The Riverdale Press 02-12-2026

What’s

inside?

Residents organize to save Knolls

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

After years of frustration over the gradual loss of neighborhood services, more than 100 residents gathered in Spuyten Duyvil for a meeting aimed at reviving the long-struggling Knolls Crescent Shopping Plaza.

“This isn’t about one store,” Carroll told The Press. “It’s about whether people can continue to live here independently.”

on what Knolls Crescent once offered, and what they say has been lost. Several recalled a lively commercial strip that functioned as a neighborhood hub, lined with diners, bakeries and candy stores, some with open signs glowing late into the night.

the neighborhood’s only walkable ATM, a loss residents said has had an outsized impact on seniors and residents with limited mobility. Several said they now rely on cash back at stores or must travel by bus, car or on foot to access basic banking services.

Bronx first Power in numbers to bring change. Page A3 Orchid show

The meeting was part of the Save Knolls Kappock Retail campaign, led by the president of Knolls Crescent Cooperative I, Joan Carroll, and board member Karen Kawaguchi. They organized the resident-led effort to address what they describe as a sustained erosion of walkable services in a community with a large senior and fixed-income population.

For decades, Knolls Crescent served as the primary commercial strip for much of northernmost Riverdale. The Knolls Crescent cooperatives just behind it were established as limitedequity housing to promote long-term affordability and stability, a model that helped create a community with a high concentration of retirees, people with disabilities and residents aging in place.

In that context, neighbors urged, access to nearby services has always been essential.

Residents used the forum to reflect

“This used to be a place where you could get everything you needed without leaving the neighborhood,” one longtime resident said.

In recent years, a series of closures has gradually hollowed out the plaza.

“About three or four years ago, the Chase Bank disappeared,” Carroll said. “And more recently, the Rite Aid disappeared.”

The bank’s closure in 2020 eliminated

“Something as simple as getting cash shouldn’t require planning a trip,” one resident said. “But that’s where we are now.”

While Ben’s Market reopened last year under new ownership after a brief closure, providing a rare bright spot for the strip, neighbors emphasized that a single grocery store cannot replace the

Epstein emails cast scrutiny on Dinowitz campaign donation

by Michelle Mullen

mmullen@riverdalepress.com

NYBG’s annual floral extravaganza returns. Page A5 Merchant meetup

Franklin Reform Democratic Club president emerita Virginia Krompinger

Martin’s seat this year.

Dinowitz introduces Ben Franklin club slate

Building new connections with KRVC. Page A7

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz an-

nounced a slate of Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club-endorsed candidates up for local and state party roles on Feb. 8 — including Virginia Krompinger for female district leader, challenger to four-year incumbent Abigail Martin.

Dinowitz, who has held the seat for 32 years, is running for re-election against teacher and disability advocate Morgan Evers. State committee members Michael Heller and Johanna Edmondson, as well as male District Leader Ben Jackson, are also relaunching their campaigns.

The Ben Franklin club has been embedded in the community since 1960. For June’s Democratic primaries, several candidates tied to the Unity Democratic Club — the northwest Bronx’s other dominant political group — are looking to unseat Ben Franklin’s incumbents, the latest in a years-long fight for political influence in Assembly District 81.

Dinowitz has the endorsements of Bronx

Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Council Member Eric Dinowitz, all officials the Ben Franklin club has backed in the last year.

Gibson said she stands with Dinowitz, and although newer and younger populations may run for office, she is a firm believer in legacy.

“Consistent leadership is sustainable,” Gibson said. “It’s stable. It’s reliable. It always shows up no matter what … Don’t let anyone ever tell you that the leadership we have today is not the leadership that we need for tomorrow.”

The assemblymember said his decades of political involvement are rooted in a love of being in the neighborhood and working with the community.

“One thing I’ve learned in politics is never back down,” Dinowitz said, citing several accomplishments throughout his time in office. “Never give in. Never give up. Always stand your ground. That’s the only way to get things done.”

State committee and district leader are both volunteer roles made to better repre-

Love advice from those who’ve loved longest

By Olivia Young  oyoung@riverdalepress.com

A group of RiverSpring residents are bestowing decades of relationship wisdom this Valentine’s season through the recently formed Cupid Senior Squad.

The program launched this month, spearheaded by Wendy Steinberg, chief communications officer, and moderated by Maria Schulz, vice president of admissions and resident experience.

After Steinberg announced the squad, questions started flooding in.

“Many of them have outlived their partners,” Schulz said. “[Cupid Senior Squad] gives them an opportunity to

reminisce … It makes us feel connected to the past and to loved ones that we don’t get to see any longer.”

One email submission read, “What’s the best piece of relationship advice you’ve ever heard?” Shirley Johnson, 85, Lita Gottesman, 88 and Harold Wolkoff, 102, agreed on one thing — be yourself.

