Howard Stern Personality, Joey Boots, Dies in Bedford Park Home

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID CRUZ

A radio personality known on the Howard Stern talk show as the edgy Joey Boots died mysteriously in his Bedford Park home, according to police. Boots, real name Joseph Bassolino, 49, was found unconscious in his home on Grand Concourse by Bedford Park Boulevard late Friday Dec. 23. Bassolino was regarded as one of Stern’s Wack Packers, which often performed edgy albeit obnoxious bits on unsuspecting people. Bassolino was known for the phrase “Baba Booey” during radio bits. “Tribute to the one and only Joey B in the new year. He will be missed. #BabaooeyHowardSternpenis,” Howard Stern had tweeted on

Dear Fellow Readers! The year’s last edition of the Norwood News is out, crammed with plenty of Bronx community news you can use. Before we begin our summary of stories, some breaking news: A Bronx judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, which one again signals significant delays for a project envisioned as a game changer. We wrote a lengthy piece on the story that you can find here. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming: Our Page One story focuses on Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (pronounced jo-nigh), who’s declared a run for New York City Council.

By DANIELA BEASLEY

In a shocker at its end-of-the-year powwow, members of the JeromeGun Hill Business Improvement District were surprised to hear their longtime and only chair, Alice Kulick, announced she will leave the BID after helping it some 20 years ago. Opening the program, Kulick announced she was removing herself from the slate of nominees for the board, where a contingent of 30 registered members of the BID were on hand to vote its new board. Residents and community stakeholders were also among the crowd attending the 20th annual get-together that doubled as an informational session for existing merchants. “I will always

Gjonaj to Receive Bronx Democratic Party Endorsement

By DAVID CRUZ

State Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, whose 80th Assembly District edges into Norwood, has become the latest candidate to jump into the race for the City Council seat for the East Bronx. Four others have already declared a run in the Democratic Primary for the 13th Council District seat, which covers a portion of Norwood, as well as Throggs Neck, City Island, Morris Park, Country Club, Allerton and Pelham Parkway. The seat is now held by Councilman Jimmy Vacca, who is term-limited. The mudslinging has already begun, with one of Gjonaj’s opponents charging that a Gjonaj win could leave the Assembly District without

Special Report: Noise in Norwood and Beyond

By DAVID CRUZ

Beating back the metallic thuds, relentless clacks, rhythmic noise, and bass sounds stands as a daily occurrence in some Bronx neighborhoods, with Norwood and Bedford Park no exception. Unwanted noise, a never-ending nuisance that somehow, despite registering as a top quality of life complaint, remains perpetually prevalent. It is the city that never sleeps, and noise is living up to that adage. And as the holiday season settles in, the uptick in noise complaints usually follows. For the NYPD and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, agencies tasked to respond to aggravating noise issues, the priority to curb

For this edition, the Norwood News embarked on a journey to understand the culture of noise, specifically incessantly loud noise in the neighborhood with a near 3,000-word article that barely scratches the surface on why the city is unable to blunt this pesky quality of life complaint. Noise, whether it’s loud parties, car horns blaring, or that infernal Mr. Softee ice cream truck that spews that annoying jingle, is pervasive. That noise, unlike the rumble of trains or daytime sirens, fly-by-night noise in the grand scheme of things, can go on for hours, seriously damaging quality of life. For residents,

This week we asked readers their thoughts on the outcome of the 2016 presidential race won by Donald Trump. How the heck did they allow him and the Russians steal the (expletive) presidency? It was stolen…And Hillary [Clinton] stole it from Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump stole it from her. So Hillary shouldn’t have even been in the race and Bernie Sanders should be president. Johnny Gibbs Parkchester Actually, the outcome was pretty good. I’m glad for something new, I can say that. I was definitely not for Hillary. It was a crazy campaign. To me, at the end

Hello Fellow Readers! The latest edition of the Norwood News, bringing plenty of Bronx community news you can use, is out, hitting local restaurants, offices, schools, and parts of Montefiore Health System in the coming days. As usual, we begin with the front page and two events underscoring fear and resentment toward President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office on Jan. 20. Reporters Deborah Cruz (no relation) and Wendy Joan Biddlecombe hit the pavement to gauge the sentiment of some Bronx residents. Further in the story you can read a special report on the topic of noise and what can

The U.S. Postal Service has cast a wide net on its old mailboxes so it could replace them with new ones following a string of so-called ‘fishing’ incidents across the Bronx. The news could spell relief to Bronx residents victimized by the practice that involves thieves stealing mail by feeding a glue trap attached to a string into a mailbox and “fishing” out mail from the slot. Thieves preferably would look for checks where names were bleached using a special machine. The checks would later be cashed with many residents not knowing they were a victim until their mail