The Riverdale Press 01-29-2026

man’s trash is an artist’s treasure

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

For years, Devon ValentínDixon held onto the early versions of her work that most artists discard — rough sketches, color tests, post-it notes and preliminary drafts. Those materials are now on display in her debut solo exhibition, “Honoring the Scraps,” on view at An Beal Bocht Café through Feb. 1.

The Bronx-born artist presents finished paintings alongside their earliest iterations, inviting viewers to consider the imperfections and in-between stages that are typically hidden from public view.

“I really love the process, and I love saving the beginnings of things,” Valentín-Dixon said. “Sometimes I overwork things, or I overthink things, and it’s nice to know where you started. It’s nice to see where you were before something became what it is.”

The exhibition includes large canvases paired with small studies mounted in gold frames, some no larger than a post-it note. Several works are displayed alongside the sketches or photo references they were based on, emphasizing the shift from observation to paint and the decisions that shape a final image.

Among the largest works in the show is “You Were Made for Me,” a painting that grew out of an unconventional,

unusually shaped canvas Valentín-Dixon found outdoors.

“I didn’t know what to do with it,” she said. “I was holding it upside down for a while, like a teardrop.”

The finished piece depicts a chrome-colored arm holding a bouquet of flowers, an interpretation of a photograph the artist took of her husband holding the arrangement.

“I was like, ‘You were made for me — you were manufactured for me,’” she said, explaining the contrast between the organic flowers and the metallic hand.

Early sketches and color tests for the piece are displayed nearby, revealing how the image shifted through multiple iterations.

Another work, “Unmoved by a Miracle,” is based on a photograph Valentín-Dixon took while traveling in Japan.

The painting depicts a man seated by a train window, absorbed in his phone as a spectacular sight looms just outside the frame.

“He paid for the window seat, and you could see Mount Fuji, and he didn’t look up once,” she said. “It drove me nuts, which is something we all do. We’re jaded.”

Several smaller works in the exhibition originate from figure-drawing studies Valentín-Dixon completed while sketching in museums. Pieces titled “Venus” and “Martinique

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photographer turned breadmaker returns to his roots

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Arnie Adler, a 69 year old man with a deep background in photography, has been largely consumed by bread making since the COVID-19 pandemic. But in a gallery space on West 236th Street, he hosted an opening for his exhibition “A Bakers Dozen,” showcasing 13 images from a lifetime behind the camera. Adler’s close friends and family members drifted through Gallery 505 on Jan. 22, a part of the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation, enjoying wine, artwork and homemade sourdough with a rosemary and olive crust. Soft chatter and laughter filled the room, as some guests lingered in front of six portraits hung near the door frame. The close-up, vibrant photographs of children’s faces are a few of the hundreds that make up Adler’s “1000 Faces of Riverdale” project. Around 2011, Adler approached the Riverdale Y with the idea to capture those involved with the organization. The director at the time, Marti Michael,

suggested the project could be more expansive, so Adler started attending street fairs, inviting neighbors of all ages to be photographed. Adler told The Press when it came to his portraits, he always prioritized a connection with the subject.

“People used to talk about photographers stealing a soul, but I always felt that a good portrait had a little bit of both the subject and the photographer’s soul in it,” he said. For 1,000 Faces of Riverdale, Adler drew on what he felt were four distinct communities in Riverdale — “the geriatrics, the very affluent, the working class, the college kids” — saying though there was no animosity between these circles, they barely knew the other one existed. The project aimed to create something that put these community members into “one giant pot.”

Some photos included in the exhibition were still life, such as a detailed black-andwhite image of an orchid’s roots. Others, like one of an elderly woman smiling into the camera, her arm resting on a piece of furniture, were commissioned by families.

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Ben Franklin Club endorses Dinowitz and Torres

By Olivia Young

oyoung@riverdalepress.com

The Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club, a political organization embedded in the community since 1960, endorsed several candidates for reelection ahead of June’s Democratic primaries.

The group announced it was backing Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Adriano Espaillat and state Sen. Jamaal Bailey on Jan. 23 — standing with incumbents as opposed to some of their more progressive challengers.

Petitioning for signatures needed to get candidates on the ballot will begin on Feb. 24, a process that the club said traditionally results in the greatest number of signees for Bronx candidates.

A week and a half before endorsements were announced, the club held a private Zoom meeting in which candidates were given five minutes each to make their case and answer questions from members.

Dinowitz, who is being challenged by educator and activist Morgan Evers, emerged with the greatest number of votes. According to the club, 97 percent of members leaned in his favor.

The assemblymember has held the seat since 1994, and recounted how Vietnam War protests and picketlines urging the passage of the Civil Rights Act shaped his political views.

“For all of the years since then, what I’ve done is I’ve worked in our neighborhoods,” he said. “I never had the ambition to run for mayor or Congress, I wanted to stay in my community.”

Dinowitz said despite the amount of time he’s served, he feels more “energized than ever,” later adding “the club has always been my strongest base of support.”

The next most popular candidate was Torres, with 96 percent of the votes. The congressman has been in office since 2021, and represented Riverdale since 2023 after redistricting.

Protestors condemn Citizens Bank over private prison investments

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

Dedicated activists rallied outside a Citizens Bank branch on West 235th Street, urging the financial institution to divest from for-profit prison operators that run dozens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, detention centers.

Citizens Financial Group continues to finance two private correctional firms, including the GEO Group, which operates the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. The facility, one of the largest ICE detention centers in the nation, is where John F. Kennedy Campus student Dylan Lopez Contreras has been detained for more than six months.

Contreras was arrested in May of last year after appearing for a mandatory immigration hearing at 26 Federal Plaza. In September, a New Jersey immigration judge denied his asylum claim and ordered his deportation. His attorneys have since filed an appeal, and he remains in ICE custody as his case proceeds.

“People know the story of Dylan Con-

treras, four hours away from his family,” said Lois Harr, who led the protest. “Then we came to find out how the GEO Group — and also another group called CoreCivic — they have contracts with ICE, but they also need additional funding because they operate for-profit prisons.”

Contreras fled Venezuela and entered the United States in April 2024 using the CBP One app, a Biden-era humanitarian program intended to provide a lawful pathway for migrants from unstable countries. Subsequent shifts in federal policy complicated his asylum case, including a move by President Trump to revoke legal status for individuals who entered the country using the program.

Riverdale residents pushing for divestment say the system holding Contreras is part of a much larger detention framework, with the vast majority of people in ICE custody held in facilities run by for-profit companies. ICE contracts with private corporations to operate detention centers, build new facilities and transport people in custody.

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Fred

Dwyer,

legendary

Manhattan University track coach, dies at 94

By MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY

Fred Dwyer, the longesttenured track and field coach in Manhattan University history and a central figure in the program’s rise to national prominence, died Friday morning at the age of 94.

Dwyer led Manhattan University’s track and field program for 24 years, from 1969 to 1993, shaping one of the most successful and respected programs in the East and leaving a lasting imprint on generations of studentathletes.

The Manhattan community lost a towering figure: Coach Fred Dwyer,” said Director of Athletics Irma Garcia.

“Throughout our Jasper lives, we rarely meet someone whose guidance so completely and positively changes the direction of a program. His profound impact on our track and field program and the athletes he coached will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace, Coach. You were loved and will be missed. Thank you for your immense contributions to Manhattan Athletics.”

