An Added De-Stresser, NCBH Unveils “Cycle of Caring” Mural

By JONATHAN CUSTODIO

Patients, staff, and community residents crowded near a triad of first floor elevators inside North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) as they awaited the unveiling of a collaborative mural dubbed “The Cycle of Caring” on Nov. 25. A component of the New York City Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine program, the project was funded by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, a 12-year-old organization that offers supportive grants to tackle long-term issues in the city. “[NCBH] is a wonderful place to work but inherently working in a hospital is stressful,” says Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund executive director Rick Luftglass,

By GREGG BISHOP

The holiday season is upon us and we all know the temptation of online shopping. The ease of getting the things we want at the click of a button might seem harmless, but it has major consequences for local small businesses. Shopping online takes away from the livelihood of local residents and strips the community of its extraordinary businesses. E-commerce also means you don’t have the ability to inspect your purchases before receipt, you have to go through the hassle of repackaging and returning your item and you’re depriving yourself of getting to know the business owners on your block.

Questions, Some Answered, on MTA’s Proposed Bus Revamp in NW Bronx

By DAVID CRUZ

There were more jeers than cheers from northwest Bronx residents over the MTA’s proposed bus network redesign plan, calling out modifications they say can hurt not help their commuting experiencing at a town hall-style meeting. Those feelings were backed by Community Board 7, which approved a motion calling on the MTA to modify its overhaul plan. At the latest Community Board 7 general board meeting that doubled as a seemingly rushed town hall-style meeting on the proposed changes, where some service changes to buses that run through the northwest Bronx were glossed over (another meeting is scheduled for Dec. 5),

Inquiring Photographer: Thanksgiving Thoughts

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their plans for Thanksgiving, what’s on the menu, and how they hope to spend the day. Well, my plans are to visit my sister, her husband and family, and my other sister and her husband and family up in White Plains. I’ll have some turkey and watch the football game. It’s either Dallas or Detroit. And of course will have all the trimmings. Robert Rowe Morrisania I’ll probably be at home. Yes, I hope to be eating on Thanksgiving Day; my vegan Thanksgiving with Portobello mushrooms and cranberry-orange relish and cauliflower rice and a glass

With the holiday season in full swing, loved ones are looking forward to sending and receiving some gifts in the mail. But mailbox fishing–where thieves steal checks and potentially someone’s identity by using an adhesive to “fish” out mail from mailboxes–can lead some victims to seeing their bank accounts dry up. The holidays are usually heightened mail fishing season and those in Norwood are on high alert for any suspicious activity. Mailbox fishers usually work to steal mail filled with money orders, checks, credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards. In some cases, a check can be found, tampered by

Street Honor for Late Bronx Arts Ensemble Founder

By DAVID GREENE

Residents joined members of the Bronx Arts Ensemble (BAE) for a street re-dedication in honor of the late William J. Scribner, founder of the Bronx Arts Ensemble (BAE). The unveiling of a new street sign bearing his name on Nov. 15. It’s at the intersection of Hillman Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South, just near the Amalgamated Houses, where William J. Scribner Way can be seen. Scribner founded the BAE in 1972, which brings different performances and styles of music free to public spaces. In 1993, BAE launched Arts-In-Education, bringing artists inside Bronx schools. BAE currently brings 14,000 art classes

SEE PICS: Ahead of Thanksgiving, NCBH and Carpenters Union Dole Out Turkeys

By DAVID CRUZ

North Central Bronx Hospital was the place for a turkey giveaway event where local elected officials joined members of the New York City District Council of Carpenters helped distribute turkeys to staffers on Nov. 25 ahead of Thanksgiving. The union also donated the turkeys. Check out these pictures by Miriam Quinones.

Health Check: Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Can Happen With These Steps

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body is unable to properly break down the sugar found in food and beverages consumed. This can lead to too much sugar remaining in the bloodstream. Diabetes can be managed, and there are many steps you can take to lower your risk of diabetes. Over time, if not well managed, diabetes can cause serious health problems including blindness, loss of a limb, kidney disease, stroke, and heart disease. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, which leads to the body not properly using or not responding to the insulin

Trail Volunteer Sign up to join the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Volunteer Trails Restoration Crew for Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The service helps train volunteers to work alongside trails professionals to develop skills in various areas of trail construction while improving the trails in Van Cortlandt Park. For more information, and to sign up, contact john@vancortlandt.org. Must be 18 years of age to join. Toy Drive The Bronx Zoo is accepting donations of unwrapped toys for its annual toy drive to distribute to local veterans and active-duty members of the military and their families. Anyone donating