ORGANIC MARKET BOOSTS BOROUGH

BX. FARMYARD

ORGANIC MARKET BOOSTS BOROUGH

By JENNIFER FERMINO
MAIZE DAYS: Sisters Dalia, 4, and Leslie Jiminez, 7, sample ears of fresh corn at the newly opened Bronx farmers' market yesterday. Photo: Robert Miller MAIZE DAYS: Sisters Dalia, 4, and Leslie Jiminez, 7, sample ears of fresh corn at the newly opened Bronx farmers' market yesterday.
Photo: Robert Miller

July 20, 2006 -- The Bronx is budding.

The borough celebrated the grand opening of its first organic farmers' market yesterday in Mott Haven at Brook Park.

"You walk along 138th Street and you see one fast-food place after another," said Marian Feinberg, environmental health coordinator for the nonprofit For A Better Bronx, one of the groups that opened the market.

"This really is a neighborhood with very few nutritional resources."

Because of that, the area has the highest diabetes and obesity rates in the city, she said.

The South Bronx Community Market - in Brook Park on 141st Street - aims to fight that, one locally grown broccoli stalk at a time.

And judging from the crowds yesterday clamoring for the fruits and veggies, Bronxites are ready to join the battle.

"I want to be healthy," said Jelani Holder, who's only 17 but already sick of the unwholesome fare, such as pizza and fried chicken, being peddled around the corner.

"I don't like takeout food. Too greasy," he said.

John Jackson, 12, said he plans on hitting the market for his carrots and cucumbers. "At the supermarket, it's not organic," said the young gourmet.

The market will be open on Wednesdays, from noon to 7 p.m., until Nov. 1.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday was packed with stroller-pushing mothers, do-rag-topped teens and elderly women in hats and sundresses.

Peter Kostmayer, president of the nonprofit Citizens for NYC, handed over a check for $6,000. In addition, the group gave $2,000 in coupons to needy residents.

Beverly Small, 52, was rejoicing. She used to schlep all the way to Bowling Green in Manhattan to get produce at a farmers' market there.

"This is like a godsend for me," said Small, as she loaded up on beets, peaches and tomatoes. "I'm diabetic, so this comes in handy."

She said all the green goodness reminds her of old home in Jamaica.

"Anywhere there's a farmers' market, I'm there," she said.

A lot of the food comes from farms upstate, but not all.

Bronx-grown cucumbers, garlic, thyme, oregano - from a community garden called El Girasol, on 138th Street and Cypress Avenue - was being sold as well.

"The market increases the capacity of our community to feed and care for itself, to come together to tackle some of the health problems that many of us face, and to support local farmers and community gardeners," said Molly Culver, the coordinator of South Bronx Community Supported Agriculture.

jennifer.fermino@nypost.com

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Kick-Off

The South Bronx Community Supported Agriculture Program (SBCSA)
cordially invites you to our


Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Kick-Off



To celebrate the opening of the

South Bronx Community Garden Market

and the successes of the South Bronx CSA!



Thank you for your continous support in making the CSA and the market a reality!



July 19, 2006

At 12:30 pm

In Brook Park

(141st and Brook Avenue)



Please join us for a Cookout featuring fresh, local New York State and Bronx-grown produce afterwards! (Cookout will resume at 5 pm and continue until 8 pm for those who cannot attend earlier!

3 South Bronx Events

Sunday, July 23

“MOTT HAVEN: Friends of Brook Park/Vamos La Pena Art Gallery” - The
southernmost neighborhood of the South Bronx hosts a vital & growing arts
community. Haven Arts founder Barry Kostrinsky - a 2006 Municipal Art
Society Certificate of Merit recipient for pioneering a sustainable approach
to artistic development – leads this MAS visit to galleries & artist's
studios, as well as a landmarked former piano factory that now houses 20
artists in legal live/work spaces & a silverplating factory with artwork
displayed amid the machinery. After the tour, join the tour leader & area
artists for a Dutch treat lunch at the Bruckner Grill. Meet 10:00AM at the
NE corner of 138th St & the Grand Concourse. (#4/5 station) $15/$12 members.
For more info, phone the Tour hotline at 212.439.1049.