Under Dwyer’s leadership, the Jaspers built a powerhouse track-and-field tradition. During his tenure, Manhattan University captured the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship in 1973, four IC4A Championships, and 19 Metropolitan Championships.

Dwyer coached 41 All-Americans and four Olympians. His athletes set numerous world and national records, and approximately 250 school records were broken during his time at Manhattan.

Before his coaching career, Dwyer was a standout athlete at Villanova University. As a junior, he helped the Wildcats win the

POLICE BEAT

Penn Relays. In 1953, he earned All-America honors as a senior and became the last runner to win all five mile races at the Millrose Games, New York Athletic Club Games, New York Knights of Columbus Games, National AAU Championships and IC4A Championships, all held at the original Madison Square Garden.

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Dwyer joined Manhattan University in 1969 as head coach of track and field and immediately made an impact, leading the cross-country team to a perfect 7–0 season. One year later, he coached the NCAA Indoor Distance Medley Championship team of John Lovett, Mike Kenny, Al Novell and Tom Donahue.

In 1973, Dwyer guided the cross-country team to another IC4A Championship, led the Jaspers to the NCAA Indoor National Championship, and was named NCAA Coach of the Year.

That same era produced one of the program’s defining achievements, when Dwyer coached the Distance Medley Relay team of John Lovett, Ray Johnson, Joe Savage and Tony Colon to a world-record time of 9:43.8.

In 1974, he coached the 4×1mile relay team to a U.S. outdoor record of 16:14.4, with runners Pete Squires, Matt Centrowitz, Joe Savage and Tony Colon.

Dwyer continued coaching the Jaspers until 1993, earning another Coach of the Year honor from NCAA District II before being inducted into the Manhattan University Athletics Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jane Anne, and their children — Fred ’82, Jane ’85, Jim ’86, Joe ’87 and Tara ’92 — all graduates of Manhattan University.

Woman killed in Johnson Avenue building

On Jan 22, at about 7:57 a.m., police responded to multiple shots fired inside a Johnson Avenue apartment building. Fifty-nine-yearold Maria Garcia was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head, as well as her brother, 55-year-old Mario Garcia with a fatal alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Their 89-year-old mother was also found with a gunshot wound to the face, and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The investigation remains ongoing.

Four days later, the New York

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation announced it had opened an investigation into the deaths of Maria and Mario, as Mario was an off-duty Port Authority police officer who allegedly discharged his service weapon. Officers recovered two firearms at the scene. Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the Office of Special Investigation assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission.

Mother indicted for child endangerment on Mosholu Avenue

Bronx District Attorney Darnel Clark announced on Jan. 20 that a Bronx woman, identified as 64-yearold Lissette Soto Domenech from Mosholu Avenue, was indicted for long-term starvation and isolation of her 14-year-old twin sons. In November 2016, Domenech allegedly stopped taking the boys to the doctors, and in September 2017, began submitting false documents to the Department of Education claiming she was homeschooling the boys.

After several anonymous complaints, the Administration for Children’s Services went to the home, and found the boys were severely malnourished, with one weighing 51 pounds and the other 54 pounds, and were far below normal weight.

The district attorney’s office said one boy is autistic and apparently was never evaluated or received services for the condition. In the apartment, there was no food or belongings appropriate for teenage boys, and instead only infant cereal, baby bottles and toddler toys.

Medical responders took the boys to the hospital, where they underwent care for three months.

“This defendant is accused of a shocking, horrifying form of child abuse, allegedly depriving her sons of proper food, social interaction, education [and] medical attention,” Clark said in a press release. “We will do everything we can to help these boys attain a normal life.”

According to the investigation, between Nov. 13, 2016 and Oct. 15, 2025, under circumstances that indicated a grave indifference to human life, Domenech engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death to the boys and caused serious physical injury to them.

Domenech was arraigned on Jan. 20 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone, on two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of seconddegree reckless endangerment, two counts of endangering the welfare of a Child, first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and four counts of second-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Forty-four-year-old man fatally shot, police seeking suspect

At about 2:50 a.m. on Jan. 25, police responded to a call at West 242nd Street and Broadway. They found a 44-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest, identified as Keon Gill from Middletown, New York, as well as an unnamed 35-year-old man. Both men were rushed to the

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hospital, where Gill was pronounced dead, and the 35-year-old is in stable condition.

Police are searching for a male suspect who fled southbound on Broadway, wearing all black with red sneakers.

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Con Edison rate hikes spark backlash from Bronx officials

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

Elected officials are speaking out against Con Edison, warning that higher electric and gas bills will worsen financial strain for working families already facing rising living costs.

In response to Con Edison’s most recent proposed rate hikes, the New York State Public Service Commission approved increases as part of a multi-year rate plan affecting more than 3.5 million customers served by Con Edison across New York City and Westchester.

Con Edison initially sought a rate spike of roughly 11 percent for electric service and 13 percent for gas. Under the plan approved by the state regulators, electric rates will rise by about 9 percent and gas rates by about 6 percent over the next three years. The new rates are already in effect.

For the average New York City customer, Con Edison estimates the approved increase translates to adding about $4 per month to electric bills, while gas bills are expected to rise by roughly $5 to $19 per month.

“Con Edison’s proposed rate hikes are unacceptable and would place an even heavier burden on hardworking New Yorkers facing an affordability crisis in our city,” Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said.

The lawmaker noted that Bronx residents are already struggling with the cost of living and energy bills, adding, ”The proposed hikes of 11.4 [percent] for electric and 13.3 [percent] for gas would further strain household budgets

for low-income and middle-class New Yorkers who are simply trying to stay warm, keep the lights on, and make ends meet.””

According to the New York City comptroller’s office, energy insecurity remains widespread across the city. In 2024 – the latest data available – 30 percent of New Yorkers are considered energy insecure, meaning they are unable to meet their household energy needs

Over the past five years, about 3.5 million New Yorkers, about 42 percent of residents, have fallen behind on utility payments.

“As New Yorkers face increased uncertainty, they must now cope with cuts to benefits and services from Washington, and Con Edison’s addition to this burden is unacceptable,” the borough president said.

Over the past five years, 1.9 million people, or 23 percent have experienced utility shutoffs because they could not pay their bills.

In the Bronx, that burden is significantly higher in the Bronx. In 2024, 55 percent of Bronx households fell behind on utility payments, and 32 percent experienced a utility shutoff.

Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz also condemned the rate approval, pointing to widespread utility debt across the state. At the time of the decision, more than 414,000 households were at least 60 days behind on their utility bills, owing a combined total of more than $871 million. As winter began, more than 142,000 customers received final termination notices.

“It is outrageous that once again, while facing an affordability crisis, customers are being told

that they must pay more for vital services,” Dinowitz said. “Utilities are not luxuries, they’re necessities, especially during the cold winter months.”

He also criticized the governor’s recent veto of legislation that would have created an independent Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate, which would represent residential ratepayers in proceedings before the Public Service Commission.

“New York needs [a] Utility Consumer Advocate so that ratepayers have an advocate that will go toe-to-toe with Con Edison when they seek another rate increase in three years, which they most assuredly will do,” he said.

Con Edison reported earnings of $688 million in its most recent quarterly report, roughly $100 million more than the same quarter last year, a figure critics cite as evidence that the utility can absorb costs without passing them on to customers.

