Co-op City Times 10/21/2023

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Vol. 58 No. 42

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Respect Our Rules and Preserve Our Quality of Life President’s Report

Sonia Feliciano Dear fellow shareholders, Greetings to you and your family. As a follow-up to EV chargers, shareholders have commented positively and negatively on EV chargers. I thank those who have sent emails expressing your opinions as we move forward with the next steps. As discussed previously, I still stand with most members of the Board on our No vote to the current grant we received through the Con Edison Make Ready program. We are looking at other grants that are not as restrictive as the one offered. For example, having to build out 20-24 stations per garage. We know that a full charge would take seven (7) hours which is what we are equipped for. You can certainly charge for one (1) hour to get you about 40 miles. However, the average person going to and from work is about 30 miles, not including wait times on the roads due to traffic. This means you would have to charge once a day. (Continued on page 2)

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MTA and NYC City Council Host Metro-North Engagement Workshop in Einstein Loop A community engagement workshop on the Metro-North Penn Station Access Plan was held by the NY City Council, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and Metro-North in the Einstein Center on Wednesday night, October 18, 2023. Overall, the workshop was designed to engage the community and provide an opportunity for shareholders to voice their opinions about the Metro-North train station being built in Section 5. The workshop began with an introduction Cooperators listen to MTA workfrom NYC Councilmember Kevin C. Riley, shop reps about Metro-North (Continued on page 4) plans.

Photo by Brandon Ortiz

Safety Dept. Cautions Shareholders to Adhere to Safe Cooking Habits BY ROZAAN BOONE

Riverbay Responds to Request for Extension on Behalf of Garvey School

October is Fire Prevention Month and the Riverbay Safety Department is once again emphasizing to shareholders the need for safe cooking practices to avoid kitchen fires, especially as Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday season approach when families traditionally get together to celebrate and break bread. (Continued on page 5)

(The following letter, dated October 12, 2023, was sent to Council Member Kevin Riley by Riverbay Executive General Manager in response to a request for an extension to the Garvey School.)

Notice to Shareholders

Deadline to Indicate Interest in Board Committee/s is by Oct. 21, 9 p.m. The Committee on Committees (“COC”), chaired this year by Anika Green-Watson and Claudia Sampson, recommended committee chairpersons for the 2023-24 year. Chairpersons of each committee are appointed by the President, with the consent of the Board of Directors. The list of board committees and chairs for 2023-24 is included below for reference.

Riverbay Board Committees for 2023-24 October 12, 2023 Honorable Councilmember Kevin Riley 940 East Gun Hill Road Bronx, NY 10469 Re: Garvey School Dear Councilman Riley: Riverbay cannot grant a further extension of time for the Garvey School to vacate the premises. Riverbay has a fiduciary obligation to its shareholders, and to the State of New York, to collect rent from commercial tenants. That income is used to maintain affordability for its residents. Riverbay has granted multiple extensions to the Garvey School premised upon the School’s promise to pay and to vacate the premises by a date certain. The School has not kept either promise. The School’s lease expired on October 31, 2021, nearly two years ago. It knew that the lease was expiring and would not be renewed. Two years later, it is still in possession and has not secured an alternative location. As of August 31st, the Garvey School was indebted to the Riverbay Corporation in the amount of $272,129.04, none of which it has offered to pay for the extension. In November of 2022, the Garvey School, represented by Counsel, entered into a Court ordered Stipulation. Pursuant to the Court Order, Riverbay was granted the right to evict the Garvey School, but agreed to stay eviction until July 31, 2023 so the Garvey School could complete its school year. The Court Ordered agreement was conditioned upon the School’s payment of arrears and current charges. The Garvey School defaulted in its payment obligations in February of 2023. Nonetheless, Riverbay continued to allow the School to occupy the premises until the end of its school year. When the school year ended, the Garvey (Continued on page 9)

Joining Riverbay Board Committees Shareholders are encouraged to review the committees and choose the ones best suited to their skill set and expertise to help move the business of Riverbay Corporation forward. Shareholders who would like to serve on Riverbay Board Committee(s) should express interest before October 21st at 9 p.m., using the Google form link: https://bit.ly/3RJEPnh, or scan the QR Code. If you have questions related to the committee application process, please reach out to Anika at awatson@riverbayboard.com. If you have questions related to the committee application process, please reach out to Anika at awatson@riverbayboard.com. We look forward to serving with you this year! —Anika Green-Watson & Claudia Sampson


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

President’s Report ––––– (Continued from page 1) We consider that our garages are over 50 years old, therefore, ensuring that our garages will withstand the weight and assess if there are any structural concerns is important. We want to make sure we have a fire suppression system which is not in place now. This will alleviate any concerns about a fire. If you recall, we had a fire in Garage 8 and we hired a structural engineer to certify that the garage was safe. The collapse of the midtown garage was partly due to the age of the garage and the weight of the vehicles on the roof. Higher insurance rates were a concern. Not having a plan in place on how we were going to manage this program was another concern, and displacing shareholders from spaces especially when we have garages that are at capacity. Being risk-conscious allows us to understand the risks before they cause a threat to us. We are working with Management to find a grant that will give us a limit on EV chargers per garage and have them outside. It may cost a bit more to build, but in the long run, we believe it is safer and will provide the revenue stream that we need. We currently have 20 EV vehicles and 62 hybrids and while we understand that the program for EV chargers in Co-op City was to provide the infrastructure and not the demand, the right thing to do is to be meticulous in our planning and have something that works for our community. In the United States, we have a little over 26 million EV vehicles. By 2040, we expect to have 56 million. The technology is changing every few months. The right thing to do is provide us with a plan that will alleviate any concerns we have with EV chargers. While we understand that the program for EV chargers in Co-op City was to provide the infrastructure and not the demand, it is critical that we are meticulous in our planning and that we have something that works for our community. The building codes on New York City parking structures are changing. Riverbay is ready to address any issues on the mandates of the law, making us a responsible housing company. Laundry Etiquette Lately, we have had concerns with some of our shareholders getting into disputes with their neighbors on laundry concerns. Please note that this is not the entire community, but only those who don’t feel the rules apply to them. The signs for laundry etiquette are clear and as good neighbors, we should abide by them. No resident should be subjected to waiting for a washer or dryer to become available when the washer or dryer is sitting idle for a long period of time. The laundry rooms are not big enough to hold that amount of residents in a building, therefore, it is a matter of courtesy that we time our washing and drying, and remove the clothes so that the next person can use the machines. If your clothes are removed, don’t get upset as it is only practical to remove clothes when the machine has stopped and no other machines are available. If you don’t want your clothes touched, then be on time to pick up your clothes. Dirty laundry should not be put on the carts to sort, this is something that should be done in the home. We have to remember that others use the carts as well. Carts should not be removed from the laundry room. I have seen laundry carts in the elevator, is this necessary? The carts should not be used for riding children or pets around. This is something I have seen and is not in character to the kind of community we are. If you use dryer sheets, please remove them once you are done so that the next person who uses the dryer does not have to take them out. Most times they are on the floor. Please know that we do give Community Complaints and any shareholder who is concerned about any retribution with another shareholder can press the emergency button in the laundry room for CCPD. If you love this community as many of us do, please respect the rules that have been set so that we can all have and share in a good quality of life. If you have a concern, please contact me via email at Sfeliciano@riverbayboard.com or through the Liaisons office at 2049 Bartow Ave., Bronx, NY 10475. Shareholders First – We Matter. *** Estimados accionistas, Saludos a usted y a su familia. En relación con los cargadores para vehículos eléctricos, los accionistas han hecho comentarios positivos y negativos al respecto. Doy las gracias a los que han enviado correos electrónicos expresando sus opiniones a medida que avanzamos con los próximos pasos. Como se ha comentado anteriormente, sigo estando de acuerdo con la mayoría de los miembros de la Junta en nuestro voto negativo a la subvención actual que recibimos a través del programa Make Ready de Con Edison. Estamos estudiando otras subvenciones que no sean tan restrictivas como la ofrecida. Por ejemplo, tener que construir entre 20 y 24 estaciones por garaje. Sabemos que una carga completa tardaría 7 horas, que es para lo que estamos equipados. Es cierto que se puede cargar durante 1 hora para recorrer unas 40 millas. Sin embargo, la media de la gente que va y vuelve del trabajo es de unas 30 millas sin incluir los tiempos de espera en las carreteras debido al tráfico. Esto significa que tendrías que cargar una vez al día. Consideramos que nuestros garajes tienen más de 50 años, por lo tanto, nos aseguramos de que nuestros garajes soportarán el peso y evaluamos si hay algún problema estructural. Queremos asegurarnos de que contamos con un sistema de extinción de incendios, que ahora no existe. Esto aliviará cualquier preocupación sobre un incendio. Si recuerdan, tuvimos un incendio en el garaje 8 y contratamos a un ingeniero estructural para que certificara que el garaje era seguro. El derrumbe del garaje del centro se debió en parte a sus años y al peso de los vehículos en el techo. El aumento de las tarifas de los seguros era motivo de preocupación. Otra preocupación era no disponer de un plan para gestionar este programa. Desplazar a los accionistas de sus plazas, especialmente cuando tenemos garajes que están al límite de su capacidad. Ser conscientes de los riesgos nos permite comprenderlos antes de que nos supongan una amenaza. En colaboración con la administración, estamos tra-

bajando juntos para encontrar una subvención que nos dará un límite de cargadores EV por garaje y colocarlos en el exterior del garaje. Puede costar un poco más construirlo, pero a largo plazo, creemos que es más seguro y nos proporcionará el flujo de ingresos que necesitamos. En actualidad tenemos 20 vehículos eléctricos y 62 híbridos, y aunque entendemos que el programa de cargadores de vehículos eléctricos en Co-op City era para proporcionar la infraestructura y no la demanda, lo correcto es ser meticulosos en nuestra planificación y tener algo que funcione para nuestra comunidad. En los Estados Unidos tenemos más de 26 millones de vehículos eléctricos. Para 2040 esperamos tener 56 millones. La tecnología sigue cambiando. Los códigos de construcción de los aparcamientos de Nueva York están cambiando. Riverbay está preparado para abordar cualquier cuestión sobre los mandatos de la ley, lo que nos ase una empresa de Vivienda responsible. Etiqueta de Lavandería Últimamente, hemos tenido problemas con algunos de nuestros accionistas que se han metido en disputas con sus vecinos por cuestiones de lavandería. Tenga en cuenta que no se trata de toda la comunidad, sino sólo de aquellos que consideran que las normas no se aplican a ellos. Las señales de etiqueta para la lavandería son claras y, como buenos vecinos, debemos acatarlas. Ningún residente debería verse obligado a esperar a que la lavadora o la secadora estén disponibles durante un largo periodo de tiempo. Las lavanderías no son lo suficientemente grandes como para albergar a tantos residentes en un edificio, por lo tanto, sólo es cortésia que midamos el tiempo de lavado y secado, y retiremos la ropa para que la siguiente persona pueda utilizarla. Si retiran su ropa, no se ofenda, ya que sólo es práctico retirar la ropa cuando la máquina se ha parado y no hay otras máquinas disponibles. Si no quieren que toquen su ropa, es importante llegar a tiempo para recogerla. La ropa sucia no debe ponerse en los carros para ordenar, esto es algo que debe hacerse en su casa. Hay que recordar que los demás también utilizan los carros. Los carros no deben retirarse del lavadero. He visto carros de lavandería en el ascensor, ¿es necesario esto? Los carros no deben utilizarse para pasear a niños o sus perros. Esto es algo que he visto y no va con el tipo de comunidad que somos. Si se utilizan hojas de secadora, por favor, quítelos una vez que haya terminado para que la siguiente persona que utilice la secadora no tenga que sacarlos. La mayoría de las veces están en el piso. Por favor, sepa que damos quejas de la comunidad y cualquier accionista que está preocupado por cualquier represalia con otro accionista puede pulsar el botón de emergencia en la sala de lavandería para CCPD. Si usted ama esta comunidad como muchos de nosotros, por favor respete las reglas que se han establecidas para que todos podamos tener y compartir una buena calidad de vida. Si usted tiene una preocupación, por favor póngase en contacto conmigo a través de correo electrónico, Sfeliciano@riverbayboard.com o a través de la oficina de Enlaces en 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475. Somos Accionistas Primero – Nosotros Importamos.

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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Co-op City Times COMBING

Find out what’s going on in Co-op City here...

Truman HS Open Houses Eighth graders, parents and guardians are invited to attend Truman HS Fall Open Houses: • Sat., Nov. 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. • Sun., Nov. 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Truman High School is located in Education Park at 750 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475; Phone: 718-904-5400. To pre-register to attend an open house, visit bxtrumanhighschool.com or scan the QR code above.

With Heartfelt Appreciation, Ms. Flora Keitt BY ROZAAN BOONE

Flora Keitt, 92 years young, tended the garden in front of Building 24 from the time she moved into Co-op City as an original shareholder more than 50 years ago until about six years ago when her health no longer allowed her to, and her efforts to help beautify her home and community have not gone unnoticed. Shareholder Marlene Smith introduced Ms. Keitt to the Co-op City Times. “I have been searching for this lady for years, and thought she may not still be around but luckily I ran into her and her daughter,” said Smith. “I was so happy to see her and it bought tears to my eyes. She worked so hard on that garden for so many years, almost 30 years, until she was no longer able to continue doing what she loves. We should really do something to celebrate her dedication to the community and thank her for her work.” Ms. Keitt said this week she does not have a singular reason why she took such an interest in the garden. “I really don’t know, I love gardening. It is something I like to do. I also love flowers and that’s the reason,” she said. Ms. Keitt’s daughter, Syndee, recalled that she was ten and her brother six years old when they moved into Co-op City with their parents and aunt as original shareholders of the community. “She loves gardening, she would stay out there for hours,”

Halloween at the Mall Halloween Parade, pumpkin decorating and dance contest will be held at the Mall at Bay Plaza next Sat., Oct. 28, 12-5 p.m. The Parade will begin at noon on the first floor, while pumpkin decorating and the dance contest by DJ Omar will take place at the food court on the third floor. Tickets for pumpkin decorating can be picked up starting Oct. 16 from Guest Services on Level 1 in the Mall. One ticket per child age 12 and under.

Sector C Build the Block Meeting Nov. 8 The next meeting of the 45th Precinct’s Section C will be held on Wednesday, November 8, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 765 Co-op City Blvd., Bronx, NY 10475. The meeting will be hosted by Sector C’s Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO’s) Driljan Rugovac and Ryan Zelman. For accommodations, please contact Officer Vargas at (718) 822-5452. Masks will be provided. Shareholders are invited to attend, meet with your NCO’s and discuss your public safety concerns.

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Syndee said of her mother. “It would be dark and I would go down and say, ‘It’s time for dinner, aren’t you coming up?’ She has a green thumb and the way she designed the garden and planted the flowers – it was the love of her life.” Another shareholder, Lauretta Jaysura, noted that for many years in Co-op City’s history, the many beautiful gardens in and around each building were creat- Flora Keitt Photo by Marlene Smith ed and nurtured by shareholders who lived in the building. “We were proud of our new homes,” she said. “I remember admiring one in particular back in the day which was at Building 24.” Jaysura, who lives in a neighboring building, said that she would look out her winFlower bed photos by P.M. Campbell dow on the 10th floor very early in the mornings at the building opposite hers “any day, seven days, and see this small frame of a lady with her gardening tools and basket under a straw hat, on the ground digging in spots and at times only stopping to look around.” “When Spring finally arrived, her garden was the most beautiful array of colors and flowers outside of the Botanical Garden,” said Jaysura. “Just the other day, I lamented that the trees have grown up tall over the years and I can no longer see that gorgeous plot of garden unless I’m at street level.” Syndee added: “Flowers can’t be watered when it’s hot because they will burn so she had to water them at a certain time; the soil had to be just right, we had to put sticks in there, then pop them off, mess would be flying everywhere, but she loved it.” (Continued on page 15)

Important Deadlines for Upcoming November General Election BY BRANDON ORTIZ

As November’s General Election draws closer, shareholders should be aware of upcoming key deadlines so they can make sure they will be able to cast their vote on election day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Here is a listing of those important deadlines voters should be aware of, according to the New York City Board of Elections: October 28 – For individuals looking to register via mail, the NYC Board of Elections has to receive the application by this day at the latest in order for you to be eligible to vote in the General Election. Individuals planning on registering in-person should do so also by this date. October 23 – The last day the NYC Board of Elections can receive an absentee ballot application through mail, telefax or the absentee request portal. November 6 – The last day an individual can apply for an absentee ballot in-person. November 7 – The last day an absentee ballot can be postmarked and considered valid for the General Election. November 14 – The last day the NYC Board of Elections can receive a postmarked absentee ballot. November 20 – The last day the NYC Board of Elections can receive Military Voter Ballots. Looking ahead to later in October, the early voting period for the General Election will be from October 28 to November 5. Co-op City shareholders planning on voting early can do so at the Dreiser Community Center. Below are the hours the early voting site will be open: Saturday, October 28 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 29 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, October 30 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 31 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 1 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 2 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, November 3 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, November 4 – 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, November 5 – 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. As for the General Election on November 7, shareholders should confirm their polling location on their voter information guide, online at findmypollsite.vote.nyc or by calling the Bronx Board of Elections at 718-299-2140. On General Election Day, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Co-op City shareholders will be voting on several offices and two proposals during this General Election. For Bronx District Attorney, incumbent Darcel D. Clark (D) is running unopposed. For Justice of the Supreme Court, 12th Judicial District, voters will be choosing three candidates from the following: Michael A. Frishman (D), Sharon A.M. Aarons (D), John A. Howard-Algarin (D) or write-ins. For Bronx County Civil Court Judge, Joaquin E. Orellana (D) is running unopposed. For NYC City Council District 12 Councilmember, incumbent Kevin C. Riley (D) is running against Dewayne R. Lee (R). For Bronx Civil Court Judge in the 1st Municipal District, voters will pick two candidates from the following: Carol Elaine Malcolm (D), Edit Shkreli (D), or write-ins. There are also two proposals on the ballot that deal with debt limitation. The first proposal would remove the “special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts,” as explained by the NYC Board of Elections. Proposal two would amend the law to allow “the authority of counties, cities, towns and villages to remove from their constitutional debt limits debt for the construction of sewage facilities,” also according to the NYC Board of Elections. Individuals who have questions can go online to vote. nyc, call the Bronx Board of Elections at 718-299-2140 or visit in-person at 1780 Grand Concourse on the fifth floor. Hours of operation for Board of Elections offices are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Workshop ––––– (Continued from page 1) who prefaced the purpose of the event with acknowledgement of Mayor Adams’ role in allowing the City Council and the MTA to host the community workshops. “He’s (Mayor Adams) allowed us as members of the (City) Council – members of the communities that (we) are representing – to host these workshops to get as much feedback as possible. So, I want you guys to listen, I want you guys to go around and get some information. I’m going to come around and connect with you guys to hear if you have any concerns,” Councilmember Riley said. Ryan Cote, Project Manager for the City Council Land Use Division, spoke after Councilmember Riley and also discussed the goal of the workshop while explaining the activities set up for the community to provide their feedback. As he demonstrated, Cote explained: “The idea tonight is really an open house, we have a lot of our city partners and our state partners here to answer your questions one-on-one, to explain a little bit about what their whole project is…and what that access means for you…We have a few activities as well because we want to get your feedback. So here we have mapping activities of the surrounding areas, the surrounding area of the new Co-op City station and get a little bit of ideas of, for example, where do we think a sidewalk improvement is necessary? We’ve heard that a lot. We would love to hear and see it on the map…And then over here, we’ve got some general questions about infrastructure…we have Post-its where you can put your feedback there as well. And then, last but not least, we do have a Bronx Metro-North Survey.”

