Halloween Celebrations Return After a Two-Year Absence due to COVID-19

By DAVID GREENE

After Halloween celebrations were all but cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it made a big return in 2021 as youngsters and their parents took to the streets, dressed in their favorite, purchased or home-made costumes, and large crowds of trick-or-treaters were spotted across the borough. Larger than usual crowds were seen as children of all ages wore masks and costumes as they attended several Halloween-themed parties in Allerton, Norwood and Pelham Bay. Meanwhile, the National Retail Federation reported an increase of 20 percent over last year on Halloween costume and treat sales. Americans spent

Op-Ed: How the Senate Will Decide the Fate of Local News

By STEVE WALDMAN

The Senate is now deciding the fate of local news. As part of the Build Back Better Act, the Senate is, in the next few days, considering an important proposal: providing a payroll tax credit to local news organizations to retain or hire local journalists. Why? Local news is in a deep crisis. The Internet has fundamentally broken the business model of local newspapers. The number of reporters has dropped by more than half since 2000. There are at least 1,800 total “news deserts,” with no local newspapers at all, and thousands more have “ghost newspapers” that

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Jessica Woolford, founder of community mutual aid group, Kingsbridge Unidos, Latanya DeVaughn, founder of Bronx Bound Books and representatives from State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) held a food and book giveaway in Kingsbridge on Friday, Oct. 29. The event took place at 4 p.m. at 824 Broadway between 238th and 239th Streets.

Funeral Details Announced for Former Salesian High School Student and Coach, Paul Sousa

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Norwood News has been informed by officials of New Rochelle’s Salesian High School of the death of former student and coach, Paul Sousa. “The Salesian Family is deeply saddened to announce the loss of the Salesian baseball star and former coach, Paul Sousa (’72),” the notice read. “Paul was an incredible athlete, coach and friend.” Officials at the school, located at 148 East Main Street in New Rochelle, NY said Sousa’s two sons, Paul Sousa Jr. (’98) and Scott Sousa (’03), also attended Salesian High School. The following notice has been posted to the Pelham Funeral Home

By MICHAEL BENJAMIN

Former Bronx assemblyman, Michael Benjamin, announced that his mother, Kathleen A. Benjamin, née Conton, passed away at Calvary Hospital (Morris Park) on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, at the age of 86. A native of Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Kathleen came to the Bronx in 1956 and later married husband, Ray Benjamin, in October 1957. She resided at Tracey Towers in the Jerome Park section of the borough, on the border with Norwood. After three children and ten years as a “stay-at-home,” mother, Kathleen became a para-professional at the school her boys attended, P.S. 130X, on Prospect Avenue

By JASON GONZALEZ & SÍLE MOLONEY

For Pierina Sanchez, the Democratic nominee for the District 14 City Council seat in the upcoming general election, it’s all about the love. Sanchez is all in for the “Boogie Down,” saying passion for the community is a major driving force behind her campaign. With early voting already underway and only one day remaining before the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, Sanchez is transparent and says a vote for her on Nov. 2 will benefit the borough. “It’s about the love,” Sanchez said during a campaign rally held outside the Kingsbridge Armory in the Kingsbridge Heights section

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York Lottery announced on Sunday, Oct. 31, that one, top-prize winning ticket was sold for the Oct. 30th TAKE 5 EVENING drawing. The ticket, worth $44,943.50, was purchased at Webster Deli Inc, located at 363 E 180th Street in Fordham Heights. Lottery officials said Take 5 players with midday and evening draws on the same ticket should check their numbers at nylottery.ny.gov to determine if they have the winning numbers for the corresponding midday or evening drawing. Officials say TAKE 5 numbers are drawn from a field of one through 39. The drawing is televised twice daily at

By SARAH HUFFMAN

New York City’s Racial Justice Commission (RJC) hosted a virtual panel entitled, “Overcoming Racial Disparities in Health and Mental Health” earlier this summer to discuss health and persistent racial disparities in health and mental health. The event, held on July 20, was hosted by commission chair, Jennifer Jones Austin, and was divided into two, hour-long panels, each made up of three expert panelists. The first panel comprised LaRay Brown, CEO of the Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and president and CEO of One Brooklyn Public Health System, Guillermo Chacon, president of the Latino Commission on AIDS, and Claire Green-Forde Ph.D.,

By SARAH HUFFMAN & MIRIAM QUIÑONES

The Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA) and The Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association (PPNA) collaborated with Miriam Quiñones of Miriam Quin Photography on Sunday Aug. 29 at 2134 Barnes Ave in the Bronx, for a back-to-school giveaway. Around 650 school backpacks filled with school supplies including pencils, notebooks, erasers, folders and more, were handed out to students. Families with children of all ages lined up around the block on Barnes Avenue to wait their turn for a backpack. Volunteers from AAOHA, PPNA, and community partners had worked throughout the afternoon to fill the backpacks and distribute them to