Healthy, Realistic and Attainable New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year when people everywhere make unrealistic New Year’s resolutions that are often too difficult to maintain. This year, instead of aiming for extreme weight loss or finding the partner of your dreams, psychologist Simon Rego, Psy.D., of Montefiore Medical Center, recommends focusing on value-based resolutions. Here are several New Year’s resolutions Rego says are realistic enough to actually be maintained:

Severe Flu Season Leads Montefiore to Expand Urgent Care Center Hours

Montefiore Medical Center infectious disease experts are urging the public to get vaccinated against influenza in one of the most severe and longest flu seasons in a decade. To manage the surge of patients, Montefiore is extending hours at several of its community urgent care sites.

Bronx Notes: Free Stop Smoking Program

North Central Bronx Hospital, 3424 Kossuth Ave., offers free group counseling and nicotine replacement therapy for smokers looking to quit. No appointments are needed or required, walk-ins are welcome. The smoking cessation program runs weekdays at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. in room 13A12. For more information, call (718) 519-2425/2490.

Be Healthy: Fast Food Flocks to the Bronx

Unfortunately for the Bronx, unhealthy lifestyles begets unhealthy eateries. According to the Center for an Urban Future’s fifth annual State of Chains study, the Bronx experienced the fastest growth in fast food stores of any of the five boroughs. Chain retailers in general are coming into the Bronx at a rapid pace as the borough is being seen as an untapped market, but the increase in fast food restaurants, like McDonald’s (two new Bronx locations in 2012) and Dunkin’ Donuts (three new), is troubling to health advocates who want to see better food options for Bronxites.

Editorial: On The Death of Young Children

As a journalist, you’re supposed to be detached from the subjects you write about. It’s how you maintain your objectivity when presenting facts and accurately depicting scenes you’ve witnessed. All of that flew out the window of Woolworth Chapel in Woodlawn Cemetery when I reached into my pocket for one of at least half a dozen pens and plucked out the one with purple ink. It’s the color Lydia would have chosen.

Remembering Lydia ‘Nena’ Stephen, ‘Warrior Princess’

Lydia Stephens, otherwise known as “Nena,” the brave 10-year-old Bronx girl profiled in the Nov. 29-Dec. 12 print edition of the Norwood News, died last night after a long fight against cancer. She will be missed. Below are some of the comments generated on this website after we posted her story online. Please feel free to share your thoughts with the community as we mourn the loss of young Nena.

Bronx Notes: Toy Drive for Children’s Hospital

LaSorsa Chevrolet Dealer and Montefiore Medical Center are sponsoring a toy drive to benefit patients at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. From now until Dec. 16, you can drop off unwrapped toys to the following locations (call the stores for hours).

Facing Death With the Courage of a ‘Warrior Princess’

For such a young lady, 10-year-old Lydia Stephens is already well acquainted with death. She no longer fears it. Twice, she’s drawn to the brink of it and bounced back miraculously. Her courage while staring into the face of it is nothing short of heroic. That’s why they call her the “Warrior Princess.” This is her story.

Tree Lighting Tonight on Jerome Kicks Off Toy Drive for Children’s Hospital

The Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District is hosting a tree lighting ceremony tonight, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Green Streets Park (Mosholu Parkway North and Jerome Avenue, right under the 4 train stop). The event, which will include a visit from Santa, will be hosted by Rhina “La Reina del Barrio” Valentin. Last week, some 20 volunteers, including Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, wrapped nearly 100 gifts, which will be given out to local kids who visit Santa at the tree lighting tonight. Tonight’s event will also kick off a toy drive to benefit patients at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, an effort sponsored by La Sorsa Auto and Montefiore Medical Center. From now until Dec. 16, you can drop off unwrapped toys to the following locations (call the stores for hours):