Bronxites Mark the 19th Anniversary of 9/11 in an Era of Social Distancing

Bronxites observed the exact moment when hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center at several events marking the 19th anniversary of 9/11, as a number of somber ceremonies took place at various venues including police stations and fire houses across the borough.   On Friday, Sept. 11, an estimated two dozen officers stood to attention outside of the 49th precinct on Eastchester Road. The officers gathered with members of the 49th Precinct Clergy Council and saluted the names of the 23 police officers who were killed in the line of duty during the terrorist attacks on September 11,


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Fordham Manor: Teachers’ Rally Highlights Dissatisfaction with Health, Safety & Preparedness at Schools

  A group of teachers held a rally on Sept. 18, in front of the Bronx office of the Department of Education (DOE) at 1 Fordham Plaza in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx, to publicize their concerns about the reopening of schools. They say the schools are not prepared to welcome students or staff back. Holding signs that read, “You Can’t Fix a 100-Year-Old Building in a Week! Duh!” and “Under-Staffed, Under-Funded, Under-Valued!” the teachers and their supporters are worried the DOE has not done enough to clean schools, staff them properly for in-person learning, nor equip students


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Fordham Manor: Volunteers Turn Out for Poe Park Clean-Up & Census Outreach Event

Members of Northwest Bronx Democrats 4 Change were out in force to participate in a park clean up and census outreach event at Poe Park in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx on Saturday, Sept. 12.   The event was sponsored by Northwest Bronx Democrats 4 Change, the organization’s president, Rachel Bradshaw Miller, Board member and candidate for District 15 City Council seat, Oswald Feliz, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, the City’s Parks’ department, North West Bronx Democrats, and the NYC Census 2020 office.   Also in attendance were State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, City Parks’ employees and a number of other


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Bronx Man Indicted for Murder of 17-Year-Old Rising Basketball Star, Brandon Hendricks

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Sept. 22 that a Bronx man has been indicted on second-degree murder and additional charges in the death of Brandon Hendricks, a 17-year-old high school basketball player who was shot in the Bronx by a stray bullet on June 28, 2020.   Clark said, “The defendant allegedly callously fired into a group of people and ended the life of a young, promising teen. Brandon Hendricks had just graduated James Monroe High School and was set to play college basketball when he was killed on a Morris Heights street. Since his death, Brandon’s


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Bedford Park: “Food For All” Event Held

  A “Food For All” event was held on Jerome Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 20, in the Bedford Park neighborhood of the Bronx. The event was organized by Aleksander Nilaj of The Albanian American Open Hand Association Inc. (AAOHA), Bake Back America, News Reporter and Photographer Miriam Quinoñes, and Melisa Subin of Subin Associates, LLP.   Around 80 boxes of dried and fresh food were given out to about 75 local residents. The AAOHA has arranged similar food drives in the Bronx in recent months, and it plans to do more in the future as food insecurity in the borough


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University Heights: Street Renamed in Honor of Local Hero, Purple Heart Recipient

Almost two years after the death of Staff Sergeant Santiago Frias, a  local hero and army veteran who was seriously wounded during the Iraq war, a street renaming ceremony was held in his honor in the University Heights section of the Bronx last month.   Following his return to the U.S., the young man recovered from his wounds, helped raise a family, and devoted time to local children, teaching them the art of self defense. He was one semester shy of a degree in social work.   Family and friends of Frias gathered at West 183rd Street and Grand Avenue,


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Bronxite Arrested in Connection with Subway Derailment, Subway Rider Hailed a Hero by MTA

On Sunday, Sept. 20, at approximately 8.18 a.m., police responded to a train derailment at 14th Street subway station in Manhattan. An investigation revealed that a man had been seen throwing construction debris onto the northbound A train track, which caused the first car of a subway train to derail upon entering the station.   No injuries were reported by the emergency services at the time of the incident. The New York Times later reported that three people suffered minor injuries.   The A, C, D, E, and F subway line services were impacted as a result of the derailment.


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Op Ed: Financial Focus – How to Clean Up Your Credit Report in Three Steps

Normally, when I have clients that want to discuss their credit score, I first let them know that there are many credit agencies out there, and each one rates you differently.   But, of course the same principle applies at each of them. Your credit score will be good or bad, depending on the interpretation of the people and institutions rating your financial situation. Of course you want your score to be high.   How do we do that? In simple terms, we get a copy of your credit report and clean it up! But, it gets much deeper. I


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“Open Streets: Restaurants” Initiative Expands from Weekends to Weekdays

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sept. 16 the first weekday expansion of the “Open Streets: Restaurants” initiative. In the meantime, restaurant partner organizations have been organizing temporary street closures across the City to facilitate additional, weekday outdoor dining along select corridors.   Earlier this month, the administration invited BIDs, community-based organizations, and groups of restaurants to submit applications to expand the existing “Open Streets: Restaurants” initiative that combines the existing “Open Streets” and “Open Restaurants” programs. Previously, car-free hours on streets had been limited to weekends.   Expanded “Open Streets: Restaurants” locations in the Bronx which


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