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Volume XIX • Number 22 • June 14 - 20, 2012 •

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Horace Mann School shaken by sex scandal By MIAWLING LAM Fresh allegations of sexual abuse and harassment continue to surface at Horace Mann School a week after an explosive story detailed decades of molestation at the uber-elite private institution. The new cases emerged after the New York Times published an article in last Sunday’s magazine section outlining years of alleged sexual abuse by three former teachers and coaches between 1978 and 1994. The story, which originally appeared online last Wednesday and in print four days later, has attracted more than 1,000 comments on the New York Times website. While school ofﬁcials attempt to curb the damage to the school’s reputation and handle the fallout, former students have taken it upon themselves to share their own accounts. A former alumnus, who posted under the pseudonym “alice, uptown,” accused Horace Mann of being more focused on churning out the next doctors, lawyers and investment bankers. “I was in one of the ﬁrst classes to accept women,” she wrote on the New York Times website. “HM had no idea what to do with adolescent females, apart from allowing the so-called guidance department to treat them—or thus was my experience—in a manner that would now be called sexually abusive.” Meanwhile, one commenter recalled how both a popular English teacher and a swim coach groped her when she was 13 years old. Another poster, who claimed to be the 1977 class valedictorian, said a classmate had a sexual relationship with a teacher. “He told me that he had been seduced and molested by this teacher 25 years before…” he wrote. “I had been entirely oblivious of this teacher’s behavior, but eventually learned he had sexual and emotional affairs with several students.” Another former student also recounted how a teacher compelled her to have sex with him in exchange for a passing grade. In a letter sent to alumni last Sunday, the school’s current head Thomas M. Kelly admitted he was struggling to reconcile the allegations. Kelly also pointed out all the allegations occurred well before he took the helm. “The school’s current policies, procedures and daily practices, as well as the instruction we provide our students, make allegations of such behavior impossible

to ignore,” he wrote. However, Kelly vowed to develop and implement a “thoughtful process that places the first priority of those alumni most in need” and said the issue would be discussed at a future board of trustees meeting. “Bottom line: we not only need your support and patience, we are respectfully asking you to give the School the time to research and discuss a well thought out process.” In a letter sent to parents on June 6, Kelly described the allegations as “highly disturbing and absolutely abhorrent” but conceded officials could not address all allegations. “As a matter of policy, there were a number of issues and questions regarding specific allegations or individuals that we were not able to address for privacy reasons and based upon advice of counsel,” he wrote. “For the same reasons, we regret that we also are limited in our ability to communicate to the community about these Continued on Page 10

Johannes Somary, pictured above, was chosen to conduct the orchestra and lead the chorus at the memorial service at Yankee Stadium immediately following the 9/11 attacks. Somary, who died in 2011, is now accused of multiple acts of sexual abuse of students at the Horace Mann School.

Sixth-grade ELA students at Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy recently participated in an Internet Smarts event sponsored by Cablevision’s Power to Learn with State Senator Jeffrey Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. At the event, students addressed the topics of Cyberbullying Prevention, Identity Protection and Digital Permanence through various skits. Pictured (l. to r.) with participating students are Cablevision Vice President of Government Affairs Dan Ahouse, Andrew Sandler (Representative from Councilmember Oliver Koppell’s ofﬁce), Assemblyman Dinowitz, Teacher Michael LePetit, Senator Klein and Principal Lori O’Mara.

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Controversy brews over jumbo soda ban By MIAWLING LAM and ALLISON SUMMERS Reaction to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial plan to ban the sale of mega-sized sugary drinks has bubbled over in Riverdale. Local residents and elected officials have weighed in on the proposed soda ban—the first such plan in the United States—and have expressed mixed reactions. Under the ambitious plan, the sale of sweetened drinks larger than 16 fluid ounces would be prohibited throughout the five boroughs in an attempt to combat rising obesity. The ban, which could be implemented as early as March 2013, would apply to restaurants, delis, movie theaters, street carts, fast-food franchises and sporting venues. It would not affect supermarkets or convenience stores. Riverdale resident Neil Robbins welcomed Bloomberg’s unprecedented health measure and said it would help curb escalating rates of obesity and diabetes. “We have an epidemic in our country where young people have the arteries of 80-year-olds and there are more children with diabetes. And the soda industry is at fault,” he said. “This health move is more than a tear drop in a glass to help stop obesity.” State Sen. Gustavo Rivera also applauded Bloomberg for trying to encourage residents of New York and The Bronx to develop healthier eating habits. The elected official, who represents parts of Riverdale, has previously spoken out against the borough’s poor health outcomes and has stressed the importance of nutrition and exercise. “I believe in the long run, making sure that our youth are not developing unhealthy habits like drinking large amounts of soda instead of water or healthier beverages is an important cause,” he said. “It may seem like a small change, but making our community healthier is like making an individual healthier—it is going to take a lot of little things.” Not everyone in Riverdale approves of Bloomberg’s nanny-state ruling. “People aren’t happy with the move. The mayor is trying to ban too many things at once,” local resident Mary Ann Herschaft said. “People are going to drink soda if they want to because the more you try to tell someone what not to do, the more they’re going to want to do it anyway.” Meanwhile, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said while he was torn about whether to support the measure, he admired Bloomberg for propelling the issue to the forefront of people’s minds. “I know the idea doesn’t sit well with a lot of people…but I will applaud the mayor for at least trying to deal with the obesity and diabetes epidemic,” he said, adding that everyone ultimately pays the related health costs. “While the individual has to deal with his own health problems, we all pay for the cost of obesity and diabetes.” State Senator Jeffrey Klein extolled the latest attempt to curb childhood obesity, but he believed there were other more

practical ways to accomplish this. “I’ve authored several bills in the Senate that go straight to the heart of the issue, such as providing nutritional counseling and education to teenagers, expanding urban access to fresh foods and ensuring that the number of school playgrounds continues to grow,” he said. “Finally, and most importantly, I’ve worked to expand asthma screenings so that those young people who have trouble exercising can identify other ways to stay ﬁt and healthy.” According to a NY1-Marist poll of 500 adults, 53 percent of New Yorkers said the health policy went too far, while 42 percent praised the initiative.

