As Opioid Crisis Rages, 52nd Precinct Leads in Overdoses

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

As the opioid crisis continues to impact the Bronx, a second overdose prevention presentation was held within the last six months at the latest 52nd Precinct Community Council meeting. The precinct, which covers the north Bronx, leads with the largest number of opioid-related deaths. The presenter this time, Gavi Liebovitz, a drug awareness and overdose prevention coordinator, presented a slideshow explaining how to help someone that has overdosed on an opioid. As popular as opioids, an assortment of different painkillers, has become, it is the introduction of fentanyl, a synthetic form of painkiller that has increased greatly the amount of

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Financial Empowerment Part of the Solution (POTS) will host a series of personal finance workshops at 2759 Webster Ave., second floor, at the 2 p.m. on the following dates: how credit works on Nov. 8; and banking on emergency savings and connecting food and finances workshop on Nov. 15. Sessions include free drinks and snacks. For more information, contact hesteban@potsbronx.org or call (718) 220-4892 ext. 135. Literacy Fair The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore hosts a literacy fair on Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring book giveaway offers for children under age five, registration for a New York

Editor’s Pick Free Films at NYPL People of all ages are welcome to visit the New York Public Library to enjoy the following free films: “Casablanca,” – Nov. 9, and “Rebel Without a Cause” – Nov. 16, both at 2:30 p.m. at the Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., for adults. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46/57 or visit www.nypl.org. “Dumbo,” – Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at the Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., for teens/young adults. For more information, call (718) 882-8239. “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” – Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. at the

Snow Postpones Stagg Meeting at Community Board 7

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT and DAVID CRUZ

Governor Andrew Cuomo is expanding his investigation into Five Star Management, the subsidiary management organization of The Stagg Group, owners of three troubled buildings on Webster Avenue in Bedford Park, over allegations the management firm has completely mismanaged a portfolio of properties. “No one deserves to be subjected to these conditions and I am ordering the relevant state agencies to expand their investigation to all properties managed by this company,” Cuomo said in a written statement on Nov. 2. “If true, we will take all steps within our power to remedy this situation and help ensure these New Yorkers have

Site Safety The city Department of Buildings (DOB) is implementing new safety training procedures for construction workers and supervisors working on large construction projects beginning Dec. 1. Workers are now expected to obtain 30 hours and supervisors are expected to obtain 62 hours of site safety training as required by a 2017 law. This comes a few months after a partial building collapse in Norwood that killed 48- year-old Segundo Huerta, a construction worker at the site on 94 E. 208th Street on Aug. 27. Huerta was on site when the building’s third floor collapsed, crushing and killing him. By

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s twenty-second edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community news stories to read and share. We have 28 pages packed full of news from this corner of the Bronx, so let’s start with page one! Our top story focuses on what’s happening at Bronx Community Charter School on Webster Avenue. There, students took on an ambitious project to understand the neighborhood of Norwood, the players and the issues. Read about one student, Blessing Owusu, who delved deeply into the controversial topic of gentrification. It’s a true story of the power of community

Major Construction Along East Mosholu Parkway North Hurting Local Businesses

By MICHAEL TURAY

Several rows of sewer pipes, stacked wood, and metal lay on the sidewalks of East Mosholu Parkway North heading toward Jerome Avenue. A loader operated by a construction worker swiftly scoops up dirt and places it on top of newly placed pipes. A second worker waves an orange flag alongside a sign that reads, “Road closed local & emergency traffic only,” directing drivers to turn right onto Kossuth Avenue, which has been converted to a one-way street in the opposite direction. Located near the Mosholu Parkway #4 train entrance, this active construction site is visible to many in the community.

Opinion: A Love Letter to the Bronx Should Serve as an Inspiration

By DAVID CRUZ

For anyone who hasn’t had the chance to catch HBO’s documentary, The Bronx, USA, I have two words: see it. For 90 minutes you’ll be spellbound by the essence of the Bronx, captured beautifully in this dazzling documentary that follows famed Seinfeld producer George “Georgie” Shapiro, and his Bronx buddy Carl Golub, who travel back to Norwood, embracing its halcyon past. The documentary is a parallel story of sorts, with a portion of the documentary dedicated to Shapiro’s adolescent days in Norwood (strangely, the neighborhood isn’t referred to as Norwood, but “the neighborhood”) and the other to a group of

At Bronx Community Charter School, a Question: "What Does Norwood Mean to You?"

By DAVID CRUZ

In the space of six weeks, Amanda Vasquez, a seventh grader at Bronx Community Charter School (BCCS) learned that pigeons are vital to Norwood’s ecosystem, especially near Tracey Towers. Inban Devadoss and Grace Ildefonso, second grade students at BCCS, familiarized themselves with A&A Grocery at East 204th Street, learning that the 24-hour deli’s marquee dish is its bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. Inban took what he learned a step further, proudly showing off replicas of the deli’s bacon, egg, and cheese meal and Goya cans on display using Model Magic Clay, visualizing his takeaways. For BCCS, the study served as