Environment

UPDATE Starbucks To Open at Former “Twin Donut Plus” Site in Norwood

By DAVID GREENE
Coffee lovers, get ready! Workers are putting the finishing touches to the remodeling of the once popular, “Twin Donut Plus,” in preparation for the grand opening of a new Starbucks branch in Norwood.   The former coffee and donut outlet, located at 3396 Jerome Avenue and East 208th Street, which was part of the Twin Donut franchise founded in Boston in 1959, closed in July 2018, as previously reported by Norwood News. The site has remained vacant ever since.   According to a filed “RPTT and RETT” document with the Office of the City Register, the property appears to have


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Bronx CB7 Approves Plan for Frisch Field Revitalization

By DAWN CLANCY
Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) Parks’ committee ushered in their first post-summer hiatus meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 8, with a vote approving the proposed renovations and upgrades to Bedford Park’s Frisch Field.   The $5 million project, designed by the City’s Parks’ department, will include the addition of a tee-ball diamond, an enclosed bullpen, an adult exercise station, new water stations with bottle fillers, benches, storage units, as well as upgrades to the field’s existing Little League diamond and the adjacent dugouts.   However, the bulk of the funds will be spent underground, on timely repairs in the wake of


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Flash Flooding & Storm Alert Prompts Travel Advisory for Thursday, Sept. 23, Through Friday, Sept. 4

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Emergency Management (EMS) has issued a travel advisory for Thursday, Sept. 23, through Friday, Sept. 24. According to the National Weather Service, rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast citywide beginning Thursday afternoon through Friday. Light rain on Thursday morning will become steadier after 2 p.m. with a chance for scattered thunderstorms.   Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Maximum rainfall rates are forecasted to potentially reach 1 inch per hour. The greatest chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms is from 6 p.m. Thursday through 2 a.m. Friday. There is also a potential


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DOE Responds to NYC School Safety Coalition Comments following Bronx School Slashing

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The NYC Department of Education (DOE) has responded to remarks made by a representative of the NYC Schools Safety Coalition, Mona Davids, in the wake of a face slashing which took place at Bronx Collaborative High School on Wednesday. Sept. 15, after a dispute broke out between two students.   As reported, an unidentified, 15-year-old student was slashed in the face with an unknown object on the school premises at DeWitt school campus, located in Jerome Park, while another student fled to parts unknown. EMS transported the victim to Montefiore Hospital in stable condition. Police confirmed on Tuesday, Sept.


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UPDATE: Slashing at Bronx Collaborative High School Leaves One Student Hospitalized

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE
  A student from Bronx Collaborative High School was hospitalized following a slashing incident which took place at the school on Wednesday. Sept. 15, after a dispute broke out between two students. Police later confirmed on Tuesday, Sept. 21, that a 15-year-old male was arrested on Sept. 20 in relation to the incident and has been charged with assault.   In response to an inquiry sent to the NYPD on Sunday, Sept. 19, police confirmed that at approximately 1 p.m. on Sept. 15, police responded to a 911 call regarding an assault inside 100 West Mosholu Parkway South in Jerome


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Espaillat leads Effort to Eliminate Barriers to Federal Disaster Relief in Wake of Hurricane Ida

By SÍLE MOLONEY
    Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), who represents parts of the Northwest Bronx and Northern Manhattan, and Grace Meng (NY-6) who represents parts of Queens, announced that they are leading an effort to eliminate barriers to federal disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Ida.   Espaillat and Meng took the lead in writing a letter, calling on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Chairman Peter DeFazio, who chairs the congressional committee on transportation and infrastructure, to include Espaillat’s bill, H.R. 3037 – the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021 in upcoming emergency disaster supplemental funding.   Espaillat said


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NYS Extends Deadline for Certain Businesses & Personal Tax Filers Affected by Recent Flooding

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced an extension on Thursday, Sept. 16, for certain tax filing and payment deadlines for taxpayers who were adversely affected by the flooding during the week of September 2, 2021. Tax filing and payment deadlines occurring between Sept. 15, 2021 and Oct. 2, 2021 have been extended to Dec. 14, 2021 for: filing any returns, including those for personal income tax, corporate taxes, sales tax and any other taxes administered by the Tax Department; paying any tax or installment of tax, including installment payments of estimated taxes; filing any requests for


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In the Wake of Storm Ida, FEMA Warns Flood Victims to Beware of Fraud & Scams

By SÍLE MOLONEY  
Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have warned that after a disaster, scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals often attempt to take advantage of disaster survivors. Federal and state emergency management officials are urging New York residents to watch for and report any suspicious activity.   When a disaster strikes, unscrupulous people may try to take advantage of survivors by posing as official disaster-aid workers or even as relatives trying to help survivors complete their applications, officials warned.   They said common post-disaster fraud practices include the following: Fake Offers of State or Federal Aid Federal and


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FEMA & State Officials Issue Tips on How to Speed Up Disaster Assistance

By SÍLE MOLONEY  
State officials, as well as those from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who are helping New Yorkers recover from the remnants of Hurricane Ida have shared some tips on how to speed up receipt of disaster aid, as follows: Registering online is the fastest way to access FEMA assistance. Download the FEMA app or visit disasterassistance.gov. Not only can you register here, you can check the status of your claim, upload requested documents, and access FEMA downloadable pamphlets and other aids. You can also register by telephone calling 800-621-3362. Individuals who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use


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