Pat Kiernan
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I wake up early to deliver the news on #MorningsOn1 for @NY1. Sometimes I host game shows. New Yorker. 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
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Articles by Pat Kiernan
Dr. Dave Ores: Removing barriers to care
When people visit Tompkins Square Park, they can take in the fresh air, run their dog around — and sometimes, they can see a doctor. "I had no plans on seeing a doctor in Tompkins Square, man. That was pretty cool,” said Billy Blanco, who visited the park on a Saturday morning. “He was right to the point. No waste of time." Dr. Dave Ores sets up this booth there every weekend.
Marianela Villao: A picture of service
When Marianela Villao snaps a picture, she has a simple objective. "I'm just looking for something I definitely want to remember again down the line, whether it be kind of, like, a funny license plate," she said. "Or just my friends hanging out." Villao was an avid photographer as a teenager, but then her hobby fell by the wayside. That was until she spotted an ad for a class at the Bronx Documentary Center in 2017. "We went around the Bronx taking a couple of photos," Villao said.
David Speciner: 'It's not a heavy lift'
David Speciner's time helping the Food Bank for NYC starts well before he gets to the nonprofit's Harlem pantry. The first step is putting together a bag of bags at his home in Washington Heights. "They don't realize how much food we're giving them and they don't have the means to carry it home," he said. "So we provide that." Speciner has been volunteering with the Food Bank for four years. The nonprofit supplied more than 90 million pounds of food to soup kitchens, schools and more just last year.
Emily Krupnick: A game of giving
Emily Krupnick is anything but lax in her praise for these athletes. "Over the last six months since I've been out here with them," Krupnick said. "It's, it's, it's a dramatic increase in, in talent and skill, athleticism. They look really great. " Krupnick is a volunteer with Bronx Lacrosse. The organization offers its namesake sport, tutoring, college readiness and more. "They use lacrosse as a method to get kids invested in and thriving in school," she said.
Jen Zanzonico: Not an 'anti-hero' but a hero for NYC
Jen Zanzonico has a lot to sing about. The playlist is set to Taylor Swift, and she's elbow-deep in one of her favorite pastimes: community service. "I'm feeling good,” Zanzonico said. “This is a lot of fun. And I'm happy to be surrounded by folks who are fellow volunteers as well as fellow Swifties." The Windsor Terrace resident is helping New York Cares, a volunteering nonprofit, stock 2,200 backpacks with school supplies.
Stu Lahn: An unofficial mayor
For years, Stu Lahn has been a familiar face at JASA’s Club 76 Older Adult Center on the Upper West Side, whether he’s calling bingo numbers, leading current events discussions or helping fellow members find discounted tickets to shows. Lahn has been involved with the center for 15 years. JASA, a nonprofit social services organization, operates older adult centers throughout New York City. “I tell everybody I went from being a workaholic to being a volunteer-aholic,” Lahn said.
Felipe Hernandez: Cheering on the LGBTQ+ community
Gotham Cheer is gearing up for a busy Pride season. The nonprofit organization is a platform for LGBTQ+ adults to grab their pom-poms and give back to the community. Felipe Hernandez is not only the co-founder.
Veronica 'Ronnie' Gambon: Bringing activity to Staten Island
On a stretch of the North Shore Esplanade where walkers pause for fresh air and ferry views, Veronica “Ronnie” Gambon hopes they also stop to pick up a book. Gambon, a West Brighton resident, helps stock and maintain a Little Free Library along the waterfront, inviting passersby to take a book, leave a book or simply browse. For her, the small wooden box offers something bigger than reading material.
Krystal DeVille: Wrapping up holiday magic
Krystal DeVille is an expert at wrapping together holiday magic for children at neighborhood shelters in Brooklyn. Kids who may otherwise go without gifts this season. “Now more than ever we all need to band together and help to bring cheer and goodwill and lots of love and fun for these children,” DeVille said.
Josefina Fanduiz: Caring for others like family
Meet Josefina Fanduiz, a volunteer at the New Jewish Home on the Upper West Side. Officially, Fanduiz is a Spanish-language translator for the occupational therapy unit. But in actuality, her role is so much more.
Colette Smith: Healing through advocacy
Colette Smith is at ease as she tends to the tree beds outside her Williamsbridge home — a ritual she calls both calming and restorative. “It's therapeutic and it's healing," said Smith, a lung cancer survivor. The Bronx resident cares for 22 of the beds in her neighborhood and it’s a far different life than the one she was living eight years ago.
Dave Rossberg: Smooth sailing with fellow veterans
With the engine started, the sail prepared and a few other tasks, these veterans are ready to hit the water. Dave Rossberg is the volunteer skipper guiding them through the boat's set-up and making sure they stay safe.
One-on-one with Curtis Sliwa: 'I'll make sure that the streets are safe'
With just two months until New York City voters cast ballots in the mayor’s race, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa on Wednesday sought to distinguish himself from his opponents by emphasizing public safety as a cornerstone of his campaign. During an interview on “Mornings On 1,” Sliwa argued that his approach to crime and policing sets him apart, pointing to recent shootings in Brooklyn and the Bronx as reasons for increasing incarceration in the city. “If you’re a gang member, obviously.
Mamdani hits Adams on corruption, promises new approach to City Hall
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani criticized Mayor Eric Adams’ administration Friday, calling attention to corruption and outlining his policy priorities during a one-on-one interview on “Mornings On 1.” The conversation came one day after Adams’ longtime confidante and former chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, was indicted on charges of accepting more than $75,000 in bribes during her time at City Hall.
Adams defends involuntary drug treatment proposal
Mayor Eric Adams defended his proposal to allow involuntary drug treatment for New Yorkers struggling with substance abuse, saying the measure is necessary to help people who are in danger to themselves or others. The Compassionate Interventions Act would give medical professionals the authority to hold someone at a hospital if they believe the person is at risk because of substance use. If the individual refuses treatment, a judge could mandate it.
NYC Hospitality Alliance reveals 2025 District Dining Guide
The NYC Hospitality Alliance has released its annual “District Dining Guide,” which offers suggestions for places to dine in numerous regions of the five boroughs. The suggestions are curated by dozens of elected officials around the city. Among the participants: City Comptroller Brad Lander, four of the five borough presidents, and dozens of city councilmembers. Brooklyn and Queens had the most recommendations in the article. For more information on the full list, visit thenycalliance.org.
Sonia Manzano: From 'Sesame Street' to volunteer way
Sonia Manzano is transporting these middle schoolers back in time to her childhood. "Is Ma right? Am I always daydreaming?" she said. She is reading from her memoir "Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx." Manzano has been making these classroom visits with "Meet the Writers" for the better part of a decade.
How ranked-choice voting works, explained with lunch
With early voting starting Saturday, understanding ranked-choice voting is more important than ever. NY1’s Pat Kiernan is making sense of it all using something we can all relate to: lunch. What is ranked-choice voting? Ranked-choice voting lets you rank up to five candidates in order of preference, instead of picking just one. On your ballot, each candidate has five bubbles next to their name. You fill in the first bubble for your top pick, the second for your next choice, and so on.
NYPD increases security at Jewish sites after fatal D.C. shooting
Two days after two Israeli Embassy staff members were fatally shot in Washington, D.C., the NYPD is maintaining an elevated security presence at Jewish and Israeli institutions across the city. In all five boroughs, police have deployed heavily armed officers to synagogues, cultural centers and schools as part of a broader deterrence strategy aimed at preventing potential copycat attacks.
From bike lanes to busways, public space becomes a key issue
Between now and the start of primary voting in June, NY1 is taking a closer look at the key issues in the race for mayor. This week’s focus: public space. How should New York City’s streets be used? What belongs on them? From bike lanes to busways to e-bikes and outdoor dining, the battle over public space is polarizing for many New Yorkers. Argumentative hearings and community board meetings have become the norm when street redesigns are proposed.
What voters should know about the mayor’s dependence on Albany
Between now and the start of primary voting in June, NY1 will take a closer look at the key issues in the race for mayor. This week’s topic is the mayor’s relationship with Albany — because while the mayor may be the face of New York City, the real power to enact major change often sits 100 miles north in the state capital. The reality is, whoever becomes mayor will need to spend as much time thinking about the state legislature and the governor’s office as they do City Hall.
Vegas convention showcases AI, robots and cutting-edge tech
Almost every industry was abuzz about artificial intelligence last year, and that hype only continued to grow at the 2025 annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas over the weekend. “Every software engineer, every engineer, every creative artist, everybody who uses computers today as a tool will need an AI supercomputer,” said Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia.
