november 26 - december 02, 2014 • vol. 15 • no. 48 washington heights • inwood • HARLEM • EAST HARLEM NORTHERN MANHATTAN’S BILINGUAL NEWSPAPER EL PERIODICO BILINGUE DEL NORTE DE MANHATTAN NOW EVERY WEDNESDAY TODOS LOS MIERCOLES El corazón celebrates p4 El corazón celebra p4 Giving p12 Vigil p3 Business p10 A HEALTHIER YOU IS IN THE AIR The change of seasons is nature’s beautiful way of starting fresh. It’s also an inspiring reminder for us all to turn over a new leaf on our journey toward healthier living. So, it’s time to start anew, New York! And we’re here to help. That’s why we’ve created our new Small Steps to a Healthier You App, which gives you easy access to resources in the neighborhood, healthier living tips, a pedometer and much more. Also, it’s FREE! Please, check out the enclosed insert to learn more about events and activities that are happening in the neighborhood. To download the app, visit smallesteps.emblemhealth.com. A fresh start to a healthier you is just a tap away! *Dates and availability subject to change. Group Health Incorporated (GHI), HIP Health Plan of New York (HIP), HIP Insurance Company of New York and EmblemHealth Services Company, LLC are EmblemHealth companies. EmblemHealth Services Company, LLC provides administrative services to the EmblemHealth companies. Neighborhood Care is a division of EmblemHealth. ©EmblemHealth Inc. 2014, All Rights Reserved. 2 november 26, 2014 • manhattan times • www.manhattantimesnews.com Bound in grief, and in cries for justice Story and photos by Julia Shu hree months ago, Caroline TJiménez, 22, woke up from an unusually good night’s rest to devastating news. Her brother, Kenny Jiménez, was dead. “I just remember looking at my phone and seeing 17 missed calls and that text message,” she recounted. “I would never want to relive that moment. It’s just something that replays in my head over and over again.” On Aug. 17, Kenny Jiménez, 21, and Francisco Mercedes, 29, also known as “Boy Summa” or simply “Summa,” were shot to death on the corner of West 151st Street and Broadway in West Harlem. The shooter opened fire, then ran to a white sedan and sped away. Though the police say the case remains Kenny would have Sonia Iausell grieves for under investigation, more than three months turned 22 on Friday. later, their killer is still at large. her son Kenny Jiménez. This past Fri., Nov. 21st, would have been Kenny’s 22nd birthday. “I think it’s very important for the the vigil in support of family members. the past two years. Family and friends of the young men resolution of this case to keep it alive, to make “I urge anyone with information about this “I feel that police should work harder, they gathered on the corner to place candles and sure that until we have justice served, we need terrible crime to come forward. Doing so will should get more involved in the community,” photos in a somber memorial. In honor of to keep looking,” said Catherine Merette, provide immeasurable comfort and closure to said Caroline. “Not once was there police Kenny’s birthday, they held blue and white Caroline and Kenny’s older sister. She said their grieving families, and send a powerful patrolling around here before, but ever since balloons and released them into the sky she believed that the memorial gathering will message about our community’s values,” said this incident, we have at least 50 cops in this after a moment of silence. But more than a remind police to prioritize the case. Sen. Espaillat. radius.” communal act of grief, the vigil served as a Information might come from community Since the beginning of 2014, the New York But her older sister emphasized that what call for action. In the three months since the members as well. Police Department has reported 17 shooting crime, the perpetrators have not been caught. State Senator Adriano Espaillat attended victims in the surrounding area, an increase in See GRIEF p22 Desoladas y clamando justicia “Simplemente...se reproduce en mi cabeza una y otra vez”, dijo la hermana, Caroline Jiménez. Historia y fotos por Julia Shu El 17 de agosto, Kenny Jiménez, de 21 años, y Francisco Mercedes, de 29, también conocido ace tres meses, Caroline Jiménez, como “Chico Summa” o simplemente “Summa”, de 22 años, despertó de una fueron asesinados a tiros en la esquina de la calle H 151 oeste y Broadway, en Harlem Oeste. inusualmente buena noche de descanso El tirador abrió fuego, corrió hacia un sedán para recibir una devastadora noticia: blanco y se alejó a toda velocidad. su hermano, Kenny Jiménez, estaba Aunque la policía dice que el caso sigue bajo muerto. investigación, luego de más de tres meses, su asesino sigue en libertad. “Sólo recuerdo haber visto mi teléfono y tener El pasado viernes 21 de noviembre habría sido 17 llamadas perdidas y