Op-Ed: Why You Shouldn’t Just Vote In the Presidential Election

By MARGARET GROARKE

Presidential elections are important. But your vote also matters, probably even MORE so, in local elections. In New York City elections, we choose the people who will be in charge of many of the things that affect our daily lives. If you care about the quality of local schools, the way NYPD polices your community, the state of the parks, how safe it is to walk, drive or bike on our streets, those are all issues that are dealt with by the mayor and the City Council. So, why did five times as many people vote in the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Like shows on Broadway, live performances by Bronx Community College (BCC)’s Theatre Workshop have been shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its students found another outlet for their talents in Essential Bronx COVID Stories Part 1, a powerful short film written, performed and shot by the students themselves. Chronicled over the past year, these unique stories are now available to watch, and the public can get to know the lives of the students affected by the pandemic and experience them recounting their stories of struggle. Dr. John Socas is director of the workshop at BCC.

By DAWN CLANCY

The City’s department of administrative services (DCAS) has proposed to Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) to convert the second floor of the currently vacant Old Fordham Library, located at 2556 Bainbridge Avenue in Fordham Manor, into a new computer-based testing and application center (CTAC), to facilitate more opportunities for a wider number of local candidates to apply for City jobs. At the latest Bronx CB7 housing and land use committee meeting, on Feb. 9, the agency proposed relocating the Bronx’s current CTAC, located at 1932 Arthur Avenue in Crotona, to the Fordham Library location, and judging from the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

When she was nine years old, Shira Blumenthal, founder of the nationwide anti-bullying movement, #HatNotHate, was a self-described, chubby girl with short frizzy hair, buck teeth, and very little confidence. At the start of fourth grade, she had two friends. “They were a little cooler than I was, but that didn’t faze me,” she writes on her website, hatnothate.org. Then, there was another “cool” girl in her class, who, she wrote, was friends with everyone, boys and girls, and who always wore a bra strap headband, which she told other kids her mother had invented. Blumenthal said she can’t remember

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Board of Trustees of The City University of New York (CUNY) voted on Monday, Feb. 1, to appoint Dr. Fernando Delgado, executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Minnesota Duluth, as the next president of Lehman College. Dr. Delgado’s appointment will be effective July 1. Reacting to the announcement, Delgado said he was honored to be selected for the role and fully embraces the college’s mission of access and student success. “As the child of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, I relate very personally to the values of Lehman and CUNY, what they offer

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Following the recent snow storm, the New York City Department of Education (DoE) announced on Tuesday, Feb. 2., that New York City district elementary, early childhood education, and District 75 buildings will be open tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3, 2021. All programs and activities will be held as scheduled. Takeout and community meals will resume at all locations. DoE thanked all custodial engineers and custodial staff who are out in full force today to shovel snow, clear sidewalks, and ensure the buildings are ready for staff and students to safely return tomorrow.

Catholic Elementary Schools to Close Monday, Feb. 1, Due to Impending Snow Storm

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Sunday, Jan. 31, the Archdiocese of New York said all Catholic elementary schools in the archdiocese would be closed Monday, Feb. 1, due to the expected major snow storm. As reported by Norwood News, the national weather service expects the slow-moving system to bring snow accumulation exceeding 12 inches in some areas, as well as winds gusting as high as 40 mph which will cause hazardous driving conditions and the potential for power outages throughout the metropolitan area. Archdiocese officials said Monday, Feb. 1, will be a “traditional snow day” with no remote instruction. All Catholic schools have

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Last year, having been shut for several months after the coronavirus pandemic first hit in March, the DEMA Community Martial Arts School, based at 283 East 204th Street in Norwood, restarted outdoor Tae Kwon Do classes in July in an attempt to keep the school afloat. Despite that innovative approach, and other collective efforts by the local Tae Kwon Do community to support the school, it is now, sadly, at risk of closure. As reported by Norwood News last year, more than a dozen young students were seen throwing kicks and punches in the open air in Mosholu Parkway

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Twenty-eight small business owners in the Bronx are the first cohort of students to complete an emerging technology mentorship program piloted by Lehman College’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) in conjunction with the Verizon Foundation. Under the initiative, which launched in October, the business owners participated in eight hours of technology training via Zoom. They were also paired with a Verizon employee volunteer and mentor group for seven weekly sessions, where they covered topics such as financing, marketing, competitive analysis, and proposal writing. Additional on-call help was available by phone, email, and text. The business owners will