Cops Join Puzzle Life & Students & Teachers from P.S. 168 to Walk for Autism Acceptance

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A group of around 200 people, including many kids, joined together for a walk in Norwood to promote autism acceptance, unity, and inclusion on Friday, June 16. The event was organized by the group Puzzle Life in conjunction with Norwood’s P.S. 168 and the 52nd Precinct. Kyle McClean and his wife, Liza, who live in Soundview, launched Puzzle Life, a group which aims to promote acceptance of people living with autism. Kyle told Norwood News, “Well, my wife and I, we have a beautiful princess on the spectrum and it’s the third year in a row we wanted to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Joy Syeeda Lafontaine and Police Officer Stephen Echevarria were each presented with awards for their service to the community during the final meeting, before the summer break, of Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA) on June 7, the same day the air quality in New York City was badly affected by Canadian wildfires. Lafontaine, secretary of BMCA, was awarded the Mary Vallati Memorial Award in recognition of her exceptional volunteer service over the year, while Echevarria, community affairs officer at the 52nd Precinct, was awarded the Jack Kelly Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the community.

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES

A Juneteenth celebration hosted by the social justice committee of Bronx Community Charter School in Norwood was held at the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood on Monday, June 19. The school, located at 3170 Webster Avenue in Norwood, first launched what they intend to be an annual celebration last year, as reported. Held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event included musical performances, reading, arts and crafts, and reflections on the meaning of the holiday. One little girl seated on a beanbag was seen lost in a book during the event. Other children were assisted

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Annual 152nd Street Cultural Festival was held on Saturday, May 27, under glorious sunshine in the South Bronx and drew a host of City and borough elected officials along with around one thousand festival goers to celebrate the occasion. The festival is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates Puerto Rican culture and heritage, held on 152nd Street between Jackson and Tinton Avenues, with food, music, games, live entertainment and lots of Boricua pride! Soundboy Ariel Cartagena, a Latin Hip Hop artist, had everyone on their feet during his lively performance. The festival is

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The condition of a seemingly injured person seen lying on East Gun Hill Road in Norwood in a video filmed by a bystander on Thursday afternoon, June 29, is currently unknown. A video posted to the Citizens’ App on Thursday, June 29, at around 1.30 p.m. shows a person lying on Gun Hill Road by the intersection with DeKalb Avenue, surrounded by bystanders, some using walking canes. According to unverified reports by users of the Citizens’ App, the person was hit by a car at 47 E Gun Hill Road around 1 p.m. Users of the app

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 74-year-old female pedestrian is in critical condition after being hit by a car in Bedford Park on Thursday, police said. Police said the accident took place at 9.31 a.m. at Bainbridge Avenue and East Mosholu Parkway South. Police said a 46-year-old man was driving a Honda CRV westbound on Bainbridge when it was struck by a 2006 Toyota Corolla traveling southbound on East Mosholu Parkway South. “Subsequently, the Honda struck a 74-year-old pedestrian [who] was crossing at that intersection,” a police spokeswoman said, adding that the pedestrian sustained severe trauma to the body and was transported to

By DAVID GREENE

Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) members joined residents for the annual “flagging of the graves” event on Wednesday, May 24, ahead of Memorial Day weekend, Volunteers at Woodlawn Cemetery on Webster Avenue on the Norwood-Woodlawn border also participated by locating the gravesites of U.S. veterans and placing an American flag at each grave. As CB7 members arrived, with invited guests, Bonnie Morales, army veteran and support coordinator at NY Outreach Services, and Ronald Downs, suicide prevention community engagement & partnerships coordinator for the local VA hospital in Fordham Manor, they were greeted by Meg Ventrudo, executive director of Woodlawn Conservancy.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD said two people have been arrested following a robbery and assault which took place in April 2023 in Kingsbridge Heights. Police had previously appealed to the public for help identifying the people seen in the attached photos who department officials said were sought for questioning in connection with the incident. Police said that on Tuesday, April 11, at around 8.30 p.m., in front of 235 West Kingsbridge Road, a 64-year-old man was sitting in a wheelchair when two people approached him and demanded money. “The victim refused, and the individuals proceeded to punch the victim in

By LIANA SMALE

Next time you walk through one of New York City’s 1,700 public parks, take a closer look at the names on the signs advertising park events, or at the shirts worn by people picking up trash. Do they say “NYC Parks” or the name of a private group? While NYC Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) performs many general park maintenance tasks, oftentimes private groups ensure that parks are clean, safe, and fun spaces. According to New Yorkers for Parks, the City already spends less on its parks than other major U.S. cities, and this June, according to New

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Cops Join Puzzle Life & Students & Teachers from P.S. 168 to Walk for Autism Acceptance

Community Awards Presented at Last BMCA Meeting before Summer Amid Noise & Package Theft Concerns

Local School Hosts 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration in the Williamsbridge Oval Park

Smiles All Around at National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Annual 152nd Street Cultural Festival

Norwood: Pedestrian Apparently Injured in Apparent Hit & Run on Gun Hill Road

Bedford Park: 74-Year-Old Female Pedestrian in Critical Condition following Two-Vehicle Collision

Bronx Community Board 7 Members Attend Flagging Event at Woodlawn Cemetery

Kingsbridge Heights: Two Arrested for Robbery following Assault & Robbery in April

Op-Ed: Manhattan May Not Notice Parks’ Budget Cut, Other Boroughs Will