Education

Neighborhood Notes on a Youth Run Farm Stand, Fostering a Guinea Pig, Help for Small Businesses & More

COVID-19 Updates COVID-19 restrictions are now lifted, as 70% of adults have received their first dose of the vaccine. New York State’s health guidance and industry specific guidelines are now optional across commercial and social settings. Effective May 19, New York State has adopted the CDC’s Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People for most businesses and public settings.   See more information here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html. See New York’s guidance for implementing the new CDC recommendations on https://forward.ny.gov/. The Open Enrollment Period for uninsured New Yorkers has been extended through December 31, 2021. New Yorkers can apply for coverage through https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or directly


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Update: Public School Cleaners & Handypersons Reach New Four-Year Contract with City

By SÍLE MOLONEY
School cleaners and handypersons who maintain over 1,500 New York City public school buildings voted on Saturday to ratify a new four-year contract with their employer, the New York City School Support Services (NYCSSS). According to NYCSSS, the new agreement, which was signed less than two weeks before the current contract was set to expire on June 30, secures improved communication with the employer to resolve workplace issues, improved access to vacancies, and increased funds for the workers’ supplemental retirement fund, among other improvements.   School building service workers perform a critical role cleaning and sanitizing school buildings. Throughout the


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NY Lottery: Take-5 Top Prize Winning Ticket Sold in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York Lottery today announced one top-prize winning ticket was sold for the June 23 TAKE 5 drawing. The ticket, worth $57,982.50, was purchased at Los Castillos Mini Market Corp, located at 1601 University Avenue in the Morris Heights section of The Bronx.   The five winning numbers for the TAKE 5 game are drawn from a field of one to 39. The TAKE 5 drawing is televised every day at 10:30 p.m. A Lottery draw game prize of any amount may be claimed up to one year from the date of the drawing.   The 5 winning numbers for the TAKE 5 game are drawn from a field


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NY Lottery: Take-5 Top Prize Winning Ticket Sold in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York Lottery has announced that one top-prize winning ticket was sold for the June 21 TAKE 5 drawing. The ticket, worth $54,872.00, was purchased at Empire State Deli, located at 804 Burke Avenue, located Northeast of the Parkside Housing Project in The Bronx.   The 5 winning numbers for the TAKE 5 game are drawn from a field of one to 39. The TAKE 5 drawing is televised every day at 10:30 p.m. A lottery draw game prize of any amount may be claimed up to one year from the date of the drawing. The New York Lottery continues to


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Neighborhood Notes on Home Vaccinations for 12-Year-Olds & Older, Fireworks Display, Gun Buyback Event & More

Mass Vaccination Sites All New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first served basis. In addition, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments for eligible New Yorkers. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or call (877) 829-4692.   COVID-19 Testing Sites For a full list of COVID-19 testing sites, text “COVID TEST” to 855-48 or go to: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page.   Home Vaccinations for 12-Year-Olds and Older  On June 23,


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Axelbank Family Helps Fund School Library in Memory of Mom, Former Director

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
  Family members of the late Muriel “Mickey” Axelbank are making sure students at Marble Hill Nursery School, where the late community leader spent decades as an educator, an assistant director and director, continue to enrich themselves with a well-stocked library. Sons, Jeffrey and Gary Axelbank, the latter a longtime BronxNet TV host, presented a check for $1,800 to the school on June 9, on behalf of the family.   School director, David Bleecker-Adams, expressed his gratitude for the donation from Mickey’s three sons. [Arthur Axelbank was unable to attend the presentation]. “It’s a very pleasurable duty to thank you


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Bronx CB7 May General Meeting Sees New Officer Nominations & Veterans Fare Discounts

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
  A jam-packed agenda extended the May Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) general board meeting to just under two hours. Much of the meeting, held on May 25, was spent going over the nominations for incoming officer positions for the upcoming year, including chairperson, first vice chair, second vice chair, third vice chair, treasurer, and secretary. Several motions were also passed, including those relating to requested letters of support from the board to different city agencies and elected officials.   Each year, during the general board’s May meeting, nominations are made for new officer positions, and the final vote is


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Bronxites Mark Gun Violence Awareness Month as May Sees 271% increase in Shooting Victims

By DAVID GREENE
June marks Gun Violence Awareness Month across the country. In the Bronx, lawmakers pushed for more stringent gun reform laws, increased federal funding for local cure violence programs, an anti-gun violence rally took place along Valentine Avenue, and other rallies are planned throughout the remainder of the month, all in efforts to address what has long been categorized as a gun violence epidemic.   Bronx shooting incidents were up 190 percent in May, compared to May 2020, while the number of shooting victims in the borough over the month increased by 271 percent, compared to the same period last year.


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Fernández Secures $10,000 for each of Four Local Libraries, including Mosholu in Norwood

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Assemblywoman and candidate for Bronx borough president, Nathalia Fernández (A.D. 80) announced the allocation of $10,000 in funding to each of four local libraries in the 80th Assembly District, on Thursday, June 10, during a press conference held outside Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library, located at 2147 Barnes Avenue in The Bronx. The other three beneficiaries are Morris Park Library, Allerton Library, and Mosholu Library, located at East 205th Street in Norwood.   Speaking at the event, Fernández said libraries were the cornerstones of healthy communities. “They are safe havens for so many people, and provide many valuable resources beyond just


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