Complaints Grow on Much-Delayed Jerome Avenue Retaining Wall Project

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Walking along Parkview Terrace parallel to Jerome Avenue, there is no shortage of people complaining about the $15 million construction project that has inconvenienced them since fall 2015. The complaints range from limited crosswalks, to excessive noise, to lost patience in city promises of quickly finishing the project, which began nearly four years ago. As Kevin Gonzalez walks his Doberman along Parkview Terrace, he points to the orange and white concrete barriers that narrow the space enough for a vehicle to pass through. “I was almost hit by a car right there,” says Gonzalez. Gonzalez has similar complaints of

By DAVID CRUZ

It was a dramatic scene on Webster Avenue near Fordham Road as crews battled a raging fire that destroyed a 24-hour Laundromat and several other businesses. The fire happened at noon on March 22, with fire crews saying it began at Express Laundry, a 24-hour Laundromat that’s been there for nearly 20 years. Fire crews were spotted on the ladder hosing down the property that included a Domino’s Pizza. A beauty parlor, deli store, and a locksmith business suffered some flooding damage. Fire can be smelled as far away as Lehman College. More than 160 firefighters and EMS personnel responded

By DAVID CRUZ

The NYPD is looking for a man who sucker-punched an 89-year-old man in Hull Avenue on March 9. Police say the incident happened that day at around 1 p.m. when the suspect and victim got into an argument. The argument intensified after the suspect was seen on video punching the victim, and pushing him to the ground. He then took off in an unknown direction. Reports say the suspect was a pizza delivery man, carrying what appeared to be a pizza delivery bag. The victim suffered a busted lip, and declined medical attention. Meantime, the suspect is described

SEE PICTURES: Cardinal Dolan Visits Norwood Head Start Program

By NORWOOD NEWS

Cardinal Timothy Dolan came to Norwood last week to visit young children at the Msgr. Boyle Little Angels Head Start on Perry Avenue. The Cardinal is celebrating a decade as serving as head of the Archdiocese of New York, the Catholic Church’s second largest diocese in the United States. It’s comprised of nearly 300 parishes that serve around 2.8 million Catholics. Photos were taken by Jose A. Giralt.

Pressure Campaign Leads to On-Site Super at Bedford Park Manor

Snow Postpones Stagg Meeting at Community Board 7

By JOSE A. GIRALT

After mounting pressure on the owner of 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster avenues to provide an on-site super, tenants will have one within the next 30 days, according to an email announcement by the Stagg Group, which owns the properties. In a growing list of complaints by tenants against the Stagg Group, many of them revolved around the lack of an on-site super to attend to maintenance and repair issues in a timely manner, the announcement by the Stagg Group addresses the issue directly. “It is our goal that with a live-in super, your apartment repairs will be tended to

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

Did you know a junkyard owner can deduct the cost of cat food as a business expense? Did you know if you have a service animal or guide dog you can deduct the cost of buying, training, and maintaining it? Finally, did you know if your pet becomes an Internet sensation you might be able to deduct related costs as business expenses? Now, noticed I wrote business expenses? Yes, we can deduct our animals! But! Your pet’s activities must be considered a business–not a hobby–for expenses to be deductible. The IRS has a very strict multi-step procedure they use to

A Cramped Five-Two Needs an Annex, Says Cohen

By DAVID CRUZ

Space at the 52nd Precinct is busting out at the seams. Sandwiched between both sides of Mosholu Parkway and Webster Avenue, the North Bronx stationhouse has become increasingly tight given the number of police officers assigned there. It’s also evident in the number of cars frequently seen parked along Mosholu Parkway North, drawing ire from residents. The need for extra digs for one of the city’s busiest precincts has been batted around for years. But now Councilman Andrew Cohen, whose district covers the precinct, is attempting to convince NYPD Commissioner James O’Neil to purchase or at the very least lease

Norwood's Muslim Community Reacts to New Zealand Attacks

By EMILY SUZANNE LEVER

Over 9000 miles away from New Zealand, the murder of Muslim worshippers in the town of Christchurch had resonance in one of the Bronx’s Muslim communities. A killer who expressed white supremacist beliefs targeted two mosques full of congregants during Friday prayers in Christchurch, New Zealand and appears to have live streamed himself shooting dozens of people. The anti-Muslim attack, in which a reported 49 people were murdered, was deeply felt worldwide—including in Norwood, home to a significant Muslim community. “We are just praying for everybody,” said Mohammed Shuaib Uddin, a pharmacist at the People’s Pharmacy in Norwood. “As a

Free Tax Prep Free tax preparation services are available at Ridgewood Savings Bank, 711 Allerton Ave., on March 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To be eligible, a person must be single with no dependents with an annual salary of $30,000 or less, or with dependents and making an annual or salary of less than $55,000. For information, or to reserve a space, call (917) 509-4609 or email vkancler@ridgewoodbank.com. Free Tax Prep Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave. offers free tax return service Mondays through Fridays from 4 p.m. Those who made $54,000 or less in 2018 and