Education

Norwood: Students and Staff Evacuated following Bomb Alert at P.S. 20

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Students and teachers were evacuated from P.S. 20 in the Norwood section of the Bronx on Friday, March 4, due to a reported bomb threat. The area was later declared clear by police and safe for reentry.   A police official told Norwood News that an anonymous call had been placed with the school, located at 3050 Webster Avenue, next door to the 52nd precinct, at around 8.50 a.m., advising that there was a bomb on the premises. The NYPD spokesperson was unable to confirm on which extension or number the call had been placed, but confirmed that the


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AG James Warns New Yorkers to be Cautious in Charitable Giving Amid Ukrainian Crisis

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  New York Attorney General Letitia James warned New Yorkers on Thursday, March 3, to be wary of sham charities attempting to take advantage of the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis and to ensure they are donating to credible organizations. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also provided tips to those seeking ways to support the Ukrainian people amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia military forces which began on Feb. 24.   “At a time of great chaos, confusion, and destruction, it is imperative that New Yorkers be on alert for potential risks to when donating to charitable causes,”


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Police Athletic League’s Tournament of Champions Engages Bronx Kids in STEM Projects

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Police Athletic League (PAL) youngsters from all five boroughs of New York City participated in the citywide PAL Tournament of Champions STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Challenge, on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Activities focused on STEM and physical education learning, featuring engineering, design and physics skills building. The 2022 competition was an individual, center-based competition held at each PAL center with participants in Kindergarten through eighth grades working within age groups.   Dana Wheeler, PAL director of education and program development, said the academic needs of the participants continue to be a top priority at PAL, with STEM activities serving


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Nonprofit Fighting Back Against Human Trafficking Opens New Office in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Freedom Youth Family Justice Center Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 2019, which provides support to people, particularly youth, affected by human trafficking and domestic violence, recently opened a new office in The Bronx, located at 555 West 235th Street, in Riverdale.   The organization runs a number of programs, one of which is the Young Adult Discovery (YAD) program. This serves victims and survivors of human trafficking and prostitution aged 12-17, who are seeking a holistic approach to making positive changes in their lives by providing tools and support for those re-entering society.   Norwood News has reported


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UPDATE Memorial Celebration to be Held to Honor Former Bronx Community Board 7 Member, Jeffrey Hunter

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A virtual memorial event is to be held, via Zoom, on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 6.30 p.m. to honor the memory of former Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) member, Jeffrey Hunter.   Chad Royer, Bronx CB7 Veterans Affairs committee chair, Raul Gonzalez, Amjad Mujaahid, Alan Delfish and Emmanuel Martinez, chair of Bronx CB7, collectively organized the event, the details of which are included further below in a flyer. In the context of its announcement, Royer explained that some veteran partners organized the event as they wanted to honor Jeffrey Hunter. “He was a dedicated member of Bronx Community Board 7’s


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New York State Archives Now Accepting Entries for the 32nd Annual Student Research Awards 

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York State Archives and Archives Partnership Trust are now accepting entries for the 2022 New York State Student Research Awards program, according to State education commissioner, Betty A. Rosa, who made the announcement on Thursday, Feb. 16.   Now in its 32nd year, the Student Research Awards program is a statewide historical research competition for students in grades four through twelve. The annual program provides an award to students whose projects are selected as winners in the elementary, middle school, and high school divisions. The program encourages students to explore the wealth of historical records held in repositories


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UPDATE University Heights: Two Men Sought following Robbery & Hate Crime

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD has released additional photos and video of two men seen in the attached photos who are sought in connection with a robbery and hate crime that occurred on the border of University Heights and Morris Heights. It was reported to police that on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 2.42 p.m., at the intersection of Davison Avenue and West Burnside Avenue, a 49-year-old male victim was walking down the street when he was approached by the two unidentified men who proceeded to punch the victim about the body, and demanded his property.   They forcibly removed the victim’s jewelry and


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UPDATE 2nd Incident of Hateful Graffiti Displayed in Northwest Bronx Playground

By SÍLE MOLONEY
After anti-Black and vulgar graffiti was photographed in the Spuyten Duyvil Playground on Saturday, Feb 12, a number of elected officials, city agencies and others issued public statements condemning the incident, and took various actions on the matter.   In the meantime, for the second consecutive weekend, a park in the Northwest Bronx was discovered to have been targeted with more anti-Black graffiti. Elected officials are now planning to join together for a formal press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to stand firm against the hateful incidents, and to continue to call for a thorough investigation into both incidents.  


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