Bronx Notes: Free Stop Smoking Program

North Central Bronx Hospital, 3424 Kossuth Ave., offers free group counseling and nicotine replacement therapy for smokers looking to quit. No appointments are needed or required, walk-ins are welcome. The smoking cessation program runs weekdays at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. in room 13A12. For more information, call (718) 519-2425/2490.

Be Healthy: Fast Food Flocks to the Bronx

Unfortunately for the Bronx, unhealthy lifestyles begets unhealthy eateries. According to the Center for an Urban Future’s fifth annual State of Chains study, the Bronx experienced the fastest growth in fast food stores of any of the five boroughs. Chain retailers in general are coming into the Bronx at a rapid pace as the borough is being seen as an untapped market, but the increase in fast food restaurants, like McDonald’s (two new Bronx locations in 2012) and Dunkin’ Donuts (three new), is troubling to health advocates who want to see better food options for Bronxites.

Bronx News Roundup, Jan. 2

First of all, a Happy New Year to everyone out there! We here at the Norwood News are looking forward to an action-packed 2013 on our Breaking Bronx blog, where we will be ramping up our coverage of all things Bronx.

Bronx Notes: ESL and Citizenship Courses

Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, offers two free courses: English as a Second Language classes which run from Nov. 26 to June 8, 2013, Monday through Thursday, and Saturday mornings, as well as Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and Pathway to Citizenship workshops which begin January 2013. For more information and a detailed schedule, contact Christina Ventura at cventura@khcc-nyc.org or (718) 884-0700.

The Year in Crime: Murders Down, Robberies Up, Police in Spotlight

The year began remarkably well for police in the 52nd Precinct, which encompasses the Norwood News’ primary coverage area. Early on in 2012, investigators went to great lengths, including a trip to North Carolina, to track down two suspects wanted for the murder of 59-year-old Bimal Chanda, a Bengladeshi man who was beaten to death in his University Heights apartment, apparently during an early morning robbery, in late October of 2011.

The Year in Politics: Redistricting Leads to Heated Political Races in NW Bronx

The northwest Bronx saw a flurry of political activity this year starting with a furor over redistricting, the realignment of legislative district lines that happens every decade following the Census. So politically charged was the debate over district lines that a federal judge had to step in and draw new Congressional lines. (State lines were agreed upon after several delays.) The result of the judge’s decision gave birth to the new 14th Congressional District, which stretches from Harlem through upper Manhattan and into the northwest Bronx. It includes much of Norwood News’ primary coverage area, including Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge and University Heights.

Editorial: On The Death of Young Children

As a journalist, you’re supposed to be detached from the subjects you write about. It’s how you maintain your objectivity when presenting facts and accurately depicting scenes you’ve witnessed. All of that flew out the window of Woolworth Chapel in Woodlawn Cemetery when I reached into my pocket for one of at least half a dozen pens and plucked out the one with purple ink. It’s the color Lydia would have chosen.