FIRST ONLINE
The temperature was a chilly 32 degrees outside of Buunni Coffee, but there was nowhere else Sarina Prabasi wanted to be at that moment. When the doors finally opened in 2018 at 3702 Riverdale Ave., after months of delay, this location marked the official expansion of an idea to bring hot Ethiopian coffee to the city, which Prabasi started with husband Elias Gurmu in Washington Heights.
With the unprecedented events of the past year — including a deadly pandemic and a turbulent presidential election — living through history doesn’t seem to be too uncommon anymore. But few, if any, might have foreseen they’d live through something that hadn’t happened since the War of 1812.
Protecting survivors of sexual and domestic abuse isn’t just important to state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, it’s personal. She was very vocal about sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor Jeff Klein during the 2018 primary after he was accused of forcibly kissing a female staffer — a charge Klein denied.
Last year was a time, for sure, many of us are more than willing to leave in the dust without so much as a second thought. But Doris Cordero had a particularly difficult 2020 even beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
When a typical New York City apartment dweller has something that needs fixing — a water leak, or the heater isn’t working — it’s normally addressed with a quick call to the superintendent or landlord. That’s not the case for handyman Nelson Talavera. There’s no calling anybody. If he need something in his apartment fixed, he fixes it himself.
Keeping the country’s largest public school system running during a pandemic is no mean feat. But it might be easier now that one variable that could single-handedly shut those schools down has gone out the window.
‘Twas a few nights after Christmas and all through the house, a party lasted for hours, awakening even the smallest mouse. That was the case one evening in The Majestic. The building at 3660 Waldo Ave., is popular with Manhattan College students wanting to live off campus. And according to some of their immediate neighbors inside the building, some student apartments are infamous for causing a racket at all hours of the night.
FIRST ONLINE
Now that Mayor Bill de Blasio has made the special election to replace Andrew Cohen on the council official, two Bronx-based media outlets are creating a forum allowing the five candidates a chance to debate.
For most of Lauren Wechsler’s life, the odds have been stacked against her. But Lauren survived it all. And through her seemingly never-ending health ordeals, she maintained a positive attitude and an indomitable spirit. That didn’t go unnoticed.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo finally heeded calls to lower the petition signature threshold allowing city council candidates to qualify for special election ballot access — well sort of.
FIRST ONLINE
As the March 23 special election race heats up for the city council seat once held by Andrew Cohen, environmental activist Jessica Haller is an early winner among the five candidates in the race — at least when it comes to fundraising.
In a time when racial justice protests have taken hold of the country, Carlton Berkley says it’s already been his life’s work. A former New York Police Department detective and a criminal justice advocate, “Chucky” — as many call him — jumped into a crowded special election race late last year, hoping to replace Andrew Cohen on the city council.
Opinion
President John F. Kennedy declared the first National Small Business Week in 1963 during a time when retail chains were rapidly pushing their way into our neighborhoods.
Obituaries
Eleanor Squadron, 85, of Netherland Avenue in North Riverdale, passed away peacefully in her home on Jan. 1, 2021, concluding a long and fulfilling life.
Letters/Op-Ed
Police Beat
A true “Maxxinista” knows exactly when to find the best “steals” on designer items at the discount clothing store TJ Maxx.
Political Arena
Press Points
Coronavirus
For the better part of a year, coronavirus safety measures have become a daily mantra: Wear a mask. Stay six feet apart. Only gather with members of your own household. But what happens when your job makes it impossible for you to follow those first two directives?