Following Cote’s comments, Councilmember Riley addressed the audience again to clear up any other confusion about the format of the workshop. The Councilman then invited members from the city agencies in attendance to address the audience and briefly discuss their role in the overall Metro-North Penn Station Access Plan. Molly Hollister, who represented the MTA, highlighted a future Community Board #10 meeting where the MTA would present a more in-depth overview of the Metro-North Penn Station Access Plan. Hollister also briefly outlined what the Metro-North Penn Station Access Plan will mean for the Bronx. “We’ll be back on November 8 to Community Board #10. So, some of you are Community Board members or you can attend that meeting. There will be a more in-depth presentation and we’ve come to all the Community Boards here to give a better presentation – more than what you’re seeing here tonight…The project is bringing four new Metro-North stations to the Bronx.

eral people have asked about Erskine (Place) and you see the work being done there now. We’re currently improving that area and hopefully we can message you and make sure you understand what is happening each phase of the project. The service will be in place in 2027.” The remainder of the event allowed participants in the workshop to ask questions and speak with the representatives from the Bronx Borough President’s office, NYC Department of City Planning, New York State Department of Transit and the MTA. Bronx Borough President Gibson and Councilmember Riley also engaged Photos by Brandon Ortiz and answered questions individually from workshop participants. Individuals who wish to provide comment on the current project can do so online at contact.mta.info/s/forms/penn-station-access or by contacting the 24/7 construction hotline at 347-263-7837.

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One is Co-op City and is why we’re here tonight. We also have one in Hunts Point, Parkchester-Van Nest and Morris Park. So, we’re also improving the area around the stations and, again, coming to you for feedback on what you want to see. We’re improving service into Penn Station, so you get a direct train into Penn Station, and you can go north,” Hollister said. Hollister also mentioned future construction Section 5 shareholders can expect along Erskine Place. “We’re doing the Metro substation work and improving the tracks. So you’ll see a lot of work coming in the future,” Hollister went on to say. “I think sev-

Call:

718.671.7226 100 DeKruif Place

Building 8 • Ground Floor Section 1 • Co-op City • Bronx, NY 10475


Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

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Cooking Safety ––––– (Continued from page 1) According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fire departments in the country responded to approximately 170,000 home cooking fires in 2021. Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fire and home fire injuries. They resulted in an estimated 135 deaths, 3,000 injuries and more than $494M in property loss. The American Red Cross advises that a smoke alarm should be installed near the kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas and inside and outside of bedrooms, if you sleep with the doors closed. The unit should be tested monthly. In Co-op City, combination smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors are installed in each residential unit, and the batteries are good for 10 years so there is no need to replace them annually. “If you test the smoke alarm and it does not function as it should, contact the Maintenance department. They will respond to replace the defective device in your apartment,” said Tony Barzelatto, Riverbay Safety Director. “The unit should not be tampered with or removed for any reason. As a matter of fact, you will receive a Community Complaint if the unit is tampered with.” Among other cooking safety tips offered by the Red Cross are: • Avoid wearing loose clothing or sleeves that dangle over the stove • If frying, grilling or broiling food, never leave it unattended – stay in the kitchen. If you must leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove • If simmering, baking, roasting or broiling food, check it regularly • Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove/oven • Keep anything that can catch fire, such as pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic items, food packaging, towels and curtains, away from the stove, oven and other kitchen appliances that generate heat • Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease build-up • Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are off • Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns that anyone who has consumed alcohol or is sleepy should not use the stove or stovetop. Should a cooking fire start in your kitchen, the Association advises: • Exit the home immediately, close the door behind you to help contain the fire • Call 9-1-1

• Should you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out of the unit and that you have a clear way out as well • Use a lid to help smother small grease fires. Turn off the stove and leave the pan covered until it cools completely • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed In a September 2023 Home Cooking Fire report compiled by the NFPA, it was found that unattended cooking was the leading factor in cooking fires and related casualties. Abandoned or discarded materials, which may have been related to unattended cooking, ranked second in the causes of cooking fires and fourth in cooking fire deaths and injuries. In addition, the report noted that “less than one-third (31%) of the reported home fires were in apartments or other multifamily housing, yet these properties accounted for almost half (47%) of the reported home cooking fires.” The NFPA report notes that cooking fires peak between 5-8 p.m. when people are most likely preparing dinner; 17% of cooking fires were reported between 11 p.m.-7 a.m., and accounted for 19% of deaths between 2017-2021. On average, between 2017-2021, the leading dates for cooking fires are November 22 (Thanksgiving), 240% above average daily fires; Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), 71% above average daily fires; Nov. 21 (day before Thanksgiving), 40% above average daily fires; Easter, 54% above average daily fires; Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), 72% above average daily fires. The NFPA report concluded, “There were fewer cooking fire deaths in 2017-2021 than in 1980-1984. However, it appears that less progress has been made toward reducing deaths from home cooking fires than deaths from most other fire causes.” “One phrase that I have been hearing for years is, ‘I just left the apartment or house to run next door for one minute’,” said Barzelatto. “The unfortunate outcome of that statement is most people who leave food cooking on the stove and run out for a minute will have it turn into 30 minutes, then an hour and so on. People should have all the tools and supplies they need prior to cooking. Leaving food on the stove or unattended for even a minute is a recipe for disaster. Fires double in size every minute. Fires do not take days off or have holidays.”


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

The Co-op City Times welcomes issue-oriented letters to the editor to be considered for publication. All letters, in prose, not poetry, must be addressed to the editor, not to third parties. All letters must be signed by the writers and include their addresses and phone numbers, which will be kept confidential, so that the editor can verify the authenticity of the authors. Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Letters cannot exceed 350 words. Ideally, they should be typed. All letters must be in the Co-op City Times office in Room 21, Bartow Community Center, by 3 p.m. every Monday to be considered for publication in that week’s edition. Views and opinions expressed in letters are solely the writer’s and not necessarily shared by the Co-op City Times or Riverbay Corp.

– • Letters to the Editor • –

Metro-North Parking Crisis Can Be Solved To the Editor: Brainstorming with the NY City Council Metro-North Area at the Einstein Mall on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 was separated into various tables. It was chaotic, leaving many in a cocoon-like state. But instead of complaining, we bulldozed through and provided tremendous input. Hopefully, they will utilize each and every suggestion, explanation, and unforeseen possible delays, especially when the bridge is up on Hutchinson River Parkway. How are ambulances supposed to quickly enter into Section Five when in a standstill? Fortunately, a great idea was shared by a young man with incredible insight. As he looked into the future for the need for parking, and the literal crisis we are experiencing, he brilliantly came up with a solution. Why not join hands with Bay Plaza so they could provide parking for a small

monthly or annual fee for Section 5 residents. During the closing hours of the Bay Plaza businesses, the vacant lot behind the movie theater can be better utilized when not in use. For example, between 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., Section 5 residents can rest assured, and attain rest by evading driving around for hours looking for parking, especially due to Sections 1-4 residents traveling to Section Five, taking up more parking to get on the new Metro-North station that is being constructed. Moreover, a free shuttle bus would avoid cooperators leaving their vehicles in Section 5 and to Pelham Bay train station and back to the Metro-North station, therefore avoiding cooperators from driving their cars and taking up parking in Section 5. —Elizabeth Penn

Co-op City Times

Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. (718) 320-3300, ext. 3375 cctimes@riverbaycorp.com

Rozaan Boone Editor-in-Chief

Jennifer Piovanetti Operations Manager

Ralph Henriquez Production Manager

John Crow New Media Producer

RESCHEDULED: Active Shooter Training for Shareholders The Riverbay Safety Department will host a presentation on what to do in an active shooter situation for shareholders on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. in Room 31B in Bartow Center. All shareholders are encouraged to attend.

MetroCard Bus Update State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto has arranged for the MetroCard Bus to offer expanded service to Co-op City by adding stops in Section 1 and 5 on Monday, Oct. 30, and Friday, December 29, 2023. On these two dates, the MetroCard Bus schedule for Sections 1 & 5 will be: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Einstein Loop by Elgar Place 1 p.m.-3 p.m. – Dreiser Loop by Debs Place These dates are in addition to the current Bartow MetroCard Bus service in place – first and third Thursday of the month, 10:30 a.m.3 p.m., Bartow Mall on Co-op City Blvd.

911 Emergency Calls. TIPS A 911 CALLER SHOULD KEEP IN MIND

What Can I Do?

Foreign Language Assistance

NYPD emergency operators are trained to handle a wide range of calls and incidents. To support a rapid police response, here are helpful guidelines a 911 caller should keep in mind: Describe The Emergency

Foreign language assistance is available, and in more than 140 different languages.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Are you or is someone else hurt? How? Whether you need medical attention, police response, or other emergency assistance.

Describe The Perpetrators

Remain Calm

Give An Address The location of the emergency is the first and most important thing operators need.

The calmer you are, the clearer you can be, and the better operators can record information.

Answer Questions

Keep Phones Open

NYPD emergency operators will ask you for information. You may be asked to repeat some information to EMS or Fire Department personnel.

Tell operators the number from which you are calling. Use a landline when possible, and if calling from a cell phone, do your best to leave it on.

The Co-op City Times welcomes issue-oriented letters to the editor to be considered for publication. All letters, in prose, not poetry, must be addressed to the editor, not to third parties. All letters must be signed by the writer and include their address and phone number, which will be kept confidential, so that the editor can verify the authenticity of the author. Writers will be limited to one letter per topic. Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Letters cannot exceed 350 words. Ideally, they should be typed. All letters must be submitted to the Co-op City Times by 3 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication in that week’s edition. Email cctimes@ riverbaycorp.com or mail to 2049 Bartow Ave., Room 21, Bronx, NY 10475. Views and opinions expressed in letters and Directors’ Viewpoint are solely the writer’s, and not necessarily shared by the Co-op City Times or Riverbay Corp. Advertisements and classified advertisements in the Co-op City Times do not necessarily reflect an endorsement from Riverbay Corp. of goods and services, but present greater options to cooperators of products and services available. The Riverbay Corporation does not assume any responsibility nor is it a party to any contract or agreement between the cooperator and the vendor. All matter published herein is copyrighted by the Co-op City Times. Permission for reprints of advertising or editorial contents produced by the Co-op City Times must be obtained in writing from Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Ave., Bronx, New York 10475.

If you have witnessed a crime or been victimized, get to safety first. As soon as you can, call 911. Describe the suspect or suspects, whether weapons are involved, are they in a vehicle, what make/model or color? Even partial descriptions can be helpful.

We welcome letters to the editor, only from Co-op City shareholders, at cctimes@riverbaycorp.com. Letters should address issues of interest to the Co-op City community. Comments should be fact-based and responsible. Letters should not personally attack others and must be written in a respectful manner. Only signed letters will be considered for publication. The Co-op City Times does not publish anonymous material. Submissions must include the writer’s address and phone number – which will be kept confidential – so authenticity and residency of the writer can be verified. Thank you for your cooperation.


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Public Safety Urges Drivers to “Click It Or Ticket” Law enforcement has increased the enforcement of the seat belt law with the slogan, “CLICK IT OR TICKET.” Heightened enforcement has been in effect to encourage drivers to ensure that all persons in their vehicles are wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts have been shown to effectively reduce your risk of death in a car crash. All passengers in all passenger vehicles must wear seatbelts at all times. Children and all adults in the rear seat must now wear seat belts. All passengers in a vehicle must wear seat belts. The driver of the vehicle is ultimately responsible for all passengers in their vehicle and can receive summonses and points on their license for all violations. Seatbelts save lives. Airbags are not a substitute for seatbelts and are designed to be used in conjunction with seatbelts. An airbag comes out of the steering wheel or dashboard at a speed of 250 miles per hour. Without a seatbelt, the force of an airbag can cause serious injuries to the front seat passenger and driver. Wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle equipped with airbags will minimize injuries in an otherwise life threatening collision. Seatbelts will prevent the wearer from being thrown from the automobile in the case of a collision. Today’s automobiles are designed to keep the passenger compartment intact in the event of a collision. Without a seatbelt, you will not remain within that safety zone. Unsecured persons in a vehicle continue to travel at the vehicle’s speed until they strike a solid object within or outside the vehicle. Internal organs of the unbelted person then collide with the skeletal

Public Safety Report

Public Safety Blotter

October 8 – October 14, 2023 October 9, 2023 140 Donizetti Place A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from in front of her apartment door without her permission. October 10, 2023 99 Einstein Loop A cooperator reported returning to her parked vehicle in Garage 7 and as she drove off, she observed a loud noise coming from her vehicle. The cooperator was advised by her mechanic that an unknown individual removed the catalytic from her vehicle without her permission. Front of 131 Einstein Loop A cooperator reported that a family member assaulted her causing visible injuries and fleeing the area. A canvas of the area was conducted by CCPD with negative results. NYPD also notified. 140 DeKruif Place A cooperator reported a confirmed delivered package that was removed by an unknown individual without his permission. October 11, 2023 Front of 620 Baychester Avenue CCPD reported a vehicle that hit their patrol vehicle that was parked and flipped over causing extensive damage to both vehicles. The driver of the vehicle was treated by CCPD Emergency Service Unit and EMS and transported to Jacobi hospital for further medical treatment. No Officers were injured. October 12, 2023 140 Debs Place CCPD responded to a call of a person smoking in the stairwell. Upon arrival, CCPD observed a cooperator smoking in the stairwell and he was issued a Community Complaint. 100 Alcott Place A cooperator reported a confirmed delivered package that was removed from in front of her apartment door by an unknown individual without her permission. 2075 Bartow Avenue A Dollar Tree employee report-

ed a male removing items from the shelves and exiting the establishment without paying. CCPD conducted a canvas of the area and observed the suspect with the stolen items in his possession and he was placed under arrest. The suspect, who is a non-resident, had an open warrant from NYPD and was processed at the local precinct. October 13, 2023 99 Earhart Lane A cooperator reported returning to his vehicle which was parked on the blacktop of Garage 8 and observing that his vehicle was not there. The Garage department confirms that the vehicle was not towed. CCPD and NYPD notified. October 14, 2023 Opposite 99 Dreiser Loop While on routine patrol, CCPD observed a vehicle with all four wheels and tires removed and resting on cider blocks which was removed by an unknown individual. CCPD attempted to contact the owner of the vehicle with negative results. A Report was prepared by CCPD. 120 Dreiser Loop A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from in front of his apartment door by an unknown individual without his permission. 140 Alcott Place CCPD reported one cooperator being physically assaulted by another, causing injuries, over clothing left in the dryer unattended. The suspect was placed under arrest by CCPD and processed at the local precinct. The suspect was also issued a Community Complaint for Anti-Social Behavior. Front of 120 Co-op City Blvd. CCPD responded to a call of shots fire. Witnesses reported hearing two gunshots but did not see the shooter. A canvas of the area by CCPD yielded negative results. NYPD also on scene. There were no injuries or damage to Riverbay property to report.

system causing serious internal injuries. An unbelted person also serves as a projectile and can cause injuries to other persons in the vehicle. A person properly restrained stays within the vehicle’s safety zone and comes to a slower stop thereby minimizing injuries. After Covid restrictions were lifted, drivers began taking more trips and transporting children or other passengers in their vehicles. It is very important that all drivers are aware of the rules and regulations regarding the appropriate restraint system for passengers of all ages. Using the proper car seat greatly increases children’s safety when they ride in a vehicle. Every person riding in a vehicle should be appropriately buckled up every time you drive your vehicle. Never put a rear facing infant seat in the front seat of an auto that has a passenger airbag. The airbag can propel the car seat into the seat back with enough force to seriously injure or even cause a fatality to the child. Never hold a child on your lap while driving or while seated anywhere in a car. The force of the airbag throwing the child against you could be fatal. You should never take a child out of a car seat if they are fussing. Car seats in the rear seat is always the way to go, never regard not sitting in a car seat or sitting in the front seat as a reward. Children need to be buckled up in the rear seat of a vehicle. Never use a car seat that has been in an accident, it may have sustained damage that is not visible. Car seat installation can seem difficult at first. It is very important that you carefully read the owner’s manual for both the car seat and for your auto. The LATCH system is an attempt to simplify car seat installation and make it universal from one car to another. The acronym LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It includes Lower Anchorage points and top tether straps to fasten car seats. All vehicles manufactured after 2003 must have at least 2 LATCH points in the rear seat. Seat belts can still be used to install car seats. This is an option for a third seat or if installation in the center seat is desired. Information regarding the LATCH system and the installation of car seats may be found at the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration at 1 (888) DASH2DOT or on their website at www.nhtsa.dot. gov/ Certified child passenger safety technicians are available at various locations to check for the proper installation of car seats. To find out about car seat check locations, call 1 (866) SEAT CHECK or at their website at www.seatcheck.org. Texting while driving has bypassed drinking while driving in causing teen deaths. Texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash. In New York State, texting while driving is a primary offense. That means you can be pulled over and ticketed for texting while driving even if no other offense is committed. Previously, a driver could only be pulled over for another traffic infraction and given a summons for texting and driving in combination with another infraction. Looking at a text, sending a text or otherwise looking at a cellular device are all offenses for which summonses may be issued. Texting and driving is a leading cause of fatal automobile collisions. Young people are at an even higher risk due to lack of driving experience. (Continued on page 8)

OPPORTUNITIES AT CO-OP CITY For information on CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, please contact: Lenya Garcia at Lgarcia@riverbaycorp.com; and Anatoliy Budnitskiy at abudnitskiy@riverbaycorp.com. Please note: emails should be sent to both parties. Please DO NOT email resumes for EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES to the aforementioned emails. For EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, please see below for specific directions.

CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES There are no contract opportunities to list this week. Please check back. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

For employment opportunities, please search “Riverbay Corporation” at the following sites: www.Indeed.com • www.Glassdoor.com Candidates may review full position descriptions and apply at either site. Current Riverbay employees should submit a transfer request and resumé directly to the HR department. Thank you for your interest in working for Riverbay Corporation.


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023 Director’s Viewpoint

Claudia Sampson, First Vice President

The Community Has Truly Spoken On Friday, October 13, more than 500 of our community’s children, family and friends came out for four hours of delightful roller skating on the Bellamy basketball courts. With free skate rentals offered by Frankie Waters and skate lessons from assistant Kimiko, there was an overwhelming show of enthusiasm and support for the Friday Night Skating on the Bellamy basketball courts. Apologies to the few residents who called to complain about the pulsating rhythmic, toe tapping music emanating from the courts. Keep in mind, this was a brief moment in time for our community to come together for some wholesome fun on a Friday afternoon. Surely, our community’s youth and families deserve a few hours out of the year to have a little enjoyment and the opportunity to bond. This new community-building event was one of three skating nights co-sponsored by the Riverbay Fund in collaboration with the Riverbay Corporation’s Community Relations Department. To ensure that everyone who attended the event remained safe from the time they entered the venue and left, there were Public Safety officers onsite under the supervision of Captain Frankie Torres. Given the amazing support by our community, there will be one more skating event on Tuesday, October 31. Since it’s also Halloween, there will be gift cards awarded for best individual and family costumes. So please wear your favorite, funniest or finest outfit to help us close out our skating season. There will be snacks, gift bags with treats to delight the children and families as they move and groove one more time to the soul stirring beats by DJ Rob Scott. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to the Building 6 Association and fellow Director Anika Green-Watson for their generous donations for the treat bags. Please come out and join us as we close out our skating season on Tuesday, October 31, on the Bellamy Basketball Courts from 4 p.m.-8 p.m.! Committees As a Vehicle to Support Our Community First and foremost, the Committee on Committees (CoC), co-chaired by me and Director Anika Watson-Green, would like to take this opportu-

nity to thank the shareholders who expressed an interest to serve on Riverbay Board Committees. To help move the business of the Corporation forward, shareholders were encouraged to review and choose the committees best aligned with your skills and experience. The chairs will review the requests received on or before October 21st at 9 p.m. Shareholders will be contacted via email and informed by the designated chairs about the committees meeting schedule and logistics. Thank you all for volunteering to provide your valuable input and recommendations to the Board. EV Chargers Are Best Suited Outside Garages, not Inside There’s been some misinformation about the Board voting unanimously against a proposal to install 24 Electric Vehicle chargers in each of our eight garages. There was a proposal presented by En-Power, a consulting and engineering firm contracted by the Riverbay Corporation to assist us with exploring green energy solutions to reduce our carbon footprint and generate more revenue for our Corporation, lessening the need for maintenance increases. The Board decided not to pursue the En-Power option presented to us with less than two weeks to review and vote on the En-Power $2.4M “ConEd Make Ready” proposal that was not deemed appropriate to our needs. Here are the facts: Installing Level 2 charges would require approximately more than 20-40 minutes. In fact, Level 2 chargers (common for home, workplaces, and public charging) can charge an EV to 80% from empty in 4-10 hours, not 20-40 minutes as a shareholder recently stated in an October 7th “Letter to the Editor.” Level 2 chargers are popular at workplaces where employees can leave EV’s charging for long durations. For our residents to leave their EVs overnight to fully charge their vehicles simply isn’t a realistic revenue generator for the Corporation unless the space is a monthly reserved space. Having overnight guests occupying an EV space will not only diminish the value of installing charges in garages where parking spaces are limited but would also require allocating more resources to our Parking & Leasing Department to

monitor EV usage by transients and visitors versus residents. The best alternative would be to install a few Level 3 charging stations outside the garages so that EVs can plug in and get to an 80% or more charge in less than one hour without incurring a garage entry fee. Only super charging stations like those provided along interstate highways can provide 20-40 minute charges to an EV. This Tesla system is designed to shorten charging time and allow EVs to get to and from their destinations quickly. But, that’s not what this “ConEd Make Ready” grant was offering us. Management and the Board instructed En-Power to come back with a better alternative as there are a myriad EV grant opportunities available. We’re even exploring identifying a capable Grant Writer with expertise in the green energy space to help us pursue other projects. As for the argument about SUVs weighing more or less than EVs thus compromising the integrity of our garages, I’m not a structural engineer. So, I’m going to leave that debate to the experts in the field of garage construction, not to hypothetical speculations. Installing the charging stations outside rather than inside the garages will take the issue of garage integrity off the table. Finally, the Board is elected by the community not only to ensure that the Corporation is fiscally accountable to our oversight entities such as HUD, Well Fargo and HCR but also to ensure that the Corporation’s physical assets and operating income are safe and sound. Management is a valuable partner as are the shareholders and the elected Board in making all fiscal decisions that will have long-lasting impacts on the sustainability of this affordable housing experiment of which we each play an important and necessary role. Please feel free to share your comments and suggestions via email at csampson@riverbayboard. com. Have a safe and healthy day.

Riverbay’s Official Website is:

www.coopcity.com

Public Safety ––––– (Continued from page 7) Please make all drivers in your household aware of this new law. New York State is using the slogan, “CELL PHONE IN ONE HAND, TICKET IN THE OTHER,” to promote this law. Drivers should consider taking a Defensive Driver Training Course. These courses teach drivers tactics in becoming a safer driver plus provide an insurance discount and possible point reduction. While you may have extra time at home, now might be a great time to take an online class. The temporary discount some insurance companies have given can continue after the discount period is over. The National Safety Council offers an online class for persons interested in learning how to drive safer, receive an insurance discount and reduce points on your license. The online course is offered at www.ddcnsc.org/ny and costs $24.95. That price is cheaper than the course has been in past years. The course is an interactive, informative course. You have one month to complete the course in as many sessions as you desire. Users have three attempts to score at least 75% on the exam at the end to receive credit. The online course offers the same benefits as the live course. A computer with a flash drive is required; visit the website for more information. Be aware of pedestrians and bike riders when operating a motor vehicle. Bike riders must refrain from riding bicycles near buildings and shopping centers. Bicycle riders must respect pedestrians at all times. Everyone needs to share the road safely.

Remember, if you consume alcoholic beverages; be sure to designate a driver who will not drink. Never operate a motor vehicle if you have consumed alcoholic beverages. Always buckle your seatbelt; it will save your life in a serious collision.

Avoid distractions and excess speed when driving; these are the two leading causes of collisions within New York State. Please remember the dangers of speeding. Simply put “Speed Kills” so “Slow down and Live.”


Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Garvey ––––– (Continued from page 1) School went back to Court, asking for a further extension, without tendering any rent. On September 25, 2023, the Court denied that request. As of August 31, 2023, the Garvey School owed $210,273.57 to Riverbay for the 950 Baychester Avenue location, as well as $61,855.47 for unpaid rent at 100 Dreiser Loop, a second Riverbay location. Tellingly, the Garvey School has not offered to pay those arrears totaling $272,139 in exchange for an extension, nor offered to pre-pay the nine (9) month extension it requests, nor offered any documentary evidence to support its statement that it has a NYC Department of Education approved location to move to in 2024. That lost income is paid by Riverbay’s shareholders, many of whom are struggling to survive on a fixed, limited income. We acknowledge your request but respectfully decline to grant an extension to the Garvey School. Respectfully

Marvin Walton Executive General Manager

Co-op City Times Photo Submissions When submitting club articles with pictures to the Co-op City Times, please DO NOT EMBED picture/s in your Word document. Rather, send the picture/s as an attachment along with the Word document for proper print reproduction. The images should be 300 DPI. All submissions must be emailed to: cctimes@riverbaycorp.com. Thank you.

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Co-op City’s Senior Martial Arts Champ on Winning Streak Co-op City shareholder Michael Miller, father of Kungfu and Karate champion, Matthew Miller, has had several martial arts tournament successes over the past few weeks. Starting with King of New York held at Mount Vernon High School on Sunday, September 17, Michael Miller placed second in the Black Belt Top: Mike Miller 3rd from left; and Senior Forms division and at right, with Hanshi Williams competed against the legendary Hanshi Derrick Williams, winner of thousands of trophies and medals and hundreds of grand championships. “It was an honor competing against Hanshi Derrick Williams, a South Bronx native and a world champion expert teacher of over 45 years,” Mr. Miller said. The following week, Sunday, September 24, Michael Miller competed at the Battle of the Bronx karate tournament, winning first place in the Senior Black Belt Traditional Forms division and then placing second in the Open Forms division. “It was truly a wonderful experience competing in my hometown, the Bronx, and winning first place,” he said. “The judges caught my slight error in doing one of my forms and rightfully deducted points. Therefore, I was grateful that I could still place second.” This past Saturday, October 14th, Mr. Miller also competed in the Fury of Champions held in Queens and took first place in the Senior Black Belt Traditional Forms division and then placed third in the Black Belt Open division. “I may not have won in the Open Division but at least I placed. I just have to improve and train harder,” Miller said. “In any case, I love the experience and the fellowship of my friends in martial arts.” Michael Miller holds the rank of Sensei (teacher) and was just recently promoted to the rank of 4th degree and holds the title of “Renshi,” which means “polished teacher.” “I’m still learning and growing and have a long way to go,” he added. “I encourage everyone here in Co-op City to never stop training and to learn some form of martial arts and even self-defense because we live in a very aggressive and violent society. Learning self-defense will increase your chances of making it home alive if attacked, especially during the evenings when it’s dark. I often ask women when I’m in the elevator with them, why do they stay glued to their phones instead of watching their surroundings? I could be a mugger ready to rob them especially while wearing a mask during Covid.” Michael Miller’s next stop is the Karate Tournament of Champions, New York State’s biggest martial arts tournament, to be held in Queens, New York on Sunday, Nov. 19th. Matthew Miller will also be competing in that tournament.


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023 Director’s Viewpoint –

Daryl Johnson

Board Meeting Review, 10/11/2023 We had an interesting board meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. So, let’s review some of the main points from this meeting. Orderly Meetings Previously, we had some wild outbursts during our board meetings because some directors would show outright disrespect towards other directors. Like disrespectful children, some directors would start talking out loud as soon as other directors would start talking. Then, it was on! But, now, our president has stated that some directors will have to leave future meetings if they act up. Pelham Bay Park Robberies Can you believe that some incredibly evil criminals are so bold and crazy that they’re using scooters to rob people in Pelham Bay Park? Please be careful around this area. Auto Theft – 400 Vehicles Stolen Can you believe that a combined 400 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen just within the North East sections (Co-op City, Pelham Bay, etc.) of the Bronx? New Business A cooperator will be renting a space at 161 Dreiser for hair braiding and hair care products. Two Turnkey Contractors Split $3,360,000 We had a brief discussion about the board and management working together as a united team. However, does this concept mean that all board directors should vote yes to every resolution that’s presented during a meeting? No! Good board directors should always be willing to vote in accordance with the concept of looking out for the best interests of their community. Thereafter, they should be willing to explain their vote to their community. Now, with this understanding, let’s review a resolution about two contractors that restore apartments here. This resolution states that: “the board authorizes the release of $3,360,000 as follows 1. Cove Improvements, LLC. add $1,680,000, and 2. Rainier Restoration, LLC, add $1,680,000.” Riverbay can charge former shareholders for damages that occurred in their apartment. Thereafter, Riverbay pays about $17,000 just to restore a 1-bedroom apartment. So, our contractors will receive about $12,000 just for labor. Then, Riverbay will issue about $5,000 in materials to our contrac-

tors for that 1-bedroom apartment. So, let’s get this straight. Our former shareholders are charged good money for damages to their former apartment. Therefore, are all of these formerly occupied apartments in bad shape? No! Regardless, these contractors are going to receive about $12,000 for labor plus about $5,000 in materials just to restore a 1-bedroom apartments. Now, some people might try to justify this business arrangement. However, they need to remember that everyone here has to pay for these outrageous business practices. Bottom line: In my opinion, there is no way that two apartment contractors should be splitting $3,360,000. Second, there is no reason why contractors should be receiving $12,000 for labor and $5,000 for materials just to restore a 1-bedroom apartment here. Can Riverbay account for the $5,000 in materials that are issued to these contractors? If not, change the policy so that all contractors can bring their own materials here. Moreover, we need to bring in minority and women-owned businesses so that they can compete for our contracts. Bottom line: Riverbay needs to establish charges for specific work in apartments. Then, contractors can bring their own materials here. No Smoking Policy Shortly, a resolution will be brought forth to stop smoking in all areas of Co-op City. So, there will be no smoking in our apartments, our buildings, our offices, our stores, or even outside of our buildings. Now, some people might think that their smoking is not bothering anyone. However, the fumes from their smoking are traveling into other apartments or other areas of our community. Therefore, let’s look at some word-for-word medical facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in relation to secondhand smoke: Health problems caused by secondhand smoke in adults who do not smoke include coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, as well as adverse reproductive health effects in women, including low birth weight. Adults who do not smoke and are exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20–30%. Secondhand smoke can cause sudden infant death

syndrome (SIDS), respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children. Women exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have newborns with lower birth weight, increasing the risk of health complications. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than infants who are not exposed to smoke from burning commercial tobacco products. SIDS is the sudden, unexplained, unexpected death of an infant in the first year of life. Infants who die from SIDS have higher concentrations of nicotine in their lungs and higher levels of cotinine (a biological marker for secondhand smoke exposure) than infants who die from other causes. Since 1964, about 2,500,000 people who did not smoke died from health problems caused by secondhand smoke exposure. Bottom line: Based on these facts, I hope that everyone will understand why we must enact a no-smoking policy throughout our community. Close Do you see the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke? Therefore, we must pass a resolution as soon as possible. Thank you. Contact Information Please send a letter to: Board Director Daryl Johnson, Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475. Currently, here is my ONLY email account: djohnson@riverbayboard.com. I will never ask or accept money from anyone. Therefore, please do not respond to any message with my name on it that requests money, money transfers, gift cards, personal information, or anything from you. And, please do not ever send money or anything to anyone because you saw my name on a false message. Also, please call me ONLY at 718-671-4544 if you would like to have a brief discussion with me. And, please hang up your phone immediately if someone calls you and says that they’re Daryl Johnson or is associated with me and asks you for money or anything else. Okay, that’s it for now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may God bless you and your family. Thank you.


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

The African-American Association of Co-op City History: The African-American Association of Co-op City’s name emerged in 1989 from former incarnations, called the Afro-American Club of Co-op City, the African-American Caucus and the Black Caucus, with the first being formed circa 1970. Join the African-American Association of Co-op City Remember: Membership is $15/year for a single membership and only $25/year for your household. You can Zelle us your payment to become a member using our email address. Email: aaaccpower@gmail.com. Call us at: 929-430-3255. The African American Association of Co-op City, P.O. Box 702, Co-op City Station, Bronx, NY 10475. New Rates Effective November 1 Single membership, $25/year and $35/family-household membership. Mission Statement: The intention of the African-American Association of Co-op City is to elevate the inhabitants of the community to their greatest potential. To serve and offer cooperative economics standards by meeting the financial needs of the community and supporting each other. To provide cultural awareness, training classes, programs, educational scholarships and social activities for the young and seasoned. To take these ideals to the next level by creating a smart community, taking advantage of technological advances that will allow the next generations to compete in an ever-changing society. AAACC Meeting & Events Nov. 4: Open Mic (Dreiser, Room 15), 4-8 p.m. Nov. 19: General Meeting, 3 p.m. Dec. 2: Open Mic (Dreiser, Room 15), 4-8 p.m. Dec. 9: Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration (with the Coalition of African-American Churches & Community Organizations) The AAACC sponsors the following programs for your participation Belly Dance Classes with Xonia Wilson – Contact: Xonia, 646-301-9438. Evening Line Dance Classes with Cynthia Dixon – Contact: Cynthia, 917-903-7073. Yoga & Pilates Classes with Meena SharpeHicks – Contact: Meena at 917-863-1507. Co-op City Baptist Church “Gospel Line Dancers” with Joyce Smith – Contact: Joyce, 718-320-0714. “Each one of us multiplied by all of us equals a force for good.” ––Michelle Marbury New York State Education Department

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Help Protect New York’s Waters DON’T FLUSH Unwanted Household

Medications or Pour Them Down the Drain

Return to collection sites. or

Mail back using a

pre-addressed envelope from your pharmacist. or Toss in the garbage after mixing with something undesirable such as coffee grounds or dirt.

Building 6 Association

Building 8 Association

Greetings, neighbors. We hope this finds you in good spirits and health. The Building 6 Association is busy building back better. Last week, we added Halloween decor to our lobby. Thanks to Mr. Coriano and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Parris for gearing up for our Frightfully Fun Night on October 31 from 5-7 p.m. in the lobby. Our first official Building 6 Association General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 25 in Dreiser from 6:30-8:30 p.m. where chairpersons of committees will be placed so Building 6 Association can be ran efficiently and effectively. I am so excited that several neighbors have signed up for the Adopt a Neighbor program, which displays neighbors bringing the care back into the community. As said before, I encourage everyone to get their Covid-19 boosters, flu, or RSV vaccines if over 60 years so we all can be happy, healthy and productive heading into the holiday season. Until next time, I pray for safety over all. Godspeed. ––Lauren K. Lassiter

We would like to welcome our new shareholders to Building 8. Please join our Building 8 Facebook page if you have any questions about the quality of life in our building. Just a reminder, on October 21 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., we will be in the lobby to collect donations for our lobby holiday decorations. We will be having a Building Association meeting in November. Check the bulletin board in the lobby for more details. Be safe and kind! ––Azalea McDavid

Stay Vigilant: Be mindful of your surroundings at all times. Pick your head up from your phone while walking, and especially when crossing the street.

www.dontflushyourdrugs.net

Good news, our Association Room in the B-side lobby is ready for our first meeting on October 23 at 7 p.m. We are looking forward to seeing everyone. We are happy to have the heat on, but sorry for the cold weather. Compactor Rooms: Please fold the big boxes down. It is difficult for the porters and it holds the elevators up much longer. Read the instructions on the door. Laundry Room Etiquette: Hopefully, the laundry room bathroom will be finished soon. Do your part and take your clothes out of the machines on time. Continue to respect your neighbors. Happy birthday to all. Our prayers to all who lost loved ones. Please check on the sick and shutins. If you see something, say something. ––Betty Leak

and Assemblyman Michael R. Benedetto present:

DIABETIC FOOT ULCER EXPO Please join us as we discuss the importance of diabetic foot care and proper diabetic shoe fit to improve foot health. Thursday. 16th November, 2023 11.00 AM - 2.00 PM Dreiser Community Center 177 Dreiser Loop, Bronx, NY 10475 11AM -12PM

Town Hall discussion with experts in Diabetic Foot Care

12PM - 2PM

Interact with Vendors

Register now using the QR code: For full instructions or a map of collection sites, visit:

Building 22AB Association

VENDORS:

Healthfirst will provide information on its products and services


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023 Director’s Viewpoint –

Leslie Peterson

A Better, Fairer Way for Shareholders and Community Organizations Greetings to everyone. As we get closer to another season and the cool air teasing and whispering, winter is coming, let’s pause for a minute. Let’s be thankful we get to take a deep breath in peaceful surroundings. We should pray for that same peace around the world. Thank you to all who attended the Co-op City Branch NAACP 50th Anniversary Gala. What an awesome event. Looking forward to the next 50! November General Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Early Voting is Saturday, October 28, 2023 – Sunday, November 5, 2023 November General Election Absentee Ballot Request Deadline is October 23, 2023. Please make sure to exercise your rights, rights that were fought for and lives that were lost to provide you this opportunity. Use it! I hope you were able to attend the Bronx Metro North Public Workshop: Co-op City Station Planning – Wednesday, October 18, 6-8 p.m., Section 5 Community Center, 135 Einstein Loop, Bronx, NY 10475. There are four stations being built and Co-op City is one of them. The workshops are provided so you can learn about the planning efforts, ask questions, and provide feedback to support this ongoing project. Don’t wait until after and have suggestions; the time to express them is now. Due to the conflict in scheduling, the Active shooter workshop has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 1, 2023, same place and time. Room Rental Rates: At the most recent Riverbay Board meeting, a discussion was held regarding the rental fees for the community center rooms. Renovations of the Dreiser Center in particular (paid for by shareholders) were made to open up the room for rental to outside entities and generate revenue. Outside businesses were not able to rent space in the past and had a tendency to go through shareholders and have them rent for them. What seems to have happened is, as a result, the shareholder and organization amounts were in-

creased. Nothing wrong with that at first blush except those increased amounts were cost prohibitive. Several events hosted by organizations in the past are no longer taking place because of the cost to do business. Was an increase warranted, yes but not the amounts suggested. For example: Room B increased from $1371 to $4050 (adding an additional $2500); Auditorium ABC went from $3285 to $7200, an increase of $3915, almost $4000. Organizational rates were also increased a bit less but still costly. We must find a better, fairer way for our shareholders and organizations to use its own facilities. EV Chargers: Recently, a discussion was held at the Open Board meeting regarding the installation of chargers for electrically powered vehicles. There was a presentation followed by questions asked about the chargers, the number of spaces and the placement of the chargers. In the following weeks, additional conversations were held at meetings attended by some Board members requesting further clarification. So for the record, I want to state, haste makes waste and we are intending on doing our due diligence and provide what is best for our complex. Electrical vehicles are here and we anticipate more will be purchased by shareholders residing in our development. That being said, we want to accommodate our residents by doing what is prudent and safe and in the best interest for our community. More information will be provided and shared as we proceed. Riverbay Committees: I hope shareholders take the time to join one of the standing committees. Doing so gives you more insight on how things work and how and why matters are decided. Doing so will also enlighten you and help to dispel the many myths that sometimes take on a life of its own in our community. NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees: 1. There is an import-

ant hearing that took place on October 18th at 10 a.m. The hearing was about the retirees’ co-pay case before Justice Lyle Frank, at 80 Centre Street, Room 308. The issue before the court is whether class action status should be granted to retirees. The courtroom space was limited so there was an update that was given after Court. Awaiting the outcome. 2. INTRO 1099 is a Local Law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to protecting the health care choice of retired employees of the City of New York. They need 34 Councilmembers and currently have 17. Ask your councilmember. New York City Council Members... Sign on to Intro 1099. Sometimes doing the right thing brings a hardship. And we understand that. But if it is the right thing to honor the promises the City made and retirees relied on, that is the right decision. We know you will do the right thing. (From the NYC Organization of Public Retirees). The Reparations & Remedies Community Act – This Bill was currently passed in the NYS Legislature (A.7691/S.1163A), and would create a Community Commission to examine the impact of slavery and its legacy on living Black New Yorkers, and make recommendations for just compensation. Get involved by visiting: BPHACAUCUS.COM/ REPARATIONS and contact Governor Kathy Hochul and tell her to sign the Bill today! When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have the courage to standalone and be counted.” –Eleanor Roosevelt I am pleased to be of service to the community. I can be reached by e-mail at lpeterson@riverbayboard.com.


Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

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14

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Co-op’s Second Skate Night Party

It’s HAPPENING in Co-op City! BY P.M. CAMPBELL

Co-op City residents laced up, and wished each other good luck at the Friday the 13th Skate Night party. Participants could hear DJ Rob Scott’s music while walking from the Bellamy Townhouses to the event on the Bellamy Loop Basketball Court. Frankie Waters’ “Kids Sk8 Program” provided roller skates in sizes five through twelve, and several brought their own skates, Rollerblades, and scooters. The Riverbay Fund, Riverbay Corporation, and Council Member Kevin C. Riley co-sponsored the event, following the success of the September 8th Skate Night Party. “The community spoke,” said Riverbay Fund President and Board Director Claudia Sampson. “They were so excited and energized, and they asked that we do more Skate Nights.” Director Sampson feels that the event’s success comes from it being oriented at the whole family as young and senior residents equally engaged in the fun. She looks forward to the upcoming Skate Party on Halloween night, which will be the last of this year, and features costumes, treats, and prizes. The event’s organizers stressed the importance of safety gear, and appointed an instructor to help new skaters. “It brought back childhood memories; I feel like a kid when I’m on skates,” said instructor Kimiko Kimble. Kimble started skating in 2020, and now feels responsible to guide learners because her teachers were responsible for her. While she lives in Brooklyn, Waters invited her to Friday’s event to make skaters more comfortable. Kimble maintained that everyone should try skating at least once, because they may fall in love with it. “It gets the kids outside, off the electronics, from in front of the tv,” Kimble said. “It just opens up a new world, and if they put on skates, there is less likelihood that they’ll go out there and do something they shouldn’t.” Photos by P.M. Campbell

Community Fridge in Section 5 Continues to “Drive Out Hunger”

Do you know that Community Fridge volunteers continue to “Drive out Hunger” every Saturday, rain or shine? The program is grateful for @grassrootsgroceryny and its community volunteers who provide this service to Co-op City shareholders and neighbors every week. A gentle reminder that the fridge/pantry is open 24/7. Food donations are also delivered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The pantry gladly accept non-expired canned food and dry goods. Just drop them off on the shelves in Section 5 by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. See you there! –Yolanda Ramirez Photos by Yolanda Ramirez and Lynette Wright


15

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Halloween Spirit in our Building Lobbies!

JASA Breast Cancer Awareness Month Event

Building 6

Building 32

Building 32A To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, JASA held a celebratory event on Wednesday in Room 31 of the Bartow Center. Participants were treated to a live dance performance and lunch. The event also provided a platform for participants to hear heartfelt testimonies from individuals dealing with cancer. Additionally, representatives from Montefiore’s Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD), a program designed to support individuals who are dealing with cancer and their loved ones, were in attendance to spread awareness about the many resources BOLD offers. Photos by Brandon Ortiz

Flora Keitt ––––– (Continued from page 3) Ms. Flora’s horticultural prowess in Co-op City won her many awards from local and citywide gardening groups and organizations in the 1980’s. “This lady was out there as early as 5 a.m. looking after the garden,” said Smith. “It was a labor of love that brought cheer to the shareholders as they entered and exited the building, and improved the curb appeal of our community.” Eventually, the Riverbay Grounds department began upkeeping the community gardens and they remain a welcome sight and source of pride among shareholders. Syndee said that when her mom was around 86 years old, she was diagnosed with tumors in her head. For a couple of years, they were dormant, but last year, the tumors began to grow in size, requiring proton radiation therapy. “We were told if we did nothing, she would become incapacitated, unable to move or do anything so we started therapy,” she said. “I wish she could still do her gardening but she had to stop.” Syndee added that she and her mom enjoy the way the Grounds department has upkept the garden. “We admire how they’ve kept the garden up; it is beautiful,” said Syndee. “When we came back from therapy this week, we sat out there and looked at it before coming inside.”

Photos by P.M. Campbell

NAACP 50th Anniversary Gala

Let us know… If you have news you’d like to share with your neighbors, please email: cctimes@riverbaycorp.com

Left: Leslie Peterson with Deborah from AARP; Top: DJ Sid Nice; Bottom L: Leslie Peterson and Leah Richardson with Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and Bronx DA Darcel Clark; Bottom R: Leslie Peterson with State Sen. Jamaal Bailey; Right: Co-op City NAACP members with former branch president Jerome Rice.


16

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Velocity Track Club

National Council of Negro Women

Velocity Track Club New York competed in its second cross country meet for the 2023 season and our children performed well! On Saturday, October 14, we competed in the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational Presented by HOKA 2023 at the legendary Van Cortland Park! This meet had approximately 40 high school races, a coach’s race and a USATF youth race. We competed in the youth race, which was the first time youth were allowed to compete at the Manhattan College XC Invitation. The youth race was 1.5 miles and medals were given to the top 75. Velocity Track Club had 12 athletes participate and all earned medals. In the (girls and boys) 9-10 age division, Xoan took 12th place; Elaia, 14th; Lotus, 16th and Aniyah took 21st place. In the 11-12 age division (girls and boys), Lyon took 13th place; Liam, 14th; Makayla, 21st; Malia, 29th; Jennifer, 30th and Decision, 34th place. In the 13-14 (girls and boys) age division, Quasie took 6th place and 7th overall; Different took 14th place. Congratulations, VTC! Job well done! Our next race is the Edward JJ Bowes Invitational at Ocean Breeze on Sunday, October 22, in Staten Island. Come out and see your future Olympians! For additional information about Velocity Track Club New York or if you are in interested in supporting our beloved team, feel free to contact me via phone 914-441-6196 or email me at WATCLT@AOL.COM. You can also visit our website, Velocitytrack.org. Thank you. ––Coach Winston Dinkins

Breast Cancer Awareness Walk – Friends of NCNW Co-op City, East Bronx, and North Bronx Sections are all invited to join us on Sunday, October 22nd, to walk together to raise funds to support the fighters and survivors of breast cancer. Starting at 8 a.m., we will walk in Bay Plaza Shopping Center, 200 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY. If you are interested in walking with us, contact us at ncnwcoopcityHEALTH@gmail.com. If you are not interested in walking with us, but would like to donate to the American Cancer Society, use this link: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/ STR?pg=team&fr_id=105665&team_id2703602. NCNW National – NCNW National Chair Dr. A. Lois Keith joined NCNW section members and hundreds of protestors in Atlanta to support Fearless Fund in their legal battle to continue to provide opportunities for Black female entrepreneurs. The judge ruled in favor of the Fearless Fund, allowing them to continue their grant program uninhibited and further their mission to bridge the gap in venture capital funding for women of color founders. NCNW Co-op City Section – The Book Club met on Saturday, October 14th, in Bay Plaza, to discuss an interesting book, “We Are Not Like Them,” by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza. This interesting story was about two girls who were friends from kindergarten. As adults, they remained as close as sisters even though one was Black and the other white. Their deep bond was severely tested when the police husband of one shot an unarmed Black teenager in the community. The other girlfriend, a news reporter, wrestles with the implication of this tragic incident for her ambitions and her relationship with her lifelong friend. The theater group, on Saturday, November 4th, will be attending “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater. They are lucky because the play will be closing on November 19th. The work is set in a Harlem hair braiding salon where a hot summer day brings out some love, dreams, and secrets. On Sunday, October 15, members of Co-op City Section NCNW attended the celebration of the 50th Anniversary Gala of the Co-op City Branch of the NAACP. The very lovely affair was held at Scavello’s on The Island from 4-9 p.m. (pictured above). Social Justice Committee – We are fast approaching one of the most important elections in our lifetimes. Are you ready to vote? If you’re not sure, please pick up your cell phone and key in VOTE.NYC. At this website, you can find: 1) Your poll site for Early Voting or Election Day Voting; 2) that Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th, and Early Voting is from October 28, to November 5; 3) If you’ll be out of town, check on absentee ballot information; 4) Perhaps it’s your first time and you’re not sure if you’re qualified to vote; 5) Maybe you’d like to make some extra money as a poll worker. All this information and more you can get from NYC Board of Elections or calling 1-866-Vote-NYC. —Joyce Howard

NAACP Mission Statement: Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. Known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), it profoundly affected the struggle for civil rights and the course of 20th Century American History. Kudos to the current NAACP Board and Chairs without whom our success would not be possible. NAACP Co-op City Branch Celebrates 50-Year Anniversary on October 15 (pictured left) at Scavello’s on the Island, located in City Island. Thank you to all who made this a great celebration and to our elected officials, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, District Attorney Darcel Clark and Comptroller Brad Lander for their kind words and proclamations bestowed upon our branch. (Photo at left by Caiden Spears) October Meeting: The NAACP October Membership Meeting will be held on Sunday, October 22, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. Below is the sign-in information: Meeting ID # 820 6639 7089 and the passcode is: 079532. We look forward to seeing at the next meeting. November General Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Early voting is from Saturday, October 28, until Sunday, November 5. November General Election Absentee Ballot Request Deadline is October 23. Request an absentee ballot at the Bronx County Office located at 1780 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10457, call 718-299-9017 or go online to https:// absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/. The four choices to return your absentee ballot: 1. Mail return by November 7. 2. Bring to Bronx County Board of Election office by 9:00 p.m. on November 7. 3. Bring to early voting site between October 28 and November 5. 4. Bring to your Election Day site on November 7 between 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Remember to vote every election! Local elections are most important! The Reparations & Remedies Community Act – A bill currently in the NYS Legislature (A.7691/S.1163A), would create a Community Commission to examine the impact of slavery and its legacy on living Black New Yorkers, and make recommendations for just compensation. It is called the Reparations & Remedies Community Act and is sponsored by Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages and Senator James Sanders. Get involved by visiting: BPHACAUCUS.COM/REPARATIONS and contact Governor Kathy Hochul and tell her to sign the bill today! Follow us on Facebook: Co-op City NAACP – Become a member, gift a membership or upgrade your membership. Join the NAACP to help us do the work. We march to defend democracy. Take your advocacy further by joining in the fight for our sacred right to vote. Annual Adult: $30. Youth: $10, or Silver Life: $750. Make checks/money orders payable to: NAACP Co-op City. Mail to: NAACP Co-op City, 135 Einstein Loop, Room 36, Bronx, N.Y. 10475. To leave a message call the office phone at: 718-320-3210 or email: naacpccity2210@gmail.com. or naacpcoopbb@yahoo.com. ––Brenda Brown

Section Five Association

The Section 5 Association trusts all in Section 5 are doing well. What a storm we just had. We hope no one was affected by flooding from the relentless rain. Please stay vigilant; there are new variants, and Covid-19 is on the rise again. Keep wearing your masks when around crowds. Please keep stepping on the annoying lanternflies. Voting – Have you received your Voter’s Guide? There may be two proposals we need to vote for. If you need clarity, call the Board of Elections at 718299-2140. The early voting period begins on Saturday, October 28, through Sunday, November 5, at the Dreiser Community Center. The different hours are listed in the Co-op City Times. Election Day is November 7. NYC City Council – Councilmembers, Kevin C. Riley, Rafael Salamanca Jr., Amanda Farias and Marjorie Velazquez are sponsoring public workshops, which will cover four Bronx communities wherein new Metro-North stations are being built. Co-op City’s workshop was on October 18 in the Einstein Center in Section 5. Halloween, October 31 – Parents and adults should accompany their kids on their paths of candy giveaways. Times are no longer safe nor the same. November 1 – The Active Shooter presentation by the Riverbay Safety Dept. has been rescheduled to Wednesday, November 1, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bartow Community Center, Room 31B. Please remind your neighbors, family and friends of this important event. Ramp C – For all concerns and comments, please contact Mary Pearson via her contact info. To better understand the construction affecting our area, please go to YouTube and put “Project X Bruckner-Hutch” in the search line, text 718-219-2211 or email mpjazz@optonline.net for a link. One may reach Nelson Sweeting, president of SFA, at 646-644-4055. “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” –Henry Ford. ––H. Overman


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Building 13 Association

Building 20 Association

We hope that everyone eligible is registered to vote in the upcoming election. As a community, we must be more diligent in staying abreast of changes being suggested for our community. We need to stay abreast of proposed changes before they are made, not after, to try and secure our desired outcomes. November General Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Early Voting is Saturday, October 28, 2023–Sunday, November 5, 2023. November General Election Absentee Ballot Request Deadline is October 23, 2023. Make sure you vote! Our next monthly Building Association meeting will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Association Room in the outside rear under the portico. Our invited guests will be director of CSO Vanessa Aldea, our area CSO Property Manager Lois English and Janitorial Supervisor Omar DeLosAngeles. You will be able to get many of your questions answered at this meeting. Please attend and be prompt. If donating candy for our Halloween Treats, please bring them to the meeting. All candy donated must be pre-wrapped, no loose candy will be accepted. We are wishing a Happy Birthday to one of our best volunteers in Building 13, Elena (pictured right). We appreciate all the time and effort you share to help make our building the family it is. Thank you! On September 28, 2023, the City Council voted on Int. No. 0906, Parking for tractor trailers and other commercial trucks. This bill would require an agency or office designated by the mayor to, by December 31, 2025, identify no less than three locations where off-street parking for tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles would be feasible and appropriate. We will be planning events for the upcoming holidays so if you would like to volunteer, please let us know. The first event coming up is our Halloween candy distribution that will take place on October 31, 2023. Please feel free to use the contact information located at the end of this article. In November, we will be commencing looming workshops to make items usable during the cold weather to present to local shelters. Date to be announced shortly. Rescheduled – Active Shooter Training for Shareholders is being presented by the Riverbay Safety Department. Learn what to do in an active shooter situation, Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 6-8 p.m., Room 31B in Bartow Center (Management Office at 2049 Bartow Ave) If this is your birthday month, Happy Birthday. Married this month, Happy Anniversary. If you are homebound or sick, we miss you and pray for a speedy recovery. If you have lost a family member or loved one, we offer our condolences. “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community.” –Cesar Chavez Visit our Facebook page at: Building 13 Association Inc.–Co-op City. Our website is http://www.bldg13assoc.com or e-mail us at building13assoc@ yahoo.com. Contacts: Leslie Peterson, president, at 718-320-1370, or Wendell Mattison, V.P., at 917-330-1380. Thank you for supporting our team. —Leslie Peterson

Greetings, Building 20 shareholders, Please be advised that the Building 20 Association meeting date is Tuesday, October 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the Building 20 Association meeting room in 120 Asch Loop on the ground level, past the elevators. Flyers have been posted on every floor in Building 20. There will be two guest speakers to discuss Riverbay sales and restoration of apartments. Please attend in order to hear what their responsibilities are and so that they can answer your questions. Also, please take part in our 50-50 raffle and enjoy the refreshments. If you have not yet paid your annual Building Association dues of $10.00, please do so at this meeting. Thank you in advance. The Building 20 Association Recreation Committee, chaired by Ms. Sylvia Lewis, invites the Section 4 children, ages 5-12, to our first Halloween Kids Party on Saturday, October 28, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Building 20 Association Meeting Room in Section 20B. There will be games and prizes, food and snacks, and lots of fun. Children attending must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. The members of the Section 4 Partnership are welcome to assist. Please contact Ms. Sylvia at 347-326-5034, if you are able to help. Thank you. The holiday season is nearing and we would like to decorate our building lobbies. On Saturday, November 4th, you are invited to join us as we take inventory of the decorations that we have and the need to purchase more. Men are especially needed to help. Please come on Nov. 4th at 12:00 p.m. to the Building 20 Association meeting room in Building 20B, 120 Asch Loop. We look forward to seeing you. Have a wonderful week ahead. —Francine Jones

For up-to-date communication from Riverbay Corporation, read the Co-op City Times, delivered to your building lobby and the community centers on Saturdays, tune in to the Crawler on your home TVs and lobby monitors, and register for Phone Tree notifications.

Building 9 Association Greetings, Building 9 family and friends. The holiday season is upon us. Please be vigilant and use your best judgement while traveling, shopping, visiting, etc. The next generation of free Covid-19 tests from the government have been arriving. It is not too late to request your free C-19 test kits. Our next Building 9 Association General Membership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 26, at 7 p.m., in the Association meeting room located in Building 9B, lobby rear. Please join us to learn more about your building and your community. Halloween lobby decorating has begun. Our volunteer teams are hard at work creating fun experiences for our young ones. On Halloween day, our volunteer teams will distribute candy to children in both lobbies. Please plan to stop by our tables with your young ghouls, ghosts, and goblins. Thank you to the decorating team members: Linda Holley, Janet Yarrell, Theresa Gorden, Rosemary Bailey, Wanda Randall, Dinora Tirado, and Liz Manning for your time, in service, to our building. At the time of this writing, Bronx Community Board #10 is scheduled to meet with the Co-op City community on Thursday, October 21, in 2049 Bartow Avenue (Room #31). Please come out to learn more about what is going on in your community. The current bulletin board photo exhibition depicts our most recent back to school raffle winners. Next week, we will exhibit our September General Membership meeting photos. Please do not remove laundry carts from the laundry room. Please, promptly remove your clothes from the machines once the cycle is complete. If machines are not working properly, please report it to the proper authorities as posted in the laundry room. “For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eye on us. “ – Amanda Gorman —Linda Collins


18

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023 Director’s Viewpoint –

Anika Green-Watson

Maintaining the Highest levels of Transparency and Accountability Greetings, neighbors! I hope everyone is enjoying the recent warm weather and the final weeks of longer daylight hours. Audit Committee I write to you for the first time as the newly appointed chairperson of the Audit Committee. As many of you are aware, the Audit function is a cornerstone of corporate governance and it gives me great pleasure to lead a committee that is so vital to the health of the Corporation. The Audit Committee’s charter states, in relevant part, that the committee will “oversee Riverbay’s internal controls, accounting and management, financial reporting process and the audits of financial state-

ments…” These processes are critical to manage the corporation’s financial health and to appropriately identify and mitigate risks. I look forward to working to maintain the highest levels of transparency and accountability in our corporation’s affairs. Once the Committee reconvenes and determines its goals for the coming year, we will share updates here. I am excited to begin my tenure as your Audit Committee chairperson and dedicated to upholding a reputation for transparency and integrity in financial matters. Committee on Committees As I’ve said many times before, Board committees are the bedrock of an effective corporate

governance program. Committees bring specialization, accountability, and transparency, which help the Corporation navigate challenges and opportunities. The existence of these committees is not only a requirement but a testament to our commitment to excellence in governance and dedication to protecting shareholders’ interests. It is not too late to get involved with a committee for the 2023-24 year. If you have expertise in a committee area and want to participate, today is the last day to fill out an application to join. As always, you can contact me any time with comments or questions. The easiest way to reach me is through my Board email at awatson@riverbayboard.com. Stay well and I’ll see you around.

Black Forum Emergency Food Pantry 920 Baychester Ave., Bldg. 1A (basketball court). The pantry opens Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. for grocery distribution. Guests are eligible to pick up food once a month. Look at the last date on your pantry card. The next pick up would be one month from the last pick up or after. It is a 30-31-day rotation, on average. Black Forum will text registered guests if items outside of regular distribution become available. All guests must present a pantry card to receive food. Remember to bring at least 4-6 clean shopping bags with a handle and a shopping cart. Please do not bring black shopping bags, since they pose a health hazard. We require guests to wear masks when visiting the pantry. Section 5 guests should visit the Co-op City United Methodist Church at 2350 Palmer Avenue to pick up groceries. They open on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Religious affiliation is not necessary to receive food. New Client Registration & Re-Certification For Returning Guests The registration period for new guests and re-certification of guests from 2022 is currently closed. Please refer to this article for the upcoming enrollment and recertification dates. To pick up groceries, currently registered guests must still present their yellow pantry card. Farmers Market Coupons Black Forum has concluded the distribution of Senior Farmers Market coupons for 2023. We do not anticipate receiving any more until 2024. Use the vouchers by November 30, 2023 at any participating Farmers Market in NY including Westchester County. Coupon recipients can also call 311 for those locations. We appreciate everyone who provided photos of their fresh produce purchases or meals they made with coupons-purchased products. Bring them on! The Department of Agriculture and Markets will receive the photos. We want to show the DOA how important these vouchers are to senior citizens. Promoting an increase in the coupons’ face value is the goal. Please text images to 929-464-5520 or send them to coopcityblackforum@gmail.com. Mohegan Sun Casino Trip We appreciate the support for the recent Mohegan Sun Casino trip. All proceeds are donated to the Black Forum Emergency Food program. For more than 30 years, the program has provided food for the community (even during

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718.239.7110

COVID), and it is hoped that it will continue for as long as the community needs it. Trips like these help keep the lights on and the refrigerator stocked as we pay for expenditures, including rent and insurance. We appreciate all of your support. Please return to this article for updates on additional entertaining ways to help the Emergency Food Program. Contact Us: coopcityblackforum@gmail.com. —D. Illis

Building 21 Association Meeting Date Moved The next 21 Association Meeting will be held in our Gathering Room in Building 21B in back of the lobby if we can get 10 volunteers to help us clean out the room. With 10 volunteers, it should take us 90 minutes to get it done! We had some water damage to our room that must first be corrected. Email us if you would like to participate (there will be rewards if you do). To volunteer, email us your name and phone number. Our email is 21association@gmail. com. We want to thank all of you for continuing your memberships during our virtual meetings. Some of you had some difficulty at first and we understand your frustrations. Our guest in October will be our Executive General Manager Marvin Walton. It could be a virtual Zoom meeting on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 7 p.m. sharp or live in-person in our Gathering Room in 21B. But Wait…There’s More!!! Some wonderful, new innovative things are coming. That’s right, we will be revisiting our rewards program with members winning cash and prizes valued up to $700. Yes, it’s going to be super exciting! If you pay your dues and attend a meeting, you will receive a voucher certificate for a 2-night hotel stay for two people!!! Learn more about it at our next meeting. Our dues are only $10 for the year. You can pay your dues by placing it in the lockbox in the laundry room (next to the TV). Be sure to place it in a small envelope with your building and apartment number. Floor Captains on each floor – In Every Building Every floor of every building should have assigned Floor Captains. If you have not volunteered for your own floor, it’s time. The most active floor captains will receive special rewards. All we ask of anyone kind enough to be a floor captain is as follows: 1. Contact numbers (for your floor only): List all emergency contact numbers and distribute to each neighbor 2. Co-op City Times: Place them at each apartment door (delivered on Saturdays) 3. Elevator notices: Read them and talk to your neighbors about them 4. Promote: Meetings, clubs and gatherings 5. Encourage your neighbors to: • Pick up after themselves when they make a mess in our hallways and lobbies • Make calls to the Riverbay offices: Security – 718-671-3050; CSO – 718-320-3300 That is all we ask! That is it! Always Stay Plugged In Find a group or organization that suits you. Join the African-American Association of Co-op City, or the Spanish American Club, or one of the numerous clubs and organizations of this community and always stay plugged in to your Building Association. Information on these groups can be found in this periodical each week. If you have questions regarding the 21 Association, you have three ways of gaining information. Email: 21association@gmail.com. Call: 347.504.1821. Attend the monthly General Meetings, 4th Thursday of every month. Thank you for your participation. ––Kevin Lambright


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Building 32 Association

Building 10 Association

The Halloween decorations are up, so check them out! Thank you, to the members of the association’s executive team and others who made it happen. Also, thanks to the folks who came through and donated candy for the Halloween Candy Giveaway for Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween, October 31. Candy giveaway will be from 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. or until the candy is gone! You will be acknowledged in a future article. If you still wish to donate candy, we will consider a date for you to come and do so. Every bit helps. Watch this space! Please remember to only donate unopened bags of candy. Next, we have scheduled a General Meeting for all cooperators of Building 32 on Tuesday, October 24, at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and we may have a raffle or two. You can bring your candy donations then too. The agenda for the meeting will be collecting association dues, which are now $10, and holding elections for executive board positions. Executive vacancies desperately need to be filled. So, if you want to get involved and make a difference where you live, come to the meeting. For the Association to continue, we need your involvement! Without a Building 32 Association, then Building 32, your building, will be without representation. We would have no voice. But you deserve to be heard! So, please come out to the Building 32 Association meeting, vote and get involved. ––Ezekiel Springer Jr.

Greetings, fellow cooperators. New Cooperators – Welcome, to all new cooperators. We look forward to seeing you at the next General Membership meeting. General Membership Meeting – The Building 10 Association would like to thank our guest speaker Mr. Cary Smith III, Assistant Executive General Manager of Riverbay Corporation, for answering our questions and concerns. We are looking forward to working with you. Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “No one should suffer in silence.” If you or someone you know needs help, call 911 in an emergency, or call NYC’s DV Hotline at 1-800-621- HOPE (4673). The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788. Halloween Candy Collection – We will be accepting candy donations for distribution on Halloween in the Building 10 Association Room (located in the rear of Building 10B) today, Oct. 21, 2-4 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m. Halloween Candy Giveaway – The Halloween candy giveaway will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m. in the Building 10 Association Room. Nordic Lodge/Foxwoods Casino – This trip is currently sold out. However, if you would like to be added to the waitlist or need additional information, please contact Lisa at 646-220-0802. Back by popular demand, on Saturday, November 18, the Building 10 Association will be having a bus trip to Nordic Lodge for an all-you-can-eat Lobsterfest buffet. The trip includes a visit to Foxwoods Casino and shopping at Tanger Outlets. The cost of the trip is $219 per person (non-refundable). The next payment of $50 is due today, October 21. Final payment of $19 is due on November 11. All collections will take place in the Building 10 Association Room from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The bus will depart from 140 Debs Place at 9 a.m. sharp. Suicide Prevention – If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or in emotional distress, the number to call for help in NYC is 1-888-NYCWELL (1-888-692-9355) or text “WELL” to 65173. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number is 988, you can call or text. Someone is available 24 hours a day. Questions, Comments and Suggestions – You can contact the Building 10 Association via email at Building10Assoc@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook: “Building 10 ABC Association.” Like our page and get notified of all the happenings in and around Building 10. We would like to wish all who are born this month an incredibly happy birthday. Celebrating an anniversary this month? Happy anniversary! To the homebound and sick, we wish you a speedy recovery. To all who have lost a loved one recently, we offer our deepest condolences. Co-op City is our home. Please help keep it clean. Have a wonderful week. ––Jewel Crawford-Duncan

Building 27 Association Hello, neighbors. We trust all is well, please remain cautious, many people are getting sick with a cold. Are you wearing your masks? Avoid crowds, if possible. Rescheduled: Active Shooter presentation by Riverbay Safety Department will be Wednesday, November 1, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bartow Center, Room 3-B. Please remind your neighbors, family and friends. Voting – Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 28, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Dreiser Center. The different hours are listed in the Co-op City Times. When you receive your Voter’s Guide, there will be two proposals on the ballot, it is important that we vote for the proposals. There is a phone number, 718-299-2140, to call if further explanation is needed. October 31 – Halloween Fun Night for the kids and the Association candy giveaway will be done in Building 27B only from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents, we welcome you to accompany your kids as it will be getting dark a little earlier. Happy birthday to all in this month. We continue to offer our sincere sympathy and condolences to the families who lost loved ones. We wish all the best of health and safety. Contact Lydia Rondon at 718-583-3040 and she will gladly acknowledge your birthday by sending you a card; she is excellent in sharing good will. Also, notify her of any illness, or if a neighbor has become deceased or transferred to a nursing home. “For our community to be a better place to live is for the people of the community to understand and accept their personal responsibility for what happens.” –Davis Merritt Jr. ––H. Overman

Building 12 Association The beauty of autumn has begun. There is a swirl of color as fresh breezes blow red, orange, and gold leaves across the ground. The temperature has begun to descend, daylight shortens, and it gets dark earlier. However, the spirit of our Building 12 family is just beginning to warm up. Residents have welcomed the board and complimented us on the holiday decorations that we have installed in the building’s lobby. It is the board’s intention to work together with residents to establish and support an environment of comfort and a sense of pride. We have posted a list of committees, with a brief summary of each committee’s responsibilities on our bulletin board, in the lobby, and in the laundry room. We will discuss and explain committee responsibilities at our upcoming General Meeting on October 26th. With the board and residents working together, future opportunities will be easier to see, pursue and achieve. We welcome all volunteers. In the meantime, let’s have fun! We are hosting a holiday get-together in our lobby on Saturday, October 28. There will be a candy give-away and all residents are invited. Kids and adults can dress in costumes. Again, let’s have big fun! Saturday, October 28, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. To those who have birthdays this month …Happy Birthday! To all who are under the weather, we wish you get well as soon as possible. Remember, Speak up! Your voices will be heard. Contact us at building12board@gmail.com or submit your request on a suggestion form at the next General Meeting. —Tanya Clark-Ingram

The deadline for submitting club articles is Mondays at 5 p.m.


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023 Director’s Viewpoint –

Mary Pearson

A Different PSA from the MTA This different PSA is a public service announcement from the MTA regarding the PSA plan – the Penn Station Access plan – for the coming Metro North station. Our station, when completed in 2027 (or 2028) will be one of four stations that would connect the East Bronx with Manhattan’s Penn Station. The MTA is a state organization, but in 2018, the locals got involved with the city taking on the outreach effort: the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study – BMNS. (I was recently told that when people moved into Co-op City 55 years ago, they were told that a railroad station would soon be coming their way. If that’s true, it looks like that wait might soon be over, depending on your definition of soon.) Did you attend the open house in the summer of 2019? I recall it was a room full of young people showing off their easels and tables full of maps and info, all describing one-side, Erskine Pl. side, our side, access to the station-in-waiting. Outreach picked up again in the fall of 2022. Wednesday was our turn. And now it’s ULURP time. Do you remember ULURP from the animal shelter days? It stands for Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. (See the Section Five Association article.) Co-op City was recently invited to a BMNS Zoom session – on September 20 – organized by the Dept. of City Planning — a joint effort of the City Council and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. Luckily for us, our Councilman Kevin Riley sits on that Land Use Committee. In the Zoom, we were given the overview by Teun Dueling of the DCP. Most of the PowerPoint presentation dealt with the other areas: Morris Park, Park Chester/Van Ness, and Hunts Point. (Nothing really new since last year.) Past public comments addressed safety, cleanliness, and ADA accessibility. I would have thought those were givens. Section 5’s concern is having

access to the platform from both sides of the tracks. Co-op City is the only one of the four stations that does not have double access. For us, just one entry point is planned. And why is that, you ask? The answer given at the 9/20 Zoom was the same reason written on the City Council website FAQ page. Q: Why won’t there be vehicular access to the Co-op City station south of the tracks? A: There is no entrance planned for the south side of the tracks as this is NYC Parks wetlands (Pelham Bay Park). Now, that was true in 2018 when the Co-op City station platform was to begin further east on Erskine, across from Garage 8’s Earhart corner. But that changed. Again, luckily for us, the project demands a new bigger and higher railroad bridge be built. Somewhere along the line, it was decided the trains needed a longer distance to attain that newer height, so the new plan pushed the station west, past Hunter, Boller, and Palmer, to the new location just east of De Reimer Ave. The new location is ideal for both south-of-the-tracks access and a more-than-ample Park ‘n Ride. Of course, for the station to be fully reachable from every direction, what do we need? We need to Save Ramp C! Sure, the station could be reached from I-95 north and south, but saving the roadto-the-road-to-the-tracks from either direction of Pelham Parkway is ideal. During the September Zoom, artist renderings of the plan’s vision for Co-op City were shown. Co-op City (spelled wrong, of course) popped up on frame 22 of the presentation. It lasted for such a split second, I could barely get a screenshot of it. But I did, and it shows some sort of staircase or escalator. Since the beginning, I’ve thought, I’ve said, and I’ve written: There must be a way to connect one platform to the other. You start from the Erskine side platform heading toward Manhattan, but when you come back up you’re on the other side, the Connecticut-bound side, the south side of

the tracks. What are they gonna do? Make us walk across the tracks? That’s ridiculous! Still, I’ve continually been told: Nope. No platform on the other side. To which I say: then what is the staircase for? Hopefully that question was satisfactorily answered at the outreach last Wednesday. Last week was not our one-and-only outreach opportunity. Our community board is also involved with the station planning process. The next CB10 meeting will definitely be another not-to-be-missed event. We’ve got to stay on our toes if we don’t want the community to be taken by surprise like it was by Project X731.27’s death ramp to killer curve Hutch N exit onto Bartow and the possible imminent sacrifice of Ramp C. Ramp C’s fate is still in question, by the way. Will we continue to keep our dedicated road from Pelham Parkway to Palmer? Time and tape measures and merging plans will tell. But even if we can’t Save (all of) Ramp C, we have a really good chance to keep enough of it to Save Section 5 from the traffic and parking headaches caused by the inflexible railroad station plans barreling down on us. For those who say why bother, they’re just gonna do what they wanna do anyway, I say again and again, if you don’t try to fight it, of course they’ll do what they want to do anyway. But if you fight for something now, even if the effort is unsuccessful, maybe next time the powers that be will pay a little more attention before they decide to bulldoze right over us. In the case of the Metro-North Station, I do hope the borough and the city stick to their objective: “...to ensure planning around the stations meets the needs of the local communities they will serve.” Because as it stands now, the plan for our community doesn’t even come close! I’ve got links to info you might want. You can reach me at MPearson@RiverbayBoard.com or call/text me at 718-219-2211. Thanks.

Get Involved! Co-op City is Your Community! Broun Place Townhouse Association Good day, neighbors. We are very happy to announce the next Broun Place Association Meeting is at Building 23, at their Townhouse Association meeting room, October 26, 2023 at 7:15 p.m. We invited Mr. Warren Mitchell, Assistant General Manager. We will be discussing many issues including Lanternflies and what we know about them and Riverbay plans on ridding our community of them. Your questions on other issues are welcomed, too. We had our walkthrough with Mr. Mitchell and jotted down a few issues to follow up on. Director Mary Pearson’s viewpoint includes an easy to understand, explanation of the Section 5 road monstrosity. The Section Five Association also explains the plans and includes a great photo. Going West on Pelham Parkway new traffic control lights have officially been installed and are working now. They are at the end split of Pelham Parkway going east and/or north to I95. A long time ago, I had submitted a plan for an idea going north, as an option was missing. Now this ramp into Section 5 under “Killer Curve” is bringing more traffic from the Hutch. We should all study it. It affects all of us. We are very lucky in Broun Place to include the Burrus family as residents. Vivian and Kevin Burrus, were highlighted in last week’s Co-op City Times for working with “Bronx Hot Sauce.” This is brilliant. Wish I had some to taste. Mrs. Burrus is our vice president and I always look forward to her input on issues. By the way, Broun Place Townhouse Association is involved with the Construction Committee, the Buildings and Grounds Committee and Residential Sales. I can’t always make the meetings but I get the minutes and I know what’s up. For your information, townhouse cluster numbers like Broun Place, are identified on documents with numbers above 35. Broun Place is 43. Broun Place cluster is seeking Broun Place residents to serve on our Executive Board. Our executive committee includes: Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar, president; Vivian Burrus, vice president, and Lillian Richardson, treasurer. Come be a part of our Broun Place Association. Regarding garbage, reports say that 10475 is a “clean zip code.” This just

isn’t so. I am picking up bottles, big soda cups, candy wrappers and other stuff thrown on our grounds. Regarding garbage bins in the dumpster pad, they are assigned as follows: the white bin is paper, green and blue are for all other house garbage. Disposal of mattresses requires, covering them. Neighbors, drivers and passengers, be aware and look out for children and the elderly. Parents, teach your children to look before they cross. We are having too many close calls with kids just running into the streets, especially at the basketball court. For news on Co-op City, read the Co-op City Times. The Farmer’s Market is now here Wednesday and Saturday, try it out. —Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar

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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

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Building 23 Association

Caregivers Outreach Mentorship Empowerment

Hello, shareholders and friends. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Wear “Pink” each Wednesday in October to show your support in the fight against breast cancer. Check our Association’s bulletin board in our lobby, by the elevator for upcoming Bldg. 23 Association meetings and events. Also, please continue to alert our Bldg. 23 president (929-732-4123) about your concerns/issues. Call our CSO Customer Service Group, 718-320-3300, so that you can be directed to the proper department to address and resolve your issue/s as well. Things to Know: • Our Bldg. 23 Association presented as a fundraiser, the NYS DMV Defensive Driving Class, held on Saturday, October 14, 2023. We will inform you of our next Defensive Driving class for November and/or December. • Please attend our Saturday Morning 30-Minute Self Care Sessions held in our Bldg. 23 Association Room. Time: 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Call our Bldg. 23 Cooperators’ Message Line on 929-732-4123 for additional information. • Read your Co-op City Times and all posted bulletins. There is so much information to keep you informed and safe. Halloween Treats for Kids. Tuesday, October 31, 2023. • It’s Election time again. 2023 New York City General Election, Early Voting, October 28th through November 5th. Election Day is November 7, 2023. • Remember our Association Room is available to use for social and educational events. When we see something, say something. This is our community and we want to keep it safe. Well wishes to the sick and shut-in. Condolences to those who have lost loved ones. —Betty Smith

Are you ready for the Challenge? How many informative facts do you know about Youth Caregivers? Are you ready to take on the challenge? Grab a pencil and paper and answer the questions below. Remember, it is ok if you do not get everything correct; this quiz aims not only to test your knowledge but also to help you gain more insight into the “hidden population,” youth caregivers. 1. As many as 1.4 youth caregivers between the ages of 8 and 18 provide care for an older adult or sibling. True or False? 2. Youth caregivers do not experience caregiver burnout. True or False? 3. 30% of young caregivers help with medication. True or False? 4. Children who are caregivers are more likely to have trouble with their school performance, achievement, and participation in school activities. True or false? Below are the answers to each question. Test and see how well you did. For those who answered some questions incorrectly, let us look at a few facts surrounding the population of youth caregivers: apa.org/pi/about/publications/ caregivers/practice-settings/intervention/young-caregivers. Answers: 1. True 2. False 3. True 4. True. According to a report by the National Alliance of Caregivers and United Hospital Fund, as many as 1.4 million children in the U.S between the ages of 8 and 18 provide care for an older adult or sibling. Youth caregivers are often seen as the “hidden population” because they are not discussed enough in caregiving and their struggles. For example, according to caregivers.org, “young caregivers are faced with the unique problem of caring for a loved one while they still need care. And while adult caregivers may have the option of taking leave from work, or reducing work hours, students are forced to find ways to continue their studies while taking on duties ranging from increased household chores to helping manage a parents’ medication schedule.” Youth caregivers also tend to struggle with caregivers’ burnout due to having to take on challenging roles at a young age. It was also reported that youth caregivers exhibit more anxious and depressive behaviors than non-caregivers. They also experience trouble in school and achievement because of the stress and caregiver burnout. Moreover, we must pay attention to this growing population of youth caregivers and support them with support groups, more guidance in schools; and even family members or friends can be resourceful by sharing the caregiver duties. In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, Caregivers Outreach will be hosting its 17th Annual Family Caregivers Award in-person. The event will be held in-person on Saturday, November 18, at Maestro’s Caterers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each honoree will receive a beautiful tabletop plaque. Ms. Patricia Myers, an author and speaker, will be our Mistress of Ceremonies. The world-renowned saxophone player Ashley Keiko will serenade the honorees. Quai Jefferson, New York Yankees, 2014 Hope Week Honoree, will enlighten us with insight into the day and life of youth caregivers. DJ Robert will keep us in step. For more information, go to the website at www.comeoutreach.org. ––Diane Cooper

Building 25 Association Neighbors, we celebrate eleven annual federal holidays a year and a twelfth for Inauguration Day every fourth year following an elected president. However, did you know that there are so many other days in our history that are not well known such as Celebration of the Mind Day. On October 21, 1995, this day was established to encourage people to take a break from their daily norm to explore their mental capabilities to challenge their intelligence and creativity. We all have one thing or another to worry about, but today, let us not. Consciously today, read a book, try a new language, play a game, go outside for no particular reason other than to walk around or simply stay inside and do some puzzles, as such activities will promote creative thinking, collaboration and personal growth. Wishing all neighbors born in October a happy birthday. For those of you who are under the weather, we hope you get better soon. For our neighbors who continue to lose loved ones, our heartfelt prayers go out to you. Our next Building 25 Association meeting will be held Tuesday, November 21, at 7:30 p.m. Look for detailed information posted near elevators as we get closer to the meeting date. Remember, residents of Building 25 can always address any comments or concerns by contacting our building email address at building25ca@gmail.com. If anyone has problems contacting the building email address, please let us know. We will close with the following: “Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure whether you like it or not.” –Virgil Thomson ––Wanda Bailey

If the Co-op City Times is not delivered: Call 407-666-8317 on Saturdays only, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Please remember to curb your dog! It’s the law!


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Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Goose Island Seniors 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39, Bronx, NY 10475. Resorts World, Catskills – Wed., Nov. 8. Price: $60. Slot play: $25; $15 food voucher. Call: 646-579-1701. Ace in the Hole – Tribute to Kool and the Gang, the Brownstone, Patterson, NJ; Wed., Oct. 25. Price: $150. Seats still available. Bus pick-ups: Einstein Loop, 9:15 a.m.; Asch Loop, 9:40 a.m.; Dreiser Loop, 9:50 a.m. Final payment due. Come have a delicious lunch and enjoy the disco. Make checks to Goose Island Seniors, Zelle to 347-847-1941 or $app to $StephenCarlSr. Wholistic Health Fair – Sat., Nov. 11, from 1:30 p.m.-7 p.m., 135 Einstein Loop, Room 39. A day of fun and education. Food for sale. Call: 646-5791701. Wind Creek – Thu., Nov. 16 in Bethlehem, PA. Price: $55; bonus: $25 slot play. Waitlist only. Make checks to Goose Island Seniors. Bus arrivals: Einstein Loop, 7:45 a.m.; Asch Loop, 8:15 a.m.; and Dreiser Loop, 8:30 a.m. Sight & Sound “Miracle of Christmas” – Dec. 7. Price: $220. Light breakfast on bus, show at 11 a.m. Lunch at Golden Corral after show. Call: 646-579-1701. Goose Island Holiday Party – Fri., Dec. 8, at 1 p.m. in Section 5 Center at 135 Einstein Loop, Room 39. Covered dish, bring your favorite dish or pay $15 at door. Norwegian Cruise 2024 – Hawaii, Aug. 31-Sept. 7, 2024. Call: 646-5791701.

Las Vegas Trip 2024 – Oct. 11, 2024. Call: 646-579-1701 Notary – Notary with Yvonne Menefee; Thurs. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 34 or 39. Bingo – Every Mon., Wed. and Fri. at 1:15 p.m. Members only. Admission: $5 for three cards, 12 games and jackpot. Extra cards: $0.25 each. Refreshments. Proof of vaccination. Game Day – Every Tue. and Thur., 1 p.m. Members only. Come play Dominoes, Bid Whist, watch movies, read books and socialize with other members. Call 718-379-9613. Donation: $1. Refreshments available. To all Members: Happy birthday to our members who celebrate their birthday in the month of Oct: Jacqueline Clark, Sylvia Bailey, Joan Macafity, Marilyn Sherman, Connie Bridges, Pearl L. Crichlou, Iraida (Greta) Feliciano, Daisy Benjamin, Sandy Roque, Norma Vigilance, Eleanor Alberti, Wilhemina Thomas, Edith Rosado and Javier Santiago. Sick and Shut-in: Bobbi Chin, Sylvia Polite, Guinette Romaine and Maria Mendez. Ella Thorne is in Workmen’s Circle. Mary Pilla sends her love to all. Call her at 718-753-1816. Our club is at 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39, Section 5 Center, 718-379-9613. You may call Mon. – Fri. from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Mon., Wed. and Fri. from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Tue. and Thu., 1 p.m.-9 p.m., or call/text Stephen, 347-847-1941. Email: goose.island@optonline.net. ––Stephen Roberts, Sr.

Retirees of Dreiser Loop Greetings, retirees and friends. We hope that everyone is doing well. We pray for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Gaza and for the safe return of all hostages. Entertainment Committee – Tickets are available for our annual holiday luncheon to be held on Thursday, December 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the beautiful Marina del Rey. Tickets are $110 and include transportation on a first paid, first seated basis. Daisy will be in Room 19 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. Questions may be addressed to Daisy at 718-671-6122 or 917-292-7010 and Jay at 201-310-2972. Trip Committee – The Wind Creek Casino trip on Tuesday, October 24, is sold out. The bus will pick us up in Dreiser Loop in front of H&R Block at 8:30 a.m. and will depart promptly at 9:00 a.m. On the return trip, the bus will drop off at Einstein Loop, Ash Loop and Dreiser Loop. Please contact Serita at 347-564-5722 for additional information. Carnival Cruise 2024 – Eastern Caribbean nine-day/eight-night cruise (traveling to Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), Grand Turks, and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas) on the beautiful new ship Venezia leaving from NYC on July 16 to July 24, 2024. Double occupancy rates are $1,389 to $1,819. Single rates are available on request. A deposit of $300 is due by November 2. Serita will be available in Room 19 on Wednesday, November 1 from 1–3 p.m. to accept payments for the cruise. Please contact Serita at 347-564-5722 for additional information. Newsletter Committee – The November 1st deadline is quickly approaching for the submission of articles and photographs to be included in the summer/fall edition of the “In the Loop” newsletter. Questions may be addressed to Georgianna at 718-379-5762. Membership Committee – New members and renewing members can remit a check for the $25 annual dues for 2023. Checks should be made payable to the “Retirees of Dreiser Loop” and mailed to: Retirees of Dreiser Loop, 177 Dreiser Loop, Room 19, Bronx, NY 10475. Please note “new member” or “re-

newing member” in the memo line on your check. Questions may be addressed to Mary at 718-655-9170. Happy Birthday – Cheers to all our October birthday celebrants. We wish you an incredibly happy birthday and continued peace and happiness throughout the year. Good and Welfare – We continue to keep Beverly Waller in our thoughts and prayers as she continues to recuperate. We also continue to pray for all others who are sick and/or shut-in that they will soon see brighter days ahead. Condolences – Our thoughts and prayers continue for those who have recently experienced the loss of loved ones. General Meeting – Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 1, at 1 p.m. in Auditorium C. Please save this date and time in your calendar and plan to attend. We look forward to seeing everyone there. ––Georgianna Rodriguez

AARP Chapter #4997 We are moving closer to the holiday season of 2023! With that comes more gatherings, events, parties and family get-togethers. We know from experience that also brings increases in medical issues. The trifecta for 2023 is still flu, RSV and Covid-19. They all have vaccines and the public health officials ask that all residents take advantage of the availability. Realizing that we all have our own personal preferences, be mindful to respect the rules and regulations of the places that you frequent. Remember that all offices and meetings of the AARP#4997 Chapter are mask mandated. Be in touch with your personal medical provider. We are now working on the waiting list for all available seats for our trip to Sight and Sound to see “A Miracle of Christmas” on December 7, 2023 as the bus is full. We have limited space available for the Hawaiian cruise from September 12-21, 2024. Our Tour Committee is also advertising a one-day trip to Wind Creek Casino for a musical tribute to the Supremes. The date is April 30, 2024; cost: $169.00 and you can purchase insurance if you like. For all information and reservations, please contact Ms. Wright, 718-379-3370, or Ms. Brown, 718-379-7962. Please be aware that these are private residences, so do not call after 8 p.m. on any day. On October 9, we held our General Membership meeting and would like to thank our guest speaker, Mr. Alex Wu, for his presentation on Medicare. This is the enrollment time and concerns this organization greatly. We already see that the Medicare premiums are going to be higher this year and the Part B premiums will also increase. The COLA increase for 2024 is 3.2%, which is much lower than last year. The projected rates are increasing. Part B deductible will increase from $226.00 to $240.00; Part B monthly premium will rise from $164.90 to $174.70, and Part D will now be based on your personal income. This is very new, and we should follow to see if there are any other changes coming our way. For the November General Membership meeting, President Henry has secured a guest speaker from Oak Street Health. Mr. Hughes will be presenting on the benefits of health care at Oak Street Health, which is in our area and has many resources available to our members. The meeting date is November 13 at 1 p.m. in the auditorium at 177 Dreiser Loop, second floor. Due to increasing membership, we will be meeting in the auditorium going forward. Our office hours are Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Room “0;” our number is 718-3201946 and email aarp4997@gmail.com. We do return all emails and calls on the next office day, so please leave a message. We appreciate the work of Ms. Baker, 718-379-2088, for the Membership Committee. You can continue to contact her. From Mrs. Wilson, 718-671-5493, Good and Welfare, we send prayers to Ms. Gloria Mapps on her road to recovery. We are here to serve, not to be served. ––Ann Purnell


23

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

JASA Co-op City NORC Program Invites You for These In-Person & Virtual Activities Einstein OAC Hispanic Heritage Month Event – Thurs., Oct. 26, 11-1 p.m. (music, art dance & lunch); $5. Further info., call 718-671-6761. Resorts World, Catskills – $55; Thurs., Oct. 26, Deluxe Motor Coach bus. Enjoy 6 hrs. at the casino. Group will receive a $25 slot & $15 food comp. Asch Loop, 8:30 a.m.; Dreiser, 8:45 a.m.; Einstein, 9 a.m. Depart: 5 p.m. Call NORC office, 718-320-2066. Wind Creek Casino, Bethlehem, Pa. – Thurs., Nov. 9. Deluxe Motor Coach transportation, $130. Tribute to The Four Tops, $30 bonus & $15 meal voucher. Pickups: Bartow, 8:15 a.m.; Dreiser, 8:30 a.m., & Einstein, 8:45 Call NORC office, 718-320-2066. Bartow OAC, Stop & Shop Workshop w/Tina, Diabetes Education & Support Group – 4-part series where each week we discuss a topic on diabetes & do simple diabetes friendly recipes. Thurs., 11/9, 11/16, 11/30 & 12/7 at 11:30 a.m., Bartow, Rm. 31. JASA Co-op City OAC & JASA NORC Program

Bartow

Sat., Oct. 28

Fri., Oct. 27

Thurs., Oct. 26

Wed., Oct. 25

Tues., Oct. 24

Mon., Oct. 23

Room 31 unless otherwise noted

BARTOW CENTER CLOSED (NORC) Line Dancing w/ Bartow Swingers ONLY 12-1 p.m., every Mon.

Annual Thanksgiving Day Celebration – Thurs., Nov. 16, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Einstein Center, Rm. 45, 135 Einstein Loop. Tickets: $7. Tickets are on sale in Bartow, Dreiser & Einstein Loop centers. OAC Christmas Spectacular – Nov. 29, $81. Additional info. to follow: Call 718- 671-5161. Bartow/Dreiser OAC’s – “Rock Around the Christmas Tree,” Thurs., Dec. 7, dancing, singing and a delicious sit-down family-style lunch at the Brownstone in NJ. Price: $140. Pick-ups: Dreiser, 9 a.m.; Bartow, 9:15 a.m., & Einstein, 9:30 a.m. Pay at Bartow or Dreiser Centers only. Dreiser OAC: 718-320-1345. Bartow OAC: 929-399-1394. Payment due by Nov. 6th Einstein OAC, Alvin Ailey – Wed., Dec. 20. Additional info. to follow. Call 718-671-5161. Weight Mgt. Support Group w/Gigi – 2nd Wed. of every month in rear of JASA NORC office, 11 a.m.12 p.m. Steel Drum Classes – On Wed., 1-3 p.m.; JASA

NORC office. Medicare Information – Thurs., 9 a.m.-12 p.m., JASA NORC office. Notary – JASA NORC office, Tues., 9-10:30 a.m.; Weds. and Thurs., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. By appointment. Technology Class – Thurs., 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dial in number: 929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 862 5043 9695, Passcode: 896989. Line Dance with Bartow Swingers – Wed. & Fri., 12-1 p.m., Dreiser Loop, Aud. A. Please call Einstein OAC – 718-671-5161 for appointment for: Hair Styling, 1st & 3rd Wed., 9-11 a.m.: Facials & Manicure, Mon., 1-3 p.m. Common Pantry – Scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Bartow OAC, Rm 31. Bring ID. Walmart SuperCenter – Tues., Dec. 12, Fishkill, NY. Coach bus; $45. Pick-ups: Asch Loop, 8 a.m.; Dreiser, 8:15 a.m.; Einstein, 8:30 a.m.; Depart: 4 p.m. Call Bartow NORC, 718-320- 2066.

Room 49 unless otherwise noted

Room 7 unless otherwise noted

Dreiser

LUNCH & DINNER MENUS

Mindful Mornings Tai-Chi, 9 a.m.-10 a.m., Rm. 38

Walmart - 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Chair Yoga w/ Charles Tyler 10-11 a.m. Virtual. 863-492-4183, Passcode: Dreiser23 Smartphone and tablet literacy w/ Julesa, in-person, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Walk with Ease 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Self Defense w/Jimmy, 2 p.m.-3 p.m., Rm. 2

LUNCH: KOSHER: Chicken Noodle Casserole, Stir Fry, Pasta, Tossed Salad w/Dressing; NON-KOSHER: Chicken & Broccoli Stir Fry, Yellow Rice, Sauteed Green Beans w/onions

Einstein

Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 noon. Ageless Facials & Self Care, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Rm. 35 Appointments Only

Alternate Kosher Meals are available

NO DINNER SERVED

Current Events, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. LUNCH: KOSHER: Pot Roast, Boiled Leisure Time, 10-11 a.m. Potatoes, Peas & Carrots; Library/Chat Table, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. NON-KOSHER: Spanish Style Pork Roast, Zumba w/Ola, 1-2 p.m., Rm. 2 Sweet Baked Yams, Normandy Blend Dancing Gents w/Sassy & Tommy Vegetables 1:15 p.m.-2 p.m., Rm. 2 DINNER: BARTOW ONLY Computer & Tablet Class w/Ralph KOSHER: Beef Pot Roast, Roasted 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Potatoes, Beet Salad, Pear; NON-KOSHER: Dial in number: 347-893-2966 Chicken & Broccoli Stir Fry, Yellow Rice, Meeting ID: 854 2963 5300 Sauteed Green Beans w/onions, Apple Passcode: Dreiser23 LUNCH: KOSHER: Vegetable Cutlet, Stay Well Exercise w/Odessa Hair Care 4U, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Morning Meditation, 9:30 a.m.Roasted Pumpkin, California Blend Vegs. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. 10:30 a.m. NON-KOSHER: Whole Wheat Mac & Spring in Your Step Stretch, Bereavement Hour w/Dorine Arthritis Exercise w/Damion Cheese w/Butternut Squash, Baby Carrots & Tone, 10-11 a.m., Rm. 45 1st and 3rd Wednesday 11 a.m.-noon, Room 2 w/Parsley Sauteed Green Beans w/Onions 12-1 p.m. Walk w/Ease, 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m. Action Bodies In Motion, DINNER: BARTOW ONLY Afternoon Crafts w/Ines & Julesa Line Dancing w/Cynthia KOSHER: Stir Fry Tofu w/ginger, scallions, Brown 11 a.m.-12 noon, Room 45 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Wed. & Fri., 12:30-1:45 p.m. Rice, Tossed Salad w/dressing, Banana; NONSelf Defense w/Jimmy, 2 p.m.-3 Dominoes w/Jose, 1-2:30 p.m. Prize Bingo & Board Games KOSHER: Spanish Style Roast Pork, Baked Sweet p.m., Rm. 2 1 p.m.-2 p.m., Rm. 49A Yam, Normandy Blend veg. w/Steamed Green Peas Dinner Hour: 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. LUNCH: KOSHER: Roast Turkey, Arthritis Exercise w/Damion, Mashed Sweet Potato, Roast String Beans 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Wellness Morning, 9:30 a.m.-11 NON-KOSHER: Tuna Fish, Classic Visual Arts w/Laura via Zoom Art & Design Class, 10 a.m.a.m. macaroni Salad, Cucumber Chick Pea 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 12 p.m. Salad Knitting/Crocheting with w/Lynne Walk w/Ease, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and Betty, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. DINNER: BARTOW ONLY Salsa Dancing, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Computer Learning w/Steve KOSHER: Roasted Turkey Breast, 1-2 p.m. Movie Afternoon (BeetleJuice), Mashed Sweet Potato, Steamed Green Pace Health, 11 a.m.-12 noon 1:15 p.m.-3 p.m. Card Games with Frankie NON-KOSHER: Baked Fish w/Rustic Tomato 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Sauce, Ziti Pasta, Steamed Mixed Veg., Orange Dinner Hour, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Walk w/Odessa, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Blood Pressure, 12-1 p.m. (1st and 3rd Tues.) Health and Wellness w/Ann 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Adult Coloring, 12-1 p.m. Smartphone and Tablet Class w/Julesa, 1:45-2:45 p.m. Dinner Hour: 3-4:30 p.m.

Never Too Old To Learn Spanish, 10-11 a.m., Rm. 35 Bridge To Care Arthritis Exercise, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Rm. 45 Creative Arts & Painting, 1-3 p.m., Room 35 Go Easy on us Computers 2:30-3:30 p.m., Rm. 40

Massage Therapy Sewing w/Joy, 9 a.m.-noon, Rm. 2 Coloring for Calmness 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Knit & Crochet w/Loretta, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Manicure, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Chess Club, Alert & Alive, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., Rm. 4 Line Dance with Cynthia 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Line Dance w/Sassy, 1 p.m.12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Blood Pressure Screening, 2 p.m., Dreiser Aud. A Dinner Hour, 3-4:30 p.m. 10:30 a.m.-noon Watercolor Art Class w/Dmitriy, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. NEW: Drama Club w/Daisy Bingo w/Gay Brown, Windley 3-4 p.m., in the back Let’s Get It On Zumba, 1-2 p.m., Room 45 1:20 p.m.-2:50 p.m., Rm. 4 of the JASA NORC office Intergenerational Arts & Menu Fee for lunch is $2 & $5 for guest. ALL meals served w/margaCrafts w/Denise, 10 a.m.-noon rine and fresh milk. Menu subject to change without notice. Salsa with Rasheed For information, please call: (718) 320-2066. Schedule subject to change 10 a.m.-11 a.m. without notice. Word Games Payments for trips at the Bartow office can be made Monday – Friday: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. & 2 p.m.-4 p.m. only Bingo on Saturdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the back of Funded by: The NYC Department for the Aging, the NYS Office for the Aging and Riverbay Corporation. the JASA NORC office.

LUNCH: KOSHER: Roast Chicken, Potato Kugel, Ratatouille NON-KOSHER: Italian stew, Perfect White Rice, Steamed Spinach DINNER: BARTOW ONLY

KOSHER: Roasted Chicken Legs, Potato Kugel, Cole slaw, Challah Bread; NONKOSHER: Italian Stew (kidney beans & veg.), Perfect Rice, Steamed Spinach, Apple Saturday: Lunch served at 12:30 p.m. until finished: BARTOW ONLY KOSHER: Filet of Sole Florentine, Rice Pilaf, Normandy Blend Veggies, Apple; NON-KOSHER: Tuna Fish Salad, Classic Macaroni Salad, Cucumber Chick Pea Salad, Banana


24

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Church of the New Vision Greetings, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Church of the New Vision and Pastors Kenneth and Deborah Hodge welcome you to worship with us at 115 Einstein Loop North, Bronx, NY 10475. Church phone: 718-671-8746 and Pastor’s phone: 914-522-5039. Our scripture verse for 2023 is: (Luke 10:27) “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Sunday service will be at 11:00 a.m. Masks are required and temperature will be taken. Noon Day Prayer Line now open 12-12:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Service and Bible Study start at 7:00 p.m. The Conference Line Number: 646-769-9900; Access Code: 3099388. Please mute your phone. October 15 Worship Service Theme: “In Times Like These Preach the Word.” Scripture: (2 Timothy 4:1-5 NKJV) “I charged you therefore God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure affections, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (Matthew 4:4, 1 John 17:14-19) Save the Date: On Sat., Oct. 28, from 12-4 p.m., the Church of the New Vision, in collaboration with Amen Ministries, is sponsoring a Breast Cancer Awareness presentation. In addition to this presentation by Montefiore-Einstein, flu shots and Covid-19 vaccines will be available. Join us for a day of health information, fun and games and light refreshments. We continue to pray for speedy recovery for the sick and shut-in and offer condolences to families who lost loved ones and good health and wellness for all. Your contributions, tithes and offerings can be mailed to Church of New Vision, P.O. Box 753037, Einstein Station, Bronx, New York 10475. Thank you. ––Brenda Brown

Circle of Christ Church - Iglesia Circulo De Cristo Priorities: Saved Soul/Wasted Life (2 Timothy 1:7) “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.” Fear – a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil and pain whether the threat is real or imagined; a cowardly, shameful emotion caused by a weak, selfish character. Power – ability to act; capability of accomplishing something; all the spiritual resources needed for every trial and threat. Love – a feeling of deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend; seeking to please God and seeking other’s welfare before one’s own. Sound mind – restraint of one’s actions or feelings. A disciplined, self-controlled and properly prioritized mind. With faith in Jesus, Peter could walk on water. (Matthew 14:27-31) “But immediately He spoke to them, saying, Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid! Peter replied, Lord, if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water. He said, Come! So, Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the effects of the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, Lord, save me! Immediately, Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Without faith in Jesus Peter could curse and deny Him. (Matthew 26:69-75) “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one maid came up to him and said, you were also with Jesus the Galilean! But he denied it falsely before them all, saying, I do not know what you mean. And when he had gone out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, this fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene! And again, he denied it and disowned Him with an oath, saying, I do not know the Man! After a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, you certainly are one of them too, for even your accent betrays you. Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not even know the Man! And at that moment a rooster crowed.” Same Peter – different focus – when he was called by Jesus he could what Jesus said – when he focused on his own abilities he could curse and deny Jesus. It is the power of God working through us that accomplishes what God has called us to do.

Schedule 147 Dreiser Loop (lower level) Sunday: Spanish, 9 a.., and English Service at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday: Prayer from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wed. & Thurs.: Non-perishable food distribution from 12-2 p.m. Thursday: Prayer/Bible Study, 6:30-8 p.m. Friday: Youth Service (Operation Grace), 6:309 p.m. Saturday: Women’s Fellowship, second Sat. of the month, 12-3 p.m. Young Adults, third Sat. of the month, 12-3 p.m. Men’s Fellowship, fourth Saturday of the month Blessings in Christ, ––Pastor Luis F. Ramos Jr.

The Church of St. Thomas The Apostle (Liberal Catholic) Greetings, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The clergy and members of St. Thomas pray that you are experiencing blessings and peace no matter what your situation may be. “Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10) The intent for next Sunday is serenity. Given the situation of the world today, and the personal problems many of us face, we can all use some serenity in our lives. Jesus said: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) Women’s Day: This Sunday, October 22, is our annual Women’s Day. Women are asked to wear white in solidarity. There will be a presentation with a special guest to sing for us. We thank Rev. Brewer for organizing this. All are invited! Sock Collection: Socks are an often overlooked clothing item when collecting for the needy. With cold weather coming upon us, it is important to ensure that those in need are prepared. Rev. Brewer will be collecting socks at the church for distribution to the needy. Please bring as many new pairs of socks as you can for men, women and children. Sunday, October 22: • 11:00 a.m. – Women’s Day Celebration: Praise, worship, and communion service • Fellowship with light refreshments following the service Bible Lessons: • (2 Peter 1:5-8, 3:8, 11, 12, 17, 18) • (Matthew 11:28-30, 12:17-21) Prayer: “Unchanging and immortal God, who reignest forever serene above the waterfloods, grant us to gain and hold that holy peace which naught on earth can vex; through Christ the Prince of Peace, who liveth with Thee and the Holy Ghost. Amen.” We are located in the Dreiser community center, Room 2. ––Rev. Dorian Miceli

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Serving all cultures & faiths


25

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Anglican Church St. Joseph’s is located at 155 Dreiser Loop, lower level, Co-op City, Bronx, NY 10475. E-mail: stjosephsepc@aol.com. Church phone number: 718-320-0844. Priest-in-Charge: Fr. Simeon O. Johnson, cell: 917-227-4303. Greetings! Due to the ongoing pandemic and related repairs to our space, St. Joseph’s Church has made some adjustment to our schedule of services until further notice. We are gradually getting back to normal. In-person worship service will be conducted by Father Simeon Johnson at the church on Sunday, October 22, at 9 a.m. as well as via teleconference. Also, please remember to tune in for the usual teleconference weekday prayers at noon. To participate by teleconference, dial 1-425-436-6344, Access Code: 509 898, followed by the # sign.

Last Sunday, we witnessed the baptism in a beautiful service and welcomed our newest Christian, baby Xuri Azariah Hart, into our church family. Sincere condolences to our members, families and friends who have recently lost loved ones. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace. To our sick and shut-in, we extend our well wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery. Happy birthday and best wishes to all those who will be celebrating their birthday during the month of October. We at St. Joseph’s are collecting food (cans and dry goods) for the food pantry at Grace Episcopal Church in West Farms. If you can, please contribute for those in need. Grace and Peace! ––Merville Chambers

Co-op City United Methodist Church/IEMU de Co-op City Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds Come and Visit Us – We are a multi-ethnic and bilingual, Bible-centered congregation with spirit-filled worship. We offer a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship and service to God and our community. Services are held in-person at 2350 Palmer Avenue across from Building 30. Parking is available. You can also participate with us via Zoom (904-468-5745) or Facebook Live (United Methodist Church of Co-op City). You are always welcome. –Pastor David Jolly “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40 NIV) Let Us Pray: “God, we rejoice in you. We adore you, Jesus. We feel your presence and your blessings. We come to worship you, to lift your name on high. Jesus, you gave everything for us and for the world. We thank you always. Jesus, in your Great Commandment, you command us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, strength and spirit and to love our neighbors as ourselves. You also teach us to pray without ceasing. We come to you in prayers for our neighbors that they might come to know your love, your peace and your mercy. Use us to be your ambassadors. Strengthen us to be your witnesses even as we know that you go ahead

of us to prepare every heart and every person. We do not pray for the sake of our church, or even for the survival of the church. Far more important is that the world will come to love you as you as you have loved the world and us. We pray in your precious name, Jesus. Amen.” –Pastor David Jolly May God’s peace prevails within our homes, community and in the world. Come and Receive a Blessing New Worship Schedule: First Sunday of the month – Bilingual Service: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. All are invited to have Communion and birthday celebrations from the previous month. Other Sundays – Servicio de Adoración en Español at 10:00 a.m.; English Service at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday: Online Bible Study (Zoom: 904-4685745) Español at 12:15 p.m.; English at 6:00 p.m. Thursday: Bilingual Prayer Service in-person: 10:00 a.m. Food Pantry: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Upcoming Events: Save the dates. All are welcome! Sunday, Oct. 22 – Bilingual Service, 11:30 a.m. Church Conference after Service – All are invited (potluck, bring a dish to share with others). Sunday, Nov. 19 – Bilingual Service, 11:30 a.m. • Anniversary and Thanksgiving Service • Reaffirmation of membership/baptism • Collecting canned goods to distribute, Nov. 19 ––Graciela Abadia

Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City The synagogue would appreciate donations to keep our shul open. If you would like to help go to www.Gofundme.com/Traditional-Synagogue-of-Co-op-City to donate, or mail to the Traditional Synagogue located in Section 5, 120 Erdman Place in the rear Lobby of 27B. The synagogue will be serving a hot Kiddush meal after Sabbath morning services. Entrance to our synagogue for Saturday services is on the side door of Building 27B. General Information: The Traditional Synagogue is located in Section 5, 120 Erdman Place in the rear lobby on the ground floor of Building 27B; it is handicap accessible, no steps. Our phone number is 718-379-6920. Office hours are Thursday and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Please call the office before you attempt to come over. If no one is in the office, please leave a message. The synagogue has services on Saturday morning starting at 10:00 a.m. After services, we always have a Kiddush. The synagogue has a Facebook page: Traditional Synagogue. The synagogue needs donations. Whatever amount you can donate, big or small, would help. The synagogue needs men to help make a minyan. There are a lot of Jewish men who live in Co-op City who do not come to services. Please come by 10 a.m., so we can take out the Torah. The Traditional Synagogue is the only synagogue in Co-op City. Sabbath ends on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 6:59 p.m. Candle lighting for Friday, Oct. 27, at 5:38 p.m. Good and Welfare: We sell tree certificates in honor or memory of a loved one. The cost is only $15 per tree (if you want to buy a tree, call 347449-5005). Mazel Tov to all having simchas. If you are ill, wishing you good health. If you asked the Rabbi to say prayers for a sick person, you should make your donation to the synagogue. To all Members: Happy birthday to the following members who will be celebrating their birthday in October: Marilyn Sherman and Bruce Gitelson. Please send me your name and I will add it to the list. Fun and Games: After services and Kiddush, members play games. Your support for the Traditional Synagogue is greatly appreciated. Wishing all our members and friends peace and good health. ––Bruce Gitelson

Iglesia Cristiana Marcos 16:15 Location: 135 Einstein Loop, Room 33, Bronx, NY 10475. Salmo 3:3-5: Mas tú, Jehová, eres escudo alrededor de mí; mi gloria, y el que levanta mi cabeza. Paz de Dios sea con ustedes. Iglesia Cristiana Marcos 16:15 les hace una cordial invitación a la comunidad hispana a congregarse con nosotros. El Dios que creó el universo, el ser más poderoso de la historia, te ama personalmente. Él te ama, no solo a la gente en general, sino tú como persona. Se preocupa por tu vida y quiere ser parte de ella. Incluso si has pasado toda tu vida huyendo de Dios o has hecho cosas de lo que te arrepientes, él todavía te ama y quiere tener una relación contigo. Si usted está buscando una iglesia para adorar a nuestro Señor Jesucristo, si se siente solo, herido, deprimido y necesita liberación nuestras puertas están abiertas para recibirlos. Cristo está dispuesto y es capaz de liberarte y sanarte. Servicios Ofrecidos: Lunes: Servicio de Oración, teléfono, 9:00 p.m. (564-888-5521; Código: 696248) Martes: Estudio Bíblico, Zoom, 8:00 p.m. (3447367643; Código: 3jEJ2W)

Jueves: Servicio de Oración, teléfono, 9:00 p.m. (564-888-5521; código: 696248) Viernes: Estudio , Zoom, 8:00 p.m. (3447367643; Código: 3jEJ2W) Domingos: Servicio de Adoración, 11:30 a.m. 1er Domingo del mes: Santa Cena Que Dios le bendiga y recuerda que Cristo te ama. Iglesia Cristiana Marcos 16:15 Location: 135 Einstein Loop, Room 33, Bronx, NY 10475 Psalms 3:3-5: But you, Jehovah, you are a shield around me; my glory, and the one who raises my head. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Iglesia Cristiana Marcos 16:15 cordially invites the Hispanic community to come gather and worship with us. The God who created the universe, the most powerful being ever, loves you personally. He loves you, not just people in general, but you as a person. He cares about your life and wants to be part of it. Even if you’ve spent your whole life running from God or done things you regret, He still loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. If you are looking for a church to worship our

Lord and Savior, if you feel alone, wounded, depressed, and need liberation, our doors are open to receive you. Jesus is willing and able to free you and heal you. Psalm 36:5-7: Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Services Offered: Monday: Prayer Service,telephone, 9:00 p.m. (564-888-5521; Code: 696248) Tuesday: Zoom Bible Study, 8:00 p.m. (3447367643; Code: 3jEJ2W) Thursday: Prayer Service-telephone, 9:00 p.m. (564-888-5521; Code: 696248) Friday: Zoom Bible Study, 8:00 p.m. (3447367643; Code: 3jEJ2W) Sundays: Worship Service, 11:30 a.m. 1st Sunday of the month: Holy Communion God bless you and remember, Jesus loves you. —Blanca Santana


26

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

Co-op City Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams and the Co-op City Baptist Church family invite you to join us for Worship Service tomorrow in person at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. We are located at 135 Einstein Loop, Room 50 (lower level). Masks are required. The service is also available on Zoom at https://us04web.zoom. us/j/9623430102 or Zoom Telephone Conference Line, (646) 568-7788, Conference ID: 962 343 0102, Password: 788175#. The Church Free Call Conference.com Line dial in number is 857-3570254, Access Code is 660065# . Rev. Williams asks everyone who calls into the Sunday Worship service to use Zoom through your computer or dial in using the Zoom information shown above. The Praise Dance Ministry of the CCBC is now enrolling new members for the 2023-2024 season. The age requirements are 5-17. Our first rehearsal will be Saturday, October 7th, at 1:30 p.m. If anyone is interested in joining, kindly contact Deacon Dorothy Chambers-Byrd at 646-842-2458 or Sis. Kerrie-Ann Sutherland at kamsutherland626@gmail.com. The Scholarship Ministry invites you to cruise with them aboard the beautiful Celebrity Equinox ship on Tuesday, July 30, to Thursday, August 8, 2024. Ports of call are Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Price for inside double occupancy staterooms is $3,995.00 per person. The price includes cost of cruise, airfare, taxes and transfers. There are only three staterooms remaining at this

price. To make the required deposit of $450 per person double occupancy or $900 for single occupancy, please contact Ms. Hermena Smith, travel agent, at 646-780-9813. A credit card is required for the initial deposit. Also you will receive an insurance quote at that time. If you are interested in a balcony stateroom, please contact Sis. Claudette Cutlar Day at (718) 379-0541 or Sis. Brenda Robinson at (718) 671-1271 to receive a quote. Sunday School classes for children and adults is held at 9:30 a.m. Bible Study will be held on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. There will be no 5 p.m. Wednesday class this week. Prayer Warriors prayer service is held on Thursdays at noon. Friday Mid-Morning Prayer is held at 10 a.m. and Friday Evening Prayer is held at 7:30 p.m. every Friday, except the first Friday of the month. There will just be one service at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th. The church has a free app available on your app store by putting in Co Op CBC. This APP is open to all. Please keep each other in prayer and be wise in your decisions. Please continue to mask-up, practice social distancing and stay safe! GOD will strengthen us as we continue to travel through this storm. GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 The Co-op City Baptist Church exists to glorify God and to establish a living community of people who follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ through worship, prayer, Bible Study and fellowship. We seek to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the church through ministry. —Marilyn C. Williams

Pentecostal Tabernacle Co-op City Pentecostal Tabernacle invites everyone to attend worship service at 100 Co-op City Blvd., Building 22A. Mailing address: P.O. Box 204, Bronx, N.Y. 10475. Sundays: Sunday School for all age groups begins at 10:30 a.m. Midday Worship Service starts at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday: Prayer and fasting service every Wednesday morning at 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer Meeting will also be held Wednesday evening starting at 7:30 p.m. Effective Fervent Prayers change things. God’s power is released through His Word. Come and study the word of God; it can change your life. Friday: Worship service will start at 7:30 p.m.

All night services will be held online. To join, please call 720-740-9746, Access Code: 8876631. Focus: Right Living. Micah 6: 1-9 Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains; and let the hills hear thy voice. Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. O my people, what have I done unto thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me. For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt and redeemed out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord, wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shown thee O man, what is good; and what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? The Lord’s voice cried unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name; hear he the rod, and who hath appointed it. What God requires of us is to do justice, or strict equity and mercy desiring to always do good to everyone. To walk humbly with God in obedience to his words, also be constant in prayer. Here we see how God was pleading with Israel to do what is right and stop worshiping idols. He brought them out of the land of Egypt and redeemed them out of the house bondage. And He sent before them Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and remind them of what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that they may know the righteous acts of God. Let us walk humble before God and worship him in spirit and truth. For further information, call 718-324-0334/718-320-4218. —Rev. R. Sibblies

RIVERBAY ANONYMOUS WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE If you have knowledge or a concern of possible violations of law, accounting irregularities, or other suspected wrongdoing affecting Riverbay, you are encouraged to report it to law enforcement, or you may report it through an anonymous hotline by the following methods: Go to an independent website to complete an online disclosure form, www.lighthouse-services/riverbaycorp; Call the following independent third party whistleblower hotline at 1-833-290-0009 (English); or 1-800-216-1288 (Spanish); Send an e-mail to reports@lighthouse-services.com (the email must include “Riverbay” in the subject); or Send a fax to (215) 689-3885 (the fax must include “Riverbay” in the subject of the report).


27

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

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Learn To Drive Here: Alpha & Omega Driving School Register at www.Anods.net Call/Text: 347-449-2905; 347-391-2217; Cell: 718-600-6563; Book: 929-666-5085

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Co-op City Department of Public Safety (718) 671-3050 www.ccpd.us If you SEE something, SAY something! RECORDS WANTED

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28

Co-op City Times / October 21, 2023

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