Eva.
By Dominique Turek
Crammed into the stairwell of Manhattan College’s Horan Hall, cleaning woman Eva Kalme is hard at work mopping up the evidence of yesterday. The stench of stale beer and boy’s sneakers hangs in the air, but Kalme seems not to notice as she continues to clean with vigor, and even a faint smile.
“I’ve worked at Manhattan College for forty years. That’s a long time, you know! I came over here from Puerto Rico. I still have family there, my siblings actually. I miss the beaches. It gets so cold here,” says Kalme longingly.
Lifting her coke bottle glasses to rub the bridge of her nose she continues, “I’m sorry, I’m a little dizzy. I just fell on the floor and hit my head. Leaning against the wall for only a second, she gathers herelf and begins again to scrub at a stubborn stain stuck to the stairs, her long gray hair moving with the motion of her mop.
After coming to America for work opportunities, Kalme met her husband, Ed. “My husband,” she nods, “he was a great painter from Germany. He passed away, but he’s painted some artwork that’s still hung around the college. He’s painted many portraits of me. We used to live together on campus.”
Currently living alone in an apartment on 231st street, Kalme says, “No, I never did have any children. I do have a lot of Ed’s painting hung around the house, so that’s nice.”
Fellow Manhattan College cleaning woman and a friend of Kalme’s, Mary, says, “I left my home in Crete, Greece and started working at Manhattan College thirty-five years ago. Eva’s been here even longer than I have.”
Kalme’s day usually begins at six A.M, but on the days she arrives early for work, it’s not uncommon to find her curled up on one of the scratchy common room couches. The huge flat screen in front of her, always blaring a soap opera or Maury Povich rerun, is not enough to disturb this much-needed rest.
After changing out of her blue cleaning uniform and into her regular clothes, all that remains the same is her wedding ring and eyeglasses. She and Mary stand outside on 242nd and Broadway, digging through their purses. Counting her change to make sure she has the money for the bus, Kalme lights up, realizing she’s got just enough for the ride.
“I’ve worked at Manhattan College for forty years. That’s a long time, you know! I came over here from Puerto Rico. I still have family there, my siblings actually. I miss the beaches. It gets so cold here,” says Kalme longingly.
Lifting her coke bottle glasses to rub the bridge of her nose she continues, “I’m sorry, I’m a little dizzy. I just fell on the floor and hit my head. Leaning against the wall for only a second, she gathers herelf and begins again to scrub at a stubborn stain stuck to the stairs, her long gray hair moving with the motion of her mop.
After coming to America for work opportunities, Kalme met her husband, Ed. “My husband,” she nods, “he was a great painter from Germany. He passed away, but he’s painted some artwork that’s still hung around the college. He’s painted many portraits of me. We used to live together on campus.”
Currently living alone in an apartment on 231st street, Kalme says, “No, I never did have any children. I do have a lot of Ed’s painting hung around the house, so that’s nice.”
Fellow Manhattan College cleaning woman and a friend of Kalme’s, Mary, says, “I left my home in Crete, Greece and started working at Manhattan College thirty-five years ago. Eva’s been here even longer than I have.”
Kalme’s day usually begins at six A.M, but on the days she arrives early for work, it’s not uncommon to find her curled up on one of the scratchy common room couches. The huge flat screen in front of her, always blaring a soap opera or Maury Povich rerun, is not enough to disturb this much-needed rest.
After changing out of her blue cleaning uniform and into her regular clothes, all that remains the same is her wedding ring and eyeglasses. She and Mary stand outside on 242nd and Broadway, digging through their purses. Counting her change to make sure she has the money for the bus, Kalme lights up, realizing she’s got just enough for the ride.
Mickey, The Mystery Man
By: Gabrielle Gonnella
Although we cannot always count on both the men’s and women’s basketball team at Manhattan College to bring home a win,we can always look forward to seeing one man cheering them on. “Mickey” as he goes by, has been coming to every basketball game for years’. Dressed in the same oversized plaid shirt and kaki pants, he comes with the same enthusiasm and excitement week after week. He has somehow managed to find a way into the hearts of Manhattan College students, and looks forward to striking up a conversation with them at every game. But the question that most of us have about him is, who exactly is he? Where does he come from? Unfortunately, after searching long and hard to find the truth, there are some questions that may be left unanswered.
