Riverdale Review, May 10, 2012

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Volume XIX • Number 17 • May 10 - 16, 2012 •

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Accused killers arraigned in Bronx courtroom

By MIAWLING LAM The two men accused of murdering an aspiring chef and stealing his iPhone will not testify before a grand jury, according to their respective lawyers.

Alejandro Campos, 21, and Dominick Davis, 20, were arrested within hours of each other on April 26, a week after allegedly killing Hwang Bum Yang on West 232nd Street near Cambridge Avenue.

They have been charged with second-degree murder, firstdegree manslaughter, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property.

Appearing before Bronx Supreme Court for the second time on Wednesday, May 2, both men remained silent and showed little emotion as their lawyers spoke on their behalf.

Campos’ attorney, Martin Galvin, who has claimed his client is a good kid who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, told the court Campos would not testify.

“I’ve had extensive conversation with Mr. Campos and…have had an opportunity to meet with his family, and it is his intention not to testify before the grand jury,” he said.

Meanwhile, Davis’ lawyer, Kyle B. Watters, echoed similar sentiments during a brief appearance on Monday, May 7.

While Watters declined to comment on the pending case, he told the Riverdale Review that his client was innocent.

“My client denies any guilt, of course,” he said.

The two men were ordered to remain in custody and are scheduled to next appear before Bronx Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 30.

When approached for comment outside the courtroom last Wednesday, Davis’ brother declined to comment, as did the two-dozen friends who showed up in an act of solidarity.

The pair’s decision to bypass the grand jury comes as no surprise—suspects generally do not testify because defense attorneys are not permitted to be present at the hearings.

Police allege Davis approached Yang, a Korean national who lived at 3261 Johnson Avenue, as he walked home from the subway and demanded that Yang hand over his iPhone.

Prosecutors believe an altercation ensued before Davis fired a single shot, which struck Yang in the left torso. The victim was rushed to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Detectives allege Davis stole Yang’s iPhone, left the victim for dead and fled the scene in a 2002 white Honda Odyssey getaway car driven by Campos.

Dominick Davis (second from left) and Alejandro Campos (third from left) appear before Hon. Seth Marvin at Bronx Supreme Court. They are accused of murdering Riverdalian Hwang Bum Yang.

Authorities said the break in the case came when the

Residents will get parking help from college

By MIAWLING LAM Up to 25 residents along Waldo Avenue will be able to park in the Manhattan College Broadway garage for free after all.

School officials last week announced they were abandoning plans to charge a fee after locals lambasted authorities for having the chutzpah to penalize them for the inconvenience.

Residents along Waldo Avenue claim 25 street parking spots will be lost once construction begins on the Lasallian school’s new 69,000-square-foot Raymond W. Kelly Student Commons center.

Manhattan College initially

suggested a parking fee was necessary, but vice president of facilities Andrew Ryan said officials are now committed to providing free parking for affected residents.

“There will be no charge for the displaced Waldo parkers, and we have not yet determined how that particular process will be controlled, as it does not need to be ready until the fourth quarter of 2012,” he told the Riverdale Review on Tuesday.

“The college is absorbing the additional operational expenses associated with providing parking for the displaced Waldo parkers.”

However, Ryan could not yet reveal how many spaces would be set aside during the 16-month construction phase.

“The number of spaces made available for the displaced Waldo parkers will be commensurate with the number of spaces that are taken for construction,” he said.

“We will not know the number until we get the contractor on board and develop the site logistics plan, which will not be until the fourth quarter of this year.”

Just last month, Ryan hinted that Waldo Avenue motorists would have to pay for the priviContinued on Page 5

two suspects foolishly tried to offload the stolen phone on the popular classified website Craigslist.

Commanding officer of the 50th Precinct Captain Kevin Burke last week told the Review that detectives have written and video confessions from the pair.

Campos, the first of the two to be arrested, led police to Davis.

The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is life in prison; the minimum penalty under these charges is 25 years.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Bloomberg weighed in on the 44 percent citywide spike in iPhone-related thefts during an unrelated press conference last Thursday but said he wasn’t concerned.

When asked about the increase, Bloomberg nonchalantly

replied, “if the worst problem we have is iPhone stealing...” He then turned to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and sarcastically said, “Ray, you’d better get on this iPhone right away. This is serious.”

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz slammed Bloomberg for the insensitive remarks and said his comments were hurtful and wrongheaded.

“I don’t think the Mayor appreciates how serious this problem is,” he said. “Instead of blaming the victims, the victims, we must do more to improve law enforcement’s ability to fight and deter this type of crime.

“I call on Mayor Bloomberg to apologize for his insensitive remarks, particularly to the family of Hwang Yang.”

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Hudson River Greenway plans proceed

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER It’s trying to keep a low profile, but Riverdale Park can’t escape its starring role as part of a link between the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway Trail and the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail in Yonkers.

It was featured at Community Board 8’s parks and recreation committee meeting this month, where the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council presented its technical advisory committee study showing how Riverdale fits into a planned Hudson River Valley Greenway trail where pedestrians and cyclists will someday make their way on a continuous path, mainly along the river, from Battery Park to Troy.

NYMTC’s Gerry Bogacz and consultant landscape architect Jackson Wandres discussed the viable routes—both through Riverdale Park between Palisade Avenue and the river and to Riverdale Park between the Henry Hudson Bridge and whatever point in the park is chosen for a stylish winding ramp across the Metro-North tracks.

One option for getting from the bridge to the park is a stretch of Kappock Street that leads right to Palisade Avenue.

But would that compromise parking?

A cross-sectional schematic of this proposed route assured those concerned that the parking lanes on either side of Kappock would be narrowed imperceptibly to accommodate bike lanes. Wandres pointed out that the change would call for nothing more than pulling in a bit closer to the curb.

The other option to the park, a path north along Independence Avenue and then down to Palisade along West 232nd Street, is more complex. First, it involves a very narrow and curved section of Independence Avenue that’s very close to several private homes. Second, it hinges on the creation of a path along the south side of Seton Park along West 232nd Street.

A homeowner was concerned that the Independence to 232nd option would call for widening the rustic twist of Independence Avenue that borders her front yard and that speeding bikes would jeopardize neighborhood safety.

Quite the contrary, Wandres explained.

The existing road’s natural traffic-calming features are a plus. He said that a “complete street approach” is preferred over a “highway approach” in this type of setting and that “we’re only at the point of having a yellow line on a map” for any of the routes—so no one needs to start planning for construction crews any time soon.

The West 232nd Street path, though not fully endorsed by the Department of Parks, is becoming more of a fact on the ground.

The second path cleanup collaboration between community members and parks department staff is scheduled for Sunday, May 20. The department may not be signing up for a major project, but they are indeed providing wood chips, rakes and wheelbarrows for the cleanup effort.

Whichever way we get there, the path through Riverdale Park is likely to cross at a relatively narrow section near the city’s DEP wastewater pumping station, causing as little disturbance as possible in a park that’s designated “forever wild” and is zoned as a special natural area district.

As far as getting from Manhattan to Riverdale, the $15 million path along the Henry Hudson Bridge still seems to be the likely option.

Everyone would love to ride from Inwood Park to Riverdale over a trail that runs along the Spuyten Duyvil swing bridge, Waldres said. But we’ll have to

wait until plans for a high-speed rail line along the Metro-North tracks finds its way to the drawing board.

Once that happens, according to Paul Elston, head of Friends of the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx, the cost of incorporating greenway infrastructure would be so insignificant as to be a “rounding error” in the larger plan.

As it is, Elston said, the Manhattan section of the greenway cost $900 million, while he estimates that the Riverdale section would cost a mere $50 million in total. “If we have a solid plan, the money will come over time.”

Final conceptual designs and their projected costs will be revealed during RiverFest at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in June.

Riverdale Greenway link: NYMTC’s schematic for a proposed Kappock Street route toward Palisade Avenue and the river from the Henry Hudson Bridge.

By MIAWLING LAM Race and ethnicity should not determine the outcome of the city’s hottest congressional race, according to veteran politico Charles Rangel.

The Democrat, who is seeking a 22nd term representing New York’s newly renumbered 13th congressional district, delivered the comments during a surprise appearance at last Wednesday’s Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club annual dinner in Riverdale.

In his first public appearance in The Bronx since new political boundaries were unveiled, Rangel made an early pitch for votes and spoke of a “burning desire” to be re-elected.

He also took a minor swipe at state Senator Adriano Espaillat, a DominicanAmerican who is attempting to unseat the incumbent by mobilizing the predominantly Latino population.

“I’m so proud that for 40 years in my congressional district, we’ve had no conflicts in people because of cultures, color or background,” Representative Rangel said.

“We’ve been able to work out our differences, and I can assure you that I really want, at the end of this race, to be able to say that we worked hard to make certain that color and culture was not [a factor] in the election of all the aspirants in our great district.”

The frail leader, who is still recovering from a back injury, struggled to move around the room and used a walker.

However, he insisted he would be back on his feet next week and vowed to return to The Bronx once he’s better.

“I look forward to working with you,

the assemblyman, the district leaders, the state committee and the honorees to make this a better community and certainly a better country,” he said.

“I hope to be able to come back and take your questions and answer those things that are so important to you.”

Although he left right after his speech and headed to another engagement, sources said Rangel hightailed it back upon learning that challenger Adriano Espaillat was in the audience.

The pair were seated as far away as possible from each other—on opposite ends of the room, in fact—which explains why Rangel may not have noticed Espaillat in the crowd.

Under the finalized congressional boundaries, the new 13th District will move up into The Bronx and cover Bedford Park, Norwood, Kingsbridge Heights and parts of Kingsbridge and University Heights.

Census data shows the district will be 55 percent Hispanic, 27 percent black and 12 percent white.

As soon as Rangel left the first time, Espaillat took to the stage and delivered his own remarks.

During his speech, Espaillat praised the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club and compared his dealings with them to a first kiss.

“Many people are married for 30, 40 years, but there’s nothing like that first kiss,” he said.

“And in many ways, the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club had been my first kiss, and I will never forget the kind of support and the kind of effort that you put forth.”

Espaillat made scant reference to Rangel, only reaffirming his intention to run for a seat in Washington, D.C., and he expressed his hope that the club would continue their support.

He claimed the reform movement was under attack nationwide and that more was needed to tackle issues such as student loan debt, immigration reform, job creation and affordable housing.

“We have many challenges ahead of us. I hope to continue to work with you.

I hope to continue to be a partner of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club,” he said.

Rangel is expected to face at least three Democratic challengers in the June 26 primary: Espaillat, former presidential aide Clyde Williams and former local

district leader Joyce Johnson, who is the only woman in the race.

The political club’s 52nd dinner, held at the Riverdale Temple, attracted a who’s who of politics.

Notable attendees included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Congressman Eliot Engel, Councilman G. Oliver Koppell and state Senators Jeffrey Klein and Gustavo Rivera.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and former Comptroller Bill Thompson were also in attendance.

Among the honorees were community and political activist Marcia Allina, District Council 37 executive director Continued on Page 11

3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Rangel and Espaillat seek support of Ben Franklin Democratic Club

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Around the schools...

P.S. 24

Pajama Day is this Friday, May 11. Kids are allowed to come to school in their PJs, and they can bring slippers, a pillow and a stuffed toy if they wish during this special day of reading and activities. But they’re encouraged to bring a donation—a new book or pair of pajamas—for the Pajama Program, an organization that provides these items to needy children in group homes and shelters.

P.S. 81

An orientation for families of incoming kindergarteners will take place next Wednesday, May 15, at 9 a.m. in the school cafeteria. All are welcome to participate in the parent association’s annual international dinner, raffle and auction on Thursday, May 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please bring a dish that serves eight.

Attendees can view the Children’s Art Gallery to see highlights of the school art program. For more information, contact Nina Velazquez at 718-796-8966, extension 1174.

M.S./H.S. 141—Riverdale/ Kingsbridge Academy

The community is invited to share in two upcoming events: The first-ever RKArnival on Friday, May 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the school yard. Admission is free, and tickets will be on sale for contests, games and food.

Expect music, dancing, prizes and fun.

The annual Spring Arts Festival is on Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m. Student artwork will be on display, and performances—choral, instrumental and dance—will will feature students from all grades. The suggested contribution is $5.

Horace Mann School

Upper Division students curated their own art exhibition, to remain on display in the school’s Fisher Art Gallery through Wednesday, May 16. Riverdalian saxophonist Sam Torres, a senior, joined maintenance staff member Ed Heinzinger on percussion and English teacher Harry Bauld on piano at last Monday’s opening reception.

Riverdalian Anna Carrol participated in last week’s SciTech12, a showcase of extraordinary work in science, engineering and design by Upper Division students. Anna collaborated with fellow junior Gabby Reid on a project addressing architecture and technology. Some other projects focused on cancer markers, cardiac arrhythmia physiology, evolution in yeast, blood splatter analysis, concussion awareness, asteroids and hovercrafts.

Manhattan College

The environmental engineering program will sponsor its 57th annual Institute in Water Pollution Control from Monday, May 21, to Thursday, May 24. This year’s institute will address treatment plant operations and process control. Specific topics will include nutrient removal process control, anaerobic bio-energy production operations, odor control systems, health and safety, instrumentation, and side stream nutrient treatment.

Attendees are eligible for up to 28 professional development hours or 28 New York state wastewater operator contact hours. The institute will be directed by Dr. Robert Sharp, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Jeanette Brown, adjunct professor in environmental engineering and former national president of the Water Environment Federation.

Commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, May 19, and Sunday, May 20. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York will receive an honorary doctorate and deliver the keynote address on May 20 at 1 p.m. to undergraduates receiving degrees in arts, business, education, engineering and science. Oil industry executive Thomas O’Malley (’63) will also receive an honorary doctorate. John Esposito (’69), retired president and CEO of Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. and Bacardi North America, will receive an honorary doctorate and deliver the keynote address on Saturday, May 19, at 3 p.m. to students receiving bachelor’s and master degrees or professional diplomas from the school of continuing and professional studies

College of Mount Saint Vincent

The college’s Student Research and Service Symposium will be held on Thursday, May 17, at 5 p.m. in Smith Hall. Sociology major Mahabir Samuel will present his original undergraduate research on content analysis of hip-hop lyrics. Samuel, a senior, concluded that the phenomenon of “education is acting white” in some minority communities is not anti-intellectual attitude but rather a critical response to real and perceived failings of the American education system. Sociology major Michelle Thompson will present her research on the internationalization of the LGBT community. Thompson, a senior, examined blog entries on the implementation of the military “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and found that the LGBT community has internationalized and has changed ethnically. She will be enlisting in the United States Navy after graduation.

Continued from Page 1 lege of using the parking lot. He claimed the charge was necessary to cover the additional security and cleaning costs associated with running the garage 24/7.

Currently, the five-story parking lot is open strictly to students and employees of the college and as such is closed during school vacations.

Marty O’Neill, vice president of the tenants association at 3875 Waldo Avenue, welcomed the breakthrough.

