Riverdale Review, April 12, 2012 by Andrew Wolf

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Volume XIX • Number 13 • April 12 - 18, 2012 •

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Controversial group fails in Woodlawn coup By MIAWLING LAM The incumbent board of the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers & Community Association has thwarted a hostile takeover bid, among charges that a controversial Riverdale-based group was behind the attempted coup. A small contingent mounted an ill-fated campaign to shake up the board of the 116-year-old activist organization during this week’s ballot elections. More than 200 residents, who pay annual dues of $10, packed into the cafeteria at St. Barnabas High School in Yonkers on Monday night to elect their representatives. Under siege and incumbent president Christine Sheridan, who has been on the board since 2004, was visibly nervous as she schmoozed the crowd until voting closed at 8 p.m. After an anxious 90-minute wait, she got the announcement that she’d successfully managed to fend off challenger Marie Flynn-Hennebry by a vote of 90-59. An overwhelming majority also voted to keep the other incumbent members in power. The closest race was for the position of assistant treasurer, where Rob Thompson narrowly beat Mary Doheny-Faughnan by a vote of 78-70. An overwhelmed Sheridan, who was swamped with congratulatory messages following the announcement, said she

was looking forward to working with the next generation. “Winning or losing, what’s important is that we work together and we get these young girls on our committees,” she said. “These young girls are our future, and I hope it’s the start of them joining our group because we’ve been around since 1895.” In a brief concession speech, Marie Flynn-Hennebry reiterated the opposition group’s commitment to the area. “We’re not going anywhere, and we’re going to look forward to working together,” she said, before promptly leaving with her fellow members. This year’s election campaign was embroiled in controversy after the opposition party launched personal attacks against the current board and accused them of bullying and beating down new members. Rumors swirled that an outside group—the Kingsbridge/Riverdale/Van Cortlandt Development Corporation—helped the challengers mobilize and unseat the current members. Several sources claimed more than 30 new members were added to the roster of the Woodlawn group in March in a bid to stack the membership in the lead-up to the all-important elections. According to longtime member Mary V. Lauro, this

rush to sign up new members was unprecedented. “At the previous meeting there were 30 new members who wanted to sign up. That never happens.” In any given month, she said, two new members was more typical. According to literature circulated by the challengers on Monday night, members were urged to vote for change and demand that the bylaws and rules of the association be followed. “To date, the current has refused to provide members with association expenditures and account information. Every request has been denied by the current board,” the ﬂyer read. “The sense of entitlement to a permanent seat of the Taxpayers Board must be stopped.” Despite concerted efforts, Woodlawn resident Eileen, who withheld her last name, didn’t buy into talk that the current board were ﬂouting rules. She said the challengers ultimately failed because they did not mount an effective campaign. “I think the results would’ve been different had we known anything about these new people that were campaigning for ‘change,’” Eileen said. “I, for one, didn’t know anything about them. I don’t even know who they are or where they came from. I’ve Continued on Page 5

Work begins this week on Stella D’oro mall; 500 parking spaces seen By MIAWLING LAM Up to 500 parking spaces will be provided free of charge at Riverdale Crossing, the yet-tobe-built $80 million shopping mall at the former Stella D’oro cookie factory site. Project developers Metropolitan Realty Associates revealed the signiﬁcant number of parking spaces would become available once the highly anticipated mall opens in October 2013. News of the complimentary parking dropped when MRA president Joseph A. Farkas led members of the press on a personal tour of the site last Monday. He said although security would patrol the lot to ensure subway commuters don’t exploit the facility and park there all day, the provision would ultimately beneﬁt the community. The tour was strategically scheduled ahead of MRA’s appearance before Community Board 8’s economic development committee on Wednesday, April 11. Laying out his vision for the mall, Farkas predicted Riverdale Crossing, located on Broadway between West 236th and West 238th streets, would become a destination mall. “A lot of the allure of the

project is that it’s a center and it’s also a destination,” he said. “It’s all about the retail experience that we’re trying to develop here. We’re trying to make it a nonborough location and bring a little bit of suburb to the borough.

“The intent is to create a very inviting, very picturesque streetscape. It’s not going to be a situation which, we hope, people come and leave.” Although no topic was offlimits during the 40-minute

walk-through, Farkas declined to speculate on future tenants. He said apart from the mall’s anchor tenant, BJ’S Wholesale Club, who will occupy more than 118,000 square feet of space on West 237th Street, no other ten-

ants have been conﬁrmed. Ripco Realty is currently recruiting retailers to set up shop in the north building, a two-story portion of the mall where seven parcels of land totaling 36,832 Continued on Page 2

Artist’s rendering of the Riverdale Crossing entrance at West 237th Street and Broadway.

Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Manhattan College will open parking, but at a price By MIAWLING LAM Motorists will be asked to pony up $180 per month for the privilege of parking in the Manhattan College Broadway garage. School officials said they would open up the five-story facility and offer around 90 spaces to the public for the first time starting in June. Manhattan College vice president of facilities Andrew Ryan said authorities are proposing a monthly charge of between $150 and $180 in order to cover the cost of running the garage 24/7. Currently, the parking garage is strictly open to students and employees at the college and as such is closed during school vacations. Announcing the price point at last Tuesday’s Community Board 8 land use committee meeting, Ryan said the charge was developed after surveying existing prices in the area. He said monthly passes would most likely be sold online and that motorists would be sent a receipt and their parking permit in the mail. Of the 90 spaces to be proffered, 25 will be set aside for residents along Waldo

Mall work begins Continued from Page 1

square feet are being proffered. Last month, the Riverdale Review reported that Petco and Bank of America had filed letters of intent after both businesses were listed as possible tenants in a threepage brochure on Ripco Realty’s website. However, the document was swiftly taken down after the Review started making inquiries, as was an earlier version of the brochure stating that Trader Joe’s had signed on the dotted line to occupy space. Farkas also touted his comprehensive traffic-flow plan, developed in conjunction with pre-eminent consultants Philip Habib & Associates. He said MRA would take advantage of an existing curb cut at the intersection of West 238th Street and Putnam Avenue and build a second entrance and exit point at the site. No through traffic currently exists in that location. The other entrance and exit point will be at West 237th Street and Broadway. “We think we have [the traffic routes] well figured out,” he said. “The main thing is that we’ve created a way to keep the trucks on 238th Street and off Broadway.” The 17-month project is expected to create 325 full-time-equivalent jobs, in addition to 500 full-union construction jobs. Demolition has already begun, with construction tentatively scheduled to commence in June this year and continue through the end of September 2013. “When it’s done, it’s going to be one hell of a project. We’re going to deliver a first-class project,” Farkas said, adding that Sordoni Construction, the firm in charge of the project, was also responsible for River Plaza, the highly popular mall at West 225th Street. “We want to have a great experience with The Bronx. We want to come back and be invited back to do more business in The Bronx, and I think that by delivering this project, our reputation will speak for itself.” Metropolitan Realty Associates purchased the former biscuit factory for nearly $19 million in August of last year.

