First Silver - Now Skelows

   First it was former Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver who was indicted and forced to resign as speaker by U.S. Attorney Pheet Bharara, and now could the same fate be in the cards for Republican State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. Reports are that Skelos is being investigated by the U. S. Attorney's office for alleged wrongdoing. It is alleged that the U. S. Attorney is looking into the lobbing firm of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek for any involvement of Republican Majority Leader Skelos. 

  Then there is also questions being asked about Adam Skelos, the son of the Republican Majority Leader. Could there be any connection to the awarding of contracts to outside companies where the elder Skelos represents and monies paid to people, lobbying firms, and or employment of certain relatives? 

 The Deputy Majority Leader of the State Senate State Senator Tom Libous is already under indictment by the U.S. Attorney, but he has maintained his position in the state senate. Should Skelos be indicted this could open the door to a return of State Senator Jeff Klein as Co-Leader of the State Senate. Klein is the head of the 5 member Independent Democratic Conference that shared control of the state senate the previous two years before Republicans won outright control of the state senate. Klein however and his IDC were still given favorable positions even though Republicans had full control. This is going to be a wait and see situation as more is to come out about this as indictments are sure to come down by the U.S. Attorney's office for the Skelo's.

 

NYC Veterans' Advisory Board Meeting--April 21st

  The 2^nd Veterans’ Advisory Board (VAB) meeting of 2015 will be held on Tuesday, April 21^st.

This meeting will be the first Veterans’ Advisory Board (VAB) meeting of the year, post the new VAB legislation signed into law by Mayor Bill de Blasio on March 18^th. 

VAB members are appointed by the New York City Mayor and the New York City Council Speaker.  The term of a VAB member is three (3) years.  The Veterans’ Advisory Board advises the Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs on all matters concerning veterans, and meets regularly to ensure that lines of communication are maintained to cultivate an active community.  

Representatives from the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs (MOVA) and the New York City Council Committee on Veterans will join members of the VAB on April 21st.  MOVA is pleased to announce, for the first time in the history of the VAB that the meetings will be open to the public, and will rotate throughout the five Boroughs.  

The VAB meeting Agenda is crafted by the Chairperson of the VAB, and the community is invited to bring community concerns to the attention of the VAB throughout the year.  Future meeting dates will be posted on the MOVA website; after the VAB has established the VAB meeting dates.

For more about the New York City, Veterans’ Advisory Board (VAB), please visit:  www.nyc.gov/veterans.

Stay connected to MOVA by joining us on Facebook and twitter @nycveterans

Next Veterans’ Advisory Board Meeting

Date: April 21, 2015

Time: 5:30 – 6:30 PM

VAB Board – Charge of Legislation

VAB members only

6:30 PM Public Space Opens 

7:00 PM 2^nd VAB Meeting of 2015

·       Public is invited to attend.  

·       Space is limited.

Location:                                                       

NYC Family Justice Center, Manhattan

80 Centre Street, 5th Floor.

A Letter to the Residents of the Northwest Bronx from the Elected Officials RE - Hudson River Greenway

  The Hudson River and its waterfront in the Northwest Bronx are among our community’s most beautiful and precious resources. Unlike other sections of the river, the Bronx waterfront is inaccessible to the community. We represent the entire portion of the Hudson River waterfront in the Bronx. The time has come for people of the Bronx and beyond to have direct access to the river.

 We support the creation of a Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx and believe that it should run along the waterfront. We are pleased that a growing number of people and organizations in the community stand with us in our efforts to make this innovative idea a reality.

 There are enormous challenges that must be overcome if we are to going to bring a Greenway to our community. Any plan that is eventually developed will have to reflect the input from a broad array of stakeholders and bring people together around their common interest in seeing the Greenway happen. Community Board 8 has already invested a vast amount of time working on a concept that represents a true consensus, but there is much more work to be done.

  A Greenway along the Hudson River in the Bronx would be an amazing asset for all of us. A beautiful trail along our river would allow walkers, runners, and cyclists alike to enjoy the unparalleled beauty of the Hudson River and the Palisades. As your elected representatives, we look forward to continuing working with you to achieve this important goal.

Eliot Engel  Congressman,      

Jeffrey Klein  State Senator.

