Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association 45th Annual Dinner Dance

 

Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association 45th Annual Dinner Dance

By Robert Press

Saturday February tenth, was the nicest February weather of the season, matching the high temperature on record, for the 45th Annual Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association Dinner Dance at Marina Del Rey. 

The honorees were Rosa Leoncini, the President of FIAME (Forum of Italian American Educators) and Assistant Principal of PS 21, and Joanna Cartagena, Principal and Co-Founder of the Pelham Academy. Elected officials on hand to help celebrate the 45th Annual Dinner Dance included Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, City Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, and Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. 

The Cocktail Hour began at 7:30 PM, then at 8:30 PM the honorees were presented and the elected officials came up to speak. After the ceremony was finished it was time for dinner and dessert, and then it was dancing until after midnight. 

The Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association Executive Board (L - R) James Gerri, Rita Zullo-Philips, Sal Castorina, Frank Tirabasso, Frank Dipalo, and Stella Foley.

Honoree Rosa Leoncini received flowers and a plaque from the Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association. 

Honoree Joanna Cartagena received flowers and a plaque from the Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association.

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato poses with Allerton Avenue Homeowners and tenants Association President Sal Castorina.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson speaks as she stands with the Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association Executive Board. 

Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. gives the Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association a check for $40,000.00 for their Senior program.

(L - R) Rita Zullo-Philips, Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, Frank Dipalo, Sal Castorina, James Gerri, Frank Tirabasso, and Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr.

Wave Hill Events Feb 29 – March 7

 

Save the Date: April 8

Wave Hill will be hosting a free Solar Eclipse Viewing Party. Experience this amazing celestial event from our open lawns with spectacular views of the Hudson River and open sky above. Pot up some seeds and make a festive eclipse party hat or celestial floral headband at our activity stations and enjoy live music and story time with the Riverdale Library. There's solar-spirited fun for all at this community event! 

Family Art Project: Felted River  

Sat, Mar 2, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Sun, Mar 3, 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

We'll let our creativity flow and use felt to create underwater scenes inspired by the Hudson River. With felt at our fingertips, we’ll craft woolly art pieces that reflect the river's diverse plant and animal life.  

At 11:30AM, families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater; all ages welcome. 

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk 

Sun, Mar 3, 1:00PM – 1:45PM 

Free with admission to the grounds 

Registration not required.    

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide--come back for an encore; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. This walk lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes. Public Garden Walks are most appropriate for adults or young adults. 

Intro to Birding (Virtual)    

Wed, Mar 6, 6:00PM – 7:30PM   

This virtual Zoom event is free    

Anyone can be a birder! Log on, and Ryan Mandelbaum from the Feminist Bird Club will help get you birding. Find out how to prepare for your outings with some basic equipment, then learn tips and tricks to observe and identify common birds in your local park, garden or neighborhood. Afterwards, connect with other birders at a free in-person birding event at Wave Hill (walk dates to be shared during the program). A link to the Zoom meeting will be provided upon registration and a reminder will be sent the day before.    

This is a virtual event in a meeting style on the Zoom platform. Participants do not need to have video or microphone enabled. A recording with captions will be available shortly afterwards.  

HOURS: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday 

Shuttle Service suspended until Spring 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.  

Friday, March 22, 2024

11:30am - 2:00pm

Villa Barone Manor

737 Throggs Neck Expressway

Bronx, New York

For 17 years, the Women of Distinction Luncheon has recognized outstanding women leaders for their contributions to the Bronx community. Each year with the support of local Bronx businesses and Bronx Chamber of Commerce members we are able to provide scholarships to deserving college-bound female students through the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Join us this year as we honor a new class of scholars and celebrate the strong women leaders of our community.

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Wendy Garcia is the Deputy Commissioner, Equity and Inclusion for the New York City Police Department. As the Deputy Commissioner, Wendy Garcia is responsible for creating, implementing and evaluating strategies throughout the New York City Police Department to ensure processes and procedures are inclusive, transparent, impartial, free of discrimination and harassment, and equitable for all members of the NYPD.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion promotes awareness, education and outreach efforts to improve the quality of life in the workplace and beyond by fostering cultural understanding of employees and the community.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion oversees the Equal Employment Opportunity Division which is responsible for the prevention and investigation of employment and harassment claims, reasonable accommodation requests and ensuring compliance with regulations related to accessibility of Police Department facilities by members of the disabled community.

Previously, Ms. Garcia served as the Chief Diversity Officer at the Office of New York City Comptroller where she fostered contracting opportunities for women in minority owned business enterprises (MWBEs) and managed the Comptroller’s office’s internal supplier diversity related projects across all bureaus of the agency. In addition, Wendy Garcia also served as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at the Office of New York City Comptroller, Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Deputy Director of the Manhattan Borough President’s Northern Manhattan Office, and Immigrant Research Analyst for the Rockefeller Foundation through Baruch College.

