Bronx Earth Day

On Sat. April 25th, there was a group manning a table was Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice as part of the South Bronx Earth day celebrations. This particular group was celebrating the opening of a new city Park in June, located at Whitlock, Westchester Ave. and Bronx River Ave, by the #6 subway. Group spokesperson Ms. Dawn Henning said that the park is at the site of a former cement plant. Youth Ministries is currently engaged in projects to reduce the pollution of the Bronx River during rainstorms and sewage overflow, and is located at 1384 Stratford Ave. by East 174th St, or call 718-328-5622.

A couple of bus loads of people went on the white-hulled boats of the Rocking the Boat Organization. These boats set-off propelled by oars from docks on the Bronx River near Lafayette and Edgewater Rd. From there they can go upriver to the Bruckner Blvd. landing station or to Soundview Park. This organization engages students in boat building and on-water education, and can be reached at 60 East 174th St, or call 718-466-2892. The Sustainable South Bronx Organization has watching and commenting on various environmental issues in the South Bronx, such as monitoring the NY Organic Fertilizer Company plant. They are also running a training program in green jobs called B.E.S.T. Trainees get free education on topics such as: basic building construction, energy retrofits, and helping homes to conserve energy. For more information, see www.ssbx.org. The Organization has started its first for-profit venture, SmartRoofs LLC, which installs green roofs that combine roof insulation, and the construction of urban agriculture or foliage on roofs. Their Fab-Labs or Fabrication Laboratories help create products from waste materials that come through the South Bronx. Nearby, the Green Workers Coops were promoting their large Green Home-Depot type store, Rebuilders Source at 461 Timpson Place, near East 147th St and Bruckner Boulevard, which recycles construction materials. For more information call 718-742-1111.