By MIAWLING LAM The placement of advertisements at the $600,000 Van Cortlandt Park ice skating rink is a “dumb idea” that blights the natural landscape, according to a park advocacy group. Watchdog group NYC Park Advocates slammed concessionaire officials after they revealed plans to install dasher board signs around the perimeter of rink. Under the proposal, which is subject to approval by the Department of Parks, local businesses will be asked to post skating school schedules and other rink details at their establishments. In exchange, participating merchants will be given a free ad at the rink and be mentioned in the facility’s promotional material. NYC Park Advocates president Geoffrey Croft said he was skeptical about the arrangement and estimated that dasher board signs—ads placed at the bottom of walls surrounding a rink—cost up to $1,000 each to produce. “That sounds really dumb,” he said. “Why expose people to that kind of advertising when all they’re doing is putting flyers up in their store?” Croft believed the rink should be like Central Park’s Wollman Rink—a place free of billboards where people can seek relief from the urban sensory assault. “As a principle, we are definitely against advertising on park property,” he said. “Traditionally the government has held a firm line against advertising in parks, and that’s the way it should be. Parks should be a place of respite and a chance to get away.” The city’s other main park advocacy group, New Yorkers for Parks, declined

to comment. However, Van Cortlandt Park Ice Rink project manager Ron Kraut defended the strategic alliance and said the arrangement was mutually beneficial. He said concessionaire officials have been working with the KingsbridgeRiverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation to reach out to interested merchants. Help will also be sought from the Kingsbridge Business Improvement District to recruit local businesses. “Our relationship with our community partners is at no cost to the partners. We will never ask our community partners for revenue,” he said. “We will be using dasher board signs to promote our community partners as well as the parks department and the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy.” When asked whether he was worried about residents opposing the commercialization of their public park, Kraut said officials would design signage with the utmost care and sensitivity. “The issue here is how are we handling this. Are we making it look like a McDonald’s with gaudy, very commerciallooking material, or are we doing a creative job and making it visually pleasurable?” he said. “Remember, in the winter when the leaves are off the trees and all you see is brown, nothing is more inviting than a splash of color. As long as we are handling things appropriately, I think it can be visually pleasing.” Revelations about the likelihood of advertisements at the skating rink contradict a response given to Community Board 8 by the NYC Department of Parks

at a public hearing in February. When Department of Parks revenue project manager Davita Mabourakh was speciﬁcally asked whether advertising would be permissible at the rink, she claimed there would be “little to no advertising.” “The type of advertising that you see at Bryant Park is not the same type of advertising that we have at our concessions,” she said at the time. “Our concessions are more of a scenic type of atmosphere, and we would discourage any big advertising at a concession.” According to the concessionaire’s 15year license agreement, an advertising and promotion program is permissible as long as the Department of Parks provides

written approval. “Licensee shall have the right to print or to arrange for the printing of programs or brochures containing any advertising matter except advertising matter which…is indecent, in obvious bad taste, which demonstrates a lack of respect for public morals or conduct.” When asked whether limitations were in place to prevent political groups and elected ofﬁcials from becoming community partners, Kraut said it was ultimately up to the city. “We consider ourselves to be apolitical,” he said. “We certainly don’t want to be misconstrued as a political tool. We really consider ourselves as community builders, not community dividers. We’re here Continued on Page 11

3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

Citywide parks group concerned over Van Cortlandt skate rink advertising

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Around the schools... P.S. 24

Springfest has been postponed until Wednesday, June 20, 5 to 8 p.m.

P.S. 81

All fifth-graders are invited to the fifthgrade dance this Saturday, June 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the school gym. There will be a live DJ and refreshments. The dress code is cool and comfortable. The community is invited to the P.S. 81 vs. P.S. 24 softball game on Friday, June 15, in Seton Park. Fourth- and fifth-graders play at 3:30 p.m. Staff, parents and alumni play at 5:30 p.m. The registration fee for players is $24, covering the cost of a jersey, a hot dog, a drink and ice cream. Admission for spectators is $6, which includes a hot dog, a drink, and ice cream.

Horace Mann School

Riverdalians Kristijan Bogdanovski, Gloria Coden, Emily Deadman, Daniel Froot, Megan Goldberg, David Lopez, Rebecca Matteson, Natasha StolovitzkyBrunner, Malcolm Thompson, Samuel Torres, Neida Vasquez, Bathsheba Weiler, September West and Winta Zaid are among the 172 seniors who graduated this spring. At the commencement ceremony in Clark Field, Head of School Dr. Thomas M. Kelly encouraged the grads to think in unaccustomed ways. He commented that their values and what they stand for and how they live their lives will make the greatest impact and that they will face unprecedented opportunities as well as unprecedented risks. Awards for excellence in the arts, athletics, and community service were given at the student body president’s assembly. Leaders of next year’s student government, glee club, orchestra and theater companies were also announced. The awarding of honors in the academic disciplines, the dedication of the yearbook and the introduction of this year’s cum laude inductees were activities at the class day awards assembly.

Kinneret Day School

The first graders are studying jobs and communities. Parents have been visiting the school to discuss their jobs and describe how they contribute to communities. Students are researching career choices and will be presenting their findings to the class. Occupations under investigation include circus clown as well as physician. Crazy Hat Day and Fictional Character Day were some of the interesting events during Spirit Week, when students had a chance to show their true colors. They displayed their creativity by fashioning personalized straw hats. Kindergarteners became Pipi Longstocking, Ironman, Captain America, Cinderella and others. Seventh- and eighth-graders heard world-renowned guest speaker Alex Moskovic describe his experiences in Hungary during the Nazi Holocaust. Moskovic was recently featured in a documentary to be shown at international film festivals.

College of Mount Saint Vincent

This year’s Reunion Weekend from June 8 through June 10 honored class

years ending in 2 and 7 from 1932 through 2007. Events included “Mind Over the Mount” with Marc Salem, “Transcending Sport: The Impact of the Olympic Games” with Jonathan Rosenberg and “Marillac and Seton: Not Just Buildings” with Sister of Charity Mary Ann Daly. For the second consecutive year, the college hosted “Haunted History & Lore: A Tour of the Mount by Night.” Members of the Class of 1962 celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Saturday luncheon and the members of the Class of 1987 celebrated their 25th anniversary at the Saturday dinner.

Local Scholars

Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, has announced that Lauren Marie Checo earned a B.A. in English and classics and that Harrison Andrew Cohen earned a B.A. in history and Spanish. Colgate is a highly selective liberal arts university enrolling nearly 3,000 undergraduates in 52 majors. It supports 25 Division I athletic teams. This year’s graduation rate of 89.7 percent is among the highest in the nation. The school’s beautiful 515-acre campus in central New York State plays a role in the highly individualized student experience. Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana, has announced that Evianna Monroe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English this spring. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian liberal arts college that offers graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, it is located on a contemporary lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest. Forbes has it listed as one of America’s Best Colleges. Princeton Review includes it on its Best in the Midwest list. Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, has announced that Martin Boyle earned a B.A. in history. Boyle is among more than 450 undergraduates and 350 graduate students who received degrees this spring. Marymount is an independent Catholic university that emphasizes academic excellence. Committed to the liberal arts tradition, the university combines a foundation in the arts and sciences with career preparation and opportunities for personal and professional development in a studentcentered learning community that values diversity and focuses on the education of the whole person. It promotes the intellectual, spiritual, and moral growth of each individual. Scholarship, leadership, service, and ethics are hallmarks of a Marymount education.

