Update: City Council Candidate, Mino Lora, Has COVID-19, Governor Reduces Signature Requirements

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Mino Lora, candidate for City Council in the 11th District in The Bronx, and previously profiled by the Norwood News, issued a statement on Thursday, Jan. 7, confirming that she has contracted the coronavirus. “I tested positive for COVID-19, and am quarantining with my husband and our two children,” she said. “My symptoms are mild so far.” As reported by Norwood News, on Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set the date for the Special Election for District 11 and District 15 as March 23, and encouraged “all the folks out there in those two districts who want


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Kingsbridge Heights: Police Seek Man Wanted in Connection with Robbery in Transit

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual seen in the attached surveillance photos who is wanted in connection to a robbery that occurred, in transit, in the 52nd precinct / Transit District #11.   It was reported to police that on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at approximately 6.45 p.m., a 26-year-old female victim was on board the northbound “B/D” line at the Kingsbridge Road subway station, when an unidentified man reached into the train while the doors were open and grabbed the victim’s book bag. The victim attempted to pull back


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Abigail Martin & Marcos Sierra Will Not Run in District 11 Special Election, Leave Door Open for June Primary

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Abigail Martin and Marcos Sierra, both candidates in the 11th City Council race, announced on Tuesday, Jan. 5, that they would not be placing their names on the ballot in the upcoming March 23 special election, announced by Mayor de Blasio on Monday, Jan. 4, as reported by Norwood News. Both were and still are aiming to replace former City Councilman Andrew Cohen, who stepped down from the role on Dec. 31, to take up a judgeship on the Supreme Court based in the Bronx. Martin and Sierra were two of a number of candidates who recently called for the 450-minimum


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Claremont: Search for Missing 16-Year-Old Girl

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Ashly Mare-Vargas, 16, of 1353 Sheridan Avenue, in the Claremont section of the Bronx, who was reported missing in the 44th precinct.   Ashly was last seen at her home on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at around 11 p.m. She is described as female, approximately 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has brown eyes, black hair and was last seen wearing dark colored clothing.   Anyone with information with regard to this individual is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)


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Morrisania: Search for Missing 55-Year-Old Man

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of Orlando Brown, 55, of 1139 Clay Avenue, Apt. #6, in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, who was reported missing on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 in the 44th precinct.   Brown was last seen at his home at 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Brown is 6 feet tall, weighs 180 pounds, is bald and has brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket, black sneakers and a black baseball cap.   Anyone with information in regard to


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Mayor Sets March 23 Special Election Date for 11th & 15th City Council Races

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Monday, Jan. 4, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set March 23 as the Special Election date for the 11th and 15th City Council races in the Bronx. Announcing the date, the mayor did not comment in the press release on recent calls to both the mayor and the governor, as reported by Norwood News, to waive the 450 minimum signatures needed by candidates from residents to get their names on the ballot. Some candidates have said such a waiver would reduce mass person-to-person contact during a time of rising COVID-19 cases across the city.   “I am


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First Stop & Shop Pick-up Location Opens in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Stop & Shop, the neighborhood grocery store chain, announced the opening, on Dec. 31, of its first pick-up location in the Bronx, located at 1720 Eastchester Road, in Morris Park. The store said shoppers can now place their orders online at www.stopandshop.com, or via the Stop & Shop mobile app, select “pick-up” at their preferred store, head to the store at the pick-up time, park at the designated pick-up spot, and let the store’s team know once they have arrived. A Stop & Shop associate will load the purchased groceries into the customer’s car, minimizing both delays and physical contact


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UFT Calls for Fully Remote Learning at all NYC Public Schools Amid Rising COVID Cases

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Citing a 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate that surpasses 9 percent in New York City, the solidarity caucus of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is calling for the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to follow through on the Governor’s guidance and transition to fully remote learning for all NYC public schools.   The UFT wrote in a press release dated Jan. 3 that both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio recently suggested ditching the 9 percent threshold, a move the union finds alarming. “Governor Andrew Cuomo remarked that data shows schools are ‘almost without exception’


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