BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Happy Veterans Day to all
veterans of all branches of our
military: Thank you for serving
our country. Your sacrifi
ces and bravery enable us to
relish and cherish the protections
and freedoms of our great
nation. May God bless you all.
Do not let the heartbreaking
damage and destruction
that Ida brought to our community,
our city, fall by the wayside.
The August 2020 fury of
Tropical Storm Isaias inspired
statewide public hearings. The
aftermath of Ida certainly warrants
citywide, multiple agency
investigations and examination
of NYC’s inadequate infrastructure
and plans to offset
future anticipated inland fl ooding.
HOSPITAL RESOURCES
The health concerns of
many Bronx County residents
have elevated during the Covid
19 pandemic. However, data
indicates Bronx County was
in the midst of a pre-pandemic
health crisis.
The young and elderly are
among the most vulnerable
members of society. Approximately
1.5 million people reside
in Bronx County. A recent
age breakdown showed 13%
of our residents are over age
65, 24% are under age 18, with
8% of those being under age 5.
It is plausible to suggest 25%
of our population could be labeled
vulnerable. A 2021 report
by The County Healthy Rankings
and Roadmaps, a program
of the University of Wisconsin
Population Health Institute,
mirrored a March 2020 report
by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation. In 2020, The RWJ
Foundation, for the ninth consecutive
year, rated our Bronx
the unhealthiest county in
New York State. According to
2018 data released by “Pro Publica,”
Bronx County has approximately
4,000 hospital beds
and an 80% average daily capacity.
In the event of an unforeseen
crisis, the “pre-pandemic”
Bronx had an estimated
800 available hospital beds. The
poor health rating of our borough
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N 46 OV. 12-18, 2021 BTR
with potentially 375,000
people in the risk category and
a shortage of hospital bed space
are cause for concern. These
factors warrant studies to determine
the accessibility, effi -
ciency and effi cacy of hospital
resources in Bronx County.
DETOX CLOSURES
Pre-pandemic reports by
“The City” and local News12
indicated lack of use and high
costs forced the closures of inpatient
detox units in all 11
NYC-run hospitals. Although
none of the Bronx facilities had
dedicated detox units, these
facilities treated patients in
traditional hospital settings.
Opponents to these closures
believe losses of hospital-based
inpatient detox services will
eventually place additional
stress on overburdened emergency
rooms. In addition, their
discontinuations will likely
increase the number of ineffective
outpatient substance
abuse treatment facilities in
or near residential communities.
Statistics from the World
Health Organization and National
Institute of Health indicates
the current outpatient
model has an insuffi cient 25%-
30% success rate. Outpatient
substance abuse treatment facilities
are businesses; many
operate under the non-profi t
umbrella. These businesses
are part of a lucrative multibillion
dollar industry and
often face community resistance.
Past community battles
against Miracle City and Carnegie
Hill bear witness to this
confrontational dynamic. This
begs the question: Would an interim
plan to consolidate, not
eliminate, inpatient substance
abuse treatment services in
city-run hospitals been a practical
option?
Next meeting of the Spencer
Estate Association is
scheduled for Wednesday, Nov.
17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Knights
of Columbus. Elected offi cials
and agency heads gauge community
resolve by attendances
at civic meetings. Tell a friend,
a packed house sends a message.
If we want to keep and
reap the blessings of our fi ne
quality of life, we must endure
the fatigue of supporting it.
Our community has traditionally
exhibited a “We are Family
attitude.” Now is the time
to let it shine. Communicate;
make that phone call, text message
or email. Please check on
family, friends and neighbors,
especially the elderly and vulnerable.
Any area homeowner
or renter interested in the
Spencer Estate Civic Association
attend the Nov. 17 meeting
or send an email to spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com
R e m e m b e r :
Community=Common-Unity
and Inclusion brings Solutions.
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Association
BY THOMAS X. CASEY
The East Bronx History Forum
(EBHF) and the Huntington
Free Library are pleased to
announce the forum will hold
its 159th meeting on Thursday,
Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. with a
Zoom presentation, “Bronx-
Westchester in the Revolution
1776” by Eastchester Town
Historian and EBHF member
Richard Forliano. He will be
assisted by a guest appearance
from George Washington, aka
Mike Grillo.
The Boston Marathon is
held April 19 to celebrate the
fi rst shots during the American
Revolution in 1775. We
also recall the Battle of Bunker
Hill on June 17, 1775. The
British realized that being
isolated at Boston would not
break the Revolution and
sent their forces to New York
and resulted in the Battle of
Brooklyn, Aug. 27, 1776. Admiral
Lord Richard Howe and
brother Gen. William Howe
expected the Continental
Army to surrender, but were
surprised that John Glover
aided George Washington and
his troops to retreat across
the East River and Harlem
Heights. On Oct. 12, 1776, the
plan to capture George Washington
was revealed with the
British landing in the Bronx.
Find out why we should have
a Bronx Marathon on Oct. 12.
Forliano, a lifelong history
teacher, received a bachelor
of arts degree in history
from Muhlenberg College and
a master’s degree in social
studies from Iona College, and
served as a professor of education
at Concordia College. In
1988, he was appointed Eastchester
town historian, a position
he still holds today. He
has served as chairman of the
board in charge of guiding St.
Paul’s Church National Historic
Site. Forliano wrote more
than 90 articles on local history
for a column in the Town
Report titled “Historically
Speaking.”
Grillo in known to give special
presentations as George
Washington, in his military
uniform. Grillo is an education
director at the Van Cortlandt
House Museum in the Bronx.
Please join us and fi nd out
how the Bronx infl uenced the
American Revolution in 1776.
The East Bronx History Forum
will post the login details
on our web page at BronxNYC.
com. Please help defray the
cost of the meetings by using
the donate button. We will
meet online at 8 p.m., Thursday,
Nov. 18. Happy Thanksgiving
to all.
CIVIC CENTER
The East Bronx
History Forum
Photo courtesy Thomas Casey
Covid19 vaccine booster
shots available in front of
Benedetto’s offi ce
State Assemblyman Michael
Benedetto is sponsoring
the Covid19 vaccine
booster shot in front of his offi
ce at 3602 E. Tremont Ave.,
on Thursday, Nov. 18. The
mobile van will be parked
curb side from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Pfi zer and J&J booster vaccines
will be available. It is
possible to mix doses.
People in the following
groups are eligible to receive
a booster shot at least
six months after receiving
their Pfi zer fi rst and second
doses or two months after the
1-shot J&J vaccination:
65 years and older
Age 18+ who live in a longterm
setting.
Age 18+ who have underlying
medical conditions.
Age 18+ who live or work
in high-risk settings.
The vaccinations are being
provided through the
Bronx Health REACH Institute
for Family Health. For
further information call
Benedetto’s offi ce at (718) 892-
2235.
Throggs Neck American Legion
Post annual Penny Sale Nov. 21
The Throggs Neck American
Legion Memorial Unit
No. 1456 will host its annual
Penny Sale on Sunday,
Nov. 21, at the Throggs
Neck Memorial American
Legion Post, 1456 Shore
Drive, Bronx, New York. A
$5 donation includes one
envelope, cake and coffee.
There will also be raffl es,
sweepstakes, door prizes
and more.
Come down for a day of
fun. Doors open at 1 p.m.
The sale begins at 2 p.m.
For more details, call the
post at 718-822-9502.
TO ADVERTISE CALL 718-260-4593
link
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