Avenue, who are set to lose 25 parking spots while the Lasallian school builds its new student center. However, college ofﬁcials said they have yet to decide how much they will charge these so-called displaced parkers. “We need to cover our expenses for opening up the garage,” Ryan said. “To the extent that we can cover those expenses with the monthly spots that we sell, then we will make the parking for the displaced parkers as economical as possible.” It is understood around 25 spaces will be lost along Waldo Avenue while the college constructs its 69,000-square-foot Raymond W. Kelly Student Commons. “Our intent is to cooperate with the folks that are being displaced,” Ryan said,

adding that ofﬁcials won’t know how much Waldo Avenue residents will have to pay until the other spaces are sold. “I cannot, at this point, pin down where that number will be, but our intent is to cooperate [and] do the right thing.” Despite the college’s commitment to working in consultation with the community, residents have branded the plan to charge displaced parkers a fee as “unfair.” CB8 member and 3875 Waldo Avenue resident Stephen Balicer said: “They clearly believe that they shouldn’t be charged at all, and they have good reason to believe that. They’re not happy at this point at all.” CB8 land use chairman Charles Moerdler urged school ofﬁcials to speed

up their planning process and provide locals with a definitive plan and concrete numbers. “I would never accuse Manhattan College of procrastinating or stalling, but May is May, and we expect a report and a definitive conclusion,” he said. “It’s time. The gestation period then would have been one year. If Manhattan College, in one year, cannot accomplish what it ought to do, it shouldn’t be in business.” According to plans, the new student center will boast a Starbucks, mini-mart, lounge, food service and campus bookstore. Two of the floors will also be open to be public, with meeting rooms available for student and community use. Construction is tentatively poised to commence as early as October and is expected to last 16 months. The facility is set to open in fall 2014.

Fear traffic nightmare on W. 230th St. ies each week and that all steps would be taken to schedule deliveries during off-peak hours. He also said the Department of Transportation is slated to conduct a comprehensive traffic study in 2015, when issues concerning the loading dock and the streets surrounding the site will no doubt be addressed. Currently, the intersection at Verveelen Place and Broadway is unregulated. But community members were quick to protest the delivery plan and expressed fears that traffic problems will be exacerbated along the already-teeming corridor. CB8 vice-chair Maria Khury said the busy street already had its fair share of problems. “It’s an issue now when you’re exiting the Deegan with a few cars and the traffic is what it is, so I can only imagine with trucks,” she said. “The timing is going to be crucial in terms of when will be the lightest time for them to deliver.” CB8 traffic and transportation committee vice chair Robert Press said bringing traffic on the street to a standstill, even temporarily, would spell disaster. To alleviate the congestion, he suggested the developer look into acquiring the two parcels of land at that intersection— the gas station and former Popeye’s. “Perhaps the city should condemn the two adjacent vacant lots next to it and build a street that would accommodate the trailers in and out of the shipping center rather than have the nightmare that would happen on 230th Street,” he said. Despite the controversy, Equity One said they were forging ahead with their plans and were committed to opening the mall within two years, especially given the site’s checkered history. “What we proposed is something that we believe is in keeping with what the community was looking for: a combination of retailers who would not necessarily compete with what’s already existing on Broadway but complement it, and also something that could be built quickly,” Berfield said. The mall is slated for a groundbreaking later this year, with construction poised for completion by early 2014. Tenants would then have six months to stock their shelves, install fixtures and hire employees before the center opens to eager shoppers in the summer or early fall of that year. City officials estimate the project will create more than 250 new full-time and part-time jobs as well as 500 construction jobs. The developer will try to fill as many of these positions as possible with Bronx residents. Equity One purchased the site, which is currently a city-owned 75,000-squarefoot parking lot, for $7.5 million.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

By MIAWLING LAM The traffic snarls, gridlock, noise and congested sidewalks of Kingsbridge could become a whole lot worse once the $54 million Broadway Plaza shopping center opens. The two-story mall, to be built on an 80,000square-foot site located on West 230th Street between Broadway and the Major Deegan Expressway, isn’t scheduled to open until mid2014, but the proposed traffic arrangements are already courting controversy. Under the traffic plan, 72-foot-long tractor-trailers will bring traffic on West 230th Street to a standstill and block three lanes of westbound traffic as they back into the mall’s loading dock. The revelations emerged when winning developers Equity One showed up at last Tuesday’s Community Board 8 land use committee meeting to present their plans for the site. Equity One executive vice president of development Michael Berfield said negotiations were currently underway to recruit four national big-box merchants to occupy the center. While he declined to specify retailers by name, he offered a subtle hint by disclosing their industries. “We’re in discussions with several retailers right now—apparel, sporting goods, specialty foods and other soft goods,” he said. “There are a lot of national retailers interested in this location.” When the Riverdale Review asked whether a supermarket chain was in the cards, Berfield repeated they were talking with specialty food retailers. When pressed further and asked whether that meant establishments like Dean & Deluca, he offered a curious response of “smaller, probably.” Shoppers will have to pay to park in the site’s 130-space garage, he said, adding that prices have not yet been set. Vehicles will also be able to enter on either West 230th Street or Verveelen Place but will be forced to exit via the latter street only. No vehicles will be permitted to leave on West 230th Street. Meanwhile, pedestrians will enter via a small urban plaza on Kimberley Place. The issues of tractor-trailers, delivery schedules and the anticipated congestion dominated discussions. Berfield said due to the elevated subway trestle on Broadway and the unique footprint of the site, there was no other option but to have trailers back into the receiving area. “I’m not denying that it causes a problem,” he said. “It is going to block traffic, there’s no doubt about it. But this is not a five- or 10-minute exercise. It is two minutes.” Berfield projected that future tenants would receive a total of up to 12 deliver-

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Around the schools... Horace Mann School

The school’s 18th annual Book Day this Thursday will focus on the Oliver Sacks classic, “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.” Regularly scheduled Upper-Division classes are suspended so that all students can participate in a day of workshops run by creative thinkers in the arts and sciences. The keynote speaker is Carl Schoonover, author of “Portraits of the Mind: Visualizing the Brain from Antiquity to the 21st Century.” The closing assembly will feature Joshua Foer, author of “Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything.” The Women’s Issues Club annual dinner on Wednesday addresses the topic of heroes. Featured speakers are epidemiologist Ruthie Birger (’02), a specialist in HIV prevention and disease ecology; attorney Sondra Markowitz Miller (’46), a founding member of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert; West Point graduate Jennifer S. Rademacher, a staff member of the 82nd Airborne Division and Gulf War veteran; and HM senior Yvonne Cha (’12), winner of a New York Times scholarship and the school’s Alexander Capelluto award and leader of discussions on racial identity as president of East Wind West Wind.

Manhattan College

The college’s Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center is hosting a summer conference for religious educators from June 24 through June 27 at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut. Aspiring and emerging religious educators of all faiths are invited to attend. The conference will examine current practices in religious education that create narratives of suspicion and misunderstanding and explore potential practices for building a new narrative promoting respect, understanding and cooperation. The support of generous donors allows this conference to be free of charge. For more information, contact Dr. Mehnaz Afridi at 718-8627284 or mehnaz.afridi@manhattan.edu or David Weisberg of Isabella Freedman at 860-824-5991, extension 305, or david@isabellafreedman.org. The college’s graduate counseling program now offers six unique New York state-approved certification programs, including two new offerings: the Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling and the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee Certificate. The mental health counseling certificate is designed for professionals who have completed a master’s degree in counseling or psychology. It prepares students for work in settings such as mental health agencies, hospitals, college counseling centers, substance abuse centers and residential treatment facilities. Program credits range from 15 to 30, depending on a student’s master’s degree coursework. To qualify for the substance abuse certification, students must either gain admission to a Manhattan College M.A. or M.S. program in counseling or

hold a master’s degree in a related ﬁeld. For more information about graduate counseling programs, contact Corine Fitzpatrick at 718-862-7497 or corine. ﬁtzpatrick@manhattan.edu.

Local Scholars

Emory College in Atlanta, Georgia, has announced that Aneyn O’Grady, daughter of James and Prema O’Grady, and Katherine Joseph, daughter of Peter Joseph and Elizabeth Scheuer, were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester. To achieve this distinction, students must earn a GPA of at least 3.81. Emory enrolls nearly 14,000 students in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in nine academic divisions, including schools of law, medicine, nursing, public health, business and theology. The university features the Carlos Museum, The Carter Center, the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, Georgia’s largest and most comprehensive health care system. Emory is regularly ranked as one of the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, has announced that Harrison Andrew Cohen, the son of a William I. Cohen and Jane G. Stevens and a graduate of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, is a recipient of the dean’s award for academic excellence during the 2011 fall term. To qualify, students must achieve a GPA of at least 3.30 while enrolled in four courses. Cohen, a member of the class of 2012, is a history major. Colgate is a highly selective liberal arts university enrolling nearly 3,000 undergraduates in 52 majors. It supports 25 Division I athletic teams. The school’s beautiful 515-acre campus in central New York State plays a role in the highly individualized student experience. Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, has announced that Sarah Roger was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester in the College of Arts and Sciences, the university’s largest undergraduate college. Cornell enrolls more than 22,000 students in seven undergraduate units, four graduate and professional units in Ithaca, and two medical graduate and professional units in New York City and Doha, Qatar. It is the federal land-grant institution of New York state, a member of the Ivy League and a partner of the State University of New York. Forty-one Nobel laureates have been afﬁliated with Cornell as faculty members or alumni. The university ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s top ten in undergraduate engineering and business programs, and its College of Veterinary Medicine is ranked number one in the nation.

FAX education news to: The Riverdale Review (718) 543-4206

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER If the Newsweek-Daily Beast ‘s “Top 50 Rabbis” list is any indication, the Open Orthodox ideology espoused by Rabbi Avi Weiss is gaining strength—with one more of its proponents joining the ranks for 2012. Weiss himself, senior rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, advocates strict observance according to Orthodox tradition but has “expanded” its deﬁnition. Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the rabbinical school he founded in 1999 with the goal of training a “new breed” of “nonjudgmental” leaders, has already turned out quite a few charismatic rabbis. Among them is list newbie Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, a YCT grad who founded Uri L’Tzedek, an organization dedicated to social justice. Yanklowitz authored “Jewish Ethics and Social Justice: A Guide for the 21st Century”

and recently joined the performer Matisyahu in creating a center for Jewish vegans. Rabbi Dov Linzer, dean of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, appears for the second time this year. Linzer was hailed for his January 19 New York Times op-ed condemning religious extremists in Israel who spat at an eight-year-old girl on her way to school because they considered her insufficiently modest in dress. Last year he said the Open Orthodox concept is held by those who strive for “a real sense of inclusion, trying to connect and to build bridges to be inclusive of all people who have otherwise been ‘othered,’ whether it’s non-Jews or non-Orthodox Jews or women.” Rabba Sara Hurwitz, the first officially designated full member of an Orthodox rabbinic staff, is a key figure at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, and she remains an

Key Food cracks down on illegal parkers By MIAWLING LAM and ALLISON SUMMERS Shoppers who use the Key Food parking lot should probably think twice about using the lot if they’re not shopping at the supermarket or adjacent stores. Locals claim tow truck companies have recently stepped up their policing efforts and have been preying on motorists at the lot, located behind the stores on West 235th Street between Oxford and Johnson Avenues. According to several sources, Bronx towing company Onpoint Auto Works is targeting drivers who utilize the lot but don’t shop at the supermarket or the particular stores on that side of West 235th Street. The issue came to light after the Riverdale Review received a tip from a member of the public earlier this week. The source, who works in the area, claimed four vehicles had already been towed before 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 9. “They’re picking up people’s cars like nobody’s business,” he said. “It’s out of control. It’s just a scam. They’re stationed in the parking lot and targeting people, and it’s not even the merchants who are complaining [about non-shoppers parking there].” The person also said the escalated surveillance of the lot perimeters was just a cheap tactic to make a quick buck off the public. It is understood drivers whose cars gets towed all the way to the company’s Hunts Point operations base are slugged up to $150 to retrieve their vehicle. When The Review arrived at the scene around 1:45 p.m. on Monday, Onpoint workers were in the process of towing a white SUV.

Mark Michaud, who lives on Johnson Avenue and shops around the area at least once a week, believed cars should be towed only if they violate the three-hour limit. “It depends on how much people abuse the parking,” he said. “Do people park there all day or all night? But then again, how do they know if you leave for a long time or just go across the street for two seconds?” While many shoppers felt the towing was unfair, one shopper, who declined to provide her name, said the company was well within their rights to tow offending vehicles. “If the sign says you can’t park here, then the company has the right to do what it does,” she said.

Woodlawn coup Continued from Page 1 never even laid eyes on them before. “All of these people were never here before. Where were they all this time? Don’t just come in on the night of the election and expect to make change.” The senior citizen who has been a member of the civic association for at least 10 years also said the opposing party offended voters with their ruthless tactics. “They did not approach it the proper way,” she said. “They came in, they bombarded us as though they were going to take over, and you don’t do that.” Three religious leaders, including Monsignor Edward M. Barry from St. Barnabas parish, counted the 149 ballots, while two independent observers oversaw the process.

inﬂuential voice in the community. Weighing in on the modesty controversy earlier this year, she said that Jewish law should not be “manipulated into a smokescreen shielding men and sidelining women who have the potential to enhance our community.” Hurwitz is dean of Yeshivat Maharat, a school Rabbi Weiss founded in 2009 to train Orthodox women as leaders. The Top 50 list, compiled by Abigail Pogrebin, Gary Ginsberg and Michael Lynton, does not pretend to be scholarly and starts off with a seven-point disclaimer that concludes: “We do value and admire rabbis who keep their heads down and continue to do their pastoral, spiritual or organizational work year after year….[W]e’ve chosen to highlight rabbis whose recent activities seem to us to merit special notice.”

5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

Renowned Riverdale rabbis are roster regulars

Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Holocaust Memorial Seder at Hebrew Institute

Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Memorial Day is the day set aside to remember the six million Jewish souls who perished in the Holocaust. For the past several years, the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale (HIR) has held a Yom HaShoah seder to mark and give honor to the memory of the Shoah (Holocaust) victims, and the remaining Holocaust survivors. The seder, modeled after a Passover seder, guides participants, both young and old, to experience the traumatic events of the Holocaust. Food from the concentration camps is eaten, testimonies of survivors are read and songs of destruction and hope are sung in Yiddish, Hebrew and English. This year, HIR will hold its annual seder on Wednesday, April 18, at 7 p.m. Said Rabbi Avi Weiss: ‘I believe that the only way that the Holocaust will be remembered is through Jewish ritual; by thinking, speaking and reenacting the suffering of our people seventy years ago as we do for the Exodus from Egypt on Passover.’ For more information, call 718-7964730.

The community is invited to join in with refreshments. For additional information, call Manfred Segal at l-718549-0088.

RCC announces upcoming activities

St. John’s Church will host a ﬂea market on Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will be held at the Old St. John’s School located at 3030 Godwin Terrace in the Bronx. Clothes, jewelry, accessories and brica-brac will be sold at bargain prices. Free parking will also be available so get there early and snare yourself a great ﬁnd. For more information, please call 718543-3003.

The Riverdale Community Center will be offering a five-week French cooking classes for adults during our Spring Semester. The origins of great cooking and technique come from France. Join Chef Michael Newman as he explores classic French cuisine. This five-week course will begin Tuesday evening, April 17th from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Fee: $135 + $15 registration fee for 5 week course. To register over the phone with Visa, MasterCard or AMEX please call the Center at 718-796-4724 or visit our website at www. riverdalecommunitycenter.org The Riverdale Community Center will be offering a five-week MS Excel Course for adults during our Spring Semester. Learn Microsoft’s spreadsheet application - Excel 2007. Course will cover creation, formatting and management of spreadsheets; formulas, shortcuts, etc. Five Tuesdays (4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15) from 8:30 PM -10:00 PM. FEE: $100 + $15 registration fee. To register or more information, please call the Center at 718-796-4724 or visit our website at www. riverdalecommunitycenter.org The Riverdale Community Center will be hosted an evening seminar on Mediation and Divorce. Lorraine Coyle, Esq. will explain a new approach designed to reduce and hopefully eliminate some of the stress associated with such a dramatic life event. One Tuesday (4/17) 7:00 PM8:00 PM. FEE: $25. To register over the phone with Visa, MasterCard or AMEX, please call the Center at 718-796-4724 or visit our website at www.riverdalecommunitycenter.org

Riverdale AARP Chapter to meet

Neumann-Goldman Post 69 & Ladies Auxiliary

Flea market at St. John’s Church

Riverdale Chapter #1546 AARP will meet on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 12:30 p.m. at the Riverdale Presbyterian Church located at 4765 Henry Hudson Parkway West. At this entertainment meeting, they will have the pleasure of having Henry Covner singing in several languages with his keyboard. His audience loves to join him by dancing along.

Jewish War Veterans: All veterans are welcome to participate in the only active Jewish War Veterans post in the Kingsbridge/Riverdale area. Neumann - Goldman Post 69 & Ladies Auxiliary regularly meets on the third Sunday of each month at the James J. Peters V A Medical Center located at 130 Kingsbridge Road at 10 a.m., in room 3D22, on the third ﬂoor of the medical center.

The next meeting will be held on Sunday, April 15. Registration is not required and members of other posts are welcome or if your original post no longer exists. With advance notice, transportation can be arranged. Services are held in a 100-year old chapel on the medical center’s grounds. For additional information, call Mel Saks, Post Commander at 914-3370277.

Dennis Rosa wins Pro-Life Speech Contest

A student from Cardinal Spellman High School won First Prize worth $300 in the Seventh Annual Pro-Life Oratorical Speech Contest, sponsored by the Bronx Right-to-Life Committee. The contest was held Saturday, March 24th, at St. Margaret of Cortona Church rectory. Dennis Rosa, 17, a resident of Norwood in the Bronx, topped ﬁve other student competitors. “Young Mr. Rosa made a very interesting presentation,” stated Mrs. Barbara Meara, committee chair. “He discussed the tragedy of abortion in our country, with a great deal of feeling. He also has a ﬁne speaking voice.” Second place worth $100 was nabbed by student Luther Gillespie while Cadell Canzuis took third prize worth $50. “All the students did a good job,” said Mrs. Meara. “It is encouraging to see male students speaking out against abortion, as well as female students.” Five of

the six competitors this year were male students. Generally speaking, there are usually more ladies than men among the speech competitors, she added. Approximately 35 people were in attendance at the hard-fought oratorical competition. Each student was required to give a ﬁve-to-seven minute speech on a Pro-Life topic of their choice. Three judges rated each speech, and the prizes were awarded based on which speaker got the most points cumulatively. By virtue of his win, Mr. Rosa is now eligible to compete in May in Albany at the state-wide Pro-Life Oratorical Contest, for additional prize money. The Albany winner will then represent New York State In the National Pro-Life Contest in Arlington, Va., in July. Two tickets to the National Right-to-Life Convention in Arlington, plus $600 in expense money, goes to the Albany winner. “I would like to give a special nod of appreciation to Tony Felicissimo who did a ﬁne job in encouraging students to compete this year. Tony is a mentor of the highest order,” Mrs. Meara concluded.

Riverdale Temple to hold clothing drive

Riverdale Temple will collect clothing donations for Big Brothers/Big Sisters on Sunday, April 22 from 9:30 to noon. The Temple is located at 246th Street and Independence Avenue. Clean, gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing for all seasons is welcome. Please donate only what you would want to receive yourselves. Donors can complete a form to later receive a receipt from Big Brothers/Big Sisters. For more information, please call 718-548-3800.

Bronx Arts Ensemble presents ‘Ferdinand the Bull’ at the New York Botanical Garden on Sunday, April 15 at 1 & 3 pm. Admission is free with an All Garden Pass. Appropriate for ages 3 - 10. ‘Ferdinand the Bull,’ a gentle bull who prefers the aroma of wild ﬂowers to ﬁghting, is mistakenly chosen to face a matador after an unfortunate bee incident... and that’s just the beginning! Written by Dante Albertie with musical arrangement for oboe, clarinet and bassoon by William Scribner. Performed by the Bronx Arts Ensemble and The Children’s Theatre Company at Lehman. Take the B, D to Bedford Park Blvd or 4 to Bedford Park Blvd-Lehman College, then take the Bx26 bus; or Metro-North to Botanical Garden. For info, visit bronxartsensemble.org or call 718 601-7399.

‘Steel Magnolias’ featured at Riverdale Y

Riverdale Repertory Company at the Riverdale Y proudly presents its spring show, the moving, heart-warming, humorous play - Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling. First presented on Broadway, this touching story of 6 southern women who share their lives in a local beauty salon, was later made into an all-star movie starring Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Darryl Hannah. Tickets are available online or at the door. Showtimes are: a special mid-week matinee Wednesday, April 18 at 2pm, Thursday, April 19 at 7:30pm, Saturday, April 21 at 9:00pm and Sunday, April 22 at 3:00pm. For more information and tickets, visit our website, Riverdalerisingstars.com. The Riverdale Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

Pottery exhibit at Riverdale Y

The pottery of Barnabas and Nancy Quigley, one-of-a-kind high-ﬁred stoneware, is on exhibit at the Riverdale YM-YWHA, 5625 Arlington Avenue this month, with a reception on Sunday, April 15, 1:30-3:30pm. Both wheel-thrown and handbuilt works are displayed. The entire community is welcome to see this exhibit and reception. For more information contact 718-548-8200 ext 0.

Koppell lauded by conservation group

Council Member Oliver Koppell, a member of the Environmental Protection Committee, received a perfect score on the New York League of Conservation Voters 2010-2011 NYC Council Environmental Scorecard. The Scorecard examines Council members’ voting and sponsorship records on a variety of sustainability legislation, from transportation to energy efﬁciency and food policy. The bills in the Scorecard were selected in consultation with a wide range of organizations working on sustainability issues in New York City. The New York League of Conservation Voters works to promote a pro-environmental agenda for New York. In Albany, the NYLCV participates in many coalitions to advance key legislative and budgetary priorities. In New York City, the organization convenes a ‘green group’

of leading environmental public health, transit and social justice organizations to evaluate the legislative record of Council Members with respect to the environment. NYLCV plays a prominent role in elections throughout the state by evaluating and endorsing candidates. ‘I am very pleased to receive this rating from the NY League of Conservation Voters. Protection for the environment has long been a priority of mine dating back to my sponsorship of the ‘Bottle Bill’ when I was a member of the State Legislature and this issue continues to be of great importance to me.’

‘Fitness with Fido’ set on May 6

‘Fitness with Fido,’ a fundraiser dog walk to restore the parks and Canine Court for the better use of pets and people to enjoy the beauty of Van Cortlandt Park will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2012, 12 pm - 2 pm at the Canine Court Dog Run of Van Cortlandt Park (enter the park at Broadway and Lakeview Place). Meet at Canine Court. Bring your pet pooch and walk around the track with your dog Extra Bonus after Walk: Frisbee Catching Contest at Canine Court Dog Run; only registered dog owners and their pets are eligible to participate. Must pre-register: $10 per dog. Registration form at: www.pawsacrossamerica. com. All proceeds will go toward upkeep of the Canine Court dog playground. For more information call Friends of Canine Court, 718-796-4541.

Vintage Artists Gallery holds opening reception

The opening reception of the 33rd Annual Vintage Artists Gallery Art Show will take place on Sunday, May 6th from 1:30 - 3:30 at the Riverdale Senior Center, located in the Century Building, 2600 Netherland Avenue. Interested applicants can submit their work starting on April 16th-April 20th. Artists from all over the Bronx, all over the age of 60, will display their artwork in the categories oil/acrylic, watercolor, photography, graphics and sculpture. The reception is open to the public. A light lunch and refreshments will be served. The exhibit will be available for viewing until mid June, Monday - Friday from 9:30 - 4 p.m. For more information, contact Stephanie Rice at 718-884-5900.

MC’s counseling program introduces new certiﬁcations

Manhattan College’s graduate counseling program recently added two new certifications, an Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling and the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor - Trainee Certificate (CASAC-T). With the addition, the counseling program now offers six unique New York State approved programs (others include the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, the M.A. in School Counseling, the Bilingual Extension/Advanced Certificate in Pupil Personnel Services and the Advanced Certificate in College Advising) for current and prospective counseling students. The Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling is designed for professionals who have completed a master’s degree in counseling or psychology and want to

enter the field of Mental Health Counseling (MHC). The certificate prepares students to work in a variety of settings, such as, mental health agencies, hospitals, college counseling centers, substance abuse and residential treatment centers, and credits range from 15-30 depending on a student’s master’s degree coursework. The program is registered in New York State and graduates qualify for licensing upon completion of a subsequent post degree examination and a post diploma supervised work experience. The CASAC-T prepares students to complete the necessary courses required for a training certificate in substance abuse coun-

7 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

BCA presents ‘Ferdinand the Bull’ at NYBG

seling. In order to participate in the CASAC-T program, students must gain admission to either the Manhattan College M.A. or M.S. programs in counseling. Students with a master’s degree in a related field (psychology) are also eligible to apply. ‘The Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling and CASAC-T further the already diverse learning opportunities and specialties available to our students,’ said Corine Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., program director for the counseling program and a professor of education. Fitzpatrick also pointed out that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of mental health counselors to grow by 37 percent from 2010 to 2020. For more information about Manhattan College’s graduate counseling program including the newest additions, please contact Corine Fitzpatrick by email at corine.fitzpatrick@manhattan.edu or phone (718) 862-7497.

Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Thursday, April 12 Riverdale

THE JOY OF READING 11:30 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Emily Ellison introduces readers to the great world of exciting picture, story, and song books full of music and sound. Children will revel in the joy of reading while singing, dancing, and stomping their feet, and experiment with various rhythm instruments. For children ages 2 to 6 years old with parent/caregiver. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Start off your week with a cup of coffee at the Riverdale Branch. Read newspapers, catch up on current events, or just enjoy a friendly game of Chess. All in our Community Room. For more information, call 718-519-1212.

Riverdale

CB8 MEETING 7:30 p.m. Atria Community Room 3718 Henry Hudson Parkway East Meeting of the Health, Hospital & Social Services Committee of Community Board 8. For info, call 718-884-3959.

Riverdale

Tuesday, April 17

Van Cortlandt

e-READER HELP 11 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Learn how to download free e-books from the New York Public Library. Get help on using your iPad, Kindle or other e-reader. Class Format: Hands on. Audience: Adults, 50+. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

CINEMA THURSDAY 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Cinema Thursdays at the Riverdale Library presents poetic ﬁlms in recognition of National Poetry Month. Featured movie on April 12: Sylvia. For more information, call 718-549-1212. MANAGING STRESS 2:30 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library 3874 Sedgwick Avenue This lecture discusses the different forms of stress, such as physical, emotional, and thermal as they impact us from the day we are born, and the deleterious effects it can have on our bodies. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

Kingsbridge

POETRY 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic period. Celebrate National Poetry Month this April by getting in touch with your creative side. Find your inner voice and write your own poems! For ages 6 and older. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Van Cortlandt

Wii TIME 4 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library 3874 Sedgwick Avenue Join us @ the Van Cortlandt Library for afternoons of fun and games. (Bowling, Baseball, Tennis). For more information, call 718-543-5150.

Friday, April 13 Kingsbridge

BILINGUAL BIRDIES 10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street A foreign language and live music program for children ages newborn to ﬁve years old with parent/caregiver. The bilingual musicians teach through live music, movement, puppetry and games. Each session ends with a lively bubble dance party! Children learn basic vocabulary and short phrases while playing with instruments and fun props. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Saturday, April 14 Kingsbridge

FLEA MARKET 9 a.m. Old St. John’s School 3030 Godwin Terrace Everyone is invited to the monthly ﬂea market. There will be a variety of merchandise for sale. Free parking. For more information, call 718-543-3003.

Sunday, April 15 Riverdale

ARTIST RECEPTION 1:30 p.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Avenue The Gallery 18 will be presenting works by Joyce Dutka for the month of April. A reception will be on April 15th. For more information call the Y at 718-548-8200.

Riverdale

POTTERY EXHIBIT 1:30 p.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Avenue Opening reception for exhibit of the pottery of Barnabas and Nancy Quigley. For more info, call 718-548-8200 ext. 0.

Monday, April 16 Riverdale

COFFEE HOUR 11:30 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue

Riverdale

Kingsbridge

GADGETS & GIZMOS 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Hot air balloons are the oldest successful human ﬂight technology. Discover how a hot air balloon ﬂoats and how it is constructed. For ages 6 to 12 years old. Limited to 25 participants. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Spuyten Duyvil

THE GOLEM 4 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, but have you ever encountered a monster made of mud? Or a monster that will become your guardian angel? A Golem is such a creature from Jewish folklore. Join us for this modern adaptation of a classic folktale as we use music and puppetry to explore how a young immigrant child from Brooklyn ﬁnds magic in everyday life. For ages 5 and older. For more info, call 718-796-1202.

Wednesday, April 18 Spuyten Duyvil

EXERCISE PROGRAM 10 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street This recreational program using gentle movements was designed by a group of physicians & Arthritis health professionals under the direction of the National Arthritis Foundation’s Patient & Community Services Committee. The goal is to increase joint ﬂexibility, range of motion & assist in maintaining muscle strength. The class meets for eight weeks, one hour per session. Class limited to 15 & preregistration required. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Riverdale

BRANDEIS GROUP MEETING 12:30 p.m. Riverdale Temple West 246th St. & Independence Ave. The next meeting of the Brandeis National Committee will feature an exciting power point slide show presented by the noted tour guide and museum docent, Susan BIrnbaum. Her subject will be “The Highline - New York’s Newest Park on The Far West Side”.

Riverdale

AARP MEETING 12:30 p.m. Riverdale Presbyterian Church 4765 Henry Hudson Pkwy. West Riverdale Chapter #1546 AARP will meet. The community is invited to join in with refreshments. For additional information, call Manfred Segal at l-718-549-0088.

Riverdale

BOOK DISCUSSION 1 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue This month the group will be discussing 1776 by David McCullough. Book club participants must reserve copies of each title through the Library’s catalog system. Reserve your copy by placing a hold online at www.nypl.org or visiting your local branch. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Riverdale

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL SEDER 7 p.m. Hebrew Institute of Riverdale 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway A Yom HaShoah seder to make and give honor to the memory of the Holocaust victims and survivors. For more information, call 718-796-4730.

