This past Saturday we joined almost a hundred people for The Bronx River Alliance Flotilla taking us on a 5-mile paddling journey down New York City’s only freshwater river.
To say that nothing like this exists within New York City is an understatement for there truly isn’t anything like it in the five boroughs.
Starting at E 219th Street at Shoelace Park, the 5-mile adventure took us down the Bronx River, through The New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx Zoo and ended in Hunts Point’s Riverside Park with Rock The Boat. We even encountered several waterfalls along the way—yes waterfalls in The Bronx!
At many points along the river, you get a feeling that you’re no longer in The Bronx let alone New York City as you’re surrounded by nothing but trees. This is readily apparent while going through NYBG and when you enter The Bronx Zoo you feel as if you’re in some jungle as you hear the screeching of primates and other animals at the zoo.
The Flotilla is such a special event bringing together folks from all walks of life enjoying the beauty of one our best natural resources. New York City Parks Commissioner, Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP was in attendance and took the trip down with our own Nilka Martell (who better to provide a narrative on the history of the River and what’s what along the way than Nilka?) and he quickly loved the experience so much that he said it’s one of the top ten things on his list now and will be in attendance next year.
In the 40+ years since activists first got together to begin cleaning up The Bronx River, it has rebounded in a wonderful success story where not only is it the cleanest it’s been in modern times, but also wildlife has returned from beavers to fish that swim upstream to spawn via the newly installed fish ladder.
For most of the journey you could see how clear the water was but don’t be fooled: We have a long way to go before the Bronx River is fully restored. This much was evident once we got to The Bruckner and from that point south, you can see an oily sheen on the water along with garbage.
And that is the beauty of the Flotilla for it offers you the opportunity to see first hand what has been accomplished along with what still needs to be done.
I can’t stress enough how amazing this opportunity was and in many ways probably the best thing you can do in our borough and NYC. The $56K raised is specifically for just that—to reach and make canoeing available 1,000 kids and their families.
This Sunday is the launch of The Bronx’s largest Open Streets event, the much anticipated and successful Boogie on The Boulevard where we can, “…walk, bike, skate, and boogie,” freely on the center lanes of The Grand Concourse for tons of outdoor activities! This is absolutely one of our favorite events we love and our proud to sponsor!
This year’s 3rd annual event, rather than 3 consecutive Sundays, it will instead be held on the last Sunday of May through August so we get to spread the love around!
Thanks to Montefiore Medical Center, this year we’re also debuting ‘The Great Lawn’ on the Grand Concourse which will plop a 500 square foot grass park for you to enjoy the Concourse in an even more unique way.
From 161st street to 198th Street (3.45 miles!), each Sunday, the center lanes of The Grand Concourse were closed off during the Months of July and August for pedestrian use only, including bicycling, skating, rollerblading and tons of passive activities including neighbors just setting up chairs and hanging out and interacting with each other on an entire different level and environment.
It became The Bronx’s front and backyard if you will, one giant stoop gathering going through communities of hundreds of thousands of Bronxites.
Ferrer’s program proved so successful for The Bronx that it was expanded from just the summer months and straight through mid November, but alas, Giuliani came along and axed the program in 1996.
In 2014, residents and local community-based organizations alike, including The Bronx Museum of The Arts and Transportation Alternatives banded together to revive the popular event.
That year we just got a few blocks from 165th Street to 167th Street for just 3 Sundays but last year we got 8 blocks for 3 Sundays on!
This year, however, it will be a little shorter ending at 165th Street due to construction along The Grand Concourse but we are getting an extra day in and spreading the love throughout the entire summer!
Click to enlarge!
Also this year, each day will have a different theme with music to get your Boogie on:
May 29 Disco & 80’s
Mobile Mondays! NYC All 45’s Vinyl night with DJ’s Misbehaviour & Joey Carvello – spinning disco & 80’s
June 26 House & 90s Dance
Mobile Mondays! NYC All 45’s Vinyl Night with DJ’s Joey Carvello & Johnny D – spinning House, disco & 90s dance
July 31 Classic Set
Mobile Mondays! NYC all 45’s Vinyl Night with DJ Misbehaviour spinning a classic MM set.
August 28 Funk & Soul & Disco
Mobile Mondays! NYC all 45’s Vinyl Night with DJ Woof spinning all funk & soul & disco
What else to expect
Boogie on the Boulevard is back!
