Two Bills Sponsored by Senator Ruben Diaz Pass in the Senate

  Two significant pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 383 and Senate Bill 20, sponsored by New York State Senator Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) have passed today in the Senate.

S383 prohibits the use of lottery funds for any purpose other than education and prohibits co-mingling with funds for other purposes.  This bill passed 56 Ayes, 0 Nays.

S20 establishes the crime of patronizing a prostitute in a school zone and including daycare facilities within the definition of a school zone.  This bill passed 54 Ayes, 2 Nays.

Senator Diaz stated: "I am grateful to the Senate leadership for bringing these bills to the Senate Floor for a vote during this Session.  I am also proud of my colleagues in the Assembly, Luis Sepulveda and Marcos Crespo, for co-sponsoring these pieces of legislation. We look forward to these bills passing in the Assembly and being signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.  It is essential for us to do whatever we can to protect our children's public education funds - and more importantly, to protect their safety in school zones."

Editors Note -  The two nays on Senator Diaz's second bill S20 came from Senator Montgomery 25th district Brooklyn, and Senator Perkins 30th district Manhattan. 

Learn More About Vision Zero on Thursday June 19th at the Parkchester Library

Over the last few months, Mayor de Blasio has begun to roll out a number of new traffic features to improve road safety entitled "Vision Zero."  To help introduce these new features I will be holding a town hall meeting this Thursday June 19th, at the Parkchester Library at 7:00pm.  I invite you to come and learn about the exciting new ideas being presented to keep us all safer on the road.  Representatives from city wide agencies like the Department of Transportation will be in attendance to answer any questions you may have.

I hope to see many of you there!
Your Assemblyman,
Luis R. Sepulveda

June 24th Ribbon-cutting Ceremony to Celebrate Grand Opening of R.A.I.N. Gun Hill Neighborhood Senior Center

  On Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 11 AM, Regional Aid for Interim Needs, Inc. (R.A.I.N.) is pleased to announce that it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Grand Opening of the R.A.I.N. Gun Hill Neighborhood Senior Center.  The ceremony will take place at the brand new  facility located at 3377 White Plains Road, The Bronx, New York 10467.

 

“We are happy to introduce our accomplishment to the seniors, community and those who helped bring this program to fruition,” said Anderson Torres, CEO of R.A.I.N. Inc.  The ribbon-cutting ceremony for R.A.I.N. marks the launch of another quality driven program for a community in need of these services. 

Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Council Member Andy King and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. are scheduled to be on hand to offer a few remarks regarding R.A.I.N. Gun Hill Neighborhood Senior Center and to assist in the ribbon-cutting.

R.A.I.N. was founded in 1964 by Beatrice Castiglia-Catullo as a voluntary effort to provide in-home care for older persons leaving the hospital with no one at home to care for them.  Having herself experienced the hardship of caring for an elderly homebound relative with no outside assistance, Mrs. Catullo sought to address this need and fulfill the desires of seniors to continue to be productive and independent citizens of the community. 

Currently, R.A.I.N. is the largest provider of social services for seniors in The Bronx with 17 service sites throughout the Bronx and one in upper Manhattan offering a comprehensive continuum of services to help seniors live safely and independently in their homes.

For more information regarding the event or R.A.I.N.’s programs, please call R.A.I.N.’s Administration Office at (718) 892-5520.

Bronxtalk 13th Congressional Debate

 

   In case you may be wondering why there is an empty chair next to State Senator Adriano Espaillat, the empty seat represents Congressman Rangel who at the last minute ducked this debate. Bronxtalk host Gary Axelbank (left) is explaining to State Senator Adriano Espaillat and Michael Walrond candidates for the 13th Congressional district that after having all parties involved to a mutual date and time for a taping of the debate that Congressman Rangel's camp had sent him an e-mail that Congressman Rangel would not be able to make the taping due to a scheduling conflict. Axelbank let the viewers know that this was not fair to them, and that two years ago Congressman Rangel pulled the same stunt by cancelling at the last minute. The debate however went on as scheduled with as you see in the photo above an empty chair representing Congressman Rangel. 

  Host Gary Axelbank had excellent questions for the two candidates mostly pertaining to the Bronx, which apparently Congressman Rangel knows little of. When asked both said that they would have a Bronx district office, and both wondered why Congressman Rangel did not. During the show State Senator Espaillat seemed to be getting the best of his challenger Michael Walrond who was agreeing most of the time with what the senator was saying. You have to watch the show which will air on Monday night June 16th on channel 67 on Cablevision or channel 33 on Verizon Fios starting at 9 PM. and repeated throughout the week at various times. you can also go to Bronxtalk on the Bronxnet website .

 

Left and Right - After the debate both candidate who appeared on the show answer questions from the group of reporters that were in the audience.

