Soma Health Club Abruptly Closes in Norwood, Shocking Customers

By DAVID CRUZ

Soma Health Club, Norwood’s family-owned exercise gym, closed its doors a week after telling its clients of its plans to shut down. The closure presents fewer options in the immediate area for health-conscience residents and neighborhood employees. A rise in rents caused the exercise gym to close its doors after more than a decade, said Kip Silva, the gym’s general manager. Silva said owners found the decision to close a tough one. “We can’t fully express our deepest gratitude for your business and support. Working with you has been nothing but an absolute pleasure,” wrote Soma Health Club’s owners. The

Campaign for More Norwood Spots Results in Progress

By DAVID CRUZ, SHA-NIA ALSTON, and ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Parking remains a challenge for Norwood residents and employees who work in the neighborhood. But a campaign led by Councilman Andrew Cohen was able to chip away at one of the top issues that have long plagued the north Bronx community. “I gave them a list, and they made good on it.” Cohen said, to the city Department of Transportation, which moved ahead with the traffic regulation change. It’s at the quiet section on Putnam Place between East Gun Hill Road and Reservoir Oval East where the DOT removed a “No Parking Monday/Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.” restriction, replacing

Man Attacked, Thrown Green Paint, at Fordham Station

By DAVID CRUZ

Police have identified a person of interest in the beating and throwing paint at a 67-year-old man inside the Fordham Road #4 subway station on March 27. Police at the 52nd Precinct say it happened at around 6 p.m. where the victim, walking downstairs towards the platform was attacked. The victim was punched in the head and face multiple times, before being pushed down the stairs. The man then threw green pain on the victim’s face before taking off. The victim was treated at St. Barnabas Hospital for a cut to the head. The man wanted by police is described

Bronx Connections: The Health Impact (Part 3 of 5)

By JULIA ROSE HERMAN of WFUV

The Norwood News, WFUV Radio, and BronxNet Television present a five-part series on health-related struggles affecting residents of the Bronx. Urgent Care Offers Lower Costs and Wait Times, But at a Price As urgent care centers pop up across the Bronx, Dr. Barry Baker, a private practitioner, prefers the traditional physician-patient model. But it doesn’t mean he doesn’t keep one foot in the urgent care trend. Dr. Baker, who has an office in Throggs Neck, always knew he wanted to go into private practice. “I saw an ad in The New York Times ‘Practice for Sale’–I contacted the husband and

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers if students should be accepted into specialized high schools on the basis of one test, or should the acceptance process be changed completely? Yes, I think it should be based on more than one test or maybe even something other than a test like overall grades. Some kids volunteer, maybe the extra work they do. Anything that shows how far they’ve been educated and what they know. Someone can recognize how good one is without the basis of a test. They should even look at a student’s interests. Richard Berroa Mt. Eden Yes, I feel

Bronx Connections: The Impact of Legal Weed (Part 1 of 2)

By JULIA RIST and THERESA SCHLIEP of WFUV

The Norwood News, WFUV Radio, and BronxNet Television present a two-part series on the debate to legalize recreational marijuana use in New York State. In 2003, 17-year-old Anthony Posada was thrown against a wall and held at gunpoint by two plainclothes NYPD detectives in Jackson Heights, Queens. With no uniform, Posada initially thought he was being robbed by two men. “The feeling of powerlessness was stunning,” Posada said. “It was paralyzing. My experience with law enforcement up to that day was already one where I couldn’t say or do anything.” The plainclothes detectives found a small amount of marijuana in

At E. 204th Street and Bainbridge Avenue, Changes to its Retail Landscape

By SHA-NIA ALSTON

Change is always a constant at commercial strips, and the line of small businesses along Bainbridge Avenue and East 204th Street is no exception. The last 12 months have seen changes at the corridor that’s home to mom and pop, regional, and national retailers. From construction of new housing and office space, to the expansion of some businesses, to the establishment of new ones. All this comes amid the ongoing presence of empty storefronts that yearn to be occupied. The vacancies are certainly on the mind of Daniela Beasley, program manager at Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC, publishers of the Norwood

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Free Tax Prep Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave. offers free tax return service Mondays through Fridays from 4 p.m. Those who made $54,000 or less in 2018 and have children, or $30,000 or less without children, qualify for the free service. For more information or to make an appointment, call (718) 882-4000. Participatory Budgeting The next round of workshops on Participatory Budgeting, where residents can decide how $1 million in capital funding should be spent in the 11th Council District, takes place on the following dates and times for residents living in Bedford Park and Norwood: Sister Annunciata

Editor’s Pick: Norwood Town Hall Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Senator Jamaal Bailey and Councilmember Andrew Cohen invite the public to a Norwood Town Hall meeting on April 4 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Montefiore Medical Center Cherkasky Auditorium, 110 E. Gun Hill Rd. For more information, call Dinowitz’s office at (718) 796-5345. Onstage Williamsbridge Oval presents free theatre, Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” in the Rec Center, April 11 at 7 p.m. RSVP bronxacf@parks.nyc.gov. For more information, call (718) 543-8672. Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents Celia Cruz H.S. Orchestra performing chamber music, March 30 at 2:30 p.m.; and