The Riverdale resident has been leading the fight against the charge since April last year when the college first unveiled plans for the student center.

“We are very pleased,” O’Neill said, “but those free parking spaces in their lot doesn’t resolve all the issues. They should be aware that they have given us something for our inconvenience but that doesn’t mitigate any other problems that may come up in the future.

“We want to be informed on a regular basis because, as with any project this large,

there can be changes. We want to know that there is a line of communication open and that they will be forthcoming with any adjustments that may happen.”

O’Neill said the next battle was to ensure that officials set aside 25 spaces for displaced parkers—the school claims fewer spaces will be lost—and that technical issues are worked out.

“We need to make sure that the agreement is from the point at which construction begins and parking is no longer available and until the time that the signs come down and are changed back to the alternate side that we’re used to,” he said.

“We don’t want [them] to say we finished and the city didn’t do their job and change the sign.”

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, and meeting rooms will be available for student and community use.

The facility is set to open in fall 2014.

Council disperses discretionary funds

By MIAWLING LAM City Council slush funds should be doled out more equitably rather than to officials with the most political clout, according to a government watchdog group.

A new report released by the Citizens Union shows while the discretionary funds allocation process has improved in recent years, additional reforms were needed to ensure fairer distribution.

According to an analysis, large disparities exist among the 51 City Council members. The Bronx delegation also recorded mixed results when it came to how much money each of them collected.

Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, who represents Mott Haven, Hunts Point and Melrose, last year raked in $8.6 million in capital and expenses funding—the most of any official in The Bronx and 6th out of 51 members citywide.

Councilman James Vacca followed closely behind with his $8.2 million allocation, while Councilman G. Oliver Koppell collected $6.3 million, placing him in 15th position overall.

At the other end of the spectrum, scandal-prone Councilman Larry Seabrook received the third-lowest amount across the five boroughs with his $3 million allocation, while Councilwoman Helen Foster also struggled to collect significant discretionary funding with her $3.5 million total.

Overall, the City Council distributed nearly $580 million in capital and expenses funding in fiscal year 2012. The

monies are typically used to bankroll capital projects such as school renovations and to fund smaller neighborhood initiatives like after-school programs.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn is charged with distributing all capital funds and a large portion of the expense funds to each of the 51 members.

Citizens Union executive director Dick Dadey said handing the Council speaker with such degrees of power was a grave mistake.

“While the city’s discretionary funding process is improved in significant ways from a decade ago, it remains flawed and needs additional reform,” he said in a statement.

“Recent reforms in the City Council have improved the vetting of organizations receiving funding and provided additional disclosure, yet the distribution process to members remains too politicized and not equitable and objective enough.”

Citizen Unions’ policy and research manager and primary author of the report Rachael Fauss also said the findings fail to take into account the demographics of a particular district.

“There is little correlation between the relative socioeconomic status of districts and the amount of funding received by members of the Council to distribute for their constituents,” she said.

Fauss said objective measures such as socioeconomic factors should be worked into the distribution process to ensure all districts are given their fair share of monies.

5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Parking help on way from college

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Bronx Opera to present ‘Hansel & Gretel’

The Bronx Opera follows the famed mischievous brother and sister into Ilsenstein forest to meet the echoing trees, the little Sandman, the 14 angels of protection, the little Dew Fairy, and the evil witch and her tempting gingerbread house in this classic opera based on the famed Brother Grimm story. Filled with parables about family life and struggles that ring true today, Hansel & Gretel is a delight for any age. Fully-Staged with Orchestra, Sung in English, Senior, Children, and Group Discounts.

In the Bronx shows will be held on Fri. & Sat., May 11 & 12 @ 7:30 pm at Lehman College’s Lovinger Theatre, For more information, visit www.brownpapertickets. com/event/184327.

Boy Scouts to hold fundraiser auction

Boy Scout Troop 240 will hold its annual Fundraiser Auction on Friday, May 11, at the Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 4765 Henry Hudson Parkway. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Auction starts at 7 p.m. BBQ hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments available for purchase.

Auction and raffle prizes include: gift baskets, electronics, restaurant and health club gift certificates, sports event tickets, home goods, games, camping items, and more.

Riverdale Y to reopen Sunday Market

The Riverdale Y Sunday Market will reopen this season from 9am-2pm on May 13 at MS/HS 141, located at West 237th Street and Independence Avenue.

The market offers natural organic and local products- kosher and non kosher items.

This year the market will include some new vendors including fish, Middle Eastern Fare, a new hot sauce vendor and some new artisans.

Of course we will have our regular favorites of produce, baked goods, eggs, meats, cheese - some fair trade and organic.

This year, The Riverdale Y Sunday Market will also have their annual Environmental Fair at the opening on May 13.

Please bring these recyclables to the Fair at the Sunday Market: Computers (CPUs), monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, photocopiers, cell phones, VCR/DVD/CD players, game systems, stereos, televisions,

and other electronic devices. We do not accept any radioactive material or electronics with hazardous materials such as air conditioners and humidifiers. WeRecycle is a certified company that will dispose of all these items. Wearable Collections accepts all used clean clothing including shoes and hats. They also accept household items such as curtains, linens, towels, handbags and belts. Besides these companies, there will be a flower vendor, informational table for the Office of Recycling Outreach and Education and other environmental products.

Sponsored in part by NYC Funding with thanks to Councilman Oliver Koppell.

For more information please go to our website: www.RiverdaleY.org or call 718-548-8200.

AJWS fighting for food security

On Saturday, May 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale, the American Jewish World Service’s Reverse Hunger campaign joins CSAIR, the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale and Riverdale Temple in presenting Fighting for Food Security: The Story of a Leading Haitian Activist, a dialogue featuring Camille Chalmers.

For decades, Chalmers has decried U.S. and other nations’ development practices that destroy Haiti’s agricultural economy.

She is executive director of the Haitian Advocacy Platform for an Alternative Development, an AJWS grantee. Chalmers will suggest how the community can help fight food insecurity in Haiti.

CSAIR is located at 475 West 250th Street at the Henry Hudson Parkway. For more information, call the CSAIR office at 718-543-8400.

Brandeis Group to hold spring luncheon

The Riverdale Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee will hold its Annual Spring Luncheon and Installation on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at The Riverview, One Warburton Avenue, Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y. The installation of officers for the coming year is scheduled for 11 A.M. to be followed by the luncheon at 12 Noon.

Entertainment will be presented by Joe Pace, door prizes will be offered and a boutique, “Vintage Jewelry by Granny Franny” will be displayed for sale.

Subscription is $60.00 by advance res-

ervation only. Please send check, payable to B.N.C., to Mrs. Jessie Wallerich, 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway, Apt. 5B, Bronx, N.Y. 10463, by May 15th. The menu includes salmon, chicken or a pasta for the main dish and guests should indicate their preference on their check. Transportation, if needed, will be provided for $10.00 round trip and must be requested with a separate check. All proceeds will benefit the Sustaining the Mind Fund.

Riv. Temple announces upcoming activities

Tuesday May 15 Rabbi Lewis leads a program from noon to 1:30 called “Lunch and Learn” where anyone can come learn about Judaism with the Rabbi and bring their own lunch. Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Ave Riverdale, NY 10471718-548-3800 ext 0 Once again, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) is being offered at the Riverdale Temple with Stan. For those who are unfamiliar with the program, it offers gentle stretching, balancing, endurance and strengthening components for eight one hour sessions. There will be no cost to participants.

