Bronx News Roundup: January 12-18

Lots of fun stuff happening around this great borough, and the Bronx News Roundup is here to highlight them all. Of course, for the sake of unity, all Bronx papers covered the guilty verdict for disgraced FORMER Assemblyman Eric Stevenson for accepting bribes in exchange for writing legislation that would have benefitted developers of a two senior centers in the Bronx. Stevenson’s conviction could net him nearly 55 years in prison. Another sad tale to a once promising career. It’s unclear whether a special election will take place for his 79th Assembly District seat. Bob Kappstatter at The Bronx Times

The Bronx Needs Big Brothers and Big Sisters

by David Cruz From Norwood to Westchester Square, the need for a person to look up is the strongest in the Bronx when compared to the rest of the city, according to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The national volunteer group, which has spent the last 110 years partnering well-respected adult role models with adolescents, has kick-started a lofty recruitment effort, hoping to entice Bronxites to donate time and become “Bigs.”

Former Norwood News Reporter’s Arrived!

by David Cruz – Editor-in-Chief Big congratulations to Heather Haddon, formerly of the Norwood News and now a rising star at The Wall Street Journal for her coverage on the “Bridgegate” scandal that’s testing the political future of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Haddon appeared on MSNBC’s “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” on January 14, chronicling her initial investigation into the scandal involving Christie’s top aides deliberately snarling traffic on the George Washington Bridge as political punishment towards Fort Lee’s mayor for not endorsing Christie for re-election. Local Facebook sites have been gleaming with pride knowing about Haddon’s time

Be Healthy: Flu Season in Full Swing

By NORWOOD NEWS With sub-zero temps blanketing the Bronx in recent days, Montefiore Medical Center wants you to heed this warning: get your flu shot! The state Department of Health confirms that flu season has now settled in, with this year’s bug scuttling all corners of the Bronx. Infectious disease specialists have identified the most dangerous flu viruses for this year with about 90 percent of these strains believed to be well-matched to the current vaccines. However, there are several important factors Bronxites should know about the 2013-2014 vaccine:

Assemblyman Eric Stevenson Found Guilty

by David Cruz In a unanimous decision Assemblyman Eric Stevenson (D-79th A.D.) was found guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for drafting legislation that would have benefitted owners of two senior day care centers throughout the west Bronx. “As a unanimous jury swiftly found, Assemblyman Stevenson brazenly betrayed the public that elected him,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. “Graft and greed are intolerable in Albany, and we will go to trial as often as we have to until gronment in New York is cleaned up.”

Bronx Youth Heard (Spring application deadline Jan. 29)

The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Heard (formerly known as the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative), a free after-school journalism program for Bronx high school students. There are two sessions each school year: one in the fall and another in the spring. We are currently accepting applications for our spring 2014 semester, which is scheduled to start on Thursday, February. Classes are held at Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse, on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 6:00p.m., and run for 12 weeks. [ATTENTION: Spring applications are DUE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29. Download your application now!]

Parks Dept. Vets New Managers for Van Cortlandt Stables

by David Cruz Giddy-up! There’ll be a change of leadership at the Van Cortlandt Park Stables in the near future, as the city Department of Parks vets a new concessionaire to oversee the sprawling stalls, with the current manager primed to ride off into the sunset. The Riverdale Equestrian Center (REC) manages the riding stables for now, occupying roughly 21 acres of trails, an indoor riding arena, and a 1/4 mile exercise track. But managers for REC decided not to renew their ten-year deal with Parks, which expires in 2015, following some pressure to re-focus their services to the community.

Neighborhood Notes

BRIO Awards Application Workshops Application workshops for The Bronx Council on the Arts’ BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) awards will be held on Jan. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m., at Hostos Community College, room C-391, 450 Grand Concourse (149th Street) Application deadline is Jan. 31. For more information, call (718) 931-9500 ext. 35. Free Testing for HS Equivalency Prep Program Grace Outreach, at 378 E. 151st St. (5th floor), will conduct free placement tests for its HS Equivalency Test Preparation program on Jan. 16 and 17 for the 2014 semester for women 18 years and older. For more information, please

By DAVID GREENE A new year, a new set of resolutions. This week, the Norwood News interviewed several neighbors with hopes, plans and resolutions for 2014. 1) The first would be to stay healthy, and the second is to get ready for med school. I’d also like to better cultivate relationships with family. –Aaron Apafio 2) I hope it’s going to be a good New Year and that we start making more money. I wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope the new mayor does a good job and I hope they reduce the taxes so things