Ruben Diaz Jr. Joins Montefiore as Senior VP of Strategic Initiatives

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Montefiore Health System announced on Tuesday, Feb. 8, that Ruben Diaz Jr., former Bronx Borough President, has joined Montefiore as senior vice president of strategic initiatives. Diaz Jr. served as Bronx borough president from 2009-2021, where according to the official press release, he led an unprecedented revival of The Bronx in areas of economic development, job creation, health, and housing. Prior to serving as borough president, Diaz Jr. was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1997-2009. Dr. Philip O. Ozuah, president and CEO of Montefiore Health System, said, in the context of the announcement, “Ruben Diaz

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined local, Bronx elected officials and others on Arthur Avenue in the Little Italy section of the Bronx on Sunday to highlight the importance of the City’s restaurants and restaurant workers to New York’s economy. The mayor was heard highlighting the need to support hospitality workers, saying, “I was a dishwasher so you know, sometimes people don’t connect the dots, man, you know? We need these restaurants.” Andrew Rigie, executive director of NYC Hospitality Alliance, chair of NYC Nightlife Advisory Board, 1st vice chair of Manhattan Community Board 7, and host of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) announced Thursday, Feb. 3 that the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local Union #1, will be conducting a recruitment drive from Feb. 25, 2022 through Jan. 27, 2023 (excluding July 2022 and August 2022) for 25 bricklayer-mason apprentices; 25 pointer, caulker & cleaner apprentices; five stone mason apprentices; and five plasterer apprentices. NYS DOL advised that applications and affidavits will be available online at www.bricklayersandalliedcraftworkerslocal1ny.org 24 hours per day on the following dates: 2/25/22, 3/25/22, 4/29/22, 5/27/22, 6/24/22, 9/30/22, 10/28/22, 11/18/22, and 12/16/22 and 1/27/23.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 7-story, mixed-use building at 229 West Kingsbridge Road in Fordham Manor, as reported by YIMBY. Located between Heath Avenue and Kingsbridge Terrace Street, the lot is closest to the Marble Hill-225th Street subway station, serviced by the 1 train. Durgaj Properties Corporation is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed 70-foot-tall development will yield 25,841 square feet, with 24,666 square feet designated for residential space and 1,175 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 37 residences, most likely rentals

Editor’s Pick Join Elizabeth Cooney, Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy’s coordinator of educational programming for Woodlawn’s Lovers Trolley tour of the cemetery, located at 4199 Webster Ave, Bronx, NY 10470, on Sunday, Feb. 13, the day before St Valentine’s Day, at 2 p.m., at the Jerome Avenue entrance, and visit the sites of Woodlawn’s notable lovers. Tour stops include Irene and Vernon Castle, Ida and Isidor Straus, and Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight. Adults $25 and Students/Seniors $20. All guests are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations and will be asked to wear a mask on the trolley. For tickets, go to: https://www.woodlawn.org/conservancy/tours-events/, and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Thursday, Jan. 20, the New York City Council appointed recently elected, Bronx, District 14 City Council Member, Pierina Sanchez, as chair of the council’s powerful housing & buildings committee, which has jurisdiction over New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Department of Buildings (DOB), as well as rent regulation policies and practices. HPD is responsible for promoting the quality and affordability of the city’s housing by developing new, affordable housing, enforcing the housing maintenance code, and engaging neighborhoods in planning. DOB is the primary regulator of the construction and real estate industries in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Lionsgate Studios has officially opened a 500,000 sq ft film and television, production studio in downtown Yonkers, located just 5.8 miles from Norwood, The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. The property is located on the shores of the Hudson River and is the latest component of an expanding production campus that will soon be the largest of its kind in the Northeast region, according to YIMBY. The builder and manager of the $500 million campus is Great Point Studios, an investment and development group led by Hallmark Channel founder, Robert Halmi, and media investment banker, Fehmi Zeko. Today,

EDITOR’S PICK Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernandez, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, will perform at The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. The company’s US tour in Fall 2018 was a coast-to-coast success, packing out houses across the country and receiving an enthusiastic response from audience members new and old. Founded in 1952 by dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico brings together the music, dance and costume of Mexican folklore from pre-Colombian civilizations through the modern era. For tickets, go to: https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=LEHV_PL_MPV&orgid=54429&pid=8975819#/event/8975819. EVENTS Discover NYBG GLOW

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Amid the ongoing pandemic, the Bronx has been labelled the hardest hit borough. From a health perspective, though the number of actual deaths was not the highest in the City at 4,884 people, the borough’s COVID-19 death rate per head of population is the City’s highest, so far, at 0.34 percent. Staten Island’s COVID-19 death rate is 0.26 percent, Manhattan’s 0.20 percent, Brooklyn’s 0.30 percent, and Queens 0.33 percent. But the borough’s economy has suffered badly too. Last summer, as reported, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report and accompanying statement, substantiating the similarly harsh impact on its economy. “More

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Ruben Diaz Jr. Joins Montefiore as Senior VP of Strategic Initiatives

Little Italy: Adams Lunches with Local Officials to Help Promote City’s Restaurants

NYS DOL Announces Bricklayer and Craftworker Apprenticeship Recruitment Drive

Fordham Manor: Building Applications Filed for 229 West Kingsbridge Road

Out & About: Woodlawn Lovers Trolley Tour, International Salsa, NYC Compost Project & More!

Sanchez Chairs Council Committee on Housing & Buildings, as Women Comprise Council Majority

Lionsgate Studios Debuts 500,000 Sq Ft Production Facility in Downtown Yonkers

Out & About: MLK Days of Action, Ballet Folklórico de México, Ballet for Kids & More!

Bronx Townhall Addresses Complexity of COVID-19 Business Regulations