Co-op City Times 11/30/2024 by Co-op City Times

Grounds Department Winter Preparations

BY DANIELLE CRUZ

From clearing fallen leaves and installing holiday decorations to preparing for winter weather and pruning plants for spring growth, the Riverbay Grounds department is already hard at work and focused on keeping Co-op City’s grounds both maintained and vibrant throughout the colder months.

Picking up leaves across all 320 acres of property in Co-op City is the Grounds department’s biggest task this season.

“Leaf removal that’s every day and that takes up all our time, even on weekends,” said Grounds Director Michael Ambo. “On weekends, we do the basketball courts and the kiddie parks. During the week, we do everywhere, every part of Co-op City, from Sections One to Five, and we repeat that every day. We just make an attempt to remove as many leaves as we can on a daily basis until the leaves stop falling.”

According to Mr. Ambo, his team usually starts picking up leaves in early October and will continue the process until the leaves have all fallen down. However, this year he said that a lot of the trees around the community have stayed green late into the fall season and haven’t fallen yet, due to the unusually warm weather this season.

The Grounds department also recycles the leaves they collect and turns them into compost, that they then reuse back on the property.

“We use them back in our gardens and around our tree wells,” Mr. Ambo said. “We used to pay to get rid of those leaves, we don’t do that anymore. So, we recycle all the leaves. We separate the leaves from the regular garbage that we remove on property every day and we take those leaves to the empty lot that we have on Co-op City Boulevard, and we recycle them.”

It takes the leaves about two years to be ready for reuse. Come spring, the Grounds department will be using a pile of leaves that they collected two years ago as fertilizer throughout the community.

“The leaves that we’re putting in the yard now in another two years it’ll be ready to use,” Mr. Ambo said. “So, we’re saving Riverbay quite a lot of money by doing that recycling program with the leaves.”

The unusually and historically dry fall has also impacted the Grounds department, due to the unprecedented spike in

MTA Hosting Webinars on Congestion Pricing

BY BRANDON ORTIZ

Shareholders can learn more about the Central Business District Tolling Program, also known as congestion pricing, during a series of webinars hosted by the MTA during the month of December.

According to the MTA, the meetings will provide participants with information and details on “how the Congestion Relief Zone works, how the program benefts the region, discounts and exemptions, and what people need to know before tolling begins on Sunday, January 5.”

Notably, the MTA will host two webinars dedicated to the Individual Disability Exemption Plan (IDEP) and a separate webinar on the Low-Income Discount Plan (LIDP). Both

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New York Set to Implement Ban on Retail Pet Sales

BY BRANDON ORTIZ

New York will offcially ban the sale of certain animals in pet stores statewide after a new legislation goes into effect on December 15, 2024.

Called the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act, the law offcially bans licensed pet dealers from selling dogs, cats or rabbits in their respective retail locations. The legislation was frst signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022 but provided New York pet stores a two-year grace period to begin modifying their operations in accordance with the new law.

In purpose, the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act is de-

signed to put a stop to the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals trapped in the puppy mill-to-petstore pipeline. By prohibiting the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at retail pet stores, the legislation is also hoping to impact the fnancial revenue of the abusive breeders who oversee such heinous operations.

Animals who are victims of puppy mills “are often mistreated and suffer from serious health issues,” as explained by the New York State Attorney General’s Offce. Furthermore, the State Attorney General highlighted that many of the animals sold

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Governor Hochul Reverses Field and Unpauses Congestion Pricing

BY BRANDON ORTIZ

New Yorkers will soon see congestion pricing after Governor Hochul’s decision to unpause the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP) on November 14, 2024.

The latest development in the ongoing congestion pricing saga picked up momentum rapidly in recent weeks following President-Elect Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris. In May of this year, President-Elect Trump expressed his opposition to the CBDTP, which has led media outlets such as AP News to conclude the Governor’s recent reversal on congestion pricing was a direct response to the assumption that President-Elect Trump would try to stop the plan had state legislators waited until January.

Hochul initially paused the CBDTP in June citing changing circumstances since congestion pricing was frst enacted in 2019. She highlighted that the plan was developed before the city was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and that NYC was still recovering economically.

Gov. Hochul hinted that congestion pricing could be unpaused in January of 2025 during a September radio interview with WNYC’s “All Things Considered,” saying, at that time, that her “position is unwavering,” and that “$15 was too much for New Yorkers at this time.”

While $15 was too costly in the eyes of the Governor, she ultimately decided that $9 was, in fact, the right amount to charge drivers going into the Central Business District. (Continued on page 9)

How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Holiday Season

BY DANIELLE CRUZ

The holiday season is a busy time for both consumers and scammers, who take advantage of the uptick in online shopping to steal money and personal information through fake advertisements and discounts.

“The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for both shoppers and scammers,” said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “While online shopping is a convenient way to purchase gifts and fnd deals, scammers often use this time as an opportunity to take advantage of consumers and steal their information or their hard-earned money.

According to the New York State Division of Consumer Protection, in 2023, consumers spent $273.3 billion online during the holiday season nationwide and also reported $95.2 million in losses from online shopping scams last October through December. A new report released by data analytic company SOAX also revealed that in 2023 New Yorkers lost about $536 per fraud to Black Friday scams.

Unlike other online scams that can sometimes target a specifc age group, anyone can be susceptible to an online shopping scam. According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers will often entice consumers by offering steep discounts on viral items, beauty products and other hard-to-fnd items.

However, while online shopping scams have become more sophisticated and creative over the

Grounds department putting holiday lights up for the Bartow Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Photo by P.M. Campbell

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not self-close,

Maintenance immediately at 718320-3300, select option 2, for an appointment to address this condition.

FOOT PAIN?

Sales ––– (Continued from page 1)

COMBING

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

Build the Block Meeting, Dec. 3

The next meeting of the 45th Pct., Sector C, which includes Coop City, will take place Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. at Circle of Christ Church at 147 Dreiser Loop. All meeting times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Please contact Sector C’s Neighborhood Coordination Officers, Officer Ryan Zelman at ryan. zelman@nypd.org or Officer Driljan Rugovac at driljan.rugovac@nypd.org. to confirm the meeting information. All are invited to attend.

Co-op City

Are We Ready?

Preparedness is key to safety. Governor Hochul, in conjunction with the New York National Guard, Riverbay Corporation, and NYS Homeland Security and Emergency Citizen Preparedness Corps, present a multi-day information session on emergency readiness, including crime prevention, defense training, and emergency to-go bags. Join us on the following date to learn more: December 7, 1:30-3 p.m.; Dreiser Auditorium A, B & C

Delivery Reminder

Shareholders ordering online packages are strongly encouraged to utilize alternate delivery locations supplied by online services. Direct delivery to lockers, hubs, and secure alternate delivery locations will decrease inconvenience, reduce crimes of opportunity and provide a reliable method of securing items delivered. To reduce package thefts, alternate delivery methods are strongly encouraged.

CO - OP CITY TIMES 2ND FRONT PAGE

Breaking Bread, Building Bonds

BY P.M. CAMPBELL

The 45 Precinct hosted a community gathering in the Dreiser Loop Community Center on Sunday, Nov 25.

The event was part of Mayor Eric Adams’ “Breaking Bread, Building Bonds” initiative which aims to build community by hosting thousands of meals and conversations, and is led by the Ofﬁce for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU). It was co-sponsored by

Scan QR code to read the Co-op City Times online at issuu.com/cctimes

Final Open House/Tour at MS 180, Dec. 11

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams MS 180 School of the Arts will host its ﬁnal Open House/Tour on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 6-7:30 p.m. The school is located at 700 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475 in Education Park in Co-op City.

MA 180’s curriculum features Regents 4All Courses in Algebra 1, biology, Earth & Space, US History. Arts/STEM offerings include Band, basketball, chorus, coding, chorus, dance, football, music technology, orchestra, robotics, soccer, track & ﬁeld and visual arts.

Key to Middle School Admissions Codes: * Address within school zone = X180U; * Pre-engineering & math (not zoned) = X180M; * School for the Arts = X180N (not zoned). Application deadline: Friday, Dec. 13, 2024

For Audition/Open House inquiries: Ayemmer@schools.nyc.gov; For application assistance: PAllicock@schools.nyc.gov; for Special Education information: BTedesco@schools. nyc.gov.

Riverbay Corporation, Oak Health, DJ TreyNice, and Metro Plus Health, which gave out bags of turkeys. Members of the NYPD distributed food and material on holiday safety, transit awareness, and scam alerts.

“Today is not a day to be talking about politics, today is not a day to complain to our ofﬁcers…,” said Alina Dowe, Bronx Borough Director for the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit. “Today is about bringing it back to really getting to know one another.”

COVID-19 Test Kits

The U.S. Postal Service has resumed delivery of free at-home Covid-19 tests to households across the U.S. Interested shareholders can sign up to receive four free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, per household, by visiting covidtests.gov or by calling 800-232-0233, TTY: 888720-7489.

The delivery program is a collaboration between USPS and the White House and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) agency. This is the seventh time that the program has been available to U.S. household since it started in 2021, and ASPR and USPS have distributed approximately 900 million tests since then.

“The distribution of these at-home test kits is a vital public health initiative from the Department of Health and Human Services,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “We are proud to continue our partnership in ensuring that every household has access to the resources they need to stay safe and healthy.”

When placing an order, individuals will have the option to provide an email address for updates, including a conﬁrmation email. Upon shipment, customers will receive an email with an estimated delivery date and a tracking number to monitor their order’s progress on usps.com. The kits usually take a day and a half to arrive once shipped.

Photos by PM Campbell

Scams ––– (Continued from page 1) years, there are still ways for consumers to protect themselves from falling victim to a scam.

Research Before Purchasing

Before buying anything online, especially from an unknown website or an unfamiliar brand, consumers should always carefully review the seller and product before making a purchase and keep an eye out for any red fags.

Scammers will also often create fake websites and imitate legitimate brands. So, while the website address might look legitimate at frst glance, it is always a good idea to look up the website yourself, especially if you were redirected from a link. If the domain name doesn’t match the offcial company name or website, it could be a scam site. Also, be on the lookout for any misspelled words, poor grammar, or a website that has an inconsistent design.

Consumers should also always check the contact page before making any purchases. If a website is missing a mailing address, customer service contact information and/or a privacy policy, that might be a red fag. Also, avoid sellers with vague or missing refund policies.

Consumers should also be wary of any websites or ads offering products, especially expensive products, at unrealistic discounts. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

The Division of Consumer Protection also urges consumers to watch out for third-party seller scams and to always confrm the legitimacy of the seller if shopping in an online marketplace. Consumers should always read the seller’s policies and reviews and product descriptions carefully, including the fne print. It’s important to always understand what you’re purchasing and the terms of sale to ensure you are getting the product that you want.

Social Media Ads

Social media shopping features like TikTok Shop and Instagram’s shopping feature have also contributed to the rise in online scams in the past couple of years, with many scammers creating fake listings to entice consumers.

Scammers pay attention to viral products and will often use language like “limited time offer” or “only a few left” in order to pressure consumers into buying a product quickly and not do any research on whether they are a legitimate seller or not.

Also, if you click on a social media ad and are redirected to another website, check the site’s URL. If it doesn’t begin with https://, that is a red fag. Rather than clicking on a social media ad, search up the website and fnd the brand’s legitimate website and see if the deal is also being advertised there.

Never click on any links, text messages, or pop-ups that claim you have won a free item or an exclusive deal. Clicking on those links can allow the scammers access to your personal information or allow them access to download

malware onto your device.

Fake Reviews

Scammers will also use fake reviews in order to make their website or advertisement look more legitimate. While these fake reviews are not always easy to spot, there are some red fags that consumers can keep an eye out for.

One red fag is if all the reviews are one-sided and don’t offer any specifc details about the product or quality of the product. If a product has multiple fve-star or one-star reviews with just a word or two written, are generic, overly enthusiastic, or flled with irrelevant details, you may be looking at fake reviews.

Consumers should also check and see if the reviews are all worded the same way or if they were all posted during the same timeframe. This is a sign that the reviewers are either copying information or were all written by the same person.

Also, look out for generic reviewer profles. According to the Better Business Bureau, if a reviewer has a very common or generic name, such as “John Smith” or “Jane Doe,” you’ve spotted a red fag. Fake reviewers usually post under fake names, sometimes even just a series of letters and numbers, and rarely have a profle picture.

Use Safe Payment Methods

The Division of Consumer Protection advises consumers to never save their payment information on websites and should instead enter their card information every time they make a purchase. They also suggest that consumers use credit cards instead of a debit card when making a purchase, as they generally offer a better level of fraud protection to help consumers get their money back if they dispute a charge. If you do end up making a payment on a scam website, ask your bank to reverse the charges, and check your statement for any charges you did not approve. You should also keep checking your statements monthly to make sure the scammer does not try to re-charge you.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also cautions against paying with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card. You should also never deposit a check and send money back to someone.

If you are the victim of a scam, you can report it to the FTC by visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by calling the FTC’s Consumer Response Center at 877-382-4357.

You can also contact the New York State Department of Consumer Protection at www.dos.ny.gov, or the Attorney General’s Offce at www.ag.ny.gov to report it.

To help flter out unwanted scam phone calls you can also place your personal phone number on the Do Not Call Registry by calling 888-382-1222 or visiting www.donotcall.gov.

Kitchen Safety

BY DANIELLE CRUZ

Cooking is one of the leading causes of house fres. According to FEMA, in 2021, cooking related fres caused an estimated 135 deaths, 3,000 injuries and over $494 million in property loss.

The Co-op City Times sat down with Riverbay Safety Director Tony Barzelatto to discuss staying safe this holiday season while cooking and what shareholders can do to lessen the risks of fres and burns.

When cooking on a stove what should shareholders be aware of?

Today when people cook on stoves, one of the most critical problems that we have is that we keep the handle out towards us. And then what happens is that we rush, or the phone rings, and when we go to get to the phone, our body hits the handle. Then the pot of boiling water, or even oil, tips over. Guess what’s going to happen? You’re going to get burned. So, it’s critical to keep the handle inside, so it’s not protruding outward.

You should also always try to make sure that whenever you’re cooking on the stove that you have a lid nearby. One of the quickest ways to extinguish a fre on the stove is to take the lid and put it on the pot. And when you put it on the pot, that that lid is going to be doing, what I call, the tango. It’s going to be dancing, because all the molecules and all of that energy is trying to get out of that pot.

bel and say, “Okay, let’s see what I got to do here.” By the time you’ve fgured it out, the fre’s already gone out of control and now you have a problem. So as much as it’s important and great to have a fre extinguisher, you need to be trained on how to use one.

We use the acronym P.A.S.S., which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. If a fre starts in the kitchen what should a shareholder do?

The worst thing you could do is lift that lid up again. If you lift that lid up, it is going to just burst into fames, and you might end up catching on fre and getting burned.

So, you want to put the lid on, turn the heat off, and let it calm down. It’ll go out. That’s the best way to extinguish a fre on the stove. Should shareholders have fre extinguishers nearby?

Now, fre extinguishers are great. We recommend that people buy what’s called an all-purpose, or what is known as an ABC extinguisher. It’s good for paper, for wood, it’s good for all fammable combustible liquids, and it’s good for electric. So, it’s an all-around good extinguisher.

Here’s the only problem with a fre extinguisher. Have you ever used a fre extinguisher before? No?

So, let’s say you go to Home Depot, you buy the fre extinguisher, and you put it on your shelf or near you. Then one day a fre occurs, and you go get the fre extinguisher and you don’t know how to use it.

So now what do you do? Do you pick up the extinguisher and look at the la-

Here’s the number one critical thing to remember if you have a fre in a kitchen. If a fre occurs, if you make that decision that you’re going to try to put it out, even if it’s a pot on the stove that’s on fre, the frst thing you have to do is dial 911. You want the calvary coming, because if you try to put the fre out and it doesn’t go out, you can get yourself in a situation where you might become trapped. So, you want the fre department to come.

If you try to put the fre out and you don’t call the fre department, remember that fre doubles in size every 30 seconds. So, the longer you wait, the bigger the fre is going to get. And most people today get a little frantic and they try to do things that they really shouldn’t be doing. There’s no law in this world that says that if there’s a fre in your apartment, you have to put the fre out.

The worst thing you can do is turn to your sink and get a pot of water and try to put it out. That is what you call a recipe for disaster. You will end up spreading the fre and things are going to get bad real quick. If there’s a fre, the frst thing you should do is get out of the apartment. If there’s something small, you can try to put it out yourself if you want but call 911 frst. If you make the attempt to put it out and it can’t go out or it’s gotten a little bit bigger, then the frst thing you want to do is get out of your apartment and make sure the door is closed, which is the most important thing. You should actually test that your door closes by itself every day when you go into your apartment. The door should close by itself and when it closes, it also has to latch.

There’re three things that make a fre; you have heat, you have fuel, and you have oxygen. So if I leave the door open, I’m fueling the fre – it’s almost like putting gasoline on the fre because I’m adding an enormous amount of oxygen into the fre and it’s just gonna keep getting bigger and bigger

If a fre starts, shareholders should call 911 immediately and make sure they get to safety as soon as possible. Shareholders are encouraged to go over the fre safety procedures provided to them by Riverbay.

African-American Association Holds Rodeo Line Dance Workshop

BY P.M. CAMPBELL

The African-American Association hosted a Bronx Rodeo Line Dance workshop on Saturday, Nov. 23, in the Dreiser Auditorium.

Guests, dressed as cowgirls, cowboys, sheriffs, and bandits, attended from all over the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Volunteers in the Dreiser Auditorium distributed snacks and beverages, and participants were given Wild-West themed props. Various instructors taught participants their unique forms of exercise and how to look good doing it.

“The history of line dancing is complex and has its roots in many different cultures and traditions,” said Cynthia Dixon. “Because of its diverse lineage, it is truly a dance to be enjoyed by everyone.”

The Association will use the funds from the event to sponsor their upcoming Spelling Bee in 2025.

Co-op Creatives: “The Gift from Aelius”

BY P.M. CAMPBELL

Michael Colon’s new book is set in a desolate wasteland metropolis ironically named Paradise. Authoritarian “Overseers” govern the population of artifcial intelligence beings, but rebellion is brewing and an android named A191 is at its center. “The Gift from Aelius” is science fction but is based on the truths of life as you know it.

Colon, a writer from Section 5, recently published his frst novel with TWB Press. The 33-year-old was previously featured in “Co-op City Creatives,” but this text is a major development in his literary career. The lessons he learned during his writing process are valuable for all aspiring writers.

After releasing a poetry book earlier this year, Colon was motivated to push his boundaries even further. The complexity of this story could not be contained in a 150 word poem like his “Ecstasy and Solace in Rhythm;” there are more than 36,000 words in this novel.

Though set in the near future, “The Gift from Aelius” was inspired by fgures of the past like freedom fghters during slavery. Colon says that the protagonist’s internal confict is also based on his personal experiences, “I think about the world I’m growing up in and try to replicate that onto paper,” he said.

Colon’s writing and revision process ensured that his work did not feel like a chore. While he described it as a diffcult undertaking–one in which he flled nearly a dozen notebooks–his publishers helped him remain patient and enthusiastic. His advice to new writers, “Stick to your idea, love your idea, put your heart into it, but also be open minded and fexible… only you can write this book.”

For Michael, like his AI protagonist, hard work, faith, and consistency are at the core of one’s growth. A191’s adventure has already inspired a spin off which Colon is hard at work writing. “The Gift from Aelius” can be found as an eBook and paperback in major bookstores and other sites.

Photos by PM Campbell

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. 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

– • Letters to the Editor • –

in that week’s edition. Views and opinions expressed in letters are solely the writer’s and not necessarily shared by

PS 153 Students Singled Out

To the Editor:

I am very disturbed by the singling out of PS 153’s students during the Gallery Session at the recent Riverbay Board of Directors meeting. This community is lacking in support of our youth, and then gets an audience to talk about one school when four other schools are also in this community and we all share challenges with our youth. Someone from the school should have been notiﬁed or at least have an opportunity to address this concern. How about the Co-op City residents whose children are being spoken about, since if, in fact, they are PS 153 children, they are residents of Co-op City. All this does is heighten senior citizens’ fear of youth in this community. As the parent coordinator of PS 153, I am available to further this discussion, if needed. The court of public opinion is always working!

—Ronald J. Hartridge

A Community Gem

To the Editor:

I can’t let time pass at this season of gratitude without stopping and giving thanks to Executive General Manager Marvin Walton for last week’s Management Report, to our Riverbay Board President Rod Saunders, and, most of all, to the Co-op City Times for producing a newspaper that contains all our news and events every week.

The Co-op City Times is a department of Riverbay Corporation. Their mission is to produce a weekly newspaper. What they have accomplished is nothing short of producing a gem of a newspaper. As cooperators, we need to read it thoroughly. All our questions can be answered, all the news of each week is there.

Last week’s Management Report is important to keep as a reference and use. It gives us all the facts and information we need to have to answer our questions and complaints.

Neighbors, keep up with the newspaper, mark your calendar by reviewing the publicized events published in the Co-op City Times. You can’t be bored and you won’t be ignorant about what is going on in your community.

—Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar

Proper Disposal of Raw Garbage

Shareholders are reminded that raw garbage, such as kitchen scraps, must be placed in a bag and secured before being disposed of down the chute in the compactor room on your ﬂoor. Raw garbage must not be thrown unbagged down the chute. That is unsanitary and attracts vermin.

Those who violate this rule could receive a Community Complaint, if identiﬁed.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to maintain the quality of life of shareholders.

—Riverbay Management

Preserve Independence of Riverbay Fund

To the Editor:

Pertaining to the Riverbay Fund, do shareholders know what they’ll lose if the Riverbay Fund loses its independence? Do they know they will lose Tunes on Tuesday, or Wicked Wednesday, or the Independence Day Fireworks?

From my understanding, as part of the Fund’s agreement with the Corporation, the Corporation gives $150K to the Fund. The Fund can spend that money however they wish as long as the expenses are accounted for. That money cannot be cut off by fiat by any Board officer. It is the Board’s duty to ensure that check is signed and nothing else. Withholding that money goes against a standing Board resolution and no officer of the Board elected by the shareholders to work in the best interest of the corporation and community should be able to do what they feel suits them. From my knowledge, the Fund has supplied the Corporation timely and detailed records of its expenses. Now if these are not done to the Corporation’s liking, why not meet with the Fund president to tweak and improve accounting reports? The Fund’s independence doesn’t need to be destroyed to achieve this.

This leads to my next question: Has there been a meeting between the Board and the Fund? It has been reported that the Fund president has been asking for a meeting. If there hasn’t been a meeting by the time of this printing, then that’s a problem.

I believe the Fund must remain independent. Why return to the time of a past presidency when the Fund was abused and used as a personal slush fund and cudgel to cultivate personal favors within Co-op City clubs and groups? I don’t want us to return to that level of corruption. By rescinding the Fund’s independence, that is the atmosphere the Corporation would be courting.

Do you have another Riverbay non-profit ready to replace the Riverbay Fund? If not, why risk losing money from city and government for Co-op City non-profit purposes? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

—Ezekiel Springer Jr.

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Important Notice to Shareholders of Building 28

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.

Building 28 A, B, C 100, 120, 140 Einstein Loop

Current Lease

Expiration Date: January 31, 2025 New 3-Year Expiration Date: January 31, 2028

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

Danielle Cruz Managing Editor

Brandi Simpson Junior Associate Editor

Ralph Henriquez Production Manager

Jennifer Piovanetti Operations Manager

John Crow

New Media Producer

Sheldon Green

Multi-Media Advertising Manager

Brandon Ortiz Media Assistant

P.M. Campbell

Media Assistant

Send Us Your Letters: 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 writer and include their address and phone number, which will be kept conﬁdential, so that the editor can verify the authenticity of the author.

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 submitted to the Co-op City Times by 3 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication in that week’s edition. Email cctimes@riverbaycorp.com or mail to 2049 Bartow Ave., Room 21, Bronx, NY 10475.

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 Corp. 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, NY 10475.

If the Co-op City Times is not delivered: Call 407-666-8317 on Saturdays only, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Public Safety Report

BY SGT. JOSEPH VARGAS

Auto-Crime Solutions

Co-op City Public Safety Department (CCPD) wishes all members of our Co-op City community a Happy Holidays. During the season, it is important to enjoy your family, friends and the community, and it is equally important to be vigilant and safe.

In the last year, we have seen an uptick in reports of vehicle thefts, a national trend, unfortunately, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). In 2023, NICB auto crime data reported an estimated 1,020,729 vehicle thefts across the United States, which they report, is the highest number since 2008. “New York saw the seventh-most vehicle thefts of any state last year, with 32,715 stolen vehicles in 2023,” NICB stated. On the list of most common vehicles stolen are Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V and several KIA models.

While CCPD investigators work diligently alongside NYPD to find those involved, Co-op City officers and ESU Units have focused strategic deployment which helps to reduce thefts in our area. CCPD now requests cooperators’ assistance. Co-op City residents and visitors can keep each other safe and even reduce auto theft in our community by heeding specific auto crime safety tips recommended by the NICB and CCPD.

• Park in well-lit areas. Co-op City is one of the most diligent neighborhoods in the Bronx at keeping grounds and landscape well lit. However, there will always be areas of lower light and visibility at night. Take that extra drive around the block to ﬁnd an area with ample lighting. Light may deter perpetrators from taking the time to stand by the vehicle they would normally target.

• Double check, close and lock all windows and doors when you park. Do not leave your keys in the vehicle or leave the vehicle running, not even for a moment. There are those auto thieves who serve as “scouters.”

• Always hide valuables out of sight within the vehicle. At times, vehicles that were otherwise not on the radar may catch a would-be perpetrator’s attention if they see valuables through the window in a parked vehicle, whether on the street or in garages.

SCAM ALERT: Remember not to divulge personal identiﬁcation, including date of birth, address, Social Security number, bank accounts, bank or credit cards to anyone who you do not know and trust.

Public Safety Blotter

November 17 – November 23, 2024

November 17, 2024

120 DeKruif Place – A cooperator reported that a conﬁrmed delivered package was removed from in front of their apartment door by an unknown person(s) without permission.

November 18, 2024

4100 Hutchinson River Parkway – A cooperator reported a conﬁrmed delivered package was removed from the lobby area by an unknown person(s) without permission.

140 Darrow Place – A cooperator reported that a conﬁrmed delivered package was removed from the lobby area by an unknown Person(s) without permission.

November 19, 2024

177 Dreiser Loop – A Riverbay employee observed an individual sleeping in the auditorium in the Dreiser Center and alerted CCPD. Upon arrival, CCPD questioned the individual who refused to answer and was promptly placed under arrest for Trespassing. Upon further investigation, the individual was identiﬁed and issued a Criminal Court Summons.

99 Einstein Loop – A cooperator reported returning to their parked vehicle and observing the vehicle

Co-op City Department of Public Safety: (718) 671-3050

Tips/Concerns/Comments: info@ccpd.us

Follow on X: @CCPDnyc Visit us at: www.ccpd.us

• There have been several reports throughout the city of vehicles being stolen at gas stations. It may take extra steps, but do not leave a vehicle running unattended at a gas station or drive-thru. Be alert and aware of who is approaching your vehicle. When parked and inside the vehicle, lock your doors and roll up your windows, if you are not paying attention at the moment.

• Invest in your property. Consider purchasing alarms and GPS trackers on your vehicle. Anti-theft VIN Etching several parts of your vehicle, including windows, serves to deter thefts and is a great way for law enforcement to recover stolen vehicles or parts. If your vehicle is stolen, call both CCPD and New York City Police Department as well as your insurer immediately. According to NICB, reporting a vehicle as soon as possible after it is stolen increases the chance of recovery.

Anonymous calls to Public Safety

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

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

was removed by unknown person(s) without permission. NYPD and CCPD were notiﬁed by the cooperator.

November 20, 2024

120 Erdman Place – A cooperator reported an unknown person removing their Ring camera from the apartment door and sending a text message stating that it was in his possession.

99 Einstein Loop – A cooperator reported returning to their parked vehicle in a reserved parking space and observing that vehicle was removed by an unknown person(s) without permission. NYPD and CCPD were notiﬁed by the cooperator.

November 22, 2024

140 Alcott Place – A cooperator reported that a conﬁrmed delivered package was removed from in front to their apartment door by an unknown person(s) without permission.

November 23, 2024

120 DeKruif Place – CCPD and FDNY responded to a call for a smoke condition in the building. Upon arrival, CCPD and FDNY observed smoke coming from the basement compactor room. A forced entry was conducted by FDNY, and the ﬁre quickly extinguished.

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

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

Thank you for your cooperation. ––Riverbay Management

OPPORTUNITIES AT CO-OP CITY

For information on CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, please contact: Lenya Garcia at Lgarcia@riverbaycorp.com; and Anatoliy Budnitskiy at abudnitskiy@riverbaycorp.com.

Please note: emails should be sent to both parties. Please DO NOT email resumes for EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES to the aforementioned emails. For EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, please see below for instructions.

CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES

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

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

For employment opportunities, please visit the following sites:

www.Indeed.com https://indeedhi.re/ 3SgTKEr

www.Glassdoor.com https://bit.ly/3SgI9Go

www.ZipRecruiter.com https://bit.ly/3Se8bdw

Candidates may review full position descriptions and apply at any site Current Riverbay employees should submit a transfer request and resumé directly to the HR department.

Thank you for your interest in working for Riverbay Corporation.

Director

’s

Viewpoint Leslie Peterson, First Vice President

Utilizing Technology

Hopefully everyone enjoyed the recent holiday and are ready for the upcoming December celebrations. Co-op City continues to move forward and utilize technology available to make our service to the community more effcient. Along with that, we are moving towards reducing the paper trail and compile our data in a more reliable manner. Last year, we were able to encourage more shareholders to fle their annual affdavit electronically. There were glitches that we hope are resolved. Being proactive, we want to begin virtual instruction sessions each month commencing in January. We hope that by April, everyone will be better prepared to fle electronically, eliminating the need for a notary or mailed documents. Additional assistance will be discussed as needed. Interestingly, a shareholder recently wrote, after attempting to take care of a parking facility matter, “it’s time to utilize technology.”

Recently, many people received MTA warnings regarding cars waiting or double parked. In this residential area, I have not seen buses not able to pass due to cars. I have seen this take place near the schools where buses are picking up youth. My question then becomes will the school buses get tickets or just parents waiting to pick up their babies from school. We are very tight when it comes to parking and people wait for hours sometimes to get a spot. Will you now have to constantly move around? The little league feld and the garden do not impede bus movement when cars are parked on the side. This is a NORC community and when you are waiting to escort someone or they have called for assistance, who will get that ticket? On many of the thoroughfares throughout the city, this is a problem. Most people who have approached me about this matter are just frustrated at the manner in which the city is seeking more

funds. Consideration should have been given to this residential area.

FYI Congestion Pricing: On November 14, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a phased-in approach to New York’s Congestion Pricing program, which was previously on pause. Today, the MTA Board approved this plan. Now, Congestion Relief Zone tolling will begin on Sunday, January 5, at midnight. When tolling begins, vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone in Manhattan— local streets and avenues at or below 60 Street— will be charged a toll.

The toll amount will depend on the type of vehicle, time of day, whether any crossing credits apply, and the method of payment. For example, passenger vehicles with E-ZPass entering the Congestion Relief Zone at 60 Street will be charged $9 in the peak period and $2.25 overnight, once daily. For more details on toll rates, visit the MTA website at https://congestionreliefzone.mta.info/ E-ZPass is the best and cheapest way to pay the toll. Most drivers will be able to pay with their existing E-ZPass tag and account. If you already have an E-ZPass account, make sure it is up to date with your current license plate number as this will be needed for appropriate discounts, exemptions, and crossing credits. If you do not have an account, you can sign up for one on the E-ZPass website.

I am pleased to have the Building and Grounds Committee and the Residential Sales Committee. On Monday, November 25, 2024 we had a virtual Building and Grounds Meeting. The Interim Director of Janitorial, Mr. Taylor, and the Director of Grounds, Mr. Ambo, attended, gave us a brief presentation and addressed the questions asked by the building presidents. Having heard building presidents and shareholders complain about incidents of vermin, I invited the Extermination Director, Mr. Mark Gordon. He did answer the many

questions asked, and made note of problematic areas mentioned to him. The minutes of the meeting will be shared with your building president and we encourage them to share the information at their Association meetings.

Our Grounds department will attempt to move scooters that impede the walkways, however, we are asking everyone to be diligent and contact the various companies and let them know their equipment needs to be removed ASAP. Here is information you can share, received from Community Board 10: E-SCOOTER PROGRAM COMPLAINTS: NYC 311, https://portal.311.nyc.go

BIRD scooters are silver and blue. · Call: (866) 205-2442 · Email: hello@bird.co

LIME scooters are white and green. · Call: (888) 546-3345 · Email: support@li.me

VEO scooters are black and aqua. · Call: (855) 836-2256 · Email: hello@veoride.com

CITIBIKES: 1-855-BIKE-311, https://help.citibikenyc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032027592-Ifound-an-abandoned-bike.

For those accepted to the Residential Sales and Restoration (vacant units) Committee, the meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 2, 2024. You should have received your Zoom sign on information. The Orientation video is available on our Riverbay website. Visit the Resources page and click on the link to “General Information,” or click the button at the bottom of the Residential Sales page under “Apply.”

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little. The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” –Edmund Burke I am pleased to be of service to the community. I can be reached by e-mail at lpeterson@riverbayboard.com.

Congestion –––

(Continued from page 1)

On November 14, the Governor did not directly speak about how the difference of $6 will address the fnancial impact she originally felt a $15 toll would have had on New Yorkers, but she did touch on how the funding will help the MTA.

“As I said from the start, a $15 toll was just too high in this economic climate. That’s why our plan cuts the daytime toll to $9 for cars. By getting congestion pricing underway and fully supporting the MTA capital plan, we’ll unclog our streets, reduce pollution and deliver better public transit for millions of New Yorkers,” the Governor said.

Here is a breakdown on how the new fare structure will work when offcially implemented on January 5, according to the MTA:

Daytime Tolls:

• Passenger vehicles – $9 (once per day)

• Motorcycles – $4.50 (once per day)

• Small trucks and non-commuter buses – $14.40

• Large trucks and sightseeing buses – $21.60

Nighttime Tolls:

• All vehicles get a 75% discount on their daytime toll rate Tunnel Crossing Credits:

• Drivers with a valid EZPass who utilize either the Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Queens-Midtown Tunnel or Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to enter the city during peak hours can receive a crossing credit to reduce their toll upon entering the central business district. With the latest update to the toll rates, tunnel crossing credits will be reduced by 40% to keep in line with the decreased toll rates. Per-Ride Fees for all trips to, from or within the Central Business District

• Taxis and black cars – $0.75 per trip

• App-based for-hire vehicles – $1.50 per trip

Notably, while the new congestion fare will start at $9 and is locked in for the duration of 2025 through 2027, as stipulated in the Governor’s plan, the fare is expected to increase to no more than $12 for the duration of 2028 through 2030. Ultimately, the original $15 toll is expected to begin in 2031 as opposed to 2025.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber discussed how the revenue from congestion pricing will impact MTA capital projects.

“New Yorkers deserve cleaner air, safer streets and ambulances that can get to them without gridlock, and the Governor is stepping up for them and for riders who need trains and buses to get them where they have to go — just like she did with the Budget in 2023,” Lieber said on Nov. 14. “Now you’re seeing it again, a huge milestone for 6.5 million commuters. We want to bring more frequent and reliable service — to all our customers — just like we have on the 7 and L lines where upgrades are already complete.”

The MTA Board offcially approved the Governor’s revised plan on Nov. 18.

Building 28 Association

Greetings, to our shareholders. We hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving. We are pleased to announce the association and community events that will be taking place in the community we call home.

To show appreciation for the porters, we will be collecting donations on following dates:

Monday, December 2

Building 28A: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Building 28B: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (whole week)

Building 28C: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Monday, December 16

Building 28A: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Building 28B: See bulletin board

Building 28C: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Building 28C will have envelopes available by the elevator. Final collection date is December 16. Be sure to check out your lobby bulletin boards for postings. Please donate and thank you.

Santa is coming! On Sunday, December 8, from 4-6 p.m. in the Association room (rear of Building B), get your picture taken with Santa and receive a gift from Santa’s helpers.

We will be serving hot chocolate and cookies. Santa will also be handing out some treats.

The event is for kids ages 1-10 years old. Children must be accompanied by a parent. Sign up now! Space is limited! We need a head count. So, please sign your child up. RSVP by December 4 with your building, apartment, parent’s name, child’s name, age and child’s gender. RSVP to Building28Association@gmail.com.

Building 28 is invited to join Building 26 at the second annual “Light It Up” tree lighting event on December 14 starting at 5 p.m. outside the Einstein Community Center patio area. The event will feature a mini concert, delicious treats and the warmth of our community coming together to kick off the holiday season.

Lastly, we are thinking of having an adult-only neighborhood post-Christmas gathering. Let us know if you are interested and we welcome ideas. Date to be announced!

Building volunteers are welcomed. Everyone has a gift, so please share and let us know what yours is.

Floor Captains and decorating committee volunteers needed. To sign up, contact president Dalia via email or if you see her around, let her know. Donations are appreciated.

“If each person does a little, then we can get a lot done.” –James Payne/ ERDC

––Idalia Reyes

Director’s Viewpoint Mary Pearson, Assistant Secretary

Misspelled/Mistreated

We live in easily misspelled Co-op City.

Everyone misspells it – our own residents, the MTA, the DOT, our local and not so local legislators from time to time in their campaign literature and newsletters... and Google.

Google used to do it a lot, and still chronically misspells Co-op City in its listings. But one teardrop-shaped edit-dot at a time, I have gotten dozens of misplaced Co-op City capital O’s removed from Google maps.

Capital O’s that were once attached to Co-op City’s stores, several of our 35 high-rise apartment buildings, all three community centers, several churches, two greenways, the Power Plant, a basketball court, a baseball ﬁeld, a food bank, the Bartow Mall, and our main road – Co-op City Blvd. – are no longer. All those capital O’s are gone. Actually, since 128 capital O’s (according to my count) have been removed from the southwest side of the Google map rendering of Co-op City Boulevard alone, make that hundreds, not dozens of lower-cased Co-op City “O” edits. Yes indeedy, all those corrections were made during the past year or so due to my inability to “drop it already.”

Tell her what she’s won, Johnny!

Not so quick, Johnny.

Mattress Firm still insists it’s located in Co-Op City. Arrgh.

It’s like whack a mole! You get it ﬁxed in one spot and up it pops somewhere else.

I wonder how the City of New Rochelle likes being called New Roc City? I’ll tell you for sure, Riverdale wouldn’t let anyone get away with misspelling their community.

It’s too late to add a properly spelled Co-op City to my Thanksgiving 2024 list of reasons to be thankful. New target: All I want for Christmas is for Co-op City to be spelled right, dang it!

So let’s review. Co-op City has two capital C’s. Always. Co-op City has no capital O’s. Most-

Building 5 Association

Greetings, to all cooperators.

Thank you to all who attended the Building Association meeting on Tuesday, November 19. We want to extend our appreciation to our guests who gave presentations. Thank you to Diane Cooper of Caregivers Outreach Mentorship Empowerment (COME) and Egaudy Gomez of Essen Health Care. Both guests were very informative, and their information will allow cooperators to make better informed health decisions about their health care, end of life decisions, and their role as caregivers.

The Association has started its holiday collections. Schedules have been placed in each building for those who wish to donate. We also extend an invitation to any cooperator who wishes to volunteer to help. Please notify our president, Deborah Lowden, if interested.

Holiday decorations for all three buildings will take place the week of December 3rd at 6 p.m. We invite cooperators to come and help make it a festive occasion.

Our holiday celebration for all building association members will take place on Friday, December 21, beginning at 5 p.m.

Game Night took place on Friday, November 22. A good time was had by all. Our next Game Night will be held in January 2025.

Family Fun Day will take place in 2025. Fundraising letters for the event will be going out in the near future. Further information will come, including the exact date of the event in 2025.

Our membership drive will take place starting the week of February 24, 2025. The dues will remain the same, $7 per family, for the year.

On behalf of the ofﬁcers of the Building 5 Association, we want to wish all cooperators a festive, safe and blessed Thanksgiving.

––Joyce L. Duncan

ly. (There are exceptions.) But it’s got to have a hyphen. It’s never coop city. (Except for one exception.) I even have a joke for it. The fellas don’t mind living in a coop, but for us old hens, Co-op City without a hyphen just does not ﬂy. So, remember it’s never, never, ever coop city. (Except for that one exception.)

So what are these many exceptions?

You are always allowed to take the liberty of spelling the whole name of our unique community in all-capital letters. Even the O’s. That would be CO-OP CITY. I don’t like it, I don’t recommend it, but it is permissible.

Another capital O exception is when you’re getting fancy.

When you get fancy, you are allowed to capitalize everything. But you must make the C’s bigger than the capitalized O’s and the P and the ITY. I’ll demonstrate but it’s gotta be on its own separate line, otherwise the Co-op City Times or (cctimes as in issuu.com/cctimes) production crew will ﬁnd a way to seek revenge. So that would be: CO-OP CITY.

Final exception. This is another spelling of the most elegant and correctly spelled Co-op City that I do not like, I do not recommend, but which is unfortunately permissible, and so entrenched, that nothing at all can be done about it. That’s coop as in coopcity, as in coopcity.com – our ofﬁcial website address, and in too many e-mail addresses.

So, fellow obsessionistas who think that misspelling the inimitable Co-op City is a great sign of D.I.S./R.E.S.P.E.C.T, join me in this never-ending crusade.

When you see something, say something.

Say it to the DOT. Say, “Hey! Someone spelled Co-op City wrong on the sign for Exit 2 off the Hutchinson River Pkwy South heading to Bartow. Who told you there’s a capital O in Co-op City?!”

Tell the Peartree Post Ofﬁce you’re PO’ed that they misspell Co-op City twice near their building

entrance.

Tell the MTA it’s bad enough that their BxM7 drivers chronically refuse to stop at the actual Einstein stop causing all kinds of passenger-disembarking issues and potentially hazardous trafﬁc problems, or that they’ve cancelled hundreds of express bus trips to and from Co-op City this year alone, inconveniencing so many people! Yeah, tell them that. But also tell them to stop misspelling Co-op City on anything they can get their hands on!

And then there are the countless publications –online and in print – that just can’t be bothered to fact check our name.

I wrote to The City via newsletters@thecity.nyc about Co-Op City sprinkled within their 8/8/24 Metro-North RR version oftheir 8/14/24article: Council Poised to Approve Sweeping East Bronx Development Agenda. (Mind you, we were misspelled in the 8/14/24 article as well.)

That was only one of the reasons I wrote to the publication and to that particular author. I have much bigger and much more drawn out Co-op City crusades that I spend inordinate amounts of time battling that I wanted to pitch.

Since the author’s beat was the Northeast Bronx, I assumed she probably already knew a lot about the two entangled projects threatening the 10,000 residents of Co-op City’s southernmost section, Section 5. Those of course would be the M-N RR station and Project X. I thought her interest might be peaked enough to give the problem some more virtual ink.

I’ll let you know if she ever gets back to me.

In the meantime, please join in the effort to let us not go the way of New Roc City.

And, that’s about all the time and space I have left for this complaint-fest.

I do hope you all had a complaint-free, joyous Thanksgiving.

Have a good week. And feel free to contact me, MPearson@RiverbayBoard.com/718-219-2211.

National Council of Negro Women

NCNW National – Our national body has begun a “National Fall Training Series” designed to make sure that we are all operating in compliance with our operating standards and procedures. Training has been offered in ﬁve parts and all members are encouraged to register for sessions that apply to each of us. There are two remaining Training Series Parts still ahead of us. On Tuesday, December 3, at 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures 101 Workshop (Session 2) will be held. All state and section leaders are encouraged to attend. On Tuesday, December 10, at 8 p.m., Eastern Time, the Social Justice Workshop will be held. All members are encouraged to attend. Co-op City Section members, refer to your email from our national ofﬁce dated November 8th to register for these remaining webinars.

NCNW Co-op City Section – Our next regular membership meeting will be held on Sunday, December 8, at 3 p.m. The meeting will offer in-person attendance or Zoom access. We will be meeting in Room 11, Dreiser Community Center. Members are reminded of donations for a Gift Card for a deserving family this holiday season instead of our usual holiday gifts collection. If you are attending our meeting in person, we voted to have a Holiday Party after our meeting, each donating $30. There will be food and games and a lot of fun.

All members are also reminded that beginning Jan. 1, 2025, an increase in national dues will go into effect. Our national dues will increase to $75. Have you paid your local and national dues yet at

the old amount? They were both due in October. November is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease awareness month — Two of the most common conditions of COPD include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Bronchitis is a condition when mucus builds up in your airways causing coughing, wheezing, a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe, shortness of breath and tightness in your chest. Emphysema occurs when the air sacs in your lungs are damaged making it difﬁcult to breathe. Smoking remains the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) even though working with chemicals, dust and fumes can also cause this condition. Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your health. The sooner you quit, the sooner your body can start to heal. You’ll feel better and have more energy to be active with your family and friends. Smoking hurts almost every part of the body. Smoking tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Not only does it cause COPD but also lung cancer, colorectal cancer, heart disease, stroke, pregnancy problems, gum disease, vision loss, rheumatoid arthritis. Quitting smoking is hard, but millions of people have done it successfully. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit Smokefree.gov for free help.

Social Media – Remember you can ﬁnd us on our website: www.ncnwcoopcitysection.com; on Instagram: NCNW Co-op City and email: ncnwco.opcity@gmail.com —Joyce Howard

our affordable rates.

Building 2 Association

Greetings, shareholders!

Upcoming Events: Riverbay is proud to sponsor a free Citizen Preparedness Training Program on Saturday, December 7. This session, provided by NY Citizen Preparedness, will equip attendees with vital knowledge for handling of emergencies, severe weather and natural disasters. This training course will be held in the Dreiser Loop Auditorium ABC (second is required at (http://www.prepare. miss this opportunity, as it promises to be both informative and a valuable use of your time.

ciation holiday crafts event on Sun., Dec. 15, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Building in our lobby for the holidays, whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. This event is open to children and adults, but space is limited so admission will be on a

Finally, the December Food Pantry dates are Saturday, December 7, and

Laundry Etiquette: Remember that the laundry room is a shared space by buildings A and B, so cleanliness and safety are key. Please discard used dryer sheets and other trash in the bins provided near the washing machines. Avoid

Porch Piracy Awareness: As the holiday season approaches, be vigilant about packages left unattended in the hallways or near doors. If you see something, say something.

to our hospitality/decorations team. Special thanks to Sherryl and Ana for the lovely Thanksgiving lobby decorations.

As we kickoff this holiday season, we wish you all much love, joy and happiness. Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy this special time of the year! Happy Holidays!

––Adelina

Martinez

Coalition of African-American Churches & Community Organizations of Co-op City

tion sponsored by the Coalition of African-American Churches & Communityebration is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. in the Bartow Community

emony, the Coalition will recognize Ms. Eleanor Donnley, former president of the National Council of Negro Women, and Mr. Nelson Sweeting, president of the Section Five Association. Join us in honoring them for their many years of community involvement.

The fourth principle of Kwanzaa is the Principle of Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics. We encourage attendees to support the vendors. You may pur-

1. Thus, families and community residents can come together to share a feast,rican American culture, and patronize each other’s businesses. We would truly appreciate your active participation in the program. If possible, please bring

in this meaningful event. There will be lots of food, beverages and entertainment. Those who attend should bring an offering of a store purchased dessert children, and we encourage you to bring your children and/or grandchildren. Be sure to invite your family members, your friends and neighbors for an afternoon of meaningful fun and edu-tainment.

The members of the Coalition include the African-American Association, the

Loop, and Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Anglican Church. All Co-op City organizations are welcome to join. Please obtain a membership form from our Recording Secretary, Francine Jones. We look forward to seeing you on December 14.

—Adeyemi LaCrown Oloruntoba

Honorees: Ms. Eleanor Donnley (left) and Mr. Nelson Sweeting (right).

Bardekova Ensemble Performs in Bartow

Shareholders enjoyed a free concert by the wonderful Bardekova Ensemble on Sunday, Nov. 17 in Bartow Center’s Rm. 31. The performance was sponsored by the Coalition to Save Affordable Housing with support from Riverbay Corp., Bronx Council of the Arts and the Recording Industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund.

Section 5 Food Distribution Surrounded by Chilly Temperatures and Warm Hearts

Despite chilly temperatures and winds, Section 5’s food distribution volunteers were present with warm smiles to distribute a variety of healthy fruits and produce. If you haven’t experienced the community love, bring a bag or shopping cart and join us by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center for Teens every Saturday morning around 11 a.m. Have some time to volunteer? Help us fight to “Drive Out Hunger!” Register/volunteer: @grassrootsgroceryny or drop us a note via email: coopcitycommunityfridge@gmail.com

–Yolanda

Ramirez

“There’s an Amen in Every Corner”

“Drama with Dazee and Friends” presented “There’s an Amen in Every Corner,” a minimalist improv play written and produced by Daisy Windley, and presented on Nov. 22 at Bartow OAC.

Photos by PM Campbell

Photos by Bernard Cylich

Photos by Antoinette Erskin & Yolanda Ramirez

Director

’s Viewpoint

Daryl Johnson Board Meeting Review, 11/20/2024

We had a rough board meeting on November 20, 2024 that had to be stopped. So, let’s review what happened.

Conduct Business Properly

Everyone makes mistakes. However, there might come a time when you have to realize exactly what’s going on with some folks. For instance, our board and our management team will have a preliminary meeting before our open board meetings to discuss resolutions and other matters. Then, supposedly, directors can vote on resolutions without having long, drawn out discussions.

So, our board and management held a preliminary meeting exactly as indicated. Then, management was supposed to make specifc changes to the resolutions that we discussed. But, let’s stop for a moment because we have to review that last sentence.

Our previous board did not want to hire a management company. But, then, our regulatory agencies and our mortgage holder forced us to hire a management compa-

ny. In fact, HUD previously sent out one of the harshest letters ever to Riverbay and everyone on a previous board.

The letter stated that HUD would refer our matter “to the Department of Justice for the purpose of initiating an action in federal court for specifc performance of the Regulatory Agreement” for failure to comply with their regulatory agreement.

Then, HUD wanted to issue severe monetary penalties against every board director. So, the personal liability for every board director could go “upwards of $42,500.” Rough? Absolutely! But, keep reading because these threats are just from one section of their letter. Ready? HUD then wanted to debar every board director from participating in “federal programs.” So, we eventually hired a management agency.

But, we’re paying a lot of money to have a management agency here. However, our board has to analyze and correct some of the most basic business points on most of the resolutions that come before us during our preliminary board meetings. Thereafter, management is

supposed to update those resolutions.

However, just before a vote during our board meeting, some board directors discovered that management did not update a resolution for medical insurance that was previously discussed. Mistake? In my opinion, no!

So, some words were exchanged. The board president, then, had to pause the entire meeting. Next, he told all of the directors to go to another room for a discussion. But, when we returned, most of the audience had walked out.

Bottom line: A representative from the NYS Homes and Community Renewal agency was at that board meeting. And, now, I’m sure that his agency will read this viewpoint. Therefore, my personal thoughts are that we cannot continue to go down this path with this management agency.

Convectors

At some point, NYS and NYC are going to put more restrictions on power plants that use natural gas. Therefore, we must understand that we might have to shut down our power plant. So, does it make sense to consider purchasing about 65,000 new convectors for our community? Labor installation charges? No! Shortly, a big announcement will be made about bringing in a new power source to our community.

School Kids Wilding Out

A complaint was made during the board meeting about some school kids wilding out in our community. For instance, can you believe that some school kids are going throughout building 18 and they’re violently kicking on doors? Thereafter, can you believe that they damaged a door in this same building?

Bottom line: We will not tolerate this foolishness to go on in our community. Therefore, our offcers must catch these kids. Then, we must hold them and their parents accountable for their actions.

Gas Alarm Installation – Local Law 157

In accordance with NYC’s Local Law 157, Riverbay must install a gas alarm into everyone’s apartment by May 1, 2025. Notices will be placed throughout our community. Therefore, please cooperate so that this work can get fnished in a timely manner. Thank you. Throwing Objects Out of a Window

Some cooperators may have lived in other places and didn’t care about throwing unwanted objects out of their windows. But, despite knowing our rules, they’re making extremely bad choices to continue with this horrible behavior. So, we have to catch them and take legal action against them.

We have cameras throughout our community. However, I would like for us to purchase additional cameras so that we can catch these cooperators in the act. Similarly, we can catch cooperators that have refused to clean up after their dog. Then, Riverbay can also take legal action against them.

Bottom line: Going to Housing Court for an eviction is going to look very bad on anyone’s record. Furthermore, everyone needs to understand that lots of smart landlords subscribe to services that can reveal these Housing Court records and other data. So, please follow our rules and do not throw anything out of your windows. Thank you.

We currently have 95 holdover cases for a variety of reasons in Housing Court. Therefore, everyone needs to understand that these holdover cases can lead to an eviction. So, please make good choices to live here in a respectful manner. Thank you.

Contact Information

Please send a letter to: Board Director Daryl Johnson, Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475. Currently, here is my ONLY email account: djohnson@riverbayboard.com.

I will never ask for or accept money from anyone. Therefore, please do not respond to any message with my name on it that requests money, money transfers, gift cards, personal information, or anything from you. And, please do not ever send money or anything to anyone because you saw my name on a false message. Also, please call me ONLY at 718-671-4544 if you would like to have a brief discussion with me. And, please hang up your phone immediately if someone calls you and says that they’re Daryl Johnson or is associated with me and asks you for money or anything else. Okay, that’s it for now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may God bless you and your family. Thank you.

Building 32 Association

Hello, shareholders!

At our November 19 meeting, the Association was visited by Mr. Edwin Guerra and Mr. Wilson Castillo, president and regional sales manager, respectively, of EdCare Solutions. Their company consults people by helping them choose which health insurer is best for them and their situation, and how their choice of insurance works with Medicare. For those who missed the meeting, the insurance consultants came armed with information to help shareholders get clear answers to their questions about Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and Medicaid. They also discussed changes expected to happen to Medicare in 2025. Shareholders had many great questions and the gentlemen from EdCare Solutions had great and helpful answers. One shareholder in attendance, who was in the process of being dropped from his coverage, was helped on the spot after our meeting and was directed to a new coverage opportunity! How fortunate they came to our meeting! You have to be in it to win it, as they say.

Speaking of winning, later during the same meeting, we had our Thanks-

These shareholders each won a $25 Stop & Shop gift card. If you want to be eligible for prizes like this in the future,

collecting dues on January 10, 2025. Dues are only $10 for the entire year!

Next up! If you would like to help string lights and hang decorations in both -

bies on December 7, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. We would be glad for your assistance!

scheduled for Saturday, December 14, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., please con-

Until next time!

––Ezekiel Springer Jr.

Greetings, fellow cooperators.

Building 29 Association

chael Adolphus, our new president, made an agenda. Perhaps the most important item was the concept of “Sweat Equity.” In his own words, what this means is “Work one does to build up value without a salary. The ownership interest, or increase in value, is created as a direct result of hard work by the owner(s).”

As one can see, this concept should be adapted by all Co-op City cooperators. We must all pull together and get involved in improving our homes and in making Co-op City a good place to live.

Having just had a great Harvest Party, (which took a lot of planning and organization), it was decided by the attendees not to have a holiday party this year.

Tipping was mentioned, and most people voted to individually tip (please, folks, don’t forget your hard-working porters...and that always-working gardener outside).

email us (address in the lobby or put in the suggestion box just outside of the Association room).

January 24, 2025.

Dues will go up to $10 in 2025, and meetings, starting in February, will beson, will still be on Thursday.)

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to come to our meetings. It is very important to have your input, and you can meet some nice people, too. Especially encourage the young people to participate.

If everyone got just one or two people to come, it would be amazing.

Cheers to all celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. Condolences and prayers to all who are ill or who have lost a loved one.

––Katharine Wood

Building 10 Association

New Cooperators – Welcome, all new cooperators. We look forward to seeing you at the next general membership meeting.

Holiday Gift Collection for Building 10 Staff: The holiday gift collection

Saturday, December 14, from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. If you miss the collection, you can slip your donation under the association room door.

Tag Sale items for our fundraiser tag sale. We will be accepting household items, books, sports equipment, musical instruments and more. The Tag Sale will be held on in the rear of 120 Debs Place. Please contact Jeannie at 917-566-7804 or Jewel

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.

Tip of The Week – The holiday season has begun, so here are a few reminders to ensure your packages are safe during this time. Have your packages delivered to a locker, a drop-off point or a neighbor. Consider getting a Ring camera for your door so you will be alerted to a delivery. You can also leave

special instructions to request a signature before a package is released. Let us look out for our neighbors and hold their packages. Cooperators are urged to the NYPD (911) immediately.

If You See Something, Say Something – For emergencies, call Co-op City 718-879-

Suicide Prevention – If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or in emotional distress, the number to call for help is 988; you can call or text. Someone is available 24 hours a day.

Questions, Comments and Suggestions –or drop a note in the suggestion box in the laundry. We are also on Facebook

We would like to wish all who are born this month an incredibly happy

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

“Embrace today with the wisdom of the past and the hope for tomorrow.”

Have a great week.

––Jewel Crawford-Duncan

Section Five Association

Hello, neighbors.

Garage 7 elevators – Both front and rear elevators have been upgraded and operational. They were completed before the November 30th deadline. Great.

Happy Thanksgiving – Every day is a day of thanksgiving. May the warmth of thanksgiving fll your home, give thanks and cheer not only on thanksgiving but all through the year.

2nd Annual Light It Up – The Section 5/Einstein Loop tree lighting will take place on Saturday, December 14, 5 p.m. Live music, festive food, toy give away, and Santa. Rain date: December 21.

Building 26 is very active and creative in bringing about events for the community. As we look ahead for the holidays, photos with Santa will be December 7, at 10 a.m., at 2420 Hunter Ave., 26B Association room. Registration is available via this QR code, and price is $10; you may call 860-821-0475 for information.

The vice president of SFA, Ms. Carol Arthur, is available for information regarding 501c. OMNY Cards will be in affect very soon, and we will look into other options. She is also able to offer SCRIE/DRIE assistance, and all shareholders are eligible for the STAR program, but you must register.

We offer our sympathies and condolences to all families who lost a loved one.

We wish all the best of good health. Happy birthday wishes. One may reach Nelson Sweeting, president, at Section5association10@gmail.com or 914-709-5395.

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. –Coretta Scott King

—H. Overman

Building 13 Association

This article is being printed a few days before one of the favorite holidays of the year, Thanksgiving. I do not think I am alone when I say there is much to be thankful for as another year comes closer to being over. As the story goes, friendly Native Americans, Wampanoag people taught the struggling colonists, English colonists known as Pilgrims, how to survive in what the Europeans called the New World. Then everyone got together to celebrate with a feast in 1621. The tradition of breaking bread together has continued over several hundred years. In our community, we at Co-op City have a reputation of interaction, fellowship, care, concern and overall cultural enlightenment and sensitivity, and for that privilege here, I am thankful. Happy feasting…

Congratulations to Nelly Rodriguez, who was the winner of our free turkey raffe for members attending the monthly meeting. Also, congratulations to Charlene Johnson, who was the winner of the 50/50. We want to thank all who volunteered to help decorate, participate in collections and discuss our holiday party. We hope to have the dates for both posted in a few days. The date set for our “After and Before Party” is Saturday, Dec. 28. For those new to Building 13, we try to be respectful of other commitments so our party is after Christmas but before the New Year. We have voted to cater our event but will probably ask for donations of desserts.

Our last building meeting served as both the November and December meeting combined. Again, we thank Director of Restoration Edgar Perez and Assistant Director of Maintenance Toma Kastrati for attending and taking information from shareholders to address some concerns and/or to help move the work process along. Additionally, an area that was not well-lit was addressed by Maintenance the very next day. Cooperators received an update about the convector pilot ongoing in the Building 14-B line, info that was shared previously by Management in the Co-op City Times

Emergency Preparedness – There is one more NYS Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness readiness session in the Bronx scheduled for Sat., Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. in the Dreiser Auditorium. Registration is required to attend the event. To register, visit www.prepare.ny.gov or go online and enter Citizen Preparedness Training. Each family that attends will receive one preparedness kit.

“It’s better to walk alone than to walk with a crowd going in the wrong direction.” –Malcolm X Visit our Facebook page at: Building 13 Association Inc.

Contacts: Leslie Peterson, presdient, at 718320-1370, or Wendell Mattison, V.P., at 917-3301380. Thank you for supporting our team.

––Leslie Peterson

Association of Building 14 Cooperators

Hello, Building 14 shareholders! Taking this opportunity to recap, update, and share a few items of interest: October Meeting

• Association meetings resumed this month. This meeting served as a “meet and greet” with Marvin Walton, Riverbay’s Executive General Manager. He shared his vision for the corporation, including a change in mindset for both Management staff and shareholders (emphasizing our ownership interest in the property), and he clarifed Riverbay’s organizational and reporting structure. Following a Q&A, he was shown issues with the evenness of the walkway to the bus and the deteriorating ceiling in the basement due to the poor condition of the portico [outside walkways under the building]. The director of Construction was shown these same areas weeks before, and we are awaiting feedback on the plan to address these repairs.

• Treasurer’s Report – During the Association membership drive, 150 of 384 households paid dues, thus have membership rights in the Association, primarily holding offce in the Association and participation in raffes, etc. Shareholders are not required to pay dues. Thank you to those who were willing and able to do so.

• Thanks to Reese, Adrian, Linese, and Darlene for putting up the Halloween decorations.

• Building Association Election of Offcers – If interested, position descriptions are on the bulletin board. Call with, or email (see below) any questions.

November Meeting

The primary agenda was to discuss plans for our normal holiday events. The following was decided:

• Raffe Annual Thanksgiving $30 Grocery Gift Cards – Congratulations to the White and Bodner families.

• Holiday Collection for Building Staff – Scheduled for Friday, December 6, from 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, December 7, from 2-6 p.m., and Sunday, December 8, 1-5 p.m. Possibility of an additional day the next weekend.

• Shareholder Holiday Get Together – Friday, December 13, 5-7 p.m., lobby gathering of our building community with food and festivities. If you would like to donate something or make a dish, please email the Association at assocbldg14@gmail.com, or call 917.612.1951. Share in the delight of the holidays.

• Lobby and Christmas Tree Decorating – We’ll decorate the lobby on Saturday, December 7, and decorate the tree on Sunday, December 15. All hands and creative minds on deck!

Hope that you are enjoying your family and friends this holiday weekend.

—Josie Ferguson

from the

and

Building 27 Association

MetroCard Bus

Building 27 Association – During our Building Barzelatto (pictured at right), He has been working for Riverbay for eight years and(pictured at right).

Collection

Rivers Run Community Garden

only grow fruits and vegetables but also grow knowledge and friendships. Riv-

Membership requirements:

—Gail Sharbaan

Broun Place Townhouse Association

by not littering, leaving bikes or stepping on our patios.

Co-op City Times

there is ground water on the paths bordering the Greenway?

We urge you to patronize Dreiser Loop and Bartow stores. They look forward to your patronage. Before you spend extra on travel, walk and browse our

Co-op City Times red ones.

—Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar

Holiday Day Party

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be change until it is faced.” –James Baldwin

––H. Overman

Building 6 Association

have to do a lot. As always, I pray for safety over all. God speed. Please save the dates:

Mental Health Workshop

Building 6 General Meeting

Building 6 Holiday Mixer

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” –Archbishop Tutu ––Lauren K. Lassiter

Building 26 Association

Spreading Cheer and Community Spirit: We hope everyone had a won-

Toy Drive in Full Swing: Our annual Toy Drive is off to a great start! We are so grateful for the generosity of

Photos with Santa Fundraiser – December 7: Next up

Photos with Santa Fundraiser, happening on . Spots

Porter Appreciation Contributions: As part of our holiday tradition, you red envelopes for our hardworking porters. These individuals keep our -

Stay Safe and Healthy:

Questions or Concerns?

Warm wishes from the Building 26 Association, Inc. Tanya Cruz-Cooke

Greetings, retirees and friends.

Retirees of Dreiser Loop

We hope everyone had a bountiful Thanksgiving and you are all now in a joyful spirit for the coming holidays. If you need a little help getting into the holiday spirit, plan to join us at our annual holiday luncheon on December 12. We guarantee you will enjoy yourself and leave the event with some holiday jingle jangle in your step.

Annual Holiday Luncheon – Tickets are still available for our annual holiday luncheon to be held on December 12, at the beautiful Marina Del Rey from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tickets are $110 and include transportation (provided on a frst-paid, frst-seated basis). Questions may be addressed to Daisy Young at 917-292-7010, Jay McKenzie at 201-310-2972 or Ted Byrd at 917-797-9230. Daisy will be available in Rm. 19 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4 p.m.

Wind Creek Casino – Bethlehem, PA, Thursday, February 14, 2025. Tickets are $65 with a $25 slot-play-giveback. The bus pick-up is in front of H&R Block, leaving promptly at 8:30 a.m. Return drop offs at Einstein, Asch, and Dreiser Loop. Contact Serita at 347-564-5722 for more information.

135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39, Bronx, NY 10475.

Tropicana Casino Atlantic City Overnight – May 29-30, 2025. Additional information will be announced soon.

Happy Birthday – We wish all our November celebrants an incredibly happy birthday and continued peace and happiness throughout the year.

Condolences – Please keep those who have recently suffered a loss in your thoughts and prayers.

Good and Welfare – Our healing thoughts and prayers go out to those who may be ill and/or recuperating from surgery. Please notify Lorraine Parker at 718-671-6403 of any member illnesses or deaths.

Membership Committee – Annual membership dues are $25. Personal checks payable to the “Retirees of Dreiser Loop” can be mailed to: Retirees of Dreiser Loop, 177 Dreiser Loop, Rm. 19, Bronx, NY 10475. Questions may be addressed to Mary at 718-655-9170.

General Meeting – Our next general membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, at 1 p.m., in the Dreiser Center, Auditorium C.

—Georgianna Rodriguez

Goose Island Seniors

Motown Holiday Party – Windows on the Lake in Long Island, Thu., Dec. 12. Waitlist only. Price: $145. Price includes luncheon and show. Balance due. The bus will not be stopping at Asch Loop. Pick up at Einstein Loop at 9:15 a.m. and Dreiser Loop at 9:45 a.m.

Holiday Toy and Coat Drive – at Sec. 5 Center, 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Price: $25. Includes holiday brunch, entertainment and more. Call: 646-579-1701.

Goose Island Holiday Party – Fri., Dec. 20., at 1 p.m. in our club, Rm.39, at 135 Einstein Loop, Section 5 center. Members only. Covered dish. Bring something or $20 at door.

2025 Resort World Casino – in Monticello, NY., Thu., Feb. 6, 2025. Price: $70. Bonus $25 slot play and $15 for food.

Black Eyed Sally’s and MGM Casino – cancelled.

2025 Uptown Motown Show at Tropicana AC – Thu., March 27, 2025. Price: $160. Bonus: $25 slot play and $20 for food; $50 deposit to hold seat on bus. Balance due Wed., Feb. 26, 2025.

2025 Hunterdon Hills Playhouse “Swing” – in Hampton, NJ., Thu., May 1, 2025. Price: $180. Includes luncheon and show; $50 deposit to hold seat on bus. Balance due Wed., Mar. 26, 2025.

2025 Holiday Hills Senior Day – in Prospect, CT., Tue., Aug. 19, 2025.

Price: $150; $50 deposit to hold seat on bus. Balance due Wed., July 2, 2025. 2026 Norwegian Greek Isle Cruise – May 18-27, 2026. Price: $3293-3945. Call: 646-579-1701.

Notary – with Yvonne Menefee, Mon.–Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39. Call: 718-379-9613.

Bingo – Mon., Wed. and Fri., 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Members only. Admission: $5 for 3 cards; $0.25 each additional card; 12 games and jackpot. Refreshments. Game day – Tue. and Thu., 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Dominoes, movies, socializing and more. Refreshments.

To all members: Happy birthday to our members who celebrate their birthday in the month of December: Nellie Rivera, Janie Williams, Jose Lopez, Brenda Brown, Janet Coles, Louise (Cookie) Hernandez, Jackie Washington, Clara Howell, Mary (Pat) Randolph, Barbara Owens, Michael Olivas and Elaine D. Whitty. We are collecting $30 dues for 2025. Down-payments accepted. Sick and Shut-in – Mary Pilla, our former president, sends her love to everyone. Call her at 718-753-1816.

Our club is at 135 Einstein Loop, Rm. 39, Bronx, NY 10475, the Section 5 Community Center. Phone: 718-379-9613. Stephen cell: 347-847-1941. Our email address is goose.island@optonline.net. $StephenCarlSr. Good health to all.

AARP

Saying goodbye to November 2024 and hello to the festivities of the end of the year. We enter December 2024 with many changes looming right in front of us that will undoubtedly bring new ideas from many places, both good and bad.

Our Tour Committee has worked diligently through the year to fnd new experiences for our members and friends. The frst trip is March 27th to see the “Uptown Motown Tribute Show” at the Tropicana Casino. The cost is $159 per person with certain givebacks. Second trip, May 13-15, 2025, to Finger Lakes, New York. This 3-day, 2-night excursion takes in motor coach transportation, lodging, tours, and some meals, and gratuities are included. The cost is only $599 per person. Thirdly, we have another one-day trip to the Tomasello Winery & Atlantic City. This occurs on July 17 and costs $139 per person. This trip includes wine tasting at the Tomasello Winery, then lunch, and fnally a stop at the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. There, you can try your luck with free givebacks to use at the casino. For all our trips, you can purchase trip insurance for your protection and enjoy the experience. The fourth is the best!! A cruise on the Queen Mary 2, leaves from New York City and travels up through Canada and New England. The dates are Oct. 3-10, 2025, for 8 days and 7 nights. Prices vary based on cabin

The Church of St. Thomas The Apostle

177 Dreiser Loop, second foor, Rm. 2.

Greetings, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The clergy and members of St. Thomas invite you to worship with us. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

This Sunday is Advent Sunday and marks the beginning of the liturgical year. Just as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas day, we are also reminded to prepare for His second coming. St. Paul gives good advice on how to be ready: “Owe no man anything, but to love one another” (Romans 13:8)

Advent Sunday: Sunday, December 1, 2024:

• 11 a.m. – Communion Service

• Fellowship with light refreshments following the service

Bible Lessons:

• Romans 13: 1, 7, 8, 10-13, and Ch.14: 7, 16, 17

• Luke 21:27, 28, 34-36, 19, and Matthew 24:35

Prayer: “Almighty God, who didst wonderfully create man in Thine own image, we pray for strength to cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armor of light; that we, being ever mindful of our spiritual heritage, may hasten the coming of Thy kingdom upon earth; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

—Rev. Dorian Miceli

Stephen Roberts, Sr.

location, and all information can be obtained from fyers in our offce or by contacting Ms. Wright at 718-379-3370 or Ms. Brown at 718-379-7962.

Our last general membership meeting was held on Monday, November 18th, and we would like to thank Ms. Elizabeth Sookhai, Offce Manager from Dental Group of NY. She gave a detailed explanation of the types of tooth issues that affect seniors. Ms. Sookhai answered many questions and handed out information and giveaways. Their offce has been located right here in Co-op City for many years.

Our offces are open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at 177 Dreiser Loop; second foor, room “0,” 718-320-1946; aarp4997@gmail.com. Please leave a message when you call, and we will return the call on our next business day.

Mrs. Wilson, Health and Wellness, confrms we have no new family or members with issues, and the prayers are continuing for those who are recovering. She can be reached at 718-671-5493 to share information. Our offce hours for the holiday season will be posted next week.

We are here to serve—not to be served.

––Ann Purnell

Building 21 Association

Happy holidays, Building 21! Please be aware of your surroundings during the holidays! Enjoy the holidays with your family and friends!

We will be meeting in the gathering room to decorate our lobbies on Saturday, December 7. The more volunteers we have the easier and faster we will be done. We need volunteers from all sections A, B, and C. We will meet at 10 a.m. in the back of the lobby in Building 21B.

The front elevator in the garage is now available!

A reminder that this is your community. We must stay informed and engaged! Your Building Association is where you can start to be engaged in your community. A reminder that there are rules we must follow. Please do not throw garbage out the window and discard your large items in the basement. We need foor captains on every foor, please volunteer to be a foor captain on your foor.

Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome. You can place dues and or suggestions in our lockbox located in the laundry room (next to the television). Our yearly dues are $10.

Our next meeting will be December 12. Join in on Zoom at www.21watchparty.com. Our regular monthly meeting is every fourth Thursday of each month. You may contact us at our email – 21association@gmail.com.

Stay safe and well!

—Jarasia Wilson

Co-op City NORC Program Invites You for These In-Person & Virtual Activities

Bartow OAC is collecting items for children in grades 3-5 for their Holiday Giveback Program. Slightly used or brand new children’s coats, other wear, books, bags, and personal items are accepted. Drop-off at Bartow OAC, Rm. 31, starting Tues., 11/26/24 until Tues., 1/7/25.

Spanish Classes in the JASA NORC offce. If interested in learning Spanish, please sign up before 12/5/24. Call 718-320-2066. Class will start on 12/5/24 at 2 p.m.

Bartow OAC – Amazing Savings/Shoprite, 12/6/24; Stew Leonard, 12/11/24; Trader Joe’s, 12/17/24; BJ’S/ LIDL, 12/18/24. All of these trips are $6 each & pick-up starts at 10 a.m.

JASA Co-op City OACs & NORC Holiday Day luncheon – Fri., Dec. 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Dreiser Loop Auditorium, 177 Dreiser Loop, 2nd fr. Tickets on sale at all three centers.

Common Pantry is scheduled for Tues., Dec. 17, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Not accepting new names at this time. Acupuncture w/Dr. Flora Lyando – Wed., Dec. 4. Call JASA NORC for appt., 718-320-2066, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Memory Matters: Coping w/Memory & Cognitive Changes presented by Alzheimer’s Assoc. in partnership w/JASA, is meeting weekly on Fridays for 9 weeks starting 1/7/25 – Education & Orientation, 1/14/25 – 3/4/25. Weekly Grp. Discussions, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., JASA NORC offce. Pre-registration required by 1/6/25. Call 1-800-2723900 to request a pre-registration interview scheduling call. Caringkind: The Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving Rep. will be in the Bartow main offce every 3rd Mon. of the month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for Alzheimer & Dementia Consultation/Health Care Proxy & Power of Attorney Consultation & other services. Please call 646-744-2921 for an appt.

Steel Drum Classes – JASA NORC offce, on Wed., 1-3 p.m.

Technology Class – Thurs., 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dial in number: 929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 862 5043 9695, Passcode: 896989.

Line Dance w/Bartow Swingers – Wed. & Fri., 12-1 p.m., Dreiser Loop, Aud. A. Notary – JASA NORC offce: Weds. & Thurs., 10 a.m.1 p.m. Call 718-320-2066 for appt. Dreiser OAC: Weds., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 718-320-1345 for appt., Rm. 7. Einstein OAC: Schedule appts. in Rm. 48, Thurs., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 718-671-5161.

Please call Einstein OAC for: Hair Styling, 1st & 3rd Wed. of the month, 9-11 a.m.: Braids, Haircuts, Shape-Up, Twist, Pony Tails, Curls and more. Facials & Manicure, every Mon., 1-3 p.m. Call 718-671-5161 for appts.

LUNCH & DINNER MENUS

Alternate Kosher Meals are available

BARTOW CENTER CLOSED

(NORC) Line Dancing w/ Bartow Swingers (ONLY) 12-1 p.m., every Monday

Walk w/Odessa 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Blood Pressure, 12-1 p.m. (1st & 3rd Tues.)

Health & Wellness w/Ann 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Adult Coloring, 12-1 p.m.

Smart Phone & Tablet Class w/Julesa, 1:45-2:45 p.m.

Dinner Hour: 3-4:30 p.m.

Stay Well Exercise w/Odessa, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Bereavement Hour w/Dorine (1st Wed./month),12 p.m.-1 p.m.

Line Dancing w/Cynthia Wed. & Fri., 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Dominoes w/Jose, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Arthritis exercise w/Damion, 10-11:15 a.m.

Visual Arts w/Laura, (via Zoom) 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Knitting/Crocheting w/Lynne & Betty, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Card Games w/Frankie, 1-2 p.m.

Dinner Hour: 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Massage Therapy

10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Manicure, 10:30 a.m-12 p.m.

Line Dance with Cynthia 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Drama Club w/Dazee Windley 2-4:30 p.m., back of the JASA NORC office Dinner Hour, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Intergenerational Arts & Crafts w/Denise, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Salsa with Rasheed 10 a.m.-11 a.m., will meet in Dreiser, 2nd Fl., Rm. 4

Word Games 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Bingo on Saturdays 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., in the back of JASA NORC of fce

Mindful Mornings Tai Chi

9 a.m.-10 a.m.

Line Dance w/Sassy 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Movies w/Dennis, 1-3 p.m.

Never Too Old to Learn Spanish, 10-11 a.m., Rm. 35

Bridge to Care Arthritis Exercise, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Rm. 45

Technology Lab w/Steve 1-2 p.m.

Stretch & Tone w/Ola 10-11 a.m.

Bodies in Motion w/Ola, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Prize BINGO & Board Games, 2-3 p.m.

Art Lounge w/Tijay, 2-3 p.m.

Visual Arts, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Salsa Dance w/ George 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Fit For Life Exercise w/Gail, 1-2 p.m.

Coloring for Calmness, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Chess Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Blood Pressure Screening, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Health & Wellness 2.0- The Goal Setting, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Let’s Get It On Zumba 1 p.m.-2 p.m.

Stay Well Exercise w/ Denise 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Rm. 2

Blood Pressure w/Linda 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Rm. 4

Chair Yoga Class w/Charles,10-11 a.m. (Virtual), Meeting ID: 863 1492 4183; Passcode: Dreiser23

Piano Sing Along Class 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Rm. 2

Smartphone & Tablet Literacy Class w/Julesa, 1:15-2:15 p.m.

KATZ DELI, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Art w/Lovie, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. (Twice a month)

Leisure TV, 10-11 a.m.

Cardio Exercise w/Gail, 11 a.m.12 p.m., Rm. 2

Zumba w/Ola, 1-2 p.m., Aud. C Leisure Games w/Clara, 1-3:30 p.m.

Tai Chi w/Jimmy, 2-3 p.m., Rm. 2 Computer & Tablet Class w/ Ralph (Virtual) 1:15-2:15 p.m.

Leisure, 9-10 a.m.

Bead & Jewelry w/Brenda, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Arthritis Exercise w/Damion 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Aud. C

Blood Pressure w/LIU-Nursing Student, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Aud. A Afternoon Crafts w/Ines & Julesa, 1:15 p.m. -2:15 p.m.

Self Defense w/Jimmy, 2-3 p.m., Rm. 2 (Twice a month)

Walmart, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Monroe, NY) Current Events, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Leisure TV, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Body in Motion w/Ola, 1-2 p.m., Aud. C

Nutrition Presentation, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Meeting ID: 816 1164 3463 Passcode: dreiser23 Manicure Services, 1:30-3:30 p.m. (Twice a month)

*Returning* Sewing Class w/Joy, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Rm .2

Alert & Alive w/Cathy & Essie 10 a.m.-11 a.m., Rm. 4

Knitting & Crocheting w/ Loretta, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Line Dance w/Sassy, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Aud. A Bingo w/ Gay, 1:20-2:50 p.m., Rm. 2

Menu fee for lunch is $2 & $5 for guests. All meals served w/margarine and fresh milk. Menu subject to change without notice.

For information, please call: (718) 320-2066. Schedule subject to change without notice.

Payments for trips can be made where noted, Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and 2-4 p.m. only. Funded by: The NYC Department for the Aging, the NYS Office for the Aging and Riverbay Corporation. Must be 60 or older to become a JASA participant.

Menu Fee for lunch is $2 & $5 for guest. All meals served with margarine & fresh milk. Menu subject to change without notice.

LUNCH: KOSHER: Scallion Ginger Tofu Stir Fry, Pearled Barley, Capri Blend Vegetables; NON-KOSHER: Caribbean Style BBQ Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach

NO DINNER SERVED

LUNCH: KOSHER: Chicken Cacciatore, Cous Cous, Roasted Eggplant; NONKOSHER: Spanish Style Roast Pork, Black Beans & Rice, Steamed Collard Greens

DINNER: BARTOW ONLY

KOSHER: Baked Breaded Fish, Classic Macaroni Salad, Beets & Baby Carrot w/Dill, Mandarin; NON-KOSHER: BBQ Chicken, Roasted Potato, Sautéed Spinach, Apple

LUNCH: KOSHER: Baked Breaded Fish, Mashed Potatoes, Spiced Mixed Vegetables; NON-KOSHER: Curried Chicken Legs, Pasta, Baby Carrots & Parsley

DINNER: BARTOW ONLY

KOSHER: Stuffed Peppers, Israeli Salad, Apple; NON-KOSHER: Spanish Style Roast Pork, Black Bean & Rice, Steamed Collards, Orange

LUNCH: KOSHER: Pepper Flank Steak, Yellow Rice, Steamed Green Beans; NONKOSHER: Chickpea & Vegetable Curry w/ Quinoa, Steamed Broccoli

DINNER: BARTOW ONLY

KOSHER: Pepper Flank Steak, Yellow Rice, Steamed Green Beans, Canned Apricots; NON-KOSHER: Curried Chicken Legs Pasta, Baby Carrot & Parsley, Apple

LUNCH: KOSHER: BBQ Chicken Leg Quarters, Orzo, California Blend Vegetables; NON-KOSHER: Fish w/Mushrooms, Peppers, & Tomatoes, Coconut Rice & Pigeon Peas, Normandy Blend

DINNER: BARTOW ONLY

KOSHER: BBQ Chicken Legs, Orzo, California Blend Vegs, Kiwi (10 GRAB & GO)

NON-KOSHER: Chickpea & Vegetable Curry, Quinoa, Steamed Broccoli, Banana

Saturday: Lunch served at 12:30 p.m. until fnished: BARTOW ONLY

KOSHER: Roasted Turkey Breast, Couscous, Roasted Eggplant

NON-KOSHER: Fish w/Mushrooms, Pepper & Tomatoes, Rice & Peas, Normandy Blend Vegetables

American Legion Post 1871

Happy Post Thanksgiving Day to All! Last Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving Holiday to show our appreciation and thankfulness, via the sharing of meals with our family, friends, and community events. As we commence the holiday season, we should be cognizant that this holiday also triggers the season for scamming –professionals ramp up their schemes to cheat you out of your hard-earned monetary values. It is with this mindset that PO Mike Fraterrigo, 45th Precinct (pictured third from left), attended our General Membership meeting to remind and alert us of the latest scams and how to be guarded from being one of the victim of their scores.

In his ‘show and tell’ warnings to those attending in the present as well those attending the virtual meeting, PO Fraterrigo covered a range of manipulating tricks scammers use like using ‘Caller ID” for their fnancial gains, jewelry stings, online dating trickeries, unsafe purchase-pick-up points, ATM validity checks and distractions, gift cards schemes, and much more. If you are in our vicinity, see ‘Contact Us’ to avail yourself of the handouts or means to be privileged to this valuable information. Thank you, PO Offcer Fraterrigo!

Legionnaires Support “The Walk to End Alzheimer’s” – On Friday, March 13, 2020, our Past Adjutant, and honorably-retired Lt. Colonel Silas “Stan” J. Stanford, lost his gallant battle with Alzheimer’s. In his memory, daughter Veronica Flanders started her support to fnd a cure for this illness. The walk to end Alzheimer’s, held annually in 600+ communities nationwide, is the main source for donations to those participating in the walk. Our Post is proud to support this worthy fundraising cause. This charitable event, supported by participants of all ages, is committed to fnding a cure for this disease that has taken away so many of our loved ones prematurely.

We canvassed Legionnaires familiar with Legionnaire Silas posthumous commitment to our Post. The Post fundraising culminated with a grand total donation of $400 to the Alzheimer’s cause. A hearty thanks to those Legionnaires who donated to the check handed out by Finance Offcer Patrice Sweeting (pictured at left) at our General Meeting last Saturday.

The 3rd Saturday of our General Membership meeting is also Our annual Christmas Get-Together, mark your calendar for December 21st at 11:00 a.m.

Contact Us: American Legion Post 1871, 135 Einstein Loop, Room 41, Bronx, NY 10475; (718) 320-8165; email: post1871@oponline.net; website: https: www.legion.org.

—Antonio Codrington

African-American Association of Co-op City

Rodeo Recap!

Boy, howdy! We had us a great time at the Bronx Rodeo Health Fitness Line Dance Workshop!

Tons of ten-gallon hats and bandanas in the back pockets, dancin,’ prancin,’ eatin’ and just some good clean fun. Kudos to Cynthia Dixon, Debra Jones, Lynne Horton, Ruby Perry Williams, Yvonne Wallace and all of the Soul Latin Line Dance Team and dancers!

The African-American Association of Co-op City wishes to thank Miss Cynthia, the team and everyone who purchased a ticket for the Rodeo event. A dollar from each sale was graciously donated to support the AAACC Annual Spelling Bee which will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Interested students (4th–8th grade), spread the word and save the date.

Coming Events!

December 14 – Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, Bartow Center, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Kindly bring an offering of a prepackaged beverage and/or a dessert. We hope you will join the AAACC and the Coalition of African-American Churches & Community Organizations at the Bartow Center, Rm. 31, at 3 p.m. Come celebrate Kwanzaa, which is a time when the families of our community come together to honor the ancestors and affrm the bonds between us and the ancestors. It is a time of learning. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American culture, in an attempt to reclaim the knowledge of our history which was taken from us during the middle passage. Come and enjoy the Karamu, which is a communal feast where all things are ceremonious symbols of our heritage and its rich tradition.

Now! Right Now!: We have a new president, with a new agenda, so let’s begin a new, to unite through all of our events, clubs, organizations and associations. Let us unite on purpose!

AAACC Membership: $25/year for single membership and $35/year for family/household. Zelle us your payment using our email address. Email: aaaccpower@gmail.com. Call: 646-883-9095. The African-American Association of Co-op City, P.O. Box 702, Co-op City Station, Bronx, NY 10475. AAACC Programs

Belly Dance Classes – contact Xonia Wilson at 646-301-9438. Evening Line Dance Classes – contact Cynthia Dixon at 917-903-7073. Yoga & Pilates Classes – contact Meena Sharpe-Hicks at 917-863-1507. Co-op City Baptist Church “Gospel Line Dancers” – contact Joyce Smith at 718-320-0714.

“Each one of us, multiplied by all of us, equals a force for good.”

—Michelle Marbury

(L-R) Soul Latin Line Dance Instructor Cynthia Dixon, and AAACC President, Michelle Marbury

Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City

120 Erdman Place, (back of 27B’s lobby) Bronx, NY 10475.

The synagogue would appreciate donations to keep our shul open. If you would like to help, go to www.Gofundme.com/Traditional-Synagogue-of-Co-op-City to donate, or mail to The Traditional Synagogue, 120 Erdman Place.

The synagogue has services on Saturday morning starting at 10 a.m. After service, we serve hot/cold kiddush meal. Entrance to our synagogue for Saturday services is on the side door of Building 27B.

General information: The Traditional Synagogue located in Section 5, 120

The synagogue has a Facebook page, “Traditional Synagogue.”

The synagogue needs donations. Whatever amount you can donate, big or small, would help. The synagogue needs men to help make a minyan. There are a lot of Jewish men who live in Co-op City who do not come to services. Please come by 10 a.m. so we can take out the Torah.

The Traditional Synagogue is the only synagogue in Co-op City.

Sabbath ends on Saturday, November 30, at 5:21 p.m.

Candle lighting for Friday, December 6, at 4:08 p.m.

Good and Welfare: The congregation welcomes donations in honor or memory of a loved one. Any amount is greatly appreciated. For information about the congregation and its services, please call 646-285-1206.

To all Members: Happy Birthday to all our members who will be celebrating their birthday in December. Please send me your name, and I will add it to the list.

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

—Bruce Gitelson

Circle of Christ Church Iglesia Circulo de Cristo

Persevering Faith

Persevering faith is faith that endures hard times. Remains hopeful when all seems dark and bleak and continues to hold onto God when letting go appears to be a better option.

Hebrews 11:22, “By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.”

By faith these people looked to the future and called it done! They saw God at a distance and believed that he would come near. They blessed, worshiped, and proclaimed victory.

Hebrews 11:24-26, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

By faith, Moses chose ridicule instead of praise. He accepted a role as a servant rather than a leader. He walked into dishonor, knowing that the future privileges outweighed the past.

Hebrews 11:33-34, “Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.”

By faith, against overwhelming odds, they won unwinnable battles, put out

They withstood armies.

Hebrews 11: 37-38, “They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them.”

By faith, some accepted persecution and willingly died. Some were beaten and abused. This world could not contain them because God prepared a better world for them and us.

Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

We are called to persevere, to endure, to stand in faith, to refuse to acknowledge defeat, and to look to Jesus!

Schedule (147 Dreiser Loop)

First Sunday of the month, Bilingual Communion Service, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday: Spanish Service at 9 a.m. and English Service at 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday: Prayer at 10:30 a.m. and Bible Study at 12 p.m.

Wednesday: Nonperishable food distribution, 12-2 p.m.

Thursday: Prayer/Bible Study, 6:30-8 p.m.

Friday: Spanish Bible Study at 12 p.m. and Youth Service (Operation Grace), 6:30-9 p.m.

Saturday: Women’s Fellowship, second Saturday, 12-3 p.m.

Young Adults, third Saturday, 12-3 p.m.

Men’s Fellowship, fourth Saturday, 12-3 p.m.

Blessings in Christ,

—Pastor Luis F. Ramos Jr.

Church of the New Vision

Greetings, in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Church of the New Vision and Pastors Kenneth and Deborah Hodge welcome you to worship with us at 115 Einstein Loop North, Bronx, NY 10475. Church phone: 718-671-8746 and Pastor’s phone: 914-522-5039.

Our scripture verse for 2024 is: Hebrews 12:2 NIV on Jesus, the Author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.”

Sunday service at 11 a.m. All are welcome. Masks are required.

Noon Day Prayer Line: 12-12:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Wednesday Night Prayer Service and Bible Study: 7-8 p.m. The conference line number is 646-769-9900; Access Code: 3099388# Please mute your phone. November 24, 2024, Worship Service Theme: “Thankful for it All Every Day is a Day of Thanksgiving.”

Scripture: Psalms 103: 1-5 KJV, “Bless the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindthy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Save The Dates

Saturday, December 14: All are invited to our Youth Holiday Celebration Performance at 12:30 p.m.

July 6-13, 2025: Celebrity Beyond, an eight-day/seven-night cruise from Miami. Ports of Call: Nassau, Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Inside State-

$500 per stateroom to reserve your room. Final payment due March 9, 2025 Package includes: cruise, air*, taxes, fees, transfers, Wi-Fi, drink package and gratuities. (*Air rates may differ based on departing airport). Contact: Hermena Smith at 718-708-5035 or info@churchnewvisionbx.org to request payment link. We continue to pray for a speedy recovery for the sick and shut-in, and condolences to families who lost loved ones. Good health and wellness for all. Please mail contributions, tithes and offerings to: Church of New Vision, P.O. Box 75-3037, Einstein Station, Bronx, New York 10475. Thank you.

Brenda Brown

Co-op City United Methodist Church IEMU de Co-op City

Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.

Come and Visi Us – We are a multi-ethnic and bilingual, Bible-centered

spiritual growth, fellowship, and service to God and our community Services are held in person at 2350 Palmer Avenue across from Building 30. Parking is available. You can also participate with us via Zoom (904 4685745) or Facebook live (UMC Coop City). –Pastor, Rev. Sara Girón-Ortiz

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15 KJV)

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, the Iglesia Evangélica de Co-op City stands as a remarkable testament to unwavering faith, perseverance, and divine provision. Fifty years after its founding by Pastor Juan Sosa, the church continues to thrive under the leadership of Pastor Milca Plaud and her successors.

The story began in 1974 when Reverend Sosa envisioned establishing a Spanish-speaking church for the Co-op City community. Initially, services were held in Rooms 28 and 29 at the Bartow Community Center, with Sunday gatherings taking place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Later, the congregation was blessed to rent Room 43 in Section 5 of the Einstein Community Center, where they hosted Bible Studies, prayer meetings, and vigils in various homes.

Under Pastor Milca Plaud’s leadership, and with the support of dedicated memworship. The construction of the new church building began in 2000, and by 2005, the congregation joyfully celebrated the inauguration of their new sanctuary.

Throughout its journey, the Iglesia Evangélica de Co-op City has been blessed with leaders who have carried the torch of faith, fostering collaboration, developing leadership, embracing the congregation, and bringing healing to our community.

Alongside these dedicated pastors, we are blessed with our beloved Pastor Jackie Medina Sciarrone, a woman of deep faith whose heart for God and His people has touched many lives. She is a beacon of light to our church, her family, and all who know her. On this 50th Anniversary, as we honor Pastor Jackie; we are grateful to God for leading her to our church community. We also express our deep gratitude to Pastor Jackie for her leadership, warmth, and unwavering commitment to God’s work. May God bless her abundantly and continue to prosper her.

We are grateful to God for our Pastors and the journey thus far. We look forward with great expectation to all that He will continue to do through this community of faith. We pray for His blessings on the church for generations to come. To God be the glory and honor!

Come and Receive a Blessing – All are welcome!

Tuesday: English Bible Study at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom (904 4685745).

Thursday: Prayer Service at 10:00 a.m.

Pantry at 11:00 a.m.

Upcoming Events – SAVE THE DATES

December 1— Bilingual Service at 11:15 a.m.

Advent Service at 3:00 p.m.

—Grace Abadia

Co-op City Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams and the Co-op City Baptist Church family invite you to join us for Worship Service tomorrow at 8 a.m. in person only and at 11 a.m. in person and on Zoom. Sunday School classes for all ages will be held at 9:30 a.m. We are located at 135 Einstein Loop, Room 50 (lower level), Bronx, NY 10475. Telephone: 718-320-3774; email: ccbc135@optimum.net or coopcitybc@gmail.com. Website: www.coopcitybaptistchurch.org. Masks are required.

The 11 a.m. service is also available on Zoom at https://us04web.zoom. us/j/9623430102 or Zoom Telephone Conference Line (646) 568-7788, Meeting ID 962 343 0102#, Password 788175#. You can also go to YouTube, search for Co-op City Baptist Church and watch us there.

The church’s Free Conference Call Line dial in number is 857-357-0254, Access Code is 660065#.

Rev. Williams asks everyone who calls into the Sunday Worship service to use Zoom through your computer or dial-in using the Zoom information shown above.

This week’s events: Wednesday Bible Study Classes at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. are on Zoom. Prayer Warriors Prayer Service on Thursday at noon on the church Conference Call Line; Thursday at 2 p.m., the Circle of Grace Knit and Crochet Group will meet in person at the church, in Room 51. Friday Mid-Morning Prayer Service at 10 a.m. is on the church Conference Call Line. The 7:30 p.m. Friday Evening Prayer Service will not be held until Friday, December 13.

The Missionary Ministry will celebrate their 52nd Anniversary at the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, December 8. Our very own Pastor, Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams, will bring the message. Everyone is invited to join us on this special occasion.

The next CCBC Food Giveaway will be distributed on Friday, Dec. 13, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. in front of the Einstein Community Center. Kindly note, after Dec. 13, the next distribution will be Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Please remember to bring your own bag and perhaps a cart. Some products can be heavy.

The church has a free app available on your app store by putting in Co Op CBC. This app is open to all.

GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The Co-op City Baptist Church wishes everyone a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

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.

—Marilyn C. Williams

Pentecostal Tabernacle

100 Co-op City Blvd., Building 22A, Bronx, NY 10475.

You are invited to join us every Sunday morning for services at 11 a.m.

Join us Wednesday morning for prayer and fasting service, from 11 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Friday’s evangelistic service is at 7:30 p.m.

All night services will be held on Zoom, call 646-931-3860. Meeting ID: 85748454513, Code: 850684#

Focus: The End Time. We are moving toward a grand ﬁnale. “Therefore, be ye also ready: for in an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24: 44)

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And ﬁve of them were wise and ﬁve were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight, there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us but he answered and said, verily I say unto you I know you not Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh.” (Matthew25:1-13)

The son of man will soon return in an hour that we think not. Therefore, let us give ourselves to prayer and patiently studying the word of God, and be prepared for His return.

It is important that we keep our heart right with God with oil in our vessels, and do not be like the ﬁve foolish virgins. We are living in evil days, with the distress of nations and perplexity, and when men’s hearts are failing them for fear. Look after those things, which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Signs are telling us that these are the days when evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Noah had spent many years building the ark, and he knew that the season for divine judgment was near, but he did not know the exact day. The same applies to us. In this time, we have seen signs and wonders, strange things are happening all around us, but we do not know the day and time of Christ return. Therefore, let us maintain a sweet fellowship with God and prepared for the coming of our Lord and savior. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Anglican Church

St. Joseph’s is located at 155 Dreiser Loop, lower level, Co-op City, Bronx, NY 10475. Email: stjosephe@aol.com. Church phone number: 718-320-0844. Priest-in-charge: Fr. Simeon Johnson, cell phone: 917-227-4303.

We are ﬁnally back to normal. We now look forward to welcoming everyone to our newly renovated church space. Today, Sunday, is the First Sunday in Advent. Do not forget to tune in for the usual teleconference weekday prayers at 12 p.m. To participate by teleconference, dial 1-425-436-6344, Access Code: 508-898, followed by the # sign.

Just a reminder about your pledge cards. If you have not yet submitted your pledge cards, kindly do so as soon as possible. These cards reﬂect our ﬁnancial pledge and are used to update our budget as well as our offer to volunteer our time and talent where and when possible.

Fundraising Activity: Our last fundraiser for the year is a bus trip to Caesar’s Casino, Atlantic City, on Saturday, November 30. The trip includes a day of fun, games, shopping and relaxation on the boardwalk. There are still a few seats available. The deluxe motor coach leaves from Dreiser Loop (front of the Rehab Center) at 8:45 a.m. A donation of $65 is required and payable now. If you have any questions, please contact June at 347-457-8249. If June is not available, please see Janicia (Jan) in church on Sundays or on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Condolences: Our thoughts and prayers go out to all our bereaved members, families and friends who have recently lost loved ones. Please keep them in your prayers.

Sick and Shut-in: We extend our well wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery. If possible, please visit them, call them on the phone or send them a card. Birthday Greetings: Best wishes to everyone who is celebrating a birthday this month.

We at St. Joseph’s are collecting food (cans and dry goods) for the pantry at Grace Episcopal Church, West Farms. If you can, please contribute to those in need.

Grace and Peace!

—Merville Chambers

Community Protestant Church

Rev. Dr. Calvin E. Owens and the Community Protestant Church family welcome you to worship with us. We are located at 2053 Asch Loop, Bronx, NY 10475. You may contact us by phone: 718-862-9172, fax: 718-671-4416 or email: Administration@thecpcchurch.org.

Worship Schedule

In person Sunday Morning Worship – 11 a.m.; Sunday School – 9:15 a.m.

Every Wednesday – “Hour of Power Noon Day Prayer,” 12:00 p.m. on the Conference Call Line, (712) 432-3900, Access Code: 343284#

Every Wednesday – 7:00 p.m., Bible Study online via Zoom. Log in on Zoom.com or dial One Tap Mobile, (646) 931-3860 or (929) 205-6099; Meeting ID: 837 7258 6522

We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday. Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to having gratitude and being thankful, especially to God. Last Sunday, the testimony of one visitor sparked an interactive praise and worship. Pastor asked the question, what are you thankful for? And the congregation responded. Many personal stories were shared. And although all have faced challenges in their lives, all have testiﬁed to the goodness of the Lord!

Then Pastor preached, “Remember to Give Thanks,” taken from 1Chronicles 16:8-12. We have so much to be thankful for family, friends and our church. The Bible commands us to give Him praise for everything. We cannot sit on it, we have to stand, shout and praise Him everyday.

We are also thankful for Master Malcolm Nembhard, our drummer in training. Malcolm, the 13- year- old grandson of Daisy Young Anderson, announced that he has earned scholarships in track and football from the three premier high schools in our area – Iona Preparatory in New Rochelle; Mount Saint Michael Academy and Fordham Preparatory School, both in the Bronx. Congratulations, Malcolm, we are super proud of you! “God has a plan for our lives, a speciﬁc purpose that will ultimately lead us toward a future full of hope and promise ” Jeremiah 29:11

You are cordially invited to worship with us, beginning with Adult Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. Come, experience and explore all the new possibilities at Community Protestant, a church of love and understanding.

It is with sadness to announce the passing of our member, Sister Sherrian Brunson-Battle. Sister Battle sang tenor with the Sound of Praise and CPC choirs. Please pray for her son, Darrien, and the entire family. We also extend heartfelt condolences to Brother Jefferie Vanable on the passing of his sister, Mrs. Diane Gabriel; Sister Martha Jordan and family on the loss of her brother, Mr. Henry Underwood in Clanton, AL, and to all who are in a season of morning.

To our sick and shut in members, please know that we are praying for you and for your speedy recovery. We send our best Happy Birthday wishes to everyone celebrating their birthday this month.

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” 1Chronicles 16:8

Lexa M.

Mingo

—Rev. R. Sibblies

RIVERBAY ANONYMOUS WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE

If you have knowledge or a concern of possible violations of law, accounting irregularities, or other suspected wrongdoing affecting Riverbay, you are encouraged to report it to law enforcement, or you may report it through an anonymous hotline by one of the following methods:

• Go to an independent website, www.lighthouse-services.com/riverbaycorp, to complete online disclosure form;

• Call independent third party whistleblower hotline: 1-833-290-0009 (English); 1-800-2161288 (Spanish);

• Email reports@lighthouse-services.com (the email must include “Riverbay” in the subject);

• Send a fax to (215) 689-3885 (the fax must include “Riverbay” in the subject of the report).