VCP Ice Skating Rink UPDATE

  UPDATE:

   The temporary ice skating rink at Van Cortlandt Park is almost ready to open. In the photos below  the ice is in place, and poles are also in place to hold the barrier that will keep the skaters in the ring. There has been talk in the comments section that I am claiming to have had the rink set up, and that is false. There is also talk that I opposed the rink, and that is false again. Then there was the comment about the head of the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and myself, again false. He was a candidate for City Council and I am a political columnist. I was doing what is expected of me, covering the candidates. After the election was over it appears that we switched roles. I was now on the Community Board and he was not. Enough said as I will answer any sound comment, and remember the comments are moderated here unlike elsewhere. 

Above - The chiller lines are in place to make the ice.

Left - The ice is now in place, and with the cold weather setting in the rink should open soon.

Right - The poles are in place to hold the barrier that will keep the skaters from falling over the side of the rink.

BP DIAZ KICKS OFF 'SAVOR THE BRONX' RESTAURANT WEEK'

 

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ KICKS OFF

3^rd ANNUAL ‘SAVOR THE BRONX’ RESTAURANT WEEK

   Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., kicked off the 3^rd Annual “Savor the Bronx” Restaurant Week at Jake’s Steakhouse in Riverdale.

  “Savor the Bronx” Restaurant Week, produced by the Bronx Tourism Council and co-hosted by the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC), showcases the borough’s best eateries by offering special values and discounts. 

This 12-day event, which runs from November 4^th to November 15^th, is the perfect opportunity to explore your taste buds and the Bronx.  From Italian cuisine in Little Italy to seafood on City Island and everywhere in between, “Savor the Bronx” offers everyone a chance to enjoy the diverse flavors our borough has to offer. Below are some photos of the event, and the delicious food that was sampled.

Above - Bronx Brewed Beer was also featured at the Kick-Off.

Right - Soon to Councilman Andrew Cohen poses with Mr. Lenny Caro President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Left - Paul DelDuca Chief of staff to BP Diaz & Ray Sanchez (also of BP Diaz's staff) chat with Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz and soon to be Councilman Andrew Cohen.

Right - BP Diaz gives a proclamation to the manager of Jake's Steak House for the excellent food, and for hosting the event.

Halloween Parade This Saturday

Free Mammogram and Clinical Breast Exams

Free Mammograms and Clinical Breast Exams!

Sunday, November 3rd

(9am-4:30)

 sponsored by the 

Albanian American Women Organization

Detect breast cancer early!  Look for the Mobile Van at:  The Bronx House Community Center 990 Pelham Parkway, Bronx NY 10461 - Services will be provided by the Multi-diagnostic Services For more information click here

Irving Ladimer Portrays James Madison While Discussing the Constitution at the Riverdale Y

  In his continuing amazement to his friends 97 year old retired law professor Irving Ladimer in his quest to teach "Civics" portrayed founding father James Madison while his friend Mr. Harvey Bein portrayed George Washington. The goal of this portrayal  is to have people know how the constitution was formed and what it does.

   Mr. Ladimer opened by singing the "Star Spangled Banner" as Mr. Bein played the clarinet. We were then transported to the Constitutional Convention where 42 of the founding fathers had gathered. James Madison (Irving) told us that the meetings were many as each state wanted its own rights, but eventually gave in on some of those rights to have a unified country. 

   Mr. Bein as George Washington stood next to Irving "James Madison" Ladimer as he read "We The People". It was explained just who We The People" were. It was not anyone but just those who were the owners of the land, and only white males. Mr. Ladimer then went into the Bill of Rights" which amended the original constitution to allow for ten amendments. He went over those ten amendments and what each one was for.

  Mr. Ladimer went on to say that the constitution is a living document that evolves each and every day. He mentioned that even once an amendment becomes part of the constitution it can be changed or repealed as was the case with Prohibition the eighteenth amendment. Prohibition which went into effect in 1920 and was repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933. 

   Mr. Ladimer then took questions from the crowed room full of people that had come in to hear him discuss the constitution and he reminded everyone that Tuesday November 5th was election day, one of the rights given to us by the constitution of the United States.

 

Left - Mr. Irving Ladimer sings the Star Spangled Banner as Mr. Harvey Bein plays the clarinet.

Right - Bein and Ladimer go over the constitution as George Washington and James Madison.

Is New York State’s Limit on Donations to Independent Political Groups Unconstitutional?

  That is what a federal appeals court judge ruled today with just 12 days left until the November 5th general election. The appeal was brought by the conservative group New York Progress and Protection PAC. NYP PAC said that a conservative donor from Alabama, Shaun McCutcheon, pledged to donate at least $200,000 to the group, and that other donors were likely to do the same.The ruling now allows unlimited  money to be donated into an independent-expenditure effort that is backing the Joe Lhota campaign. 

  With the now overwhelmingly lead by Bill deBlasio it is not likely that many will now donate to such a venture. This ruling could have a big effect on the 2014 New York State Elections with the governorship and state senate possibly up for grabs. “This could usher in an era where super PACs call the shots in campaigns all over the state, not just in the city,” one watchdog group head said. 

  “Today’s decision will empower the right-wing billionaires, like the Koch brothers, and Tea Party groups who support Joe Lhota to drown out the voices of New Yorkers,” said Lis Smith, a spokeswoman for the de Blasio campaign. “The stakes are too high to let the same Republican extremists who shut down the government hijack the mayoral election.”

Wave Hill Events November 8–November 15

 

   As we get closer to Thanksgiving, the harvest mood begins to deepen—in the gardens, of course, at our fall woodworking workshop, at the Family Art Project and in The Shop, where visions of entrancing Chanukah and Christmas gift possibilities have got the staff starry-eyed.

SAT, NOVEMBER 9    TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, NOVEMBER 9    FAMILY ART PROJECT: NOVEMBER TREASURES

Gather beech nuts, acorns, leaves and other fallen wonders from the grounds. Then glue your collection

to a wooden or cardboard box to house your prized possessions of the season.  Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

SAT, NOVEMBER 9    WOODWORKING: HARVEST BASKET WORKSHOP 

Using simple carpentry skills, craft a handsome wooden basket to hold fresh produce, potted plants or other seasonal items. Frank Perrone, master carpenter and Wave Hill’s Director of Facilities & Capital Projects, lends his expertise in this half-day workshop. No previous carpentry experience required. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Space is limited! $50/$35 Wave Hill Member. Reservations required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM−4PM

SAT, NOVEMBER 9    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Alan Ruiz’s Sunroom Project Space installation, an architectural intervention that complicates the distinction between interior and exterior spaces. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, NOVEMBER 10    BIRDING WALK

Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson River flyway provides the perfect habitat for native and migrating birds. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. For weather-related updates call 718.549.3200 x 245 by 8AM the day of the walk. Free with admission to the grounds. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission.) Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

SUN, NOVEMBER 10    FAMILY ART PROJECT: NOVEMBER TREASURES

Gather beech nuts, acorns, leaves and other fallen wonders from the grounds. Then glue your collection

to a wooden or cardboard box to house your prized possessions of the season.  Free with admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

SUN, NOVEMBER 10    HATHA YOGA

Find refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga. Decrease stress and increase your energy by focusing on your posture, your breath and your mind/body/spirit. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, NOVEMBER 10    MEDITATION

This fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other qualified instructors. All levels welcome. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, NOVEMBER 10    CREATIVE ACTIONS: WATERCOLORS AND PASTEL   SOLD OUT
Capturing Autumn’s Hues

Engage in a creative dialogue with your surroundings guided by professional artists working in various media. In this session, artist Wennie Huang takes inspiration from the fall landscape, guiding participants in a plein-air workshop focused on capturing the luminosity of watercolor with the textural versatility of soft pastels All levels welcome. Materials provided. $30/$20 Wave Hill Member. Reservations required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Drop-ins accommodated as space permits.

MEET AT THE ECOLOGY BUILDING, 1−4PM

SUN, NOVEMBER 10    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all weekend thanks to the generous support of Target.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, NOVEMBER 11

Closed to the public.

MON, NOVEMBER 11    MEMBERS’ DAY TRIP: STORM KING ART CENTER  SOLD OUT

Enjoy a fine fall day of art and nature at Storm King Art Center, one of the world’s leading sculpture parks with almost 500 acres of rolling hills, verdant fields, and woodlands. Located in the Hudson Valley, this space is home to a collection of more than 100 large-scale sculptures by well-known artists of our time such as Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, Andy Goldsworthy, Maya Lin, Louise Nevelson and Isamu Noguchi, among others. A special exhibition of the works of Thomas Houseago will be on view, both outdoors and in its museum building. Our day trip includes a docent-guided walk though the landscape, and studio visits with artists in the area. $50 Wave Hill Member, includes transportation and tour fee; lunch additional. Reservations required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Space is limited.

MEET AT WAVE HILL’S FRONT GATE, 9AM–5PM

TUE, NOVEMBER 12    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, NOVEMBER 12    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Alan Ruiz’s Sunroom Project Space installation, an architectural intervention that complicates the distinction between interior and exterior spaces. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day on Tuesdays in November. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242^nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

 

Klein, Crespo Call for Tough New Laws Aimed at Curbing Alcohol Sales to Minors

  Amid a startling new report that uncovers the extent of underage alcohol sales in the Bronx, Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo called on the New York State legislature to quickly pass several tough measures aimed at slashing alcohol sales to minors. On Monday afternoon, New York State Governor Cuomo and the State Liquor Authority (SLA) released shocking results from a seven-day sting operation targeting underage alcohol sales across New York City conducted earlier this month.

More Bronx retailers were caught making underage alcohol sales during the sting operation than any other borough. According to the SLA’s report, 26 different Bronx retailers sold alcohol to minors.

The lawmakers called for passage of their legislation while standing outside of one of the accused retailers, a Rite Aid Pharmacy at 1710 Crosby Avenue in the Bronx, joined by Community Board 10 President, John Marano, the Throggs Neck Community Action Partnernship Executive Director, Frances Maturo, Skyview Wine & Spirits Owner, Gary Wartels, and Owner of McCabes Wine & Liquors and President of the Retailer’s Alliance, Jeff Saunders.

Both lawmakers believe that curbing the use of fake IDs is the key to the key to slashing illegal sales. Their legislative agenda, known as the Card Hard package, focuses on reducing the use and effectiveness of fake IDs at New York retailers. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo signed a Klein/Crespo bill increasing the penalties for using a fake ID.

Senator Klein said,  “Illegal liquor sales are putting our children’s lives at risk each and every day. If we’re serious about stopping this problem, we need a comprehensive approach that makes fake IDs too easy to spot and too costly to use. We have the technology to stop underage sales—now we need to get it into every retailer across the Bronx.”   

Assemblyman Crespo said, “Underage drinking poses a serious problem facing our communities. Federal government research into underage drinking tells us that last month alone 26.4% of underage persons ages 12 through 20 used alcohol and binge drinking among the same age group was 17.4%. Alcohol use remains extremely widespread among today’s teenagers with nearly three quarters of students (72%) having consumed alcohol. Among underage drinkers, 30.8% paid for the alcohol the last time they drank.  It is obvious that New York needs to do more to eliminate fake IDs as a tool available to our youth for accessing alcohol."

The Card Hard package would:

• (S.7126) Incentivize beverage retailers to purchase scanning devices by enabling store owners to purchase an ID scanner (at a cost of $300-$800) in lieu of paying a $2,000 or $5,000 fine. 
• (S.5668) Legalize the confiscation of Fake IDs by store employees.
• (S.4102) Strengthen defenses for businesses that use scanners and employ best practices.

The following Bronx stores were caught by a State Liquor Authority sting operation:

· Oneida Grocery, 4201 Oneida Avenue
· MMJ Wine & Spirits, 4251 Katonah Avenue 
· Katonah Family Grocery, 4293 Katonah Avenue
· NI Liquors-4024 Boston Road
· Live Lovely Liquors & Wines, 3491 Boston Road 
· Deli N Grocery, 1724 Bussing Avenue 
· 7 & 7 Grocery, 857 E 241st Street
· Lexus Deli Grocery Store, 4052 White Plains Road
· Abrahams Middletown Wines & Liquors Inc., 3001 Middletown Road
· Genovese Drug Stores, d.b.a. Rite Aid Pharmacy, 1710 Crosby Avenue
· Silver Deli Grocery, 1497 Williamsbridge Road
· Genovese Drug Stores, d.b.a. Rite Aid Pharmacy 2748 East Tremont Avenue
· Shop Smart New Orleans Mini Market LLC, 2542 E Tremont Avenue 
· MLS Deli Grocery Corp, 2550 E Tremont Avenue
· Family Deli & Lotto, 2463 E Tremont Avenue 
· 892 E Tremont Liquors, 892 E Tremont Avenue
· King Deli Express Grocery, 920 E Tremont Avenue
· Family Grocery, 919 E Tremont Avenue
· 885 E Tremont Deli Corp., 885 E Tremont Avenue
· Tremont Gourmet Deli & Grocery Inc., 851 E Tremont Avenue
· Ralphys Deli Grocery, 676 E 180th Street
· Bella Deli, 671 Kelly Street 
· Roxy Grocery & Convenience, 935 E 163rd Street
· Torres Food Market Inc, 841 Dawson Avenue
· Waseem Deli Grocery, 865 E 167th Street
· Salcedo Grocery & Deli, 1318 Lafayette Street

 

Left - Senator Klein speaking about the problem of underage drinking, and the new regulations.

Right - Assemblyman Crespo voices his concern about the underage drinking problem.

Left - Community Board 10 Chairman John Marano thanks Senator Klein for his concern of the problem of underage drinking.

Right - Mr. Gary Wartel liquor store owner representing the owners who have refused to sell to underage youths says that those merchants who sell to underage youths give a bad reputation to all merchants.