Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2016 Co-op City Times
Vol. 51 No. 28
Saturday, July 9, 2016
25¢
Fireworks in Co-op City Pre-4th of July holiday celebration On Sunday, July 3, 2016, one day before Independence Day, fireworks were loud and clearly on display on the Section 3 greenway in Co-op City. A smaller crowd perhaps than at a
sponsored by the Riverbay Fund, has become an annual and safe event enjoyed by as many as a thousand spectators drawn to the greenway. It might have started “with the shot heard around the world,” but Americans to this day, love a fireworks show and here
nation’s birthday and is a unifying event where people are happy to celebrate together. It brings out the old, the not so old and the young. Alissa Saunders, 4th grader at P.S. 160, explained, “It celebrates America’s independence from England. It is a big celebration.”
Macy’s fireworks, but up in the Bronx and weather permitting, the Co-op City display of super bursts of pyrotechnics,
was no different. The real significance of the 4th of July, Independence Day, is much more than fireworks. It marks our
Mr. Miller, a shareholder who was enjoying the day, offered: “Without mentioning any names, we are reminded America is not free; we have a long way to go to ‘make America great again,’ for everyone.” And Portia, a young visitor from Dallas, TX said that she was happy to be here especially since this is her first time seeing the fireworks in
BY LAURETTA J. JAYSURA
45th Precinct Commander promoted to Deputy Inspector BY BILL STUTTIG
102nd Precinct in Queens, NY. She Captain Danielle Raia, commandhas 17 years of experience with the ing officer of the 45th Precinct for the NYPD. past 11 months, was proWhen she first came to moted to the rank of the command in August deputy inspector in late of last year, she told the Co-op City Times that June. She was one of her emphasis would be more than 200 NYPD quality of life crime and officers and commanders larceny, two crime cateto receive promotions gories that were most within the department prevalent in the precinct. last month. Riverbay Board direcDeputy Inspector Raia tor Sonia Feliciano, who came to the 45th Precinct Deputy Inspector also serves in the volunas Captain in August of Danielle Raia teer position as secretary 2015, her first command of the 45th Precinct Community with the NYPD after previously serving as the executive officer for the (Continued on page 2)
Woman accused of mugging 103-year old resident deemed unfit to stand trial BY BILL STUTTIG
Sharon McNeil, the woman charged with a variety of crimes related to the mugging of a 103-year-old woman in Co-op City on April 1st, has been declared unfit to stand trial by a Bronx Supreme Court judge after psychological testing ordered by the court was evaluated.
Bronx Supreme Court Judge George Villegas ordered the evaluation in April after the attorney representing Sharon McNeil argued that his client has a long history of mental illness and is not fit to stand trial. At a court appearance before the (Continued on page 2)
cooperators, for example, the Morales and Vega families—second-generation—enjoying food and Uno together (known staples of any family picnic). As mom said: “This is perfect. I live right across the street and can come and bring my shopping cart.”
Photos by Keisha Watkin
Of course, no outdoor event is complete without vendors, who were selling a variety of toys for the large number of kids running about, or food and ices with proceeds to help the local youth sports teams. Even a few politicians were seen shaking hands, greeting constituents and kissing babies. All that not being enough, the “Unique Band,” a popular group of singers and musicians wearing eyecatching red and white outfits, commanded center stage and performed live entertainment of R&B, Soul and pop songs that Co-op City, noting, “It is very nice.” had the crowd of all ages roaring and The main attraction, of course, was “dancing in the streets,” right up until the fireworks show but until that time, Michelle Sajous, Riverbay’s Community on this very nice sunny Sunday, wherRelations Director, led the crowd in the ever you were on the Greenway, standcountdown and the heartbeat that began ing or sitting, people were seen conthe fantastic aerial “Fireworks Show” in gregating and enjoying family-style Co-op City, July 3, 2016. picnics, including multi-generational (See more photos on page 5)
Overcharges on July carrying charge bills About 1,100 shareholders may have received July carrying charge bills with inaccurate extra charges. Due to a computer glitch, $50 late fee and/or $200 legal fee may have been added to some carrying charge statements. Riverbay has identified these accounts and has been making the necessary corrections, which will be reflected on next month’s (August) carrying charge statements. If you receive your August carrying charge bill with these extra charges not corrected, please contact your Rent Bookkeeper in the Riverbay Finance Department next month (August) to have the matter addressed and rectified. We sincerely apologize for the error and the inconvenience caused.