Councilman Oswald Feliz’s First Package of Bills on Fire Safety Passes at City Council

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Council voted unanimously in the affirmative on Thursday, May 19, to pass the first package of bills sponsored by District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz, chair of the City Council Twin Parks Fire Safety Committee, which aim to strengthen fire enforcement and safety in New York City communities. The various bills increase penalties and fines for self-closing door violations. As reported, the FDNY found that a self-closing door violation was a contributing factor in the occurrence of loss of life during the Twin Parks fire tragedy of Sunday, Jan. 9. The bills also

By JULIAN NAZAR

In the wake of the Twin Parks fire tragedy in Fordham Heights on Sunday, Jan. 9, a tragedy that claimed the lives of 17 people, including 8 children, Felicia Galitsky remembered that years earlier she had passed a permanent roadside memorial erected in memory of other victims of a prior Bronx tragedy. The memory and image stuck with her and inspired her to arrange a similar, permanent tribute to the victims of the Twin Parks residential fire. The chief of staff for Laundry Capital Co. LLC, parent company of Clean Rite Centers, told Norwood News, “What if, instead of a

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD said a 30-year-old man has died and three others were injured after a driver lost control of his vehicle and drove off a southbound Bruckner Expressway embankment landing on the northbound lanes below. On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at approximately 11.48 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a vehicle collision on the northbound Bruckner Expressway, south of Exit 7C, Country Club Road, in Pelham Bay. “Upon arrival, police observed a 2009 BMW BMW 328 with extensive exterior damage and air bags deployed, and a Toyota Rav4 with front passenger side damage,” an NYPD

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 62-year-old woman has died following a traffic accident in Castle Hill. On Saturday, May 14, at approximately 11.02 a.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a pedestrian who had been hit at Olmstead Avenue and Seward Avenue, in the 43rd precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious and unresponsive 62-year-old woman with trauma about the body. EMS responded to the location and transported the aided woman to Jacobi Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. A preliminary investigation revealed a 54-year-old man had been driving a 2004 Ford van traveling southbound on Olmstead Avenue and made a

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Police said a 62-year-old Queens woman was arrested and charged with allegedly driving while intoxicated (DWI), after she collided with an MTA bus on the Fordham Manor-Belmont border. When contacted by Norwood News about the incident, police confirmed on May 11 that the crash was reported at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at the intersection of Southern Boulevard and East Fordham Road, across the street from the New York Botanical Garden. Police said a 62-year-old woman was behind the wheel of a 2004 Dodge Durango, when she struck the back of an MTA bus being driven by a

By DAVID GREENE

Fire officials say one person was seriously injured after a fire broke out inside a 5th-floor apartment at 125 West 195th Street in Kingsbridge Heights. According to the FDNY, the fire broke out at 2:55 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, inside a 7-story apartment building. The 2-alarm fire drew 106 fire personnel from 25 units to the location to bring the blaze under control. Providing few details on the incident, an unnamed FDNY official told Norwood News, “One civilian [was] transported in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital.” The official added that the fire was brought under control at

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Police said one person was transported to a local area hospital following a two-vehicle motor vehicle accident in Van Cortlandt Park on Monday. An NYPD spokesperson told Norwood News, “On Monday, May 9, 2022, at approximately 2044 hours [8.44 p.m.], police responded to a 911 motor vehicle collision in the vicinity [of the] Major Deegan Expressway and Van Cortlandt Park, within the confines of the 50th Precinct.” The official continued, “Preliminary investigation reveals a 2022 Nissan (Vehicle #1) operated by a 34-year-old male was traveling southbound on Major Degan Service Road merging onto the Major Degan when he

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE

Two further fires were reported in The Bronx on Tuesday morning, May 10. Norwood News had earlier reported on a 4-alarm, fatal fire on Tuesday at Valentine Avenue and East 181st Street in the Fordham Heights section of the borough, which resulted in one death and 8 other injured people. That fire is under control. FDNY Acting Chief of Operations Richard Blatus provides an update on this morning’s 4-alarm fire at 2194 Valentine Avenue in the Bronx. Read more: https://t.co/vb08bSAO2e pic.twitter.com/6V7Lj1NeP0 — FDNY (@FDNY) May 10, 2022 A second fire had already taken place earlier on Tuesday morning

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE

One person has died following a morning fire in Fordham Heights and 8 more have been injured in a residential fire which broke out not far from the Twin Parks residence in which 17 people, including 8 children, died in a fateful fire in January. The FDNY reported that they received a call at 9.05 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10, for reports of a 4-alarm fire and responded with 39 fire units comprising 168 fire and EMS personnel at 2194 Valentine Avenue at East 181st Street. Officials said the fire broke out in a 2-story building (100×50 square

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

FIres & Accidents

Councilman Oswald Feliz’s First Package of Bills on Fire Safety Passes at City Council

Charlotte Gardens: Mural Unveiled in Honor of Twin Parks Fire Victims

Pelham Bay: Motorist Dies After Driving Off Embankment & Landing on Motorway Below

Castle Hill: 62-Year-Old Woman Pedestrian Dies After Being Hit by Van

Fordham Manor/Belmont: Queens Woman Sideswipes Bus, Charged with DWI

Fire Victim Critical after Kingsbridge Heights Blaze

Van Cortlandt Park: One Person Transported to Montefiore Hospital following Collision

UPDATE Two Further Fires Reported in Fordham Manor and Hunts Point on May 10 – One FF Injured (Minor)

UPDATE Fordham Heights: One Dead, 8 Injured including 2 FFs following Morning Fire