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City pulls plug on ill-conceived skate rink
Riverdales ONLYLocally Owned
Newspaper!
Volume XVIII Number 52 Dec. 22, 2011 - Jan. 11, 2012 FREE!
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (center) presented the donations
from his holiday canned food and turkey drive to Robert Peralta
(left) from the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center and Sister
Ellen (right) from the St. Francis of Rome Church. The food, which
will go to needy families this holiday season, was donated by the
students of PS 7, the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, PS 81, and PS
24.
By BRENDAN McHUGHThere will be no ice-skating in The
Bronx this winter.After months of delays, the Department
of Parks and Recreation says the electrical upgrade needed to
operate a skating rink will not be completed in time to operate
this season.
This puts a black eye on Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Van
Cortlandt Park Con-servancy, who promised to bring a full-size rink
to The Bronx. Bloomberg announced the plan in his 2011 State of the
City address at the beginning of this year.
Parks has explored every possible means of bringing ice-skating
to The Bronx this winter. The engineering and capital construc-tion
issues involved with bringing the power needed for a skating rink
make it necessary to forgo, for this season, what we had hoped
would be a fun activity for all, Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector
Aponte.
The electrical hookup, needed for a rink of any size, will
require the installation of an underground vault that will not be
ready this winter.
The conservancy was secretly discuss-ing the rinks logistics
with Con Edison and Ice Rink Events as far back as sum-mer
2010.
The initial plans for the boroughs only skating rink were
delayed time and time again, and when it appeared too late for this
year, the parks department attempted to save face by offering the
community a temporary, smaller skating rink that would run only
this season. However, this irked the community board, because the
smaller rink project was not subject to a public hearing.
Last week, Community Board 8 overwhelm-
ingly passed a resolution that stated they deplore the parks
departments decision to circumvent the public review process by
install-ing a mini rink in Van Cortlandt Park.
The mini rink would be a permit project, meaning it could have
operated for only 29 days and would not require an approval
process.
The community board had scheduled and subsequently cancelled ve
public hearings to discuss the plans for the initial rinka 15-year,
seasonal skating rink that must be approved by the Franchise and
Concessions Review Committee.
Community Board 8 was planning to hold a public forum on the
rink in Janu-ary, but it is now unclear whether they will proceed
with the hearing. Either way, the board will continue to monitor
the full-size rinks progress and, when the plans go before the
citys FCRC, will offer a recommendation to the committee.
The FCRC has the only vote on the project.
In that process, we do have a say, Com-
munity Board 8 parks committee chairman Bob Bender said. We are
notied before any proposal goes to the FCRC.
We do have an opportunity to give our opinion, he added.
Aponte says the city will attempt to bring a rink to the area
next year.
We continue to work with the com-munity, Con Edison, and Ice
Rink Events to nalize plans to deliver a full-size rink in time for
a full season of skating begin-ning next fall, he said.
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, a stern critic of the way the
parks department has handled the publics requests for more
infor-mation, said he hopes this new, longer delay will give the
city a chance to complete this project hand in hand with the
community.
While I am disappointed that The Bronx will not have a skating
rink this win-ter, this delay presents a golden opportunity to do
this the right way, he said. I have consistently been supportive of
The Bronx having an ice-skating rink, but I have been critical of
the closed and undemocratic
process being used to implement it. Since we live in a
democracy, a democratic process isnt asking too much.
Community board member Charles Moerdler said the delay of the
project is a victory for the process, which was of a major concern
for the board after the parks department continued to withhold
information about the rink.
That is an unfortunate thing for the community, but a good thing
for the public process, he said.
Shane Coppola, CEO of American Skat-ing Entertainment Centers,
was irked that the city was going to allow Ice Rink Events to see
how well the project works before making the long-term
commitment.
Coppola estimates that the xed cost to build the rink is between
$50,000 and $75,000, not including personnel, electric-ity, payment
to the city and other variable costs. He also didnt expect to see
Ice Rink Events turn a prot in the 29-day rink.
If youre not open by Christmas, youre in trouble, he said.
As is our custom, the Riverdale Review will be taking a short
break for the Christmas/Chanukah/New Years Holidays.
Our ofce will be open, except for
Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2, when we will be
closed all day. On Friday, December 23 and Friday, December 30, we
will close at 3:00 P.M.
Our next issue will be published
the week of January 9, dated Thurs-day, January 12 and
distributed on Wednesday, January 11, following our normal
schedule.
Wishing all of our readers a hap-
py and healthy holiday season!
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2 College garage fails to fulll initial mandateBy BRENDAN
McHUGH
The parking garage Manhattan College built has been somewhat of
a disappoint-ment for the community, but that may soon change.
The Lasallian private school is examin-ing options for public
access to the garage, Community Board 8s land use chairman Charles
Moerdler said at the December 13 board meeting.
The college is also looking into how to accommodate nearby
residents who will have their parking affected during construction
of the Raymond W. Kelly Student Commons, which will be built on the
parking lot between Waldo Avenue and Gaelic Park.
During construction of the Kelly Com-mons, 20 parking spots on
Waldo Avenue will be lost. At the Community Board 8 land use
committee meeting earlier this month, residents were irate over the
lost parking.
However, recent communication between Moerdler and Dr. Brennan
ODonnell, president of Manhattan College, shows the school is
prepared to accommodate local residents.
I have every condence that we will be able to make arrangements
that will be mutually benecial to the college and to the community,
Dr. ODonnell wrote in an email to Moerdler, who read it at the
meeting.
Clearly, the residents are thrilled, said Steven Balicer, who
lives directly across from the college and the Waldo parking lot.
This will help those people living in the vicinity of the student
center.
Balicer pondered tha some sort of sticker system may be used,
though the community board and college have yet to discuss specics.
Moerdler has invited Manhattan College back for a January 3 land
use committee meeting to discuss the project further.
Moerdler praised ODonnell and Manhattan College ofcials for
their newfound dedication to this cause.
The college had previously denied the public any access to the
garage, citing cov-enants made with various government agencies
that helped nance the garage through the issuing of bonds.
However, neither the Dormitory Au-thority of the State of New
York nor the federal earmarks from Congress prevented the school
from offering public use.
In fact, the $5 million from Congress that came through the
SAFETEA-LU program in 2005 mandated that public parking be
offered.
