Tag Archives: New York City
On board the USS New York: a talk with marines
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Almudena Toral.
By Almudena Toral Dozens of marines showed off the USS New York, the newest ship in the navy’s fleet, last November. They also talked about their careers and their daily lives. The ship was built with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center. It was moored in Midtown Manhattan from Nov. 2 to […]
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The death of why: a book, many questions
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Almudena Toral.
By Almudena Toral Modern society has eaten up critical thinking. Inquiry is nowhere to be found. This is the essence of Andrea Batista Schlesinger’s book “The death of why: the decline of questioning and the future of democracy” that was released last spring. The author discussed questioning, education, civics, and the implications of critical thinking […]
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Greenpoint Trees. Same corner, same tradition
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Almudena Toral.
By Almudena Toral Stephen and Dorothy Leddick’s two-year-old daughter first uttered her favorite sentence last Christmas season: “Trees, trees, trees.” Green trees. From Greenpoint Trees, her parents’ business. “This is the only company here that has native Greenpointers,” said Dorothy, 35, selling Christmas trees at the corner of Calyer Street and Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn. […]
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Harlem Hondurans worry about their homeland
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Almudena Toral.
By Almudena Toral [written and reported before elections on November 29] East Harlem Hondurans share concern over the Honduran political crisis that unchained in June, and seem thirsty for a new leader. Peace and respect for the constitution: that’s all many of them are asking for. Yulisa Lopez, 25, was watching TV at home in […]
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Seniors show tricks not just for kids
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Almudena Toral.
By Almudena Toral Maria del Carmen Ilarraza, 72, knew she was a great actress and performer. But it wasn’t until Oct. 31 last year that she found out she was also the soul of any given party. Like Ilarraza, more than 70 other seniors–most of them from Puerto Rico- love celebrating Halloween at Carver Senior […]
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Veterans no longer living in a box
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Almudena Toral.
By Almudena Toral Before coming to the veterans’ residence on 119th Street in East Harlem, Reynaldo Melendez had no home. “I used to sleep in cardboard boxes,” he said. A Vietnam veteran from Puerto Rico, Melendez is one of the estimated 400,000 U.S. war veterans who face homelessness every given year according to the Department […]
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A marathon for runners and drinkers
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Erin McCarthy.
by Erin McCarthy
Just three miles from the New York City Marathon finish line, marathoner David Stewart ran by a group of fans holding plastic red party cups. He grabbed a beer and took a quick swig without even breaking his stride. But he was not the only one running—or drinking—that day.
Stewart is a member of the New York City Hash House Harriers, a local running club. The group set up their cheering section and “drink check” just past mile 23 of the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday. About 30 members, known as hashers, crowded along the curb of Fifth Avenue by 96th Street. The group had been there since 11 a.m. to support their club’s runners and hand out red plastic cups, of either water or beer, as they ran by.
This kind of marathon celebration represented the group’s main passions. “They call it a drinking club with a running problem,” said Andrew Ross, who is a co-chair of the group.
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Mao's Empire State Building?
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Erica Soto.
Protesters yelled outside of the Empire State Building while plans to honor the People’s Republic of China took place inside. “No to China’s empire, free Tibet now!” protesters shouted as tourists walked on Fifth Avenue near 34th street Wednesday morning. Inside, consul general of the PRC, Peng Keyu, thanked the United States for their help […]
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Navy, Old and New, on the USS New York
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Erin McCarthy.
by Erin McCarthy
Frank DeCicco, 80, climbed aboard the U.S.S. New York 56 years after he served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Helena during the Korean War. He sniffed the below-decks air, tinged with metal and oil.
“A navy ship’s a navy ship. To me they all smell the same,” he said.
DeCicco, of Bethpage, N.Y., was one of many Navy veterans to visit the U.S.S. New York during its 10-day stay in New York City over the Veterans Day holiday. For some veterans, it was an opportunity to remember their service and to see how the Navy has changed.
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When Pain is Your Running Partner
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Peggy Truong.
By Peggy Truong
At home in Vancouver, British Columbia, Mark Wallace wasn’t able to walk without limping or grinding his teeth. But he was determined to run the New York City Marathon on Sunday. It’s one of the items on his to-do list, along with skydiving in Switzerland, running with the bulls in Spain and traveling to every continent.
