Food Insecurity

As Worshippers Return for Holy Week Services, One Lector Discusses Addiction Concerns & Mental Health

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
  Worshippers once again returned in person for the annual Passion of the Christ Reenactment in Bedford Park with several hundred parishioners and passersby seen watching members of Our Lady of Refuge congregation reenacting the Good Friday procession and  crucifixion.   The event was held outside Our Lady of Refuge church, located at 290 East 196th Street on Friday, April 7, as the street was shut down between Bainbridge Avenue and Briggs Avenue. The annual Bedford Park event is believed to have started in the 1980s and the current pastor of Our Lady of Refuge church, Father Patrick D’Arcy, said


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Elections 2023: Irene Estrada Lays Out her Case for her City Council Run in District 13

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Former Democratic female district leader for the 80th assembly district and Democratic candidate for city council in District 13, Irene Estrada, briefly broke down why she is running for the seat against incumbent, City Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez when we spoke to her at the 25th Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 12.   Estrada, whose two daughters serve with the NYPD, and who is on the clergy council of the 49th Precinct, said, “Our streets are a mess with crime.” She added, “We also need to bring back the school safety task force. They took it away after COVID.


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Bedford Park Resident Honored at Bridgefield Civic League Women’s History Month Celebration

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest edition.   Bedford Park resident and community volunteer, Miriam Quiñones, was one of five impressive women honored during a Women’s History Month celebration organized by Bridgefield Civic League in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx on Saturday, March 18. During the event, Quiñones, who is also a freelance photographer with Norwood News, along with each of the other four honorees, was presented with a plaque by president of Bridgefield Civic League, Debra Garland, as well as proclamations from both the City Council, presented by District


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Montefiore Einstein Announces $100 Million Contribution to Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Montefiore Einstein announced on Thursday, March 2, that an anonymous donor is making a $100 million contribution to Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Representatives from Montefiore-Einstein say the gift, one of the largest in Einstein’s history, will support biomedical research that includes basic, clinical, and translational research programs serving the nation and the world. They added that it will also provide direct financial support to students, ensuring greater access to what was described as “the vibrant and innovative learning environment that Einstein provides.”   Reacting to the news, Philip Ozuah, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, the


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Norwood’s P.S. / M.S. 20 Hydroponic Farm Program Expands to 20 Schools

By DAVID GREENE
Members of NY Sun Works, a non-profit that builds innovative science labs in urban schools, through its Greenhouse Project Initiative to educate students and teachers about the science of sustainability, joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson at Norwood’s P.S. / M.S. 20‘s hydroponic farm on Wednesday, Jan. 25, to announce the expansion of hydroponics farm technology to 20 local schools.   According to verticalroots.com, put simply, hydroponics is a way to skip the soil, sub in a different material to support the roots of the plant, and grow crops directly in nutrient-rich water.   The $2.5 million boroughwide project would


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UPDATE University Heights: Man, 44, Arrested on Murder Charges after Fatal Stabbing

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Police have arrested a 44-year-old man in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 28-year-old man in University Heights.   Police said the incident occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at around 5.04 a.m. Police responded to a call regarding an assault which took place at the corner of 183rd Street and University Avenue.   “Upon arrival, officers observed a 28-year-old male, unconscious and unresponsive with a stab wound to the torso,” a police spokesperson said. “EMS responded to the scene and transported the male to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. No arrests have been made and the


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Annual Tradition Continues as Volunteers Feed Thousands for Thanksgiving in Fordham Manor & Bedford Park

By DAVID GREENE
Dozens of volunteers donated, cooked, and prepared thousands of meals for residents in Fordham Manor, Bedford Park, and other neighborhoods across The Bronx, as residents were treated to traditional Thanksgiving dinners either in person or to go on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24.   Parishioners at Fordham United Methodist Church, located on Marion Avenue in Fordham Manor, were still only providing meals “to go” as COVID-19 protocols would continue for a third year. As a crowd began to form outside the church, church member, Coral Robinson, led volunteers in prayer, giving blessings to the volunteers, the people lining up outside,


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Espaillat, Ocasio-Cortez Lead Efforts in D.C. to Provide Shelter for the Unhoused & Asylum Seekers

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Congress members, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), have introduced what has been described as critical new legislation to protect housing insecure migrants and individuals. H.R.9210 aims to waive certain requirements for Community Development Block Grant amounts, used for public service activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to homelessness and emergency rental assistance needs.   In the context of the bill’s introduction, the representatives said, “Our bill will eliminate the 15 percent cap on housing public services, as stipulated in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and extend CDBG emergency grant payments from three to


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