Florida Man Pleads Guilty after DNA Match, Gets 20 Years to Life for Van Nest Murder of Bronx Woman

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Friday, Feb. 3, that a Florida man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the strangulation murder of a Bronx woman in a Van Nest apartment in 2000. The cold case was solved in 2017 when DNA and a fingerprint from the crime scene were matched to him. In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendant killed a 19-year-old woman in December 2000 and her lifeless body was discovered by her mother. The defendant moved on and started a new life in Florida, but justice

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD said on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that a 23-year-old man from Norwood who had been reported missing has been located. Prior to being located, it had been reported to police that Lino Cruz Ballinas Jr. of Webster Avenue had last been seen on Monday, Jan. 30, at around 11.34 a.m., inside St. Barnabas Hospital. He was described as being around 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with a light skin complexion, brown eyes, black hair and a beard. Prior to being located, he had last been seen wearing a red jacket, gray jeans, neon

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City area may experience severe weather including freezing temperatures from an arctic cold front and potential wind gusts of up to 40 mph, starting Friday, Feb. 3, and continuing into Saturday, Feb. 4, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Accordingly, NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) is reminding all builders, contractors, crane operators, and property owners to secure their construction sites, buildings, and equipment. Department officials said DOB will be performing random spot-check inspections of construction sites around the City, and if sites are not secured, DOB officials will take immediate enforcement action, issuing violations and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

District 13 Council Member Marjorie Velázquez and colleagues rejoiced as Int 559-A, also known as “Skip The Stuff” bill was signed into law by New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Jan. 19. Representatives for the Northeast Bronx council member said for years, local advocates have urged the City Council to pass legislation to decrease the usage of single-use plastics and unnecessary condiment packets or extras. They said the majority of these items are tossed directly in the garbage or a drawer, never to be used and local businesses simultaneously throw away thousands of dollars while overwhelming our landfills.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Staff at Beth Abraham Center nursing facility held a successful holiday wellness clothing drive in December 2022, designed to support both residents and some of the residents’ families. This included both long-term and short-term residents at the Allerton-based, 448-bed, skilled nursing facility. This year, organizers said staff members focused on low-income residents who may not have a family to support them, as well as on the families of some residents. Staff members donated old jackets and other items and let both the residents of the center and their families pick out the items they needed. “We always accept any donation

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a “winter operations advisory” for Wednesday, Jan. 25, beginning at 7 a.m. Department officials said a winter operations advisory is the department’s “lower level” winter weather message, as opposed to the “higher level” snow alert. Coastal flooding is also expected according to the National Weather Service. DSNY officials said precipitation is expected to begin as wet snow as early as 7 a.m. in parts of the City, with between a half an inch and one inch of accumulation possible before the precipitation changes to rain later in the day. They

Out & About: Happenings at Van Cortlandt Park

Editor’s Pick EVENTS The 4 Bronx Project and Female Fight Club are sponsoring a contest to Celebrate Women in the Community who are actively making the community a better place. The organizers of the event are asking for nominations of outstanding women in Riverdale, Norwood, Wakefield, Van Cortlandt and Marble Hill. The celebration will be hosted by 4 Bronx, the Fight Club, and the Women of Reform Judaism at Riverdale Temple on March 8, International Women’s Day. An awards ceremony will be held for seven of the nominees, and a film and picture displays will feature the work of

By ARIEL PACHECO

Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) held their final board meeting of 2022 on Dec. 13, following a successful annual tree-lighting event in Bedford Park on Dec. 8. The meeting was attended by around two dozen people, updates were shared by the different CB7 committee chairs and concerns of some community members were also heard. The meeting was the first to be presided over by recently elected Bronx CB7 chair, Yajaira Arias, following her election to the position on Nov. 15. As reported, Arias, the incumbent CB7 secretary, succeeds Emmanuel Martinez, who stepped down as chair in the summer of 2022.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) announced in August 2022 that construction for Just Home, a housing project for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers with life-threatening medical conditions, was going ahead, as reported by YIMBY. Located at 1900 Seminole Avenue in the Morris Park section of The Bronx, the initiative will create approximately 70 studio and two-bedroom apartments. The existing property at 1900 Seminole Avenue currently sits vacant on the NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Medical Center campus. According to City officials, tenants will have access to intensive on-site social services provided by licensed

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Florida Man Pleads Guilty after DNA Match, Gets 20 Years to Life for Van Nest Murder of Bronx Woman

UPDATE Police Say 23-Year-Old Man from Norwood No Longer Missing

NYC DOB & MTA Urge Caution during High Winds & Artic Conditions

“Skip The Stuff” Bill Becomes Law, Ending Single-Use Plastics in Takeout and Delivery Orders

Allerton: Beth Abraham Center Staff Hold Clothes Drive to Help Families in Need

UPDATE “Winter Operations Advisory” in Place & Strong Winds, Coastal Flooding Expected Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 5 a.m.

Out & About: Bronx Opera, Become a Lifeguard, Nominations for Women’s Celebration & More!

UPDATE Bronx CB7 Looks Forward to Subway Upgrades & More in 2023

Morris Park: Controversial ‘Just Home’ Project Moves Ahead on Grounds of Jacobi Hospital