UPDATE BronxNet, Lehman College Pay Tribute to Beloved Colleague, Marisa M. White

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Norwood News team is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Marisa White, a longtime stalwart of the BronxNet family and Lehman College professor, who died on Wednesday, July 21. Michael Max Knobbe, executive director of BronxNet Television, said it was with heartfelt sympathy and deep sadness that he was informing us that BronxNet had lost a longtime, beloved BronxNet family member. “Our condolences go out to her husband, two daughters and the entire family,” Knobbe wrote. “Marisa served in many different roles at BronxNet since the 1990s, most recently as the director of creative services,”

By SÍLE MOLONEY & MIRIAM QUIÑONES

In gratitude for the sacrifice of the African Ancestors who built what is now Van Cortlandt Park, the African Burial Ground located within the park, was consecrated during a special, live-streamed Juneteenth ceremony on June 19. Cultural consultant, Peggy King Jorde, hosted the proceedings. According to newjersey.com, King Jorde has been involved in memorializing and preserving African burial grounds for nearly 30 years, after what started as a one-time project on a Manhattan site during her time working in the design and construction office of former New York City mayor, the late David Dinkins. That work grew into

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Family members of the late Muriel “Mickey” Axelbank are making sure students at Marble Hill Nursery School, where the late community leader spent decades as an educator, an assistant director and director, continue to enrich themselves with a well-stocked library. Sons, Jeffrey and Gary Axelbank, the latter a longtime BronxNet TV host, presented a check for $1,800 to the school on June 9, on behalf of the family. School director, David Bleecker-Adams, expressed his gratitude for the donation from Mickey’s three sons. [Arthur Axelbank was unable to attend the presentation]. “It’s a very pleasurable duty to thank you

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Dear Readers, In 2020, in acknowledgement of the diverse composition of the local communities the Norwood News serves, we updated our website, www.norwoodnews.org, to allow users to read our site in Spanish, Bengali, Arabic, Chinese and French, using a Google Translate function. Readers can translate the site from English into each of these languages by selecting the relevant language from the drop-down menu located in the top, right-hand corner of the home page. As a nonprofit news organization, with limited resources, we decided to include this translation function on our site to help you, our community of readers, access local

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Friends and family members of the late Yadira Arroyo were joined by community members and elected officials to officially rename Blackrock Playground, in Unionport, in honor of the FDNY Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on Thursday, May 27. Arroyo, a 14-year FDNY Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), was a dedicated leader and public servant who gave her life for the community. She was tragically killed in the line of duty on March 16, 2017, one block from Blackrock Playground. NYC Parks First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh joined FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, State Assembly Member Karines Reyes, and Community Board 9

By DAVID GREENE

Family and friends paid their final respects to the Hon. Aurelia Greene, the former New York State assemblywoman and Bronx deputy borough president, who died on Saturday, May 8, as reported by Norwood News. The former deputy borough president lay-in-state in the Rotunda of the Bronx County Courthouse from Monday, May 17 until Wednesday, May 19. A service was held on Thursday, May 19, at the Bronx Christian Charismatic Prayer Fellowship at 1069 Morris Avenue, the same church where her husband, the late Dr. Jerome Greene, had been pastor. A homegoing service was then held on Thursday, May

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Funeral arrangements for the Hon. Aurelia Greene, former Bronx deputy borough president, were announced on Tuesday, May 11. Greene died on Saturday, May 8 at the age of 86. The former Bronx deputy borough president and former assembly member will lie-in-state in the Rotunda of the Bronx County Courthouse, at 851 Grand Concourse, NY 10451, for public viewing on Monday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A viewing and wake will be held on Tuesday, May 18, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday, May 19, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. issued a statement following the death of former Deputy Borough President Aurelia Greene on Saturday, May 8. It can be read in full below. “It is with deep remorse and heavy hearts that we reflect on the passing of former Deputy Borough President, and Bronx matriarch, Aurelia Greene. Yesterday, I ordered flags to fly at half-staff at Bronx Borough Hall as a mark of respect for former Deputy Bronx Borough President and New York State Assembly Member Aurelia Greene. Today, in a historic gesture, flags will fly at half-staff on all city

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Elected officials from the Bronx and beyond are paying tribute to former Deputy Bronx Borough President Aurelia Greene, who died on Saturday, May 8. She was 86. Attorney General Letitia James said she was saddened to learn of Greene’s passing. “For decades, Assemblymember Greene dedicated her life to serving the Bronx, New York City, and our state, where she fought to lift New Yorkers up and reverse so many of the inequalities in our system. She was a trailblazer who will be sorely missed,” she said. “I offer my deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.” Assemblywoman