violence

As Worshippers Return for Holy Week Services, One Lector Discusses Addiction Concerns & Mental Health

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
  Worshippers once again returned in person for the annual Passion of the Christ Reenactment in Bedford Park with several hundred parishioners and passersby seen watching members of Our Lady of Refuge congregation reenacting the Good Friday procession and  crucifixion.   The event was held outside Our Lady of Refuge church, located at 290 East 196th Street on Friday, April 7, as the street was shut down between Bainbridge Avenue and Briggs Avenue. The annual Bedford Park event is believed to have started in the 1980s and the current pastor of Our Lady of Refuge church, Father Patrick D’Arcy, said


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Pelham Parkway: Brick Tossed Through Window during Passover, Israeli Independence Day Marked

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is currently investigating an incident where a slab of concrete was tossed through the living room window of a Pelham Parkway home during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The targeted window had an Israeli flag displayed outside at the time of the incident.   Police officials say the incident occurred at 2.45 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at 2121 Matthews Avenue between Lydig Avenue and Pelham Parkway. A police official said, “There is a complaint report on file for criminal mischief within the confines of the 49th Precinct.”   The official continued, “The report states


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Riley Leads Press Conference at City Hall to Close Rikers

By SÍLE MOLONEY
District 12 City Council Member Kevin Riley and District 33 City Council Member Lincoln Restler lead a rally entitled, “A Pathway to Closing Rikers Island and Ending Mass Incarceration in NYC,” by safely reducing the jail population at City Hall in Manhattan on Tuesday, April 11,  together with other council members and advocates for the incarcerated.   As reported, Rikers Island jail has been plagued with bad press for many years due to, among other reasons, the number of people who have died while in custody, awaiting trial, and the number of violent incidents involving both detainees and NYC Department of


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University Heights: Two Sought in Attempted Assault

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying the people seen in the attached photos who the department says are sought in connection with an attempted assault that occurred on the southern border of University Heights.   It was reported to police that on Monday, April 10, at approximately 2.05 p.m., two unidentified male individuals on a blue moped approached two unidentified male individuals who were walking in the vicinity of Andrews Avenue South and West Burnside Avenue.   A police spokesperson said one of the two got off the moped, displayed a gun and shot multiple rounds in


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Bedford Park: Man Sought in Robbery of Elderly Person

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD is asking for the public’s help locating the person seen in the attached photo who they said is sought in connection with the robbery of an elderly person which took place in Bedford Park.   It was reported to police that on Saturday, April 8, at around 01.10 a.m., in the vicinity of East 199th Street and Briggs Avenue, a 68-year-old male victim was entering his residential building when an unidentified man approached him from behind and pushed him to the ground.   A police spokesperson said, “The victim fell on his face and the individual then forcibly


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Off Duty School Crossing Guard Arrested for Endangering Welfare of Child

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Police said an off-duty New York City employee was arrested on Friday, April 7, in the 49th Precinct, which covers the neighborhoods of Allerton, Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Parkway, Eastchester Gardens, and Pelham Gardens.   According to the NYPD, Sanija Kurtovic, 46, an NYPD school crossing guard, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.   A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.    

Elections 2023: Irene Estrada Lays Out her Case for her City Council Run in District 13

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Former Democratic female district leader for the 80th assembly district and Democratic candidate for city council in District 13, Irene Estrada, briefly broke down why she is running for the seat against incumbent, City Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez when we spoke to her at the 25th Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 12.   Estrada, whose two daughters serve with the NYPD, and who is on the clergy council of the 49th Precinct, said, “Our streets are a mess with crime.” She added, “We also need to bring back the school safety task force. They took it away after COVID.


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Group of Elected Officials Visit Rikers Island, Alleging Hochul is “Pushing to Roll Back Bail Reform”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  A group of eight State lawmakers held a press conference at the entrance to Rikers Island jail on Thursday, April 6, amid, they said, reports of “continued unsafe and inhumane conditions,” at the jail. The visit was scheduled as legislators awaited updates from three-way budget negotiations, and in the context of those negotiations, they allege Gov. Kathy Hochul was “pushing civil rights rollbacks that would result in many more people being held at Rikers without being convicted of a crime.”   Among the group were State Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (S.D. 34) who represents parts of The Bronx, State Sen.


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Bedford Park Resident Honored at Bridgefield Civic League Women’s History Month Celebration

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest edition.   Bedford Park resident and community volunteer, Miriam Quiñones, was one of five impressive women honored during a Women’s History Month celebration organized by Bridgefield Civic League in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx on Saturday, March 18. During the event, Quiñones, who is also a freelance photographer with Norwood News, along with each of the other four honorees, was presented with a plaque by president of Bridgefield Civic League, Debra Garland, as well as proclamations from both the City Council, presented by District


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