December 2, 2020

BRONX VOICE

FREE

HOLIDAY STICKUPS

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4th Year, No.12

December 2 - 8, 2020

Robber sticks gun in clerk’s face Page 19

Muggers use dog Page 8

Facebook Crook robs Mac books at knifepoint

Page 4

More Commuter Craziness

Rider flattened in bus beat down, Page Subway rider slashed in the face 6

NY Jet provides supplies for homeless teens & other tales of holiday giving

NY Jets wide receiver Breshad Perriman joined UnitedHealthcare of New York CEO Michael McGuire to assemble duffle bags filled with supplies for the shelter’s youth.

Pages 10 & 14

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Beer sipping bandit robs woman at gunpoint

By Dan Gesslein Cops are looking for a beer sipping bandit who robbed a woman at gunpoint in the Bronx. The NYPD released surveillance of the man they are looking for in regards to the Soundview stickup.

In the video the man is seen checking his phone while holding a beer bottle inside an apartment building. Investigators say this man then robbed a woman.

At around 5:30 am on November 11, a 29-year-old woman met the suspect at a

private residence in the vicinity of East 174th Street and Rosedale Avenue. The man displayed a handgun and forcibly removed the woman’s cell phone and $100 in cash. He fled in an unknown direction.

According to the video the man was dressed

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with a black do rag and red track suit, glasses and a black face mask.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDC R I M E S TO P P E R S .

COM, on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

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Facebook Crook

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Victim met thief on social media

The NYPD released surveillance video of a man wanted in connection with a robbery in Pelham Bay.

By Dan Gesslein A Bronx man who tried to sell his Macbooks on social media, was robbed at knifepoint at a Pelham Bay 7-Eleven, cops say.

At around 9:25 pm on November 10, the victim went to meet a man to sell his two Macbooks at the 7-Eleven store in Pelham Bay. He had met the man on Facebook and had arranged the meeting at the convenience store on Westchester Avenue.

Once at the store, the man pulled a kitchen knife and attempted to stab the seller. He grabbed the two Macbooks and fled on foot.

Cops say the Apple laptops are valued at $1,800.

The brazen bandit was caught on surveillance video without a mask entering the store before the robbery. He is described as a light-skinned male, approximately 20-25 years of age, slim build, dark curly short hair and last seen wearing a black sweater with the word "SWOOSH" & "NIKE" sign in the front and back, red sweatpants, white sneakers and blue surgical face mask.

This is the second incident in a month at this particular 7-Eleven that has made the news.

In an unrelated case, three men are wanted for robbing a string of stores throughout the

Bronx. At around 10:45 pm on October 23rd, the trio entered the 7-11 at 3220 Westchester Avenue. One of the group ran behind the counter and simulated a gun. He forced open the cash register and took $1,425.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW. NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

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More Commuter Craziness Rider flattened in bus beat down, Subway rider slashed in the face

By Dan Gesslein Fear is running rampant among commuters as more and more transit riders are being subjected to senseless attacks.

Police are looking for a man who slashed a subway rider in the face and another man who punched a bus rider.

The NYPD released surveillance video of a man wanted in connection with a slashing at Grand Central Station.

At around 8:20 pm on November 21, a 53-yearold man was riding on a Northbound Number 4 train when he got into an arguement with another passenger at the 42nd Street Station. Cops say as the arguement turned physical, one of the men pulled out a knife and slashed the 53 year-old across the face. The slashing caused a severe laceration and heavy bleeding.

The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Cops say the attacker exited the train and fled the station. However, he did not escape before his image was caught on surveillance video hopping the turnstile.

Investigators say the suspect is between the ages of 30 and 40.

It is not just the subway that is experienc-

ing senseless attacks on commuters. The NYPD is searching for a man who committed a bus beatdown near the Flatiron Building.

Investigators said a bus rider was senselessly targeted by a suspect while riding on a westbound B23 in the vicinity of 23rd Street and 6th Avenue. At around 4:50 pm on November 22, the 19-year-old passenger was approached by another rider who began to verbally harass him.

At the next stop, the victim stepped off the bus but his attacker followed. He then punched the victim in the head and hopped back on the bus.

The victim suffered bruising. EMS responded to the scene but the victim refused medical attention. The attacker is described as a man between the ages of 30 and 40.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDC R I M E S TO P P E R S .

COM, on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

(Above) Police are looking for this man in connection with an attack on a bus. (Below) Police are looking for this man in connection with a slashing at Grand Central Station.

All calls are strictly confidential.

This bus attack is the latest senseless attack on commuters. A series of high profile attacks in the subway stunned the city residents.

Last week, a 40-yearold woman was pushed onto the tracks at the 14th Street Union

Square station. The dramatic surveillance video showed the attack and how the train rolled over the woman. Miraculously the victim suffered only minor injuries.

The day before a subway rider was pushed onto the tracks by a panhandler at the Bryant Park Station.

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Muggers use dog to rob Bronx man

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By Dan Gesslein Cops are investigating a dog attack in the Bronx, in which muggers used the canine to rob a man. The bizare incident took place near the Bronx County Courthouse.

At around 4:50 pm on October 27, cops say a 21-yearold man was walking through Franz Sigel Park when he was approached by four men walking a dog. The group demanded money

and proceeded to punch and kick the victim in the head and torso. Then the dog began biting the victim as the muggers removed his cell phone, jewelry and sneakers.

The NYPD released surveillance video of a man and a dog wanted in connection with a vicious mugging.

Cops say the property stolen is valued at $2,700.

The victim suffered lacerations and suffered pain and bleeding from the punches and dog bites.

The attackers are said to be between

the ages of 20 and 30.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also sub-

mit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW. NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

NYPD pulls body from Harlem River

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By David Greene A pair of NYPD divers recovered the body of a man discovered floating in the murky waters of the Harlem River in University Heights.

The gruesome discovery was made at 11:20 a.m. on November 23. According to NYPD spokesman Sergeant Edward Riley, "Police responded to a 911 call for a human body floating in the water" of the Harlem River, at 320 West Fordham Road at Exterior Street, a few hundred yards north of the University Heights Bridge.

Riley stated that officers from the 52nd Precinct,

"discovered an unconscious and unresponsive male approximately 40 - 50 years in age, fully clothed, floating in the waterway at the location.”

Police, fire and paramedics raced to the scene believing it may have been a jumper from the bridge. Sadly, rescue personnel would soon be packing up their gear to leave as it was quickly determined to be a recovery

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operation.

A pair of FDNY marine units joined an NYPD marine unit on the Bronx side of the Harlem River-keeping their eyes on the victim as the two divers prepared to enter the water.

The divers from the NYPD's Emergency Services Unit (ESU) retrieved the remains in three-feet of water. The divers placed the man on a flotation device and pulled him to shore as both men struggled with knee-deep mud along the shoreline.

Photo by David Greene

A pair of NYPD divers suit up to retrieve the body of a man found floating in the Harlem River on November 23, 2020.

Riley added, "City emergency response units were called to the scene and the body was recovered from the water to a nearby pier. EMS pronounced the victim de-

ceased at the scene. No visible trauma, no criminality is suspected at this time.”

He added the identity of the victim is pending family notification.

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In face of Covid, Mount St. Michael donates food for the holiday, families in need

Each November for the past 10+ years, Mount Saint Michael Academy partners with St. Dominic's Family Services, to provide families in need with a complete Thanksgiving Dinner.

St. Dominic’s, originally founded as an orphanage to house abused, neglected, abandoned or homeless children from New York City in Blauveltville, NY now provides assistance to needy families and children throughout Rockland County, Orange County, and The Bronx. Their mission

is consistent with the Mount’s own Marist mission to help those facing challenges thrive, by addressing their needs with compassion, dignity, and care.

This year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Mount Saint Michael Academy’s Campus Ministry Department is committed to continuing the Thanksgiving tradition with St. Dominic's Family Services.

Each grade (6-12) is assigned a particular food item and every student is asked to donate something. With the stu-

dents, families, faculty and staff on board, the school’s Thanksgiving Food Drive kicked off on November 9th and continued throughout the month. Students, both in-person and remote, were encouraged to give generously to help those in need, especially during this challenging year.

