Health Check: Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can!

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DR. NICOLE HOLLINGSWORTH, EdD, MCHES

September is National Preparedness Month. In light of the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, TX, everyone can take action to prepare! In New York, the New York City Community Emergency Response Teams (NYC CERT) are groups of dedicated volunteers who help to prepare their neighbors and communities for different types of disasters. NYC CERT falls under the Community Outreach unit within New York City Office of Emergency Management, the city’s coordinating agency for organizations and agencies involved in emergency planning, education, and information dissemination. The NYCOEM and The Department of Homeland Security recommend the following helpful tips on and how to prepare

September Primary New York State’s Primary takes place on Sept. 12. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. across the Bronx. To find your nearest poll site, go to https://pollsitelocator.com/search. Participatory Budgeting The Office of Councilman Andrew Cohen will host a public session on Participatory Budgeting, where constituents can decide how $1 million in capital monies can be spent on community improvements. It will be held at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, 3225 Reservoir Oval E. on Sept. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 549-7300. Farmers Market NYC Health + Hospitals holds a

By ANDREW SEGER

The Norwood News, in partnership with WFUV and BronxNet TV, continues its four-part series on development projects happening across the Bronx and their impact on community residents. Amid the rise of real estate interest in the South Bronx, new developers along the waterfront say they will deliver more housing, public parks and retail stores to areas like Port Morris and Mott Haven. But, promises of “luxury waterfront living” and “world class dining” have long-time Bronxites asking, “Who exactly is this development for?” Right now, waste transfer plants, bus depots, industrial buildings and self-storage facilities take up most of the waterfront

Fiery Debate for 14th Council District Seat Addresses Past and Present

By DAVID CRUZ

The hour long debate focused on political knowhow and district loyalty while addressing substantive issues like affordable housing, economic development and jobs.

Op-Ed: Construction Bill Would Harm Mayor’s MWBE and Job Creation Initiatives

By REV. JACQUES ANDRE DeGRAFF

Mayor Bill de Blasio has set laudable and ambitious goals for creating jobs and supporting minority- and women-owned businesses across New York City. But these initiatives are now at risk of being undermined by ill-conceived City Council legislation – Intro 1447 – that would significantly change the city’s construction industry. Faith leaders and minority community advocates like myself are extremely concerned that City Council is considering a vote on Intro 1447 as early as September 7. MWBEs were unfairly left out of the discussion around this bill, which apparently went on for over a year without any outreach to our community.

Police have arrested a man they first believed had been shot by an alleged car thief only to find he made up a bogus story to hide he had accidentally shot himself. Police at the 52nd Precinct say the man was in his car when he got into an argument with another person East 199th Street and Bainbridge Avenue in Bedford Park. The driver then pulled out a gun, which went off, hitting the driver. The driver sped off to East 207th Street and Bainbridge Avenue. Witnesses say the victim had bled profusely. The victim then flagged police who came

WWE Stars Visit Sick Children at Montefiore

By DAVID GREENE

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstars Becky Lynch, “Bayley,” Xavier Woods and the “Big E” joined WWE ambassador Dana Warrior as the group paid a special visit to sick and chronically ill kids at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Norwood. The special event was held at the Bainbridge Avenue hospital on Aug. 16, ahead of WWE’s SummerSlam, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Aug. 20. Passing doctors and nurses snapped cell phone photos of the wrestlers as they spoke with the children, posed for pictures and signed autographs. Jhenlyva Vargas of Westchester County, who would turn 18 the

By DAVID CRUZ

Police need help finding a person caught on video stealing a woman’s credit cards from her wallet and using them to buy cigarettes nearby. The incident happened Aug. 14 just before 10 a.m. inside Montefiore Health System’s Greene Medical Arts Pavilion – Henkind Institute at 3400 Bainbridge Ave. Video surveillance showed the suspected thief allegedly using the victim’s credit card at Tita’s Mini Market at 137 E. Gun Hill Rd., just several blocks away, to buy the cigarettes. The suspect eventually fled and hasn’t been seen since. The suspected thief is described as a black man, around 30 to 35 years

MMCC Trip Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC) offers an overnight trip to Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Oct. 5-6, with a visit to the National African-American History & Culture Museum. Stay includes one-night hotel and several meals. For more detailed information and rates, call the MMCC Senior Center at (718) 798-6601. Job Expos Employer pop-up recruitment expos are taking place at the following libraries from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. and Belmont Library, 610 E. 186th St., both on Aug. 30; and Eastchester Library, 1385 E. Gun Hill Rd. on Aug. 24. For more