Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Honors Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

By DAVID GREENE

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) was honored by Van Cortlandt Jewish Center on Sunday, Dec. 19, as part of a “Celebration of Appreciation” event held at the center in the Van Cortlandt Village section of the Bronx. The assemblyman, who is Jewish, was elected to the New York State Assembly to represent the 81st Assembly District on February 15, 1994, and has been the elected assemblyman since then. The district broadly covers the Northwest Bronx section of the borough and includes Van Cortlandt Village where the the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center (VCJC) is located. The gesture of appreciation

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, on Thursday, Dec. 16, officials from the National Institute for Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said they are urging the pursuit of a universal coronavirus vaccine, explaining that there is a growing body of scientific evidence which, considered together with ecological reality, strongly suggests novel coronaviruses will continue to infect bats and other animal reservoirs, and potentially emerge to pose more pandemic threats to humans. To counter future coronavirus outbreaks, the global, scientific and medical research community at NIAID said they should focus a major effort now on three goals: characterize the range of

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE

Video courtesy of Citizen A 57-year-old woman has died following a fire which broke out in a multiple dwelling in Kingsbridge Heights on Monday. Police said they responded on Monday, Dec. 20, at approximately 10.34 a.m., to a 911 call regarding a fire at 2835 Webb Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, located in the 50th precinct. Upon arrival, police encountered FDNY personnel taking measures to put out the blaze. Once the fire had been extinguished at around 11.56 a.m., FDNY personnel discovered an unconscious and unresponsive 57-year-old woman inside Apartment 2B. EMS were at the scene and pronounced the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An affordable housing lottery has launched for units in a seven-story, residential building at 140 West Fordham Road in University Heights, as reported by YIMBY. Designed by Marin Architects, and developed by the Stagg Group, the structure yields 54 residential units. Available on NYC Housing Connect, the online portal of New York City Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD), are 18 units for residents at 120 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $56,572 to $154,680. Residents will reportedly have access to a wide range of amenities including pet-friendly policies, a

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance locating the unidentified man seen in the attached photo, who is sought for questioning in connection with an assault that occurred in Williamsbridge, in the 47th precinct. It was reported to police that on Sunday, December 19, at approximately 11.05 a.m., the victim, a 34-year-old man, was involved in a verbal dispute with the assailant in front of 3550 White Plains Road in Williamsbridge. The dispute escalated and the assailant produced an unidentified sharp object and slashed the victim on the left side of his face. He then fled the location

By DAVID GREENE

A Bronx rabbi continues to actively support the annual menorah lighting events all across the Bronx, amid the celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah while, together with members of his own Morris Park congregation, the annual festival is marked by feeding senior Jewish residents from all across the borough. Canceled last year amid the pandemic, a public gathering for Hanukkah returned this year to the Bronx Jewish Center, located at 1969 Haight Avenue in Morris Park, once again. The center has been holding gatherings for the Jewish celebration, annually, since 2013. On Sunday, November 28, the congregation returned

By SÍLE MOLONEY

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. So goes the maxim for perseverance, a trait which describes the now successful, multi-year efforts of legislators to grant cooperative housing shareholders the same access to reverse mortgages as other homeowners. On, Wednesday, Dec 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S760/A1508), sponsored by Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester county, into law. The bill was strongly supported by advocates for cooperative housing in New York and now allows cooperative housing shareholders to obtain reverse mortgages

By SARAH HUFFMAN

Friends of Devoe Park (FODP) hosted the group’s annual tree-lighting event on Saturday, Dec. 11, in Devoe Park, located in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx. Attendees at the event were treated to hot chocolate, munchkins, and sugared cookies provided by FODP. The group also handed out Christmas-themed masks, candy canes, and jingle bells to community members. Assemblyman José Rivera (A.D. 78) was also in attendance. Rachel Miller-Bradshaw, founding member of FODP, said the group wanted to host the event because there wasn’t really any such event marking the holiday season in their local neighborhood.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Editor’s Note: The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Elected officials from across New York State gathered inside the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College for the formal inauguration of Democrat, Eric Dinowitz, as the city councilman of District 11 on Sunday, Dec. 5. The Bedford Park ceremony was attended by a crowd of over 300 and was streamed live on BronxNet TV. The councilman has been serving in the role since April 2021, having won the District 11 seat in a special election in March. As reported, he went on