This year, on the last Sunday of every month from May-August, the center lanes of the Grand Concourse will be closed to cars and open to a world of fun. Boogie on the Boulevard is the largest Open Streets event in the Bronx, so get ready to walk, bike, skate, and boogie starting at 162nd Street from 12:00pm-4:00pm, as thousands of Bronxites celebrate the Boulevard of Dreams!
Get Creative
The Bronx Museum of the Arts and BXArts Factory will present the Boogie Arts Block, featuring local artists and performers. The Museum will also be open to the public and will offer tours of its’ current exhibitions. Plus, the Andrew Freedman Home will host open studios highlighting Bronx artists!
Performance schedule:
12:00- Open Mic hosted by Bobby Gonzalez
1:30- Walking Tour of the Grand Concourse by Sam Goodman
2:00- Bombazo Dance Company and Drum Circle
3:00- Bharati Kemraj
3:30- Chinese Cultural Center
PLUS
DJ Misbehavior & Joey Carvello spinning 45s, disco and 80s music
Get Rolling
Mullally Bike Park is bringing back the Strider Bike Adventure zone for children under 5. Participants can build bicycle skills on balance bikes and a custom course of ramps, plus youth mechanics from Recycle-a-Bicycle will be on hand to make minor repairs to bicycles of all sizes.
Get Healthy
BronxWorks and Bronx Health REACH are organizing a block of fitness and health activities to help you get healthy. Join a walking group organized by New York Road Runners, take a Zumba class with Gigi’s Life Fitness, or enjoy the “Bronx Salad” of the month, provided by the United Business Cooperative.
Fitness Schedule:
12:00- New York Road Runners Stretch and Rolle
1:00- Zumba with Myra Majors
2:00- Zumba with Gigi’s Life Fitness
Registration for FREE fitness classes is not required, but is strongly suggested! Sign up here
Get Some Greenery
Montefiore Medical Center will present The Great Lawn on the Grand Concourse, an on-street park for Boogie on the Boulevard. Kick off your shoes, enjoy a picnic, and spend some time relaxing on the grass.
Schedule:
1:00- Boogie Body Conditioning
1:30- Yoga on the Great Lawn
Registration for FREE fitness classes is not required, but is strongly suggested! Sign up here
Volunteers are still needed! Sign up here to help make Boogie a success!
So are you ready to Boogie?! We hope to see you all there!
Boogie on the Boulevard is made possible by the New York City Department of Transportation’s Weekend Walks program and organized by The Bronx Museum of the Arts, the South Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, BronxWorks, Bronx Health REACH, New York Road Runners, and Transportation Alternatives in partnership with a volunteer committee of Bronx residents.
Last Year’s Boogie:
Kids were learning how to skate on the Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Families having fun at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Hula Hoop!
Kids enjoy the racing course this at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Bharati at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Dancing and getting fit at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Arts and Craft at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Arts and craft thanks to BxArts Factory at Boogie on the Boulevard
Arts and Crafts at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Bronxites out in full force at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th.
Local resident Joyce Hogi struts fashion and her dog on the Concourse at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Everyone was having fun at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th where the numbers reached 2,500. Last year for the 3 Sunday event, 2,500 attended on all 3 days!
More kids learning how to skate at Boogie on the Boulevard this past Sunday, August 9th
Mandala with Yana Studios, LLC! Tasha Valentino/Photo Credit: Elizabeth Hamby
Painting with the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC)/Image credit: Elizabeth Hamby
The awesome crew from Black Girls Do Bike!!! / Photo credit: Elizabeth Hamby
Big thanks to the folks of Morning Glory Garden who sold super locally BRONX GROWN produce!
Bikers took advantaged of the closed center lanes of the Grand Concourse.
Grandmother and her granddaughter came out to enjoy the day and also take bike lessons, one of the many activities that were available on Sunday.
A game of basketball on the Grand Concourse? Why yes!
The kids were definitely having so much fun.
Cyclists of all ages came to enjoy the car-free open space of the Grand Concourse.
Are those the faces of joy or what?
The cafe tables were set up in front of the museum under the shade, perfect for folks to relax, and meet knew people. NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito Spoke about how Boogie on the Boulevard was a wonderful example of community building.
And more cyclists!
There was even a button making station! You were able to design your own button and either keep it for yourself or donate it to the Bronx Museum for their current exhibition!
Children and their families were happy to have the Bronx Children’s Museum on hand with their mobile bus. By 2017, the Children’s Museum is scheduled to have their own brick and mortar space!
Model Sketching!
Artist & Craftsman Supply were on hand as one of the main sponsors and face-painting activities!
Art was being created right before our eyes on Sunday.
Spray away! Loved to see so much art along with all the other activities.
