someone else, some outside people to turn to and ask for support in dealing with an older adult in ways that person — the crime victim advocate — might not be thinking about,” Lok said.
For Safe Horizon Vice President of Criminal Justice Programs Maureen Curtis, that often means helping older adults understand that they have options beyond simply pursuing an arrest.
“Somebody may not want the person who’s hurting them arrested, but they want other services,” Curtis said.
“We want to offer guidance and assistance for that survivor.”
Curtis explained older adults may instead need help finding safe housing,
replacing a caregiver, accessing medical care or protecting their finances. Those are areas where the Weinberg Center’s attorneys, social workers and health care professionals can offer expertise beyond what most crime victim advocates encounter in their day-today work.
Curtis said that many precinct advocates already understand the criminal justice system and available victim services, but elder abuse cases often require knowledge of dementia, home health care, Medicaid eligibility, longterm housing and other age-specific resources that may not arise in other cases.
“That’s why our relationship with Weinberg is so critical,” Curtis said. “They’re going to have an expertise that we don’t have.”
The goal, Lok said, is to ensure older New Yorkers receive coordinated support regardless of which precinct they first enter.
Rising heat raises infrastructure resilience questions
CONTINUED from page A1
Fanuzzi called it a “growing the pie” problem, citing nearly 50 proposed AI data centers statewide totaling 12 gigawatts — enough energy to power millions of homes — which prompted a new one-year moratorium on permits for large-scale data centers.
“I’m terrified of the future that is driven by an energy-based economy,” he said. “We’re increasing electric demand and hoping that somewhere somebody will pull out a renewable energy source to replace carbonemitting plants. We’re attempting to air-condition ourselves out of a heat dome that scientists have said is virtually impossible without climate change.”
The other side, Argenti, Fanuzzi and Rae Zimmerman, professor emerita at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, argue, is needing less power by cooling the city down. More electricity treats the symptom, not the cause.
“You could do something that would make it better, which is to figure out a way to capture the carbon
that’s creating the greenhouse gases,” Argenti said. “And you do that by making sure you have more green.”
The idea, she continued, is a city with more trees, wetlands and green roofs that needs less electricity to cool down.
Zimmerman’s research treats parks and rain gardens as infrastructure, not amenities. Trees shade streets, wetlands soak up stormwater, rain gardens cool the ground, all easing pressure on the grid.
A green roof’s surface can run up to 56 degrees cooler than a regular one, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, lowering nearby air by up to 20 degrees and cutting cooling loads by up to 70 percent. A mapping study by The Nature Conservancy, Columbia University and the Wildlife Conservation Society, however, found the South Bronx combines high heat vulnerability with some of the city’s lowest concentrations of green roofs.
Zimmerman said the real obstacle isn’t building this infrastructure, but maintaining it.
“The financing for capitalization
is a wake-up call for one of the
is one thing for green infrastructure, but maintenance is another,” she said. “That’s a big deal.”
Her research argues green infrastructure should be a permanent complement to “gray” infrastruc-
ture, a point Argenti’s own council research echoes.
Fanuzzi said greening public buildings, including plants like the one in Yonkers, could cut their own energy use and ease strains such as
that which caused the July 4 failure.
“Maybe New York State will start to rethink its renewable energy policy and start investing in nature-based solutions that lower temperature naturally,” he said.
Results on car theft take time and resources, police say
CONTINUED from page A1
because the part is made of valuable metals — platinum, rhodium and palladium — bringing in more than $200, or in some cases more than $1,000, according to car part and accessory distributor AutoZone.
Replacing the part cost StocktonW ilson about $1500, which is not an easy bill for an artist to foot, she said.
“I don’t know if [the perpetrators] think that it’s a rich neighborhood,” Stockton-Wilson said about Riverdale. “But there’s a lot of workingclass people here that are paycheck to paycheck.”
One signee on the spreadsheet, Johanna Morales, is an Amalgamated Housing Cooperative resident who had her catalytic converter stolen twice, two months apart.
The first time, Jan. 1, the car was parked in front of 3985 Gouverneur Ave., according to a complaint filed to police. The second time, on March 10, the car was parked in front of 4010 Gouverneur Ave., the complaint stated. Both incidents were reported March 14, police said.
“You feel violated,” Morales, who drives a Toyota Corolla, said. “And afraid when you leave your car parked on the street … It could just happen anywhere nowadays.” Hondas and Toyotas are frequently targeted, since perpetrators can reprogram the keys and start the
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as longstanding barriers between vocational training and traditional higher education, giving students greater flexibility in how they prepare for careers and continue their education.
University President Susan R. Burns said the collaboration grew in part from her experience in the Midwest, where she said students can often earn both technical certifications and academic degrees through the same institution. However, in New York City, Burns said, she found trade schools and colleges largely operated separately, making it more difficult for students to transition from technical training into an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
“I think that many of them, whether they be traditional-aged college students or adults changing careers, or adults getting their education, many of them think that it has to be trades or college,” Burns said. “And this, what I love about this is that it doesn’t. There’s not an opposition. There’s not a ‘we have to choose one or the other.’” Under the partnership, Apex, a member of the nonprofit Fedcap network, will provide technical training, while Mount Saint Vincent will provide
car remotely, 50th Precinct Captain Amadeo Oktrova said at a May 50th precinct community council meeting. Kias and Hyundais are also common targets due to vulnerabilities in ignition systems, Oktrova said.
While resident concerns about the safety of their vehicles in the Riverdale area can be a source of anxiety, police said the picture might not be so bleak.
