Party goers get shot, stripped
By Dan Gesslein
A South Bronx party got so out of control that one guest was shot and another was pistol whipped and stripped by a group of partygoers, cops said.
At around 1 am on November 17, a group of people attended a party inside an apartment building at 1880 Bathgate Avenue. Cops said during the party, a 38-year-old male got into an argument with another man. When the fight turned physical both fighters’ supporters joined in. Cops said a 32-year-old and another unidentified male joined the fracas.
Then the unidentified male pulled out a handgun and shot the 38-year-old party goer in the torso. The victim somehow ran out of the apartment.
The attackers then turned their attention on the 32-year-old who tried to help the victim. Cops said the gunman pistol whipped the victim upside the head and the man who got into the dispute hit him with an unknown object. As the victim lay bleeding on the floor, the attackers stripped his clothes and shoes from him and ran out of the building.
The NYPD is searching for this man in connection with a shooting and pistol whipping of two men during a party.
Cops said the attackers fled in a white BMW that was last seen heading west-
The 38-year-old gunshot victim was transported by
private means to BronxCare Health System where he was treated and listed in stable condition.
The 32-year-old pistol whip victim was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was treated and listed in stable condition.
The NYPD released surveillance video of the suspects as they walked out of the apartment.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @ NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confidential.
bound on East 175th Street.
Photo byNYPD
Food for needy scarce this holiday season
By David Greene
Volunteers were busy distributing 300 Turkey meals to residents of the Morris Park / Pelham Parkway community as members of the Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA) held their annual turkey dinner giveaway at their new headquarters on Lydig Avenue.
AAOHA founder Aleksander Nilaj explained as he oversaw the operation, “Today we only have 300 turkeys, which is sad because every year we do over 1,000 turkeys, but this year (donations) we’re short everywhere and I wasn’t able to collect more. But 300 is better than nothing, right?”
According to Nilaj, this year donations for the tur-
keys came from local elected officials Gustavo Rivera (D, WF-33), Council member Amanda Farias (D-18), Council member Kristy Marmorato (D-13), Assemblyman John Zaccaro, Jr., (D-80) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) as well as an unnamed church.
The stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and vegetables were donated by ‘Shar-
ing Excess’ of Hunts Point, Nilaj calls, “An amazing organization.”
Asked about the annual appearance by Santa Claus, Nilaj explains, “No, I didn’t have anybody. Some people asked, ‘how much do you pay,’ and I said I cannot pay. I know I will try and get a Santa Claus for Christmas because we’re doing a Christmas food giveaway.”
AAOHA was expected to hold a winter coat giveaway the following day and the Christmas meal giveaway was tentatively scheduled from December 21. AAOHA hosts a weekly food giveaway of fresh fruits and vegetables and serves between 600 – 800 people every Thursday at 11 a.m.
Last year AAOHA moved from their former space at the corner of Lydig Ave-
nue and Barnes Avenue, a block over to Matthews Avenue where they now have a 5,000-square foot space.
Nilaj says proudly, “It’s good for volunteers and for the people. The people can come inside and select what kind of food they want, and we have a big storage space.” AAOHA is currently waiting on an $80,000 walk-in freezer and Air conditioning system being donated by Senator Nathalia Fernandez (D-34) Nilaj says, “It will be amazing.”
AOHA is located at 821 Lydig Avenue at the corner of Matthews Avenue. For more information visit their website at: www.aaopenhand.org or call them at (347) 658-8000. For more information on Sharing Excess, visit their website at: www.sharingexcess.com.
Volunteers are busy distributing fruits and vegetables during a Thanksgiving meal giveaway by Albanian American Open Hand Association.
Photos by David Greene
A crowd of 300 line Matthews Avenue waiting for a free Thanksgiving meal distributed by the Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA).
Plan for city’s first public celestial observatory at Lehman comes crashing down
This article
originally
appeared in The City.
By Jonathan Custodio
A city known for producing stars just lost a project to let New Yorkers see them.
The Amateur Astronomy Association, a nonprofit volunteer group, will no longer be following through on its plan, announced in January, to bring the city’s first free public observatory to Jerome Park.
“It is with great regret that I inform you that AAA has concluded our best efforts to build a NYC public observatory in the Bronx’s Jerome Reservoir Park,” Alfredo Viegas, president of the association, told members over the weekend in an email obtained by THE CITY, saying that “the city imposed licensing requirements this summer” that proved unmeetable.
Those included requiring the Association to accept complete legal liability, to hire an observatory director and to adopt a time-limited license.
“We have a very, very small endowment. We
faith negotiating a licensing agreement with the association to install the observatory.
just did not have the financial resources to be able to take on unlimited liability. I guess, no fault of their own, because this is something they do for everyone who wants to use city land, right?” Viegas told THE CITY in a phone interview.
“The city basically requires that they be held harmless. So, if someone fell and tripped, even if we were not holding a program, they just walked by and fell,” the Association would potentially be responsible. “Or, if something happened in the evening when we were not there, and, through no fault of our own or no fault of the city, we could be held liable. And so that became an obstacle that we were unable to overcome.”
A Department of Parks and Recreation spokesperson said the agency had been working in good
Viegas, who noted that the Association first got the licensing agreement in June, emphasized that the Association is “very hopeful that we're going to be able to still bring this project” to the five boroughs.
“We've learned an important lesson, which is that we now understand that we probably need to do it privately. And so, we probably will talk with some other private parties, nonprofits as well. And our goal is to still try and achieve the goal in bringing the public observatory to New York City,” said Viegas.
While Jerome Park will no longer have an observatory, Viegas said the group is “in conversation with another potential site” in the city but would not disclose where as “we’re still in very preliminary stages.”
‘We Haven’t Given Up On It’
Viegas said the Association had spent about $21,000 of nearly $37,000 raised since 2022
on transporting, cleaning and preparing the dome along with consultants for plans including architectural design — all in an effort to install the observatory, which would have been accessible on the banks of the Jerome Park Reservoir via a walkway with a concrete ramp.
The Bronx observatory, estimated to cost over $100,000, had been in the works since its departure from Nassau Community College in Long Island in 2019, with the effort kicking into gear in 2021, according to Viegas.
The steel dome observatory would have allowed New Yorkers to gaze at the stars, comets, asteroids, the sun and planets of our solar system through a state-ofthe-art telescope. It would have been surrounded by approximately eight nearby schools, including the Bronx High School of Science and Lehman College.
Gothamist reported in June that the association was struggling to get over what they viewed as bureaucratic hurdles from the city.
After the association of-
ficially announced plans for the observatory in January, the Parks Department, which approved the project in 2022, told the organization it would need an inspection from the Department of Buildings, a review by the city’s attorneys and an increase in insurance coverage from $1 million to $5 million.
“We raised our insurance limits, as the city requested, but, ultimately, when someone asks that you have unlimited liability, there's no way you can meet that with our limited resources,” Viegas told THE CITY.
In a written statement, a Parks Department spokesperson told THE CITY that they sent the association an updated version of the draft agreement in mid-October, which included a commercial general liability insurance requirement of $2 million per claim. The spokesperson said the permits required from the buildings department and other city agencies are part of standard licensing agreements.
Viegas said the associa-
Plan for city’s celestial observatory at Lehman comes crashing down
-t ion will continue its work in bringing science education to New Yorkers, which has included free lectures and telescope observing sessions at Jerome Park and Woodlawn Cemetery.
“We haven't given up on it. We are still pursuing it. We still have the equipment that was donated to us, and we still have a lot of members who would like to see this come to pass,” said Viegas. “We're
defi nitely going to pursue it. And I hope to have some news on that hopefully in the next few months.”
‘Bummed Out’
One person who gave to the Association, Dante Olivia Smith, purchased an apartment with her husband near Jerome Park in 2022, and said they were “bummed out” by the news.
“I grew up in Boise, Idaho, and there's an observatory in the sand dunes that we used to
go to every summer.
My dad had a less powerful telescope that we would look through in the summers,” Smith told THE CITY. “Because I've had access to these facilities throughout my childhood, I am aware of how transformative it can be, and how much it opens your eyes to the possibility of the universe.”
Smith added that “being in a community that I think oftentimes feels like we're overlooked
by the city, there was this real sense of opportunity that we would have something special here,” as our “lovely, welcoming neighborhood would have been richer for this, would have had this incredible public resource that now we won't have at our doorstep because the city can't fi gure out how to make this sort of donation work.”
Viegas told donors in his email that they could be refunded or redirect
the money they’d sent into the group’s other programs.
“I was happy for them to keep that money. They did offer to refund our money. I just was like, you're still doing good things. This is a cool organization. I don't need fifty dollars back,” said Smith.
Our nonprofit newsroom relies on readers to sustain our local reporting and keep it free for all New Yorkers. DONATE to THE CITY
Community Op Ed
Financial plan puts working-class New Yorkers first and makes our City safer, more affordable
By Mayor Eric Adams
From day one, we have put New Yorkers first, working to make this city safer, more affordable, and more livable.
Thanks to our strong fiscal management — including saving nearly $900 million in taxpayer dollars over just two fiscal years, last week, we were able to deliver the November 2024 Financial Plan Update that invests in public safety, the programs and benefits that New Yorkers rely on, and improves quality of life for our city’s 8.3 million residents. Because we made smart and tough budget decisions early on, we are able to continue investing in working-class New Yorkers and their families. And we are stepping up to fund critical programs that had been supported with temporary federal stimulus funds.
This administration has been committed to cleaning up crime and disorder across the
five boroughs. We are pro-public safety, and we are making sure our families and kids can feel safe and be safe.
The November 2024 Financial Plan Update puts more cops on our streets, adding an additional 1,600 police officers to our neighborhoods over two new police classes by next October. This will increase our uniform force to nearly 34,000 officers to keep our communities safe.
Our officers work every day to keep us safe, and they need a leader who is spending every minute of every day keeping us safe, too. That is why, last week, I also announced the appointment of Jessica Tisch as next police commissioner. Commissioner Tisch is a 12-year veteran of the
NYPD and a 17-year veteran of city government, who has dedicated her professional life to serving the people of New York City. Most recently, Commissioner Tisch served as commissioner of the Department of Sanitation. She led the ‘Trash Revolution’ in our city, delivering generational change through our
containerization program and universal curbside composting service. Commissioner Tisch literally cleaned up our streets as sanitation commissioner and will now figuratively do it as police commissioner. She is the right leader in this moment and will ensure that New York City remains the safest
big city in America. The November plan also funds staffing technology and other needs at the Bellevue Outpost Therapeutic Housing Unit to treat justice-involved patients with serious health conditions. And it expands the New York City Sheriff's Electronic Ankle Monitoring Program with fund-
New York City Mayor Eric Adams swears in Jessica Tisch as the next commissioner of the New York City Police Department at One Police Plaza on Monday, November 25, 2024.
Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Financial plan puts working-class New Yorkers first and makes our City safer, more affordable
-ing for 51 new positions to help increase safety. It puts more money into New York City Department of Correction to support programs that reduce recidivism in our city.
New Yorkers work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families. They not only deserve a safe city, but a fair shot and their fair share, and in this November plan we are giving it to them. This plan helps working-class New Yorkers pay for necessities like housing, groceries, and bills by putting over $467 million in the cash assistance program and $115 million into our CityFHEPS rental assistance program to help families find housing and stay in their homes.
The plan also deepens our commitment to New York City Public Schools by filling gaps in the budget left by expiring stimulus funding.
I am a public-school graduate; I know how important our public schools are for our kids and how important
school nurses are to providing care for our kids.
That’s why we are stepping in and continuing to fund school contract nurses with a goal that there's a school nurse in every school building. Additionally, we are allocating $80 million for New York City Public Schools technology resources to make sure that administrators, schools, and our kids have the best technology at their disposal.
New Yorkers love their parks, and we are taking care of our green spaces by fully containerizing all Department of Parks and Recreation curbside trash locations with 9,000 lockable steel bins. This will continue our ‘Trash Revolution’ across the five boroughs and make sure our streets get even cleaner. We are kicking trash to the curb, reclaiming public space, fighting rats, and so much more.
Early in our administration, we made it clear that our mission is to support working-class New Yorkers by keeping them safe, making
the city more affordable, and improving quality of life. In this
November Plan we are building a future for working people, one that is safer, cleaner, and more affordable for all New Yorkers.
Food Poisoning: What causes it , how to avoid it Health Matters
An infectious disease expert shares the symptoms, treatment, and how you can protect yourself from food borne illnesses. This article originally in NewYork-Presbyterian Health Matters.
