What Was the Oil Drum Doing on East 204th Street?

By MARY MELLON and DAVID CRUZ

A salvage drum filled with diesel fuel has finally been collected from the northwest corner of East 204th Street and Perry Avenue after languishing there for several weeks. Residents worried about potential safety risks, including the possibility that it would explode. “I just want everyone to be safe,” said one resident, who first reported the incident to the Norwood News. “That’s basically it.” The resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “I live in the area and walk past the area every day and all of a sudden I see this big yellow drum there. Like, what is this? So

Norwood Commercial Building To Get Major Facelift (Picture)

By DAVID GREENE

A Brooklyn developer has purchased a parcel of land at the northwest corner of Hull Avenue and East 204th Street, with hopes of transforming it into a modern two-story building featuring medical offices, a fitness center and popular restaurants. Both the Miramar Grocery and Botanica on Hull Avenue closed more than a year ago. The popular Beso Lounge on East 204th Street closed this past June and Liberty Tax closed around the same time. This came shortly before Transition Acquisitions, a family-owned Brooklyn-based real estate firm purchased the 78-year-old, 5,150-square-foot property. Faith Hope Consolo of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the

Editor’s Pick Motown Music The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents A Musical Tribute to the Music of Motown, performed by jazz/pop vocalist Cody Childs and the Ladies of Soul, Feb. 3 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46/57 or visit www.nypl.org. Onstage Bronx Arts Ensemble (BAE) Woodwind Quintet presents a concert of folk dance arrangements at Vladeck Hall, Amalgamaged Houses, 74 Van Cortlandt Pk. So., Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $15; $25/at the door. For more information, call (718) 601-7399. Events Williamsbridge Oval presents the following free events: Winter Olympics, Feb. 20 from 10

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Dear Fellow Readers! The latest edition of the Norwood News, largely covering the northwest section of the Bronx, is out with plenty of community news you can use. We pack 16 pages worth of news so let’s get started! We begin, as usual, with page one. There you’ll find a nice human interest story on Nilda Hofmann, a born-and-bred Bronxite who rose to the rank of NYPD Chief of Community Affairs in January. We’ll take you to the ceremony where the 28-year veteran received her gold star from NYPD top cop James O’Neill. You’ll also hear how the NYPD’s Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Flea Market Donations Sought Donations are needed for the Bedford Mosholu Community Association flea market scheduled to be held on March 10. Bring new and used items (except clothing and hard cover books) to the BMCA office at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., apt. B1 (lobby floor) on Feb. 21 and 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., March 3 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and March 7 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, call (718) 367-2230 or email bedfordmosholu@verizon.net. Free Tax Filing Assistance Free tax filing is available for families whose total income is $54,000 or less or individuals who

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their thoughts on how President Donald Trump’s first year in office went. He’s done some things good and some things he’s messed up. He’s going after the pedophiles and the corrupt politicians, but he’s just as dirty as they are anyway. He’s corrupt too; all his business dealings and he doesn’t show his taxes and we don’t know anything more about him than what he’s shown. Everybody has their taxes exposed, but his are hidden. Why, I don’t know. But I prefer him over Hillary Clinton because she’s an old school politician who’s done nothing

By DAVID GREENE

Father Richard Gorman, a beloved community leader and Bronx priest who fell from grace after being accused of a molestation incident alleged to have happened 30 years ago, died Jan. 23 after an apparent heart attack. He was 63. Archdiocese of New York spokesman Joseph Zwilling confirmed Gorman’s passing, calling it “sudden and unexpected.” Gorman, who lived in a home for infirm priests in Riverdale, was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center where he died. Gorman reportedly had heart ailments going as far back as 2002. For years, the seasoned clergyman spoke publically on injustices impacting the Bronx. Ordained by the

Editorial: Not a Good Message, Mr. Council Speaker

When New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson took the reins from his predecessor, Melissa Mark-Viverito, we knew change was certainly inevitable. We just didn’t think this was going to happen. Within two weeks from the time Mr. Johnson was sworn in, out went several members of the Speaker’s Public Technology Unit, whose job was to work with the city’s diverse community and ethnic media. This move, which the office addressed as benign, spoke volumes. Four staffers were let go; all of them Latina women. The four employees worked well in sending out a message to New York’s community and

By NIALL RIDGLEY

Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order allowing pharmacies to administer vaccines to children ages 2 to 18 as of Jan. 25 to combat the flu outbreak as weekly diagnoses and hospitalizations reach record highs. Cuomo’s executive order suspends a section of state education law that prevented pharmacists from administering immunizations to persons under age 18, thus enabling New York youth to have a better chance at avoiding a nasty flu strain in a particularly beleaguered state. The state has logged 7,800 cases of the flu strain with 1,759 requiring hospitalization. “I urge all New Yorkers to help us