Op-Ed: Millions of New Yorkers Will Need to Take Action to Keep Health Coverage

By VINCENT MARCHELLO
  Building healthier communities requires deliberate action every day to improve individuals’ lives. Every time a person goes to a doctor for a check-up or gets important immunizations, health outcomes improve, and communities grow stronger. Ensuring people have access to quality, affordable health coverage is one of the most important ways to help accomplish this goal.   During the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment in Medicaid and Child Health Plus increased 23.4% to about 9 million people in New York State, according to the State Department of Health.   Those 9 million people will need to act soon to keep their health


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Norwood: Eid Al-Adha Celebrated in the Williamsbridge Oval

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Adha [Idul-Adha] was celebrated by hundreds of Muslims in the Williamsbridge Oval park on Wednesday, June 28.   The religious holiday, which translates to “The Feast of the Sacrifice” continued through June 30, and is the second and the largest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam (the other being Eid al-Fitr). The former honors the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice one of his sons, either Ishmael (Ismail) or Isaac (Ishaq), as an act of obedience to God’s command.   Norwood News spoke briefly to one male member of the congregation who said


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UPDATE Mayor: Eddie Caban Appointed as Interim NYPD Police Commissioner

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams released a statement on Saturday, July 1, following the formal departure, as reported, of former Commissioner Keechant Sewell on June 30, in which the mayor announced that First Deputy Commissioner Edward “Eddie” A. Caban has taken up the role of interim police commissioner.   In his statement, Adams said, “First, I want to thank Commissioner Sewell for her year and a half of service to the greatest city in the world,” the mayor wrote. “Commissioner Sewell not only led the NYPD with distinction and honor every day, but she inspired millions of young girls


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Cops Join Puzzle Life & Students & Teachers from P.S. 168 to Walk for Autism Acceptance

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A group of around 200 people, including many kids, joined together for a walk in Norwood to promote autism acceptance, unity, and inclusion on Friday, June 16. The event was organized by the group Puzzle Life in conjunction with Norwood’s P.S. 168 and the 52nd Precinct.   Kyle McClean and his wife, Liza, who live in Soundview, launched Puzzle Life, a group which aims to promote acceptance of people living with autism. Kyle told Norwood News, “Well, my wife and I, we have a beautiful princess on the spectrum and it’s the third year in a row we wanted to


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Community Awards Presented at Last BMCA Meeting before Summer Amid Noise & Package Theft Concerns 

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Joy Syeeda Lafontaine and Police Officer Stephen Echevarria were each presented with awards for their service to the community during the final meeting, before the summer break, of Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA) on June 7, the same day the air quality in New York City was badly affected by Canadian wildfires.   Lafontaine, secretary of BMCA, was awarded the Mary Vallati Memorial Award in recognition of her exceptional volunteer service over the year, while Echevarria, community affairs officer at the 52nd Precinct, was awarded the Jack Kelly Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the community.  


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Local School Hosts 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration in the Williamsbridge Oval Park

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES
  A Juneteenth celebration hosted by the social justice committee of Bronx Community Charter School in Norwood was held at the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood on Monday, June 19.   The school, located at 3170 Webster Avenue in Norwood, first launched what they intend to be an annual celebration last year, as reported. Held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event included musical performances, reading, arts and crafts, and reflections on the meaning of the holiday.   One little girl seated on a beanbag was seen lost in a book during the event.   Other children were assisted


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Smiles All Around at National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Annual 152nd Street Cultural Festival

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES
The National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Annual 152nd Street Cultural Festival was held on Saturday, May 27, under glorious sunshine in the South Bronx and drew a host of City and borough elected officials along with around one thousand festival goers to celebrate the occasion.   The festival is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates Puerto Rican culture and heritage, held on 152nd Street between Jackson and Tinton Avenues, with food, music, games, live entertainment and lots of Boricua pride! Soundboy Ariel Cartagena, a Latin Hip Hop artist, had everyone on their feet during his lively performance. The festival is


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UPDATE Olinville: 5-Year-Old Girl Shot inside Car, Two Suspects Identified

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance identifying and locating the people seen in the attached photos further below who department officials say are sought in connection with an assault in Olinville on June 30 in which a 5-year-old girl was shot in the back.   Police said that on Friday, June 30, at around 7 p.m. in the vicinity of East 213th Street and White Plains Road, two people displayed firearms and discharged numerous rounds. As reported, a 5-year-old girl was struck in the left side of her back during the incident and was removed by EMS to


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Norwood: Pedestrian Apparently Injured in Apparent Hit & Run on Gun Hill Road

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The condition of a seemingly injured person seen lying on East Gun Hill Road in Norwood in a video filmed by a bystander on Thursday afternoon, June 29, is currently unknown.   A video posted to the Citizens’ App on Thursday, June 29, at around 1.30 p.m. shows a person lying on Gun Hill Road by the intersection with DeKalb Avenue, surrounded by bystanders, some using walking canes. According to unverified reports by users of the Citizens’ App, the person was hit by a car at 47 E Gun Hill Road around 1 p.m.   Users of the app


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