Author: Gonzalo Duran

Gonzalo was born and raised in Bronx NY. He has graduated from Fordham University with a B.S in Health Science. Gonzalo is an Iraq War Veteran and served as a United States Marine Corps Sergeant for 8 years. The transition coming out of the Marine Corps to home life was difficult and this struggle made him realize his desire to help fellow Veterans so they don’t have to face the hardship he did. This is the purpose for starting Devil Dog USA Inc. Now Gonzalo has reached a point where he believes that the next step to truly improve the many situations facing Veterans and the general community is by running for New York City Council District 15.
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Chairman Patrick McManus’ Third Party Objective

A few weeks ago, just over a dozen Bronxites from all over the borough gathered at, Arthur Avenue Cigar, to talk politics. They wanted to hear what the Chairman of the Bronx Conservative Party, Patrick McManus, had to say regarding the third-party objective.

The event was hosted by the Bronx Veteran Political Party, which is focused on open political discussions, voter registration, and other topics based on their monthly guest speakers. Their past gathering topics included the fundamentals of running a campaign, independent party petitioning, rank choice voting, and much more.      

Impressively the parties that joined the March meeting included executive officers from different organizations, current candidates running for office, Veterans, community members, past elected officials, and current elected officials.  

After the President of the Bronx Veteran Political Party, Harry Gomez accepted his new appointment, he explained the role of the organization to the crowd, and then introduced McManus.

McManus, a retired police officer and fire fighter took over the role of Chairman three years ago. Since then, he has been building his party up slowly but concretely. After giving some details about his background and his party’s background, he kicked off the discussion of the third-party objective.

His goal? To give the people something besides Democrats or Republicans to vote for. Why? He believes those parties are forcing their agendas over the constituent’s rights. His solution is to give the people a third option. 

With the Independent Party disbanded, that leaves the people no other option. Many of the guest were weary of McManus at first. Their questions varied, such as what the Conservative Party is about and what are their stance on many controversial subjects.

By the end the Q & A portion of the event, many of their attitudes seemed to align with McManus more than they thought. His statement of “I don’t have to accept it, but I do have to respect it” left many in awe.

The rest of the night was filled with everyone talking, eating, smoking cigars, and enjoying each other’s company. Something rarely done in the political realm.   

If you have an event, story or topic that you would like to discuss. Feel free to contact me at gonzalodurannyc@gmail.com or (516) 515 – 0240.

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How Can You Contribute To Someone’s Political Campaign

There are many forms which you may help someone who is running for office. You can volunteer, provide a financial contribution or in-kind contribution. I will use myself as an example in this scenario, since I am running for office. My name is Gonzalo Duran and I am running for New York City Council, Bronx District 17 for the 2023 election.

1. Volunteer:

  • You can volunteer to be a key position in someones campaign. For example their campaign manager, treasurer, volunteer coordinator, and so on. You can even help them get signatures for their campaign, which is a vital part to get someone on the ballot for the primary elections.

If you would like to volunteer for my campaign, feel free to reach out to me by email at gonzalodurannyc@gmail.com.

2. Financially:

  • You can support them by credit card via the platform Contribute.

You can contribute to my campaign by clicking on the link below. https://contribute.nycvotes.org/campaigns/gonzaloduran/contributions/new

  • You can support them by filling out their Contribution Card.

You can contribute to my campaign by filling out the information and giving it to me in person or sending it to me. If you want to send me a Contribution Card, reach out to me by email at gonzalodurannyc@gmail.com.

  • You can provide them an in-kind contribution. This means you provide a service or good to them with your own funds. Examples of in-kind contributions are giving them snacks, water or print outs of petitions. In-kind contribution still must be recorded.

If you would like to provide me with an in-kind contribution, feel free to message me by email at gonzalodurannyc@gmail.com for more information.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me by email at gonzalodurannyc@gmail.com.

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Healing Through Yoga By Mrs. Sammy

I met Sammy a few weeks ago at Confetti Party Place located at 3190 Westchester Ave., Bronx, New York during their welcome back to Yoga event. Confetti Party Place owner Lourdes Melendez-Gamez personally invited me and asked me to bring some Veteran with me. Unfortunately I was not able to find any Veterans for that date and time frame but I was able to bring the President of the Bronx Veteran Chamber of Commerce with me, Alfredo Castillo and his niece, affectionally named Fifi.

Sammy offered me a very relaxing and soothing yoga session, I asked if I could write an article regarding her work. When I began the interview process, I realized this story should be told by her. The following is in her own words with a little assistance, I hope you find her journey through healing by helping others as inspirational as I did.

“My name is Samantha aka Sammy. I was born and raised in the Bronx. I am a wife, mother, nana, and dog mom. I left my job as a Banker of 27 years to care for my mother until she passed away. I am a Yoga instructor, certified in Vinyasa, Yin, Chair, and Kids yoga. I teach yoga from the ages of 2 to 102 years old. I also teach yoga to special needs kids and adults. I am now the proud owner of S&S Health and Wellness/ SSYOGA which offers Yoga, mindfulness, wellness products and services as well as different healing modalities to the community and beyond.

My passion for healing came naturally as I myself became a mother, and as I cared for both of my parents before they transitioned. As the years went on, I found myself in spaces of health, wellness and healing. 

I started doing yoga 10 years ago, really to support a friend’s journey of becoming a yoga instructor. From then, I fell in love with yoga, and how  it made me feel relaxed and at ease. It was better than doing high impact workouts at the gym, which I didn’t care for.

I was taking yoga classes faithfully, going to the gym for cardio only, until one day my world was turned upside down. My middle child passed away while I was on vacation with his son, my grandson. From then, everything went dark, everything stopped, life stopped, I stopped. I fell into deep depression, sadness, regret, anger, every bad emotion there is. My grief was bad.

But one day a voice said, I had to be strong for my grandson, who was only 5 at the time, and my other kids. (I had 3 kids) It had been a long time since I took a yoga class, so I wasn’t sure if the person was still there teaching. I called the gym to see if she was still teaching, and she was! 

I felt I couldn’t go back without getting emotional, and interrupting the class, so she offered me private lessons. That’s where the healing began for me and my grandson. One breath. One  movement at a time. I was able to grieve, release my guilt, anger, anxiety, depression or whatever I was feeling or needed to heal through Yoga.

At that point I knew what I needed to do to heal, and be healed. Once I was good, there was no stopping me. I went on to become a Yoga instructor offering free, donation based yoga to the community. Wanting to be a vessel to help heal whomever needed healing with one breath. One movement at a time. I felt that if Yoga saved me, I can save someone else too. It became my Dharma, my passion to be a healer.

Once Covid hit I was offering virtual classes for kids, adults, family and friends to keep the healing going and the community connected to the mind, body and spirit.

From there, I started making natural wellness products to help support the immune/ respiratory system from mucous, congestion and inflammation in the body. As Covid was said to be attacking the respiratory system. I had to get busy, researching, reading and taking healing classes to help me and my family stay Covid free. Then I started offering my natural wellness products to the community and the rest is history.

In August 2021, S&S Health and Wellness was created to provide different types of healing, health and wellness modalities to the community and beyond.

My Life. My healing. My  journey. 

Love what you do. Do what you Love

One breath. One movement at a time

Much Love. Much Light

Sammy”

IG: sandshealthandwellness66 

S&S Health and Wellness/ SSYOGA will be a featured presenter at Devil Dog USA Incorporated upcoming event. Health, Nutrition and Fitness Fair on February 25th from 12pm to 2pm across the street from 1347 Bristow St., Bronx, New York.

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Dinner 2/3/2023

I love shrimp but I’m not crazy about cooking shrimp. To make my life easier, this past month. I have been using frozen shrimp and I just straight thaw it while I cook it.

It’s overall fine but it’s just missing that freshness taste. This week, I will thaw it first and then cook it. Let’s see how it goes.

Do you only cook fresh raw shrimp or frozen? What are your thoughts?

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Dinner 2/2/2023

Tonight a fellow neighbor made a donation for my chef services.

Tonight’s menu was steak with caramelized onions and garlic. Salad with cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. Corn infused with parmesan and butternut squash with a hint of coconut.

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Sgt Gonzalo Duran Declares War On Bronx Dems

Dr. King had a dream and unfortunately he was not able to see it come to fruition. I also have a dream, but it’s centered around my beloved Bronx.

My dream is for a government system that does not blatantly insult us. We have millionaires, real estate tycoons, and construction juggernauts, who are either in office or have their personnel take over for them when they leave office. We all know this is what happens, but no one wants to say it, not publicly. I am and I want the community to stand behind me.

Soon, the Bronx will be no different than the other boroughs who priced out their people in the name of progress. Yes, we are allowing it under the disguise of a free turkey once a year or a small bill which passes that puts a bandage on larger issues that plague us all.

We have reached such a disgusting level of political plait, I would like for you to be the first to know that I have decided to run for City Council.

What you should know and how you can help me soon are the following:

        – I pledge a 50% pay decrease if elected to allocate the funds for more staff members.

        – I will hold biweekly meet & greets with community members. (My goal is weekly)

        – I will ask for $1 from all my friends, family, and individuals who want to see change, not only in the Bronx but also in America.