Health Check: Get Your Flu Shot to Protect Yourself and Others

By SHARON ADENIYI

Influenza, or the flu, is an upper respiratory illness caused by a virus that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu is contagious and spreads through droplets from an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or talk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these droplets can travel up to 6 feet, and can land in your nose or mouth. You can also pick up the virus from touching infected surfaces or objects and then touching your eyes or nose. Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches,

By DAVID GREENE

Coffee lovers, get ready! Workers are putting the finishing touches to the remodeling of the once popular, “Twin Donut Plus,” in preparation for the grand opening of a new Starbucks branch in Norwood. The former coffee and donut outlet, located at 3396 Jerome Avenue and East 208th Street, which was part of the Twin Donut franchise founded in Boston in 1959, closed in July 2018, as previously reported by Norwood News. The site has remained vacant ever since. According to a filed “RPTT and RETT” document with the Office of the City Register, the property appears to have

By DAVID GREENE

A local car dealership stepped up and made a $2,000 donation to support the film, drama, and music programs at St. Barnabas High School, as 200 students from Grade 9 through 12, returned to class after 18 months of virtual learning. On Wednesday, Aug. 18, Julio Batista, general manager and partner at Teddy Cars, located on Boston Road, presented the check to the school. It’s hoped the funds will help jump start the return of the school’s drama club and restart a music program that ended in 2012. The stage at St. Barnabas High School, located on East

By DAWN CLANCY

Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) Parks’ committee ushered in their first post-summer hiatus meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 8, with a vote approving the proposed renovations and upgrades to Bedford Park’s Frisch Field. The $5 million project, designed by the City’s Parks’ department, will include the addition of a tee-ball diamond, an enclosed bullpen, an adult exercise station, new water stations with bottle fillers, benches, storage units, as well as upgrades to the field’s existing Little League diamond and the adjacent dugouts. However, the bulk of the funds will be spent underground, on timely repairs in the wake of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Police confirm a 56-year-old man has been arrested on murder charges in the context of a Bedford Park homicide investigation, following a death in August. As reported, on Wednesday, Aug. 4, at approximately 4.52 p.m., police responded to a call following reports of a foul odor inside 2854 Briggs Avenue in Bedford Park, located in the 52nd precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed a man lying unconscious and unresponsive inside the basement of the location. EMS responded and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. There were no initial arrests and the investigation continued. The New York City Medical

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Emergency Management (EMS) has issued a travel advisory for Thursday, Sept. 23, through Friday, Sept. 24. According to the National Weather Service, rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast citywide beginning Thursday afternoon through Friday. Light rain on Thursday morning will become steadier after 2 p.m. with a chance for scattered thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Maximum rainfall rates are forecasted to potentially reach 1 inch per hour. The greatest chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms is from 6 p.m. Thursday through 2 a.m. Friday. There is also a potential

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 20-year-old man from Wakefield has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder, in connection with an armed robbery that occurred in January 2020 in the Jerome Park section of the Bronx. Police reported that on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, at around 9.52 p.m., on the corner of Grand Concourse and 202nd Street, in Jerome Park, a 25-year-old male victim was approached by an unidentified man who demanded property from the victim. The victim refused, and the suspect subsequently produced a firearm and proceeded to shoot the victim in the back, before fleeing the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 33-year-old man who was reported missing in Mt Hope, in the 46th precinct. Bennie Bivines, 33, of 217 East Burnside Avenue, Apt #3 in Mt Hope was last seen Friday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. inside his home. He is described as being approximately 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, has a medium build, a dark complexion, a beard, brown eyes and curly black hair. He was last seen wearing red sweatpants, a black thermal shirt, and gold sneakers. A photo of Bivines is attached and available at

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 34-year-old man has died following a two-vehicle, motorcycle accident on the Major Deegan Expressway. On Tuesday, Sept. 21, at around 10.39 a.m, police responded to a 911 call regarding a traffic accident that occurred on the southbound Major Deegan Expressway at the East 233rd Street exit, located in the 50th precinct, in the Bronx. Upon arrival, officers observed a 34-year-old man lying on the roadway with severe trauma to his body. EMS responded and transported the man to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Preliminary investigation revealed the man had been riding a 2007