Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Mid-Island Mortgage Corporation presents a Free Seminar for First-Time Home Buyers

Friends of VCP's September Events

Rowboating on VC LakeLast Day is Today: Friday September 1st from 4:30pm to 7:30pmVillage Community Boathouse will provide FREE rowing in their fleet of traditional wooden rowboats.  Children under 18 years old need a parent present to sign waiver. Enter the park at Van Cortlandt Park South & Bailey Ave. Meet near the Lake.

Youth Run Farm Stands
Wednesdays from 2-7pmuntil October 25th– 
at the Train Park at Orloff Ave and Gale Place.Thursdays from 12-7pmuntil November 16th– 
on the Corner of E. Gun Hill Road and DeKalb Ave. 
Wednesdays will include healthy cooking demonstrations and hands-on activities for the community.  Thursday’s market is being held in partnership with GrowNYC. Both markets will accept Cash, EBT/Credit/Debit, Healthbucks, FreshConnect Bucks, WIC and FMNP checks. Special Thank You to Our Supporters: New Yankee Stadium Benefits Fund, Clif Bar Family Foundation and Bon Secours Healthy Community Initiative.

Volunteer Trails Restoration CrewSaturday September 9th from 10am to 3pm
Crew Members will work alongside trails professionals, developing skills in various areas of trail construction while improving the various trails in Van Cortlandt Park.  Projects include building boardwalks, clearing waterbars and drainage swells and installing drainage dips.  No prior trails experience is necessary; all training will be offered in an on-the-job format.  Interested? Contact alex@vancortlandt.org for more information on September event. Must be 18 years of age to join.

Tibbetts Wetland Tour
Saturday September 16th at 10am
 Please wear appropriate shoes and bring plenty of water and a snack for the hike. Meet inside the park near the last stop of the 1 train at Broadway and W. 242nd Street.

Fall Kickoff Volunteer EventSaturday September 30th meeting at 10amJoin us as we kickoff a season of volunteering with projects throughout Van Cortlandt Park:
Garden & Compost Site Weeding & Harvesting: meet at the FVCP Compost Site- enter the Park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave.Woodlawn Playground Beautification: meet at Van Cortlandt Park East and just south of Kepler Avenue.Trail Restoration: meet inside the park near the last stop of the 1 train at Broadway and W. 242nd Street.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend 

with your family and friends...

 

          

Be listed in the soon to be printed 2018 Bronx Business Directory & Resource Guide for business referrals. The Directory is distributed to more than 2,500 member businesses, new businesses, and government offices and at Bronx Chamber of Commerce events throughout the year. 

Even one business referral more than pays for the annual membership dues to the Bronx Chamber of Commerce!

There are many excellent benefits of membership listed in the Bronx Chamber Brochure. Membership dues, event ticket cost, advertising in the publications, and event sponsorship are legitimate business deductions for tax purposes to the fullest extent of the law. To expedite joining, click on the following link to the Chamber Brochure which includes a membership application.

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is one of the most influential, professional and successful organizations and voice for businesses in Bronx County. Professionals and companies are drawn to the successful companies and active members affiliated with The Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Membership includes businesses ranging from large corporations, Cultural Institutions, Universities and Colleges, Hospitals and Medical Centers, non-profits, and mid-sized to small companies. Visit: www.BronxChamber.org.

Helping you grow your Bronx Business is our Goal!

 

Sincerely,

 

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

 

"You never know where your next big deal is going to come from"!

Wave Hill Events Sep 15–Sep 22 Annual Plant Sale! Ladybug Day!

  Families with school-age children may be focused on surviving the beginning of another school year—and to them I say hurray for Ladybug Day! The rest of us can enjoy the beginning of the glorious harvest season, and our annual plant sale is a fine way to celebrate it. The first weekend, coming up, our hort staff will be on hand to help you make choices tailored to your green-space needs.

You will see, as the season unfolds, that fall exhibition-related programming happens every weekend, all in celebration of the tenth anniversary of our gallery space for emerging artists. This week it’s a workshop and a dance performance.

Fri, September 15    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular new plants for your garden! Staff experts are on over the weekend of September 15–17 to offer personal assistance as you shop from our selection of superior cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden. Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Sat, September 16    Family Art Project: Dotted Ladybug Backpacks Parade

This weekend, we celebrate a beloved beetle, adored for its bright red coat and black spots. Do the spots tell the age of the beetle or are they simply good luck? Make your own little ladybug backpack to show off some spots or wear it in a group red-and-black-dot count down and slow-beetle parade. Sunday is Ladybug Day!Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, September 16    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular new plants for your garden! Staff experts are on over the weekend of September 15–17 to offer personal assistance as you shop from our selection of superior cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden. Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Sat, September 16    A Call & Response Art Workshop: Painting with Pressed Plants

On select Saturdays, Call & Response artists will be presenting talks, readings, live music, performance art and workshops in and around Glyndor Gallery. This Saturday, tour Call & Response, the fall exhibition in Glyndor Gallery, with exhibiting artist Caitlin Parker, then create botanical compositions on fabric. Using specialty inks, print patterns using pressed ferns, leaves and flowers as stamps. $55/$45 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 10AM–1PM

Sat, September 16    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide 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

Sat, September 16    Wave Hill History Walk

Discover the fascinating history of Wave Hill’s architecture and landscape on a walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Hear about the people who once called Wave Hill home, among them Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Bashford Dean and Arturo Toscanini. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM

Sat, September 16    Call & Response Dance Performance: Jarrod Beck

On select Saturdays, Call & Response artists will be presenting talks, readings, live music, performance art and workshops in and around Glyndor Gallery. This Saturday, experience the expansiveness and geological history of the Palisades through dance. Choreographed by Call & Response artist Jarrod Beck in response to his work Megathrust, this outdoor performance interprets the subducting tectonic plates that created the Palisades and Hudson River. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sun, September 17    Family Art Project: Dotted Ladybug Backpacks Parade

This weekend, we celebrate a beloved beetle, adored for its bright red coat and black spots. Do the spots tell the age of the beetle or are they simply good luck? Make your own little ladybug backpack to show off some spots or wear it in a group red-and-black-dot count down and slow-beetle parade. Free with admission to the grounds. Ladybug Day event.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, September 17    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular new plants for your garden! Staff experts are on over the weekend of September 15–17 to offer personal assistance as you shop from our selection of superior cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden. Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Sun, September 17    In The Shop: Ladybug Day Special!

Help us celebrate our ladybugs! Spend $50 in The Shop and receive a chocolate ladybug gift. The proceeds of your purchases in The Shop support Wave Hill’s gardens and programming. Ladybug Day event.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–4PM

Sun, September 17    Nature Presentation: Ladybug Meet-and-Greet

Everyone is familiar with the cute little ladybug. But did you know there are many different kinds of ladybugs? And did you know the nine-spot ladybug is our official New York state insect? Learn more about these colorful creatures and meet a few live ladybugs with Environmental Educator Kerrilee Hunter of the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Ladybug Day event.

ON THE GROUNDS, 1–3PM

Sun, September 17    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Mon, September 18    

Closed to the public.

Tue, September 19    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide 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, September 19    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden! Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Tue, September 19    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery will be given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of more than 50 artists who have exhibited in this unique venue, in projects ranging from art objects created from natural materials gathered onsite, to sound pieces, outdoor installations and performance works. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Wed, September 20    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden! Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Thu, September 21    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden! Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Fri, September 22    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden! Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

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, starting March 15.  Closes 4:30PM, November 1–March 14.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday 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 W. 242nd 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.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND SPEAKER MARK-VIVERITO ANNOUNCE CITY EMPLOYEES CAN SET ASIDE PORTION OF PAYCHECKS TO SUPPORT HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF EFFORTS

  In response to the on-going devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced that, starting tomorrow, employees of the City of New York will be able to directly donate a portion of their paychecks to hurricane relief efforts. The funds will be distributed to reputable relief organizations already working to support the 6.6 million people who have been impacted in Houston and the surrounding areas. One hundred percent of all donations will be dispersed to support relief efforts and organizations.

"New York City knows all too well the devastation a hurricane can bring. As the extent of damage continues to be assessed, we knew many New Yorkers would be anxious to offer help and we wanted to provide city employees with the easiest possible option for doing so. Whether you’re able to offer time and energy, monetary donations, or simply your thoughts and prayers, there is no question New York City stands with Texas," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Over the past few days, Hurricane Harvey has devastated much of the Houston area, destroying houses and leaving thousands of Texans stranded. Rescue efforts are still underway, and Texans need all the help they can get. That is why I encourage everyone to contribute to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund or by donating a portion of their paychecks through the NYC Mayor’s Relief Fund – the proceeds of which will directly go towards disaster relief in affected areas,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “New York City stands with Houston, and I encourage all New Yorkers to offer assistance however they can. I thank Council Member Treyger and Council Member Richards for their hard work in calling attention to what is happening in Houston, and their partnership with elected officials and disaster relief organizations to help out during this difficult time.”

"One of the most admirable qualities of New Yorkers is a strong spirit of giving, especially during a time of crisis. As we empathize with the suffering of our sisters and brothers in Texas, we must come together to support the immediate and long-term recovery needs of those in ruin and distress from the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Harvey," First Lady Chirlane McCray, Chair of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.

On Thursday, City employees will receive an email informing them of the option to donate directly from their paychecks to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. ‎The funds will be directed via the Mayor's Fund to Advance NYC, and distributed to organizations working on the ground – such as National Volunteering Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), American Red Cross, and The Salvation Army – to provide critical relief to individuals, families, and communities that have faced the brunt of this terrible storm. The Mayor’s Fund is also accepting donations from all New Yorkers via its website. One hundred percent of proceeds raised will be directed to Harvey relief efforts.

Early Sunday morning in the direct aftermath of the hurricane Mayor de Blasio deployed emergency workers from the NYPD, FDNY and EMS to support relief efforts, noting the amazing support New York received from states across the country following superstorm Sandy.  And noting the tens of thousands who donated to assist Sandy recovery efforts, we are now asking New Yorkers to help those struck by this most recent and historic natural disaster.

"New Yorkers have a history of coming together when others are suffering, and today is no exception," said Gabrielle Fialkoff, Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Mayor's Office of Strategic Partnerships."We are proud to do our part by channeling the good will of the City's employees and residents during the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, and we will continue to seek ways to ensure they recover in the long-term.”

"The Mayor's Fund is a critical tool for channeling the support of New Yorkers during disasters like Hurricane Harvey. Time and again we are humbled by the generosity of New Yorkers, and are proud to help direct relief funds to those who need it most during these dramatic times of need,"said Darren Bloch, Executive Director of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIR CUT State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and the COBA

12 Members And Associates Of Violent Bronx Street Gang Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Racketeering And Firearms Offenses

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging 12 members and associates of a Bronx-based street gang known as “Square Gang” with racketeering conspiracy and a firearms offenses. 

A total of seven defendants were taken into custody today; one other defendant was already in federal custody. Seven of the 12 defendants were presented and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin N. Fox today. REGGIE GOODWIN was arrested in the Western District of New York and was presented and arraigned before Magistrate Judge Jeremiah McCarthy in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York today. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As alleged in the indictment, these gang members wreaked havoc in the Patterson Houses in the Bronx for years. Thanks to the terrific work of the NYPD and the DEA, the defendants will now face justice in federal court and the Patterson Houses will be safer.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: “Allegedly, the Square Gang was a menacing force, threatening the residents of the Patterson Houses in the Bronx with drug trafficking and violence. By collaborative efforts with our NYPD partners and the Southern District of New York, seven members of this gang have been arrested this morning on federal charges.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court papers[1]:

Square Gang was a criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder, in the vicinity of the Patterson Houses in the Bronx. Members and associates of Square Gang enriched themselves by committing robberies and selling drugs, such as crack cocaine and marijuana.

Count One of the Indictment charges DAMAR MORALES, TAVON GODFREY, a/k/a “Tay,” HECTOR FIGUEROA, a/k/a “Hec,” GEORGE MCKELVEY, a/k/a “Tyleek,” JUAN CASTILLO, a/k/a “Obama,” JOSEPH RATTI, a/k/a “Yum Yum,” QUADAE BERGER, a/k/a “Icy Day,” RAKIM MOSELY, REGGIE GOODWIN, CURTIS CLARK, a/k/a “Tom,” BRITAIN KELLY, a/k/a “Brit,” and JAREL SABLE, a/k/a “Shoes,” with participating in a racketeering conspiracy for criminal involvement in Square Gang

Count Two of the Indictment charges MORALES, GODFREY, FIGUEROA, MCKELVEY, CASTILLO, RATTI, MOSELY, GOODWIN, CLARK, KELLY, and SABLE, with using and carrying firearms, which were discharged, in connection with the racketeering conspiracy and a narcotics conspiracy.

Charts containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of NYPD and the DEA.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Estes and Lauren Schorr are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Attorney General's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Death Of Ariel Galarza

    New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit (SIPU) released a comprehensive report on its investigation into the death of Ariel Galarza in Bronx County in November 2016. The investigation, led by Chief of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Alvin Bragg, found no criminal culpability in the death of Mr. Galarza.

According to the report, on November 2, 2016, NYPD officers responded to a 911 call from another resident of Mr. Galarza’s building, who said that Mr. Galarza had been brandishing a knife and screaming. When the officers arrived, they found Mr. Galarza in his basement apartment holding a 12-ounce glass bottle. When ordered to lie down on the floor, Mr. Galarza stood up and lifted the bottle in the air, within eight feet of the NYPD sergeant.

When Mr. Galarza ignored orders to drop the bottle, the sergeant deployed a taser and delivered a five-second electric charge. Mr. Galarza continued to struggle with the officers as they attempted to handcuff him; the sergeant activated the taser two more times for five seconds each, before the officers were able to restrain Mr. Galarza. After he was handcuffed, Mr. Galarza lost consciousness and his heart stopped beating. EMS personnel arrived within minutes and were able to restore a heartbeat; however, once at the hospital, emergency room physicians were unable to maintain a normal heart rhythm and Mr. Galarza was pronounced deceased.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy, and SIPU also retained an independent forensic pathologist to conduct a separate autopsy.  OCME and the independent expert separately reached similar conclusions that Mr. Galarza died of cardiac arrest resulting from a combination of a preexisting heart condition, drug intoxication, and obesity, combined with the effects of physical exertion, restraint, and the use of the taser.

During a subsequent search of the apartment, officers recovered the glass bottle and two butcher knives.

In light of all the evidence – including that Mr. Galarza was threatening the officers with a glass bottle, and that a police officer may justifiably use reasonable force in order to protect himself against the imminent use of unlawful force against himself or another person, or to effect an arrest - SIPU found that criminal charges against the responding officers were not warranted.

SIPU’s investigation took into account statements by civilian witnesses, as well as NYPD and emergency medical personnel who responded to the scene; autopsy and toxicology reports from the OCME and independent forensic pathologist; Mr. Galarza’s medical records; the report generated by the taser used during the incident; and the NYPD records, including the 911 recording.

“We send our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Galarza, whose death was a tragedy,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We remain committed to following the facts and providing exhaustive and transparent accounting of all cases we investigate under the executive order.”

Click here to read the full report.

The report was produced as part of the Attorney General’s role as the state’s special prosecutor. In July 2015, Governor Cuomo signed Executive Order No. 147, appointing the Attorney General to that role to oversee investigations into incidents where unarmed civilians die during interactions with police, or incidents where there is significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous. In cases in which it’s determined that charges are not warranted, the Attorney General’s office releases a comprehensive report that details the findings of its investigation, as part of its commitment to transparency.