Dinowitz has reintroduced legislation to establish the Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate, which would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The office would have authority to initiate and participate in proceedings on behalf of residential utility customers.

“We need to pass this legislation again this year,” Dinowitz said, “and, if the Governor truly wants to fight for ratepayers, she should sign the bill.”

Advocates and elected officials are urging state officials and the governor to reconsider future rate increases and adopt stronger consumer protections as energy costs continue to rise.

Bronx activist looks to expand violence prevention work to Kingsbridge

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Bronx-native Alam Gonzalez, a social worker and violence prevention activist who recently moved to Kingsbridge, is set on securing a space in the neighborhood to keep building on his work.

Gonzalez has led workshops for the past several years that focus on strengthening men’s leadership and conflict resolution skills through talking. He also aims to foster a space for those impacted by violence — whether in prison, on the streets or at home — to heal.

As a teenager growing up in the borough, Gonzalez described a youth exposed to violence and instability. Without support to ground him, he lost direction, and was in a juvenile detention center from ages 16 to 17.

The experience became a turning point for the now 33 year old.

“When I made those choices, something sparked in me that this is not who I am,” Gonzalez said. “My environment does not dictate who I am, and I wanted to make a change … I got inspired to be something, to become somebody.”

He went back to school for his GED diploma, then for an associate degree at CUNY Bronx Community College, where he met community activist Nayma Silver-Matos, who was a speaker at the time. Silver-Matos had already founded a girl’s leadership program called Project Beauty Experience, and helped propel Gonzalez’s vision forward.

“My voice does have power,” Gonzalez recalls realizing. “My words do have meaning. They do hold weight. What can I do with that power? Whose life can I change?”

He went on to obtain a bachelor’s and a master’s degree — one at Lehman College, the other at Yeshiva University — in social work. By 2023, he had founded AJG Therapeutics, an organization aimed at emotionally supporting Bronx men.

“I saw that there was a need,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t have that advocate to guide me when I was coming up … somebody to really address the skills I needed to learn — conflict resolution, anger management, how to de-escalate, how to properly communicate my emotions, how to understand the power of walking away [under] peer pressure — What if I could teach these things?”

In 2024, the two collaborated on a workshop at the New York City Housing Authority Dyckman Houses. SilverMatos led crafts and activities aimed at building confidence among young girls, while Gonzalez spoke with adults about how to develop trust with kids, and identify the signs of when their behavior could become dangerous.

“When you don’t have that cohesiveness internally in the family, then we seek family outside,” Silver-Matos explained. “Sometimes kids seek family out in the streets.”

Within his own workshops, Gonzalez said he noticed higher crime rates in households without a present father — something he was personally shaped by — and sought to fill that gap.

He talks with men on how to understand both their own feelings and those of their family members, asking questions like “How do you support your wife during postpartum depression?” and “How do you communicate what you really feel with your partner and your children when you’re upset?”

At its core, Gonzalez uses his knowledge of behavioral therapy to target the root of an issue behind men’s behaviors, and point to resources that can help move them forward. The activist got married less than a year ago, and settled down in Kingsbridge a few months ago with his wife, daughter, and 9-month-old baby boy. In December, he attended a Community Board 8 meeting in hopes of finding a place to hold his workshops. He said the goal is to take what he has done in the Bronx and bring it to Kingsbridge, building a community for men to “come, open up and share the struggles that we deal with, and come up with ways to address those issues.” By press time, Gonzalez said he was feeling cautiously optimistic it would come to fruition.

Ben Franklin Club endorses Dinowitz and Torres

EndorsEmEnt

“I’m proud to be a friend of the club,” Torres said, before listing a slew of accomplishments. He pushed back against City Hall in 2023 when it proposed a 34,000-seat cricket stadium in Van Cortlandt Park, and again the same year when the city attempted to move about 250,000 public sector retirees off of traditional Medicare plans.

He also referred to $880 billion secured in reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for COVID-19 expenses to NYC Health + Hospitals, a system with five Bronx locations, as well as an investigation of his that alleged Con Edison was overcharging borough residents compared to National Grid. Torres then spoke to antisemitism, reflecting on when he visited Salanter Akiba Riverdale High School after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, and vowed to stand with constituents.

“I will have opponents who are going to run a relentlessly negative campaign,” he said.

“I’m going to run on a different campaign … because in the end I’m here to represent one Bronx. We’re not Black or white, Latino or Asian, we’re not Jewish, Christian or Muslim. We are one Bronx.” One member asked Tor-

res to what extent President Donald Trump has authority to withhold federal funding. The congressman responded it was a violation of the Constitution, adding “We’re going to take Donald Trump to court, and we’re going to win.”

Three of Torres’ challengers — Bronx Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, public defense attorney Dalourny Nemorin and former Assemblymember Michael Blake — were also in attendance. A few days later, however, Septimo announced

she was dropping from the race after a lupus diagnosis.

Blake said his campaign centers on what can be done to help the community in an impactful way. His focus continues to be on the need for higher wages, lower costs, support for nurses during the ongoing union strikes and the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE. He highlighted prior experience in Washington, DC, as a staffer under former President Barack Obama, and as former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

“There has to be a deeper and a more transformational way we are moving forward within what’s happening in DC to provide opportunities for the district,” he said. “We do believe we deserve more, deserve change and deserve greater opportunities in a more significant way.”

Two members questioned Blake on whether he believes the city should divest from holdings in Israel, which he said he could not give a blanket answer to.

Nemorin told the club she

aims to improve housing, healthcare and immigration, and that she draws on her background as a first-generation Haitian American. She also noted her work at the Legal Aid Society and as a South Bronx community board member, and in 2024 she was selected to join the Obama Foundation Leaders program.

“The fabric of the 15 is built on migrant communities,” she said. “We need to make sure people who are already in the country, in our city, are able to feel free to work, make money and contribute to the city like they always have done, safely and without fear.”

A member asked how being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America would impact her potential work as a congresswoman. She said for her, being a Democratic socialist means ensuring tax dollars are used to protect others, such as with Medicaid and food stamps. Espaillat garnered 86 percent of the votes, with 12 percent of members in favor of Darializa Avila Chevalier, an activist and public defense investigator.

Protestors condemn Citizens Bank over private prison investments

Contreras’ detention, Harr said, gave urgency to what might otherwise feel like an abstract financial issue.

Holding signs and distributing flyers in below-freezing temperatures, Harr and several others urged customers and passersby to pressure Citizens to divest.

“This is about letting people know that their everyday choices matter,” Harr said. “If you bank here, you’re connected to what happens inside these detention centers, whether you realize it or not.”

Major banks such as JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, which were once heavily involved in financing for-profit prisons, pledged to stop doing so in past years, but Citizens has not followed suit.

“So many other banks have done it,” one organizer added.

“It’s not like we’re asking them to do something impossible. It can be done.”

Reports published by Citizens Financial Group indicate the bank provided more than $1 billion in credit to the GEO Group in 2024 and previously served as a lender on a $1 billion credit facility for CoreCivic.

Last year, both companies reported increased revenues as immigration detention expanded nationwide. In 2025 CoreCivic reported total revenue of $538.2 million during the company’s second quarter, an increase of nearly 10 percent compared with the same period in 2024. The GEO Group, ICE’s largest contractor, reported second-quarter revenue

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Woman” are paired with their original drawings, some dating back several years.

“I revisit my garbage,” she said, laughing. “I’ll go to a museum, get inspired, and then look back and realize there’s something there I want to return to.”

The approach reflects her broader philosophy, which resists the idea that only finished work deserves attention. In “Honoring the Scraps,” early materials are treated not as drafts, but as a central part of the work itself.

“I felt so silly putting the post-it in a frame, I cannot tell you,” Valentín-Dixon said. “But these things usually end up in the garbage. With exhibits, that part isn’t really put out there, but creative process is cool. It’s fun to see the seed kind of grow into the flower.”

of $636.2 million, a 5 percent

increase year over year.

Both companies have also moved to expand detention capacity. Since January of last year, the GEO Group has reactivated four ICE detention facilities with a combined 6,600 beds — a move the company has said is expected to generate more than $240 million annually.

Rallygoer Emily Shapiro said Contreras’ case forced her to examine her own role as a consumer.

“I think that our consumer power is one of the few powers we have left,” Shapiro said. “Congress is not doing its checking. The Supreme Court is clearly not. What we’re trying to show people is that this is not just the government doing things. The private sector also has to financially support a lot of it.”

The Moshannon Valley fa-

cility has been the subject of particular concern. The facility has faced allegations of physical and psychological abuse, inadequate medical care and poor living conditions. Scrutiny intensified following the death of Chaofeng Ge, a Chinese national who died while detained at the facility last year.

“We have to see what Dylan’s fate is,” Shapiro said.

“But in either case, there are tens of thousands of other Dylans out there. And that’s why we don’t just stop.”

Harr described the action as a response to what she views as a broader human rights crisis.

“I believe that we’re in a moment of complete abuse of human rights by ICE, and we have to stand up wherever we can.”

Honoring the Scraps

Accessibility is central to Valentín-Dixon’s practice. A former art teacher at the Riverdale Y, she continues to host paint nights for children and adults. She priced the work across a wide range, with some of the smallest pieces available for $30, while the framed post-it note is priced at $10. “I want everything to be accessible,” she said. “Art’s very, like, sometimes a little elitist. I don’t want people to feel shut out.”

Bocht, a longtime hub for local creatives, regularly hosts readings, open mics and exhibitions. Valentín-Dixon had previously shown work there and reached out when an opening became available.

That ethos extended to the opening reception on Jan. 16, when Valentín-Dixon hosted a raffle giving away prints. The venue itself holds personal significance. An Beal

“It felt like I was at home in the best way,” she said. “It felt like a great way to start the year. I’m really trying to enjoy where you’re at. Try to appreciate the beginnings of things.”

One attendee didn’t know Adler personally, but instead is a fellow greater Riverdale creative, and noted how striking the children’s eyes in Adler’s portraits were.

“I’m a big supporter of other artists,” said Dennis Shelton, a Marble Hill-based artist that works with collage, mixed media and wood assemblage. “It’s important to share the love and experience and knowledge.” Adler feels at this point neighbors know him more as a baker than a photographer, and he doesn’t mind that. Being immersed in the photography world since age 12, it was time for something new.

“There was no plan to become a baker, it was just, ‘Oh, I got to do something, I’ll bake some bread,’” he recalled. “Then I was giving bread away to people, people wanted to buy the bread and now I’m baking 60 loaves a week and teaching … It’s exciting.” Adler hosts breakmaking lessons in his home and at bakeries, and sometimes sells his sourdough at the Cravings and Craft Farmers Market on Riverdale Avenue.

Rideshare drivers show support for NYC bathroom expansion

inside their cars.

By Michelle Mullen michellemullen@riverdalepress.com

Nearby the 231st St. No.

1 train station, rideshare drivers idling at a taxi stand spoke in support of a citywide plan to expand access to public bathrooms. Multiple cabbies echoed the same point — that expanded access is critical to addressing a daily challenge that often forces them into difficult choices, including risking parking tickets while searching for a restroom. The drivers’ voices come as Mayor Mamdani announced in January that the city will commit $4 million to expand public bathroom access by installing at least two dozen modular toilets across the five boroughs. The initiative is intended to address longstanding complaints about the city’s limited and unevenly distributed public restroom network.

only to return to tickets on their windshields or miss ride requests altogether.

Drivers who wait for ride requests along the busy Bronx corridor said the lack of public bathrooms affects how long they can stay logged into their apps and how they move through the neighborhood. Without reliable facilities, some said they drive out of high-demand areas to look for restrooms,

“You pull over somewhere quick just to use a bathroom, and when you come back there’s a ticket,” said Ahmed, an Uber driver who frequently stages near 231st Street and asked not to share his last name. “You’re already losing time and money, and then you’re paying for it too.”

Others said they avoid stopping altogether, especially in areas with strict parking enforcement, even when they urgently need a restroom. Several drivers acknowledged that, in those situations, they urinate in bottles

Endangered pygmy

“It’s either that or take a chance and get fined,” said Luis, a full-time Lyft driver who requested to omit his last name. “No one wants to do that, but the city doesn’t really leave you another option.”

Under Mamdani’s plan, the New York City Economic Development Corporation will issue a request for proposals within the administration’s first 100 days, seeking bids to install modular, above-ground public toilets that can be deployed more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional facilities. Modular units do not require

extensive sewer or water connections.

New York City currently has nearly 1,000 public restrooms, about 70 percent of which are located in parks and close overnight. For a city of more than eight million people, that amounts to roughly one public restroom for every 8,500 residents, according to the mayor’s office.

Restaurants and cafes often restrict restroom access to customers, and gas stations are not always nearby or willing to allow bathroom use.

The Bronx Zoo announced Jan. 22 in a press release the birth of an endangered pygmy slow loris born on Dec. 13 last year. Native to Southeast Asia, it was the first primate born at the zoo since the reopening of the “World of Darkness” space in 2025, following major renovations.

The “World of Darkness” exhibit first opened in 1969, making it the first major zoo exhibit that let guests see nocturnal creatures like the slow loris during their active period. The historic building reopened last year with updated features, including programmable LED lights that simulate natural day-to-night transitions, showcasing the adaptations of 25 species that thrive in darkness.

The new inhabitant is a particularly significant addition, with the pygmy slow loris designated endangered by the environmental organization International Union for Conservation Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. The group reports the species is vulnerable due to habitat loss from human settlements and agriculture, as well as hunting for the illegal pet trade.

The Bronx Zoo is part of the pygmy slow loris Species Survival Plan, is a breeding program managed by the nonprofit Association of Zoos and Aquariums that aims to help maintain a genetically diverse population of endangered species.

“You’re trying to follow the rules, not block traffic, not park illegally,” said Muhammed, who asked not to share his last name. “But when there’s nowhere to go, you end up getting punished anyway.”

He noted that expanded public bathroom access would ease those pressures and allow drivers to work without worrying about fines, lost income or basic needs.

“It’s a simple thing,” he said. “But for people who work on the road all day, it would make a huge difference.”

For rideshare drivers, who said they often work eight- to 12-hour shifts without access to a fixed workplace, the lack of restrooms has practical and financial consequences.

The small animals are born fully furred with their eyes open, and reach an adult weight of about one pound. They are carried on the mother’s stomach while infants, and intermittently are parked on branches while the mother forages for food. Still growing, the baby will become more active and independent as it grows, and should be fully weaned by around 6 months old. Staff will determine the baby’s sex at its first veterinary exam. The Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through April 1, and summer hours will begin the day after. Animal exhibits close 30 minutes prior to the park closing. Since the pygmy slow loris is sensitive to light, the zoo requests visitors not take flash photographs.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat votes against ICE funding bill

Administration has weaponized many of our agencies, including ICE, in ways that have made them unrecognizable to the American public, the very people these entities were designed to protect,” he said.

The congressman represents a district with one of the largest immigrant populations in New York City, where concerns over federal immigration enforcement have remained a recurring issue for community groups and local officials.

“As an appropriator, former undocumented immigrant and, most importantly, as a New Yorker, I fully appreciate the importance of supporting agencies through vital funding that ensure the operations and security of our nation’s government and our community,” said Espaillat, who serves as ranking member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of House Appropriations. “However, the current Trump

Two days prior to Espaillat’s announcement, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026, was introduced in the House of Representatives. It proposed, amongst other appropriations, $10,036,362,000 for ICE operations, and 3,790 policetype vehicles, 2,350 of which were for replacement only. ICE allocation represents one of the largest single line items within the DHS enforcement budget.

ICE funding also supports detention operations across the country, including tens of thousands of daily detention beds — a system that has faced sustained criticism over unsafe conditions and due process concerns.

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act also includes funding for agencies such as Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, placing ICE funding within a broader debate over homeland security priorities.

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

Espaillat argued that additional funding would deepen what he characterized as a pattern of aggressive and harmful enforcement practices.

“The Trump Administration has weaponized ICE, turning the agency against the American people and making our communities less safe,” Espaillat said.

“ICE is now a violent and deadly force we are witnessing terrorize families, including mothers, youth, and seniors. I have been vocal in my calls to dismantle the agency and will unwaveringly vote against any bill that gives additional funding to support this rogue agency.”

The act passed the House with 220 to 207 votes, and will move forward for a Senate vote this week. Among the small group of seven Democrats who supported the bill was Tom Suozzi, U.S. Rep. for New York’s 3rd District.

The vote reflects a broader push by Espaillat to tie federal funding decisions to accountability and oversight.

Espaillat added, “The path forward is clear. ICE has become reckless and lethal, and to further fund it would simply be

Mount Saint Vincent partners with Braven to launch career-readiness program

The University of Mount Saint Vincent (UMSV) will partner with the nonprofit Braven to offer a new, credit-bearing career preparation program beginning in fall 2026.

The collaboration will give UMSV students access to Braven’s Career Accelerator, a three-credit course designed to help undergraduates build professional skills, workplace experience and career networks before graduating. The program combines online coursework with small-group sessions led by trained volunteer professionals and continues beyond the semester with mentoring and career support.

“At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, our mission is to make an exceptional education accessible to all who seek it,”

UMSV President Dr. Susan R. Burns said. “Our partnership with Braven amplifies that mission, giving students the tools, mentorship, and confidence to succeed beyond college.” She added that the collaboration “strengthens[s] the pathways that ensure our students are prepared to lead with purpose and service in an everchanging world.”

The initiative comes as colleges face increasing pressure to demonstrate clearer pathways from education to employment, particularly for first-generation and low-income students.

Nearly half of Mount Saint Vincent’s students are the first in their families to attend college,

and about half receive Federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to students with significant financial need. The university has been recognized nationally for its student demographics, ranking fourth in economic diversity in a New York Times analysis.

The Career Accelerator is structured as an undergraduate course. Each week, students complete online modules through Braven’s platform and then apply what they’ve learned in small-group “Learning Labs.”

The labs bring together five to 10 students and are led by a volunteer professional known as a Leadership Coach.

Students enrolled in the program, known as Fellows, complete assignments focused on six core career competencies: career navigation, communication, teamwork, problem solving, organization and leadership. Participation does not end when the course concludes. After completing the Accelerator, Fellows gain access to Braven’s post-course programming, including career coaching, mentorship, professional communities, curated internship and job opportunities, and networking events designed to support long-term career growth.

In its first year, the partnership is expected to serve about 275 Mount Saint Vincent students during the 2026–2027 academic year. Those students will join a national network of more than 14,000 Braven alumni.

“Over the past six years, Braven has been honored to partner with New York institutions to help thousands of promising students launch strong careers,” said Kilsys Payamps-Roure, Braven New York’s founding executive director. “With the University of Mount Saint Vincent, we are strengthening New York City’s workforce with talented leaders who are ready to make an impact.”

Braven Founder and CEO Aimée Eubanks Davis said the partnership aligns with the organization’s focus on access and career outcomes.

“Mount students are ambitious and driven,” Eubanks Davis said. “With this collaboration, they will join a national community of Fellows who are leading in their careers and lives of purpose.”

Braven reports outcomes that exceed national averages for college completion and early career placement. According to the organization, 61 percent of its 2024 graduates secured full-time jobs aligned with their bachelor’s degrees or enrolled in graduate programs within six months of graduation. Braven also reports a 93 percent on-time graduation rate among Fellows, compared with about 80 percent nationally.

University officials said the partnership reflects a broader effort to pair academic access with concrete career preparation as students move from college into the workforce.

Photo of the Week

What’s on?

Soaring with Eagles

Riverdale Choral Society

The Riverdale Choral Society will hold open rehearsals for the upcoming 2026 spring season, welcoming singers of all voice ranges, including soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The program will be performed in two concerts in early May in the Riverdale area of the Bronx.

Rehearsals will be conducted by co–music director David Štech. Singers who join the ensemble will prepare a concert program titled The Seasons of Love, featuring contemporary and traditional music. The repertoire includes folk songs from English, Irish and American traditions, settings of poetry by Rumi and the Song of Songs, and works by Paul McCartney, Stephen Paulus, Leonard Bernstein and Billy Joel.

Rehearsals take place at Christ Church Riverdale, with on-street parking and access to public transportation.

Rehearsals will be held Wednesdays at 7 p.m., through early May.

At Wave Hill

Public gallery tour Solo and group exhibitions at the Wave Hill House Gallery highlight the site’s connections to art, nature and place. Public exhibition tours offer an in-depth look at the work in the Glyndor Gallery, led by greeters. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and provides attendees with the opportunity to engage with curators and artists and ask questions. Registration is not required, and all are welcome.

Tours run Thursdays and Saturdays, at 2 p.m.

Warming Winter Yoga Yoga returns to the majestic Armor Hall this winter. Surrounded by panoramic views of the Conifer Slope, winter garden and towering trees, participants are invited to reconnect, refresh and revitalize through a gentle yoga practice. Each session’s flow is inspired by the stillness and rhythm of the winter season. Sundays in February, 11 a.m. to noon. No class on Feb. 15.

Kids on the Move:

Explore like an Eagle Head to Wave Hill’s Perkins Visitors Center on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 1 to 2 pm. to celebrate the majestic eagle.

Take a short outdoor adventure with guest educator Corinne Flax and use your eagle senses to explore the wintery Wave Hill grounds. Then warm up indoors with a family yoga class for some soaring, floating, flapping, diving and even squawking! Recommended for ages four to eight.

