Friday, June 14, 2013

TAVR, the new cash in for cardiologists

Aortic valve stenosis, no doubt more people will be told they have it and urged to have TAVR, transcatheter aortic value replacement.  It's the new cash in for cardiologists.  Beware, look into your options if this is proposed for you.

Monday, May 06, 2013

The relationship between the Herman Liebman Memorial Fund and the Amalgamated Houses

The Herman Liebman Memorial Fund is a 503(c)(3) organization.  From the 2010 return that is on the NYS Attorney General website,  and the last complete return, I see that its purpose is defined as 

To provide and support cultural and educational programs for residents of two moderate income housing developments, Amalgamated Housing and Park Reservoir Housing and members of the general public in the surrounding north Bronx.

The president is listed as Ed Yaker.  Robert Massre who is the finance manager of the Amalgamated Housing is listed as the person who keeps the books.  The other officers are listed as Brad Silver, Vice President, Howard Kamiel, Vice President,  Howard Leventhal, Secretary, and Jack Spiegel , Teasurer

The paid preparer is listed as Stephen W. Beer of the firm
Czarnowski & Beer.

The firm Czarnowski & Beer are the independent auditors of the Amalgamated Housing.

The ties between the Amalgamated Houses and the Herman Liebman Memorial Fund are so knotted together that I feel that at any meeting where the Amalgamated board of directors are present should also be a time when questions can be asked about the Herman Liebman Memorial Fund.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Good by Mr. Bagel




Good by Mr. Bagel, store closed April 2013

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Embezzlement at Penn South

Chelsea's Penn South Complex, embezzlement, dnainfo.com

There was no excuse for this to have happened.  We had a smaller embezzlement scandal at the Amalgamated Houses and that should have been a warning to other limited dividend co-ops to implement better accounting controls.  Penn South should get new auditors, clearly the ones they have failed them.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

FFR, best tool for assessing intermediate stenoses

Fractional flow reserve the best tool for assessing intermediate stenoses : Cardiology News


This is the definition of intermediate stenosis used in the article "intermediate 50%-70% stenosis in a patient with stable ischemic heart disease"
Here is a quote:

FFR is the method par excellence for determining if an intermediate stenosis is hemodynamically significant; that is, whether the lesion is responsible for reversible ischemia. If it is, then coronary stenting will improve the patient’s functional status and reduce the likelihood of acute MI and all-cause mortality down the road. If FFR indicates that the stenosis is not responsible for reversible ischemia, however, then PCI won’t improve the patient’s prognosis. FFR has the additional virtues of being fast and simple, and it enables immediate decision-making in the cath lab, he explained.

Friday, January 25, 2013

HDL values and cardiovascular event rates

Connection between HDL values and Cardiovascular event rates under scrutiny
Here are the opening paragraphs of this commentary

HDL-raising: A good hypothesis gone bad

By: BRUCE JANCIN, Cardiology News Digital Network SNOWMASS, COLO. – The once highly attractive notion that boosting HDL cholesterol levels will reduce cardiovascular event rates is now dead, or more generously, it remains unsupported by evidence despite expenditure of billions of dollars on negative clinical trials. "An iconic concept of HDL has not borne good fruit. It really isn’t what we don’t know that hurts us so much as the things that we think are true but just ain’t so – and that’s the story of HDL," Dr. Robert A. Vogel said at the annual cardiovascular conference at Snowmass sponsored by the American College of Cardiology. Indeed, it now appears that the relationship between HDL and atherosclerosis is far more complicated than lipidologists thought. Evidence now suggests that HDL mass may not be as important as HDL function, which can switch between being anti- and pro-atherogenic in a matter of hours. And HDL may not even be playing an active role in cardiovascular risk; a low HDL may be associated with an increase in cardiovascular events simply because it is a marker for other cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, and insulin resistance.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Rosie O'Donnell describes her heart attack

Of course the show with Rosie O'Donnell is full of promos, but here is some useful online information about women and heart disease. AHA Guideline Effectiveness-Based Guidelines for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women—2011 Update

This is from Newday, here's the entire story rosie-o-donnell-to-talk-about-heart-attack Rosie O'Donnell to talk about heart attack on 'Dr. Oz'


Rosie O’Donnell taped an appearance on “The Dr. Oz Show” last week, giving her first interview about her near-fatal heart attack in August. The episode, which will feature the Nyack resident discussing the circumstances that led her to realize she was suffering the symptoms of the attack, was supposed to air Oct. 8, but has been pushed to Oct. 25 to coincide with the first day of fall sweeps.
My comment:  A cynical decision, I am sure product endorsements will be part of the show.  Nevertheless, the program will probably educate more women about heart disease.

A woman has a heart attack

Rosie took an aspirin but didn't see a doctor until the next day.  That could have been too late.
Melinda Beck reporter for the Wall Street Journal has an excellent article
Minutes Matter, Yet Many Don't Get Help as Symptoms Can Seem Harmless

An article from WebMD about aspirin and heart attack.

Here are some useful posts from Heart Sisters.
Rosie described failing to call 911.  Here's a discussion about that.
No such thing as a small heart attack
The new country called Heart Disease

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Legal taking of public land for private gain

Van Cortlandt Park
Ice Rink, under construction

Ice Rink building

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Dance Japan: Sachiyo Ito & Co.

This was one of the best programs I have seen at the senior center. They requested that we not publish our own photos, or take movies,  otherwise I would have been happy to share the experience with you.


On Sunday,  Oct. 14th the Van Cortlandt Senior Center will feature Dance Japan: Sachiyo Ito & Co.  Chicken chow mein will be served at 12:15 PM followed by the dance presentation at 1:00 PM. Sachiyo Ito and Company is an arts organization that bridges East and West through artistic performances and educational programs that promote Japanese culture through the arts, particularly dance. Sachiyo Ito is an artist, choreographer, and arts educator.  She founded Sachiyo Ito and Company in 1981 as a not-for-profit educational organization. The Company performs a versatile range of dance styles. 

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Monday, July 23, 2012

Dancercise with Doriana

Doriana leading a class
This dynamic woman lead a dancercise class on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 3:30 PM at the Van Cortlandt Senior Center.
It was great fun.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

WW II Polish Rescuers of Jews celebrated

Here is the story

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Preserve the Comfort Women Memorial

This memorial should remain in Palisades Park, NJ

Friday, July 06, 2012

Bronx Opera Ensemble and Art Exhibit

Here's a story from the NY Daily News about the art show. Here's a photo from the article:
SPARC (Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide) Art Show will open on Wed. June 27th at 1:30 PM at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center, 3880 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx. Referencing their personal narratives, participants created colorful self-portraits that incorporate collage, drawing and multi-dimensional imagery. Meet Michael Ferris, Jr., our resident artist, along with the talented participants who created these works over the past 5 months. Refreshments will be served. The SPARC initiative was sponsored by NY Dept. of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with Bronx Council on the Arts. The SPARC Art Show at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center will run through Friday, July 6th, 2012.

At 5:30 PM on June 27th, join us for a fish dinner followed by the Bronx Opera Ensemble’s classical and Broadway extravaganza. Suggested senior contribution for dinner is $2.00. Recommended senior contribution for event is $2.00. Non-senior guests are welcome. For reservations and further information, call the center office 718-549-4700 by Mon. June 25th.
JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC DFTA and by legislative grants from Council Member Oliver Koppell and from Borough President
Ruben Diaz, Jr.   


Wednesday, July 04, 2012

More hype about Dr. Sharma

Don't believe the hype

Rounds Preview: Excelling in Cardiac Care 
This article touts the protocol books that Dr. Sharma has medical and nursing staff memorize.  However, the practice of medicine and nursing is in part the implementation of protocols.  Memorizing is for passing exams.


Here is my yelp review of Dr. Samin Sharma

Monday, June 04, 2012

Van Cortlandt Senior Center June 2012

Create your own narrative portrait with Michael Ferris, guest artist-in-residence through the SPARC initiative. No previous artistic training necessary. Mr. Ferris will instruct this class on Monday afternoons from 1:15 – 2:30 PM through June. Please call the center office 718-549-4700. This project is made possible by grants from Bronx Council on the Arts and NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs.

Join Caroline, graceful exercise instructor for Movement to Music sessions on Tues. June 12, 19 and 26 at 10:15 AM.

Thurs. June 7th: Center Light will host a lively Zumba class at 10:30 AM followed by a presentation: “What is a Pooled Trust?”

Fri. June 8th: Join Rose and Meir, experienced dance instructors, for a fun session of international line dancing at 1:00 PM. Beginners welcome.

Sun. June 10th: Boricua College Chorus will perform a mix of classical, Latin and Broadway at 1:00 PM. 

Boricua College Chorus June 10, 2012
They were wonderful.



Nutrition Talks on Tues. June 12th with A. Jalandoni, RD and Wed. June 13th: Cholesterol by C. Harry, DFTA Nutritionist at 11:15 AM.

Lucy Degidon, Art Historian, will talk about Pablo Picasso’s work on Friday, June 15th at 1:00 PM.

Rob Silverman, pianist, will present Jewish and Broadway music on Fri. June 22nd at 1:00 PM.

Wed. June 27th: Join us for a special evening of classical and Broadway music presented by the Bronx Opera Ensemble at 6:45 PM after a dinner at 5:45 PM. Suggested senior contribution for dinner is $2.00. Recommended senior contribution for event is $2.00. Non-senior guests are welcome. RSVP to center office 718-549-4700 by Mon. June 25th.
The Bronx Opera Ensemble programs are also always a delight.

Thurs. June 28th: L. Davies, Esq. will present a talk on Senior Scams via Phone, Internet and in Person at 1:00 PM.


Trips to Stew Leonard’s on 6/6, Empire City on 6/13 and to Aqueduct on 6/19. For reservations and more information, call Maritza at 718-548-4700.

Classes in Fitness, Tai Chi, Yoga, Tone & Stretch, Painting, 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, #2 or #10 bus routes. We are non-sectarian. Seniors age 60+ may register for free. 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 Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz Jr.

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