By mid-November, thanks to an outpouring of support from the Mount community, over $1,600 was collected online from remote students and their families.

Additionally, almost 500

packages of non-perishable food items including, mashed potato, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc. (all the necessary items for a thanksgiving dinner) were collected. The money was used to buy the turkeys to complete our Thanksgiving dinner baskets for 60 families.

The dinner baskets received a blessing during a school-wide Thanks-

giving Mass on November 24, 2020 before students delivered them to St. Dominic’s.

Now, more than ever, children, adults, and families are in need.

Mount Saint Michael Academy is committed to demonstrate to its students that every day is an opportunity to do something good even in the middle of a global pandemic.

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Playground reopens with $3.8 million upgrade

By David Greene For about the last year, the Kossuth Playground located at East Mosholu Parkway North, has been closed due to renovations. Residents said the park was in dire need of an overhaul and local officials held a ribbon cutting after the completion of the $3.8 million project.

New York City Parks Assembly members NaCommissioner Mitchell thalia Fernandez, Jeffrey Silver and Bronx Parks Dinowitz and CouncilCommissioner Iris Rodri- man and soon-to-be State guez were joined by Bor- Supreme Court Justice ough President Ruben Andrew Cohen, as well Diaz, Jr., New York State as members of Friends

of Mosholu Parkland and community members who gathered for the reopening of the redesigned park in Norwood.

As guests wore masks and attempted to social-distance, holding a pair of scissors and the green ribbon making it official, Commissioner Silver told the crowd, "This is now the COVID photo-ops, a little bit dif-

Photos by David Greene

ferent." He then thanked Diaz and Cohen for providing a "majority" of the funding.

Silver thanked the other elected officials who he said "are always showing up at these park events." Silver added, "This playground which really looks like a park, won a design award from PVC, so the community is now getting a world class, new public space to enjoy for generations to come.”

According to Parks Department officials, $2 million came from Diaz, Jr., $1.5 million from Cohen and $378,000 from Mayor Bill de Blasio, totaling $3,878,000.

The playground's upgrades include new play equipment for young children, reconstructed basketball courts and a new adult fitness area.

The playground has new seating and is now wheelchair accessible.

New security lighting and fencing were also added.

In a prepared statement, Diaz, Jr., said, "What starts off as 'kids being kids;' running around and having fun in our park spaces rather than staying home and playing video games; becomes the building blocks to develop a healthier lifestyle as our kids become adults.”

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NY Jet, United Healthcare provide supplies for homeless teens UnitedHealthcare, the Dreambuilders Foundation and the NY Jets recently donated duffel bags with supplies to Covenant House New York (CHNY), a shelter for homeless teens and young adults.

UnitedHealthcare contributed $15,000 to provide much needed toiletries and everyday supplies to the 96 residents of CHNY’s Rights of Passage transitional living program in the Bronx.

NY Jets wide receiver Breshad Perriman also took part in the donation. He joined UnitedHealth-

care of New York CEO Michael McGuire to assemble duffle bags filled with supplies for the shelter’s youth.

As the largest provider of runaway and homeless youth services in New York City, CHNY is open 24 hours a day and serves over 1,900 young adults ages 16 to 24 every year. The donated supplies will help sustain day to day needs, make living spaces more comfortable and support CHNY’s work providing mental health support, education, financial literacy, legal services and job train-

NY Jets wide receiver Breshad Perriman joined UnitedHealthcare of New York CEO Michael McGuire to assemble duffle bags filled with supplies for the shelter’s youth.

ing for young people in need.

"We are deeply grateful to UnitedHealthcare, the Dreambuilders Foundation and Breshad Perriman for helping us to provide Welcome Kits to youth in our shelter as well as household goods for our youth in transitional living to create a comfortable home setting,” said Nancy Downing, Executive Director at Covenant House New York.

“In creating a bridge from homeless to hope, from the streets to success, how we welcome each youth is so important as is providing a homelike environment.”