At Riverdale Senior Services

Journaling during Difficult Times

Riverdale Senior Services invites the community to Journaling for Creatives During Difficult Times, an in-center class designed to help participants reconnect with their creative voice through guided writing. The weekly group experience is limited to eight participants and requires advance registration.

Led by former NYU journalism professor and author of 25 books Lori Perkins, the class uses short, structured journaling prompts to encourage

reflection, creativity and momentum.

Participants will write brief personal essays, with the option to share their work in a supportive group setting. No prior writing experience is required, and all creative disciplines are welcome.

Perkins is also an established New York literary agent, founder of an award-winning publishing company, publisher of Romancedailynews.com, and former owner of Uptown Weekly News, a neighborhood newspaper in Upper Manhattan.

The class is held every Wednesday.

Ethics for kids

The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture presents Ethics for Kids. Facilitated by Naa Pappoe, the program introduces children to social justice, science, history, selfexpression and empathy through stories, the arts and play.

The series helps young learners explore what it means to live ethically. Designed for children ages 4 to 10, but open to all. Email growingethicsrysec@gmail.com to RSVP.

Sessions are held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

SUB: At Riverdale Neighborhood House

Youth market

Stop by the Riverdale Neighborhood House youth market for fresh, local produce straight from area farmers. Other items for sale include sourdough bread from baker Annie Miller. The Neighborhood House accepts EBT, cash, credit, FAMM checks, vouchers, SNAP EBT and Health Bucks, helping ensure access

for everyone in the community. The market is open every Thursday from 1 to 6 p.m.

Stretch and Strengthen Start your mornings this new year with a light movement class at the Riverdale Neighborhood House. Classes are held Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. A social hour with refreshments follows, offering a chance to chat with neighbors.

At the New York Public Library

Writing Circle Kingsbridge Library hosts weekly

Writing Circle meetings in an intimate setting where participants can share unpublished drafts and give and receive feedback. Attendees must be at least 18 years old. Registration is available at nypl.org; the Google Meet code will be emailed the day before the session. The group meets every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Stitchery Circle

Enjoy a calm, communal space for knitting, crocheting and other stitchbased crafts at the Riverdale Library. Open to all experience levels, participants are invited to bring a current project or start something new using basic materials available on a first-come basis. The program encourages sharing techniques, settling in and working alongside others who enjoy the rhythm of making.

Designed for adults ages 50 and older. The circle meets Monday, Feb. 2, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16, from 2 to 3 p.m. Little Passports

The Spuyten Duyvil Library invites children to travel around the world each week through an immersive, staff-led program celebrating countries across the globe and throughout history. The program promotes cultural awareness and curiosity through crafts, music and interactive activities.

For children ages 5 and older and partially accessible to wheelchairs. Runs Friday, Feb. 6, 3 to 4 p.m.

At Van Cortlandt Park

Trail Work Thursdays

Join the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and fellow residents every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon to help maintain trails in Van Cortlandt Park. Tools and gloves are provided for this small-group volunteer event, which is limited to five participants. It’s a hands-on opportunity to give back to the community while enjoying the Bronx’s natural beauty.

Forest Friday Volunteer with the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance to remove invasive species from Van Cortlandt Park’s Northwest Forest every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. The work helps promote biodiversity, protect young trees and improve forest health. No prior experience is needed. Tools and gloves are provided.

At the Riverdale Y Nani Vazana Concert Join the Riverdale Y to srr Nani Vazana in concert. The millennial Ladino songwriter won the 2024 Eurovi-

Professional Services Directory

Attorneys

Leon G. Tsinberg, esq Wills, Trusts, Estates, Power of Attorney, Disability, Health Care Directives, Probate & Estate Disputes www.riverdalelegal.com 3265 Johnson Ave. #201 Tel: (646) 228 - 0976 / Tel: (888) 887 - 8886 leontsinberg@gmail.com

What’s on?

sion competition for minority languages, representing the Netherlands with her original song “Una Segunda Piel (A Second Skin).”

Described by BBC Radio 3 as a voice that “transports you from ancient markets to modern jazz clubs in one breath,” Vazana’s music breathes new life into Ladino — the nearly lost language of Sephardic Jews — through flamenco-inspired vocals and contemporary storytelling.

Held on Monday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are required.

Inner Space yoga Modern Dance Workshop

This hour-long workshop follows the format of a traditional modern dance technique class, beginning with a full-body warmup in center, followed by traveling phrases across the floor and concluding with a choreographed combination that is invigorating, soulful and expressive.

Led by professional dancer and teaching artist Annmaria Mazzini, a former member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, the class focuses on alignment, proper technique and strengthening through key fundamentals of modern dance.

Held on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Costs $35.

Partner Yoga & Thai Massage

Feel calm, centered, relaxed, peaceful, and loved with your friendor partner or loved one. This is a workshop with Shawna Emerick for giving, receiving, relaxing, and connecting with your partner.

To finish the workshop, you can enjoy a sweet connection to your tummy with the sweet delights of cookies and hot chocolate.

Join on Friday Feb. 13th, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Costs $120 for two people.

Heart Opening

Restorative Practice

A heart-opening restorative yoga practice with Kendra Jackson for Valentine’s Day offers a gentle, propsupported experience that invites softness, ease and emotional warmth.

Resting in supported heart openers, the chest and shoulders release as the breath flows freely, creating a calming effect on the nervous system. With a loving-kindness theme, the practice nurtures self-love and connection, leaving participants feeling open, supported and deeply relaxed.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Costs $45.

The Riverdale Temple

The Riverdale Art Association, in conjunction with the Riverdale Temple and Women of Reform Judaism, presents the exhibit “Blues” at the Riverdale Temple. The show runs through March 27, 2026. Member artists interpret the theme in a variety of ways, creating an exhibition that invites viewers to see the world a bit differently. Works span a range of media and styles, including photography, pastels, oil and watercolor, and mixed media.

The opening reception will be held Sunday, Feb. 8, from 2 to 4 p.m., featuring wine, cheese, dessert and artists’ talks. Music will be provided by the James Noyes Trio, with Susan Thaler on vocals and violin and Walter Levis on guitar.

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Masala Bhangra

Welcome to the Undercroft Edgehill Open House

The Kingsbridge Historical Society Welcome to the Undercroft

The Kingsbridge Historical Society invites the community to tour the newly renovated undercroft — the downstairs community room at Edgehill — during a special open house. For this event, treasures from their collection will be shown, collected over the decades.

Funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, the space will host small gatherings and house the Society’s archives and collections. Visitors will have the opportunity to view selected historical materials from the collection. Sunday, Feb. 8, noon to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Yoga Muse

Yoga en Español

Yoga Muse offers a weekly yoga class taught entirely in Spanish. The open-level, slow-flow class is led by Meli Rios and meets every Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

Supported Pilates Supported Pilates is a gentle class that uses a chair for support and stability. Pilates specialist Jillian Klepper

focuses on building strength, mobility and balance through controlled, lowimpact movements — without getting down on the mat. The class is ideal for older adults, those recovering from injury or anyone seeking a supportive, accessible way to move and feel stronger. Starts Feb. 3.

KRVC A Baker’s Dozen KRVC invites the community to Gallery 505 for the opening reception of “A Baker’s Dozen,” a solo exhibition by photographer Arnie Adler.

