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Volume XIX • Number 38 • October 4 - 10, 2012 •

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School report cards: Double disaster for PS 24 Results at PS 81 and RKA seem to be more promising

By MIAWLING LAM P.S. 24 recorded a devastating C grade on this year’s report cards, while P.S. 81 and Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy each earned a B. The annual evaluations released by the Department of Education on Monday reveals Riverdale’s three schools posted mixed results on the 2011-2012 school progress reports. The report assesses schools based on four key categories—student progress, performance, attendance, and feedback from parents, students and teachers about their schools. P.S. 24 emerged as the area’s worst performer and scored just 48.8 points out of a possible 100—a C grade—on the city’s latest progress report. Last year, it earned a B. Of great concern, however, was the school environment category, where P.S. 24 was slapped with its third F grade in four years after earning a mere 3.6 points out of a possible 15. According to city officials, just 53 schools out of nearly 1,200 citywide earned an F on the back of the latest parent and teacher surveys. Moreover, just 43 schools in the entire city posted a lower score in the important school environment category. The school also received a C on student progress, but pulled their overall score up with an A in student performance, which reflects students’ proficiency on the 2012 state tests. This is common in schools in more middle class neighborhoods. Scores are often high, but the progress the students make in moving forward is sorely lacking. The varied performance means P.S. 24 recorded a percentile rank of 37, meaning its performance was better or equal to that of only 37 percent of the city’s elementary schools. Last year, that ranking was 53. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said he continues to be skeptical of the city’s scoring system. “While I don’t place a lot of stock in these ridiculous school report cards, I would certainly rather see an A than an F,” he said. “Work needs to be done, specifically P.S. 24’s school environment grade, as it does not reflect well on the school and is in fact the lowest grade possible. That’s just not acceptable.” It was the continuing bad relations between principal Donna Connelly and the

Students at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy and some younger helpers washed cars as a fundraiser held at the school this past weekend. See story on Page 5. teraching staff that resulted in the poor grade. Every single teacher participated in the survey, and 56 percent reported that they “did not trust the principal at her word.” The survey was taken before Connelly eliminated half of the school’s music program, which led one staffer to ask that if it had, “is there a grade even lower than an ‘F’?” At the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy middle school, M.S. 141, student progress—which accounts for 60 percent of a school’s progress report grade—rose 9.2 points to 29.9 points, the highest jump across the three local schools. However, its score was weakened in the school environment category after it earned 5.2 points—a D grade—on the

back of parent and teacher surveys. Overall, M.S. 141 boasted the biggest improvement and earned 55.5 points out of a possible 100, a massive 20-point jump from last year’s score of 35.5 points. Principal Lori O’Mara was enthusiastic in a statement to parents, “delighted to report” that the middle school had earned a B on the progress report. “The ofﬁcial reports released yesterday indicate that the middle school’s scores have improved by two letter grades in two years,” she said. “This achievement represents the work of the entire school community, from teachers and staff to parents and students. I am very proud of this accomplishment.”

O’Mara noted areas of growth she was particularly proud of and cited several initiatives that led to the improvement. “In addition to the valuable contributions of the teaching staff, I attribute the success to the many changes in the past few years such as the RKA Way, Overcoming Obstacles, curricular revisions, and extended-day programming including academic support and clubs.” She also acknowledged the need for vigilance in reviewing the curriculum. “Whenever great news comes our way, I am ﬁlled with pride, but also I remain cognizant of the work still to come,” she said. “Speciﬁcally that work comes as we help Continued on Page 11

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

MTA bus depot move in Westchester could cause express bus delays here By DERVEDIA THOMAS Local commuters could be caught up in a tussle between the MTA and the City of Yonkers if the transportation agency finds $25 million to relocate its Yonkers bus depot. The relocation could potentially lengthen wait times for area commuters who ride the BxM1, BxM2, BxM3, BxM4, BxM11 and BxM18, because these buses would be forced onto local roads. The depot is located on one section of a 153-acre strip where the City of Yonkers is planning a multibillion-dollar redevelopment. Eastchester has been discussed as one of the potential relocation sites, according to Christine Gillmartin, communications director of the City of Yonkers. But not all parties in the negotiations have agreed on the proposed site, she said. Eastchester is about 10 miles away from the current depot and up to 10 miles from Riverdale, depending on the route. As a result, MTA buses may have to use local roads like Main Street and Midland Avenue en route to Riverdale. Per traffic rules, buses would not be permitted to use either the Cross County or the Hutchinson River parkways. If the plan proceeds, buses would run the risk of encountering peak-hour traffic on local roads, potentially increasing the length of time a Riverdale commuter has to wait for a bus. However, MTA spokesman Aaron Donavon was quick to point out that no agreement on a new site has been reached. He said talks are still ongoing with the City of Yonkers but admitted the MTA simply does not have the money to move. “We are still in the realm of the hypothetical,” he told the Riverdale Review when asked about possible traffic disruptions on an Eastchester-Riverdale route. “We are not in a financial position now to contribute to the cost [of moving], but if we do, we will ensure that there is no impact on customer service. In fact, it will be our primary goal.” The depot currently houses a 76,000square-foot administrative building as well as eight mobile service stations that coordinate the approximately 80 area buses. Senator Charles Schumer has even stepped in and urged the MTA to fasttrack negotiations with the City of Yonkers. In a letter to the MTA dated July 20, Schumer said, “it makes no sense to have a bus depot on prime riverfront real estate.” But MTA chairman Joseph J. Lhota said the transportation agency was facing severe financial woes. “The MTA will discuss this matter with the City of Yonkers and we will move forward when the City [of Yonkers] and its private developers provide the necessary funding for the MTA to relocate its facilities,” Lhota wrote in

a letter. As of press time, multiple calls to Senator Schumer’s ofﬁce were not returned. The land on which the depot is located does not belong to the City of Yonkers. It has been owned by the City of New York since 2005, and the MTA merely rents the property. As a result, Lhota said both cities needed to engage in discussions over the land. Kamran Mumtaz, a spokesman for the New York City mayor’s ofﬁce, declined to comment on the city’s involvement and deferred all comments to the MTA.

MTA chair in ugly brawl with Riverdale’s Chuck Moerdler

insults leveled at Moerdler were simply unacceptable. In a letter sent to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and dated September 28, Koppell defended Moerdler’s integrity and character and called for Lhota to be sacked. “Mr. Lhota’s comments are totally out of line, offensive and a violation of his obligation as a highly placed and responsible public servant,” he said in a statement. “I demand that you initiate steps with the Board of the MTA to remove Mr. Lhota from his position. “Mr. Moerdler has been an outstanding attorney, the leader of one of the nation’s premier law firms, and a man who has devoted countless hours to public service.” Koppell also told the Riverdale Review that Moerdler’s response to the MTA’s plan was perfectly legal and that it wasn’t as if “he wasn’t espousing some voodoo theory.” As of late Monday afternoon, Koppell said he had yet to receive a response from Cuomo’s office. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said he was also “shocked” by Lhota’s conduct, but stopped short of calling for his removal. “I think it would be appropriate for the governor to give him a dressing down,” he said. “While public officials can disagree, it’s not helpful to engage in nasty, inappropriate and juvenile personal attacks.” Dinowitz also said it was a shame the public meltdown overshadowed the real issues at play. “I believe that Chuck Moerdler was correct on the merits,” he said. “He opposed reducing the number of

