Morrisania News: Kids Love New Zoo Exhibit

Morrisania News: Kids Love New Zoo Exhibit: Kids Love New Zoo Exhibit BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 1- The Children’s Zoo at WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) Bronx Zoo ...

Kids Love New Zoo Exhibit

Kids Love New Zoo Exhibit

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 1- The Children’s Zoo at WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) Bronx Zoo has undergone a renovation and officially reopened with a weekend-long celebration.

“Originally opened at the Bronx Zoo in 1941, the Children’s Zoo is a historic part of any visit to the Bronx Zoo,” said Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President and Bronx Zoo Director. “The Children’s Zoo is an experience people remember from their childhoods and represents many people’s first up-close encounter with wild animals. The new Children’s Zoo maintains the nostalgia from the past while creating new experiences and introducing a variety of different species to the exhibit.”

Species new to the Children’s Zoo include giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), Linne’s Two- toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus), South American coatimundi (Nasua nasua) and the world’s smallest deer: the pudu (Pudu puda). Other wildlife favorites returning to the children’s zoo include American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), and South American squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) which now live on an island habitat surrounded by wading Caribbean flamingoes (Phoenicopterus ruber) and other dabbing waterfowl.

The exhibit improvements are substantial, but maintain the walk-through trail experience and key features such as the aviary, prairie dog tunnels, bird nests, turtle shells, and tree house slide that have become iconic and a source of nostalgia for many.

WCS worked with author/ artist Brendan Wenzel on the new whimsically illustrated interpretive graphics that identify species, provide key facts about the animals, and educate about the species’ conservation needs in the wild. He will be on-site all weekend to sign his new book, Some Bugs.

The Children’s Zoo officially re-opened on May 30 with a weekend-long celebration. As part of the festivities, Peppa Pig, the world-famous star of the hit animated TV series airing daily on Nick Jr., joined families for a weekend full of fun at the zoo.

Kipps Bay Boys and Girls Club, BombaYo Afro-Puerto Rican Youth Project, and Casita Maria Chorus from The Bronx each performed music and dance numbers all weekend and to celebrate the grand re-opening.

WCS’s Education Department hosted “Children’s Zoo Quests” and the “Adventure Club” for kids and families, presented by Canon U.S.A. These daytime guided tours run every half hour, and will continue through November 1 on weekends, Wednesdays, and holidays.

Canon has generously sponsored the transformation of the Children’s Zoo, including the enhanced animal exhibits, colorful updated graphics, and innovative play experiences.

For more information about the Bronx Zoo’s new Children’s Zoo or the grand re-opening events, visit www.BronxZoo.com.

#BronxZoo #WCS #ChildrensZoo #Bronxnews

Morrisania News: Caught on Tape!

Morrisania News: Caught on Tape!: Caught on Tape! DVD Seller Punches 6-yr-old in Face Robs Mom’s iPhone By Dan Gesslein Not even Hollywood could ...

Caught on Tape!

Caught on Tape!
DVD Seller Punches 6-yr-old in Face

Robs Mom’s iPhone

By Dan Gesslein

Not even Hollywood could make this one up. Police are looking for a sleazy DVD salesman who punched a six-year-old in the face after trying to rob the child’s mother.

At around 4:45 a.m. on May 24, a man selling DVDs entered a laundromat at 1720 Boone Avenue. The man 

approached a 22-year-old woman and her six-year-old son and try to sell them bootlegged DVDs. When the mom said she was not interested, the seller grabbed her iPhone which was charing in a chair beside her. 

The thief tried to flee but mom grabbed and held him. The suspect broke free and headed for the exit. The child stepped in his path to try to help his mother. The thief then punched the child in the face knocking him to the ground.

In the parking lot the mom grabbed the thief again and managed to pull the iPhone from his grasp. The attacker broke free and fled.

The child suffered swelling to the face and cuts on the back of his head. He was treated at a local hospital.

The suspect is described as a light skinned Hispanic male, approximately 50-55 years old with a thin build. 

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

#NYPD #iPhone #DVD #Bootleg #Bronxnews

Morrisania News: Puerto Rican Day Parade Set for Sunday

Morrisania News: Puerto Rican Day Parade Set for Sunday: 29 th  Annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade Set for Sunday 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 29- This ...

