Riverdale Review, September 27, 2012

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Riverdale’s ONLY Locally Owned Newspaper! Volume XIX • Number 37 • Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2012 • FREE! SAT scores at RKA drop for second consecutive year Tulfan Terrace apartment project, long delayed, is back on track By MIAWLING LAM and TESS McRAE Thirty luxury units at Tulfan Terrace, the long-awaited apart- ment building on Oxford Ave- nue, may finally hit the real estate market in April next year. A representative from mort- gage owner Ox-3620 LLC said the high-rise condo tower remains on track to be completed by March 2013—nine years after construction began. Scaffolding and black safety mesh surrounding the building’s façade were torn down earlier this month, revealing a curved wall of windows. “We’re progressing very nice- ly,” Ox-3620 LLC co-owner Mi- chael Goldberg told the Riverdale Review. “We’re hoping to be totally done by March and to start letting people in to see the building by April.” When asked whether the 30 units would eventually be listed for sale or for rent, Goldberg said he was unsure. “That’s still up in the air,” he said. “Our first option will be as a condo, but I think based on the market today, it’s going to have to be a rental.” Construction on the Riverdale eyesore stalled in 2006 after By MIAWLING LAM Seniors at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy scored an overall average of 1,333 on the 2012 Scholastic Ap- titude Test, more than 160 points shy of the national mean. New figures released on Tuesday by the College Board, the company that administers the SAT, shows H.S. 141’s composite scores took a 34-point dive in 2012. The school’s 113 test-takers averaged a score of 438 on critical reading, 455 on mathematics and 440 on writing, meaning it was ranked 64th among more than 470 city high schools. Average scores for RKA seniors on the college entrance exam have plummeted by 91 points in the past two years. In 2011, students averaged 1,367 on the three sections of the test. In 2010, the composite score was 1,424. Despite the poor performance, H.S. 141 emerged as the fifth-best high school in The Bronx and the third- best in District 10. The borough’s two flagship specialized high schools— Bronx High School of Science and High School of Ameri- can Studies—came out on top, followed by Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics and Collegiate Institute for Math and Science. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz was not pleased with RKA’s results. “Clearly there’s tremendous room for improvement,” he said. “While the scores compare favorably to most schools in The Bronx and around the city, a drop of over 90 points in over two years isn’t acceptable, and neither is the citywide average. “Apparently, the DOE policies just aren’t working, and therefore we need to redouble our efforts to improve these schools.” Nationally, students averaged 1,498 on the test, with scores of 496 on critical reading, 514 on mathematics and 488 on writing. Meanwhile, the overall citywide average for college- bound seniors was 1,325, a slight drop from last year’s composite score of 1,327. As of press time, an email to RKA principal Lori O’Mara was not returned. The maximum score on each section is 800, and 360 seniors nationwide scored a perfect 2,400. According to the City University of New York, seniors must score at least 980 on their combined critical read- ing and math SAT exams to gain admission to one of the least competitive four-year colleges—Medgar Evers College. To gain admission into Lehman College or Hunter College, students must score at least 990. Officials do not take into account results from the writing com- ponent. The College Board estimates students need to score 1,550 on the SAT to have a 65 percent chance of aver- aging a B- or higher grade average in their first year of college. However, the organization said just 43 percent of test-takers in 2012 met that benchmark. Although the city’s Class of 2012 recorded marks well below the national average of 1,498, education of- ficials spun the results by trumpeting increased student participation. Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott said student participation spiked by 2.3 percent in 2012, compared to the national average increase of 1.2 percent. “As we continue to raise academic standards, our students are rising to the challenge,” he said in a state- ment. “Advanced Placement and SAT exams are important benchmarks along a student’s path to success in their college and careers, and I’m proud that every year, more New York City students are taking these exams.” one of the building’s financial backers, James Murray, became embroiled in fraud and em- bezzlement charges relating to another site. The legal dramas meant his two other partners—Robert Wag- ner and Michael Bookle—were drained of the funds needed to finish the project. With construction coming to a halt, the building foreclosed, paving the way for Ox-3620 LLC to purchase the property in March 2010. Since then, the limited liabil- ity corporation has been trying to complete the long-awaited project per the original plans and said considerable progress has been made. “The windows are in, the bricks are up and the roof is on. We’re now installing flooring, the bathrooms, and starting to work on the design for the front courtyard and entryway and the second-level exterior courtyard,” Goldberg said. Once complete, Tulfan Terrace will hold 30 spacious three-bed- room, two-bathroom units, each measuring 1,600 square feet. The building will also boast a private garden, on-site park- ing, recreational facilities and a community room where tenants can throw children’s birthday parties. Neighboring residents have previously complained about the safety hazards around the seemingly permanent con- struction site. Many expressed concerns about the tower’s unsafe scaffolding, and reports emerged of debris flying off the building during winter snowstorms. However, local resident Peggy Diamond said she has never had any qualms with the project and was eager to see it finally completed. “It’s a shame it got stuck for so many years,” she said. “I’ve never had a problem with it in the past, and hopefully it’ll be something good for the neighborhood and bring in good people.” According to the Department of Buildings, the last complaint was lodged on June 23 after a neighbor accused workers of failing to secure the worksite and leaving construction materials exposed to the public. No violations were issued, as emergency response crews said all materials were stored safely and that a chain link fence sur- rounded the entire site.

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Weekly newspaper published in Riverdale, NY 10471

Transcript of Riverdale Review, September 27, 2012

Page 1: Riverdale Review, September 27, 2012

Riverdale’s ONLYLocally Owned

Newspaper!

Volume XIX • Number 37 • Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2012 • FREE!

SAT scores at RKA drop for second consecutive year

Tulfan Terrace apartment project, long delayed, is back on trackBy MIAWLING LAM

and TESS McRAEThirty luxury units at Tulfan

Terrace, the long-awaited apart-ment building on Oxford Ave-nue, may finally hit the real estate market in April next year.

A representative from mort-gage owner Ox-3620 LLC said the high-rise condo tower remains on track to be completed by March 2013—nine years after construction began.

Scaffolding and black safety mesh surrounding the building’s façade were torn down earlier this month, revealing a curved wall of windows.

“We’re progressing very nice-ly,” Ox-3620 LLC co-owner Mi-chael Goldberg told the Riverdale Review. “We’re hoping to be totally done by March and to start letting people in to see the building by April.”

When asked whether the 30 units would eventually be listed for sale or for rent, Goldberg said he was unsure.

“That’s still up in the air,” he said. “Our first option will be as a condo, but I think based on the market today, it’s going to have to be a rental.”

Construction on the Riverdale eyesore stalled in 2006 after

By MIAWLING LAMSeniors at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy scored

an overall average of 1,333 on the 2012 Scholastic Ap-titude Test, more than 160 points shy of the national mean.