ese mensaje de texto”, el cumpleaños número 22 de Kenny. contó. “No quisiera volver a vivir ese momento. Familiares y amigos de los jóvenes se Es simplemente algo que se reproduce en mi cabeza una y otra vez”. Vea DESOLADA p22 november 26, 2014 • manhattan times • www.manhattantimesnews.com 3 The Dominican Studies El corazón celebrates Institute marks 20 years Story by Gregg McQueen kind,” stated Dr. Ramona Hernández, Ph.D., Director of DSI and Professor of Sociology at ime to mark a milestone. The City College of New York. In a central location, historians are able to T find the sources to write about Dominicans.” The Dominican Studies Institute (DSI) of Dr. Hernández said that DSI is constantly the City University of New York (CUNY), seeking out new archival items to acquire — a the nation’s first university-based research significant task, as the Institute typically does institute devoted to the study of people not use funding to purchase collections. Many of Dominican heritage, is celebrating its items are personal documents that illustrate 20th anniversary this year. the lives of Dominican Based at The City College of immigrants in America. New York, DSI’s mission is “If you ask me, that to produce and disseminate is one of our greatest research about Dominicans achievements,” she said. and the Dominican Republic. “One hundred years from “I think that the Institute now, those stories can still is ‘el corazón’ — it’s the be told.” heart of intellectual study of “The Dominican Studies CUNY’s Dominican the Dominican diaspora,” Institute has nurtured Studies Institute (DSI) remarked Jay Hershenson, thousands of ambitious is the first of its kind. Senior Vice Chancellor at students in its history,” CUNY. The Institute houses said State Senator Adriano to acknowledge the many Dominican alumni Dominican American students taking classes the Dominican Archives, a repository of Espaillat, who has played a key role in securing from CUNY. with us,” he explained. materials documenting the Dominican funding to help operate the center. “It also has Dr. Hernández said that more than 500 According to Dr. Hernández, Dominicans experience in the United States, and a library a terrific track record for producing original Dominican graduates are expected to attend. who attend CUNY tend to motivate others in with more than 4,000 books and 8,000 articles research on the Dominican diaspora that has “For a community that began with a very their family to do the same, strengthening the from academic journals. been used by policymakers, journalists and low rate of education, that is a very important Institute’s bond with the community. Intended to make bibliographical countless others.” number,” she commented. “We’ve seen as many as seven people sources available for assisting research into On Sat., Dec. 6th, a Gala will be held at Hershenson said that since DSI was in the same Dominican family attend the Dominican history, the library boasts 750 City College to commemorate DSI’s 20th founded, CUNY has seen a sharp spike in university,” she remarked. doctoral and masters’ dissertations, explained anniversary. the enrollment of students with Dominican In 2010, DSI launched a gallery to present Hershenson. The event will also serve as a fundraiser heritage. programming that highlights its archival “Our library and archives are one of a to assist DSI’s operations, as well as a means “Right now, we have upwards of 26,000 See DSI p16 El corazón celebra El Instituto de Estudios Dominicanos marca 20 años Historia por Gregg McQueen Es hora de marcar un hito. El Instituto de Estudios Dominicano (DSI por sus siglas en inglés), de City University de Nueva York (CUNY), el primer instituto universitario de investigación de la nación dedicado al estudio de las personas de origen dominicano, está celebrando su 20do aniversario este año. Ubicado en el City College de Nueva York, la misión de DSI es producir y difundir investigaciones sobre los dominicanos y la República Dominicana. “Creo que el instituto es el corazón del estudio intelectual de la diáspora dominicana”, comentó “En cien años, esas historias Jay Hershenson, vice canciller senior de CUNY. pueden todavía ser contadas”, El instituto alberga los Archivos Dominicanos, dijo la Dra. Ramona Hernández, un repositorio de materiales que documenta la Ph.D., Director del Instituto. experiencia dominicana en los Estados Unidos, y una biblioteca con más de 4,000 libros y 8,000 artículos de revistas académicas. Destinado para que las fuentes bibliográficas estén disponibles para ayudar en la investigación declaró la Dra. Ramona Hernández, Ph.D., de la historia dominicana, la biblioteca cuenta directora de DSI y profesora de Sociología en el con 750 tesis de doctorado y de maestría, dijo City College de Nueva York.