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Friday Night Dinner 8:00pm

Emotional Sobriety The highly spiritual art of letting go of unhealthy relationships and attachments.

Saturday/Shabbat: Tanya Class 8:00 am Tanya 'A Tale of Two Souls' Parsha Sermon 11:00am Doing or Feeling? How do we find the right

balance between technical observance and personal feeling in our Judaism? This week's Torah reading tells us the secret.

Shabbat Luncheon 12:00pm The Kaballah of World War III A mystical look at today's geopolitical scene and the clash between East and West. Shabbat Afternoon 6:00pm Rabbi or Rebbe? What is the function and purpose of a "rebbe" and what does today's Jew stand to gain by having one?

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CHABAD LUBAVITCH We welcome the entire Jewish Community to all the lectures at OF RIVERDALE Chabad Lubavitch Of Riverdale • 535 W 246th St., Riverdale, NY 10471

RKA graduation stats disappoint fourth and beaten by the borough’s two specialized high schools—Bronx High School of Science and the High School of American Studies—and by the scandal-ridden Theater Arts Production Company School. The TAPCO School made headlines earlier this year after officials removed its principal for falsifying attendance data and awarding credit to students who never attended classes. As of press time, a call to RKA principal Lori O’Mara was not returned. State officials have continually raised the bar on graduation requirements by implementing tougher standards. Students from the Class of 2011 were required to pass four of five Regents exams with scores of 65 or higher in order to receive a diploma. This year’s cohort will have to pass all five tests. Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch said more was needed to lift student performance. “These numbers make clear that we need to continue to pursue aggressive reforms in our schools—including a new, richer curriculum and implementation of the new teacher-evaluation law in districts across the state,” she said. Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Bloomberg downplayed the results. “More students are succeeding in our schools than ever before,” he said in a statement. “When our administration began, schools hadn’t seen significant increases in their graduation rates in more than a decade. Yet through our strategies to improve education, we’ve steadily improved graduation rates and student achievement for the tenth consecutive year.”

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

By MIAWLING LAM Just one-third of students from Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy graduate on time and are prepared for life after school. New data released by the New York State Education Department reveals 32.6 percent of M.S/H.S 141 graduates from the Class of 2011 were prepared to tackle the rigors of college or kick-start their careers in the workforce. Despite the seemingly dismal number, the proportion of college-ready RKA students is significantly higher than the citywide average of 20.7 percent. Officials released the college-readiness data along with their annual release of graduation rates on Monday, June 11. Figures show a total of 87.5 percent of RKA students who started high school in 2007 graduated on time, slightly down from 89.6 percent the previous year. In comparison, the citywide rate was 60.9 percent. Statewide, it was 74 percent. However, it is the NYSED’s Aspirational Performance Measure that paints a clearer picture of how students are progressing toward college and career readiness. According to state officials, students are declared college and career ready if they score 80 or above on a math Regents exam and 75 or above on the English Regents. Authorities believe graduates who score below those thresholds often have to take remedial classes before they can commence college-level work. Of the 107 high schools in Bronx County whose results have been published, RKA students were deemed to be the 11th most college-ready cohort. Within District 10, RKA was ranked

At Monteﬁore, inspiration starts with our patients. And stops at nothing. Monteﬁore is more than a proud Bronx hospital. Our nationally renowned Centers of Excellence and our partnership with Albert Einstein College of Medicine are bringing the world to our door. Our outcomes are outperforming national averages, and our patient satisfaction scores are among the highest in the New York City area. We are recognized for delivering world-class treatment, and will never compromise our heritage of providing strong, compassionate care to the people of our communities.

Find inspiration at inspiredmedicine.org

Monteﬁore and its renowned Children’s Hospital are recognized among the top hospitals nationally in Diabetes & Endocrinology, Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and in all Pediatric specialties.

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

‘Joseph’ play to be shown at the Y

Riverdale Y’s Riverdale Rising Stars will present Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Coat, Directed by Sabrina Landau on Sunday, June 10 at 2:00pm, Wednesday, June 13 at 7:00pm*, Thursday, June 14 at 7:00pm, and Sunday, June 17 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the “coat of many colors” story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. Its family-friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy music have resulted in numerous productions. Tickets for Adults $16 Online, $20 at door; Seniors and Students $12. *Wednesday tickets are $10 For tickets and information go to Riverdalerisingstars.com The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue. For more info call 718-548-8200 ext 0.

Koppell sponsors forum on Stop-and-Frisk

Council Member Oliver Koppell is sponsoring a forum for teens and adults, ‘Know Your Rights - When You’re Stopped and Frisked’ on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Tracey Towers, 20 West Mosholu Parkway South, Community Room B.

Chuck Berkley, Founder/Director, Brothers and Sisters Who Care and a retired NYPD detective, will provide advice to the young people present about ‘what they should and should not do when stopped and frisked by the police and how to reduce the chances of being arrested.’ Biarni Burke, President of the Bronx Branch of the NAACP, will talk about the issue and discuss his organization’s position with respect to it. The issue of Stop-and- Frisk has become extremely controversial with the disclosure that 645,000 such incidents have occurred this year alone. It is Koppell’s belief that this procedure has become too arbitrary and should be practiced ‘only when there is justifiable reason to believe that the individual has committed or is or is the process of committing a violation or crime.’ Koppell cited the fact that one of his staff members, an upstanding African-American young man, has been stopped numerous times without cause, as an example of the excessive and inappropriate use of this practice. Indeed, Police Commissioner Kelly has recently modified regulations with respect to stop-and-frisk, and mandated new procedures to be followed by police officers. ‘Statistics have shown that for many innocent young people the experience of being stopped and frisked can turn into a confrontation and arrest, resulting in a police record that will impede their chances for employment and even college admission,’ Koppell said. ‘I am sponsoring this forum to make young people in my district aware of these pitfalls and how to avoid them, as well as to give them an opportunity to air their views about this pervasive practice.’

Neumann-Goldman Post 69 & Ladies Auxiliary

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, June 24.

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.

