Talk Bronx New York

St. Louis has the Gateway Arch. Washington, D.C., has the Washington Monument. Now, it’s the Bronx’s turn.

Organizers, with optimism as tall as their dreams, unveiled plans last week for an iconic, 176-foot “Yes The Bronx” observation tower meant to symbolize the spirit of the borough.

“We want to break down the pervasive negative stereotype that persists,” said Alec Diacou, who heads the campaign along with Dan Smith.

“This will be something permanent that the Bronx can hang their hat on,” Smith said.

The “Yes The Bronx” Observation Tower features a square glass complex perched atop a column, ringed with spiral stairs. The column is intended to house elevators.

Plans call for the $25 million tower to be sited on the Manhattan-facing waterfront, at the confluence of the Harlem and East Rivers.

The installation, to be constructed from recycled materials, would double as an event space, with room for 500 guests.

But it could take years to get this idea off the ground. Read more..

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The last time we looked at the South Bronx it was 1979 through 1987, and now photographer Ray Mortenson focuses in on 1982 through 1984 in his new exhibit titled “Broken Glass: Photographs of the South Bronx.” Opening November 14th (and running through March 9th) at the Museum of the City of New York, Mortenson’s exhibit of 50 black & white prints will take a look at “the abandoned, burnt out, and razed structures of entire city blocks in the South Bronx in the aftermath of the 1970s, during which this neighborhood experienced dramatic decline.” (Did you know about 12,000 fires occurred annually in the neighborhood  throughout the decade?) Read more..

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Bronx Science’s Gregory Barber is undoubtedly the best PSAL bowler in the borough. The sophomore has averaged a respectable 183.71 pins per game while leading the Wolverines to a 7-1 record and first place in Bronx II.

Barber began bowling in a league in Queens at age 5; he has his own ball and a private coach, and he entered the week ranked 39th among boys in the PSAL.

But in the Bronx, Gregory Barber is an anomaly.

The borough’s teams have failed to reach the third round of the PSAL playoffs for the past five seasons. The second highest–ranked bowler in the Bronx is Wolverines co-captain Matt Dunay, who averages 171.60 pins per game, good for 83rd in the city. Bronx Science ranks 26th overall in the PSAL. The next-best Bronx squad is Taft, ranked No. 41 before games this week.

Such numbers raise an obvious question: Why is the Bronx stuck in a perpetual traffic jam on the lanes, so many miles behind Staten Island powers Tottenville, McKee/SI Tech and Susan Wagner?

Why are they lagging so far behind Queens contenders Bayside (second) and Thomas Edison (fourth), and Brooklyn’s Goldstein (fourth), Fort Hamilton (seventh) and New Utrecht (eighth).

Barber pauses for a minute, when asked about the paucity of quality Bronx programs.

“I just think they have more money over there,” Barber said.

It’s a provocative thesis, and one of many possible explanations for Bronx bowling’s spot in the PSAL slow lane.

Queried during their matches at Ball Park Lanes on Tuesday, coaches and players alike mentioned economic factors, early exposure to the sport and ready access to the lanes as necessary ingredients for success. Read more..

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New jobs

Michael Golio of Ossining recently was named vice president and branch manager at the New Rochelle branch of Hudson Valley Bank. Golio previously was manager of the Croton-on-Hudson branch of Chase Bank. He began his career with the Bank of New York in 1989 as a shareholder liaison in the corporate trust department in New York City.

Appointments

Kathy Zamechansky of the Bronx recently was named to the business development board of New York National Bank in the Bronx. Zamechansky is executive vice president of NAI Friedland Realty in Yonkers. She is also the founding president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. and former executive director of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Arnold Marden of Yorktown Heights recently was named a member of the business development board at Hudson Valley Bank in Yonkers. Marden is a certified public accountant and co-managing partner at Marden, Harrison & Kreuter, a division of J.H. Cohn, in White Plains. Read more..

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