Riverdale Review, July 5, 2012

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Volume XIX • Number 25 • July 5 - 11, 2012 •

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The day the music died at P.S. 24

By MIAWLING LAM and PAULETTE SCHNEIDER The fallout continues from P.S. 24’s controversial decision to excess both of its music teachers and shut down its music department.

Outraged parents believe the downsizing effort—which the principal and interim acting assistant principal claim was needed to balance a barebones budget—will adversely affect their children and rob students of a rich music education.

In an open letter penned to the Riverdale Review last Friday, the group said students spent the final week of school circulating petitions in the hope of saving the music program.

“The administration’s reckless and unnecessary cut leaves the school without a substantive music program for the first time in recent memory and has shocked parents and faculty alike,” the group wrote.

“The school’s 800+ students stand to lose a great deal with the departure of their two wonderful music teachers—beloved, longstanding

chorus and band programs as well as an innovative, school wide keyboard instruction program.”

In the two-page letter, the parents also accuse administrators of having misplaced priorities and question the appropriateness of retaining a full-time conflict resolution cluster teacher while excessing two music teachers.

“Why can’t the administration maintain small class sizes by putting a few of the seven certified classroom teachers currently assigned full-time to special subjects such as ‘conflict resolution’ and ‘theater’ back into the classrooms? Neither of these classes rival the impact of the music program.

“Surely, a school that claims to be on a bare-bones budget cannot rationalize keeping these subjects while cutting the entire music department.”

As the Riverdale Review reported last week, the future of the school’s music curriculum is under threat after three staff members, including two music teachers, were excessed on June 15.

At the time, P.S. 24 interim acting assistant principal Emanuele “Manny” Verdi defended the action and said the school was forced to let go of the teachers because three staffers—with seniority—were returning from leave.

Local parent and P.S. 24 school leadership team member Eugenia Zakharov, who emphasized that her thoughts might not represent the prevailing views of the SLT, said the music program changes were presented to the community as fact.

“I do not feel like we had an opportunity to have input,” she said.

“I know that a lot of parents are very disappointed and feel like other alternatives had not been considered.”

Zakharov said all parents may not be in agreement on the subject, but few have openly taken a stand either way.

“I don’t know if it’s apathy or reluctance to speak up, but that’s what I found,” she said.

“I don’t know why privately a lot of people speak up, but not that many are willing to put

P.S. 24 principal Donna Connelly and interim acting assistant principal Emanuele Verdi excessed two music teachers last month.

their name down.”

Verdi said attempts would be made to restore at least one of the music instructor positions, but if that fails, existing partnerships with the New York Philharmonic and Little Orchestra Society will serve as providers of the school’s music education.

“There will still be music here at PS 24. It’s not just going to be in the way that it’s been done,” Verdi said last week.

Local professional musician

Olivia Koppell (who is the sister of the Councilman) declined to comment specifically on the P.S. 24 situation but believed music should be mandatory in all schools.

“Music and art need to be part of the general curriculum in every school in New York City,” she said.

“It shouldn’t be dependent on the principal. It should be part of every kid’s school life from kindergarten to high school.”

THAT’S HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLES: Construction workers remove tons of debris following the demoliton of the Stella D’oro biscuit factory. A shopping mall, anchored by BJ’s Wholesale Club, will rise from the ground in its place. The center is scheduled to open in October 2013.

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Engel wins big; Rangel up in air

State Senator Adriano Espaillat vowed that every vote cast will be counted.

By MIAWLING LAM When it comes to election results, sometimes it’s not over until a judicial court delivers a ruling.

Although veteran politico Rep. Charles Rangel declared victory over state Sen. Adriano Espaillat in last week’s 13th Congressional District race, an official winner has yet to emerge.

Amid claims of voter suppression, irregular tally counts and ballots not being counted, attorneys for Espaillat have asked the courts to intervene.

The lawsuit, filed against the city’s Board of Elections in Bronx Supreme Court on Tuesday, is designed to secure some answers about the whole process, according to Espaillat spokesman Ibrahim Khan.

“We would like to get all the information about what is happening so we can take a look at it,” he said.

It is understood the lawsuit, which was supposed to be filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday but was later withdrawn, includes an option for a doover primary if irregularities are found.

When asked for the rationale behind the switch in courts, Khan said it was simply due to proximity.

“We have more witnesses from The Bronx and Upper Manhattan and figured it would be easier for them to get to the Grand Concourse than to Centre Street,” he said.

Espaillat, who currently represents parts of Riverdale in the state Senate, delivered a concession speech to Rangel on Tuesday night after preliminary tallies

showed the incumbent had secured 45 percent of the vote, compared to Espaillat’s 40 percent.

However, revised numbers released on Saturday night showed the race had taken a dramatic turn, and Rangel’s lead had shrunk to a razor-thin margin of 802 votes.

More than 3,000 absentee and affidavit ballots have not yet been counted.

Those votes will be tallied on Thursday, July 5, in a process that is expected to take a week.

Speaking outside a senior center in Washington Heights on Monday, Espaillat said he wasn’t prepared to make any predictions on the outcome.

“I’m not going to say that I won or I lost because obviously, we don’t know yet,” he said, speaking for the first time since the election.

Citing the 66 election districts that recorded zero votes, Espaillat said the current situation was similar to the Florida voting scandal involving Al Gore and George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election.

“We cannot have a Florida-style situation in New York state,” he said.

“Our country has to rely on an election process and an election system that’s verifiable, that is transparent and that brings about confidence to everybody.”

Espaillat also delivered a damning assessment of the city’s Board of Elections.

He claimed they botched the initial count, barred his campaign staff from Continued on Page 3

By MIAWLING LAM The next phase of a $33 million project to replace the steel curb stringers on the Henry Hudson Bridge will commence next week, and local residents could be the next to be inconvenienced.

