Neighborhood Notes: Free Flu Shots, Resource Fairs, and More

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Free Flu Shots Free flu shots will be available on Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vladeck Hall, 74 Van Cortlandt Pk. So. Participants should bring their insurance card, be at least 18 years of age or older and cannot be allergic to eggs. Residents must contact the office of Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz at (718) 796-5345 to be guaranteed a flu shot. College Fair The 10th annual College Access Fair will be held on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus, 441 E. Fordham Road with representatives from more than

By ARCY SEGURA, MA, CHES, CDE

Diabetes is so common that most people know at least one family member or friend with this chronic illness. There are roughly 30 million Americans with diabetes (about 1 in 10 people). The Bronx has very high rates with approximately one in seven people, or 15 percent of the population, diagnosed with diabetes and many more who have not yet been diagnosed. In order to help your body store and use the sugar and fat from food, your body produces insulin. Diabetes occurs when the body either produces too little insulin or when the body does not respond appropriately to

Fighting the Scourge of Graffiti, One Wall at at Time

By STEPHANIE LUCIANO

A Kingsbridge Heights couple has had enough with the scrawls of graffiti on property walls. For the last two years they found a way to combat it—taking it down themselves. They methodically remove graffiti from the neighborhood on a continuous basis. Sirio and Heather Guerino have a small office at the corner of West 197th Street and University Avenue, Guerinos Against Graffiti (GAG), named after the family efforts to wipe out graffiti, and which has been operating for almost two years. Born and raised in the Bronx, Sirio, 61, has always had a pet peeve against graffiti, which led to

By DIEGO BARCACEL PENA

When Eva Bornstein, executive director of the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, arrived to the Bronx in 2005, her exposure to the Latin community was limited. Back then, she didn’t know the Spanish translation for “thank you” (it’s “gracias”). Gradually, she took into consideration the borough’s diversity, zeroing in on the Bronx’s large Puerto Rican population, which stands at around 300,000. “The only person I knew was Jose Feliciano because he is a cross-over artist,” said Bornstein, referring to the famed Puerto Rican-born salsero. “So I had to learn from my Puerto Rican community who these artists really are.”

Knifepoint Robbery Cops need help tracking a suspect in who robbed a 44-year-old man at knifepoint on Oct. 2 at around 11:44 p.m. Police say the suspect approached the victim in front of a residential building near 190th Street and Creston Avenue in Fordham, flashed a knife and demanded his property. The victim gave the suspect roughly $60 in cash. The suspect fled the scene eastbound on 190th Street. The suspect is described as black and being between 30 to 35 years old. He was last seen wearing glasses, a blue hooded sweater, blue jeans, and black sneakers. He was

Pumpkins, Puppies, and Brew Slated for Oct. 14 JGH-BID Fall Fest

By DAVID CRUZ

Thousands of people are expected to walk up and down Norwood’s largest commercial strip on Oct. 14 as the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District is set to host its annual Fall Festival. That day, the commercial corridor will be cleared of vehicles for visitors to browse through all the offerings available by the BID’s pool of local merchants and street vendors. As most signature BID events go, the Fall Festival aims to draw a crowd in hopes of familiarizing patrons with the commercial district’s many shopping options. The BID, spanning Jerome Avenue between Mosholu Parkway and East Gun Hill

Out & About: Get Ready for the JGHBID Fall Festival

Editor’s Pick JGH-BID Fall Festival The Jerome-Gun Hill BID presents its 16th Annual Fall Festival, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., along Jerome Avenue between Mosholu Parkway and Gun Hill Road. Events include musical performers, hula hoops, jump rope, caricatures, face painting, food, free health screenings and giveaways. No rain date. For more information, call (718) 324-4946. Onstage Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. W., presents the following events: Santo Domingo Tiene Salsa, featuring a number of known performers playing salsa music, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. (tickets are $50 to $75; $125/VIP

By DIEGO BARCACEL PEÑA

The intersection of East 204th Street and Decatur Avenue is finally getting a traffic light, which could ease congestion at the busy crossroad. There is currently a stop sign, but Norwood residents still cross with caution. The crossroad is located near a commercial strip that is home to many businesses including Lexa Bar & Garden, Price Busters, and Leroy Pharmacy. Because of this, there is constant traffic among pedestrians and drivers there. There are four schools in the surrounding areas of the intersection, including PS 20, Headstart Archdiocese of New York, Bedford Park Elementary School, St. Brendan’s School, and PS

By DAVID GREENE

One person, a firefighter and a paramedic suffered minor injuries after a fast-moving house fire destroyed a three-story home on Decatur Avenue. According to fire officials, the fire broke out at 7:30 a.m., on the second-floor of 3080 Decatur Ave. between East 204th Street and Mosholu Parkway North in Norwood. The street comprises three-story homes mixed with residences six stories or more. One resident remembered emergency crews rushing to the scene. “The fire trucks woke me up and I came out side and the fire was coming out the roof,” said the resident, who pulled out his cell phone and showed video of the