Religion

UPDATE First Wave of Kids 5-11 Get COVID-19 Shots at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAWN CLANCY
The first wave of children to receive the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccine had their shots administered at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Norwood on Wednesday, Nov. 3.   The kids in question were 11-year-old twins, Jamie Onofrio Franceschini and Ryann Onofrio Franceschini, and Kenechi Acholonu (9), Amechi Acholonu (7), and Chizara Acholonu (5).   “Today is a huge relief,” said Chrissie Onofrio, the twins’ mom. “For the last 20 months, we have been doing everything we could to keep them safe. As adults, we have been able to be vaccinated, and have only seen vaccinated people.”   She added,


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UPDATE Residents Unhappy with Tent “Encampment” on Mosholu Parkway  

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bedford Park residents have been getting more and more vocal about the unsightly, overflowing trash situation on Mosholu Parkway during their regular Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA) meetings, as reported, but another issue which has also raised concern is the growing number of make-shift tents erected by homeless people along the parkway in recent weeks.   As one resident, who went by the Twitter username, @maminature30, tweeted on Monday, Oct. 18, “@EricDinowitzNYC, @norwoodnews, @NYCDHS, @NYPD52Pct How long before the encampment at Moshulu Parkway becomes a tent city? It already doubled in size since last week. Somebody needs to intervene.”  


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on What to Cut from the $3.5 Trillion Infrastructure Bill

By DAVID GREENE
  This week, we asked readers their thoughts on what the Democrats should cut from the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill to get it over the line to satisfy Republicans.   “Oh! Is that what they’re doing? No, I don’t think they should try and appease the Republicans. Well, they shouldn’t cut healthcare and they shouldn’t cut education. That’s a very hard decision. I know they have to vote on something. Kids need education because it’s bad out here. They need all the education they can get. Oh gosh, maybe the added healthcare for seniors is, maybe, the least important now.” Pamela


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on the different COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

By DAVID GREENE
  This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the different COVID-19 vaccine mandates that are now in effect, and whether they agree with them.   “Honestly, it’s really a mixed bag because vaccines do work to an extent, but then we have heard about those who have been vaccinated getting “break out” cases, but generally, those cases that have COVID, they don’t show symptoms. Yet, they’re still a health liability because they can still transmit [the virus]. Maybe they don’t. I just think, right now, with the misinformation going on, and the weaponization of information to make the vaccine


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Real Estate Industry Group and Union Reach Agreement on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Rules

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB), the multi-employer group association representing the city‘s real estate industry, and SEIU 32BJ, the union representing 85,000 building service workers in the city, issued, on Saturday, Oct. 2, a comprehensive Memorandum of Agreement covering rules for implementing COVID-19 vaccine requirements for staff working in most city buildings.   The agreement, which would cover thousands of commercial and residential properties in the city, sets the process and safeguards which must be followed in the event a site or an employer intends to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.   Howard Rothschild, president of the realty advisory board


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Hochul’s Plans to Curb Misinformation on Abortion

By DAVID GREENE
  This week, we asked readers for their thoughts on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plans to curb misinformation on abortion, as announced on Sept. 13.   “You know if women want to have that, they have the right to do that. I don’t agree with certain things, but I can’t comment on that really, you know what I’m saying? They should have the right to do it, but babies need to be born. Republicans always cry they’re pro-life when it comes to abortion, but it never comes up when you’re talking about gun control. Everybody has an opinion, but when babies


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UPDATE: Congress Passes 4 of AOC’s 7 Amendments to Defense Budget Bill, to Protect Human Rights

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Congress has passed four of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s seven proposed amendments to the U.S. Defense Budget Bill, which are aimed at protecting human rights.   In mid-September, ahead of the vote on the The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Bronx congresswoman who represents New York’s 14th congressional district, introduced seven amendments that collectively sought to end U.S. practices that, she said, have contributed to human rights abuses. “We must end the sale of weapons to countries that have violated human rights, and reorient our foreign policy to one of humanitarian, diplomatic, and economic engagement,” the congresswoman tweeted on Thursday,


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Bronx Elected Officials Share Messages of Goodwill on Jewish Holy Day

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx elected officials shared various messages to acknowledge the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. According to the website, hebcal.com, this year, Yom Kippur began on Wednesday, 15 Sept. and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 16 Sept.    Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish community. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on President Biden’s Decision to End the War in Afghanistan

By DAVID GREENE
  This week, we asked readers their thoughts on U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to end America’s longest war in Afghanistan.   “I think it’s about time they did this. I am so happy to hear that they’re doing this. They’ve been in Afghanistan for such a long time, I think it’s about time they do pull them out. No, it wasn’t done the right way. I don’t believe so, but few wars end peacefully. I don’t believe this world learned anything from the occupation. I think it’s gotten worse. We’ve gotten very stupid.” Kendall Levine, Hunts Point “It was a


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