MTA officials said work was progressing along smoothly, and workers were now ready to repair the steel structure underneath the roadway.

However, MTA spokeswoman Judy Glave said before those repairs could be performed, a temporary shield had to be installed.

Glave said a protective shield would be built over the course of four weeks starting on Monday, July 9, but that the work would be performed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

She said workers couldn’t install the temporary protective shield during the day because it is over Metro-North’s right of way.

Although the new work will not affect motorists and there were no road closures, Glave warned that it could inconvenience

residents.

“The only impact it could have is that community residents might notice some lights,” she said. “The area has to be well lit for workers working there, so there will be lights. But it will be directed at the water rather than northward.”

The contractor has also agreed to use hand tools rather than power tools to mitigate the noise, she said.

The three-year $33 million construction project is designed to restore the 75-year-old bridge to its former glory.

Under the changes, new bridge decking will be installed and the original 1930s steel curb stringers that support the upper level roadway will be replaced.

Officials said new energy-efficient roadway lighting will be introduced, but the new fixtures will replicate the original 1938-style light poles, in keeping with the bridge’s Depression-era design.

The bridge, which connects the northern tip of Manhattan to Riverdale, carries approximately 63,000 cars each day, according to MTA officials.

Election turns into ‘waiting game’ Continued from Page 2 observing the count—which they are legally allowed to do—and failed to provide enough notice of the unusually early primary.

“This was like a phantom election where no one was notified properly and formally via mail—the way it’s usually done,” he said.

“The Board of Elections is broken. We should just shut it down and build a new system that works for all New Yorkers and that is transparent to all.”

But BOE spokeswoman Valerie Vazquez defended the process and insisted the law was adhered to.

“The board has acted in accordance with the law and its duly adopted procedure throughout this process,” she said in a statement.

The prolonged wait for an outcome could have major ramifications if Espaillat ends up losing.

State Senate candidates who want to be on the ballot in September’s primary have until Thursday, July 12, to file their petitions.

Candidates are required to submit a minimum of 1,000 Democratic signatures.

Espaillat’s campaign workers deny they are circulating petitions, and when asked about the filing deadline, Espaillat sidestepped the question.

“I don’t want to talk about my potential aspirations for the Senate,” he said. “Right now, I am concentrating on making sure that the rights and privileges extended by the constitution to every voter are protected.”

Meanwhile, as expected, Rep. Eliot Engel cruised to victory and triumphed over former Bronx assistant district attorney Aniello A.M. Grimaldi in the battle for the 16th Congressional District.

According to the latest numbers from the city’s Board of Elections, Engel received 90.1 percent of the vote, with absentee and affidavit ballots still to be counted.

Local war veteran Herb Barret places flags at the Memorial Grove ahead of Independence Day celebrations.

3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, July 5, 2012

More work on Henry Hudson Bridge

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Around the schools...

Local Service Award winners

Noa Furman of P.S. 24, Brian Sullivan of P.S. 81 and Ryan Eboh of M.S./H.S. 141 were selected by their school principals to receive a 2012 Herb Lieberman Community Service award during graduation ceremonies this month. The award, named for beloved community activist Herbert Lieberman, recognizes outstanding dedication on the part of neighborhood school graduates. Lieberman spent more than 30 years as an influential member of Community Board 8.

He served as executive board member for local institutions including P.S. 24, M.S. 141 and the Riverdale Community Center and was legislative chairman of the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives. He founded and chaired the Coalition for Responsible Planning and was named “Riverdalian of the Year” by the Riverdale Community Council in 1988. His neighbors petitioned the City Council in 2004 to rename the intersection of Independence Avenue and West 236th Street “Herb Lieberman Way.”

Manhattan College

The college’s School of Education has formally changed its name to the School of Education and Health. The school is exploring new health-related degree programs, including a master’s in health education and a bachelor’s in X-ray technology. The college’s innovative programs in allied health, exercise science, physical education, nuclear medicine technology and radiation therapy offer tremendous opportunities for internships and field experience at top medical facilities. In addition to training early childhood, elementary, secondary, bilingual and special education teachers, the School of Education and Health prepares undergraduate students seeking careers in athletic coaching, sports management, health care administration, human services, physical education, radiation therapy technology and nuclear medicine technology. The school also offers graduate programs in mental health and school counseling, alcohol and substance abuse counseling, school building leadership and special education. “As a nationally recognized school by the Teacher Education Accrediting Council, the new School of Education and Health’s name will assist the college in further marketing information on its various cutting-edge health programs,” school dean Dr. William Merriman said.

College of Mount Saint Vincent

The BalaSole Dance Company will be in residence at the college this fall.

Founder and artistic director Roberto Villanueva, who created the dance company in an effort to welcome dance artists of all backgrounds and give them an opportunity to shine, will become an adjunct faculty member. BalaSole has performed at the Baryshnikov Arts Center’s Jerome Robbins Theater, at Tribeca Performing Arts Center and at New York Live Arts. They will showcase a new program at Ailey Citigroup Theater on July 14 and 15.

Local Scholars

Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, has announced that Brendan Craig and Skye Parr were among 4,400 students who received degrees this spring.

Craig, a theology and philosophy major, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree and Parr, a sociology major, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Boston College was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1863. It is now one of the nation’s most selective universities, with more than 34,000 applications for its 2,250 freshman spots. A Catholic coeducational institution, it enrolls 14,600 undergraduate and graduate students and is nationally known for its graduate programs in education, law, management, ministry, nursing, social work and theology. Though it has grown in size, stature and diversity, Boston College remains focused on its founding Jesuit mission to offer students a transforming educational experience that develops intellect and character and encourages a life of faith, integrity and service to others.

Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan Campus, located in Teaneck and Hackensack, New Jersey, has announced that Georgia Christou, a cosmetic science major, earned a Bachelor of Science degree; Nancy Niles earned a Master of Public Administration degree; Christine Taylor, a psychology major, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and was named to the honors list; and Karen Zwillenberg, a psychology major, earned a Master of Arts degree. The college also announced that Yoel Shulman was named to the dean’s list. Students must achieve a GPA of at least 3.5 to qualify for the honors list and a GPA of 3.2 for the dean’s list, both while enrolled for at least four courses or 12 letter-graded hours. The Metropolitan Campus features a university atmosphere with an international perspective, attracting students from the U.S. and around the world. Undergraduates have access to the resources of a major graduate center and nearby New York City as an integral part of their learning experience. Fairleigh Dickinson was the first American university to own and operate an overseas campus—Wroxton College in the United Kingdom—and the first in the world to require distance learning of its undergraduates. New Jersey’s largest private university, it enrolls more than 8,500 undergraduates and more tha 3,500 graduate students.

By MIAWLING LAM Planned schedule changes on six bus routes in Riverdale have yielded mixed results for local commuters.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently announced that as part of its ongoing review of ridership, it was tinkering with service on three local routes and three express routes.

The frequency of weekend local bus service remains unchanged.

Under the revisions to take effect in September, straphangers who ride the Bx3, Bx7 and Bx10 on weeknights will face a slightly shorter wait for the bus.

For example, a Bx7 will arrive every seven minutes—down from the current nine minutes—during the p.m. peak period on weeknights, and every 15 minutes—down from the current 20 minutes—in the evenings.

The headway on the Bx10 route will also be slashed from 12 minutes to 10 minutes in the evenings and from 15 minutes to 10 minutes during the midday period, bringing the route’s “guideline capacity” down from the existing 138 percent to a more manageable 92 percent.

Meanwhile, riders who jump on the Bx3 will also have an easier evening commute.

The headway on the route, which runs from Washington Heights in Manhattan to Riverdale, will be cut to 5.5 minutes during the evening peak hour rush and to 10 minutes in the evenings.

However, the MTA didn’t bear good news for all bus commuters.

Straphangers who take the BxM1 and BxM3 during the morning peak period will endure slightly longer waits, with the new schedule proposing that BxM1 buses arrive every 5.5 minutes, compared with the existing 5 minutes.

Service on the BxM3 route will also arrive every 8 minutes, up from the current 7 minutes.

Citywide, MTA officials have proposed 73 schedule changes on a total of 59 routes. Of the 59 affected routes, 21 are in The Bronx.

Authorities estimate the changes will cost $1.7 million each year, a burden that will be absorbed by the agency and incorporated into its 2012 operating budget.

Of the 73 schedule changes, 33 will lead to increases in service frequency.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz welcomed the improvements but said the fight was far from over.

He said although evening service on the Bx10 route has been bolstered, the headway during the morning peak period would increase from 5 minutes to 5.5 minutes.

“We have been pressing the MTA to increase service, and I’m pleased that for the most part, we’ve been successful,” he said.

“I am concerned about the service on the Bx10 bus. While the MTA has increased evening service as we have requested, we do need to see increased service during the morning rush.

“Our efforts to improve service on our buses is an ongoing process, and clearly we still have work to do.”

According to the MTA, the timetable changes are designed to reflect evolving rider patterns.

“To ensure that bus schedules accurately match current rider demand and operating conditions, schedules are regularly reviewed, evaluated and revised in order to provide passengers with the most efficient and effective service possible,” the MTA memo states.

The new changes represent the second time in six months that the timetable on the Bx7 route has been altered.

In April, wait times were reduced after Dinowitz wrote to MTA officials to complain about the lengthy waits and crammed conditions on the route.

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5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, July 5, 2012

New MTA bus schedules draw mixed results

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Rotary Club to sponsor reading hour

Youngsters 3-12 years old are invited to participate in the Reading Program on Saturday, July 7, at the NEW Kingsbridge Library, 291 West 231st Street, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Readers will be grouped by skill level and encouraged to read, helped with pronunciation and word understanding, and for those without reading skills, interpret pictures. There is no charge for participation.

The Rotary Club of Riverdale is part of Rotary International and sponsors the library reading project as a local community service. Adult volunteers who are interested in participating are asked to contact Karen Pesce, Secretary: (718) 549-4469.

The story of Canine Court and Fitness With Fido

Summer Begins with a scorch of the Early Dog days Of Summer...When you take your dog to Canine Court and enjoy the cool shade of the new willows planted in the Park, and drink from the water fountain opposite Canine Court, made especially for both people and dogs...

Remember its beginnings .....

Canine Court Dog Run in Van Cortlandt Park was created by Bash Dibra and opened on April 14, 1998 and celebrated it’s 14th year this past April. It was the first agility dog run in New York City. But last year torrential rain and winds came and

Canine Court was flooded. The dogs had lost their playground. The floods went away but some of the trees were missing so Canine Court volunteers helped plant trees, and they are flourishing.

This year on May 6th Bash Dibra created the Fitness With Fido Dog Walk to raise needed funds to repair the fencing.

Canine Court needs your readers and dog lovers support.

Howl-O-Ween is the next big event that will take place on October 28, 2012.

Look for the Save The Date info in your email box in a few months. Visit www. pawsacrossamerica.com/#FIDO.

Adoptive Parents Committee to meet

A non profit all volunteer informational educational parent support group for couples and singles who have adopted and for those seeking about adoption will hold their next support meeting on Wednesday, July 11th at 7pm at the Riverdale YM YWHA .The Executive Director of Family Focus Adoption Services Maris Blechner, will be the keynote speaker.

She is the director of an agency located in NY for the past 25 years. She will discuss the issues concerning domestic adoption including the paths of agency, independent and foster care. There will be a lecture and interactive discussion following the lecture. Questions and answers for families in order to successfully adopt will be directed including age, health and

ethnicity. For directions and complete information Go to www.adoptiveparents. org or call 212 304 8479. The Riverdale Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

Summer Food Drive at Riverdale Y

The Riverdale YM-YWHA will have a summer food drive from July 13 through July 29. Please join us in showing our neighbors who are in need that we remember them all year round, not just during the winter holidays, by donating food to be distributed by local food pantries.