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

By MIAWLING LAM Local elected officials have lambasted MTA chairman Joseph Lhota after he launched a stinging verbal attack on fellow MTA board member Charles Moerdler. Moerdler, who lives in Riverdale and sits on Community Board 8, became embroiled in a highly publicized verbal slanging match after Lhota singled him out during last Thursday’s heated MTA board meeting. Unleashing a tirade of insults, Lhota accused Moerdler of being a blubbering liar and of making scurrilous comments. The spat came after Moerdler criticized a plan to slash the number of MTA board meetings from 11 to eight a year. Under the proposal, the MTA would compensate for having fewer meetings by holding two extra community forums each year to give riders the opportunity to question Lhota and other officials. “We need to increase, not decrease timely disclosure of information,” Moerdler said. “We need to maximize accountability, not diminish it.” However, the comments riled Lhota, who responded, “Your flawed thinking and the erroneous things that you’ve just said are actually scurrilous.” Lhota proceeded to claim that Moerdler’s “blubbering” was a “waste of time and a waste of effort.” The MTA chairman also accused Moerdler of being a liar and referred to an incident in May when he allegedly used a police-issued placard to park illegally in a no-parking zone in Manhattan. “To make statements in public like this, similar to the statement that you made when you only parked in that parking spot for a few minutes when it was documented by camera that it was over four hours—enough of lying to this board,” Lhota bellowed. The exchange sparked a verbal pingpong match before it evolved into Lhota’a challenging Moerdler’s manhood. “Be a man,” Lhota said twice. “Oh, I’d be happy to do it,” Moerdler replied. “In your words, I will bring it on.” “Let’s go,” Lhota said. During a news conference after the board meeting, Lhota apologized for his conduct and even took a veiled swipe at The Bronx. “I think my Bronx upbringing came out today,” he said. “I’ve tried to keep it in check for 57 years.” Despite the public apology, Councilman G. Oliver Koppell called on Lhota to be removed from his post and said the

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Around the schools... P.S.81

The parents association will issue its Summer Reading Awards on Thursday, October 11. Students who accomplished the task of reading ﬁve books over the summer will hand in their reading lists and receive a certiﬁcate, a free book and a gift from the New York Public Library. Fall Sunday is on October 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This annual parents association fundraiser is a day of fun and games including a cookie bakeoff and a tag sale. Food will be available for sale. Participants who are displeased with PA coordinator Nina Velazquez will have an opportunity to throw a cream pie at her. Tickets will be sold for all Fall Sunday activities.

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

Friday middle school tours for parents of prospective sixth-graders are scheduled from October 12 through December 14 (except for November 23). Tours begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. To register, contact parent coordinator Julie Prince at JPrince4@schools.nyc.gov. RKA is a zoned middle school. To determine the school zone for your address, visit the Department of Education website at schools.nyc.gov.

Saint Gabriel School

Eighth-graders invite the community to participate in a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, October 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 590 West 235th Street. Drivers are asked to enter the parking lot via the ramp near Arlington Avenue. For more information, call the school ofﬁce at 718-5480444. (The event, originally scheduled for last Saturday, was postponed.)

Horace Mann School

The annual NYC Mayor’s Cup Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, renamed the Matthew Sapolin Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, will be held on Saturday, October 6, and Sunday, October 7, in the high school gym. The renaming is in honor of Commissioner Matthew Sapolin, who died last year after nearly a decade of leading the Mayor’s Ofﬁce for People with Disabilities. Preliminary rounds are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Playoffs are from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

College of Mount St. Vincent

The community is invited to hear Palestinian and Israeli young women discussing their peacemaking efforts on Thursday, October 18, at 11:30 a.m. in the President’s Reception Room in Founders Hall. The event is jointly sponsored by the college’s sociology department and the Ofﬁce of Peace, Justice, and Integrity of Creation of the Sisters of Charity of New York. The speakers, senior leaders with the New Mexico-based nonproﬁt Creativity for Peace, will discuss their personal transformations since becoming involved with the organization, their ongoing struggles and their dreams for a future of peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. Since its inception in 2003, Creativity for Peace has brought 193 girls, aged 15 to 17, of Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths to New Mexico for a summer program of peacemaking using

facilitated dialogue, ﬁeld trips and social time. The girls return home and continue to meet year-round and take part in leadership and communication training offered by Creativity for Peace in the region. The speakers are Rula Abu Hussein, a student of gender and film at Tel Aviv University; Adi Goldstein, an assistant to the military attaché at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.; and Diana Fraija, a broadcast journalist.

Riverdale Country School

The community is invited to register for Thursday evening classes in the arts. A ceramics class taught by Peter Simon will examine forming techniques using slabs, coils, and the potter’s wheel and decorating techniques involving different textures and glazes. A rock band class taught by Jane Getter is open to all instruments and voice. Participants will play classic and modern rock and jazz tunes in preparation for a performance. The class will focus on ensemble playing, soloing and improvisational techniques. Both classes meet for six sessions between 6 and 8:30 p.m. starting on Thursday, October 4. Tuition is $100. For more information, contact Peter Simon at 718-519-2765 or psimon @riverdale.edu.

Local Scholars

The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, has announced that Priscilla Matos is enrolled as one of the 595 students in the class of 2016. Matos is a graduate of Aquinas High School. The College of Saint Rose is a private coeducational liberal arts college located in the heart of New York’s capital city. It offers 70 undergraduate and 74 graduate programs to more than 5,000 students. Buffalo State University in Buffalo, New York, has announced that Luis Hernandez graduated with a B.S. in business administration. Hernandez is a graduate of Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy. Buffalo State, part of the State University of New York, offers 166 undergraduate and 62 graduate programs, including 19 teacher certiﬁcation programs. Because of its location in the heart of Buffalo’s cultural corridor, students have access to museums, cultural events, businesses, internships and service learning projects. Buffalo enrolled more than 10,002 undergraduates and 1,657 graduate students last fall in its School of Arts and Humanities, School of Education, School of Natural Sciences, School of the Professions and Graduate School.

By DERVEDIA THOMAS Riverdale co-op board members are taking action to protect themselves from possible lawsuits. This comes in response to a July 3 ruling in the Fletcher v. Dakota, Inc. Supreme Court case, which exposes coop board members to personal liability for actions taken while acting in their capacity as directors. The Dakota, home of the late Beatle John Lennon, is an upscale co-op apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The ruling could have major repercussions for Riverdale residents, according to Association of Riverdale Cooperatives and Condominiums president Stephen Budihas. “The majority of buildings in Riverdale are co-ops,” he said. “We are all volunteers, working in a thankless position. If a board member has to operate under the fear of individual reprisal, it could color their decisionmaking, and I don’t think anyone will want to serve on a board.” ARC recently voted to join The National Association of Housing Cooperatives, The Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, The Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums and The Urban Homesteading Assistance Board in support of an amicus curiae brief ﬁled by the

Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums. An amicus curiae provides additional information from a party not connected with the case to assist a court in deciding a matter before it. The brief was submitted in connection with the motion for re-argument by The Dakota, Inc. Protection from personal liability for members of co-ops and other entities is claimed on the basis of the business judgment rule, but as New York University’s law and business professor William Allen noted, the law protects only decisions made in good faith. “The central point is, was the judgment made in an effort to advance the corporate purpose?” he said. “If there is evidence that the decision was made for some other purpose, [the business judgment rule] may not apply.” Meanwhile, real estate attorney and Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums president Mark Luxembourg said the case is potentially very damaging. “The ruling exposes members to potential liability for doing nothing more than carrying out their duties,” he said. Luxembourg conﬁrms that the business judgment rule has exceptions and does not apply if board members acted

with malicious motives. The lawsuit against The Dakota was ﬁled by board member Alphonse Fletcher Jr., an African-American resident, against two of the co-op’s directors, Bruce Barnes and Peter Nitze, for alleged race discrimination. Fletcher claims the pair refused to approve his purchase of an apartment adjacent to one he currently owns. His intention was to combine the two apartments. According to the court decision, Fletcher, board president at the time of the alleged discrimination, said the case is about retaliation against him for sticking up for the rights of others, including minority and Jewish share-

holders and applicants at The Dakota, and about an effort to defame him when he brought the discriminatory conduct to light. Barnes and Nitze asked to have the suit dismissed, arguing that the complaint fails to allege that they engaged in any acts separate and distinct from actions they took as board members. In its decision, the court said that discrimination and retaliation are exceptions that can result in individual liability. Luxembourg and the other co-op associations disagree with the decision and are lobbying for the court to revise or restrict it to continue existing protection for board members.

5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

Riverdale co-op board members fear personal liability for lawsuits

RKA carwash help enrich student learning By DERVEDIA THOMAS Despite the chilly weather and a minor setback caused by a broken ﬁre hydrant, students at Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy still had a blast at the school’s annual carwash fundraiser. Children lathered and scrubbed their way to $1,200 last Saturday, with many customers going above and beyond the $10 suggested donation to give contributions of $20 and even $100. All proceeds will go toward academic and enrichment programs, including the library, arts, athletics, special class projects, college advisements and minigrants for teachers. RKA parents association co-president Sheree Tallerman said the parent group hopes to raise $130,000 this academic year. She said the majority of funds are raised through a direct appeal program— simply asking parents to donate $100.

ballet

“We’re done with bake sales,” she said, noting that the direct appeal method takes the load off parents who may already have many commitments. With other fundraising events to come, including a carnival, the association is conﬁdent of reaching its goal. Last year—its inaugural year—the carwash event brought in a total of $1,400. However, the school had to shell out $200 to purchase supplies. This year, soap, rags, and almost all of the supplies were donated, with the exception of sponges, which cost $20. Students were also treated to hot chocolate, cookies and cheese crackers, all donated by RKA co-president Nancy Moukas. “It was just fun,” Tallerman said. “And with all the donations, almost 100 percent of the proceeds go back to the school.”

opera in

cinema

Lehman Stages and Emerging Pictures present the best in Opera and Ballet presented in crystal-clear Hi-Definition digital projection on the Big Screen!

La Sylphide

The Bolshoi Ballet Tuesday October 9 at 2PM All ballet tickets are $12 · www.brownpapertickets.com The Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College · www.lehmanstages.org · 718.960.7830

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Free ﬂu shots offered in Riverdale

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz announces that once again he is sponsoring free flu shots, which include the H1N1 vaccine, for members of the community throughout his Assembly district. Shots will be administered on three separate dates throughout the month of October and are cosponsored by The Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senator Jeff Klein and Council Member Oliver Koppell. Shots will be given at the following locations between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.: • Wednesday, Oct. 3, at St. Gabriel’s Rectory, 3250 Arlington Avenue. • Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Riverdale Y, 5625 Arlington Avenue. • Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Vladeck Hall in the Amalgamated Houses, 74 Van Cortlandt Park South. Please note that the flu shots will be offered to adults who are not allergic to eggs. In order to guarantee a flu shot residents must contact Assemblyman Dinowitz’s office at 718-796-5345.

Bronx Tea Party to meet

Tea Party of the Bronx invites the public to its meeting on Friday, October 5, at 7 p.m., which will be held at 943 Morris Park Avenue. For more information, visit their website at bronxtparty.tripod.com.

Rotary Club to sponsor reading hour

Youngsters 2-12 years old are invited to participate in the Reading Program on Saturday, October 6, at the 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.

Registration opens for RCC spring courses

The Riverdale Community Center at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (David A. Stein M.S./H.S. 141) has announced the opening of its fall Adult and Youth Education semester, which will begin Saturday, October 6th and Tuesday, October 9th. Courses in everything from the Arts and Computers (Digital Photography, Life Drawing & Painting, Piano, Guitar, Flute, Computers - Word and Excel) to Exercise and Health (Yoga, Tai Chi Chuan, Pilates, Zumba) to Languages and Leisure Activities are being offered. Also on the roster are seminars and workshops - Defensive Driving, A Financial Look Ahead, Real Estate, etc. Courses are open to adults and seniors on Tuesday evenings. Seniors receive a special 20% discount on course fees. On Saturday mornings, classes are held for children, teens and adults. Children’s

classes include Cooking, Basketball, Aerobics, Tennis, Piano, Guitar, Flute, 2D and 3D Art Making and much more. Remedial reading, math skills and test preparation classes are also available for children and teens. Registration is now being accepted. To register over the phone with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or AMEX, or to request a free brochure, call the Center at 718-796-4724 or visit our website at www. riverdalecommunitycenter.org.

St. Gabriel School to host car wash

Saint Gabriel School will host a car wash fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 13. The community event will be organized by the school’s eighth-graders and be held at the school, located at 590 West 235th Street. The fundraiser was originally scheduled for Sept. 29, but was cancelled due to bad weather. Drivers are asked to enter via the ramp near the main school entrance. For more information, please contact the school directly at 718-548-0444.

Brandeis Group to enjoy ‘Jewish Jeopardy’

The Riverdale Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee invites its members and their friends to its meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 12:30 P.M. in Riverdale Temple, West 246 Street and Independence Avenue. Marilyn Kaufman, well-known lecturer and speaker, will present a delightful program, “Jewish Jeopardy” a quiz in which each answer will be a Jewish name. Please make advance reservations by sending a check for $12.00, payable to BNC, to Cecile Horwich, 5800 Arlington Avenue - 10W, Riverdale, N.Y. 10471, by October 10th. Admission at the door will be $15.00. Bagels and light refreshments will be served and a Jewelry Boutique will be displayed for sale.

Toastmasters Club invites new members

Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale invites new members to join at their free meeting on Wed., Oct. 10, 7:00 pm at the Riverdale Neighborhood House, 5521 Mosholu Avenue. Wouldn’t you like to communicate effectively? Now you can! Toastmasters will show you how to listen effectively, think on your feet, and speak conﬁdently. You will learn valuable leadership skills - all in a supportive, non-intimidating environment. Come as a guest and witness for yourself what they accomplish. The club meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. For further information, visit their website http://www.bronxtoastmastersclub.org or call 718-796-6671.

Drew Nelson to perform at Uptown Coffeehouse

The Uptown Coffeehouse presents Drew Nelson on Sunday, October 7, at 6pm., at our new address: THE UPTOWN COFFEEHOUSE, City Island Community

Center, 190 Fordham Street, lower level, City Island, NY 10464, (718) 885-2955, Admission is $15.00, children under 12, $5.00. Bronx Cultural Cards are accepted. Songwriter, storyteller, multi-instrumentalist, Navy veteran, and ﬂy ﬁsherman, Drew Nelson tells the stories from the journey he has travelled. Nelson’s music is a mix of Americana and roots-rock with traditional folk, and often tells the story of the lost American dream. Co-founder and lead guitarist in the band, Back Alley John Revue, Nelson has shared the Kerrville stage with John Gorka, and opened and played backup for Melissa Etheridge, B.B. King, and Taj Mahal. A performer at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s prestigious songwriting contest, Drew garnered further attention in 2009, when he released Dusty Road to Beulah Land (Waterbug Records), which topped the folk radio charts. Drew has recorded 15 solo and compilation albums, and his Red House Record debut ‘Tilt-A-Whirl’ will be showcased at the 2012 International Folk Alliance. drewnelson.net This event is made possible with public funds from the Bronx Council on the Arts through the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program.