Johnson met her husband of 54 years while she was in her 20s. Coming out of a previous marriage with two young daughters, she was introduced to William Jackson through family.

“This man comes in my life, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘You’re what

sent a community’s needs to elected officials. District leaders connect neighborhoods to Bronx County Democrats, and state committee members to state Democrats. One male and one female representative are elected every two years.

Virginia Krompinger is the president emerita of the Ben Franklin club, a lawyer and an activist. She said she wants to make local and national issues heard, from empty storefronts on Knolls Crescent to the Trump administration, which she described as a “threat to our democracy.”

Krompinger said she was part of the team that helped secure a Fine Fare Fresh Supermarket at 5661 Riverdale Ave. after the Key Food shut down. She and Ben Jackson also recently volunteered as attorneys on standby for Minnesota residents to call if they had legal concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, presence.

Jackson has been a district leader for two years, and said he has spent his term organizing and campaigning for Democratic candidates such as the Dinowitzes, Gibson,

As the U.S. Department of Justice continues to release unsealed emails tied to infamous financier Jeffrey Epstein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz of the 81st Assembly District has joined a growing list of elected officials under scrutiny for past campaign donations from individuals whose relationships with Epstein have only recently become public.

Records from the New York State Board of Elections show Dinowitz’s campaign received a $1,000 donation in 2023 from Brad Karp, the longtime chair of the prominent corporate law firm Paul, Weiss. Karp resigned from the firm on Feb. 4 amid mounting backlash after newly released records detailed previously undisclosed communication between him and Epstein.

The DOJ documents include a series of email exchanges between Karp and Epstein that occurred several years after Epstein served a prison sentence for solicitation of prostitution involving a minor and was registered as a sex offender, including one 2016 email exchange where Karp asked Epstein connect his son to filmmaker Woody Allen for a potential job opportunity. According to assemblyman’s campaign, the donation was made at a fundraiser and is the only contribution Karp has ever given to Dinowitz. No additional donations were accepted before or after that date.

On Feb. 6, Morgan Evers, who is challenging Dinowitz in the June Democratic primary, issued a press release calling on the assemblyman to return the donation. Evers argued keeping the money was inappropriate in light of the newly disclosed records tying Karp to Epstein.

Saying the north Bronx deserves better than “mudslinging,” the assemblyman’s campaign rejected Evers’ idea, telling The Press there was no public information at the time of the

Longtime Riverdalian and neighborhood leader

Bernice Harris dies

Longtime Riverdale community member Bernice Harris died in her late 80s. Born to Faye and Julius in the Bronx but raised in Ohio, she returned to Riverdale for around 60 years where she and her late husband Steven lived and lovingly raised their two daughters, Andrea and Allison, who attended the local schools.

She attended the University of Miami for college, and moved with her husband Steven to Richmond, Va. while he attended law school and she worked as an assistant buyer for Thalheimer Department Store. She later had a stint as a buyer for Lord & Taylor and helped in her husband’s home office while raising their children.

In Riverdale, she founded and led a local City of Hope chapter that grew to more than 150 members raising money for cancer research and treatment. She was also founder of a Riverdale Brownie and Girl Scout Troop, which she led for seven years along with other local mothers, teaching skills such as sewing and organizing outings. For more than 16 years she worked as a docent at the Hudson River Museum where she made many nice friendships, and delighted in teaching school children about the permanent and traveling exhibits.

She enjoyed activities such as reading, painting, tennis and canasta, but she particularly enjoyed

being a mother and hosting her daughters’ neighborhood friends. She encouraged imaginative play, always having a dress up box and art supplies on hand. Many of those friends recount her as a “second mom” and kept in touch throughout her entire life. She became an active member of The Compassionate Friends for bereaved families after the premature loss of her and Steven’s daughter, Andrea, to cancer at 25 years old. Bernice and Steven were supporters of Wave Hill as well as the Hudson River Museum and raised money in their daughter’s memory for a honey locust tree at Wave Hill and for new seating at the Hudson River Museum.

In Riverdale, you may have known or seen her lunching with dear friends at the old Blue Bay Diner or getting her hair cut for decades at Le Chic.

Her bright memory lives on through her surviving daughter Allison, son-in-law Robert, grandson Andre, brother Howard, as well as her close cousin Laura.

Athlete and family man Alan Levine dies at 89

Riverdale resident Alan J. Levine died in his home on the morning of Jan. 28, 2026, at 89 years old. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 15, 1937 to Sylvia and Jacques Levine, who provided him with a childhood full of books, summer camp, a move to the suburb of East Rockaway and abundant love. He shared a lifelong close bond with his brother Harry. He was an avid athlete, particularly in baseball, where he played catcher. He graduated from Lynbrook High School and Hofstra University. He served proudly in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Bragg and Fort Sam Houston. He enjoyed a highly respected 60-year career as an investigator, working for Fuchsberg & Fuchsberg and later Schwartz, Goldstone, Campisi & Kates, where “he was a dedicated investigator who devoted decades of service to his work, known for his integrity, sharpness, fearlessness and unwavering commitment to the truth. More than a skilled professional he was a trusted friend to all those who had the privilege of knowing him.”

