Missing Bronx Man Last Seen in Norwood, Police Say

Police are hoping to find a missing 76-year-old man who suffers from dementia. Angelo Pagan was last seen Oct. 3 around 7 p.m. at the corner of Mosholu Parkway and Jerome Avenue in Norwood. He’s described as a Hispanic male who may require help returning home. He’s described as 5’4”, weighs 100 pounds, has brown eyes, grey hair in a short afro style, a dark complexion, and a tattoo on his leg. He speaks both English and Spanish. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket, and black FILA sneakers with white markings. He is not enrolled in the MedicAlert

By DAVID CRUZ & DAVID GREENE

For the second time in as many weeks a pair of bandits has broken into the GNC store in Norwood. Police and onlookers were stunned to learn the intruders were of the 4-legged kind. And the pesky, masked-covered raccoons, commonly spotted in more suburban settings, have already made themselves at home just one block north of the vitamin shop, becoming unruly neighbors. Police were called to the vitamin supplement shop at 3453 Jerome Ave. at 9 a.m. on Sept. 29, for an “animal incident,” involving the raccoons. A dispatcher quickly reported it had “one in custody,” shortly after the furry fiends slipped into

By DAVID CRUZ

What does Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue have in common? They’re both considered great streets. Bronx residents will tell you they already knew that, but not the American Planning Association (APA). Until now. The 38-year urban planning nonprofit group officially named the busy Belmont strip known as Little Italy one of America’s “Great Streets,” a distinction that helps slowly chip away the nagging image of a Bronx in blight. It’s the first such distinction for the borough. “This is a big deal,” Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said at a news conference announcing the honor. Diaz’s

By CATHERINE CLARKE

Community-based groups in the northwest Bronx care for their senior citizens! Significant local efforts to assist low-income seniors include the creation of new affordable housing for seniors, the promotion of city programs to keep rents affordable to seniors and a wide array of health, social and recreational services offered by religious institutions, community groups and senior centers. Affordable, safe and decent housing remains an urgent need for all Bronx residents, and more so for seniors who have limited incomes and often growing physical needs in terms of accessibility and safety. New York City recently increased the income limits for its

The polished décor of Nicky’s Coffee Shop now has an exterior to match, with a vibrant new awning on the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and 206th Street. “The sign was just old looking, but it’s been the only change,” said Nicky Manias, owner of the restaurant for more than 31 years. “Since we rebuilt from the fire, everything inside is still brand new.” In September of 2012 a fire forced the diner to close its doors for 6 months, while repairs took place. The Manias family also used this time to revive the restaurant’s interior adding new lights, wood detailing,

By ELIZABETH QUARANTA

This year was a turning point for the Friends of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP), which managed to organize two community visioning sessions on Mosholu Parkway’s only two on-site playgrounds. Now we have our first annual Fall Festival on the parkway, not to be confused with the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District’s Annual Fall Festival, which celebrated its 15th year on Sept. 17 (see pictures on page 8). The effort and summary of the Kossuth visioning led to its funding of $1.4 million towards the Kossuth Playground upgrades. The visioning of the Mosholu Playground at the corner of East Mosholu Parkway South

By DAVID GREENE

For the second time in as many weeks a pair of bandits has broken into a local GNC store and police and passersby were baffled to learn that the intruders were of the 4-legged kind. Police were called to the vitamin supplement shop at 3453 Jerome Ave. along the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District at 9 a.m. on Sept. 29, for an “animal incident,” involving raccoons. A dispatcher quickly reported it had “one in custody.” The four officers met the employee, who watched as the pair of furry creatures scurried about the store’s counter-tops and shelves in a search for food. Asked

Tenant Assistance The Office of Senator Gustavo Rivera offers assistance on tenant-related issues every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment at 2432 Grand Concourse. For more information or to make an appointment, call (718) 933-2034. Free Flu Shots Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Montefiore Health System, Walgreens Pharmacy, and others, are sponsoring free flu shots at Vladeck Hall, 74 Van Cortlandt Pk. So. on Oct. 6 and at the Riverdale YM-YWHA, 5625 Arlington Ave. on Oct. 27. Members of the community must be 18 years of age or older to participate, and cannot be allergic to eggs. For more

By DAVID GREENE

With recent convictions of several guards at the Rikers Island prison, we asked readers their thoughts on the troubled prison and its suspected culture of corruption. I’ve been at Rikers before and it’s not a good place. I was held there for like two days and what I saw in those two days, it’s not good. And I feel like they need to stop all of it. Shut the whole thing down. They should move all the prisoners out and build up a whole new jail with a whole new staff, everything. They have female COs bringing in contraband to