Bronx Monkeypox Townhall Addresses Stigma, Vaccines & Prevention

By EMILY SAWAKED

The Office of the Bronx Borough President, Destination Tomorrow, and NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOH) recently hosted a Bronx Town Hall on the Monkeypox epidemic, as case numbers continued to rise across the borough and city. Livestreamed on Monday, Aug. 15, from New Settlement Community Center in the Mt. Eden section, the event was moderated by BronxNet’s Gary Axelbank, and saw representatives from all three host groups answer questions from concerned citizens about vaccination sites, testing, outreach for populations at-risk and preventative measures. Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero kicked off the event, saying, “We’ve

By P.S. / M.S. 95 STAFF

As children, parents, and teachers gear up for another new school year, almost two and a half years on from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent school closures, staff at P.S. / M.S. 95, The Sheila Mencher Van Cortlandt School, a public school located at 3961 Hillman Avenue in Van Cortlandt Village, reflect on the experience of being plunged into remote learning over two years ago and eventually resurfacing to an in-person learning environment once more. COVID-19 compelled our dive into unchartered waters, turbulent technology, and concerns about student learning, health and feelings. Special education teacher at

By SÍLE MOLONEY

City and State health officials updated New Yorkers on the detection of polio in the City’s sewage system on Friday, Aug. 12, suggesting a likely local circulation of the virus in New York City. Polio can lead to permanent paralysis of the arms and legs and even death in some cases. State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said for every one case of paralytic polio identified, hundreds more may be undetected. “The detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples in New York City is alarming, but not surprising,” Bassett said. “Already, the State Health Department, working with local

By EMILY SAWAKED

Healthcare workers have been on the front line of the pandemic since it first hit in early 2020, and over two years later, that has not changed. VNS Health (formerly Visiting Nurse Service of New York) is a nonprofit that has been serving some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers in their homes for over 125 years, and has been diligently working to help patients stay healthy in their homes. May marked National Nurses Month, as well as National Nurses Week (May 6-12), and once again, was an occasion to honor all nurses who go above and beyond

By DAVID GREENE

Volunteers, once again, carried out the painstaking task of locating more than 8,000 graves of American servicemen and women to place American flags on them in honor of Memorial Day at Woodlawn Cemetery. Volunteers fanned out across the sprawling cemetery, located at 4199 Webster Avenue at East 233rd Street, and placed small flags at the headstones or in front of community mausoleums as a gesture of respect and tradition for the country’s fallen military members. This year’s “flagging” season began on Saturday, May 21, and continued through Sunday, May 29. On Sunday, May 22, volunteers, including a local

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Thursday, June 9, that the mask mandate in schools and daycare centers for 2 to 4-year-old children will be made optional, effective Monday, June 13. “I have always said that the science will guide us out of the pandemic, and because we have followed the data, which shows that cases are steadily falling, we‘ve beaten back the latest COVID-19 surge,” Adams said. “New Yorkers stepped up when we needed them most and have put us on the path to lower risk.” The mayor continued, “Throughout the current wave,

By SÍLE MOLONEY, DAVID GREENE & MIRIAM QUIÑONES

The music was pumping from around 11 a.m. and could be heard a few blocks away, seemingly nudging and calling residents to come out, join in, applaud their neighbors and soak up the atmosphere for the Bronx Week 2022 Finale parade, which had a fitting, in-person return, under glorious sunshine, on Mosholu Parkway in Bedford Park, on Sunday, May 15. A tradition for more than 40 years, Bronx Week is an annual celebration of the culture, beauty, and institutions of the borough. A lively and excited gathering of schools, bands, cultural institutions, musicians, elected officials, dancers, first responders, youth

By DAVID GREENE

Over two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, various Bronx organizations were recognized for answering the call of service during the pandemic’s early days at an event hosted by Councilman Rafael Salamanca (CD 17) at the New York Botanical Garden, while at a separate event, some Redwood trees planted last year were blessed and dedicated to the lives and memories of more than 40 victims of COVID-19. Salamanca honored seven healthcare entities and food distribution companies during a luncheon at The New York Botanical Garden, on Southern Boulevard on Thursday, April 21. The seven honorees were Lincoln Hospital,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Last month, NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx held a final “clap out” and appreciation ceremony for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) medical team which had been deployed to work at the hospital to support the medical staff during the height of the Omicron surge amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital’s healthcare workers and senior officials joined the DoD team for a final farewell ceremony which included the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the members of the team. As reported, in early February 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul joined various elected representatives and NCB officials in