Rocking the H-o-u-s-e at the PS 94 Spelling Bee

By EMILY SUZANNE LEVER

The atmosphere was electric in the auditorium at PS 94 Kings College on Wednesday morning while fourth- and fifth-graders faced off in the Norwood school’s yearly spelling bee. A spellbound audience of over 300 students watched for two hours as their peers nailed words like “revolutionary,” “responsibility,” “visualize,” and “microphone.” After seven rounds of competition, the 31 contestants, who had been preparing for weeks for the contest, had been narrowed down to three: fourth-graders Fatima Ali, Mohammed Ali (no relation) and Samuel Yeboah. Fatima Ali, 9, wearing light-up sneakers, secured third place and bowed out after attempting to spell “technique.”

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By PHONZ L. REYES

With record number of homelessness still an issue across the city, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is once again requesting New Yorkers volunteer to help the agency’s annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) Survey happening at the end of the month. The overnight HOPE Survey on Jan. 28 provides the agency a chance to collect data that will aid outreach teams in year-round efforts to address street homelessness while providing accurate estimates of un-sheltered homeless individuals in the city, particularly during the year’s coldest of nights when temperatures drop below 30 degrees. “Thanks to increased investment, enhanced coordination, and

Editorial: De Blasio Ratchets Up Progressivism to Pad Resume Ahead of 2020

In the days leading up to his annual State of the City address, Mayor Bill de Blasio turned up the volume on Democratic progressivism, announcing NYC Care, an initiative that offers super affordable healthcare to New York City’s low-income earners, roughly 600,000 in all. Half of those New Yorkers are undocumented immigrants. The announcement happened in the Bronx. The plan will kick off in the Bronx. In his State of the City address this year, de Blasio outlined an overdue but vague plan to draw the “best and brightest” teachers to public schools. The schools to receive new teachers will

By DAVID CRUZ and JOSEPH KONIG

Residents of three fairly new buildings on Webster Avenue that are owned and operated by The Stagg Group have gotten the ear of Community Board 7, which plans to hear from residents at its next Housing, Zoning & Land Use Committee meeting in February. The Stagg Group, a construction and development company with multiple ongoing projects in Bedford Park and Norwood, told the Norwood News they will be sending a representative to the meeting to hear out the tenants’ concerns. The news is the latest in a fight waged by tenants over conditions at the buildings at 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster

By BOB KAPPSTATTER

When Deputy Inspector Thomas Alps took over as commander of Norwood’s 52nd Precinct this past November, he had his work cut out for him. Overall crime in the precinct covering Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham, and University Heights, was up 5.52 percent last year. Murders, though comparatively lower in number to past history, were up 250 percent, with eight murders last year compared to two in 2017. Broken down, two of the murders were domestic, with at least one involving what Alps said was a stepfather and son, and two domestic partners; four involved disputes, one narcotics and the eighth

Giving Time, Feeling Good About it, At Walton House

By DAVID GREENE

Dozens of volunteers recently gathered at eight assisted living residences across the city, including Walton House in the Tremont section, for “A Day of Action Against Homelessness.” More than 200 volunteers from nearly a dozen companies like Wells Fargo, Black Rock and Digitalware, joined the staff of the Jericho Project at their newest building at 2065 Walton Ave., where they assisted in placing holiday decorations and brought holiday food they shared with residents. The Walton Avenue building opened in July and was designed from young adults and members of the military. The building was also the first completed under Mayor

Bronx Projects Take Center Stage in State of the City

By DAVID CRUZ

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s fifth State of the City address saw the immediate creation of a Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, a plan for increased worker protections, expanded 3K program, while also promoting a plan for guaranteed healthcare and a paid two-week vacation proposal for employees. Surprisingly, there were some specifics for the Bronx, a point that was not lost on Democratic colleagues like Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who’s expressed interest in running for mayor in 2021. Still, Diaz criticized de Blasio’s proposal to take buildings away from landlords with a history of harassment and poor building management.

Editor’s Pick Free Fitness Fun The Williamsbridge Oval presents the following free classes during January. A lock is required. For more information, call (718) 543-8672: Bodywork Details – Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., for teens, adults and seniors. Includes use of barbells and weights. Each week focuses on a different body part. Equipment is provided. Zumba – Sundays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., for all ages. Includes Latin, international and popular music to create dance routines. Onstage Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd., W., presents Ballet Hispánico, Jan. 19 at 8 p.m., featuring contemporary

The Bucs Stop Here: Bronx Buccaneers forced out of Oval Park

By MARTIKA ORNELLA

The friendly rivalry between youth football teams in the Bronx and Harlem took a contentious turn thanks to one online petition. Keith Spivey Jr., coach of the Bronx Buccaneers, a Norwood-based youth football program with players ranging in age from 8 to 14 years-old, created the petition to drum up support over the team’s removal from their usual Saturday practice time at Williamsbridge Oval Park. In the petition, Spivey claims the Buccaneers were pushed out by the field’s current permit holder, Richard Hernandez, for the sake of the Manhattan-based Harlem Jets. Hernandez, once affiliated with the Buccaneers, left the team