Schools

Greek Heritage Month Celebrated in Kingsbridge ahead of Greek Independence Day Parade in Manhattan

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson hosted her administration’s 2nd Annual Greek Heritage Month celebration in Kingsbridge on Friday, March 24, in conjunction with sponsors, Ponce Bank and the Bronx Terminal Market. There was food, cake, musical and dance performances, as well as the presentation of proclamations to a list of honorees.   Held at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, located at 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue, the event was emceed by mistress of ceremonies, Aravella Simotas, a former New York State assemblywoman who represented parts of Queens and alongside whom Gibson had previously served in the State legislature. The invocation


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Electeds Join Community Members for Rally Opposing New Kingsbridge Charter School

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The following is an extended version of the story published in our latest print edition. Following concerns by some Kingsbridge residents over plans by the International Leadership Charter High School (ILCHS) to open a new, 7-story, middle school at 306 West 232nd Street in Kingsbridge, one block away from its existing school site at 3060 Riverdale Avenue, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), District 11 City Councilman Eric Dinowitz, and State Sen. Robert Jackson (S.D. 31) joined a group of local residents and members of the Construction and General Building Laborers union on Saturday, April 15, for a rally to oppose


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St. Philip Neri School Honors First Responders

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
Students at St. Philip Neri School in Bedford Park want first responders to know how much their service means to them. On Jan. 31, more than 50 first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and EMTs were invited to attend a special mass at St. Philip Neri Church, located right next to the school. The first responders ate breakfast with students in the parish hall, and later went on a tour of the school.   “It was fun,” said sixth grader Katherine Mundo, who had a very personal reason to be appreciative of those assigned with protecting the community. “My mom’s


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Jerome Park: Two Injured in Two-Vehicle Car Crash

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES & SÍLE MOLONEY
  Two people were injured following a two-car collision at the intersection of Jerome Avenue and Van Cortlandt Avenue in Jerome Park on Tuesday, April 4, emergency services said.   An EMS representative said they received the call at 2.46 p.m. on the day of the collision. (At this time, most of the world was tuning in to watch former President Donald J. Trump being indicted in Lower Manhattan.)   They said one of the injured parties refused medical attention at the scene and the second was brought to St. Barnabas Hospital. The cause of the accident is under investigation, according


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Off Duty School Crossing Guard Arrested for Endangering Welfare of Child

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Police said an off-duty New York City employee was arrested on Friday, April 7, in the 49th Precinct, which covers the neighborhoods of Allerton, Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Parkway, Eastchester Gardens, and Pelham Gardens.   According to the NYPD, Sanija Kurtovic, 46, an NYPD school crossing guard, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.   A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.    

Elections 2023: Irene Estrada Lays Out her Case for her City Council Run in District 13

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Former Democratic female district leader for the 80th assembly district and Democratic candidate for city council in District 13, Irene Estrada, briefly broke down why she is running for the seat against incumbent, City Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez when we spoke to her at the 25th Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 12.   Estrada, whose two daughters serve with the NYPD, and who is on the clergy council of the 49th Precinct, said, “Our streets are a mess with crime.” She added, “We also need to bring back the school safety task force. They took it away after COVID.


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Vietnam Vet Finds Solace in Sharing the Unsaid

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Ondray Cleveland completed two tours of duty in Vietnam between ‘68 and ’71. The Soundview resident said his transition back to civilian life on his return to the U.S. was not plain sailing. Later, he would join the navy for two years, before ultimately leaving the armed services for good.   “[I] wasn’t doing too good once I came out of Vietnam because…stereotypes and all that stuff,” he said. “Then I got myself together and came back out…ups and downs but it’s been good.” Though many years have passed since then, Cleveland was one of over 60 veterans who found


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Student Exhibit at Montefiore Gallery of ARTFul Medicine Honors Ukraine

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx elementary students from P.S. 152 in Soundview joined District 18 City Council Member Amanda Farías and others last month for the launch of a new art exhibit featuring bold watercolor paintings of sunflowers painted by the students in honor of Ukraine.   The exhibit was created in partnership with “Studio in a School NYC,” an initiative which brings visual arts education to students from 3K to 12th grade in public schools and to community based organizations across all five boroughs. It is intended to showcase local talent, while also highlighting the role art can play in stress reduction and


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UPDATE Success Academy Charter School to Open at St. Brendan Catholic School Site

By SÍLE MOLONEY
After nearly 200 young students and parents rallied outside of St. Brendan School in Norwood on Feb. 24 to protest plans by the Archdiocese of New York to close the Catholic school in September 2023 due to declining income, one of 12 Catholic schools across the City, including six in The Bronx, scheduled to close, parents received a letter dated March 30 from the school’s representatives, confirming that the site has been leased to a Charter school which will open in September.   The letter reads in part, “After our sad announcement in February that St. Brendan’s Regional School would


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