With the media assigned to their campaigns in tow, the mayoral candidates helped a coalition of advocacy groups bring attention to a problem all too familiar for many Bronx residents – neglected apartment buildings.

Community Board 7 (CB7) members gathered at summer’s end to set goals for the coming year. Led by Greg Faulkner, CB7’s new chair, the session preceded the full board meeting, scheduled for Sept. 20.

The controversy concerning statements by Assemblyman Jose Rivera, the Bronx Democratic Party chairman, has mainly been fueled by his comments about Jewish politicians reprinted in The Riverdale Press. In an interview with a student from the Columbia Journalism School, Rivera made comments clearly insensitive to Jews.

Region 1 Superintendent Irma Zardoya has a full plate. Two years ago she was plucked from her District 10 superintendent post to head one of the city’s new regions, almost tripling the number of schools under her charge.

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman is surrounded by her art. Numerous oil paintings of her family decorate the dining and living room walls of her Bainbridge Avenue home and piles of Yiddish children’s books she wrote sit on a small table beside her couch. A CD of traditional Yiddish music she composed lies next to it.

Student volunteers with Fordham University’s Urban Plunge program collaborated with Mosholu Preservation Corporation’s horticulture project two weeks ago to plant a beautiful and diverse garden behind the park house in Williamsbridge Oval. MPC has deployed gardeners throughout the summer to plant gardens at all the park entrances.

Mounds of garbage sat atop trash cans at the intersection of the Grand Concourse and East 192nd Street recently and papers and fast food containers littered the ground surrounding the overflowing receptacles.

Council Member Oliver Koppell teamed up with Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera on Thursday to lambaste the MTA for closing the token booth at the D-train station at 205th Street and Perry Avenue.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has hired a new community liaison for his satellite office at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. Teri Colon, who replaces Joel Ramos, will staff the office, located at 3450 DeKalb Ave., on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.