By Camille Bautista-Fryer
We’ve all had that unpleasant feeling of nausea and pangs from an upset stomach after eating.While those symptoms can be a result of indigestion or a digestive condition, such as IBS, they could also be due to a food-borne illness. Every year, an estimated 1 in 6 people in the United States get food poisoning from ingesting food with harmful bacteria, parasites, or viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Widespread food-borne illnesses are often linked to food contaminated during the farming or preparation process. Recently, dozens of people got sick from an E. coli outbreak linked to organic bagged carrots. Many people have had some kind of gastrointestinal illness after encountering contaminated food, but for most who are healthy, with a strong immune system, it’s usually very mild to moderate and they get better on their own,” says Dr. Tina Z. Wang, who specializ-
es in infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
“There are general measures everyone can take, such as washing their hands before preparing and eating food, and being aware of any recalled items to prevent contact with contaminants.”
Dr. Wang shares more with Health Matters on what you need to know about food poisoning, including causes, symptoms, and how to treat yourself at home.
What causes food poisoning?
Dr. Wang: With a foodborne illness, or food poisoning, a foreign organism or toxin is introduced into your body. You start experiencing symptoms that are caused either by direct irritation of your gastrointestinal system from the harmful pathogen or from your body’s own response to expel it from your body.
There are several different types of pathogens that could cause illness, including bacteria, such as salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, or listeria. There are also viruses — a common one is norovirus — and, more rarely, parasitic organisms.
They can contaminate food in different ways, usually during preparation. If somebody is ill and handling your food, they could
potentially transfer the toxin from their hands onto surfaces and cooking tools or directly onto the food. If there’s contact between produce or salads with raw meats or poultry, that could be another direct way of contamination. If food is left out in an unrefrigerated setting, sometimes that can promote the growth of certain bacteria and toxins.
In larger-scale examples of produce contamination, what happens is the water used to irrigate fields or wash items can become contaminated with organisms and infect a larger quantity in bulk.
What are symptoms of food poisoning?
Symptoms can include:
• Abdominal pain
• Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lightheadedness
• Fever
• Fatigue
Symptoms can start as quickly as 30 minutes to an hour after being exposed, or they can start within a few days.
Who
is at risk?
For most healthy adults, mild to moderate symptoms of food-borne illness will usually go away on their own. However, there is the potential for very severe illness, potentially even leading to death.
Those who are at higher risk of severe disease include:
• People who are immunocompromised
• Adults over 65
• Children younger than 5
• Pregnant women
How long does food poisoning last?
The duration of the illness
Protect yourself from illness, preserve the festivities this holiday season
By Carol A. Sheridan, RN, MSN, CIC, Associate Director of Infection Prevention, Montefiore Medical Center
Preparing for holiday gatherings and traveling can be stressful for many reasons and feeling ill during the holiday season can certainly ruin the festivities. One way to safeguard yourself and your family is to connect with your primary care doctor or nurse practitioner to get tailored advice, weighing your individual risk and the benefits of vaccination for illnesses like COVID, RSV and influenza.
Each person has individual characteristics that can increase or decrease their likelihood of moderate to severe illness this viral season. Some factors that can impact your
risk of getting severely ill from respiratory viruses are:
* Your Age: 65 and older or under 2 years old.
* Conditions that affect airways like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis.
* Difficulty coughing, swallowing, or clearing fluids from the airways.
* Weakened immune system due to disease or medications that suppress the immune system.ndocrine disorders, such as diabetes, or a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m2 or higher.
* Conditions that affect the heart, liver and kidney.
* Conditions that affect blood cells like sickle cell disease.
What to Know About
Influenza Vaccines
Flu vaccines administered with a needle (the same one used for insulin injection), cannot cause flu; the vaccines contain either an inactivated influenza virus or just a single protein from the virus. Common reported side effects are soreness, redness, and local pain at the injection site. You might experience a lowgrade fever, headache, and muscle aches. These symptoms, which can be a little uncomfortable, are considered signs your immune system is responding, part of creating protective immunity. If you are concerned about how to manage these symptoms, discuss this with your healthcare team.
Research has demonstrated that adults with influenza
vaccination saw a decrease in need for medical attention. Vaccinated adults have less influenza-associated visits to the doctors’ office and emergency room and are less likely to need to be hospitalized due to the flu. Those who did require hospital care were less likely to need intensive care unit support and less likely to die due to the illness.
