KRVC Kingsbridge/Van Cortlandt Edition • March/April 2017 Thursday, March 30, 2017 - 7:00pm to 9:30pm Vladeck Hall, 74 Van Cortlandt Park South, Bronx, NY, 10463 Jazz at Free e are so thrilled to have in 1992 (Straight Up for Amalgamated!world-renowned tenor Delmark). More recordings saxophonist Eric Alexander followed for numerous labels, including leading the band at our Milestone and others. Eric has appeared on annual jazz concert. record as a leader, sideman, producer, and WEric has been exploring new musical composer. By now, he has lost count of how worlds from the outset. He started out on many albums feature his playing; he guesses piano as a six-year-old, took up clarinet at 60 or 70. He has earned praise from critics nine, switched to alto sax when he was 12, and, even more important, established his and converted to tenor when jazz became own voice within the bebop tradition. his obsession during his studies at the In 2004, Eric signed an exclusive University of Indiana, Bloomington (1986- contract with the New York-based 87). Eric then went on to William Paterson independent jazz label, HighNote Records College in New Jersey. He advanced his where he has amassed a considerable studies there under the tutelage of Harold discography of critically-acclaimed Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and recordings, including Temple of Olympic others. Zeus, Prime Time – a CD/DVD release, During the 1990s, after placing second and Revival of the Fittest with Harold behind Joshua Redman in the 1991 Mabern. Eric’s album Don’t Follow The Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Crowd topped the jazz charts in 2011. His Competition, Alexander threw himself into recent albums Touching, Chicago Fire, and the whirlwind life of a professional jazz The Real Thing have all received critical musician. He made his recording debut acclaim. Eric continues to tour the world in 1991 with Charles Earland on Muse over to capacity audiences. He can regularly Records, and cut his first album as leader be seen in NYC clubs. Continued on page 3 AMY KERWIN Vertical Gardens Proposal for the Bronx he term vertical garden – the plants generate highway pillars using Vertical refers to any kind of oxygen and absorb Gardens. construction and support pollutants We think it can be done here, structure for growing plants • Help reduce noise on the Broadway train columns. in an upwards-directed, vertical levels – columns Such projects have been used to Tway and thereby efficiently and absorb sound improve urban centers all around productively making use of the • Reduces stress and the world for decades. Vertical existing space. Urban settings, improves people’s Gardens have been featured in vertical gardens have been used to moods – pleasant to Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and make unattractive, empty, concrete look at even in the Design Trust report spaces prettier, healthier and quieter. The plants do not “Under the Elevated” - which was On our Broadway Corridor here in use soil. They survive produced in partnership with the the Bronx, there are spaces, such as through an automated NYC Department of Transportation the elevated train structure, where irrigation system that is and has served as the inspiration for the installation of vertical gardens because they can: supplied by rainwater and grow in a much of KRVC’s Broadway in the would be a vast improvement of the • Help beautify the city – add color special cloth. Bronx “Dare to Dream” Initiative. existing spaces. to the city-scape and are very pretty KRVC was inspired to develop Specifically, Vertical Gardens to look at this proposal, in part, by Mexico’s can improve life here in the Bronx • Create a healthier environment Via Verde project to beautify their KRVC Development Corporation, 505 West 236th Street, Bronx, NY 10463. (718) 543-7100. krvcdc.org DCA Listening Tour Makes Brush the Bronx rush the Bronx is an innovative and exciting a Stop at Amalgamated program launched by KRVC in the the fall of 2016. The goal of this program is to encourage January 12, 2017 Bcommunity members to experience all the Bronx has to offer, to reflect on those experiences red Riley, Senior Community Relations Coordinator, NYC Department of Consumer through the creative medium of their choice and to share Affairs made the Amalgamated Houses a stop on the DCA Listening Tour. About twenty their reflections with KRVC to help promote and develop residents turned out with questions and comments about the community. Mr. Riley gave this program. The possibilities for this project are endless! a very informative presentation and answered several questions. KRVC was pleased to Fwork with DCA and the Amalgamated Houses on this event. Check out the details below: Experience the Bronx - Enjoy all the great Bronx attractions such as the Bronx Zoo, Bronx Botanical Gardens, Van Cortlandt Park, City Island, Wave Hill and more. Enjoy shopping, patronizing local businesses and dining in great Bronx restaurants. Attend Bronx community events such as concerts, festivals, art exhibits and movies. Reflect on your Favorite Bronx Experiences- Use the creative medium of your choice - painting, writing, sculpture, drawing, photography and more - to reflect upon your special and memorable Bronx experiences. Share and Celebrate your Creative Expressions with KRVC - Brush the Bronx has endless possibilities, especially if we get widespread participation. The community creations we collect will be used to boost this program and ultimately the Bronx through a variety of printed, online and live celebrations. Ultimately, our goal through this program is to reach tens of thousands of people and encourage them to experience all the Bronx has to offer. We hope to formalize and expand Brush the Bronx through a multi-faceted promotion campaign and partnerships with schools, organizations, businesses and artists. Truckin’ with KRVC 2016 was the year of the New KRVC office. Stop by if you have not seen it yet at 505 West 236th Street. 2017 is the year of the New KRVC Truck. We now own a GMC 10 foot box truck and we are very excited to use it as a mobile office all over the Bronx and even in upper Manhattan. “Truckin’ with KRVC” events will be posted here: krvcdc.org/events The passenger side of the vehicle is magnetic and we will purchase truck magnets for all our sponsors with their logos! The truck will feature the logos when it is parked for our events. Find out how to get your logo on the KRVC Truck by contacting Farrah Rubin at [email protected] or call our office at 718-543-7100. Continued from page 1 Eric Alexander - “His blowing is extraordinarily articulate and musician who always delivers the goods is by no means misapplied.” ecstatic, his tone bright and muscular, leadership and inspiration AllAboutJazz.com flowing nonstop. Alexander has released more than 30 albums in two The jazz quartet also includes David Hazeltine on piano, John decades, and this is one of the most vital.” [Chicago Fire] JazzTimes Webber on bass, and Jason Tiemann on drums. It promises to be an ”Whatever the mood or tempo, spellbinding notes and phrases flow exciting evening. EricAlexanderJazz.com from Alexander’s horn as smoothly as honey from a jar…. Alexander For reservations please email KRVC at [email protected] or call burns when he has to, plays the blues with unfeigned warmth and 718-543-7100. perception, and generally shows why his well-earned reputation as a There are many ways you can support and participate in RiverFest 2017 and the Hudson River Greenway Initiative. Here are a few: Get Ready for RiverFest! (1) Please join us for a meeting on Monday, March 20, 2017 at 7pm at By Cliff Stanton KRVC to learn more about the Hudson River Greenway Initiative. (2) Participate in RiverFest 2017 as a Vendor or Exhibitor. riverdaleriverfest.org/vendor-registration RIVERDALE RIVERFEST is produced by the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van (3) Volunteer to help with RiverFest 2017. Cortlandt Development Corp./KRVC together with a coalition of volunteer riverdaleriverfest.org/volunteers residents and community groups. The goal of the event is to promote the 4) Donate to RiverFest 2017. creation of the Hudson River Greenway and to celebrate the Hudson River. riverdaleriverfest.org/donations Admission to the festival is free. or donate via check, payable to KRVC Development Corp. and mail it to: The first festival in 2010 drew over 3000 participants – and each year that KRVC, 505 West 236th St, Bronx NY 10463. number has increased. Festival-goers have the opportunity to sail on tall ships, enjoy music by talented local and national performers, experience interactive Cliff Stanton is a successful business owner exhibits and presentations, and most importantly, enjoy recreational activities and dedicated community activist. His many along the banks of the majestic Hudson River. community leadership positions include Last year, we expanded our Saturday programming with a free, family- serving as a member of the board of KRVC friendly, outdoor movie. We anticipate doing the same thing this year. from 2009-2013, as co-President of the Parents RiverFest, in tandem with a concerted grassroots organizing effort has Association of PS 24 from 2009-2011 and brought us so close to realizing our dream of an all-waterfront Greenway founder of 4 Wheels for Good. Cliff was one of along the Hudson River. Thanks to funding from State Senator Jeff Klein, the early planners of Riverdale RiverFest and the MTA is in the process of conducting an engineering study. With your has been an ardent advocate for river access help, we can get even closer. for our community. He was one of the major organizers of Riverdale RiverFest 2014 and has served as KRVC’s Greewnay Coordinator and lead Riverdale RiverFest Organizer since the fall of 2014.