BELMONT LIBRARY HOSTS ANTI-PROM
The Belmont Library hosted its inaugural ‘Anti-Prom’ on Friday,
May 10. The ‘Boogie Down Bronx’ Anti-Prom provided an alternative
safe space for local youth regardless of their sexuality,
gender identity, the way they dress or any other distinguishing
characteristics.
(Above) Local youth had fun dancing at their Anti-Prom.
Photo by Jonathan Blanc
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M BTR AY 24-30, 2019 73
Taking care of your teeth and mouth
Healthy teeth and gums
make it easy for you to eat well
and enjoy good food. Several
problems can affect the health
of your mouth, but good care
should keep your teeth and
gums strong as you age.
There is a right way to
brush and fl oss your teeth. Every
day:
• Gently brush your teeth
on all sides with a soft-bristle
brush and fl uoride toothpaste.
• Use small circular motions
and short back-and-forth
strokes.
• Brush carefully and gently
along your gum line.
• Lightly brush your tongue
to help keep your mouth
clean.
• Clean around your teeth
with dental fl oss. Careful
fl ossing removes plaque and
leftover food that a toothbrush
can’t reach.
• Rinse after you fl oss.
People with arthritis or
other conditions that limit
hand motion may fi nd it hard
to hold and use a toothbrush.
Some helpful tips are:
• Use an electric or batteryoperated
toothbrush.
• Slide a bicycle grip or
foam tube over the handle of
the toothbrush.
• Buy a toothbrush with a
larger handle.
See your dentist if brushing
or fl ossing causes your
gums to bleed or hurts your
mouth. If you have trouble
fl ossing, a fl oss holder may
help. Ask your dentist to show
you the right way to fl oss.
Keep your dentures clean
and free from food that can
cause stains, bad breath, or
swollen gums. Brush them
every day with a denturecare
product. Take your dentures
out of your mouth at
night and soak them in water
or a denture-cleansing
liquid.
Dental care can be costly.
Medicare does not cover routine
dental care, and very few
States offer dental coverage
under Medicaid.
• Some dental schools have
clinics where students get experience
treating patients at
a reduced cost. Qualifi ed dentists
supervise the students.
Visit www.ada.org for a list of
U.S. dental schools.
• Dental hygiene schools
may offer supervised, low-cost
care as part of the training experience
for dental hygienists.
See schools listed by State at
www.adha.org.
• Call your county or State
health department to fi nd
dental clinics near you that
charge based on your income.
Brought to you by Montefi
ore Medical Group, R.A.I.N.
and the Hartford Institute for
Geriatric Nursing @ NYU,
based on National Institute on
Aging materials.
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
The calendar year 2019
marks the Centennial Anniversary
of organized civic
activity in the Spencer Estate
Community. Our ‘One
Hundred for One Hundred’
membership drive is a celebration
of this milestone and
a tribute to all the dedicated
men and women that played
vital roles in this prodigious
achievement.
An overwhelming response
from this caring community
helped us meet and
exceed the 100-member goal.
However, a goal met does not
mean the mission is completed.
Our association needs
continued growth, but more
importantly needs to blossom
and fl ourish as a collective
unifi ed body that will be
hawkish in the quest to better
our community.
May 15th Meeting
Preliminary speakers
Ted Pryor, lead counsel for
Councilman Mark Gjonaj
and Maryanne Joyce, constituent
liaison for Senator
Alessandra Biaggi preceded
our keynote speaker Assemblyman
Michael Benedetto.
Pryor, a valued friend of our
association, spoke of various
programs, community
events and legislation sponsored
by Councilman Gjonaj.
City council legislation to increase
the fi nes on illegally
stored tractor trailers, free
smoke alarm installations
and public skating in nearby
Bufano Park were items included
in his informative
presentation.
The always affable and
professionally eloquent
Joyce alluded to the budgetary
constraints confronted
by most freshman Senators.
As in most areas, seniority
and rank brings along certain
privileges.
Joyce revealed Senator
Biaggi’s interest in maintaining
long-standing neighborhood
traditions such as
the Summer Concert in the
Park events. She also promoted
the senator’s open
door policy and eagerness to
meet area residents.
Call (718) 822-2049 to
scheduled a meeting, express
community concerns or just
say hello to Senator Biaggi’s
friendly staff.
Our keynote speaker of
the evening Assemblyman
Benedetto gave a very detailed
and informative presentation
on the upcoming
I-95 project. Benedetto’s oratory
painted a vivid picture
as he led us on a visual journey
through the completed
I-95 corridor.
This necessary infrastructure
improvement is
scheduled to begin in fall
2020 with a projected completion
date of late 2022. Assemblyman
Benedetto assured
our association that traffi c
fl ow in and around the community
would be minimally
affected during the construction
phases of this major
project.
Assemblyman Benedetto
is chairman to the State Assembly
Education Committee
and as a former educator
explained the daily plights of
many special needs children.
These precious treasures are
often bussed to out of district
schools and spend an inordinate
amount of time traveling
to and from school. Our
assemblyman pledged to use
his efforts and infl uence to
help lessen their transportation
burdens.
The Bronx at 67.4% has
the lowest four-year high
school graduation rate in
New York City. In addition,
our boroughs’ 12.4% dropout
rate is an outrage. Assemblyman
Benedetto, now in a
position of state budgetary
infl uence and oversight in
the domain of education, will
explore methods to improve
student performance and our
boroughs sub par graduation
rates. We thank Assemblyman
Benedetto and the latest
addition to his staff Mark
McKay for taking time to address
our community.
Community Footnotes
From Pat Caruso and our
Friends at Community Board
10: On Saturday, May 25 volunteers
are needed at Woodlawn
Cemetery to place fl ags
on the graves of those who
proudly served our nation.
This is a rain or shine event,
call (718-) 08-5635.
Recently an apartment
building and attached business
on Middletown Road
were destroyed by fi re. This
devastating event serves as a
reminder for the importance
of smoke alarms.
The American Red Cross
in partnership with Councilman
Gjonaj provides
free smoke alarm installation
through the ‘Sound the
Alarm’ program. Remember,
a mere two minutes can
be the difference in successfully
escaping a house fi re.
Please call (877) 733-2767 to
take advantage of this vital
service.
A big hats off to the Sister
Servants of Mary Auxiliary.
their Plant and Boutique
sale held on Saturday, May
11 was well run and offered a
wonderful array of beautiful
fl owers that would enhance
any home or garden.
As anticipated, the Saturday,
May 4 Spring Safe Disposal
event held by NYC Department
of Sanitation was
a well-orchestrated and professionally
run event. You
remain in vehicle as unwanted
waste was carefully
off-loaded and in a few minutes
you were headed happily
homeward. Great job,
great event.
Political leaders to gauge a
community’s interest and fortitude
use the attendances at
local civic association meetings.
Large turnouts by our
community show our elected
offi cials that we have the fortitude
and resolve needed to
confront adversity. It is critical
for our community to
continually build on this momentum.
The next meeting
of the Spencer Estate Civic
Association is Wednesday,
June 19, 7:30 p.m at Knights
of Columbus. Matt Cruz, district
manager of CB 10 and
long time board member the
knowledgeable and dependable
Pat Caruso are scheduled
to address our community.
CB 10 serves as advisors
and conduits between elected
offi cials, city agencies and
our community. Their dedication
to our community and
hard work is accomplished
without fanfare. A large attendance
at our June meeting
will be a testament to the
appreciations we have for
these altruistic stewards of
our community.
Prior to partaking in the
typical Memorial Dayweekend
festivities with family
or friends please take time to
honor those that made the ultimate
sacrifi ce in service to
our great nation. May they
all Rest in Peace.
Any area homeowner or
renter interested in membership
to the all inclusive Spencer
Estate Civic Association
in box George Havranek on
Facebook or send-email with
subject matter Spencer Estate
to gghh55@aol.com.
If we want to ‘keep and
reap the blessings’ of our fi ne
quality of life ‘we must undergo
the fatigue of supporting
it’.
Remember: ‘Inclusion
brings solutions.’
/www.ada.org
/www.adha.org
link
/www.ada.org
/www.adha.org
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