Neighborhood Notes: Free Tax Filing, Flea Market Donations Sought, and More

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Flea Market Donations Sought Donations are needed for the Bedford Mosholu Community Association flea market scheduled to be held on March 10. Bring new and used items (except clothing and hard cover books) to the BMCA office at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., apt. B1 (lobby floor) on Feb. 21 and 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., March 3 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and March 7 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, call (718) 367-2230 or email bedfordmosholu@verizon.net. Free Tax Filing Assistance Free tax filing is available for families whose total income is $54,000 or less or individuals who

By NIALL RIDGLEY

Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order allowing pharmacies to administer vaccines to children ages 2 to 18 as of Jan. 25 to combat the flu outbreak as weekly diagnoses and hospitalizations reach record highs. Cuomo’s executive order suspends a section of state education law that prevented pharmacists from administering immunizations to persons under age 18, thus enabling New York youth to have a better chance at avoiding a nasty flu strain in a particularly beleaguered state. The state has logged 7,800 cases of the flu strain with 1,759 requiring hospitalization. “I urge all New Yorkers to help us

Become Civically Engaged Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. encourages New Yorkers to become more civically engaged as part of the “Hour New York Challenge.” Those interested take a pledge to dedicate at least one hour each month throughout 2018. Activities include attending community board meetings, volunteering with a nonprofit, and generally being a more informed and active citizen to improve neighborhoods. For more information, call (718) 590-3543. Catholic Schools Open Houses Bronx Catholic elementary schools are holding “Touring Tuesdays” open houses: Jan. 30, Feb. 13, March 13 and April 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. or by appointment. Local

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the northwest section of the Bronx, is out with plenty of community news you can use. There are 16 pages filled with a lot of useful information intended to make your aware of where you live. We begin, of course, with page one. In one of the more hotly controversial stories of the year (we’re only the second edition of 2018) teachers and staffers of JHS/MS 80 came in the defense of its principal, Emmanuel Polanco. The five-year principal and the school are under investigation for covering up a fight

NEWBORN MARINA ALSAYEDI is welcomed to the world on Jan. 1 by medical staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, making her among the first newborns of 2018. Baby Marina was delivered at 4:36 a.m. at the city-owned hospital in Norwood. Mom and dad are said to be doing well. Photo courtesy NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx

Norwood News 2017 Year in Review

By DAVID CRUZ

The Norwood News produced a total of 284 stories (not counting Public & Community Meetings, Neighborhood Notes and Out & About) throughout the 25-issue print run for 2017. The issues the paper called attention to ranged, though some stories bore greater urgency in the hopes action from local legislators could be taken. Below are some topics that surfaced and resurfaced throughout the last 12 months, and are once again highlighted in the Norwood News’ annual Year in Review: Homeless Crisis Norwood was not immune to homelessness, an issue that continues pressing across the city. In the 25 Norwood News issues

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, As you stay snug in your homes or brave the temperatures in your winter coats, you might want to check out the latest edition of the Norwood News. The first issue of 2018 is packed with plenty of Bronx community news. We begin the first issue of 2018 by looking back at 2017 in our annual Year in Review write-up anchoring the paper. Our two-page spread takes you back to some of the more pressing stories of the year, with some numbers to support it. If there’s a local story we missed, be sure to send us a

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their New Year’s resolutions and hopes and wishes for 2018. I don’t want to be a downer for the New Year, but honestly, we have a lot of work to do. There’s a lot of corruption going on politically speaking and a lot of money that’s influencing politicians. [A]nd with the Net neutrality–the FCC voted 3-2, which means the Internet can change possibly, because all of these big Internet companies are trying to monopolize the Internet. So I hope we just focus on peace, love and more positivity because a lot of people are depressed,

Work on Mosholu Grand in Norwood to Start in March 2018

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

Mosholu Grand, the planned site of a 152-unit apartment building at a former auto repair shop and gas station location, is environmentally cleared for development following a monthslong debate over the property’s safety. Throughout the planning and demolition process, the community board and neighborhood residents were worried that the site at 150 Van Cortlandt Ave. E. might be environmentally unfit for living. But according to an environmental assessment statement signed off on Dec. 6 by Aaron Werner, the director of environmental planning at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), construction at the site “would not result in