Ms. Garcia earned a Master’s degree in Urban Policy and Management from New School University with a concentration in Economic Development, and a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Delaware.

Wendy Taccetta is Senior Vice President of Retail and Partner Management for Verizon. In this capacity Wendy is responsible for driving results in several strategic areas of the business. We are focused on creating the best end-to-end wireless experience for small business owners who trust their business to Verizon.

Additionally she is also focused on developing a customer-centric Partner Program at Verizon. At Verizon, they understand that a great partner experience will always deliver a better customer experience. Channel Partners has called our strategic focus “a historic revamping” of Verizon’s channel program. Our ambition is to make it easier than ever before to partner with Verizon.

Wendy has a team of 1,400+ employees committed to accelerating small business growth, driving transformation across the Verizon Business ecosystem, and fostering a culture of collaboration every day. I have held a variety of roles during my 21-year tenure at Verizon, which has allowed me to build a diverse resume of experience in business and consumer sales, business transformation and sales operations.

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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Charges, Including a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act Violation, for Threatening a Reproductive Health Services Clinic

 

An Ohio man pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits a person from intentionally interfering with or intimidating any person because that person is providing reproductive health services. Mohamed Waes, 33, of Columbus, also pleaded guilty to felony charges of communicating interstate threats and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2022, Waes intentionally interfered with and intimidated employees of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio by threatening over the phone to burn down their building because they were providing reproductive health services.

“Threatening to burn down facilities that provide reproductive health services is not just unlawful, it’s conduct that frightens and obstructs patients and providers of reproductive services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the FACE Act to protect all patients who seek reproductive health services and to protect all staff and facilities that provide these services.”

“We will hold accountable individuals who make threats of force against health service providers and institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will do our part in charging those who break federal laws. As a society, we must handle our disagreements in a more civil way than threats of violence and intimidation.”

“Mohamed Waes made a credible threat to commit violence and harm others,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Mimura of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue civil rights violations and work with our partners to keep the community safe.”

“Waes played a crucial role in a business email compromise scheme by attempting to launder nearly $2 million in fraud proceeds,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) Cincinnati Field Office. “IRS:CI remains committed to following the money and bringing those who launder illegal proceeds to justice.”

According to court documents, Waes also conspired with others from on or about March 21, 2019, through on or about March 4, 2020, to launder funds using business email compromise (BEC) fraud schemes. As part of this conspiracy, scammers created fake email domains which mimicked legitimate email domains and then sent emails to various companies impersonating vendors and asking that payments be made on actual invoices to bank accounts controlled by Waes and others. Waes attempted to launder a total of $1,972,792.84 in BEC proceeds, of which he successfully laundered $273,982.08.

A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Cincinnati Field Office and IRS:CI investigated the case.

U.S. Attorney Charges New Rochelle Man With Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging CHARUDET SMITH, a/k/a “Charles Smith,” with sexual exploitation of a minor.  SMITH was arrested yesterday and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Resnik this afternoon in White Plains federal court. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Charudet Smith allegedly constructed an elaborate web of lies and fabricated multiple identities in order to gain the trust of an unsuspecting minor. This arrest underscores the urgent need to protect children from the dangers posed by predators who use social media to prey on children both online and in person.” 

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

From at least on or about December 21, 2019, up to and including at least on or about February 13, 2020, SMITH impersonated various individuals and created and used a series of Instagram accounts, emails, and phone numbers in order to deceive a 17-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) into creating and sending sexually explicit videos and images to SMITH and agreeing to meet SMITH to engage in sexual activity in Seattle, Washington.

SMITH posed as an established freelance photographer for a well-known international camera company (“Company-1”) and told Victim-1, an aspiring teenage photographer, that he had numerous contacts within the media industry and could act as Victim-1’s mentor.  SMITH then posed as multiple employees of Company-1 who purported to offer Victim-1 a position in a sought-after youth professional development program.  In fact, SMITH was never an employee of Company-1 and had never been paid by Company-1 for any services or any employment. 

Anyone who may have encountered CHARUDET SMITH, a/k/a “Charles Smith,” or whose child may have had any communications with SMITH is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).

SMITH, 31, of New Rochelle, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, the Sherriff’s Office in Washington, Vermont, the Massachusetts State Police, the New Rochelle Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department in connection with this investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.  

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Reaches $310,000 Settlement-in-Principle with Syracuse Landlord for Failing to Address Lead-Based Paint Hazards

 

William D’Angelo Repeatedly and Persistently Violated Lead Safety Laws at His Rental Properties, Where at Least 16 Children Were Poisoned by Lead

New York Attorney General Letitia James, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced that they have reached a settlement-in-principle with Syracuse landlord William D’Angelo and his company Marpat LLC for failing to properly address lead-based paint hazards at rental properties he owned. As a result of the agreement, D’Angelo will pay $310,000, which will be used for a tenant relief fund that will provide payments to families of the children who were lead-poisoned in the D’Angelo properties. The funds will also be used to identify and resolve all potential lead hazards at D’Angelo’s properties with a history of lead violations.  

