Happy Friday everyone! Looks like it's going to be a lovely weekend in the Bronx. Enjoy.
We'll start with what's becoming a big citywide story that has serious implications for the Bronx: Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to ban sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda and other sugar-heavy beverages) from being purchased using food stamps. Bloomberg faces several legal hurdles and what will sure to be a strong push-back from soda companies and their lobbyists. Earlier this year, the so-called "soda tax" Bloomberg, health advocates and nutritionists wanted implemented went absolutely nowhere in Albany. (I'm going to post this up as a topic for debate in our newly created forum later today. Feel free to chime in. UPDATE: just posted this topic on the forum. It only takes a minute to register. I just did it. Totally painless.)
The other citywide story we're keeping tabs on is the push to require businesses to provide paid sick leave for employees. Bloomberg says the legislation would be "disastrous" for small businesses. Most of the Bronx delegation in the City Council and Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. are strong supporters of the bill and yesterday, Council Christine Quinn agreed to negotiate on it.
Could the Bronx become an environmental-tourism destination? The Bronx Tourism Council is offering a Bronx EcoAdventure Tour as one of its five trolley tours. The Eco tour stops at the Botanical Garden, the Zoo and culminates with a canoe ride down the Bronx River, with a lunch stop at Arthur Avenue sandwiched in between. It's $65 for adults, $55 for seniors and children (the website says it's not suitable for kids under 10 and anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).
After a whirlwind journey that took him across the country and to three different junior colleges, Bronx hoopster Anthony Nieves, a standout on the club level who attended John F. Kennedy High School but never qualified academically to varsity play ball, has committed to play basketball next year for Southern Mississippi, a Division I school in Conference USA. Nieves, who is now 21, was nicknamed "Barbosa" for his likeness to Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa.
Jury deliberations will continue today in the Bronx bomb plot trial after jurors sent two questions to the judge yesterday.
The Observer fleshes out a NY Post report that sex worker-turned-art teacher Melissa Petro has been offered $60,000 to pose nude in High Society magazine.
And for all you Bronx Bomber fans, here are highlights of last night's 4-2 Yankees victory over the Minnesota Twins, putting them up 2-0 in the best of five divisional series.
Sunday Dec 13th 2009, Lehman Center For The Performing Arts: In celebration of the 2009 holiday season, passionate Michael Spierman conducted The Bronx Opera Chorus and The Orchestra Of The Bronx in their traditional annual performance of a timeless holiday concert, Handel’s Messiah. Following the performance the audience were treated to “A Taste of the Bronx,” a food show produced by the Bronx Tourism Council. As always, it is a pleasure to make photographs at Lehman Center. I would like to thank all the people behind the scene at Lehman Center, who make all shows a success, with a lot of planning and hard work. Thank you.
