https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/firefighter-who-saved-victim-in-uws-fire-honored-on-medal-day-HH5911449 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-06T22:11:34-04:00 Firefighter Who Saved Victim in UWS Fire Honored on Medal Day https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/3e0a7040_4-10790093_20260604135510.jpg James M. Lafferty was presented with the John H. Prentice medal during the annual FDNY Medal Day ceremony for his heroic actions during a December 9, 2025 fire on West 107th St. and Amsterdam Ave. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/3e0a7043_4-10790095_20260604135513.jpg Firefighter James Lafferty with his family, Mayor Mamdani, FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore, and FDNY Department Chief John Esposito. (Photo: Martina Dimitrova) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/dec-2025-uws-fire_4-10788201_20260604131021.jpg An apartment building on the corner of 107th St and Amsterdam Ave. was set ablaze in the morning of December 9, 2025. After receiving the alarm, James Lafferty and his ladder company quickly responded and rescued occupants on the scene. (Credit: FDNY) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/destrcution-uws-fire-2025_4-10789415_20260604131022.webp The resulting damage of the December 9 fire. (Photo: Jack Ahern) https://www.westsidespirit.com/features/healthy-manhattan/milk-is-a-calcium-champion-but-there-are-many-alternatives-MJ5920538 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-06T22:45:27-04:00 Milk is a Calcium Champion but There are Many Alternatives https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-06-224048_4-10798450_20260606224528.png Japanese silky tofu can serve as a way to capture calcium for consumers who for allergy reasons or simple taste preferences do not want to get the healthful benefits via standard cow’s milk. https://www.westsidespirit.com/voices/vincent-danz-remembered-u-s-coast-guard-names-ship-for-9-11-hero-YY5890357 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-07T15:11:58-04:00 Vincent Danz Remembered: U.S. Coast Guard Names Ship for 9/11 Hero https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/better-photo-of-uscg-vincent-danz_4-10798476_20260608190330.jpg The three daughters of Vincent Danz were young when their dad was killed on 9/11. Abigail was not quite a year old, oldest daughter Winnie was 9 years old and middle daughter Emily was 6 years old. All three were on deck for the commissioning. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/crew-members-on-the-uscgc-vincent-dan_4-10767652_20260528132905.png Crew members at the dedication of US Coast Guard Cutter Vincent Danz during the ships commissioning ceremony at Pier 86 near at Intrepid Museum in New York on Friday, May 22. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/vincent-danz_4-10769760_20260528170917.png Vincent Danz, a member of the elite Emergency Services Unit was one of the 23 NYPD officers who died on 9/11. He was US Marine before joining the NYPD and was a Coast Guard reservist at the time of his death. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/uss-vincent-danz_4-10767582_20260528132904.png The USCGC Vincent Danz seen as it was at port in Florida before heading to New York City for its official commissioning on May 22. It will be patroling the western Pacific from a home port in Guam. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/new-app-walknyc-allows-new-yorkers-to-conquer-the-city-one-block-at-a-time-GY5908888 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-07T17:49:35-04:00 New App ‘WalkNYC’ Allows New Yorkers to Conquer the City, One Block at a Time https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-03-at-11-29-59-am_4-10783101_20260603113511.png ’WalkNYC,’ a new app, provides users with a way to track the blocks they’ve trekked across the city and compete with other New Yorkers in a leaderboard. (Credit: Joe Puccio) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/joepuccio_4-10783441_20260603113515.jpg Joe Puccio, founder of ‘WalkNYC,’ first started developing the app in February before releasing it to the public in mid-May. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/walknycicon_4-10783443_20260603113517.png The ‘WalkNYC’ application icon. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/ny-12-candidates-battle-it-out-at-fiesty-democratic-debate-NM5916096 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-08T10:14:19-04:00 NY-12 Candidates Battle It Out at “Fiesty” Democratic Debate https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/04met-ny12-debate-01-videosixteenbyni_4-10798432_20260606175517.png George Conway, Alex Bores, Micah Lasher, and Jack Schlossberg fought for the 32% undecided vote to become the Democratic nominee for New York’s 12th congressional district race. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/ny-12-debate-composite_4-10800247_20260608101353.jpg Alex Bores, George Conway, Micah Lasher, and Jack Schlossberg are four of the eight candidates running to become the Democratic nominee in the race to succeed Congressman Jerry Nadler. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/israel-day-parade-brings-huge-crowd-high-spirits-and-to-fifth-ave-FY5919722 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-08T12:35:09-04:00 Israel Day Parade Brings Huge Crowd, High Spirits and to Fifth Ave. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-hochul_4-10798996_20260607193129.jpg Israel Day Parade, Governor Kathy Hochul speaking. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/pxl-20260531-151446546_4-10798994_20260607193127.jpg Israel Day Parade, including an impassioned Letitia James speaking on why she marches. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-nypd-srg-dcpi_4-10799010_20260607193402.jpg Israel Day Parade included the bicyle cops of NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG.) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-menin-treyger_4-10799002_20260607193135.jpg Israel Day Parade ceremony included words from Jewish City Council Speaker Julie Menin. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-levine_4-10798998_20260607193131.jpg Israel Day Parade, Comptroller Mark Levine speaking, including some words of Hebrew. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-blakeman_4-10799004_20260607193137.jpg Israel Day Parade, where Bruce Blakeman loves, and fights for Israel. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-hochul-dinapoli_4-10799006_20260607193139.jpg Israel Day Parade politicians and signs thanking them amidst press, police and other security. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-menin-james-dinapol_4-10799000_20260607193133.jpg Israel Day Parade signs thanking Letitia James, Julie Menin, Tom DiNapoli. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/israel-day-parade-letitia-nadler-gold_4-10799008_20260607193141.jpg Israel Day Parade politicians in their cordon, Dan Goldman, Letita James, Kathy Hocal at left. https://www.westsidespirit.com/home/archbishops-of-ny-and-san-antonio-adopt-new-teams-wager-on-nba-finals-MN5924907 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-08T14:35:29-04:00 Archbishops of NY and San Antonio Adopt New Teams, Wager on NBA Finals https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-08-at-1-04-40-pm_4-10801916_20260608130729.png Archbishop Gustavo of San Antonio (left) and Archbishop Hicks of NY (right) made a friendly wager on the outcome of the NBA finals, between the San Antonio Spurs and NY Knicks, before Game 1 June 3. https://www.westsidespirit.com/home/weekend-storm-leaves-trail-of-trees-across-city-BN5924636 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-08T14:59:07-04:00 Weekend Storm Leaves Trail of Trees Across City https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/fallen-tree-storm-8-6_4-10801041_20260608132324.jpg Alex Bailey, a user on ‘Nextdoor,’ shared a photo of a fallen tree that had completely toppled over and broken the fence in a park in the West Village. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/nyc-parks-forestry-crew_4-10802296_20260608132323.jpg NYC Parks’ forestry crew set out to clean up the damage left from a thunderstorm Saturday, June 6, including parts of trees that had fallen due to strong winds and rain. (Credit: NYC Parks) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/yesterday-a-massive-tree-branch-in-to_4-10803334_20260608145849.webp A large branch blocking a pathway in Thompkin Square Park, damaging one of the benches. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/1000-lucky-new-yorkers-win-50-world-cup-tickets-through-lottery-NM5925168 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-08T15:28:27-04:00 1000 Lucky New Yorkers Win $50 World Cup Tickets Through Lottery https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/mamdani-world-cup-tickets_4-10803563_20260608152731.webp Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that he would be awarding 1000 New Yorkers with $50 tickets to FIFA World Cup matches May 21. (Credit: NYC Office of the Mayor) https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-08-at-3-25-02-pm_4-10802431_20260608152733.png Mayor Zohran Mamdani called lucky winners of his six-day World Cup ticket lottery, surprising them with the news. (Credit: @NYCMayor) https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/game-3-watch-party-scuttled-as-frozen-zone-surrounds-msg-for-trump-visit-GN5924954 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-08T17:15:47-04:00 Game 3 Watch Party Scuttled as Frozen Zone Surrounds MSG for Trump Visit https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-1448_4-10802266_20260608131047.jpg Secret Service officers patrolling the stadium before the lockdown. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-1432_4-10802276_20260608131048.jpg Extra barricades stacked near the back entrance of the arean. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-1712_4-10803420_20260608151426.jpg An estimated 6,500 fans swarmed to the watch party outside Madison Square Garden for Game 2 on June 5. No watch party was going to held outside MSG on Game 3 but Mayor Mamdani said a watch party for 5,000 fans was going to be held in Bryant Park instead. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-1414_4-10802275_20260608131052.jpg NYPD officers guarding the main gate into the arena prior to the start of Game 3 of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/manhattan-electeds-escalate-attack-on-trump-penn-station-plan-byford-fires-back-JJ5920685 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-06-08T18:19:50-04:00 Manhattan Electeds Escalate Attack on Trump Penn Station Plan; Byford Fires Back https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/brad-hoylman-nadler-outside-msg-kjk_4-10798463_20260607125312.jpg Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal (at mic) mc’d a press conference outside Madison Square Garden on the morning of June 7 that included (from left) Assemblymember Tony Simone, newly elected City Council member Carl Wilson, Congressman Jerry Nadler, NYS Senator Liz Krueger and Reinvent Albany senior policy advisor Rachael Fauss. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/exterior-of-proposed-new-penn-station_4-10804106_20260608181936.jpg Rendering of the exterior of the proposed new Penn Station which would face Eighth Avenue. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/interior-of-proposed-new-penn-station_4-10804109_20260608181937.jpg An artist rendition of what developers Halmar, the American subsidiary of the Italian company, ASTM, and Swedish firm Skanska say will be a brighter interior with high ceilings. It will involve buying the Madison Square Garden Theater on Eighth Ave. and building a new entrance. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-07-124624_4-10798624_20260607130618.png Rep. Jerry Nadler warned that a new bill introduced by Republican Congressman Addison McDowell cedes too much power to Amtrak over land use around Penn Station, which he says would strip that right from state and city government. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/liz-krueger-outside-msg_4-10798627_20260607130620.png NYS Senator Liz Krueger, who has resumed public appearances following her mild stroke in early April, teamed up with other Manhattan politicians across the street from Madison Square Garden on June 7 in announcing their joint opposition to the Trump Administration’s plan on Penn Station.