Cambodian-Born Gardener Cultivates Passion at Bedford Park Garden

By ADELINE HANSSEN

Between towering brick apartment buildings and a bustling train station in Botanical Square, Rem Kim, a thin, lightly-wrinkled man can be seen working in a small community garden. The ground is finally beginning to thaw after an uneven winter, and Kim is getting ready for the spring. Kim, 62, has been volunteering in the Botanical Square Community Garden for the past three years. Although he speaks limited English, his passion for gardening was immediately apparent upon meeting him. His face lit up when he listed the vegetables that would soon be available to Bronx residents in the latter part of

Editor’s Pick: Spring Has Sprung! The public is invited to a free Spring Egg Hunt at the Williamsbridge Oval on April 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Events include an egg hunt, relay races, carnival games, a helmet giveaway (while supplies last), a visit from the bunny, and more. Egg hunt for ages 3 to 6 is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and for ages 7 to 11 from noon to 1 p.m. Sponsors include Mosholu Preservation Corporation, Jerome-Gun Hill BID, NYC Parks, and New York Cares. For more information, visit nyc.gov/parks. Onstage Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts,

Dear Fellow Readers, The eighth edition of the award-winning Norwood News is out with plenty of Bronx community news you can use. We’ve packed 16 pages full of news you can share with your family and friends, so let’s get to it. We’re keeping education on the front lines in our coverage and bring you a story out of Junior High School 80, where a three-judge panel ruled the 95-year school should receive a $3 million grant it was approved and then denied by the state. Hear why JHS 80 is in dire need of these funds, and hear from

By DYLAN CROLL

Growing up in Norwood with his single mother, Shamir Arzeno knew the odds were stacked against him. Though determined to succeed, little did he know that his tenacity would one day land him a job at Goldman Sachs and a spot as the first Dominican contestant in the Amazing Race, an Emmy Award-winning reality TV series on CBS, in which the winner walks away with a $1 million prize. He grew up watching the show while living on East 207th Street and Decatur Avenue. The show critically altered Arzeno’s conception of what was possible. “For a long period of time,

By DAVID GREENE

A diverse group of successful women who all grew up or lived in the Bronx gathered for the first annual Women’s Empowerment Summit 2017, extending March’s Women’s History Month into April. The panelists came from high positions in government, with a surprise televised appearance from Merryl Tengesdal, an astronaut who grew up in the northwest Bronx. She was introduced by her cousin, Gwendolyn Thomas-Steed, a member of Community Board 7. The civic panel hosted the event at Lehman College’s Lovinger Theater on April 8. On hand panelists included Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, New York City Public Advocate Leticia James,

Could the curse of the Kingsbridge Armory be lifted? For decades, it seemed any time there’s some headway in turning it into a promising venue, a barrier gets in the way. There was the failed attempt to repurpose the enormous castle into a public school and then a mall by the Related Companies. The latest proposal that’s within reach of reality is the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC). And even then, that project has hobbled along, facing lawsuits along the way. But Governor Andrew Cuomo appears to have broken the spell. Even as the now-approved Fiscal Year 2018-19 $153 billion

NEW YORK CITY Comptroller Scott Stringer (r) glad hands members of the Tracey Towers Tenants Association at a meet-and-greet hosted at the Norwood towers on April 3. It had been more than three years since Stringer stopped by the Mitchell-Lama complex. This time, the city’s so-called “moneyman” ran down his role in the city and some reports his office has released including a report on the city’s senior population. Jean Hill (l), president of the tenants association, awaits him at the podium. Photo by Miriam Quinones

Bill Seeks More Accountability on Capital Projects

By DAVID CRUZ

A bill that would create greater accountability on city agencies carrying out long term construction projects, or capital projects, has been introduced. Councilman Andrew Cohen, representing Norwood, introduced the measure amid long delays to capital projects he’s funded since his time in office, including a skate park at Williamsbridge Oval Park. The original completion date for the project, which Cohen earmarked $750,000 in 2014, was this year. So far, nothing has been done. The proposal for a skate park has been in the works since 2004. Much of the delay stemmed from a winning contractor dropping out of the project, according

By DAVID CRUZ

As the Trump Administration toughens its enforcement and policy on undocumented immigrants, with federal agents further zeroing in on immigrant communities, know-your-rights forums have dotted the borough’s landscape. For attorneys at the Legal Aid Society, which offers pro-bono services to immigrants sorting through their status, these forums are critical. After all, many are unaware that every immigrant, undocumented or not, have rights. Those tenets include the right to a lawyer, questioning the legitimacy of so-called “notarios,” and the variety of methods used to prevent deportation. Every case is different, they admit, and the best way to mitigate it is consulting