The curated collection features 13 images spanning Adler’s 40-year career, from photographs taken when he was 20 years old to recent work from his 1000 Faces of Riverdale project. The exhibit highlights Adler’s signature style, marked by honesty, curiosity and a natural, unforced approach to his subjects.

The exhibition runs from through March 6. Gallery hours are Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m.

Manhattan University

The James Patterson Speaker Series

The James Patterson Honors Program at Manhattan University welcomes Michael Dowling on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

A prominent healthcare leader and social issues advocate, Dowling has

served as CEO emeritus of Northwell Health since October 2025. He previously spent more than 23 years as president and CEO, leading the organization through significant growth and innovation. A former New York State official and academic, Dowling is also an accomplished author on healthcare leadership and reform.

The event is part of the James Patterson Speaker Series, a cornerstone of the James Patterson Honors Program. Free and open to the public; registration is required.

The New York Botanical Garden

The Orchid Show

From Feb. 7 through April 26, “The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle” transforms the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a dazzling reimagining of New York City. Orchids collide with concrete in scenes inspired by stoops, slice shops and even the subway, creating a vivid fusion of nature and cityscape artistry. Visitors can experience the flair and style of the Big Apple brought to life through thousands of flowers.

Meet the Orchid Experts On select weekends from Feb. 7 through April 26, the New York Botanical Garden invites visitors to learn about its orchid collection directly from the stewards themselves — the

NYBG horticulture staff. These drop-in sessions offer an opportunity to meet the experts behind the exhibition and learn how the orchids were cultivated, cared for, planted and designed specifically for this show.

Before New York

On Feb. 7 and 14, and March 7, 14 and 21, from noon to 4 p.m., join the New York Botanical Garden’s Urban Conservation Team for an interactive exploration of nature in the city. The team will highlight the importance of nature to cities and cities to nature, and introduce the redesigned Welikia Map Explorer — a historical ecology mapping tool that reveals what the landscape, plants, animals and people may have been like on your New York City block 400 years ago.

Community Board 8

Meetings

Bronx Community Board 8 is in session. All meetings held at the CB8 office are located at 5676 Riverdale Ave., Suite 100. Unless specified, all hybrid meetings will be in the office or via Zoom. To access the Zoom link for CB8 meetings, visit their website, cbbronx.cityofnewyork.us/cb8 Feb 9. at 7:30 p.m. - Laws, Rules and Ethics Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. - Health, Hospitals & Social Services Feb. 12

Editorial comment

History’s lessons demand lifelong vigilance

Though this month’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day and International Holocaust Remembrance Day have passed, the lessons we can take from both are lifelong.

On Jan. 19, the nation commemorated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. MLK Day isn’t just a celebration of one man’s achievements; it is a call to examine the enduring struggle for racial justice, equality and human dignity. King’s life and legacy remind us that progress is neither automatic nor permanent. It must be protected through vigilance, education and moral courage.

Eight days later was Holocaust Remembrance Day — another solemn day of commemoration. Each year on Jan. 27 — the date of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945 — we pause to reflect on one of history’s darkest chapters and reaffirm our responsibility to remember.

The day commemorates the 6 million Jewish men, women and children murdered by the Nazi regime during World War II, along with millions of others, including Roma, people with disabilities, political dissidents, members of sexual minorities and others who were targeted and killed.

Remembrance days such as these are often accompanied by moments of silence, educational programs, survivor testimonies, memorial ceremonies, museum exhibits and classroom discussions across the globe. These observances are intentional acts of learning and reflection, meant to ensure that history is not forgotten, distorted or repeated. What unites the remembrance of the Holocaust, MLK Day and similar historical observances is their shared warning: injustice thrives in silence, ignorance and apathy. In our era, which is experiencing rising antisemitism, racism, xenophobia and political polarization, these lessons are more urgent than ever. Misinformation spreads quickly,

and historical facts are sometimes questioned or deliberately distorted. Remembrance days serve as anchors of truth. They remind us that these events are not abstract or distant; they happened to real people, within living memory, and their consequences still shape our world today.

Education is the most powerful antidote to hate. Learning about the Holocaust helps people understand where intolerance can lead when fear and conspiracy replace empathy and critical thinking. Studying the civil rights movement reveals how ordinary people, from students to clergy to workers, can challenge unjust systems through collective action, nonviolence and moral clarity. These stories empower new generations to recognize injustice and believe that change is possible.

Importantly, remembrance is not about assigning guilt to those alive today, but about assigning responsibility. Responsibility to speak out against hate, to protect democratic values, to stand with marginalized communities and to recognize early warning signs of injustice. When we remember, we honor the victims by committing ourselves to a more humane future. These observances also create space for empathy. Survivor testimonies and historical narratives humanize events that can otherwise feel overwhelming or distant. They remind us that behind every statistic is a person with dreams, family and dignity. This human connection is essential in countering the tendency to reduce others to labels or stereotypes.

Remembering is not passive. It is an active commitment to learning, teaching and acting. By honoring the lessons of the Holocaust, King’s legacy and other pivotal moments in history, we affirm the shared values of dignity, justice and humanity. In doing so, we help ensure that “Never again” and “Justice for all” aren’t empty phrases, but guiding principles for the present and the future.

Letters to the editor

Definition of antisemitism revolt

To the Editor of the Riverdale Press:

As the first act of the current NYC s Administration, its leader deliberately expunged the Executive Order that adopted the inclusive, generally accepted definition of antisemitism and attendant enforcement tools, thereby providing a measure of comfort to peddlers of antisemitism and implicit acceptance of their hateful and harmful speech and conduct. Ignored was an important chapter in the City’s history when the shoe was on the other foot and the proponents of this exercise in insensitive and harmful speech and conduct then vigorously railed against what they now support as the defining act of this Administration.

The period 2014-2015 was marked by the awakening of Islamic terrorism. ISIS, Boko Harem, the Charlie Hebdo shootings and the Paris attacks at the Bataclan provided dramatic evidence of barbarity, ostensibly in the name of Islam, a time- honored religion and the quixotic quest for a global Caliphate. The media was replete with photographs and graphic details of the gore, beheadings, butchery and worse by ISIS and its fellow terrorists. In the Middle East the slaughter by Hamas operatives of 3 Israeli teenagers and the subsequent revenge killing of a Palestinian youth sparked a 50-day war in Gaza (events which, of themselves, should have provided a foretaste of the future to the then US Administration, which naively viewed Hamas as “progressives” that could stay bought by piles of money and separatist powers and its barbarians tamed).