While first asking both students and workers within Draddy Gymnasium about the whereabouts of Mickey, they mostly all responded with the answer “I wonder this myself”. They know that he buys his ticket and sits in the same section almost consistently, but they are unclear about what happens before or after he arrives to the games. Even though the students do carry on conversations with him throughout the game, it is very hard to get deep information out of him, as well as understanding him due to his high pitched mumbling tone. After receiving little to no information to work with, I decided to take it upon myself to talk to Mickey one on one.
As I began to approach him, I was already greeted by a big grin. It may have been half time, but Mickey could not wait for the second half to begin, which made it slightly more difficult to chat. I decided it would be a better idea to start off with some small talk before I started hitting him with the desirable questions. To my dismay, small talk was all I got out of it. The farthest I got was learning about the players in the game, and nothing about his personal life. So bottom line, all we know from Mickey is that he is the number one fan of the Japser’s, but the mystery man of Riverdale.
While first asking both students and workers within Draddy Gymnasium about the whereabouts of Mickey, they mostly all responded with the answer “I wonder this myself”. They know that he buys his ticket and sits in the same section almost consistently, but they are unclear about what happens before or after he arrives to the games. Even though the students do carry on conversations with him throughout the game, it is very hard to get deep information out of him, as well as understanding him due to his high pitched mumbling tone. After receiving little to no information to work with, I decided to take it upon myself to talk to Mickey one on one.
As I began to approach him, I was already greeted by a big grin. It may have been half time, but Mickey could not wait for the second half to begin, which made it slightly more difficult to chat. I decided it would be a better idea to start off with some small talk before I started hitting him with the desirable questions. To my dismay, small talk was all I got out of it. The farthest I got was learning about the players in the game, and nothing about his personal life. So bottom line, all we know from Mickey is that he is the number one fan of the Japser’s, but the mystery man of Riverdale.
Places to Visit: Wave Hill
by Nicole Vacca
The Pergola Overlook
Located at the intersection of 249th Street and Independence Avenue are 28 acres of sheer beauty, commonly known as, Wave Hill. According to Wave Hill's website, Wave Hill has historically been home to public figures such as William Lewis Morris, Theodore Roosevelt and even Mark Twain. Today, Wave Hill is a public garden that houses one conservatory, two old mansions and many different types of trees and plants.
Upon entering Wave Hill, the first sight that hits you is of the Palisades across the Hudson River, which can be viewed from the Pergola Overlook, a rustic rectangular structure adorned with twisting branches and vines. To the far left is the Glyndor House, which is used during the winter as a workshop for artists and people can come watch them work. On the right is the flower garden and the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory, which is home to both succulent desert plants and lush tropical plants. Behind the conservatory are the herb and dry gardens, as well as the Alpine house, which is filled with small plants that normally grow at a high altitude. What's nice about Wave Hill is that no matter what time of the year you visit, there is always something to see. Because the leaves still have not grown back, there is a good view of the Palisades from all angles. Also, certain trees look more interesting in the winter, such as the Chinese Elm, which exfoliates its bark this time of the year. It is definitely worth going on a tour of Wave Hill, as the tour guides will tell you interesting anecdotes about the place's history and well as unique facts about various trees and plants.
As for food and the gift shop, neither are spectacular, although you do not visit Wave Hill just for the food and the souvenirs. The Katchkie truck across from the Glyndor House serves a limited menu of typical cafe fare. The gift shop, while filled with a nice variety of items from jewelry to homemade soap, is very pricey. One probable reason for this is that artists who painstakingly work on their products make many of the items in the shop. None of the items in the shop are “mass-produced.”
The food and the gift shop are only slight drawbacks. If you like Botanical Gardens but find it overwhelmingly large, Wave Hill is the ideal place to visit. The beautiful view of the Palisades combined with the cozy woodland surroundings make it picturesque and intimate. Admission for adults is $8, $4 for students and seniors and $2 for children over the age of 6. Also, there are free-guided tours every Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information, visit Wave Hill's website at http://www.wavehill.org.