Please call the office for registration. Mondays, 10-11 a.m., from May 7th until June 28th. *NOTE: No class on Memorial Day* Held at Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Ave Riverdale, NY 10471 718-548-3800 ext 0 Sunday, May 20th (2 EVENTS): We will hold our Student Sponsorship Breakfast from 9:30-11:30 am. Those

interested must RSVP by May 13th and can call the temple office or come in to pick up a flyer for further details. Also, we will host a YIVO lecture on the history of Yiddish language, given by Paul Glasser, at 2pm Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Ave Riverdale, NY 10471 718-548-3800 ext 0 The last date for the Mommy, Daddy and Me program here at Riverdale Temple is Sunday 5/13. We now have a soft gym for toddlers to play on during our Mommy, Daddy and Me sessions. Each class is still only $20! Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Ave Riverdale, NY 10471 718-548-3800 ext 0 Tot Shabbat, May 18th @ 5:30 pm in the West Lounge at Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Ave Riverdale, NY 10471 718-548-3800 ext 0 Come enjoy music, dance, and crafts! Open to all children birth to 6 (older siblings welcome, too).

Please join us at Sabbath Evening Services May 18 to honor Cantorial Intern, Aviva Kolet for sharing her angelic voice with us for the past two years. Professional quartet and Organist. Special kiddush will follow the service. Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Ave Riverdale, NY 10471 718-548-3800 ext 0

Riv. AARP Chapter to meet

The Riverdale Chapter 1546 of AARP will meet on Wednesday, May 16th, at 12:30 p.m. at the Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 4765 Henry Hudson Parkway West. We will have Edward Schneider, a school teacher who retired after 12 years at the Bronx Historical Society speak and show slides all about the Bronx of Yesterday.

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

The award-winning Riverdale Rising Stars present a limited engagement of their spring musical classic 42nd Street! This Tony Award-winning musical features well known songs including Lullaby of Broadway, We’re In The Money, 42nd Street and more.

Boasting a cast of 29, these talented teens will tap their way into your hearts with this old-fashioned musical comedy - perfect for all ages. Show times and dates are Thursday, May 17 at 7:30pm,

Saturday, May 19 at 9:00pm and Sunday, May 20 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

Please visit riverdalerisingstars.com for tickets and more information. Group sales are available. Contact Lwalton@riverdaley. org. The Riverdale Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

Curves to give away free 30-day memberships

Curves of Riverdale will give a free 30-day membership to any non-member who visits the club during regular operating hours throughout National Women’s

Health Week, May 13-19. This annual awareness week, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health (OWH), begins each year on Mother’s Day and brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. Curves International has partnered with the OWH to help promote National Women’s Health Week and to provide health and wellness programs and materials to women throughout the country.

In further support of this partnership, Curves announces the inaugural National Curves Day celebration, which will occur annually on the Thursday of National Women’s Health Week. Curves International aims to give away one million free 30-day memberships at participating Curves gyms throughout the United States and Canada during the week-long event. Any non-member who visits a participating Curves club during National Women’s Health Week will be eligible for this free membership offer.

The theme for the 13th annual National Women’s Health Week is ‘It’s Your Time.’ National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages women to take the following steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases: • Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings.

• Get active.

Lag Ba’Omer Celebration at the Riverdale Y

A real bonfire, Israeli music, Israeli food and lots of fun on this very special night!

Lag Ba’Omer, is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, which occurs on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. According to the Talmud and Midrash, this day marks the hillula (anniversary of death) of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a Mishnaic sage and leading disciple of Rabbi Akiva in the 2nd century. Modern Jewish tradition links the holiday to the Bar Kokhba Revolt against the Roman Empire (132-135 CE). In Israel, Lag Ba’Omer is celebrated as a symbol of the fighting Jewish spirit and is marked by bonfires all over Israel!

Please join us in our back lot on Sunday, May 13 at 6:00pm for our bonfire in honor of this holiday. This celebration is part of our iHouse program. The entire community is invited to this event! For more information please go to our website www.

RiverdaleY.org or call 718-548-8200.

7 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Musical to be presented at the Riverdale Y

• Eat healthy.

• Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.

• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.

For more information about Curves of Bronx, located at 3719 Riverdale Ave., National Curves Day and the Curves one million free 30-day memberships offer, contact a Curves of Riverdale staff member at 718-549-0555. For more information about Curves, please visit www.curves.com.

For more information about National Women’s Health Week, including a list of events in your area, please visit http:// www.womenshealth.gov/whw/.

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Thursday, May 10

Fair. For more information, visit www.RiverdaleY.org or call 718-548-8200.

TODDLER STORY TIME 10:30 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Toddlers from 18 months to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Riverdale

Spuyten Duyvil

Riverdale

LAG BA’OMER CELEBRATION 6 p.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Avenue A real bonfire, Israeli music, Israeli food and lots of fun on this very special night! For more information, visit www.

RiverdaleY.org or call 718-548-8200.

Monday, May 14

SINGING & 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.

READ OUT LOUD 10:30 a.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library 3874 Sedgwick Avenue Pre-schoolers from 3 to 5 years old and their parents/caregivers can enjoy new and classic picture books, action songs and meet other pre-schoolers in the neighborhood. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

Riverdale

Spuyten Duyvil

LAG B’OMER PICNIC 4:30 p.m. Seton Park 235th St. & Independence Avenue Chabad’s Lag B’Omer Picnic features a live-action world renowned BMX Bike Stunt Show, pony rides, an obstacle course and moon bounce, great delicious food and fun for the whole family all in one place. For more information, visit www.

ChabadRiverdale.org or call 718-549-1100 ext. 10.

Friday, May 11 Riverdale

TAI CHI 10 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue This tai chi (Sun Style) includes agile steps and exercises that may improve mobility, breathing and relaxation. Tai chi has been show to reduce pain and stiffness, increase flexibility, enhance muscle strength, improve concentration and memory, and help people cope with stress and depression. This is an adult program. Registration is required. Please call the branch at 718-549-1212 or send an e-mail to Riverdale@nypl.org to reserve your spot.

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.

Kingsbridge

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Let your voice be heard in the Kingsbridge Library’s Teen Advisory Group! TAG meetings will be held on Friday afternoons from 4-5 pm. If you are a 7th -12th grade student, you are eligible to join. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

BOY SCOUT FUNDRAISER AUCTION 7 p.m. Riverdale Presbyterian Church 4765 Henry Hudson Parkway Doors open 6:30 p.m.; Auction starts 7 p.m. BBQ hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments available for purchase.

Saturday, May 12 Riverdale

LECTURE/DIALOGUE 6:30 p.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel 475 West 250th Street Fighting for Food Security: The Story of a Leading Haitian Activist, a dialogue featuring Camille Chalmers. For more information, call the CSAIR office at 718-543-8400.

Sunday, May 13 Riverdale

RIVERDALE Y SUNDAY MARKET 9 a.m. MS/HS 141 Independence Ave. & West 237th Street This year the market will –include some new vendors including fish, Middle Eastern Fare, a new hot sauce vendor and some new artisans. Also featuring the annual Environmental

Van Cortlandt

KNITTING & CROCHET 11 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street A get-together for knitters & crocheters at all skill levels to work on a current project, learn new techniques, or even to begin a new craft. All skill levels are welcomed. Registration not required. Audience: Adults. For info, call 718-796-1202.

Kingsbridge

BOOK DISCUSSION 6 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Get the neighborhood read. Check out what the librarian has recommended, and hear what others think about it. We’ve got the books, now we need you to talk! This month’s discussion will be of the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Tuesday, May 15 Spuyten Duyvil

BABY STORY TIME 11 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Babies from birth to 18 months and their parents/caregivers can enjoy great books, lively songs and rhymes, and meet other babies in the neighborhood. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Riverdale

LUNCH & LEARN 12 pm. Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Avenue A session where anyone can come learn about Judaism with the Rabbi and bring their own lunch. For more information, call 718-548-3800 ext 0.

