In a new administrative system, Maria Quail is still a familiar face. Quail, former principal of PS 8 Bedford Park, became a Network Leader last year as part of the Bloomberg administration’s new empowerment support system for New York City public schools. Every day, she arrives at the Learning Support Center on Zerega Avenue by 6:30 a.m. She answers her e-mail, and is out the door after 8 a.m., headed to one of the 28 schools under her direction.

When Mayor Bloomberg took control of the schools and did away with the Board of Education and local school boards in 2002, the newly-formed Department of Education created 10 large regions and implemented a series of changes, including parent coordinators, regional superintendents and the establishment of Community Education Councils. Two years ago, the schools went through another big restructuring. The 10 regions have been dissolved, and the system is again divided into 32 local district offices, with a community superintendent in charge of each.

The friendly cackles of the Vietnamese women in the open kitchen belie the utilitarian setup of World of Taste Seafood Deli and Vietnamese Food, a restaurant just north of St. James Park, right underneath the 4 train. Bright, airy and straightforward (the shiny steel kitchen and closed buffet of daily lunch specials are immediately to the left), there are definite touches of love and whimsy: the bright fuchsia orchid on top of the buffet, the swordfish hanging on display on the back wall and the dark leafy plants in the front window soaking up plenty of sun.

Onstage The Bronx Library Center hosts the Tony Terrell Caribbean Jazz Quartet, Sept. 6 at 2:30 p.m.; and Exquisite Japanese Dance With Sachiyo Ito & Company, Sept. 13 at 2:30 p.m. The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org. The Mosholu Library, at 285 E. 205th St., hosts BombaBoricua, Sept. 20 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239. Events JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is taking several trips next month. Sept. 9 is Empire City Casino; Sept. 11 is Cross County Mall; and Sept.

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The Bronx’s most heated and contentious political race is being fought on multiple fronts – in the blogosphere, across two counties, at local meetings, in various court rooms and on YouTube. Welcome to the bizarre world of the 33rd District Senate race.

The city can’t blast at the Jerome Park Reservoir until a Sept. 3 court hearing, a state Supreme Court justice ordered.

In his speech at a recent groundbreaking ceremony at Harris Park, Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte braced the audience for change. "It’s a long time coming, but take a look around, because what you see will soon be unrecognizable," Aponte said.

Two businesses on Bedford Park Boulevard plan on erecting signs to block the view of a huge new and possibly illegal sign and awning protruding from a bold new neighbor’s storefront. The businesses say the enormous signage is blocking their own signs and hurting their bottom line.

As of Tuesday afternoon before the Norwood News went to press, it was still up in the air whether State Senator Efrain Gonzalez’s trial on federal fraud and corruption charges would go forward as scheduled on Oct. 6.