Co-op City Times 01/15/2022 by Co-op City Times

Vol. 57 No. 03

Saturday, January 15, 2022

$1.25

Board Discusses Cable Upgrades, Verizon & More at Open Meeting BY BRANDON ORTIZ

Wednesday’s Open Board meeting began with Riverbay Board President

BY ROZAAN BOONE

Board and shareholders on several matters at the Jan. 12th virtual open meet-

membrance for the lives lost during the past two years. shareholders continue to feel the effects of the pandemic but remain resilient in their efforts to get vaccinated and tested often. He then reminded shareholders to continue adhering to masking and social distancing guidelines. tinue to provide full service 24/7,” the Board President said. He also assured shareholders that Riverbay “continues to receive and pay bills, pointing out that a majority of shareholders have continued paying their carrying charges throughout the pandemic except for a “small fraction.” tinues to meet regularly and commission committees, highlighting the recently “various capital projects.” “One of these items was the riverfront park, which, according to the budget, not di(Continued on page 9)

ing. He said that despite the pandemic, very good progress was made in 2021 on several of the ongoing capital projects, including Local Law 11 city-mandated façade improvements in Section 5 where all scaffolding-related work has been completed. Once some base building work wraps up, and city approval granted, sidewalk sheds will be dismantled and removed, and the surrounding grounds will be reopened by the Spring, at which point, the Riverbay Grounds Last year, Local Law 11 work was also completed in Building 9-14 in Sections 1-4, substantial progress was made to the work on Buildings 20 and 25, and it is expected that these buildings will be completed by July, after which, sidewalk sheds will be removed. “If you live in Buildings 1 through 8, and 15 through 19, your time has come,” of February. The work in Buildings 15 through 19 will not start until we’ve completed Building 20 to 25 so most likely that will be July-August time frame for Local Law 11 work to begin on Buildings 15 to 19.” Turning to the second capital project that has been ongoing for the last few years – mod-

Fire Safety for Co-op City Residents Importance of Closing the Door and Safe Use of Space Heaters

(Continued on page 4)

BY ANTHONY BARZELATTO

Last Sunday’s tragic fire in Fordham Heights in the Bronx that claimed the lives of 17 children and adults, injured more than 40 and left scores of families homeless, was reportedly started by a malfunctioning space heater. Fire in the affected apartment was not contained because the and smoke to spread. Smoke traveled throughout the building be-

and displacement of families could have been preRiverbay high rise buildings are “Fireproof,” and it is therefore usually safer to stay inside your apartment

vators have been completed and project completion is expected around August-September,

your building, rather than entering danhallways. Generally, fires in fireproof buildings will be contained to the portion of the building Additionally, if the fire is below your apartment, you could risk being caught in rising heat and smoke in stairwells. If you and your loved ones are not in imminent apartment, do the following: Keep your door closed Seal doors or openings with duct tape, wet sheets or wet towels It is ok to open your windows a few inches (Continued on page 3)

What’s Inside: CCPD Apprehends Suspect for Past Crimes in Co-op City, p. 2 BxM7 Bus Stop to be Relocated, Jan. 20 p. 3 801 Co-op City Blvd. Update p. 5

Riverbay Holiday Closing and CCTimes Deadline Notice the holiday-shortened work week, all material, including directors’ viewpoints, submitted for publication in the Saturday, January 22nd issue of the Co-op City Times must be received before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 18. Submissions should be sent to cctimes@riverbaycorp.com.

Shareholders can either email RiverbayFinance@riverbaycorp.com or come to the reception desk in the Bartow Administrative Building at 2049 320-2066 for an appointment.

for the exemption, it will be retroactive to the cut-off date – Dec. 31, 2021.

Co-op City Times /January 15, 2022

CCPD Apprehends Suspect for Past Crime Committed on Co-op City Property and Multiple Violent Crimes Off-Property

DR. LEWIS WOLSTEIN Podiatrist – Foot Specialist

On Sunday, January 9, 2022 Co-op City Public Safety (CCPD) apprehended a known suspect wanted for multiple felonies including one crime committed on Co-op City property that occurred on December 17, 2021. On December 17, 2021 a former resident of Co-op City who is well known to members of the Department of Public Safety entered a food establishment in Mall 1 and became disorderly. He was demanding free food and causing a

• Practicing in Co-op City since 1975 • Board Certified in Foot Surgery • ALL conditions of the foot treated

since the suspect is known to now reside off of Co-op City property. On Sunday, January 9, 2022 at about 2:30 p.m., a 911 call was made by a dispatcher broadcast the information as she assigned the job to an NYPD patrol

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Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Co-op City Times 2nd COMBING

Front Page

Express BxM7 Bus Stop Reopens in Einstein Loop Jan. 20 Vehicles Illegally Parked in the Bus Stop will be Towed/Fined By ROZAAN BOONE

highlighted the late night cancellations of uled to begin the north/south service

to draw attention to the relocation of the

Find out what’s going on in Co-op City here...

Blood Drive Today Riverbay Corp. and NY Blood Center are hosting a Blood Drive today, Saturday, Jan. 15, in Bartow, Rm. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nybc.org/drive and search sponsor code 05892 to make an appointment; walk-ins welcome, if space permits. Eat and drink before donating and bring photo ID. Masks are required. Check your eligibility to donate at nybc. org/eligibility or call 800-6880900. Donors will be entered to win a Mirror Home Gym with 12 month membership.

was decided that to facilitate the return of Center and to inform residents that the

Zoom meeting with the MTA and local elected

Co-op

City Times

Dreiser Testing Center Available Mon.-Fri. The Dreiser testing site located at 105 Dreiser Loop currently offers free Covid Rapid Testing. The testing site is open from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointments are not required.

(Continued on page 4)

Fire Safety –––––

Do not break the windows as you may need to close them later Call 911 and give the dispatcher your apartment number and description of the conditions. Follow instructions from dispatchers; they are trained to help Remember to always listen to instructions from the

Masks are Mandatory in Common Areas of Co-op City Face masks must be properly worn when in common areas of residential buildings in Co-op City. Common areas include elevators, laundry rooms, stairways, hallways, lobbies, community centers and garages. In addition, shareholders and their guests must observe social distancing. No more than four people per elevator ride or in a laundry room simultaneously. Failure or refusal to wear a mask will result in the issuance of the $50 Community Fine by

Space Heaters

Call Maintenance if your apartment door does not self-close and/or latch How Closing Your Door Works You might think that a closed door would be no match for a 1.

Understand The Dangers

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Mobile Covid Testing Van The Mobile Covid-19 testing van will be available daily, 8 a.m.- 7 p.m., on a rotating basis in Co-op City, according to the following schedule: Mon. & Tues. – 177 Dreiser Loop Wed. & Thurs. – 135 Einstein Loop Fri., Sat. & Sun. – 2049 Bartow Ave. No appointment necessary.

(Continued from page 1)

7. 8. grees

an overheat sensor which does the same 9. Check the cord and heater to ensure the unit is in safe working order with no cracks or tears 10.

Report ––––––––––––––––– 3-4 months ahead of the original projected schedule. Replacement of lobby entrances in Triple Core buildings will continue and be completed this year, Mr. Klehammer said. In addition, he explained that because of the cold weather, remedial concrete work being done in Garage 2 has been suspended since pouring of concrete is not recommended in cold temperature, however demolition work will continue so that the garage can be completed this year. Although not part of capital projects, Mr. Klehammer said that garage elevators, which was brought up at the in Garage 1, is being worked on. “We expect that it will be completed and back in service by the end of next week,” he said. “We are having some issues with the elevators in Garage 7. The front elevator has been down and the parts have been ordered. We are having some supply chain issues across the board with getting these parts, but we expect the parts to be in by next week or so, and then work will commence on the elevator. The rear elevator in Garage 7, we’ve had some problems with some of the traction cables and we’re continuing to nurse that along.” Expanding on garage elevators, Mr. Klehammer said that it was initially estimated that modernization of these elevators would be addressed in the next budget which would not have been approved and implemented until 2023, but with deterioration of the garage elevators accelerating, Management contracted with the elevator consultant to do an assessment and prepare draft specs to advance the project to this year. The report is currently being analyzed, after which Management will advise the Board with the goal of starting modernization of the garage elevators this year after the residential elevator modernization is completed. cation, Mr. Klehammer reminded shareholders that an application has been submitted to the US Department of the exiting mortgage and it is currently being reviewed. “The bottom line is that if we are able to complete the closing of this mortgage, it will give us approximately $120M in funds that will be used for future capital projects and in a way try to relieve some of the pressure that we’ve felt in the last few years in paying for these primarily with carrying charge increases,” stated Mr. Klehammer. “That application is being reviewed and as it moves through the process, we will be advising the Board and the community.” The other issue discussed by Mr. Klehammer reat Twin Parks in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx last weekend. He informed shareholders that an article will be published in the Co-op City Times space heaters. “As we move through the community and did our replacement of smoke detectors and carbon monoxformation to all residents. I hope you have read it. If not, and you still have it, please go through it and revisit it from time to time. It will give you tips that potentially could save your life, your family’s lives and your neighbors’ lives in the God-awful eventuality that a smoke situation in a building in Section 5. It ended forgot about it, person left the apartment, his neighbors came out, and I think this is a result of the event this past

BxM7 –––––––––––––––––– Traffic Enforcement will begin issuing tickets to vehicles illegally parked in the bus stop beginning Thursday, Jan. 20.. Among those who were invited to join Director Einstein Loop bus stop were Director Leslie Peterson and shareholders Blossom Johns, former co-chair of the ad hoc MTA committee, and shareholder Stefani Hazell. “Congratulations, Mary, and all who played a role in getting the behemoth MTA to reverse itself and move the Express Bus stop back to Einstein Loop,” stated Riverbay Board President Bernie Cylich. “The lesson that Mary has taught us, as we learned after

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022 (Continued from page 1)

weekend – his neighbors closed the door until the Fire Department got there. Luckily, the damage was contained to some melted pots and pans, a damaged stove and some smoke in the kitchen but the neighbors had the wherewithal and I have to believe it’s all the press coverage that was given to Twin Parks, to go and close the gentleman’s door. They didn’t know what was going on, they saw smoke coming out of the apartment and they were able to intercede to prevent a potential Mr. Klehammer emphasized the importance of tached to the back of their apartment door which are both good sources of information. He advised: • but close the door behind you. • where in the building, it is best to stay in the apartment, keep the door and windows closed. If you can safely open the window without smoke billowing in, you may crack the window a bit to let in fresh air. However, under no circumstance should you break the window. • Put wet towels or blankets or some other wet material at the bottom of the door. Mr. Klehammer pointed out that smoke starts from the top and travels downwards so putting wet towels or blankets would help to delay smoke seeping into the apartment. “This is another reason, if you remember, why we put the stickers on the threshold to the entrances to the apartment about 12 inches up from the is because smoke stays up here, not down below.” Mr. Klehammer urged shareholders to educate own safety. “We are fortunate that Co-op City buildings are very non-combustible,” he said. “Our aparthave occurred since I’ve been here thankfully have been contained pretty much to the apartment where it was, and we’ve not had the kind of situation that we saw this weekend at Twin Parks but it’s very important for residents to review this material from time to time. If you have children, go over it with your children so that we don’t have that very sad situation that occurred this past weekend.” Moving on, Mr. Klehammer announced that the eviction moratorium that was in place since almost the beginning of the pandemic will expire on Jan. 15 and Governor Kathy Hochul has so far indicated that it will not be extended. “We will be commencing, once again, court actions against residents who are in arrears,” said Mr. Klehammer, noting that there are a couple of programs that shareholders can take advantage of. “There’s been information published in the CCTimes…If you owe us money, come in and talk to us now because legal actions will begin again and Housing Courts will be granting evictions.” Mr. Klehammer then discussed legislation S5105C signed into law by Gov. Hochul last month which has been implemented and could have a potential $1M impact on Co-op City as reported in the Jan. 8, 2022 issue of the Co-op City Times. Mr. Klehammer said: “The original bill was S5105 and what was passed was version C. The bill had been amended three times. Two days before the bill (Continued from page 3)

cuts, is that a winning strategy is to enlist our cooperDirector Pearson said this week: “After endless months and months of being the squeaky wheel, othI’m content.” Director Saunders added: “For cooperators who reside in Section 5 and use the BxM7 Express Bus service, let’s hope that the teamwork of many snatched victory out of the jaws of what could have been a permanent defeat!”

was passed, an amendment was put in that said all these changes, we’ve eliminated co-ops, except coops formed under Article 2, 5 and 11 of the Private Housing Finance Law. Well, we are an Article 2 co-op, we don’t know how that got in there. All those other forms of housing are what you’d call affordable housing, they are all buildings created under programs where the government has either put in a tax exemption like they did with Mitchell-Lama’s or direct subsidies like they do in Article 11 housing companies. “So what this means is that we still don’t have the ability to collect our late and legal fees as part of Housing Court action,” continued Mr. Klehammer. “We can still collect carrying charges…plus there were additional requirements on enhanced services when we start a non-payment, you just can’t get a process server and serve, we now have to serve by process, expenses and reduces our revenues so we are going to can now bill their shareholders and collect from their shareholders these late and legal fees but those housing companies that have the greatest need for compliance and collection of their carrying charges are not.” Last week, in the Jan. 8th issue of the Co-op City Times, State Assemblyman Mike Benedetto reported that he has already spoken to the chair of the NYS Assembly Housing Committee, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, about S5105C and has received assurance that the bill’s shortcomings relative to housing companies organized under Article 2, 4, 5 and 11 will be addressed once the legislators returned to Albany this week. “It will have to be a new piece of legislation making changes to the bill that the Governor signed that will focus in on the just concerns that we have,” said Assemblyman Benedetto last week. “I have some hope that they will listen to reason because it’s a fairness issue here and there’s no reason why Co-op City should be subjected to this.” Assemblyman Benedetto reported that he has been gathering support from his Assembly colleagues state-wide who also have concerns about S5105C. “Hopefully, we’ll get a strong coalition going and join State Senator Jamaal Bailey added: “We are proud to represent Co-op City and we always want to make sure we are doing any and everything that we can that’s in the best interest of the cooperators, Riverbay and everybody in our community that does so much for us. Legislatively, Assemblyman Benedetto and I are looking at options and having conversations with our colleagues about making sure that Co-op City and other limited income Mitchell-Lama’s will be able to be inlaw. We certainly don’t want Co-op City to be left out of anything that is good.” The senator reminded Co-op City shareholders that he has always advocated for the community and will continue to do so. “This is one of the most important things I can do as a legislator,” he said. “I appreciate the tough job the Board members and Management have to do in terms of managing the most unique houssues and concerns that can come with that. I want Co-op City to know they always have a partner in me.” Mr. Klehammer then focused on former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate for private employers that became effective on Dec. 22, 2021. He reported that provided proof of vaccination and the remainder have requested exemptions based on a religious or medical condition. Those requests are being reviewed by the Riverbay Legal department before they are forwarded to the executive general manager for handling. “This most recent surge has affected us. We have had staff who have been infected. It has affected service delivery at times, our whole Central Warehouse closed and staff had to work from home. One day last week, we only had three fully manned garbage trucks to pick up garbage in the community because of infections but we are continuing to manage, trying to provide services as best we can,” Mr. Klehammer said.

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

In Memoriam –– Joyce Wilson

BSA Again Adjourns Case for Special Permit to Reduce Street Parking at 801 Co-op City Boulevard BY BRANDON ORTIZ

Helping Hand to Twin Parks Fire Victims

In Memoriam –– Thelma Moore “SAFE RIVERBAY” January Report

Close the Door!

Report broken exit door closers and exit door latching devices immediately to Riverbay Maintenance so repairs can be made. Remember, close the door! ––Denise Grant

Let us know… If you have news you’d like to share with your neighbors, please email: cctimes@ riverbaycorp.com

Co-op City Times / 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

Letter to the Editor

editor of Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. 350 words. – should •can–verify • typed. –the•authenticity – letters • – must •–thebe•authors. – City Times – • –Letters • – cannot • – exceed • – •– • – Ideally, •– they be All in–the•Co-op publication in that week’s edition. Views and opinions expressed in letters are solely the writer’s, and not necessarily shared by the Co-op City Times

Co-op City Times JASA van who had them stolen and none were reported. Hopefully, further investigations will indicate the money pit. My friend has a question for them ... Where’s my catalytic converter? Finally, I pray the Bronx DA, unlike the Manhattan DA, will keep them in jail as this costly theft has upset many lives in Co-op City. that matters, it could be $12.8 Billion but not if we are to abide by weak DA’s. Armed robbery, a slap on the wrist. How about special treatment for criminals less than 26 years old. It’s unfortunate that those in charge seem to be creating another Chicago.

Governor Hochul Updates Healthcare Worker Vaccine Mandate BY BRANDON ORTIZ

All healthcare workers in New York are now required to get their booster shot under the latest update to the NYS Department of Health’s emergency regulation. General hospital and nursing home workers previously had until August 26 to receive at least one vaccine dose when the Now, all healthcare workers who are eligible to receive their for their booster, according to Governor Hochul who made the announcement last week. As a reminder, all Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients cine series is complete, according to both the CDC and FDA. The CDC and FDA also recommend that Moderna vaccine recipients receive their booster dose six months following the completion of their initial vaccine series, and Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients are recommended to receive their booster two months following their single dose. Governor Hochul also announced new rules for nursing home visitations which went into effect this week. All nursing home visitors must now wear a “surgical-type mask” and show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours before the planned visit. At the beginning of this week, New York’s statewide daily positivity rate was 19.3% and the seven-day rolling average was 21.3%, according to NYSDOH data. Locally, New York City has a daily positivity rate of 18.2% and a seven-day rolling average of 20.6% as of this week, also according to NYSDOH data.

As the city continues navigating through the latest surge in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations, Mayor Eric Adams is hoping to provide more help for the city’s hospitals and overall healthcare infrastructure. Last week, the mayor announced that a combined $145M in additional funding would be used toward supporting city hospitals and the overall healthcare infrastructure.

Co-op City Times

Covid-19 Hospital Loan Fund to support the pandemic response of New York City’s safety net hospitals; and $111M will be used to address both the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and NYC Health+Hospitals’ (NYC

to keep them safe. This plan will ensure our frontline healthcare

Co-op City Times

ages, and continue providing top-quality care to every person who walks through their doors,” Mayor Adams said. The Covid-19 Hospital Loan Fund was previously only $12M. The funding was used to provide loans to safety net the city’s most vulnerable demographics. With the additional $33M, the safety net hospitals get more critical support with paying their pandemic response costs while they also apply for FEMA reimbursements. DOHMH and NYC H+H will use their additional $111M to hire more temporary staff in order to ultimately lessen the burden citywide on ICUs, med-surg units, emergency rooms and skilled-nursing facilities.

Co-op City Times Co-op City Times

Co-op City Times

BY P.M. CAMPBELL

Artists of Co-op City, this is your chance to be featured in the Co-op City Times! This month, we will be polling pieces from artists of all ages in the community for our monthly artist presentation. Paintings. Poems. Photos. Drawing and designs. Email some of your best work to PMcCoyCampbell@riverbaycorp.com by for a chance to be featured in a February issue. Along with your artwork, please send a picture of yourself, short personal bio and an explanation of your piece(s). If you are selected, you will be featured in the newspaper, and possibly also on some of the other Riverbay communications outlets. If you are not, don’t worry; there is always next month! We can’t wait to share some of the very talented artists in Co-op City. Photos by P.M Campbell

Times

Co-op City

We welcome letters to the editor only from Co-op City shareholders at . Letters should address issues of interest to the Co-op City community. Comments should be fact-based and responsible. Letters should not personally attack others and must be written in a respectful manner. Only signed letters will be considered for publication. The Co-op City Times does not publish anonymous material. Submissions must include the writer’s address and phone number – which ity and residency of the writer can be Thank you for your cooperation.

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Fire Safety Practices are Important for all Residents of Co-op City Public Safety Report

BY LIEUTENANT PAM APOLLO

A recent fire in the Fordham section of the Bronx has many cooperators thinking about fire safety. Fire safety is a very important topic often discussed in this report. The 35 multiple-story buildings of Co-op City are fireproof. Concrete walls and floors work to keep fire contained to individual apartments. This article will address ways to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire. Cold temperatures during the winter months result in an increase of the use of space heaters. Space heaters should always be kept away from combustible materials including mattresses, bedding, curtains and upholstered furniture. While we are thinking about fire safety, it is also a good time to review fire safety with your family. It is always good to have a plan and make certain all members of the family are familiar with it. Every family should have a plan in place for when they are at home. The Public Safety Department provides the following fire safety tips: The buildings in Co-op City are fireproof. This means that a fire will not travel from one apartment to another. Unless the fire is in your apartment or if directed to leave by emergency personnel, in most cases, it is safest to stay within your apartment. We stress again, the safest place for you and your family is inside of your apartment, with the door and windows closed, with wet towels at the base of the door if there is smoke in the hallway. Opening doors and windows permits oxygen to fuel fire and makes conditions worse. Our local Fire Department’s response is good, and statistically, remaining in the apartment without opening doors or windows reduces the spread of fire, keeps people safe and out of the way of our fire professionals. Hallways and stairwells become very dangerous very quickly as they become wet and occasionally filled with smoke, especially if someone on the floor leaves a door open. Your risk of injury increases while firefighting operations are taking place. Fire Department personnel and first responders have additional training to help them navigate these hazardous situations. By entering this dangerous environment, you increase your risk of being injured. It is important to shelter in place, unless directed by the Fire Department or other emergency personnel. If the fire is in your apartment, leave your apartment, close the door but do not lock it. Take your keys if you can safely reach them. Never prop open your apartment door or any stairwell door under any circumstances. Keeping doors closed prevents the spread of smoke and fire. Never go back in the apartment for anything unless deemed safe by emergency personnel. Call 911 and Public Safety, (718) 671-3050, from a safe location. Go to an established meeting place so that you know all family members have gotten out of the home safely. Always feel a door before you open it. If the door feels hot, do not open it. Keep the door closed, and call 911. Place wet towels at the bottom, sides and top of the door to keep smoke from entering. If you must evacuate, do not use the elevator during a fire emergency. Only utilize the stairs and only travel down the stairs to a location below the fire. This should only be done if instructed by emergency personnel. (Continued on page 23)

OPPORTUNITIES AT CO-OP CITY For information on CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, please contact: Lenya Garcia at Lgarcia@ .com; and Anatoliy Budnitskiy at abudnitskiy@ riverbaycorp.com. Please note: emails should be sent to both parties. Please DO NOT email resumes for EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES to the aforementioned emails. For EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,

CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES There are no contract opportunities to list this week. Please check back. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

For employment opportunities, please search “Riverbay Corporation” at the following sites: www.Indeed.com www.Glassdoor.com Candidates may review full position descriptions and apply directly at either site. Current Riverbay employees should submit a transfer request and resumé directly to the HR department. Thank you for your interest in working for Riverbay Corporation.

Public Safety Blotter January 2 - January 8, 2022

January 02, 2022 – 100 Aldrich Street CCPD responded to a report of a male on the stairwell. Upon arrival, CCPD observed a shareholder’s son loitering on the staircase. A Community Complaint was issued for Loitering. January 03 – 120 Elgar Place CCPD Emergency Service Unit responded to a Riverbay employee who slipped and fell causing an injury. CCPD Emergency Service Unit rendered necessary aid and notified EMS who transported the employee to the hospital for further medical attention. January 04 – 100 Casals Place A U.S. Postal employee reports an unknown male removed a package as she was making deliveries. A report was taken and the case is under investigation. January 05 – 920 Co-op City Blvd. While on patrol, CCPD observed graffiti painted on the wall of the handball court. Maintenance was notified for removal. January 05 – 140 Bellamy Loop A shareholder reported a suspicious person in her hallway. Upon arrival and search of the area by CCPD, the suspicious person was not located and a report was filed with CCPD. January 05 – 99 Darrow Place Upon returning to her parked vehicle, a shareholder observed damage to her vehicle. A report was filed with CCPD and the shareholder will file a report with NYPD. January 06 – 99 Carver Loop A shareholder reported property damage to his vehicle by an unknown person. A report was filed with CCPD and NYPD. January 06 – 120 Bellamy Loop A shareholder reported finding his mailbox open and the lock broken. A report was filed with CCPD, and Maintenance was notified to replace the lock. January 06 – 120 Alcott Place CCPD responded to a call for a suspicious person on the 8th floor. Upon arrival, CCPD and the CCPD Tour Supervisor observed a male at the location. Upon investigation, it was determined that the male did not reside in the building and could not give a valid reason for being there. A Criminal Court summons was issued to the male for Trespassing and he was escorted out of the building. January 06 – 920 Co-op City Blvd. CCPD Emergency Service Unit while on patrol observed a male stumbling and he reported that he was experiencing lightheadedness with a general feeling of malaise. Officers noted that the male was underdressed for the weather and was draped in a blanket for warmth, apparently incapable of caring for himself. Officers requested an ambulance and the aided was removed to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. January 06 – 920 Co-op City Blvd. CCPD Emergency Service Unit responded to a call of a person down inside of an apartment. Upon arrival, a forced entry was conducted and a shareholder was observed alert but unable to stand without assistance. EMS was notified and arrived on the scene to transport the shareholder to the hospital for further evaluation. Maintenance responded and effected needed repairs to the entryway. January 07 – 100 Erskine Place A shareholder reports that their Ring camera was removed by an unknown person without permission or authority. A report was filed and the Public Safety Detective Unit is conducting an investigation. January 07 – 620 Baychester Avenue Public Safety Dispatchers received a report that three males were smashing car windows on Baychester Avenue. This report was unfounded, but responding Public Safety Officers discovered two males standing next to a vehicle that was raised off of the ground with a jack. These males immediately fled the location and were quickly apprehended after a foot pursuit, terminating in the vicinity of Building 16. Officers returned to the vehicle and observed a saw lodged in the underside of the vehicle. The suspects were attempting to remove the catalytic converter. Further investigation uncovered a third male hiding under clothing in the rear seat of the get-away vehicle. None of the three males arrested were Co-op City residents. All three males were placed under arrest and charged accordingly. The owner of the vehicle was notified by CCPD. January 8 – 140 Benchley Place A shareholder reports that her cart was removed from the laundry room without her permission. A report was filed with CCPD and the matter is under investigation.

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022 Director’s Viewpoint –

Leah Richardson, Secretary

Looking Forward to New and Exciting Opportunities Ahead Community Engagement residents and empower them on the decisions that

R.U.O.K

COVID - Omicron

Garage Call Box

Friendly Reminder…Close the Door!

choke it out. Reminder hind you!

close all doors be-

times.

Building 21 Association The next 21 Association General Session gathering will be: Thursday, January 27, via Zoom at 7 p.m. (Note: Fourth Thursday of each month) Floor Captains: How to Become One-Every

Contact Numbers If you have questions regarding The 21 Association

2. Co-op City Times: 3. Elevator Notices:

All we ask of anyone kind enough to be a Floor Captain is as follows:

4. Promote: 5. Encourage your neighbors to:

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Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Meeting

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(Continued from page 1)

to submit for the park. However, we have begun to appeal to our elected Congressman, State Senator, State Assemblyman and City Council to provide funding for both the riverfront park, a community the convector system,” Board President Cylich said, adding that Riverbay has begun to assemble docuof these projects. Riverbay will continue to oppose the proposed exit ramp off I-95 in Section 5 and is planning to reach out proposed ramp, according to Mr. Cylich. “We are determined, as a Board, to stop it,” he said. He then reported that Riverbay was hoping to reach out to a potential road and safety consultant to assess the pollution impact of the ramp. Board President Cylich concluded his report by saying that Riverbay is also considering hiring an outside lobbyist “to serve us in Albany” in an effort to amend a recent bill, S5105C, that was passed and signed into law by Governor Hochul; and “perhaps prepare a new bill to stop the exit ramp,” Mr. Cylich went on to say. The Board President also informed Board directors that Board development and training will be convened on Saturday, Jan. 22. Riverbay General Manager Bob Klehammer then gave updates for key capital projects around Co-op City. (See report on page 1.) Rick Schmidt, director of the Riverbay Technical Services department, followed, presenting on Managechannel, otherwise known as the Riverbay Crawler. Mr. Schmidt detailed how the Crawler is currently navigating through a three-pronged resolution: the source of videos, distribution of videos and limitations of the Altice equipment currently in place. “This new system will allow us to supply the comour Crawler,” Mr. Schmidt said. “Plus, it will allow us to pre-schedule a playback of any pre-recorded event such as Board meetings or candidates’ debates. This means we can now set up multiple video playbacks within the same day.” He also pointed out to shareholders who joined the virtual Open Board meeting that the brand new Crawler is already live and transmitting in high

ture quality on the Crawler is immensely better. At the same time, Altice is still evaluating what they will be in-

join the community in opposing the Section 5 ramp.

Board members were then invited to ask questions on both the President’s and Management’s reports. “It seems we haven’t had a lot of investments in our community with regards to the cable in a long time. We have 15,000 apartments – it seems like a half million dollars in upgrades should be made to us gratis based on the volume of cooperators who are paying for cable every single month. Why can’t we negotiate that?”

clear that a lot of times when these new systems come in, they don’t tell us everything and I’m just hoping that the Board and everyone else is very clear when any negotiations are made because whenever you put

tice equipment. Mr. Schmidt responded that what Altice is also doing is upgrading their entire system with Fiber to the Home through the backbone of the community which is a major investment. committed to coming to Co-op City to install Fios. He said: “We will be having a series of meeting with them … and talking about what we would want from Verizon so they can get started with adding Fios to the community so it will provide some price competition, we hope, between Altice and Verizon but it’s kind of interesting because for a few years and when we mentioned that Verizon is interested in coming in, they sort of hopped to it.” Mr. Klehammer said that since Verizon will essentially be starting from scratch in Co-op City, negotiations will most likely take a while longer as discussions are held on the core drillings and installation of conduits, and so forth. “But just so the community knows, Fios is coming,” Mr. Klehammer announced. Hutch ramp into Section 5 since no activity has been reported at the location.

will be able to access the channel. All you need to do is rescan your TV in the cable TV settings and you’re all set to go,” Mr. Schmidt said. Notably, channel 12 is still available for shareholders with a legacy TV who are using the master antennae, according to Mr. Schmidt. Their picture should also show

b neers, himself and staff from the Riverbay Construction department and Power Plant sometime before Christmas. “What we were told is that you can expect to start seeing activity over there probably as early as March or April,” he said. “They may actually start to store materials over in that area sooner than that, and as I reported at the last Board meeting, we will be cooperating with them to ensure that our underground infrastructure is protected during this construction. That should not be taken as implicit acceptance of this project but as the manager for Co-op City, I have to ensure that if it is going to happen…that none of the infrastructure that services all of Section Five from heat to hot water to communications is affected by

still go to channel 591 to see the Riverbay Crawler. Regarding Altice equipment, Mr. Schmidt said that he has been working with the engineering department at Altice since last summer to test various types of equip-

Board President Cylich added that he is considering calling a press conference and protest at the ramp work location asa soon as there is evidence that work is beginning. He said that the community’s elected

master antenna system, currently found on channel 12-1.

Crawler and to every Altice customer in Co-op City. “Also, we have been working on the future as we investigate how Altice will bring the Crawler and cameras to everybody’s home when they launch their new Fiber to the Home service sometime later this year,” he said. “This will be a totally different approach on how we deliver cameras and video to the homes which is still something being worked out.” Circling back to the Altice cable system, Mr. Schmidt said that last month, Altice brought their latest candidate quality picture and the camera worked well on the system but the price tag was over $.5M to upgrade Co-op City’s 65 high rise buildings, which may not be such an attractive option for Altice. “We’re still working on that,” Mr. Schmidt said, “but in the meantime, Riverbay Technical Services department has purchased and installed the inequipment in every building in Co-op City. This unit also has a very high quality analog output which works perfectly with the current Altice equipment. If you check your channel 591 right now, you’ll see how much that picture has improved with much more detail.” In conclusion, Mr. Schmidt said that a lot of work has been done over the past couple of months, and the pic-

source. Verizon doesn’t have their own power source and when they send a signal, they use your power source in sending their signal. In most of the private homes and apartments that have it elsewhere, they hours which makes the electric go up by 30%, so one of the things we need to make sure they do, is come in with their own power source and not have to use ours unless they are going to pay us for it,” he said. mum store in Bay Plaza is a contractor-run business, not a corporate entity of Optimum, per se. “I’m just pleased to see Management responding it has been decades that we have been dealing with inappropriate and inadequate quality as opposed to what we are paying for. What assurances do we have that they will stick to their schedule?” Board Member Michelle Marbury asked. Mr. Schmidt replied that Altice has already begun the ongoing pandemic when they could not enter residential buildings and that more information would be upcoming by the next Board meeting. After discussion of the reports, the Board voted on Resolution 21-61 for garage call boxes which was She explained that after the overnight garage attendant shift was eliminated in 2019, residents expressed safety concerns and as a result, the call boxes were researched and recommended for installation. The product is compatible with the current phone system In total, 112 call boxes will be installed throughout and rear elevators. Once the call button is pressed, strobe lights will turn on and the call box will activate with the call going directly to Public Safety who will respond to the shareholder. Enhanced digital cameras will also be mounted above each call box so Public Safety will be able to see what is going on. “The system will also be equipped with self-diagnostics and will test itself so if there is any faulty wiring, it will notify us immediately so we can have it addressed,” said Ms. O’Connor. Resolution 21-61 was approved by a vote of 13-0, with two directors absent. extra access point to the planned Metro-North station, the Board adjourned into executive session.

Board of Directors’ Meeting - January 12, 2022 Second Reading - Resolution #21-61 SUBMITTED BY: Leah Richardson SECONDED BY: Leslie Peterson BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING, DATED: January 12, 2022 WHEREAS, to submit bids for the installation of call boxes in parking garages to enhance security; and WHEREAS, which were reviewed in detail by the Project Manager; and WHEREAS, the Project Manager recommends Siemens Industry, Inc. as the lowest responsible bidWHEREAS, prior to voting on this Resolution, no of interest as required by NY Business Corporation

NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED: that the proposed contract #3688 with Siemens Industry, Inc. for a contract total of $311,855 plus tax be approved as submitted by Management in accorand #20-19; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the President is hereby authorized to execute the contract and Management is authorized to take all steps necessary to make this action effective. YES: Coleman, Cylich, Feliciano, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Leslie, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Saunders, Watson ABSENT: Rosario, Sampson PASSED

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022 Director’s Viewpoint –

Francine Reva Jones

Remembering Joyce Pegram-Wilson It was a disappointment to be unable to attend the homegoing services for Miss Joyce Pegram-Wilson. Miss Joyce, who was affectionately known as The Mayor of Co-op City, was always in meetings, Public Safety and 45th Precinct meetings, gatherings pertaining to the life of Co-op City. She had a warm, outgoing spirit and would greet you with a smile, a hug and something pleasant to say to brighten your day. Miss Joyce loved to serve her community. We served together on the Riverbay Youth Committee headed by Director Michelle Marbury. Miss Joyce would always arrive early because she was eager to assist with anything that needed to be done. Last year, Miss Joyce served on the Riverbay Election Committee that I chaired. They were virtual meetings. Although Miss Joyce was not equipped with updated technology, she used her telephone to participate in all of the meetings. It was a pleasure working with her. There is no doubt that Miss Joyce was one of the most beloved cooperators in our community when the Coalition of African-American Churches & Community Organizations of Co-op City, Inc. selected her to receive the Kwanzaa Griot Award. This title is bestowed upon a senior resident who has demonstrated community involvement, guidance and wisdom. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to accept this honorary tribute last month. However, the members of this organization and the community hold her in high esteem and will never forget the pleasant memories of Miss Joyce Wilson. I feel certain she is resting in peace. Optimum Store in Bay Plaza I have just received the good news that there is Mall. Cooperators have been asking for an Optimum Access Ramp It has been rumored that work has begun on

erecting the exit ramp at “killer curve,” despite the community’s objection. This was a plan by the NY State Department of Transportation in order

of Transportation, etc., regarding this proposed acwinding roadway and having a ramp lead into this street would make it very dangerous, in my opinion. Also, there would be fewer parking spaces in Section 5, and more congestion and fumes in our community. There is also concern about the need to remove underground utilities in this area. The community did not approve this proposal. Work should not be in progress, in my opinion. Join members of the Coalition to Save Affordable Housing as we work together for the best solutions for our community. Your support is needed. Fire Safety Americans. Every apartment in Co-op City has smoke detectors and cooperators will be alerted if

visible spokesman and leader in the American civil speeches, Dr. King sought equality and human rights for African-Americans, the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice. Dr. King was instrumental in causing the passage ident Lyndon Johnson. It was a landmark piece of legislation in the U.S. that outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted by many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting. It was a long, hard struggle for justice back then. Now, racial discrimination and voter suppression laws that will make it harder for Americans to vote, including making mail voting and early voting more quirements and making faulty voter purges more likely. In Georgia, it is now illegal to give food and water to voters waiting in line. Join members of the African-American Association at our virtual meeting as we celebrate the

ing & Grounds Committee meeting, Safety Direc-

the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act? The 25th Annual African-American Associa-

use an extension cord with a space heater. Plug it directly into the wall outlet. He made a point

achievements of many spectacular Africans that we

smoke will be contained. Close the exit doors in the is available to speak to your building association, organization, church, etc. Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wilson, Earl DMX Simmons, Melvin van Peebles, to name a few. Join our virtual meeting on Saturbe welcomed.

Closing Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. –By Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you for taking the time to read my view-

Black Forum Emergency Food Pantry – month. Look at the last date on your pantry card. The next pick up would be one still text if additional items become available. All guests must present a pantry card to receive food. Remember to bring at least four clean shopping bags with a handle and a shopping cart. We require masks and physical distancing. New registrants can receive food the same day they register. Please show a valid ID

AVOID ACCIDENTS! When driving in the Parking Garages, please follow all posted directional signs and speed limits, and stay aware of your surroundings.

Section 5 guests should visit the Co-op City United Methodist Church at Registration is open at this location for Section 5 residents.

Local Youth Travel Basketball Organization Prepares for Spring Return! With the pandemic raging on, there seems to be little hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. Many impactful programs for youth either have not reopened or are shutting down in New York City.

Medicare Cards, Job ID’s and Access-A-Ride ID’s are not accepted. Restaurant Meal Distribution – Forum of Co-op City will partner with local restaurants to provide prepared restaurant menus and individually packaged. They will rotate each week and will not publish dish names beforehand. Please note, guests registered with the pantry should bring their pantry cards. Guests can pick up meals on Thursdays, Fridays and some Tuesdays. We would love to continue the program, but that is contingent upon all of us doing our part. Please do not leave any food in the lobbies or laundry rooms. Defensive Driving Class – Contact Us – safe and peaceful new year! ––D. Illis

Elite Inc., owned and operated by Co-op City resident Coach Stephen Mason, continues to provide vital services to the youth & families of Co-op City, including organization geared toward providing low to mid income families with a place for their children to learn and develop social, economic skills as well as provide guidance to young teenagers by offering resources such as tutoring, college & prep school tours, insightful knowledge about tools for getting recruited to play at the next level, which JAE Inc. offer teenagers the ability to travel and compete nationally against other basketball organizations on the East Coast while teaching respect, discipline, leadership, and giving a sense of familyhood to the youth. This year, JAE Inc. prepares their young student athletes for a national traveling schedule that includes playing against high level competition, visiting open houses and educating the youth of the program on how to letes and have hopes of pursing a career while also playing at the next level in college. to sign your child up, feel free to visit the website at www.jaguarshq.com. or email the executive director at thejaeinc@gmail.com. All donations are tax deductible. Paid Advertisement

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Co-op City Little League 2022 Season The Co-op City Little Leagues mourns the passing of Nadine Bly (pictured left), former Board member and loving mother of son Terrence Chester. He was her pride and he was well protected. Nadine excelled in cross-country track while at Truman HS where she graduated in 1988. Her educational accomplishments include an Associates degree from the Borough of Manhattan Community College, a Bachelor degree from Hunter College, and a Master’ degree from the University School of Professional Psychology. She will truly

be missed. Baseball Season 2022 registration is now underway on Saturdays between noon and 3 p.m. at the Little League room # 17 in the Dreiser Community Center. Sign up is available every other Saturday with the next date on January 22, and then on February 5, 12, 19, and 26. Boys and girls ages 4 through 16 are eligi-

Assistance with the T-Mobile grant application is offered. The grant is dedicated to helping families in need by covering registration fees associated with their local little league. Face-to-face process mandates mask wearing and safe distance observance. Forms are accessible online at the league’s website: coopcitylittleleague.com/homeplate. Payments can be made via PayPal. On any questions, you may also contact the league at coopcityll@yahoo.com. The league provides full baseball uniforms including caps and socks, accident insurance (secondary/supplemental), baseball equipment consisting of batting helmets, bats, balls, catcher’s mitt, chest protector and knee guards. Players cleats (ages 4 – 6 optional). Heart guards are recommended for ages 4 – 8. Only baseball bats that have a “USA” printed logo on it are permissible. Back on September 29, 2021, the Co-op City Little League held its Season 2022 Board elections. Results as follow: Monica Vazquez, President; Eric Dixon, Vice President; Hector Ayala, Treasurer; David Lasky, Secretary; Estelle (Cookie) Carattin, Concession Stand Manager; Anthony Dawson, Safety Miguel Sosa, Mike Wicks, Player Agents; Steve Ramirez, Matthew Pacheco, Sponsorship and Fund Raiser Managers; Jeffrey Schwartz, Director. Please follow the league on Facebook and Instagram. ––Hector Ayala

Velocity Track Club On January 9, Velocity Track Club competed in the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games at the Ocean Breeze Recreational Facility in Staten was good and the meet was well organized. The following events were contested: 55-meter hurdles, 55-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 1000-meter run, 1500-meter race walk, 3,000-meter run, sprint medley relay (200-200-400-800), high jump, long jump, shot put and triple jump. The top three in each age group received medals, as did the top three girls and boys 8 years and younger in the 55-meter. The Velocity Track Club athletes at the winner of the 12 year old and Ocean Breeze Freedom Games younger 4x200 meter relay and 12 year old and younger one-mile run will have an opportunity to compete Velocity was blessed with 14 medals (seven gold, three silver and four bronze). to compete in the New Balance Grand Prix); Bryce (three gold medals); Steven (two gold medals); Karly (one gold medal); Brianna (bronze medal); Shyenne (silver medal), Lyon (one gold and two bronze medals) and Savannah B. (silver medal). Congratulations to all who competed! Our next meets will be on Friday, January 21, in the New Balance Games at Ocean Breeze. of your donation will go towards helping our children. Support our youth so they can continue to do wonderful things! For additional information, please go to our website, Velocitytrack.org, or contact me, Coach Winston Dinkins, at 914-441-6196 or email me at WATCLT@aol.com. Thank you! ––Winston Dinkins

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Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

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Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Building 13 Association

African American Association Dignity and Elegance: Sir Sidney Poitier and Betty White Their Legends Will Remain For Ages Mention such movie titles as Lilies of the Field, Guess , and one’s mind (especially if you were born in the 20th century) will immediately conjure the great actor, director and trailblazer, Sidney Poitier. “Sir” Sidney Poitier was an iconic global, national treasure and hero for the African-American community, and more than that, he was a of work ushered in a civil rights revolution. Sir Sidney Poitier, born in 1927 to Bahamian parents has left us in the physical realm, but his legend remains for the ages. Betty White’s Controversial Hire of Tap Dancer Arthur Duncan Made History In More Ways Than One The Betty White Show was a spinoff of the KTLA variety show Hollywood on Television, which White joined in 1949. Three years later, the show was renamed after White. She took over as both host and producer. Arthur Duncan was already a regular on the show – which featured performances by White, interviews, skits and even Above: Arthur Duncan and a kids’ segment – before it was added to NBC’s na- Betty White circa 1954 tional lineup in 1954. Facing the threat of boycotts Below: Duncan (left) and across the South, White famously said, “I’m sorry Betty White, reunited by but he stays… Live with it!” Amid overt racism, Steve Harvey (right) 2018 The Betty White Show was quietly sabotaged by brands that chose to stay away from the controversy. Duncan, who credits White with launching his career, continued to break boundaries after The Betty White Show mas. Duncan later joined big band leader Lawrence Welk on his ABC variety show. Duncan remained on ular on a variety show from 1964 to 1982. According to the 2020 book, Betty White on TV, the show failed to attract sponsors and was canceled on Dec. 31, 1954 despite a desperate plea by White to NBC execs. In February 1955, The Betty White Show became the shortest-run program to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Best Daytime Program. Betty White, her legend will remain for the ages.” (footnotes excerpted from com’s Tai Saint-Louis) Upcoming AAACC Events ML King Day Zoom Tomorrow, January 16, 3 p.m.! Zoom 25th Annual Black History Month Film Festival – Saturday, February 5 Co-op City Spelling Bee – Saturday, March 19 Saturday, April 19 Join the African-American Association of Co-op City Membership: $15.00/year single membership and $25.00/year for your household. Email: aaaccpower@gmail.com or call 929-430-3255. The AfriBronx, NY 10475. “We’ve got many rivers to cross.”

destroyed and property damaged. God speed to them all. The Building 13 Association members recommend you check your apartment door. Your apartment entrance door should self-close. Additionally, the stair matter addressed. for Thursday, January 27, at 7:00 p.m. We are scheduling a special guest so please make sure to check the bulletin board in the lobby for updates. tin board informing shareholders when we invite her back to say goodbye and am sure they will miss her as much as we will. We want nothing but the best as she begins the next chapter of life. Riverbay has issued these guidelines for staff, especially those doing work in units. All Riverbay workers must wear face masks indoors, and face masks must cover both mouth and nose. Employees entering shareholders’ apartments are required to wear a KN95 mask. With a NYC surge in cases, we want to keep everyone safe. Reminder: The Dreiser Loop Testing Site is open. NYC has reopened the Covid-19 testing site in the Dreiser Mall (105 Dreiser Loop). The site is open from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. household items. Please make sure you follow the guidelines and do not place and can result in a complaint being issued. If you drop or spill something on your Visit our Facebook

soc@yahoo.com. Contacts: Leslie Peterson, president, at 718-320-1370, or Wendell Mattison, V. P., at 917-330-1380. Thank you for supporting our team. We are shareholders, not tenants! Get involved! Join your building association!

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Building 27 Association We wish all a happy, safe, healthy and prosperous 2022. The current mandate is to wear our masks indoors. Take the vaccines and booster shots. We are told the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly amongst the unvaccinated. The children were able to go to school. Sometimes we forget, we went to school in all weathers. However, we hope for the best for our children. They will succeed and have six to seven graduations as they did in June of 2021. It was a wonderful occasion; this was accomplished under remote schooling. However, our children do need to be accessible to socialization. Martin Luther King Jr. – We celebrate his birthday and legacy on January 17. The theme this year will be “Daring To Dream: The Radical Imagination of a New Generation.” Hope lies within that thought process in lieu of what the world has gone through after two years, and we are looking forward to a brighter future this year. BXM7 Express Bus – Beginning January 20, 2022, the Express bus will begin picking up and dropping off southbound and northbound passengers at the bus stop located at the NW corner of Einstein Loop East in Section 5. There are

“no parking” signs in that area. Summonses will be issued if parked illegally at the bus stop. My many thanks to Matthew Cruz, District Manager of Community Board 10. He has been on this since the Section 5 Association brought it to his attention by coming to view the area. Thank you. anyone in the community who failed to adhere to the policy of wearing the mask on the grounds of Co-op City. Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Happy birthday to those celebrating this month. We also offer our condolences to our Co-op City families who lost a loved one. Let us continue to pray for one illness, someone deceased or in a nursing home. Let us continue to stay prayerful. A smile is always welcomed. Being kind, thoughtful and thankful makes life just a little easier. “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.” –Woodrow T. Wilson –– H. Overman

NCNW Remembering Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. (below) is Dorothy Irene National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Co-op City Section will be jump start-

ing Morehouse College, an allmale historically Black college that

pop-up store. We will be selling gourmet popcorn starting January 24 at 6 p.m. until

ther had attended. The summer before his last year at Morehouse in

through our pop-up store or leave a monetized donation, which can be made on our

enter the ministry. Martin Luther the age of nineteen with a Bachelor his doctoral studies in Theology at Boston University. nized and led marches for the right to vote, desegregation, labor rights and other basic civil rights for AfroAmericans. Most of these rights were successfully enacted into the law of the United States with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the ers of the "Big Six" civil rights organizations who were instrumental in the organization of the March on Washington for jobs and freedom, which took place

ders payable to National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Co-op City Section. Mail Section programs and events. For additional information, please contact ncnwcoopcityfr@gmail.com or view our website home page, www.ncnwcoopcitysection.com. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers to families and friends who have lost loved ones. We will do what we can to help offer support to families impacttice that has been shared with Co-op City shareholders when we received smoke and friends who live in other non-combustible buildings. If you are interested in joining NCNW, please visit the Co-op City Section website at www.ncnwcoopcitysection.com. For further membership information, contact us at: www.ncnwco.opcity@gmail.com. did for theirs.” –Mary McLeod Bethune ––Lori Melton

Building 9 Association Greetings, Building 9 family. As always, we wish for healing for the hurt and encouragement for the discouraged. Remember those who have lost a loved one and those who are shut in. often, maintain social distance whenever possible. Observe social distancing guidelines in lobbies, laundry rooms and on elevators. lies homeless during the coldest snap of the winter season. Our heartfelt prayers go out to those families and neighbors. At the time of this writing, it is reporta space heater. Over the past couple of years, Riverbay has partnered with the Red Cross to tors were installed in all apartment units, emergency instructions were posted in apartments, all exterior apartment doors close automatically, please do not prop open stairwell doors as they should close automatically and remain closed at all times. Shareholders should take preventive measures within their apartments overload extension cords or surge protectors. Replace any old extension cords with updated surge protectors. Regularly check all cords and outlets for signs

If you will recall, last year Rosemary Bailey and I made several attempts to to the membership. We were unable to coordinate the presentation. I will reach The bi-annual Building 9 Association Executive Board election will be held

be posted on our lobby bulletin boards for your perusal. In order to be nomiAssociation, you must be present at the Election meeting at the time of your nomination, and you must have attended at least three meetings in each of the most recent two calendar years. An Election Committee will be appointed. The Building 9 Association Executive Board looks forward to seeing you, "The only difference between a good day and a bad day is attitude." Be well. ––Linda Collins

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022 Director’s Viewpoint –

Daryl Johnson

Don’t Gamble Your Life Away Sports betting and other forms of gambling can cause a lot of problems in our community. Therefore, I want our community to make a determination to stay strong and do the right things. Big Bets – Big Debts Last Saturday, online sports betting became legal in NYS. According to published reports, NYS is charging a 51 percent tax on the gross revenues of four operators. At that high rate, it’s estimated that NYS will make about $480 million a year when bets are placed over mobile devices. Previously, the NYS Gaming Commission approved mobile licenses to nine companies. However, Caesars Sportbook, DraftKings Sportbook, FanDuel, Rush Street Interactive are operating right now. Going forward, BallyBet, BetMGM, PointsBet, Resorts World Bet, and Wynn Interactive are waiting for approval to start their mobile operations. Legally, about 80 percent of that gross revenue money will go towards elementary and secondary year, one percent of that money will go towards treating gambling issues and helping people to understand be used for these same purposes. nue money will be allocated for NYS grants for underwill allocate $5 million a year to these same grants. Several operators are doing their best to draw lots of people into online gambling. So, lots of television commercials about online gambling are running all day long. Facebook and other popular sites are being the goal is to convince people to spend a little money to hopefully win big money. So, casinos will do their best to get people to open up an account. Thereafter, a lot of people can develop problems with gambling, life. If you go online, you’ll see horrible stories about how some people started their gambling problems with modest amounts of money. Then, they would win a little bit of money. Thereafter, with excitement, they would gamble the money that they just won. And, they thought that they were going to hit some big jackpot. One man allegedly lost everything because of gambling. First, a foreclosure action was taken against his house. Then, his cars were repossessed. Meanwhile, he

started drinking heavy amounts of alcohol. Thereafter, he lost his job. Family? His family suffered because of his actions. In another case, a lady admitted that she had a terrible gambling problem. And, if she lost some money, she would then go to an ATM to pull out more money to continue her gambling. She also owed money to several loan companies. Plus, get this, she had 15 credit cards. All told, she stated that she was about $90,000 in debt. Bottom line As mentioned earlier, some casinos have already favorite social media sites with a lot of ads. However, more casinos are desperate to get into this major market for new customers. So, they already knew which stations that you like to watch. Therefore, those stations will be running several gambling commercials all day long. Facebook and other popular social media sites? Casinos have already purchased a lot of market data about their potential customers. So, they know which sites people love to visit. Email? They already have your email address. So, expect to get a lot of emails featuring generous promotions from a lot of casinos. Regardless, please think about yourself before you get heavily involved with online gambling. Can you lose your savings and destroy your life? Absolutely! Smart casino operators know that they can entice people to get involved with gambling. So, they are going to do everything to keep people interested in their gambling games. Then, it’s over for a lot of people. Therefore, please make sure that you make good choices now before you get involved with online gambling. Board Agenda – New Call Boxes By the time that you read this message, our board should have approved the purchase of call boxes for all of our garages. As mentioned in a prior viewpoint, these call boxes, along with a camera, will be placed near our elevators. Cooperators will be able to call our Co-op City Police Department (CCPD) by just pressing

Coalition to Save Affordable Housing The Coalition to Save Affordable Housing (CTSAH) is looking for inspired individuals to join our organization. We have been advocating for affordable housing for the past twenty years. Our goal has been and remains to keep Co-op City as a viable and modest housing opportunity. We have always been able to achieve our objectives by garnering the enthused participation of our members. It is because of the dedication of CTSAH members that we have sustained our enduring mission. Objectives of CTSAH are to keep Co-op City affordable and livable within the Mitchell-Lama program, encourage fuller cooperator participation in activities principles of the founders of the cooperative movement. Membership in the Coalition to Save Affordable Housing is open to resident cooperators; dues for membership is $20.00 per household, payable by cash and This is an annual fee. The duration of the annual period is from September through August. invite you to support this wonderful community by joining our organization. Please check out the CTSAH website: www.ctsah.org, for more information. ctsah10475@gmail.com. —Sheila Richburg

Read and follow the Co-op City Times online at http://issuu.com/cctimes Issuu app now available for iOS and Android devices.

call box location. Currently, thieves are making their living by visiting our streets and our garages to steal catalytic converters. And, if you go online, you’ll see that thieves are carrying power saws to their targeted vehicles. Then, they’re crawling underneath a vehicle and cutting the catalytic converter away from the exhaust system in about 2 minutes. Afterward, you will hear a lot of noise when you start and drive your vehicle. Then, depending on your vehicle, your dealer might surprise you with a bill for about $1,000. Bottom line: Our contractors will be installing a lot of additional wires when they install these call boxes. These additional wires will be for a system of new cameras throughout our garages. So, the thievery and other types of nonsense will stop in our garages. For instance, can you believe that a guy allegedly broke ago and created a living space for himself? Yep! Anyway, they eventually found him and put him out. Amazing!!! Close Please consider your life before you get involved with gambling. Thank you. Contact Information Please do not send a letter to me at this time. However, you can send an email to me at: djohnson@riverbayboard.com. would like to have a brief discussion with me. Okay, that’s it for now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may God bless you and your family. Thank you.

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Building 25 Association

NAACP -

Wishing all neighbors born in January a happy birthday, and for those of you who are under the weather, we hope you get better soon. With the death toll rising due to the pandemic that we just cannot seem to shake and other illnesses, we would

Mission Statement:

been an enormous responsibility. And I accepted it,

of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. Sidney Poitier (1927-2022): -

out for detailed log in or call in information notices ways address any comments or concerns by logging onto our building email address at gmail.com. If anyone has problems accessing the building email address, please let us know. sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weak-

other accomplishments: he was granted a KnightAward Hall of Fame membership. Sidney Poitier

responsibility. I had to. In order for others to come Membership Campaign, January-February 12: The community at large is welcomed to become a new member, renew their membership, gift a membership to another or upgrade their membership. 53rd NAACP Image Awards is on Saturday, BET. 113th NAACP NATIONAL CONVENTION – To follow NAACP’s Statements & Trending Topics, go to NAACP.org. We Need You In The Fight:

structural racism by using your power to take action on the most pressing issues of our time. payable to:

than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers ––Brenda Brown

–Washington Irving ––Wanda Bailey

Broun Place Townhouse Association

Section 4 Partnership

Happy New Year and good health to all our friends and neighbors. 2022 is fully underway. Yesterday, one

The Next Gathering of the S4P

and good sense.

City wishes you and yours healthy and ber, we are still in a pandemic. Take the necessary

50thAnniversary T-Shirts! These shirts make a great gift any time of the year.

logo on the back. You will be proud to wear it. If you would like one or two, contact us by emailing: S4P Mission Statement a community of more than just neighbors, but as one

was coming from another apartment. I remembered the rule, keep the doors closed and stay in a room until it I saw furniture being thrown out the window. Public This weekend we especially honor Martin Luther King Jr. Please refer to the Co-op City Times for com-

man John Lewis. Appreciate our home community, respect our streets and stop littering. Use our pedestrian garbage cans and keep our grounds clean. Thank you again neighbors for contributing to our grounds keeper’s holiday gift. It has

for generations to come. Building Associations and Committees show up for our building associations and committees. We may be on Zoom or Webex or other modes not beat that commute. We all owe it to our shared community. Please think about this and make a silent pledge

Keep dancing and better days are ahead! Wakanda forever! ––Eva Benefits_Ad_Final_Layout Kindaichi-Lazaar 1 1/10/22 2:52 PM Page 1 Affiliated

Affiliated Benefits

hope your gift was part of that gift. Read the Co-op City Times

greatness and promotes neighborhood interaction. munity in unity, to sustain affordability and growth

Michael’s. It was my honor to know Ms. Wilson and

us use them. out and about and indoors. Tucking it under your chin or wearing it on your wrist does not work. Please be aware that discarding masks in the streets and gutters is just littering. They need to be disposed of in pedestrian cans.

• • • • • •

A Full Service Insurance Brokerage

Co-op Insurance Auto Insurance Life Insurance Business Insurance Surety and Fidelity Bonds Local Notary Public Services

They protect from Pneumonia, Measles, Whooping Cough and Polio. We do not know their recipe but we

“All of us divided by each one of us equals a force for good.” ––Michelle Marbury

Please be considerate and respectful of all members of our diverse community.

914-668-0800 212 Hutchinson Blvd. Mount Vernon, NY 10552

“We’re here when you need us.”

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022 Director’s Viewpoint –

Monique Coleman

Our Town My experience in Co-op City has been a love story. I moved to Co-op more than thirty years ago from the Borough of Kings to begin adulting. I loved the idea of affordable housing. It was a great place to start and then move on to conquer the world. I married, gave birth to and raised my two sons here. My neighbors have always been helpful and neighborly. Over the years, we’ve had hallway potluck dinners, sometimes for an occasion, and often, just because. Halloween, we would dress up in costumes and give out candy together. The families in my building celebrated the birthdays of our children together. When my children were growing up, I had a neighbor who would bake two chickens and bring one to me because she knew that as a working mother, I was busy and I hadn’t gotten around to making dinner yet. I was raising active sons and we were always on the go. Things have changed over the years. My sons are now men. Many of my neighbors have moved out and some have passed away. Trick or treaters are mostly a thing of the past as our building association has taken over candy distribution. Time has changed things, but I still love Co-op City and my neighbors. I am happy to be here. I realized that our community is self-contained and we have access to everything. Everything I needed was right outside my front door. On top of that, our property is beautiful, each season brings natural delights, including cherry blossoms in the Spring, beautiful green lawns in the Summer, an array of changing colors in the Fall, and our trees offer blankets of pure snow in the Winter. Things Aren’t Perfect I have had some experiences recently that have been concerning. Although our porters do their best, elevator in my lobby and stepped over trash discarded

in the stairwells of my garage, only to see it there the next day. I have avoided the stairwell in my building because some use it to urinate or smoke. Doors have slammed in my face because the person in front of me did not take a moment to hold it. In the garage, I have turned right, only to meet another car turning accident. I have been threatened in the laundry room by someone who misplaced their laundry card and wrongly accused me of stealing theirs. On the greenway, I have stepped in waste left when someone did not clean up after their dog. I was told to mind my own business after confronting a driver who backed into another parked car so hard its tires rotated halfway around. Since last August, my building has had a single working elevator because our elevators are being upgraded. I ride a crowded elevator daily, sometimes with neighbors without masks, while Omicron is taking people down two by two. It’s a short, but risky ride. All Politics is Local Despite these experiences, my love story continues. I am optimistic about Co-op City and believe that this is a great place for families to raise children. I see progress and believe in the future of our hometown. Neighbors still come by with food or other things because they have extra to share. When a door slams in my face, I assume that my busy neighbor is wearing earbuds or just didn’t see me. Soon we will have two beautiful new elevators and litter isn’t a permanent buildings and garages. While I am also optimistic about the new Mayoral administration and the other politicians who have been open to discussing the concerns of our shareholders, we, shareholders, need to do our part. We must remember that we are both the largest single

Goose Island Seniors We celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday. Have a great holiday. To be safe, all members using room #39 must show proof of a negative Covid test. Wind Creek Casino – This Tuesday, January 18, Bethlehem, PA. Price change: $40; bonus: $25 slot play; $5 refund for those who paid $45. Must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination. Buses make their usual three stops: Einstein Loop, 8 a.m.; Asch Loop, 8:15 a.m.; Dreiser Loop, 8:30 a.m. Mask required on bus and casino. Call 718-379-9613 or text 347-847-1941. New Year Party – Friday, January 28, 1 p.m. Members only, club room #39. First 60 people by reservation only. Call (718) 379-9613 or text (347) 847-1941. Bring your favorite dish, salad, dessert or beverage; $10 donation, if no food contribution. Must have proof of negative Covid-19 test. January birthdays will be celebrated. Washington, DC Easter Weekend – April 1517 with Yonna Lovell and People United to African American Museum. Call (646) 579-1701. 50th Anniversary Party – Eastwood Manor, Tuesday, June 7, 1 p.m. Price: $75. First 100 members with $40 deposit reservation only. Cocktail hour, buffet, open bar, prizes and dancing with DJ Paul Roberts. Call 718-379-9613. Must show proof of vaccination. Make checks to Goose Island Seniors. 50th Anniversary Trip – Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, NY, Thursday, June 9, 7:30 a.m. All invited. Three usual bus stops. Coffee, luncheon, line-dancing, Doo-Wop show, Bingo, all for $92. Choice of entrée: roast loin of pork, chicken parmigiana over linguini or Flounder Francese, all served with chef's choice starch and vegetables. A $40 deposit, choice of en-

tree and bus seat selection required when signing up. Must show proof of vaccination. For reservations, call 718-379-9613 or text 347-847-1941. Make checks to Goose Island Seniors. Bingo – Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1:15 p.m. Members only. Admission: $5 for three cards, 12 games and jackpot. Extra cards are $0.25 each, up to three cards. Refreshments. Proof of vaccination and mask required. Temperature taken at entrance. Next Sunday Bingo is January 23. Dues for 2022 – Members cannot join in any club room activities until dues are paid; $20/yr. To all members: Happy birthday to all members who celebrate in January: Novella White, Emma M. Keslinger, Mary Roach, Yolanda Jones, Othelia Jones, Edythe Rosenberg, Laura Sobelman, Leona Weeden, Gayle Segar, Novella Thomas, Saul Weber, Linda Drax-Werner, Alma Cruz, Sarah Arteaga, Zulma Medina, Dorthula C. Ahulu and Toby Landau. Sick and Shut-in – Amy Rindner, Sarah Arteaga, Liz Pelaez, Grace Stubbs, Yolanda Jones and Edna Trujillo we are praying for you. George Vazquez, Vivian’s husband, is in a nursing home. Ella Thorne misses everyone and is waiting anxiously to return to Bingo. Mary Pilla (former Goose Island president), misses everyone and sends her love to all. Call (718) 753-1816. Our club is located at 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39. Phone (718) 379-9613. We are open. Call Mon. Fri., 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Tue. and Thu., 1 p.m.-6 p.m.; Mon., Wed. and Fri., 6 p.m.-8 p.m., or call/text Stephen, (347) 847-1941. Email address is goose. island@optonline.net. ––Stephen Roberts Sr.

residential development in the United States and a village. Let’s take pride in Co-op City. It’s our home. Let’s really commit to “cooperative” living. Let’s take care of our village. Our neighbors are our business. Respecting one another and our property is just that be, not each other. This ongoing pandemic is stressful for everyone, now is the time to take deep breaths, pause and commit to taking precautions to stay healthy. We are all going through it. Taking care of each other will help us all to thrive. The path to a better everything is engagement. If you want to make Co-op City a better place, think about participating in this spring’s elections or join a committee. The only prerequisite for serving on the Board is to be in good At the minimum: VOTE! Our 2022 marching orders are to take care of ourselves, our families, our neighbors and our town. In Memory of Nadine Cherise Bly I want to take a moment to remember a dear neighbor, Nadine Cherise Bly, daughter of Samuel R. Bly Jr. and Felicia Bly. She will be missed by her family, her friends, her neighbors and all who knew her. Sunset: December 28th, 2021. Say No to the HRP Northbound Ramp Despite the objections of our community, new lights have been put up and the NYS Department of Transportation seems to be moving forward with their plan to build an exit ramp off the Northbound Hutchinson River Parkway into the Section 5 killer ping mall. It will also further isolate Section 5, add emergency vehicles to our community. We need to stop the ramp. I can be reached by email at mcoleman@riverbayboard.com.

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Anglican Church St. Joseph’s is located at 155 Dreiser Loop, lower level, Co-op City, Bronx, NY 10475. Greetings! Due to the ongoing pandemic, St. Joseph’s Church has suspended services until further notice. However, we continue to worship via teleconference on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Father Johnson also conducts daily weekday services at noon. You are invited to participate in these services by calling 1-425-436-6344, access code: 509 898, followed by the # sign. Grace and Peace! ––M. Chambers

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Line Dance w/Ellie 135 Einstein Loop Sr. Ctr., Rm. 45 (In-person) 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Health & Wellness Support Grp., 10-11 a.m.,135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 49 (Virtual)

Health & Wellness Support Group, 10-11 a.m., Rm. 49 (In-person)

Tues., Jan. 18

Arthritis Exercise Class w/Damion, 135 Einstein Loop Sr. Ctr., Rm. 45 (In-person, 11:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m.

Tai Chi for Arthritis w/Pofina Veresyuk 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 135 Einstein Loop Sr. Ctr., Rm. 45

Bereavement w/Dorine 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 12 p.m.-1 p.m. Must call or email to register: 929-399-1387. Zoom Smartphone & Tablet Class 2:00-3:00 p.m. Dial in #: 1-646-876-9923 Meeting ID: 889-6644-6693 Passcode: Bartow

Thurs., Jan. 20

Einstein

Room 49 unless otherwise noted

Wed., Jan. 19

Mon., Jan. 17

Bartow

Room 31 unless otherwise noted

Arts with Laura 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (via Zoom and Phone)

Arts with Laura, 10 a.m.12 p.m. via Zoom and phone. Must call or email to register: 929-399-1387. Health & Wellness w/Ann 135 Einstein Loop Senior Center, 10-11 a.m., Rm. 49 Bodies in Motion w/Ola 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Meeting ID: 815 1570 9421 Passcode: Einstein 929-205-6099 Line Dance w/Cynthia 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 45, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Arthritis Exercise Class w/ Damion, every Thurs., 11:00 a.m.-12 p.m. Zoom Meeting ID: 986 0021 6442, Passcode: 573762

Fri., Jan. 21

(NORC) Aerobic Classes

Dreiser

Room 7 unless otherwise noted

Kosher

Non-Kosher

Rib Eye Roast Baked Potato California Blend Vegetables Whole Wheat Bread, Fresh Fruit and Juice

Sweet and Sour Pork Loin White Rice Steamed Kale

Zumba w/Ola, 1-2 p.m. Meeting ID: 992 3169 6108, Passcode: 503637; Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099; Virtual & in-person Computer Learning Zoom Meeting w/ Ralph, 6 p.m. Dial-in: 929-205-6609, Meeting ID: 936 8132 9040, Passcode: 259554 Blood Pressure 1st & 3rd Tues. 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Rm. 2 Digital Photography Class (In-Person) 177 Dreiser Loop, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Tai-Chi 2 p.m., Room 2, starts Jan. 25th

Vegetarian Chili Brown Rice Green Beans Whole Wheat Bread Fresh Fruit and Juice

Jerk Chicken Baked Sweet Potato Steamed Red or Green Cabbage

Weight Mgt. Support Group w/ Gigi, 2nd Wed. of the month 1-2 p.m. Conference call: 929-2991045, Passcode: 1386 Bingo, 1 p.m., Rm. 2 (in-person) or join Zoom, Meeting ID: 828 4139 6474, Passcode: 194662 Dial-in number: 1-929-205-6099 Self Defense Class 2 p.m., Room 2, starts Jan. 26th

Turkey Stuffed Pepper Couscous Yellow Squash Whole Wheat Bread Fresh Fruit and Juice

Sweet and Sour Tofu Yellow Rice and Pigeon Peas Okra and Tomatoes

Apricot Glazed Salmon Quinoa, Carrots Whole Wheat Bread Fresh Fruit and Juice

Stewed Codfish Steamed Spinach Yuca

Lemon Herb Chicken, Kasha and Noodles Vegetable Ratatouille Whole Wheat Bread, Fresh Fruit and Juice

Spanish Stye Baked Chicken Brown Rice Baby carrots w/ Parsley

Chair Yoga w/Charles Tyler 10-11 a.m. Zoom (Virtual only for now) Dial-in: 1-646-876-9923 Meeting ID: 995 6534 1173 Passcode: 855423 Piano Class 11 a.m., Room 7, starts Jan. 24th

Line Dancing w/Ellie 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Dreiser Loop Senior Center, Rm. 2 Wear your mask and maintain social distance during class Knitting & Crochet

Every Fri., 11:00am-12:00 p.m. Mobile: 929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 986 8235 8691, Passcode: 849150

ZUMBA w/Ola 135 Einstein Loop Sr. Center Rm. 45 Line Dance w/Cynthia 135 Einstein Loop Sr. Center, Rm. 1:00-2 :00 p.m. 45 (In-person) 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Rm. 2

Art Class w/Dmitry

(Coming soon, Virtual only) 1:00 -3:00 p.m.

Meditative Moments (Meditation Class) Every Fri., 9:00-10:00 a.m., Rm. 2

For information, please call: (718) 320-2066

(Schedule subject to change without notice) Payments for trips @ the Bartow office can be made Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., & 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. only Funded by: The NYC Department for the Aging, The NYS Office for the Aging and Riverbay Corporation.

Alternate Kosher Meals are also available

Fee for lunch is $2.00 & $5.00 for guest

ALL meals served w/margarine and fresh milk

*Menu subject to change without notice. Alternate Kosher Meals are also available Bartow Center (929) 399-1394 Dreiser Center (718) 320-1345 • Einstein Center (718) 671-5161

Please call 718-320-2066 for an appointment. Driver with CDL wanted for JASA Co-op City Please drop off resume at the JASA

Will resume to amoncrieffe@jasa.org. Zoom

to amoncrieffe@jasa.org or pogando@jasa.org.

to teach seniors -

11 on Fridays at the Einstein Senior — -

ssatchell

Zoom

@jasa.org or email her at dcardenas@jasa.org weeks

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Retirees of Dreiser Loop

Co-op City Baptist Church

Hello, Retirees! We hope that everyone has gotten off to a good start in this new year. The middle of January is here already and, if you have noticed, the days are getting longer. General Meeting Zoom on Wednesday, January 5. The attendance for this meeting was exceptionally good. We thank everyone who attended via Zoom and telephone. You helped to make the meeting an immense success. Our next general meeting will be held via Zoom password, and telephone number to join in the Zoom Trip Committee

Church family invite you to join us for Worship Service in person Zoom using the or Zoom

have your name added to the list for this trip. Newsletter Committee – The quarterly newsletter has been temporarily on hold. The news letter committee needs new members if we wish to restart publishing the quarterly newsletters. Membership

Condolences welcome to join using the Free Conference Call.com line shown above.

Sick and Shut In We wish you brighter days ahead. Happy Birthday special day and throughout the year. ––Georgianna Rodriguez

AARP Chapter #4997 formation or to be placed on the waitlist.

From the Desk of President Mickens:

sions. Continue to wear your masks, practice social distancing and stay safe! is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – country wise, and more testing/vaccine sites are now available for anyone over 5 years old.

help with insulin costs; telehealth coverage for mental health issues is continuing to increase since the pandemic and there are some monetary

Zoom open meetings has not been agreed upon by our Chapter and Riverbay Corporation. With more

Family Owned and Operated

ing has slowed down for everyone. We still intend

• Large Chapel on premises

• Pre-need counseling

involved and help strengthen our chapter so we can

• Ample Parking on premises

• Out of town services

greatly. Our current board is continuing to work in their positions and can be reached for info and updates as

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. ––Hattie L. Lucas

A dignified funeral every family can afford.

• Casket Showroom • Cremations All areas are handicapped accessible on premises Amid ongoing concerns about the Coronavirus COVID-19, McCall’s Bronxwood Funeral Home is closely monitoring the latest reports from the CDC and is fully committed to providing the funeral and memorial services you expect without interruption, in a clean and hygenic environment.

Personalized & Professional Care • 55 Years Serving Our Community Worldwide Shipping including Caribbean, Africa & South America

718-231-7647

to take reservations for our Ocean City trip from Call 24 Hours

on your neighbors and friends to be sure they are safe also. ––Ann Purnell

Fax: 718-231-7665 LIVE STREAMING WORLDWIDE.

www.mccalls.net • director@mccalls.net

Serving all cultures & faiths

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Church of New Vision

Iglesia Evangelica MU de Co-op City

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God the Father for His abundant mercy towards us as His people through Jesus Christ the very demonstration of God’s Love towards humanity. (John 3:16) As we celebrate Jesus Christ, let us continue to be thankful and grateful for the blessings we have received. May you and your family have a happy and healthy new year. The Church of the New Vision and Pastors Kenneth and Deborah Hodge welcome you to worship with us. Our verse for 2022 is: (Isaiah 54:17) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, say the Lord.” There is one service at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday School will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Masks are required and temperatures will be taken. Welcome back. Services can also be viewed on YouTube after 1:00 p.m. Our Wednesday Night Prayer Service and Bible study start at 7:00 p.m. on our Conference Line Number: (646)-769-9909, Access Code: 3099388. Once prayer has begun, please mute your phone so all can hear with clarity. Sunday, January 9, Worship Service Theme: “Just Give It to Jesus.” Scripture: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and low-

Co-op City United Methodist Church

burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) The Church of New Vision extends our deepest sympathies and prayers to grieving families. May God grant you the strength, comfort and peace during We thank you for your contributions, Malachi 3:10. Our mailing address is: Church of New Vision, P.O. Box 75-3037, Einstein Station, Bronx, NY 10475. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God be with you all. Amen. ––Brenda Brown

Pentecostal Tabernacle The Co-op City Pentecostal Tabernacle invites everyone to worship service at 100 Co-op City Blvd., Bldg. 22A. All services are held online. Call 720-7409746, Access Code: 8876631, Dial-in: 718-324-0334. Sunday worship service starts at 11: a.m. Wednesday morning prayer and fasting service held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bible Study and prayer meeting will also be held Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening prayer meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Focus: God created mankind with the freedom of choice. His will is that we choose him with a heart of love. “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seemed evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods.” (Joshua 24:14-16) God desires a relationship with mankind One of the wonderful revelations of scripture is that God longs for a relationship with mankind. He does not need us, but he desires us and He loves us. He wants communion and intimacy with those whom He created and redeemed. It was for this purpose Jesus Christ died on the cross. When God created mankind, He enjoyed close connection with Adam and Eve. He enjoyed daily fellowship with them, for when He arrived after their sin they were not surprised by his presence, just ashamed for their nakedness. It was common for them to enjoy time with him daily. What a precious thing it must have been to have ongoing, regular intimate fellowship with Him! It still is. Some people are more decisive than others and seem not to have a problem making up their minds regarding natural choices both big and small. Others offer to take or as mundane as paper or plastic. Choices have consequences. We have observed this pattern throughout our lives. In matters great and small, this principle holds true, and it is no less trueregarding one’s spiritual standing before God. Life and death hang in the balance of the choice to repent and to obey the gospel. Our decision either to live for God or reject his appeal leads us ultimately either to Heaven or to Hell. It is this knowledge and understanding that should cause us to approach every decision about our spiritual life soberly and in the fear of God. ––Rev. R. Sibblies

The deadline for submitting club articles is Mondays at 5 p.m.

Open Doors, Open Hearts And Open Minds. “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:9-1.1) offer a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and service to God and our community. We are a multi-ethnic, multicultural and bilingual congregation. All are welcome! We are changing with the times and now offer online service. We are located at 2350 Palmer Avenue, across from Building 30 (entrance on Boller Ave.). Parking is available on Palmer Ave. Our pastor is Rev. Arnaldo Sánchez-Orta. For more information about our services, please contact our administrative secretary, Marta Medina, by phone: 917-740-0256 or by email: coopcityevangelicalumc@gmail.com. Remote schedule for Sundays: Come and receive a blessing. We would love for you to join us on Sundays. We are currently sharing our services online through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UMCofCoopCity/. We are also holding services via Zoom. For more information, visit our website at www.coopcityumc.com. If you would like to join our worship service through Zoom, please use the following information to log in: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9044685745, or by phone: 1-929-436-2866, 9044685745# US (New York), using the following Meeting ID: 904 468 5745. Food Pantry: The Food Pantry distribution center at our church serves Section 5. Ongoing registration and distribution of food are on Thursdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Those registering must present one of the following government-issued up-to-date ID’s showing a 10475 zip code: Driver, Non-Driver, or NYC ID. Anyone 18+ of age can register. Only one participant per household may register. Blessings. ––Marta Medina

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

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If you have knowledge or a concern of possible violations of law, accounting irregularities, or other suspected wrongdoing affecting Riverbay, you are encouraged to report it to law enforcement, or you may report it through an anonymous hotline by the following methods: Go to an independent website, www.lighthouse-services/riverbaycorp, to complete an online disclosure form; Call the following independent third party whistleblower hotline at 1-833-290-0009 (English); or 1-800-216-1288 (Spanish); Send an e-mail to: reports@lighthouse-services.com (the email must include “Riverbay” in the subject); or Send a fax to (215) 689-3885 (the fax must include “Riverbay” in the subject of the report).

Distribution of unsolicited advertisements in Co-op City Co-op City is private property and therefore prohibits distribution of unsolicited advertising material to shareholders’ homes and/or property, including cars parked in the development’s eight garages. If you witness anyone depositing or distributing advertising material on Co-op City’s property, please call Public Safety at (718) 671-3050. Be prepared to give the location and description of the person(s) leaving the material. All unwanted, unsolicited advertising material should be disposed of properly and not thrown on the ground causing litter. Thank you for your cooperation.

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

Public Safety

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(Continued from page 7)

Traditional Synagogue

ground where there is less smoke. Place a wet towel over your nose and mouth.

Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. Avoid using unattended can-

pactor rooms due to careless disposal of cigarettes.

an emergency. These actions cost time and added response time can cost lives in at parking safety violations. quired to pull over and stop. If you are on a highway, you are required by law, when gency or service vehicle on the side of the highway. Always take your keys out of your car and lock the door. This applies no matter how safe you think an area might be or how short of a period you are leaving the vehicle unattended. This includes when you are fueling your vehicle, anywhere your travels may take you. Not securing your vehicle and keys left inside contributes to creating crimes of opportunity that increase the likelihood that your vehicle will be stolen. Keys left in vehicles and vehicles left running while occupants community over the past year. Online purchases have become part of normal purchasing practices. Please condates and

The requirement for wearing a mask and social distancing will be strictly enforced during all synagogue services. General Information – services, we always have a kiddush. The synagogue has a Facebook The synagogue needs donations. Whatever amount you can donate, big or small, would help. The synagogue needs men to help make a minyan. There are a lot of Jewish men who live in Co-op City who do not come to services. Please come by 10 a.m., so we can take out the Torah. Sabbath ends o Candle Lighting Good and Welfare – Mazel Tovto all having simchas. If you are ill, wishing you good health. If you tion to the synagogue. To All members – celebrating his birthday in January. Please send me your names and I will add them to the list. Fun and Games – After services and Kiddush, members play games. Your members and friends peace and good health. ––Bruce Gitelson

Newsong Church Conform or Transform – How is your spiritual life? Has it been awhile since you have prayed, read your Bible, participated in corporate worship? The Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view

the hallway. Also, consider having packages shipped to available package lockers. www.ccpd.us. Callers would like to thank an observant cooperator who called in suspicious activity near a vehicle. gardless of vaccination status, unless the venue checks vaccination status. This man-

–Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) mean? In short, it means making God number one in your life. It means living live for themselves (that is conforming to the pattern of the world) but those -

It is therefore necessary that all people wear masks in Co-op City hallways, lobbies, laundry rooms, elevators and commercial establishments. Wearing a mask is for your safety and the safety of your neighbors and family members. Hand washing, the use of hand sanitizer and not touching your face are other strategies to reduce

information about Newsong Church. About Us – We love God, we love people, and we love demonstrating that love through

on health and safety, including vaccinations, during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sunday Worship Experience – celebration. Colossians 3:16 says,

to shareholders who refuse to wear masks in public spaces within our community. Non-compliant shareholders who fail or refuse to properly wear masks or face covble for repeat violations. Cooperators should never confront other cooperators who are not wearing a mask. Mask wearing is a very sensitive issue to many residents. All age groups have a valid concern about their neighbors taking every possible precaution to rehas a substantial senior community that is particularly susceptible to the pandemic.

Newsong Deaf Church – That is right. We are happy to announce that we

Kidsong – Kids are important to us, so we have created a place where they

both sides of the mask-wearing conundrum. Please wear a mask when entering or remaining in any indoor public space. It remains a mandatory requirement to wear and wear your mask.

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

Against The Flow – goal is to graduate students into a lifetime of following Jesus. A.T.F. meets evFor more information about Newsong Church: Website: www.newsongchurchnyc.org; YouTube: Newsong Church NYC Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @NewsongBX ––Pastor Mike Tolone

Co-op City Times / January 15, 2022

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Co-op City Times 01/15/2022

Articles inside

BUILDING