“William D’Angelo cut corners and failed to address serious lead hazards at his properties, putting countless children and their families in danger,” said Attorney General James. “In Syracuse and throughout New York state, the life-changing health impacts of lead exposure disproportionately affect children of color. My office will always fight to protect children from lead poisoning and work with our partners in government and advocacy to keep families safe. I am grateful to County Executive McMahon and Mayor Walsh for standing with us against this public health crisis.” 

In July 2023, Attorney General James, County Executive McMahon, and Mayor Walsh filed a lawsuit against D’Angelo and his company, alleging that he repeatedly and persistently violated lead safety laws at nearly two dozen rental properties in Syracuse. Over the past eight years, there were at least 360 violations of lead safety laws at properties owned by D’Angelo. At least 16 children, 11 of them children of color, were poisoned by lead while living at these properties.

Lead-based paint in residential housing is a pervasive problem in Syracuse, where 81 percent of the housing stock was built before lead-based paint was banned in New York in 1970. Lead poisoning in Onondaga County is highest among children of color, the majority of whom live in Syracuse. In 2022, 510 children in Onondaga County had elevated levels of lead in their blood, and 90 percent of those children lived in Syracuse. More than 11 percent of the Black children tested in 2021 had elevated blood lead levels, compared to just two percent of white children tested.

Over the last 30 years, D’Angelo has owned and managed at least 48 rental properties with at least 116 individual rental units in Syracuse. According to city and county records, all of D’Angelo’s rental properties were built prior to 1940, and therefore are all presumed to contain lead-based paint. Most of these properties are in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. 

D’Angelo currently owns 39 rental properties in and around Syracuse, 22 of which have had lead-related violations. As a result of the settlement-in-principle, D’Angelo will pay $310,000: $80,000 will go to current and former tenants harmed by lead paint exposure at the properties he owned over the past eight years and $230,000 will fund the identification and resolution of lead hazards at the 22 currently owned properties with lead-related violations.  Further, D’Angelo will be barred from selling any of these properties without the OAG’s approval until all lead hazards have been resolved.

Attorney General James thanks Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse for their close collaboration and partnership on this matter. The OAG will continue to work with local partners statewide to combat childhood lead poisoning.

This settlement-in-principle is the latest in Attorney General James’ efforts to hold landlords and property managers accountable for violating childhood lead poisoning prevention laws in New York. In July 2023, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against Syracuse landlord Todd Hobbs for repeated and persistent violations of lead safety laws at more than a dozen rental properties. In June 2022, Attorney General James shut down Syracuse landlord John Kiggins and his company, Endzone Properties, Inc., for repeatedly violating lead paint laws and failing to address lead paint hazards, which resulted in the lead poisoning of 18 children living in Endzone properties in Syracuse.

To Kick Off New York Fashion Week, Governor Hochul Highlights $24 Billion Impact of New York’s Fashion Industry

 

New York’s Fashion Industry Employs Approximately 312,000 New Yorkers and Generates MoreThan $24 Billion in Wages Each Year

Governor’s FY 2025 Executive Budget Includes $5 Million Investment to Increase Production of Fibers That Can Be Used in Fashion and Design

Governor Releases Recommendations of Natural Textile Development Workgroup Tasked With Increasing the Role of Natural Fibers and Textiles in New York State Economy

Sixteen New Textile and Natural Fiber Producers Join NYS Grown & Certified Program to Promote Higher Standards for Environmental Stewardship

Governor Previously Awarded $10 Million to New York’s Fashion Innovation Center to Support the Sustainable Development of New York State Textiles for Wearable Technologies and Fashion Industry

Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated New York’s world-renowned fashion industry and its role in driving the State economy as part of the kick-off for New York Fashion Week. The industry, which employs approximately 312,000 New Yorkers and generates more than $24 billion in statewide wages each year, continues to be a major employer and economic driver for the State and advances nation-leading commitments to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Governor Hochul also announced the recommendations of the Natural Textile Development Workgroup tasked with increasing the role of natural fibers and textiles – the building blocks of the fashion industry – in the State’s economy.

“New York’s economy is built on our world-renowned fashion industry and the designers, farmers, manufacturers and other professionals who keep the industry moving,” Governor Hochul said. “This Fashion Week, I am doubling down on my commitment to supporting fashion in New York and ensuring that the industry, which generates more than $24 billion in wages for hardworking New Yorkers, continues to move our economy forward.”