New figures released on Tuesday by the College Board, the company that administers the SAT, shows H.S. 141’s composite scores took a 34-point dive in 2012.

The school’s 113 test-takers averaged a score of 438 on critical reading, 455 on mathematics and 440 on writing, meaning it was ranked 64th among more than 470 city high schools.

Average scores for RKA seniors on the college entrance exam have plummeted by 91 points in the past two years. In 2011, students averaged 1,367 on the three sections of the test. In 2010, the composite score was 1,424.

Despite the poor performance, H.S. 141 emerged as the fifth-best high school in The Bronx and the third-best in District 10.

The borough’s two flagship specialized high schools—Bronx High School of Science and High School of Ameri-can Studies—came out on top, followed by Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics and Collegiate Institute for Math and Science.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz was not pleased with RKA’s results.

“Clearly there’s tremendous room for improvement,” he said. “While the scores compare favorably to most schools in The Bronx and around the city, a drop of over 90 points in over two years isn’t acceptable, and neither is the citywide average.

“Apparently, the DOE policies just aren’t working, and therefore we need to redouble our efforts to improve these schools.”

Nationally, students averaged 1,498 on the test, with scores of 496 on critical reading, 514 on mathematics and 488 on writing.

Meanwhile, the overall citywide average for college-bound seniors was 1,325, a slight drop from last year’s composite score of 1,327.

As of press time, an email to RKA principal Lori O’Mara was not returned.

The maximum score on each section is 800, and 360 seniors nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

According to the City University of New York, seniors must score at least 980 on their combined critical read-ing and math SAT exams to gain admission to one of the least competitive four-year colleges—Medgar Evers

College.To gain admission into Lehman College or Hunter

College, students must score at least 990. Officials do not take into account results from the writing com-ponent.

The College Board estimates students need to score 1,550 on the SAT to have a 65 percent chance of aver-aging a B- or higher grade average in their first year of college. However, the organization said just 43 percent of test-takers in 2012 met that benchmark.

Although the city’s Class of 2012 recorded marks well below the national average of 1,498, education of-ficials spun the results by trumpeting increased student participation.

Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott said student participation spiked by 2.3 percent in 2012, compared to the national average increase of 1.2 percent.

“As we continue to raise academic standards, our students are rising to the challenge,” he said in a state-ment.

“Advanced Placement and SAT exams are important benchmarks along a student’s path to success in their college and careers, and I’m proud that every year, more New York City students are taking these exams.”

one of the building’s financial backers, James Murray, became embroiled in fraud and em-bezzlement charges relating to another site.

The legal dramas meant his two other partners—Robert Wag-ner and Michael Bookle—were drained of the funds needed to finish the project.

With construction coming to a halt, the building foreclosed, paving the way for Ox-3620 LLC to purchase the property in March 2010.

Since then, the limited liabil-ity corporation has been trying to complete the long-awaited project per the original plans and said considerable progress has been made.

“The windows are in, the bricks are up and the roof is on. We’re now installing flooring, the bathrooms, and starting to work on the design for the front courtyard and entryway and the second-level exterior courtyard,” Goldberg said.

Once complete, Tulfan Terrace will hold 30 spacious three-bed-room, two-bathroom units, each measuring 1,600 square feet. The building will also boast a private garden, on-site park-ing, recreational facilities and a

community room where tenants can throw children’s birthday parties.

Neighboring residents have previously complained about the safety hazards around the seemingly permanent con-struction site. Many expressed concerns about the tower’s unsafe scaffolding, and reports emerged of debris flying off the building during winter snowstorms.

However, local resident Peggy Diamond said she has never had any qualms with the project and was eager to see it finally completed.

“It’s a shame it got stuck for so many years,” she said. “I’ve never had a problem with it in the past, and hopefully it’ll be something good for the neighborhood and bring in good people.”

According to the Department of Buildings, the last complaint was lodged on June 23 after a neighbor accused workers of failing to secure the worksite and leaving construction materials exposed to the public.

No violations were issued, as emergency response crews said all materials were stored safely and that a chain link fence sur-rounded the entire site.

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W 2 Boston-based Jewish congregation buys Fieldston Rd ‘spy house’

Saturday, October 13, 2012 7:30pm Complimentary reception will follow the performance $20 adults / $15 students & seniors For tickets and info visit www.christchurchriverdale.org Christ Church Riverdale 5030 Henry Hudson Parkway Bronx, NY 10463 (718)543-1011

Great Music at Christ Church Riverdale Presents

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDERA congregation with roots in Cher-

nobyl is planting itself in the shadow of Riverdale’s Russian embassy complex.

The Talner Congregation Beth David relocated to Riverdale from the Boston area last year and purchased 5437 Fieldston Road, the site of a nondescript white house reputed to be an intelligence-gathering venue rather than a residence.

The property holds an aura of mystery. Telltale signs of abandonment—an accu-mulation of junk mail and an unkempt yard—were absent, neighbors told the New York Times earlier this month. But even the longtime doorman of the apartment building right across the street had never seen anyone enter or leave the house.

Zillow, a service that provides online real estate information, described the

house as a “charming bungalow-style home on a quaint, tree-lined street in beau-tiful Riverdale.” Apparently not in touch with the community, they claim “the home exudes warmth and comfort.”

While the building and its surround-ings were surreptitiously maintained, phone lines apparently hooked up to the house were maintained in broad daylight and with suspicious frequency.

Considering its position with respect to the 355 West 255th Street embassy compound, locals have accepted the theory that the FBI was using the house for surveillance.

The Permanent Mission of the USSR to the United Nations built its 20-story residential tower and school in 1974 to accommodate Russian diplomats and their families. The turf remains enclosed by a no-nonsense security fence.

City records show that in 1977, 5437 Fieldston Road was purchased by Van Cortland Realty, a company operating out of Ellicott City, Maryland, not far from Washington, D.C.

Last November, Van Cortland sold the property to Talner Congregation Beth David of New York for $400,000. They entrusted the Manhattan real estate brokerage firm Wexford Enterprises with the sale.

When contacted for comment, Wex-ford CEO Kevin A. Smith said he’s “not at liberty to say anything” about Van Cortland Realty, with whom he signed a confidentiality agreement and for whom he “does a lot of work.”

The congregation reportedly plans to tear down the house and replace it with

a synagogue. Meanwhile, Beth David members are worshiping in a modest rented storefront around the corner at 5628 Mosholu Avenue.

Real estate agent Susan Goldy, now of Halstead Property, arranged the rent-al—which is next-door to her office—but said she has no details on the Fieldston Avenue sale.

According to a rudimentary website, Beth David relocated last year from its home in Brookline, Massachusetts. “The shul moved to Riverdale, NY, where Rabbi Mayer Twersky, younger son of the late Talner Rebbe, Rabbi Isadore Twersky, has a synagogue.”

The Twerskys are linked with a Hasidic dynasty that originated in the Ukrainian cities of Chernobyl and Talne.

By PAULETTE SCHNEIDERA dispute between shareholders and a

co-op board over canine guests at 3720 Independence Avenue appears to be re-solving after nearly six years.

The co-op’s board of directors threatened shareholders Rita and Murray Hyman with eviction and terminated their proprietary lease, claiming the couple had breached a house rule about harboring pets.

But the pets in question—Rocky, a Maltese, and Vegas, a poodle-Maltese mix—were in fact visiting grand-dogs owned by their daughter, Julie Hyman.

Pets are not permitted to reside in the build-ing, but they are indeed permitted to visit.

Both parties have attempted to settle before, but the bone of contention was a

co-op-imposed confidentiality agreement. The Hymans considered the agreement unfair because it forbade them or anyone acting in their behalf from disclosing infor-mation to the press while the co-op would not hold their own representatives to the agreement, according to Julie Hyman.

At this point, the fight has concluded. Board president Bob Moll said the current board inher-ited the matter from a prior set of directors.

“Dogs are welcome in our building all day long,” said Moll, who revealed that the current board has dropped the case against the Hymans and plans to reinstate their proprietary lease.

Some paperwork needs to be completed before the deal is sealed, but “it’s over as far as we’re concerned,” Moll said.

Co-op board reverses error on canine house rules

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Henry Hudson Bridge to lose cash tolls by NovemberBy MIAWLING LAM

The Henry Hudson Bridge will become entirely cashless within two months, the Riverdale Review has learned.

The Metropolitan Transportation Au-thority revealed it would push ahead with plans to implement all-electronic tolling and remove all means of cash collection by mid-November.

The MTA’s plan, which was obtained by the Review, was unveiled during a closed pri-vate meeting on Thursday, September 20.

Under cashless operations, all tolls will be levied via E-ZPass, meaning motorists will be able to zip through any open lane on the Bronx-Manhattan bridge without stopping.

Those who drive through the toll plaza without an E-ZPass will be identified by license plate images and will receive a statement in the mail. Drivers who pay the $2.20 toll within 30 days of receiving the bill will not be penalized.

However, customers who fail to cough up funds will be sent a second invoice and be slapped with a $5 fine. The penalty then rises to $50 if motorists fail to pay within 30 days of receiving the second bill. Recalcitrant drivers who still refuse to pay the toll and fine could then face civil action.

A c c o r d i n g t o sources, the MTA will work with motor ve-hicle departments across the country and match license plates with vehicle registration records to

track down out-of-state drivers.A similar cashless system in effect for

several years in Sydney, Australia, is serv-ing as a model in the current initiative.

A source said the pilot program, which began with the removal of toll gates in January 2011, is being expanded to reduce travel times and to encourage drivers to switch from cash to E-ZPass.

The person said the Henry Hudson Bridge could ultimately serve as a litmus test for the eight other MTA crossings.

“They’re using the Henry Hudson as the test because it had the highest per-centage of drivers using E-ZPass for the last three years,” the source said.

“They’re hoping that if it’s successful, they can implement it on other bridges in the city.”

According to MTA figures, 86 percent of motorists who crossed the Henry Hud-son Bridge in 2011 paid the toll with an E-ZPass. In comparison, just 65 percent of drivers who crossed the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge used an E-ZPass.

A market research study commissioned by the MTA also revealed that Marble Hill, Spuyten Duyvil and the South Bronx were the areas with the highest concentrations of cash toll payers.

MTA spokeswoman Judie Glave con-firmed the briefing session took place but declined to provide further details.

She said officials would present the plan to the relevant community boards at a future date, but until then, little could be revealed.

“You will be hearing about it very soon. We’re not ready to go out to the public just yet,” she said. “This isn’t anything we’ve kept secret. We have said publicly that it is coming in the fall.”

Another person familiar with the plans also said officials will use the pending cashless announcement to push its new

Cash Reload Card.The card, which can be purchased

from more than 2,500 retail stores, allows motorists to load their E-ZPass with cash instead of linking it to a personal bank account or credit card.

The automatic deductions and the lack of control over cash flow are often cited as the main reasons customers haven’t switched to E-ZPass.

In response to these concerns, sources said, the MTA plans to set up a system where motorists can pay on a per-trip through an automatic deduction from a checking account.

MTA officials estimate around 63,000 cars cross the bridge each day.

The expanded cashless pilot program came a couple of days after reports sug-gested MTA officials were mulling a 15 percent toll hike for drivers who continue to shun E-ZPass.

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W 4 Around the schools...

FAX education news to:The Riverdale Review(718) 543-4206

or email to

[email protected]

M.S./H.S. 141—Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy

This Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., RKA middle school students and their parents will wash cars to help their school. Prices are $7 for cars and $10 for trucks. Light refreshments will be on sale, and deejay Howie Rondinone will provide music. All proceeds will ben-efit arts programming, athletics, college advisement, the library, mini-grants for classroom teachers and special projects. The parents associa-tion is sponsoring this community event. During the past school year, the PA donated $9,000 from fundrais-ers and direct appeals. Vehicle-washing will take place outside the school on West 236th Street at Inde-pendence Avenue. For more information, contact Donald Kaplan at 917-435-8730 or [email protected].

Friday middle school tours for parents of prospective sixth-graders will begin on October 12. Tours begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Remaining tours are on Fridays through December 14 (except November 23). To register, contact parent coordina-tor Julie Prince at [email protected]. RKA is a zoned middle school. To determine the school zone for your ad-dress, visit the Department of Education website at schools.nyc.gov.

Saint Gabriel SchoolEighth graders invite the community

to participate in a car wash fundraiser this Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 590 West 235th Street. Drivers are asked to enter via the ramp near the school’s main entrance. For more information, call the school office at 718-548-0444.

Undergraduate Scholarships for Tech Studies

The office of Bronx Borough Presi-dent Ruben Diaz Jr. has announced that Microsoft is offering scholarships for the 2013-2014 academic year to college un-dergraduates who plan to study computer science or related technical disciplines. In addition to a general scholarship award, Microsoft is offering separate awards for women, minority students and students with disabilities. Eligible students must be enrolled full time in a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year college or university in the United States, Canada or Mexico. Requirements include a dem-onstrated interest in computer science and satisfactory progress toward an un-dergraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related field such as electrical engineering, math or physics. Awardees must also maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 or 4.0 out of a possible 5.0. For more information, visit careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/internships-scholarships.aspx.

Horace Mann SchoolThirty educators from Beijing Na-

tional Day School will visit the school this Thursday under the auspices of the U.S. State Department. The visitors will observe classes, meet with teach-ers and students, tour the facilities and engage in a discussion with head librarian Caroline Bartels on the role

of the library in the education of an HM student.