Auto theft has actually declined in the borough, police said, citing a year-to-date 26.4 percent decrease— 1,619 incidents versus 2,199 — in auto theft.
Still, they said solving the problem completely isn’t a quick fix.
A NYPD spokesperson said grand larceny auto investigations are different from other criminal investigations. There’s no direct interaction with the victim or public confrontation, and the crime is almost always committed without witnesses, the spokesperson said. Without someone to see or hear the theft and help identify perpetrators, the NYPD said, it’s difficult for them to follow any investigative leads.
Even when there’s video surveillance, it isn’t very valuable, the spokesperson said. Organized theft crews are routinely deliberate in concealing their identities by wearing masks, gloves and hooded clothes, among other things that hinder facial recognition, according to the spokes-
pathways toward two- and four-year degrees. Students who successfully complete any Apex program, whether in Riverdale at UMSV or an Apex location, will receive automatic admission to the university.
The institutions also plan for Apex graduates to receive college credit for their technical education. Depending on their program, graduates may earn up to 30 credits toward an associate degree, potentially putting them halfway toward completing a degree before beginning traditional college coursework.
The arrangement will also work in the other direction. Mount Saint Vincent students will have the opportunity to enroll in Apex programs while pursuing their degrees, allowing them to graduate with both a college education and an industry-recognized technical credential.
Burns said the model could give students greater flexibility as technology, including artificial intelligence, reshapes the workforce and more people reconsider traditional educational and career paths.
“For a person who decides to become an electrician, the trade certification will give them that opportunity,” she said, adding that earning a busi-
person. Crews are fast, too, they said. They often finish a theft within minutes, while minimizing exposure to cameras, police said. Footage can confirm the crime happened but rarely much else, according to the spokesperson.
Since police are limited in these ways, investigations into crews take time, they said. Cases are intelligence-driven, as investigators work to identify patterns and link multiple incidents, the spokesperson said. Investigators also frequently rely on tools that need a court order or approval from a judge. These include
ness degree alongside it could prepare graduates to move into leadership roles or start their own businesses.
Jim Malatras, Fedcap’s chief strategy officer and senior vice president for education, said the partnership is intended to dismantle what he sees as a persistent divide between vocational and traditional higher education.
“You’re either in the trades or vocational in technical education, or you go the traditional higher education route, and I think it’s just a false choice,” Malatras said. “It’s always been a false choice, but our system was created to give people the one option or the other option.”
Apex has trained more than 60,000 students over six decades for careers in electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, welding, construction, automotive technology and other skilled trades.
The first Apex program planned for UMSV’s campus will focus on electrical training. Dedicated classrooms on the university’s campus will be fitted out for hands-on technical instruction, with the potential to expand into additional skilled trades over time.
Students interested in beginning Mount Saint Vincent coursework could do so as early as
search warrants for cell phones, phone location history, social media analysis, vehicle forensic information, license plate reader data and financial records, according to police. These methods help police build a case that is prosecutable against crews, the spokesperson said.
Police emphasized the amount of time and resources that go into these investigations, often spanning months before there is enough evidence. It may not produce immediate action, but the long-term strategy is most effective in dismantling crews instead of repeatedly arresting low-
er-level offenders for isolated incidents, the spokesperson said. Success shouldn’t be measured by immediate arrests after individual thefts, but by ability to disrupt and prosecute criminal enterprises, the spokesperson said.
The NYPD also highlighted “Operation Pit Crew,” a years-long investigation into an allegedly gangaffiliated auto theft ring. Police and the Bronx District Attorney’s office wrapped up the case in April. It ended with a 971-count indictment against 16 people, surpassing $1.2 million in stolen property value, according to a release from the district attorney.
GARY JEAN-JUSTE
All police precincts in New York City now have access to the Service Provider Elder Abuse Coordination Helpline.
Michelle Mullen photos
The Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant took nearly 14 hours to get back up and running after it lost power over the July 4 weekend.
Environmentalists said the wastewater treatment plant spill
unexpected impacts of climate change.
Courtesy Jim Malatras Electrical work will be the first skilled trades program offered on the University of Mount Saint Vincent campus.
GARY JEAN-JUSTE photos
The NYPD’s 50th Police Precinct hosted an auto theft prevention event in May that offered free catalytic converter etching.
Honda CR-Vs, Honda Accords, Toyota 4Runners or Highlanders, Kias and Hyundais are among the most frequently targeted cars, 50th Precinct Captain Amadeo Oktrova said at a May meeting.
Young entrepreneurs grow more than vegetables at local farm stand
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
For the next three months, six high schoolers and one college student are running the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s farmers market in a program that explores food justice, teaches hands-on gardening and cooking skills, and introduces students to running a weekly business.
The Youth Run Farmstand sits at the corner of Orloff Avenue and Gale Place in Train Park Garden. On Wednesdays from 2 to 7 p.m. through Oct. 28, the students chat with customers, add up order totals and lead cooking demos.
Sara Kempton, the alliance’s program director for garden and environmental education, said she spearheaded the program 14 years ago. Kempton said she’s proud to be a part of high school students’ lives as they’re starting to make their own food choices. Kids are exposed to fruits and vegetables at the market they’ve never tried before, and are also given a space to learn basic cooking skills.
This is something that resonated with 15-year-old Sonny Caruso, who said he learned in a cooking demo that peaches and beets are a tasty combination, something he didn’t expect. Caruso said he is also learning about the benefits of sustainable food.
