A crowded principal’s office usually means bad news. But at Bronx Theater High School, Principal Deborah Effinger has an open door policy with her students, meaning students are as much of a fixture as the furniture in her office.

What you need to know to get your school year started off right.

On Aug. 2, three candidates were running for the City Council in District 15: Jose Padilla Jr., Oscar Zorrilla and incumbent Joel Rivera. Two weeks later, only Rivera made it onto the official primary ballot. Padilla, Zorrilla and others say their removal is indicative of a petitioning system that heavily favors incumbents and discourages political competition.

The basketball-loving Gardiner family was devastated by a tragic car crash just a few years ago. Now one of the surviving family members has dedicated an annual summer basketball tournament to his fallen family and others who have suffered through similar tragedies.

About a month and a half after Leroy Pharmacy opened its new location on 204th Street, employees walk around the store talking to customers and consulting with patients at the pharmaceutical counter. One customer yells over the counter, "Hey Jay, looks like you’re still going strong!"

An arts, entertainment and recreation guide for our readers in the Bronx and beyond.

Our listing of programs, services and announcements for our readers in the northwest Bronx.

In the past few months, Councilwoman Maria Baez has raked in a significant amount of cash from local supermarkets in support of her reelection campaign in the 14th District. According to the Campaign Finance Board, Baez has garnered $3,375 from a variety of local supermarkets in the Bronx, $2,000 of which she received the day before she had a press conference voicing her support of small supermarkets opposing the proposed big-box supermarket at the Kingsbridge Armory.

Last week, Tony Perez Cassino, a candidate for City Council in the 11th District who is challenging incumbent Oliver Koppell, opened up a campaign office on Gun Hill Road near DeKalb Avenue in Norwood last week.