Free After-School Journalism Program in the Bronx (Applications Due Friday!)

Above is a link to an interview with me, Bronx Youth Heard Director and Norwood News Editor Alex Kratz, and Lehman High School student Adonis Jimenez for a Bronx 2.0 segment that aired on Bronxnet in February. Everything I talk about in that segment remains true. Bronx Youth Heard is a fantastic program for students interested in journalism or who love to write or who want to have impact on their communities and think (like we do) that journalism is a way to make that happen.

Editorial: Armory Celebration Time!

The story of the “long vacant” Kingsbridge Armory stretches back into the early years of the Norwood News. We began publishing in 1988. The military left the main building in 1993. We’ve been writing about its emptiness and the efforts to fill that emptiness ever since. Now it’s time to celebrate what a new ice sports complex and free after-school youth program will do for an area badly in need of a shot in the armory.

Take Our Readership Survey, Help Us Serve You, Earn a Chance to Win Money!

The Norwood News, which has covered the northwest Bronx for nearly 25 years, is one of the city’s only nonprofit community newspapers. We continue to provide hyper-local news coverage, features and invaluable community information. This spring, we need your help. For the first time, we are conducting a quick readership survey to get a better idea of who you are and how we can serve you better. We will take this information and use it to take our reporting, coverage and presentation to the next level. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey here and enter for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the Norwood News advertiser of your choice. Thanks for your help. We can’t do this without you.

Bronx Photos: Marching to Spring Training

Last Saturday, baseball players, coaches, parents and other supporters from the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center’s youth baseball league marched from the center on East Gun Hill Road and DeKalb Avenue to Harris Field in Bedford Park as part of the league’s Opening Day festivities. Photographer Adi Talwar was there to capture all the action for the Norwood News.

Op-ed: Why NYPD Needs an Inspector General

In June of 2012, the City Council introduced a bill that would establish the office of Inspector General for the Police Department. The office would oversee the policies and practices of the NYPD and analyze the effect of those policies and practices on civil liberties, among other things. Mayor Bloomberg has expressed serious opposition to the bill, promising to veto the legislation and describing the creation of an Inspector General’s office as mere “politics” that tamper with public safety. The mayor could not be more wrong.

Bronx Notes: Free Soccer Club in NW Bronx

Children ages 10 to 12 can join a soccer club to learn and/or refresh soccer skills, Mondays at 3 p.m., starting April 1. Free bottled water will be provided. Meet at the Devoe Park entrance on West Fordham Road and Sedgwick Avenue by the BX 12 select bus stop, next to the small playground. For more information or to register, call Mr. Passaro at (646) 438-1826 by Friday, March 29.

Bronx Photos: Hustle and Heartbreak at Evander Childs

Last week, the Evander Childs boys basketball team fell just short of a return trip to the Final Four of the PSAL A Division Tournament, losing to McKee-Staten Island Tech in overtime, 82-85. McKee went on to win it’s semifinal match-up and is playing for the tile this weekend against John Adams on Sunday night. Here’s a slideshow from the emotional game. More on the in-game drama in next week’s print edition of the Norwood News.

Bronx Hoop Teams Compete for Final Four and Beyond

The boy’s Varsity A Division playoffs are coming down to the wire, as the top eight are facing off in games today and tomorrow to decide the Final Four. Evander Childs plays McKee/Staten Island this afternoon at 5 p.m. at the Evander Childs gym. The Tigers are looking good, especially after trumping John Bowne 71-53 on Tuesday. Morris Campus, the only other Bronx team left in the tournament, is going head to head against Taft today at 5 p.m. at the Morris gym in what should be one heck of a game to watch. Both teams have had nearly identical

March Madness: Bronx HS Hoops Teams Look to Keep the Insanity Going (Photo Slideshow)

The top 16 public school teams in the boy’s and girl’s varsity basketball A Division playoffs are competing this week to advance to the next round and only a few Bronx teams remain in the hunt for a city championship. Both the boy’s and girl’s teams from Evander Childs Campus are in the Sweet 16.