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Monday, March 6, 2017
Bronx Borough President = Women's History Month Celebration 2017
NYC Small Business Services - Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rule
Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules
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Pursuant to Section 1043(e) of the New York City Charter, the NYC Department of Small Business Services is proposing to repeal the following chapters of Title 66 of the Rules of the City of New York.
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Sunday, March 5, 2017
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us at the Bronx Business Awards 2017 Gala Celebration
Save The Date:
Thursday, March 9, 2017 Marina del Rey Caterers
5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Bronx Business Awards
2017 Gala Celebration
Members and Friends of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce are requested to nominate companies or organizations to receive Special Recognition and Distinguished Awards at the Bronx Business Awards 2017 Gala Celebration in following categories:
- Developer of the Year
- MWBE Company of the Year
- Non-Profit Organization of the Year
- Health Provider of the Year
- Educational Institution of the Year
- Made in The Bronx Award of the Year
Friends of VCP's March 2017 Enewsletter
Happy Feels Like Spring! Signs up spring are popping up all over the Park. Our spring event season kicks off on April 1st. Our April events are listed below and please visit our Events Page to see all of our Spring 2017 Events.
We are sad to report that the Birding Bridge on the John Kieran Trail that provides us with the beautiful view below will be CLOSED. For safety related concerns, NYC Parks has closed the birding bridge indefinitely. The Friends will work closely with NYC Parks to develop a permanent resolution. For now, the golf course side of the bridge will remain open. We are looking into all possible solutions and will keep you posted on the status.
Throughout 2017, the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary of
Bringing Youth, Community & Nature Together in Van Cortlandt Park with special events. One way to help support our 2017 efforts is by becoming a Bronx Pass Member.
Hope to see you in the Park!
Christina and all of your Friends at the Friends of VCP
Friends of VCP's April Events
John Muir Trail Clean Up Day
Saturday April 1st meeting at 10am
The John Muir Trail could use a little TLC. Join us for a walk along the trail as we collect garbage and clean up the trail for the spring.
Meet at the Garden & Compost Site- enter the Park at Broadway and Mosholu Avenue.
Urban Environmental Challenge 10K
Sunday April 2nd meeting at 10am
Van Cortlandt Track Club presents a real trail race in New York City! Prepare for a rugged, technical trail race in historic Van Cortlandt Park in the heart of the Bronx. In the case of bad weather, the race goes on! Stay for the half-mile children’s race at 11:30 am. Proceeds from the race will goes to trail maintenance efforts of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park. To register visithttps://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
Food Scrap Drop-Off
Tuesdays April 4th to May 30th from 4pm to 6pm
We want to use your food scraps to make compost and grow veggies at the Van Cortlandt Park Garden and Compost Site. This site will be operated by the NYC Compost Project hosted by The New York Botanical Garden. For more information about NYC food scrap drop-off site guidelines, e-mail compost(at)nybg.org.
Held at the Garden & Compost Site – enter the Park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave.
Get Active Hiking Series
Second Saturday of Each Month at 10am
This is a great opportunity to learn about the ecology and the history of the Park. Please wear appropriate shoes and bring plenty of water and a snack for the hike.
April 8th, meet at the last stop of the 1 train (near Broadway and W. 242nd Street): Tibbetts Wetland Tour led by our Wetland Internship for a Healthier Bronx Interns.
Woodlawn Clean Up Days
Saturdays April 8th and June 10th meeting at 10am
Join us and Women of Woodlawn for hands-on service projects to improve the Northeast Corner of Van Cortlandt Park around Woodlawn Playground.
Meet in front of Woodlawn Playground on Van Cortlandt Park East just south of Oneida Avenue.
Earth Day Volunteer Event
Saturday April 22nd meeting at 10am
Join us on Earth Day to volunteer for one of two projects in Van Cortlandt Park.
Garden & Compost Site Prep for Planting Season: meet at the Garden & Compost Site- enter the Park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave.
Trail Restoration Project: meet at the last stop of the 1 train (near Broadway and W. 242nd Street)
March 2017 at KRVC
Mark your Calendars!
Don't miss these great KRVC events coming up this month!
March 2017 at KRVC
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Saturday, March 4, 2017
Bronx Man Convicted In Manhattan Federal Court Of 2013 Double Murder Of Two Cousins
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ORANE NELSON, a/k/a “Amaze,” 28, was convicted today of murdering Jennifer Rivera and Jason Rivera on January 16, 2013, in the Bronx, in connection with a dispute over a drug debt, as well as narcotics conspiracy and firearms possession charges. At the time of their murders, Jennifer Rivera was 20 and Jason Rivera was 30. The jury convicted NELSON on all four counts in the controlling indictment following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Orane Nelson executed two people in cold blood over a drug debt. He killed Jason Rivera over a drug debt, and Jennifer Rivera – a 20-year-old college student who had nothing to do with that drug debt – just because she was there. Today’s unanimous jury verdict finding Nelson guilty on all counts ensures Nelson will be held to account for his violent and callous crimes.”
According to court papers and evidence admitted at trial:
From 2011 to 2013, ORANE NELSON, a/k/a “Amaze,” was a crack dealer in the Bronx who also carried guns to protect his drug business. In January 2013, NELSON had a dispute with Jason Rivera over a drug debt owed by NELSON. Following the dispute, NELSON decided to murder Jason Rivera, and lured Jason Rivera out to a location in the Bronx with the promise of money to be paid for the debt owed. Jason Rivera brought along his 20-year-old cousin, Jennifer Rivera, who was not involved in any drug trafficking activities, to pick up the money promised by NELSON. Shortly after midnight, NELSON and an accomplice entered Jason Rivera’s vehicle, and minutes later executed both Jason Rivera and Jennifer Rivera by shooting them each in the head at close range. Jennifer was killed because she was a witness to the murder of Jason Rivera.
For these activities, NELSON was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of life, to be served consecutively, and two counts of causing the death of another through use of a firearm, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life, to be served consecutively. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
NELSON is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2017, before Judge Cote.
U.S. Attorney Bharara praised the FBI and the NYPD for their outstanding work in this investigation.
Guilty Plea Of Former Judge For Using His Position To Issue Favorable Rulings To Defendants In Exchange For Sexual Favors
Paul M. Lamson Faces Up To Six Years In State Prison Following Admission He Abused Position By Issuing Beneficial Rulings To Defendants In Exchange For Sexual Favors
Schneiderman: We Will Continue Working With Our Partners In Law Enforcement To Root Out Public Corruption And Hold Those Individuals Responsible Accountable
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and NYSP today announced the guilty pleas of Paul M. Lamson, the former Judge for the Town of Fowler Justice Court in St. Lawrence County, for abusing his position as a Judge by giving beneficial rulings to defendants that appeared before him in exchange for sexual favors. Lamson today entered guilty pleas before the Honorable Derek P. Champagne in St. Lawrence County Court, to the charges of Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree in violation of Penal Law § 200.10, a class “D” felony and Official Misconduct in violation of Penal Law § 195.00(1), a class “A” misdemeanor. As part of a plea agreement, the defendant is expected to be sentenced to two to six years in state prison.
“Judges who exploit their positions in exchange for sexual favors show blatant disregard for their victims, the trust of the general public, and the judicial system as a whole,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We will continue working with our partners in law enforcement to root out public corruption and hold those individuals responsible accountable.”
A joint investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police revealed that Lamson had solicited defendants who had criminal cases pending before him in Fowler Town Court, to perform sexual favors and that in exchange for those sexual favors, Lamson agreed to use his authority as a Judge to assist those defendants in their criminal cases. The investigation further revealed that Lamson did, in fact, issue favorable rulings for the benefit of those defendants.
“The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office received information that initiated multiple operations with the assistance of the NYS Violent Crime Investigative Unit and the investigators of the NYS Attorney General’s Office over several months,” said St. Lawrence County Sherifff Kevin Wells. “Those operations yielded a successful arrest and conviction in a timely manner of Paul Lamson. The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with their law enforcement partners to combat this and other crimes in St. Lawrence County.”
New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said “It is deplorable for any entrusted public official to use their authority and public office to take advantage of others especially in this manner. Judge Lamson was appointed by the people in his community to uphold the law and used the very bench that he presided over to break the law himself and to victimize and manipulate the individuals he was sworn to protect through a fair judicial process. When a public official shows such a blatant disregard for the law it is particularly disturbing. No one is above the law and such abuse of power, especially when it involves abhorrent acts like this, will not be tolerated.”
Lamson was the Town Justice for the Town of Fowler Justice Court from 2006 to December 1, 2016, when he resigned. Today, in St. Lawrence County Court, Lamson admitted to soliciting and accepting sexual favors from individuals who had pending criminal cases before him in the Town of Fowler Justice Court, upon an agreement or understanding that his judgment, action, decision and exercise of discretion as the Justice for the Town of Fowler Court, would be influenced with respect to those defendants’ cases. The defendant further admitted that he did, in fact, provide favorable rulings on these defendants’ behalf. For example, Lamson admitted that in exchange for sexual favors, he kept a defendant at liberty as opposed to sentencing that defendant to a period of incarceration. Lamson is expected to be sentenced to two to six years in state prison at the time of his sentencing on June 1, 2017.
On February, 24th, the Attorney General announced the guilty plea of Delmar House, the former Village Justice for the Village of West Carthage Court in Jefferson County, for abusing his position as a Judge by reducing a fine for a defendant who appeared before him in exchange for sexual favors, and by paying a portion of that defendant’s fines in exchange for additional sexual favors. House pleaded guilty to Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree, and Receiving a Reward for Official Misconduct in the Second Degree, and is expected to be sentenced to up to six months’ incarceration and five years of probation.