Everyday Tips for Viral Season
* Beyond vaccines, we can take steps each day to reduce the spread of influenza, RSV and COVID. These include avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick in your household or in public. If you are caring for someone who is sick, wash your hands before and after contact, and wear a mask to cover both your nose and mouth.
* Staying home for at least 24 hours and limiting your contact with others if you are sick. Try to avoid contact until your symptoms are better and always cover your nose and mouth with tissues if you are coughing or sneezing.
* Bringing air circulation into your home, by opening windows during gatherings.
* Keeping high touch surfaces in your home disinfected by using wipes to regularly clean surfaces that family members touch (i.e., Refrigerators, doorknobs and faucets).
The holidays are a joyful time when we gather with family and friends in gratitude, don’t let a preventable illness keep you away from those you love this holiday season.
Spreadingholidaycheer,wellness:MHHC
By Sydnee Tyree
The holiday season is a time for community, connection, and giving back—a spirit that MHHC (Morris Heights Health Center) embodies throughout the year with its ongoing, recent and upcoming events. From its impactful Days of Giving to its twice-monthly pantry and now upcoming Holiday Luncheon, MHHC is working to uplift the Bronx and its residents, one festive gathering at a time.
This November, MHHC hosted its annual Days of Giving event across its multiple sites in the Bronx. The event offered a unique combination of health and wellness education, featuring cranberry recipe demonstrations sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield, turkey vouchers distributed to families in need, and informational sessions led by MHHC liaisons. These sessions provided attendees with essential
knowledge about the health services available at the center, underscoring MHHC’s dual mission of expressing gratitude and promoting wellness. These efforts are just one of the many ways MHHC continues to make a difference in the lives of Bronx residents. As the health center's community liaisons emphasized, the Days of Giving are about more than seasonal festivities—they’re an opportunity to engage with
the community and empower them to lead healthier lives.
Building on the success of the Days of Giving, MHHC’s Healthy Family program is partnering with Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia to host a Holiday Luncheon for Bronx residents. Scheduled for Monday, December 16, 2024, the event will start at 1 PM at Colston Hall in Bronx Community College, located at 2155 University Avenue.
This highly anticipated luncheon is designed to bring the community together for food and holiday cheer. Guests can look forward to a complimentary lunch, lively holiday music, and participate in raffles. Open to all, the luncheon aims to create an inclusive atmosphere for individuals of all ages, from children to seniors.
Assembly Member Yudelka
Tapia views the holidays as a special time for giving and fostering community connections. For her, the luncheon represents an opportunity to honor the strength and resilience of Bronx residents while bringing warmth and joy to the season.
“But the event is about more than festive cheer, for MHHC, the luncheon represents an opportunity to tackle deeper challenges faced by the community, including food insecurity and the need for stronger support systems,” said CEO of MHHC Mari G. Millet. Through initiatives like this, MHHC continues its work to foster connection and well-being in the Bronx, ensuring that no one feels left behind during the holiday season.
MHHC Healthy Family program, a cornerstone of the health center’s community
outreach, works year-round to support Bronx families by addressing their unique needs. From promoting health and wellness to hosting events like the Holiday Luncheon, the program is a testament to MHHC’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the community.
As the holidays approach, MHHC invites all Bronx residents to join them on December 16 at Bronx Community College for an afternoon of festive fun. The event promises not only a delicious meal and holiday cheer but also a meaningful opportunity to come together and celebrate the resilience of the Bronx community.
This season, MHHC and its partners are proving that the greatest gifts are those of connection, compassion, and community.
Food for thought: As we age, rethinking the way we eat
By Phyllis Russell, Dietician, VNS Health
Most of us of a certain age yearn for those days when it seemed possible to eat anything (and everything) you wanted without negative consequences for your health. But as we know, aging comes with many changes, from increased risk for chronic illnesses, to changing the way we budget, to dealing with decreased physical mobility.
One big challenge many older adults face is a need to improve their nutrition, which often includes grappling with habits and root causes limiting their intake of healthy foods.
As a dietician working primarily with older adults in their homes, I regularly observe the truth of the old saying “food is medicine.”
Eating healthier doesn’t have to involve overwhelming change—even a few adjustments can help get someone on the right track by encouraging them to adopt healthy habits that impact both their physical and mental health.
Talking to a nutritionist or registered dietician is the best place to start in getting personalized diet guidance. To locate one, you can ask your doctor for a referral, and often health plans and community health providers can assist as well. In the meantime, here are a few healthy eating tips that I
much easier it becomes over time to incorporate positive changes to your diet!
Beyond the ‘apple a day’
Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet is a terrific way to start down a healthier path. Purple eggplant, orange carrots, leafy greens, blueberries, and many other veggies/fruit can
hope will inspire!
Little steps, big change
The idea of making dietary changes can elicit a groan or even genuine anxiety, especially when a health care professional says it’s important for your physical well-being. But rethinking how you eat doesn’t have to be a drag. Begin with some small, manageable changes—switching out your favorite spice mix for a lower-sodium version, for example. Or you might consider eating smaller portions of less-healthy dishes.
One effective approach is to have just “a taste” of a favorite less-than-healthy food. You might also think about cutting down on processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages, which recent research has shown to be especially harmful to your long-range health.
Setting reachable goals is a key to making successful lifestyle changes. If you do this, you’ll be surprised how
help prevent diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and more. I encourage people to think of every plate as a “rainbow.” MyPlate. gov provides helpful guidance on this. Make sure that you’re not just eating more of one vegetable, and try to add a wide variety. One of the easiest ways to introduce more vegetables into your meals is to incorporate healthy soups or try salads with multiple ingredients.
Rethink food prep
As our bodies change over time, it’s important to consider ways to make meal prep and cooking easier. For example, if cutting and chopping food becomes difficult, choosing pre-cut frozen food saves you the effort and has the benefit of lasting longer. As physical mobility declines, it can also become harder to
make regular grocery trips or cooking meals may no longer be doable. Difficulty chewing, a frequent side effect of chronic illnesses, may also require rethinking the types of food you’re eating. Again, a nutritionist or registered dietitian can provide guidance and inspiration in meeting these different challenges. In addition, many community programs provide free meal delivery for those 60+, and local senior centers often offer free or low-cost meals designed for older adults’ changing nutritional needs.
Navigating your options
Finding fresh vegetables is often easier said than done. Many people live in “food deserts,” neighborhoods with limited access to well-stocked fresh food, and cost can also be a barrier. But there are ways to get
help. The New York State Office of Aging can link you to resources like lists of food pantries across the state to coupons for food stands/ farmer markets. Many health plans also offer benefits like food allowances, and there are also community centers that can help you apply for benefits like the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
Change can be difficult— but you’re not alone. With help and support, we can all start the journey to healthier eating habits!
Phyllis Russell is a dietician at the nonprofit homeand community-based health care organization VNS Health. For more information on healthy eating and nutrition, reach out to your physician, health plan, a licensed dietician, or call 311.
Food Poisoning: What causes it , how to avoid it
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
depends on the organism that causes the food poisoning. Generally, symptoms from food poisoning can last from one day to about a week. What is the treatment for food poisoning?
For most adults, the illness will resolve on its own. The main treatment is to hydrate and rest. Try to take in fluids like water or sports drinks with electrolytes. If you’re vomiting or having diarrhea, you want to be sure you’re replenishing your body.
Slowly ease your way back into eating, starting with foods that are blander and gentler on your gastrointestinal tract, like toast, rice, or bananas.
Stay away from things that could make your symptoms
worse, like fatty and fried foods, or those that are very sugary, salty, or spicy.
Over-the-counter medicine can help, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for a fever, or anti-diarrheal medication.
When should you see a doctor?
If you’re experiencing very severe symptoms or fall into one of the high-risk groups, you should seek out a healthcare provider.
Warning signs to look out for include:
• Very high or persistent fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Bloody stool
• Blood when vomiting
• Difficulty keeping fluids down over a long period of time
If it’s been several days and
you don’t feel like your symptoms are getting better, consult your doctor. There may be certain circumstances that require antibiotics, so you may require testing.
What’s the difference between the stomach flu and food poisoning?
Food poisoning can be an umbrella term that encompasses all food-borne illnesses, both viral and bacterial. Based on symptoms alone, there’s no definitive way to differentiate between bacterial or viral infections.
