Bronx Voice - February 22, 2023

BRONX VOICE

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Tips for keeping PSYCHO STABBED your heart healthy MAN www.bronxvoicenyc.blogspot.com

February 22 - 28, 2023

6th Year, No. 17

IN HEAD

Page 12 & 14

Page 2

Life after Junior’s murder Page 4

A collage of family photos celebrating the life of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz created by his mother Leandra Feliz.

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2• BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

Psycho stabbed man in head near church

By Dan Gesslein Cops are looking for a psycho stabber who attacked a man with a knife outside a Bronx church during an arguement.

The attack was caught on video.

Police released surveillance video which shows the suspect holding a bloody object in his hand that looks like a knife.

At around 2 pm on January 14, a 23-year-old man had gotten into an argument with a man in a long black coat with a large fur hood covering his face in

front of University Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 165 East Tremont Avenue.

As the argument escalated, the man in the fur coat pulled out a knife and stabbed the other man multiple times about the head. The attacker took off and ran eastbound

Cops are searching for this man in connection with a stabbing outside a Bronx church.

down East Tremont Avenue.

The victim was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was treated for a puncture wound to his left cheek and a cut to his forehead.

The suspect is described as a man in his 20s who is 5 foot 9. He has a dark

complexion and medium build. He was last seen wearing black framed eyeglasses, a large black coat with a fur hood, a green baseball hat, ripped blue jeans and blue and white sneakers.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the

NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577TIPS (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.

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4 • BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

A Mother’s Fight for Justice:

Life after Junior’s murder

By David Greene From almost the moment her son Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was brutally murdered on the evening of June 20, 2018, Leandrao Feliz was unexpectedly catapulted into the media spotlight, not because she wanted to, but because it was what she believed she needed to do to bring attention to the case and justice to members of the feared Trinitarios gang.

Feliz stood outside the Bronx District Attorney's office along East 161 Street on October 28, after learning that a plea deal to the charge of manslaughter had been reached with the remaining defendants: Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, Elvin Garcia, Jose Muniz, Manuel Rivera, Antonio Rodriguez and Hernandez Santiago. The remaining gang members were each given sentences of 12 - 15 years, including time served.

Moments before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio handed down the sentences on January 13, Feliz read her victim's impact statement, in which she told the judge, "That night there were two deaths, Junior and me." She continued, "This group of evil criminals used their gang related activities and decided to go out and kill.”

Feliz, who attended near-

ly all of the court proceedings, continued, "My son will never come back from the grave, these killers should never be able to step out of their jail cells." Feliz concluded, "If I had the power to sentence these murders, I would sentence them to 300 years in prison, to make an example worldwide.”

Moments after the sentencing, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark stood with Feliz, and recalled the graphic and shocking killing caught on video surveillance, telling reporters, "The shocking viral video of the attack left the Bronx Community--and the world-- horrified at such a complete disregard for human life.”

On January 16, the Bronx Voice was invited to Feliz' Bronx home, no longer in the Belmont section where she raised Junior and where he was murdered. The home

A painting of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz who was stabbed to death by members of the Trinitarios gang in 2018.

looks more like a shrine or living memorial to her beloved son- where photos of the young man, as well as awards he received from school and as a member of the NYPD's Explorers Program, hang on walls throughout the home.

Feliz was asked if any of the defendants or their family members ever apologized or showed remorse for what happened to Junior, when she recalled how one defendant began to apologize during sentencing, Feliz recalled, "The mother was arguing with the police and then she said, she yelled to him, "Do not apologize!"

Feliz quipped, "Hmmm take

your fifteen.”

Disappointed that the final round of gang members did not get the 25-to-life sentences handed down after earlier trials, Feliz said, "I thought that they would get the same sentences of 25-to-life, because they were all aware of what they were doing.”

Feliz continues to hold down a full-time job as a housekeeper at a local hospital and care for her remaining children and elderly mother.

Feliz recently offered to assist the mother of a murder victim in helping her find video of that killing and has expressed interest in helping Bronx teenagers in some way in the future.

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BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023• 5

Two-man crime spree ends in crash

By David Greene Two Manhattan men pulled off a onenight crime-spree where they held-up victims within the borders of six different NYPD commands in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. The robbery spree ended with their white van plowing into a tree in University Heights and the suspects are now facing federal charges.

