Riverdale’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper! Volume XX • Number 15 • April 11 - 17, 2013 • FREE! The case of the missing trees: Fieldston is now ‘Stump City’ By HAYDEE CAMACHO Some streets in the Fieldston area are suddenly looking a bit sunnier these days or more sparse, depending on your point of view. A tree removal program has been underway on 250 th Street between Waldo and Goodridge Avenue. The removal was based on a study conducted by Paul Cowie and Associates, the arborist and urban forestry firm which has managed the tree care program for the Fieldston Property Owners Association for 14 years. They have been evaluating trees in the area since a storm in March, 2010 resulted in severe property damage and power loss due to the collapse of ten trees. The study found that many of the trees had severe root decay. In addition, some trees had already been partially uprooted by Hurricane Sandy and previous storms. “Unfortunately, trees don’t live forever,” said Paul Cowie, owner of the arborist firm. “The trees that were removed had lived out their service life. Some were 90 years old. They have a fixed life span and New York City has all kinds of environmental pressures.” Based on the firm’s findings, Cowie said that the Board of Di- rectors of the Fieldston Property Owners Association came to the decision to embark on a three- year plan to remove about 45 weakened trees and replace them with the same trees, red oaks. The plan is in the second year. “You just have to think about the safety of the residents and all the people going through Fieldston.” Councilman Oliver Koppell saw the removal of 9 trees on his street. “It’s unfortunate, but they (FPOA) said it had to be done,” he said. “We had all these beautiful trees which are a feature of our Fieldston community and now they’re gone. My neighbors have complained to me.” “The trees are problematic,” said 15-year Fieldston resident Annette Fitzgerald. She remarked that trees have fallen on her property as well as on neighbor’s homes and cars causing severe property damage. She also had a bad fall one evening walking home from work when she tripped over a raised tree trunk that had been obscured by fallen leaves. “The trees are great in the summer, but whenever it’s windy I’m afraid because a lot of these trees are very fragile.” For now, Cowie says some of the streets look the way they did in photographs taken in 1910 after the homes were built. He doesn’t see a detrimental effect on prop- erty values. “You have to think of this as temporary,” he said. “The trees we replaced will grow up. You can get to a point where your property values drop if you’re not maintaining the community.”
Transcript
Riverdale’s ONLYLocally Owned
Newspaper!
Volume XX • Number 15 • April 11 - 17, 2013 • FREE!
The case of the missing trees:Fieldston is now ‘Stump City’
By HAYDEE CAMACHOSome streets in the Fieldston area are suddenly looking
a bit sunnier these days or more sparse, depending on your point of view. A tree removal program has been underway on 250th Street between Waldo and Goodridge Avenue. The removal was based on a study conducted by Paul Cowie and Associates, the arborist and urban forestry firm which has managed the tree care program for the Fieldston Property Owners Association for 14 years. They have been evaluating trees in the area since a storm in March, 2010 resulted in severe property damage and power loss due to the collapse of ten trees.
The study found that many of the trees had severe root decay. In addition, some trees had already been partially uprooted by Hurricane Sandy and previous storms. “Unfortunately, trees don’t live forever,” said Paul Cowie, owner of the arborist firm. “The trees that were removed had lived out their service life. Some were 90 years old. They have a fixed life span and New York City has all kinds of environmental pressures.”
Based on the firm’s findings, Cowie said that the Board of Di-rectors of the Fieldston Property Owners Association came to the decision to embark on a three-year plan to remove about 45 weakened trees and replace them with the same trees, red oaks. The plan is in the second year. “You just have to think about the safety of the residents and all the people going through Fieldston.”
Councilman Oliver Koppell saw the removal of 9 trees on his street. “It’s unfortunate, but they (FPOA) said it had to be done,” he said. “We had all these beautiful trees
which are a feature of our Fieldston community and now they’re gone. My neighbors have complained to me.”
“The trees are problematic,” said 15-year Fieldston resident Annette Fitzgerald. She remarked that trees have fallen on her property as well as on neighbor’s homes and cars causing severe property damage. She also had a bad fall one evening walking home from work when she tripped over a raised tree trunk that had been obscured by fallen leaves. “The trees are great in the summer, but whenever it’s windy I’m afraid because a lot of these trees are very fragile.”
For now, Cowie says some of the streets look the way they did in photographs taken in 1910 after the homes were built. He doesn’t see a detrimental effect on prop-erty values. “You have to think of this as temporary,” he said. “The trees we replaced will grow up. You can get to a point where your property values drop if you’re not maintaining the community.”
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2 Ben Franklin Club hears candidates
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By MICHELLE DePINHOA packed Benjamin Franklin Reform
Clubhouse held a meeting last night host-ing Scott Stringer, the current Manhattan Borough President and Democratic candi-date for Comptroller, and the four Dem-ocratic candidates for Public Advocate: former Deputy Public Advocate Reshma Saujani, State Sen. Daniel Squadron, Ms. Guerriero and Brooklyn Councilwoman Leticia James. The Democratic club also voted to officially endorse Stringer for Comptroller.
Stringer is running unopposed for the office of Comptroller and addressed the members of the club before their en-dorsement vote. Stringer’s parents live in Riverdale and described the evening “like coming home,” he said.
“This office has never been more con-sequential as it is today,” he said. “Tough decisions are gonna have to be made.” For Stringer, these include leveraging the pension fund to best serve the people, creating affordable housing, protecting the environment, improving education and defending the middle class.
“I wanna be the comptroller to level the playing field,” Stringer said.
Last week Stringer issued a statement giving MSG only 10 more years before it must relocate, as Stringer believes Penn Station’s focus should be on improving transportation into New York. When asked about it, he was direct. “I just told Madison Square Garden that they have to come back for a 10 year renewal,” he said. “I don’t pay to play. I say no to de-velopment projects.”
He also called for government to work for the future, “where the city’s gonna be 10, 20 years from now,” he said. “It’s about the kids we’re never gonna meet and never gonna know.”
With this same future focus, he dis-cussed the aged technology within city government. Stringer called the bureaus within the comptroller’s office “silos” that need up-to-date computer technology to centralize and streamline the office’s work.
Public Advocate candidate Reshma Saujani also centered her discussion on the transformative power of technology, particularly within educating girls and underprivileged students.
“There is a huge difference between the 99 percent and the 1 percent,” Saujani said. “I wanna make sure technology is raising people up from poverty,” she later commented.
The former Deputy Public Advocate cited her experience, both in the office and as the child of Ugandan political refugees, to identify with the community she hopes to serve. If elected, she will be the first South Asian elected to New York City public office.
“I am probably the only person [here] who has experience in this office,” she said. Her work includes forming the DREAM fellowship that helps undocu-mented students reach college and her research in small businesses, work that President Obama personally praised.
Saujani is one of the fundraising front-runners for the seat of Public Advocate, closely matched by the campaign of Sen. Daniel Squadron. However, Squadron claimed that he is the “only candidate in this race who doesn’t take corporation or PAC money”.
The Riverdale native and only male candidate attended The Fieldston School while his father was an active Jewish community leader. “I grew up in a family where public service is what we talked about around the table,” he said.
After college, he moved to Brooklyn, where he and his young family now reside. “We love raising our son here,” he said.
Like Saujani, Squadron cited his im-migrant roots and believes his family’s success “is getting all too rare.” He argued government should offer effective services
and honesty to all families, immigrants or not.
His emphasis on government trans-parency comes a day after he called on State Sen. Malcolm Smith to resign after allegations of political bribery.
Squadron also pushed for transpor-tation improvements, resonating with Stringer’s previous statements. “It’s criti-cally important,” Squadron said.
Next was Cathy Guerriero, the political newcomer and Columbia professor, who shook up the meeting with her powerful and direct statements. “I know how to do this and how to get things done,” she said. “We haven’t had anyone know how to do this job in its fullest muscularity.”
Interesting moments in her address included slamming Mayor Bloomberg, calling his administration “abysmal”, as well directly endorsing Bill Thompson
Continued on Page 9
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ril 11, 20133Stanton loses key union nod
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BY KIMBERLEY HYATTAndrew Cohen, the “preferred choice”
of 11 important Labor Unions, has nabbed the support of Healthcare Union 1199 SEIU. Representing Healthcare workers through-out New York State, the powerhouse union is endorsing Cohen in his race for Oliver Koppell’s seat in the New York City Council.
In the 2009 election, Local 1199 backed Anthony Perez Cassino for the seat over incumbent Oliver Koppell. The fact that Cassino’s close ally, Clifford Stanton, was denied the nod by the union is seen as a significant setback for Stanton’s faltering candidacy. The pro-censorship Stanton effort has yet to win the support of any labor organization or public official.
1199 SEIU is the sixth Union to back Cohen, joining the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), 32BJ SEIU, UFCW Local 1500, the Detective’s Endowment Association (DEA), and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. As of now, this means Cohen has nabbed the support of every Union endorsing this race thus far.
President George Gresham praised the Attorney candidate in a Press Release Mon-day, April 8. “Andrew has an impressive resume and a proven record of success in the community. We are certain that he will be a strong, progressive voice in the Council that will fight for quality health-care and good jobs for every hardworking New Yorker.”, he says. . “Because of his core values and his commitment to the working men and women of this city, 1199 SEIU has unanimously decided to endorse Andrew Cohen’s candidacy for City Council in the 11th district.”
Union 1199 is a “powerful ally” indeed. It is the largest and fastest-growing Union in not just New York, but the entire Unit-ed States, with over 350,000 nurses and caregivers. A strong and leading voice in the City’s progressive’s issues; the Union’s
mission is to “achieve quality healthcare and good jobs for all working people.” It has fought for access and funding to afford-able healthcare, minimum rage, paid sick leave, as well as civil and workers’ rights.
The Union’s membership is also a group of passionate individuals. The Press Release highlights their hard work, stating they are “well-known for having some of the most politically active residents in the city, who devote countless hours to door-knocking, phone banking and other activities on behalf of their chosen candidates to ensure victory.” Andy Cohen must be all smiles, putting a feather in his cap.
Cohen, of course, recognizes the en-dorsement as a two way street, saying “The health care industry is the largest employer in Bronx County, and I will work with 1199 SEIU to create more jobs and to improve access to affordable healthcare.”
Nonetheless he praises both himself and the newfound partnership. “This endorse-ment is an affirmation of my commitment to the hard working people of the 11th Council District,” Cohen argues. “This is not just the endorsement of a union but also of a significant constituency within the district. They are part the grass roots coalition of community leaders, elected officials and labor organizations supporting my campaign, and I am honored to have their support.”
In a phone interview with the Riverdale Review and via email, Cohen supporter Jeffrey Dinowitz commented on the endorsement, saying, “This is a huge endorsement. 1199 is not only a political powerhouse, but they rep-resent the best aspects of the labor movement. They fight for worker's rights and they fight for the best possible healthcare system. Their support of Andrew Cohen for City Council is a demonstration of their confidence in him to be an effective advocate and leader for working men and women in the ongoing battle for affordable healthcare."
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18th, P.S 24’s third, fourth, and fifth graders take the New York State ELA exam. Best of luck to all the students; don’t forget to eat a healthy breakfast!
Also on Thursday, April 18, Ms. Borak’s third grade class is going to the Metro-politan Museum of Art for a field trip. Ms. Kim, Ms. Doherty, Ms. Kron, and Ms. Keha-yas/Ms. Ruprich’s first graders will be visiting the Modern Museum of Art as well.
Ms. Tripeau, Ms. Kourkoumelis, and Ms. Roth’s first grad-ers won’t be missing out on all the fun, though. They will be visiting the Museum of Modern Art on Friday, April 26. That same day, first and second graders will be visiting the Avery Fisher Hall Little Orchestra Society.
Another big exam coming up for the third to fifth graders: the NYS Math Exam will be from Wednesday, April 24 to Fri-day, April 26.
P.S 81Rehearsals for “P.S. 81 Presents...A Fam-
ily Affair”, the annual Children’s show, begin this week. Over 100 kids will be participating, and the show will run the second week of June.
This Saturday, April 13, the school will be having a “Parent’s Night Out” at Kelly Ryans Bar and Grill between the hours of 7:00pm and 11:00pm. There will be a cover charge of 5 dollars per person at the door, with all proceeds going to P.S 81’s Parent’s Association.
The next Parent’s Association will be Wednesday June 10, at 7 pm in the Caf-eteria. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting.
St. Margaret of CortonaSt. Margaret’s is hosting its annual
Spring Fundraiser on Saturday, April 13, starting at 6 pm. This year, the “Jackpot Extravaganza” will be bringing the theme and excitement of Las Vegas right to Riv-erdale. There will be Vegas style games of Texas Hold Em', Roulette, Craps, and Blackjack. All winnings will be in the form of raffle tickets, which will be used for a chance to win prizes. The exciting prizes include an iPad Mini, Yankee tickets, an LED TV and much more!
Tickets are 100 dollars for two people, which include dinner and drinks, as well as 100 dollars’ worth of complimentary chips. The proceeds made at this festival will directly benefit the school’s students. Riverdale Residents, get ready for great weather, a night of fun, and support your local school students!
For information on how to get tickets, contact the school at 718- 549-8580.
Horace MannLewin Kim’s essay "The Tea Ceremony"
has been selected for a Merit Award for the 8th Japan Center Essay Competition at Stony Brook University. A Japanese
Honors Class student at Horace Mann, he received an award certifi-cate for his essay, as well as a check for 200 dollars at the awards ceremony Saturday, April 6th, at Stony Brook University. Out of 168 entrants,
his essay was one of just 8 commended. Congratulations, Lewin Kim!
Riverdale CountryOn Friday, April 12, Riverdale Country
High School’s get away from classes for the day to attend the “One World Day” event. They will be spending the day doing activities and attending assemblies that correspond to this year’s theme: Societal Heroes. The mission of the theme is to find inspiring characteristics in the past and present heroes, and teach the students how to apply the best of those character-istics within themselves. Other goals for the day include learning from not only the Heroes’ achievements, but their mistakes as well. The school also wants to come up with a definition for what it means to be a hero, and how different cultures and different people define the word “hero.”
Local ScholarsMichaela N. Ritz, a Riverdale resident
who attends the Bronx High School of Sci-ence, is one of this year’s National Achieve-ment Scholarship winners. Under the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Achievement Scholarship pro-gram was established in 1964 to recognize outstanding black high school students. Winners are selected for their abilities, skills and accomplishments, regardless of financial circumstances or college choices. More than $2 million in scholarships from 34 corporate organizations and professional associations was awarded to 800 students this year. More than 160,000 students submitted applications. Additional cor-porate-funded scholarships are reserved for corporation employees’ children or for students pursuing selected college majors.
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By HAYDEE CAMACHO“Those are the twin lions resting in
peace,” said teen patron D.J. Hogan as he studied the recently installed marble pair of sleeping lions gracing the entrance of the Riverdale Library. Or you can just call them the more laid back cousins of Patience and Fortitude, the renowned pair of marble lions that guard the Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street library. The lions appeared near the end of January and have received much attention as a result of a naming contest the library is sponsoring, leading to an article in The New York Times.
“In the third week of January I got an e-mail from my supervisor saying there was this pair of lions available from the Loew’s Regency Hotel in Manhattan which was being renovated,” said library manager Rebecca Brown-Barbier. The lion sculptures, weighing 900 pounds each, arrived within the week. Brown-Barbier noted that one of the lions “magically appeared overnight,” and the other fol-lowed suit a few days later. They delight children and adult patrons, as well as staff. “Patrons ask me, ‘What did we do to deserve these lions?’ she said with a smile.
The library staff has received many comments and theories from the children about the lion’s lazy appearance. “Chil-dren have remarked that lions are more active at night and that they are males because male lions sleep more,” said Brown-Barbier.
Brown-Barbier said the naming contest has re-ceived an equal amount of interest from both adults and children. Participants
can fill out a form at the library with their suggested names or they can post them on the NYPL Facebook page. The Riverdale library staff has received 300 suggestions and will submit their 25 favorite sets of names to Anthony W. Marx, president and CEO of The New York Public Library, who will make the final decision. The names range from popular choices River and Dale, Simba and Mufasa, to pop culture icons Will and Grace, and information age revolutionaries, Gutenburg and Google.
Connie Ortiz has lived in Riverdale for 33 years and was a frequent visitor to the library when her daughter was a child. She stopped into the Riverdale Library on Saturday, April 6th after attending the Riverdale Little League parade with her daughter and grandchildren and was pleasantly surprised. “They are beauti-ful. It’s wonderful to have them here in Riverdale,” she said of the lions.
The winning names will be revealed at a naming celebration at the library on April 12th at 3:30. The event will feature a musical performance by children’s per-formers Presley and Melody.
More area families have found that when you plan in advance at FerncliffCemetery in Hartsdale, you can make those important decisions together,save money by freezing the costs, safeguard savings and life insurance, andensure that your wishes are known. Plus, you can even make convenientmonthly payments. For more information or to schedule a personal tour of ourbeautiful cemetery, you can visit our website at ferncliffcemetery.com, send usan email [email protected], or give us a call. Ferncliff – WhereMemories Live Forever.
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CSAIR to discuss the Gospel of Matthew
Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) will present 'Aspects of the Hebrew Bible in the Gospel of Mat-thew' on Thursdays, April 11, 18, and 25 at 7:45 pm.
How are concepts of Exodus, Sinai, Temple and kingship in the Hebrew Bible re-used and reinterpreted in the Gospel of Matthew? Why are episodes in the ministry of Jesus so similar to those of Moses, Elijah and Elisha? How do Jews and Christians read the Bible differently?
This course, which will be co-taught by Dr. Diane Sharon of Academy for Jewish Religion and Dr. Claudia Setzer of Manhattan College, will explore concepts that are established and elaborated within the Hebrew Bible and the ways they are re-used and transformed in the Christian Scriptures.
Participants are asked to bring a com-plete text of the Bible to each class. (The most recent translation of the Tanakh by the Jewish Publication Society is rec-ommended.)
For more information on this program - which is free and open to all - as well as other adult education opportunities at CSAIR, call the Synagogue office at 718-543-8400 or visit the synagogue website, www.csair.org.
CSAIR is located at 475 West 250th Street at the Henry Hudson Parkway.
Annual flea market at Schervier Apartments
Tenants at the Schervier Apartments, 2995 Independence Avenue, Bronx NY 10463 are having their Annual Flea Market on Thursday, April 11, 2013 from 10am to 4pm in the Schervier Apartments Commu-nity Room located on the Ground Floor. All are welcome to attend.
Tenants donate lots of great things, including kitchen items, clothing, coats, jewelry, accessories, household décor, and more. Donations are also accepted from the community, as long as the items are clean and in working condition. Tenants price the items at super discounts, and all proceeds go toward tenant activities.
Spring rummage sale at Christ Church
An exciting spring rummage sale will be held at Christ Church Riverdale on Saturday April 13th. Hours are 10-3 in the Parish Hall at 5030 Henry Hudson Parkway at 252nd Street.
cords, CDs, DVDs, china, flatware, small appliances,electronics, linens, books, stemware, flatware, handbags, and acces-sories will be available for sale. Gardening supplies and plants will also be offered for sale.
Come and enjoy refreshments and a light lunch while you shop. Everyone is welcome.
Christ Church Riverdale is an Episcopal Church serving the community since 1866 and is a registered national landmark. Street parking is readily available.
For more information, call 718 543 1011 or visit www.christchurchriverdale.org.
Canine Court to celebrate 15th anniversary
The Friends of Canine Court and Bash Dibra are pleased to announce that Canine Court, located in Van Cortlandt Park, Riverdale,The Bronx, will be celebrating its 15th anniversary on April 14th, 2013. Since that time thousands of dogs have brought their owners to the 14,000 square foot fenced in playground to frolic on the obstacle/agility course with hurdles, hoops, see-saws, slides, tunnels, crawl spaces and self-contained “free play” area.
Since it’s inception, Canine Court’s celebrity status as the World’s First Dog Playground has garnered world-wide attention, attracting visitors from all across the U.S. as well as the globe-in-spiring many to follow in Canine Court’s historic paw prints and to replicate both the playground and it’s commitment to responsible pet ownership in their own communities.
Canine Court’s 15th Anniversary will
be celebrated on May 4th, 2013 at the upcoming Fitness With Fido Dog Walk. Bash invites dog owners and their pets to “take a walk in the park” and help us celebrate Canine Court’s Anniversary. Proceeds from Fitness With Fido will go towards the upkeep of Canine Court dog playground. Canine Court is also in the process of being renovated funds are needed,please donate.
Service to celebrate Israel's Independence Day
This Friday, April 12th at 7:30 p.m. Congregation Shaarei Shalom's Shabbat evening service will be enhanced with special music to mark Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day.
This celebratory service will be led by Rabbi Steven D. Burton and Cantor Ronald J. Broden. Rabbi Burton will speak about Israel on this sixty-fifth anniversary of its founding. Cantor Broden will play his guitar and lead the congregation in song as this especially joyful and participatory service will be infused with the sounds of Israel.
The service will be conducted in the congregation's sanctuary at 5919 Riverdale Avenue. The community is warmly invited to Join the Experience!
Congregation Shaarei Shalom is a Reform Jewish synagogue. It offers a contemporary and participatory worship experience and prides itself on its inclu-siveness of all members of the Riverdale community, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, race, age, or creed. It is dedicated to embracing the diversity within the Reform Jewish movement.
For further information about the congregation, this service, membership, its Religious School, or any of the many adult program offerings, please contact the congregation at (718) 796-0305, e-mail the congregation at: [email protected] or visit its website at www.shaareishalomriverdale.org
Spring events at Lehman Gallery
Lehman College Art Gallery, located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, N.Y. 10468-1589, announces the follow-ing upcoming events:
Cartography and Communication: Telling the Story with Maps - A Talk By Prof. Juliana Maantay, Tuesday, April 23rd, 5:30 - 7:00pm. Followed by tour of the exhibition with the curators.
Meet the Artists with Doug Beube, Lisa Corinne Davis, and Dahlia Elsayed. A gallery talk in collaboration with the City and Humanities Program. Thursday, May 9th, 12.30pm
Family Focus. Introduce your family to art with a guided look at our exhibition and a hands-on studio activity. Saturday, April 27th, 10:30 - 11:30am and Saturday, May 4th, 10:30 - 11:30am
Gallery Talks. Thursday, April 11th, 12:30pm and Tuesday, May 7th, 12:00pm
Currently on View: Contemporary Cartographies
through May 11th. Featuring works of Kevin Van Aelst, Isabel Barbuzza, Doug Beube, Gail Biederman, Margaret Cu-sack, Sage Dawson, Lisa Corinne Davis, Dahlia Elsayed, Charley Friedman, Wopo Holup, Meridith McNeal, Steven Millar, Simonetta Moro, Paula Scher, Karen Shaw, and Dannielle Tegeder. Curated by Susan Hoeltzel and Yuneikys Villalonga
Gallery hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. For more information, call 718-960-8731 or visit www.lehman.edu/gallery
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Jewish Culture series · 2012-2013sunday, april 14, 2013 | 2:00pm
A Celebration of the Life and Works of Bronx Native Author, Chaim Grade
SPEAKERSRabbi Judith Lewis, Riverdale Temple
Jonathan Brent, YIVO Executive DirectorCurt Leviant, Grade translator and personal friend
$5 suggested contribution at the door. Reservations are recommended. www.yivo.org/reservations | 212.294.6127.
“The work of Chaim Grade, by its vision and scope, establishes him as one of the greatest — if not the greatest — of contemporary Yiddish novelists. Surely he is the most authentic.”
— EliE WiEsEl, The New York Times Book Review
Chaim GradE, 1978
Thursday, April 11RiverdaleFLEA MARKET10 a.m. Schervier Apartments2995 Independence Avenue
Tenants at the Schervier Apartments are having their Annual Flea Market at the Community Room located on the Ground Floor. All are welcome to attend.
Friday, April 12KingsbridgeSTAY WELL EXERCISE10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library291 West 231st Street
Stay Well volunteers certified by the NYC’s Department for the Aging will lead participants in a well-balanced series of exercises for seniors of all ability levels. Please wear loose comfortable clothing. Exercise equipment will be provided. Those participating in the exercises must sign an activity release form. For more information, call 718-548-5656.
Saturday, April 13RiverdaleRUMMAGE SALE10 a.m. Christ Church Riverdale5030 Henry Hudson Parkway
Vintage Jewelry, toys, children’s and adults’ clothes, sports equipment , records, CDs, DVDs, china, flatware, small appli-ances,electronics, linens, books, stemware, flatware, handbags, and accessories will be available for sale. Gardening supplies and plants will also be offered for sale. For more information, call 718 543 1011 or visit www.christchurchriverdale.org.
Spuyten DuyvilDISCUSSION2 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 West 235th Street
An American in Japan. Lucia Brea will give a talk describing her observations & experience while living & teaching in rural Japan from 2008 until 2012, She was the only non-Japanese English teacher at many schools, and she also traveled during this time. Unexpectedly she also found herself in the middle of the Tsunami. The presentation will include slides as well. For more information, call 718-796-1202.
Sunday, April 14RiverdaleDOG BOWL9 a.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA5625 Arlington Avenue
Lots of games, toys, lectures, prizes and brunch for your family and dog. There will be a photographer on hand for pictures with your dog. Admission to the event is $18 for one adult and one dog. Anyone who loves animals is welcomed to join the party. For more information contact Cynthia Galik at 718-548-8200, ext. 218.
RiverdaleSPECIAL MASS12 p.m. St. Gabriel’s Church3250 Arlington Avenue
Saint Gabriel’s Prison Ministry will be sponsoring a Special Mass for Victims of Crime. Members of the community are invited to attend. Light refreshments to follow the Mass. For more information, call 718-548-4470.
This event will celebrate the awarding of the personal papers and library of the esteemed Yiddish author Chaim Grade to the YIVO and the National Library of Israel. A reception follows the formal program and is open to all attendees. There is a $5.00 suggested contribution at the door.
RJC Women is presenting the documentary “Rape of Europa.” Light refreshments. Minimum donation $2.00. For more information, call Miriam Hering at 718-884-9494.
Monday, April 15RiverdaleYOM HAZIKARON/YOM HAATZMAUT7 p.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel475 West 250th Street
CSAIR will observe Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day). As Yom Hazikaron ends, Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) begins and participants will celebrate with singing and light Israeli refreshments. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 718- 543-8400.
KingsbridgeCB8 MEETING7:30 p.m. Manhattanville Health Care Center
311 West 231st StreetMeeting of the Health, Hospitals & Social Services Commit-
tee of Community Board 8. For more info, call 718-884-3959.
Commemoration event in honor of Yom Hashoah, or Ho-locaust Remembrance Day. Undergraduates will commemorate Holocaust survivor Lily Margules with stories and other readings extracted from Elie Wiessel’s Night and Primo Levil’s “Survival.” For more information about the HGI events, contact Mehnaz Afridi at (718) 862-7284 or [email protected].
RiverdaleDISCUSSION ON ISRAEL7 p.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA5625 Arlington Avenue
Julian Resnick will lead a discussion on ‘Israel: All you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.’ For info, call 718-548-8200, ext. 200.
RiverdaleCB8 MEETING7:30 p.m. Community Board 85676 Riverdale Avenue
Meeting of the Traffic & Transportation Committee of Community Board 8. For more information, call 718-884-3959.
Wednesday, April 17Spuyten DuyvilARTHRITIS BASICS10 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 West 235th Street
This one hour talk covers the basics of arthritis, exercise, diet, types of medications & alternative therapies. All this is covered. Please call to register for lecture. For info, call 718-796-1202.
KingsbridgeSTORYTELLING WORKSHOP11 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library291 West 231st Street
Join in for a ten week memoir and storytelling workshop, lead by teaching artists Lauren Jost and Annie Montgomery. This free workshop is open to adults 55+ and will include nine instructional sessions and a culminating event. For info, call 718-548-5656.
RiverdaleBRANDEIS GROUP CARD PARTY12:30 p.m. Riverdale TempleWest 246th St. & Independence Ave.
The Riverdale Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee will meet. Senior Educator Leslie Hurdle of the New York Historical Society will present the program, its topic being “New York’s First Museum, Featuring Extraodinary Works of Art and Historical Objects and Documents”.
RiverdaleAARP MEETING12:30 p.m. Riverdale Presbyterian Church4765 Henry Hudson Pkwy. West
Riverdale Chapter 1546 of AARP will meet. Entertainment by Al Smith. Refreshments will be served. For info, call Manfred Segal at 718-549-0088.
RiverdaleCB8 MEETING7 p.m. Community Board 85676 Riverdale Avenue
Meeting of the Environment & Sanitation Committee of Community Board 8. For more info, call 718-884-3959.
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from the North Riverdale Dan Hanley Little League participated in cutting the ribbon for the renovated Sid Augarten Ballfield on April 6. Sid Augarten’s widow Mrs. Lenore Siegel, NYC Park Bronx Bor-ough Commissioner Hector Aponte, City Comptroller John Liu, City Council Mem-ber G. Oliver Koppell, Congress Member Eliot Engel, State Senator Jeffrey Klein and State Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and former NRBL Umpire in Chief Dan Hanley all spoke at the reopening.
This field, a part of Vinmont Veteran Park, honors Sid Augarten (1928-1971), who served as a league commissioner and president of the North Riverdale Baseball League for ten years.
“This $1.7 million reconstruction of the Sid Augarten Ballfield was funded with allocations of $1 million from Council Member Koppell, $610,000 from Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and $100,000
North Riverdale Baseball League’s Sid Augarten Ballfield reopenedfrom Mayor Bloomberg,” said Parks and Recreation Department spokesperson Arthur Pincus.
NRBL President John Ward led the league’s traditional Opening Day Parade with an extra bounce in his step.“ Lou Gehrig is smiling down at us. He founded this league back in 1940. This is our 60th continuous season of play in the William-sport Little League organization.”
“We’ve been working with the Com-munity Board, the City and our elected officials for almost ten years to bring this field to acceptable safety standards,” said Ward. “ We thank all these people for these long overdue improvements.”
“It took a long time for it to happen, but the field looks terrific now,” Com-munity Board #8 Parks Committee Chair Bob Bender, a former NRBL manager and coach, told the crowd. “There's nothing to compare to opening day of the season on a new ballfield.”
Improved drainage and a new water supply infrastructure were included. “This was the most important part of the project,” John Ward noted. The project also produced a reconstructed natural turf ballfield with new entry gates and fencing, accessible seating, dugouts and backstop, drinking fountains, site furni-ture and pavement.
NRBL Player Agent Maureen Kelly remarked, ”We hope all our neighbors appreciate the workthe contractors did to Sid Field and will respect the fact that children play here. The league volunteers
will maintain the field, but we cannot be expected to clean up what dog owners refuse to pick up.”
The Parks and Recreation Department’s web site states that Lenore and Sid Au-garten were married in 1952. They raised two children, David and Alan, who both attended P.S. 81 and participated in the North Riverdale Baseball League. On April 4, 1987, City Council Member June M. Eisland and Parks Commissioner Henry Stern named this field for the man who had been so dedicated to the league’s development, according to the web site.
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Kappock: 3 BR, 2 baths, terrace, river views, doorman, beauti-fully renovated.............................................$2900Central Riverdale: Pre-war rental building, 4 BR, 2 1/2 baths, renov, near shopping/transportation .....................$2900Central Riverdale: Pre-war rental building, 2 BR, 2 baths, renovated, near shopping/transpotation ......................$2500Central Riverdale: 2 BR, renov, near shopping/transpotation ....$1900 West of Pkwy: Rental bldg, JR4 w/2nd BR, doorman, near schools and houses of worship ............................... $1500West of Pkwy: 1 BR, renov, near shopping/transpotation .... $1450
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for mayor. Guerrerio, unlike Squadron and Saujani,
has studied and worked in education policy for 20 years. Her main goals are to im-prove education and reinsert parents and students into the education conversation.
Tied into education is her passion for help-ing teachers and other members of unions. “The union conversation in New York is number one,” she said. “You built this city.”
“You keep your hands off my father’s money, you keep your hands off the working class,” Guerrerio said. She cited her working class back-ground, rather than an immigrant background, as the backbone of her public service interests.
Brooklyn Councilwoman Leticia “Tish” James mirrored this working class agenda. “I represent a working class district. I’ve got pock-ets of poverty. I’ve got gun violence,” she said.
The candidate explained that her career devoted
to public service, first as a public defender of youths in the justice system, then as a councilwoman, has allowed her to fight for her community.
In her career, James fiercely opposed the Atlantic Yards project for its lack of transpar-ency and community involvement. “Nobody wanted a basketball arena,” she said. “It took homes from individuals. We had to fight.” These sentiments mirrored Squadron’s pre-vious call for government transparency and Stringer’s view on developments.
She was also the only candidate to discuss LGBQT issues. “I know what it’s like to be treated differently,” James said. “I stand up for any community that’s marginalized.”
Benjamin Franklin Reform Club members found the forum informative and helpful in the voting process. “They were all very interesting,” said Margie Kane. “I enjoyed listening to the female candidates and hearing their perspectives.
“I thought all of the candidates were excellent,” said Sylvia Lask. “I know that I’ve made up my mind.”
Candidates speakContinued from Page 2
YIDDISH CULTURE IN THE BRONX!Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center
3301 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467 (one block from Montefiore Hospital, corner 208th Street)
917-930-0295 / 718-881-6555Please come to our annual Yiddish Holocaust Program
Zophia ShulmanChildhood Memories of the Warsaw Ghetto
Sunday, April 21, 1:30 PMIn the musical program,
singer Phyllis Berk
Admission: $3.50 • Members: Free D Train to 205th Street 4 Train to Mosholu
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POLICY NOTICE:We make every effort to avoid mistakes in your classified ads. Check your ad the first week it runs. The Riverdale Review will accept responsi-bility ONLY for the FIRST INCORRECT INSERTION. The Riverdale Review assumes no financial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject or reclassify any ad. Copy changes are $10 per change. Contact your sales rep directly for any copy changes. All classified ads are prepaid. No refunds on classified ads whatsoever. House credit only.
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Victims’ Service to be held at St. Gabriel’s Church
Saint Gabriel’s Prison Ministry will be sponsoring a Special Mass for Victims of Crime on Sunday, April 14, at 12 noon. Loved ones’ names for remembrance can be submitted prior to: Sr. Amy McKenna, by phone at 718-548-4471 or by email at [email protected]
Members of the community are invited to attend. Light refreshments to follow the Mass.
Saint Gabriel Parish is located at 3250 Arlington Avenue. For more information, call 718-548-4470.
Riverdale Y to host Dog Bowl
The Riverdale YM-YWHA will host a Dog Bowl on our back deck on Sunday, April 14 from 9:00am-11:00am. Lots of games, toys, lectures, prizes and brunch for your family and dog. There will be a
photographer on hand for pictures with your dog. Admission to the event is $18 for one adult and one dog. Anyone who loves animals is welcomed to join the party.
This event is generously sponsored by Petco and TC Bank. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Dog Run in Van Cortlandt Park . For more infor-mation contact Cynthia Galik
at 718-548-8200, ext. 218. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.
RJC Women to present documentary film
RJC Women is presenting the documen-tary ‘Rape of Europa’ on Sunday, April 14, 2:30 PM. The ‘Rape of Europa’ manages to do what most other documentaries can only dream of accomplishing. It presents multiple moments of both heartbreak and triumph... impeccably researched, consis-tently surprising and always cultivating, it
does what a great documentary should do: it fills us with a renewed sense of outrage.
Light refreshments. Minimum donation $2.00. For more information, call Miriam Hering at 718-884-9494.
Chaim Grade's works to be housed at YIVO
The YIVO Jewish Culture Series, a part-nership with the YIVO Institute of Jewish Research and Riverdale Temple, will feature a special program on Sunday, April 14 at 2pm at the Riverdale Temple located at 4545 Independence Ave. (at 246th Street). This event will celebrate the awarding of the personal papers and library of the es-teemed Yiddish author Chaim Grade to the YIVO and the National Library of Israel.
The program at the Riverdale Temple on the afternoon of April 14th includes remarks by Jonathan Brent, YIVO execu-tive director, a lecture by Professor Curt
Leviant, a personal friend of Chaim Grade and a translator of his works, and speeches by public officials in recognition of the fact that this Bronx based author's works will remain in New York City.
A reception follows the formal program and is open to all attendees. There is a $5.00 suggested contribution at the door.
Riverdale AARP Chapter to meet
Riverdale Chapter 1546 of AARP will meet on Wednesday, April 17th at 12:30 p.m, at the Riverdale Presbyterian Church audito-rium ,4765 Henry Hudson Parkway West.
We will be entertained by Al Smith with his guitar and vocal songs from various hit music. He is a wonderful performer from Lee Perry Music.
The community is invited. Refresh-ments will be served. For more informa-tion call Manfred Segal at l-718-549-0088.
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JOEL PAL CECILIA McNALLY Production Manager Office Manager
ROBERT NILVA Marketing Director Note our new address:
5752 Fieldston RoadBronx, New York 10471
(718) 543-5200FAX: (718) 543-4206
STAFF: Robert Lebowitz, Paulette Schneider, Lloyd Ultan, Daniel R. Wolf
ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher
Mayor Bloomberg, who never tires of lecturing us on how to live our lives, has decided that the recent rash of political scandals can be avoided… if only we just get rid of political parties.
Despite what Mr. Bloomberg believes, government is not just about controlling the size of soda cups, whether we are forced to ride bicy-cles instead of cars or some other intrusion into our personal lives.
What makes government successful is a citizenry that is active, involved and willing to participate in the free marketplace of ideas. That process is called politics, and no man has subverted it more than Michael Bloomberg. Remember how he and his lapdog City Council Speaker Christine Quinn thwarted the public will by changing the rules of the game with regard to term limits?
Among those who have been snagged in the recent spate of scandals was the now former Bronx Republican County Leader Jay Savino. Let’s face it, Bloomberg bought Jay Savino and the Republi-can Party establishment in each of the five boroughs, as well as the Independence Party, a group led by psychotic and racist Marxists, who are always, it seems, for sale to the highest bidder. The mayor did nothing to build the Republican Party in the city on the basis of ideas and advocacy. As demonstrated by the incredibly weak choices that the Democrats are advancing for mayor this year, what we need, more than ever, is a truly competitive and independent political party structure.
What this left us with is a Republican Party ready, willing and able to compromise themselves for pocket change. What we needed was not less politics but more. That means strong political parties backed by independent substance.
That was the kind of Republican Party we used to have in the days of Fiorello LaGuardia, Thomas Dewey, Nelson Rockefeller and Jacob Javits. Rudy Giuliani did bring a point of view, and accomplished great things as mayor, but failed to create a political infrastructure to back him up once he departed City Hall. Thus we were left with just Bloomberg and his bucks.
We need a competitive political system in the post-Bloomberg era, one driven by ideas and not by money.
We’re glad that Savino has stepped down as G.O.P. leader. But the haste to replace him may come back to haunt the party. We know and like new party leader John Greaney. But we question whether he is up to the task of restoring democracy.
A better choice would be Frank Vernuccio, a more cerebral type who might be able to bring some competing ideas on how to govern to the table.
Of course it wasn’t just the Republicans who had a bad week. Two Democratic Assembly Members of the borough’s eleven member delegation have been implicated in another petty payoff scheme. It won’t really matter. Neither man has a public record that would
Corruption? Blame Bloomberg
Continued on Page 15
RMHA Gala tribute to G. Oliver Koppell
The Riverdale Mental Health Association (http://www.rmha.org) is pleased to honor City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell at its 54th Annual Gala, Mon., April 22, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Fieldston Upper School Commons, 3901 Fieldston Rd.
Councilman Koppell, during his years representing our district in the N.Y. State Assembly and on the N.Y. City Council, has advocated tirelessly for quality mental health care in our city and state and has given invaluable support to RMHA.
Please join us in tribute to Councilman Koppell at the 4/22 Gala (RSVP: [email protected], tickets $250) & by placing a journal ad (rates & other info. @ link):
Riverdale Temple is sponsoring a clothing drive for Big Brothers/Big Sisters on Sunday, April 21,
2013 from 9:30-12:30. People can bring clean, gently used clothing for men, women, and children for all seasons.
Please donate the kind of items you would want to receive. Donors can complete a form to obtain a receipt from Big Broth-ers/Big Sisters.
Donors can bring items from 4/14-21 to the Temple, located at 4545 Independence Avenue. For more information, call 718-548-3800.
Yom Hazikaron/Yom Haatzmaut at CSAIR
The Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale will observe Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) on Monday, April 15, with a program of poems, stories, prayer, and songs. The program will be led by Rabbi Barry Dov Katz and Cantor Eliz-abeth Stevens and will begin at 7:00 pm.
As Yom Hazikaron ends, Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Indepen-dence Day) begins and partici-pants will celebrate with singing and light Israeli refreshments.
The program is free and open to the public.
CSAIR is located at 475 West 250th Street at the Henry Hudson Parkway.
For more information, call the synagogue office at 718- 543-8400.
Discussion and dialogue on Israel
The Riverdale Y will have a discussion and dialogue about Israel: All you wanted to know but were afraid to ask on Tuesday, April 16 from 7-8:30pm. This dis-cussion is led by Julian Resnick, a South African who moved to Israel in 1976 and is involved in Jewish education. Mr Resnick will discuss more on what causes synagogues not to teach about Israel; why does the family have unpleasant moments around the Friday night table; what prevents Jewish students mon many cam-puses from talking about their feelings of connection and more. This program is being presented in celebration of Yom Ha'azmaut, Israel Independence Day and is open to the entire community. It is co-sponsored by the Riverdale Y, Riverdale Jewish Community Relations Council, and Congre-gation Tehillah. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue. For more information, please call 718-548-8200, ext. 200.
RFK Bridge center lane closure advisory
The center lane approaching the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge's Bronx toll plaza heading to Queens will be closed around-the-clock for the next several weeks for construction.
Drivers are urged to use both the right and left lanes to cir-cumvent the center lane closure. Motorists should expect delays and allow extra time.
MTA MNO N13 034Hudson Rail Link3Col. x 10.5 BW April 1, 2013 4:14 PM
In a rush to get to NYC? Hop on.
Take Metro-North’s Hudson Rail Link.
Now running at least twice an hour to your station. All day. So you can get to and from Grand Central Terminal faster than an express bus, while relaxing on clean, comfortable Hudson Rail Link buses and Metro-North M-7 train cars.
And Hudson Rail Link buses accept both MetroCard and a discounted bus/rail UniTicket.
For more information, call 511 or visit mta.info. And link up with the Link.
in any way indicate that their absence from public life would make any difference whatsoever. One of the two, Eric Stevenson, was entrapped by another As-sembly Member, Nelson Castro, who will testify against his former colleague at Stevenson’s trial.
Castro was forced to resign. Unfortunately this was four years too late. He was recruited by prosecutors in 2008 before he was even elected to office. The Bronx District Attorney, and later on the U.S. Attorney were content letting him win and retain office, becoming a sort of “Manchurian
Candidate” poised and ready to collect evidence on crimes yet to be committed or even conceived.
In other words, the residents of Nelson Castro’s district have had, in effect, no representation in the New York State Assembly for years. This type of manipu-lation of the political process by government may be every bit as corrupt as Stevenson’s nickel-and-dime payoff scheme.
In The Bronx, we have seen a huge amount of corruption among our public officials. Just since the dawn of the 21st centu-ry, we have seen the conviction of State Senators Guy Velella, Efrain Gonzalez and Pedro Es-pada, Assembly Member Gloria
Davis, and Councilman Larry Seabrook. We have seen serious charges leveled against former Assembly Member Naomi Rivera, Mssrs. Stevenson and Castro, and even against former Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who
was fined $10,000 by the City’s Conflicts of Interest Board, over the outrageous and revealing “free porch” incident.
And just to show what goes around comes around, the eth-ically-challenged Mr. Carrion is
now running for mayor as the candidate of the aforementioned Independence Party.
Such is the Bloomberg legacy. He was too rich to be bought off. He just managed to buy off everyone else.
Continued from Page 14
Dr. Frances Segan, President of Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Marble Hill Food & Hunger Project, Inc. will speak on the pervasive problem of hunger in the Riverdale and Kings-bridge areas on Thursday, April 18, at 6:45 pm at the Rotary Club’s regular meeting at Greentree Restaurant, 5693 Riverdale Avenue at 259th Street. The public is cor-dially invited to the meeting. The KRMH Project supports homeless, underemployed and unemployed
Dr. Frances Segan to speak at Rotary Club meetingfamilies in the community, work-ing to answer urgent need in light of soaring food prices.
The Rotary Club of Riverdale, a community service organization committed to the betterment of the Riverdale/Kingsbridge areas, meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at Greentree Restau-rant. Comprising business and professional persons who provide humanitarian service while en-couraging high ethical standards,
Rotarians develop friendships as a basis for voluntary humanitarian service projects in such areas as literacy, support of the aged and at-risk youth, maintenance of a clean environment, community improvement and promoting international friendship. Cost of the dinner meeting is $28.
To learn more about the Riv-erdale Club and the work of Rotary International, please call 914 319-0002.
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3 •
The
RIV
ERD
ALE
REV
IEW
16 Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. In conjunction with The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
Invite you to attend the annual
Bronx Israel Independence Day Festival You don’t have to leave the Bronx to experience Israel for a day!
