Bronx Youth Heard (Spring application deadline Jan. 29)

The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Heard (formerly known as the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative), a free after-school journalism program for Bronx high school students. There are two sessions each school year: one in the fall and another in the spring. We are currently accepting applications for our spring 2014 semester, which is scheduled to start on Thursday, February. Classes are held at Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse, on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 6:00p.m., and run for 12 weeks. [ATTENTION: Spring applications are DUE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29. Download your application now!]

Parks Dept. Vets New Managers for Van Cortlandt Stables

by David Cruz Giddy-up! There’ll be a change of leadership at the Van Cortlandt Park Stables in the near future, as the city Department of Parks vets a new concessionaire to oversee the sprawling stalls, with the current manager primed to ride off into the sunset. The Riverdale Equestrian Center (REC) manages the riding stables for now, occupying roughly 21 acres of trails, an indoor riding arena, and a 1/4 mile exercise track. But managers for REC decided not to renew their ten-year deal with Parks, which expires in 2015, following some pressure to re-focus their services to the community.

Neighborhood Notes

BRIO Awards Application Workshops Application workshops for The Bronx Council on the Arts’ BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) awards will be held on Jan. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m., at Hostos Community College, room C-391, 450 Grand Concourse (149th Street) Application deadline is Jan. 31. For more information, call (718) 931-9500 ext. 35. Free Testing for HS Equivalency Prep Program Grace Outreach, at 378 E. 151st St. (5th floor), will conduct free placement tests for its HS Equivalency Test Preparation program on Jan. 16 and 17 for the 2014 semester for women 18 years and older. For more information, please

By DAVID GREENE A new year, a new set of resolutions. This week, the Norwood News interviewed several neighbors with hopes, plans and resolutions for 2014. 1) The first would be to stay healthy, and the second is to get ready for med school. I’d also like to better cultivate relationships with family. –Aaron Apafio 2) I hope it’s going to be a good New Year and that we start making more money. I wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope the new mayor does a good job and I hope they reduce the taxes so things

Editorial: Why Community Journalism Matters To The Bronx

Why Community Journalism Matters in the Bronx A recent article by City Limits low-lighted the lack of news coverage and newspaper distribution for the Bronx. Sure, dailies are sold here, but there’s barely any mention of the borough except from the New York Daily News, which has had a dedicated bureau shop in the Boogie Down for decades, though the number of staffers has dwindled. The article sourced several bean counters over the lack of coverage on the borough, mainly from the free daily Metro New York, explaining that the newspaper is driven by advertisements, and working poor readers are less

Bronx News Roundup for January 5-11

by David Cruz Plenty of news in the Boogie Down thanks to our local papers keeping the powers that be honest. In the Bronx News Roundup, we serve a host of interesting stories involving our local pols. In the south end of this great borough, a local congressman came to the rescue in ensuring the Bronx gets brand new directional maps following a clerical debacle by the city Transportation Department. The Daily News said Congressman Jose Serrano re-secured grants to bring so-called wayfinding signs to the Concourse and Hub-Third Avenue sections. In the nautical neighborhood known as City island,

Officers with the 52nd Precinct are keeping their eyes open for William Desmond, who’s reported missing since early this week. Desmond, living at an apartment building at 162 West Kingsbridge Road, was last seen in his home on Tuesday, January 7th. With frigid temps the norm this time of season, it’s unclear whether Desmond has found shelter anywhere. Police released a photo of Mr. Desmond, described as 5’ 8” tall, 183 pounds, with brown eyes, long salt and pepper hair and beard. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Out & About: Jan 10-15

Free Music at NYPL The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents NY Opera Forum, featuring music by Mozart, Jan. 11; and Latin Jazz Concert, featuring Papo Pepin y Su Orchestra, Jan. 18; both at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46/57 or visit www.nypl.org. The Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., offers Music by Hasan Bakr, Jan. 11 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239. Onstage Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. W., presents The O’Jays, soul music group, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. (tickets are $50 to $100); The

by DAVID CRUZ Just before midnight on Dec. 14, Donald Smith of Norwood lay on the floor with a gun pressed against his temple inside his own home. A group of thieves had just forced their way into his apartment. Smith, a retired public safety officer who retired the day of the World Trade Center attacks, prayed he would get out of this one alive. “I started to make peace with the man upstairs, and told my mom and dad I’ll be seeing you soon,” said Smith, recounting in a telephone interview the night a brazen group of thieves stormed