Norovirus, or the stomach flu, is the leading cause of food-borne illness in the United States, and is caused by a group of viruses that can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, among other symptoms. It can spread through contaminated
food and water or between person to person through viral particles, including saliva, vomit, or stool.
Symptoms of bacterial and viral illnesses can be very similar, but ultimately the only way you can know for sure is through a stool test, which may be needed if symptoms don’t improve and become severe. If symptoms are mild, no tests are typically needed.
Tips To Prevent Food Poisoning
• Wash your hands when preparing food, especially when handling raw meat or poultry.
• Separate fresh fruit and vegetables from eggs, raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
• Thoroughly cook food to a safe internal temperature.
• Refrigerate leftover or perishable food within two hours of cooking.
• Pay attention to public health announcements around recalled food.
Tina Wang, M.D. M.S., specializes in infectious diseases and is an associate hospital epidemiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. In addition, she spends a portion of her time in the inpatient clinical service at both NewYork-Presbyterian/ Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital. She completed her fellowship training at Weill Cornell Medicine, where she worked closely with the hospital epidemiology teams at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, before joining the Columbia Infectious Diseases Division and Infection Prevention and Control Department in 2020.
By Morris Gut
I have experienced a lot of culinary delights this past year. With the Holidays in mind, time to highlight some of the best…
ARTIE’S STEAK & SEAFOOD, CITY ISLAND
Owner Spiros Chagares and his staff offer patrons a tempting mix of traditional and contemporary dishes served with flair. Sit back in one of several dining areas and enjoy such changing specialties as: hearty Seafood Chowders; Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups; Cold Seafood Salad for two; Wood Grilled Jumbo Shrimp and Scallops; hunks of tender Short Rib; a massive Zuppa Di Pesce; tender Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb; and fresh Lobster prepared in a variety of styles. Big combo platters. There’s a loaded Lobster Salad Roll at lunch and Grilled Mediterranean Pizzas. Craft beers. Check out the bar/lounge most evenings for good networking. Private party facilities. Open 7 days. Free parking. Artie’s, 394 City Island Ave., Bronx. 718-885-9885 www.artiescityisland.com
LLOYD’S
CARROT CAKE, RIVERDALE
Lloyd’s Bakery has been a Broadway fixture across from Van Cortland Park for 35 years. Founded by the late Lloyd Adams and his wife, it has become a must stop not only for lovers of their signature carrot cake, but for such additional baked goods as Red Velvet Cake, German
Chocolate Cake, and Pineapple Coconut Cake. Cupcakes, too. Stop in for a slice, or take a whole cake home this holiday. Kosher certified. Lloyd’s Carrot Cake, 6087 Broadway, Riverdale, the Bronx. 718548-9020 www.lloydscarrotcake.com
LIEBMAN’S DELICATESSEN FOR A NOSH
Liebman’s kosher Jewish delicatessen in Riverdale has been serving their traditional larder since 1953. They are the only kosher deli left in the Bronx where once there were many. For all you corned beef and pastrami mavens, there is a wide selection of old-world favorites: matzo ball soup; frankfurters with mustard & sauerkraut; smoked fish and appetizing; overstuffed sandwiches; stuffed cabbage; Hungarian goulash; and chicken in the pot with all the fixings. Owners Yuval Dekel and Craig Weitz have opened a second location at Addyman Square in Ardsley. Liebman’s original deli is located at 552 W. 235 Street, Riverdale, The Bronx. 718-548-4534 www. liebmansdeli.com
DINER CHIC AT TRAT-
TORIA VIVOLO
Recently cited by Forbes Magazine as a top dining venue, Chef-owner and personable host Dean Vivolo serves his robust regional
Italian cuisine out of a vintage diner just across from Harrison's Metro-North station. Sit at the counter, tuck into a booth, or take a table in the rear greenhouse and enjoy the surprising contemporary and traditional flavors emanating from his kitchen: tasty thin-crusted pizza; Crostino di Polenta topped with wild mushrooms, gorgonzola, and tomato sauce; Linguini Nere with bay scallops; Grilled Lamb Chops; Lasagna Bolognese al Forno; and wonderful Spaghetti a la Vongole. Fine wine list. Sparkling lights in the evenings. Seasonal outdoor patio. Free parking. Closed Mondays. Trattoria Vivolo, 301 Halstead Ave., Harrison. 914-835-6199 www. trattoriavivolo.com
IMAMMA FRANCESCA ON THE SOUND
When Nick DiCostanzo was growing up on the Island of Ischia on the Coast of Naples in Italy, his earliest memories where of the simple seaside meals he would enjoy with his family, farm-to-table and of course sea-to-table. As proprietor of Mamma Francesca for 40 years, located on the banks of Long Island Sound with 6-story views of the ‘Queen City’s’ seafaring boat clubs, this culinary
Favorite foodie encounters for this year Culinary Road
philosophy still holds true, albeit with a sprinkling of contemporary taste. There are private and semi-private party facilities for up to 100 guests and catering packages to suit your needs. Robust Italian/American specialties include freshly made Manicotti, Calamari Fritti, Ischia Salad, Chicken Parmigiana, Misto Frutti di Mare. Rabbit Cacciatore, too. $15 weekday lunch special. Daily Happy Hours. Off-premise catering. New woodburning pizza oven. Free parking. Mamma Francesca, 414 Pelham Road, New Rochelle. 914-636-1229 www. mammafrancesca.com
JILL’S BAR & RESTAURANT, MAMARONECK
Partners Ro Flanagan, Shane Clifford and Chef Brendan Donohue, proprietors of popular Jack’s Bar & Kitchen, a popular Irish American tavern in Eastchester, have premiered
Jill’s Bar & Restaurant in Mamaroneck, across from Harbor Island Park. Jill’s, a colorful ode to modern Ireland, serves a winning combination of gastropub favorites and modern-American and European specialties along with a good dose of hospitality. The Fried Chicken Sandwich is a winner. There’s also Lobster Cobb Salad, Braised Beef Short Ribs, Ahi Tuna Bowl, and Surf & Turf Tacos. Jill’s,100 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, off the corner of Mamaroneck Ave. Happy Hours. Weekend brunch. 914-341-1776 www.jillsbarandrestaurant. com
(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in the Bronx and Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at: 914-235-6591. Email: gutreactions@optonline.net)
Ahi Tuna at Jill’s.
9/11 memorial robbery suspect has troubled history in building, residents say
By David Greene
Police have charged a Norwood man with stealing a gold-plated rose from a 9/11 memorial from inside a Manhattan church.
The theft was reported to police at 2:30 p.m. on November 20, inside of St. Francis of Assisi Church, located at 135 West 31 Street.
A police source told the Bronx Voice at the time, “An unknown individual entered the church (and) removed a gold-plated metal rose from the 9/11 Memorial inside without permission.”
Police quickly released surveillance photos of the suspect walking-- while holding the rose in his hand. The following day he was identified and was subsequently arrested on November 22. Police charged Deikel Alcantara, 21, of Dekalb Avenue with grand larceny 3rd degree.
The police source added that the rose, with an estimated value of $3,000— was not returned to the church. The pastor of the church told Eyewitness News that the suspect had frequented the church and was once asked to leave.
Public records show Alcantara has had three recent arrests on October 27, November 9 and November 22,
all occurring in Manhattan.
During a visit to the Dekalb Avenue building, one male resident said in broken English after viewing the police surveillance photo, “The guy lives on the 5th floor, he’s a problem.”
Now speaking in Spanish, the same man said through a female translator inside of the 6-story building, “He says he knows him; he’s a young guy and he’s got problems. He’s a young guy, he used to live here, but he’s having problems.”
The two residents claimed that the man had been squatting in the 5th floor stairwell since being evicted.
The female translator was now speaking to the female resident speaking Spanish when the translator stated, “I didn’t even hear what she said, but she says that he’s doing pee-pee and all that stuff” in the stairwell.
Speaking in English again, the man continued, “He’s not a problem. The guy’s no troublemaker, no problem. He’s a good guy, but the brains are no good. Maybe he (should) be put in a hospital, I don’t know.
Yeah, put him in the hospital.”
When told that Alcantara stole an item from a 9/11 memorial from inside a church, the man responded, “Oh. Hmm. He’s a good guy, I don’t know.”
The NYPD was asked if Alcantara was suspected of having mental illness, but they did not immediately respond.
Police released this surveillance photo of the alleged suspect carrying the gold-plated rose stolen from St. Francis of Assisi Church on November 20.