Wednesday, May 16 Spuyten Duyvil

ARTHRITIS EXERCISE PROGRAM 10 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street This recreational program using gentle movements was designed by 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 & maintenance of muscle strength.

The class meets for eight weeks, one hour per session. Audience: Adults. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Riverdale

AARP MEETING 12:30:00 Riverdale Presbyterian Church 4765 Henry Hudson Pkwy. West The Riverdale Chapter 1546 of AARP will meet. Guest speaker will be Edward Schneider, a retired school teacher, who will speak and show slides about the Bronx of Yesterday. For more information, call Manfred Segal at 718-549-0088.

Riverdale

BOOK DISCUSSION 1 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue This month the group will be discussing Suffer the Little Children: A Commissario Guido Brunette Mystery by Donna Leon. 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.

9

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

City Water Board passes huge seven percent rate increase

By MIAWLING LAM It’s official: Homeowners will be hosed by yet another water hike.

Despite fierce public opposition, the New York City Water Board unanimously approved a 7 percent rate increase during its meeting in Manhattan last Friday.

City officials claimed the new rate, which will kick in on Sunday, July 1, was necessary to cover escalating debt service payments, unfunded mandates and increased operating expenses.

Authorities downplayed the hike by arguing it is the smallest increase in seven years and 25 percent lower than initial projections.

However, in real terms, the jacked-up rate will cost the average single-family homeowner using 80,000 gallons a year an extra $62 annually, while a multifamily unit dweller using 50,000 gallons will pay an extra $39 each year.

In an unusual move, Water Board chair Alan Moss prefaced the vote by defending the panel and stressing its impartiality.

The public has long contended the board’s seven members—who are appointed by the mayor—are merely puppets for officials.

“None of the seven members work for the administration. None of us get instructions from City Hall. We just don’t,” he said, adding that the last time he’s seen the mayor was a decade ago.

“We are our own agents, and we are

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pect,” he said.

“New Yorkers can be assured that DEP is doing everything we can to keep water bills low while continuing to maintain a water system that meets the high standards they expect and deserve.”

Water rates have soared 77 percent since 2005—the new rate comes hot on the heels of a 7.5 percent hike in 2011 and a 12.9 percent increase in 2010.

The approval comes a week after Bronx politicians and residents derided city officials for unfairly soaking homeowners with yet another rate hike.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz lam-

basted the Water Board for approving the hike despite impassioned public testimonies.

“The Water Board did what they always do, which is to rubber-stamp an unjustified increase,” he said, adding that the Croton Water Filtration Plant was partially to blame.

“It is a direct result of the city’s massive cost overruns of the Croton Water Filtration Plant and, once again, it’s the people of New York that have to pay for the DEP’s incompetence.”

Officials have proposed a 7.9 percent water rate hike for fiscal year 2013.

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guided by our conscience and, hopefully, good judgment. The law requires that we set water and sewer rates at a level that is sufficient to pay the costs of administering, operating, maintaining, repairing and the cost of capital improvements.

“We also have to set rates that can pay interest and principal on outstanding bonds that have been issued. That’s our mandate. That’s what we have to do. That’s our job.”

Moss also stressed that each board member receives only modest compensation—$150 per meeting, regardless of its length, and travel expenses. There were no other perks, he said.

“We are here because we believe in the kind of Greek democracy where you’ve got to participate if you’re living in a place and you’re enjoying the benefits of local democracy.”

The board then proceeded to rubberstamp the proposal. No other board members delivered remarks, and there was no other discussion on the new rate.

In a statement issued after the vote, DEP commissioner Carter Strickland welcomed the decision. He also reiterated a pledge to keep water bills low through prudent cost cutting, improved transparency and efficiency and aggressive advocacy for regulatory reform.

“Though rate increases are difficult during tough economic times, we are moving in the right direction and maintaining the highest standard of quality New Yorkers have come to ex-

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Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Continued from Page 3 Lillian Roberts, Bronx Community Pride Center executive director Dirk McCall and Riverdale Neighborhood House president Sarah Gund.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who is a longtime member, said the importance of the political club’s work should not be underestimated.

“We work together and we work hard and we can get things done,” he said.

“We can elect people to office, we can affect the issues that are important in our community and we can make things happen. And this club, more than any other political club in The Bronx, makes things happen.”

Meanwhile, the endorsements continue to roll in for Espaillat, with Fernando Ferrer becoming the latest notable official to give the congressman his backing.

The former Bronx borough president and Democratic nominee for New York City mayor said he was compelled to support Espaillat because of his energy, passion, and bold, new ideas.

“New York has always been the place where barriers are broken and history is made,” Ferrer said in a statement.

“We can once again make history and bring change to our communities by electing Adriano Espaillat as our next congressman.”

If elected, Espaillat will become the first Dominican-American elected to office in Washington, D.C. State Senator Gustavo Rivera, New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association president Norman Seabrook, noted fashion icon Oscar de la Renta,

Congressman Charles Rangel former Rangel aide Vincent Morgan and Manhattan community activist Ruben Dario Vargas have already thrown their support behind Espaillat.

11 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Candidates seek club support

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

12

13

City repaving sidewalks throughout area

By ALLISON SUMMERS The city is currently repairing broken, uneven and cracked sidewalks in the Riverdale area after receiving complaints from residents in the community.

Construction is underway to repair faulty sidewalks at Gale Place in Van Cortlandt Village, the Henry Hudson Parkway service road north of Manhattan College Parkway and Johnson Avenue between West 232nd and West 235th streets. Work has already been completed at Waldo Avenue between West 236th and West 238th streets.

Councilman G. Oliver Koppell took credit for the improvements and said he

was pleased the city was taking action.

“My office has received many complaints about the condition of sidewalks in the area, which was of great concern to me because of the risk of pedestrians falling,” he said in a statement.

“I am pleased that the city responded to my concerns about pedestrian safety and is now working to fix the defective sidewalks, particularly those that are in the worst condition.”

The latest repairs come a couple of weeks after the city repaved the sidewalk on Independence Avenue between West 236th and West 237th Street at Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz’s request.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

PEACEFUL MIDDLE EAST DISCOURSE. More than 200 attended the Riverdale Y’s Rose Dialogue Series opener last Tuesday night, where Jewish community leader Rabbi Irving Greenberg (left) and Israeli journalist Dr. Ronen Bergman discussed the topic “Israel vs. Iran—Is War Imminent?” A festive dessert banquet followed.

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

14

Bronx Week events announced at kickoff

By ALLISON SUMMERS Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially kicked off Bronx Week 2012 with a press conference in the Bronx County Building on Monday.

The annual festivities in celebration of the borough will run from May 10 through May 20, with more than 100 free and low-priced events taking place across The Bronx including art exhibits, trolley tours, concerts, theatrical performances and fitness fairs.

“This is where we invite Bronxites, New Yorkers and people from all over the planet to come and rediscover The Bronx, to eat at our restaurants, to come to our cultural institutions and to really appreciate our Bronx talent,” Diaz said.

Some of the highlights for this year’s Bronx Week include a weeklong film festival and the borough’s first-ever solar energy conference.

In addition, favorite programs from previous years have been brought back, including Centenarian Celebration, the Bronx Bankers’ Breakfast, the Urban Farms Trolley Tour, Senior Day, the Bronx Week Film Festival Gala, Environmental Day and the Bronx Ball.

The festivities will conclude on May 20 with a special ceremony inducting some of the most successful and influential Bronxites into the Bronx Walk of Fame.

This year’s honorees are model and actor Tyson Beckford, hip-hop mogul Fat Joe, cinematographer Sol Negrin and jazz musician Valerie Capers.

After the ceremony, visitors are invited to help celebrate the honorees’ achievements at the annual parade, food and arts festival and concert on Mosholu Parkway.

“One of the things that we do, or if not the biggest thing that we do, is we induct people to the Bronx Walk of Fame,” Diaz said.

“We do this with folks who wear being from The Bronx as a badge of honor. We do this to our ambassadors of The Bronx, the folks that we have unofficially deputized to go out there and to tell the world that The Bronx is a beautiful place, that The Bronx gave them a leg up, that you should recognize that the Bronx helped formulate those contributions and those talents.”

Inductee Valerie Capers said the borough played a major role in cultivating her talents and in making her the person she is today.

“Everything that’s happened to me as far as shaping my life has been in The Bronx,” she explained. “I went to the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind on Pelham Parkway and I received an education after losing my sight that my parents never would have been able to afford.”

Congressman Charles Rangel was among those who attended the press conference to show their support.

Under the latest redistricting plan, Rangel’s Manhattan district moves into The Bronx and encompasses parts of Norwood and Kingsbridge.

“Thank you, all of you, for allowing me to join in this great kickoff, and I’m looking forward to this new partnership where we’ll work together so we can tell Brooklyn and Queens and all the other boroughs, ‘Watch out, here we come.”

Bronxites and visitors are encouraged to visit ilovethebronx.com to learn more about Bronx Week events and schedules.

Riverdale Rising Stars presents David Merrick’s

Directed by Laurie Walton

Limited Engagement!

Showtimes and Dates: Thursday, May 17 at 7:30pm Saturday, May 19 at 9:00pm Sunday, May 20 at 3:00pm & 7:00pm Adults $20; $16 online; Seniors and Students $12 Tickets available online at www.Riverdalerisingstars.com or RiverdaleY.org or call 718-548-8200

Stay connected with RRS facebook.com/Riverdalerisingstars twitter.com/Riverdalerisingstars

5625 Arlington Avenue Bronx, NY 10471 • 718-548-8200 www.RiverdaleY.org

15

Mt. Vernon

PERSONAL BRANDING 6:30 p.m. Somers Library Route 139 Gain an understanding of the importance of personal branding as a career development tool. Assess and define your desired brand that will communicate your value to an employer or client, and learn more about your personal communication skills. Register online at www.somerslibrary.org or call 914-232-5717.

OPEN SATURDAY 12 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue The event features a historical talk, period meal, music, and a glimpse at the Mt. Vernon area in 1912. Contact the site at 914-667-4116 for ticket reservations and details. The Historic Dinner event at 5 p.m. commemorates the 100th anniversary of the landmark Presidential election of 1912, energetically contested by four candidates -- Woodrow Wilson, Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt and Eugene Debs.

Yonkers

Sunday, May 13

Somers

BIKE MAINTENANCE BASICS 9 a.m. REI Yonkers Ridge Hill Shopping Center If you ride a bicycle, then you need this class! This class is an informative presentation that will teach you how to lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bicycle. No experience necessary! For more information, call 914-410-9500 or visit www.rei.com/yonkers.

Friday, May 11 Rye

Yonkers

HUDSON RIVER FAMILY SEINING 10 a.m. Beczak Environmental Education Center 35 Alexander Street Catch fish and other remarkable Hudson River creatures by wading into the river and dragging a 30-foot net through the water. Led by Beczak educators, rain or shine. Waterproof overalls for all sizes provided. $5 per person. Registration required.

For all ages. For more info, call 914-377-1900 x13.

Monday, May 14

NETWORKING EVENT 11 a.m. Hilton Rye Town 699 Westchester Avenue Sonia Manzano will be the keynote speaker at Westchester’s premier networking event - In the Company of Women luncheon benefit, Westchester’s annual premier women’s networking event to attract nearly 600 people. For more information, call 914-949-6227 x147.

Bronxville

Ossining

Wednesday, May 16

TEATOWN’S PLANT SALE 4 p.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road This 2-day event opens with a First Pick Sale—your chance to get your favorite plants before they sell out! A rich abundance of annuals, native wildflowers, perennials, hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs await. And Teatown’s dedicated staff and volunteers are ready to help you pick the right plants for your yard and give you expert advice on how to care for them. On Saturday from 10:30am-1:30pm, you can also enjoy tours of Wildflower Island, a two-acre sanctuary with over 230 native and endangered species of wildflowers. For more information, call 914-762-2912 x110 or visit www.teatown.org.

Katonah

CONCERT 8 p.m. Caramoor’s Rosen House 149 Girdle Ridge Road The Jade Mountain. Featuring Charlotte de Rothschild, soprano; and Danielle Purrett, harp. Program: Works by Henry Purcell, Peter Warlock, Benjamin Britten, Thomas Dunhill, James Hook, George Frederick Handel, Franz Schubert, Gabriel Faure, etc. Tickets: $25. For more information, call 914-232-1252.

Saturday, May 12 Yonkers

PLANT SALE 9 a.m. Beczak Environmental Education Center 35 Alexander Street Get what you need for your garden and support local river education. Reasonably priced vegetables, herbs, flowers, perennnials, and hanging baskets. Plus FREE face painting and a Mother’s Day craft from noon to 2:00 PM. For more information, call 914-377-1900 x 13.

Somers

CRAFT WORKSHOP 10 a.m. Somers Library Route 139 Beading & Basket Weaving. Learn how to make two different projects in this all-day free workshop. Register online at www. somerslibrary.org or call 914-232-5717. Space is limited.

Sponsored by The Friends of Somers Library.

Scarsdale

NATURE FRIENDLY GARDENING 10 a.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road Great Planting for Great Pollinators and Beneficial Insects.

Did you know that over 97% of the insects in an average landscape are beneficial to the environment or completely harmless?

Learn how to attract the “good bugs” to your yard by planting the right mix of native plants. An assortment of plants discussed will be available for purchase after the program. Members: $20; Non-Members: $25. For info, call 914-723-3470.

ART EXHIBIT 10 a.m. Bronxville Women’s Club 135 Midland Avenue Create a family heirloom with an original portrait to be treasured for many, many years to come. Portrait artist Joanne Roy will give a portrait demonstration. For more information, call 914-337-3252 or visit www.bronxvillewomensclub.org.

Mt. Vernon

MUSIC 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue Please join us for a stirring performance by the Collegium Westchester of music for Violin & Organ, featuring the 1830 Erben pipe organ. For info, contact David Osborn, 914-667-4116.

White Plains

FUNDRAISER 6 p.m. Brazen Fox 175 Mamaroneck Avenue Brazen Fox, a popular White Plains hotspot, is hosting a benefit event to help fund Support Connection’s free support services. Admission includes 2 Hour Open Bar. Discounted appetizer specials available. Door prizes and raffles too! Proceeds will benefit Support Connection’s free support services and programs for people affected by breast and ovarian cancer.

Purchase advance tickets by calling 914-962-6402

Thursday, May 17 Somers

FENG SHUI 6 p.m. Somers Library Route 139 As with Tai Chi, Chi Gong, traditional Chinese medicine, and acupuncture, all have one thing in common - attaining balance. Feng Shui helps us create balance in our lives as we connect to our environment. Join us for a special presentation with Lois Kramer Perez, and learn more about you can incorporate Feng Shui into your life. Register online at www. somerslibrary.org or call 914-232-5717.

