Co-op City Times 12/22/12 by Co-op City Times

Vol. 47 No. 51

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Wise investments in Power Plant paying off for Co-op City BY JIM ROBERTS Six years ago, the condition of the Riverbay Power Plant could be described in one word – crumbling. Some of the major systems, still the originals from the late 1960s, were barely functioning. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spent each year to rent temporary generators, and millions of dollars were needed for maintenance work just to keep the plant running. “In 2006, we had two of the original four boilers out of commission and we had the original steam turbine generator out of commission,” said Brian Reardon, Riverbay’s Power Plant Director. The failure to invest in the Power Plant over decades was creating added expenses that kept piling up, costing shareholders millions of dollars to keep the plant running. Just the constant repairs to the chillers was costing $500,000 each year. “The old running chillers were requiring expensive repairs just to maintain them,” Reardon said. “We were renting

temporary boilers in the winter as backups, we had to rent temporary generators for emergency power backups because we didn’t have a steam generator. The main cooling tower, which is where you see the steam coming out of every day, had to be overhauled because it hadn’t been touched in over 25 years.” Now Co-op City has its own 40megawatt tri-generation plant which produces all the community’s power and also can generate extra capacity for sale. No longer buying electricity from Con Edison has eliminated payments to Con Ed of more than $15 million annually. In addition to building the new tri-generation plant, Riverbay has made the necessary investments to correct the years of not spending capital funds on the plant. Carrier chillers were refurbished in 2007 and are saving close to $700,000 a year in fuel and another $1 million a year over the last five years in non-heating (Continued on page 5)

Government wants Seabrook to repay $1.1 million BY JIM ROBERTS Government attorneys told a federal judge last week that they believe convicted former City Council member Larry Seabrook should repay $1.1 million to taxpayers as restitution for “…the loss directly attributable to Larry Seabrook’s criminal conduct …” In papers filed with Judge Deborah Batts last week, the U.S. Attorney’s office said several nonprofits that the government claims Seabrook controlled were funded by New York City tax dollars primarily to benefit Seabrook and his associates. “The evidence at trial proved that every one of these expenditures occurred not because of any ability of the nonprofits to actually provide the services described

in the various contracts, but simply because Larry Seabrook wanted the money sent there to benefit his girlfriend and family members. “Numerous witnesses testified that, on contract after contract, the nonprofits failed to make anything more than a token effort toward providing the required services,” the government attorneys wrote in court papers. In the court filing, government attorneys detailed all the expenditures they claim were made to benefit Seabrook’s associates at his direction. In response to an original sentencing memorandum by the government,

25¢

Cushman and Wakefield executive sees upside in Co-op City’s shopping centers BY BILL STUTTIG Fred Smith, a commercial real estate consultant with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, insists that Co-op City’s shopping centers are viable commercial and community resources that have the potential be so much more with the right amount of planning and investment. Smith, a Vice Chairman of Global Real Estate Services for Cushman and Wakefield, New York City’s leading commercial real estate consulting firm was contacted by Riverbay two years ago to look at Co-op City’s commercial properties to determine the best way to improve them both as community resources and as commercial entities. During a presentation that Smith made at an Open Board meeting last Wednesday,

December 12th, the second such presentation he has made to the community in the past year, Smith referred to Co-op City’s shareholders as “landlords with an ownership stake” in the financial success of the three shopping centers, who have nothing to lose and everything to gain if the three centers are improved and modernized by a developer. He said that such a plan can only greatly increase the earning potential of the centers while creating additional revenue to offset the community’s expenses and reduce carrying charges or at least minimize future increases. While some of the approximately 50 residents who attended last week’s Open (Continued on page 4)

Extension of Riverbay’s Bookkeeping window hours continue through spring BY ROZAAN BOONE In consideration of Riverbay shareholders who work outside of the community and must leave early to travel to their jobs, Riverbay Corporation will continue the extension of the Finance Department’s Bookkeeping window through to next Spring. The next Bookkeeping window extended hours will be available on Monday, December 31, when the service will commence at 8 a.m. The Bookkeeping window, which is located in the Riverbay administrative reception area in the Bartow Community

Center, 2049 Bartow Avenue, will continue to open at 8 a.m., instead of 9 a.m., on the two busiest days of the month for the Finance Department—the 10th of the month which is the last day for shareholders to pay their maintenance charges without the $50 late fee, and the last business day of the month when maintenance charges must be paid before legal action commences and a $200 legal fee is assessed. “We are happy to be able to provide the extra hour for the shareholders to (Continued on page 2)

(Continued on page 7)

Holiday closings and Co-op City Times early deadline notice All Riverbay’s administrative offices will close at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24. The following week, on New Year’s eve, Monday, December 31, all administrative offices, EXCEPT the Rent Bookkeeping office, will again close at 4 p.m. Since December 31st is the last business

day of the month, the Rent Bookkeeping Office will remain open until 5 p.m. ONLY on Monday, December 31. Because of these holiday shortened work week, Directors’ viewpoints and community organizations’ articles must be submitted before 9 a.m. on (Continued on page 6)

The Spirit of Giving … Dozens of students from Co-op City’s M.S. 181 delivered more than 1000 food items to the Food Pantry of Black Forum in Dreiser Community Center on Tuesday, December 11th just in time for the holiday season. Teacher Tara McCrossan said that the students were involved in the entire process, from soliciting the donations from M.S. 181 students and faculty, organizing the collection process, packing the donations, and then delivering the food items to the pantry. Once they arrived at the pantry, Board Director and Black Forum coordinator Tony Illis explained the workings and the importance of the pantry and then thanked the children for their donation and the time that they devoted to helping others. Photo by Bill Stuttig

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Seasons Greetings Given the holiday season, I believe this is an appropriate time to look back and reflect on all the good over the past year. I am truly thankful and blessed to have the support and love of my family, friends, you, my neighbors and fellow cooperators, along with the members of the Riverbay Board of Directors. We have endured a lot over the past year dealing with storms and the struggle to refinance our mortgage ensuring our stability and future as we forge ahead. We managed to escape the great

President’s Message

Helen Atkins President

wrath of Sandy and have succeeded in obtaining the refinancing needed, thanks to the dogged efforts of our Management company, Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc., who lobbied for us over the past three years to qualify for the new HUD loan.

Bookkeeping Hours

This past week, we as a nation learned of the awful tragedy that took place in neighboring Connecticut in the town of Newtown. My heart and prayers go out to all the families who have had to endure the loss of their child, family and relatives in this town. This just goes to show that you never know what lies in store for us and that it is all the more important to tell your family, friends and neighbors how much they are loved. I take this opportunity to wish you, my

neighbors and fellow cooperators, our Management team, staff, and fellow Board of Directors, a very joyous, healthy and happy holiday season. Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Three Kings celebrations. I wish each and every one of you a very wonderful joyous, healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year. May we only know the joy of peace, love and happiness. Please remember to tell your child, family and friends that they are loved. Once again, Happy Holidays to all.

Bookkeeping window is open for extended hours is not a healthy one,” explained Riverbay’s General Manager Vernon Cooper. “In addition to making it difficult for staff personnel to access the Administrative office, it also presents a potential fire hazard, and a safety concern. As a result, we’ve taken steps to move some of the shareholders to another room where they can sit and wait more comfortably until they are ready to be seen at the window. This will also eliminate shareholders standing and waiting in the hallway which also prevents the free flow of pedestrian traffic through the building.” In the new year, the extension of the hours will continue on Thursday, January 10 and Thursday, January 31; on Monday, February 11 and Thursday, February 28; on Monday,

March 11 and Friday, March 29; and on Wednesday, April 10 and Tuesday, April 30. In addition to shareholders paying their carrying charges at the bookkeeping window, or dropping them in the boxes in each of the three community centers, carrying charges can also be dropped off at New York Community Bank branch located inside of the Pathmark store in the Bay Plaza shopping mall. Riverbay does not accept cash; all payments must be made by personal check, bank check or money order. Shareholders should also write their account number and/or building and apartment numbers on any payment to Riverbay and return it along with the stub portion of their bill to ensure proper processing.

(Continued from page 1)

remit their payments during the two busiest days of the month,” said Riverbay’s Finance Director, Peter Merola. “This added service comes at no additional cost to the corporation’s shareholders because the Bookkeeping employees agreed to change their work schedule to accommodate the extended hours.” Primarily, shareholders pay their monthly carrying charges by placing their payments in one of the 3 drop boxes located in each community center, but some also pay at the bookkeeping window. Prior to the extended hours being implemented, shareholders waited in the reception area for the window to open at 9 a.m., usually resulting in a crowded waiting room and sometimes with the line stretching out into the corridor. Since its implementation, many more

shareholders, including seniors and those who are disabled, have been taking advantage of the extended hours which also results in a crowded waiting room. As a result, Riverbay’s management implemented a ticketing system whereby shareholders take a number upon entering the Riverbay reception area, and then wait in another room down the hall until their number is called over the intercom and they are directed to report to the reception area for service at the Bookkeeping window. Generally, 5-6 shareholders are called at a time so as not to overcrowd the reception area and create a safety concern. “It has become apparent to us that the crowds which usually fill the reception area on these two days of the month when the

DR. LEWIS WOLSTEIN Podiatrist — Foot Specialist

Advance d Dent al Group M ul t i-S p eci alt y A ssoci at es Smile with WHITER! BRIGHTER! HEALTHIER TEETH!

• Practicing in Co-op City since 1975

10 % DISCOUNT !

Your smile is your gateway to success! BEFORE

With this ad. New Patients Only.

• Board Certified in Foot Surgery • ALL conditions of the foot treated

AFTER

Dental Emergencies No Appointment Needed

• We

accept most health insurance plans

GET A MILLION DOLLAR SMILE & PAY LATER! 12 Month payment plan available • 0% Interest • Based on Credit Approval

• Participating in the Medicare Diabetic Shoe Program

PERMANENT SMILE RESTORATION SERVICES • New Patients Welcome!

• Evening and Saturday appointments

Dr. Lewis Wolstein

“Se Habla Español”

• Cosmetic Dentistry - Natural Tooth Color Restoration, Teeth Whitening, Bonding & Veneers, Crowns, Bridges & Dentures • Oral Surgery - Implants, Extractions (including wisdom teeth) • Implants - To Replace Missing Teeth

Call:

718.671.7226

• Endodontist - Painless Root Canals & Treatment • Periodontist - Gum Treatment

Ad vanced D ent al Gr oup 140-1 DeKruif Place, Co-op City Building 6 • Bronx, NY 10475

100 DeKruif Place Building 8 • Ground Floor Section 1 • Co-op City • Bronx, NY 10475

(718) 379-1700 We Accept: Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card • Dental Financing Plans available if qualified. Most Insurance Plans & Medicaid accepted as full payment • FREE PARKING

“We Make Saving Your Teeth Affordable!”

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

2nd Combing ty p Cinext Blood Co-oDrive Annual Kwanzaa celebration Dec. 29 The Coalition of African American Churches & Community Organizations invites the community to attend its 16th annual Kwanzaa celebration on Saturday, December 29, 3 p.m. in Room 31, Bartow community center, 2049 Bartow Avenue. The celebration will feature poets, storytellers, vendors, games, gifts, feast and refreshments. The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. James McIntosh, co-Chair of the Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP). Admission to this event is free.

Next CB 10 meeting in Co-op City The next meeting of Community Board 10 will take place on Thursday, January 17, 7:30 p.m., at Villa Barone Restaurant, 3289 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. For additional information, please contact Community Board 10 at (718) 892-1161.

JASA offers Caregiver Support A Caregiver Support Group can offer an atmosphere of understanding and support for caregivers to discuss issues and concerns. Whether you care for a loved one from a distance or in your home, you are welcome to attend JASA’s Caregiver Support Group. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, December 28th at 2049 Bartow Ave., Rm. 31 from 1-2 p.m. The support group is facilitated by a social worker. If you have any questions, please contact JASA at 718-320-2066.

Free tennis instruction The NYJTL & Co-op City Tennis Club is offering Free tennis instruction for children ages 6 to 18 at Kela Indoor Tennis Center, 525 Homestead Avenue, Mt. Vernon, 67:30 a.m. This program began on Saturday, December 8, and will run until March 15, 2013.

I f You See Som eth in g, Sa y Som et h in g!

FRONT PA G E

Farewell, Mr. James E. Ragin James Edward Ragin, a resident of Building 6 in Co-op City since February, 1970, departed this life on Friday, December 14, 2012, just 9 days after celebrating his 89th birthday. He was funeralized on Wednesday, December 19 at Community Protestant Church in the Bronx, N.Y. Born in Sumerton, South Carolina on December 5, 1923, James was raised in a loving Christian home. He lost his mother at the tender age of 12 and later relocated to Philadelphia with his father who remarried. In Philadelphia, he attended public schools and graduated from Overbrook High School. At the age of 19, he met and married Gloria Jones and from this union, a son was born, James Joseph Ragin. Soon thereafter, James Edward Ragin was drafted in the U.S. Army and trained to work as a radio operator, transmitting communications in morse code. He was also a skilled marksman and was awarded a sharp shooter medal and rifle ribbon from the Army. A World War II veteran, he served in Germany and France and after his tour, returned home safely. In later years, the elder James Ragin divorced and moved to New York where he worked various jobs. At a neighborhood dance, he met and instantly fell in love with Pearl E. Lawson, his wife and life partner for the last 63 years. James and Pearl are the parents of three beautiful and devoted daughters—Gail, who still lives in Co-op City and works for the Riverbay Corporation; Lydia of Mount Vernon, N.Y., a registered nurse who provided personal medical care to her father during his final days; and Colette of Middletown, N.Y., also employed at the Riverbay Corporation.

James Ragin, by all accounts, led a disciplined and responsible life. He was a hard worker, a disciplinarian, loving and devoted husband, and nurturing father and provider to his family. He was a hands-on parent who taught his daughters how to ride bikes, drive cars, and impressed upon them the importance of family, education, keeping up with current events, voting and using common sense. James worked the night shift as a clerk at the United States Post Office and studied his “schemes” (matching addresses) at night and on weekends, which led to his promotion to Foreman. Although he himself did not attend church regularly in his earlier days, he insisted that his young daughters attend North Congregational Church. In their early years of marriage, Pearl became seriously ill and was hospitalized. James provided the best quality health care, with the help of his late mother-inlaw, Ellen Lawson, and his sister-in-law, Deanna Boylan. To help brighten his daughter’s days, James would take them to Freedom Land, capturing life-long memo-

ries. Then, on February 4, 1970, James moved his family into Co-op City where they have resided since that time. James retired from the US Postal Service at the age of 55, managing his own early health concerns. After witnessing his wife’s faithful dedication to living Christian principles, James joined Co-op City Baptist Church and accepted Christ in 2007, when he was also baptized. Throughout the years, he attended church whenever his health allowed. James loved Jesus. His faith and Christian walk grew stronger with each passing day. His pastor, whom he admired tremendously, Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams, visited him countless time during his many recent stays at the hospital. Mr. Ragin walked through the valley of death, taking his last communion from his daughters, on December 14, 2012. His last words to his daughters were, “Take care of my wife.” James Edward Ragin leaves to cherish his memory, his loyal wife, Pearl; son James Joseph Ragin of Philadelphia; his three daughters, Gail, Lydia and Colette; one granddaughter, Gisele Todd; seven grandsons, Jason Ragin, Charles Ragin, Keith Ragin, Khary Mallea, Michael Wicks, Kai Mallea and Wesley Wicks; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters-inlaw, Deanna Boylan and Terry Lawson; three brothers-in-law, Russell Lawson, Frank Lawson and Carl Boylan; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends and neighbors. The Ragins would like to express their sincere gratitude to everyone who sympathized with them during this difficult time and wish to acknowledge Daleann and Cheyanne, two nursing attendants who dutifully cared for Mr. Ragin during his illness.

St. Mary’s parents plan fundraiser to save school BY BILL STUTTIG Parents of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea School on City Island have planned a major fundraiser in the school gymnasium all day Saturday, December 29th as part of a massive effort to raise enough money to hopefully convince the Catholic Archdiocese of New York that the school can remain financially viable for the next three years and should not be closed. Even though St. Mary’s is located on City Island, approximately 80% of the student body of the small, but beloved, school comes from Co-op City. The school is accessible to Co-op City children via the Bx. 29 bus which directly links Co-op City to City Island. In recent weeks, another link between Co-op City and City Island has developed in that parents from both communities have seemingly joined together to do whatever is humanly possible to save St. Mary’s from the axe of the Archdiocese of New York. St. Mary’s is just one of 26 threatened with closure by the Archdiocese. Seven of those schools are located in the Bronx, three, including St. Mary’s, in the northeast Bronx.

“St. Mary’s is a small but wonderful school,” said Section 5 resident Kaisha Lopez who sends her daughter to kindergarten there. “It is truly a colorblind school because there is a great mix of ethnicity among the students who attend and the families that get involved. It is a school that is worth saving because it is good and it is safe and very highly regarded among the parents from Co-op City like me who choose to send their children there. But in order to save the school, we have to work together.” Ever since the Catholic Archdiocese of New York announced they are seriously considering closing St. Mary’s, the parents of St. Mary’s school, together with some parishioners from St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, have been planning a campaign to raise the needed funds to convince the Archdiocese’s Reconfiguration Committee that the school can be financially viable. The Archdiocese is requiring schools to prove that they can be financially independent and solvent for the next three years. The schools have until January 3rd to do this. Greg Clancy, the Parent Appeal Coordinator for the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Home and School Association

(SMSSHSA), is organizing many of the fundraising efforts, along with other parents and he said this week that he believes the school is well on the way to raising the money and producing the three-year plan to prove to the Archdiocese that closing the school would be a mistake. Clancy said that the school needs to overcome a $300,000 shortfall and he and other parents believe they are on the way to getting that done. He said that the school recently received $125,000 from a donor who asked to remain anonymous and in recent weeks has raised an additional $33,000. The SMSSHSA has also posted videos on Facebook and Youtube explaining the mission of the school’s fundraising and explaining ways that people can donate to the school. Fundraising letters have also gone out to the parents and the community-at-large explaining the association’s massive effort. Clancy said that he hopes to raise $50,000 through a two-part festival the association has planned for next Saturday. (Continued on page 5)

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Shopping Center

(Continued from page 1)

TACONIC, PRUSIK, & ABR - PAST PROJECTS

Corporate Finance & Investment Banking

NORTHSTAR CENTERS - PAST PROJECTS

Corporate Finance & Investment Banking

New Rochelle, NY and Southington, CT

The Crossings at Southern – Bronx, NY

NEW ROCHELLE

BEFORE

•80,000 SF retail center in densely populated area •Anchored by Stop & Shop and Marshalls

•Gas station •Unattractive and underutilized retail corner

SOUTHINGTON

AFTER

•Large shopping center developed and opened in 2010 located in highly trafficked area •Anchored by Target and Lowe’s

•Remediated gasoline pollution •Addressed community retail needs •Created 200 jobs CO-OP CITY

CO-OP CITY

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

Two of the commercial developers who have expressed interest in being involved in the upgrading of Co-op City’s shopping centers have developed or redeveloped commercial properties in the region in the recent past. Taconic Prusik and ABR (l.) redeveloped an underutilized corner in the Bronx into a two story shopping center which created 200 jobs for the community. Northstar Centers (r.) developed a retail center on Palmer Avenue in New Rochelle and a major shopping center in Connecticut.

(Continued from page 1)

Board meeting openly disagreed with Smith’s notion that through their shares in the Riverbay Corporation they are commercial landlords with a direct financial stake in the success of the community’s shopping centers. Smith insisted, during an interview with the Co-op City Times this week, that his take on the situation is absolutely correct and that Co-op City’s residents have much to gain from any improvement to its shopping centers especially when considering that Riverbay is not being asked to spend anything to make those improvements a reality. Smith and his team have been working on a plan to enhance the centers for two years now and are at the point where they have found three experienced commercial real estate developers interested in investing in the Co-op City properties. Two of those developers are interested in enhancing all three centers and perhaps expanding them, while a third is only interested in the Bartow Center. In making his case before the community last Wednesday and again in a followup interview with the Co-op City Times, Smith called the plan a “win-win situation for the community” as Riverbay is not being required to invest any capital in the planned improvements while it will split with the selected commercial developer any revenue generated from new retailers leasing space in the newly renovated and expanded centers. He added that all exiting leases with commercial tenants will be honored if and when this project goes forward and the new retailers will be assigned currently future or vacant space or any new space in the expanded centers. He added that another benefit will be a wider variety of retailers within the confines of the community, some possibly coming from many of the nation’s leading chains from clothing, to restaurants to home goods.