Police officials reported that between just before 1:00 a.m. and just after 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, the assailants participated in six gunpoint robberies in

the 110th, 108, 94, 116, 66 and 34th Precincts.

One police official said at the time, "There were six total gunpoint robberies committed by two CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Photo courtesy of the NYPD

A close up of the NYPD video shows the suspects bailing from their crashed van in an attempt to escape arriving officers.

Bronx train stations delayed by rail project pause

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6 • BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

By Jose Martinez, The City The MTA’s plans to bring Metro-North trains to Penn Station and build four new stations in The Bronx are expected to be delayed by at least six to nine months, agency officials said Monday — blaming Amtrak, again.

The slowdown on the $2.8 billion Penn Access mega-project was revealed just days after a mammoth Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) hub opened deep beneath Grand Central Terminal. The MTA also partially blamed that project’s delays and cost overruns on the federally funded national rail service.

“This is the dynamic that got East Side Access [the LIRR project] into the hole,” Janno Lieber, MTA chairperson and CEO said Monday during a meeting of the transit agency’s board members.

“There’s probably a billion dollars of extra costs in East Side Access, maybe more, from the problems that that project had.”

The Penn Station Access project will, for the first time, link Metro-North’s New Haven Line to the transit hub on Manhattan’s West Side by running the commuter railroad’s trains over the Amtrak-owned Hell Gate Line.

Currently, the New Haven

line terminates at Grand Central Station.

The project will also provide new Bronx stations at Co-op City, Parkchester, Morris Park and Hunts Point, along with 20 miles of track work and bridge rehabilitations.

MTA officials said Monday that the plan has run into “significant construction delays” because of “limited access” onto Amtrak-owned property, but said they still are hoping to meet a March 2027 “substantial completion date” with additional support from Amtrak and CSX, the freight railroad company.

“There is a lot of work ahead of us,” said Thomas McGuinness, senior vice president at MTA Construction and Development. “But if we are successful and Amtrak provides the access and support that is needed, the project team believes the delays experienced to date can be mitigated to bring the project back to the original

New Metro North stations that were recently announced after two decades of planning have been delayed again. schedule.”

Blame It on the Train In 2018, the MTA blamed Amtrak for a $955 million cost overrun on East Side Access, saying the railroad had, for several years, not provided enough help in the rebuilding of the Harold Interlocking in Queens, the largest rail intersection in the United States.

More than 800 trains pass daily through the Sunnyside junction, which serves LIRR and Amtrak trains and which links to Grand Central Terminal.

LIRR riders began arriving last week at Grand Central Madison, the deep rail terminal more than 15 stories beneath Grand Central. Construction on the hub began in 2001, but completion of this

largest MTA project ever ran into repeated delays.

Now there are delays in plans to create a new path for the MTA’s other commuter railroad, Metro-North, which serves riders in the northern suburbs and Connecticut.

MTA documents note that the project has also been slowed by the need to gain approval for entry into Con Edison facilities.

Lieber said overcoming the delays is central to the larger reconstruction of Penn Station.

“This is the mega-project we are engaged in right now, Penn Access, and it is the linchpin of the plan to create a truly integrated regional railroad system,” Lieber said.

MTA officials said the agency signed maintenance

agreements last year with Amtrak and CSX that should improve access to the tracks and provide additional support, such as flaggers, track supervisors and electrical traction workers.

“They have been unable to live up to this agreement to date, and we have ensured that they have been on notice of that,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction and Development. “The good news is that Amtrak acknowledges these problems.”

Amtrak did not immediately respond to a request for comment from THE CITY. THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

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8 • BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

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Two-man crime spree ends in crash CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

males," and fled each crime in a white Toyota Sienna minivan.” The official added that no serious injuries were reported and, in each case, personal property, cash and or jewelry was removed from the victims.

The official continued, "And then at 4 a.m.

(NYPD) Aviation observed the vehicle at Ce-

dar Avenue and West 179 Street where it crashed.

A 34-year-old male was taken into custody at the scene, a firearm was recovered in the glovebox. A 24-year-old male fled the location on foot but was apprehended in the courtyard of 1991 Sedgwick Avenue and charges are pending on both" men.

Police would later an-

nounce that the suspects, identified by police as Alvin Velez, 34, of East 108 Street and Carlos Perez, 24, of Broadway, both of Manhattan would be charged federally as part of "larger pattern-related" case against both men.

