Neighborhood Notes

Participatory Budgeting Residents age 14 and over, and living within the 11th Council District, which includes Norwood and Bedford Park, can vote for up to five construction projects proposed for the district under Participatory Budgeting. To vote, log on to http://council.nyc.gov/pb/. Immigration Forum The Legal Aid Society will host a Know Your Rights immigration forum on April 3 at 9 a.m. at Montefiore Health System’s Moses Campus, Cherkasky Auditorium, 111 E. 210th St. (East Gun Hill Road entrance). Free Gardening Classes The New York Botanical Garden will host a free home gardening program on April 2 from 9:30 to 11

By DAVID CRUZ

A major sewer project in Norwood is slated to have round the clock work taking place to speed up the process, which could be disruptive to residents’ sleep and their drinking water. Community Board 7 members approved the idea by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, where crews from the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) have spent seven months excavating roads to replace century-old sewer pipes along Bainbridge Avenue. The approval clears DDC to obtain a nighttime work permit from the New York City Department of Transportation, which holds oversight on any work happening

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the northwest Bronx, with dropoff locations at 300 places, is out with plenty of community news you can use. We begin, of course, with page one, and some mea culpas. The front page story focuses on West Bronx Housing’s attempt to shed light on what they believe is a nagging issue across the Bronx–landlords using deceptive tactics to pump up rents on unsuspecting new tenants. Read why the group’s executive director take on these rent registration forms and the state agency tasked to keep track of them. Before going

By DAVID CRUZ

Gerri Gagliardi, a third grade teacher at St. Ann’s School, didn’t say much to convey the sense of grief over news that the Catholic school she’s taught in for a decade will close. Her hazel-green eyes did most of the talking. The same went for Tracy McGovern, Robbin Vails, and Sylvia Rini, all teachers at the parochial school and stricken with anger as they continued processing the Archdiocese of New York’s decision to close the school. The school is co-located with the Shrine Church of St. Ann, which closed its doors in August 2015 for financial reasons, according to

By DAVID CRUZ

A Bronx tenant’s advocacy group claims landlords may be skirting the rules by not showing rent-stabilized tenants rent registration forms. They’re also claiming the state agency tasked to track these rent histories fails to thoroughly double check whether a landlord’s rent increase on a tenant is justifiable. West Bronx Housing, headquartered in Bedford Park, has since been collecting these statements to pick up patterns while enlisting the help of elected officials. The group has now zeroed in on an apartment building in Riverdale, where rent histories are suspect. They’re now requesting these forms to tenants living in Norwood and Bedford

By By ANTHONY RIEVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

During income tax season, as a financial adviser, I’m asked many questions. Some of them are great! Some of them are ” lulus.” Let me educate you to the madness called income tax season and some of the questions people ask when looking for ways to either avoid income taxation or not realizing to protect themselves from fraudent Tax preparers and possible identity theft. Should I open an account in Switzerland? Answer: In short, You could. However, since the Obama Administration started looking at “offshore accounts,” an inquiry priority, I wouldn’t risk it. I want to protest Donald Trump? Answer:

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, publishing Bronx community news you can use, is out at 300 stands across the northwest Bronx. We begin, as usual, with page one and a proposal to downzone Mosholu Parkway, the green pasture that doubles as a roadway. Read what Mayor Bill de Blasio had to say about development in the borough, and get a full picture of his recent town hall powwow from reporter Wendy Joan Biddlecombe. Inside the cover you’ll find stories on Norwood’s CVS pharmacy primed to closed, according to the big chain pharmacy, an investigation into

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

Although Mayor Bill de Blasio’s town hall meeting was held in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, the mayor heard from Norwood residents, who brought issues of parking and overcrowding to his attention. Throughout the event, held at In Tech Academy on Tibbett Avenue and moderated by Councilman Andrew Cohen, the mayor addressed Bronxites’ questions on national issues as well as local concerns, including immigration, healthcare and education. “This is a city where we’re passionate people. When you look at the tabloids, you look at the news, there’s a lot of feeling, a lot of emotion. And I think we

By DAVID CRUZ

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. once again lightly dabbled with the prospect of becoming mayor of New York City in his latest annual State of the Borough Address. Discussing citywide issues, he took aim at both Mayor Bill de Blasio and President Donald Trump. Diaz’s eighth annual speech, delivered at JFK High School in Marble Hill, drew 89 rounds of applause during his 47-minute delivery, as he summed up a number of the borough’s achievements, while it was light on new, lofty initiatives. Diaz was short on new proposals, while adding to previously announced proposals, which had included installing a deck atop a 13-acre train yard