“Today, we are all breathing a sigh of relief as the suspect behind eight vicious muggings of Asian-American East Harlem residents has finally been apprehended by police,” Mark-Viverito said. “These brutal robberies have shaken all of us.”

FURRY FRIENDS FOR SALE!
This February, bring home a puppy or kitten without breaking the bank. Bideawee, the pet welfare center located on East 38th Street at First Avenue, will be holding a monthlong “Name your own price” sale. The sale is in celebration of Valentine’s Day, and is Bideawee’s first adoption promotion this year.

Plus, if you think your brand-new pet is super-photogenic, Bideawee will be taking photos of each new adoption and putting them up for a public vote. The winner will have their pet featured as Bideawee’s Facebook timeline image. This promotion will run until Feb. 28.

DOT ANNOUNCES NEW SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR DELIVERY BIKES
The DOT announced recently that they have teamed up with Delivery.com to provide 1,500 commercial cyclists with free bike lights, bells and reflective vests. Delivery cyclists from all over the city can attend one of the multi-language commercial bicyclist forums to receive the safety equipment. Other bicycle safety efforts include NYPD enforcement and inspector visits to businesses that use delivery cyclists. These inspectors serve to both inform and enforce regulations.

DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan notes, “Safety is everyone’s business, so it’s significant when the private sector steps up to the plate to make efforts in the public interest.”

Jed Kleckner, CEO of Delivery.com, is one of many who share in this sentiment. “In a city where food, groceries and wine can be at your doorstep in moments,” he said, “We empower the neighborhood economy by equipping our merchant partners with the right tools for making safe and speedy deliveries.”

TWO U.E.S. BAKERIES NAMED IN FOURSQUARE’S ‘BEST OF’ LIST
Foursquare, the social app that lets friends check in to restaurants, bars and other places, has sifted its data of more than three billion check-ins and pulled up a list of the best New York City has to offer—from best eateries and clubs to best sights and theaters. And there’s good news for Upper East Siders with a sweet tooth. Two of the top 10 New York bakeries are on the Upper East Side: Sprinkles Cupcakes on Lexington between 60th and 61st streets and Two Little Red Hens on Second Avenue between East 85th and 86th.

Both of these bakeries offer tempting cupcakes. At Sprinkles, many of the fans on Foursquare rave about the “best cupcake place in the city,” and suggest trying the Red Velvet. At Two Little Red Hens, fans love both the cakes and cupcakes, and suggest going for the “Brooklyn Blackout,” a dangerous, chocolaty confection.

SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY NEWS
On Wednesday, Jan. 30, MTA held its fifth Second Avenue Subway workshop at Temple Israel on East 75th Street. The meeting brought together MTA employees and contractors to discuss how negative impacts or effects from the construction can be mitigated.

“It’s impossible to build a subway here without disturbing the people and environment around us,” said MTA Capital Construction President Michael Horodniceanu. “We’ve learned from past experiences that building on this scale requires more than a business-as-usual approach, and that working closely with the community is one of the best means of learning how we can become a better neighbor.”

Phase One of the new subway line, which will extend the Q line, is expected to be complete by 2016.

“Yoselyn Ortega is charged with taking the lives of two innocent children who were incapable of defending themselves,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance. “This crime shocked and horrified parents around the city, many of whom entrust their children to the care of others both by necessity and by choice. My heart goes out to the family of those beautiful young children, and I hope that, with time, this family will heal.”

Ortega pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree. Her exact motive for the stabbing has yet to be determined. She is currently undergoing psychiatric examinations and will return to court on Jan. 16.

BRAZILIAN SCULPTURES ON BROADWAY
Sculptures by Brazilian artist Saint Clair Cemin are now on display on Broadway between West 57th and 157th Streets. The public art exhibit, organized by the Broadway Mall Association, features seven surreal pieces at various intersections along the avenue, such as “Portrait of the Word ‘Why’ ” on West 73rd Street and “Aphrodite” on West 117th Street. The exhibit continues through January and includes a dial-in audio tour in English (212.901.3310) and Spanish (212.901.3311).

FIRE DAMAGES APTS. IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS
An early-morning blaze in a Morningside Heights building displaced tenants of five apartments on Thursday, Nov. 29. The fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. on the fifth floor of 200 W. 109th St., a 40-unit apartment building, when a machine that pushes steam out windows ignited in a young tenant’s bathroom. The flames spread and severely damaged five apartments, as well as caused water damage to more apartments below. No tenants were injured.

CASTING CALL FOR BAKERS; SOUTINE BAKERY CLOSES
An upcoming competitive baking show on CBS is seeking skilled amateur bakers, and its casting producers are holding an “open call” audition on Saturday, Dec. 15, on the Upper West Side. All non-professional bakers are welcome, so aspiring television stars should bring their best baked good to Flatotel at 135 W. 52nd St. between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. “Whether you’re an athlete, teacher, truck driver or retiree,” the casting call’s promotional flyer says, “as long as you have a zest for baking, we want to hear from you!” More details can be found at cbsbakingshow.com.

In other UWS baking news, Soutine Bakery, the tiny shop at 104 W. 70th St., just closed on Friday after 30 years of business. The shop faced a rent increase, so it sold its lease to Muffins Cafe, according to the West Side Rag. Perhaps local amateur bakers can look here for work if they don’t make the cut for CBS?