Riverdale 08 01 2013

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Volume XX • Number 31 • August 1 - 7, 2013 •

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Stanton: We should ‘celebrate’ strip club owner Daily News article confirms the revelations in our reporting

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER and the RIVERDALE REVIEW STAFF City Council candidate Clifford Stanton received a major setback on Sunday, when the Daily News published a full-page exposé of his ties with strip club kingpin Robert Gans. Particularly galling was that the article fully confirms previous accounts of the questionable relationship published over the past two weeks here in the Riverdale Review.

“Rather than do the right thing and return these thousands of dollars in tainted contributions,” said Andrew Wolf, editor and Publisher of the Riverdale Review, “Stanton has compromised all of our communities by putting out the welcome mat for Robert Gans, the owner of Scores and the Penthouse Executive Club.

“Informed voters need to ask the question, ‘why is Gans targeting our community as the only campaign he is funding so far this year?’ What does he expect in return in exchange for such a large investment? What is the quid pro quo? “ Observing that Stanton has adopted a “shoot the messenger” defense for his actions by attacking the Riverdale Review, Wolf noted that the Sunday Daily News article “confirmed every fact we have revealed as the truth.”

“It is time for Stanton to take responsibility for subverting the political process by insinuating strip club money into this race,” noted Wolf. “Anyone that believes that there are no strings attached to such a large campaign contribution, must have been born yesterday.” Stanton’s main opponent, attorney Andrew Cohen, has demanded that Stanton return the tainted funds.

The issue took center stage at the broadcast debate held by BronxNet host Gary Axelbank Monday night.

As his opponents looked on incredulously, Stanton stated that the strip club impresario Gans should be “celebrated.”

Last week Stanton called Gans a “philanthropist,” and insisted to the Daily News that Gans is running “cabarets,” not strip clubs.

At the debate, ignoring the latest article in the Daily News, once again Stanton implied that it all was a fiction concocted by the Riverdale Review.

A second issue has emerged with Stanton’s efforts to remove a third candidate, Cheryl Keeling, from the primary day ballot by having his paid staffers challenge her nominating petitions at the Board of Elections.

Stanton fears that Keeling, as one of his opponents in the Democratic primary race for the 11th District Council seat soon to be vacated by G. Oliver Koppell, will cost him votes in the attempt to overtake front-runner Andrew Cohen.

Following the BronxTalk debate on Monday featuring Stanton, Keeling and Cohen, Keeling discussed how Stanton, who hasn’t been “appointed, anointed or elected,” is trying to have his way and subvert the democratic process.

In June, he simply asked her to withdraw.

“He said, ‘Let’s make a deal.

You get off the ballot and I will owe you. It would be a big help to me if you did,’” Keeling recalled.

She would not speculate on what he envisioned he’d “owe” her if she agreed.

“How can he take it upon himself to make the determination as to who he wants out of the race?” she said. “He would have been perfectly happy to push me out of the race or have me leave the race because it was better for him. He wasn’t taking into account the desires and needs and rights of the district.”

The Stanton campaign has also challenged many of the signatures on Keelings’s ballot petitions. Keeling said Stanton had told her on many occasions that he had no intention of challenging her candidacy, but during the debate he claimed he’d merely broached the subject with her.

Keeling was puzzled by the zealousness of the challenges.

“In a thousand signatures, I had more than 7,000 objections,” she said. For example, “over 200 times, they challenged me that a person was not registered or not enrolled in the party.”

Another challenge claimed there were many out-of-district signatures.

Keeling said she was told to expect that as many as 50 percent of signatures taken on the street are likely to be from people

Full-page article that appeared in Sunday’s Daily News confirms the facts revealed by the Riverdale Review over the past several weeks. who live in a different Council district, but her percentage was considerably less.

“When you’re getting signatures in the supermarket and on the corner, you’re going to get some that are out of district,” Keeling said. “But out of 1,009 signatures, I had only 146 out of the district—which is a very low number.”

“They challenged me 55 sep-

arate times on ‘no address,’” she continued. “But the Board of Elections found just one. So how did they make that error 54 times?”

The Stanton campaign also challenged the witness statements on some petitions, claiming they were altered. This kind of challenge can invalidate a number of signatures. Some witnesses were challenged as not

being registered Democrats. But the very same witnesses were not challenged for that reason on other petition pages, Keeling explained.

Many of the challenges are “just so obviously wrong,” she said. “They just put challenges down without even checking themselves to see whether the person was registered.”

Continued on Page 2

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

2

Engel demands storm recovery grants for co-ops and condos Congressmen Eliot Engel (D-NY-16) will co-sponsor legislation to make it easier for condominiums and cooperatives to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance, and eliminating the cap on aid so that residents can have full access to recovery from natural disasters, now given to stand-alone homes. Currently, they are only eligible to receive loans, not grants, because they are classified as “business associations” under FEMA rules.

Rep. Engel said, “Co-ops and condominiums are just as much a home for millions of families as a house is a home for millions of others. People living in these dwellings suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy – the same as house-owners suffered – and are not immune to the costs and stresses which come from storm damage simply because they don’t have a yard and a garage. Some co-op and condo owners are in desperate need – almost one year since the storm ravaged our coast – and FEMA must support their needs just as much as any other Americans.”

Co-ops and condos are housing communities consisting of individual apartment owners who help manage and maintain housing, common areas, and residential infrastructure. FEMA rules limit the resources for co-op and condo owners and hinder their attempts at recovery.

Currently, FEMA offers grants for recovery efforts through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) as well as the Public Assistance (PA) Program.

Stephen Budihas, President of the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives, said, “We are more than happy with Congressman Engel’s legislation to treat co-op and condo residents as homeowners. They were inadvertently excluded by FEMA from federal assistance after Superstorm Sandy, and while we hope there will be no more disasters like Sandy, we are happy to be eligible for assistance in the event of such an event.”

The legislation Rep. Engel will co-sponsor has garnered support from Local 32BJ, the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA), and the National

‘Strip Club Stanton’ Continued from Page 1 Keeling wondered why Stanton has been spending “lots of time and money on these challenges.”

“For me, with 40 days left to the election, to use your time and money and volunteers or paid personnel to challenge other people when you could use them to be out campaigning—where’s the logic in using your assets in a way that you don’t even have any calculable way to estimate the return?”

Keeling said she doesn’t think Stanton’s scrutiny of her petitions will make him more popular with voters.

“The only person that is helped by him challenging me is Andy (Cohen). And that’s because he’s not going to get my votes. Everyone is going to be so irritated.

Democracy is better served when you have more to choose from.”

Though she entered the race nearly two years after Stanton, she’s feels that she’s made some headway. “I know how much ground I’ve gained because I’m out there,” she said.

“We have a saying in tennis: Never play down. If you play with someone who has less skill than you, you take your game down. So I’m trying to avoid playing down. I do not want to get in that cesspool with Cliff Stanton.”

Keeling continues her efforts to remain on the ballot, despite Stanton’s campaign to force her to end her campaign.

Associations of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC).

“Thankfully, my district was mostly spared from the worst damages from Sandy, but other co-ops and condominiums elsewhere were not so fortunate.

The next storm could hit closer to home, literally, for us and we need to act now to prevent the suffering caused by the loss of their homes. The old expression is that ‘home is where the hearth is,’ and nowhere does it mention conditions of structure or financial management. FEMA needs to remember that families make their home in a variety of locations and those living in co-ops and condos cannot be left out and forced to fend for themselves,” added Rep. Engel.

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By HAYDEE CAMACHO A proposal to build a mixed housing development for low income seniors and emotionally challenged adults was met with strong criticism by members of Community Board 8 and angry outbursts by area residents at its July 23rd Land Use Committee meeting .

The site at 6469 Broadway, a shuttered gas station, is on the opposite end of the street which houses the Riverdale Manor Home for Adults and the Van Cortlandt Motel. It is adjacent to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Riverdale House which also provides senior housing.

The project is a collaboration between the non-profits, Selfhelp Community Services and Communilife. It will be Selfhelp’s first venture into senior housing in the Bronx. The organization runs seven senior housing buildings in Queens. The development will be modeled after Communilife’s recently opened Prospect Residence in the South Bronx, a mixed housing unit which

provides housing to low-income seniors and special needs individuals.

The development will include 85 studio apartments, with 26 units earmarked for individuals with special needs. Both organizations plan to have staff in the building to provide social service assistance to residents and their families. For seniors, eligibility would begin at age 62 and rents would be about $800 a month. Half of the senior units would be earmarked for area residents who would be chosen by lottery. The building will feature 24 hour security and will also include 5,000 square feet of leasable space. The local day care, Bedrock, has expressed interest in the space.

Dr. Rosa Gil, founder and president of Communilife said the special needs individuals would be screened to evaluate that they are capable of living in a mixed housing setting and would have case workers who would monitor them. “The ability for them to function in the community has to be high otherwise this will not work,” said Gil. “If we find that the individual

cannot live in this type of facility, then we are responsible for making sure that we find a level of housing for that person.”

Land Use chairman, Charles Moerdler, noted that the Department of City Planning found that Community Board 8 has one of the highest concentrations of seniors in the city. Members of the community applauded when he added that it would not be “in the best interests of a balanced community” to increase those numbers.

The size of the apartments, 420 square feet, was a big concern to Moerdler, who recalled that the studios at the independent living facility Atria were initially designed to be that size.

“That is troublesome,” he said. “I urged Atria to take a second look and indeed they did.”

Another big issue of concern was the lack of parking in an area where it is already scarce. The development has earmarked 10 spaces on site for residents and 5 for staff.

“Parking is becoming more difficult as more families have more than one car,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. “In Riverdale it’s not quite the same as other communities because Riverdale does not have the best public transportation system compared to other areas of the city. Seniors do drive and people age 62 certainly do drive even with the income limitations,” he added.

Evelyn Wollfe, Vice President of Real Estate Services at Selfhelp , noted that many of Selfhelp’s facilities in Queens are located in areas that are comparable in public transportation accessibility to the Riverdale community.

“It may be hard to believe,” she said. “We have found that most of our residents do not have cars. She also addressed concerns that residents of Riverdale would not be eligible for the housing. “We have done market studies. Our investors have done Continued on Page 5

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3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

Proposal for mixed senior and mentally challenged housing

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

4

Around the schools...

Manhattan College

Three undergraduates are the first urban agriculture interns at the new Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES). The student will learn farming in an urban setting as they grow organic produce on the college’s rooftop garden. The internship was designed in collaboration with Groundwork Hudson Valley, a Yonkers-based environmental restoration and community development nonprofit that teaches urban farming techniques and hydroponics. All yields generated from the interns’ efforts will be donated to Groundwork’s Get Fresh Yonkers Farm Co-Op, an initiative that helps deliver fresh, affordable produce to the community. “Urban agriculture is one of the new frontiers of urban resilience and sustainability, and our rooftop garden is giving our garden interns valuable skills and knowledge as they experiment with different ways of growing produce in this setting,” said CURES director Dr. Jeffrey Myers, the internship adviser and an associate professor of English. “Our partnership with Groundwork Hudson Valley allows the interns to follow the process through to marketing and vending, gives them insight into issues surrounding food justice, and affords them a chance to give back, in this case literally, to the community.” Manhattan’s partnership with Groundwork aligns with the College’s Lasallian values of education and service.

Local Scholars

SUNY Oswego in Oswego, New York, has announced that the following students were accepted into its 1,500-member freshman class this fall: Grecia R. Arellano, a graduate of the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy; Yekaterina Basman, a graduate of Professional Performing Arts School; Shannon M. Galindez, a graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School; Aiyana L. Huger, a graduate of the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy; and Andres A. Ramos, a graduate of the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy. Oswego, one of 13 university colleges in the SUNY system, enrolls 8,000 students on its 700-acre lakeside campus with 13 residence halls.

It offers more than 110 majors, minors, graduate and cooperative programs through its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education. Admission is competitive—the mean high school grade average of 2012 incoming freshman was 90, and the average SAT score was 1110. U.S. News and World Report has listed SUNY Oswego among the top public regional universities in the North for 2013. Princeton Review includes Oswego in its Best Northeastern Colleges guidebook and includes it on its 2013 list of best value colleges and universities in the nation. SUNY Oswego provides more than $4 million in merit-based scholarships.

Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey, has announced that Sobeira Duran earned a B.A. in individualized studies this spring and that Matthew Afon was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2013 semester.

Students must achieve a GPA of at least 3.2 for the dean’s list while enrolled in at least four courses or 12 letter-graded hours. FDU, New Jersey's largest private

university, enrolls more than 8,000 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students. It offers an internationally recognized core curriculum and a wide variety of innovative programs in education, nursing, psychology, business, computer science, visual arts and public administration. In addition to its New Jersey campuses in Teaneck and Florham, the school has campuses in Wroxton, England, and Vancouver, Canada.

The Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck features a university atmosphere with an international perspective, attracting students from the U.S. and around the world. Undergraduates have access to the resources of a major graduate center and nearby New York City as an integral part of their learning experience. FDU's College at Florham is on the former Vanderbilt-Twombly estate in suburban Morris County. Its focus is on providing outstanding on-campus and residential living opportunities, handson-learning experiences, strong graduate and professional school preparation, and customized options. Fairleigh Dickinson was the first American university to own and operate an overseas campus and the first in the world to require distance learning of its undergraduates.

Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has announced that Alex Osei, son of Kofi and Mercy Baffoe and a graduate of the Bronx Leadership Academy High School, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2013 semester. To qualify for this distinction, students must earn a semester GPA of at least 3.25. Franklin & Marshall was established in 1787 with a gift from Benjamin Franklin.

It enrolls 2,200 students, who live and study as members of a “college house”—one of five on-campus residences that serve as hubs of academic, extracurricular and social engagement tailored to students’ preferences under faculty guidance. The college receives more than $500,000 in research grants each year. Most students participate in community service, and a quarter of the students belong to any of ten Greek organizations.

The State University of New York at Oneonta in Oneonta, New York, has announced that Alice Fonta earned a B.S. degree in communication studies and that Araya Henry earned a B.A. degree in philosophy. They were among 998 students awarded degrees this spring.

SUNY Oneonta’s 6,000 students can choose from 70 undergraduate majors and 15 graduate programs. It ranks 47th among the Top Public Regional Universities in the North region in U.S. News and World Report’s 2013 rankings and is listed as 59 among Kiplinger's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges. It was recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for excellence in community engagement, named in the Princeton Review's “green” college guide and listed on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Oneonta was established as a state normal school in 1889 and became a founding member of the state university system in 1948. The college is known for its outstanding faculty, strong academic programs, educational technology, community service activities and scenic campus.

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Every Sunday from 9am to 2pm Now until Nov. 24, 2013 at MS/HS 141 in the arcade Independence Ave. & West 237 Street

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The market is supported by a grant from the UJA-Federation of NY Advertising sponsored by The Riverdale Review

By HAYDEE CAMACHO Over the past 10 years it seemed all anxious parents, students and teachers throughout the city could do was watch helplessly as Catholic schools that had been a fabric of their communities for close to 100 years were shuttered. The numbers dwindled from 345 schools to 243. After the latest round of school closures which included Blessed Sacrament School in the Bronx, the alma mater of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a new partnership was formed to prevent further closures.

The Archdiocese of New York and the Partnership for Inner-City Education have signed an agreement that grants the Partnership broad authority to offer educational, administrative and operational services to six inner-city Pre-K through 8th grade Catholic schools. The Partnership for Inner-City Education has worked and invested $200 million over 20 year period of working with Archdiocese schools.

The Partnership network of schools will launch in September 2013 and is the first time that an independent organization has been given the opportunity to manage a set of schools within the Archdiocese of New York. The Partnership will assume financial responsibility for all of the capital costs and operating expenses of these schools.

The six schools are located in the Bronx and Harlem and have more than 2,000 students from pre-K through 8th grade. All have a long working relationship with the Partnership. In the Bronx, the schools are St. Athanasius, Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart on Nelson Avenue. The schools in Harlem are Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary, Our Lady Queen of Angels and St. Mark the Evangelist.

“This will keep us open,” said Marianne Kraft, Principal of St. Athanasius. “We have to find new ways. The old stuff doesn’t work any more.”

“Our mission is to provide low-income students an outstanding academic preparation and strengthen the schools operationally and financially so they can continue to be there long-term and be a beacon in their neighborhoods,” said Jill Kafka, Executive Director for the Partnership.

Trying to figure out how to pay for repairs at many of the school’s older buildings has long been a source of constant headaches for the school principals. With the partnership, principals at the six schools won’t have that worry anymore. “While education is important, if you’re in a building that has a broken boiler, it doesn’t matter,” said Kafka.

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work with all of the schools to ensure a smooth transition and ongoing management.

“We need to try new administrative models to address the challenges faced by Catholic education today and to ensure that our schools thrive and stay strong for future generations. We can’t afford ‘business as usual.’” stated Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.

Russell L. Carson, Chairman of the Partnership’s Board of Trustees, added, “Our Partnership schools will provide students with the academic preparation, values, and life skills that they need to lead fulfilling and productive lives, and we look forward to working collaboratively with the Archdiocese on behalf of these students.”

Proposal for mixed senior and mentally challenged housing

Continued from Page 3 market studies and we have determined there is more than ample population in the Riverdale area that qualify for this housing.”

The development site is currently undergoing remediation to excavate and remove the gasoline tanks. The ground surface over the tanks would be treated to remove any contaminants and testing conducted to ensure complete removal. The work is being overseen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Site remediation and construction costs are estimated to be $25 million. The development has received approximately $13 million in Federal Housing Administration bonds and a $500,000 grant from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz.

Moerdler indicated that the developers did not need board approval for the project since they were proceeding as of right complying with all applicable zoning regulations. However, he urged them to reconsider increasing the size of the units, reducing their number and increasing parking.

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so we will spruce them up and fix anything that needs to be repaired.”

The Archdiocese of New York will retain governance oversight of the six schools and will continue to own the school buildings.

They will also continue to supervise and implement all religious curriculum and programs.

The Partnership will implement extended academic days at the network schools and offer a broad program including art, music, sports, technology, community service and after-school programming. They will also provide additional professional development for faculty and honor the terms of the current Federation of Catholic Teacher’s Union contract.

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“You are part of an aggregation in an area that has a lousy facility not far away from you which I view detrimental to the benefit of the community,” he said. “I am someone who holds great personal admiration for Selfhelp and I know Dr. Gil’s outfit is the best in the city and the state. But what you proposed here does you no credit.”

Near the meeting’s end, the board proposed a resolution which would recommend withholding of the FHA funds and the Borough President’s grant. A vote was taken to table the resolution for 30 days to give the developers time to come back to the board with a redesigned plan.

Following the meeting Dinowitz released a statement urging the sponsors to present a new plan to the community board. “I am very skeptical of the prudence of combining the senior housing and the supportive housing in the same building, “ he said. “Furthermore, I find it difficult to believe that anybody in the immediate area would even qualify to live in this building. For all of these reasons I cannot

lend my support to this development.”

In response, Wollf issued a statement saying “it is generally recognized that the best option for providing a safe and supportive environment for the formerly homeless and seniors is to have smaller groups live in strong communities with the skilled administration of organizations such as Comunilife and Selfhelp. This building gives people a chance – that’s what New York is all about.”

Near the site of the proposed development, residents had mixed feelings about the addition of a mixed housing residence. Fifteen-year Riverdale resident Peter McMahon had concerns about how the special needs population would be managed. He said he and his wife are considering moving because of the presence of Riverdale Manor. “I don’t mind the low income residents but you can’t walk up the street without people coming down and begging from about 5 in the morning,” he said.

“I don’t mind as long as they keep them (special needs individuals) in check,” said life-long Riverdale resident Jim Milligan. “Where else are they going to put them, in the South Bronx?” he shrugged.

5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

Archdiocese unveils new strategy to save Catholic schools in NYC

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

6

Library Reading Hour sponsored by Rotary Club

Youngsters 3-12 years old are invited to participate in the Reading Program on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at the Kingsbridge Library, 291 W. 231st St., 1-1:45PM. Readers will be grouped by skill level and encouraged to read, helped with pronunciation and word understanding, and for those without reading skills, interpret pictures. There is no charge for participation.

The Rotary Club of Riverdale is part of Rotary International and sponsors the library reading project as a local community service. Volunteers who would like to help in this once monthly program, first Saturday of the month, except for holiday weekends, are invited to contact Karen Pesce, 718-549-4469.

Rising Stars to present Disney’s Mulan Jr.

The Riverdale Rising Stars performing arts camp, Summer Stage proudly presents the Bronx premiere of DISNEY'S MULAN JR. for four performances only: Wednesday, August 7 at 7pm, Thursday August 8 at 7pm, and Sunday August 11 at 1pm and 5pm.

As the Huns besiege ancient China, a brave young girl defies her infirm father to take his place in the army, eventually saving the life of the Emperor and bringing honor to her family and her ancestors.

DISNEY'S MULAN JR. is a heartwarming celebration of culture, honor, and the fighting spirit.

Featuring a cast of 40 young actors ages 5 to 14 from Riverdale, Yonkers, Upper

Manhattan, and beyond, performances will be held at the Riverdale YM-YWHA, located at 5625 Arlington Avenue (just off of Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street), in Riverdale, Bronx, NY. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased online at www.RiverdaleRisingStars.com, or at the door prior to showtime. Tickets are also available by calling Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006. For group sales, please email performingarts@riverdaley.org.

BAE to present Irresistible Latin Rhythms

Bronx Arts Ensemble presents Irresistible Latin Rhythms on Sunday, August 4, 2 pm at Rockwood Drive Circle in Van Cortlandt Park and 4 pm at McGinley Center at Fordham University. Latin jazz pianist and vocalist Willie Rodriguez and his band will perform Latin favorites including selections from Willie Rodriguez's album "Live at Don CoQui". In case of rain, the Van Cortlandt Park concert will be moved to Vladeck Hall in the Amalgamated Houses at Hillman Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South. Please call the BAE office after 11:00 am if the forecast calls for rain. Seating is provided in Van Cortlandt Park but the audience is urged to bring folding chairs. Enter Van Cortlandt Park at Broadway and Mosholu Avenue to reach Rockwood Drive Circle just a short distance from the stables. Vehicle entrance for Fordham University is on Southern Blvd across from the NY Botanical Garden.

For more information, visit bronxartsensemble.org, call 718-601-7399, follow us on facebook.com/bronxartsensemble or

twitter.com/bxartsensemble.

Willie Rodriguez has been a fixture in Latin and Latin/Jazz music since the 70's.

He has played and recorded with several Latin and Jazz artists throughout his career.

Among his many recordings notably he is on Machito's Grammy award winning 1982 Salsa Big Band on the Timeless Label, Utrecht, Holland and on Celia Cruz' Grammy award winning 2002 album on Sony. He has also recorded with Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Johnny Pacheco and Steve Turre. His career continues as an educator where he earned a doctorate in music education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. William (Willie) Rodriguez is the founder and principal of the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music.

The concert is presented by Councilman James Vacca, the City of New York Parks and Recreation and the Bronx Arts Ensemble.

Schervier hosts memorial service to honor residents

Bon Secours New York Health System's (BSNY) Schervier Nursing Care Center, specializing in long-term and rehabilitation care in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, hosted its bi-annual memorial service on July 20, 2013 to honor and pray for the 68 residents who passed away at the care center within the past six months.

Held on-campus at the Sacred Heart Chapel, the memorial service attracted more than 70 friends and family members of the deceased to share memories, come together as a community, show support, receive consolation, and pray.

'Our memorial services at Schervier serve as our sincere way of honoring and

praying for those who have died, but whose memory and goodness live on,' said Chaplain Charles Ignatius, Director of Pastoral Care at Schervier Nursing Care Center. 'It is an opportunity we offer to help families in mourning continue to heal, and to revisit the facility and reconnect with the caregivers that provided for their loved ones. I'd like to extend my gratitude to my fellow staff members who helped arrange the memorial service, including the social work department and the pastoral care team.'

As family members entered the chapel, they were given a rose to place in a vase in the sanctuary when the name of their deceased loved one was called. The beautiful service, prepared and led by Chaplain Charles Ignatius, also featured a slideshow tribute prepared by Jennifer Giuffrida, Director of Social Work and Therapeutic Recreation, and the Social Service team. The presentation displayed pictures and names of the deceased, and was accompanied by a moving musical arrangement. Family members were also encouraged to share stories of their loved ones and to reflect on shared memories during the service.

Following the service, refreshments were served to those in attendance, providing attendees with an opportunity to meet others dealing with similar emotions.

'Honoring and remembering those that we have lost are important parts of our mission at Schervier,' said Carlos Beato, CEO of Bon Secours New York Health System. 'Having cared for their loves ones we share in their grief, and through this memorial service hope to extend a supportive hand to help them through this difficult time.'

To view the photo gallery from the event, visit http://on.fb.me/16WXDyk. For more information on Schervier Nursing Care Center and the services it provides, visit www.scherviercares.org, or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/SchervierNursingCareCenter.

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7 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

This is the full article as it appeared in Sunday’s Daily News. Brought to you as a public service by the Riverdale Review.

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

8

The First Baseman In the 1870s, The Bronx was blessed with a very good semi-professional baseball team called the Suburbans.

They played every Sunday afternoon in Crotona Park on the flat fields south of Tremont Avenue and east of Third Avenue. On game days, fans crowded the grandstand adjacent to the field.

The young man who played first base, the captain of the team, was John F. Condon. Very tall, with long arms and legs, he made sure that no ball within ten feet of either side of him or above him would get by. He used a glove larger than a modern catcher’s mitt. Whenever the opposing team made a provocative move or gesture, his loud protests could be heard throughout the breadth of the field. He was spectacular.

John F. Condon later became known throughout the nation, but not for his baseball playing. The first baseman went into the field of education, eventually rising to the position of principal of PS 12 near Westchester Square. He was also a Bronx chauvinist, convinced that the borough was the center of the universe and that it was the best place to live and work. In 1912, when Borough President Cyrus Miller proclaimed the design for the Bronx flag. Principal Condon, accom-

panied by his school’s children, presented the first one ever made to him on the steps of the Borough Hall on Third and Tremont avenues.

After he retired, Condon volunteered to assist the athletic director of Fordham University in training the student teams.

One day in 1932, he was having dinner at Bickford’s Cafeteria on the Concourse and 188th Street when he heard newsboys hawking papers telling of the kidnapping in New Jersey of the baby son of national hero Charles Lindbergh. Determined to contact the kidnapper, Condon used the classified section of the only newspaper in the world that really counted to him, the daily Bronx “Home News.”

Condon did receive a reply and met the kidnapper first outside Woodlawn Cemetery at 233rd Street and Jerome Avenue and then to pay the ransom at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in Throggs Neck. After the kidnapper was captured, Condon was a principal witness identifying him at the trial. The entire incident made John F. Condon nationally famous.

When asked his residence at the trial, the former first baseman, ever the Bronx chauvinist, replied “The Bronx — the most beautiful borough in the world!”

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9 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

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exchanging information. Registration not required. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

BABY LAPSIT 10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stories, songs, fingerplays and flannelboard illustrations for babies birth-18 months for parents/caregivers. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

Kingsbridge

Spuyten Duyvil

STORYTELLING 3:30 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Three Billy Goats Not-so-Gruff. In this version of the familiar story, we learn the startling true story of what happened that day on the bridge between three billy goats and the troll who lived under that bridge. And one of the ideas the goats had is still with us today! Storyteller/Illustrator Jonathan Ellers weaves the story with words and drawings. For ages 4 and older. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

TEEN CAFÉ 3:30 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Teen Cafe: come to the library to hang out with friends play X-Box games or maybe watch a movie. Snacks will be provided. For ages 13 to 18 years. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

MEDITATION 6 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street If you’re having trouble juggling the challenges in your life, Sahaja Meditation can help you manage stress, master your emotions and find solutions to your problems. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Friday, August 2

Tuesday, August 6

SIGN UP FOR FACEBOOK 10 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Need help with creating or navigating a Facebook page?

You're in luck! Join Dontai as he helps you learn how to operate Facebook. Keep up with updates from family and friends, upload pictures and so much more. For more info, call 718-549-1212.

e-READER HELP 11 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Learn how to download free e-books from the New York Public Library. Get help on using your iPad, Kindle or other tablet or e-reader. First come, first served. Tuesdays @ 11:00 a.m. (some exceptions, please check the online calendar or branch calendar) Wednesdays between 2 and 4 p.m. by appointment only. Please call Lynda at 718-549-1212 to make an appointment.

Riverdale

Kingsbridge

STAY WELL EXERCISE 10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stay Well volunteers certified by the NYC's Department for the Aging will lead participants in a well-balanced series of exercises for seniors of all ability levels. Please wear loose comfortable clothing. Exercise equipment will be provided.

Those participating in the exercises must sign an activity release form. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

TEEN SUMMER READING 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Meet new friends and check out new books at the Kingsbridge Library's teen summer reading club. Discuss the books you've read lately, earn virtual badges, and participate in weekly raffles for a chance to win cool and fabulous stuff!!! The teen summer reading club is open to all students who are in (or who are about to enter) 7th - 12th grade. For info, call 718-548-5656.

Saturday, August 3 Kingsbridge

INTERMEDIATE MEDITATION 10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Join in for an intermediate meditation class. This session is open to those who've been regularly attending the weekday beginner's class for a couple of months. Learn to go into a deeper meditation and learn new techniques that will help your spiritual ascent. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

READ ALOUD 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Rotary Club of Riverdale read aloud with children and adults. For ages 5 to 12 years. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

MOVIE TIME 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Come watch some classic movies, old favorites, and new releases on the little silver screen. This month's movie will be Les Misérables. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Sunday, August 4 Van Cortlandt

LATIN JAZZ CONCERT 2 p.m. Van Cortlandt Park Rockwood Drive Circle Bronx Arts Ensemble presents Irresistible Latin Rhythms.

Latin jazz pianist and vocalist Willie Rodriguez and his band will perform Latin favorites. For more information, visit bronxartsensemble.org, call 718-601-7399.

Monday, August 5 Spuyten Duyvil

KNITTING & CROCHET 11 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street A get-together for knitters & crocheters at all skill levels to work on a current project, learn new techniques while

Riverdale

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TODDLER STORY TIME 11:30 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Toddlers from 18 months to 3 years old and their parents/ caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, and fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

GADGETS & GIZMOS 2 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Learn about the world and how to solve problems by watching demonstrations and participating in hands-on experiments.

Each session explores a simple machine-such as the spring, the gear, and the propeller-and the work it does. Presented by the Children's Museum of Manhattan. For children ages 5 and older. Limited to 25 participants. For info, call 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

ON THE PLATE! 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street It's time to snack! Join cooking wizard Jailin Acevedo as she guides you through baking, chopping, grilling, and melting in the quest for delicious treats. See what's on the menu! All materials will be provided. For ages 12 to 18 years old. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Wednesday, August 7 Kingsbridge

TODDLER STORY TIME 11 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stories, songs, puppets, fingerplays, and flannelboard illustrations for toddlers ages 18-36 months for parents/ caregivers. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

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GAME ON 1:30 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Got the gaming moves? Show off your skills with the controller and challenge your friends and neighbors to a game of Wii Bowling in the library. For more info, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

COMPUTER ASSISTANCE 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Come to the Riverdale branch and sit down with a Librarian for a 30 minute individualized computer appointment. Learn how to open a new e-mail account, save documents, browse the Internet, download NYPL e-books, etc. Make a list and ask questions. E-reader, tablet and smart phone users are welcome.

Wednesdays 2 - 4 p.m. by appointment only. Call 718-549-1212 .

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FILM 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Children's Film for children ages 5-12 yrs. old. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

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Public Education in New York City: The Bloomberg ‘Legacy’ unravels going gets rough.”

That is why a rehearsing of the state of affairs prior to, and after Bloomberg’s ascension and takeover of the largest bureaucracy in the state, without the fog of Bloomberg’s massive public relations machine, with an assist from his own news empire Bloomberg News, is essential to the very life of the city as it moves forward into the post-Bloomberg era.

Within six months of taking office Bloomberg gained state approval for mayoral control of the nation’s largest school system.

Bloomberg’s reorganization is the most radical in the history of the public schools. It is the exemplar of the “creative destruction” theory that was a staple of our business schools in the 1980s. It assumes nothing in the old system worked or was worth saving.

Despite its enormous problems and dysfunction, the vast New York school system had components that functioned efficiently. In fact, educational professionals, as opposed to the education “experts” operating out of the universities, created and ran innovative programs throughout the city with positive results.

Often the problem was translating the local successes into citywide programs, because the local community districts operated like autonomous duchies immune to outside suggestion. The five high school districts under the chancellor’s direct control had skilled administrators who knew how to staff and run New York’s high schools on a citywide scale. While the poor graduation rates remained, they had less to do with the quality of teaching and administration and more to do with an accumulation of failed public and education policy and the breakdown of the nuclear family among what is now referred to as the underclass.

But as a result of Bloomberg’s assumptions and philosophy of how to get things right, all institutional memory was purposefully shattered.

The mayor openly announced that the deliberations of his new team would be conducted in secrecy. When critics suggested that you couldn’t apply the same business model to a then thirteen billion-dollar a year public school system as you would to a high tech start-up, he reminded them that this was the way he ran his company, and the reform of the schools would be his major legacy.

Reform after reform was rolled out: ending social promotion in the third grade; a “Leadership Academy” headed

by GE’s Jack Welch, and supported by private donations, to train new principals. And in keeping with Bloomberg’s managerial philosophy, candidates with little or no education experience were encouraged to apply.

In 2003 thirty-two local school districts and the five high school districts were eliminated in favor of ten mega regions, drawn without regard to the geographical integrity of neighborhoods.

When it came to instructional content, Joel Klein opted for a barely disguised “whole language” program promoted by the progressive left wing of the educational establishment. Bloomberg retreated from his campaign pledge to eliminate bilingual education, ensuring that a city school system inhabited by the greatest wave of new arrivals since the turn of the 20th century would be subjected to the failed nostrums of the 1970s once again.

But the main result of the fabled reorganization was mainly chaos, removing competent administrators without bothering to train their replacements. The most obvious sign of the system’s near collapse was the school safety issue. The reformers dismantled the high school hearing process for the worst offenders Continued on Page 19

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

By MARC EPSTEIN “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

– John Adams With less than six months to go in his tenure, Michael Bloomberg is intent on chiseling his overhaul of the New York City schools in stone. Bloomberg’s control of the schools is unprecedented. He has enjoyed absolute suzerainty over the largest public school system in the country, with increased expenditures of over $120 billion dollars over the past eleven years. There was no board of education to veto his administrative restructurings, question no-bid contracts, or approve his choice of chancellors to oversee the dayto-day operation of the school system.

So with his reputation as the consummate entrepreneur on the line, it comes as no surprise that Bloomberg would craft a Pharonic dynastic history of sorts to validate his radical overhaul of the school system at such great cost to the taxpayers.

This past May, Javier Hernandez of the New York Times reported that Dennis Walcott, the schools chancellor, warned that the school system risked falling into disarray should any of the Democratic candidates for mayor dare to tinker with Bloomberg’s reforms. “Halting the momentum of this extraordinary transformation would be a tragedy,” Walcott suggested to an audience of over a thousand school administrators gathered at Brooklyn Technical High School.

In the same article Hernandez stated that the schools’ chief academic officer Shael Polakow-Suransky was so distraught that a rollback of Bloomberg’s policies by his successor might be in the offing, that he phoned Kaya Henderson, the head of the Washington D.C. schools, to ask her advice.

Why someone so convinced of the rightness of his actions would consult the successor to Michelle Rhee is something of a puzzle. After all since Rhee’s departure a series of embarrassing accusations and investigations, including massive administrative doctoring of test results, has tarnished the Rhee miracle.

And this brings us to the crux of the matter. Will the next mayor have a realistic comprehension of what the consequences of the Bloomberg education reforms are and how profoundly the school system has been transformed under his tenure?

The problems the new mayor will face are exacerbated by the sui generis nature of Bloomberg’s mayoralty. Bloomberg, listed

by Forbes as the 10th wealthiest person in America, campaigned on the promise that he couldn’t be bought. He kept his word.

But he didn’t promise to refrain from using his checkbook to get his way when the normal give and take of city politics didn’t get the results he wanted. In a remarkably harsh expose that ran close to 2,500 words in the New York Post, Tom Robbins documented Bloomberg’s use of “coercive” philanthropy to buy both the silence and support of various NGO’s and politicians. “ ‘No one will ever know everything Mike Bloomberg did with his money,’ said a political expert who has seen the mayor reach for his wallet more than once.

What we do know is this: When it comes to the flow of private mayoral cash into the arenas of politics and civic need, the Bloomberg years have been a true hundred-year flood, one that often ran through subterranean channels, invisible to the public or the press. And unlike Hurricane Sandy, the Bloomberg money superstorm is unlikely ever to be repeated.

The next mayor — whoever it is — won’t have that kind of deep-pocketed backup plan at his or her fingertips when the

11

Riverdale Rising Stars’ Summer Stage Presents

Directed by Julian Rozzell, Jr. Musical Direction by Angela Howell

Shows and Times August 7 at 7:00pm August 8 at 7:00pm August 11 at 1:00pm & 5:00pm For tickets & Info visit

RiverdaleRisingStars.com or RiverdaleY.org 5625 Arlington Avenue Bronx, NY 10471 (718)548-8200 www.RiverdaleY.org

Stay connected with us

facebook.com/RiverdaleRisingStars twitter.com/RiverdaleRisingStars

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

12

Schervier rehab patients enjoy upgraded dining facility

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER A freshly remodeled dining area has made an appetizing change at mealtimes for shortterm sub-acute rehabilitation patients at the Schervier Nursing Care Center.

Bistro Schervier was redesigned according to a state-of-the-art food service delivery model with safer, more functional space that’s easier to navigate for those who serve meals to residents and guests.

The seating area is graced with updated furnishings, floors, lighting and finishes—as well as a new set of china. The pantry area got new appliances and lower, more user-friendly countertops.

As part of an industry culture change initiative, meal preparation has become more decentralized and is handled in smaller pantries located near the dining area.

“Many facilities have a centralized kitchen with a tray line production for preparing resident meals,” a food service administrator explained.

“With our recent renovation, we enhanced a ‘country kitchen’ or decentralized food production service whereby more preparation will be done in the dining room pantry as opposed to the main kitchen. This has many benefits to include improved point of service, meals being served at appropriate temperatures and the aroma of having foods prepared in the area which they are being served.”

“Since initiating the project in mid-April, we’ve been working

tirelessly to make conscious decisions in the renovation to further enhance the rehabilitation experience for our residents and patients,” administrator Dominic D’Ambrosio said. “We carefully evaluated everything from menu options and nutritional needs to the height and logistics of the countertop, chairs, and tables to best meet the needs of our patients.”

Seats are covered with material that’s attractive and comfortable yet easy to clean. Seat height is optimal, and armrests on chairs provide an extra measure of safety. Buffet-style service is positioned at a height that’s suitable for wheelchair-bound diners.

“Our vision was to create a bistro-like atmosphere to increase engagement and foster relationships and socialization among our residents,” said Regina Trujillo, assistant director of food and nutrition. “We know that making the transition to a nursing care facility can bring on sadness, and at times feelings of depression, and wanted to provide our residents with a warm, inviting place that they could share a meal and a conversation with one another.”

Homey bistro-like seating is thought to reduce the potential for depression and to serve as a distraction that enhances healing.

The food-related changes will lead to others at the facility.

“This project will serve as a springboard for our future improvement initiatives as we look

The newly upgraded dining room at the Schervier Nursing Care Center. to create a more engaged culture and environment across our campus,” said Carlos G. Beato, CEO of Bon Secours New York Health System, the parent company of Schervier. “We are committed

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The other nine dining rooms on the Schervier campus are up for renovation as well. Such improvements support Schervier’s transition and culture change to a more engaged environment.

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By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER The Riverdale YM-YWHA will roll out the red carpets as host of next month’s National Youth Theatre East Coast awards ceremony, and there’ll be many standing ovations for the Y’s very own troupes.

National Youth Theatre judges got to enjoy some Riverdale Rising Stars productions throughout the year while rating the shows and casts according to 18 detailed characteristics. On a national level, RRS performances earned six awards and 20 nominations this year.

To qualify, youth theater productions must feature a cast comprised mostly of actors who are no older than 19.

Rising Stars National Youth Theatre award winners are Eric Berger for lead actor in a musical as Sid in “The Pajama Game”; Jacob Levi-Dabby for lead actor in a musical as Ren McCormack in “Footloose”; Shara Feit for lead actress in a musical as Babe in “The Pajama Game”; Zoe Wilson for Junior Division lead actress as Princess Winnifred in “Once Upon a Mattress”; the entire ensemble for “The Pajama Game”; and Emily Walton for choreography in “The Pajama Game.”

Award nominees are “The Pajama Game” for outstanding production; Lea Cohen for lead actress in a musical as Ariel Moore in “Footloose”; Claire Wegh for leading actress in a musical as

Babe in “The Pajama Game”; Shiv Pai for Junior Division lead actor as Prince Dauntless in “Once Upon a Mattress”; Colin Thoman for Junior Division lead actor as Curly in “Oklahoma!”; Enza Jonas-Guigni for Junior Division lead actress as Laurey in “Oklahoma!”; Noah Margolin for supporting actor in a musical as Hasler in “The Pajama Game”; Ezra Mutnick for supporting actor in a musical as Willard in “Footloose”; Lea Cohen for supporting actress in a musical as Gladys in “The Pajama Game”; Anna Sitley for supporting actress in a musical as Gladys in “The Pajama Game”; Andrew Binder for Junior Division supporting actor as Ali Hakim in “Oklaho-

Riverdale Rising Stars in last May’s award-winning “Pajama Game.”

ma!”; Lior Shaham for Junior Division supporting actor as Pharaoh in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; Leila Haller for Junior Division supporting actress as Queen Aggravain in “Once Upon a Mattress”; Mia Lerin for Junior Division supporting actress as Ado Annie in “Oklahoma!”; Alena Underwood for Junior Division supporting actress as Aunt Eller in “Oklahoma!”; Jacob Schorsch for Junior Division featured actor as Andrew Carnes in “Oklahoma!”; the entire ensemble for “Footloose”; the entire ensemble in the Junior Division for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; the entire ensemble in the Junior Division for “Once Upon a Mattress”; and Laurie Walton for direction of “The

Pajama Game.”

The awards ceremony—one of seven across the nation—will be held at the Riverdale Y, 5625 Arlington Avenue, at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 18. Registration begins at 6:45.

“Attendees come from all over the East Coast,” Riverdale Y executive director Marti Michael pointed out, “so if you’d like to attend, get your ticket early!”

Award winners, nominees and members of a winning or nominated ensemble or production get one free ticket. National Youth Arts members get two free tickets. Additional tickets are $12 apiece.

To be seen at this local “Tony night,” complete the RSVP form at nationalyouththeatre.com/news/ news_nya_awards2013_rsvp.asp.

13 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

Riverdale Y theater program veterans get accolades

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

14

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We make every effort to avoid mistakes in your classified ads. Check your ad the first week it runs. The Riverdale Review will accept responsibility ONLY for the FIRST INCORRECT INSERTION. The Riverdale Review assumes no financial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject or reclassify any ad. Copy changes are $10 per change.

Contact your sales rep directly for any copy changes. All classified ads are prepaid. No refunds on classified ads whatsoever. House credit only.

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256th St. & Netherland Avenue

Studio - $950/mo 1 Bedroom - $1150/mo

3750 HUDSON MANOR TERR: 2BR/2Ba Renov, Window Kitch, East Facing, Low Fl..PRICE REDUCTION!! ... $274,900 3725 H.H PKWY: (The BLACKSTONE): 2BR/1.5Ba, Granite EIK And Renov Bath, Shabbat Elevator... $224,900 555 KAPPOCK ST: Renov 1BR/1Ba, Open Kitch., Maint Incl Util & Cable, Pool..PRICE REDUCTION!! .... $209,900 3215 NETHERLAND AVE 2BR/1Ba Indoor...JUST LISTED ............................................... $209,900 601 KAPPOCK ST: 2BR/1Ba Indoor Parking Avail, Pool, Doorman...MUST SELL !! ........... $199,900 91 W VAN CORTLANDT AVE: 2BR/1Bath / Balcony w/ French Doors, Maint $786, DP 10% Priced To Sell... $189,900 5700 ARLINGTON AVE: Gorgeous View 1 BR / 1 Bath, Terrace, Lots Of Light – Luxury Bldg ........... $189,900 629 KAPPOCK ST: Jr.4 Convt. To 2BR/1Ba, Great Space, Priced For A Quick Sell ............ $184,900 3635 JOHNSON AVE 2BR/1Bath Maint $742….

JUST LISTED ...................................... $184,900 2550 INDEPENDENCE AVE : Gorgeous River View1BR/1Ba, 2 Blocks To Metro North Station - 24 Min To GC .... $174,900 3050 FAIRFIELD AVE: Large Jr. 4/1 Bath/ Terrace Faces South & East, Can Be Convt. to 2 BR, ESTATE SALE .. $174,900 4705 H.H. PKWY: 1BR/1Ba Renov Kitch, HUGE PRICE DROP !!................. $172,900...WILL SELL 5620 NETHERLAND AVE: 2BR/1Ba, Windowed Kitch, Utilities & Parking Space Inclu. ... $172,500 2390 PALISADE AVE Spacious Jr.4 Convt. To 2BR/1Ba, Gym, pool & steps to Metro North ............... $169,999 512 KAPPOCK ST: Lg 1BR/1Ba EIK, Great Location – Priced To SELL................ $169,900 3840 GREYSTONE AVE: Spacious Jr.4, Lg LR, Alcove Dinning Area, Updated Kitch& Bath............. $169,000 5550 FIELDSTON RD: Jr.4 w/Terr – Gorgeous Views, Maint Incl Util,Pets OK .......... $164,900 555 KAPPOCK ST: Lg 1BR/1Ba Terr, High Floor, Ready To Move In,...JUST LISTED ..... $164,500

555 KAPPOCK ST:. Lg 1BR/1Ba-Luxury Bldg, Maint Incl-Elec/Cable/Heat, Pool ..... $159,900 3901 INDEPENDENCE AVE: Renov 1Br/1Ba, Hardwood Fl, Updated Kitchen & Bath.... $149,900 3840 GREYSTONE AVE: 2BR/1Ba Marble Kitchen, S/S Appl, OWNERS MOVED...WILL SELL ......... $149,900 5610 NETHERLAND AVE, Priced To SELL 1 BR / 1 Bath, Renovated, Motivated Seller ..... 144,900 5615 NETHERLAND AVE: BRIGHT & Renov HUGE 1BR/1Bath...WILL SELL SOON........... $ 139,900 5635 NETHERLAND AVE: Gorgeous 1 BR, 1 Bath, Close To Metro North Riverdale Train Station ................... $134,900 3225 JOHNSON AVE: LG 1BR/1Ba Eat-In Window Kitch...JUST LISTED ............. $124,900 91 W VAN CORTLANDT AVE: 1BR/1Ba, High End Appl. $605..... Priced To Sell…. $124,900 125 BRONX RIVER RD: 1BR/1Ba Renov. & Ready To Move In ............................. $124,900 3400 WAYNE AVE 1 BR /1 Bath, Great Location, Steps to MONTEFIORE Hosp., #4 Subway, Ready To Move In... $124,900 2750 JOHNSON AVE: 1BR/1Ba, Low Maint $525, Dogs OK............................................ $114,900 1 BRONXVILLE RD: Lg. 1Br/1Ba L-Shaped LR, Windowed Kitch & Bath...SHORT SALE... $99,900

10 building elevator complex 718-543-2746 or

718-549-7766 Apts For Rent Kappock:

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145 E 15TH ST: READY MEDICAL PRACTICE And OWN THE SPACE - 3 Exam Rm & Reception ....... $1,249,900

RENTAL: OTHER LISTINGS ARE NO FEES OR NBA RIVERDALE AVE: 4 BR/2Ba, 2 parking .... $3200 3329 RESERVOIR OVAL WEST – 3 Bedrooms / 2 Bath Walk To Montefiore & #4 Train ..... $2500 3400 WAYNE AVE: 1BR/1Ba..................... $1200 5700 ARLINGTON AVENUE 1 BR / 1 Bath w/ Terrace – Luxury Bldg ........................... $1600

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2 BR, comp renov, concierge, pool, gym, garage avail........$311.2k

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Anita Wolfe Licensed Real Estate Broker

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Space For Rent

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RIVERDALE LOCATION

2 BR, renovated, near shopping/ trans ...................................$1900

West of Pkwy:

Partitioned store space.

Rental bldg, Jr 4 with 2nd BR, doorman, near schools & houses of worship .......................... $1500

West of Pkwy:

917-386-3998

West of Pkwy:

of Pkwy: Apartment For Sale West 1 BR, renov, doorman, near shop

Rental building, 2 BR, renovated, doorman, nr shop/trans.. $2000 SPONS APT NO BD APPROVAL Luxury

bldg, Jr 4, concierge, health club, garage avail, nr shop/trans $1995

West of Pkwy:

3 family, top floor, 3BR, 1-1/2 ba, approx. 1200 sq. ft., incl h/hw, parking available ............. $1900

Central Riverdale:

2 BR, 1-1/2 bath, renovated, near shopping/transportation .. $1750 West of Pkwy: Rental bldg, Jr4 w/2nd BR, renovated, d/m, pool, parking available .....$1700

West of Pkwy:

Rental bldg, Jr4 w/2nd BR, updated, doorman, near houses of worship ............................ $1500

Central Riverdale:

Pre-war rental bldg, 1 BR, renov, near shopping/trans......... $1400

Anita Wolfe 718-796-3135 718-796-3135

Read the

FIND IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS!

2 fam , 3 BR, 2 bath, duplex, beaut renov, shared driveway and backyard ............................$2300

& transportation ................. $1450

SKYVIEW

Studio w/pvt alcove, new cabinets, ceramic tiles thruout, terr w/view. FSDM, health club, pool, prkng & transport.Easy commute to Manhattan.

Must see. $185K Contact: (347) 603-7063

Anita Wolfe Licensed Real Estate Broker

718-796-3135

Make the

Wise

Choice...

Advertise in the Riverdale Review Classifieds!

Licensed - Real Estate Broker

Riverdale’s Most Widely Circulated Newspaper!

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

POLICY NOTICE:

HOW TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

16

Merchandise Mart

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GRAND OPENING! RODI DAY CARE CENTER Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm OPEN ALL YEAR! Now Accepting Enrollment Trained and Trusted, with Affordable Rates

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A - Z

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Read the

Jewelry & Repair

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17

St. Gabriel’s Parish is sponsoring a trip to Washington, D.C. on November 6-8, 2013. Cost: $360 double occupancy, $475 single. A deposit of $200 is due August 15.

Attractions include tour of the Capital, Smithsonian Museum, ‘Les Miserables’ at the dinner theatre, Arlington National Cemetery, White House if permitted (as of now it is not), monuments, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, and they are checking into the Franciscan Monastery that is supposed to have a replica of the Holy Land.

To reserve a space or for more information, call Sr. Amy at 718-548-4471.

Toastmasters Club invites new members

Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale invites new members to join in at their free

Attorney

david i. Bliven Divorce & Family Court Lawyer

Contested & Uncontested Divorce, Custody/Visitation, Child Support/Paternity, Adoptions, Child Abuse/Neglect, Juvenile Delinquency & Family Offense cases.

(718) 725-9600 Email: davidbliven@msn.com Web: www.blivenlaw.net 1 Riverdale Ave., Ste 3, Bronx, NY Main Office: 445 Hamilton Ave., Ste 607 White Plains, NY

Audiology

Dr. FlorA HolDerBAum, aud, CCC/a Pediatric and adult hearing evaluation, counseling, hearing aid fitting/repairs, CAPD testing

meeting on Wed., August 14th 7:30 pm at the Riverdale Neighborhood House, 5521 Mosholu Avenue.

Wouldn’t you like to communicate effectively? Now you can! Toastmasters will show you how to listen effectively, think on your feet, and speak confidently. You will learn valuable leadership skills - all in a supportive, non-intimidating environment.

Come as a guest and witness for yourself what they accomplish. They meet every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. For further information, visit their website http://www.bronxtoastmastersclub.org or call 917-583-2679.

Camp Gan Israel in full swing

Camp Gan Israel 2013, held in PS 24, is providing close to 100 children this year with an exceptional summer, filled with new adventures, excitement and challenges.

Attorney/real estate daniel PadernaCht Attorney at Law

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Mini Gan children, ages 3 -5, are enjoying a fantastic summer with physical activities that include swimming, Zumba, gymnastics, and Creative movement.

They are also being treated to baking, arts & crafts, and different shows each week, including: puppet, dog, magic, mime, and acrobat.

Junior Children, ages 5-10, are having an incredible time as they participate in a range of exciting activities, field trips, and workshops. Among the trips they have enjoyed so far are: The Jewish Children’s Museum, Yankee’s Game, Runaway Rapids Water Park, and Sterling Hill Mining Museum. In addition, physical activities, such as rollerblading, tennis, Zumba, and gymnastics, means that our campers are not only having the time of their lives, but are engaged in active and healthy pursuits.

With such a hot summer this year, the counselors for both divisions of Camp

Personal Trainer Spin ClaSSeS

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Beautician Services Come to madame P’s Beauty World

Medicare/Medicaid and major insurance plans accepted for audiologic evaluations.

Our location is handicap accessible.

Se habla espanol.

Professional home tutor Tutoring available in all general subject areas.

Grade Levels K-12.

The last old-fashioned hairdresser in The Bronx.

We specialize in haircutting, hair care, and provide consultations on haircare and weaving to stimulate hair growth. We do tinting and use all manners of relaxers, including Mizani, Affirm, Fiberguard and Vitale.

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CArPeNTer

miChael Carr’s CarPentry handyman serviCes availaBle Quality Carpentry & Painting Apartment and Home Renovations

BiG & Small Jobs Welcome 25 Years of Experience Serving Riverdale and the Bronx

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646-554-1146 miCChaelCarr@aol.Com

Tutoring • Certified NYS Teacher in Childhood Education

Call zach  917-667-7185

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Physical Therapy PHySiCAl THerAPy AT meTHoDiST Home For NurSiNg & reHABiliTATioN • Post surgical rehab — Spinal Surgery Rehabilitation • Arthritis clinic • Stroke Rehabilitation • Sports and orthopedic injuries • Gait and balance training 2,000 square foot state of the art rehab center Most major insurances accepted

Contact us 718-732-7100 #224 4499 Manhattan College Pkwy Riverdale • NY • 10471

made water play especially fun by having the campers cover the directors’ cars with shaving cream and washable paints. During this amazing summer experience at Camp Gan Israel, the campers have had the chance to make wonderful new friends and continue their friendships from years past.

As well as providing an exciting and stimulating environment for our campers, Camp Gan Israel emphasizes the importance of caring, sharing, tolerance, and patience. A camp should bring out the best in each child’s character and personality in an environment infused with Jewish values and ideals.

Camp Gan Israel of Riverdale enjoys a well-earned reputation as a trendsetter with innovative ideas, creative programs and new activities. Camp Gan Israel is a project of Chabad of Riverdale.

For more information, please call 718549-1100 Ext. 10.

Dentist riverdale PediatriC dentistry • Care from infancy through adolescence, and special health care needs • Personalized attention • Preventative treatment for all ages • Flexible hours, Sunday & evening appts DR. LiRAz SPEAR

• Board certified pediatric dental specialist • Over a decade of experience • Local Riverdale resident and mother 611 West 239th Street Riverdale, NY

(718) 725-8997

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Printing Services

alWays PrintaBle “Your One Stop For All Your Printing Needs” • CUSTOMIZED INVITATIONS

& ANNOUNCEMENTS • State of the Art Machine Calligraphy • Place Cards, Sign-In Boards and Books

We Carry a full line of Party favors & sCreen Printed or emBroidered items (T-Shirts, Sweats, Boxer Shorts, etc.)

Personal and Commercial Stationery GIFT ITEMS & MUCH MORE

Serving the Riverdale Community for over 25 years!

Visit Us at www.alwaysprintable.invitations.com

or CALL US at

917-667-7153 to advertise in the Professional services guide Call (718) 543-5200

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

St. Gabriel’s Parish trip to Washington, DC

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

18

‘Strip Club Stanton,’ Revisited The last few weeks haven’t been good ones for would-be Councilman Cliff Stanton. He has been revealed as the boughtand-paid-for candidate of New York’s, perhaps the nation’s, most notorious strip club impresario, Robert Gans.

He has been forced to try to rehabilitate his patron by calling Mr. Gans a “philanthropist” and suggesting that we “celebrate” him. He characterizes Gans’ clubs, such as Scores and the Penthouse Executive Club as “cabarets,” conjuring up the bizarre image of the late, great cabaret performer, Bobby Short, twirling around a brass dance pole in his B.V.D.s. At Scores, life is not a cabaret old chum, so have your dollar bills handy to tuck into the garter of your favorite scantily-clad “hostess.”

We can’t say whether Mr. Gans has firm plans to locate one of his famous clubs up our way, but we have to insist that anyone who seeks to represent us in the city council in in any other public capacity not owe a debt to “philanthropists” such as Mr. Gans.

Lest you buy Mr. Stanton’s position that somehow this newspaper made this all up, we direct you to this past Sunday’s number of the New York Daily News that devoted a full page to confirming every detail of our original stories.

So we reiterate our editorial of two weeks ago: If there is any mystery why City Council candidate Clifford “The Nut King” Stanton wanted so, so badly to put us out of business, the recent front pages of the Riverdale Review reveals why. Those with agendas to hide, as the revelation that Mr. Stanton biggest financial backer is as huge a player in the strip club business as Mr. Stanton is in the sale of nuts from pushcarts in public places (he owns the Nuts4Nuts company). He has clearly something to hide, that only a free and independent press can ultimately reveal.

Mr. Stanton’s secret backer owns the Scores Strip Club, and the candidate has admitted that he has no personal relationship with him. To our lights, such a personal relationship could be an acceptable explanation. Perhaps a candidate might accept a donation from a friend he grew up with, served in the military with, or met at school. And not everyone makes their money in ways that others might be entirely comfortable with.

But according to Stanton, that is not the case here. He insists it is not personal.

So if the relationship isn’t personal, than it surely must be a business relationship. Why else would Robert Gans and his son Richard invest thousands in the campaign of an obscure City Council candidate in a remote corner of the city? Remote of course for some, but perhaps not to possible patrons of a new strip club, providing a little distance and privacy for folks who may not want to be entertained in this way too close to their home, but not too close to yours.

Concern was raised that Gans may have his eye on a number of sites in the Council district for a new club. “One doesn’t have to look too far to find possible locations,” noted a community board member. One site mentioned as a possibility by a number is the former site of Koo Koo’s Bar on Broadway, down the block from the now-closed former home of the Riverdale Press.

Having a City Councilman working on your behalf – even if only behind the scenes – would be an tremendous advantage for anyone trying to locate a project that would surely raise so many objections. And we remind our readers that such a thing is not impossible. It was just a few months ago that we found massage parlors on both Broadway and Riverdale Avenue, since raided and closed down by the police. Beware of Gans and his bought-and-paid-for pols.

One day you might just wake up and find a scantily-clad young lady twirling around a brass pole in a new strip club just down the block from you – and your children.

It’s about time to bring WalMart to the City To The Editor: You should know that there are many New Yorkers who are willing to drive out of the City and pay bridge and tunnel tolls in order to save money by shopping in New Jersey. They travel to Secaucus and to Bayonne to go to WalMart so they can save money on clothing and groceries, and buy fresh fruit and vegetables for their families at low prices.

When we talk about helping poor people and less fortunate New Yorkers save money, are we taking any steps to help them?

When we talk about helping New York’s senior citizens who don’t have enough money to pay their rent, utilities, food, or medical expenses, are we serious about helping them?

When we talk about the struggles of low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford to raise their families, do we provide a way forward for them?

You should know that we are in a very difficult economic situation in New York City. Our unemployment rate is higher

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than the national level and higher than the State level. Our youth unemployment situation is at a crisis level. Our homeless population continues to grow, and our food pantries are almost at a loss about how to keep up with the rising demands.

Real steps toward real solutions need to be made, and they need to be made now.

When New York’s elected officials try to stop WalMart from coming into New York City, they are preventing poor people from getting the benefit of WalMart prices.

When New York’s elected officials try to stop WalMart from coming into New York City, they are preventing employment opportunities for families who need jobs.

When New York’s elected officials try to stop WalMart from coming into New York City, they are preventing college students from taking that first step to connecting to the labor market.

When New York’s elected officials try to stop WalMart

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher JOEL PAL Production Manager ROBERT NILVA Marketing Director

CECILIA McNALLY Office Manager

STAFF: Robert Lebowitz, Paulette Schneider, Lloyd Ultan, Daniel R. Wolf

from coming into New York City, they are preventing high school students from working part-time after school and on weekends – and we all know the important role those opportunities can play in almost any teen’s development.

You should know that it has been well reported that WalMart employee benefits include incentive/bonus plan, health insurance, profit sharing, 401(k), education, store discounts and other WalMart employment benefits.

WalMart certainly offers a lot more opportunities than what many of New York’s campaign volunteers get when they’re out there stumping for political candidates in the hot sun.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s about time that we bring WalMart into New York City.

For years millions of working-class Americans have been provided with WalMart’s good service, broad selection and low prices.

I don't know why other elected officials don’t want WalMart their districts. I wish I could have it in mine! I want to bring job opportunities into my district for my constituents, and I would love to offer my constituents the opportunities to pay low prices and receive the quality service WalMart provides – without having to pay a toll.

Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz 32nd Senatorial District

Public Education

but impossible. As the kaleidoscope of New York has reconfigured, a more attenuated chattering class removed from life on the streets of New York’s working class and its schools has evolved.

Today New York’s schools are filled with new arrivals, strivers, and a low achieving underclass. Few of the parents read New York’s papers, and when they do they are written in Spanish, Chinese, Urdu, and Bengali. The latest studies indicate that over half of New York’s inhabitants don’t speak English as their first language, and close to ninety percent of the city’s cab drivers are immigrants.

The press believes that Bloomberg’s efforts are in the best tradition of progressive noblesse oblige, with the added attraction of “the bottom line.” While the screw-ups are duly reported, the editorials echo the “work in progress” and “Rome

wasn’t built in a day” defense for the myriad of blunders.

If Michael Bloomberg’s plan was to open the door to privatizing public education and replacing what remained with non-government run, though taxpayer supported, charter schools, the chaos and abysmal performance over the past ten years have been cunningly successful.

But if his objective was to bequeath to his successor something more than a mortally wounded public school system, then he has been an abject failure.

Marc Epstein has been teaching in the public schools for almost two decades. His articles on school violence, curriculum, and testing have appeared in most of the New York papers, the Washington Post, Education Next, and City Journal. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.

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Riverdale Review

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19 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, August 1, 2013

Continued from Page 11 and replaced it with nothing. The inevitable explosion of violence in the schools produced embarrassing headlines in the tabloids. In panic, Bloomberg flooded the worst schools with police and declared that he would have a “cop for every kid” if that is what it took to ensure safety.

When the mayor admitted he had taken advice from the wrong people, the editorials lauded Bloomberg’s “the buck stops here” attitude. What went unmentioned was the hurried call to certain administrators who were shown the door and brought back to recreate what had just been smashed.

Since institutional memory is an anathema to revolutionaries, long-time administrators either retired or were pushed out.

Record numbers of retirements, often in the middle of the school year, signaled the success of these administrative purges.

Other parts of the system were left in equally bad shape. When thousands of special education students were left unevaluated, the blame was placed on the inability of one person, the school psychologist, to move as fast as the dismantled three-member evaluation panels had done before. No consideration was given to the myriad of state and federal regulations that make this process a nightmare at best. When the New York Times chronicled this fiasco in a 3800word front-page story by Michael Winerip, Chancellor Klein’s office claimed that new efficiencies took time to implement.

This kind of overhaul for a bureaucracy servicing over 1 million children and employing almost 135,000 people would be enough to make any organization rock back on its foundation and take a decent passage of time to digest and reconfigure its operating procedures, but it turns out that this reorganization was just the appetizer at Bloomberg’s bureaucratic bacchanalia.

Four years later, Klein reshuffled the organizational chart and eliminated the ten mega-regions. The new order was supposed to increase the authority of the over one thousand principals in the system over their budgets. Rather than having a superintendent guide a cluster of schools, the school would pick a “network” to mentor and guide them. Some of the networks answered to not-for-profit organizations, further blurring the line between government and non-government organizations.

The networks weren’t confined to contiguous geographic areas and, instead, administered schools throughout the city.

If you could have cloud computing, why couldn’t you have cloud administration as well? It doesn’t take an operations research expert to recognize that the proliferation of parallel institutions with ill-defined roles was quickly overwhelming the system. This made audit and accountability a nightmare for any successor who wants to understand the flow and distribution of funds and the responsibility for who actually performed what task.

Not content with the results, Klein ordered another reorganization in 2010.

Principals were told that the School Support Organizations and Integrated Service Centers created in 2007 were out of business, and the Children First Networks would now serve the entire system!

If you attempted to write an internal institutional history of the reforms you would face an insurmountable task. You’d do better if you imagined that you are the FBI investigating the forensic trail of how monies were spent, and just who was responsible for spending it, in a multi-billion dollar conglomerate that kept reincorporating and renaming a series of shell corporations over a period of a decade.

Which finally brings us to the purpose of this grand design, the children. Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein pointed to test scores and data to validate the fortunes of taxpayer dollars spent and to

justify the shattering of the old bureaucracy. Year after year, the city’s Department of Education released glowing reports of student progress on state tests that satisfied those who neither knew nor cared much about what was actually taking place.

It all came crashing down when outside pressure forced the state to conduct an audit of state tests by testing expert Daniel Koretz of Harvard. On July 19, 2010, State Education Commissioner Steiner issued a preliminary report based on Koretz’s findings, which revealed that the jump in state test-score results over the past four years was too good to be true.

“It is very likely that some of the state’s progress was illusory,” Koretz concluded.

Improved test results didn’t mean that more students were adequately prepared for high school or college.

Only more bad news has followed. Even the New York Post, a longtime supporter of the Bloomberg reforms and a part of Rupert Murdoch’s empire which is now the current employer of Joel Klein, admitted as much in an April 21, 2013 editorial titled Spotlight on Failure: “But even without the new tests the facts of failure are becoming impossible to ignore.

Last Year 79.3% of the public highschool grads who enrolled in CUNY’s community colleges had to take remedial classes in math, reading or writing because they fail basic qualification exams.”

If all this weren’t bad enough, the consequences of the decision to destroy the neighborhood comprehensive high schools and replace them with small schools inside the old buildings that were decoupled from the community has yet to be fully felt.

Klein, much like Robert Moses, who in a bygone era, tore through the neighborhoods of the Bronx in order to install an expressway to the George Washington Bridge, justified killing off the neighborhood high schools based on the unfounded whim and monies of Bill Gates, who thought this experiment would turn inner-city graduation rates around.

When Gates abandoned the project and stopped funding it nationwide, Klein remained undeterred, pointing to New York’s remarkable progress, based on what we now know to be phony test scores and inflated graduation rates, boosted by “credit recovery,” in which a student gains a semester of credit by showing up for only a few days of classes. Though Klein is long gone, the mayor continues, even in the waning days of his term, to complete the destruction of these once great institutions, circumventing a court order to place “new schools” inside of those schools that fought and won an injunction against the closures.

In a report just issued by NYU’s Steinhardt School, entitled Moving the Needle-Exploring Key Levers to Boost College Readiness Among Black and Latino Males in New York City, the abject failure of over a decade of Bloomberg’s reforms can be summed up in these two sentences: “In New York City, while graduation rates have increased dramatically over the last decade, college readiness rates remain troublingly low, especially for young men of color. Among students scheduled to graduate in 2010, for example, only 9 percent of Black males and 11 percent of Latino males graduated college ready.”

One would think, as the facts and the weight of evidence piled up, that a more critical eye would have been cast by the Fourth Estate on this radical exercise in social engineering. So what accounts for the broad-based uncritical support for Bloomberg’s initiatives from observers of the New York scene as diverse as the editorial writers at the Wall Street Journal, The Daily News, and The New York Post?

In part, the litany of failure and political upheaval of the past decades has exhausted and desensitized observers and made a nuanced critique of public education all

Thursday, August 1, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

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—Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. For more information about our move to the Bronx, please visit www.FreshDirectFacts.com © 2013 FreshDirect LLC