A devoted member of the Riverdale community, he felt most at home on daily walks with his wife Lynn, seeing friends in the gym and sauna at The Riverdale Y, and passing summer days at the pool at The Riverdale Neighborhood House.

A New York City marathoner, Brooklyn Dodgers turned New York Mets fan, and proud New

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding Delanzo Dyer, a 15-year-old boy from Kingsbridge Heights.

Dyer was last seen leaving his Sedgwick Avenue home on Feb. 6 around 4:40 p.m. At the time, he was wearing a gray hoodie, black sweatpants, black jacket and black shoes. Dyer is described as 5 feet and 4 inches tall, 130 pounds with a slim build, black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also sub-

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding Edmund Mclaughlin, a 57-year-old man from Riverdale.

Mclaughlin was last seen leaving the W Assisted Living on Broadway on Feb. 6 around 10 p.m. At the time, he was wearing a black coat and blue jeans. Mclaughlin is described as Black, 6 feet and 2 inches tall and about 215 pounds.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers

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Yorker, he embraced life with a genuine curiosity and a love of learning.

Family was his greatest pride. He often marveled at how lucky he was that his family — kids, grandkids, in-laws and nephew — were not only relatives but true friends. He was incredibly gifted at so many things, professional and personal, yet he made sure to share that his role in shaping this aspect of his family was his proudest achievement, and the legacy he hoped to leave.

He and Lynn were devoted partners, caring for one another through life’s hardest challenges with strength and love. He took care of Lynn through her brave battles with cancer. When the roles reversed, something he hadn’t prepared for, she did the same for him.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn “Lynn” Kream Levine; his son Scott Levine and daughter-in-law Amy; his daughter Pam Steinberg and son-in-law Glenn; and his grandchildren Jake, Jared, Alyssa, Noah, Eric and Eric’s wife Nicole.

mit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.

Hotline. All calls are strictly confidential. -Olivia Young

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By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Two local organizations

— nonprofit Kingsbridge Heights Community Center and not-for-profit Mosholu Montefiore Community Cen-

ter — joined 48 others on Feb.

5 to establish a coalition aimed at highlighting much-needed policy change in the Bronx.

The partnership spans churches, mosques, nonprofits and other communitybased groups who together drew in nearly 1,900 people for the founding assembly at Fordham University. Several key goals united them: truly affordable housing, improved mental health care services, safer streets, and better schools and employment opportunities.

They chose to name the coalition “Bronx First.” For too long, the borough has fallen lowest in statewide rankings of poverty and health outcomes, speakers explained, and it’s time to move the Bronx’s needs to the forefront. Bronx First was spearhead-

ed by Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, the tri-state chapter of a large network of faith and community-based organizations that help others mobilize and make local change. Metro IAF will support the new alliance by helping establish their agenda, and connecting them with politicians.

Kingsbridge Heights Community Center was founded in 1974, and looks to better the community through food drives and nutrition education, as well as wraparound services for families, children and survivors of sexual abuse.

CEO Raye Barbieri said mental health is fundamental to improving a neighborhood, and the system in place is failing Bronxites. She pointed to the anxiety and depression that many residents carry with them in their daily lives, unable to get adequate care due to insurance delays or language barriers.

“You often can’t get the support you want or need until you’re in real danger,” Barbieri said. “That’s not real care. The Bronx deserves better.”

Mosholu Montefiore Community Center serves over 35,000 kids and adults each year through afterschool and education programs, preventative services and other support initiatives.

CEO Rita Santelia told The Press forming the coalition took about two years of planning, and was an effort she once thought was impossible until she began meeting with like-minded organizations facing the same hurdles.

Residents and elected officials listened, she said, but they didn’t prioritize a single voice. For real, tangible action, Mosholu needed to band together with other Bronx organizations to amplify the borough’s needs.

Bronx First plans to meet in early March, and begin discussing an action plan. The change won’t come overnight, but it’s a step forward, Santelia explained.

“Numbers do count, and our voices will count if we stand together,” she said.

Kingsbridge Heights Community

health services.

Save Knolls Kappock Retail movement ramping up

CONTINUED from page A1

range of services the plaza once provided.

“We’re grateful Ben’s is here,” one resident said during the meeting. “But a community can’t function on one anchor alone.”

Multiple storefronts along Knolls Crescent and nearby Kappock Street have remained vacant for years, contributing to what residents described as stagnation and disinvestment. Residents expressed worries that the visual impact of prolonged vacancies has also affected how outsiders perceive the neighborhood and how potential buyers view nearby housing.

