www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY October 20, 2019 6
(below) Kaycee Thomas and daughters
Samara and Sheyna, along with Councilman
King, show off the Breast Cancer
swag that was available for purchase at
the event. Photo by Fernando Justiniano
‘Real Men Wear Pink Talent Show’ at Bay Plaza
Local residents and elected offi cials gathered for the ‘Real Men Wear Pink Talent Show’ at the
Mall at Bay Plaza on Saturday, October 12. The talent show featured groups and solo acts of singers
and dancers. The American Breast Cancer Association, American Cancer Society and other
organizations were in attendance to promote breast
cancer awareness and raise money for the cause.
Councilman Andy King also enjoyed the festivities.
(top) Councilman Andy King (c), with some of the talent
show participants and organizers of the event
(left middle) Michelle Pagan (l) and Damarys Peniche
show off their ‘Happy and Relax’ t-shirts.
(left) Councilman King with judges and winners from
the talent show.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
A Bronx neighborhood
known for its simple acts
of kindness received recognition
as one of the ‘Nicest
Places in America’ by Reader’s
Digest, the fourth largest
magazine in the country.
Harding Park, a blue-collar
neighborhood of cottages
and bungalows located on the
East River in the Bronx, is
no longer a ‘best kept secret’
after earning a spot on the
coveted 2019 list, a national
crowd-sourced effort to uncover
communitiess where
people are kind and treat
each other with respect.
After receiving more than
1,000 submissions of stories
from places across America,
Reader’s Digest selected one
place in each state—after
conducting fact-checks, making
phone calls and writing
a narrative explaining their
selection—that exemplifi es
kindness and civility in a
time of American divisiveness.
“Our goal is ultimately to
bring Americans together,”
said Jeremy Greenfi eld, senior
editor of Reader’s Digest.
“Our goal is for more people
to look at their neighbors,
family, friends and strangers,
and say ‘I want you to be
a part of what we’re about, to
be kind and realize that we’re
all on the same boat.’”
Representing a melting
pot of nationalities, Harding
Park is one of those places,
where the neighbors take
care of each other, and are
sometimes secretive in their
acts of kindness, according
to Greenfi eld.
When Lydia Clark-
Sumpter moved from Manhattan
to her ranch-style
home in Harding Park on
April 2016, a smiley face balloon,
tied to her front gate,
greeted her, she says.
“I still don’t know who
left it there,” said Clark-
Sumpter, who submitted her
story about Harding Park to
Reader’s Digest. “About 13
neighbors introduced themselves
to me when I moved
in. There are neighbors who
volunteer to watch the house
for you when you’re away on
vacation.”
Upon hearing the news
of the New York City Soundview
ferry service coming
to Clason Point Park, Clark-
Sumpter, who works as a
pediatric nurse practitioner
and oncology nurse at Mount
Sinai St. Luke’s in Manhattan,
said she started searching
for homes nearby and
discovered Harding Park.
“I may have read every
single internet article about
it,” Clark-Sumpter said. “It’s
like a hidden area—you can’t
fi nd it unless you’re lost, I
say. It’s really a neighborhood
behind a neighborhood...
you can’t see it from
the main street unless you
walk further down (towards)
the water.”
Every Fourth of July,
Clark-Sumpter hosts a BBQ
party with neighborhood
friends and family.
Living a block away from
the river, Clark-Sumpter and
her two children also enjoy
fi shing and kayaking. They
even take along an empty
black garbage bag to clean
up the area sometimes, she
said.
After learning Reader’s
Digest had selected the community
as one of the nicest
places in America, Clark-
Sumpter was ecstatic.
It was so amazing because
just think of every single
county, city within the state
of New York for them to pick
Harding Park. I felt it was
well deserved because the
neighbors are so awesome,”
Clark-Sumpter said. “The
whole neighborhood has a
history (that) other people
in the Bronx may not know
about it.
“Reader’s Digest was very
great in keeping us up to date
about the process of the contest.”
Clark-Sumpter plans to
celebrate Harding Park’s
100th birthday next year
with a summer BBQ and
neighborhood friends.
“I’m excited to celebrate
the birthday of my house
that was built in the 1920s,”
Clark-Sumpter said.
Harding Park selected “Nicest Place
in America” by Reader’s Digest
Rafting along the river in the quiet and peaceful oasis of Harding
Park is one of Lydia Clark-Sumpter’s favorite activities to do with
her children. Photo courtesy of Lydia Clark-Sumpter
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com