Labor dispute at Manhattan College raises religious issues

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Volume XVIII • Number 8 • January 20 - 26, 2011 • FREE!

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Schools facing massive budget cuts and layoffs

RISING STARS – The younger members of the Riverdale Rising Stars presented eight smashing performances this month of “13,” with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. Directed by Laurie Walton with choreography by Emily Walton and musical direction by Remy Kurs. Leading roles were Ezra Mutnick as Evan Goldman, the Bar Mitzvah boy who finally figures out who his real friends are; Breffni Ward and Claire Wegh alternating as Evan’s heroine, Patrice; Aaron Kisslinger as the popular Brett Sampson; Joshua Tepper and Oscar Belkin-Sessler as the hilarious team of Eddie and Malcolm; Natasha Perdomo and Jenna Solomon alternating as the much-desired Kendra; Alexander Crowe as the well-adjusted Archie; and Kasia Kalinowska and Caitelin McCoy alternating as the not-so-nice Lucy.

HONORING DR. KING – The Green Pastures Baptist Church Choir under the leadership of Reverend Roger Hambrick at this year’s tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. The HIR Community Choir also performed two inspirational songs at the event. Congressman Eliot Engel spoke in honor of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and NYPD 50th Precinct Captain Brandon del Pozo spoke of heroism. There was a brief service for victims of the recent shootings in Tucson, Arizona. Donations were collected for Israeli Fire and Rescue Services.

By MIAWLING LAMSchool budgets have been

slashed, and hundreds of teach-ers could be laid off as the city’s razor gang attempts to plug a $460 million budget black hole.

Public schools have had their budgets cut this year, and local schools aren’t immune.

P.S. 24 and M.S./H.S. 141, the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, have both seen their budgets shrink by the maximum 4.16 percent, while P.S. 81 has fared a little better despite suffering a cut of 2.53 percent.

In real terms, it means RKA will lose $360,347, P.S. 24 will re-ceive $264,488 less and $136,808 will be cut from P.S. 81.

The drastic budget trims are designed to address the Depart-ment of Education’s ballooning nondiscretionary costs and the deeper cuts expected from Al-bany later this year.

Since 2007, schools have seen their operating budgets shaved by an average of 12 percent.

According to the Department of Education, the cuts are neces-sary and will save the city $313

million.“At this time, the fiscal year

2011 budget for the Department is uncertain and challenging,” it said.

“Based on our best estimates—which could shift, as Albany has yet to pass its own budget —we are planning for a cut of $500 million in state education aid.

“In addition to this assumed state cut, the department’s non-discretionary costs are expected to grow by nearly $1.2 billion. Overall, schools will take reduc-tions to their total budgets not to exceed 4.16 percent.”

Principals fear the citywide cuts could force them to scale back their after-school programs and tutoring schemes and to condense their extracurricular offerings.

As of press time, none of the three local school principals had returned calls seeking com-ment.

But Assemblyman Jeffrey Di-nowitz said the budget cuts would be devastating for schools.

“The potential cuts may be much deeper than we have experi-

By BRENDAN McHUGHIn a groundbreaking ruling,

the National Labor Relations Board will allow adjunct instruc-tors at Manhattan College to vote on the formation of a union. The ruling will likely lead to a lengthy legal battle between religious freedom and workers’ rights.

Manhattan College claimed that because they are a Catho-lic institution, they should be exempt from the jurisdiction of federal labor law and should be allowed to prevent the vote. The college is assessing its options and will determine how to pro-ceed with regard to an appeal.

The decision is generally based on the finding that Man-hattan College is not “Catholic enough” to be exempt from the NLRB’s jurisdiction. The ruling states that the NLRB will con-duct an election within 25 to 30 days from the release, which was

Monday, January 10.Among the reasons given why

the college is not considered religious enough for exemption are: the president of the school is not a Christian Brother; there are only a handful of Christian Brothers on the faculty or in the administration; belief in Christ or God is not a requirement for employment; and religious studies courses are academic and intellectual in nature.

Dr. Brennan O’Donnell be-came president last year, the first lay person to fill the position in the history of the school. He suc-ceeded Br. Thomas Scanlan, who presided from 1987 to 2009.

“Although there is evidence that college representatives dis-cuss the college’s Catholic and Lasallian mission in interviews with prospective faculty hires, it is also clear that it is not a re-

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40th BIRTHDAY BASH – The Whitehall Building turned 40 years old during 2010, and the entire building celebrated with a bagel brunch in the Whitehall Club ballroom on Sunday, Jan. 16. Attending the celebration were Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and newly-elected State Senator Adriano Espaillat, who both briefly addressed the audience. Assemblyman Dinowitz also presented a N.Y. State Assembly Proclamation, honoring the Whitehall for 40 years of community leadership, to Whitehall Board President Jeffrey Moerdler and Vice President/Secretary Len Daykin. Below, with Dinowitz and Espaillat are building residents Joe Gordon and Judy Sonnet.

By BRENDAN McHUGHJeff Klein is in the minority of the minor-

ity, and it isn’t getting any better now that Senate Democrats are beginning to search for the scapegoat for last fall’s election woes.

After relinquishing his post as the deputy conference leader—the day before he would have had to give it up to a vote, anyway—and being ousted as Democratic Senate Cam-paign Committee chair, Klein had already lost a significant amount of power in the conference. That prompted him to form the Independent Democratic Conference with three other state senators.

It probably came as no surprise to Klein that conference leader Sen. John Sampson denied the new four amigos any committee roles that would be involved in introducing legislation.

Republican leader Dean Skelos has not said whether he will appoint them to any committees.

Regardless of what Skelos does, it does not look good for the IDC. Albany insiders have said new governor Andrew Cuomo hardly wants to deal with two conferences, let alone three, so they should not expect any help from the governor.

And it looks like Klein isn’t going to gain any new amigos in the Democratic Party, either.

Klein has been blamed for mishandling spending on a number of races that cost the Democrats the majority or at least a tie in the Senate.

“You can’t run campaigns by committee, and that’s what it was,” Hank Sheinkopf, a political consultant who worked on several Senate races this year, told the Albany Times Union. “Someone’s got to be in charge. Someone’s got to take responsibility.”

And while Klein certainly won’t do it to himself, others have already pointed the finger at him. Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson of the Bronx and Westchester County told the Times Union, “I felt there was too much power given to Sen. Klein, and I wasn’t clear—and I’ve never been clear—that Sen. Klein has been a supporter of John Sampson.”

Klein has quietly made it known that he would make a run for conference leader if he ever had the chance to do so. Recently, ru-mors of aspirations for a congressional seat have come up, but it may depend on how this term in the state Senate pans out.

