Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s fifteenth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into and share. We’ve packed 24 pages of news from this corner of the Bronx, capturing a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story looks at the possible implications behind the Bronx Bus Network Redesign Plan, that could knock out several bus routes cutting through Norwood. Read what residents have to say about the news, and what can be done about it. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece on the

'El Chapo,' Whose Drug Network Dominated the Bronx, Sentenced to Life

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, infamous former head of the Sinaloa cartel, the world’s most powerful drug organization, was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years on July 17, after an 11-week trial that ended in February. The cartel is known for its widespread distribution network that includes the Bronx. Guzman was found guilty on ten federal charges, including murder conspiracies, engaging a continuing criminal enterprise and other drug-related charges. The sentencing came a month after 18 people with ties to the cartel were charged by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office with dealing heroin and enough fentanyl to “kill

Bronx Woman Found Dead Inside Fordham Apartment

By MICHAEL TURAY

A 33-year-old woman was found stabbed to death inside her Fordham apartment, cops say. On July 12 police were dispatched to 2414 University Ave. at around 8:40 pm after reports of a foul odor when they found the body of Cindi Olivio unconscious and on her bedroom floor with several stab wounds to her body. Law enforcement officials said Olivio’s body was so badly decomposed that the initial stab wounds were difficult to determine by cops on the scene. Further tests by the city Medical Examiner’s office confirmed Olivio suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck area. The death has

Raising Parental Awareness on Gangs in the Five-Two

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Within the big picture story of decades of downward crime rates, one aspect of street life that the NYPD continues to grapple with is the lure of gangs. Responding to a growing concern over increased gang activity in the north Bronx neighborhoods Deputy Inspector Thomas J. Alps, commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct, said “gangs are a big problem in the Five-Two.” In an ongoing effort to counter gang life, and root it out of neighborhoods, the precinct invited members of the NYPD Bronx Gang Squad to a summit at the Bronx Library Center on July 3. The meeting included

By DAVID CRUZ

Monroe College in Fordham has been reportedly hacked, with hackers demanding $2 million worth of Bitcoin to undo the now encrypted files. The breach, first reported by the New York Daily News, is now being investigated by the NYPD. Monroe College, founded in 1933, has campuses in Fordham, Manhattan, and New Rochelle in Westchester County. The website is currently down. My school’s servers are currently being held hostage for $2M in bitcoin. Thank God. I had a term paper due today. #bitcoin #hostage #monroecollege #miracle — Jacklynn Hyde (@HydeJacklynn) July 11, 2019 Officials have turned to its Facebook account

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s fourteenth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into and share. There’s plenty of news to report in this corner of the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story focuses on the results of the latest Community Board 7 elections, with board members going a different direction in voting for a new chair. Read about the new agenda for Emmanuel Martinez, the newly installed chair of Community Board 7 by myself and Síle Moloney.

SEE PICTURE: Man Still Wanted for Attempted Break-In of Kingsbridge Hair Salon

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

Police still don’t know who attempted to break into a hair salon in Kingsbridge Heights back in May, and now are soliciting the public’s help in identifying a suspect connected to it. Police say the man attempted to break into Elsa’s Hair Styles (Salon) at 212 W. Kingsbridge Rd. on May 30 just before 3 a.m. He failed to get in, and left the scene. The man is described as a 30-year-old Hispanic with short black hair. He is about 5’11” tall and 200 lbs, and he was last seen wearing a long-sleeve black shirt, blue jeans, and black sneakers.

CB7 Sees Mix of New and Veteran Members to Executive Dais

By DAVID CRUZ and SÍLE MOLONEY

Community Board 7 saw a shift in civic power, as Jean Hill, who presided as chair of the northwest Bronx board, was voted out in favor of 31-year-old Norwood resident Emmanuel Martinez, a relative newcomer to the board. Several familiar faces have stayed on the executive dais, likely adding a mix of fresh ideas and institutional knowledge. Martinez currently serves as chair of CB7’s Veterans’ Committee, having recently hosted the annual Veterans’ Day Brunch, now in its third year. It’s unclear what the vote tally was as CB7 continues to ensure the proper vote count was met but 33 board

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Within moments of Leandra Feliz emerging from a vigil held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Belmont, on the evening of June 20, ahead of a planned procession to mark the first anniversary of the murder of her 15-year-old son, Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, the heavens suddenly burst open. Feliz’s face broke into a broad smile, amid applause from onlookers, as she raised her eyes and arms skyward in an apparent secret moment of connection with her deceased son. Dressed in jeans, boots and a t-shirt depicting an image of Junior, she faced off against the media