Jeffrey Dinowitz State Assemblyman,

Andrew Cohen Council Member

Wave Hill Events May 1–May 8

  FRI, MAY 1    NIGHT LIGHTS AT WAVE HILL

Wave Hill’s 50th anniversary festivities reach a crescendo this spring with Night Lights at Wave Hill, a month-long celebration, when, for the first time in Wave Hill’s history, visitors will be invited to attend in the evening to enjoy the garden landscape at a time of day and during a season when it is normally closed to the public. Take in The Lightening: a Project for Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden, an immersive installation by acclaimed artist by Chris Doyle, with music by composer Jeremy Turner, recorded by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Stop by Glyndor Gallery to see Chris Doyle: Landscape Fictions. Visit The Shop, The Café and the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory, and enjoy informal piano performances in Wave Hill House. This evening’s pianist is David Virelles. Same-day tickets for Night Lights at Wave Hill: $25/$20 Wave Hill Member/$12 children. (Purchase tickets in advance and save $2.) Also open tonight is theNight Lights Lounge in Wave Hill House. Lounge + Night Lights ticket $60/$55 Wave Hill Member. All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges. Rain or shine. Tickets available now at wavehill.org and onsite. A Wave Hill at 50 anniversary event.

ON THE GROUNDS, 6:30–9:30PM

SAT, MAY 2    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, weather permitting.  Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration online receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Fridaybefore; after that, refunds will not be made. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Membership card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, MAY 2    FAMILY ART PROJECT: EPHEMERAL CREATURES IN CLAY

Join visiting artist Roxanne Jackson as she shows you how to use wash-away, air-dry clay to sculpt mythological creatures. Give them character with a touch of color or some natural material; then, weather permitting, add your creation to a woodsy installation that, with a little rain, will soon disappear back into nature. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, MAY 2    NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY WALK

From the beginning of the early twentieth century George W. Perkins, owner of the Wave Hill estate, was an active member of the Riverdale neighborhood. When Wave Hill opened as a non-profit in 1965, it continued this tradition of community involvement. Join historian and Wave Hill Garden Guide Deirdre Laporte on a walk through the neighborhood to visit significant homes and landscapes and learn about their historical connections to Wave Hill. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Free with admission to the grounds. A Wave at 50 anniversary event.

MEET AT THE FRONT GATE, 1PM

SAT, MAY 2    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for an exhibition tour designed to draw visitors into a lively discussion about the relationship between art and nature. In the main gallery,Chris Doyle: Landscape Fictions brings to life the Hudson River. An artist whose sense of craft verges on the obsessive, Doyle presents three animations from a decades-long practice animating the natural world that exists on the urban fringes. This exhibition accompanies The Lightening, a site-specific project installed in the Aquatic Garden that combines mirrored surfaces with backlit animations into an artwork that changes as the day turns into night. At the same time, in the Sunroom Project Space, Kiran Chandra explores the “swarm” as a social form through a sculptural and sonic interpretation of Eugene Marais’ The Soul of the White Ant. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.  

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, MAY 3    MEMBERS TRIP: BIRDING AT THE ROCKEFELLER STATE PARK PRESERVE

Boasting 180 recorded species of birds, the Rockefeller State Park Preserve has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Join naturalist Gabriel Willow for a morning of bird watching through the trails of this scenic park. $40 Wave Hill Member, includes transportation. Reservations required, online at www.wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center, starting February 11. For more information, please call 718.549.3200 x251. Space is limited.

MEET AT THE FRONT GATE, 9:30AM–1PM

SUN, MAY 3    FAMILY ART PROJECT: EPHEMERAL CREATURES IN CLAY

Join visiting artist Roxanne Jackson as she shows you how to use wash-away, air-dry clay to sculpt mythological creatures. Give them character with a touch of color or some natural material; then, weather permitting, add your creation to a woodsy installation that, with a little rain, will soon disappear back into nature. Free with admission to the grounds. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, MAY 3    GREEN-ROOF BIRDHOUSE WOODWORKING WORKSHOP

Sharpen both your woodworking and gardening skills as you construct and plant a birdhouse with a rooftop of live succulent plants. Master carpenter and Director of Facilities Frank Perrone and Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer provide instruction and inspiration in this hands-on workshop. No previous carpentry experience required. Ages 12 and older welcome with an adult. Space is limited! $65/$50 Wave Hill Member per project. Reservations required, online at www.wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center, starting February 11.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

SUN, MAY 3    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 directorNeem 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, weather permitting. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration online 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 Membership card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

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

SUN, MAY 3    MEDITATION

Let nature inspire you to find your center and reconnect with your true self using guided mindfulness and other meditation practices. Each session, led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other qualified instructors, includes instruction in simple techniques, followed by guided meditations. Sessions are held indoors. All levels welcome. Session fee, which includes admission to the grounds: $20/$10 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration online receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Membership card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

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

SUN, MAY 3    MEET THE ARTIST: KIRAN CHANDRA

Kiran Chandra’s installation in the Sunroom, open through May 31, incorporates sculpture, drawing and an audio component to explore the nature of non-human intelligence and empathy. Inspired by the book The Soul of the White Ant (1925) by Eugène Marais, the South African poet and naturalist, the focal point of Chandra’s project will be two sculptural termitaries, pods made of plaster and covered in soil from which the story of the termite colony emerges. These components will be accompanied by observational drawings of swarms of fauna and flora. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 1:30PM

SUN, MAY 3    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

SUN, MAY 3    NIGHT LIGHTS AT WAVE HILL

Wave Hill’s 50th anniversary festivities reach a crescendo this spring with Night Lights at Wave Hill, a month-long celebration, when, for the first time in Wave Hill’s history, visitors will be invited to attend in the evening to enjoy the garden landscape at a time of day and during a season when it is normally closed to the public. Take in The Lightening: a Project for Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden, an immersive installation by acclaimed artist by Chris Doyle, with music by composer Jeremy Turner, recorded by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Stop by Glyndor Gallery to see Chris Doyle: Landscape Fictions. Visit The Shop, The Café and the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory, and enjoy informal piano performances in Wave Hill House. This evening’s pianist is David Virelles. Same-day tickets for Night Lights at Wave Hill: $25/$20 Wave Hill Member/$12 children. (Purchase tickets in advance and save $2.) All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges. Rain or shine. Tickets available now at wavehill.org and onsite. A Wave Hill at 50 anniversary event.

ON THE GROUNDS, 6:30–9:30PM

MON, MAY 4

Closed to the public

TUE, MAY 5    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, MAY 5    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for an exhibition tour designed to draw visitors into a lively discussion about the relationship between art and nature. In the main gallery,Chris Doyle: Landscape Fictions brings to life the Hudson River. An artist whose sense of craft verges on the obsessive, Doyle presents three animations from a decades-long practice animating the natural world that exists on the urban fringes. This exhibition accompanies The Lightening, a site-specific project installed in the Aquatic Garden that combines mirrored surfaces with backlit animations into an artwork that changes as the day turns into night. At the same time, in the Sunroom Project Space, Kiran Chandra explores the “swarm” as a social form through a sculptural and sonic interpretation of Eugene Marais’ The Soul of the White Ant. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

THU, MAY 7    NIGHT LIGHTS AT WAVE HILL

Wave Hill’s 50th anniversary festivities reach a crescendo this spring with Night Lights at Wave Hill, a month-long celebration, when, for the first time in Wave Hill’s history, visitors will be invited to attend in the evening to enjoy the garden landscape at a time of day and during a season when it is normally closed to the public. Take in The Lightening: a Project for Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden, an immersive installation by acclaimed artist by Chris Doyle, with music by composer Jeremy Turner, recorded by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Stop by Glyndor Gallery to see Chris Doyle: Landscape Fictions. Visit The Shop, The Café and the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory, and enjoy informal piano performances in Wave Hill House. This evening’s pianist is Gregg Kallor. Same-day tickets for Night Lights at Wave Hill: $25/$20 Wave Hill Member/$12 children. (Purchase tickets in advance and save $2.) All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges. Rain or shine. Tickets available now at wavehill.org and onsite. A Wave Hill at 50 anniversary event.

ON THE GROUNDS, 6:30–9:30PM

FRI, MAY 8    NIGHT LIGHTS AT WAVE HILL

Wave Hill’s 50th anniversary festivities reach a crescendo this spring with Night Lights at Wave Hill, a month-long celebration, when, for the first time in Wave Hill’s history, visitors will be invited to attend in the evening to enjoy the garden landscape at a time of day and during a season when it is normally closed to the public. Take in The Lightening: a Project for Wave Hill’s Aquatic Garden, an immersive installation by acclaimed artist by Chris Doyle, with music by composer Jeremy Turner, recorded by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Stop by Glyndor Gallery to see Chris Doyle: Landscape Fictions. Visit The Shop, The Café and the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory, and enjoy informal piano performances in Wave Hill House. This evening’s pianist is Gregg Kallor. Same-day tickets for Night Lights at Wave Hill: $25/$20 Wave Hill Member/$12 children. (Purchase tickets in advance and save $2.) Also open tonight is theNight Lights Lounge in Wave Hill House. Lounge + Night Lights ticket $60/$55 Wave Hill Member. All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges. Rain or shine. Tickets available now at wavehill.org and onsite. A Wave Hill at 50 anniversary event.

ON THE GROUNDS, 6:30–9:30PM

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–5:30PM. Closes 4:30PM, November 1–March 14.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. FreeSaturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. 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.

Assemblyman Dinowitz holds well-attended town hall meeting on expiring tenant protection laws

    Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz held a town hall meeting at the Kingsbridge Public Library on New York’s tenant protection laws, which are due to expire in June. Over 100 community members attended the event. Assemblyman Dinowitz and the town hall’s other two panelists, Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge at the Legal Aid Society, and Katie Goldstein, Executive Director of Tenants and Neighbors, spoke briefly and then answered a number of insightful questions from attendees about the nuances of New York’s rent laws.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, “I am pleased that so many members of the community came out last night to learn more about our tenant protection laws. Tens of thousands of Northwest Bronx residents and millions of people across the city depend on these laws to shield them from massive rent increases and ensure their right to a lease renewal. Renewing and strengthening the tenant protection laws is clearly very important to many in our community, and doing so is my top priority this legislative session. Thank you to Judith Goldiner and Katie Goldstein for lending their time and expertise at my town hall meeting.”