Riverdale Soccer Club accepting registration

The Riverdale Soccer Club is now registering players for the fall 2012 season, for boys and girls born between 1998 and 2006. The season will run from September 8 through November 18. There are three programs, all of which will take place in Seton Park, located at 232 Street and Independence Avenue. The Peewee Instructional Program, for boys and girls born in 2005 and 2006, will meet on Saturday mornings. Older boys and girls will play regular games in the Riverdale Soccer League. The Boys Division will play its games on Saturday afternoons, and the Girls Division will play on Sunday afternoons. Each division will have three age groups: a younger group for players born in 2003 and 2004, a middle group for players born in 2001 and 2002, and an older group for players born in 1998 through 2000. The registration fee is $75 per player, which includes a uniform of jersey, shorts and socks. Registration is by mail only through June 30, and you can print out a registration form from the Club’s web site, www.riverdalesoccerclub.org, or by calling 718-601-8639 to request that a form be mailed to you. After June 30, registration is subject to availability and the fee increases to $85.

Festival of free performing arts events

City Parks Foundation has announced the 2012 launch of SummerStage Kids, New York City’s unique, interactive family festival presenting more than 95 free performing arts events at 36 locations citywide. This free festival will run from June 10 to August 22, exposing New York City youth to the world of arts and culture through a vast and diverse collection of engaging entertainment unparalleled by any other festival of its kind in NYC. The festival will feature artists specializing in dance and include a wide range of music such as classical, rock, Latin, jazz, and soul. The event will also encompass storytellers, theatre, contemporary circus, juggling, poetry and puppetry. With a focus on international culture, the performances will introduce the city’s youth to the diversity of New York City. The series is made possible through the support of Disney. ‘We are proud to support SummerStage Kids, where kids get a chance to use their imaginations and learn about art and culture in a way that sparks their creativity,’ says Leslie Goodman, senior vice president, Disney Corporate Citizenship. Disney’s support will also be used to help SummerStage Kids host a series of Family Days. These weekend programs take place in the late afternoon and feature music, dance, and spoken word

performances for audiences of all ages, with dance classes and craft workshops available. Family Days will be held in five locations: Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, St Mary’s Park in the Bronx, Springfield Park in Queens, and Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn and Marcus Garvey Park in Manhattan. SummerStage Kids is also offering its first ever series of expanded day programs. Families are invited to come early to enjoy a full day of family entertainment, and adults are invited to stay for an evening concert and film. For more information on the evening adult programs, visit www. summerstage.org. The complete SummerStage Kids schedule follows. For the most up-to-date scheduling and line-up for all programming, visit http://www.CityParksFoundation.org. City Parks Foundation (CPF) is the only independent, nonprofit organization to offer park programs throughout the five boroughs of New York City. We work in over 750 parks citywide, presenting a broad range of free arts, sports, and education programs, and empowering citizens to support their parks on a local level. Our programs and community building initiatives reach more than 600,000 people each year, contributing to the revitalization of neighborhoods throughout New York City.

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.

Senior Center to tour Monet’s Garden

The Riverdale Y Senior Center will be touring Monet’s Garden at the New York Botanical Gardens on June 28 from 12:30pm and returning to the Y at approximately 5:00pm. Anyone in the community is invited to join the group. This stunning tribute to French Impressionist Claude Monet showcases a seasonally changing interpretation of the gardens that inspired his art. In addition, two rarely seen original paintings--one of which has never been shown in the United Stateswill be on exhibit. We will also enjoy a delightful tram tour that covers the entire grounds of the Botanical Gardens. Participants must be 60 or older. The cost is $30 which includes lunch and admission if you sign up before June 12th, after that date, $35. For more information, please call Leora Garritano at 718-548-8200, ext. 204. The Riverdale Y is located on 5625 Arlington Ave Bronx NY 10471

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. PASS IT ON.

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Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Thursday, June 14

and meet other pre-schoolers in the neighborhood. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

OPEN COMPUTER LAB 11 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Attention new computer users: Do you want to learn how to use e-mail? Do you need help in applying for a job online? Would you like to practice going online and exploring the Internet? Practice your new skills at your own pace. Ask questions and learn from doing. For info, call 718-549-1212.

Spuyten Duyvil

Riverdale

Spuyten Duyvil

WILD @ THE LIBRARY 4 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Are you interested in animals? How often do you go to the zoo? Have you ever had the zoo brought to you? Well prepare for wild @ the Library!!!!! Live animals presented and explained. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Kingsbridge

GAME ON 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Got the gaming moves? Show off your skills with the controller and challenge your friends to a game in the library. Take part in our tournaments! For ages 13 to 18 years. 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 ages 5 to 12 years. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

Friday, June 15 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

STAY WELL EXERCISE 10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stay Well volunteers certiﬁed by the NYC’s Department for the Aging will lead participants in a well-balanced series of exercises for seniors of all ability levels. Please wear loose comfortable clothing. Exercise equipment will be provided. All participants are required to sign a personal medical waiver at the beginning of the class. For more info, call 718-548-5656.

Saturday, June 16 Kingsbridge

FILM SHOWING 2 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Featuring the film ‘Kramer vs. Kramer.’ Based on a novel by Avery Corman A couple separates and a kid gets caught in the middle. The film is biased toward the dad, however, and we root for him as he heroically learns to clean the house, emotionally engage with his child, and, most significantly, make French toast “the way mom did.” What’s more, the kid learns to cook it with him. Who could split up this pair? For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Monday, June 18 Spuyten Duyvil

LIBRARY eBOOKS 9 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Did you know we lend eBooks for Kindle readers? Come in and ﬁnd out how to download free eBooks to your Kindle device. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Van Cortlandt

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

BOOK TALK 11 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Come share your reading experiences with other readers! Each participant brieﬂy describes & shares thoughts about a book recently read. Discussion & recommendations are the happy result of this sharing. For info, call 718-796-1202.

Van Cortlandt

WORLD BEAT & PERCUSSION 3:30 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library 3874 Sedgwick Avenue Discover your own natural rhythm! Drum Diva Dale provides African drums, bongos, congas, shakers and more! Create music while you dance, rap, and perform. For ages 12 to 18 years old. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

Tuesday, June 19 Riverdale

eREADER 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 ereader. Audience: Adults, 50+. For info, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

MEMOIR & PERFORMANCE 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Learn to creatively express your personal memories and stories through memoir-writing and performance with teaching artist, Lauren Jost. Participants will craft short-story memoirs that will be either read aloud or dramatically performed at a ﬁnal sharing event. This series of workshops is for participants 55 and over. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

WORDS WITH FRIENDS 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue If words work you up and crossword puzzles keep you going, come to Riverdale and share your passion with friends every Tuesday afternoon for a lively game of Scrabble. Pre-registration required. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Wednesday, June 20 Riverdale

TODDLER DANCE PARTY 11:30 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Toddlers and their caregivers are invited to the Riverdale Branch to get their groove on. We will Hokey Pokey and Have an actively good time. Shakers and dance scarves will be provided. Parents and caregivers are expected to participate. For ages 18 months to 5 years. For more info, call 718-549-1212.

Riverdale

BRANDEIS GROUP MEETING 12:30 p.m. Riverdale Temple West 246th St. & Independence Ave. The Study Group Leaders will be the Chaper’s honored guests and Gary Lovett will present a delightfully entertaining musical program. Bagels and light refreshments will be served and a boutique, “Jewelry, etc. by Pearl, Carol and Jessie” will be displayed for sale.

Riverdale

BOOK DISCUSSION 1 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue This month the group will be discussing The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. 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 info, call 718-549-1212.

Spuyten Duyvil

FIRE & ICE 3:30 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Join us for SAFE and scientific fun with fire and ice! Learn about the amazing properties of fire and combustion. Then, cool off with spectacular demonstrations involving dry ice! All Mad Science shows provide live, interactive and compelling educational experiences that make learning a blast! For ages 4 and older. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Riverdale Rising Stars Jr presents

Directed By Sabrina Landau

SHOWTIMES & DATES: Wednesday, June 13 at 7:00pm* Thursday, June 14 at 7:00pm Sunday, June 17 at 2:00pm & 7:00 pm Adults $20; Online $16; Seniors & Students $12 * Wednesday performance only $10 For tickets & info go to

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

By MIAWLING LAM Manhattan College will begin accepting applications within two weeks for 50 free parking spaces in its Broadway garage. Officials from the Lasallian educational institution revealed their plans at last Monday’s Community Board 8 land use committee meeting and said spaces in its five-story garage will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Under the program, the first 50 residents who submit an online application and register their interest will be granted one of the coveted spots. Each space will be offered on an annual basis. To be eligible, a motorist must have a driver’s license with an address in either the 10463 or 10471 ZIP code. Vehicles must also be registered for those specific ZIP codes so as to prevent the spaces from being filled with commuters or workers who live elsewhere. Applications will be processed exclusively online at www.manhattan. edu/communityparking. The website will be launched on Friday, June 15, and will provide information about the program, but residents will have to wait until Friday, June 22, to submit an application. Manhattan College vice president of facilities Andrew Ryan said paper applications would not be made available. “The reason for that is because when applications are submitted online, they are electronically dated and timestamped,” he said. Ryan said that if all bodes well, locals could begin parking in the garage by the first week of July. “When folks do get a spot, they’ll get a decal that will be applied the first time

Get

they show up at the garage,” he said. “They will be assigned a numbered spot in the parking facility, so it’ll be one car, one spot. If somebody is parked in a spot that’s not the person assigned to it, they’ll be towed.” The finalization of parking arrangements comes a year after college officials were accused of shirking their commitment to provide public access to their 658-space garage. Authorities previously argued that covenants made with various government agencies prevented them from offering permanent parking spots to the general public. Just last month, CB8 land use chair Charles Moerdler blasted college officials for delaying implementation of a workable parking plan. “Considering the excellence in engineering and other sciences provided by Manhattan College, I have great difficulty understanding why it takes a year for them to come up with a plan,” he said at the time. “I have practiced law for over 50 years and I know how somebody jerks you around and I have never seen a greater jerk-around than this one.” Moerdler also claimed Manhattan College was in clear breach of the law and was legally required to provide public access, as federal monies were used to fund construction. However, following the latest developments, Moerdler toned down his criticism and simply urged officials to consider offering spaces on a six-month basis to allow more residents to benefit. Meanwhile, CB8 chair Robert Fanuzzi welcomed news of the program. “This is a great plan,” he said. “This is a long time coming.”

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

College to accept parking applications 9

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Riverdalian named as key administrator at Schervier By ALLISON SUMMERS Riverdalian Gregory PooleDayan has been named administrator of clinical services for Bon Secours New York Health System’s Schervier Nursing Care Center. Poole-Dayan is returning to Schervier after having served as vice president from 2001 to 2004. During that period, he helped the facility achieve deficiency-free Department of Health surveys. He has more than 15 years of nursing home management experience at several prominent facilities including the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, where he served as an assistant director of nursing. “Gregory’s extensive healthcare experience coupled with his unique understanding of our clinical services will further enhance our new leadership foundation, augment the expertise of our staff and enhance patient care at all levels,” Schervier’s interim CEO Eileen Malo said. “His ability to successfully create and implement new programs will provide additional benefit to patients, enhancing our level of care as well as providing additional benefits and resources to the community.” Poole-Dayan most recently served as associate administrator of the Sarah Neuman Center of Jewish Home Lifecare, where he oversaw the quality of clinical care for patients and their families. His new role at Schervier will include serving as administrator

of record for the nursing and rehabilitation facility, holding responsibility for clinical services in the nursing, social services, rehabilitation and recreation departments and overseeing the areas of clinical reimbursement, admissions, marketing, laboratory and pharmacy services. Poole-Dayan holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in nursing. He has served as a clinical nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering

Cancer Center and as a lecturer at the McGill University School of Montreal. “I am excited to be back and to be a part of the caring healthcare mission at Schervier Nursing Care Center,” he said. “There is a great new leadership team here, and I am conﬁdent that, working together, we can deliver the excellent care that our elders and the community expect and deserve.” Meanwhile, Donald Mallo has

Horace Mann sex scandal

Contiued from Page 1 past events.” This type of legalese enraged many posters on the Times website. Speculation has emerged that in the end Kelly may have to be sacriﬁced for the sins of his predecessors, largely because of the school’s current evasive posture towards these events. The original article, written by 1982 Horace Mann alumnus Amos Kamil, details how three former teachers—Mark Wright, Johannes Somary and Stanley Kops—molested and harassed students. One student alleged Wright, a popular art teacher who was also the football coach, fondled him while he sat for a portrait. “I remember exactly what he said: that he needed to see the connection between my legs,” the former student told Kamil. “The next thing I knew, he had my penis

in his hand. I was so scared.” The charges against Somary, well known in the Riverdale community and beyond, were particularly egregious. All three teachers have since died. Kamil reportedly spoke with nearly 100 people, including 60 former students and 15 former or current faculty member, before he published the story. Horace Mann counts former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, twotime Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Caro and media mogul James Murdoch among its notable alumni. Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson encourages anyone with information about inappropriate sexual conduct at Horace Mann to contact his ofﬁce via a special telephone hotline—718838-7382. All calls to the hotline are kept conﬁdential.

been announced as Schervier Nursing Care Center’s director of human resources. Mallo will lead and oversee all human resource operations, including employee relations, compliance recruitment, training and development, policies and procedures, and beneﬁt administration.

“Donald’s extensive hands-on experience in human resources combined with his legal background make him a unique asset to our organization,” Malo said. “His knowledge of employment law and healthcare reform is just one of the numerous qualiﬁcations he brings to this role.”

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By MIAWLING LAM Three distinguished members from the Riverdale Memorial Post No. 1525 were honored for their services to the United States of America during a glittering luncheon in Yonkers. More than 70 guests showed up at Rory Dolan’s restaurant last Sunday to pay tribute to current post members Lieutenant Colonel Walter Stern, Father Andrew Walsh and James V. Nolan. Stern, who has been a member of the local post for 59 years, was recognized for his service to America during World War II and for his lengthy career in the United States Army Reserves. Father Walsh was honored for his 20 years of service in the United States Air Force as a Roman Catholic chaplain. In a surprise, the post’s current commander, James V. Nolan, was also bestowed with a plaque to commemorate his service as a World War II infantry combat soldier and his leadership roles in various veterans’ organizations. Longtime Riverdale resident Stern, 92, said he was humbled by the recognition. “It made me feel great, really proud. They gave us flowers and a plaque,” he told the Riverdale Review after the event. Stern jokingly said he was fast running out of wall space at his Johnson Avenue home. “I have so many plaques from the military—I haven’t decided where to put this one. I’ll probably have to replace one of the older ones.” The memorial post’s finance officer, John J. Brennan, said despite Stern’s age, he and his wife, Anita, remain heavily involved. He said the pair counsel and guide West Point cadets of the Jewish faith each

week in the summer and visit the Academy monthly during the off-season. “They’re a wonderful couple, but nobody knows about them because they do all their work up in West Point,” Brennan said.

Skating rink Continued from Page 3 to bring the community together, not to participate in somebody else’s agenda.” Under the terms of the contract, the rink will operate during the winter season, from October 14 through March 30, weather permitting. The rink will measure 80 feet by 170 feet—just shy of an NHL regulation field—and be open daily from noon until 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Patrons will be charged a $5 admission fee Monday through Friday before 6 p.m.; $8 on Fridays after 6 p.m. and on weekends and holidays. Skate rental will always be $5. For the first two years, the rink will operate with temporary chillers, equipment that will be fenced off from the public at all times. Due to the high start-up costs, the concessionaire will pay only 5 percent of their gross receipts to the city in the first two years. In year three, the concessionaire will pay the city the higher of $25,000 or 5 percent of the gross receipts. Each year, the minimum fee increases until year 15, when it reaches $44,800. As common practice, all the revenue will go into the city’s general fund for future distribution.

11 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

Three Riverdale vets honored

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

BY PAULETTE SCHNEIDER Passionate opposition was tempered by mutual respect as author Peter Beinart and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin presented divergent points of view at a standing-room-only debate last week at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. Beinart is former editor of The New Republic and now editor of the blog Open Zion. His recent book, “The Crisis of Zionism,” raises fundamental questions about Israel’s status as a democracy while it “occupies” disputed land. Rabbi Riskin founded Lincoln Square Synagogue, the inﬂuential Modern Orthodox institution on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, before moving to Israel in 1983 to found Efrat, a city that now has 13,000 residents, in the Gush Etzion area. He is chief rabbi of Efrat. H.I.R.’s Rabbi Avi Weiss in his welcoming remarks told Beinart, “I recognize that most people here have very clear views about “medinat Yisrael” (the land of Israel), and so do I. But I have another very clear view. And that is that this “bayit” (home) should be a place of open, honest and respectful discussion concerning Israel and other issues, coming from every point of view.” “I believe that it’s terribly wrong that Peter Beinart is too often demonized in our community,” he continued. “I know that Peter cares deeply about Israel and about its future.” Turning to Beinart, he said, “You are always welcome to this podium—always.” “It is a deep honor and more than a little intimidating to stand onstage with with two of the giants of Orthodox Jewry in our time—Rabbi Avi Weiss and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin,” Beinart began. “We may not agree on everything. But with their commitment to our people and their commitment to respectful dialogue across ideological boundaries, the two men on the stage model the kind of Jew I hope to be. I know this is a controversial subject—the relationship between American Jews and Israel.” After tracing the history of Israel’s founding with respect to the Holocaust, Beinart said, “Democracy was not the whole of the Zionist dream. Israel is not, should not be, a secular democracy like

the United States. It should have—as I argue in my book—a special obligation to the Jewish people.” But, he maintained, democracy is “necessary to the Zionist dream.” He pointed out that, in violation of Israel’s Declaration of Independence,” Jews on the West Bank carry different identity cards from those of Palestinians, who must endure “massive, often humiliating restrictions on their movement.” The problem is not one of character, he said, praising Rabbi Riskin’s visit to a mosque that had been burned in an attack by settlers and noting a letter the rabbi later wrote to settlers condemning a different violent incident. “I believe that Jews have every right to live in the West Bank, either as equal citizens in land annexed to Israel in a peace deal or as equal citizens in a Palestinian state. The problem is that Israel’s continued settlement of the West Bank—settlement often fueled by government subsidies—imperils the possibility of a Palestinian state and thus imperils Israeli democracy. And this is true even in the remarkable community of Efrat, a community that would be difficult to annex to Israel in a peace deal.” Continued subsidy for settlements empowers Hezbollah and Hamas, he argued, decreasing the likelihood of concessions that would lead to an agreement. Rabbi Riskin disputed the issue of government subsidy. He maintained that remaining on the West Bank is not only moral—pointing out the specific historical diplomatic basis for Israel’s right to West Bank land—but also crucial to the security and future of Israel. “If it were truly in the interest of peace,” Riskin said,” with a very heavy heart, I would leave Efrat” because “peace has a higher value than any specific piece of land in Israel.” But the Arabs are “not interested in the settlements,” he said. “The Arabs are only interested in all of the lands that we are occupying. Anyone who believes that getting out of the settlement will bring peace with the Arabs simply doesn’t understand and is not conversant with history until the present moment.”

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, chief rabbi of Efrat, Israel, (left) and author Peter Beinart.

13 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

Spirited debate on future of Israeli settlements

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

The Riverdale Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee will close its current season on Wednesday, June 20,2012, at 12:30P.M. in Riverdale Temple, West 246 Street and Independence Avenue. The Study Group Leaders will be the Chaper’s honored guests and Gary Lovett will present a delightfully entertaining musical program. Bagels and light refreshments will be served and a boutique, “Jewelry, etc. by Pearl, Carol and Jessie” will be displayed for sale. Please make advance reservations by sending check for $12.00, payable to B.N.C., to Cecile Horwich, 5800 Arlington Avenue-10W, Riverdale, N.Y. 10471, as soon as possible. The subscription at the door will be $15.00.

Blessing of the ﬂeet at City Island

The Annual Blessing of the Fleet with the cooperation and support of the City Island Sail & Power Squadron and the Leonard Hawkins Post #156 of the American Legion will take place on Sunday, June 24, at 1 p.m. Multi-denomination clergy will bless vessels from the Fenton Marine Dock located at 225 Fordham

Street, City Island. Boats are to assemble at 12:30 p.m. at the Hart Island Ferry Dock in City Island Harbor. Communication on VHF Channel #71 will begin at that time. For more information, call Dennis at 646-258-4250.

JASA plans cultural events, classes and trips

Wed. June 27th: Join us for a special evening of classical and Broadway music presented by the Bronx Opera Ensemble at 6:45 PM after a sumptuous dinner at 5:45 PM. Suggested senior contribution for dinner is $2.00. Recommended senior contribution for event is $2.00. Non-senior guests are welcome. RSVP to center ofﬁce 718-549-4700 by Mon. June 25th. SPARC (Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide) Art Show will open on Wed. June 27th at 1:45 PM at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center, 3880 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx. Referencing their personal narratives, participants created colorful self-portraits that incorporate collage, drawing and multi-dimensional imagery. Meet Michael Ferris, Jr., our resident artist, along with the talented participants who created these works over the past 5 months. Refreshments will be served. The SPARC initiative was sponsored by NY Dept. of

Cultural Affairs in collaboration with Bronx Council on the Arts. The SPARC Art Show at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center will run through Friday, July 6th, 2012. At 5:30 PM on June 27th, join us for a delectable fish dinner followed by the Bronx Opera Ensemble’s classical and Broadway extravaganza. Suggested senior contribution for dinner is $2.00. Recommended senior contribution for event is $2.00. Non-senior guests are welcome. For reservations and further information, call the center office 718-549-4700 by Mon. June 25th. Converse in Yiddish with Sarah Bernzweig on Tues. July 3rd and 17th at 11:00 AM. Lucy Degidon will present an Art History Talk on Renoir on Fri. July 13th at 1:00 PM. ‘New’ Summer Dancercize Class on Wed. July 11th and 25th at 3:30 PM with dynamic instructor Dorian Castro. Recommended senior contribution for event is $2.00. Non-senior guest fee is $3.00. For further information, call the center office: 718-549-4700. Sergei Gurbelo will present a MultiWoodwind Concert of klezmer, Brazilian, pop and classical music on Thurs. July 18th at 1:00 PM. Suggested contribution for lunch, served at 12:15 PM, is $2.00. Recommended senior contribution for event is $2.00. Non-senior guests are

welcome. RSVP to center ofﬁce 718-5494700 by Tues. July 16th. Classes in Fitness, Tai Chi, Yoga, Tone & Stretch, Painting, Knitting, Current Events and Short Stories, Indoor Gardening, Line Dancing, Jewelry Making, sing-along, computer lab and more are offered at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center. We are located in the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. off of Van Cortlandt Ave. West on the Bronx #1, #2 or #10 bus routes. We are non-sectarian. Seniors age 60+ may register for free. For more information, please call the center ofﬁce at 718-549-4700. JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC Dept. for the Aging, UJAFederation of NY and by legislative grants from Council Member Oliver Koppell and Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz Jr.

Sigal Chen performs at KCI

The community is invited to an enchanting evening of music performed by Israeli soprano Sigal Chen and pianist Jonathan Dzik on Sunday, June 24, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Kingsbridge Center of Israel, 3115 Corlear Avenue, a half block north of West 231st Street. The varied program will feature classical, operatic and other works. Refreshments will follow. Admission is $10.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

Brandeis group holds season’s last meeting

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

For Congress: Engel and Espaillat Democratic voters in much of the north and west Bronx will be confronted with a great rarity: a primary election in June and an election that will cover only federal offices for reasons too complex and too stupid to enumerate here. State and party offices will be the subject of a later primary in September. Due to reapportionment necessitated by the last census, many here once represented by Congressman Eliot Engel now find themselves in a new district. Other Bronxites find that Engel, after a 10-year hiatus, will likely represent them once again. Folks in Kingsbridge, Norwood, and Van Cortlandt Village now find themselves in the thick of a five-way battle to pick the person who will represent not just them, but Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood as well. The two leading candidates are Congressman Charles Rangel, the veteran legislator who has represented a Harlem-based district for forty years, and Adriano Espaillat, who currently represents a chunk of The Bronx in the state Senate in Albany. We first encountered Rangel in 1969, then a young Assembly member, in his ill-fated attempt to win the Democratic nomination for president of the City Council, a job that no longer exists. He was the running mate of then-Bronx Congressman Jim Scheuer. In losing, however, he exhibited great potential, and was thus positioned to challenge the legendary Adam Clayton Powell for his historic Harlem congressional seat, defeating him in 1972. Rangel has been in Washington ever since, mostly serving with distinction. But in recent years, he has become embroiled in a number of ethical scandals, serious enough that his colleagues in the House slapped him with a rare vote of censure. He has also been stripped of his key committee assignment, leaving him as a man with a legislative past but no effective future. Just as Rangel did with Powell so many years ago, he is now being challenged by a vigorous younger man, Senator Espaillat. As Adam Clayton Powell was diminished by his ethical lapses and ill health, now so has Rangel. It would have been better for all had Rangel stepped aside. But he presses on and now should be told by the voters that his tenure must come to an end. We favor Adriano Espaillat. He has demonstrated his mettle to us in the past two years, representing an area of The Bronx, Riverdale, where his Dominican heritage is of little advantage. And he has shined. His Riverdale constituents have taken to him as one of their own. And why not? He seems as concerned about Israel as he is about the Dominican Republic. This is important to us. In an era where it is easy to lean on one’s background, he has shown that he can transcend that. The new city is much more diverse in many ways, and it has become almost impossible to draw an ethnically cohesive congressional district for the future. Nor should we. If Espaillat becomes the first Dominican-American in Congress, it will be an interesting footnote, a matter of pride to some, but it will become less important in the future as a broad spectrum of issues and concerns will drive a more diverse electorate. It is clear that the public official who can be sensitive to the concerns of all constituents will win immunity from unexpected demographic change in the future. Dealing with a largely white and Jewish constituency in Riverdale, Espaillat has won friends and supporters by demonstrating sensitivity to their concerns. That track record is what gives us confidence in his leadership. We wish Rangel well, but the time for change has arrived. The new 16th district, which covers much of the north Bronx including Riverdale, Woodlawn, Wakefield and Co-op City, stretches into Westchester as well. Congressman Eliot Engel now represents much of this district, and other parts, such as Co-op City, where he got his political start, is back as well. He is being opposed by a most forgettable minor candidate, Aniello Grimaldi, who also proclaims that he is running for president of the United States. Grimaldi was allowed on the ballot in a questionable court deContinued on Page 19

