District Office of Council Member Ritchie Torres on Friday, December 11th, 12PM-2PM

On Friday, December 11 from 12PM – 2PM, Walgreens will be giving flu shots at our district office, located at 573 East Fordham Road (on Hoffman Street between East Fordham Road and East 191^st Street). The only item required is an insurance card. This event is in partnership with Walgreens and Montefiore.

An appointment is not required. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Luisa Benedetto at (718) 842-8100.

World's Largest Menorah and a concert by Pey Dalid

Friends, The strength of Brooklyn's diversity is especially evident during the holiday season. From Bay Ridge to Brooklyn Heights, and Canarsie to Crown Heights, a colorful cornucopia of all our cultures is represented everywhere you look, with festive displays of wreaths, Christmas trees, Kwanzaa kinaras, Chanukah menorahs, and beautifully illuminated homes, which light our spirits and put a warm glow in our hearts.   Join me at Grand Army Plaza this Sunday, December 6th at 5:00 PM for the lighting of theWorld's Largest Menorah and a concert by Pey Dalid. This is a terrific way to kick off the festival of Chanukah, and to learn more about the culture of our Jewish residents.  For more information, click here.   Join me the following day, Monday, December 7th at 5:00 PM, as we light Brooklyn's Official Menorah at the corner of Montague and Court streets, followed by a holiday reception at Brooklyn Borough Hall featuring children's musical entertainer, Bobby Doowah.  For more information, click here.   During this holiday season, please take time to explore the colorful displays of holiday spirit throughout Brooklyn. You will find that while we are many faiths and cultures here in the Borough of Kings, our appreciation of the different holidays we celebrate points to the true spirit of One Brooklyn.   -Eric P.S.   Save the dates for these upcoming events, which I am proud to support, at and around Brooklyn Borough Hall; please contact our office for additional information: 2nd Wednesday of Every Month Free Legal Services: Foreclosure Intervention/Prevention   2nd and 4th Thursday of Every Month Free Legal Services: Housing, Elder Law, and Pension Matters Monday, December 7th Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Monday, December 7th through Sunday, December 13th Code Brooklyn Tuesday, December 15th One-to-One Counseling for Parents of Children with Special Needs Neighborhoods.NYC Info Session Free Legal Clinic to Fight Residential Displacement

NMDC Holiday Party next Friday

Dear Friend, Join me next Friday as we celebrate the holiday season  at the Northern Manhattan Democrats for Change's annual  Holiday Party. When / Cuando: Friday / Viernes, December 11th at 7pm Where / Donde: American Legion, 3035 Corlear Avenue (btw 230th & 231st st) Sincerely, Adriano Espaillat

Bronx Borough President's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

The Bronx Chamber 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:   Take advantage of the Early Reservation Discount for paid reservations before December 7, 2015 to attend the Holiday Party and Toy Drive.   Use the attached form to make your reservations today!   Significant reservation discounts are available exclusively for members!   The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party and Toy Drive Monday, December 14, 2015 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm Tosca Marquee 4034 East Tremont Ave. Bronx, NY   Companies are welcome to make it their Office Holiday Party at this excellent venue which includes 4 hours: Buffet, Wine, Beer, Entertainment, Dancing and Cash Bar. Sponsorship opportunities are available including logo display and exhibit table. Call Marquez 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. I look forward to seeing you at the Holiday Party & Toy Drive! 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 718-828-3900Nunzio@bronxchamber.org www.BronxChamber .org Click here to PRINT your Reservation Forms For More Information Please Email: EVENTS@BRONXCHAMBER.ORG or

Menorah Lightings with Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj on Monday, December 7th

Menorah Lightings with Senator Jeff Klein  and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj Monday, December 7th 3:30 P.M. - Bronx House 990 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY 4:30 P.M. - Einstein Hospital Corner of Morris Park Ave. & Eastchester Rd., 5:30 P.M. - Pelham Parkway at White Plains Road, For more information, please contact  Senator Klein's office at (718) 822-2049

1st Annual North Bronx Democratic Club Holiday Party Big Success

   The first North Bronx Democratic Club Holiday Party is sure to become an annual event with the overflow crowd of more than 300 people. The event and the journal were sold out over a week before the event took place. State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj have successfully revived the original club of the 80th Assembly District that elected Jeff Klein an assemblyman in the early 1990's. 

   The Guest of Honor was New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, with Honorees Norman Seabrook (President, NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association), Ms. Beatrice Castiglia Catullo (Founder, RAIN Inc.), Joseph Kelleher (President, Metro Properties and Chairman, Bronx Chamber of Commerce), and Meisha Ross Porter (Superintendent, Bronx School District 11). 

    As usual the photos below will tell the rest of the story.

Above - Just some of the 300 plus attendees. 

