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THE SQUARE
The Official Newsletter of the Westchester Square Business Improvement District
Volume Two – Winter, 2015
NEWS AROUND THE SQUARE
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
STOP ‘N’ SWAP 2014
I recently took notice of my eighth year anniversary driving this effort we now call the Westchester Square BID. When I take a look around at the significant effort being undertaken each day by
our owners, merchants, and Executive Director, I can’t help but smile at the successes and how
far we’ve come.
2014 was our best year yet, but we’re sure they will pale in comparison to the plans now being
made for this year’s events and programs.
Over 1,090 pounds of unwanted items including kids toys and books were dropped off at
Stop ‘N’ Swap that took place at Owen Dolen
Park on July 19. About 180 people attended
the unique recycling event. It was a great turnout with 150 pounds of leftover items donated.
Enjoy this look-back at the past year. We hope to see you here this year during another banner
year on the Square!
— Chairman John Bonizio
Volunteers and attendees at the Stop ‘N’ Swap at Owen
Dolen Park. Kids enjoyed a bouncing house along with
cotton candy and popcorn.
SHRED FEST
NYC COMPTROLLER SCOTT SPRINGER
VISITS THE SQUARE
It’s not everyday that the NYC Comptroller comes to your neck of the woods. On August 4, NYC
Comptroller Scott Springer visits the Westchester Square BID to meet with business leaders and
tour the neighborhood. Stringer was very impressed with the 2-year old BID’s knowledge and
vision of the neighborhood.
In partnership with Sanitation Salvage Corp
we offered the local merchants and residents the opportunity to shred documents
and hard drive. The goal was to ensure
business professionals and their clients/patient peace of mind that their personal information would be disposed of in a proper and
legal matter.
TAKE A SEAT:
DOT BENCH PROGRAM
Four sites in the Square received benches for
beautification and the convenience to local
shoppers. This is part of DOT’s Bench Program.
BID’s Executive Director Lisa Sorin and Metro Optics’
Kim Leon in front of the shredding trunk for the
Shred Fest event on July 25th.
A SPECIAL
COLORFUL GIFT
FROM THE BID
Turning a graffiti-ridden wall into a
work of art! The Westchester Square
BID commissioned Noah Sheroff for a
colorful mural that faces Lewis & Clark
Special Education School on Benson
Street. It is a gift from the BID to the
school and community. A photo of the
mural was posted on NBC’s Instagram!
LINDA
CUNNINGHAM’S
ART SCULPTURES
ON THE SQUARE
Bronx-based artist Linda Cunningham’s two sculptures have been
installed in the neighborhood. The
sculpture of steel and rocks, called
“Urban Regenaration 2” are part of
the NYC Department of Transportation’s art initiative, in partnership
with the Westchester Square BID.
This is also the BID’s bigger mission
in making the neighborhood a cultural destination with Bronx Council
of the Arts moving in.
Linda Cunningham’s sculptures are located on
the corner of Westchester and East Tremont
Avenues (right) and in front of the nearby
DOT office on Williamsbridge Road.
NEW LIBRARY FOR
WESTCHESTER SQUARE
A brand new, modern designed glass
library is coming to Westchester Square.
On October 16, Community Board 10
voted in favor of the proposal for a new
library that will be built on the corner of
Westchester Avenue and Overing Street.
BUSINESS BEAT
ANNUAL MEETING
The BID held its second annual meeting at
the Pine Too on June 19. Landowners, merchants, and special guests attended. Adolfo
Carrión, Jr. attended and gave an inspirational speech about the hard work the BID
has put in the area. The BID's board of directors were re-elected by property owners
and merchants.
MERCHANT MEETING
BID BROKER EVENT
Meet your neighbors, network, and share educational information!
Our last Merchant Meeting in 2014 addressed Holiday safety for
merchants and shoppers in the district. Check our website for future
meetings.
The BID along with its partner, the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMNAR) held the “Westchester Square Broker Event”
on May 6 at McDermott Pub. The event was for commercial property
owners and commercial real estate brokers to enroll in the BID’s plan
to attract new stores and restaurants to Westchester Square. This
event simplified the process of locating the perfect retail space.
From left to right: Captain James R. McGeown, Clarke & Sons Signs’
Juan Clarke, 45th Precinct Council President Robert Bieder,
Value Dollar City’s Anastasia, and Officer Hannah Rahn at the Merchant Meeting.
