International Music Fest! This Sunday, Oct. 6th

Friends of VCP's October 2013

Upcoming Events

Get Active Hiking Series in VCP
Join us on the First Saturday of Each Month at 10am for a hike in Van Cortlandt Park.  Please wear appropriate shoes and bring plenty of water and a snack for the hike.

October 5th, meet at Woodlawn Playground (VCP East & Kepler Ave.):  Family friendly leisurely hike in the Northeast Wood.  Hike will last 60-90 minutes.  Appropriate for young and old.

November 2nd, meet at the Friends Compost & Garden Site (enter the Park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave):  An introductory hike of 2-3 hours in the Northwest Woods.

December 7th at 10am, meet at the last stop of the 1 train: Our longest hike- a 3-4 hour hike to see all Seven Wonders of Van Cortlandt Park.

Northeast Forest Volunteer Day
Saturday October 5^th meeting at 10am
Join us as we continue our forest restoration efforts in the Northeast Woods of VCP.  Volunteers are needed to remove invasive plants and plant native trees and shrubs.  Meet in front of Woodlawn Playground, located near Van Cortlandt Park East and Kepler Ave.

Volunteer Trails Restoration Crew
Second Saturdays of the Month

from September to December 2013 from 10am to 3pm
Want to develop useful skills, while making a significant contribution to the future of Van Cortlandt Park and the Bronx Community?  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 but encouraged; all training will be offered in an on-the-job format.  All volunteers must register online by the first Friday of each month.

It’s My Park Day: John Kieran Trail
Saturday October 19^th, meeting at 10am
Join us for this citywide month of giving back to your local parks.  Volunteers are needed to remove invasive plants and help plant native trees and shrubs as the Friends continue our efforts on the John Kieran Trail.  Meet at 242^nd Street and Broadway- just inside the Park near the last stop of 1 train.

Important Health Care Information

  

  

Important Notice About Health Care

  

Beginning today, October 1, 2013, New Yorkers who do not already have access to health coverage through their employer or a member of their family will now be able to purchase health insurance through a new statewide marketplace.

Below is the link to New York's Marketplace as well as contact numbers should you have any questions!

https://www.healthcare.gov/

https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/individual/

By phone

24/7 Availability

1-800-318-2596

TTY: 1-855-889-4325

Small Businesses Resources

Have questions about the SHOP Marketplace for

businesses with 50 or fewer employees?

Call: 1-800-706-7893

TTY: 1-800-706-7915

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

*Agents and brokers may also use this number* 

Car Accident on Riverdale Avenue & West 236th Street

  Less than 24 hours after 2,500 people celebrated the Riverdale Avenue Festival there was a car accident just south of the intersection of Riverdale Avenue and West 236th Street where a car wound up on the sidewalk. Witnesses said that a southbound gray Mercedes went through the red light at the intersection of Riverdale Avenue & West 236th Street hitting another car that was making an illegal u-turn and wound up on the sidewalk by the #7 bus stop. Police on the scene would not confirm or deny any rumors about the accident. Both cars had to be towed away, and the driver of the Mercedes was taken away by ambulance. .  This was not the first accident at this southbound #7 bus stop that is just south of the intersection at Riverdale Avenue and West 236th Street. Earlier this year another car accident destroyed the bus shelter with a car winding up on the sidewalk also.

 

Left - The Mercedes wound up on the sidewalk south of the Riverdale Avenue & West 236th Street intersection just missing the bus shelter, but knocking down the sign after hitting the car on the right.

Right - The driver of the car that was hit by the Mercedes was said to have been making an illegal u-turn before the accident.

Riverdale Avenue Street Festival Huge Success

  The Riverdale Avenue Street Festival held on Riverdale Avenue between West 236th & West 238th Streets was kicked off at noon by Ms. Linda Manning. As soon as Ms. Manning welcomed everyone to the street festival the lines began forming at the attractions. A conservative estimate of 2,500 people attended, and all had fun. The photos of the event below will speak for themselves. Click on any to make them larger.

Left - Ms. Linda Manning opens the Riverdale Avenue Street Festival.

Right - The early line for the pony ride.

 

Left - The pony ride was one of the most popular attractions.

Right - The Rock Climb by the NYPD was another popular attraction. Yes that is a girl at the top of the rock climb.

 

Left - The NYPD was doing Operation ID for children.

Right - KRVDC has a table set up.

 

Left - The line for the face painting.

Right - Tall stilt walker Adam Auslander visits the table set up by Tiny's Cafe.

 

Left & Right - Two of the Riverdale Avenue merchants and how they presented their products.

 Left to right are Ken owner of The Corner Cafe, Ms. Tracy Shelton Executive Director of KRVDC, Mario owner of Yo Burger & Salvatore's, Ms. Linda Manning, Roman owner of DJ Drugs, Jeff owner of Ginger Grill, and CB 8 Economic Development Committee Chair Sergio Villarverde. They helped it happen.

As the sun sets Riverdale Avenue is back to its regular use as a full time street.

Liberty Democratic Club Meeting

  The Liberty Democratic Club of the 80th A.D. held its after primary day meeting to thank the poll workers and to amend its by laws. Poll inspecter Suzanne J. Piscitelli was honored, as was Poll Coordinator Lorraine Ritter. Several elected officials were also expected. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Councilman Jimmy Vacca, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera. 

  The recent winner of the 15th council Democratic primary and Liberty Democratic Club President Ritchie Torres opened the meeting, and later made a motion that was unanimously passed to endorse Bill deBlasio for Mayor in the general election.

 Liberty Dem Club President Ritchie Torres points to the person who seconded his motion to endorse Bill de Blasio in the general election for mayor.

 80th A.D. State Committeeman Joe McManus congratulates soon to be Councilman Ritchie Torres as the home grown candidate of the Liberty Democratic Club. 

 

TBS's King of the Nerds/New York Comic-Con

 

Please join TBS's KING OF THE NERDS hosts and executive producers Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong, as well as Season One Contestant/Season Two Challenge Consultant Genevieve and the People's Nerd Winner on Saturday, October 12th at New York Comic-Con. 

 

Other King of the Nerds New York Comic-Con Details

Event: King of the Nerds Signing with Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong

Day: 10/12/2013

Time: 2:00PM - 3:00PM

Location: Autographing Table 5

Event: King of the Nerds Panel

Day: 10/12/2013

Time: 6:45PM - 7:45PM

Location: 1A10

Panelists: Robert Carradine, Curtis Armstrong, Season One Contestant Genevieve and the People's Nerd Winner

Description: Come celebrate your favorite competition reality series on TBS, King of the Nerds, with a sneak peak of season 2 premiering January 2014. Join executive producers and hosts Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong, along with a few surprise special guests as we discuss next year's new contestants, the People's Nerd and the new challenges that await the nerds.