Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Nov 26th at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church.






Deacon Emeritus Walter Mizell’s
Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Coat Distribution            
 Cena annual de Acción de Gracias y el Distribución de Abrigos

Held at / Celebrada en
Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church
771 Fairmount Place (c/s Prospect Ave)
Bronx, New York 10460
Reverend Torrence Robinson, Pastor

All Are Welcome
Thursday/ Jueves, November 26, 2015
Service Starts at / Servicio Empieza a las 10:00am Sharp!
Dinner is Served from/ Se sirve la cena 11:00am to 4pm;
                    Coats and Clothes Available (while they last).                               
                Los abrigos y ropa disponibles (mientras duren).                   
All is Free! / Todo es gratis!

Chairperson: Sister Deborah Mizell
Co-Chairperson: Minister Jean Hill-Francis


Tickets still available: 1st Annual North Bronx Democratic Club Holiday Party




You are cordially invited to the 
North Bronx Democratic Club 
1st Annual Holiday Dinner
with NYS Senator Jeff Klein &
NYS Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj

Tuesday, December 1st, 2015
6:00pm- 9:00pm
Maestro's Caterers
 1703 Bronxdale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461
Guest of Honor
Hon. Carl E. Heastie
 
Honorees
Norman Seabrook
President, NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association

Beatrice Castiglia Catullo
Founder, RAIN Inc.

Joseph Kelleher
President, Metro Properties & Chairman, Bronx Chamber of Commerce

Meisha Ross-Porter
Superintendent, NYC DOE School District 11 

For more information and to purchase tickets and/or journal ad, please call (347) 256-8719, or email northbronxdems@gmail.com


Bronx Chamber of Commerce "Good Scout" Award Reception Wed. Dec. 2, 2015



Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce at 
the Bronx"Good Scout" Award Reception 
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 
6:00 P.M. - 9:00P.M. 
For More Information Please Email:
Jason Tewes at jason.tewes@scouting.com 

Annual Bronx Chanukah Celebration Tuesday December 8, 2015



Save the Date
 
Bronx Borough President
Ruben Diaz Jr.
 
Annual Bronx Chanukah Celebration
&
Menorah Lighting Ceremony
 
Tuesday, 
December 8, 2015
 
12:30 PM
 
The Bronx County Building
Veteran's Memorial Hall
851 Grand Concourse
 
                   RSVP : jlaufer@bronxbp.nyc.gov
 

Monday, November 23, 2015

LOCAL LEADERS ANNOUNCE INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHT OUTSIDE OF PS 24



  Department of Transportation Has Approved the Installation of a Traffic Signal at Independence Avenue and West 235th Street

   In an effort to create a safe environment outside of Public School 24 Council Member Andrew Cohen, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Congressman Eliot Engel penned repeated requests to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a traffic light at the intersection of Independence Avenue and West 235th Street.

With two large schools in close proximity to the intersection of Independence Avenue and West 235th Street can become extremely busy and congested during arrival and dismissal times, making it difficult for students and parents to safely cross the street. Despite efforts to reduce traffic flow by parents carpooling, walking or taking public transportation, the issue continued to persist.

After conducting a traffic study, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved the installation of a traffic control device at this intersection and is expected to be installed by February of 2016.

“My colleagues and I have been insisting on the installation of this traffic light for quite some time. This particular area sees an overflow of pedestrians and motorists with several large residential buildings, schools and a library nearby. I would like to thank DOT for hearing the concerns of my neighbors and agreeing that this is the safest solution for everyone,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

“This new traffic signal will significantly improve safety for not only P.S. 24’s students and teachers, but for all residents in our neighborhood. I originally requested this traffic signal because of my concern, and the concerns of parents, that this intersection where P.S. 24, the Spuyten Duyvil Library, and Seton Park all come together was an accident waiting to happen. I am happy the City Department of Transportation listened to the concerns of the community and its elected officials,” said Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz.

“Council Member Cohen, Assemblyman Dinowitz, and I have been asking for this traffic light on West 235th Street and Independence Avenue for many years,” said Congressman Eliot Engel. “With two schools, a library, Seton Park, and several large residential buildings all within a 2 block radius of the intersection, an additional traffic light will provide better safety for motorists and pedestrians. I thank NYC DOT for listening to us and acting to improve traffic safety in our community.”

“DOT is happy to continue working with Councilmember Cohen and the local community to implement this much needed traffic signal,” said DOT Bronx Borough Commissioner Constance Moran. “The signal will help students and parents of P.S. 24, as well as all who cross this intersection, travel more confidently and safely.”

EDITORS NOTE:
   
    This issue first came up during the 2009 City Council campaign when one candidate was trying to pander to parents, because their children had to cross Independence Avenue at this intersection to attend classes in the Whitehall Annex. The Whitehall Annex lease was not renewed by the Department of Education, and after June of this year public schoolchildren will no longer have to cross Independence Avenue at this intersection to attend any classes.
   Will the buses that have to double park on West 235th Street as well as the parents who double and triple park around the school end now that this traffic light will be installed? Another question to our local elected officials is, since there is no enforcement of the current traffic regulations what makes you think people will stop at this light?
   When there are many more accidents similar to those that occur at intersections where traffic lights are will that change anything? Just three traffic lights at four intersections in a row of a street that has children only half of the year. The other half of the year we will see what happens, the residents suffer.
   So does this mean comes the end of June this year the new traffic light put in especially so P S 24 students could cross Independence Avenue to go to the Whitehall annex and to the main school building will be removed? 
   Viva our local elected officials, Mayor Bill deBlasio is getting what he wants a traffic light on almost every corner. What is next for our local elected officials to give their beloved mayor, pedestrian islands on Independence Avenue?






We Should Take Care of Our Own Before Anybody Else


WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW 
By Senator Rev Rubén Díaz 
District 32 Bronx County, New York 


  You should know that the bold statements made by President Barack Hussein Obama, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, with respect to the compassion that Americans need to have for the Syrian refugees, do not reflect the actions of these three leaders. 
  
It is important for you to know that here in the United States of America, we have more than 11 million undocumented immigrants.  We have millions of senior citizens who live in poverty and have to decide if they should eat, pay their rent, buy their medication, or just allow themselves to die. Many of our nation’s veterans remain homeless, without enough food to eat, without disability benefits, and without tuition assistance. 
  
Millions of Americans are homeless, going hungry every night. So many live hand to mouth, with parents working two or three jobs just to make ends meet. American families struggle just to eat and pay for their children’s higher education – while non-Americans attend our schools tuition free. 
  
It is also important for you to know that here in New York City, we have more than 40,000 homeless families. This week, almost 60,000 people will sleep in New York City’s municipal shelters. People who don’t have anywhere to live are placed in shelters like animals. So many of their children receive poor education in overcrowded public school classrooms. 
  
According to U.S. State Department, the United States is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Syria (we have donated $4.5 billion dollars since the Syrian Conflict began in 2011). Nonetheless, President Obama talks about the need for us to be humanitarians, and insists upon bringing thousands of refugees to the United States, against the will of the majority of the American people and the United States Congress. Many people believe that by doing this, the President may be putting American lives in danger. 
  
On the other hand, President Obama will go down in history of this nation as the President who has deported more people than any other President. Among those deported are Dominicans, Mexicans, Africans, Haitians, Asians, and others.  These people have been deported, sometime breaking their families apart, without showing them any compassion. 
  
As they say: All Lives Matters. 
  
It is also important, my dear reader, for you to know that Mayor Bill de Blasio has also come out criticizing anyone who opposes bringing Syrian refugees into the United States, calling them: “an embarrassment to this country.”   
  
Those words were spoken by New York City’s Mayor after two years into his Administration, as he refuses to even admit the chaotic conditions of New York City’s homeless. 
  
We have to be thankful to New York City Police Department’s Commissioner William Bratton who publicly criticized his boss, stating: "The mistake the Administration made early on was not validating what everyone was seeing ... The problem was increasing." 
  
It is important for Mayor Bill de Blasio to address the egregious conditions that exist in our public schools, where teachers cannot properly teach because of the lack of resources, and children are subjected to extreme overcrowd conditions in the classroom. 
  
He should also take care of the 40,000 homeless families in the City of New York and all of the problems that exist in the City's homeless shelters. 
  
Families throughout New York City are going through hell because of the skyrocketing rents. Residents in New York City’s Housing Authority buildings don’t receive essential repairs for their apartments for more than three years.  Their roofs are leaking, causing all sorts of health problems for people who are exposed to mold and mildew. Their apartments are infested with rats and roaches, etc. etc. - and the Mayor talks about the need for compassion. 

And we should not forget our beloved Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has come out in public to use the Statue of Liberty as a reason why we should be compassionate. If we don’t welcome refugees, Governor Cuomo says we should “take down the Statue of Liberty” because of what it symbolizes. 
  
But surprise, surprise. As recently as last week, New Yorkers are circulating a letter and collecting signatures to put pressure on Governor Andrew Cuomo so he could assign money to be spent on the housing conditions for families, senior citizens and homeless in the State of New York, money that he continues to refuse to allocate. 
  
In the Book of Galatians, Paul the Apostle orders us: "So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, but first with the people closest to us ...” [Gal 6:9-10] 
  
My dear reader, we cannot bring more refugees into our nation when we continue to deport and divide immigrant families, especially when we give our own families little chance to survive. 
  
There are almost 25,000 children sleeping in New York City’s municipal shelter system. Classrooms in our public schools are overcrowded. The fate, health and security of more than 11 million undocumented immigrants remain uncertain. As our aging population continues to grow, senior citizens continue to have their critical services cut.  Our Veterans are living in the middle of what is called a “leadership crisis” within the healthcare system that serves over 9.1 million veterans. 
  
We should do good to everyone, as Paul said, but first we should do for our own. 
  
I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.


Bronx Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party and Toy Drive



 
Holiday Party and Toy Drive 
Monday, December 14, 2015
5:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. 


Dear Members and Friends:
 
I look forward to seeing you at the Holiday Party & Toy 
Drive hosted by The Bronx Chamber of Commerce. This celebration and networking event is scheduled Monday, December 14, 2015, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm at Tosca 
Marquee, 4034 East Tremont Ave. Bronx NY.

Companies are welcome to make it their Office Holiday 
Party at this excellent venue which will includes 4 hours: Buffet, Wine, Beer, Entertainment, Dancing and Cash Bar.

Sponsorship opportunities are available including logo 
display and exhibit table. Call Marques Payne for 
availability and more information.
 
Please bring new unwrapped toys for the Toy Drive. 
The toys will go to organizations that assist abused and neglected children. The Chamber Staff will distribute 
the toys before Holidays. Contributions are welcome to purchase additional toys. Gift cards are also welcome.

Please use the attached Reservation Form and take advantage of the Early Reservation Discount for paid reservations before December 7, 2015. Significant reservation discounts are available exclusively for 
members of The Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Best,

Nunzio

Nunzio Del Greco
President and CEO
Bronx Chamber of Commerce
"The Network for Business Success"
1200 Waters Place, Suite 106
Bronx, NY 10461



For More Information Please Email:

Click below to make it larger.

Friends of Van Cortlandt Park - How You Help to Bring Youth, Community and Nature Together



Dear Friend:
 
We are thankful for YOU!  2015 was one of the organization’s most successful years for programming, trail improvements and overall advocacy for the park.  With your support, we have achieved our goals for “Bringing Youth and Community Together.” 
 
Programs.   During fiscal year 2015, the Friends actively engaged the largest number of participants in our history with 6,653 children and adults participating in our programs.  Milestones achieved:
  • Reached over 2,500 students through our Van Cortlandt Adventures educational programs;
    Park Shovel full size 3 
  • Hired 12 interns for a Summer Teen Trail Crew internship who completed several trail restoration projects over seven weeks;
  • Ran our Youth Run Farm Stand internship program at two sites that provided fresh local grown produce to the local communities
 
Trails Friends worked with over 1,600 volunteers on garden, forest, and trail restoration projects.  We have also secured funding to continue our Trails Project Manager staff position and extend his work to wetlands through grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
 
VCP 2034 Master Plan FVCP’s advocacy directly resulted in millions of dollars of capital  funding of three major components of the 2034 VCP Master Plan—(1) the pedestrian bridge across the Major Deegan Expressway; (2) a new children’s playground in the Northwest Corner of the Park and (3) John Kieran Trail improvements that are a part of our Trails Plan.

 
Your Support.  Your financial support through this annual appeal will help us continue our cherished programming, trail work and advocacy for Van Cortlandt Park.  Please take a moment to make a tax deductible, end-of-year contribution.  With your support, the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park will be able to enter in the New Year with resources that ensure Van Cortlandt Park is even more vibrant in 2016.
 
Thank you and best wishes,

Christopher Rizzo, Chairman & Christina Taylor, Executive Director
 


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