Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association, Inc.

June

Jun 25, 2009

NEXT MEETING: JUNE 8th, 2009

The next meeting of the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers Association will be held on Monday, June 8th, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Barnabas Elementary School Cafeteria. We will be joined by our newly-elected Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr.; Margaret Arrighi, Executive Director of Bronx Business Alliance will have information available to help small business owners and those wishing to open their own small business; and we will meet the new pastor of St. Mark’s, Pastor Robert Boehler. We’ll have some light refreshments at this, our last general meeting before the summer, so please plan on arriving promptly!



HIGHLIGHTS OF MAY MEETING

Margot Perron of the Parks Dept., joined by Tony Perez Cassino, chair, spoke of the formation of the new Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy. The board is made up of citizens involved in the community. The organization, a public-private partnership, ties together the whole park. Its’ goal is to bring in more resources in order to make the park what it could be. Van Cortlandt Park is vast, with a lot of activities taking place within its borders - - including golf, baseball, soccer, cricket, tennis, horseback riding, etc. A community council is being formed with the goal of involving all the major users of the park. (President Christine Sheridan appointed Recording Secretary Josephine M. Bastone to represent Woodlawn on the community council.)

The Conservancy will be looking at the information gathered at our meeting several months ago by another organization, Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, as to what uses we want to see made of the park. Forty surveys were returned from the Woodlawn community. We asked for the continuation of programs for seniors; Woodlawn is a hub for this, including the yoga and walking groups at Indian Field. We raised the issue of the John Muir walking trail; plans have been made for volunteers to clear the trail. All 40 responders requested a dog run. Dog runs are maintained by volunteer groups, who raise funds to put up fences, etc. Ms. Perron offered to meet with our members to help organize a dog run. Mr. Cassino stated that the New York Philharmonic will be performing at the Parade Ground (in the Riverdale section of the Park) on July 16th.

In response to questions, Ms. Perron stated that there are bike riding paths at the Dickerson entrance off Mosholu; another is off Putnam Avenue. Neither barbequing nor the consumption of alcohol is permitted in the Park. The Parks Dept. has received requests to bubble the tennis court at Indian Field, so that it may be utilized during by tennis players during the winter months.

A Taxpayer stated the need for park rangers to patrol the Park.

Christina Taylor of Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, the organization responsible for the surveying of the community for our thoughts as to the Park, will lead a hike in the fall. She reported that approximately 30 people from the Boys and Girls Club helped with a general cleanup of the Park on April 25th; another cleanup will be held on May 30th. If you have a group of people to do any cleaning/trail clearing in the Park, contact the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park for bags and gloves!

Mary Lauro, president of the Wakefield Taxpayers League, spoke of a troubling issue. The Army Center building on Nereid Avenue is being considered for a homeless shelter. The edifice is huge – it may hold 100s. The usage made of the building will impact on the Wakefield and Woodlawn communities. Now, we understand that many people are homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. However, this is a strange place for a

homeless shelter because there is nothing



JOIN!! LET THE ASSOCIATION WORK FOR YOU! Membership Application or Renewal for 2009

Membership in the Association costs only $10 a year. As you read this newsletter, you have become acutely aware of the vital role this association plays in the community. Checks should be made out to “Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers Association” and mailed to The Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association, P.O. Box 0083, Woodlawn, NY 10470-0083. Dues may also be paid at monthly meetings held second Monday of the month (no meeting January, July, August) beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Barnabas E.S. cafeteria. Become part of your neighbourhood!!

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there. As an example - there is no place for kids to play. Where are they going to go during the day? Using the Center for a Y or an all-inclusive recreation center would be an ideal solution. Such a center has been requested for approximately 25 years. It could be used by seniors and teens alike, as well of holding a daycare center, all of which are lacking in the Community Board 12 area.

Recording Secretary Josephine M. Bastone reported that the Taxpayers Board voted to seek a Y or other all-inclusive recreation building for the Army Center site, and to oppose a homeless shelter. A motion to such effect was brought to the general membership and passed.

John Doyle of Senator Klein’s office reported that over 25 people participated in the defensive driving course on May 2nd. On another issue, he asked that complaints about graffiti be directed to the Senator’s office at (718) 822 – 2049.

President Christine Sheridan reported on plans for the May 16th Fun Fair. Harry Bott reported on plans for our May 30th Memorial Day service.

This summer’s free activities at the Park will include a seniors’ yoga class on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m., a walking tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m., tennis on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., and children’s tennis on Mondays and Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.

Although commercial traffic is not permitted along Van Cortlandt Park East, that prohibition is being increasingly violated. As in the past, we are again asking our elected officials to ensure that “No Commercial Traffic” signs are put up along Van Cortlandt Park East.



FREE TENNIS LESSONS!

The Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers Association, in conjunction with the Parks Department, is once again happy to announce our annual – free! – summer activities:

Children’s tennis lessons will begin on Wednesday, July 1st, at the Van Cortlandt Park tennis courts, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and on every Monday and Wednesday thereafter. Registration for children ages 5 years old and up will take place at the July 1st lesson. The Parks Dept. will provide tennis rackets and balls.



ANNUAL FUN FAIR

Our thanks to all who came out in support of our annual fun fair on Saturday, May 16th! Although the morning’s rain put a slight damper on things, the event was once again a success!

Thanks to a generous grant from Senator Jeff Klein, we were able to have a Parks Department stage and a live band. We rented chairs and tent, and were able to purchase a sound system and two gazebos for events. The neighbourhood merchants once again gae an over-whelming response to our request for journal ads and prizes. Thanks also to Hodders
Funeral Home for raffling off a bicycle; Hodders donated the monies to the Taxpayers.

Monsignor Barry gave an opening prayer.

Special thanks to Shana Mahoney for putting together the children's singing program, and to Chiara Manuguerra for singing “God Bless America”. Thank you, too, to Rambling House, which once again provided free food to fair attendees.

We were joined by a number of our local officials, including newly-elected Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.; Deputy Borough President Aurelia Greene; Senator Jeff Klein; Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz; and Councilmember G. Oliver Koppell. Mr. Koppell presented citations to Officer Jim Foster and Jim Neilis for their long hours and devotion to making The Woodlawn Fun Fair ‘fun’.

Special thanks to Genevieve and Rob Thompson, and to Mike Sheridan for their work on the journal, and to all the volunteers!



POLICE BEAT

Reported by Jim Foster

Reporting Period: 4/27 through 5/24/2009

MURDER - 0

RAPE - 0

ROBBERY - 1

FELONY ASSAULT - 0

BURGLARY - 0

GRAND LARCENY - 1 (property taken from

automobile)

G.L.A. - 0



FUTURE MEETING DATES

Please note the following meeting dates:

Monday, September 8th

Tuesday, October 13th

Monday, November 9th

Monday, December 7th – Christmas Party

No meeting in January

Christmas Tree Lighting – Saturday, December 5th

SAVE THE DATE!

The Saint Barnabas annual Parish Block Party will be held on October 3rd, 2009.

MEMORIAL DAY

Thanks to all the organizations and volunteers who helped make our Memorial Day service a great success! Many thanks to the Boy Scouts, St. Barnabas Choir, American Legion Bajart Post 1122, Chiara Manuguerra, Michael Fogarty, and Woodlawn Cemetery.