Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The Norwood News is out with its latest edition covering the Bronx. In our second edition of the year, we bring you the latest! The front page story revisits the Bedford Park Manor, where several tenants have ramped up efforts for improved quality of life. Read what the owner of the properties has to say. In Norwood, two separate corners of the neighborhood saw the discovery of two dead bodies in two separate cases. David Greene looks into this for us. Speaking of crime, the NYPD crime stat figures were released for 2018. It looks like the

Rocking the H-o-u-s-e at the PS 94 Spelling Bee

By EMILY SUZANNE LEVER

The atmosphere was electric in the auditorium at PS 94 Kings College on Wednesday morning while fourth- and fifth-graders faced off in the Norwood school’s yearly spelling bee. A spellbound audience of over 300 students watched for two hours as their peers nailed words like “revolutionary,” “responsibility,” “visualize,” and “microphone.” After seven rounds of competition, the 31 contestants, who had been preparing for weeks for the contest, had been narrowed down to three: fourth-graders Fatima Ali, Mohammed Ali (no relation) and Samuel Yeboah. Fatima Ali, 9, wearing light-up sneakers, secured third place and bowed out after attempting to spell “technique.”

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Free Oven Safe Knob Covers The Office of Councilman Ritchie Torres is giving away free safe oven knob covers to prevent accidental fires in apartments. Free knob covers can be picked up at 2546 Hoffman St., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while supplies last. For more information, call the office at (718) 842-8100. Nonprofit Grants Now Available Resident-led groups in low-income communities and Title I public schools can apply for a Neighborhood Grant of up to $3,000. A workshop in how to fill out the application correctly takes place on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. at

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to expand the Discovery program as a way of increasing enrollment of black and Latino students in the city’s elite specialized high schools has drawn the ire of Pacific Legal Foundation. The group is now suing the city in federal court, relying on an argument similar to an affirmative action case it has against Harvard University: Discovery essentially discriminates against Asian students who overwhelmingly represent the specialized high school student population. Expanding the Discovery program—essentially offering rigorous summer classes for students who missed the cutoff in passing the specialized high school test—takes effect in 2020,

Getting a Leg Up in the High School Application Process

By MARTIKA ORNELLA

With the deadline to apply to public and specialized high schools extended to Friday, Dec. 14, middle schoolers in the Bronx have hours left to christen the Department of Education’s (DOE) newly erected online application system. Aimed to alleviate the confusing process of applying to city high schools, the DOE’s new MySchools website allows parents and students to browse and apply to public high schools. But the initial rollout wasn’t without some hiccups, including site crashes and slow-downs. For eighth-grader Janely Cruz, 13, the ease to which middle schoolers navigate the high school application process depends less on website errors

By JONATHAN CUSTODIO

Every weekend Brandon Montes puts out a crate full of books on East Gun Hill Road between Bainbridge and Wayne Avenues. Books come in and books go out. And it’s all for free. On average, Montes brings 5 to 15 books each time he puts out the crate. In the morning, he chains the book crate to a small tree guard and returns at sunset, usually to an empty box or some new books. Montes wants to address the dearth of brick-and-mortar bookstores in the Bronx and expand upon on the borough’s literary access. “We deserve a literary community. There

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The Norwood News is out with its latest edition covering Bronx communities. With 24 pages packed into this paper let’s get into the coverage! The front page focuses on the longstanding issue of mailbox fishing. The practice has become the ire of the NYPD, now trying to curb it with a new offensive. The Norwood News interviewed the lead cop at the 52nd Precinct behind the initiative. We also have an editorial on the NYPD’s tough task. The paper also has results on the General Election. The outcomes made the September primary official with some new faces going

Bedford Park Photos Wanted The Bedford Mosholu Community Association is accepting photos of the Bedford Park neighborhood to go with its application to the Historic Districts Council. The application seeks to begin an effort to preserve Bedford Park from further development. Photos can be sent to bedfordmosholu@verizon.net. Canned Food Drive The office of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, 3107 Kingsbridge Ave., is accepting canned goods for its annual food drive. Thanksgiving donations will be accepted before Nov. 14; donations for the Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa seasons will be accepted through Dec. 12. All proceeds will be delivered to Kingsbridge Heights Community Center

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