Co-op City Times 10/9/2021

Vol. 56 No. 41

Saturday, October 9, 2021

$1.25

Virtual Open Board Meeting to be Held Wednesday, Oct. 13

Facts Matter President’s Report

By ROZAAN BOONE Riverbay Board President Bernard Cylich has called an Open Board meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 13, starting at 7 p.m. with a Gallery Session for shareholders to (Reprinted from the October 2, 2021 issue.)

TO: RIVERBAY CORPORATION interact with the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board of Directors A headline in the Co-op City Times of September and Management.

25 reads: “Shareholders Object to Inclusion of PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a The meeting will meeting of the Board of Directors of the Riverbay Waterfront Park Funding in 2022 Carrying Charge be held virtually on Corporation will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 13, Increase.”

Webex.

And the article continues: “The speakers objected to the increase citing at 7 p.m. on Webex.

Co-op City shareThe Agenda will be as follows: holders will be able PROPOSED AGENDA Have our cooperators been financially impacted by the “ongoing 1. Roll Call to join the meeting pandemic?” As the saying goes, the devil is in the details: 2. Approval of the Agenda online, by phone or None of the 18 speakers who spoke at HCR’s virtual carrying charge 3.

Approval of Board Business Meeting Minutes from a video sysof July 28th, 2021 tem/application.

Board members, provided any documentation to substantiate their claims.

4. Gallery Session The Board and 5. President’s Report (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 4) 6. Management Report 7. SECOND READINGS: • #21-37 - Purchase of Henry 660 Flooring Adhesive – Pg. 2 • #21-38 – Commercial Rubbish Removal and Recycling –Pg. 3 • #21-39 – Asbestos Abatement Contract 3694 –

By ROZAAN BOONE Pg. 4 NYC Department of City Planning is soliciting input from Co-op City shareholders as land use work • #21-40 – Installation of Wood Floors and Vinyl Composite Pg. 5 continues at the four new Metro-North stations proposed for construction in the east Bronx, including • #21-41 – Printing of the Co-op City Times – Pg. 6 one in this community.

8.

FIRST READINGS: Residents may log in to the remote Open House where they will be able to express to city plan• #21-42 – Contract 3673 Local Law 11 for Bldgs. ners their feedback on the proposed designs for the station to be built in their neighborhood as part of 1 through 8 to follow the Metro-North Penn Station Access project. The Penn Access project will facilitate direct travel to • #21-43 – Contract 3673A Local Law 11 for Bldgs.

Manhattan, other parts of New York State and Connecticut. The other three Metro-North stations are 15 through 19 to follow to be built in Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park.

• #21-44 – Change Order for Merritt Engineering Since 2018, the Department of City Planning has been leading the Bronx Metro-North Station Area additional funds to follow • #21-45 – Uniform Rentals and Maintenance Contract a number of pre-pandemic public events to collect ideas from residents on how best to maximize the 9. Executive Session 10. Adjournment cess to schools and parks; for infrastructure, housing, retail and job growth and opportunities, while also providing better access to transportation.

In April of this year, largely because of Covid concerns, City Planning launched a public hearing website – ensuring social distancing – where residents can offer their comments on the designs that Bernard Cylich have so far been formulated based on initial input collected from respective communities for their President

Bernard Cylich

Metro-North Station Remote Open House Available for Co-op City Feedback

(Continued on page 8)

Early Voting Begins on October 23 in NYC

BY BRANDON ORTIZ

The early voting period for the NYC general election begins on Saturday, October 21 and continues until Sunday, October 31.

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. This election will determine who the next Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, members of City Council, and District Attorney will be.

Ranked Choice Voting will not be used to decide the outcome of this general election. Instead, voters will be asked to choose just one candidate for each Voter registration ended yesterday, October 8, and the deadline to request an absentee ballot ends on October 18. Individuals who miss the deadline to request an absentee ballot have the option to request and submit one in-person at their Board of (Continued on page 5)

95% of Full-Time DOE Employees Vaccinated

BY BRANDON ORTIZ

Despite facing initial legal resistance, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) vaccine mandate went into effect this week meaning now parents can be certain that every staff member their child interacts with is vaccinated.

As of this week, 95% of all full-time DOE employees are vaccinated, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference earlier this week. The Mayor also added that 96% of all teachers and 99% of all principals are vaccinated.

Currently, 84% of city public school safety agents are vaccinated as well.

“Every adult in our schools is now vaccinated and that’s going to be the rule going forward. And that’s the way to keep kids safe. This has been now looked at by the court system over and over and over again.

New York City vaccination mandate for our schools has been upheld over and over in State Court, Federal Court. There was an appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday, the Supreme Court made clear the previous court decisions stand,” Mayor de Blasio said to reporters on Monday, Oct. 4.

“Consistently what courts have said is New York City has a right to put this mandate in place for our schools, for the adults in our schools. It’s the right thing today. It’s the right thing to do. And as of today, (Continued on page 2)

All Riverbay departments will be available for remote business as usual on Columbus Day, Monday, October 11, 2021.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

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DOE

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021 Continued from page 1)

all the employees in our 1600 schools are vaccinated and that is unprecedented.

And that’s on top of all of the layers of protection, all the health and safety measures that make up that gold standard that we put in place last year,” the Mayor went on to say.

Since the DOE vaccine mandate was announced, which was last month on August 23, approximately 43,000 DOE employees have been vaccinated, according to the DOE. Notably, the DOE reported that 18,000 of those vaccinations were administered the Friday before the mandate went into effect.

The remaining 5% of all DOE employees and 4% of teachers who did not comply with the mandate are now on unpaid leave.

In total, 11,000 employees are unvaccinated and on unpaid leave currently, according to CBS New York. CBS New York also reported that approximately 8,000 of the total 78,000 DOE employees and 3,000 of the total 78,000 NYC public school teachers currently remain unvaccinated. their unvaccinated employees.

However, Mayor de Blasio maintained during his media availability on teachers or DOE staff.

“We have thousands of vaccinated substitutes on-hand and we are working hand-in-hand to support and ensure the continuity of instruction in every school,” the Mayor said.

The DOE may be capable of accommodating for potential staff losses due to of Teachers’ President Michael Mulgrew feel the Mayor should have announced the vaccine mandate earlier so that the transition would have been smoother.

“You’re doing a vaccine mandate on October 4 –– school opened in September. If the Mayor knew he was going to do a vaccine mandate, it would have been smart to do it in the summer and let’s deal with it then. To have this additional way to do this,” Mulgrew said to reporters this week. leave are not barred from ever teaching or working again. Mayor de Blasio said that any unvaccinated employees will be welcomed back at their respective workplaces if they get vaccinated.

DR. LEWIS WOLSTEIN Podiatrist — Foot Specialist

• Practicing in Co-op City since 1975 • Board Certified in Foot Surgery • ALL conditions of the foot treated • Most health insurance plans accepted • Evening and Saturday appointments Se Habla Español Call:

718.671.7226

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

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Co-op City Times 2nd COMBING

What Would Congestion Pricing Mean For Commuters?

BY BRANDON ORTIZ

New Yorkers driving below 60th Street in Manhattan could soon have to pay another toll that may be almost double the current fare pricing for any bridge or tunnel.

The new toll for commuters is part of the MTA’s Central Business District Tolling Program or, as the plan is more commonly known, congestion pricing.

When the program was authorized by the State in April Find out what’s going on in Co-op City here...

Assemblyman Benedetto’s 2021 Lobby Visit Schedule Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s next Lobby Visits are: • Tuesday, October 12 – 100 Einstein Loop (Bldg. 28C) • Thursday, October 21 – 100 Casals Place (Bldg. 13) • Wednesday, October 27 – 120 Alcott Place (Bldg. 17) Visits are from 5:15-7 p.m.

These visits provide Co-op City constituents with an opportunity to discuss a broad range of topics with the assemblyman in a special one-on-one setting just steps from their front door.

For more information, please contact Assemblyman Benedet(718) 892-2235.

Co-op City resident appears in “The Exonerated” Co-op City resident Steven Vega is appearing in “The Exonerated,” a play that examines racism in law enforcement agencies and in the legal system.

“The Exonerated” is an Actors’ Equity-Approved Showcase playing at the Bernie Wohl Center, 647 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY. It is written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen and directed by Patricia R. Floyd. The show is presented by Out of the Box Theatre Company, and features a host of actors, including Co-op City’s Steven Vega. It runs until Sunday, October 10.

For ticket info., contact 917992-5150. For more info., visit OutOfTheBoxTheatre.com.

Second Annual Halloween Parade Sat., Oct. 30. Line-up for the 2nd Annual Co-op City will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Section 1 Greenway Stage. Parade will start at 1 p.m. Masks required.

Prizes awarded by age group for best costume and best family theme. Come dressed to impress!

Front Page

tion problem and help raise the revenue needed to upgrade and improve public transportation.

MTA officials want commuters to see the Central Business District Tolling Program as an investment in the continual improvement of New York City’s entire mass transit infrastructure. A key aspect of the MTA’s plan to modernize mass transit will be expanding service accessibility to more people. The plan also represents the MTA’s commitment to reduce harmful air pollution from CO2 emitting vehicles and a commitment to reduce travel times. the environment in an era of climate change. We really have to come up with policies that will react to that. But it also is a part of the strategy the legislature and the governor adopted to try to fund this massive MTA capital program. Everybody wants a rebuilt mass transit system with electric buses with, as I said, ADA accessibility, re-signaling the subway lines so that we can actually run more trains. Congestion pricing is going to support those investments,” Acting MTA Chair and CEO, Janno Lieber, said on August 23 during an appearance on FOX 5’s “Good Day New York.”

Eighty percent of the revenue the Central Business District Tolling Program makes would be used to fund modernizations and updates for New York City Transit, according to the MTA. The remaining 20% of the revenue would be split evenly between the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road.

Before the MTA is allowed to put congestion pricing into effect, the plan must pass an Environmental Assessment, which is overseen by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The process is scheduled to take 16 months, according to the MTA. The MTA needs FHWA approval of the plan in order to gestion pricing.

The Environmental Assessment will attempt to gain a complete understanding of the potential impact the Central Business District Tolling Program will have by analyzing vironmental factors in 28 counties across the tri-state area.

Notably, the MTA highlights that the Environmental Assessment will pay special attention to Environmental Justice communities, which are minority or low-income communities, located across the 28 counties to ensure the program is not affecting those communities disproportionately.

Commuters were able to voice their opinion on the program as part of the overall review process during 10 virtual general interest public meetings the MTA held in the past couple of weeks. ries of public meetings and have two remaining that are intended for Environmental Justice communities in New Jersey and Connecticut.

Anyone can participate or sign-up to speak in the rewill be on October 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and October 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both meetings will be livestreamed YouTube channel, “mtainfo,” and on

the project’s website, new.mta.info/project/CBDTP. Individuals interested in speaking during the two remaining meetings can call the MTA’s public meeting hotline at (646) 252-6777 or by visiting the project’s website.

Anyone who cannot attend either of the meetings can call (646) 252-7440 to leave their comment or opinion on the project. The website, new.mta.info/project/CBDTP, also allows individuals to leave a comment if they are unable to attend one of the virtual meetings. Commuters interested in learning additional information about the Central Business District Toll Program can also go online to the project’s website.

For individuals without a computer, comments can be mailed to: CBD Tolling Program, 2 Broadway, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10004. tolls will be and what vehicles will be exempt are not yet Allison de Cerreno, MTA Deputy Chief Operating the Central Business District below 60th Street could be between $9 and $23 for E-ZPass users and between $14 and $35 for drivers without E-ZPass. major city in the world to do so. London, Stockholm and Singapore are just a few examples of major cities around the world that use congestion pricing and saw successful results.

In London, their congestion pricing plan led to both a 25% drop in overall congestion in central London and a 20% drop in CO2 pollution. Stockholm saw a 25% decrease an increase between 6-9% in people using public transit. their Central Business District.

This year, the American Lung Association ranked the NY-metro area as the 14th worst in the country for ozone pollution. New York City also is the worst city in the US and the third worst city in the entire world in terms of Scorecard.

DOT eScooter Update This week, a team of Riverbay managers met with personnel from the city’s Department of Transportation to identify potential locations in Co-op City where eScooter corrals can be set up to facilitate parking of the scooters, along with signage and directions on the proper use of the scooters. where the corrals will be designated, some of the behind Garage 7, in front of Garage 8 and along the side of the Einstein Center by Building 28.

More information will be reported as details become available.

Photo by Warren Mitchell

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

President’s Report

(Continued from page 1)

risen by 20% — a $10,000 increase, from $57,000 to $67,000.

Open Board

Continued from page 1)

Webex Webex

Co-op City Times The Waterfront Park Is Overwhelmingly Supported To everyone’s surprise, out of 4,339 cooperator responders, 3,739, or 86%, expressed full support, while only 600, or 14%, opposed the project.

We had (and have) cover the entire cost of building a waterfront park and more—an attractively landscaped recreational area, from Section 5 to Conners Street.

Murphy’s Law Hits Co-op City

come, enabling us to conduct our Board business meeting in person,” Board President Cylich said. “Wishing all the best of health and I hope you remain well.”

Cooper Place Gas Update This week, ConEd expedited the date of their gas inspection at Cooper Place townhouses from Tues., Oct. 12, to yesterday, Fri., Oct. 8.

After the inspection, ConEd advised that their gas turn-on team will return on Wed., Oct. 13, to restore gas service to shareholders in units 1-16.

Management would like to thank shareholders for their patience and cooperation during this repair process.

Smoking in Co-op City’s Common Spaces

all the more reason for self-insurance.

The Co-op City Department of Public Safety would like to remind all shareholders that smoking of any substance in a hallway, elevator, staircase, or lobby remains a violation of the law. Smoking in an indoor public space is also violation of the rules and regulations of our Cooperative. The decriminalization of marijuana does not allow that substance to be used in indoor public spaces. Any location that prohibits the smoking of cigarettes or tobacco products, by statute, prohibits the use of marijuana.

Beware of suspicious calls Some shareholders have reported receiving calls from individuals (sometimes with heavy accents) who ask if they are an Optimum cusTo perform the update, the caller asks that you to get your remote control and follow their instructions.

Please be vigilant and do not fall victim to scams. Should you receive such a call, hang up and contact Optimum from a number on your bill.

Be smart, be safe.

MATTRESS DISPOSAL or box springs in a sealed plastic bag for garbage disposal and collection.

This rule was intended to prevent an increase in bed bug activity. Under the rule, failure to place a mattress or box spring in a proper bag will result violate this rule may be subject to a Community Complaint with related The City of New York and Riverbay do not provide mattress or box spring bags or covers). Plastic bags to cover mattresses and box springs are available at department stores, home improvement centers and large moving companies. They can also be purchased online. Please follow this rule when disposing mattresses and/or box springs. These covered items are to be brought to the basement or placed on the dumpster pads for proper trash collection. Thank you for your attention and cooperation in this matter.

—CSO

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Early Voting

(Continued from page 1)

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Memorial Dedication to the Late Ms. Beatrice Lucille Chaderton The Building 27 Association had the honor of celebrating with Ms. Beatrice Chaderton her last birthday at the age of 98 in January of 2020. She passed away on December 17, 2020. On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, her pastor, Rev. Dr. Calvin E. Owens of Community Protestant Church, conducted the Memorial Dedication Ceremony which took place on the Portico between Buildings 27B and 27C. Ms. Chaderton’s daughter, family members, and many friends attended.

The Building 27 Association dedicated a Tree and Plaque to honor Ms. Chaderton’s memory and her commitment and contribution to the association (see photo below).

Ms. Beatrice Chaderton was affectionately called Ms. Bea. She was a woman of grace and of few words. Ms. Bea served as treasurer from the inception of the association to the year 2018 and then decided to move to the position of assistant treasurer until the very end. She served with efficiency, honesty and gave of her time unselfishly. We all came to love Ms. Bea, her gentle mannerism, friendliness and dedication to the association and her infectious sense of humor. We will always remember Ms. Bea with love. We, the building associations, neighbors, and friends count it a pleasure to honor Ms. Beatrice Lucille Chaderton.

––Thalia Roach

6 The Co-op City Times welcomes issue-oriented letters to the editor to be considered for publication. All letters, in prose, not poetry, must be addressed to the editor, not to third parties. All letters must be signed by the writers and include their addresses and phone numbers, which will be kept confidential, so that the editor can the–authenticity of•– the authors.

Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication.

Letters cannot exceed – verify •be–typed.

• • letters – • –must – •Co-op – City Times – • by –• – •every – •Monday – •–to350 •be–words.

• –Ideally, they should All be• in the office in Room 21, Bartow Community Center, 3 p.m. considered for 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 or Riverbay Corp.

Letters to the Editor

Co-op City Times We should not assume that because we have new, modernized lobbies, all is well. Some of us, self included, have a new intercom inside the apartment, but no name or button on the outside to allow entry. Reportedly, others have the same issue. A suggestion would be for some type of inspection work after the contractors say the job is complete. It’s encouraging to see that attention is being paid to bathrooms in our laundry area as it is not the case for all buildings yet.

When we highlight negative behavior by our youth, we of all youth in Co-op City. It’s unconscionable that all the great things that our young people are doing in Co-op City is not making the news on the local TV stations. Case in point, we have youth who are now doctors and one informed me recently that not only has she completed her Masters degree but is going into Cyber Security. We have a Track Team doing amazing things but are never seen on local news stations. All I am saying is that this generation of youth have unique challenges however many, if not most, in Co-op City are on the path to becoming successful adults. It was refreshing to see one of our own highlighted last week in the Co-op City Times.

We should not assume that Co-op will remain affordable for the next generation of “middle income” individuals in the Northeast Bronx. We can assume that if you are a senior citizen you may get some type of subsidy. What about the present generation of middle income workers? At a recent City Council Hearing on Small Business, it was chilling to see the powerful real estate moguls and their unyielding intentions.

We are shareholders, not tenants!

Become involved in your building association!

Erskine Place and DeReimer Avenue has to be cleaned up and it should remain clean. How can you travel past this location and not be angry at what you see here? This is an entry and exit point into our community and this is abandoned tires. Please take pride in our community, this is unacceptable. This garbage will only attract more violators and pests.

What does this say about our community that this garbage remains there for weeks at a time. Please demand the NYC Sanitation Department clean up and monitor this location for the violators. Please call 311, Bronx Community Board 10’s Mr. Cruz, and Assemblyman Benedetto. The political leaders are our liaisons to city services and we depend on them to intervene on our behalf to resolve our quality of life concerns. We need a stronger political presence in our community to ensure we get the appropriate level of services for the population of people that reside here.

We are not asking too much to have a clean community.

Co-op City Times

should expect to hear from the constituents and be ready to take action.

We welcome letters to the editor only from Co-op City shareholders at cctimes@riverbaycorp.com.

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 will be kept confidential – so authenticity and residency of the writer can be verified.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Co-op City Times

Co-op City Times Co-op City Times

We Welcome Your Photos!

If you have attended a community event, we’d love to publish your pictures!

To ensure that your images print at a high quality, please adhere to the following guidelines for submitting photos: • Your digital camera or cell phone camera should be set to the highest possible resolution. The higher the resolution, the better the image quality. cult to sharpen, so please make sure all images submitted are clear and brightly lit.

• Email photos to cctimes@riverbaycorp. com as attachments, not enclosed within the body of the email.

• Photocopies and paper printouts are not accepted.

Co-op City Times Times

Co-op City

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

CCPD Offers Burglary Prevention Tips for Residents Public Safety Report

BY LIEUTENANT PAM APOLLO

October has been recognized as Crime Prevention month since 1984. In recognition of Crime Prevention Month, the Public Safety Report this week will highlight this topic. The article addresses Burglary and other crimes against your home and property. For more information about crime prevention, contact the National Crime Prevention Council at 1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 13th floor, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 466-6272, or on their website, www.ncpc.org.

Burglary is a crime that tends to occur in patterns from time to time. Advanced surveillance systems and improved technology have greatly reduced the occurrence of burglaries within Co-op City. It is still a good idea to be aware of steps that can be taken to further decrease your odds of being a burglary victim.

The Co-op City Department of Public Safety offers these tips to decrease your chance of being burglarized.

Never welcome burglars by telephone. Burglars have been known to try to find out if anyone is home by phoning. If you get a pattern of several suspicious wrong numbers or hang up calls, notify 911 or the Co-op City Department of Public Safety at 1 (718) 671-3050. Warn family members, children included, not to give out information by telephone. It is particularly important not to tell callers who is out or how long they are expected to be out. Also, do not put this information on your answering machine. A standard greeting, “There is no one available to come to the phone right now, please leave a message” does not divulge extended absences to potential burglars.

Never open your door to anyone you do not know. Ask repair persons or delivery persons to show identification. All Riverbay employees and utility providers such as Cablevision are required to carry identification while on duty.

Do not open your door until you are sure the person on the other side is legitimate. If you have any doubt, call 9-1-1 or the Department of Public Safety at 1 (718) 671-3050.

Always make your home look and sound occupied. Consider purchasing a timer with a random setting to turn on a radio and lights at different times every day while on vacation. Lights that are left on for long periods of time can also signal that no one is home. Never advertise your vacation plans. Inform a trusted neighbor who can collect newspapers, mail or other deliveries. The postal service will suspend mail service for vacation periods. Notify the Public Safety Department if you are a member of the “Are you Okay?” program. Wait until you return home to post vacation pictures on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Install good pick-proof locks and use them every time you leave the house or go to sleep. Riverbay Corporation provides only bottom lock access. A good quality top lock with a safety plate is highly recommended. Always change your locks if you lose your keys. Never leave keys under the mat, on top of the door frame or in any other “hiding” spot. Always keep house keys separate from car keys when utilizing valet service. Never place identifying information on keys.

Do not reward the burglar who does get in. If, despite your precautions, a burglar does get in, don’t reward them with a large sum of cash and jewelry.

Never keep large sums of cash in your home. Keep jewelry not often worn in a safe deposit box. Consider purchasing a high quality personal safe for shortterm storage of certain valuables. Inventory valuables and keep receipts in a safe place in the event that you are the victim of a burglary. Never enter your apartment if you believe it has been burglarized. The burglar could still be in the apartment. You also do not want to ruin evidence such as fingerprints before the police collect them.

Schools are open; drive safely. Fall is a very active season; expect an increase in vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Always be alert to driving hazards. Never pass a stopped school bus with a STOP sign displayed or its red lights flashing. This means children are loading or unloading. Be aware of pedestrians and bike riders when operating a motor vehicle. Always buckle your seatbelt; it can save your life in a serious collision. Avoid distractions and excess speed when driving; these are the two leading causes of collisions within New York State.

The New York City Department of Transportation has recently initiated a program making electric scooters available for rent throughout the community.

No docking stations or official staging locations exist as of this date. This program and its impact on our community, both positive and negative, are being

Responsible Use of eScooters If you rent an eScooter, be sure to leave it in a location that does not interfere with fellow shareholders walking along sidewalks, or entering/ leaving our buildings. Please be respectful and deposit them where they will not be a trip hazard to others, especially our seniors.

Anonymous calls to Public Safety From time to time, cooperators may witness someone violating the housing company’s rules and regulations, however, we understand that some people are apprehensive about reporting the situation for fear of their identity being divulged to the violator in question.

Please know that you may request to remain anonymous when you contact the Co-op City Public Safety Department (CCPD) regarding said issues and the Public Safety dispatchers, officers and supervisors have been instructed to accept these calls

and investigate accordingly.

If, however, you feel forced to surrender your identification in order to lodge your complaint, immediately request to speak with a supervisor.

Rest assured that you should feel comfortable placing these calls to our Public Safety Department, as oftentimes residents are the first to know when an incident has taken place and, in most cases, who the individuals involved are.

Thank you for your cooperation.

––Riverbay Management

assessed to determine how we might be able to adjust the program to reduce any negative impact. Public Safety requests that if you avail yourself of one of these scooters, once you complete your rental, please be respectful to your fellow shareholders. We request that you place the scooter you are parking in a location that does not interfere with other shareholders entering or leaving our buildings.

Avoid leaving them in the middle of the sidewalk, and do not place them where they may create a trip hazard. As Co-op City has a large elderly population, be mindful that our senior citizens may have a difficult time navigating around these scooters if left in an inconvenient location. Please, be mindful that the scooters should never be brought into one of our buildings or left in a lobby.

Be sure that all members of your household who may ride a bicycle or scooter, electric or propelled by the rider, are aware of traffic rules and regulations. Bicycles of any type must ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic, utilizing a bicycle lane if one is available. Bicycle riders must also obey traffic lights and Stop signs. Motorists must be extra vigilant due to a possible increase in the number of bicycles and scooters on the road.

Always remember, if you see something, say something. If you see suspicious persons or hear suspicious noise coming from your neighbor’s apartment, a burglary could be taking place, notify the authorities. Call 911 and the Department of Public Safety at (718) 671-3050. Callers may remain anonymous when giving information. The Co-op City Department of Public Safety would like to thank all persons who have called in suspicious activity or sent information via our website. The dispatcher will ask you for your information when you call. You have the option to remain anonymous but remember this information is useful to us and will not be provided to the offending party.

(Continued on page 23)

OPPORTUNITIES AT CO-OP CITY For information on CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, please contact: Lenya Garcia at Lgarcia@riverbaycorp.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.

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Metro-North

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station area. This Spring, public comment was solicited from residents in Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest. Co-op City residents can now access the City Planning website by using the QR Code here or at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ planning/plans/bronx-metro-north/bronx-metronorth-coop-city.page, to view a short video and read about the improvements being proposed for the Co-op City Metro-North station and to then the design.

Riverbay General Manager Noel Ellison was appointed by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. as a Co-op City representative to the “Working Community” interacting with City Planning on the design of the Co-op City Metro-North station area.

He said: “As I understand it, I am one of a large group of members that includes both government So, if I am to advocate, I want to feel I understand what the Co-op City commumay give rise to, I’m particularly interested in the views and concerns of those residents who will actually travel to and from this station.”

Current view of the Co-op City Metro-North station area at Erskine Place and DeReimer Avenue.

In addition to taking the survey, residents can also reserve a 15-minute slot small groups calling from the same device to have their questions answered and for a more interactive survey experience. This service is available every Thursday from 10 a.m. – noon and on Fridays from 3-5 p.m.

Previously, on July 16, 2019, a Co-op City workshop was held in Room 31 in the Bartow Center. At that time, shareholders expressed the need for reliable, regular, and convenient bus service to and from the station area to the various need for improved pedestrian and roadway conditions around the station area and connecting to northern portions of Co-op City, and the need for improved pedestrian lighting, addition of sidewalks, and improved safety along Erskine Place for those using the Metro-North service.

This past July, the MTA wrapped up the comment period for its Environon the community.

Community residents’ feedback from the current remote open houses will be this year. The remote open house will run until the end of October.

Shareholders with questions about the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study may email BMNS@planning.nyc.gov or call (718) 220-8500.

Co-op City station area with proposed improvements.

Photo & Illustration courtesy of NYC Dept. of City Planning

Mr. Ellison pointed out that the videos and interactive images available through the remote open house will give these potential riders a chance to understand what to expect. “In turn, their feedback will help me and others gauge what they are looking for,” he said. “And it’s easy to participate via computer or smartphone – it’s a simple, convenient way for Co-op City residents to get involved.”

“Our new interactive Bronx Metro-North webpage is the result of outsidethe-box work to increase public engagement and input into important planning

BRONX METRO-NORTH STATION AREA STUDY

NEW METRO-NORTH STATIONS COMING SOON!

“We know our best planning happens when it’s done side-by-side with New brighter, more transit-accessible future for these four neighborhoods.”

Using the url mentioned above takes visitors directly to the Co-op City remote Planning website at www.nyc.gov/bmns-openhouse, and then selecting the Co-op Once there, visitors are able coming Metro-North station. Next, you can read detailed recommendations on achieving the vision as well as write in comments about the draft recommendations and the study.

The Co-op City Feedback Survey consists of 8 pages asking community

How can new service support VIBRANT, CONNECTED, and WORKING communities around future stations?

Visit the remote open house website today and share your ideas!

CO-OP CITY

open house.

MORRIS PARK PARKCHESTER / VAN NEST HUNTS POINT

Be sure to subscribe

www.nyc.gov/bmns-openhouse

Co-op City YouTube PLANNING

bmns@planning.nyc.gov #bronxmetronorth

9

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Black Forum Emergency Food Pantry – 920 Baychester Ave,. Bldg. 1A (entrance faces basketball court). The pantry opens Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m.

- 12:45 p.m. for grocery distribution. Guests are eligible to pick up food once a month. Look at the last date on your pantry card. It determines when you can pick up your monthly package again. You would pick up one month or more from your last pick-up. It is a 30 /31-day rotation. We will 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 and a shopping cart. Masks and physical distancing are required. New registrants can receive food the same day they register. Please show a valid ID NYC card, a non-driver’s, or driver’s license with a 10475 address to register.

Section 5 guests should visit the Co-op City United Methodist Church at 2350 Palmer Avenue to pick up groceries. They open on Thursdays from 11 Registration is open at this location for Section 5 residents.

Defensive Driving Class – Defensive Driving classes sponsored by Black Forum are not scheduled at this time. Our normal meeting space is closed due to Covid concerns. We hope to see their return some time in the near future.

Those needing to take the class should consider taking an online version of the course. Visit the Empire Safety Council website at https://www.empiresafetycouncil.com/. Use the promo code WRIGHT to receive a discount.

Donations – Black Forum only accepts food from our vendors. Thus, please do not leave food from your home outside our door. That is for the safety of our guests. Thank you for the kindness, nonetheless.

Contact Us – Reach out to us at coopcityblackforum@gmail.com.

Please stay safe.

––D. Illis

DID YOU KNOW ... There is a Lost and Found located in the Bartow Community Center have recently lost keys, glasses, or other items.

Building 27 Association Hello, neighbors, it is September and it has been a trying time. However, we can still be thankful and grateful. We hope all is well. Please remember to keep wearing your mask. The good news is our children are back in school. We pray Vaccines/Masks – What is happening with the people is so strange. We as children had to be vaccinated and must produce the card in order to attend school. In addition, there was the Ebola virus; people all over were lined up to gery without a mask or attend to the ill?

Safe Disposal Event – We all should have received a notice to get rid of harmful household products safely. The safe disposal event will take place in the Orchard Beach parking lot on Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain or shine). Follow Park Drive to the end. Saturday, October 23, at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain or shine). Registration for the event is required. Apply online: on.nyc. gov/SAFE-BX or call 311 for information. What to bring: automotive products, electronics, household products and medical items. No appliances and no tires. Make sure products are labeled and tightly sealed; package all containers.

Mice – All four of my convectors were stuffed with steel wool about two months ago for the second time since living in my apartment. Since writing one was having mice problems too. What I think took place is we all went out and bought mousetraps instead of calling CSO; this, I believe, caused the mice to spread. However, CSO sent the same exterminator, he explained that the mice ate all the poison pellets that were placed under my convector. The exterminator advised me to request another appointment in one month to follow up.

Happy birthday to those celebrating this month. Condolences to our Co-op City families who lost a loved one. Let us continue to pray for one another.

Please contact Lydia Rondon at 718-583-3040 to share information of illness, deceased, or someone 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 power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” –Margaret J. Wheatley ––H. Overman

Join us forCo-op City’s 2nd annual RAGAMUFFIN HALLOWEEN PARADE

Lets see Who has the best costume and who has the best Family theme Prizes awarded by age group

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021 Director’s Viewpoint –

Mary Pearson, Assistant Secretary

The Undying Budget Battle Money in/money out. Our overseeing agency is HCR (New York State Homes and Community Renewal). Under HCR is DHCR which stands for NYS Division of Housing and Community Redecisions of increasing carrying charges (or not) and when to implement any increase will be made by RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner and CEO of HCR (no D). Will the Commissioner raise our carrying charges 2% on January 1, 2022? We need to wait and see.

This year, the biggest budget wrangling was over the $10.2 million park. That’s been whittled down to $2.2 million or maybe even zero. Other pressing the imagined park to manage on Congress’ half million dollar promise alone.

I didn’t remember the budget battle being so contentious, so I went back to April 2019 editions of the Co-op City Times (issuu.com/cctimes) to see how big a ruckus was raised the last time HCR needed to approve our two-year budget.

On page 15 of the 4/6/19 issue, it was mentioned that HCR needed to approve the carrying charge increase. Then in issues 4/13 through 5/25/19, nothing.

No mention of hearings, complaints, or approval.

In the 6/1 issue, one director complained about the imminent increase. The 7/6 edition announced news of an 8/7 HCR carrying charge conference (which was attended by 14 shareholders, according to the 8/10 paper). Then the 8/17 edition announced the decision by HCR to raise our carrying charges by two 1.9% increases in 9/1/19 and 9/1/20.

That was the sum of the brouhaha in 2019.

Now please note the scheduled date of the implementation of the second 1.9% increase. We never got that increase on September 1, 2020. It was delayed because of the pandemic. And that’s how it got pushed into the 2021/2022 budget. So this

year we were actually arguing over virtually the same that year, in addition to agreeing to increase carrying charges by 1.9% two years in a row, we raised equity $1000 per room, and eliminated the garage attendant night shift.

That was also the year we spent a lot of money on the new garage entry system and the removal of the cement and steel beams on the garage roofs. So when garage and storage fee increases were voted down in 2019, I wrote: Seniors don’t use the Splish Splash, teens don’t eat JASA lunches, tots don’t shoot hoops. We all pay for each other’s quality of life, as we should in a co-operative. We do not, however, pay for each other’s additional, personal space — living, storage or parking.

Communal Expenses. We’re a cooperative, we all chip in for communal costs, but my garage space is not a communal expense. We pay for our own incidentals. I argued that in 2019 and again this year, that the entire community shouldn’t be burdened with any part of a carrying charge increase because I won’t tolerate paying for my own extras.

This year, while wrangling with the new budget, storage and parking fees were back on the table. They were minimally raised in April. And what did those increases get us? A lot. The 10% parking increases will yield $2 million over two years and the 25% to 40% storage increases add $766,800. You remember the formula? Every extra $1.8 million of money in avoids a 1% increase in carrying charges. Those increases and the increased $1000 equity averted the initially proposed 3.5% carrying charge increase.

(Well, not precisely. See * below.)

Let’s talk storage. The smallest sized closets – unavailable in comparable sizes in basement units or commercially – went up by 40% from $9.60 to $13.45 and from $16.00 to $22.40. I was in favor of raising all hall closet fees, and especially the medium and large ones, by at least 100% and raising the basement

spaces minimally or not at all. Why? Because we have a huge discrepancy between hall and basement unit rental prices.

For 24-hour-access hallway closets, the preincrease price of a 25 to 36 square foot unit was $20.

After the increase, those mid-size $20 units went up to $28. Comparable $45, $46, and $49 basement units went up to $56.25, $57.50, and $61.25, respectively.

Hmm. I do not call that closing the gap! In April, the rent of the smallest basement units (17 to 20 square feet) rose 25% from $41 to $51.25 and the largest basement units (64 to 65 square feet) went from $71 to $88.75. After the April increase, all of those basement prices are now approximately 2/3 of the cost of commercial storage.

Now what you might not know is that we have enormous Tower buildings. Each of those enormous closets is more than half the size of our bedrooms. (The carrying charge for a bedroom is currently $233.35.)

In April, the price for the 88 square foot hall closets increased by 40% from $24 to $33.60 and 105 square foot ones from $26 to $36.40.

So, the biggest 105 square foot hall closet now rents for $36.40 and a basement unit about half the size (49 to 51 square feet) costs $76.25. That’s half the size for double the price in the less convenient location.

Between Garages 2, 7, and 8, we have a regular space waiting list of 567. We have 1,396 cooperators waiting to rent a hall closet and 1,043 waiting for a basement storage unit (as of 3/16/21).

That’s why I lobbied and will continue to lobby for equitable pricing of our parking and storage space. If it encourages a cooperator to give up an under-utilized space because it’s just not worth the price?

Well, that’s the point. * Next time. Beating a Done Deal Dead Horse of a Budget: Part III. I can be reached by voice or text at 718-219-2211 or by email at mpearson@riverbayboard.com.

Bronx County Chorus Opens Rehearsals for Holiday Concert Bronx County Chorus proudly announces the start of rehearsals for its 82nd holiday concert. Social distancing and masks are required that uphold Covid-19 protocol requirements. Weekly rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings from 7:30 9:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church of Throggs Neck, located at 3075 Baisley Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461.

This season, the chorus is delighted to announce, and welcome, Mr. Tom Cuffari as music/choral director. Mr Cuffari is a former accompanist for BCC. He comes to BCC with a full resume and impressive musical teaching skills.

Mr. Cuffari will be leading the group through its 82nd anniversary celebration concerts.

Bronx County Chorus currently has openings in all sections and always welcomes talented singers, former chorus members to semi-professionals. Any singer interested in joining is welcome to visit rehearsals to meet the director

Building 32 Association Hello, fellow Co-operators!

Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day is upon us. This is a good opportunity to reconnect with the history of our great nation. Take time to observe and commemorate the season by expressing the spirit of exploration and discovery, while honoring the history and contributions of native peoples and their cultures. Try exploring any culture which may be new to you. Discover the history of America and all of its people.

If you plan to go to the Columbus Day Parade, please be careful. We of the Building 32 Association would love for you to have a fun, safe, and healthy experience. So, you know what that means: Mask up properly and try to social distance! And if you haven’t already, get vaccinated against Covid-19 so you can be ready to attend the Halloween and Thanksgiving Day Parades.

Closer to home, still no news on when the association will meet in person again. But stay tuned! We of the association pray for your good health and safety.

Therefore, we will continue to abide by Riverbay’s Covid-19 guidelines. In the meantime, put any ideas you may have for a better quality of life concerning Building 32 in the blue suggestion box on the wall inside the laundry room.

––Ezekiel Springer Jr.

and chorus members on the following date: Tuesday, Oct. 12.

A unique chorus within the area, Bronx County Chorus is proud to say that all featured soloists are actual members of the chorus. View the chorus’ Zoom productions of last spring 2021 and holiday season 2020 by searching YouTube for “Bronx County Chorus.”

The upcoming season will culminate the 82nd annual holiday concert. The For additional information, please call 718-3202790 or email using the email address given at www.BronxCountryChorus.org, and leave a detailed message that includes your contact information.

Bronx County Chorus is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on Legislature and administered by the Bronx Council on the Arts.

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

African American Association

Building 20 Association I hope all our Building 20 neighbors are safe and well.

Please be advised that there will be a Building 20 Association meeting on Thursday, October 21, at 5:00 p.m. under the building portico between sections A and B. In compliance with the Covid-19 mandate, please wear a mask. I look forward to seeing you.

––Darlene A. Keesley

Building 10 Association Greetings, fellow cooperators.

Breast Cancer Awareness –– October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Do a breast self-exam (men too!) and schedule a mammogram.

Halloween Candy Collection –– We will be accepting candy donations for Halloween from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. in the Building 10 Association room (located in the rear of Building 10B) on the following dates: Wednesday, Oct. 13, Oct. 20, and Oct. 27.

Vote –– Election Day is Nov. 2, 2021. The deadline to receive an absentee ballot application for the General Election via online portal, mail, email, or fax is Oct. 18, 2021. You may request an absentee ballot at https://vote. nyc/page/absentee-voting or you can call 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-8683692). Early, in-person voting begins Oct. 23, 2021. Visit https://vote.nyc for information on your early voting location.

If You See Something, Say Something –– For emergencies, call CCPD at 718-671-3050 and NYPD at 911. For non-emergencies, call 311.

Suicide Prevention –– If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or in emotional distress, the number to call for help in NYC is 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-8255.

Questions, Comments and Suggestions –– You can contact the Building 10 Association via email at Building10Assoc@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook of all the happenings in and around Building 10.

We wish all who are born in October an incredibly happy birthday.

To the homebound and sick, we wish you a speedy recovery. To all who have lost a loved one recently, we give our deepest condolences.

Have a great week.

––Jewel Crawford-Duncan

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October 8, from 7-8:30 p.m. Don’t forget every community is welcomed to join us for the continuation of our oath to community service and unity. We are not yet able to gather in our sacred space in Dreiser, Room 15, but we are carrying on virtually this year to become a member to receive invitational passcodes and links to be allowed to gather with us. Contact us using the information below.

AAACC Handmade Kenté-print Sashes are still available Our new and beautifully handmade AAACC Sashes adorned with fringe on the bottom are very few, but still available. Each member wore our AAACC Sashes last Friday. The sashes are $15 for members only. To purchase yours, contact us at 929430-3255. Or, email us at aaaccpower@gmail.com. Don’t wait; they are very limited.

Please Save these dates: Sunday, October 17, 3 p.m. – General Membership Meeting Sunday, November 21, 3 p.m. – General Membership Meeting Saturday, December 11, 3 p.m. – Annual Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration Join the African-American Association of Co-op City Become a member to be allowed entry into our gatherings. Platforms until the pandemic is completely over are presented via Zoom meetings and webinars. Remember: Membership is only $15/year for a single membership and only $25/year for your household. Email: aaaccpower@gmail.com or call 929-430-3255. The African American Association of Co-op City, P.O. Box 702, Co-op City Station, Bronx, NY 10475.

The African-American Association sponsors the following programs for your participation: (Contact respective instructors indicated below for updates) Belly Dance Classes with Xonia Wilson – Contact: Xonia, 646-301-9438 Evening Line Dance Classes with Cynthia Dixon – Contact: Cynthia, 917903-7073 Salsa Class with Keith Witherspoon – Contact: Keith, 917-561-6211 Yoga and Zumba Classes with Meena Sharpe-Hicks – Contact: Meena at 917-863-1507.

All of us divided by each one of us equals a force for good.

––Michelle Marbury

Accelerated Placement, Accepting Applications NOW!

FIRST 10 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR SIXTH GRADE WILL BE ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 30TH, 2021 !

For IMMEDIATE ENROLLMENT, email: info@equalitycs.org

COOPCITY_FF.indd 1

9/21/21 7:20 PM

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Caregivers Outreach Mentorship Empowerment

NAACP

Are You in Denial?

It is not easy to see your loved one with a decline in cognitive abilities. Perhaps you have struggled with situations such as these: “Dad has always been the strong force within the family. I would go to him and talk with him about anything. He was the one who taught me how to swim, play chess and drive a car. I cannot imagine that my dad can no longer drive his car, and at times cannot remember my name.”

Or maybe you have thought: “Mom has always been the one to keep the family bound together. I have always looked at my mom as a strong, independent, and wise woman. I used to love her cooking. She would make the most delicious cakes and cookies. I cannot imagine she cannot remember how to prepare a simple meal. She cannot remember that she speaks to me several times during the day. She is still driving but at times forgets where she parked her car.”

Have you made any of these statements? Have you taken on a wait-and-see attitude? Maybe you think: “Things are not that bad. It is just old age. My loved one is not hurting anyone. They will be ok.”

Why are you hesitating? Are you waiting for a telephone call from the police informing you that they found your loved one in another borough or state?

Mission Statement: Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

Thank you for the member participation on National Voter Registration Day, September 28, at the Einstein Community Center outside patio.

NAACP 85th N.Y. State Conference Convention will be held virtually October 8-9, 2021. Registration is required and the fee is $30.

Early Voting Dates: Oct. 23-31, 2021 and Election Day is November 2, 2021.

Now is the time to educate judges representing our community. Be prepared to vote and vote! We Matter!

The 2021 Ballot Measures are: Proposal 1 – Redistricting: Makes changes to the redistricting process in New York. Proposal 2 – Environment: Creates a state constitutional right to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment.

Proposal 3 – Elections: Authorizes the legislature to pass a law for same-dayvoter registration. Proposal 4 – Elections: Authorizes the legislature to pass a law for no-excuse absentee voting. Proposal 5 – Judiciary: Increases the NYC Civil Court’s jurisdiction from civil cases involving $25,000 to $50,000.

We’ve partnered with vote.org to make sure no eligible voter gets left behind.

Visit naacp.org/vote to: register to vote, check your voter registration status, and to contact your Senators and demand they protect voting rights.

“Our power lies within our vote, and we become even greater when we put our collective power together at the polls.” ––Derrick Johnson, President & CEO We Need You In The Fight: Each and every NAACP member makes a difference to the complex, ongoing work of advancing racial equality. We have driven the hardest-fought wins for civil rights and social justice. With you by our side, we can accelerate the next milestones for Black Americans. Join this multigenerational network of activists dismantling structural racism by using your power to take action on the most pressing issues of our time.

To follow NAACP’s Trending Topics, go to: NAACP.ORG. To become a member or gift a membership: Adult, $30; Youth ,$10. Make check/money order payable to: NAACP Co-op City #2210 and mail to: N.A.A.C.P. Co-op City, Einstein Station, PO Box 75-3111, Bronx, N.Y. 10475.

(Life Membership checks can be mailed.) nancial contribution in any amount, we thank you in advance for helping the NAACP advocate for a more just and equal America.

––Brenda Brown

waiting for your loved one to tell you that someone has taken their car? Are you waiting for a stranger to notice that your loved one is confused and follow them home or, even worst, brought them to an ATM? Are you waiting for a call from a neighbor to report that your loved one is outdoors in their pajamas looking for their deceased husband or wife?

Just because you do not acknowledge an issue, it does not mean that it is not present. It is not easy to see a loved one steadily losing the ability to function as usual. Understandably, addressing the issue will force you to deal with your thoughts, feelings, fears, and limitations. There will be decisions, choices, decisions that will impact both you and your loved one’s lives. concerns. Know that dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is not always the cause Join us on Thursday, October 21, for our 45-minute informational session.

Topic: Keeping it simple, 10 alerts signs of Alzheimer’s. RSVP online at www. comeoutreach.org.

––Diane Cooper

Hey New Yorkers!

VOTE! EARLY! With nine days of Early Voting from Oct. 23–31, every New Yorker can find their perfect time to cast their ballot.

ON THE BALLOT • • • • •

Find out where, when and how at findmypollsite.vote.nyc

Mayor Public Advocate Comptroller Borough President City Council

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021 Director’s Viewpoint –

Daryl Johnson

A Complete Waste of Money There’s a lot of talk going on about creating a waterfront park along Co-op City Boulevard.

And, unfortunately, some people are doing everything possible to get this community to support spending our money on this park.

Co-op City Waterfront Park – A Waste of Money There are several issues about creating a supposed waterfront park along Co-op City Boulevard. So, let’s use some common sense so that everyone can see exdon’t have enough money to pay for a waterfront park.

Regardless, some people are doing their best to convince our cooperators that we need annual carrying charge increases to pay for a lot of nonsense that goes on here. Furthermore, some people are doing everything possible to get our cooperators to believe that we and use this waterfront park as an excuse for a needed project. However, this idea doesn’t make any sense to me because this park will not generate any money.

So, why are some people pushing this waterfront park onto this community? Ego? Bragging rights? What million on a worthless park? Exercise? Look, we have some limited exercise equipment on our greenway.

Therefore, we can ask our politicians for some money so that we can put some more outdoor exercise equipment on our greenway. Then, our cooperators can do some real exercises for their entire body. Now, will this outdoor exercise equipment cost anywhere Currently, some people have decided to play games with the overall cost of this park. So, they’re throwing out numbers so that cooperators will think ment published a statement in this paper that the park will be spread out over several years. Therefore, do

not accept a foolish argument that this park will cost Now, yes, some politicians might make a pledge to donate money towards this park. However, do we pledges to this community and they never sent any pledged money, then why would we even dream of lion? Therefore, do not make any deductions because way, can you see the foolishness that’s going on here?

Waterfront Park Features Some cooperators have asked me about the proposed features for this waterfront park. So, let’s make this answer easy by thinking that we’re walking from Bay Plaza onto Co-op City Boulevard, near the power plant.

Then, we’ll see the following major items as we continue walking along Co-op City Boulevard until we access area, a lounge area, an amphitheater, a picnic/ stage pavilion, a table tennis area, a tennis court, and a storage pavilion area.

Now, think, do you honestly think that we need to fore, can you see how our money is simply being thrown away? By the way, can you imagine what might happen to several children if they put a paddle boat access area in this park? Think, who would ever put an access point to a large body of water in a this paddle boat access area must be removed from this so-called park.

Waterfront Park Permits and Regulations You should now have a good idea about the layout of this park. So, let’s review a few things that Riverbay will have to do to create this park. However, please keep

in mind that we’re dealing with protected land on our side of Co-op City Boulevard and across the water. So, other issues can arise as time goes on with this project.

Anyway, here are some of the permits that we’ll Corps of Engineers permits, a NYC Small Business Services permit, and the NYC Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit.

Here are just some of the complicated reviews that we’ll have to deal with for this project. However, please keep in mind that other agencies might want to join in when they hear about this project. So, for now, here are some of the reviews that will be needed Policy Act or a State Environmental Quality Review Act or a City Environmental Quality Review. Also, we’ll have to get a NYC Waterfront Revitalization Program Consistency Assessment.

Waterfront Park – Is it Worth it?

As you know, Riverbay is going to issue another inmillion. Then, they will have the money to create this park. However, do you really think that we need to spend a lot of money just to create a park here?

Close mortgage to partially pay for this park?

Thank you.

Contact Information Please do not send a letter to me at this time. Howriverbayboard.com. you 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.

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Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Building 13 Association

National Council of Negro Women Membership –Welcome to the second meeting of our new year of sisterhood! Our next membership meeting will be tomorrow, Sunday, October 10, at 3 p.m. by Zoom. Non-members, does this sound like an organization that you would like to be involved with? If so, we meet the second Sunday of each month from September until June except for May when we meet on the third Sunday. We’d love to have you come check us out! Our national dues are $50 per year for women and men and must be paid only to the national website, NCNW.org. Our section dues are $25 per year for women and men.

Section dues may still be paid by check or PayPal. We have a PayPal link to make payments and donations convenient by logging into PayPal and entering to complete your payment. National and section dues must be paid to formation, contact .

Youth Section – We are seeking young girls that was recently chartered. The goal of our Youth Section is to provide a community-based group that will prepare our young ladies for leadership roles in school and the community. There will be workshops to develop a strong sense of self, improve lifeskills and social skills. The Youth Section will meet monthly to foster a bond and have discussions on topics relevant to our young ladies. Thank you to all of the young ladies who joined our informational meetings in June and September. The next virtual

meeting will take place today Saturday, October 9, interested in membership, please email us at ncnw.

Health Committee – City Section will be walking again this year in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against interested in joining our team for a wonderful day of fellowship and this great cause, please email us at . We will be wearing matching shirts and hats to represent NCNW Co-op City Section!

Are you interested in joining our NCNW Co-op City Section GIRL TREK Crew as we walk on Sisterhood Saturdays? We walk to improve our physical as well as mental health beginning at 9 a.m. sharp. The mission of GIRL TREK is to save Black women’s lives through walking and socialstill disproportionately impacting our Black communities. Our GIRL TREK Crew safely walks together on Saturday mornings, weather permitting, ors! Please email for more information.

Social Media – Facebook Twitter: Instagram: NCNW Co-op City .

––Joyce Howard

Broun Place Townhouse Association Good day, neighbors. There are many activities in our area to participate in if we follow safe and protective protocols like mask wearing, those eligible to get your vaccines, carry hand sanitizer and protective gloves, too. Movies, children’s jump places like in New Roc or Bay Plaza, are open. They require your complying with rules that are set up for your well-being.

The scooter discussion must continue. Seeing parked scooters all over the place is not safe. Broun Place Association has written Councilperson Kevin Riley regarding this problem. Compliments to the two cooperators who voiced their concern and were published in the Co-op City Times a few weeks ago. One wrote a letter, the other sent photos. People have talked to me saying it is a hazardous and unsafe experiment in Co-op City. The scooters get left next to the basketball court and one day I counted four on Bellamy Currently, they are dropped anywhere. We have two or three companies participating in the trial program.

It is a city issue so thanks to a good friend, I complained to City Councilman Kevin Riley. I will also call 311 to lodge a complaint.

Now, it is about vaccines. Many kinds are required, and they have been part of our lives forever. These long-time vaccines like Pneumonia, Measles, Whooping Cough have been tested and approved. Most of us accept, understand, they protect us all and guess what? Tests and the collected data show so does the ization. Your personal freedom is not at stake, help us all. enue going north near the motel, Section 5 exiting I-95 into Section 5, under the bridge that enters I-95 be done! The truckers are creating a horrible deposit of waste. Contact Jamaal Bowman, Jamaal Bailey and Michael Benedetto about this. Show you care and get involved.

Regarding recycling, discarded furniture belongs on the dumpster pad, not in a bin. Tables, chairs, accessories, lamps and carpeting, too. Mattresses should be covered. However, plastic shelving is not furniture and belongs in the sanitation bin. the Riverbay RUOK Emergency contact programs. This is critical for those livand only available in an emergency.

Good luck and good health to all our bright young stars just starting school.

Broun Place Association extends sincere condolences to the Limmel family, long-time Building 1 cooperators. Please submit your tidings to us. Keep dancing and better days are ahead! Wakanda forever!

––Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar

If you SEE something, SAY SOMETHING! 718-671-3050 - Co-op City Public Safety

According to recent reports, the virus that most are becoming ill with is the fast spreading, easily transmittable Delta virus. Please make sure to wear your mask, wash your hands and follow all recommended guidelines.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for those who are survivors, say a prayer for those we have lost, make sure to have your annual breast exam. On Saturday, October 16, the Bronx District

the Grand Concourse.

Halloween is around the corner. We want to continue our tradition of having fun seeing the costumes and offering the youth (and sometimes adults) fun treats. If you are interested in assisting on October 31, 2021, please contact our vice president, Wendell Mattison, and let him know. Additional details will be discussed at a later date.

The exterminators did come back and place traps in the grassy area by the ramps. I will be following plan is for some of the other items we discussed at the Section 2 meeting.

If you want to receive information to our virtual meetings, it is easier to log on with the link, so make sure the association has your e-mail address. There are so many things going on in our section we want to make sure we keep our neighbors up to date and provide them an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers.

Reminder: Election Day is on November 2, 2021. Early voting in-person is from October 23 October 31, 2021. Make sure you are registered. If you moved here recently, make sure your information is up to date. If you need to request an application to vote, the request must be postmarked by an absentee ballot if that is how you will be voting (if you haven’t already. An absentee ballot must be In Need Payment Assistance? Time is running out. Contact Bronx Rental Assistance Network at Intercultural Affairs, Inc.,

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CCPD or our CSO-Property Manager.

have events, you can contact Gail Sharbaan, treaour team.

––Leslie Peterson

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16

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021 Director’s Viewpoint –

Leslie Peterson

“Community of Interest” Most people are reading and listening and commenting on what they see going on in Georgia and Texas (with other states to follow) when it comes to voting rights. Are you paying attention to the potential for this to happen in our own backyard? Redistricting to some, aka Gerrymandering to others.

Gerrymandering is the practice of setting boundinterests within legislative bodies, often resulting in districts with strange boundaries rather than compact areas. We want our District to remain a contiguous group with common interests. The purpose of a 1982 amendment to the Voting Rights Bill prohibited the violation of voting rights by any practices that discriminated based on race, regardless of whether the practices had been adopted with the intent to discriminate or not.

This protected us from being made obscure because we are placed in a district where there are different socio-economic interests that ultimately dominate and ignore our interests. The draft map the Redistricting Commission has proposed on their site based on their data and graphs will reduce our votes by 10% and adjoin us with communities whose interests differ.

Every ten years, redistricting takes place corresince the amendment was passed in 2014 the Independent Commission is reaching out to the public for their input.

Co-op City has always had a reputation for being a strong voting bloc. This designation allowed us the ability to have our shared interests addressed.

Common interests, racial and ethnic similarities and common histories and cultures are the ties that bind us together and make up this “Community of Interest.” It is important we stay on top of and keep abreast of the changes being made so our strength is not diminished.

Acknowledging our diversity continues to make us a strong community. Over the years, we have friendships with our neighboring community mem-

bers thus solidifying our Community of Interest. We are members of a solid District and we don’t want our District broken up in pieces whereby our voices are inconsequential and our needs and concerns not addressed.

Coming Soon – Public Hearings. TO PARTICIPATE in PERSON or by MAIL: You can log on to the New York State Independent Redistrict2020 Census and how it affects the Bronx and, in particular, Co-op City.

The Bronx County redistricting meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 3:00 p.m. at the BronxWorks Gymnasium located at 1130 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10456. Note: Sign up ends at 3:00 p.m., November 7, 2021. Comments can be submitted by email or mail. Mail your comments to: Independent Redistricting Commission, 250 Broadway, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10007.

The New York State Independent Redistricting Commission members are in some ways the arbiters tation in the legislature. This being the case, I will urge the IRC to let our District remain whole as it is, a District consisting of people with a common set of concerns and interests that will be affected by legislation. We want to have a say in the process.

Remember: Keeping communities of interest together is an important principle in redistricting so we now have a say in the matter. If we don’t speak up, those who may not have our best interest in mind “Each house district should be formed of contiguous and compact territory containing as nearly as practicable a relatively integrated socio-economic area.” This should be our goal, keep our “Community of Interest unchanged…untouched.

Waterfront Park: We watch pundits on television all the time who discuss a single topic and give different variations. At the meeting with HCR, a shareholder asked a single question, “Just answer this one question,” she said. “Tell me, is the waterfront part of teh 2% increase?” HCR didn’t answer however they deferred to Management and the an-

swer was a simple “YES.” This budget is year 1 the next budget, year 3 (‘23/24), has $4M for the waterfront park and year 4 (‘24/25) has another $4M for the waterfront park. You do the math.

Committees will begin to meet this month, some in-person and some virtual. I hope that shareholders are participating as an alternative to mentioning their concerns on a social media page. This is your opportunity to offer solutions at these meetings. A contentious conversation I often encounter is the annoyance over the inability to reach anyone via phone. This is upsetting for many. I recently followed a prompt and was asked to leave a message.

That was on September 28, 2021. As of this writing, October 4, 2021, I have not received a return call.

This is what our shareholders are experiencing, not acceptable.

Reminder: Election Day is on November 2, 2021. Early voting in-person is from October 23 October 31, 2021. Make sure you are registered. If you moved here recently, make sure your information is up-to-date. If you need to request an application to vote, the request must be postmarked by October 8, 2021. In October, make sure to request an absentee ballot if that is how you will be voting (if you haven’t already). An absentee ballot must be postmarked seven (7) days before the election.

“When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have the courage to standalone and be counted.” –Eleanor Roosevelt I am pleased to be of service to the community.

I can be reached by e-mail at lpeterson@riverbayboard.com.

Building 25 Association Pet owners, please be aware, according to the following article printed by the Animal Medical Center Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education, article says: “Raccoons across New York City are getting a healthy addition to their usual garbage diet, NYC, rabies is most often found in raccoons, but the deadly disease can be transmitted to other mammals, including people and pets. Through October 9, the NYC Department of Health is teaming up with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to vaccinate raccoons using an oral rabies vaccine. The

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for concern. It isn’t harmful to dogs or cats, although your pet may vomit if they eat too many of them.”

Remembering our Hispanic neighbors and celebrating National Hispanic American Heritage Month while it runs from September 15 through October 15.

We wish all neighbors born in October a happy birthday, and for those of you who are under the weather, we hope you get better soon.

Our next virtual building association meeting will be held on Tues., Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Look out for detailed log-in or call-in informational notices posted near elevators as we get closer to the meeting date. Remember, residents of Building 25 can always address any comments or concerns by logging onto our building email address at building25ca@ gmail.com. If anyone has problems accessing the building email address, please let us know.

Closing with the following: “Animals are such no criticisms.” –– George Elliot ––Wanda Bailey

17

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Section 4 Partnership Come and Learn to Zoom in our S4P Zoom Class We must “all” (in every section and every building) show up for our building associations and committees. We may be on Zoom or Webex or other modes of Video Conferencing, but that is no excuse not to show up.

It’s even more of a reason to attend because you don’t even have to leave your home… You can’t beat that commute…We have the means to stay connected, through a pandemic. We’ll show you how. Take advantage of it! Let’s get it done!

Date Change, Save The Date… We will convene a meeting of the Section 4 Partnership and interested shareholders on Monday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m.

The contact codes and link to attend the meeting will be emailed to each building association president.

Contact your respective building president if we do not have your email address. The topic: Zoom workshop… Learn how it works… Learn how to work it…

About the Section 4 Partnership The Section 4 Partnership is comprised of every building in Co-op City that makes up the sectional geographic which is referred to as Co-op City’s Section 4 (i.e., Building 20 – Asch Loop, Building 21 – Bellamy Loop, Building 22 – Co-op City Boulevard, Buildings 23, 24, 25 – Benchley Place, the Adler Place Townhouses, and the Broun Place Townhouses. Come and get involved. Email: section4partnership@gmail.com. Phone: 347-915-4939.

50th Anniversary T-Shirts Many buildings are celebrating 50 years. We have 50th Anniversary t-shirts. The shirts are beautiful and on sale now with the Section 4 Partnership logo on

the back. You’ll be proud to wear it. If you would like one, contact us by emailing: section4partnership@ gmail.com or phone: 347-915-4939.

Be safe and well The Section 4 Partnership of Co-op City wishes you and yours a Happy Hispanic Heritage Month through October. Everyone be happy, healthy, safe and well.

“All of us” divided by “Each one of us” equals a force for good.

––Michelle Marbury

Pentecostal Tabernacle The Pentecostal Tabernacle invites you to Worship Service every Sunday morning at 100 Co-op City Blvd., Bronx, N.Y. 10475.

Sunday service begins at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Prayer and fasting service will be held every Wednesday morning from 11 a.m.-Noon.

Bible study and prayer meeting will also be held Wednesday evening starting at 7:30 p.m.

Worship service every Fri. evening at 7:30 p.m.

All services are held online. To join, call 720740-9746, Access code: 8876631.

Focus: Love And Duty – Rachel And Leah And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. –Deuteronomy 10;12 (Genesis 29:16-26) And Laban had two daughters the name of the elder Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

And Laban said, it is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had for her. And Jacob said unto Laban, give me unto her, And Laban gather all the men of the place and made a feast. And it came pass in the evening that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her.

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for a handmaid.

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, what is this that thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve thee for Rachel?

Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

And Laban said it must not be so done in our Rachel represents Marriage of Love and Leah represents Marriage of Duty Jacob’s marriage, the marriage with Leah had been arranged through deception; the one with Rachel materialized through love. Rachel was deeply loved

by Jacob and there was a desperate longing in his heart to take her for his wife. Therefore, he was willing to serve his uncle for seven years to get Rachel. However, after Jacob served for seven years to question Laban by asking what is this that thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve thee for Rachel?

Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? –Genesis 29:25 When Jacob requested an answer, he was given a lame excuse that it was the custom of the land.

Leah was not loved by Jacob, but she was ––Rev. R. Sibblies

18

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021 Director’s Viewpoint –

Rod Saunders

The Bottom Line Last week, members of my immediate family traveled down to North Carolina to attend services for our son-in-law, who, as hundreds of thousands of Americans have, succumbed to complications arising from the COVID-19 Virus.

While this is a personal experience, I want to emphasize that he was only 35 years old. He fought long and hard to overcome the COVID-19 infection that took his life.

I know that I am speaking for a lot of cooperators who have lost a family member, close relative, or friend when I say that the impact of his loss will be felt for years to come.

Bottom line: If not for yourself, please consider those close to you – please get yourself vaccinated if you have not already done so. If you have, and meet Booster shot, please consider doing so.

Resurvey the Shareholders It’s time to simplify the discussion, and stop with the percentage numbers. Shareholders responded to a pre-Pandemic survey for the development of a proposed Waterfront Park. The survey taken in March 2020 did not represent the majority of the approximately 15,150 occupied apartments, nor, as far as I am concerned, was it representative of what shareholders’ response would have been during this horrible Pandemic, and the continuing uncertain economic times.

The solution is not that complicated. Resurvey the shareholders!

Do it in the November carrying charge statement and ask the following question(s): “Do you want to have a proposed Waterfront Park,” and “Would you be willing to pay ‘any’ increase in your carrying charges to pay for the development of a proposed multi-million-dollar Waterfront Park?” Simple and straight forward, and now the majority of the shareholders know more about what’s actually being asked of them.

Last point for right now. In my last viewpoint, I referenced Resolution# 20-02. Why is that resolution not being mentioned, when it preceded Resolution#

20-27, which became an Emergency Resolution?

Median Income In last week’s edition of the Co-op City Times, there was a reference to the median income here in Co-op City rising some 20% above what it was in show that the median income levels rose during the height of the Pandemic, which is absolutely true. I believe that the point to be made there is that the the community can “afford” an increase now, despite the vast majority of economic woes and uncertainty shared by many cooperators.

What’s not being considered in the reference to the median income increase is the incredible number of Co-op City. The increase in the median income was due to the majority of families, to the tremendous amount of overtime that many of our residents were “forced” to work.

Further, the so-called median income level increase is based upon the families’ “gross” income, and not the adjusted (or actual monies) income that was brought into the home. The average employee is being taxed (including union dues & medical) at least 35% of their gross income, which then adjusts payroll system is set for the annual salary, therefore may have created a situation which caused many to have to pay back money to the government.

I believe the 20% increase in the median income does not necessarily represent the number of individuals within the apartment currently contributing to that income, whose actual salaries fall far below the median income levels. Most of these families who made more in overtime, may not have found it to be take into account expenditures such as for school and/ or college tuition, intake of older parents with their limited incomes, or medical expenses. The 2020 overtime due to the pandemic will undoubtedly change, because the 2020 take home pay for so many of the

with their actual annual salaries. Some cooperators were making more, however the net income might have been actually less! essential workers who worked a lot of overtime is their carrying charges probably went up, so many cooperators are actually paying more now, but their monthly salaries have, in all likelihood, gone back to their original salary incomes.

DHCR Carrying Charge Conference Comments What I heard during the DHCR Carrying Charge Conference were comments had a lot more to do with other issues that cooperators felt that the Board and Management were not addressing. I heard cooperators discuss the fact that they had seen our garage attendants and our lobby attendants removed from their posts, that the convector leaks were not being responded to adequately, and that the Call Center/ Maintenance Dept.’s handling of their situations needed to be addressed before a 2% increase should be considered. These are legitimate concerns.

Bottom Line My understanding of the community right now is tangible items that we all expect to have here: Item 1. Maintenance can be reached, calls can be addressed, appointments can be made in a timely Item 2. That we work to expedite a more pro-acItem 3. That cooperators have more inclusion in the Board’s decision making, via open Board meetings.

I have repeatedly asked the Board President for a special Board session to address cooperators’ concerns regarding the Call Center/Maintenance Dept.

I’ll continue to do so, until we get it done.

Once again, thank you for reading my viewpoint, and remember, I can be reached at: rsaunders@ riverbayboard.com.

Goose Island Seniors

AARP Chapter #4997

Wind Creek (Sands) Casino – Tuesday, October 19, in Bethlehem, PA. Price: $45, bonus $30 slot play; $45 for reservation. Call 347-847-1941 or (347) 847-1941. All passengers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Buses will make our usual three stops, leaving Einstein Loop at 8 a.m., pick up at Asch Loop at 8:15 a.m. and Dreiser Loop at 8:30 a.m.

Sight & Sound TV “Voices of Christmas” 8 p.m., come and watch Sight and Sound TV with us at 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39. All are welcome. First 60 people only. Must show proof of vaccination and mask required; $5 donation per person. Free snacks.

Nordic Lodge/Mohegan Sun Casino – Saturday, November 13, in Charlestown, RI. Price: $168. Buffet, all you can eat lobster and more. After dining, spend three hours in casino. There is no bonus for casino. Buses will make our usual three stops leaving Einstein at 8 a.m. Deposit of $80 to reserve seat on bus. Full payment due by November 3. Call (718) 379-9613 or (347) 847-1941. Proof of vaccination and mask required.

Holiday Party – Friday, December 10, at 1 p.m. in the Section 5 Community Center, 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39. Members only. Members may bring a friend. Let us celebrate the holidays. Covered dish. Bring a pot of your favorite dish, salad, dessert or beverage; $5 donation if no food donation. Must show proof of vaccination and mask required.

Bingo – Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1:15 p.m. Admission: $5 for three cards, 12 games and jackpot. Extra cards are $0.25 each, for up to three cards. Refreshments. Proof of vaccination and mask required. Temperature taken at entrance. Members only. All are welcome to Sunday bingo on October 24. Become a member for $20/yr.

50th Anniversary Trip to Villa Roma, 2022 – Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 7:30 a.m. Coffee, luncheon, line-dancing Doo-Wop show, bingo and day of fun, all for $92; $40 deposit to reserve seat. Call (718) 379-9613 or text (347)-847-1941.

To all members – Happy birthday to all members who celebrate their birthday in the month

From the Desk of President Mickens: Greetings to all members and friends and especially to October 2021. This weather has been a refreshing change of pace and sees us in a better light for the organization and the community. Our government is still having trouble passing sweeping changes as outlined in President Biden’s original plan, but we must remain

Edward Delgado, Eleanor Alberti, Wilhelmina Thomas, Edith Rosado and Javier Santiago.

Sick and Shut-in – Yolanda Jones and Edna Trujillo, get well soon. We miss you. Mary Pilla, former Goose Island president, misses everyone and sends her love to all. Call (718) 753-1816.

Our club is at Section 5 Center, 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39, Bronx, NY 10475; phone number is (718) 379-9613. We are open. You may call (mornings) Mon. - Fri., 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

(Evenings) Tue. & Thu., 1 p.m.-6 p.m., and Mon., Wed. and Fri., 6 p.m.-8 p.m., or call/text Stephen, (347) 847-1941. Our email address is goose.island@optonline.net.

––Stephen Roberts, Sr.

to show your support. We cannot afford to lose any ground that we have gained in the past.

AARP National Organization is still not comfortable with in-person meetings due to the social distancing, safety issues and mask mandates.

We will have our next General Membership meeting by Zoom; the link will follow in future articles. We are assembling a nominating committee for our General Election in early 2022. I encourage all members to apply, new or old, for the committee. All positions are open and new members are really needed to show more open-minded views for future. Please contact me at 718-379-3742 for additional information. Ms. Stella Baker, our membership contact, can be reached at 718379-2088 to enroll or renew your membership. Mrs. Frances Wilson, Welfare contact, has experienced another good week with no unlucky news or updates. We pray that our members and families who were under the weather are continuing to improve. Contact Mrs. Wilson at 718-671-5493 with any information you wish to share.

Our Travel Committee is interested in getting some numbers on “Who would be interested in a cruise?” This would be later in 2022 and it is a thought. Call any of the three numbers in this article to share your opinion.

Be safe, be well, be alert and get your booster, if allowed.

We are going to be on the better side of this dilemma sooner rather than later.

––Ann Purnell

Bartow

Wed., Oct. 13

Tues., Oct. 12

Mon., Oct. 11

Room 31 unless otherwise noted

Arthritis Exercise Class w/Damion every Mon. in the Bartow Courtyard 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Walk w/Odessa 9-10 a.m.

Meeting Place by the Library on Asch Loop

Bereavement Group 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month 12-1 p.m.

Must call or email to register: 929-399-1387 Stay Well Exercise w/Odessa, 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Bartow Senior Center Courtyard

Einstein

Room 49 unless otherwise noted

Line Dance w/Ellie 10-11 a.m.

Meeting Place by the Jungle Gym @ Einstein Loop, left of Erdman Place

Arts w/Laura 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (via Zoom and Phone) Must call or email to register: 929-399-1387

Computer Literacy Zoom Class w/Julesa Grimes 1 p.m.

To register, please email jgrimes@ jasa.org; 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13 & 10/20 Bodies in Motion w/ Ola 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 912 6304 7892; Passcode: 237257; Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099 Game Day 1-2 p.m.

Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 910 4221 6993; Passcode: 7A5RaD Mobile: 1-929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 910 4221 6993

MENU

Dreiser

Room 7 unless otherwise noted

Alternate Kosher Meals are also available

Kosher

Non-Kosher

Rib Eye Roast Mashed Potatoes Steamed Carrots Whole wheat bread Fresh fruit & Juice

Apricot-Glazed Pork Chops Baked Potatoes Steamed Spinach

Zumba w/Ola, 1-2 p.m.

Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 992 Cheese manicotti California Blend 3169 6108; Passcode: 503637; Vegetables Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099 Whole wheat Computer learning Zoom meeting w/Ralph is now Tues., 6 p.m. bread Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 936 Fresh fruit & 8132 9040, Passcode: 259554; Juice Dial-in: 929-205-6609

Chicken Marsala Cous Cous Italian Blend Vegetables

Chair Yoga w/ Charles Tyler Time: 10-11 a.m.

Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 995 6534 1173, Passcode: 855423

Weight Mgt. Support Group w/ Gigi – 2nd Wed. of the month, 1-2 p.m. Conference call: 929299-1045, Passcode: 1386 BINGO Time: 1 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting: Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 828 4139 6474; Passcode: 194662; Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099

Egyptian Meat Balls Basmati Mixed Vegetables Whole wheat bread Fresh fruit & Juice

Beef Meatballs w/Sofrito Whole Wheat Spaghetti Baby Carrots w/ Parsley

Poached Salmon Baked Sweet Potato Normandy Blend Vegetables Whole wheat bread Fresh fruit & Juice

Baked Breaded Fish Barley Steamed Green Breans

Fri., Oct. 15

Thurs., Oct. 14

Passcode: 59849 Arts with Laura 10 a.m.-12 p.m. via Zoom and phone

Arthritis Exercise Class w/ Smartphone/Tablet Class w/ Damion, every Thurs., 1-2 Ralph, 1-2 p.m. Call main of- p.m. Zoom meeting ID: 986 fice, 718-320-2066, to regis- 0021 6442, Passcode: 573762 ter. Please give your phone # & email address (NORC) Aerobic Classes every Fri., 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 986 8235 8691; Passcode: 849150; Mobile: 929-205-6099 Line Dance w/Cynthia in the Basketball Court, corner of Asch Loop & Alcott Place, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

ZUMBA with Ola 1-2 p.m.

Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 967 1196 0602; Passcode: 526096; Dial-in #: 1-929-2056099

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.

Please call 718-320-2066 for an appointment. on Thurs. at the JASA

Line Dancing w/Ellie Thurs., 11 a.m.-12 p.m. @ the Section 1 Greenway Stage. For more information, please call 718320-1345 MUST WEAR MASKS AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Acceptance Meditation with Paola Friday, July 23, 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Zoom.us Login: Meeting ID: 442 136 6695; One Tap Mobile: 929205-6099

Sweet & Sour Chicken Toasted Egg Barley Vegetarian Chili w/Fried Onion Baked Brown Rice California Blend Broccoli w/ Vegetables Toasted Garlic Whole Wheat Bread Fresh fruit

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

11

p.m. by appointment only. Call 718-320-2066 for an appointment. for all three JASA Senior

Einstein Senior Centers presents “Know What’s

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an email to

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718-320-2066.

Are you interest-

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20

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City The synagogue will be serving a hot kiddush meal after Sabbath morning services. Saturday Morning Services will start at 10 a.m. The requirement for wearing a mask and social distancing will be strictly enforced during all synagogue services.

General Information – The Traditional Synagogue located in Section 5, 120 Erdman Place in the rear lobhandicap accessible, no steps. Phone #: 718-379-6920. p.m.

The synagogue has a Facebook page, Traditional Synagogue. 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 on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 7:17 p.m.

Candle Lighting for Friday, Oct. 15, at 5:55 p.m.

Good and Welfare – or Memory of a loved one. The cost is only $15.00 per tree (If you want to buy a tree, call 347-449-5005). Mazel Tov to all having simchas. If you’re ill, wishing you good health. If you asked the Rabbi to say prayers for a sick person, you should make your donation to the synagogue.

To All members – Happy Birthday to our Rabbi Daniel Kronengold, and our members Marilyn Sherman, Bruce Gitelson and all other members who will be celebrating their birthday in October. For those members celebrating their birthday/anniversary in October, please send me your names and I will add you to the list.

Fun and Games – After services and kiddush, members play games. Your support for the Traditional Synagogue is greatly appreciated. Wishing all our members and friends peace and good health.

––Bruce Gitelson

Retirees of Dreiser Loop Meeting: The Retirees’ General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13, at 1 p.m., Section 1 Greenway. Board Director Kevin Lambright will be our guest speaker. He will expound on redistricting and what we can do to prevent this in our community. Please attend this important meeting.

Marina del Rey: Annual Holiday luncheon, December 16. To purchase tickets, contact Daisy Young, 718-671-6122; Beverly Waller, 718-6712978; Jay McKenzie, 201-310-2972. Proof of vaccination is required. Beginning every Tuesday, October 12, and Thursdays, October 14, for the next month, the Entertainment Committee will be in the Retirees’ Room 19 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. to purchase your tickets, leave a deposit or add your name to the guest list. More details will be provided at the General Meeting on October 13. Please make every effort to attend.

Scholarship Fund: Applications for 2021

Academic year are due October 16. Please submit completed applications via mail slot box in Room 19 at 177 Dreiser Loop. If you have any questions, contact Dorothy Byrd, 646-842-2458. You may also scan a copy to dchambersny@aol.com.

Plant Power Metro New York: Reminder, for those interested in the Plant-based classes, registration is required for the Power of Food for Healthy Aging, Oct. 14-Nov. 4, 1-3 p.m.; the Power of Food for Cancer Prevention and Survivorship, 1-3 p.m., November 9-30. Please contact 646-946-1252 or 646-982-8254. Also check your email from the president for additional registration information.

Membership: Dues are still being accepted for 2021 membership. Contact the president.

Encouragement: “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us.” –Romans 8:31 ––Dorothy Chambers-Byrd

Iglesia Evangelica MU de Co-op City Co-op City United Methodist Church 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 UMCC is a Bible-centered congregation with portunities 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.

In-person 10 a.m. Bilingual Sunday service is held at the church. Also viewed via Facebook and Zoom: Tuesday: 12 p.m. (Spanish) and 7 p.m. (English) Sunday School: 8 a.m. (English) 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

21

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Newsong Church When you pray (Jesus said) 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. –Matthew 6:6 (NIV) As a follower of Jesus, I love to read His Words, and yet I’m so challenged by them. There’s no doubt that Jesus expects His disciples to pray, that’s why He lieve in the necessity and the power of prayer, and yet most of the time I’m less you, He desires to talk to you, and you can start talking to Him, anytime and anywhere. Don’t worry about the prayers you haven’t prayed and start focusing on what you can start praying today! That’s what we’re doing.

Every October, we take time as a church to disconnect from the world and its distractions and re-connect with God through the disciplines of prayer and fasting.

I would like to invite you to join us! If you’ve never taken time to participate in to get you going. I’ve never met a person who regretted getting closer to Jesus, but I’ve met many people who regret drifting away from Him. Prayer connects us to God, and one thing I know for sure, we all have room to grow in our relationship with Him! This is why I think you’ll love our new sermon series called you’ve never been to Newsong Church, here’s some helpful info: Where is Newsong located? 135 Einstein Loop (upstairs) *Registration and face coverings required. You can pre-register on our website, www.newsongchurchnyc.org What time?

What should I wear? Dress comfortably and casually What about the kids? We have an amazing children’s ministry called Kidsong, where your child will have fun and learn about Jesus!

How long is the service? About 90 minutes Can I attend if I’m ________? Fill in the blank with whatever fear you have about not being accepted: divorced, a single parent, broke, an addict, a skeptic, etc. Everyone is welcome at Newsong!

For more information about our Sunday Worship experience, call us at 718-708-8385.

Newsong Church: Loving God, Loving Other’s, and Serving our community!

–– Pastor Mike Tolone

Church of the New Vision The Church of the New Vision and its pastors, Kenneth and Deborah Hodge, welcome you to worship with us.

There will be one service at 11 a.m. and Sunday School will be held from 9 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 p.m.

Our Wednesday Night Prayer Service and Bible Study starts at 7 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.

As we celebrate Jesus Christ, the very demonstration of God’s Love towards humanity (John 3:16), let’s continue to be thankful and grateful. Let us, as the Body of Christ, remain steadfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain.

Our verse of focus this year is: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said unto me, my The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, be with you all.

Amen. –Pastors Kenneth & Deborah Hodge Sunday, October 3, Worship Service Theme: “God’s Compassion in Scripture: Psalm 78:38-41 “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and temptThe Church of New Vision supports Breast Cancer Awareness during the month of October. Since breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States, we encourage all women, ages 40+, to make appointments for their annual mammogram. Please wear your pink ribbon to help support the cause. Ribbons and literature will be available in the church lobby.

Church of New Vision extends our deepest sympathies to the grieving famtime. Thanks for your contributions, Malachi 3:10. Mailing address: Church of New Vision, P.O. Box 75-3037, Einstein Station, Bronx, N.Y. 10475.

––Brenda Brown

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, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Father Johnson also conducts daily weekday services at 12 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 Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams and the Co-op City Baptist Church family invite you to join us for Worship Service is held in person at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masks are required and temperatures will be taken. The 11 a.m. service will continue to be on Zoom using the following information: https://us04web. zoom.us/j/9623430102 or Zoom Telephone Conference Line, (646) 568-7788, Conference ID: 962 343 0102, Password: 788175#.

The Free Call Conference dial-in number has changed to 857-357-0254, the access code, 660065, remains the same.

Adult Sunday School will be held in the Fellowship Hall at 9:15 a.m. Adult Sunday School will also be available on the Free Conference line at 857-3570254. The Access Code is 660065#.

Young Teens Sunday School is held at 9:30 a.m. and Junior Sunday School is held at 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study classes are held at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. You can join using the Zoom or Free Call Conference Line shown above.

Thursday Prayer Warriors is held at Noon. You can join using the Free Conference Call.com Line, 857-357-0254, PIN #: 660065.

Friday Prayer is held at 10 a.m. You can join using the Free Conference Call. com Line shown above.

Friday Evening Prayer Service is held at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join using the Free Conference Call.com line shown above.

The Scholarship Ministry will be going to Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, and Black Hills of South Dakota on August 12, 2022, for 11 days and 10 nights and they are inviting you to travel with them. Price per person, based on double occupancy, is $1,225, which includes 18 meals, 10 breakfast and 8 dinners, and motorcoach transportation. You will have 10 nights lodging including 4 consecutive nights in South Dakota. Book your tour along with a deposit of $100, due by October 31. You may contact Sister Claudette Cutlar Day at 718379-0541 or Sister Brenda Robinson at 718-671-1271 for additional information or to make your reservation.

Please keep each other in prayer and be wise in your decisions. Continue to wear your masks, practice social distancing and stay safe!!!!

GOD will strengthen us as we travel through this storm. GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. –Psalm 46:1 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

VISION CARE SPECIALIST

DR. DAVID HORN, O.D. FAAO • FELLOW, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPTOMETRY

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Much of Learning Is Done Through The Eyes. Insist on a Professional Eye Examination.

120 ALCOTT PLACE

(Bldg. 17 • Sect. 3) • Co-op City

718-379-8029

Medicare and many insurances accepted.

DOCTOR’S HOURS: MONDAY: 1:30 - 7:00 PM • WEDNESDAY: 2:00 - 7:00 PM FRIDAY: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM • SATURDAY: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT!

22

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED

Please see page 7 for information on how to apply for employment opportunities at Riverbay Corporation.

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L & L APPLIANCE REPAIR

PAINTING

Top Quality Work - Painting, Plastering, Tiles, Walls

JB RYAN COMPUTER REPAIR & UPGRADE

EMERGENCY SERVICE

Cassandra Watson-Gabbidon, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. Website: www.marykay.com/cwatson-gabbidon.

Phone: 954-861-0475. Mention this ad when you call.

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Executive Exotic Limo

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Grout & Carpet Cleaning Co-op City Resident Specials

Elim in Bugsate

CO-OP SALES BLINDS! Vertical, Mini, Wood, Pleats

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www.co-opsales.info 10/30

REUPHOLSTERING 718.881.7691

LOCKSMITH 10/9

CLEANING SERVICES 12/25

REUPHOLSTERY

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

STYLISH DECORATORS

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CLASSIFIEDS NEW STYLE BLINDS

PUBLIC SAFETY

Re-installation of any types of Blinds.

Repair Closet Doors and Sell New Bi-Fold Doors!

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

RIVERBAY ANONYMOUS WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE

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 one of the following methods:

• Go to independent website, www.lighthouse-services/riverbaycorp, to complete online disclosure form; • Call independent third party whistleblower hotline: 1-833-290-0009 (English); 1-800-216-1288 (Spanish); • Email reports@lighthouse-services.com (the email must include “Riverbay” in the subject); • Send a fax to (215) 689-3885 (the fax must include “Riverbay” in the subject of the report).

23

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Public Safety

(Continued from page 7)

There have been recent increases of Covid-19 cases, including variants of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and the New York City Department of Health have reinstated the mask wearing mandates in most indoor situations, even for vaccinated individuals. Check with your doctor to see if a vaccination is booster shots for persons over 65 or with medical conditions. Getting a vaccination and wearing a mask have been shown to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Co-op City is a diverse community with people of all ages, abilities and their differences. Do not forget to say hello to your neighbors when you pass each other in the hallway or in the street. The Co-op City Department of Public Safety is asking cooperators to social distance and wear masks or face coverings.

Wearing a mask or face covering is especially important in the public areas of the buildings including the lobbies, hallways, elevators and laundry rooms.

People should avoid gathering in large groups. Hand washing, the use of hand and other illnesses. Please follow the latest information provided by the CDC and the New York City Department of Health for the latest recommendations on health and safety during the Coronavirus pandemic. Be a good cooperator and be Co-op City Strong.

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

fatwcc@aol.com, www.faithatworkchurch.org.

Worship Experience: Reopening postponed due to continuous concerns about Covid-19.

Church Motto: "We are Christ-centered, family-focused with power and authority."

Church Mission: To empower, educate and motivate men, women, boys and girls to reach their full potential and live abundant lives through preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Come worship with us – where we honor Sunday because our goal is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in love, through teaching and preaching the Word of God from the Bible.

K-8 Afterschool Reopening Sept. 13: We will take limited registration for only on homework help and arts & crafts. Research shows that many art forms are

––Pastor Deborah D. Jenkins

Building 29 Association

Provide feedback to the NYC Department of City Planning on the draft recommendations for the Coop City Metro-North station area by pointing you phone camera at the QR Code.

Hello, Cooperators. We're still here!

from any building.

Faith @ Work Christian Church

American Legion Post 1871 -

water (e.g. no long showers, maybe delay your laundry, etc.). Why? Because heavy use of water, especially from a large community such as ours, will increase sewer and land 'run off' into our waterways.

Do remember that Covid is not yet over. Please continue to wear your mask and encourage others to do so, especially in the elevators, close quarters, and on public transportation. Get vaccinated, if you haven't done so already (only the unvaccinated are getting really sick these days). shot too, especially if you are around people a lot.

God bless and stay well.

––Katharine Wood

American Legion to lead Coalition Organization in Co-op City

will serve also as vice president of the Coalition. Every community-based orfront for the issues that affect the community together.

Veterans to Experience Cost Increase in Medication drugs for active-duty military families, retirees, and others. This increase will

Association of Building 14 Cooperators There were two open meetings in September.

-

service members are not affected by the increases as their medications are fully covered, however, their families will be affected by this new plan except for military family members who get their generic and name-brand drugs at military pharmacies.

Military Suicides Up in 2020 Recent report of military suicides showed that there is an This recent report does not detail the causes of the suicides, but the DoD does want to encourage everyone to make sure that we continue to take the issue of

poor condition of our rear lobby doors and convectors; cracks in plaster along hallway walls; and the extended outage of the laundry television. Other is-

American Legion Post Operations

for Exterminating Services (most for increased sightings of roaches and even mice); quality of life issues were loitering around building porticos, excessive dog ownership rules and a lack of CCPD presence.

Next Association Meeting

and drinks available. During this meeting, masks are encouraged to be worn

CC Times articles.

Emergency Alerts and Warnings Forms – Update your contact information to now receive emergency alerts and warnings by text and email, in addition to Robo calls. Request forms via email: assocbldg14@gmail.com. Drop

embarking on a series of fundraising activities that will include reaching out to the community to support the veterans. To this, we are encouraging the commu-

Be well. Be grateful. Be kind. Wishing the best for our students returning to

have checks picked up could do so by reaching out to the commander by calling

––Josie Ferguson

here in the community.

––Adeyemi Olaruntoba

Post 1871 Fundraising

24

Co-op City Times / October 9, 2021

Co-op Insurance

The Wright Agency: Serving Co-op City for 40 Years!

Riverbay Requires Co-op Shareholders to Obtain Coverage!

Your Co-op is an Investment Worth Protecting!

Protection To Cover Your Belongings Against: • Fire & Smoke • Water damage from plumbing

We Offer:

• Guest medical protection • Certain personal liabilities

• Theft Coverage • And so much more!

Other Lines of Insurance:

• Low Premiums • Protective Device Discounts • Auto-Home Discounts

• Auto • Homeowners • Life

Licensed Staff

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Low Rates For The Entire Year!

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Lawrence Newkirk Family Protection Specialist

COURTEOUS STAFF!

Albert Issifu Licensed Insurance Agent / Office Manager

The Wright Agency

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Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday by appointment only.

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FREE NOTARY SERVICE FOR ALL CO-OP CITY RESIDENTS!