New Bus Lanes & Transit Signal Priority Along 149th Street Corridor

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) announced on Friday, Oct. 9 the completion of bus priority lanes and related infrastructure on 149th Street in the Bronx. The 2.7 miles of bus lanes along the highly-trafficked 149th Street corridor are now equipped with transit signal priority (TSP) technology. In addition, new enforcement cameras will also help ensure that only buses and other essential vehicles utilize priority sections of the roadway. The corridor is home to four popular bus routes (Bx2, Bx4, Bx17, and Bx19) and runs through some of the busiest destinations in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced a new partnership with Arva Rice, president and CEO of the New York Urban League; Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and executive director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies; and Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood, “to engage communities and people who live, work and serve throughout the city in the department’s ongoing effort to ensure public safety that is fair, responsive to, and considerate of all New Yorkers.” In partnership with the mayor’s office, the NYPD announced a department-wide undertaking to transform New York City policing to be safer

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, NYC Health + Hospitals reminded New Yorkers to schedule screening mammograms and other breast cancer screenings as the system observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Health experts urge New Yorkers not to delay critical health screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which could lead to a later diagnosis of serious diseases, such as cancer. To ensure everyone’s safety and reduce any potential exposure or transmission of COVID-19, NYC Health + Hospitals has re-engineered patient care spaces, including ambulatory care clinics and radiology suites throughout the health system; while also implementing enhanced cleaning protocols according to the

By NORA THOMAS & SÍLE MOLONEY

Norwood News, in partnership with WFUV radio and BronxNet Television, presents a five-part series on national issues affecting voters in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, seen through the local lens of Bronx neighborhood communities. Part 2 looks at crime and criminal justice. New York State and City officials have drawn a lot of criticism from President Donald Trump this election cycle. In a Sept. 2 memo to the Department of Justice, drafted to review federal funding for certain state and local governments, Trump said New York City officials were “permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction,” in

By DAVID GREENE

About twenty-five demonstrators, protesting a Christopher Columbus statue in Belmont, were met by fifty angry counter-demonstrators, one openly carrying a baseball bat and another an axe handle, as fifty police officers barely kept the groups separated during several, violent confrontations in the Bronx last month. It was literally “high noon” on Saturday, Sept. 19, outside the D’Auria-Murphy Triangle park, located at the intersection of Crescent Avenue and Arthur Avenue in Belmont, when a planned rally and “teach in” were scheduled to be held in the park next to the statue of Christopher Columbus. Upon arrival at the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A coalition of community groups and local leaders are holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mott Haven Community Refrigerator official launch on Monday, October 12, 2020 at 12 p.m. in Mott Haven at the intersection of 141st Street and Saint Ann’s Avenue in The Bronx. The Bronx Community Foundation, State Assembly candidate, Amanda Septimo, (D/WFP-84), and leaders from The American Dream Charter School, have joined forces to establish the first community refrigerator in Mott Haven. Co-organizers Daniel Zauderer and Charlotte Alvarez, both sixth-grade teachers at the American Dream School, say the community refrigerator is a freestanding outdoor refrigerator

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York Lottery announced on Oct. 10 that there were multiple top-prize winning tickets sold for the Oct 9 TAKE-5 drawing. The tickets were sold in The Bronx, and in Hudson at the following locations: IRIS & ANGUS LIQUOR STORE INC located at 160 W 231ST ST in BRONX, which sold 1 prize winning ticket worth $33,655.00 SMOKER’S CHOICE #16 located at 160 FAIRVIEW PLAZA in HUDSON, which sold 1 prize winning ticket worth $33,655.00 Take 5 numbers are drawn from a field of one through 39. Drawings take place every evening at 11:21 p.m. Winning tickets

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Maame Pokuaah, 47, who was reported missing on Saturday, October 10, 2020 within the confines of the 44th precinct. Pokuaah resides at 1040 Anderson Avenue in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. It was reported to the police that Pokuaah was last seen on Monday, October 5, 2020 at around noon at her residence. She is described as a female, Black, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a medium build, medium complexion, brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Mustafa Cisse, 29, reported missing on Saturday, October 10, 2020, within the confines of the 43rd Precinct. Cisse resides at 2044 Benedict Avenue in the Parkchester section of the The Bronx. It was reported to police that Cisse was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 at approximately 2 p.m. leaving his residence. He is described as a male, Black, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds, with a medium build, dark complexion, brown eyes, bald head and a large black beard. He was last seen