New Grants Jazz Up Mosholu Montefiore Community Center

by Paolo Mossetti The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is on a roll! The Norwood-based multi-service group announced its financial footing is in shipshape thanks to a major increase in city, state, federal and foundation grants. Laurie Meltzer Bandremer, the center’s Director of Development, said the accomplishment has been “very gratifying.” She pegs much of the hard work to the board, administration and program staff that have “worked together this past year to cut unnecessary costs while continuing to serve the Bronx…”

Mixed Reactions to New Tracey Towers Mailboxes

By SHAYLA LOVE Amid ongoing renovations at Tracey Towers, a series of new mailbox banks can now be found in the building lobbies, and it’s causing plenty of stir and controversy for tenants. That’s because the mailboxes are blocking the view of the lobbies, infringing on what used to be empty space, according to Jean Hill, president of the Tenants Association.

Bronx Pummeled AGAIN by Snow

By Justin McCallum The blizzard, originally forecast to hit the tristate area yesterday, has bared down on the Bronx, where there is a winter storm watch in effect until 7:00PM. Although public schools opened this morning, after school programming, field trips and PSAL games have been canceled “due to inclement weather conditions,” the Department of Education Chancellor Fariña announced in a press release.

Bronx News Roundup: January 26-31

The Bronx newspapers are hard at work delivering some local stories for neighbors in the Boogie Down. We highlight some in this latest edition of Bronx News Roundup! First up, former Mayor David Dinkins still not getting love from the city after a move to rename the Willis Avenue Bridge is once again shelved. The New York Daily News reports that “David Dinkins’-Willis Avenue Bridge” name was featured on the Dept. of Transportation website, but was later removed. Just in time for Superbowl Sunday, The New York Post has a timely story on an $8 million drug bust in Pelham

by David Cruz Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. pegged himself as a job creator and economic development booster in his first gathering with his new fellow heads of borough at a forum sponsored by Crain’s New York Business. Diaz Jr. arrived as the more experienced borough president in the city these days, as his fellow BP’s have just begun their tenure as their respective borough’s chief executive.

2nd Annual Klezfest at Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center

Plenty of songs and dance at the 2nd annual Sholem Aleichem Yiddish Klezfest celebration happening at 3301 Bainbridge Ave. at 208th Street, on Dec. 29. The Yiddish-spoken event showcased Yiddish culture through music, songs and dance. The event also celebrated the life of famed Yiddish poet Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, who lived on Bainbridge Avenue. A second tribute is set for Jan. 12th. Photos by Adi Talwar

Endless Construction at Bedford Pk. Building

By MICHAEL BROWN JR. “Expected Occupancy Summer 2014,” reads the sign at a Bedford Park building.

Free After-School Journalism Program in the Bronx (Applications Due Friday!)

Above is a link to an interview with me, Bronx Youth Heard Director and Norwood News Editor Alex Kratz, and Lehman High School student Adonis Jimenez for a Bronx 2.0 segment that aired on Bronxnet in February. Everything I talk about in that segment remains true. Bronx Youth Heard is a fantastic program for students interested in journalism or who love to write or who want to have impact on their communities and think (like we do) that journalism is a way to make that happen.

On the Streets: The Prostitution Conundrum

It’s a slow Monday night for Bianca, a transgender prostitute who operates on the corner of East 192nd Street and Davidson Avenue — a quiet residential intersection near St. James Park, a place where the “tranny” sex trade has flourished, to the chagrin of local residents, for more than a decade. “What are you doing here?” Bianca asks a potential customer, smiling coyly. “You’re looking good.”