Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant, which was damaged in an Oct. 31 fire that destroyed 10 adjacent stores, is back in business at 3111 Bainbridge Ave.

The 90-degree heat last Wednesday didn’t put a damper on PS 94’s 3rd Annual Spelling Bee. Twenty-four fourth and fifth graders sat on the auditorium stage wearing blue sashes and number tags waiting to see who among them would become the Norwood school’s next spelling champ.

A listing of arts, entertainment and recreational events in the Bronx and beyond.

A listing of community events, services, programs and announcements for all our readers in the Bronx and beyond.

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On Monday, Fernando Tirado, Community Board 7’s district manager, formally announced his decision to run for State Senate in the 33rd Senate District. In doing so, Tirado joins a crowded field that now includes four Democratic contenders trying to unseat the district’s current senator, Pedro Espada, Jr., in the September primary.

The recently proposed $37 million cut on the New York Public Library, which would be the highest cut in city history, according to Library President and CEO Paul LeClerc, could have devastating effects to libraries in the Bronx. Local branches, like the Mosholu Library, are leading the fight to prevent the cuts.

While Fernando Tirado went the traditional route of holding a press conference to announce his candidacy, Gustavo Rivera kicked off his campaign for the 33rd District Senate seat mostly on the internet.

It’s an annual tradition in Albany as old as the budget being late. First, the Assembly passes a raft of housing bills aimed at strengthening New York’s rent laws and protecting tenant rights. Then the Senate ignores them and the bills die before ever getting out of the chamber’s housing committee.

But with Democrats in charge, it was supposed to be different. Instead, with Pedro Espada, Jr. in charge of the housing committee, it’s been more of the same.