The U.S. Attorney's office has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding this

Photo courtesy of the NYPD

Police vehicles approach the van after it crashed into a tree along the Major Deegan Expressway.

case.

On February 1, the NYPD released a video shot by NYPD's Aviation Unit that clearly shows two or three police vehicles in pursuit of the van, when one police car appears to clip the van, which veers off the highway and slams into a tree. Both men scramble from the truck attempting to flee arriving officers.

With what appears to be an uptick in police vehicle pursuits, an NYPD official was asked if the new License Plate Readers (LPRs) played a role in this apprehension, the official replied, "I don't know that.”

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BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023• 9

A Working People’s Agenda

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10 • BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

By Mayor Eric Adams Community Op Ed Last week, in Queens — the borough I grew up in — I reported to New Yorkers on the state of our city. I outlined what we’ve accomplished in the year since I took office, and my vision for the future.

We are going to build a city for working people, one that is more affordable, safer, cleaner, and more livable.

We focused on four essential pillars: jobs, safety, housing, and care. Because without a strong working class, this city cannot survive.

Working people need good jobs and pathways to get those jobs. And those jobs need to be able to support a home for New Yorkers and their families.

That is why we are reimagining our workforce system, connecting 30,000 New Yorkers to apprenticeships through a new Apprenticeship Accelerator. It’s also why we are creating the jobs for the future, through our first of its kind biotech start up incubator that will be home to the next generation of transformative companies, and our Kips Bay life sciences hub, which will help create jobs and train New Yorkers for high demand careers in the life sciences, healthcare, and public health.

And we are ensuring that more city dollars go to mi-

nority and women-owned businesses as well as creating a new Nursing Education Initiative to support 30,000 current and aspiring nurses over the next five years.

And while we are finally seeing crime begin to decline in New York City, we must continue to make our streets safe, and it starts with getting New York City’s Most Wanted off our streets.

We are going to get the roughly 1,700 known offenders responsible for a disproportionate amount of the city’s violent crime off the streets.

And we are going to keep our streets safe by holding reckless drivers accountable.

We are going to go to Albany to get legislation passed that increases the penalties for serious crashes, running red lights, and impaired driving.

Our city cannot be livable unless it is clean and sustainable. So we are investing millions to make our city cleaner

and greener.

Last year we launched the country’s largest curbside composting program in Queens in order to Get Stuff Clean, and by the end of 2024, composting will be citywide and year-round. We are electrifying our city vehicles, and we have reached a deal with Uber and Lyft to have a zero emissions fleet by 2030.

And we are going to build on the success of our Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs by creating permanent community spaces in each borough.

We must have homes for working people. We are working to add 500,000 more homes across all five boroughs—so that everyone has an affordable place to live. We are going to build in every borough and every neighborhood. And that

means creating housing in areas that currently only allow manufacturing and office uses while protecting good jobs in the center of our city's economy. We are going to make Midtown Manhattan a true live-work community.

And we are building more housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods and near transit hubs. I recently announced plans for 6,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs around four new metro stations in the Bronx. And at Willets Point we're working to build the largest new 100 percent affordable housing development in 40 years — that’s 2,500 new, affordable homes for New Yorkers.

Building new houses is essential for our future, but we also need to address the housing crisis today. So we are going to protect tenants and help New Yorkers stay

in their homes by investing over $22 million in tenant protection programs.

We must also ensure that the social safety net is there for working people, so we are expanding it; making it easier for New Yorkers to access public benefits and healthcare. This is an agenda for working people.

As we pursue these programs, we want to keep New Yorkers up to date on the very latest. That’s why we’re launching a new initiative to talk directly to New Yorkers about the issues you care most about. You can sign up for this email newsletter at nyc. gov/hearfromEric to receive breaking news and updates on city initiatives — all tailored to your personal interests.

Whether it’s a new park opening, or a new Open Streets in your neighborhood, you’ll be the first to know.

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BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023• 11

8 principles for heart health

12 • BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

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eral times during the week.

By Jay Chudow, MD, Cardiologist, This can be walking, running, Montefiore Health System dancing, swimming – anyNational Heart Health Month comes in thing to use your muscles and increase your heart rate. There February to remind us to keep ourselves is newer evidence suggesting and our hearts healthy just around the time any amount of exercise has benefits. So, get movwe may be abandoning our New Year’s res- some ing! As the days get longer and Spring approaches, think olutions.

