Abigail Martin & Marcos Sierra Will Not Run in District 11 Special Election, Leave Door Open for June Primary

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Abigail Martin and Marcos Sierra, both candidates in the 11th City Council race, announced on Tuesday, Jan. 5, that they would not be placing their names on the ballot in the upcoming March 23 special election, announced by Mayor de Blasio on Monday, Jan. 4, as reported by Norwood News. Both were and still are aiming to replace former City Councilman Andrew Cohen, who stepped down from the role on Dec. 31, to take up a judgeship on the Supreme Court based in the Bronx. Martin and Sierra were two of a number of candidates who recently called for the 450-minimum

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Ashly Mare-Vargas, 16, of 1353 Sheridan Avenue, in the Claremont section of the Bronx, who was reported missing in the 44th precinct. Ashly was last seen at her home on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at around 11 p.m. She is described as female, approximately 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has brown eyes, black hair and was last seen wearing dark colored clothing. Anyone with information with regard to this individual is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of Orlando Brown, 55, of 1139 Clay Avenue, Apt. #6, in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, who was reported missing on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 in the 44th precinct. Brown was last seen at his home at 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Brown is 6 feet tall, weighs 180 pounds, is bald and has brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket, black sneakers and a black baseball cap. Anyone with information in regard to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As eligible individuals prepare for the second round of Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus payments), which the IRS said will be made effective as of Jan. 4, 2020, Capital One bank said on Jan. 4 they want to advise customers of some factors for consideration to ensure their customers can access their payments, once received. “We know the Economic Impact Payments can be a lifeline for many during these unprecedented times, and we want to ensure that individuals have full access to this money.” The bank said the following: Capital One customers whose accounts are overdrawn

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Monday, Jan. 4, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set March 23 as the Special Election date for the 11th and 15th City Council races in the Bronx. Announcing the date, the mayor did not comment in the press release on recent calls to both the mayor and the governor, as reported by Norwood News, to waive the 450 minimum signatures needed by candidates from residents to get their names on the ballot. Some candidates have said such a waiver would reduce mass person-to-person contact during a time of rising COVID-19 cases across the city. “I am

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Stop & Shop, the neighborhood grocery store chain, announced the opening, on Dec. 31, of its first pick-up location in the Bronx, located at 1720 Eastchester Road, in Morris Park. The store said shoppers can now place their orders online at www.stopandshop.com, or via the Stop & Shop mobile app, select “pick-up” at their preferred store, head to the store at the pick-up time, park at the designated pick-up spot, and let the store’s team know once they have arrived. A Stop & Shop associate will load the purchased groceries into the customer’s car, minimizing both delays and physical contact

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Citing a 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate that surpasses 9 percent in New York City, the solidarity caucus of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is calling for the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to follow through on the Governor’s guidance and transition to fully remote learning for all NYC public schools. The UFT wrote in a press release dated Jan. 3 that both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio recently suggested ditching the 9 percent threshold, a move the union finds alarming. “Governor Andrew Cuomo remarked that data shows schools are ‘almost without exception’

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Mohammed Barry,16, of 1521 Sheridan Avenue, Apt C8C in the Claremont section of the Bronx, who was reported missing in the 44th precinct. Mohammed was last seen at his home residence on Thursday Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. He is described as male, Black, 16, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 125 pounds, has brown eyes, black hair and was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a black jacket. Anyone with information in regard to this individual is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Yasmin Moreno, 17, of 1215 Grand Concourse in the Bronx who was reported missing in the 44th precinct. Yasmin was last seen at her home on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at 1 p.m. She is described as female, Hispanic, 5 feet tall, weighs 110 pounds, has brown eyes, black hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants, pink blouse and white sneakers. Anyone with information with regard to this individual is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)