Below - Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie was the Keynote Speaker.

Above - Councilman Andy King came over to congratulate Honoree Ms. Beatrice Castiglia Catullo. 

Below - Ms. Beatrice Castiglia Catullo received her award from Ms. Jeah Hill.

Above - Honoree Norman Seabrook Thanks Senator Klein and Assemblyman Gjonaj for their work in the state legislature.

Below - Honoree Joseph Kelleher Thanks Senator Klein for his help as a partner with the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in the BCC Bronx H.I.R.E. program.  

Above - Honoree Meisha Ross Porter thanks the club for honoring her on her outstanding career of leadership in public education.

Below - A group photo of the Honorees, elected officials, and club President and Executive Director.

Above - With Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie between State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, the club President and Executive Director are also in the photo.

Below - While the NBDC might be the club of the 80th A.D., 81st Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilman Andrew Cohen of the Riverdale section of the 34th State Senate district were on hand to give support.

Bronx District Attorney-Elect Darcel Clark Announces Transition Chairs, Sub-Committees

Bronx District Attorney-Elect
Darcel Clark Announces Transition Chairs,
Sub-Committees

     Bronx District Attorney-elect Darcel Clark announced her Chairpersons for her Transition Committee, as well as the establishment of subcommittees to further prepare for the beginning of her administration onJanuary 1st.  

Daniel E. Karson, Chairman of Kroll and former General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Investigation of the City of New York, and Taa Grays, Chief of Staff to MetLife’s General Counsel, were named by Clark as Co-Chairs of the 40-member transition team. Karson and Grays will lead all efforts to implement the District Attorney’s priorities of greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness throughout the office.

Along with his experience at Kroll and at the City’s Department of Investigation, Karson was born and raised in the Bronx and also worked as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney serving as Chief of Narcotics Investigations.

Prior to beginning her time at MetLife twelve years ago, Grays served as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney in its Rackets Bureau for five and a half years. She is also very active in the legal community and holds leadership positions with several organizations, including president of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association.

“In our Co-Chairs, we have two individuals who started their careers as Bronx Assistant District Attorneys,” said DA-elect Clark. “Not only do they understand the Bronx and this office, but their wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset in assisting me as I prepare to take office.”

Subcommittees

In addition to the announcement of Co-Chairs, Clark also announced the creation of subcommittees and chairs to further organize tasks and priorities throughout the transition.  They include:

• The Subcommittee on Community Affairs and Chair Wayne McKenzie, General Counsel for the NYC Department of Probation (DOP).
• The Subcommittee on Internal Review and Chair Catherine Christian, Co-Director of Legal Training and Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit in Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s Office.
• The Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Chair Marvin Ray Raskin, who also serves as Chairman of the Criminal Courts Committee of the Bronx County Bar Association.
• The Subcommittee on Recruitment and Chair Teresa Mason,  a partner with Bahn Multer LLP.
• The Subcommittee on the Inauguration and Chair Joyce Hartsfield, who also is the Executive Director of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission.  

Additional Committee Members

Clark also announced an additional three members who Clark believes will further add to an already stellar group of experienced and distinguished attorneys and community leaders.

Rabbi Barry Dov Katz has served the Bronx community at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale since 1998.  Rabbi Katz has worked with members of the congregation to further the inclusion of people with special needs, in welcoming LGBT individuals and families, and in forming a social group for Jewish 20’s and 30’s in the Bronx.  Rabbi Katz served as President of the Riverdale-Kingsbridge-Spuyten Duyvil Clergy Conference and as co-chair of the Bronx Borough President's Jewish-Hispanic Task Force, and is also an Adjunct Lecturer of Professional and Pastoral Skills at the Jewish Theological Seminary.  

Chauncey Parker serves as an Executive Assistant District Attorney and Special Policy Advisor to New York County District Attorney Cy Vance, and also serves as the Director of the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. Parker notably also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as the Director of Criminal Justice for New York State, and as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services under Governor George E. Pataki.

Bishop Nancy Rosario is the co-founder of Church of God’s Children in Co-op City, and also is the founder of R&R Team Management, a Women Owned Minority Business.  She also has served as the Legal Representative at Bronx Housing Court for Riverbay Corporation for over 31 years. Bishop Rosario is a leader in advocating for HIV & Hep C testing and Domestic Violence Awareness, and also serves as the clergy liaison for for the NYPD Grandmother’s Love over Violence.   

“As with all of the transition team, I’m grateful for their willingness to serve on this committee, and look forward to their keen insight on how to make this office work best for all the people in the Bronx,” Clark added.

For a list of the full Transition Committee, please click here.  For those who are interested in being considered for a position within the Office of Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, please send resumes and cover letters totransitionbxda@gmail.com.