Manhattan College Student Honored at Pride Ceremony

By SARA MARTINEZ

As Bronx residents and elected officials gathered at Bronx Borough Hall on Thursday, June 1, for the annual Pride ceremony to mark the beginning of Pride Month, one northwest Bronx student was among those being honored this year. The annual tradition of honoring selected members of the Bronx LGBTQIA+ community was also an occasion to witness the raising of the Pride flag, which will fly alongside the American flag and the veterans’ Prisoner of War (POW) / Missing in Action (MIA) flag throughout Pride Month (June). On the day, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson reiterated New York’s commitment to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Local graffiti removal group, Guerinos against Graffitti* have been thanked by their neighbors following the group’s confirmation that most of the graffiti on 204th Street between Mosholu Parkway and Valentine Avenue in Bedford Park has been recently removed. Sirio Guerino, cofounder of the group, said the work was done in honor of the May 52nd Precinct Community Council Meeting. Local community members were grateful for the group’s efforts. “YAY Serio and the SAG group! On behalf of all long-time, Norwood residents ….THANK YOU!!!!,” said Marilyn Reyes. Meanwhile, Friends of Mosholu Parkland said, “Thank you so much !!!” Guerino

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Longtime, beloved Tracey Towers resident, Sallie Caldwell, an active member of the Norwood and Bedford Park communities, a board member of the Jerome Gun Hill BID, and honorary member of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, has died at the age of 84. The news was confirmed by Caldwell’s daughter, Brenda Caldwell-Paris, president of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, as well as by president of the Tracey Towers Tenants Organization, Jean Hill, on Wednesday morning, June 7. Tributes were already starting to pour in on Wednesday by residents of Norwood, Bedford Park, and from other longtime colleagues upon

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Alexandria Arriaga, daughter of the 49th Precinct Clergy Council chaplain and Democratic State Committee woman and district leader, Sandra Pabon, announced the death of her mother in a social media post on Friday, June 2, writing, “This is Alex. It’s with great sadness to announce to you all that my mother, Sandra Pabon, has passed away.” She added, “Thank you all for your prayers and I will let you all know about her funeral arrangements. Thank you. She loved you all!” Pabon was an active member of the community and was frequently seen at various local meetings and community

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

Police said a 29-year-old man from Pelham Parkway has been arrested on hate crime and other charges for tossing a brick through the window of his neighbor’s building during the Passover holiday on April 7, as reported. Upon investigation, police attributed the attack to the fact that the victim, longtime Matthews Avenue resident Rochelle Shapiro, had displayed an Israeli flag and a pro-Israel sign in the window. The incident was reported at 2.45 p.m. on Friday, April 7, when Shapiro said she was standing in front of the window of her first-floor apartment at 2121 Matthews Avenue. She

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson hosted her administration’s 2nd Annual Greek Heritage Month celebration in Kingsbridge on Friday, March 24, in conjunction with sponsors, Ponce Bank and the Bronx Terminal Market. There was food, cake, musical and dance performances, as well as the presentation of proclamations to a list of honorees. Held at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church, located at 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue, the event was emceed by mistress of ceremonies, Aravella Simotas, a former New York State assemblywoman who represented parts of Queens and alongside whom Gibson had previously served in the State legislature. The invocation

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

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is currently investigating an incident where a slab of concrete was tossed through the living room window of a Pelham Parkway home during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The targeted window had an Israeli flag displayed outside at the time of the incident. Police officials say the incident occurred at 2.45 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at 2121 Matthews Avenue between Lydig Avenue and Pelham Parkway. A police official said, “There is a complaint report on file for criminal mischief within the confines of the 49th Precinct.” The official continued, “The report states

By DAVID GREENE

The NYPD said three mosques in the Northwest Bronx were robbed or broken into in March as millions of Muslims around the world began to observe the holy month of Ramadan. One of the mosques was robbed twice. According to NYPD officials, the latest incident was reported on Monday, March 27, at the Bronx Muslim Center located at 2531 Davidson Avenue in Fordham Manor. On Monday, April 3, a police source told Norwood News, “There were two burglaries at that location.” Regarding the incident on March 27, the official said, “An unknown individual entered the location through

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Manhattan College Student Honored at Pride Ceremony

UPDATE Guerinos Against Graffitti* Share Results of Local Clean-Up of East 204th Street

UPDATE Norwood & Bedford Park Community Mourns Death of Tracey Towers Longtime, Beloved Resident Sallie Caldwell

UPDATE Community Mourns Death of Democratic State Committeewoman Sandra Pabon

Man Arrested for Bronx Brick Attack during Passover as Elected Officials Step Up Efforts to Curb Hate Crimes

Greek Heritage Month Celebrated in Kingsbridge ahead of Greek Independence Day Parade in Manhattan

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

Pelham Parkway: Brick Tossed Through Window during Passover, Israeli Independence Day Marked

Three Mosque Break-Ins Reported in The Bronx During Ramadan