Puerto Rican Day Parade Set for Sunday

29^th Annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade Set for Sunday

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 29- This past Tuesday was the The Bronx Puerto Rican Day Board announced that the 29th Annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade will take place on Sunday, May 31st. It will commence with the Kick-off party at Poe Cottage Park at 10 a.m. The parade will run along the Grand Concourse from 192nd Street to Van Cortlandt Ave East (+20 block stretch). This is the largest Multi Cultural Event held in the Bronx that is celebrating the diversity of the Puerto Rican Culture and people. 

The Bronx then and now is the location with the largest population of Puerto Ricans outside to the beloved Island, over 350,000 strong. The Honorees for the parade who will receive awards for dedicating years of service to the community include: NY State Assemblyman Jose Rivera, Robert Sancho—Health services provider of the year, Sofia Thiebaud—in honor of her legendary father, two madrinas: Paloma Hernandez & Rosalba Rolon—Pregones Founder, Joe Torres—restaurant , Victor Pupo—El Padrino, Boxer Alberto Mercado, Larry Scott Blackmon—New Business, Mike Sassano—Grand Marshall International, Mikey Melendez—community Activist and Arnie Segarra—humanitarian. Check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for more on the 29th Annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade as the announcement was after this column's deadline.

Also occurring on Sunday May 31st will be the Salute to Israel in The Bronx by State Senator Jeff Klein that will be going on in two parts. Part one will take place at the Riverdale Y located at 5625 Arlington Avenue (off Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street) from 11 AM – 1 PM. Part two will take place at Bronx House located at 990 Pelham Parkway South (corner of Hone Avenue) from 1:30 pm – 3:30 PM. You are asked to RSVP to Senator Klein's office at 718-822 2049.

Speaking of the New York State Senate, with the stepping down of former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos who was replaced by fellow Long Island Republican State Senator John Flanagan as the Majority Leader there needed to be a new Senate Education Chair which Senator Flanagan was. The new Senate Education Chair is fellow Long Island Republican State Senator Carl Marcellino. Just in case another move is needed there are a total of 9 Republican State Senators from Long Island who are known as the Long Island Delegation, so 6 would be left to pick from.

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj and the NYCDEP are giving away free rain barrels to homeowners in the 80th A.D. on 

Saturday June 6thstarting at 9 AM, and until 12 PM or the supply runs out. The location is the PS 83 schoolyard 1840 Bogart Avenue. You are however asked to call Assemblyman Gjonaj's office at 718-499-0109to reserve your rain barrel.

Mark your calendars for the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Business Summit and Trade Show to be held at the Mall at Bay Plaza (200 Baychester Avenue) on Thursday June 18th from 2 – 7 PM. This is a great opportunity to showcase your business by becoming a vendor at the largest Business Expo in the Bronx. For more details, how to register for the BCC Business Expo, and what the costs are, you can call the Bronx Chamber of Commerce at 718-929-3900, or e-mail the BCC at events@bronxchamber.org.

Lastly, it appears that former 86th A.D. candidate for assembly Hector Ramirez was arrested last week on charges of voter fraud by the Bronx District Attorney's office, on a 242 count indictment, which appears to be tied to absentee ballots in the 2014 race. It reminds me of the 1993 School Board 10 election where a person was arrested for similar absentee ballot fraud. In that case the defendant was found innocent, and I suggest that Mr. Ramirez's lawyer look at that 1993 School Board 10 voter fraud charges by then Special Investigator Ed Stansick in which the defendant was found innocent of all charges. One has to also wonder why in 86th A.D. Assemblyman Victor Pichardo's press release (which was timed perfectly) that Assemblyman Pichardo mentions the 2013 Special election, when the DA only mentions the 2014 election. I guess it will take four years to find out the real answer as we did in the previous 865h A.D. scandal ala former Assemblyman Nelson Castro. Assemblyman Pichardo's statement is on my blog under the archive title Assembly member Pichardo releases statement on arrest of Hector Ramirez.

If you have any political information that you want to share or have checked out, any comments about this column, or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 

100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199Mr. Robert Press.

#PuertoRicanDayParade #Latino #Bronx

Morrisania News: Another Suspect Fingered in Teen Execution

Morrisania News: Another Suspect Fingered in Teen Execution: Another Suspect Fingered in Teen Execution By Dan Gesslein and David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 29...