The Twin Parks Tragedy: What’s Next?

By MONICA RICHARDSON & SÍLE MOLONEY

It has been almost three weeks since the deadly Twin Parks fire tragedy occurred in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx, tragically taking the lives of 17 people, including 8 children, mostly of Gambian descent. Since then, Bronxites have mobilized to mourn and honor the victims, support the survivors, all while facing more tragedy in the form of gun violence across the borough. The NYPD confirmed 63 people were injured in the Twin Parks North West blaze, which, according to a report by The New York Times, was the deadliest since the Bronx’s Happy Land Social Club tragedy, which resulted

By SÍLE MOLONEY & MIRIAM QUIÑONES

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, in conjunction with Bridgefield Civic League Inc., hosted a Christmas Celebration at the league’s center at 3551 Laconia Avenue in Williamsbridge on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. The event featured a toy giveaway, food & drinks, games, story time and general entertainment for the local community. It was supported by NYC Health & Hospitals Test & Trace Corps, Metro Plus Health Plan, Gloria Bent, registered dietician and nutritionist, and author, Harlem Holiday, among other volunteers. Speaking to Norwood News at the event, Bent said, “The holiday season is a season for giving,

By SÍLE MOLONEY & MIRIAM QUIÑONES

The folks at Transportation Alternatives Bronx Activist Committee, headed up by Kevin Daloia, held their annual, novel, festive bike ride around the borough on Thursday, Dec. 16, in the lead up to the year-end holidays, all in an effort to spread some much-needed holiday cheer and spirit, amid the then-latest wave of coronavirus infections caused by the omicron variant. Volunteers saddled up, dressed in festive outfits and took a late bike ride around some of the various tree-lighting displays in Belmont and Morris Park, before finishing up at Metropolitan Circle in Parkchester. The event kicked off at Poe Park, at

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Assembly Member Nathalia Fernández (A.D. 80) and her team held one of several toy giveaways which were organized by various elected officials, local community groups and police precincts, in the lead up to the holidays. The event which was held on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, was for children in the local Norwood and Bedford Park areas, and included special guest, Santa Clause. The event was held outside Lexa Express, located at 347 East 204th Street in Norwood, and the assemblywoman said she and her team of volunteers rushed to start the giveaway early, such was the line of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced on Monday, Jan. 24, that former Salesian High School teacher, Mariela Barajas, was arraigned for allegedly disseminating indecent material to a 15-year-old. Barajas, 22, of Mount Vernon, was charged on Jan. 24, in Mount Vernon City Court with disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree, a felony. The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office made the arrest following an investigation, with assistance from the Mount Vernon Police Department and New Rochelle Police Department. While employed at the New Rochelle school, in December 2021 and January 2022, Barajas allegedly engaged

By DAVID GREENE

Bronxites are angry, and beyond exhausted. Yet, they continue to persevere and show up for one another. Attached are some of the scenes from Friday evening’s prayer vigil, held at the corner of Valentine Avenue and East 198th Street in Bedford Park, the exact location where, as reported, an 11-month-old infant named Catherine was the unintended victim of a shooting to her cheek, while she was with her mother inside a parked vehicle on Wednesday evening, Jan. 19. The vigil, organized by Pastor Jay Gooding and Brenda Caldwell-Paris, president of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, was attended by, among other

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Video courtesy of the New York Education Department and Office of General Services The New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Office of General Services (OGS) announced on Friday, Jan. 14, a record-breaking number of students have participated in the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fine Arts and Essay Exhibition, with one Bedford Park public school singled out for its creative project. Department officials said Dr. King’s commitment to nonviolent advocacy served as the inspiration for 2,700 students from more than 90 public and private schools across the State to submit their creations. Overall, the submissions mark the

By SÍLE MOLONEY &. DAVID GREENE

Norwood News has received eye witness reports that around 3 people required medical assistance, possibly due to frostbite or heat or stress-related illness, during the funeral and prayer service held on Sunday morning, Jan. 16, for the 17 victims, including 8 children, of last Sunday’s tragic fire in Fordham Heights, as reported. Eye-witnesses told Norwood News during the service, which began at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning, at the Islamic Cultural Center, located at 371 East 166th Street in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, that around 3 people attended to by EMTs and reportedly treated in an ambulance,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy is calling all young people aged 18 to 24 who are looking for a meaningful career in construction, historical preservation, and skilled trades and who would love to work with their hands to apply by Jan. 28, to be paid interns and receive specialized hands-on training in masonry and restoration. Each spring, the Woodlawn Bridges to Crafts Careers Preservation Training Program selects 20 interns to receive specialized hands-on training in masonry and restoration under the guidance of a resident craftsman. The program includes a 10-week, paid, career training and job placement workforce development program which

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

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Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Holds Christmas Celebration in Williamsbridge

Transportation Alternatives Bronx Activist Committee Holds Christmas Bike Event

Norwood: Assembly Member Natalia Fernández Holds Toy Giveaway

UPDATE New Rochelle High School Teacher Arraigned for Distributing Indecent Material to 15-Year-Old

Bedford Park: Vigil for Baby Catherine on First Birthday Marks End of Another Week of Tragedy

Bedford Park School Project Among Highlights of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fine Arts & Essay Exhibition

UPDATE Medical Incident Reported During Prayer Service of 17 Bronx Fire Victims

Applications Open for Woodlawn Cemetery Bridge to Craft Careers Preservation Training Program