Pro-Life Chain to be held on Broadway

The “Respect Life Committee” of St. Margaret of Cortona Church is sponsoring its Seventh Annual “Pro-Life Chain” to be held on Broadway from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 7th. The rally is a prayerful, peaceful demonstration, that will occur on the west side of Broadway from 254th to 262nd St. The event is co-sponsored by the Bronx Right-to-Life Committee and the church committee. Anyone wishing to join in the rally may do so. Life Chain marshals will be stationed at all even-numbered street corners prior to the rally, to distribute signs and posters to participants. “We are pleased at the number of young people who are joining in our efforts,” stated Mrs, Barbara Meara, committee president. “The Life Chain is a quiet, peaceful annual event, with those participating holding up signs to express their pro-life views.” The ﬁrst Sunday in October has been designated “Pro-Life Sunday” by various religious organizations, including the

Roman Catholic Church. This year will be the 25th consecutive year of “Life Chains” held across the United States and Canada. Thousands of people in more than 200 cities and towns are now participating, and the number increases each year, Mrs. Meara pointed out. For more information, please contact her at 718--543-5091. “We may even be blessed by some participating nuns from the Sisters of Life at our event,” Mrs. Meara added. “They add so much joy!”

Celebrate Simchat Torah at Chabad of Riverdale

‘If you really want to celebrate Simchat Torah in style, Chabad of Riverdale is the place to be,’ says Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Spiritual Leader of Chabad-Lubavitch of Riverdale. ‘Join us for exuberant singing and dancing on Sunday and Monday night, October 7 and 8 at 7:00 PM and on Tuesday morning, October 9 at 10:00 AM, when we joyously conclude the annual Torah-reading cycle. Bring your entire family. Every boy and girl will be treated to ﬂags, loot bags, and stuffed Torahs. Everyone is also invited to join us for a festive community Kiddush after prayers on Tuesday morning.’ As the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, used to say: “On Simchat Torah, the Torah itself wants to dance; however, since a Torah scroll has no feet, we Jews function as its feet and help it dance.” We welcome every Jew - regardless of background or afﬁliation - to join us in celebration. For more information, please call us at 718-549-1100 ext. 10 or visit our website www.ChabadRiverdale.org.

YIVO Jewish Culture Series resumes at Riverdale Temple

Sunday, October 21 at 2pm at the Riverdale Temple, Miriam Hoffman, award winning Yiddish playwright, journalist and lecturer of Yiddish at Columbia University will give a talk on ‘Backstage with the Yiddish Theater.’ The lecture will explore the stories behind this great cultural institution from the founder of the Yiddish Theater in Rumania, Avrom Goldfadn, to the actors and productions on Second Avenue in New York City as well as in big cities across America. Learn about the actors, comedies, melodramas, musicals and classical theater productions that inspired and entertained audiences. Riverdale Temple is at 4545 Independence Ave. (at 246th Street). The next of four lectures will be on Jews in 19th century Russia and will take place on Sunday, December 2.

RCC offers college preparatory courses

The Riverdale Community Center at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (M.S./H.S. 141) is pleased to offer our Fall Test Prep Academy of intensive “ College Preparatory” courses. Registration is now being accepted. 1. SAT Prep - For 11th and 12th grade students. Intensive Instruction and Test-taking skills will be emphasized in preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (S.A.T.) Comprehensive courses are taught by experienced, licensed teachers who have been involved for many years in preparing students to take standardized exams with much success. a. MATH & CRITICAL READING - Intensive instruction in Math (basic arithmetic, algebra II/III and geometry) and Critical Reading (reading comprehension and vocabulary) in prep for the Critical Reading and Math sections of the S.A.T. Seven Saturday Mornings - 10/6, 13, 20. 27, 11/3, 10 and 17, 9 a.m. to 12 noon FEE: $275 + $15 Registration Fee b. WRITING SECTION - Intensive instruction in English grammar and essay writing in preparation for the Writing Section of the S.A.T. Eight Tuesday Evenings 10/9,16, 23, 30, 11/6, 13, 20 and 27, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. FEE: $175 + $15 registration fee c. S.A.T. PREPARATION - THE COMPLETE COURSE - MATH, CRITICAL READING AND WRITING. - Special discounted rate for students registering for both SAT preparation courses - Math and Critical Reading on Satur-

day mornings and Writing on Tuesday evenings. FEE: $415 + $15 registration fee includes all materials and a textbook. 8 weeks/33 hours total. 2. COLLEGE ESSAY WRITING - Assistance in preparing and executing the college admissions essay. Eight Tuesday Evenings - 10/9, 16, 23, 30, 11/6, 13, 20 and 27, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. FEE: $175 + $15 registration fee All courses are taught by licensed and/or certiﬁed teachers. Class size is limited to provide individualized instruction. To register or for more information please call the RCC Ofﬁce at 718-796-4724 or 718-796-4882 daily from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can also visit us on the web at: www.riverdalecommunitycenter.org.

Flea market at St. John’s Church

St. John’s Church will host a ﬂea market on Saturday, October 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will be held at the Old St. John’s School located at 3030 Godwin Terrace in the Bronx. Clothes, jewelry, accessories and bric-a-brac will be sold at bargain prices. Free parking will also be available so get there early and snare yourself a great ﬁnd. For more information, please call 718-543-3003.

volving urban development and life in signiﬁcant cities throughout the world. For more event-related information, please contact Cory Blad, Ph.D., by email at cory. blad@manhattan.edu. Manhattan College is located at West 242nd Street near Broadway in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, one mile from the Westchester County line and ac-

Cooking classes offered at RCC

The Riverdale Community Center will be offering cooking classes during our new Fall Semester. For Adults - Cooking - Techniques & Tasting. Take a culinary trip around the world while you learn varied cooking techniques and tips with Chef Michael Newman Join in the preparation and tasting of the evening’s specialties. Ten-week

course begins Tuesday evening, October 9th from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Fee: $215 + $15 registration fee. For Children (ages 7-12) - Cooking For Kids - Homemade cooking made simple for the young. Handson learning experience. Children make food they can relate to such as: homemade pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, homemade brownies, etc. will be offered Saturday Mornings beginning October 6th, from 10:30 am - 12 noon. Fee: $175 + $15 registration fee. For more information, call the RCC Ofﬁce at 718-796-4724, or visit our website: www.riverdalecommunitycenter.org

In a rush to get to the City? Hop on.

M.E. expert to speak at Manhattan College

As part of the Great Cities Lecture Series, sponsored by the Manhattan College Urban Studies program and the School of Arts, the College welcomes guest lecturer Diane Singerman, Ph.D., on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. Singerman, associate professor of government and co-director of Middle East studies at American University, will present Cairo, Urban Space and the Arab Spring in the Alumni Room of the Mary Alice and Tom O’Malley Library. The lecture will assess the connection between the city of Cairo and the protest movement that brought an end to the 30year rule of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. A few of Singerman’s most recently edited books include Cairo Contested: Governance, Urban Space and Global Modernity and Cairo Cosmopolitan: Politics, Culture, and Urban Space in the New Globalized Middle East. Her particular work analyzes the formal and informal side of politics, gender, social movements, globalization, public space, protest and urban politics. The Great Cities Lecture Series, started by the Urban Studies program, features prominent speakers who discuss topics in-

Ride the Hudson Rail Link and Metro-North to Grand Central Terminal. Depending on the time of day, you’ll save 10 to 20 minutes each way over the express bus, while relaxing in new, clean and comfortable Hudson Rail Link buses and M-7 train cars. There’s frequent and flexible service, with less than half an hour between trains during the morning rush. And Hudson Rail Link buses accept both MetroCard and a discounted bus/rail UniTicket. For more information, call 511 or visit mta.info. And link up with the Link.

7 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

cessible by MTA subway line No. 1. For directions to the campus, visit www.manhattan.edu.