Friday July 28

Vamos La Pena
11 Bruckner Boulevard
Performance and fundraiser for Puerto Rican political Prisoners

With Welfare Poets and more!

9pm-


Saturday, August 12, 9:30AM

“RANDALLS ISLAND: Before the Water Park” - Explore the Island’s northern
part, site of a proposed 26-acre, $168 million water park. Urban geographer
Jack Eichenbaum, PhD, leads this Municipal Art Society walk from outside the
NYC-lured Pathmark, SE corner of 125th St & Lex, E Harlem (#4/5/6 – 125th
St station). Proceed on foot to the Island, past the Art Deco Robert Moses
TBTA Administration Bldg & under the Triborough & Hell Gate Bridge viaducts
to the NE corner for unusual views of the Bronx & the East River, from
Rikers Island to the Whitestone Bridge. The tour concludes in the South
Bronx. $15/$12 members. For further details, call 212.935,3960.

Sunset Full Moon Paddle Late Dinner Paddle

Sunset Full Moon Paddle Late Dinner Paddle

Canoes and kayaks provided, or bring your own.
Tuesday July 11th, 2006
Meet:
730 PM
11 Bruckner Boulevard
In water by 800PM
Return at 1030
>> Land near 11pm
>> wrap up by 1130 PM
>> Rsvp please
>> Swimming ability required
>> dress appropriately
>> MUST Bring healthy food to share, water/juice

Comment on Bronx Harlem Greenway

More good news of the expanding greeness of n y c and our neck of the woods here in sur de bronx...

fyi:

The waterfront along the Harlem River in the South
Bronx has the potential to be a valuable destination
for non-motorized commuting and recreation. There
is currently no publicly accessible open space along
the waterfront in the South Bronx, and no continuous
system of bicycle and pedestrian pathways connecting
the waterfront to upland destinations. With many
developments and improvements planned for the
Bronx Harlem River waterfront and for the South
Bronx in general (including the Gateway Center at
the Bronx Terminal Market, a new Yankee Stadium,
a South Bronx greenway through Hunts Point and
mixed use rezoning in Port Morris), the creation of
safe and attractive bicycle and pedestrian routes to
local destinations and to the waterfront is becoming
increasingly important.
The Bronx Harlem River Waterfront Bicycle and
Pedestrian Study focuses on a section of the southwest
Bronx, approximately 2.3 miles long, which runs along
the Harlem River waterfront from the Macombs Dam
Bridge to the Triborough Bridge. The study area has
been divided into 5 sections to facilitate organized
data gathering and route identification (see Figure
1).
a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised
of representatives from local community groups,
civic organizations and state and local governmental
organizations. The recommendations of this study
have been informed by extensive field work, meetings
with the TAC, and feedback from the community.
The funding for this project is provided by the New
York Metropolitan Transportation Council through
the Unified Planning Work Program.
The steps taken to complete this project include:
1. The establishment of a technical advisory
committee (TAC) to provide input, review work
and comment on results at various points in the
study process.
2. The gathering of data through a literature
review and observation of study area existing
conditions. Base data gathered includes land
ownership, jurisdiction, land use, zoning, and
street layout (direction, width and physical
conditions) of study area locations. Input from
key organizations and constituents has been
solicited to supplement base data. Projects


Comments sent into:

c_arment@planning.nyc.gov

like:

" Thanks for a great draft report. I love the waterfront park designs. Please ensure that the South Bronx waterfront access points at Park Avenue and Lincoln Avenue are prioritized in the implementation of this exciting initiative!"...

Will be helpful
____________

Subject: Draft Report: Bronx Harlem River Waterfront Bicycle and Pedestrian Study

The Department of City Planning, Transportation Division has recently completed a draft report for the Bronx Harlem River Waterfront Bicycle and Pedestrian Study. The report includes preliminary recommendations for improved bicycle and pedestrian access to an area near the Harlem River waterfront in the southwest Bronx.

