New Wing at P.S. 56 Soars in Norwood

By DANIELA BEASLEY

The new school year is underway, and for the kids who attend Public School 56 in Norwood, that means taking advantage of a new addition to their school that has been under construction since 2014. “They were over at a different school for first and second grade before the construction was finished,” Denise Gonzalez, a parent, said referring to her children who now attend PS 56. For a time, students were relocated to 3177 Webster Ave., a co-located school. “I’m so happy that our kids are over here again. I graduated from here, this is our school,” Gonzalez added. Construction

By ANTHONY RIVIECCIO

How does one achieve their personal financial goals? By spending and living smartly! Before you start thinking the answer to saving is budgeting, my answer is no, I am not talking about that. What you want and what you need is smart spending. So how do you start? Of course, one should discuss this with a financial advisor in more detail, but if you’re looking to start a game plan today, follow these tips: Cut Out Comfort Expenses Create a frugal lifestyle to improve your quality of life. With a current goal of creating a perpetually frugal lifestyle today, you

With school now open, this week we asked past and present students and teachers their thoughts on the troubling performance numbers for DeWitt Clinton High School.* I am surprised. I know in my day they had a really great Macy’s program, which was an elite program. At one point it was a really good school. I don’t know what happened over the years, but I’m sorry to hear that. My son won’t be going to Clinton because by the time he’s of high school age we won’t even be in New York. It’s a shame. Michelle Matias, former student Van

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 will hold its general board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at Sister Annunciata Bethell Senior Center, 243 E. 204th St. CB7 committee meetings are held on the following dates at the board office, 229 E. 204th St., at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Housing, Land Use & Zoning Committee on Sept. 21; and Economic Development Committee on Sept. 27. For more information, call the Board office at (718) 933-5650. THE 52ND PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL will meet Sept. 22 at 2455 Sedgwick Ave. (across from Fordham Hill Oval Cooperative) from 7 to 9 p.m. For

By DAVID CRUZ

It took almost two years, but a neighborhood pizza shop settled prominently at one corner of Norwood has finally reopened with nary a notice. Over the summer, the owner of Nicky’s Pizza & Ristorante, Peter Deliaj, lifted the shutters to the 30-year-old pizza place once again following a lengthy top-down facelift. “I couldn’t keep the store like it used to be,” Deliaj said, speaking to the Norwood News from the recently re-opened eatery. Its shuttered state became an accepted mark to Norwood’s small business district. It wasn’t hard to miss. After all, it rests at the ever-busy corner of Bainbridge

By DAVID CRUZ

The new police commissioner is no stranger to the Bronx, as are a major number of high ranking brass now helping him run the department. Days before he was named by outgoing Police Commissioner Bill Bratton to succeed him, then NYPD Chief of Department James O’Neill stood before a convention of community and ethnic press invited to hear from him. Asked about noise issues in Norwood, he quickly smiled and revealed he knew Norwood well. He had been the second in command at its precinct. “I was the captain of the Five-Two in 1998,” O’Neill said, referring to his time

By DAVID CRUZ

Vital Stats: 3K: Average number of children and adult patients seen at Montefiore Health System’s Family Practice Center and Family Health Center (Source: Montefiore Health System) It used to be that when patients suffering from respiratory illness, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a primary care doctor and nurse would be the only available medical practitioners on hand. In some cases, patients would meet them at the emergency room if their condition worsened. But as the healthcare industry adopts a proactive method of care following federal health reforms, doctors at Montefiore Medical Center’s Williamsbridge Family Practice Center and Family

By DAVID CRUZ

Something old will soon be new again If someone wants to dig up the Bronx’s past, they would have to email the Bronx County Historical Society for assistance. For a fee, a librarian would sift though a trove of aging artifacts, with some in such poor shape that handling them would compromise them even more. For documents available to the public, a trip to the Society’s archives is the only way to access them, depriving out-of-towners the chance for more efficient research of the borough. It’s a reason why the Society, a private not-for-profit, will launch an ambitious archiving project

By DAVID CRUZ

It is now law that schools test drinking water for lead contamination. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to identify traces of lead, a toxin that can cause brain damage if overly exposed. The state Department of Health issued emergency rules mandating school districts test their water for lead contamination by Oct. 31 and report results to parents, the state Department of Health and local government officials. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, representing the northeast Bronx, said the new law gives “parents, students and faculty the peace of mind they deserve. If lead levels are detected above 15 parts per billion at any