Photo by David Greene
It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than three months since the first person was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States on Jan. 20, 2020, or that it’s been less than a month since New York was declared a federal disaster area.
Officials reported on Apr. 10, that the daily death toll resulting from the coronavirus in New York State fell for the first time, indicating a possible sign of the long-awaited “flattening of the curve” officials had been expecting. In that one 24-hour period, 777 deaths were reported, down from the previous day’s high of 799.
Yet, life in the City’s five boroughs, and beyond, is still surreal without the glitz of Broadway, baseball ‘opening day’ or the Kentucky Derby. But honestly, it is a great time to drive, particularly because of ‘social-distancing’ between cars. An estimated 70 to 80 percent of normal traffic has disappeared from Bronx roads, and the price of a gallon of gas now stands at under $2.50 a gallon. Parking spots are also plentiful. There’s just one problem; there are few places to go.
Photo by David Greene
When it comes to social distancing between people, Parkchester residents who visited the Keyfood store on Metropolitan Avenue on Apr. 2, should probably have won an award. The line of patient, mask-wearing customers stretched from one end of the block to the other. Second place could have gone to 1st Aid Pharmacy on West Fordham Road, where most customers were also seen wearing masks, before this too became mandatory.
Meanwhile, public schools and community centers like Mosholu Montefiore Community Center may not be operating as active learning institutions, on-site at least, but they continue to exist as hubs and resource centers for the community by serving food.
Part of The Solution soup kitchen on Webster Avenue which regularly feeds the homeless, and cooks and serves holiday meals at the local church, continues to hand out grab ‘n go meals and assist underserved New Yorkers during the crisis, ensuring that young and old residents alike still get three meals a day.
Photo by David Greene
With over one million Americans now having contracted the coronavirus, and 16 million more now out of work because of it, some New Yorkers are turning to their faith for hope and solace, albeit virtually. Last week, Jews marked the celebration of Passover, the holy festival which commemorates a pilgrimage made by the entire population of the kingdom of Judah to the Temple in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Christians celebrated Easter Sunday, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a symbolic sign of hope.
One incident that suggests life hasn’t diverged too far away from the norm was a fist-fight that broke out at Jerome Avenue and Mosholu Parkway on Apr. 2. Police squashed it in minutes.
Photo by David Greene
Another sign of normality was running into ghostwriter and Norwood resident, “Money Russ,” who, like everyone else, has been under lock-down and using the time to write – what else? Virus jokes. So, I will leave you with a few of his gems.
“Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.” Money Russ
“I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe.” Money Russ
“I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.” Money Russ
“Still hadn’t decided where to go for Easter – the living room or the bedroom.” Money Russ
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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Good story.
Good jokes 🙂