“The problem is that each loss makes the next one more damaging,” another neighbor chimed. “Once services start disappearing, the neighborhood becomes harder to live in, especially if you’re older.”

The shopping plaza is split between two landlords — Friedland Properties and AB Realty — a division residents said has complicated

efforts to understand leasing plans and long-term intentions. Residents said they have received little direct communication from either owner, fueling frustration and uncertainty about the future of the strip.

“This is about accountability,”

Kawaguchi said. “When stores sit empty for years, it affects safety, morale and how people feel about where they live.”

During the meeting, residents outlined plans to hold monthly gatherings beginning in late February or

early March to maintain momentum and move from discussion to action.

Kawaguchi said future meetings will focus on community-organizing training, direct outreach to property owners and engagement with elected officials.

Carroll and Kawaguchi said they

also hope to document how the loss of walkable services affects seniors and residents with disabilities, information they plan to share with local and state officials.

“We’ve been patient for a long time,” Kawaguchi said. “Now

Krompinger, incumbents get Ben Franklin club nod

CONTINUED from page A1

Torres, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

“I focus on one thing as a district leader, and that’s turning democratic values into democratic victories,” he said.

Johanna Edmondson is the founder of fitness studio Female Fight Club and board member of the Riverdale Main Streets Alliance. She was elected to the state committee in 2024.

Edmondson was not present at the campaign kickoff due to a family emergency, but later told The Press that as a 25-year resident, she is committed to serving the neighborhood. She also mentioned her role in renaming W. 251st St. and Manhattan College Parkway to Betty and Lloyd Adams Way in honor of the Lloyd’s Carrot Cake founders.

“I look forward to continuing to advocate for our community, addressing local issues and working together to build a stronger future for all residents,” Edmondson said.

Michael Heller was elected as a member of the state committee in 2022. He is the former president of Ben Franklin, has served on Bronx Community Board 8 and in several other public affairs roles at city hospitals. He said he recently attended the state Democratic convention, where the party renominated incumbents for re-election, such as Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Challenging Heller is Unity Democratic Club member Bereket Ghebremedhin, against Edmondson is cofounder of activist group Northwest Bronx Indivisible Betsey Knapp, and for Jackson’s seat is nonprofit Theory 9 cofounder Izaiah Barrow. New York’s Democratic primary election will be held June 23.

Donation to Dinowitz questioned

CONTINUED from page A1

donation linking Karp to Epstein, and calling the suggestion the campaign should have known otherwise “ludicrous.” Instead of returning the funds, the campaign said it donated an equivalent $1,000 to the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, directing the money to its Changing Futures Program. The Changing Futures Program provides long-term mental health treatment to roughly 300 Bronx families each year, focusing on survivors of child sexual abuse, domestic violence and campus sexual assault. Services are offered at no cost and without regard to immigration status or insurance coverage, and are de-

signed to provide ongoing care rather than short-term crisis intervention.

The community center confirmed receipt of the donation but said it was not aware of the campaign’s reasoning for the contribution and did not specify the exact date it was received.

On Feb. 9, Dinowitz’s campaign said the contribution had been made “within the last week.”

CONTINUED from page A1

I’ve been looking for,’” Johnson recalled. As they aged, Johnson developed gangrene in her left leg, forcing her to amputate and move to RiverSpring for recovery. Jackson, who faced heart and lung problems, later joined her at the home for about a year and a half before he passed away.

Johnson described him as a devoted father and a good man, adding she had “a ring for every finger and two fur coats in the closet.” One of the most important habits they shared throughout precious years together was simply being their genuine selves.

“You both look at each other and what you see is what you talk about — nothing outside,” Johnson said. “Just be yourself. Be real.”

For Lita Gottesman, who was married to her husband, David, for 37 years before he passed, her relationship was also rooted in authenticity.

“I met him at a sorority party,” she recalled. “He came over to me and said ‘Hi, my name is David,’ and I said, ‘Who the hell cares?’”

Eight months later she proposed to him. Today, she still keeps his slippers by her bed, and wears

his batted bathrobe from time to time. Gottesman never stops thinking about her husband, and never wants to, she said.

“[William] Shakespeare was right when he said ‘To thine own self be true,’” she said. “And then you formulate opinions based on something real, not something make-believe.”

Harold Wolkoff also supported the idea of being yourself, but with one caveat. At over a century old and with three marriages under his belt, Wolkoff added it is important to be flexible, too.

“How do you know if he or she is the one?” another email user sent in. Wolkoff and Gottesman each had their own take.

For Wolkoff, looking for traits that lead to a sustainable partnership is the best approach — Does a person have a lot of friends? Do they have a healthy relationship with their family?

Gottseman thinks the feeling comes from within, no matter the length of the relationship. Longterm doesn’t always mean right, she said.

“People wish for things, they don’t look at them clearly and honestly,” she said. “They wish for a relationship, and some man is in their

life, and they figure — this is it. But there’s no time table on love … it’s all internal.”

To know if a marriage will last, look at how he acts towards other people, Johnson said. Jackson cared deeply for Johnson’s daughters, but also for his own family.

“If a man treats his mother well, he will treat you well,” she said.

Another submission asked, “What’s the best piece of advice for someone who is currently happy being single, but is feeling pressure to find the one and get married?”

The verdict from the squad — every life follows its own individual path.

“Tell them to mind their own business,” Gottesman said, explaining she felt outside pressure to have children before her and her husband were ready. “The only thing that matters is what you think about yourself.”

To hear from Johnson, Gottesman and Wolkoff, as well as the two other members of the Cupid Squad, Rita Shliselberg, 95 and Flora Rosefsky, 84, email cupid@ riverspring.org before Feb. 14.

Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show is a lush love letter to New York

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

At the New York Botanical Garden, the city has been rebuilt — not in steel or concrete, but in vibrant flora.

The garden’s annual Orchid Show has returned with an unmistakably urban feel. This year’s exhibit, “The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle,” transforms the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a sequence of familiar New York streetscapes gracefully overtaken by thousands of orchids.

The show turns away from landmarks and monuments, focusing instead on the texture of everyday life. Visitors encounter a brownstone stoop, a subway platform, a laundromat and other ordinary city scenes. Some rendered in dark architectural forms, they are brought vividly to life with cascades of orchids offering a kaleidoscopic pop. What would normally be concrete and steel becomes a canvas for color and growth.

The installation was created by Mr. Flower Fantastic, the New York–born floral artist known for blending street culture with botanical design. His work often draws from the visual language of the city –signage, infrastructure, overlooked corners — and reinterprets it through flora. Here, those instincts expand into a fully immersive environment, where the city is not simply referenced but rebuilt.

For the New York Botanical

Garden, the collaboration reflects a broader effort to reach visitors in new ways while remaining grounded in plant science and conservation.

“We’re always looking to introduce the natural world and the wonder of plants to broader audiences,” said Jennifer Bernstein, president and chief executive of the New York Botanical Garden. “The Orchid Show is an opportunity to explore very different approaches to presenting this content so that we can widen the array of people who come and take pleasure in the beauty of nature.”

That approach has allowed the Orchid Show to evolve year by year. Previous exhibitions have drawn inspiration from fashion, theater and architectural traditions. This year’s focus, Bernstein said, feels especially personal.

“Mr. Flower Fantastic’s practice sits at the intersection of street culture and floral design,” she said. “This year is a real love letter to New York City, taking everyday moments of New York life and bringing them to life in a whole new way.”

Behind the scenes, the exhibition is also a feat of horticulture. Roughly 7,000 orchids fill the conservatory, representing a wide range of species, colors and forms. Some bloom with velvety petals in deep fuchsia and magenta; others appear frilled or ruffled, or marked with intricate patterns. The scale of the installation required months of planning and coordination,

with orchids sourced from specialist growers and prepared to bloom in precise sequence.

The living collection was overseen by Marc Hachadourian, senior curator of the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Collection, whose work bridges scientific research and public display. Orchids, he often notes, are widely misunderstood. Though frequently described as delicate or exotic, they are among the most diverse and adaptable plant families on Earth, thriving on six continents and in conditions far harsher than their reputation suggests.

That resilience is woven into the exhibition’s narrative. Many orchid species grow as epiphytes, clinging to trees. In “Concrete Jungle,” those same plants appear embedded in scaffolding or spilling from fire escapes, quietly mirroring the city’s own capacity to endure.

“I think what I love most is the surprise around every corner,” Bernstein said. “You’re encountering something very different that brings to life one unique aspect of being a New Yorker.”

On select evenings beginning March 21, the conservatory will take on a different rhythm during Orchid Nights, adults-only events featuring music, dancing and cocktails amid the blooms. “The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle” runs through April 26 and marks the 23rd edition of the Garden’s signature spring event.

Collaboration takes center stage at KRVC Merchant Meeting

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

On Feb. 8, dozens of business owners and community leaders gathered for a collaborative merchant meeting hosted by the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corp, or KRVC.

At the heart of KRVC’s initiative was an effort strengthen communication between local businesses and city agencies, offering an opportunity to address challenges facing greater Riverdale’s commercial corridors.

“Small businesses are the heart and soul of the River-

dale and Kingsbridge communities; they are the vital lifeline serving our neighbors day in and day out,” said Laura Levine-Pinedo, executive director of KRVC. “This event was a fantastic opportunity to connect our local entrepreneurs with essential resources and industry leaders.” David Coreas of NYC Small Business Services and New York City Nightlife Mayor Jeff Garcia were among those representing the city. Officers from the NYPD 50th Precinct, including Captain Amadeo Oktrova and Detective Rasha Jamsheer, also attended, giving merchants an opportunity to raise safety concerns.

Levine-Pinedo said the meeting created space for direct, constructive dialogue between business owners and the NYPD, calling it a critical step toward keeping neighborhood corridors safe and vibrant.

The evening concluded with an open question-andanswer session and networking, as merchants exchanged ideas and explored opportunities for collaboration. LevinePinedo noted the strong turnout reflected growing interest in collective problem-solving and sustained engagement to support small businesses across the northwest Bronx.

After the Roof Caved In: An Immigrant’s Journey from Ireland to America

MICHAEL DOWLING, CEO EMERITUS OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

The James Patterson Speaker Series

February 17, 2026 at 7pm Kelly Commons, Room 5B

Michael Dowling is a prominent healthcare leader and advocate on social issues. CEO Emeritus of Northwell Health since October 2025, he previously served more than 23 years as president and CEO, leading major growth and innovation. He advises on public health initiatives while focusing on teaching and writing. Widely honored, he has received TIME’s Global Health recognition, multiple international fellowships, major civic awards and honorary degrees. A former New York State official and academic, Dowling is also an accomplished author on healthcare leadership and reform. A complimentary copy of his memoir, After the Roof Caved In: An Immigrant’s Journey from Ireland to America, will be available to the first 150 attendees

MODERATOR

Kathleen Gallo, Ph.D., Former Executive Vice President and Chief Learning Officer, Northwell Health, and Founding Dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

What’s on?

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 on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., through early May.

At Wave Hill

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. Runs on Sundays in Feb. from 11 a.m. to noon. No class on Feb. 15.

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 and have the option to share their work in a supportive group setting. No prior writing experience is required, and all creative disciplines are welcome.

The class is held every Wednesday.

New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program With severe weather events becoming more frequent and more extreme, it is more important than ever that New Yorkers are prepared for disasters.

The New York Citizen Preparedness Training Program teaches residents to have the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. Held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.

Winter garden walk

Chinese Astrology: 2026 Year of the Fire Horse

The Qi of the Fire Horse is the energy of the midday sun at the height of summer. It represents the absolute zenith of human potential and outward expression. While other years ask you to plan, the Fire Horse demands you act. It is a 12-month window of high-octane creativity and ‘galloping’ progress.

Join and learn about the Qi Energy of the Fire Horse Year and how you can use that energy. Presented by Christine Barth, Certified BTB Feng Shui Master.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.

Black History Month The Riverdale Senior Services marks Black History Months with “100 Years of Black History Commemorations: Recognizing and Honoring 100 years of black life, history, and culture.”

Join on Friday, Feb. 20th, from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.

Weekly mahjong or leisure bridge

Riverdale Senior Services is looking for people aged 60+ interested in coming to RSS for weekly games of mahjong or leisure bridge. It is fun and non-competitive. Some experience playing a must. Mahjong is held Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon. Leisure bridge is held Fridays 1:15 to 4 p.m. Those interested in joining should email info@rssny.org.

Christ Church

Riverdale

Jazz quartet Steps Behind with Riverdale artist Sarah Cion

The jazz quartet Steps Behind, with Sarah Cion, piano; Mike Rubino, saxophone; Dave Livolsi, bass; and Bill Reeve, drums, will give a concert on Feb. 15th at 3 p.m.

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.

At Riverdale

Neighborhood House

Masala Bhangra

Join the Riverdale Neighborhood House for this full-body dance workout. With easy-to-follow choreography adapted from Bollywood dance styles, participants are encouraged to move, touch and inspire. All ages are welcome. Runs on Tuesdays.

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 on 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

Conversational English

Need practice with your English? Looking to brush up on your conversational abilities? Stop by the Spuyten Duyvil Library and chat with others also working on their English skills. This program runs on Mondays and Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m.,

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 on Feb. 16, from 2 to 3 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.

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What’s on?

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.

Legacy of enslaved Africans in Van Cortlandt Park

Join Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Van Cortlandt House Museum for a special Black History Month program exploring the legacy of enslaved Africans in Van Cortlandt Park. The program will feature two guided tours.

The first is Pathways to the Past Walking Tour, led by VCPA Arts Integration Specialist Ashley Hart Adams, focusing on the Enslaved African Burial Ground and the broader landscape of memory, history and labor within the park.

The second is Van Cortlandt House Museum Tour, led by VCHM Site Historian Nick Dembowski, highlighting the site’s 18th-century history and its connections to enslavement. Together, these tours invite participants to reflect on the lives of enslaved Africans whose labor shaped the park and to consider how history is remembered and honored today.

Runs on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Black experiences of the American Revolution

Explore how Black people in the Bronx sought freedom during the American Revolution in a talk by local historian Nick Dembowski. For British colonists, Liberty and Freedom were motivating principles that sparked the Revolution. While people of African descent were highly motivated by these ideals, their road to realizing them was uniquely challenging.

