It would have been hard to miss the excitement at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts last week, when the Bronx’s newest borough president took the oath of office.

The place was packed, possibly rivaling the venue’s gate for music legends B.B. King and Ray Charles. It was the middle of the day, too, and busy Bronx leaders from across the professional spectrum took time out of their schedules to be there. Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson even slipped away from their intertwined budget crises to attend.

Why the buzz?

Diaz, Jr. is only 36, and he was elected to the Assembly on his own steam (his father, a state senator was elected after his son) when he was 23. People seem to like him. And, unlike his predecessor Adolfo Carrion, he seems to have a genuine affinity for the grassroots organizations that have powered the borough’s remarkable turnaround.

Diaz also succeeded in becoming borough president by participating in a rare and risky takeover of the Bronx Democratic Party. Diaz and his allies – a diverse group of elected officials from around the borough – won because they out-organized the entrenched incumbent leadership.

So, the 13th borough president would appear to have the wind at his back.

But he would do well to watch where he steps, too. The Bronx political landscape is littered with betrayals of the public trust.

The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, the social and recreational hub for youth, adults and seniors in Norwood, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala dinner at Lehman College on May 12.

The newly opened Women’s Center at A&O Surgical Supply on East Gun Hill Road at Putnam Place is unique in the Bronx – it is the only store in the borough that caters solely to women with breast cancer.

Over one hundred people came out to Williamsbridge Oval as part of Norwood’s celebration of NYC’s “It’s My Park Day!” event, Saturday, May 16.

The Norwood News’ arts, recreational and entertainment calendar for all of our readers in the Bronx and beyond.

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

Students at PS 56, in Norwood, proudly belted out patriotic songs during their Spring concert on May 20. That same day, the school was also presented with the Voyager Founder’s Award.

Jahdiel Rodriguez, a fifth grader at the St. Philip Neri School on the Grand Concourse near Bedford Park Boulevard, points to his drawing of Rafael Tufino, a 20th century artist who was born in Brooklyn and then moved to Puerto Rico.

Click “read more” for a link to a photo slide show of more student artwork.

Two years ago, Juan Torres, 50, enjoyed his job as a machine operator at the Stella D’oro cookie factory in Kingsbridge. He could provide his children with simple purchases like new clothes for school and tickets to Great Adventure, and his family with trips to the Dominican Republic, where he was born.

But this year, for the first time, Torres had to tell his children that none of that would be possible.