Attractions (Near) Riverdale
Here, in Riverdale, walkers and sightseers have Van Cortlandt Park, and just a few more blocks west, there is the Hudson River leading upstate. These are the common attractions that bring Riverdale, a small section in The Bronx to the limelight.
Just a few miles northeast, there is another attraction that no one notices. The
Woodlawn Cemetery, although not in Riverdale per se, is exactly what the name sounds like, a cemetery.
Steve Ferrero is a normal visitor to Woodlawn, and after, he pays his due respect to his deceased family members, he goes around looking at some of the memorable mausoleums there are in the cemetery. “I hear that if I did a tour of the cemetery that they would actually open a few up and let you see them inside,” Ferrero stated as he gazed at the Woolworth mausoleum, which is just left of the cemetery entrance. For those who might not be familiar with Woolworth, he was one of the first owners of discount stores. He made an estimated $1 million in the early 20th century.
Woodlawn Cemetery offers tour guides for those who want it because tour guides are allowed to open some mausoleums. But, going through Woodlawn spontaneously is one’s best bet for an adventure worth taking.
A brochure and site map are available free of charge, and it will direct you on some of the famous mausoleums or graves in the cemetery. For an instance, a glowing attraction is Miles Davis, the Blues player of the 1940s and 1950s. His grave is blackish-gray with a shiny coat over it, with his instrument of choice, the trumpet, engraved just after his last name.
The tour guide, Mike, who wanted to be known as such, explained, that where Davis and the late Jazz musician Duke Ellington are buried, that is called the “Jazz Corner” fittingly. “One of the main sites I take my groups to see is the Jazz Corner because everyone is amazed that legends in African-American music are interred here,” Mike explained to the group.
Other notable attractions are Celia Cruz’s mausoleum and Fiorella LaGuardia’s grave. Both of which are entirely different from each other, which adds to the beauty and mystique aura that Woodlawn exemplifies. Cruz, the late Salsa queen, has her mausoleum for two people, the second being her husband. It is draped with the Cuban flag with pictures of Cruz as she sang at various concerts. La Guardia, the former mayor of New York City, has a lonely grave of just him. His grave says “Statesman” because he was a politician, but other than that, it is dark gray and mysterious.
Just on the outskirts of Riverdale are such interesting and eye-opening places to visit. If you are coming from Riverdale, one can take the Bx9 to Kingsbridge and hop on the northbound 4 train to Woodlawn, where the cemetery is two blocks west from the train station. Walk-ins are always welcome. Just grab a brochure and site map, and you can visit legendary musicians, businessmen, and politicans.
Just a few miles northeast, there is another attraction that no one notices. The
Woodlawn Cemetery, although not in Riverdale per se, is exactly what the name sounds like, a cemetery.
Steve Ferrero is a normal visitor to Woodlawn, and after, he pays his due respect to his deceased family members, he goes around looking at some of the memorable mausoleums there are in the cemetery. “I hear that if I did a tour of the cemetery that they would actually open a few up and let you see them inside,” Ferrero stated as he gazed at the Woolworth mausoleum, which is just left of the cemetery entrance. For those who might not be familiar with Woolworth, he was one of the first owners of discount stores. He made an estimated $1 million in the early 20th century.
Woodlawn Cemetery offers tour guides for those who want it because tour guides are allowed to open some mausoleums. But, going through Woodlawn spontaneously is one’s best bet for an adventure worth taking.
A brochure and site map are available free of charge, and it will direct you on some of the famous mausoleums or graves in the cemetery. For an instance, a glowing attraction is Miles Davis, the Blues player of the 1940s and 1950s. His grave is blackish-gray with a shiny coat over it, with his instrument of choice, the trumpet, engraved just after his last name.
The tour guide, Mike, who wanted to be known as such, explained, that where Davis and the late Jazz musician Duke Ellington are buried, that is called the “Jazz Corner” fittingly. “One of the main sites I take my groups to see is the Jazz Corner because everyone is amazed that legends in African-American music are interred here,” Mike explained to the group.
