Council Member Williams Recovering From Hernia Surgery

  Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Deputy Leader and co-chair of the Council's Taskforce to Combat Gun Violence, issued the following statement today after successfully undergoing hernia surgery early this morning at New York Methodist Hospital:

"Several weeks ago after experiencing some pain, I visited my primary physician and was subsequently diagnosed with a hernia. After consulting with specialists, I underwent corrective surgery this morning at New York Methodist Hospital.

"Foremost, I want to thank the Creator for the blessing of life and my family, friends & colleagues for their support during this time. I would like to express my gratitude to my surgeon Dr. Raffaele Borriello and thank the entire Methodist staff and administration for their hospitality. I want to give special thanks to my mother, Patricia Williams and my sister Jeanine Williams, who were by my side through this event, as well as my good friend Leroy Morrison, owner of Alexis Van Lines, who dealt with logistical issues to allow my family to focus on the surgery.

"I want to reassure the residents of the 45th Council District that my office will continue to function normally as I recuperate from surgery. My dedicated staff will be focused on constituent services, legislative and budgetary matters. I have every confidence in their abilities and so should you. My recovery will be a few weeks but I will be also diligently working from home to address the issues of my office.

Lastly I want to take this opportunity to urge everyone to value the importance of their health and visit their doctor regularly. Particularly those of us who are in the midst of their careers and often ignore physical signs that something may be wrong. Too often we overly focus on taking care of business or family, and forget to take care of ourselves. As I celebrate my 40th birthday next month, this surgery has been a sobering reminder that a career in service to your community must be balanced by taking care of myself physically.

"Thank you in advance for your prayers. Feel free to reach out to my office at any time and I look forward to personally greeting all of you in the very near future."

-Jumaane D. Williams-

Council Member, 45th District

Editor's Note: 

We wish Councilman Williams a speedy recovery so that he can get back to work for the people of New York City.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Major Agreement With Seven Insurers To Expand Coverage Of Chronic Hepatitis C Treatment For Nearly All Commercial Health Insurance Plans Across New York State

Insurers In New York Will No Longer Restrict Treatment For Hepatitis C Based On Disease Severity

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a major agreement with seven health insurance companies to revise their coverage policies for chronic Hepatitis C treatment: Affinity Health Plan, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Excellus Health Plan, HealthNow, Independent Health, United Healthcare/Oxford, and MVP Health Plan.  As a result of these agreements, nearly all commercial health insurance plans in New York State will cover treatment for chronic Hepatitis C without requiring members to develop advanced disease, such as liver scarring, and will not deny coverage because the member uses alcohol or drugs, or because the authorizing physician is not a specialist.

“New Yorkers diagnosed with Hepatitis C deserve to be treated, and these agreements will vastly improve access to the medications needed to cure their disease,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Hepatitis C is a potentially life-threatening disease and thousands of New Yorkers are diagnosed each year. My office will do everything possible to ensure treatment for Hepatitis C is available, so that patients can be cured and we can minimize the spread of the disease to others.”

Chronic Hepatitis C infection can cause liver failure, liver cancer, brain damage, and kidney failure – and, if left untreated, can result in cirrhosis and be fatal.  Chronic liver disease/cirrhosis is the twelfth leading cause of the death in the United States Approximately 3.5 million Americans suffer from a chronic hepatitis C virus infection, and it is estimated that 25,000 individuals become infected with hepatitis C each year.

Prior to the agreement, five of the seven insurers limited chronic hepatitis C coverage to members with advanced liver scarring or other complications.  Following these agreements, each of those insurers will eliminate restrictions requiring members to have advanced disease – such as advanced liver scarring – before their treatment will be considered “medically necessary” and covered by the plan. Additionally, prior to the agreement, four of the insurers denied coverage of treatment based on the members’ use of alcohol or other drugs, and three of the insurers only permitted specialists to authorize treatment.  These insurers have now agreed to not deny coverage based on members’ alcohol or drug use and to permit appropriately trained providers to authorize treatment.

By removing these three restrictive criteria, the insurers’ Hepatitis C coverage policies will more closely reflect evidence-based guidelines for treatment of chronic Hepatitis C infection.

The seven health plans must fully implement the revised criteria within 45 days of the agreement and will send notices to members who were denied coverage who may now be eligible for treatment. The investigation of this matter was conducted by Assistant Attorneys General Elizabeth Chesler and Adrienne Lawston, with assistance from Volunteer Attorneys General Matthew Reisman and Samuel Canales, of the Health Care Bureau, which is led by Bureau Chief Lisa Landau.  The Health Care Bureau is a part of the Social Justice Division, led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Alvin Bragg.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - 2016 Run the Bronx

For more details contact,

Phil Cardone

Grants & Events Director

Bronx Chamber of Commerce

"The Network For Business Success"
1200 Waters Place, Suite 106
Bronx, NY 10461
718-828-3900

Defend the Bronx Zoo and NY Aquarium and Other Cultural Groups - The Bronx Chamber of Commerce

   Dear Friend, 

New York City wouldn't be the greatest place on earth without its incredible cultural organizations. But that legacy doesn't just happen. It takes a commitment from all New Yorkers - and especially our leaders - to keep it great.

 

Simply put, without funding from the city, the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, cultural treasures would face an uncertain future.

