20th Annual Bronx Parks Speak-Up:

  The 20th Annual Bronx Parks Speak-Up:

  Bronx Parks: A 20/20 Vision

  Will take place on -

  Saturday February 22nd, 2014 

  From - 11am-5pm  

  At - Lehman College,   

  Faculty Dining Room of the Music Building 

  For more information, visit www.bronxspeakup.org/ 
   or like them Facebook:  www.facebook.com/BCPGS

 

BCC African American Heritage Celebration

  On Wednesday afternoon the Bronx Chamber of Commerce held its African American Heritage Celebration. Among the Honorees were NYC council members Vanessa Gibson and Andy King, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, business leaders Clarence Stanley of the Small Business Development Center at Lehman College, Arlington Leon Eastmond Jr. owner of the largest black owned boiler manufacturing business in New York City, Ms. April Horton of Verizon, Public Advocate Letitia James (who was unable to attend), and State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson who was at work in Albany. 

  Also in attendance was New York State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli, several local Bronx community board members, and various business owners and leaders from the Bronx. As usual at a Bronx Chamber of Commerce event the chamber's "Silver Eagles" were presented to the honorees. Below are a few photos of the event that will speak for themselves.

 

Left - Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson and New York State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli greet each other. 

Right - Dinapoli is in the center as BCC President Lenny Caro is at the mike, and Honoree Bronx DA Robert Johnson is on the other side of the comptroller.

 

Left - BCC President Lenny Caro opens the African American Heritage Celebration.

Right - Councilman Andy King said a few words to the crowd.

 

Left - BCC Chief of Staff Michelle Dolgow Cristofaro says a few words before presenting one of the BCC Silver Eagles. 

Right - To the left of Michelle is Ismael of Public Advocate Letitia James office, to his left is Donna the Chief of staff for State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson, and standing is Alexandra from the BCC.

 

Above - is a group photo of BCC staff, elected officials, and BCC members.

 

A group photo of the Honorees - with BCC President Lenny Caro and BCC Chairman Joseph Kelleher at both sides of the back row.

Two Questions for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

 Senator Rev Ruben Diaz Has Two Questions for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the Elected Officials that are meeting with him

   Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Has Two Questions for those elected officials who will be meeting today with New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to ask the Attorney General about the National Puerto Rican Day Parade:

(1) Since Mr. Carlos Velasquez has served not only as the Marketing Agent for the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, but for many other parades in New York City too, what is going to happen to those other parades? Will there also be investigations to see if Carols Velasquez mismanaged their money, too?

(2) In comparison with the scandal surrounding CEO William Rapfogel's scheme to defraud the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, were the Board Members forced to resign by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for mismanaging their not-for-profit - or is it only National Puerto Rican Day Parade's Board that the Attorney General will forced to resign?

 Editor's note:  The Senator does have a valid point here.

Assemblyman Sepulveda Birthday Date Change

  Due to inclement weather, I have re-scheduled my birthday celebration to Thursday, February 20, 2014.  Please review updated invitation below.

I apologize for any inconvenience.  I hope to see you at the party!

You are Cordially Invited to a Birthday Celebration for:

The Honorable Luis R. Sepulveda

Due to the inclement weather the new date is:

Thursday, February 20th

F&J Pine Restuarant

1973 Bronxdale Ave, Bronx NY

6:30 PM

Suggested Contribution: $100

Payable to Sepulveda for Assembly

Oshrie Zak, Treasurer

Sepulveda for Assembly

881 Gerard Ave, Bronx, NY 10452

To contribute online please Click Here.

Please RSVP to Thomas Musich at (201)-315-2295 or tom@luissepulvedany.com

Derek Jeter to Hang up the Spikes After the 2014 Season

  In an announcement on his Facebook page New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter has said that he will retire from baseball after the 2014 season is over. Jeter came up to the Yankees in 1995, and will be entering his 20th season as a major league player, and New York Yankee. 1995 was the same year that ace Yankee reliever/closer Mariano Rivera also started with the New York Yankees. Rivera retired after the 2013 season. It is interesting that Rivera sat out the previous year to his retirement due to an injury, as Jeter has sat out the previous season to his announcement due to an injury. Jeter will be 40 on June 26th.

  The baseball career of Derek Jeter spans 19 seasons with the Yankees, with 2014 being season #20. Jeter has a career batting average of .312, on base percentage of .381, and 3316 base hits currently which places him #9 on the all time hits list. Jeter is just 3 hits behind #8 Paul Molitor, 99 hits behind #7 Honus Wagner, and 103 hits behind #6 Carl Yastrzemski all of which can be reached if Jeter plays a full season. Next on the all time hit list is # 5 Tris Speaker 198 hits away, which Jeter should not be able to catch in his last season. Derek Jeter has had over 200 hits in only 2 of his last 6 seasons. 

Senator Rivera Introduces Bill to Tax Electronic Cigarette Cartridges in the State Senate

  Senator Gustavo Rivera introduced a bill in the State Senate that would tax electronic cigarette cartridges as a tobacco product in an effort to continue the pursuit of reducing New Yorker's exposure to nicotine and other damaging chemicals. This bill has also been introduced in the State Assembly by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.     

"In recent years, makers of electronic cigarettes have claimed they are a 'safer' alternative to cigarettes, but the simple truth is that these devices still expose individuals to nicotine and hazardous chemicals," said Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx)."Taxing electronic cigarette cartridges at the same rate as other tobacco products will send a clear message to the public that these products are not as safe as they are advertised to be."

To date, electronic cigarettes have not been sufficiently studied to allow the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the long-term health risks associated with their use, including the quantity of nicotine or other harmful chemicals that users inhale.  Furthermore, there is no hard evidence to support the claim that electronic cigarettes are an effective cessation tool.

There is also a growing concern that electronic cigarettes can lead young people to become cigarette smokers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2011 to 2012 the number of students in grades 6 -12 that reported ever having used an electronic cigarette doubled from 3.3 percent to 6.8 percent.

While the FDA has yet to determine how to regulate electronic cigarettes, New York State along with other localities and states have moved forward with legislation to address public health concerns caused by the wide-spread use of these devices.  

Wave Hill Events February 28–March 6

  SAT, MARCH 1    FAMILY ART PROJECT: STYLISH SEED POTS

With spring fast approaching, we need a pot for planting. Take an ordinary, terracotta pot and make it into something fantastic by adding beads, tiles, buttons, ribbons and other odds and ends. Then, add some soil and a seed and don’t forget to water! Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, MARCH 1    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 Wave Hill Conifer Winter 2014 credit Wave Hill-3arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. March sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made.  Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, MARCH 1    GARDEN WORKSHOP: SEED STARTING WITH THE EXPERTS
Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day and Assistant Director of Horticulture Brian McGowan share techniques for starting both common and unusual garden plants from seed. Peek behind the scenes to see what’s germinating in Wave Hill’s propagation house, then sow seeds and transplant seedlings for your own garden. Don’t leave without checking out the selection of seeds in The Shop, a perfect complement to today’s workshop! $30/$20 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. 
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

SUN, MARCH 2    FAMILY ART PROJECT: STYLISH SEED POTS

With spring fast approaching, we need a pot for planting. Take an ordinary, terracotta pot and make it into something fantastic by adding beads, tiles, buttons, ribbons and other odds and ends. Then, add some soil and a seed and don’t forget to water! Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, MARCH 2    HATHA YOGA

Reduce stress, increase your energy and bring strength and flexibility to mind, body and spirit with a yoga practice. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. Ms. Dewji is 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 indoors until May. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made.  Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

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

SUN, MARCH 2    MEDITATION

This spring, 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. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. All levels welcome. Sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, MARCH 2    WINTER WORKSPACE WORKSHOP: DRAWING THROUGH LANDSCAPE
Gain insight into Winter Workspace artist Cristina Ataide’s creative process and explore the winter landscape as a source of inspiration. The artist will give an introduction to her work and the processes she uses to connect to the landscape. Afterward, she leads participants on a stroll through the woodlands to collect natural elements for use in a collaborative art project. Art materials are provided unless otherwise noted. Workshops are open to all visitors ages 12 and over when accompanied by an adult. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT GLYNDOR GALLERY, 1–4PM

SUN, MARCH 2    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, MARCH 3

Closed to the public.

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 February and March. 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.

 

 

Reaction to Mayor de Blasio's 'State of the City' Address

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ:

  “I congratulate Mayor de Blasio on his first ‘State of the City’ Address. I am particularly pleased to hear that the mayor has committed his administration to drop the ongoing lawsuit opposing the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act, and will direct his administration to begin the full implementation of this important law. The fight for ‘living wages’ remains a fight for income equality, and I am proud to count Mayor de Blasio among our allies in that fight. My office will work with the mayor and the City Council to expand this law to cover more New Yorkers.

“Mayor de Blasio’s call for municipal identification cards is also a welcome initiative. My office handles thousands of constituent cases each year, and many of those come from undocumented immigrants and their families. These individuals are often reluctant to go to the police government for help for fear of reprisal, and this proposal will bring them out of the shadows. Municipal identification cards will make it easier for undocumented immigrants to receive essential city services and cooperate with police, leading to a safer city for all.

“I also echo Mayor de Blasio’s call for increased STEM education options within our CUNY system. In my ‘State of the Borough’ address last year I called for the creation of a STEM high school in the Bronx, one based on the successful P-TECH school in Brooklyn. “This is a top priority for my administration, and I will continue to work with the Department of Education to continue to make this happen.” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

 

STATEMENT FROM STATE SENATORS ESPAILLAT AND PERALTA ON NYC MUNICIPAL ID CARD FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS 

“For immigrant families in New York City whose undocumented status leaves them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by unethical employers, landlords and scam artists, Mayor de Blasio’s municipal ID card will change lives for the better. Under our current system, immigrants’ inability to obtain a government ID excludes them from services most people take for granted, and makes it harder for them to provide for their children.

But with incredible momentum in Albany and across the country, we can’t let up the fight to accomplish what 11 states and the District of Columbia have already done – passing legislation giving immigrants the opportunity to earn legal driving privileges. When we look across the country and see our neighbors in Connecticut, big states with major cities like Illinois and California, and a deep red state like Utah all taking this sensible step forward, there is no reason why the issue remains unaddressed in New York.

As comprehensive reform remains stalled in Washington, we applaud Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to helping vulnerable immigrant communities. Once in place, this initiative will help dispel the baseless and xenophobic arguments opponents have used to block this needed reform for too long.

By the same token, it is unacceptable that hardworking immigrants are made to break the law in order to commute to work or take their kids to school. Providing undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain drivers licenses will ensure that all New York drivers are properly credentialed, educated and operating registered, inspected and insured vehicles, making our roads safer and benefiting all New Yorkers.”