Friday, May 18 White Plains

ARTS BASH 11:30 a.m. Arts Westchester 31 Mamaroneck Avenue Join in to see an exciting new exhibition, Westchester Sculpts…meet the artists…tour artist studios…sample fine wine…and taste signature dishes from some of Westchester’s top restaurants. $75 General Admission. For more information, visit www.artswestchester.org.

Saturday, May 19 Ossining

BIRDING 101 10 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Can’t tell a blue jay from a bluebird? A crow from a blackbird?

This program on bird identification is for novice birders trying to find their wings! We’ll supply binoculars, field guides and the basics of birding during a lively walk. Please note this program is for adults only. Free for members, $5pp for nonmembers.

For more information, call 914-762-2912 x110.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Thursday, May 10

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

16

PERFORMANCES BY

DOUG E. FRESH

HERMANOS MORENOS

AND MORE!

By ALLISON SUMMERS After a tedious three-month battle with nine cases of bed bug infestations, the tenants of 3800 Waldo Avenue can now boast that they are 100 percent free of the insects—a feat not easily accomplished.

As of last week, inspectors confirmed that not a single bed bug resided in the building.

“It’s rare that buildings with infestations can be completely cleared,” said Joan Kaufman, president of Waldo Gardens. “It

almost never happens.”

The problem was brought to Kaufman’s attention last February, when a woman came forward with bumps on her arm that were initially thought to be caused by allergies but turned out to be bed bugs bites.

Kaufman said immediate action was taken to eradicate the problem. Out of 174 units inspected by pest control specialists—including a canine trained to locate the vermin—nine were found to be infested with

YIVO Jewish Culture Series at Riv. Temple The YIVO Jewish Culture Series in partnership between the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and Riverdale Temple, will hold its last lecture in the series for this year on Sunday, May 20 at 2PM at the Riverdale Temple. This is the fourth of a series of four lectures for the 2011-2012 year. The response to this lecture series has been very positive and we look forward to the event again next season.

The event is FREE. The Riverdale Temple is at 4545 Independence Avenue (at 246th Street).

Paul Glasser, the Dean of the Max Weinreich Center of Yivo will speak on the History of the Yiddish Language. At its height, Yiddish was spoken fro the North Sea im the west almost to the Caucasus in the east. Dr. Glasser

will trace the history of Yiddish from its beginnings in western Europe through its expansion eastward and finally to its reaching the Americas, Asia and Africa with jewish immigration. Please join us for a stimulating and informative afternoon.

Card party at St. John’s School St. John’s Card Party will be held on Saturday, May 19, at Old St. John’s School, 3030 Godwin Terrace. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Admission of $5 includes door prizes and refreshments.

There is plenty of parking.

For more information, call 718543-3003.

bed bugs. Some units harbored thousands of the insects.

“We were extremely aggressive when it came to getting rid of the problem,” Kaufman said.

“I had some people literally slamming the door in my face, but we brought a lawyer in and made it clear that whoever didn’t comply with the cleaning procedures would be evicted.

However, the majority of the building complied. They really wanted to solve this as much as we did.”

Kaufman said every inch of the building was sprayed, including the elevator and laundry room, and flyers were distributed to tenants with tips on how to contain the spread of the bed bugs.

The tips included filling spray bottles with white vinegar or 91 proof rubbing alcohol and spraying clothes and shoes when arriving home, using steamers around the house, and bagging any infested items with moth balls, which help to suffocate the insects.

“We also suggested that tenants encase all their mattresses and pillows,” Kaufman said.

“I would bet that almost every apartment now has a mattress encasement.”

Although pest control specialists must be called in to eliminate a bed bug infestation completely, these and other measures can make the extermination process

much easier.

Clothing and sheets should be laundered as much as possible in hot water, preferably at a temperature higher than 120 degrees, as bed bugs are unable to withstand extreme heat.

Carpets and areas around the bed—behind headboards, inside the box springs, under the

seams of the mattress—should be vacuumed regularly, and clutter should be removed from the area to eliminate new spaces for the insects to hide.

It is also important for people with infestations to avoid changing where they sleep because the bugs can easily hide and travel on the person to the new area.

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17 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Waldo Avenue building is victorious in war on bed bugs

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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19

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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21

Montefiore Medical Center, a premier academic medical center and integrated health system and the largest employer in the Bronx, has extended its commitment to local youths and its investment in supporting the next generation of health care leaders by joining forces with the White House to offer ten stipend positions as part of the Summer Jobs Program.

Each year Montefiore offers positions to over six hundred students based in the Bronx and lower Westchester. This year the program will focus on junior and seniors high school students, providing opportunities for career instruction and mentorship by Montefiore leaders in financial literacy, academic focus and social growth, with an emphasis on real-world labor expectations.

Program participants will be tasked with launching and completing a project which will focus on opportunities to enhance teamwork, accountability, persistence and other character traits integral to the workplace. Montefiore has long recognized the importance of summer employment to the success of young people and as pathways to careers, as well as the benefits that such programs can have on business, the community and country.

‘In January, we called on the private and public sectors to help us address record un-

employment among America’s youth. We are proud to announce that cities, federal agencies, non-profits, and companies from across the country have come together to provide hundreds of thousands of summer jobs and employment opportunities for our young people,’ said President Obama.

The Administration has also launched the Summer Jobs+ Bank, a new online search tool to help connect young people to jobs, internships and other employment opportunities this summer and year round.

For more information about Summer Jobs+ Bank, visit - http://www.whitehouse.gov/ economy/jobs/summerjobs

Engel: Congress must act to boost job creation

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) said the April jobs report was a sign the economy is improving but it also makes clear that Congress cannot continue to sit on the sidelines. The 12-term Congressman said ‘we must begin passing legislation to aid the private sector in putting Americans back to work.’

The economy added 115,000 jobs in April, and had another 53,000 added in revisions to the March and February reports.

The unemployment rate dropped again, but slightly to 8.1%. The economy has now added approximately 1 million jobs since

December 2011, and has had 26 consecutive months of private sector job growth. Over the past two years, over 4.2 million private sector jobs have been created.

Rep. Engel said, ‘Our country is still recovering from the economic freefall that cost us about 4.6 million jobs during those dark months at the tail end of the Bush Administration. It has taken this long to get close to recovering all of those lost jobs. The bottom line is that the situation was dire and it should have been an ‘all hands on deck’ moment for everyone - public and private sector, Democrats and Republicans.

‘However, it has not been. Republicans in Congress have fought President Obama on every single attempt to create jobs. Since they have taken control of the House, they have had no urgency to work towards legislation to put people back on the job. We have to work together to pass meaningful legislation - and there has been no desire from the GOP leadership to do anything with Democrats. We could have worked together to pass a new hire tax credit - but that didn’t happen. We could have passed a comprehensive transportation and infrastructure bill - but that failed to muster enough GOP support to pass. It is clear that jobs numbers are being used as a political weapon to be used against the President, and I believe that is a grave injustice to the out-of-work Americans looking

to Washington for help. There is much we could do to help the many working families struggling with unemployment, or underemployment. Together, we can help them, divided we can only fall short.’

Volunteers needed to survey beaches

Get fit, help protect the city’s beaches and save marine wildlife by enrolling in the annual Volunteer Beach Floatables Program.

Under the initiative, run by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, volunteers are mobilized each summer to survey more than 45 beaches across the five boroughs.

Participants are asked to walk along the shoreline or on their favorite beach and spot debris such as styrofoam, wood, glass or plastic waste.

They do not have to pick up or touch anything and instead simply record any items they see and report it to the agency each week.

The program is critical as it provides authorities with useful data, ensures fewer beach closures and helps save marine wildlife from ingesting the debris.

Upon registration, each volunteer will receive all materials necessary for monitoring, including letters of authorization and acknowledgment.

For more information, please contact 212-889-4216 or 917-658-2380.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

Montefiore joins White House to offer summer jobs program

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

22

Bloomberg’s insensitivity

We could hardly believe our ears when Mayor Bloomberg belittled the theft of iPhones, a crime that has reached epidemic proportions and is so serious that one of our neighbors, Hwang Yang, was killed for his phone by two thieves just three short weeks ago.

Perhaps the mayor was unfamiliar with the crime, since the New York Times has yet to print a word about the senseless murder of a gifted, hard-working young chef in what is certainly one of the city’s best and perceived to be safest neighborhoods.

But the mayor should have been aware of the murder nonetheless as the New York Post, Daily News, Wall Street Journal, local press and broadcast media gave this awful incident extensive coverage.

These thefts are up 44 percent this year, to a staggering 1,196, according to the Post. At least one of those victims lost his life, which makes this deadly serious, at least to us. That’s why Bloomberg’s remarks are so outrageous. He owes the grieving family of Hwang Yang a personal apology for his insensitivity to their loss.

And on another level, he owes ALL of us an apology for departing from one of the central tenets of successful urban crime fighting: the “broken window theory.” It is 30 years since the sociologist James Q. Wilson, who passed away recently, published his acclaimed theory of why cities become crushed by waves of crime. He theorized that small crimes left unattended, even a broken window, create a climate of permissiveness that leads to more serious crime.

This was the core of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s historically successful strategy: by enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on even the most petty of infractions (remember the squeegee men annoying motorists at red lights throughout the city?), the overall crime rate dropped precipitously. Incredibly, the murder rate fell by two-thirds on Giuliani’s watch, and the economic vitality of the city was greatly enhanced by the feeling of security that resulted. Times Square, once a hotbed of lawlessness, has today morphed into Disney World.

Bloomberg disgracefully “blamed the victims” for the rash of iPhone thefts. “We do live in a world where people carry around, treat cavalierly, pieces of technology that’s useful to somebody if they steal them,” he opined. “And they’re easy to steal.”

The mayor clearly doesn’t respect the right of all of us to carry any desirable gizmo we want, openly, without fear of having it snatched from us, or our life extinguished for it. His job is to protect us, and indications are that he is retreating into a Dinkins-era mindset, leaving us to risk losing our own devices.

Contrast this to the creative action of Senator Schumer, who negotiated a deal with the cell phone carriers to disable and render useless any cell phone reported stolen. He deserves kudos, while the mayor deserves a loud Bronx cheer for his insensitivity and cluelessness as he goes through the motions pretending to govern in this, his “stolen” third term.

Adolfo redux?

Just when you think you’re rid of the disgraced former borough president, Adolfo Carrion, he rises like a vampire at midnight. Apparently, there are some politicians who think he might just be a nifty Republican candidate for mayor. We think they’re nuts.

We guess that to ethically-challenged Carrion, being fined an unprecedented $10,000 by the city’s Conflict of Interest Board for trying to have an architect he recommended for city business design a new porch for his City Island mansion and not bill him for it, shows what a smart guy he is.

Similarly, being eased out of two high federal posts by the Obama administration is yet another recommendation for high office. Scuttlebutt is that Adolfo was banished from D.C. because the president’s men discovered what we knew long ago. Adolfo Carrion is the emptiest of empty suits.

Adolfo is sitting on a pile of “pay to play” campaign contributions he raised when in office. If he had any decency, he would either return the ill-gotten cash or donate it to charity.

At the end of the day, if somehow he does run, we’re confident that many will remember Adolfo’s incompetence, his disgusting role in the expansion of hot sheet motels, his cheesy ethics violations and how he created a “pay to play” atmosphere in the Bronx political community. If there’s one vampire ex-official who needs a stake driven through his political heart, it is Adolfo Carrion.

The Bronx’s forgotten railroad To The Editor: May 29, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the New York, Westchester, and Boston Railway.

Unfortunately, the NYW&B lasted only 25 years from 1912 to 1937. One of the reasons why it failed was a lack of Manhattan connection from the suburbs. It ended at 132nd Street Terminal in the Bronx.

There are many books written about the New York, Westchester, and Boston Railway which are available in hobby shops and book stores. Many live and feature films have been made about this railroad and have been shown at the Bronx YMCA. Except for a stretch of the railroad in the Bronx from 180th Street and Dyre Avenue as part of the IRT #5 line, there are no traces left of the NYW&B. Another reason why

it failed was because of the parent ownership of the NYW&B

by New Haven Railroad, which was one of its seven bankruptcies at the time.

Roger Arcara and Robert Bang have authored books on the New York, Westches-

Accident resulted from speeding driver

To The Editor: This is in response to borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.’s article.

When I saw the tragedy which occurred on the Bronx River Parkway, I shook my head, and asked how did it happen. Every Saturday I travel that road from Riverdale to the Soundview section, so far, thank the Lord, without incident.

When I enter the Parkway off the Fordham Road entrance,

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

ter, and Boston Railway and they write about the times and tribulations of the NYW&B. It is worthwhile reading and I urge all those reading this letter to read about it.

Al Agovino, Jr.

CECILIA McNALLY Office Manager MIAWLING LAM Associate Editor

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

I enter with extreme caution.

I move to the middle lane, and drive at the posted speed limit of 40 mph, much to the consternation of other drivers who are going faster. On occasion I’ve seen cars weaving in and out of traffic, begging for an accident.

One can navigate that roadway if they don’t drive like a speed demon, and get from point A to point B without mishap.

C. Clark

FAX letters to:

The Riverdale Review (718) 543-4206 or email to

bxny@aol.com or mail to

5752 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY 10471

Site for local skateboard park sought

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, May 10, 2012

By ALLISON SUMMERS Community Board 8, along with Councilman G. Oliver Koppell’s office, is looking to build a new skateboard park within the Riverdale community to offer skaters a designated area to practice where residents will not be disturbed.

Last month, members of Koppell’s office and Community Board 8 met with Department of Parks officials to scout possible locations for the park.

Bailey Playground between West 234th Street and West 238th Street and the area south of the Van Cortlandt Park stadium near the basketball courts were considered, though it was determined that the Van Cortlandt area looked more promising.

The Bronx currently has four other skateboard parks: Bruckner Park on Brinsmade Avenue and the Cross Bronx Expressway, Bronx Park on Bronx Park East, Mullaly Park on East 164th Street, and River Avenue Park on East 157th Street and River Avenue.

Koppell’s community affairs office Andrew Sandler said the rink is under consideration due to requests and petitions as well as complaints from community residents.

Locals have even shown up to several 50th Precinct Community Council meetings to complain that skaters were not only damaging the sidewalk pavement, but also becoming a nuisance by skating in areas where they’re not supposed to.

Local officials are eager to designate a skateboarding area away from residential property to cut down on noise levels and decrease disturbances.

“We requested the park to give kids

23

a place to go and to cut down on street accidents,” CB8 parks and recreation committee chair Bob Bender said.

“We don’t have anything like that for them around here.”

The exact cost of the park and a time frame for its opening are not yet known because CB8 and Koppell’s office are still in negotiations with parks department authorities.

Discussions of creating a skateboard park in the community first began several years ago and gained momentum after the project was included in Koppell’s capital budget priorities last year.

At the time, Koppell’s office estimated the skateboard park would cost up to $850,000.

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