Heart disease is unfortunately the leading cause of death, even in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the top chronic conditions affecting our everyday lives.

Fortunately, the American Heart Association describes Life’s Essential 8, eight simple principles we can focus on for heart health as we live our lives each day. When thinking of these principles, it is helpful to think of your numbers and your goal number for each category.

Maintain a healthy blood pressure Do you know your resting blood pressure? Is it at your goal blood pressure? High blood pressure also known as hypertension is a silent, chronic condition that can slowly damage your heart, brain, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. Take some time in February to get to know your numbers. A normal blood pressure is 120/70. High blood pressure is very common with over half of adults over the age of 55 with a blood pressure higher than 140/90 (what is referred to as Stage 2 hypertension).

What causes high blood pressure?

It is a complicated condition that is influenced by many factors, including genes and environmental factors, diet,

activity, but the largest cause of hypertension is poor diet, physical inactivity, and excess intake of alcohol. Medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, steroids and oral contraceptives can also increase blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is above normal, it can be managed with diet changes (often low sodium diet) and routine exercise (which can lower blood pressure more than many medications alone). If needed, there are multiple medications available that can be prescribed by your doctor for your individual medical needs. We also have tools like ambulatory blood pressure monitors that help determine your blood pressure trend throughout the day, which may be more useful than checking in the office only.

Get Moving How many minutes are you active each day? Being active and exercising has many benefits ranging from heart health, improving blood pressure and blood sugar levels as well as lowering risk of cancers. It may also help your mood and lower risk of dementia. Sadly, only about 20-30% of people under 65 years old are as physically active as federal guidelines recommend – which is 150 minutes of exercise, sev-

about setting some time each week to be more active.

Eat a healthy diet How many servings of fruits and vegetables do you eat? If you are what you eat, what are you? There are many diets out there. I think the best option is a healthy one that you can sustain for years. As many find with their new year resolutions, a month later, old habits come back. In general, we recommend increasing your vegetable intake (especially leafy green ones like spinach) to more than five servings per day, limit your meal portions and avoid processed foods.

The Mediterranean diet is a well-studied diet full of vegetables, nuts, lean fish, and olive oil. A whole food plantbased diet may be an even better choice for heart health.

We have doctors, nutritionists and community educators who would be happy to go over the heart health benefits of these diets and give examples on how to tweak your daily menu and routine to be as healthful as possible. The key here is to find the diet and routine that you can sustain for you and your family.

Don’t smoke How many cigarettes do you smoke? The best number is zero. Smoking cigarettes has many negative effects on your health and especially the heart.

It can lead to heart attacks, lung cancer and other disease.

More than 1 out of 10 people smoke, putting them at risk of these conditions. Stopping smoking is challenging, but we are here to help and coach you using tools like nicotine gum and patches, medications to cut down cravings and tips on how to keep your hands busy. Fortunately, in the years after stopping smoking, arteries in the body can return to normal. The goal here is 0 cigarettes.

Sleep well How many hours of sleep do you get?

In 2022, sleep was added to the AHA Life’s Essential 8. Lack of sleep, poor sleep due to medical conditions like obstructive sleep apnea or even changing the clocks for daylight saving time can trigger cardiac events like an arrhythmia, heart attack or raising your blood pressure. Good quality sleep that is long enough is the goal. Probably near eight hours, but everyone has

different needs. We recommend good sleep hygiene - just like you keep your body clean, keep your sleep clean by limiting screens in the hour before bed, keep your bed as a protected place that you can associate with sleep, avoid alcohol before sleep and make time in your schedule to get the hours you need.

The last 3 of Life’s Essential 8 are to manage weight, control cholesterol and manage sugar control. All of these can be managed with diet and exercise (see above) and then if medications are needed, we have tools that can help.

My colleagues and I at Montefiore Medical Center concentrate on these areas each day with our patients to prevent heart disease and prevent future cardiovascular events, like a heart attack. You can use these guiding principles to fight heart disease and we’re happy to use our years of training to fight for you.

How self-care and love leads to a healthier life

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By Kayla Mercedes Lee According to Everyday Health, there is “an epidemic of anxiety and depression,” which has resulted in the importance of self-care as a remedy for everyday life stressors becoming more evident to society.

The term self-care has become more popularly used throughout recent years as the connection between physical and mental health has become apparent to all, especially through social media and other information and media sources commonly used by the mass public.

According to the World Health Organization, self-care is: “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”

Integrating acts of self-care into your daily routine creates a healthier lifestyle so that you may lead a life of wellness. Health and happiness are correlated—having self-care habits will lead to better mental health, which could mean less anxiety, stress, and depression.

Self-care can mean different things for different people, which is why it is important to take the time to reflect on what your needs are. Another factor to take into consideration is that there are three different types of self-care: emotional, physical, and spiritual. These three categories of self-care are equally important and should be practiced regularly to achieve higher levels of positive health outcomes such as reduced stress stress levels and an improved immune system. Other benefits that can be achieved through

consistent self-care are increased productivity and higher self-esteem.

MHHC is dedicated to making the act of self-care more accessible to the community not only through the provision of high-quality healthcare, but also through supplementary resources such as educational material and workshops that focus on ways in which you can practice self-care.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated during the month of February. To many, the holiday of love is assumed to be one in which we show love to others, but we sometimes forget how important selflove is and the meaning of it. When we perform acts of self-care, we are showing love to ourselves: selflove. Life is full of moments where we must give to others, whether it is at work or at home with our families. To be able to give without draining our own energy, we must practice self-care.

4 Ways to Practice Self Care that Benefit your Health Exercise

Consistent exercise or movement is beneficial for your physical and mental health. Group classes at your local YMCA or fitness center is a good way to motivate yourself to create an exercise routine.

You don’t have to go to the gym to get moving—take a walk, run, or bike ride at your local park or through your neighborhood. Even a 10-15 minute walk every day is proven to improve brain and heart health. Other ways to easily integrate physical activity into your daily routine are yoga or stretching at the beginning and end of your day. MHHC partners with the La Central YMCA and the YMCA of the Northeast Bronx to hold fitness and health related community events for all ages and body types. Our most recent event was the “Love Yourself”

BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023• 13

event where participants were able to take part in a CPR training, swimming, dance classes, and other fitness classes. (See Instagram below for more details).

Finding Purpose Finding your purpose in life is something that is easier said than done. It can be achieved with time through practicing mindfulness and participating in activities that can open you to new opportunities. Reflecting on what your strengths, talents, and skills are can help you to slowly realize what your goals are in life. Once you have a vision as to who you would like to become, it is important to visualize and set goals towards becoming that version of yourself. An example of a “find your purpose” activity is volunteering as it is a great way to meet different people and learn more about yourself along the way. MHHC is holding neighborhood cleanups and walks every couple of months starting in March. We invite you to join us as we take care of our neighborhood, which is an extension of our homes. (See Instagram below for more details).

Diet Have you ever heard the saying “you are what you eat”? The more nutritious the foods that you consume are, the healthier you will be!

Nutrition is an obvious key component of good health and is one of the most important ways in which you can take care of yourself. At MHHC, we provide nutrition education and access to healthy foods through our WIC program and our Fresh Food Farmstand with GrowNYC. MHHC also holds nutrition workshops where you can learn how to prepare healthy meals. Our next “Eat Well” event is at the La Central YMCA on March 15th (See Instagram below for more details).

Sleep Sleep is the time when your body regenerates its cells, which is what keeps all our organs healthy and functioning properly. It is important to get around 7-8 hours

of sleep every night to live a long healthy life. Sleeping less than 7 hours can increase your chance of mortality, but sleeping too much, 10+ hours, can cause the same detrimental effects as sleeping too little. Unhealthy sleep patterns increase your chances of heart disease and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. This is not to say that you should not catch up on sleep every once in a while. If you have trouble falling asleep, meditation or reading before bed

can help. Blue light, which emits from your phone and tv can disrupt your sleep cycle which makes it harder for you to fall asleep in the first place.

To learn more about MHHC offerings and events, follow us on Instagram @mhhc_inc. We have several locations in the Bronx and are now open in Brooklyn at 1095 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226. To learn more about our services, schedule an appointment with one of our providers, call 718-716-4400.

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14 • BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

When it comes to your health, it’s important to ‘know your heart’

By Lenore Bilger, RN and Care Coordinator, VNS Health February is American Heart Month—but the truth is that heart health is an issue we all need to stay on top of every month of the year. Our hearts are the powerhouses of our bodies, keeping everything running and functioning. And if we ignore our hearts, the consequences can be high.

As a skilled home care nurse at VNS Health, one thing I am especially passionate about is educating my patients on the importance of heart health. I can relate to how scary heart disease can be—I had my own heart scare when I was giving birth, an experience that put into clear perspective just how important it is to stay vigilant in monitoring our health.

Getting into a heart-healthy lifestyle might seem overwhelming at first: “eat this, don’t eat that—exercise,” but there’s no reason to fear taking care of our hearts. In fact, there are many simple steps you can begin taking right now. Here are some of the ways I help my patients get a good start and stay on track: Stay hydrated!

Making sure you or a loved one drink water regularly is an easy way to start on the road to a healthier heart and

body. I realize that the taste of water isn’t for everyone (even I have to remind myself to refill my water bottle), but there are many safe overthe-counter electrolyte additives you can put in your water to make it more palatable.

Another tip I give patients is to cut up a piece of fruit or a cucumber and throw that into your drinks, as an easy way to elevate your basic glass of tap water!

Healthy meals make a difference Like drinking more water, eating healthy foods is a simple way to maintain a healthy weight and reduce cholesterol levels. Adopting a healthier diet doesn’t have to be boring, and it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite dishes. Sometimes swapping out a cut of meat for something leaner, like skinless chicken or fish, enables you to stick with a recipe you love and still follow

heart-healthy guidelines. Or you can double-up on your favorite spices in a dish and cut down on the salt, which often leads to a tastier meal as well!

Check the family tree Heart disease often runs in families, something I’ve experienced myself as I’ve helped multiple family members recover from heart attacks and strokes. Make sure you’re familiar with your family’s health history, so you can let your doctor and nurse know during an intake session. There’s no such thing as “TMI” when it comes to communicating with your clinicians—the information you share can only help them in providing you the best care.

Eliminate stress when you can Just getting by day to day can be stressful for any of us, but it’s important to remember that addressing stress is not only good for your mental health—it can also impact your heart health by lowering your blood pressure. Just taking 60 seconds to close your eyes and breathe, or even slowly counting to 10, can help you de-stress.

Exercise at your own pace Even light physical activity done three to five days a week can help reduce your risk

Lenore Bilger, RN and Care Coordinator, VNS Health for stroke and heart disease.

You don’t need a fancy gym membership, either—there are many free online tutorials for activities like yoga, and the benefit of doing physical activity at home is that you can take it at your own pace. A short walk around the neighborhood is another excellent way to get yourself moving, or you can even walk “laps” around the house. In addition, take the stairs or walk to the mailbox if you can.

Working towards preventing heart disease isn’t always easy, especially at the start. But integrating a few simple changes into your daily life can make a world of difference and lead to a much healthier future.

You can do it!

To learn more about home health care services and solutions at VNS Health, or to explore career opportunities, visit vnshealth.org or call 1-866-986-7691.

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Culinary Road

BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023• 15

By Morris Gut

Where to enjoy Mardi Gras

‘LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER’! Let the good times roll! This year, Carnival season begins on Friday, February 17th culminating on Fat Tuesday, February 21st. Here are some local suggestions…

NEW ORLEANS & SOUTHERN STYLE MARDI GRAS VENUES!

Proprietor Peter Van Cott of The Bayou Restaurant, 580 Gramatan Ave., Mount Vernon, has been serving up the spirited sounds and flavors of Cajun country since 1991, and the place is still funky and enjoyable. So, if you can’t make it to New Orleans, this is the spot to revel to authentic blues and zydeco music while hunkering down to an overstuffed Po’ Boy or such house specialties as: Voodoo Wings, overstuffed Muffulettas, Southern Fried Chicken, Grilled Peppered Catfish, Tender Pork Ribs Smothered in BBQ Sauce, Jazzy Jumpin’ Jambalaya served with Louisiana Andouille Sausage, Alligator Sausage, and Crawfish Tails Smothered in rich Creole Gravy. Their Annual Mardi Gras Bash will be held on Fat Tuesday featuring live entertainment.

Reservations are suggested. Phone: 914-6682634. www.bayourestaurantny. com Owner Nick Fusco at Freebird Kitchen & Bar, 161 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, serves a Southern-themed menu that includes such specialties as: Shrimp Po-Boy Sandwich; Fried Green Tomatoes; Cajun

Pasta; Shrimp & Grits; and a darn good Pimento Cheeseburger. Look for a swarm of artsy flying birds hanging from the ceiling in the dining room.

Open for dinner at 4 p.m. weekdays; from 2 p.m., Fridays; from 11 a.m., Sat. & Sun. Great Happy Hours 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Weekend brunch. Phone: 914607-2476. www.freebirdkitchenandbar.com Owners Greg & Jon DeMarco and Kevin Campbell of Rye Roadhouse, 12 High Street, Rye, will be marking

Fat Tuesday all day. The fun starts with specialty cocktails, authentic New Orleans Cajun/Creole dishes and traditional Zydeco music. Try their tasty Shrimp Po’ Boy or mixed bowl of Jambalaya with meats and seafood including Andouille sausage and crawfish tails. The sweet potato fries served with remoulade are great. Beads and giveaways are also promised.

Reservations a must.

Phone: 914-925-2668. www. ryeroadhouse.com Multi-talented artist, model, and consummate host Alvin Clayton of Alvin & Friends, 14 Memorial Highway, New Rochelle serves up solid doses of American Soul Food, Southern favorites, a taste of the Caribbean, spirited jazz sessions and art.

Alvin & Friends Restaurant has a sophisticated Manhattan vibe. Check out the Classic Jambalaya, Shrimp & Grits, Fried Chicken, and

Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops.

Burgers and Mac & Cheese, too. Combine your visit with some live music. Love their Friday night jazz featuring local talent. Saturdays, too.

The Sunday Jazz Brunch is a winning combination as well. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

914-654-6549 www.alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com Owner Spiros Chagares of Artie’s Steak & Seafood, 394 City Island Ave., City Island in the Bronx, does a wonderful job with his American Shellfish Jambalaya. It is on the menu, and it is loaded with the flavors of the New Orleans. It can be easily shared, as so many of their other big combo platters.

Good craft beer selection and cocktails. Phone: 718-8859885. www.artiescityisland. com The people behind Hook & Reel, 200 Baychester Ave., Bronx, serve a menu which allows you to select your favorite meat, seafood & vegetables and they will prepare a New Orleans-style meal.

There are Crayfish Boils, Po’ Boys. Take-out & delivery.

Phone: 917-507-7052. Also located at 2375 Central Park Ave., Yonkers. 914-355-7739 www.hookreel.com Bo Bo’s Crab Shack, 2450 Grand Concourse, Bronx, near Fordham Road & 691 Co-Op City Blvd., CO-OP City, offer a daily selection of Cajun/Creole Hushpup-

A Shrimp Po Boy served at Rye Roadhouse.

pies, Gumbo, Crawfish, and Fried Gator Bites. 347-2759180 www.boboscrabshack. com Southern Table Kitchen & Bar, 39 Marble Ave., Pleasantville, offers a big dose of Southern hospitality along with such open kitchen house specialties as: Fried Green Tomatoes, Cheddar Biscuits, Grit Bowls, Cajun-style Seafood Boils, and Chicken & Waffles. Good Fried Chicken, too. Open daily. Phone: 914-618-3355. www.southern-table.com Ekren and Elvi, owners of Kee Oyster House in White Plains, serve a delightful seafood-rich menu in a contemporary, white-tiled setting. Their version of a Po Boy is a winner. Kee also serves a pristine selection of East/West oysters with all the trimmings. An indulgent platter of Oysters Rockefeller is a specialty. Their version of Fried Calamari teases my palate. While a taste of their Pan-Seared Scallops with seafood risotto

and brown butter sends me into foodie heaven. There are dramatic Hot or Cold Seafood Towers, too. Open Mon-Sat. KEE, 126 E. Post Road. White Plains. 914437-8535 www.keeoysterhouse.com Holy Crab, 32 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, serves fresh Cajun-style seafood as you would see in New Orleans. It is a long sprawling space with bustling bar/lounge. Open daily.

Check out such specialties as: Lobster Mac & Cheese, Po’ Boys, Gumbo, Snow Crab Legs and Jambalaya Shrimp. Phone: 914-9483888. www.holycrabny.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: 914235-6591. E-mail: gutreactions@optonline.net)

16 • BRONX VOICE• February 22 - 28, 2023

www.bronxvoicenyc.blogspot.com