Bronx News Roundup, May 17

Sorry, a little late with our roundup today, as we're going to press with the latest edition of the Norwood News, which will be out tomorrow.

Weather: Rain, rain, and more rain. Temperatures in the low 60s.

Story of the Day: Bronx Pastor Sworn In as Obama Ambassador
Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, who grew up in Wakefield and founded Bronx Christian Fellowship Church on E. Gunhill Road and Paulding Avenue, was appointed President Obama's ambassador for religious freedom yesterday--the  first woman and the first African-American to ever hold the post. According to the State Department's website, Johnson Cook's new role includes "promoting religious freedom as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy."

"This is a chance to build connections that can increase understanding and can help bring peace," she told the Daily News.

Quick Hits:
An adorable cat that fell seven stories from the window of a Bronx building is on the mend. The four-month-old broke both of his front legs and fractured the roof of his mouth.

According to a tally of baby names compiled by the Social Security Administration, 105 baby boys were named Bronx in 2010--a very distant second to the 8,357 little ones named after some variant of Brooklyn (i.e. Brooklynn or Brooklynne). Our borough got a little extra love, however, from the 47 sets of parents that went with the name Jeter.

In a move sure to make Michael Pollan groan, the State Legislature has voted corn the official vegetable of New York (it beat out the onion). A group of researchers at Lehman College, meanwhile, have been studying the genetic properties of the plant, with the city's only "research corn field" growing on the Bedford Park Blvd. campus.

A subway train that went off the rails in Brooklyn has led to delays and some track changes on the B and D lines today. Check mta.info for service updates before you head out.

The NYPD's 49th Precinct in Baychester recently got a makeover from muralist Bob Rose, who has painted wall murals over 100 stationhouses across the city.  

Subway Construction

As some of you may have discovered by experience this week, the 4 train is only running express from 167 St. to Woodlawn from July 9-13 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., stopping also at Burnside Ave. To get to 170 St., Mt. Eden Av., 176 St., Fordham Rd., Bedford Park Blvd. and Mosholu Pkwy take the 4 to Burnside Ave. or Woodlawn and transfer to the Manhattan-bound 4, which will be running as usual.

Additionally, Kingsbridge Rd. and 183 St. stations are currently closed due to construction. Both will be open starting at 5 a.m. July 16. In the meantime, the MTA website suggests taking the D or 4 to Fordham Rd. and transfering to Bx32 or the shuttle bus to get to Kingsbridge, but only after 3 p.m. when the 4 starts running local again. To get to 183 St. take the 4 to Burnside Ave. and transfer to the Bx32 or shuttle bus or take the D to 182-183 Sts. and transfer to the shuttle bus.

For more information about what has been done to the Kingsbridge Rd. station, as well as updates on subway construction, click here.