Story of the Day: Floatin' on a River

The Bronx River Flotilla (Photo by Adi Talwar)

Bronx River lovers traveled down the northern borough’s rapidly improving central waterway on May 1 for the 11th Annual Bronx River Flotilla.

From now on we'll be posting a "Story of the Day" every weekday. It's part of an effort to keep this blog colorful and highlight some of the stories and photographs that have appeared recently in the newspapers published by (or affiliated with) the Bronx News Network - namely the Norwood News, Mount Hope Monitor, Tremont Tribune, Bronx Youth Heard, Hunts Point Express and Mott Haven Herald.

Bronx River Flotilla

Photos from last year's flotilla by Adi Talwar

One hundred people will hit the waters of the Bronx River tomorrow in canoes and kayaks for a five mile ride to kick off the start of paddling season. The 11th annual Bronx River Flotilla, sponsored by the Bronx River Alliance and the Department of Parks and Recreation, is to celebrate the revitalization of the waterway--a result of years of advocacy to clean up the river.

The festivities will include the unveiling of a brand new guide map to encourage more residents to use the river and to make sure paddlers navigate its waters safely. There will also be a celebration picnic at Concrete Plant Park around 1 p.m. More details here.

ConEd Reacts Quickly to Bronx River Oil Spill, But Concerns Linger

In the days before Thanksgiving, dozens of workers in hard hats and orange and yellow vests trudged along the banks of the Bronx River sopping and scooping up the last remnants of a Nov. 4 oil spill from a Consolidated Edison substation in Yonkers.

Conservation experts heralded Con Edison's quick and diligent response but wouldn’t go so far as to give the river’s ecosystem a clean bill of health.

“We're watching very closely for harm to wildlife,” said Linda Cox, who heads the Bronx River Alliance, a non-profit that works to restore and protect the river. “Our concern is more about whether there would be more subtle, longer-term effects.”

More here in the Tremont Tribune.

Reporting, writing, and photo by Patrick Egan.

Concrete Park Finally Open

After 10 years of community organizing and struggle by Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, The Point, Rocking the Boat, Bronx River Alliance and Bronx community residents, Concrete Plant Park has opened on the banks of the Bronx River where a cement factory used to stand. The park sits between the Bruckner Expressway and Westchester Avenue, and while it is a little difficult to get to folks will be rewarded if they visit on Sunday, September 13.

For the first two weeks of its opening, Concrete Plant Park has hosted The Water Pod project, a floating farm/environmental education center/house boat/sustainable living experiment. Four people have been living on and maintaining the Water Pod for the last four months. The project has received a slew of press coverage over the last few weeks, including multiple articles in the New York Times, as well as Time Out NY and TV coverage on NY1. It's worth a visit for folks interested in fringe environmental movements and urban greening. (photos by Jennifer Classon)

Sesame Street on the Bronx River

Native Bronxite Sonia Manzano, who has played Maria on Sesame Street for more than three decades, has been a long-time supporter of the Bronx River Alliance and often appears at their events and fundraisers.

But on Saturday she brought along several of her Sesame Street pals to perform in River Park at 180th Street and Boston Road. Here are some photos (Sonia Manzano is at center of group picture below). For more information on the Bronx River Alliance, go to bronxriver.org. (Photos by Jordan Moss)



P.S. Sonia signed my daughter's copy of her children's book, "No Dogs Allowed," and informed us that it is being turned into a musical this fall. If you live in the Bronx and you've got kids, this is an amazing book.

Bronx River Fest Tomorrow!

Sonia Manzano

Sonia Manzano -- better known as "Maria from Sesame Street" -- will be on hand tomorrow (Saturday) at the Bronx River Festival tomorrow from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. at River Park at 180th Street and Boston Road. The Festival, organized by the Bronx River Alliance, will also feature Salongo, a 7-piece Afro-Cuban/Brazilian Group sponsored by the Bronx River Art Center.

River Park has a view of an awesome waterfall and there will be food and kayak and canoe rides. For more information visit www.bronxriver.org.

(I've been meaning to get Sonia Manzano to sign my daughter's copy of "No Dogs Allowed," a beatiful kids book that stresses her Bronx roots. So, we'll be there. Hope to see some of you.)

The Falls at River Park.

Rockin' the Bronx River

We just liked this photo from our latest issue. Outside the frame of it, there was a terrific party under way celebrating the Bronx River Alliance and the new Hunts Point Riverside Park. Here's an editorial about it.
(Photo by Jordan Moss)

News Roundup for July 27

Tragic news about a northwest Bronx family that was killed in a car crash in Virginia on Tuesday. Pamela Ramharrack lost five of her six children in the accident, the Daily News reports. We just learned that the family lives at 3395 Reservoir Oval West, just a couple doors down from the Norwood News. Stay tuned for more updates on this sad tale.

Another fire hit Morrisania last night, sending two people to the hospital, according to 1010 WINS.

City Limits explores a "unique and peculiar" clause that has allowed landlords to skirt rent regulations on some apartments for years. Under Spitzer's administration, the interpretation of the clause will be stricter. It's something tenant advocates have fought for for years.

And the NY Sun spotlights canoe trips on the Bronx River sponsored by the Bronx River Alliance.