International Film Festival Ushers World Premiere to Lehman College

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

When “Grafstract: The Bronx Street Art Renaissance” screens at the Bronx International Film Festival later this month, filmmaker Dan Perez will finally see his own work in the borough where he was born and lived for the first 27 years of his life. “This feels really good, I really wanted this film to be in the Bronx festival,” said Perez, who now lives in South Florida. The film follows several renowned street artists from the Bronx and Baltimore over four days as they painted walls in the Bronx, chronicling the “anarchistic” tradition of graffiti in the borough, and a shift

COMMUNITY BOARD 7 has a new district manager several months after its former manager resigned. Following an exhaustive search, the Board unanimously approved the hiring of Andrew Sandler, currently the director of community relations and constituent services for Councilman Andrew Cohen. Sandler has a public service background, having worked for Cohen’s predecessor, former Councilman Oliver Koppell. Cohen called the Board’s hiring of Sandler “my loss.” “Mr. Sandler is well- qualified for this position and I believe he will be a great asset to the board. I wish him well in this new endeavor,” said Cohen. District managers are paid city

By BOB KAPPSTATTER

Special to Norwood News As crime remains a stubborn problem for some areas of Norwood and its surrounding neighborhoods, the 52nd Precinct is set to embrace some radical crime fighting methods. The news comes amid a year where the Five-Two won the year, though barely. While the number of victims last year was low compared to the precinct’s more problematic days, the Five-Two was hit with a surge of homicides and shootings, as well as bumps in other major crime categories. It still managed to show a four percent drop when the seven major crime categories were lumped together, but it ranked within the top 10

Police have arrested a suspect for the rape of a teen girl in Bedford Park. Police from the 52nd Precinct say the victim, a 19-year-old from Bedford Park, was walking on East Mosholu Parkway South and Marion Avenue around 9:45 p.m. on Sunday when she was approached by a man brandishing a knife. At knifepoint. the suspect forced the victim into his car and sped off, heading to an unknown location in the borough of Queens. It was there where he sexually assaulted her, according to police. The suspect soon drove the victim back to Bedford Park, dropping her off.

Lehman College’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies is offering the first of its spring 2016 semester free career information sessions on Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m. Expert guidance will be provided on several non-credit certificate programs for those who wish to acquire new skills to change careers or upgrade skills for their current position. Programs covered include Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC); Business Bookkeeping; Certified Financial Planner (CFP); IRS Enrolled Agent; Real Estate Salesperson; Entrepreneurship; Computer Information Technology including Microsoft Office Specialist Certification, Graphics and Web Design and Programming, A+ Computer Technician, Healthcare IT Technician, and Cisco

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their New Year’s resolutions and hopes for 2016. My New Year’s resolution is for me to help out my mom more with things like paying for groceries and anything that she needs, and for me to do better in school. Tevin Woodley Parkchester I’m going to help my family out, so they may live more comfortably. Joshua Rivera Manhattan My hope for the New Year is for these politicians to help clean up the Bronx a little more and create more jobs and help the homeless. It’s a real

By By ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

As I celebrate my 20th year as an income tax and financial advisor, I am sure I will continue to be asked the number one question: “Can I get free money from the IRS?” The answer: YES YOU CAN! But you must qualify and understand the laws. To understand the laws, you must know about tax deductions and tax credits. A tax deduction reduces your taxable income by a percent of every dollar, while a tax credit offers dollar-for-dollar reduction of the tax you owe. For example, if you’re in the 25 percent tax bracket, as most lower middle class New

By DAVID CRUZ

The Bedford Mosholu Community Association wants to light a fire under the New York City Department of Parks, demanding they lock Williamsbridge Oval Park nightly following a series of fires. The group’s president, Barbara Stronczer, told members she plans to draft a letter asking the Parks Department to close the park at dusk. In recent weeks, at least seven intentional fires were sparked causing community residents to be uneasy regarding safety in the park. The fires led to the apprehension of one teen, but it remains unclear whether he is responsible for all the fires. The Parks Department increased Parks

Anticipating news stories is a bit tricky in journalism. Stories involve truth, which is always stranger than fiction, making news predictions, well, tricky. But in looking ahead, the Norwood News is looking backward to determine what stories will spark ire, provoke further discussion, and signal change. So far, this could be the year of repeats. With that, here are some stories that could get the presses going: Securing the Oval: Let’s hope 2015 was the last year the neighborhood saw a string of violent incidents, brush fires, and fresh graffiti tags that bewildered neighbors around the park in the latter