Bronx Pols Welcome Rivera as New Senator

This is the time of year for the formal, though not required, swearing-in ceremonies of elected officials in their home districts. They are usually for rookie legislators, like the one on Saturday night at the stately Gould Memorial Hall at Bronx Community College for newly minted State Senator Gustavo Rivera, a newcomer politician who is no newcomer to politics, having worked on the staff of other legislators — including Kirsten Gillibrand and Andrea Stewart-Cousins — and on the 2008 Obama campaign in Florida.

Botanical Garden’s New Webster Ave. Parking Garage Coming Along

The Botanical Garden is making progress on its long-delayed new parking garage at Webster Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard. When open, the garage, next to the Metro-North Botanical Garden station, on the west side of the tracks, will accommodate 800 cars. It will be open to Garden visitors, but also local residents and commuters who use Metro-North.

‘Best Choir’ Award for Celia Cruz High School

The Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music is ringing in the New Year with the title “Best Choir in New York City” after winning the Bronx Zoo’s inaugural SING! For Wildlife competition. The Hard Rock Café sponsored the event, which featured 250 students from seven schools.

Klein Leaves Senate Leadership to Form Independent Conference

Bronx State Senator Jeffrey Klein shook up Albany at the start of the year when he announced his departure from the Senate Democrats to form a new, “Independent Democratic Conference” along with three of his colleagues.

Riders Riled Over MTA Fare Hikes

The Metropolitan Transit Authority put a damper on the New York holiday season, enacting subway and bus fare increases on Dec. 30, just in time for the New Year. It’s the third year in a row that the agency has hiked its prices, an attempt to close a seemingly never-ending budget gap.

When Does it Make Sense to Buy the Monthly Metrocard?

Commuters who don’t take mass transit every day might save money by skipping the monthly-unlimited MetroCard, which now costs a whopping $104, and opting to pay $2.25-a-ride instead.

Be Healthy: Q&A with David Lehmann, Bronx Smoke-Free Partnership

David Lehmann, a longtime worker in the public health field, heads the Bronx Smoke-Free Partnership, a program funded by the State Department of Health and Human Services based at 1826 Arthur Ave. The Partnership works with community groups and organizations throughout the Bronx to prevent young people from smoking and to shape public policy against the tobacco industry. Earlier this month, the Norwood News sat down with Lehmann to get his take on cigarettes and smoking in our community.

Local Groups Push for Parks And Beaches Smoking Ban

Community groups and local legislators are looking to drum up support this year for a City Council bill that would ban smoking in public parks, beaches and pedestrian plazas across the five boroughs.

Monte Nurse Book Drive

A group of nurses at Montefiore Medical Center held a book drive this holiday season, collecting children’s books to distribute at one of the hospital’s children’s health clinics.