Talk Bronx New York

Green Cats Make Their Way Through Bronx Neighborhoods

Ever seen a green cat?

The purchase of five hybrid-electric buses by Bronx Clean Air Transportation Services make Bronx CAT one of the greenest fleets in the city.

Funded jointly by the state and the borough president’s office, the buses are now shuttling workers from subway stops into the Hunts Point peninsula, and also have been given to two local community groups.

The 18-passenger vans, the first hybrids in their vehicle class, emit 90% less particulate matter and nitrogen oxide and 33% less greenhouse gases while consuming 30%-50% less fuel than traditional vans.

“These shuttles are simply amazing,” said Borough President Adolfo Carrión. “We are proving once again that it is both easy and economical to be green.”

Bronx CAT is the latest green initiative spearheaded by Carrión in Hunts Point to improve air quality in the asthma-stricken South Bronx.

Two of the buses have been leased for free to the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and Highbridge Community Life Center for use in their programs, replacing vans more than 10 years old.

“It’s replacing two old vans that were always breaking down,” said Highbridge Development Director Bernadette Kelly.

The gas-electric hybrids, which run on electricity for most city driving, also will save the groups money in running costs.

“It will be a big cost savings for us,” said Highbridge’s executive director, Ellenrita Purcaro. “We’re looking forward to saving a lot on gas.”

The other three buses comprise the Hunts Point Clean Air Transportation (CAT) shuttle service for employees of companies on the Hunts Point peninsula.

Launched in mid-January, the route picks up workers from the 4, 5 and 6 IRT trains and provides service from 6 to 9:30 a.m. and from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

An initial grant of $384,790 from the Bronx Initiative for Energy & the Environment - a program of Carrión’s Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation - spurred grants from Clean Air Communities and the New York State Energy Research Development Authority to pay for the vehicles.

The shuttle van service grew out of concerns raised in the borough president’s Hunts Point Vision Plan, which identified transportation as one of the major concerns in the peninsula.

Carrión, along with BIEE, reached out to various employers to gauge their interest in the program, and response was overwhelming. Service will be free to participating businesses.

SOURCE: NYDailyNews.com

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Famed Arthur Ave., the ‘Little Italy of the Bronx,’ would be spruced up under BID plans.

Little Italy Gets ‘BID Guys’ To Take Care Of The Neighborhood 

The “Little Italy of the Bronx” may soon have its own little Renaissance.

Efforts are underway to create a Business Improvement District in Belmont that would include popular shopping and restaurant stretches like famed Arthur Ave.

“There are so many positive things taking place in this neighborhood,” said Community Board 6 District Manager Ivine Galarza. “This BID would really enhance the whole area.”

The effort, which is being led by the Belmont Small Business Association, has been in the works for two years.

The community board will hold a special hearing on the proposal at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Belmont Library, 610 E. 186th St., to get local business and community input. The board meeting also will include an update on the redesign of the Fordham Mall Plaza.

The Belmont BID plan, which needs approval from the community board, City Council and Mayor Bloomberg, would allow for additional sanitation, security and marketing services.

Merchants, business owners and commercial property landlords would be charged various fees expected to total $340,000 annually.

The BID would be home to more than 300 businesses spread across 37 blocks bounded by Fordham Road to the north, E. 183rd St. to the south, Lorillard Place to the west and Southern Blvd. to the east.

More than 50 similar BIDs exist throughout the city.

“Every single one of them has brought increased shopping, increased foot traffic, and safer and cleaner conditions for everyone,” said Frank Franz of the Belmont Small Business Association.

One major proposal under the BID would be to expand parking in three popular shopping districts: on Arthur Ave., 187th St. near Beaumont Ave., and Fordham Road near Southern Blvd.

Other possible projects include steam-cleaning sidewalks, video surveillance, facade improvements and promotional events such as street fairs and boccie tournaments. “There are a lot of opportunities here,” Franz said.

SOURCE: NYDailyNews.com

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Forged Time-Off Requests Finds Bronx Teacher Learning A Lesson 

A daughter of Lynne F. Stewart, the defense lawyer convicted of aiding terrorism by smuggling messages out of prison for a client, was arrested on Monday on charges of forgery and falsifying documents she submitted to take time off from her teaching job, some of it during her mother’s trial and sentencing.The daughter, Brenna Stewart, 46, was in custody and was awaiting her arraignment in the Bronx.

The most serious charges against her, forgery and criminal possession of a forged instrument, are felonies that would carry a maximum of seven years in prison if she is convicted, said Steven Reed, a spokesman for the Bronx district attorney, Robert T. Johnson.

The charges against Ms. Stewart, a physical education teacher at Bronx Leadership Academy II, are based on an inquiry by Richard J. Condon, the special commissioner of investigation for the city schools.

Ms. Stewart’s lawyer, Daniel N. Arshack, declined to comment on the charges, which were announced in a press release by Mr. Condon’s office.

Lynne Stewart was sentenced on Oct. 16, 2006, to 28 months in prison for illegally helping her client, Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, get messages to his followers in Egypt. Her sentence was significantly less than the 30 years sought by prosecutors. Ms. Stewart has not begun serving her term, pending an appeal. Read more..

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MORE PICTURES

02/04/2008 

5 Alarm Bronx Fire Leaves 12 Businesses Devastated 

Firefighters in the Bronx had to battle a gigantic inferno Monday morning that threatened dozens of businesses.

The 5-alarm fire broke out just before 8 in a laundromat on the corner of Lydig Ave. and White Plains Rd., in the Pelham Parkway section of the borough.

It spread quickly, engulfing 12 stores and causing a partial building collapse.

“I’m sad. In 21 years this is the worst I ever seen,” said pizza shop owner Salvatore Lisanti. “I feel bad for the rest of the people.”

Lisanti’s pizzeria was spared from the blaze, but neighboring stores including a flower shop, a jewelry store, and a Sleepy’s were not so lucky, burned beyond recognition.

“Being out there watching the fire, they did a great job, but they struggled,” said Anthony Lisanti.

At least 200 firefighters from 44 units took to the scene, battling stubborn flames and thick smoke filling the skies over Pelham Pkwy. The MTA was forced to suspect service on the 2-trai in both directions for hours.

Surprisingly, no resident had to be evacuated from apartments behind the row of stores, but firefighters used the building to fight the fire from another angle.

“I found out at 8:30 the stores were on fire. I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” said Gregory Glenn, who owns Adams Jewelers, which was gutted by the fire. He, like many others in the tight-knit community are devastated by the loss, but comforted that no one lost their life.

Five people were hospitalized with smoke inhalation, however, and one was listed in serious condition.

There is no word as to what started the fire.

SOURCE: WCBSTV.com

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Roberta Flack School Sings A Future For Many Bronx Students

The house was packed, but easily the most enthusiastic fan at the Roberta Flack School of Music’s first Winter Music Festival last week was the school’s chief benefactor and namesake.

Time and again the multi-Grammy Award-winning Flack leaped from her first-row center seat to lead the applause during the two-hour program, held in the Hyde Leadership Charter School auditorium in Hunts Point, the Bronx.

She stalked the footlights for better angles, hugged every child - and many adults - who ventured within arms’ reach and even admonished the crowd to quiet down.

“I didn’t know it was going to be this good!” Flack said with a grin. “These children have worked so hard. Please give them your undivided attention.”

School leader Joanne Goubourn, program director and vocal teacher Maya Orr and instrument music teacher Greg Tardy pulled out all the stops for the famed pop singer’s visit to the South Bronx school.

Students Anthony Davis, Nashell Suarez and Amber Solomon, all 12, and Omar Martinez, 13, greeted Flack with flowers at curbside and escorted her to her seat.

The program included traditional spirituals, several tunes composed by Orr, poetry readings, a collection of jazz tunes from Brazil and a tribute to Flack, which included a rendition of one of her signature songs, “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”

Now in its second year, the Roberta Flack School has 150 children, most from the South Bronx, ranging in age from 6 to 14 years old. They receive vocal and instrumental instruction three days a week after school.

Community support of the school “has been overwhelming,” said business manager Angela Alvarado. “There are a lot of talented kids in this area. Frankly, it’s gratifying that we can have such a great program to offer them.”

Flack said she wanted to found a music school for years and two years ago had even picked out a Harlem lot where she planned to build a building.

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