Editorial: Empty Lot, Empty Promises

Two years ago, in the wake of an early Halloween morning fire on Bainbridge Avenue that destroyed 10 Norwood businesses and deflated an entire neighborhood, there was much talk of renewal — from city agencies, elected officials and the landlord who owned the lot where those businesses once thrived. But talk has not resulted in action and only a sad, empty lot remains.

Bronx’s Marathon ‘Challenge’ Rep Outruns his Addiction

Six years ago, Rob Vassilarakis was coming up from the East 138th 5 train station when he was suddenly hit with a wave of energy that would change his life for good. It turned out to be New York City marathon runners charging through the 20-mile mark.

Video of Suspects in Murder of Bronx Father

The NYPD released video footage of two male suspects who detectives believe may be connected to the murder of Bimal Chanda, who was beaten on Saturday morning and died from his injuries yesterday morning. The story is now getting picked up citywide. Reports say Chanda used to be a cab driver and that he hoped to start a nonprofit to fight unemployment. Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Man Dies After Severe Beating on 190th Street

Bimal Chanda, a 59-year-old man with deep ties to the northwest Bronx community where he lived for nearly three decades died yesterday morning from injuries suffered during a severe beating on Saturday morning. In a cruel twist, Chanda and his family were in the final stages of moving out of the neighborhood, near West 190th Street and Grand Avenue, because of concerns about increasing crime, according to Chanda’s longtime friend, Mohammed Ali, who is a member of Community Board 7. At around 9 a.m., Saturday morning, Chandra left the family’s longtime apartment building, 30 W. 190th St., to pick up

Sick Records at PS 51, & Other Bronx Links

The Daily News obtained several years of records, via a Freedom of Information Law request, from the nurse logs at PS 51–the Bedford Park school that was moved to a new location this fall after testing found hazardous levels of a chemical toxin called trichloroethylene (TCE) in its former building, an old lighting factory. Longtime exposure to TCE has been linked to kidney and liver problems, damage to the central nervous system, as well as dizziness, headaches, nausea and blurred vision. In our Norwood News cover story few months back, concerned parents discussed what they thought was an excessive number of sick

Man Stabbed to Death on Grand Avenue

A 35-year-old man was stabbed to death last night on Grand Avenue, just north of Fordham Road and just a block away from Devoe Park, according to police.

Bronx Lays Out First Ever Borough-Wide Feast

The Bronx is finally joining its foodie other boroughs in launching the first-ever Bronx Restaurant Week. It is the last of the five boroughs to host a discount driven restaurant week, showcasing the area’s best food and dining, but don’t they save the best for last? Savor the Bronx, created by BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. and the New York State Restaurant Association, kicked off yesterday, and will last through Sunday, Nov. 13.

No Dogs and Cats for Old Fordham Library

Community leaders say a long-held city plan to turn the old Fordham Library into an animal shelter was officially nixed this month, reigniting the hopes of some who’d been trying for years to convert the 27,400-square foot Bainbridge Avenue building into a community center.

Bronx Youth Journalists Report: What Should Fill the Bainbridge Fire Lot? (Video)

Two years ago today, on Halloween morning, a fire tore through a string of stores at the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and East 204th Street, reducing the 10 businesses housed there to little more than charred remains. Today, the space still sits empty, boarded up and strewn with rubble.