Elections 2022: Jessica Altagracia Woolford Runs on Working Families Party Ticket in General Election

  The following story was first published on June 26, 2022, by Norwood News ahead of the June 2022 Democratic Primary for Assembly District 81, when Jessica Altagracia Woolford ran, ultimately unsuccessfully, in that primary race against incumbent assemblyman, Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81). Altagracia Woolford is currently running for office in the upcoming general election on Nov. 8 on the Working Families Party ticket, once again, in Assembly District 81.    Growing up in Kingsbridge, Jessica Altagracia Woolford is a community organizer who previously worked for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office, and campaigned for


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Friends of Mosholu Parkland Host Fall / Halloween Community Festival at Mosholu Playground

  Under some glorious fall sunshine, Friends of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP) were back with gusto as they celebrated a delightful, organic-themed Fall / Halloween Community Festival in Mosholu Playground at P.S. 8 in Bedford Park on Saturday, Oct. 15.   The festival drew local kids dressed in Halloween costumes, as they munched on hot dogs, popcorn, donuts and treats. Some played in the playground, which was duly decorated with a natural fall/straw theme, some got busy making ragdolls out of fabric, while others colored and ran around playing various games in the beautiful sunshine. Among their other community and parkland


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Will Credit Unions Solve the Affordable Financial Services Crisis?

When Sonya Ferguson started to do the math on how much it was costing her to fill up her pre-paid debit card, she wondered if there was a better way. Her main method of banking consisted of check cashing outlets and pawn shops. Recalling a recent experience, she said, “I asked for a pre-pay card, and they said ‘$10.’ I said ‘Ok, I want to put $100 on it.’ They said ‘$5, you have to pay to put $100 on your pre-pay card.’ I said, ‘But it’s my card!’”   Ferguson said she realized she didn’t have enough money for


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University Heights: Two Sought for Robbery of Woman, 70, in her Home

The NYPD is searching for the two people seen in the attached photo who are sought for questioning in connection with a robbery that occurred in University Heights.    Police said that on Saturday, Oct. 29, at around 2.40 p.m., a man and a woman approached a 70-year-old woman and engaged her in conversation.   “The individuals walked with the victim approximately two blocks into her apartment building, located in the vicinity of West 183rd Street and Loring Place North,” an NYPD spokesperson said.   “The victim willingly allowed the two individuals to enter her apartment,” the spokesperson added. “While


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Cops Flood Subways to Combat Rising Crime Amid “Cops, Cameras, Care” Program

About two weeks before Election Day, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced the NYPD was adding an extra 1,200 overtime shifts to its department roster each day. This constitutes about 10,000 additional patrol hours, with officers deployed to over 300 subway stations across the City during peak hours.   During the announcement of the new program called, “Cops, Cameras, Care,” on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Grand Central Station in Manhattan, officials laid out a plan that included “Safe Operations Support Units,” units dedicated to providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness on the streets and subway.   The units


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Norwood Delights in Live Hispanic Dance Show to Mark Hispanic Heritage Month

Performing arts organization, Hispanic Culture Arts, delighted residents of Norwood on Oct. 18 with a live, outdoor, daytime music and dance show at the Williamsbridge Oval Park, entitled “Danzas de Ida y Vuelta,” a round trip voyage of Hispanic music and dance.”   Showcasing the history of Hispanic performance culture, audience members were transported from the “Old World” of Spain through Latin America, and on to The Bronx, by a group of colorful, costumed dancers and musicians.   The show was choreographed by Spanish dance artists, Anna de la Paz and Anna Tonna, who were joined by Carlos Fittante and


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Emotional Day at Bronx District Attorney’s 5K Annual Walk/Run/Roll to Prevent Domestic Violence

With 797 chronic domestic violence complaints logged in The Bronx from July 2020 to December 2021, the Office of Bronx District Attorney, Darcel Clark, hosted its “5th Annual 5K Run/Walk/Roll to End Domestic Violence” on Saturday, Oct. 15, to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. The free event was co-sponsored by the NY Yankees and the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, in partnership with the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, BronxCare Health System, and the Bronx Women’s Bar Association.   Commencing at 161st Street and Grand Concourse, it was an emotional day for


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Hochul Signs New Laws to Keep Guns Away from Abusive Partners & Protect ID of Survivors

Coinciding with Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed five new bills into law on Oct. 18 alongside domestic violence survivors, advocates and legislative champions at Union Settlement, a nonprofit providing resources to survivors in East Harlem.    “My administration is committed to eradicating domestic violence and supporting survivors, a mission that has been a lifelong journey for generations of women in my family,” Hochul said. “I am proud to sign these new laws that will enhance confidentiality, keep New Yorkers out of harm’s way, and give them the flexibility they need to make the best decisions


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