Serrano Helps Open Hell Gate Pathway on Randall's Island; Plans for a Pedestrian Bridge Connecting the South Bronx to Randall’s Island also Announced

Here is news on a ribbon cutting for a new pathway on Randall's Island that should eventfully lead to a pedestrian / cyclist bridge leading into the South Bronx. It looks like the Bx. can have the industry and jobs created by the Fresh Direct move to Port Morris, and a greenway with a bridge connecting the South Bronx to Randall’s Island.



Gregory

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On Friday, Congressman Serrano attended the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Hell's Gate Pathway on Randall's Island.  The pathway runs under the scenic arches of the Hell Gate Bridge and railroad trestle, connecting the Hell Gate to the southern end of Randall's Island Park. The next step in the plan is for the pathway to be connected to the South Bronx Greenway by building a bridge across the Bronx Kill. "I am happy to have worked with partners from city and state government, the Randall's Island Park Alliance, and partners from the private sector to create more than a mile of non-vehicular access along renovated and reclaimed parkland," said Serrano. "I look forward to crossing the Bronx Connector and using Randall’s Island along with people from my community in the very near future. It is a very exciting vision that is now coming to reality." The Ribbon Cutting was done with the help and participation of the Bike New York and children from P.S. 180.

Mark Gjonaj Announces Run for 80th Assembly District

Here is an announcement related to a Mr. Mark Gjonaj running for the 80th Assembly District seat. From the candidates name I assume he is of Albanian descent. If elected he should be the first Bronx representative with Albanian heritage. The seat is presently held by Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera.

Gregory

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Dear Friends,

I share with you very exciting news. On Sunday, April 22, 2012, I will officially announce my candidacy for the New York State Assembly representing the proud 80^th Assembly District of the amazing Borough of the Bronx. This district, which includes Mosholou Parkway, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway, Allerton and Morris Park, is home to many humble and hard working people.

As a fellow Bronxite, I know the challenges we face raising a family and making an honest living. As your Assemblyman, I will stand up for you, your families, and our communities.

I invite you to join me at campaign headquarters located at 2134 Barnes Avenue (Corner of Lydig Avenue) Bronx, New York, this Sunday, as we begin this journey together.

I look forward to working hard, bringing a fresh perspective to the way government is run and being your choice for progress.

Thank you in advance for your time and support,

Respectfully,

Mark Gjonaj

List of NY State Asseblymembers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Assembly

Vacca to Dedicate New Play Area at Loreto Playground

Here is more good news about our park space in the Bronx. Again Kudos to Vacca and all other parties involved for securing the funds and making the renovations a reality.

Gregory

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Renovations Completed After Funding Secured by Vacca

Tomorrow morning at 9:00 A.M., Council Member James Vacca, Parks Department Commissioner Adrian Benepe, and Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Hector Aponte, will join community leaders for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Loreto Playground to celebrate the newly renovated play areas at the park.

The renovations, which began in March 2011 and were completed last month, were funded with $500,000 that Vacca was able to allocate through the City Council. The restorations include a reconstructed bocce court, a new play area for toddlers, wheelchair-accessible equipment, new planting beds, benches and fencing, game tables, and a new drainage system that relieved past flooding problems.

WHO: Council Member James Vacca

Adrian Benepe, New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner

Hector Aponte , Bronx Parks Commissioner

Angela Deegan, St. Francis Xavier School Principal

Jeremy Warneke, Community Board 11 District Manager

Students of St. Francis Xavier and other community leaders

WHAT: Dedication of renovated play areas

WHEN: Friday, April 20, 2012 @ 9:00 A.M.

WHERE: Loreto Playground, Van Nest Avenue between Tomlinson and Haight avenues, the Bronx

Free Mammogram Screenings Available in Highbridge

Early Detection Saves Lives!

Senator José M. Serrano and Project Renewal Scan Van Program will be sponsoring a series of FREE Mammogram Screenings for the 28th District!

Free screenings will be available for women 40 years of age and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year.

Please RSVP to 1(800)-564-6868 for anappointment as space is limited.

See below for more information!

Bronx Mammogram Screening

Thursday, May 24, 2012

1:30 PM-4:00 PM

Highbridge House

1131 Ogden Avenue

Bronx, New York 10452
CLICK HERE for flyer

Green Festival, a project of Green America and Global Exchange, is debuting in New York City, and the Bronx plans to make its mark!

Here is more good news about our borough and its involvement in an upcoming green festival.

Gregory

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On Friday, April 20th at 11am at Mothers on the Move (928 Intervale
Ave), the press and public are invited to preview demonstrations and
interview Bronxites who are preparing products and topics to showcase
to over 30,000 guests from across the city and the nation expected at
the April 21st and 22nd New York City Green Festival at the Jacob
Javits Center North on 11th Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets in
Manhattan. At NYC Green Festival, attendees will learn how to green
their homes, find a green job, hear inspiring speakers, participate in
workshops, see a film festival and the latest in eco-fashion, taste
delicious local foods, enjoy family activities and shop at the
nation’s largest green marketplace with over 250 businesses committed
to sustainable practices. Those who come on bicycle will get in
free!

At 11am Saturday morning, Discovery High School students with their
teacher Steve Ritz will make juices and salads on stage with fruit and
vegetables grown from their own edible walls: vertical gardens that
are transforming their cafeteria and curriculum. Tanya Fields,
founder of the Blk Projek, will be featured on the Good Food Stage at
2pm on Saturday with her signature cooking demo, “Fab Food on a Food
Stamp Budget.” The Bronx Green Business Network will have a booth
showcasing small businesses such as those incubated by the Osborne
Association: Vertical Home Gardens, Karma Builders, and FarmCity
Revival.

Also not to be missed is the DIY demo at 3pm on Saturday (Stage C) on
rainwater capture, kitchen composting, non-toxic cleansers and solar
power by Andre Rivera and Taleigh Smith, members of fledgling
cooperative “Concrete Green” along with their business partners Marlon
Castro, representing his South Bronx family-owned solar thermal
business “Pyropeg,” and Kimberly Beazer, of Beazer Gardens. Sunday at
3pm, Omar Freilla will present the newest Greenworker Cooperatives
cohort and discuss how cooperatives are an essential component of the
new green economy in the Bronx and beyond.

Bronx organizations and individuals have partnered with Green
Festival’s local host “UrbanGoGreen” to develop the “Green Economy
Jobs and Opportunity Expo.” Energy Efficient retrofits for residences
and businesses will be explained on the Green Economy Stage A on both
days, featuring Kate Shackford from the Bronx Overall Economic
Development Corporation, Cynthia Ngombe from Sustainable South Bronx,
and Taleigh Smith from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy
Coalition. Also from NWBCCC, Yorman Nuñez will be featured as a
panelist at 4pm on Saturday speaking on “How CBOs and Faith Based
Organizations can Lead the Green Economy.” Saturday at 2pm, John
Valverde from the Osborne Association Green Career Center and Jameelah
Muhammad of Bronx Community College Center for Sustainable Energy will
present information on green trainings & certifications opportunities.

A complete listing of activities and presenters can be found online at
http://www.greenfestivals.org/nyc/

More information on participating organizations can be found here:
www.csebcc.org, www.osborneny.org, www.ssbx.org,
www.northwestbronx.org, http://theblkprojek.org,
www.greenbronxmachine.weebly.com

http://greenbronxmachine.weebly.com/

Screening of "Caminando Aragon" at the Bronx Museum of the Arts

FRIDAY APRIL 20, 6:00 - 10:00pm
FIRST FRIDAYS! Ahi Na’ma’!
5th Annual Collaboration with the Havana Film Festival of New York

Screening: Caminando Aragon
The 72 year-old Orquesta Aragón, one of the jewels of Cuba’s musical heritage starts a musical journey. La Havana, Cienfuegos and New York are the main stages in this musical journey during two concerts in 2011. Well-known as the “Kings of Cha Cha Cha” in the 50’s, the Aragones enjoy sharing unforgettable moments with their fans as a classic group of popular Cuban music. Director Tané Martínez, 2012, 52 min

LIVE performance by Gerardo Cortino y sus Habaneros.
Additional music by DJ Asho.

Location: BxMA North Wing – 2nd Fl.
Admission: FREE

First Fridays! are made possible through the support of The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and the Simón Bolívar Foundation. Beer has been lovingly provided by Brooklyn Brewery.

https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/?ui=2&shva=1#inbox/136c5dfff4a0b95f

Community Organizations in the South Bronx Announce the Exciting Live Streaming of Red Tail Hawks Nesting

Here is news on three Bronx entities that united to make sure we all have an extra opportunity to connect with mother nature. They installed a video cam to provide live footage of a Red-tailed Hawk that calls the our borough home. Kudos to everyone that took the time to make the video stream a reality.

Gregory

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The South Bronx, N.Y. – A new nest camera in an undisclosed location in the South Bronx is streaming up-close, high-definition views of a Red-tailed Hawk nest <http://www.ustream.tv/channel/southbronxhawks> thanks to a partnership of local organizations.

The new video stream puts viewers seven stories off the ground and right beside the nest, where they can watch the hawks arrive, see them taking turns feeding the recent hatchlings the eggs, and compare notes on the birds.

The Female, who delivered three eggs has not been named yet. Visitors to the “BirdCam” site can vote on what to call all the hawks.

To watch, go to: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/southbronxhawks

BronxWorks Executive Director Carolyn Executive Director said, “BronxWorks is thrilled to host this nest of three wonderful red tailed hawk chicks. We salute the Bronx groups who have worked over the years to heighten the environmental awareness of the people of the Bronx and to make the Bronx more environmental friendly.”

“I was so pleased to hear that yet another family of wild creatures has taken up residence in the Bronx,” said Congressman José E. Serrano who represents the area and has been known as a vocal supporter of environmental initiatives, and even has a beaver in the Bronx River named after him to recognize his support for it’s revitalization. “It seems that all the new green spaces we’ve created over the years are attractive to humans and wildlife. I look forward to checking in on the nest on the HawkCam, and watching them grow and thrive.”

It is believed that these are the same two parents that have nested young here for at least the past three years.

On the weekend of the 14th of April the first eggs hatched. The last of the three hatched this morning it is believed. (The typical clutch size for Red-tailed hawks is two to three eggs.) It has been about four weeks since the eggs were laid.

The nest should be active for at least the next two months.

To make sure no one misses a moment of the early stages of this Red-tailed Hawk story, BronxWorks and Friends of Brook Park created a temporary BirdCam website for the world to watch these magnificent birds.

Friends of Brook Park are no strangers to the local raptors. Their team was credited with rescuing a Red Tail Hawk in 2010 that was later released in Central Park.
See here for that story: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/X246/dailyplant/22274

Daniel Chervoni, Head Gardener with Friends of Brook Park and avid Bird Watcher often walking around the neighborhood with his binoculars and camera said, “We are always trying to help restore Nature around here. This shows you why we need to preserve all the community gardens we have now, and create more open space, especially on our waterfront.”

Candido Nieves, a local resident and volunteer with Friends of Brook Park who also helped rescue the hawk in 2010 said,”I am so happy to see our hawks coming back again. I hope some of the local schools will use this as a resource in their classroom to inspire the next generation to protect the environment.”

See some of Mr. Chervoni’s footage of a hawk landing in the nest from street level here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sGGT4QSk-0&list=UUs2k1xeaLq8INorOa3iwiVQ&index=1&feature=plpp_video


More on BronxWorks here:
BronxWorks helps individuals and families improve their economic and social well-being. From toddlers to seniors, we feed, shelter, teach, and support our neighbors to build a stronger community.
http://www.bronxworks.org/

More on Friends of Brook Park here:
Friends of Brook Park is a leading environmental organization in the South Bronx, working to cultivate community gardens and food justice, and for the revitalization of our waterfront with green jobs and public access.
http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/

Congress Member Serrano of the 16th District:
http://serrano.house.gov/