Financial Focus: Reduce Your 2016 Tax Bill with These Year-end Planning Tips

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By By ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

Our office finds that the month of December is when everyone suddenly looks for 2016 tax tips. Really? Come on guys and gals, the year is almost over. Tax planning is best January 2 of that year. So if you want to save money in 2017, start January 2 of that year to get a huge refund the next year (2018). But there are some great last minute things you can do to get a bigger refund, for this year: Donate to Charity If you itemize your tax deductions on your tax return, one of the best ways to increase those deductions

Gjonaj to Receive Bronx Democratic Party Endorsement

By DAVID CRUZ

State Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, whose 80th Assembly District edges into Norwood, has become the latest candidate to jump into the race for the City Council seat for the East Bronx. Four others have already declared a run in the Democratic Primary for the 13th Council District seat, which covers a portion of Norwood, as well as Throggs Neck, City Island, Morris Park, Country Club, Allerton and Pelham Parkway. The seat is now held by Councilman Jimmy Vacca, who is term-limited. The mudslinging has already begun, with one of Gjonaj’s opponents charging that a Gjonaj win could leave the Assembly District without

Members of the 52nd Precinct Community Council were in full force on Dec. 13, riding the streets of Bedford Park and Norwood for a first-ever holiday procession where they got help from members of the NYPD Explorers, Community Board 7 and Santa Claus, with help from friends. Residents and business owners alike were caught by surprise seeing Santa Claus and friends riding the streets, pausing to snap photos. The Norwood News’ Quin Miriam was on hand to snap the pics. Members of the 52nd Precinct Community Council were in full force on Dec. 13, riding the streets of Bedford Park

By DAVID GREENE

The holidays didn’t fare well for a home destroyed by a raging fire that left eight people, including an elderly woman and seven firefighters injured in Bedford Park. Fire and rescue personnel were dispatched to the two and-a-half story home at 2854 Briggs Avenue, at East 198th Street in Bedford Park at 11:15 a.m. on December 13. The fire quickly spread to an adjacent home at 2856 Briggs Ave. According to area resident, Jimmy Velez, who snapped several photos of the scene on his cellphone, claimed there was a delay of several minutes before firefighters could get water on the fire. “They

Residents of St. Patrick’s Home in Norwood/Van Cortlandt Village celebrated the Christmas season with their annual chorus concert on December 9. A whole group of singers lent their voices to the concert, singing familiar Christmas hymns to mark the occasion. Check out these photos by Edwin Soto.

Once Homeless Vets Find Comfort During Holidays

By DEBORAH CRUZ

An abundance of red gift bags were spread out on a table surrounded by gold, red, and green stars that decorated the walls of Kingsbridge Terrace, a home for formerly homeless veterans operated by The Jericho Project. Chairs and tables abutted a brightly lit and decorated Christmas tree with a sign that read, “Merry Christmas.” The front of the room filled with volunteers placing plates of sandwiches, cookies, soft drinks, and finger food on the tables. And Tori Lyon, CEO of The Jericho Project, oversaw the room, mingling with staffers at the First Annual Day of Action happening at six

Special Report: Noise in Norwood and Beyond

By DAVID CRUZ

Beating back the metallic thuds, relentless clacks, rhythmic noise, and bass sounds stands as a daily occurrence in some Bronx neighborhoods, with Norwood and Bedford Park no exception. Unwanted noise, a never-ending nuisance that somehow, despite registering as a top quality of life complaint, remains perpetually prevalent. It is the city that never sleeps, and noise is living up to that adage. And as the holiday season settles in, the uptick in noise complaints usually follows. For the NYPD and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, agencies tasked to respond to aggravating noise issues, the priority to curb

For this edition, the Norwood News embarked on a journey to understand the culture of noise, specifically incessantly loud noise in the neighborhood with a near 3,000-word article that barely scratches the surface on why the city is unable to blunt this pesky quality of life complaint. Noise, whether it’s loud parties, car horns blaring, or that infernal Mr. Softee ice cream truck that spews that annoying jingle, is pervasive. That noise, unlike the rumble of trains or daytime sirens, fly-by-night noise in the grand scheme of things, can go on for hours, seriously damaging quality of life. For residents,

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers where they would be buying their holiday gifts this season. Honestly, I’m doing all of my shopping online with minor shopping in the stores because the stores are crazy right now. So most things I will get online. I will go to Bay Plaza, Fordham or Parkchester. There’s a lot of good deals, also on 125th Street there are some good deals. Diana Sawaked Van Nest I definitely have my Christmas list and I’m going to shop here in the Bronx to support our merchants and vendors. So most of my shopping will be