Laconia: Bronx Hip-Hop Artist Highlights Importance of Education during Back-to-School Event

By Síle Moloney & Miriam Quinoñes

A back-to-school giveaway was held at Gun Post Lanes bowling alley on Saturday, Sept. 26 on East Gun Hill Road in the Laconia section of the Bronx. The event included a special musical performance by old school, hip-hop artist, Melle Mel, who used the occasion to share some stories about his vast experience in the music industry, and to encourage local youth to stay in school. Melvin Glover, better known by his stage names, Melle Mel and Grandmaster Melle Mel, was born in the Bronx on May 15, 1961. He is a recording artist who was the lead vocalist

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The grand opening of long-awaited ADA compliant elevators at Bedford Park Boulevard subway station took place on the Grand Concourse on Thursday, Oct. 15. MTA Construction & Development President, Janno Lieber, launched the opening alongside a group of MTA colleagues, and was also joined by elected officials, Congressman Adriano Espaillat and State Assemblyman José Rivera. Speaking at the launch, Espaillat said, “There are three elevators, one up here [street level], and two downstairs [at subway level], and they were built at a cost of $38.2 million,” he said, adding that it was an extraordinary project. He then

By AUGUSTINA KWAFO-BAIDOO

October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a perfect time to remember to take care of our oral health. When people think about a healthy lifestyle, eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing physical activity, limiting alcohol, getting more sleep and making time for self-care often top the list. But, taking care of our oral health is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and the health of our mouth, teeth and gums affects the way we talk, smile, eat and present ourselves to the world. Just like the rest of our body, the mouth is full of good

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Foundation for Excellence in Education (FLAG) Award for Teaching Excellence has opened its nomination process for this school year’s awards program. The program recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public school teachers in each borough who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. It is an extension from last year’s launch in Manhattan. One grand-prize winner from each New York City borough will receive a $25,000 cash prize, and each finalist will receive a $10,000 prize. In addition, each winner’s school will receive $10,000, and each finalist’s school will receive $2,000 for an arts-based initiative that the recipients will create

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Oct. 15, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York launched new Domestic Violence Regional Councils that will help transform and modernize delivery of services for victims, survivors and their families. “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and throughout the pandemic we have seen an alarming rise in domestic violence cases,” the governor said. “These 10 new councils will engage with local experts to help domestic violence survivors and their families.” The governor added that it was also an important reminder for people that they aren’t trapped because of COVID. “If there is an issue where you face imminent

By SÍLE MOLONEY

With the deadline for the U.S Census now set for Oct. 16 at 6 a.m., several Bronx public charter schools are encouraging communities throughout the Bronx to ensure they fill out the census and get counted. Across the country, there are attempts to undercount communities of color and the most vulnerable. The future of the Bronx and of New York City depends on an accurate count of its residents, which will determine how much federal support it receives for the next decade. Now more than ever, the stakes of being counted have never been higher: Nearly $1 trillion in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

At noon on Wednesday, Oct. 14, NYC Census 2020 and partners hosted an emergency virtual press conference to raise awareness about the shortened timeline for the completion of the census which now ends Oct. 15, and to mobilize the community in a final sprint to respond and encourage their neighbors, friends, and family to do so also. On Friday, Sept. 24, U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh had ordered the Census Bureau to keep conducting the census count until Oct. 31 but a subsequent Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to end the 2020 Census on Oct. 15.

By DAVID GREENE

A full week after New York City public schools opened for class for the first time in six months, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, “the new normal” included temperature checks before entering a building, smaller classrooms, and teachers rather than students moving from classroom to classroom. After the first week of her children’s school reopening, Norwood resident and mother, Heather Guerino, said, “Now the schools are taking more precautionary measures within [them], but they should have done that before the coronavirus.” She added, “The coronavirus has forced a lot of people to have a new way of life, a new

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New Yorkers use an estimated 23 billion (not 23 million, 23 billion) plastic bags every year, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. That’s 1,182 bags per person, with each bag being used for about 12 minutes. Approximately 85 percent of this staggering total ends up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways, and streets. Here’s something else everyone should reflect upon. The Ecology Center (ecologycenter.org) wrote, “Like many other plastics, we can’t guarantee that plastic film is getting recycled, even if it is clean, dry, and disposed of in the “right” place. We also know that all plastic ever