Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Get Your Early Bird Tickets for Hike-toberfest 10/19 Now

 

Support the Park! 
Hike-then-sip at VCPA’s Annual Hike-toberfest!

Saturday, October 19, 2024
Van Cortlandt Park
Hikes start at 1:30pm
Oktoberfest 4pm to 6pm

Hike in the park followed by a classic Oktoberfest celebration, complete with local beer, German food, live music, lawn games, and more.

 

New “Hike” Options! Hiking isn’t your thing?
We got you covered with new options for Biking and Running!

 

Visit our Hike-toberfest Page to see all of our “hike” options and
to see the fun activities at Oktoberfest.

 

Early Bird Ticket Sales end on Friday, September 20, 2024.

Tickets!

Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

Governor Hochul Announces Additional 2024 Free Fishing Day to Help New Yorkers 'Get Offline, Get Outside

 

Freshwater Fishing License Requirement Waived on August 31

New Yorkers Encouraged To Explore Outstanding and Affordable Fishing Opportunities

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Labor Day weekend will kick off with the addition of a new Free Fishing Day in New York State for the 2024 season. The addition of the Saturday, August 31 Free Fishing Day, for a total of seven Free Fishing Days in 2024 in New York State, complements the Governor’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative launched this summer to promote physical and mental health by encouraging kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media and enjoy recreation and the outdoors.

 

“There is no better way to send off summer than adding fishing to your Labor Day weekend plans,” Governor Hochul said. “Reel in the beauty of New York’s extraordinary natural waterbodies and take advantage of this affordable opportunity to enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends.” 

 

During free fishing days, the fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing on New York’s waters. The Free Fishing Days program began in 1991 to give people who might not fish a chance to try the rewarding sport of freshwater fishing at no cost, introduce people to a new hobby and encourage people to support conservation by purchasing a New York State fishing license.

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to get outside, enjoy nature, and fish with family and friends. Fishing can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or ability, and I encourage both new and practiced anglers to use this bonus free fishing day to throw out a line and experience New York’s world-class fisheries.”

 

To help make fishing even more affordable, DEC has partnered with libraries across the state to provide a free fishing rod lending program. In addition to borrowing a book, library patrons can sign out a fishing rod. This program offers an opportunity for people to try fishing before purchasing their own gear. For more information and a list of participating libraries visit DEC’s website.

 

DEC also offers a host of resources for those interested in getting started in fishing. The I FISH NY Beginners’ Guide to Freshwater Fishing provides information on everything from rigging up a fishing rod to identifying catch and understanding fishing regulations. There’s also a video series on DEC’s YouTube channel that complements the Beginners’ Guide.

 

DEC's Places to Fish webpages are a reliable source of information when planning a fishing trip. DEC's official app, HuntFishNY, features “The Tackle Box.” Fishing regulations, boating access, and stocking information are all available within a map-based interface from the convenience of a smartphone. Anglers can also access their sporting license information. For those looking to fish the Great Lakes, DEC recently highlighted the Outstanding Great Lakes Fishing Opportunities. 

During designated free fishing days, New York residents and non-residents are permitted to fish for free without a fishing license. Free fishing day participants are reminded that although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. In addition to Free Fishing Days, there are also “learn to fish” opportunities available through DEC-approved free fishing clinics. An event is being held today at the Great New York State Fair. For a list of scheduled events, visit DEC’s website.

 

DEC recently revamped its Angler Achievement Awards Program, which recognizes anglers that catch notable-size fish, including state records. The new and improved program broadens the list of eligible fish species an angler can enter for an award and now features a “Youth Angler” category and an online entry form where qualifying catches can be submitted from the convenience of a smartphone. All anglers who submit a qualifying catch will receive a species-specific sticker to proudly display on their tackle box, vehicle, etc. For official program rules, eligible species and associated minimum qualifying lengths, visit the Angler Achievement Awards webpage on DEC’s website.

 

Anglers are reminded that the New York State Department of Health (DOH) provides advice about what fish are safe to eat and how often. Visit DOH’s website to search by waterbody location.

Community Board Appointment Letter

 

Thank you Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

Upcoming Events, Funding Opportunities, Legislative News, & More

(Friday) Extra, Extra!

Click here for this week's video

(Full Details below in newsletter)

Legislative updates re: bus lane cameras, incentives to reduce truck deliveries during peak hours, and Intro 991 (Licensing Hotels bill); Upcoming events: new member ribbon cutting, Yankees vs. Red Sox Game Changers event, 2024 Gala, new member ribbon cutting, and digital marketing workshop; and funded Internship program for small businesses!

 Summer Hours: The Bronx Chamber office is on a 4-day schedule, closed every Friday through 8/30/24

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Traffic Camera Enforcement

Monday, August 19 marked the first day that new Automated Camera Enforcement technology begins issuing violations to cars blocking bus stops and double parking. Read more here.

Incentive Program to Reduce Truck Deliveries During Busiest Hours

Applications are open for the Off-Hour Delivery Incentive Program to help reduce truck deliveries during the busiest hours of the day. All New York City businesses who make or receive commercial deliveries are eligible to apply on the Incentives Program page for a one-time reimbursement.