Nearly 2,000 people should up on Sunday…last year 2,500 people showed up for all THREE Sundays so we’re definitely going to break our record!
What’s Boogie on the Boulevard without a little Bomba from Bombazo Dance Co?
Congressman Serrano jokingly mentions how far he had to walk to get to Boogie on the Boulevard…actually just a few blocks away since he lives on The Grand Concourse! He talked about how great this event is on so many levels and also entertained us with a few anecdotes from his younger years.
NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito spoke of the importance of events such as Boogie on the Boulevard as community building and then called on Department of Transportation, Polly Trottenberg to explore on getting the event extended to the end of the Concourse at Mosholu Parkway like it was years ago under former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer who started the program of Car Free Sundays—Boogie’s predecessor.
Big thanks for all of Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson’s support!
And the ribbon is cut for Boogie on the Boulevard! Let the festivities begin!
Bronx sensation Bharati Kemraj, taught a Bollywood workout class that got folks exercising!
Bharati Kemraj teaching her Bollywood exercise class
Some demonstrations by Crossfit SoBro, a local fitness center.
Everyone was out exercising and having fun.
The tapestry of people from all walks of life that make us such a beautiful borough were on full display at Boogie on the Boulevard.
Mother and daughter check out the list of activities for Boogie on the Boulevard’s first Sunday!
It’s Throwback Thursday so take a journey down memory lane and see The Bronx as it was almost a century ago and see how it looks today. Some things are basically the same but others have changed drastically, from The Bronx River, to Allerton, and Mott Haven to Woodlawn.
The Bronx River at East 174th Street. The image caption reads: “You would have to look a long while in Europe before finding a spot as ugly as that along the Bronx River near New York City. Fortunately, that particular bit of America has now been made into a spotless parkway of greensward, shrubs, and trees. But the fact remains that no civilized country can show so much man-made ugliness caused by neglect and carelessness as the United States. May” The caption incorrectly states that this is now The Bronx River Parkway. It is, in fact, Starlight Park. 1930 Review of Reviews Corp./Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Bronx River Parkway.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1930 – 1930.
This is what it looks like today, houses gone, park in place and a bridge over the Bronx River
Pelham Parkway at White Plains Road facing east from the 2 Subway line which had just opened. Notice not a building in sight/Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Bronx and Pelham Par – White Plains Road” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1914.
Pelham Parkway at White Plains Road today:
Northeast corner of E 138th Street looking towards Alexander Avenue from 3rd Avenue in 1915. The 6 IRT Line was currently under construction./Image Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: 138th Street – 3rd Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1915.
Today, the building has been replaced with Borinquen Court.
E 187th Street towards Webster Avenue from Marion Avenue in 1930 showing PS 85 Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: 187th Street (East) – Marion Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1930.University Avenue at W 190th Street in 1929/Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: 190th Street (West) – University Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1929.
Today, PS 85 still stands:
Over 87 years later and the buildings still stand intact:
E 233rd Street at Katonah Ave in Woodlawn in 1924. This beautiful home is now gone and in its place stands a gas station…progress? /Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: 233rd Street (East) – Katonah Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1924.
Such a beautiful home to be replaced by a gas station!
Boston Road looking North from Allerton Avenue in 1917. A billboard to the right announces the auction of the Lorillard Estate on June 12, 1917 which 1,445 lots were sold and eventually became the Allerton neighborhood./Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “Bronx: Boston Road – Allerton Avenue” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1917.
Now that the Randall’s Island Connector opened last fall, getting to the island’s 330 acres and waterfront access just became even easier for Bronxites.
This past Saturday, thanks to New York Restoration Project’s ‘The Haven Project’ for a greener, and more pedestrian friendly Mott Haven and Port Morris, a free shuttle service launched to get folks over to the island.
With 9 stops, the free shuttle bus takes you from Melrose at Bergen Street and Westchester Avenue (just a block over from the 2 and 5 line at 3rd Ave and 149th Street) through Mott Haven and into Port Morris to the connector so you and your loved ones can enjoy one of NYC’s best resource and island park.
By also stopping at Cypress Avenue Station on the 6 line, the new service readily connects millions of folks who use those stations and also opens it up to more than half our borough.
Along the way you’ll see photographs on streetlight banners of Martine Fougeron’s (a Port Morris resident) South Bronx Trades Project.
