Riverdale Review, November 22, 2012 by Andrew Wolf

Riverdale’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper!

Volume XIX • Number 45 • November 22 - 28, 2012 •

FREE!

Cohen throws hat in ring for Council run By MIAWLING LAM It’s official: Community Board 8 member Andrew Cohen has entered the race for Councilman G. Oliver Koppell’s seat in the 2013 citywide elections. Koppell is currently serving his third and final term and must vacate office due to term limit rules. Cohen, a Riverdale resident, ended weeks of speculation and declared his intention to jump into the electoral race during a press event on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan on Tuesday. The announcement means Cohen will now be pitted against Cliff Stanton, the only other candidate in the hotly anticipated City Council District 11 race. Cohen, flanked by Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Senator Jeffrey Klein and Koppell, said he would run a campaign centered on improving the district. “I’m going to run a positive campaign with honesty and integrity,” he said, citing education, economic development and advocacy for seniors as issues that will shape the council race. “While we have good schools, I think our schools can improve.

Education is a cornerstone for the community—if we have good schools, we’ll have a good community. “The real problem we have at the moment is a top-down administration where decisions come out of City Hall instead of each individual school, and so I really think we need a good advocate.” Cohen, 43, a graduate of Cardozo Law School, is a private attorney and an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He served as chair of CB8’s youth committee until September, when he switched over to lead the aging committee. He denied the change in committees was a political ploy to grab the senior vote—Riverdale boasts a disproportionate number of elderly residents—and said aging was simply an area that interested him. In addition to holding a CB8 post, Cohen is a board member for Friends of Van Cortlandt Park and a member of the Bronx County Bar Association, the New York State United Teachers Union and the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club. He was recently elected vice chair of the Bronx

Democratic County Committee and has coached the mock trial teams of several Bronx schools. When asked how he would

separate himself from Stanton—who is also running on an education platform—Cohen said having the support of all four lo-

cal elected ofﬁcials was a major advantage. “I’ll be someone who can work Continued on Page 18

Bidding war erupts as Delaﬁeld Estates goes under the hammer

By TESS McRAE and MIAWLING LAM A Long Island-based developer has snapped up the remaining lots in the troubled Delaﬁeld Estates development for a whopping $6.375 million. The 22 parcels were sold off as a single lot during a frenzied public auction at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale on Monday, November 19. Despite extensive media attention, only two parties registered to bid: The Long

Island-based developer and a resident of Delaﬁeld Estates. Both parties declined to provide the Riverdale Review with their names or their company afﬁliation. The starting price was $4.75 million, but because that bid was made by a stalking horse offer—industry lingo for an initial bid on a bankrupt company’s assets to test the market in advance of an auction—the auctioneer started the bidding at $5 million.

A frenzied bidding war soon erupted, and bids went up by increments of $25,000 until the Long Island-based developer emerged victorious. Tobias Schapiro, the listing broker with Brown Harris Stevens, said he was thrilled with the auction. “That was about the price range we ﬁgured it would go for,” he said. “This is a good thing. The lots have been bought and now the winner can move forward with the project, and Brown Harris Stevens will be there for him every step of the way.” The winning bidder was reluctant to provide details about his plans for the site but indicated he would stay true to the initial project. “I am going to do what was originally planned for the estate,” he said. “I want to stick to it and make sure the homeowners association is happy with all of our plans.” The 10.5-acre plot, located between West 246th Street and Douglas Avenue, has been an ongoing construction site since the 1980s. Plans to develop the estate into a gated community comprised of 33 compact houses and shared woodland were approved in 1980, but a weakening real estate market meant three separate developers

have failed to finish the project. Each group has fallen on hard times, including its most recent owner, Abraham Zion, who filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005. As a result, more than 30 years later, just 11 houses are occupied. Following his loss, the other bidder was visibly upset and said his opponent was not familiar with the auction bylaws that had been clearly laid out in an information package given to each bidder. A couple of fellow estate residents were also disappointed by the loss. The winning bidder declined to provide a construction timeline, but Schapiro predicted last month that the completed houses could hit the market as early as 2014. “I think it would take a year to get the first properties up, but I would assume early 2014 or spring 2014,” he said at the time. The sprawling grounds once belonged to Edward Delafield, an early president of Bank of America, and doubled as a Columbia University-run botanical garden in the mid-1960s. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee who found global fame because of his ability to respond to sign language, called the estate home at one point in his life.

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Community Board approves street renaming By MIAWLING LAM Efforts to rename a local street in honor of James V. Downey has moved a step closer to reality after it got the Community Board 8 nod. Members of CB8 voted 32 to 0 in favor of renaming a stretch of Mosholu Avenue as a tribute to the popular community ﬁgure during last Tuesday’s board meeting. Under the proposal, the stretch of Mosholu Avenue between West 254th and West 256th streets in North Riverdale would be renamed “James V. Downey Way.” Supporters said the proposed location, which runs alongside Sid Augarten Field, would be appropriate, given Downey’s hands-on involvement in the local baseball league. Downey, a longtime FBI special agent who lived in Riverdale for more than 50 years, passed away in August 2009 following a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was coach, president and treasurer of the North Riverdale Baseball League and was actively involved at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, where he organized countless fundraisers. Brian Downey said his family was thrilled that the community wanted to honor his father in such a way. “We really couldn’t be happier,” he told the Riverdale Review after the vote. “As a family, we’re very proud of this neighborhood and grateful for everyone who has done so much for the process.” Brian, who still lives in Riverdale, admitted that his mother shed a few tears during the vote and was touched by the fact that 20 people stood up at each meeting to support the renaming effort. The tick of approval now means Councilman G. Oliver Koppell will bring the proposal for a vote before the entire City Council. Because the Council votes on street-renaming bills in batches, the next vote may not take place until spring 2013. Under city regulations, James V. Downey Way would be an honorary distinction only—the actual name of the street would remain Mosholu Avenue. CB8 trafﬁc and transportation committee chair Daniel Padernacht said Downey deserved the honor, as he galvanized the community and united its residents. “James V. Downey was a person that served our community, helped the residents of the community when it needed, and created a safe and encouraging atmosphere for athletic forums for the children in our community,” he said. “Each year, Downey organized fundraising efforts so that children within the community could participate within the league without having to pay for uniforms or various other costs.” Downey also played a major role in the renovations at St. Margaret of Cortona Church—he helped raise money and personally supervised the remodeling efforts. Among the organizations that have thrown their support behind the street renaming efforts are the North Riverdale Baseball League, St. Margaret of Cortona Church and the Knights of Columbus

James Downey

Pro-Patria Council. News of the latest street renaming effort comes a week before Riverdale is set to honor Frank Durkan, a popular human rights activist who became the spiritual leader for Irish-Americans. Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to unveil a street sign bearing the name “Frank Durkan Way” at Tibbett Avenue between West 238th and West 240th streets later this week. The ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, November 24, at 2 p.m., is expected to attract several dozen participants including Durkan’s family and friends. Durkan, an attorney and civil rights activist, died in 2006. According to his obituary in the New York Times, he “carved out a reputation as a ﬁerce and clever defender of Irish nationalists.”

By MIAWLING LAM The brand-new Van Cortlandt Park iceskating rink is officially open for business. The Bronx’s first public skating rink in nearly 30 years was unveiled by a slew of city officials during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. Professional figure skaters, including two-time U.S. bronze medalist duo Brent Bommentre and Kimberly Navarro, were among the first to hit the ice before elected officials christened the rink. Measuring 85 feet by 160 feet—just shy of an NHL regulation field—the rink will be open daily from noon until 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Patrons will be charged an admission fee between $5 and $8. Skate and locker rentals will be available, and guests can even sign up for skating lessons. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. encouraged recreational skaters across the five boroughs to take advantage of the facility. “I am proud that families are going to be able to come here during the holiday season,” he said. “Not only Bronxites will be here, but hopefully we can get many other New Yorkers and people from beyond our borders to come and have a good time right here.” Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, whose two daughters were serious figure skaters, said it was

Hebrew Home takes in displaced Sandy victims By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER The Hebrew Home at Riverdale has announced that it will temporarily house 130 adult home residents displaced by superstorm Sandy at its recently acquired Passionist Retreat House, a dormitory formerly used by the Passionist Fathers of Riverdale. The Hebrew Home, designated as an emergency adult care facility, will host the displaced residents in the 116-year-old mansion until their permanent homes, damaged by the storm, are fully repaired. The Riverdale senior facility purchased the 14-acre riverfront property, which is adjacent to its own 19-acre site, from the Passionist Fathers last year for $16.2 million. The Passionists, with fewer retreat guests and higher expenses, had to make the sale to cover increasing debt. The home has not announced how it ultimately intends to use the new property, but the dormitory certainly came in handy. “The Hebrew Home has helped those in need for close to one hundred years,” said Wendy Steinberg, director of communications at the home. “We will continue this tradition in this time of crisis.” The New York State Department of Health has secured housing for more than 600 displaced adult home residents.

fantastic to see skating back in The Bronx. “It’s wonderful to have winter recreational opportunities, because it’s so much more difficult for kids to have those opportunities in the winter when they can’t normally play outside,” he said. However, Koppell questioned how much skating would actually take place, especially if demand is high. “The one thing I’m worried about at this rink is that it’s going to be so crowded, I’m not sure how people are going to actually skate,” he said. “They’re going to be so packed together.” Nevertheless, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said the facility would open up new horizons for Bronx children and hoped it was the first of many skating rinks in the borough. Like his counterparts, Dinowitz took the opportunity to advocate the ice sports center proposal as a development option for the Kingsbridge Armory. City officials are currently tossing up between two proposals for the redevelopment of the Armory, including one that would transform the historic building into a $275 million state-of-the-art ice sports center with nine regulation-size hockey rinks and a 5000-seat arena. “This rink, and what hopefully will come out of the Kingsbridge Armory, really can make a big difference in the lives of kids throughout The Bronx, and so I am very excited that this is the start of that,” Dinowitz said. Newly appointed Parks Commissioner Veronica White said the Van Cortlandt Park rink’s existence was proof of the power of public/private partnerships, while Bronx

Parks Commissioners Hector Aponte said the facility would revitalize the park. Bryant Park Corporation president Dan Biederman, whose $120,000 donation allowed Con Edison to perform the necessary electrical upgrades, believed the rink would bring tremendous joy to the neighborhood. “If you stood here looking at people looking from the fence, you’ll see a lot of smiles over the next few months, and The Bronx deserves them,” he said. Meanwhile, Van Cortlandt Park iceskating rink project manager Ron Kraut conﬁrmed that ofﬁcials have submitted a request to sequester around 120 feet of parking space along Broadway in order to

create a designated drop-off zone. “We have applied for, and I believe we will get, a street activity permit which would enable us to utilize up to three parking spaces,” he told the Riverdale Review. “We’ll stripe that off, making it a safe place for bus drop-off and pick-up.” Kraut said he hoped the permit, which has been lodged through the Department of Parks, would be approved and be in effect by the end of the month. Mayor Michael Bloomberg ﬁrst promised The Bronx its ﬁrst public ice-skating rink during his State of the City address in January 2011. According to the 15-year license agreement, the rink will be open through March 30.

3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

City ofﬁcials break ice on new Van Cortlandt Park skating rink

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Around the schools... Riverdale-Kingsbridge Academy

Many RKA students are members of the Riverdale Community Center’s Teen Theater. The troupe will perform three oneact plays that address various issues that young adults encounter—like smoking, love, divorce and adultery. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. next Friday, November 30, and Saturday, December 1, in the RKA auditorium at 660 West 237th Street. The suggested donation is $5. For more information, call 718-796-4724.

Horace Mann School

The school’s dance amd cheer team has been invited by WorldStrides Heritage Performance programs to perform at the 2012 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. They will join dance, cheer, and drill teams from across the country in the halftime show finale of this major college bowl game. Under the direction of dance faculty member Alison Kolinski, the Horace Mann School team of 15 students will travel to Memphis, Tennessee, where they will rehearse with nationally acclaimed choreographers. HM students were winners in this year’s Siemens Competition for Math, Science and Technology. Vickram Gidwani (‘12) placed as a regional finalist, marking the second year he has been recognized for his work in developing new drugs to treat lung cancer. Regional semifinalists Kiki Heintz (‘12) and Amanda and Brenda Zhou (‘11) were also acknowledged for their research on fighting intellectual disabilities and cancerous tumor growth.

Manhattan College

The community is invited to hear the Manhattan College Singers and Orchestra perform their annual Christmas program, A Festival of Lessons and Carols, next Sunday, December 2, in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers. The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. with preludes starting at 3:15 p.m. Alumni of the Manhattan College Singers and the college’s Glee Club are invited to participate. A Festival of Lessons and Carols is a unique hour-long seasonal celebration that combines traditional Christmas carols and Advent hymns with scripture readings and contemporary musical arrangements. College president Dr. Brennan O’Donnell will present a reading, and dean of the School of Arts Dr. Richard K. Emmerson will offer a reﬂection. The concert will feature selections from Handel’s “Messiah,” an excerpt from Haydn’s “The Creation” and two carols by John Rutter. In keeping with tradition, the ensembles will also lead hymns, including a candlelit “Silent Night,” in which the congregation is invited to participate. Following the concert, the performers will walk by candlelight to the quadrangle to light the college’s Christmas tree. A reception in Smith Auditorium will follow. For more information about A Festival of Lessons and Carols, contact Andrew Bauer at andrew.bauer@manhattan.edu or 718-862-7254.

College of Mount Saint Vincent

The college’s Ofﬁce of Student Activities, Leadership, and Commuter Life will join with the Sisters of Charity to host the annual Thanksgiving Dinner in Pastorini Dining Hall on Tuesday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. A broad range of faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend the event, which connects the Mount community with the Sisters of Charity. “The dinner is really a thank you to the Sisters

of Charity for founding the school,”said Cecilia Harriendorf, S.C., director of campus ministry. “It gives students the opportunity to be in the presence of the Sisters, as well as allows them to learn more about the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s history.” The College of Mount Saint Vincent has been named a Military-Friendly School by GI Jobs Magazine in its list of Military-Friendly Schools for 2013. Among the criteria considered by GI Jobs when designating an institution as a military-friendly school are participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans, credits awarded for military service and training, availability of evening classes, and not imposing an activation penalty. For the third consecutive year, The Irish Voice has recognized college president Charles L. Flynn as one of the Top 100 Irish Americans in the ﬁeld of education. Also recognized this year are Dr. Eileen Fagan, S.C., assistant professor and chair of the department of religious education; Dr. Margaret Egan, S.C., professor of teacher education; and Rev. Chris Keenan, the Mount’s campus chaplain as well as chaplain for the FDNY. They will be honored at a ceremony at the Irish Consulate in Manhattan in December. Associate professor of biology Dr. James Fabrizio, with the help of undergraduate researchers, has published a paper in the October-December issue of Fly, a scholarly journal. The paper, “Mulet (mlt) encodes a tubulin-binding cofactor E-like homolog required for spermatid individualization in Drosophila melanogaster,” deals with a gene that acts during sperm development in fruit ﬂies. Fabrizio was awarded a onesemester sabbatical after he led an undergraduate research group’s presentation in March 2011 at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at Ithaca College during the Fall 2011 semester. The student researchers were named co-authors and are past and current undergraduate research students at the college. “The only way to teach science is to do science,” Fabrizio said. “This is a major achievement for my students and I--it is pure undergraduate research published in a prestigious peerreviewed journal.”

LOCAL SCHOLARS

The University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware has announced that Attalie Carnavali, Danielle Falk and Noelle Sanchez are in their ﬁrst semester at the school. The university, founded in 1743, is considered one of the most popular universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of nearly 17,000 undergraduates, 3,700 graduate students and 850 students in professional and continuing studies. It is a state-assisted land grant, sea grant, Carnegie research university that offers three associate’s degree programs, 147 bachelor’s degree programs, 119 master’s degree programs with 15 joint degrees, and 54 doctoral programs.

Email education news to:

bxny@aol.com or mail to: Riverdale Review 5752 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY 10471

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

��

• Busing from Manhattan • Affordable tuition

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

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER The NYPD is taking steps to keep Riverdale synagogues safe while demonstrators gather in Manhattan to express their anger at Israel’s retaliation for ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza. According to commanding officer of the 50th Precinct Captain Kevin J. Burke, eight to 12 police officers from the Bronx Task Force are in the area to supplement the precinct staff. “The fact that Riverdale synagogues were previously targeted for an attack definitely factors into our deployment,” he said. It’s been three and a half years since an F.B.I. sting operation made it possible for the words “Riverdale” and “terrorist” to appear in a single sentence—Independence Avenue was inexplicably chosen as the venue for a synagogue-bombing plot designed to capture would-be perpetrators. Arguably, the “Newburgh Four” were willing but unable to carry out the mission on their own. But once the media spotlight focused here, local Jewish organizations heightened their security, and now the NYPD isn’t taking any chances in the face of massive anti-Israel demonstrations. The Task Force began the extra patrols “after the killing of the Hamas leader,” Burke said, referring to Israel’s pinpoint airstrike on Hamas military commander Ahmed al-Jabari last week. “They will be in the precinct on all tours. Their main focus has been the houses of worship located in the 50th Precinct, which includes approximately 12 synagogues.” The decision to continue Task Force deployment will be made on a daily basis, Burke said. Although no specific threat or overt anti-Israel activity here has been reported, “people are very appreciative of

the extra police presence.” The threat to Israel’s security was a topic at Sabbath services around town this past Saturday morning. At Riverdale Temple, Rabbi Judith Lewis linked the Middle East crisis to the week’s Torah reading, where “eerily, in biblical times, events paralleled both the geography and the events currently taking place,” congregant Yvette Marrin said. “The rabbi felt hopeful in her prayers that the situation could be successfully resolved. She prayed for the welfare of all the people in the region.” At Young Israel Ohab Zedek, Rabbi Shmuel Hain ordinarily recites a prayer for the state of Israel and for its army, but this week he called upon the entire congregation to read it aloud together, congregant Jonathan Dzik noted. The rabbi voiced everyone’s deep concern about the tension in the Middle East. At the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Rabbi Avi Weiss exhorted congregants not to remain just “spectators” but to strengthen Israel by purchasing its products, following through with plans to visit the country and urging elected officials to show their support. A patrol car was parked outside the shul on Henry Hudson Parkway. The two Task Force police officers on duty said they and three other teams were keeping watch that day so precinct officers could deal with routine matters. To counter massive anti-Israel demonstrations in Manhattan, pro-Israel activists have been organizing gatherings on very short notice. Last Sunday in Times Square, the proIsrael turnout was spirited, according to HIR’s Israel Action Committee leader Karen Stahl-Don. “Maybe 100 people, lots of different groups--secular Israelis,

Yeshiva University kids, some from HIR. I know there was a counter-protest and we were totally outnumbered, but we were there,” she said. A pro-Israel demonstration scheduled for Tuesday across from the Israeli consulate was sponsored jointly by Amcha, StandWithUs, Strength to Strength, Jewish National Fund, Israel Forever Foundation, World Jewish Congress, Zionist Organization of America, Committee for Accuracy

in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA), Manhattan Jewish Experience, Dor Chadash, Jewish International Connection NY, JSpace, Russian American Jewish Experience and its alumni association, DROR for the Wounded, Hadassah, Act for Israel, National Council of Young Israel, and Bereisheet. Bipartisan resolutions of solidarity with Israel were passed unanimously in the both houses of Congress last week.

Diaz to seek reelection as Bronx BP By MIAWLING LAM Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has abandoned plans to run for the office of public advocate and will instead seek to keep his current job during the 2013 citywide elections. In a lengthy email to supporters on Tuesday, Diaz said he would not pursue the city’s second-highest post because he still had several loose ends to tie up in The Bronx. “There are many issues that still face our borough, and many amazing projects that are in the works,” the sitting borough president wrote. “The needs of the people of The Bronx are foremost on my mind and in my heart. Therefore, I have decided to run for re-election as Bronx Borough President in 2013.” Rumors about Diaz’s desire to replace current public advocate Bill de Blasio—who is widely expected to run for mayor—have been swirling around since July, when his spokesman confirmed that the 39-year-old Latino was mulling a run. Disclosure reports filed with the New York City Campaign Finance Board in July

STILL GIVING. Beloved philanthropist Brooke Astor set up a permanent fund with The New York Community Trust. Today, The Trust continues to carry out her philanthropy, and always will. What are your plans?

Brooke Astor 1902-2007

Consider setting up your own permanent fund today. Visit stillgiving.org or contact Jane Wilton (212) 686-2563

also showed that Diaz boasted a campaign war chest worth $461,745—significantly more than any other prospective candidate. His odds at taking the high-profile position were bolstered by the fact that he would be the only Latino candidate, and the only one from The Bronx. However, Diaz said he would now focus his attention on staying in borough hall for the next four years. He cited job creation, education, business development and transportation as the key issues that he would continue to focus on as he seeks to “transform The Bronx into an even greater place to live, work and raise a family.” “We have seen tremendous success in The Bronx in recent years,” he wrote. “But there is still more work to be done. I wish to see those projects and others to completion, and I will work with our elected officials, government agencies, business and nonprofit communities, as well as the residents of The Bronx as a whole, to make that happen. “I am extremely appreciative of the encouragement I’ve received, and I hope that support will transfer to my quest for re-election.”

5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

NYPD Bronx Task Force in Riverdale following Gaza crisis

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Bronxites urged to apply to local community boards

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today invited Bronx residents to make a difference in their community by joining their local Community Board. The Office of the Bronx Borough President will be accepting applications for all 12 Community Boards from city residents who reside, work or have professional or other significant interests in the Bronx. ‘Participation on local Community Boards can provide Bronx residents with a forum to share with their community their expertise and talents,’ said Borough President Diaz. ‘It is important that community residents participate in the decision making process in their communities on important budget, land use and service delivery issues.’ Applications are available at the Borough President’s Community Board office at (718) 590-3914 or at your local community board office. Interested applicants may also get forms on-line at bronxboropres.nyc.gov. The deadline for submission of applications for the next round of appointments is February 8, 2013.

Stanley Lane Basketball League at The Riverdale Y

The Y is offering the Stanley Lane Basketball League again this December. The Stanley Lane Youth Basketball League is ﬁrst and foremost a developmental basketball league. All children ( girls and boys) have the opportunity to play on organized teams, participate in structured fundamental practices, and are encouraged to participate in basketball clinics. League fees includes t-shirt, trophies and the Youth Sports Awards Night. Practices will be held once per week on either Monday or Thursday evening. League games begin on December 23, 2012 and run through late March 2013. The cost to participate is $195 or if you are a Y member,$150. As a developmental and fundamental youth basketball league our ‘player assessment’ period is a crucial part towards creating teams throughout each division. During the ‘player assessment’ process each young athlete will showcase their abilities as they rotate through four stations, as the coaches walk through each station. This assessment period helps the coaches and staff draft fair teams for fair play! Player Assessment will be held on Sunday, December 2

Junior Division (1st-2nd grade): 1:00pm-2:00pm Varsity Division (3rd-4th grade): 4:00pm-5:00pm Player Assessment will be held on Sunday, December 9 Pro Division (5th-6th grade): 1:00pm2:00pm Super Pro Division (7th-9th grade): 4:00pm-5:00pm Player Assessment make-up date Sunday, December 16 All grades 1:00pm-2:00pm For more information and to register your child for the league, please contact Yudi Davis at 718-548-8200, ext. 240 or email YDavis@RiverdaleY.org. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

Riverdale Temple presents lecture series

The Riverdale Temple is proud to present the second lecture of a four part series for year two of our partnership with the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. This lecture will take place Sunday, December 2 at 2PM. The event is free to all at Riverdale Temple, 4545 Independence Ave. at 246th Street. Dr. David Fishman, Professor of History at the Jewish Theological Seminary will be giving a talk on “Shtetl and City in Russian Jewish Life in the 19th Century.” He will explore the culture and everyday life of these two very different milieus and their interaction with each other. We are pleased to get the support of UJA Federation of NY for this outreach program to Riverdale’s Russian Jewish community. Riverdale Temple is located at 4545 Independence Avenue, Tel: 718-548-3800.

Toastmasters Club invites new members

Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale invites new members to join at their free meeting on Wed., November 28, 7:00 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. The club meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. For further information, visit their website http://www.bronxtoastmastersclub.org or call 718-796-6671.

Concert at Riverdale Y Senior Center

The Riverdale Y Senior Center will have a performance on Tuesday, Nov. 27th at 10:30 am of clarinetist Igor Begelman, winner of 2012 Brio award from the Bronx Council on the Arts with Rieko Aizawa, pianist in concert of great classical music. This concert is presented by The Piatigorsky Foundation with generous support from the Stiefel Foundation. Anyone who is over 60 years old is invited to attend. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue. For more information contact Toby at 718-548-8200,ext. 223.

CB8 to sponsor Housing Court Forum

On Monday, November 26, 2012, Bronx Community Board No. 8, Housing Committee invites the community to a public forum and discussion on resolving housing disputes and understanding the workings of Housing Court. The forum will take place at Manhattanville Health Care Center, 311 West 231st Street from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. A distinguished panel will address considerations for avoiding housing disputes, strategies for resolving them outside of court when possible, and, for those disputes that do end up in Housing Court, understanding the Housing Court process and procedures and the rights and responsibilities of the parties. The program will be moderated by Judge Elizabeth Taylor of the Civil Court,

and the panel will include Judge Marian Doherty of the Housing Court, Howard Baum, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Society and Peter Lubell, a partner at Novick, Edelstein, Lubell, Reisman, Wasserman & Leventhal P.C., a law ﬁrm that represent building owners and managers. The panel will focus on assisting tenants in understanding how Housing Court operates and recognizing what they can expect when they get there and what they can do to insure that the facts of their cases are presented fully and fairly before the court. The panelists will also answer questions from the audience. For more information, call Community Board 8 at 718-884-3959 or visit their website: www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8.

RCC Digital Photography Advanced Class

Beginning Tuesday, November 27th at 7:00 pm, the Riverdale Community Center is offering an Advanced Digital Photography class. The class meets four Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The fee for the course is $85 plus a $15 registration fee. Students who want to improve the overall quality of their photos are invited to learn and apply the art and science of superior digital images. The class includes an exploration of what makes some images POP off the screen while others fade from memory, how to develop a critical eye for composition, class-based photography assignments, individualized image critiques and lots of lively discussion. A basic understanding of using your camera and bringing your digital ﬁles to view is a course requirement. Registration is accepted until the ﬁrst day of class, as long as there is room in the class. Registration is accepted over the phone with a credit card. For more information or to register by phone, call 718-796-4724. You can also visit us on the web at riverdalecommunitycenter.org.

Bon Secours New York Health System, Schervier Nursing Care Center, located in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, is proud to announce that Patrick Asiamah is the October 2012 ‘Values in Action’ award winner. The prestigious award embodies the core values of Schervier and is awarded monthly to employees who consistently provide excellent service to residents and the community, and often go above and beyond the call of duty. Asiamah, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Schervier was selected for the award based on nominations from peers. ‘Patrick’s persistent efforts to ensure his residents are receiving the highest quality of care, have not gone unnoticed,’ said Stephen Kazanjian, Director of Mission at Schervier . ‘Patrick is well-deserving of this award, as he is a stand-out CNA who is dedicated, patient, and diligent in his work, and consistently goes above and beyond his duties to spread positivity and kindness to our patients, residents, and staff. Patrick exemplifies the true mission and values set forth by the Sisters of Bon Secours.’ Asiamah was recognized as October’s Values in Action award recipient at a ceremony held on Thursday, October 25, 2012. Asiamah was presented with a certificate of excellence and a free lunch for a month, by Stephen Kazanjian.

Celebrity chef prepares Thanksgiving dnner for the homeless

On November 16, 2012, 90 men and woman will sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal created and prepared for them by Master Chef George Duran, host of TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off and Take This Dish and Twist It. This is George Duran’s second time hosting the Thanksgiving Dinner for The Partnership for the Homeless. George attended culinary school at the Ecole Superieure de Cuisine Francaise Groupe Ferrandi. While there, he hosted a successful TV show, Pop Cuisine, on France’s culinary network Cuisine TV. George’s culinary interests lie in French, Armenian and South American cuisines. He currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. The 90 guests for Friday’s Thanksgiving Dinner are members of the Partnership for the Homeless program called Positive Step. This program helps to stably house individuals who are homeless or at the

risk of being homeless. It also links them to quality health care, provides support groups and counseling, and connects them to other resources and services for a healthy and stable life. Founded in 1983, The Partnership for the Homeless seeks to end homelessness as an urban phenomenon by developing best practice models for preventing it. We provide housing assistance and other direct services to New Yorkers who are currently homeless or at risk of losing their homes. Guided by evidence from our programs, we are looking for lasting solutions that break generational cycles of poverty to end homelessness. For more information, please visit www. partnershipforthehomeless.org.

Koppell demands Cablevision change unfair policy

In a letter to Jim Dolan, President/ CEO of Cablevision, Council Member Oliver Koppell, a member of the Technology Committee, demanded that Cablevision change its policy with respect to providing customers whose Optimum services were disrupted because of Hurricane Sandy credit for the time they were unable to access these services. Cablevision, which serves 3 million homes, mostly in the New York area, has refused to join Time Warner Cable in automatically providing credits to customers without power, television, phone or Internet services in areas knocked off the grid by the storm. Cablevision is sticking with its longstanding policy that requires customers to call and speciﬁcally detail when they lost service in order to qualify for the refund. ‘Cablevision has not notiﬁed customers that they have to call to get their credit and I have no doubt that many are unaware of the policy,’ Koppell said. ‘Even for those Cablevision customers who are informed about the refund procedures having to make a call creates an additional burden as they are recovering from the storm. I believe Cablevision’s refund policy is not only insensitive, but will also result in many customers being deprived of the credit to which they are entitled,’ he concluded.

Hebrew Home at Riverdale seeks volunteers

The Hebrew Home at Riverdale, located at 5901 Palisade Avenue in Riverdale, is currently seeking volunteers who would like to share their talents and time to help others. Available opportunities include,

but are not limited to, reading to residents, administrative ofﬁce tasks, helping with crafts projects and much more. Hours are ﬂexible and assignments can be short term or ongoing. The Home provides orientation, training and continuing education for all volunteers. Volunteers who commit to three hours per day will be provided with a free lunch. For further information, please contact the Volunteer Department at (718) 581-1404.

History lecture on Bronx Race Tracks

Peter Ostrander, president of The Kingsbridge Historical Society is pleased to announce that on Thursday, November 29th at 7:30 pm, Thomas X. Casey will present a power point and lecture titled ‘Bronx Race Tracks’. Thomas X. Casey lives in Riverdale and is the, co-author of the recently published book ‘Northwest Bronx’ that covers the Bronx west of the Bronx River and ‘Bronx Views,’ the postcard book published by the Bronx County Historical Society. Mr. Casey has made a study of the horse racing in the Bronx, back to 1776. The focus of his presentation will be the historic Jerome Park Racetrack which opened in 1866, now home to Lehman College and the Jerome Reservoir. The meeting is free and open to the public, and will be held at the St. Gabriel’s Community Hall, below the Rectory, located at West 235th Street and Arlington Avenue, Bronx NY. Parking is available on site. The Kingsbridge Historical Society was founded by The Rev. Dr. William A. Tieck

RCS to present concert titled ‘Gloria, Gloria!’

The Riverdale Choral Society will present its ﬁrst concert of the 2012-2013 season on Sunday, December 2 at 5:30pm. Their concert entitled ‘Gloria, Gloria!’ will feature the distinctively styled and vivacious ‘Gloria’ by Francis Poulenc, the ‘Gloria’ from the Messa di Gloria by Giacomo Puccini as well as the ‘Ave Maria’ by Felix Mendelssohn. The concert will feature Wendy Baker, Soprano, Mark Seah, Tenor and David Mallory, Tenor as soloists. Music Director John Lettieri will conduct the chorus with MunTzung Wong on piano and guest organist Timothy Brunﬁeld. The concert will take place at Christ Church Riverdale on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 5:30 PM. The church’s address is 5030 Henry Hudson Parkway at West 252nd Street. It is located on the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway service road where parking is available. To travel by car, take the Henry Hudson Parkway to the West 246th Street Exit. Admission is $20. With the Bronx Cultural Card, admission is $18. For further information: visit www.riverdalechoral. org or call 347-346-5891.

Call toll-free: 1-888-459-1026

Their

Price

ice

Pr Our

Bottle A Manufactured By PfizerTM.

LipitorTM $570.81

Atorvastatin* $67.00

Bottle B Manufactured By Generics Manufacturers

Typical US brand price for 20mg x 100

Generic equivalent of LipitorTM generic price for 20mg x 100

Are You Still Paying Too Much For Your Medications? You can save up to 90% when you fill your prescriptions at our Canadian and International Pharmacies.

NexiumTM $584.84

Typical US Brand Price

CelebrexTM $478.52

Typical US Brand Price

Esomeprazole* $71.00

Celecoxib*

Generic Price

$58.00

AdvairTM

$746.13 VS

Typical US Brand Price

ZetiaTM

$426.03

Typical US Brand Price

Salmeterol & Fluticasone Propionate* $140.00 Generic Price

Ezetimibe* Generic Price

$78.00

Compare our prices and see how much you can save! For more prices call us toll-free at 1-888-459-1026.

Save more today with an extra $10 off & free shipping! Get An Extra

$10 And

OFF

FREE SHIPPING

Get an extra $10 off your first order today! Call the number below and save an additional $10 plus get free shipping on your first prescription order with Canada Drug Center. Expires Dec 31, 2012. Offer is valid for prescription orders only and can not be used in conjunction with any other offers. Use code 10FREE to receive this special offer.

Order Now! Toll-free: 1-888-459-1026

Please note that we do not carry controlled substances and a valid prescription is required for all prescription medication orders.

Prescription price comparison above is valid as of June 15, 2012. All trade-mark (TM) rights associated with the brand name products in this ad belong to their respective owners. *Generic drugs are carefully regulated medications that have the same active ingredients as the original brand name drug, but are generally cheaper in price. Generic equivalents are equal to their "brand" counterparts in Active Ingredients, Dosage, Safety, Strength, Quality, Performance and Intended use. It may vary in colour, shape, size, cost and appearance.

7 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

Patrick Asiamah wins October’s Schervier award

in 1949. It was the ﬁrst and is the oldest local historical society in the Bronx. The society’s focus is on the history of the greater Kingsbridge area, located in the north-west Bronx. The society’s name is derived from the historic King’s Bridge and its environs, which include present-day Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil, Marble Hill, Inwood, Van Cortlandt, Woodlawn and Fieldston. It is comprised of members interested in all aspects of local history and has an archive of photos, maps, books and other items that document this area that is rich in history. Please view The Kingsbridge Historical Society web page at kingsbridgehistoricalsociety. org for more information.

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Thursday, November 22 Riverdale

THANKSGIVING DINNER AND SERVICE 12 p.m. Hebrew Institute of Riverdale 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway HIR will host its annual Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The day will begin at 12:00pm with a spiritually uplifting Thanksgiving Service followed by our free turkey dinner at 1:00pm. For reservations, contact the Synagogue ofﬁce at 718-796-4730.

Monday, November 26 Riverdale

COFFEE HOUR 10:30 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.

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

Riverdale

KNITTING CIRCLE 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Gather with other knitters, and perhaps pick up a few tips and tricks as you work on your own creations. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

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 information, call 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

KNITTING & CROCHET 5 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Gather with other knitters and crocheters and perhaps pickup a few tips and tricks as you work on your own creations! For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Kingsbridge

HOUSING COURT FORUM 7:30 p.m. Manhattanville Health Care Center 311 West 231st Street Community Board 8 will sponsor a public discussion: Housing Court Forum. For more information, call Community Board 8 at 718-884-3959 or visit their website: www.nyc. gov/bronxcb8.

Tuesday, November 27 Kingsbridge

COMPUTER BASICS 10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Learn about the various types and components of computers, including basic computer terminology, an overview of operating systems, and popular software applications. Space is limited, registration is required. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

CONCERT 10:30 a.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Avenue Riv. Y Senior Center presents a performance of clarinetist Igor Begelman with Rieko Aizawa, pianist in concert of great classical music. Anyone who is over 60 years old is invited to attend. For more information contact Toby at 718-5488200,ext. 223.

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 e-reader. First come, ﬁrst served. For more information, 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.

Marble Hill

CB8 MEETING 3:30 p.m. St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church 146 West 228th Street Meeting of the Aging Committee of Community Board 8. For more information, call 718-884-3959

Wednesday, November 28 Riverdale

OPEN COMPUTER LAB 11 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Attention new computer users: Come to the Riverdale Library and get assistance on using the computers. Do you need to learn how to open a free e-mail account or practice going online and exploring the Internet? How about learning how to save a document or copy and paste text? Come to this open lab and ask questions and learn from doing. First come, ﬁrst served. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Marble Hill

CB8 MEETING 1 p.m. Marble Hill Senior Center 5365 Broadway Meeting of the Youth Committee of Community Board 8. For more information, call 718-884-3959.

Kingsbridge

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 information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

HOMEWORK ZONE 3:30 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Students are welcomed to used the library’s Community Room to work on their homework assignments in an environment conducive to learning. Study support is provided by students from the International Leadership Charter High School. For ages 5 to 12 years. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

TEEN MOVIES 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Come join us for this monthly program in which we’ll be showing great feature ﬁlms selected by our Teen Advisory Group! For ages 13 to 18 years. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

CB8 MEETING 7 p.m. Community Board 8 5676 Riverdale Avenue Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Committee of Community Board 8. For more information, call 718-884-3959.

Riverdale

TOASTMASTERS CLUB MEETING 7 p.m. Riverdale Neighborhood House 5521 Mosholu Avenue Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale invites new members to join at their free meeting. For further information, visit their website www.bronxtoastmastersclub.org or call 718-796-6671.

Thursday, November 29 Kingsbridge

BABY LAPSIT 10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stories, song, ﬁngerplays, puppets and ﬂannelboard illustrations for babies birth-36 months for parents/caregivers. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

By TESS McRAE Thanksgiving has long been the day to give thanks and overindulge—families and friends gather around a big dining table to celebrate their good fortune by piling their plates with stufﬁng, glazed turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes. But in recent years, as people have less and less time to bake and brine a bird for several hours, more Americans are turning to the professionals to provide the meal. According to the National Restaurant Association, about 30 million people ate at restaurants or ordered in for Thanksgiving last year, shying away from traditional home-cooked meals. “In today’s activity-rich, time-poor society, restaurants play an important role in bringing friends and family together to share a holiday meal for Thanksgiv-

ing,” said Hudson Riehle of the National Restaurant Association. The shift in venue is mostly due to convenience, as many working families don’t have time or energy to cook and clean. Local restaurants have noticed the trend and are happy to accommodate these guests. Establishments such as Riverdale Steakhouse and Riverdale Garden are opening their doors to those looking for a traditional Thanksgiving meal in an untraditional way. Riverdale Steakhouse will be serving a variety of dishes from the traditional roast stuffed turkey breast with fresh cranberry and stufﬁng to a baked ﬁlet of sole. But it isn’t just the American-cuisine restaurants that will be serving customers. Franco-Iberian restaurant Oregano Bar and Bistro will be putting their own spin

on traditional Thanksgiving delicacies. “It will be traditional Thanksgiving food with turkey and things, but with components of our taste and our style,” Oregano restaurateur Erick Caceres said. For $55, an individual can feast on four courses at Oregano. The headliner for the bistro includes organic turkey roast and stuffed quail served with Brussels sprouts stufﬁng, sweet potato gratin and cranberry sauce. But not all owners are buying into the

trend just yet. Mario Curunaj, an owner of Salvatores of Soho and the newly established YoBurger, ﬁnds that people prefer to stay home for Thanksgiving. Though Yo-Burger will remain open for turkey day—and will even offer a turkey burger menu option—he said Salvatores of Soho will not be serving any food. “I don’t think there is going to be enough people coming in to pay my employees,” Curunaj said. “From what I’ve seen, people stay home on Thanksgiving.”

Violinist Jorge Ávila, a veteran Bronx Arts Ensemble member, and pianist Gregg Kallor gave a warm and brilliant performance of Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major by Johannes Brahms in a late afternoon program of chamber music at a private home on Palisade Avenue last Sunday. Also featured was violinist Madeleine Manasse, 2012 winner of the BAE Young Artist Contest and a junior at the Bronx High School of Science, who astounded the audience with her rendition of Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns. For a schedule of Bronx Arts Ensemble concerts, visitbronxartsensemble.org.

Petting Zoo

South Riverdale Avenue Merchants’ Pony Rides

Riverdale Holiday Festival

Steve Oates, Guitarist

Sunday, December 2, 2012, 12-4pm

Riverdale Avenue, 236th-238th Street

Tony Grova, Performer & Singer

Trolley Rides

Clowns, Stilt Walkers, Face Painting, Magic Tricks & more!

9 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

Local restaurants take advantage of Thanksgiving trend

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Person on the Street:

Compiled by TESS McRAE

What do you think of the citywide implementation of Muni-Meters?

“I think they’re a nuisance. You have to walk to ﬁnd the nearest one and you need the right amount of change.” - Edith T.

“They are such a pain because now you gotta ﬁnd the meter and get the receipt and then you gotta go back to the car.” - Christine Card

“I’m for them. I have no problem. They’re there now so that’s that.” - James Burke

“It’s ridiculous. It’s very wasteful to print all that paper and leaving them in front of storefronts can get storeowners ﬁned. Now you have to get out of your car and walk over instead of just locking your car and putting coins in right there.” - Jim Morrison

“I do like it for the credit cards. You don’t always have to have change on you.” - Coco Seijas

“Not all of them take the coins and you have to get out to do it. That can be hard when you have two kids.” - Lisa Fella

“I don’t like them. My husband goes to Manhattan a lot and sometimes the receipt would print out wrong or would be out of paper.” - Claire Antiger

“It’s much better. The old meters would be broken but with this you have the ticket with the time and date so if you need to move your car up a block or something, you don’t have to put more money in the meter. You just use the ticket.” - Brydie McNama

NOW OPEN

5667 Riverdale

Ave

Y BRONX,AN &P ( N ex t t o t) S u p e r m a r ke

2 4 2 4 . 3 1 9 . 7 4 3 www.TheUrgent Care.net

Walk-In Medical Urgent Care

Open 7 Days & Evenings

Most Major Insurances Accepted

No Appointment Needed

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER More than two hundred portraits by Riverdale artist Nina Seigenfeld-Velazquez are on display in an exhibition called “What’s Mine is Yours” at the Riverdale branch of the New York Public Library through the end of May. Even this astounding output easily ﬁts into the room—most of the portraits are drawn on three-inch Post-it note paper. Seigenfeld-Velazquez has produced more than 400 of these Post-it portraits, real or imagined women’s faces drawn in marker, pen or pencil on the familiar colored squares. Some have fully rendered features, others are minimalist with stylized pattern backgrounds. Every kind of hair imaginable is represented. “Two years ago when I started drawing on Post-its, I got this idea that it would be really fun to give them away,” SeigenfeldVelazquez said. “It would be really like a public art project.” She started posting them in the 1 and A trains, hoping that people would take

them home and consider them the start of a personal art collection. “What made me think of it is that people are really intimidated by buying art,” she said, “but people are really excited when they buy art. So I thought, it’s like you’re fostering people’s conﬁdence in maybe collecting down the road and also, that you don’t have to be wealthy to do this.” Also in the show are several larger linear portraits and a few utilitarian pieces—tiles, a wooden box and a small tray—each featuring a portrait drawn in black marker. Seigenfeld-Velazquez was trained at the School of Visual Arts, “not really a very traditional school.” She curates shows in galleries including YoHo Artist Studios in Yonkers. “I love putting some kind of crazy challenge out there,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll post on Facebook and I’ll go, ‘I’m doing this. Who’s in?’ In one recent project called “Connect the Dots,” she assembled a broad range of pieces that ﬁt the theme,

according to individual artists’ visions. “What’s Mine is Yours,” is interactive in two ways: There’s a space where visitors can create their own Post-it portraits for display. If people create them, Seigenfeld-Velazquez will “totally put them up.” And in keeping with the artist’s vision, gallery patrons will actually have an op-

portunity to take home one of the portraits during the ﬁnal week of the show. “I really wanted to do something in my own community—in a public forum,” she said, thinking speciﬁcally of the Riverdale library. In her day job, the artist is parent coordinator at P.S. 81. For branch hours, visit nypl.org.

11 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

Local artist exhibits tiny whimsical portraits at library

Area merchants host food drive

The food, which was collected over a two-and-a-half-week period, will eventually be assembled into care packages and sent out to those in need. “We’re doing this through Riverdale Neighborhood House, so all the families we give care packages to will be through them,” Wartels said. Wartels was unsure of the exact foundation he would be using to distribute food remaining after the care packages are sent, but said it would probably be one of the major nonproﬁts, such as the American Red Cross. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Senator Jeffrey Klein donated several slabs of canned goods during last week’s press event and congratulated Wartels and the other participating businesses. Authorities said around 200 pounds

people would donate. “I think the major hurdle was getting it out to the community,” he said. “We did a great job organizing, but I wish more people were aware of what we were doing.” According to the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, an average of 1.5 million New York City residents live in households facing food insecurities.

By TESS McRAE Local politicians and members of the North Riverdale Merchants Association came together to do a little good for the community on Friday, November 16. Gary Wartels, NRMA president and owner of Skyview Wines and Spirits, spearheaded a new food drive to collect nonperishable items for those in need. Wartels said the NRMA initially wanted to support only local families but decided to extend a helping hand across the Bronx border after witnessing the widespread devastation of superstorm Sandy. “You see all of these poor people on the news who have lost everything,” he said. “We started the drive before the storm hit, but once I saw what happened to people in Staten Island and other places, I ﬁgured we should help them out too.”

The Riverdale Y Sunday Market Every Sunday from 9am to 2 pm

at MS/HS 141 in the arcade Independence Ave. & West 237 St.

Now extended thru December 23

KIDS’ TICKETS $15!* NOV. 27 – DEC. 2 More vendors including new local artisans and businesses perfect for holiday gifts

Tue.

Wed.

Thu.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

NOV. 27

NOV. 28

NOV. 29

NOV. 30

DEC. 2 11:00 AM 3:00 PM

7:00 PM

DEC. 1 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM

*Kids ages 2-12. Limit of six (6) kids’ tickets per purchase of one (1) full-price adult ticket. Good for all performances. Excludes Rinkside and VIP seats. No double discounts. Additional fees may apply.

��

Buy tickets at disneyonice.com, Retail Locations, Barclays Center Box Ofﬁce or call 1-800-745-3000 Regular Ticket Prices: $30 · $45 · $75 VIP · $100 Rinkside 214761

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

in canned goods were collected from participating businesses, including Skyview Wines and Spirits, Brown’s Jewelers, Cora Hardware, Medina Fitness Studio, State Farm Insurance and Vacuum World, all of which were designated as drop-off locations. NRMA co-president Anthony Fella said he was happy with how smoothly the drive went but said he had hoped more

Additional fees may apply.

Saturday, December 1

HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW 10 a.m. James Harmon Community Center 44 Main Street The 55Plus Council of Older Artists is hosting crafters of all ages. No commercial vendors/products all items are handcrafted by local artists. Special up-cylced & recycled crafts. Shoppers avoid the crowds on Black Friday -Join us on Saturday for a large selection of truly unique items for teachers, family, friends and you! http://www.yonkers55plus.org

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNIES 9:30 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Our bunny friends are hungry--what will they eat? Find out their favorite foods and have a hopping good time! We’ll have some treats for the hippity-hoppity ones in your family too. Please note this program is for childrean ages 3-5 accompanied by an adult. Free for members; $5/child for nonmembers. Programs ﬁll quickly--call 914-762-2912 x110 to register.

Hastings-on-Hudson

Ossining

ANIMAL FEAST! 10 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Come learn what some of our animal ambassadors eat, and help assist animal care staff with feeding duties. Free for members; $5pp for nonmembers. For more information, call 914-762-2912 x110.

North White Plains

GREAT TURKEY WALK-OFF 1 p.m. Cranberry Lake Preserve 1609 Old Orchard Street Eat too much pumpkin pie and turkey on Thanksgiving? Join this vigorous post-feast hike and start ﬁtting into your clothes again. For more information, call 914-428-1005.

Rye

TURKEY WALK OFF 2 p.m. Marshlands Conservancy 220 Boston Post Road A relaxing stroll of all Marshlands’ habitats to observe how they have prepared for winter. For more information, call 914-835-4466.

Sunday, November 25 Ossining

THE LAST WAVE 8 a.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Meet at Teatown’s Cliffdale Farm for a last glimpse of migrating birds with Charlie Roberto. FREE. For more information, call 914-762-2912 x110.

Tuesday, November 27 Yorktown Hts.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 7 p.m. Support Connection 40 Triangle Center Join a group of women who have also heard the words “you have breast cancer” as we discuss issues pertaining to all stages of diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment. Facilitated by cancer survivors. Free. Pre-registration required; call 914962-6402 or 800-532-4290.

Wednesday, November 28 Yonkers

SKI/SNOWBOARD WAXING BASICS 7 p.m. REI Yonkers Ridge Hill Shopping Center Taking care of your skis/board will help you have a great time on the slopes. Our technician will examine how and why waxes work and base preparation: structure, repair and stone grinding. For more information, call 914-410-9500 or visit www.rei.com/yonkers

Bedford

CHAMBER CONCERT 8 p.m. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 382 Cantitoe Street Bedford Chamber Concerts will continue its season highlighting young, international stars with guest clarinetist, Israeli, Moran Katz. Ms. Katz will join renowned musician Anthony Newman, and the Bedford Chamber Ensemble in an evening of masterpieces by Mozart and Beethoven. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.bedfordchamberconcerts.org or call 914-522-5150.

Thursday, November 29 Katonah

HOLIDAY TEA MUSICALE 1:30 p.m. Caramoor Center for Music & Arts 149 Girdle Ridge Road There is always something to look forward to at Caramoor! Autumn and winter bring holiday traditions to mind, and your entire family is welcome to join in the festivities. Holiday Tea Musicales begin with a tour of the historic Rosen House, beautifully decorated for the season. The tour is followed by a Holiday Musicale in the majestic Music Room (a live concert including sing-alongs!) and a formal tea, served in the spectacular Summer Dining Room. For more information, call 914-232-1252.

Ossining

Katonah

Sunday, December 2 Scarsdale

CHANUKAH PARTY 10:30 a.m. Shaarei Tikvah 46 Fox Meadow Road There will be an opportunity for families to make holiday cards for Israeli soldiers and for American soldiers. At 10:45 there will be a magic show and Chanukah songs for all ages. Refreshments will be available. call 914-472-2013, ext. 300.

Ossining

ANIMAL ADVENTURES 1 p.m. Teatown Lake Reservation 1600 Spring Valley Road Meet a few of Teatown’s playful ambassador weasels. Please note this program is for families with children ages 4 and over. Free for members; $5pp for nonmembers. Registration is strongly recommended as programs ﬁll quickly. To register call 914-762-2912 x110.

Bedford

HISTORIC ROSEN HOUSE 1 p.m. Caramoor Center for Music & Arts 149 Girdle Ridge Road This Mediterranean Revival house, completed in 1939 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is noted for its collection of European period rooms. Built and enjoyed by Walter and Lucie Rosen, it continues to inspire the Caramoor International Music Festival, now in its 68th year. Walter Rosen’s vast collection of European and Asian art and furnishings, includes an eight-paneled 18th-century green jade screen from China – one of only two in the world; a gilded bed once owned by Pope Urban VIII; gorgeous chandeliers and fanciful light ﬁxtures, and tapestries, furniture and ceramics from the Renaissance. The tour includes a view of Lucie Rosen’s original theremin (built for her by Leon Theremin) and a chance to play a modern one! Docent led tours begin at 1:00pm, the last tour is 3:00pm. For more information, call 914-232-1252.

Monday, December 3 Rye

STUDIO RINK 10 a.m. Playland Ice Casino Playland Parkway Studio Rink open for public skating. For more information, call 914-813-7059.

Tuesday, December 4 Mt. Vernon

MEDICARE BASICS 10 a.m. Westchester County Ofﬁce Building 9 S. First Ave., 8th ﬂoor Case workers from the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services will provide information about Medicare parts A, B, C and D and how to use Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) for even greater savings. To sign up, call DSPS’ Medicare Information Line at (914) 813-6100.

White Plains

PAUL ANKA IN CONCERT 7 p.m. Westchester County Center 198 Central Park Avenue The Pepe Inﬁniti concert series at the Westchester County Center presents Paul Anka in concert! Doors open at 7 p.m. / Show begins at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www. wmconcerts.com or call 914-995-4050.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

Saturday, November 24

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW 14

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW 16

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts proudly presents the heart-stopping, thrill-a-minute SHAOLIN WARRIORS direct from China. This company of highly skilled, theatrical Kung-Fu masters mesmerized audiences at a prior performance and they have spellbound audiences all around the world. The Washington Post raves, “ ...they combine the agility and grace of gymnasts with the showmanship of Cirque du Soleil performers.” The company’s New York City performance is on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 8pm at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY. In a fully choreographed theatrical production, the Shaolin Warriors bring the remarkable skill, stunning movement and spectacular imagery of Kung Fu performed by disciples of the Shaolin School, known throughout the world for their disciplined and deadly martial-arts prowess. These Kung Fu masters have trained from a very young age in mental and physical disciplines, which allow them to perform feats one thought only possible in the movies. The production features many forms of Shaolin Kung Fu as well as a look at the daily life of the warriors and their Zen philosophy. Special ticket price for children 12 and under, $10 any seat The performance of the SHAOLIN WARRIORS takes place on Saturday, December 1 at 8pm. Lehman Center

for the Performing Arts Concert Hall is located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W. on the campus of Lehman College in the Bronx. Tickets cost $45, $40 and $25, and for children 12 and under, $10 any seat. Tickets can be purchased through 24 hour online access at www.LehmanCenter.org or by calling the Lehman Center box ofﬁce at 718-960-8833 open Monday & Wednesday-Friday 10am-5pm (closed on Tuesdays) and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd., and is right off several major highways, including the Henry Hudson Parkway, the Saw Mill River Parkway and Major Deegan Expressway. Low-cost onsite parking available for $5. Lehman Center is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council. The 2012-2013 season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, JPMorgan Chase, and through corporations, foundations and private donations. Special $10 tickets for children are underwritten by Con Edison.

RCC Teen Theater Fall Drama

The Riverdale Community Center’s Teen Theater is ready to perform. For one weekend only you can watch this amazing group of students as they perform three one-act plays by a variety of wonderful

authors. These plays deal with aspects of young adult life, including smoking, young love, divorce, and adultery. Curtains rise on Friday, November 30th at 7:30 pm with an encore/ﬁnal performance on Saturday, December 1st at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm, suggested donation $5.00. Performances are held in the RKA MS/HS 141 auditorium at 660 West 237th Street. For more information please call 718-796-4724.

Manhattan College to host Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols

The Manhattan College Singers and Orchestra will hold their yearly Christmas program, A Festival of Lessons and Carols, on Sunday, Dec. 2 in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers. The program begins at 3:30 p.m. with preludes starting at 3:15 p.m. Alumni from the Manhattan College Singers and the College’s Glee Club are invited to participate in the event, which is free and open to the public. A Festival of Lessons and Carols is a unique hour-long seasonal celebration that combines traditional Christmas carols and Advent hymns with scripture readings and contemporary musical arrangements. Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D., president of the College, will present a reading and Richard K. Emmerson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Arts, will offer a reﬂection during the event. The concert will feature selections from Handel’s Mes-

siah, an excerpt from Haydn’s oratorio The Creation, and two carols by John Rutter. Keeping with tradition, the ensembles will also lead hymns, including a candlelit Silent Night, in which the congregation is invited to play a part. Following the concert, the performers will walk by candlelight to the Quadrangle for the lighting of the College’s Christmas tree. The event will be followed by a reception in Smith Auditorium. For more information about A Festival of Lessons and Carols, please contact Andrew Bauer, coordinator of performing arts, by email at andrew. bauer@manhattan.edu or by phone at (718) 862-7254.

New Programs for Parents, Infants and Young Tots

The Y is welcoming all families with a Tot Shabbat on Friday, November 30 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.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

Shaolin Warriors return to Lehman Center

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Political representation for the future

We guess the race for the City Council seat being vacated by incumbent G. Oliver Koppell can now be said to be underway. Be grateful, citizens, for term limits, since they will finally force the less-than-effective Koppell from office. Term limits is what you voted for twice, before Mayor Bloomberg, Koppell and other pols who just simply couldn’t let go, thwarted the twice-stated public will. The question in this election thus far is, do folks here really have a choice, or will a gaggle of wannabe political bosses dominate a process that should be much more open? On one hand, you have the candidate of the discredited Anthony Perez Cassino political machine. Here is a group of self-serving politicians who don’t have the guts ever to face the voters, having yet to elect so much as a county committee member from the 81st Assembly District, which includes Riverdale and Woodlawn. They were able to take control over the local Community Board, courtesy of yet another discredited pol, former Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who, as a great sage once observed, has a lot of “ ’splainin’ to do.” It is the lack of resolve of the current political leadership that explains why the remnants of this group still hang onto influence. Why Nicole Stent, the almost invisible district manager, has been allowed to maintain her $100,000-plus a year job is beyond us. When winners act like winners, you know whom to praise and whom to blame when things go wrong. When inertia takes over, as with the retention of the unimpressive Stent, we all become losers. The Cassino machine, despite never having received any kind of democratic endorsement by the public through the electoral process, now puts before us the Nut King himself, Clifford Stanton, as their candidate for Council. Stanton made his fortune as the head of the huge, and perfectly named, Nuts4Nuts street vending conglomerate that you find all over the place. Aside from his job as a nut salesman, Stanton is best known for leading the failed boycott against this newspaper for the past two years. Afraid that independent and crusading news coverage creates an atmosphere in which his brand of demagoguery can’t survive, he has sought to simply eliminate the semblance of freedom of speech in our community. He should be condemned for his anti-American posture. A generation ago, we were unhappy with the positions taken by our competitor, the Riverdale Press. We had and still have differences with the Riverdale Press regarding the schools, that paper’s anti-development positions, and the coldness that they have repeatedly exhibited toward the state of Israel. We even have a much different definition of where and what Riverdale is, instantly apparent to anyone who reads their paper. So in 1993, we went out and started our own newspaper to advance the ideas we believe in. We were willing to compete in this great marketplace of ideas. We would never suggest that any newspaper should be “put out of business” because of what they believe in—no matter how wrong. Our ideas are simply better, and that’s why we have won the hearts and minds of so many in this community—and why our competitor has lost two-thirds of their circulation since we began publication. Stanton’s recognition that the faith so many people here put in our opinions may cost him their votes, as our coverage of Cassino’s antics and conflicts clearly cost him dearly in the election of 2009. This is the real reason behind the “boycott.” This brings us to the nascent campaign of Stanton’s newly announced opponent, Andrew Cohen. Mr. Cohen appears to us to be a nice enough fellow, and that he is not a believer in the restriction of free speech, as is Stanton, is reason alone to choose him over someone afraid to engage in debate in the free marketplace of ideas. Cohen is announcing his candidacy as this issue goes to press, so your editor has no idea what he will say or promise. But to us it is an inauspicious beginning that he is surrounding himself with the usual suspects—the current elected officials—looking for direction from a group that often appears to be lost themselves. He brings little thus far to the table—he has little public record to speak of. Contrast this with other more outspoken potential candidates such as Dan Padernacht or Ari Hoffnung, who seemed to have been passed over without a democratic process. The word “reform” in the name of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club once meant something. No more. Backroom manipulation will not serve the largely unknown Cohen well as he tries to chart his own course. The less he appears to be joined at the hip to Dinowitz, Koppell, Klein and Engel, as much as we like those chaps, the better off we, and he, will be. We need fresh leadership and fresh ideas. Rejecting the fear-mongering of Cassino and Stanton is not an excuse for a shortcut to democracy.

Cohen enters race to replace Koppell Continued from Page 1 together with the people, work together with the community, work together with elected officials and send a unified message,” he said. “I have a passion for public service, and I think it’s important that people of great character serve in government. We’re fortunate that we have had an outstanding leader in Oliver Koppell, and I want to continue with that tradition.” Within moments of declaring his candidacy, Cohen picked up the endorsement of all four local elected officials—Engel, Dinowitz, Klein and Koppell—as well as that of popular former Councilwoman June Eisland. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said he was compelled to endorse Cohen because of his leadership skills and wellrounded background. “He has the ability to bring people together and to get everyone on the same page, but he also knows how to fight for us and get things done,” he said. “The fact that every one of our local leaders in Riverdale is endorsing him is an indication of the trust that he has built up.” Councilman Koppell also anointed Cohen as his preferred successor.

“I am certain that he will provide the district and its residents with the effective and independent leadership that I have worked to provide for the many years that I have represented our local communities,” he said. Although members of the influential Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club have yet to endorse a candidate, it is likely they will back Cohen, based on his support from area officials. However, an endorsement could cause a rift within the political club as fellow CB8 and Ben Franklin Club member Daniel Padernacht’s political aspirations have been extensively documented. Padernacht paved the way for state Senator Gustavo Rivera to defeat scandal-tarred Pedro Espada by bowing out of that race in 2010. When asked whether he was mulling a run in 2013, Padernacht said he was in the process of weighing his options. “Running for City Council is a major decision which I take very seriously,” he said. “There are a number of considerations that need to be assessed prior to making a firm commitment to run for this office.” Padernacht also said he expected Cohen to run a solid

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

Note our new address: 5752 Fieldston Road Bronx, New York 10471 (718) 543-5200 FAX: (718) 543-4206

JOEL PAL Production Manager ROBERT NILVA Marketing Director

CECILIA McNALLY Office Manager MIAWLING LAM Associate Editor

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

campaign in a lead-up to the election. Meanwhile, another possible candidate, Robert Press, who ran for Assembly in the mid-1990s, said he would not enter the ﬁeld but refused to rule out the idea completely. “I have decided not to run, but I am going to leave my options open because I believe there will be at least one more candidate entering the race,” he said. The only other person currently registered to run for Koppell’s seat is Ari Hoffnung, a deputy comptroller for John Liu, who lost to Koppell by a 3-to-1 margin in 2005. However, Hoffnung hasn’t raised any money in four years and has previously indicated he was not mulling a run. Stanton is the leader of a boycott against the Riverdale Review, treasurer of the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation and is involved with the parents associations at P.S. 24 and the Bronx High School of Science.

Schervier sponsors trip to Atlantic City

On Tuesday, Nov.27, 2012 Schervier Home will sponsor a Day trip to Showboat Casino at Atlantic City. Cost is $28.00 per seat, with casino cash back of $25.00. The bus picks up from Schervier Apartments at 2995 Independence Avenue, Riverdale @ 8:55am and Knolls Crescent @ 9:00am. Returns at 8:30pm with drop offs at 230thst. & Kingsbridge Ave.; 232ndst. & Henry Hudson Parkway; Knolls Crescent and Schervier Apartments. For reservations please call Nellie Kenny @ 718-543-0237.

By TESS McRAE The Metropolitan Transit Authority held a public hearing on November 13 for Bronx residents to voice their opinions on the proposed fare hikes. The hearing, held at Hostos Community College, allowed speakers representing themselves or an organization to offer three-minute presentations to members of a panel. MTA chairman Joesph Lhota, New York City Transit representative Darryl Irick and Donald Spero of Bridges and Tunnels were among the dozen or so panel members selected to listen to comments, which would be noted and referred back to “when the time comes for the MTA to make a decision,” MTA Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Nuria Fernandez said at the beginning of the hearing. Not surprisingly, not a single speaker was in favor of the increases. From single mothers struggling to get strollers upstairs to college student commuters, almost every speaker railed against each of the proposals. “All of these increases happen so quickly,” one Throggs Neck resident said. “But what isn’t increasing is my paycheck. I can’t afford all of these hikes if my paycheck stays the same.” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz made a brief appearance and spoke out against fare increases, reminding those in attendance that local government should be held accountable. “Both the state and the city need to provide more money to transportation,”

Calvary and Yeshiva collaborate to serve Orthodox community

Calvary Hospital and Yeshiva University’s afﬁliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) have announced a collaboration to serve the needs of observant Jews in the metropolitan area. Jewish families seeking halachically appropriate, quality end-of-life medical care often lack familiarity with the intricate religious laws that govern such care. To address this need, Yeshiva University has formed the YU/RIETS End-of-Life Halachic Advisory Program to provide rabbinic consultation for families and community rabbis. It includes: • A rabbinic panel comprised of four Roshei Yeshiva who have extensive experience with end-of-life halachic issues. Rabbi Herschel Schachter, Rabbi Yaakov Neuberger, Rabbi Mordechai Willig, and Rabbi Moshe Tendler, will serve on a rotating basis as prehospice advisors and answer questions from patients’ families • A panel of physicians associated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and its afﬁliates will be available to advise community rabbis on the clinical issues surrounding the terminally ill. The medical panel includes Dr. Edward Burns, Dr. Seymour Huberfeld, Dr. Beth Popp, Dr. Edward Reichman and Dr. Robert Sidlow. “There is a pressing need in the Orthodox community for accurate and thorough information on the conditions under which end-of-life care should be provided,” said Edward R. Burns, MD, executive dean of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. “Regardless of where a person chooses to seek hospice care, Yeshiva University’s Endof-Life Halachic Advisory Program is designed to answer their questions. Our decision to collaborate with Calvary recognizes the unmatched quality of care that every patient receives there and the staff’s commitment to the hospital’s mission.’ Founded in 1896, RIETS is the leading center for education and ordination of Orthodox

he said. ”Everyone is important one way or another.” Dinowitz also urged members of the panel not to initiate further service cuts if there was a fare increase. Most of the speakers were college students who commuted to school. Many complained there weren’t enough discounts for students who use public transportation on a daily basis to get to class. “I understand that there need to be hikes,” a Bronx Community College student said,”but some type of relief should be given to students. I get a student MetroCard from my program, but I know most students do not, and I consider myself incredibly lucky.” Many speakers, especially those who purchase monthly and weekly Metro-

Cards, were not as forgiving. According to the MTA, there are four fare increase proposals. Two of these, which involve keeping single fares at $2.25, would remove the 7 percent bonus that many buyers are so dependent on. “I need that bonus,” a Bronx resident and commuter said. “I budget my money every month, and each time I just squeak by. Not having this discount is gonna take a toll on my bank account.” Putting anger aside, almost every speaker took a moment to commend the MTA for its swift response post-Sandy. Within two days after the superstorm hit the tri-state area, some trains and buses were already up and running. But a few riders felt that a refund should have been issued to monthly and weekly MetroCard buyers, who pay a base amount

to ride unlimited. “If I’m paying for a weekly MetroCard and I am unable to use that MetroCard because public transportation is shut down, I should get a refund,” one woman said. Another common criticism was the time of day the hearing was held, with many saying the 5 p.m. time limited feedback. “Why can’t these hearings be held later at night or on a weekend?” one resident asked. “If you want to hear from the people who use public transportation every day, you gotta make it a time that doesn’t overlap with work.” The MTA did invite those unable to attend the hearings to submit comments online or by letter. Customers were also encouraged to visit MTA satellite facilities to have their statements videotaped.

19 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, November 22, 2012

Bronx residents object to MTA fare hikes during public hearing

Thursday, November 22, 2012 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW 20