Over at least the past year, Manhattan College has allowed
Riverdale Chrysler Jeep to store cars in the garage, anger-ing
residents who had previously asked for public parking and been told
it was unmanageable.
The new ve-story building, once com-pleted, will be a community
amenity. The rst two oors are available for commu-nity access and
will include a Starbucks, minimart, lounge, food service, campus
bookstore and meeting rooms for student and community use.
Residents who remember initial plans for the parking garage,
however, will still notice two things missing.
Tennis courts were to be built on the top of the garage, but
after the Kelly Com-mons became the priority, those plans
were scrapped in favor of fundraising for the new building.
In the fall of 2008, Manhattan Colleges former president, Br.
Thomas Scanlan, told the schools newspaper, The Quadrangle, that
tennis courts were going to be built within a year. A Manhattan
College representative said they have no plans to build courts.
The second major piece missing from the original plans is a
Pathmark grocery store. The college planned to lease the bottom oor
to the supermarket, but when the economy tanked, Pathmark backed
out of the deal. The ground oor has been empty since the garage was
complete.
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v1-fe
b11By BRENDAN McHUGH
The parks concession operations in the Bronx have more than
$58,000 lying on the table in uncollected revenue, a recent audit
found.
City Comptroller John C. Liu audited the Department of Parks and
Recreations controls over recreational, dining, and retail
concessions and found that better manage-ment could have yielded
$8.8 million more in badly needed revenue for the city.
In Riverdale, uncollected revenue from the Major Deegan gas
stations, mobile food carts in Van Cortlandt Park and even a tennis
professional in Seton Park are among the amenities in local parks
that are not being forced to pay what they owe the city.
Parks are not just about concessions, but concession contracts
should be better man-aged so that revenue ows to the city without
unnecessary interruption, Liu said.
The audit concluded that other conces-sions could also have been
better man-agedto the tune of $6.6 million. These include the
Central Park tennis courts, the ice skating rink at Flushing Meadow
Corona Park, and the snack bar at Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay
Park.
The worst incidences in Riverdale of concession revenues
slipping by include the horse stables in Van Cortlandt and the two
gas stations along the highway, both of which owe about $20,000.
The stables allegedly owe more than $100,000, of which they will
repay with improvements to the stables.
Most other payments range between $1,000 and $5,000. The tennis
profes-sional owes $757, the audit said.
The audit was conducted from July 1, 2008, through June 30,
2010.
Specically, the parks department should
have started key contract solicitations earlier and ensured more
competition, auditors said. Parks also failed to maintain key
docu-mentation supporting contract decisions and preventing conicts
of interest.
This announcement comes days before the parks department said
they have forgone attempts to bring an ice-skating rink to Van
Cortlant Park, an operation they would have done through the
concession process.
Only one company bid on the skating rink project, leaving no
competition.
The audit makes several recommenda-tions that answer some of the
issues of this summers troubles with the Van Cortlandt Park rink:
Track the solicitation and award process to ensure that it
progresses in a timely matter; retain written explanations of
rejected proposals that detail why an award is not in the citys
best interest; and examine why it receives a small number of
responses to solici-tations and initiate corrective action.
The parks department, as custodian of over 29,000 acres of city
parkland, is respon-sible for soliciting and awarding concessions
for various attractions. Typically, the conces-sion operators pay a
fee or a percentage of their total receiptsmoney that is used to
support programs and services.
The parks department has disagreed with many of the audits
ndings, maintaining that delays in implementing license agree-ments
resulted from discussions made in the best interests of the city.
It added that it cannot pursue concession revenue above all other
considerations, such as legal obliga-tions and long-term capital
investments.
The audit stated that the parks depart-ment could have
nonetheless avoided many delays with better planning and without
compromising other aims.
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4 Around the schools...
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Tickets Make Great Gifts!
P.S. 81Preregistration for kindergarten will be
held from Monday, January 9, through Friday, March 2, from 9
a.m. to 10:30 a.m. each day. Those who arrive later than 10:30 a.m.
will be asked to come on another day. Processing can be done on any
day throughout this periodaccep-tance is not on a rst come, rst
served basis. Parents must bring the child to be preregistered, the
childs original birth certicate or passport, the childs
immuni-zation records, the childs Individual Education Program
(IEP) and/or 540 Accommodation Plan (if applicable and available),
their own photo ID, and proof of residence such as a current
utility bill or mortgage statement. For more information, contact
the school at 718-796-8965.
This Thursday is Crazy Slipper Day (rather than Crazy Hat Day).
Students who dont already own crazy slippers are free to create
them for the occasion.
Horace Mann SchoolMore than 30 HM students, faculty
members and parents attended this years Student Diversity
Leadership Conference in Philadelphia. At the conference, hosted
annually by the National Association of Independent Schools, a
multiracial, mul-ticultural group of student leaders from around
the country in grades 9 through 12 examine social justice issues,
develop cross-cultural communication skills, practice expression
through the arts and learn networking strategies. According to
Patricia Zuroski and Markell Parker, the schools director and
associate director of diversity, the students sang most of the way
home, exhausted but energized with post-conference adrenalin. The
HM students designed and led the closing activity using index cards
to get partici-pants to tweet a message to someone else. The prompt
was Share something about diversity that you love in your school
community.
College of Mount Saint Vincent
Adjunct professor Sabine Heinlein has won the 2011 Richard J.
Margolis Award for Among Murderers, a work of literary nonction
about three men navigating their new freedom after several decades
in prison. The work is based on the authors experience with
convicted murderers at a halfway house in West Harlem. Heinlein
says it provides an intimate sketch of a rarely seen demographic
and reveals a pressing public policy issue: more than 700,000
people are released from prisons each year, and these numbers are
growing steadily. The award, named for journal-ist Richard J.
Margolis, is given annually to a promising nonction writer whose
work combines warmth, humor, wisdom and concern with social
justice. The 2011 prize is accompanied by a $5,000 hono-rarium and
a one-month residency at Blue Mountain Center in New York.
Heinlein, who teaches writing at the college, is completing a
collection of essays that explore the lives of underdogs in New
York City. While I strive to accurately portray how the other half
lives, I also believe that making myself an active part of the
story adds to its meaning, she says. Heinlein earned a masters in
journalism
from New York University in 2007. She was awarded a Yaddo
residency and fel-lowship, a New York Foundation for the Arts
Fellowship and a residency at The MacDowell Colony. One of her
essays recently won the 2010 American Literary Review Nonction
Award.