Other notable attractions are Celia Cruz’s mausoleum and Fiorella LaGuardia’s grave. Both of which are entirely different from each other, which adds to the beauty and mystique aura that Woodlawn exemplifies. Cruz, the late Salsa queen, has her mausoleum for two people, the second being her husband. It is draped with the Cuban flag with pictures of Cruz as she sang at various concerts. La Guardia, the former mayor of New York City, has a lonely grave of just him. His grave says “Statesman” because he was a politician, but other than that, it is dark gray and mysterious.
Just on the outskirts of Riverdale are such interesting and eye-opening places to visit. If you are coming from Riverdale, one can take the Bx9 to Kingsbridge and hop on the northbound 4 train to Woodlawn, where the cemetery is two blocks west from the train station. Walk-ins are always welcome. Just grab a brochure and site map, and you can visit legendary musicians, businessmen, and politicans.
Ying & Yang
(Patrick Dunlevy on the left and Arthur Kaplan behind him)
By: Cornelia Batu
Patrick Dunlevy and Arthur Kaplan are two very well known Riverdale locals who can be spotted at the local Kappock Café every Sunday evening.
Patrick is a Manhattan college graduate and alumni who has been living in Riverdale all his life. He is a former professor of literature at Lehmann college and has been on medical leave since early 2011 after a fatal fall during a snow storm. "I used to be very interested in joining the convent. I wanted to be a priest but ended up realizing that my calling was towards education," says Patrick as he begins laughing hysterically at one of the perverted jokes Arthur is trying to whisper in his ear.
Patrick is single and has been single all his life and the Kappock Café is where he tunes in everyday for local gossip and news. "I was never interested in dating or marriage. I Like being alone and not having people to take care of," says Dunlevy with a huge gapped grin on his face.
Arthur (Patrick's counterpart) is the complete opposite. He has been known throughout Riverdale as the "local" hunk and Hugh Hefner of the Bronx. "I have been married three time and divorced three times. I don't have any kids and as you can tell at the age of 70 I'm not looking to settle down with just one women anymore. Life's about fun," says Kaplan as he puts his well manicured fingernails through his freshly groomed toupee.
Arthur owns a few laundry making machine companies in Brooklyn and has always had a passion for adventure and fun. "Me and Pat have completely different backgrounds and personalities but that's what attracts us to on another", he says with a wink as he is being served dinner.
Patrick is a Nautica type of guy while Arthur prefers the finer things in life such as expensive Prada shoes and other various famous designer brands. "You can tell that I'm high maintenance," says Arthur flashing his 24 karat platinum pinky ring as he picks up his deaf coffee.
The Kappock Café wouldn't be the same without Kaplan and Dunlevy cracking jokes about various costumers walking in and out of the diner. "Although we're completely different we have one thing in common and that's the love of food and gossip," says Dunlevy while staring across at Arthur with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
(Patrick Dunlevy on the left and Arthur Kaplan behind him)
By: Cornelia Batu
Patrick Dunlevy and Arthur Kaplan are two very well known Riverdale locals who can be spotted at the local Kappock Café every Sunday evening.
Patrick is a Manhattan college graduate and alumni who has been living in Riverdale all his life. He is a former professor of literature at Lehmann college and has been on medical leave since early 2011 after a fatal fall during a snow storm. "I used to be very interested in joining the convent. I wanted to be a priest but ended up realizing that my calling was towards education," says Patrick as he begins laughing hysterically at one of the perverted jokes Arthur is trying to whisper in his ear.
Patrick is single and has been single all his life and the Kappock Café is where he tunes in everyday for local gossip and news. "I was never interested in dating or marriage. I Like being alone and not having people to take care of," says Dunlevy with a huge gapped grin on his face.
Arthur (Patrick's counterpart) is the complete opposite. He has been known throughout Riverdale as the "local" hunk and Hugh Hefner of the Bronx. "I have been married three time and divorced three times. I don't have any kids and as you can tell at the age of 70 I'm not looking to settle down with just one women anymore. Life's about fun," says Kaplan as he puts his well manicured fingernails through his freshly groomed toupee.
Arthur owns a few laundry making machine companies in Brooklyn and has always had a passion for adventure and fun. "Me and Pat have completely different backgrounds and personalities but that's what attracts us to on another", he says with a wink as he is being served dinner.
