Skip to main content

NY Columbus Day parade draws revelers, politicians

By WTOP Staff

JONATHAN LEMIRE
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of people lined Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Monday for the annual Columbus Day parade, one of the world’s largest celebrations of Italian-American heritage and culture.

The parade, which is organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, drew scores of people throughout the region who wanted to celebrate their Italian roots.

“I’m Italian and this is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Pino Mudaro, 62, who was born in Milan and moved to New York City in 1974. “I am here with my granddaughter who is half-Italian, half-Irish, but today, she is all Italian!”

The red, white and green Italian flag was ubiquitous among the marchers, which included several marching bands and Italian civic groups. The first parade was held in Manhattan in 1929, and some of the music and costumes have not changed much over the generations. But other floats had far more modern touches, including pulsing sound systems that blared a range of music, including a disco version of “Sweet Caroline” and even some Christmas carols.

“It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Italian heritage and the immigrants who came to the U.S. and worked so hard,” said marcher Theresa Buell.

And, since the parade falls less than a month before Election Day, it is also a major political showcase for politicians looking to take advantage of the big stage to reach undecided voters.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his Republican rival, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, share an Italian heritage and were received politely by the crowd. On Monday, the Astorino campaign, which is trailing badly in the polls, distributed a fundraising letter from the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, in which Romney calls Cuomo a “typical corrupt New York politician.”

Cuomo dismissed the criticism, pointing to President Barack Obama’s overwhelming victory over Romney in New York two years ago.

“New Yorkers have already commented on Mitt Romney and made it abundantly clear that his theories have been rejected in the state,” Cuomo said.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who frequently touts his Italian heritage, often jogged to the barricades lining the parade route to shake hands and take photos with onlookers. But he was far less enthusiastic when asked again by reporters about top mayoral aide Rachel Noerdlinger, who has come under scrutiny in recent weeks for several key omissions on her background checks.

A Department of Investigation probe found that she didn’t disclose she was living with her boyfriend, a convicted felon, but it didn’t recommend discipline. But the story has stayed alive in the city’s newspapers, including a front page of The New York Post with the headline “DeNial: Mayor Bill defiantly ignored a City Hall gone rotten.”

“I think we’ve talked enough about this,” said de Blasio in a brief gaggle after the parade. “It’s time to move forward.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote