Youth-Led Community Coalition Forge Ahead with Underage Drinking Awareness Campaign

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

A coalition of local community groups made up of many young volunteers joined forces on Dec. 9 during a “Sticker Shock Campaign,” to alert local alcohol retailers of the dangers underage drinking presents to young people. The groups made in-person visits to various stores in Community Boards 5, 7, and 8 with oral presentations, stickers, and posters reminding both store owners and customers that it is illegal and dangerous to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. The campaign was spearheaded by “We Engage in Prevention Awareness,” (WEPA), a community coalition seeking to eliminate substance abuse,

By DAVID GREENE

In the year of masks and face coverings, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) may have been hoping for either some good luck or perhaps he was hoping to chase away some evil spirits from America’s capital. Whatever the reason, the congressman ended up purchasing a traditional African mask during a recent browse through the Bronx, confirming that he would be taking his purchase back with him to Washington D.C. Espaillat, together with New York City Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner, Jonnel Doris, was seen browsing local businesses in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, on Saturday, Nov. 28, in

By DAVID GREENE

The massive ‘Black Friday’ crowds at large stores and shopping malls, where customers often got on line the night before, were noticeably absent this year due to the pandemic, as millions of shoppers switched to online bargain hunting, a move that will potentially change the face of Black Friday forever. On Friday, Nov. 27, the GameStop on White Plains Road, packed one year ago with customers shuffling in and out of the store, or to Modell’s Sporting Goods next door was a very different sight this year. Modell’s declared bankruptcy and closed its 153 stores on August 29, as

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a Snow Alert for Wednesday, December 16, 2020 beginning at 2 p.m. As reported by Norwood News, and based on current forecasts, the department expects snowfall beginning late Wednesday afternoon. Total accumulation of eight or more inches is possible, with potential for more in some areas. All winter weather information and information about the City’s response to the storm can be found by visiting the City’s Severe Weather website at www.nyc.gov/severeweather or by calling 311. While the department is expecting significant snowfall, representatives said its workers and equipment are prepared.

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

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and New York labor leaders sent a letter to the New York congressional delegation on Wednesday, Dec. 9, outlining the critical need for state and local funding in any stimulus bill in order to prevent massive damage to the State of New York. The letter was addressed to U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer, Kirstin Gillibrand and members of the New York congressional delegation. In it, officials talked about the desperate circumstances New York suffered at the outset of the COVID-19 crisis that continue today.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Erica Rosero, a certified business advisor at the Bronx Business Development Center (SBDC) at Lehman College, was recognized recently for bringing more than $23 million in grants and loans to small businesses in the Bronx during the past year. Rosero, a 2015 Business Administration and Computer Information Systems graduate of Lehman, was honored in November by the Small Business Administration for having the TOP IMPACT in the New York City region from October 2019 to September 2020. During that period, the Lehman SBDC secured $29,580,823 in resource funding. Rosero was directly responsible for obtaining $22,886,240 of that amount, which

Savor the Bronx Aims to Satisfy Taste Buds

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned on Monday, Dec. 7, that additional restrictions will be applied to indoor dining if hospitalization rates don’t stabilize in the next five days. Currently, bars, restaurants and gyms, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, must close in-person service from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, and in New York City, eateries are operating at 25 percent capacity. The governor warned that if the hospitalization rate does not stabilize in New York City in the next five days, indoor dining will be suspended. In regions outside New York City, if the rate does

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Nov. 19, Congressman-elect, Ritchie Torres, was elected by his freshmen, House of Representatives colleagues to a new leadership role for the 117th Congress, as their representative in “the Crescendo”. In this position, Torres will represent newly-elected, Democratic members in weekly crescendo meetings with House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and House caucus chairs. Torres, the first openly-LGBTQ, Afro-Latino member of Congress, will be the first freshman in this position, and as such, will have the opportunity to discuss the freshman class’s high-priority items directly with the speaker on a weekly basis. The crescendo meetings include one representative

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Business

Espaillat Supports Local Kingsbridge Businesses, Purchases African Mask

Black Friday 2020: Crowds of Shoppers Move to Mosques, COVID Testing Sites and Food Lines

City Issues Snow Alert for Wednesday, Dec. 16, Alternate Side Parking, Outdoor Dining to be Suspended

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

Cuomo, De Blasio, NY Officials Unite in Urging Congressional Reps to Provide Fair Stimulus Funding to NY

Lehman Alumna Recognized for Bringing More Than $23 Million in Grants/Loans to The Bronx

Cuomo: Additional Restrictions for Indoor Dining if Hospitalization Rates Continue to Rise

Torres To Represent Freshmen Congressional Class at Weekly Leadership Meetings in D.C.