Message from Councilman Mark Gjonaj
COUNCILMAN MARD GJONAJ
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Arbor Day poster contest
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, SEPTEMBER 2 BTR 0-26, 2019 49
New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) Commissioner
Basil Seggos announced the
start of DEC’s annual State Arbor Day
poster contests. Each year, DEC’s Urban
and Community Forestry program offers
two artwork contests for New Yorkers—
one for all members of the public, and one
specifi cally for fi fth-grade students. Both
contests aim to promote the immeasurable
value of trees in the environment and
New Yorkers’ lives.
Contest winners will have their artwork
replicated as either the 2020 New York
State 5th Grade Arbor Day Poster or the
2020 New York State Arbor Day Original
Artwork Poster. The winning artists will
be announced and honored at the annual
Arbor Day celebration, held in Albany in
April. Last year, New York printed more
than 200,000 Arbor Day posters for distribution
at schools, libraries, government
offi ces, nursery and landscaping businesses,
and environmental organizations
throughout the State.
The annual 5th Grade Arbor Day
Poster Contest is sponsored by DEC, the
Department of Agriculture and Markets
(DAM), and the New York State Education
Department. Students are asked to create
an original poster depicting this year’s
contest theme, “Trees Feed New York.”
Lesson plans, vocabulary, and activities
for incorporating the theme in New
York’s classrooms are available on the
poster contest website. The contest is
open to all students enrolled in fi fth grade.
DEC encourages schools to submit
classes together. Homeschool students
are also welcome to submit artwork. Posters
must be submitted to the participant’s
local DEC regional offi ce by Dec. 20,
2019, to allow time for judging and printing
artwork.
The New York State Arbor Day Committee
includes DEC, the Empire State
Forest Foundation, New York State Arborist
Association, DAM, and the International
Paper Company.
DEC will accept photograph and artwork
submissions for the New York State
Arbor Day Original Artwork Poster on behalf
of the committee through Dec. 31,
2019. Original entries must feature trees
within New York State and should be sent
to arborday@dec.ny.gov. Participants
must include their name, address, and
where the photo was taken with submissions.
Model consent forms are required
for people in submitted photos. For more
information about the contest, visit DEC’s
website or email arborday@dec.ny.gov.
To obtain past New York State Arbor
Day posters, contact any local DEC forestry
offi ce or call 518-402-9428.
* * *
The Division of Hematology, Oncology
and Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation
at the Children’s Hospital
at Montefi ore (CHAM), has undergone
signifi cant growth under the leadership
of Dr. David Loeb. Enhancing services,
launching novel programs and hiring new
clinicians with unique expertise, the division
now offers advanced treatment options
for children with cancer and blood
disorders.
The division is already well known for
providing compassionate and personalized
care to children with brain tumors,
leukemia, bone cancer and sickle cell disease.
The following stepped-up clinical
services will enhance that care:
· A Hemostasis and Thrombosis Program
– providing comprehensive care to
patients with hemophilia and rare bleeding
disorders from childhood through
adulthood.
· A Cancer Predisposition Program –
for families with genetic risks for cancer.
A multidisciplinary team, including genetic
counselors, clinical geneticists, and pediatric
oncologists provide regular screening,
support, counseling, and early intervention
for patients and families.
· A Vascular Malformations Program
– offering children with benign masses
on the skin or in the GI tract a team approach
to treatment. These lesions don’t
often respond to medical treatment, so the
new program at CHAM brings together a
variety of experts, including interventional
radiologists, to create a comprehensive
care plan for each individual patient.
Childhood cancers can have a lasting
impact on patients and their families. At
CHAM, a wide variety of healthcare professionals
support families through this
diffi cult time, including child life specialists
who are dedicated to helping children and
families cope with the challenges of hospitalization
and illness. Creative arts therapists,
social workers, psychologists and
teachers also provide essential therapies
and support.
The Quality in Life Team, or QUILT, is
also unique to CHAM. Pediatric palliative
care experts are trained to help families
navigate complex medical decisions and
offer support as they face the uncertainty
of life-threatening and fatal illnesses. The
team also offers comprehensive pain support
addressing the social, emotional,
spiritual and physical needs of each child
and family.
Dr. Loeb is a leading pediatric oncologist
and NIH-funded researcher. Since
coming to CHAM he has strengthened the
division’s research efforts, from laboratory
science examining immunotherapies for
brain tumors, to clinical studies for young
patients with bone cancer. There are currently
30 active clinical trials for children
with cancer at CHAM.
For more information about the Childhood
Cancer program at CHAM, visit:
https://www.cham.org/specialties-andprograms/
hematology-oncology/our-expertise.
* * *
The New York City Department of
Sanitation has announced the fi ve fall
SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables,
and Electronics) Disposal events.
The events provide residents with an opportunity
to safely dispose of potentially
harmful household products. All events
are rain or shine and open from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Household products such as pesticides,
strong cleaners, mercury-containing
devices, paints, automotive fl uids, and
medications may be brought to the dropoff
events. Residents can also bring electronics,
which may no longer be collected
with trash and other recycling, due to a
New York state law. To identify harmful
products, look for items marked DANGER,
WARNING, POISON, or CAUTION. Only
city residential waste will be accepted.
The fall event in the Bronx will be held
on Saturday, October 5, at the Orchard
Beach parking lot. Follow Park Drive to
the end.
Examples of accepted items include:
automotive products such as motor oil,
transmission fl uid, and auto batteries;
personal care items like unwanted medicines
or cosmetics; thermometers; syringes
(clearly labeled and packaged in
a “sharps” container or other leak proof,
puncture-resistant container); household
products such as pesticides, paint, hazardous
cleaners, compact fl uorescent
light bulbs; and electronics, such as computers,
televisions, and printers.
Materials collected are either recycled,
blended for fuel, or sent to licensed hazardous
waste treatment facilities for safe
disposal. Electronics are responsibly recycled
or refurbished for reuse through ecycleNYC.
Medications are managed by
environmental police and incinerated to
prevent unintentional poisonings or entry
into the water supply.
DSNY relies on several partners and
contractors to make these events a success,
including the NYC Department of
Parks and Recreation, Covanta Energy,
Electronic Recyclers International, and
Veolia ES Technical Solutions.
For those unable to participate in these
events, visit www.nyc.gov/safedisposal or
contact 311 for other options.
* * *
Stop by picturesque City Island and
enjoy the exciting programs offered at
the PSS City Island Center, which is located
at 116 City Island Avenue, Monday
through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Experience the exercise classes from
gentle Yoga Stretch, Balance Class, Arthritis
Workshop and Tai Chi as well as
the vigorous Fit For Life and Cardio Fit.
They also offer acrylic painting, calligraphy,
health presentations, blood pressure
monitoring, gardening exchange,
singing group and parties. Lunch is
served from noon to 1 p.m. suggested
donation is $2.
The center participants go on shopping
trips every day; i.e. Shop Rite, Dollar
Tree, Target, Kmart, as well as theatre excursions,
special trips, special luncheons
and more. It’s free to become a member,
but you must be 60 years of age or
above.
Upcoming Special Events: Mondays
at 1:15 p.m., Singing Group with Napat.;
Wednesday, October 2, Health Fair; Flu
Shots (sign-up), mammography van and
more.For more information contact Patty
at (718) 885-0727 or email pattis@pssusa.
org for their monthly calendar.
* * *
Do you need help getting to and from
your medical appointments? Transportation
services are available to seniors Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in
community districts 9, 10, 11 and 12. The
program provides door-to-door service for
all medical appointments. Their drivers
are courteous and professional; and their
vehicles are clean and handicap accessible,
including wheelchair lifts.
For further information, contact Mildred
Cardona, program director of the R.A.I.N.
Transportation Program, at (718) 882-
8513.
Hart Island is home to the city’s largest
tax-funded cemetery, commonly
known as Potter’s Field, off the Coast of
City Island in Council District 13. The
cemetery currently stretches across
131 acres of land and over one million
people have been buried on Hart Island
since its fi rst burial in 1869. Previously,
it served as a Civil War internment
camp, a psychiatric institution, a
sanatorium, a reformatory, and a Nike
Missile launch for the United States
Military. However, its current primary
function is a public cemetery for the
burial of people who died indigent or
whose bodies went unidentifi ed or unclaimed
after their death. Hence, this
is a very sacred land for the individuals
buried and their respective families.
The NYC Department of Correction
is currently responsible for the operation
and maintenance of Hart Island.
Under the supervision of DOC, inmates
perform the burials. Furthermore,
DOC authorizes and coordinates travel
for staff, inmates and the public along
with the NYC Department of Transportation.
Currently, public access is limited,
typically twice a month.
As you may already be aware, there
four bills concerning Hart Island that
have been circulating in NYC Council
since 2018. They are as follows:
Int. 906 - A Local Law to amend the
administrative code of the city of New
York, in relation to a transfer of jurisdiction
over Hart Island from the Department
of Corrections to the Department
of Parks and Recreation
Int. 1559 - A Local Law to amend the
administrative code of the city of New
York , in relation to the establishment of
an offi ce to provide support to those in
need of burial assistance
Int. 1580 - A Local Law in relation
to the creation of a task force on public
burial and related issues
Int. 909 - A Local Law to amend the
administrative code of the city of New
York, in relation to ferry service to Hart
Island
I would fi rmly like to express that
I do not support these bills and that I
stand behind the majority of my constituency.
The individuals who have been
laid to rest and their respective families
deserve a peaceful place to rest and
pay their respects. They deserve to reside
under an agency that is equipped to
perform the high operation and maintenance
demand. The Department of
Parks is overwhelmed by the vast number
of parks under its current jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the residents of City
Island are already plagued with congestion
and traffi c. As such, the addition
of a ferry service to Hart Island from
City Island would not only be an inconvenience,
but also a public safety issue.
Instead, of attempting to change the jurisdiction
of Hart Island, more efforts
should be placed on diversifying visitation
days and to further maintenance.
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