Free Gym Access Throughout the Summer for Youth at Planet Fitness

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing gym franchises according to its owners, is inviting high schoolers aged 14 to 19* to work out for free at any of its more than 2,200 Planet Fitness locations throughout the United States and Canada from May 16 through August 31, as part of the High School Summer Pass initiative, with the aim of improving teen mental and physical health. A new study commissioned by Planet Fitness found that while almost half (48 Percent) of American teens admit they struggled with mental health for the first time ever during the pandemic,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Thinkubator, a Bronx-based innovation and workforce development nonprofit, announced the public launch of its “Women’s Empowerment Program” on Monday, May 9. Launched in Fall 2021 at The Thinkubator’s Poughkeepsie satellite office, the nonprofit provides spaces, forums, and opportunities for women to gather, support each other, work on their potential business ideas, and figure out ways to best support their youth as they navigate life. According to the event organizers, the official launch event will highlight women and youth who are making a difference in their community, raffles will be held with local vendors, and The Thinkubator’s youth interns

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES & SÍLE MOLONEY

The intersection of Mosholu Parkway and East Bainbridge Avenue was transformed into showgrounds for an open air circus, last month, in celebration of Earth Day, as the parkway was cleared of cars as part of a citywide Department of Transportation (DOT) Car Free Day, marking, once again, the annual event which promotes more sustainable living. This year, on Saturday, April 23, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., the Flatbed Follies Bindlestiff Family Cirkus descended upon Bedford Park with a host of spectacular street performances, delighting the community. About 200 people showed up for the event. Some walked, some biked,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday, May 5, that a U.S. presidential delegation will attend the inauguration of his excellency, Rodrigo Alberto de Jesús Chaves Robles, as president of the Republic of Costa Rica on May 8, 2022. The Hon. Miguel Cardona, U.S. secretary of education, will lead the delegation. The delegation also includes the Hon. Cynthia Telles, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica, the Hon. Uzra Zeya, under secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights at the U.S. State department, and the Hon. Cristóbal Alex, special assistant to the president and White House deputy cabinet

By SARAH HUFFMAN

The Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters welcomed actor, Malik Yoba, to their school on March 28 to present his documentary film series, “The Real Estate Mix Tape Vol. 1,” which also features Majora Carter, real estate developer and founder of Hunts Point’s Boogie Down Grind Café. Though Yoba is not a former student of the school, we were informed, “he was born in the old Lincoln Hospital down the road.” According to various sources, including IMDb, Yoba is an actor, filmmaker and writer, known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J. C. Williams on “New York

By JULIAN NAZAR

Lisa Watkins, a retired Bronx schoolteacher, recalled seeing a story on the news about a Charlie Hewitt, a Maine-based artist, who had a huge “Hopeful” sign displayed on billboards in New Jersey. Considering the collective trauma of COVID-19 endured by so many Bronxites in such a relatively short space of time, she remembered thinking at the time that it would be a great word to have projected across the borough. “We had the two years of the pandemic,” Watkins said. “Just when we thought we were coming out of the pandemic around Christmas time, we had the resurgence

By JULIAN NAZAR

To mark Black Maternal Health Week, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson joined a host of mothers and advocates fighting for access to safe childbirth support on the steps of Bronx County Courthouse on Wednesday, April 13. The group were gathered to demand policy changes at State level to combat the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity seen in the borough. According to data published by Fatoumata Diallo, city research scientist for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, The Bronx had the highest severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rate among all five boroughs as of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Olivia and Liam remain America’s most popular baby names, based on newly released 2021 data from the U.S. Social Security Administration. Liam has been the top choice for new parents for five years in a row, while Olivia has topped the list for three years. During what was described by the agency as an unprecedented time, parents chose to stick with familiar names. Out of both Top 10 lists combined, only one name changed, with Theodore replacing Alexander in popularity. The name Theodore joins the Top 10 list for the first time. “Welcome to the club Teddy!” agency representatives

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Week 2022 is back in full swing. The Bronx Tourism Council has employed Bronx-based, event management company, E218 Events Management, to manage the Bronx Ball, one of the highlights of the 10-day-long Bronx Week 2022 festival which is packed with various activities.The black-tie gala honoring the Bronx Walk of Fame inductees will take place on Saturday, May 14, and the Bronx Week 2022 Grand Finale Concert will take place on May 15. This year the Bronx Ball will be held at The Penisula, located at 1215 Spofford Avenue, Bronx, NY 10474, in the a brand new facility that,

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Free Gym Access Throughout the Summer for Youth at Planet Fitness

The Thinkubator Hosts Women’s Empowerment Event in The Bronx on May 14

Bronxites Encouraged to “Break Up with Cars” During Car-Free Earth Day on Mosholu Parkway

Presidential Delegation Named to Attend Inauguration of De Jesús Chaves Robles in Costa Rica

UPDATE Mott Haven: Actor, Malik Yoba, Discusses Real Estate Documentary Series with Students

Charlie Hewitt Brings The Hopeful Project, a Digital Billboard Campaign, to The Bronx

UPDATE Bronx Week 2022: Venue Confirmed for Bronx Ball