All non-perishable food is welcome, but cereals, dried pasta, and health canned soups are especially requested. If you are donating canned food, please make sure that it has not expired.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer additional help, please contact Cynthia Galik-Riaz, Community Event Manager for the Riverdale Y, at 718548-8200, ext. 218 or cgalik@riverdaley. org. The Y will collect the food in two locations. All days at the Y, located at 5625 Arlington Ave. and also at the Riverdale Market on Sundays, July 15, 22 and 29, located at MS/HS 141, Independence Ave and West 237th Street. The food drive is made possible by the alliance of UJA FEDNY, the Metropolitan Council of Jewish Poverty, JASA (Jewish Assocation Serving the Aging), and AmeriCorps as well as the Riverdale Y.

BCA and Wave Hill kick off concert series

The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) and Wave Hill kick off the 2012 ‘Sunset Wednesday Concert Series’ on July 11th at Wave Hill. Eight concerts will run on eight consecutive Wednesdays beginning July 11th through August 29th from 6:008:00pm. Bring your own folding chair and enjoy a concert mix that includes jazz and blues trios, classical ensembles and Celtic music, on instruments as varied as the banjo, the bodhrán and the button accordion. All concerts are free with admission to the grounds: Free to Wave Hill members and children under 6; $8 for adults; $4 for students and seniors 65+; $2 for children 6-18. For concert information, visit www.bronxarts.org or call 718-931-9500 x33 or call Wave Hill’s Martha Gellens at 718-549-3200 x232 or Mary Weltzman at x320.

On Wednesday, July 11th at 6:00pm, spend an evening with Jazz Guitarist Doug Wamble. A native of Memphis, TN, Doug Wamble has always been surrounded by a vast musical and cultural landscape. Since moving to New York City, he has performed and recorded with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Branford Marsalis, Bill Frisell and Charlie Hunter. Doug has composed and performed original works for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Chamber Music America. He has performed film soundtracks for acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns including The Tenth Inning, Prohibition and The Central Park Five.

Doug has released three solo albums: Country Libations and Bluestate on Marsalis Music/Universal Records and Doug Wamble on E1/Koch Records.

On Wednesday, July 18th at 6:00pm, the Robert Silverman Jazz and Blues Trio performs. Robert Silverman is a pianist, trumpeter, and composer who has been a fixture in the New York Jazz scene since 1985. After a stint in Europe and assorted gigs with Albert King, Jimmy Heath, George Russell, Cecil McBee and the Ron Levy Bluesman band, Robert went on to form his own ensemble featuring original compositions, the blues and standards.

Mr. Silverman has been featured in New York on NBC TV, WKCR, WBAI and WNYC Radio’s Around New York. He is the recipient of two “Meet the Composer Grants”.

On Wednesday, July 25th at 6:00pm, the Libby Richman Quartet offers a program of smooth jazz that combines original music and standards. Composer, reed player Libby Richman leads an ensemble that plays original contemporary jazz.

Libby has released three CDs, her sound echoing the influences of Classical, Latin, and Pop music. She has traveled widely as a professional musician, leading her jazz quartet and, as a side musician, for big bands as and theatrical productions.

Libby lives in the Bronx and performs all over the tri-state area. In addition to jazz concerts, she entertains in residences and for senior groups with her Musical Journey programs. Originally from Indiana, Libby, a Meet the Composer grant recipient, received her BA from the University of Massachusetts.

Wave Hill, a 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, is open from 9:00am to 5:30pm (later on Sunset Wednesdays).

It is located at 675 West 252nd Street in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Shuttle service is available to and from MetroNorth and the #1 subway. For additional directions, e-mail information@wavehill. org, visit http://wavehill.org/visit/directions.html, or call 718-549-3200.

By MIAWLING LAM Local nonprofit organizations, community groups and public schools will share nearly $5.5 million in discretionary funds from City Hall in the upcoming fiscal year.

City Council documents reveal Councilman G. Oliver Koppell was allocated $5 million for capital projects—slightly less than last year—and $500,000 in expenses as part of the new $68.5 billion city budget.

The funding windfall, often referred to as pork spending or member items, offers crucial services for constituents, and this year is no different.

Nearly $125,000 was designated to improve the safety of two 30-year-old Italianate pergolas in the aquatic garden at Wave Hill, while $150,000 was earmarked for the installation of six NYPD security cameras to bolster local crime-fighting efforts.

Each of Riverdale’s three public schools also won a share of the funding pie.

P.S. 24 secured a $60,000 grant for the purchase of laptop carts, big computers and large screens, P.S. 81 received $80,000 to pay for 125 laptops, and M.S./H.S. 141 got $60,000 for projectors, Smart Boards and security cameras.

“The decisions are based on history,” Koppell said, explaining that groups who have benefitted in the past are generally chosen for allocations.

He noted that the completion of the Kingsbridge Branch of the New York Public Library frees up capital funding for other projects—like a new library for the Kennedy school campus and $1 for a skate park.

Koppell said his $5.5 million allocation would be distributed to support the invaluable work of area nonprofits and community groups. He also shared the love when it came to the distribution of expenses funding.

Among the big winners were Riverdale Mental Health Association, allocated $40,000 to fund its on-site mental health consultation and counseling program, and Riverdale Senior Services, earmarked $30,750 to support its community health programs.

Riverdale Neighborhood House got $30,000 to subsidize its teen program.

According to the City Council’s Schedule C budget, which details the member item spending, the initiative “helps youth build the foundations for their educational and professional futures while gaining meaningful social experiences.”

Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdale and the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale received $5,000 each to bankroll their various programs.

