As Worshippers Return for Holy Week Services, One Lector Discusses Addiction Concerns & Mental Health

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

Worshippers once again returned in person for the annual Passion of the Christ Reenactment in Bedford Park with several hundred parishioners and passersby seen watching members of Our Lady of Refuge congregation reenacting the Good Friday procession and crucifixion. The event was held outside Our Lady of Refuge church, located at 290 East 196th Street on Friday, April 7, as the street was shut down between Bainbridge Avenue and Briggs Avenue. The annual Bedford Park event is believed to have started in the 1980s and the current pastor of Our Lady of Refuge church, Father Patrick D’Arcy, said

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Local nonprofit Up Life foundation held an Easter celebration in the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood on Sunday, April 9, complete with a DJ, MC, balloons, games, goodie bags, dancing, and more for local families to enjoy. Kids were seen running around with bunny ears, blowing bubbles, flying balloons, and coloring “Up Life” on the park’s pavement in bright colors on what was a sunny Easter Sunday. Up Life founder, Robert Salkey, said of the event, “This is my community so I wanted to give back, and make sure I get everybody to learn how to network with each other,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the launch of the 2023 Open Streets program on Saturday, April 22, coinciding the program’s 2023 launch with DOT’s Car-Free Earth Day. As previously reported, the program, according to DOT officials, transforms streets into public spaces open to all, allowing for a range of activities that promote economic development, supporting schools, and providing new ways for New Yorkers to enjoy cultural programming and build community. However, a review of the City’s list of designated open street locations finds very few in the northwest Bronx. DOT officials said this year the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is surging among U.S. children, according to officials at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine (together, Montefiore-Einstein). The number of young people under the age of 20 living with the disease has nearly doubled between 2001 and 2017, they said and yet, aside from increases in childhood obesity, the reasons for this disturbing increase are not clear. The good news is that the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded Montefiore-Einstein a six-year, $4.1 million grant

By DAVID GREENE

Over 1,000 Bronx kids and their parents gathered in the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood for the annual spring Easter egg hunt, organized by NYC Parks’ Department on Saturday, April 8. The event comprised all types of games, arts & crafts, and fun activities for children of all ages, including traditional Easter egg hunts and “old school” potato sack races. To keep things fair and safe, both activities catered to kids of different age groups. The longest lines were for the biggest attraction, “Justy the Bunny.” Sharon and Olga of Financial Literacy & Family Engagement were seen manning

By DAVID GREENE

The NYPD said three mosques in the Northwest Bronx were robbed or broken into in March as millions of Muslims around the world began to observe the holy month of Ramadan. One of the mosques was robbed twice. According to NYPD officials, the latest incident was reported on Monday, March 27, at the Bronx Muslim Center located at 2531 Davidson Avenue in Fordham Manor. On Monday, April 3, a police source told Norwood News, “There were two burglaries at that location.” Regarding the incident on March 27, the official said, “An unknown individual entered the location through

Editor’s Note: Check back for more updates as we add more events. Editor’s Pick Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, in association with Sal Abbatiello of Fever Records, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop on Saturday, May 6, at 8 p.m. with the Hip Hop Fever 2023 concert. Click here for more details. EVENTS The New York Botanical Garden is celebrating Earth Month throughout April, culminating with a weekend of activities, including learning opportunities, tours, demonstrations, and more on Earth Day Weekend, commencing Friday, April 22, the annual global event to support environmental protection. Monitor the progress

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Percy Barber of Back Office Management Group is tabling outside the Bainbridge Avenue entrance to the 205th Street subway station in Norwood (at East 206th Street) on Wednesday, April 12, offering free phones and tablets to eligible persons. “This is a government program where we give life lines like free phones and tablets to those on government assistance, whether it’s food stamps, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, public housing… anybody that’s basically in need of an extra push and that’s what we do,” he said. Barber said he works with Insurance Wireless but he, himself, works for Back Office Management

Editor’s Pick The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468, in association with Sal Abbatiello of Fever Records presents a spectacular display of timeless disco hits, “Disco Fever,” on Saturday, April 15, at 8 p.m. This special concert brings together the most beloved Disco Stars for a nostalgic journey to the golden era of disco music, featuring performances by The Trammps, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, France Joli, Lime, Musique, Rochelle Fleming “The Voice of First Choice”, Carol Douglas, and The Intruders. The event will be hosted by Joe Causi and Sal

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As Worshippers Return for Holy Week Services, One Lector Discusses Addiction Concerns & Mental Health

“Up Life” Easter Celebration Held in Oval as Man Who Found Freedom Intends to Keep It

NYC DOT Launches 2023 Open Streets Program with More Locations but Few in Northwest Bronx

Norwood: Old School Fun at Annual Easter Egg Hunt in The Williamsbridge Oval

Three Mosque Break-Ins Reported in The Bronx During Ramadan

Out & About: Mother’s Day, Silent Disco, 50 Years of Hip Hop Show, Theater in the Oval & More!

Norwood: Free Tablets & Phones for People on Government Assistance

UPDATE Out & About: Disco Fever at Lehman, Earth Day, Karaoke, Family Days, Dance Festivals & More!