University Heights: 16-Year-Old Robbed at Knifepoint

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance identifying the individuals seen in the attached video and photographs who are sought for questioning in connection to a robbery that occurred in University Heights. It was reported to police that on Sunday, April 3, at approximately 2 p.m., the victim, a 16-year-old male teen was followed into 124 West Fordham Road (Antillana Supermarket) in University Heights by four unidentified male individuals. The group proceeded to steal, at knifepoint, approximately $80 from the teen’s wallet. They then gave the wallet back to the victim and demanded that he leave

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An 11-year-old boy who had been reported missing in the 46th precinct on Wednesday, April 13, has been found safe, police said. At the request of the NYPD’s 46th precinct, a New York State Missing Child Alert had been issued at 2.52 p.m. on Wednesday, relating to the disappearance of Christopher Morgan from The Bronx. Christopher was described as being 11, male, Black, and prior to being located, had last been seen wearing a black jacket, light blue shirt, navy blue pants and black and white sneakers. Police later confirmed that he had been found and was safe.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Join fellow aspiring Bronx creatives for a Saturday evening mixer, featuring a panel of film industry professionals on April 16. A collective of artists committed to elevating cinema culture in the Bronx will be hosting the first program of 2022: a networking event with the goal of connecting filmmakers and creators with each other. Ayaris Perez and Edwin Torres are the co-founders of Bronx Film 48, a community initiative aimed at increasing the number of filmmakers in the borough. The organization hosts social mixers, low-cost public screenings and workshops, as well as its annual flagship Bronx 48-Hour Film Challenge,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New Settlement, a nonprofit organization that aims to break systemic barriers, advance justice, promote leadership and strengthen neighborhoods in The Bronx, announced on April 11, the appointment of Leigh Reid as director of development and communications. “We are thrilled to welcome Leigh and her vast experience to our organization,” said Rigaud Noel, executive director of New Settlement. “With a deep understanding of the New York City nonprofit landscape, we’re confident that Leigh will be an extremely valuable member of our team and look forward to our work together to expand upon our initiatives and deepen our impact across the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

LatinoJustice PRLDEF, community partners, and pro-bono counsel, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, announced on Tuesday, April 12, that they have collectively filed a motion to challenge a lawsuit which seeks to reverse the recently approved municipal voting rights bill in New York City, a bill which would extend the right to vote to eligible non-citizens in municipal elections. The move constitutes the first time LatinoJustice and partners will act jointly on the matter before a New York State judge. According to its website, LatinoJustice PRLDEF works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on March 11, the expansion of the Summer Rising program, connecting 110,000 elementary and middle school students to fun, culturally-relevant, hands-on experiences to strengthen their academic, social, and emotional skills this summer. Enrollment began in April for Summer Rising, a free program that, according to City officials will be administered by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the New York City Department of Education (DOE). The program follows the mayor’s announcement of 100,000 summer jobs for city youth last month. “Our children grow every

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 8-story, mixed-use building at 3547 Webster Avenue in the Norwood section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East Gun Hill Road and Woodlawn Cemetery, the lot is near the Gun Hill Road subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Yoel Landau is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed 85-foot-tall development will yield 73,121 square feet, with 59,895 square feet designated for residential space, 7,742 square feet for community facility space, and 5,484 square feet for

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Local nonprofit, “We Aim Higher,” which focuses on holding “human service” events to help communities, is organizing a Bronx clean-up event in honor of Earth Day, Friday, April 22. Meanwhile, Earth Day’s mission, according to the website, earthday.org, is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. According to earthday.org, the first Earth Day was held in 1970, and the organization behind it is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for the planet. Symone Stokes, founder and CEO of “We Aim

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Phipps Neighborhoods, a non-profit social service provider in New York City, announced on Monday, April 11, that it is seeking applications for the City’s Department of Youth and Community Development’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which will connect youth from The Bronx and Upper Manhattan with career exploration opportunities and paid work experiences. This year, Phipps Neighborhoods aims to serve 1,000 students with employment opportunities, an increase from its previous record of serving nearly 575 students last year. Andre White, president and CEO of Phipps Neighborhoods, said, “This year, the Summer Youth Employment Program will employ 100,000 young people across