This week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press

Here are the stories in this week's issue (January 24 - 30) of the Riverdale Review:

* Stanton campaign raises conflict of interest > The editor of the PS 24 parents association bulletin has been placed on City Council candidate Cliff Stanton's campaign payroll. The Riverdale Review can reveal that Jennifer Firestone is receiving $1,000 a month from Stanton's campaign committee for political consulting. Because Firestone is also the editor of the PS 24 PA's Sounding Board and has the opportunity to include publicity for the City Council candidate in the public school's newsletter, her campaign role presents a possible conflict of interest. Firestone does not disclose her ties to the Stanton campaign in the PA bulletins, which she edits on a volunteer basis.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz hands
Riverdale resident Helene Afon a check
for $5,000. She lost her husband of 52 years
in a fire which destroyed her home.

* Stella D'oro shopping mall on track for fall opening > Parts of Riverdale Crossing, the $80 million shopping mall located at the former Stella D'oro cookie factory, could open it doors by as early as October. Metropolitan Realty Associates president Joseph A. Farkas said the two-story mall would most likely be unveiled in two stages--the north building will open first, with BJ's Wholesale Club set to follow suit a month later.
* Hebrew Home expansion plan bound for a rocky road > Homeowners near the Hebrew Home at Riverdale will soon have a chance to present their case regarding the home's ambitious plan to build a new senior residence on its recently purchased riverfront property. Hebrew Home CEO Daniel Reingold reached out to the Riverdale Nature Preservancy, a group that protects Riverdale's natural beauty and character, to facilitate community discussion before starting the arduous process of submitting the plan for official approval.
* Court case against accused iPhone killers move forward > The two men charged with murdering Hwang Bum Yang, the local chef who was shot and killed for his iPhone last year, could soon have a trial date. During a brief hearing at Bronx Supreme Court on January 15, Alejandro Campos, 21, stood next to attorney Richard Williams and received a new hearing date when a possible trial date could be set. Williams was filling in for Campos' regular attorney, Martin Galvin. Campos' co-accused, Dominick Davis, 20, was also slated to appear, but his case was not heard because his attorney, Kyle Watters, was not in attendance.
* Man jumps from apartment window > A man jumped to his death by leaping out the window of his North Riverdale apartment, according to authorities. Police said Robert Tavon, 54, jumped from his sixth-floor apartment at 5424 Netherland Avenue just before 2 pm last Thursday.
* No surprises as Ben Franklin club endorses Andrew Cohen > The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club voted to support Andrew Cohen in his bid to replace Councilman G. Oliver Koppell in this year's citywide elections. The club's predicted endorsement for Cohen came after nearly 100 members heard from all three announced candidates during a meeting at Tibbett Towers on January 16. According to a breakdown of the 99 ballots cast, Cohen secured 84 votes, track coach Cheryl Keeling won five votes and Van Cortlandt Village resident Cliff Stanton, three votes. Six members made no endorsements and one voted for Community Board 8 candidate Robert Press as a write-in candidate.
* ConEd addresses chronic power outages in Spuyten Duyvil > Con Ediso has vowed to provide Spuyten Duyvil with additional power to stem the frequency and duration of electrical outages. The utility company agreed to the service improvement during a meeting with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and affected neighborhood residents on January 11. An extra power supply, to be installed by December, is designed to address the problem of continual blackouts on parts of Independence Avenue, Kappock Street and Palisade Avenue.
* Proposal to introduce ID scanners at PS 24 > Members of PS 24's parents association are asking for more security in the school, and City Council candidate Cliff Stanton may have a solution involving ID scanners. The former PA co-president flagged the idea of placing a scanner to track adults entering and exiting the school during the PA meeting on January 15. Under Stanton's proposal, IDs would not be issued to children but to adults wishing to enter the building on a regular basis, including Kindergarten parents who enter the school to drop off or pick up their child. The proposal, which Stanton estimated would cost $16,000, is still in its early stages. As of press time, no formal proposals have been filed for the scanners or any other school safety funding at PS 24.

And, in the Bronx Press:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg joins Councilman Ydanis
Rodriguez and Deputy Bronx Borough President Aurelia
Greene to break ground for improvements to
the High Bridge. Photo by Kristen Artz

* City begins restoration work on High Bridge > Mayor Michael Bloomberg has broken ground on the restoration of New York City's oldest bridge, the High Bridge, as part of the city's long-term plan for a "greener, greater New York." The $61 million project will reopen the bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists by 2014 and provide a link between Manhattan and The Bronx over the Harlem River. The bridge was closed to the public in 1970. The reconstruction of the bridge will include safety and structural improvements such as renovated stairways, railings and lighting.
* Bronx police respond to three taxi-related crimes in six hours > A bizarre morning for taxi drivers in The Bronx ended with one driver shot, one bitten and robbed and a third awe-struck as police officers lifted his cab off a pedestrian.
* Could more music be destined for Bronx venues? > The Bronx isn't getting its fair share of music from Carnegie Hall, according to a recent audit by the city comptroller's office. The city has charged Carnegie Hall with a contractural obligation to provide free music programming for diverse groups throughout the five boroughs. But the comptroller's office concluded that The Bronx and Staten Island have been neglected as performance venues and that the Department of Cultural Affairs' failure to attract large audiences with free tickets to neighborhood concerts could mean that programming selections aren't "properly designed for the neighborhood."
* Two wounded in Co-op City shooting > Two people were wounded when gunfire erupted on the grounds of 140 Einstein Loop in Co-op City on Sunday, January 13. Paramedics and emergency services personnel were called to the scene at 12:08pm following reports of gunfire and rushed two victims to Jacobi Hospital.
* Woman injured in bizarre fall > Paramedics transported a young woman who was injured when a piece of plywood reportedly collapsed into a construction trench at an apartment building in University Heights. EMS were dispatched to the front of the building at 2321 Andrews Avenue, where they discovered a 33-year-old woman had fallen in the trench, located in the alley leading to the building's courtyard and basement.

This week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press

Here are the stories from this week's issue (January 17 - 23) of the Riverdale Review:

* Stanton strikes out with fundraising debacle > Local City Council candidate Andrew Cohen has raised more than $66,000 since announcing his intention to run for citywide office. The latest campaign disclosure report shows Cohen's fundraising total, collected in less than 80 days, already exceeds what rival Cliff Stanton has managed to rack up in an entire year.

Police seized this impressive haul from a group of armed
robbers during a sting DEA operation.

* Attempt to turn Riverdale into a drug battleground thwarted by cops > A daring group of armed robbers allegedly masqueraded as police to steal more than 20 kilograms of heroin and cash from a narcotics distribution ring in Riverdale. The 16-member crew, including alleged ringleader Javion "King Kong" Camacho, 26, was busted near the intersection of West 253rd Street and Post Road during the Drug Enforcement Agency sting operation around 9:45 p.m. on January 9.
* Neighborhood watch not sanctioned by NYPD > City Council candidate Cliff Stanton has yet to register his neighborhood watch program with the New York Police Department--two months after members began patrolling the streets. Commanding officer of the 50th Precinct Deputy Inspector Kevin Burke said officials do not recognize Stanton's 4 Wheels for Good Neighborhood Watch group because it is not officially registered with the NYPD's Block Watcher program.
* Obama names Riverdalian Jack Lew as new Treasury Secretary > President Barack Obama has nominated Riverdale resident and longtime Washington insider Jacob "Jack" Lew to be the next treasury secretary. Lew, who currently serves as White Housec chief of staff, was formally announced as Obama's preferred pick during a press conference on January 10. If confirmed by the Senate, Lew will succeed Timothy F. Geithner, who is stepping down from the high-pressure post at the end of January.
* Political club in odd early endorsement > One of the city's most prominent political clubs has been accused of operating against its founding principles after announcing it would consider endorsements for the City Council District 11 race this week. The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club is scheduled to hold an endorsement meeting and will hear from candidates vying for the open Council seat on Wednesday, January 16--eight months before the scheduled Democratic Primary.
* Dr Ruth documented by the BBC > A film screening and talk by Dr. Ruth Westheimer at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale last week commanded such a large turnout that more and more chairs had to be brought into the sizable social hall to accommodate the ever-growing audience before the program could begin. Westheimer's unusual life story is now chronicled as one segment of a 12-part documentary series called "Extraordinary Women," produuced by the British Broadcasting Company.
* Palisade Avenue retaining wall project nears completion > It may not be as charming, but the new Palisade Avenue retaining wall will do a more reliable job than the 75-year-old masonry structure it just replaced. The city started inspecting the nearly 700 retaining wall it owns since a privately owned wall collapsed on the Henry Hudson Parkway in 2005. Those in the worst condition got first priority for repair or replacement by the Department of Design and Construction.
* Co-op tax break likely to be voted this month > A cote to retain the cooperative and condominium tax abatement, which expired in June 2012, will likely take place in the very near future. "The restoration of this important abatement is a priority of mine and I will fight to have it put through," Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said. "We should be voting by the end of the month."
* Safety now a local issue > Shaken by recent robberies and violence close to home, locals flocked to the 50th Precinct's monthly community council meeting last week to ask for some visible police presence in what used to be a crime-free neighborhood.

And, in the Bronx Press:
* Residents demand more from elected officials during redistricting hearing > Residents in Pelham Parkway North and the Parkside Housing Projects are sick of being ignored by the 11th City Council District. During a public hearing held last Wednesday by the NYC Redistricting Commission at Hostos Community College, Bronx residents voiced their opinions on the newly drawn district lines. Though most grievances brought up at the hearing involved the South Bronx, residents of a tiny piece of Pelham Parkway North and Parkside Housing Projects have their reservations with the redistricting as well.
* DOT unveils further details for Webster Avenue Select Bus Service > An updated select bus service plan along Webster Avenue was debuted at an open house hosted by the Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority at the NYC Business Solutions Center last week.
* City looks to close more schools > The Department of Education has placed nine more schools on the chopping block, bringing the total to 26 schools, including Herbert H. Lehman High School, slated for closure. The newest additions include three elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and three K-8 schools.
* Bronxites united with Newtown shooting victims > A Christmas tree was the backdrop as a few dozen Bronxites stood on the courthouse steps, omurning the senseless massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, and demanding an end to the carnage caused by gun violence--right here in New York City's five boroughs.

This week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press

Here are the stories in this week's issue (December 6 - December 12) of the Riverdale Review:

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz demands Con Edison
bury power lines underground to prevent blackouts.

* After Sandy, pols urge Con Edison to bury power lines > Con Edison has vowed to meet with local residents to discuss the feasibility of running power lines underground--instead of overhead--to prevent future electrical outages. The Riverdale Review can reveal the utility provider has indicated it will hold a series of meetings with area residents in the coming weeks to explore the idea of burying cables. Con Edison officials agreed to meet with residents after Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz renewed his call to abolish overhead lines during a press conference in Spuyten Duyvil last Friday.

* Ari Hoffnung edges closer to possible City Council run > Riverdale resident and city deputy comptroller Ari Hoffnung is mulling a run for Councilman G. Oliver Koppell's seat in 2013 citywide elections. Koppell is currently serving his third and final term and must vacate office due to term limit rules. Hoffnung said he remains undecided about whether to jump into the much-anticipated City Council District 11 race but gave the strongest indication yet that his political aspirations were still alive.

 * George Gilbert, photographer, dies at 90 > George Gilbert, a noted photographer and former Fieldston Road resident, died last month at the age of 90. He was living at the Regency Park Assisted Living senior community in Portland, Oregon, near his daughter's home, when he succumbed to lymphoma.

* Honest commuter returns found laptop > The spirit of kindness is alive and well in Riverdale. Local resident Dana Charlton, an employee of the law firm Klein Zelman Rothermel, was on her way to work last Friday when she noticed something on top of the parking meter at the Riverdale Metr0-North station--a laptop and binder. Area commuters soon mobilized to reunite the laptop with its rightful owner.

* At VC Park, you still have to hold it in > The $1 million-plus project to renovate the comfort station and district headquarters in Van Cortlandt Park has been postponed indefinitely. Efforts to refurbish the single-story building, located on Broadway just north of West 242nd Street, were slated for completion this fall. But city officials now say the long-awaited project has been hit with another setback.

* Vinmont Park neglect hit by board > Local residents are mobilizing to establish a "Friends of Vinmont Park" group in a bid to assist city officials with parks maintenance. Community Board 8 is currently seeking volunteers and aims to have the group up and running by spring 2013.

* Sunday's South Riverdale street fair deemed a success despite iffy weather > The holidays came to Riverdale a little early this year. Hundreds turned out to the Riverdale Holiday Festival on Riverdale Avenue between West 236th and West 238th streets last Sunday. The festival featured holiday tunes, pony rides, a petting zoo, the Bronx Culture trolley and face painting.

* Engel gets funding to repair damaged roads > New York State has been granted $20 million in federal funding for the emergency repair of roads damaged by superstorm Sandy, Congressman Eliot Engel announced last Friday.

* Senior centers seek standards > The City Council is proposing that the state begin to regulate all agencies that provide social adult dat services, making Medicaid funding contingent upon compliance with state standards of care. Community Board 8 aging committee supports the Council's proposal and expressed concern at a recent hearing about the proliferation of for-profit facilities that might seek Medicare funding without meeting regulations set forth by the New York State Office for the Aging.

Also, in the Bronx Press:

* Bronx high schools improve on progress reports > Chancellor Dennis Walcott released progress reports for New York City high schools last week, and statistics show a slight uptick for the Bronx. The average letter grade for Bronx public high schools was a B, almost a full letter grade higher than last year. Out of the 116 schools in the Bronx, half received a B or C grade.

Officials unveil the newly-renovated office building
at 1775 Grand Concourse

* Renovated Grand Concourse office building opens for business > Local officials have unveiled the results of a $5 million facelift to a majestic multistory office building in the Bronx. Renovations to the 347,000-square-foot building at 1775 Grand Concourse were revealed during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday.

* Slain teen laid to rest > The young teenager who was mysteriously found dead in the hallway of a relative's home was laid to rest at St. Raymond's Cemetery on December 3. The body of Destiny Sanchez, 15, was discovered in the hallway of 632 Barretto Streets in the Hunts Point sections on November 23. Investigations are continuing, but police said the popular teen had been strangled.

* Bronx DA convicts unlicensed lawyer > A Bronx woman has been convicted for practicing law without a license. After less than a day of deliberating, the jury found Kehinde Jobi of 1407 Croyona Avenue guilty on two counts of grand larceny in the third degree, one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree and eight counts of judicially disbarred attorney practicing law. Jobi had been suspended in October 2008 for taking money from a victim with an indictment without permission. Despite the suspension, Jobi continued to represent herself as an attorney. A press release from Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson said Jobi stole more than $53,000 from 10 people.