Bronx Rabbi Brings Food to the Masses during Hanukkah

By DAVID GREENE

A Bronx rabbi continues to actively support the annual menorah lighting events all across the Bronx, amid the celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah while, together with members of his own Morris Park congregation, the annual festival is marked by feeding senior Jewish residents from all across the borough. Canceled last year amid the pandemic, a public gathering for Hanukkah returned this year to the Bronx Jewish Center, located at 1969 Haight Avenue in Morris Park, once again. The center has been holding gatherings for the Jewish celebration, annually, since 2013. On Sunday, November 28, the congregation returned

By SÍLE MOLONEY

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. So goes the maxim for perseverance, a trait which describes the now successful, multi-year efforts of legislators to grant cooperative housing shareholders the same access to reverse mortgages as other homeowners. On, Wednesday, Dec 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S760/A1508), sponsored by Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester county, into law. The bill was strongly supported by advocates for cooperative housing in New York and now allows cooperative housing shareholders to obtain reverse mortgages

By SARAH HUFFMAN

Friends of Devoe Park (FODP) hosted the group’s annual tree-lighting event on Saturday, Dec. 11, in Devoe Park, located in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx. Attendees at the event were treated to hot chocolate, munchkins, and sugared cookies provided by FODP. The group also handed out Christmas-themed masks, candy canes, and jingle bells to community members. Assemblyman José Rivera (A.D. 78) was also in attendance. Rachel Miller-Bradshaw, founding member of FODP, said the group wanted to host the event because there wasn’t really any such event marking the holiday season in their local neighborhood.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Editor’s Note: The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Elected officials from across New York State gathered inside the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College for the formal inauguration of Democrat, Eric Dinowitz, as the city councilman of District 11 on Sunday, Dec. 5. The Bedford Park ceremony was attended by a crowd of over 300 and was streamed live on BronxNet TV. The councilman has been serving in the role since April 2021, having won the District 11 seat in a special election in March. As reported, he went on

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

July 1, 2022, will mark the start of another fiscal year for New York City government, designated as FY 2023 (FY23). Although still seven months away, community boards across the city have started the process of submitting their annual Capital and Expense Budget Requests which inform the borough president, city council, and mayor about the priorities in each community district. Officially known as the Statement of Community Needs and Community Board Budget Requests Fiscal Year 2023, the 37-page document identifies the most pressing concerns in each local community. On Nov. 30, Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) voted on, and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with New York City Department of Buildings for a new, nine-story residential building at 1824 Anthony Avenue in the Tremont section of the Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East 175th Street and East 176th Street, the lot is closest to the Tremont Avenue subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Bimi Selimaj of Propco LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications. According to YIMBY’s report, the proposed 75-foot tall development will yield 72,017 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 128 residences, most likely

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The first thing 6-year-old Camilia Vanderhorst wants people to know about her new Yorkie puppy is its name. “I’ll call him Coco, [not Coco Melon]” she insisted softly as she addressed the media gathered in front of her home in the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx on Nov. 10. Asked what was the first thing she planned to do with her new pet, the shy 6-year-old said, “We can play fetch.” While the origin of Coco’s name was unclear, what was obvious was Camilia’s joy at seeing her wish for a new puppy come true. She received

By SARAH HUFFMAN

Outside the Keeper’s House on Reservoir Oval East in the Norwood section of the Bronx is a light blue library mailbox which, since around July 2021, has been regularly filled with used books, all waiting for new homes. The library mailbox is a recent initiative by “Norwood Community Library,” an outdoor, mutual aid, book exchange program. 30-year-old Brandon Montes is the founder of the volunteer-run library which launched in 2018, and he hopes the addition of the library mailbox will further strengthen his growing engagement with the community, through a love of reading. “For a long time, we

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has advised of the following street closures in the Bronx from Dec. 17, 2021 to Jan. 10, 2022. East 144th Street between Gerard Avenue and Walton Avenue This street will be closed Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Jan 10, 2022, to facilitate crane operation. East 160th Street between Forest Avenue and Tinton Avenue This street will be closed Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 31, to facilitate crane operation. Bergen Avenue between East 152nd Street and Westchester Avenue