Meet the "Mayor" of Melrose at the Bronx Food Summit

Tomorrow, Saturday May 1st you can meet me, the "Mayor" of Melrose as well as a bunch of other great Melrose residents, business owners (such as Darada David of PeaceLove Cafe)and Bronxites as well at the first ever Bronx Food Summit at Hostos Community College from 9AM - 5PM.


Please come meet members of the South Bronx Food Cooperative, which is located right here in Melrose, who will be facilitating the following workshop from 11:45am - 12:45pm:


CLASSROOM 462What is a food co-op and why are they important?
South Bronx Food Cooperative
Not exactly sure what a food cooperative is and how it can benefit you and your community?  Come and find out exactly what a cooperative is, how it functions as well as how it is integrated into the very fabric of our communities.  Learn the difference between a cooperative and your traditional bodegas and supermarkets as well as how you can take control of where your food comes from.


And from 2:30pm - 3:30pm you can come and listen to me speak on the following Panel Discussion:


Afternoon Panel Discussion #1:  C-390 STUDENT LOUNGEHealthy Food Now! Exploring Food "Deserts" and Alternative Solutions for Bronx Communities
Moderator:  Paula Lukats, CSA in NYC Program Manager, Just Food
Panelists:  Kim Latimer-Nelligan, Chief Operating Officer, Low Income Investment Fund; Kate Scallion, Food and Fitness Business Development Coordinator, NYC EDC; Ed Garcia, Board of Directors President, South Bronx Food Cooperative; Christina Grace, Manager Urban Food Systems Program, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets; Robert Volosin, Chief Operating Officer, Inner City Development 
A food "desert" is defined as a specific area lacking access to healthy food options due to a shortage of supermarkets and places to buy fresh food. In place of supermarkets and places to by fresh  food, there's an abundance of fast food chains, dollar stores and bodegas selling highly processed, poor quality food. Many health care professionals believe there's direct relationship between the lack of access to healthy fresh food, too many fast food chains and obesity and diabetes.  Hear directly from supermarket developers, policymakers, CSA organizers, and Food Coop owners about the issue and the solutions.


or you can attend the following workshop from 2:30pm to 3:30pm and meet Darada David, owner and operator of Melrose favorite, the healthy PeaceLove Cafe:


Afternoon Workshop #5:  CLASSROOM 454Bronx Flavors: The Television Show!
Facilitator(s):  Baron Ambrosia, Culinary Ambassador and host of Bronx Flavor; Darada David, owner of Peace Love Café; Sybil, H.I.M. Italian Restaurant
Have you ever seen the show Bronx Flavor?  Meet Baron Ambrosia, creator and producer of this TV show featuring the many different flavors of Bronx culture and the foods we eat.  Learn about one restaurant that’s keeping it real with fresh, healthy ingredients.

Bronx Food Summit Schedule:

9:00 - 10:00 am: Registration

10:00 - 11:30 am: Opening CeremoniesWelcome
Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Hostos Community College President
Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx Borough President
Special Guest Remarks

Keynote Speaker
Majora Carter, MacArthur “Genius” Fellow

11:45 - 12:45 pm: Morning Workshop Sessions

12:45 - 02:15 pm: Lunch

2:30 - 03:30 pm: Afternoon Workshop Sessions

3:45 - 04:15 pm: Celebrity Panel Discussion: "Growing Up in the Bronx - Food, Health and Family”
Kurtis Blow
Melle Mel from the Furious 5
Popmaster Fabel from The Rock Steady Crew
Rosa Clemente, Journalist, Radio Host and 2008 Vice Presidential Candidate (Green Party)
Joe Conzo, Hip Hop Celebrity Photographer, Co-Contributor "The Bronx is Burning"
Byron Hurt, Documentary Filmmaker "Soul Food Junkie" and "Beyond Beats and Rhymes"
David Greco, "Godfather of Parmigiana" (Bronx's Little Italy)
Annie Novak, Co-Founder of Eagle Street Rooftop Farm

04:30 - 05:00 pm: ReadNex Youth Squad poetry performance (Lunchroom)

A Community Saves A Local Restaurant From Eviction

The much loved neighborhood establishment, Coqui Mexicano, has been SAVED! After a court date yesterday to appeal the unexpected eviction notice, community support including letters from local congressman Jose E. Serrano, and Henry Weinstein (owner of the old Bronx courthouse) to name a few, helped save the restaurant from closure.


After much persuasion and the show of overwhelming support from the community, the landlord caved in and generously offered a 6 month payment plan that met the needs of Coqui Mexicano.


News12 the Bronx was at Coqui Mexicano yesterday as well as the Daily News to cover the story which was first heard here and picked up by our friends, the BoogieDowners. The broadcast appeared last night on Bronx Cablevision channel 12 at 10pm.


Furthermore, a writer from the New York Times was there today to write about Coqui after hearing what was going on from welcome2melrose.


So alas, a neighborhood came together to shout out to the world in unison that we were not gonna let one of our own go down without a fight.


A big Melrose THANK YOU to all who came out in support of COQUI MEXICANO! ¡ÓRALE WEPA GÜEY!

BREAKING NEWS - Motorcyclist Hit by Truck on Third Avenue

Paramedics as well as police from the 40th precinct raced to the intersection of Third Avenue and East 158th Street responding to an accident involving a motorcyclist and a medium sized construction crane truck.  


Witnesses say that the biker had the right of way as he was on East 158th Street crossing Third Avenue when the truck sped by causing the motorcyclist to crash into the truck and slide underneath.  I myself was at the South Bronx Food Cooperative and saw the accident as it happened.


"The truck driver definitely ran the light, the motorcycle had the right of way," said local resident, Michelle Smith who witnessed the accident.  Another witness who wished to remain anonymous agreed with Ms. Smith and said that the trucker ran the light.


The driver of the truck, who only identified himself as "Jimmy D" of ProBuild said, "The only statement that I want to give is that I'm glad he's alive," as he referred to victim.


The victim, who was unidentified, was taken to Lincoln Hospital and paramedics on the scene said that he is in pain with a possible fracture to his arm but in stable condition.


Reporting LIVE from the scene,


Ed Garcia Conde
"The Mayor of Melrose"
http://www.welcome2melrose.com
themayor@welcome2melrose.com
347-92-MELRO (347-926-3576)

Witnesses and passerbys assist the victim and call 911.

Paramedics lifting victim onto a strecher.

"Jimmy D", of ProBuild who was driving the truck at the time 

of the accident gazes into the distance.

Witnesses and onlookers gathered as the paramedics arrived on the scene.