Investments in FY 2025 Executive Budget

Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget continues her commitment to supporting the fashion industry. As part of the budget, the Governor has proposed a $5 million investment for hemp and biobased product processing, which can increase more fiber production that could be utilized in fashion and design.

Recommendations of the Natural Textile Development Workgroup

Governor Hochul announced the recommendations of the Natural Textile Development Workgroup, convened in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Markets and Empire State Development and comprised of stakeholders in different areas of the textile industry and other related sectors. The workgroup is tasked with studying and identifying ways to increase the natural fiber and textile industry’s contribution to the New York State economy; increasing the number of jobs within the textile industry; identifying ways to support and increase private investment in New York State enterprises that produce and process natural fiber and textiles; encouraging the development of new businesses within and supporting the natural textile industry; and improving public knowledge of, and appreciation for, the benefits of natural fiber textiles and sales opportunities within, and outside of, New York State.

The workgroup’s recommendations include:

• Supporting grant opportunities for projects to expand existing or establish new fiber processing facilities and supply chain needs in the State;
• Working alongside Empire State Development to highlight existing incentives and support that would assist in recruiting new or expanding natural fiber businesses in New York State;
• Supporting development of a mentorship program with more experienced fiber farmers matched up with new and beginning fiber farmers to ensure a transfer of knowledge within the industry;
• Developing educational curriculum and classroom resources for school-aged children on natural fibers and textiles;
• Better connecting textile designers and farmers to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) apprenticeship programs; and
• Exploring a licensing strategy for the I Love NY logo to create I Love NY natural fiber textile products created in New York State.

The workgroup’s full report is available here.

The NYS Grown & Certified Program

Sixteen new textile and natural fiber producers have joined the NYS Grown & Certified Program, which was launched to help meet the growing consumer demand for local foods grown or produced to a higher standard. The program certifies New York State producers who adhere to high food safety and environmental stewardship standards. It is supported by a marketing campaign including on-product labels, promotional materials and sales materials. Currently, more than 3,000 producers are participating in New York State Grown & Certified, representing more than 750,000 acres of farmland. For more information on NYS Grown & Certified, visit certified.ny.gov, or follow the program on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

New York’s Fashion Innovation Center

In 2022, Governor Hochul announced $10 million in State funding for the Fashion Innovation Center to promote a collaborative approach to utilizing New York State-produced smart and sustainable textiles. The FIC also includes a Sustainable Fashion Innovation Center Accelerator, focused on the creation of smart and sustainable alternatives that solve large scale industry problems, create green jobs, promote state-sourced textiles and support sustainable fashion.

Last year, the Governor announced that a Capitol Region-based consortium including the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Hudson Valley Textile Project, Field to Fiber, SUNY Morrisville and Made X Hudson had been selected to manage the FIC.

Governor Hochul Announces Crackdown on Unsafe Driving During Super Bowl Weekend

 

Special Traffic Enforcement Campaign Runs from February 9 to February 11

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies statewide will crack down on impaired and reckless driving during Super Bowl weekend. The STOP-DWI campaign will include underage drinking enforcement, along with increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers. The enforcement initiative, which runs from Friday, February 9, 2024, through Sunday, February 11, 2024, is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC).

“As we celebrate the Super Bowl with friends and family, State Police and local law enforcement are taking steps to protect New Yorkers from the dangers of impaired and reckless driving,” Governor Hochul said. “Proper planning and responsible decision making are critical to keeping our communities safe, and we’re stepping up our enforcement as part of that effort.”

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the number of drinking and driving fatalities, too many lives are still being lost because of crashes caused by impaired drivers. During the 2023 Super Bowl campaign, State Police arrested 183 people for impaired driving and issued 11,865 total tickets. According to New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, statewide, 1,028 tickets were given out for alcohol- or drug-impaired driving, part of a total of 35,437 tickets issued.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2021, 13,384 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes. Drivers should remember that they are putting not only their lives, but the lives of others, in jeopardy when they choose to drink and drive. NHTSA reports that 37 people die each day in the United States in alcohol-related vehicle crashes. That’s one person every 39 minutes. State-specific data regarding alcohol-related vehicle crashes can be found here.

If you are hosting, you’re the team captain! Designate a responsible driver now to help your guests get home safely.

• Ask all of your guests to designate their sober drivers in advance, or help them arrange ridesharing with sober drivers. If you don’t drink, offer to drive guests home.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter—this is a good time to serve coffee and dessert.
• Sign up online for a ridesharing service or keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from any guests who are thinking of driving after drinking.
• The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation “Have a Plan” mobile app, is available for Apple, Android and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver.
• Remember, if you serve a guest alcohol and he or she gets in a crash that night, you could be held liable.
• If an underage person drinks and drives, the parent or guardian can be legally liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver.