Yer Man’s Irish Pub Owner Says Queens Bar Won’t Survive Without Indoor Dining

By Jessica Easthope

“The five boroughs are held hostage,” said Jimmy O’Reilly, the owner of Yer Man’s Irish Pub in Glendale, Queens.

After 27 years it’s come down to the wire for Jimmy and his bar. Yer Man’s has been closed for nearly six months. The business is now scraping by on a few hundred dollars a week, losing money and customers by the day.

“Nassau County’s open, it’s only a few miles from here, and people are leaving us, we have barely any curbside service anymore, because they can go out east, a few miles away and eat inside,” Jimmy said.

Space restrictions don’t allow for outdoor dining at Yer Man’s.

“To me it’s a liability, it doesn’t pay and it’s a waste of time, if I had a parking lot, fine, but you can’t pay the bills with a few tables outside, for any place,” said Jimmy.

According to Partnership for New York City, when the pandemic is over roughly one-third of the city’s 240,000 small businesses may never open again. Jimmy’s doing everything he can to make sure Yer Man’s isn’t one of them.

Earlier this summer Jimmy redesigned the entire bar for social distancing when his doors reopen, but they never did. He thought of every possible precaution he could take to make it safe for people to return, even installing a hook on the door so that no one would have to touch the handle.

“Is there a way where we can do something safely with indoor dining? So far we have not had that moment,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio August 31.

Jimmy says he can’t win.

“Maybe all I’ve done is in vain, because it’s backward we’re going and they don’t seem like they want us to reopen,” he said.

Jimmy’s spent more than $120,000 from loans just to keep the lights on. If things continue this way, he says he won’t survive for three more months.

“Never in my life thought this would happen, nobody did, it’s every business, every restaurant that’s going through torture and outdoor dining isn’t going to cut it,” Jimmy said.

Even with no end in sight, Jimmy is continuing to raise the bar, making his pub as safe as possible for reopening, hoping Yer Man’s will live to see the day.

Currents News full broadcast for Mon, 8/31/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

The COVID crisis is turning education upside down, even for future priests.

The Big Apple’s public schools might not open on time as teachers are worried about their safety.

A war of words between President Trump and Portland’s Mayor over who’s guilty of promoting violence in the city.

An Inside Look at Producing Virtual Conventions

Currents News Staff

The conventions have concluded, but many are still talking about how the pandemic changed these traditional events.

Philip Alongi has worked in production for some 30 years, and was the executive producer for the RNC in 2012 and 2016. He is also on the Executive Committee of Communications for the USCCB, and has covered the pope.

There has been a lot of discussion about how slickly produced these virtual conventions went, without many hiccups. Philip joins Currents News to give his take on the unconventional conventions.

Faith of Seminarians Renewed By Pandemic as School Starts at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers

By Jessica Easthope

Class is in session at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. This year, due to the pandemic, there are a lot of extra rules and precautions. But when it comes to vocations, it’s back to basics.

“It’s been a time of challenge and a time to get back to basics for them, prayer, dedicated to the common life and renewing friendship and fraternity, supporting each other,” said Father Michael Bruno, the Dean of Seminarians.

Fr. Bruno’s priorities are usually faith, classwork and everything else. This year, safety is added to the list.

“All of the common areas went through a deep clean, in the common areas everyone is wearing a mask and we have several options for remote learning,” Father Bruno said.

Father Bruno says the seminarians are diving headfirst into their formation. For Callistus Ibeh, the months leading up to his first year in a major seminary have given him a closer look into what it’s like to be a priest.

“Being able to work with the people in whatever challenge they’re going through like this pandemic, it was really tough but as a leader, a priest you need to have a strong spirit,” Callistus said.

Unlike Callistus, the first day of school jitters are long gone for Joseph Hadzovic, a third-year-Theologian. He says the pandemic has been a lesson learned. It made him examine his relationship with God and his vocation more closely.

“If it’s for the glory, if it’s for people praising me, no one could praise me during COVID-19,” he explained. “I couldn’t see anybody, so you really have to ask yourself why am I doing this?”Joseph said.

For the seminarians, being back at school means being back in the community they love.

“They realize the importance of community, studying in an environment where they’re supported by fellow students, their teachers are in person, I think there’s a real desire to be together in the learning process,” said Bishop James Massa, the Rector at St. Joseph’s Seminary.

For the seminarians, the pandemic has renewed their priorities and their faith. God, prayer and community, matter most.

