Classics at Poe Park, Courtesy of Bardekova Ensemble

By ADRIANNA LOMBARDO

A quintet of musicians forming the Bardekova Ensemble put on a free performance at the Poe Park Visitors Center in Fordham on July 10. The music troupe is a non-profit organization funded through the Bronx Council of the Arts. They bring free or low priced concerts to the Bronx community, an area lacking in music performances when compared to the rest of the city. These free concerts are open to the public. Members from the Bardekova Ensemble have performed with members of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. Members of the Bardekova Ensemble include Richard Parately (flute), Akari

Hello Faithful Readers, The month-long edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of Bronx community news you can use. With our July-August edition, are some interesting stories intended to pique your interest. We first begin in Bedford Park with a tenants meeting involving Ved Parkash, dubbed the city’s worst landlord. Hear what tenants living in his buildings had to say about conditions, which have drawn the ire of city officials. Also, hear what Mr. Parkash had to say of his buildings. Moving into the pages of the edition you’ll read up on Mosholu Montefiore Community Center‘s respected executive director,

By DAVID CRUZ

An enormous but barren parcel of land at the southwestern tip of the Bronx is one step closer towards development by the city, testing interest in the waterfront while advancing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s overall vision for the South Bronx. The 158,000-square-foot property, settled at the shadow of the Major Deegan Expressway and Bronx Terminal Market near 149th Street, represents one of the city’s larger available spaces in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The city, through a Request For Expressions of Interest (RFEI), is envisioning a whopping 40-story, mixed-used affordable housing complex overlooking the Harlem River. RFEI’s are a precursor

By DAVID CRUZ

Fifty soccer fields are expected to be built over the next five years across the city, and in the Bronx, as part of a public-private partnership to “leveling the playing field” and increase mentorship opportunities, city officials announced. Mayor Bill de Blasio visited Millbrook Houses in Mott Haven to announce NYC Soccer Initiative, a $3 million venture among the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, sports apparel Adidas, U.S. Soccer Foundation, and the New York City Football Club (NYCFC). The club’s base of operations is at Yankee Stadium. Millbrook Houses, falling under the city housing authority, is one of

Body Camera Survey The NYPD wants your opinion on its officer body-worn cameras. Take the questionnaire or submit comments at nypdbodycameras.org. TV Production Training Workshops on television production are available through BronxNet Television, the borough’s official public access television station, from July 12 through Sept. 3, at either Mercy College or Lehman College. Registration fee is $90 for in-studio training and $100 for field production. For more information, call (718) 960-1181. Free Summer Meals Free summer meals for children age 18 and under is available until Sept. 2 at public schools, community pool centers, New York City Housing Authority complexes,

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

Lifelong Bronxite Samelys Lopez, former second vice chair at Bronx Community Board 7, is petitioning to become the Democratic Female District Leader for the 78th Assembly District, an area that covers Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham and a portion of Belmont. The district leader is an elected and unpaid volunteer within both the Democratic and Republican parties, and responsibilities for the position include hiring poll workers, listening to and advocating for community members’ concerns and encouraging people to be involved in the local political process. There are two district leaders for each assembly district, one female and one male, who

Editor’s Pick Summer in the City The public is invited to attend Summerstage, a variety of free performances, all at 10:30 a.m., presented by City Parks Foundation, in city parks (schedule is subject to change): Van Cortlandt Park’s Classic Playground, VC Park South and Orloff Avenue – Todd Rolle: Kids Day Out on July 7; and Chinese Acrobat Li Liu on July 14. Van Cortlandt Park’s Sachkerah Woods Playground at Jerome Avenue and Gun Hill Road – PuppetMobile’s Puss in Boots on July 21; Marc Cary: The Harlem Sessions on July 28. Poe Park, next to the bandstand, Grand Concourse

State Senator Adriano Espaillat largely owes his primary victory in the Democratic 13th Congressional District race to the Bronx, which takes up 20 percent of the gerrymandered district that also covers Norwood. Mr. Espaillat took in 15,735 votes over the presumptive frontrunner, Assemblyman Keith Wright, who took in 14,499 votes in a stunning upset. Mr. Espaillat also won the Bronx by 853 votes. Granted, June 28 did mark a primary, but with the district heavily Democratic, November’s General Election will formally see Mr. Espaillat ascend to the seat. With that: Mr. Espaillat, please open a Bronx constituent services office. After

The latest edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community news you can use to make you a more aware Bronx resident! This week we have 16 pages packed with news happening in the Norwood area and surrounding communities. Our page one story takes us to the heart of the neighborhood and accusations of welfare fraud by a popular halal deli on East 204th Street. A raid rounded up members of the family-owned operation. David Greene spoke with the son of the owner. See what he has to say. We then turn to an editorial found on