BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY December 22, 2019 10
BY JASON COHEN
Known for his roles in
‘Fort Apache, the Bronx,’ Oscar
nominated ‘Do the Right
Thing’ and ‘Moonstruck,’
Bronx native and renown
actor, Danny Aiello passed
away last week at the age of
86.
Aiello died Thursday,
Decmember 12 in New Jersey
after a brief illness.
The ‘Godfather II’ actor
attended James Monroe High
School, was a singer, a union
representative for the Greyhound
bus drivers, a bouncer
at the legendary New York
comedy club the Improv,
was an active member of
the Bronx Chamber of Commerce
and his nephew, Michael
Kay, is the announcer
for the New York Yankees.
In 2004, Aiello released
his fi rst single, ‘All of Me,’
which was followed up later
that year with an album, ‘I
Just Wanted To Hear The
Words.’
Aiello’s niece, Marcie
Manfredonia, who owns Nationwide
Maintenance in the
Bronx, spoke about her uncle
with the Bronx Times.
“He was amazing. He was
so genuine when you were
with him,” she said.
Manfredonia explained
when she was with Aiello it
never felt like she was with
a famous person; it was just
her uncle.
However, she acknowledged
that he always had
time to take pictures with
fans or talk with them.
She noted his presence
would light up a room. His
warm personality always
made everyone laugh and
feel welcome.
“Everybody just loved
him to death,” she said.
Manfredonia recalled
how even if they hadn’t seen
each other in a while, it
would never seem as if time
had passed when they got together.
Her father, Jimmy, got
Aiello his fi rst job and years
later; he returned the favor,
as he helped get her company
a contract at Yankee Stadium.
Whether it was his singing,
acting or fandom of the
Bronx Bombers, he was a
wonderful person who will
be missed, she said.
Bronx historian Lloyd Ultan
recalled meeting Aiello
when he was inducted into
the Bronx Walk of Fame in
2002. Aiello told him how
he originally wanted to be a
pool hustler.
So, years ago, he went to
a pool hall on the corner of
Southern Boulevard and East
Tremont Avenue and it was
there where he met a young
Al Pacino and spawned a
lifelong friendship.
Bronx-raised legend,
Danny Aiello, passes at 86
Bronx native and actor Danny Aiello.
Photo Courtesy Marcie Manfredonia
Danny Aiello during one of his performances . Photo Courtesy Marcie Manfredonia
Plimpton Park revitalized by Community Parks Initiative
BY KYLE VUILLE
On Friday, December 13, the
grand opening of the renovated
park along Plimpton Avenue was
held with NYC Parks Commissioner
Mitchell J Silver.
Other offi cials in attendance
were Community Board 4 district
manager Paul A. Philps
and Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson.
Students and staff from the
Bronx-Manhattan Seventh Day
Adventist School were also present
.M
ayor de Blasio through his
‘Community Park Initiative’
made the $4.43 million reconstruction
of the park possible.
“Plimpton Playground, a space
that has seen minimal improvements
over the past 20 years, has
been completely re-envisioned
and revitalized, with wonderful
upgrades made to the entire
park.” Commissioner Silver said
in the press release.
Philps is a big fan of the renovations
and the work CPI does for
communities like his.
“The renovations are amazing,
new playground equipment, work
out equipment for adults and nice
benches and seating areas for the
older crowd,” Philps said. “It has
both very well done active and
passive spaces.”
Philps mentioned the park is
located conveniently across the
street from two senior buildings
and a school so the park can always
be enjoyed by people of all
ages. He added the park is very
accessible, within walking distance,
for everyone in the Highbridge
neighborhood.
The park not only has completely
new features such as the
playground, the fi tness area, the
benches, the game tables, but
also multiple sustainability features.
Parks worked with the NYC
Department of Environmental
Protection on giving the park
more ‘green’ infrastructure such
as a rain garden, permeable surfaces
and a storm water capture
system.
“The newly revamped Plimpton
Playground utilizes an innovative
green infrastructure
system that will manage nearly
300,000 gallons of storm water
every year to help improve the
health of the nearby Harlem
River,” DEP Commissioner Vincent
Sapienza said in the press
release.
The park also was outfi tted
with new lights for added safety
during the darker hours of the
day and evening.
“Thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s
Community Parks Initiative
and a $4.43 million investment in
this park, the west Bronx now
has a beautiful brand new playground
for all to enjoy,” Commissioner
Silver said in the release.
The ribbon cutting event for the opening of the newly renovated Plimpton Park on December 13. The park’s renovations
were funded by Mayor de Blasio’s Community Parks Initiative. NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com