Past and present faces of the Norwood News came to break bread and hail the paper’s 30-year milestone with a celebration at Lehman College on Nov. 1. The event drew roughly 130 guests to the college’s Faculty Dining Room in the Music Building, which included an awards program and keynote address by Errol Louis of NY1.

 Opening the ceremony was Jennifer Tausig, executive director of Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC), the not-for-profit that produces the Norwood News. Dr. José Luis Cruz, president of Lehman College, and Dr. Peter Semczuk, executive director of Montefiore Health System’s Moses Campus, spoke of the paper’s impact for the Bronx since 1988. Semczuk is a fan of the paper, telling guests he never misses his copy at the campus’ East Gun Hill Road entrance.

Proclamations were presented by elected officials or representatives. They included state Senators Jamaal Bailey and Gustavo Rivera; Council Members Andrew Cohen, Fernando Cabrera, Andy King, and Ritchie Torres; Assembly Members Jeffrey Dinowitz and Nathalia Fernandez; Comptroller Scott Stringer; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.; and Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Lilliam Perez, Montefiore Health System’s vice president of the Office of Community & Government Relations, ushered in each of the elected officials before introducing David Cruz, Norwood News’ editor-in-chief.

“Tonight we celebrate 30 years the Norwood News became stitched to the neighborhood’s historical fabric,” said Cruz, in his prepared remarks.

At the end of his speech, Cruz asked the crowd to rise to offer a round of applause for Norwood News’ founder, Dart Westphal, who began the paper in 1988. Westphal was in attendance alongside former editors-in-chief Jordan Moss and Alex Kratz.

Errol Louis spoke on journalism’s role in highlighting issues, including criminal justice reform. Among the biggest battles is the fight for bail reform, Louis said. He praised the paper as a “bulldog” in its reporting.

The paper presented honors to housing advocate Sally Dunford, local newsman Gary Axelbank, Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, and longtime Norwood News proofreader Judy Noy. Noy’s award came as a surprise to her as the Norwood News kept her honor a surprise.

Guests walked away with a copy of Norwood News’ 30th anniversary special edition, highlighting 30 years of the paper’s top news stories through the years.

The Norwood News was established in 1988 by MPC, initially covering the Norwood section of the Bronx before expanding to cover Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights, and University Heights. It also began as a black and white four-page bi-monthly publication which today has become a 24-page full color bi-weekly paper.

Editor’s Note: All photos were taken by José A. Giralt except as noted.