NYC DOH Closes Case on Latest Legionnaires’ Disease Cluster in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The City’s health department announced on June 17 that the investigation into the Highbridge community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease has been closed. “No new cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been identified in residents of the area with symptom onset in the last four weeks,” health officials said. There were 30 cases of Legionnaires’ disease associated with the cluster. Twenty-eight people were hospitalized, 24 have been discharged, and two New Yorkers died, as reported. Remediation was ordered in early May by the department after four cooling towers in the Highbridge and Melrose sections of the borough tested positive for the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Police said a 29-year-old man has been arrested following the fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old man last year in the Wakefield section of The Bronx. An NYPD spokesperson said on Friday, July 30, 2021, at around 6.58 p.m., officers responded to a call regarding an assault at an address on East 227th Street in Wakefield, located in the 47th precinct. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 35-year-old male with multiple stab wounds to his body, lying unconscious and unresponsive in front of the location,” the official said. Police added, “EMS responded and transported the victim to Montefiore Hospital where

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s help locating a 78-year-old man, reported missing from Parkchester, located in the 43rd precinct. Melville Lawson, 78, of 2100 East Tremont Avenue was last seen on Thursday, June 30, at around 11.35 a.m. in front of 2265 East Tremont Avenue. He is described as 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, has gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black pants, a black T-shirt and black sneakers. Anyone with information regarding this missing person is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Among many citywide events marking Juneteenth this year, the Riverdale Sunday Market was the venue for a local Juneteenth celebration in the Northwest Bronx, and was hosted by District 11 City Councilman Eric Dinowitz. Held every Sunday throughout the year, at 4545 Independent Avenue by the Riverdale temple, the market took on a special theme on June 19 in celebration of what is now a national holiday. Juneteenth, which falls annually on June 19, marks the anniversary of the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to announce that all enslaved people were free. Coming two and half

By DR. MIGUELINA GERMAN

In 2016, Montefiore Medical Group primary care offices began to screen children for the ten types of trauma that can impact their long-term health. Some examples include physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse, neglect, and witnessing violence. Today, we’ve screened more than 12,000 children and have found that 30 percent experienced an adverse event or trauma that could impact their future mental health. The last two years have been stressful for families as kids studied at home, socialized less, and mourned the loss of loved ones. These challenges have only added on to ongoing concerns over finances, housing, and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein (A.D. 74), State Sen. Brian Kavanagh (A.D. 26), Manhattan Council Member Carlina Rivera (C.D.2), along with local kids and community members on Tuesday, June 28, to celebrate the start of the outdoor pool season at Hamilton Fish Pool on the Lower East Side in Manhattan. “It’s time to make a splash: New York City’s outdoor pools are open for the season!” said Donoghue. “Our pools are popular summer destinations for so many New Yorkers, and we’re happy to provide these free places to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

After polls closed on Election Night, Tuesday, June 28, on the first of two separate Primary Election Days being held in 2022 due to redistricting, New York City Board of Elections released the initial, unofficial results in the races for governor, lieutenant governor and State Assembly, as well as in the following Bronx races: Delegate to Judicial Convention Alternate Delegate to Judicial Convention Female State Committee Male State Committee Female District Leader Male District Leader County Committee Absentee and overseas ballots still have to be counted. The biggest surprise of the night was that in the Democratic primary

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Tuesday, June 28, that a Bronx man was charged with alleged kidnapping, sex trafficking and selling teen girls for sex, along with rape charges for the alleged attack of a 14-year-old girl. According to the investigation by the NYPD and the prosecution’s case, on April 28, officers were searching for a missing 14-year-old at Hotel 95, located at 1275 Pugsley Avenue in Soundview section of The Bronx. Hotel staff informed investigators the missing teen was allegedly last seen in a hotel room with the defendant, Shamel Jones, AKA Shy, 25.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and challenger and mutual aid organizer, Jessica Altagracia Woolford, who was recovering from a recent bout of COVID-19, discussed their positions on the priorities for voters in Assembly District 81 on Tuesday, June 21, during a debate aired on BronxNet, hosted by Gary Axelbank, and co-sponsored by Norwood News, the League of Women Voters, City Limits and The Bronx Times. Both candidates will be on the ballot in the upcoming Democratic Primary on Tuesday, June 28. On the question of candidate experience, Dinowitz, who has represented the district since 1994, spoke to the fact that