“Tiffany’s is not going to come here,” Smith said, “but who will come here are retailers that can meet the needs of the community. They will not come here unless they know they can make a go of it and they will not do that unless they meet the needs of the community.” He added that a person only has to look at the exploding retail market that has sprung up around Co-op City in the past 20 years, pointing to the expanding Bay Plaza to the south and the smaller Peartree center to the north to realize the opportunity that Co-op City represents to retailers. But he added that the difference with expanding the retail opportunities within Co-op City is that part of the money that shareholders spend in the community’s own centers goes back into the community to help offset shareholder’s expenses. “When a Co-op City resident goes to Bay Plaza to shop or eat in a restaurant, none of that money they spend goes back to Co-op City. By creating better shopping within Co-op City, part of the increased money that residents will spend here goes back to the community and its shareholders, the residents,” Smith explained. Aside from the increased revenue generated to help offset some of the expenses to maintain and manage the community, Smith said that his plan brings other obvious benefits, including additional jobs for residents, jobs that can bring entry level experience to the community’s youth, as well as help supplement the fixed incomes of the community’s many retired residents. The other major benefit is esthetics as any agreement with the commercial partner will include an agreement to improve shopping center lighting, signage, pedestrian walkways and community plazas and public seating areas in all centers in

the community and all of these improvements will be paid for by the commercial developer in exchange for the right to lease property within the confines of the community and then share that revenue with the community, Smith explained. Smith added that Cushman and Wakefield’s role in the project is that of a consultant who, when and if the project is realized, will collect a fee from the chosen developer for bringing this opportunity to them. Riverbay has no financial obligation to Cushman and Wakefield for bringing this project along. Herb Freedman of Co-op City’s managing agent, Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc., explained: “We contacted Cushman and Wakefield to look into ways to update and improve our shopping centers while maximizing the revenue potential for Co-op City’s shareholders. The Board will seriously consider their proposals while taking into account the concerns and ideas of the community.” Judging from last week’s Board meeting, those concerns include a loyalty to existing retailers, some of whom have served the community for close to 40 years. Smith reiterated that all those existing leases will be honored and they will be offered the chance to renew if they choose when the time comes. Smith added that they too will benefit from the improved look of the centers and the increased volume of shoppers that the new retailers will hopefully bring to the center. As the process goes forward into 2013, the Board of Directors, with input from the community, will choose possibly by the spring, whether to go forward with the idea and, if so, choose the developer who will partner with Riverbay in this project. Cushman and Wakefield sent out more than 2,000 invitations to known commer-

cial developers in the region to explore the opportunities here, and five developers took tours of the community in recent months with two firmly expressing an interest to further develop the shopping centers here. One of those developers is Taconic, Prusik and ABR whose recent projects include the development of a two-story shopping center on previously underutilized property on Southern Blvd. in the Bronx. The project has created 200 jobs for that community’s residents. This developer also converted an abandoned warehouse in East Harlem into a major shopping center, anchored by a Target store which has created more than 2,000 jobs. The other developer interested in all three centers is Northstar Centers which developed a strip mall along Palmer Avenue in New Rochelle, now anchored by a Stop and Shop, and a major shopping center in Southington, Connecticut anchored by a Target and a Lowe’s. The third interested developer, Ashkenazy, has developed the Cross County Mall in Yonkers and the Cross Bronx Plaza. Its stated plan is to increase the Bartow Mall’s volume of shops and shoppers. Smith said the next stage is for each developer to present renderings of their ideas and a business plan to the community by the spring. If the Board votes to go ahead with the plan and chooses a developer shortly after that, then Smith said, the optimistic projection is for work on the redevelopment to begin by the end of 2013. Freedman said before any project goes forward after the Riverbay Board approves it, it also must be approved by HUD, Wells Fargo Bank and New York State’s DHCR, under the terms of the new financing agreement.

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Holiday wishes As 2012 comes to a close, there is a lot that has been accomplished here and much more to look forward to in 2013. The HUD guaranteed low interest loan from Wells Fargo Bank has helped to stabilize our debt service while freeing up additional monies to continue ongoing capital projects and other much-needed improvements in 2013. La undr y Room Up gr ades To date, we have upgraded laundry rooms in 28 of the 35 buildings in Co-op City. Unfortunately, flooding due to Hurricane Sandy severely damaged the facilities of our laundry room vendor, Coinmach, as well as the laundry facilities of other clients of the vendor. As a result, they asked if they could temporarily put a hold on the scheduled work here to give them a chance to clean-up their facilities while responding to other properties which were in an emergency situation due to the storm and we obliged. We are now happy to report that the laundry room upgrades will resume in the second week of January and continue into the spring as the last of the seven remaining buildings will be finished by the end of April marking the completion of this ambitious and worthwhile project. On January 11th, Coinmach will begin upgrading the laundry room of Building 33 and the laundry room is scheduled to be reopened on February 4. Work on

St. Mary’s The day will have two components: a children’s festival during the day in the school gymnasium where attendees will be asked to buy books of coupons for either $20 or $30 which entitles children and adults to partake in a wide variety of activities such as games, races, arts and crafts, face painting and much more. Many City Island businesses, along with Co-op City and City Island residents, will be donating their time and talents to bringing a wide array of features to the afternoon-long festival which will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium at 580 Minnieford Avenue on City Island, directly behind St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Church. Then later that evening, the gymnasium will be transformed into a dance hall and the New Year, New Hope Gala will kick

Power Plant maintenance costs. An overhaul of the cooling tower included replacement of the interior fill in the three main cells and exterior replacement of the 38-year-old asbestos siding. More improvements are still needed to modernize Co-op City’s heating and cooling systems and keep the community warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Reardon is creating a 10-year capital budget plan to lay out the areas where future investments need to be made.

Management Corner

Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc. Building 30’s laundry room will begin on January 25th, with a scheduled reopening on February 18th. The schedule for the other five remaining buildings is: Building 27 beginning on February 8th and reopening on March 1st; Building 28 beginning on February 22nd and reopening on March 15th; Building 34 beginning on March 8th and reopening on March 29th; Building 29 beginning on March 22nd and reopening on April 12th and Building 35 beginning on April 5th and reopening on April 26th. During the renovation period, cooperators will be able to access neighboring buildings to do laundry. Neighboring buildings will have their lobby locks modified, temporally allowing the use of your buildings lobby key. We thank the residents of these buildings for their patience during these unforeseen delays due to Hurricane Sandy’s effect on the region. Recognit ion for t he best por t er s a nd gr ounds wor ker s As we have done for several years now, we are holding an incentive program for porters and grounds workers where

we recognize the workers who do the best jobs at maintaining their assigned buildings and other areas of responsibility. During this process, a team of supervisors, headed by the General Manager and other key department directors, inspects each area of the community to determine which buildings, shopping centers, and grounds areas are the best maintained and reward those workers who are responsible for such excellence. This year, our judging will include the participation of some building association presidents and take into account feedback from cooperators as well. One building from each section that is deemed the best will have porters and groundspeople from that building recognized as well as maintenance workers assigned to the community centers for the excellent results that they also produce. St ay sa fe this holida y sea son To those of you who have last minute Christmas shopping to get done this weekend, please enjoy the spirit of the season, try not to get too stressed, and, most importantly, be aware of your surroundings when in crowded malls, stores or shopping districts. It is a sad but true fact that there are many criminals out there looking to turn the distractions of this joyous but busy season into an opportunity to steal. When shopping, be sure to safeguard your purses, bags, and/or wallets, look out for pick pockets, especially

in crowds and be aware that confidence schemes thrive during this time of year. If you choose to have a real Christmas tree in your home, please be extra vigilant in making sure that tree is watered sufficiently and regularly. Leaving the light on constantly can dry out the tree quickly. Check for signs of a drying tree, such as dropping needles, and dispose of the tree in a timely fashion at the end of the holiday celebration. In Co-op City, drive safely and remind whatever guests you may have visiting your home to obey the rules, especially if using one of our garages to park their vehicles. Most importantly, anyone driving to a holiday gathering or party must not drink any alcohol. If you are hosting a party or gathering in your home, make sure that each of the designated drivers do not have any alcohol to drink and if someone driving does drink against your wishes, make sure you arrange for a car service to take them home at the end of the night. There are many car services that serve this community and a professional driver is only minutes away. By taking advantage of these car services, you could be averting a tragedy. To all of you, we would like to extend Happy Holiday wishes. We look forward to working together again in 2013 to continue to make Co-op City a strong community with a great quality of life.

a restructuring of tuition to help compensate for the lack of subsidies that the Archdiocese is no longer willing to provide small schools, such as St. Mary’s. Clancy explains that for the school to break even, tuition would have to be as high as $7000 per year. Right now, the school charges tuition averaging closer to $3000 per year when you factor in the student-need-based scholarships. He added that while the school is not filled to capacity, empty desks are not the main problem as the school is being well-utilized. The main problem is trying to break even without the help the Archdiocese has provided in the past while keeping tuition at an affordable level for the working class families served by the school. St. Mary’s is certainly not the only school in the Bronx or elsewhere facing

this dilemma. Many, if not most of these schools, are attempting to raise funds to avert their shuttering all under the very tight deadlines the Archdiocesan authorities have imposed on these schools. This is despite the fact that most of these schools are serving low or middle income communities. The difficult fundraising tasks undertaken by these educators and parents have been made more arduous by the fact that they are forced to raise these funds in the midst of the holiday season and then report back to the Diocese on January 3rd in an attempt to save their schools. This deadline comes even before the traditional end of the church’s Christmas season, marked by the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th, also known as Three Kings Day in many Hispanic cultures.

used in the dual temp system in the winter for heating and others for making hot water in every basement. They are all original and they are part of the upgrades that need to be done,” he said. Also, bids are already out now for a high pressure boiler and two main transformers. Another capital project underway will build a water treatment plant to replace the demineralization trailers that are outside the tri-generation plant now. The gas turbines that drive the tri-generation plant

require very fine pure water. The tri-generation plant operates by using fuel to drive the gas turbine to make electricity. The waste heat or exhaust from the gas turbines is then used to produce steam which is then used again to produce more electricity in a steam turbine, and then the waste steam from the steam turbine is used to run the steam-driven centrifical chillers in the summer and our heat exchanges in the heating season.

(Continued from page 3)

off at 8 p.m. St. Mary’s parents and school supporters will enjoy an evening of music, and dancing and a dinner donated by J.P.’s Restaurant of City Island while Portofino’s Restaurant of City Island will donate refreshments. City Island-based musicians and disc jockeys will also donate their talents to the evening. Tickets are $25 each in advance and $40 at the door. There will be numerous raffles held throughout the evening to raise additional funds. Clancy said that the hope is that the money raised on the 29th will bring the total amount of money raised to well over $200,000. The association hopes to raise $300,000 in total and also present to the Archdiocese’s Reconfiguration Committee a financial plan, including a more aggressive fundraising strategy, and (Continued from page 1)

“Some of the items that need to be improved include the building controls which control the pump rooms in the basement and the hot water system. They are originals from 1968 and we just got bids in to replace them now. We are upgrading the low pressure boiler to improve on the emissions which is now under federal regulation and by 2014 we have to lower our emission standards even more. “We have plant heat exchanges that are

Advertising works!

Call 718.320.3300, Ext. 3377 for our affordable rates.

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Co-op City Times

Letter To The Editor

HUD loan details still not clear To t h e E d it or : After two pages of nothing, shareholders are still not being told what we got stuck with. If that was not bad enough, the Board seems to be going on a spending spree, i.e. $33M for lobby restoration; $8-$10M to replace one and repair the other low Pressure Boilers to meet EPS requirements; $23.8M to complete the current restoration. Add to that, in the last two paragraphs, HUD list of new project that we agreed to such as: 1. Installing new smoke detectors in each bedroom.

2. Installing new carbon monoxide detectors in each apartment. 3. Replace current socket with ground fault interrupter . 4. Some unspecified inside and outside ground repairs. No cost was given for these items and what we have not been told is if this is HUD last list of projects we have to do or the first list? There were inspections done prior to the loan being approved and we were told no further inspection of apartments would be required. However, now we are being

told that all 15,372 apartments must be inspected for friable asbestos, but not the cost to do it over the next 18 month. Why did the Board agree to strip shareholders of their right to privacy in their apartment, and if we refuse to allow the inspection, then what? I guess Co-op shareholders are now to be considered tenants in the largest project in NYC. My question to the Board is why have you returned us to pre-1974 status of no say in what happens to our community? —Br uce Git elson

children, parents, grandparents and the elderly safe and sound. We should turn in all weapons, big or small, to our police department as soon as possible and include guns, knives and others known to kill.

Holiday Closing Wednesday, December 26 and also on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Material submitted after these times will not be considered for publication in the Saturday, December 29th, 2012 issue and the Saturday, January 5, 2013 issues of the Co-op City Times, respectively. Please note that the regular business hours of the Co-op City Times are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each

find it painful to pull that door. In my opinion, any frail individual could lose their grip and tip backward, risking a fall. Neither Coinmach nor Riverbay seems to want to voluntarily budge to modify those doors. I believe it is doable! Years ago, Riverbay replaced apartment door peepholes for anyone who so desired - it’s time to do the same with easier to open locks and doorknobs. Another not so marvelous upgrade from Riverbay: they replaced the compactor chutes with what I find to be a very heavy version that doesn’t open all the way and has a smaller handle. The U.S. Postal Service has used the same easy to open blue mailboxes that withstand hurricanes for generations; learn from them.

By doing this, we can help each other to a safer and protected environment. Let’s pray together for those who were killed and God should be able to protect them in the future. —Stanley Hirschhorn

The fourth brainless change was to dim fluorescent lights that provided safety and visibility in the garages. I feel you need to bring your own flashlight to see and unbuckle the baby from his/her seat, spot a mugger, or avoid tripping. The fifth not so wonderful change was with the phones. We were once able to reach an office directly, but in order to make things easier for management, they switched to the time consuming phone menu; our time isn’t as important as theirs. As you start to reach old age and experiencing limitations, watch out; I feel Riverbay may be hazardous to your existence. Please share your views for meaningful, helpful changes. —C a r m en R osa

(Continued from page 1)

weekday. Material for publication may be emailed to cctimes@riverbay corp.com; faxed to (718) 320-2595 or slipped under the office door at 2049 Bartow Avenue, Rm. 21. Although the administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday, and on Tuesday, January 1 for New Year’s Day,

Rozaan Boone Editor-in-Chief

Bill Stuttig Associate Editor

Jim Roberts Business Manager

Jennifer Piovanetti Operations Manager

Ralph Henriquez Production Manager Editorial Assistant

Time to think outside the box To t h e E d it or : Concerning lobby enhancements, in my opinion, Riverbay consistently fails to meet the needs of the disabled and senior citizens. I’ll start with the new windows which I find difficult to open and balcony doors with high saddles which I feel place senior citizens at risk of tripping and falling and can be prohibitive for individuals in wheelchairs. Next, I do not like the recently installed washing machines because they may be too high for short people or anyone with disabilities to reach the detergent dispensers. The newer models have the added problem of not having leverage handles. Instead, you release the stubborn latch by inserting your fingers into a groove. Arthritics can

Derek Alger Director of Communications

Deborah Harris

Help keep our families safe To the Editor: After reading in the newspapers about the tragic happening in Newtown, Conn., I am appealing to the residents of Co-op City to help prevent the spread of violence in our area and keep our

Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. (718) 320-3300, ext. 3375 cctimes@riverbaycorp.com

shareholders may contact Riverbay at (718) 320-3300, and follow the prompts for emergency maintenance, and the Co-op City Public Safety Department for emergencies at (718) 671-3050, as well as 9-1-1. We wish our readers a merry Christmas, happy Kwanzaa and Three Kings celebrations, and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

The Co-op City Times welcomes issue-oriented letters to the editor to be considered for publication. All letters, in prose, not poetry, must be addressed to the editor, not to third parties. All letters must be handsigned by the writers and include their addresses and phone numbers, which will be kept confidential, so that the editor can verify the authenticity of the authors. Writers will be limited to one letter per topic. And to give everyone a chance, we will limit writers to one published letter every 30 days. Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Letters cannot exceed 350 words. Ideally, they should be typed. All letters must be in the Co-op City Times office in Room 21, Bartow Community Center, by 3 p.m. every Monday to be considered for publication in that week’s edition. Views and opinions expressed in letters and Directors’ Viewpoint are solely the writer’s, and not necessarily shared by the Co-op City Times or Riverbay Corp. Advertisements and classified advertisements in the Co-op City Times do not necessarily reflect an endorsement from Riverbay Corporation of goods and services, but present greater options to cooperators of products and services available. The Riverbay Corporation does not assume any responsibility nor is it a party to any contract or agreement between the cooperator and the vendor. All matter published herein is copyrighted by the Co-op City Times. Permission for reprints of advertising or editorial contents produced by the Co-op City Times must be obtained in writing from Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Ave., Bronx, New York 10475.

If the Co-op City Times Was Not Delivered: Call 646.261.1761 on Saturdays ONLY, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Send us your

Letters! s r Edito City Timee. Co-opBartow Av 5 2049 , NY 1047 Bronx

email: cctimes@riverbaycorp.com

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Public Safety Report CCPD wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe holiday season BY LIEUTENANT PAM APOLLO The Co-op City Department of Public Safety would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a happy, healthy and safe Holiday Season. Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or another winter holiday, we would like to wish you happiness and joy this season. Holidays are a busy time, but be sure to relax and enjoy yourself. Frazzled holiday shoppers present a variety of opportunities for unscrupulous thieves. Auto crimes are heightened this time of the year. The criminal may observe packages or other valuables inside your vehicle and choose to break into your vehicle. Try to avoid leaving packages in your auto even when shopping. If this is unavoidable, place packages in the trunk and move your vehicle to another parking spot, if possible. Avoid the temptation of using your automobile as a location to store gifts. Parking in the garages offers residents a safer and more convenient option than street parking. Co-op City’s eight garages are patrolled 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by the Public Safety Department. The Department of Public Safety offers these safety tips and requests the assistance of residents in keeping the garages as safe as possible. Co-op City’s eight garages have all exits locked with entry by key only for authorized persons who possess garage leases. The exits on all four corners, as well as front and rear doors, require a key to gain access. It is most important that residents make certain doors lock behind themselves. Garage parkers should also make certain not to open the door for anyone they do not know. It may seem rude not to hold the door, but granting access

Seabrook

(Continued from page 1)

attorneys for convicted former City Council member Seabrook filed court papers earlier requesting that Seabrook receive no jail time when he is sentenced in January. “Standing before the court for sentencing is a 62 year old, man who has had an extraordinary career that has genuinely impacted and inspired many young people to succeed and to carry on a tradition that he learned from his parents many years ago,” Seabrook’s attorneys wrote in court papers filed on Nov. 26. “For the most part, Larry Seabrook has lived an extraordinary law abiding life as a productive and responsible member of our society,” Seabrook’s attorneys wrote. Seabrook will be sentenced by Judge Batts on Jan. 8, 2013. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the nine felony counts and possible fines of more than $2 million. Prosecutors are asking that Seabrook receive a total sentence of 7 to 9 years in federal prison. In court papers filed on Nov. 13, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York told Judge Batts that she should “ … impose a sentence that communicates clearly that corruption on the part of trusted public officials will not be tolerated.” Seabrook was convicted on July 26 on three counts of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and three counts of wire fraud. He was acquitted on three counts charging an illegal kickback scheme involving the bidding of a boiler contract at the new Yankee Stadium.

