Neighborhood Notes: Engagement, Scholarships and More

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Public Engagement Workshops The Mayor’s Tenant Support Unit will hold a workshop on tenant rights on Nov. 16 and 30 at UNHP Refuge House, 2715 Bainbridge Ave., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The unit works with those who may be at risk of displacement, experiencing landlord harassment, needs a rent freeze for those who qualify, and other resources. For more information, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov. Excelsior Scholarship The Excelsior Scholarship application for students to attend SUNY or CUNY tuition free this spring semester is open through Dec. 4. The scholarship is open to New Yorkers with household incomes

History of Violence and Health Violations Force Closure of Tequilaz

By YARA PALIN

A popular go-to spot in Norwood permanently closed after a number of infractions were reported including selling alcohol to minors and numerous health violations. Tequilaz at 3489 Jerome Ave. had closed days before it lost their liquor license on Nov. 8. This followed three reports of illegal activities, says the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA). The NYPD reported that a large fight broke out inside the restaurant that spilled onto Jerome Avenue during an inspection on Oct. 22. This is in violation of The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law which bars licensees from allowing their premises to become disorderly. Prior

Bronx Locals Sound Off at Civilian Complaint Review Board

By DAVID CRUZ

Bronx locals came to Bronx Community College on Nov. 9 to tell the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) that more Officer Friendlies are needed on the force. The 13-member CCRB, which handles and investigates complaints made against NYPD officers, convened at the Bronx to hear concerns by residents. Among its chief demand is a more understanding Police Department. In some instances, CCRB members heard from alleged victims of police abuse who have reported being thrown to the ground by police for no apparent reason. The CCRB has found 59 percent of complaints have to deal with officers being extremely rude

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The 22nd edition of the Norwood News , covering the Norwood section of the Bronx and its surrounding neighborhoods, is out! You can find them at 300 locations across the borough. We begin, of course, with page one and the election of now Councilman-elect Mark Gjonaj. Gjonaj, the Democratic nominee in the race for the 13th Council District, won his seat after spending $1 million. That number is significant since Council races ever get to that threshold. Find out who are some possible contenders for the soon-to-be vacant Assembly seat covering Norwood. Other inside the cover stories include Bronx

New St. Philip Neri Principal a Familiar Face in Norwood

By DAVID CRUZ

In the space of five minutes, Ajeia Beebe, new principal at St. Philip Neri Catholic School in Bedford Park, escorted a timid student out of a classroom, received a hearty “good morning Mrs. Beebe” from uniformed children walking down the hallway, and gave a top-down tour of the 104-year-old school. It’s been almost two months since Beebe came to the school, and she’s already feeling at home. In many ways, she is. It helps that a number of her old students at the school she’s previously worked at have now transferred to St. Philip Neri, making for a smooth transition.

Mary Vallati, Bedford Park Stalwart, Dies at Age 102

Mary Vallati was considered a gem in Norwood. She was seen as a fixture in the community and recognized for her devotion to bettering the neighborhood until her passing earlier this year. Now, members of the community are working to have a street renamed in her honor. Barbara Stronczer, president of the Bedford Mosholu Community Association, is urging community members to sign the petition in order to have the street renamed. She looks to take those signatures to present to Community Board 7 (CB7) to begin the process. She says, “We need 100 [signatures] in order for CB7 to give

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers exiting voting sites about their general experience on this Election Day. It was good because I came out early today, so I was in and out. They were very helpful. They had me in the back, and I’m all done. I’m not sure about the voter turnout today, and I don’t like the mayor. Jacqueline Alvarez Pelham Bay They were very helpful and had no lines. It was very organized, and the process was equally distributed in terms of workload so it was very efficient. No, I didn’t see any Russians. I don’t know

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

All that cash ultimately paid off. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, who set a new record for City Council spending, was elected to represent the 13th Council District on Election Night, securing 49 percent of the vote, and effectively opening his Norwood Assembly seat. Gjonaj, an Albanian American from Morris Park, defeated Republican challenger John Cerini, an accountant and community leader from Throggs Neck, as well as Marjorie Velazquez, the 82nd Assembly District Female Leader and Community Board 10 treasurer who ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Velazquez was backed by the current holder of the seat, the term-limited Councilman Jimmy

Garbage Truck Slams into Pedestrian in Norwood, Killing Him

By DAVID CRUZ

Detectives from the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad are still putting together the events leading up to an early morning truck accident that took the life of the still-unidentified man. Police say the victim was struck and killed by a dump truck, at 5:06 a.m. on Nov. 7, at the intersection of Jerome Avenue and East Gun Hill Road in Norwood. He was pronounced dead at the scene. After a preliminary investigation, investigators determined, “a 33 year-old male was operating a 2010 Peterbilt dump truck when the unidentified male mounted the front step (of the truck) and attempted to hold onto the right