Amidst a row of worn and weathered awnings, the brightly lit and inviting Green Valley Gourmet Deli on Bainbridge Avenue stands out and provides a refreshing contrast to some of the other local businesses. It’s one of two shiny new delis to open up shop in the neighborhood.

A listing of community programs, services and events in the Bronx and beyond.

Teh Norwood News’ arts and entertainment calendar.

In the last two weeks alone, a 15-year-old Bedford Park resident was murdered, and shooting incidents have doubled. There were only four shooting incidents in the first five months of the year and there have been four since June 12. The gun violence is being compounded by reports of raucous street behavior in neighborhoods throughout the precinct.

Local residents and housing advocates say State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., whose name means "sword" in Spanish, has stabbed them in the back by siding with Republicans, not supporting rent laws that would preserve affordable housing and essentially paralyzing the state legislature.

The sounds of drumming and shouting radiate throughout the halls of PS 340 as the elementary students’ simulated African marketplace comes to life. "Two dollars!" one child yells, while another tries to haggle down the price.

The extension of term limits for New York City’s elected officials from two to three terms has allowed veteran lawmaker Oliver Koppell to make a bid to retain his City Council seat in District 11, which includes Norwood, parts of Bedford Park, Riverdale and Woodlawn.

This time around, he faces Tony Cassino, a former chairman of Community Board 8 (Riverdale), who officially kicked off his campaign on June 7.

Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn released the 2010 New York City fiscal year budget last week, but not without angering at least one group of city workers – school support staff.

Members of Community Board 7 will be the first to officially weigh in on The Related Companies’ "Shops at the Armory" redevelopment proposal on July 14. Board chair Greg Faulkner told the Norwood News on the eve of a June 24 public hearing that he expects the board to vote "yes" on the proposal, despite the fact that a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) may not be in place before the vote.