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Health Matters Aging with HIV/AIDS:

A Mental Health Dialogue for 2020 On World AIDS Day 2020, this conversation between Arthur Fitting, RN, LGBTQ Program Director at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Mark Brennan-Ing, PhD, senior research scientist at Hunter College’s Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging examine what people with HIV, partners, caregivers, communities and the health care industry can do to help expand knowledge, reduce HIV stigma and promote healthy aging.

Arthur Fitting: For people with HIV looking to maintain their health as they get older, what are the key health challenges they face?

Mark Brennan-Ing: Long-term survivors are really challenged trying to figure out what’s happening because of HIV and what’s happening because of normal aging. The default is to blame everything on HIV, because for so long, managing their HIV has been the source of their major medical issues.

There’s evidence that the onset of multiple chronic illnesses, which can happen to anyone as they age, happens at an earlier age when people have HIV. People should know about that, but, at the same time, try not to internalize ageist beliefs.

As part of aging, people with HIV are going to get symptoms of different chronic conditions, and they should address them with their healthcare provider, just as they do with

their HIV. One important area of care is poly-pharmacy [multiple medications].

People with HIV already have a high pill burden.

When you add medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, or other illnesses on top of that, that can be a lot to manage.

The bottom line is that people need to make sure they take charge of their health. You don’t have to do it alone — involve family and other caregivers, and health care providers, as part of a team that’s going to help you manage your health.

AF: How do we make sure that people become advocates for their own health, in a comprehensive and holistic way?

MBI: First, make sure you have your mental health needs adequately addressed — which many people aging with HIV do not. There’s still a stigma attached to mental health, which prevents people from seeking care. I always try to normalize behavioral health issues and encourage people to seek mental health care because it can have a lot of ripple effects. For instance, we know that depression is one of best predictors for being non-adherent to medication.

It’s particularly important now because so many people have been isolating, which exacerbates any kind of mental health problem. Living through another pandemic has been very triggering for a lot of people with HIV,

and I encourage people to be extra vigilant about their mental health. If you are depressed or anxious, if the pandemic or social isolation is exacerbating substance misuse or causing a relapse, bring up these issues with your provider. These feelings are normal at this time, but don’t ignore them. Try to get some help.

There’s also burnout.

For people with HIV and other longstanding chronic illnesses like diabetes, you just get worn out over time trying to manage it.

AF: You even see that now, with COVID, there’s a sense of burnout — people tired of taking the precautions they’re supposed to take.

MBI: Yes. For people with chronic illnesses, that sense of burnout means the care has to become psychosocial in addition to medical. It helps to have friends, family and others in the community help people manage chronic illness — not necessarily through direct care, but it can help people cope with their own health if they know they have support.

AF: Even before COVID, there were demands for behavioral health care that were not being met.

MBI: There was certainly a lack of capacity in the system to begin with, especially with Medicaid and Medicare — there’s a real lack of providers. We are never going to meet the targeted goals of Ending the Epidemic and Getting to Zero unless we expand

capacity and reduce barriers to behavioral health care.

Fortunately, telehealth is now more accessible and reimbursable. I recently saw a news program about a physician doing work with opioid users through telehealth. That can reduce barriers to getting care, in terms of transportation and fitting it into your schedule.

AF: That brings me back to my earlier question, about the best ways to get people involved in their own care as they age.

Should people seek out the care of a geriatrician as they get older, who may have a more holistic approach to health?

MBI: It’s not easy to find a geriatrician. But you can manage your care successfully with your primary care physician if you stay on top of your health, make sure you’re getting all the age-appropriate care you need, get screenings when you’re supposed to get screenings, and make sure your physicians are talking to each other.

There are only about 7,000 certified geriatricians in the whole of the United States, so it’s not realistic to think we’re going to be able to refer every older person with HIV to a geriatrician. I’ve been working with colleagues across the country on solutions that include diffusing models of geriatric care into HIV clinical practice. That means taking a holistic view of health, having an integrat-

ed care team to manage comorbidities, having the family/significant other caregiver involved in developing the care plan, focusing on function, and asking, “What’s important to the patient?” Is it getting out every morning to walk, being able to travel to a grandchild’s graduation (in the pre-pandemic world), being able to read the newspaper? And you gear your care toward those functions. It’s a different way of thinking about patient care.

AF: How about for an older person who’s newly diagnosed with HIV? How would you start that conversation?

MBI: it would need to be a gradual conversation.

Getting an HIV diagnosis, even now with effective treatments, it’s overwhelming. There’s so much baggage that comes with it, and older people may be thinking of it as a death sentence, like it was back in the 80s.

But it’s definitely not. You can have a life expectancy that’s nearly normal if you stay in care, if you take your antiretroviral medications and control your viral load — and if you take good care of yourself.

AF: Thank you Mark for taking this time to give us more information on this very important health topic and thank you for supporting our LGBTQ Health program at VNSNY. To learn more about LGBTQ Community Outreach efforts at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, visit VNSNY.org, or dial: 1-800-675-0391.

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Stay healthy in 2021

Enroll in health insurance today

By Melissa Cebollero, Senior Director, Office of Government & Community Relations at Montefiore Health System and New York State of Health The COVID-19 pandemic brought health into the spotlight this year. If you haven’t already, take time to enroll in a 2021 a health plan through New York State of Health, the state’s official marketplace. Open Enrollment is happening now. You can enroll until December 15 for coverage that begins January 1, 2021. The December 15th deadline guarantees your coverage begins on Jan 1.

If we talk to our friends, family and neighbors we can help families get the coverage they need to take care of their health.

Why use NY State of Health?

The digital marketplace allows anyone to shop and compare quality affordable health plans – once you make your decision you can enroll on the site, too! All plans offered through NY State of Health are Qualified Health Plans, meaning they provide essential health benefits or more, follows established limits on cost-sharing.

NY State of Health is the only place you can see the options for financial assistance and find out if you qualify. If you meet the requirements for Medicaid, Child Health Plus or the Essential Plan due to loss of income/ employment or reduced wages, you can enroll all year long. If you are not sure if you qualify for these benefits our navigators can help you find out; contact them by visiting www.montefiore. org/nys-health-benefitsexchange-help.

age won't have to worry about a break in their health insurance or avoid seeking COVID-19 related testing or medical care.

Need help with the cost of health insurance?

COVID-19 Health Coverage Enrollment NY State of Health continues to serve as a safety net during the pandemic. In March 2020, a Special Enrollment Period opened allowing people to continue their insurance coverage into 2021. Those who needed emergency health cover-

Need help figuring out what’s right for you?

Montefiore Health System and NY State of Health are working together to share this information with the community via webinars to help you select the best coverage for you and your family. Join an upcoming web meeting to connect with local health navigators who can help you with questions and enrollment.

For more information on upcoming virtual events visit www. montefiore.org/events.

NY State of Health can be reached at www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov and by phone at 1-855-3555777.

the flu shot also protects others around you, like your elderly neighbors, a family member with cancer, and young children in your community.

As an infectious disease specialist, I often hear “myths” about the flu shot. Sometimes I meet people who say they don’t usually get the shot: they don’t usually get sick and they don’t need one this year. While you may not have gotten sick with flu in the recent past, there’s no guarantee you won’t get ill this year. It would be better to have the flu shot, which is scientifical-

ly proven to reduce your chance of hospitalization from the flu.

Another myth I hear often is that the flu shot makes you sick. The flu vaccine does not contain any live virus, so you cannot catch the flu from the vaccine. Some people may have a mild reaction with aches and fever for about 24 hours after vaccination.

This is a sign that the immune system is responding appropriately to the vaccine and is a much milder reaction than the actual flu.

Years of research show that the shot is extremely safe and effective. Seri-

ous reactions to this shot are exceedingly rare. The vaccine has been shown to reduce your risk of dying from the flu, if you do get sick during that season.

For these reasons, the seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended for every person over the age of 6 months old, every year. Due to its safety profile, the flu shot is recommended for pregnant women, organ transplant patients, and people with weakened immune systems from cancer.

With so many reasons to stay healthy this year, make time this December to get your flu shot!

Medicare recipients If you have Medicare, you need to review and renew your benefits for the 2021 year before December 15.

2020 is almost over, but flu season isn’t!

By Dr. Margaret E. McCort, Montefiore Health System

2020 is almost over, but don’t worry - it’s not too late to get your flu shot. In fact, it’s still helpful!

Each year, a new version of the flu shot is introduced around September, aimed at protecting against the flu strains that will circulate during that year’s flu season. Typically, the flu season runs from September until March.

Even in December, the flu shot is still very effective and very important.

As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pan-

demic this year, getting your flu shot is more important than ever. Like COVID-19, influenza spreads easily through close casual contact and can be spread before you realize you’re sick. Symptoms of the flu are similar to those of COVID-19, so if you develop a cough or fever, you should talk to your doctor about getting tested for both.

A flu shot could help you avoid long lines for testing and long waits in urgent care or emergency departments due to an influx of people with COVID-19. Plus, getting

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Culinary Road Where and how to celebrate the holidays

By Morris Gut

It will be a Holiday Season like no other as we navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. But we do deserve some delicious fun. So, whether you’ve been naughty or nice, time to make plans with friends and family.

If you are planning a remote Zoom gathering, ok.

Toast online! If you are planning to gather with friends and family, make sure you follow the latest Covid protocols. If you are dining out, restaurants have been trying their best to adhere to Covid guidelines inside and out.

Take-out & delivery from your favorite eatery is a fine option, too. Here are some festive suggestions for every palate, each offering a good dose of Holiday cheer. Seasoned Greetings!

LIMITED INDOOR SEATING AT BRONX RESTAURANTS! At this writing, Governor Cuomo and New York City Mayor DeBlasio have given the okay for restaurants in the 5 boroughs to open for partial indoor seating to 25% capacity. In Westchester, indoor seating is allowed up to 50%. Restaurants must close by 10 p.m. Patrons will have to adhere to Covid-19 rules, including a temperature check at entry. You will also have to leave a phone number with the establishment for possible contact tracing.

MARIO’S FEEDING PATRONS SINCE 1919, FORGETABOUTIT! Since 1919 five generations of the Migliucci family, owners of Mario’s Restaurant, 2342 Arthur Ave., Bronx (718-584-1188), have been working the front and back-of-the-house making sure patrons are well served.

With the passing of long-time patriarch Joseph Migliucci,

his daughter Regina has been doing a fine job welcoming her guests. This restaurant has a landmark 100-year history full of colorful chapters.

Step inside and you are transported to the ‘old world’. To many, the flavorful sauces and dishes produced in this kitchen are the stuff of Italian ‘foodie heaven’. www.mariosarthurave.com

TITILLATING FLAVORS AT MARIA!

Winners of Michelin’s prestigious ‘Bib Gourmet’ Award, brothers Peter and Giovanni Cucullo have been causing a stir in New Rochelle, drawing patronage from all over the county to their flavorful riff on Italian/global cooking.

Named after Mother, Maria’s has become almost a regular haunt for me. Love their happy hours from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. when they offer some favorite beverages and small plates that are loaded with flavor. I am already hooked on such eclectic dishes as: Glazed Pork Ribs, Truffled Green Beans, Grilled Kielbasa with sweet & spicy Peruvian peppers, Mom’s Meatballs, Cauliflower Fritters, and Roasted Shishito Peppers. Nice dining room and bar filled with artifacts from home.

Friendly staff, too. Good networking spot.

The family also operates bustling Fratelli’s Pizza and Pops Café next door. Maria, 11 Huguenot St., New Rochelle. Take-out & delivery. Closed Sundays.

914-636-0006 www.marianewrochelle.com

MULINO’S HOLIDAY FEST! The show will go on at Mulino’s of Westchester in White Plains. Begin with the bright glittering lights at the entranceway along Court St. The annual Christmas Holiday Fest lasts right thru the season and it’s a sight to behold for the whole family! The fountain garden is beautiful as is the lavish dining room and bar/lounge.

General Manager Gimmy Cavagna and his staff are keeping the premises spiffy as ever: gesticulating Christmas decorations galore, holiday carolers, life size toy soldiers, the bursting colorful floral displays, the handsome multilevel seating area. A special holiday menu is served. Open 7 days. The place sparkles! Valet parking. Covid protocols will be in place. Time slot reservations advised. Mulino’s of Westchester, 99 Court Street, White Plains 914-761-1818 www.mulinosny.com HOLIDAY SALSA AT MINIS LATIN FUSION!

Nicole Pirraglia-Piparo of City Island has opened Minis Latin Fusion, a charming that offers colorful, flavorful Latin/Caribbean specialties such as fresh made traditional Sancocho Stew, ‘Picaderas’ such as Cuban

clubs, this culinary philosophy still holds true. Robust specialties: fresh Ischia Salad; good retro versions of Chicken, Veal or Shrimp Parmigiana; Rabbit Cacciatore; Mamma’s Chicken Breast Europeo, stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella, mushrooms and spinach in a Marsala wine sauce; a big platter of Misto Frutti di Mare loaded with seafood; and Pork Chops della Nonna, served with sliced potatoes, peppers, mushrooms and onions. New WoodburnMAMMA FRANCESCA’S ing Pizza & Vino Bar. COASTLINE COOKING! Daily Happy Hours.

When Nick DiCostan- Free parking. Mamma zo was growing up on Francesca, 414 Pelham the Island of Ischia on Road, New Rochelle. the Coast of Naples in 914-636-1229 www.

Italy, his earliest mem- mammafrancesca.com ories where of the simFOLLOW COVID ple seaside meals he PROTOCOLS AND would enjoy with his STAY SAFE! family, farm-to-table (Morris Gut is a restauand of course sea-to- rant marketing consultant table. As proprietor of and former restaurant trade Mamma Francesca for magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing over 30 years, located about the food and dining on the banks of Long Is- scene in the Bronx & Westland Sound with 6-sto- chester for 30 years. He ry views of the ‘Queen may be reached at: 914-235City’s’ seafaring boat 6591. Email: gutreactions@ Spring Rolls, and Shrimp Tostones. ‘Plato’s Fuertes’ include Minis Burger, Pernil, Mofongo, Ropa Vieja, and Churrasco with rice & beans. New Haitian dishes via Chef Evens Auguste include: Conch, and Tassot de Cabrit, fried goat. The new lunch menu served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Happy Hours 3 to 7 p.m. featuring specially priced cocktails and appetizers.

Minis is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch Tuesday thru Sunday.

Free parking. Minis Latin Fusion, 237 Main Street, New Rochelle. 914-3555609 www.minislatinfusion.com

optonline.net)

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Caught on Camera

BRONX VOICE• December 2 - 8, 2020• 19

Robber sticks gun in bodega clerk’s face

By Dan Gesslein A dramatic robbery was caught on camera when a robber pointed a gun at the head of a Bronx bodega clerk.

At around 6 pm on November 22, three men walked into a grocery store at 1838 Anthony Avenue in Mount Hope. The NYPD released surveillance video that shows as two of the group act as look outs, a third man walks up to the counter and points a gun at the store employee.

The video shows the robber, who donned a hoodie and face mask, pull out a large revolver and point it at the head of the clerk. The gunman demanded money from the register and then fled with his accomplices.

Cops say the men made off with $85.

The gunman is described as a dark-skinned adult male, approximately 30-35 years of age, 5 foot 10, 175 pounds and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, a black vest, blue jeans, black sneakers and a white mask.

The first accomplice is described as a dark-skinned adult male, approximately 25-30 years of age, 5 foot 8, 185 pounds and was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, black pants, blue sneakers and a black mask.

The second ac-

The NYPD released surveillance video of a man who pulled a gun on a grocery store clerk in Mount Hope.

complice is described as a lightskinned adult male, approximately 2530 years of age, 6 feet tall, 185 pounds and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, gray sweatpants with a white stripe

down the side, dark colored sneakers and a black mask.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The pub-

lic can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW. NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

20• BRONX VOICE• December 2 - 8, 2020

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