UPDATE As Election Day Beckons, Elected Officials Try Multiple Approaches to Curb Gun Violence

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Reports of gun violence continue to make headlines in the Bronx and across the City, and some elected officials are making it a focal point of their political endeavors in the lead up to Election Day. Although New York City has seen historic drops in most crime categories, 2021 is proving to be especially dangerous for teenagers. According to NYPD data, through Sept. 26, 2021, there were 16 fatal shootings involving teen violence. This is more than double the number, at seven, reported throughout 2020 for such fatalities. In addition, as of Sept. 26, 2021, there were a reported

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced on Monday, Nov. 1, that Robert Durst has been indicted for the murder of his first wife, Kathleen Durst, in South Salem, Westchester County, on or about Jan. 31, 1982. Durst, 78, was charged by a Westchester County Grand Jury in an indictment on Nov. 1, with murder in the second degree, having previously been charged in a complaint filed on Oct. 19, 2021, with murder in the second degree. In the context of the announcement, Rocah said, “When Kathleen Durst disappeared on Jan. 31, 1982, her family and friends

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Norwood News has been informed by officials of New Rochelle’s Salesian High School of the death of former student and coach, Paul Sousa. “The Salesian Family is deeply saddened to announce the loss of the Salesian baseball star and former coach, Paul Sousa (’72),” the notice read. “Paul was an incredible athlete, coach and friend.” Officials at the school, located at 148 East Main Street in New Rochelle, NY said Sousa’s two sons, Paul Sousa Jr. (’98) and Scott Sousa (’03), also attended Salesian High School. The following notice has been posted to the Pelham Funeral Home

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 17-year-old male has been arrested on murder chargers following the shooting of a 21-year-man in the head in Fordham Heights in late October. As reported at the time, police responded to a 911 call regarding a man who had been shot at 2253 Ryer Avenue, located in the 46th precinct, on Sunday, Oct. 24, at approximately 8.49 p.m. Upon arrival, they observed the man, lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head. EMS also responded and transported the victim to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The incident

By MICHAEL BENJAMIN

Former Bronx assemblyman, Michael Benjamin, announced that his mother, Kathleen A. Benjamin, née Conton, passed away at Calvary Hospital (Morris Park) on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, at the age of 86. A native of Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Kathleen came to the Bronx in 1956 and later married husband, Ray Benjamin, in October 1957. She resided at Tracey Towers in the Jerome Park section of the borough, on the border with Norwood. After three children and ten years as a “stay-at-home,” mother, Kathleen became a para-professional at the school her boys attended, P.S. 130X, on Prospect Avenue

By JASON GONZALEZ & SÍLE MOLONEY

For Pierina Sanchez, the Democratic nominee for the District 14 City Council seat in the upcoming general election, it’s all about the love. Sanchez is all in for the “Boogie Down,” saying passion for the community is a major driving force behind her campaign. With early voting already underway and only one day remaining before the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, Sanchez is transparent and says a vote for her on Nov. 2 will benefit the borough. “It’s about the love,” Sanchez said during a campaign rally held outside the Kingsbridge Armory in the Kingsbridge Heights section

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York Lottery announced on Sunday, Oct. 31, that one, top-prize winning ticket was sold for the Oct. 30th TAKE 5 EVENING drawing. The ticket, worth $44,943.50, was purchased at Webster Deli Inc, located at 363 E 180th Street in Fordham Heights. Lottery officials said Take 5 players with midday and evening draws on the same ticket should check their numbers at nylottery.ny.gov to determine if they have the winning numbers for the corresponding midday or evening drawing. Officials say TAKE 5 numbers are drawn from a field of one through 39. The drawing is televised twice daily at

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Montefiore Health System (MHS) and UnitedHealthcare have reached an agreement on a long-term contract that restores in-network access to all Montefiore Health System hospitals and healthcare providers effective Dec. 1, 2021 for UnitedHealthcare and Oxford employer-sponsored plans, as well as UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Dual Special Needs Plan. According to hospital officials, the agreement restores in-network access to Montefiore’s 10 hospitals and to more than 200 outpatient facilities throughout the Bronx, Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties. Colleen Blye, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Montefiore Health System said the long-term health of patients has always been the central

By SARAH HUFFMAN

New York City’s Racial Justice Commission (RJC) hosted a virtual panel entitled, “Overcoming Racial Disparities in Health and Mental Health” earlier this summer to discuss health and persistent racial disparities in health and mental health. The event, held on July 20, was hosted by commission chair, Jennifer Jones Austin, and was divided into two, hour-long panels, each made up of three expert panelists. The first panel comprised LaRay Brown, CEO of the Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and president and CEO of One Brooklyn Public Health System, Guillermo Chacon, president of the Latino Commission on AIDS, and Claire Green-Forde Ph.D.,