Monday, April 22, 2019

Rally Against Men's Shelter in Parkchester Area


WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Councilman, Rubén Díaz Sr.
Bronx County, New York

Rally Against Shelter in Parkchester Area 
 
I’m inviting everyone to join me next Monday, April 29th @ 6pm at 2008 Westchester Ave to rally against a proposed single men’s shelter. The proposed shelter will be located in close proximity of two schools and a library.

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Bronx Park East Easter Egg Hunt



  This was the thirteenth year of the Bronx Park East Easter Egg Hunt, and 8,200 plastic Easter eggs were placed in a roped off area for hundreds of children to gather with a couple having special prizes inside of them. Three lucky children would find either a one-hundred dollar bill, a fifty dollar bill, or a twenty and a five dollar bills inside the Easter eggs they picked up. 

  The event this year was being sponsored by the Everlasting Church and Full Element Martial Arts of nearby Brady Avenue. Full Element Martial Arts owner Michael Simmons said this is a community event for the children of the neighborhood. He added that over four-hundred people had signed up their child(children) for the event on line. The weather was cloudy with a chance of showers, but it certainly looked like all four-hundred children were on hand to find the lucky Easter eggs. 


Above - Jordan Sakleda of the Everlasting Church says a prayer for the Easter day, as Michael Simmons owner of Full Element Martial Arts stands by to let the children go hunt for Easter eggs. 
Below - The children grab up the Easter eggs that were put out to be collected.




Above - Was one of the lucky Money Easter eggs here?
Below - Full Element Martial Arts owner Michael Simmons is with the three lucky children who found the three Money Easter Eggs. (L - R) Atdatte Gjocaj who found the egg with twenty-five dollars in it, Christan Booker who found the egg with a one-hundred dollar bill in it, and Zhyla Landy who found the egg with a fifty dollar bill in it.   


Spring Planting By Friends of Mosholu Parkland



  Friends of Mosholu Parkland President Elizabeth Quaranta looks over the supply of plants, soil, and mulch that were left to be planted. Twenty-five volunteers came to help plant and clean the area, with help from Mike Mullaley of Partnership For Parks.


Above - Top soil is placed in the garden with a pile of mulch to be placed on the top.
Below - After more bushes were planted, top soil and mulch added the finished product is a beautiful garden.




The afternoon of planting is over, and even the tree pots were spruced up.

Spring Break with BRAC


Bronx River Art Center
1087 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx, NY 10460
BronxRiverArt.org  (718) 589-5819

Spring Break with BRAC

We will be OPEN the whole week with
One-Day Workshops from 11:00am-1:00pm April 22-25
with Supervised Art Time afterwards and 
Regular Afternoon Classes from 4:30pm-6:30pm
 Click the Button Below to Register for 
Spring Break Workshops

Special Screening event of Student Digital Animations and Photography on Friday, April 26 from 11-1pm
followed by the Documentary Film

Afterwards all are invited to join our
 
Dance Party featuring Masks by 
Seniors and Students from 
Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr. District 18 
in Soundview at the 
Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community Center
1000 Rosedale Ave at 3:00pm!


Upcoming Events From Councilman Mark Gjonaj













Sign the Petition Against the Morris Park Avenue Road Diet Plan
Please support our local businesses and community by signing a petition and voicing your opposition to the proposed Road Diet Plan for the Morris Park Avenue Commercial Corridor and the main artery for many hospitals in our District.

Please visit or call our offices with any issues or concerns. To better serve you, we are open Monday-Friday from 8AM-6PM.
District Office
1478 Williamsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10461
P: 718-931-1721
F: 718-931-1605
Legislative Office
250 Broadway Suite 1847
New York, NY 10007
P: 212-788-7375
F: 212-442-2724
For information on our local community board meetings:

For information on our local Precinct Community Board meetings:

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Governor Cuomo Announces Creation of Task Force to Train Technicians for Jobs in the Auto Industry


Excelsior Automotive Technician Task Force Will Develop Educational Programs to Train Workers for Specific Car Manufacturers

Image result for photo governor andrew cuomo at the opening of the New York International Auto Show From the governor's office
  During the opening of the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center in Manhattan New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the creation of a new task force that will develop programs for training auto technicians and enabling participants to directly transition into the industry. 

"One of the things we're going to do here in this state is change our education system, where the State University of New York is going to offer specialized training in tandem with the manufacturers so that you can go to school and come out as a Nissan-certified technician or a Honda-certified technician or a BMW technician," Governor Cuomo said. "We have over 75,000 technician jobs that are good jobs, high-paying jobs, and we want to educate New Yorkers for those jobs right here in New York. This new task force will set us on that path." 

Many current vocational programs offer a generalized technician program, however training that is more specific offers benefits to both students and companies. Typically, auto manufacturers require a unique training program to teach prospective technicians how to work on their vehicles. This work is currently happening at several SUNY schools where they are working with automotive companies like Subaru, Tesla and Toyota.

We have over 75,000 technician jobs that are good jobs, high-paying jobs, and we want to educate New Yorkers for those jobs right here in New York. This new task force will set us on that path said Governor Cuomo.

The Task Force will convene stakeholders from the automotive, labor, manufacturing and academic arenas to address the following areas in the marketplace:
  • Improve the current automotive technician curricula at the secondary and higher education levels to ensure it is keeping pace with technology;
  • Identify and improve current training models and facilities to ensure they reflect modern workforce needs;
  • Replicate and scale best practices and educational models to reach dealers and potential technicians in online space;
  • Develop and implement professional development programs for teachers and college professors to ensure they are aligned with market needs;
  • Create new veteran and women specific campaigns to broaden the diversity of the workforce;
  • Develop and invest in new re-training programs and apprenticeships to enable new and older workers to continue their careers; and
  • Explore options with correctional institutions to create an automotive technician reentry program.

Castle Hill Little League Easter Bash



President Christina Martinez of The Castle Hill Little League (with the Bunny Ears) and two of her officers from the organization. 

  The rain already stopped as the Castle Hill Little League Easter Bash began. It was inside the Gym of the Holy Cross School on Castle Hill Avenue where 100 children came to get a face tattoo, Easter photo, watch a magic show, and receive a basket full of fun from the Easter Bunny.  


Above - Gianna Maldonado gets her face tattoo put on.
Below - Tristan Diaz shows off his completed face tattoo.




Above - There was a magic show for the children.
Below - The Magician makes a bird appear in front of the children.




The Easter Bunny was on hand to help give each child a basket filled with fun.

Easter Bunny Visits Allerton Avenue



  The Easter Bunny was spotted on Allerton Avenue today in front of the Sanz located at 815 Allerton Avenue. With the Easter Bunny were the PS 89 Panther girls, local businesses and residents, and officers from the 49th Precinct to make sure the Easter Bunny was safe from those looking to have him for supper. 


Above - This Easter Bunny wanted to stay real close to officer Hernandez from the 49th Precinct.
Below - The Easter Bunny checks to see how he came out in the selfie.




Above - A group photo of the Easter Bunny, PS 89 Panther Girls, and the two NCO officers from the 49th Precinct.
Below - Even Grace Lovig felt like a kid again getting her picture with the Easter Bunny.