At the moment, the shuttle service operates only on Saturdays and Sundays from
10:00AM – 7:00PM
BUS STOPS
1. Walnut Ave. & E. 136th St.
The Bronx Brewery – Hourly on the :00
2. E. 138th St. & Cypress Ave.
Cypress Ave 6 train – on the :05
3. E. 138th St. & Third Ave.
3rd Ave.-138th 6 train – on the :10
4. 3rd Ave. & E. 144th St.
Patterson Houses – on the :15
5. Bergen & Westchester Ave.
The Hub – on the :23
6. St. Ann’s Ave. & E. 146th St.
Betances Community Center – on the :28
7. St. Ann’s Ave. & E. 141st St.
St. Ann’s Church – on the :33
8. E. 138th St. & Cypress Ave.
Cypress Ave 6 train – on the :39
9. Randall’s Island Connector
132nd b/w Willow & Walnut Ave. – on the :45
As you can see, the bus begins at Walnut Ave at The Bronx Brewery which doesn’t make sense at all. By the time the bus makes it to the connector, it’s already 45 minutes after the start. A more logical starting point would be to start at 3rd Avenue and 138th Street instead. We’re supposed to be connecting people in The Bronx to the connector no? Who’s at Bronx Brewery at 10AM?
Don’t get me wrong, we’re more than thrilled to have this opportunity, however, we just would prefer to see a more logical timetable that is beneficial to our residents.
Spanish Version
Thanks to Healthfirst for providing funding for the shuttle!
31 year old Evelyn Rebollar is one of 4 nationwide recipients of the Fishman Prize of $25,000
After thousands of nominations and over 800 applications for 2016, just four lucky and amazing teachers were awarded a $25,000 national prize for their hard work in delivering results in the classroom.
Evelyn Rebollar, 9th to 12th grade high school English teacher at Bronx Arena High School in Soundview is that lucky teacher who made the rigorous vetting process to win the Fishman Prize For Superlative Classroom Practice from The New Teacher Project (TNTP).
The process in selecting a winner is a long road with a six-month selection process where they submit essays, teaching videos, and letters of reference, as well as agreeing to an unannounced in-person classroom observation.
Evelyn Rebollar was surprised by a room full of students and media to award her the Fishman Prize.
TNTP was founded in 1997 buy a group of dedicated teachers who firmly believed that all our children deserved great teaching.
Through their humble beginnings, TNTP has evolved into a think tank of educational leaders with not just assigning great teachers to high-needs schools but also working at all levels of education in over 30 school systems nationwide.
And Rebollar’s and her teaching methods are the kinds our students so desperately need to get ahead.
During her 4 year career at Bronx Arena, 100% of her students have gone on to pass the New York State English Regents in the past 3 years. This is nothing short of simply amazing due to the fact that when her students enter her class they are generally below grade level with a failing average of 53 in English Language Arts.
Bronx Arena seniors, Amanda Roman and Leslie Allen were both excited for their teacher’s win.
“Evelyn’s commitment to creating an atmosphere of genuine learning and inquiry is inspiring to our entire school community,” said Bronx Arena High School Principal Ty Cesene. Cesene added, “The growth and success her students achieve in both academic and personal development is a testament to her talent as an educator.”
Rebollar is the real deal when it comes to education. She understands the whole student and the challenges they face with many odds already stacked against them but through her teaching methods, she’s able to get these students to perform at or above their potential.
“My students are a lot smarter than I am,” she says. “They just haven’t had that intelligence cultivated.”
Bronx Arena High School senior Amanda Roman said she was happy Rebollar’s recognition, something which she felt she deserved due to her dedication with herself and fellow classmates. Leslie Allen, another senior said of Rebollar, “She helps me where I need to be, she inspires me to WHERE I need to be. She pushes me to my limits each day.” Both Amanda and Leslie will be attending Bronx Community College this Fall.
A New York City native, Rebollar is a graduate of CUNY’S City College and recalled upon receiving her degree that, “I want to do for other students what my teacher did for me. If I didn’t have her, I wouldn’t be where I am now,” of a teacher who pushed her to excel in the 11th grade.
It is no wonder that out of ten finalists, she was one of four to win the Fishman Prize which consists of not just the $25,000 national prize but she will go on to a summer residency with other prize winners.
Through this residency, they will meet with national education leaders in order to tackle head on some of our country’s toughest issues facing education today.
Bronx Arena High School in Soundview
The residency will culminate with a writing project where Rebollar and her fellow winning companions will disseminate ideas and strategies in final writing project to be shared with the educational community.