A sustainable food system
is one that delivers food security and nutrition, while making sure not to compromise economic, social or environmental bases, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The experience is also about real-life development, Christina Taylor, deputy director of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, said. For some of the students, it serves as a first job, and they are learning to communicate with management. For others it’s about expanding their ability to connect with others.
“This gives them a lot of opportunity to engage in small talk with people who are not like them, who don’t share the same interests necessarily, or aren’t in the same age group,” Taylor said.
“That’s a very useful skill.”
The location, within walking distance of Amalgamated Housing Cooperative, was intentional, Kempton and Taylor explained — there are limited spots in Van Cortlandt Village that offer a wide produce selection.
Kennedy Lindley, 15, described the phenomenon as a “food desert,” saying the market was a healthy, affordable alternative for neighbors. Setting up the market and talking to customers was her favorite part of the program so far, Lindley said.
Shelley Spiegel, an Amalgamated resident, said the items at the market were better than others in the neighborhood, and closer to her building.
WIC,
GARY JEAN-JUSTE photos
Kempton said produce sold at the market comes from environmental nonprofit GrowNYC, which partners with farmers in the northeast, according to the organization’s website. The money from customers ends up going right back into the market, Kempton said. This includes upcoming produce orders and supplies to replace tables or tents, she said. The market accepts
FMNP checks, EBT, SNAP, Fresh Connect checks, cash, and credit and debit cards.
Rois Tolentino, 14, left, said he was searching for a summer job when he came across the alliance’s listing, an organization Tolentino had worked with before. So far, he’s picked up the counting-up method when working with customers. This is a way to figure out change without doing hard math, Tolentino explained, where he counts up from the item’s total until reaching the amount the customer gave him. “I’m not the biggest math person,” he said. “So that was something I found really helpful.”
A July 15 cooking demo was led by Marin Rubin, 20, left, and Mariam Keita, 16, right. Fresh cabbage, carrot and onion sizzled on the pan as students offered samples of veggie stir fry, explaining it’s an easy meal to make with rice, noodles or protein. Keita said she enjoys being an advocate for fair access to healthy food, especially in a neighborhood with few options.
Rubin is a college student at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a crew leader for the program, which is a role that bridges the high schoolers to alliance staff, and helps create the curriculum. Rubin, a Riverdale resident, was also an intern with the program when she was in high school, which led her to study landscape architecture in college. “It really opened my eyes to food systems,” Rubin explained. “I’m really interested in creating food landscapes so that everyone has that access.”
On Tuesdays, the students work in a Van Cortlandt Park garden on their own produce, 17-year-old Eliot Faith explained. On July 15, the students sold fresh garlic, green beans and chili peppers. This was a draw for Faith, who said he got involved in the program to expand his gardening knowledge and learn more about where food comes from.
Anuli-Marie McPherson, 17, said she ultimately wants to become a psychiatrist, and sought out an opportunity where she would be able to engage with community members. It allows her insight into the larger picture of how mental health and food insecurity often overlap, McPherson said. She underscored the importance of markets like the alliance’s as a source of healthy food, and urged others to be aware of additives.
“This program very much allows the kids to have their own voice,” Kempton said. “Giving them the chance to stand here and be the expert on what’s going on at the market, to be at the garden and be the expert working with the volunteers, it really gives them an amazing sense of self confidence and self efficacy.”
Camelia Tepelus, Spuyten Duyvil resident reshaping Morris Park
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
Camelia Tepelus often feels she’s flipping a switch as soon as she enters Morris Park.
Tepelus, born in Romania, is a Spuyten Duyvil resident and the executive director of the Morris Park Business Improvement District since 2019. Since landing in the Bronx after years spent learning across the globe, Tepelus has worked to serve her community and secure critical funding for the betterment of Morris Park.
Morris Park’s everyday business improvement district staff is made up of Tepelus and three to five team members from Streetplus, Tepelus said. Streetplus is a private company providing cleaning and safety services, among other things, according to the company’s website.
The district runs along Morris Park Avenue, between Unionport Road and Amethyst Street to the west, and Williamsbridge Road to the east, according to the organization’s site.
A business improvement district, or BID, is an area where local stakeholders oversee and fund the maintenance and promotion of their district, according to the New York City Department of Small Business Services. This includes efforts such as street cleaning, beautification, business development and public safety.
Riverdale, with more active debate. It’s “alive and moving and evolving,” she explained.
In May, Tepelus won $750,000 from the state as part of its downtown revitalization initiative. The project proposal, written and championed by Tepelus, aimed to enhance Morris Park Avenue’s streetscape by installing trees, planters, tree guards, banners and other public amenities, according to a May release from Gov. Kathy Hochul. The project was one of 10, totalling $20 million, to better greater Morris Park.
The accomplishment earned Tepelus a spot on City & State’s “Above and Beyond: Protecting New York” list of local leaders released last month. This is one of a dozen public recognitions Tepelus has received over the years, including from the New York State Senate and Crain’s New York Business.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Tepelus advocated for around 300 businesses, helping keep all but two open and resulting in the addition of 11, City & State said in 2021. Some strategic projects she has worked on include advocacy for Metro-North expansion to the east Bronx, which the city said will arrive in 2027, according to the BID website, as well as serving as a community partner on Reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway. This was a 2025 study released by the city that aimed to reconnect communities divided by the expressway and lessen negative effects on surrounding communities.
longed for a life of travel. First she got a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in Bucharest, before setting off for Italy to study organic chemistry, and then Sweden, eventually earning a PhD in industrial environmental economics.
She was in Spain for a time as well, working for an organization that aimed to protect children from sexual exploitation and trafficking in travel and tourism. She moved to Brooklyn in 2004 for the same role. The moment Tepelus set foot in the city, New York felt like home, she said.
Tepelus’ debut in the northwest Bronx was through a fellowship for the city’s small business services department, where she worked for the nonprofit Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation to expand its reach in Marble Hill. Twelve years ago, she settled in Spuyten Duyvil with her family.
When she applied for a position at the newly created Morris Park BID in 2019, Tepelus said she hadn’t ever gone farther east than the Bronx Zoo or the New York Botanical Garden. She took a drive, and said she found the neighborhood was “underappreciated, underinvested, underserved, under everything.”
“There was no clear scope of work for a new organization,” Tepelus, the BID’s first executive director, said. “There was nobody before me to create a path. So I will be creating the path … I will help this community turn the page from a history that needs to be refreshed.”
Regardless of any disagreement, residents all have the same basic, fundamental values, Tepelus said. They want their children to be safe, their streets to be clean, their businesses to be thriving and their neighborhood to be something in which to take pride. Aside from the day-to-day improvements such as making sure sidewalks are swept and trash is cleared, marketing small businesses and monitoring 311 complaints, Tepelus said in June 2024 she spearheaded the project she is most proud of.
While Tepelus has left a lasting mark on the Bronx, her journey began in Romania.
Tepelus said until she was 15, Romania was a communist state. Living in a small, regulated apartment, Tepelus said she always
Though she was up for it, the role was a challenge. The east Bronx presented a unique diversity of cultures, political views and more, creating a place with a unique blend of needs as well.
Tepelus described the district as having more balance than
“The Pulse” on Morris Park Avenue, on the fence of Loreto Playground between Haight Avenue and Tomlinson Avenue, is a 110-feet long light fixture. It shows two interconnected strings of light, resembling a DNA spiral, around a centered heart shape. According to the Morris Park Business Improvement District’s site, it “highlights connections between people” and the “perpetual transformation of communities united in shared love for our neighborhoods.” The same year the project launched, it was awarded Honorable Mention at the international LIT Design Awards. The pride in external recognition isn’t self-serving, Tepelus explained. When the neighborhood is highlighted, it elevates the residents, improves morale and raises their expectations for elected officials.
“People sometimes think you have to be a large organization to get results,” Tepelus said. “I’m not a large organization and I get results.”
GARY JEAN-JUSTE
Camelia Tepelus is the first executive director of the Morris Park Business Improvement District, she said.
Courtesy Morris Park Business Improvement District
“The Pulse” light installation on Morris Park Avenue launched in 2024.
Riverdale Sandlot Softball gives adults
By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com
Every Tuesday, players trickle onto Seton Park’s baseball fields for another summer evening of Riverdale Sandlot Softball. Some teammates are strangers, some well acquainted, but all exchange friendly banter across the dugout. When the first pitch is thrown, cheers of encouragement ring out, but not without some playful heckling. Registration for the weekly, non-committal league opens with 50 slots each Wednesday through a Google Form and typically fills up within minutes.
For Riverdale Sandlot Softball founder Mark Wishnia, it’s a sign of just how much demand exists for a free, informal space to stay active and meet neighbors.
Once the 50 spots fill up, W ishnia splits players across four teams, two innings running at once on two fields. To keep games even, he surveys participants on skill level and their preferred position out on the field. He then adds that information to an online generator to build randomized, but fair teams — a change Wishnia made after realizing captains kept picking the same players last, week after week. Those who miss out that week’s registration land on a waitlist. But with roughly 400 people subscribed to the league’s email list, many hoping to join one of the area’s most sought-after summer traditions will have to try again the following week. Wishnia launched the free pickup league in 2023 after finding few opportunities for adults to play recreational sports without leaving the neighborhood, setting out to create something at no cost that emphasized participation over competition.
“I wanted to create something for adults,” he said. “There’s a lot of Little League and stuff. But there’s nothing for adults.”
The first season drew about 75 people, primarily through flyers taped to telephone poles and Facebook posts in neighborhood groups. They gathered at the one Seton Park baseball field reserved by Wishnia that summer, secured through a two-and-a-half hour permit from
the New York City Parks and Recreation Department — at a fee of $28.50 an hour per field, he said. Since then, the league’s growth has mainly come through word of mouth, resulting in the weekly softball signup scramble that player Ken Viola knows well.
Viola joined Sandlot about three years ago, having heard of it from a friend who coached his daughter’s softball team. At 43 years old, he was looking to stay active, he said. It wasn’t long before he realised the league was bigger than just a ballgame.
“It’s great camaraderie, friendship, everybody being so welcoming,” he said from the dugout.
However, meeting demand and the costs that come with it remain among Wishnia’s toughest challenges.
After the league’s inaugural year, he expanded play to both the park’s fields, doubling permit costs to nearly $600 a month. This summer, an expanded 10-week season pushed the league over the threshold for liability insurance, adding roughly $1,200 in additional costs.
Sponsorships, Wishnia said, have helped the league stay afloat, with Apple Bank and Blackstone Bar & Grill covering permits, equipment and other fees, allowing games to remain free of charge.
Jumelia Abrahamson, who learned about Sandlot through a coworker three years ago, said the league has become part of her summer routine. Unlike many adult recreational leagues that require registration fees or weekly commitments, she said Sandlot’s free, flexible format makes it easier for people with changing work schedules to participate.
“It makes it accessible for everyone,” Abrahamson said.
