Friday, August 21, 2015
Gas Explosion Rocks Kennedy Campus
At 8 PM last night an explosion rocked the Kennedy campus home to 8 schools and over 4,000 high school students. The above photo shows only some of the emergency response that responded to a call of a gas explosion at the Marble Hill site.
It appears to be a mistake by the contractors working on refurbishing the science labs in the rear of the building,where plumbers were working on the gas lines when the explosion took place at 8 PM. Rescue units from all over the Bronx and Upper Manhattan responded, and 3 of the workers were taken to the hospital with injuries, 2 of them serious. As you will see in the photos below the windows and part of the building were blown to the ground across the rear courtyard of the high school building. The force of the explosion sent some parts of the window frames, glass, and building exterior to the roadway leading to the back of the building and to the front parking lot. Mayor Bill de Blasio arrived at the site a few hours later saying that it is not known if part or all of the building will open in September when the new school year begins, and that the building will be carefully inspected for any structural damage.
Above - Another photo of the huge response by emergency workers.
Below - The sixth floor science lab area where the explosion happened. 3 classrooms were heavily damaged, and you can see some of the glass and building exterior on the ground.
Above - A better photo of the damaged 6th floor of the 8 story school.
Below - Parts of the window frames, and glass were blown on to the roadway in front of the building, and even into the front parking lot.
KLEIN ANNOUNCES $200,000 IN STATE FUNDING FOR THE YMCA OF GREATER NEW YORK
State Senator Jeff Klein, together with Executive Director of The Bronx YMCA Sharlene Brown, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at the YMCA Paul Custer, and Vice President of Public Affairs at the YMCA Sharon Levy, today announced $200,000 in state funding for the YMCA of Greater New York.
Senator Jeff Klein said: “Encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle is critical to improving health outcomes in The Bronx and across New York State. I’m proud to have secured $200,000 in state funding for health and wellness initiatives, youth development and senior programming at the YMCA of Greater New York. I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure all New Yorkers are able to lead full, healthy and happy lives.”
Senator Klein visited The Bronx YMCA where local campers put on a special end-of-summer performance, including a song and dance routine. Families and children enjoyed hits like, “You’re The One That I Want,” “Tutti Frutti,” and “Happy.”
Sharlene Brown, Executive Director of the Bronx YMCA, said: “With $200,000 secured in this year’s budget by State Senator Jeff Klein, The Bronx YMCA will be able to serve even more youth and families at the branch and program sites.”
State funding secured by Senator Klein will be used to promote various health and wellness initiatives, including intergenerational programming, family engagement, nutrition and senior services. The YMCA of Greater New York is a community service organization dedicated promoting positive values and building strong communities.
STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA, ASSEMBLY MEMBER VICTOR M. PICHARDO AND COUNCIL MEMBER RITCHIE TORRES TO HOST A BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION
State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo and Council Member Ritchie Torres will host a back to school event on Friday, August 21st at Tremont Park.
This event, which is part of the Bronx CAN Health Initiative, will have a backpack giveaway, fun activities and free health screenings in an effort to help celebrate a healthy start to the upcoming school year. A limited number of backpacks will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children between 5 and 12 years old need to be accompanied by an adult while youths between 13 and 18, do not need a parent present.
WHAT: Back to School Celebration
WHO: State Senator Gustavo Rivera
Assembly Member Victor Pichardo
Council Member Ritchie Torres
WHEN: Friday, August 21, 2015
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
WHERE: Tremont Park
Corner of E. Tremont Avenue and Arthur Avenue
Bronx, NY 10457
*Rain Location:
Abraham Plaza, Community Room
1870 Crotona Avenue
Bronx, NY 10457
**This event is free and open to the public. Other organizations participating in the event include our main sponsor, Metroplus, Union Community Health Center, Morris Heights Health Center, FDNY, New York Life Insurance, Bronx Community Board 6, NYPD's 48th Precinct, the Alzheimers' Association and Bronx Lebanon Hospital.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK AT SETON PARK
If one photo could tell the story of the Engelbert Humperdinck concert at Seton Park in Riverdale last night it would be this one, as the famed singer came to the edge of the stage as 50 - 75 fans shimmied their way to the bottom of the stage to snap a photo or two while they were up close to one of their singing idols. The 90 minute concert was full of Humperdinck's long list of hit songs (many Grammy Award winners) such as 'Release Me', After the Lovin', and 'Am I That Easy to Forget to name a few.
. The concert the third year of the 'Summertime Concerts' presented by State Senator Jeff Klein was well attended by over 600 people making this the largest attended concert held in Seton Park. In between songs Engelbert Humperdinck (whose real name is Jerry Dorsey) told stories of being with other famous stars who would mangle his stage name in various ways. The photos below will tell the rest of the story.
Above - State Senator Jeff Klein is on stage before the concert with Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Councilman Andy Cohen.
Below - Senator Klein works the audience before the concert to get a feeling of the people, some who arrived hours before the concert to get a good spot.
