Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - This Weekend at BRAC

 

Here's What's Happening

THIS WEEKEND

at the Bronx River Art Center

BRAC Idea Generation Workshop x CEC

November 15th at 12pm

FREE EVENT

Bronx River Art Center is excited to once again work alongside The People’s Money, a participatory budgeting initiative led by the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) where New Yorkers come together to decide how public funds are invested in their communities.

At these idea generation workshops, Bronx residents will brainstorm ideas for projects they want to see funded in their community. Your participation will directly shape which ideas move forward to become proposals on next year’s ballot. These events will also include art activities such as mask-making and graffiti art, as well as refreshments.

Attend an Idea Generation Workshop

BRAC Computer Lab

Come join us at the Bronx River Art Center’s Computer Lab—a welcoming space where our community can connect, learn, create, and explore technology together. Enjoy free access to computers, internet, and creative digital tools while building skills for everyday life, through educational workshops, hands on experience and real world applications. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to learn something new, everyone is welcome!

OPEN LAB HOURS

Tuesdays: 4:30 - 9:30pm

Wednesdays: 4:30 - 9:30pm

Thursdays: 11:00 am - 5:00pm

Sundays: 12:00 - 5:00pm

English Sign-Up

Spanish Sign-Up In addition to the above open lab hours, BRAC offers Community Technology Access Curriculum 101: a monthly computer literacy program made possible with support from the Hispanic Federation. Lessons will be held 12 - 3 PM on the following days: Email & Digital Communication — November 8th (English) | November 22nd (Spanish) Documents, Files & Everyday Productivity — December 6th (English) | December 20th (Spanish) Digital Skills for Work & Everyday Life — January 10th (English) | January 24th (Spanish)

Sign-Up for Computer Lessons

The Smell of Banana Flowers On view until November 22nd Curated by Priscilla Aleman,The Smell of Banana Flowers reimagines the tropics not only as an ecological force, but as a metaphysical conduit—capable of transmitting memory, intuition, and transformation across generations. Rooted in personal mythology inspired by the artist’s grandfather—a Cuban horticulturist shaped by tropical cultivation—this exhibition unfolds as a bio-mythology: a living narrative shaped by ancestral memory, plant knowledge, and acts of transformation. The work explores intersections of ecology, diaspora, ritual, and embodied memory to create a shared environment where sculpture, performance, and installation intertwine—transforming the gallery into a living garden of collective myth and material storytelling. Gallery Hours Tuesday - Friday: 3:00 - 6:00pm Saturday: 12:00 - 5:00pm Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00pm Keep Creativity Alive Donate to BRAC! Your gift fuels workshops, exhibitions, and youth programs in the Bronx! For 39 years, BRAC has been a creative home where art sparks connection, nurtures young imaginations, and amplifies the voices of Bronx artists. Every workshop, exhibition, and community project we offer is made possible by friends like you who believe in the power of the arts to inspire and transform. As we look ahead to our next season of bold programs, your donation—big or small—helps us keep our doors open to all and ensures that creativity continues to thrive in the Bronx. Join us in shaping the next chapter of BRAC’s story—make your gift today.

Permits Filed for 2312 Grand Avenue in University Heights, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a five-story residential building at 2312 Grand Avenue in University Heights, The Bronx. Located between West 184th Street and North Street, the lot is near the 183rd Street subway station, served by the 4 train. Yitzi Salamon is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 50-foot-tall development will yield 7,418 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 12 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 618 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a penthouse and a 20-foot-long rear yard.

James Chun of Chun Engineering Consultant PLLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Former Owner And CEO Of Telecommunications Construction Company Pleads Guilty To Commercial Bribery And Fraud Offenses

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that ANTHONY TEPEDINO—the founder, chief executive officer (“CEO”), and owner of a now-defunct telecommunications construction and engineering company (the “Construction Company”) formerly based in New Jersey—pled guilty to commercial bribery, fraud, and aggravated identity theft offenses.  As part of his plea, TEPEDINO agreed to forfeit more than $5 million in proceeds from his illegal schemes and pay restitution of more than $25 million. TEPEDINO pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 17, 2027.  

