NYC Parks Solicits Mobile Food & Merchandise Vendors for Iconic Parks Citywide

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Parks is soliciting applications via a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process from prospective mobile vendors for the sale of food and specialty items from mobile units in some of the City’s most iconic parks, including Central Park, Forest Park, Macombs Dam Park, and more. For the first time ever, the Parks department has issued an RFP for both food and merchandise mobile units via the same request for proposal. Parks officials said the department is inviting proposals for inventive, exciting concepts, whether selling an assortment of healthy, fresh salads to people on the go, hot and cold

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with Bronx-based artist, Laura Alvarez, joined local elected officials representing Norwood on June 8 for a short, afternoon ceremony under the sunshine for the unveiling of the artist’s new asphalt street mural, located at the BID’s “Street Seat” area along Jerome Avenue’s shopping hub. The BID, in partnership with New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), created the Street Seat in 2021, as reported, to bring more open space, seating, and placemaking opportunities to Norwood. The Street Seat area is an engaging, accessible public space with free seating

By SÍLE MOLONEY & EMILY SAWAKED

Local People Reported Missing in Recent Weeks A 22-year-old woman was reported missing in the Norwood section of The Bronx. Click here for more details. A 29-year-old man was reported missing in the Wakefield section of The Bronx. Click here for more details. A 75-year-old man was reported missing from Van Cortlandt Village. Click here for more details. A 16-year-old girl was reported missing from Bedford Park. Click here for more details. A 68-year-old man was reported missing in the Wakefield section of The Bronx. Click here for more details. A 76-year-old woman was reported missing from Kingsbridge Heights. Click

Editor’s Pick District 11 Councilman Eric Dinowitz is hosting a Juneteenth celebration on June 19th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4545 Independence Avenue (Riverdale Temple). The event wil include a live DJ, arts & crafts, African drums, dance & zumba, storytelling, spoken word and hip hop. For more information, see below flier. Join Woodlawn Conservancy’s director of historical services on a Silent Partners – LGBTQ Tour in Celebration of Pride Month on Saturday, June 25, to pay tribute to some notable LGBT figures, including writers, artists, and vaudeville stars, buried at Woodlawn. For the 11

By EMILY SAWAKED

A rainbow flag, doused by rain but still flying proud, was hoisted up a flagpole in front of Bronx County Courthouse on the Grand Concourse by officials, including Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, amid cheers and applause, as Pride Month was officially launched in The Bronx. The sidewalk was filled with joyous smiles on Thursday, June 2, after a ceremony marking the beginning of the month-long celebration was held inside the courthouse during which numerous, prominent LGBTQIA+ activists from the borough were honored for their work. During the ceremony, a tradition started by Gibson’s predecessor, former Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The American Albanian Open Hand Association (AAOHA) held a celebration on May 14 on the occasion of the nonprofit’s 8th anniversary to honor the various volunteers who give up their free time to support the association’s ongoing work in the community. AAOHA president and founder, Aleksander Nilaj, invited all volunteers who had worked with him for the last 8 years to the event, held at 2134 Barnes Avenue in the Pelham Parkway section of The Bronx, where over 20 volunteers were recognized and honored on the night. According to its website, the Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA), established

By DAVID GREENE

Volunteers, once again, carried out the painstaking task of locating more than 8,000 graves of American servicemen and women to place American flags on them in honor of Memorial Day at Woodlawn Cemetery. Volunteers fanned out across the sprawling cemetery, located at 4199 Webster Avenue at East 233rd Street, and placed small flags at the headstones or in front of community mausoleums as a gesture of respect and tradition for the country’s fallen military members. This year’s “flagging” season began on Saturday, May 21, and continued through Sunday, May 29. On Sunday, May 22, volunteers, including a local

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Thousands of worshippers from Norwood’s North Bronx Islamic Center were looking forward to the annual, collective prayer service observance, known as Eid al-Fitr on the football field of Williamsbridge Oval Park to mark the end of Ramadan in May. The weather, however, forced them to move services indoors. The leadership team at the Islamic Center was forced to make alternate plans due to rainfall the night before the May 2 holy day. “We had permission [for Eid al-Fitr prayers] in Oval Park,” Mohammed Hussain, secretary of the North Bronx Islamic Center, told Norwood News. “But due to weather conditions,

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

A steady stream of family members, friends, and fans fill up the Bronx Museum of the Arts one hour before the exhibit, “Eyes on the Street” opens for a private reception at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, April 5. The retrospective exhibit reviews four decades of photographs from Jamel Shabazz. “It’s a joy to be here in The Bronx,” Shabazz told Norwood News at the exhibit’s opening. “This great institution has always been so kind to me. It’s the Bronx Museum that gave me one of my most important shows about, maybe, 15 years ago…. They’ve always respected the work

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

Culture

NYC Parks Solicits Mobile Food & Merchandise Vendors for Iconic Parks Citywide

Jerome Gun Hill BID Hosts Unveiling Ceremony of Asphalt Art Mural by Laura Alvarez

UPDATE Neighborhood Notes: Early Voting, Bronx Bus Redesign Goes Live, City Redistricting & More!

UPDATE Out & About: Juneteenth Celebrations, Pride Month, Summer Fun Activities & More!

UPDATE Pride in The Bronx: LGBTQIA+ Activists and Leaders Honored during Flag Raising Ceremony

Albanian American Open Hand Association Volunteers Honored on 8th Anniversary

Volunteers Continue “Flagging” Tradition at Woodlawn Cemetery

Eid Al-Fitr Celebrated in Norwood Ending the Holy Month of Ramadan

Photo Exhibit Shows Four Decades of Humanity