Scenes at the Amalgamated Housing

November 24, 2015 Window Washing Tower 2

November 23, 2015 the windows of my living room in Tower 1 were washed.

Windows being washed on Building 9, September 18, 2015

Balcony Restoration Project, Memos, Photos

The first item, attaching items to railings is important.  Once during a snowstorm a falling flower pot hit my railing and split in half.  Half dropped to the ground, fortunately, no one was out there and hit by it.

Balcony restoration completed

Balcony just before windows boarded up

The dates have been pushed back, no explanation given.  No completion date even hinted at for the B & E lines.

Plywood off windows

Yeaaay!  The plywood is off my living room windows, the sun is shining in!

Dust Mitigation Tower 1

A Trip to JoAnn's should not have been advertised in this bulletin

No one got permission from Phyllis, who organized the trip to Jo-Ann's, before someone asked the Co-Op to post the message.  This caused a big screw up.

Legal taking of public land for private gain

Van Cortlandt Park

Ice Rink, under construction

Ice Rink building

Big Apple Senior Strollers

A new walking program with William has begun.  Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:15 a.m.  Meet at the Van Cortlandt Senior Center, 3880 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NY.  Questions?  call 718 549 4700.

March 16, 2012  I participated in the walk yesterday.  We went from the senior center to the track at Van Cortlandt Park, we walked around it twice.  We each walked at our own pace.

Yellow Berries in Van Cortlandt Park

Last night, I like the other cooperators of Park Reservoir and Amalgamated learned that Patricia Goldwater is no longer the General Manager.  No explanation was given for the change.

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center in June 2011 special events

Mon. June 6th & 27th: Zumba at 1:00 PM with Adelaide, Volunteer Instructor

Sunday June 5th featuring a choral performance by the Boricua College Chorus. Lunch served at 12:15 PM. Menu: Chicken Chow Mein, Brown Rice, Oriental blend vegetables and dessert. Recommended contribution is $4.00. RSVP to office 718-549-4700.

June 4, Tuesday 11 a.m.  Compassionate Care Hospice Presentation by Priscilla 

June 15, Wednesday 11 a.m.  Book Talk w/Francie Einenkel, NYPL Librarian .

June 17, Friday:  Goldman Sachs Community Team Works Gardening and Picnic Event at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center. Highlights of the day’s activities include: gardening, exercise, picnic lunch and entertainment by Rob Silverman, Jazz Pianist. Pre-register for picnic lunch by calling the office at 718-549-4700 by Tues. 6/14.

June 22 Wednesday Meet at 12:45 p.m., Tour the Methodist Home on trip includes refreshments and entertainment.  Pre-register in the office or call 718-549-4700.

June 26 Sunday 12:15 p.m.  A lunch of turkey w/pastrami sandwich, potato and fresh green salad followed by entertainment by Roman Lankios, xylophone player extraordinaire. RSVP to center office by Wed. June 22nd. Recommended contribution for this event is $4.00.

June 29, Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.  Dinner and performance by Bronx Opera Ensemble. Menu will include: Fresh fish, orzo, green beans and dessert.

RSVP to center office 718-549-4700 by Fri. June 24th. Suggested contribution for this event is $4.00.  Paperpest says: I highly recommend this event.

Classes in Fitness,  Movement, Tai Chi, Yoga, Tone & Stretch, Painting,  Meditation, Knitting, Current Events and Short Stories, Indoor Gardening, Line Dancing, Jewelry Making, sing-along, computer lab and more are offered at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center. We are located in the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. off of Van Cortlandt Ave. West on the Bronx #1 or #10 bus routes. For more information, please call the center office at 718-549-4700.

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC Dept. for the Aging, UJA- Federation of NY and by special grants from Council Member Oliver Koppell and other NYS representatives.

May 2011 events at the JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center
Tues. May 3rd: Holocaust Memorial Program at 1:15 PM. Refreshments will be served.
Trip to Isamu Noguchi Museum on Fri. May 6th.  Depart at 9:00 AM. Fee: $3.00 includes for bus and tour. Call center office 718-549-4700 to pre-register.
Trip to South St. Seaport on Wed. May 11th. Depart at 9:00 AM. Fee: $3.00 for bus. Call center office 718-549-4700 to pre-register.
Make Up Day on Sunday, May 15th. Lunch menu: fresh fish, couscous, spring vegetables and dessert served at 12:15 PM followed by superb entertainment by Ari Leshans, keyboard and vocals. Suggested contribution is $4.00. RSVP to office 718-549-4700.
Wed. May 18th: Screening of The Eddie Cantor Story at 11:00 AM.

Celebrate April and May birthdays with international keyboard player Igor Sherbakov on Fri. May 27th following a chicken lunch at 12:15 PM.
Make Up Day on Sunday June 5th featuring a choral performance by the Boricua College Chorus. Lunch served at 12:15 PM. Menu: Chicken Chow Mein, Brown Rice, Oriental blend vegetables and dessert. Suggested contribution is $4.00. RSVP to office 718-549-4700.

April 2011 Events at the JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center

This is a sampling:
I regard the most important activities to be those that involve exercise.  Here is a listing of them.
April 11 10:30 am Doriana Castro leads an aerobics class
April 12 10:00 am Movement with Caroline Grant, a gentle, graceful class
April 13 10:00 am Tai Chi with Bei Li
April 15 10:00 am Tone and Stretch with Lydia
April 18 10:30 am Doriana Castro leads an aerobics class
April 21 10:00 am Yoga with Trudy Bacon
April 29 10:00 am Tone and Stretch with Lydia

Sunday Apr. 3rd: Lunch served at 12:15 PM followed by international entertainment by David Mandler, One Man Band. Suggested contribution is $3.00. RSVP by 3/29 to 718-549-4700.
Trips to:   Stew Leonard's at 9:00 AM on Apr. 4th
Empire City at 10:30 AM on Apr. 6th
Fairway Market at 9:00AM on Apr. 27th.
Call center office 718-549-4700 for more info and to pre-register.

Constant Companion (alert system) by Oppenheimer on Fri. Apr. 8th at 11:15 AM.
AARP presentation about Medicare Fraud on Apr. 13th.
Health Presentation by Lawrence Hospital on Fri. Apr. 15th at 11:15 AM.
Taste of Passover Model Seder with sing-along leader Marilyn Kaplan on Fri. Apr. 22nd at 11:00 AM.
 Suggested contribution is $4.00.
 RSVP by Fri. Apr. 15th to center office: 718-549-4700.
Trips in May: Noguchi Museum on May 6th at 9:00 AM
South Street Seaport on May 11th at 9:30 AM
Sands Casino on May 26th at 8:45 AM.

The voluntary contribution for meals is now $2.  One of the issues in keeping this senior center open was that not enough people were participating in the congregate dining experience.  This suggested fee will discourage people from coming in.

Impact of cutting meals to seniors (click to read story)
March 17, 2011
 
Cuomo planned cuts to programs for the aged
State Cuts FY 11-12 affecting Seniors Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC e-ACTION ALERT Feb 3, 2010 “YES, THE SKY IS FALLING” CATASTROPHE FOR THOUSANDS OF OLDER NEW YORKERS AS STATE BALANCES BUDGET ON BACKS OF SENIORS TITLE XX CUT TO SENIOR CENTERS BACK ON THE TABLE - “INTENDED CONSEQUENCES” – WOULD CLOSE 110 NYC SENIOR CENTERS
1. Title XX cut back – $25.2 million cut to NYC senior centers –
a.. Last year, the Governor’s office said this cut had “unintended consequences”. This year, Governor Cuomo has put the same cut back which would close 110 senior centers in NYC and cut aging services around the state – these are “intended consequences”. The total cut to aging services statewide would be $37 million, of which $25 million funds senior centers in NYC. Funds would move over to child welfare services which is considered a “mandated service”.
b.. Title XX has funded NYC senior centers for about 30 years. While senior services is technically an “optional” service under title XX, after decades of providing core support (25% of all senior center funding), clearly it is not an optional funding source for the survival of 110 senior centers and the thousands of elderly New Yorkers who will be devastated at the loss of their local senior center. It is time to take this cut off the table once and for all.
2. $7.4 million cut to NY State Office for the Aging: Budget bill eliminates funding for various programs and develops local competitive grant program – Governor Cuomo’s budget eliminates funding for all these programs and uses some of the funds to establish a competitive grants program:
a.. “Establish Local Competitive Performance Grant Program for Aging Programs. A new local competitive performance grant program for aging programs will be funded with savings created by reducing support for various programs (with current funding levels) including: a.. Community Empowerment Initiative ($0.25 million)
b.. Congregate Services Initiative ($0.64 million)
c.. EAC/Nassau Respite Program ($0.24 million)
d.. Elderly Abuse Education and Outreach Program ($0.49 million)
e.. Enriched Social Adult Day Centers Program ($0.25 million)
f.. Foster Grandparent Program ($0.20 million)
g.. Long Term Care Senior Respite ($0.14 million)
h.. NY Foundation Home Sharing ($0.17 million)
i.. Patients’ Rights Hotline and Advocacy ($0.06 million)
j.. Regional Caregivers Centers for Excellence ($0.23 million)
k.. Retired and Senior Volunteer Program ($0.43 million)
l.. 2011-12 Value: $1.4 million; 2012-13 Value: $1.6 million"
a.. A total of $5.2 million annually is being cut from these programs, $10.4 million over two years. The competitive grant program is only $3 million over two years so funds leaving a $7.4 million loss of funds in total. CSCS is concerned that existing programs will be eliminated and that, overall, $7.4 million, will be lost in available dollars for services. It is our understanding that the Cuomo administration has established similar competitive grant programs in other state agencies as well. CSCS will find out more about the new local competitive performance grant program.
3. EISEP, SNAP and CSE funding –
a.. $5 million budget gap in EISEP, SNAP and CSE - Governor Cuomo’s budget left EISEP, SNAP and CSE funding the same. However, there is $5 million for EISEP, CSE and SNAP that is not in SOFA’s baselined budget that the legislature restored to prevent a previous cut. The state legislature needs to restore these funds.
b.. Budget bill does not proposed consolidating SOFA with DOH - However, Governor Cuomo has established a commission to look further into state agency consolidations. CSCS will keep you updated on this.
4. EPIC phased out – Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal ends premium subsidies for lower income seniors and only will pay in the donut hole. Since the donut hole is going to be closed by the federal health bill, eventually EPIC will be eliminated entirely. This goes into effect on January 1, 2012. Under this proposal, EPIC is being phased out as a state responsibility over the next ten years. Savings are $58 million this year and $93 million next year. EPIC was established under Governor Mario Cuomo.
5. Medicaid cuts - CSCS will be meeting with leaders in the Cuomo administration and the state legislature to discuss the important role community-based services could play in decreasing hospital admissions, nursing home placement and other costly Medicaid services. We are developing a series of recommendations that will be on our website soon. It is important that community-based service providers be part of the Medicaid re-design process as we have cost-effective programs to offer the state for both Medicaid and non-Medicaid eligible seniors. This is why it the March 2-3 Albany conference is so critical (see below) – to get educated and advocate for services. We will keep you updated on these issues. CSCS is still gathering information on the budget and will update you regularly. We will be reaching out to the aging services network to do advocacy to prevent title XX cuts and restore the $5 million to EISEP, SNAP and CSE. It is important to contact your state Assemblymembers and Senators. The city is reviewing the state budget’s impact and will be releasing its budget on February 17th. For further information, please contact Bobbie Sackman, (212) 398-6565, x226 or bsackman@cscs- ny.org

WITH BUDGET CUTS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LONG TERM CARE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ATTEND THE CSCS/NYSCA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE IN ALBANY – MARCH 2 & 3, 2011 GO TO WWW.CSCS-NY. ORG FOR MORE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

A fire on November 11, 2010 at Nonno Tony's on 235 St. in Riverdale has temporarily closed Liebman's Deli and Mother's Bake Shop. 

Mother's Bake Shop, the notice says the store will probably open on Monday, November 15

Liebman's Deli, the notice says the store will probably open on Saturday, November 13

November 1, 2010  I received an email this evening from a member of the Amalgamated Board, explaining that the reference in the minutes should have referred to the old BXM 4A stop on Dickinson and Sedgwick.

Dickinson and Sedgwick Avenue bus stop is in danger of being discontinued. I just sent this email to Community Board 8.

I just received the highlights of the Amalgamated Housing Corporation of September 15, 2010. There is a sentence that says "Mr. Graham reported from the Community Board 8 Traffic and Transportation Committee of two issues, namely one being the removal of a bus stop on Saxon and Sedgwick Avenues in order to free up parking." Saxon is between two bus stops, one on Dickinson and Sedgwick, the other on Hillman and Sedgwick. These are heavily used bus stops. They should not be forfeited. It's bad enough that we don't have the Bx 1 local service we used to have, but to entirely lose our bus stops would be a hardship for the many to benefit the few who have cars.

Oct 13, I caught the Bx 10 bus going toward Riverdale at about 10:50 am.  I was at the Orloff and Van Cortlandt W. bus stop.  The bus was standing room only.  A nice young woman gave me her seat.  This overcrowding, is a consequence of the lost Bx 1 local service for the stops preceding this one.
George Diaz of Oliver Koppell's office contacted me today, September 28. I hope it's the beginning of us getting our local Bx 1 service back.

Waiting for Koppell

I sent email on September 16 and September 19 to Councilman Koppell. They both concerned the loss of Bx 1 bus local service during the week. I have yet to receive even an acknowledgment of my emails. Posted on September 23.

Schedule and Menus for September 2010

Schedule revisions

Yoga, September 16, will be conducted by Neem

Sukkot celebration, changed to September 29 from September 28

The Good News is the nutritionist hasn't approved the meals. The menu is fine, chosen by people with years of experience in cooking for the elderly.

August 5, all streets around the Van Cortlandt Center were closed for repaving. There was no bus service nearby, so attendance was lower.

Activity Schedule for August 2010

Menu for August 2010

August 18, there will be a trip to Mt. Airy. The cost is $25.00

June 30 Concert at the Van Cortlandt Senior Center
Bronx Opera Stars

Kirk Doughtery	Eric Kramer, pianist
Benjamin Spierman and Leslie Swanson	Michael Spierman, impresario, Hannah Rosenbaum and Leslie Swanson, sopranos.

July 2010 Schedule

Menu July 2010