Monday, October 8

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Riverdale

SHEMINI ATZERET 9 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel 475 West 250th Street Shaharit Service (Sanctuary) at 9:00 AM; YCFP (0-5 year olds – Taub Room) at 10:30 AM; Yizkor Service at 11:00 AM; Minha/Maariv Hakafot and Dancing (Sanctuary) at 6:06 PM; Light Candles after 7:06 PM. For more information, call 718543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Thursday, October 4 Riverdale

SUKKOT IV 6:45 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel 475 West 250th Street Shaharit – Lulav and Etrog (Beit Midrash) at 6:45 AM; Maariv at 7:30 PM. For info, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Riverdale

BILINGUAL BIRDIES 11:30 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue A foreign language (Spanish) and live music program for children ages newborn to ﬁve years old with parent/caregiver. The bilingual musicians teach through live music, movement, puppetry and games. Each session ends with a lively bubble dance party! Children learn basic vocabulary and short phrases while playing with instruments and fun props. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Spuyten Duyvil

CHILDREN’S THEATRE 3:30 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Leap into to the exquisite Land of Narnia! In a mysterious old house, children ﬁnd a musty, magical wardrobe containing a secret entrance that leads them into a fantastic world. More than just a delicious story of make-believe, C.S. Lewis’ Narnia is a land where a malicious Witch and a beautiful and dear Lion touch the hearts and inﬂuence the choices of all who enter. For children ages 4 and older. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Friday, October 5

Come watch some classic movies, old favorites, and new releases on the little silver screen. This month we will be showing MoneyBall. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Sunday, October 7 Riverdale

SUKKOT VII 9 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel 475 West 250th Street Shaharit – Last Lulav and Etrog (Beit Midrash) at 9:00 AM; Minha/Maariv (Beit Midrash) at 6:09 PM; Light Candles at 6:09 PM. For more information, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Tuesday, October 9 Riverdale

SIMHAT TORAH 9 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel 475 West 250th Street Shaharit Service (Sanctuary) at 9:00 AM; Hakafot and Dancing at 10:15 AM; Minha/Maariv at 6:05 PM; Yom Tov Ends at 7:05 PM. For more information, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Wednesday, October 10 Riverdale

TOASTMASTERS CLUB MEETING

7 p.m.Riverdale Neighborhood House 5521 Mosholu Avenue Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale invites new members to join at their free meeting. For further info, visit their website www.bronxtoastmastersclub.org or call 718-796-6671.

Van Cortlandt

PUBLIC HEARING 7:30 p.m.Amalgamated Houses 74 Van Cortlandt Park South Community Board 8 public hearing on Board Budget Priorities FY 2014. For more information, call 718-884-3959.

Thursday, October 11 Riverdale

SCREEN MAGNIFICATION 11 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Do you have trouble seeing what’s on a computer screen? All New York Public Library computers for public use have screen magnifying software, called MAGic. Using this software you can: increase the size of everything on a computer screen, have the text on the screen spoken aloud, and change the size and color of the cursor and mouse to make them easier to ﬁnd. For more info contact Outreach Services at 212-340-0951.

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Riverdale

SUKKOT V 6:45 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel 475 West 250th Street Shaharit – Lulav and Etrog (Beit Midrash) at 6:45 AM; Light Candles at 6:13 PM; Minha/Kabbalat Shabbbat at 6:13 PM. For more info, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Kingsbridge

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

Riverdale

FUN FRIDAY 3:30 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue XBOX Kinect, Wii and Board games of all types and all skill levels. For ages 5 to 12 years. For info, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street What’s happening in your world? What’s the hottest book, movie, or cd right now? What programs does the library need? Let us know, and you can earn community service credit for your school. For ages 13 to 18 years. For info, call 718-548-5656.

Saturday, October 6 Riverdale

SUKKOT VI 9 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel 475 West 250th Street Shaharit (Kohelet) No Lulav and Etrog (Sanctuary) at 9:00 AM; Shabbat Shelanu (Taub Room) at 10:30 AM; Minha/Maariv at 6:13 PM. For info, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Kingsbridge

READING HOUR 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Rotary Club of Riverdale Read Aloud. Children and adults read together for children ages 5-12 yrs. old. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

MOVIES 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street

The truth.

� ��

The Riverdale Review - our community newspaper

By JEANETTE SETTEMBRE The former chairman of the Manhattan College board of trustees, Thomas O’Malley, and his wife recently committed to a $10 million contribution to the building of the Raymond W. Kelly Student Commons, named for the city’s police commissioner, also a Manhattan alum who graduated the same year (1963) as O’Malley. “Mary Alice and I are pleased to be able to continue our support for Manhattan College,” O’Malley, executive chairman of PBF Energy Company LLC, said. “He’s somebody who has been advocating for this from the beginning,” Vice President for College Advancement, Thomas Mauriello commented regarding O’Malley’s involvement in developing the student commons project. “Gifts at these levels take years of discussion and years of engagement.” Originally considering a $5 million donation, O’Malley decided to double his offer, making it the largest gift in Manhattan College history. A total of $29 million out of an overall goal of $48 million has been raised for the student center, includ-

ing O’Malley’s recent donation. Fund raising efforts have been focused largely on the most loyal and generous donors. “We are still in the early part of the campaign and currently have approximately $5 million in outstanding requests from perspective donors,” Mauriello said. “The O’Malleys have set a new benchmark for our fund raising efforts and have left a mark on the College which will profoundly impact students for generations to come,” said Mauriello. “Tom and Mary Alice O’Malley are true heroes of Manhattan College,” MC President Brennan O’Donnell said. “Their past generosity, in funding the O’Malley Library and other initiatives, has already strengthened the institution enormously; this unprecedented new gift in support of the Kelly Commons will allow yet another huge stride forward.” “We hope to be at $34 or $35 million by Christmas break and $38 million by June 30, 2013,” Mauriello said. Ground is expected to be broken for the commons by the end of this year.

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Great Music at Christ Church Riverdale Presents

A rendering of the Raymond W. Kelly ‘63 Student Commons building. Photo credit: Edward I. Mills & Assocaites and Perkins Eastman Architects PC, A Joint Venture.

Street named for the late Frank Durkan By MIAWLING LAM A popular human rights activist who became the spiritual leader for Irish-Americans will be honored after city ofﬁcials approved plans to rename a Riverdale street after Frank Durkan. The New York City Council voted unanimously on September 24 to allow Frank Durkan Way to be added to signs on the stretch of Tibbett Avenue between West 238th and West 240th streets. Per city rules, Frank Durkan Way wouldn’t become the actual name of the street. The honorary distinction would appear only on the selected portion of Tibbett Avenue. Supporters said the renaming effort was ﬁtting because the designated street runs alongside Gaelic Park, and Durkan boasted strong ties to the Irish community. Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, who sponsored the bill, said he was compelled to support the proposal because of the outpouring of support he received on Durkan’s behalf. “I got a number of requests, especially from people in Irish athletics,” he told the Riverdale Review. “I wasn’t that familiar with his work and efforts, but he’s highly regarded for his efforts not only from people in Riverdale but from other places as well.”

Durkan, an attorney and civil rights activist, died in 2006. According to his obituary in the New York Times, he “carved out a reputation as a ﬁerce and clever defender of Irish nationalists.” He was also a scion of the powerful O’Dwyer political dynasty and the nephew of William O’Dwyer, the mayor of New York in the late 1940s. Around a dozen people appeared at Community Board 8’s trafﬁc and transportation committee meeting in October 2011 to lobby for the renaming. Durkan’s longtime friend Martin Lyons said his colleague deserved the honor because of his sincerity and commitment to Gaelic Park and the Irish community. “He died a rich man in his heart,” Lyons said at the time. A slew of local organizations, including The Gaelic Athletic Association, Riverdale Steakhouse and the Greentree Bar and Restaurant, also threw their support behind the bid. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was scheduled to sign the street renaming into law on Tuesday, October 2. Department of Transportation crews are expected to unveil the honorary street sign to Durkan’s family and friends at a date to be determined.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

7:30pm

Complimentary reception will follow the performance

$20 adults / $15 students & seniors For tickets and info visit www.christchurchriverdale.org Christ Church Riverdale 5030 Henry Hudson Parkway Bronx, NY 10463

(718)543-1011

9 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

Student Commons to be named for Ray Kelly

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Bronx Borough President

Ruben Diaz Jr.

