Out & About: Free Jazz at NYPL

Editor’s Pick Free Jazz at NYPL The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents free concert: Salute to Two Legendary Ladies of Jazz, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, performed by singer Glendalys Sosa accompanied by pianist John Austria and saxophonist Joe Sherman, Nov. 18 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46/57 or visit www.nypl.org. Onstage Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. W., presents Teatro Behemio featuring bolero legends Anthony Rios and Francisco Céspedes and featuring Diomary La Mala, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 to $65; $100/VIP which includes pre-concert reception

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Public Engagement Workshops The Mayor’s Tenant Support Unit will hold a workshop on tenant rights on Nov. 16 and 30 at UNHP Refuge House, 2715 Bainbridge Ave., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The unit works with those who may be at risk of displacement, experiencing landlord harassment, needs a rent freeze for those who qualify, and other resources. For more information, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov. Excelsior Scholarship The Excelsior Scholarship application for students to attend SUNY or CUNY tuition free this spring semester is open through Dec. 4. The scholarship is open to New Yorkers with household incomes

Bronx Locals Sound Off at Civilian Complaint Review Board

By DAVID CRUZ

Bronx locals came to Bronx Community College on Nov. 9 to tell the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) that more Officer Friendlies are needed on the force. The 13-member CCRB, which handles and investigates complaints made against NYPD officers, convened at the Bronx to hear concerns by residents. Among its chief demand is a more understanding Police Department. In some instances, CCRB members heard from alleged victims of police abuse who have reported being thrown to the ground by police for no apparent reason. The CCRB has found 59 percent of complaints have to deal with officers being extremely rude

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The 22nd edition of the Norwood News , covering the Norwood section of the Bronx and its surrounding neighborhoods, is out! You can find them at 300 locations across the borough. We begin, of course, with page one and the election of now Councilman-elect Mark Gjonaj. Gjonaj, the Democratic nominee in the race for the 13th Council District, won his seat after spending $1 million. That number is significant since Council races ever get to that threshold. Find out who are some possible contenders for the soon-to-be vacant Assembly seat covering Norwood. Other inside the cover stories include Bronx

New St. Philip Neri Principal a Familiar Face in Norwood

By DAVID CRUZ

In the space of five minutes, Ajeia Beebe, new principal at St. Philip Neri Catholic School in Bedford Park, escorted a timid student out of a classroom, received a hearty “good morning Mrs. Beebe” from uniformed children walking down the hallway, and gave a top-down tour of the 104-year-old school. It’s been almost two months since Beebe came to the school, and she’s already feeling at home. In many ways, she is. It helps that a number of her old students at the school she’s previously worked at have now transferred to St. Philip Neri, making for a smooth transition.

Mary Vallati, Bedford Park Stalwart, Dies at Age 102

Mary Vallati was considered a gem in Norwood. She was seen as a fixture in the community and recognized for her devotion to bettering the neighborhood until her passing earlier this year. Now, members of the community are working to have a street renamed in her honor. Barbara Stronczer, president of the Bedford Mosholu Community Association, is urging community members to sign the petition in order to have the street renamed. She looks to take those signatures to present to Community Board 7 (CB7) to begin the process. She says, “We need 100 [signatures] in order for CB7 to give

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers exiting voting sites about their general experience on this Election Day. It was good because I came out early today, so I was in and out. They were very helpful. They had me in the back, and I’m all done. I’m not sure about the voter turnout today, and I don’t like the mayor. Jacqueline Alvarez Pelham Bay They were very helpful and had no lines. It was very organized, and the process was equally distributed in terms of workload so it was very efficient. No, I didn’t see any Russians. I don’t know

Getting Into Nitty Gritty of Kingsbridge Ice Project Loan

By AARON MAYORGA

State officials are in the midst of finalizing a $138 million capital loan to the developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) after a five-member board approved the measure during their latest meeting. During its Oct. 18 meeting, the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), which supervises the activities of New York’s numerous public benefit corporations, unanimously approved the general project plan outlined by the state’s Empire State Development (ESD) agency. In addition to the $138 million loan commitment, the ESD plan also includes $26.4 million in historic tax credits and an additional $20.7 million in “other preferred equity.” All

Editorial: Who Will You Hire This Election Year?

Nov. 7 will be the day you exercise your right to vote. In the Bronx there are 11 contests (not counting citywide), most of which have already been won, thanks to the power the September primary has on the Bronx. The general election simply formalizes those victories. The race for Mayor is largely along the same line. In the August 31-September 13 edition of the Norwood News, we wrote that the incumbent, Mayor Bill de Blasio, is likely going to win the general election namely since the two challengers, Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, and Independent Richard “Bo” Dietl, carry very