Health

Wakefield: Two Arrested in Major Seizure of “Rainbow Fentanyl” Pills and Powdered Fentanyl 

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Two men have been charged in connection with the seizure of around 300,000 fentanyl pills, in assorted colors, and another 20 pounds (10 kilos) of fentanyl in powdered form from a drug stash location in the Wakefield section of the Bronx, according to Bridget G. Brennan, special narcotics prosecutor at the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York.   Prosecution officials said the drug stash location, at 4030 Bronx Boulevard, an apartment situated adjacent to the Bronx River Parkway, also contained a Tec-9 semi-automatic assault weapon, a hydraulic door opener, and 11 GPS devices. Some


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Morrisania: Back-to-School Giveaway and Stop the Violence Event Held

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES
Nonprofit, Berry Awesome Blossom Empowered Sisters (“BABES”) held a back-to-school giveaway and “Stop the Violence” event at Cauldwell Avenue between 161st and 163rd Street, southwest of Forest Houses housing development, in Morrisania on Sept. 10. According to B.A.B.E.S., the group came together to make a difference in the lives of those who need help, adding that they were there to help those in need and for those who don’t know where else to turn to when they need something. They said they did just that at the recent Back-to-School event, adding that the area is underserved because there is “no


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UPDATE Neighborhood Notes: DV Awareness Month, High School Admissions Test, Heat Season & More!

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  GoFundMe Page for Bedford Congregational Church Residents are being kindly asked to donate to support the upgrading of the heating system at Bedford Congregational Church, located at 309 East 201st Street in Bedford Park. Founded in 1889 and a designated landmark since 2000, the church is a 501c3 charity and provides space for local support groups battling addictions, as well as other congregations. A replacement oil tank is needed before the water pipes freeze and burst. To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/warm-hearts-cold-church.   Alternate Side Parking Alternate Side Parking regulations will be suspended Monday-Tuesday, October 17-18 in observance of  Shemini Atzereth and Simchas Torah.


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Fordham Manor: Nonprofit, KISS, Provides Overdose Training in St. James Park

By DAVID GREENE
In efforts to combat the alarming number of opioid overdose deaths in The Bronx, one local nonprofit, recently held an overdose prevention event at St. James Park in Fordham Manor, during which 240 “Narcan” kits were distributed and training was provided on how to use them to save a life during an overdose situation.   In 2020, a total of 1,580 New Yorkers died from a fentanyl-involved overdose, according to the City’s health department (DOH). Meanwhile, the rate of overdose death per 100,000 people was 75.3 percent for the Hunts Point-Mott Haven neighborhoods, as reported, compared with the citywide rate


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Police Confiscate Illegal Weed Truck Operating in Fordham Manor

By DAVID GREENE
After complaints to 311 from residents in Fordham Manor, officers from the 52nd Precinct removed an ice cream truck from the streets that wasn’t selling ice cream. 52nd Precinct commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Jeremy Scheublin, confirmed that an occupant of the truck with painted graffiti on all sides advertising the sale of “Lover’s Lane Exotics,” was indeed involved with the illegal sale of weed, adding that the truck was recently seen operating at Valentine Avenue and East 194th Street.   On Monday, Oct. 3, Scheublin said of the vehicle, “Yes, it was involved in unlicensed marijuana sales.” He added, “After


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Health Check: The Importance of Getting Vaccinated this Fall

By ONI TONGO
  Fall is the start of flu season. In addition to the flu, over the last few years, there has been an increase in the spread of vaccine preventable illnesses, including the rapid spread of COVID-19 and, more recently, monkeypox.   Vaccines can help protect our bodies against such diseases by imitating the infections and teaching our immune system how to fight them off in the future. Over time, our bodies build up “memory” enabling our bodies to “remember” how to fight similar infections in the future. Sometimes, after getting vaccinated, the imitation infection might cause some illness symptoms, like


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Mayor, NYC Parks, NYCHA to Build New Open Spaces, Playgrounds at NYCHA Housing Developments

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), and the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced, on Sept. 14, a pilot program to re-imagine and invest in nearly three acres of NYCHA open space, including playgrounds, at two developments in the Soundview section of The Bronx, three in Queens, and one in Brooklyn.   The announcement was held at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new open space at Pomonok Houses in Queens, which has been fully reconstructed under the pilot program and now includes fitness equipment, sensory play equipment, seating, and new landscaping.  


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August Primaries See Ghostly Polls, Some Voters Still Frustrated with Poll Site Changes

By SÍLE MOLONEY, EMILY SAWAKED, JOSÉ GIRALT & MIRIAM QUIÑONES
  This is an extended and different story to the one which appears in our latest print edition.   As the NYC Board of Elections (BOE) continues to tally the final numbers following the Aug. 23 primaries, we take a look at the known voter breakdown to date, and share some of the feedback and insights gathered from voters on Election Day.   As reported, the BOE released the initial, unofficial primary election results on Election Night, based on the majority of voting returned machines which took into account both early votes and Election Day votes. Absentee and military ballots


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Bronx Monkeypox Townhall Addresses Stigma, Vaccines & Prevention

By EMILY SAWAKED
 The Office of the Bronx Borough President, Destination Tomorrow, and NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOH) recently hosted a Bronx Town Hall on the Monkeypox epidemic, as case numbers continued to rise across the borough and city.   Livestreamed on Monday, Aug. 15, from New Settlement Community Center in the Mt. Eden section, the event was moderated by BronxNet’s Gary Axelbank, and saw representatives from all three host groups answer questions from concerned citizens about vaccination sites, testing, outreach for populations at-risk and preventative measures.   Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero kicked off the event, saying, “We’ve


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