Major Fire Rages in Norwood

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID CRUZ

(Norwood, Bronx) One Injured in Norwood Fire — Firefighters continue to battle the now 3-Alarm blaze. Follow along for updates here. https://t.co/ODkCgsKxLV #ProtectTheWorld pic.twitter.com/ScbECIY4eM — Citizen NYC (@CitizenApp_NYC) November 20, 2018 The Fire Department has confirmed a four-alarm fire at 3210 Hull Ave., a multi-family home in the Norwood section of the Bronx next to PS 56. The fire comes just two days before Thanksgiving. Helicopters and hordes of firefighters are at the scene of the two-story building, where the fire was reported around 2:15 p.m. The blaze was reported as a three-alarm fire that eventually escalated to four alarms.

Bronx Elected Officials Back a Snowstorm Hearing

By DAVID CRUZ and DAVID GREENE

Bronx elected officials, including Norwood Councilman Andrew Cohen, have signed a letter calling for a multi-committee hearing into what exactly led to the city’s handling of the Nov. 15 snowstorm that snarled traffic for hours. “While the City is still assessing the emergency conditions and chaos caused by yesterday’s storm, there is very little doubt that despite forecasts and advance warnings of an approaching storm, the various City departments and agencies meant to protect New Yorkers did not perform their basic responsible and duties,” stated the letter. The letter was sent to five New York City Council committees, including the

As Flock Vows to Reinstate Bishop Jenik, Clergyman Offers Thanks in Exile

By DAVID GREENE

Forced to leave his church after 40 years of service to the Bedford Park and Kingsbridge communities after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor decades ago, Bishop John Jenik offered thanks to some 300 supporters who held a rally in his honor–during a video call on a cellphone. Jenik, 74, was removed from Our Lady of Refuge after leading the church for more than 30 years. Jenik was named parochial vicar of Our Lady of Refuge on Briggs Avenue by Cardinal Terrence Cooke in 1978, and later named vicar of the Northwest Bronx by Cardinal Edward Egan in

New NCBH Ambulance Bays Part of Expanded Hospital Services

By DAVID CRUZ

North Central Bronx Hospital officials stood alongside elected officials in cutting the ribbon on two new ambulance bays near the entrance to its emergency room. The new bays represent some of the new expanded services to a hospital that had long been rumored to close. “This effectively doubles our previous capacity from two ambulances to four ambulance spaces,” said Cristina Contreras, NCBH executive director, at a news conference Nov. 16 Contreras added the services could lessen the strain area emergency rooms have had to handle. Though Contreras, in a moment of diplomacy, declined to “name names,” she appeared to refer

Snowstorm Leaves Frustrated Bronxites in the Lurch

By DAVID CRUZ

Elected officials in the Bronx are fuming over the city’s lax response to the season’s first snowstorm, with commuters sounding off on social media and drivers stranded on the roads for hours. Mayor Bill de Blasio, meantime, called the storm a teachable moment. “There are definitely some things we need to learn from this and some things we need to do better but it is also important to note that you know we got just about every form of bad luck we could have gotten yesterday,” said de Blasio in an interview on NY1. The snowstorm brought one to three inches

By DAVID CRUZ

The 52nd Precinct has a new commanding officer, a month after the previous commanding officer hinted at potential changes. The change was effective at midnight, and made official on the precinct’s active Twitter account. Deputy Inspector Thomas Alps is the new commanding officer of the Five-Two precinct, succeeding Inspector Peter Fiorillo. Fiorillo was commanding officer of the precinct for a little over two years, replacing Chief Nilda Hofmann. According to the NYPD’s website, Alps was the commanding officer of the local 49th Precinct covering the East Bronx. Alps replaced Keith Walton, who was accused and vindicated in a case of official

By JONATHAN CUSTODIO

The city’s letter grading program on restaurants is now being applied to food carts and trucks, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Mobile food vendors will begin receiving grades this December and will be subjected to a similar scoring system as restaurants, receiving points for violations that will add up to a total inspection score corresponding to a grade of “A,” “B,” or “C.” Grades will be posted on the mobile food units and they will be equipped with location-sharing devices to be easily trackable for inspection. Only Health Department agents or staff will

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

When I teach clients the “Introduction to Financial Planning” I share with them that it is like eating a Mickey D’s Big Mac. Now, many say, “What makes the Big Mac unique is the special sauce.” The sauce that solves financial problems is called “The Six Steps to Financial Planning”. How can I retire? Can I get cheaper health insurance? Can I save enough to go on vacation next year? How can I lower my taxes and still get a huge tax refund? Questions, concerns, financial problems. And yes, you can get a financial hamburger anywhere. In a bank? In

By JOSEPH KONIG

Comic book pioneer and media mogul Stan Lee died at the age of 95 on Monday morning. Lee spent much of his teenage years living in University Heights and attending DeWitt Clinton High School in Bedford Park. Cause of death is not known. One of the most prolific contributors to the American superhero pantheon, Lee remained active his entire life, executive producing and making cameo appearances in every Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Less than a week before his death, Lee’s official Twitter account tweeted out a class photo from his time at DeWitt Clinton High School in the 1930s. Lee