Education

Parents who Missed the “Pre-K for All” April Enrollment Deadline for their Child Can Still Apply

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Parents who missed the April 19 enrollment deadline to enter their child in the “Pre-K for All” program can still apply, according to the New York City Department of Education (DOE).   NYC Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter announced on Friday, May 28, a record ninety-one percent of families received an offer to one of their top three choices for free, full-day, high-quality Pre-K education. Seventy-seven percent of families received an offer to their top choice program, consistent with 2020. There are 57,511 families receiving Pre-K for All offers as of May 29, including all families who applied by the April


Read More

Op-Ed: A Summer of Renewal for our Students

By MEISHA PORTER
This year has demanded that all New York City families and students do so many things differently—they’ve had to think differently, learn differently, and connect differently with teachers, peers, and the whole school community. At the Department of Education, we know we also have to think differently as we look towards the summer. For the first time ever, we are inviting all students to join us for a free, fun-filled, enriching summer program: Summer Rising.   This year, we will serve any student in grades K-12 in July and August who wants to participate, and I am excited to be


Read More

Update: Councilman Dinowitz Calls on City to Reopen Senior Centers

By SÍLE MOLONEY
District 11 City Council Member Eric Dinowitz has called on the City’s health commissioner, Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, and on the commissioner for the Department for the Aging, Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, to immediately move to reopen the city’s senior centers. In his letter, the council member said the centers have long been the only place where many older adults receive food, interact with others, and maintain some level of routine in their lives.   “While these centers have remained closed since the onset of the pandemic, we have seen many other facilities across NYC start to open in a safe and


Read More

Clarence “Mugsy” Legget Named 2021 Knicks Coach of the Year

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Video courtesy of the Jr. Knicks The Jr. Knicks announced on May 24 that Clarence “Mugsy” Legget has been named the 2021 Jr. Knicks Coach of the Year, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). Legget is currently the executive director of the Wiz Kids basketball program and the director of the SCAN after-school program.   Founded in 1977, SCAN-Harbor is a non-profit youth and family service organization that provides a variety of integrated supports to the highest risk children and families of Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx.   Following hundreds of nominations, from youth basketball coaches across


Read More

First Phase Of Fordham University’s $100 Million Renovation To Be Completed in Fall 2021

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Fordham University is undergoing renovations at its Rose Hill campus to the tune of $100 million, as reported by YIMBY.   HLW International LLP is leading the design and renovation components include sustainability upgrades and new student amenities. According to YIMBY, when the college, located in Fordham Manor, opens for the fall 2021 semester, it will meet “Passive House standards.   Passive house (German Passivhaus) is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in buildings, reducing the building’s ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. The renovated structure will also feature a


Read More

Neighborhood Notes on June Primary Deadlines, Vaccination Card Fraud, Fordham University Discounts

Latest Updates on Vaccine Eligibility According to New York State Department of Health, all individuals 12 years of age and older who reside in the United States are eligible to receive the vaccine, for free. While the vaccination process is underway, residents should continue to follow prevailing public health guidelines.   FDA fact sheets for recipients and caregivers on each vaccine are available here: Pfizer-BioNTech: https://www.fda.gov/media/144414/download Moderna: https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download Johnson & Johnson/Janssen: https://www.fda.gov/media/146305/download   COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available at pharmacies, local health departments, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other locations across the state. Visit https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ to find appointments near you or contact your local pharmacy


Read More

NYS Department of Labor: Five Boilermaker Apprenticeships Announced, Deadline May 16, 2022

The joint apprenticeship and training committee (JATC) for Boilermakers Northeastern Area, Local Union #5, Zone #5 will soon be recruiting to fill five boilermaker (construction) apprenticeships, the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) announced earlier this month. The five openings cover the committee’s three recruitment regions of New York City, Long Island, and Hudson Valley.   Application forms can be obtained from JATC for Boilermakers Northeastern Area, Local Union #5, Zone #5, located at 24 Van Siclen Ave, Floral Park, NY, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the third Monday of each month during the recruitment period which


Read More

Bronx Youth Empowerment Program Engages Youth Through Art & Music during Annual Event

The Bronx Youth Empowerment Program will be hosting its 15th Youth Speaks 2021 forum on Wednesday, May 19, at 4 p.m. According to organizers, this year’s forum will be centered on music and art, as program participants will be joined by a dynamic guest panel.   It will include Tara Wallace of Love and Hip-Hop New York; MC Sha Rock, the first female rapper and MC of Hip-Hop culture; Valerie Simpson, legendary songwriter, music producer, singer and performer; and Kylerr Bucano, social media manager of the Universal Hip-Hop Museum.   Aside from the discussions on music and art, Youth Speaks


Read More

City Seeks Public Feedback During May 18 Hearing on Old Fordham Library

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
Residents of Fordham Manor will have a chance to voice their views on the eventual use of a building which formerly housed the Fordham branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL), located at 2556 Bainbridge Avenue. As reported last week by Norwood News, the virtual hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m.   The building has been selected by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to house a Community Technical Assistance Center (CTAC), a new computer-based testing and application center, to facilitate more opportunities for a wider number of local candidates to apply for


Read More