Bullying Survivor Inspires Kids at P.S. 294, Walton Avenue School

By SÍLE MOLONEY

When she was nine years old, Shira Blumenthal, founder of the nationwide anti-bullying movement, #HatNotHate, was a self-described, chubby girl with short frizzy hair, buck teeth, and very little confidence. At the start of fourth grade, she had two friends. “They were a little cooler than I was, but that didn’t faze me,” she writes on her website, hatnothate.org. Then, there was another “cool” girl in her class, who, she wrote, was friends with everyone, boys and girls, and who always wore a bra strap headband, which she told other kids her mother had invented. Blumenthal said she can’t remember

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Board of Trustees of The City University of New York (CUNY) voted on Monday, Feb. 1, to appoint Dr. Fernando Delgado, executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Minnesota Duluth, as the next president of Lehman College. Dr. Delgado’s appointment will be effective July 1. Reacting to the announcement, Delgado said he was honored to be selected for the role and fully embraces the college’s mission of access and student success. “As the child of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, I relate very personally to the values of Lehman and CUNY, what they offer

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Following the recent snow storm, the New York City Department of Education (DoE) announced on Tuesday, Feb. 2., that New York City district elementary, early childhood education, and District 75 buildings will be open tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3, 2021. All programs and activities will be held as scheduled. Takeout and community meals will resume at all locations. DoE thanked all custodial engineers and custodial staff who are out in full force today to shovel snow, clear sidewalks, and ensure the buildings are ready for staff and students to safely return tomorrow.

Catholic Elementary Schools to Close Monday, Feb. 1, Due to Impending Snow Storm

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Sunday, Jan. 31, the Archdiocese of New York said all Catholic elementary schools in the archdiocese would be closed Monday, Feb. 1, due to the expected major snow storm. As reported by Norwood News, the national weather service expects the slow-moving system to bring snow accumulation exceeding 12 inches in some areas, as well as winds gusting as high as 40 mph which will cause hazardous driving conditions and the potential for power outages throughout the metropolitan area. Archdiocese officials said Monday, Feb. 1, will be a “traditional snow day” with no remote instruction. All Catholic schools have

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Twenty-eight small business owners in the Bronx are the first cohort of students to complete an emerging technology mentorship program piloted by Lehman College’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) in conjunction with the Verizon Foundation. Under the initiative, which launched in October, the business owners participated in eight hours of technology training via Zoom. They were also paired with a Verizon employee volunteer and mentor group for seven weekly sessions, where they covered topics such as financing, marketing, competitive analysis, and proposal writing. Additional on-call help was available by phone, email, and text. The business owners will

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Picking up where it left off when the pandemic hit last spring, Teddy Cars, car dealers in Nissans and Volkswagens, located on Boston Road in the Edenwald section of the Bronx announced on Friday, Jan. 15, that it will be continuing its $20,000 commitment to music education in the Bronx. A year ago, the Teddy Cars Bronx Music Grant Program promised $20,000 in funding to ten school and community music programs in the Bronx. After funding five, the “Music Matters’ program was put on hold because of the pandemic. Beginning this month, once again, representatives said the dealership will resume

Mayor's Coming to the Bronx, and He's Bringing City Hall With Him

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio presented the City’s preliminary budget for fiscal year 2022 (FY22), on Thursday, Jan. 14. The preliminary budget is $92.28 billion and the mayor said after the one of the most painful years in the City’s history, it charts a path to recovery while making responsible choices in light of steep revenue losses due to COVID-19. “President-elect Biden will help our recovery by increasing FEMA reimbursement,” the mayor said. “And new Democratic majorities in Congress must move us forward with a federal COVID relief package that includes direct local aid.” Officials from

By SÍLE MOLONEY

House New York Inc., the educational philanthropic arm of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) recently launched a PILOT program to repurpose underutilized community and common spaces in two Bronx affordable residences for educational use. Under the program, these two spaces are being used as safe and staffed learning environments for students who might not otherwise have access to reliable WiFi during this era of hybrid learning. As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced many students to learn remotely on either a full or part-time basis, the digital divide has been significantly exacerbated, disproportionately impacting low-income children

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The following story is an extended version of the one published in our latest print edition. Marcos Sierra’s lived experience is unique compared to his fellow candidates in the 11th City Council District race. As a front-line healthcare worker, a survivor of gun violence, and a dad guiding his daughter through the trials and tribulations of remote learning, he said all these factors have helped shape his political outlook. If elected to the now, vacant 11th District seat, following the resignation of former Councilman Andrew Cohen on Dec. 31 to take up a Supreme Court judgeship in

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Schools

Bullying Survivor Inspires Kids at P.S. 294, Walton Avenue School

Scholar of Latinx Identity, Dr. Fernando Delgado, is Lehman College’s Next President

New York City School Buildings Open Wednesday, Feb 3

Catholic Elementary Schools to Close Monday, Feb. 1, Due to Impending Snow Storm

First Cohort of Business Owners Graduate from Lehman’s Emerging Tech Mentorship Program

Teddy Car Dealers Resumes ‘Music Matters’ Grants of $20,000 towards Bronx Music Programs

“Community Classrooms” Provide Bronx Students with Internet Access to Help with Remote Learning