Happy Holidays!

to persons who are not authorized presents a hazard to authorized parkers and their property. Reports of suspicious persons or activities are investigated promptly. Any persons observed in the garage may be asked to provide identification, including vehicle registration for vehicle parked in the garage. Persons observed within the garages without a valid reason can be placed under arrest and receive a Universal Summons for Trespass. Arrests can also be made for crimes, including Grand Larceny Auto, Burglary or Possession of Burglar’s Tools. If the arrested person is a Co-op City resident, a Co-op City Community Complaint, which carries a monetary fine, can also be issued in connection with the arrest. It is most important that garage parkers notify the Department of Public Safety at (718) 671-3050 and 9-1-1 if they observe any suspicious persons or activity in the garages. Suspicious activity near vehicles parked on the street should also be reported. If you see something that just does not seem right, be sure to call immediately. Your intuition that something is wrong usually is just that and is always worth investigating. Observations by residents have yielded many arrests over the years. Patterns of auto crimes are readily identified and put to an end with the arrest of the person(s) responsible. Active involvement by residents allows auto crime rates within Co-op City to remain among the lowest in the city. Distracted shoppers also present an opportunity for thieves. As you bustle around to complete that holiday shopping, be sure to be alert to your surroundings. Extra crowds provide an excellent opportunity for criminals, such as pickpockets. Shop with a friend and consider giv-

ing gift cards or cash for your remaining gifts. Cash allows the recipient to pick out exactly what they want and you don’t have to worry about fees, expiration dates or returns. Don’t forget, the Department of Public Safety has a lost and found for keys and eyeglasses located at our office at 2049 Bartow Avenue, lower level. We are always happy when people can be reunited with their property. If you find keys or eyeglasses, bring them to Public Safety. Be sure to check here if you are missing these items as well. Don’t forget to use up any money you have left in Flexible Spending Accounts for 2012. Schedule any end of the year medical appointments for the coming week, if necessary. Good health and well being go hand in hand with safety. Have a safe and healthy New Year, 2013. Lieutenant Pam Apollo would like to thank all of my avid readers for their support and input throughout the year. Also, be sure to buckle your seatbelt and avoid distractions when driving. If you plan to consume alcoholic beverages, be sure to designate a driver who will not drink or call a taxi. Every police agency in the country has heightened Drunk Driving enforcement this time of the year. There is no amount of alcohol which is permissible when operating a motor vehicle. Always remember, if you see something, say something. Call 9-1-1 and the Department of Public Safety at (718) 671-3050 or online at www.ccpd.us. Callers may remain anonymous when giving information. The Co-op City Department of Public Safety would like to thank all persons who have called in suspicious activity. It is by your actions that the crime rate remains low and a high quality of life is maintained.

Public Safety Blotter: December 12 - December 14 December 14, 99 Einstein Loop A cooperator reported their vehicle missing from the garage. This matter is under investigation. December 13, 100 Benchley Place A youth reported that while on his way to school, he was accosted by another youth and robbed of various belongings. The youth was not injured December 12, Baychester Avenue

A CCPD unit was flagged down by a passerby

who informed him there was a fight onboard a NYCTA bus. As the officer approached, three males suddenly fled from the bus. A foot pursuit apprehended two of three suspects who had been involved in an altercation on the bus and produced a knife, threatening two passengers. The two males were arrested and booked accordingly. One male was a juvenile and the other, an adult, remanded to Bronx Central Booking.

Co-op City Department of Public Safety (718) 671-3050 www.ccpd.us. If you SEE something, SAY something!

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Beware of Violent Toys Season’s Greetings. The holiday season is here, and I’d like it to be a joyous occasion for all. In order to make if fun and safe for everyone, our friends, neighbors and all Americans, I believe that we must stop purchasing guns and violent toys for our children. A Christmas/ Holiday gift should be non-violent. As you know, there are television reality shows and advertisements that constantly promote violent programming, including cartoons. Our children are intelligent and they remember these violent acts, which are perpetrated against other human beings. Just as bad are the movies and video games that we watch and play. I believe we must refrain from allowing our children to be involved with these destructive items of violence. Depending on their age, some children cannot determine whether these acts of violence should be perpetrated against another human being. Others have become immune to killing and the value for human life has diminished, it appears to me. Our community and our nation were saddened by the tragedy that occurred last week at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. It was revealed that the mother of the 20-year old accused of committing the massacre, owned several guns and taught her son how to use them. It is believed that guns in a home are very likely to be used on family members rather than on a criminal. I intend to contact my elected officials to request that they support legislation to stop allowing the sale of assault weapons. Won’t you join me? Remember, parents – Do not buy violent toys! O pen Boa r d Meeting Although there was a small turnout for the Open Board meeting in Section 5,

Director’s Viewpoint

Francine Reva Jones Secretary

interesting discussions ensued. Fred Smith of Cushman & Wakefield reviewed how they would enhance the Co-op City community at no cost to cooperators. He named two investors that were interested for a deal lasting 25-30 years. There were concerns that the rents might increase too high for the commercial businesses to afford. Suggestions were made from cooperators and the Board, including that there should be input from the community. It was determined that participation by cooperators could be done via the Co-op City Times. Cory Sutton is a young man who spoke for the younger generation, stating that he would like to see a youth center in the former Bingo Hall. He stated that it is working out well in Section 5 and due to the change in demographics, it is needed at this site as well. He further stated that Co-op City needs larger and age appropriate parks and sprinklers, as well as upgrading and making the basketball courts safe. He was invited to the Youth Committee and promised to do whatever he could to help. Lobby renovation. Two architects, Ivan Brice and Robert Stahl presented. It was stated that our lobbies should be code compliant, upgraded and modernized. There was concern about the cost and that perhaps we should do only what was nec-

Building 32 Association M eet in g Our first meeting of the new year is scheduled for Tuesday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. We will have a special guest and look forward to welcoming back our old cooperators and meeting our new cooperators. All types of information is available at our meetings, and you should avail yourself of the opportunity to find out firsthand what is happening. Our meetings are held in the Association Room, first floor rear, in Building 32B. Kin d n ess a n d C on sider a t ion Life can be very difficult. We in Co-op City got through Hurricane Sandy unscathed, but many of our families, friends and colleagues did not. Twenty little kids in Connecticut were murdered; one man spoke of having moved his family

from the Bronx for a better, safer life. We need to take the time to greet our neighbors, hold the door for people, and in general stop and think of how fortunate we are. A New Year’s resolution for all of us could be being kinder, nicer, and more considerate of those around us. Activit ies Our lending library should be fully organized some time in January. Hours and dates will follow in the next few weeks. We are planning an Atlantic City Casino trip after Easter. There have been requests for another “Cash for Gold” meeting; this will probably occur in late winter. Hoping that everyone had a Happy Hanukah and wishing a Merry Christmas and a Joyous Kwanzaa to all! —L or na Sm it h

The lobby of Building 15A is all decked out for the holidays. The annual labor of love, which celebrates Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukah, is designed and coordinated by Dorothea Castle with the help of residents Robbin Vails, Michael Robinson, Andre Peterson, Carmen Molina, Steve Banks and Alicia Diaz. Photo by Bill Stuttig

essary, i.e., the doors and the intercom system. Some cooperators felt that it was more important to make the needed repairs throughout the building, such as the busting pipes which cause floods, the convectors, etc. rather than to spend enormous sums of money on modernizing the lobbies. More discussions will follow. Ha ll Closet s If you have a hall closet or two hall closets, which you don’t really need, please give it up. There is a long waiting list for cooperators who need hall closets and it would be very neighborly of you to relinquish it. If you know of someone who doesn’t really need their hall closet(s), please inform them about this request. Thank you. H olida y Pa r king Discounts Last year, the discounts for transient parking proved beneficial to all. Therefore, the Board of Directors has passed Resolution #12-84 to allow discounts for even more hours than last year. There will be discounts for three days, i.e., Christmas Eve, December 24th; Christmas Day, December 25th and New Year’s Eve, December 31st, from 12:00 noon until 6:00 a.m.; The cost for visitors will be $5. Your guests, family and friends will be allowed to park for 18 hours. I trust that all will abide by of the Riverbay parking rules and have a Happy Holiday. Kwa nzaa C elebr a t ion The Coalition of African-American Churches & Community Organizations of Co-op City, Inc., consisting of eight churches and organization in Co-op City, will be celebrating its 16th Kwanzaa Celebration and enthusiastically invites you to attend on Saturday, December 29,

at 3:00 p.m. in the Bartow Community Center, Room 31. Kwanzaa is the seven-day (December 26-January1) African celebration of family, community and culture as personified in African “First Fruits” or harvest celebrations. Kwanzaa incorporates the spirit, value and practice of Ingathering, Reverence, Commemoration, Recommitment and Celebration; and evolves around Seven Principles, one for each day of Kwanzaa, call the Nguzo Saba. The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (SelfDetermination); Ujima (Collective work and responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (Faith). Those attending the Kwanzaa Celebration are requested to bring an offering of a large, main dish of food (NO PORK, PLEASE) or dessert, or juice, to share with others. Please contact me or Patricia Bonaparte (718-320-1861) to advise us of what your food offering will be. Also, traditional African attire should be worn, although it is not mandatory. Dr. James McIntosh of the Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP) will present a relevant and uplifting message. Your attendance and participation are required to make this family/community/cultural festivity a success. Habara gani! Pa r t icipa t e Please contact me if you have an issue that has not or cannot be resolved through your building association or your CSO. Francine Jones, Board Director, c/o Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475 or call me at 718-671-5957.

Co-op Insurance

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

The Wright Agency: Serving Co-op City for 31 years!

Riverbay Requires Current Co-op Shareholders to Obtain Coverage! Your Co-op is an Investment Worth Protecting!

Protection to cover your belongings against: • Fire & Smoke • Water damage from plumbing • Vandalism/Riot

We offer:

• Low Premiums

• Protective Device Discounts • Auto-Home Discounts

• 55 & Retired Discounts

• Certain personal liabilities • Guest medical protection • And so much more!

Other Lines of Insurance: • Auto

• Homeowners • Life

The Wright Agency

Agency Owner

We are conveniently located only blocks from Co-op City!

Hours:

Monday: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

(near Eastchester Road)

1435 East Gun Hill Road Call Us Today!

Courteous Staff! Convenient Hours!

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Changes are necessary Like many of you, it’s been really difficult to wrap my brains around the recent monstrous act that took the lives of twenty 6 and 7 year old innocent children and the adults who were caring for them. For the most part, children are safe in our schools, however, no one could have prevented such a deranged individual from shooting his way in. As the nation began yet another discussion about the right to bear arms, we should also discuss why Mental Health Services are either nonexistent in some communities or budgets are slashed in other communities. Our community is not without those who suffer from mental health issues. However, sadly some cooperators object to those who find comfort with dogs as a companion. What I know for sure as a trained Clinician is that there is more than one way to treat mental illness and having a pet is one of them. Americans are not going to give up their firearms; however, we must attempt to figure out why we sell military type weapons to private citizens. I believe we must join the President in

Director’s Viewpoint

Evelyn Turner Assistant Secretary bringing about some type of change. The purpose of a gun is to kill and most recently, parents of color, lost their child for “playing music too loud,” another for just walking in the wrong community. As we talk about change, we should also discuss the violent videos young children play with every day. What about the violent scenes in movies? What about the violent lyrics in music? We as a society will have to focus on more than GUNS. We may need a major culture change if we are to prevent this on-going senseless killing of our children. My prayers and tears have gone out to

all those impacted by the horrible tragedy in Sandy Hook and the parents whose son was shot recently for “playing his music too loud.” A question we need to ask ourselves is where are the mental health services in Co-op City? Also, should we be doing more in addition to allowing animals for comfort? This Director would suggest that we have this conversation at the Board level. For sure, we have individuals with mental challenges (Depression/ Anger/Despair/) in our community. Many thanks to cooperators who attended the recent Open Board meeting. We are pleased as Directors that most of your concerns are being addressed and you had no reason to come out. A wonderful surprise is that a documentary is being filmed about Co-op City since the HUD loan. Staff members from Sarah Colt Production, Brookline, MA were in attendance. We should also be appreciative of Board Directors Bernie Cylich and Daryl Johnson who are keeping a sharp eye on Expenditures and Resolutions. It’s great to have Board Directors with different

skill sets that allows for diversity in opinions and expertise. We can always depend on Director Cylich to remind officers of Resolutions that were passed and we choose to ignore for whatever reason. You can always depend on this Director to address Human Service needs. My regrets go out to the cooperator whose car was stolen recently from Garage 7. I am personally aware of what it means to have your automobile targeted for vandalism. I will follow-up with Management to discuss the possibility of better security cameras on all floors. Let us all be grateful that we are living in such a wonderful affordable community. We are not a perfect community, but we are willing and able to discuss our concerns as we move forward. “Silence is the deadliest weapon of mass destruction.” Continue to speak up and out about any issue that concerns you and your family. Please contact me at: Evelyn M. Turner, 718-320-8088 or cell: 917-3241033.

NOTICE TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS R ega r d in g r oom r en t a ls Shareholders are reminded that community center rooms are adjacent to residential homes. As a result, the following rules must be adhered to: * Community Center rooms are rented for eight (8) hour time frames—11 a.m.-7 p.m.; 12 p.m.-8 p.m.; 1 p.m.-9 p.m.; 2 p.m.-10 p.m.; and 3 p.m.-11 p.m.

Only specific rooms are allowed for later hours—4 p.m.-12 a.m., and 5 p.m.1 a.m. Any function that runs past 11 p.m. pays a mandatory clean-up charge. * These eight-hour periods include decorating time, party time and departure. * The time printed on your signed

contract is the time requested and agreed to by all parties. * It is the responsibility of the signer of the rental contract to ensure that everyone, including their personal items, leave the premises at the end of the time specified in the rental agreement. * Unauthorized overtime is ANY amount of time spent in the rented room

past the hours printed on the signed contract and will be deducted from the security deposit. Failure to adhere to these rules can result in the shareholder(s) being restricted from future rentals. Thank you for your cooperation. —R iver b a y’s C om m er cia l P r op er t ies Dep a r t m en t

CITY SMILES DENTAL Dentistry For The Whole Family

• Cosmetic Dentistry

Emergencies Welcome!

% Financing for Qualified Patients

• Invisalign - Braces Most Insurances Accepted as Full or Partial Payment

• Implants • Root Canals

Use Your Benefits BEFORE THEY EXPIRE!

• Extractions • Denture Repairs

Evening and Saturday Appointments Free Parking • WIFI

2063-B Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475 in the Bartow Shopping Mall

(718) 379-4734

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Good Will To All H olid a y P a r k in g Please be sure to have all your Christmas visitors take advantage of the Holiday parking discount which is $5 from 12 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. This resolution I created is one of my favorites as it fosters the visitation to our homes for those who we hold

Holiday Season to the entire Co-op City family, and a prosperous New Year for us all. Please remember to keep the victims and families of the Connecticut

school tragedy in your prayers. This tragedy serves us as a reminder that we must above all else keep defending against all evil. Thank you. I can be reached at 718-320-3351; ccdirector@opt online.net, or write to the Riverbay Board Office, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bx., NY 10475.

call (718) 320-8035. Black Forum Lyon’s Mane Track Club There’s still time to register for indoor track. Call for information, (718) 320-8035. Soup Day Coming soon. Please call for information, (718) 320-8035. Emergency Food Program We are open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Room 20 at the Dreiser Community Center. Also, due to budget constraints and shortage of available food, you must live within zip code 10475 to participate in this program. You must also have your card with you and bring two clean plastic shopping bags. In order to receive food, you must present a current photo ID such as a non

or driver’s license or any photo ID card with proof of address. You will then be issued a card in order to pick up food in the future. Volunteers wanted We need volunteers for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Call (718) 320-8035. We Need You - Join Us Today Now is the time for us to get involved. Membership is $5 per year/person. Call (718) 320-8035 or write to Black Forum, P.O. Box 563, Bronx, NY 10475; email: coopcityblackforum@gmail.com. Help us keep independent community organizations alive in Co-op City. Everyone is encouraged to join. Call us or visit us in Room 20 in the Dreiser Community Center. —Tony I llis

Director’s Viewpoint

Raymond Tirado Treasurer

close to our hearts by simplifying the parking process in Co-op City on the major holidays. I wish a very Merry Christmas and

Black Forum Next Defensive Driving Our next defensive driving course will be held on Saturday, January 12, Rm. 1, Dreiser Community Center, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Call today to register, 718-320-8035. Lower your insurance cost by 15% and remove up to 4 points from your driver’s license. Please make your check in the amount of $35, payable to “the Black Forum of Co-op City,” and mail to P.O. Box 563, Bronx, N.Y. 10475 at least 1½ weeks before the class, or you can walk in on the day of the class but you must have $35 in cash to pay for the course. Upcoming trips to Aqueduct Casino We will be returning to Aqueduct Casino on Saturday, February 16 and Saturday, March 16, leaving from Dreiser Rehab at 1 p.m. sharp, back of the Library on Asch Loop at 1:15 p.m. and 135

Einstein Loop at 1:30 p.m. Returning to Co-op City at 8 p.m. Call today for your reservation. Cost: $20 per person. Wiz of Oz and chorus auditions continue Wiz of Oz rehearsals and chorus auditions every Saturday this month in Room 1 of the Dreiser Center at 1:30 p.m. SHARP. The date of the play will be announced. Three (3) more actors/actresses between the ages of 14-18 ONLY are needed. Ability to sing and dance a MUST. Come to Room 1 on Saturdays. Notice: All Section 5 food pantry participants All Section 5 residents must pick up their food packages on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Evangelical Church of Co-op City. You must bring your white cards to be able to pick up your food. For more information, please

Spanish-American Community Club Come join the Spanish-American Community Club for our annual Christmas Party, beginning at 8:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 22nd in Dreiser Auditoriums ‘A’ and ‘B’. We are combining this year’s party with our traditional ‘Cantares Navideños’ celebration. Tickets are still available for a donation of only $30 per person. Enjoy 3 live bands: Orquesta Tipica Novel, Ray Rodriguez y Su Swing Sabroso and Los Pleneros de la 21, along with the music of Enterprise Sounds. For tickets and more information, please contact Alfonso Gonzalez at (347) 249-3403 or the Club Room at (718) 3797017. We look forward to seeing you there for an evening of holiday fun, Latin-style! Welcome the New Year with us on December 31st at our annual New Year’s Eve Party, to be held in Dreiser Auditorium ‘B’, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. For a donation of $15 per person, you can enjoy the live sounds of Swing y Sabor and the music of DJ Salsero. For tickets and more information, please contact Jose Lopez at (347) 610-3121 or the Club Room at (718) 379-7017. The holiday festivities come to a close with a visit from the Three Kings, hosted

by the Youth Committee, on Saturday, January 5th, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the club room. The Spanish-American Community Club is pleased to announce that applications for the Tony Mondesire Scholarship Award are now available. Please note: the applications are being distributed to ALL students of higher education - NOT just members and their families. The forms will be available in Room 16 of Dreiser Loop Center at any of our monthly meetings, either the 2nd Thursday of every month or at the Board of Directors meetings on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and residents of the Bronx. Students must carry a minimum of 12 credits per semester at an accredited institution for at least one year. Applications must be returned by May 15, either by mail, or to a member of the Scholarship Board of Trustees. Additional information for all of our upcoming club events, as well as details concerning the club in general, can be found on our web site: http://spanamcccc.synthasite.com. —C a r m en R od r igu ez

Clothing bins Shareholders are reminded that the clothing bins placed at the garages are for your convenience to donate unused clothing, linens and shoes. Trans-America picks up twice a week to avoid overflow at the drop-off sites. However, it has become noticeable that instead of placing their bags of donated items inside the bins, some residents are leaving the bags on the ground outside of the bins, regardless of whether the bins are full or not. Please place your donated bags inside the donation bins and DO NOT leave them on the ground. When packing, make sure not to overfill your bag(s) to avoid it not being able to pass through the bins’ openings. If you must, place the donated items in several small bags. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

SEASON’S GREETINGS!

