With School Around the Corner, Norwood Projects Could Snarl Traffic

Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood faces dual projects at its roads, which could spell traffic headaches for the hundreds of drivers that navigate the busy artery following the unofficial end of summer. The problems will likely come during the morning rush, when crews for both projects each running on opposite ends of Bainbridge Avenue–will be on the road. Between parents dropping off children at the neighborhood schools beginning the first day of school on Sept. 5, employees or visitors of Montefiore Health System and North Central Bronx Hospital, and shopping activity at the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District, getting around


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Hosting a Basketball Tournament in Memory of a Lost Family

Eight of the best teams across the East Coast battled it out on the court during the 13th annual Gardiner Memorial Basketball Classic Tournament at St. James Park. But this event isn’t just about hooping. To the community, it’s about giving back while bringing together the youth for a series of activities with scholarships and giveaways. The tournament is organized by non-profit organization Gardiner Foundation who teamed up with Manhattan law firm Gersowitz Libo and Korek. Dexter Gardiner, founder of the Gardiner Foundation, created the organization after losing several family members more than a decade ago. One of those tragedies


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Candidates Forum Reminds Voters of Races Beyond 34th Senate District

As the focus continues on the 34th Senate District race between incumbent Sen. Jeff Klein and challenger Alessandra Biaggi, the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) organized an issues-based forum that saw Biaggi but also candidates for the 33rd and 36th Senate District races. State Senators Gustavo Rivera and Jamaal Bailey, representing the 33rd and 36th Senate Districts respectively, are on the ballot. Bailey and Rivera, both Democrats, face a September primary against respective Republicans Steven Stern and Nicole Torres of the 33rd Senate District, and Robert Diamond of the 36th Senate District. Biaggi and Klein face Antonio Vitiello


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Mosholu Library Receives $15,000 in State Funds, A Rarity

You can bookmark Aug. 21 as a special day for Mosholu Library, which received a novel $15,000 in state funds. “Our libraries are community hubs and places of resources and comfort,” said Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, said at a news conference at the library on Aug. 21, “we can all relate in our passion for reading and looking for education, and really finding an escape.” The source of the newly distributed funds comes from discretionary funding of $60,000. The funds were evenly distributed to Allerton, Pelham Parkway-Van Nost and Morris Park libraries. Jane Addison-Amoyaw has managed the Mosholu library for the


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The Bronx Breaks Ground on its Second YMCA

Speaking in front of a crowd of community leaders, lawmakers, and youth activists at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Edenwald YMCA, Mayor Bill de Blasio explained why the new facility will progress his goal of making New York the “fairest big city in America.” “For all of us who have spent a lot of our lives at Ys, we know the passion that people bring to the work,” de Blasio said at the ceremony on Aug. 20. “The fact that so many Bronxites are about to benefit because of what will be built here is truly, truly inspiring.” The 50,000


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Neighborhood Notes

Free Air Conditioner Free air conditioners are available to Bronx residents who either receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Temporary Assistance (TA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and did not receive an air conditioner by the Home Energy Assistance Program. Income-eligibility requirements also apply. For more information, call (212) 331-3126, or visit the Department of Human Resources Administration at 1932 Arthur Ave., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Commercial Lease Help Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition offers free legal help to small businesses in negotiating commercial leases with their landlords. Businesses have to be in New


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Pols: Elevator Needs at Mosholu Pkwy. Station

A petitioning campaign is underway in Norwood aimed at putting pressure on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to prioritize the installation of a much-needed elevator at the Mosholu Parkway 4 No. train station. The effort is noticeably led by Eric Dinowitz, District Leader for the area’s 81st Assembly District who’s expressed interest in running for the City Council seat currently held by Norwood Councilman Andrew Cohen. Cohen, whose district overlaps with the train station, was not there. “We know that more than 10 percent of the population here has a disability, so you could figure it’s over a thousand people who


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Above Putnam Place, an Urban Garden Grows

Every day in the summer, Victor Khan, 72, of Norwood hobbles to his kitchen window, and carefully climbs onto the roof of the Sing Fei Chinese Restaurant from his fire escape overlooking Putnam Place and East Gun Hill Road to tend to his garden. An automobile accident at age 15 partially disabled Khan, making him unable to move his hip and causing one of his legs to be an inch and a half shorter than the other. Using a chair to help boost himself out of the window makes it a little easier to get outside, but not much. The


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Norwood News Takes a Break and Returns Aug. 13

As has been the case for years, the Norwood News will be taking its summer hiatus, and this current edition will cover virtually the entire month of August. This means readers won’t see another print edition until Aug. 30. We’ll be around, of course. You’ll find our bylines on the website, www.norwoodnews.org. You may also continue to send tips, letters, and story ideas to Editor-in-Chief David Cruz at dcruz@norwoodnews.org or norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org.