Norwood Deli Shuttered for Fraud Charges Re-Opens, Sons Speaks Out

A popular deli in Norwood has reopened after being shuttered for six days following an alleged food stamp fraud scheme, shocking residents who frequent the eatery. But the owner and his associates who are all related still face a slew of charges after several family members were arrested in an early morning raid on June 24, followed by a second raid the following day at the man’s home. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirmed that five family members face grand larceny and conspiracy charges for allegedly bilking the federal government out of $296,000 worth of food stamps. Police stormed into the

By TATYANA TURNER and ADRIANNA LOMBARDO

Family members and residents of St. Patrick’s Home Rehabilitation and Health Care Center at 66 Van Cortlandt Pk., So., gathered to celebrate nine residents who can now call themselves centenarians. Centenarians, those who are or over the age of 100, were honored at the Van Cortlandt Village home, with honorees all being women. Two of the honorees were aged 103. So what’s the secret to a long life? One centenarian, who only went by Catherine M., told the Norwood News, “My secret to living so long was having faith.” St. Patrick’s Home has been celebrating centennial birthdays for a decade.

Negotiations between city officials and the developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) were not only left at a standstill after a hearing last Thursday, but without its presiding judge. “This appears to be going nowhere, so let me just share something,” said Bronx Supreme Court Judge Ruben Franco, half hour into the proceeding, “this may be it for me on this case.” The two sides had returned to court after Franco recommended the lease to the Kingsbridge Armory, which would be home to the ice center, be temporarily released to KNIC so it can pursue construction-funding options. Franco

Congratulations are in order to veteran officer Lt. Elliott Alicia, a detective now promoted to supervisory specialist for the 52nd Precinct, covering Norwood. Deputy Inspector Peter Fiorillo, commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct, told the Norwood News he’s “impressed with the good work [Alicia] has done in such a short amount of time” the inspector has been assigned there. Alicia heads the precinct’s detective squad.

Unions Expected to Protest for Unionized Jobs at Armory

By DAVID CRUZ

A flood of rank and file union reps is expected to take the streets blasting the Kingsbridge National Ice Center’s noncommittal position over whether it intends to use labor unions to build the massive project, the Norwood News has learned. The demonstration, happening at 3pm in front of the armory, caps several months of questions from union officials on how the armory project would be built. Union brass have asked elected officials to aid them in their cause. The demonstrations come amid several lawsuits that look to jeopardize the $350 million project, said to be the world’s largest ice skating

By DAVID CRUZ

It’s not over til it’s over. The crowded Democratic race for the 13th Congressional District seat did not appear to go for the frontrunner, Assemblyman Keith Wright, but to his lead opponent, state Senator Adriano Espaillat. But Wright told supporters he’s not ready to concede until “every vote is counted.” He also called on the Justice Department to examine the vote count process following news reports of voter irregularities in pockets of the district, which extends into the Norwood section of the Bronx following redistricting in 2012. Voters have long complained the borough, which makes up 20 percent of the

By DAVID GREENE

The owner of a popular deli in Norwood faces a slew of charged after he and several others were arrested in an early morning raid last week, followed by a second raid the following day at the man’s home. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirms that the entire family has been charged in a $296,000 food stamp fraud scheme. Police stormed into the AKS Halal Deli and Grill at 319 E. 204th St. on June 24. The popular deli boasts a large spread of hot food for its regulars and passersby. Police say the owner, Ali Shahzad, 61, was taken into

By Bronx Community Health Leaders

Don’t think there are opportunities in the Bronx to achieve your dreams? Think again. Julissa de La Cruz is a young, single mom, living in the Bronx, but any standard narrative ends there. Every Tuesday night she gathers young Bronx college students at Family Health Center, Montefiore’s primary care site, to cultivate their dreams of becoming doctors and serving their communities. The group of 40 students – some of whom are the first in their families to attend college – is named Bronx Community Health Leaders (BxCHL), a yearlong peer network support group where its recent crop of students graduated. Members start

Bronxites head to the polls today to do something that hasn’t happened in nearly 50 years: putting someone else other than Congressman Charles Rangel in the 13th Congressional District seat. Nine candidates are vying for the seat, in a race that’s become quite ugly within the last few days. Rangel, who announced his retirement over a year ago, was considered a political giant in Washington D.C., bringing concerns of Harlem to Capitol Hill. The 13th Congressional District was reconfigured a few years ago to include the Bronx, including the Norwood section of the borough. Learn about the candidates in this