President Trump, Mayor Ted Wheeler Trade Words Following Shooting in Portland

Currents News Staff

Warning: this piece contains graphic video that some viewers may find disturbing.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown is putting out a plan to try and bring calm to the city of Portland.

It follows months of protests against police brutality and a deadly shooting over the weekend as pro-Trump supporters rode into the city and clashed with demonstrators.

Portland’s mayor Ted Wheeler took aim at President Trump Sunday, August 30 following a shooting death in Portland Saturday night after a caravan of Trump supporters rolled through the city, clashing with anti-police brutality protesters.

“You’ve tried to divide us more than any other figure in modern history” Wheeler said of Trump. “And now you want me to stop the violence you helped create.”

Trump responded by lashing out at the mayor on Twitter, calling Wheeler a fool, among other things.

Saturday night’s shooting was caught on video.

A witness said the victim “sprayed mace and launched it right into the other guy.”

Currents News has not confirmed if the victim is the person who sprayed the mace.

According to New York Times reporter Mike Baker, the man killed was wearing a hat with the insignia of Patriot Prayer, a far-right wing group that has clashed with protesters before.

Trump tweeted “rest in peace” about the shooting victim, while again criticizing Mayor Wheeler.

Wheeler said Trump inspired the conflict in the city.

“Hundreds of cars filled with supporters of the president rallying in Clackamas County and then driving through downtown Portland,” he explained, “they were supported and energized by the president himself.”

Saturday’s shooting came just days after a Trump supporter from Illinois traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin and allegedly killed two people during protests there.

Pope Francis: The Life of a Christian Is Always a Fight Against Evil

Currents News Staff

A sense of joy greeted Pope Francis as he looked out from a window of the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with pilgrims, who have slowly been returning to Rome.

He explained that the life of a Christian is always a fight against evil. He gave the example of St. Peter, who was tempted even after Jesus promised to make him the foundation of the Church.

“It happens to all of us! In moments of devotion, fervor, good will, of nearness to our neighbor, we look to Jesus and continue on, but in moments where we encounter the cross, we run away,” he said. “The devil, Satan, as Jesus says to Peter, tempts us.”

In front of current difficulties, Pope Francis encouraged pilgrims to understand the language of the cross. He said Jesus considers running away from it a stumbling block.

“Considering this, we allow the cross hanging on the wall at home, or that small one we wear around our neck, to be a sign of our desire to be united with Christ in serving, with love, our brothers and sisters, especially the smallest and most fragile,” he said

After the Angelus, the pontiff called for dialogue and respect for the rule of law. This was in light of tensions between Greece and Turkey over maritime rights and claims to gas reserves.

He lamented the environmental disaster on the Island of Mauritius, caused by an oil spill that has put the ecosystem in danger.

He also said that the “Jubilee for the Earth” will be celebrated from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4. It will begin with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

President Trump to Accept Party Nomination Following RNC Day Three Keynote by Vice President Pence

Vice President Mike Pence spoke at Maryland’s Fort McHenry, signaling optimism.

“America needs four more years of President Donald Trump,” the vice president said. “President Donald Trump believes in America and the goodness of the American people, the boundless potential of every American to live out their dreams in freedom.”

And for them to do that in a country of law and order.

“We will have law and order on the streets of this country, for every American of every race and creed and color,” said Pence.

While racial unrest persists in cities like Kenosha, Wisconsin and Portland, Oregon, former NFL player Jack Brewer, who called himself a lifelong Democrat who supports Donald Trump, addressed the issue.

“I know what racism looks like. I’ve seen it firsthand and in America it has no resemblance to President Trump, and I’m fed up with the way he’s portrayed in the media who refuse to acknowledge what he’s actually done for the Black community,” he said.

He said the country isn’t as divided as our politics suggest, and that policies must take priority over personalities.

One of those policies that Sister Dede Byrne of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary spoke about is abortion law.

“Donald Trump is the most pro-life president this nation has ever had, defending life at all stages,” she said. “His belief in the sanctity of life transcends politics.”

Viewers also met a 25-year-old who’s running for Congress in North Carolina, Madison Cawthorn. He spoke about the accident that put him in a wheelchair, but said God protected his mind and his ability to speak for those who feel forgotten. His speech about adversity ended with a memorable moment.

“I say to Americans who love our country – young and old – be a radical for freedom,” he said. “Be a radical for liberty. Be a radical for our republic for which it stand, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

Currents News full broadcast for Thurs, 8/27/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Hurricane Laura is swirling north and still a huge danger.

The FBI is taking charge of the case involving the death of Jacob Blake.

New York City’s public schools are going low-tech to check if classrooms are safe.

‘Bobbi & the Strays’ Shelter Says Loneliness, Free Time Led to More Pet Adoptions During Pandemic

By Jessica Easthope

How could you resist the face of an adorable dog or cat? Right now, not many people can.

At Bobbi & the Strays in Glendale, Queens, cats and dogs are on the move, from the shelter into the loving arms of their new owners.

“There are a lot of people who want to adopt and rescue and they’re asking for older animals which is a great thing,” said Bobbi Giordano, the owner of Bobbi & the Strays.

Since the pandemic, adoptions at the shelter have spiked. From March to August of 2019, 207 animals were adopted. In that same time this year, there have been 233 adoptions. As for the reason for the spike, Bobbi has a few theories about why people can’t walk away from the animals.

“They’re lonely, they’re home, their outside life is not what it used to be and they want companions,” Bobbi said.

For Bobbie, what’s even more important than an increase in adoptions is a decrease in people returning younger dogs. From March to August of last year, 20 animals adopted from the shelter were returned. This year that number was cut in half.

Bobbi and her staff say taking care of the animals is their calling, and the compassion they feel toward them is tied to their faith.

“I do believe in God, and I believe that he sent these animals here to me. That this is my calling,” said Bobbi.

“I feel that God gives me the energy, he gives me the strength, I really do, and I’m going to continue doing this for as long as I can. I might not be able to save the world but I’m going to try,” said Jeanine Farias, an employee at the shelter.

Though Bobbi & the Strays has saved many lives over the years, the staff says the animals save them right back by giving them a purpose. That was the case with Buddy.

“A man called me up and asked me to take a dog he found in the park, and then when he came here he said his wife had him in the basement and he was afraid to get arrested because of how he looked. He never had a haircut or anything and I had to take him,” Bobbi said.

Bobbi says the pandemic is helping people understand what her animals taught her long ago: “You need them more than they need you.”

Life of Hope Center & Haitian Americans United for Progress Aim to Boost 2020 Census Completion

By Emily Drooby

Advocate groups say that when it comes to completing the 2020 Census, getting that word out to the Haitian community during this next month will be crucial to increasing their participation in being counted.

“We can help with the applications, we can help them through the process because it is very important to us that everyone is counted for, because we are one New Yorker, we are one family, one community and it is up to us to make a difference,” said Porez Luxama, executive director of the Life of Hope Center in Brooklyn.

The organization has been working hard to overcome any reluctance to be counted, especially among immigrants in Brooklyn and Queens.

They have been giving the Haitian community special attention. Porez said that in the 2010 Census, only 30 percent of people were counted. Now, the number is over 50 percent. He said his group has contacted more than two thousand people alone.

“It’s still hard for us to get everyone engaged, because they have fear and the COVID makes it worse now,” Porez told Currents News.

Fears that immigration agents could get a hold of the information, a historically rooted distrust for government, pandemic quarantining and fears over the government and landlords knowing how many people are living in one home, have all prevented people from signing up for the census.

Larue Beharry, who volunteers with a second group working on this, Haitian Americans United for Progress, says it’s also a lack of understanding which is what these groups are trying to fix by speaking one-on-one with people.

“Once you break that barrier, once you are able to connect with people as fellow immigrants the barrier just comes down, it’s just the ability to talk to them and make them aware,” she explained.

Another issue? The census deadline, which was moved up to September 30, a month earlier than originally announced.

Volunteer Herold Dasque explained that despite the issues, representation is vital.

“It’s not about ICE, it’s not about immigration, it’s not about the administration,” he said. “It’s about the next 10 years of allocation and services that our people can receive, wherever they are.”

Census numbers determine funding for local schools, hospitals and roads. It also helps businesses decide where to build factories, offices and stores. It even shows developers where to build and what neighborhoods to fix up.

“But everybody needs to be counted for the census in order to have better services, better allocation in our states and our city, and to serve the people,” said Porez.

The two groups will continue their outreach until the deadline.

The online Census can be found at: https://2020census.gov/

A phone version is available at 844-330-2020. A Haitian Creole option is also available by phone at 844-477-2020.