Thompson said Klein was slow to back David Carlucci of Clarkstown, to whom Klein eventually gave $700,000, but now Carlucci is one of the four IDC members. Klein has been criticized throughout the Senate for mishandling the money in the DSCC. He gave $525,000 and $350,000 to two upstate candidates who both lost by double-digit margins but doled out more than $1 million while unsuccessfully defending Sen. Darrel Aubertine, a noted Klein ally.

Meanwhile, Klein refused requests for funding for now ex-Sen. Antoine Thompson of Buffalo, who lost by 1,000 votes in a district where Democrats have a steep enrollment edge, according to the Times Union.

“Once we noticed that a lot of races were going up in flames, people said, ‘Focus on a few races,’” Thompson said to the Times Union.

Klein has defended himself, saying that hindsight is 20/20 and it is easy to be criti-cal after the election. “This is exactly why I formed an independent caucus,” Klein told the Times Union. “They continue to talk trash about me as an attempt to distract from the real issues.”

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By MIAWLING LAMRiverdalians could soon be enrolling

their children in a new Hebrew language charter school in Washington Heights.

The proposal, currently before Com-munity Board 12, involves the Hebrew Charter School Center’s new K-5 facility planned for Washington Heights in Sep-tember 2012.

According to school officials, the new Sosua Hebrew School will be modeled on the city’s original Hebrew language charter school in Midwood, Brooklyn, offering a “nurturing and rigorous aca-demic environment, with administrators and teachers held accountable for high student achievement.”

Class sizes will be capped at 25, and students will have two teachers —one for general education and another who will exclusively teach Hebrew language.

But rapidly growing community oppo-sition could scuttle the plan and prompt officials to explore other locations for the school.

If this is the case, it is conceivable that Riverdale could be an option.

However, Hebrew Charter School Cen-ter spokesman Dan Gerstein said he highly doubted the school would be relocated. To date, he said, no inquiries have been fielded from Riverdale residents.

Gerstein said Washington Heights was primarily chosen for two reasons.

“First, there’s a demand and there’s interest, and second, it is a very diverse community, and that was a big consider-ation for the planning group,” he said.

“It’s very much a priority for the Hebrew Charter School Center and the planning group to look for communities

where there are opportunities to have a diverse school community, and there’s something unique about Washington Heights.”

Gerstein denied claims the school would push a religious agenda, but ad-mitted “there’s a very fine line that you have to walk.

“The Hebrew Language Charter School is a public school, and it has to be totally secular. There cannot be any encouraging of religious devotion. That is the law,” he said.

“There may be some families who are Jewish who want to supplement the educa-tion program they’re getting at the charter school with religious education, but that is in no way connected to the school.

“The reality is, Hebrew is connected to Judaism, but it’s a language that stands on its own, just like Greek, the language of the Greek Orthodox Church. But it’s spoken in a secular context about Greece.”

Washington Heights resident and education activist Josh Karan said he was concerned the new charter school would divert funding from neighboring public schools.

He also questioned the relevance of having a Hebrew language charter school in a predominately Spanish-speaking community, where a third of all students are English language learners.

The district recorded a pass rate of just 28 percent for its 2010 English language arts exam.

“It might be apparent that these students, a very different demographic than exists in the Brooklyn community of the HLA charter school, need help in English before they need help in Hebrew,” Karan said.

If approved, the Sosua School will ini-tially accept enrollments for 150 students in kindergarten and first grade in 2012.

It will grow by one grade each year until it reaches fifth grade and eventually serve 450 students.

Enrollment will be open to children from all districts, but those residing in Hamilton Heights, Sugar Hill, Washington Heights, Fort George and Inwood will be given priority.

A specific location has yet to be deter-mined, but authorities insist it will not share space with an existing public school in the neighborhood.

According to its charter, a typical school day will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each day, students will receive two hours of

instruction in English language arts and an hour each in math, science, social studies and Hebrew. Each week, they will attend music, art and technology classes.

School officials are expected to file an application to the State University of New York Trustees next month.

The school won preliminary support from four of Community Board 12’s edu-cation committee members at a meeting last Thursday. One member opposed the proposal, while four others abstained. A majority of five votes are needed for committee approval.

The issue will now progress to a full board vote next Tuesday.

An informational evening for all inter-ested community members was scheduled for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19, in the Larson Library at 515 Audubon Avenue in Washington Heights.

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P.S. 81All parents of perspective kindergar-

teners are welcome to attend a school tour on Wednesday, January 26, at 9 a.m. Kindergarten preregistration for fall 2011 continues through Friday, March 4, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Parents with a child zoned for P.S. 81 may register at any point dur-ing the designated period, provided that they bring the required documentation. For ques-tions, contact the school at 718-796-8965.

Horace Mann School

Horace Mann Day Camp tours are planned for this Saturday, January 22, and next Saturday, January 29. For information on the camp tours, call 718-432-3810.

For the tenth year, the Middle Divi-sion is participating in the Yorkville Food Pantry’s “Souper Bowl.” Schools compete over who can donate the most canned soup. Last year, Horace Mann was the winner, with 2,404 cans. In the school’s internal competition, the cans are ranked in terms of points because some cans are larger and some soups are more nutritious than others. If the entire division meets or exceeds this year’s goal of 22, 000 points, the reward is one homework-free night. The grade that brings in the highest number of points also gets a pizza party. If the goal is not met, there’s no homework respite and no pizza party.

The Upper Division is participating in Aéropostale’s Jeans for Teens program. The clothing store chain collects worn jeans in good condition and donates them to teens in local homeless shelters. Students are asked to place their donated jeans in a box located outside the dean’s office through February 11.

Kinneret Day SchoolAfter eighth-grader Daniel Strempt

won a school-wide spelling bee, he moved on to the regional competitions held by the Board of Jewish Education. He came in as second-place winner in the regionals and then as third-place winner in a con-test among all school-wide winners. He now qualifies as an entrant in a citywide spelling bee.

Manhattan CollegeKenneth W. Orce, class of 1965, senior

counsel at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, LLP,

has been elected to the college’s board of trustees. Orce was a corporate and secu-rities partner for more than 35 years at Cahill, where until his retirement at the end of last year he represented a wide range of leading domestic and foreign entities including insurance, financial service and investment companies. After earning a bachelor’s in political science at the college in 1965, he proceeded to Har-

vard Law School and became a law review editor. He served as a member of Cahill’s ex-ecutive and led several internal corporate in-vestigations involving complex regulatory, enforcement and dis-

closure issues. He advises boards of direc-tors and other managers on governance, corporate and securities matters. Orce has also been on the board of directors at two Fortune 500 companies.

College of Mt. St. VincentThe college is a participant in the

TRIO Student Support Services Program, a U.S. Department of Education-spon-sored program designed for selected low-income students who are the first in their families to attend college or who are disabled. TRIO aims to enhance participants’ academic performance, retention and graduation rates through comprehensive support services includ-ing academic counseling, leadership development, a mentoring program and a special computer lab. Acceptance into the program is by invitation only for students currently enrolled at the college. For further information, contact the program staff at 718-405-3762 or trio@mountsaintvincent.edu.

