Boricua College Update

Things are now moving very quickly at Boricua College in the new Boricua Village complex.  Lettering has been placed on the building as well as a banner for enrollment.
More to come on this soon!

Former Melrose Person of The Year In This Week's Crain's!

Dr. Richard Izquierdo (not to be confused by the embattled Richard Izquierdo Arroyo - grand son of New York State Assemblywoman Carmen E. Arroyo and nephew of City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo) was the feature of a Crain's New York article today on the realization of his dream to create a charter school to train the future health care practitioners of the future - right here in our borough.  The Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School will be opening its doors this September 2010 school year with its first class of 6 graders.


Doc, as Dr. Richard Izquierdo is known by the community, was the 2009 Welcome2Melrose Person Of The Year and through his hard work over the last 50+ years has transformed the landscape of health care in the South Bronx.


A big Melrose THANK YOU to Dr. Izquierdo for his continuous hard work to bring quality health care to our people as well as helping empower our youth through education.

Residents Invited to Register for Free Cell Phone Program for Low Income Families

Assurance Wireless, a new cell phone service operating under the Sprint Prepaid division, will be on hand tomorrow, Sunday May 16th from 1pm - 6pm at the "The Shops at Gateway" at the Gateway Center Mall offering low income individuals the opportunity to have a cell phone with 200 free minutes a month.  Andrew de Lara, with Corporate Communications/PR at Sprint Nextel put it best by saying:

"We really see this as an opportunity to make those less fortunate aware of this valuable resource – one that can change the lives of people in the Bronx who need a little help getting back on their feet. We recognize that a cell phone is crucial in getting back in the job market (potential employers do need to get in touch with candidates and such – and they still need to stay connected with their loved ones)."

There are several ways one can qualify for this free cell phone service some which are:

• Medicaid
• SMAP (food stamps), 
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8
• Low Income Housing Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) 
• National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program

Let's take this opportunity to give a big Melrose THANK YOU to all at Sprint Nextel for this wonderful opportunity to the people of The Bronx.  It's about time that someone does something for the poorest congressional district in the entire country!

Full Press Release:

***MEDIA ALERT***

ASSURANCE WIRELESS TAKING APPLICATIONS AT GRAND OPENING OF “THE SHOPS AT GATEWAY”

Residents Invited to Register for Free Cell Phone Program for Low Income Families

WHAT:	Assurance Wireless will be in attendance taking applications for low income eligible residents to receive a free cell phone and service and on hand for interviews during the Grand Opening of “The Shops” at the Gateway Center.  Assurance Wireless is a new cell phone service for eligible low-income households from Virgin Mobile USA, part of Sprint’s Prepaid group.  Eligible New York State residents can receive a free cell phone and 200 free minutes of air time for local and long distance calling every month. Eligibility can be determined by calling Assurance Wireless at 888-898-4888 and more information is available at www.assurancewireless.com.  Generally, those receiving Medicaid, SMAP (food stamps), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8, Low Income Housing Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), or the National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program may be eligible for Assurance Wireless.  Customers may also qualify based on household income and Federal poverty guidelines.  Eligibility varies by state.
WHEN:	Sunday May 16, 2010 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
WHO:	Kenneth Poindexter, Assurance Wireless Relationship Manager
WHERE:	Shops at Gateway 3rd Avenue 149th-156th Street Bronx, NY
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:	Interview and photo opportunity during grand opening with: ·       Kenneth Poindexter, Assurance Wireless Relationship Manager
CONTACT:	Onsite: Ken Poindexter – 703-731-4947 Ken.Poindester@BoostMobile.com Media Contact – Assurance Wireless Jack Pflanz – 315-374-0693 Jack.Pflanz@Sprint.com

             

Residents Invited to Register for Free Cell Phone Program for Low Income Families

Assurance Wireless, a new cell phone service operating under the Sprint Prepaid division, will be on hand tomorrow at the "The Shops at Gateway" at the Gateway Center Mall offering low income individuals the opportunity to have a cell phone with 200 free minutes a month.  Andrew de Lara, with Corporate Communications/PR at Sprint Nextel put it best by saying:

"We really see this as an opportunity to make those less fortunate aware of this valuable resource – one that can change the lives of people in the Bronx who need a little help getting back on their feet. We recognize that a cell phone is crucial in getting back in the job market (potential employers do need to get in touch with candidates and such – and they still need to stay connected with their loved ones)."

There are several ways one can qualify for this free cell phone service some which are:

• Medicaid
• SMAP (food stamps), 
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8
• Low Income Housing Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) 
• National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program

Let's take this opportunity to give a big Melrose THANK YOU to all at Sprint Nextel for this wonderful opportunity to the people of The Bronx.  It's about time that someone does something for the poorest congressional district in the entire country!

Coqui Mexicano Makes It To the New York Times!

What can our Melrose community do for you? Well for starters if one of our own is in trouble we can all get together, make some ruckus and help save them!  That's exactly what we did when we found out that Coqui Mexicano was served with an eviction notice.  Thanks to all who rallied the troops like The Bronx Defenders, The South Bronx Food Cooperative, Welcome2Melrose and local elected officials enough noise was made and now they have the attention of the world through the great piece by Sam Dolnick of the New York Times.  First it was the New York Daily News and News12 The Bronx who picked up the the story from Welcome2Melrose


For those of you not familiar with Mr. Dolnick's writings, he was the one who quoted the phrase the "Bronx Paradox" a few months ago which prompted the Food Revolution in the Bronx lead by Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr. during May 1st's first ever Bronx Food Summit.


Let's all give a round of applause for each and every one who came out to show support for the little big guys!

Melrose Just Got Greener - El Jardin De Selene Is Officially Open

One of the most long awaited developments in Melrose, El Jardine de Selene is now officially open.  The LEED-Gold (certification pending and was originally designed to achieve a Silver certification but they since bumped it up) development is a mixed-use, mixed-income affordable housing development with a healthy mix of 84 units ranging from studios to two-bedroom units.  

The beautiful 12 story tower, one of the tallest in Melrose, resonates with the Bronx' rich art deco architectural history .  El Jardin de Selene provides residents with plenty of outdoor space and it's design floods the building with natural light.  Units on the higher levels even boast 3 exposures - a rarity in any type of construction these days.  A large green roof on the 9th floor provides residents with views of the Bronx and NYC skyline while sitting amongst local and native fauna.  Further down the building on the 2nd Floor is a larger outdoor courtyard also landscaped with native fauna and has direct access via the community room or the laundry room.  The laundry room itself is a treat for the residents as it features "green" appliances - and plenty of them as well as floor to ceiling windows providing tons of sunlight.

And not to be left behind in the "green wars" (The Eltona back in October 2009, opened with 10 windmills on its roof and achieved a LEED PLATINUM Certification) of Melrose as each new development tries to outdo the other, El Jardin de Selene has solar panels on its roof top to power the building's common areas, bamboo flooring and wheatboard cabinetry in all units and daylight and occupancy sensors in the common areas. 

A big Melrose THANK YOU is in order to all who made this development possible including, Nos Quedamos, Magnusson Architecture and Planning, PC, MJM Construction Services, LLC and Melrose Associates!  Keep up the great work in making our neighborhood the GREENEST neighborhood in the all of New York State!

Manny Kanaris, Principal of MJM Construction Services, LLC showing us the solar panels on the rooftop.

Melrose Avenue Facing North - View from the 12th Floor

View of Melrose Facing North - Boricua College and Village in the distance

"The Price is Life" - Opening Reception Today At LDR Studio Gallery

I had the of attending a semi-private tour of "The Price is Life" at the LDR Studio Gallery in Port Morris and I have to say that it is one of the most intense works of art that I have seen so far this year in the Bronx.  The exhibit, which opens today from 5:30PM to Midnight is not one to be missed and is curated by Luis D. Rosado.
==============================================

LDR Studio Gallery is proud to present

 "The Price is  Life"

  

                   

    May 5th, 2010 Opening Reception

5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

curated by: Luis D. Rosado

The duo comprised of Dude & Magnus have devised an infinite canvas which they call Conspiracy Theatre--a vehicle they use to invite a change to the apathy and mass confusion of our dying nations.  They seek to learn, educate and inspire through their creations revisiting the theme of  'each one teach one.'  

