Combatting Legionnaires’ Disease, State Offering Free Testing of Cooling Towers

By DAVID CRUZ Though cases of Legionnaires’ disease have not crept up to the Norwood area, the state is offering building landlords free testing of rooftop cooling towers, considered a kind of petri dish for the water-borne ailment. The program is in response to the largest outbreak on Legionnaires’ disease in New York City history, claiming 10 lives and sickening 100, with 65 of them treated and released. Building landlords are eligible for the free service, intended to quell fears and contain the outbreak. So far Legionnaires’ disease has been confined to the South Bronx, though officials are not taking any

By JASMINE GOMEZ A mother’s breast milk can provide her newborn with the necessary vitamins, proteins, fat, and antibodies to sustain a baby’s healthy growth.

Bronx Idol to Summon Borough’s Young Vocal Talents

By NORWOOD NEWS You’ve heard of American Idol. Now, get ready for Bronx Idol. The Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District is sponsoring the musical contest, with the first round happening online through Aug. 15. Contestants as young as 12 years old are required to post a 2-3 minute video on YouTube showcasing their vocal talents. First round winners will advance to a live second and third round later in August. Some side interludes includes back to school sales and some prizes. “The Bronx is known for producing talented artists, we would love to be able to use Bronx Idol as

SEE THE PHOTOS: National Night Out at the 52nd Precinct

Plenty of families came out of their homes and owned the night during the yearly National Night Out Against Crime, an annual event where communities and officers take back the streets. This year, the 52nd Precinct Community Council staged the event at Mosholu Parkway between Bainbridge Avenue and Van Cortlandt Avenue South. Check out this year’s photos by Miriam Quin. [powr-image-slider label=”Enter a Label”]

Fordham Road BID a Mid-Summer Star

The Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID) continues to focus on the beautification of public spaces with the start of the Fordham Plaza renovation and the recently completed Bryan Park (intersecting Fordham and Kingsbridge roads). We are also ramping up our sanitation efforts to ensure that Fordham Road is clean for everyone to enjoy! This summer, we are hosting a record number of seasonal outdoor events including our film festival, sidewalk sales, and Fordham Fever Fridays. Our goal is to engage the Fordham Road community through these events.

Neighborhood Notes

Community Resource Fair NYC Council Member Andy King will host a free Community Health and Resource Fair on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 940 E. Gun Hill Rd. There will be mobile health and legal vans, health screenings, exhibits and resources from community agencies and non-profits, music, giveaways, refreshments and activity for people of all ages. For more information, call (718) 684-5509. Bird Watching at VC Park Van Cortlandt Park features free bird walks Saturdays from 8 to 9:30 a.m. until November. Meet at the Nature Center, 246th Street and Broadway. For more information, contact Joseph McManus at

National Night Out Against Crime Tonight

By DAVID CRUZ Community residents and police in the 52nd Precinct will take over Mosholu Parkway this evening for the annual National Night Out Against Crime (NNOAC), a yearly event that forges a tighter bond between neighbors and police and takes back the streets from crime. The reveling will take place at Mosholu Parkway South between Bainbridge and Van Cortlandt avenues from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Residents can expect some freebies including a free helmet with every registered bike, pony rides, face painting and back to school supplies. Five-Two officers will also be on hand, interacting with the community. As has

Economic Gardening Can Bloom in the Bronx

By MARCIA CAMERON Economic gardening is an intriguing concept that has been used to create jobs and help increase revenue in local communities across the United States. Much like a garden that gradually grows, successful businesses need tender care to assist in their growth.

Be Healthy – National Minority Organ Donor Awareness Week, August 1-7

Vital Stats – 121K: Number of Men, Women and Children in the US in need of an organ transplant.(Source: Montefiore Medical Center) National Minority Donor Awareness Week, celebrated annually from Aug. 1-7, is a nationwide observance to honor the generosity of multicultural donors and their families, while also underscoring the critical need for people from diverse communities to register their decision to Donate Life as organ, eye and tissue donors. To raise awareness for this important issue, Montefiore Medical Center will be holding a series of events throughout the Bronx. A single donor can save or heal the lives of