Tae Kwon Do Kids Take to the Park In Norwood

By DAVID GREENE

After being shut for several months during the global coronavirus pandemic, the staff of the Dominguez Expert Martial Arts School on East 204th Street have restarted Tae Kwon Do classes. More than a dozen young students were taken outside of the Norwood school, for their first resumed Tae Kwon Do class since the shutdown, ensuring adequate social distancing and more access to fresh air. The youngsters were spotted on the open field of Mosholu Parkway at Bainbridge Avenue, throwing punches and kicks on Friday, July 24. According to Wikipedia, Taekwondo, Tae Kwon Do or Taekwon-Do is a Korean

By DAVID GREENE

In a pre-dawn raid on July 22, City officials reported that members of the NYPD moved in on the fifty or so remaining demonstrators who were part of the larger group of protestors to have occupied City Hall Park since June 23, and removed them from the area. As reported previously by Norwood News, the demonstrators vowed not to leave until the NYPD’s budget was slashed. On June 30, the much-anticipated vote on the revised $88.2 billion City budget was presented and passed by 32 votes to 17 in the City Council. Local elected Bronx councilmen Fernando Cabrera,

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Next year, residents of New York City’s 14th District will vote on a new representative. Incumbent Councilman Fernando Cabrera has reached the end of his last term. He has represented the district, which extends from just south of the Cross Bronx Expressway to Kingsbridge Heights in the north, since 2010. In June 2020, Pierina Sanchez, 32, announced her candidacy to replace Cabrera with a focus on improving permanent housing and education, among other issues. “With 70 percent of our residents unable to afford their rents, I want to work to improve that number,” Sanchez said. “I want more

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Fresh Air Fund, in response to COVID-19, has created Fresh Air Summer Spaces, fun, free and safe play spaces for New York City children, ages five through 13. Fresh Air Summer Spaces provides children the chance to enjoy safe, supervised outdoor summer activities where they can laugh, smile, play and make new friends. Fresh Air staff supervise arts and crafts, interactive games and even dance parties! Summer Spaces would not be possible without the support of the local community. Fresh Air Youth Employment program participants will assist at sites. The Fund is helping to fill the gap

By ARIANA CIPRIANI

As New York City’s small businesses transitioned to Phase 3 of the city’s reopening plan earlier this month, restaurants and diners took to the streets and sidewalks for open dining. From now through October, restaurants can offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk and curb lane to customers. With six outdoor dining destinations to choose from in the BID, there are plenty of opportunities to sit back and relax on Jerome Avenue and East Gun Hill Road. Jennifer Tausig is Executive Director of the Jerome Gun Hill BID. “Open dining has provided a much-needed lifeline for our small, locally

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Waly-Meissa Ndiaye is a teenager from the South Bronx. On July 22, it was announced that he was one of five students from New York City-area schools selected to receive a $10,000 college scholarship as a 2020 Milken Scholars program recipient (NYC Scholars) for his academic achievements and his service to the community. A former student at Bronx High School of Science, Ndiaye is a Gates Scholar, QuestBridge College Prep Scholar and AP Scholar with distinction. “I’m thankful and feel very fortunate to become a part of the Milken Scholar community,” he said. “In just a few weeks, I’ve

By Síle Moloney

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi issued the following statement explaining why she voted against bill S8835 which passed in the State Senate on July 23. The bill amends the public health law, in relation to amending provisions regarding health care facilities and professionals during the COVID-19 emergency. The purpose of the bill is to limit immunity granted in the 2020-21 adopted budget to health care professionals that are providing diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 directly to confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients. “More than 6,500 New Yorkers have died in nursing homes and adult care facilities from COVID-19 – almost 800

Merchant Spotlight: A Family Business Grows at JGHBID

By Síle Moloney

Citing the devastating effects of the pandemic and ongoing civil unrest, the New York City Business Improvement District Association called on Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson on Tuesday, July 21 to implement a nine-point plan aimed at ensuring the vitality of New York businesses and the areas they serve. “The City and State must find ways to stimulate commercial activity or we will continue to lose businesses and jobs at an alarming rate,” said Robert J. Benfatto, co-chair of the Association. “Our action plan offers a set of steps

By Síle Moloney

The New York State Senate Democratic Majority today passed legislation to ban Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents from making arrests in New York courthouses. The bill S.425A, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman, protects New Yorkers from civil arrests while going to court and conducting or returning from a court proceeding. “No New Yorker should fear participating in the justice system, regardless of their documentation,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “The Protect Our Courts Act will give undocumented New Yorkers the peace of mind and sense of safety they deserve while visiting a court, and I commend Senator Hoylman for sponsoring this