WESTCHESTER SQUARE: MY ADOPTED NEIGHBORHOOD
By Lenward Snead, Director of Westchester Square Art Center
My home has been located just across town on the fringes of Co-op
City for the past twenty-five years. Quiet and clean but nothing resembling the neighborhood in which I grew to love. Years ago I discovered
Westchester Square, a neighborhood where people seemed to know
each other, shopped in the same stores, and full of “neighborhood
characters.”
with a welcoming sight such as this, and return in the multi-colored
light of the station.
Truth be told, the main attraction for an artistic mind is the Westchester
Square East Tremont subway station. The cathedral-like entrance with
its majestic stained glass stairway entrance (one of the first subway art
projects within the borough) often led me to wonder if the residents
realized what an amazing experience it must be to go off to their trains
During the last few years, both Westchester Square Art Center and myself have been welcomed in The Square. It’s great being known as “the
art guy” or “professor” by the community. It is more than I had expected. I hope the spirit of the neighborhood lives long and prospers.
Years before retiring, I planned to study education and use the fortysome years of art experience to teach the art profession and skills to an
underserved community. What better place to do this than Westchester
Square – my “adopted neighborhood”?
For more information about the Westchester Square Art Center,
visit their website at www.w2ac.org.
“I believe in the future of Westchester Square and will
continue to commit resources as needed to make it a
prime destination for residents in east Bronx.”
– James Vacca, New York City Councilman
Grab the Westchester Square
Calendar and Shopping Guide
(sponsored by ConEd)
at the BID’s office or your
local merchant stores!
TER
WESTCHES
S Q UA R E
or theast Bronx
Gateway to the N
2015
6TH ANNUAL FAIR
Rain or shine, 6th Annual Fair @ the Square event went without
a hitch on May 10. A fun-filled day featuring merchant displays,
kids’ games and activities, art exhibits, city services, a variety
of food, and more. There were live performances throughout
the day from the likes of freestyle sensation Coro and Grammy
Salsa Artist Ray de La Plaza.
SAVE
THE
DATE!
SAVE
THE
DATE!
SAVE
THE
DATE!
SAVE
THE
DATE!
SAVE
THE
DATE!
SAVE
THE
DATE!
7 Annual
7 Annual
SAVE THE DATE!
th
th
th
thAnnual
th
th
7
Annual
th
7
Annual
7
Annual
77
Annual
7th Annual
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@FairAtTheSquare
@FairAtTheSquare
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Saturday,
June
20,
2015
from
11am
(Rain
orShine)
Shine)
Saturday, June
20, 2015
from
11am
– 6pm
(Rain
or–
Shine)
#FairAtTheSquare
Saturday,
June
20,
2015
from
11am
–6pm
6pm
(Rain
or
Between
St. Raymond
Avenue and
Westchester
Avenue
Between
St. Raymond
Avenue
and
Westchester
Avenue
Between
St.
Raymond
Avenue
and
Westchester
Avenue
Saturday,
June
20,
2015
from
11am
–
6pm
(Rain
or
Shine)
Sponsorship
and Vendor
Opportunities
Available!
Saturday,
June
20,
2015
from 11am
– 6pm (Rain
or Shine)
Sponsorship
and
Vendor
Opportunities
Available!
Sponsorship
and
Opportunities
Available!
Between
St.
Raymond
Avenue
and
Westchester
Avenue
For
more info call
718.395.1932,
orVendor
visit www.WSBID.org
Between
St.
Raymond
Avenue
and
Westchester
Avenue
For
more
info
call
718.395.1932,
or
visit
www.WSBID.org
Saturday,
June
20,
2015
from
11am
–
6pm
(Rain
or Shine)
Saturday,
June
20,
2015
from
11am
–
6pm
(Rain
or Shine)
For
more
info
call
718.395.1932,
or
visit
www.WSBID.org
Sponsorship and Vendor Opportunities Available!
Sponsorship
and Vendor
Opportunities
Available!
Between
St.
Raymond
Avenue
and
Westchester
Avenue
Between
St.
Raymond
Avenue
and
Westchester
Avenue
For more info call 718.395.1932, or visit www.WSBID.org
For more
info call 718.395.1932,
or visit www.WSBID.org
Sponsorship
andVendor
VendorOpportunities
Opportunities
Available!
Sponsorship
and
Available!
For
718.395.1932,
visit
www.WSBID.org
Formore
moreinfo
info call
call 718.395.1932,
oror
visit
www.WSBID.org
Like us
Facebook.com/
O.D.D SATURDAYS
O.D.D. Saturday text should read: It isn’t summer without O.D.D. Saturdays. Kicking it off
with a bang, the BID hosted their first ever
“Movie Nights at the Square” on June 14 and
21. Moviegoers watched the movies, Frozen
and Despicable Me 2. The BID hosted “Dance
Mania” on Saturday, July 12, where some of
the top dance troupes came and entertained
the community. On July 19, in partnership
with Healthplus, the BID also hosted “Carnival
and Health Day.” The event combined games,
music, and other fun activities with fun healthrelated information and prizes.
On August 16, “Blast from the Past” featured
the Just Nuts, Gene DiNapoli, and Denis Nardone. The singers were followed by modern
performances from BADD! and Dancing in the
Streets.
As summer comes to a close, it was time to go
school shopping. On August 30, the BID held
“Back to School Celebration” which was also
sponsored by Healthfirst. There was a school
supply give-away, a bounce house for the kids,
and music.
Bringing their dancing shoes, event goers of
“Salsa Fest” enjoyed and danced to the best
Latin music in the park on September 13.
O.D.D. Saturdays ended on a festive note with
“Bollywood in the Park” for its second run on
September 20. Sponsored by Healthfirst, the
Indian-themed festival was filled with belly
dancers, singers, poetry reading, and more.
For more information on
BAAD! and Dancing in the Streets,
check out their websites!
BAAD!:
baadbronx.org
Dancing in the Streets:
dancinginthestreets.org
HOLIDAY FUN
HALLOWEEN ON THE
SQUARE
Ghosts and monsters were roaming Westchester
Square on October 31. BID and Councilman
James Vacca hosted a Halloween party for
children by handing out 300 bags of candy,
a creepy haunted house, and a children’s costume contest.
A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR
Healthfirst’s mission as a not-for-profit organization is to provide quality healthcare coverage to
underserved populations in New York City and Long Island.
We are proud of the breadth and depth of the services we provide to our diverse communities, as
well as the cultural competency of our employees and partners. Our unique, hospital sponsored
business model facilitates constant reinvestment back into our sponsor hospitals and, in turn, the
local community.
To further serve and accommodate the close to 1.5 million residents of the Bronx, Healthfirst
established our Bronx community office on Fordham Road in January 2010. The office provides a
convenient location for community residents and Healthfirst
members to visit and speak with a Healthfirst representative about our plans and services.
Healthfirst also partners with many organizations
to bring important health information and resources to Bronx neighborhoods. We joined forces
with the American Heart Association (AHA) to present the AHA Teaching Gardens program to PS 55 Benjamin Franklin. The program teaches students how to plant and harvest fresh produce to encourage good eating habits and help fight
childhood obesity. This is especially important in the Bronx, where nearly four out of 10 children
are overweight or obese.
We’ve also partnered with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to host Diabetes Awareness
Workshops that educate Bronx residents about Type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment. At St.
Barnabas Hospital, we brought the Arthritis Foundation walking group to seniors to help them
get in the habit of daily exercise.
St. Barnabas Hospital also partnered with us to host a special Men’s Health Forum in celebration of Men’s Health month this past June to educate Bronx men on important tips for leading a
healthy life.
THANKSGIVING WITH
HARVEST HANDS
Harvest Hands and the BID hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at the Owen Dolen Recreation
Center on November 27. Reverend Mitchell
Torres from Harvest Fields Community Church
and coordinator of Harvest Wilbert Verwayne
along with volunteers, provided food to the
hungry, those in need, and dinner guests.
CHRISTMAS
AT THE SQUARE
Councilman James Vacca and the BID presented “Holiday Celebration” on December 11
at Owen Dolen Park. Children had the chance
to share their Christmas list to Santa Claus and
see two of Santa’s special reindeers. The community of Westchester Square witnessed the
community tree lighting ceremony.
Our Claremont Healthy Village Project keeps Bronx residents healthy by providing health and
wellness programs at their doorstep. Residents of Claremont Village Houses take part in this
weekly program which incorporates exercise, health screenings and nutrition education to promote healthy living practices.
Last, but certainly not least, we host the annual Bronx Youth Talent Show, for children ages 9-14 to
display their singing and dance talent. This event provides students with a forum to express their
creativity and exhibit the wealth of talent hailing from the Bronx.
“Healthfirst is an organization with strong ties to the communities we serve,” says George Hulse,
Healthirst vice president of external affairs. “We strive
to help make the Bronx a better place to live by supporting local groups, leaders and activities
that we believe will benefit the community and our members.” Hulse adds, “Healthfirst provides
convenient access to health-care coverage to local needy families and individuals for all Bronx
residents to take a proactive role in their health and live healthy.”
A WORD FROM THE BID’S INTERN
I am currently an intern at the Westchester Square Business Improvement District. I was given this opportunity by the partnership of the
H.I.R.E. Program (Help Identify Real Employment), a new program
aimed in connecting Bronx workers with real jobs through a comprehensive, direct approach and Safe Horizon, the nation’s leading
victim assistance organization which touches the lives of more than
250,000 affected by crime and abuse each year. I am a survivor of
Domestic Violence. Through faith in Jesus Christ and his strength, I
gained the courage of choosing to be a survivor and not a victim.
Getting out of an abusive marriage was empowering. I want to be a
dedicated mother and role model for my daughter, Elizabeth. My passion is helping others.
I want to help empower, uplift, and motivate others to survive, to live and enjoy life beyond
their circumstances. Advocating against domestic violence with the Center for Anti-Violence
and the Harlem Hospital as well as being an active member of my church has given me the
steps to further my education in obtaining my Bachelors degree in Human Services.
The opportunity to intern at the BID is helping to enhance my skills in preparing for a
full-time job. My experience so far has been wonderful. The staff are very friendly and
professional. Working alongside Lisa Sorin, Executive Director of the BID, has helped me
gain more knowledge and insight in developing my interpersonal communication skills,
writing, and creativity.
— Natisha Holness
MESSAGE FROM
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As we enter the third year, we are proud of all that has been accomplished and
thank those that have made contributions to further enhance the image of the
BID. We look forward to developing beautification projects, additional traffic
calming measures, merchant workshops, and family programming. Part of our
2015 mission is to reach out to retailers that have yet to recognize the gem
that is Westchester Square. We are committed to using our resources to enrich
the quality of life in the district. Our newsletter allows us to connect with the
community, residents and merchants in a timely and dynamic manner. Please
call or email us if you have ideas or subjects to explore for future newsletters.
BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
— Lisa Sorin
LISA SORIN
Executive Director
JOHN BONIZIO
Chairman
SPONSORSHIP/PARTNERSHIP
INVOLVEMENT
JOSEPH KELLEHER
Vice Chairman
PATRICK MAGILERI
Two years ago, New York Times highlighted the Westchester Square. Written
by Vera Haller, the article encompasses the early history of our beloved neighborhood to its revival especially emphasizing on our retail opportunities.
GARY SHEPPARD
Let’s make Westchester Square the next tourist attraction by working together and creating long-lasting partnerships!
BERNARD DENGLER
Contact Lisa Sorin, Executive Director of the Westchester Square BID at 718597-4629 or send her an email at lisasorin@wsbid.org for more information on
how to get involved.
Treasurer
Secretary
VINCENT ANZALONE
Make Westchester Square your new home!
PAT LIFIERI
JOE DEGLOMINI JR.
GREG PERRY
FRAN MARINO
We Would Like to Thank Our Partners
ANGELOS KONTOS
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Office of NYC Small Business Services
Bronx Chamber of Commerce
JASON LAIDLEY
Bronx Council on the Arts
Office of NYC Comptroller
Community Board 10
NYC COUNCILMAN JAMES VACCA
Con Edison
Healthfirst
BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT
RUBEN DIAZ, JR.
Hutchinson Metro Center
Metro Optics
NYC Councilman James Vacca
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
NYC Department of Transportation
NYS Assemblyman Michael Benedetto
Office of Small Business Services
®
Westchester Square-Zerega Improvement Organization (WSZIO)
The Circle The Square design and printing
by The Bronx Design Gorup
For editorial services or inquires,
contact Layza Garcia at
l.garcia758@gmail.com
WESTCHESTER SQUARE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
25 Westchester Square, Bronx, NY 10461
Tel: (718) 597-4629 • Fax: (718) 597-0986
www.wsbid.org