Even the Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan College received $5,000 of taxpayer funds to cover public lectures related to the Holocaust and genocide.

The generous discretionary funding was made possible after the City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2013 budget late Thursday night.

Under the approved budget, early childhood and after-school programs were saved, education funding was increased and city services including public parks, pools and libraries were protected.

However, officials were quick to point out that the city is staring down a $2.5 billion budget deficit in fiscal year 2014.

7 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, July 5, 2012

Local groups funded by Koppell

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Call toll-free: 1-888-459-1026

Their

Thursday, July 5

projects. Parental supervision is required for children 5 years and under. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

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.

Riverdale

Kingsbridge

Friday, July 6 Kingsbridge

TEEN READING CLUB 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Meet new friends and check out new books at the Kingsbridge Library’s teen summer reading club. Discuss the books you’ve read lately, update your reading logs to get prizes, and participate in weekly raffles for a chance to win COOL and FABULOUS stuff!!! The teen summer reading club is open to all students who are in (or who are about to enter) 7th - 12th grade. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Saturday, July 7 Kingsbridge

MOVIES 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Come watch some classic movies, old favorites, and new releases on the little silver screen. Call for more details: 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

LIBRARY READING HOUR 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street The Rotary Club of Riverdale invites youngsters 3-12 years old to participate in the Reading Program. Readers will be grouped by skill level and encouraged to read, helped with pronunciation and word understanding, and for those without reading skills, interpret pictures. For more information, contact Karen Pesce, 718-549-4469.

Monday, July 9 Riverdale

COFFEE HOUR 10 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Start off your week with a cup of coffee at the Riverdale Branch. Read newspapers , catch up on current events, or just enjoy a friendly game of Chess. All in our Community Room.

For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

LUNCH & LEARN 2 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Some foods are great to eat every day, and some foods should only be eaten in moderation. Explore whether foods are “Go” foods, “Slow” foods, or “Whoa” foods. Children discover how hard their bodies work to keep them healthy and why it is important to make smart choices. This session includes a demonstration and a hands-on project. Presented by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. For ages 5 and older. (Limited to 25 participants). For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Tuesday, July 10 Riverdale

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

Wednesday, July 11 Kingsbridge

TODDLER STORY TIME 11 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stories, songs, fingerplays, puppets and flannelboard stories for 18-36 months for parents/caregivers. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Van Cortlandt

ARTS & CRAFTS 3 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library 3874 Sedgwick Avenue Come to the Library and participate in our Arts & Crafts

CONCERT 6 p.m. Wave Hill 675 West 252nd Street An evening with Jazz Guitarist Doug Wamble. Part of the Sunset Wednesday Concert Series jointly sponsored by the Bronx Council on the Arts and Wave Hill. Free to Wave Hill members and children under 6; $8 for adults; $4 for students and seniors 65+; $2 for children 6-18. For concert information, visit www.bronxarts.org or call 718-931-9500 x33 or call Wave Hill’s Martha Gellens at 718-549-3200 x232 or Mary Weltzman at x320.

Thursday, July 12

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Riverdale

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? Come to the Riverdale Library and get assistance on the computers. Practice your new skills at your own pace.

Ask questions and learn from doing. Audience: Adults, 50+.

For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Riverdale

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,

Van Cortlandt

MUSIC @ NYPL 2 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library 3874 Sedgwick Avenue Matthew Fishteyn has been playing piano for 10 years and 2 years ago began to study the classical and flamenco guitar.

For more information, call 718-543-5150.

Friday, July 13 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 information, call 718548-5656.

Kingsbridge

TEEN READING CLUB 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Meet new friends and check out new books at the Kingsbridge Library’s teen summer reading club. Discuss the books you’ve read lately, update your reading logs to get prizes, and participate in weekly raffles for a chance to win COOL and FABULOUS stuff!!! The teen summer reading club is open to all students who are in (or who are about to enter) 7th - 12th grade. For ages 13 to 18 years. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Saturday, July 14 Spuyten Duyvil

SENIOR CINEMA 2 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state. with Leonardo DiCaprio Rated PG-13. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

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WALK AND TALK 7 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue A tree grows at St. Paul’s. A talk and walk, exploring the history and variety of trees at St. Paul’s Church N.H.S., led by Jessica Schuler, Director of Family Forest, New York Botanical Garden. For more information, contact David Osborn, 914-667-4116

It’s all about twist! Join handspinner and textile artist, Anna Upston, (www.maupston.com) to learn about turning wool and other fibers into yarn. Ms. Upston will discuss fibers from plant, animal and recycled sources as well as demonstrate yarn creation on a spinning wheel and with a drop spindle.

This is a kid-friendly demonstration, with many fun fibers to explore and touch. A variety of beautiful handspun yarns and fiber-related gifts will be on display and available to purchase.

Stick around and watch the sheep have a snack. Fun for the entire family! Members $5, Non-Members $8 ($25 for family).

For more information, call 914-723-3470.

Friday, July 6

Valhalla

Mt. Vernon

Mt. Vernon

CHURCH TOWER WALK 3 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue Join us for a walk up the 74 steps of the centuries-old Church tower, leading to the historic bronze bell. For more information, contact David Osborn, 914-667-4116.

Katonah

LATIN JAZZ 8 p.m. Caramoor’s Spanish Courtyard 149 Girdle Ridge Road Grammy-Award winning Latin great Paquito D’Rivera will perform with his favorite Cuban colleagues in this all-Cuban celebration of melody and rhythm. Cuba has the hottest music, and D’Rivera and his muchachos are the keepers of the Cuban flame. For more information, call 914-232-1252.

Saturday, July 7 Ossining

BUTTERFLY COUNT 9 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road An annual rite of summer, the North American Butterfly Count is a way for all butterfly enthusiasts to partake in a citizen scientist monitoring effort. Free. Call 914-762-2912 x110 to make a reservation.

Ossining

HIDDEN VALLEY HIKE 9:30 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Take an early morning hike before the heat of the day hits. We’ll travel through an old field alongside a swamp and then traverse an upland mountain laurel grove on this hike through diverse habitats. Bring water, and wear hiking boots. This hike is moderate with some steep sections. Free for members; $5pp for non-members. For more information, call 914-762-2912 x110.

Rye

CRAFT FAIR 10 a.m. Playland Park Playland Parkway Wade through a grand selection of crafts and fun at Playland’s Craft Fair! Taking place around the boardwalk and fountain. For more information, call 914-813-7000.

Scarsdale

PUPPET SHOW: BUTTERFLY 10:30 a.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road Come along with Jilly Puppets and experience the magical world of butterflies. We’ll move, hum and dance along with fanciful puppets and lots of imaginative play! Recommended for ages 2-7. Members $5, Non-Members $8 ($25 for family).

For more information, call 914-723-3470.

Mt. Vernon

HISTORY TOUR 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue James Kaplan, author and New York city history tour guide, examnes the life and military career of General Horatio Gates, including the vexing question of his role in the great American victory at the Battle of Sratoga in 1777. Additionally, there’s a performance of American Revolution songs, historic children’s games, and tours of the historic cemetery and Church Bell Tower.

For more info, contact David Osborn, 914-667-4116.

Sunday, July 8 Scarsdale

BARN TO YARN 11 a.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road

ITALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL 12 p.m. Kensico Dam Plaza 1 Bronx River Parkway Road Celebrate the Italian Heritage Festival at Kensico Dam Plaza! Enjoy live songs, dances, musical performances, art & cultural exhibits, ethnic foods, entertainment, games and much more! Rain or Shine; Event & Parking are FREE. Bring folding chairs or blankets for seating. For more information, call (914) 864-PARK.

Katonah

STRING QUARTET 4:30 p.m. Caramoor’s Venetian Theatre 149 Girdle Ridge Road The Brentano String Quartet’s unsurpassable creativity and rigor has made them to top American quartet performing today. To help celebrate their 20th anniversary as a quartet, Caramoor co-commissioned ‘Fragments: Connecting Past and Present’. The Brentanos invited six living composers to write pieces related to fragmentary works by past masters—a formidable project opening the present onto the past. For more information, call 914-232-1252.

Wednesday, July 11 Scarsdale

SPECIAL BOTANICALS 7 p.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road The Greenburgh Nature Center is home not just to animals, but to plants with some pretty amazing stories to tell. Come for a walk on a summer evening with Naturalists Dean Fausel and Anne Jaffe Holmes, and botanical folklorist Carl Granholm who will introduce you to the medicine and magic of witch hazel, greenbriar, konjac, bitter oyster, and other botanicals you will be glad to know. Rain or shine, wear hiking shoes and dress for the weather. Walk to begin at 7:00 pm, followed by refreshments and discussion. For more info, call 914-723-3470.

Thursday, July 12 Scarsdale

FAMILY MUSIC SERIES 6:30 p.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road AMERICANA NIGHT with Greetings From Anywhere, Roosevelt Dime and Spuyten Duyvil - Spend one, two or three summer evenings at the Nature Center enjoying music that is perfect for the whole family by national, regional and local artists. Each concert offers a unique sound and each evening provides an opportunity to walk the Nature Center’s woodland trails, meet some of the Center’s most popular animals, have a picnic dinner, or just sit back on the Center’s lovely Great Lawn and enjoy the music. Concert produced by Common Ground Community Concerts. For more info, call 914-723-3470.

Scarsdale

MIDSUMMER BARBECUE 6:30 p.m. Shaarei Tikvah 46 Fox Meadow Road Everyone is welcome to enjoy great kosher food, see the beautiful synagogue, and meet and get to know the diverse, inclusive, egalitarian congregation serving many towns in Westchester. Kids get to play outside, run around, and play in the playground. Please call 914-472-2013, ext 300 or 302 to get more information and to make a reservation.

Sunday, July 15 Scarsdale

STORY WALK 1 p.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road Join us for our 4th Annual Story Walk. Naturalist John Mancuso leads you along our woodland trail to enjoy a favorite children’s storybook entitled Box Turtle at Silver Pond Lane

by Susan Korman. Recommended for children age 8 and younger. Free. Sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen. For more information, call 914-723-3470.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, July 5, 2012

Thursday, July 5

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, July 5, 2012

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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As of July 11th 2012 the new Executive Committee for the Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale are the following people:Mr. Anthony DeSimone, CC/ALB, President; Ms. Zenobia Kelly, CC/CL, VP Education; Ms Betty Betz, ACB, CL, VP Membership; Ms Leah Roulhaus, VP Public Relation; Mr. Edward DeJesus, Treasurer; Ms. Alicia Edwards, CC, Secretary; Mr. Andrew Strafford, CC, Sergeant of Arms.

The mission of the Bronx Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

Our meetings are held every 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each Month at the Riverdale Neighborhood House 3521 Mosholu Avenue, for further information, reach us at our web site http://www.bronxtoastmastersclub.org or call 718-796-6671.

Riverdale Y grants awards to young musicians

The Riverdale Y’s David Froehlich Fund has issued financial awards to fourteen young musicians who live or study in the

Riverdale area.

This fund was created by Mr. Froehlich’s family and friends to help recognize and encourage gifted young musicians.

Awardees are chosen each year through audition.

Those chosen for 2012-13 were pianists Amelia Franchin, Ming Xing Hawkins, Liana Moroshko and Judy Liang; violinists Eve Begelman, Laura Saer and Wendy Zhang; clarinetists Katherine Zhou and Montynal Collings; guitarists Nathaniel Uberuaga and Benjamin Saer; flutist Vedika Gopal, marimba player Ben Wasserberg; and vocalist Isabel Rodriguez.

