Birch Family Services turns 45
Lawmakers praise organization for providing services for those with autism
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,46 NOVVEMBER 6-12, 2020 BTR
Children at a Birch facility. Photos courtesy of Birch
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Following the gruesome discovery
of a Bronx woman who had allegedly
died of head trauma in her home, police
reported that it was her 40-yearold
son who beat her to death.
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Steven
Castro was arrested in connection to
66-year-old Carmen Aponte’s death,
which cops ruled a homicide. The
New York Post reported that Aponte’s
daughter found the woman’s body in
her Seneca Avenue apartment around
1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Police said that Castro had hit his
mother on the head with a “blunt object”
and cite “jealousy” as his motive
for killing Aponte. Emergency personnel
pronounced the woman dead on
the scene.
Photo via Getty Images
Castro was charged with one count
each of murder, manslaughter, and
criminal possession of a weapon.
BY JASON COHEN
Birch Family Services, a provider
of education and support for people
with autism and developmental disabilities,
recently held a gala to honor
its 45 years of work in the community.
Birch has locations throughout
the fi ve boroughs, including the Pelham
Bay Early Childhood Center, Riverdale
Early Childhood Center and
Soundview Early Childhood Center.
Prior to the celebration, Governor
Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de
Blasio both praised Birch for its role
in improving the lives of thousands of
people with disabilities.
“All New Yorkers are proud to join
in saluting the organization and extend
our gratitude for treating each
person as an individual with their
own unique abilities and helping them
lead fulfi lling lives no matter their
pursuits,” Cuomo said.
Birch was founded by Phyllis
Susser in 1975 when she opened the
Herbert G. Birch School for Exceptional
Children in Queens to ensure
that the mission of the newly enacted
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) was fulfi lled and students
with disabilities were given a
free education.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio
Cortez, who attended two reading
hours at Pelham Bay Early Childhood
Center, also heaped praise on Birch.
“For 45 years, you have led the way
in dignifi ed, exceptional education
and ongoing care for a community that
is too often marginalized,” she said in
a letter to Birch. “Each of you and your
commitment to empowering your students
and their families, to leading
with compassion and hope, and to
centering the people you work to support,
have created a collective that
has changed — and will continue to
change — the world for so many. This
is not just a landmark for the staff, but
a moment to celebrate the over 20,000
participants throughout the years who
have come to you with needs that are
complex and nuanced, and who have
found the strength and dedication to
pursue their self-defi ned quality of life
to its fullest potential.”
Son beats mom to death
FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF THE BRONX
--------------------------------------------------x
In the Matter of : Docket # NN-08467-20
WISDOM WILLIAMS :
: SUMMONS
A Child(ren) Under Eighteen Years :
Alleged to be Neglected by :
RUBY WILLIAMS :
Respondent
--------------------------------------------------x
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF
YOUR RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE
MOST RECENT 22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A
PETITION TO TERMINATE YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP
AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. IN
SOME CASES, THE AGENCY MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. IF
SEVERE OR REPEATED CHILD ABUSE IS PROVEN BY CLEAN AND CONVINCING
EVIDENCE, THIS FINDING MAY CONSTITUTE THE BASIS TO TERMINATE YOUR PARENTAL
RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO THE
AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION.
A petition under ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT having been filed with this court
alleging that the above-named child(ren) is a neglected child(ren), a copy of said petition being
annexed hereto:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this court at 900 SHERIDAN AVENUE,
BRONX, NY 10451, Family Court Virtual Intake Part, Dial in Phone Access: Call 1-347-378-
4143, Conference ID: 562049604#; on November 19, 2020, 9:30 o’clock in the fore-noon of
said day, to answer the petition and to show cause why said children should not be adjudicated to
be a neglected children and why you should not be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of
ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT and why an order of support under Section 235 of the
FAMILY COURT ACT should not be made if the final disposition is an order of placement.
On your failure to appear as herein directed, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
FURTHER NOTICE: Family Court Act §154(c) provides that petitions brought pursuant to Articles
4,5,6,8 and 10 of the Family Court Act, in which an order of protection is sought or in which a
violation of an order of protection is alleged, may be served outside the State of New York upon a
Respondent who is not a resident or domiciliary of the State of New York. If no other grounds for
obtaining personal jurisdiction over the Respondent exist aside from the application of this
provision, the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the respondent is limited to the issue of the
request for, or alleged violation of, the order of protection. Where the Respondent has been served
with this summons and petition and does not appear, the Family Court may proceed to a hearing
with respect to issuance or enforcement of the order of protection, as well as to inquest on the
underlying neglect allegations, and issue a finding in their absence.
STEVE BYRNES
CLERK OF THE FAMILY COURT
Dated: October 8, 2020