SEE PHOTOS: Bronx Legislative Caucus Backs Hillary Clinton

By DAVID CRUZ & DANIELA BEASLEY

On the same day Republican presidential contender, U.S. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, made a gutsy appearance in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx for a meet and greet, lawmakers from all levels told reporters Democratic presidential hopeful, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is the right choice. “I don’t have to tell you how she is the most qualified person, hands down, to deal with international issues and deal with our foreign policy,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., flanked by fellow Democrats. He labeled Clinton’s opponent, U.S. Senator for Vermont Bernie Sanders as inexperienced. “Bernie is not qualified,

For four hours, some 400 teenage boys from the Bronx and beyond delved into the rites of becoming a man. They sat quietly at Monroe College’s Mintz Auditorium, magnetized by stories from men who’ve successfully surpassed that coming-of-age mark. SEE MORE PHOTOS: Monroe College Male Empowerment Event For Monroe College, which hosted its seventh annual male empowerment forum, the topic served as the spark to a way of life free of despair and emotional turmoil. It turned to success stories in the fields of business, criminal justice, and education to inspire that talk. “What it takes to be a man is to

By DAVID CRUZ

Against the backdrop of St. Mary’s Park in the country’s poorest congressional district, Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders kicked off his New York campaign tour in the Bronx before New York’s April primary, telling a roaring crowd, “we are going to invest in the South Bronx.” SEE PICTURES: Bernie in the Bronx It was one of a few times Sanders directly mentioned the Bronx, an area largely impoverished with severe health and income disparities. His opponent, former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, made an appearance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem the day before. His appearance marked

Free Tax Services Councilman Ritchie Torres hosts free tax preparation services for Bronx residents at his office, 573 E. Fordham Rd., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day except Thursdays and Sundays; Mondays till 7 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment with a tax preparer, call (718) 842-8100. The Eastchester Library, 1385 E. Gun Hill Rd., hosts free tax services for anyone earning $62,000 or less, Thursdays through April 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spanish-speaking volunteers will be available. For more information, additional sites, and what to bring, call (718) 653-3292. Park

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

How do we demystify the Bronx as being “thuggish”? How do you get more employees from Montefiore Medical Center to spend their hard earned dollars on Jerome Avenue during their lunch hour? How can we attract businesses that aren’t 99 cent stores? For the roughly 90 residents attending the Bedford Park Livable Neighborhoods Program on March 26, these were pertinent questions. The event, sponsored by Bronx Community Board 7’s Long Term Planning and Community Relations Committee, the Municipal Arts Society and New York City Small Business Services, had residents spend several hours learning how to better their neighborhoods. Presenters broke

By NOAH BERMAN

On a rainy Good Friday, Catholics from all over the Bronx gathered at the now merged Church of St. Brendan and St. Ann in Norwood in remembrance of the Catholic tradition of commemorating the death of Jesus Christ. The reenactment of the Stations of the Cross, a series of 14 images that depict Christ on the day he was crucified by the Romans, is marked by a solemn annual procession. It was first time parishioners of the now closed Shrine Church of St. Ann took part in the ceremony since the church closed last July. The live portrayal served

Editor’s Pick Circus Comes to the Bronx UniverSoul Circus will take place from March 30 through April 10 at 50 E. 150th St. (across from the Bronx Terminal Market at 149th Street and Exterior Street, next to the bridge). Events include motorsports, canines, bicycles, dancing elephants, aerial acts and more. Tickets range from $16 through $40 depending on venue and day. For more information and schedules, visit www.universoulcircus.com. Onstage Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. W., presents Lehman Woodwind Quintet, performing classical music, featuring audience participation, April 3 at 2 p.m., in the Recital Hall;

Dear Loyal Readers, The Norwood News, the Bronx community newspaper bringing you plenty of community news you can use, is out with its seventh edition of 2016! This week we once again go back to Kingsbridge Heights and a faceoff brewing between city officials and developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center. Apparently, the city is not satisfied with an explanation from KNIC saying it has money committed for the project. The New York City Economic Development Corporation is asking, “Show us the money!” Ice developers now have 30 more days to present funds. We also bring you stories on the

By DAVID CRUZ

For years, city officials and developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) have been on the same page with respect to the impending project at the Kingsbridge Armory: They would like to see an ice center built. But until recently, the city has raised questions over whether KNIC has the proper financing needed to move forward with construction despite KNIC’s position that it does. KNIC was told to show it has the funding by March 25. But the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the city’s real estate arm, is not convinced. It’s now given developers another month