“The Alliance for Tenant Power is excited to work with Assemblyman Dinowitz and the Northwest Bronx community to ensure the renewal and strengthening of the rent laws this session,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney in Charge, The Legal Aid Society, Civil Law Reform.

"Tenants & Neighbors commends Assemblyman Dinowitz for bringing together tenants in his district to discuss the importance of renewing and strengthening the rent laws this June to preserve the homes of 1 million low and moderate income New Yorkers," said Katie Goldstein, Executive Director, Tenants & Neighbors.

The tenant protection laws, due to expire on June 15^th,  regulate over a million rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments in the City and many more across the state, protecting millions of residents from large rent increases and guaranteeing their right to a lease renewal. Even under current regulations, landlords are authorized to raise rents by large amounts through a variety of means. Assemblyman Dinowitz authored an op-ed earlier this year describing these existing loopholes in greater detail. The op-ed can be read here: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Jeffrey-Dinowitz/story/62606/

At the meeting, Assemblyman Dinowitz and the other panelists encouraged members of the community to make their voices heard on this issue. Community members are invited to:

• Join tenants and advocacy groups across the city for a series of rallies, marches, and bus trips to Albany beginning in May. For details on upcoming events, visit the website of Tenants & Neighbors athttp://www.tandn.org/ or call 212-608-4320.

• Tell Governor Andrew Cuomo about your support for the tenant protection laws. Letters should be addressed to:

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State

NYS State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Governor Cuomo’s office can also be reached by phone: 518-474-8390.

• Write letters to the local papers.

• Speak with friends and family about the importance of renewing and strengthening tenant protection laws.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, “Every voice counts in the fight to renew and strengthen New York’s tenant protection laws. I urge you to take action to help protect the rights of millions of tenants in New York City and across the state!”

Statement by Assemblyman Sepulveda on Shooting in Caserta Playground

   “Last night’s shooting at Caserta Playground (St. Raymond's Avenue) is especially disturbing because of where it took place. Parks are supposed to be places where residents of all ages can interact with one another in a peaceful and enjoyable manner.  I introduced legislation last year with Senator Klein that would increase penalties when a shooting takes place within 250 feet of a playground or school, however it never came to a vote in the Assembly.  It is vital that we protect our parks so that people are not afraid to use them.  I am confident that Deputy Inspector Green and the 43^rd Precinct will quickly apprehend the suspect, however I encourage anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.”

  Office of Assemblyman Luis Sepúlveda

District Office: 1973 Westchester Ave, Bronx NY ∙ Phone: 718-931-8620

ALFREDO THIEBAUD NAMED TO BRONX WALK OF FAME

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced today that Alfredo Thiebaud, a longtime borough business leader and philanthropist and the founder of Delicioso Coco Helado, would be posthumously inducted into the 2015 Bronx Walk of Fame.

“Alfredo was a friend, and he was someone the people of The Bronx could always count on for support. He created thousands of jobs during his career, and his business has become synonymous with summer in New York City. Honoring him with induction to the Bronx Walk of Fame is a special way for my office, and for the people of The Bronx, to honor his accomplishments and pay respects to his memory,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Mr. Thiebaud, who passed away following a tragic work accident in September 2014, founded Delicioso Coco Helado from his South Bronx apartment in 1967. Over the years the company grew to employ hundreds of individuals at any given time. His pushcarts became a summer staple in New York City, supplying kids of all ages with a tasty treat during the hottest months from a selection of dozens of flavors—including the coconut ice that made his company famous.

Mr. Thiebaud was also a well-known Bronx business leader and philanthropist, and was well known for his support of Little Leagues, youth groups and other community organizations.

Mr. Thiebaud will be officially inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame as part of the 44^th annual Bronx Week, a program of The Bronx Tourism Council. Bronx Week is an annual highly-anticipated 11-day event where the entire borough, including government, business, and the community-at-large, come together to celebrate “The Best of The Bronx” through festivals, concerts, health fairs, parades, performances and a host of other activities.

Bronx Week 2015 will take place from May 7-17. At the end of the 11-day celebration, our hometown heroes like Mr. Thiebaud are honored with induction into the Bronx Walk of Fame, where their names are emblazoned on a street sign to reside on the historic Grand Concourse forever.

For more information about Bronx Week 2015, visit ilovethebronx.com.