Dude was born in the Bronx and raised all over New York. He has been creating art since the age of 5.  It was then that his palette for reality itself widened beyond his ability to express it and to this day he strives to blend his knowledge of the worlds around him with the grace of his art.  Through the clarity and purity of science and logic he searches for ultimate wisdom.  As he sometimes refers to himself, he simply considers himself a visiting Vulcan accented by a Jigsaw Picasso. 

Magnus the other half of this duo was born and raised in Union Zoo of the "Dirty Jerz," an industrial suburban town where no one ever leaves.  His environment forced him to examine his own path.  While exploring his fate to suffer he chose to be guided by his inner conscious to a higher existence.  Forging a new path he broke out to New York to begin his career as a tattoo artist. Since then his goal has been to create life enhancing art which provokes epiphanies in sleeping minds and expands the mass human consciousness.  

http://www.bronxarts.org/culture_trolley.asp 

Directions to 137 Alexander Ave, between 134th st & Bruckner Blvd:

Subway:
Take 6 train to 138th St./3rd Ave. and exit on 138th St. and Alexander Ave.
Walk south on Alexander Ave until you get to 134th St.
The building is on Alexander Ave. between 134th St. & Bruckner Blvd.
It's the first building on the right hand side of the street.

Driving from Manhattan:
Go to E. 125th St. & 1st Ave. and take the Willis Avenue Bridge.
Continue on Willis Avenue and take the ramp to Bruckner Blvd.
Turn left at Bruckner Blvd.  Turn right at Alexander Ave.  The building
will be on your left hand side on Alexander Ave. in between 134th St.
& Bruckner Blvd.

NY Daily News Picks Up A Welcome2Melrose Exclusive!

Welcome2Melrose first told you about our beloved Coqui Mexicano being served with eviction papers a few weeks ago. Since then, the story was picked up by numerous local and citywide outlets including our great friends at the BoogieDowner, The New York Times and now the Daily News!  


Let's keep up the great work, Melrose, in representing our people!

City Officials Break Ground at Via Verde

The usual brass was on hand today at the official ground breaking ceremony in Melrose for the ambitious and long awaited Via Verde (spanish for "Green Way") development. Attending the ceremony was Secretary Shawn Donovan, the 15th Secretary for Housing and Urban Development of the United States, Council Speaker, Christine Quinn, Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr (as well as his notorious father, State Senator, Ruben Diaz), Congressman Jose E. Serrano and of course, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The event was coordinated to coincide with HPD and HDC celebrating the financing of 100,000 affordable units - a milestone towards the 165,000 units goal.


Although there was much excitement in the crowd, not everyone was thrilled with the ground-breaking of Via Verde.  The union rats were in full force on display outside the tent where the ceremony was held with chants from the union workers of, "BLOOMBERG - DO THE RIGHT THING" over and over again, unhappy about the lack of union jobs for the project.  The chants began during Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr's speech to which he said, "They chose to start as I started to speak - but they have a right to have their voices heard and practice freedom of speech."


The $99 million mixed-income rental and homeownership Via Verde is an exciting "green" project developed by Phipps Houses and Jonathan Rose Companies, in partnership with Dattner Architects and Grimshaw Architects which will offer residents approximately 40,000 square feet of open space and is designed to achieve LEED Gold designation.


Some of the features that residents will come to enjoy are:

• 3 different unit types, a tall 20 story tower with views of Downtown Bronx and Manhattan Skyline, midrise duplex apartments and townhome style dwellings
• Solar panels will power Via Verde's common areas
• Rainwater will be harvested to irrigate the vegetable and fruit gardens that will be available to residents to grow food.
• All 221 units will have cross-ventilation and solar shading to cool off the units more efficiently during summer months.
• 34,000 square feet of planted green roofs to create "sky gardens" for the enjoyment of its residents.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2012.  This is yet another big win for the Bronx and our great neighborhood of Melrose where we continue to lead the City and State in what it means to be GREEN!

Congressman Jose E. Serrano

Council Speaker Christine Quinn

The "Mayor" of Melrose with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg