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Volume XIX • Number 41 • October 25 - 31, 2012 •
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New apartments planned for HH Pkwy By MIAWLING LAM Three local residential houses will be completely demolished to make way for a new seven-story apartment residence, the Riverdale Review can reveal. Excavation crews are slated to begin razing the row of two-story homes, located at 2727-2737 Henry Hudson Parkway, on Thursday, October 25. According to filings with the New York City Department of Buildings, a developer plans to build a new 56-unit residential building with 45 enclosed parking spaces on site. The project, an as-of-right development, does not require community-board approval. The plan is still going through other approvals processes, but if given the green light, it will be the first multi-unit apartment residence to begin construction in Riverdale since the economy bottomed out. Demolition crews began erecting a safety fence on the Henry Hudson Parkway side last Thursday, with one worker confirming the redevelopment plans. “Once we have all the fencing up, we’ll start bringing the machinery in and start getting the work done,” he said, adding that a temporary fence will also be built at the rear of the site. The employee said the demolition “shouldn’t take that long,” but declined to provide a more
specific timeframe or estimated completion date. Published reports indicate that HH Realty purchased the 0.47-acre lot for $2.875 million in an all-cash deal in April 2012. As of press time, Shay Zach of Itzhaki Properties, the broker who represented both the buyer and seller, did not return a call for comment. Riverdale resident Margaret Doddy, who has lived at 2736 Independence Avenue for 30 years, said she had mixed feelings about the planned development. She praised the developers for reaching out to residents and keeping them informed but said she was disappointed that several towering trees would be removed. “I’m heartbroken that all these beautiful trees are going,” she said. “I am going to miss seeing the trees from my window, and so are a lot of my neighbors.” When the Riverdale Review contacted Afshari PC, the Long Island-based architectural firm that filed the application, a spokesman declined to elaborate on the plans. “I cannot provide you with any more information until the plan is approved,” he said. However, he confirmed that the demolition work has been approved and would proceed as planned. To allay fears of local residents, signs posted at the construction
Three freestanding houses will be demolished and could be replaced with a new seven-story apartment building, according to filings wtih the New York City Department of Buildings. site suggest that workers with Metro Industrial Wrecking and Environmental Contractors would minimize the spread of debris. “All materials will be wetted down prior to disturbance and during the demolition process,” one of the signs posted on the temporary fencing reads. “Demolition debris will be periodically wetted down to prevent matter
to become airborne.” Community Board 8 land use chairman Charles Moerdler said rumors have been swirling for years about the planned development of the site. “At one point, they had a sign posted that the three houses were for sale for an approved development,” he said. “The matter did come to CB8
when the then-owner tried to demolish without permits and DOB shut that effort down.” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said although he hated seeing private homes knocked down in favor of high-density dwellings, he welcomed news of the project. “It’s a vote of confidence in the economy and a vote of confidence in our neighborhood,” he said.
Long-delayed Delafield Estates may finally be back on track By MIAWLING LAM The remaining 22 lots in the troubled Delafield Estates development will finally go under the hammer on Wednesday, November 7. The real estate firm marketing the estate, Brown Harris Stevens, announced news of the upcoming public auction on Monday. Tobias Schapiro, the listing broker with Brown Harris Stevens, said all 22 parcels would be auctioned off as a single lot. The opening bid would start at $4.75 million. “There is genuine interest, and I feel it is an opportunity for the right developer,” he told the Riverdale Review. “This is the largest undeveloped parcel believed to be available in Riverdale. I think it’s an opportunity for new homes in a pristine location, and there’s no better location than this.” The 10.5-acre plot, located between West 246th Street and Douglas Avenue, has been an ongoing construction
site since the 1980s. Plans to develop the estate into a gated community comprised of 33 compact houses and shared woodland were approved in 1980, but a weakening real estate market meant three separate developers have failed to finish the project. Each group has fallen on hard times, including its most recent owner, Abraham Zion, who filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005. As a result, more than 30 years later, just 11 houses are occupied. Despite the site’s troubled past, Schapiro was upbeat about the site’s future. He predicted the winning developer would complete the project per the original plans and that the first residences could hit the market as early as 2014. “I think it would take a year to get the first properties up, but I would assume early 2014 or spring 2014,” Schapiro said. Continued on Page 9
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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A fast look at the ‘Slow Zone’ By MIAWLING LAM Nine new speed humps will be installed on Riverdale streets by November as part of a staggered implementation of the city’s “neighborhood slow zone” program. Department of Transportation authorities unveiled further details of the much-hyped rollout at last Tuesday’s Community Board 8 traffic and transportation meeting. For the first time, officials circulated a map pinpointing the nine proposed speed hump locations, with the majority positioned in the immediate vicinity of P.S. 24 and M.S./H.S. 141. According to the map, three speed humps have been planned for Independence Avenue—two along the eastern boundary of Seton Park and another outside Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy. Additional speed humps have been slated for the northern and western boundaries of RKA, on West 239th Street between Hudson Manor Terrace and Independence Avenue and on Douglas Avenue just north of West 236th Street. Two humps have also been slated for Palisade Avenue. A speed hump is defined as a gradual rise, measuring 3 to 4 inches in height, that is designed to slow cars down to speeds of 15 to 20 mph. It is different from a speed bump, which rises 3 to 6 inches in height and forces cars to slow down to 5 mph. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who led the fight and helped secure the slow zone designation, believed the measures would address the growing concerns about pedestrian safety. “The changes should address the traffic concerns that we all have in the area in terms of speeding,” he said. “Clearly,
it’ll slow down traffic, and that should improve safety.” The Riverdale Neighborhood Slow Zone will encompass all public streets from West 232nd to West 247th streets between the Henry Hudson Parkway service road and Palisade Avenue. Under the program, motorists entering the area must abide by a lowered speed limit of 20 mph, acknowledging speed humps and other traffic-calming measures. Officials confirmed that the second phase of the rollout—involving the new speed limit and road markings—wouldn’t take effect until March 2013. Controversially, authorities also revealed that up to two parking spaces could be removed at each of the 10 possible entrances, called gateways, to make way for concrete sanctions and signage. Historically, locals in Riverdale have fought against the loss of any spaces—regardless of the justification—because street parking is so scarce. However, Dinowitz predicted the community would embrace the implementation upon realizing that safety was paramount. “It’s a trade-off,” he said. “We might lose a couple of spots in total, but cars should go more slowly in our neighborhood and it’ll save lives. We have a lot of children and a lot of seniors in the area, and this is very important.” As the Riverdale Review reported in July, the city agreed to establish a neighborhood slow zone in the area after facing mounting public pressure. Locals have long argued that traffic-calming measures were desperately needed along the six-block stretch of Independence Avenue between West 232nd
DOT officials will install nine speed humps (locations pictured in yellow) by next month. and West 237th streets because drivers were putting student lives at risk. Community members have also previously claimed that motorists speed through the area, double-park, triple-park, block traffic and recklessly dart in and out of the four-way stop sign outside the two public schools. The neighborhood slow zone program
aims to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities, fender-benders and traffic accidents by lowering the speed limit and deploying traffic-calming measures. Similar initiatives adopted in other cities, including Berlin, London and Stockholm, have drastically reduced the number of crashes.