Stop Gun Violence Councilman Andy King

  NYC Council Member Andy King held a “Stop The Gun Violence” press conference on Thursday, June 12^th, at 11:30 a.m., at Baychester Avenue and Boston Rd., Bronx, 10466. Dedicating themselves to reducing the deadly crisis of gun violence, more than 100 public students dressed in orange  -- the official color of Gun Violence Awareness Month (GVAM) -- who took part in the press conference as well as participating in the City Council 12^th District clean-up.  In addition to Council Member King and the students, also speaking at the press conference will be Tamika D. Mallory, GVAM Co-Chair; 47^th Precinct Deputy Inspector Ruel Stephenson. 

  The children present attend MS 181, JHS 142, and the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning. There has been a spike in crime in the 12th Council District of Councilman Andy King with 4 shooting resulting in 8 deaths. Cries of 'Save our community', and 'Stop the gun violence' were heard throughout the speeches. 

  When I asked recently promoted Deputy Inspector Stevenson of the 47th precinct about the most recent police policies that Mayor deBlasio said are coming, DI Stevenson could only say that those new strategies  have not been released to the precincts yet. DI Stevenson said that by building bridges with the community, and regaining the community trust would be one of his first priorities right now in the short term. Long term - better relationships with the community that trusts the officers of the 47th precinct. 

 

Left - Councilman Andy King stands before 100 children who came out to help Councilman King Stop Gun Violence.

Right - Tamika Mallory of GVAM addresses the crowd about some of the costs of gun violence.

Left - Students tell of their personal experiences of friends who have been shot during gun violence.

Right - 47th Precinct commanding officer Deputy Inspector Stevenson reads off some statistics about gun violence. 

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Business Exposition

  The Bronx Chamber of Commerce held its largest Business Exposition at The Villa Barone Manor on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was the keynote speaker.   This exposition showcased a great diversity of products and services by and for New York businesses. Over one hundred businesses hosted booths and many New York City agencies were present as well. Workshops were offered throughout the day with topics ranging from technology to healthcare to M/WBE certification to social media. Chamber members and guests discovered new resources and revenue opportunities while making great contacts. Exhibitors raised awareness of their businesses among the boroughs top business leaders in a dynamic environment. This year’s theme showcased businesses to help stimulate the economy, which is crucial during this time. 

Left - BCC President Lenny Caro welcomes everyone to the Business Expo.

Right - N.Y. Attorney General Eric Schniderman speaks of some of the successes of his office.

 

Left - BCC Chairman Joseph Kelleher, A.G. Eric Schniderman, and BCC President Lenny Caro stand in front of a green screen.

Right - The three are in a photo at another place thanks to Bronx based TapSnap photo systems.

 

Left - Empire City Casino was on had giving out prizes.

Right - The Wildlife Conservation Society was also at the expo with stuffed animals only.

 

Left - A.G. Schniderman, BCC Chairman Kellher, and BCC President Caro are joined by BCC Vice-Chair and former City Councilwoman June Eisland as they stop by the Simone Developers of the Bronx booth.

Right - The ribbon to the event is cut.

Wave Hill Events Jun 27–Jul 4: Sunset Wednesdays!

  Hurray for hump day—especially on a summer evening at Wave Hill!  Wednesdays from July 2 through August 13, enjoy outdoor music—Caracumbe kicks off the season—yoga, guided garden walks, a stroll through Glyndor Gallery to see Gregory Crewdson’s Fireflies series of photographs. Order supper from The Café at Wave Hill to make it a thoroughly satisfying outing.  Oh, and take note of two family programs that start up in July: Mommy and Baby Yoga Wednesday mornings, and story time in the gardens on Thursday afternoons. Hello, summer!

P.S. We’re open Friday, July 4^th!

SAT, JUNE 28   FAMILY ART PROJECT: MY GREEN HEAVEN
Roll down fragrant, emerald hillsides. Marvel at the many tones of green visible in the many surrounding species of plants and trees. Explore a world of verdant hues in natural materials, paint and collage. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, JUNE 28    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; indoors in inclement weather. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration receives a $2 discount. 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. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, JUNE 28    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of three current exhibitions. In the main gallery, Gregory Crewdson’s Fireflies series is being shown for the first time in its entirety. Crewdson’s photographs capture the fleeting light of these nocturnal creatures. Experience the natural landscape from the comfort of a domestic interior in Marek and Kristyna Milde’s Sunroom Project, an installation of planters shaped as couches and chairs. In the Sun Porch space, listen to With Hidden Noise, a traveling exhibition featuring evocative sounds, some recognizable from traditional instruments and field recordings, and others masked through electronic processes. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, JUNE 29   FAMILY ART PROJECT: MY GREEN HEAVEN
Roll down fragrant, emerald hillsides. Marvel at the many tones of green visible in the many surrounding species of plants and trees. Explore a world of verdant hues in natural materials, paint and collage. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, JUNE 29    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 outdoors, indoors in inclement weather. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration receives a $2 discount. 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. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, JUNE 29    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. Advance registration receives a $2 discount. 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. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, JUNE 29    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, JUNE 30

Closed to the public

TUE, JULY 1    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of three current exhibitions. In the main gallery, Gregory Crewdson’s Fireflies series is being shown for the first time in its entirety. Crewdson’s photographs capture the fleeting light of these nocturnal creatures. Experience the natural landscape from the comfort of a domestic interior in Marek and Kristyna Milde’s Sunroom Project, an installation of planters shaped as couches and chairs. In the Sun Porch space, listen to With Hidden Noise, a traveling exhibition featuring evocative sounds, some recognizable from traditional instruments and field recordings, and others masked through electronic processes. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

WED, JULY 2    MOMMY AND BABY YOGA

Designed for mothers, fathers or caregivers and babies eight weeks old to crawling, this yoga class brings families together for a gentle exercise session in a beautiful garden setting. Stretch, breathe and bond with your child while meeting other parents Led by certified instructors from Yoga for Bliss. Mats provided. $25/$15 Wave Hill member. Advance registration online at www.wavehill.org receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Tuesday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drop-ins accommodated as space allows. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

ON THE GROUNDS, 10–11AM

WED, JULY 2    SUNSET WEDNESDAY

Experience summer at its best—an expansive landscape of rolling lawns and gorgeous formal gardens, fresh river breezes, plein-air performances by local musicians, yoga, guided walks and cutting-edge art in Glyndor Gallery. Order dinner from Wave Hill exclusive caterer Great Performances, and you have the makings of a superb summer evening. Gardens open until 8:30PM. Wave Hill House, Perkins Visitor Center, Glyndor Gallery, The Café and The Shop at Wave Hill open until 7:30PM. Check www.wavehill.org/visit for the schedule for Sunset Wednesdays free shuttle service to and from Metro-North and the #1 subway. $2 additional admission starting at 4PM on Sunset Wednesdays; no guest passes or reciprocal admission accepted.

ON THE GROUNDS, TILL 8:30PM

WED, JULY 2   SUNSET HATHA YOGA

Find refuge from city life with a blissful yoga class! Reduce your stress levels and increase energy by working with your body and breath. This sunset session is led by Yoga for Bliss instructor Joanne Salomone. All levels welcome. Sessions are held outdoors, indoors in inclement weather. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 4PM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration online at www.wavehill.org receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Tuesday before; after that, refunds will not be made. A limited number of mats are available onsite, please bring your own mat. Drop-ins will be accommodated as space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 6–7:30PM

WED, JULY 2    SUNSET GARDEN WALK

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a mini tour of one of Wave Hill’s magnificent gardens. Tours vary by week―come back on another evening for a glimpse of a different garden area! Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 6:30PM

WED, JULY 2    SUNSET MUSIC: GRUPO AFRO-PERUANO CARACUMBE

A high point of each Sunset Wednesday includes a live performance on the grassy expanse of the Great Lawn, overlooking the majestic Palisades. Caracumbe is an Afro-Peruvian ensemble, an extraordinary assemblage of professional dancers and musicians, many former members of the famed Peru Negro Ballet. Directed by master percussionist Marcos Napa, the group exemplifies a compelling artistic tradition with its rich blend of traditional music and dance. For Sunset Wednesdays, the ensemble of six is singer, guitar player, two percussionists—on cajon and congas—and two dancers. Dances often performed include the festejo, lando and zamacueca. Free with admission to the grounds.

ON THE GROUNDS, 7–8PM

THU, JULY 3    STORIES IN THE GARDEN: SHADY SPOTS IN THE TREE TOPS
Each week, Wave Hill educators share some of their favorite nature stories. These stories––classics and more––will come to life through interactive readings, sing-alongs and puppets. Programs are held outdoors in good weather; in inclement weather we will meet in Wave Hill House. There are giants in these hills –– leafy giants with bark and roots.  This week, sit awhile in the spreading shade of one of Wave Hill’s beautiful trees and discover tales of these gentle giants. Our books this week are A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry, We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow and Have You Seen Trees? By Joanne Oppenheim. Ideal for children ages 3 to 6 with their adult companions. Free with admission to the grounds.
ON THE GROUNDS, 2PM

FRI, JULY 4    INDEPENDENCE DAY
Wave Hill is open.

FRI, JULY 4    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights this special holiday Friday. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 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 June and all day on Tuesdays in July. 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.

Dan Padernacht New CB 8 Chair

  The vote was  24 - 16  vote  with one member abstaining for Mr. Dan Padernacht who becomes the new Chair of Community Board 8. Mr. Padernacht who lives in the Van Cortlandt Village/Kingsbridge Heights area of CB 8 becomes the first person from outside of Riverdale to chair CB 8. 

  The only other contested position on CB 8 was for the chair of the Environment & Sanitation Committee where former board chair Bob Fanuzzi won 23 - 18 over a floor challenge from Cb 8 member Robert Press.

  Dan Padernacht begins his role as new CB 8 chair on July 1st.