Out and About

Bronx Youth Empowerment Program Engages Youth Through Art & Music during Annual Event

The Bronx Youth Empowerment Program will be hosting its 15th Youth Speaks 2021 forum on Wednesday, May 19, at 4 p.m. According to organizers, this year’s forum will be centered on music and art, as program participants will be joined by a dynamic guest panel.   It will include Tara Wallace of Love and Hip-Hop New York; MC Sha Rock, the first female rapper and MC of Hip-Hop culture; Valerie Simpson, legendary songwriter, music producer, singer and performer; and Kylerr Bucano, social media manager of the Universal Hip-Hop Museum.   Aside from the discussions on music and art, Youth Speaks


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City Seeks Public Feedback During May 18 Hearing on Old Fordham Library

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
Residents of Fordham Manor will have a chance to voice their views on the eventual use of a building which formerly housed the Fordham branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL), located at 2556 Bainbridge Avenue. As reported last week by Norwood News, the virtual hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m.   The building has been selected by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to house a Community Technical Assistance Center (CTAC), a new computer-based testing and application center, to facilitate more opportunities for a wider number of local candidates to apply for


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Dance Parade New York Goes Global

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Dance Parade New York, an annual celebration of dance in all its forms, will host an interactive online dance festival on Saturday, May 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST. According to its organizers, one thousand dancers from around the world will connect to family-friendly, fun and movement joy in DJ-lead dance rooms, free dance classes with top professionals, dance-offs between participants, and free dance classes. In addition, the winning videos from the Dare-to-Dance challenge contest will be premiered.   Greg Miller is executive director of Dance Parade New York and said the past year has been really


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To Celebrate Pride, Rockefeller Center Offers Complimentary Wedding Opportunity to Couples

In celebration of Pride Month, and kicking off New York City’s post-pandemic summer, Rockefeller Center opened submissions on Friday, May 14, for couples to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate a complimentary wedding at the center.   The “Love Above All” series is an annual Rockefeller Center tradition to celebrate and support the LGBTQ community during Pride. Following the “Love Above All Ball,” held in 2019 at the Rainbow Room, the 2020 “Love Above All Virtual Auction” raised over $42,000 for The Ali Forney Center, the largest LGBTQ community center helping LGBTQ homeless youth in the United States. This year,


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Out & About: Bronx Week 2021, Born in Flames: Feminist Futures, New York Cider Week & More

Editor’s Pick  The end of Bronx Week 2021 will be marked by a Drive-in concert and awards presentation on Saturday, May 15, from midday to 6 p.m. The newest Bronx Walk of Fame inductees, Joe Conzo Jr., Sal Abbatiello and Kid Capri will be honored amid performances by Frankie Negron, Ja Rule, Coro and DJ Ted Smooth. This is a ticketed event and registration is required on http://bronxtourism.wpengine.com/bronx-week/.   EVENTS As part of Bronx Week 2021, a Day of Remembrance will be held on Thursday, May 13 to remember those lost to COVID-19. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on President Joe Biden’s First 100 Days in Office

By DAVID GREENE
This week, we asked readers for their thoughts on President Joe Biden’s job performance after 100 days in office.   “Well, my expectations were pretty low because I’m old enough to remember Biden through the decades and I’m pleasantly surprised, not because I think he’s had a change of heart, but because conditions have become dire. I think the Trump interregnum was a real wake-up call for – let’s call it – the establishment, our governing pooh-bahs. They realized that they actually have to try and do something while at the same time serving their money-bag overlords. That’s their priority, not


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Neighborhood Notes: Mobile COVID-19 Bus Clinics, Help with Funeral Costs, New E-Scooter Program

By Compiled by SÍLE MOLONEY
Lehman College Vaccination Site As reported, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available at the Lehman College vaccination site, located at the APEX Athletic Center, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West. The site is open to New Yorkers aged 16 or older, as well as to non-New York City residents aged 16 or older who work or study in the city. Eligible individuals aged 50 and over may walk-in without making an appointment, as long as they’re able to show proof of age. However, those aged 49 and under will not be seen without an appointment. To schedule a vaccine appointment, visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/locations/664


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Update: Montefiore Holds Free Breast Cancer Screenings on Saturday, May 15

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Many Americans have postponed medical appointments, including preventative cancer screenings, for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported recently in The Wall Street Journal. Researchers estimate this could lead to 10,000 breast and colorectal cancer deaths over the next decade.   Montefiore Health System representatives say this is especially troubling in the local Bronx community since: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in New York State, and pre-COVID, was reported to be a leading cause of death for Hispanic women in the U.S. Women in the Bronx are 23 percent more likely than the


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Woodlawn Conservancy Trolley Tour Takes Place Wednesday, May 12

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. kicked off Bronx Week 2021 last week, and during the opening ceremony, he  announced that The Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy will receive the Tourism Award from The Bronx Tourism Council on Saturday, May 15th at Orchard Beach.   “Woodlawn Cemetery is one of our most important cultural institutions and is a rich source of information on people who helped shape our city and country,” said Diaz Jr. “In The Bronx, we all know how special Woodlawn Cemetery is, and The Bronx Tourism award recognizes the work and commitment they have contributed to our borough.”


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