Fresh Air Fund Opens Free Outdoor Summer Spaces For Bronx Children

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Fresh Air Fund, in response to COVID-19, has created Fresh Air Summer Spaces, fun, free and safe play spaces for New York City children, ages five through 13. Fresh Air Summer Spaces provides children the chance to enjoy safe, supervised outdoor summer activities where they can laugh, smile, play and make new friends. Fresh Air staff supervise arts and crafts, interactive games and even dance parties! Summer Spaces would not be possible without the support of the local community. Fresh Air Youth Employment program participants will assist at sites. The Fund is helping to fill the gap

By ARIANA CIPRIANI

As New York City’s small businesses transitioned to Phase 3 of the city’s reopening plan earlier this month, restaurants and diners took to the streets and sidewalks for open dining. From now through October, restaurants can offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk and curb lane to customers. With six outdoor dining destinations to choose from in the BID, there are plenty of opportunities to sit back and relax on Jerome Avenue and East Gun Hill Road. Jennifer Tausig is Executive Director of the Jerome Gun Hill BID. “Open dining has provided a much-needed lifeline for our small, locally

By AURÉOLE RIBES

Volunteers of America – Greater New York (VOA–GNY) announced on July 13 that it will receive $30 million from the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) over five years to take over the running of two domestic violence shelters in the Bronx starting on Oct. 1. VOA–GNY is an affiliate of VoA, a national, faith-based human services non-profit helping individuals and families in need through social service programs. The two shelters will serve different purposes. The first, Victory I, will be a 120-bed emergency shelter for critical and acute domestic violence situations, and will provide housing to

By Síle Moloney

The NYS COVID Rent Relief Program is designed to support low-income households experiencing an increased rent burden due to a loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rent Relief Program provides a one-time payment to cover the difference between their rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the increase in rent burden during the months for which the household is applying for assistance (up to four months, from April through July 2020). Program funding has been capped at $100 million. All applications received by the deadline of July 30, 2020 will be considered. New Yorkers already in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Waly-Meissa Ndiaye is a teenager from the South Bronx. On July 22, it was announced that he was one of five students from New York City-area schools selected to receive a $10,000 college scholarship as a 2020 Milken Scholars program recipient (NYC Scholars) for his academic achievements and his service to the community. A former student at Bronx High School of Science, Ndiaye is a Gates Scholar, QuestBridge College Prep Scholar and AP Scholar with distinction. “I’m thankful and feel very fortunate to become a part of the Milken Scholar community,” he said. “In just a few weeks, I’ve

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

In the 1980s, the world was introduced to the word “entrepreneurship”. In simple terms, it’s the world of self-employment. By the 1990s, many people had entered the world of entrepreneurship, believing that self-employment would be better than working for Corporate America. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was estimated that 13 percent of businesses owners in the United States were self-employed. Now that we know that COVID-19 is going to be part of our lives for a long, long time, a debate is underway within Corporate America that could shake up our new normal (once again), and dramatically affect our

By Síle Moloney

The City will open 12 more miles of streets and an additional nine new miles of temporary protected bike lanes to pedestrians and cyclists starting tomorrow, May 14. The combined 21 new miles brings the City total to 30 miles of Open Streets since the program was announced on Apr. 27.

NYC BID Association Calls on New York’s Leaders to Save Businesses and Preserve Commercial Corridors

Merchant Spotlight: A Family Business Grows at JGHBID

By Síle Moloney

Citing the devastating effects of the pandemic and ongoing civil unrest, the New York City Business Improvement District Association called on Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson on Tuesday, July 21 to implement a nine-point plan aimed at ensuring the vitality of New York businesses and the areas they serve. “The City and State must find ways to stimulate commercial activity or we will continue to lose businesses and jobs at an alarming rate,” said Robert J. Benfatto, co-chair of the Association. “Our action plan offers a set of steps

By Síle Moloney

Dear Readers, I hope you’re all safe, and surviving the current heatwave! On July 19, it reached 98 degrees in parts of the City. With the hot weather set to continue through the rest of the week, it’s really important for everyone, especially our elderly residents to stay cool and hydrated. Check out some of the tips we published from the American Heart Association on how to manage the heat and protect hearts. With my sincere apologies for the delay, I confirm that this year’s eighth and latest edition of the Norwood News is out now. Our cover story