Co-op City Times 08/20/11

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Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2011 Co-op City Times

Vol. 46 No. 34

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Marchers rally in Einstein Mall to save Co-op City post offices BY JIM ROBERTS “Save our service, Keep the Post Office open” was the rallying cry of more than 200 Co-op City residents and union postal workers as they marched in the Einstein Mall Thursday morning. The marchers came out to fight against the possible closure of post offices in the Einstein and Dreiser malls. The United States Postal Service announced last month that almost 3,700 post offices across the U.S., including the two branch outlets in Co-op City and 15 others throughout the Bronx, are being Co-op City residents rallied on Thursday, studied to determine whether or not Aug. 18, in the Einstein Mall to protest the (Continued on page 3)

possible closure of the post offices in the Einstein and Dreiser malls. Photo by Jim Roberts

Public Safety pursues and traps gunman in Section 5 shooting BY BILL STUTTIG In the immediate aftermath of the shooting of two men following an altercation on Einstein Loop Tuesday evening, Public Safety officers responded immediately and trapped the suspected gun man in the weeds behind Bay Plaza, adjacent to the Hutchinson River Parkway. As the suspect hid in the weeds, NYPD’s aviation and K-9 units were called in and the suspect was spotted and immediately surrendered. Events leading up to the pursuit and arrest began shortly before 9 p.m. when an altercation between groups of young men

broke out directly in front of the Einstein Shopping Center. Two men, believed to be involved in the initial altercation, were struck by bullets. Their injuries were not considered life threatening. Public Safety officers near the scene immediately responded and, according to Public Safety, Lt. Frank Torres confronted the gun man, who in the moments after the shooting reportedly threw the gun into bushes in the immediate vicinity. The suspected gunman managed to escape the grasp of Lt. Torres and ran in (Continued on page 5)

Riverbay Board approves lease with AllCare Provider Services BY ROZAAN BOONE At Wednesday night’s meeting of the Riverbay Board of Directors, a lease with AllCare Provider Services was approved by the Board for the premises at 950 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, N.Y., which is to be used as a multi-purpose center. Director Bill Gordon introduced the emergency resolution outlining AllCare’s usage of the premises at 950 Baychester Avenue, generally known as the Yellow School House, as a multi-purpose service center, including pre-school, day care, after-school, senior citizen, TheraCare and Medicaid Service Coordination. “It was important for the Board to continue childcare services at this location with a minimum cost to the corporation,” said Director Gordon. “We feel that AllCare satisfied both of these qualifications and we welcome them to

the community.” The resolution was seconded by Directors Rev. Dr. Calvin E. Owens, Khalil Abdul-Wahhab and Othelia Jones. AllCare Provider Services, a 501(C)3 not-for-profit currently operating The Learning Ladder Day Care at Building 15A, provides 3 categories of services— Medicaid Services Coordination, as an Education Service Provider and daycare development and management. The agency’s Medicaid Services Coordination, operated under the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), offers families and individuals access to necessary supports and resources to meet their needs, while its Education Services program offers school start up services. (Continued on page 4)

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From buyer to seller: Con Edison owes Riverbay $128,000 for July energy exports BY BILL STUTTIG Over the last several months, Riverbay has begun to realize profits from its ability to export energy from the cogeneration plant to outside utilities. According to Peter Merola, Riverbay’s Director of Finance, the corporation recently billed Con Edison for $128,537.84 for slightly more than 1890 mega watts of energy exported to the utility for their use from the co-generation plant. According to the invoice sent to Con Edison, the energy was sold to Con Edison at slightly more than $68 per megawatt of electricity. Merola said that Riverbay has been exporting to the giant utility since April, and July represents by far the biggest month for the burgeoning business relationship. While the volume of energy exported to Con Edison for the months of April and May are still being figured, bills for June and July have already been sent and Riverbay has already received a payment

from Con Edison of $37,327 for energy it purchased from Riverbay in June. That payment was received on July 21st. The July bill was dated August 12th and payment is expected shortly. Arthur Debowsky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Great Eastern Energy, the firm which represents Riverbay in marketing its available power to outside utilities, said that the good news for Riverbay is that the vast majority of payments received for exporting energy to other utilities is profit because Riverbay is already producing the steam which drives the turbines as part of its operation to power the community. Riverbay recovers up to 80% of that steam and uses it to produce the power which can be exported. Brian Reardon, Director of the Power Plant, said this week that certain factors and expenses have to be figured in to (Continued on page 2)

Domestic water shutdown for Building 17, 18 & 19 Thursday The water tank in Building 19 will be replaced on Thursday, August 25 resulting in no domestic water after 5 a.m. Residents may experience some residual water left in the tank and water lines for a short period of time before the supply becomes fully drained (less than ½ hr.). This domestic water shut-

down will affect Buildings 17, 18 and 19. It is expected that water will be restored late Thursday evening. Shareholders are encouraged to fill their bathtubs with water for personal use during the shutdown, and pots and (Continued on page 3)

Co-op City co-generation plant to be featured in international Siemens advertising campaign BY BILL STUTTIG A film crew was at the co-generation plant Monday filming and compiling footage from various parts of the operation, from the control room to the steam turbines. The footage is scheduled to be used in an advertising campaign planned by the energy giant featuring examples of innovative energy saving projects involving Siemens products in recent years. Many of the new components which allowed Riverbay’s existing plant to be converted into a co-generation plant were manufactured by Siemens. Shaun Connolly, the Siemens Energy account representative who oversees the relationship between Siemens and Riverbay, said: “Siemens chose the Coop City Power Plant for our commercial, because it not only shows how well a power plant can be integrated in a city like

New York, but it also shows how efficient energy can be generated today. “A combined heat and power plant, such as this plant, is one of the most efficient energy production methods, converting fuel into electrical energy and heat at the same time, usually in the form of steam and hot water. These plants have a fuel efficiency of more than 90% and simultaneously minimize nitrogen and carbon dioxide emissions. “And as we are aiming for the lowest carbon footprint possible with all of our products, Co-op City is a very good reference case.” A series of thirty seconds ads are now being produced, each featuring a variety of cutting-edge energy efficient projects throughout the world. (Continued on page 2)


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