UPDATE NYC Mayoral Race: Dianne Morales Holds Rally, Calls on Scott Stringer to Resign

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES, DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

Supporters of former teacher and former non-profit executive, Dianne Morales, turned out for a rally in support of their candidate for mayor on Friday, April 23, at Fordham Plaza in the Belmont section of the Bronx. Less than a week later, Morales was calling on one of her fellow mayoral candidates, Scott Stringer, to resign and withdraw from the race following reports of sexual misconduct, which Stringer denies. Morales’ career progressed from the world of education into the nonprofit arena when she became executive director of The Door, a program assisting homeless teens, based in Manhattan. For the last

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Melissa Gonon, 14, of 3018 Kingsbridge Avenue in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx who was reported missing in the 50th precinct. Melissa was last seen at her home on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at approximately 8.39 a.m. She is described as female, about 5 feet tall, Hispanic and weighs about 150 pounds. On May 19, 2021, police reiterated calls for assistance in locating Melissa. Anyone with information with regard to this missing person is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for

Editor’s Pick Join the staff of the Van Cortlandt Library for a fun, virtual game of trivia. Each month, the library staff play a trivia game based on a different category/theme and provide book recommendations based on the categories. The theme for May will be “Pop Culture: 90s Edition,” and the game will take place on May 6, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Boost your knowledge, meet others, and get to know them! The event will take place over Google Meet. To sign up for the event, visit https://www.nypl.org/events. Events Are you interested in antique furniture? Join The

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Car theft in the 52nd precinct rose by 29.3 percent between Jan. 1 and April 25, according to crime statistics recorded by the NYPD, totaling 53 incidents, versus 41 for the same period last year. The precinct covers Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Bronx Park, and University Heights. Meanwhile, the 47th precinct, which covers Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Edenwald, Olinville, Fishbay, and Woodlawn Cemetary, has experienced a whopping 156.7 percent increase in car theft during the same period. The precinct recorded 154 car thefts as of April 25. Meanwhile, just 60 vehicles were stolen during the same period last

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday, April 27, that New York State will adopt the new CDC mask guidance for fully vaccinated people. Fully vaccinated individuals can conduct outdoor activities or gather without wearing a mask outdoors except in certain crowded settings and venues. Read the full CDC guidance. According to the CDC, if you’ve been fully vaccinated: You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart. You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people of any age from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together)

The closure of the Bronx High School of Science mass vaccination site, effective April 15, was a blow to local seniors in the Bronx Community Board 7 district and beyond, as reported last week by Norwood News. A new COVID-19 vaccination site opened at Lehman College on Wednesday, April 14, though details of the new site had initially been scant. Happily, further information has since become available. On Saturday, April 17, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. confirmed that the following Bronx sites, including Lehman College, would be vaccinating New Yorkers aged 50 and older, without an appointment: Bronx Co-Op

By NILES NEUSBAUM

Today, April 22nd, marks Earth Day. We have reduced our carbon footprint by curtailing travel and our thermostat. We recycle. But, we can do so much more by cutting our consumption of animal meat and milk products. Yes, that.. A recent article in The Guardian argues that animal agriculture is a major driver of climate change, as well as air and water pollution, depletion of soil and water resources, and destruction of wildlife habitats. Oxford University’s prestigious Food Climate Research Network reports that solving the global warming catastrophe requires massive shift to plant-based eating. The Netflix feature, Seaspiracy, documents

By BRENDA BOATSWAIN

Are you feeling more tired these days, despite getting enough sleep? You may be feeling this way partly because of the stress and trauma of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Many of us are dealing with grief from the death of a loved one or other losses. Physical distancing and wearing masks are constantly on our minds, too. We’re staying inside more, working or taking classes from home, or perhaps dealing with the loss of a job. We’re anxious to “get back to normal.” In addition to stress related to COVID-19, many folks are feeling stress from the sudden

COVID-19 Vaccinations Appointments are required to receive a vaccination. To determine your eligibility, access a list of nearby providers, and schedule your vaccination appointment, use New York State’s Am I Eligible app. Prior to receiving your scheduled vaccination, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. Please be patient and continue to monitor these links frequently for available vaccine appointments: New York City: https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ or 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) New York State: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829) VaccineTogetherNY: https://vaccinetogetherny.org/Pages/default.aspx or call 646-697-VACC To schedule an appointment, go to: https://vax4nyc.nyc.gov/patient/s/. To find a vaccination site, go to: https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/locations. Your physician or local pharmacy

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

Health

UPDATE NYC Mayoral Race: Dianne Morales Holds Rally, Calls on Scott Stringer to Resign

Kingsbridge: Search for Missing 14-Year-Old Girl

Out & About: Bronx Opera, Pop Culture 90s Edition, Antique Garden Furniture Fair Preview

Update: Fordham Hill Residents Want Improved Street Lighting

New Face Mask Guidelines for Vaccinated People in New York State

More Details on Lehman College’s Vaccination Site as CDC Recommends Lifting J&J Pause

Op-Ed: We Can Reduce Our Carbon Footprint on Earth Day and Beyond

Health Check: Overcoming Fatigue During Stressful Times

Update: Neighborhood Notes on COVID-19 Vaccine Updates, BRAC Summer Classes, Rent Relief