Sanchez Announces $1 Million in “Participatory Budgeting” Projects

By ARIEL PACHECO

District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez announced a million-dollar investment in various quality-of-life improvements going to schools, libraries, and senior centers in the district on June 20. The funding came by way of New York City Council’s participatory budgeting (PB) process which, according to New York City Council, is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. According to the council, the concept originated in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989. Today, there are more than 3,000 participatory budgeting processes around the world, most at the municipal level. PB was launched

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx dads and their kids got together for a fun day of games and activities to celebrate Father’s Day in St. James Park in Fordham Manor On June 15. The event was part of the HERO Dads a free program at Montefiore-Einstein designed to empower low-income, non-custodial fathers to achieve family and financial success. HERO stands for healthy, empowered, resilient and open. Funded by the Office of Family Assistance (OFA), and led by a team of psychologists, mental health counselors, and career development specialists, its mission is to help fathers become involved, nurturing parents to their children.

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES

New York Public Library (NYPL) hosted the annual Bronx Anti-Prom event this year at Grand Concourse Library on Friday, June 9. Each year, NYPL organizes an Anti-Prom event in each City borough at different locations as an alternative to the traditional local high school proms for students celebrating the end of high school, to celebrate Pride and who may feel more comfortable in a different setting. NYPL had encouraged members throughout Pride Month to explore its world-renowned collections. The Library has one of the largest collections of LGBTQ+ history and activism, including hundreds of thousands of letters, manuscripts, photographs, posters,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Riverdale Y Sunday Market, which organizers say has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for fresh food and community in the Northwest Bronx, has announced that it will be open every Sunday through the winter. Since Sunday, Jan. 9, the market, which organizers say champions local, small-scale farmers, food producers, craftspeople, and artists, has been open every Sunday and will remain open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday throughout the year, including during the winter weeks. The Market is located at 4545 Independence Avenue in the Riverdale Temple parking lot (near 246th Street). “It’s amazing how popular

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES

A Juneteenth celebration hosted by the social justice committee of Bronx Community Charter School in Norwood was held at the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood on Monday, June 19. The school, located at 3170 Webster Avenue in Norwood, first launched what they intend to be an annual celebration last year, as reported. Held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event included musical performances, reading, arts and crafts, and reflections on the meaning of the holiday. One little girl seated on a beanbag was seen lost in a book during the event. Other children were assisted

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Annual 152nd Street Cultural Festival was held on Saturday, May 27, under glorious sunshine in the South Bronx and drew a host of City and borough elected officials along with around one thousand festival goers to celebrate the occasion. The festival is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates Puerto Rican culture and heritage, held on 152nd Street between Jackson and Tinton Avenues, with food, music, games, live entertainment and lots of Boricua pride! Soundboy Ariel Cartagena, a Latin Hip Hop artist, had everyone on their feet during his lively performance. The festival is

By SÍLE MOLONEY, MIRIAM QUIÑONES & DAVID GREENE

After the polls closed on Tuesday, June 27, NYC Board of Elections released the initial, unofficial results of the primary elections which took place that day, based on a percentage of returned poll site scanners. The initial results cover both early votes and election day votes. Absentee and overseas ballots still have to be counted, as do the remaining scanners. Below is a summary of the unofficial results for The Bronx. The latest updated results as of June 28 are also now included below. Democratic incumbent, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark led with 72.72 percent of votes

By SÍLE MOLONEY

In honor of LGBTQ+ Pride 2023, Fordham University Lincoln Center’s Quinn Library and NYPL Belmont Branch, in partnership with the Bronx County Historical Society, opened Have a Heart, an exhibit that celebrates Bronx-born Puerto Rican activist Jesús Lebrón and his central role in struggles for LGBTQ+ rights, including marriage equality. Twenty years ago, in 2003, Jesús, with fellow activist and close friend, Brendan Fay, co-founded The Civil Marriage Trail Project, an organization that helped bring same-sex couples across borders for legal marriage. Among the couples were Edie Windsor (1929–2017) and Thea Spyer (1931–2009) who married in Toronto on May

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

BronxNet, the public TV network which serves the borough, has expanded its operations to include a new location in the South Bronx at 441 Westchester Avenue. Officially named the BronxNet Media + Technology Studios at La Central, it is a short walk from the Hub, the commercial heart of the South Bronx at Third Avenue and East 149th Street. Elected officials joined network executives and personalities for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 11. Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson joined other elected officials including State Senators José M. Serrano (S.D. 29), and Luis Sepúlveda (S.D. 32), Assembly Members

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

Entertainment

Sanchez Announces $1 Million in “Participatory Budgeting” Projects

Fun-Filled “HERO Dads” Father’s Day Event Held in St. James Park

Annual Bronx Anti-Prom Held at Grand Concourse Library to Celebrate Pride Month

The Riverdale Y Sunday Market is Open All Winter

Local School Hosts 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration in the Williamsbridge Oval Park

Smiles All Around at National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Annual 152nd Street Cultural Festival

UPDATE ELECTIONS 2023: Unofficial Results of Bronx Primary Races on Election Night & Ranked Choice

Art Exhibit Celebrates “Friendship & Activism” of Puerto Rican and Irish LGBTQ+ Activists

Elected Officials Join BronxNet for Formal Opening of New Studio in the South Bronx