By MIAWLING LAM After three years of delays and setbacks, the comfort station and district headquarters at Van Cortlandt Park could finally be reopened by Christmas. The dilapidated single-story building, located on Broadway near West 242nd Street, has been covered in scaffolding, plywood slabs and blue tarpaulins since late 2009. City officials initially awarded the $1.5 million contract to Warren Johnson Electric and were planning to unveil the new premises to the community within a year. Department of Parks spokesman Zachary Feder said work stalled after the firm
defaulted on their contract. He said a new contractor has since taken over and insisted the project was now back on track. “The original contractor working on the project was defaulted for non-performance, holding up all other work,” Feder recently said in an email. “We are scheduled to open the district headquarters/comfort station this fall.” The city’s response comes a month after Van Cortlandt Park administrator Margot Perron hinted that officials were working on completing the project by the end of the year. “We hope it’s done before the (ice-skating) rink opens,” she said on September
12. Weather permitting, the Van Cortlandt Park ice-skating rink is slated to open its doors next month. Meanwhile, the Riverdale Review can exclusively reveal that a new children’s playground will be built at Ewen Park. City officials are in the process of developing schematic plans for upgrades to the park’s basketball courts and have confirmed that a small playground will be built at the site. “The plans include a tot lot playground for younger children,” Feder said. “We expect to present a preliminary design to the Community Board by the end of the year.” It is the first time that parks officials have publicly stated that a tot lot play-
ground, which is defined as a space used for recreational purposes of small children, would be constructed. During a site tour last year, Riverdale resident Adele Finer Rabin said local parents were in desperate need of a children’s playground. She estimated there were 29 children under the age of 10 in the 511 West 232nd Street complex who would use the playground daily if the facility were to be built. Ewen Park is slated to undergo a massive renovation, thanks to a nearly $1 million grant from Councilman G. Oliver Koppell. Reconstruction of the park’s basketball courts will comprise the bulk of the upgrade.
3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Is it possible? Relief may be on the way in Van Cortlandt Park
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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Around the schools... P.S. 81
The annual fall costume parade is scheduled for Wednesday, October 31. Students in kindergarten through second grade will display their costumes outdoors as they march around the school, then the second-graders will perform a program of autumn-themed songs.
Riverdale-Kingsbridge Academy
Parents of prospective RKA high school students are invited to an open house on Monday, November 19, or Tuesday, November 20, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. To register, contact JPrince4@schools.nyc. gov. Friday middle school tours for parents of prospective sixth-graders will continue through December 14 (except for November 23). Tours begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and last until around 11 a.m. To register, contact parent coordinator Julie Prince at JPrince4@schools.nyc.gov. RKA is a zoned middle school. To determine whether your home address is within the RKA zone, visit the Department of Education website (schools.nyc.gov) and search under “zone finder.”
Horace Mann School
The Horace Mann community “went purple” and participated in HM’s Spirit Day last on Friday to show their support for Ally Week, a nationwide movement that highlights and acknowledges the challenges LGBTQ youth may face in their everyday lives. The Office of Diversity Fall Family Gathering for HM families is scheduled for Saturday, October 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. on the head of school’s patio. The Horace Mann School Model United Nations team will host a one-day high school conference, the largest on the East coast, on October 27. The school will welcome more than 900 delegates from 5 different states to a day of stimulating debate on topics ranging from Iran’s nuclear program to the right to education. The Horace Mann Model UN Team is currently ranked number 1 in the nation by bestdelegate.com. This year, the club will initiate a new community-based initiative called MUNtors. The club has formed a relationship with the Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics, where club members have helped mentor and prepare delegates who are new to Model UN.
Kinneret Day School
Kindergarteners raked and sorted leaves, learning the names of trees through the types of leaves they collected. They learned about measurement and geometry by baking and dividing up an apple cake last week following a trip to Davie’s Farm.
engineering labs, panel discussions with students, alumni and practicing professionals, and a luncheon with the dean and faculty. Prospective students are encouraged but are not required to bring along a parent. To register, contact Sheila Halpin by Monday, October 29, at 718- 862-7281 or sheila.halpin@manhattan.edu. The college will open its new Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES) this semester. The center will promote the importance of urban sustainability and environmental justice within the academic community and beyond. CURES will serve as a resource for faculty to advance and disseminate research covering a broad range of topics, including watershed management, green building design, alternative energy, urban planning, environmental politics, sustainable business practices and environmental ethics. It will support outreach to private and nonprofit organizations while fostering the integration of environmental education into the college’s undergraduate program, launching new majors and minors pertaining to sustainability education. These will add to existing undergraduate minors in environmental studies and master’s degrees in environmental engineering. The first official CURES event will take place on February 5, 2013, at 7 p.m. in Smith Auditorium. The speaker will be David Orr, a professor of environmental studies at Oberlin College, where he planned the effort to design the first significantly green building on a U.S. college campus. Manhattan College’s campus-wide sustainability committee, made up of faculty, students and administrators, plans to partner on future initiatives with CURES. Over the summer, the Green Club student organization created a rooftop garden above the college’s parking garage to grow vegetables for campus cafeterias.
College of Mount Saint Vincent
The college will host the first New York Catholic Youth Day for High School and College Students on Saturday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Office of Youth Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York. The day will begin with a welcome Mass celebrated by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan. There will be musical performances by different ministries, including Fr. Stan Fortuna, CFR, Joan Sanchez and RP Band, Full Armor, and RioSquad. Workshops for high school students, college students, and youth ministers will be led by Tim Hanley from Hard as Nails Ministry, Fr. Stephen Norton, Pastor at St. Benedict’s Church, Fr. Augustino Torres, CFR, and many others. The $15 entrance fee includes lunch and a T-shirt. Space is limited. To register, visit archny.org/pastoral/office-of-youth-ministry, call 914-367-8329 or email ymoffice@archny.org.
Manhattan College
The college’s School of Engineering will host its annual Engineering Awareness Day on Monday, November 12, for high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in the engineering and science fields. Prospective students can learn about the college’s various engineering programs and about career prospects in the field. The day includes visits to campus
Email education news to:
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2600 Netherland Ave • Riverdale, NY 10463 718-548-0900 • www.kinneretdayschool.org Please call us for an appointment!
By MIAWLING LAM City officials have removed the confusing road markings in front of Riverdale Jewish Center following claims that local motorists were being unfairly ticketed. Department of Transportation officials recently scarified the section outside 3700 Independence Avenue and eliminated lines that had previously indicated three legal parking spaces. The urgent response was sparked after crews erroneously painted the lines as part of the recent resurfacing project along Independence Avenue between West 232nd and West 239th streets. Because the striping contradicted two signs that bookend the stretch stating it is a “no parking zone,” drivers who
failed to notice the signs were hit with a $60 ticket. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz welcomed the city’s response, but said it came a little too late. “I am pleased that DOT responded to my pressure to have this egregious situation corrected,” he said. “It’s just a shame that a number of community residents had to go through the trouble of having to deal with parking tickets that they shouldn’t have received in the first place.” As the Riverdale Review reported earlier this month, local motorists had banded together to challenge the parking tickets at that particular location. At least three drivers contacted the offices of Dinowitz and Councilman G.
Oliver Koppell in the hope of getting the summonses dismissed. The local politicians also fired off letters to the city’s Department of Transportation and Department of Finance and to the New York Police Department Chief of Transportation to highlight the mistake. Following the uproar, Dinowitz said at least one motorist has been successful in having his ticket dismissed. “A mistake was made by a city agency creating an ambiguous situation,” he said. “Traffic enforcement officers should never have issued those tickets in the first place.” Independence Avenue isn’t the only local spot where traffic enforcement crews
have been accused of failing to exercise discretion. Commuters claim confusing parking signs have been posted along a 100-foot stretch in the Spuyten Duyvil Metro-North train station. A sign toward the west end of the parking lot states the stretch is “no standing anytime” and boasts an arrow pointing west only, suggesting cars are allowed to park east of the sign. However, the corresponding “no standing anytime” sign on the east end has arrows pointing in both directions. As a result, some cars parked along the street have received a hefty $115 fine.
Local student involved in presidential debate By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER Riverdalian Yaritza Pena, a Hofstra University student, was selected to work as a volunteer during the October 16 presidential debate held on the campus in Hempstead, New York. Pena was responsible for checking the perimeter, monitoring day-pass credentials, addressing security issues and responding to questions. After the event, Pena said the debate was a wonderful experience. “I was chosen as a volunteer in security at the Media Center,” she said in an email. “It was intense for the reason that the
safety of the candidates in some sense depended on us. I was able to talk to Secret Service and ask them about their jobs—which was exciting for me because when I graduate from Hofstra, that is the field I would like to join. “The reporters were cooperative and patient, since we had to check their credentials whenever they entered the perimeter. Overall, the experience was amazing.” Throughout the year, Hofstra students have attended panel discussions and lectures as part of Debate 2012: Pride, Politics and Policy, an event series focused on the upcoming election.
5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Motorists get a break from confusing ticketing on Independence Ave.
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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Poet Patricia Smith to speak at Manhattan College
Celebrated poet and performance artist Patricia Smith will speak at Manhattan College on Tuesday, Nov. 27 to conclude the fifth semester of the Major Author Reading Series (M.A.R.S.). The M.A.R.S. series, established in 2010, is designed to engage and expose students to modern literature. The lectures have brought a variety of noted authors to campus for readings and book signings, including Pulitzer Prize winners Junot Diaz, Jennifer Egan and Claudia Emerson, novelist Rick Moody, essayist Phillip Lopate, novelist Joshua Ferris, and Marie Howe, the current Poet Laureate of New York State. Patricia Smith is renowned for her 2008 poetry volume Blood Dazzler, which accounts the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The collection was named one of NPR’s top five books of 2008 and was a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award. Smith is the author of six other volumes of poetry, and her works have appeared in literary journals and anthologies, such as Poetry, The Paris Review and TriQuarterly. A variety of her works have also been performed around the world. She is a four-time National Poetry Slam champion, the most successful poet/performer in the competition’s history, and also was a featured poet on HBO’s Def Poetry Slam. In addition, she is the win-
ner of a Pushcart Prize and Chatauqua Literary Journal Award in poetry. The M.A.R.S. lecture will be held at 4 p.m. in Hayden 100, and the event is open to the public. For more information about the M.A.R.S. series at Manhattan College, contact Adam Koehler, assistant professor of English, by email at adam. koehler@manhattan.edu or by phone at (718) 862-7546, or David Eye, visiting assistant professor of creative writing, by email at david.eye@manhattan.edu or by phone at (718) 862-7921.
Riverdale Temple announces activities
The Riverdale Temple Torah Corps group met for the first time on Wednesday, October 17th at 7pm. Future dates will be announced. The Torah Corps. is for those who would like to learn to read basic Hebrew, Torah, and Haftarah cantillation. the Basics of Jewish liturgy is also offered for anyone who would like to gain a sense of “ownership” of the worship service. Classes are to be held at Riverdale Temple and are led by Rabbi Lewis. Riverdale Temple is holding Mommy, Daddy & Me on the following Sundays from 10 -11am. 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, and 12/16 The fee is $20 per child, per date. We will meet on the third floor, off of the Library, in the soft-play gym room. Mommy, Daddy & Me is for children up to age 3. RSVP not required, but
recommended, by calling 718-548-3800 or emailing rivtemple@aol.com Lunch & Learn at Riverdale Temple with Rabbi Lewis will meet again on Tuesday, October 30th from noon - 1pm. Bring a bagged lunch and learn about Dr. Haym Soloveitchik’s paper, “Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy.” Study of this paper is in preparation of his upcoming lecture/discussion on November 18th at Riverdale Temple at 2pm. The Rabbi will hold one additional study session on Sunday, November 4th from noon-2pm for those who cannot attend on weekdays. The next Riverdale Temple Adult Education course with Steve Altarescu will be held on Thursday, October 25 at 6:30pm. The parasha of the week is Genesis 12:117:27. Come explore what the parasha has to teach us about our lives today and examine how such study might inform our lives psychologically and spiritually. Tot Shabbat at Riverdale Temple is held on the second and fourth Friday each month. The next fun-filled Tot Shabbat, led by Rabbi Lewis and Inbal Sharett, will be held on Friday, October 26th at 5:30pm. Call 718-548-3800, ext 0 for further information. No reservations necessary. The annual Riverdale Temple Holiday Gift and Craft Sale is on November 18th from 9am-3pm. Unique handcrafted items for sale. Vendor spaces still available! Contact Rita at 718-614-4932 or Ritajoshed@aol.com
Rose Dialogue Series at Riverdale Y
The Riverdale Y will present at the Rose Dialogue Series, Hanna Rosin, senior editor of the Atlantic Magazine and founder and co-editor of Double X, Slate’s women’s section and Sally Kohn, a Fox News Contributor and columnist for Slate on the topic: Women, Power, and Politics... The End of Men? on Sunday, October 28 from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Admission is $18, $10 for students. Men have been the dominant sex since the dawn of mankind. And yet, as journalist Hanna Rosin discovered, this long-held truth is no longer true. At this unprecedented moment, women are no longer gaining on men: they have pulled decisively ahead by almost every measure. In this groundbreaking book, Rosin reveals how this new state of affairs is dramati-
cally shifting dynamics in every arena and at every level of society, and profoundly affecting marriage, sex, children, work, and more. There will be a wine reception and book signing of Ms. Rosin latest book The End of Men: And The Rise of Women after the dialogue. Childcare will be available at no charge, with age-appropriate activities for children ages 2 - 10. Please reserve your childcare space when you purchase your ticket at www.RiverdaleY.org For more information, go to our website at www.RiverdaleY.org or call 718-5488200, ext. 200. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.
Howl-O-Ween at Van Cortlandt’s Canine Court
Save the Date: Howl-O-Ween on Sunday, October 28, from 12 to 2 p.m., at the Canine Court at Van Cortlandt Park (enter at Broadway and 252nd Street). A canine celebration of halloween fun and frolics, hosted by Bash Dibra. Bring your pet Pooch. Come in costume - both of you. Contests for most original, scariest, pet/owner look-alike. First prize winners receive $25 certificate from Fieldston Pets. $10 donation per dog. $5 donation for each additional dog. All proceeds go toward upkeep of Canine Court Playground. To register, visit www.pawsacrossamerica.com. Presented by Friends of Canine Court and Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy.
Koppell sponsors community shred event
Council Member Oliver Koppell is sponsoring a Community Shred Event, in conjunction with Riverdale Senior Services (RSS) and the Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics, on Sunday, October 28, 2012 from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Riverdale Senior Services, 2600 Netherland Avenue. You may bring all of your personal documents for secure shredding on the spot free of charge. (A $5 donation is suggested.) A free coupon for coffee or soda will be provided ‘This is an opportunity to protect yourself against identity theft by shredding all of your personal documents on the spot,’ Koppell said. Julia Schwartz-Leeper, Executive Director of Riverdale Senior Services, said that the Shredding Event is taking place in conjunction with the organization’s annual bazaar where food, perfume, jewelry and more will be available at bargain prices. For more information, call RSS at (718) 884-5900.
Local veterans will host their annual Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday, November 4 at the recently unveiled Van Cortlandt Park Memorial Grove. The ceremony to kick-off at 1 p.m. will honor deceased war heroes and those who have served in the armed forces. Everyone is invited to attend and/or participate. Organizers said the event was being held one week before Veterans Day to maximize community attendance. The Van Cortlandt Memorial Grove is located at the western edge of Van Cortlandt Park on Broadway at the West 246th Street bus stop.
Sunday morning Kollel learning in Riverdale
Every Sunday morning, starting on October 28, 2012, Chabad of Riverdale will be hosting Sunday Morning Kollel Learning for men and women. (A Kollel is an institute where community members engage in Jewish learning and explore Jewish classic texts in depth.) Each week, five rabbis will be addressing a wide range of personal and relevant Jewish topics, from a mystical as well as practical perspective. The classes are open to the public and will be geared to all levels of learning. There are five classes to choose from: Kabbalah & the Parsha, Practical Jewish Law, Understanding Prayer, Reading Hebrew, and Talmud for Dummies. The Sunday morning schedule: Morning Prayer - 8:45 am; Coffee and Bagels - 9:30-9:45am; Classes - 9:45-10:45am; One-onOne Learning - 10:45-11:15am. The suggested donation for Kollel learning is $5. To register, or to schedule One-on-One Learning for an additional fee of $18, contact Chabad of Riverdale at 718-549-1100 ext. 10 or email Library@ChabadRiverdale.org. If you are interested in sponsoring a Sunday Morning Kollel Learning in honor or in memory of a loved one, please email Library@ChabadRiverdale.org.
After school sports at Riverdale Y
The Y offers many after school programs to all ages of children. Instructors will enhance and provide the community with technical teachings which focus on fundamentals, game approach, and athletic education. Here is a list of some of our afterschool programs: Mondays: Ultimate Frisbee
at 4pm for grades 3-6; Soccer at 5pm for grades 1-2 Tuesday: Soccer at 5pm for grades 3-6; Sports Sampler at 5 pm for grades 1-2 Wednesday: Basketball at 4 pm for grades 1-2; Basketball at 5 pm for grades 3-6 Thursday: Flag Football at 4 pm for grades 3-6; Mini Golf at 5pm for grades 1-2. For more information regarding registration for any of these programs contact Yudi Davis at 718-548-8200, ext 240 or email at YDavis@RiverdaleY.org. You do not have to be a member of the Y to participate in these programs. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.
Schervier Center sponsors trip to Atlantic City
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 Schervier Home will sponsor a Day trip to SHOWBOAT CASINO at Atlantic City. Cost is $28.00 per seat, with casino cash back of $25.00. The bus picks up from Schervier Apartments at 2995 Independence Avenue, Riverdale @ 8:55am and Knolls Crescent @ 9:00am. Returns at 8:30pm with drop offs at 230thst. & Kingsbridge Ave.; 232ndst. & Henry Hudson Parkway; Knolls Crescent and Schervier Apartments. For reservations please call NELLIE KENNY @ 718-543-0237.
all,’ said Rabbi Shemtov. ‘We all share that humanity, that dignity that makes our lives immeasurably valuable. The Kabbalah of You addresses that core.’ Through the examination of the entire spectrum of what it means to be human, The Kabbalah of You offers recipes, tips, and techniques for not only discovering where your true mean-
Chabad of Riverdale has secured a sponsor who will assist in funding anyone who needs a scholarship to attend this course. Please call 718-549-1100 x 10, or visit www.myJLI.com for registration and other courserelated information. JLI courses are presented in Riverdale in conjunction with Chabad-Lubavitch of Riverdale. Rabbi Levi Y. Shemtov of Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdale will conduct the sessions on Six Sunday Mornings, 9:45 - 11:15am, October 28th - December 2nd.
In a rush to get to the City? Hop on.
Lecture on hydraulic fracturing at CMSV
An explanation of the impacts of natural gas drilling on air, water and food will be presented on Wednesday, October 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the assembly room of the convent at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, 6301 Riverdale Avenue. The speakers are Ellen Weininger, educational outreach coordinator for Grassroots Environmental Education, and Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein, a pediatric neurologist. The event is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity and is free of charge, but free-will offerings are appreciated.
JLI offers a course about YOU!
A provocative new series of classes on The Kabbalah of You: A Guide to Unlocking Your Hidden Potential will take place, Sunday, Oct. 28th - Dec. 2nd, at Chabad of Riverdale, 535 West 246th Street. All are invited to attend the sixsession course, presented by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) and taught by Rabbi Levi Y. Shemtov, spiritual leader of Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdale and Director of the JLI Riverdale Chapter. ‘As diverse as our talents and interests may be, there is an underlying core that is common to
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.
©2012 Metropolitan Transportation Authority
7 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Veterans Day ceremony in Van Cortlandt Park
ing lies, but in actually making it a part of your daily existence. These sessions will help you see life as the mysterious, challenging, and satisfying wonder that it really is. Like all previous JLI programs, The Kabbalah of You is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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Thursday, October 25 Kingsbridge
THEATER 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st 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. Presented by Traveling Lantern Theatre Company. For children ages 4 and older. For more information, call 718-548-5656.
Friday, October 26 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. Those participating in the exercises must sign an activity release form. Audience: Adults, 50+. For info, call 718-548-5656.
Riverdale
INTERACTIVE MUSIC PROGRAM 10:45 a.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Avenue The 45-minute classes include three musicians to rock your socks off - vocals, guitar, and keyboard! Meet puppets friends Rhythm, Melody & Harmony. Explore weekly themes, hands-on instrument play, dancing, story time, balls, bubbles, and songs from all genres of music. Rock-a-Baby is as fun for the grown-ups as it is for the kids! For more information contact Wendy Pollock, at 718-548-8200, ext. 220.
Kingsbridge
TEEN ADVISORY GROUP 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Let your voice be heard in the Kingsbridge Library’s Teen Advisory Group! TAG meetings will be held on Friday afternoons from 4-5 pm. If you are a 7th -12th grade student, you are eligible to join. For more information, call 718-548-5656.
Saturday, October 27 Spuyten Duyvil
SATURDAY CINEMA 2 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Celebrated poet and performance artist Patricia Smith will speak to conclude the fifth semester of the Major Author Reading Series (M.A.R.S.). For more information, call 718862-7546.
Riverdale
LECTURE 4 p.m. Manhattan College Hayden 100 “BEING FLYNN.” Nick Flynn is a young writer seeking to define himself. He misses his late mother, Jody, and her loving nature. But his father, Jonathan, is not even a memory, as Nick has not seen the man in 18 years. Nick takes a job at a homeless shelter, where one night he runs into Jonathan. To give the two of them a shot at a real future, Nick will have to decide whom to seek redemption for first. For info, call 718-796-1202.
Sunday, October 28 Riverdale
COMMUNITY SHRED EVENT 11 a.m. Riverdale Senior Services 2600 Netherland Avenue Council Member Oliver Koppell is sponsoring a Community Shred Event, in conjunction with Riverdale Senior Services (RSS) and the Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics. You may bring all of your personal documents for secure shredding on the spot free of charge. (A $5 donation is suggested.) For more information, call RSS at (718) 884-5900.
Van Cortlandt
HOWL-O-WEEN 12 p.m. Van Cortlandt Park Broadway and West 252nd Street A canine celebration of halloween fun and frolics, hosted by Bash Dibra. Bring your pet Pooch. Come in costume — both of you. Contests for most original, scariest, pet/owner look-alike. To register, visit www.pawsacrossamerica.com.
