FIres & Accidents

Daycare Operator Grei Mendez Gets 45 Years for her Part in Fentanyl-Related Death of Nicholas Dominici

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Grei Mendez, 37, the operator of El Divino Niño Daycare Center in Kingsbridge Heights where one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici died on Sept. 15, 2023 from fentanyl poisoning, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl out of the daycare center. The undercover drug operation resulted in the unintentional death of Nicholas, and the poisoning of three other infants who survived being unintentionally poisoned. As reported, Mendez had pleaded guilty in Oct. 29, 2024 in relation to her part in the operation before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed sentence.  

UPDATE Norwood: Dr. Michelle Soto is New MD of Ambulatory Care at North Central Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx CEO Christopher Mastromano announced Feb. 24 that Michelle Soto, MD, MBA, FASAM, has been appointed medical director of ambulatory care at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB). Dr. Soto will oversee NCB’s many outpatient clinics in this role, including its pediatric, women’s health, primary care, and the medical and surgical specialties.

UPDATE: No Injuries Reported after DeKalb Ave Fire but 93-Year-Old Widow Awaits Gas Restoration

By SÍLE MOLONEY
There were no reported injuries after an early morning, basement fire broke out in a six-story, residential building in Norwood in the early hours of Sunday, Feb. 16, but the fire caused damage to at least two apartments and shocked its residents who were woken up and evacuated amid cold, continuous rain and sleet. The fire alarm in the apartmnt of one 93-year-old widow resident reportedly did not go off and she is still without gas. 

UPDATE Norwood Six Injures Five at 3514 Rochambeau Ave, No Injuries at Separate Olinville Fire

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Six people are injured following a residential fire at 3514 Rochambeau Avenue by Bainbridge Avenue and East Gun Hill Road in Norwood on Friday afternoon, Feb. 14. An FDNY spokesperson said three were serious but non life-threatening and three were minor (including one firefighter). Most injuries were due to smoke inhalation. The fire is currently under control, according to the FDNY. Some videos of it can be seen here, here, here, here, and here, courtesy of local resident, Vincent.