Woodlawn Conservancy Receives Two Grants from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Monday, Dec. 21, The Woodlawn Conservancy, Inc. announced that it is to be the recipient of two grants from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). One grant, in the amount of $56,250 will support tree maintenance and another, in the amount of $35,000, will support an urban forest management plan.   Woodlawn Cemetery is a 400-acre, national historic landmark, and a Level II Arboretum (a botanical garden devoted to trees) with more than 6,000 trees on its grounds. In reference to the grant, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Healthy community forests provide a host of environmental,


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Carpenters & Contractors Deliver Toys & Smiles to Bronx Kids during Annual Holiday Toy Drive  

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Since the holiday season kicked off, the New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters (NYCDCC), and the Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan New York (CCA Metro) has delivered over 300 toys to kids and 500 turkeys to families throughout the Bronx. The carpenters and contractors participated in three toy drives and one turkey drive across the borough in addition to events organized in other parts of the city.   The holiday toy drives in the Bronx were carried out in partnership with local non-profit community organizations and agencies, Eastchester Heights Community Center and NYCHA, and local elected officials,


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Bronx Assemblyman Victor Pichardo Endorses Oswald Feliz for City Council

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Oswald Feliz, tenant lawyer and one of around eight candidates running in the 15th District Council race to replace the incumbent councilman and Congressman-elect Ritchie Torres, announced on Tuesday, Dec. 22, that he has been endorsed by Bronx Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, who represents around 30 to 35 percent of the district that Feliz seeks to represent.   “As a tenant lawyer, Oswald defended our most vulnerable residents at risk of eviction,” said Pichardo in a statement. “I know he will continue to champion the issues that matter most to Bronx residents: public education, affordable housing, and recovering from the coronavirus


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Blake Endorses Fernández for Bronx Borough President

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández, representing the 80th Assembly District and candidate for Bronx Borough President, announced on Monday, Dec. 21, that she has been endorsed by her colleague and fellow Bronxite, Assemblyman Michael Blake, who represents the 79th Assembly District. The two have a history of working together at the State Assembly.    In a press release announcing the endorsement, Blake touted Fernández’s “borough-wide experience as the Bronx regional representative for the Governor as well as her work building a diverse coalition of Bronxites to fight for criminal justice reform, equal housing opportunity and increased protections for the most vulnerable.”   


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Vaccine Priorities, Precautions for People with Disabilities

By ANDREA SEARS
With coronavirus vaccines now being distributed, advocates for people living with disabilities are stressing the importance of knowing if they are at increased risk of COVID-19.   People with certain disabilities or on medications with particular side effects are more vulnerable to the effects of the virus, and people in nursing homes or group housing are more likely to become infected. These and other considerations will determine the priorities for vaccine distribution.   Susan Dooha, executive director at the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information online about who is


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Montefiore Rolls out First Vaccinations, as City & State Plan Education & Equitable Distribution of Vaccine

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Montefiore Medical Center vaccinated its first Montefiore employee with the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Gina Benvenuto, RN, a 36-year-old patient care coordinator at the neuro-intensive care unit who has been with the hospital for 14 years, was the first employee to receive the vaccine. The vaccination process continued thereafter among other Montefiore employees.   At the Bronx Community Board 7 Health committee meeting later that evening, there were plenty of questions about the vaccine roll-out, many on the testing process, with residents looking for reassurances about the robustness of that testing. One resident suggested having representatives from


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Montefiore New Rapid Test Determines if School Children have Flu, RSV or COVID-19

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Pediatric providers at six Montefiore School Health Program clinics are using new rapid testing to determine if children in school have the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or COVID-19. RSV is a common, and very contagious, virus that infects the respiratory tract of most children before their second birthday. For most babies and young children, the infection causes nothing more than a cold. Results of the new test are available within 40 minutes of providing a nasal swab sample.   The new Cepheid systems will begin testing in the remaining 25 Montefiore School Health Program clinics in the coming weeks. Thousands of Bronx children in elementary, middle


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Op-Ed: Pandemic Holiday Blues, Strategies for Good Mental Health!

By Dr. JENNY SEHAM
Shorter and colder days with less sunshine and winter holidays can be stressful any year. If you are feeling increased sadness, depression, anxiety, worry, and frustration right now, you certainly are not alone!   These are all normal feelings that, for some, have become heightened due to fears and limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This holiday season, many of us are missing and yearning for the company the holidays usually bring, while also dealing with the stress of canceling in-person gatherings with extended family and friends.   There are proven strategies to ease mental stress that you can start


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Espaillat Gets Vaccinated for COVID-19, Will Serve on Influential House Appropriations Committee

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Sunday, Dec. 20, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, representing New York’s 13th congressional district which covers the north-west Bronx, Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill, released a statement, in English and in Spanish, after being vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the United States Capitol.   “Our nation’s leading scientists and researchers have developed a vaccine that has been tested and produced based on science to meet our highest standards of safety and effectiveness,” said Espaillat.   “Today, I was administered the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID19 vaccine to ensure my constituents of its safety and effectiveness.


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