https://www.otdowntown.com/news/archdiocese-turns-down-100g-donation-for-historic-little-italy-church-stirring-speculation-FE6251016 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-10-03T23:08:59-04:00 Archdiocese Turns Down $100G Donation for Historic Little Italy Church, Stirring Speculation https://www.otdowntown.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.otdowntown.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.otdowntown.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.otdowntown.com/news/one-nomination-could-put-a-manhattan-teacher-in-line-for-25000-NC6253483 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-10-04T14:04:12-04:00 One Nomination Could Put a Manhattan Teacher In Line for $25,000 https://www.otdowntown.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.otdowntown.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.otdowntown.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. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/ukrainian-refugee-students-face-uncertainty-as-tps-deadline-nears-LC6253926 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-10-04T22:28:05-04:00 Ukrainian Refugee Students Face Uncertainty As TPS Deadline Nears https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/saint-george-academy-ukraine-refugee-tps-1_4-11161332_20261004203621.jpg Saint George Academy, owned by St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic School, has provided unique support to Ukrainian refugee students. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/saint-george-academy-ukraine-refugee-tps-2_4-11161335_20261004203623.jpg The issue is close to the heart for Andrew Stasiw, the principal of Saint George Academy, who is Ukrainian American. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/saint-george-academy-ukraine-refugee-tps-4_4-11161340_20261004203626.jpg The Ukraine flag is seen throughout Saint George Academy’s cases and stairwells. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/saint-george-academy-ukraine-refugee-tps-3_4-11161339_20261004203629.jpg Catholic mosaics and photos of past classes decorate the walls of Saint George Academy. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/saint-george-academy-ukraine-refugee-tps-5_4-11161341_20261004203631.jpg On a bulletin board, a sheet of paper saying “We stand with UKRAINE” is pinned up on the cork. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/saint-george-academy-ukraine-refugee-tps-6_4-11161338_20261004203633.jpg Saint George Academy keeps much of Ukrainian culture alive.