The other 3 winners are:
Erica Stewart, 4th grade math, KIPP Excelencia Community Prep, in Redwood City Council California
Heather Howle, 8th grade STEM, West Feliciana Middle School, in St Francisville, Louisiana
Matthew Patterson, 12th grade English, Benjamin Banneker High School, in College Park in Georgia
We couldn’t be prouder of Evelyn Rebollar for believing in our children and giving them a chance at a better life through education.
Congratulations and we hope to read more about your ideas after your summer residency and congratulations to all the other winners as well!
31 year old Evelyn Rebollar is one of 4 nationwide recipients of the Fishman Prize of $25,000
After thousands of nominations and over 800 applications for 2016, just four lucky and amazing teachers were awarded a $25,000 national prize for their hard work in delivering results in the classroom.
Evelyn Rebollar, 9th to 12th grade high school English teacher at Bronx Arena High School in Soundview is that lucky teacher who made the rigorous vetting process to win the Fishman Prize For Superlative Classroom Practice from The New Teacher Project (TNTP).
The process in selecting a winner is a long road with a six-month selection process where they submit essays, teaching videos, and letters of reference, as well as agreeing to an unannounced in-person classroom observation.
Evelyn Rebollar was surprised by a room full of students and media to award her the Fishman Prize.
TNTP was founded in 1997 buy a group of dedicated teachers who firmly believed that all our children deserved great teaching.
Through their humble beginnings, TNTP has evolved into a think tank of educational leaders with not just assigning great teachers to high-needs schools but also working at all levels of education in over 30 school systems nationwide.
And Rebollar’s and her teaching methods are the kinds our students so desperately need to get ahead.
During her 4 year career at Bronx Arena, 100% of her students have gone on to pass the New York State English Regents in the past 3 years. This is nothing short of simply amazing due to the fact that when her students enter her class they are generally below grade level with a failing average of 53 in English Language Arts.
Bronx Arena seniors, Amanda Roman and Leslie Allen were both excited for their teacher’s win.
“Evelyn’s commitment to creating an atmosphere of genuine learning and inquiry is inspiring to our entire school community,” said Bronx Arena High School Principal Ty Cesene. Cesene added, “The growth and success her students achieve in both academic and personal development is a testament to her talent as an educator.”
Rebollar is the real deal when it comes to education. She understands the whole student and the challenges they face with many odds already stacked against them but through her teaching methods, she’s able to get these students to perform at or above their potential.
“My students are a lot smarter than I am,” she says. “They just haven’t had that intelligence cultivated.”
Bronx Arena High School senior Amanda Roman said she was happy Rebollar’s recognition, something which she felt she deserved due to her dedication with herself and fellow classmates. Leslie Allen, another senior said of Rebollar, “She helps me where I need to be, she inspires me to WHERE I need to be. She pushes me to my limits each day.” Both Amanda and Leslie will be attending Bronx Community College this Fall.
A New York City native, Rebollar is a graduate of CUNY’S City College and recalled upon receiving her degree that, “I want to do for other students what my teacher did for me. If I didn’t have her, I wouldn’t be where I am now,” of a teacher who pushed her to excel in the 11th grade.
It is no wonder that out of ten finalists, she was one of four to win the Fishman Prize which consists of not just the $25,000 national prize but she will go on to a summer residency with other prize winners.
Through this residency, they will meet with national education leaders in order to tackle head on some of our country’s toughest issues facing education today.
Bronx Arena High School in Soundview
The residency will culminate with a writing project where Rebollar and her fellow winning companions will disseminate ideas and strategies in final writing project to be shared with the educational community.
The other 3 winners are:
Erica Stewart, 4th grade math, KIPP Excelencia Community Prep, in Redwood City Council California
Heather Howle, 8th grade STEM, West Feliciana Middle School, in St Francisville, Louisiana
Matthew Patterson, 12th grade English, Benjamin Banneker High School, in College Park in Georgia
We couldn’t be prouder of Evelyn Rebollar for believing in our children and giving them a chance at a better life through education.
Congratulations and we hope to read more about your ideas after your summer residency and congratulations to all the other winners as well!
Imagine The Bronx and cities where streetlights are no longer necessary because, well, the ground and buildings are glowing providing light to guide the way?
According to Curbed, after 9 years of research, Dr Rubio made a novel breakthrough in being able to alter the microstructure of the cement itself in order to allow the phosphorescence to shine through.
All images via Investigación y Desarrollo
What’s even more marvelous is that the cement should provide up to 12 hours of light after being charged and even more fascinating is that it should also be able to do this for up to a century. That’s pretty remarkable in a world where things rarely last that long anymore!
Can you picture the Grand Concourse lit up with this soft glow? Imagine how magical Wave Hill, The New York Botanical Garden, and all our parks would look!
Imagine Wave Hill, The New York Botanical Garden, and our parks lit up like this?/ All images via Investigación y Desarrollo
And to think that silly Donald Trump wants to build a wall between Mexico and the United States. They may end up building a glow-in-the-dark one to keep us out if he’s elected!
This past Monday, May 9th, legislation was passed to make the bison, aka the American Buffalo, the national mammal of The United States and now sits along with the bald eagle, the rose, and the oak tree as official symbols of our nation.
But did you know that the bison was rescued from the abyss of extinction right here in The Bronx?
When the first colonizers arrived in North America over 400 years ago, there was an estimated 60 million bison roaming the North American continent and by 1883 that number was down to 40 million.
Fast forward a couple of decades later and by the 1900s that number had plummetted to roughly a thousand bison. Mankind’s insatiable appetite for hunting had pushed this majestic creature to the edge of extinction.
Massive mound of bison skulls to be used for fertilizer. Humanity drove the number of bison from 40-60 million to just around 1,000 by the 1900s / Image Via Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library
Today, over 500,000 bisons now roam out in the open thanks in part to what is considered one of America’s first conservation effort which started right here in our borough of The Bronx at the Bronx Zoo.
National Park Service, which celebrates its centennial this year, wrote the following story about the history of this great mammal:
How to Raise a Bison Herd
Bison Herd in Prairie
NPS Photo
In 1913, when the American Bison Society began the process of establishing a free-ranging bison (or buffalo as they are often called)herd in the newly created Wind Cave National Game Preserve, they looked to the New York City Zoo to get their animals. Here, William Hornaday had been collecting and breeding some of the few remaining wild bison.
Fred Dille, of the U.S. Biological Survey, was in charge of accomplishing this special task. To start, he had to determine how to move fourteen bison from New York City all the way across the country to their new home near Hot Springs, SD.
At the zoo, animal handlers had to build special crates for the bison and then load them onto an express train. That 2,000 mile journey took 2½ days. Once the bison arrived in Hot Springs, every available truck and cart was pressed into service to move them the remaining eleven miles to the preserve. This unprecedented journey took a surprising ten hours.
Wildlife Management Truck
NPS Photo
By the time the bison reached the preserve, quite a crowd had gathered to see them released. There was only one problem. The bison were not willing to back out of a crate! The frustrating process was described by Dille, “To suggest to a buffalo that he must back out of the crate by poking him in the head, will work with an elk but not a bison. Your actions are but a challenge to him and he does not propose to give ground.” The final operation was more a process of removing the crates from the animals than the animals from the crates. At last however, the bison were released and began their new life on the prairie. Six additional bison from Yellowstone were added to the herd in 1916.
In 1935, when the park and preserve merged, care of the animals was given to Wildlife Ranger Estes Suter. Suter was interested in creating a herd that looked and behaved like bison of the “old days”. He worked with Native American elders and locals to determine what a “true buffalo” really looked like and culled the herd to achieve that goal.
Thanks to Suter’s early work and because the park’s bison came either from the New York City Zoo or from Yellowstone, Wind Cave has a very special herd. Genetic testing done in 2004 showed that Wind Cave’s herd is one of the only federal herds free of cattle gene introgression. What does that mean? Early in the history of preserving bison, pioneers were challenged with not only preserving the species but also making it economically successful. To do this, many ranchers experimented with domestic cattle-bison crosses. They hoped to produce a “heartier beef breed” that would be resistant to disease, require less feed, and produce more calves. This tampering be-came apparent when genetic analysis revealed evidence of domestic cattle gene introgression in many bison herds examined.
Estes Suter on top of car watching bison herd
NPS Photo
Today, unlike when Estes Suter sat on top of his car to decide which bison to keep and which to cull, park biologists strive to protect the herd through scientific testing. Ideally, “wild” bison would live in free-ranging, naturally regulated herds. But that is not possible. Most herds are confined and subjected to varying degrees of management. Therefore herd size, population structure, levels of genetic variation, and the incidence of domestic cattle introgression must all be considered in the park’s management decisions.
For Wind Cave, the effort to establish a wild bison herd started with 14 animals. The importance of that story was noted when one of the original 14 bison died. The bison, named “Sandy” because of his light color, “succumbed to the rigors of his 24th winter” in December 1936. Newspapers reported the event well. “There are doubtless hundreds of buffaloes born on the plains which spent their last days in some park or zoo, but Sandy was one of the few to be born in a zoo and to die on the open range.”