Thursday, Feb. 26, from 7 to 8 p.m.

At the Riverdale Y

Nani Vazana concert

Join the Riverdale Y to see Nani Vazana in concert. The millennial Ladino songwriter won the 2024 Eurovision competition for minority languages, representing the Netherlands with her original song “Una Segunda Piel,” or “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.

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

Meet the orchid experts

theme in various ways, creating an exhibition that invites viewers to see the world differently. Works span a range of media and styles, including photography, pastels, oil and watercolor and mixed media.

Yoga Muse

Regulate to heal

A 3-Day series on science-based tools for chronic pain and stress reduction.

Join Yoga Instructor, Physical Therapist, and Craniosacral Therapy practitioner, Tracy Lin for a heart-centered, science-informed journey to regulate your nervous system, reduce chronic pain and stress, and restore inner balance. Enrollment in all three sessions is required. Sessions are held on Saturday, Feb. 28, Mar. 7, and Mar 14. from 2 to 4 pm

Community class

This is a special community class for adults 18+. Our Community Class is an open-level class that explores the basics of yoga, including postures, breathing, and simple movement to support your practice.

We’ll move gently to build strength and improve mobility. Sunday, Feb 22 at 4:30 pm

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.

At 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 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, at 7 p.m.

A prominent healthcare leader and social issues advocate, Dowling has served as CEO emeritus of Northwell Health since October 2025. He previously served as president and CEO for more than 23 years, 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

Orchid show 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.

Before New York

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.

This runs from noon to 4 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 14, March 7, March 14 and March 21.

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. 11 at 7 p.m. - Health, Hospitals & Social Services Feb 12 at

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For

Kung-Ming

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ronald

dylan

Opinion

Black history is Riverdale history

Every February, Black History Month arrives with familiar names and stories.

We rightly honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and other trailblazers whose courage reshaped the nation.

For many people in greater Riverdale these stories might feel distant — heroic, yes, but abstract, unfolding somewhere else, in another city or another time.

What often goes missing is the understanding that Black history did not only happen on the National Mall or in Southern courtrooms. It happened here.

It happened in the neighborhoods we walk every day, in the schools our children attend, in churches tucked onto residential blocks.

The Bronx has long been a gateway for Black families seeking opportunity, stability and a voice. In greater Riverdale, Black homeowners and renters navigated restrictive covenants, subtle redlining and uneven access to resources.

Local civic associations, parent groups and clergy often became the front lines in the fight for fair treatment — not in nationally televised moments — but in zoning meetings, school board debates and tenant gatherings that rarely made headlines.

These are not footnotes to history. They are history.

Local athletes who broke color barriers on high school fields, teachers who became some of the first Black faces in faculty rooms, small-business owners who built livelihoods despite limited access to credit, and community leaders who advocated for basic services all helped shape what our communities look like today. Their contributions did not always come with applause or recognition. Many are remembered only by those who lived through the changes, if they are remembered at all.

That absence matters. When history is presented only as something that happened “somewhere else,” it becomes easier to disconnect from it. It becomes symbolic rather than instructive.

But when Black history is grounded in familiar places — the elementary school you attended, the block where you grew up, the library or park you pass without a second thought — it becomes harder to ignore and easier to understand.

It also forces uncomfortable but necessary questions. Why do some figures receive plaques and street names while others fade from memory? Why are certain struggles celebrated as defining moments, while local battles for fairness are overlooked?

And what does it say about us if we fail to acknowledge the people who made our own communities more just, more open and more representative?Black History Month should be an invitation to look closer, not just farther away. It should prompt school districts to examine whose stories are included in local curricula.

It should challenge libraries, historical societies and news organizations to document and elevate the experiences of Black residents who helped build these communities.

It should encourage neighborhoods to ask whether public recognition truly reflects their full history.

This is not about diminishing national heroes. It is about completing the picture.

National change is always the sum of local actions, people showing up to meetings, organizing neighbors, mentoring students, opening businesses and insisting on dignity in places where they were told to wait their turn.

For Black history to matter, it cannot live only in textbooks or documentaries. It must live where people live.

In greater Riverdale, Black history did not unfold at a distance. It unfolded on our blocks, in our schools and in our community meetings.

Remembering that truth honors the past, helps us understand the present and reminds us that the next chapter of history is still being written, right here.

Letters to the editor

Voluntary intoxication should not bar rape prosecutions

To the editor, A recent letter to The Riverdale Press questions the wisdom of a sex crimes bill being weighed by the legislature in Albany. As the writer points out, the thrust of the legislation is to correct a long-standing prohibition which prevents the victim of a rape from pursuing prosecution if she was peacefully intoxicated at the time of the attack. In such condition, a woman is now prohibited from pursuing charges if her inebriation was “voluntary.”

Yes, you read that correctly, a woman in New York who is raped may not pursue criminal charges against her assailant if she had too much to drink at the time of this brutal violation. The criticism set forth in the letter dwells on the hypothetical scenario that the assailant is similarly intoxicated and therefore he lacked the ca-

pacity to know that his companion also lacked the necessary capacity to consent. There are several problems with this denial of rights to a rape victim.

First, why isn’t the assailant’s defense of joint inebriation simply a defense for the court to consider? Let the trier of facts, be it judge or jury, weigh the evidence in reaching a verdict which depends on proof by the victim beyond a reasonable doubt. But to prohibit any prosecution at all is simply not just.

Secondly, I am not aware of any crime committed against a man or a woman, set forth in the New York Penal Code, including robbery, assault and burglary in a home, in which a victim is barred from pursuing prosecution because she or he had had too much to drink. The current prohibition regarding volitional inebriation is,

unfortunately, a vestige of a historic bias against women in sex crimes cases. Many, many years ago, when I was a young prosecutor, women were barred from having the men who raped them from being prosecuted at all, unless there was an independent witness to the rape, or a confession by the assailant, to this most vile of assaults. The veracity of a female victim was simply an impermissible basis, as a matter of law. The debate was intense, and lasted for years before that prohibition was finally removed by the legislature. The legislation proposed by Assemblyman Dinowitz is long overdue and deserves prompt enactment. ERIC A. SEIFF Seiff is of counsel to the law of firm of Amini LLC and was chairman of the New York State Commission of Investigation.

The Bronx needs Rep. Ritchie Torres

To the editor, As an occupational therapist, I know how much early care and support can shape a child’s future. That is why I have appreciated Rep. Ritchie Torres’ consistent focus on the health and wellbeing of the people he represents. When children are born with disabilities like autism or Down syndrome, getting therapy early can make a world of difference. Torres has been vocal about the need to strengthen and improve New York’s Early Intervention Program so families can get services faster and without unnecessary stress. For parents who are already navigating so much, that kind of advocacy matters.

He has also been a strong supporter of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, which helps people with chronic illness and disabilities remain in their homes and maintain independence. Torres has worked to highlight the importance of this program and make sure it continues to serve the New Yorkers who rely on it every day. For many families, this kind of support is what allows loved ones to live safely and with dignity.

I have seen how committed he is to protecting the programs families rely on every day. He has worked to safeguard Medicaid, defend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and

To the editor, If, as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has told judges repeatedly, hundreds of lawyers are combing through Epstein files and redacting the names of victims and information related to them, why can’t they release to members of Congress every day the materials they have already

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support expanded access to telehealth services through Medicare. For many patients, especially those with mobility challenges, telehealth has made care more accessible and consistent. What stands out most is that he listens. He takes concerns from the community seriously and turns them into action, whether that means speaking up locally or working across the aisle in Washington, D.C. For families in the Bronx who depend on strong health services and support systems, that kind of leadership makes a real difference. We need his leadership in Washington, D.C.

ALISA EILENBERG

reviewed as they finish reviewing them? Surely this is possible.

MIRIAM LEVINE HELBOK

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Hudson River views highlight this Riveredge studio

This well-kept studio at 2575 Palisade Ave. offers an inviting entry point into Riverdale living, priced at $288,000. Set within a classic mid-century cooperative, the residence spans approximately 500 square feet and includes a full bathroom, making it both efficient and comfortable.

Positioned on the 11th floor of the Riveredge Co-op, a 1958 high-rise dramatically situated along the Hudson River, Unit 11E enjoys desirable east and west exposures. Large windows frame calming views of the river, surrounding greenery, and distant skyline, filling the space with natural light from morning through evening and creating a peaceful atmosphere high above the street.

The building’s lobby offers a polished first impression, accented by artwork inspired by Mark Rothko, reflecting Riveredge’s modern yet artistic character. Residents have access to an impressive range of amenities, including a seasonal outdoor pool, fitness center, chil-

dren’s playroom, community room, bike and ski storage, updated laundry rooms, and a live-in superintendent. Additional conveniences include doorman service, a heated garage with assigned parking, and full accessibility via ramps and elevators. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate proximity to Wave Hill, Van Cortlandt Park, Riverdale Park, nearby tennis courts, golf courses, and equestrian facilities. Schools and a playground are close by, while commuters benefit from Metro-North service and express buses just one block away, providing an easy connection to Manhattan. Inside, the studio is equipped with baseboard heating, wall and attic fan cooling, and a practical kitchen featuring a microwave and refrigerator. Basement washer and gas dryer hookups are available. With pet-friendly policies (up to 30 lbs) and a welcoming, well-managed community, this Riveredge studio delivers a compelling blend of scenic beauty, convenience, and classic