“Anthony Tepedino’s guilty plea today is another reminder that this Office will vigorously prosecute those who corruptly place their personal greed above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “Tepedino engaged in a years-long scheme to embezzle millions of dollars and pay more than a million dollars in commercial bribes.  He also used his ill-gotten gains to fund a lavish lifestyle—while his company and his creditors were left holding the bag.”

As alleged in the Information, Indictments, and other public filings in this case:

From at least in or about 2017 through in or about 2024, TEPEDINO engaged in a series of schemes to defraud the Construction Company’s largest customer (the “Victim Company”), its largest creditor (the “Victim Bank”), and the Construction Company itself.  The Construction Company was in operation for over a decade and eventually grew to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue annually and to employ more than 500 people. To carry out his schemes, TEPEDINO and others formed shell companies, created fake invoices, and looted the Construction Company of more than $5 million.  TEPEDINO then used some of those proceeds to bribe an employee of the Victim Company and to make millions of dollars in payments to himself, his relatives, and his creditors. 

Beginning in or about 2018, TEPEDINO and a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) submitted false invoices to the Construction Company to generate fraudulent payments to a non-operational shell company (“Shell Company-1”) controlled by CC-1. To conceal their scheme, TEPEDINO and CC-1 falsely claimed Shell Company-1 was owned by a third party (“Individual-1”) and had CC-1 impersonate Individual-1 when communicating with the Construction Company on behalf of Shell Company-1. This scheme continued until at least in or about September 2024, by which time TEPEDINO and CC-1 had stolen more than $5 million from the Construction Company. 

From in or about 2020 through in or about September 2024, TEPEDINO used some of the money he stole from the Construction Company to fund more than $1 million in commercial bribe payments to a second co-conspirator (“CC-2”), who was a senior manager at the Victim Company. These bribes were made in exchange for CC-2 steering new contracts worth millions of dollars to the Construction Company, assigning work to the Construction Company, and approving invoices submitted by the Construction Company. In total, the Victim Company paid the Construction Company more than $300 million during the approximately four years that TEPEDINO was bribing CC-2.

While defrauding the Construction Company and bribing CC-2, TEPEDINO also defrauded the Construction Company’s largest lender, the Victim Bank. From in or about late 2021 through early 2022, TEPEDINO obtained more than $18 million in commercial credit from the Victim Bank on behalf of the Construction Company. As part of this credit application, TEPEDINO made and caused to be made false statements and omissions regarding the Construction Company’s relationship with Shell Company-1 and his dealings with CC-2. 

Finally, to conceal his offense conduct from law enforcement, in or about September 2024 and thereafter, TEPEDINO attempted to engage in witness tampering by seeking to cause CC-1 and CC-2 to adopt false exculpatory narratives to explain their criminal conduct.

After TEPEDINO’s crimes were discovered, the Construction Company went out of business, leaving its employees out of work and leaving the Victim Bank with more than $25 million in unpaid loans.

TEPEDINO, 62, of Manalapan, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York Regional Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General, and the New York Field Office of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.  

Nos Quedamos Inc. - Thank You for Being Part of Preservation, Purpose & Punchlines!

 

Dear Friends and Supporters,

On behalf of all of us at We Stay / Nos Quedamos, thank you for joining us for Preservation, Purpose & Punchlines: Comedy for a Cause! It was such a joy to bring together so many friends, partners, supporters, and community members for an evening filled with laughter, connection, and a shared commitment to the place we call home. Nights like these remind me that the work of preserving our community is not something we do alone. It takes all of us showing up, believing in what is possible, and investing in the future we want to see for Melrose and the South Bronx.

To our sponsors, thank you for your generosity and for helping make this event possible. Your support goes beyond one evening. It helps sustain the people, programs, and community leaders who work every day to protect affordable housing, advance environmental justice, and ensure that residents have a voice in shaping the future of their neighborhood.

To everyone who attended, donated, shared a laugh, or simply showed up in support, please know how much that means to us. Every contribution matters, and every act of support helps move this work forward. Our mission has always been rooted in the belief that our community deserves to remain a place where residents can live, grow, and thrive—and your partnership helps us continue turning that belief into action.

As we look ahead, we are reminded that preservation is about more than buildings. It is about people, memories, culture, and the right of our community to have a say in what comes next. We are grateful to have you alongside us in that fight.

Thank you for celebrating with us, investing in our mission, and being part of the Nos Quedamos family. We hope you left the evening with a full heart, a few good laughs, and a renewed sense of what we can accomplish together.

¡Palante, siempre Palante!

VCJC News & Notes 11/13/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Shabbos schedule

Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.

Here are the times you need:  

Shabbos candles Friday 11/13/26 @ 4:21 pm

Shabbos morning services 11/14/26 8:40 am

Shabbos Ends 11/14/26 5:24 pm

If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah, please speak to one of the gabbaim.

Our enhanced kiddush has been a popular hit. Join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.

Shabbos parsha

Parashat Toldot

This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Toldot (read on 14 November 2026).

Toldot (“Generations”) opens with the births of Isaac and Rebecca’s twins, Jacob and Esau. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob in exchange for soup. Isaac and Rebecca travel to Gerar, where Isaac makes a peace treaty with King Abimelech. Isaac gives Jacob the blessing meant for Esau, and Jacob runs away to his uncle Laban. [1]

•   Torah reading: Genesis 25:19-28:9

•   Commentary and Divrei Torah

Have you been seeing our Parashat videos on Facebook or Instagram?

Reminders and Announcements

Mark your Calendar: Sunday, November 22nd, 10 AM

Rabbi Lowenthal will be giving a class on the laws of:

Eating the Cheese & Milk of a Non-Jew

The VCJC Chavurah

The VCJC Chavurah meets every Tuesday Night at 7:30 PM.  All are welcome to join us as we continue to learn Talmud together.

No cost to attend, no prior experience is needed, and the books are provided by the synagogue.

If you are interested in learning Talmud with a group of fellow members of your community, but want more details, contact the VCJC office at 718-884-6105 or info@vcjewishcenter.org, or speak to Stuart Harris or Matthew Hartstein after davening on Shabbat morning.

We have an Eruv and it’s on our website!

We are delighted to announce that the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Eruv has been completed!

The main eruv page on our website includes the status of the eruv as well as an available large scale map.

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

Previously Convicted Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Meth in Oregon

 

Fernando Lombera Gonzalez, 34, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release on Tuesday for conspiring to distribute more than three pounds of methamphetamine in Oregon.

According to court documents, in late May 2024, a federal agent contacted Gonzalez and arranged a controlled purchase of approximately 1,350 grams of methamphetamine. On June 1, 2024, Gonzalez traveled to Salem, Oregon, where Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigators observed him retrieve methamphetamine from a second vehicle before delivering approximately 1,377 grams of the drug, roughly equivalent to three pounds, in exchange for payment.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Gonzalez in November 2024. On Jan. 18, 2025, Gonzalez was encountered during a traffic stop and provided law enforcement officers with a false name. Despite the deception, officers identified Gonzalez and arrested him on an outstanding warrant in a separate Marion County case involving a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was later transferred to federal custody in this case.

On Nov. 13, 2025, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Court records show Gonzalez had previously been convicted of methamphetamine trafficking and removed from the United States to Mexico. After unlawfully returning to the United States, he resumed criminal activity and served as a middleman for a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in the Salem area. Prosecutors noted that neither his prior felony drug trafficking conviction nor his removal from the United States deterred him from returning to drug trafficking. Prosecutors further noted that Gonzalez engaged in separate firearm-related criminal conduct as a convicted felon, including an incident in which he discharged a firearm outside a nightclub.

“After a felony drug trafficking conviction and removal from the United States, this defendant unlawfully returned and went right back to serious criminal conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford. “Not only did he distribute large quantities of methamphetamine – a drug that fuels addiction, violence, and suffering in our communities – but he also engaged in separate firearm-related criminal activity as a convicted felon. Repeat offenders who show this level of disregard for our laws and public safety will be prosecuted aggressively and held accountable."

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

New York Doctor Charged in $6.8M Medicare Fraud Scheme

 

A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment charging Dr. Edgard Salazar, 57, of Armonk, New York, with conspiring to bill Medicare for thousands of consultations that never occurred and millions of dollars of orthotic braces that Medicare patients did not want or need.

According to court documents, telemedicine company TelevisitMD allegedly allowed Salazar to sign pre-filled prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries who did not need the orthotic braces ordered in the prescriptions. Salazar did not examine or treat the beneficiaries and often did not speak to them at all. At times, when Salazar did speak to the beneficiaries, they told Salazar they did not want or need orthotic braces. Salazar signed prescriptions for them anyway. Salazar also billed Medicare for telemedicine consultations that he never performed. Salazar allegedly participated in submitting over $6.8 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.

Christopher Harwood owned and operated TelevisitMD. In March 2026, Harwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and agreed to pay $17.9 million in restitution. Last month, Harwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

Salazar is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/fraud/health-care-fraud-section.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Employee at Major International Law Firm Charged With Insider Trading

 

Defendant Repeatedly Traded in Advance of Public Announcements Related to Major Transactions Involving Law Firm’s Clients Listed on NYSE and NASDAQ

In federal court in Brooklyn, a criminal complaint was unsealed charging Chetram Balli, also known as “Tony Balli,” with insider trading in the shares of five companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. As alleged in the criminal complaint, Balli misused material non-public information (MNPI) related to the law firm’s clients to trade ahead of major mergers and acquisitions.  The criminal complaint alleges that Balli made over $70,000 in profit on his trades between April 2025 and October 2026.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges. 

“As alleged, Balli repeatedly traded on inside information that he misappropriated from his employer and his employer’s clients,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Our Office is committed to protecting the integrity of the securities markets and investors who play by the rules.  Corrupt individuals who might be tempted to take advantage of their access to confidential information should know that we are watching.” 

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Regulatory Operations – Surveillance for their significant assistance in the investigation. 

“Chetram Balli allegedly turned privileged access into an illegal advantage, repeatedly trading securities ahead of public announcements involving major corporate transactions.  By misappropriating confidential information for personal profit, he gained an unfair edge over law-abiding investors and compromised the fairness that our markets depend upon.  May these charges act as a warning to others, that material non-public information cannot be used for personal gain, and if it is, the FBI will follow the trail of deceit to the finish line,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

As alleged, since approximately 1989, Balli worked as a Document Processing Specialist at Law Firm-1, a major international law firm based in New York City that maintains multiple practice areas including a mergers and acquisitions practice.  As part of his employment, Balli supported attorneys by creating and revising complex legal documents, and preparing and submitting filings through the SEC’s Electronic Data gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system.  Balli, who was prohibited by Law Firm-1’s policies from trading on MNPI learned in the course of his duties, used his access to non-public client information relating to upcoming partnerships, mergers, and planned acquisitions, to trade in at least five NYSE-listed or NASDAQ-listed companies.

For example, as alleged in the complaint, on May 12, 2025, Balli purchased approximately 14,866 shares in E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ETWO), a Texas-based provider of supply chain management software.  Balli had not previously invested in ETWO shares.  Less than two weeks later, on May 25, 2025, WiseTech Global Limited, a leading provider of software solutions for the global trade, logistics, and supply chain industries based in Australia, announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire E2open in an all-cash transaction for $3.30 per share equating to an enterprise value of $2.1 billion.  That share price represented a 28% premium to the closing price of ETWO shares on the previous trading day.  Law Firm-1 represented WiseTech in connection with its acquisition of E2open.  Balli subsequently sold his entire ETWO position on May 27, 2025, the first trading day after the WiseTech acquisition was announced.

The complaint alleged similar trading by Balli in Forge Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: FRGE) in advance of the November 2025 announcement of its acquisition by the Charles Schwab Corporation for $660 million; Paramount Skydance Corp. (NASDAQ: PSKY) in advance of the February 2026 announcement of its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. for $110 billion; Talkspace, Inc. (NASDAQ: TALK) in advance of the March 2026 announcement of its acquisition by Universal Health Services, Inc. for $853 million; and Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (NYSE: PCRX) in advance of the October 2026 announcement of its acquisition by Viatris Inc. for $1.65 billion.

The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted of the charges in the complaint, Balli faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section.