Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Westchester Square News: Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Westchester Square News: Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying: Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show ...

Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show that the city is on pace to have the lowest murder rate in the last 50 years, but that offers little comfort to family members of those killed or wounded by the almost daily, random street violence.
Detectives are still hunting the gunman who shot and killed Raymond Hernandez, 22, who was shot in the hallway of 2860 Grand Concourse on July 15.
On August 3, officers from the 46th Precinct reported a person shot and killed at 2377 Creston Avenue. Police were looking for two black males seen fleeing the scene.
Kahleed Adams had returned to the ruff and tumble streets of Fordham Heights where he was shot in the buttocks a week earlier. At 12:30 a.m. on August 19, he was approached by a group of men at E. 184 Street and Morris Avenue, when someone opened fire, striking Adams in the head.
Despite being in full view of an NYPD surveillance camera, installed after Adams was shot the first time, detectives continue to hunt for the young man's killer.
But the most blood-spilling, effecting the most people are the random acts of violence that often go unreported. Information can now be found on social media websites as the community seems to be trying to keep itself informed, but rumors continue to be almost as big a problem as the violence itself.
Officers from the 52nd Precinct responded to calls of a person stabbed at 12:10 a.m. on August 3. The victim was reportedly stabbed at the intersection of Morris Avenue and E. Kingsbridge Road. Police were looking for a black male wearing a white and gray shirt and dark jeans. 
At 7 p.m. on August 4, a livery taxi driver was stabbed in the chest an neck as he sat behind the wheel at Bainbridge Avenue and E. Fordham Road. An unidentified resident of the block reportedly tossed a large rock at the car, causing the suspect to flee the stolen car.
Police reportedly discovered Luis Ferrierra, 22, hiding in a backyard. He has since been charged with felony assault and robbery--his eighth arrest for 2013.
When asked about the member of the community tossing the rock, one resident responded, "This area is flooded with crack and crime and I think the residents are fed up with it already." 
Residents near PS 8 at Mosholu Parkway South and Bainbridge Avenue reported hearing shots during the night of Friday, August 9.. Residents awoke the following morning to discover a bloody park bench. So far the incident remains a mystery.
At just before 11 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, a person was reported shot at E. Gun Hill Road and Decatur Avenue. However, this incident could not be confirmed.
Police say it was a drug dealer who shot a potential customer on August 13, outside of 2685 Valentine Avenue in Bedford Park. The 31-year old victim was shot in the left hand and right thigh and was treated and released from Jacobi Hospital.
That gunman was described as a male wearing a white shirt and blue hat.
On August 15, Yonkers police were apparently in pursuit of a vehicle that crashed as it exited the Major Deegan near the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course, the armed suspect reportedly fired at least one shot at pursuing officers before making an escape into the woods.
On August 16 three people were shot over the period of two-hours. At 12:15 a.m. a victim was discovered inside of a building at 2725 Webb Avenue. The 19-year old victim had been shot in the hand and leg and was expected to survive.
Residents of the Fordham Manor block that intersects with W. Kingsbridge Road don't even flinch when they hear gunshots anymore. The block has had two other recent shooting's. A 51-year old man was shot in the arm back in April and two men were shot outside of a bodega on July 28.
Police were still looking for the gunman in the July 28 case, described as wearing all red and carrying a black plastic bag.
Forty-five minutes later officer's from the 46th Precinct in Fordham were called to another 24-hour deli at 375 E. 188 Street. The victim in that shooting was transported by a civilian vehicle to Jacobi Hospital and was also recovering.
At just before 2 a.m., a man was wounded outside of 2258 Grand Avenue in University Heights. The 25-year old victim suffered a gunshot to the right leg and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was treated and released.
EMS reported the transport of a stabbing victim from the intersection of the Grand Concourse and E. 197 Street at just before 10 p.m. on August 17.
At some time after 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 18, a man was shot in the leg outside of 275 E. Gun Hill Road. The unidentified victim was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Police were reportedly looking for two male Hispanics who fled the scene.
Recently police did announce an arrest in the May 29 shooting of Alex Rodriguez, who was shot in the head at the intersection of E. 184 Street and Tiebout Avenue in Fordham Heights. Rodriguez died after being taken off life support.
Jamie DeJesus has been charged with manslaughter in the case.
Outspoken Bedford Park resident Ron James Sorenson who was shot as a young man as he drove a livery taxi in the South Bronx back in the late 1960's, recently stated about the judge's recent decision to re-evaluate the NYPD's stop-and-frisk, offering, "None of these people who are against stop-and-frisk have ever been shot. I have and I think the practice saves lives."
Despite the recent surge in killing, NYPD statistics show murder is down over the same time period as last year. So far this year there were 42 homicides in the Bronx, compared with 68 last year.
Community Board # 7 is still in a transition as it's new District Manager Socrates Caba and Chairperson Adaline Walker-Santiago are in the process of taking over the day to day operations of the board. But a blind man can see they have their work cut out for them.
Anyone with any information on any violent crime are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS. 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Westchester Square News: Building the Future of Healthcare in the Bronx

