Neighborhood Notes

Free Tax Prep Ridgewood Savings Bank, 3445 Jerome Ave., hosts a free tax preparation day to eligible filers on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (718) 881-3430 or (718) 882-0440. Marketing Workshop Lehman College’s Bronx Small Business Development Center, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. W., hosts a marketing workshop for business owners on Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Carman Hall, Room B75. For more information or to register, call (718) 960-8806. Summer Camp Applications The Fresh Air Fund is accepting applications for its free 2014 summer camp program for eligible

By DAVID GREENE This week we picked readers’ brains on a new law that will expand paid sick leave to 500,000 small business workers.

Bedford Park Locals Un-Stumped No More

By DAVID GREENE Timber! Fifteen months of haranguing, calling 311 and cajoling helped clear a giant tree stump that remained a neighborhood hazard in Bedford Park ever since Superstorm Sandy knocked out the tree that existed beforehand. Resident Hector Rivera recalled the giant tree outside of 17 E. 198th St. dangerously tilted to the other side of the street where it eventually came down on a house when the storm hit. A picture of the damaged tree can still be viewed on Google Maps. Rivera recalled, “The tree hit the top of the home, and because of the branches, the owner

by Judy Noy NOTE: Items for consideration may be mailed to our office or sent to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org, and should be received by Jan. 27 for the next publication date of Feb. 6. Editor’s Pick – Free Weekend at Wave Hill Admission to the grounds at Wave Hill, a Bronx oasis at 675 W. 252nd St. in Riverdale, is free the weekend of Jan. 25 and 26. In addition, there will be free activities at the WH House including Family Arts Project: Hibernator’s Den, to learn about hibernators, then make a mask or woodsy home, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Hibenators’ Pajama

by Christa Cersosimo When it comes to taking what’s arguably the most important test of your life, several test prep institutions are taking that importance to the bank. SAT prep courses such as the Princeton Review reap $4 billion a year, while the yearly take home for the Kaplan Test Prep courses stands at $2.2 billion a year. That’s because the average student spends roughly $1,000 on SAT prep courses, according to one test guide. Up Your Score, publishers of several SAT prep books geared towards easing the anxiety of test-taking, finds parents are “willing to spend up to $1,000 on an SAT

By HAYLEY CAMACHO Despite rezoning along the 1.5 mile stretch of Webster Avenue as a way to encourage market rate housing and new businesses, Community Board 7 members remain angry over the city Department of Buildings’ lax enforcement of the new zoning laws and loopholes that have led to widespread supportive housing ventures. In what’s become a hot topic within CB7’s borders, the members pored over the issue and possible solutions at the board’s Economic Development Committee meeting held on Jan. 8. Meetings have become at times contentious ever since the rezoning went into effect, amending construction laws on Webster

Big thanks to some local Norwood residents in capturing the mega-snowstorm that produced close to a foot of snow in some parts of the Bronx. The white stuff began to fall at 9a.m. on January 22nd, picking up steadily as the hours went on. Subway service, flights, after school programs and just about everything was affected as

Presenting Bronx Youth Heard Winter 2013-2014 Edition

The Norwood News, through generation donations, holds an after school program called Bronx Youth Heard, designed to train young people to become journalists. These gumshoe reporters hail from high schools all over this borough, and they’ve crafted stories with young people in mind. Yes, young people have a voice that is often overlooked. This program, running for 12 weeks, teaches them about the power of journalism, how it can shape public opinion, identify key community issues happening in the area and empower them to do something about it. Below is a list of all of our students who brought their voices

As Norwood digs out from another mega snow storm, the Norwood News is out with another fine edition featuring pressing community stories. If you’ve missed it the first time out, take a look at our re-designed front cover, maintaining the familiarity of the paper, though with several add-ons. As usual, we love feedback so please don’t hesitate to email our Editor-in-Chief, David Cruz, at dcruz@norwoodnews.org. Now on to the fun stuff: This latest edition has published some great articles from our latest graduates from Bronx Youth Heard, the after school program that trains young writers to be journalists. Major props