Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell Announces Rank Reinforcements to Curb Transit Crime

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Newly appointed Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced on Wednesday, Jan. 6, a set of what were described as new innovative deployment strategies to reimagine the NYPD’s safety coverage of the City’s subway system. The formal announcement was made during a press conference that day together with Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. As of Jan. 2, 2022, year-to-date transit crimes across the City were up 800 percent, compared to the same period last year. In the Bronx, the year-to-date numbers remained stable as of Jan. 2, compared to the same date in 2021. However, Norwood

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Parks and NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) officials are encouraging New Yorkers to wrap up their holiday season by saying goodbye to their respective holiday trees during the annual Mulchfest, a New York City holiday tradition of recycling holiday trees. Residents can put on their boots, haul their trees to a nearby Mulchfest drop-off location near them, between Saturday, Dec. 26, 2021 and Sunday, Jan 9, 2022. City workers will then chip the trees into wood chips for residents to take home and use to nourish trees, and make the City even greener. More than 29,000

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Jacobi Medical Center, part of NYC Health + Hospitals public hospital system, welcomed its first baby of the New Year, Sophia Parra-Garcia, on Jan. 1 at 1.22 a.m. The baby girl weighed in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and is just 17 inches tall. Her proud parents, Elaine Garcia Blanco and Michael Parra Lopez, are pictured above and below – her mom holding her new bundle of joy. Judging by these cute photos of the adorable little girl, who seemed to be fast asleep in her mom’s arms, Baby Sophia appeared nonplussed over the buzz she generated at Jacobi

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department confirmed on Jan. 9 that a 15-year-old boy who was reported missing in Williamsbridge, in the 47th precinct, has returned home. Prior to returning home, Elijah Pratt-Johnson, 15, of 3638 Holland Avenue, from the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx, had last been seen on Friday, Jan. 7, at approximately 8 p.m., inside his home. He was described as being approximately 6 feet tall, weighing 115 pounds, is Black, has a thin build, a brown skin complexion, brown eyes and black hair. Elijah had last been seen wearing a black jacket, a blue hoodie,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 20-year-old male passenger has died, and a 19-year-old male driver remains in hospital, following a motor vehicle collision in Hunts Point, police said. On Saturday, Jan. 8, at approximately 5.18 a.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Manida Street and Oak Point Avenue in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, located in the 41st precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed the 19-year-old driver, conscious and alert with injuries to the face and neck, and the 20-year-old male passenger, unconscious and unresponsive, with trauma about the body. EMS

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has advised of the following street and bridge closures in the Bronx from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9 2022. East 144th Street between Gerard Avenue and Exterior Street This street will be closed Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Jan. 31 to facilitate crane operation. East 144th Street between Gerard Avenue and Walton Avenue This street will be closed Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Jan. 10 to facilitate crane operation. East 146th Street between Gerard Avenue and Exterior Street/River Avenue This street will be closed 24/7 through

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, eight-story, residential building at 2385 Tiebout Avenue in the Fordham Heights section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East 184th and East 187th Streets, the lot is near the Fordham Road subway station, serviced by the B and D trains, according to YIMBY, and Artan Prelaj is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed, 75-foot-tall development will yield 23,838 square feet, designated for residential space. The building will comprise 38 residential units, most likely rentals based on

By SÍLE MOLONEY

In response to the unprecedented surge of omicron cases and citywide testing demand, as reported, the NYC Test & Trace Corps announced on Wednesday, Jan. 5, that, since the surge began in early December, it has doubled the number of City-run test sites available, opening over 100 new fixed and mobile COVID-19 testing sites, as reported, and is currently operating over 200 testing sites throughout New York City. NYC Health + Hospitals president and CEO, Mitchell Katz, MD, said the NYC Test & Trace Corps’ ability to expand the number of COVID-19 testing sites so quickly “by triple

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell Announces Rank Reinforcements to Curb Transit Crime

Recycle Your Holiday Trees at NYC Parks’ MulchFest or Arrange for Bulk Pick-Up of Large, Artificial Trees

UPDATE Jacobi Welcomes First Baby of the New Year as Hochul Urges Parents to Vaccinate Kids

UPDATE Missing 15-Year-Old Boy from Williamsbridge Returns Home

Hunts Point: A 20-Year-Old Man Has Died following a Motor Vehicle Collision

Bridge and Street Closures in The Bronx, Jan. 7 to Jan. 9, 2022

Fordham Heights: Building Applications Filed with DOB for 8-Story Building at 2385 Tiebout Avenue

UPDATE Jacobi Medical Center Welcomes First Baby of the New Year as Hochul Urges Parents to Vaccinate Kids

NYC Test & Trace Team Doubles Number of Testing Sites To Deal with Omicron Surge