Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Insurance Help Free insurance enrollment help is available at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, 3424 Kossuth Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates: June 21, 22, 28 and 29. For more information, call 311. New Social Security Cards New replacement Social Security cards can be now obtained by going to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. The new cards will no longer include the Social Security number to further protect privacy. For more detailed information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber_. Free Immigration Service West Bronx Housing, 220 E. 204th St., provides free basic immigration services. They offer application assistance for citizenship, permanent residence

By NORWOOD NEWS

The Norwood News, the community publication covering the Bronx and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, won a first place prize once again for Best Small Circulation Publication at this year’s Ippies Awards. The contest, now in its sixteenth year, celebrates the work of community and ethnic media outlets across the city. The Center for Community & Ethnic Media, which has its offices at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, has organized the show since its inception. Tom Robbins, investigative reporter in residence at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, cited the paper’s 2016 February 16 to March 1 edition

By ANGEL MINDANAO

Though at first glance, the garage at 383 E. 201st St. appears to be simply old and abandoned, in its alleyway is a historic relic that could come down. At the last monthly Bedford Mosholu Community Association meeting, president Barbara Stronczer announced that a developer had purchased the garage, putting a wall sign at risk while also lowering the chance the garage will ever be used for its intended purpose. The wall sign reads “Vote Henry Bruckn,” with a portion of its right side painted over. Stronczer told residents that she came out of her apartment building two weeks prior

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the Bronx, is out and packed with plenty of Bronx news coverage. We begin our journey with page one and our front page story. This one focuses on Jean Hill, the newly voted chair of Community Board 7. The headline says it all: Hill’s stature is risen from her ascension to the role of board chair. Hear what Hill had to say on her expectations from Board members come September. We then head inside the cover and the local debate on the Specialized High School Admissions Test and a

By JOSE A. GIRALT

The Kingsbridge Heights Neighborhood Improvement Association (KHNIA) may not celebrate its 39th anniversary next year. The grassroots nonprofit faces eviction with no plans for an alternate location, entering an uncertain future that will be settled in Housing Court. The organization operates out of 2805 University Ave. by its vice president and outreach coordinator, Elizabeth Thompson. The building management company, The Morgan Group, is proceeding with an eviction action after KHNIA accrued $6000 in back rent. Until a final ruling is made on the eviction, a judge is allowing Thompson to use the apartment for one hour a day to take

Reimagining Mosholu Parkland Residents are invited to a brainstorming session on improving sections of Mosholu Parkland on June 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sister Annunciata Bethell Senior Center, 243 E. 204th St. The event is hosted by Citizens Committee in conjunction with Friends of Mosholu Parkland. For more information, contact Elizabeth Quaranta at mosholuparkland@gmail.com. Bronx Career Fair A career fair will be held at Hostos Community College, C Building/East Academic Complex, 3rd floor gym, 450 Grand Concourse on June 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, email Lisanette Rosario, director of career services, at Lrosario@hostos.cuny.edu.

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The latest edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of Bronx news to spread around. We’ve packed 12 pages of original reporting by our talented rotation of reporters we hope you’ll find insightful. For now, let’s begin with page one and a long-awaited project. That project falls in the heart of Norwood, Williamsbridge Oval Park. It’s there where a ceremonial groundbreaking of the highly anticipated skate park took place to the pride of many stakeholders involved. Read the city Parks Commissioner’s comments on this latest project. Read also why some will view this project as

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

A law that offers free legal help for low-income residents fighting eviction should be expanded faster, said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. In late May, Diaz sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio urging him to speed up the availability of the Right to Counsel Act, suggesting de Blasio move the provision by 2020 instead. Right to Counsel is already in effect in some parts of the Bronx. It would be in full effect by July 2022. But Diaz, an early contender for Mayor in 2021, finds the matter more pressing. “Our City’s tenants simply cannot wait,” Diaz insisted

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering Bronx communities, is out this week! Check out these stories put together by our dedicated interns and freelancers aiming to get the conversation going across the Bronx. Our page one story focuses on the perennial issue in the Bronx–barbecuing at areas that bar the practice. Community Board 7 is once again getting ahead of the issue and is pressuring the Parks Department to have those “No Barbecue” signs where they’re supposed to be. Read mixed feelings behind this issue. Behind the cover story is another parks-related story, this time focusing