Norwood Smoke Shop Adjusts in Wake of E-Cigarette Ban

By JONATHAN CUSTODIO

Smoke shops across the state are pulling flavored e-cigarettes off their store shelves after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced an emergency ban of vaping products, considered to be heavily targeted towards youth. A Norwood smoke shop on the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and East 207th Street is breathing easy on this. Mo, who works there, says that e-cigarettes don’t make up a large percentage of the store’s revenue. Among those is Juul, a vaping product he says sells. “Juul is one section that sells. I sell other stuff. It’s a big loss but it’s not really gonna close me,” notes Mo.

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The discovery of two more cases of Legionnaires’ disease at Tracey Towers is creating two opposing reactions at the sprawling apartment complex. There are now four confirmed cases of the waterborne illness at 20 W. Mosholu Pkwy. S. but none at its twin site, 40 W. Mosholu Pkwy. S. Since the initial announcement more than two weeks ago of a second tenant being infected with Legionnaires’ within a 12-month period, some residents have attended multiple meetings organized by the city Department of Health (DOH) held at the building. DOH regulations mandate an investigation whenever a second case of Legionnaires’ disease

By JOSE A. GIRALT and DAVID CRUZ

After reassuring worried tenants at Tracey Towers last week about two cases of Legionnaires’ disease at the complex in the last 12 months, the Health Department (DOH) returned last night to inform the residents of two new cases. This brings the total number of cases to four. DOH officials confirmed the pair of cases originating at 20 W. Mosholu Pkwy. N., the same looming tower as the two original cases. So far the tower’s adjoining structure at 40 W. Mosholu Pkwy. S. remains free of the waterborne illness. Ricky Wong, director of DOH’s community affairs unit, broke the news at

Sale of E-Cigarettes Face Ban Across the State

By DAVID GREENE

E-CIGARETTES SOLD at this store in Morris Park will be a thing of the past after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday, Sept. 15, that his administration was working on emergency legislation to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes across the state. The flavored e-cigarettes have already been removed from many store shelves after at least six deaths reported across the country. Those who have fell ill from smoking e-cigarettes reported symptoms that include shortness of breath, vomiting and fever. Cuomo signed a bill in July raising the age to purchase any tobacco products from 18 to 21. The new

Health Check: Back-to-School Snack Ideas

By KATIE PANCZNER

With the school year in full swing, parents may be wondering how to keep kids nourished during the school day and after school. Providing your child with healthy snacks is an excellent way to keep them focused and full throughout the day. A healthy snack can include foods from all five food groups—fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy—to give children the energy they need between meals. Snacks can provide a great energy boost between meals and supply important vitamins and minerals. With a bit of planning and a little creativity, you can offer kid-friendly snack ideas that can please even

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s eighteenth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of interesting community news stories to read and share. We have 28 pages packed full of news from this corner of the Bronx, capturing all kinds of stuff. We’re actually veering from our page one, and moving to page two! Our other top story focuses on a Legionnaires’ scare impacting Tracey Towers. The New York City Health Department is now investigating how the bacteria caused two residents to contract the disease. Reporter Jose A. Giralt stopped by a meeting to get a complete breakdown. Back

An Enigma of a Parking Spot Surfaces at Tracey Towers

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

After delivering notices of a second resident contracting Legionnaires’ disease at 20 W. Mosholu Pkwy. S. within the last 12 months, an official from the city Department of Health (DOH) told concerned residents that testing for the bacteria will soon take place. At a meeting Tuesday night inside the building’s community room, Ricky Wong, director of Community Affairs at DOH, informed the tenants of the department’s plan to start testing the building’s water for the bacteria. He said that water testing could “potentially happen at the earliest by the end of this week.” Results from the water samples can take

By KATIE PANCZNER

By DAVID CRUZ

The city Department of Health (DOH) is investigating how two people contracted Legionnaires’ Disease in the Bronx’s largest Mitchell-Lama properties, the Norwood News has learned. A meeting is now being scheduled tonight to discuss the investigation. DOH staffers slipped notices underneath the apartment doors of tenants living in Tracey Towers, specifically 20 W. Mosholu Pkwy. S., in Bedford Park alerting them of the investigation, where two people in one of the massive towers were determined to be infected with the fatal disease that is known to be water borne. The bacteria is known to remain active in cooling towers, which has