Sen. Espaillat must answer racism charge To The Editor: In my letter to the editor titled, “For Congress: A tax-evading crook or a racist?” (May 24), I called State Senator Adriano Espaillat “a racist” because he is, and remains, a long-time member (he was previously an assemblyman) of the racist N.Y. State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus — an organization which by its very name reeks of an antiwhite conspiracy and bias. In that letter, I stated that I would confront Sen. Espaillat at the May 29 endorsement meeting of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club and ask him to respond to my very serious charge. Even though Mr. Espaillat had almost a week from the publication of my letter until the meeting to prepare a response, the only reply he could muster, after he ﬁrst tried to dance around the question, was the following: “If my name was O’Leary, I would probably belong to an Irish organization and if I were Jewish I’d belong to a Jewish

organization…” When I tried to get him back on topic, the club’s president did not allow me to ask any follow-up questions thus permitting Sen. Espaillat to evade the issue. Identity politics such as belonging to an Irish caucus, a Jewish caucus, a Black caucus…

Some truth in summons-dispensing, please

To The Editor: Some of us Riverdalians have been stopped by an ummarked police vehicle for not having our seatbelts on. Apparently it does not even matter if the seatbelt is on when the officer in the unmarked car demands us to stop. I do not recall a news item in the local papers explaining the necessity for such police actions. Until the officials explain what this is all about, I can only imagine that one day an official -- elected, police, other -- got the idea that money can be made for the state and city if an unmarked police car lies in wait to nab Riverdalians with seatbelt summonses. There is, after all, money to

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

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is perfectly acceptable and is not racist since there exists a commonality of interest among members of the same group. What is racist, however, is when the various non-white identity groups collude and form one consolidated umbrella organizaContinued on Page 19

CECILIA McNALLY Office Manager MIAWLING LAM Associate Editor

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

be made from this sort of police action: $130 a stop, shared by city and state. I am old enough to recall that Gov. Mario Cuomo, who got the first seatbelt laws enacted, assured us that no one would be stopped just for a seatbelt violation. Do we need more evidence that a politician’s word can no longer be trusted? The former Governor Cuomo (as his son, the current governor) is a Democrat. Democrats brag that they represent the party of the people. Well, here I am, a very small person, at the bottom 4% level of the economic ladder, where a $130 seatbelt ticket is more than ten percent of my monthly income. Are Democrats sympathetic to the very poor? Not if we dare to drive, a moment, without a seatbelt. The Democrats, and their Republican counterparts in the state legislature, won’t even let us pay the draconian seatbelt fines in installments. I don’t believe the rationale that seatbelt fines are necessary because of the medical costs Continued on Page 19

Continued from Page 18 tion whose main purpose — as I stated in my previous letter — was to “give whitey the shaft and get a bigger piece of the pie for themselves.” These various groups ﬁght each other at every turn. At local elections where members of different minority groups oppose each other — whether it be Black against Hispanic, or Puerto Rican against Dominican — the rallying cry is always, “Vote for ___, He’s One of Us!” It’s always us against them. And how, in heaven’s name, did Asians ever come to be included in this racist legislative caucus when Blacks and Hispanics constantly make every effort to limit the access and number of more qualiﬁed Asian students to state colleges

Summons dispensing Continued from Page 18 society may incur if one is in a motor accident without wearing a seatbelt. I don’t believe this because if it is true, it takes us to a slippery slope mandating euthanasia to save medical costs incurred by society to treat the terminally ill. (What next --mandatory blood pressure stops?) If we in Riverdale are to continue to be subject to unmarked police cars sent to raise revenue by hitting ordinary, law-abiding Riverdalians with seatlbelt violations, at the very least the officers handing out the summonses -- and the indivduals responsible for this sort of citizen harassment -- should be required to wear red coats, for this is the kind of thing the “Red Coats” did to Americans in the 1770’s. To those who would respond by saying, “You can’t fight City Hall,” I would say, in turn, that when people in public service bully the citizenry, and the citizenry doesn’t object, you have entrenched tyranny. We can’t fight City Hall? Tell that to Patrick Henry, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington. David R. Zukerman

Editorial

Continued from Page 18 cision regarding the validity of his petitions. But in this case, voters are given the easy choice between a respected veteran lawmaker or the marginal candidacy of Grimaldi, a refugee from the fringes of political discourse. The decision must be to overwhelmingly reelect Engel. With the departure from Congress over a period of just over a year or two of the most stalwart supporters of the State of Israel, Anthony Weiner and Gary Ackerman, the reelection of Congressman Engel is even more critical. It is easy to forget this election, given the last-minute nature of the unexpected race, but voters must not forget to come out on June 26. If you live in the 16th District, the choice is easy: cast your vote for Eliot Engel. In the nearby 13th District, a somewhat tougher and more nuanced race, we favor Senator Adriano Espaillat over the tired and ethically challenged incumbent. Republicans need not feel left out: there IS a Republican primary to choose a nominee to oppose U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democratic candidate. Among the Republicans, we favor Congressman Robert Turner. Should Turner win, we predict he will make the November contest with Gillibrand a truly competitive election.

and universities in favor of less qualiﬁed Black and Hispanic students? It is quite obvious (if one really cares to look) that there is no commonality of interest among the various minority groups — only an anti-white conspiracy. Sen. Espaillat was allowed to evade answering my “on-the-money” charge of racism at the Ben Franklin Club meeting. Now, however, that he has won the endorsement of the BFRDC, which is currently carrying petitions with his name on them, he has the moral responsibility to respond to the voters of this community. And the Ben Franklin Club, as his sponsor, has an equal moral obligation to see that a response is forthcoming. Racism is a very serious charge. It must be answered! Alvin Gordon

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19 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, June 14, 2012

Espaillat must answer racism charge

Thursday, June 14, 2012 â€˘ The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Adriano Espaillat â€“ The Change We Need In Congress

With the newly created 13th Congressional District now including the Bronx, State Senator Espaillat is running for Congress to bring his bold, new ideas to Washington D.C. We know Senator Espaillat. In the State Senate, Adriano fought for the values we share: education funding for New York City schools, well-paying jobs for New Yorkers, and healthcare access for our families.

In Congress, Adriano will bring the same Sen. Espaillat receives endorsement from NYC Council Member Oliver Koppell.

passion and energy and work with President Obama against Tea Party Republicans.

Endorsed By: NYC Council Member Oliver Koppell, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club.