Manhattan CollegeThe community is invited to hear Dr.

Diane Singerman present a talk entitled Cairo, Urban Space and the Arab Spring on Thursday, October 11, at 4 p.m in the library’s Alumni Room. The event is part of the urban studies program’s Great Cit-ies Lecture Series. Singerman is associate

professor of government and co-director of Middle East studies at American University. She will assess the connection between the city of Cairo and the protest movement that ended the 30-year rule of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Singerman’s

work analyzes the formal and informal aspects of gender, social movements, globalization, public space, protest and urban politics. The Great Cities Lecture Series features prominent speakers who address urban development in major cities throughout the world. For more information, contact Dr. Cory Blad at [email protected].

College of Mount Saint Vincent

Dr. Ana Ribeiro, an assistant professor of biology, led a group of researchers from Rockefeller University who discovered a single gene in mice that may be responsible for engendering nurturing and maternal instincts in females. Earlier research had identified chemical receptors involved in influencing maternal behavior. “Mice and women express different versions of these receptors, and it is hypothesized that different versions are associated with different maternal capacities,” Ribeiro said. “There is evidence from mice that there are modifications that occur in young pups that determine what type of mother a female pup will become.” The group’s findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. David Aliano, department chair and assistant professor of modern lan-guages, has just released a book entitled “Mussolini’s National Project in Argen-tina.” The book explores the theoretical questions surrounding the promotion of a national project within another nation-state, using as a case study Mussolini’s attempt during the 1920s and 1930s to promote fascist Italy’s national project in Argentina. The book offers new perspec-tives on the politics of identity formation. “By exploring the historical case of the Italian community in Argentina and its interaction with the Italian fascist regime, my study seeks to shed light on the deeper question of entangled national identities among migrants in an increasingly glo-balized world,” Aliano said. Information about the book is available at rowman.com/ISBN/9781611475760.

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5Drivers fight Independence Avenue parking ticket bungle

By MIAWLING LAMLocal motorists are challenging a series

of $60 parking tickets following claims that traffic enforcement officers are un-fairly penalizing drivers for parking in front of Riverdale Jewish Center.

Department of Transportation crews recently repaved the stretch of Indepen-dence Avenue between West 232nd and West 239th streets. However, in the course of putting down new road striping, work-ers erroneously painted additional lines

outside 3700 Independence Avenue to indicate three legal parking spaces.

The road markings contradict two signs that bookend the stretch stating it is a “no parking zone.” As a result, drivers who have failed to notice the signs have been slapped with a $60 ticket.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz accused traffic enforcement crews for “handing out summonses like they are candy” and said the unfair ticketing has resulted in hundreds of dollars in fines for area

residents.‘This predatory practice of handing

out violations to motorists who believe they are parking legally is disgraceful and uncalled for,” he said in a statement.

“As a result of the paving error, motor-ists have begun to park their vehicles there as they naturally would think these were legal parking spaces.

“Traffic enforcement should be aware of the DOT’s mistake and have the com-mon decency to use their discretion and not issue summonses in this situation.”

Dinowitz said he was alerted to the issue after two constituents contacted his office and sought help in getting the tickets dismissed.

He has since fired off letters to the city’s

Department of Transportation, Depart-ment of Finance and the New York Police Department Chief of Transportation in a bid to get the tickets dismissed.

Meanwhile, Councilman G. Oliver Koppell is also reaching out to the relevant city agencies to rectify the situation and clear up the confusion.

Koppell’s director of community af-fairs Andrew Sandler said his office has received at least one complaint regarding that specific location.

“There’s a strong likelihood of getting the ticket dismissed,” he said, adding that drivers should not be penalized for DOT’s mistakes.

As of press time, DOT had not re-sponded to a request for comment.

By DERVEDIA THOMASThe Bronx continues to grapple with

high unemployment rates despite a slight decrease in overall unemployment in New York City.

The county’s jobless rate as of July 2012 stood at 13.9 percent, up from 12.8 percent a year ago, according to a report from CUNY’s Labor Market Information Service.

The Bronx still has the highest rate of unemployment in the city, followed by Brooklyn with 11 percent and Staten Island with 9.7 percent.

For The Bronx, the labor statistics mean that 77,400 residents are without jobs, according to the New York State Depart-ment of Labor.

But according to New York Labor Market Information Service director Lesley Hirsch, that number is underestimated as it takes into account only active job seekers.

“The Bronx is suffering,” she said. “We’re underestimating the number. The situation is very dire. The actual figure may be about one and a half or twice the amount when you include those who have

become discouraged or take up part-time jobs for economic reasons.”

Education plays a large role in the county’s persistent job woes, according to James Brown, analyst for the Depart-ment of Labor.

“The Bronx has a higher level of people who have not graduated high school in the workforce,” he said.

“Education correlates closely with unemployment, and the population is more heavily exposed to industries that have a lot of seasonal jobs, like the leisure, hospitality, retail trade and to a degree, construction. (Construction) tends to be project-based and prone to spells of unemployment.”

The Bronx has the lowest graduation rate among the five boroughs—60 percent in 2012, according to data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, compared to the city’s average of 67 percent.

Overall unemployment in New York City decreased slightly from 10 percent in July 2012 to 9.9 percent in August this year.

Bronx unemployment rate still towers over city

Continued on Page 9

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Tot Shabbat at Riverdale Temple

Tot Shabbat at Riverdale Temple! This Friday at 5:30 p.m. For ages birth to 6 (older siblings welcome, too!) Come sing, dance, snack, and learn with Rabbi Lewis and Cantorial Intern, Inbal Sharett. It’s fun and it’s free! Spread the word and bring your friends. The more, the merrier!

Tot Shabbat is held on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.

Riverdale Temple is located at 4545 Indepen-dence Avenue, Tel: 718-548-3800, visit them on the web at www.riverdaletemple.org.

JASA announces upcoming activities

Celebrate Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival, with violinist Grigori Gont-macher on Fri. Oct. 5th at 1:00 PM. A traditional lunch of roast chicken and noodle kugel will be served at 12:15 PM. Special refreshments will be served in the Sukkah afterward. RSVP to the center office 718-549-4700 by Fri. Sept. 28th. Senior contribution is $2.00 plus $1.00 for event.

Narrative Portrait class with artist Mi-chael Ferris Jr. continues on Mondays, Oct. 15, 22 and 29th at 1:00 PM. Participants learn to create a self portrait utilizing drawing, ink and collage techniques. No previous art experience is necessary.

The following presentations will be pro-vided at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center:

Wed. Oct. 10th: Alzheimer’s Presenta-tion at 10:30 AM

Fri. Oct. 12th: WellCare Presentation at 10:30 AM

Mon. Oct. 22nd: HealthPlus Ameri-group will speak about 2013 Benefits at 11:30 AM.

Open Sunday on Oct. 14th featuring Dance Japan: Sachiyo Ito & Co. We will serve chicken chow mein at 12:15 PM followed by the dance presentation at 1:00 PM. Sachiyo Ito and Company is an arts organization that bridges East and West through artistic performances and educational programs that promote Japa-nese culture through the arts, particularly dance. Sachiyo Ito is an artist, choreog-rapher, and arts educator. She founded Sachiyo Ito and Company in 1981 as a not-for-profit educational organization. The Company performs a versatile range of dance styles. Recommended senior con-tribution is $2.00 for lunch and $2.00 for the event. Please RSVP to the center office 718-549-4700 by Thurs. Oct. 11th.

Celebrate Sept. and Oct. birthdays on Wed. Oct. 24th with Mike Barry, guitarist who plays dance rhythms. Superb meal of baked salmon and quinoa will be served at 12:15 PM followed by the entertainment. Please RSVP to the center office 718-549-4700 by Fri. Oct. 19th.

All meals at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center are catered by Mauzone Kosher of Queens. We offer a daily alternate choice of main dish.

We are located in the Van Cortlandt

Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. off of Van Cortlandt Ave. West on the Bronx #1 or #10 bus routes. For more information, please call the center office at 718-549-4700.

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC Dept. for the Aging, UJA- Federation of NY and by special grants from Council Member Oliver Koppell and other NYS representatives.

Volunteers needed to survey beaches

Get fit, help protect the city’s beaches and save marine wildlife by enrolling in the annual Volunteer Beach Floatables Program.

Under the initiative, run by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, volunteers are mobilized each summer to survey more than 45 beaches across the five boroughs.

Participants are asked to walk along the shoreline or on their favorite beach and spot debris such as styrofoam, wood, glass or plastic waste.

They do not have to pick up or touch anything and instead simply record any items they see and report it to the agency each week.

The program is critical as it provides authorities with useful data, ensures fewer beach closures and helps save marine wildlife from ingesting the debris.

Upon registration, each volunteer will receive all materials necessary for moni-toring, including letters of authorization and acknowledgment.

For more information, please contact 212-889-4216 or 917-658-2380.

Car wash fundraiser at RKA MS 141

Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (RKA MS 141) middle school students will give school supporters a chance to clean-up for their school when they hold a car wash fundraiser Saturday, September 29, from 10 AM - 2 PM, outside of the school, located at 660 West 237th Street, at the intersection of 236th Street and Indepen-dence Avenue. The car wash is sponsored by the RKA Parents’ Association.

The students and their parents will hand wash cars for $7, and monster trucks for $10. Light snacks and drinks will be sold and DJ Howie Rondinone will provide music. All proceeds from the event will be

used by the Parents’ Association to support RKA’s arts programming, athletics, college advisement and programs, library, teacher mini grants and special class projects, said Sheree Tallerman, Co-President, RKA MS/HS 141 Parent’s Association.

‘RKA is the center of this community,’ said PA Co-President Nancy Moukas. ‘It’s a dynamic place of learning and growth and it needs community support to maintain its excellence.’

During the past school year the RKA Parents’ Association donated $9,000 it raised through events like the car wash, and through direct appeal, to RKA. The donation was used to support the school’s music and athletic programs, and to offer mini grants to class room teachers, Sheree Tallerman said.

‘These fundraising appeals are critical to bridging the gap between what public funding supports and what our students need and deserve to reach their full po-tential,’ said Tallerman.

For more information about the Sep-tember 29 car wash, or about the RKA Parents’ Association, contact RKA Parents’ Association’s Donald Kaplan at 917 435-8730, or email him at [email protected].

St. Gabriel School to host car wash

Saint Gabriel School will host a car wash fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 29.

The community event will be orga-nized by the school’s eighth-graders and be held at the school, located at 590 West 235th Street.

Drivers are asked to enter via the ramp near the main school entrance. For more information, please contact the school directly at 718-548-0444.

Riverdale Youth Market at RNH

The Riverdale Neighborhood House (RNH) will host the Riverdale Youth Mar-ket every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. through November 15, 2012.

This is a youth-run farm stand offering fresh fruits and vegetables from regional farms.

RNH is located at 5521 Mosholu Av-enue, across from the Riverdale Library.,

Since its founding in 1872, RNH has partnered with the residents of the Northwest Bronx to build and sustain a healthy and productive community. RNH delivers first-rate educational and social services to the entire community: children, teens, seniors and families. RNH programs strengthen the social fabric of our community and enhance the quality of life for our neighbors.

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Thursday, September 27RiverdaleTAI CHI10 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 Mosholu Avenue

This tai chi (Sun Style) includes agile steps and exercises that may improve mobility, breathing and relaxation. Tai chi has been show to reduce pain and stiffness, increase flexibility, enhance muscle strength, improve concentration and memory, and help people cope with stress and depression. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

KingsbridgeBABY LAPSIT10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library291 West 231st Street

Stories, songs, fingerplays, puppets and flannelboard il-lustrations for babies birth-18 months for parents/caregivers. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

RiverdaleWELL VERSED4 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 Mosholu Avenue

Do you have a journal full of poetry? Want to share? Want to get better? Join us for a poetry writing workshop. Learn how to improve your writing style while also having fun. For ages 12 to 18 years old. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Van CortlandtWii TIME4 p.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library3874 Sedgwick Avenue

Join us @ the Van Cortlandt Library for an afternoon of fun and games. (Bowling, Baseball and Tennis). For ages 13 to 18 years. For more information, call 718-543-5150.

Friday, September 28KingsbridgeSTAY WELL EXERCISE10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library291 West 231st Street

Stay Well volunteers certified by the NYC’s Department for the Aging will lead participants in a well-balanced series of exercises for seniors of all ability levels. Please wear loose comfortable clothing. Exercise equipment will be provided. Those participating in the exercises must sign an activity release form. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

RiverdaleFRIDAY MATINEE1 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 Mosholu Avenue

Cloudy With Chance of Meatballs . Based on the children’s book, this animated adventure follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance. This is the most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. For ages 13 to 18 years. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

KingsbridgeTEEN ADVISORY GROUP4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library291 West 231st Street

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

Saturday, September 29RiverdaleCAR WASH FUNDRAISER10 a.m. St. Gabriel School590 West 235th Street

The community event will be organized by the school’s eighth-graders. Drivers are asked to enter via the ramp near the main school entrance. For more information, please contact the school directly at 718-548-0444.

RiverdaleCAR WASH FUNDRAISER10 a.m. Riverdale-Kingsbridge Academy660 West 236th Street

Middle schoolers will hand wash cars and monster trucks to raise funds for RKA programs. For more information, contact RKA Parents’ Association’s Donald Kaplan at 917 435-8730, or email him at [email protected].

Sunday, September 30Riverdale

SUKKOT6:30 p.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel475 West 250th Street

Light Candles at 6:21 PM; Minha and Maariv at 6:21 PM. For more information, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Monday, October 1RiverdaleSUKKOT I9 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel475 West 250th Street

Shaharit – Lulav and Etrog (Sanctuary) at 9:00 AM; YCFP Sukkot Service (Taub Room) at 10:30 AM; Sisterhood Lunch in Sukkah at 12:30 PM; Minha and Maariv at 6:18 PM; Light Candles after 7:18 PM. For more information, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Spuyten DuyvilKNITTING & CROCHET11 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library650 West 235th Street

A get-together for knitters & crocheters at all skill levels to work on current projects, learn new techniques & exchange information. All skill levels are welcomed. Registration not required. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

RiverdaleKNITTING CIRCLE2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 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.

Tuesday, October 2RiverdaleSUKKOT II9 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel475 West 250th Street

Shaharit – Lulav and Etrog (Sanctuary) at 9:00 AM; Havurah Lunch in Sukkah at 12:30 PM; Minha/Maariv Services at 6:16 PM; Yom Tov Ends at 7:16 PM. For more information, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

Riverdalee-READER HELP11 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 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 info, call 718-549-1212.

RiverdaleSCRABBLE2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 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.

Wednesday, October 3RiverdaleSUKKOT III6:45 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel475 West 250th Street

Shaharit Lulav and Etrog (Beit Midrash) at 6:45 AM; Minha//Maariv at 7:30 PM. For more information, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

RiverdaleTAI CHI10 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library5540 Mosholu Avenue

This tai chi (Sun Style) includes agile steps and exercises that may improve mobility, breathing and relaxation. Tai chi has been show to reduce pain and stiffness, increase flexibility, enhance muscle strength, improve concentration and memory, and help people cope with stress and depression. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Thursday, October 4RiverdaleSUKKOT IV6:45 a.m. Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel475 West 250th Street

Shaharit – Lulav and Etrog (Beit Midrash) at 6:45 AM; Maariv at 7:30 PM. For more information, call 718-543-8400 or visit www.csair.org.

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W 8 Street renaming sought for James Downey

By MIAWLING LAMA slew of sporting and reli-

gious organizations have called on city officials to rename a local street in honor of James Downey, a community leader whose pas-sion inspired a generation.

The North Riverdale Baseball League, St. Margaret of Cortona and the Knights of Columbus Pro-Patria Council have joined forces to lobby for the stretch of Mosholu Avenue between West 254th and West 256th streets to be renamed “James V. Downey Way.”

Supporters said renaming the proposed location, which runs alongside the newly refurbished Sid Augarten Field, would be a fitting tribute considering Downey’s involvement in the baseball league.

Under city regulations, James V. Downey Way wouldn’t become the actual name of the street—that would remain Mosholu Avenue. The new street name would be an honorary distinc-tion only.

Downey, a longtime FBI special agent, lived in Riverdale for more than 50 years before he passed away in 2009 follow-ing a lengthy battle with lung cancer.

A former coach, president and treasurer of the North Riverdale Baseball League, he organized countless fundraisers to benefit children’s sports programs and was heavily involved in activi-ties at St. Margaret of Cortona Church.

“Jim was just one of those all-round guys,” said Jerry Woods, a commissioner with the North Riverdale Baseball League and co-organizer of the renaming effort.

“Whenever anybody needed anything in this neighborhood, they all went to Jim. He was the guy that always got it done for us and so we want to try and get something done for him.”

Members of Community Board 8’s traffic and transporta-tion committee voted unani-

mously in favor of the renam-ing effort during a meeting on Tuesday, September 18.

Around a dozen people who showed up at the meeting to share their memories about Downey’s devotion to the com-munity said he was instrumental in making North Riverdale a better place to live.

James Campbell, director of St. Margaret of Cortona Athletic Association and a Knights of Columbus trustee, also described Downey as a humble yet fierce fighter for the community.

“Today, in this world, we need role models…and this guy walked the walk,” he said.

“We’re not just honoring somebody who was a good guy. This guy deserves the honor. He raised funds and he did everything conceivable for not only his three sons, but for the community.”

Brian Downey, 35, told the Riverdale Review that his father would be “absolutely touched” by the accolade.

“He would be touched that everyone is going out of their way and is spending time to see this through,” he said. “It’s a pretty big thing, and I think it’ll be good for the community to see something like this.”

Brian, who still resides in Riverdale, said he and his two brothers plan to keep the street renaming plans as a surprise for their mother. If all goes according to plan and the pro-posal is approved, he said they would bring her to the corner and get her to look up at the street sign.

But for now, Downey’s family and friends must wait. Com-munity board rules dictate that for a proposed name change to succeed, the full community board must vote in favor of the resolution at two consecutive meetings—most likely the Oc-tober and then the November meeting.

If the motion succeeds on

both occasions, the local City Council member must then introduce the resolution to the entire Council for ap-proval.

The City Council votes on name changes in batches, so the next vote may not take place until spring 2013.

Andrew Sandler of Council-man G. Oliver Koppell’s office indicated that Koppell would back the name change if the com-munity board supports it.

By DAVID GREENENorth Riverdale residents

contacting 311 to report a poorly maintained tree are being told Whalen Avenue is not in the city’s records and therefore, does not exist.

Despite a need for parking spaces in the area, drivers have apparently learned that parking along Whalen Avenue at Broad-way, will only leave a driver with a broken mirror, windshield or worse.

Broadway resident Sheran Tavarez explained, “On this one tree, some of the limbs have dried out and parts of it keep falling.”

“Something needs to be done,” Tavarez continues, “Be-fore someone is hurt or killed, its an accident waiting to hap-pen.”

Tavarez added, “I called 311

and they said, ‘We don’t know what street you’re talking about.’ They don’t even know what they own, it belongs to the city.”

Residents also complain about an infestation of mosquitoes in the area.

Falling trees or tree limbs have wrecked havoc across the borough recently. On September 6 in Norwood, a teacher coming back to school for the first day of class had her car seriously dam-aged when a tree limb landed across the top of the auto.

On August 25, a large tree at the Bronx Zoo fell and damaged a fence and destroyed several parked cars in a parking lot.

The Riverdale Review was in the process of reaching out to the various city agencies in-volved but as of press time, no one had returned a request for comment.

Timber! Tree limbs come down on B’wayRide the Hudson Rail Link and Metro-North to Grand Central Terminal. Depending on the time of day, you’ll save 10 to 20 minutes each way over the express bus, while relaxing in new, clean and comfortable Hudson Rail Link buses and M-7 train cars.There’s frequent and flexible service, with less than half an hour between trains during the morning rush. And Hudson Rail Link buses accept both MetroCard and a discounted bus/rail UniTicket.For more information, call 511 or visit mta.info. And link up with the Link.

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9UnemploymentThe return of 6,200 Con Edison em-

ployees after last month’s strike as well as 3,900 new jobs in the accommodation, food service, motion picture and sound industry is credited for the slight unem-ployment decrease in the report.

Despite the decline, unemployment in the city is still higher than it was a year ago. The city’s rate was 9.1 percent in July 2012. The city jobless rate for August 2010 also tops the New York State’s 9.1 percent and the nation’s 8.1 percent.

New York City’s overall unemployment drives joblessness in The Bronx, accord-ing to Brown, who said that many of the borough’s residents work in other cities like Westchester or Manhattan.

While he said the city has aggressively tried to create jobs in the borough through sectors like tourism, leisure, hospitality and technical services, increasing the number of jobs available citywide will decrease unemployment.

The city has embarked on several job creation initiatives in the county, includ-ing the controversial Fresh Direct invest-ment. The city wooed the online grocer away from New Jersey with more than $120 million in city tax exemptions, state tax credits and cash incentives.

“Fresh Direct’s expansion and relo-cation to South Bronx will bring 3,000 jobs to an area where there are some of the poorest community districts,” said Patrick Muncie, vice president of Public Affairs for the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

“It’s a real victory for the city, one in which New Yorkers should be proud.”

The project was expected to begin in early

2013, but it has been fraught with criticism from residents who say the area is already burdened with noise, pollution and some of the highest asthma rates in the country.

Residents and community groups sued to halt the project, arguing that it would harm the quality of life in the South Bronx and that the city failed to comply with state regulations by approving the deal without an adequate environmental review.

Muncie would comment neither on the Fresh Direct project’s timing nor the impending litigation.

He did mention another initiative ex-pected to bring jobs to the borough—the Sunshine Bronx Business Incubator, es-tablished with a $250,000 grant from the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

The incubator will ultimately involve up to 400 entrepreneurs from The Bronx and across New York City over the next three years and will provide low-cost office space to new businesses in growing fields.

To increase jobs, the city should also fo-cus on the borough’s geography, its people, its close proximity to Manhattan and major highways and airlines, Hirsch said.

“People have made mistakes in the past and put things in The Bronx and don’t capitalize on those things,” she said, citing an example of a financial services company that relocated to The Bronx. The company too far away from Wall Street, and its employees wanted neither to live nor work in The Bronx.

“The city should capitalize on talent that is in The Bronx that is not necessarily associated with the professional services,” she added, giving examples like the de-velopment of ethnic bakeries that cater to both the Hispanic and African-American populations and a Freight Village as pos-sible solutions.

Continued from Page 5

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Dale Grand to appear in new movie

Riverdale Y Senior Center member, Dale Grand, will be appearing in a new movie ‘Excuse me for Living’ with Jerry Stiller. The movie opening in the AMC Lowe’s Village 7 Theater, 66 3rd Avenue, at 11th Street on October 12, 2012. It is scheduled to show for one week.

Dale plays one of ten seniors who meet regu-larly in a restaurant to talk and socialize.

Dale Grand, Esq. is a multi-talented comedian, who has appeared in every area of show business; night clubs hotels, TV, movies, cruises and corporate functions. Dale is an active participant at the Riverdale Y Senior Center. For more information, contact Toby at 718-548-8200, ext. 223. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

Zumba classes at Ethical Culture Society

Dance your way to joy and fitness by signing up for fun and exciting Zumba classes.

Taught by Rhea Linda, a professional certified dance performer and teacher, the weekly, hour-long lessons involve easy-to-follow movements choreographed to Latin and international music.

Classes are held at the Ethical Culture Society, located at 4450 Fieldston Road, every Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m.

People of all fitness levels are invited to participate. The cost is $40 for four lessons or $15 for one lesson.

Please register your interest by email-ing [email protected] and don’t forget to wear clean sneakers.

RCC offers children’s sports and art classes

New 10-week sports and art classes for children, ages 7-12, are being offered at the Riverdale Community Center, beginning Saturday, October 6, 2012. TENNIS FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATES - Great opportunity for individuals to learn how to play the game of tennis and enjoy a life-long sport. Everyone will get a chance to practice forehands, backhands, volleys, overheads and serves. Also, you will learn about court-positioning, racquet grips, correct stances, movement on the court and much more. BAS-KETBALL - Students will challenge each other on the court while learning basic rules and regulations of the game. Improve shooting & passing. SOCCER - Through a partnership with Kids R Kicking Soccer program, youth will locus on specific skills, drills, etc.

2D & 3D Art Making - Youth will in

introduced to a variety of media and learn to incorporate elements of drawing, painting, collage and sculpture. Projects will be geared towards students’ specific age groups and skill sets.

Classes meet either 9:00-10:30 or 10:30-12 Noon. Fee for courses is $175 plus $15 registration fee.

Call the Center’s office at 718-796-4724 for more information, or visit our website: www.riverdalecommunitycenter.org

Want FREE AIR for your tires?Riverdale Auto Clinic at 303 West 230th

Street and Tibbett Avenue offers free air for your tires. In this age where every service is charged for, it’s refreshing that a merchant offers anything for free.

$0 joining fee for new members at Curves

Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Curves fitness centers in the U.S. will focus on raising aware-ness about the life-saving importance of risk management, early detection and early treatment of breast cancer. Because women can help reduce their risk for breast cancer by staying in good health, Curves clubs nationwide, including the following Curves clubs in the Bronx area,

are offering $0-joining-fee memberships from October 1 through October 14 to new members who show proof of a mammogram performed within the last year or who donate $25 to The American Cancer Society (ACS). In 2011, Curves clubs nationwide raised more than $1.7 million for the ACS.

Curves is located at 3719 Riverdale Ave., which can be reached at 718-549-0555 or [email protected]

Parkinsons Exercise Program at Riverdale Y

The Riverdale Y Senior Center will offer a Parkinsons’ Exercise Program beginning on Wednesday, October 24 at 10:30 am to 11:30am. Pre registration is available on Monday October 15 and Thursday Octo-ber 18 between 1:30pm and 3:00pm.

Class starts Wednesday, October 24.This class incorporates exercises which

help reduce signs/symptoms of Parkinsons’ Disease. This program is free with the River-dale Y Senior Center membership for adults age 60+. Y membership and applicable fees required for adults under age 60. Pre-regis-tration with Senior Center or Y fitness staff is required. Call Vicki Matalon for more information (718) 548-8200 x 245. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue.

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JOEL PAL CECILIA McNALLY Production Manager Office Manager

ROBERT NILVA MIAWLING LAM Marketing Director Associate EditorNote our new address:

5752 Fieldston RoadBronx, New York 10471

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

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

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

Groundbreaking documentary puts Israel on the map

The city’s ominously named Board of Health and Mental Hygiene has voted to restrict the size of sugared soft drinks that can be sold at restaurants and other retail outlets already under the department’s jurisdiction to less than 16 ounces. This figure, we are told, was handed down at Mount Sinai to Mayor Bloomberg along with an ever-changing listing of approximately 10 billion other command-ments directing what we can and cannot eat.

No one here is going to trumpet any health benefits to be found in sugary drinks. But we have some experience in not drinking such drinks in any quantity whatsoever. Over the years, without the benefit of fully sugared beverages, your editor has managed, nonetheless, to suffer the increase in girth that these Mental Hygienists warn us of.

So powerful are these forces that this year they seemed to drive into hiding those who used to warn of dieting excesses, a semi-annual event that used to occur each time “Fashion Week” was declared. Warning of anorexia and bulimia is so passé, as the hygienists con-centrate on protecting us from the dangers of eating.

Fashion Week used to be very much on the minds of our politi-cians. Not because it brings grand style and hundreds of millions of dollars to the city, packs our hotels, and fills our restaurants, bars, and nightspots. It is the health and welfare of the models that used to have the politicos all in a lather.

Gale Brewer is a member of the New York City Council, representing the Upper West Side. She has introduced a resolution which appears to have been advocated by residents of what Mayor Bloomberg and his hygienists would term a “Bizarro-World” regulation — it would “ban models with a body mass index of lower than 18.5.” Ms. Brewer doesn’t just want to fatten up the models. “It is now our responsibility to actively promote a healthier concept of beauty in our society,” she told Newsday.

Why are the models getting thinner and thinner? Maybe it’s the slimmed-down lunch offerings now typical of American school cafete-rias, including those here. This has been going on for a few years, pow-ered by well-meaning celebrities such as President Clinton, and famed chefs such as California’s Alice Waters and Britain’s Jamie Oliver.

Five years ago, Mr. Clinton, who failed to negotiate a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, was more successful in twisting the arms of vending machine operators in school cafeterias. At his urging they agreed to remove soda from their machines. With nutritionists (a noted subgroup of the hygienists) nodding in blissful agreement behind him, he asserted that just removing 45 calories a day would result in a child 20 pounds lighter after ten years. Hmmm….

By his formula, the soda initiative would cut 100 calories from the average child’s diet, resulting in a 44-pound loss over 10 years. We observed at the time that if just a few more calories were cut, a harried parent could make a troublesome child disappear altogether. The cumulative effect of all these well-meaning attacks on the “child-hood obesity epidemic” may just be the boney-looking models we see during Fashion Week. Not just because of the diet, but the mixed message that all of this panicked attention on nutrition is sending.

We grew up at a time when the nutritional advice we got was “drink your milk.” That was whole milk, a beverage that is shunned today as if it contained a lethal dose of polonium. Even the slimmer 99 percent fat-free variety has fallen out of favor. Drinks like orange juice were considered healthy until recently. Now they are being removed from school cafeterias because, while they don’t have much fat, they do contain sugar.

When things have gone so far that children are warned to avoid milk and juice, maybe it is time to stop and pause. By drumming into children’s heads that food is bad for them and that being thin is important beyond all else, is it really any wonder that some of them are taking this to extremes?

Aside from the junk science being tossed at us, we should carefully ponder the next steps. What if whole milk were banned from produc-tion? Or ice cream restricted in terms of calories and fat? Arguably, the sugared sodas, so devoid of fat, are better for you than a pint of Haagen Dazs, simply brimming with both cholesterol and calories.

Maybe the mayor should do the jobs he was elected to do: fix the schools he is now responsible for making worse, encourage more traffic to our retailers and the jobs it brings, and worry about safety on our streets, not the number of guns on the streets of Fargo, North Dakota.

Avoiding the Mental Hygienists

To The Editor:I recently had the opportu-

nity to watch the film “Israel Inside: How A Small Nation Makes A Big Difference” and was overwhelmed by the per-sonal stories of triumph and overall resilience of Israeli Society.

Despite having overcome extreme adversities, the film

shows us that Israel has become the beta site for solving nation-al and international problems. It illuminates Israel’s progress in innovation by taking an inside look at the country’s electric vehicle technology, solar panels, and the medical marvel “Rewalk,” a device al-lowing paraplegic individuals to walk.

It is truly a remarkable and inspirational journey of Israel’s strength, leadership and evolv-ing impact on the rest of the world.

The film is available on Comcast On Demand for Free for the next three months, and can be enjoyed by all ages, Jew-ish or not.

Jaclyn Rothenberg

To The Editor:On the eve of Rosh Hasha-

nah an important thought comes to me, which I would like to share with your readers:

As we look forward to the New Year, we should think of our beloved pet cats that have undergone the horrific “opera-tion” of “declawing.” We are taught to love each other, and this certainly includes our pre-cious pets, yet we still legally

allow this barbaric procedure to be performed. It is my un-derstanding that the European Union countries have banned this, as is appropriate. I am

Let them keep their claws

New programming for fami-lies will begin with a Tot Shabbat on Friday, October 5 at 10:30am in the Riverdale Y lobby. Greg Shafritz, music specialist to the early childhood program,

ashamed as an American to know that our legal system does not protect our pets in such a basic way.

Roger Waters

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. Don’t forget in October, special programming for babies 0-3, their families and their caregivers.

The entire community (es-pecially families with little children) are welcome to par-ticipate. The Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue. For more information, contact Wendy Pollock at 718-548-8200 ext 220.

New programs for parents, infants and young tots

Page 15: Riverdale Review, September 27, 2012

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15Person on the Street: Compiled by Tess McRae

If you were given $1 million, how would you improve the Riverdale community?

“Schools aren’t like they used to be. It seems more about getting them in and getting them out. I would give money to make it about education again.”

- Vincent Tyson

“Bridges and roads. I am a commuter and the roads and bridges can be a little nerve-wracking, especially with a lot of traffic.”

- Idelyn Caneiro

“Public schools here get nothing and it’s not fair. I would like to see money going to all of them.”

- Ann Bohan

“Landscaping. Trees are nice to have along the sidewalks because they provide more oxygen and look nice too.”

- Stacey Burns

“I would go over to a public school and ask the teachers what exactly they need. They are always being dictated to and I would want to hear what it is they want.”

- Sarah R.

“Senior centers. Places like the YMHA have good programs and help the el-derly.”

- Aida Lopez

“Public libraries. My library in Eden-wald was cut hard and they try to do great programs for little kids so I would want to help them.”

- Janae Simmons

“Schools to help them and the kids. Maybe doing art and music.”

- Miranda Crespo

Page 16: Riverdale Review, September 27, 2012

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