Senator Klein’s Summertime Symphonies Series continues this month with Alive & Kickin’ on Monday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m at Ambrosini Field and Chubby Checker on Wednesday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Loreto Park. For more information, please call Senator Klein’s office at (718) 822-2049.
CON EDISON BACK TO REDO WORK ON HIGH PRESSURE GAS MAINS
This intersection at West 239th Street and Independence Avenue was the scene of work to lay a high pressure gas line that had street parking (on one side) removed a week before the Thanksgiving holiday until a week before the Christmas holiday. As you can see Con Edison has had to come back to redo this intersection where several gas mains are. In the photo below you can see the patch Con Edison did when laying down the High Pressure gas line. One only has to wonder where the next gas main explosion will happen since the work of installing the high pressure gas lines was done by what the Public Service Commission has said was 70 percent of untrained installers. That has resulted in many gas leaks that have been found, and the redoing of street work like theses photos and others that appear on this blog.
BP DIAZ BLASTS NYCHA HOUSING PROPOSAL
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is raising serious concerns over a proposal by the New York City Housing Authority to develop open green spaces between existing buildings at city housing projects.
“The tenants of NYCHA should not be treated like second-class citizens,” said Borough President Diaz. “Despite the assertions of NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye, these green spaces play a critical role in the everyday life of building tenants, especially children, and should be preserved. NYCHA’s housing stock is already poorly maintained. Taking away light, air and green space from these tenants—taking away safe spaces where children play—would be an outrage.”
Borough President Diaz also criticized Ms. Olatoye for her comments in an interview with Politico New York, where she described the green spaces at NYCHA developments as “strewn with trash” and “gated off,” and therefore any discussion of their use by tenants amounts to “nostalgia.”
“Ms. Olatoye should not be so cavalier about her agency’s responsibility to manage these spaces,” said Borough President Diaz. “If the space is strewn with trash, pick up the garbage. If they are gated off, then open the gates. Her admission that NYCHA cannot maintain space for its tenants should not be an excuse to develop inappropriate housing projects, but should instead spark a discussion about ways to provide additional resources to the hardworking men and women employed by the housing authority.”
Borough President Diaz added that he is not opposed to all development on NYCHA property, and has in fact supported some projects in the past. But to develop on cherished green space does a tremendous disservice to the over 400,000 city residents who call these developments home.
“I understand the need to build more affordable housing,” said Borough President Diaz. “But this development should not be at the expense of the quality of life of NYCHA tenants.”
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Calendar of upcoming Bronx Community Board #6 meetings
THE CITY OF NEW YORK
BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD 6
1932 Arthur Avenue, Room 403, Bronx, NY 10457
Telephone: (718) 579-6990 Fax: (718) 579-6875 Email: Brxcb6@Optonline.net
Honorable Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx Borough President
MS. WENDY RODRIGUEZ - Board Chairperson
MS. IVINE GALARZA - District Manager
CALENDAR OF MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
Unless otherwise specified, all committee meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. and take place at the community board’s NEW district office: Room 403 on the fourth floor of 1932 Arthur Avenue, Bronx New York.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
Health & Human Services Committee: Ms. Diana Diaz, Committee Chair
Senior Citizens Outreach Committee: Mrs. Virginia Bird, Committee Chair
1. An informational discussion about Legionnaires Disease.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Parks and Recreation Committee: Ms. Margarita Espinosa, Committee Chair
Youth & Education Committee: Ms. Perquida Williams, Committee Chair
Law Enforcement Committee: Ms. Claudette Coles, Committee Chair
Ms. Maria Garcia, Committee Co-chair
1. Planning for the community board’s January 2016 annual Youth Conference.
2. An informational update on activities at the Crystal Garden community green thumb garden.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
Economic Development Committee: Ms. Alexis Thornton, Committee Chair
Housing & Land Use Committee: Ms. Sara N. Logan, Committee Chair
Sanitation Committee: Ms. Dior Doward, Committee Chair
Transportation Committee: Ms. Magdamarie Marcano, Committee Chair
1. A discussion and vote on a housing project being undertaken by Phipps Neighborhoods.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
Monthly full community board meeting.
Location: VIP Community Services’ Men’s Residence
764 East 176th Street (Corner of Prospect Avenue) Bronx, New York
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Agenda (subject to change):
1. Call to Order
2. Invocation.
3. Community Period.
4. Bronx Borough President’s Report.
5. Elected Officials’ Reports.
6. District Manager’s Report
7. Roll Call Attendance.
8. Committee Reports.
9. Adoption of Motions.
A motion to adopt the minutes of Bronx Community Board #6’s meeting of April 8, 2015.
A motion to adopt the minutes of Bronx Community Board #6’s meeting of June 10, 2015.
A motion in the matter of a request from the South Bronx Overall
Economic Development Corporation (SOBRO) for a letter supporting its efforts to develop 4529 Park Avenue (located at the corner of Park Avenue and East 183rd Street) as a seventy-six unit apartment building for a mixed population of special needs tenants, with a preference given to veterans and low income individuals and families. (The actual wording of the motion is to be determined at the meeting.)
Other motions (if any).
10. Announcements.
11. Adjournment.