A 21-year-old man was murdered late on Monday night, July 20, in the area of the Grand Concourse and East 203rd Street. Police have yet to identify the victim. There have been no arrests yet and, in an e-mail report, police said the investigation is ongoing.

Captain Phil Rivera of the 52nd Police Precinct said a man was shot in the stomach last week in the lobby of an apartment building at 2663 Heath Ave. The victim survived, but wasn’t cooperating with investigators.

After this issue, we are taking our usual summer hiatus and will return with another issue on Aug. 27. We thought it might be a good time to tell you a little bit about how things operate here at the Norwood News and how you can most efficiently communicate with us.

Loyal readers and residents who call the office regularly about coverage for local stories will have noticed that Alex Kratz, the Norwood News’ managing editor has been ably handling most, if not all, of the editorial assignment duties at the paper.

Since he started at the paper three years ago, Alex has increasingly taken on Norwood News editorial and management duties, in addition to his myriad reporting responsibilities. This has allowed me, after almost 15 years as editor-in-chief, to focus on the creation and growth of the Bronx News Network, a new organization that publishes the Mount Hope Monitor in Community Board 5 and the Tremont Tribune in Community Board 6; and runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative.

I still write Norwood News editorials, edit the top news stories and occasionally do some reporting, but generally, if you have a hot news tip, suggestion, complaint, compliment, or a question about coverage, Alex is your man.

Since coming to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in 2005, I have been an active member of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), working to make sure that any commercial development of the Armory meets our community’s needs. I do this because I support the principles that KARA espouses, particularly the one that has to do with a living wage. If there is going to be commercial development of the Armory, I want the people who work there to earn a living wage and have the freedom to unionize without fear.

The city recently designated Community Board 7 – Bedford Park, Norwood, North Fordham and University Heights – as an area that lacks access to healthy foods, including quality produce. But that perception may begin to change as the city and local hospitals are promoting farmers markets and green carts as a way to bring access of fresh foods to local residents.

The Alexander Hamilton Bridge, a 1,485-foot span which connects Highbridge in the Bronx to Washington Heights in Manhattan as part of Interstate 95, is receiving a $407 million facelift.

At the end of the school year, PS 56 was proud to present a production of "Peter Pan" performed by The Norwood Heights Players, the school’s drama club.

In their final year at PS 94 in Norwood, the 5th grade members of the school’s student council worked hard to raise money for cancer patients as part of the nationwide Pennies for Patients program.

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