New Yorker of the Week: Chiara Seward
Chiara Seward is hesitant to call herself a Santa Claus. "I think all the people who send in the money and the gifts are Santas, and I'm just happy to be a part of it," she said. But the Park Slope resident is helping close to 40 children in domestic violence shelters get gifts for the holidays this year.
Aiman Youssef: Bringing hope to disaster survivors
Damaged furniture and debris line the front lawns in Newland, North Carolina. The town, an hour and a half outside Asheville, is recovering from Hurricane Helene. "Some places, there's just gone, just gone,” said Eric Arnold, whose mother lives in Newland. “Everything's gone." Aiman Youssef, of Staten Island, is trying to make it a little more manageable with truckloads of food, toiletries, clothing and more.
Lawrence Krieger: Helping high schoolers meet their goals
The high schoolers at South Bronx United are mapping out their next play: college. The Bronx nonprofit organization trains kids to score on and off the soccer field. Lawrence Krieger is one of their coaches as they prepare their college applications. "It's honestly a nice puzzle," Krieger said. "It's looking back at my own experience and seeing what I would have done differently. And now I can kind of help with that. And it's looking at different pieces saying, ‘You can fit there.
Toni Skidmore: Creating garments and opportunities
The women at Custom Collaborative are creating garments and opportunities. The Midtown program teaches immigrant and low-income women to work in sustainable fashion. Volunteer Toni Skidmore is helping them move to that next level. "I love seeing the creativity,” Skidmore said.
Rodney Hakes: Helping others one piece of furniture at a time
Rodney Hakes taps into his more innovative side when he is at Housing Works' Upper West Side thrift store. "I work in the financial sector, which is very analytical, lots of Excel spreadsheets,” Hakes said. “When I get to come here, what I found is merchandising the housewares gets to be more of a creative outlet for me." Hakes volunteers at the store every week to benefit Housing Works.
Rosalie Toledo: Cultivating a community garden oasis in New York
SWS Oasis is a place to connect with the Earth and with the community. By Pat Kiernan And Chelsea Katz The Bronx Ny1 Sep. 23, 2024 Excerpt: This space is affectionately referred to as the Sherman Avenue Garden. Before it was teeming with fruits and toys, it was a vacant lot. Then came Rosalie Toledo. “I feel alive, and I feel happy,” Toledo said, standing in the garden on a Monday afternoon. “You got the breeze. You got the sun.” Toledo lives in the area.
Rosalie Toledo: Cultivating a community garden oasis
SWS Oasis is a wonderland for 4-year-old Cairo Torres. “When he's in here, I don't feel like I need to be on top of him as much. I know that he’s doing his thing, and he’s having a good time, and he’s being safe,” Tamy Cruz, Cairo’s mother, said. What You Need To Know SWS Oasis is affectionately referred to as the Sherman Avenue Garden.
Jacqueline Duke: Pushing for health in the Rockaways
While there are perks to living in the picturesque Rockaways, there are also some drawbacks: locals say one of them is a lack of healthy food options. “I believe Rockaway can be labeled as a food desert as well,” Juvie Ann Alfeche, the public program coordinator at RISE Rockaway, said. “There’s just like, there’s a lot of bodegas.
Tamika Williams-Moore: Pomonok Houses Residents Association
When New Yorkers in central Queens need help keeping food on the table, the Pomonok Houses Residents Association steps in. “What we’re hoping to do is save people a little bit more money in their pockets by bringing fresh fruits and vegetables so that they can take that money and they can spend it elsewhere,” Residents Association president Tamika Williams-Moore said.
Zonobia Crowell: A place for community
As families in Cypress Hills get ready to head back to the classroom, Zonobia Crowell is making sure they have the tools to succeed. "We might not have all the, the supplies that they need, but I hope that it helps a little bit to, to get them on their way,” she said.
Liza Cooper: Making days a bit more colorful
Liza Cooper didn’t like what she was seeing on the subway: parents with their children in hot subway stations trying to make money by selling snacks. The underlying immigration and job search struggle that leads parents to bring their kids along as they work is a complicated issue. But to Cooper, there was something less complicated. She wanted to focus on the kids. "They are spending the days in this incredibly - it's probably 90 degrees in here,” she said. “It is so hot, and it's just very loud.
Kenya Mighty: Bringing music time to the Bronx
Kenya Mighty is prepared with the kid classics at the Nest Music Conservatory. This time it’s the tune “Baby Shark.” "It's popular with the kids,” Mighty said. “All the kids know that song." Mighty teaches music at the after-school and summer camp in Olinville. "A lot happens during music time,” Mighty said. “Bonding happens.
Michelle Finn: Community help in Park Slope
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Michelle Finn has an important role today at Community Help in Park Slope. “Coffee is my drug of choice,” Finn said.
Gail Cohen: Helping others pint by pint
Between the stickers, the chips and the cookies, you can call Gail Cohen “a canteen maven.” Cohen is a volunteer with the New York Blood Center. "We like to give it, you know, bring the snacks to them so they remain seated,” she said.
Brandon Montes: Creating a community through books
It began in 2018. “The scarcity of books really spoke volumes to me about our borough’s relationship with reading,” Brandon Montes, a Bronx native, said. There were no independent bookstores in the Bronx and Brandon Montes wanted to make his community a little better. He gathered some of his old books and stood outside a deli.
Paul Dietrich: A lifetime of service
Service is a lifelong commitment for retired colonel Paul Dietrich. He volunteers at the Blue Star Families’ food pantry at Fort Wadsworth. The pantry serves more than 150 families per service day. “It’s good to see that we are taking care of our veterans and our active duty people,” Dietrich said.
Rachael Cain: Cleaning the city and finding a flock
Consider these the pigeons you want to see volunteers, who call themselves the Pick Up Pigeons, cleaning up the streets of Canarsie. "Picking up trash is actually a lot of fun,” Rachael Cain, the group’s founder, said.
Alvin Eng: Keeping Chinatown's culture alive
As a young pride of lions finds their footing in Chinatown, Alvin Eng serves as their guide. Eng is a volunteer with the Chinatown Community Young Lions. The nonprofit teaches kids of all backgrounds the art of lion dancing. "I feel that it is best that I do it,” he said.
Ashley Windle: Bringing harmony to Washington Heights
Rehearsal is serious business for the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra. “There’s some spots we’re going to work on,” Ashley Windle, a violinist, said.
Ricardo Oropeza: A big brother and friend
Ricardo Oropeza is like a brother to Anuva Singha. The two were matched a year and a half ago through Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. “Thinking back to where I was and at that age, it’s just kind of difficult to get a perspective of what’s possible in the future because you’re only, you only know what you're given,” Oropeza said.
Joh Jarvis: Bringing a sense of Zen inside prison walls
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Miles Kirsch: Brewing tea for the community
Cup after cup, Miles Kirsch serves tea at Herbert Von King Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant “Tea really cuts through a lot of the fear that we have when interacting with strangers,” Kirsch said. “It breaks down a lot of barriers and kind of grounds you in the interaction.” What You Need To Know Miles Kirsch started the tea stand to serve free warm beverages throughout the city Kirsch wasn't a tea fan growing up.
Adama Bah: Showing compassion for immigrants
It’s a tough pill for Adama Bah to swallow. She’s meeting a family from Senegal that is about to be evicted from their shelter. They’ve hit the city’s 60-day limit. What You Need To Know Adama Bah is the founder of Afrikana, an organization that helps immigrants get their footing in their new country Bah immigrated to the U.S. from Guinea as a 2-year-old.
New Yorker of the Week: Alia Farraj
It’s not how Alia Farraj originally planned to spend her after school time as a young teacher. “When I first started teaching at 21," Farraj explained, "there were some girls that came up to me and said they needed a teacher to stay with them after school. They wanted to create this STEP team.
Jess Beck: A warm welcome for migrants
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Jess Beck: A warm welcome for migrants
The temperatures are cold, but Jess Beck is driven. “I just feel for all the people that don’t have a place to get warm,” Beck said. The documentarian has lived in the East Village on and off for 25 years. Inspired by her Holocaust survivor grandfather to sharpen her filmmaking on immigration, she now helps migrants at the former St. Brigid School who are applying for temporary housing.
New Yorker of the Week: Richard Pickett
It may seem like a toy of the past, but with new gravity defying moves, Richard Pickett is making the yo-yo look like the toy of the future. “If it’s really a thing of the past, why am I doing it right now?” Pickett said with a laugh.
Thomas Porton: Cultivating kindness
What does it mean to be kind? "It means that you are identifying with the other person," said Pam Johnson, a resident at The New Jewish Home’s Kittay Senior Apartments. "To provide a service to others that might not ordinarily be done," added Roscoe George, another resident at the Kittay Senior Apartments.
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