Editorial: Expanding Discovery is the Right Course, But Don’t Exclude

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to expand the Discovery program as a way of increasing enrollment of black and Latino students in the city’s elite specialized high schools has drawn the ire of Pacific Legal Foundation. The group is now suing the city in federal court, relying on an argument similar to an affirmative action case it has against Harvard University: Discovery essentially discriminates against Asian students who overwhelmingly represent the specialized high school student population. Expanding the Discovery program—essentially offering rigorous summer classes for students who missed the cutoff in passing the specialized high school test—takes effect in 2020,

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The Norwood News is out with its latest edition covering the Bronx. In our last edition of the year, we bring you the latest! The front page story looks at Community Board 7 demanding concessions on a major project coming to Bedford Park. Ischia Bravo, CB7’s District Manager, is offering an interesting take on the building boom happening in the neighborhood. She has a fix she hopes the Bronx Council Delegation would consider. David Greene reports on the tragic death of a 17-year-old who died after allegedly being pushed onto oncoming traffic. Police now say the suspects are

By JOSEPH KONIG

The incoming Democratic majority in the state Senate handed out committee chair assignments on Tuesday, with several Bronx senators getting tapped to lead key committees by incoming state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins of Yonkers. As committee chairs, the Bronx Senate Delegation can set the agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Sen. Gustavo Rivera will head the Health Committee, Senator-elect Alessandra Biaggi will chair the notoriously ineffective Ethics Committee, and Sen. Luis Sepulveda will preside over the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee. Sen. Jamaal Bailey, who represents most of Norwood and Bedford Park, will chair the Codes Committee,

By SHIRLEY SYMISTER

Even as winter approaches, there is still time to enjoy exercising outdoors. Grab a partner, a warm jacket, and comfortable shoes, and don’t let the colder weather keep you from being healthier, especially as the new year draws near. If you want to avoid indoor activity, there’s plenty to do in the north Bronx, home to several beautiful parks in Norwood. There are several perfect areas for you to boost your heart rate and enjoy the scenery along the way: The Williamsbridge Oval: The park has basketball courts, a soccer field, running track, a playground, and a recreation center with

By DAVID CRUZ

Travelers driving through the northern edge of Bainbridge Avenue finally can breathe: the massive construction project is no longer blocking drivers going northbound towards the Major Deegan Expressway. But the project is not nearly over. Construction crews for the massive water pipe replacement project have entered into the second phase of the project, with EIC Associates Inc. set to install a massive trunk main that won’t disrupt service, but will likely expand the search for parking. Crews have knocked out street parking from beginning at the intersection of Jerome and Bainbridge avenues, and heading towards the Major Deegan Expressway, to

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The Norwood News is out with its latest edition covering Bronx communities.With 24 pages of news, let’s get into the coverage. The front page focuses on a $3 million infusion of money for Bailey Houses. Assemblyman Victor Pichardo secured funding for roof repairs. Hear what tenants at the NYCHA property in Kingsbridge have to say about conditions. The paper also has an update to the fire that happened on Hull Avenue on Nov. 20. Thirty-five people making up seven families were displaced. Read how the community, including one state official, is doing its part to help the families.

By JOSEPH KONIG

Assemblyman Victor Pichardo has earmarked $3 million in capital funds for roof repairs at the Bailey Houses, a troubled NYCHA building in Kingsbridge. The news is the latest in a years-long fight by the building’s residents council to better conditions as a leaky roof continues to destroy property and harm residents. “The roof is just absolutely in complete disrepair,” Pichardo, flanked by residents, said at a news conference on Dec. 4. “This isn’t something that’s abstract. People are living with this every day. If there is a leaky roof, it creates mold issues across the entire building.” Pichardo said the

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

The bike sharing company JUMP looks to expand their pilot program that began in Fordham and Tremont this summer, to another part of the Bronx and hopefully the entire borough. Expansion rests on the city Department of Transportation, which would give the bike sharing company the green light. For now, the DOT confirmed it has extended the program for another 90 days with the agency closing monitoring demand. The program was originally set to last for four months, but rising interest from Bronx residents prompted DOT to extend the program. The pilot program brought 200 pedal-assist bikes to the Fordham

After Surviving Cancer, Norwood Resident Gives Back

By JOSEPH KONIG

Dr. Courtney Howard went to the rheumatologist earlier this year for a regular appointment. Howard lives with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects moisture-producing glands like tear ducts and salivary glands. “My rheumotologist was doing her normal lymph node checks and felt a lump around my ear,” Howard told the Norwood News in a recent interview. “She thought it was a lymph node, wasn’t really sure, but thought I’d be okay” Howard, a geriatric psychiatric fellow at Montefiore Medical Center and a resident of Norwood by way of Birmingham, Alabama, is well versed in the symptoms and traits of