Velella Dies at 66

Former State Senator Guy Velella, virtually the only Republican representing the borough at any level of government during his entire legislative career, died of lung cancer on Jan. 27 at the age of 66.

With Nudge From Koppell, PSAL Adopts Pitch Limits

Dennis D’Alessandro, DeWitt Clinton high school’s varsity baseball coach, isn’t a huge fan of the PSAL’s decision to limit the number of pitches varsity pitchers can throw per outing next season. “I can’t understand why the city council wants to make the PSAL their plaything when there are other things to worry about such as playing field conditions,” he said in a recent interview.

Cuomo’s Budget Slashes Medicaid Spending

New Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget for this fiscal year hacks away at funding for all state agencies and local governments, but the axe fell particularly hard on the state’s health spending — including unprecedented cuts to the Medicaid program. Medicaid provides health care for low-income and disabled New Yorkers, and nearly 21 percent of residents in the Bronx rely on it for their medical coverage, according to the Department of Health — more than in any other borough.

City Passes Parks and Beaches Smoking Ban

Soon, you’ll have to think twice before you light up a cigarette at the beach, or when taking a stroll through your local park. The City Council voted in favor of a resolution last week that forbids smoking in both places.

Perry Med. Center Ransacked

Perry Avenue Family Medical Center, on Perry Avenue off East 204th Street, was burglarized last week. The thief or thieves made off with laptops, security cameras, medical supplies, and $80 to $90 in cash, according to Dr. Kishore Ahuja and his wife, Dr. Rita Ahuja, who have been running the center for the past 30 years and say they’ve never had any problems with break-ins before.

Owners: Public Health Grades Good for Business

Sal Calce, owner of Sal’s Pizzeria on Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood, beamed as he talked about how his restaurant, which has called this neighborhood home for the past 31 years, earned an “A” grade during its last inspection by the Health Department. According to a new policy put in place last summer, all city restaurants are required to post their health inspection grades on their storefronts.

Imperiled Cemetery Workers Say They Have Tapes

Woodlawn workers and supporters rallied to save their jobs two years ago after several cemetery employees accused management of racial discrimination. Now four workers have filed a lawsuit against the cemetery.. (Photo by David Greene)

Defiant Woodlawn Cemetery workers and their supporters recently held a boisterous rally to protest the outsourcing of 23 of the cemetery’s 38 caretaker jobs. Cemetery officials say the outsourcing is a necessary cost-cutting move, but workers claim it’s payback for publicizing their concerns about discriminatory practices among supervisors. Now, in an attempt to save their jobs, workers are exploring all options, including legal action and the possible airing of tapes that they say expose discriminatory practices among cemetery supervisors.

Suspects Sought in Bainbridge Ave. Shooting

Police say the two young men shown in this still video footage may have been involved in the shooting of a 16-year-old on Dec. 26. (Photo provided by NYPD)

Police are still searching for two suspects they say were involved in the post-Christmas shooting of a 16-year-old boy. The unnamed victim, a Hispanic male, was shot once in the upper leg during a dispute with two other young men at the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and East 212th Street, in the early morning hours of Dec. 26. The injured boy was removed to Montefiore Hospital and remains in stable condition, according to a spokesman for the NYPD.

Assembly to Consider Rent Reform Bill

A package of legislation that would strengthen housing laws in favor of tenants was introduced in the State Assembly last week. Though it has the support of several Bronx Assembly members, including Jeff Dinowitz, the bill will likely face an uphill battle in the now Republican-controlled State Senate.