Bedford Park Student Honored for Tobacco Awareness Initiative

By SÍLE MOLONEY

When 17-year-old Miranda Blanco, a 12th grade student at the Academy of Mount St. Ursula, in Bedford Park, decided to join a statewide movement which aims to create the first tobacco-free generation, little did she know she would later be honored with the MARO Reality Check Youth Ambassador of the Year Award (YAYA) for 2021. Applications for the statewide award were open to students aged 13 to 18 who were part of the Reality Check program, with the awards ceremony taking place annually. According to its website, “Reality Check is a youth-led movement in New York State that

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual seen in the attached video who is sought in connection with an assault that occurred in Norwood, located in the 52nd precinct. It was reported to police that on Monday, Oct. 4, at approximately 4.06 p.m., in front of 3511 Dekalb Avenue in Norwood, the individual shot the 21-year-old man once in the torso and fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim was removed to an area hospital in stable condition. Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is located at 3450 Dekalb Avenue, close to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The groundbreaking for a new, green playground at P.S. 306/M.S. 331 in the Tremont section of the Bronx took place on Tuesday, Oct. 5. New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), The Trust for Public Land, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, and Fordham University president, Joseph M. McShane, S.J., joined a diverse student body, teachers, and families for the occasion. The state-of-the-art schoolyard, which will be open to the community during non-school hours, will serve more than 42,000 residents within a 10-minute walk of home. Newly designed green infrastructure will capture two

FEMA Warns Residents to Be Wary of Fraud and Scam Artists

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a warning to New Yorkers, once again in recent days, to be wary of fraud and scam artists. Agency officials said, after a disaster, scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals often attempt to take advantage of disaster survivors. Federal and state emergency management officials urge residents to watch out for and report any suspicious activity. Officials said unscrupulous people may try to take advantage of vulnerable survivors by posing as official disaster aid workers or even as relatives trying to help survivors complete their applications. Common post-disaster fraud practices

NYC Department of Transportation Notice of Public Hearing on Permanent Car Share Rules

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a notice regarding an upcoming public hearing and opportunity to comment regarding some proposed permanent car share rules, pursuant to Section 1043(b) of the New York City Charter. The notice will being published in the City Record on Wednesday, Oct 6, and the public hearing will be held virtually on Monday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. What DOT is proposing? The New York City Department of Transportation (“DOT”) is proposing an amendment to DOT’s Traffic Rules in relation to the implementation of a permanent carshare parking program. When and where

NYC Department of Sanitation Notice of Public Hearing on Petitions for Rule Making

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Department of Sanitation will be holding a public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 at 10 a.m. on proposed new rules on petitions for rule making. In accordance with the Citywide Administrative Procedure Act (“CAPA”), amendments to CAPA require that every City agency publishing a proposed rule, or an emergency rule, in the City Record, transmit that rule by e-mail to the following: the speaker of the City Council; the Office of Legislative Documents of the City Council; each member of the City Council; every community board; the news media and civic organizations. What is DSNY proposing? DSNY is proposing

By DAVID GREENE

Police are looking for an unidentified man who pulled a knife on a 32-year-old female store employee, after the man was caught attempting to steal items from a store in Fordham Manor. The incident took place on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 25, inside a store at 133 East Fordham Road. The victim told officers that the suspect entered the store and removed items from a shelf. When she confronted him, he pulled out the knife and then left the store. NYPD Detective Annette Shelton said the victim was not injured, and the NYPD is continuing its search for

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York Public Library (NYPL) system, which covers 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, will no longer charge late fines on books and other circulating materials, eliminating barriers to reading and ensuring all New Yorkers, especially those in low-income neighborhoods, have free and open access to knowledge and opportunity, an NYPL representative announced on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Bobby Sherwood, publicist for NYPL, told the Norwood News, in response to our recent inquiry, “All prior late fees from patron accounts have been cleared, allowing New Yorkers a clean slate.” He added, “Combined [with Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)

By DAVID GREENE

The FDNY responded to a fire inside a 5-story building on Briggs Avenue in Bedford Park. Fire officials said the fire broke out on the top floor at 2821 Briggs Avenue, at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. The fire was brought under control at 12:15 p.m. and there were no reported injuries. Norwood News received an unofficial report of a fire truck crash at the corner of East Fordham Road and Washington Avenue in Belmont, at 12:35 p.m. on the same day. FDNY declined to respond to a pair of requests about the apparent FDNY crash or whether the