EMBLEM HEALTH, RIVERA HOST HEALTH SERIES
EmblemHealth, one of the nation’s largest non-profi t health insurers,
and Senator Gustavo Rivera were joined on Saturday, May
4 by residents and community leaders to celebrate the fi rst of
three free Obesity Prevention events hosted at the Claremont
Community Neighborhood Center. The community event series,
co-sponsored by EmblemHealth and Senator Rivera, provides free
access to experts, information and tools to help attendees address
the risks of obesity and teach residents how to maintain
healthy lifestyles.
(Above) Senator Rivera (l) with Karen M. Ignagni, EmblemHealth
CEO. Photo courtesy of EmblemHealth
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M BTR AY 31-JUNE 6, 2019 67
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
The ‘Big Five Traits of Personality’
- Openness Conscientiousness,
Extraversion,
Agreeableness and Neuroticism,
are commonly used to
evaluate the core aspects of
an individual’s personality.
I believe that the Big Five
should be utilized on a macrolevel
to qualitatively examine
the traits of organized groups.
This brings the question: Does
the Spencer Estate Civic Association
have the characteristics
needed to promote unity
and benefi t the community?
Let us examine the question:
Openness: Our association
approaches potential change
and new ideas with a clear
open mind. We analyze situations
and put personal and political
biases aside for the welfare
of our community.
Conscientiousness: Our association
sets realistic goals,
develops strategies and invokes
plans to improve, preserve,
or restore our community.
We learn from our
failures and successes and
readily support neighboring
communities in their fi ghts
against injustices.
Extraversion: Our philosophy
is ‘Inclusion brings
solutions’. This axiom is voluminous
in describing our
temperament and attitude toward
creating a membership
that mirrors our neighborhood.
We welcome all area homeowners
and renters with
the goal of creating a strong
unifi ed community association
that is critical for political
recognition. Political recognition
is essential to the
maintenance of our fi ne quality
of life.
Agreeableness: Differences
in political ideologies will not
prevent the cultivating of new
relationships, which are benefi
cial to the community. The
needs of our community will
always supersede any personal
confl ict of interest.
Neuroticism: Our association
exhibits level headedness
in emotion-laden situations
and understands that at times
people must agree to disagree
without harboring resentments.
Anger, vitriol and on
the fl ip side, unbridled adulations
foster thought processes
that can lead to poor decisions
fueled by impulsivity and
compulsivity.
Please join us at our June
19 meeting and experience the
Spencer Estate personality.
You can be our judge.
As our membership grows
and stabilizes it is appropriate
to begin planning small projects
to enhance the beauty of
our charming neighborhood.
The utility triangle at the
Ampere Avenue – Middletown
Road convergence should
serve as a gateway into our
community. Currently Con
Edison and Verizon utilize this
area as distribution points for
services in our neighborhood.
The blacktopped triangular
parcel is drab and largely unkempt
and in need of tender
care. Our association will
contact Community Board 10
to inquire about the regulations
and guidelines tethered
to this potential neighborhood
beautifi cation project.
To correct oversights by
previous contractors, approximately
80 trees will be
planted throughout the Spencer
Estate, Country Club, and
Throggs Neck areas. Numerous
studies indicate trees,
in addition to being environmentally
friendly, add value
to a community. A tree-lined
street brings curb appeal to a
neighborhood; however, unintended
consequences can occur.
Any resident with sidewalk
damage related to overgrown
tree roots or bothered
by an abandoned tree stump
should call 311 to generate a
complaint number. Take a
photograph of the damaged
sidewalk or tree stump, store
it with the documented complaint
number and bring a
copy to our next civic association
meeting. A bulk fi le
of these problems will be created
for dissemination to the
proper city agencies.
In accordance with the
1990 Americans With Disability
Act the NYC Department of
Transportation is initiating a
Pedestrian Ramp Upgrade and
Modifi cation Program. Many
corner pedestrian ramps
throughout our entire community
will be upgraded to
comply with ADA standards.
Recently, DOT work crews
were observed replacing multiple
pedestrian ramps on our
Ampere Avenue corridor. I am
pleased to report these work
crews preformed diffi cult, invasive
tasks with professionalism
and showed the utmost
respect for our neighborhood.
If any resident experiences a
problem related to this project
please call 311 for a complaint
number and contact CB 10 at
(718) 892-1161.
CB 10 is one of the largest
geographic community board
districts in the borough of
the Bronx. The board serves
the communities of Pelham
Bay, City Island, Country
Club, Throggs Neck, Co-op
City, Westchester Square and
Zerega. It features one of the
most diverse housing categories
in the city.
It primarily consists of 1-
to 3-family homes. However,
it is also home to the largest
housing cooperative in New
York state in Co-op City and
is home to a sizable chunk of
public housing stock: Middletown
Plaza, Throggs Neck
Houses and Randall-Balcom
Houses. Its vast area is tethered
to a large quantity of diverse
community issues.
Despite their heavy work
load CB 10 always has time for
the Spencer Estate community.
Recently sub contactors
from Altice ran roughshod
through our neighborhood
while preforming a fi ber optic
infrastructure upgrade.
Their roguish behaviors and
disrespect for our community
presented multiple safety hazards.
Cable coils were left unattended
overnight obstructing
pedestrian walkways;
during cable placements workers
did not comply with common
sense safety regulations
and placed area residents at
risk. We were unsuccessful
in attempting to directly communicate
with these rouge
workers.
Thankfully, the intervention
of CB 10 put an end to
their unprofessional, disrespectful,
and hazardous behaviors.
CB 10 has been alongside
our community in our
ongoing battle against the illegl
storage of tractor-trailers
along Pelham Bay Park. They
were instrumental in getting
more than one hundred illegally
dumped tires, furniture,
and vile waste removed from
our community’s perimeter.
In addition, they serve as our
advisors and conduits to politicians
and city agencies in
affairs that affect our community.
The Spencer Estate
community is appreciative of
the services provided by this
top-notch community board.
Political leaders gauge a
community’s interest and fortitude
by 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, at
7:30 p.m., at Knights of Columbus.
Matt Cruz, district manager
of CB 10 and 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 19th meeting will be
a testament to the appreciations
we have for these altruistic
stewards of our community.
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’.
City Island Arts & Crafts Fair
The City Island Chamber
of Commerce invites
you to join them on Saturday,
June 1 and Sunday,
June 2 for its annual Spring
Arts & Crafts Fair.
Over 50 artists and
craftspeople set up their
wares, painting, photography,
jewelry, personal care
products, face painting,
etc., on four blocks of City
Island Avenue, from Bay
Street to Schofi eld Street,
from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each
day.
There will be music in
Hawkins Park by the Lickety
Split Band each afternoon.
If you have any questions,
call (718) 885-9100.
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