Neighborhood Notes

Flea Market Donations Sought Donations are needed for the Bedford Mosholu Community Association flea market scheduled to be held on March 4. Bring new and used items (except clothing) to the BMCA office at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., apt. B1 (lobby floor) on Feb. 15 and 22 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Feb. 25 from 1:30 to 4 p.m., and March 1 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, call (718) 367-2230 or email bedfordmosholu@verizon.net. Suited for Success The Community Affairs Unit of the Office of the Bronx District Attorney is requesting donations of clean ready-to-wear suits, ties, dress shirts and

By SARAH STEIN KERR

Three years ago, serial entrepreneur Gino Pacheco tried out a new career: stay-at-home dad. Pacheco, 40, a native Bronxite who started his first business at the age of 14, quickly became restless and began thinking about his next venture. “I always wanted to find things about the Bronx,” said Pacheco. “I was on Google looking for stuff and I just couldn’t find anything. I thought there was a void for that.” Last July, Pacheco launched Bronx411.com, a new Bronx-focused online directory that helps small business owners in the Bronx get more bang for their marketing buck – especially since it’s

By DANIELA BEASLEY

The familiar phrase, “ID please,” followed by the extended hand of a straight-faced towering bouncer with music drowning out conversation penetrating the door, could describe the scene of a typical night out in New York City. A ‘go ahead’ nod from the bouncer leads the way inside where people are dancing, smoking hookah and drinking, but not in the obvious Manhattan setting. Instead, they’re doing so in the Bronx, more specifically Norwood. Norwood is now home to more Hispanic oriented eateries and stores which once fostered a much more Irish atmosphere with pubs that lined both sides of 204th Street.

This week we asked readers their thoughts on what should be included in the proposed $85 billion New York City budget. I think it’s very important for the de Blasio Administration to fund transportation, education, health issues and children’s health and education, and to fund local colleges. There isn’t enough money being spent on higher education and money should also be allocated for senior citizens. Grace Chanke Norwood This money should go to people in need, like people on public assistance because they really need it to help pay their rent and buy food. They should spend some of

By DEBORAH CRUZ

The doors to a once so-called “toxic school” reopened with a well-attended ribbon cutting for Quality Services for the Autism Community school (QSAC). Administrators told the Norwood News the school is no longer a health hazard. “There is a whole new system in place, we have our testers come in quarterly and test our air and our water and we have passed all of our tests,” said Susan Silvestri, director of the QSAC school, at the school’s ribbon cutting on Jan. 26. “We are actually going to graduate to testing twice a year instead of four times a year.” The

By DEBORAH CRUZ

There was a hush as each contestant spelled the words in front of their classmates. But then it followed with a burst of cheers from each classmate sitting in the auditorium of PS 94, which also included many supportive parents witnessing an annual tradition play out at the neighborhood school. One of the parents was Isabel Jimenez who was there cheering on her daughter Diana Leon. “This is a nice experience for the kids. It improves their vocabulary while having the support of the parents,” said Jimenez, whose daughter went all the way to round 14 before the word “caricature”

Editor’s Pick Soup for Polar Bars BronxNet and BronxWorks present The Bronx Polar Bears 2017 Dip Against Homelessness, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. at Orchard Beach, followed by hot soup for the participants. Registration is requested to help raise money for services provided by BronxWorks for the Bronx homeless. Donations are welcome for winter hats, gloves, socks and scarves. For more information and to register, call (646) 393-4002. Onstage The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents Songs of Freedom and Inspiration, performed by pop/jazz Cody Childs and The Ladies of Soul, featuring gospel, soul and folk, Feb. 11

By DAVID GREENE and DAVID CRUZ

Customers were caught by surprise on Feb. 2 when they noticed at least three stores in the Norwood section of the Bronx closed following fallout from President Donald Trump’s ban on foreigners from predominantly Muslim countries. The stores, a 99-cent store and a smoke show, are family owned and operated by those originating from the Middle East. Signs were posted on each of the stores with one reading, “My family detained in JFK.” Onlookers stopped to read the signs, talking among themselves as they noticed the show of silent protest against Mr. Trump’s ban. One resident, who went by Ray W.,

Repealing the Affordable Care Act. Building a wall. Holding federal funds to New York City hostage. A temporary ban on refugees. All this happened in one week of President Donald Trump’s America. And though his executive orders were theatrical at best (except the ban), they’re just getting warmed up. And so is the media. Since the Inauguration, there’s been a wake-up call among career politicians who believed none of this could happen. The reversal of fortune is tough to stomach for Democrats, who are now banding together to stymie the fallout of the Republican president’s policies, which appear to be