Bronx Jewish Community Council - Project HOPE Passover 2018 Save The Date

Reminder

Save The Date

Project HOPE Passover Package Delivery 

Sunday, March 18, 2018 - 9 am-11:30 am

917- 693-3804

Whether or not you are able to come, you can always help by sponsoring a package for only $25.
     

For groups, questions or to deliver to a particular senior contact 

Niti Minkove, Director of Volunteers at 

nminkove@bjcconline.org or Cell: (917) 693-3084

Bronx Jewish Community Council,  2930 Wallace Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

ENGEL STATEMENT ON TODAY’S INDICTMENTS  

Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today released the following statement:

“Given the Trump Administration’s failure to hold Russia accountable for its attack on American democracy, it’s no surprise that it fell to the Special Counsel investigating the Trump-Russia scandal to act at last. Today’s indictments shed new light on the extent of Russia’s destructive plot against the United States and underscore the importance of Mr. Mueller’s work and why it must continue.

“However, this announcement won’t prevent Russia from meddling with future elections, which even the Administration acknowledges is happening. Congressional Republicans must now work across the aisle to shore up our election system against the next wave of attacks, or else they signal that they’re perfectly willing to accept Russia’s help. American democracy is on the line.”

It Is Unacceptable That Republicans Continue to Tolerate These Mass Shootings 

“My heart continues to break for the families and victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkville, Florida. Wednesday’s shooting was the 18^th school shooting and the 30^th mass shooting to take place this year. We are forty-seven days into 2018.

“In the wake of this horrific tragedy, people will try to find an explanation for why this happened. Already, we are hearing the President blame mental health problems, stigmatizing millions of Americans. Mental health is a serious issue and funding mental health programs is important, but make no mistake: the GOP is using mental health as a red herring to distract from their unwillingness to even entertain the idea of strengthening our weak gun laws.

“The reason seventeen innocent people were viciously murdered yesterday is because a nineteen-year-old, who had been expelled from school, was able to walk into a gun store that didn’t require fingerprints, permits, or a waiting period, and buy a gun.

“It is unacceptable that Republicans in Congress continue to tolerate these mass shootings and murders. We have solutions to reduce the likelihood of events like this. Democrats have introduced legislation that would require stricter background checks, longer wait periods, ban assault weapons, and limit magazine capacity among many others. I call on Speaker Ryan to bring these solutions to the floor for a vote before any more Americans are killed.”

Wave Hill Events Mar 1‒Mar 9

Sat, March 3    Family Art Project: Give a Feathery Friend a Home or a Feeder

Winter birds and returning migrators could use a little help right now with nests and food. Camouflage the boxy shape of an ordinary milk carton with pine boughs and leaves. Add seeds and an inviting stick perch to create a welcoming home. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, March 4    Family Art Project: Give a Feathery Friend a Home or a Feeder

Winter birds and returning migrators could use a little help right now with nests and food. Camouflage the boxy shape of an ordinary milk carton with pine boughs and leaves. Add seeds and an inviting stick perch to create a welcoming home. Free with admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, March 4    Winter Workspace Drop-In Sunday

Artists in the Winter Workspace program share their studio practice with visitors on this Drop-In Sunday. This year’s Session 2 artists are Michele Brody, Tamara Kostianovsky, Athena LaTocha, Maika’i Tubbs and two New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellows, Ashton Agbomenou and Yelaine Rodriguez. For more about who is in residence on Sundays, visit wavehill.org. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 1–3PM

Sun, March 4    Art Workshop: Sewn Plant Sculptures Workshop

Take a tour of Tamara Kostianovsky’s Winter Workspace studio and explore ideas of personal identity, immigration and home. Working with fabric swatches, textiles, ropes, threads and twine, upcycle discarded items to give them new life as plant sculptures. Ages 12 and older welcome with an adult. $55; 10% discount to Wave Hill Members. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.

MEET AT GLYNDOR GALLERY, 10AM–1PM

Sun, March 4    Garden & Conservatory Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Mon, March 5

Closed to the public.

Fri, March 9    The Garden and Beyond: An Afternoon of History at Wave Hill

This elegant and intimate afternoon celebrates Wave Hill’s rich historical legacy and extraordinary gardens. Relish a light-fare buffet—inspired by a traditional afternoon tea—as you enjoy a historical lecture and behind-the-scenes tour of the early spring gardens. The presentation takes place in the Mark Twain room, the former library of the estate, and continues outside with a walking tour of working areas of the garden. The afternoon concludes in The Shop at Wave Hill with a complimentary gift and a 10% discount on all purchases. Space is limited. $50/$45 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 1‒3:30PM 

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–4:30PM, November 1–March 14. Closes 5:30PM, starting March 15.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

News From Councilman Mark Gjonaj - We've Moved!

Please note that our District Office has relocated. District Office 1478 Williamsbridge Road Bronx, New York 10461 P: 718-931-1721 F: 718-931-1605 Legislative Office 250 Broadway, Suite 1847 New York, NY 10007 212-788-7375 phone 212-442-2724 fax

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Honors Six Distinguished Individuals at our Black Heritage Celebration Luncheon

Phil Cardone

Events, Communications & Grants Director

Bronx Chamber of Commerce

"The Network for Business Success"
1200 Waters Place, Suite 106
Bronx, NY 10461
718-828-3900

BP DIAZ & ADVOCATES DEMAND ‘FAIR FARES’ IN NYC BUDGET

BP Diaz, transit and community activists blast de Blasio administration for failing to include $200 million in FY 2019 budget to provide transit relief for the working poor

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and advocates from across the city have come together to rebuke Mayor Bill de Blasio for failing to include funding for “fair fares” in his $88.67 billion Preliminary Budget for City Fiscal Year 2019.

“For a relatively small amount of funding the administration could provide the working poor with real financial relief by making ‘fair fares’ a reality,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “For $200 million we could make a significant impact on the everyday lives of nearly 800,000 New Yorkers – people from every corner of this city who desperately need a helping hand. The de Blasio administration must add the funding for ‘fair fares’ to its budget.”

The “fair fares” proposal is anti-poverty effort aimed at addressing transit affordability, and would fund half-price transit fares for the economically disadvantaged. Recent data from Community Service Society’s 2017 Unheard Third found that one in four poor, working-age New Yorkers are often unable to afford subway and bus fares.

The survey also found that 20 percent of working-age New York City residents living below the poverty line have been unable to run important errands due to subway fares, and that 31 percent could not look for or take a job further away from where they live because of the high cost of transit. 

“As we debate the future of our transit system and how it will be funded, we cannot lose sight of the needs of the working poor. We should consider developing a more nuanced system of collecting fares—a system that takes into account a commuter’s means, and provides a discount to those New Yorkers who need it the most. A ‘fair fares’ program will do just that, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the City Council and advocates all over the five boroughs to make real relief for the working poor a reality,” said Borough President Diaz.

“Whether it’s a millionaires’ tax or a congestion pricing plan, we need a recurring source of revenue to fix our subway system and in the process make transit fares affordable for our lowest income residents,” said David. R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society and MTA Board Member. “These are both sound progressive ideas, but neither will provide the immediate relief that struggling New Yorkers need today to get to work and get ahead. The mayor should move forward and launch a half-priced “Fair Fares” program and fund it in the City budget. By not doing so, the mayor would’ve missed an opportunity to prove that his pronouncements about creating a fairer city were not just political rhetoric.”

Valentine's Day Events

Valentine's Day celebrations are normally between two people, but today several local Bronx elected officials brought Valentine's Day greetings to some people who may not have enjoyed the Day of Joy.

At the Veteran's Hospital on Kingsbridge Road State Senator Jeff Klein held his 23^rd Annual Valentines for Veterans Celebration. Senator Klein brought with him Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Miss Teen New York Asia Hickman, Miss Bronx Li Ling Rivera, former NY Knick Charles Smith, the Step Dancers from Icahn Charter School 2, the PS 105 Children's Choir, and the PS 83 Children's Rock Band. There was singing, dancing, and high stepping from the school children, and gift bags for the veterans with letters of hope from students of several other schools.

Above - Senator Klein and guests stand behind many of the gifts and Valentines for the Veterans at the VA Hospital.

Below The singing of the National Anthem.

Above - Miss Teen New York, and Miss Bronx were on hand.

Below - Assemblyman Benedetto mentioned the thought of wearing his red boots, but he had the feeling someone else might be wearing red boots. See photo above.

A little later at Villa Barone Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted the 11^th Annual Sweethearts Luncheon. This was for Bronx couples who have been married for fifty years or more. The PS 72 Ballroom Dancers provided the warm up dances for married sweethearts, and then the couples themselves took to the dance floor to celebrate their own longevity of being married. Vinnie Barretta and his wife Josie were the longest married couple spanning seventy years of blissful marriage. When asked by Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. how they met, Mrs. Barretta said they were at a drug store where she was going to weigh herself on the scale in the store. When they met she was seventeen and Vinnie was nineteen. Before she could put her penny into the scale her soon to be husband guessed her weight, and the rest is history. Mr. George Hulse of sponsor Healthfirst provided a humorous joke as he said between his four marriages and his present wife's three marriages they must have close to one-hundred years of marriage between the both of them.

Above - The PS 72 Ballroom Dancers warmed up the crowd so much that, 

Below - Many of the couples took to the dance floor themselves.

Above - This was an event for Bronx couples who were married for more than fifty years, and Bronx Borough President called up Vinnie and Josie Barretta who have been married for seventy years for a special recognition.

Below - BP Diaz also recognized Health First as being the sponsor of the event. Mr. George Hulse of Health First said that between his four marriages, and his wife's three that they have almost one hundred years of marriage between them.

  

After wards there was a Valentine's Day event held in Coop-City by Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and Councilman Andy King. Unfortunately Congressman Engel had to fly back to Washington to do his job, but Senator Bailey and Councilman King were able to entertain the roomful of people from the Coop-City area. Councilman King did most of the talking, but we saw a new side of Senator Bailey as he began his future career as a rapper. While State Senator Bailey has on his staff the former Dancing District Leader of the 80^th A.D., the senator will now be known as Senator Jamaal “The Rapper” Bailey.

Above - Councilman Andy King was the host of this event. Here he welcomes State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and asks the senator to do his thing.

Below - He looked like a natural when he began rapping, as you can see by Councilman King getting down to the beat. He may have the Former Dancing District Leader, but Senator Jamaal Bailey will now be known as the 'Rapping Senator'.