Out and About

Documentary Film “1.5 Million” Deals with Illiteracy in The Bronx

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
There was outrage in The Bronx when the last general-interest bookstore, Barnes & Noble, shut down permanently in 2017. Many Bronxites saw it as evidence that the borough is not viewed in a positive light and is forgotten when it comes to its intellectual curiosity. For filmmaker Gregory Hernandez, the turmoil gave him an idea to tell a story about illiteracy in the borough. The result is the film “1.5 Million: A Bronx Documentary” which, as preadvised, screened at the Pelham Parkway-Van Nest branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) on Aug. 28.

UPDATE Friends of Devoe Park Launch Art Workshop Series Starting Sept. 16

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Friends of Devoe Park (FoDP), a volunteer group organized in 2017 by CATALYST, a City Parks Foundation subsidiary, is kicking off an art workshop series, coinciding with the back-to-school season. The series comprises two events, the first of which takes place on Saturday, Sept. 16. According to the organizers, around ten local children will receive “a paint and arts bundle” to learn how to paint and later to take home their finished visions of Devoe Park.

CM Dinowitz Breaks Down Highlights of $107 Billion City Budget & $30 Million for C.D. 11

By SÍLE MOLONEY
City Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) gave a budget presentation to district residents on Wednesday, Aug. 2, highlighting some of the local initiatives that will benefit from funding, following the adoption of the City’s $107 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The councilman went over the city budget process, discussed the major highlights from the latest adopted city budget, and broke down some of the $30 million plus in discretionary funding for capital projects and other funding secured for C.D. 11, in conjunction with Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.