Councilman Andy King Free Food Giveaway

  Councilman Andy King had his district office on Gun Hill Road set up with bags of groceries to be handed out to residents of his district who are in need. About one hundred of his constituents from the Eastchester Garden area were expected, but do to the heavy rain there were fewer people than expected who showed up. This being his first free food giveaway, and with some cans of food left Councilman King then set off to organize his second free food giveaway. 

  The non-perishable food was donated by the nearby Fine Fare Supermarket on Boston Road, The Palm Tree Market Also f Boston Road, and the Food Fest Depot at the Hunt's Point Market according to Councilman King's Chief of Staff Lee Lewis.

  I was able to ask Councilman King a few questions as to why he was hosting a free food giveaway. He said that this is just another service that he wants to offer his constituents. His believing in the lord and good family values has also taught him to help his fellow people without the thought of any rewards. As for the new city council, and the eagerness in making new laws and rules Councilman King (who was elected in a 2012 special election and will be able to serve more that just eight years) said that the new council members are learning their job. He added that he expects this council to be one that makes it mark that is recorded in NYC history, and is proud to be a part of it. 

 

Left - One of Councilman King's staffers fills bags with the non-perishable canned food.

Right - Councilman King speaks with his Chief of Staff Lee Lewis to make sure everything is ready.

 

Left - Councilman King gets into the middle of it as he gets bags of groceries to hand to the people waiting.

Right - Some of the many people who came pose with Councilman King.

Staten Island Congressman Hit With 20 Count Indictment

  Republican Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm seems to be in a grim situation after being slapped with a 20 count federal indictment that can be found here . The 20 counts include Income Tax Evasion, Conspiracy to defraud the United States, 3 counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false or fraudulent tax returns, Health Care Fraud, 5 counts of wire fraud, 5 counts of mail fraud, 2 counts of perjury, obstruction, and unlawful employment of aliens. U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch is handling the case for the government.

  A statement from Grimm's lawyer Elizabeth Kase said that the embattled Republican Congressman has no plans to resign. She added that the indictment is part of a "Calculated campaign of leaks, rumors, innuendos, and speculation. Congressman Grimm is up for re-election this year and will probably face Democrat former City Councilman Dominick Recchia if Grimm makes it to the November general election.

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON OPERATION CREW CUT AND CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGIES AT NYCHA

   Oversight Hearing on Operation Crew Cut and Crime Reduction Strategies at NYCHA

  In 2011, approximately one-third of all shootings in New York City were committed by youth gangs, known as “crews” that are centered on specific blocks, communities and housing developments. The Committees will examine the cooperation and coordination between the NYPD, NYCHA, and the City’s District Attorneys to address this growing problem and to work with these entities, stakeholders and the public to eradicate crew violence throughout the City.

  On Monday, April 28, Council Member Ritchie Torres, chair of the Committee on Public Housing, Council Member Vanessa Gibson, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, and Council Member Fernando Cabrera- Chair of the Committee on Juvenile Justice will hold a joint oversight hearing on the effectiveness of Operation Crew Cut and other anti-violence initiatives in reducing gang and crew related violence among youth.

  WHO: Committee on Public Safety, Committee on Juvenile Justice, and Committee on Public Housing, Council Member Vanessa Gibson, Council Member Fernando Cabrera, Council Member Ritchie Torres, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, NYPD Chief of Housing Carlos Gomez and Deputy Chief Michael Harrington; Steve Goldstein, Chief ADA at the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor;  Carlos Laboy Diaz EVP of Operations for NYHCA, and NYCHA representatives from Community Operations and Family Services.

WHERE: Council Chambers, City Hall

WHEN: Monday, April 28, 1:00 PM

 

  

ECPW Wrestling St. Francis Xavier School 2014

  ECPW professional wrestling returned to St. Francis Xavier School in the Morris Park section last night. It may not have been John Cena or the Rock, but Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Bushwaker Luke, and Marty Jannetti were among the wrestlers on hand. The fun started before the first match as the wrestlers greeted the audience, signed autographs, and took photos (some for a fee) with those on hand to see the matches. The night was also special to one of the wrestlers who had his mother in the audience as he announced his retirement from wrestling after 20 years. There were 8 matches in all including 2 that were tag team ones. During the intermission the wrestlers came out again to meet the audience. The end result was that everyone in attendance had fun, that is except for the losers of the matches. You can click on any photo to enlarge it.

   

Left & Right - Wrestlers took photos with audience members.

 

Left - Some wrestlers were seated at tables.

Right - NY State Athletic Commission inspector John Scalesi checks out the ring.

Left - Buswaker Luke has his opponent in the corner.

Right - The Punisher is about to slam his opponent.

 

Left - Arron Bradley is picked up and then dropped to the mat by Luca the Freak.

Right - ECPW Champ Andrew Anderson on his way to the ring.

