In the midst of the bustle on Gun Hill Road has emerged an urban oasis – a new garden, right in front of the main entrance of the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC). Teens in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) have revamped what one participant called a "dirty, disgusting" plot into a thriving patch of greenery.

It’s hard to believe, but this coming October marks the 20th anniversary of the Norwood News. Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit support corporation of Montefiore Medical Center, launched the paper as a monthly in 1988 so that neighborhood residents and organizations could communicate, raise issues and have a source of information for the news that matters most – local news!

Despite a zillion cable channels and four daily newspapers, most city neighborhoods are starved for local news they can use.

Just take a gander at the newspaper in your hands from front to back. Imagine there were a farmers market in a part of the neighborhood that you don’t usually frequent and nobody told you about it. Or what if there was a hearing about blasting at the reservoir and there was nowhere to find out that it was even happening? Ditto a hearing about the fate of a massive vacant landmark like the Kingsbridge Armory. And speaking of the Armory, the Norwood News has been covering the Armory relentlessly since it was vacated by the National Guard in 1993.

Think a developer would have ever been selected if a newspaper hadn’t held the city’s feet to the fire all that time?

With this issue, the Norwood News takes a brief summer hiatus. We skip one issue and return to publication on Aug. 21. During that time we will still be hard at work providing you with daily news updates on our West Bronx Blog – westbronxnews.blogspot.com.

I am writing in response to the editorial in your July 10-23 issue, “Circular Firing Line at Armory?” I was puzzled by your characterization that the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is trying to shut out Community Board 7. We agree that the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) and CB7 must work in common purpose or risk being divided and conquered by the Armory developer. KARA, made up of over a dozen community stakeholders including churches, unions and community groups shares with CB7 a common vision for responsible development at the Armory calling for living-wage union jobs and community space,

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After reading “Rapid Bus Line Premieres on Fordham Road” in your July 10-23 issue, it left me with more questions than answers. I don’t doubt that many riders using the new Select Bus Service Bx12 bus on Fordham Road will be confused. The article mentions that most riders “did not know they had to ask the bus driver for a transfer.” It’s not clear why any transfer would be required when, upon using a MetroCard, a free transfer is already automatically established on the card. The only time a paper transfer would be needed would be if original payment is

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Two years ago, Bronx married couple Ana Clemente-Green and Michael Green argued over little things and some very big things. She was angry because he had committed some “infidelities.” “She forgave me, but just she and I talking was not enough,” Michael said. Then Ana was given fliers about a pilot program called University Behavioral Associates Supporting Healthy Marriages at Montefiore Medical Center. Michael, a 53-year-old school bus driver, set up an appointment. Soon after, Laura Frame, a psychologist with the program, interviewed the couple. “If this didn’t work, our marriage was done,” said Ana, a 44-year-old social worker. Supporting

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

A listing of entertainment, arts and outdoor events in the northwest Bronx.

With Pedro Espada, Jr., and Richard Soto also declaring as Democratic candidates in the 33rd senate district, the race to unseat Efrain Gonzalez, who is facing trial in October on federal corruption and fraud charges (Gonzalez pleaded not guilty), could be one of the most hotly contested races in the Bronx this fall.