 

We need your help to make sure that never happens. Right now, City Hall is deciding whether or not to use part of its surplus to keep cultural organizations accessible for all New Yorkers, and we need to make sure they do the right thing! Mayor de Blasio is finalizing his next budget, and we are seeking a funding increase of $40 million to support the 1,500+ cultural organizations in New York City. That's less than 1 percent of the overall budget - a small price to pay to keep the groups that inspire us strong and to keep New York the cultural capital of the world.

 

Let City Hall know that you're inspired by the work of the Wildlife Conservation Society and that you want New York's culture to keep thriving for generations to come. Ask the mayor to increase funding today. http://www.nycinspires.org/#Petition

 

Thanks for doing your part to defend the Bronx Zoo and NY Aquarium and other cultural groups that are essential to this city. Future New Yorkers will thank you for helping to keep their city great.

Nunzio Del Greco

President and CEO

Bronx Chamber of Commerce

"The Network For Business Success"

1200 Waters Place, Suite 106

Bronx, NY 10461

718-828-3900

Nunzio@bronxchamber.org

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center - Upcoming Events in May 2016

  Commemorate Holocaust Remembrance on Thurs. May 5^th with a candle lighting ceremony and screening of The Rescuers, a Holocaust documentary. Kosher lunch of stuffed cabbage or tuna salad will be served at12:15 PM followed by the ceremony and film screening at 1:00 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25 and event contribution: $1.00. Non-senior meal fee: $5.00 and $2.00 event fee. Refreshments will be served.

*Celebrate Mother’s Day with dynamic pianist/singer Vicki Rubin on Tues. May 10^th at 1:00 PM. A delectable meal of sweet & sour meatballs or Tuna Nicoise will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25 and event contribution: $1.00. Non-senior meal fee: $5.00 and $2.00 event fee. Refreshments will be served. *Flyer attached.

*Marty Schneit, Lecturer/NYC Tour Guide, will deliver a multimedia presentation on “NYC during WWII” on Wed. May 11^th at 1:00 PM. Lunch of breaded chicken breast or tilapia fillet will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25 and event contribution: $1.00. Non-senior meal fee: $5.00 and $2.00 event fee. Refreshments will be served. *Flyer attached. 

*Ling Tang, exuberant Asian dancer & educator, will continue instructing Asian dance on Thurs. May 12^th & 26th at 1:00 PM at JASA Van Cortlandt Sr. Center. Kosher lunch of breaded sole fillet or chicken salad will be served on 5/12 at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25 and workshop contribution: $1.00. *Flyer w/bio attached.

Journalist Graciela Berger Wegsman will conduct the Latinos al Frente discussion group on Tues. May 24th. Hand-out material will be translated into English. A nutritious lunch of chicken francaise or egg salad will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25. Non-senior meal fee: $5.00.

The Meetles Rock Tribute Band will entertain on Wed. May 25^th at 1:00 PM. Kosher lunch of beef & vegetable stew or turkey salad will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25 and $1.00 for event. Non-senior meal fee: $5.00 and $2.00 event fee.

Job and Shlomit Jindo will present on the Makuya, a Japanese Zionist group, on Fri. May 27^th at 1:00 PM. A brief Oneg Shabbat will be held at 12:00 noon followed by a lunch of roast chicken or gefilte fish at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25 and $1.00 for event. Non-senior meal fee: $5.00 and $2.00 event fee.

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave., First Floor 

Bronx, NY 10463

Phone: 718-549-4700

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj - In Loving Memory of Gjyste Zagreda

In Loving Memory

It is with great sadness to inform of the passing of my grandmother
 

Gjyste Zagreda

September, 25, 1922 ~ April 26, 2016

Gjyste was a loving mother, sister, grandmother. great-grandmother and friend. She lived a full life of love and happiness. Gjyste is survived by her husband of 73 years, Eljo Zagreda, her five children, fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.   

She will be laid to rest in Rec, Ulqin.

Viewing Services:
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
2:00pm - 9:00pm
Farenga Brothers Funeral Home
920 Allerton Avenue
Bronx NY, 10469

Prayer Vigil for Intercession Set for Thursday 11AM on the Steps of City Hall

    Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz and the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization will join Reverend Luis Paniagua President of “Clamor por New York”  who has coordinated a Prayer Vigil to take place on the Steps of City Hall on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 11AM.

    The Ministers will be praying for the City of New York, and asking God to bless its leaders and its residents. They will offer prayers of intercession for an end to violence and crime, homelessness, poverty, racism, domestic abuse, elder abuse, child abuse and neglect.

    Ministers throughout the City of New York have decided it is important to gather together on the Steps of City Hall to raise their voices in prayer for our families and children, teachers and workers. They will pray for the victims of the Earthquake in Ecuador and for peace in our world.

Festival this Sunday, May 1 & New Office Open House next Thursday, May 5

Don't Miss our Next TWO Great Events!

It is shaping up to be a great event with an awesome music and entertainment line up and numerous attractions.  

Sunday, May 1, 2016 - 1:00pm to 5:00pm

South Riverdale Avenue

236th - 238th Street, Bronx, NY, 10463

Enjoy live music, children's activities, bounce house, food, business exhibits, specials and much more.

ALL AT NO CHARGE

Grand Opening Event for Our New Office!

Thursday, May 5, 2016 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm

505 West 236th Street 

Off Riverdale Avenue.