“Phase One” Reopening Begins in Norwood, and across the City

By Síle Moloney

Monday, Jun. 8 marked Phase One of the City’s reopening plan, part of the New York Forward initiative, as a bit more life was seen in and around Bainbridge Avenue in the Norwood area of the Bronx. Some people were returning to work for the first time since early March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, and a statewide PAUSE order was implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus. People were seen standing in line, in the morning sunshine, at Chase bank on BainBridge Avenue, adhering to social distancing guidelines, and almost everyone was wearing a mask, an

By Síle Moloney

On Friday, June 5, 2020, Montefiore University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the call for a more equitable and just society, when staff held a nine-minute silent tribute to George Floyd, the unarmed African-American man who was murdered at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. Floyd died of asphyxiation after a White police officer, who has since been charged, pinned him face down on the ground and knelt on his back and neck for nine minutes, even as he pleaded for air and

By David Greene

For about the last 18 years, volunteers across New York State have been placing American flags at the gravestones of thousands of U.S. military members on Memorial Day. Sadly, this year most graves went “un-flagged” because of prevailing social distancing restrictions. In past years, Lynn Radke and Bruce Campbell of Woodlawn Conservancy in the Bronx would organize hundreds of volunteers from groups like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Mellon Bank, and the Washington Grey Cadets for the annual ‘Flagging of the Graves’ at Woodlawn Cemetery. Volunteers would usually set out with maps and flags, and scour the

By Síle Moloney

The American Legion of Co-op City, Post 1871 gathered at 2049 Bartow Avenue, at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, 2020 for a wreath-laying ceremony and car parade, in place of the annual Memorial Day ceremony. The event went ahead despite the statewide ‘PAUSE’ order which is still in effect in New York City and in other regions of the state, and which precludes non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason. The PAUSE order dictates that parties, celebrations or other social events are canceled or postponed at this time and that any concentration of individuals

By Síle Moloney

Traditionally, the Muslim festival of Idul-Fitr (Eid Al-Fitr) is a time of joyous celebration, one shared among friends and family to mark the end of Ramadan, a month-long period during which Muslim Americans fast during daylight hours, and offer up additional prayer and reflection. The holiday is also usually an occasion to join together in prayer as part of a congregation. Due to the prevailing statewide PAUSE order, and related social distancing restrictions, celebrations which would normally have taken place on Sunday, May 24, were markedly quieter this year. Ahead of Sunday’s holiday, the Islamic Circle of North

As New Yorkers begin to enjoy the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos is encouraging people to engage in responsible recreation close to home during the State’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DEC recommendations incorporate guidance from the CDC and the New York State Department of Health for reducing the spread of infectious diseases. The agency encourages New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice physical distancing, show respect, and use common sense to protect themselves and others. DEC is implementing additional measures at its facilities statewide, particularly in high

Jacqueline Acevedo-Villanueva, Mary Kay Sales Director, along with her colleagues Marina Lopez and Areliz Diaz, made a special trip to North Central Bronx Hospital (NCB) on Wednesday, May 20, to donate 100 ‘Satin Hands’ care packages to front line essential workers as a pampering treat. Acevedo-Villanueva, who was born and raised in the Bronx, and who leads a team of over 50 women in her role at Mary Kay, a global beauty brand, donated the care packages as a thank you gesture to NCB nurses, and to all who she described as “the heroes on the front lines”.

In response to a distinct uptick in midnight fireworks concentrated in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Andrew Cohen, and Congressman Eliot Engel have issued the following statement: “We appreciate that some of our neighbors want to show their support for essential workers and that using small firecrackers – although illegal in New York City – is a way for them to do that during the 7pm clap. However, the fireworks being set off later into the evening – even after midnight – are not firecrackers. They are massive, loud, and startling for many

New York Botanical Garden will be celebrating its annual Garden Party on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, with a virtual Azalea Garden tour, and is inviting people to share greetings and memories of their moms during a Facebook Watch Party. The community is invited to join the Facebook Watch Party featuring a virtual tour of the garden’s spectacular Maureen K. Chilton Azalea Garden which is in peak bloom, and will also include personalized Mother’s Day greetings from the Garden’s members and patrons. People are encouraged to show their love for their moms with fun at-home activities for the whole family

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

Out and About

Montefiore Honors George Floyd in Nine-Minute Silent Tribute

Food & Mask Giveaway Held At Pelham Parkway as Muslim-Americans Celebrate Eid Holiday

New Yorkers Encouraged to Discover Outdoor Spaces Close to Home

Mary Kay Sales Director Donates over 100 Pampering Sets To NCB Essential Workers

Elected Officials Call To Curtail Fireworks Out of Respect For Front Line Workers

Salute Mom on Mother’s Day with a Virtual Tour Through New York’s Botanical Gardens