At Catholic Schools, Lessons Extend Beyond the Classroom

By JONATHAN MERCEDES

Catholic school students say they’re excelling in and out of the classroom, thanks to the recent number of after-school programs offered to them by the Archdiocese of New York. Chris Valerio, 17, says the programs offer students an escape from the serious problems of everyday life. The Cardinal Hayes High School senior added that the extracurricular activities also allow students to enjoy the company of their friends. The programs are not just beneficial from a social aspect, but students also attribute their academic success to extracurricular activities. Nathalie Cortes, 15, shares a similar experience to Chris’. At the Academy of

AN UNFORTUNATE WAY to end 2015. Crews with Con Edison work to remove this cable pole that dropped onto a vehicle on Wayne Avenue off Gun Hill Road on Dec. 29. Crews spent an hour hoisting the wooden pole off the vehicle following the incident which happened around 4 p.m. No one was hurt. The incident drew several bystanders who snapped some pictures as they stumbled upon it. Photo by David Cruz

Arrests Made in Fatal Stabbing on Decatur Avenue

By DAVID GREENE Police have arrested three of six young men wanted in connection with the stabbing death of a man on Decatur Avenue during the overnight hours of Dec. 30. Police say Hugo Ivan Galindo, 24, of nearby Hull Avenue, had been surrounded by the group outside 3340 Decatur Ave. at 2:45 a.m., where he was stabbed multiple times in the torso. He died a short time later at Montefiore Hospital. Less than 24 hours later, detectives from the 52nd Precinct arrested Alexi Santiago, 21, of 323 E. Mosholu Parkway N., and charged him with gang assault in the first degree. On Jan. 5,

Developers behind the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) have been approved for a multi-million dollar loan by the state to begin construction on its $348 million ice skating center at the Kingsbridge Armory. The news signals a major hurdle crossed by developers, whose progress at the vacant Armory waned in 2015. Developers for KNIC Properties LP have spent the better part of 2015 scouting for philanthropists and private donors to help fund the massive project, purported to become the world’s largest ice skating center. Read materials for the public session here The Board of Directors for the Empire State Development

DO YOU NEED A DENTAL CROWN? Crowns are an integral part of many dental restoration treatments including implants, root canals, or simply covering and strengthening a tooth that’s damaged by trauma or decay. Before Now, Placing a Crown Took At Least Three Steps: First, you needed an appointment to prepare the tooth, take the impression, and place the temporary crown. Second, you needed to wait (possibly two weeks) while your permanent crown was fabricated at a dental lab, then returned to our office. Third, you needed a SECOND appointment to remove the temporary crown and place your permanent crown. Now,

Journalism Program The Bronx Investigative Internship Program is accepting applications for its paid, 10-week program combining group work and required hours of individual reporting totaling 10 hours per week running from late January to late March. High school students and college-age Bronx residents are eligible. Applicants must be available to attend sessions every Monday and Tuesday evening from 3 to 5 p.m. during the program’s run. Applications are due by 9 a.m. Jan. 8, 2016. To apply, go to http://bit.ly/1mwBd6i. Heating Assistance Available This winter, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) offers eligible households of low-income and elderly New Yorkers to receive a one-time benefit

The Mosholu Library at 285 E. 205th St. has decided to extend its hours effective Jan. 4, 2016. Thanks to a $43 million dollar grant to the New York City public library systems, patrons of the Mosholu branch will be able to enjoy a few extra hours during the week which are meant to encourage more patronage to the library. Along with the extra hours, the library will also be able to hire an additional children’s librarian. The new hours are as follows: Mondays: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;

If there’s one word once again blanketing the end-of-year lists relating to the Bronx, it’s “development,” a term that holds a double meaning in this context. In Norwood, the neighborhood experienced some two-steps-forward-one-step-back moments with some seeds of development planted and sure to grow in 2016. Starting with Norwood, major construction continues to dot the landscape with Webster Avenue serving as the epicenter to reshaping the neighborhood. With two projects (residential and supportive) expected to open in 2016, this further underscores the question: will the city increase its services to meet the impending population increase? More pointedly, will Mayor Bill

In light of the recent conviction of former state Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, we asked readers if they think the outcome sends a clear message to Albany to clean up the way it conducts politics in this state. I congratulate the federal prosecutor on pursuing these cases of corruption by the Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos, and they deserve every bit of the justice system thrown at them that they got. I think Governor Andrew Cuomo has to be honest and truthful and really come out clean and make more corruption inquiries and get