Bridge and Street Closures in The Bronx from May 20 to June 29

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has advised of the following street and bridge closures in the Bronx from May 20 to June 29. Bruckner Boulevard between 3 Avenue and Lincoln Avenue: This street will be closed Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 29 to facilitate crane operation. Johnson Avenue between Kappock Street and Irwin Avenue: This street will be closed from 10 p.m. Saturdays to 5 a.m. Sundays through May 22, to facilitate crane operation. Grand Concourse between Major Deegan Expressway Northbound Exit 3 and East 138th Street: This street will be closed

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES & SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Fashion Week returned to Co-Op City on Saturday, May 7. The fashion show ran from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Mall at Bay Plaza, located at 200 Baychester Avenue, and featured designers and retailers ranging from Callejas Atelier and Larry Franco to Boulevard Menswear, Daysi Fernandez, Macy’s, Forever 21, and Ashley Stewart. The aim of the annual event, according to its founders, is to provide real-time business opportunities to local, emerging, and established designers, and those from abroad, to showcase their skills and abilities in an industry that, they say, is often non-accessible. The show has

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Following the City Council’s May 19th vote on the first package of fire safety legislation to pass in response to the Jan. 9 Twin Parks North West fire tragedy, a group of primarily Bronx council members in the form of Council Members Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), Althea Stevens (C.D. 16), Amanda Farias (C.D. 18) and Carmen De La Rosa (C.D. 10), have introduced a further bill which aims to to expand the city’s Heat Sensor Program (HSP). According to the councilmembers’ offices, the program identifies buildings with recurring heat violations for enhanced monitoring and enforcement. The councilmembers said the program,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD confirmed that a 13-year-old girl reported missing in Norwood has been found. It had been reported to police that, prior to being located, Vida Gonzalez, 13, of DeKalb Avenue in the Norwood section of The Bronx, had last been seen on Friday May 20, at 9.30 a.m. Vida was described as female, 4 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, Black, with brown eyes, brown hair and prior to being found, had last been seen wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and gray sneakers. On Sunday, May 22, a person, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted Norwood News

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson announced on Saturday, May 21, that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in the Bronx in ZIP codes 10452 in Highbridge and 10456 in the Melrose neighborhood. Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia. “Four people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease since May 9, 2022, and results for other individuals are pending. To date, there have been no deaths associated with this possible cluster,” Gibson said. “The NYC Health Department is sampling and testing the water from all cooling tower

By DAVID GREENE

Over two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, various Bronx organizations were recognized for answering the call of service during the pandemic’s early days at an event hosted by Councilman Rafael Salamanca (CD 17) at the New York Botanical Garden, while at a separate event, some Redwood trees planted last year were blessed and dedicated to the lives and memories of more than 40 victims of COVID-19. Salamanca honored seven healthcare entities and food distribution companies during a luncheon at The New York Botanical Garden, on Southern Boulevard on Thursday, April 21. The seven honorees were Lincoln Hospital,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality advisory for New York City for Saturday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The pollutant of concern is Ozone. Officials said active children and adults, and people with respiratory problems, such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Council voted unanimously in the affirmative on Thursday, May 19, to pass the first package of bills sponsored by District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz, chair of the City Council Twin Parks Fire Safety Committee, which aim to strengthen fire enforcement and safety in New York City communities. The various bills increase penalties and fines for self-closing door violations. As reported, the FDNY found that a self-closing door violation was a contributing factor in the occurrence of loss of life during the Twin Parks fire tragedy of Sunday, Jan. 9. The bills also

By JULIAN NAZAR

“It’s me, killer Chuck – the best MC, back in The Bronx – it’s the place to be! Tonight is the night – movin’ and groovin’! It’s also the night we say, ‘Thank you Ruben!’” U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s rap intro was one of many remarkable sights and sounds that spectators were treated to at a recent show in Jerome Park’s Lehman Center for the Performing Arts. On Saturday, April 30, almost all 2,276 seats at the Lehman Center were filled for “Hip-Hop Fever,” a hip-hop show dedicated to former Bronx Borough President Ruben