Lehman College Art Gallery Doubles as Resource for Community Schools

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

The Lehman College Art Gallery (LCAG) was empty early one June morning when the Norwood News visited. The doors had just opened for the day, and artwork that included paintings on social justice to lifelike sculptures and stop-motion videos were on display. Attached to one of the glass walls in the gallery was a small donation box, the only suggested fee one could pay. Beyond serving as a hub for local art, the center also thinks outside itself, looking to inspire the surrounding communities through educational programs for children and their families. LCAG has been working with Bronx schools for

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their thoughts on the death of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, and if the workers in the bodega where he was dragged out of did enough to prevent his murder. They say that the owner could have done more. I don’t know the owner’s story, I don’t know how much the owner did or didn’t do, so I can’t say that I would hold him accountable for it. It’s a tragedy and we need to do something about it; it doesn’t make sense to me. I think the NYPD is the best in the world, because they

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the Bronx, is out and loaded with 20 pages of original news covering the Bronx. In keeping with tradition we begin with page one! This one focuses two vicious stabbings that have caused great pause in the borough: the killing of 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz and the near fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old by the Bronx River Parkway. This is apparently the work of the murderous street gang known as the Trinitarios. Find out how many suspects were rounded up for Junior’s killing so far. Our continuing coverage of Junior’s

By DAVID GREENE

With the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, we asked readers their thoughts on the current state of democracy in the United States. I think most things are going great. I do think the government needs to provide more support for homeless shelters because there’re just not doing enough for the homeless. We also need more jobs for those able to work and more money to house the homeless, because it’s still a big problem. The upcoming holiday I plan on attending a couple of cookouts here in the Bronx. Alicia Salinas Norwood I don’t believe there is democracy. I think

Summit Identifies Warning Signs of Gang Culture

By ANGEL MINDANAO and SOPHIA EBANKS

It was a full house at the meeting hosted by the Bronx Gang Squad and the 48th Precinct’s Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) to educate parents on gang awareness. The timing of this event, planned in April, comes more than a week after two teens were viciously stabbed in apparent gang attacks. After a workshop led by Sgt. Leo Nugent and Detective Belinda Delgado, which detailed the reasons why children join gangs, Nugent said that parents should know who their children’s friends are so that they can check out their social media accounts. If they are throwing up gang signs or

Gang Deterrent Gets $1M Boost Following Spurts of Violence

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

In response to the recent stabbing of 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, Councilman Ritchie Torres announced a $1 million allocation to preventing further gang violence through an initiative called Cure Violence. “The value of Cure Violence lies in recognizing that gang violence is not only a problem that falls in the domain of criminal justice,” said Torres, at a news conference outside Mt. Carmel Church, several blocks north from where Junior was killed. “It’s also a problem that falls in the domain of public health. Gang violence is a public health epidemic, and we must do more to cure it.” Torres

SEE VIDEO: 14-Year-Old's Stabbing Linked to Trinitarios

By DAVID CRUZ and ANGEL MINDANAO

Police need help identifying several young men wanted for allegedly stabbing a 14-year-old boy, in a case police say is linked to the death of 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz. Police received a call on June 18 at 5:30 p.m. from the Bronx River Parkway near the East Gun Hill Road exit in Norwood where the victim was stabbed multiple times. Police say the beef between the 14-year-old victim, whose name was not released, and the gang began at French Charley’s Park. The fight started over a girl, according to a police source. In a 17-second cell phone video obtained by

NURSE ROSEMARY BARRETT (right) embraces and gives a gift to 99-year-old Ada MacDonald during the Centennial Celebration at the St. Patrick’s Home on June 19. In the background is Sr. Kevin Patricia Lynch. Photo by Sophia Ebanks.

By SOPHIA EBANKS

Julia Bizzarri has been a resident at The St. Patrick’s Home Rehabilitation and Health Care Center for over 10 years. This year, she celebrates her 105th birthday. “I can’t believe I am this old,” said Bizzarri. “I give thanks to God for living this long.” Every third Tuesday in June, St. Patrick’s Home hosts its annual Centennial Celebration to honor residents who had and are close to reaching the centennial milestone. This year, ten centenarians, including Bizzarri, were celebrated at the event on June 19. The Norwood News asked Bizzarri and another centenarian what’s the secret to a long and

Getting a Seat at the Bronx County Committee Table

By MARTIKA ORNELLA and DAVID CRUZ

As the Bronx political season kicks into high gear, community organizers like Samelys Lopez of Bedford Park are working to ensure more equitable political participation across the borough. This not only includes going to the polls, but running for a county committee seat, a governing body composed of members of the same political party. As it stands, the process is esoteric. How does one get on a county committee? The question stood at the heart of a workshop organized by Lopez, who corralled community activists and leaders from various political groups across the city to St. Paul’s Church in Parkchester