Patrick is a Nautica type of guy while Arthur prefers the finer things in life such as expensive Prada shoes and other various famous designer brands. "You can tell that I'm high maintenance," says Arthur flashing his 24 karat platinum pinky ring as he picks up his deaf coffee.
The Kappock Café wouldn't be the same without Kaplan and Dunlevy cracking jokes about various costumers walking in and out of the diner. "Although we're completely different we have one thing in common and that's the love of food and gossip," says Dunlevy while staring across at Arthur with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
It's All about the Looks - Mary Ibrahim Age: 61
By: Cornelia Batu
Whoever says you can't be 60 or older and look good is out of their minds! Mary Ibrahim can prove that person wrong. At the age of 61 and remarried twice she has lost over 80 pounds exercising and eating right without the help of plastic surgery.
"I walk almost three miles every day and I workout at the gym to tone my muscles at least four times a week," says Ibrahim with a huge smirk on her face as she models for the camera before her.
Although Ibrahim still feels that she is "chunky" many women wish they could drop 80 pounds just before their second wedding without using any type of weight lose pill or reconstructive work done to their bodies.
"It took me about a year and a half to get down to 200 pounds and I'm loving it and my goal is to reach at least 160 pounds by the summer," says Ibrahim in a hopeful tone of voice as she prances around the aisle showing off her body wrapped up in pink and black spandex.
Many women in Riverdale such as Amy Caine look towards plastic surgery after the age of 50 to correct any flaws mother nature might bestow. "I don't even think gym or healthy. I jus go in to my local Botox doctor and get that wrinkle fixed. I can just schedule a quick fat removal using my American Express black card and be a totally different person within a month," says Caine pointing to various plastic surgery scars on her thin size 0 waist.
"I'm 68 years old and I can date men that are in their late 40's or early 50's," says Cain pouting her lips as if she were a blowfish about to explode. Mary on the other hand disagrees and claims that, "No matter what plastic surgery costs more and is less effective in the long run when compared to natural fitness".
So ladies which do you prefer thin for a minute or slim forever? One might agree that less pain ad slow results might e the way o go but another might say that getting it off fast and not making it last might be a quick fix for women over the age of 60.
By: Cornelia Batu
Whoever says you can't be 60 or older and look good is out of their minds! Mary Ibrahim can prove that person wrong. At the age of 61 and remarried twice she has lost over 80 pounds exercising and eating right without the help of plastic surgery.
"I walk almost three miles every day and I workout at the gym to tone my muscles at least four times a week," says Ibrahim with a huge smirk on her face as she models for the camera before her.
Although Ibrahim still feels that she is "chunky" many women wish they could drop 80 pounds just before their second wedding without using any type of weight lose pill or reconstructive work done to their bodies.
"It took me about a year and a half to get down to 200 pounds and I'm loving it and my goal is to reach at least 160 pounds by the summer," says Ibrahim in a hopeful tone of voice as she prances around the aisle showing off her body wrapped up in pink and black spandex.
Many women in Riverdale such as Amy Caine look towards plastic surgery after the age of 50 to correct any flaws mother nature might bestow. "I don't even think gym or healthy. I jus go in to my local Botox doctor and get that wrinkle fixed. I can just schedule a quick fat removal using my American Express black card and be a totally different person within a month," says Caine pointing to various plastic surgery scars on her thin size 0 waist.
"I'm 68 years old and I can date men that are in their late 40's or early 50's," says Cain pouting her lips as if she were a blowfish about to explode. Mary on the other hand disagrees and claims that, "No matter what plastic surgery costs more and is less effective in the long run when compared to natural fitness".
So ladies which do you prefer thin for a minute or slim forever? One might agree that less pain ad slow results might e the way o go but another might say that getting it off fast and not making it last might be a quick fix for women over the age of 60.
Leon.
By Dominique Turek
With his hands jammed into the pockets of a worn leather jacket, Leon Druick, the permanent fixture in front of Dunkin' Donuts on W242nd and Broadway, bared his toothless smile and opened up about a life lived on the streets. The cigarette attached to his shaking hand was almost entirely made of ashes, but he seemed not to care as he leaned easy against the wall behind him.
Giddy with reminiscent thoughts, Leon rocked back on his heels and said, “I used to live in Manhattan. I worked for the United Nations for fifteen years. Yup, I did finances for the UN. Thing is, they were doing corrupt stuff but I couldn’t say anything because I’d lose my job. They got rid of me, anyways.”
Beginning to relax, Leon lifted his head to reveal insanely bright hazel eyes. His olive skin harnessed deep cracks and a thousand tiny wrinkles from weather and time. “I’m forty-eight. I’ve got two kids, one boy and one girl. Me and my wife are kind of separated. As it goes, it wasn’t one big argument that got to us, it was a lot of little ones that did it. We'll probably get back together though. She lives in the East village with my kids. I visit sometimes, I really do. We’re on great terms” said Druick.
His long fingernails, curled and browned at the ends, punctured the paper coffee cup he’d been holding for warmth. Shaking violently, he said, “I’ve got on two sweatshirts today so I’m really not that cold. Most people don’t like winter, it gets them down, but not me. I don’t find myself getting depressed.”
Feeling inquisitive, he asks, “Do people read books anymore? Mostly I like to read educational books. Did I mention I’m fluent in Greek? I even speak some Spanish.” Rubbing his knotted gray beard with one hand, he looks up towards the sky and says, “I’m Jewish and Greek. I came from Egypt though, that’s where I was born. Cairo, Egypt, actually.”
Though he has no car, no job and no immediate prospects, it always seems Leon’s got something do to. The king of disappearing acts, if he’s not at his usual spot in between Dunkin’ Donuts and Dorney Malone’s Pub, he’s no where to be found at all.
Despite his poor dental hygiene and violent shaking condition, he speaks eloquently, and at times, even attaches a mysterious accent to his words. “Yes,” he said, “you could say I live here in Riverdale, Somewhere around here.” Mourning the loss of his cigarette as the final ash floats down towards he feet, he frets not for long, as he’s already got the next one lit.
By Dominique Turek
With his hands jammed into the pockets of a worn leather jacket, Leon Druick, the permanent fixture in front of Dunkin' Donuts on W242nd and Broadway, bared his toothless smile and opened up about a life lived on the streets. The cigarette attached to his shaking hand was almost entirely made of ashes, but he seemed not to care as he leaned easy against the wall behind him.
Giddy with reminiscent thoughts, Leon rocked back on his heels and said, “I used to live in Manhattan. I worked for the United Nations for fifteen years. Yup, I did finances for the UN. Thing is, they were doing corrupt stuff but I couldn’t say anything because I’d lose my job. They got rid of me, anyways.”
Beginning to relax, Leon lifted his head to reveal insanely bright hazel eyes. His olive skin harnessed deep cracks and a thousand tiny wrinkles from weather and time. “I’m forty-eight. I’ve got two kids, one boy and one girl. Me and my wife are kind of separated. As it goes, it wasn’t one big argument that got to us, it was a lot of little ones that did it. We'll probably get back together though. She lives in the East village with my kids. I visit sometimes, I really do. We’re on great terms” said Druick.
His long fingernails, curled and browned at the ends, punctured the paper coffee cup he’d been holding for warmth. Shaking violently, he said, “I’ve got on two sweatshirts today so I’m really not that cold. Most people don’t like winter, it gets them down, but not me. I don’t find myself getting depressed.”
Feeling inquisitive, he asks, “Do people read books anymore? Mostly I like to read educational books. Did I mention I’m fluent in Greek? I even speak some Spanish.” Rubbing his knotted gray beard with one hand, he looks up towards the sky and says, “I’m Jewish and Greek. I came from Egypt though, that’s where I was born. Cairo, Egypt, actually.”
Though he has no car, no job and no immediate prospects, it always seems Leon’s got something do to. The king of disappearing acts, if he’s not at his usual spot in between Dunkin’ Donuts and Dorney Malone’s Pub, he’s no where to be found at all.
Despite his poor dental hygiene and violent shaking condition, he speaks eloquently, and at times, even attaches a mysterious accent to his words. “Yes,” he said, “you could say I live here in Riverdale, Somewhere around here.” Mourning the loss of his cigarette as the final ash floats down towards he feet, he frets not for long, as he’s already got the next one lit.