 

Left - ECPW champ Andrew Andersongoes at it with the crowd.

Right - Anderson and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in a test of strength.

Left - The Hammer accidentally knocks down the ref and is Disqualified.

Right - Marty Jannetty can only watch from the corner as his partner is taking a beating.

 

Left - Marty Jannetty gets tagged in and is pounding his opponent in the corner.

Right - The New Dynamite Kid is joined by his partner tonight Marty Jannetty and his mother (who was at ringside) after he announced his retirement from wrestling due to back and knee problems.

"Mary Lauro Way" Dedication

   It was a cool windy morning as the crowd gathered at the corner of Matilda Avenue and East 237th Street in the Wakefield section of the Bronx to honor Mary Lauro who passed away last June. Who was Mary Lauro you may say? Mary Lauro was a resident of Wakefield for over 50 years. Mary Lauro  was the president of the the Wakefield Taxpayers & Civic League Inc. for 25 years which was founded in 1913. It was her civic work in many areas including being a member of Community Board 12 that so many elected officials came for this street renaming in her honor. Mary Lauro also wrote a column in this newspaper where as always she never backed down on issues, one being why several homeless shelters were being built by Mayor Bloomberg in the Wakefield area. 

  As they spoke each elected official mentioned the fact that Mary Lauro had something to say of them and what Mary Lauro had meant to them. Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson said "Mary Lauro was the director of the office of Accountability". State senator Jeff Klein spoke of the mortgage problems in the Wakefield area she had him assist her on. Assemblyman Carl Heastie said that Mary Lauro cared about White Plains Road and the entire community. Congressman Eliot Engel mentioned that he read into the 113th Congressional Record a statement about Mary Lauro and her never ending work and love for her community. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said that all the elected officials on hand would be afraid if they had not come to honor such a great woman. Community Board 12 Chairman Father Richard Gorman an advisory of Mary Lauro on many issues said that her work is far from done, and more people like Mary Lauro are needed to help improve the community. The sister of Mary Lauro said that Mary is missed by the family, but the family did not know how much she is missed by the community.

  Councilman Andy King and former Councilman Oliver Koppell sponsored the legislation for the street sign bearing the name "Mary V. Lauro Way". Ms. Virginia Saunders has taken over as President of the Wakefield Taxpayers & Civic League Inc., and will have some very large shoes to fill.

 

Left - Ms. Virginia Saunders was the mistress of ceremony.

Right - The invocation was given by Rev. Dr. Dien Ashlry Taylor.

 

Left - Father Richard Gorman speaks of the many good deeds that were done by Mary Lauro as the elected officials wait their turn to speak. 

Right - Mary's niece Lorraine is about to pull the covering off of "Mary V. Lauro Way".

 

Left - Everyone had a laugh when the rope to pull the covering off the sign broke saying that it was a sign from Mary Lauro.

Right - The elected officials gather under the new "Mary V. Lauro Way" sign.

UPDATE -
Please look at the first comment to see that I was incorrect in stating that Mary Lauro founded the Wakefield Taxpayers Civic and League inc that was founded in 1913. Ms Lauro was the President for 25 years. The story has been corrected.

Senator Klein Educational Leadership Award Ceremony

  Friday was the Senator Jeff Klein and Healthfirst Educational Leadership Award Ceremony Breakfast. Educators from the 300+ schools in the 34th State Senate district came to receive Certificates of Appreciation from 34th State Senator Jeff Klein. Senator Klein in his speech thanked those who came from the public and parochial  schools in his district, praising them for their hard work. He then went into the dynamics of the state budget and how he was able to secure 300 million dollars for Mayor de Blasio's Pre-K program for the next five years. 50,000 children are to receive full day Pre-K starting this September, and 70,000 the following school year. 

  Senator Klein in his speech mentioned the coming of Community Learning Centers. These centers are fashioned after the very successful ones that were put in place in Cincinnati. Klein also spoke about the very successful events that schools in the 34th district have done due to funding from Project Boost secured by him. He finished by saying all schools in the district will get grants from Project Boost.

 

Left - Senator Jeff Klein chats with some of the attendees.

Right - Senator Klein is explaining the state budget process, and how he was able to get the funding for Mayor de Blasio's Pre-K program.

 

Left & Right - Senator Klein with some of the educators who received Certificates of Appreciation from him.

Elected Officials to Attend Street Renaming Ceremony for Wakefield Activist Mary Lauro

 

Who: Council Members Andrew Cohen and Andy King, Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, the Wakefield Taxpayers and members of the public.

What: A ceremony to rename Matilda Avenue in honor of Mary V. Lauro, a dedicated community activist.

