Blog

Castle Hill: Search for 19-Year-Old Missing Woman

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Jamisha McKay, 19, who lives in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx, in the 43rd precinct.   McKay was last seen on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, at approximately 1.15 p.m., inside her home at 420 Howe Avenue. She is described as being approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds, and has brown eyes and black hair. There is no known clothing description for McKay as of the time she was last seen.   Anyone with information with regard to this missing person is asked


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Health Commissioner Appeals to All New Yorkers to Slow the Spread of COVID-19, Issuing Letter

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  On Dec. 1, Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, issued an open letter to all New Yorkers, citing the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases and calling on all New Yorkers to remain vigilant about adhering to public health guidance.   In the letter, he said to further protect people who are most at risk for severe COVID-19, the City’s health department was advising adults over 65 and people with certain underlying health conditions, as well as household members and caregivers of these people, to limit activities outside their


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NYPL Libraries Revert to Phase 1 Operations Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Nov. 9, the New York Public Library (NYPL) had introduced a Phase 2 opening service, providing desktop computer usage to library users, limited browsing at 14 branch libraries, as well as in-person appointments and grab-and-go pick up at research libraries.   However, on Monday, Nov. 16, representatives said that after careful examination of the recent unfavorable trends in COVID-19 cases across New York City, NYPL made the difficult decision to roll back to a Phase 1 opening service, system-wide. On Nov. 25, NYPL closed three libraries on Staten Island, following the State’s designation of the impacted areas as orange


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City Issues ‘Winter Operations Advisory’ for Monday, Dec. 14, Precautions Required for Outdoor Dining

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Due to the chance of colder winter weather in the forecast, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a Winter Operations Advisory for Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. The department said that its snow clearing equipment is ready to tackle any winter weather coming our way, and added that the advisory does not constitute a snow alert, since an alert would require that Open Restaurants cease roadway dining.   To better facilitate continued operations for Open Restaurant participants this year, DSNY said it will issue both “Snow Alerts” and “Winter Operations Advisories,” with the department planning to use


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Bronx Night Market Extends Seasonal Run to Assist Local, Largely Immigrant-Owned Businesses

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The Bronx Night Market is pausing its usual winter, off-season break to support the local micro-business community, predominantly immigrant-owned businesses reeling from the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated shutdowns.   Though usually closed during the winter months, the beloved open-air festival is taking a stand and curating a Holiday Market on Fordham Plaza where all proceeds will be donated to support market and street vendors critically affected by the pandemic. The event, taking place on Saturday, Dec. 19, and Sunday, Dec. 20, will kick-off for a winter series specifically aimed at allowing these businesses to engage


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Food Giveaways Made Thanksgiving Possible During a Once-in-a-Lifetime Pandemic

By DAVID GREENE
With food insecurity never as widespread as it has been throughout 2020, elected officials across the borough were out in force, once again, a few weeks ago handing out frozen turkeys so that Bronxites could enjoy a regular, traditional Thanksgiving dinner, despite the abnormal atmosphere amid the pandemic.   On Monday, Nov. 16, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. joined representatives from FreshDirect and City Harvest at the corner of East 137th Street and Alexander Avenue in Mott Haven, to distribute 700 turkeys with all the trimmings, as well as PPE to local residents. In a press release ahead of the


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Mosholu Playground Adds New Mural, as Mural Project for Azalea Garden Remains on Hold

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Celebrating its 53rd year, the purpose of the NYC Parks’ public arts program, Art in the Parks, is to use public space across all five boroughs as an outdoor museum, letting works of art “loose in the city, to set them under the light of day, where they intrude upon our daily walks and errands.”   Lady K Fever’s three murals, ‘Birds Eye View,’ ‘Soaring,’ and ‘Natural Elements,’ painted on the surrounding walls of Mosholu Playground have been in existence for almost four years and are a sight to behold. ‘Natural Elements’ is a visually stunning mural depicting insects and


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NY Working Families Party Endorses Four Bronx City Council Candidates, including Lora & Abreu

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York Working Families Party (WFP) announced on Friday, Dec. 11, its endorsement of four 2021 New York City Council candidates in the Bronx: Adolfo Abreu for District 14, Mino Lora for District 11, Althea Stevens for District 16, and Marjorie Velázquez for District 13. The party said all four candidates are longtime community leaders, spanning all corners of the Bronx.   Sochie Nnaemeka, state director of the party, said that this year New York City voters demanded bold, progressive candidates up and down the ballot. “As we approach the 2021 elections, we must heed this mandate by electing


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Fordham Manor: Search for 65-Year-Old Missing Woman

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Maria Aponte, 65, who was reported missing in the 52nd precinct.   Aponte was last seen Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 at around 7 p.m., leaving her home at 2525 Morris Avenue, Apt#C2, in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx. She is described as being approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds, is of a heavy build, and has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a pink jacket, gray leggings, a yellow shirt and black and pink sneakers.   Anyone with


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