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Participate in a family-fun event promoting healthy living through physical activity! Choose the 25 OR 40-mile course through the borough’s 61 neighborhoods! Ride features great neighborhoods, waterfronts, and historic districts. The event ends with a music festival at The New York Botanical Garden. Produced by the Bronx Tourism Council in partnership with the city’s bicycling and pedestrian advocacy group, Transportation Alternatives, Tour De Bronx promotes bicycling and pedestrian environmentally-friendly method of travel while encouraging healthier lifestyle through diet and exercise.

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Continued from Page 1 our students become more college and career-ready by aligning our curriculum to the new Common Core Learning Standards. Schools across the nation are revising curriculum and student assessments as our state assessments adjust to mirror these new ‘national’ standards. In order to help students, we offer assistance through extended day, academically aligned clubs, select tutoring opportunities, and continuous examination of the curriculum.” Meanwhile, P.S. 81 received 50.3 out of a possible 100 points—an overall B grade—based on a C in student progress, a B on student performance and an A in school environment. In 2011, it collected a total of 36 points. As a result, its marked improvement landed the school in the 41st percentile. Councilman G. Oliver Koppell said he was ﬂabbergasted with P.S. 24’s performance, particularly when compared with its neighboring schools. “I am very pleased about the B grade for RKA and P.S. 81, but I am shocked about P.S. 24’s grade and I don’t understand it,” he told the Riverdale Review on Monday. “I am shocked, because all the parents I speak to are all very supportive of the school. To be honest, I have not had a single parent complain to me about P.S. 24, except about the music program (cut).” Koppell admitted he was particularly concerned about P.S, 24’s F grade in the school environment category but said it wasn’t a true indication of the school’s overall performance. “The fact that the teachers are angry with the principal doesn’t mean it’s a bad

school,” he said. “It might just mean the principal is a tough master.” But Koppell himself has a poor record in recognizing educational disaster. The last principal Koppell championed, Renee Cloutier at P.S. 7, was handed her walking papers by the Department of Education after the school’s performance sank to the lowest levels seen there in two decades. Cloutier was asked to leave in 2010 after four years. She, like Connelly at P.S. 24 also had notoriously poor relations with staffers at her school. School grades have swung wildly over the past few years, prompting officials to tweak their scoring formula and determine the grade distribution ahead of time. Under this year’s breakdown, a quarter of the city’s schools received A’s, 35 percent B’s, 31 percent C’s, seven percent D’s and the bottom two percent F’s. Citywide, 86 percent of schools either received the same grade as last year or moved just one grade up or down. For the first time this year, middle school grades also reflect a broader range of data, including course performance and how each middle school graduate goes on to perform in high school. Chief Academic Officer Shael PolakowSuransky said the new scoring rubric for middle schools rewards those who challenge their students. “This year, our students are engaging in more challenging coursework aligned to the Common Core standards,” he said. “With core course metrics counting as part of each school’s grade, the middle school reports give schools credit for more challenging coursework and reflect a broader range of information about students’ performance.”

11 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

School progress

Thursday, October 4, 2012 â€˘ The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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Yorktown Hts.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 10 a.m. Support Connection 40 Triangle Center Open to women with breast, ovarian or gynecological cancer. We all know there are many common factors to any cancer diagnosis. Join other women who have also been diagnosed as we discuss all stages of diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment. Facilitated by cancer survivors. Free. Pre-registration required; call 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290.

Friday, October 5 Yonkers

NIGHT OF FIESTA 5 p.m. Riverfront Library One Larkin Center Put on your dancing shoes and join us for a Salsa Fest & Night of Fiesta, featuring free Salsa dance lessons, music and refreshments, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage. For more information, contact Branch Administrator Susan Thaler at 914-375-7941, or visit the web at www.ypl.org.

Saturday, October 6 Ossining

CUB SCOUT BADGET DAY 10 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Bring your cub scouts for a day of discovery as they work toward portions of the map and compass, geology and wildlife conservation belt loops and pins. Fee: $10/Scout. Programs ﬁll quickly so registration is strongly recommended. Call 914-762-2912 x110 to reserve.

Somers

MAKE A TOTE BASKET 10 a.m. Somers Library Route 139 & Reis Park In this full day workshop, students will make a tote basket out of reed. This workshop will be taught by Robin Ingram, from the Westchester Area Basketmakers Guild. $25 per person materials fee is required. Please make all checks out to The Friends of Somers Library. Payment is required to reserve a spot in the class; please bring payment to the Reference Desk to register for the class. Class size is limited to 12 participants; must be ages 15+. For more information, call 914-232- 5717.

Yonkers

HAWK WATCH 10 a.m. Lenoir Preserve Dudley Street Hawk watchers from Hudson River Audubon Society will be on hand to spot and identify hawks migrating along the Hudson River corridor. For more information, call 914-968-5851.

Croton-on-Hudson

JEWELRY MAKING 10:30 a.m. Croton Point Nature Center Croton Point Avenue Learn how to create jewelry from objects found on the Croton beach. Fee $5; pre-registration required. For more information, call 914-862-5297.

Mt. Vernon

OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK 11 a.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue We’re open as part of this great celebration of architecture and history in New York. The feature event is the guided hike up the staircase in the Church tower, leading to the 18thcentury bronze bell. Tours of the historic church and burial yard, as well as exhibitions on display in the museum, are also offered. For more information, contact David Osborn, 914-667-4116.

Somers

ARTISTS GALLERY 12 p.m. Muscoot Farm Route 100 “A Bounty of Baskets,” a fall cornucopia of handcrafted baskets made by members of the Westchester Area Basketmakers Guild, will be on view in the Main House Gallery. Baskets will be for sale, with proceeds to beneﬁt the Friends of Muscoot Farm. For more information, call 914-864-7282.

North White Plains

MAKE A MOSS GARDEN 1 p.m. Cranberry Lake Preserve 1609 Old Orchard Street

Moss is a beautiful addition to any garden. Make your own mini, indoor dish garden and learn how to grow moss at home. For more information, call 914-428-1005.

Yonkers

STORYTELLING 2 p.m. Riverfront Library One Larkin Center Bring the kids for Teatro Iati’s production of ”The Green Book/El libro verde,” in celebration of Hispanic Heritage. Free books will be distributed to children in the audience, and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Branch Administrator Susan Thaler at 914-375-7941, or visit the web at www.ypl.org.

Sunday, October 7 Yorktown Hts.

WALK FOR CANCER 9 a.m. FDR State Park 2957 Crompond Road The 18th Annual Support-A-Walk, presented by Support Connection, Inc., is a 3-mile walkathon held each year to bring attention to the needs of people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Proceeds help fund Support Connection’s free support services for people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. To learn about Support Connection or to participate in this event, call 914-962-6402 or visit www.supportconnection.org.

Somers

PUMPKIN PICKING 12 p.m. Muscoot Farm Route 100 Pick a fresh pumpkin right out of the garden, or take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick your own perfect one. Fee $2 hayride; fee for pumpkins varies by size. Proceeds to beneﬁt Muscoot Farm. For more information, call 914-864-7282.

Somers

WALKING TOUR 2 p.m. Lasdon Park Route 35 Learn about famous Americans and American history on a tour through this grove of trees that are descendants of trees having historical signiﬁcance to America, from the discovery of the New World to the exploration of space. For more information, call 914-864-7268.

