Water Main Break in Bedford Park Shuts Down Street

Several business are working feverishly to open tomorrow after holiday shoppers visiting a strip of stores along East 198th Street will be turned away after an early morning water main break in Bedford Park. The FDNY was called to the “major water main break” at 7:17 a.m. on Tuesday, December 19, in front of 2842 Grand Concourse, at East 198th Street. According to witnesses, the water cascaded down the incline street, flooding parked cars and the basement of at least one apartment building and two stores. According to Genaro Parra, the owner of Lena’s Restaurant at 206 E. 198th Street, who told the Norwood News late Tuesday afternoon,

Volunteers Spread Holiday Cheer to Kingsbridge’s Vulnerable (Web Picutre)

By STEPHANIE LUCIANO

Amid the season of giving, volunteers filled the space with holiday spirit at Jericho Project’s Kingsbridge Terrace Veterans Residence to spread some cheer. This year Jericho kicked off the holidays raising awareness on homelessness and formerly homeless individuals at the Jericho Project’s Day of Action on Dec. 8 at 2701 Kingsbridge Terr., one of their buildings reserved exclusively for veterans. Jericho Project provides supportive housing owning eight different buildings in Harlem and the Bronx. The residents are provided assistance, employment and educational credentials, to keep them from returning to the streets. Tori Lyon, Jericho Project’s CEO, employees and their supporting

Cohen’s Construction Accountability Bill Clears Council

By DIEGO BARCACEL PENA

A bill that will increase accountability for roadwork has been passed by the New York City Council and awaits the mayor’s signature. Norwood Councilman Andrew Cohen, who represents the 11th Council District, co-sponsored the bill. He has noticed the amount of construction work around the area as of late. Norwood has seen work along East 208th Street and DeKalb Ave. and pockets of East Gun Hill Road. “Obviously, there’s a number of different people who tear up the street, whether it’s Con Ed, or DEP [Department of Environmental Protection],” said Cohen. “I’m sure the Norwood News has observed that there

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

This week we asked readers their thoughts about the Thanksgiving holiday (Editor’s Note: This question ran in our November 23 to December 6 edition). Thanksgiving I spend with my family, my daughter, and it’s one of the best holidays because it’s also my birthday. I was born on Thanksgiving Day. So Thanksgiving is special to me because it’s about gratitude and about all the things to be thankful for. Merrill Robert Van Cortlandt Park South I am a religious person and we’re planning a gathering at the church and we’re going to share the day with the homeless. We will prepare meals

COMMUNITY BOARD 7, covering Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Fordham and University Heights sections of the Bronx will hold its monthly board meeting on Dec. 19 at Kittay House, 2550 Webb Avenue, at 6:30 p.m. CB7 committee meetings are held on the following dates at the board office, 229 E. 204th St., at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Housing, Land Use & Zoning Committee meets on Dec. 12; and Executive Committee meets on Dec. 14. There will be no Parks Committee meeting as it’s happening on Dec. 7, the same time as the CB7 Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. For more information,

Lawmakers Advocate for Tenants at Pair of Morgan Group Buildings (Picture)

By YARA PALIN and DIEGO BARCACEL PEÑA

The ongoing hazardous conditions at a Kingsbridge Heights apartment building is now getting the attention of a Bronx legislator. State Senator Gustavo Rivera, representing the neighborhood, has stepped in to show support for the tenants of 60 E. 196th St., which has been plagued with disruptive construction. In response to the situation, Rivera attended a Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) investigatory conference with tenants and the Morgan Group, which owns the building. He also has secured legal assistance from Legal Services of New York (LSNY) in cooperation with the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) and organized

The following letters to the editor were published in the Norwood News December 7-20, 2017 edition Shelter Needs More Checks and Balances The title of the article from the Nov. 9-22 issue (“Fordham Shelter Housing Site Here to Stay”) written by Reggie Francois gives the impression that FHOC [Fordham Hill Owners Corporation] and the neighborhood were defeated when in fact FHOC played a vital role in mobilizing our community so that our voices could be heard. It was written recklessly and in an insensitive tone, where fear was invoked in the commentary. Francois mentioned many of the local legislators present

Canned Food Drive Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz holds annual Holiday Canned Food Drive until Dec. 13. Donations, which are given to Bronx non-profits for families in need, can be dropped off at his office, 3107 Kingsbridge Ave. For more information, call (718) 796-5345. Heating Assistance Sign up to receive free heating assistance through the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Eligible households can receive assistance of up to $725. A family of four with a yearly income of $53,482 can still qualify for help. For more information about eligibility, and to sign up, call (212) 331-3126. Public Engagement Workshops

Council Speaker Takes a Bow, But More Work Lies Ahead (Picture)

By DAVID CRUZ

As the first New York City Council Speaker of Puerto Rican descent, Melissa Mark-Viverito placed a high priority on immigration issues that have helped raise her national profile as a staunch Democratic supporter of immigrant rights and vocal critic of the Trump administration. And as she finishes her last month in office and as speaker, Mark-Viverito, representing the 8th Council District in the South Bronx and Harlem, sees herself lobbing even more criticism at the Trump administration sans a political pulpit. “That’s why we have to fight so hard,” Mark-Viverito said. “There’s so much at stake.” Those were some