Israel vs. Iran - Is War Imminent? A one-night only open dialogue event with Dr. Ronen Bergman and Rabbi Irving Greenberg

Dr. Ronen Bergman, renowned political and military analyst for Yedioth Aharonoth

Rabbi Irving Greenberg, seminal author and post-Holocaust scholar

Moderated by Yeshiva University President Richard Joel

Tuesday, May 1st ∙ 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm The Riverdale YM-YWHA Tickets and pre-event dinner information are available at www.RiverdaleY.org or (718) 548-8200.

Only at The Riverdale Y. Join the conversation. 5625 Arlington Avenue ∙ Bronx ∙ New York ∙ 10471 ∙ www.RiverdaleY.org

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Riverdale YM-YWHA Presents the Inaugural Event of The Rose Dialogue Series

Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Dogs and co-op: double trouble By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER The co-op board at 3720 Independence Avenue, “Bonnie House,” has terminated the proprietary lease of shareholders Rita and Murray Hyman because they allegedly breached a house rule regarding harboring pets. The board has moved to evict the couple, and the matter is scheduled to go to trial in housing court on May 11 after a dispute that started in 2007. The Hymans feel they are being unfairly targeted and harassed by the board. To begin with, the pet in question—Rocky, a tiny Maltese—is himself not a resident but a visitor accompanying Julie Hyman, the couple’s daughter, who lives around the corner. Julie Hyman began to visit with Rocky and her older dog, Vegas—a poodle-Maltese mix—in 2007, when her mother suffered severe injuries in a car accident and her grandmother, also a Bonnie House resident, became very ill. Notwithstanding several media reports indicating that the Hymans’ neighbors have complained about dog-related noise, complaints are not the board’s issue. In fact, the couple has several afﬁdavits from neighbors exonerating the dogs in that regard. The ofﬁce of Councilman G. Oliver Koppell prepared a letter of support for the Hymans, stating that the canine visits were “within the terms of the House Rules and Proprietary Lease.” The New York State Division of Human Rights also supports the Hymans on the grounds that the dogs have a pronounced therapeutic effect on the

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adapted from: entire family. Both parties would prefer to reach a prompt settlement, and the DHR prepared a document toward that end. But the co-op board insisted upon adding conditions that were not acceptable to the Hymans. “The board required a conﬁdentiality agreement which has not yet been entered into,” current board president Bob Moll explained. “The board has inherited this case, and we’re doing our best to deal with it.” Moll said he would like an amicable settlement but would offer no further comment. Not all board members are the same, according to Murray Hyman, who was once on the board himself. “The nasty ones get their way because no one wants to ﬁght with them,” he said. “The nice ones don’t carry the day.”

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Small waiting lists at local kindergartens By MIAWLING LAM Six local children are on waiting lists to get into their zoned kindergarten public elementary schools, new ﬁgures show. Department of Education ofﬁcials said just four zoned children are currently on the waiting list to get into P.S. 81, while

RKA repaving ﬁx

By ALLISON SUMMERS At the request of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, the Department of Transportation is currently replacing the sidewalk on Independence Avenue between West 236th and West 237th streets in front of the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy. Dinowitz took action because the sidewalk had become a safety hazard both for students who pass by on a daily basis and for other members of the community. “I appreciate the Department of Transportation’s quick response to my request, and I am pleased that they are repairing this dangerous, broken sidewalk in front of the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy,” he said. Meanwhile, Councilman Oliver G. Koppell’s office confirmed that Con Edison has finished repaving a section at West 238th Street after the utility company ripped up the asphalt to install a gas line. The two resurfacing projects come a couple of weeks after the city agreed to repave the pothole-ridden streets of Mosholu Parkway South between Jerome Avenue and Paul Avenue and West 227th Street from Netherland Avenue to Arlington Avenue. The sorry state of Riverdale’s roads has been a hot-button issue. Earlier this year, community members slammed officials for neglecting local roads.

two kids are holding their breaths for a seat at P.S. 24. Historically, the standby list for the Robert J. Christen school runs longer than the list at the Spuyten Duyvil school. In 2010, 15 kindergarteners were on standby to gain admission at P.S.81, while six children were on the waiting list in 2009. Over the corresponding period, just one child was on the waiting list to enter P.S. 24 in 2010. Data shows neither school put local children on a waiting list last year. Citywide, more than 2,400 children are waiting for a seat to open up at their zoned school, a slight decrease from last year, when more than 3,200 students didn’t immediately get into their neighborhood school. Education ofﬁcials give priority to students who live within the pre-determined boundaries of the school to which they are applying. However, due to overcrowding and a lack of space, not all eligible children are accepted and instead are sent to other schools in their district. The principals for both local schools could not be reached due to the spring semester recess. DOE spokesman Frank Thomas said waiting lists traditionally decrease by September, when families learn whether children gained admission to gifted and talented programs, charter schools and private schools. “We know that this can be an anxious time for parents,” he said in a statement. “We will continue to work with all of our schools to help them reduce wait lists and ensure that every student has access to a great kindergarten.”

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Bronxville

FILM SHOWING 5:30 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College Heimbold Visual Arts Center ‘To Have and to Give,’ a twenty-minute documentary about live organ donation, by filmmaker Dave Esposito which tells the story of donating a part of his liver to his terminally ill brother-in-law, Sungrai Sohn, Sarah Lawrence College music faculty. The film combines interviews with family members and medical experts along with images and footage from the time of the transplant, and follows Sungrai Sohn’s medical crisis in 2001, the transplant, and recovery. The film explores the family’s emotional dynamics during this crisis in a realistic, accessible manner. The film’s portrayal of a real family going through the transplant process, and living healthy, productive lives ten years later may help potential donors decide whether living donation is right for them. For more information, call 914-395-2412.

Tuckahoe

ITALIAN CINEMA 7 p.m. Westchester Italian Cultural Center One Generoso Pope Place Antologia del Cinema Italiano: The Italian Cinema Comes of Age! The 1950s ushered in a period of relative political stability and material progress for Italy. This time, known as Il Boom or Il Miracolo degli Anni ‘50, catapulted the country and its people towards radical and irreversible changes. The ﬁlms reﬂected the times, its themes cleary breaking away from the somber ideas of Neorealismo. During this time, Federico Fellini achieved international success with La Strada (1953), establishing his reputation as Italy’s greatest director. Must register in advance and prepay. Memebrs $10, Non-Members $20. For more information, visit www.wiccny.org or call 914-771-8700.

Friday, April 13 Bronxville

SPRING OPEN CONCERT 7 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College Marshall Field Room 1 Musical showcase open to all students and all musical styles. For more information, call 914-395-2412.

Saturday, April 14 Scarsdale

NATURE FRIENDLY GARDENING 10 a.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road The Bird-Friendly Yard: Plant It and They Will Come — Never seen a Cedar Waxwing or a Carolina Wren in your yard? You will attract these and other gorgeous and interesting birds if you follow the tips that expert garden instructor Kim Eierman will share with you. Fantastic bird-friendly plants will be available for sale, too. Members $20, Non-members $25. For more information, call 914-723-3470.

Dobbs Ferry

GENEALOGY 10 a.m. Aldersgate Methodist Church 600 Broadway The Westchester County Genealogical Society welcomes Marian Wood, who will talk on ‘Genealogy Web Message Boards & Blogs.’ There will be refreshments and genealogical networking starting at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call Philomena Dunn at 914-953-9173.

Tuckahoe

ITALIAN COOKING 2 p.m. Westchester Italian Cultural Center One Generoso Pope Place Piccoli Cuochi: Panzerotti are typical of Puglia. They are prepared by stufﬁng bread dough with tomato and mozzarella, ham and cheese, ricotta, or salami and cheese. This delicay is easy and fun for the whole family to prepare. Presented by Cathy Blanco. For children ages 5 to 13. Capacity is limited. Must register in advance and prepay. Children: Members $25, Non-Members $35. Parent and one child: Members $35, Non-Members $45. For more information, visit www.wiccny. org or call 914-771-8700.

Sunday, April 15 Scarsdale

BIRD HOUSE 2 p.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road Join Senior Naturalist Dean Fausel, in this ﬁrst of two programs, for the construction and checking of House Wren nest boxes. Not only will you help build nest boxes but you’ll

discover many of the things that make these little birds so wonderful. Second program in May to inspect the boxes. Members $5, Non-Members $8. For more information, call 914-723-3470.

White Plains

HANDEL’S THEODORA 3 p.m. White Plains Presbyterian Church 39 North Broadway The Hudson Valley Singers and the New York Metamorphoses Orchestra,conducted by Eugene Sirotkine, will perform Theodora. an oratorio by George Handel. Tickets:$25 in advance/ $30 at the door. For more information, visit www. hudsonvalleysingers.org.

Tuesday, April 17 Bronxville

LECTURE 5:15 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College Titsworth Lecture Hall Eliot A. Cohen is the Robert E. Osgood Professor of Strategic Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the Johns Hopkins University and founding director of the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies there. A graduate of Harvard College, he received his Ph.D. in political science at Harvard in 1982. After teaching at Harvard and at the Naval War College (Department of Strategy) he served on the policy planning staff of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, then joined SAIS in 1990. His most recent book is Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen, and Leadership in Wartime (Free Press, 2002): other books include (with John Gooch) Military Misfortunes: The Anatomy of Failure in War. In 1991-93 he directed the US Air Force’s official multi-volume study of the 1991 Gulf War, the Gulf War Air Power Survey. He has served as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, and as a member of the Defense Policy Advisory Board of the Office of the Secretary of Defense as well as other government advisory bodies. From 2007 to 2009 he was Counselor of the Department of State, serving as Secretary Condoleeza Rice’s senior adviser on strategic issues. For more information, call 914-395-2412.

Bronxville

LECTURE 5:15 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College Titsworth Lecture Hall A lecture, “Conquering into Liberty: The Deep Origins of the American Way of War,” will be presented by Dr. Eliot Cohen. The lecture is sponsored by The Adda Bozeman Chair in International Relations. For more information, call 914-395-2219.

Tuckahoe

WINE LECTURE & TASTING 6:30 p.m. Westchester Italian Cultural Center One Generoso Pope Place Presented by Aries Wine and Spirits in White Plains. Aries Wine and Spirits is dedicated to bringing the highest quality wines to its patrons as well as introducing them to some of the most unique varietals. In this Wine Lecture and Tasting, Tony Russo and Andrea Kish of Aries Wine and Spirits will showcase some of the ﬁnest wines from the region of Campania. This program is not to be missed! Must register in advance and prepay. Members $50, Non-Members $60. For more information, call 914-771-8700.

Wednesday, April 18 Mt. Vernon

LUNCHTIME CONCERTS 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue Spring Music & History at St. Paul’s. Lunchtime concert and talk features Bronx Opera, playing selections accompanied by organ. For more information, call 914-667-4116.

Bronxville

READING 6:30 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College Reisinger Lecture Hall George Saunders will read from his work. Saunders is author of political novella The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil, published by Riverhead Trade Paperbacks in 2005. He is author of Pastoralia and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, both New York Times Notable Books, and The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, a New York Times children’s bestseller. In 2000, The New Yorker named him one of the “Best Writers Under 40.” He writes regularly for The New Yorker and Harper’s, as well as Esquire, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine. He won a National Magazine Award for Fiction in 2004 and his work is included in Best American Short Stories 2005. Saunders teaches at Syracuse University. For more information, call 914-395-2412.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

Thursday, April 12

Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Person on the Street:

Compiled by Allison Summers

“I’d like to see something family-oriented, like an indoor gym where parents can bring their children during the winter months and enjoy a cup of coffee.” - Roney Eford

“I’d like a sporting goods store, a new restaurant, or a retail clothing store like Old Navy. A Boost Mobile store would also be great.” - Sean Kiernan

“I’d like to see a clothing retailer, maybe a new restaurant.” - Anthony Layton

“I would want a new sporting goods store. A lot of people have to order sporting goods online; it would be better to have an actual store.” - Lush Ndou

“I’d like a new sporting goods store.”

“I would like a new restaurant or an athletic store.”

- Robert Castillo

- George Ferentouros

“I would want to see an H&M. They always have good, stylish clothes that are cheap.” - Jessie Diaz

“I would want a Forever 21, Urban Outﬁtters, or an H&M. They have great clothes that are usually cheap.” - Attlie Carnavali

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

What businesses would you like at the 230th St. shopping mall?

Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Woodlawn Redemption

An interesting election was held in Woodlawn Monday evening. For the first time in memory, there was a contested election for the leadership of the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association. There was something about this election that left a familiar and bitter taste in our mouths. It is commonly believed that this opposition did not rise spontaneously from within the group, but was nurtured and encouraged from the outside – specifically by the Kingsbridge/ Riverdale/Van Cortlandt Development Corporation (KRVCDC). This group has, in recent months, changed its focus from ineffective development projects to partisan politics pure and simple. Let’s start with the name of the group. It pretty much describes where it should be selling its wares. Kingsbridge, Riverdale and Van Cortlandt Village. But in recent months, the political operatives that run it have expanded their focus well beyond, into the Woodlawn community. Why Woodlawn? Coincidentally, Woodlawn lies in the same City Council, Assembly, and Congressional District as Riverdale. And guess what? The treasurer of the KRVCDC, Clifford Stanton, has already declared his candidacy for this City Council seat that Oliver Koppell must vacate next year due to term limits, and must campaign in Woodlawn as well. Get the picture? The folks who live in Woodlawn wanted no part of these shenanigans. Despite an effort to “pack” the organization with 40 newly-signed up last-minute members, the members of the venerable Woodlawn group overwhelmingly rejected the scam, and reelected the incumbents. Folks at the meeting were asking themselves who these new people were, and why they had never seen them at meetings before. Good question. Put the pieces together, and you get a pretty good idea of what’s up. Beyond the failed Woodlawn gambit, the group has recently adopted another strategy, trying to shake down developers, merchants and politicians. Thus the developer of the planned shopping plaza at the site of the abandoned Stella D’Oro factory was asked to pay a fee to KRVCDC to represent them and give them access to, of all people, Community Board 8 District Manager Nicole Stent. Since Ms. Stent, hardly the effective force in local matters that her predecessor was, has no real influence here, peddling it would only have value to a naïve newcomer and outsider, such as the well-meaning developers of the Stella D’Oro project. Frankly, if this is true, Community Board 8 should investigate this perceived influence peddling, or perhaps the sale of service that all of us are entitled to. We are told that another foray for fees by KRVCDC was planned for the successful developer of the Broadway Plaza, a move that takes some chutzpah, since KRVCDC backed a competing proposal that included housing, one that we revealed might well have been backed by them in exchange for the promise of huge fees for managing the housing component, an enormous conflict of interest. Full disclosure would seem to be required here. They advocated for a position that many, including elected officials, felt would cause grievous harm to the community, further straining transportation, educational and social service resources. Why? All so that KRVCDC can further augment monetary resources to achieve their political ends. Why couldn’t they tell the truth and admit that their position was compromised by their financial stake in a proposal that would financially benefit their organization? That’s not the usual sneaky KRVCDC way, as the good folks of Woodlawn have now discovered. KRVCDC bills themselves as the advocate for local merchants. If that were true, then why are they trying shake down local elected officials, trying to force them to pay KRVCDC $300 to address the public at a planned shopping event? Something smells fishy here. We remember how KRVCDC sold out local merchants here last year by advocating for a “plaza” to be built at the intersection of Fieldston Road, Riverdale Avenue and West 236th Street, a hare-brained scheme that would trade precious parking spaces, and disrupt traffic patterns. All that is missing is exactly how they would have profited from this chaos. Folks are catching on, as was demonstrated in Woodlawn Monday night. We see it as the beginning of the end for a group that outlived its usefulness long ago. All that is needed is the light of a free press shining on them.