Monday, October 8 Carmel

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 10 a.m. Putnam Hospital Center 670 Stoneleigh Avenue Open to women with breast, ovarian or gynecological cancer. We all know there are many common factors to any cancer diagnosis. Join other women who have also been diagnosed as we discuss all stages of diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment. Facilitated by cancer survivors. Free. Pre-registration required; call 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290.

Wednesday, October 10 Yonkers

BIKE MAINTENANCE BASICS 7 p.m. REI Yonkers 1 Ridge Hill Road Routine maintenance on your bike can keep you riding smooth and prolong the life of your bike. Join an introductory class designed to help you take care of your bike. Register online: www.rei.com/yonkers or call 914-410-9500.

White Plains

COMMUNITY LECTURE 7 p.m. New York-Presbyterian Hospital 21 Bloomingdale Road “College Material: the Necessary Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors for a Successful Transition” is the subject of a community education program, presented by John Walkup, MD and David Rubin, MD, members of the hospital’s professional staff. No Registration, No fee, free parking, and refreshments provided. For more information, call 914-997-5779.

Bedford

CHAMBER CONCERT 8 p.m. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 382 Cantitoe Street Bedford Chamber Concerts launches its 2012-2013 season with an all Bach program featuring guest ﬂutist Mimi Stillman. Also performing will be renowned harpsichordist Anthony Newman and the Bedford Chamber Ensemble. To purchase tickets or for info visit www.bedfordchamberconcerts.org or call 914-522-5150.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

Thursday, October 4

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Children need positive role models. Come to learn more about being a mentor (must be 21 years or older). An open house will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 7:30 to 9 p.m., at St. Gabriel’s Church (Walsh Hall), 3250 Arlington Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463. RSVP: Abby Lerner (212-632-4689).

Yoga classes and more at RCC

YO! YOGA FOR OSTEO! - Recent medical studies indicate that as many as 50% of American women over 50 years old will eventually be diagnosed with the potentially dangerous disease osteoporosis, which weakens bones and can lead to fractures. One proven way of combating this disease, as well as its forerunner osteopenia, is Yoga for Osteo. Learn how to minimize the effects of this disease through yoga. Participants will safely learn how to become stronger, while increasing ﬂexibility and balance. This course is offered on Tuesday Evenings beginning October 9, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday Mornings beginning October 6, 2012 from 10:45 a.m. to 12 noon. Fee is $160 + $15 registration fee. Yoga & Rejuvenation - offered on Saturday Mornings beginning October 6, 2012

from 9:00 am - 10:30 am- Designed for students with at least one year’s experience who wish to deepen their practice. Fee is $180 + $15 registration fee. Additional ten-week health/fitness classes will begin on Tuesday evenings, October 9, 2012 Tai Chi Chuan - Graceful sequence of slow and relaxed flowing movements - will increase energy flow, flexibility, balance and strength. Beginners class - 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Advanced class - 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm. Fee is $140 + $15 registration fee. ZUMBA - Get in shape, boost your cardio fitness and tone your entire body with one of the latest fitness crazes. Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic workout system. 7:00-8:00 PM. FEE: $140 + $15 registration fee. PILATES/TOTAL BODY TONING - Vigorous routine includes stretching, core strengthening and total body toning utilizing the popular Pilates technique. 7:00-8:00 PM. FEE: $140 + $15 registration fee. BALLROOM DANCE for beginners will be held from 7:00 -8:00 PM. Learn all the steps to the most popular dances including Salsa, Swing and Tango. For the more advanced students, join us from 8:00 - 9:00 PM for a potpourri of ballroom dancing styles. Partners only (singles admitted with audition). These

courses are taught by a professional dance team. FEE: $170 + $15 registration fee Our BELLY DANCING Classes from 7:00-8:00 pm are taught by professional dancer, Noora E-Shams. Learn this popular Middle Eastern dance - includes isolations, undulations, travel steps and stretching. FEE: $140 + $15 registration fee. To register, or for more information, call the RCC Ofﬁce at 718-796-4724,or visit our Website: www.riverdalecommunitycenter.org

A kosher ethnic meal will be served at 12:15 p.m. followed by the performance. Menu includes chicken chow mein, brown rice, Chinese vegetables, roll and dessert. Suggested contribution: $2 for lunch and $2 for the performance for individuals age 60+. For individuals under age 60: $3 for lunch and $3 for the performance. RSVP by Oct. 11 by calling the ofﬁce at 718549-7400. All ages welcome. JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is located at 3880 Sedgwick Avenue.

Authentic Japanese dance featured at JASA

Youth Market at RNH

Come to JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center on Sunday, Oct. 14, and join in for lunch at 12:15 p.m. and an exciting afternoon featuring Sachiyo Ito and Company performing authentic dances of Japan in full costume at 1 p.m. Sachiyo Ito and Company is an arts organization that bridges East and West through artistic performances and educational programs that promote Japanese culture through the arts, particularly dance. Sachiyo Ito is an artist, choreographer, and arts educator. She founded Sachiyo Ito and Company in 1981 as a not-for-proﬁt educational organization. The Company performs a versatile range of dance styles.

The Riverdale Neighborhood House (RNH) will host the Riverdale Youth Market every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. through November 15, 2012. This is a youth-run farm stand offering fresh fruits and vegetables from regional farms. RNH is located at 5521 Mosholu Avenue, across from the Riverdale Library., Since its founding in 1872, RNH has partnered with the residents of the Northwest Bronx to build and sustain a healthy and productive community. RNH delivers ﬁrstrate educational and social services to the entire community: children, teens, seniors and families. RNH programs strengthen the social fabric of our community and enhance the quality of life for our neighbors.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

Volunteer to be a mentor to children

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Targeting the Specialized Schools

The race baiters have again set their sights set on one of the few consistent success stories of the city educational scene, the specialized public high schools. A lawsuit has been filed by the local NAACP alleging that the lack of success of minority applicants results from racism. They suggest that the test is not a measure of probable success at the schools, and thus is invalid. They maintain that test prep enjoyed by white and Asian students gives them an unfair edge. This is poppycock. We have heard this all before. Here is the truth: test prep simply doesn’t work. A report issued by the Department of Education back in 2006 revealed that the proportion of blacks and Hispanics attending the city’s three most prestigious high schools, Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech, had been declining for a decade. Even the numbers of white students slipped as Asians, then representing just 15.3% of the total public school population, represented a majority at all three schools. Six years later, the proportion of blacks and Latinos has dropped even further. The characterization of Asians as “people of color” seemingly evaporates when it comes to their academic success. This came after a decade of intense efforts by local educrats to support the efforts of black and Latino students through test prep. This was so overt that white and Asian parents threatened a lawsuit asserting that their children were being discriminated against by being excluded from this program. This controversy is nothing new, but rather a cry that has been heard for decades. As Heather Mac Donald chronicled in her 1999 City Journal article How Gotham’s Elite High Schools Escaped the Leveller’s Ax, it was only the action of two Bronx state legislators in 1971, Assemblyman Burton Hecht and State Senator John Calandra, that has guaranteed that admission to the three schools only be attained by competitive exam. No better way has yet been proposed. It will take an act of the state legislature to reverse this, an eventuality that becomes more likely should Democrats win control of both houses of the legislature. If Andrew Cuomo becomes the last line of defense against political correctness run amok, then we are indeed in trouble. This brings to mind a distressing conversation we held six years ago with Comptroller John Liu, at the time the City Council’s only Asian American member, a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. We assumed that as a Science alum and an acknowledged spokesperson for the city’s Asian population, Mr. Liu would be supportive of maintaining the testing standards that has served him and his constituents so remarkably well. We were wrong. Mr. Liu believes that the only reason that there is such a small contingent of blacks and Hispanics is due to “flaws in the test that result in a bias.” Since Asian students do so well on these exams, we asked him whether the tests were biased in their favor. Mr. Liu denied this. Of course you can’t have it both ways. There are only so many seats to go around. If you increase the number of black and Hispanic students by revising the admission policy, it will come at the expense of white and particularly Asian students. If someone like John Liu wants to scrap the current system, then it is indeed in as much trouble as the ethically-challenged Mr. Liu is in due to the campaign finance scandal he is embroiled in. We have a different take on this. Children do not achieve the ability to pass the tough test required for admission to these three schools by eleventh hour cramming programs such as the city’s Specialized High School Institute, formed in the 1990s to increase minority admissions. This clearly didn’t work. Rather the seeds of success are sown in kindergarten and even before. We lay much of the blame for these distressing results on the systematic dismantling of self-contained gifted and talented programs that we have witnessed over the past quarter century, a process that continues and has even accelerated in many ways under Continued on Page 19

Ruling puts co-ops at risk To The Editor: The New York Supreme Court recent ruling in the case of Fletcher v. The Dakota, supports the notion that individual co-op board members can be required to defend an action personally and also be threatened with personal liability for alleged wrongs that are the result of actions by their Board of Directors. This decision, if allowed to stand has a potential adverse affect on every board member of every cooperative and condominium in the State of New York and by extension, a similarly adverse, if not disastrous effect upon the future of cooperative housing in this State. The recent decision, which supported the plaintiff, is currently under appeal by The Dakota. The Board of Directors of The Association of Riverdale Cooperatives & Condominiums (ARC) has voted to proudly join The National Association of Housing Cooperatives, The

Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, The Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums and The Urban Homesteading Assistance Board in supporting a brief Amici Curiae ﬁled by the Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums in connection with the motion for re-argument by the defendant, (The Dakota, Inc.). This application has been made because, after review of the decision of the Court, all of these organizations believe it is imperative to bring to the attention of the court the interests of all of the cooperative and condominium boards who constitute the broader community that will be affected by the current decision on this appeal. It should be noted that there is ample legal precedence in matters of this type, notably the oftencited 2006 Pelton v. 77 Park Ave. Condominium case in which the plaintiff’s attorneys sought to sue all the members of a cooperative

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

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or condominium board of directors individually, to try to scare the board members into a settlement of claims that in fact only involved actions by the board. As the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court noted at the time, such right would hardly be a just reward for those shareholders who volunteer their time without compensation to take on the already thankless burden of managing the property for the beneﬁt of the other owners. Further, it would obviously discourage many individuals from serving on cooperative or condominium boards. It must be made clear that the “Pelton rule” was not designed to shield wrongdoers from liability – it was designed to protect the vast majority of good and honorable directors who perform their duties in what they believe to be the best interest of their cooperative from being deterred from serving on the board or from making hard decisions because of the threat of a lawsuit that threatens their personal lives. With its sister organizations that together represent hundreds of thousands of cooperators and tens of thousands of members of cooperative and condominium boards, The Association of Riverdale Cooperatives & Condominiums (ARC) ﬁrmly believes that the detrimental effects of Continued on Page 19

The Orchestra of The Bronx will welcome autumn by presenting a concert in the Lovinger Theatre of Lehman College on Sunday afternoon, October 14, at 3 p.m. The program, to be conducted by Michael Spierman, includes J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3 in G Major; Haydn’s Symphony 52 in C minor and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E-ﬂat

Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra featuring two distinguished members of the orchestra, Garry Ianco and Kathleen Patrick. The concert will be presented to the Bronx community without admission charge and no tickets are required. The fully professional Orchestra of The Bronx includes some of the ﬁnest instru-

YIVO Jewish Culture Series resumes at Riv. Temple Sunday, October 21 at 2pm at the Riverdale Temple, Miriam Hoffman, award winning Yiddish playwright, journalist and lecturer of Yiddish at Columbia University will give a talk on ‘Backstage with the Yiddish Theater.’ The lecture will explore the stories behind this great cultural institution from the founder of the Yiddish Theater in Rumania, Avrom Goldfadn, to the actors and productions on

Second Avenue in New York City as well as in big cities across America. Learn about the actors, comedies, melodramas, musicals and classical theater productions that inspired and entertained audiences. Riverdale Temple is at 4545 Independence Ave. (at 246th Street). The next of four lectures will be on Jews in 19th century Russia and will take place on Sunday, December 2.

Targeting the Specialized Schools Continued from Page 18 the mayor’s stewardship of the schools. This year, in the three most impoverished districts in the south Bronx (District 7, District 9 and District 12) only 38 kindergartners in total were found to qualify for gifted and talented programs. Since the city Department of Education requires 25 students in each district to form a class, these talented kids were denied access to the path that ultimately could have led them through the doors of Stuyvesant, eight or nine years upo the road. We need to do a much better job in identifying these kids, pump up gifted programs to provide far more enrichment and put them on a path to long

term success. But as long as the powers at Tweed are willing to sacriﬁce the futures of these 38 gifted “orphans” of the south Bronx, no one should be surprised if they fail years from now on this very tough but fair exam that could mean so much to them. Meanwhile misguided politicans and do-gooders should remember that proper G&T programs were eliminated here due to hyper-sensitivity on matters of race. The lower standards tolerated as a result is a clear manifestation of the subtle racism of low expectations and the real reason why blacks and Latinos are losing ground in the quest to take their places in our most competitive schools.

mentalists in the New York City area. Its soloists are chosen for their facility and the depth of their artistry. The unique spirit and level of excellence of The Orchestra of The Bronx make for some of the most exciting concerts presented in the tri-state area.

The Lovinger Theatre is located in the Music Building near the Paul Avenue gate of the Lehman College campus. it is accessible by the #4 and D trains (Bedford Park Boulevard stop) and numerous bus routes have stops near the College. For those who drive, abundant free parking is available. For more information, call 718-3654209.

Tolls and fines To The Editor: Thank you for telling us about plans to convert the Henry Hudson Bridge to All E-Z Pass. Your report says that all drivers will pay the E-Z pass toll of $2.20. This toll is considerably discounted from the cash toll. Seems to me that once everyone is, effectively, E-Z Pass tolls will rise quickly. Also noted with interest another driver story, indicating the concern of Assemblyman Dinowitz and Councilman Koppell about tickets served on cars parked in front of Riverdale Jewish Center, where there are lines indicating parking spaces along with a sign saying no parking. Perhaps one day our elected officials will speak out against oppressive fines on seat belt violations -- equal to fines for motorists driving while cell-phoning. What next? A new regulation requiring helmets of all motorists, with heavy fines for noncompliance? Concerning another, and new, form of rule by Big Nanny, now that the 32 ounce cups of soda are banned, are limits on the purchase of cans and bottles of soda, generally, be far off? Indeed, how long until Big Nanny demands that all purchases of food be made with plastic cards

which will be keyed to limit purchases of whatever Progressive Government says is not good for us. The calendar says the year is 2012. Our public policy, I fear, is inspired by “1984.” David R. Zukerman

Co-ops at risk

Continued from Page 18 the overruling of the Pelton decision, as the court has in Fletcher v. The Dakota, should it be allowed to stand, would be to force individual board members to live under a continuing disruptive threat even though there is no allegation that they committed an individual wrong. Further, to allow the decision in Fletcher v. The Dakota to stand would unquestionably discourage conscientious, lawful and caring individuals from serving on cooperative or condominium boards and thereby threaten the future of the cooperative style of living that has been the choice of so many, here in Riverdale, as well as throughout the metropolitan area for decades. Stephen J. Budihas, President Association of Riverdale Cooperatives & Condominiums

19 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 4, 2012

Orchestra of The Bronx concert at Lovinger Theatre

Thursday, October 4, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW