Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community news you can use. We have 20 pages of news and lots to cover. Our front page cover story focuses on comments made by the head of NYC Health + Hospitals offering assurances that North Central Bronx Hospital is here to stay. The Norwood News heard directly from the top person at NCBH and some ideas batted around for expansion. The Norwood News is also excited to announce our 30th anniversary celebration is three weeks away! Save the date for Thursday, November 1. We will be honoring Sally Dunford,

Ocasio-Cortez, Among the Like-Minded, Touts Criminal Justice Reform

By JOSEPH KONIG

With just over a month before the general election, Democratic congressional candidate for the 14th District, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, co-hosted a town hall at Parkside Houses focusing on criminal justice reform. Ocasio-Cortez spoke on ending cash bail, closing Rikers, and ways to turn activism into governance alongside activists and community leaders. “I don’t want us to do what I believe happened in the aftermath of the Obama presidency,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We were like amazing, hope, change… he’s going to take care of it. It doesn’t work like that. We have to have each other’s backs.” The event was the first of a series of town halls she will host in the run-up to

In Bedford Park Preservation Campaign a Need Your Photos

By DAVID CRUZ

As developers far and wide continue eyeing Bedford Park for development, the Bedford Mosholu Community Association is utilizing a workaround strategy to ward further development. And Ella Santos, a vice president of the group needs an item that’ll serve as the lifeblood of the campaign: your photos. “They don’t have to be historical photographs. It could be current,” said Santos, speaking at the latest BMCA meeting Oct. 3. “Any old photos of you standing in front of your house, with friends.” BMCA is now applying to be placed on the Historic Districts Council’s (HDC) “Six to Celebrate” initiative which assists

Norwood News Celebrates 30 Years with Nov. 1 Gala

By NORWOOD NEWS

The Norwood News is celebrating 30 years covering Norwood and its surrounding communities with an anniversary night on Nov. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lehman College and we would like you to join us. As a community-based newspaper, the publication has striven to provide first-rate journalism and in-depth coverage of the neighborhood. Our mission to inform readers has guided our success throughout the past three decades and with your continued support, we will do so for years to come. Errol Louis, political anchor for NY1 news, will keynote the event that will also feature a trip down memory

With an Uptick in Homeless, Is Anyone Paying Attention

By JONATHAN CUSTODIO

With a cigarette hedged between his fingers, the plainly-clothed man spoke of hardship. The man, whose name is being withheld by the Norwood News out of concern over any reprisals, is a resident at the recently opened men’s only homeless shelter at 3600 Jerome Ave., in front of Van Cortlandt Park. The 200-bed shelter, which opened this past summer, houses the homeless who are mentally ill. A curfew is set at 10 p.m. and only clients who work late nights are allowed to skip it. “The shelter’s not ready,” said the inside source. “Where is the security? There’s no maintenance

By RACHEL MILLER-BRADSHAW

The bus was filled with anxious Fordham Hill Owners Corporation (FHOC) shareholders on the way to the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) meeting set to take place that morning on Sept. 19, 2017. Empowering conversations on what the corporation could do to advocate for improvements to uplift University Heights was the discussion during the ride. Fordham Hill’s Community Engagement Committee (CEC) had to quickly galvanize and coordinate their shareholder community after learning that oil giant BP resubmitted an application to build a gas station at 205 W. Fordham Rd. In addition to getting shareholders to send in emails before

Editor’s Pick Weekend Walks in Norwood East 204th Street and Bainbridge Avenue Merchants Association presents two free Weekend Walks, featuring family friendly activities.from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. along East 204th Street between Bainbridge and Decatur avenues. Sept. 29 events include Youth Expo “Anti Bullying & Literacy Programs” from noon to 4 p.m., and Oct. 6 events include Octoberfest “Food, Wine & Beer Festival” from 3 to 7 p.m. Streets will be closed to traffic. For more information, call (917) 640-1003. Onstage Lehman College for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd., W., presents Latin artist Olga Tañón, Sept. 29

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

College Fair SUNY Bronx Educational Opportunity Center, 1666 Bathgate Ave., hosts a free college fair on Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can speak with college reps and learn about scholarships, financial aid and admission requirements. For more information, call (718) 530-7017. Grant Campaign NYC Service and Citizens Committee for New York City launched the 2019 “Love Your Block” grant campaign to support communities making local change in transforming public spaces. Resident-led volunteer groups should submit project proposals that address community concerns and highlight how the project will transform public spaces. Twenty-five community group winners will receive

More New York City Students Passing State Test, But Bronx Still Lags

By DAVID CRUZ

Test scores for New York City students from third through eighth grade have gone up this year, but the Bronx still lags. Scores released by the state Department of Education show 46.7 percent of all New York City public students met proficiency standards in the English test, according to city officials. They also saw 42.7 percent of students pass the math test. A borough breakdown shows 32.3 percent of Bronx students from third to eighth grade passed their English test, according to raw data by the state Education Department. This year represents a “reset moment” as Mayor Bill de Blasio