Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and the Annenberg Institute for School Reform Invite You, as Part of Bronx Week, to the Bronx Premiere Film Screening of
ParentPower


This 35-minute documentary dramatically demonstrates how grassroots organizing won major improvements for schools in African American and Latino neighborhoods in the Bronx and across New York City. Through the voices of local parents and their allies, the film chronicles fifteen years of effective community organizing for education reform.

Thursday May 19th, 2011, 6pm

The New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Boulevard (Kazimiroff Blvd.) Bronx, New York
Arthur and Janet Ross Gallery and Lecture Hall

(for directions to the Garden visit www.nybg.org Panel discussion to follow )




Indian Point Should it Stay Open or Close?

The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club will host an open forum on Wednesday, May 25th 2011 at 7:30pm at Tibbett Towers, 3130 Irwin Ave., between West 231st and 232nd Sts., to discuss the controversial question of whether the Indian Point nuclear power plant should close or continue to operate. 

          Long-time community activist Marilyn Elie, who lives two miles from the plant, will argue that it’s time to close the plant to avert disaster. She is co-founder of the Westchester Citizens Awareness Network and leading member of the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC).

Defending the plant’s safety will be a representative for the Entergy Corporation, which runs Indian Point.  Entergy is the second largest generator of nuclear power in the country. Located in Buchanan, N.Y., Indian Point employs over a thousand people and produces more than two thousand megawatts, 10 percent of the state’s total energy demand. The plant is 34 miles from Tibbett Towers, the site of the forum.
         
          The public is welcome and questions will be invited from the audience on this hot and timely topic.

          For more information, contact: Raffi Holoszyc-Pimentel, 646-369-0330

BJCC Day at the Bronx Zoo
By Robert Press

The Bronx Jewish Community Council's mission is to provide enhanced quality of life to the residents of the Bronx, by offering services, support, and connections to the resources that help people continue living comfortably and safely in their homes and communities. 
 
Sunday May 15th in the former Lion House (now refurbished into an event room) of the Bronx Zoo, the BJCC honored some of the people that help the organization continue to provide the services they do, to the people of the Bronx. It's not all just bagels and lox, but a lot of hard work being done by dedicated people that work out of the many offices that the BJCC has throughout the Bronx. While the administrative office of BJCC is located at 2930 Wallace Avenue (718-798-2398), BJCC has offices in Coop-City at 177 Dreiser Loop, Parkchester at 1525 Unionport Road, Van Cortlandt Village at 80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Bedford Park at 3176 Bainbridge Avenue, and in the Pelham Parkway Houses at 2425 Williamsbridge Road.
In attendance were elected officials such as Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. (one of the honorees), State Senator Jeff Klein ( a former vice-president of BJCC), Councilman Jimmy Vacca (one of the honorees), Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, and Former State Assemblyman Steve Kaufman. 
 
The honorees were, for The Public Service Awards – Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Councilman Jimmy Vacca. The Community Service Award was given to Mr. John Calvelli the Executive Vice-President of Public Affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society. Rabbi David Jonas was the presenter to the guest of honor, his father Mr. Howard Jonas the Chairman & chief Executive Offers of IDT Corporation.


 This is a photo of the honorees, and some of those who work so hard at BJCC to provide needed services to the people of the Bronx. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

If you would like to help in the Bronx Jewish Community Council volunteer program, you can call 917-693-3084.  
 
SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS SECOND TOWN HALL MEETING AS PART OF DISTRICT 33 TOUR at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center

Senator Gustavo Rivera said,

“I am holding town hall meetings throughout my district because I want my constituents to know that I am available to them,” said Senator Rivera. “It is important to me that the residents of the 33rd Senate District know they have a State Senator who cares about their concerns and wants to listen to their ideas about how to make our community better. I will continue to hold town hall meetings and other public events because so that my constituents feel they know me and my staff and that we know what they are going through in their day to day lives and how the issues the legislature debate in Albany impact them.”  

Read more about this town hall meeting in this weeks issue of the Bronx News or Parkchester Newspapers, in the column 100 PERCENT on page 7.
COME CELEBRATE BRONX WEEK AT THE ARTHUR AVENUE RETAIL MARKET!

TOUR THE MARKET • MEET THE VENDORS • SAMPLES • COOKING DEMOS • TOTE BAGS

Wednesday May 18th, 2011; 4-7 pm

Arthur Avenue Retail Market
2344 Arthur Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458

Hosted by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and NYCEDC and Co-sponsored by
Congressman Jose E. Serrano, State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, Assembly Member Jose Rivera, Council Member Joel Rivera and the Bronx Delegation of the New York City Council, Community Board 6, Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, Bronx Tourism Council, Belmont BID, Fordham University, Mary Mitchell Center, Montefiore Medical Center, The New York Botanical Garden, St. Barnabas Hospital, Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo
 
 

Monday, May 16, 2011

 Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz calls for additional fields for youth soccer players in Van Cortlandt Park

 $15 million dollars later, soccer players are finding themselves with less field space following the renovation of the Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground according to Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Prior to the renovation, the Parade Ground had eight soccer fields in the fall and six in the spring.  Now there are only six soccer fields year-round, and two must be closed each season to help preserve their condition, leaving only four usable soccer fields.

After the Riverdale Soccer Club, a youth soccer organization struggling to find enough field space for its games, brought the issue to his attention, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz decided to take action.  Assemblyman Dinowitz wrote to Bronx Borough Commissioner Hector Aponte requesting that the Department of Parks and Recreation provide at least the number of soccer fields that were available in the spring prior to the renovation of the Parade Ground.  As a possible solution, he suggested examining a proposal of the Riverdale Soccer Club which involves designating three additional soccer fields in the southeastern section of the Parade Ground when it opens.

“When taxpayers’ money goes to an improvement of a public facility, they expect a public benefit, not a detriment.  That’s why I was shocked to learn that youth soccer players found themselves worse off after the renovation of the Parade Ground,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz.  “I urge the Parks Department to make changes in the use of the fields in Van Cortlandt Park.  The first priority must be to provide space for young people.  Soccer continues to grow in popularity among kids, yet Parks has reduced the number of soccer fields.  This is unacceptable and must be changed.  Van Cortlandt Park is for all New Yorkers, but first and foremost it should be for the children of our community.”