Quarter of Norwood Stores Vacant. Why?

By REGGIE FRANCOIS

Mickey Burke catered to the once booming Irish population in Norwood with Keltic Connections for 20 years. His business was at 282 E. 204th St. With rent increases and a decline of customers interested in Celtic culture, Burke did not see the point of keeping his brick-and-mortar store open. He became a street vendor. “The neighborhood population has changed,” said Burke. “And businesses can’t beat the higher rent. A new store opens up and, two years later, they’re out.” In the space of three years, store closures have been something of a norm along East 204th Street and its adjoining

City Hosts Shelter/Housing Media Tour at Fordham Landing Site

By REGGIE FRANCOIS

The tour follows acrimony from residents of the Fordham Hill Oval Cooperative complex a block and a half away.

Family Displaced by Two-Alarm Fire in Norwood

By DEVIN DAE TUCKER

Two families have been displaced after a two-alarm fire broke out on Decatur Avenue near East 204th Street on Tuesday night. The fire at 3138 Decatur Ave. damaged the property next door at 3140 Decatur Ave. The fire at 3138 Decatur Ave. damaged the property next door at 3140 Decatur Ave. The fire reportedly broke out on the second floor at 10:44 p.m., turning to a two-alarm fire. “I was standing on the corner and I heard somebody screaming,” said Norwood resident Bruno Hand. “I ran toward the house, it was engulfed in flames.” No injuries were officially reported, but one

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Resolve Warrants The Bronx District Attorney’s office holds a workshop on resolving outstanding summons warrants to clear one’s criminal record at Eastchester Presbyterian Church, 3154 Fish Ave. (corner of East Gun Hill Road) on Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Defense attorneys will be available to help resolve summons warrants that include loitering, noise violation, littering, and/or disorderly conduct. For more information, call (718) 590-2272. Norwood Writers Club The Norwood Bronx Writers Group meets on July 25 at 7 p.m. at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center. Writers can share and critique one another’s work. Participants are asked to bring

Montefiore Helps Spread Awareness of Diabetes

By DEVIN DAE TUCKER

Diabetic patients treated at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) got an education in diabetes at the Bronx zoo. The 6th annual education date event, hosted by the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at CHAM, featured activities such as face painting, magic tricks and coloring for the young patients. There was also an area for kids to play with a bubble-making machine.

Crime File: Ponytailed Suspect Sought

By DAVID CRUZ

Ponytailed Suspect Sought Police need the public’s help in tracking a ponytailed suspect wanted for robbing a 15-year-old of his gold chain at gunpoint. The victim was a standing in front of Easy Pickens at 15 E. Fordham Rd. on the morning of July 20 when he was robbed, according to police. The suspect quickly fled with the gold chain, though the victim was not hurt. Police describe the thief as a Hispanic man around 20 to 25 years old, medium complexion with a red bun ponytail. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers.

By TIANA TURNER

Have you noticed more women breastfeeding their babies over the last few years? Yes, we have too, and we’re really happy about it. Since 2011, breastfeeding rates have been on the rise in the U.S, reflecting a growing recognition of the value of mother’s milk. Why breastfeed? Breast milk is best for your baby. Some of the benefits include: Breastfed babies are often healthier. Breast milk is filled with vitamins and nutrients your baby needs to boost his/her immune system. It also improves your baby’s brain development. Breastfed babies are less likely to get infections and to develop asthma, some

Norwood Football Club Scores on Youth Development

By DEVIN DAE TUCKER

For the Bronx Buccaneers, a Norwood-based youth football program, the mission means more than the game. In the last 11 years, the club has found itself functioning more as a vehicle for cultivating the lives of young athletes, and espousing life lessons intended to enhance critical thinking and athletic abilities. The program throws a veil on the students, general manager Tasha Andrews admits proudly, saying the sport is used to “develop responsibility and focus” for the program’s boys and girls. Andrews calls the program a bridge that brings players “together and to focus on creating young men who are

Making the Grade: How Norwood and Bedford Park Eateries Fare

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

More restaurants in New York City are earning more A grades than they have since the city Department of Health started issuing restaurants letter grades in 2010, according to numbers released by the city in late May.