B R O N X W E E K 2 0 1 9
Bronx Week 2019
to honor three;
May 9 to May 19
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
Bronx Week 2019 kicked off with
the announcement of three honorees
that have always remembered their
roots while excelling.
Championship boxer Iran Barkley
– who never forgot growing up in
the Patterson Houses, Regina Spektor,
a singer-songwriter with hits on the
charts since 2006, and Carolyn Porco,
a planetary scientist who has helped
all of us see our solar system through
photography, will be enshrined onto
the Bronx Walk of Fame outside 851
Grand Concourse during Bronx Week
2019’s induction ceremony on Sunday,
May 19 at 11 a.m.
With over 50 events on the calendar
for Bronx Week 2019 beginning
on Thursday, May 9 and culminating
with a grand fi nale parade on May 19
on Mosholu Parkway followed by food
festival and concert featuring main
act Fat Joe and Funkmaster Flex and
salsa stars Hector Tricoche with Edgar
Joel and Anthony Colon, the 11
days of events feature something for
everyone.
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.
kicked off Bronx Week 2019 with an
announcement of the honorees at The
Lit. Bar in Mott Haven on Monday,
May 6, where he spoke about the resurgence
of the community thanks to the
efforts of community leaders and entrepreneurs.
“Bronx Week is a chance for our
borough to come together and celebrate
what an incredible community
we have here,” said Diaz. “The Bronx
is recognized by the whole world as a
rainbow of culture, talent, and spirit
and today we host our annual homecoming
for some of our best and brightest
stars.”
Diaz said that the honorees were
people who had honed their respective
crafts and were proud of their Bronx
personal history.
“This year’s honorees are role models
for their achievements in their respective
fi elds and they show that, if
given a chance, a child from the Bronx
can become a world-renowned pianist,
a champion boxer or even a planetary
scientist. I am proud to welcome them
back to the ‘boogie down,’” said the
borough president.
Diaz gave a ‘shout out’ to some of
the events that are part of Bronx Week
including a senior citizens appreciation
event, a centenarian’s celebration
and a breakfast celebrating the borough’s
tens of thousands of veterans
(see calendar).
The Bronx Zoo, part of the Wildlife
Conservation Society, will be receiving
a Bronx Week 2019 tourism award.
John Calvelli, WCS executive vice
president, said that the Bronx Zoo is
the largest cultural attraction outside
of Manhattan with 2 million
visitors and will soon celebrate 125
years.
This year’s gold sponsor for Bronx
Week is Montefi ore Medical Center.
“As the premier health system in
the Bronx and the county’s largest
employer, we are excited to work with
Borough President Diaz and the Bronx
Tourism Council to help support all of
the family friendly and civic minded
events that bring the Bronx together
in celebration each year,” said Dr. Peter
Semczuk, senior vice president and
executive director of Montefi ore Moses
and Wakefi eld campuses.
Sponsors for Bronx Week 2019 include:
Waste Management, Carpenter
Contract Alliance of Metropolitan
New York, Goya, Empire Blue
Cross Blue Shield, Con Edison, United
Healthcare, Altice USA, Bronx Community
College, Lehman College, Hostos
Community College, Lincoln Hospital,
Mercy College, BronxNet, Bronx
Design Group and Blink Fitness.
BRONX TIMES R 48 EPORTER, MAY 10-16, 2019 BTR
Borough President Diaz and Noelle Santos, The Lit. Bar owner, show their Bronx pride.
Photo by Kasey Rodriguez
This year’s Bronx Week 2019 honorees are (l) singer-songwriter Regina Spector, boxing
great Iran Barkley (below, left) and planetary scientist Carolyn Porco. (r).
Photo courtesy of Borough President Diaz’s offi ce
Bronx Walk of Fame 2019 inductee and champion former boxer Iran ‘The Blade’ Barkley and
Borough President Diaz were excited for this year’s Bronx Week induction ceremony and
festivities taking place all of the borough. They posed together during the Bronx Week 2019
kickoff at the The Lit. Bar on Monday, May 6. Photo by Kasey Rodriguez
Bronx Week is a chance
for our borough to come
together and celebrate
what an incredible
community we have
here.
Ruben Diaz, Jr.
Borough President