Positve Influence game on July 26, 2022. Photo: Stephan Russo Positive Influence Takes to the Courts The weather had reached well into the 90’s, but Andrew Blacks was hauling cases of water and drinks along with bags of ice... News 28 Jul 2022 | 03:37
The Man Behind Ivan Pharmacy Walk into Ivan Pharmacy at 691 Columbus Avenue and you feel like you have entered a bygone era. Ivan Jourdain, who has been... News 08 Jul 2022 | 09:48
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. Photo: Stephan Russo Reflections On the Civil Rights Trail I just returned from a 10-day journey through a section of the country that has been designated as the Civil Rights Trail... News 20 May 2022 | 01:29
Dr. Sheila Gordon with her granddaughter. Photo: Nathaniel Johnston Dr. Sheila Carol Gordon – A Remembrance The West Side community lost one of its truly inspirational members last month with the passing of Dr. Sheila Carol Gordon.... News 30 Apr 2022 | 09:26
Ronald Kapon at Zabar’s. Photo: Stephan Russo From Wine Connoisseur to Stellar Volunteer I recently wrote a piece on Andrew Blacks and the Positive Influence basketball program at Amsterdam Houses. Andrew has a... Voices 16 Mar 2022 | 10:26
Andrew Blacks (far right) and Cole Anthony of the Orlando Magic (back row, second from left) at Positive Influence Basketball. Photo courtesy of Andrew Blacks Andrew Blacks and Positive Influence Basketball Know How to Build Bridges Andrew Blacks is one persistent, determined person. We are in the middle of winter but planning is well underway for the... News 28 Feb 2022 | 12:31
Council Member Gale Brewer speaking at the memorial for Yao Pan Ma. Photo: Gale A. Brewer on Twitter Council Member Gale Brewer Returns to Her Beloved West Side Community It was a cold day when Gale Brewer arrived at the French Roast on Broadway and 85th Street to talk with me last week about... News 28 Jan 2022 | 02:25
Larry Kelly at the Dive Bar on Amsterdam and 96th Street, his favorite watering hole. The bar tracked Kelly’s recovery and celebrated his homecoming after 128 days in the hospital and rehab center with COVID. Photo courtesy of Dawn Kelly Thoughts on the Pandemic Aftermath With the advent of the COVID-19 vaccine, the proliferation of the booster and the slog to return to the things we love doing,... News 05 Nov 2021 | 09:55
CREA students throwing their caps in the air. Photo: Daniel Barcelo A Day of Celebration It is not hard to find the “feel good stories” as the city of New York emerges from the devastation of its16-month pandemic... News 02 Jul 2021 | 09:35
Pedro Aguilar with a West Side Campaign Against Hunger food pallet. Photo: Stephanie Moshier ‘My Heart Will Forgive’ What started out as a special holiday gift for the residents of Amsterdam Houses on December 11, 2020 ended in an unfathomable... News 06 Feb 2021 | 02:10
Injection site. Photo courtesy of Stephan Russo A Chase for the Elusive COVID-19 Vaccine New York City lags far behind in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The most recent data show that the city had used... News 19 Jan 2021 | 12:42
Maryam Banikarim of NYCNext said “it was hard not to cry” at their Broadway event where Bernadette Peters (bottom left) and others sang on the TKTS steps. Photo courtesy of NYCNext Share Gratitude 2020 Gale Brewer Manhattan Borough President This year has seen an amazing outpouring of volunteers. I have seen them in every corner... Features 22 Dec 2020 | 01:31
The Belleclaire Hotel on Broadway has been housing homeless men and women. Photo: Eden, Janine and Jim, via flickr Déjà vu All Over Again? I had to do a double take when the headline in the news said the city had moved hundreds of homeless men and women into West... News 14 Aug 2020 | 10:35
Photo courtesy of Stephan Russo. COVID Redux Back in April, I wrote a piece for the West Side Spirit about my bout with COVID-19. I had tested positive and was hospitalized... News 01 Jul 2020 | 04:00
Brian Stokes Mitchell singing from his apartment. ( Photo: Stephan Russo) 'The Impossible Dream' Comes to an End The days grow long as New Yorkers continue to stay in place awaiting the reopening of our city. If you walk outside, there... Voices 01 May 2020 | 12:01
