Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj - Free Smoke/ CO Alarm Giveaway and Installations



Free Smoke/ CO Alarm Giveaways and Installation! 
#GetAlarmedNYC

Come by and arrange for a FREE smoke/CO Alarm installation in your home ! 

Monday
February 22,2016
5:00pm - 7:00pm.

Location:District Office of Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj
1126 Pelham Parkway South
Bronx, New York 10461

For more information call : (718) 409-0109


                                                                                   718-409-0109.

STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA, ASSEMBLY MEMBER MICHAEL BLAKE AND COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA L. GIBSON TO HOST A BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION



  In honor of the countless contributions that African-Americans have made to our country, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assemblymember Michael Blake and Councilmember Vanessa L. Gibson have partnered with the Montefiore Health System, Metroplus and the Claremont Community Center to host a Black History Month Celebration focused on health on Saturday, February 6th from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
 
In an effort to continue promoting good health practices in the Bronx, the event will host a group of local health organizations that will provide participants with important health information, tips on preventative measures and an array of free health screenings that range from blood pressure to HIV/Hepatitis C testing.
 
Throughout the celebration, attendees will also be able to enjoy complimentary African food, participate in raffles and join elected officials in recognizing outstanding members of the community.
 
WHAT:     Black History Month Celebration
 
WHO:        State Senator Gustavo Rivera
                   Assemblymember Michael Blake
                   Councilmember Vanessa L. Gibson
                   Other Elected Officials
 
WHEN:     Saturday, February 6, 2015 
                   12:00 PM - 2:00 PM  
 
WHERE:  Claremont Community Center
                   489 E 169th Street
                   Bronx, NY 10456
 
*This event is free and open to the public. 


Tuesday, February 2, 2016

NEW YORK CARES COAT DRIVE SURPASSES 100,000 COATS COLLECTED - 70,000 COATS DISTRIBUTED PRIOR TO 2016 BLIZZARD



  This Year Marks the Only Time the Coat Drive Has Collected More Than 100,000 Coats Except During the Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

   New York Cares reached a milestone this week as it collected more than 100,000 coats as part of its 27th Annual Coat Drive, thanks in large part to the New York City business community and to more than 1,000 New Yorkers who ran their own personal collection drives. This year, as in past recent years, New York Cares received requests for more than 100,000 coats from shelters, community centers, and social service agencies, and, annually, New York Cares typically collects only 75,000 coats. With the critical support of companies and the generosity of individual donors, it reached its goal this year. This is the only year New York Cares has collected more than 100,000 coats except during the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

The influx of coats and funds not only enabled New York Cares to serve more New Yorkers in need, but allowed the organization to collect and distribute coats earlier. New York Cares distributed close to 70,000 warm winter coats ahead of the recent blizzard that brought frigid temperatures and more than 26 inches of snow to the city.

New York City businesses including KKR, Bloomberg LP, Neuberger Berman, the Greater New York Auto Dealers Association, Halstead Property, Tishman Speyer, and others made an enormous impact on the coat drive by donating coats, setting up collection sites, as well as by donating money toward the purchase of coats. For every $20.00 that these companies donated, New York Cares was able to purchase a new winter coat for men, women, and children throughout the city.

Bloomberg conducted an early coat drive among its employees from mid-October to Thanksgiving and contributed a total of 11,000 coats and more than $136,000 in financial donations. KKR and its employees donated 3,000 new coats and $40,000 to go toward the purchase of new coats, while also providing pro bono consulting services to help New York Cares find new and better ways of meeting the need for coats. Neuberger Berman made a commitment to meet all requests for children’s coats that New York Cares received from shelters.

Individual New Yorkers, in addition to dropping off coats at public collection sites, can also run their own personal coat drives among colleagues, friends, or family. In 2015, more than 1,000 residents registered their own drives benefiting New York Cares, a 20% increase over last year.

“The issue of homelessness and how to support the men, women, and children struggling to make ends meet is in the spotlight right now in New York City,” said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares. “New York Cares is incredibly grateful to the businesses and individuals that rallied on behalf of New Yorkers in need to make sure that 100,000 requests for coats were fulfilled. Their support means children can go to school this winter wearing a warm coat, and adults can get to work, job interviews, and other appointments without concern about cold temperatures. We asked everyone to keep our neighbors in mind this season, and New York certainly delivered.”

About New York Cares
New York Cares is the largest volunteer network in the city. Last year, 63,000 New Yorkers made the city a better place by volunteering in New York Cares programs at 1,350 nonprofits and schools – improving education, meeting immediate needs, and revitalizing public spaces. For more information, visit newyorkcares.org.

United War Veterans Council Enlists Public to Show Love to Vets/Active Duty Personnel this Valentines Day



  The United War Veterans Council (UWVC) invites the public to show their love for those who serve or have served our country by sending Valentines cards and gifts, which UWVC will deliver to veterans and active duty military personnel at Veterans Administration facilities, other veterans service centers and military facilities in all five boroughs of New York City.
            The public is asked to send Valentines cards, small gifts and packaged candy, including sugarless candy to:
Valentines for Vets & Service Members
C/o Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen’s' Club
283 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10035
Please send your cards and gifts by Friday, February 5.
            “Let’s show the love to our veterans and those still in service on Valentine’s Day and every day,” said UWVC incoming President Dan McSweeney.  “We see it every year when we deliver these cards and gifts, how this small gesture on your part means so much to the men and women who receive these expressions of your love, respect and gratitude.”
New York City firefighters who also are veterans have volunteered to help the UWVC deliver the cards and gifts to locations such as the Manhattan and Brooklyn VA hospitals, Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and the U.S. Coast Guard base at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. 
The U.S. Coast Guard is the featured service for the 2016 Veterans Day Parade,November 11, marking the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11 and dedicated especially to veterans who have served since 9/11 and to first responders, including the Coast Guard.
About United War Veterans Council
The United War Veterans Council, Inc. (UWVC) is a 501-(c) (19) non-profit organization that is dedicated to mobilizing the public to honor, support and serve America’s veterans through a wide range of activities and initiatives. We produce America’s Parade (the NYC Veterans Day Parade), the largest celebration of service in the nation.  Since our inception, the UWVC has been a non-political, non-partisan organization, with no agenda or purpose other than serving our veterans. We represent the mosaic of the veterans’ community, encompassing veterans of all eras and backgroundswww.uwvc.org / FB / Twitter.

PARKS WITHOUT BORDERS



On Saturday, February 6th @ the St. James Recreation Center, from 2pm-3:30pm, NYC Parks will be a providing information and accepting ideas regarding a new design approach called “Parks Without Borders.”

Want to improve your park? 

Tell us how!


We’re asking for suggestions on how to make our parks more beautiful, open, and inviting through a new design approach called Parks Without Borders. Come learn more and share your ideas—we’re selecting eight parks to receive funding, and yours could be one.

Saturday, February 6th, 2016

2:00 p.m.


St. James Rec Center CRC


2530 Jerome Ave


Bronx, NY 10468



For more information, visit nyc.gov/parks/pwb or email pwb@parks.nyc.gov.

BRONX YOUTH INSPIRED BY CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER



  Kicking off Black History Month in the Bronx, Civil Rights pioneer Claudette Colvin and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams were honored by Council Member Andy King and the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) on Monday, Feb. 1 at their annual “Celebrating Our History” program at Evander Childs High School, Library, 800 E. Gun Hill Road, Bronx.

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Our History: Stories Untold.”

Ms. Colvin, now a Bronx resident, has been referred to as “The Other Rosa Parks.” On March 2, 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white woman on a Montgomery, Ala., bus nine months before Mrs. Rosa Parks committed the same defiant act.

“I consider myself to be a survivor of the Civil Rights movement because so many lives were lost in the movement,” said Ms. Colvin, recalling her story to more than 150 elementary- and middle-school Bronx students.

Council Member King said Ms. Colvin was an inspiration for the civil rights movement. 

“You are in the presence of living history. She is a pioneer,” said Council Member King.

Also speaking at the program was Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, who, for the past 30 years, has served the residents of New York City as a police officer, state senator and coalition builder. He encouraged the youngsters to become volunteers and instructed them on “three important facts:” 1) Know how to shake hands; 2) Look into eyes of the person you’re speaking to and; 3) State who you are with your name, age and what you want to be.

“Never give up. Let your haters become your waiters when you sit down and dine,” said Adams. “This is your universe; decide what you will make of it.”

Council Member King and Bronx YEP members Jhaniya Smith and Vincent Middleton presented Adams with a “Recognizing Real Leadership Award” and Ms. Colvin received the “Celebrating Our History Award” in recognition of her contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.


Photo: Courtesy of Office of Council Member Andy King. Picture from left: Jamaal Bailey, Office of NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie; Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Vincent Middleton, Claudette Colvin, WBLS Personality Dr. Bob Lee, NYC Council Member Andy King, Jerome Rice, President of Co-op City NAACP, and Jhaniya Smith.

Friends of VCP's February 2016 Enewsletter



Friends of Van Cortlandt 
Park's February 2016 
Enewsletter
 
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We had our first snowstorm of the season and Van Cortlandt Park was beautiful in all of the snow.  Hope everyone stayed warm and safe during the storm.  We have been taking advantage of these cold days to plan for our spring events.  Visit our events page to see what we have planned.  

image1 2
Sunset in Van Cortlandt Park on the day after the storm.  Photo by Susan Brenner.

In the meantime, we will be tabling at the 22ndAnnual Bronx Parks Speak Up: Using Parks and Green Spaces to Positively Impact Community Health on February 20th from 11am to 5pm at Lehman College.  Hope you will join us there.   

And if you haven't yet please make suggestions on how to improve access to Van Cortlandt Park through Parks Without Borders.  Parks Without Borders is an NYC Parks initiative to make parks more open, welcoming, and beautiful by focusing on improving entrances, edges, and park-adjacent spaces. As part of OneNYC , Mayor Bill de Blasio has dedicated $50 million to the program.  Visit theParks Without Borders Information page  to find out more about how this program works and suggest projects that should be considered.

Hope to see you in the park soon!
  
Christina and all of your Friends at the Friends of VCP

P.S. Don't forget to follow us on Social Media to keep posted on what is happening in the Park.

Assemblymember Michael Blake - Celebrating Black History Month



  Today marks the first day of Black History Month, a time when we come together as a nation to celebrate the rich history and many contributions of African Americans. We stand on the shoulders of giants and continue to make great progress. We have a shared responsibility to continue the legacy of our predecessors who overcame many challenges and sacrificed their dreams to make our dreams possible. As we reflect, let us also recognize the history being made today. I had the distinct honor of serving under the first African American President and have continued my service as a New York State Assemblymember fighting for issues that are important to the African American community. We have made great strides nationally and also here in our great city, where we have the first African American Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Public Advocate of NYC, Brooklyn Borough President and female Bronx District Attorney. Everyday, we are making Black History, but, we take time to especially reflect and celebrate Black History Month.