When: Saturday, April 26^th at 11:00am

Where: Matilda Avenue between East 236^th Street and East 237^th Street

 

Mary V. Lauro was a longtime, dedicated community activist in the Wakefield area.  She served as President of the Wakefield Taxpayers for 25 years where she worked with local law enforcement to increase public safety in the community.  Mary was known as a uniting force that brought people together to preserve the integrity of her community.  She also was a former member of Bronx Community Board 12, a leader within the 47^th Precinct Community Council and an active parishioner at Saint Frances of Rome Church.  

Wave Hill Events May 9–May 16: Mother's Day!

  How wonderful to celebrate Mom in a place so sumptuously well nurtured by Mother Nature herself! And May, with all its splendid, heart-lifting signs of renewal, is surely the best moment of the year to celebrate the instinct to foster and sustain. A bird walk, a family project crafting fragrant sachets made just for Mom, a session for her of yoga or meditation, a scrumptious celebratory brunch, followed perhaps by a guided tour of the gallery or the gardens—Make your brunch reservation early, then simply relax.

SAT, MAY 10    FAMILY ART PROJECT: SACHETS AND FLORAL FANTASY FOR MOM
Honor Mom with paper flowers, sachets and unique flowery gifts. Join us to make a fragrant sachet filled with lavender, tied with ribbon and bows and decorated with buds. Visiting artist Lina Puerta will help us create unique jewelry out of paper beads, found objects and other materials found in nature. Free and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM

SAT, MAY 10    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 as weather permits. 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, MAY 10    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial assistant for a tour of Wave Hill's spring exhibition, Prickly, Tender and Steamy: Artists in the Hothouse, which assembles artworks that were created during Wave Hill's Winter Workspace program over the last five years. During their residencies, Manuel Acevedo, Gabriela Albergaria, Carrie Beckmann, Susan Benarcik, Matthew Burcaw, Asuka Hishiki, Nick Lamia, Lina Puerta, Naomi Reis, Anne-Katrin Spiess, Linda Stillman, James Walsh and Marion Wilson closely examined, and were inspired by, the living collection in Wave Hill's Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory. Representing a wide variety of mediums, the works on view give visitors multiple ways to observe the plants in the Tropical, Palm, Cactus & Succulent Houses. In the Sunroom Project Space, Brandon Neubauer's installation incorporates video projection, photographs and recorded sounds to create a portrait of the Wave Hill site that engages time, optical phenomena, topography and found objects. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, MAY 11    SPRING BIRDING

Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of diverse bird species and their behavior on these captivating walks through the gardens and woodlands. Observe the plants, insects and habitats at Wave Hill that make it an appealing destination for a wide variety of birds. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all weekend. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission.) Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549,3200 x251.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

SUN, MAY 11    FAMILY ART PROJECT: SACHETS AND FLORAL FANTASY FOR MOM
Honor Mom with paper flowers, sachets and unique flowery gifts. Join us to make a fragrant sachet filled with lavender, tied with ribbon and bows and decorated with buds. Visiting artist Lina Puerta will help us create unique jewelry out of paper beads, found objects and other materials found in nature. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, MAY 11   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, MAY 11     MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH
Presented by Wave Hill's long-time partner and exclusive caterer Great Performances, New York City’s premier catering and events company, this very special brunch in historic Wave Hill House’s Armor Hall will feature a beautiful spread of unique twists on classic brunch presentations and is perfect for honoring Mother’s Day. Seatings will be offered at 11:00 and 11:30AM.  Wave Hill’s Welcome Spring Brunch is $45 per person excluding tax and gratuity—and Wave Hill Members enjoy a 10% discount. Please note that payment will not be accepted day-of and must be received by noon on May 8.  Reservations may be made online or by calling 718.549.3200 x395. Guests will be provided with a secured credit card payment link to purchase tickets online at wavehillreservations@greatperformances.com.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 111 & 11:30AM

SUN, MAY 11    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, MAY 11   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, MAY 12

Closed to the public.

TUE, MAY 13    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, 11AM

TUE, MAY 13    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial assistant for a tour of Wave Hill's spring exhibition, Prickly, Tender and Steamy: Artists in the Hothouse, which assembles artworks that were created during Wave Hill's Winter Workspace program over the last five years. During their residencies, Manuel Acevedo, Gabriela Albergaria, Carrie Beckmann, Susan Benarcik, Matthew Burcaw, Asuka Hishiki, Nick Lamia, Lina Puerta, Naomi Reis, Anne-Katrin Spiess, Linda Stillman, James Walsh and Marion Wilson closely examined, and were inspired by, the living collection in Wave Hill's Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory. Representing a wide variety of mediums, the works on view give visitors multiple ways to observe the plants in the Tropical, Palm, Cactus & Succulent Houses. In the Sunroom Project Space, Brandon Neubauer's installation incorporates video projection, photographs and recorded sounds to create a portrait of the Wave Hill site that engages time, optical phenomena, topography and found objects. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.
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 until noon on Tuesdays in May. 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 30 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.