https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/9-11-photographer-recalls-three-iconic-shots-taken-amid-chaos-LL6184841 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-02T14:23:34-04:00 9/11 Photographer Recalls Three Iconic Shots Taken Amid Chaos https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/shannon-stapelton_4-11080304_20260911130536.jpg Photographer Shannon Stapleton at a visit to the reflecting pool marking the 20th anniversary of 9-11 in 2021. He’s proud of the award winning work he did that day, but says he rarely ventures back to Ground Zero. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/photo-of-mychal-judge_4-11094227_20260911135757.jpg An exhibit in the Fire Museum features the Shannon Stapleton photo of Father Mychal Judge who died on 9-11. At the time, Stapleton said he had no idea that he had captured a photo of the beloved FDNY chaplain. It would become known as the “American Pieta.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/turnout-jacket-of-fr-mychal-judge_4-11094230_20260911135758.jpg The turnout coat and helmet worn by FDNY chaplain Father Mychal Judge is on permanent display at the recently reopened Fire Museum on Spring Street. Shannon Stapleton’s iconic photo is part of the exhibit. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/fr-mychal-judge-sculpture-flickr-crea_4-11094233_20260911135758.jpg A Waterford crystal etching of the famous Shannon Stapleton photo of FDNY chaplain Mychal Judge being carried in a chair by five men sits in the firehouse directly across the street from St. Francis of Assisi Church. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/ues-uws-to-be-targeted-for-more-affordable-housing-development-DD6252630 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-02T17:39:26-04:00 UES, UWS to Be Targeted For More Affordable Housing Development https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-10-02-at-4-29-27-pm_4-11160659_20261002163121.png The Upper East Side and Upper West Side have been targeted for affordable housing “fast-track” development by the Mamdani administration, citing lagging housing goal figures. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-10-02-at-4-32-28-pm_4-11160775_20261002163655.png Fast-tracking would grant developers expedited project approvals in the targeted UWS and UES districts. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/archdiocese-turns-down-100g-donation-for-historic-little-italy-church-stirring-speculation-FE6251016 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-03T23:08:59-04:00 Archdiocese Turns Down $100G Donation for Historic Little Italy Church, Stirring Speculation https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/most-precious-blood-church-in-2025-4_4-11159022_20261003225041.webp The church of Most Precious Blood on Baxter Street has been merged with the Basilica of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Mulberry Street but the Archdiocese has turned down a $100,000 donation from the San Gennaro Festival that was earmarked for Most Precious Blood. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-2454-4-11139394-20260928021136_4-11160846_20261003225446.webp The feast of San Gennaro in the Little Italy, the oldest and largest Italian-America festival in the city, celebrated its 100th anniversary this September. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-10-02-152209_4-11160843_20261003223157.png Bishop Edmund Whalen, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York ordered the $100,000 check earmarked for the church of Most Precious Blood to be returned to the San Gennaro Festival. Festival organizers said they were “stunned.” https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/one-nomination-could-put-a-manhattan-teacher-in-line-for-25000-NC6253483 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-10-04T14:04:12-04:00 One Nomination Could Put a Manhattan Teacher In Line for $25,000 https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/3e0a7475-4-10814127-20260612132232_4-11160868_20261004140416.webp Ian Weissman, a social studies teacher at Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, received the 2025 FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. The winner is always handed the award in a surprise ceremony. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/3e0a7481-4-10821215-20260612132249_4-11160952_20261004140416.webp The winner of the 2025 FLAG award in Manhattan, teacher Ian Weissman poses with Risa Daniels (left) and Laura Twersky (right), Co-Presidents of The FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/img-0766_4-11160872_20261004002132.jpg Ian Weissman, a teacher at Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, holds his giant $25K check in 2025.