Friends and relatives of the five Norwood siblings who were killed in a horrific car accident last month gathered Friday night to say final goodbyes at McCall’s Bronxwood Funeral Home on Bronxwood Avenue in Wakefield.

Looking back on his early life – cycling in and out of prison as a drug dealing, crack-addicted young hustler – Stanley Richards can still remember his Riker’s Island inmate number: 2418616600.

As the New York Times reported in July, Council Member Joel Rivera, 28, the Council’s majority leader, is planning to run for borough president in 2009, a decision that’s likely to put him on a collision course with close friend Assemblyman Ruben Diaz.

So far, Community Board 7 has received about 10 applications for the district manager position that’s been vacant since July 1. CB7 Chair Greg Faulkner said he expects to receive several more applications, especially since an advertisement for the position just went up on the city’s Web site a week and a half ago.

Congressman Eliot Engel introduced legislation to fight abuses in the calling card industry by requiring disclosure of terms and conditions on packaging.

The Environmental Advocates of New York, a nonprofit watchdog group, recognized Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz for his environmental record in Albany.

Last month, the Norwood News talked with Haile Rivera, a University Heights activist who was one of four people picked to have an intimate dinner with presidential candidate Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. on July 10. Rivera was randomly picked to attend the dinner after donating $25 (not a huge contribution but a relatively big chunk of change for Rivera) to Obama’s campaign.

In late July, on a hot Wednesday morning, organizers and youth from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, lamenting chronic overcrowding and its effect on education, stormed City Hall to demand more school seats in the Bronx and citywide.

The city’s Economic Development Corporation will not choose a developer for the vacant Kingsbridge Armory until at least October, said Community Board 7 Chair Greg Faulkner.