Out and About

Upload a Free Dance Video Entry in the “Dare To Dance” Challenge for a Chance to Win $1,000

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Dance Parade New York is, once again, launching its popular, “Dare to Dance” challenge, inviting choreographers and dance groups to submit videos of newly created work for cash prizes, with winning submissions broadcast during the virtual Dance Parade on Saturday, May 22, 2021, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST.  The first place winner, selected by a five-person review committee receives $1,000, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.   The Dare to Dance challenge was launched last year when Dance Parade, an outdoor dance festival which brings together the dance community in New York annually, had


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Update: New York Yankees Community Council Youth Leadership Award Winners Announced

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The winners of the New York Yankees Community Council Leadership Awards for Community Board 7 were announced in April and they are Diana Rosario, Rafael Class, Shaheed Ganie, Christy Nguyen and Amelia Lobo-Jost.   The program provides a number of deserving local youth with the opportunity to receive the Youth Leadership Award, providing a $750 stipend to five youth leaders nominated by each Bronx community board. In addition, the youth leaders are recognized on-field during a pre-game ceremony at Yankee Stadium in 2021 on their respective Bronx Community Board’s Day (where applicable).   The awards were first discussed at


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on U.S. Forces Bombing Iran-Backed Militias in Syria

By DAVID GREENE
This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the recent bombing by U.S. forces of Iran-backed militias in Syria.   “The Biden administration’s recent decision to strike at targets in Syria by all accounts seems like a measured and proportional response to an attack on U.S. forces in Iraq. What President Biden is signaling is that while he prioritizes diplomacy, he will not be a pushover. I would have liked to see the administration consult more closely with Congress before taking such action. Congress has an important oversight role in foreign policy that I think has been overlooked the last several


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Take-5, Top-Prize Lottery Ticket Sold in the South Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York Lottery announced one top prize-winning ticket sold for the March 1, TAKE-5 drawing. The ticket, worth $60,465.50, was purchased at Wesam Newsstand Corp, located at 2835 3rd Avenue in the South Bronx.   The five winning numbers for the TAKE 5 game are drawn from a field of one to 39. The TAKE 5 drawing is televised every day at 10:30 p.m. A Lottery draw game prize of any amount may be claimed up to one year from the date of the drawing.   About the New York Lottery The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most


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MTA Metro-North Railroad Launches WhatsApp Chat Feature for Customer Service

By SÍLE MOLONEY
MTA Metro-North Railroad president, Catherine Rinaldi, announced on Monday, March 1, that Metro-North customers can now communicate with the railroad in real time using the popular messaging platform WhatsApp.   “It is important that our customers are able to communicate in real time and it’s what we’ve become accustomed to as a tech savvy society,” said Rinaldi. “We will continue to work on new ways to deliver excellent customer service as part of our Way Ahead Plan.”   Metro-North’s customer service representatives will receive messages from Metro-North customers via WhatsApp between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily and be able


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Update: Biaggi Calls for Cuomo to Resign following Allegations of Sexual Harassment by 2nd Woman

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, who represents the 34th senatorial district and who is a survivor of sexual abuse, called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on Saturday, Feb. 27, to resign in the wake of more assertions of sexual harassment by the governor, alleged by a second former aide. Other elected officials have called for an independent investigation into the allegations.   “The assertions against Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo by Charlotte Bennett detail behavior that is unacceptable,” Biaggi said. “I am especially horrified by the comments the governor made to Charlotte about her experience with sexual assault –– comments he did


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Executive Director of North Central Bronx Hospital Promoted to New Position in Harlem

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Mitchell Katz, MD and president and CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals, the City’s public hospital system, announced on Friday, Feb. 26, that Cristina Contreras, executive director of NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB), located in Norwood, will be promoted to CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan based in East Harlem.   It was also announced that Christopher Roker, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan in East Harlem, will serve as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in Mott Haven. In these roles, Katz said Contreras and Roker will help lead the hospitals’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic


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Teddy Car Dealers Awards Music Grant to Bronx House School of Performing Arts

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Teddy Cars, a car dealership in Nissans and Volkswagens based on Boston Road in the Bronx, is continuing its monthly commitment, which began in 2020, of awarding $20,000 to various music education programs in the Bronx, as part of the Teddy Cars Bronx Music Grant Program.   This month, the recipient is Bronx House School for Performing Arts. Teddy Cars General Manager, Julio Batista, visited Bronx House in December 2019 to see the program in action, first-hand (see the video). “It’s an excellent program,” he said. “At Teddy Cars, we feel strongly about doing things to help the community and


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Help Recycle Clothes & Help the Homeless by Requesting a Recycling Bin & Free Pick-Up

By SÍLE MOLONEY
    The Department of Sanitation’s refashionNYC program, a free and convenient clothing donation and recycling service, has announced that pick-up appointments are now available, and are encouraging New Yorkers to get involved in the clothing recycling program.   Agency officials said its partnership with Housing Works provides convenient clothing bin collection, while also fighting the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS. As part of the bin collection program, representatives will visit residential or commercial buildings, as well as schools and other institutions to discuss with residents / workers how many bins they would like, what sizes are best, and


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