Suter, Hornaday, Dille, today’s resource managers, and others have taken part in this adventure. They have provided us with the opportunity to see bison born and raised on an “open range”. And, if we are lucky, to see a herd so large they seem to fill the prairie.
It’s really wonderful to know that our borough had a role in saving the bison which this week became our national mammal. Once again, The Bronx’s part in American history shines through.
Join Nilka Martell tomorrow as she leads folks on a FREE 2 mile walking tour of Hunts Point and learn the history of this often maligned neighborhood.
Nilka writes:
“We will begin promptly at 11, so get there early! First 50 folks to register on that day will receive a goodie bag with maps and information on Hunts Point, as welll as a ticket to sample Morris Perk coffee! Rain or shine, let’s take a stroll through Hunts Point and share stories from 1663 to the present!”
The tour begins at the Hunts Point subway entrance on the 6 line promptly at 11AM so make sure you get there early enough to get that goodie bag!
4 properties in the Special Harlem River Waterfront District in the Lower Concourse Rezoning District have fetched $157,234,000 in sales over since 2014 Image From Google Earth
Back in 2009, New York City approved the rezoning of the Lower Grand Concourse area which stretches from 149th Street down to the waterfront and from Morris Avenue and west to the Harlem River. Within this zoning, the Special Harlem River Waterfront District was created which has seen some major sales within the past few years—not the least of which were several parcels purchased by Somerset Partners and The Chetrit Group who gave us the tone-deaf “Piano District” gentrification party.
As the de Blasio continues to push for rezonings throughout the city, we felt it important to show how this impacts sales in a neighborhood once it’s rezoned. We analyzed sales data for the past 7 years since the rezoning as well as the 7 years prior to the rezoning. When looking at the data, it is important to note that the years leading up to the rezoning was when the real estate market peaked and crashed.
Prior to the Lower Concourse Rezoning, sales were modest between 2002-2008, with the average sales price at $1,322,047 and an average price per square foot at $132/per square foot.
Since then, the average sales price and price per square foot in the area have more than doubled to $4,735,390 with an average of $289/per square foot representing a 258.19% and 118.94% increase respectively.
Sales trends within the Lower Concourse Rezoning Area
The volume of sales have also increased and 2016, thus far, appears to be on track to be on par with last year if not exceed it.
60% of the properties sold since 2009 are properties which were under ownership for 10 or more years with the same owner. The rezoning of the area, coupled with the proposed Special Harlem River Waterfront District has created a speculative purchasing frenzy in the general area as long-time owners are turning huge profits by unloading their holdings.
Gentrification is in full swing in parts of the South Bronx as more and more investors come into the area in hopes of making a fortune through new developments at a considerable lower cost than Manhattan, Brooklyn, and parts of Queens.
So many community assets are being sold in a neighborhood that lacks the purchasing power of millionaire and billionaire developers.
For thousands of residents of the East Bronx and transit deserts of Soundview, Castle Hill, and Throggs Neck, the much-anticipated expansion of ferry service scheduled to begin in 2018 can’t arrive soon enough.
The ferry, which will cost the same as a subway ride, will whisk commuters from Soundview to Wall Street in just 43 minutes inclusive of two stops on the Upper East Side (East 90th and E 62nd Streets).
The problem is that it will skip 34th Street, which currently serves the existing East River Ferry service, and go straight to Wall Street/Pier 11. Meanwhile, the new Astoria and Lower East lines will have access to this important midtown hub.
But why do Bronx residents get short-changed yet again? Why not also stop at 34th Street like the other new lines coming into service?
We could also use the ferry service at Yankee Stadium to alleviate the major overcrowding that occurs on the 4 line at 161st Street/River Avenue and 149th Street/Grand Concourse.
The new service will link approximately 500,000 New Yorkers across 21 neighborhoods including 15,000 NYCHA residents. NYCEDC estimates that the expanded ferry service will carry 4.6 million riders a year along the 6 routes.
The new barges will be constructed over on Staten Island (our veteran borough with ferry service) and the entire expansion is expected to create at least 155 new jobs with living wages of for crew of $15+/hour.
Citywide Ferry Landing Rendering
NYCEDC further states:
New Jobs:
At least 155 new jobs in the New York Harbor
Crew will earn wages above $15 per hour, along with a comprehensive benefits package.
Hornblower has a strong history as a strong unionized employer
Hornblower will participate in the City’s HireNYC program, which matches qualified applicants from neighborhood-based WorkForce1 training centers.
Routes:
Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria routes scheduled to launch in 2017.
Rockaway route will connect to the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street.
Astoria route will connect to Astoria, Roosevelt Island (Cornell Tech), Long Island City, East 34th Street and Wall Street.
South Brooklyn route will connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6, and Wall Street, with an optional link to Governors Island.
Soundview and Lower East Side routes to launch in 2018.
Routes from Coney Island and Stapleton on Staten Island are in planning stages for future expansion.
Combined routes will cover over 60 miles of waterway.
Over half a million New Yorkers live within a half-mile of one of the 21 Citywide Ferry landings, including 15,000 families living in NYCHA developments.
Citywide Ferry Landing Rendering
Commuting Times:
Rockaway to Wall Street (1 stop): Approximately 1 hour
Astoria to E 34th Street (2 stops): Approximately 22 minutes
Astoria to Wall Street (3 stops): Approximately 38 minutes
Soundview to Wall Street (2 stops): Approximately 43 minutes
Bay Ridge to Wall Street (4 stops): Approximately 48 minutes
Pricing:
Cost per ride will equal that of a single subway ride
4,000 daily East River Ferry customers will see fares reduced from $4 to the cost of a single subway ride
Fare will allow for free transfers to any other ferry route within the system, including the East River Ferry.
Both paper and smartphone ticketing will be available, with payments accepted via cash, credit, or debit card. Discounts will be available for seniors, children and New Yorkers with disabilities.
Passengers will be allowed to bring bicycles on board for a $1 fee.
The Boats:
Each boat will be able to carry at least 149 passengers.
All boats will be equipped with WiFi.
Boats will be fully accessible to New Yorkers with disabilities, and will comply with the requirements of both the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York City Local Law 68 of 2005.
New boats will be equipped with the most modern engine design available to reduce emissions and noise, as well as an efficient hull design that will limit wakes and maximize fuel economy.
City contract with Hornblower allows the company to charter vessels if necessary to meet the implementation timeline.
City Support:
City is investing $55 million in infrastructure upgrades, including building 10 new ferry landings. Barge construction is currently underway at a facility on Staten Island.
City is providing $30 million in operating support per year, over a period of six years. Based on a projection of 4.6 million annual trips, the per-trip subsidy for Citywide Ferry Service will be $6.60, lower than the nearly $8 per trip subsidy on the Long Island Railroad or the nearly $15 per trip subsidy for express buses. City is providing $10 million for additional startup costs, such as vessel upgrades and ticketing machines.
Potential sponsorships would offset operating costs.
City negotiated an option to acquire at least 18 state-of-the-art, highly efficient passenger ferry vessels, allowing for greater operational flexibility and providing significant savings to taxpayers over the life of the service (roughly up to $5 million per year).
City will receive a portion of fare-box revenue if ridership exceeds 5.6 million passengers.
Ida Keeling running during the Gay Games back in 2014 (Image Courtesy Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Bronx resident Ida Keeling is literally in a league of her own. Keeling, who turns 101 this month, has been racing for over 30 years now.
This centenarian has been setting records, particularly women in the 95-99 year category and now just days before her 101st birthday, has set yet another record for a new age bracket.
“When she runs, Ms. Keeling occupies a lane all her own. She has held several track-and-field records since she began racing in her late 60s, and she still has the fastest time for American women ages 95 to 99 in the 60-meter dash: 29.86 seconds. In the week to come, she plans to compete in a 100-meter event at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, where she hopes to establish a new standard for women over 100 years old.
“You see so many older people just sitting around — well, that’s not me,” said Ms. Keeling, who is barely 4-foot-6 and weighs 83 pounds. “Time marches on, but I keep going.”
Ms. Keeling was not always such an accomplished runner. As a child growing up in Harlem, she preferred riding bikes or jumping rope. With Title IX half a century away, there were few opportunities for girls, let alone black girls, to play organized sports. When she did run, it was always to race, never to exercise.”
It’s always wonderful to see our seniors active but Keeling is truly a wondrous inspiration for all of us.
She epitomizes what we can accomplish through hard work and keeping an eye on a goal.
Keeling is an inspiration for me—I’m 60 years her junior and I like to lead an active life but seeing her shows me what’s possible.
In many ways, she’s a reflection of our borough through her resiliency and perseverance against all odds.
People like Ida Keeling is representative of the types of people whom we should be honoring on our Bronx Walk of Fame instead of so many celebrities our borough president seems infatuated by.
Let’s hope we can all live a long and healthy life like Ida and to Ms Keeling, Happy birthday and congratulations!
