Celebration, Among Friends and Family, for Bedford Park Centenarian

By JASMINE GOMEZ

In a playfully decorated room filled with pink balloons and bright tablecloths, friends and family of Mary Lauria gathered to hail her 100th birthday. But if anyone were looking for a centenarian, it was pretty tough to spot her. That’s because for a 100-year-old, Lauria moves like lightning, a fitting description for “Fast Mary” as many of her friends call her. But with a tiara placed on her head, Lauria was the center of attention at her birthday bash, hosted by the Sister Annunciata Bethell Senior Center in Bedford Park. Lauria, a tiny woman with golden curls and the spirit of

By DAVID GREENE

Friends of Father Richard Gorman, a prominent Bronx clergyman, community leader, and activist expressed shock and sadness just 24 hours after the Archdiocese of New York announced his suspension following accusations of child molestation. The archdiocese issued a statement that revealed the alleged abuse “would have occurred 30 years ago. As usual the archdiocese immediately reported the allegations to law enforcement officials for investigation, who have deemed the allegations to be credible, although they have not yet been substantiated.” The Archdiocese revealed little details on the matter, though it was alleged to occur in Westchester County. No longer permitted to publicly function as a priest until the matter

A picture is worth a thousand words. It’s also worth a moment of tranquility. At Montefiore Medical Center, a first-of-its-kind visual arts program looks to enhance and support a sense of calm for patients, their families, and employees of Montefiore. Dubbed the Montefiore Fine Art Program and Collection and founded in 2014, the program seeks to find new and challenging ways to integrate contemporary artwork into the daily life of the health system. Jodi Moise serves as founder and curator of the Fine Art Program, which is built through acquisitions, commissions, exhibitions and other related visual arts programming. Montefiore has now

By DAVID CRUZ

Five years in the making, the New York Botanical Garden is moving forward with a plan to redevelop a parcel of property it owns on Webster Avenue, following through on its part to revamp the still-underutilized stretch. Come March, some potential ideas NYBG hopes to see include mixed-income residences for upwards of 300 units, 12,000-square retail space and a 125-room hotel. Or perhaps all three. “We would prioritize proposals that come back with a mix of all three,” said Aaron Bouska, NYBG’s vice president of government and community relations. Officials with NYBG have tapped Cushman and Wakefield to find a developer

Dear Readers, Have two weeks flew by already? The latest edition of the Norwood News is hitting your local diners, stores, offices, schools and busy corridors as of the time of this writing. But if you want to just view it from the convenience of your home, then here it is! We first begin with a story impacting our entire coverage area, revamping the NYPD sector maps to help improve crime fighting. Putting on his reporter cap is veteran newsman Bob “Kappy” Kappstatter, former NYPD beat reporter and Bronx bureau chief for the New York Daily News, who breaks down what communities

By DAVID CRUZ

Though the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) was approved to occupy the Kingsbridge Armory in 2013, loose ends relating to the mammoth project were brought up during a hostile public meeting involving an approved loan for the enormous project. In what was a barely publicized public hearing Jan. 14, residents and special interests groups testified before officials representing the Empire State Development (ESD) agency. The ESD’s Board of Directors had voted to approve a $30 million construction loan for the project, part of a larger $130 million project before the economic development agency. The Board’s approval of the loan sparked

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

When “Grafstract: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance” screens at the Bronx International Film Festival later this month, filmmaker Dan Perez will finally see his own work in the borough where he was born and lived for the first 27 years of his life. “This feels really good, I really wanted this film to be in the Bronx festival,” said Perez, who now lives in South Florida. The film follows several renowned street artists from the Bronx and Baltimore over four days as they painted walls in the Bronx, chronicling the “anarchistic” tradition of graffiti in the borough, and a shift

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 has a new district manager several months after its former manager resigned. Following an exhaustive search, the Board unanimously approved the hiring of Andrew Sandler, currently the director of community relations and constituent services for Councilman Andrew Cohen. Sandler has a public service background, having worked for Cohen’s predecessor, former Councilman Oliver Koppell. Cohen called the Board’s hiring of Sandler “my loss.” “Mr. Sandler is well- qualified for this position and I believe he will be a great asset to the board. I wish him well in this new endeavor,” said Cohen. District managers are paid city

By BOB KAPPSTATTER

Special to Norwood News As crime remains a stubborn problem for some areas of Norwood and its surrounding neighborhoods, the 52nd Precinct is set to embrace some radical crime fighting methods. The news comes amid a year where the Five-Two won the year, though barely. While the number of victims last year was low compared to the precinct’s more problematic days, the Five-Two was hit with a surge of homicides and shootings, as well as bumps in other major crime categories. It still managed to show a four percent drop when the seven major crime categories were lumped together, but it ranked within the top 10