“It’s an encouraging atmosphere that is exciting, something to look forward to on a weekly basis.”
The league draws players with a wide range of experience, from lifelong athletes to adults who haven’t picked up a glove in years. That mix of age and skill is part of what stands out to Michael Pinkus, the league’s youngest regular at 18.
A lifeguard at the Riverdale
Neighborhood House, he said Tuesday nights have become a release after long shifts in the sun. Reflecting on his time with the league, he said playing alongside people decades older than his usual teammates has changed how he thinks about competition.
“It’s interesting because it’s like I’m used to young guys —
we kind of banter with each other — but here people are more respectful, they’re more kind, they’re more helpful,” he said.
E.J. Mauras, who has been with Sandlot since its first season and fills in as commissioner, noted the inclusive energy is not the only feature that sets it apart from other leagues. While Sandlot is co-ed, he said, many adult leagues either aren’t or charge significantly more for mixed teams.
“The competition for the girls here is really good,” he said, adding he would like to see more women sign up. Looking ahead, Wishnia said he would like to grow Sandlot beyond Seton Park and into a year-round operation with multiple sports.
“My dream one day would be to run a [recreational] sports league full time,” he said. “The best part is just knowing that I created something people want to do. I’m proving something to myself and to the community... that adults of any age, they want to do stuff.”
Michelle Mullen photos
Mark Wishnia brought Riverdale Sandlot Softball to Seton Park in 2023 to create a league for adults. With spots for only 50 players each week, registration
Smoky, h azy skies in t h e Bronx an d beyon d : 5 t
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
Starting July 15 and lasting about three days, the city was blanketed in unhealthy smoke due to Canadian wildfires. Amid visible smog and a lingering burning smell, the air quality index, or AQI, peaked on June 16 at “very unhealthy”, then fell throughout the day once it started to rain, according to a July 17 New York City Emergency Management release.
The New York City metropolitan area returned to “moderate” air quality as of June 20, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s AQI. This is a step below “good,” and means the air quality is acceptable, but there could be a risk for those sensitive to air pollution, according to the department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Here are five things to know about the air quality.
Canadian wildfires
The dangerous heat wave that recently hit the U.S. also created hot and dry conditions in Canada, according to NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio. Typical for the region, NASA said, lighting strikes hit and ignited wildfires in the “drought-ridden” area of Ontario. The fires release plumes of smoke containing air pollutants, and can travel hundreds of miles, NASA said. On July 14, high pressure in the atmosphere drove fast-moving, upper-level air flow carrying smoke from Ontario to the northeastern U.S., NASA wrote. According to the Canadian W ildland Fire Information System, Canada has experienced 3,898 wildfires as of July 20. Of those, 2982 have been put out, and 916 are still active.
Air pollution
AQI measures the amount of pollution in the air, spanning from good to hazardous, according to The Natural Resources Defense Council, a U.S.-based environmental advocacy nonprofit. It measures five major air pollutants, the council said: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution and sulfur dioxide.
According to an air quality health advisory the state department of environmental conservation released July 15, the pollutant of concern was fine particulate matter, which is a type of particle pollution. Fine particulate matter consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets, the state department said in the advisory. Particles measure 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less, according to the federal environmental protection agency. The average human hair is 30 times larger than the largest fine particle, the agency said.
Lorraine Coyle, ESQ
ings to know
Health risks
The state department said exposure to fine particulate matter can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, as well as coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. It can also worsen heart disease and asthma, making older adults and children especially vulnerable, the department added. The city did not publicly report any deaths or hospitalizations due to unhealthy air quality.
City action
Mayor Zohran Mamdani expanded the city’s response, as
the worsening air quality overlapped with dangerous heat, according to a July 15 release. Cooling centers remained open citywide, outreach workers intensified canvassing efforts, and KN95 masks were available at libraries, police precincts and transit hubs.
The city also adjusted its operations. New York City Public Schools directed principals to limit outdoor activities and reschedule any outdoor field trips, and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreations cancelled outdoor swim programs for kids and babies, and moved camp activities indoors.
Moving forward
As skies started to clear, New York City Emergency Management issued a statement July 19, lauding the response from residents and city agencies.
“Once again, New Yorkers showed what makes this city extraordinary: we showed up for one another,” Mamdani said in a statement. “To every city worker and New Yorker who stepped up this week: thank you. That’s what solidarity looks like.”
However, the city cautioned, the smoke plumes may return as the fires in Ontario continue to burn.
Leon G. Tsinberg, ESQ.
GARY JEAN-JUSTE
The city’s AQI hit its peak at “very unhealthy” on June 16, a step above the lowest level, “hazardous,” according to New York City Emergency Management.
Olivia Young
The city’s emergency management said in June 2023, the city’s AQI did reach “hazardous” levels as a result of Canadian wildfires.
File photo
Fine particulate matter, a type of particle pollution in the air, was the pollutant of concern as the city dealt with Canadian wildfire smoke.
What’s on?
Sunset on the Hudson
Head to Sunset on the Hudson for a free evening of live music, refreshments, a beautiful sunset and more. Performances by local musicians Odane Whilby — who combines a soulful blend of gospel, alternative and pop — and Brazilian acoustic guitarist D.A. Sempre. Takes place at College Point at University of Mount Saint Vincent, 6301 Riverdale Avenue., on Saturday, July 25, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
At Riverdale Senior Services
DIY hand lotion and hand massage
Unwind and treat yourself to a little extra care with a relaxing hand massage at Riverdale Senior Services, located at 2600 Netherland Ave. Using soothing, aromatic lotions, this gentle session is designed to ease tension, boost circulation and give you a quiet moment of pure comfort and pampering. Takes place on Thursday, July 23 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Coloring books for relaxation
Coloring books have been shown to be a great form of relaxation and bring us back to a simpler time in our lives. Coloring is also a great brain exercise because it utilizes both hemispheres of the brain. Join Riverdale Senior Services, located at 2600 Netherland Ave., on Tuesday, July 28 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Poetry group Robert Ackerman returns to lead poetry group at Riverdale Senior Services, 2600 Netherland Ave. Open to anyone who loves to write and listen to poetry.
This class is about reading, writing and discussing poetry. It is an open class, as less structure allows for more creativity. The class is open for all members. For more information visit rssny.org.
At Brust Park
This “It’s my Park” season, volunteer with Stewards of Brust Park to do a general cleanup at Brust Park, located at Manhattan College Pkwy and Dash Place in Riverdale. Join on Sunday, July 26 from noon to 2 p.m. Visit nycparks.gov/events or contact calder.orr@gmail.com for more information.
At Van Cortlandt Park
‘Overlapping Empires’
In June, the Van Cortlandt House Museum opened its first site-wide solo exhibition by artist Samantha Box. The exhibition, “Overlapping Empires,” features still-life photography, sound and installation elements, and brings contemporary art into direct dialogue with one of New York City’s earliest colonial sites.
The exhibition is accompanied by an ongoing series of free public events, including artist-led walkthroughs, online and in-person talks, and panel discussions. Events will continue through Aug. 30.
To register for events and for more information visit vchm.org.
Canine Court volunteer clean up NYC Parks does not perform
Gerald Neuberg, MD,
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
Ronald Weissman, MD
Dylan Marshall, MD
For appointments, please call: 844.311.1234
3050
Bronx, NY 10463
Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian
Set Sail
daily maintenance inside dog runs.
Instead, it relies on volunteers. Join the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance for an evening of weeding, cleaning and spreading woodchips to spruce up Canine Court.
On Thursday, July 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. Enter the park on Broadway and West 252nd Street. All necessary gear provided. Visit vancortlandt.org for more information.
At Spuyten Duyvil Playground
Kids in Motion NYC Parks’ Kids in Motion Program engages children in active, outdoor play. A Parks staff member will lead four to seven hours of free activities including organized sports, games, fitness, demos, board games, water games and more. This is a free, drop-in program without registration. Runs on Friday, July 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Spuyten Duyvil Playground, located by Douglas Avenue and West 236th Street.
It is recommended that guardians accompany participating children. Kids in Motion is not a childcare program and NYC Parks is not responsible for the well-being of attendees. Visit nycparks.org/ events for more information or contact Renee.Taylor@parks.nyc.gov.
Hoops Harmony
If you love basketball and want to improve your skills, join “Hoops Harmony” on Friday, July 24 at the Spuyten Duyvil Playground,
located by Douglas Avenue and West 236th Streets, hosted by NYC Parks. Whether you are a beginner or experienced player, this clinic is designed to develop your basketball skills through practice, drills and play.
Session One, for ages 8 to 11, runs 11 a.m. to 1p.m. Session Two, for ages 12 to 14, runs 3 to 5 p.m. Visit nycparks.org/events for more information or contact Renee.Taylor@parks.nyc.gov.
At Yoga Muse
Chair Yoga
This chair yoga class at Yoga Muse, 2735 Henry Hudson Parkway West #202, is based on the Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga Method and offers a supportive, accessible yoga practice done fully seated and using a chair for support. No experience necessary. Runs Thursdays at 10:30 am. Visit yogamuse.co for more information.
Yoga for Kids Yoga Muse, 2735 Henry Hudson Parkway West #202, is rolling out a kids program this fall and registration is now open. Classes start in September for children ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12, and in October for children ages 2 to 4 with a parent. Visit yogamuse.co/Yoga-for-Kids for more information.
Prenatal yoga series
Join Melissa Ramirez at Yoga Muse, 2735 Henry Hudson Parkway West #202, for a four-week prenatal
yoga series designed to support you through every stage of pregnancy. Your birthing partner is welcome at no additional cost. Begins Sunday, August 2 at 4 p.m. Visit yogamuse. co. for more details.
Yoga Nidra Join Yoga Muse, 2735 Henry Hudson Parkway West #202 for Yoga Nidra, a guided meditation practice designed to invite deep rest while the body remains completely supported. No movement or experience is required — simply arrive, get comfortable and allow yourself to rest deeply. Led by Tracy Lin on Wednesday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. Visit yogamuse.co. for more details.
At Inner Space Yoga
Path to Potential: From Vinyasa One to Vinyasa Three This 90-minute Inner Space Yoga workshop taught by Shawna Emerick provides a safe, supportive, and structured environment to explore the next layer of your practice. Expand strength, deepen flexibility and discover what is possible when fear is removed from the equation. Runs at 3264 Johnson Ave. on Friday, July 25 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Costs $45. Visit innerspaceyogastudio.com for more information.
At the New York Botanical Garden
‘Flower Power’
The New York Botanical Garden, located at 2900 Southern Blvd.,
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
ColumbiaDoctors
Talitha Bruney, MD
Reyna Payero, MD
Shinelle Caldwell, DO
Doreen Kramer, CNM
Alison Gruber, MD
invites you to immerse yourself in a groovy and colorful flower show spotlighting the ways in which hippie culture advanced closer relationships with the natural world in the “Flower Power” exhibition. The exhibit runs until Oct. 18. To get tickets visit nybg.org.
‘Summer Of Moomin’
The New York Botanical Garden, located at 2900 Southern Blvd., presents the beloved inhabitants of Moomin valley arrive at the Garden for “Summer of Moomin,” a celebration inviting audiences of all ages to step into the imaginative universe created by Finnish artist and author Tove Jansson. The exhibit runs until Sept. 13, to get tickets visit nybg.org.
Riverdale Art Association
‘Reduce, Renew and Recycle’
The Riverdale Art Association invites you to its exhibit, “Reduce, Renew and Recycle.” Member artists used recycled materials to create unusual artworks that challenge how you see the environment, as well as mixed media, photography, acrylics, watercolor and oils.
The show takes place at the parish hall of Christ Church Riverdale, 5040 Henry Hudson Parkway, and is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon. It runs until the end of August.
Courtesy Wave Hill/Dave Sanders
Wave Hill, 4900 Independence Ave., for City of Water Day. You will learn about boats on the Hudson River and
Opinion
It’s no secret that the journalism industry is struggling. It has been struggling for some time. Among media professionals and our readers, listeners or viewers, a sense of fatigue has begun to blanket every new announcement of a layoff or a closure.
In this landscape, local media — outlets like The Riverdale Press where you receive hyperlocal news on the things that directly affect you — is only growing in importance. But it has been hit hard. In some areas, such as vast expanses of rural America, residents have been without a local news source for years. The Bronx has, in some ways, remained fortunate. Here, we still have several local papers, as well as TV news stations that report on local issues. In an ideal world, we would have even more. Hundreds of local journalists competing to get the scoop, to be the most reliable. But in the real world, it seems we’re fighting to keep what we have.
Most residents, by now, have likely seen the reports of layoffs and restructuring in News 12’s Bronx operations. Or perhaps the petition circulating on social media to save print production of the Norwood News has raised alarm bells. It should. Because behind both of these beloved local outlets are journalists dedicated to serving our borough through trustworthy, timely news, just like the small but mighty team here at The Riverdale Press. These institutions inform our communities, and are part of the Bronx media ecosystem where healthy competition between news outlets pushes us all
to be better every day.
This is not a plea for subscriptions to The Press, nor is it our way of fishing for appreciation. This is a reminder that the media landscape has been at a tipping point for some time now, and the implications of that state are manifesting on our doorstep. Nobody can say what awaits local journalism, or even national and international journalism for that matter, on the other side of that tipping point. But things are certainly changing, and residents of the Bronx are not powerless in this situation.
So, what can you do? Invest in the local news you love. Subscribe, not just to The Riverdale Press, but to any outlet pursuing the truth. If you have something to advertise, advertise it with a local media outlet. Donate to news outlets and nonprofits if you can. But above all, give local news some of your precious time and attention. Read the articles. Watch the newscasts. Engage with them. Share them. Small actions like these can prove invaluable in encouraging others to see the value in local news. Awareness is often the first step toward preservation.
Media professionals have been targeted in many ways in recent years, and the growing perception that the news is untrustworthy or malicious is a dangerous one. The reality is, journalists work long hours and late nights not because it is glamorous, nor because there are flashy salaries involved. We do it because we believe in the power of truth, and we believe in our communities. That kind of work is worth fighting for.
On how the obsession with niceness has brought
By Cheryl McCourtie
Americans are obsessed with niceness, of seeing themselves as good people. It is a cultural obsession right up there with baseball and apple pie. But it is impossible to be a good person and elect someone like Donald Trump to the presidency not once but twice. Something is rotten in this republic. Michelle Obama used the term “failing forward” to describe Donald Trump during her speech at the 2024 Democratic Convention. That is a fair description of Trump and the mostly men he has hired to dismantle American democracy and to help him line his pockets while they line theirs. Skating on their Fox News credentials or family names, they revel in ignorance, and a lack of attention to the substance of their jobs.
From the time I was a child visiting the U.S., where I was born, from the three African countries where I was raised, I knew something here was off. The uneasy truce established between the races after the Civ-
il Rights era could not hold up over time, I thought. Could a white family lynch a Black person in one generation, peeling the victim’s skin like one would peel a banana, and then be a Black person’s friend the next?
My naïve and perhaps poorly phrased inquiries were often met with derision and even anger. My outsider’s view was dismissed. “That was then and this is now. What do you know? You didn’t grow up here.”
“Laws don’t change hearts,” I have told African American friends. Trump has given people the license to be their true selves, and there is nothing nice about it. After he departs, the stench of him, the viciousness that Americans have supported in his name, will be with us for generations.
The stance of the well-meaning liberal, or anti-Trump Republican, is that if you just defeat Trump, this country of nice people who give to charity and take their children to soccer will return to its natural self. Just get rid of the big, bad bully, and you will be restored to your full Americanness, smiling
your Colgate smile with your big American teeth.
Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University, appears often on MS NOW, trying to convince a hard-toreason-with liberal/anti-Trump crowd that they are not nice. That Americans have never come to terms with the nation’s flaws. Instead, they are eager to hold up Barack Obama as a sign that all is well with America’s racial credibility, unwilling to acknowledge or oblivious to the racial backlash that followed his presidency. Question: What more could they (people of color) want? Answer: Equality. Equal access. Opportunity. Freedom.
Glaude has spoken passionately about America’s need to reckon with its complicated, contradictory history, one in which the insightful founding fathers fought for liberty while owning slaves. Without examining the contradictions in our DNA, it will be impossible to move toward a more progressive, holistic future — for everyone.
On April 29 after the Supreme Court gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Glaude was featured on Deadline, White House with Nicolle Wallace. In an appearance that seared the souls of those who have them, Glaude said of the justices, “These people play fast and loose with our dead.
By Silvia Blumenfeld
Independence Day has come and gone again, but this year felt palpably different for many of us. Today, the aspirational democracy that we celebrate hangs by a tenuous thread.
While the Republican Party has morphed into a MAGA death cult, the opposition party seems to have become a particularly feckless and divisive mess.
From my humble vantage point, the Democrats appear to be eating themselves alive. They seem to be completely incapable of presenting a unified vision. This will need to change, if we are to take back our democracy. The rapid transformation to an authoritarian state is alarming and it’s well underway. Voter suppression and ongoing attempts at disenfranchisement are continuing, as evidenced by the President’s obsession with the SAVE Act. As the Trump regime ramps up ICE terror and expands its network of concentration camps, the Dems seem to be busy fighting amongst themselves.
The ongoing struggle between the moderate mainstream and the energized left has become increasingly intense. In some ways it is a distraction.
Young DSA candidates have swept to victory in a wide variety of primary challenges. Everything from taxation and policing to Gaza and Ukraine is on the table and Democrats hold a very broad range of views. Primary battles may be a fine place to clarify the issues, to have the debates, and to engage in real dialogue. Even so, the goal must include some level of compromise. This need to compromise applies to the rigidity seen on the left — as well as to that of the old and entrenched Dem party establishment.
The story is very different for the general elections ahead. These elections will require a strong and unified opposition party. The general election must demonstrate absolute and unfailing unity this time around. Democrats will need to vote for some candi-
They play fast and loose with our sacrifices. They think they own freedom. They can give it to us and take it away whenever they want.” Ouch. Glaude looked like he was on the verge of tears as Wallace clutched her hands nervously in front of her.
Last year I read an op-ed by an E.R. doctor who often meets patients on the worst day of their lives. It is his job to minister to them with deep, abiding compassion. Given the funk in the country: the racial animus, the partisan divide, the vile, slur-filled thick air, he felt that it was impossible to offer the best of himself. He could not do his job in America, so he immigrated to Canada. If there is a way back to a civilized, civil American democracy, it starts with recognizing that we are not the nice people we want to believe that we are. There must be a brutal examination of our brutal history, leading us to where we are now on this, our 250th anniversary year. And then we can celebrate our sterling accomplishments and recommit to the Constitution’s values. Honesty is the only way to treat the rotting flesh, to give it air, to allow it to heal. It is not too late.
Cheryl McCourtie, a writer, has lived in Riverdale for the past 11 years. She was raised in Liberia, Malawi and Eswatini by Jamaican parents.
dates with whom they have significant differences. This is the only way to take back control from Trump and his enablers. This will be imperative for the midterms as well as for the 2028 elections that follow. The consequences of anything less seem too catastrophic to contemplate.
Sometimes history is very instructive in finding a winning strategy.
During the second World War, the allies employed a plan that ultimately worked. The Americans joined with the Soviet Union to defeat the Nazis. Everyone understood that the ideological differences would have to wait until the greater threat to humanity had been squashed. This was the key to a hard fought victory and to my mind, it’s an important lesson for us today.
Trump likes to steal his lines from Adolf Hitler anyway. When he describes refugees and immigrants as “vermin”, for example, he’s showing us just how apt the analogy may really be.
Let’s take his words and actions very seriously this time. As the great Maya Angelou counseled , “…when people tell you who they are, believe them the first time…”
There are real and deep divisions within the democratic resistance to this current authoritarian regime. There will surely be important decisions to be made in the years to come. For example, fundamental structural changes will need to replace years of tepid incrementalism by Democratic administrations. However, the task before us for now, is to take back our country from ever-encroaching fascism.
Let’s get to work, even if we need to pull out a slogan and an approach that some of us would have surely rejected at earlier historical moments. In the 2026 midterms and in the 2028 elections, it really is the time to - “Vote Blue, No Matter Who!” It is only this strong resolve and absolute unity that may save us now.
Can we do it?
Let’s go America!
Silvia Blumenfeld is a local resident, writer, artist and activist.
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HOME OF THE WEEK
Pamela Trebach of Trebach Real Estate
Classic 1913 home blends charm and modern comfort
Riverdale’s historic Fieldston neighborhood is home to a striking new listing, as a classic Craftsman-style residence at 4643 Waldo Avenue has come on the market for $2,695,000.
Built in 1913, the six-bedroom home showcases the architectural character that has made the area’s landmark district one of the Bronx’s most sought-after residential enclaves. Set on an approximately 0.42-acre corner lot, the stucco home combines original craftsmanship with thoughtful modern updates.
Inside, the home offers three full bathrooms and two half baths across a spacious layout designed for both everyday living and entertaining. A welcoming entry hall opens to a dramatic 25-by-20-foot living room featuring a wood-burning fireplace, decorative plaster ceiling, stainedglass accents and custom built-in cabinetry. A formal dining room, windowed kitchen with a walk-in pantry and breakfast nook, and a bright east-facing sunroom add to the home’s timeless appeal.
The second floor includes a generous primary suite complete with a dressing room and private bath, along with three additional bedrooms, including one that doubles as a library with its own wood-burning fireplace. Two more bedrooms, a renovated full bath, recreation room and cedar closet occupy the finished walkup attic, offering flexible living space for a home office
$
