Safety

National Weather Service NYC Issues Severe Thunderstorm Warning on Sunday Night, May 22, until 8.45 p.m.

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City office of the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Bronx county and nearby regions on Sunday, May 22, until 8.45 p.m. At 7.39 p.m., weather officials said severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Paterson to near Caldwell and East Hanover, moving northeast at 25 mph. They said there is a hazard of 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail according to a radar source.   They said minor hail damage to vehicles is possible, and to expect wind damage to trees and power lines. Officials said severe thunderstorms


Read More

14-Year-Old Bronx Student of Taft High School Found

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD confirmed on Thursday, May 26, that Bree Grullar, 14, who had been reported missing to police has been found.   On Sunday, May 22, a person, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted Norwood News to say that her relative, Bree, had been reported missing. The family member provided a photo of Bree (attached) and described her as being 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes.   She said Bree attends Taft High School, located at 240 East 172nd Street in the Mt. Eden section of The Bronx, and prior to being found, she had


Read More

Bronx City Council Members Introduce Bill Expanding Heat Sensor Program to Track Building Heat Requirements

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Following the City Council’s May 19th vote on the first package of fire safety legislation to pass in response to the Jan. 9 Twin Parks North West fire tragedy, a group of primarily Bronx council members in the form of Council Members Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), Althea Stevens (C.D. 16), Amanda Farias (C.D. 18) and Carmen De La Rosa (C.D. 10), have introduced a further bill which aims to to expand the city’s Heat Sensor Program (HSP). According to the councilmembers’ offices, the program identifies buildings with recurring heat violations for enhanced monitoring and enforcement.   The councilmembers said the program,


Read More

Norwood: 13-Year-Old Missing Girl Found

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD confirmed that a 13-year-old girl reported missing in Norwood has been found. It had been reported to police that, prior to being located, Vida Gonzalez, 13, of DeKalb Avenue in the Norwood section of The Bronx, had last been seen on Friday May 20, at 9.30 a.m. Vida was described as female, 4 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, Black, with brown eyes, brown hair and prior to being found, had last been seen wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and gray sneakers.    On Sunday, May 22, a person, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted Norwood News


Read More

NYC Health Department Investigating Cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease Identified in Highbridge, Melrose

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson announced on Saturday, May 21, that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in the Bronx in ZIP codes 10452 in Highbridge and 10456 in the Melrose neighborhood. Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia. “Four people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease since May 9, 2022, and results for other individuals are pending. To date, there have been no deaths associated with this possible cluster,” Gibson said. “The NYC Health Department is sampling and testing the water from all cooling tower


Read More

UPDATE New York State Issues Air Quality Advisory & Heat Alert

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality advisory for New York City for Saturday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The pollutant of concern is Ozone. Officials said active children and adults, and people with respiratory problems, such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.   DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of


Read More

Councilman Oswald Feliz’s First Package of Bills on Fire Safety Passes at City Council

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  New York City Council voted unanimously in the affirmative on Thursday, May 19, to pass the first package of bills sponsored by District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz, chair of the City Council Twin Parks Fire Safety Committee, which aim to strengthen fire enforcement and safety in New York City communities.   The various bills increase penalties and fines for self-closing door violations. As reported, the FDNY found that a self-closing door violation was a contributing factor in the occurrence of loss of life during the Twin Parks fire tragedy of Sunday, Jan. 9.   The bills also


Read More

Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on the Possibility of the Overturning of Roe vs. Wade Expanding to a Potential Ban on Contraception

By DAVID GREENE
    This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the possibility of Roe v. Wade being struck down and whether, in their view, such a Supreme Court decision could potentially lead to the banning of contraception. “I do believe everyone has a right to their own bodies, especially women. I also believe people have rights to do whatever they want with their bodies, but sometimes too many rights are given to people and it’s misused. Let’s just say, for example, if a woman is pregnant at a certain stage, that pregnancy should not be terminated, you understand? If the


Read More

Pelham Bay: Motorist Dies After Driving Off Embankment & Landing on Motorway Below

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The NYPD said a 30-year-old man has died and three others were injured after a driver lost control of his vehicle and drove off a southbound Bruckner Expressway embankment landing on the northbound lanes below.   On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at approximately 11.48 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a vehicle collision on the northbound Bruckner Expressway, south of Exit 7C, Country Club Road, in Pelham Bay.   “Upon arrival, police observed a 2009 BMW BMW 328 with extensive exterior damage and air bags deployed, and a Toyota Rav4 with front passenger side damage,” an NYPD


Read More