The Manhattan Times

by Adam Garrett-Clark

As the first flakes of the March 1 snow storm fell on traffic flowing from the Washington Bridge at W. 181st Street and Amsterdam Avenue, Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat gathered with local and city politicians against Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver’s proposal for a $2 toll on East and Harlem River bridges as a way to raise money for the ailing Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).

On March 4 Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau announced the indictment and arrest of local restaurateur Rolando Lantigua, Jr. for failing to pay $309,299 in state and city sales taxes.

by Daniel P. Bader

Most actors will take almost any role they can get, but not Yolanny Rodriguez. She’s in love with her native tongue, and only wants to act in Spanish.

March Community Board 12 Meetings

by Daniel P. Bader

In February of 1989, Marie Paek and her husband Chang Paek bought the Sunny Hallmark Card Shop on W. 181st Street near Bennett Avenue. Marie remembers she didn’t have a clue about how to run the business.

Bodega Stories

by Darlyn Francisco

Bodegas are ubiquitous throughout Northern Manhattan. This is the second in an occasional series by professional photographer Christopher Auger-Dominguez about the owners and stores that we all rely on.

Con Ed Box

According to a Consolidated Edison spokesperson the big blue ConEd truck parked on Pinehurst Avenue overnight from March 4-5 was replacing a transformer. Work continues on Cabrini Boulevard, said the spokesperson, workers replacing components that caused a XXX black out wanted to upgrade other equipment while they were there.

If you look at the cover of this issue just below the words “Manhattan Times” there is a special number. It says Vol. 10. Roughly nine years ago, on Feb. XXXXXX, 2000, it read Vol. 1, the first edition of the Manhattan Times.

Neighborhood Blog Watch

These are a few of the Web sites and blogs that are helping to build online communities in Northern Manhattan.