Brothers Head to State Swim Championships

Two of the best swimmers in DeWitt Clinton High School history, Leonardo and Abel Dupres, are heading to the Federation State Boys Swimming Tournament on Long Island to represent both their school and their borough beginning on Feb. 28.

Congress: Get Juiced

In a perfect example of “grandstanding,” Congress is conducting yet another investigation of the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball.

Now that baseball has so belatedly begun investigating and regulating itself, Congress sees an opportunity to avoid many of our most serious national issues by making a play for headlines, holding hearings on matters already brought to light in the Mitchell Report.

And what better headline grabber than baseball’s most celebrated pitcher, Roger Clemens. Fans have long loved Clemens when he pitched for their team and hated him when he was pitching against them. New York fans remember the famous feud between Clemens of the Yankees and Mike Piazza of the Mets.
But the current round of Congressional hearings seems more designed to get Clemens to commit perjury than to prevent the use of steroids or HGH (human growth hormones).

Stats a Crime

Congratulations! Finally, someone has managed to get the NYPD to release crime statistics on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. Unfortunately for us, this only confirms that our neighborhood is what we have always considered it: the most dangerous place to live in the 52nd Precinct. Sector “G,” otherwise known as “George,” where Our Lady of Refuge Parish resides, is first in homicides and burglaries, tied for first in felony assaults (which includes shootings), second in robberies, tied for second in rapes, and third in grand larcenies. We don’t live in precincts, we live in neighborhoods. We don’t want to hear


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Local Students Sing in Disney World

Students from four music groups at the Cecilia Cruz Bronx High School of Music traveled to Walt Disney World on Feb. 15 to perform at its annual “Magic Music Days.” This honor marked the second time in three years the school has been selected to participate in this event.

Second Grade Performs Something Beautiful at PS 291

When Rita Martinez’s second grade class at PS 291 decided to perform a dramatization of the children’s book "Something Beautiful," they were unaware that they were actually delving into the history of their own school.

Neighborhood Notes

Free Computer Tutoring Mosholu Preservation Corporation is offering a free computer tutoring class Mondays through Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m. at 3400 Reservoir Oval East. Topics range from basic computer skills to navigating the Internet. All are welcome. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Brenda Lucio at (718) 324-4461. Navigating Medicare Council Member Oliver Koppell, along with other local politicians and organizations, is offering a program on Medicare, including how to choose a Medicare, health or drug plan; how to protect yourself from fraud; and who to notify if you suspect Medicare fraud. Speaker Betty


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Out & About

Onstage n JASA    Van Cortlandt Senior Center, located at 3880 Sedgwick Ave., presents Music of Latin America performed by classical guitarist Anthony Purdy, March 9 at 1 p.m., preceded by lunch at noon with a suggested donation of $3. For more information, call (718) 549-4700. n The Bronx Library Center hosts A Musical Tribute to Tono Pepin, featuring Tono’s son, master percussionist Papo Pepin and his salsa ensemble, performing Latin jazz, the music of his father, Feb. 23 at 2:30 p.m. The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Road off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46


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Rumors Fly as Waiting Game Continues

While the city continues to deliberate about which contractor should develop the long-vacant Kingsbridge Armory in the northwest Bronx, community leaders and local elected officials wonder what’s taking so long. As the community awaits an answer, speculation is running rampant.