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Costly Lobby Upgrades I would like to thank everyone who came out for our Board meeting on Wednesday, December 12. Now, I would like to let you know what’s really going here. Lo b b y U p g r a d es We just took out a loan for $621,500,000 to straighten out our finances. We just paid off the NY Community Bank’s $555 million loan. We just made emergency repairs throughout the entire community to get this loan. We set up new escrow accounts for everything. We paid off several violations with the city. And, now we’re back to square one with a proposal to spend up to $33 million to redesign our lobbies. That’s right, this proposal could cost up to $33 million. B ac k t o S q u a r e O n e The main goals to get out of the NYCB loan was reduce our interest payments, stabilize our finances, and to, essentially, be somewhat debt free—one day. Now, yes, this day would appear in 35 years. Nevertheless, these concepts were on the table. The savings in interest payments alone totaled about $10 million a year. Plus, as I suggested, we should have reduced our spending by at least 10% to save an additional $20 million a year. So, add those two figures up and you’ll see that there was a good possibility that we could really move this community forward. Nevertheless, this huge lobby project alone will severely cripple our finances with initial costs and additional monthly contracts. And, here’s what we’ll get for $33 million: New ADA doors with new lobby entrances, new intercoms, new mailboxes, a virtual doorman that is controlled by operators with cameras, and rearranged lobbies to

Director’s Viewpoint

Daryl Johnson Assistant Treasurer allow more room for possible commercial spaces. However, do we really need to upgrade our lobbies? Moreover, should we spend $33 million on this project? Ke ep t h em i n D eb t I was amazed to see people in this community expressing their joy over the Wells Fargo loan. “Daryl, I’m so glad we got that loan.” Random people were even thinking that we could get our finances back in order. However unfortunately, it seems that part of this refinance deal was to simply squeeze more money out of this new loan and to keep us in deep debt by spending way over our heads. Here’s how it works, in my opinion. We can’t take out additional loans. However, Management can easily overspend our budget with these huge projects. Then, they can cry that they don’t have enough money for essential projects and basic services. So, at that point, they can claim that they need to increase our carrying charges to cover these increased expenses. We need an increase, right? Everything goes up, right? Other places received a higher increase so we should also, right? Nonsense! Bottom line: Sooner, rather than later, folks are going to be pushed out of here because of increased carrying charges.

Nevertheless, that seems to be the goal. N e e de d C o m m u n i t y P r o j e c t s A very nice young man named Corey Sutton, age 25, from Building 21B, appeared at our above-mentioned Board meeting and said that we need to repair the basketball court grounds near Bellamy Loop. “They fixed the basketball court grounds in Section Five. However, the ground over there near Bellamy is dangerous,” was his opinion. That’s just one project. Some people at this meeting stated that the convectors are a huge problem for the community. “So many people have problems with their convectors and with leaks,” said one lady. “I would think that’s a bigger problem than fixing the lobbies.” Now, from time-to-time, I receive complaints from residents that young adults love to use the hallways and the rear exterior of some buildings as areas to hang out. “They hang out, drink, and make a lot of noise,” one resident complained. Other people in the community talk about using the former bingo hall as a youth center. “The kids have no place to go,” is a frequent complaint. So, instead of wasting millions of dollars to redesign all of the lobbies, we should just concentrate on adding the ADA doors and making sure that we’re in compliance with all of the applicable laws. Additionally, we should concentrate on saving money. S avi n g f o r R a i ny D a ys A lot of people and businesses were hit hard by the recent Sandy storm. Thereafter, they were hit hard again with their insurance companies denying their claims. Although they lost everything, their insurance company told them, “Oh no, you’re not covered for this or that.”

Co-op City is huge. We have 35 buildings here, townhouses, commercials centers, and a tremendous power plant that could easily cost over $100 million to replace. Now, imagine, God forbid, that something were to happen here. Where would we get the money to fix certain portions of this community? Would the money come out of our pockets as a special assessment like they do in other communities? That’s why I say that we need to gain control of this community and put in people who believe in saving money. And, they’re going to help us review our operations and to make cuts accordingly. We can do it. We just need your help. N ew t own , C T S c h oo l M a s s a cr e The thought of someone shooting up a school and killing people, especially kids, is beyond horrible. Therefore, my prayers go out to the victims, their families, and their loved ones. H o l i d a y Wi s h e s Please accept my best wishes for a wonderful holiday. And, please remember to think before you drink. Also, please be safe and don’t drink and drive. Thank you. Questions or comments? Please send a message to: Daryl Johnson, Riverbay Board Director, c/o Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475. Or, please send a message to me at darylhjohnson@optonline.net. Also, please call me at 718-671-4544 if you don’t receive a response from me. Okay, that’s it for now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may God bless you and your family. Thank you.

Building 2 Association We would like to thank Chief Apollo from the Dept. of Public Safety for his very informative talk at our Dec. 11th meeting. The literature regarding holiday safety and the RUOK telephone reassurance program was extremely helpful.

After the meeting, we had a nice “get to know your neighbor” social with music and refreshments. A good time was had by all. We wish to thank all of the volunteers who did such a beautiful job decorating both lobbies. We also want to

extend our appreciation to all of our neighbors who donated for the holiday gifts to the porters and lobby attendants. We are working hard to keep our buildings safe. Keep up the good work. Remember, if you see something - say

something - call the Safety Officer. We wish all of your family, friends and neighbors a happy and safe holiday season. Our e-mail address is Bldg2assoc@gmail.com. —Ca rlyn Jone s

Building 26 Association Holiday greetings to all of our Co-op City residents, families, friends, neighbors, our merchants, and especially, our new residents. A belated Happy Hanukah to all of our Jewish families. Don’t be fooled by this warm weather. Use plenty of hand sanitizer and/or wash your hands frequently, to fight off germs. And it’s not too late to get a flu shot. It’s better to be protected than to suffer with the flu! Greetings and congratulations to all who are celebrating birthdays, new births,

wedding anniversaries and other celebrated events during the month of December. Our sincere condolences to those families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. May your loved one be eternally blessed. And may you and your families also be blessed during your time of bereavement. Unfortunately, our Holiday Party scheduled for Friday, December 21, was canceled due to a lack of funds. We anticipate serving light refreshments in our

lobbies some time during the month of January, 2013. We apologize for any inconvenience. Join us next April 17, 2013, at the Westchester Broadway Dinner Theater, in Elmsford, New York, for an enjoyable dinner and show, “Guys and Dolls.” A luxury coach bus will provide us with transportation. A $5 discount to the first ten people who pay for their ticket in full. For additional information, please contact Patty at (914) 525-2221.

Please help to keep our community clean and green by properly disposing your garbage in the appropriate receptacle. Take out time to recycle your bottles, plastics, and papers. Bulk trash and large cartons are to be taken to the basement. And please be vigilant. If you see something, say something by calling 9-1-1 for emergencies and 3-1-1 for all other nonemergency complaints. The life you save could be your own. — Yu Vo n n e L e w i s

Building 27 Association Greetings to all of our neighbors and friends. The association has ended the year 2012 with some fruitful accomplishments and a delightful Christmas party. We first took the time out to remember those in prayer who are suffering right now as a result of Hurricane Sandy and the horrific tragedy that took place in CT. We reminded ourselves of

our blessings. The party was held on Saturday, December 15th at 7 p.m. It was a great turn out, delicious food, laughter, dancing and a wonderful time getting to meet and greet our neighbors. There were door prizes, raffles, and of course every one received a gift or two, due to the fact cooperators brought an abundance of

Advertising works!

gifts. I really believe we enjoyed one another, because the cooperators do show out and support the cause. Now that’s a good thing. M O N E TA R Y GIFTS FOR P O RT E R S - We appreciate the cooperators who give so willingly year after year. Thanks to all who assisted with the collection of donations for our porters,

lobby attendant, and the decorating of the lobbies. To those who are sick and on the mend, our prayer is that you get well soon. To all with a birthday, or a special event, enjoy the rest of the year and stay safe. Happy holidays, and wishing all a prosperous and healthy new year 2013. — H. O ve r m a n

Call 718.320.3300, ext. 3377 for our affordable rates.

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

African-American Association of Co-op City K wa n z a a C e leb r a t ion – The Coalition of African-American Churches & Community Organizations of Co-op City, Inc., of which the Association is a member, enthusiastically invites you to attend its 16th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Saturday, December 29, at 3:00 p.m. in the Bartow Community Center, Room 31. Kwanzaa is the seven-day (December 26-January1) African celebration of family, community and culture as personified in African “First Fruits” or harvest celebrations. Kwanzaa incorporates the spirit, value and practice of Ingathering, Reverence, Commemoration, Recommitment and Celebration; and evolves around Seven Principles, one for each day of Kwanzaa, called the Nguzo Saba. The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (SelfDetermination); Ujima (Collective work and responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (Faith).

Those attending the Kwanzaa Celebration are requested to bring an offering of a large, main dish of food (NO PORK, PLEASE), dessert or juice. Contact Harman Leacock at 718-6719610 to advise what you will bring. Dr. James McIntosh of the Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP) will present a relevant and uplifting message. Also, traditional African attire should be worn, although it is not mandatory. The following are ongoing programs which the Association sponsors and encourages your participation: Z u m b a F it n ess C la sses – Mondays, 6:00 p.m. Dreiser Center, Room #2. Fee: $5; Registration: $15. Call 917-4594491. E d u ca t ion – The Per Ankh Study Group will meet again Monday, 1/14/13, 7:00 p.m., Dreiser Center, Room 15, to review African countries and learn the Kiswahili language. Call 718-379-5555. Yoga & P ila t e s M a t C la sse s –

Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., Dreiser Center, Room #2. Fee: $10-$12; Registration: $15. Call 718-671-8364. C om p u t er /L a p t op C la sses – There will be no class 12/25/12. Next class: Tuesday, 1/8/13, 7:00 p.m., Dreiser Center, Room 15. Fee $5; members get one free class. Call 718-379-5555. Be lly Da n c i n g C la sse s – Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., Dreiser Center, Room 2. Fee: $15; Registration: $15. Call 646-301-9438. E ven in g L in e Da n cin g C la sses – Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., Dreiser Center, Room #2. Fee: $5 per hour; Registration: $15. Call 917-903-7073. Instructor, Cynthia Dixon, brought holiday cheer to the residents of Beth Abraham Health Center with a fabulous dance performance by the group. J ob s/E n t r ep r en eu r ia l Wor k sh op s – Meets every 1st Thursday, 7:00 p.m., Dreiser Center, Room 15. Call 718-3201424. F igh t in g for J u st ice – The Ramarley

Graham case: The trial was scheduled for 9/13/12, adjourned to 2/11/12, then 3/26/13, 9:00 a.m., Bronx Criminal Courthouse, 265 E. 161st Street. *Central Park Jogger 5 case: 12/17/12, 2:00 p.m., U.S. Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, NYC. *Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. case: White Plains Officer Anthony Carelli was cleared of the fatal shooting of the 68-year old Marine. Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. and his attorneys requested that the U.S. Attorney General perform a federal investigation. G e n er a l M em b e r sh ip M eet in g – Councilman Andy King will speak at our January 12th meeting, 4 p.m., Dreiser Center, Room 15. If you cannot attend, you may send your membership check or money order (DO NOT MAIL CASH) of $15 for a single membership and $25 for families to: African-American Association of Co-op City, P.O. Box 702, Co-op City Station, Bronx, NY 10475. —F r a n cin e R . J on es

National Council of Negro Women C om e see t h e ch er r y b lossom s in Wa sh in gt on , DC . Join us for a guided tour of Washington, DC, April 5 – 8, 2013 featuring tours of: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Iwo Jima Memorial, WW II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Smithsonian Institution, US Capital, Embassy Row,

Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. Motor Coach transportation Cost: doubles, $419; singles, $539. For more information, contact: 718-671-4804, 718-655 9034 or 718-320 9694. Save the Da te: Black History Month 12th Annual Youth Celebration co-sponsored with Riverbay, Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Dreiser Community Center

Auditorium B, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. We are looking for youth and youth groups who would like to showcase their talent in song, dance, poetry, music or theatrical presentation for this event. If interested in performing for this event or need more information, please contact: NCNW Youth Committee Chairpersons Lori Melton, (917) 399-2643, or Michelle S. Davey, (917) 292-2397.

To our sick and shut-in, you are in our thoughts and prayers daily…Velma Garner, Gladys Osborne, Anne Quinn, Lynette Wright. Heartfelt condolences to Life Member Sadie Gilmore on the loss of her sister after a long illness. Have a safe and happy Holiday Season! —M a xine Su lliva n

Building 13 Association Building 13 Association, Inc. wishes you and your family a Happy Holiday. Stay alert, stay safe and give thanks. Prayers go out to the families in Connecticut who lost loved ones during the recent tragedy. That being said, we want to praise some community minded, fabulous young folks who live in Co-op City. Kudos to Bria Lemon, Taurian Nunn, Myazia Daye and Malaisha Daye from Building 13 and from Building 14, Maribelis Vega and Jazmin Johnson for the fantastic Youth Holiday Party they organized. Building 13 is proud to announce our new website. Type bldg13assoc.com and check us out. You can view activities we have enjoyed and get information about various upcoming events. The website is

still a work in progress, but come in and enjoy. If you experience any difficulty, please let us know so that we can correct the problem. To show our appreciation for the work done throughout the year, we have collected donations for various building staff personnel. We appreciate the contributions from those who donated to the holiday fund. To all the Management staff who help us throughout the year, we say “Thanks.” The adult holiday party is scheduled for Saturday, December 29, from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. Doors open to accept dishes at 6:00 p.m. Come and celebrate with us. The menu is sounding more and more delicious. To contribute a dish for the occasion, contact information is listed at the end of the article. Music will be pro-

vided by DJ Val. Members of Women Keeping It Real are welcome to attend. Sistas, The Musical, is an off Broadway play that follows five women cleaning the attic after Grandma’s death and in the attic find love and old memories packed away. The production traces women’s history, through popular music spanning from Billie Holiday to Beyoncé. We plan to attend on Saturday, March 16, 2013. The show starts at 4:30 p.m. at the St. Luke’s Theatre, located at 308 West 46th Street, New York. The group (10 people) price is $42 and does not include transportation. Checks should be made payable to Building 13 Assoc. Inc. and mailed to Bldg. 13 Assoc., 100 Casals Place #32K, Bronx, NY 10475. Payment is due by January 15, 2013. Women Keeping It Real, Saturday,

January 12, 2013 - Exhilarating spirited conversation with women of all ages, all are welcome, but you must be 18 and over to participate. Place: Association Community Room. Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. We are preparing for Summer Fun Day, scheduled for June 22, 2013. If you are interested or have some suggestions, please feel free to let us know. The date to start the Community Quilt will be announced soon so stay tuned. New writing workshop and arts and craft dates will be posted also. For information, contact Leslie Peterson at 718-320-1370, Gail Sharbaan at 718-671-3801, our website: bldg13assoc.com or e-mail us at building13assoc@yahoo.com. Thanks for making our team work. —L eslie P et er son

Building 21 Association …and a little child shall lead them! Hello, friends and cooperators! WOW! The buildings are all dressed up for the holidays. Kudos to all of the cooperators from Section 1- 5 who have contributed their time, talent, money, etc. in keeping the spirit of the “season of giving” alive in CO-OP City. Question: Have you ever seen the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life?” In the closing seen, George Bailey and his family are showered with love by all of his friends and neighbors. That is exactly how it feels every year when we come together as a building united and focused on one accord. It’s not just about decorations or dues, but more about being grateful and taking care and pride in our homes, shared space

and private dwellings. Special recognition goes to the following “troop decorators” who are loyal team players every year! Imani Claxton of Benchley Place, comes every year to help while visiting their Grandma, Mrs. Hollingsworth in Building 21B. Claxton’s cousins, 5 year old Jennipher and Jannett Martiena, also of Benchley Place, were great helpers. Tristan and Jaylen Lopez of 21B; real troopers can always be counted on to lend their talents to the building association and the beautification of the public space of their home. Kearra Bryant from 21B, a dedicated Girl Scout, is also a part of our team. Let’s not forget Ebony and Prince Lambright from 21A, who everyone

said was such a great help. This author is so proud and touched by all of these children, who range in age from 5 – 15 years. Good job, parents!, with these young “do-gooders.” They are on the right path. We adults should take notice of these young people, and stand committed to our community as they are. “…and a little child shall lead them.” We would like to recognize all of the people of Building 21 for whatever part they played in making our decorating celebration a success. Maybe you brought something for our “pot luck snack table” or maybe you stopped by and paid your building dues. Maybe you just came by with a smile and offered a compliment…Whatever the contribution, we appreciate YOU…

FYI, all monies collected are turned in to our treasurer and installed in the association’s bank account. If you have any questions regarding the association, as always, you have 3 ways of gaining information. You can contact your building association via email at 21association@gmail.com or you can call your association at 347.504.1821, and you can attend the monthly meetings which are held every 3rd Tuesday in the meeting room in the rear of the B-section at 7 p.m. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad and Happy Kwanzaa! Happy, safe, healthy, joyous Holiday Season to all! I’ll see you around the neighborhood… —M ich elle M a r b u r y

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Help us make Co-op City better I share the feelings of all in our community in expressing heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones in the senseless murders in Newtown, Connecticut. The response must be a public demand for elected officials to amend gun control laws and to review the provisions for mental health care, as well as for a reexamination of the diet of violence in the media that is dehumanizing and desensitizing our nation. H O RO W I T Z R I D E S A G A I N ! Michael Horowitz had me nearly misty eyed with his City News commentary (12/13/12). For 38 years, he tells us, he has commuted from Riverdale to “live and breathe Co-op City” – in our best interest. While he has been beating the drum for privatization, the community, plagued – as he claims, with “increasing apathy and lethargy,” has been electing “arrogant directors” who are “unwilling to listen to new ideas.” He is “outraged” by “a diatribe against the City News editors,” written by Othelia Jones, whom he once named “Woman of the Year.” He says, we should privatize and become more like upscale, sanitized, bleached Riverdale. Riverbay’s Board leadership, he says, “is mired in a culture of dependence on government support to keep it afloat.” Big banks that almost tanked our nation were rescued by that same “culture of dependence.” Now, as the corporations sit on $3 trillion, no bank would give a longterm, low-interest mortgage to Co-op City, despite our good credit rating, without

Director’s Viewpoint

Bernard Cylich federal guarantees. The new mortgage, backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Horowitz warns us, will make Co-op City descend to “mediocrity and deterioration” and “dependency on handouts and government loan guarantees.” For the record, the HUD package is not a handout. It is a loan underwritten by a commercial bank (Wells Fargo) because of the HUD guarantee. Without that guarantee, commercial banks offer only short term, high interest balloon loans. Ms. Jones, you’re right about the City News! T H I N G S A R E W H AT T H E R E C O R D S AY S T H E Y A R E My Viewpoint last week was a brief, non-judgmental recap of our reserve account history. Herbert Freedman, of Marion Scott, Inc. (MSI), had access to the Viewpoint before its publication and has attempted, without naming me, to refute what he termed ““Revisionist History.” In September, 1999, $32 million remained of a $135 million Superfund established in 1992 by an agreement with the State: the State Housing Finance Agency (HFA) deposited $105 million and $25 million by

Riverbay, to finance construction defect repairs. In December, 1998, Management had told the Board that the Section 5 Ric Wil system, providing hot and cold water, was in stable condition and could wait until funded by a refinanced package. Meanwhile, they advised to use the remaining $32 million in the Superfund to repair Garages 2 and 7. After MSI took over, it reversed the previous Board’s decision, stopped planned garage repair, fired the engineers, and used the remaining Superfund money to replace Section 5 Ric Wil. Within two years, NY City inspectors, citing safety issues, ordered Garages 2 and 7 closed until repaired. The Superfund was empty, and Riverbay reserve funds were applied to repair the garages. “A R R E A R A G E S ” Freedman’s response to my Viewpoint referred to $140 million arrearages (the actual figure was $130 million). The saga started when the Co-op City rent strike ended and officials discovered that Co-op City had major construction defects for which HFA was faulted. In 1980, HFA agreed that Riverbay could credit the cost of temporary repairs against its debt service. Six years later, Riverbay was unable to produce receipts for $95 million of such outlays, and with accrued interest, the debt was $130 million. HFA offered to waive the repayment of that debt for ten years and defer interest, if a class action suit against the HFA and Co-op City’s original sponsors was

dropped. By 1990, HFA had still not created the fund and was stonewalling the new Board. Under Al Shapiro’s presidency, the Board and community organizations launched a letter writing campaign, picketed the offices of HFA and Governor Mario Cuomo, and threatened sit-ins and full-page ads in the Wall Street Journal. A 1992 agreement with HFA included a Superfund and postponed the repayment of the $130 million arrearage for another ten years. Also, the cost of corrective work that exhausted the Superfund would be credited against the $130 million arrearage. Finally, in 2000, the Board began negotiations with HFA to refinance the mortgage we then had. Since the arrearage would be part of any refinanced package, the president obtained several waivers of starting dates for arrearage repayment. When we refinanced instead with New York Community Bank in 2004, HFA accepted $11 million as final payment of the original $130 million arrearage. A N D N OW The HUD-guaranteed loan was not always in the bag. There were several other moments when if corrective actions were not taken in timely fashion the loan would have tanked. Space limits me to expound further. Perhaps in another viewpoint. Meanwhile, we need to celebrate the consummation of a historic loan because we did it right.

American Legion Post 1871 Greetings to all of our Post members who are homebound and recovering from various medical operations. We wish you a speedy recovery. Happy birthday to all of our Post members who have a birthday in the month of December: Carl C. Ash, Junius E. Ayler, Wesley A. Banks, George G. Benjamin, Rafael Echevarria, Theodore Byrd, Jr., Fernando Hernandez, Vernon N. Frazier, James L. Frierson, Andre R. Greene, Hebert H. Kantrowitz, Lloyd R. Johnson, Jasmin A. Lirlo, Lucius Kennedy, John E. King, Jr., Jose Pacheco, Alfonso Rodriguez, David R. Walker, Vernon C. Taylor and Willie A. Thompson. If I don’t have your name down for this month, contact me ASAP and it will be in the next issue of the

Co-op City Times. Our Post is located in Section 5 Community Center, 135 Einstein Loop, Room 41. Our office number is (718) 320-8165 and you can also reach us by e-mail at post1871@optimum.net. All Post members, expect to receive Memorial raffles in the mail by January. Each member will receive raffles to sell to help our Post for the year of 2013. Post members John Erving, Ronald Williams and Santiago Santiago, we wish you a speedy recovery. Our Post will be sending a holiday greeting card to Tammy Nelson stationed in Kuwait and Joan Davis stationed in Afghanistan. The money collection for the jackets has been extended to the next General meeting that will take place on

January 19th at 11 a.m. On January, the 8th, the Hawkins Post will have the County meeting in their Post. All are welcome to attend this meeting. If you haven’t paid your 2013 dues yet, you can pay online or just send your $40 to our Post soon as you can. May the peace of Christmas renew your soul and let the countdown to a memorable year begin! Happy New Year!! On December 15th at the General meeting, the Post Commander, Jerome Rice, gave out Certificates of Achievement awards to the following Post members: Richard I. Lawson, Jr., Wilson Sepulveda, Llewelyn Waterman, Tina Guzman, Mary Love and Panera Bread for donations to our Post. Post

Legionnaire of the Year went to Kenneth Nelson. Being a member of the American Legion for 60 years, Wesley Banks received a Certificate for Faithful Service in the American Legion Post 1871. Congratulations to the above members. Remember, next year you could receive a certificate too. As a Post member, attendance and paid up dues will help you get a certificate too, along with participating in Post activities and committees. Back up my hard drive? How do you put it in reverse? I never worry when I get lost. I just change where I want to go. This information was provided by the Post information officer. — R i c h a r d I . L a w s o n , J r.

Co-op City Branch of the NAACP As this is the last publication of this year and this term of our NAACP, sincere wishes for a happy and healthy holiday and wonderful New Year celebration to all. Please be advised that as of Tuesday, December 11, the NAACP Co-op City Branch is not conducting any business or conducting meetings or fundraisers in the

name of the NAACP. In the New Year, the NAACP New York State Conference will call a meeting of the Co-op City Branch members in good standing to notify them of the next steps. Till then, may all enjoy which ever holiday you celebrate in good health, peace and appreciation for family and our community. Sincere prayers and

condolence to all suffering illness and loss and may we all share holiday greetings with all celebrating the holidays of this season. Please continue to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy through the channels published on legitimate networks. We give thanks to all who help keep us

safe. We should each take time to reflect on making our world a place for more open communication. Thank you and deep appreciation to the Executive Committee and everyone who has volunteered their time to work for the Co-op City Branch of the NAACP. — Eva Ki n d a i ch i - La z aa r

Cooperators United of Co-op City Happy Holidays. Thank you for joining us on Tuesday, December 11th. I know it was a busy evening with several meetings going on at the same time, and to Debbie for chairing the meeting. The questions you all raised and your guest speaker request have been forwarded. We have a lot of work ahead of us in

2013. In light of all that is happening around us, we must become more involved in what is happening in our buildings/townhouses, construction going forward, security and finally a place, like the Bingo Hall, for our kids. What happened at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut was horrific and our

thoughts and prayers go out to their families and to all who are victims of gun violence. Are our schools safe here in Co-op City? We have six schools here in Co-op City. Don’t ever say that it can’t happen here. Going forward to January, 2013— we have invited a guest speaker, yet to be finally confirmed, to talk to us about

improvements to our buildings and security. Let us enjoy the holidays and come back with a renewed determination and a commitment to become more active in our community. Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday. — S on j a Ma xw e ll

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Community Protestant Church On behalf of our Pastor, Reverend Dr. Calvin E. Owens, and our church family, welcome to Community Protestant Church, a church of love and understanding, located at 1659 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx, NY 10469; telephone: (718) 862-9172. CHURCH SCHEDULE: *Sunday School - 9:00 a.m. Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Communion Service - Every first and third Sundays Prayer Meeting and Bible Study – Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. T HE FOL LOW ING PROGR AMS ARE AT T HE C HUR C H’S ANNE X: 2053 ASCH L OOP NORT H (C O-OP C IT Y) Morning Prayer Services - Tuesday, 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.11:00 a.m. Neighborhood Bible Study - Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Extension of Prayer and Worship Service – Every first and second Fridays at 7:00 p.m. SUNDAY SC HOOL BR EAKFAST PROGR AM FOR OUR CHIL DRE N AND YOUTH Sunday School for children and youth is now in session. Our program begins at 9:00 a.m. with 25 minutes for breakfast. We welcome new and returning students and look forward to another opportunity to help train our children for a lifetime of faith and Christian growth. OTHE R SC HEDULED EVE NT S: Sunday, December 23rd, 11:00 a.m. – Our Sunday School Department presents its annual Christmas Program - “A Christmas Worship Service.” TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25TH, 9:00 A.M. - CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT COMMUNITY PROTESTANT CHURCH. Before or after opening your Christmas

gifts, come out and give God thanks for the greatest gift of all - His Son Jesus - and enjoy the fellowship of a wonderful Christmas Morn. INSTEAD OF WATCH NIGHT SERVICE, COMMUNITY PROTESTANT WILL HAVE “AYEAR’S END CELEBRATION SERVICE” ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 31ST FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 6:30 P.M. All are welcome to join in this special service of prayers and thanksgiving for the past year and looking forward with prayerful anticipation to the coming New Year, 2013. Thursday, March 21, 2013 – Join CPC Tours for the return presentation of NOAH THE MUSICAL at the Sight & Sound Theater, Lancaster, PA. Then, enjoy a wonderful dinner at Miller’s Restaurant. Tickets: $134, available by contacting CPC Tours at (718) 671-1182. HO L D T HE DAT E : August 29 –

September 2, 2013 – The Nurses Ministry sponsors a Cruise to St. John, Canada, leaving from New York City! Additional information to follow. At this Christmas time, our Community Protestant Church family extends to cherished old friends and valued new friends our prayer that you may have: The gladness of Christmas – which is Hope, The spirit of Christmas – which is peace And the heart of Christmas – which is love. A HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS! The doors of Community Protestant Church are open to all to worship and fellowship with Christian believers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are cordially invited to come in, join in and receive your blessing. Evan G. Mitchell —E

Church of the Savior Rev. Dr. Robert A. Smith, Jr., Pastor; Lady Theresa M. Smith, co-founder; Rev. McMillian, Assistant Pastor, and the Church of the Savior family extend an invitation to every person to worship with us. We are a non-denominational, inter-racial, inter-cultural, intergenerational fellowship of believers. We care about you, not your W2. We are not church as usual. Come as you are, we leave the judging to God. The Church of the Savior family extends love and affirmation to the Co-op City community; A warm welcome awaits you!! We love you for who you are, not what you have. Please call us at 718-320-0002 or 917-734-4058 for

more information. Do you want a place that allows you to meet the living God? Do you want to be connected to people who care about you, not what you have on or how much money you make? A special seat and friend awaits you. Church of the Savior is located at 120 DeKruif Place – street level, (under Building #7 near Dreiser Loop). Take the 38 to Dreiser Loop and DeKruif Pl. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 86, Bronx, NY 10475. Su n d a y Sch ed u le: Adult Bible Study - 9:05 -10:00 a.m. Prayer, Meditation and Devotion 10:00 a.m. Divine Worship - 10:30 a.m.

Come and be blessed. We want an opportunity to love you. See you in church. Our children’s Sunday School will teach and nurture your child/children in the word of God. All sessions are during worship service. Dr. Sm it h ’s Ser m on Top ic: “Love came for you!” R e a d i n g f r o m H o l y S c r i p t u r e: Isaiah 9:2,6,7. Week ly Act ivit ies – Every person is welcomed. Mondays at 6:15 - Bereavement Group.. Tuesdays at 6:30 - Bible Study. Subject: God’s Grace and Human Suffering. Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. - Channel

70, Bronxnet. Every other Saturday - Food Pantry. For more information in donating or receiving food, please call her at 718-925-5052. Specia l invit a t ion t o t he com m u n it y: Monday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m., join us for early watch night service. Our doors and hearts wait to embrace you. Special prayers offered for sick, lonely, forgotten, abused and those recovering from brokenness. T h ou gh t for C h r ist m a s: “We are promised not simply that knowing Jesus means we know things about God, but that in knowing Jesus we actually know God.” —R ev. Dr. R ob er t A. Sm it h , J r.

Iglesia Cristiana Marcos 16:15 RIP Sandy Hook Elementary School Children This morning I woke up, looked at the Connecticut sky. I had a good feeling I can’t tell you why.

I saw Mommy’s face, her beautiful, soft lips. I kissed her this morning, she was something I’d miss.

With me, when I looked, were my friends by my side. That man sent us here, but I”m alright.

Maybe this will teach you to never regret a thing. Be happy with what God gave you, because you could’ve been me.

I kissed Mommy goodbye, and told Daddy I love you. And before we separated at the sign, I told sister see you soon

I smelled Daddy’s cologne, when he hugged me today. He left for work, not knowing what life would take.

Maybe he was sick, maybe he was crazy. Maybe he hurt us because he was hurting, maybe?

Now, maybe I was young, maybe I didn’t deserve it. But maybe I taught a lesson, now please...learn it.

The bell rung, we all rushed inside. It was warm and loving like a campfire light.

Sister was only a few blocks away, in a classroom, I could see I’ll never get to say how much she means to me.

I watch the tears all over the country. Over the few years their pain because of me.

Love with everything, always smile a lot. Remember this lesson, that I taught.

The teacher smiled, my friends waved hello. We started class, but before you know.

My 6th birthday was coming soon, I was dreaming of ponies dolls and shoes.

I watched my family break apart. but they knew I was in their hearts.

Wipe the tears, enjoy the years. Time goes by fast, you don’t know which day is your last.

The door busted open, a man with a gun. I was scared and broken I looked at the sun.

Then I felt a hand touch my face. I was overwhelmed in an amazing grace.

I don’t know much, but I know this; my mommy should’ve never had to bury her own kid.

Pray for my famlily, for my friend’s family, too. I’m sure they’ll be grateful, and thankful to you.

The same sun I saw with so much love. Now brought me worry but I’d stay tough.

God said to me, “don’t be worry, child. you’ve been here before. it’s just been a while.”

Although it’s tough, although it’s hard I think God would want us to forgive the killer in our hearts.

I’m an angel, all brand new. I came up here this afternoon.

I felt a pain go through my whole body. I saw a light and an awful goodbye.

I looked on my back, where I found wings. I felt a halo and clouds under my feet.

What you don’t know, but what I’ll tell you, is I’m just fine. in this heaven of mine.

I would be 6 years old, but God has a plan. Remember this feeling of distraught, remember this lesson that I taught. —P a st or s F igu er oa /G a r r et t

If You See Something, SAY SOMETHING!!! Co-op City Public Safety - 718-671-3050

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Time for reflection, not revision This is a time of year for reflection, gratitude and joy, an exciting time of year, Director’s especially for our children. Terrible events that occur in other communities and neighborhoods, or parts of this country, or around the world, make me appreciate living in Co-op City more than I can say. That’s why I first moved here, because it offered safe and affordable housing. It goes without saying, I am saddened by the horrible recent incident in Connecticut, and feel for the parents and families, but I won’t pretend to lecture any of you, my fellow cooperators and neighbors, on events where the answers are incomprehensible. But fortunately, our statistics from Public Safety show crime in Co-op City to be at its lowest level, and I want to thank all our dedicated men and women in blue for serving and protecting our community in a dedicated and professional manner. I feel somewhat saddened when some of my colleagues and others who either act as if they have divine answers to everything, which obviously they don’t, or play politics over what they perceive as popular issues, and grandstand by patting themselves on the back or trying to take credit for things they had absolutely no knowledge about bringing to successful fruition. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think everything is perfect in Co-op City, but I do know that things are certainly not as dire and bad as some of my fellow Directors seem to believe. You don’t solve problems or deal with issues by doing commercials for yourself. This is not

a one person show. We have to work together to get things accomplished for the good of Co-op City. You solve problems by members of the Riverbay Board of Directors coming together to set policy to improve operations and delivery of services in Co-op City, no one Director should ever feel or act like they have carte blanche power, especially when they talk a good game but what they say is either misleading or flat out wrong, though to give benefit of the doubt, such Directors might not even be aware that they don’t understand what they are saying, and may even, in a sad and misguided way, think it’s true. For the Riverdale interloper posing as a reporter of the City News pamphlet to attempt to criticize my fellow Director and colleague Othelia Jones is the height of absurdity. Just imagine a poll being taken asking who do you trust more, Othelia Jones or the weekly pamphlet writer who rarely seems to get a story right, and I think everyone knows who would win. Sure, some might not agree with Othelia all the time, but not one I know questions her honesty, integrity, and love of Co-op City. Othelia Jones, who I have the utmost respect for, has been on the receiving end of low blow attacks from that weekly pamphlet before, but she is still standing as strong as Lady Liberty with a torch in her hand. And as for the City News pamphlet writer

Viewpoint

Tony Illis

spending time in Co-op City, it doesn’t matter how much time he spends here, he still writes factually inaccurate stories, denigrating our community, which mostly seem to be fabrications of his imagination. Most true, professional reporters have good sources, but since no one trusts anything to do with the City News pamphlet, no wonder each issue contains multiple versions of the same lame story, over and over again, showing a complete ignorance of what is truly happening in our community and how people who live here feel. Trust me, one sentence from Othelia Jones will always ring with more truth than countless articles by the interloper in that imitation newspaper, the City News weekly pamphlet. There was some sad news this week with the passing of the father of Colette and Gail Ragin, two highly professional and hard working employees at Riverbay, and I want to offer my deepest condolences. I extend my deepest condolences also to the family of William Henry Cannon, a resident of Building 4 and a former Director of the Riverbay Parking Department, who passed away earlier this month. I want to wish everyone a great holiday, with hopes for peace on earth and goodwill to man. It seems man is still searching for a peaceful inner soul in this world, but try to remember the Golden Rule, and do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. Give me a call at (718) 320-8035, or email me at tonyshome10475@gamil.com — no attachments, please.

Coalition of African American Churches & Community Organizations The Coalition’s next general membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 12 p.m., 177 Dreiser Community Center, Room 15. The Coalition enthusiastically invites you to attend our 16th annual Kwanzaa celebrations on Saturday, December 29, 3 p.m. in Room 31, 2049 Bartow Community Center Co-op City, Bronx, featuring poets, storytellers, vendors, games, gifts, feast and refreshments. The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. James McIntosh, co-Chair of the Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTOP). Kwanzaa is the seven-day (December 26-January 1) African celebration of family, community, and culture as personified in African “First Fruits” or harvest celebrations. Kwanzaa incorporates the spirit, value and practice of Ingathering, Reverence, Commemoration, Recommitment, and Celebration, and evolves around Seven Principles, one for each day of Kwanzaa called Nguzo Saba. The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self Determination); Ujima (Collective work and responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (Faith). The nation’s largest African-American Holiday, Kwanzaa is a seven-day African celebration of family and culture. The Coalition members are requested to bring an offering of a large, main dish of food (no pork, please) or dessert, etc. to share with others. Please contact Ms. Jones by December 21st, at (718) 671-5957,

Building 34 Association The pot luck holiday celebration on December 14th was a success. We would like to thank all who attended, those fabulous cooks who took the time to prepare a special dish, all the folks who donated toys for the grab bag and a special thanks to the young people who came out to share the evening. We welcomed new shareholders and revived acquaintances with some people that we had not seen in a while. Marsha won the turkey raffle and promised to share some holiday bird with us. Interest was expressed in a repeat of our post-Mother’s Day bus trip. We guaranteed this will be on the agenda for 2013. Generally, we had a good time and it was a nice kickoff to the Holiday season. A reminder to everyone of our upcoming town hall meeting in January and the Floor Captains’ meeting. Dates for both will be announced. Here’s wishing you a joyous holiday and a safe and prosperous new year. Don’t forget about our sick, shut-in and elderly neighbors. If they are alone, stop by, sit down and chat for a while. Bring them a plate of hot food or dessert if they have a sweet tooth. Remember it is not always the cost of a gift, but the thought and love behind it. Enjoy!!! —L a Ver n e F loyd

or Mr. Leacock, (718) 671-9610, to advise what your food offering will be. This event is free. Traditional African attire should be worn, although it is not mandatory. Your attendance and participation are required to make this family/community/cultural festivity a success. Have Any Suggestions? Please inform us by contacting the Coalition’s President, Patricia Bonaparte, at (718) 320-1861. The Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life of cooperators while providing educational and culturally enriching programs for the community. We also act as one voice for all Coalition members when there are issues of common concern and human rights. We also sponsor Friends & Family Day Celebrations, and Kwanzaa, free for the community. Members of the Coalition include the following: African-American Association, Co-op City Baptist Church, Retirees of

Dreiser Loop, Harriet Tubman Independent Democratic Club, NAACP, Co-op City Branch; St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church and Zodiacs Track Club. Please support our efforts by sending us a tax deductible contribution made payable to Coalition of AfricanAmerican Churches and Community Organization of Coop City, Inc., P.O. Box 619, Bronx, NY 10475. Churches and organizations that desire to join may apply for membership by either writing or calling (718) 320-1861 or (718) 671-5957 for a membership application, which should be returned with a letter on your church/organization’s letterhead and signed by the Minister/President. Read the Coalition’s weekly column for information about events and issues. Remember, the Coalition’s motto is: “Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, and Working together is success.” —H a r m a n T. L ea coc k

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Church of the New Vision Pastor Anne L Palmore and the congregation of the Church of the New Vision extend a warm and friendly invitation to everyone to worship with us every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. We are a church where inspirational messages from the Word of God, the Bible, are delivered every Sunday morning. The church is designed to meet the spiritual needs of our community by offering anointed singing and preaching, and a general atmosphere of Christian love and friendly hospitality. We also invite the youth of our community to attend our Sunday Morning services, which are designed to meet the special needs of our young people. Parents, please send your children to

learn of the Lord Jesus. Prayer Service takes place every Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., followed by Bible Teaching from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Be with us to learn the truth from the Word of God. L ist of P r ogr a m s a n d E vent s: Adult Sunday School is from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Youth Sunday School is also from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion is served the first Sunday of the month. Youth Sunday takes place on the second Sunday of the month. Missionary Sunday takes place on the third Sunday of the month. Memorial Sunday (Men’s Day) takes

place on the fourth Sunday of the month. Seniors’ Sunday takes place on the fifth Sunday of the month. Singles’ Ministry meets every third Tuesday evening of the month at 6:00 p.m. Next Generation Choir & Club meets 1st & 2nd Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Seniors’ Ministry meets Wednesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. Mid-day Bible Study meets every Tuesday afternoon from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Come join New Vision’s “Partners In Reading Program” every Sunday afternoon from 1:40 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students in Grades 1 through 8 discover the joy of reading while exploring and

improving their literacy levels through small groups and reading partners. Parents, we encourage you to bring your children to benefit from this free program, taught by trained professionals. Registration is going on now. Please join us on Monday, December 31 at 10:00 p.m. for our Watch Night Service, as we usher in the New Year with songs and praises unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Church of the New Vision is located at 115 Einstein, Bronx, NY 10476; Telephone: (718) 671-8746 or (718) 320-0409. Please visit our website at www.churchofnewvision.com. —C a r ole H a qu e

Evangelical Church of Co-op City – UMC Open Doors, Open Hearts and Open Minds C ome & Visit Us – We welcome you to God’s House – Your House – One Family in Christ. We are a congregation with spirit-filled worship, offering a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship and service to God and our community. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and bilingual congregation and all are welcome. Services are at the church at 2350 Palmer Avenue, across the street from Building 30. Parking is available. Visit our website at www.co-opcityumchurch.org. Su n da y Ser vices – The first Sunday of the month is a bilingual service with communion at 10 a.m. All other Sunday services are as follows: English Service at 9 a.m. and the Spanish Service at 11:30 a.m.

There are Bible studies in English and Spanish at 10:30 a.m. We also have a children’s service during the English service. P r a yer Night : The Lord said, “whenever two or more are gathered in my name I am in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. We will be having a prayer night on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the church building. Come and bring your prayer needs so we can all pray. Also on Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m., there is prayer till 11:15 a.m. in Spanish. C r escen do C h r istia n M u sic Sch ool: Learn piano, guitar, percussion, voice and theory. Contact Maestro Frank Colon at (917) 753-3644. The school will be open from Monday – Friday, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Anglican Church Fr. Taylor and the congregation of St. Joseph’s cordially invite you to worship with us in Co-op City at 155 Dreiser Loop, lower level; (718) 320-0844. All are welcome. We ek ly Sch ed u le: Sunday service and Sunday School are both at 9 a.m. Every 4th Sunday, our children participate in the reading of the lessons and every 5th Sunday, our young adults assist in the service. Bible study is held each Wednesday at

7 p.m. and Choir rehearsal is on Thursday at 7 p.m. We look forward to welcoming everyone at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 23, the fourth Sunday in Advent. For additional information, please call the church at 718-320-0844. “Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 113:2) —M . C h a m b er s

INTEGRATIVE HEALTH MASSAGE THERAPY WELLNESS CENTER at Bay Plaza - Serving the Community

Love

Life

Health

Beauty

MANUAL Reduce Edema, Lymphedema & LYMPH Cellulite, Assist in Weight Loss DRAINAGE Frozen Shoulder, Fibromyalgia, MYOFASCIAL Sciatica, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, RELEASE Neck & Back Injuries

10% DISCOUNT FOR SENIORS!

FACIAL TONING Lift & Tighten Facial Muscles, MASSAGE Reduce Appearance of Fine Lines, Feel Refreshed, Look Younger CRT CRANIAL Deep Release of Stress TECHNIQUE

LORRAINE JAYSURA, LMT • 1.917.346.1806

Major Medical • No Fault Auto Insurance Accepted • Visa/Mastercard

Private and group lessons are available. Earlier lessons can be arranged. All ages are welcome. Registration is free and rates are affordable. M en ’s Fellowsh ip: Every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., come and share your testimonies, explore your gifts and be blessed in the Word of our Lord. Hope to see you there. Fa m ily Night : Friday nights are for the family. We will be having Bible studies and other spiritual growth activities for all ages. There will be English & Spanish groups. Bring a friend or two or more. Su n da y Sch ool For C h ildr en : Every Sunday at 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. We just started a new Sunday School for

children of all ages. There will be three groups 3 yrs. – 7 yrs., 8 yrs. – 12 yrs. and teens 13 yrs. and up. The curriculum being used will be The Super Book. Tr ip t o See Noa h : We are going to see Noah at Sight & Sound Theater on Saturday, March 23, 2013. We will also be having dinner at Shady Maple and some time for shopping at their store. Transportation provided and cost will be $155/adult, $123/teen and $105/child. Deposits need to be received by December 30, 2012. If you are interested in coming, call Barbara at (347) 603-7473. If no answer, please leave a message. —R ev. Dr. M ilca C . P la u d

Faith In God Church & Bible Institute Rev. Dr. Gladys R. Little, Apostle, and Pastor & Evangelist Vernon Little greet everyone in the name of Jesus, that name which is above every name. We want you to know that you are welcome in this house of the Lord! It is His house by ownership; it is our house by stewardship, and it can be your house by membership; so come on in and join with us. May God bless you in this house! Merry CHRISTmas, everyone! Jesus is the reason for the season. Our scripture reading for this season is found in the gospel according to St. Luke 2:1-12. It reads as thus: 1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 To be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same coun-

try shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” I nvit a t ion s: Our Sweet Hour of Prayer will be today at 3 p.m. Sunday School is at 10 a.m. Our Sunday Morning Worship Service is at 11 a.m. Every 3rd Sunday following the morning worship, we serve Holy Communion. God gave me my church in order to fellowship with others and meet with Jesus. We love you, and may God forever bless you is our prayer. We don’t worry about anything, but we pray about everything. Thank you, Father! We are located at 171 Dreiser Loop in Section 1. Our phone #’s are (347) 276-4925 & (718) 671-3627. If you will, check out (Pastor) Vernon Little’s CD ‘A New Beginning’ on iTunes, amazon, etc. You can also see his videos on YouTube. Jesus loves you, and so do we. —Ap ost le G la d ys R . L it t le

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

We Did It!!!! (HUD Loan) Fellow cooperators, I would like to extend my warmest Director’s thoughts and best wishes to you and your family this holiday season and in the coming New Year. Yes, we did it! Co-op City will remain an affordable community for the next 35 years. This monumental endeavor was possible by many who understood the importance of keeping places like Co-op City affordable for the working-class, young families, seniors, and the disabled. This effort required many to collaborate on a regular basis and for many hours in order to close the HUD (U.S. Housing and Urban Development) loan for $621.5 million at a fixed interest rate of 2.4%. These individuals include our Management team, M a r ion Scot t , I n c. who stayed at the bargaining table with Wells Fargo and scheduled forums to keep the community in the know; our Counsel team, Sm it h , Bu ss & J a cob s, L L P, who paid particular attention to handling and revising the required environmental report and commitment letter. Wells F a r go & H UD worked to develop a loan document suitable for a Mitchell-Lama development of our size, and several R iver b a y Boa r d Dir ect or s like myself who tirelessly stood behind the HUD loan and prepared many memos to Management to ensure all our “I’s” were dotted and “T’s” crossed. Our elected officials became our voice and with our governmental agencies jointly insured the loan with Wells Fargo.

Our local churches and organizations like the Coalition to Save Affordable Housing, Harriet Tubman Democratic Club and many others provided lots of support on the topic of keeping the community affordable. And, last but not least, many shareholders in our community who sent letters to our newspaper editor, called and sent letters to elected officials, attended forums and participated in voting for Riverbay Board of Directors they believed would work hard to represent the views of the community. We all should be very proud of this accomplishment; everyone, please take a bow… Amazing enough, I have to include our prior lender, NYCB (New Yor k Community Ba nk), who at the onset of our loan negotiations, agreed to let us out of our loan to enter into a HUD loan. NYCB not once but twice extended our time, giving us the opportunity to close the loan with HUD. This was an amazing task and a Win, Win by all involved. I hope the process helps more cooperators understand the importance and power of voting, not just in our general elections, but our Riverbay Board of Elections as well. R esp on sib ilit ies With the HUD loan comes responsibilities; responsibilities that should keep our community safe and financially sound. The HUD commitment letter includes establishing an escrow account to finance critical repairs and improvements like the installation of GFI (groundfault interrupter) outlets and smoke detectors in every apartment. These projects are considered a crucial part of electrical & fire safety and are scheduled to begin spring of 2013. The Lobby Modernization project is considered a critical improvement item that will make lobby doors compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). The lobby modernization efforts are still at the discussion and information-sharing phase. By moving away from the cycle of refinanced balloon loans to a fixed rate loan, becoming fiscally responsible is important. Under HUD, we are required to establish a General Operating Reserve (GOR) to provide a measure of financial stability for our mortgage. There are a few other reserve and escrow requirements under HUD to make sure we can fund preventive maintenance projects and emergency situations. I am all for free enterprise but these types of regulations keep people safe. We must also prepare monthly accounting reports such as Trial Balances and Statement of Cash Flow to show the net income, disbursements, and Accounts

Viewpoint

Leah Graham

Donizetti Building Four Association SEASON’S GREETINGS to all! Thanks to everyone who helped to decorate the grounds and lobbies of our three (3) buildings. It certainly is a beautiful sight to see. Also, thanks to those who donated decorations. A special thank you is extended to those who contributed to the collection for our service and building staff. They (staff) received their gifts of appreciation earlier this week. On December 13th, after a brief report of business, our building meeting room was transformed into a movie theatre. Thanks to all who attended the viewing of this musical Christmas celebration production, presented Broadway style. Featured in the production were Cece & Bebe Winans, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett, Wess Morgan and Keira Sheard. Note: We will not have a regular meeting in January…instead, we will have our Annual Holiday End of Year Celebration on Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All cooperatives in Building 4A, 4B and 4C are welcomed. Come “meet, greet and eat” as we enter into a new year filled with health, hope and good tidings. As always, you may bring your favorite dish to this joyous occasion. We look forward to seeing everyone!!! Some of us (men/women /children) will be traveling with the Co-op City Red Hat Chapter on a cruise to Canada in September, 2013. If interested, please contact Yvonne Burrus at (718) 671-6922 or Diane Windley at (347) 275-7565. Congratulations to all those celebrating a birthday and all other special occasions in December and January. Condolences are sincerely sent to those who have lost loved ones near and far. Get well wishes are also sent to our sick and shut-in neighbors. Continue to pray and help those in need…in any way possible. The smallest act of kindness can go a long way. **This is the holiday season. Please stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Always have your door keys ready when you reach home or your vehicle. It is most important that you do not let anyone in your building that you do not know and immediately report any suspicious activity in and around your community. Remember, this is our home. “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.” Have a happy and safe Holiday. —Yvon n e B u r r u s (d win d ley)

Payable at our corporation. I would like our Finance Department to host a meeting and provide Board Directors with an End-of-the-Year Worksheet to show the financial condition of our corporation and progress made during the year. I am interested in our revenue based items and outflow of monies, especially since this type of analysis is used to determine how affordable we stay. I believe safety and financial based requirements are good for the community. Open Boa r d Meeting I was extremely pleased to see those who attended the Open Board Meeting on Wed., Dec. 5. We had no second readings and got to the gallery session sooner. Two architects gave presentations on the Lobby Modernization project and Cushman & Wakefield shared the progress of three perspective developers. Cooperators in attendance were engaged and asked great questions of all three presenters, of course with the focus on preserving our community. Questions included prioritization of critical repairs, projected costs, income stream of having commercial space developers, power plant spending, cooperators input with the lobby modernization. Because of the great exchange of information, Vice President Khalil Abdul-Wahhab, presiding over the meeting, asked Management to post a Q&A section in the Co-op City Times to share the Cushman & Wakefield discussion with cooperators. Two shareholders stood out in my mind during the meeting, Corey Sutton, a 25-year old cooperator who shared some great ways to improve the Section 4 area where he lives and in support of having a youth center on Bartow Ave. Harriet Silver, a vibrant elder of our community who shared the importance of properly managing our finances from the HUD loan, having a river walk in our community. Opportunities for improvement for future Open Board meetings should include televised Board meetings that show on our crawler channel the Saturday after the meeting and holding gallery sessions earlier during meetings. I consider these adjustments a way to keep the community engaged. Did you know? Department Directors and Cooperator Services Managers are at Open Board meetings to assist and address any questions, concerns, or ideas you like to share. Stop by their table at the next Open Board meeting. They would love to hear from you. In closing, may God bless you, your families and the families and first-responders of Newtown, Connecticut. Warmest regards.

Family Owned and Operated • Large Chapel on premises

• Pre-need counseling

• Ample Parking on premises

• Out of town services

• Casket Showroom on premises

• Cremations

A dignified funeral every family can afford. All areas are handicapped accessible

Personalized & Professional Care • 46 Years Serving Our Community Worldwide Shipping including Caribbean, Africa & South America

718-231-7647 Call 24 Hours

Fax: 718-231-7665 NOW WEBCASTING TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABROAD

www.mccalls.net • director@mccalls.net 4035 Bronxwood Avenue, Bronx, N.Y.

Serving all cultures & faiths

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Co-op City Seventh-Day Adventist Church Barely have we recovered from the devastating effects of Sandy when another tragedy hits the screens of media houses about the horrific killing of innocent children in Connecticut. That one can labor so much, acquire enough money to build a house, and watch helplessly as the house is swept away by a storm in one night leaving behind huge debts and no place of abode; or that one can have a child, provide so much to make life meaningful for him/her, send the child to school one morning and by afternoon or evening of the same day, get reports that the child has been killed is heartbreaking. These events naturally raise questions in our minds like: “Is it ever going to get better? Is there anything that one can really

hold on to? Are there any certainties?” Sadly for most people, the answer is no. But it really shouldn’t be like that. We believe that God made us and he has good plans for every creature that he has made as he has quietly pointed out in Jeremiah. 29:11 “I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of good, and not of evil. To give you a future and a hope.” That we see the destruction becoming a present reality in our world doesn’t mean that God is not aware. Years ago, He looked into our time and warned us so that when these things begin to happen, we will remember and not lose hope. He feels our pain, and He understands what we go through as we live our lives daily not knowing where tragedy will strike next.

Thankfully, He has promised that He is going to give us another chance at being truly happy. He says: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation. 21:4. This will be in the new earth that God is going to create. His promises are dependable and we can hold on to them. If you would like to learn more about how you can be a part of this new earth, join us in our revival series from December 26-31; it is free for all! Bread Ministry: Saturdays, 2:30— 3:30 p.m. and get some for yourself or a neighbor who may need food. Our Regular Programs (Open to all):

Prayer Meeting: Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays: Morning Bible Studies: 9:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. Worship: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Afternoon Bible Studies: 3:00 p.m. Adventist Youth and Pathfinder programs: 5:00 p.m. for children ages 6-17 Children’s Exercise Program Sundays, 11:00—12:00 p.m., Free. Adult Exercise Program Sundays, 12:00—1:00 p.m., Free. The Co-op City SDA Church is located at 1010 Baychester Ave., Bronx, NY 10475. Pastor Okezie Erondu can be reached at 718-320-0518. Visit us on the web at www.CoopCitySDAChurch.org. —Ak in sola O yela k in

Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams and the Co-op City Baptist Church family invite you to join us tomorrow for worship service at 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School is held at 9:15 a.m. for children and adults. We invite you to worship, study, and pray with us. The Co-op City Baptist Church is located at 135 Einstein Loop, Room 50 (lower level). Our telephone number is 718-320-3774. Visit us on the web at www.coopcitybaptistchurch.org. Join us for a mid-week spiritual pickup at our mid-week worship service which is held on Wednesdays at 12 p.m. Bible study is held on Wednesdays at 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. Bible study is also held on alternate Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m.

Prayer Service is held on Fridays at noon and 7:30 p.m. Men’s prayer service is held monthly at 7:30 p.m., we invite the men of the community to join us on Tuesday, January 8. The Christian Education Ministry invites you to join them at the Sight and Sound Millennium Theatre to see NOAH on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. First, we shop at Rockvale Plaza, then go see the play. We will dine at Miller’s Smorgasbord. That’s how we will spend the day. The buses will leave from Emigrant Savings Bank at 7:00 a.m. Ticket prices are adults, $115; Teens (1318 years old); and children (3-12 years old). For tickets or additional information, call 718-671-8053, 718-320-2973 or

718-320-3774. The Scholarship Ministry is on the move again and they are inviting you to join them on August 11, 2013 as they travel to Chicago. This 6 night, 7 day trip includes 10 meals (6 breakfasts and 4 dinners), motor coach transportation and lodging. We will visit the historic Navy Pier, the world class Shedd Aquarium, the DeSable Museum of African American History and many other sights. The cost of the trip is $650 double occupancy. A $100 deposit is due on or before January 20, 2013. For additional information, call the church at 718-320-3774. Rev. Dr. Williams has a radio show on WMCA 570 AM every Friday at 1:30 p.m. Rev. Dr. Williams is the author of

Principle Centered Living: 9 Reasons To Maintain Your Values in a Pressure Filled World and founder of SEW Universal, Inc. Visit his websites: www.PrincipleCenteredLiving.com or www.RevDrSheldonEWilliams.com. We wish the Co-op City community a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year. The Co-op City Baptist Church exists to glorify God and to establish a living community of people who follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ through worship, prayer, Bible study and fellowship. We seek to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the church through ministry. —H a t t ie L . L u ca s

Circle of Christ Church The Circle of Christ Church family extends a warm welcome to you and your family and invites you to come and worship with us at 147 Dreiser Loop, patio level. Thought for this week: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16). Jesus could have come to us in many ways, but he chose to come to us in a very special way. He could have chosen to be born in a palace, but he was born in a

manger. Every year, we should remember the true meaning of Christmas - Emanuel, “God with us.” God wants to be involved in our life happenings, where we go and what we do. His birth brought life and joy to the world. Join and celebrate Him and His birth in everything we do. We remind you that we are collecting non-perishable items and supplies in order to provide and support families in need of food. We also are providing counseling and referral services for families in

the community. If you need or know someone in need, please call 347-9451992. Please leave a message and we will gladly call you back. Come join us at Circle of Christ Church and experience the love of God. CHURCH SERVICE SCHEDULE Wednesday – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study Friday – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Youth Night and Children’s Bible Club Sunday – 11 a.m. Worship and the

Happy Holidays to all of our readers!

Word Children’s church – 5 years old to 12 years old Little Lambs – Potty trained Spanish Service – December 30 Special Event – Christmas Gala Sunday, December 23, at 11:00 a.m., a short film will be presented by the Arts Ministry, Christmas hymns and light refreshments will be served. ALL ARE WELCOME. —E ld er J a y R a m os

Mon., Dec. 24

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Bartow

Einstein

Library 9:30 a.m. -1 p.m.,

Library 9:30 a.m. – 1:00

10 a.m.-12 p.m., Rm. 7

Bingo 10 - 11:30 a.m., Room 31

Dominoes 10 a.m., Rm.

Library, Exercise Bike, Chat Session

9:30 -10:30 a.m., Rm. 7

Dominoes

Line Dancing

Stay Well Exercise

10-11 a.m., Rm. 45

(on vacation until Jan. 7)

Around The Lunch Table 11:30 a.m., Rm. 49 Walking and Exercise w/Ms. Gaskill

Mind Teasers

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

2 – 4 p.m., Rm. 7

Rm. 31

2:30 p.m., Room 31

Word Games 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., Rm. 31

Card Games

Wed., Dec. 26

Gentle Yoga w/Anne 2-3 p.m., Rm. 2

Kosher Turkey stuffed Peppers/tomato sauce Mashed potatoes Mixed vegetables

Non-Kosher

Soups, Breads and Desserts

Hawaiian chicken Corn w/red green peppers Diced turnip

Fresh orange

Alt: Cold Tuna fish

Tues., Dec. 25

MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY HOLIDAYS HAPPY HOLIDAYS HAPPY HOLIDAYS CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

Afternoon Movie Orange juice Chicken paprikash Toasted orzo Green & waxed beans

Beef stew Bow tie noodles Mixed vegetables

Whole wheat bread Fresh banana

Turkey leg Boiled potato Green cabbage

Canned apricots in juice

Meat loaf w/gravy Yellow rice Collard greens

Challah roll Fresh pear

Alt: Cold Fish

MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY HOLIDAYS CLOSED

10 -11 a.m., Rm. 31 Line Dancing 11 a.m.12:30 p.m., Rm. 31 Dominoes 2:30 p.m., Rm. 31 Word Games 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m., Rm. 31 Bingo 10 - 11:30 a.m., Rm. 31,

Blood Pressure 1st & 3rd Wed 9-10 a.m., Rm. 31 Card Games 2-4 p.m.

MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY HOLIDAYS CLOSED

Library, Exercise Bike, Chat Session 9:30 –

Dominoes

10:30 a.m., Rm. 7

10 a.m., Rm. 45

11 a.m.-12 p.m., Rm. 2

Spanish Practice Class

Mind Teasers

10:30 a.m., Computer Lab

12 – 1 p.m., Rm. 4 Art Class 1-3 p.m., Rm. 7 YOGA w/Bhadra 2-3 p.m., Rm. 2, every Wed.

Bingo 1 p.m., Rm. 49

9 a.m.-1 p.m., Rm. 31

Dominoes

9:30-10:30 a.m., Rm. 7

Chat Session

10:00 a.m., Rm. 45

Stay Well Exercise

Blood Pressure 1st & 3rd Thursday

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Rm. 31

10 -11:30 a.m., Rm. 7

2:30 p.m., Rm. 31

10:00 -11:00 a.m., Rm. 45

Word Games

Spelling Bee

10 -11 a.m., Aud. A

11:00 a.m., Rm. 49

Mind Teasers

10 – 11:30 a.m., Rm. 31

Bingo

12-1 p.m., Rm. 4 Drama 1:30-4 p.m., Rm. 7

Card Games

1:00 p.m., Rm. 49

Piano Sing Along

Line Dancing

Bingo

2:30-4 p.m., Rm. 31

11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Rm. 7

Movie Madness

Crochet and Knitting

9:30 a.m., Rm. 31

Dominoes

10 a.m.-12 p.m., Rm. 7

Men’s Line Dancing

10 a.m., Rm. 45

9-10 a.m., Rm. 31

Art 10 a.m., Rm. 45 & 10 -11 a.m., Rm. 36

Library, Exercise Bike, Chat Session

Women’s Line Dancing 10 – 11 a.m., Rm. 31

9:30-10:30 a.m., Rm. 7

Meditative Moments

Dominoes

Bingo

(on vacation until Jan. 7)

2:30 p.m., Rm. 31

1 p.m., Rm. 49

Mind Teasers 12-1 p.m., Rm. 4

Word Games

Orange pineapple juice Roast chicken Noodle kugel Sautéed spinach Alt: Cold Gefilte Fish

ALL meals served w/margarine and fresh milk

Tai Chi

Library, Exercise Bike, Chat Session

9:30 -11:30 a.m., Rm. 31

Fri., Dec. 28

Alt: Cold Cajun chicken breast

9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Rm. 7

Spelling Bee 10 a.m., Rm. 49

Library

Dominoes

Thurs., Dec. 27

Cajun Tilapia Sweet potato Winter blend

Sewing w/Raymonde

Rm. 31

Thurs., Dec. 27

12 – 1 p.m., Rm. 4

Mon., Dec. 24

Wed., Dec. 26

Stay Well Exercise

Fri., Dec. 28

Date:

Crochet and Knitting

p.m., Rm. 49

2 – 4 p.m., Room 31

Tues., Dec. 25

Dreiser

9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Rm. 31 Bingo 10–11:30 a.m., Rm. 31

Card Games

Card Games, Dominoes

2-4 p.m., Rm. 49

2-4 p.m., Rm. 7

Card Games

Therapeutic Yoga

2-4 p.m., Rm. 31

Blood Pressure 2nd and 4th Friday

Chat Session

10 -11:30 a.m., Rm. 49

(Schedule subject to change without notice*)

10 a.m., Rm. 31

1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Rm. 8

WEEKLY TRIPS DATES

WEEKLY TRIPS

As scheduled: 1st Mondays:

Stew Leonards Super Wal-Mart

TBD

Bowling

PRICE

PICK-UP TIMES

Bartow Dreiser 1:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. 8:45 a.m. $2.50 11:00am 11:30am (for transportation)

$3 $12

Einstein 1:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 11:15am

To register for trips and classes, please call: (718) 320-2066 Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Funded by: The NYC Department for the Aging, The NYS Office for the Aging and Riverbay Corporation.

*Menu subject to change without notice. We ask that the members please call their center in order to register for lunch for the week. Registr a tion for lu n ch a da y in a dva n ce h a s been discon tin u ed.

Bartow Center (718) 320-2066, Ext. 2010 Dreiser Center (718) 320-1345 • Einstein Center (718) 671-5161

Upcoming Events/Trips Attention all seniors: There will be no refunds for all trips. Effective January 1, 2013, the cost for some of the JASA trips has been increased due to the increase of bridge tolls: Palisades Mall - $12, Bergen Mall - $15, Jersey Gardens Mall – $15 & Tanger Outlet Deer Park - $15. Effective January 1, 2013, the cost for the Empire Casino & Stew Leonard’s will be $5. JASA would like to thank all of the seniors who participated in donating their pennies to the PS 178 student Penny Harvest fundraiser. Your generosity was greatly appreciated. J AS A C L O SE D T UE S DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 5 T H , C H R I S T M AS DAY. H AP P Y H O L I DAYS! E m p ir e C a si n o – F r id a y, Decem b er 2 8 - $3 p er p er s on . Pick-ups: Einstein, 10:00 a.m.; Bartow - 10:15 a.m. and Dreiser - 10:30 a.m. Bu s d ep a r t s a t 3 p .m ., p lea se b e on t im e. Fa ir wa y – F r id a y, Decem b er 28 - $3 p er p er son . Pick-ups: Bartow - 11:00 a.m.; Einstein - 11:15 a.m. and Dreiser 11:30 a.m. (2 hours of shopping). Ber ge n M a ll – F r id a y, J a n u a r y 4, 2013 - $15 – Trip includes round trip transportation. Pick-ups: Bartow - 8:30 a.m.; Dreiser - 8:45 a.m. and Einstein 9:00 a.m. Wa l-M a r t – M on d a y, J a n u a r y 7, 2013 - $12 – Includes transportation. Pick-ups; Bartow – 8:30 a.m.; Dreiser 8:45 a.m. & Einstein - 9:00 a.m. St ew L eon a r d’s – M on d a y, J a n u a r y 7t h - $5 – 2 h r s. Pickups: Einstein – 1:00 p.m.; Bartow – 1:15 & Dreiser - 1:30 p.m. (2 hours of shopping). E m p ir e C a s in o – W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 9, 2013 - $5 p er p er son . Pick-

ups: Einstein - 10:00 a.m.; Bartow 10:15 a.m. and Dreiser - 10:30 a.m. Bu s d e p a r t s a t 3 p .m ., p lea se b e on t im e. (O n ly 12 sea t s a va ila b le). R esor t s Wor ld C a sin o a t Aq u ed u ct – De c e m b e r 4t h t r ip h a s b e e n r esch ed u led for Tu esd a y, J a n u a r y 22, 2013 – (54 sea t C oa ch Bu s). $20. Se e r evised t im e for p ick -u p s. Pickup times: Bartow – 9:30 a.m., Dreiser – 9:45 a.m. & Einstein – 10:00 a.m. Departure time from casino is 3:30 p.m. (We st ill h a ve 5 sea t s a va ila b le if a n yon e is in t er est e d ). Weigh t M a n a gem en t Su p p or t G r ou p - C la s ses will r esu m e on M on d a y, J a n u a r y 7, 2013, 10: 00 a .m . 2049 Ba r t ow Aven u e, R oom 25, ever y M on d a y. Maintaining a healthy weight is not easy, but with knowledge and practice it can be. Come join the Weight Management Support Group to learn techniques and information that can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. C a r e give r S u pp or t Gr ou p - A Caregiver Support Group can offer an atmosphere of understanding and support for caregivers to discuss issues and concerns. Whether you care for a loved one from a distance or in your home, you are most welcome. T h e n e xt m e e t in g is sc h e d u le d for F r i d a y, Decem b er 28t h a t : 2049 Ba r t ow Ave., R m . 31 fr om 1-2 p .m . The support group is facilitated by a social worker. If you have any questions, please contact JASA at 718-320-2066. DISABI LI T Y SUP PORT /SO CI AL IZ AT I O N GR O UP – T h e g r o u p m e e t s e ve r y 1 s t F r id a y o f t h e m on t h . For more information, contact John Sullivan at 718-671-2090 (Ext. 2142). Transportation is provided, if available.

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

AARP Chapter #4997 H a p p y Holid a ys to all members and friends of AARP Peachtree Chapter #4997. May your days be merry and bright; and please remember the reason for the Season…and be ready to return to the chapter on January 14, 2013. F YI : The number of U.S. hospitalizations for congestive heart failure in 2010 was 1 million; the average annual amount workers pay toward the cost of employer-sponsored family health coverage is $4,316 and the percentage of U.S. population covered by Medicare in 2010 was 15%. H ea r tfelt con dolen ces to Rev. Calvin Owens, who lost his father, James Clark of Hampton, VA. NOT E : To our sick, on the mend and shut-in members, and those bereaved members, please know that you are in our prayers. Contact Frances Wilson, Good & Welfare Coordinator, 718-671-5493. 2012 TO UR AC T I VI T I E S Dec. 30, 2012 – Jan. 1, 2013: New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball at the Desmond – WAITING LIST AVAILABLE…trip includes a stop at the Sands Casino (on the way) w/$30 slot play & $5 food or leisure time in Bethlehem (PA); next day, after a full breakfast buffet, choice of activities for the day; New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball w/open bar & Surf & Turf dinner; masquerade masks, noise makers, entertainment, music & dancing; New Year’s Day Brunch & show before leaving for home....$524/person, double; $634 single; $514/person triple; $28/person travel

insurance available…Departure: 8:00 a.m. SHARP from Asch Loop (in front of the library); please arrive by 7:30 a.m. to receive luggage tags & bus seating ….contact Delores, 718-379-2176. 2013 TO UR AC T I VI T I E S Jan. 10-20, 2013 – The Hawaiian Island Cruise Tour (11 days) – SOLD OUT - includes 5 ports of call: Honolulu, Maui, Hilo, Kana & Kauai; on the Norwegian Pride of America; airfare and tours included in the price…inside state room - $3,599/person; outside state room - $3,899/person; outside balcony $4,669/person (new price); $500/person deposit (plus insurance payment) due at sign-up.… contact Jean, 718-379-3742. Feb. 7, 2013 (date change) – Ira & Isabella’s Jewish/Italian Wedding Comedy @ Lakeside Manor (Hazlet, NJ) – includes luncheon and show; Deluxe motor coach transportation… $75/person…contact Jean, 718-379-3742. April 11, 2013 – Ace in the Hole presents Joe Coleman’s “Platters Review” – includes lunch, dancing and Boutique Shopping at the Royal Manor; w/Deluxe motor coach transportation…$88/person…. contact Jean, 718-379-3742. May 16, 2013 – Culinary Institute of America & Hudson River Boat Cruise includes a guided tour of the World’s Premier Culinary College followed by a gourmet meal prepared by students of the Institute; then have a relaxing afternoon on a Hudson River Cruise….$110/person…Contact Daisy, 718-671-3241. —Delor es Deb n a m

Einstein Cancer Fund

Baychester Library Events VISIT THE LIBRARY - A GREAT WEALTH OF INFORMATION WEEKLY EVENTS

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and a healthy, happy New Year. Enjoy with family and friends. We are going to Showboat Casino of Tuesday, January 8th. The cost per person is $33 and you receive a casino slot play of $25. Time of pick-up is 8 a.m. starting at Einstein Loop, followed by Asch Loop and Dreiser Loop. Please bring your casino card and a valid photo ID. “Noah’s Ark”— Wednesday and Thursday, May 15th and 16th, 2013 at the Millenium Theatre, Lancaster, Pa. Day 1 – Noah’s Ark;” check in at the Hawthorne Inn. Dinner at Miller’s Restaurant. Day 2 – after breakfast and check out, on to the Sands Casino, and bonus of the day. Cost

per person—double, $245; triple, $235 and single, $287. An initial deposit of $25 holds your reservations; balances can be paid in any amount that is easier for you. Final payments must be made by March 30th, 2013. For the above trips, please call Mildred at 718-320-0288, Lydia at 718671-3005 and Loretta at 718-671-2958. You can reach us on Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and in the evening after 6:00 p.m. Good health and healings are wished to all. Remember those who are homebound or in nursing homes. Give them a call. —Lyd ia R u a s

KIDS Game On Nintendo Wii! - Mondays, 4:30 p.m. Toddler Time - Every Tuesday, 11 a.m. Teens TAG - Every Tuesday, 4 p.m. Teen Lounge - Every Wednesday, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Chess Club - Every Thursday, 3 p.m. Teen Lounge - Every Friday, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Film - Every Saturday, 2 p.m.

The New York Public Library Baychester Branch • 2049 Asch Loop • Bronx, NY 10475 (Fully Wheelchair Accessible)

HOURS: Monday & Wednesday, 10-7; Tuesday & Thursday, 10-6; Friday & Saturday, 10-5. Libros En Español (Books in Spanish). HORARIO DE LA BIBLIOTECA: Lunes 10-7, Martes 10-6, Miércoles 10-7, Jueves 10-6, Viernes 10-5, Sábado 10-5, Domingo Cerrado

718.379.6700 FREE ADMISSION TO ALL

Goose Island Seniors Goose Island Seniors and staff wishes everyone a healthy, happy, merry Christmas. Tuesday, December 25, all centers will be closed for Christmas. Sunday, December 30—We are having a Bingo game in Room 39 at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join the game. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Wednesday, April 17—Going to Westchester Dinner Theater at Elmsford. They are having GUYS AND DOLLS. Price is $78 (seventy-eight dollars). Pick up time is 9 a.m. at our 3 usual bus stops: Einstein Loop, Asch Loop (back of

library) and Dreiser Loop. We would appreciate if you can leave a small deposit when making your reservation. We are not having any trips to any Casinos in Dec. or Jan. Our next trip will be in February. For more information, call Ann or Mary at 718-379-9613 or visit our office at 135 Einstein Loop, Room 39, MondayThursday, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Also, call in the evenings to Ann at 347-267-4751 or call Mary at 718-379-4899. GOOD HEALTH TO ALL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. —M a r y P illa

Jewish War Veterans Post 500 Co-op City Post 500 will have a new year meeting on January 6, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Seven Seas Restaurant in the Bartow Shopping Center. Thanks go out to those members who joined with Post 3 and Post 69 on Dec. 15 evening to help wrap presents and then distribute them at the Hanukkah party for the Bronx Veterans Hospitals nursing home veterans that evening. They really appreciated it all. For those members attending the

Department’s Executive JWV meeting on Sunday, Jan. 13, it will be held at the Bronx VA Hospital. The 23rd St. VA Hospital is closed right now. Birthday greetings to Alan Kalter, Stewart Kogon, Hy Turkin, and Phillip Rauchman, and get well wishes to our Post 500 Commander Alex Selikoff who is recuperating at the West Palm Beach, Florida VA Hospital. A very happy New Year to all. —M a r vin Wa r m

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Reflections by Rabbi Solomon I. Berl Spiritual Leader of Young Israel Synagogue A Rabbi once asked: If one has to make a choice between first serving man or G-d, what should he do? He found the answer in the well-known verse in Levitious 19:18. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord.” The Rabbi said, Notice the order of the phrases – first comes man and then comes G-d. If there is a conflict, then man is first. Every human being is created in the image of G-d. Therefore, if we are saving our fellow human beings, in a very real sense, we are serving G-d as well. This is a very important insight into Jewish tradition, if not all of religion.

When we help our fellow man and woman, we are not only serving them, but in a very real sense doing, a “mitzvah” – a good deed which is carrying out the will of G-d. A minister was giving a lecture before a group of nurses on the religious implications of patient care. Following the presentation, the nurses were given the opportunity to ask questions. “Why did you enter nursing?” One bright nurse stood up and said, “Because I want to serve G-d. Her words are not only wise and wonderful, but also very thoughtful. For consider how close is the service of man and the service of G-d.

Young Israel of Co-op City Young Israel of Co-op City (lower level of the Dreiser Loop shopping center) is a house of worship that opens its doors every morning from 6 until 7 a.m. Anyone who wishes to start the daily routine with prayers, during which our spiritual leader Rabbi Solomon I. Berl, offers a brief Bible teaching is welcome. On Friday evening, Sabbath services begin at 10 minutes after the candle-lighting time. Saturday morning serv-

ices start at 9 a.m. Rabbi Berl delivers his sermon at 10:30 a.m. The Rabbi’s class on the Torah reading of the week begins one hour before sunset every Saturday afternoon. For office hours or any information you may seek, feel free to call (718) 671-2300 and leave your name, phone number and a brief message on the synagogue’s answering machine, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

From the Warfront to the Homefront Foundation From the Warfront to the Homefront Foundation, Inc. will sponsor a candle light memorial service on Friday, December 28th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Dreiser Auditorium A to remember and honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting deaths in Newtown, Connecticut. As all of you in this community and beyond are well aware, 20 children and six adults, mostly teachers, were murdered by a gunman on Friday morning, December 14th in what is one of the worst school shootings and killings in the history of this country. This is a time for ALL communities, wherever they are located across this

great nation, to gather and grieve together as a community, to shed our tears together as a community and to pray together as a community for the 20 children and 6 adults that were taken away from us so violently and so senselessly, and for their grieving families. We are asking community residents to bring signed condolence cards that will be personally delivered to the residents of Newtown, Connecticut. Please remember to either bring a candle or flashlight for this service. Please contact Mark Bruh at (646) 359-7723, (718) 671-8598 and/or Mark.Bruh@gmail.com. —M a r k P. Br u h

Castle Hill Funeral Directors, Inc.

SHALOM Jewish George Farr - Funeral Director funeral “The Bronx Jewish Community home, inc. Memorial Chapel” (718) 828-9222 (718) 828-1700 1528 Castle Hill Avenue Bronx, New York 10462 Keeping Tradition Under Rabbinical Supervision Services from Our Chapel, Graveside or Synagogue Parking Facilities • Pre-Arrangements

Traditional Synagogue The Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City, Young Israel of Baychester, Section 5 (new address) at Bldg. 27B at 120 Erdman Place (behind the lobby), welcomes you to pray with them. Tel. for the Shule (same old number) 1-718-379-6920. Not e: Office hours are on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Candle lighting on Friday, December 21, is before 4:14 p.m. Shabbat ends today, Saturday, December 15 at 5:15 p.m. S.O .S. Urgent! Calling all Jewish men to make a Minyon. Men you are needed for a Minyon. A Minyon is the number of men needed to read the Torah. The important number needed is 10. Please be counted as part of the 10 men and make the Minyon. You will be doing a Mitzvah (a good deed). Thank you! The community is always welcome to attend our various functions and enjoy a great day of fun and friendship. C omin g E ven t s: Sunday, December 16 at 12 p.m. – We are having a Chanukah Luncheon followed by a Mini Bingo. You will not want to miss this event. We have a terrific Kosher Italian menu: Eggplant parmesan, baked ziti and spinach lasagna, garden salad and in honor of Chanukah, jelly

donuts and coffee or tea. The cost is $20 per person. I look forward to greeting you. Please call Mimi at 1-347-427-4526 for your reservation soon and make your check payable to: Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City. Tuesday, December 25—Sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas to all of our Christian friends and a very happy New Year. G ood a n d Welfa r e: All women are invited to join the Sisterhood. The dues for 2013 are due. $18 is the annual amount. Do you need a tree certificate sent “in Honor of” or “in Memory of” a special occasion or a condolence? You can give a living gift for the cost of $15 per tree. For more information, you can call Mimi at 1347-427-4526. We can accommodate you. If you are feeling under the weather, we wish you all a speedy and painless recovery in double quick time. December birthdays – Wishing Jerome Berlofsky and Gary Schwartz a very happy birthday on December 26. Many more joyous occasions and only in good health. Your help is always appreciated. Thank you. Shalom! —M ir ia m E velyn Ber lofsky

Building 30 Association We have an email address. It is: Building30@hotmail.com. This organization cannot work without the participation of the cooperators of Building 30 A&B. I hope that we can help each other. C om in g E ven ts: The next meeting of the Association is Wednesday, January 9. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the meeting commences promptly at 7:30 p.m. Pokeno is back! Friday, January 11 will be our night for Pokeno fun. We meet in the Association Room on the “B” side of the building. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. Bring your nickels and have some fun. Snacks are served. Crochet class is on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. The class will start at 1:00 p.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. We meet at the Building 30 association room on the “B” side. C a len d a r of E ven t s: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - The Officers and members of the Building 30 A&B

extend a very happy and healthy New Year to all. G ood & Welfa r e We had a terrific Bldg. 30 Pot Luck Holiday Party on Saturday, December 15 in our association room. Everyone who participated brought something to eat or drink. There was plenty of food, including side dishes and desserts. We thank you all for making this party complete. We sang and danced to the music of Cowboy Usher and the Night Riders. Let us have another healthy year and do this again in 2013. The “A” side of the building has such beautiful decorations for the holidays “thanks” to the efforts of Lois Washington and Mr. & Mrs. Julio Esquilon. It really puts you in the holiday spirit. Speedy get well wishes to all who are under the weather. If you are celebrating a special occasion, an anniversary or a birthday, we hope that you enjoy your day. SEE YOU SOON. M ir ia m E . Ber lofsky —M

DIVORCE - BANKRUPTCY • ABSOLUTE LOWEST FEES • EVENING APPTS. AVAILABLE • IMMEDIATE FILING

• FREE CONSULTATION • FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLANS

“COURTEOUS AND PROMPT SERVICE AT AN AFFORDABLE FEE”

633 Lydig Ave • Bronx, NY 1 block from Pelham Parkway & White Plains Road Accessible by #2 & #5 trains • #12, #22 & #39 buses

DAVID BRODMAN,Esq.

718.239.7110

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

Pentecostal Tabernacle Pentecostal Tabernacle, 120 Benchley Pl., Building 24 (street level) Bronx, N.Y. 10475. You are invited to attend services on the following days. SUNDAYS: Sunday School for all age groups begins at 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship starts by 11:45 a.m. W E DNE SDAY: Morning prayer and fasting service will begin at 11 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Evening prayer meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Effective Fervent Prayers change things. Come and experience the power of Biblical prayers. F R I DAY: Bible study starts at 7:30 p.m. God’s power is released through His Words. Come and study the Word of

God; it can change your life. Watch night service will be held on the 31st starting at 9 p.m. 2 T im ot h y 2: 15 - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. F ocu s: Virtue is the quality that sustains our entrance and standing before a holy God and allows the strength and healing presence of God to flow through us. P h ilip pia n s 4: 8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever

things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. A Christian’s strength resides in his or her relationship with God. A life filled with virtue results in a clean conscience and removes any cloud of guilt, providing a bold entrance into the presence of the Lord. A virtuous life fulfills the purpose for the grace of God, making that work complete. Godly virtue adds value to human life, and that enhancement becomes obvious to others. Paul joined Peter in encouraging the pursuits of virtue when he admonished Timothy to give himself wholly to righteous

principles.1Timothy 4; 15) Paul concluded that adding virtue to faith is a profitable venture that causes the believer’s value to rise even in the eyes of those around him. I am wishing everyone a merry, merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year. Let us all remember to pray one for another loving one another, especially moms & dads, sons & daughters, and let us all remember to pray for the families that have lost their loved ones at the school in Newtown, Conn. For more information, call: 718-3240334 —R ev. R . Sib b lies

Church of God’s Children Pastors Nancy & Angelo Rosario and the members of Church of God’s Children cordially extend an invitation to come and share in worship and praise unto our Lord. Jesus built this church on Love. We are at 127 Dreiser Loop (to the right of the Montefiore Health Clinic). Church office is open daily Tues. & Thurs., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; sanctuary is open for prayer. Call 718-790-9120. Sunday - Worship Service in Spanish at 9:30 a.m.; English at 1:15 p.m. Sunday – Bible Studies for children, youth & adults – 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Wednesday – Prayer 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; 12 step fellowship at 159 Dreiser Loop – 7 p.m. After School Program – Mon.-Fri. – Drop off & pick up at Educational Park.

Goodwill/Fundraising Ministry: 163 Dreiser Loop (next to shoe repair shop) open Mon.-Fri., 1 p.m.-3 p.m. We now have a rack full of free coats. Also Bibles, study books, toys, gifts, etc. Stop by and browse, we’re sure you will leave with something, even if it’s a prayer or free tract. Su n d a y, Decem ber 23 – we will have one service at 11:00 a.m. – Christmas Carols/Worship Monday, December 24 – Christmas Eve – special service and drama 7 p.m. Monday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Service – 10 p.m. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28) It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God absolutely controls his

circumstances. We take our circumstances for granted, saying God is in control, but sometimes not really believing it. We act as if the things that happen were completely controlled by people. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, or object of our faith— the Lord Jesus Christ. God may cause our circumstances to suddenly fall apart, which may cause us to lose faith in Him for not recognizing that He had ordained the situation. We never saw what He was trying to accomplish, and that same event will not repeat itself in our life. This is where our faith is tested. If we just learn to worship God even during the difficult circumstances, He will change them for the better very quickly if He so chooses. Being faithful to Jesus Christ sometimes

appears to be the most difficult thing we try to do these days. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers. The goal of our faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work THROUGH US. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. Believe me, I’ve been there, done that. I’ve realized that God wants to use us as He used His own Son; and His son was faithful and obedient. May the peace of our Lord reign in your heart. God bless. —Bishop Na ncy R osa r io

CO-OP CITY FOOT CARE CENTER SECTION 5 • BUILDING 29C 4240 HUTCHINSON RIVER PARKWAY EAST

(718) 671-2233 DR. LOUIS JACOBS, DIRECTOR ALL FOOT CONDITIONS TREATED The in-office surgical correction of BUNIONS • HAMMERTOES • INGROWN TOENAILS PAINFUL CORNS and CALLOUSES The treatment of traumatic foot injuries, heel spurs, bursitis and arthritis of the joints of the feet, toenail and skin infections, as well as other conditions.

Most Union and Insurance Plans Accepted. HIP CMO (Montefiore) Health Plan Accepted. We participate in Postal Workers, Mail Handlers, Letter Carriers, Verizon Workers, 1199, GHI, Blue Shield, Empire Plan, Medicare, Travelers, United Health Care and many other union and major medical plans. Se Habla Español MEDICARE ACCEPTED • HOUSE CALLS BY APPOINTMENT

Diabetic Patients with Medicare may be eligible for shoes.

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS Co-op City Times • cctimes@riverbaycorp.com Appliances Repair

Help Wanted Doctor’s office, part-time, 2 days, Monday and Friday. Call 71812/29 379-8029

Records Wanted

L&L APPLIANCE REPAIR

Insured NYC License #1233497

718.792.2655

LIMIT — One Coupon Per Person

10/12/13

1/26 • 4 Hour Minimum • General Cleaning — Call for Maint. Cleaning • Semi-Heavy Duty & Senior Care — $80 + tax • Super Heavy — $120 + tax Bonded • 7 Days • Accept Cash, Pay-Pal

www.spoonercleaning.com Call

A 7,500 square foot space, comprising a two story attached annex building to St. Paul's Episcopal Church is available for rent. The space was used as a Pre-School until June 2012. If interested in renting this space, call Father Horton Scott on 914-384-2929 for an appointment. The rental space is at 489 St. Paul's Place between 170 and 171 12/22 Washington Ave. in the Bronx. •

Present This Coupon (except vacuums/lamps)

STOVES • WASHERS • REFRIGERATORS Fully VACUUM CLEANERS and more

Space for Rent

SERVICES

SPOONERS DOMESTIC SERVICE

EMERGENCY SERVICE

$20 OFF

Get Top Cash for your Jazz, Soul, R&B and Gospel albums from 50s to 70s. Call Howard 12/29 at 212-873-4016 anytime.

Cleaning Service

SERVICES

Call

(718) 320-5112

P&R APPLIANCE SERVICE

Cleaning Service - Carpet

if you are tired of paying too much for repairs! 718-829-9090

2/9

Service Charge only $24.95

• Washers • Dryers • Stoves plus 10% off any repair Senior • Refrigerators Citizen Discount • Dishwashers Vacuums FREE Pick-up and Delivery!

Appliances Repair

L & L APPLIANCE REPAIR

• Stoves • Washers • Dryers • Refrigerators • Vacuum Cleaners and more

10% DISCOUNT

(except vacuums and lamps)

Fully Insured NYC License #1233497

Call 718.792.2655 10/12/13

DR. STEVE’S APPLIANCE REPAIR

• 1 Year Guarantee on parts • Over 25 Years Experience • Insured • Seniors Discount • 10% OFF with this Ad Call (718) 671-0700 12/29

1058 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx

12/29

VACUUM

SALES & SERVICE

718-829-9090 Bags, Belts & Filters

ACE APPLIANCE REPAIR

1058 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx

Refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, washers, dryers, dishwashers. Free service call with repairs.

For prompt service call:

12/29

Blinds

(718) 379-8782

12/29

EMERGENCY SERVICE

• ALL MAKES & MODELS • Stoves • Washers • Dryers •Lamps • Dishwashers • Refrigerators • Bags • Hoses • Belts • Vacuum Cleaners Family Owned & Operated Since 1954 NYC License #1233497 10% DISCOUNT (except vacuums)

718.792.2655 2951 Middletown Road, Bronx, NY 10461 (Near Pelham Bay Station) 10/12/13

GEORGE’S CLEAN WINDOWS Professional Window Cleaning • FAST RELIABLE SERVICE

FAMILY BLINDS SERVICE Serving Co-op City for over 25 years

L & L APPLIANCE REPAIR

Fully Insured

Cleaning Service - Windows

Free Pick up & Delivery

Cell:

1-203-482-6337

4/20/13

NEW STYLE BLINDS

Computer Consultant, Sales & Repair

FREE VALANCE & INSTALLATION NEW WINDOWS?

Dataway Computers, Inc.

All Colors • Vertical • Minis • Woods • 2 in. Regulars • Wash, Tape, Cord Blinds

Removal & Re-installation of any types of Blinds Quality work! Lowest Prices in Town! Repair Closet Doors and much more! Call Mike at: 718-974-1290

Networking, Maintenance, Repair

$40 Field Service 2/21

Call Anytime • Seven Days/Week • “When You See Me, You’ll Know Me!”

Cleaning Service

New Palace Cleaning Services We do all the work and you get all the credit

718-671-1736 / info@newpalacecleaning.com House Cleaning: $75 for 3-hrs of General/Heavy duty cleaning. $20 each additional hour. Labor ONLY/supplies NOT included. Window Washing: $5 per window/WITHOUT Guards. $7 per window/WITH Guards. 5 window minimum charge. Screen washing $2/screen. House Painting: Prices start at $150 per room. 2 coats - 1 color/ FREE ESTIMATES. Scraping, spackling, etc. additional fees Labor ONLY/paint NOT included. www.newpalacecleaning.com By Appointment ONLY 12/22

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

MICROSOFT CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS

FREE Phone Consultation

646-326-2676

Call: Computer Drop-off at 474 Willis Avenue, Bx 10455

Visit Us: www.dattaway.com

Lic. #1417990

Celebrating 10 years of service to Co-op City. 12/29

Your Ad Here! Call 718-320-3300, x3380 for affordable rates!

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS Floors

Hair Care

Locksmith

FAMILY LOCKSMITH Licensed and Bonded

HIGH SECURITY LOCKS 20% Off Any Lock Job!

Medco • MultiLock • Wilson High Quality Labor For a Low Price! Serving Co-op City for over 25 years. “When you see me, You’ll know me.” Call Anytime • Seven Days A Week

12/29

Call Mike at: 718-974-1290

Handyman

Painting

KJ HANDYMAN

12/29

Flooring • Painting • Ceramic Floor Tiles • Blinds • Shower Doors • Lighting • Lighting Fixtures • Many More Jobs

(Handy person) Fast Service Cell:

M & M FLOORS

Hardwood floors installed - Sanding & Refinishing. Polyurethane, Fabulon & Moisture Cure Finishes. Staining in all colors. Free estimates. 10% Co-op City resident discount.

Call Mike. (718) 792-0024

12/29

Hair Care

NO LUMPS NO BUMPS HAIR EXTENSIONS 1815 West ch est er Ave. Br on x, NY 10472

718-684-3000

100% E ffect ive! No Br a id s, No G lu e, No R u b b er Ba n d s!

(917) 346-0862 1/26

Tom/Handyman I ’m ver y h a n dy a n d ca n fix a n yth in g in you r h ome, for exa mple: C a b in et s, d r a wer s, d oor s, closet s, p olish floor s, d ish wa sh er s, p u t u p wa ll m ir r or s, ch a n ge a n y sin k fa u cet , in st a ll ceilin g fa n s a n d ligh t fixt u r es.

P lea se ca ll a n yt im e 718-515-8556 • 347-236-2993

We u se P er u via n , M a la ysia n , Br a zilia n a n d M or occa n H a ir ! 12/29

HOLIDAY SPECIALS

Bathroom $50 paint included, Kitchen $110 paint included, Bedroom $99+ up - paint included • Floors Refinished • Doors Repaired • Wallpaper, Panel, Carpet Removal • Blinds, Doors & Kitchen Cabinets - Moderate Repairs • Closet Doors Repaired (very cheap)

FREE!

718.320.5270

ESTIMATE!

12/22

Slipcovers

(718) 746-8925 TABLE PADS

12/29

CUSHIONS REFILLED • NEW FOAM RUBBER SOFA PLATFORMS LOW, LOW PRICES 1/26

ALL STATE DECORATORS

Home Improvement

Upholstery/Blinds

1-800-479-2667

REUPHOLSTERING

JASON LASH

• VERTICAL BLINDS • MINI BLINDS • SINK VANITIES • SPACE SAVERS • MATCHING HAMPERS • BATHTUB ENCLOSURES • CLIP-ON MIRROR FRAMES

A-1 PAINTING PLUS

PLASTIC SLIPCOVERS

ESTIMATES ARE FREE!

BRAIDLESS HAIR EXTENSIONS

2/21

• RANGE HOODS • LIGHT FIXTURES • KITCHEN CABINETS • CABINET REFACING • COUNTERTOPS • CUSTOM CLOSET MIRROR DOORS • CUSTOM WALL MIRRORS

Custom Craftsmen - 40 yrs. experience. Sofas & Chairs upholstered; Slipcovers-Fabric & Plastic; Kitchen Chairs - $8.99 & up: Caning; Venetian Blinds; Drapes - Custom made Refinishing, Touch up & Polishing of Furniture

STYLISH DECORATORS • 718.881.7691 3314 White Plains Rd. • Bronx, NY 10467

12/29

Co-op City Times

CO-OP SALES

20492049 BartowBARTOW Ave. • Room 21 • NY21 10475 AVE. • Bronx, ROOM

- Grout & Carpet Cleaning Eliminate e Breath

Rates: $6 for 20 words or less. 30¢ for each

Easy

Bugs

1-800-479-2667

BRONX, NY 10475 • 718.320-3380 1.718.320.3300, ext. 3380

CLASSIFIED AD FORM

additional word. $2.40 per line for bold type (3 words max.) Display Classified: $8 per column inch.

Fee is payable in advance. No exceptions. No refunds. Checks or Money Orders ONLY payable to Co-op City Times must accompany ad. (We will no longer accept cash.)

Deadline is MONDAY at 3 P.M., except when there is a holiday, in which case the deadline is moved up one business day or as announced. Classifieds advertising the sale of

Co-op City Resident Specials

land, homes, or apartments outside Co-op City or advertising businesses operating within homes in Co-op City cannot be accepted. No blind ads accepted.

CO-OP SALES BLINDS!

PRINT YOUR AD HERE CLEARLY.

— since 1969 —

Attach sheet if needed. Use Pen or Typewriter. CATEGORY (Required):

Vertical, Mini, Wood, Pleats

____________

______________

____________

______________

______________8

• Don’t Pay More At Your Local Hardware Store •

____________

______________

_____________12

We BEAT Any Quote!

____________

______________

_____________16

____________

______________

_____________20

1-800-479-2667 Advertise in the Co-op City Times Classifieds! Call 718-320-3300, x3380 for affordable rates!

12/29

______________4

NAME _________________________________________________________ PHONE __________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ________________________________________________________ CITY ________________________STATE________ ZIP __________________ Insert for (#) _________ times. Starting issue date: _____________.

Co-op City Times / December 22, 2012

BRONX SUZUKI GROUP EXCLUSIVE!

ANY STORM DAMAGED TRADE-IN VEHICLE WILL STILL QUALIFY FOR

FULL KELLEY BLUE BOOK APPRAISAL FOR PHOTOS & VIDEOS OF THESE AND MANY MORE

VISIT BRONXSUZUKI.COM 2004 Mazda

Mazda6

2004 Jeep

Stk #5373T, 4 cyl, auto, 80K mi., ONLY 80K MI, WIRED RIMS.

5000

BUY FOR

2011 Hyundai

BUY FOR

Accent

7000

2009 Honda

Accord LX-P

BUY FOR

Yaris

2008

Stk #5111T, 6 cyl, auto, 95K mi., V6, LEATHER, SUNROOF.

2011 Toyota

Camry LE

Mazda3

2006 Chevy

Stk #5400T, 4 cyl, auto 70K MI.

Impala LS

2009 Suzuki

SX4

Stk #633A,4 cyl, auto, 25K mi., ONLY 25K MI.

Stk #6381,V6,auto,60K mi., POWER PKG, ONLY 60K MI.

5000 $5000 $5000 BUY FOR

BUY FOR

2011 Suzuk

Grand Vitara Premium

2011 Hyundai

Stk #102009, 4 cyl, auto, 9K mi. ONLY 9K MILES.

Stk #5439, 4 cyl, auto, 46K mi., LE.

Stk #5371,4 cyl,auto,35K mi., POWER PACKAGE.

BUY FOR

Galant LS

5000 $5000

2011 Toyota

Sonata

Stk #4641,6 cyl,auto, 17K mi., SUNROOF, ONLY 17K MILES.

2011 Honda

Accord EX-L Coupe

Stk #5408,V6,auto, 8K mi. LEATHER, SUNROOF, ONLY 8K MI.

9000 $11,000 $13,000 $15,000 $17,000

2011 Dodge

BUY FOR

Charger

2008 Acura

BUY FOR

2009 Nissan

Stk #5390, V6, auto, 50K mi., LEATHER, SUNROOF.

Stk #5082, 6 cyl, auto, 12K mi., ONLY 12K MI.

Stk #5320,4 cyl,auto, 30K mi., INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

Maxima SV

2009 BMW

328i

2008 Cadillac

Stk #5391, V6, auto, 38K mi., LEATHER, SUNROOF.

Stk #5426, V6, auto, 70K mi., CHROME RIMS.

Stk #5318, 6 cyl, auto, 34K mi., LEATHER, SUNROOF.

STS

13,000 $14,000 $15,000 $16,000 $17,000 $18,000

BUY FOR

2009 Nissan

BUY FOR

2005 Mitsubishi

Stk #270825,6 cyl,auto, 80K mi., ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

Stk #588A, 4 cyl, auto, 38K mi., ONE OWNER.

BUY FOR

Liberty

Armada

Stk #5405,V8, auto, 50K mi., V8, SUNROOF.

2009 Mercedes-Benz

350

2008 Audi

Stk #5444,V6, auto, 50K mi., NAVIGATION.

BUY FOR

2011 Infiniti

Stk #5333, 6 cyl, auto, 45K mi., THIRD ROW SEAT.

BUY FOR

FX35

Stk #5432,V6, auto, 44K mi.,LEATHER, SUNROOF, NEW BODY STYLE.

2009 BMW

X5 3.0

BUY FOR

QX56

Stk #5370, 8 cyl, auto, 60K mi., NAVIGATION.

Stk #5323, 6 cyl, auto, 48K mi.

23,000 24,000 25,000 26,000 27,000 BUY FOR

2010 Infiniti

BUY FOR

OWN IT FOR

28 ,000 $ 420

* PER MO 75 MOS

3 EASY WAYS TO SHOP US 24/7 FOR PHOTOS 1.Scan the QR Code at left AND VIDEOS OF THESE AND MANY MORE: 2.Text VICTORY to 48696 3.Go to BronxSuzuki.com

888-446-3034 4101 Boston Road in the Bronx,

Habla Espa単ol | We Speak African

just off I-95, Exit 13 Conner Street W W W.

B R O N X S U Z U K I.COM

Ad is a coupon & must be presented prior to negotiations. Prices exclude tax, tags & MV fees. *All used cars finance options are with 700 FICO score or higher & $2885 down pymt (ex. 2010 Infiniti QX56, Stk #5370, $2885 down pymt) for 75 mos. at @ 3.99% APR.Vehicle selection and down payment will be determined by severity of credit. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Pictures for illustration purposes only. All cars sold cosmetically as is. Not resp. for typo errors. Offers cannot be combined. All vehicles available on a first come first sold basis. NYS DMV #7099068, NYC DCA #1187918/#1187917.