Applicants must provide their anticipated off-hour delivery-related expenses for reimbursement and commit to conducting off-hour deliveries for a minimum of one year. The application is open until September 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) APPLY HERE

Reminder Regarding Intro 991, pertaining to Hotel Licensing:

Click Here for the Full Intro 991 Bill, sponsored by Council Member Julie Menin: This bill would require hotels to obtain a license in order to operate their business in the City. (Committee: Consumer & Worker Protection)

Learn About The Many Potential Impacts of Intro 991 Here

The Bronx Chamber planned to testify in person in front of the NYC Council at the Consumer and Worker Protection hearing scheduled for July 30th - that hearing was postponed and has not yet been rescheduled. We encourage you to continue contacting your City Council representatives to voice your concerns. Click here for contact info

Be sure to visit our website Advocacy page for weekly Bronx Business Legislative Updates

NEW DATE, NEW MATCHUP Bronx GameChangers Event Yankees vs. Red Sox Sunday, September 15 Game Time: 1:35pm (Suite Opens at 11:30am) Mother Nature trumped our plans for the previously-scheduled August 9 event, but in a fortuitous turn of events - GameChangers will now feature the ultimate baseball rivalry: Yankees vs. Red Sox! All prior ticketholders will be honored, and registration has re-opened for the few remaining spots - don't delay, this one is sure to sell out! Open Bar, Food, Private Stadium Entrance, and Prime Networking

GET YOUR YANKEES-RED SOX SUITE TICKETS Roasting Room Ribbon Cutting Thursday, September 12 11:00am - 1:00pm 542 Barretto Street Bronx, NY 10474 Join the Bronx Chamber to celebrate the Grand Opening of our newest member, The Roasting Room by Buunni Coffee! Buunni Coffee brings Ethiopian hospitality and warmth to the United States via fabled, full-flavored coffee beans. Elias and Sarina, a husband-and-wife team, founded Buunni in 2012 when they moved west across the Atlantic and we are thrilled that they are opening up The Roasting Room, building on their passion for coffee and community building. RSVP FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING FREE WEBSITE BUILDING OR LOGO THROUGH OPEN + ONLINE  Applications are still open for Bronx businesses to sign up for the popular Open + Online program through the NYC Small Business Resource Network! It's crucial that your small business has a strong online presence to compete in today's marketplace. The Open + Online program offers FREE website building, logo & branding design, or expert SEO (search engine optimization) consulting to help your small business put its best foot forward. APPLY HERE Bronx Economic Development Corporation Loans BXEDC has loans programs tailor-made for small- and mid-sized businesses operating in (or moving to) the Bronx: The Bronx Micro-Loan and the Bronx Commercial Development Loan. Click HERE to learn more and apply.

Maximize Visibility: Google Business Profile Strategies October 2, 2024 Virtual (Zoom) 12:00 - 1:00pm Join us for a digital marketing webinar hosted by Bronx Chamber member PS Digital on October 2 at 12:00pm - their specialists will share expert tips, tricks and strategies to attract new customers by optimizing your Google Business Profile. Register using the link below and you will be sent the Zoom link prior to the online workshop.

REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP FREE WEBSITE BUILDING OR LOGO THROUGH OPEN + ONLINE  Applications are still open for Bronx businesses to sign up for the popular Open + Online program through the NYC Small Business Resource Network! It's crucial that your small business has a strong online presence to compete in today's marketplace. The Open + Online program offers FREE website building, logo & branding design, or expert SEO (search engine optimization) consulting to help your small business put its best foot forward. APPLY HERE Bronx Economic Development Corporation Loans BXEDC has loans programs tailor-made for small- and mid-sized businesses operating in (or moving to) the Bronx: The Bronx Micro-Loan and the Bronx Commercial Development Loan. Click HERE to learn more and apply. For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly

NYS Office of the Comptroller - DiNapoli: State Pension Fund Valued at $267.7 Billion at End of First Quarter

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that the estimated value of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) was $267.7 billion at the end of the first quarter of state fiscal year 2024-25. For the three-month period ending June 30, 2024, Fund investments returned an estimated 1.38%.

“Stock market volatility underlines the continued economic uncertainties faced by investors,” DiNapoli said. “Fortunately, our diverse portfolio is built on long-term sustainable investments that can weather such ups and downs and is one of the reasons we are one of the nation’s strongest public pension funds.”

The Fund's value reflects retirement and death benefits of $4.2 billion paid out during the quarter. Its estimated value was $267.7 billion as of March 31, 2024, the end of the state’s fiscal year.

As of June 30, the Fund had 42.32% of its assets invested in publicly traded equities. The remaining Fund assets by allocation are invested in cash, bonds, and mortgages (22.07%), private equity (14.71%), real estate and real assets (13.14%) and credit, absolute return strategies, and opportunistic alternatives (7.76%).

The Fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 5.9%.

DiNapoli initiated quarterly performance reporting by the Fund in 2009 as part of his on-going efforts to increase accountability and transparency.