Simultaneously, New York City was treated to horrific advertisements on and in MTA buses, subways, and train stations publicly vilifying Muslims and depicting them as universally implicated in the context of that global display of beheadings, shootings and other savagery. Respected Jewish and other religious and community leaders joined Muslim leaders in vigorously protesting. The Courts, however, permitted the horrific advertisements to continue notwithstanding illustrations of attendant assaults on Muslims and the targeting of their institutions. Thus, in a legally defensible but realistically harmful decision, a New York Federal Court enjoined an attempt by the MTA to restrict the ghastly advertisements on public transit, including one portraying “…a menacing-looking man whose head and face are mostly covered by a head scarf. The ad included a quote from “Hamas MTV”: “Killing Jews is Worship that draws us close to Allah.” Underneath the quote, the ad stated: “That’s His Jihad. What’s yours? ” The Court concluded that Free Speech protections barred the MTA’s selective rejection of these advertisements while permitting other viewpoint ads. Led by an MTA Board Member -- a Jewish Holocaust survivor whose family had been savagely slaughtered in Hitler’s concentration camps - and supported by the able then-MTA Chair, Thomas Prendergast, the MTA Board agreed that hateful speech was harmful and unacceptable speech, even if it meant a loss of revenue. It voted to bar essentially all viewpoint advertising from

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Letters to the editor

VCPA calls for increase in Parks budget

the system, thereby negating the predicate for the Federal Court’s determination.. That principled and sensitive prioritization of humanity over bigoted zealotry, though costly to the MTA, was supported by many Jewish and other religious organizations. Hypocritically, however, many of those that in 2015 had decried the challenged slurs and implored MTA action to stop them, flip flopped, supporting or studiously silent in the face of this Administration’s “defining” first act.

The MTA Ban passed Judicial review. The advertising campaign against New York’s Muslim community abated (while antisemitic slurs and violent assaults increased over the ensuing years, despite the New York Jewish community’s vigorous and consistent defense of other victims of bigotry).

Sadly, the foregoing historical lesson that bigotry, the refuge of fools and rogues, is unacceptable, was either lost on or the victim of insensitive political considerations by the current City leadership. It publicly proclaimed that its actions defined the Administration, including the abandonment of basic tools against mounting antisemitism. That definition is not a badge of honor or integrity; it is, instead, shameful and hurtful.

Hopefully, the Mayor will upon reflection reverse his stance. For, as it defines his Administration, it taints and erodes it.

Incidentally, the above-noted Holocaust survivor who opposed hurtful bias is the author of this letter-opinion.

Respectfully

Charles Moerdler

To the editor, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance appreciates The Riverdale Press’s reporting on concerns surrounding the condition of the soccer field at Van Cortlandt Park Stadium. We strongly support the Riverdale Soccer Club and other community groups that provide extracurricular opportunities for young people in Van Cortlandt Park. For many families, public parks are the only spaces for young people to learn, play, and participate in organized activities, making the safety and reliability of these facilities especially important. Van Cortlandt Park is one of the Bronx’s most vital public spaces, providing free access to yearround recreation amenities, miles of hiking trails, and the natural world. Its continued use depends on thoughtful care and long-term investment to ensure that park users of all ages can participate safely and confidently.

To that end, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance

(VCPA) has been advocating for increasing the Parks Department’s budget from 0.5% of the city’s overall budget to at least 1%. A larger budget for Parks would go a long way toward adding the staff needed to repair fields and process contracts. Deferred maintenance, infrastructure failure, and snail’space capital projects are a result of years of disinvestment. That is why partner groups like ours are necessary. Our work centers on volunteer management, environmental education, cultural programming, and advocacy related to environmental issues and park history. VCPA does not manage park facilities, issue permits, or oversee maintenance or capital construction projects. Like Riverdale Soccer Club and Community Board 8, we believe that Van Cortlandt Park and the Bronx deserve better! Sincerely, Judy Mills-Johnson, Board Chair Van Cortlandt Park Alliance

A101 targets predatory sexual assault

James Fogel is completely off base in his January 22, 2026, letter (“Mr. Dinowitz: please rethink your legislation”). He mistakenly believes that participants in “drunk sex” or “regret sex” could be prosecuted for rape under A.101/S.54 (Dinowitz/Fernandez). In fact, the bill’s language was carefully crafted to be identical or nearly identical to the language of the laws of more than half of our country’s states, including statutes that were enacted more than 20 years ago. The experience in other states is instructive: the number of rape prosecutions has gone down substantially as predators learn of the laws.

The bill’s language targets intentional predators who assault someone who is heavily under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The reason the Dinowitz/Fernandez bill doesn’t criminalize sex between two drunk people, and the reason why such a case would not be prosecuted, is simple: the bill requires the prosecution to prove that the victim was severely intoxicated, to the point of incapacitation, AND that the victim’s incapacitated condition was so obvious that it was known or reasonably should have been known to someone “in the defendant’s situation.” Those key words require jurors to consider the defendant’s condition. If a defendant was also intoxicated, that intoxication is part of the “situation” that jurors must consider. Jurors can only convict if the prosecution proves that even someone in the de-

Poetry Corner

fendant’s situation would still have known that the victim was incapable of consent.

The January 9th sentencing at Bronx Supreme Court of two off-duty cops who three years ago carried a severely intoxicated woman from Zona de Cuba and sexually assaulted her in a nearby apartment, illustrates why A.101/S.54 needs to be enacted. Both defendants pled guilty to misdemeanors and received, respectively, six years of probation and one year of probation. Neither received any jail time, despite DNA from both defendants found on the victim and her testimony before the grand jury. I watched the victim give an impact statement at the sentencing at which she described her fear since the assault and stated that “the ones who promised to serve and protect took away my dignity.” Unfortunately, reported rapes in the Bronx increased by 27% in 2025 over 2024, with many of the victims being voluntarily intoxicated. Nationally, only 5% of reported rapes result in convictions, and sexual assaults of Black and Brown women are the least likely to result in convictions.

Enactment of A.101/S. 54 would protect victims and prevent many incidents of this predatory crime. I urge readers to write Assembly Member Dinowitz and Senator Fernandez to express your support for the legislation.

Sue Ellen Dodell, Esq.

On the Road to Somewhere

Online and in print — Riverdale Press classifieds get results

It’s

5 lines for one week.

NOTE: Each week’s featured home is chosen at random from among houses and apartments offered by Riverdale Press advertisers. The opinions expressed are those of the advertiser and not The Riverdale Press news department. For further information, write to advertising@riverdalepress.com.

HOME OF THE WEEK

Terhi Edwards of Douglas Elliman

three-bedroom condo overlooks Hudson River

Aspacious three-bedroom, two-bath apartment with sweeping Hudson River views has come to market at Highpoint on the Hudson, offering a blend of space, light and full-service living. The residence, located at 2727 Palisade Avenue, Unit 8H, is listed for $825,000.

Measuring approximately 1,375 square feet, the sun-filled home features a standout 20-foot private terrace with direct, unobstructed views of the Hudson River, creating an ideal setting for outdoor dining, entertaining or quiet relaxation. Inside, the expansive living room includes a dedicated dining area, providing flexibility for both everyday living and gatherings. The galley-style kitchen features a window that brings in natural light, while both bathrooms have been tastefully renovated with modern finishes. Ample closet space throughout the apartment offers generous storage, a sought-after feature in riverfront buildings.

Highpoint on the Hudson is a full-service, petfriendly cooperative offering a 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent and an on-site garage with a 24-hour attendant. Residents also enjoy access to a seasonal heated swimming pool and a beautifully landscaped private garden. Parking is available within the building. The property’s location adds to its appeal, situated within walking distance of the Metro-North station, public transportation, neighborhood shops and local restaurants. Nearby attractions include Wave Hill Gardens, a popular cultural and scenic destination overlooking the Hudson River. Monthly maintenance charges are $2,350, covering building amenities and services. With its riverfront views, private outdoor space and convenient location, Unit 8H presents a rare opportunity to own a spacious home in one of Riverdale’s most established residential buildings.

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