2016: New Minimum Wage, Workers Rights and Commuter Laws in Effect

By VIVIAN R. CARTER

When the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2016, hundreds of new laws and policies passed by city and state governments and regulatory agencies took effect. Several of these are notable in extending assistance to New York residents, like those in the Bronx, striving to make ends meet. Minimum Wage The most talked-about, an increase in the minimum wage from the statewide $8.75 to $10.50 per hour for New York City fast-food workers (and $9.00 for others), will benefit working-class Bronxites on a massive scale. Annually, that’s a raise of at least $500 for all full-time minimum earners, and over

Greetings Readers! The Norwood News is out with its first edition of 2016! We ring in the new year with 20 pages of community news you can use. We also feature the work from students of the Norwood News‘ Bronx Youth Heard program, a twelve-week course that teaches the fundamentals of journalism to Bronx high school students. But first, we take you to Kingsbridge Heights where some behind-the-scenes dealings at the Kingsbridge Armory could finally jumpstart renovations for the highly anticipated Kingsbridge National Ice Center. Thanks to the state, the public can finally get a chance to see the long awaited project get

If there’s one word once again blanketing the end-of-year lists relating to the Bronx, it’s “development,” a term that holds a double meaning in this context. In Norwood, the neighborhood experienced some two-steps-forward-one-step-back moments with some seeds of development planted and sure to grow in 2016. Starting with Norwood, major construction continues to dot the landscape with Webster Avenue serving as the epicenter to reshaping the neighborhood. With two projects (residential and supportive) expected to open in 2016, this further underscores the question: will the city increase its services to meet the impending population increase? More pointedly, will Mayor Bill

Dear Loyal Readers! The Norwood News has come out with its final newspaper of the year! It was a great year in news, which became the basis of our Year in Review story that traveled back to the early part of 2015 and all the stories we’ve chronicled. The year was filled with a lot of pluses and minuses, as in any year, and we give our take on how the Bronx fared this year in our editorial found on page 2. Every year has beginnings and endings, the latter being the more sadder of the two. This year Norwood residents

By WILLIAM MATHIS

It’s been an eventful year in Norwood, with developments in housing, politics and parks making headlines. As 2016 approaches, the Norwood News looks back at some of the year’s biggest stories. Housing and Development It was the year of housing in New York as Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration worked throughout the city to advance his Housing New York initiative, which would build or preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing citywide. However, community boards around the city, including in the Bronx, pushed back against two zoning amendments that would have made the building possible. Community Board 7 and the Bronx

By DAVID CRUZ

For the past 15 years, toasty whiffs of natural smoke would puff out a tiny shop on East Gun Hill Road in Norwood, emitting an acquired scent. If customers look behind the store’s window pane, a quad of workers carefully roll brown thick cigars. In front of them, a row of brown lounge chairs are available for the casual smoker looking to sit and reflect as they inhale sweet tobacco. “A cigar is meant to relax yourself,” said Francisco Rosario, owner of Rosario’s Cigars LLC. Rosario’s family-operated shop is a true family collaboration in every sense of the word. He

By VIVIAN RATTAY CARTER

On a sparkling but chilly Friday afternoon in December, several Bronxites gathered near a street mural in Woodlawn explaining how their neighborhood has benefitted from local volunteers armed with seed money from a citywide nonprofit called Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC). At the corner of Katonah Avenue and 235th Street, Peter Kostmayer, chief executive officer of CCNYC, stood with volunteers from Women of Woodlawn, to announce that his group is looking for a few more great grassroots volunteer efforts in the Bronx. Hundreds more, to be precise. CCNYC intends to boost the number of Bronx applications in 2016,

Toy Giveaway The 52nd Precinct, 3016 Webster Ave., is hosting a toy giveaway event Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. for children under the age of 13. Parents are required to preregister with the precinct and must accompany their children to receive a gift. For more information and to register, call Community Affairs Police Officer Crystal Reveron at (718) 220-5824. Flu Shots Walgreens in partnership with Montefiore will be giving flu shots at 573 E. Fordham Rd. (Hoffman Street between East Fordham Road and East 191st Street), Dec. 11 from noon to 2 p.m. Insurance card is required. Appointment is not

Editor’s Pick Celebrate the Holidays The public is invited to a Winter Wonderland to celebrate Christmas, Eid eMilad-un Nabi, Kwanzaa, Chanukah and Three Kings Day, Dec. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Williamsbridge Oval. Events include winter arts and crafts, carnival games, healthy snacks and a visit from some special guests including Santa. For more information, call (718) 543-8672 or visit nyc.gov/parks. Onstage The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents Concert, featuring the Celia Cruz H. S. Chamber Orchestra performing classical music, Dec. 12; and Definitely Dickens Carolers featuring carolers performing traditional and contemporary holiday classics