Out and About

Health Care Expands March 5 to All Vets Exposed to Toxins during Military Service at Home or Abroad

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The U.S. Department of Veterans Services announced on Monday, Feb. 26, that all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military, at home or abroad, will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5. VA officials said this means all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits.

Ice Spice is People’s Choice

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Rising female Bronx rapper, Ice Spice, took home the 2024 People’s Choice Award for New Artist of the Year at the 49th People’s Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on Sunday, Feb. 19.  The Fordham native saw off competition from Coi Leray, Jelly Roll, Jung Kook, Noah Kahan, Peso Pluma, PinkPantheress and Stephen Sanchez.

Love in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Love is in the air and on Feb. 14, across the globe, millions celebrated Valentine’s Day. At one Norwood store, we were told flower sales were up by a whopping 70 percent. So, is it just another opportunity to make a quick buck or is there merit in reminding people of love? To find out, we are grateful to those Bronxites who were brave enough to talk to us about their own love stories.

Op-Ed: Preserving Woodlawn: A Stand Against Overdevelopment 

By WILLIAM MURRAY
On Monday, Feb. 12, the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association gathered at the Rambling House for a critical meeting. The focus of the discussion revolved around the alarming proposal by The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative, developed by NYC Department of City Planning, which lays out potential changes throughout the city that will be significant and could have detrimental effects on the cherished neighborhood of Woodlawn.

The Power (and Joy) of Reading   

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Latinos Urbanos Book Club and the 4Bronx Project unveiled a new community library box, “Kingsbridge Community Library,” outside P.S. 207 on Godwin Terrace in Kingsbridge on Feb. 15. Laura Levine-Pinedo of the 4Bronx Project told News 12 The Bronx on the day of the launch, “Power is knowledge and having kids have access to books right here on the sidewalk – anybody can come up, take a book, leave a book – I think it’s a big win for the borough.”

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts Presents Andy Montañez in “Toda Una Vida Concierto!”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents the legendary Andy Montañez in “Toda una Vida Concierto!” on Saturday, March 2, as Montañez celebrates his 60th anniversary. The show features Tito Puente Jr. performing a tribute to his father, Tito Puente, along with performances by “El Trio Ideal,” and the exciting dance rhythms of Johnny Olivo and Herencia de Plena.

Kingsbridge Library Reopens

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Kingsbridge Library has reopened following a temporary closure in late January which continued into February and which, according to the New York Public Library press office, was due to repairs to its HVAC unit, which library officials said was causing a lack of heat in the building, located at 291 West 231st Street in Kingsbridge.