Kingsbridge Heights: Search for Missing 15-Year-Old Girl

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s help locating a 15-year-old girl reported missing from Kingsbridge Heights. Police said it was reported to the 52nd Precinct that Aljamise Olivares of 2715 Grand Concourse was last seen leaving her home on Saturday, March 25, at around 3 p.m. She is described as being 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 85 pounds, has brown eyes, black hair, and was last seen wearing a black bubble jacket, black sweatshirt, and black sweatpants. Anyone with information regarding this missing person is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest edition. Bedford Park resident and community volunteer, Miriam Quiñones, was one of five impressive women honored during a Women’s History Month celebration organized by Bridgefield Civic League in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx on Saturday, March 18. During the event, Quiñones, who is also a freelance photographer with Norwood News, along with each of the other four honorees, was presented with a plaque by president of Bridgefield Civic League, Debra Garland, as well as proclamations from both the City Council, presented by District

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. A last-minute change of venue brought District 14 City Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez to P.S. 8 in Bedford Park on March 2 to present a proclamation on behalf of the New York City Council to Bronx local nonprofit, Theory 9, for what was described as the group’s continued community service and support of its “Rising Kings” basketball teams. Established in 2019, Theory 9 has hosted many holiday events, basketball tournaments, and food drives in and around the Kingsbridge neighborhood, and its organizers, including Shakir

By DAVID GREENE

With some rather balmy weather experienced in February, when temperatures were hovering at around 50 degrees, the large bird seen in the attached photos seemed to be home-hunting in Morris Park on Monday, Feb. 13. According to Max Pulsinelli of the Wildlife Conservation Society and who sometimes speaks on behalf of the Bronx Zoo, the bird is likely a turkey or possibly a vulture. He said this was “very common” for the area. Though seemingly startled by foot and automobile traffic, the bird was seen flying from the roof of one building to another, apparently enjoying the unseasonably

By DAVID GREENE

Nearly 200 young students and parents rallied outside of St. Brendan School in Norwood to protest plans by the Archdiocese of New York to close 12 Catholic schools across the City, including six in The Bronx, as well as the merger of four additional Catholic schools in The Bronx into two, at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. The rally was held on Friday, Feb. 24, outside the East 207th Street school, founded in 1908. As previously reported, the rally was organized in response to a decision taken by the Archdiocese of New York in mid-February to close St.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s help locating a 14-year-old girl reported missing from Kingsbridge Heights. Police said it was reported to them that Keira Robles of 2695 Heath Avenue was last seen on Saturday, March 4, at approximately 9 p.m., leaving her home. She is described as female, has black braids, a light complexion, is 5 feet 2 inches tall, has a slim build, and weighs around 90 pounds. She was last seen wearing a brown dress and black heels. Anyone with information regarding this missing person is asked to call the NYPD’s

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s help locating a 16-year-old male youth reported missing from Bedford Park. It was reported to police that Arvin Alcatara, 16, from 2980 Valentine Avenue, was last seen on Friday, March 10, at around 4 p.m. inside his home. Arvin is described as male, is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighs around 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing all black clothing and black sneakers. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also

By DAVID GREENE

This week, in the wake of the 5-alarm fire in Fordham Heights on Sunday, March 5, caused by a lithium-ion battery explosion from the charging of an e-bike, we asked readers their thoughts on the use of illegal, damaged or improper chargers or lithium-ion batteries. “It’s an urban nightmare! Bringing something that’s flammable and explosive into a city of eight-and-a-half million people is crazy. To risk your neighbor’s life, firemen’s lives, your life, and the ruination of housing stock that’s depleted as it is…for what? Deliveries? You can’t pick up your own stuff? And I think the city really has to

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The Rotunda of Jacobi Medical Center in Morris Park was filled with some of New York’s political constellation on Saturday, March 4 for the inauguration ceremony of Democratic Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (A.D. 80). The guest list included U.S. Sen. and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15), among many others. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was scheduled to attend three other events the same day, sent well wishes, via video message, to Zaccaro Jr., profiled last year by Norwood News. Before administering the oath of office, State Assembly