Bronx Zoo to premiere ‘Avenue ZOO’ Animal Tales Extravaganza returns to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo for the third year with special production - Avenue ZOO - featuring a guest appearance by Kate Monster, the beloved puppet star of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q. Running each weekend on the zoo’s Asia Plaza Stage, Avenue ZOO highlights the importance of wildlife conservation in a fun, entertaining way. It is a musical tale in which Kate Monster meets exotic animals and discovers that though they may seem strange and different, they are not so scary after all. Avenue ZOO performances will be at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. each weekend from Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, Sept. 9. Each weekend of Animal Tales Extravaganza includes an array of activities for families and children. The zoo’s Dancing Crane Pavilion will be transformed into an intimate story time corner, presented by Plum Organics. Zoo-goers can take a break and read from a wide variety of animal-themed books from Simon & Schuster, Candlewick Press,

and Hyperion. Children can then stage their own animal tale with a puppet they create at the Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschools crafts area. The main stage has something for everyone throughout the spring season. Highlights of this season’s main stage entertainment include: • April 28 and 29 - Marvel’s Avengers: Heroes Saving the Earth featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and HULK • May 5 and 6 - Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego: We Did It! • May 12 and 13 - Sportacus from Sprout’s Lazytown • May 19 and 20 - Disney’s Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve • June 2 and 3 - Ferdinand the Bull • June 9 and 10 - Barney(tm) Sing-Along • June 16 and 17 - Super Sprowtz(tm) • June 30 - Spider-Man takes over the zoo Children will enjoy meeting some of their favorite personalities at the Dancing Crane Pavilion. Meet-and-greets are scheduled with top children’s

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

Note our New Address: 5752 Fieldston Road Bronx, New York 10471 (718) 543-5200 FAX: (718) 543-4206

JOEL PAL Production Manager ROBERT NILVA Marketing Director

CECILIA McNALLY Oﬃce Manager MIAWLING LAM Associate Editor

STAFF: Robert Lebowitz, Brendan McHugh, Richard Reay, Paulette Schneider, Lloyd Ultan, Daniel R. Wolf

entertainment characters including Yo Gabba Gabba; Marvel’s Avengers; Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego, Sportacus from Sprout’s Lazytown; Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie; Buddy the T-Rex from Dinosaur Train; Maisy Mouse; Olivia(tm), and more. Eight-time Academy Awardwinning composer Alan Menken will present favorite songs from his collection along with Music Unites Youth Choir of Women’s Academy of Excellence on Saturday, June 2. Actor LeVar Burton, host of the Peabody award-winning series Reading Rainbow will make an appearance on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17 for a special storybook reading. LeVar will share his favorite tips and techniques to encourage young readers and host a special preview of the new Reading Rainbow iPad book discovery and reading application. A full listing of Animal Tales Extravaganza dates and times is available at www.bronxzoo.com. The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends from April to October; 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m November to March. Adult admission is $16, children (3-12 years old) $12, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14. Parking is $13 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.)

By IRA STOLL The big news over the long holiday weekend, which is resonating in the stock market, was the national employment and unemployment number. The national unemployment number for March was 8.2%, down just slightly from the 8.3% reported in February. The rate is seasonally adjusted and subject to all sorts of other massaging by the bureaucrats who collect and issue it, but people, and markets, pay a good bit of attention to it nonetheless, as they do to the payroll survey that counts jobs rather than unemployed workers. Less noticed, but perhaps more illuminating from a policy perspective, are the state unemployment rates. America, after all, isn’t just one uniﬁed national labor market. Job creation and economic growth are affected not only by the policies of the government in Washington, but by the policies of the governments in power in 50 state capitals and in local governments across the country. There are wide variations in these state unemployment rates. The most recently reported ones, for the month of February, range from lows of 3.1% in North Dakota, 4% in Nebraska, and 4.3% in South Dakota to highs of 10.9% in California, 11% in Rhode Island, and 12.3% in Nevada. At ﬁrst glance, these differences defy the obvious explanations. Is the secret to low unemployment a Republican governor? The low-unemployment Dakotas have Republican governors, but so does high-unemployment Nevada. Is the secret to low unemployment the lack of a state income tax? Low-unemployment New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming are all among the states with no state income tax. But high-unemployment Nevada doesn’t have an income tax, either. Still, there are some comparisons that are illuminating, or at least suggestive. Rhode Island has an unemployment rate of 11% and a top state income tax rate of 5.99%; neighboring Massachusetts has

Trafﬁc Advisory

Motorists traveling on the Broadway Bridge during the next six weeks may want to allocate extra time to their commutes, with ofﬁcials preparing to close two lanes. Department of Transportation authorities said up to two southbound lanes will be closed during overnight hours starting Monday, April 16, while workers complete structural deck repairs. At least one lane will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and from 10 p.m. on Fridays to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Meanwhile, at least two lanes will be closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturdays. At least one lane will remain open in each direction at all times. It is understood workers will repair the concrete structural deck, remove the existing deteriorated concrete deck and install a new concrete deck. All work is expected to be completed by Thursday, May 31.

an unemployment rate of 6.9% and a top state income tax rate of 5.3%. New York has an unemployment rate of 8.5% and a top state tax rate of 8.82%; neighboring Connecticut has an unemployment rate of 7.8% and a top state tax rate of 6.7%. Minnesota, which borders the Dakotas, has a 5.7% unemployment rate and a top state income tax rate of 7.85%; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.3% unemployment rate, while in North Dakota, where the unemployment rate is 3.1%, the income tax rate tops out at 3.99%. North Carolina’s top income tax rate, 7.75%, is higher than South Carolina’s top income tax, which is 7%. And, sure enough, North Carolina’s unemployment

rate, at 9.9%, is also higher than South Carolina’s, which is 9.1%. Two other states that border each other are Indiana and Illinois. The 5% state income tax in Illinois is higher than the 3.4% state income tax in Indiana. The 9.1% unemployment rate in Illinois is also higher than the 8.4% unemployment rate in Indiana. Taxes don’t explain everything. Other factors, such as the presence of oil and gas and of universities that spawn entrepreneurial graduates, also help. But it is interesting that the George W. Bush Institute is having a big conference in New York on April 10, just as income taxes are due, on the topic of “Tax Policies for 4% Growth.” Not a single declared presidential candidate

is a scheduled speaker, but at least ﬁve Republican governors — Chris Christie of New Jersey, Mark Fallin of Oklahoma, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Paul LePage of Maine, and Bill Haslam of Tennessee — will be there. As Justice Brandeis said in a different context: “It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” If the governors who have had some success have some wisdom to share on lowering unemployment and fostering growth, the rest of the country sure could use it. Ira Stoll is editor of FutureOfCapitalism. com and author of Samuel Adams: A Life.

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19 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, April 12, 2012

The link between high state taxes and unemployment

Thursday, April 12, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW