Co-op City Times 12/12/2020 by Co-op City Times

Vol. 55 No. 50

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Co-op City’s COVID test site now offering Flu vaccine as well

BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND

New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation has announced the availability of Flu shots at patient care sites across New York City, including the COVID test site in Dreiser Center in Co-op City. The Health + Hospitals Corporation, which manages New York City’s public health system, urges all New Yorkers over the age of six months to get the Flu vaccine “to further avoid risks associated with influenza viruses and potential coinfection of COVID-19.” New Yorkers are amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Flu season, which runs from October through May. With the Coronavirus vaccine on the heels of a global release, there’s only one sure way to defend oneself from the “highly contagious” Flu, according to NYC H+H, and that’s by getting the Flu vaccine. Many children and adults worldwide suffer from hospitalizations and sometimes even death due to Flu viruses, making it essential to get yearly vaccinations to protect oneself. Once vaccinated, protection from the Flu can take up to two weeks to be fully effective. Most importantly, not getting vaccinated leaves those most vulnerable at risk for serious illness. According to the CDC: “Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine.” As of now, health experts say there is no evidence that getting a flu vaccine increases your risk of getting sick from a coronavirus. However, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flu shot is critical to get this year to help reduce the risks associated from the Flu and further fight against a potential co-infection of

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Early Voting for Special Election in the 12th Council District begins today BY BRANDON ORTIZ

Early voting begins today, Saturday, December 12, 2020 for the special election to fill the vacant seat of former Councilman Andy King in the 12th Council District. The early voting period ends Sunday, December 20, but voters have the option to also send in an absentee ballot which can be applied for online at nycabsentee.com. Voters can check the status of their absentee ballot also at nycabsentee.com. December 15 is the last day to postmark an absentee ballot application and the last day to request one online. December 21 is the last day to apply (Continued on page 2)

Holiday lights!

(Continued on page 2)

Trees New York gives back to Co-op City

The three community centers in Co-op City have been decorated and adorned with holiday lights to help usher in the spirit of the holiday season. The Riverbay Grounds department completed decorating the Bartow Center this week in time for the annual Riverbay Tree Lighting Ceremony which was held on Thursday night, Dec. 10, 2020. The event was live streamed on Facebook by the Riverbay Community Relations department. See pg. 5 for more photos from the Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo by John Alexander

Ashleigh Cibelli-Pettus, a former resident of Co-op City, and Operations Manager & Environmental Educator at Trees NY, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “Plant, preserve and protect New York City’s urban forest through education and community participation,” oversaw the planting of new trees around the neighborhood on Thursday, Dec. 10. Thanks to a grant from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), along with the help of Urban Arborists, Inc., Ms. CibelliPettus and her team planted 37 trees throughout Co-op City. Hit hard by recent storms, Ms. Cibelli-Pettus noticed Co-op City lost many of its trees. She then made it her mission to give back to the community once possible through the grant from NYSERDA, to plant trees in different regions throughout the Bronx, including in Co-op City. She said, “One of my passions is to come back and replant some of the dead and damaged trees here.” Residents can expect to see a variety of newly flowering trees in the Spring, as well as beautiful fall colors in the fall.

Reporting by Toriea McCauseland Photos by John Alexander

Carrying charge increase takes effect January 01, 2021

An Order of the Commissioner of the state Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), dated August 13, 2019, authorized carrying charge increases to be implemented as follows: 1.9% increase effective September 1, 2019 and another 1.9% increase effective September 1, 2020. As is the case worldwide and certainly here in the United States, the Coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted everyone’s life, including the residents of Co-op City. Shareholders experienced loss of incomes as well as devastating impacts on their health and family lives since the pandemic began earlier this year. As a result, in June 2020, the Riverbay Board of Directors, after consulting with the Deputy Commissioner of HCR and his staff, approved emergency resolution #20-23 to defer a 1.9% carrying charge increase which was supposed to have been implemented on September 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021. Due to the carrying charge increases, the surcharges based on the 2019 income affidavits, will be adjusted. While the current surcharges may remain the same for some shareholders, others may receive a lower surcharge or no surcharge at all as a result of the carrying charge increase. The upcoming carrying charge increases and new surcharges will be reflected in the January 2021 carrying charge statements. —Riverbay Finance Department

Covid

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020 (Continued from page 1)

the Coronavirus and influenza viruses.” New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi said earlier this week: “With the COVID-19 vaccine coming soon, it’s important to remember that we already have a safe, effective, and lifesaving vaccine that every New Yorker should be getting now – the seasonal flu vaccine.” Machelle Allen, MD, Chief Medical Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals, noted in a release last week that the stakes are even higher this year with threats from both COVID-19 and Influenza. She said: “As COVID-19 continues to pose a threat lu vaccine this year. Getting the flu shot can help prevent you or your loved ones from also potentially contracting both the Flu and COVID-19 at the same time.” NYC Health + Hospitals patient sites offering Flu vaccines and COVID-19 testing continue to implement safety measures to prevent exposure to either virus, including social distancing, checking for COVID-19 symptoms, as well as hygiene

Election

(Continued from page 1)

for an absentee ballot in person. December 22 is the last day to postmark an absentee ballot, since the Board of Elections must receive it before December 29, and the last day to deliver an absentee ballot in person at the Bronx Board of Elections office, BOE drop box or polling site. Shareholders who plan on filling out an absentee ballot must keep in mind that their information must match their voter record verbatim or otherwise risk their ballot being invalidated. The 12th Council District encompasses Co-op City, Baychester, Edenwald, Eastchester, Wakefield and the Williamsbridge communities in the Bronx, NY. Andy King had represented the district since November 2012 when he won a Special Election, followed by the 2013 Democratic Primary and General Election for a full term in office representing the Bronx’s 12th district in the New York City Council. According to the NYC Board of Elections, three candidates are on the Dec. 22, 2020 Special Election ballot. The candidates whose names are on the ballot are Kevin C. Riley, running for “Justice & Unity;” Pamela A. Hamilton-Johnson, running to effect “Social Change” and Neville Mitchell, running because “Bronx 12 Matters.”

stations. Dr. Chokshi said: “This year’s Flu vaccine could be the most important one you ever get and now is the perfect time to get it if you haven’t already. New Yorkers, do the right thing to protect yourself and your family by getting vaccinated.” New Yorkers can call 844-NYC-4NYC for an appointment at a nearby NYC Health + Hospitals facility to schedule their flu shot. Co-op City residents can visit the Co-op City walk-in test site for COVID-19 located at 105 Dreiser Loop. An appointment is not necessary at this location and there is no cost to patients for getting tested. As reported last week, the Co-op City COVID test site is also now a Rapid test site where patients can receive their COVID test results onsite, and contact tracers are immediately available, as well as information and resources to support those who test positive. The Dreiser test site is open Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additional write-in candidates include: Bernard Cylich, Aaron Carnegie, Adeyemi Olaruntoba (Toba), Shanequa Moore and Joyce Briscoe. Shareholders planning on voting early in person can do so at Truman High School. The Truman poll site must be access from the back of the building at the door labeled “exit 21.” Remember to bring your Fast Pass tag that was mailed to your home address by the Board of Elections. Face masks must be worn and social distancing protocols must be adhered to. Early voting schedule at Truman High School: Saturday, December 12 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, December 13 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, December 14 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 15 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 16 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, December 17 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, December 18 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, December 19 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, December 20 On Election Day, Tuesday, December 22, poll sites will be open from 6 a.m.to 9 p.m. Co-op City voters can check their poll site location online at vote.nyc.

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Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Second Reading - Resolution #20-32 SUBMITTED BY: Kevin Lambright SECONDED BY: Cheryl Jenkins

in HUD’s REAC system by July 31st each year; and WHEREAS, Riverbay F inance Department has determined that PKF O’Connor Davies LLP is the lowest responsible bidder as described to the accompanying BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, DATED: December 9, 2020 bidder evaluation checklist; NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE, RESOLVED: that the proposed three WHEREAS, Contracts Department sent out requests for proposal pertaining year Contract #3550 with PKF O’Connor Davies LLP be approved for the three to Bid 3550, Audit and Tax Services; and year total cost of $459,450 (plus hourly rates ranging from $175 to $365 for any WHEREAS, Contracts Department received four proposals; and work outside the scope of the base contract) as submitted by Management in acWHEREAS, The proposals were sent to the Finance Department for review; and cordance with Board of Directors Resolution 85-16 and amended by Resolution WHEREAS, Riverbay requires a firm who is familiar with the HCR, HUD, 95-44, and that the President is hereby authorized to execute the contract and ManPensions, 401K Plans, and Federal tax regulations in order to conduct the annual agement is authorized to take all steps necessary to make this action effective. Audit of Riverbay Corporation, provide tax consulting for preparation of Riverbay YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Leslie, Corporation Federal Tax Return, perform the annual audit of the Management Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders Pension and Security Pension Plans, annual audit of Riverbay Fund Inc., the annual ABSENT: Sampson audit of the 401K Plan, and generate the HUD financial statements and file them PASSED

Second Reading - Resolution #20-36

SUBMITTED BY: Leah Richardson SECONDED BY: Sonia Feliciano and Leslie Peterson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING, DATED: December 9, 2020

WHEREAS, on January 15, 2020, the Board approved Contract #3444 via Resolution #19-64 for EXO Industries Corp. (“EXO”) to perform Local Law 11 façade and balcony restoration work on Buildings 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14; and WHEREAS, the Project Engineer and Project Manager recommend awarding the additional Local Law 11 façade and balcony restoration work to EXO on Buildings 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 for a contract total of $10,720,266 (Recommendations attached); and WHEREAS, the Project Engineer and Project Manager recommended disqualifying Xinos Construction (“Xinos”) for the this Local Law 11 contract requiring six (6) additional buildings since Xinos’ labor force is currently dedicated to com-

Second Reading - Resolution #20-38 SUBMITTED BY: Francine Reva Jones SECONDED BY: Michelle Marbury

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, DATED: December 9, 2020

WHEREAS, on 5/10/17 the Board awarded Contract #P1014, via resolution # 17-07, to RJB Distribution Corp. for the Distribution of the Co-op City Times; and WHEREAS, the contract price is $200,900.00 and the unit pricing is $75.00 per thousand newspapers weekly; and

Insurance Reading - Resolution #20-39 SUBMITTED BY: Cheryl Jenkins SECONDED BY: Leah Richardson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: December 9, 2020

WHEREAS, Riverbay currently has a Pollution Liability Policy with Ironshore Surplus Lines Insurance Company for a limit of $25,000,000 per occurrence/$25,000,000 aggregate with a $250,000 deductible for Buildings 11, 15 & 23 where copper/silver ionization units were previously installed. The limit for all other buildings was $10,000,000 per occurrence/$10,000,000 aggregate with a $1,000,000 deductible. WHEREAS, the Director of Risk Management, through Christopher Alviggi of NFP Property & Casualty, Riverbay’s Pollution Liability insurance broker, now recommends renewing the Pollution Liability Policy with Ironshore Surplus Lines Insurance Company (see attached handout) for a limit of $25,000,000 per occurrence/$25,000,000 aggregate with a $250,000 deductible for all buildings now that copper/silver ionization units have been installed throughout the complex. The renewal policy premium for 12/1/2020-12/1/2021 remains unchanged at $598,472 inclusive of terrorism, surplus lines taxes and fees. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board approves placing the Pollution Liability Policy with Ironshore Surplus Lines Insurance Company with limits of $25,000,000 per occurrence/$25,000,000 aggregate with a $250,000 deductible. The total renewal policy premium remains unchanged at $598,472 inclusive of terrorism, surplus lines taxes and fees. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect immediately. YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders ABSENT FOR VOTE: Leslie ABSENT: Sampson PASSED (See more resolutions on page 4)

pleting five (5) other Local Law 11 work buildings in Section 5; and WHEREAS, prior to voting on this Resolution no Director has disclosed to the full Board any conflict of interest as required by NY Business Corporation Law Section 713. NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED: that the proposed Contract #3570 with EXO Industries Corporation in the amount of $10,720,266.90 plus a 15% contingency ($1,608,039.90) be approved as recommended by Management in accordance with Resolution #85-16 as amended by Resolution #95-44 and #20-19 and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the President is hereby authorized to execute the contract and Management is authorized to take all steps necessary to make this action effective. YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Leslie, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders ABSENT: Sampson PASSED WHEREAS, change order two (2) is being requested to lower the unit pricing to $67.50 per thousand newspapers weekly due to the completion of installation of newspaper bins in the 65 high-rise building lobbies (Recommendation attached). The unit price will be retroactive from August 4, 2020; and WHEREAS, prior to voting on this Resolution, no Director has disclosed to the full Board any conflict of interest as required by NY Business Corporation Law Section 713. NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED: that the proposed Change Order # 2 for the unit price change from $75.00 to $67.50 per thousand newspapers weekly, retroactive from August 4, 2020 to Contract #P1014 with RJB Distribution Corp. be approved as recommended by Management in accordance with Resolution #85-16 as amended by Resolution #95-44 and #20-19 and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the President is hereby authorized to execute the contract and Management is authorized to take all steps necessary to make this action effective. YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Jones, Lambright, Leslie, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders NO: Johnson ABSENT: Sampson PASSED

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Co-op City Toastmasters Club

Greetings, members current, former and potential members all. Merry Christmas and happy holidays. You have not heard from us in a while but we are happy to say, Co-op City Toastmasters (CCTM) is alive and well, though we have not posted lately, during this horrific pandemic. Building confidence especially at this time may seem a daunting task when your fears overshadow your efforts. Add an unhealthy dose of anxiety and it can seem impossible to move forward. But taking a leap of faith in your own abilities is not only a hallmark of Toastmasters, it’s a scientifically proven method of boosting confidence. As a baby learning to walk, those small steps in the direction of your goals is the key to success. CCTM invites you to join us as you take those small steps in your goal of enhancing your public speaking and leadership skills. Mission: To provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. “The desire to speak from a stage was always part of the vision I had for myself when I realized I had to actually talk to strangers to make that happen. I needed serious help to pursue my secret dream; Toastmasters made those baby steps easy and fun. The energy of the club meetings – even now via Zoom – is engaging and encouraging. In a short time, I had spoken from several different stages, started

Resolutions

a new business and began coaching others to do the same.” This could also be your story. Friends, give yourself a chance. Take a baby step and visit CCTM virtually, of course, any first and third Thursday and you will witness other like-minded, friendly, committed individuals seeking personal improvement. It will be a step that you will be glad to have taken. The next club meeting is Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., which is the last meeting of 2020 and our holiday meeting of the year. You will hear various speeches by new and advanced speakers as well as other surprises. Come festive and have fun with a group of like-minded folks looking to be better public speakers and/or leaders in their homes and communities. The link to join on December 17th is the following: us04web.zoom.us/j/73293680288?pwd=MVhkd3hvUStpREpDS2pQcXJWWH FHUT09. Meeting ID: 732 9368 0288, Password: 1pZLum. Sending the happiest of holiday wishes to you and your families as we close out a year unlike any we have seen before. We look forward to a brand new, fruitful, peaceful 2021 with you included. You may also contact us at www3824.toastmastersclubs.org, toastmasters46.org, or call 917-659-3224 —Miniimah Saafir

(Continued from page 3)

Insurance Resolution #20-40

SUBMITTED BY: Linda Berk SECONDED BY: Sonia Feliciano BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: December 9, 2020

WHEREAS, Riverbay’s Workers’ Compensation Policy is presently with the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) at an expiring annual premium of $3,115,335.00 for the policy period 1/1/20 to 1/1/21; and WHEREAS, the Director of Risk Management, through Matthew Durnan of The Durnan Group, Riverbay’s Workers’ Compensation insurance broker, now recommends renewing the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Policy with the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) for an annual renewal premium not to exceed

Insurance Resolution #20-42

SUBMITTED BY: Michelle Marbury SECONDED BY: Linda Berk

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING: December 9, 2020

WHEREAS, Riverbay provides medical insurance to Local 153, Management, and PBA employees; and WHEREAS, the present medical insurance for such employees ends December 31, 2020; and WHEREAS, Management recommends renewing the present medical insurance with EMBLEM HEALTH with a 6.8% increase over the current medical plan and an additional $121,164 for a related Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to be administered through the P&A Group for the projected cost of administra-

Lease Resolution #20-43

SUBMITTED BY: Leah Richardson SECONDED BY: Francine Reva Jones BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING DATED: December 9, 2020

WHEREAS, Congressman Jamaal Bowman has requested a lease from Riverbay Corporation for the premises at 177 Dreiser Loop, Room #3, Bronx, New York, to be used as a Congressional District Office; and WHEREAS, the term of the lease is two years and annual rental rates are within the provisions of Resolution #85-16 as amended by Resolution #95-44; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the lease agreement for the premises at 177 Dreiser Loop, Room #3, Bronx, New York, by and between River-

Emergency Resolution #20-44

SUBMITTED BY: Bernie Cylich SECONDED BY: Bishop Angelo Rosario BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: December 9, 2020

WHEREAS, on January 25, 2017, the Board approved Contract #3042 for NAES to serve as the Operations and Maintenance (“O&M”) manager Co-op City’s Combined Heat and Power Plant; and WHEREAS, the value delivered by NAES has far exceeded the cost for NAES on Contract #3042; WHEREAS, the Project Manager recommends extending the NAES O&M Services Contract #3042 at a maximum escalation for 2% per year over the 2020 not to exceed contract amount of $1,353,705 for a term of three (3) years from January 1,

a 3.93% premium increase ($3,237,625.00) for the policy period 1/1/21 to 1/1/22. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board approves placing the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Policy with the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) for an annual renewal premium not to exceed a 3.93% premium increase ($3,237,625.00) for the policy period 1/1/21 to 1/1/22. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect immediately. YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Leslie, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders ABSENT: Sampson PASSED tive fees and claims funding for Local 153, Management and PBA employees. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board approves the medical insurance renewal with EMBLEM HEALTH from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 for $6,053,729, which is a 6.8 % increase over 2020 rates, plus an additional $121,164 for a related Health Reimbursement Account to be administered by the P & A Group for Local 153, Management and PBA employees. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect immediately. YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders ABSENT FOR VOTE: Leslie ABSENT: Sampson PASSED bay Corporation, Owner, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Tenant, containing the terms as negotiated by Riverbay Corporation’s management is hereby approved as submitted by management in accordance with Resolution #85-16 and as amended by Resolution #95-44 and #20-19; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President of the Corporation is authorized to sign the lease agreement and related documents on behalf of Riverbay Corporation. YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders ABSENT FOR VOTE: Leslie ABSENT: Sampson PASSED 2021 to December 31, 2023 (See attached Memo dated December 6, 2020); and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the proposed three (3) year extension on Contract #3042 in the amount described in the attached December 6, 2020 Memo, be approved as submitted by Management in accordance with Board of Directors Resolution #85-16 and, as amended, by Resolution #95-44 and #20-19 and that the President is hereby authorized to extend the Contract and Management is authorized to take all steps necessary to make this action effective. YES: Berk, Cylich, Feliciano, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lambright, Leslie, Marbury, Pearson, Peterson, Richardson, Rosario, Saunders ABSENT: Sampson PASSED

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Riverbay Holiday Tree Lighting

Highlights from the Annual Riverbay Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony held on Thursday evening in the Bartow Center which has been beautifully decorated for the Holidays by the Grounds department. The Tree Lighting Ceremony was held in front of Dunkin Donuts in the Bartow Mall. The event was live streamed on Facebook by the Community Relations department. Photos by Leandra Alexander-Peters

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Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

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On November 30th, my mom, Olga Bruh, longtime resident of Co-op City for 37 years, passed away peacefully after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers’ disease. Mom has earned her wings, but these wings are attached to a pair of New Balance sneakers. Many of you who reside here felt my mom’s presence, from her jogging days around Co-op City, working out at Bally’s Total Fitness, attending Spanish-American Club events, to her two favorite hangout spots, Dunkin Donuts and Bartow Cafe. Mom was a wonderful, supportive, loving friend and neighbor here. Many of the children in her building made her their adopted grandmother. She made her impact, and

her vibrant, fun loving, magnetic personality was well known. Mom was a warrior, a survivor, a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She survived the horrors of being a French Jew in World War II. She successfully ran six marathons, and with my dad, attended all of my events, both for veterans and September 11. Her energy was high voltage, her smile infectious, her spirit like a rock. She loved to dance, brought food to the local firehouse during the holidays. She made this world brighter, happier, more fun loving. I, like others, cannot imagine a world without her. She will be so dearly and heartbreakingly missed. Love you, mom. –Mark Bruh

Common Pantry

JASA & Faith @ Work Common Pantries unite—JASA and Faith @ Work will be combined during the winter months and are meeting at the church, 120 DeKruif Place, Bronx, NY. The next monthly food distribution will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Remember to bring your shopping cart and be prepared to grab and go as there is no space for prolonged sitting. Eligibility for NY Common Pantry monthly food distribution: Must be a senior 60 years and older (state/city-issued ID required), NY State resident, with income of less than $1,383 per month and $16,588 annually (must provide Social Security award letter, bank statement or self-declaration income statement. Those interested in applying may attend the Dec. 16 food distribution at Faith @ Work Church on Dec. 16. Be sure to bring all required documents. Eligible applicants will be able to take food home that same day. For further information, please call 917-982-2564.

Deepest Condolences

It is with a sad heart that we announce the passing of Mr. Tony Alcide, a supervisor in the Riverbay Maintenance department. Final arrangements for Tony are as follows: Funeral Service: Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Location: Interactive virtual service on Zoom (Details to follow) Colleagues and friends who would like to participate in the interactive service will be given two (2) minutes to speak in honor of Tony’s memory. Tony leaves a wife and children. Those who would like to make a donation to the family may contact the Maintenance department at (718) 320-3300, ext. 3450. Please keep Tony’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

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

Toriea McCauseland Junior Associate Editor

Jennifer Piovanetti Operations Manager

Ralph Henriquez Production Manager

John Crow

Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club

Let me take a moment to speak to my members. I’m hoping each and every one along with your families are in good health while fighting this pandemic. So please keep following the guidelines as we get through this together. Let me say thanks to all who worked the polls and those who voted. All of everyone’s hard work helped changed the complexion of our country as well as our community. As you know, some have met, if not all, the candidates for a Special Election to fill the vacant seat on the City Council. The Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club is overwhelmingly endorsing Kevin Riley – Kevin Riley – Kevin Riley. His resume speaks for itself from working with his church, this community throughout his adult life. His mentors are such notables as Senator Jamaal Bailey, state Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie. His community activism has been beyond reproach. On December 22, 2020, I am asking all members to flex your muscles once more and vote for this young man. He is our future voice for our community. He knows our cause and will work vigorously until we win. So, I urge you to vote, vote, vote Kevin Riley, December 22, 2020. To all members, we will return to normal business as soon as pandemic guidelines permit. Remember, let them hear your voice – vote, vote, vote Kevin Riley, December 22, 2020. If everyone did a little, no one has to do a lot. —James Payne

Working for our Co-op City community

New Media Producer The Co-op City Times welcomes issueoriented letters to the editor to be considered for publication. All letters, in prose, not poetry, must be addressed to the editor, not to third parties. All letters must be signed by the writers and include their addresses and phone numbers, which will be kept confidential, so that the editor can verify the authenticity of the authors. Writers will be limited to one letter per topic. Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Letters cannot exceed 350 words. Ideally, they should be typed. All letters must be in the Co-op City Times office in Room 21, Bartow Community Center, by 3 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication in that week’s edition. Views and opinions expressed in letters and Directors’ Viewpoint are solely the writer’s, and not necessarily shared by the Co-op City Times or Riverbay Corp. Advertisements and classified advertisements in the Co-op City Times do not necessarily reflect an endorsement from Riverbay 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, New York 10475.

Please Note: Articles for Co-op City building associations, clubs, churches and organizations are due on Monday by 5 p.m. Email your articles to cctimes@riverbaycorp.com. If the Co-op City Times Was Not Delivered: Call 347-439-5632 on Saturdays only, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Co-op City Department of Public Safety offers travel safety tips for the 2020 holiday travel season Public Safety Report

BY LIEUTENANT PAM APOLLO

The Co-op City Department of Public Safety offers these travel safety tips if a trip is part of your seasonal vacation plans. By being aware of and preparing for travel regulations, you can make your trip safe and as stress free as possible. As we approach the 2021 New Year season, many families may be considering skipping their holiday vacation travel this year. Others may need to travel for a variety of reasons. If you decide to travel during this holiday season and beyond, make sure you are familiar with the quarantine restrictions for your destination location as well as your return to New York State. These restrictions include travel by any means including by plane, boat, bus, train, motor vehicle, etc. Currently in New York State, if you travel outside of the five contiguous state area (NY, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania) for more than 24 hours, you are required to get a Covid-19 test before travel back to New York and another Covid-19 test 4 days after you return. Two negative Covid-19 results allows you to end your quarantine. Read the most current information available on the NYC Department of Health website. The following travel tips are always relevant when traveling. Travel safety begins when you pack. To help avoid becoming a target, do not dress in expensive looking clothing with expensive jewelry. These items identify you as an affluent tourist and a potential victim. It is better to dress low key and try to blend in with the general population of the area you are visiting. Also try to familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs of the areas you plan to visit. It is always best to travel light. Some airlines even charge for carry-on luggage. Packing less is a benefit in more ways than one. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. A rolling bag with 4 wheels is an excellent option, especially if it is not too cumbersome. If you can carry all your bags, you won’t have to set a bag down and leave it unattended. When packing, pick a few favorite items especially suited for travel. Wrinkle resistant garments with zipper pockets, especially designed for travel will be your first choice to wear. Always leave behind anything you would hate to lose. On a side note, phone chargers are the most commonly left behind item in hotel rooms. Make sure you take yours with you when you check out or any other time you use it during your travels. Check with your airline regarding the cost, weight and number of bags you can check or carry on. Some airlines charge for every bag and some allow one checked bag for free. Space for carry on bags is extremely limited on aircrafts and strict size limits are in place. A carry on bag that is too big for the airlines’ bins may need to be checked for a fee. In most cases, any bag heavier than 50 pounds or larger than a certain size may incur a costly surcharge. Traveling light is good for your safety and good for your budget. Dress appropriately for the airport. Screening techniques require that you remove your shoes as well as any metal objects. All of this is done while your carry-on baggage is being x-rayed. It is a good idea to wear shoes which can easily be slipped on and off. Limit the amount of jewelry you wear, as all of this needs to be removed, placed in a basket and then put back on. This activity makes your items vulnerable to thieves. When traveling alone, you need to be extra vigilant about the whereabouts of your property. Wearing practical shoes or sneakers is especially important while traveling. Proper footwear makes it easier to speed up at the first sign of danger. It is especially important to walk with a purpose and remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Speaking on a cell phone, text messaging or wearing headphones with the volume turned up high makes it difficult for you to stay in touch with your surroundings. Be aware of all regulations for required documents needed for the trip you plan to take. Leaving or reentering the country by plane in all cases requires a valid passport. Travel by auto, train or ship to certain destinations in Canada, Mexico and some Islands allows the use of the enhanced driver’s license. Problems can arise if a change to your itinerary requires a flight added due to unforeseen circumstances. Check with the State Department before making travel plans to be sure your destination is safe for travel. Various conditions may cause recommendations to avoid travel to certain countries at certain times. Safety should always be a priority. Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver’s license and the credit cards you plan to bring. Carry one copy with you separate from the originals and leave one set home with a trusted friend or family member. Having these copies will be extremely helpful if your original documents are lost or stolen. Also leave a complete itinerary at home with friends or family. Keep them informed if you change your plans. Airline regulations allow liquid health and beauty products to only be 3 ounces or smaller in carry-on baggage. Each passenger is allowed to carry on only one quart sized Ziploc bag containing these individual liquid containers. Many of these travel-safe products are available in drug stores or discount stores. By

being aware of these restrictions, you can save yourself inconvenience at the gate and avoid having to discard your items. Expensive lotions and perfumes are not exempt and are regularly confiscated and discarded at airport screening checkpoints. Anything you are not sure about should be packed in checked baggage. Carry empty 3-ounce containers with you in your carry on in case someone in your group makes a packing error. (Continued on page 8)

Public Safety Blotter November 29 – December 5, 2020

140 Debs Place CCPD and NYPD units responded to this location after a neighbor became disorderly. He went to another apartment and kicked the door several times. The occupant of the apartment he kicked, opened the door. The disorderly male attempted to force his way in but was punched by the resident. The male left the location and both police agencies referred back to his apartment; however, the male was stopped, but then fled from the officers. After both agencies engaged in a foot pursuit of the suspect, he was captured and arrested. 140 Erdman Place A female was arrested after being embroiled in a dispute with a male whom she allegedly injured during their altercation. 11/30/2020 – 100 DeKruif Place CCPD officers responding to a loitering complaint in a stairway found a resident within who was apparently loitering, in violation of lease terms. and was issued a community complaint. 140 Casals Place Emergency personnel from the CCPD, NYPD, and FDNY responded after scaffolding collapsed. The cause was determined to be high, gusty winds. 12/03/2020 – 135 Einstein Loop One male was arrested by CCPD officers after he was observed drinking alcohol in public. When officers attempted to speak with him, he became verbally abusive and was arrested. The male was issued summonses for his offenses. 12/04/2020 – 100 Erdman Place A road rage incident escalated when a motorist became enraged when another motorist blew their horn to avoid a collision. A male exited his vehicle and yelled at another motorist who blew their horn as a warning, then without provocation began physically assaulting the motorist. Both the NYPD and CCPD have this incident under investigation.

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 the end of the employment listings for specific directions.

CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES

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

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Director’s Viewpoint Mary We’ve got a ton to do. First, we’ve got to try and push some holiday spirit into this mess of a December. Next, we’ve got to do all we can to avoid becoming a Covid statistic. Then we’ve got to vote any way we can in the Special Election for City Council District 12 (CCD12): 1.) by Absentee Ballot. 2.) during Early Voting, or 3.) on Election Day. Fast Pass Tag: Don’t leave home without it! You can find almost everything you need to know – in English and in Spanish – in your recently delivered Board of Elections brochure. The BOE mailed one out to every voter. It gives you dates, times, your Early Voting poll site, your Election Day poll site, and a reminder to take your Fast Pass tag with you when you vote in person. Mine’s on my keychain with my Election District (ED) number Sharpie’d onto the tag’s flip side. (That bit of ED info is printed everywhere else. Why not on the tag?) The ED# is not needed for Early Voting but it comes in handy for voting on regular Election Day. That way you can skip the information table and head straight to the table that matches your AD82/ED# sign, as long as you have your ED# handy. AD#/ED# We’re in Assembly District 82 (AD 82). Most of us just re-elected Michael Benedetto to the NY Assembly this year for the umpteenth time (well not quite, he’s only served since 2005) and this year – I just know it — he’ll finally get the DOT to fix or replace those ugly jersey barriers at Bartow’s killer curve near Section 5. Anyway, unlike our one shared Assembly District, 41 EDs are sprinkled among Co-op City’s 35 high rises and seven townhouses. It’s been that way from

Public Safety

Pearson, Secretary

Important Actions

the beginning and will undoubtedly stay that way forever, incomprehensible as it is. That’s not an actual problem. The actual problem is the willy-nilly way the jumbled EDs are assigned to individual poll sites. Once there’s a lull in election action, perhaps the Board of Elections will have time to make some logical changes, including rethinking the placement of the area’s poll sites back “on campus” where they belong! Complaining about the BOE: NYC’s Favorite pastime So, I got my Absentee Ballot for the City Council race. It came quickly, it only took about ten days from applying for it online (Vote NYC). And, you’ll be relieved to know, the missing slash between Absentee and Military has been restored. The package is pretty much the same as last time, except it seems to have clearer instructions. What the ballot packet also has, which is either new or something I failed to notice last time, but which really stood out to me this time, is three stickers, with all my voter information, one stuck on each of the three enclosed envelopes. And each sticker includes the word DEM! Now isn’t that what all the presidential bruhaha was/is all about? The defeated current resident of the White House can’t stop screaming voter fraud! Accusations have been bandied about, about sinister doings by everyone from postal workers to poll workers sorting out and “disappearing” ballots that don’t favor their own personal favorite candidate. And since that atmosphere of distrust will undoubtedly linger long after President-Elect Biden moves in, I do hope the NYC BOE will rethink plastering that party affiliation tidbit of information on the envelopes inside the absentee ballot packets they send out next time.

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Be sure to keep all prescription medications in their original bottles with the label containing your name intact. It is also a good idea to carry an extra copy of essential prescriptions. Avoid the temptation to purchase or use any types of drugs while traveling abroad. Drug charges are responsible for more than one third of the United States citizens incarcerated abroad. Some countries have very severe sentences even for possession of a small amount of marijuana or cocaine. If you have any questions regarding foreign drug laws, check with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It is best to check with the Department of State’s Country Specific Information before you book a trip to any foreign country at www.travel.state.gov. They describe entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, crime and security situations and other information so that travels can make informed decisions about their trips. Certain countries may have a Travel Warning issued. It is best to know this information before you plan your trip. When traveling, be sure to familiarize yourself with local numbers for emergency services. 9-1-1 is not always the number for emergencies. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with locations of local hospitals and police precincts in case of an emergency. To minimize the impact of all crimes involving theft of property from your person, keep your keys, money, identification and cell phone in your front pocket, separate from your non-valuables. Also consider an inside the clothing traveltype wallet for your personal items and valuables. A pocket with a zipper, button or Velcro is ideal for this purpose. If carrying valuables and personal documents in your purse, place them inside of a plastic or metal container such as a mint case, which does not look like a wallet. Keep less important items with a token amount of cash in your decoy wallet; this way, the criminal will think he scored big. A purse that zips also adds an additional level of security. Remember, property can always be replaced; your safety is the most important thing. If someone does try to rob you despite your precautions, do not resist, especially if the person is armed with a weapon of any type. Try to remember as many details of the crime as well as a description of the perpetrator. Notify police immediately if you have been the victim of a crime. If you are the victim of a crime in another country, contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. For more information about crime prevention contact the National Crime Prevention Council at 1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 13th floor, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 466-6267 or on their website www.ncpc.org. Some schools are open, DRIVE CAREFULLY. Never pass a stopped school

The Special Election We have a bunch of eager candidates to choose from to fill the City Council District 12 seat. Do you know much about them? I’ve watched two Candidates’ Forums at home (maybe more by now) but not everyone has computer access or knows how to deal with Zoom or Facebook. I do wish we had gotten it together to more widely present the candidates. Not every community has the advantage of having their own closed circuit television station as we do. How handy would it have been for the entire community to be able to get to know the candidates running in this Special Election, the same way we use our channels to present our Board candidates. This was a missed opportunity. Here’s the list of all the CCD12 Special Election contenders. Some of them you know, some you’ve heard from directly, or gotten mailings from, or gotten brochures and such slipped under your door, or read about in their Co-op City Times ad placements – and the rest you can Google, if you have access that is. On the ballot, you’ll find Pamela A. HamiltonJohnson, Neville Mitchell, and Kevin C. Riley. As always, you have the choice of writing in a different candidate. The candidates actively pursuing write-in campaigns are Joyce Briscoe, Aaron Carnegie, Bernie Cylich, Shanequa Moore, and Adeyemi L. Oloruntoba. (I’m pretty sure I haven’t left anyone out.) Remember to fill in that ballot oval above the printed candidate’s name or above the name of the candidate you write-in yourself. And use blue or black ink on your Absentee Ballot, on your Early Voting Ballot, or on your Election Day Ballot. Have at it, Co-op City citizens. You can reach me at 718-219-2211 or mpearson@riverbayboard.com.

Co-op City Department of Public Safety (718) 671-3050 • www.ccpd.us. If you SEE something, SAY something! bus with a STOP sign displayed or its red lights flashing. This means children are loading or unloading. Be aware of pedestrians and bike riders when operating a motor vehicle. Bike riders must refrain from riding bicycles near buildings and shopping centers. Everyone needs to share the road safely. If consuming alcoholic beverages is part of your holiday plans, be sure to designate a driver who will not drink. Drunk driving enforcement is heightened during the holiday party season. Do not risk being arrested or being in an accident if you plan to consume alcoholic beverages. Phone a friend who did not drink or call a ride share service if necessary. Never operate a motor vehicle if you have consumed alcoholic beverages. This is especially important while traveling. Penalties vary by jurisdiction. The consequences of drunk driving in other countries are extremely severe. Always buckle your seatbelt; it will save your life in a serious collision. Avoid distractions and excess speed when driving; these are the two leading causes of collisions within New York State. Always remember, if you see something, say something. Call 911 and the Department of Public Safety at (718) 671-3050. Callers may remain anonymous when giving information. Enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season. For those traveling, have a safe trip. The Co-op City Department of Public Safety would like to thank all persons who have called in suspicious activity or sent information via our website. The Co-op City Department of Public Safety is asking cooperators to social distance and wear masks or face coverings whenever they leave their apartment. Wearing a mask or face covering is especially important in the public areas of the buildings including the lobbies, hallways, elevators and laundry rooms. Wearing a mask is for your safety and the safety of your neighbors and family members. People should avoid gathering in large groups. Hand washing, the use of hand sanitizer and not touching your face are other strategies to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and other illnesses. Please follow the latest information provided by the CDC and the New York City Department of Health for the latest information and recommendations on health and safety during the Coronavirus pandemic. Be a good cooperator and be Co-op City Strong.

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020 Hello, neighbors. We continue to wish you all to be safe and healthy. Trust we all are complying with the guidelines to wear our mask, to be aware of social distancing at all times. Hopefully good news, the children will be returning to school five days a week. Let’s pray that it all will work this time and for the safety and healthy well-being of the children, school staffing, and all who are involved. AARP virtual forum On Thursday morning, Dec. 3, 2020, 10-11 a.m., AARP-NY and city and state lawmakers addressed their legislative and policy priorities. It was a panel of our own Senator Bailey, along with other elected officials. The purpose was to keep their constituents /seniors informed during these critical times. Funding and topics that were discussed were nursing homes, long term care and family care giving, prescription

Building 27 Association

drug affordability, senior centers and much more. Just a few statements discussed: taxes need to be raised on millionaire and billionaires, to ensure seniors are aware of programs to keep their homes, protect funding for the senior centers and programs, make programs information available in all languages. It was a Q&A session from the attendees. This was excellent, an opportunity to engage with our lawmakers and learn of the policies for funding purpose for seniors and communities. 12th District City Council Candidates’ Forum The National Council of Negro Women ((NCNW) of Co-op City will offer a forum of the candidates by Zoom on Saturday, December 12, at 12 p.m. virtual meeting on Zoom. This is another opportunity to meet the candidates who will serve our community. A chance to ask questions of your interest or concerns.

Early Voting – Special Election Early voting for Council member to replace Andy King will begin December 12th through December 20th at same location, Truman High School. Please check Co-op Times or call BOE, 718-299-2017, for the hours scheduled. The Election Date is December 22nd, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Happy Birthday to those celebrating this month. Condolences to our Co-op City families who lost a loved one. We continue to pray for one another. Contact Lydia Rondon at 718-583-3040 to share information of illness, someone deceased or in a nursing home. “Pray for the world, for the passing of this pandemic. Be prayerful, kind, thoughtful and thankful. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt –H. Overman

Building 19 Association

Hello, Building 19 family. Last Saturday and this past Sunday were very busy days for many of us with the mandatory installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our apartments by Riverbay. While some cooperators may have seen the visit as an inconvenience, I want to remind everyone that the purpose of the visit is to ensure your safety in case a fire occurs. Speaking of safety, the association is committed to keeping the cooperators of our building safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last Friday, we did our third distribution of our pandemic go-bags, which contained three face masks. The bags were hung on the doorknobs of your apartments to maintain contactless delivery for the safety of our volunteers. As mentioned in this column last week, any remaining go-bags would be retrieved by the association the next day. You may have noticed an envelope inside the gobags when you got them last week. The envelope is to collect money for our building’s annual donation to the porters. It is our collective way of thanking these individuals for the hard work that they do for our building. On behalf of the porters, I want to thank those who have donated so far. The association will continue to collect donations until Friday, December 18. For those who live on floors 2-17, please put your donation envelopes under the door of association’s treasurer,

Apt. 17A. For those who live on floors 18-33, please put your donation envelopes under the door of the association president, Apt. 31H. Today at 12 noon, the association will be doing its annual holiday lobby decoration for December. I need to apologize to anyone who showed up in the lobby last Saturday. At the time when I announced about the lobby decoration event last week, I was not aware of Riverbay’s scheduled smoke and carbon monoxide detector installment visit to our building that same day, which prevented the volunteers from being present that Saturday. Please join us today as we help to make our lobby reflect the holiday spirit. Please remember to wear your face masks when joining us. In closing, I want to thank those who attended our virtual association committee meeting last Tuesday. Congratulations to fellow association members Saja, Dominick, and Sharon for winning our three raffle prizes during the committee meeting. Our next association virtual committee and general meetings will be January 11th at 7:30 p.m. and January 29th at 7 p.m., respectively. So please save these dates. I look forward to seeing you in the lobby today to help with the holiday lobby decoration activity. Take care and be safe. —Leon Tulton

NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People #2210

Mission Statement: “Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.” And we’ve been doing it since 1909. Focus Areas: Federal Advocacy, Education, Economic Opportunity, Criminal Justice, Health, Environmental & Climate Justice. NAACP 111th Annual Convention theme: “We Are Done Dying.” Democracy wins! Democracy must work for all of us. Donations to NAACP Empowerment Programs are tax deductible and for NAACP statements, go to NAACP.ORG. Special Election for 12th Council District to fill Council vacancy will be held on Tues., Dec. 22, 2020 from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Vote Early - Avoid The Lines from December 12th - December 20th at Truman High School, 750 Baychester Avenue (back of building). COVID-19 has not gone away! What you do as an individual impacts all of us. We are all in this together. Wear a mask, gloves, wash hands, practice social distancing. Due to COVID-19 and at the request of the NAACP and Riverbay Corporation we have not had gatherings of any kind (health & safety reasons) in Einstein C.C., room 36, since March 13th. Riverbay Corporation has recently informed me that no one should be in the room for any reason until further notice. This latest information

is disruptive to the branch in doing business with the NAACP National and NY State Conference offices. Congratulations! Co-op City Branch Executive Committee Officers serving for the 2021-2022 term: President Ms. Leslie Peterson, Vice President Mr. Adeyemi Oloruntoba LaCrown, Secretary Ms. Brenda Brown, Assistant Secretary Ms. Terry Gavin, Treasurer Ms. Linda Drax-Werner, Assistant Treasurer Ms. Shioban Taylor. Membership dues: New, renewal or gift an annual membership, go to NAACP.ORG. or send request for application using post office mailing address. Annual dues: Adult, $30, and Youth, $10. Checks/money order made payable to: NAACP #2210 and mailed to: N.A.A.C.P, Co-op City Station 75-3111, Bronx, N.Y. 10475. If it is your desire to make financial contribution in any mount, it is most appreciated. Thank you for your continued support and for helping the NAACP advocate for a more just and equal America. Important branch notice: The NAACP does not share or sell membership information with anyone for any reason. This branch has not now or not ever authorized or given permission to anyone to use or share members e-mails for personal use or political gain and the NAACP does not endorse political candidates. The NAACP advocates, educates and informs – we do not endorse political candidates. To whom it may concern, cease and desist NOW! –Brenda Brown

Making a “Blessing Box” (The following inspirational activity is shared by Ms. Gaillard of Section 4 with her Co-op City neighbors.) To begin, locate a facial tissue box. If you want to, select a box with a design on it, especially a design and a shape you feel is appealing to you. Or, you could find a box you like and decorate it any way you want. You are going to re-purpose the facial tissue box once it is empty. This will become your "Blessing Box." Yes, you read that correctly, it will be re-purposed to be your "Blessing Box." Once the box is empty of facial tissues, your task will be to daily fill it with slips of paper of the things you believe have blessed your day. For example, a receipt for food you purchased, or a receipt for personal care items you bought (deodorant, lotion, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap/body wash, shampoo, etc.). Another example, a virtual event announcement, or a screenshot of a virtual ticket. Anything that you believe will be a visual reminder of a blessing you received or a blessing you were to someone else. You may want to put in your "Blessing Box" a receipt for a donation you gave to a charity or a gift you could afford to give to another person. Also, you may want to write on a piece of paper a thank you to God for being able to breathe, to walk, to see, to speak/talk, to hear, whatever you are thankful for. Or write a "Thank you, God, that I still have a home, food, clothes, and a place to work to afford my basic needs." It could be that you want to say, "Thank you, God, for good health." Consider being blessed by not having some negative thing happen to you or your family and friends. An example, not being terminated from your place of employment when the company was terminating other people when they were "downsizing." Or as they were "downsizing," you were one of the people they kept until the last day of the "downsizing period," and that gave you a little more time to make money to prepare for a possible extended unemployment period. Daily, there are blessings we forget. Some of those blessings may include time to look at nature (birds, trees, flowers, grass, falling leaves or snow, etc.), to be able to sleep at night, to feel safe in your own home, to have enough money to take public transportation when you are too tired to walk, or anything else you may think of as a blessing. The purpose of our "Blessing Box" is for us to be joy-filled and wonder-filled at what God has blessed us with. As we fill and look at the "Blessing Box" daily, it will focus our minds and spirits on the goodness of God. By focusing on God's goodness and blessings, we will be a joy to others and illuminate our "little light" in the world. Let's make our world better by daily being a little "SON-beam” (sunbeam) in the space we occupy. Look at your "Blessing Box" everyday to lift your spirit. • NOTE: On your phone, you could use a “notes” page as your "Blessing Box" and just type in blessings daily with the date for each day. •• This is a good project for the “Holiday season” and could last into the New Year of 2021. BY GERMAINE GAILLARD

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Director’s Viewpoint – Francine Reva Jones, Assistant Secretary Greetings, The Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration will take place today, Saturday, December 12, at 3:00 p.m. It will be the 24th Annual Kwanzaa event sponsored by the Coalition of AfricanAmerican Churches & Community Organizations of Co-op City, Inc. The dynamic Ms. Virginia Stewart is the president. Once again, the lovely Ms. Ebony Lambright will be the Mistress of Ceremonies. A griot is a West African storyteller of history. For our Kwanzaa, Elder George Crouch will hold the title of Griot. You might have heard him referred to as the Mayor of Co-op City. He is a COVID survivor and we are happy that he can be with us. The celebration will include a presentation of the Kwanzaa Ceremony, or, The Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles). The Seven Principles are: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooprative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (Faith). The youth of our community will present these Kwanzaa Principles as a reminder that we should practice them daily. It was only a few weeks ago that New York voted in a new congressman. It was Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who will be our Kwanzaa speaker for the day. He will impart a powerful message that will be meaningful and inspirational to our community. And that’s not all. You won’t want to miss the amazing afternoon of edu-tainment. In this climate of COVID, we must lift up our spirits and continue life as normal as possible. The Kwanzaa Zoom meeting link: https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/85017699724?pwd=U0VYdVpOa3Q0Unhtb3dlOU1HZ3BDUT09, Meeting ID: 850 1769 9724, Passcode: 600330. You may also dial in: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York), Meeting ID: 850 1769 9724, Passcode: 600330. Section 4 Partnership The Section 4 Partnership (S4P) met last week on a Zoom meeting called by President Michelle Marbury. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, we have met consistently via Zoom. The S4P is comprised of every building in Co-op City that makes up the sectional geographic which is referred to as Co-op City’s Section 4, i.e., Buildings 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; the Adler Place Townhouses, and Broun Place Townhouses. Briefly, the mission is to promote a community of more than just neighbors, but as one family of many cultures, that proactively embraces greatness and promotes neighborhood interaction. The goal … is to offer solutions that will educate, elevate, inspire and mobilize our community in unity, to sustain affordability and growth in order to remain environmentally sound and vibrant for generations to come. Many members benefit from attending the meetings because they are updated on community issues and activities and get the opportunity to express their ideas and problems. The cooperators discussed matters concerning people who don’t wear a mask, lights out under the portico, basement floor that needs repair, the City Council Special Election, the Georgia Senate runoffs, Kwanzaa, 50th Anniversary T-shirt sale, decorating our lobbies for Christmas, building meetings, and more. If you live in Section 4, please join us at the next Zoom meeting or request the most recent meeting minutes. You may also contact us at section4partnership@gmail.com or call 347-915-4939. R.U.O.K. I recently experienced a scary health occurrence in my apartment, which could have been very harmful to me. Over the past few years, I had contemplated joining the Are You O.K.? Program, sponsored by the Co-op City Department of Public Safety, but I didn’t feel that I really needed it then. However, after the experience I mentioned above, I contacted CCPD to obtain and submit the registration forms. The program is set up to call you every day at a time that you designate. If you do not answer the phone, your emergency contacts are called. However, if you know that you won’t be at home on a particular day, you can let them know. As a Co-op City senior, I feel safer knowing that I will get this daily phone call checking to

Kwanzaa Celebration today see that I am O.K. If you would like to join, contact CCPD at (718) 320-3333, ext. 3339. NYC Council Special Election The early voting begins today, December 12th, until December 20th. Residents in Bronx City Council District 12th will vote on December 22nd to determine who will fill the vacancy. The winner will serve until December 31, 2021. Co-op City’s vast population of 55,000 residents will be positively affected by a competent representative. So please vote for someone with a proven record of accomplishments and remind your family and friends in the Bronx County 12th Council District to do likewise. There are nine days of early voting; so let’s take advantage of them. You may apply for an absentee ballot by phone. Call 1-866-8683692, or visit nycabsentee.com. Should you need additional information, please call 1-866-VOTE-NYC. International Human Rights Day December 10th is International Human Rights Day. It commemorates the day in 1948 that the United Na-

tions General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is an international document that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings. It was adopted in response to the “barbarous acts which … outraged the conscience of mankind” during the Second World War. Its adoption recognized human rights to be the foundation for freedom, justice and peace. It includes civil and political rights, like the right to life, liberty, free speech and privacy. It also includes economic, social and cultural rights, like the right to social security, health and education. Let’s learn more about this day and this document. COVID-19 Cases of the Coronavirus continue to hit record highs. Please protect yourself and your family by wearing a mask, staying at home if you are sick, washing your hands frequently, and practicing social distancing. Thank you for reading my viewpoint. If you wish to contact me, call 718-671-5957 or email: fjones@ riverbaycorp.com.

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Director’s Viewpoint – Daryl Johnson A lot of people are going through some incredibly bad times right now. Regardless, I want to encourage everyone to keep moving forward. Keep Going, Despite Problems Currently, there are more than 14 million cases of the coronavirus disease in the United States. Then, more than 282,000 people in the U.S. have died from this disease. On a global scale, there are more than 66 million cases of the coronavirus disease. And, more than 1.5 million people around the world have died from this disease. Also, more than 10 million people are out of work. In fact, it’s tough finding some jobs. For instance, some corporations are receiving hundreds of resumes for each job that they post. So, some applicants will never get a chance to even get an interview for some jobs. Then, some people don’t have enough food to feed their family. For instance, about a week before Thanksgiving in Texas, 25,000 people waited in their vehicles for hours to get food. In one vehicle, a lady said that she lost her job in December 2019. Thereafter, she couldn’t find another job. Then after a period of time, they cut off her unemployment benefits. Nevertheless, she said that it was a blessing to get some food. Next, a tremendous amount of people drove to a food bank in another part of Texas to get some food for their families just two days before Thanksgiving. However, the line of vehicles was so long that they had to ration their food. Before the pandemic, this food bank used to feed 60,000 people a week. And, now, they’re stretching their food to feed 120,000 people a week. Also, throughout several months in 2020, one news report stated that about a third of Americans missed a rent or mortgage payment. Furthermore, some people with tight finances have stopped paying their household bills. Therefore, some experts have stated that millions of Americans might lose their homes. So, it’s possible that there could be a tremendously bad homeless situation in this country after we get control of this

Keep Moving Forward

COVID problem. Regardless, some people undergoing these situations have decided that they’re going to push forward and make their life work. In other words, they know that they’re suffering now. However, they know that things are going to get better. On the other hand, some people in our community and in many other places made a decision to stop their problems. And, as you know, some people committed suicide. In Japan, there is currently an incredibly bad problem with people committing suicide. For instance, there were 2,087 people that died from the coronavirus disease in Japan during this ENTIRE year of 2020. However, can you believe that 2,153 people in Japan committed suicide in just ONE month, October 2020? So, has this pandemic created tremendous problems here and all over the world? Absolutely! However, again, some people are refusing to deal with these problems—sickness, hunger, housing, unemployment, social issues, etc.—that are affecting this entire world. Nevertheless, when you look back, you’ll see that people all over the world have experienced a lot of suffering. However, lots of people had faith that things would get better. So, they struggled, fought, and did everything to make things better. Then, things did get better for them. And, now, lots of people are talking about the future and several vaccines that can end this global pandemic. Additionally, stimulus packages are being promoted in this country to help people and businesses to deal with their financial issues. Bottom line: Tough times can teach tough lessons. For instance, a lot of people had to learn to get by on less money and other items during this pandemic. Then, living in the same home with their significant other on a 24/7 basis may have been challenging. So, a lot of people filed for divorce. And, now, the courts are now backlogged because of so many divorce filings. Regardless, a lot of people will now have to review their situation and then focus on how they want things

Building 10 Association

Greetings, fellow cooperators. New cooperators – Welcome all new cooperators. We look forward to seeing you at the next general membership meeting. Holiday gift collection for Building 10 workers: The Holiday Gift Collection for the Building 10 workers will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Building 10 Association room located in the rear of Building 10B on Wednesday, December 16. We will also be collecting on Saturday, December 19, from 11 a.m.2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Please see the flyer posted in your building lobby Suicide prevention – If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or in emotional distress, the number to call for help in NYC is 1888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1800-273-8255. If you see something, say something – For emergencies, call Co-op City Public Safety at 718-671-3050 and NYPD at 911. For non-emergencies, call 311. Special Election – A Special Election for the 12th Council District in the Bronx has been scheduled due to a vacancy, by Proclamation of the Mayor. You may vote early from December 12 – December 20, 2020. Please visit vote.nyc to find your early voting site. Holiday Safety – The holiday season has begun; here are a few reminders to ensure a joyous holiday. Please be aware of your surroundings. Do not leave anything visible in your car. Have your packages delivered to a locker or a neighbor who is home. Be safe and enjoy the holiday season.

Compactor room – All cooperators are reminded that boxes need to be broken down and recyclables need to be rinsed with water to reduce vermin before being placed in the compactor room. All other items must be taken down to the area near the ash cart room in the basement. Building 10 is our building, let us take care of it. Just A Few Reminders – Remember to turn on your car headlights when driving in the garage and please follow all directional signs. Turn your car off, lock it and take your keys with you. Please discard used face masks and gloves in trash receptacles. Please wipe up spills in hallways, elevators, and lobby floors. Promptly remove your completed laundry from the washers and dryers. Covid-19 – Covid-19 is still spreading. Wear a mask, wash your hands and social distance. We can beat this virus…together. Facebook – The Building 10 Association is on Facebook!! The page is “Building 10 “ABC” Association.” Like our page and get notified of all the happenings in and around Building 10. Email Address – The Building 10 Association’s email address is Building10Assoc@gmail.com. Please use the email or Facebook to contact the building association with your concerns and suggestions. We would like to wish all December “babies” an incredibly happy birthday. To the homebound and sick, we wish you a speedy recovery. To all who have lost a loved one recently, we give our deepest condolences. Have a great week. —Jewel Crawford-Duncan

to be in the future. Additionally, a lot of businesses also lost lots of money. Nevertheless, they saw that they could save a lot of money on office space, utilities, and other items by having people stay home. In 2021, we’re going to be introduced to a lot of new technology. Plus, there are several vaccines that are being proposed to stop this coronavirus disease. So, things will get better in the future. Therefore, I hope that everyone will maintain a positive attitude so that these current problems won’t get you down. Thanksgiving – Insane Driving Wow, what happened during this recent Thanksgiving holiday in NYS? Did some people let their COVID frustrations out? For instance, check out these driving offenses that occurred just between Wednesday, November 25, and Sunday, November 29. First, the NYS Police issued 13,887 tickets for a variety of traffic offenses. Then, they arrested 155 people for DWI. Bad, right? Well, it gets worse. Can you believe that they had to investigate 757 crashes? And, can you believe that three people died within those crashes? Bottom line: Please do not drink and drive. Rude and crazy drivers? Before you get on the road, please accept the fact that some people will be drinking and driving crazy. So, please do not respond to them or try to get revenge on them. In other words, keep it moving. Thank you. Close We have to care about our community. So, please think positively and don’t give up. Thank you. Contact Information Please do not send a letter to me at this time. However, you can send an email to me at: djohnson@riverbayboard.com. Also, please call me ONLY at 718-671-4544 if you would like to have a brief discussion with me. Okay, that’s it for now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may God bless you and your family. Thank you.

Adler Place Townhouse Association

Greetings, Adler Place (Building 44) shareholders. This notice is to inform you that we have gone virtual via Cisco WebEx for our association meetings. If you would like to attend our meetings, please forward your email and contact information to adlerplaceassoc@gmail.com. This will be a learning experience for all of us and may even become our new normal. We could use all input. Please attend the meetings. Stay well and safe! Continue to wear your mask and social distance! Thank you. –Ken Graham

Building 6 Association

Remember: There is NO Soliciting and NO Loitering and NO Advertising under the Penalty of Law in the building. Only the building association members can collect money in the building. Since we only have a building president right now, only the building president can collect money for the building. We had a problem with this matter last December. Please clean up after your dog, no one wants to step into your dog’s mess. There have been complaints of people not cleaning up after their dogs in this building. There will be no Christmas tree in the lobby this year because of the Covid-19 virus. Sorry, plus the guy who always helps me with the Christmas tree in the lobby is unable to right now. If you want to put up Christmas decorations in the lobby this year, let me know. Please be available to help put it up and take it down at the end of Christmas. Thank you. —Jeffrey Schwartz

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

A caregivers’ prospective This story is about a woman of great faith. Her name is Ernestine Luongo. It is a story of love. No testimony can be given to the care that was provided to our mother without first revealing the caliber of person she was. Our mother was a woman of great faith. She loved God above all else and made Him the center of her life. She expressed Him to others through her words and deeds but more importantly through her love. She taught us to love, the value of family and the need to care for others. She valued the gift of life, brought many to church, loved all children, fed families, took others in, gave advice and she would listen to others and was called “Mom” by many. Our mother was a caregiver herself. She provided intense support to her husband who was challenged by heart disease and both her parents who would die from breast and lung cancer. She was a woman of prayer and it was in this relationship with God that she found strength to overcome the many obstacles life would deal her. As well as being a woman of faith, she was a person of great suffering. Widowed and left in poverty with two children at a young age, she struggled to do her best. Her health was ailing for a long time. She survived two different cancers, had heart disease including a heart attack, many small strokes, severe arthritic back pain, diabetes and her kidneys began to fail. In the last few years of her life, she required dialysis and had a leg amputated and was confined to a nursing home. She could not return home because outpatient dialysis centers would not take the responsibility to transfer her to a dialysis chair without prosthesis. At the end of her life, she acquired dementia and had fingers amputated on both hands. All the while, she found love and support through two sons and a daughter-inlaw. Her ailments were serious and anyone of them could have killed her. However, she was strong and cheated death many times. Her most serious decline came as she separated from the family as a result of being institutionalized. Never was a day missed at the nursing homes or hospitalizations. Proxy rights were frequently used in order to protect her. The family fought for two years to bring her home. Finally, a home dialysis program opened in the Bronx. Both sons were trained to administer treatment. She could finally come home. In addition to the need for dialysis, she was fully dependent in all areas of care. Though it required an incredible effort, we appreciated the opportunity to care for our mother with a great love and compassion. She deserved nothing less. For more information, go to our website at www.comeoutreach.org, or call 718-379-3159. –Diane Cooper

Our Promiise to New & Curren nt Clients As We eN Navigate Coron navirus Yo our health an nd safety are Priority #1 as we all navigate the Corona vir irus pandemic. We fully understand that accidents will continue to happen; injuries i and deaths will continue tto be suf sufffered; and injurious a acts of medical malpractice w will continue to take place.

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Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

People First Democratic Club

Greetings, Co-op City neighbors, Remember, we have a special election, and today is the first day of early voting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Truman High School. You can go to: www.nyccfb.info/nycvotes/vgwelcome/council-district-12-special-election/ to get more information about the candidates to learn more about the times and days to vote. It is so crucial for us as a community to become more engaged in our community’s politics. If we want the needed resources, we have to speak up, and the way we do that is by showing up, being active, and, more importantly, VOTING! For a long time, we have had conversations about what we want for our neighborhood. As Co-op City residents, we have always been committed to building a better community for ourselves and our children. That said, we have to stop talking about it and start doing something about it. One way to do that is to educate ourselves about how politics works in our community and get involved. What better way to make changes than from the inside! There are many ways to be involved. For example, did you know that you can run to be a member of your School District’s Community Education Council as a public school parent? If you want more information on this, go to https://www. schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/current-education-councils-cecs/, and you will be able to get all the details to do so. We, the People First Democratic Club, would like to share a few of our upcoming events: January 5, 2021, we are partnering with Riverbay Corporation for a coat drive. January 6, 2021, we will have our first meeting via Zoom at 7 p.m. January 22, 2021, we will be hosting an NYC Mayoral Candidates’ Forum. If you have a specific question for our Mayoral candidates, please email them to peo-

Building 25 Association

Neighbors, we see you. The community looks very festive with the holiday decorations. This year, our community appears to be more decorated than previous years, COVID-19 cannot stop the spirit of the holidays. Please continue to enjoy the holidays safely. During this time of the year, Building 25 Association asks for donations for our workers in our and the surrounding areas of our building and your annual dues. This year, due to COVID-19 and while keeping the practice of safe distancing, each household will receive envelopes and you are asked to bring your envelopes to the lobby on the dates posted near the elevators. There will be a special election on December 22, 2020 to fill a vacant seat left by Andy King, Council member for the 12th Council District. There are various ways to vote, absentee voting, early voting or in-person voting. To find out which is best for you, call NYC hotline: 311 or the Board of Elections office in the Bronx at 1-718-299-9017. If anyone is home quarantining, please let CSO know so that they will not send any employees to your apartment, unless it is an emergency. There are no plans to bring back the lobby attendants at this time; we will provide updates as we receive it. Regular daily mail delivery will not be delivered to individual floors, so please make every effort to pick up your large packages in the lobby. We wish all neighbors born in December a Happy Birthday, and for those who have been under the weather, we hope you get better soon. Latest update to resuming our building meetings due to COVID-19, Riverbay has not given the official go ahead to resume regular building meetings, but our next conference call will be Tuesday, December 15, at 7:30 p.m. so be on the lookout for the telephone number and dial-in code posted near the elevators. Remember, residents of Building 25 can always address any comments or concerns by logging onto our building email address at building25ca@gmail.com. If anyone has problems accessing the building email address, please let us know. Closing with the following to bring you into the Christmas Holiday: “T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” –Clement Clarke Moore –Wanda Bailey

Building 22A & B Association

December is the month to celebrate all our blessings through different religion and customs. Have a prayerful season. Collections for the Maintenance staff will be December 11, 18, from 4-6 p.m. for the ‘A’ side; December 11, 4-6 p.m.; December 18, 5-7 p.m. on the ‘B’ side, in the lobbies. Special Election for Council member – District 12 Early Voting starts December 12 - 20, at Truman High School. Election Day is December 22nd. Absentee ballot must be requested. Christmas time is another difficult time for traveling with families. Please practice safe distancing, wash your

hands, wear your mask and sanitize. Co-op City’s Covid-19 testing site is now a rapid site. Dreiser site hours are: 105 Dreiser Loop, Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Multiple vaccines are getting CDC approval. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Please follow the safety rules in the laundry room, elevators, recycling in the compactor room. Happy birthday to all. Sympathy to all who lost loved ones. Prayers to the sick and shut-ins. If you see something, say something. Thank you. –Betty Leak

ple1stdc@gmail.com. We will be hosting other candidates’ forums, health fairs, and information sessions in the coming months. Help us build a brighter future by joining the People First Democratic Club! If you would like to join PFDC, membership is $25.00 for individuals and $30.00 per household. Members must be at least 16 years old. Request an application by emailing us at people1stdc@gmail.com. Our community needs you to be active: your voice needs to be heard! “To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage.” – Confucius —Al Quattlebaum

Broun Place Townhouse Association

Hanukkah began on the tenth of December at sundown. Hanukkah is all about miracles. This earth could use a couple of those. May the lights of Hanukkah shine over Co-op City. It was a surprise that left me crying with Mrs. Lorraine Rohlson Alexander. Her work with Co-op City’s Tennis Club over 45 years was honored. Channel 7’s, GMA and GMA2 showed the video and Mrs. Alexander recognized by Dick’s Sporting Goods in receipt of a huge gift. We are grateful for being in an area with great medical availabilities and COVID19 testing sites within walking distance. The site for information is: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page, all your questions can be answered there. Channel 12 and cable 591 are running an infomercial made here on the Dreiser Loop COVID-19 testing site. You should get tested and know your status. Our household’s third test came back negative. President-elect Biden has spoken and recommends a one-hundred-day period of mask wearing. Hopefully, numbers will decrease. A Kansas son’s obituary for his father who died of Covid-19 is going viral for excoriating mask refusers. “[He] died in a world where many of his fellow Americans refuse to wear a piece of cloth on their face to protect one another,” he wrote. “So COVID-19 is not fiction.” Review your weapons to fight COVID-19: wear a face mask (over your nose), wear disposable gloves, keep 6 feet between you and wash hands frequently. Co-op City, on December 22, has a special election for City Council person, Andy King’s seat. There are many candidates. Please read up on the choices. There are write-in and certified candidates. The Co-op City Times is doing a great job publicizing this election and its candidates. Broun Place’s executive board members are Vivian Burrus, Rev. Grace Emanuel, Lillian Richardson and myself, Eva Lazaar. Request online, the community newsletter from the Community Relations department. Broun Place neighbors, Saturday mornings, pick up your personally delivered Co-op City Times. Reminder, used masks and gloves belong in garbage cans, not gutters. And let the executive committee know if you have a complaint or compliment. Remember, the Department of Health Education and Welfare does not call you, and our cooperators do not pay personal Con Edison bills. But scams are on the rise. Looks like a New York City line was hacked. A scam call with the caller ID saying, “NYC is spreading the news; credit card banks are lowering annual interest rates.” Another, “Emergency, your car warranty has expired, press one to speak with a representative.” Another phone message, “We apologize for our error on your electric bill.” Finally, “All your credit card companies have agreed to lower your interest rate.” These are examples of scams! We suggest getting on the “Do Not Call List” to help avoid scam contacts. You are encouraged to join or renew your Broun Place Association membership. Dues are just $12 annually. Keep dancing and better days are ahead! Wakanda forever! –Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Director’s Viewpoint Leslie

Peterson

Special Election for District 12 City Council person

Early Voting for Special Election to fill the District 12 City Council seat starts today, Saturday, December 12, 2020 - December 20, 2020. The Early Voting Site is: Truman High School, 750 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475. All registered voters in NYC’s 12th Council District (CD 12) in the Bronx can vote early. Hours: Saturday, 12/12, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sunday, 12/13, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Monday, 12/14, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Tuesday, 12/15, 11 a.m. -7 p.m.; Wednesday, 12/16, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thursday, 12/17, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Friday, 12/18, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 12/19, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sunday, 12/20, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Election Day for Special Election is December 22, 2020 Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. – To find your Election Day poll site or to view a sample ballot, visit nyc.pollsitelocator.com or call 1-866VOTE-NYC. If you requested an absentee ballot, under New York State Law, an Absentee Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day, December 22, 2020 and must reach the Board of Elections no more than 7 days after Election Day to be counted. Ballots may be hand-delivered to any Board of Elections office, Early Voting Site or Election Day Poll Site no later than 9 p.m. on Election Day, December 22, 2020. Under New York State Law, you must sign, date and seal your Oath envelope. Lobby entrances: Tower and Triple Core buildings work is scheduled to begin in January 2021 at Building 19. The Tower buildings (15) will be completed first and then the Triple Core (10x3) a total of 45 vestibules. One Tower building will be fully completed for inspection before proceeding with the remainder (same with Triple Core). There will be an

installation of new intercom and directory panels, an installation of new automatic door operators as well as new card reader with FOB access. Work on the lobby entrances is expected to be three to four weeks per lobby. NCNW Candidates’ Forum: Join in today, Saturday, December 12, 2020 when the NCNW Co-op City Section hosts a 12th District City Council Candidates’ Forum at 12 noon via Zoom. Meeting ID: 881 8097 4801, Passcode: SPECIAL. Please remember to stay safe and follow safety guidelines. New and Proposed Local Law (LL97) Enhancing Performance, Reducing Costs – Carbon Emissions Compliance. NYC’s Climate Mobilization Act requires large buildings to reduce their carbon emissions by 40% over the next decade and by 80% by 2050 – or face significant fines. How will we successfully navigate this costly process? To comply, we will need to enhance our building’s energy performance, reduce energy waste and costs to comply with the new legislation. Pending Bill-Sprinkler System – Int. No. 1146B: The proposed local law would require owners of residential buildings over 40 feet tall (12.192 mbuildings over four stories) to install a system of automatic sprinklers by December 31, 2029. Building owners would need to file an interim report describing a plan for compliance one, five, and nine years after the effective date, or until they have filed a final report indicating full compliance. At the December 2, 2020 Committee meeting, the Bill proposed by several City Council members that would require 1.5 million New York City apartments to install automatic fire sprinklers allowed speakers to be heard. The bill includes co-ops, condos, rental buildings even New York City Housing Authority

Building 30 A and B Association

Wishing everybody a happy and joyous holiday season. The building association thanks Susan Legog, Glen Leach, Cindy Izquierdo and Jennifer Washington for donating and putting up the holiday decorations on the A-side. The building association thanks Viola Davis, Linda Yancey, Karen Johnson along with Greg and Abby Singleton for donating and putting up our spectacular holiday decorations on the B-side this year. Thanks to everyone who contributed to our porters. This year, we collected $720 from which we gave $180 to each porter. To our Jewish cooperators, have a Happy Hanukkah. Please everyone, stay safe and healthy during the pandemic. To all celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and new additions, congratulations. Those under the weather, get well soon. Those who recently suffered a loss, our condolences. —Linda Werner

Retirees of Dreiser Loop

Reminder: All members of the Retirees of Dreiser Loop are reminded to tune in to (via Zoom) the Coalition of African-American Churches and Community Organizations of Coop City Pre-Kwanzaa event. It will take place on Saturday, December 12, (today) at 3 p.m. The Zoom meeting link is included in the Coalition’s article. Reminder: We would love to hear from you. Take time out of your “busy” schedule and drop us a line (or two or three) on “How I’m Doing Through This LIFE Changing Time.” We would like to add your journey to this article to keep in touch. Email it to dreiserretirees@verizon.net. You can also mail it to Retirees of Dreiser Loop, 177 Dreiser Loop, room 19, Bronx, NY 10475. Reminder-2: We are in the process of updating our Membership Roster. If you have a change of address or new telephone or cell phone number, please send it to Retirees of Dreiser Loop, 177 Dreiser Loop, room 19, Bronx, NY 10475; Attention: Delores Debnam. Or, you can email us at dreiserretirees@verizon.net. Down the road, we are planning to be in touch via email. Please contact Josephine Flowers, Good & Welfare coordinator, 718-320-0539, if you have a family member who has passed or one of our members who is sick, in the hospital or in a nursing home. Attention! The Retirees need experienced part-time, freelance drivers with a CDL license with passenger endorsement with at least 3-years’ experience and a clean driving record. A stipend can be expected for each trip. This position requires transporting members and friends to and from special events within the Bronx as well as to outer boroughs. Please call Dorothy Byrd, 646 842-2458, and leave your name, telephone number and a brief message. —Delores Debnam

housing. “A large portion of these million and a half apartments are fireproof already.” Would this affect us or would we be exempt, we are a fireproof building. The Bill is being met with strong opposition and some, including one of the Council co-sponsors has removed their name. The Department of Buildings Commissioner Melanie La Rocca stated, “Residents will get hurt because they’ll have to move out of apartments while the work is done.” At this time, a vote has not been scheduled due to opposition. Building Façade Inspections—Int. 1853-2020: A Bill has been proposed in the City Council for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) use for controlled purposes like inspecting building facades. Councilman R. Cornegay Jr. feels this would be a cost effective opportunity and give managements the ability to detect problems early. The councilman feels this Bill would assist in eliminating the immense amount of scaffolding throughout the city. “It is time to update the laws on the use of drones.” The Department of Buildings is charged with producing a report on safety and privacy along with the feasibility of permitting building façade inspections and examinations to be conducted by unmanned aircraft systems (i.e. “drones”). The City Council has requested the study be completed by October 31, 2021. Be a part of the result you seek. Vote and encourage others to do the same. “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or…some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for: We are the change that we seek.” – President Barack Obama I am pleased to be of service to the community. I am interested in hearing your thoughts. I can be reached by e-mail at lpeterson@riverbayboard.com or by telephone at 718-320-1370.

Goose Island Seniors

We would like to wish all our Jewish members and friends a Happy Hanukkah. Words from the Goose Island President – I hope you enjoyed the Goose Island Seniors’ Social Zoom Meeting last Thursday. I can’t tell you how it went because this article had to be sent in on Monday before the meeting. We will comment on it in next week’s article. Over the years, I have tried to figure things out myself and became pretty good at it. I learned how to swim, repair broken things, learned how to get around city streets, etc. It gave me a sense of pride that I could achieve those things on my own. Then there were other times I would try to put something together and would end up with pieces that should have been used. I started reading the manual that came with it and successfully completed the job right. I needed help. I drove somewhere and got lost and needed to read a map or ask directions. (No GPS in those days). I needed help. I would try to cook something and it didn’t come out right, so I used a cookbook or called a relative and the meal was delicious. I needed help. We should always seek help when we need it. God is our father and friend and is willing to help us at all times. Psalms 21:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. We need His help desperately during this time. Let us depend on Him to get us through this. To all members: Happy Birthday to our members who celebrate their birthday in the month of December: Janie Williams, Barbara Hines, Brenda Brown, Adelle Lawrence, Barbara Owens, Ada Snyder (deceased) and Sheila L. Linder. Shut-in – Mary Pilla (former Goose Island president), sends her love to all. Mary is in the Paramount at Somers Nursing Center. She will love to hear from you. You may call her at (718) 753-1816. Our club is at 135 Einstein Loop, rm. 39, Bronx NY 10475, the Section 5 Community Center, phone number: (718) 379-9613. Our office is presently closed until it is safe to reopen. You may call or text Stephen’s cell at (347) 847-1941. Our email address is goose.island@optonline.net. These are unusual times. All our lives are altered. On behalf of my officers and myself, stay safe. –Stephen Roberts, Sr.

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

African-American Association

Building 32A Association

The Building 32A Association (3 members) at 4180 Hutchinson River Parkway East came together on Friday, Dec. 4, to decorate and bring some holiday joy to the building lobby. The following are some of the photographic highlights sharing the smiles as our lives continue to be impacted on many levels by COVID-19. –Yolanda Ramirez

Zoom-in tomorrow to: The Coalition of AfricanAmerican Churches & Community Organizations of Co-op City, Inc.’s First Virtual Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, Saturday, December 12, 3:00 p.m. This virtual event will feature: Congressman Jamaal Bowman, African-American Performers. Also: Kwanzaa Ceremony, Griot, Vendors, and Karamu Feast at home. All are welcome! Time: Dec. 12, 2020, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada); Meeting ID: 850 1769 9724, Passcode: 600330. Dial by your location: +1-646-5588656 US (New York) The African-American Association sponsors the following programs: Belly Dance Classes with Xonia Wilson – Contact: Xonia, 646-301-9438 Evening Line Dance Classes with Cynthia Dixon – Contact: Cynthia, 917-903-7073 Salsa Class with Keith Witherspoon – Contact: Keith, 917-561-6211 Yoga & Pilates Classes with Meena SharpeHicks – Contact: Meena at 917-863-1507 Join the African American Association of Co-op City Membership is $15/year for a single membership and $25/year for your household. Email: aaaccpower @gmail.com or call: 929-430-3255. The African American Association of Co-op City, P.O. Box 702, Co-op City Station, Bronx, NY 10475. Each one of us divided by all of us equals a force for good. —Michelle Marbury

Tunes on Tuesdays Leon and the Peoples

(At left, back row) President Doreatha Brundage and Second Vice President David Quinones of the Building 32A Association. Photos courtesy Yolanda Ramirez

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Leon and the Peoples gave a virtual concert on Tuesday, Dec. 1, for Riverbay Fund’s Tunes on Tuesdays concert series. Photos by Leandra Peters

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Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

My fellow Building 13 family and community of friends, 2020 is creeping to an end. I use the term creeping because, well it has been a trying year, but we are here and about to begin a new year. 2021 is approaching fast so in the words of a song I like, “Live your life with arms wide open, Today is where your book begins, The rest is still unwritten.” Starting today, Special Election: Early Voting – December 12, 2020 - December 20, 2020 The Early Voting site is: Truman High School, 750 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475 You can see the Early Voting hours posted on the lobby Bulletin Board. Election Day is December 22, 2020 Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Building 13 Election Day Site is: St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, 765 Co-op City Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10475 Voter Entrance: right side of building next to parking lot, Rombouts Ave.

Building 13 Association

It was a pleasure to sit with the “Three Masketeers” during last week’s mask giveaway. For most months, we have a giveaway to help ensure everyone is able to comply with the safety guidelines. It was great to see most members of our building wearing their mask and thank you for your donations that will go towards thanking our Building 13 staff. It is still important that we limit the size of get-togethers to remain safe during all upcoming family gatherings. Continue to follow Co-op City guidelines and wear a mask on the premises, socially distance and wash your hands often. Remember, elevators should be occupied by no more than four (4) people and the laundry rooms by no more than five (5) people. Thank you for your understanding while we try and get our building spruced up for the holidays and some problematic items resolved. In 2021, weather permitting, installation of new lobby entrance doors for Tower buildings will begin. The schedule for all Tower buildings has not been presented but, in general, work is scheduled to begin in January.

JOIN US: “After and Before” (after Christmas but before the New Year) celebration. We always have fun and this year will be no different. It will be held during the last week of December with one restriction, you must have your wine (or drink of choice) ready so we can toast together. When the exact date and time is selected, it will be posted so make sure to check the lobby bulletin board. We will have fun activities and toast in the New Year together. If you are interested in joining future Building 13 meetings, make sure we have your e-mail address. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead Our website is http://www.bldg13assoc.com or email us at building 13assoc@yahoo.com. Contacts: Leslie Peterson at 718-320-1370, president, at (daddpeterson@aol.com) or Gail Sharbaan, treasurer, at 718-671-3801. Thank you for supporting our team. —Leslie Peterson

National Council of Negro Women

Membership – NCNW Co-op City is turning 50 years young! The Co-op City Section of NCNW, Inc. is committed to service for the betterment of our immediate community and the society in which we live. Our next regular virtual Membership Meeting will be on Sunday, December 13, at 3 p.m. As we will be celebrating the Christmas season, members are asked to wear red or an “ugly sweater” in the spirit of the season. Zoom contact information will be sent to members closer to the meeting date. Section members are reminded that both section and national dues are now due. National dues ($50) can be paid on-

Building 2 Association

Greetings, neighbors! Happy Hannukah to our Jewish neighbors. May blessings be with you and your loved ones during this festival of lights and always. Thanks to our building’s lobby decorating teams, the lobbies are looking festive and beautiful and, it is beginning to feel like the holidays. Accolades to the 2A decorating team: Adelina Martinez, Theodora Bernstein and Carl Chambers and the 2B team Mirna Hood (the master decorator) and her assistant, yours truly. The holiday collection for our building staff is currently underway. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we have distributed an envelope to each apartment so that you can place your contribution in the envelope and return it by sliding it under the designated apartment door – Building 2A, Apt. 24D, and Building 2B, Apt. 3E. This envelope system is working well. Envelopes should be returned no later than December 19. Many thanks to the shareholders who have already returned their envelopes. Your support, generosity and cooperation are greatly appreciated. Early voting for the Bronx special election for the seat in the 12th District in the City Council (to replace former Councilman Andy King) will be held from December 12 to 20 at Truman High School, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, December 22, at your designated poll site. Happy Birthday to all December celebrants. Heartfelt condolences and prayers are extended to those who have suffered the loss of loved ones. We pray for the speedy and complete recovery for those recovering from an illness. Please continue to wear a mask on the building premises, in the elevators and laundry room, and, continue to take the necessary precautions so that you, your loved ones and neighbors remain healthy and safe during this difficult time. –Georgianna Rodriguez

line by visiting NCNW.org or by mailing a check made payable to National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Receipt of online payment of national dues should be sent via email to 2nd Vice President of Membership, Akeisha Neely, at NCNWCoopCitySocial@gmail.com. Checks for section dues ($25) should be made payable to NCNW Co-op City Section. Both checks should be mailed to NCNW, Inc. Co-op City Section, P.O. Box 93, Bronx, NY 10475. Youth Committee – The Youth Committee is having its 16th annual Winter Accessory Drive. We are accepting new unwrapped hats, scarves, gloves and pajamas for children and teens in a local shelter. To arrange pick up or drop off of donated items, contact 917-826-5644 or NCNWCoopCitySocial@gmail.com. Donations will be accepted until Wednesday, December 16. Civic Engagement – A vacancy in the 12th District of the New York City Council has us heading to the polls on December 22nd for a special election. Before casting your ballot, join us via Zoom

for our 12th District City Council Candidates’ Forum on Saturday, December 12, at 12 p.m. Meeting ID: 881 8097 4801, Passcode: Special. Book Club – The Book Club is excited to announce the new adult book for 2021 will be “A Piece of Cake” by Cupcake Brown. The death of Cupcake’s mother takes her down a spiraling path of life events. Join us on Saturday, January 9, at 3 p.m. via Zoom to discuss how Cupcake beats the odds. The third Book Club chat in our children’s series will be a mommy and me event on Saturday, January 16, at 3 p.m. We will be discussing “Dancing with Butterflies: Discovering Mindfulness Through Breathing” by Adrienne Barr. This beautifully illustrated mommy and me book encourages readers to manage anxiety with an easy-to-read story. Pre-order your hardcover, personalized autographed book, coloring pages and a bookmark for $20. For more information and to register, email NCNWCoopCitySocial@gmail.com. –Joyce Howard

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Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Iglesia Evangelica MU de Co-op City Co-op City United Methodist Church

Coalition of African American Churches & Community Organizations

Open Doors, Open Hearts and Open Minds “If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” –Psalm 91:9-1.1 UMCC is a Bible-centered congregation with spirit-filled worship and we offer a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and service to God and our community. We are a multi-ethnic, multicultural and bilingual congregation – ALL are welcome! We are changing with the times and now offer online service. We are located at 2350 Palmer Avenue, across from Building 30 (entrance on Boller Ave.) Parking is available on Palmer Ave. Our pastor is Rev. Arnaldo SánchezOrta. For more information about our services, please contact our administrative secretary, Marta Medina, by phone: 917-740-0256 or by email: coopcityevangelicalumc@gmail.com. Remote Schedule for Sundays – Come and receive a blessing: We would love for you to join us on Sundays. We are currently sharing our services online through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UMCofCoopCity/. We are also holding services via Zoom. For more information, visit our website at www.coopcityumc.com. Our Remote Services via Zoom, Sunday at 12 p.m. (Spanish) and 2 p.m. (English). Remote Schedule for our weekly services – Come and Receive a Blessing via Zoom Tuesday, 12 p.m. (Spanish) and 7 p.m. (English) Pray and Reflection Service Friday, 8 p.m. (English), 4.12 Youth Services Sunday School, 8 a.m. (English) Food Pantry: The Food Pantry distribution center at our church serves Section 5. Ongoing registration and distribution of food are on Thursdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Those registering must present one of the following government-issued up-to-date ID’s showing a 10475 zip code: Driver, Non-Driver, or NYC ID. Anyone 18+ of age can register. Only one participant per household may register. —Marta Medina

Dear Coalition members and friends, The Coalition’s Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration takes place today, Saturday, December 12, at 3:00 p.m. The lovely Miss Ebony Lambright will be our host and Congressman Jamaal Bowman will render an inspirational message. There will be participation by community youth, vendors and the mayor of Co-op City, Elder George Crouch. Zoom in at 3:00 p.m. for an amazing afternoon of edu-tainment. The following is the Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85017699724?pwd=U0VYdVpOa3Q0Unhtb3dlOU1HZ3BDUT09, Meeting ID: 850 1769 9724, Passcode: 600330. New Yorkers may also call: 1-646-558-8656. The same Meeting ID and Passcode apply. We cordially invite all Co-op City churches and community organizations to join us in our mission to address community issues of concern and to enhance our quality of life. We also sponsor family-oriented educational and cultural programs. Please contact our president, Virginia Stewart, at 718671-4506 for a membership application. The Coalition membership includes the following: The African-American Association, Co-op City Baptist Church, NAACP #2210, Retirees of Dreiser Loop, the American Legion Post 1871, Faith at Work Christian Church, and St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church. We extend warm wishes to those who are ill, and heartfelt condolences to all who have lost loved ones. We anxiously await the time when we can come together again. In the meantime, please continue to wear your mask, wash your hands, and socially distance so that we can all continue to be safe and healthy. Also, remember to vote in the upcoming City Council District 12 Special Election on December 22, 2020. Early voting begins today at Truman H.S. and ends on December 20th. Please vote for someone with a proven record of accomplishments. Thank you. —Francine Jones.

Community Protestant Church

The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much. During this dark season, Reverend Dr. Calvin E. Owens and the Community Protestant Church family continue to lift up in prayer our community, city, state, nation and the world, especially all those affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our regular church schedule has been cancelled due to the outbreak of the virus. However, our members and friends are invited to join us via the Telephone Conference Call Line at (712) 432-3900; at the prompt, enter access code 343284, followed by the # sign. Church Schedule Sunday School is now in session via conference call every Sunday at 9 a.m. For Youth Sunday School, call (712) 452-3900, access code: 953697, followed by the # sign. For Adult Sunday School, call (712) 432-3900, access code: 343284, followed by the # sign Sunday Worship Service begins at 11 a.m. via Conference Call at (712) 432-3900, access code: 343284, #. Noon Day Prayer at CPC, on Wednesdays at noon, you are cordially invited to call in for Noon Day Prayer at CPC, an hour of Power, Prayer, Praise and Testimony. Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Please join us via the Conference Call number above. The scripture Pastor Owens used for his sermonette last Sunday was Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out

of them all.” For a topic, he chose “Delivered From Affliction.” He posed the question, “Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you prayed to be delivered?” He stated that often our prayers for deliverance are for the threatening situation to be removed. Like the three Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel, deliverance does not depend upon the flames being extinguished, but upon our ability to survive the flames. Believers who share a common experience can be helped by reading the book of Psalms. If you are fearful, read Psalm 56; discouraged, 42; lonely, 71; oppressed, 51; … happy, 92; forsaken, 88, grateful, 42 and doubtful, 119. Psalm 34 is an expression of the spiritual need for deliverance from adversity. Affliction can come in three different ways: 1) adverse circumstances that come upon us not because of our action; 2) adverse circumstances that are brought upon us by others, 3) self-inflicted affliction. God is going to deliver us from all of our afflictions. There is no problem that God cannot solve. Reminder: Flu vaccine now available. Be safe from Covid-19. Practice social distancing and wear your mask when you go out. Our prayers go out for peace and justice in this time of racial tension and protests all over our city and our country. Until we meet again, Pastor Owens and our church family pray that God will be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; that His way may be known upon earth, and His saving health among all nations. –Evan G. Mitchell

Black Forum

Emergency Food Pantry 920 Baychester Ave., Bld. 1A (entrance faces the basketball court). The pantry opens Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. for grocery distribution. Guests who registered and re-certified in 2020 are eligible to pick up food once a month during regular distribution hours. Please look at the last date on your pantry card to determine when you can pick up your monthly package again. You would pick up one month or more from your last pick up. It is a 30 31-day rotation. We will still text if additional items become available outside of normal business hours. All guests must present a pantry card to receive food. Remember to bring sturdy and clean shopping bags and a shopping cart. Wearing a mask/face covering is required. We also ask that all guests use the markers on the ground to help practice physical distancing. Registration for new pantry guests is currently closed at this location. New registration dates will post when available. Black Forum guests living in Section 5 should visit CO-OP City United Methodist Church at 2350 Palmer Avenue to pick up groceries. They open on Thursdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. This is only a distribution point. Guests do not have to be affiliated with a church or religion to pick up food at this location. Registration is open at this location for Section 5 residents. Recertification – Guests currently registered with the food pantry and who

pick up food packages at the 920 Baychester Avenue location are required to recertify at the pantry starting in January 2021. A valid ID NYC card or a non- or driver’s license must be shown to remain in the emergency food program. Please bring the required ID the first time you pick up food in 2021. Members of a household listed on an application must present themselves at recertification. They must present an ID. Pantry guests visiting the church at 2350 Palmer Avenue must also recertify to continue in the program. In Gratitude – We thank the nonprofit ProCure Hope ... https://www.procurehope.org for donating (PPE) beginning at the height of the pandemic. These supplies were scarce which stymied our distribution of food to the community. Not having PPE put our team and pantry guests in danger leading us to close. ProCure Hope was one of the only organizations that saw value in the need to feed the community. They donated a generous supply of masks and face shields. We could not operate without their donation of PPE. We are so grateful for their donation and affording us the ability to safely serve the people of CO-OP City. Contact Us We look forward to hearing from you at coopcityblackforum@gmail.com. Please stay safe. –D. Illis

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Church of New Vision

From the pastor’s desk: On behalf of the Church of New Vision, we want to take a moment to send a note to let you know we are thinking about you during this special time of the year. While many are focused on the pandemic and what might be the politically correct thing to say or do in this wonderful holiday season, we remain focused on the “Christ” of Christmas. We know that it can be challenging to go through the holiday season without the opportunity to come out to services at the church to fellowship with one another or even visit family. However, we want you to know that God is with you at all times. He will surely be your source of strength and comfort this year as He has in years past. So, with that in mind, we want to take this opportunity to thank God and pray that you and your family have a blessed, Merry Christmas, as we as a church family celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As we look forward into the New Year 2021, our verse of the year is 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness”. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, be with you all. Amen.

Pastors Kenneth & Deborah Hodge welcome you with the love of the Lord to join us on Sunday as we share the Word of God at 11 a.m. on YouTube; type in Kenneth Hodge. Wednesday prayer service, 7:00 p.m. via telephone conference line by calling 1-646-769-9900, then enter access number 3099388. Once prayer has begun, please MUTE your phone so all can hear with clarity. Sunday, December 6, Worship Service theme: “Thanks Be to Good for His Unspeakable Gift.” Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” Amen. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 (thanks); Romans 6:23 (eternal life); John 10:10 (life); John 3:16 (only son). Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all the bereaved families. May the love of God embrace, heal, strengthen, comfort and give you peace. Continue to practice social distancing, wash hands, wear a mask and stay safe! Thanks for your contributions, Malachi 3:10. Mailing address: Church of New Vision, P.O. Box 75-3037 Einstein Station, Bronx, NY 10475. –Brenda Brown

Newsong Church

Jesus Christ is King 10 When they [the wise men] saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. –Matthew 2:10-11-NLT I love the events surrounding the birth of our Lord Jesus. (You can find them in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke). In today’s scripture, the wise men from the east finally arrive and worship Jesus. Unlike the nativity scene that you have in your house, the wise men didn’t show up until much later in the story. Most scholars believe that Jesus was somewhere between 1 & 2 years old by this time. In Matthew’s narrative, we see three possible responses to the idea that Jesus Christ is King. Response #1: Opposition 3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. –Matthew 2:3 (NLT) King Herod was a tyrant. He was given the title “King of the Jews” by Rome, and that was a title that He took seriously. He was so paranoid of someone taking his crown, that he had his own sons murdered. Herod couldn’t stand the idea of another becoming king. So much so that he even tried to have Jesus killed. (Verse 13) Like Herod, many people oppose the idea that Jesus Christ is King, because in order to make Him your King, you have to be willing to become His servant. A servant does whatever the King commands. Unfortunately, so many people don’t want to give up the throne of their hearts and allow the

King of kings to rule there. Response #2: Dismissal 4 Herod asked the leading priests, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’[d]” –Matthew 2:4-6 (NLT) When Herod tried to find out what the scriptures said about Jesus’ birth, the priests and the religious teachers knew the location. You would think that they would have a desire to go to Bethlehem themselves and see if this scripture was being fulfilled in their life time, but they seemed uninterested. Likewise, many claim to follow Jesus, but they’re not interested in God’s plan or purpose for their lives. They won’t even go to church, let alone be the church. Response #3: Worship Jesus as King The wise men had the best response. They received Jesus as their King and worshiped Him. We may not be able to give Jesus gold, but we can give Him the best gift of all…ourselves. This Christmas season, ask Jesus to be the King of your heart, and be willing to obey what He asks of you! www.newsongchurchnyc.org –Pastor Mike Tolone

Faith In God Church & Bible Institute

Pastor & Evangelist Vernon Little greets everyone in the name of Jesus, that name which is above every name. We want you to know that you are welcome in this house of the Lord! It is His house by ownership: it is our house by stewardship: and it can be your house by membership; so come on in and join with us. May God bless you in this house! Scripture carries spiritual vitality. That’s why it doesn’t return void. Wherever it encounters an open heart, it brings refreshment, nourishment, and new life. Isaiah 55:8-11 supports this. It says: 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed

Building 18 Association

Hi, neighbors. We hope that you all had a joyful Thanksgiving and if you are following the city guidelines, it was different, but safe. Please continue to follow Riverbay guidelines: only four people on elevators, wear your face mask, gloves, use hand sanitizer, wash hands often, only five persons in laundry room and stand six feet + away from each other. It’s all about protecting each other and staying S-A-F-E. To all families that have lost a loved one, we give our condolences. We wish our sick a speedy recovery. Happy Birthday to those with that special day this month, enjoy! We collected Holiday donations for our porters on 12/2, 3, 4, and 11. If you missed us, you can give it to Ms. Hughes, Ms. Turner or Ms. Brown on or before 12/18. Thanks to all who gave. There have been reports that some neighbors are putting boxes in the compacter room. Please do not put boxes in that room. Take them down to the basement; if you are unable, please break them down flat, and when you put your bottles and plastic containers in the plastic bag on the wall, please rinse them out as it has been reported that roaches are noticed on the 21, 23, and 30th floors. If you see roaches on your floor, please report it to Ms. Brown or call CSO. This is our home; please help to keep it clean. —Gertie Brown

to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Invitations Our Sweet Hour of Prayer will be today at 3 p.m. Sunday school is tomorrow at 10 a.m. Our Sunday Morning Worship Service is at 11 a.m. Every third Sunday following the morning worship, we serve Holy Communion. If you’re into gospel rap/holy hip-hop, go to www.soundcloud.com and download music from Vernon Little free of charge. He also has videos on YouTube. You will be blessed, encouraged, and inspired. We are located at 171 Dreiser Loop in Section 1. Our phone # is (347) 2764925. Jesus loves you, and so do we. –Evangelist Vernon Little

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Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Health and Wellness, 10 a.m. -11 a.m., via Zoom or phone Zumba with Ola, 1 p.m. 2 p.m., via Zoom or phone Bereavement Hour 2:00 -3:00 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 18

Thu., Dec. 17

Must call or email to register: 929-399-1387

Chair Yoga w/Charles Tyler Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99565341173 1-646-876-9923 US (New York) Meeting ID: 948 6880 5136 Passcode: 855423

Funded by: The NYC Department for the Aging, the NYS Office for the Aging and Riverbay Corporation.

No Co-op City Times? Call 347-439-5632 on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Must call or email to register: 929-399-1387

“Creative Hour with Sister Grace,” 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on how to make Floral Arrangements. Dial-in: 929-205-6099 Meeting code: 915-3777-954. Email Ann for Zoom link, amoncrieffe@jasa.org

Music Therapy, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Zoom call-in number: 1-646-876-9923 Meeting ID: 935-5178-1563 Passcode: 045708 “Zumba w/Ola,” 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99231696108 Meeting ID: 992 3169 6108 Passcode: 503637 One Tap Mobile: 1-929-205-6099 Weight Management Support Group w/Gigi, 2nd Wed. of the month, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Conference call: 929-299-1045, Code: 1386

Game Day – Every Wed., 1-2 p.m. in collaboration with Ms. Margaret Computer learning Zoom Meet- Kempe and a group of her fellow stuing w/Ralph, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. dents (Pay it Forward Engineers) at https://zoom.usj/2959552471 Scarsdale High School. Virtual GAME ?pwd=aFl4Y1N5dlpyNy80V3pJ DAY, where different types of games will be played each week including N0hUVnVFZz09 Bingo. Please call 718-320-1345 to Meeting ID: 295955247; register for the class and to receive Passcode: 259554; Zoom information. Dial in:1-929-205-6609

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Zoom Meeting link https://zoom.us/j/94868805136 Must call or email to register: 1-646-876-9923 Meeting ID: 948 6880 5136 929-399-1387 Passcode 770292

Stretch and Tone with Ola 1 p.m. -2 p.m. via Zoom or phone Must call or email to register: 929-399-1387 NORC Aerobic Classes Every Fri., 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/9868235869 1?pwd=dS9ublovZ01mRVVYbEhCYng2SkZHdz09 Mobile: 929.205.6099 Meeting ID: 986 8235 8691 Passcode: 849150

No Activities on Friday, December 25, Christmas Day. Happy Holiday!

(Schedule subject to change without notice)

Arts with Laura, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. via Zoom and phone

Health and Wellness 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (via Zoom or Phone)

Smartphone/Tablet Class w/Ralph 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Call Main Ofc., 718-320-2066 to register. Please give your telephone # & email address

JASA Co-op City NORC Program invites you for Upcoming Virtual Activities – December 2020

Join Zoom Yoga Class w/Sierra available every Tues. until Dec. 29 - 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/98404647097?pwd=RXg2WCtqNzlEa0JLVWtWN3VWa1JPZz09 Dial in by phone: 1 929 205 6099, Meeting ID: 984 0464 7097, Passcode: 952022. Every Wed., Tai Chi classes – 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/95267447198?pwd=MDhCa1U5 d24rMkdpNWZnMXVHejl2dz09 Mobile: 929.205.6099, Meeting ID: 952 6744 7198, Password: 455576. Zumba Classes on Saturdays – 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Co-op City Zoom is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. https://zoom.us/j/92928109097?pwd=Z1lwMHFN cDNRSGZZZ20vTmlZSmtLQT09 Meeting ID: 929 2810 9097, Passcode: 374977, Mobile: 929.205.6099. Bodies in Motion w/Ola – Sun., 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/98867100439?pwd=eVhjY3Jzb3 FpNjdDOVRwbjYOUmFWdz09 Dial in: 929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 988 6710 0439, Passcode: 252733. JASA Bartow and Einstein Senior Center will be offering a 7-week Chronic Pain Management Workshops on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Dec 22 & 29. This will be a virtual class via phone or video TBA Meditation Class – GPC, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Third Thurs. of every month starting in January 2021. Dial in: 929.299.1045, Passcode: 1386. NEW: Computer learning. Zoom Meeting w/Ralph, Wed., 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. – To register, please call the JASA office with your name, email address & phone number; https://zoom.us/j/93681329040?pwd=VGlHQWFRYWd3SHkwOEd6aXRmaFIvZz09 Call in number: 929-205-6609, Meeting ID: 936 8132 9040, Passcode: 259554. Light Housekeeping services is available w/Kris Agency. Housekeeping service is for 4 hours at $15.00 an hour. If interested, call the JASA office, 718-3202066. JASA Activities- If interested in knowing, we will email the information to you. Call 718-320-2066 and give us your email address. Sex Education – 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., January 21, 2021. https://zoom.us/j/94340275929?pwd=RjRZTVVlZ UhDNjQ3MGVGU05ZUFFtUT09 Meeting ID: 943 4027 5929, Passcode: 192010; Dial in : 929-205-6099. Bereavement Group Changes – Starting January 2021, the bereavement group will be meeting on the first and third Wednesday of the month, 12 p.m. -1 p.m.

Meditation w/ Charles Tyler

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

Upcoming Events

No activities are available

Concerts in Motion 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. To join the Zoom meeting, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82906 881632 Dial in by phone: 646.558.8656 Meeting ID: 829-0688-1632

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

From President Mickens: We now look forward to the next “new normal” holiday – Christmas. Consider alternate ways of getting and giving Christmas gifts. Think twice about going to the shopping malls – order online and have your gifts delivered. Please remember to continue to wash your hands, wear your face mask (including in the elevator and on public transportation) and maintain social distancing. REMINDER: Consider becoming a member of AARP.

AARP Chapter #4997

Call 1-888-687-2277 (English) or 1-877-342-2277 (Spanish). Then consider joining local Peachtree Chapter 4997 here in Co-op City. We are located in 177 Dreiser Loop, room 0, 2nd floor, 718-320-1946. We are closed at this time due to the virus. Please contact our Good and Welfare Coordinator Frances Wilson, 718-671-5493, if you have a family member who has passed or one of our members who is sick, in the hospital or in a nursing home.

FYI: We are updating our mailing list. If you have a change of address, home phone number or cell phone number, please contact Jean: 718-379-3742; Deborah: 718-379-6312. Reminder: Our monthly Membership Meeting, scheduled on the second Monday of each month, is CANCELLED until further notice. No word from Riverbay re: the community center opening. —Delores Debnam

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

Traditional Synagogue of Co-op City Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

The requirement for wearing a mask and social distancing will be strictly enforced during all synagogue services. General information The Traditional Synagogue located in Section 5, 120 Erdman Place in the rear lobby of 27B. It is on the ground floor of Building 27B, it is handicap accessible, no steps. Phone #: 718-379-6920. Office hours are Thursday and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Please call the office before you attempt to come over. If no one is in the office, please leave a message. The synagogue has services on Saturday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. After services, we always have a kiddush. The synagogue has a Facebook page, Traditional Synagogue. The synagogue needs donations. Whatever amount you can donate, big or small, would help. The synagogue needs men to help make a minyan. There are a lot of Jewish men who live in Co-op City who don’t come to services. Please come by 9 a.m., so we can take out the Torah.

The Traditional Synagogue is the only synagogue in Co-op City. Sabbath ends on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 5:20 p.m. Candle Lighting for Friday, December 18, 2020, 4:10 p.m. Good and Welfare – We sell Tree Certificates, in honor or memory, of a loved one. The cost is only $15 per tree. Mazel Tov to all having simchas. If you’re ill, wishing you good health. If you asked the Rabbi to say prayers for a sick person, you should make your donation to the synagogue. To All members – Happy Birthday to all members who will celebrate their birthday in December. For all those members celebrating their birthday/anniversary in December, please send me your names and I will add them to the list. Fun and Games – After services and kiddush, your support for the Traditional Synagogue, is greatly appreciated. Wishing all our members and friends peace and good health. –Bruce Gitelson

Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams and the Co-op City Baptist Church family invite you to join us tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. for worship service on Zoom. You can join us by Zoom Video, https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9623430102, or Zoom Telephone Conference Line, (646) 568-7788; Conference ID: 962 343 0102, Password: 788175#. Tomorrow, Sunday, December 13, during the 11 a.m. service, the Missionary Ministry will celebrate their 48th Anniversary on Sunday. The theme is “Let Your Light Shine.” –Matthew 5:16. Please join us for this celebratory service. Next Sunday, December 20, at 9 a.m., the Sunday School will present its annual Christmas Program. The method will be different, but the message is the same. Students representing their individual classes will bring us recitations focused on God’s greatest invitation through His greatest Gift. Join them via the Free Conference Call Line, 563 999 2090; Pin #: 660065. Wednesday Bible Study is held at 1:00 p.m. To join, use the Zoom information shown above. Thursday Prayer Warriors is held at 12 p.m. You can join using the Conference Call Line, 563-999- 2090, Pin #: 660065. Friday Noon Prayer is held at 12 p.m. You can join us using the Conference Call Line shown above. Friday Evening Prayer Service is held at 7:30 p.m. You can join us using the Conference Call Line shown above. Please note: Friday Evening Prayer service is not held on the first Friday of the month.

Sunday School for adults is held on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Use Conference Call Line shown above to join in. Sunday School for children and youth are held as follows: Primaries (6-8 years old), 2:30 p.m., FCC: (701) 802-5451, PIN/ACCESS: 2788906 Juniors (9-11years old), 3:30 p.m., ZOOM: (516) 259-9274 (no access code required) Young Teens (12-17 years old), 9:30 a.m., FCC: (701) 802- 5230, PIN/ACCESS: 3559529 Flu season is here, don’t forget to get your flu shot. If you have not had Shingles, you should also consider getting the Shingles vaccine. Please keep each other in your prayers and be wise in your decisions. Don’t forget to wear a mask, practice social distancing and stay safe! GOD will strengthen us as we travel through this storm. GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. –Psalm 46:1 The Co-op City Baptist Church exists to glorify God and to establish a living community of people who follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ through worship, prayer, Bible study and fellowship. We seek to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the church through ministry. –Hattie L. Lucas

Co-op City Baptist Church

Open Door Ministries

Overwhelmed Full sermon at opendoorministries.net

Do you ever feel like you are drowning. Waters have overcome you and you are doing all you can do to stay above them. Your chest gets tight and your throat is dry, you can barely breathe. God has promised to be with us at all times but sometimes we are swallowed by misery and despair. We feel hopeless and tired. Where is God when we are overwhelmed? 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is beyond human resistance but God is faithful to His word, He is compassionate and trustworthy and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to resist, but with the temptation He will provide the way out as well so that you will be able to endure it without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy. When Jesus faced his greatest trial he spoke to his Father. He pleaded for relief but there was something better that God had planned. Jesus was overwhelmed yet comforted by a messenger of God. His suffering was not removed but God’s plan was established in him. Luke 22:42 Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. The Apostle Paul also knew what it was to suffer. In Acts 9:16 Jesus said that Paul’s ministry would be full of pain. Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Suffering is part of the believer’s walk. 2 Corinthians 1:8 We do not want you to be uninformed about the troubles we experienced in Asia. We were under great pressure, beyond our ability to endure, we despaired of life itself. 11:24 Five times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. 26 I have traveled many miles and been in danger from flooded rivers and robbers and from my own people, as well as the Gentiles. 12:10 Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about “the thorn,” and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong, the less I have, the more I depend on him. God wants us to depend on Him, run to Him, call out to him. He allows overwhelming circumstances so we can recognize that we are not alone even if no one else stands beside us. Too many of us are dependent on others and forget about the Lord. Dependence on Him is not weakness but strength. He promises to renew us when we trust in Him. Contact Open Door Ministries by phone/text 917-334-4407 Blessings in Christ, —Pastor Luis Ramos

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

CLASSIFIEDS EDITING SERVICES

Let The Professor edit your term/research papers, reports, etc.! Call/text (718) 5140452, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Advertise in the Co-op City Times! Call for rates! Ads starting at $8/week! 718-320-3300 x3384

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2/29

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12/26

LOCKSMITH

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HIGH SECURITY LOCKS 20% Off Any Lock Job! 12/26

Medeco • MultiLock • Wilson High Quality Labor, Low Price!

CLEANING SERVICES 12/19

NEW STYLE BLINDS

All Colors • Vertical • Minis • Woods • 2 in. Regulars • Wash, Tape, Cord Blinds

12/26

FREE VALANCE & INSTALLATION

UPHOLSTERY

Re-installation of any types of Blinds. Repair Closet Doors and Sell New Bi-Fold Doors! Serving Co-op City for over 25 years. “When you see me, You’ll know me.” Call Anytime • Seven Days A Week

Call Mike at: 718-974-1290

12/26

ANONYMOUS WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE

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Advertise in the Co-op City Times! Call for rates! Ads starting at $8/week! 718-320-3300 x3384

CLEANING SERVICE - WINDOWS

GEORGE’S CLEAN WINDOWS Professional Window Cleaning • FAST RELIABLE SERVICE Cell:1-203-482-6337

12/26

CO-OP SALES BLINDS!

718.792.2655

Toll Free: 855-369-9936 ExecutiveExoticLimo.com ExecutiveSecurityProtection.com

Repair – Upgrade – Data Recovery – Virus Removal – Laptop Overheats – Cracked Screen – Broken Power Jack – Transfer your cassette tape music to CDs. Call James 646-281-4475, 718-324-4332.

CO-OP SALES - JASON LASH

EMERGENCY SERVICE

•Proms •Sports Events •Weddings •Funerals •Tours •Sweet 16 •Special Occasions •Airports •Casinos Office: 212-531-3792 Mobile: 917-560-6838

COMPUTER CONSULTANT, SALES & REPAIR

1-800-479-2667

APPLIANCE REPAIR

Executive Exotic Limo

PAINTING

718-320-3300 x3384 • cctimes@riverbaycorp.com

12/26

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

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

REUPHOLSTERING 718.881.7691

Custom Craftsmen – 40 yrs. experience. Sofas & Chairs upholstered; Slipcovers - Fabric & Plastic; Kitchen Chairs $8.99 & up. Caning; Venetian Blinds; Drapes - Custom made, Refinishing, Touch Up & Polishing of Furniture. 3314 White Plains Rd., STYLISH DECORATORS Bronx, NY 10467

12/26

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020

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

Riverbay Requires Current Co-op Shareholders to Obtain Coverage! Your Co-op is an Investment Worth Protecting! P r o t e c t i o n T o C o v e r Yo u r B e l o n g i n g s A g a i n s t : • Fire & Smoke • Water damage from plumbing

We O f f e r :

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

• Guest medical protection • Certain personal liabilities

• Theft Coverage • And so much more!

Other Li nes o f Insu rance: • Auto • Homeowners • Life

Lo w Ra te s Fo r T h e E n t i r e Ye a r !

Licensed Staff

Anthony Wright Agency Owner

WE ARE HIRING LIFE INSURANCE AGENTS! Nichola Ferguson Licensed Insurance Agent

Lawrence Newkirk Life Insurance Specialist

Albert Issifu Licensed Insurance Agent / Office Manager

America Borda Licensed Insurance Agent

Michael Garzilli Licensed Insurance Agent

Not Pictured: Polly Heckstall Sr. Account Representative; Sandra Goldsmith Licensed Insurance Agent

COURTEOUS STAFF!

The Wright Agency

PLEASE CALL FOR INFORMATION. COVID COMPLIANT!

We Are Conveniently Located Only Blocks From Co-op City! Call For Appointment. Appointment Hours: Mon. & Wed.: 8:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tues. & Thurs.: 8:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday: 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

(near Eastchester Road)

1435 East Gun Hill Road Call Us Today!

718-671-8000

Co-op City Times / December 12, 2020