NY Research into New COVID-19 Strain Underway as Three Airlines Test Passengers Pre-Departure from UK

Bronx Teen First Vaping-Related Death in New York State
By SÍLE MOLONEY
Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed on Tuesday, Dec. 22, that New York’s Wadsworth Laboratory has begun aggressive research of the new, more contagious strain of COVID-19 first detected in the U.K. in September. Wadsworth has looked at more than 3,700 virus sequences identified in New York already, and has yet to find the U.K. variant present in any of the random samples.   Wadsworth and the State health department have made agreements with six hospitals from across the State to obtain additional samples for further research and are making arrangements with other hospitals to do the same. “If the variant is


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South Bronx: Search for Missing 14-Year-Old Girl

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Carolyn Vasquez, 14, of 760 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx, who was reported missing on Tuesday, Dec. 22, in the 44th precinct.   Carolyn was last seen on Friday, Dec. 18, at approximately 6 a.m., leaving her home. She is described as female, Hispanic, around 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, and has brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a red, white, and blue sweater and blue jeans.   Anyone with information with regard to this missing person is asked to


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Update: Man Charged in Case of Dec. 14 Wakefield Fatal Shooting

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Monday, Dec. 14, at around 9.45 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding an unconscious person on the first floor of 3982 Carpenter Avenue in the Wakefield section of the Bronx, in the 47th precinct. Upon arrival, they discovered an unconscious and unresponsive 46-year-old man lying on the floor. EMS pronounced the man deceased at the scene.   On Dec. 16, the death was deemed a homicide and it was confirmed that the victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the head. There were no arrests and the investigation remained ongoing. On Tuesday, Dec 22, the New York


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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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