We’ve been thinking a lot lately about the youth in our community, particularly after some very troubling instances of violence. That goes for us at Mosholu Preservation Corporation and many other concerned citizens and organizations in the neighborhoods we serve. Our concern can be boiled down to two questions: Many local teens have serious issues. How can we help them deal with them? Who among us will help?

Most groups working with young people as part of their mission try to reach young people from 12 to 21. That sounds like a big age spread – sixth grade to college age. But the move to middle school is when the seeds for dropping out are planted. And less than half of the youth in our communities are likely to graduate from high school. Even though so few can go to college, it makes sense to keep working with kids at least until they turn 21.

Over the past year, the Mosholu Parkway community has grown as more and more people are adding dogs to their family units. Many members of the 204th Street/ Bainbridge Avenue Merchants Association have been approached by members of the community to discuss the condition of the dog run in Williamsbridge Oval Park. This past year, I became a dog owner, and am a member of the Merchants Association, which is why many members of the community decided to approach me personally.

Noted playwright Felix Leon (1915-2007) passed away on Nov. 11 at the age of 92. Born to Lithuanian Jews in the Pelham area, he was a lifelong Bronxite who lived on Reservoir Oval in Norwood for the last 35 years.

In September, Sayeeda Rashid, a graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School in Norwood, began her first year at Mount Holyoke College, an all-women’s liberal arts school in South Hadley, Mass. Rashid plans to study medicine and physics.

Bronx leader Robert S. Garcia was honored with a Puerto Rican Heritage Award from the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Inc. for his work, contributions and leadership within the Puerto Rican community.

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

A list of entertainment and recreational events in the northwest Bronx.

It’s real simple, says Frank Wilkes. Without POTS, a soup kitchen and northwest Bronx institution for the past 25 years, "people would have starved." This year, soup kitchens like POTS are seeing a spike in usage, but the government is lagging in getting them more help.

Ending an exhaustive months-long search on Tuesday night, Community Board 7 approved the selection of Bedford Park resident Fernando Tirado, who joined the board as a member in June, as its new district manager.