Oval Park May Get Grant From Walt Disney Co.

Your votes are needed for Williamsbridge Oval Park to secure a $20,000 from the Happiest Place on Earth. The park, at the epicenter of Norwood, is competing with two other parks for the funds as part of the Meet Me at the Park, an initiative between the Walt Disney Company and the National Recreation and Park Association. The funds would go directly to Oval Park’s Summer Sports Experience initiative, where kids learn unique sports skills by trained staffers. “Supporting local parks is essential to the health and vitality of communities everywhere,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA Director of Conservation. “That’s why we are

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By Fernando Cabrera

For years New York has borne the unfortunate and unlikely distinction of being one of only two states in the U.S. that prosecutes 16- and 17-year olds as adults. Action by Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature has finally ended this barbaric practice that ruins young lives and threatens public safety. When a 16- or 17-year old is arrested and treated as an adult, there is no requirement to notify parents. The practice assumes that a child of this age knows her or his legal rights and has the knowledge and understanding to make an informed decision to

SEE MAP: Where Is The Mail Getting Stolen in the Bronx?

By DAVID CRUZ

A 16-year-old boy was placed in cuffs on April 15 for allegedly stealing mail by feeding a glue-covered rope into a mailbox at 2549 Jerome Ave., a scheme commonly known by the NYPD as mailbox fishing. Mailbox fishing continues to roil the NYPD, with at least several cases reported twice a week. In every case, thieves grab mail filled with personal checks, money orders or gift cards, hurting the pocketbooks of victims trying to pay rent or send a monetary gift via mail. The Norwood News obtained data from the NYPD showing where mailbox fishing incidents have occurred within the

By DAVID CRUZ

The MTA is rolling out an extra roundtrip bus on the overly congested Bx10 line, following commuter complaints addressed to its local Assemblyman. Its southbound route starts at Riverdale, making 51 stops before reaching Norwood’s 206th Street and Rochambeau Avenue. Commuters were vocal over the line’s constant congestion, which slowed service down. The complaints went to the MTA and to Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, whose district covers Norwood and Riverdale. In a statement, Dinowitz called the bus route a “lifeline for Bronx commuters with limited public transit options.” Bus service stands as the primary public transportation the further north Bronx commuters

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 will hold its general board meeting on April 18 at North Central Bronx Hospital, 3424 Kossuth Ave., 17th Floor, at 6:30 p.m. CB7 committee meetings will be held on the following dates at the board office, 229A East 204th St., at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Traffic and Transportation Committee on April 13; Veterans Committee on April 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Housing, Land Use and Zoning Committee on April 19; Economic Development Committee on April 25; Community Relations & Long Term Planning Committee on April 25 at 7:30 p.m.; and Website Acknowledgement & Media Committee on April

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers about a proposal to close the Rikers Island jail complex and move the prisoners to smaller jails throughout the five boroughs. Yes, close Rikers Island because it is rampant with corruption. Just as failing schools were closed down, so should this jail. Break it into smaller facilities so there’s no more bureaucracy and chaos and more order. They should also hold those officers accountable for failing in their jobs and taking part in the chaos. Rosanna Delgado Pelham Parkway I guess if they find a good place for them where they’ll be safe and

By ANTHONY ALI

The Norwood News and WFUV complete their five-part series profiling ongoing challenges impacting the Bronx. With the Bronx experiencing the highest rates of poverty and the lowest median income of all the five boroughs, money is tight. Compounding the problem is education on how to use that money wisely. After all, New Yorkers do not have to learn about personal finance in order to graduate high school — something required in only five other states. The end result is that many Bronx residents are on their own when learning how to properly manage their finances. A lack of understanding personal

As has been the case for the last several years, Norwood’s St. Brendan and St. Ann Church and Bedford Park’s St. Philip Neri held their annual Good Friday processions. On the public streets of the two neighborhoods, actors reenacted the Stations of the Cross, which tell the story marking the final moments of Jesus Christ. Check out these photos from experienced photographers David Greene and Miriam Quinones.

Cambodian-Born Gardener Cultivates Passion at Bedford Park Garden

By ADELINE HANSSEN

Between towering brick apartment buildings and a bustling train station in Botanical Square, Rem Kim, a thin, lightly-wrinkled man can be seen working in a small community garden. The ground is finally beginning to thaw after an uneven winter, and Kim is getting ready for the spring. Kim, 62, has been volunteering in the Botanical Square Community Garden for the past three years. Although he speaks limited English, his passion for gardening was immediately apparent upon meeting him. His face lit up when he listed the vegetables that would soon be available to Bronx residents in the latter part of