Manhattan CollegeCollege president Dr. Brennan
ODonnell has been included on the Irish Education 100, a listing
of the na-
tions most inuential education leaders of Irish heritage. He was
honored at an awards ceremony last week at the home of Irish Consul
General Noel Kilkenny. ODonnell became the colleges
19th president in 2009 after ve years of service as the dean of
Fordham Universi-tys College at Rose Hill. Earlier, he spent 17
years at Loyola University as a professor of English and director
of the university-wide honors program. He is now on the board of
trustees at both La Salle University and the Commission on
Independent Colleges and Universities and has served as a board
member for the Lilly Fellows Program and for Collegium, a
consortium of Catholic universities working to strengthen faculty
commitment to the mission of Catholic higher education.
Local ScholarsNew Yorks Pace University has an-
nounced the names of students who have declared majors this
fall. The following are juniors at the New York City campus: Alyse
Gagnon will major in environmen-tal studies; Massiel Marte will
major in applied psychology and human relations; and Lisbet Ulloa
will major in environ-mental studies. The following are juniors
from the Pleasantville campus: Christina Kendzor will major in
public accounting; Gentrit Dedushi will major in information
systems; and Erica Shubrick will major in nance. Pace University is
recognized for profession-oriented programs in business, law, arts
and sciences, information tech-nology, education, and nursing, with
a core curriculum based in the liberal arts. This September, the
New York City and Westchester campuses had their highest enrollment
of new undergraduates in the past ten years. Business Week ranked
Pace among the top 50 colleges and universities in the U.S. in 2008
for graduates with the highest earning potential. Pace enrolls
nearly 13,000 students in bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs
in its Lubin School of Business, Dyson College of Arts and
Sciences, College of Health Pro-fessions, School of Education,
School of Law, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and
Information Systems.
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Schervier Center sponsors trip to Atlantic City
On Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Schervier Home will sponsor a Day
trip to SHOWBOAT CASINO at Atlantic City. Cost is $28.00 per seat,
with casino cash back of $30.00. The bus picks up from Schervier
Apartments at 2995 Indepen-dence Avenue, Riverdale @ 8:55am and
Knolls Crescent @ 9:00am. Returns at 8:30pm with drop offs at
230thst. & Kings-bridge Ave.; 232ndst. & Henry Hudson
Parkway; Knolls Crescent and Schervier Apartments. For reservations
please call NELLIE KENNY @ 718-543-0237.
Boro Prez Diaz to host Chanukah celebration in the Bronx
On Thursday, December 22, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz
Jr., together with New York Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman, will
host the boroughs annual Chanukah celebration.
The event will take place at 12 noon in the Bronx County
Building, 851 Grand Concourse, in Veterans Memorial Hall.
Traditional Chanukah foods, such as latkes and jelly donuts, will
be served. The event will also feature a musical perfor-mance from
world-renowned recording artist Dafka Israel-Potok.
As borough president, I invite all Bronxites to participate in
our annual Chanukah celebration. I am thrilled to have Suzyn
Waldman, the voice of our
very own Bronx Bombers, join me on this festive occasion, said
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
The celebration of Chanukah reminds us that we can triumph over
oppression of all kinds, no matter what the odds. It is a triumph
of a little light over total darkness. I am thrilled to be
partnering with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. to help
celebrate Chanukah and light the Menorah in my second home...The
Bronx! said Suzyn Waldman, who will serve as MC at the event.
Waldman has spent the greater part of her twenty ve year career
overcoming all the obstacles that go along with being a female
sports broadcaster, and has risen to the top of her profession. She
is the only woman doing radio color commentary for a MLB team.
Suzyn Waldman is the rst woman to broadcast a World Series and is
prominently featured in the Women and Baseball room in Baseball
Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
In l987, Waldman became the rst female voice heard on WFAN, the
rst All-Sports Radio station in the country, and was a mainstay on
that station for almost 15 years, creating the job of the radio
beat reporter, covering both the New York Yankees and New York
Knicks. Her news-breaking reports, exclusive interviews and always
original and con-troversial opinions won her countless journalism
awards.
Among her accolades include: the
International Radio Award for her live and emotional reporting
from the up-per deck of Candlestick Park during the 1989 San
Francisco earthquake, the l996 NY Sportscaster of the Year, by The
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters the American Women in
Radio and TVs Star Award for Radio in l999. An award winning
journalist, Suzyn Waldman is currently the Yankees color
commentator on WCBS-AM radio.
The event is sponsored jointly by the Bronx Jewish Community
Council, Health Plus, the Bronx Overall Economic Development
Corporation and the Bronx Tourism Council.
Manhattan College names new board chair
Kenneth A. Rathgeber, executive vice president and chief
compliance ofcer for the Investment Adviser and Fidelity Mutual
Funds for Fidelity Investments, has been named chairman of the
board of trustees of Manhattan College. The new appointment will
take effect July 1, 2012, and Rathgeber will succeed Thomas D.
OMalley, who has served as chairman since 2005.
Ken Rathgeber has a remarkable re-cord of commitment and service
to the College, and has long been an active and valued member of
the board. He will be a wonderful chairman and a worthy succes-sor
to Tom OMalley, under whose expert leadership the board has
prospered, said Brennan ODonnell, Ph.D., president of Manhattan
College.
Rathgeber graduated from Manhattan College in 1970 with a
bachelors degree in business administration, and throughout his
career, has remained dedicated to his alma mater. Since his
appointment to the Colleges board of trustees in 2005, he has been
a member of the development committee, was elected to the boards
executive committee in June 2007, and is currently serving as vice
chair of the board. In addition, he served as a chair of the
Colleges Annual Fund, has been a member of the De La Salle Medal
Dinner committee for several years, and is pres-ently co-chair of
the Raymond W. Kelly 63 Student Commons capital campaign
project.
Ken Rathgeber is an excellent choice to lead the board at this
exciting time in Manhattan Colleges history, said Thomas
D. OMalley, chairman of PBF Energy LLC. He is a respected
professional, a seasoned and talented leader, and a strong and
dedicated supporter of the College. I am leaving the board in very
good hands, and I look forward to assisting Ken and my colleagues
in carrying forward the great work of the College.
Beginning his career with Fidelity in 1995 as chief nancial
ofcer and treasurer of Fidelity Mutual Funds, Rathgeber later
became acting president of Fidelity Bro-kerage Services. He was
named president of Fidelity Brokerage Group in 1997, and was
promoted in 1998 to executive vice president and chief operating
ofcer for Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company, Inc.
He was the head of risk oversight from 2002-2008 and has
main-tained the position of chief compliance ofcer for Fidelity
Funds since 2004.
Before working for Fidelity, Rath-geber spent 17 years with
Goldman Sachs as chief operations ofcer for Asia, responsible for
the operations, technology and nance functions. He was also a nance
manager for Dillon Read & Company, a senior examiner for the
New York Stock Exchange, and an auditor for Price Waterhouse &
Company.
It is a great honor for me to serve as chairman of the board of
Manhattan College. I have worked closely with Tom OMalley, who has
been a great chairman and mentor for the last six years, said
Rathgeber. Along with my fellow trust-ees, I am dedicated to seeing
Manhattan College be a premier Catholic institution of higher
education, and preparing our students to succeed in the challenges
that they will face.
After graduating from Manhattan Col-lege, Rathgeber went on to
receive an MBA from Long Island University in 1976. He is also a
Certied Public Accountant in the state of New York.
Congregation Shaarei Shalom to celebrate Chanukah
Chanukah commemorates the victory of the Maccabeans against the
Helenic rule. It is the winning of the few over the mighty Greek
empire-right over might. It is observed for eight days beginning on
Tuesday evening, December 20th.
Congregation Shaarei Shalom, lo-cated at 5919 Riverdale Avenue
will celebrate Chanukah at the Friday eve-ning Shabbat Service on
December 23, 2011 at 7:30PM. The service will be led by Rabbi
Steven Burton and Cantor Daniel Pincus.
The holidays most famous food-latkes will be served. So join us
on Friday, De-cember 23rd as we light the menorah, to sing with us,
pray and try a spin of the dreidl! The service is open to the
entire Riverdale Community.
Congregation Shaarei Shalom is a Reform Jewish synagogue. It
offers a contemporary and participatory wor-ship experience and
prides itself on its inclusiveness of all members of the Riverdale
community, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, race,
age or creed. It is dedicated to embracing the diversity within the
Reform Jewish movement.
For further information about the congregation, services,
membership, its Religious School, or any of the many adult program
offerings, please contact the congregation at: (718) 798-0305,
e-mail the Congregation at: [email protected] or
visit its website at: www.shaareisha-lomriverdale.org.
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responders who are on site.
CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG
There are more than 4,300 miles of underground gas pipelines in
our service area. The slightest scratch, scrape, dent or gouge can
result in a dangerous leak. To protect these pipelines, you must
call the local one-call center at 811 two to 10 days before you dig
or excavate on public or private property. After you call, utility
companies will mark the approximate location of their lines at no
charge to you.
LEARN MORE
For gas safety tips, visit www.conEd.com/gassafety.
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Thursday, December 22RiverdaleCHORAL CONCERT7:15 p.m. Atria
Senior Living3718 Henry Hudson Parkway
The Hebrew Institute Choir composed of 50 singers under the
direction of Dr Johnathan Dzik is in its 10th season and will
perform a Chanukah Concert. RSVP by December 18 to Jane Kennedy 718
432 2448 or e mail [email protected]
Friday, December 23RiverdaleCHANUKAH CELEBRATION7:30 p.m.
Congregation Shaarei Shalom5919 Riverdale Avenue
The Shabbat service celebrating Chanukah will be led by Rabbi
Steven Burton and Cantor Daniel Pincus. For more information, call
718-798-0305.
Saturday, December 24Van CortlandtBIRDING8 a.m. Van Cortlandt
Nature CenterBroadway and West 246th Street
Join the Urban Park Rangers as they search for winter song
birds, waterfowl, and birds of prey. For more information please
visit www.nyc.gov/parks/rangers or call 311 and ask for the Urban
Park Rangers.
Wednesday, December 28KingsbridgeOPEN COMPUTER LAB9:30 a.m.
Kingsbridge Branch Library291 West 231st Street
Are you having trouble with your email? Dont know how to cut and
paste? Curious about Facebook? Bring your technology questions and
get one on one assistance! Space is limited, registration is
required. Please sign up by phone or in person. For more
information, call 718-548-5656.
KingsbridgeGAME ON1:30 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library291 West
231st Street
Got the gaming moves? Show off your skills with the controller
and challenge your friends and neighbors to a game of Wii Bowling
in the library. For more information, call 718-548-5656.
Thursday, December 29Spuyten DuyvilTODDLER STORY TIME10:30 a.m.
Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 West 235th Street
Toddlers from 18 months to 3 years old and their
par-ents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs,
and ngerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the
neighborhood. For more information, call 718-796-1202.
Friday, December 30KingsbridgeSTORYTELLING1 p.m. Kingsbridge
Branch Library291 West 231st Street
Join Elder George as he examines life through storytelling. He
will tell stories of life experiences of individuals and groups and
the principals that enabled survival in various environments.
Featured will be the story, Decorating our Christmas Tree. For more
information, call 718-548-5656.
Wednesday, January 4Van CortlandtTALES WITH NZINGA3:30 p.m. Van
Cortlandt Branch Library3874 Sedgwick Avenue
Interested in playing the role of Camel? Of taking a journey
across the desert? Nzinga will take you there! Experience master
storyteller Willie Teachers tales, woven with interactive
ele-ments, call and response, and opportunities for participants to
take on active roles in the stories. Based on folklore from Anansi
the Spider, these tales teach the importance of stories and inspire
reading and writing. Presented by Urban Stages for children ages 4
to 10 years old. For more information, call 718-543-5150.
Thursday, January 5Spuyten DuyvilTODDLER STORY TIME
10:30 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 West 235th
Street
Toddlers from 18 months to 3 years old and their
par-ents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs,
and ngerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the
neighborhood. For more information, call 718-796-1202.
KingsbridgeBABY LAPSIT10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library291
West 231st Street
Stories, Songs, Fingerplays puppets for babies birth to 36
months. For more information, call 718-548-5656.
KingsbridgeSPIN, POP, BOOM SHOW4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch
Library291 West 231st Street
Are you ready for some fun science? This special event is all
about awesome experiments! You will witness amazing feats of
chemistry as we explore all sorts of spectacular reactions. You
will marvel at our demonstrations as we release genies from bottles
and spew massive columns of foam with the use of our catalysts. So,
get ready to be amazed! Presented by Mad Science of Westchester and
Manhattan. Recommended for children ages 4 and older. For more
information, call 718-548-5656.
Saturday, January 7KingsbridgeFLEA MARKET9 a.m. Old St. Johns
School3030 Godwin Terrace
Merchandise includes dishes, jewelry, picture frames, paintings,
toys for the kids, shirts, handbags, and bric-a-brac. There is
plenty of parking, and a great lunch, too. For more information,
call 718-543-3003.
Monday, January 9Spuyten DuyvilKNITTING & CROCHET11 a.m.
Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 West 235th Street
A get together for knitters & crocheters at all skill levels
to work on a current project, learn new techniques, or even to
begin a new craft. All skill levels are welcomed. Pre-registration
not required. For more information, call 718-796-1202.
RiverdaleKNITTING CIRCLE2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540
Mosholu Avenue
Gather with other knitters and perhaps pick up a few tips and
tricks as your work on your own creations. For more information,
call 718-549-1212.
Van CortlandtSTYROFOAM PAINTING4 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch
Library3874 Sedgwick Avenue
Paint with shapes. All materials will be provided. For ages 12
to 18 years old. For more information, call 718-543-5150.
Spuyten DuyvilREADING ALOUD4 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch
Library650 West 235th Street
A librarian will share favorite picture books, providing
children with the wonder of books and the joy of reading. For more
information, call 718-796-1202.
Tuesday, January 10Van CortlandtPRESCHOOL STORY TIME10:30 a.m.
Van Cortlandt Branch Library3874 Sedgwick Avenue
Preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old and their parents/care-givers
can enjoy new and classic picture books, action songs, meet other
preschoolers in the neighborhood and stay after the story time for
Arts & Crafts. For more information, call 718-5435-5150.
RiverdaleBABY STORY TIME11:30 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540
Mosholu Avenue
Babies from birth to 18 months old and their parents/care-givers
can enjoy great books, lively songs, and rhymes, and meet other
babies in the neighborhood. For more information, call
718-549-1212.
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9Doomed post ofces get years reprieveBy BRENDAN McHUGH
The U.S. Postal Service is delaying the closing or consolidating
of any post of-ces until at least May 15, 2012.
This comes as good news to local leaders, who have fought for
the past few months against the closure of 17 Bronx post ofces.
I am encouraged to see the Postal Service has chosen to listen
to the rising chorus of voices from across the country urging it to
stop trying to plug their nancial gaps by cutting an essential
service to the American people, Rep. Eliot Engel said.
Engel has recently criticized the USPS for singling out post
ofces for closure and for considering slashing hundreds of
thousands of jobs while failing to identify root causes for their
massive debt.
Seniors and working families in New York and around the nation
would be most affected by the loss of the local post ofce. Instead,
the Post Ofce should nd ways to save money which do not cause
hardships for the many residents who are not able to easily travel
to distant locations.
Engel has seven ofces in his district that the USPS was
considering closing, including two in The Bronx.
The USPS already closed the Bronx General Post Ofces mail
processing center, moving all the operations to Manhattan.
I will continue to ght the plan to consider these locations for
closing, Engel said. The Post Ofce must un-derstand that it cannot
x its nancial woes by making access to post ofces more difcult and
inconvenient. This is a business plan designed for fail-ure.
In the East Bronx, Rep. Joseph Crowley was happy to hear that
the two Co-op City post ofces will remain open.
With the holidays just days away, this decision is welcome news
for fami-lies in Queens and The Bronx. While this decision does not
mean our postal facilities are in the clear, it does allow for more
time to seek alternatives to help USPS meet its nancial
obligations, Crowley said.
Crowley and Engel are co-sponsors of H.R. 1351, legislation that
will free the Postal Service from pre-paying its pension
obligations in an effort to al-leviate the nancial burden facing
the Postal Service.
Chuck Zlatkin, the legislative and political director for NY
Metro, the postal workers union, says new legislation is needed if
the post ofces wish to remain open past the postponement.
From my perspective, unless legisla-tion is going to be passed
in the interim that will change what the post ofce is viewing what
they have to do, it may just be postponing the inevitable, he
said.
We have to remain vigilant, he stated. This gives people more
time to prepare a repeal. No one wants their post ofce closed, and
its because they depend on it.
Zlatkin noted that while the delay sounds like great news, the
post ofce is still going ahead and examining post ofces for
closure.
After the announcement was made last week, the USPS still went
ahead with the hearing to discuss the Hunts
Point Post Ofce. Also, because there is a 60-day period between
the hearing and the decision, the delay only pushes the decision
about Hunts Point back two months, from February to May.
The USPS released a statement about the delay, saying, The
Postal Service hopes this period will help facilitate the enactment
of comprehensive postal legislation. Given the Postal Services
nancial situation and the loss of mail volume, the Postal Service
must continue to take all steps necessary to reduce costs and
increase revenue.
The Postal Service receives no tax dol-lars for operating
expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services
to fund its operations.
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Friday, December 23Mt. VernonFAMILY HOLIDAY PROGRAM10 a.m. St.
Pauls Church897 S. Columbus Avenue
Historic games, activities, music and demonstrations, designed
for children on vacation from school, as well as parents, adults,
and others. For more information, call David Osborn at
914-667-4116.
Friday, December 30RyePARTY NIGHT8:45 p.m. Playland Ice
CasinoPlayland Parkway
Live DJ, party lights, on-ice contests, giveaways and more. For
more information, call 914-813-7059.
Saturday, December 31YonkersWINTER STROLL11 a.m. Lenoir
PreserveDudley Street
Bundle up and join us on a winter stroll through the preserve
admiring all its beauty. Come in from the cold after and warm up to
a cup of hot chocolate. For more information, call
914-968-5851.
RyeSATURDAY NIGHT GROOVES8:45 p.m. Playland Ice CasinoPlayland
Parkway
Skate to the sounds of the 70s, 80s, 90s and today. For more
information, call 914-813-7059.
Wednesday, January 4YonkersBOOK DISCUSSION1 p.m. Riverfront
LibraryOne Larkin Center
Join Librarian Jody Maier in a discussion of The Language of
Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. For more information, contact Jody
Maier, at 914-337-1500, ext. 492.
Thursday, January 5White PlainsEPILEPSY SUPPORT GROUP6:30 p.m.
White Plains Hospital Medical LibraryDavis Avenue at East Post
Road
Free Epilepsy Support group for adults with epilepsy or their
loved ones. Open to all. For more information, email
[email protected]
Friday, January 6OssiningFIRESIDE STORIES3:30 p.m. Teatown Lake
Reservation1600 Spring Valley Road
Throughout the month of January, drop by Teatown for Friday
afternoon story-time in the Carriage House. Well gather around a
nice, warm replace to read a winterthemed story, visit with one of
Teatowns Animal Ambassadors, and go for a short walk outside. For
children 4 7 years old accompanied by an adult. Fee:
$5/child/program; adults free. For more information, call
914-762-2912 x110.
Saturday, January 7OssiningSNUG BENEATH THE SHOW11 a.m. Teatown
Lake Reservation1600 Spring Valley Road
Is your blanket made of snow? Learn the survival strategies of
animals and plants that use snow as an insulator. Well take a short
hike in the frosty weather to look for animals winter homes. Free
for members; $5pp for nonmembers. For more information, call
914-762-2912 x110.
Sunday, January 8OssiningHIKE IN THE NEW YEAR1 p.m. Teatown Lake
Reservation1600 Spring Valley Road
Kick off the New Year with a hearty hike in the frosty air. Well
hike to Vernay Lake, look for ice formations along the Waterfall
Trail and circle Teatown Lake searching for winter wildlife. On our
return, well toast the New Year with a hot drink. Please note this
program is for adults only. Free for
members; $5pp for nonmembers. For more information, call
914-762-2912 x110.
Saturday, January 14Dobbs FerryGENEALOGY10 a.m. Aldersgate
Methodist Church600 Broadway
The Westchester County Genealogical Society welcomes Nora Galvin
with a talk on the Special Schedules of the U.S. Census. WCGS
welcomes all interested in searching their family roots. There will
be refreshments and genealogical networking starting at 9:30 a.m.
For more information, call Philomena Dunn at 914-953-9173.
OssiningVULTURE VENTURE11 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation1600
Spring Valley Road
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood of all birds, vultures
often get a bad rap. View Teatowns vultures and nd out more about
their role as part of natures clean-up crew. Free for members; $5pp
for nonmembers. 914-762-2912 x110.
Mt. VernonSHAKESPEARES HAMLET1:30 p.m. St. Pauls Church897 S.
Columbus Avenue
The acclaimed Red Monkey Theatre Group performs Hamlet, William
Shakespeares classic drama about the tragic Prince of Denmark.
Visitors can also view the sites feature exhibition, A Clash of
Cultures: Anne Hutchinsons Brief Life near St. Pauls Church. St.
Pauls is open that day from noon to 4 PM. For more information,
call 914-667-4116 or visit www.nps.gov/sapa
Sunday, January 15White PlainsINDOOR FARMERS MARKET10 a.m.
Westchester County Center198 Central Park Avenue
Fresh produce, baked goods, cheese, maple syrup, honey, meat and
more. For more information, call 914-995-4050.
OssiningTRACKS IN THE SNOW1 p.m. Teatown Lake Reservation1600
Spring Valley Road
Many animals are out and about searching for food and leaving
their tracks in the snow. Well follow tracks and other signs to see
what animals are doing in the cold winter world. This program is
for families with children ages 5 and over. Free for members; $5pp
for nonmembers. For more information, call 914-762-2912 x110.
Saturday, January 21OssiningOWL MOON FAMILY7 p.m. Teatown Lake
Reservation1600 Spring Valley Road
A cold winters eve is the best time to go owling. After reading
the classic Owl Moon, well wander outdoors to call for owls. Dress
for winter conditions. Please note this program is not appropriate
for children under 7. Free for members; $5pp for nonmembers. For
more information, call 914-762-2912 x110.
Saturday, January 28OssiningAMAZING ANIMAL EYES1 p.m. Teatown
Lake Reservation1600 Spring Valley Road
Animal eyes come in all shapes and sizes from the built-in
binoculars of hawks to the multi-faceted eyes of insects. Come see
how animals look at the world in their own unique way. Free for
members; $5pp for nonmembers. For more information, call
914-762-2912 x110.
Sunday, January 29OssiningANIMAL ADVENTURES1 p.m. Teatown Lake
Reservation1600 Spring Valley Road
Meet a few of Teatowns animal ambassadors as we highlight who is
active in the winter months. This program is for families with
children ages 4 and up. Free for members; $5 per child for
nonmembers. Call 914-762-2912 ext. 110 to make a reservation.
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Flea market at St. Johns Church
St. Johns Church will host a ea market on Saturday, January 7,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will be held at the Old St. Johns
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 nd. For more information, please call
718-543-3003.
Chabad to sponsor Toys for Tots campaign
Join Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdales 17th Annual Toys for Tots
campaign and support the distribution of toys, games, gifts and
most importantly smiles of joy to children with ill-ness. Help
instill joy and long lasting hope!
Partner with us in our holy work during this holiday season.
$180 supplies gifts to a ward of up to 18 children
$96 supplies gifts for 10 children $54 supplies gifts for 4
children $36 supplies gifts for 3 childrenPlease make checks
payable to Chabad
of Riverdale T.H.C. Campaign. All con-tributions are tax
deductible.
You can also donate unwrapped toys through December 26th, Monday
- Thurs-
day 9:00 am to 5:00 pm & Fridays 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will
also need the assis-tance of volunteers to visit hospitals with us
on Chanukah December 21st, 22nd and 26th. For more information
contact our Ofce at 718-549-1100 ext.10.
December 25th is Family Time at the Riverdale Y
Here are the days events. Everything is free and open to the
Riverdale public (except the Chinese lunch requires
pre-registration and there is a charge).
Gym Time, 10:00 am - 1:00 pmEnjoy the Ys big blow-up bounce
castle
and other fun equipment for younger and older children.
Counselors on hand to organize pickup games.
Shalom Sesame Chanukah: The Miss-ing Menorah, movie, 10:30 -
11:00 am
Its time to celebrate Chanukah in Israel! Grovers bringing the
latkes and all is well until Anneliese gets caught in a game of tag
with a chicken and loses her special menorah! Can her Muppet
friends nd the missing menorah in time to celebrate Chanukah?
Swim Time, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Ys Synergy* Pool will be
open
all day for family swim. Bring bathing cap and towel. Parent
must be IN THE WATER with children under age 5.*Our
pool is now ltered with UV light and salt, rather than by adding
chlorine. Much healthier!
Art Time, 11 am - noon: Beeswax candle making in the Art Studio,
led by our Early Childhood Center staff. Note: Space is limited -
rst-come, rst-served.
Chinese Lunch, 12:00 - 1:00 pm: Enjoy an all-you-can-eat kosher
Chinese feast, ca-tered by The Ginger Grill. Pre-registration and
advance payment is required. We will not be able to accomodate
walk-ins. Cost is $15 per adult, $9 per child. To reserve your
space, call Marilyn Raider (718) 548-8200, ext. 203 or email
[email protected]. Prepaid reservations will be taken until we
run out of room or through December 23, whichever comes rst! This
was a big hit the last time the Y offered it, so sign up early!
Movie: The Princess and the Frog, 1:30-3:00 pm: A modern day
retelling of the clas-sic story The Frog Prince. The Princess and
the Frog nds the lives of arrogant, carefree Prince Naveen and
hardworking waitress Tiana crossing paths. Prince Naveen is
trans-formed into a frog by a conniving voodoo magician and Tiana,
following suit, upon kissing the amphibian royalty. With the help
of a trumpet-playing alligator, a Cajun rey, and an old blind lady
who lives in a boat in a tree, Naveen and Tiana must race to break
the spell and fulll their dreams.
Menorah candlelighting and Latkes, 3:30 pm: In the Y lobby,
light the me-norah, sing Chanukah songs, and enjoy some hot latkes
and apple sauce!
The Riverdale Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue (off 256
St.).
CSAIR offers free Torah class for 5th graders
For the second year, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of
Riverdale (CSAIR) will offer a class for 5th graders who would like
to get a jump on learning the skills involved in preparing for Bar
and Bat Mitzvah.
Led by Cantor Elizabeth Stevens, this class will teach Torah
cantillation in a fun, stress-free environment. The class will meet
on Sunday mornings from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The rst session
will be on Sunday, January 8.
This program is free and is open to 5th graders from the entire
community. Each student in the class will prepare a few verses to
chant from the Torah as part of CSAIRs Shavuot celebration on the
eve-ning of May 26, 2012. As Cantor Stevens noted, What better way
to celebrating the giving of the Torah.
CSAIR is located at 475 West 250th Street. For more information
or to register, call the CSAIR ofce at 718-543-8400.
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JOEL PAL CECILIA McNALLY Production Manager Oce Manager
ROBERT NILVA MIAWLING LAM Marketing Director Associate
EditorNote our New Address:
5752 Fieldston RoadBronx, New York 10471
(718) 543-5200FAX: (718) 543-4206
STAFF: Robert Lebowitz, Brendan McHugh, Richard Reay, Paulette
Schneider, Lloyd Ultan, Daniel R. Wolf
ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher
To The Editor:Required Minimum Distribu-
tions (RMD) are the mandatory distributions that people ages 70
1/2 and older are required to withdraw from their retire-ment plans
(IRAs, 401(k)s, etc.) each year.
In a recent Letter to the Editor, Mr. Alvin Gordon stated that,
in order to stimulate the economy, Congress should give seniors the
option of not having to not take these required distribu-tions.
However, the economy is not going to be stimulated if funds that
would have entered the economy remain sitting in a brokerage
account or a bank. While it is true that seniors would not have to
pay the taxes on the otherwise mandatory withdrawal, it does
nothing to stimulate the economy because those taxes would have
been paid from the withdrawal itself. It is only if those funds are
withdrawn that they have the opportunity to enter the economy.
With regard to stimulating the
economy, it appears that Mr. Gor-don is equating the recent
payroll tax holiday with the suspending of the Required Minimum
Dis-tributions. However, while the rst allows funds to be diverted
from the IRS to the individual (where, presumably, those funds
could enter the economy), the later would just allow funds to
be held in suspension, with no benet to the economy. Further,
Congress suspended the RMD requirements in 2009 because the stock
market experienced a huge decline in 2008 not in order to stimulate
the economy, as Mr. Gordon suggests.
Michael Weston, ChFCAmeriprise Financial
To The Editor:Re: Racism charge is the latest
controversy at troubled P.S. 24What is the definition of
community? What underlies the literal meaning is a sense of
con-nection; of positively contribut-ing to and together enjoying
our homes, our schools, our parks, and our religious and cultural
institutions.
I respectfully challenge you to consider whether your local
edu-cation coverage makes you a posi-tive force in our
community.
The latest target of your anon-
Stimulating the economy?
ymous half-truths about PS 24 is a man cherished by the student
body and respected by parents for his thoughtful problem solving.
That you would seek to tarnish the reputation of Manny Verdi with
an outrageous accusation of racism is indefensible.
Our children treasure the innovation introduced by our
principal, Dr. Donna Connelly, as well as by Mr. Verdi. Prior to
Dr. Connellys administration, there were no annual school-wide
units of study; no lunch clubs that offered chess, digital
photography, and the like; no Spanish language instruction; no
expansive arts enrichment. The school, and its fabulous teachers,
was wonderful before. But it is even more so now.
The only trouble at PS 24 stems from the divisive maneu-vering
of the Review. What is your end game? To deprive the PS 24
community of its valued administrators?
Racism in P.S. 24 administration?
Continued on Page 19
The Thin Ice CracksThe Parks Department has nally come to its
senses, and jet-
tisoned the ill-conceived plan for a temporary Skating Rink in
Van Cortlandt Park. They could have spared us a lot of the drama by
being more open and forthcoming.
Thats because this plan was so awed from the get-go that it was
sure to fail. It simply collapsed under the weight of the
assumption that anything that this administration proposes, no
matter how stupid, needs no public scrutiny.
When the history books are written, it is this mayors contempt
for the public will and democratic process, that will demarcate his
failure as mayor.
Mayor Bloomberg, we suggest, got bamboozled by the
politically-motivated leadership of the Van Cortlandt Park
Conservancy. So desperate were they to hand their chair, Anthony
Perez Cassino, a local political victory by creating this rink in
the heart of his politi-cal territory, that they simply forgot to
examine the minutiae of the plan. The result is disaster.
This plan was advertised as a skating rink for The Bronx, our
borough being the only one in the city without such a facility. But
locating it in a remote corner of the borough, insured that it
would be inaccessible to a vast majority of our residents.
While there is an elevated subway train with a stop near the
proposed rink, and bus lines passing by, an examination of these
routes show that this site is far more accessible to Yonkers on the
north, and to Manhattan to the south than it is for the vast
major-ity of rink-deprived Bronxites.
And for those who would wish to come by car, as we suspect the
vast majority of potential customers would prefer, particularly
those with children, there is only street parking available,
aggressively policed by the citys rapacious trafc agents.
When the potential contractors came to the site to participate
in the Parks Department event to present the proposal and solicit
bids, the noise from the elevated train overhead was so deafening
that the meeting had to moved to the other side of the concrete
grandstand so that the Parks Department representatives could be
heard above the din.
Does this sound like the kind of bucolic atmosphere that lends
itself to a relaxing skating experience in the park? If there was
any thought given to this enterprise, it would have been clear that
the reason that the abandoned tennis courts upon which the rink was
to have been built were deserted by tennis acionados is for the
same reason that the site would have been eschewed by skaters. Just
too much noise.
We suspect that all of the potential operators saw what we saw.
All dropped their proposals save one, the insider who helped
conceive the plan in the rst place. Ice Rink Events.
But we suspect that the obvious problems did not escape their
notice and concern as well. We would be very surprised if they did
not go back to the Parks Department and ask for a signicant subsidy
in order to proceed with what was increasingly apparent to be a
awed plan.
That is apparently why the announcement of the winner and the
specics of the winning proposal were stuck on hold for months and
months we assume that Ice Rink Events wants a much sweeter deal,
one with guarantees to prevent them from losing their shirt.
When our reporter, Miawling Lam, questioned the mayor about the
stalled project at an unrelated press event, Mr. Bloomberg seemed
shocked and certainly unaware of these problems. Within days, a
second plan for a truly scaled down temporary proposal was hatched,
again without any input from the public.
All of these problems stemmed from the fact that this plan was
conceived in secret without the benet of public review, or
inspec-tion of our duly constituted representatives, be it the
elected ofcials or members of the community board.
The shelving of the Cassino/Conservancy debacle affords us a
unique opportunity to start from scratch without any pre-conceived
notions or political agendas. Let us ask what kind of facility is
needed, where can it be sited to serve the most of our neighbors,
and do this all in the bright sunlight of public participation.
Only by not freezing out the public, can we get an economically
viable skating rink worthy of our great borough.
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At Bon Secours, moments of good help happen every minute of
every day. We believe people heal better when they know their
caregivers care. And we do.
Schedule a tour today to nd out more about our Cardio/Pulmonary
program and to see good help in action in our community.
Call the Schervier Resource & Referral Center at
718-884-5100
Burke at Schervier Short-Term Rehabilitation
Burke at Schervier Cardio/Pulmonary Sub-Acute Care
Schervier Respite Care
Schervier Home Care
Schervier Nursing Care Center
Schervier Center for Alzheimers & Dementia Care
Schervier Palliative Care
Good Help to Those in Need
We are the care in healthcare.
2975 Independence Avenue, Riverdale, New York 10463
good help TM
What is a co-op?To The Editor:
A co-op is a home to a family and needs to be protected by
law
A few months ago I wrote an article questioning what is a co-op.
I wondered if it was an expensive membership to a club, a fraud or
a home. Well, I concluded that a co-op is a home to a family but
the family has no protection under the law to protect their
home.
Real Estates advertise apartment for sale not certicate of
shares for sale. If shares were advertised, I dont think any-body
looking for a home would buy it. Is it misrepresentation and a
violation of real estates law? A co-op board of directors can evict
a shareholder without foreclosing his home; a co-op is not a home
in court but a piece of paper. I fought for my family home in
housing, bankruptcy and supreme courts and I was terried of how
easy it is for a shareholder to lose their homes. Laws do not
protect us. Local politicians have being sitting on co-op
legislation to protect shareholders for over 10 years. Go to
www.coopabuse.com for these legislations.
I met many shareholders, from differ-ent part of NYC, different
races, different ages and different nancial backgrounds. The most
painful was to see old senior citizens, living on xed income,
losing their homes because of the high increase in maintenance and
the abusive legal charges by co-op boards. This is a crime bigger
than Enron.
Rosa Nazar
That would not serve our children well.
Jennifer FirestonePS 24 parent
The Editor replies:As we indicated in a recent editorial,
these charges may be anonymous to the public but they are not
anonymous to us. There is a climate of fear among teach-ers at many
of our schools, not just P.S. 24, that precludes teachers from
going public with important grievances. It is our policy, and that
of most newspapers to protect the anonymity of sources.Our reporter
interviewed the staff members in question, and felt they had
credibility on this matter. We are not offering an opinion as to
the validity of the charges, only that they were made by credible
and respected PS 24 staffers. It is up to
Racism in P.S. 24?Continued from Page 18
Bomb scare at RKABy BRENDAN McHUGH
There was bomb threat Tuesday morn-ing at the Riverdale
Kingsbridge Academy, located at 660 West 237th Street at
Inde-pendence Avenue.
Around 10:30 a.m. on December 20, RKA was evacuated as police
investigated the threat. A neighbor of the school said detectives
from the 50th precinct told him that a brown paper bag with bomb
written on it was found in a third-oor stairwell.
A Department of Education represen-tative said a school safety
agent saw the suspicious package. After a bomb squad searched the
building and determined the packaged was not a bombin fact, it was
emptystudents were allowed to re-enter.
A school ofcial said everything had returned to normal by 11
a.m.
others to adjudicate the matter. But we do feel that it is the
right of the public to know when serious charges such as these are
made.
Where would you draw the line? If a staff member was charged
with a sexual impropriety involving a student, should that
information be withheld? How about cheating on tests? Dozens of
cases have surfaced, including at other nearby Bronx schools, of
systemic cheating on standardized tests and Regents exams. Should
this information be withheld from the public?
Whatever the nal disposition of this matter, we will report it.
It is not the role of a free press to pick and choose what facts
the public should know, they should have access to all information,
the good the bad and the ugly. We believe that the more the public
knows, the better our community will be.
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