Westchester Square News: Building the Future of Healthcare in the Bronx: BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- Simone Development Companies and Montefiore Medical Center joined local elected officials and communi...

Building the Future of Healthcare in the Bronx

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- Simone Development Companies and Montefiore Medical Center joined local elected officials and community leaders for a topping out ceremony marking the completion of the superstructure at Tower Two of Simone’s Hutchinson Metro Center.
The new tower, scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2014, is an 11-story, 280,000-square-foot building that Montefiore will lease in its entirety. It reflects an evolution in the delivery of healthcare, providing new space for multidisciplinary approaches to care and integrating technology that allows Montefiore to provide necessary treatments without the need for hospitalization.
"At our new Hutch Metro Center location, Montefiore will offer patient-centered, multidisciplinary care at a hospital without beds, bringing healthcare of tomorrow to patients from the Bronx and beyond,” said Steven M. Safyer, MD, president and CEO of Montefiore Medical Center. “We are reshaping outpatient care and expanding treatment options to improve results and speed recovery.”
Simone Development is using its healthcare expertise and specialized design skills to construct a building that meets Montefiore’s patient-focused specifications and unique structural requirements of the imaging and surgical floors. The state-of-the-art building will include an ambulatory surgery center, featuring 12 operating rooms and four procedure rooms; an advanced imaging center; onsite laboratory services and pharmacy; as well as new primary and specialty care practices. The initial lease agreement is for 16 years with the option to extend the lease or purchase the tower.
“Today is a great day for the future of healthcare. This topping out ceremony is major milestone on the path toward opening a truly revolutionary, first-of-its kind medical facility,” said Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development. “We are honored to partner on this project with a visionary organization like Montefiore, which will deliver world-class treatments through multidisciplinary teams right here in the Bronx”
The new tower will be adjacent to another building on the Simone Development site that is home to Montefiore’s Center for Orthopaedic Specialties. Together, this will create Montefiore’s fourth campus, to be called Hutchinson Campus, extending Montefiore’s care delivery network to a new area of the Bronx. This integrated network encompasses more than 130 locations, 50 advanced primary and specialty care centers, 19 school health clinics, a home health agency and four hospitals on three campuses, including the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and the recently opened Westchester Square emergency and ambulatory care center.
The new tower is another chapter in the continuing success of the Hutchinson Metro Center. The 42-acre suburban-style campus offers the finest Class A office space and a host of first-class amenities. The complex also offers free parking with more than 1,100 spaces and a complimentary shuttle service to nearby subway lines.

Westchester Square News: Lehman High School baseball

Westchester Square News: Lehman High School baseball: Lions Maul Kennedy Photo by Gerson Legend BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- Lehman hosted Kennedy in a Bronx PSAL league game on Wed...

Lehman High School baseball


Lions Maul Kennedy

Photo by Gerson Legend


BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- Lehman hosted Kennedy in a Bronx PSAL league game on Wednesday. The Pelham Bay high school beat Kennedy 5-2. Lehman has clinched a playoff spot finishing first in the Bronx A West.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Westchester Square News: Fair at the Square

Westchester Square News: Fair at the Square: Photos by Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, May 13- The Westchester Square Merchants Association, in partnership with the Bronx...