Public & Community Meetings

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 will host its general board meeting Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bedford Park Senior Center, 243 E. 204th St. CB7 committees are held on the following dates at the board office, 229A E. 204th St. at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Public Safety & Quality of Life Feb. 4; Education/Libraries & Youth Services Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Housing/Land Use Feb. 8; Environment & Sanitation Feb. 9; Senior Services Feb. 10; Parks & Recreation Feb. 10 at 7:15 p.m.; Traffic & Transportation Feb. 11; Veterans committee Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call

Blood Drive St. Brendan’s Church, 333 E. 206th St. presents the annual “After Super Bowl Blood Drive” on Feb. 14 at 10 a.m., in the rectory. Donors are required to eat a full meal and drink plenty of water before donating. For more information, call (718) 547-6655. BMCA Seeks Flea Market Donations The Bedford Mosholu Community Association is accepting donations for its annual flea market set for March 5. Bring new and used items (except clothes) to 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., apt. B1 (lobby floor) on Wednesdays, Feb. 17 and 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Feb. 27 from

By VIVIAN R. CARTER

Wheeled vehicles powered by humans, not steam engines, may again be able to traverse the Old Putnam Trail in Van Cortlandt Park. But not anytime soon. Two community boards are considering a controversial $2.5 million proposal to redesign the trail by adding a 10-foot wide asphalt surface and 3-foot wide jogging trail. The trail, once the New York Central Railroad line, cuts through the center of Van Cortlandt Park, from its southern border, north to the city line with Yonkers. In 2013, a plan to redo the trail was rejected by Community Board 8 of Riverdale/Kingsbridge. The park is designated

Three Lehman College business majors have been selected to join the Bronx Arts Ensemble (BAE) as interns for the spring 2016 term. The Lehman interns will be responsible for assisting in the management of BAE programs. The entrepreneurial, dynamic office environment exposes the interns to many aspects of arts administration, including but not limited to, marketing, program management, accounting and fundraising. Lehman President Ricardo R. Fernandez commented: “I am delighted about this new initiative. Lehman and BAE have partnered in various artistic endeavors over the years. The partnership is now expanding into the business management realm and I am confident that

This week we asked readers about the city’s response to the recent record-breaking blizzard Jan. 23-24, compared to last year’s cleanup efforts. I guess it was better for what we got slapped with this year. Some places got like 20 inches, you know? It actually doesn’t look too bad, it’s only been a couple of days. I actually got an e-mail about helping out shoveling, so I do like the fact that they were reaching out to residents to help out. Kyante Adams Hollis, Queens For me it was fast enough, they did a good job. I remember last year,

[URIS id=20221] In his third State of the City address, that once again captured the tenor of inequality, Mayor Bill de Blasio offered a synopsis of citywide initiatives while unveiling a short list of goals specific to the Norwood and Mott Haven sections of the Bronx. Presenting his evening address at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, the first for de Blasio, Mr. de Blasio summarized policies that he points have raised quality of life for New Yorkers, particularly the city’s downtrodden. Without the help of a teleprompter, Mr. de Blasio’s speech seemed to be refresher on

Editor’s Pick For the Hot-Blooded The public is invited to join the Bronx Polar Bears for a dip in the brisk waters of Orchard Beach, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. Soup will be served to participants at 12:30 p.m. BronxWorks offers transportation pickup outside the #6 Pelham Bay subway station at 10:30 a.m. Bring new gloves, socks, hats or scarves to donate to BronxWorks homeless services program or drop them off through 5 p.m. Feb. 12 at Bronxnet Television, Lehman College Campus, 2790 Goulden Ave., Carman Hall room C19B. For more information and additional drop-off locations, visit www.bronxnet.org. Onstage Lehman

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

Though federal and city officials officially cut the ribbon on Fordham Plaza earlier this month, neighborhood residents shouldn’t expect vendors to move into the enormous concession area and kiosks for at least a year. The $34 million plaza in the largest transit hub in the Bronx includes a new bus depot, access to the Metro-North and a sitting area for pedestrians. The plaza also features a main concession area near the Metro-North stairways, and three smaller, newsstand-style booths, as well as a bathroom. The plaza could stand as boon for the BID, given the near 80,000 people who travel through

The Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) is edging close to actual construction at the Kingsbridge Armory, with progress in the form of the state’s financial support towards the project. Not much of a sound was heard about the Armory in 2015, though developers insisted plenty was going on behind the scenes. That’s true, and it’s thanks to the working relationship between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Since the early part of 2015, the pair has forged an ever-strengthening bond that’s allowed Diaz to check off some items (though not yet achievements since certain projects haven’t