Charlie Shayne, the executive director of the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, remembers touring the Kingsbridge Armory in 1986 or 1987 with the young district manager of Community Board 5 - a young fellow named Adolfo Carrión (now the borough president).

There was a lot of good feeling in July, when practically every local lawmaker showed up to escort Governor Pataki on a tour of the Kingsbridge Armory.

A National Guard unit stationed in Iraq will finally get to display its Bronx colors, but it's unclear how much longer the borough will be their home base

After the 200 or so soldiers of the 145th Maintenance Company of the Army National Guard departed the Kingsbridge Armory on Nov. 19, they were unexpectedly given two leaves from duty for Thanksgiving and Christmas before eventually departing for the Middle East.

Sometimes, it's what politicians don't say that is significant. In his spirited State of the Borough address last week, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión conspicuously omitted any mention of the Kingsbridge Armory - conspicuous because he spoke of many current and future Bronx redevelopment projects. And in last year's speech, Carrión firmly stated that it's time to stop studying and start acting on the armory.

Last January, advocates descended on the Kingsbridge Armory to demand, as they have for several years, that schools be included in its redevelopment. While frustrating hurdles remain, the dream came much closer to fruition in 2004.

Nearly 200 soldiers from the 145th Maintenance Company of the Army National Guard, based out of the Kingsbridge Armory, said their goodbyes on Nov. 19, and will shortly be headed for an unknown destination in Iraq.

Two Bronx Democrats often on opposite sides of the Bronx Democratic Party divide came together to agree on one thing last month -- the Kingsbridge Armory. Assemblyman Jose Rivera and Council Member Oliver Koppell sealed their commitment to pushing together for the armory's redevelopment with a handshake on Oct. 27 at a Norwood News anniversary celebration.

Every June, the Bronx Tourism Council puts on the best bash in the borough - the I Love the Bronx Ball. It's a gala affair usually held at a Bronx landmark like the Bartow-Pell Mansion or Orchard Beach.