Op-Ed: Why You Shouldn’t Just Vote In the Presidential Election

By MARGARET GROARKE

Presidential elections are important. But your vote also matters, probably even MORE so, in local elections. In New York City elections, we choose the people who will be in charge of many of the things that affect our daily lives. If you care about the quality of local schools, the way NYPD polices your community, the state of the parks, how safe it is to walk, drive or bike on our streets, those are all issues that are dealt with by the mayor and the City Council. So, why did five times as many people vote in the

Merchant Spotlight: A Family Business Grows at JGHBID

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered several different relief options to help businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations recover from the impacts of COVID-19. However, despite this, and as reported previously by the Norwood News, the agency had not managed to reach the smallest businesses which have often suffered the brunt of the economic fallout from the pandemic. That has now changed and the SBA is now offering Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to both sole proprietors and businesses with less than 20 employees with effect from Wednesday, Feb. 24 through Wednesday, March

By DAVID GREENE

Following the return of indoor dining at 25 percent of normal restaurant capacity, on Friday, Feb. 12, at least one Bedford Park restaurant owner was hopeful that it was a sign of things slowly, and hopefully, returning to normal. Maria Torres is the manager of Bedford Café and Restaurant, located at 1 Bedford Park Boulevard which, until Feb. 12, had been closed since Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued his executive “PAUSE” order on March 16, 2020. The order restricted all, on-premises consumption of food and beverages at eating and drinking establishments, statewide. Eleven months later, on Tuesday, Feb.

By DAVID GREENE

A three-alarm fire in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx has injured one firefighter and destroyed two businesses according to the FDNY. Meanwhile, one of the business owners told the Norwood News that four families living in four, separate apartments, above the damaged businesses, have been displaced. According to the FDNY, the fire was reported at 8.34 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, inside the basement of the Katonah Family Deli and Grocery, located at 4293 Katonah Avenue. A fire department official said the fire extended to the first floor of the apartment building, and that 138 firefighters from

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, representing the City’s 16th District, has been honored by Crain’s New York Business 2021 as a Notable Black Leader and Executive. The list spotlights Black men and women who have affected the city with professional, communal and philanthropic achievements, particularly in matters of diversity and inclusion. Gibson congratulated her fellow honorees, said she was blessed to be recognized during Black History Month, and that she stood on the shoulders of the pioneers and trailblazers who started the work before her. As reported previously by the Norwood News, Gibson is currently one of six candidates running for

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Wells Fargo announced on Friday, Feb. 12, that six New York-based community development financial institutions (CDFIs) have received a combined $5 million from the bank’s “Open for Business Fund” (OFB) to help local small businesses impacted by the economic struggles caused by COVID-19. Wells Fargo representatives said the bank selected Accompany Capital ($500,000), Greater Jamaica Development Corporation ($500,000), Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund ($400,000), NDC Community Impact Loan Fund ($1 million), Pursuit Community Finance ($1 million) and Renaissance Economic Development Corporation ($1.6 million) as part of a nationwide small business recovery effort. Representatives said the new Wells Fargo grants to

By DAVID GREENE

As much as six inches of fresh snow fell across the borough, but that didn’t stop Bronxites from continuing with their daily routine of biking, shopping or getting their COVID-19 inoculations amid the ongoing pandemic, as the second major winter snow storm of the season battered the Northeast of the country for most of the day on Sunday, Feb. 7. As reported by Norwood News, on Saturday, Feb. 5, the New York City Emergency Management Department (EMD) issued a hazardous travel advisory for Sunday, Feb. 7, and the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for New York

By SÍLE MOLONEY

In what may be a first, 44 neighborhood organizations representing New York City’s five boroughs have joined forces to deliver messages of love and support to small businesses throughout the city, all in time for St. Valentine’s Day. The 44 associations are a combination of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), chambers of commerce, merchant associations and other community-based development organizations. Each of the 44 participating neighborhood associations will customize the “St. Valentine’s Day Sweethearts Shop Local” program to the individual neighborhoods across the city, with the following common messages to New Yorkers: Shop local Order direct Write a positive review

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Freshman, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who represents New York City’s 16th congressional district in the Bronx, was formally and unanimously elected by colleagues on Monday, Feb. 8, to be vice chair of the U.S. Congressional Committee on Education and Labor for the 117th Congress. A spokesperson for Bowman confirmed to the Norwood News on Tuesday, Feb. 9, that the congressman’s placement on the committee and his election to vice chair was unrelated to Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent removal from it. “He was named to the committee in December prior to his swearing-in,” Bowman’s spokesperson said. The New York congressman

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Op-Ed: Why You Shouldn’t Just Vote In the Presidential Election

SBA Now Offering PPP Loans to Sole Proprietors & Businesses with Less than 20 Employees

Indoor Dining Slowly Returns to Bedford Park & Norwood, yet COVID is not the Only Problem

One Firefighter Injured, Residents Displaced in Woodlawn Blaze

Update: Gibson Honored by Crain’s New York Business, Gets Backing of Torres, Vacca in BP Race

Wells Fargo Provides $5 million to Local CDFIs to Help Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Bronxites Push Forward Through Snow Storm Despite Pandemic, as More Snowfall is Promised on Feb. 10

Update: Jamaal Bowman Joins House Education, Energy Committees, Does Not Replace Marjorie Taylor Greene