Bronx High School Students Wanted for Youth Journalism Program

Bronx News Network is recruiting now for the fall semester of the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative--a free journalism program for Bronx high school students. The next semester starts on Sept. 21, 2011.

During the semester, students will learn the fundamentals of writing, reporting, and photojournalism through classroom instruction and hands-on reporting in their own neighborhoods. We will take them on field trips - including the newsroom of a daily newspaper. And they will learn about community activism and civic responsibility, how their neighborhoods work (or don't), who has power, who doesn't and why.

Student work gets published in a special youth supplement called Bronx Youth Heard, which appears in Bronx News Network publications - the Norwood News, the Mount Hope Monitor, and the Tremont Tribune - giving youth a powerful voice.

We are looking for students of all academic abilities, but they should be highly motivated, love to write, be naturally inquisitive, and care about what's going on in their communities. Click here to find out more about the program or to download an application form, or call (718) 324-4998 and ask for Jordan Moss or Jeanmarie Evelly.

You can also like the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative on Facebook! Click here.

Two Days Left in Our Appeal, Support BxNN Today!

Lots going on in the borough right now and, rest assured, we're hard at work gathering news for our affiliate papers and getting ready to unleash a torrent of hard-hitting stories on this site next week. But for now, we're using this space to make a final appeal for your help. We can not do this without your financial support. As a nonprofit organization, reader donations are critical to keeping our programs going and growing. By contributing to our efforts, you're taking ownership. This is your news site. 

Tomorrow -- we promise! -- will be the last day that this space will be filled with pleas for money, but we can not stress how important it is for us to receive your support. Any amount you can spare will keep BxNN -- our blog, our resource pages, our newspapers, our websites, our youth journalism program, our internship program -- going strong and expanding to provide you with even more news, information and services.

A special thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. Every time we receive a donation, it's added incentive for us to go above and beyond what we've already accomplished.

Just to give you an idea, numbers-wise, of how far we've come on this website: In 2008, we posted 512 times. Last year, we doubled that, posting 1,038 times. Help us continue to progress and improve and provide you with the news and information you deserve. Take ownership. Think of it as an investment in the Bronx and in yourself. Donate today!

Update on Our 2011 Annual Appeal

We wanted to update you on our 2011 Annual Appeal that we launched on Monday. So far we have raised $1,121. Thank you to everyone who has donated to our campaign. We really appreciate it.

We want our blog to be the “home page” for the Bronx and a place for dialogue that leads to community improvement. The information we provide here, and in our print publications, is free to anyone who wants it, but it costs us a lot of money to produce. If you haven’t donated, please consider making a donation. Even small donations are appreciated.

And don’t forget to check out this video of loyal Tremont Tribune reader Rosemary Ordenez-Jenkins of Phipps Houses. We'll have more video announcements from other BxNN fans and supporters in the coming weeks.


Rosemary Ordonez-Jenkins for BxNN from Bronx News Network on Vimeo.

Click here to donate via credit card. Or you can send a check (made out to Bronx News Network) and mail it to 3400 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx, NY 10467.

Thanks for reading this blog and our newspapers -- and for caring about your neighborhood and your borough.

New Features on the BxNN Site

In the last month or so, we've rolled out several new features on the site including a new events calendar, a readers' forum, and a new navigation bar (About, Contact, Advertise, etc.)

Yesterday, we added a second navigation bar.  At the moment, most of the links (among them, Food, Parks, and Transit) take users to a list of past and present BxNN posts about food, or parks, or transit.  But some - check out Housing and Crime - link to "pages" which carry a wealth of information about, say, housing organizations in the Bronx. Over the coming weeks, we plan on creating pages for all of these categories. 

We hope you, our readers, find these new features useful, and as always, we welcome your suggestions and feedback. E-mail bronxnewsnetwork@gmail.com.

New Tremont Tribune Out & Online

The latest issue of the Tremont Tribune is out on the streets and online now! The Tribune is a monthly, bilingual community newspaper published by the Bronx News Network that covers the neighborhoods of Tremont, Belmont, Bathgate, West Farms, and Crotona.

Visit our website or pick up a copy today to read about the ongoing battle over permit fees at the Mary Mitchell Center, a new hotel opening on Third Avenue that's irked the local Community Board, a local vocational high school that's struggling to stay afloat, and much more.

Some Changes to this Site

Loyal readers will notice a new navigation bar at the top of the site. We just put it up today. Most of the buttons are just clearer, more prominent links to resources that have been available on the site for a while like the Events Calendar, but at least one, the Forum, is brand new. We hope readers will consider posting questions and comments on issues they care about in the forum. Please let us know if you'd like to see additional issue areas represented in the forum.

These are only a few of the changes we're planning for the site in the coming weeks. We want to make this site is a comprehensive resource for all Bronxites.

If you have any comments and/or suggestions, please e-mail us at bronxnewsnetwork@gmail.com.

And if you appreciate this site, one way you can help us keep doing what we do, is to email a few friends and colleagues to let them know about the site. Can you do it now? It will only take a few seconds and will make this an even better resource. 

Thanks!

Jordan Moss
Executive Editor and Publisher

Mess of the Moment Update: Con Ed Cleans Up

We'll call it the "power of the Mess." In response to our "Mess of the Moment" blog post two weeks ago, Councilman Fernando Cabrera's office called Con Edison to ask the energy provider to take care of the eyesore, which is in his 14th Council District. On July 6, a week after the post appeared here on the blog, Con Edison responded by sending a crew to clean up the pile of barricades and cement blocks, which blocked parking spots in front of an apartment building and neighboring houses.

Before (above); After (below)

Editor's Note: The "Mess of the Moment" is a periodic feature on the blog. If there is a mess that you want highlighted or paid attention to, send photos of a location (or at least a locationa and description) to bronxnewsnetwork@gmail.com or just tell us about it in the comments section of this post.

100 Hundred Years Young at St. Patrick's

Local Centennian's receiving gifts in celebration of their 100 years of life at St. Patrick's Home on Tuesday.

This afternoon, St. Patrick's Home for the Aged and Infirmed, located right off of Mosholu Parkway, celebrated the lives of 13 residents who either turned triple digits or have surged right past the century mark.

The celebration included a review of all of the historic events over the past 100 years, lively Irish step dancing and a presentation of gifts by family members and friends.

The residents celebrating over 100 years of age included: Rose Paladino, Anna Benson (103), Anna Roorra (102), Elizabeth Kioski, Josefine Diesto, Louise Erto, Theresa Verna, Mary Leech, Mary Turner (101), Mildred Davis, Nora Roach, John Burns and Bridget McCahill (100).

Rasta Afternoon at Monte

The Fingees in the courtyard at Montefiore Hospital.

Monday afternoon felt more like happy hour at a Jamaican resort than lunchtime in the courtyard at Montefiore Medical Center.

As part of a weekly Summer Concert series (on Mondays), Bronx reggae band, The Fingees, performed for a moderate crowd of Montefiore employees under a ceaseless summer sun.

As hospital employees enjoyed their lunchtime meals, The Fingees set a relaxing Caribbean atmosphere, adding to the already tropical weather. Playing two sets of three songs each over half an hour, The Fingees were a pleasant surprise for an afternoon work break.

The Fingees are comparable to the Wailer-esque "island sound," but with an added Bronx edginess. Imagine if Bob Marley grew up near the Grand Concourse instead of Trenchtown.

The newly finished courtyard and ongoing programming is part of an effort to utilize outdoor space and create a more campus-like environment throughout the three Montefiore hospitals, according to Monte President Dr. Steven M. Safyer, MD.

The courtyard, which is now providing musical acts every Monday afternoon throughout the summer is on track to providing the type of atmosphere Safyer is aiming for. A recent article in the Norwood News by Jordan Moss features a more in-depth look at the courtyard's construction at Montefiore. The article can be found HERE.

What's Going On This Week

Chef Trish Sebben-Krupka shopping at last year's farmer's market at the Botanical Garden. 

Tuesday, June 22

Tuesday Teen Takeover!

Every Tuesday at the Riverdale Branch Library, the Teens Takeover! Play games, challenge your friends in a video game competition, hop on a laptop, and check out all new materials on the shelves. Beginning at 4 p.m. at 5540 Mosholu Avenue.

Wednesday, June 23

Van Cortlandt Summer Concert
At 5:30 p.m. at the Van Cortlandt Senior Center, 3800 Sedgwick Ave, the Bronx Opera Company will presenting another installment of their summer concert series.

Crocheting
Gather with other stichers to crochet. Perhaps pick-up a few tips and tricks as you work on your own creations! Crocheting is held every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Concourse Branch Library, 155 East 173rd Street.

Upcoming Bronx Events Through June 21

 The Family Art Project presents "Making Music" this Father's Day at Wave Hill

Tuesday, June 15

Community Council Meeting
The 46th Precinct’s next Community Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 15, at the precinct station house, 2120 Ryer Ave., at 7 p.m. Community Council meetings fall on the third Tuesday of every month. They give residents the chance to meet local police officers and air their concerns. For more information, call (718) 220-5234.

Concert: Quintet of the Americas
Quintet of the Americas will be performing their only concert in the Bronx this summer at the Wave Hill House at 2 p.m. The concert is free to the public and will include both multimedia performances, film and woodwind quartets. Wave Hill House is located at 675 W. 252 Street, or you can visit the Wave Hill website for more information.

Tuesday Teen Takeover!
Every Tuesday at the Riverdale Branch Library, the Teens Takeover! Play games, challenge your friends in a video game competition, hop on a laptop, and check out all new materials on the shelves. Beginning at 4 p.m. at 5540 Mosholu Avenue.

Upcoming Bronx Events 6/1 - 6/7

Tuesday, June 1

Trey Songz
R&B singer Trey Songz will be performing at the Paradise Theater at 12 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster or visit the Paradise Theater website for more information. The Paradise Theater is located at 2403 Grand Concourse.

Click-On the Web
Beginning at 4 p.m. at the Soundview Branch Library there will be an introduction seminar to the computer and Internet for children ages 5 and older. The Library is located at 660 Soundview Avenue.

Tuesday Teen Takeover!
Every Tuesday at the Riverdale Branch Library, the Teens Takeover! Play games, challenge your friends in a video game competition, hop on a laptop, and check out all new materials on the shelves. Beginning at 4 p.m. at 5540 Mosholu Avenue.

Charter Revision Commission Hearing
There will be a Charter Revision Commission Hearing regarding voter participation at Lehman College in the Faculty Dining Room in the Music Building at 6 p.m. the forum is open to the public.

Wednesday, June 2

Crocheting
At 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Concourse Branch Library there will be a gathering of local stitchers to trade tips and tricks on crocheting as you work on your own creations. The Grand Concourse Branch Library is located at 155 East 173rd Street.

Thursday, June 3

Exciting Yoga Classes - All Levels
Westchester Square Physical Therapy is offering yoga classes to the public which will introduce you to the rich benefits of yoga with this therapeutic and balanced yoga practice for beginners, continuing practitioners, as well as anyone with specific injuries or challenges. First class is free and any classes after are $15 a session. Classes are from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 1250 Waters Place Suite 501, or for more information call (718) 409-9444.

Friday, June 4

Bronx Seaside Trolley
Hop on the Bronx Seaside trolley for a ride to BPMM, tour the mansion, listen to live music, and enjoy light refreshments. Then hop back on the trolley to ride to City Island for a bite to eat or just to explore. The trolley makes a continuous loop from the #6 Pelham Bay Park subway station to BPMM to City Island. The trolley leaves from the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, 895 Shore Road, Pelham Parkway at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to return by 8:30 p.m. Visit the BPMM website for more information.

Until We Win - Sandra Maria Estevez
Composers, actors, poets and dancers gather for an evening-length tribute to poet Sandra María Esteves. Theater icon Miriam Colón, composer Desmar Guevara, Pregones' Ensemble and guest artists will read, play, dance and perform pieces inspired by Sandra María's magical and dramatic poetry. Beginning 8 p.m. at the Pregones Theater, located at 571-575 Walton Avenue.

Bronx Nights Cinema
From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. join The Bronx Museum for a special film screening on the Civil Rights Movement. The museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse or you can visit the Bronx Museum of the Arts website for more information.

Saturday, June 5

Senior Dance
Community Board 6 and the Belmont Merchants are hosting a senior citizens “Hope for New Horizons” dance event on Saturday, June 5 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Our Lady of Carmel School, 2465 Bathgate Ave. Call Marie Riolo for information or tickets: (718) 579-6990

Red Cross Community Preparedness Day - Disaster Reserve Volunteer Training
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Red Cross will teach the community the skills needed to provide emergency relief to people affected by disasters in Greater New York at Red Cross Disaster Reserve Volunteer Training. To register, go to www.nyredcross.org/bronxprepare. The training will be held at Montefiore Medical Center- Cherkasky Auditorium 111 East 210th Street.

How Do Lions Say I Love You?
How Do Lions Say I Love You? and Who’s Your Daddy? reading by author Diane Muldrow, plus select readings from a Little Golden Book, Animal Tales. Diane Muldrow is the author of a number of children’s books, including Mama, Where Are You? and Mama, What’s in There? for preschoolers. Readings begin at 11 a.m. at the Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd or visit the Bronx Zoo website for more information.

Wild About Books
Author Judy Sierra will be reading her rollicking, rhyming story Wild About Books which introduces birds and beasts to reading. She finds the perfect book for every animal—tall books for giraffes, tiny ones for crickets. New York Times bestselling illustrator Marc Brown is also the creator of PBS’s Emmy-winning Arthur series. Kirkus Reviews called Wild About Books “a storytime spectacular.” Reading will start at 1 p.m. at the Wild Asia Plaza, Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd. Visit the Bronx Zoo website for more information.

Summer Outdoor Film Festival
From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. the Teen Council Presents and Bronx Museum of the Arts present a selection of videos specially produced for the occasion. DJ music, performances, refreshments and special guests. The screening will take place at 1040 Grand Concourse or you can visit the Bronx Museum of the Arts website for more information.

Sunday, June 6

Animal Tales - Frog and Toad Are Friends
A reading of Frog and Toad are Friends by author's daughter Adrianne Lobel. Frog and Toad, true green friends, will leap into the hearts of any reader, beginning or advanced. From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—just as best friends should be. 11 a.m. at the Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., or visit the Bronx Zoo website for more information.

Central Bronx Rotary Club Meeting
Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Jol Kabar Restaurant, 2135 Westchester Ave, the Rotary Club of Central Bronx will be holding their weekly meeting.

ONGOING Events

Dinner with a Doctor
St. Barnabas Hospital is hosting a “Dinner With a Doctor,” which will focus on foot care and health and feature expert podiatrists. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Braker Building boardroom on the St. Barnabas Hospital campus (Third Avenue and 183rd Street.) Presentations in Spanish will be held on Tuesday, June 8; English on Wednesday, June 9; and the West African language of Yoruba on Thursday, June 10. All sessions start at 6 p.m. To RSVP, call Diana Loubriel at (718) 960-9295.

Home Gardening Demonstrations
The New York Botanical Garden hosts demonstrations every Saturday and Sunday at their Home Gardening Center, with admissions free on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be two sessions on caring for roses in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden on June 5 and 12. Call (718) 817-8700 or visit www.nybg.org for more information.

Emily Dickinson's Gardens: The Poetry of Flowers
Tour the Botanical Gardens through the eyes of one of America's most beloved literary figures, Emily Dickinson. This exhibition combines her fascinating life's story with her passion for nature, all set in 250 acres of living beauty. Every weekday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visit the Botanical Gardens website for more information. The Botanical Gardens are located at 200th Street and Kazimiroff Blvd.

Losing Paradise? Endangered Plants Here And Around The World
Losing Paradise? features botanical artwork of at-risk plants from all six habitable continents. The traveling exhibition and accompanying catalog is curated by the American Society of Botanical Artists and developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Every weekday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visit the Botanical Gardens website for more information. The Botanical Gardens are located at 200th Street and Kazimiroff Blvd.

After 1968 - Exhibition
Thursday, June 3rd and Friday, June 4th The Bronx Museum of the Arts presents AFTER 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy. This smaller exhibition includes works from seven African-American, emerging artists and collectives - all born on or after 1968 - who have created new work examining the heritage of the Civil Rights Movement and its affect on the lives of this new generation. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. located at 1040 Grand Concourse, or you can visit the Bronx Museum of the Arts website for more information.

Help us Celebrate and Support the Bronx News Network!

Alex just mentioned this in his post on BxNN's 2000th post. We're having a BxNN fundraiser/friendraiser at the Bronx Ale House, a fantastic new bar/restaurant on W. 238th St. near Broadway. It's going to be a great time. We'll be celebrating some recent awards and testing out our new Web site. If you can't read the invite above the basic details are: Friday, Feb. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bronx Ale House, 216 W. 238th St.  $20 admission, free appetizers, half-price drinks, raffles and other prizes. To RSVP, just call Ivonne at 718-324-4461, ext. 221. Thanks and spread the word!!!

A Milestone for the Bronx News Network.

This is the Bronx News Network's 2,000th blog post. (Waiting for applause.)

Just to give you an idea of how we've grown over the last few years, consider this. In 2006, we posted just 32 times. The next year, 2007, we made a quantum leap to 329 posts. The following year, 2008, we ramped up our efforts again to the tune of 510 posts.

Then last year, we really hit our stride. Fueled by competitive Bronx Council races and the debate about development at the Kingsbridge Armory (which turned into one of the biggest stories in the city last December), we topped out at 877 posts. The Village Voice recognized us as one of the best blogs in a city teeming with them.

We've done this while continuing to produce quality, award-winning print journalism in all of our affiliated and associated papers. Sometimes, with all of our other responsibilities, it's difficult to maintain a steady flow of stories and information in this space.

But, in the end, we believe in what we're doing here and we've received a tremendous amount of feedback and support from all of you out there who read the blog and make it a part of your daily life. We want to thank you and encourage you to continue reading and commenting as we strive to create a dialogue about vital issues in the Bronx and beyond.

We would also like to hear from you about how we can make this site better, more enjoyable and more informative. What issues should we focus on? What kind of weekly or daily features would you like to see? What don't you like about the site or our blog posts? Do you want more photos slide shows or more multimedia? We want to hear from you.

This is your blog as much as ours. (Applause from us.)

Stay tuned and come celebrate with us at the Bronx Ale House on Feb. 25. More details to come.

BxNN on TV Tonight!

Tonight at 8:30 p.m., CUNY-TV (channel 75 on your cable dial) will air a segment about the Bronx News Network on "Independent Sources," its show about the independent media. It's a 30 minute show -- not sure when exactly the segment will air, but it's a great show, so settle in and enjoy. Click here for more information on this episode (it's called "The Black President) airing tonight and when it will re-air later this week.

One more thing: If anyone out there can record the show for us in any format (looks like none of us will be home tonight :-) we'd be eternally grateful!

Thanks to CUNY-TV producer Michelle Garcia for her hard work putting this report together.