Riverdale Review, November 1, 2012 by Andrew Wolf

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Volume XIX • Number 41 • November 1 - 7, 2012 •

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Riverdale rocked by historic hurricane By MIAWLING LAM More than 3,000 local homes were left without power after superstorm Sandy ripped through Riverdale and left a path of mass destruction. The unprecedented storm swept through the region on Monday evening, bruising Riverdale with its relentless nearhurricane-force wind gusts and sporadic rain. Dozens of trees were uprooted, widespread power outages were reported, Internet and cable service was disrupted and several homes in Fieldston were damaged. As of noon Tuesday, Con Edison said 46,805 Bronx customers were without power, including 3,489 in Riverdale. Citywide, more than 613,237 were left in the dark, including much of lower Manhattan. Locally, early indications suggest the leafy enclave of Fieldston bore the brunt of Sandy’s wrath. Half of its residents were left without power and its usually pristine streets were littered with leaves, branches and other debris while several roads were blocked by fallen trees. On Waldo Avenue between West 246th and West 250th streets, two trees fell onto the attic of a two-story house, while four blocks away on Delaﬁeld Avenue, several trees toppled over and brought down utility

wires. Further south, Palisade Avenue was rendered impassable after a tree came crashing down in front of 2521 Palisade Avenue. Another tree on West 232nd Street between Independence and Palisade avenues was also upended from its roots, blocking both lanes of traffic. Despite the destruction, commanding officer of the 50th Precinct Kevin Burke said there have been no reports of local fatalities or injuries. He said the five-oh operated at full capacity during the storm and that around 150 officers—each working 12-hour shifts—answered the deluge of 911 calls. “Most of the emergencies were in regards to downed power lines and trees falling onto cars,” he said. “I think most people heeded the warnings and understood that it was a once-in-a-lifetime storm. “What we found out is that a large majority, if not everyone, stayed indoors, which prevented the loss of life.” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said Riverdale fared remarkably well compared to the rest of the city, thanks in part to the neighborhood’s high elevation. “I think that under the circumstances, we can consider ourselves fortunate—we’re

Two uprooted trees hammered this Waldo Avenue home, bringing down with it a number of power lines and knocking out electrical service to much of the surrounding Fieldston neighborhood. not ﬂooded, and our homes didn’t burn down,” he said, referring to the devastating blaze that destroyed more than 50 homes in Breezy Point, Queens. However, Dinowitz said resi-

Power was knocked out starting at 2521 Palisade Avenue extending south, where a downed tree traverses the road, blocking two-way trafﬁc.

dents in Fieldston suffered a battering. “In Fieldston, there wasn’t just a downed tree here or there. You really had to know where you were going because there was blocked street after blocked street,” he said. In fact, Councilman G. Oliver Koppell likened the situation outside his Fieldston house to a war zone. The elected ofﬁcial sought refuge in a Manhattan hotel on Monday night because his house is surrounded by a slew of old trees. “My yard looks like a battleground. It really is amazing,” he said on Tuesday. “A tremendous number of branches—probably around 50—came down around my house, and it conﬁrms that I was wise not to sleep here. We were very worried because we have very large trees.” Fieldston Property Owners Association president Stephen Boatti said at least half of

Fieldston descended into darkness after strong winds toppled power lines. He estimated at least 12 trees were uprooted in the area. “We had a tornado two years ago and another hurricane last year, but this is much worse as far as the number of trees and the damage,” he said. Boatti said private crews were methodically traversing each block in Fieldston and clearing streets of debris. As city agencies scramble to deal with the aftermath and begin the massive cleanup, local community organizations are also doing their part. The Riverdale YM-YWHA opened its bathrooms and showers to those without power on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Riverdale Review understands just two people checked into the city-run evacuation shelter at M.S./H.S. 141. However, sources claim both individuals were homeless and not residents in the area.

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Riverdale teen wins Lincoln Center film award By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER She’s nothing more than a series of line drawings on a yellow pad, but the heroine of “Me,” Sofie Somoroff’s hit “micro-movie,” evokes sadness, anger and joy during the 71 seconds her story is screened. Somoroff, a junior at the Bronx High School of Science, earned top billing at an October 13 awards ceremony for her spare, elegant piece in a national contest sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and OnBuzz, a family entertainment social network. The Reach for the Stars—Aspiring Filmmakers competition called for young filmmakers, aged 13 to 17, to submit a micro-movie, no more than three minutes in duration, shot on a smartphone. The event was part of a 50th anniversary bash for the New York Film Festival. A common theme in competition entries, including Somoroff’s, was bullying. The cruel sport may not be a major issue in the halls of Bronx Science, but bullying can do even more damage remotely, Somoroff pointed out. “The film is much more directed at the greater theme of cyberbullying and how in general, no matter where you are, someone will say something weird or mean on Facebook or Twitter or whatever else people use. It’s more directed at the fact that the things people do directly toward you in front of them doesn’t amount to what people do to you online because they have more courage. Probably hundreds of people can see that

taking place and not do anything about it,” she said. “It’s not only the bullies that are hiding behind the screen of their computers. It’s also the ones who should be standing up for the person being bullied.” In “Me,” a young woman is subject to barrage of electronic insults. We see her tears and then her relief when rescued by soothing compliments. Somoroff was born into a creative household—her father is a commercial director, artist and photographer, her mother is a textile artist and designer— and she started classes at the New York Film Academy when she was only 12. “That’s where I learned the technical elements,” she said. The 16-year-old Riverdalian decided the camera would be a main focus in her life while she was an eighth-grader at SAR. “When I was 13, I got recognition for a film that I made about filmmaking,” she recalled. Her school project, “Motion Picture Documentations: A View into History,” was selected as a winner in that year’s National History Day film competition. She was inspired by the filmmakers she interviewed for the documentary and “realized it could be a very feasible career.” Thanks to her mastery of the technical elements, Somoroff’s current micromovie was produced in record time. “I actually had to make the entire movie basically in seven hours, because I found out about the competition the

day of the deadline,” she said. “My mom texted me while I was in school. She found out about it on a new parenting blog. She immediately texted it to me and it was like, get something together by midnight.” The talented teen is thinking in terms of a liberal arts education before pursuing film school. “For the past few years I decided I’d end up in a film school just because that’s my main interest,” she said. “But as time’s gone on, I’ve found out that it’s really important to know a lot of things to be a filmmaker.” At the red-carpet awards ceremony, the finalist premiered their films before an audience of movie producers and media executives.

By MIAWLING LAM The public could be given more time to offer feedback on new franchise and concession projects if new legislation proposed by Councilman G. Oliver Koppell is passed. The changes are designed to avoid a repeat of the merry-go-round process that engulfed Community Board 8 and the Van Cortlandt Park ice skating rink last year. Under the proposed changes, the Franchise and Concessions Review Committee would be required to provide the community with a project’s details at least 30 days before it votes on a new franchise and concession, up from the current 15 days.

The notification provision for proposed projects due for renewal would also be increased to 20 days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, up from the current 15 days. The planned amendment to the City Charter—the constitution of New York City— comes a year after a debacle erupted over the Van Cortlandt Park ice skating rink. CB8 scheduled, and subsequently had to cancel, five public hearings on the rink because the Department of Parks failed to release details of the proposed contract each month. CB8 parks committee chair Bob Bender said the skating rink dramas proved that the city’s existing 15-day timeframe was insufficient. “It was a very awkward and frustrat-

ing process, and we all concluded that we were very unhappy with the way the FCRC regulations are,” he said. “If this legislation passes, things will be a lot better because we won’t ever have to go through the process we went through with the skating rink.” Bender said CB8 would now urge other community boards across the city to support the legislation and hoped each would in turn pressure their respective Council representatives to co-sponsor the bill. As of press time, the bill has the support of four other City Council representatives: Annabel Palma from The Bronx; Letitia James and Jumaane D. Williams, both from Brooklyn; and Daniel J. Halloran from Queens. The bill, which was introduced by Councilman Koppell on Thursday, October 11, has now been referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations. Koppell said he was hopeful that the proposed legislation would garner widespread support. “I think we have a good shot with it,” he said, adding that he has yet to discuss the bill with City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “The problem is if the administration opposes it. If they do, it’ll be hard to get through.” It is unclear whether a public hearing will be held to discuss the matter. CB8 chairman Robert Fanuzzi welcomed the proposed bill and its attempts to address the condensed time constraints. “I really think this is a great step forward for people and that the city is taking the lead from the needs of communities and

community boards,” he said. “We’re the ones who are supposed to have the power of review, and they gave it to us, but really, they took it away with the other hand. “We did what we could and we manufactured our review, but in spite of the current law, this would change that.” CB8 member Andrew Piscitelli, who was instrumental in crafting the proposed bill, predicted the city and FCRC would strongly oppose the amendments, even though precedent exists for such revisions. He said although the NYC Charter was approved and adopted following a public referendum in 1989, the City Council has previously amended sections of the charter without subjecting the changes to a ballot.

3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

Proposed changes in contract approvals could prevent ‘secret skate rinks’

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Around the schools... Riverdale-Kingsbridge Academy

Parents of prospective RKA high school students are invited to an open house on Monday, November 19, or Tuesday, November 20, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. To register, contact JPrince4@schools.nyc.gov. Friday middle school tours for parents of prospective sixth-graders will continue through December 14 (except for November 23). Tours begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and last until around 11 a.m. To register, contact parent coordinator Julie Prince at JPrince4@schools.nyc.gov. RKA is a zoned middle school. To determine whether your home address is within the RKA zone, visit the Department of Education website (schools.nyc.gov) and search under “zone ﬁnder.”

Riverdale Country School

Students from Ms. Shapiro’s eighthgrade history class worked with National Geographic’s Spencer Wells on Monday to discuss the Genographic Project, a global anthropological research initiative that uses DNA to map ancient migratory routes. Earlier this year, students submitted cheek swab DNA samples to trace their own ancient ancestry. While they await the results, they’re conducting the ﬁrst-ever school-run fundraiser for the Genographic Legacy Fund, a global organization that supports community-led cultural conservation initiatives among indigenous and traditional communities. Once the students receive their Genographic Project results, they’ll study how their ancient ancestors populated the world and how we all are part of the same family tree and share common origins.

Manhattan College

The community is invited to attend two writing workshops with celebrated poet Étienne Lalonde on Wednesday, November 7, at 4 and 5 p.m. in Miguel 202. The college is hosting the program in conjunction with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Québec Government office in New York City—once a year, the Québec Government Office invites an artist to help promote French Quebecois arts and culture in local schools and colleges. Lalonde is a writer-in-residence at the Québec Studio in New York. For more information about the workshops, contact Samira Hassa at 718-862-7917 or samira. hassa@manhattan.edu. Charles Geisst, a professor of economics and finance at the college for more than 25 years, has recently published a revised and expanded edition of his acclaimed book “Wall Street: A History.” The new edition emphasizes the events that led to the financial crisis of 2008, including material on the policy responses of the Obama administration. First published in 1997 and revised in 2004, “Wall Street: A History” remained on The New York Times Business Bestseller List for three months in 1998. Geisst’s expanded book discusses how Wall Street and America have changed drastically since 2008 and how their relationship has shaped the country’s recent history. The Wall Street Journal called the book “a thorough retelling of a critical—though often overlooked—aspect of U.S. history.” The Social Science Quarterly said the book

“deserves to be a classic” in its ﬁeld. Geisst, a former investment banker, has been a contributor to major news outlets including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, NPR and the Washington Post. His forthcoming title, “Beggar-Thy-Neighbor: A History of Usury and Debt,” is scheduled for publication in early 2013. Geisst also wrote “Collateral Damaged: The Marketing of Consumer Debt to America (2009),” “Deals of the Century: Wall Street, Mergers, and The Making of Modern America (2003),” “Wheels of Fortune: The History of Speculation From Scandal to Respectability (2002),” “The Last Partnerships: Inside the Great Wall Street Money Dynasties (2001),” and thirteen other titles. He received his B.A. from the University of Richmond, his M.A. from The New School and his PhD. from the London School of Economics.

College of Mount Saint Vincent

Adjunct professor Roberto Villanueva, founder and artistic director of BalaSole Dance Company, will present “Voces,” a new program with a broad range of dance styles, music and artistic voices on Saturday, November 3, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 4, at 5 p.m. at Ailey Citigroup Theater in Manhattan. BalaSole is a group of 10 dancer/choreographers who have performed in works by Martha Graham, Lar Lubovitch, Robert Battle, Bill T. Jones, and Doug Varone. It is the only professional dance company in the United States whose mission is to be entirely inclusive of every individual’s unique traits. Villanueva founded BalaSole in 2010 and has served on the faculty of Dance Masters of America’s Teachers Training Program. He received a 2011-2012 Harlem Stage Fund for New Work Award for his one-man show. The college will host the New York Classical Players on Friday, November 16, at 8 p.m. for “Tchaikovsky in Context,” a concert featuring Tchaikovsky’s iconic String Sextet in D minor, Op. 70 (“Souvenir de Florence”), Anton Stepanovich Arensky’s “Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky” and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. The New York Classical Players are a group of young instrumentalists who have debuted at the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and have been involved with high-proﬁle endeavors such as Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project. Music director Dongmin Kim has established himself as an exciting and versatile conductor.

Local Scholars

Emory College of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, has announced that Nathaniel Posner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree this past August. Emory University enrolls more than 7,400 undergraduates and more than 6,400 graduate students in its nine academic divisions, including schools of liberal arts, business, law, medicine, nursing, public health and religion. It is known for its demanding academics, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. The university includes the Carlos Museum, the Carter Center, the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, Georgia’s largest health care system. Emory is the third-largest private employer in the metro Atlanta area.

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• Proven success for over 60 years • Superlative education • Nursery through 8th grade • Diverse Jewish backgrounds welcome

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• Busing from Manhattan • Affordable tuition

2600 Netherland Ave • Riverdale, NY 10463 718-548-0900 • www.kinneretdayschool.org Please call us for an appointment!

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

Riverdale Neighborhood House (RNH) will host its Annual Beneﬁt Dinner on November 4, 2012 at Xaviars on the Hudson (X20) restaurant in Yonkers, New York. This year we will celebrate our 140th anniversary as we honor The Dodge Family. Event details are available online at www.riverdaleonline.org. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Nancy Alberts at (718) 549-8100 x123 or email nalberts@riverdaleonline.org.

Groups will be divided by age, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years and 11-12 years old. Each group will have a maximum of 15 children. First KNO is Saturday, November 10, 2012. Registration has already begun. We cannot accept walk-ins on the night of each events. Our next KNO’s are scheduled for Dec. 15, Jan. 12, February 9 and March 9 Space is limited, Registration will be on a first come, first served basis. Register for one or all five. Cost: $25/ $20 Y members for the entire evening. This program is being offered to the entire community. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue. Please contact Joe Smith for further information at (718)548-8200, ext. 261 or email JSmith@RiverdaleY.org

BAE to present ‘Rapunzel’ on Nov. 4

Uptown Coffeehouse to feature Amy Black

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

New Programs for Parents, Infants and Young Tots

The Y is welcoming all families with a Tot Shabbat on Friday, November 2, at 10:30am in the Riverdale Y lobby. Greg Shafritz, music specialist to the early childhood program, will lead this session twice a month. Children and families will participate in joyous Shabbat songs and the blessings for lighting of candles, challah and wine. There are many special programming for babies 0-3, their families and their caregivers at the Y now. The entire community (especially families with little children) are welcome to participate. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue. For more information, contact Wendy Pollock at 718-548-8200 ext 220 or go to our website at www.Riverdaley.org.

HIR to sponsor Abraham & Sarah’s Tent

Join the Riverdale Jewish Community and American Jewish World Service as hundreds from all over come together across institutions and denominations for a very special Shabbat dinner and program in The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale Abraham & Sarah’s Tent on Friday, November 2. Expo & Text Study will be held at 6:30 p.m.; dinner at 7:30 p.m. There will be catered Shabbat Dinner featuring our local Tav HaYosher caterer, Silverleaf Caterers; learning, singing and programming for all ages; childcare for young children; dessert lecture and Q&A with American Jewish World Service President Ruth Messinger. Suggested donation (to help cover dinner costs) of $20/person; $54/family. Sign up at www.thebayit.org/JSAMreversehunger. Hebrew Institute of Riverdale is located at 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway. For more information, call 718-796-4730.

Riverdale Y’s Gallery 18 to feature Isaac Chavel

The Riverdale Y’s Gallery 18 will feature artist Isaac Chavel for the month of November. Mr. Chavel born in Louisville, Kentucky, is a long-time resident of Riverdale, and was Professor of Mathematics at The City College and Graduate Center of CUNY from 1970 until his retirement in 2009. He became seriously interested in photography over the past decade. Among his many subjects, his favorite is scenics - here in Riverdale, NYC, and in Israel. Mr. Chavel enjoys the textures of black-andwhite, but not to the exclusion of color. He is self-taught, and still shoots ﬁlm. The exhibit is called Shades of Light and will be display at the Y for the public. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

Flea market at St. John’s Church

St. John’s Church will host a ﬂea market on Saturday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will be held at the Old St. John’s School located at 3030 Godwin Terrace in the Bronx. Clothes, jewelry, accessories and brica-brac will be sold at bargain prices. Free parking will also be available so get there early and snare yourself a great

ﬁnd. For more information, please call 718543-3003.

Aaron Klein to speak at HIR

Aaron Klein, American-Israeli investigative journalist, NY Times bestselling author (Fool Me Twice) and WABC Radio Host will speak about “What Israel needs from America (and what America needs from Israel)” on November 3 (Saturday evening) at 8:30 pm at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverdale, NY 10463. He will speak about his books, the turmoil in the Middle East, rising antiAntisemitism, latest in the American and Israeli news and the upcoming elections. The event is free with a suggested donation of $10. A book signing will follow. (Remember- daylight savings time begins at 2 am so there’s an extra hour to sleep on Sunday!) For more details, email israel.action. hir@gmail.com, call 718-796-4730, go to www.thebayit.org

Rotary Club to sponsor reading hour

Youngsters 2-12 years old are invited to participate in the Reading Program on Saturday, November 3, at the Kingsbridge Library, 291 West 231st Street, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. 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. Adult volunteers who are interested in participating are asked to contact Karen Pesce, Secretary: (718) 549-4469.

Kosher gluten-free baking class offered

Please join us at the next Kosher Gluten-free Thanksgiving Baking Class, featuring dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, chocolate coconut cookies, and peanut butter kisses. The class, for women and girls, will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.- at 5235 Arlington Avenue in Riverdale, N.Y. To register, please call 718601-6138 or e-mail elaine10471@yahoo. com. The fee for the class is $45 and all supplies are included.

Veterans Day ceremony in Van Cortlandt Park

Local veterans will host their annual Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday, November 4 at the recently unveiled Van Cortlandt Park Memorial Grove. The ceremony to kick-off at 1 p.m. will honor deceased war heroes and those who have served in the armed forces. Everyone is invited to attend and/or participate. Organizers said the event was being held one week before Veterans Day to maximize community attendance. The Van Cortlandt Memorial Grove is located at the western edge of Van Cortlandt Park on Broadway at the West 246th Street bus stop.

RNH to hold annual beneﬁt dinner

Billed as ‘a fairy tale in rhyming verse’, ‘RAPUNZEL’ will be presented by the Bronx Arts Ensemble and Lehman Children’s Theater Company on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 at 1 & 3 pm at the Whitehall, 3333 Henry Hudson Parway, Bronx. With a script by Director Dante Albertie and music arranged by BAE Artistic Director Bill Scribner, this version of the popular fairy tale of the maiden with extra-long golden hair, imprisoned in a tower by a wicked witch and saved by a handsome prince, will have a modern humorous slant, providing fun for the whole family. The audience will also be introduced to the oboe, clarinet and bassoon at the beginning of the show. Admission to ‘RAPUNZEL’ is $6, and all seats are unreserved. Tickets may be ordered online www. bronxartsensemble.org or by calling the Bronx Arts Ensemble at 718 601-7399.

Riverdale Y offers Kids Night Out

The Riverdale Y is offering an evening event for children call KNO- Kids Night Out.What is KNO? KNO is our special program just for kids. Children ages, 5-12, will get to experience, explore, and enjoy all of the wonderful offerings at the Y. Games, sports, creative and performing arts, talent shows, movies, special events and more. One Saturday each month, between November and March from 7-10pm, your kids are taken care of by our supervised staff, having fun, while you catch up on all the things you want to do -hit the mall, catch a ﬂick or grab a quiet dinner.

The Uptown Coffeehouse presents Amy Black on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m., at their new address: The Uptown Coffeehouse, City Island Community Center, 190 Fordham Street, lower level, City Island, NY 10464, telephone 718-885-2955. Admission is $15, children under 12, $5. Bronx Cultural Cards are accepted. Boston-based singer/songwriter Amy Black burst onto the Boston scene a few short years ago and has become one of the most sought after new acts in New England. Black’s music is a rich mix of folk, blues, classic country, and gritty soul, performed in a Southern tradition storytelling style reminiscent of Patty Loveless, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Bonnie Raitt.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

ballet

opera in

Thursday, November 1

of $10. For more details, email israel.action.hir@gmail.com, call 718-796-4730, go to www.thebayit.org

BILINGUAL BIRDIES 11:30 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue A foreign language (Hebrew) and live music program for children ages newborn to ﬁve years old with parent/caregiver. The bilingual musicians teach through live music, movement, puppetry and games. Each session ends with a lively bubble dance party! Children learn basic vocabulary and short phrases while playing with instruments and fun props. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Sunday, November 4

Riverdale

Kingsbridge

Riverdale

RAPUNZEL 1 p.m. Whitehall Club 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway Bronx Arts Ensemble and Lehman Children’s Theater Company will present ‘Rapunzel,’ script by Dante Albertie and music by Bill Scribner. Admission is $6, and all seats are unreserved. Tickets may be ordered online www.bronxartsensemble.org or by calling the Bronx Arts Ensemble at 718-601-7399.

FAR OUT PHYSICS 3:30 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Children will explore different themes such as: speed, momentum, forces, reactions, structures and other physical phenomena. Presented by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. For ages 6 and older. For more info, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

Friday, November 2

Monday, November 5

STAY WELL EXERCISE 10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Join us for a free, fun Stay Well exercise session. 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.

COFFEE HOUR 10 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Start off your week with a cup of coffee at the Riverdale Branch. Read newspapers, catch up on current events, or just enjoy a friendly game of Chess. All in our Community Room. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

BILINGUAL BIRDIES 10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street A foreign language and live music program for children ages newborn to ﬁve years old with parent/caregiver. The bilingual musicians teach through live music, movement, puppetry and games. Each session ends with a lively bubble dance party! Children learn basic vocabulary and short phrases while playing with instruments and fun props. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

FUN SCIENCE 3:30 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Children are welcome to come to the Riverdale Branch and learn more about the scientiﬁc process. They will conduct experiments and have fun while learning how the world around them operates. For ages 5 to 12 years. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Let your voice be heard in the Kingsbridge Library’s Teen Advisory Group! TAG meetings will be held on Friday afternoons from 4-5 pm. If you are a 7th -12th grade student, you are eligible to join. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Saturday, November 3 Kingsbridge

FLEA MARKET 9 a.m. Old St. John’s School 3030 Godwin Terrace The community is invited to this monthly ﬂea market. For more information, call 718-543-3003.

Kingsbridge

READING HOUR 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Youngsters 3-12 years old are invited to participate in the Reading Program sponsored by the Rotary Club. For more information, contact Karen Pesce at 718-549-4469.

Riverdale

LECTURE 8:30 p.m. Hebrew Institute of Riverdale 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway Aaron Klein will speak about “What Israel needs from America (and what America needs from Israel).” He will speak about his books, the turmoil in the Middle East, rising antiAntisemitism, latest in the American and Israeli news and the upcoming elections. The event is free with a suggested donation

cinema

INSTALLATION OF PASTOR 3 p.m. Riverdale Presbyterian Church 4765 Henry Hudson Pkwy. West Riverdale Presbyterian Church will install Rev. Michael Hafele as its new pastor. For more information, call 718796-5560.

Riverdale

Lehman Stages and Emerging Pictures present the best in Opera and Ballet presented in crystal-clear Hi-Definition digital projection on the Big Screen!

Swan Lake

The Royal Ballet Tuesday November 6 at 2PM

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, exchange information, learn new techniques. All skill levels are welcomed. Registration not required. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Kingsbridge

RETRO GAMES 2 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street It’s back to the good old days: join your friends and roll the dice instead of clicking a mouse! Come by for some old fashioned board game fun. For more info, call 718-548-5656.

Tuesday, November 6 Riverdale

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 ereader. First come, ﬁrst served. For info, call 718-549-1212.

Riverdale

SCRABBLE 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue If words work you up and crossword puzzles keep you going, come to Riverdale and share your passion with friends every Tuesday afternoon for a lively game of Scrabble. Pre-registration required. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

AMERICAN TEENAGER PROJECT 3:30 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Tell the story of your life with ﬁlm and friends. Join awardwinning photojournalist Robin Bowman for 6 sessions and learn how to craft a narrative using photographs, personal insights, and shared experiences. Your work will be featured in a library exhibition, and will be published in a book that is yours to keep and share. For ages 13 to 18 years. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Wednesday, November 7 Riverdale

ART LECTURE 1 p.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Avenue A lecture on Edouard Vuillard: A Painter and His Muses, 1890-1940. A docent from the Jewish Museum will present this talk and show slides on his works. The artist’s exhibit has been shown at the Jewish Museum in New York from May 4, 2012 through Sept. 23, 2012. Anyone who is 60 and over may attend this lecture. For more information, contact Toby at 718-548-8200, ext. 223.

All ballet tickets are $12 · www.brownpapertickets.com The Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College · www.lehmanstages.org · 718.960.7830

Attention,voters! Attention, voters!

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

YIVO Yiddish culture series continues at Riverdale Temple By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER More than 200 Yiddish enthusiasts flocked to Riverdale Temple this month for a retrospective peek behind the scenes as playwright Miriam Hoffman launched this year’s YIVO Yiddish Culture Series with her entertaining talk, “Backstage with the Yiddish Theater.” Hoffman’s tales of career development in the lives of pivotal actors during the early days of the genre featured romance, sabotage, jealous rage and other off-stage dramas. “No country in the world was so conducive to Yiddish theater as America,” Hoffman said. “Jews began earning a relatively decent living. They missed their family back home, their Jewish surroundings. There was a spiritual void in their lives. After work, they had no place to go and nothing to do. For these immigrants, Yiddish theater was their savior.” Everyday conflicts—justice against wrongdoing, bosses against workers, parents against a chosen marriage partner—were played out onstage in downtown venues like the site of what is now La MaMa. But actors weren’t skilled and theatergoers weren’t savvy. “The audience couldn’t tell the difference between the play and the actors,” Hoffman said. “If an actor played a corrupt and ugly character, that meant that the actor himself was corrupt and ugly, and they were ready to tear him apart onstage and off.” The craft wasn’t always taken seriously. Quirky actors would stop in the middle of a play to address the audience with some personal message. Some would even refuse to memorize their lines. Even theater lovers found it less than glamorous—parents tried to steer their kids away from a theatrical career. And there was no money in it, so young talent was drawn to a life in theater only by the prospect of fame. A real-life off-stage conflict was the rift between the Jews of German origin, already established in America, and immigrants from Eastern Europe with their disreputable art form. The Germans deemed it vulgar and tried to quash its popularity. In one attempt, a German Jewish group went as far as bribing a leading lady to feign illness on opening night. She took them up on the offer and went home but was re-bribed shortly thereafter to return to the stage. By the time she arrived, the rest of the performers and most of the audience had fled. The ones who remained were “a bunch of hooligans throwing around and breaking chairs,” Hoffman said, and the theater had to close. A more “highbrow” kind of theater evolved with the staging of classics, including Shakespeare’s plays, translated into Yiddish. But audiences hadn’t heard of the original works. At the end, they clamored for the playwright and were shocked to learn that William Shakespeare wasn’t there himself to take a bow. When second-generation immigrants turned to Broadway for their entertainment, Yiddish theater suffered from declining interest and fell prey to the financial demands of 13 unions, Hoffman said. “The members of these 13 unions had to be employed for the entire season, whether or not they were needed.”

To boot, young actors and actresses were kept out of the ﬁeld by the old-timers, who felt threatened by the fresher faces. Hoffman ended with a story told by actor Fyvush Finkel: He fell in love with a woman and asked for her hand in marriage. The woman advised him to consult her father. When the father learned that his daughter’s suitor was a Yiddish theater actor, he refused to grant approval. Finkel begged the father to see him act onstage before making a ﬁnal decision. The father agreed. Following a performance, the father happily told Finkel, “You can marry my daughter, my son—an actor, you’re not.” Hoffman has been a lecturer in

Yiddish studies at Columbia University for the past 20 years. She writes in Yiddish and English for the Jewish Daily Forward and for literary journals. Several of her plays were staged by companies including the Joseph Papp Public Theater and the National Yiddish Theatre—Folksbiene. She earned a Tony Award for her translation into Yiddish of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys.” This spring, she’ll offer a 10-session seminar on Yiddish culture, language and theater. Classes will meet at the temple on Wednesdays from mid-March to June. For more information, contact rivtemple@aol. com and write “adult education Yiddish class” in the subject line.

HGI H O L O C A U S T, G E N O C I D E , A N D I N T E R FA I T H E D U C AT I O N C E N T E R FIFTH ANNUAL SCHWEITZER LECTURE

Kristallnacht in History and Memory During World War II, the Nazi regime and its collaborators around Europe murdered 6 million Jews. Given the magnitude of this atrocity, why is so much attention given to the Kristallnacht pogrom of November 1938, which preceded the war and the "Final Solution," and that resulted in the deaths of hundreds rather than of millions? In his lecture, professor Alan Steinweis will explain how the Kristallnacht fit into the unfolding anti-Jewish policies of the Nazi regime, and why the event continues to loom so large in the collective memories of Jews, Germans and others.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 7:00 p.m. Smith Auditorium

If you have any questions about this, or any other HGI Center event, please contact Mehnaz Afridi, Ph.D., at mehnaz.afridi@manhattan.edu.

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

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Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Compromise reached on lost parking spaces at skate rink By MIAWLING LAM Officials at the Van Cortlandt Park ice skating rink will ask to sequester just three metered parking spaces along Broadway to create a designated drop-off zone. Van Cortlandt Park manager Margot Perron revealed concessionaire officials would ask for three spaces to be utilized instead of the eight spots originally flagged. Rink officials are looking to lodge a street activity permit application in order to create a temporary drop-off area for cars

Montefiore to expand to new East Bronx facility By MIAWLING LAM Montefiore Medical Center has inked a deal to lease a new 11-story building at the Hutchinson Metro Center. The 280,000-square-foot building, under construction by Simone Development, is touted as a state-of-the-art facility that will revolutionize healthcare. Montefiore Medical Center president Steven M. Safyer said the proposed building will integrate technology and allow professionals to provide care without the need for hospitalization. “This new tower will allow Montefiore to bring the health care of tomorrow to our patients here in The Bronx,” he said in a statement. “We are reshaping outpatient care and establishing leading practices that provide Montefiore’s world-class treatments through multidisciplinary teams at a hospital without beds.” The new building will include an ambulatory surgery center, an advanced imaging center, an onsite laboratory and pharmacy, and primary and specialty care practices. Officials said the tower is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2014. Published reports indicate Montefiore will invest $142.3 million to build out the premises and that the facility could create more than 500 jobs. According to terms of the agreement, Montefiore will initially lease the building for 16 years, with the option to extend the lease or purchase the property. Simone Development president Joseph Simone said: “We are very mindful of the health care industry trends driving demand for high-quality medical office space. “The needs of hospital systems have shifted significantly in recent years, and Simone Development is a leader in helping the medical profession to navigate this new landscape. “We’re thrilled to be expanding Montefiore’s presence here at Hutchinson Metro Center.”

Riverdale Y offers afterschool sports The Riverdale Y Sports and Recreation department is offering many new afterschool classes for chlldren ages 3 to grades 6. Some afterschool sports include ultimate Frisbee, soccer for grades 1-2 and grades 3-6, sports sampler, a new class to introduce a variety of sports, basketball for grades 1-2 and Grades 3-6. Flag football and mini golf. For our younger children, the Y offers preschool soccer and basketball for ages 3-5 on Sundays. Also for the younger ones, the Y offers gymnastics on Wednesday at 3:30pm and Thursday at 3:30pm. For more information regarding any of these programs, contact Yudi Davis at 718-548-8200, ext. 240. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

and buses arriving at the rink. The drop-off zone would also include a small area spanning roughly two car lengths that is currently designated a no-parking zone. In a brief phone interview on Friday, Van Cortlandt Park ice rink project manager Ronald Kraut conﬁrmed the downward revision. “It’s as few as three now, which I think is good,” he said. “We’re still hoping to do this through a street activity permit. It’s easy to do, and it’s not complicated.” Historically, locals in Riverdale have fought against the loss of any spaces—regardless of the total number and justiﬁcation—because street parking is

so scarce. But last month, CB8 traffic and transportation committee chair Daniel Padernacht conceded the proposal was the best solution, considering the circumstances. “Nobody likes giving up parking spaces, but they’re going to have to do something and provide for drop-offs and pick-ups,” he said. “Residents always respond negatively to a loss of spots. However, given the project, they may view safety at the site as more important.” The application is subject to approval from the mayor’s Street Activity Permit Ofﬁce, which is the agency that typically issues permits for street fairs, festivals,

block parties and greenmarkets. While recommendations will be sought from Community Board 8 and relevant agencies, including the New York City Police Department, Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation and Department of Buildings, a single person—the SAPO director—will decide whether the application is ultimately approved or denied. Meanwhile, Kraut said construction on the $600,000 rink is progressing steadily and that the facility is slated to open on Monday, November 19. According to the 15-year license agreement, the rink is permitted to operate during the entire winter season from, October 15 through March 30.

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Mt. Vernon

HISTORIC MANSION TOUR 1 p.m. Merestead 455 Byram Lake Road A curator-led tour through an elegant 100-year-old mansion to learn about a local family that inﬂuenced design and interior decorating throughout the world. Fee $10 adults, $8 seniors and $5 children ages 13-17; under age 12 free. Reservations required at (914) 231-4539.

Friday, November 2

Somers

HISTORY OF FUNERALS 7 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue Just in time for Halloween, join us for a talk exploring the history of funerals, in America, by Nancy Coffey, professor at the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. For more information, contact David Osborn, 914-667-4116.

Yonkers

LECTURE 3:30 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College 1 Mead Way Author of numerous articles on formal political theory, congressional and parliamentary politics, public policy, and political economy, Ken Shepsle is the George D. Markham Professor of Government and a founding member of The Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University. (914) 395-2412. www.slc.edu.

Saturday, November 3 Croton-on-Hudson

VINE PULLERS UNITE! 8 a.m. Croton Point Nature Center Croton Point Avenue Help remove invasive vines that threaten our native species at Croton Point Nature Center in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Please bring gloves and tools if you have them. For info, call 914-862-5297.

Somers

BLACKSMITHING WORKSHOP 9 a.m. Muscoot Farm Route 100 Blacksmith Bill Fitzgerald will teach this craft; for adults 18 years of age and older. Fee $85; pre-registration required at muscootfarm.org or call (914) 864-7286.

North White Plains

MUSHROOM WALK 9:30 a.m. Cranberry Lake Preserve 1609 Old Orchard Street Search the park for all things fungal with members of the Connecticut-Westchester Mycological Association. No collecting is permitted, but you will learn which are edible and which are not. Bring a lunch and picnic afterwards if you like. For more information, call 914-428-1005.

Somers

STORIES FROM THE FRONT 1 p.m. Lasdon Park Route 35 “They Flew with Tigers: A B-24 Crew in China/Burma during World War II” with author Paul R. Rand. A free lecture offered at the park’s Westchester Veterans Military Museum. Reservations required; call (914) 864-7263.

Rye

NATURE HIKE 2 p.m. Marshlands Conservancy Route 1 Tracking and Tracing the Wild. Nature will teach how to ﬁnd the ideal signs of wildlife during a hike through trails, streams and the salt marsh. For more information, call 914835-4466.

Scarsdale

CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNE 3 p.m. Shaarei Tikvah 46 Fox Meadow Road This is an interactive performance by an actress portraying Anne Frank, and as Anne Frank she will answer questions from members of the audience. Everyone is encouraged to bring their questions for Anne. For information, to make a reservation, and for ticket information call 914-472-2013, ext. 300.

Monday, November 5 Yonkers

LECTURE 4 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College Heimbold Visual Arts Center Martin Tantkleff, victim of one of the most famous wrongful convictions in New York state history, will discuss his experiences, as well as the role the media played in his trial. Now a law student, Tantkleff was convicted of murdering his parents as a senior in high school and spent ﬁfteen years in prison before being exonerated. Free. Information: (914) 395-2412, www.slc.edu.

SOAP MAKING WORKSHOP 12:30 p.m. Muscoot Farm Route 100 Join Mia Camacho-Fitzgerald from Clean Ridge Soap Company and learn how to make great soaps for gifts for the holidays. Fee $45; pre-registration required; visit www. muscootfarm.org or call (914) 864-7286.

Tuesday, November 6

Cross River

Wednesday, November 7

NATURE HIKE 2 p.m. Trailside Nature Museum Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Hear the lore of the old Leather Man told by storyteller Jonathan Kruk during a two-mile hike to his cave at the reservation. Meet at the Michigan Road parking area. Co-sponsored by Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. For more information, call 914-864-7322.

Somers

OWL PROWL 7 p.m. Muscoot Farm Route 100 Join naturalist Frank Gallo for an informational program about owls, followed by a hike to spot these magniﬁcent birds at the farm. For more information, call 914-864-7282.

Sunday, November 4 Ossining

FINDING YOUR WAY 10 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Getting lost is not an option in this program which combines basic compass and map reading skills to help you better navigate in the woods. Be prepared for both indoor and outdoor activities. Bring lunch and water. Please note this program is for adults only. Fee: $10pp for members/$15pp for nonmembers. For more information, call 914-762-2912 x110.

Somers

STORYTELLING 1 p.m. Muscoot Farm Route 100 Enjoy favorite stories for youngsters and all ages. For more information, call 914-864-7282.

Mt. Vernon

COLONIAL FOLK MUSIC 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church 897 S. Columbus Avenue Aclaimed balladeer Linda Russell performs American colonial folk music, featuring her lovely voice and period instruments. Also, hear a talk exploring the 300-year history of St. Paul’s Church. For more information, contact David Osborn, 914-667-4116.

Croton-on-Hudson

POTLUCK DINNER 6:30 p.m. Croton Point Nature Center Croton Point Avenue Ferry Sloops Potluck Dinner at Croton Point Nature Center. All are welcome. Go to ferrysloops.org for info.

Bedford

LECTURE-PERFORMANCE 8 p.m. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 382 Cantitoe Street Renowned musician Anthony Newman will present the ﬁrst in a two-part lecture/performance series exploring the relationship between the Divine and classical music. In an accessible and colorful way, Mr. Newman will perform select works and discuss the Divine as creative inspiration and daily solace to great classical composers. www.bedfordchamberconcerts.org. Ticket Price $20/Students $10.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thursday, Novem ber 1

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

The Installation of Rev. Michael Hafele (pronounced ‘hey-flee’) as Pastor of the Riverdale Presbyterian Church will take place on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 3 PM in the sanctuary of the church, located at 4765 Henry Hudson Parkway in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Michael is a graduate of HampdenSydney College in Virginia, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Hampden-Sydney College and Master of Divinity degree in 2003 from Princeton Theological Seminary. Michael is currently seeking to complete his Doctor of Ministry degree at Pittsburgh Seminary & University of Aberdeen, with a focus on developing non-competitive ecumenical-missional partnerships between local churches. Michael affirms that it is through genuine relationships, rather than religious arguments, that people explore and find their connection with God and community. He loves to use the quote from N.T. Wright, Arguments about God are like pointing a flashlight into the sky to see if the sun is shining. Michael and his wife Claudia have two children. They are very excited to serve the Riverdale Presbyterian family of faith,

particularly as the congregation begins a celebration of its 150th anniversary, as well as Riverdale and surrounding communities. The church, which was founded in 1863, has occupied its current James Renwickdesigned building ever since. Renwick was also the architect of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and Grace Church on lower Broadway.

Brandeis Group to host popular dramatist

The Riverdale Chapter of The Brandeis National Committee cordially invites its members and their friends to its next monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 12:30 P.M. in Riverdale Temple, West 246 Street and Independence Avenue. The program will be a presentation by Mina Crasson, the well-known historian, lecturer and dramatist. Her subject will be “The Ladies of the Club - Women With Ideas, Dreams and Energy”. Please make advance reservations by sending check for $12.00, payable to B.N.C., to Cecile Horwich, 5800 Arlington Avenue - 10W,Riverdale, N.Y. 10471, before November 7th. Subscription at the door will be $15.00.

Bagels and light refreshments will be served and a boutique, “Jewelry, etc. by Pearl, Carol and Jessie” will be displayed for sale.

Lecture on artist Edouard Vuillard’s career

The Riverdale Y Senior Center will have a lecture on Edouard Vuillard: A Painter and His Muses, 1890-1940 on Wednesday, November 7 at 1:00pm. This presentation offers a fresh view of the French artist’s career from the vanguard 1890’s to the urbane domesticity of the lesser known portraits. A docent from the Jewish Museum will present this talk and show slides on his works. The artist’s exhibit has been shown at the Jewish Museum in New York from May 4, 2012 through Sept. 23, 2012. Anyone who is 60 and over may attend this lecture. The Senior Center is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue on the second ﬂoor. For more information, contact Toby at 718-548-8200, ext. 223.

Massage & acupuncture session at the Y

The Riverdale Y is offering a free massage or acupuncture session- a value of over $75 to anyone who joins the Y in the month of November . The Riverdale Y has a full ﬁtness center including gymnasium,

work out room and indoor heated swimming pool. Membership includes all group ﬁtness classes including yoga, meditation, belly dancing, aerobic and pilate classes. Membership also gives discounts to other classes that are offered at the Y. For more information regarding this promotion, contact Lisa Bruskin at 718-548-8200, ext. 239 or email LBruskin@RiverdaleY.org. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

Candice Nichole Plotkin is engaged to Ryan Douglas Taylor

Candice , 28, is a native of Riverdale who was valedictorian of M.S. 141 as well as The Bronx High School of Science. She graduated from Harvard College, magna cum laude and Harvard Law School. She is now practicing law at the San Francisco ofﬁce of Covington & Burling LLP. She is the daughter of Martin & Carol Plotkin of Riverdale. Ryan, 30, is a graduate of Stanford University as well as Harvard Law School. He is legal counsel at Palantir Technologies, Inc., a software company in Palo Alto, California. He also teaches a negotiation course as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law. He is the son of Douglas and Lynda Taylor of Beaverton, Oregon. The couple will be married in August, 2013.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

Presbyterian Church to install new pastor

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Of hurricanes and politics

This week’s hurricane, the tornado that struck us just two years ago, and so many freaky storms, winds and seemingly unrelated “acts of god,” all caused damage to trees and power lines, putting life and limb at risk. What is being done about this? Well, nothing. There is no policy to fix this problem. In fact, there is little acknowledgment that a problem indeed exists. Con Edison knows that there is a problem, because they spend millions pruning back irreplaceable old trees, sometimes to the point that they hardly appear to be natural growths. The net result of this effort, undertaken to protect the integrity of the overhead power lines, is that many fine old trees become unbalanced and tend to fall even more easily when confronting the slightest ill wind. It seems to us that within the city’s boundaries, particularly on streets with a combination of housing types, an organized effort needs to be made over time to relocate our power and cable lines underground. This would be a fine investment in the future of our communities. We would lose the unsightly power lines and avoid the dangers that they pose when brought down as a result of inclement weather. Underground power lines are far less likely to be impacted by bad weather. In this age when people are so dependent on computer and Internet access, the loss of both power and Internet can be more than simply an annoyance. We can stay connected and keep our power while protecting our trees and avoiding the dangers of live power lines. Moving them underground is a prudent investment if ever there was one. Meanwhile, the hurricane, coming so close to the election, may offer other lessons. We are grateful for the help of the federal government in providing relief and assistance to clean up after the disaster. We expect nothing less from the president and the federal government. When the structures to provide such aid fall apart, such as in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans a few years back, the president, in that case George W. Bush, is rightly open to criticism. Paramount among the responsibilities of the chief executive is to protect Americans throughout the world. A special responsibility is owed to those we put in harm’s way, particularly our fighting forces and our diplomats. That is why the murder of the American ambassador in Benghazi in Libya deserves the greatest possible attention. As the weeks go by and more is learned of this great tragedy, it seems increasingly apparent that in this case, President Obama and his administration bears responsibility for this disaster. And, even more ominously, for a Watergate-style cover-up since then. Just as President Bush was deservedly criticized for the failures in New Orleans, so must the president accept responsibility for what appears to be a failure to protect our country’s representatives abroad. As time goes on, it has become more apparent that the ambassador and our Navy Seals could have been given more protection to begin with and that they could have been more aggressively protected after they came under attack by forces already in Libya — or by forces at U.S. installations in Sicily just an hour away. We are not suggesting that your vote on Tuesday hinge on this one issue. But as attempts are being made to cast the election in terms of issues of little or no import (“binders of women”), maybe this basic failure of the commander-in-chief to do his job needs a bit more attention. That is why the electoral college system, which has made votes in states that strongly lean one way or another – such as New York – almost irrelevant. According to some sources, it is very likely that Governor Romney could win the popular vote, maybe by millions, while the president still prevails in the electoral college. This is what happened just twelve years ago when Vice President Gore bested Governor Bush at the polls, only to ultimately lose the election in the Supreme Court. Can it happen again this year? If it does, carefully monitor the protests of those Democrats who shouted the loudest twelve years ago. We’ll see if what is really motivating them is partisanship, not the poor process by which we choose our presidents.

Upcoming events at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center

Narrative Portrait class with artist Michael Ferris Jr. continues on Mondays, Nov. 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 1:00 PM. Participants learn to create a self-portrait utilizing drawing, ink and collage techniques. No previous art experience is necessary. Celebrate Thanksgiving and Shabbat with Rose and Meir Beer who will lead a sing along as well as perform some Israeli dances on Fri. Nov. 9th at 1:00 PM. Kosher Roast Chicken lunch served at 12:15 PM. Please reserve for lunch by Wed. Nov. 7th. Recommended meal contribution is $2.00 for seniors and $2.50 (fee) for non-seniors. Please call in your meal reservation to the center ofﬁce at 718-549-4700 by Wed. Nov. 7th. Open Sunday on Nov. 11th featuring Bryan Lammers, acclaimed guitar player and singer. We will serve a pre-Thanksgiving meal at 12:15 PM followed by smooth R&B dance and listen-

ing music. Bryan Lammers has performed with such legends as The Flamingos and The Shirelles. While living in Las Vegas, he was the featured performer at many casino venues including Caesar’s Palace, The Venetian and Treasure Island. Recommended senior contribution is $2.00 for lunch and $2.00 for the event. Lunch fee for non-seniors is $3.00 and $3.00 for the event. Please call in your meal reservation to the center ofﬁce at 718549-4700 by Thurs. Nov. 8th.

Award-winning poet to visit Manhattan College

In conjunction with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Québec Government ofﬁce in New York City, Manhattan College will host two writing workshops with celebrated poet Étienne Lalonde. Sponsored by the Modern Languages and Literatures department, the two workshops will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. in Miguel 202, and both are open to the public.

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CECILIA McNALLY Office Manager MIAWLING LAM Associate Editor

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

Once a year, the Québec Government Office invites an artist to New York City for a few months to help promote French Quebecois arts and culture in local schools and colleges. Originally from Montreal, Lalonde released his first two poetry collections I Cannibal (Je cannibale) and Still at War (C’est encore la guerre) in 1999. Still at War was a finalist for the Estuaire Terrasses Saint-Sulpice Prize for Poetry and also received a special mention for the Jacqueline DéryMochon Prize for Poetry. In addition, Natural Histories was published in 2010 and was awarded the 2011 Félix-Leclerc Prize for Poetry. His critically acclaimed book of poetry, Growing Old (Devenir vieux) came out in 2011, and last September, he released his most recent title, Poorly Lit Paths (Chemins mal éclairés). From 2000-2012, Lalonde received five grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, as well as one from the Canada Council for the Arts. He is currently a writer-in-residence at the Québec Studio in New York and will also participate in the International Poetry Festival of St. Petersburg, Russia, in May 2013. For more information about Lalonde’s workshops at Manhattan College, contact Samira Hassa, assistant professor of modern languages and literatures, by phone at (718) 862-7917 or email samira. hassa@manhattan.edu. To learn more about the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, visit http:// www.calq.gouv.qc.ca/index.htm.

On the issues that affect our lives, Congressman Eliot Engel is on our side! VOTE FOR CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL Working to Create and Preserve Jobs Eliot Engel has taken action to put Americans back to work and improve our economy. He fought to pass the American Recovery Act, that created or saved over two million jobs. He fought to pass laws to give small businesses tax credits and tax cuts to help them create jobs. Eliot Engel is working to pass new legislation to rebuild and modernize our infrastructure and improve our mass transit.

Passing Laws to Improve People’s Lives Eliot Engel has worked to make sure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. Now insurance companies cannot cancel our insurance when we get sick and deny coverage for pre-existing conditions for children. He was a leader in renewing the Violence Against Women Act, and passing the Equal Pay Act, both over Republican opposition.

Protecting Social Security and Medicare Eliot Engel has opposed cuts to Social Security and fought Republican attempts to privatize Social Security and Medicare. He worked to increase funding to fight waste, fraud and overpayments to insurance companies to protect Medicare.

Solving Problems, Improving Communities Eliot Engel has secured millions in Federal funds for the Bronx. Schools have been improved, bridges and roads repaired, and to expand community health care services. His Bronx office has solved hundreds of local problems and helped thousands of people. The Wall Street Journal described Engel as the “Mayor” of his Congressional District for his dedicated work in solving community problems.

RE-ELECT ELIOT ENGEL to CONGRESS Vote Democratic or Working Families www.engelforcongress.com

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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 1, 2012

Re-elect Our Congressman. Vote Tuesday, November 6th.

Thursday, November 1, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW