Co-op City Times 11/17/2018 by Co-op City Times

Celebrate 50 Years!

Are You Proud To Call Co-op City Home? Show Your Love For Your Community By Celebrating This Milestone With Your Neighbors! For information, call 347-913-4226.

Building 33 Gets ‘Red Tagged’ by Con Ed Vol. 53 No. 46

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Gas Leak leaves residents without gas for the holidays

Shareholders of Building 33 came out to a meeting with management on Wednesday for an update on the gas shutdown in their building. Because of the lengthy process to complete the repair work on the gas piping, followed by inspections and final sign off by the city which has implemented stricter codes, it is expected that the shut down could last up to two months. Photo by Toriea McCauseland BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND

Riverbay’s executive management team met with residents of Building 33 in Section Five on Wednesday, November 14, to let residents know of the planned work ahead regarding the recent gas shut-off. During the meeting, residents received the shocking (Continued on page 2)

Lead In Co-op City Water In Conformance With US EPA Standards Analysis of 252 random samples of water taken from residential buildings and townhouses throughout Co-op City show none of the results exceed the standard for lead set by the NYS and US Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA). Earlier last month, after news reports that Co-op City water contains high levels of lead, Riverbay’s management immediately met with the corporation’s environmental compliance contractor to devise a water sampling plan. This, despite the fact that the communications director for the NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO), the agency that issued the report, admitted to the Co-op City Times that there were very few tests conducted (Continued on page 2) BY ROZAAN BOONE

$1.25

City Council Approves Animal Shelter By Vote Of 49-0

The full New York City Council, by a unanimous vote of 49-0, approved the proposed Bartow Avenue Animal Shelter and the bill now goes on to Mayor Bill de Blasio for his signature. Groundbreaking was projected originally for the spring of 2022 and the projected move-in date is the fall of 2024, six years from now, on the city-owned property near the Red Lobster restaurant. The ongoing campaign by many Co-op City residents opposing the location of the shelter right next to the community was heard by Council Member Andy King, who brokered a deal with the city to provide upgrades to the Co-op City community. The offer was spelled out in a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mayor and Council Speaker that Councilman King presented to the community on Nov. 3. Among the items the Mayor’s office has offered are a $3 million Beacon Program at Truman High School; $2 million in improvements if the former Bingo Hall property hosts a non-profit tenant to offer arts & music youth programming; a new exit ramp from the northbound Hutchinson River Pkwy that will flow onto Bartow Ave.; $130,000 annually for senior breakfasts; $1 million in capital funds for playgrounds at PS 153 – Helen Keller School, MS 180 – Dr. Daniel Hale Williams and IS 181 – Pablo Casals; and 1,000 square feet of space as a community room on the ground floor of the shelter. BY JIM ROBERTS

Thanksgiving Discounted Parking Available for Upcoming Holiday Discounted holiday parking will be available for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday when transient parking will be significantly discounted to $8. The holiday parking discount will be in effect from 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, until 6 a.m. the following day. Vehicles parked in the garages prior to 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and after 6 a.m. on Friday, November 23, are required to pay the (Continued on page 3) BY ROZAAN BOONE

First Snowfall of Season Causes Traffic Nightmare

In preparation for the first snowfall of the season, a good week before the first official day of winter this year, Riverbay readied snow and salt trucks to clear roads on Thursday. What was expected to be only an inch of snow, quickly accumulated to more than 6 inches of slippery, icy snow, which caused traffic nightmares as commuters tried to make their way home on Thursday evening. High winds down 150 trees across the city, according to the NYC Parks Department. Photo by Brandon Ortiz

Lead Testing

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

in the zip code that includes Co-op City buildings, and of the most recent tests conducted – which were done between 2006 and 2016 – “no lead was found.” “We take our residents’ health and safety very seriously,” said Riverbay’s Executive General Manager Bob Klehammer. “While I believe the original news report on Channel 12 was irresponsible and misrepresented the Independent Budget Office report that was cited, we still undertook this study to assure our residents that there are no issues with lead in the water at Co-op City, which I think has now been put to rest.” Riverbay’s environmental contractor, a company licensed by the United States EPA to conduct this type of testing with its professional personnel and using an

Gas Leak

EPA-approved laboratory, collected random “First Draw” and “Flush Draw” water samples from every high-rise residential building and each of the townhouse clusters. Five samples were drawn from each building and townhouse cluster. The “First Draw” samples were taken at the first use of the faucet and the “Flush Draw” were taken after the faucet had been running for a while, methods consistent with detecting the presence of lead in drinking water. The contractor reported that “the samples were collected in accordance with the EPA’s standards developed for proper handling of potable water testing, according to applicable regulations of the

(Continued from page 1)

news that they may be without gas for up to two months, including during the upcoming holidays. On Friday, November 9, the NY Fire Department and Con Ed responded to calls at the location due to a gas leak in the basement under the lobby area in Building 33. Previous gas explosions in New York have led the city to adopt strict rules about natural gas repairs in multiple dwellings. Due to the high levels in the building, along with newly installed gas code for New York City, Con Ed “red tagged” the structure and required the gas to be shut-off until repairs are completed and have passed gas-pressure checks. Although the repairs and testing may take up to two months to complete, the timeline is also dependent on the cooperation of residents. Plumbers, wearing Riverbay I.D.s, will need to get into apartments for a required two times in order to carry out necessary repair work. As of press time Friday, Nov. 16, plumbers were able to get into about 300 of the 384 apartments in the building. Bob Klehammer, Executive General Manager of the Riverbay Corporation, explained to residents the extent of what exactly needs to be done. First, plumbers would need to gain access to apartments to disconnect flex hoses from stoves, change the valve on the gas line that the flex hoses get connected to, and then cap it; which is why the stove has to remain disconnected. While that happens, work will be done in the basement to replace specific gas piping and valves that have deteriorated over the years. After that, when all of the lines are capped and work in the basement is complete, workers can then begin pressure testing each of the 12 risers in the building. The risers have to hold three pounds of air pressure for a certain amount of time before they can pass pressure tests. Risers that cannot keep that pressure will require additional work. Management isn’t sure why the initial leak occurred, but mentioned the aging infrastructure could be to blame. Either way, Riverbay is committed to doing the work to bring it up to code. Once all the repairs and installations have been completed and deemed successful, Con Ed will be called for a “gas turn on” so they can come out and turn the gas on. Plumbers will then have to get back into apartments to reconnect stoves. Eight crews have been assigned to fix the problem throughout the building and will be working tirelessly from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. to get the job done in a timely fashion for residents. The shareholders also received news that the laundry room in Building 33 will not be in service during gas repairs. Shareholders will have access to the laundry facilities in Buildings 34, 35, and possibly 27. Although most residents were upset about the news due to the disruption of their upcoming holiday plans, some were hopeful the job would be done sooner, while others acknowledged the situation was tough to be in, but were resigned to the fact that this was a major safety precautionary measure. One resident of Building 33 said: “I smelled the gas on Thursday evening and again on Friday, but the Fire Department was on the scene immediately. I’m perfectly fine with the time frame because I want the problem fixed the right way and I want the cooperators to cooperate. If they’re asking for access, we should give them the access because they have to make sure that the gas is flowing to each apartment properly.” A 40-year resident of Co-op City said: “I’m hoping we could have our turkey. For the first time in 40 years, I’m not giving Thanksgiving dinner. I’m not happy about the time frame, but I just ordered an electric frying pan and still thinking about getting other appliances, even though it’s not the same as having a stove.” Management urged shareholders to do what they can to help expedite the process and move the process along. Shareholders are advised to visit the onsite emergency desk in the building that will be open every day from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. or contact (718) 320-3300, and dial extension 4411, to schedule an appointment to have the necessary work done in their apartment. If plumbers are unable to get into apartments by Saturday at 5 p.m., workers will have no other recourse than to enter by force. All gas lines must be capped before pressure tests can begin. In addition, residents will have access to a working spreadsheet that will highlight those apartments that have been completed and those apartments that have yet to be entered. They will receive periodic updates on progress, good or bad. “For any management team, a gas shutdown is a nightmare, but we recognize that it is much better to err on the side of safety in this instance,” said Mr. Noel (Continued from page 1)

State of New York and the rules and regulations of the US EPA Guidance Document.” After collection, the samples were placed into preservation containers, a chain of custody document was prepared and the samples were then delivered to an independent lab, certified by the New York State Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Approval Program, for analysis. The US EPA has set the lead action level at 15 parts per billion (ppb). If tests show lead levels in excess of this amount, remediation is required. The contractor’s report, however, states: “All samples were analyzed, and none of the results exceed the 15ppb action level set by the USEPA.”

Ellison, Riverbay’s general manager. “Any work involving gas piping is a delicate undertaking and so we want to make sure we do it right, as opposed to striving for expediency for the safety of not only the residents in the building, but for the safety of the entire community. We recognize the shareholders are suffering through this period and we are trying to do as much as we can to ease this inconvenience on them.” On Thursday, Riverbay management met to discuss feasible ways in which the housing company can assist residents through this difficult time. Based on suggestions given during Wednesday’s meeting, gift cards have been ordered in the amount of $100 each to give to residents to supplement the costs for additional cookware appliances while they are unable to use their gas stoves. Building 33 shareholders will be notified in the comig days on a distribution date and procedure.

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Co-op City Times 2 n d

Front Page

Residents Address Safety Concerns With NYPD

COMBING CO-OP CITY

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

Turkey Giveaway & Meal

Faith @ Work Christian Church’s 8th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Turkey Give-Away is taking place tomorrow, Sunday, November 18, during worship in room 4 of the Dreiser Center. This year, we are giving away 100 turkeys to the first 100 to arrive. We will begin distributing tickets at 9 a.m. We invite you to join us for worship and stay afterwards for our hot Thanksgiving Meal at noon. First come, first served.

Free Indoor Weekend Tennis

The Co-op City Tennis program of New York Junior Tennis and Learning offers free weekend winter tennis instruction and play from 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Winter indoor tennis will take place at the New York Tennis Club, at 3081 Harding Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. 10465. Registration is open to all young people between 5 and 18 years old. Racquets and equipment are provided. The only requirement for players is a good pair of sneakers or tennis shoes. For more information, please contact Ms. Lorraine Alexander at (718) 671-4437.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Evangelical Church

The Evangelical Church of Co-op City is hosting a free Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday, November 21, for anyone who needs a meal or who doesn’t have anyone to celebrate Thanksgiving with. Meals will be served between 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. This Thanksgiving dinner is supplied by New Life Ministries, Christian Chaplaincies and the Evangelical Church of Co-op City. For additional information, please contact the church at (718) 320-3795. The Evangelical Church of Co-op City is located at 2350 Palmer Avenue, opposite Building 30.

Public Safety Toy Drive

Public Safety is collecting new toys for all ages. The department’s Blue Santa Toy Giveaway initiative is sponsored by Sgt. DelValle, and Officers Ahmed, Thomas and Lee. Toys will be collected until December 18. A drop box has been set up inside of Public Safety headquarters at 2049 Bartow Avenue.

The ‘Build the Block’ discussion which took place in room 31 of the Bartow Center on Wednesday, November 7, is an effort to “identify policing and public safety needs in our community.” The meeting was sponsored by Council Member Andy King and Co-op City’s Neighborhood Coordinator Officers (NCOs), Officers Griesinger Dean Cassells to discuss public safety challenges within the neighborhood. The discussion was an opportunity to get feedback from members of the community on how to make it safe and secure for residents in Co-op City. Hearing directly from the community allows the NCOs and other members of the 45th Precinct to learn of challenges within the neighborhood and potential ways to solve them. After a few words from Councilman Andy King, officers from different departments within the 45th Precinct gave residents an inside view of their jobs and how it affects the community. More specifically, residents heard from officers within the crime prevention and domestic violence sectors, while also gaining a few tips on how to be cautious to stay safe. Crime prevention tips shared by the officers during the meeting include: • Parking garages: Be aware of your surroundings, stay in well-lit areas, notify the parking attendant if you see anyone who looks suspicious and remain in your car. • Shop in groups: Don’t leave packages visible in the car. • Call 9-1-1: If you feel that there’s someone around you who you’re unBY TORIEA McCAUSELAND

Holiday Parking

community’s regular parking rates – $8 for up to 3 hours, $15 for up to 6 hours; $23 for up to 12 hours and $40 for up to 24 hours. In 2011, the Riverbay Board approved offering discounted transient parking to visitors of Co-op City shareholders on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve to make it easier for visitors to park and be able to enjoy the holidays with relatives and friends living in Co-op City. In 2013, the Board added the Thanksgiving holiday to the list. Visitors taking advantage of the reduced parking rate should take a ticket upon entry. When leaving, they will insert the ticket into the machine at the exit, and can pay with credit or debit card. Visitors will be directed by the garage attendant where to park their vechiles. “The holidays are a time for family and friends to come to-

Officers from the 45th Precinct, including Co-op City's NCO's Jessica Griesinger (left) and Dean Cassells (at podium), discussed safety concerns and shared crime prevention tips with shareholders at a meeting held on November 3 in the Bartow Center. Photo by Toriea McCauseland

comfortable with or if you have the feeling that you’re being followed, call so they can investigate. • Be aware of fake calls from utility companies asking for gift cards over the phone or monetary donations. Also, calls regarding family members having legal problems overseas and needing money. In regards to domestic violence, it was encouraged that people should report domestic violence incidents and feel comfortable doing so because all calls to the NYPD will be followed up on and investigated. During the interactive meeting, residents shared their concerns about security overall in Co-op City and the current uptick in crime. Two women who were recent robbery victims bravely shared their stories and concerns about safety in Co-op City. NCO Cassells assured residents that (Continued from page 1)

gether and the concerns of parking should not be a factor,” said Danielle O’Connor, director of the Riverbay Parking & Leasing Department. “Providing affordable parking at locations throughout the community allows for a convenient and hassle-free experience for visiting guests. “On behalf of the Parking & Leasing Department staff, I would like to wish everyone happy holidays.” Riverbay’s assistant general manager, Warren Mitchell, who oversees the Parking & Leasing Department, said: “Most garages exploit the fact that it’s the holidays and an opportunity to make money. In this instance, the shareholders benefit because hopefully, this is an opportunity for their relatives and friends to visit during the holidays without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money for parking.”

Co-op City is still a safe place to live even with recent cases of robberies. Residents who weren’t comfortable with speaking in the group setting were able to talk with the NCOs and sector officers one-on-one to address their concerns privately. NCO Griesinger and Cassells will continue their outreach within the community to better address the concerns of the residents. “Our first ‘Build the Block’ meeting was a great success,” said Officer Griesinger. “We are happy residents came out and expressed their concerns around Co-op City and what they want us to do to help make their community safer.” Shareholders are encouraged to look out for other ‘Build The Block’ meetings in the future as the NCOs are planning on having four meetings a year.

Co-op City Times Thanksgiving deadline notice

Riverbay’s administrative offices will be closed next Thursday and Friday, November 22 and 23, respectively, in observance of Thanksgiving. Because of the holiday shortened work week, all community organizations must submit their club articles before 9 a.m. this Monday, November 19. Material received after this time will not be considered for publication in the Saturday, November 24th issue of the Co-op City Times. Directors’ viewpoints are also due before 9 a.m. this Monday, November 19. Please note that regular business hours of the Co-op City Times are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday. Material for publication may be emailed to cctimes@riverbaycorp.com; faxed to (718) 320-2595 or slipped under the office door at 2049 Bartow Avenue, rm. 21. Although the administrative offices will be closed next Thursday and Friday, shareholders may contact the maintenance desk for emergency maintenance, and the Co-op City Public Safety Department at (718) 671-3050, and 9-1-1 with emergencies. We wish our readers an enjoyable and safe Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

NYPD Warns Community About Green Dot Moneypak And Money Gram Scams

Co-op City residents, and especially seniors, are advised to be vigilant and not become victims of scammers using Money Grams and Green Dot MoneyPak cards. According to the NYPD, while Money Grams and Green Dot MoneyPak cards are legitimate products, scammers are using them to steal money from their intended victims. The scammers utilize a variety of schemes with some of the most common being the utility company, government agencies and IRS scams in which the victim is told that they owe money and the call is to immediately collect what is owed or else service will be shut off, or worse. Additionally, the scammers may claim that a loved one is being held against their will, or has been involved in an accident and payment is needed to gain their freedom. They may also say that a grandchild or relative has been locked up in another country and needs bail money. Victims are also told that they won the lottery or some type of sweepstakes and money is needed to claim the winnings or for taxes on the prize. If you have to pay for a prize you won, you didn’t win, the NYPD warns. The Green Dot MoneyPak scam is a phone scam where the victim is called by someone claiming to work at a utility company, for example, Con Ed or a cable company, or a government agency, such as the Department of Finance, and they are collecting money that is past due. The caller then informs the victim that they can avoid service interruption, arrest or deportation, if they immediately bring their account up to date by paying the past due amount using a Money Gram or Green Dot MoneyPak card that can be purchased at a local store. The caller instructs the victim to purchase a Money Gram or a Green Dot MoneyPak card in a specified amount and call a phone number that the caller gives to the victim once this has been done. The victim proceeds to purchase the Green Dot card at a local store and then calls the number they were given by the caller to satisfy the debt. The victim is then instructed to scratch off and read the MoneyPak card serial number to the perBY ROZAAN BOONE

petrator. The perpetrator then drains the funds from the Green Dot MoneyPak card. The NYPD notes that while many schemes still involve victims being asked to wire money to the scammers, MoneyPaks have the added benefit of the scammer not having to show up at an office or bank to claim the funds loaded onto the card. The cards can only be purchased using cash and consumers never have to disclose their personal or financial information to a retail cashier or to make a payment. Anyone with the 14-digit number located on the back of the MoneyPak card can drain the funds. In the IRS scam, the victim is contacted and told that they owe back taxes, fees or fines to the IRS and that if they do not make immediate payment using a Money Gram or Green Dot MoneyPak card, they will be arrested or deported. The scam is perpetrated in the same manner as the utility scam with the results also being the same – the victim’s money is stolen. The NYPD is warning residents to be alert and not fall victim to these crimes. Crime Prevention Officers also point out that the scammers can purchase computer apps whereby their true telephone number is disguised and can appear as a legitimate number, for example, the 45th Precinct, NYPD, 9-1-1, Con Ed, etc. In addition to cautioning the public that the NYPD does not solicit money, and that utility companies and government agencies would not contact you demanding payment for outstanding bills using Money Grams or MoneyPak card, the NYPD is also warning residents not to call any of the phone numbers provided by the scammers since this is another layer to the scam. If you think a call is suspicious, call the number listed on your bill. The NYPD offers the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam: • Be suspicious of any caller who demands immediate payment for any reason. • Remember that anyone who has the number on a Green Dot MoneyPak card has access to the funds on the card. • Never give out personal or financial information to anyone who emails or calls you unsolicited, and • Never wire money, provide debit or credit card numbers or Green Dot Money Pak card numbers to someone you do not know.

Throwing garbage/objects from apartment windows is UNLAWFUL, DANGEROUS and could cause you to receive a community complaint and fine.

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HAPPENING in Co-op City !

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

American Legion Post 1871 Celebrates Veterans Day By Visiting Comrades in Care Facilities

This year for Veterans Day, the members of the American Legion Post 1871 visited at least 75 comrades in nursing homes in the Bronx which included Beth Abraham Center, Bronx Center, Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Bay Park Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and Regeis Care Center. During their visits, Post members presented flags that were flown over the Capitol Building earlier this year which were donated by several US senators. While some flags were presented to the care facilities to be showcased in honor of the veterans who are at the facilities, others were presented to individual vets. The veterans were also presented with medals and awards. Commander Adeyemi Toba thanks all the Post members who helped to make this worthwhile event as memorable and special as it turned out to be.

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Letters to the Editor

No Means No!

To the Editor: I agree with Director Pearson that no means no. I believe we have the leverage to make gains without giving in to the city’s demands for an animal shelter. We should have requested the city donate several sanitation trucks that empty the containers immediately when they pick up as they do in other neighborhoods. This would eliminate unnecessary runs with containers going to our dump site. The new truck can go directly to the 233 Street site. The new 16-count list from City Hall is laughable, in my opinion. 1. The city DOT has a responsibility to maintain and upkeep Killer Curve. We pay taxes for this. 2. Who will address the additional traffic, noise, etc. this shelter will cause, let alone the trouble I believe a youth center would bring to the community? We already have a new mall that, in my opinion, has resulted in rising crime here. 3. I believe a shelter here will only increase the dog population on our property. We don’t need this, as the majority of owners in Co-op City already don’t curb their dogs. 4. What can we do with 1000 feet of empty space? We have a bingo hall that is still empty. We have rooms at Dreiser not being used. 5. The city is responsible for after-school programs! Again, our taxes don’t count! 6. JASA already provides free meals for seniors. What the city ought to do is to provide a nutritious breakfast for JASA seniors. In my opinion, we should be asking for assistance from the city for our sanitation and police needs and not these make-believe promises we probably won’t see anyway. I urge my fellow shareholders, don’t be sold out! It’s sad that we demonstrate with the leaders we choose to assist us and construct these deals which are soft and appear desperate. —Nick Liberati

Electronic Payment Of Maintenance Charges

Approximately 24% of shareholders have signed up for electronic payment of their monthly maintenance charges. Accounts can be set up by logging on to the Riverbay website at www.river baycorp.com and clicking on the “PayLease” icon at the bottom of the page, or by going directly to the PayLease website at www.paylease.com. Those who sign up for online payment have the option of having their maintenance charges deducted automatically from their checking account or from a credit or debit card on a specific day of the month. Shareholders who do not wish to set up automatic withdrawal of their carrying charges from their bank account can still log on each month to pay their carrying charges electronically. In this case, the shareholder would log on and pay the “amount due.” If payment is made after the 10th of the month, the shareholder is responsible for a $50 late fee. Those who have not signed up for automatic monthly payment, but pay their carrying charges electronically can still pay their regular monthly carrying charges even if their payment is late. The system will record the date on which their bill was paid and the late fee will be added to the following month’s maintenance bill and reflected as the “amount due” when the shareholder logs on to pay their bill the next month. Shareholders who wish to pay the $50 late fee earlier, instead of waiting until the following month, can come to the Bookkeeping window any time between the 10th of the month and at least two days prior to the end of the month, to drop their payment off. Article SIXTH of your Occupancy Agreement provides, in part, that your lease automatically renews for an additional three (3) year period. You need to do nothing if you want your lease to extend for another three (3) year period. If you will be moving out at the end of your lease, notify Riverbay, in writing, Attention: Sales Support Office, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475, ninety (90) days prior to lease expiration.

Prayer & The Community Paper

To the Editor: One can only image how happy this cooperator was to learn in our CC Times that the former Bingo Hall is back on the drawing board. This time, our own city councilman is taking the lead. Just think, so many prayed for the success of the Board resolution to not only rent the space to the Riverbay Fund, but hire staff and develop a plan to present to HUD. We reached out to our congressman seeking assistance in obtaining a waiver from HUD, to approve the lease of an unused commercial space at Co-op City. The waiver was required because the space would be rented at a below market rent for use of a community youth center. In my estimation, the fair market rent which Riverbay previously obtained for the space represented only 0.0001% of the corporation’s annual revenue and, in my opinion, is not a material financial obligation. HUD denied such a waiver at that time. It’s in the CCTimes that the corporation has “saved $52 million in operational expenses and has over $80 million in cash.” I might note that this is without income from the Bingo Hall. Evidently, City Council members read the current and back issues of the Co-op City Times. They were also made aware of past efforts to get a “waiver” from HUD. My prayer is that our local elected officials will now take the lead to help us with a space on our property to provide a holistic experience for youth as they mature and develop into young adults. The space was envisioned as a comprehensive multi-service, multi-level facility to provide an array of support services to youth, families, adults and to accommodate education, recreation and other youth development activities. Save The Date: The 2019 College, Career & Resource Fair will be held at the College of New Rochelle, Co-op City Campus on Saturday, October 5, 2019. —Evelyn M. Turner

Co-op City Times

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

Rozaan Boone Editor-in-Chief

Jim Roberts

Business Manager

Jennifer Piovanetti Operations Manager

Ralph Henriquez

Production Manager

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

If the Co-op City Times Was Not Delivered: Call 347-439-5632 on Saturdays ONLY, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Important Notice to Shareholders of Building 18 Building 18

Current Lease Expiration Date

New 3 yr. Expiration Date

Building 18 100 Alcott Place

February 28, 2019

February 28, 2022

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Public Safety Report

CCPD Offers Thanksgiving Safety Tips

The Co-op City Department of Public Safety would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Whether you are staying at home and cooking a feast for the family or traveling for the holiday, we have provided safety tips for the Thanksgiving holiday. Follow these holiday safety tips for a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of cooking fires than an average day, according to the United States Fire Administration. More than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving Day across the country. Stay safe while enjoying a good home-cooked meal this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a joyous celebration of plentitude, do not let an accident change that. The leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving Day is unattended cooking. People may become distracted when entertaining while food is cooking. Others may go out and leave food in the oven or on the stove. This is never a safe option. Food may cook faster than you think or drippings may catch fire on the bottom of the stove. Kitchen fires spread quickly causing fire and smoke damage throughout your home. Frying a turkey has also shown to be a popular cause of Thanksgiving fires. Leave exotic cooking methods to the professionals for a safe Thanksgiving. Keep potholders and food wrappers at least three feet away from your stove. Avoid loose clothing with long flowing sleeves that may drape over a hot burner. Turn handles of pots and pans inward to avoid accidents. Follow all manufacturers’ instructions regarding the use of all appliances. Be sure all burners are turned off when you leave the kitchen. After guests leave, have a responsible adult walk around your home to be sure all candles and smoking materials have been extinguished. Choking is another serious hazard on any holiday which involves the consumption of large quantities of food. The most common cause of choking is talking while eating. Try to avoid talking if you have food in your mouth. Cut food into small pieces and chew each bite thoroughly. Take your time eating, especially if you are talking, do not rush the holiday meal. If you feel like you may have food caught in your throat, stay where others can see you. The American Red Cross recommends the “FIVE-and FIVE Can Keep Them Alive” procedure if someone is choking. Once you know the person is unable to cough, speak or breathe, have someone call 9-1-1 and the Department of Public Safety. If the person is coughing, just keep them under observation, the force of the cough should dislodge the object. Outside interference at this point can force the object further down. Once you have established that the person is actually choking, lean the person forward and give FIVE sharp back blows with the heel of your hand. This is the procedure known as the Heimlich Maneuver, the “FIVE and FIVE” is new terminology for the same very effective procedure. If the obstruction still is not dislodged, give the person FIVE quick, upward abdominal thrusts. The same procedure is used for children over the age of one. Children under age one should be placed face down over your forearm and given back blows with the heel of your hand followed by abdominal thrusts. Gravity assists in dislodging the obstruction. If you are alone, you can perform the abdominal thrusts on yourself, just as you would on someone else. Thrusts can also be administered by pressing your abdomen firmly against a solid object, such as the back of a chair. Call 9-1-1 and leave the line open if you are unable to speak, help will be on the way. For more Red Cross fire safety and first aid information, visit www.redcross.org. The holiday season is a good time to think about those with disabilities, especially those disabilities which are not visible. The holidays can be a difficult time for persons suffering from physical or mental illness. Those who suffer from depression or those who have had a difficult year may feel like life is perfect for everyone else. The holiday season is as an excellent opportunity to reach out to friends, family and neighbors who may need someone to speak to. If you feel as though you need someone to speak to, there is always someone willing to help (775) 784-8090 or 1 (800) 273-8255 are Crisis Support Hotlines which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You can even TEXT ANSWER to 839863 if that is how you prefer to communicate. Just speaking to someone can help you put problems into perspective and obtain necessary assistance. The Co-op City Department of Public Safety will be conducting our 5th annual Toy Drive. New, unwrapped toys for children of all ages will be collected from Sunday November 18, 2018 until Friday December 21, 2018. This year’s toy drive is called “The Blue Santa TOY GIVEAWAY” and will distribute toys to local hospitals and shelters. Please purchase a toy while doing your early holiday shopping. Your generosity goes a long way in making children happy. Co-op City is a diverse community with people of all ages, abilities and characteristics. All persons should remember to respect each other and embrace their differences. Don’t forget to say “hello” to your neighbors when you pass each other in the hallway or in the street. Co-op City strives to accommodate all persons. It is also important to remember that not all disabilities are visible. Someone who appears to be healthy may have a physical or developmental disability. November is known as COPD Awareness Month, Pancreatic Cancer AwareBy LieUTeNANT PAm APOLLO

ness Month, Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Diabetes Awareness Month, Epilepsy Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Prostate Cancer and Men’s Health Awareness Month. This is a good opportunity to learn about disabilities or conditions that may affect your friends, family members or neighbors. It is also a good opportunity to schedule a full physical examination with screening tests recommended by your physician. Knowledge is power, the more you learn the stronger you become. School is open, DRIVE CAREFULLY. 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. Bike riders must refrain from riding bicycles near buildings and shopping centers. Bicycle riders must give pedestrians the same level of respect that they expect from motor vehicles. Everyone needs to share the road safely. Please be aware of holiday traffic near the Bay Plaza Mall. (Continued on page 30)

OPPORTUNITIES AT CO-OP CITY For information on CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, please contact: Lenya Garcia at Lgarcia@riverbay corp.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, please see the end of the employment listings for specific directions. CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES There are no contract opportunities to list this week. Please check next week.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Job#/Position

Department

Union/Non-Union

Posting Dates:

Janitorial

Non-Union

Ongoing

18-08 Temp Porter (Part Time)

Position Profile & Duties

Responsibilities include the day-to-day cleaning and restoration of assigned internal/ external areas of Residential Buildings and/or Community Centers, as well as, additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor. 1. HS Diploma or equivalent is a plus. 2. Working knowledge of janitorial equipment, tools, and material. 3. Ability to walk for long periods of time, twist, kneel, push, stoop, climb ladders; work in inclement weather; as well as lift and carry up to 80 pounds. 4. Must be available for emergency work. 5. Bi-Lingual is a plus.

Job#/Position

Department

Union/Non-Union

Posting Dates:

18-17 Temp Groundsperson (Part Time)

Grounds

Non-Union

Ongoing

Position Profile & Duties

Responsibilities include the day-to-day duties in the landscaping, maintenance of and general upkeep of company grounds and property greens as well as, additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. 1. HS Diploma or equivalent is a plus. 2. Candidate should have a working knowledge of grounds equipment, tools, and material. 3. Applicant must have ability to walk for long periods of time, twist, kneel, push, stoop, climb ladders; work in inclement weather; as well as lift and carry up to 100 pounds. 4. Knowledge of OSHA and safety requirements related to performing janitorial duties. 5. Must be available for emergency work. (Continued on page 30)

Please Visit The Bartow Administration Oﬃce To See All Jobs Posted.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Overcoming 15 Years of Illegal, Questionable, Costly Practices – Part 1 Director’s Viewpoint

Bernard Cylich First Vice President

Since CTSAH candidates won leadership of the Board in June 2014, illegal, questionable, and costly practices were stopped. Four years ago on November 17, 2014 Riverbay’s general manager Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc. (MSI) was suspended, ending 15 years, from September 1999 through November 2014, of the company managing our co-op. They were suspended for: 1. Employing Riverbay’s Risk Manager to perform work on Riverbay’s time, property, and equipment for their other properties. 2. Violating (FLSA), the Federal Labor Standards Act, which precipitated a labor lawsuit against Riverbay which was negotiated down from a $40M to a $6.5M suit. 3. Failing to provide proper managing bonding as required by New York State Division of Housing and Renewal (HCR) Also suspended was the risk manager. Left With An Enormous Burden to Overcome MSI 15 year record: Soon after they were hired in 1999, Riverbay’s $60M reserves was depleted. Because of depleted reserves, MSI appealed in 2003 with New York State Housing Finance Agency for a 5-year, $6M loan to finance the black-topping of the Greenway as a parking lot for cars displaced from garages closed because of falling concrete. And by spring of 2014, Riverbay was left with zero cash. They signed off on insurance contracts worth $80M over 10 years, with neither bidding, nor review and approval by the Board. In 2002, the Board approve an elevator contract to replace all 160 elevators. Under MSI supervision, the contractor installed 160 wrong elevator motors. This will now cost Riverbay $40M to replace. MSI recommended that the Board approve a $67M contract to upgrade our power plant to tri-generation with a contractor that had no known experience in such work; the cost ballooned to $97M. MSI failed to prevent then-Board President Iris Baez from allowing a painting/plastering company to

engage in a month-to-month purchase order arrangement. Federal investigators exposed the deal as a kickback bribery scheme that landed the former Board president in jail. In violation of a unit price-rate painting contract, MSI permitted, without Board approval, changing the contractor’s billing to 60-foot minimum, thus overcharging Riverbay by nearly $1M. MSI, with no experience nor knowledge of power plant operation, sold the Board on a $10 million scheme to replace an old, inefficient, and polluting boiler with a new, high-pressure one. They contracted three separate entities, rather than following the more accepted practice of using one turn-key contract: an engineering firm to design the boiler, a prefab company to manufacture it, and a third company to install it. Everything that could go wrong did. Instead of an $8M turn-key project, it will cost Riverbay close to $13M and four years behind schedule. Under MSI’s watch, a director of restoration, a foreman, and Iris Baez arranged for several Riverbay employees to clock in at Riverbay in the morning, load a truck with Riverbay construction materials, and then travel to an offsite location to perform work for their private PRI firm. Then, at the end of the workday, the employees returned, clocked-out at Riverbay’s expense (Documented in court deposition by Stadium’s foreman in the kick-back bribery case). Under the management company’s watch, our apartment waiting list was compromised, permitting the illegal selling of apartments out of waiting-list order. As reported by New York State Inspector General - 2007 - MSI gave out sports tickets, jobs, and other desirable “gifts” to Board members and their relatives. Also reported, in violation of HCR, MSI recommended for Board approval, a $47 million no-bid contract to restore garages, even though the company was barred from NYC work. Again the cost ballooned, this time to over $100M. Subsequently, MSI asked the Board for an additional $10M paymen t f or a n o n, p re approved change order

to that contractor — a 20 percent increase in the contract—despite objections from then-Board treasurer Cleve Taylor. Since the departure of MSI, Co-op City has become a vibrant, thriving community. Below are some of our most significant accomplishments: An Unmatched Impressive Financial Record • Under the leadership of President Cleve Taylor and continuing under President Linda Berk, and since July 2016 under Douglas Elliman ’s Executive General Manager Bob Klehammer, Riverbay has increased its cash reserve from $900,000 to $92M, including a $52M savings from operations alone. • We stopped a costly hot water leak near Cooper Townhouses with a new, silver-lining technology, saving the corporation close to $1M. • Additional $300,000/year income from rental of empty storage spaces. • Latest: Power Plant – stand-by credit, ability to shed load, and export power earned Riverbay $4.4M. • Reduced Federal Taxes by $440,000. • Payroll cuts and combining departments, to date, saved $4.6M. • A new management contract – $2M/year saved. • Pre-paid water bills – $1.6M/year saved • Successfully switched from gas to oil on short notice, saving $5M • New power plant water treatment facility saved Riverbay $650,000/annually • Reduced insurance cost by $500,000 and twoyear rate lock on our property insurance • Commercial rents for new and renewed leases raised to market rates earned $900,000. • Introducing 21st Century technology in the Board elections saving $100,000/year. • In 2016, we were able to avoid any increase in carrying charges. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

New Procedures For Disposal Of Electronics

Shareholders disposing of most large electronics must bring them down to the basement area designated for bulk garbage as a state law which became effective on January 1, 2015 makes it illegal for these items to be discarded with regular trash. As a result of this e-waste ban, Sanitation workers no longer collect electronics left at curbside. Here in Co-op City, even though garbage is picked up from the residential buildings and the dumpster pads throughout the community by Riverbay workers and taken to the Peartree garbage facility from where Sanitation picks up and carts away the community’s garbage, this law makes it illegal for most electronics to be discarded along with regular trash, so it has to be separated out. The Environmental Protection Agency has pointed out that electronics are the fastest growing category of solid waste in the United States and they contain both valuable and harmful material in which case it is very important that they are recycled responsibly. Prior to this law going into effect in 2015, Co-op City residents placed their unwanted electronics either in the designated areas in the basements of their buildings or at the dumpster pads for Riverbay workers to pick them up. However, large electronics being disposed of must now be brought to the basement of the residential buildings and placed in the designated bulk garbage areas, not to the dumpster pads. Residents in the townhouses will continue to place their e-waste (electronic waste) at their respective dumpster pads for pick up by Riverbay. Once the electronics have been picked up by Riverbay, they are taken to the Peartree garbage facility where they are sorted and placed in bins for the city’s Sanitation Department to pick up. According to the city’s Department of Sanitation website, electronics covered under the e-waste ban are: • Computers, including items such as tablets and e-readers. • Televisions, as well as cathode ray tubes. • Small Scale Servers. • Computer peripheral, which include monitors, electronic keyboards, electronic mice or similar pointing devices, facsimile machines; document scanners and printers. • TV peripherals, such as VCR’s, Digital Video Recorders, DVD players, Digital Converter boxes, Cable or Satellite Receivers and electronic or video game consoles • Portable devices, including Portable Digital Music Players, tablets and e-readers (considered computers).

Happy Holidays! Co-op City Barbershop and Hair Salon ALL STYLES Haircuts:

In Memoriam – Gary Schwartz

Mr. Gary Schwartz, president of the Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City, passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Gary assumed the position of president a few years ago. He ran the organization and organized a number of initiatives, including: • Organizing the synagogue’s fundraising events • He was a sabbath member of the Minyan (the 10 men needed to run the services) • Officiated over Bingo • Ensured that the synagogue was prepared for all events • Shopped for the supplies needed to maintain the synagogue • Helped any member who needed assistance Gary was the treasurer of the Men’s Club of Traditional Synagogue. In this capacity, he: • Managed the finances of the club • Planned and organized the Atlantic City trips. Everyone who joined us on these trips knew and respected Gary for his caring and concern for the comfort of his guests. Gary will be sorely missed by all who knew him. May he rest in peace. On behalf of the Traditional Synagogue congregation, we send our condolences to Gary’s wife, Debby; his two sons, Howard and Steven; and the rest of his family. May they know no more sorrow. —Bruce Gitelson

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Standing with the Real Majority of Cooperators Director’s Viewpoint

Rod Saunders Second Vice President I did not in any way speak up for, or vote to accept, the last offer made by NYC Council member Andy King, enabling the councilman’s affirmative vote on the Land Use Committee Application 180346 PSX. As chair of the Riverbay Board’s Legislative Committee, I never sat in on any meeting to discuss any of the proposals made by Councilman King. As the Education Committee chair, I never sat in on any conference to discuss any relevant issues being proposed for N.E. Bronx Education Park. As the president of the not-for-profit Riverbay Fund, and as a member of the Riverbay Board, who voted with the minority to keep the former movie theater/bingo hall for our own use, I was not informed of the availability of the premises until after Councilman King was. When I was sent a copy of Councilman King’s press release prepared directly after he and the NYC Council voted “Yes” for the construction of the proposed animal shelter at the 2050 Bartow Avenue site, I was really disappointed. The release went on further to state: “Co-op City residents are won over by new plan that adopts quality of life ideas.” That’s impossible. Not unlikely, not improbable, not even possible – impossible! From how many people, and when could anyone have possibly gotten that impression? The Riverbay Board of Directors did not meet to discuss or negotiate any terms of the councilman’s offering as elected representatives of the shareholders. The Board asked this community to stand with it in opposition to the proposed construction of an animal shelter here in Co-op City. The community did exactly that, all the way. Many residents of our community gave their commitment of time, their energy, and most importantly – their voices in opposition to the proposed animal shelter. Don’t our cooperators deserve the same

respect from its leaders that every one of us were demanding from the Mayor’s Office and NY City Council? I firmly believe that when we ask our community to stand with us, then we should stand with them. If there is a need to negotiate for a better position, then the community should have a voice in the choice of acceptance or denial. For all of you who think you know better, this is how you lose the backbone of a community – Make our voices not matter when they absolutely should! In my opinion, and in this instance, being politically pragmatic, and capitulating completely, is tantamount to the same thing. I will not vote to accept the offered Memorandum of Understanding specifically because it was not negotiated and approved by those who came out in opposition to the animal shelter. Of the proposed 14 listed quality of life issues, only seven apply directly to the “Host” community – Co-op City; six are targeted for Council District 12 (Councilman King’s) communities west of I-95, and one is targeted for Council District 12, and Lehman College, which is City Councilman Andy Cohen’s District 11 (Riverdale, Fieldston, Van Cortland Park area). While the proposal to accept a Beacon Program at Truman H.S. sounds great, a Beacon Program will continue to attract youngsters from outside of Co-op City. Should the city consider providing the funds to Truman H.S. and create a Magnet program there, this would undoubtedly attract more Co-op City youngsters into the building because of even more of the outstanding academic programs that Truman already offer. In my opinion, a much better offer. • Rezoning the northeast corner of Bartow Avenue & Baychester Avenue from a C7, to a C4 like the surrounding commercial zoning districts, and a promise to expedite the removal of the existing illegal signs. The lawyer for the mini-mall has already expressed what he would do should the city attempt to do that. • Putting a new signalized intersection at the newly proposed off-ramp from the Hutchinson River Parkway North.

• Bus off-loading for the Ed Park schools. Parking alone isn’t the problem. Staggering the opening of each of the five schools’ hours, as well as the discontinuance of bringing so many students from outside of the schools’ zoned district would greatly reduce the traffic nightmare every school day on Baychester Avenue. • Playgrounds for P.S. 153, M.S. 180 & 181. • Breakfast for Seniors • Renovation of the former movie theater/bingo hall for a long term lease to an outside not-for-profit. What are you getting here that Co-op City shouldn’t get based upon the taxes we pay to the city every year, and the subsidizing of some $24 million of extras that we have provided for years. Once again, the city government is saying to Co-op City that they offer us a $60+ million facility, offer us about 10% in related trade-offs, to accept the building of a complex for animals over our children. There’s no precedent here, the political world is just going about its business of handling Co-op City in the same manner that they’ve been accustomed to since the mid 1980’s. The accepted political playbook has always found success using the divide and conquer model. In my opinion, the combination of the last minute compliance with allowing the community to weigh in on a plan that has been in motion for some three years now was well conceived, and basically sealed the fate of the inevitable. Unfortunately, the age old technique is alive and well. Co-op City was not made an offer; instead, we were handed incentives, perks were given to our neighboring community, and for good measure, they threw in a third party community (Lehman College sound system), and that way, you diminish the effectiveness of the “host” community’s opposition. I thought we were past that, but obviously, the tactic never gets old. Again, I will proudly stand with our cooperators who came out, spoke up, and said no each and every time. Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I can be reached at rsaunders@riverbayboard.com.

Co-op City Working Families Behind the Scenes with… Martha Ayon Tuesday, November 27, in Section 5, Einstein Center, room 35, we’ll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the world of elected office with Martha Ayon, campaign manager for Jumaane Williams. Jumaane came “this close” in his primary run for NYS Lieutenant Governor. As NY1 guest pundit Mike Morey said after the September Democratic primary tally, “Jumaane Williams has shown he’s a star. He might not have won tonight but … he probably has, in the palm of this hand, many offices of his choosing if he decides to run again.” His “victorious defeat” (at least the victorious "so close to a win" part) was due in no small part to the efforts of Martha Ayon — the first woman of color to run a statewide campaign. Martha will come by to give us some behind-the-scenes insight into running a campaign and running for office. For any and all with political aspirations, this is a don’t-miss opportunity. Bright Blue Election 2018 The wonderful Blue Wave swept across the nation as promised. That wave also washed away the necessary amount of legislative RED in New York State. Tish James is the new NYS Attorney General so it’s time to get busy helping to elect the most progressive candidate possible to replace her, early next year, as the NYC Public Advocate. Many progressive candidates are running. What’s that mean? It means it’s time to mount yet another Candidates’ Forum and/or debate right here in Co-op City, probably in January. Who’s in?

The Co-op City Working Families Mission As a political party, and as the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, Working Families works to elect the most progressive candidates possible who will stand in the way of all regressive legislation. As a civic action group, Co-op City Indivisible (an aspiring Co-op City certified community organization) promotes progressive causes. As Co-op City WF/Indivisible members, we do both. We embrace progressive values by modeling inclusion, respect, and fairness in all of our actions; we work to make Co-op City a stronger community; and we insist that our representatives serve as our voice in Co-op City, in the Bronx, in Albany, and in Washington, D.C. Next Meeting Working Families meetings (except for December) are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Though your presence and your ideas are most important to us, dues are always welcome. And remember, you don’t have to have a family or a job to join us, you can be single and retired and still join Working Families/Indivisible Co-op City. Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 27, in Section 5, Einstein Center, room 35, at 7:00 p.m., where we will start planning the future. Immediately following the general membership meeting, meet guest speaker Martha Ayon for her political insight. All progressives are welcome. And there will be cake! —Mary Pearson

Co-op City 50th Anniversary Gala Special pricing for Certified Community Organizations If you are a certified community organization in Co-op City; tickets, tables and journal ads may be purchased at a discount for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Gala. For more information, call: 347-913-4226.

If your Co-op City Times was not delivered... Call 347-439-5632 on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Co-op Insurance The Wright Agency: Serving Co-op City for 37 years!

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Thanking Our Shareholders For Their Support on Animal Shelter

Are we going to get a commitment for more money? Do we have a say as to what amenities we need or are seeking? Is this for the community or open to other entities? Treasurer It will take the approval of Wells Fargo, HUD and HCR to approve, along with community input. If the Dear fellow shareholder, City of New York is going to commit to providing us While I am disappointed at the City Council’s voting with a Arts and Music Youth Center as they stated, it for the animal shelter, I want to thank the community for should be as good as the YMCA they are building at coming out and expressing your concerns. We had com- Edenwald where they will have athletic facilities, wellmunity residents and non-residents for the animal shel- ness and improvement classes, and after-school activiter and a healthy amount of residents against it. I am ties for all ages, something for everybody. This will standing firm in my “NO” commitment for an animal afford us the ability to build a stronger and sustainable shelter as this cannot be about what the Mayor wants, Co-op City for everyone. I have become more leery but what a community needs, not what someone else than ever of promises that are given and not necessarily wants. kept, but I am hopeful. The Memorandum of Understanding that has been The fight is never over. As a community, we must put forth addresses the commitments that were made not all in Co-op City, but made encompassing 16 items, some of which I mentioned in my earlier viewpoint. This is the compromise we were given, a compromise that falls short since many of these items were things we advocated for and never got until the animal shelter became an issue. The proposal of an Arts and Music Youth programming in Co-op is being discussed committing $2 million for the renovation of the Bingo Hall as a possible location. The Bingo Hall, per Wells Fargo, our mortgage lender, is earmarked as an income- producing commercial property which we thought we had a tenant for, but the negotiations fell through. I believe it will take $1 million just to renovate, therefore, more money would eventually be needed to outfit it into a youth center and possibly something that families can take part in.

Director’s Viewpoint

Sonia Feliciano

always stick together, whether through your vote or coming out and expressing your concerns or whether you have children or don’t. We are a family that must reflect on fostering a shared responsibility through engagement. Announcement On November 21, the United Methodist Church of Co-op City is inviting the community to attend their Thanksgiving luncheon located at 2350 Palmer Avenue (Section 5) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Flyers have been posted in the lobby bulletin boards. It is a way to get out and meet people and just have a good time with others. There is no cost to attend. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Any concerns, please write to me at 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475, email: SFeliciano@riverbaycorp.com or call me at 971-992-7311. Shareholders First -- We Matter!

Building 30 A and B Association

I hope all those who attended the association’s Halloween party had a great time. The association greatly appreciates all of those who helped out. Our itinerary for the rest of November is as follows: Building Association Meeting: Our next building association meeting will be on Wednesday, the 14th, in the association room in the lobby of Building 30B. The door opens at 7 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting, we will discuss the Holliday Party, and decorations. Decorating: We will be decorating on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 24, starting at 1 p.m. PoKeno: Our next PoKeno game is Friday, November 16, with the door opening at 7 and games starting at 7:30 p.m. —Linda Werner

Elevator Emergencies On Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 22, 2018

On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, UNITEC mechanics will be on emergency call back only, not on-site. They will only respond to true elevator emergencies, such as entrapment, no elevators service in a building, elevator stuck with door open, burning smell, scraping sounds, excessive vibrations and water flooding in elevator car or pit. Emergency calls will be dispatched by the Riverbay emergency desk. For key or other retrieval on Thanksgiving Day, the holiday rate of $325 will be in effect. If you can wait until after the holiday, the charge will be a nominal $25 fee. —Riverbay Management

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Submission Of 2013 NYS Income Tax Transcripts

Shareholders who were notified by Riverbayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finance Department that the state supervisory agency, NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), requires a transcript of their 2013 NYS Income Tax Return to verify information they reported on their annual Income Affidavit, have 60 days from receipt of that letter to submit the transcript to Riverbay. It has been reported that some shareholders are not receiving the transcripts in a timely manner from the NYS Taxation Department. Please note that it takes 30 days for the NYS Taxation Department to process and return this request regardless of whether you make the request for the transcript by phone after going through a verification process whereby you are asked a series of questions by the Tax Department personnel, or if you mail in your request using the form included with your notification letter. The phone number to contact the state Taxation Department is 518-4575181. If you requested a transcript of your 2013 NYS Income Tax Return and have not yet heard back from the Tax Department, you are urged to call the number above immediately and ask for a status update on your request. Riverbay is aware of the situation and urges shareholders who received the letter to be mindful of how much time it takes the Tax Department to respond to these requests. Please make every effort to address this matter as expeditiously as possible. Failure to comply with the request will result in a 50% surcharge being added to your account for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, plus an administrative fee of $150, as required by state statute. # $ %# !$ % % % # %# !$ % % % %" % # $ % $ % " %#!%# % " % "" % # % " !# ! %#!%# % " %! $ $%# $% !%#% $ %$ # $ %" % #! # % ! %! $% $# $%" % $ " % "" $ #!" % " $% " # ! % # % $# %!"%#% $ % $# $ % $! % " %!" $! $ %!" # $% " " % ! %#% $# $ % " ! %% ) ('%&$ # ! $ !

SAFETY NEWS ALERT I Have to Drive in the Snow: Now What?

Snow tends to be best enjoyed from indoorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not out on the road. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to avoid driving in the snow if you can, but if you must get behind the wheel, follow these tips to have a safe journey. Be Prepared The time to prep your car for snowy weather is not after itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already been snowing. Get your car ready for harsh winter weather ahead of time, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not scrambling at the last second. If you live in an area where it snows a lot, you might want to think about buying snow tires. Otherwise, you can purchase snow chains and apply them to your tires if necessary. Slow Down Hopefully this one is obvious: if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re traveling on slippery or slushy roads, you should reduce your speed. Speed limits are based on ideal conditions, and if you are driving through heavy snow, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to be able to go as fast as you would on a clear, warm day. Allow yourself more time to get to your destination if you must drive in the snow. Increase Following Distance In addition to slowing down, you should allow for more distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. The normal following distance rule of 3 to 4 seconds should become 8 to 10 seconds in winter weather. This will make it easier to stop if you need to. Use Your Headlights When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re driving in the snow, you should have your headlights on. This will improve your visibility and allow other drivers to see you. Just be sure that you keep your headlights clean so you are getting the most use out of them. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Slam On Your Brakes Unfortunately, skidding and slipping are common occurrences in snowy weather, and when you find yourself losing control of your car, the natural inclination is to brake hard. But slamming on the brakes actually makes things worse: it causes your tires to lose traction, making it even more difficult for you to control the vehicle. Instead of immediately hitting the brakes, ease off the accelerator when you feel the car start to skid. This will allow the car to slow down on its own. If your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS), you should brake steadily; if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have ABS, pump the brakes quickly. Drive with Plenty of Gas During the winter, you should always drive with at least half a tank of gas. This will prevent your gas line from freezing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smart to have this much gas in the car anywayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to get stranded somewhere in the snow! Be sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fueling up regularly so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not taking any chances.

MetroCard Bus To Visit Co-op City Next Month

The MetroCard Bus will visit all three Co-op City locations next month giving customers the chance to sign up for or refill their Reduced-Fare MetroCard, purchase or add money to an existing Metrocard, and purchase E-Z Pass On the Go tags. On Thursday, December 6, and again on Thursday, December 20, the MetroCard bus will be at the Bartow Mall on Co-op City Blvd. (in front of the Bingo Hall and the eyecare center), from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; at Dreiser Loop (Park on Debs Place) from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and at Einstein Loop (Elgar Place) from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. MTA New York City Transit advises its customers that there are two kinds of traveling MetroCard Service Centers: the MetroCard Bus and the MetroCard Van. Both vehicles make regularly scheduled stops in all five boroughs each month. The MetroCard Bus, which stops in Co-op City, travels around the city, stopping at senior citizen centers, shopping centers and along major bus routes. Customers can handle all of their MetroCard needs, whether it is applying for or refilling a Reduced-Fare MetroCard, buying or refilling a regular MetroCard or asking MetroCard-related questions. Senior citizens and people with disabilities may apply for the Reduced-Fare MetroCard on the Bus. They will need photo ID and seniors must show proof of age (at least 65 years old). The MetroCard Van, like the Bus, travels around the city with helpful onboard staff ready to sell Unlimited and Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards, add money to regular and Reduced-Fare MetroCards and answer questions. Reduced-Fare MetroCard applications are available. EZ Pass On The Go tags are also available for purchase on both the Bus and the Van. The MetroCard Bus and Van do not operate on the following holidays: New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Customers may also want to explore the EasyPay Reduced-Fare payment option. EasyPay lets customers link to their credit or debit card to their ReducedFare MetroCard so it refills automatically. For more MetroCard information, please visit the MTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.mta.info and click on Fares and Tolls.

CO-OP CITY FOOT CARE CENTER SECTION 5 â&#x20AC;˘ BUILDING 29C

4240 HUTCHINSON RIVER PARKWAY EAST

(718) 671-2233 DR. LOUIS JACOBS, DIRECTOR ALL FOOT CONDITIONS TREATED

The in-office surgical correction of BUNIONS â&#x20AC;˘ HAMMERTOES â&#x20AC;˘ INGROWN TOENAILS PAINFUL CORNS and CALLOUSES

The treatment of traumatic foot injuries, heel spurs, bursitis and arthritis of the joints of the feet, toenail and skin infections, as well as other conditions.

Most Union and Insurance Plans Accepted. HIP CMO (Montefiore) Health Plan Accepted. We participate in Postal Workers, Mail Handlers, Letter Carriers, Verizon Workers, 1199, GHI, Blue Shield, Empire Plan, Medicare, Travelers, United Health Care and many other union and major medical plans. Se Habla EspaĂąol MEDICARE ACCEPTED â&#x20AC;˘ HOUSE CALLS BY APPOINTMENT

Diabetic Patients with Medicare may be eligible for shoes.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Director’s Viewpoint

Mary Pearson Secretary

Building 11 and Building 33 are faced with huge challenges and inconvenience. Please lend our friends and neighbors a hand while they and the corporation deal with these challenges. Compromises and Promises I’m officially all-in. I unequivocally consider this animal shelter compromise to be a great deal. Sure, we could have held out for more or we could have stood our ground long enough to have wound up with nothing. Co-op City isn’t the only neighborhood that gets voted against in ULURP cases, you know. I attended a progressive gathering Monday for NYC Public Advocate contenders, and all you heard was ULURP this and ULURP that from candidates and attendees alike. (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure). Make no mistake. We are not the final decision makers when it comes to a citywide or a boroughwide issue. Still, just look what we’re getting. 1. A re-start-up of the Beacon after-school program at Truman High. 2. A brand new Co-op City Community Cultural Co-operative and Youth Performance Arts Center: Concerts, stage plays, lectures and films – from family fare to midnight screenings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. From Saturday morning double feature kiddie drop-off to Single-Mingle for the not-so-young adult set. 3. 1000-square feet of free space inside the shelter building, perhaps housing a computer lab setup for all: senior mornings, after-school afternoons, evening study hall. Even turn some of it into office space to administer our Youth Theatre right across the street. That adds up to three new activity spots for our young people and for the rest of us. A Youth Center will finally become a reality after decades of fighting. Remember, after seven years of trying, the Bingo Hall was finally rented. But then the lessee backed

A Time for Giving Thanks

out. The stars are finally aligning. According to the timeline, we need to come up with a viable plan by December 1st to find a qualified nonprofit to administer the “Bingo Hall” program. I say we have the finest of non-profits right here. With paid renovations and a bit of seed money, the Riverbay Fund, in its current and former incarnation as The Northeast Bronx Cultural Center, is more than capable of keeping the space humming for generations to come. We’ve done it before, we’re doing it now, and we’ll continue to do it, but even better. Co-op City is filled with people with unlimited experience of working with young people – through the arts and through every other imaginable nourishing way. Endless possibilities! But wait. There’s more! 4. A “Killer Curve” fix-up is in the works. Not only will those unsightly mismatched, embarrassing Jersey barriers be dealt with, plans are underway to construct a traffic-alleviating ramp off the Hutchinson River Parkway. 5. Westward-facing Building 15 residents! Reportedly, you may be able to say goodbye and good riddance to your view of that monopole. 6. Drivers, you’ll soon make that turn off Connor Street onto the I-95 South service road thanks to a brand new time-saving signaling traffic light. 7. Small fry in our public schools will no longer struggle with 50 year-old plumbing. 8. Seniors, how does free breakfast from JASA sound? Get out of the house, have your breakfast, participate in something or other, and socialize till lunch and beyond. But what if these promises fall short or don’t last indefinitely? What if Beacon only lasts 5 years? That’s five years of critical change for each of those kids who gets the opportunity. What if JASA breakfasts are short lived? Elders get another meal a day for as long as it does last. The only way we get anything is to choose to trust our current legislators, not by threatening their jobs and sitting around and wishing and hoping new legislators will make all our dreams come true – eventually. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get that all-weather domed recreational space

National Council Of Negro Women

NCNW 58th National Convention – Last weekend, from Friday, November 9, to Sunday, November 11, at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street, N.W. Washington, DC, some of our Co-op City officers and members took part in our 58th National Convention. This was a convocation of the over 250 sections of NCNW worldwide. Members convened to examine strategies which address the issues that most directly impact the quality of life for women throughout the African diaspora; economic security, health, NCNW members at the National Convention in Washington, DC education and civic engagement. Guests who were hon- Home. As the holiday season approaches, we will list ored on Saturday, November times when you can support the “spirit of giving” by 10, at our Gala were Dr. Bev- dropping off items that Santa Claus can deliver to erly Tatum, President Emerita these children. Book Club – Our Book Club has a great selection for of Spelman College and the Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr., early 2019. We will be reading and discussing “An 58th Attorney General of the American Marriage” by Tayari Jones on January 12, United States. American Idol 2019. On February 9, 2019, we will be reading “For winner Ruben Studdard per- Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” by formed. The most significant Donna Brazile, Yolanda Caraway and others. The Lori Melton with former news from this convention young adult (teen) title has not been selected yet but US Attorney General Eric was the election of Dr. Joh- stay tuned for this book title. Holder Vacation Travel – Watch this space for information netta Cole, past president of both Bennett College and Spelman College, as well as, about our “Cruise to Bermuda” the first week in August the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National 2019. Since this time slot coincides with the school Museum of African Art as the new National Chair of vacation schedules we’re hoping that families may be NCNW replacing the outgoing National Chair Ingrid able to enjoy this vacation together. Saunders Jones. Social Media – Remember you can find us on FaceHoliday Collection for Children – We will soon book: NCNWCoopcity Bethune; Twitter: @NCNbe calling on our neighbors and friends in the Co-op WCoop City; Instagram: NCNW Co-op City and email: City community to support our efforts to brighten the www.ncnwco.opcity@gmail.com. —Joyce Howard spirits of the children in the Phipps Neighborhood

for tennis, basketball, and whatnot, down the road. But right now, look what’s already heading our way by saying “yes” and by noticing the word promise is right there in compromise. Blue Wave/Pink Wave I often say, that in a district as economically diverse as ours, politicians go to the poorest areas for photoops and to the wealthiest areas for donations, but all a middle income community such as ours has to offer is votes. That’s our only capital. We had fallen way behind in recent years, but this year, we’ve stepped up our game at the polls. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Board of Elections’ performance, especially here in Co-op City, what with our polling place musical chairs situation. At least the polling place reminder flyers that were hung in every lobby – with lots of assistance from Michelle Sajous of Community Relations and Danielle O’Connor from the Garage Department – helped out somewhat. We’ll be needing updated versions of those poll-pointing flyers again very soon. But worry not, I kept templates of all 42 of them to hang back up in January or February. That’s when we’ll need to find our way back to the polls to vote for our next Public Advocate. You know why? Because Letitia “Tish” James, our current PA, must step down in January 2019. Yes, the pink part of that blue wave that swept across the nation and the state, swept in NYS Attorney General-Elect Tish James, making her the first woman and the first African American to serve in that position. Election 2018 was a huge day of firsts for women, especially in the US Congress: first Muslim woman, first Native American woman, youngest woman, and as Massachusetts' first black congresswoman, Ayanna Pressley, said in her acceptance speech, “None of us ran to make history; we ran to make change.” Meet change-maker Tish James, up close and personal at the Gala on December 10th. She’s the keynote speaker and guest of honor. I hear tickets are still available. How can that be! Thanks for reading. 718-219 2211; mpearson@riverbayboard.com.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Retirees Of Dreiser Loop “Give thanks for each new morning with its light, for rest and shelter of the night, for health and food, for love and friends, for everything thy goodness sends.” Happy Thanksgiving! —Ralph Waldo Emerson • Hold the Date. The Retirees’ Holiday Party on Thursday, December 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will be at Marina del Rey. Price: $85, which includes transportation plus free admission to the Spring Bash in April 2019. Contacts are Daisy Y-Anderson/Beverly Waller who can be reached at 718-3790377, or see them in Retirees’ room 19, Dreiser Loop Community Center, after 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Travel Events: (price includes Lorant coach bus; located on Dreiser Loop, in front of H&R Block) • Jan. 10 & 11, 2019 (Thurs. & Fri.), FOXWOOD & MOHEGAN SUN, CT. Price: Double: $130/single: $175. Deposit: double: $65/single: $90. Balance due: Mon., Dec. 3. Contacts: Serita Grayson, 347-564-5722/Barbara Williams, 718-320-0500. • Mar. 21, 2019 (Thurs.), Sands Casino, Report, PA. Price: $40. Contacts: Serita Grayson, 347-564-5722/Barbara Williams, 718-320-0500. • Apr. 9, 2019 (Tues.), Hunterdon Hills Playhouse Theatre. Price: $85. Deposit: $45. Balance: $40 due by Monday, March 18th. Contacts: Serita Grayson, 347-564-5722/Barbara Williams, 718-320-0500. Theatre Committee: (price includes van transport, from Dreiser Loop across from rehab center) • Jan. 23, 2019 (Wed.), “American Son,” a riveting drama starring Kerry Washington at the Booth Theatre. Show: 2 p.m. Price: $142. Deposit ASAP, $65; Balance, $77, due by Jan. 3, 2019. Contact: Dorothy Lindo, 718-379-0314. Remember – Your deposit (and final payment) in the form of a check/money order payable to Retirees Of Dreiser Loop, along with your name and telephone number, is required to reserve your trip &/or theatre seat. NO cash accepted. Committee members will be available in the Dreiser clubroom 19 (718-3790377) on Mondays and/or Thursdays, after 2:00-5:00 p.m. Good And Welfare Get well soon and best wishes for a speedy recovery to Larry Stevens and Gladys S. Williams. To members and friends still under the weather, know that you are thought of warmly and wished brighter days. Call Josephine Flowers, 718-320-0539, regarding illnesses and bereavements. Join us on our next Jazz Up Your Health With A Senior Spa Day – date to be announced. Call Claudette D, 718-379-4784/Hattie L, 718-671-8449, if interested in joining us. Attention! The Retirees need experienced part-time freelance drivers with a CDL license with passenger endorsement with at least 3 years’ experience and a clean driving record. This volunteer position requires transporting members and friends safely to and from special events within the Bronx, as well as, to outer boroughs. Stipend can be expected for each trip. Please call C. Davis at 718-3794784 and leave your name, telephone number and a brief message. —Claudette Davis

Congratulations, Hall of Famer, Matthew Miller!

Co-op City Sports

On Saturday, Nov. 10, Co-op City teen Matthew Miller was inducted into the International Black Belt Hall of Fame for his Outstanding Achievements in Martial Arts at

the organization’s 31st annual celebration held in Pittsburgh, PA. He is photographed above (5th from right) with the Board of Directors of the 2018 Global International Leadership Conference, and with his proud parents, Andrene and Michael Miller. Congratulations and best wishes for many more achievements to Matthew!

MATTRESS DISPOSAL The City of New York requires all residents to fully cover all mattresses 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 in a $100 fine imposed by the City. In addition, Co-op City residents who violate this rule may be subject to a Community Complaint with related fines and legal fees. (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 / November 17, 2018

Accentuate the Positive

years, and although this part of the deal is not exactly what we wanted, many felt that it would be foolish to Francine Reva Jones allow this building to go vacant any longer. I agree with them and hope you do too. Assistant Secretary Just outside of our community, some changes would include the following: Dear cooperators, • A left directional signal light at Conner Street I am just as disappointed as you about our coun- and Boston Road cilman’s decision to vote in favor of the Animal Care • Clean-up in the area under the Eastchester Bridge Shelter. We stood our ground believing that an aniBy the way, I have noticed a directional signal mal shelter should not exist in a no-pet community. light at Conner Street and Hollers Avenue that was However, it appears that the NYC Mayor’s Office not there two weeks ago. Our community must be was determined to win by offering a deal that our vigilant in following up to assure that all agreements councilman could not refuse. It involved the enhance- will be honored. ments in Co-op City, as well as in other areas of the Voter Turnout 12th District. The improvements to Co-op City The voter turnout was very good for the Noveminclude: ber 6th Midterm Elections. The Democrats wanted to • $3 million for a five-year Beacon after-school win the House and the Senate. At least they won the program at Truman HS to begin in 2019 House. There were three ballot proposals to amend • More funding for JASA to provide free break- the City Charter and a majority of voters supported fast for seniors them, including: • Fixing “killer curve” leading to Section 5 and 1. Campaign Finance – To lower the amount that building a ramp off of the Hutchinson River Parkway a candidate for city office may accept from a contrib• Rezoning the northeast corner of Bartow and Bay- utor to their campaign, increase the amount of public chester Avenues in order to dismantle the monopole funds available to participating candidates, and make • 1000 square feet of free space inside the shelter public funds available earlier. Candidates in the 2021 for the community to use as we choose election would have the choice of whether or not to • Improving the bus offloading area at P.S. 153 have the new limits apply to them. • Playground improvements at the Educational 2. Civic Engagement Commission – To create a Park schools Civic Engagement Commission that would central• $2 million to renovate the former Bingo Hall ize civic engagement initiatives, create a citywide The Nail Envy establishment recently reneged on participatory budgeting program, assist community the deal to rent the Bingo Hall. This building has boards, and provide language interpreters throughout been empty for more than five years. The NY State the city on Election Day. Homes & Community Renewal refused to allow our 3. Community Boards – To change how commucommunity to use it for a youth center, stating that it nity boards throughout the city are run, by imposing should be rented to a revenue-earning entity. Cooper- term limits on appointees, changing the application ators have been fighting for a youth center for 20 and appointment process for community board mem-

Director’s Viewpoint

bers, and require the Civic Engagement Commission (if Question 2 is approved) to provide resources to community boards. Although many cooperators were confused by the changes in their voting venues, they got out there and tried to find the right place. I met a gentleman who complained that he had been sent to two different locations and after he voted at the Bartow Center, he said that that was the right place. Let’s keep up the momentum of voting and carry it over into our Riverbay Board elections in May, 2019. Also, I believe that New Yorkers must push for automatic registration and early voting. Thank you The African-American Association and the NCNW sold dinners and desserts at the Bartow Center voting site to help boost their organization’s coffers. They thank you for your support. Latin Jazz Affair The African-American Association will sponsor an afternoon of “Music for the Season” featuring the Steven Kroon band of live music. There will be space for dancing as well. This event will take place on Saturday, December 1, at 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the Bartow Community Center, room 31. For further details and information on attending, contact Ellen, 718-4157292 & 718-379-8748; or Cynthia, 917-903-7073. The Association urges you to support this organization that supports the community. Building Associations Please attend your building association meetings. It is where you can meet and greet your neighbors, as well as, obtain important information about your building and our community. Contact Should you have concerns that you wish to discuss, you may contact me at: fjones@riverbayboard.com or 718-671-5957.

If You See Something, Say Something!

African-American Association

Let’s Dance!!! On Saturday, December 1, the rhythmic sounds of Steven Kroon will captivate the few who will be blessed to attend this amazing event here in Co-op City. Steven Kroon historically combines Afro-Cuban Percussions, Brazilian Rhythms, Jazz and R&B like no one has ever come close to. It might be why such noted performers like Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, The Temptations, Luther Vandrous, Kenny G, Ron Carter, Spyro Gyra, Bette Midler, Gary Bartz and Paul Butterfield have tapped Kroon’s seemingly endless array of skills for their projects. This will definitely be a night to remember. We know you will want to dance all night at this event, but this event will be from 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. in Bartow, room 31. Tickets are $25, but if you are a paid member of The African-American Association, your ticket is only $20. You must have a ticket to enter (no exceptions). Tickets for the event are limited. None will be sold at the door. For tickets and information, contact: Ellen, 718-415-7292, or Cynthia, 917-9037073. Our next General Meeting will be held Monday, November 19. We will convene in room #15 in Dreiser Center at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend at 7 p.m. There will be announcements and important information available. Culture, economics, health and education will continue to be our focus in 2018/19. Portions of our meetings may be recorded in order to archive some events. Our new number for the African-American Association is 929-430-3255. It is time for membership dues. It is important that you remember that mem-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We welcome your letters to the editor, however, if you would like your letter to be considered for publication, it must be signed, and include your address and telephone number – which will be kept confidential – so the authenticity of the writer can be verified. The Co-op City Times does not print anonymous or unsigned letters.

bership dues are how we are able to run programs that inspire health, education and culture. Support your African-American Association. For more information, email us at aaaccpower@gmail.com. General Membership Meeting – The next meeting will be Monday, November 19. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please read our weekly column for updates. Also, if you wish to join or update your membership, please send a check or money order (DO NOT MAIL CASH) of $15 for a single membership or $25 for families to: African-American Association of Co-op City, P.O. Box 702, Co-op City Station, Bronx, NY 10475. Donations are welcomed. Like us on Facebook: CoopcityAfricanamericanassoc/email us at: aaaccpower@gmail.com. —Kevin Lambright

VISION CARE SPECIALIST

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

• COMPLETE VISION CARE - EYE EXAMINATION

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• CONTACT LENSES

High Fashion Frames on Premises. “Your Vision Health Is My Concern.” Much of Learning Is Done Through The Eyes. Insist on a Professional Eye Examination.

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7 18 - 3 7 9 - 8 0 2 9

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!

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Building 21 Association

Ask yourself… What if? Look at this incredibly marvelous property and ask yourself these questions… What if more people showed up at the building association meetings? What if we all were informed because we encouraged our new neighbors and existing shareholders to simply read the Co-op City Times once a week? What if you took the 30 seconds it takes to bend down, pick up the Co-op City Times, (i.e., left right by the elevators on each floor, each week) and placed them by your neighbors door? That’s called encouragement. What if you picked up your phone and dialed your CSO Office or CO-OP Security when there is something as little as a key broken off in the front or rear entrances to your building or you made a call when you see or hear anything that you know is not quite right? That’s called caring. What if you did just a little something? That’s integrity. Now multiply that by every shareholder. That’s called power. What if you stopped making excuses and showed up, so that this community can show off, just – how – special – it really is? Think Tank at Building 21 is in session every Friday at 8:30 p.m. This is where we take your ideas and empower each and every shareholder in Co-op City. THINK TANK at Building 21 is where we develop and make miracles and dreams come true, in the gathering room in the rear of the B-Section. A sincere shout-out to the great men of Co-op City. Your community needs your dreams, your strength and your fortitude. ALL are welcome. Come and bring a friend with you. Be a part of something to change your life and the lives of others for the better. Come and meet us at one of our gatherings. Now, ask yourself, what are you doing for your community to help make it better? Our next 21 Association gathering will be Friday, November 16. If you have any questions regarding the 21 Association, you have three ways of gaining information. Email your building association at 21association@gmail.com. Call your association at 347.504.1821. Attend the monthly meetings which are held in “The Gathering Room” in the rear of the B-Section at 7 p.m. FYI, all monies collected (i.e., annual dues, etc.) are turned in to our treasurer and installed in the association’s bank account. Each one of us, multiplied by all of us, equals a force for good. We are dedicated to the self-development and empowerment of every shareholder in Co-op City. We are passionate about our community. Don’t you share this positive energy and passion? Come join us at Building 21 sometime. See you around the neighborhood! —Michelle Marbury

Building 25 Association

Our 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala is upon us and we have learned that if you want to purchase a table for ten people, the cost will be reduced to $100 per person through our Building 25 Association. Further information will be available at our next meeting. Also after you have purchased your ticket whether through a group effort or as an individual, for your convenience, you can call 347-913-4226 to reserve a seat on the bus. Let’s pray for the people, firefighters and forest rangers in Southern and Northern California as they battle the worst wild fire in California’s history, so far the death toll is 31 (at the time of this writing). We would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving celebration. We wish all persons born in November a Happy Birthday, and for those who have been under the weather, we hope you get better soon. Our next meeting will be scheduled for November 20th at 7:30 p.m. If you cannot make it to meetings due to scheduling or other obstacles in your way, please log onto our building email address at building25ca@gmail.com and address your emails to any or all members of Building 25 Association. Friendly reminder, our building annual dues are $5 per family. We would like to thank the residents who have paid their annual dues. Dues are collected at our monthly meetings by Carol Eilets, treasurer, or Celeste Stukes, asst. treasurer. I will close with the following: “If you aren’t thankful for what you’ve got, you are unlikely to be thankful for what you are going to get.” —Frank A. Clark —Wanda Bailey

Building 22A & B Association

Association meeting on November 26 is the last meeting until January 28, 2019. Information about the lobby and maintenance staff gratitude collection will be on the bulletin board. Planned Activities December 15 is game night. Pokeno in the association room on the ‘B’ side at 6 p.m. January 19, 2019 — Trip to Resorts World Catskills. Cost $40 pp.; $20 rebate slot voucher and $10 food voucher. See bulletin board for more information. January 28, 2019 — Safety preparedness. All are welcome. Happy birthday to all. Prayers to all who lost loved ones. Get well greetings to the sick and shut-in. If you see something, say something. —Betty Leak

Broun Place Townhouse Association

Re: Election 2018, the count on a few positions goes on. Every ballot presented deserves to be counted if cast during the allowed timeframe. Congratulations to all who participated in our democratic process. The candidates who receive the most votes, get the job! The winners are all who participated in that process! In Broun Place, at the association meeting, no elections, but serious conversations on numerous problems linked to town homes. Thank you, Ms. Vanessa Aldea, director of CSO, and Mr. Victor Dickson, a CSO manager in the Bartow CSO, for attending our association meeting and enlightening our members about many issues, including, getting convector repairs, roof fans, bathroom heaters, and updated phone tree system forms. Neighbors, thank you for attending and join us again in the new year for the next meeting. One thing, Ms. Aldea noticed the discarded mattress in our dumpster pad. It was without a plastic cover. If it were possible to track that one to the original owner, he/she could receive a community complaint. Do not discard your mattress without it being wrapped. Speaking of following rules, our family disposed of our “like new” Weber grill. It was quickly rescued! Hope who ever has it will keep it clean and use it in a secure area. In our article last week, I congratulated Building 9 and their chair, Ms. Linda Collins, on securing a grant to gather historical memories and working with Iman Drammeh on an Oral History Project. Although it includes Ms. Drammeh, it is a grant secured for Building 9 exclusively. The event is a way to highlight seniors and honor the senior residents of the building. Items were donated and their room was set up with "nostalgia stations" around it. Congratulations to Building 9 and Ms. We had a full house at our last Linda Collins on this grant and its association meeting results. If you moved to Co-op City between 1968-1973, you are a pioneer and likely have a story to tell. Pioneers of Co-op City, call: 347-913-4226, and be part of the 50th anniversary celebration, the golden anniversary. Tell your story, offer memorabilia for the time capsule, or documentation representing history and become involved with this celebration. Our secretary, Reverend Grace Emanuel, “passed” this along to us: in support of higher education, Municipal Credit Union announces that they are accepting applications for their 2019 MCU Scholarship Program! This year, MCU will award $71,000 in scholarship grants to college-bound graduating high school seniors, including nine memorial scholarships worth $5,000 each and thirteen grants of $2,000 each, respectively. The deadline for scholarship submissions is end of business day on Friday, January 4, 2019. For more, go the MCU website. Please step-up to clean-up and show pride in our neighborhood. There are litter bins on the corners and in the basketball court. Let’s use those receptacles! And remember, if you see something, say something! Condolences and support to our neighbor, Thea Lowe, on the passing of her dear friend, resident of Co-op City, David Moses. —Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

We Voted!

Director’s Viewpoint

Daryl Johnson Call it frustration, anger, disgust, or whatever you want. But, our community took a stand and came out and voted on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Be Proud That You Voted Although it rained for almost the entire day, our community stood up and made a powerful decision to vote. Sure, the lines at the voting sites were long. Sure, most of the voting machines broke down. Regardless, our residents knew how important it was to vote on that historic day. As mentioned before, lots of activists had warned several politicians that they were going to be voted out of office. Then, to back up their claim, they shouted: “Wait till November. Wait till November. Wait till November.” Next, they used social media, the television, radio, newspapers, and other methods to get their message out about voting and pushing these folks out of office. And, as you can see, they were successful. Therefore, a lot of smart politicians will now think twice before taking their constituents for granted. In other words, they have no choice but to listen to people and make positive changes to benefit their communities. Previously, some people used to say that our residents don’t vote. But, guess what? They can’t prove that statement anymore. And, now, we have the power to install our own politicians to get what we need for our community. National Wholesale Liquidators - Closing The National Wholesale Liquidators store in the Peartree Mall will close their doors on November 30, 2018. Published reports state that they filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. And, now, they’re “winding down their operations.” At one time, NWL operated more than 50 stores. However, they closed several stores as they went through a previous chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2008. Then, as of February 2018, only 12 stores remained open in NY, NJ, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. NWL has a huge store in the Peartree Mall. So, unfortunately, a lot of businesses and people will be affected when this store closes.

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Sears and Kmart Closing 188 Stores before you click on any WiFi site. Sears used to operate 4,000 stores just 6 years ago. In another scam, thieves have set up phony collecAnd, now, they’ve announced that 46 stores will tion agencies to steal thousands of dollars from peoclose this month, November. Then, 142 stores will ple. First of all, thieves know that lots of people will close by the end of 2018. So, they will start off the be maxing out their credit cards during this holiday new year with less than 500 stores. However, the season. So, using a variety of methods, they will get Kmart store in Bay Plaza is not on the current list of access to a lot of credit reports. Then, that’s when the expected closures. calls and threats will start. “I’m going to sue you Previously, Sears used to make a tremendous today if you don’t send money to me,” is what they amount of money from their retail operations. And, will typically say. as you can imagine, part of their growth came from Then, they will ask the victim to make a payment their credit cards. Then, amazingly, Sears started by phone or through another method. So, please be making more money from their credit cards than careful if a so-called collection agency calls you. from their entire retail operations. Please think about Happy Thanksgiving this point if you have a store credit card or if a store Millions of people will be having a wonderful time offers their credit card to you. during this holiday season. But, some people might Holiday Scams take things too far by drinking an excessive amount of Some people are so anxious to use their phones alcohol or by taking illegal drugs and then driving on and electronic devices that they’re clicking on fake the road. So, please avoid them and drive carefully. WiFi sites. These sites were created by criminals to Also, please remember that some people might get steal your personal information. Plus, these scam- depressed during this holiday season. Therefore, it’s mers are making lots of money from their victims. possible that we can cheer them up for a moment just Scammers will set up their own fake WiFi systems by saying “Happy Thanksgiving” to them. So, please, and will advertise: ‘Free WiFi.’ Then, lots of people let’s do our best to treat people in a proper manner. will click on that site as soon as they see the word God is good! free. Thereafter, unsuspecting users will get access to Close these sites for a short period of time. Then, they will I hope and pray that everyone will have a Happy do their banking, shopping, and other activities Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season. And, online. And, that’s when the scammers will obtain please remember to not drink and drive. Thank you. their passwords and other personal information. Questions or comments? Please send a letter to: Then, these scammers can do a lot of damage with Daryl H. Johnson, Riverbay Board Director, c/o this information. Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, But, this scam gets even worse because these scam- NY 10475. mers will sometimes offer WiFi for, say, 24 hours for a Also, please call me at 718-671-4544 if you would small fee. Then, lots of users will use their credit card to like to have a discussion with me. Okay, that’s it for pay about $2 for this access. So, the scammers will have now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may access to lots of bank accounts and other personal infor- God bless you and your family. Thank you. mation. Plus, these scammers can make thousands of dollars from people that want to be connected to Greetings, neighbors. Fall is here, be careful of the warm days, dress accordingly. WiFi. General Meeting – For the association and cooperators will be Thursday, Lesson: You will be November, 15, at 7 p.m. Possible speaker will be posted on the fliers. Time to extremely angry if a thief celebrate turkey day. There will be raffles up for prizes, come and get your winuses your personal inforning ticket. mation, goes online, and Donations of Eyeglass Frames – Please bring them to the general meeting to steals money from your donate to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. bank account. So, please think about this matter Holiday Cheer – Christmas is upon us next month. Representatives from Building 27A, B and C will be accepting monetary donations on Thursday and Friday, December 6, and 7, respectively, 4 to 8 p.m. both days to give presentations to our porters, lobby attendants and postal clerk in acknowledgement and appreciation for the work that they do for our building throughout the year. Happy Birthday to all celebrating this month. The best of health to all. Contact Lydia Rondon at 718583-3040 to share news of an illness, and we offer our sympathy to the family if a neighbor has deceased. Pray for peace among the world leaders. At the end of the day, be nice, respectful and offer kindness to your neighbor, life is too short. “There is nothing A dignified funeral every family can afford. better than the encouragement of a good friend. – All areas are handicapped accessible K.B. Hathaway —H. Overman

Building 27 Association

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Baychester Visual Arts Association

Art classes are held on Tuesdays in room 5, Dreiser Community Center. Our next set of classes will begin on November 20. You can choose from the two class schedules which are 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. The fees are as follows: Annual membership is $35 a year and a session of 10 classes is $60. This is the best bargain in the Bronx – maybe even the city – given the quality of instruction offered. Mr. Moses Groves, BVA’s own art instructor, will be the artistic guide for these classes. Mr. Groves is an accomplished artist who has studied at the Art Students League and NYU. He has exhibited work in the New York and New Jersey area and has won awards for his artwork. You can call M. Groves at 201-862-0847 or S. Lochansky at 718-379-1049 for more information. We would like to invite artists interested in giving a paid demonstration to our class members and to people in the community. Many people are artistically talented and it would be great to share their ability with our artists. You can call Moses Groves at 201-862-0847. If you would like to take art classes you can come to rm. 5 on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. or register by mail indicating the class time desired. Tuition can be sent to Baychester Visual Arts, P.O. Box 678, Co-op City Station, Bronx, NY 10475. BVA is a non-profit, self-supporting organization that needs your support to continue offering high level art instruction at these bargain prices. So come join BVA on this fabulous artistic trek, take a class, make a tax deductible donation and feel the satisfaction of being a creator and/or patron of the arts. All checks should be made out as indicated above. Science is for the body and art is for the soul. —Sylvia Lochansky

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Greetings, Building 9 family. Please, get your flu shots! The holiday season is upon us. Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy and be safe. On Monday, November 5, the City Council met on the proposed development of a full-service, city-wide animal shelter in Co-op City. For their support, the Co-op City community was offered a promised 15-point reciprocity package from the Mayor's Office. The November 6 election poll sites were chaotic due to sheer volume. Voters of all parties came out in record numbers. The three-sided ballot, as well as, newly assigned polling sites, left much to be desired by the voting public. I trust all enjoyed our most recent bulletin board photo array of our Neighborhood Grant sponsored Senior Engagement Project Show & Tell event. I thank you all for your graciousness and willingness to participate in our Senior Project events. Our laundry room was closed on November 10 for much needed painting of our Building 9's youngest basement. The 45th Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers Build a Block meeting supports Breast Cancer Awareness. was held on Wednesday, November 7, 6:30 p.m. in the Bartow Center. Please come out and get to know your NCOs. They cannot address your concerns if you do not voice your concerns to them. Our community has experienced a spike in criminal activity. Please be aware of your surroundings on the street, in the building, in the garage, in the malls, etc. The building association supported Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness activities. Our Thanksgiving Day decorations will go up next week. Our November association meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 29. Our 3rd annual Year-end Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, December 8. Your association executive board is working diligently on your behalf. Please support us as we endeavor to support you. Please be considerate of your neighbors. Do not remove laundry carts from the laundry room; do not leave your laundry unattended at the end of their wash or dry cycles; do not slam your apartment doors; do not litter in our lobbies, elevators, garages, walkways, etc. This is our shared home. Please be considerate of those who must share their home with you. In October, the NCNW sponsored two Mental Health First Aid trainings which were open to the community. The trainings were informative and insightful for developing awareness of those adults and juveniles among us who may require professional assistance or interventions. I was awed to learn how the signs of someone in crisis may be dismissed or misjudged. Let's pay attention to ourselves and to others. Progress is impossible without change; those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. Stronger together. Somos unidos! —Linda Collins

Building 9 Association

Greetings, fellow cooperators. General Membership Meeting – Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 27, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 p.m.), in the Building 10 Association room (rear lobby of Bldg. 10B). Our guest speaker will be Mr. Anthony Barzelatto, Riverbay’s director of safety. We are looking forward to seeing everyone. Light refreshments will be served. New Cooperators – Welcome all new cooperators. We look forward to seeing you at the next general membership meeting. 4th Annual Holiday Toy Drive – We will begin accepting Holiday Shelter Toy donations on Monday, November 26, for newborns to 18 years old. Donations will be accepted every Monday and Thursday from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. in the association room. The last day to drop off donations will be Monday, December 17. Please see flyer posted in the building lobby. Lobby Decorations – We are looking for volunteers from each building to decorate the lobbies for the upcoming holiday season. If you are interested, please slip a note under the association room door with your name and phone number. Reminder Item: The Holiday Gift Collection for the Building 10 workers will be announced shortly. A flyer detailing specifics for this event will be posted. Happy Thanksgiving. Have a great week. —Jewel Crawford-Duncan

Building 10 Association

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

American Legion Post 1871

100th Anniversary of the Armistice This year’s celebration of Veterans Day comes with its specialty filled with emotions and laden with somber roots. It marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice ending World War I, a conflict that cost the lives of more than 8.5 million troops, including more than 100,000 Americans. On the 11th day of November in 1918 at 1100 hours when the treaty was signed, it was to signal the end of the world war. However, with several wars thereafter, that became what is being referred to as World War I. Several wars were fought after that and even now, we are still in war. Despite terrible conflicts that arose and the struggles of returning men and women in uniform – veterans overwhelmingly have brought their service home to make our country a better place. This is the heart of why they are honored and celebrated every year in a time like this to appreciate all those who have answered the nation's call to service in the United States Armed Forces. In New York, with threatening weather condition, many of our members lined up to march in the Veterans Day Parade. For several service men and women, it's like homecoming. Here in Co-op City, the American Legion family of Post 1871 had used the occasion to reach out to several veterans who are committed to various nursing homes in the Bronx. For the first time since the history of Post 1871, which was chartered in 1970, the organization was involved in several veterans’ ceremonies outside Co-op City. Among various nursing homes where the organization was directly involved with veterans was Beth Abraham Center on Allerton Avenue, Bronx Center on Underhill Avenue, and Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Tomlinson Avenue. Others include Bay Park Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation here in Co-op City and Regeis Care Center on Baychester Avenue. In all these facilities, Post 1871 members and the auxiliaries made presentation of flags that were flown over the Capitol Building earlier in June this year. These flags were donations from several United States senators who deemed it fit to showcase American flags in all these facilities for the sake of veterans in them. Other functions performed by the members of the American Legion of Co-op City also included presentation of awards and medals. In some other centers, individual flags were presented to fellow veterans. Post 1871 reached out to a total of 75 veterans outside Co-op City to show that the men and women who now reside in these nursing homes are not forgotten. On this note, Commander Toba would like to thank individuals who came out to make this laudable idea possible. Let’s keep reaching out and telling our stories in our own way. On Saturday, November 17, at 11 a.m., two members of Post 1871 will be inducted into the Post Hall of Fame. These brave and tireless men are Past Commander Jerome Rice and Comrade Llewellyn Waterman. We want to thank them for their exemplary commitment to the Post —Lsjc Adeyemi LaCrown Toba

Black Forum

Food Pantry Update Black Forum wishes to address the many phone calls and messages received regarding Thanksgiving turkeys, poultry, hams and pastries we normally distribute to guests this time of year. Unfortunately, we are unable to distribute those goods since we are temporarily closed. There are rules we must follow in order to receive certain items. Not having a viable location precludes us from receiving food that we would distribute to the Co-op City community. We are saddened by the amount of food and household products the community has been denied because we are left without a distribution site. Please consider calling 3-1-1 or visiting https://www.foodbanknyc.org/gethelp/ to find soup kitchens and other food support services. Neighbors, please look out for your neighbors. Black Forum will continue to work towards reopening the pantry. Be blessed. Defensive Driving Classes Next class is Saturday, December 8, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 177 Dreiser Loop, 2nd floor, room 1. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early. Lower your liability insurance cost by 10% and remove up to four points from your driver’s license. Please make checks of $35, payable to ‘Black Forum of CO-OP City’ and mail to P.O. Box 563, Bronx, NY 10475 at least 1½ weeks before class. Include name and phone number. Walk-ins are welcomed, but only a $35 cash payment will be accepted the day of the class - NO checks. Call by noon the Friday before to register for seating. Please bring your current driver’s license and a pen; (718) 320-8035. Harrah's Casino, Chester, PA (Date Change) Saturday, December 8. Cost: $45. Casino rebate: $15 slot play. We're collecting monies now. No refunds. Final payment due by Friday, November 16. Guests receive their seat assignment when payment's received. Call 718-3200033 or 917- 209-5334 for additional information. Kindly leave your name, telephone number and brief message. Contact (718) 320-8035 or coopcityblackforum@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. —D. Illis

NAACP Co-op City Branch

Theme: DEFEAT HATE, VOTE! The NAACP strongly condemns the hate inspired killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Our condolences go out to those who have suffered losses and injuries during this horrific event. We must not only come together to pray, but stand up against hatred. —Derrick Johnson, NAACP President & CEO November General Meeting – Sunday, November 18, 2-6 p.m. at 135 Einstein Loop, rm. 36. Agenda: Branch membership election. Come out and cast your vote for officers who will be serving 2-year term, January 1, 2019 thru December 31, 2020. Refreshments. Thank you, Co-op City community, for voting. For voter education classes or speakers, call the office to schedule an appointment. Please don’t wait until election day to ask questions or what proposals mean. Let us all do our homework now. Register to vote. 2020 is now! Think about this: When you don’t vote, you rob from your community. Your vote affects/effects everyday life and can impact the issues we all care about. Your vote effects housing; jobs; wages; education and services; schools; transportation and services; public health and services; Medicaid; Medicare and services; criminal justice and services; safety; police and services. Vote to elect the candidates who will make decisions that directly affect our community and our quality of life. December Holiday Membership Meeting: Sunday, December 23, 3:00 p.m. All invited. Bring a friend/guest – new, renewal or gift a membership. Annual dues: adults, $30 & youth, $10. Refreshments. —Brenda Brown

Pentecostal Tabernacle

Pentecostal Tabernacle is located at 100 Co-op City Blvd., Building 22A, Bronx, NY 10475. You are invited to attend services on the following days: • Sunday School for all age groups begins at 10:30 a.m., Worship service starts at 12 p.m. • Wednesdays: Prayer and fasting service will be held from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bible study and prayer meeting will be held Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. • Fridays: Youth service starts at 7:30 p.m. Focus: A Transformed life. The believer’s life is transformed by the power of God to a conquering lifestyle through Christ Jesus. Romans 12:1-2 &10-18 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. (10-18) Be kindly affection one to another with brotherly love, in honoring preferring one another. Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer. Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you, bless and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another, mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil, provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. The plan of God for salvation of mankind spans all of time, bears the price tag of the blood of Jesus, and offers all people a brand new start. Paul expounded on these marvelous truths in the Book of Romans. We have read of the hopeless plight of sinful mankind, of the miracle of deliverance and of the joyous promise of restoration. In Romans, chapter 12, Paul gave some very practical direction about the application of this truth to our daily lives. It is essential that we have an understanding of foundational doctrines such as faith, justification, and divine guidance. But the Scriptures do not leave us to live our lives in the realm of the theoretical. This life changing gospel calls us to a place of commitment that will affect the way we live and how we interact with other people. It is important that we study the Bible every day and mediate on the word we will find grace, strength, joy, peace to overcome the trials of life. God’s grace is sufficient to keep us every day. Our duty is to remain faithful to God in whatever, area. He has called us work. For further information, call Rev. R. Sibblies, 718-324-0334. —Rev. R. Sibblies

No Standing/Parking In Dumpster Pads Shareholders are reminded that there is no standing or parking in the dumpster pads. These areas are strictly for the use of Riverbay Corporation vehicles. All unauthorized vehicles will be towed at vehicle owners’ expense. Thank you for your cooperation.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Community Protestant Church

On behalf of our pastor, reverend Dr. Calvin E. Owens, and our church family, welcome to Community Protestant Church, a church of love and understanding, located at 1659 East Gun Hill road, Bronx, NY 10469; telephone: (718) 862-9172. Regular Church Schedule Sunday School – 9:00 a.m. Worship Service — 11:00 a.m. Communion Service – Every first and third Sundays Noon Day Prayer – Hour of Power – Wednesday at noon Prayer Meeting and Bible Study – Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The following program is at the Church’s Annex: 2053 Asch Loop North (Co-op City) Neighborhood Bible Study — Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Is Now In Session Every Sunday At 9:00 A.M. Sunday School is really a part of our history, and because someone cared and was concerned enough, many of us benefitted and know its value. In Sunday School, in a nurturing Christian education environment, an opportunity is provided for children to learn about the Bible, to grow in grace, to show love and respect for one another and to live more abundant lives. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). We encourage you to bring your child, children or grandchildren to Sunday School and we look forward to seeing you. Worship Service begins at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to come and be a part of this special moment set aside each Sunday morning to be in the presence of God. We will be delighted to blend our spirits with

yours as we bend both body and soul before our Heavenly Father. We encourage you to spend time with God, and if it be His will, with us at Community Protestant. Other Scheduled Events On Wednesdays, at noon, you are cordially invited to NOON DAY PRAYER AT CPC, an hour of Power, Prayer, Praise and Testimony. refreshments will be served. rSVP: (718) 862-9172. Community Protestant Church Celebrates The 42nd Pastoral Anniversary Of Our Pastor, Reverend Dr. Calvin E. Owens, Sunday, November 11th It is with great joy that we pause to pay tribute to our pastor on his 42nd Anniversary as the Under Shepherd of Community Protestant Church. For over four decades, he has served our church with distinction, working untiringly, unselfishly and courageously steadfast on our behalf and on behalf of the community. He has made us to know what “thus saith the Lord.” We wish our pastor and his family a very happy and blessed anniversary and many, many more years in the service of the Lord Closing Services of Celebration – Sunday, November 11th 11:00 a.m. – Guest Preacher: rev. Dr. Willie Hairston, pastor, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Nyack, NY. 3:30 p.m. – Guest Preacher: rev. Dr. Carl Bruce, pastor, Mt. Carmel Church, Yonkers, NY. All are welcome! The doors of Community Protestant Church are open to all to worship and fellowship with Christian believers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are cordially invited to come in, join in and receive your blessing. —Evan G. Mitchell

Family of God Church

“Why We Call Jesus Savior and Lord!” Last week, we learned that Christianity is an offspring of a Jewish religious tradition that developed a concept of divinity that named the Deity as holy. We learned that holy means separate or set apart. In transparency, I continue by indicating that the Jews were syncretic. Syncretism means to borrow or incorporate. Early Jews were led to incorporate ideas, notions and practices into Jewish faith over time from other systems of belief and culture. However, the Bible bears witness to the fact that they set forth a system of spiritual and religious practices connected to belief in a God that they maintained was distinct. Two of the things that the Jewish aspect of our Judeo-Christian spiritual heritage teaches us that make God distinct are God’s number and God’s name. Space doesn’t permit me to completely focus on God’s number. However, the Jews taught that God is one God! Over the course of a period, Jewish faith became notoriously monotheistic. Some say the early Jews were monolatristic instead of monotheistic. Monolatristic means having belief in the existence of many gods, but only consistently worshipping one deity. Monotheism asserts the existence of only one god. I think that the argument concerning whether they were monolatristic or monotheistic is an insignificant one to have because it is clear from the scriptures that they predominantly believed in only one God as the true and living God! Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which is called the Shema, says, “Hear, O Israel: The LOrD our God is one LOrD: And thou shalt love the LOrD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Join us for more next week and we will learn about God’s name. Family of God (F.O.G.) Schedule Sunday, Nov. 18, 1:30 p.m. Overcoming the Holiday Blues: Talking Trauma and Grief in Our Community (refreshments served), Dreiser, rm. 1. Tuesday, Nov. 20, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Free Turkey Giveaway (limited amount of turkeys so call us), Dreiser, rm. 10. Sunday, Nov. 25, 1:30 p.m., Soul Food Sunday: Our Souls, Motown’s Soul Music and Soul Food

(down-home dinner served, first come first served), Dreiser, rm. 4. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sign-up for “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas” Talent Show; $150 Grand Prize for children and youth; $250 Grand Prize for 18 and up; Dreiser, rm. 10. Sunday, Dec. 2, 1:30 p.m., Hot Chocolate and the Movies: From Coming to America to Black Panther, Dreiser, rm. 4. Showing and Spiritually Discussing “Coming to America” to Celebrate 30th year of movie Sunday, Dec. 9, 1:30 p.m., A conversation about family in the 21st Century and a time of prayer for families (refreshments served), Dreiser, rm. 4. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas” Celebration rehearsal; Dreiser, rm. 10. Sunday, Dec. 16, 1:30 p.m., “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas” Spiritual Celebration and Talent Show, featuring dance, song, and spiritually-inspired spoken word; Dreiser, rm. 1. Contact us at 929-430-4413 or FOGCoop@ gmail.com. —Pastor DeQuincy Hentz

Co-op City Baptist Church

rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams and the Co-op City Baptist Church family invites you to join us tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. for worship service. Sunday School for children and adults is held at 9:15 a.m. We invite you to worship, study, and pray with us. The Co-op City Baptist Church is located at 135 Einstein Loop, lower level, room 50. Our telephone number is 718-320-3774. Visit us on the web at www.coopcitybaptistchurch.org. Join us for a midweek spiritual pick-up at our midweek worship service held on Wednesdays at noon. Bible Study classes are held on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Bible Class will also be held on Wednesday, November 21, at 5:00 p.m. Prayer Service is held on Fridays at noon. Prayer Service is also held on Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join us from the comfort of their home for an hour of prayer. Using available technology, prayer service is held using a conference call line. On Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m., you can call 563-999-2090; when asked for the PIN, enter 660065 and you will be connected. On Sunday, November 11, the Inspirational Choir will celebrate an anniversary at our 11 a.m. service. We invite all to this celebratory service where the Lord will be lifted up in song and word. Fall revival will be held on Wednesday, November 14, through Friday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m. each evening. The revivalists will be rev. Michael Tolone, pastor of Newsong Church, Bronx, NY; rev. Quinton Ervin, pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Bronx, NY and rev. reginald Paris, pastor of United Christian Baptist Church, Bronx, NY. Everyone is invited to join us and be revived. Please note: Noon Day Worship Service will not be held on Wednesday, November 14. On Sunday, November 18, we will celebrate the church’s 46th anniversary. The guest speaker at the 8 a.m. service will be rev. Keith Williams, associate minister, Community Protestant Church. The Scholarship Ministry invites you to mark the date to join them on their upcoming cruise to the Greek Isles and Italy on August 9, 2019. The cost for Inside Cabin/double occupancy is $3595.00. The cost for Ocean View Cabin/double occupancy is $3970 for this 11-day cruise and includes port charges, taxes, transfers and airfare. For additional information or reservations, call 718-379-0541, 718-320-3240, 718-671-1271 or the church at 718379-3774. 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

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018 120 DeKruif Place (street level). Praise and Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. Church telephone: (347) 202-7006; email: fatwcc@aol.com, www.faithatworkchurch.org. Weekly Worship Experiences: Tuesday Prayer Service, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study CANCELED UNTIL January 2019. Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m. Teen Church, 10:00 a.m., 2nd Sundays; Children’s Church, 3rd Sundays (K-3); Older Children’s Church, 4th Sundays (4th-7th). Church Motto: “We are Christ-centered, familyfocused 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

Faith @ Work Christian Church preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Come worship with us—where we honor tradition but are not bound by it! All are welcome to join us any and every 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. Food Pantries November 18, join us for our Annual PreThanksgiving Worship, hot meal and 100 turkey and fixins’ giveaway! We begin worship at 9:30 a.m. Tickets for the turkeys are given out on Sunday morning and are first come, first served. Regular Pantry will resume, December 16, from noon ‘til 1 p.m.

Hold the Date: December 15 from 12 p.m. ‘til 6 p.m. in room 31 of the Bartow Center. The Sable Holiday Fair where we will feature authors in a special author’s pavilion and business owners selling jewelry, clothing, baked goods, etc. There will be a special VIP time (12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m.) featuring catered fare, swag bags, and a praise dance performance. VIP entrance is $15 and other discounts. Fair entrance is FREE and each hour features a door prize drawing every hour! Join us in celebrating small businesses and finishing up your holiday shopping! Remember, it’s never about us, but always about the goodness of the Lord. —Pastor Deborah D. Jenkins

Evangelical Church of Co-op City – UMC Open Doors, Open Hearts and Open Minds

Come & Visit Us – We welcome you to God’s House – Your House – One Family in Christ. We are a congregation with spirit-filled worship, offering a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship and service to God and our community. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and bilingual congregation and all are welcome. Services are at the church at 2350 Palmer Avenue, across from Building 30. Parking is available. Our pastor is Rev. Arnaldo Sanchez and our phone number is (718) 320-3795; leave a message if no answer. November 18 is our Anniversary Celebration. The church will be celebrating our church’s 44th anniversary. We hope to see many of our Co-op City family & friends there. Service is at 10 a.m. and the luncheon will be following the service. So, we hope that you will come and worship with us and enjoy a meal. Thanksgiving Dinner for Those in Need: We will be hosting on Wednesday, November 21, a Thanksgiving meal for anyone who needs a meal or doesn’t have anyone to celebrate with. Meals will be served between 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Come and have a Thanksgiving dinner supplied by New Life Ministries, Christian Chaplaincies and our church. Also, Captain A will be there for counseling if you have cancer issues and are in need of help. The Gospel Worship Experience Concert is Coming: We will be having this concert on Saturday, December 8, at 2 p.m. at the church. We will be featur-

ing a Gospel choir, soloists, a dancer, a Christian rapper, and others. It will be a joyous time for all. Tickets are $20/ticket for early-bird (and $30/ticket at the door). Children between 5 years and 12 years are $5. For more information or getting tickets, contact Richie at (347) 204-0238. Schedule for Sundays — Come and Receive a Blessing: We have the English service from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. and the Spanish Service from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The bilingual services with communion will be on the first Sunday of each month, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Children: Sunday School will be at 9:45 a.m. Bring your children, they will have a great time while learning God’s word and doing arts & crafts. Adult: Sunday Bible Study in English will be at 8:45 a.m. and in Spanish at 10 a.m. Prayer Night (English) & Prayer/Bible Study Afternoon (Spanish): The Lord said: “Whenever two or more are gathered in my name I am in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. Tuesday afternoon at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. is the Spanish Prayer/Bible Study. Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the English Prayer Service. Come and bring your prayer needs so we can pray together. Remember that prayer brings many blessings, which God has promised to all his children. God bless. —Barbara Penn

Church of God’s Children

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Anglican Church

Church of God’s Children located at 127 Dreiser Loop, patio level to the right of Montefiore Clinic. We invite you with open arms to come to our church, we hope that you can join with us in worship and God’s word. If you have needs, and want someone to listen and to pray, we’re here for you with open hearts and God’s love to give away. For prayer request, call 718-7909120. Join us on Sunday, 11/18, at 1:30 p.m. as our youth/children lead in worship, praise, dance and drama. Guest Speaker is Rev. Kimberly Mabry Wright, pastor of Evangelical Covenant Church. Read Romans 8:1-4 Some believers are plagued by feelings of condemnation. They either think they will never live up to God’s expectations of them or they are drowning in guilt over past sins. They cannot seem to shake the sense that God is displeased with their meager efforts at being Christ-like. The book of Romans confronts this lie head-on: There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When the Savior went to the cross on our behalf, He lifted the blame off our shoulders and made us righteous before God. Those feelings of condemnation do not belong to us; they are from Satan. He amplified our guilt and feelings of inefficiency and leads us to believe that’s how Lord feels about His “wayward child”. Not

True. Our sins have been wiped clean, and we are chosen and loved by God. Condemnation is for those who Reject the Lord (John 3:36). Anyone who chooses to cling to sin instead of seeking divine forgiveness must pay the penalty, which is an eternity separated from God. There is no condemnation for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. The believer’s penalty for sin is paid, and he can stand blameless before God. Trust in the Lord’s love and let go of Satan’s lie(s). You, as a child of God are covered by His Grace and the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ of Nazareth. The church is for repented sinners of which we are all. God bless you. Peace to our nation. Schedule of Services: Sunday Worship in Spanish Worship, 9:30 a.m. Worship in English Worship, 1:15 p.m. Sunday School Classes: 11:30 a.m. Sunday School for adults/youth/children Monday: Bible Study & Prayer, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study, 6:30 p.m. at Fellowship Hall, 159 Dreiser Loop Wednesday Prayer, 6:30 p.m. in Sanctuary Wednesday, 12-step fellowship at Fellowship Hall Monday-Friday, After School Workshop & Tutoring, 3-6 p.m. at 159 Fellowship Hall. —Bishop Nancy Rosario

The congregation of St. Joseph’s cordially invites you and your family to worship with us in Co-op City at 155 Dreiser Loop, lower level. All are welcome. Weekly Schedule 1. Sunday service with Holy Communion and Sunday School are both at 9:00 a.m. Every fourth Sunday, our children participate in the reading of the lessons and every fifth Sunday, our young adults assist in the service. We look forward to welcoming you to church tomorrow, Sunday, November 18, at 9:00 a.m. when we will celebrate the Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Our Supply Priest is Father Simeon O. Johnson who will be the preacher and celebrant. All Saints/All Souls’ Day will be celebrated on Sunday, November 4. Please join us in celebrating the memory of all the Saints of our church and community. 2. Please join us on Wednesdays for an uplifting l5-minute midday service starting promptly at noon. 3. New: On Thursdays, Father Johnson will be available for telephone calls and visitations, interactive discussions on various topics in the Bible (11 a.m. to noon), followed by a very short noonday service. 4. Choir rehearsal is on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., and we are always looking for new members. Acolytes: The church is in need of Acolytes. If anyone is interested in becoming an Acolyte, please speak with Victoria after service.

Group Activities: The (ECW) Episcopal Church Women meet immediately after service on the first Sunday of each month. Membership is open to all women of the church. The men hold their meeting after service on the second Sunday of each month. Upcoming Events • Saturday, November 24, Atlantic City trip to Resort Casino. Deluxe Motor Coach leaves Dreiser Loop in front of the rehab center at 9:00 a.m. $40 p.p. Please contact June Grimes at 347-457-8249. Sold out. • A special service will be held on Sunday, November 25, in observance of our Harvest Festival, as well as post national Thanksgiving Day. Please remember to bring in your special gifts of food items and fruits for the celebration. • Stay tuned for upcoming events. Outreach Program: Our church supports the feeding program at Grace Episcopal Church in West Farms. This program is in desperate need of food. At St. Joseph’s, we collect non-perishable food items on an ongoing basis. Please remember to donate. For additional information on all of the above, please call the church at 718-320-0844, or visit our website: http://www.stjosephsepcbronx.org for more information relating to St. Joseph’s Episcopal Anglican Church, Co-op City, Bronx, New York. “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.” (Psalm 16:8) —Merville Chambers

Fri., Nov. 23

Thu., Nov. 22

Wed., Nov. 21

Tues., Nov. 20

Mon., Nov. 19

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Bartow

Einstein

Dreiser

Room 31 unless otherwise noted

Room 49 unless otherwise noted

Room 7 unless otherwise noted

Alternate Kosher Meals are also available

Word Games 9:30-11 a.m. Library 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Health & Wellness Support Group Bartow Center, Room 31, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Yoga w/Peggy Hill 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m., JASA Main Office Arthritis Exercises 11 a.m. - noon Card Games 2-4 p.m. Dominoes 2:30 p.m.

Library 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Dominoes 10am, rm. 45 Line Dancing 10-11 a.m., rm. 45 Around The Lunch Table 11:30 a.m. Word Search 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Bingo 1-3 p.m., rm. 35 Diabetes Support Group 2nd Monday - 1:00 p.m. Computer Class for Beg, Int. & Adv. 9:30 a.m., rm. 34

Crochet & Knitting 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Library, Exercise Bike, Chat Session 9:3010:30 a.m. Stay Well Exercise 10-11 a.m., rm. 2 Color Your Stress away 11 a.m., rm. 4 Basic Cell Phone & iPad training 1:00 p.m., rm. 7 Mind Teasers 12-1 p.m., rm. 4 Diabetes Support Group 1:00 p.m. – Last Monday of the month Bereavement Counseling 1 p.m., rm. 13 Gentle Yoga 1:15 - 2 p.m., rm. 2 Intermediate Yoga 2-3 p.m.

Word Games 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Walking Club 10:30 a.m. Caregiver Support Group

Dominoes 10 a.m. Matinee Movie 10 a.m., rm. 45 Health & Wellness Support Grp-

1 p.m. 1st & 3rd Tues.

10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Table talk w/ Voncile 1 p.m. Card Games 2-4 p.m.

Karaoke by Steven 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.,

Library, Exercise Bike, Chat Session

Blood Pressure Every 1st & 3rd Wed., 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Games 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. Stay Well Exercise 10 – 11am Line Dancing 11 a.m. -12 p.m. Card Games 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Dominoes 2:30 p.m. Smartphone Class Beginner – 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Intermediate 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Bartow Main office

JASA Closed Happy Thanksgiving!

rm. 45

Dominoes 10 a.m., rm. 45 Spelling Bee 10 a.m. (New) Body in motion w/Ola 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Spanish Practice Class 10:30 a.m., Computer Lab Zumba 11 a.m. -12 p.m., rm. 4

JASA Closed Happy Thanksgiving

9:30-10:30 a.m. Alert & Alive – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., rm. 7 Computer Class – rm. 13 Beginner 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cultural Dance 10:30–11:30 a.m., Aud. B Mind Teasers 12-1 p.m., rm. 4 Zumba 1-2 p.m., Aud. A Matinee Tues., 1 p.m., rm. 7

Computer Class – rm. 13 Beginner 10 a.m. -11 a.m. Intermediate 11 a.m. -12 p.m. Only 6 seats available Library, Exercise Bike, Chat Session 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Sewing 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Tai Chi 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Art Class 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Yoga 2 p.m.-3 p.m., rm. 2

JASA Closed Happy Thanksgiving

Kosher

Non-Kosher

Orange Pineapple juice, Turkey drumsticks, Green beans Mashed sweet potatoes Whole Wheat Bread Fresh fruit Alt: Egg salad

Turkey w/Gravy Collard greens Garlic mashed potatoes

Orange juice Garlic chicken meatballs Pasta, Winter blend vegetables Whole wheat bread Fresh fruit Alt: Salmon

Baked breaded fish Homemade tomato sauce ¼ cup Pasta primavera steamed broccoli & Cauliflower

Orange pineapple juice Beef Moussaka Garden salad Whole wheat bread Fresh fruit Alt: Tuna Nicoise salad

Jerk chicken Rice & Beans Cabbage w/shredded carrots

JASA Closed Happy Thanksgiving

Box Lunch in the Bartow Main Office

No Activities Closed

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. JASA Welcomes everyone age 60 and older! Payments for trips can be made at all three centers. Trip registration policy: There will be no refunds for all trips. All trips include roundtrip transportation! All trips must be paid in advance. JASA will not accept checks under $5. In order to participate in any JASA Senior Activities or go on any senior trips, you must be a member of JASA. You may pick up an application in the main office or at any of the three senior centers. (FREE) LiveOn NY - SCRIE/SNAP (Food Stamps) Assistance – Friday, Nov. 30 & Fri., Dec. 7 & 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. JASA Main Office, 2049 Bartow Ave. No appointments! Walk-ins! First come! First served! Please make copies of your documents before coming to the office. Dances for Seniors – Wed., Dec. 5, at 1:30 p.m., Einstein Senior Center, rm. 49. Join Naomi Goldberg Haas & dancers for a variable population in sharing strong & creative movement among adults of all ages and abilities for fun & friendship. Bartow & Einstein Senior Centers Christmas Drive starting Nov. 15- Dec. 14. Accepting NEW Items Only: toys, sleepwear for children & adults, sanitary & hygienic products. Drop-off times: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., 2049 Bartow Av., rm. 31 & 135 Einstein Loop, rm. 49. IKEA –Tues. Nov. 20, $15. Bartow, 9 a.m.;

No Activities Closed

Orange juice, Honey Apricot glazed chicken, Spinach noodle pudding, Steamed broccoli, Challah bread, Fresh fruit, Alt: Gefilte fish

Chicken parmesan Penne Broccoli w/toasted garlic

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

Einstein, 9:15 a.m.; Dreiser, 9:30 a.m. Happy Thanksgiving! JASA Closed Thanksgiving Day, November 22. St. Mary’s Pool – $3, Mon., Nov. 26; Fri., Dec. 7, & Mon., Dec. 17. Pool aerobics for seniors, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Bartow, 8:30 a.m.; Einstein, 8:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 9 a.m. There is a $25 yearly fee to use the facility, which can be paid at the pool by check, money order, credit/debit cards. Empire Casino – Tues., Nov. 27; $5. Bartow, 9 a.m.; Einstein, 9:15 a.m.; Dreiser, 9:30 a.m. Ridgehill – Thurs., Nov. 29, $7. Bartow, 9:30 a.m.; Einstein, 9:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 10 a.m. JOIN US!! For a discussion on the LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights – Important information for all LGBT people, friends and family, Wed., Nov. 28, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., JASA Main Office. Presented by Arthur Fitting, RN VNSNY Manager, Senior LGBT Program. Refreshments and giveaways for participants. Stew Leonard’s – Mon., Dec. 3, $6. Bartow, 9:30 a.m.; Einstein, 9:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 10 a.m. Shoprite (New Rochelle) – Mon., Dec. 3, $4. Bartow, 9:30 a.m.; Einstein, 9:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 10 a.m. Costco – Wed., Dec. 4, $5. Bartow, 9:30 a.m.; Einstein, 9:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 10 a.m. Walmart – Tues., Dec. 4, $15. Bartow, 8:30 a.m.; Einstein, 8:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 9 a.m. Atlantic City-Resorts Casino – Wed., Dec. 5,

Upcoming Events/Trips

$35. Bonus: $20 slot only. Pick-ups: Bartow, 8 a.m.; Einstein, 8:15 a.m.; Dreiser, 8:30 a.m. Ridgehill – Thurs., Dec. 6, $7. Bartow, 9:30 a.m.; Einstein, 9:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 10 a.m. The Mills, Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall – Mon., Dec. 10, $15. Bartow, 8:30 a.m.; Einstein, 8:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 9 a.m. Aldi – Mon., Dec. 10, $3. Bartow, 9:30 a.m.; Einstein, 9:45 a.m.; Dreiser, 10 a.m. IKEA –Tues., Dec. 11, $15. Bartow, 9 a.m.; Einstein, 9:15 a.m.; Dreiser, 9:30 a.m. Empire – Tues., Dec. 11, $5. Bartow, 9 a.m.; Einstein, 9:15 a.m.; Dreiser, 9:30 a.m. Hunterdon Hills Playhouse – “Christmas in the Air” show, Thurs., Dec. 20, $120. Coach bus. Lunch included. Choice of: yankee pot roast, fried shrimp, lemon pepper cod, chicken parmigiana, roasted turkey, eggplant rollatini & roasted vegetable kabob, breads, salad, dessert, coffee & tea. No Refunds! Payment due by Fri., Nov. 23. Pickups: Bartow, 9 a.m.; Dreiser, 9:15 a.m.; Einstein, 9:30 a.m. Brownstone – “Merry Christmas Baby;” Dale Grand singing all your favorite songs for the Holiday Season. Tues., Dec. 18, $85. Motor coach transportation, family-style menu: salad, pasta, ham, roasted turkey, dessert, coffee, tea. Pick-ups: Bartow, 9 a.m.; Dreiser, 9:15 a.m.; Einstein, 9:30 a.m. Depart from Brownstone, 3:30 p.m.

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

AARP Chapter #4997

Scheduling Activities Calendar

Date Change: Our membership Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 19, 1:00 p.m. in Dreiser Community Center, room 9. Date changed due to Veterans Day Holiday. Reminder-2: Our Holiday Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5, at Marina del Rey; $90/person, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Tickets may be picked up in Dreiser, room 0, on the following days and times: Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon; Thursdays, noon-2 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. If needed, you may sign up for transportation, $10 roundtrip. For additional information, call the office, 718-3791946, and see Stella B. for tickets. Good & Welfare – Please contact our Good & Welfare coordinator, Frances Wilson, 718-6715493, if you have a family member who has passed or one of our members who is sick, in the hospital or in a nursing home. 2019 Tour Activities February 6, 2019: Westchester Broadway Theater Lunch and Show – The show is “Ain’t Misbehavin’;” Transportation included ($50 deposit due immediately). Contact Judith, 718-379-3370. April 1-12, 2019: Panama Canal 11-night Cruise on the Norwegian Jade – Price includes roundtrip flight to Miami (FL); ports of call include Cantagina, Columbia; Panama Canal/Gatein Lake; Puerto Limon; Roatan Bay Islands; Harvest Cape, Costa Maya, Mexico; 3 days at sea; valid passport is required. All meals on board the ship, insurance available. Sold out. Contact Judith, 718-379-3370. June 23-28, 2019: Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa (Canada’s Capital City) – 6 days/5 nights includes Motor Coach transportation; guided tours, 5 breakfasts, 5 dinners, and much more; $699/person double; $929 single ($50 deposit due immediately). Contact Hannah, 718-379-7962, or Judith, 718-379-3370. September 17-19, 2019: Ride the Rails in West Virginia – Ride two trains in one day: The Cheat Mountain Salamander and the Durbin Rocket; 3 days/2 nights; 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners; $539/person double; $708 single ($50 deposit due immediately. Contact Hannah, 718-379-7962, or Judith, 718-379-3370. Attention: When signing up for the above trips, please give your name, phone number and a deposit. Checks/money orders made payable to AARP Chapter 4997 with the name of the trip in the memo section of your check/money order. Room 0 (Dreiser Community Center) is opened Monday or Thursday, noon – 3 p.m. for checks to be dropped off (in an envelope w/Group/Trip Leader Name). They may be mailed to the Group/Trip Leader. —Delores Debnam

Goose Island Seniors

Goose Island Seniors would like to wish all its members and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. To all members: Stephen Roberts Sr. will be back this Monday, November 19, fresh and ready to work. I really appreciate my members stepping up and keeping the club going. I felt very relaxed and confident you could do it and I was right. Thank you so much. Bingo — Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Time: 1:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in our club room 39. Members only. Admission, $5.00 for 3 cards, 12 games and Jackpot. Extra cards are 25¢ each. Refreshments available. Game Day — Tuesdays and Thursdays, our club room is set up for our members to play games, Mahjong, Dominoes, Kalooki, Wii Tennis, Bowling, and more from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Members may bring a friend or two). $1 collected for refreshments. WiFi available. Karaoke — Also on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. with Stephen in room 45. Come sing or listen to a free concert. All are welcome. Sands Casino, PA — Thursday, December 13. Price is $40. Rebate $30 for play and $5 toward food. You may pay by check to: Goose Island Seniors. Drop it off or mail it to 135 Einstein Loop, room 39, Bronx, NY 10475. You may also call to have your check picked up from your home. The bus will be picking up at our three usual bus stops: 8:30 a.m. Einstein Loop, 8:40 a.m. at

Asch Loop (by library) and 8:50 a.m. at Dreiser Loop (by the hardware store). Resorts Casino — Thursday, January 31, in Atlantic City, NJ. Price $40.00. More information will be available soon. To all members: Happy Birthday to all members who celebrate their day in the month of November: Enid Nurse, Olivine Durant, Edna Trujillo, Florence Middleton, Marilyn De Leonardis, Hillary Weber, Hilda Seidl, Lourdes Suarez, Ida Edwards and Bill Gordon. May this be the best year you ever had. Note: Call Ann or Stephen at Goose Island Seniors 718-379-9613 or visit us at 135 Einstein Loop, room. 39 (Mornings) Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 12 noon. (Evenings) Tues. & Thurs., 4 p.m. - 6, and Mon., Wed. & Fri. 6-8 p.m. Stephen cell phone number is 347-847-1941. Please leave a message. GOOD HEALTH TO ALL. —Stephen Roberts, Sr.

Stay Alert To Your Surroundings! If You See Something, Say Something! CCPD Emergency: 718-651-3050 or 9-1-1. Non-Emergency: 718-320-3330

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018 between 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. or until supplies are depleted. The bags will contain a turkey or chicken and food items to assist you in preparing a small holiday meal. Supply is limited and distributed on a first come, first serve. We thank all of our friends and neighbors for the donations received in this effort. Youth Ministry: On Sunday, November 25, at 11:30 a.m., the SWAG (Spiritual Wisdom & Guidance) Ministry will celebrate the Youth Church’s first anniversary. Come out and celebrate with us as our children uplift your spirit. Sis. Carrie Marie Conyers of Salvation Baptist Church, Bronx, NY will be the guest speaker for the morning. Weekly Schedule Sunday Morning Prayer: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study (Adult): 10:00 a.m. Children’s Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Continental Breakfast: 11:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship: 11:30 a.m. Children’s Church: 1st, 3rd & 5th Sunday: 11:30 a.m. Holy Communion – First Sunday Salvation Teaching (Combined Class): First Sunday, 10 a.m. -11 a.m. Bible Institute: A Survey of the Bible – Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study/Discipleship Class: Thursday Evening: 7:30 p.m.-Bi weekly Mid-Week Prayer Line – Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Evening Prayer Line: Thursday, 9 p.m.–10 p.m. Dial 712.770.4010 – Access code: 527976. Food Pantry: 3rd Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Happy Thanksgiving. —Pastor Carol Landrum

Greater Love Refuge Ministries “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 Word for the Week: Refuse to allow poor choices and mistakes from the past to keep you from progressing as the best version of yourself right here; right now. The LORD is a God of forgiveness and renewal; He sees the beginning and the end. God is the author of conviction and not condemnation. Conviction is the opportunity to go higher while condemnation takes you down. The Greater Love family invite you, friends and family to worship with us on Sunday mornings at 11:30 a.m. Morning Prayer begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by Sunday Bible Study for children and adults from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We are conveniently located at 900 Co-op City Blvd. (Bldg. 2A) on the ground level, Bronx, N.Y. 10475; main entrance – red button. Parking vouchers are available at the church. The church phone is 347-9205607. Annual Thanksgiving Morning Testimony Service & Breakfast: Power Hour – All are invited to begin the holiday by giving thanks to God during our 5th Annual Thanksgiving Testimony Service on Thursday, November 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30, followed by a light breakfast and fellowship from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30. Come as you are; casual attire welcome. Two Fish & Five Loaves Food Pantry Ministry: Will distribute Thanksgiving care-bags for families in need today, Saturday, November 17, Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1 Yo me alegré con los que me decían, “a la casa de Jehova iremos.” If you are looking for a place of worship in the local area that is aimed at teaching the transforming word of God, Circle of Christ Church invites you to fellowship with us. We are a non-denominational, multicultural, and loving church that accepts you just the way you are. Our senior pastor, Elisamuel Colón, and the body of Christ are committed to love people into a life changing-liberating relationship with God. We are located at 147 Dreiser Loop, patio level (located in the Dreiser Community Center). Our Sunday services are in Spanish and English. We have an anointed worship team and dance ministry that minister regularly. The English service has Bible-centered children’s church and a nursery program where children are ministered to from the cradle to 12 years of age. We have ministries for all ages. Please see our schedule below and followed us on Facebook and our website, circleofchristchurch.com. Nuestros servicios dominicales son en español e inglés. Tenemos un equipo de adoración ungido y un ministerio de danza que ministran regularmente. El servicio de inglés tiene una iglesia infan-

til centrada en la biblia y un programa de guardería donde se atiende a los niños desde la cuna hasta los 12 años de edad. Tenemos ministerios para todas las edades. Consulte nuestro programa a continuación y síganos en Facebook y en nuestro sitio web circleofchrist church.com. distribuimos alimentos y ofrecemos asesoramiento familiar según las necesidades. Si está interesado, contáctenos al (347) 945-1992. Circle of Christ Church responds to Isaiah 68:10 says: Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. We have a food pantry that serves the community and we offer family counseling based on need. If you are interested, please contact us at (347) 945-1992. English Services Tuesday: Prayer, 9:00-11:00am Wednesday: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Prayer/Bible Study Thursday: Prayer/Bible Study, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Friday: 7:00-8:30 p.m. Operation Grace Youth Service, 7:00 p.m. Sunday Service: 11:00 a.m. Servicios en Español Domingo: Culto de Adoración de 9:30-10:30 a.m. Jueves Oración y Estudio Bíblico de 12:00 -2:00 p.m. —Pastor Sam Colon

Circle of Christ

The Traditional Synagogue is located in Section 5, 120 Erdman Place in the rear lobby of Building 27B. It is on the ground floor and it is handicap accessible, no steps. Phone #: 718-379-6920. Office hours are Thursday and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Please call the office before you attempt to come over. If no one is in the office, please leave a message. The synagogue has services on Saturday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. After services, we always have a kiddush. The synagogue has a Facebook page, Traditional Synagogue. The synagogue needs donations. Whatever amount you can donate, big or small, would help the synagogue’s finances. The synagogue needs men to help make a minyan. There are a lot of Jewish men who live in Co-op City who don’t come to services. Please come by 9:30 a.m., so we can take out the Torah. The Traditional Synagogue is the only synagogue in Co-op City. Sabbath ends on Saturday, November 17, at 5:27 p.m. Candle Lighting for Friday, November 23, at 4:11 p.m. The Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City will hold its Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, December 2, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. This year, it will be a Chinese Luncheon and the admission will be $20. The menu will be egg rolls, chicken fried rice, chicken lo mein, chicken with mixed vegetables, pepper steak, coffee, tea, soda and fortune cookies. Of course, potato latkes, applesauce, and donuts will also be served for the Holiday. Good & Welfare: We sell Tree Certificates in honor or memory of a loved one. The cost is only $15 per tree. 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: Those members celebrating their birthday/anniversary in November are Hillary Weber, and those I do not know, have a happy birthday. I would like to wish Mr. & Mrs. Saul Weber and Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Gitelson a Happy Anniversary. I would like to wish Fay Breibart a speedy recovery from her surgery. She is in a rehab facility in Connecticut. Michael Schwaiger is now recovering in his home from a recent illness. Fun And Games: After services and kiddush, some men and women play Rummy-cube. Your support of the Traditional Synagogue is greatly appreciated. Wishing all our members and friends, peace and good health. —Bruce Gitelson

Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City

Church of the New Vision

Pastors Kenneth Hodge and Deborah Hodge and the New Vision congregation invite you and your family to come and worship the Lord with us. Church of the New Vision is designed to meet the spiritual needs of God’s people. Serving the community for over 45 years, we offer a warm, friendly, spirit-filled atmosphere of Christian love. All are welcome. Order of Services Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Adult and Youth Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Mid-day Bible Study: Tuesdays, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Prayer and Bible Study: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Youth Ministry: Fridays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Events • Today, November 17, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., the Women’s Fellowship will sponsor a St. Barnabas Hospital Mobile Mammography van of which will be stationed outside of the church for free mammograms. Will accept insured and noninsured. Please contact Sis. Loretta Scott to register at ljscott_2000@yahoo.com or 718-671-2623. • Sunday, November 18, Church of the New Vision’s 46th Anniversary celebration. • July 23-25, 2019 (Tuesday-Thursday) join us on a three-day trip to the National Museum of African American History & Culture with the Museum of the Bible. Double occupancy $440/single occupancy $560 the first bus is now full, submit your deposit/payment as soon as possible to reserve your seat on bus two. For additional information, please contact Sis. Brenda Brown, Bro. Anthony Davis or Sis. Terry Gavin. Church of the New Vision is located at 115 Einstein Loop, Bronx, NY 10475. Office: (718) 671-8746 or (203) 374-3020. Mailing address: P.O. Box 753037, Bronx, NY 10475. Visit our Facebook page: Church of the New Vision concerning upcoming events and trips, email us at info.churchnewvisionbx@gmail.com or call the church office. —Sis. Carol Haque

Co-op City Public Safety Dept. Emergency: 718-671-3050 www.ccpd.us

Non-Emergency: 718-320-3330 @CCPDnyc

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Open Door Ministries The God who is Aware Full sermon at opendoorministries.net

Although we live in troubled times, there is a God who, behind the scenes, is watching and orchestrating events to fulfill His preferred outcomes. We may not be aware of Him, but He is constantly aware of us and putting things in place for our benefit. Genesis 16:7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 11 And the angel said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. 13 Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” [El-Roi] Even now there are people who believe that with the stroke of a pen they can change outcomes or decide the lives of multitudes. God says otherwise. We need not fear what is written about us unless God is doing the writing. Just as Jesus overwrote the curse that was upon us God has rewritten our lives to complete His work in us. Colossians 2:14 Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, yet we see Him work behind the scenes. Esther 8:8 Now, in the king’s name, write another order concerning the Jews as seems best to you. Then seal the order with the king’s signet ring, because no letter written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can be canceled.” Esther and Mordecai were decreed for death, but the King put the pen in their hands and told them to write another decree that would not simply cancel the first one but override it. 1 Everything that is happening in this world slowly but surely demonstrates God’s plan. 2 The slaves, the immigrants, the poor are particularly dear to God’s heart. Oppressors will pay. 3 God can turn a person’s misery into joy in an instant. We need to look up to see God. 4 Even without being mentioned by name God is working behind the curtain to save us. 5 God hears and sees our plight and steps in - sometimes without our knowledge. 6 The enemy sets snares to destroy us yet God moves us in directions of safety. 7 God sees you at your weakest and prepares abundance for you before your enemies. Sunday services are at 11 a.m. in Bartow Community Center, room 28. Open Door Ministries’ Therapeutic Mentoring Program has resumed. Contact Pastor Luis by text 917-334-4407 or email opendoorministries.net. Blessings in Christ. —Pastor Luis Ramos Pastor & Evangelist Vernon Little greets everyone in the name of Jesus, that name which is above every name. We want you to know that you are welcome in this house of the Lord! It is His house by ownership, it is our house by stewardship, and it can be your house by membership; so come on in and join with us. May God bless you in this house! Prayer acknowledges that we are weak and totally dependent on God. We may not fully understand the circumstances of our life, but we can rest in the knowledge that God is in control. He gives us His peace. Let’s look at scripture to support this. 1st Peter 5:6-10 says: 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. Invitation: Sweet Hour of Prayer is today at 3 p.m. Sunday School is tomorrow at 10 a.m. Our Sunday Morning Worship Service is at 11 a.m. Every 3rd Sunday following the morning worship, we serve Holy Communion. Vernon Little just released a new EP titled ‘Double Minded’ on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc. It’s a fusion of Gospel, R&B, and Rap. He also has videos on YouTube. You will be blessed, encouraged, and inspired. We are located at 171 Dreiser Loop in Section 1. Our phone # is (347) 2764925. Jesus loves you, and so do we! —Evangelist Vernon Little

Faith In God Church & Bible Institute

This Sunday’s Schedule: Loca- the sixth day, they were told to collect tion: 135 Einstein Loop. Discounted twice as much so that they can rest on parking available in Garage 8. Kidsong the seventh day. Unfortunately, the chilavailable in rm. 49; deaf interpretation dren of Israel failed God’s test. Because available during adult service. they didn’t completely trust God to supFor more information about New- ply their daily needs, they tried to put song Church, our beliefs, or our min- some aside until the next morning, and istries, please go to our website, www. the manna rotted overnight. (Exodus newsongchurchnyc.org. 16:20) “Lord, Teach Us To Pray” – 6 Here’s the lesson for us today. If we 11 Now it came to pass, as He was try to hold on to more than we need, praying in a certain place, when He eventually it will rot. (See Matthew ceased, that one of His disciples said to 6:19-21) Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John God promises to supply our needs also taught his disciples.” daily. He blesses us to be a blessing. 2 So He said to them, “When you Because God is a giver, He expects us pray, say: to be generous with what He’s blessed Our[a] Father [b]in heaven, us with. It’s ok to have nice things, Hallowed be Your name. there’s nothing wrong with treating Your kingdom come. yourself, it’s ok to have money in the [c]Your will be done bank, and to save for the future. HowOn earth as it is in heaven. ever, because we can trust God to sup3 Give us day by day our daily ply, we should be generous with what bread. –Luke 11:1-3 (NKJV) He’s blessed us with! Every follower Daily bread from God is a test and a of Jesus should be generous with their trust. In Exodus, chapter 16, God told time, talent, and treasure. God has supMoses, “Behold, I will rain bread from plied us with physical and financial heaven for you. And the people shall go “bread.” In other words, He’s blessed out and gather [a]a certain quota every you with natural talents and abilities, day, that I may test them, whether they and He provides a steady income for will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall you. He’s also given you spiritual be on the sixth day that they shall pre- bread…In other words, He’s given you pare what they bring in, and it shall be a spiritual gift to be used in the church! twice as much as they gather daily.” – Our part is to trust God, and to be good Exodus 16:4-5 (NKJV) stewards of all that He’s blessed us Notice that God wanted to test them with! to see if they were willing to follow His Trust God for your daily bread, and instructions? Each day, they were to go ask Him to help you be a blessing this out and collect just enough to supply for week! their family. No more and no less. On —Pastor Mike Tolone

Newsong Church

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

Opportunities Job#/Position

(Continued from page 7)

Department

18-24 A/R Bookkeeper (Full Time)

Finance

Union/Non-Union Local 153

Posting Dates: Open until filled

Position Profile & Duties

Responsibilities include posting of monthly payments; contact with residential tenants regarding their accounts; compliance with legal action/court stipulations, as well as, additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. 1. HS Diploma or equivalent is required. College degree is a plus. 2. 3 – 5 years previous accounting/bookkeeping experience. 3. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with strong Excel skills. 4. Knowledge of Yardi system is a plus. 5. Knowledge of basic accounting principles. 6. Applicant must have ability to walk for long periods of time, twist, kneel, push, stoop; as well as lift and carry up to 25 pounds. Job#/Position

Department

Union/Non-Union

Posting Dates:

Construction

Non-Union

Open until filled

18-29 Project Manager (Full Time)

Position Profile & Duties

Responsibilities include the successful planning, design, monitoring, and closure of projects. Oversight of all onsite and offsite construction to monitor compliance with building and safety regulations, as well as, additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. 1. BS degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering or related field or High School/GED and 10 – 15 years of experience in advanced skills training in supervising, electrical, plumbing and other building trades areas. 2. Minimum 10 years of steel/construction supervision experience; general building construction experience in all trade areas (Building, Construction and Architectural), including five or more years’ experience under a state licensed builder/contractor. 3. Excellent time and project management skills 4. Familiarity with construction management software packages and ability to read architectural and structural drawings. 5. Valid NY, NJ, CT or PA driver license is required. 6. Applicant must have ability to walk for long periods of time, twist, kneel, push, stoop, climb ladders; work in inclement weather; as well as lift and carry up to 80 pounds. Job#/Position

Department

Union/Non-Union

Posting Dates:

18-43 Site Supervisor (Full Time)

Construction

Non-Union

Open until filled

Job#/Position

Department

Union/Non-Union

Posting Dates:

18-66 CDL Driver (Full Time)

Janitorial

Local 32BJ

11/07/18 12/4/18

Position Profile & Duties

Responsibilities include operation of 26,000 LB GVW vehicles in addition to various other vehicles, pick-up and transporting of trash containers, various debris and supplies throughout complex, as well as, additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. 1. High School Diploma or equivalent is a plus. 2. Familiar with OSHA and other safety requirements related to truck driving and porter work. 3. Candidates should have 1 to 3 years of experience in the industry. 4. Applicant must have ability to walk for long periods of time, twist, kneel, push, stoop, climb ladders; work in inclement weather; as well as lift and carry up to 100 pounds. 5. Valid CDL driver license (NY, NJ, CT or PA) is required.

Public Safety

Also use caution near the bicycle trails in and around Co-op City. The bicycle trails are a part of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000 mile network of bicycle trails connecting Maine to Florida. Never operate a motor vehicle if you have consumed alcoholic beverages or are tired. Designate a driver before you begin your holiday festivities. Enforcement of DWI laws is heightened from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. Always buckle your seatbelt; it will 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. Always remember, if you see something, say something. If you see suspicious persons in the garage or lurking near parked vehicles on the street, an auto crime could be taking place, an auto crime could be ready to happen, notify the authorities. If you see someone who looks unfamiliar near the front or rear of the building, do not enter the building and notify the authorities. Persons intent to commit crimes often attempt to enter the building behind a resident who has unlocked the door, do not give them that opportunity. It may seem rude, but do not give access to your building to anyone you are not familiar with. This will help to ensure the safety of your family and other residents of the building. Call 9-1-1 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. It is by your actions that the crime rate remains low and a high quality of life is maintained. We would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Public Safety Blotter

Position Profile & Duties

Responsibilities include the day-to-day duties in the landscaping, maintenance of and general upkeep of company grounds and property greens as well as, additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. 1. Six years of masonry/construction supervisory experience, which included general building maintenance experience in all trades areas, and which also included four or more years’ apprenticeship under a state licensed builder/contractor. 2. Minimum of 5 years of field experience with NeoGard/Sika product application and process as a certified applicator is a plus. 3. Working knowledge with project management programs. 4. Valid NY, NJ, CT or PA driver license is required. 5. Bi-Lingual is a plus. 6. Applicant must have ability to walk for long periods of time, twist, kneel, push, stoop, climb ladders; work in inclement weather; as well as lift and carry up to 100 pounds. Job#/Position 18-44 Inspector/Foreman (Full Time)

(Continued from page 7)

Department

Union/Non-Union

Posting Dates:

Construction

Non-Union

Open until filled

Position Profile & Duties

Responsible for supervision of construction and various work crews on site. Duties will consist of planning, implementing and overseeing of various construction projects, as well as, additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. 1. HS Diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor/Advanced degree is a plus 2. At least five (5) years’ experience in the Construction field. 3. Knowledge of SBS modified bitumen systems and familiarity with all OSHA safety rules/regulations, including protections bridges, scaffolds, etc. and have ability to read blueprints. 4. Working knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite. 5. Valid NY, NJ, CT or PA driver license is required. 6. Applicant must have ability to walk for long periods of time, twist, kneel, push, stoop, climb ladders; work in inclement weather; as well as lift and carry up to 100 pounds.

October 27 – November 10, 2018 Oct. 27 – 99 Asch Loop A female was robbed by two females while walking home. The females assaulted the victim and removed her property. If you have any information in regards, please call CCPD at 718-671-3050. This is being vigorously invested by both the NYPD and CCPD. The victim suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital. S/O 135 Einstein Loop Two males were issued Criminal Court Summonses for consuming alcoholic beverages in public. They were also issued community complaints. November 02 – 120 Benchley Place One male was arrested for trespass and issued a Criminal Court summons after being found in the stairwell. 111 Dreiser Loop Two teens were arrested after they concealed store merchandise and walked past all points of sale. November 08 – 140 Bellamy Loop One male was arrested by CCPD investigators for damaging property within a garage. November 09 – 100 Dreiser Loop One male was arrested and charged with criminal trespass after entering the building behind a resident.

Co-op City Public Safety Dept. Emergency: 718-671-3050 www.ccpd.us

Non-Emergency: 718-320-3330 @CCPDnyc

Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

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Co-op City Times / November 17, 2018

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