At MMCC, Preparing a Culinary Team Leader

By DAVID CRUZ and ADEDAMOLA AGBOOLA

As senior citizens awaited a pre-Thanksgiving sit-down meal at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center’s (MMCC) Senior Center, inside its sweltering kitchen an assembly line formed with Aaron Domeny topping spoonfuls of greens on an endless stream of plates. For anyone who knows Domeny, who hails from nearby Williamsbridge, they will likely describe him as a timid and shy 18-year-old. But Domeny, whose strait-laced demeanor is broken by the quips delivered by his boss and chef, Michael Tompkins, is also a young man with dreams of working at a five-star restaurant and has a humorous side. MMCC’s kitchen, cheerful and lighthearted as it

By DAVID CRUZ

Authorities have caught up to a man wanted for allegedly stabbing his estranged wife living in Bedford Park and fleeing with his 3-year-old daughter to New Jersey. Police have charged Diomedes Valenzuela, 51, for stabbing the 31-year-old female victim on Dec. 1 just before 2 p.m. in what police dubbed a custodial incident. Valenzuela was visiting his 3-year-old at her apartment on Perry Avenue when he got into an argument with the victim, according to police. The argument became heated and Valenzuela alleged stabbed the victim multiple times to the body. Valenzuela quickly grabbed his daughter and fled in a grey

By DAVID CRUZ

The recent spate of violence and alleged arson incidents within Norwood’s Williamsbridge Oval Park has one local legislator and the neighborhood’s community board asking police to step it up. Councilman Andrew Cohen, representing the 11th District, which covers Norwood, along with Community Board 7 sent a joint letter to the 52nd Precinct and Parks Department to increase patrols around Oval Park. Both agencies share policing duties at the park. In the last two months, a series of suspected arson fires and violent incidents have taken place at the Bronx park, heavily used by families and neighbors getting a workout. “[T]he

Free Coat Giveaway Free adult and children’s coats are available to Norwood residents. Stop by The COVE, 3514 Wayne Ave. on Dec. 4 between 5 to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 405-1312 or (646) 246-3897. Nominate a Teacher Nominate your child’s favorite teacher who shows exceptional success in impacting student learning, for a Big Apple Award, sponsored by the Department of Education in partnership with the Fund for Public Schools. Nominations can only be made online at http://on.nyc.gov/12ShVh8, through Jan. 18, 2016. Library Awards Nominations are being accepted for the NYC Neighborhood Library Award. To nominate your library,

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 staffers Londy Ramirez (l) and Maria Graziano (c) were honored for their daily contributions to the board covering Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Fordham and University Heights. Their work on helping to organize the third annual Miss Abbie’s Halloween Extravaganza Health Fair was recognized by Shanequa Charles (r), Community Board 7 member and one of the event’s lead organizers. Photo courtesy Community Board 7

Rare Fires Spotted at Williamsbridge Oval Park, Residents Worry

By DAVID CRUZ

A trio of brush fires at Williamsbridge Oval Park have been reported for the past week, sending fire crews to knock out the flames while worrying residents encircling the heavily used playground. The fires happened on Nov. 24, 27 and 29 between 8 and 9:30 p.m., according to witnesses who took notice of the bright flames from their apartment windows. No injuries were reported. “There’s someone going around and setting leaves on fire,” said Adi Talwar, a freelance photographer for the Norwood News who captured video of the fire. “I feel it’s such a drain on resources. Hats off to the Fire Department

By ADEDAMOLA AGBOOLA

Noise pollution and road closures are just some tiny inconveniences residents will have to endure as a mandatory, ongoing oil-to-gas renovation project by Con Edison continues around Norwood. For the past few months, crews have dotted parts of Norwood and Bedford Park, replacing oil pipes and introducing natural gas. On Reservoir Oval East, crews closed off the one-way street which, during daytime hours, limited parking spaces while causing some traffic backups. On Perry Avenue, where crews have dug holes abutting the perimeter of residential buildings, the oil-to-gas changeover will be completed in the first week of December with permanent

Dear Readers, Happy belated Thanksgiving Day! If you’re at home or work, you could spend some time to check out some community news you can use with the Norwood News, covering the northwest Bronx. The digital edition, and physical paper are out with news you won’t find anywhere else. Our front page focuses on an issue impacting the 63 percent of rent burdened Bronxites living in the northwest Bronx–two zoning proposals rejected by Bronx officials. Considered the DNA of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan, the zoning text amendments were not well-received by Bronx elected officials and community boards.

Vital Stats: 200 – Number of liters of blood a human kidney filters daily. (Source: Kean University) A four-way kidney transplant was performed at Montefiore Medical Center on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, thanks to the generosity of 30-year-old Army veteran Christopher Forthman , who decided to be an altruistic kidney donor. Forthman, a neighbor in Norwood, donated one of his organs to Juan Garcia, sparking a rare pay-it-forward style chain that would lead to three other Bronx patients in need of a donated kidney. Garcia was initially supposed to receive a kidney from his daughter Sagracio, but she was not a match for him.