Three men in a room. Dysfunctional. Corrupt. Yes, these words can and have been used to describe our state government in Albany. And yes, there is more than a little truth in it. But that’s why we feel doubly obligated to draw your attention to a welcome example of a state legislator doing some magnificent legislating.

With this issue, the Norwood News takes a brief hiatus. We skip an issue. Our next publication date is Aug. 23, which will include the first of two back-to-school special sections.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (r), shaking hands with Governor Eliot Spitzer in June, persevered for three legislative sessions to witness the enactment of his bill creating stiffer penalties for those engaging in forced labor and sexual exploitation.

The Norwood News got its wish (“Not So Fast,” June 28-July 11, 2007 editorial) with the agreement on congestion pricing negotiated on July 19. Before any tolls can be imposed, congestion pricing will be studied by a 17-person commission and its recommendations must be approved first by the New York City Council and then by the state legislature. This provides a golden opportunity to refine the current congestion pricing plan and to make it fair to the entire city.

Blink and you’ve missed him. Herman Tannenbaum is always on the move. He pauses for a lunchtime refuel, but then it’s back to business for Tannenbaum, who designs and produces original greeting cards.

PS 94 will be getting an Early Childhood Development Center to be located on the school’s campus, where portable classrooms currently sit. Although the project is still in the early stages of development, the building is currently slated to be three stories, house Pre-K through third graders and accommodate 428 seats.

Less than two days after a Norwood News article highlighted an illegal club and drug depot being run out of a North Fordham area home, police raided the place and confirmed all the neighbors’ suspicions.

The Bronx Arts Ensemble presents several free concerts Two Irish Tenors, Michael Brown and Neil Farrell, perform on July 29, Romantic Winds, featuring classical music on Aug. 5, and Music of the Big Band Era on Aug. 12. Each program will be performed at 2 p.m. at Rockwood Drive Circle, Van Cortlandt Park near Mosholu Avenue and Broadway and at 4 p.m. at McGinley Center, Fordham University, Bronx Rose Hill Campus at Southern Boulevard. For more information, call (718) 601-7399.

The Bronx Culture Trolley, a replica of a 20th-century trolley, transports visitors to Bronx venues of arts and culture on the first Wednesday of every month for free.