NYBG Reopens East Gate Following 10-Year, $3.3 Million Renovation

By ADELINE HANSSEN and DAVID CRUZ

For years, the East Gate was a “pretty rough way of getting to The New York Botanical Garden,” as the institution’s president Gregory Long put it. Now, with the swift snip of a yellow ribbon, the entrance was officially reopened for garden-goers on April 27, intended to increase foot traffic into the garden after a lengthy renovation. The East Gate is one of three entryways to the garden, though it wasn’t it most popular. The gate is found at a geographically obscure section of Allerton, at the corner of Waring Avenue and Bronx Park East. Getting to the gate involves

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Dear Fellow Readers, The freshest edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of Bronx community news you can use. In it, you’ll find 16 pages full of good stuff that can make you the smartest person in the room. As usual, we begin with page 1, and a story that while on the surface can be boring, but has major impacts in your quality of life. We’re talking about zoning and the findings of a preliminary study that determines whether it’s doable to have future developers build smaller buildings. The answer, according to the study, is yes. As an

Getting Into Nitty Gritty of Kingsbridge Ice Project Loan

Have you ever had a conversation on what zoning is as it relates to New York City? Unless one is an urban planner, I doubt many can give a comprehensive version of the power behind zoning. In a nutshell, zoning governs how neighborhoods look across the city using a set of regulations or zoning codes that tell developers what’s allowed to be built in a neighborhood. Understanding the nitty gritty aspects of zoning poses major hurdles for anyone looking to gain control of their neighborhood’s fate, and it was pretty evident at a special Community Board 7 Land Use/Zoning and

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Donations Sought Donations to homeless advocacy groups can be dropped off at TD Bank branches across the Bronx from now through May 5. A monetary donation and items including towels, plastic hangers, laundry bags, pillow cases, pillows, sheets, blankets/comforters, toilet paper and paper towels, shampoo/conditioner, Vaseline, deodorant, non-scented lotion, nail clippers, shower caddies, shaving cream and disposable razors, mouthwash, cotton swabs, tampons and pads, soap, bathroom cleaning supplies and kitchen utensils can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Free Paper Shredding AARP New York will be hosting a free paper shredding event at the Bronx Borough Hall,

By ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

On Tuesday, the Trump Administration increased some Canadian imports by 20 percent. In simple terms: a tax increase. Soon, the Trump Administration will unveil their Tax Proposal to Congress, where they claim you can do your taxes on a postcard: You know why? They are considering lowering or eliminating many deductions while lowering individual taxes by 33 percent and corporate taxes by 66 percent. Question: How do you expect to get a bigger refund in the coming years when we are about ready to have a 360 percent on tax policy, scheduled to apply this year? President Donald Trump calls

How Big Do You Want Your Buildings in the Bronx?

By DAVID CRUZ

For residents attending a presentation on the feasibility of downzoning two neighborhoods in the northwest Bronx, tech-heavy jargon such as “Floor Area Ratio,” “compliance,” and “sky exposure plane” admittedly caused confusion for a topic focusing on the size of buildings. “Is this too complicating?” asked Paula Caplan, an independent urban planner hired by Community Board 7 to study the possibility of downzoning the two neighborhoods and present her ideas to the city. Residents answered “no,” with some shrugging their shoulders. A handful responded “yes.” Such is the subject of zoning, a topic that, if presented dryly, can confound and perplex

Oval Park May Get Grant From Walt Disney Co.

Your votes are needed for Williamsbridge Oval Park to secure a $20,000 from the Happiest Place on Earth. The park, at the epicenter of Norwood, is competing with two other parks for the funds as part of the Meet Me at the Park, an initiative between the Walt Disney Company and the National Recreation and Park Association. The funds would go directly to Oval Park’s Summer Sports Experience initiative, where kids learn unique sports skills by trained staffers. “Supporting local parks is essential to the health and vitality of communities everywhere,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA Director of Conservation. “That’s why we are

By Fernando Cabrera

For years New York has borne the unfortunate and unlikely distinction of being one of only two states in the U.S. that prosecutes 16- and 17-year olds as adults. Action by Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature has finally ended this barbaric practice that ruins young lives and threatens public safety. When a 16- or 17-year old is arrested and treated as an adult, there is no requirement to notify parents. The practice assumes that a child of this age knows her or his legal rights and has the knowledge and understanding to make an informed decision to

SEE MAP: Where Is The Mail Getting Stolen in the Bronx?

By DAVID CRUZ

A 16-year-old boy was placed in cuffs on April 15 for allegedly stealing mail by feeding a glue-covered rope into a mailbox at 2549 Jerome Ave., a scheme commonly known by the NYPD as mailbox fishing. Mailbox fishing continues to roil the NYPD, with at least several cases reported twice a week. In every case, thieves grab mail filled with personal checks, money orders or gift cards, hurting the pocketbooks of victims trying to pay rent or send a monetary gift via mail. The Norwood News obtained data from the NYPD showing where mailbox fishing incidents have occurred within the