NY Junior Tennis &
Learning’s Serve &
Connect program
For a third consecutive year, the
non-profi t organization, New York Junior
Tennis & Learning, will be delivering
one of its most impactful community
programs, Serve & Connect.
The program is hosted at its fl agship
home, The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis
& Learning, located at 1720 Crotona
Avenue. It will run on Saturdays
from 4 to 7 p.m. from Saturday, January
19 to Saturday, April 13.
With the help of the USTA Foundation
and the NYPD 42nd Precinct,
Serve & Connect brings together police
offi cers and at risk youth, (ages 10
to 18), where together with the coaching
staff, they take part in a positive,
character building experience. The
weekly sessions include tennis and
life skills lessons covering topics such
as respect, discipline and teamwork.
Each session concludes with a group
discussion led by an educator covering
the days topic over a meal that is
shared by the kids, their parents, the
offi cers and the coaches.
For information and a registration
form email iramirez@nyjtl.org.
* * *
NYC Parks announces a special
spring session of Shape Up NYC’s Fitness
Instructor Training Program to
launch in the Bronx. This comprehensive
12-week training program is designed
to teach New Yorkers to become
fi tness instructors for Shape Up
NYC. All participants who complete
the training will receive an NYC Parks
Certifi cate of Completion, and will be
equipped to pass a nationally-accredited
certifi cation exam.
The Fitness Instructor Training Program
is designed to teach individuals
to lead Shape Up NYC’s free fi tness
classes. Through this training program,
participants will cover topics including
basic anatomy, exercise physiology,
injury prevention, music, cueing, and
body toning with light weights.
At the conclusion of the program,
participants will start a six-month internship
with Shape Up NYC. They
will have an opportunity to apply the
techniques and training methods they
learned as they lead their very own
one-hour Shape Up NYC each week.
With the addition of the newly trained
instructors, we’ll be able to offer 20-
25 more weekly Shape Up classes in
the Hunts Point/Castle Hill/Soundview
area by early fall.
Generally, the program runs in the
fall and is hosted at West Bronx Recreation
Center, but now for the fi rst
time ever, interested applicants living
in the eastern section of the Bronx can
apply to participate at Graham Windham
Beacon Center in Hunts Point.
The special session is funded by the
Stavros Niarchos Foundation, a philanthropic
organization which provides
grants to support arts, culture, education,
health, sports and social welfare
programming.
The application is currently open
until February 4. Interested participants
can fi nd more information and
submit an application through the NYC
Parks website.
* * *
Stop by City Island and enjoy the exciting
programs offered at the PSS City
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
On Friday evening, January
17 a small cardboard fi re
in the rear compartment of a
NYC Sanitation truck created
a little excitement on Ohm
Avenue. Thanks to the efforts
of a conscientious sanitation
crew and the unparalleled
skills of the FDNY the blaze
was quickly extinguished.
On the topic of sanitation: A
Friday night drive through
the neighborhood revealed
numerous bulk items sitting
curbside. In the Spencer Estate
community, bulk pickup
occurs on our fi rst collection
day of the week. All bulk material
should be placed curbside
on Tuesday after 5 p.m.
for pickup. We thank you in
advance for your anticipated
compliance.
As stated in previous columns
‘old problems can resurrect.’
Strings of tractor-trailers
are once again illegally
parking along Bruckner Boulevard
between Middletown
Road and Wilkinson Avenue.
This unnecessary practice
creates obvious safety hazards.
On Sunday, January
20 in a thirty minute period
from 1 to 1:30 p.m., I personally
observed three near automobile
accidents due to the
partial right lane obstructions
caused by these oversized
vehicles. Correspondence
regarding this issue
has been sent to Councilman
Mark Gjonaj and Community
Board 10. Our association
will remain focused on this
POLICE INVESTIGATE SHOOTING ON VALENTINE AVE.
Police need your help apprehending a suspect wanted in connection to a shooting
in the west Bronx. According to 46th Precinct, a 17-year-old male was shot once in
his back at 2128 Valentine Avenue on Thursday, January 17 at 1:18 p.m. The victim
was taken to Jacobi Medical Center and is expected to survive. Police are looking
for an individual described as a Hispanic male with a beard last seen wearing a black
hoodie, black jacket, blue jeans and white sneakers. The suspect fl ed southbound on
Valentine Avenue. No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All
calls are kept strictly confi dential.
(Above) Police roped off the area as they conducted their investigation.
Photo by Aracelis Batista
previously resolved issue.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 28 ANUARY 25-31, 2019 BTR
Fortunately our area
dodged the major snowfall
that plagued much of the
northeast. This serves as a
reminder for all area senior
citizens and disabled individuals,
incapable of performing
mandated snow removal duties,
to register for ‘The Snow
Removal Program’ sponsored
by Councilman Gjonaj. For
enrollment in this wonderful
community service please
call the councilman’s offi ce
at (718) 931-1721.
January is rolling right
along. Passing the month’s
mid-way point is a reminder
that Valentine’s Day is rapidly
approaching. The February
10 brunch hosted by
International Caterers on
Ampere Avenue from noon to
3:30 p.m. is a wonderful way
to celebrate that romantic
occasion. Fine cuisine and
quality entertainment by the
talented Bel-Aires, featuring
Joe Milazzo, a longtime resident
of Spencer Estate, adds a
special quality to this Valentine
event. For information
and/or reservations please
call International Caterers
at (718) 892-2989.
The months of January
and February are dormant
periods in the arenas of many
civic associations. However,
during this period president
Al Carena and I plan to meet
with various civic and political
leaders to discuss community
needs and set the
associations’ agenda for the
upcoming year.
Our 2019 ‘One Hundred
for One Hundred’ membership
drive is underway. The
changing political climate
has made community involvement
more important than
ever. Any area resident, homeowner
or renters, interested
in membership to our all-inclusive
organization send email
with subject Spencer Estate
to gghh55@aol.com
Remember: “Inclusion
Brings Solutions.”
Island Center, which is located at 116 City
Island Avenue, Monday Through Friday
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experience The Exercise
Classes From Gentle Yoga Stretch,
Balance Class, Arthritis Workshop and Tai
Chi as well, as the Fit For Life and Cardio
Fit. They also offer acrylic painting, calligraphy,
canasta, health presentations,
nutritional information, and parties. Lunch
is served from noon to 1pm.
Suggested donation is $2. They go
on shopping trips every day; i.e. Shop
Rite, Dollar Tree, Target, Kmart, as well
as theatre excursions, boat trips, special
luncheons and more.
Upcoming special events will be
held Wednesay, January 9: Elder Abuse
Presentation at 12:30 p.m.; Thursday,
January 10, Singing Group resumes at
1:15 p.m..
It’s free to become a member, but
you must be 60 years or above. For more
information contact Patty at (718) 885-
0727 or email pattis@pssusa.org.
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