The Rhoda Grundman Music School of the Riverdale Y, located at 5625 Arlington Avenue, administers this program. For more information, the school can be called at 718-548-8200 ext. 256.

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.

Bronx International Film Festival 10 for 10

To celebrate 10 years, the Bronx International Film Festival (BXFF) is offering 10 for 10 submissions, $10 for any short or feature film submission postmarked by July 31, 2012 for the 10th Annual Bronx International Film Festival scheduled for November 7 - 9, 2012 at Lehman Stages, home of the 500-seat Lovinger Theatre, on the beautiful Lehman College campus.

We accept short and feature narrative, documentary, animation and experimental films. An urban theme or setting, particularly The Bronx or New York City, is desirable but not necessary for submission. Top film and top documentary each receives a $1,000 cash prize. Submission guidelines and form are available on bronxfilmfestival.com.

‘Home of the Brave’ to be shown at the Y

On July 25 at 1:00 p.m. the Riverdale Y Senior Center will perform in the Y theater a show, Home of the Brave: WWII Experiences in the Military and the Homefront.’

Directed by: Yoni Oppenheim. Home of the Brave, a theatrical performance of the senior’s personal stories and interviews, will be done through monologues, scenes, and songs of the period. SPARC is a collaboration among the NY City Dept. of Cultural Affairs, the Dept. of the Aging and the City’s five local arts councils.

This program is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The entire community is invited to this performance. For more information, contact 718-548-8200, ext 223. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, July 5, 2012

Club Officers for the Bronx Toastmasters Club

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

14

The day the music died

What exactly is going on at P.S. 24? For many years, the reputation of the school was built upon a music program, considered by all to be head and shoulders above the offerings at most other schools. Yet in recent days, in a surprise dead-of-night action, the program has been eliminated, with both music teachers “excessed” from the school.

The school administration points to budget cuts, but this seems to us to be a bit of an exaggeration. The school actually will have more money next year. What is true is that three teachers currently on leave will be returning, and that will necessitate changes in staff.

But this needn’t result in such a radical and destructive solution.

It seems to us that the targeting of the entire music program is a thinly disguised device to selectively remove senior teachers, ones with strong records of accomplishment, while retaining a handful of relatively inexperienced teachers in general classroom assignments. These are the ones appointed by the current principal, and thus favored by her.

When they were given their jobs while more senior teachers were on leave, these newbies should have been made aware that their positions were, in effect, leave replacement posts and that they should be prepared for the consequences and risks. To make room for the returning staffers, we needn’t sacrifice the entire music program.

What this reveals are the priorities of the principal and interim acting assistant principal. Held sacred are things like Dr. Connelly’s beloved “conflict resolution” program, to which a full-time staff member is assigned. How many parents would choose to jettison music education in favor of another “touchy-feely” feel-good but educationally vacuous offering such as “conflict resolution?”

Some parents suggest that the school’s new theater program could be eliminated, or some of the teacher hours now assigned to Dr. Connelly’s lunchtime clubs, whose reach and efficacy have been questioned, can be sacrificed as well. Perhaps the trade-off might be an extra child or two in each class so that the beloved and effective music program be retained.

The administration’s choice to gut the music offerings, some parents and staff members suggest, is more related to patronage and nepotism, protecting the jobs of friends who might be filling the most junior positions. If this is true, then the crime here is no longer innocent incompetence — it takes on a more sinister tinge.

This incident, on top of the many instances of mismanagement at the school, should send a warning to parents to get involved and press for change at the school.

A few months ago, we reported that a teacher uncertified to teach special education was placed in such a position, illegally.

When the Department of Education found out, this individual was immediately removed.

A number of instances of injuries to students have been reported on, including a disturbing account of a delay in calling 911 to get immediate treatment for a child with a head injury.

But what was really troubling were the reports a few months ago of a child at P.S. 24 being assaulted with a scissor. It was reported on by the New York Post, then this newspaper picked it up, and then the Riverdale Press joined in a week later. Interim acting assistant principal Verdi told the New York Post that the injury was not serious. But what was later learned was that Verdi needn’t have made any denial at all. Court documents identified the wrong school. It actually occurred at M.S. 224. So tenuous was the grip on the dayto-day operation of the school that Verdi ended up trying to cover up for another school!

And by the way, the title interim acting assistant principal reflects the fact that the city’s Department of Education still has Verdi and Principal Connelly under investigation after more than a year and refuses to allow her to appoint Verdi to the post as the investigation proceeds. This is of some significance, since it is widely expected that Dr. Connelly will retire in the fall.

Something needs to be done at P.S. 24. It should start with parents asking why their Parents Association is silent when the music program, the shining star of a great school, is being deliberately destroyed. Perhaps the parent “leaders’” are too busy running their political campaigns and advocating censoring the press to even care about other people’s children and the community at large.

An open letter from a P.S. 24 parent To The Editor: Dr. Donna Connelly has hung her hat on promoting clubs as “enrichment” for the P.S. 24 students. In this economic climate she decided to add 13 cluster positions to P.S. 24 (originally eight). The positions were: Conflict Resolution, two art teachers, a science teacher, technology, Spanish, library, two Physical Education teachers, Theater, vocal music and instrumental music. Nice, but way too many for an elementary school.

Where to begin? The enrichment teacher’s job responsibility is to teach students the “arts.”

Enrichment classes and clubs are different commodities in a school. Clubs are classes that take place during the three lunch recesses, twenty minutes.

The teachers are being paid for a full period coverage, which is fifty minutes. Students get to choose between clubs or recess, and easy to say, not too many students are willing to give up their playtime. This time is also

considered part of the students’ mandatory physical education time. Clubs do not start until October and end in May for the most part. According to the staff, clubs have been cancelled due to re-scheduling so many times that they cannot say when clubs actually take place.