Riverdale
ROSE DIALOGUE SERIES 7 p.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Avenue Hanna Rosin, senior editor of the Atlantic Magazine and founder, and Sally Kohn, a Fox News Contributor, will speak on the topic: Women, Power, and Politics… The End of Men? For more information, visit www.RiverdaleY.org or call 718548-8200, ext. 200.
Monday, October 29 Riverdale
COFFEE HOUR 10:30 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.
Spuyten Duyvil
KNITTING & CROCHET 11 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street A get-together for knitters & crocheters at all skill levels to work on a current project, learn new techniques, & exchange information. All skill levels are welcomed. Registration not required. For more information, call 718-796-1202.
Kingsbridge
RETRO GAMES 2 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street It’s back to the good old days: join your friends and roll the dice instead of clicking a mouse! Come by for some old fashioned board game fun. For more info, call 718-548-5656.
Spuyten Duyvil
GAME ON 4 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Come have some fun playing the latest XBox 360 games with Kinect at the Spuyten Duyvil Library! For ages 5 to 12 years. For more information, call 718-796-1202.
Tuesday, October 30 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 e-reader. First come, first served. For more information, call 718-549-1212.
Riverdale
SCRABBLE 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue If words work you up and crossword puzzles keep you going, come to Riverdale and share your passion with friends every Tuesday afternoon for a lively game of Scrabble. Pre-registration required. For more information, call 718-549-1212.
Kingsbridge
AMERICAN TEENAGER PROJECT 3:30 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Tell the story of your life with film and friends. Join awardwinning photojournalist Robin Bowman for 6 sessions and learn how to craft a narrative using photographs, personal insights, and shared experiences. Your work will be featured in a library exhibition, and will be published in a book that is yours to keep and share. For more information, call 718-548-5656.
Kingsbridge
HALLOWEEN STORY HOUR 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Halloween Story Hour for children ages 5-12 years old. For more information, call 718-548-5656.
Riverdale
ESTATE PLANNING 6 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue John Bacon, Director of Planned Giving, will present estate planning concepts in easy-to-understand terms, in a relaxed and interactive environment—questions will be encouraged—and completely free of charge. For more information, call 718-549-1212.
By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the open Orthodox rabbinical school founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, has announced that the role of yeshiva president will transfer from Rabbi Weiss to Rabbi Asher Lopatin this coming July. Rabbi Weiss will continue to teach there and to serve as senior rabbi at HIR, a vibrant 850-family congregation on Henry Hudson Parkway. The change in leadership “moves YCT out of its founding stages into the realm of institutional viability which, God willing, will endure for many, many years to come,” Weiss said. “For this reason I have been urging the board over the past few years for this transition and feel so blessed and ecstatic that Rabbi Asher Lopatin has agreed to become the next president. I am deeply grateful to the Jim Joseph Foundation, whose guidance and grant to YCT were instrumental in realizing this goal.” The innovative rabbinical school, housed in the HIR building, was created in 1999 and now has more than 80 graduates. Rabbi Lopatin, a former Rhodes Scholar and Wexner Fellow, has for 17 years been the spiritual leader of Chicago’s Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation. In addition to his ordination, he holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Islamic studies from Boston University and a master’s degree in medieval Arabic thought from Oxford University. He pursued doctoral studies at Oxford on the subject of Islamic fundamentalist
attitudes toward Jews. “Rav Weiss built YCT into an educational institution that has taught students to question, to crave new understandings, and to embrace all kinds of Jews and nonJews alike,” YCT board chairman Steven Lieberman said. “During the last year, we have implemented a plan designed to make this transition as seamless as possible, to ensure that YCT and our students retain these defining characteristics.” “I intend to go back to doing what I love most—teaching, writing and mentoring,” Weiss said. “I will also now have the opportunity to continue cultivating the ideas of open Orthodoxy and taking it to another level.”
ballet
opera in
cinema
Delafield redux
Continued from Page 1 The sprawling grounds once belonged to Edward Delafield, an early president of Bank of America, and doubled as a Columbia University-run botanical garden in the mid-1960s. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee who found global fame because of his ability to respond to sign language, even called the estate home at one point. The public auction of the Delafield Estates will take place at the Conservative Synagogue of Riverdale, located at 475 West 250th Street, on Wednesday, November 7, at 12 p.m. For more information, contact Tobias Schapiro at 212-317-7746 or Ann Schapiro at 212-317-7787 at Brown Harris Stevens.
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Lehman Stages and Emerging Pictures present the best in Opera and Ballet presented in crystal-clear Hi-Definition digital projection on the Big Screen!
Swan Lake
The Royal Ballet Tuesday November 6 at 2PM All ballet tickets are $12 · www.brownpapertickets.com The Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College · www.lehmanstages.org · 718.960.7830
Get Your Paper Ballot Go to your poll site, sign in, and get your paper ballot from the poll worker.
Mark Your Paper Ballot Use a pen or ballot marking device (BMD) to mark your choices on your ballot.
Scan Your Paper Ballot Insert your marked ballot into the scanner to cast your vote. Learn more about how to vote and view a sample ballot at www.vote.nyc.ny.us or call 866-VOTE-NYC (866-868-3692), TTY 212-487-5496. General Election: Tuesday, November 6, 2012
9 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Rabbi Avi Weiss to turn over leadership of innovative yeshiva
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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Anxious foodies get ready to ‘Savor the Bronx’ during Restaurant Week By MIAWLING LAM Move over Manhattan and Brooklyn—it’s time for The Bronx to grab the dining spotlight. The second annual Bronx Restaurant Week—Savor The Bronx, which showcases the borough’s diverse gastronomical delights, kicks off on Monday and runs through Friday, November 9. Under the popular promotion, foodies will be able to score a three-course lunch for $16.41 and a bargain dinner for $20.12 from more than 25 Bronx restaurants. A few establishments will even throw in a free dessert or take 15 percent off the entire tab. Among this year’s participants are the critically acclaimed Cuban establishment Havana Café, the popular Italian joint Antonio’s Trattoria and the casual restaurant Muscle Maker Bar & Grill. Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation executive director Olga Luz Tirado said Savor The Bronx was all about putting the borough on the city’s dining map. “What we want to do is let people know that there are very good restaurants in The Bronx,” she said. “You can come to The Bronx and have Italian food, French food, Asian, seafood and steak. It’s all here, and it’s yummy.” Tirado said the $16.41 price for lunch bore a special significance—1641 marks the year that Jonas Bronck purchased a 500-acre farm and settled in the borough. “The prices reflect where it all began and where it is now,” she said. “We have the past and the present and we’ve got a pretty good future.” Tirado promised that this year’s event would also be bigger and better—organizers started engaging with restaurants much earlier on and gave the event a complete branding overhaul. “We’re looking toward the future,” she said. “We don’t want this to be a one-shot deal. We want to make this a big event that people look forward to happening.” Tirado will join Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. to officially launch the event at Oregano Bar & Bistro in Riverdale on Monday, October 29. The Franco-Iberian restaurant, which opened to much fanfare earlier this year, seized on the opportunity to participate and will offer a three-course lunch for $16.41 during the promotional period.
Superintendent cleared A North Riverdale building superintendent, who was arrested on April 16th after being accused of pocketing cash from an elderly tenant’s bank account, has been cleared. Charges against Richard Lane were dismissed by Judge Seth Marvin on Tuesday, October 16th. The judge cited lack of evidence. Lane, who is the super at Fieldstondale Co-op, had already been restored to his position shortly after the incident by the building’s board of directors.
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Restaurateur Erick A. Caceres said he felt compelled to sign up because it would help expose Oregano to a larger demographic during the tough winter months. Although foodies have traditionally overlooked The Bronx, Caceres believed the borough was starting to get some love from its Manhattan-centric dining aficionados. “I think, slowly, there is more awareness of dining options in The Bronx, and I like to think Riverdale has something to do with that,” he said. If recent accolades are anything to go by, The Bronx is beginning to cement its reputation as a dining destination. A record 33 Bronx restaurants were
included in the current edition of Zagat’s dining guide, up from 28 the previous year. The famously tough Michelin Guide inspectors even acknowledged The Bronx’s growing dining scene and included three local restaurants—Zero Otto Nove, Tra Di Noi and Havana Café—on its 2013 Bib Gourmand list, also up from in 2012. The highly coveted designation, otherwise known as the inspectors’ favorites for good value, is awarded to restaurants that serve two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less. Management at Havana Café, located on East Tremont Avenue, said they were excited to participate in this year’s promotion for the second consecutive year.
Owner Kevin Alicea said the Cuban restaurant recorded a 15 percent uptick in customers after last year’s event and will again offer diners deep discounts—a $7 lunch special, and for dinner, a complimentary glass of sangria or dessert with the purchase of any entrée. “Our prices are already reasonable so it’s a great deal,” he said. “Our goal is to elevate the restaurant scene in The Bronx and get the word out that there are a lot of great restaurants here. The Bronx has a lot of destination restaurants.” This year’s Savor The Bronx will be sponsored by financial services juggernaut American Express and the New York State Restaurant Association.
Former governor speaks to Manhattan College students
The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
By KEELAN LEDWIDGE Former New York governor David Paterson addressed Manhattan College students and faculty last Tuesday with a discussion on subjects ranging from student loan debt to MTA encounters. Paterson voiced concerns about the country’s growing obsession with spending and massive debt to an audience of more than a hundred students and faculty in the Alumni Room of the O’Malley Library. “I can’t fault all of you for spending money you don’t have. Public officials make the same decisions,” Paterson said. The former governor spoke of taking office right before the 2008 financial crisis hit and of how he tried to warn New Yorkers by calling a press conference. “One person told me this was a terrible idea, that who was I, just a few months into being the governor and not even being elected to the position, to call a press conference,” Paterson said. “That person was my mother.” The former governor mixed in entertaining one-liners to keep the audience engaged while he offered useful advice. “While there is great academic pursuit and great intellectual opportunity, it will certainly lead to unfortunate disappointment and despair and confusion among many of you if you’re not keeping up with the obligations that you will have after you leave school,” he said. Paterson then engaged in a question and answer session, addressing topics including how the minimum wage is determined and the “fiscal cliff.” “I would frankly raise taxes on anybody making over $500,000 a year,” Paterson said, echoing a popular Democratic talking point.
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In order to prevent further economic disaster, raising taxes and cutting spending were the best solutions, he said. Paterson concluded by answering a question about his inspiring journey in politics. He shared a story of how he felt devastated after failing the bar exam and realized that life does not always turn out the way one expects. He advised the students to “keep an open mind” and to have the right attitude. “Only in New York City can a college professor meet a state governor on the subway and invite him to give a talk to her college students about student loans,” Frankie B. Alverez, the president of Manhattan College’s government club who bumped into the former governor on the subway, commented afterwards. “The power of New York is limitless and without bounds.” A version of this article first appeared in the Quadrangle, Manhattan College’s student newspaper.
Rose Dialogue Series Presents
HANNA ROSIN in conversation with Sally Kohn
Women, Power, and Politics… The End of Men? Sunday, October 28, 2012 7:00pm–9:00pm at the Riverdale YM-YWHA HANNA ROSIN—author of the newly-released book The End of Men: And The Rise of Women, senior editor of the Atlantic Magazine and a founder and co-editor of Double X, Slate’s women’s section SALLY KOHN—a progressive Fox News Contributor and columnist for Salon
Admission: $18 / $10 for students
A reception will follow. Hanna Rosin will sign copies of her new book.
Reservations online at www.RiverdaleY.org Rose Dialogue Series 5625 Arlington Avenue | Bronx, NY 10471 (718) 548-8200 | www.RiverdaleY.org
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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YIVO Yiddish culture series continues at Riverdale Temple By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER More than 200 Yiddish enthusiasts flocked to Riverdale Temple last Sunday for a retrospective peek behind the scenes as playwright Miriam Hoffman launched this year’s YIVO Yiddish Culture Series with her entertaining talk, “Backstage with the Yiddish Theater.” Hoffman’s tales of career development in the lives of pivotal actors during the early days of the genre featured romance, sabotage, jealous rage and other off-stage dramas. “No country in the world was so conducive to Yiddish theater as America,” Hoffman said. “Jews began earning a relatively decent living. They missed their family back home, their Jewish surroundings. There was a spiritual void in their lives. After work, they had no place to go and nothing to do. For these immigrants, Yiddish theater was their savior.” Everyday conflicts—justice against wrongdoing, bosses against workers, parents against a chosen marriage partner—were dramatized in downtown venues like the site of what is now La MaMa. But actors weren’t skilled and theatergoers weren’t savvy. “The audience couldn’t tell the difference between the play and the actors,” Hoffman said. “If an actor played a corrupt and ugly character, that meant that the actor himself was corrupt and ugly, and they were ready to tear him apart onstage and off.” The craft wasn’t always taken seriously. Quirky actors would stop in the middle of a play to address the audience with a personal message. Some would even refuse to memorize their lines. Even theater lovers found the whole business less than glamorous—parents tried to steer their kids away from a theatrical career. It wasn’t lucrative, so those
drawn to a life on the stage were dazzled only by the prospect of fame. A real-life drama was the rift between the Jews of German origin, already established in America, and immigrants from Eastern Europe who brought over their disreputable art form. The Germans deemed it vulgar and tried to quash its popularity. In one attempt, a German Jewish group went as far as bribing a leading lady to feign illness on opening night. She was quickly re-bribed to hurry back to the stage, but by the time she returned, the rest of the performers and most of the audience had fled. The ones who remained were “a bunch of hooligans throwing around and breaking chairs,” Hoffman said, and the theater had to close. A more “highbrow” kind of theater evolved with the staging of classics, including Shakespeare’s plays, translated into Yiddish. But audiences hadn’t heard of the original works. At the end, they clamored for the playwright and were shocked to learn that William Shakespeare wasn’t there himself to take a bow. When second-generation immigrants turned to Broadway for their entertainment, Yiddish theater suffered from declining interest and fell prey to the financial demands of 13 unions, Hoffman said. “The members of these 13 unions had to be employed for the entire season, whether or not they were needed.” To boot, old-timers threatened by fresher faces kept young actors and actresses out of the field. Hoffman ended with a story told by actor Fyvush Finkel: He fell in love with a woman and asked for her hand in marriage. The woman advised him to consult her father. When the father learned his daughter’s suitor was
a Yiddish theater actor, he refused to grant approval. Finkel begged the father to see him act onstage, insisting he’d change his mind. The father agreed. Following a performance, the father happily told Finkel, “You can marry my daughter, my son—an actor, you’re not.” Hoffman has been a lecturer in Yiddish studies at Columbia University for the past 20 years. She writes in Yiddish and English for the Jewish Daily Forward and for literary journals. Several of her plays were staged by companies including the Joseph Papp Public Theater and the National Yiddish Theatre–Folksbiene. She earned a Tony Award for her translation into Yiddish of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys.” This spring, she’ll offer a 10-session seminar on Yiddish culture, language and theater at Riverdale Temple. For information on the course, contact rivtemple@aol.com and write “adult education Yiddish class” in the subject line.