Local ScholarsThe State University of New York

at Geneseo has announced that Talor Gruenwald, Thomas Nugent and Chris-topher Santos have been named to the dean’s list for the 2010 spring semester. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 while taking at least 12 credit hours. SUNY Geneseo is a public liberal arts college recognized nationally for excellence in undergraduate education and for its professional and master’s level programs. The college combines a rigorous curriculum and a rich co-cur-ricular life to create a learning-centered environment.

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Religion vs. Labor at Manhattan Collegequirement that candidates be Catholic or have a belief in God in order to be hired,” the ruling stated. “The primary criteria for hiring faculty are their academic qualifica-tions, and in fact, the college has long had a nondiscrimination policy with respect to its hiring.”

The New York State Union of Teachers, who filed the suit with the adjuncts, has ap-plauded the ruling but said that it does not threaten the college’s Catholic mission.

“We call upon President O’Donnell and the Manhattan College administration to re-frain from spending more money (and risk-ing further embarrassment to the college in the greater academic and faith community) by appealing the Labor Board’s decision,” the union said in a statement. “It is time for adjunct faculty to decide the question of unionization for themselves.”

In 1999, the full-time faculty was successful in forming a union after Man-hattan College attempted to block their efforts. The same ruling—that the institu-tion was not Catholic enough—was the reason the block failed.

O’Donnell bashed the NLRB on its rul-ing and is confident that this time, the college will succeed in its appeal.

“While the ruling is disappointing and deeply disturbing, it is not surpris-ing,” O’Donnell said in a statement. “The NLRB has consistently failed to follow the instructions of federal courts as to the constitutional protections to which reli-giously affiliated entities are entitled.”

O’Donnell went on to point out that the federal courts more often recognize religious institutions and bar the NLRB from asserting jurisdiction. He said recent

court decisions have taken a strong stance against the type of scrutiny of religious authenticity on which the NLRB decision is based, but did not say which cases he is referring to.

“I could think of very few reasons why you wouldn’t want a union,” said Randy

Schutz, an adjunct professor at Manhattan College since 2007.

Schutz is one of the leading organizers of the move to unionize. He said the ad-junct professors at Manhattan are among the lowest paid in the city and have no benefits, job security or access to any kind of health insurance. Adjunct classes can be cancelled by the college right before the start of the semester, with no warning, if

enrollment in a class is not met.Many full-time professors are in agree-

ment with the unionization.“I have not spoken to a single profes-

sor who does not think that the adjuncts should have the right to choose,” said Dr. Jeff Horn, chair of the history department. Horn said he has spoken with dozens of faculty members. “That said, the full-time faculty is not in complete agreement.”

By MIAWLING LAMIt’s going to be a case of all hands on

deck at the 50th Precinct this year.Eight new officers recently joined ranks

at the five-oh, marking the first staffing increase in the past 15 months.

Captain Brandon del Pozo said the extra manpower, which represents a seven per-cent jump, will make a real difference and improve the quality of life for residents.

Crime-fighting efforts, particularly in neighborhoods such as Marble Hill and Kingsbridge Heights, will also be bolstered with the arrival of the new recruits.

“We’re very excited to have eight cops that are the best of both worlds,” Capt. del Pozo said.

“They’re young, so they’re still enthusi-astic and idealistic, but they’ve got about two years of experience, so some of the bumps in the road that come with a cop maturing has already been taken care of.”

The addition of eight officers at the pre-cinct brings the total number of police, ex-cluding sergeants and lieutenants, to 130.

End of year figures reveal crime was down by 5 percent in the 50th Precinct last year, driven primarily by a 31 percent reduction in car-related offences.

Despite the promising signs, Capt.

del Pozo said he wouldn’t become com-placent.

In fact, the veteran officer said he was looking forward to making further gains and cutting the crime rate even more.

“Marble Hill over to Kingsbridge Heights tends to be the area in our pre-cinct with the highest density of crime.

So now that we have some new officers that are experienced but still fairly young, we’ll put them out at the right times and at the right places,” he said.

“Our strategy this year will probably focus around reducing crime in those particular neighborhoods.

Local precinct gets boost in police ranks

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Micheal Dale takes us Across the Empires

Penetrating the Greek and Roman Empires, traversing the Mongolian Em-pire towards the West via the Silk Road, or trekking through and sailing across French and British Colonial Africa and the Indian Ocean, Micheal Dale traces these journeys as well as those made in fleeing the Nazi reign in Germany.

Using imagery and video along with his compositions on dulcimer and guitar, Dale's subjects include the historical, the mythological and everyday people.

Dale's presentation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m., at the Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library, 650 West 235th Street. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

HIR Community Choir resumes rehearsals

The H.I.R. Community Choir resumes weekly rehearsals on Wednesday evening, January 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the synagogue building, 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway, room 3/5-3/6.

The choir, now in its ninth year, al-ways welcomes new members who love to sing Jewish music and who are able to carry their voice parts within a musical ensemble. Reading music or knowledge of Hebrew are not required--each member receives a recording of the appropriate voice part and all texts are transliterated. Spring programs for Israel Independence Day are planned for early May.

For further information, contact music director Jonathan Dzik at JFDzik326@aol.com or 718-549-8520. Visit the choir's website at hircommunitychoir.org.

Chabad of Riverdale's 19th anniversary celebration

The Riverdale community will be cel-ebrating 19 years of Chabad-Lubavitch in Riverdale on Saturday, January 22, 7:15 PM at The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx.

The guests of honor are Myrna and Eric Zinn, dedicated supporters of Chabad of Riverdale who bring the message of love and caring to the entire community.

Pamela and Barry Moskowitz are being honored as Parents of the Year. Pamela and Barry are dedicated to the ideals of Chabad. Their commitment to the pre-school is remarkable. They are selfless and are available to help especially when it is needed most.

Nineteen years ago, with the blessings and guidance of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory Rabbi Levi and Sorah Shemtov were given the opportunity to serve the spiritual needs of the Riverdale Jewish community and the borough of the Bronx. Certainly there were already established Jewish day schools, organi-zations and synagogues addressing the needs of the affiliated Jewish community; however, there was a need to reach out to an overwhelming portion of the Jewish population that was uncommitted and non-affiliated.

Rabbi Levi and Sorah arrived with an agenda of unconditional love for every Jew, to assist and infuse the com-munity with the exciting programming and Jewish experience that have become synonymous with this vital international organization. With innovative program-ming like Purimania, Matzah Factory, The Giant Menorah Lighting, community lecture series, Shabbatons, children's holi-day workshops, Camp Gan Israel, and the Chabad Early Childhood Center, Chabad of Riverdale has quickly become a house-hold name, positively and permanently enhancing the landscape of the Jewish experience in Riverdale.

In 2000 Rabbi Yehuda and Bracha Bal-ashov joined forces with Chabad of River-dale by directing the branch at Chabad of Kingsbridge. They arrange Passover Seders, High Holiday services, Chanukah parties and Purim celebrations especially for the Russian community.

Rabbi Balashov officiates at Shabbat services at the Kingsbridge Center of Israel every Shabbat and gives classes on a range of Jewish topics. The Balashovs have touched the lives of hundreds of Jewish souls. It is likely that that there is not one Russian Jew in the Riverdale Kingsbridge area who has not had direct contact with the Balashovs.

In 2005 Rabbi Zalman and Tamar Teitelbaum joined Chabad of Riverdale

with the support of the George and Pamela Rohr Foundation by directing the Chabad Center of the medical com-munity servicing The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, as well as Yeshiva University's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and other universities in the area.

Their Chabad student center is a true home away from home for hundreds of Jewish students from all walks of life who join the Teitelbaums for Friday night din-ner, Lunch 'n' Learn, weekly picnics in the spring and summer, and other events.

Overall, Chabad-Lubavitch of River-dale has become a major part of the Jewish growth and enthusiasm now setting our entire community abuzz.

To join the community as a sponsor of this tribute or for reservations, please call Chabad at (718) 549-1100, ext. 10, or visit our website www.ChabadRiverdale.org and click on the 19th Anniversary Dinner link.

WRJ to discuss 'Miriam's Kiitchen'

MIRIAM'S KITCHEN, by Elizabeth Ehrlich, is a unique memoir. Alternating between recipes, the past and present, the author presents a strong message for the Jewish kitchen, memories and familial connection. The book demonstrates how the kitchen symbolizes not only Miriam's family life in Eastern Europe and her assimilation in America, but also the importance of her Jewish heritage and Jew-ish customs all within her kosher kitchen which was in the Bronx. Interspersed between chapters are the actual recipes Miriam was known for.

The Women of Reform Judaism, at Riverdale Temple, 4545 Independence Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471, invite both men and women to attend this discus-sion group on Tuesday, January 25th, at 7:30 p.m., in the West lounge of the Temple. There is ample free parking and refreshments.

If you need further information, please call (718) 548-3800 ext. 1.

Free winter children's film series at the Y

The Riverdale Y's Alana Llama Film Series for Children (which offers G-rated films in a child-friendly atmosphere on cold winter Sunday mornings) will feature classic animated fairy tales this year. The film series is free for children and adults.

Make plans to meet friends on cold winter Sunday mornings for a movie, free take-home popcorn, and a hug from Alana Llama herself. The films will be shown at 10:30 a.m. on the following days:

Jan. 23, Pinocchio; Feb. 13, Snow White; Feb. 27, The Jungle Book; March 6, Alice in Wonderland; March 20, Bambi; March 27, Cinderella and a Closing Gala.

Following the movie children and parents are invited to come dressed for a fancy ball (crowns will be provided). The Y will provide a pizza lunch, and waltz lessons with the Y's dance school instruc-tors for kids and parents.

The Riverdale Y is located at 5625 Ar-lington Avenue. For more information, call 7178-548-8200.

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Israeli folk dancing at Riverdale Temple

World renowned Israeli Folk Dance instructor Gabi Gabay is bringing his Talent and Energy to Riverdale. Gabi, who has a large following in Manhattan, and many years of experience in dance instruction, will be teaching Israeli Folk Dancing (Rekudai Ahm) on a beginners and Intermediate levels. His hope is to make Riverdale Folk Dancing as suc-cessful as the program that he leads in Manhattan.

The class will meet on January 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Riverdale Temple 4545 Independence Ave Bronx, 10471 (246th street and Independence Ave). For more information call Riverdale Temple at 718-548-3800 or email gabigabay@yahoo.com.

Schervier sponsors Atlantic City Bus Trip

Schervier sponsors a Day Trip to Show Boat Casino, Atlantic City on Tuesday, January 25, leaving 8:55 a.m. and return-ing 8:30 p.m. The bus leaves from the Schervier Apartments, 2995 Indepen-dence Avenue, Riverdale, at 8:55 a.m. and returns around 8:30 p.m. There will be drop offs at 230th Street and Kingsbridge Avenue; at Knolls Crescent; 232nd Street and Henry Hudson Parkway; and last at the Schervier Apartments. People can also be picked up at Knolls Crescent at 9:00 a.m. The cost is $26 and you receive $30

back from the casino! To reserve a seat, please call Nellie Kenny at 718-543-0237. Leave your name and phone number and she will get back to you.

Toastmasters Club invites new members

The Bronx Toastmasters Club invites new members to join them at their meeting on January 26 at 7:30 PM at the Riverdale Neighborhood House, 5521 Mosholu Avenue.

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

Come as a guest and witness for yourself what they accomplish. The club meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. For further information visit their website at www.thebronxtoastmas-ters.com or call 718-796-6671.

Registration opens for Bronx Zoo summer camp

The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo is now accepting summer camp registrations for the 2011 season.

Zoo camps offer a variety of animal-themed programs for children ages 5 to 7. Young adventurers can choose the program that is the best fit for them - from the five-day Animal Kingdom or

Pablo Python Looks at Animals Camps, to the Family Overnight Safari or the Summer Internship: Animal Care Pro-gram for Teens.

For more information or to register for a Bronx Zoo summer camp experience, visit www.bronxzoo.com/classes-and-programs.aspx. Space is limited and some sessions will sell out.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. They do so through science, global con-servation, education and the management of the owrld's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change at-titudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mis-sion because it is essential to the integrity of life on earth.

For more information, visit www.bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.

Riv. Rising Stars announce auditions

The award winning Riverdale Rising Stars announce auditions for their upcom-ing Spring production of 'Hairspray.' The story introduces us to an unlikely hero in Tracey, as the growing popularity of this 'pleasantly plump' teenager changes the face of television.

Participation in the Riverdale Rising Stars is by audition only. You must be at least 12 years old and in the 7th grade

through age 18. A song and dance com-bination will be taught at the audition. There is no need to prepare anything. Rehearsals begin in February and the show opens in early April. This is a tu-ition-based program, but scholarships are available.

Seeking teens of all shapes and sizes. Particularly seeking African-American teens for the rotes of Seaweed, Motor-mouth Mabel and Inez.

All auditions will be held at the River-dale Y, 5625 Arlington Avenue. Audition dates are Sunday, Jan. 23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Monday, Jan. 24 and Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Come at the be-ginning of any of the above dates to sign up and to learn the song that you will be auditioning with.

Direct any questions to Laurie Walton at LWalton@riverdaley.org. More informa-tion can be found on their website: www.RiverdaleY.org.

RNH meeting to honor Robert Kornfeld

Riverdale Neighborhood House (RNH) will host its Annual Meeting honoring 'Our Good Neighbor,' Mr. Robert Jonathan Kornfeld (posthumously). This meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 25, at 8 p.m.

RNH is located at 5521 Mosholu Av-enue, across from the Riverdale Library. For further information, contact Ms. Nancy Alberts at 718-549-8100 x123.

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Thursday, January 20Spuyten DuyvilTODDLER STORY TIME10:30 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 W. 235th Street

Toddlers from 18 months to 3 years old and their par-ents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, and fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

RiverdaleTEEN CAFÉ4 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 Mosholu Avenue

Come hang out with your friends in a cool, casual envi-ronment. Bring snacks to enjoy while you listen to the radio & chat with your friends. Use laptops to do your homework, watch videos, play games, & more! For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Spuyten DuyvilCB8 MEETING7 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 W. 235th Street

Meeting of the Libraries & Cultural Affairs Committee of Community Board 8. For more information, call 718-884-3959.

Friday, January 21RiverdaleFUN FRIDAYS3:30 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 Mosholu Avenue

Board games of all types and all skill levels. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Saturday, January 22Spuyten DuyvilDULCIMER & GUITAR2 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 W. 235th Street

Penetrating the Greek & Roman Empires, traversing the Mongolian Empire towards the West via the Silk Road, trekking through & sailing across French & British colonial Africa & the Indian Ocean or facing or fleeing the Nazi Empire, Dale traces these journeys through his compositions played on the dulcimer & guitar. His subjects include the historical, the mythological, the everyday people! Imagery & video will ac-company the live music & presentation of Across the Empires. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Bedford ParkCHABAD'S 19TH ANNIVERSARY7:15 p.m. NY Botanical Garden200th St. & Kazimiroff Blvd.

The dinner commemorating Chabad's 19th anniversary will have Myrna and Eric Zinn as guests of honor, and Pamela and Barry Moskowitz as Parents of the Year. To join the community as a sponsor of this tribute or for reservations, call Chabad at (718) 549-1100, ext. 10, or visit their website www.ChabadRiverdale.org and click on the 19th Anniversary Dinner link.

Sunday, January 23RiverdaleAUDITIONS6 p.m. Riverdale YM-YWHA5625 Arlington Avenue

Riverdale Rising Stars will hold au ditions for their upcoming production of "Hairspray." Auditions dates are Jan. 23 at 6, Jan. 25 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. For info, visit www.RiverdaleY.org.

Monday, January 24Spuyten DuyvilREADING ALOUD4 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 W. 235th Street

A librarian will share favorite picture books, providing children with the wonder of books and the joy of reading. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

RiverdaleCB8 MEETING7:30 p.m. Riverdale Mental Health Association5676 Riverdale Avenue

Meeting of the Education Committee of Community Board 8. Guest speaker Heather Kagedan will give information on the topic of bullying. For more information, call 718-884-3959.

Tuesday, January 25Riverdale

ISRAELI FOLK DANCE7:30 p.m. Riverdale TempleWest 246th St. & Independence Ave.

World renowned Israeli Folk Dance instructor Gabi Gabay is bringing his Talent and Energy to Riverdale. For more information call Riverdale Temple at 718-548-3800 or email gabigabay@yahoo.com.

RiverdaleDISCUSSION7:30 p.m. Riverdale TempleWest 246th St. & Independence Ave.

The Women of Reform Judaism invite men and women to attend a discussion on 'Miriam's Kitchen' by Elizabeth Ehrlich, a memoir. The book demonstrates how the kitchen symbolizes the author's Jewish heritage within her kosher kitchen. For more information, call 718-548-3800, ext. 1.

RiverdaleMEETING8 p.m. Riverdale Neighborhood House5521 Mosholu Avenue

Annual Meeting of RNH will honor "Our Good Neighbor," Mr. Robert Jonathan Kornfeld (posthumously). For more informa-tion, contact Nancy Alberts at 718-549-8100 x123.

Wednesday, January 26Van CortlandtGATES OF EQUALITY3:30 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library3874 Sedgwick Avenue

This dynamic one-man presentation chronicles the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, from his early childhood through his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. The fictional dialogue is interspersed with real excerpts from Dr. King's press conferences and speeches and the practice of nonviolent protest. Presented by Urban Stages. For ages 5 and older. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

RiverdaleCHESS4 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 Mosholu Avenue

Learn to play chess and develop your skills with other players in an informal setting. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

KingsbridgeREADING ALOUD4:30 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library280 West 231st Street

"Read Aloud" Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @4:30 @Kingsbridge Library. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

RiverdaleTOASTMASTERS MEETING7:30 p.m. Riverdale Neighborhood House5521 Mosholu Avenue

Bronx Toastmasters Club invites new members at their free meeting. You will learn valuable leadership skills, all in a sup-portive, non-intimidating environment. For more informatoin, visit www.thebronxtoastmasters.com or call 718-796-6671.

Thursday, January 27RiverdaleCOMPOSTING WORKSHOP11 a.m. Schervier Nursing Care Center2975 Independence Avenue

Called “Worm Bins Made Easy,” this hands-on workshop from the NYC Compost Project in the Bronx covers the es-sentials of indoor composting with worms. An RSVP to attend the workshop is required, either by phone at 718-817-8543 or via e-mail at compost@nybg.org.

RiverdaleADULT EDUCATION7:30 p.m. Riverdale Temple4545 Independence Avenue

Rabbinic intern Steven Altarescu will lead a discussion on relationshiops between parents and children in the bible. For more information, call 718-548-3800.

Sunday, January 30RiverdaleTORAH TRAINING CLASS11:30 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel475 West 250th Street

A class for 5th graders who would like to get a jump on learning the skills involved in preparing for Bat and Bat Mitzvah. For more information or to register, call 718-543-8400.

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ary 20, 201111Intimate Voices scores with 2nd performance

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER Intimate Voices, Riverdale’s resident

string quartet, created another perfect evening this month with their second performance of the season in the Conser-vative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale sanctuary—a venue just as suitable for chamber music as for prayer.

Members of the quartet—violinists Renée Jolles and Sheila Reinhold, violist Danielle Farina and cellist Alberto Par-rini—all perform with prominent en-sembles and participate in major music conferences and festivals. Jolles, Farina and Parrini are members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and Reinhold and Jolles comprise the Jolles-Reinhold Duo. Reinhold, a Riverdalian, is founder and music director of Intimate Voices.

The program opened with the beauti-ful String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat Major , Op. 12, by Felix Mendelssohn, composed in 1829 when the 20-year-old Mendels-sohn was inspired by recently published Beethoven quartets. The group’s tight ensemble work was clear in the canzonetta movement. Jolles sang out in her sono-rous tone in the andante, and the quartet generated edge-of-your-seat excitement in the final allegro.

An unexpected treat was the “ethnic” section of the program, featuring six brief Quartet Miniatures on Georgian Folksongs by Sulkhan Tsintsadze, who lived from 1925 to 1991. The music of this cellist, string quartet player and prolific composer was discovered only recently

INTIMATE VOICES, Riverdale’s resident string quartet, at their second performance for the season this month. Violinist Renée Jolles, violist Danielle Farina, violinist and music director Sheila Reinhold and cellist Alberto Parrini.

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outside his native Georgia, part of the former USSR. Jolles premiered some of his works last year.

The selected pieces were simple and charming, exploiting a variety of string techniques like the use of harmonics. Reinhold’s distinctive, mellow voice emerged in “Satchidao,” a piece meant to accompany a wrestling match. In “Khorumi,” a vigorous folk dance, vio-list Farina and cellist Parrini managed to produce a wide dynamic range in their all-pizzicato duet.

This taste of Tsintsadze left the audi-ence with an appetite for more.

Other ethnic fare included eight brief violin duos by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. Reinhold explained that Bartók, a founder of the field of ethnomu-sicology, was the first composer to embark on a serious investigation of folk music.

The program closed with Franz Shubert’s familiar String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, “Death and the Maiden,” written after a period of severe illness preceding the composer’s death in 1828. The informal title refers to the variations movement, whose theme recalls an earlier Schubert song in which Death promises to bring a gentle sleep.

Their knockout performance of this challenging work was clean and exhila-rating.

CSAIR hosts all Intimate Voices con-certs, and the Riverdale Y also provides support. The final program of the season will offer Beethoven, Mozart and Ravel on Saturday, March 5, with a wine and cheese reception. A “family program” on Sunday, March 6, will feature selections from the previous evening’s concert in an interactive format. For tickets, visit intimatevoices.org or contact info@intimatevoices.org.

Continued from Page 11Intimate Voices

By BRENDAN McHUGHA Sedgwick Avenue bus stop that was

removed last year will soon be restored, thanks to the efforts of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

In September, the MTA NYC Transit cut a bus stop in front of 3835 Sedgwick Avenue as part of the agency’s implementa-tion of “limited-stop” service on the Bx1 line. While the new service was intended to make the bus route faster by skipping certain stops, the elimination of this par-ticular bus stop in such a heavily populated area left many residents stranded.

And local residents who relied on the Bx1 said the new program made com-mutes slower and more costly. To reach

West 231st Street, many had to take the Bx2 to the Bx1 on Fort Independence Street—waiting in the elements twice, as neither stop has a bus shelter—and pay a double fare if they board the subway.

“I am very pleased that New York City Transit took my suggestion to restore the bus stop in front of Park Reservoir on Sedgwick Avenue,” Dinowitz said. “The elimination of the Bx1 stop there was a major inconvenience that meant people would have to wait for two buses instead of one. The restoration of the Bx1 stop makes a lot of sense, and I applaud New York City Transit for agreeing to restore it.”

Dinowitz went on to call the restoration a “big victory” for the residents of the Park Reservoir co-op after many of them com-plained about the change in service.

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enced and could conceivably have a signifi-cant impact on all our schools,” he said.

“There are going to be cuts. The ques-tion is how severe will they be, and as far as I’m concerned, protecting our schools has got to be our top priority.”

Budget reductions could also be exac-erbated by teacher layoffs.

In his farewell letter to school princi-pals last month, former Schools Chan-cellor Joel Klein said teachers could be let go in order to rescue the city from its financial woes.

“I fear that, for the first time in recent memory, we will have to lay off teachers,” he wrote in his final Principals’ Weekly newsletter dated December 21.

“I wish it were otherwise, but the economics of our state and city make this virtually impossible to avoid.

“If we have layoffs, it’s unconscionable to use the last-hired, first-fired rule that currently governs.

“By definition, such a rule means that quality counts for zero. Our children can-not afford that kind of approach. They need the best teachers, not those who are longest serving.”

Klein’s controversial replacement, current Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, also spoke of her budget dilemmas during a five-borough tour of local schools earlier this month.

“The last thing we want to impact is...any individual school or the teachers,” she said.

The former magazine publishing ex-ecutive acknowledged the looming budget gap would be her biggest challenge.

She said a review of the state’s last-in, first-out policy, which dictates that newest

employees are the first to be laid off when budgets shrink, also needs to be reviewed.

“I think there have to be ways to keep the best people and not just deal with last in, first out,” she said.

United Teachers Federation President Michael Mulgrew declined to comment on the impending budget cuts and on Klein’s warning.

However, he said the seniority layoff process was created to ensure people were not discriminated against based on their race, age or gender.

“While the administration has recom-mended that principals have more power to make these determinations, the principals’ own union has testified: Once seniority protections are removed, we are concerned that issues such as cronyism, nepotism, religion, race and age would once again become problems in our city schools.”

“You’ll find that we’ll be able to use these resources efficiently and that we should be able to control crime.”

Capt. del Pozo also said the force will use a mix of community-oriented polic-ing and very aggressive crime-fighting measures this year.

Five of the eight new officers were in-troduced to the public at last Thursday’s Community Council meeting.

Among them were Sergeant Matt Del-aney, who was promoted and transferred to the precinct three months ago.

He has been placed at the forefront of policing efforts in Marble Hill and will have up to eight officers under his watch. He told The Riverdale Review that he was looking forward to building trust with residents and bringing the crime rate down.

Continued from Page 1

School budgets

Continued from Page 5

More cops here

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Controversy over Cannon Pl. bldg.

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RCS accepting new members for Spring concert

Last Wednesday, the Riverdale Choral Society held its first open rehearsal for their spring concert entitled 'American Composers' which will be presented on May 7, 2011. Singers are still welcome to join the chorus as they rehearse Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and selec-tions by Samuel Barber, William Billings, Eric Whitacre and other New York area composers. Two more open rehearsals will be held, Jan. 19 and 26, where Music Director John Lettieri will conduct infor-mal auditions for new members.

For 46 years, the Riverdale Choral Society has performed standard choral masterworks and other works rarely per-formed, many of them in a number of different languages.

The Riverdale Choral Society is com-prised of about 60 congenial singers of various ages and backgrounds and wel-comes experiences singers as well as those who are not so experienced or are new to singing but have a good musical ear. You may schedule an information audi-tion with Music Director John Lettieri by sending an email to info@riverdalechoral.org, or by calling 718-543-2219.

Choral rehearsals are held every Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. at Christ Church Riverdale, 252nd St. and

Henry Hudson Parkway East. For more information, visit their website: www.riverdalechoral.org.

Schervier offers free workshop on composting

Bon Secours New York Health Sys-tem/Schervier is pleased to announce that a free workshop is being offered to the public on January 27, 2011 at 11:00 am in the Community Hall at Schervier Nursing Care Center, 2975 Independence Avenue, Riverdale, between 227th and 231st Streets. Called 'Worm Bins Made Easy,' this hands-on workshop from the NYC Compost Project in the Bronx cov-ers the essentials of indoor composting with worms. It is ideal for those who want to compost food scraps at home, work, or school but do not have access to an outdoor space. All participants will be eligible to 'adopt' a dozen worms in a mini-bin made of recycled materials and can receive a discount coupon toward the purchase of a larger system. An RSVP to attend the workshop is required, either by phone at 718-817-8543 or via e-mail at compost@nybg.org.

This program is part of Bon Secours New York's Environmental Stewardship Program and is a Healthy Communities Initiative, which is our commitment to creating communities of health, hope

and well-being. Bon Secours is develop-ing long-term, collaborative relationships with the people who live and work in the communities we serve and with other lo-cal organizations so that together we can identify and address priorities to improve the quality of life and health.

Adult and children's classes at RCC

The Riverdale Community Center at MS/HS 141, 660 West 237th Street, is accepting registration for its Adult and Youth Education Program. Over 60 classes are offered for adults, teens, and children in the Arts, Computer, Dance, Exercise and Health, Languages, Leisure Activities, Music, Exam Preparation and Reading and Math Tutoring.

RCC specializes in test preparation -Specialized High Schools Prep and Art Prep for High School of Art & Design and LaGuardia HS.(For current 7th grad-ers who will be taking the these exams in the Fall 2011); and, S.A.T. and ACT prep (for current 11 graders who will be taking these exams in the Spring 2011). Also offered are small group tutorials in Reading Grades 2 & 3; Reading and Writ-ing Grades 4 &5; Basic Math Skills Grades 2 & 3; and Basic Math Skills Grades 4 & 5. All preparation classes are taught by licensed, certified teachers.

New Tuesday evening classes for adults include Expressive Painting from Within - Liberate your creative expression using relaxation, movement exercises, media-tion, guided imagery and the joy of paint-ing to music; Yoga for Osteo - Participants will safely learn how to become stronger, while increasing flexibility and balance through yoga; French and Italian Cook-ing; and many more.

New Saturday morning classes for adults and teens include Tennis for Begin-ners and Intermediates and Shake Your Soul Yoga as well as some favorites: Yoga and Rejuvenation, Computer Essential, Digital Photography, etc. For children, classes include Aerobics for Kids, Cooking for Kids, Crafts, Jewelry Making, Basket-ball, Tennis, Guitar, Piano and more.

Call 796-4724 or 796-4882 or visit our website at www.riverdalecommuni-tycenter.org for information or for a free brochure. You may register by phone with Master Card, Visa, or AMEX or by FAX at 796-0414. In-person registration will be held at Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (MS/HS 141) on Feb. 15th from 7-8:30 pm, Feb. 19th from 10 am - 12 noon, and Feb. 23rd from 1-3 pm. Payment by check or money order is accepted with the form.

The Riverdale Community Center, now in its 39th year, has something for everyone!

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JOEL PAL CECILIA McNALLY Production Manager Office Manager

ROBERT NILVA MIAWLING LAM Marketing Director Associate Editor Note our New Address:

5752 Fieldston RoadBronx, New York 10471

(718) 543-5200FAX: (718) 543-4206

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

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

To The Editor:“Why is the sky blue?” I have

been asked this question by a toddler and a university physics professor. Obviously, my answers and the following discussions were very different, only one mentioned Rayleigh scattering. Should my electromagnetic the-ory professor refrain from asking a “baby question”? Much can be learned from simple questions, simple ideas, and simple books.

Your paper’s criticism of PS 24 Principal Donna Connelly’s school wide book program misses the point of the exercise. The program provides the students a unifying experience by posing to them the same question in the form of a shared book. The book must be simple enough for all of the primary school students to understand, hence the use of a book with pictures. Differentia-tion comes in the discussion of the ideas underlying the story. I can read Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax to my 5 year old in 15 minutes, but discuss sustainable economic development at length with

older children. I believe the fifth graders at PS 24 are more than capable of having an intelligent discussion of the issues raised in any assigned book. Do you?

Furthermore, your article mis-represents the fifth grade reading curriculum. For comparison purposes, the article provides several examples of books read by some of the neighborhood private school fifth graders, but does not do the same for the fifth graders in PS 24. Are you trying to create an impression that the fifth graders in PS 24 only read picture books? If not, why not list some of the other books the fifth graders read as part of the regular curriculum? You claim to represent the interests of the chil-dren, school and community and yet you fail to provide the basic

information needed for commu-nity members to fairly judge their school for themselves.

I sincerely hope the next time you visit this issue, you will make clear at the onset whether you consider yourself a polemicist or a journalist.

Enrique Jaen[Editor’s Note: If there is any

misunderstanding of the school’s position, it results from the total lack of cooperation we get from the school administration, operating under orders of the politically-motivated Parents Association “leadership,” whose goal is to limit infomration on school programs. We are eager to spur debate and discussion such as the letter above. The result can only be better educational oppor-tunities for our children, which is our only goal.]

Simple books at P.S. 24 — Is it worth a dialogue?

To The Editor:What a happy day it was for

this country when the results of our recent election gave control of the House of Representatives

G.O.P. control of the U.S. House benefits the publicto the Republicans.

Now, we no longer have to sweat and worry that if (G-d for-bid) anything drastic happened to President Obama or Vice-Presi-dent Biden (if they both died, or were seriously impaired and unable to function) that the next in line for the presidency would be Nancy Pelosi, who at that time was Speaker of the House.

Former Speaker Pelosi, as I’m sure you remember (how can you possibly forget?) is the idiot who made that most memorable (and asinine) comment regarding the ObamaCare Bill, “We have to

Continued on Page 19

GUEST EDITORIAL

The Plane TruthBy RICHARD LIPSKY

Neighborhood Retail AllianceWell, kudos to the New York Times for putting the good

old GPS on Mike Bloomberg’s private plane – and tracking the mayor’s whereabouts to Bermuda on December 25-26th. “On the day after Christmas, a request came into the Bermuda air-port: a private plane needed to be pulled out of its hangar and readied for takeoff. The pilots seemed a bit anxious to depart. This did not strike airport employees as unusual; the owners of private aircraft are frequently in a rush. But there was some-thing memorable about this plane. Word had trickled out that its owner was Michael R. Bloomberg, said a person told of the conversations.”

What a shock! And the Bermudans are loose lipping: “Mr. Bloomberg and his aides refuse to talk about it. But the residents of Bermuda have taken no such vow of silence. They say that Mr. Bloomberg’s plane arrived on the island, where he owns a large waterfront vacation home, sometime after midnight on Christmas morning. They spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of inflaming the mayor and the local authorities, who prize discretion for visiting dignitaries.”

Puzzle solved! That’s if anyone had any real doubts about where the mayor was when the snow was homing in on New York City. It is also understandable why Bloomberg may not have seen any compelling need to declare a snow emergency: “It was, locals said, a spectacular time to be in Bermuda. Weather reports show a high of 65 degrees on Dec. 25 and an “above normal” temperature of 69 on Dec. 26. One resident called that day “gorgeous.” Back in New York City, it was consider-ably colder, hitting 32 and 30, respectively, with snow on the way.”

But what of the testimony of, as the Post’s Andrea Peyser calls them, “the seven dwarves” last week at the City Council? “The mayor’s Seven Dwarves -- Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Zippy, Clueless and Doc -- materialized before the City Council yesterday to talk about snow.

And like a guided tour of Disney World on hallucinogen-ics, the crew treated skeptical, but docile, council members to fantastical explanations as to why, two weeks after the Blizzard that Ate New York, there remain eye-high brown piles pocking the streets of Brooklyn.”

And then there’s the unbelievable assertion that the mayor was kept out of the snow emergency loop:

“Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty (Happy) was first to swallow the administration Kool-Aid. He said that as a blizzard with hurricane-force winds barreled down on the five boroughs, including several that are not Manhattan, he and Janette Sadik-Khan (Grumpy) -- psycho bicycle lady who runs the Transpor-tation Department -- made a decision, on their own, not to declare a snow emergency. Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith (Clueless) swore that the two pinheads who were then running the city never bothered to tell Mayor Bloomberg or Goldsmith himself of their decision. So, if the mayor was off in Bermuda, which he may or may not have been, and Goldsmith was on vacation, which he was, who was in charge? I have to hand it to the Dwarves. They concocted a story. And stuck to it.”

Clearly, what we heard last week was a well rehearsed fable. We’ll give Peyser the last word on the Incredible Shrinking Mayor: “Goldsmith apologized, but why? He admitted no wrongdoing. ‘We owe you and all New Yorkers for that lack of performance our administration’s apology and my personal promise not to let it happen again,’ he said. If only Mayor Bloomberg did so. But he wasn’t there.”

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pass it so that we can find out what is in it.” What a putz! Can you imagine this stupid woman as president? Ms. Pelosi was such a disaster that in the recent internal election for House Speaker, 19 members of her own Democratic party (including Gabrielle Giffords) voted against her.

Another extremely important benefit for the people of this country is that the Obama Administration will no longer be allowed to get away with covering-up any unethical or corrupt partisan practices. The Republicans, who now chair and control the various oversight committees, will most certainly now actively conduct investigations (with subpoena powers and under oath) into many areas that the Democrats (“for the good of the party”) would not investigate, such as:

1) Why the Justice Department dropped the case against the Black Pan-thers who were found guilty of intimidat-ing Philadelphia voters? 2) Why the Justice Department did not follow up allegations of discrimination against white people? 3) What were the real stories behind the bailouts of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, General Motors, Chrysler, and the various Wall Street firms?

I am also very relieved and gratified that Republican Congressman Peter King, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, will now soon conduct a long overdue investigation into the re-lationships and possible involvement of U.S. Muslims with terrorist organizations — something the chicken-hearted, politi-cally correct Democrats would never do for fear of offending Muslim sensitivities, never mind that the people of our country are in mortal danger from the Jihadists.

Political parties (Democrats, Republi-cans, Working Family, etc.) are corrupt organizations. I repeat — they are corrupt organizations! They do not exist for the benefit of the public. They are basically in business for themselves. Under the circumstances, the best thing that we, as ordinary citizens, can do is to vote for the other political party every once-in-a-while. It tends to keep the politicians on their toes and a little more honest.

Alvin Gordon

Continued from Page 18Republican control of House

Father Trevor Nicholls to address Serra Club

Father Trevor Nicholls, President of Cardinal Spellman High School in The Bronx, will be the guest speaker at the Jan-uary 26th luncheon meeting of the Serra Club of The Bronx and Westchester.

The Serra Club is an international organization whose mission is to foster and promote vocations to the ordained priesthood and vowed religious life, and through this ministry, foster and affirm the members' common Catholic faith. Luncheon meetings are held at noon at the Eastwood Manor at 3371 Eastchester Road (corner of Boston Post Road). The cost of the luncheon is $20.

For more information and reservations, call 718-654-3601.

Jasa announces activities for February

Jasa Van Cortlandt Senior Center will offer the following activities in February:

A three-part series on 'Ways of Saving

Energy and Money' will be given by Wilson Martinez, Beam NY, on Monday, February 7, 14 and 28. Topics to be covered at 11:30 a.m. include Vampire voltage, CFO light bulbs and appliances.

Trip to Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA, on Thursday, Feb. 10. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at 3880 Sedgwick Avenue. Fee for bus and lunch is $25. Return: $25 cash and $5 coupon. Contact Maritza by Feb. 3 at 718-549-4700 to register.

Vaudeville-style Radio Show by Action Racket Theatre (Lois Kagan Mingus, Joanie Fritz Zosike and Robert Hieger) featuring jokes, stories, poems, song and dance on Friday, Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. Lunch of rosemary

chicken breast and macaroni salad will be served at 12:15 p.m. Suggested contribu-tion: $3. RSVP to JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center office: 718-549-4700.

NY Fire Department will give a Fire Safety Presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m.

Three-part Health Series will be pre-sented by Lawrence Hospital on Friday, Feb. 11, 18 and 25 at 11 a.m. Featured topics will be Joint Pain and Arthritis (2/11), Geriatric Surgeries (2/18), and Diabetes (2/25).

Jasa Van Cortlandt Senior Center is lo-cated at 3880 Sedgwick Avenue. For more information, cal 718-548-4700.

CSAIR offers free Torah class for 5th graders

For the second year, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale

(CSAIR) will offer a class for 5th graders who would like to get a jump on learning the skills involved in preparing for Bar and Bat Mitzvah.

Led by Cantor Elizabeth Stevens, this class will teach Torah cantillation in a fun, stress-free environment. The class will meet on Sunday mornings from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The first session will be on Sunday, January 30.

This program is free and is open to 5th graders from the entire com-munity. Each student in the class will prepare a few verses to chant from the Torah as part of CSAIR's Shavuot celebration on the evening of June 7, 2011. As Cantor Stevens noted, 'What better way to celebrating the giving of the Torah.'

CSAIR is located at 475 West 250th Street. For more information or to register, call the CSAIR office at 718-543-8400.

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