Now, due to budget, the school has to make cuts. It has come to light that on Friday, June 15th, Dr. Connelly excessed (released, got rid of, closed down) the whole music department, another teacher as well as five paraprofessionals. Dr. Connelly has made the decision to eliminate the entire music department but keep the new “enrichment” classes she has implemented.

P.S. 24 has had music for more than twenty-five years. The music department works with ALL the grades throughout the year.

Students have chorus as well as band. The music teachers work in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic and VH1 Band.

The students receive all the ben-

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

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

JOEL PAL Production Manager ROBERT NILVA Marketing Director

CECILIA McNALLY Office Manager MIAWLING LAM Associate Editor

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

efits. VH1 donated instruments which our children learn and the NY Philharmonic introduces the basics of all music to our kids. All of this will now be GONE. A certain administrator has reported to persons that “they didn’t have a choice” and “they had to.” This is not believable.

It has come to light that the school has started to interview for other positions. Couldn’t others fill these positions so our school can keep MUSIC? Parents have been in charge of the library before and couldn’t Spanish wait till middle school?

Teachers, being paid a good salary, are doing lunch duty instead of teaching classes. Have they really looked?

A new school year is going to be here soon and so far it does not sound good.

One secretary is leaving, one has not been replaced and the office manager will take over her job but no one is sure who will do hers? Rumors abound about another vice principal. Is P.S. 24 going to get someone from outside the school or will the current principal again choose someone herself? The process is perplexing. So, why in this trying time, is it said that Dr. Connelly arrives late and leaves early? Is it true that she will retire next fall?

Many parents don’t realize that Mr. Verdi has yet to be officially appointed to his post because Continued on Page 15

By MIAWLING LAM ANOTHER food company is planning to expand in the Bronx and some locals aren’t too pleased.

The Chef’s Warehouse, a specialty food service distributor, last week announced they would take over a massive 176,000 square-foot building in Hunts Point as early as next June.

The company, which has occupied part of the space since 2003, will invest up to $20 million to renovate the site and transform an unused 58,000 square feet parcel into cold storage.

It is the first major expansion of the area in three years.

New York City Economic Development Corporation president Seth W. Pinsky said the decision was further proof of the Bronx’s stunning transformation.

According to city officials, the expansion not only means that 313 existing employees will be retained, but 100 new jobs will be created over the next five years.

“Chef’s Warehouse’s long-term commitment to Hunts Point is another vote of confidence in the South Bronx, helping to cement its status as a world-class food distribution hub,” he said.

“With their plans to expand their operations, Chefs’ Warehouse will soon activate previously unused space and create 100 new jobs, which will lead to increased economic activity and vibrancy in Hunts Point and across the entire borough.”

The expansion announcement comes five months after online grocery giant FreshDirect revealed they too were relocating from their cramped Long Island City headquarters to the South Bronx.

At the time, state and city officials were eager to prevent the grocer from migrating to New Jersey and sealed the deal by offering nearly $130 million in tax incentives and subsidies.

EDC officials said The Chef’s Warehouse will not receive any public subsidies.

However, just as residents have opposed FreshDirect’s move, a fringe group

An open letter Continued from Page 14 he is still under Being a parent, I don’t know if it is good or bad that I know all this information. I am aware that these statements are whispered throughout the building but are feared to be stated out loud. That is not a good sign.

On another note, who is looking after our children?

Recently a student fractured his skull due to falling in an overcrowded staircase.

Parents were in the hallway as well as classes. The student did not have a railing to hold on to. The safety protocol which Dr. Connelly put in place, the BERT team, was not even called nor was “Code Blue” which has been told, is to set off emergency procedures. Many children witnessed the event. Several parents called and requested that the Guidance department speak to the children but Mr. Verdi stated it was not necessary.

This incident comes on the heels of a field day incident where a student also had a head injury. Although the student was clearly dazed, and has a prior history of head surgeries, no one would call 911 until the administration arrived on the scene.

Upon entering the field, Mr. Verdi stated that 911 was not to be called, period. It took three parents’ phone calls to 911 to get an ambulance.

Name withheld by request

of activists are now pushing to curtail the latest efforts to revive the Bronx’s economic prosperity.

The contingent fears the development of Hunts Point could lead to increased truck traffic, heavier congestion and negatively impact local health outcomes.

Monxo Lopez, a Mott Haven resident and a leader of South Bronx Unite, a local organization that is leading a lawsuit to block FreshDirect’s move, said members were against the city’s move to enhance the area.

City officials are currently seeking proposals from firms interested in occupying a vacant 424,250 square foot parcel in Hunts Point and are also looking to renovate and expand the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market.

“Any plan that brings wickedness—vi-

sual, sound or atmosphere wickedness— we are against,” Lopez said.

“We know a need for jobs and mercantile growth in an area, though we know there are other ways those goals can be achieved.”

According to city officials, more than 77,000 vehicles traverse through Hunts Point on a daily basis. Of that, 12,000 are heavy-duty diesel trucks.

But Chef’s Warehouse chairman Chris Pappas said the new facility would provide the company with a greater capacity to serve its customers.

“We appreciate the longstanding support of the great city of New York and are pleased to be expanding our presence to continue providing some of the greatest chefs in the world with the finest ingredi-

15 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, July 5, 2012

Chef’s Warehouse to expand in Hunts Point

ents from around the globe,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. heralded the Chef’s Warehouse decision to stay put in the borough.

“Their plan to remain in Hunts Point and expand their operations validates that the Bronx is open for business,” he said.

“This investment will not only create much-needed jobs, but will also provide quality food for countless Bronxites and residents across the city.”

According to the New York Times, the Chef’s Warehouse signed a 15-year lease, with an option to renew for two 10-year periods.

Under the arrangement, the company will pony up $1.32 million each year to occupy the entire building at 200-240 Food Center Drive. They will also pay an additional $420,00 annually to lease the adjoining 58,000 square foot rail shed that will be transformed into office space and cold storage.

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Please help us save the music at P.S. 24.