The draft report can be viewed and downloaded at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/ftp/transportation/bike_ped.shtml

Any comments on the draft will be appreciated; please submit comments to Cornelius Armentrout (contact info below) by July 25th. Also, feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Cornelius Armentrout
c_arment@planning.nyc.gov

Department of City Planning
Transportation Division
2 Lafayette Street, Room 1200
New York, NY 10007
212.442.4713 (phone)
212.442.4724 (fax)

Journies: Art Opening

Welcome to the Green Corner/Rincon Verde www.friendsofbrookpark.org

Featuring “Generations” by Raeford Dwyer, and Devoción by Javier Machado.
With Selected images by Michael Soaries and Harry J. Bubbins.

11 Bruckner Boulevard at Lincoln Avenue The South, South Bronx
(Thanks to Gordon Roth Development Corporation)

A group show presented by Friends of Brook Park and Vamos la Pena.

Opening: Wednesday July 5th, 2006
5:30 PM - 8 : 30 PM

In conjunction with the Bronx Culture Trolley of the Bronx Council on the Arts, www.bronxarts.org

Raeford Dwyer GENERATIONS

Late last year I went with a Peruvian friend, Freddie Arevalo, to visit a Shipibo Indian Shaman living in the upper Amazon Basin. I was to spend a week at his home with his wife, mother, seven daughters and eight grandchildren.

The evenings were spent partaking in a sacred healing ceremony, passed down through generations of Shaman, that begins with the consumption of a medicinal brew called ayahuasca. The combination of the somber atmosphere, the beautiful songs of the Shaman and the vision inducing brew can create the space for (sometimes intense)inner reflection and healing, both mental and physical. The shaman ( known as an ‘ayahuascuero’) grows the plants, collects the ingredients and makes the brew, which usually takes a few days. His family surround him with love and support. Not only are the women responsible for generating the emotional foundation of the ceremony, many of the women including Don Mateo’s wife and mother are artisans involved in the creation of jewelry, embroidered textiles and pottery. His two apprentices are married to two of his daughters. They will keep this sacred healing tradition alive for future generations.

These photographs were taken on the eve of my departure. I am forever grateful to Don Mateo and his family for sharing their home, their food and traditions with me, also much gratitude to Freddie for his loving support throughout an unforgettable journey. For more, visit www.raeford.net/peru

Raeford Dwyer is a Brooklyn based photographer who immigrated to the US from South Africa 16 years ago. He is currently working on a photo documentary about the diminishing artistic and industrial diversity of North Brooklyn. To find out more, go to www.raeford.net







Javier Machado's Devoción

Javier Machado's black and white photo imagery "Devoción", depicts "the festival of San Lázaro" held annually in Cuba on December 17th to pay homage to the beloved Saint. Thousands of the devout go on pilgrimage seeking cures for their illnesses. Many crawl on their knees with bricks tied to their feet, others bring offerings, including gifts of flowers in hopes of their requests and prayers to come true. San Lázaro is attributed both as the healer saint and as an African divinity; compared to Babal-Aye, orisha de Yoruba.

Javier Machado was born in Velasco, Holguin, Cuba in 1976 and moved to Havana in the early 1990s. His goal as a photographer is to be a visual orator and to fabricate social and biographical discourses with images. Machado has exhibited his work throughout Cuba. Most recently, his photography was part of a group exhibition "H20: Imaginations Matrix" which has traveled throughout the United States. Machado has resided in the United States since May of 2003, but keeps in close touch with his homeland. http://www.geocities.com/ajaviml1/index.html.



Michael Soarie’s From Mexico to Sur de Bronx

Michael documents his quests and journeys across space and time. From his participation in a tradition Native American Vision Quest ceremony in Mexico, to indigenous cultural activities in the South Bronx, his images are arresting in their simplicity. Michael Soaries is a photographer, poet and designer. He has been featured from Brooklyn to the Bronx. He melds his various talents into online web design for numerous entities. He can be reached through www.peacepolepeople.org



Harry J. Bubbins’ Down By the Rivers

Harry has been documenting his experiences in the South Bronx as an environmental activist and educator for over a decade. His appreciation for the spiritual healing powers of water inspires his advocacy and art. The images selected for this exhibition include the Bronx, East and Harlem Rivers as well as the Bronx Kill. Like Brecht he believes that, “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." Harry J. Bubbins is the Director of www.friendsofbrookpark.org.





By purchasing the art in this exhibition you are supporting the artist and this important space.
Thank you.