Public & Community Meetings

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 will hold its general board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Serviam Gardens, 321 E. 198th St., at 6:30 p.m. Committee meetings are held on the following dates at the board office, 229A E. 204th St., at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Education/Libraries & Youth Services committee meets Wednesday, Oct. 22; Parks & Recreation and Senior Services committees meet Wednesday, Oct. 29 (Note: Senior Services Committee meets at 7:30 p.m.) For more information call (718) 933-5650. THE 52ND PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL meets Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Fordham Hill Oval Corporation, 2455 Sedgwick Ave. from 7 to

by David Cruz Take participatory budgeting, a Tour de Bronx, the rebirth of the NCBH maternity ward and the list of Norwood’s worst landlords and you have the latest edition of the Norwood News, hitting newsstands at over 200 locations in the northwest Bronx. This week we explore key events happening in the community for you to share with friends and family. Check out roving reporter Hayley Camacho’s article on shady landlords whose buildings have made life hell for tenants in Norwood and Bedford Park. The responses she gathered are quite interesting. Next, we give you an update to a murderous

By Hayley Camacho On his dining room table, Victor Rosario has six letters from the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Code Enforcement Division certifying the numerous violations in his apartment at 3540 Decatur Ave. Rosario has been fighting an uphill battle for the last several years to get the landlord, Bob-Al Management Corp, to make the necessary repairs.

Put the Pedal to the Metal at the 20th annual Tour de Bronx

by David Cruz Strap on your helmet, tune up the two-wheeler and get set for the 20th annual Tour de Bronx. The state’s largest bike outing, according to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., is a way of shattering the nagging stigma of the Bronx. “And the best way to do that is to show people that the Bronx is not what it was, but so much more,” said Diaz, as he stood outside the Bronx YMCA in Castle Hill, overlooking a scenic view of the East River and Whitestone Bridge. The largest free bicycling event in the state, the

Opinion: Rebutting The Climate Change Argument

by Joe Massaro A recent letter to the editor by Diana Pedi titled, Climate Change Happens in The Bronx Too took aim at fracking even though it’s thanks to fracking and the increased use of natural gas that the U.S. has significantly lowered greenhouse gas emissions. According to Pedi, fracking is to blame for climate change because, “fracking releases methane.” That claim has been directly contradicted by the EPA, which just released data from its annual Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. EPA found that oil and gas producers reduced emissions of methane 12 percent from 2011 to 2013, and methane emissions

By David Cruz Vital Stats: 10% – Percentage of Bronx births that happen at North Central Bronx Hospital (Source: North Central Bronx Hospital). North Central Bronx Hospital has delivered its newest bundle of joy–a revamp of its maternity ward that’s slated to open.

BronxTalk Celebrates 20 Years

By David Cruz The Edward R. Murrow of the Bronx is celebrating 20 years on the air. Gary Axelbank, the even-handed Bronxite who’s been the host of BronxTalk since 1994, is slated to hold an anniversary bash that doubles as a taping of the public access show on Oct. 22.

Neighborhood Notes

Fitness Classes for Seniors The City Parks Foundation offers yoga classes on Mondays/Wednesdays and Fitness Walking on Tuesdays/Thursdays; each free at 9 a.m. at the Woodlawn Tennis Courts on Jerome Avenue and 233rd Street to seniors ages 60 and over. For more information, call (718) 760-6999. Williamsbridge Oval Classes The Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center holds a variety of exercise classes, game room time, and computer classes for children, teens and adults this fall. For more information, call (718) 543-8672. Financial Ed Workshops University Neighborhood Housing Program at 2751 Grand Concourse, offers a series of five free financial education workshops on

Judge: KNIC Project Can Proceed

By David Cruz A plan to bring an enormous ice center into the Kingsbridge Armory can proceed following a legal squabble that ended with a Bronx judge ruling in favor of its lead developer.