NIAID: Three-Dose Hepatitis B Vaccine Regimen Protects People with HIV

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced that a three-dose course of the hepatitis B vaccine, HEPLISAV-B, fully protects adults living with HIV who have never been vaccinated against, or infected with, the hepatitis B virus (HBV), according to study findings presented on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Infectious Diseases (ID) Week conference in Washington, D.C. The NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring the ongoing Phase 3 ACTG A5379 clinical study. HBV is spread primarily through sexual contact and through the sharing of contaminated needles. It can cause chronic hepatitis B infection

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA

Ahead of Election Day, Nov. 8, and in a bid perhaps to win over his future constituents in New York’s redrawn 15th Congressional District, Rep. Ritchie Torres has said one of his highest priorities is to provide small businesses with access to capital. The Democratic congressman was speaking at a virtual forum held on Thursday, Oct. 13, hosted by Biz2Credit, an NYC-based lending company for small businesses. Torres appeared as a guest alongside Long Island Republican, Rep. Andrew Garbarino. “One of my strongest priorities is to ensure that we are doing everything we can in Congress to support the

By ARIEL PACHECO

Grammy award-winning rapper and Hip-Hop pioneer, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, visited P.S. 207 in Kingsbridge on Friday, Oct. 14, to speak with elementary school students about how to deal with bullies, believing in themselves, and to discuss his new picture book, “Darryl’s Dream.” A founding member of the legendary, Hip-Hop group, Run-D.M.C., who first emerged on the Hip-Hop scene in the 1980s, McDaniels, a Queens native who spent much of his youth in foster care, emphasized to the third, fourth and fifth graders at the Kingsbridge school, the importance of chasing their dreams. An impassioned McDaniels, who was adopted

By DAVID GREENE

Youngsters were treated to an end-of-summer party as Friends of Devoe Park (FoDP) hosted their first ‘Peace Rally and Back-to-School Giveaway,’ in Devoe Park on Saturday, Sept. 10. Held inside the park, located along University Avenue between Father Zeiser Place and West Fordham Road in Fordham Manor, the event opened with a unity and protection prayer by FoDP core group member, Myrna Calderon. FoDP were supported on the day by local elected officials and the NYPD who provided security for the event, which was organized by FoDP members, John Howard, Calderon, Rachel Miller- Bradshaw, Tobie Buford, Kenson Clarke, Erika

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Yonkers doctor, Marc Laruelle, has pled guilty to one count of distributing oxycodone, among other narcotics, without a legitimate medical purpose while acting outside the usual course of professional practice. Laruelle pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denis L. Cote, on Thursday, Oct. 20, as announced by Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. In the context of the announcement, Williams said, “Marc Laruelle abused his medical license and violated the oath of his profession when he prescribed more than 100,000 doses of a highly potent and addictive opioid without a legitimate medical need.” He

By ARIEL PACHECO

Brooklyn-based nonprofit, CAMBA Housing Ventures (CHV), provided an update on the status of its 323-unit housing development, located on 202nd and 203rd Streets in Bedford Park, during the October meeting of Bronx Community Board 7’s (CB7) Housing, Land Use & Economic Development committee. Construction of the project is 70 percent complete and is expected to be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2023, according to CHV. The development comprises two buildings, one on 202nd Street, between Briggs Avenue and Valentine Avenue, made up of 163 housing units, and a second on 203rd Street, also between Briggs

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Oct. 19 that a New Jersey man was charged with recklessly driving on the Grand Concourse, leading to the death of Bronx food delivery worker, Victorio Hilario-Guzman, in 2020. In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendant accelerated and ran a red light, striking a food delivery worker on a bicycle. His alleged reckless actions ended the life of the victim, who was delivering food in the middle of the pandemic.” She added, “I send my deepest condolences to the victim’s family, who had to wait for two years

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Recently elected Democratic district leaders for the 81st assembly district, Abigail Martin and Ramdat Singh, announced the formation of the Unity Democratic Club at a launch event held at The Bronx Public eatery on West 231st Street in Kingsbridge Heights on Oct. 3. The formation of the new club was announced at a regularly-scheduled meeting of the Bronx Unity Coalition, when all in attendance were invited to join the new club. The Bronx Unity Coalition have organized different events in the past, often in the Kingsbridge neighborhood and some in conjunction with Northwest Bronx Indivisible. The coalition describe themselves

Editor’s Pick The Bronx celebrates The Boogie Down Fall Fest for Climate, Jobs & Justice at the River Park within the Bronx Park, accessible by the 2 and 5 trains and multiple buses, at 2123 Boston Rd, Bronx, NY 10460, on Oct. 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Join elected officials, environmental justice advocates, and community members as they celebrate the Climate, Jobs & Justice Campaign. This family-friendly, non-partisan Bronx Climate Justice Day of Action is intended to celebrate and strengthen community-centered, environmental justice and climate justice action. The Fest will include a mixture of different activities led by