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Fire destroys Irwin Ave. house
By MIAWLING LAM A severe one-alarm fire engulfed the top floor of a Riverdale house early Thursday morning, officials said. The blaze started around 7:51 a.m. at 3449 Irwin Avenue and caused considerable damage to three-story private residence, an FDNY spokesman said. Authorities said 60 firefighters from 12 units fought to control the blaze, eventually extinguishing it by 8:31 a.m. No injuries were reported, according to the spokesman, and all residents evacuated the scene by the time fire crews arrived on scene. When the Riverdale Review visited the scene around 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, the odor of smoldering ruins was
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Somers
DRAMATIC READING 6 p.m. Somers Library Route 139 & Reis Park Just in time for Halloween! Voice actor Alan Sklar performs a dramatic reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Pit & the Pendulum.” Register online at www.somerslibrary.org or call 914-232-5717.
Friday, October 26 Somers
HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY 7 p.m. Lasdon Park Route 35 “The Walking Dead” will welcome visitors to the Main House to enjoy live music, refreshments, prizes and all the Halloween excitement of this annual Conservatory fundraiser. Fee $40 per person; RSVP at (914) 864-7268.
North White Plains
GHOST STORIES BY THE CAMPFIRE 7 p.m. Cranberry Lake Preserve 1609 Old Orchard Street Get in the Halloween spirit with some spooky stories and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. Stories will start silly and get progressively spookier. Bring flashlights, hot dogs if you like, and your own story to tell. For more information, call 914-428-1005.
Saturday, October 27 Cross River
SURVIVAL SKILLS 9 a.m. Trailside Nature Museum Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Kids ages 10 to 12 can team up to test their survival skills. Fee $25 per child. Call for more information and to register for the program at (914) 864-7322.
Croton-on-Hudson
NATURE HIKE 10 a.m. Croton Point Nature Center Croton Point Avenue The New Trail. Discover the beauty that was hidden by vines but is now revealed on a hike to explore this new trail at the park. For more information, call 914-862-5297.
Ossining
PUMPKINS AND HAYRIDES 11 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road We’re celebrating autumn with the Best of the Fest! Decorate a pumpkin Teatown-style and relax on a hayride beneath the beautiful fall canopy. Participants can choose from two time slots: 11:00am-1:00pm or 2:00pm-4:00pm. Fee: $20/family for members; $30/family for nonmembers (2 pumpkin limit). Programs fill quickly so registration is strongly recommended. Call 914-762-2912 x110 to reserve.
Yonkers
CHEMISTRY AWARENESS FAIR 12 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College 1 Mead Way The Sarah Lawrence College American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Chapter is hosting a fair for all age groups to explore the wonders of chemistry. There will be various kid-friendly experiments scheduled throughout the day. (914) 395-2412. www.slc.edu.
Yonkers
HALLOWEEN HOOPLA 1 p.m. Lenoir Preserve Dudley Street Wear your costume and play ghoulish games, make scary crafts and hunt for candy. Prizes will be awarded for Best Costume. Refreshments will be served. Fee $8 per child; pre-registration required. For more information, call 914-968-5851.
Sleepy Hollow
GHOST PAPER LANTERNS 2 p.m. Kingsland Point Park 299 Palmer Avenue Participants get to celebrate the spirit of Halloween and light up the dark night by creating a paper lantern, working with fall leaves and flowers to create a ghost scene inside. For ages 7 and up (adults welcome) - $15. Registration at beczak.org
Katonah
EVNIN RISING STARS 8 p.m. Caramoor Center for Music & Arts 149 Girdle Ridge Road Now in its twentieth year, the Evnin Rising Stars Program is led by Artistic Director Pamela Frank, who searches for young musicians with the talent, personality, and musicality to benefit most fully from this program and places them in ensembles for an intense week of rehearsals and coaching sessions. For more info, call 914-232-1252 or visit www.caramoor.org.
Sunday, October 28 Scarsdale
SCARECROWS & PUMPKINS PARADE 11 a.m. Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road A fun Halloween event for young children. Follow friendly scarecrows along the pumpkin trail. Come in costume and enjoy free cider, tattoos, tractor rides, parachute games with Gymboree, and more. For more information, visit their website at www. greenburghnaturecenter.org or call 914-723-3470.
Somers
BOO WALK 12 p.m. Muscoot Farm Route 100 Dress in your Halloween costume and see if you can find all the Halloween-themed items on this scavenger hunt. Treats await those who dare to follow the Boo Trail. For more information, call 914-864-7282.
Ossining
EARTH ART WORKSHOP 1 p.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Touch the earth with love! Join environmental artist Susan Shanti Gibian for a walk in the woods where we will create artworks using only objects from the forest floor and a mindful awareness of the environment. Please bring a camera to document your works. Free. Programs fill quickly so registration is strongly recommended. Call 914-762-2912 x110 to reserve.
Mt. Kisco
HISTORIC MANSION TOUR 1 p.m. Merestead 455 Byram Lake Road A curator-led tour through an elegant 100-year-old mansion to learn about a local family that influenced design and interior decorating throughout the world. Fee $10 adults, $8 seniors and $5 children ages 13-17; under age 12 free. Reservations required at (914) 231-4539.
Monday, October 29 Somers
WRITING A NOVEL 6:30 p.m. Somers Library Route 139 & Reis Park What is concept? What is “high concept”? (Think Twilight, Hunger Games, I, Putin.) Learn why these terms are crucial to know when writing your novel and why you should nail down your concept before typing a word. Learn how to define your target audience, how to begin that first chapter, and what the best writing schedule is for you. Register online at www. somerslibrary.org or call 914-232-5717.
Bloombergism
Continued from Page 18 tives, including a smoking ban and an 18 percent raise in property taxes, to name just two.” In other words, an ordinary politician wouldn’t have been independent enough from political parties to raise taxes after running on a campaign not to raise taxes. He wants his own smoke-filled room, sans cigars. That’s the essence of Bloombergism. Courtesy of The New York Sun (www. nysun.com). Readers of The Sun will not be surprised by sums of money expressed in terms of gold. When converted to gold, the cost of living and prices of various goods and services take on new meaning.
The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Thursday, October 25
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) urged his Congressional colleagues to support his Guaranteed 3% Cost of Living For Seniors Act, which would guarantee a minimum three percent increase annually in COLA for Social Security recipients. This comes following the announcement of a 1.7% increase for recipients next year. The cost of living increases are tied to inflation numbers, which have been relatively low for the past year. This has resulted in the 1.7% increase, one of the smallest increases since the automatic adjustments became law in 1975. In 2012, the adjustment was 3.6 percent and there was no increase in 2010-11. The Social Security Act of 1973 specifies the formula to determine the COLA. (http://www.ssa. gov/oact/cola/latestCOLA.html) ‘Social Security has been a vital lifeline to America’s seniors for generations, and the COLA has worked quite well over time to help people manage their budgets. However, a small tweak would make it even better. We must protect Social Security for future generations - by keeping it from privatization. By improving the COLA formula, we bolster the short and long term health of
this incredibly important program,’ said Rep. Engel. ‘Millions of seniors are reliant upon Social Security for their livelihood, and have counted on sufficient COLA increases for decades. We must change the calculation formula to avoid the mistaken policy of assuming seniors’ expenses haven’t risen.’ The COLA formula is currently based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which reflects the purchasing patterns of people who earn at least half of their income from wages. Rep. Engel’s legislation would mandate using another index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). This is geared towards capturing inflation among those over 62, and is a better indication of seniors’ spending habits. The CPI-E would have provided seniors a COLA in both 2010 and 2011.
Manhattan College to host undergraduate Open House
Manhattan College will host a fall Open House for college-bound students on Sunday, Oct. 28 starting at 12 p.m. in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers. The day will commence with welcome remarks from Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D., president of the College. After the opening remarks, prospective
students and their families can take a tour of campus. Faculty members from all departments, administrators and current students will also be available in Smith Auditorium to answer questions and provide more insight on Manhattan’s academic and campus life. The exhibition area and campus tours will be available for attendees until 3 p.m., and a light lunch and refreshments will be included. Prospective students are also invited to attend a morning Mass at 9:30 a.m. Manhattan’s Alumni Society is sponsoring a brunch at 10:30 a.m. in Dante’s Den (Thomas Hall) for alumni families with prospective students. For more information on the alumni brunch, contact the Alumni Relations office by email at alumni@manhattan.edu. To register for Open House, please visit the College’s Admissions website.
Koppell informs tenants of heat and hot water rights
Now that the ‘heat season’ has commenced, Council Member Oliver Koppell said it is important for tenants to know their rights with respect to heat and hot water and the means at their disposal to remedy the situation if they are receiving inadequate services.
The law requires building owners to provide heat and hot water to all tenants under the following conditions: Hot water must be provided 365 days a year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. From October 1st to May 31st, a period designated as ‘Heat Season’, building owners must provide heat as follows: • Between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit and, • Between the hours of 10: 00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., if the temperature outside falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Tenants who are cold in their apartments should; • First notify the building owner, managing agent or superintendent. • If services are not restored, call the City’s Customer Service Center at 311. The law requires HPD to notify the landlord of the complaint and, if heat is not restored, an inspector is sent to issue a violation. If the landlord does not respond to the violation, HPD can arrange for the restoration of essential services and bill the owner for the cost.
The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Engel calls for support on Social Security COLA legislation
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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GUEST EDITORIAL
Bloombergism Editorial of The New York Sun “Getting your feet wet” is what Mayor Bloomberg, in an interview with Jim Rutenberg of the New York Times, calls his decision to pony up the equivalent of 8,500 ounces of gold for his new political action committee. No doubt it’s walking-around-in-puddles money for the mayor, who spent what at the time was the equivalent of 97,000 ounces of gold to get himself elected in 2009 to a third term. It’s unclear to us at a glance as to whether that total included the work he did to get the City Council to push aside a decision by the city’s voters, in referendum, to limit him to but two terms. But it’s clear the mayor is spending on the national campaigns of others but a tiny fraction of what he was prepared to spend on his own local campaign. The central complaint of the mayor is that ordinary Americans have been using a system of pooling their money to win elections, and it frustrating his ambitions. This scheme that ordinary people have been using to pool their money is called political parties. The mayor is against them. Because there are so many of these confounded people, it is hard for any single individual, even someone as wealthy as the mayor, to control political parties. After all, a lot of little people aggregating their small amounts of money can add up to quite a war chest. It can drive a man of the mayor’s means nuts. This is what they mean when they complain about the lack of “independence” of party candidates. It’s a central feature of Bloombergism — a noun, meaning opposition to ordinary people pooling their resources politically. The mayor tried to run the parties out of the municipal elections in 2003. He came at it via the charter revision process in the city. The New York Sun was but one of millions of New Yorkers who resented the scheme, and the mayor was roundly defeated. The mayor also threw the city into the constitutional battle against the system by which political parties choose nominees for judgeships in New York. We actually liked the reformer who brought the suit, Margarita Lopez Torres, but we were against her on constitutional grounds. Political parties are as American as apple pie. They are used by ordinary people to aggregate their money. Anyhow, Mayor Bloomberg’s administration filed an amicus brief in that case, known as New York State Board of Elections v. Margarita Lopez Torres. The mayor sided against the political parties. He got the same result as he did when he tried to edge out political parties through charter revision. The Supreme Court came down on the side of the political parties by a vote of nine to zero. The court was unanimous, meaning Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, on one flank, and Justice Clarence Thomas on the other, and Justice Scalia writing for the majority. At least in the current fray, the mayor is spending his own hard-earned cash, even if it’s a tiny portion of the hard-earned cash he spent eking out a third term. Not to be misunderstood, let us note that we like the Mayor personally. We endorsed him when he was a Republican. It is Bloombergism we oppose. We’ll see what it will buy him. Ostensibly, Mr. Bloomberg’s beef du jour, according to Mr. Rutenberg’s dispatch in the Times, is gun control. It seems to be that the only reason the mayor can perceive for the refusal of President Obama and Governor Romney to join him in a campaign for gun control is they lack independence. It’s the parties that are the problem. Presumably Mr. Bloomberg would try to fight for this cause within the political parties. But he doesn’t have enough spondulicks to go up against all the party individuals, who are too much like shareholders and are attached not only to their party but also to the Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment isn’t the only bale the mayor laments. Another goal of Mr. Bloomberg’s plan to bypass the parties with his Independence USA PAC is, as Mr. Rutenberg characterizes it, “to give the candidates a taste of the political freedom that he has enjoyed as a self-financed billionaire whose money helped him withstand the powerful opposition he faced because of his unpopular initiaContinued on Page 13
Death of WWII vets is an irreplaceable loss To The Editor: Over 16 million men and women served in the United States Armed Forces in World War II, at home, at sea and on battlefields from North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, China, the Pacific islands, and the skies over Japan. They were ordinary Americans, called from every walk of life to oppose and ultimately annihilate the most powerful armed forces ever raised against the USA. Take a look at obituaries in the papers today, or any day of the week for the painful proof that “The Greatest Generation” is diminishing fast. You will see death notice after death notice for an American World War II veteran — the World War II veteran population is expected to fall below 1,500,000 (1.5 million) by the end of this year; that is less than one-tenth of the 16 million who served! Think about it — in the seven decades since the end of World War II, nearly 15 million World War II veterans have died and are
near forgotten. Take a look around at all of the ‘Grandpas’ that you no longer see walking the streets. A few of us still remember the fallen and the veteran, but that number is dwindling. Gold Star Mothers remember, but they too are passing away rapidly. The Kingsbridge VA hospital has a nursing home with a long waiting list — many will never make it. Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation — and as a culturally diverse, free society. It was the men and women of World War II, the veterans and those that did not come home, that made all of what we have today possible. We have a World War II Memorial right here in the Kingsbridge area — the only one of its kind in the area! But it had been forgotten by all; the NYC Parks Department, the area Veteran organizations and the general public. Hundreds of thousands passed by it on Broadway and
ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher
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did not even take notice — a decaying and neglected war memorial. We all allowed this to happen — a war memorial that was allowed to be trashed, memorial plaques to be vandalized or stolen, and grounds to be littered with garbage and acceptable to be unkempt. Somehow we did — but not any longer! The World War II Memorial Grove in Van Cortlandt Park has been restored — all should go see the restoration, read the plaques that honor the 37 lives lost in the war, and sit on one of the new benches in this two acer Memorial and reflect on how life could have been if it weren’t for these fallen heroes. Please do not ignore this World War II Memorial any longer — come to Broadway and West 246 Street to see it for yourself; there are no other monuments in the Riverdale - Kingsbridge area quite like this one. We, my partner Don and I (the Memorial Grove Restoration Group) will be holding a ceremony in honor of the restoration and those named in the memorial on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 1:00 pm and all are invited to attend and/or participate; your attendance will assure the Grove’s recognition in our community and its continued care. The Memorial Grove is located at the western edge of Van Cortlandt Park on Broadway at the West 246 Street bus stop. Herb Barret
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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, October 25, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW
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