Bronx News Roundup, Friday, July 8

Weather: It says on weather.com that it's 77 degrees out this Friday morning in the Bronx. But my sweat-drenched body and wardrobe begs to differ. If it is, it's a thick, muggy, shirt-sticking-to-your-back 77.  Thunderstorms are expected later today and tonight.

Story of the Day: From a Window and a Bucket, the 'Best Ices' in the Bronx
During these sweltering dog days of summer, Providence Lamuitt, an 81-year-old gramma, is probably making a a small fortune selling ices -- some say the "best ices" -- out of her apartment window on Tiebout Avenue near E. 181st Street. Lamuitt, known as "gramma" to customers, grew up experimenting with ice mixtures while growing up in her native Puerto Rico. She moved to her current apartment 30 years ago and began selling ices out of it in the mid-1990s. Her business model is simple. Customers yell up to her window for a certain flavor. She lowers a metal bucket down to the street with a rope to retrieve the money, a bargain at 50 cents a pop. Moments later, your order arrives in the same bucket. "My ices are the best because I have lots of experience," she tells the Daily News. See video below:

Quick Hits:

Bronx News Roundup, July 30

Mayor Bloomberg agreed yesterday with the Bronx judge who ruled saggy pants legal, though not fashionable. "I am certainly not the style police," Bloomberg told the Post.

The Times reported this morning that, five months into the investigation of Governor Paterson's top aide abuse case, officials are still unclear about how much the governor knew about the abuse and when he knew it. A later article by the Times states that Paterson unlawfully leaked evidence in the case to witnesses. Read the full story here.

Waitresses at Bronx strip club Sin City filed a law suit charging that their managers routinely groped them, stole their tips and demanded sexual favors.

The National Weather Service is urging locals to be prepared for tornadoes such as the one that hit Riverdale earlier this week. The Service's top suggestions are to get inside, stay away from windows, and have an emergency kit.

Police have found suicide notes throughout the home of Micaela Jackson, who killed her son and herself in their Bronx home on Wednesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the Bronx six awards worth about $350,000 to help pay for HIV/AIDS prevention programs geared toward young people and women. Get the details here.

Bronxites can now show their home pride on their feet with limited-edition Nikes specialized for each borough.

The Times highlighted some Bronx attractions in its own What's Going On? roundup this morning, see city-wide events here or check out our calendar.

Bronx native Jennifer Lopez is slated to replace Ellen DeGeneres on the next season of American Idol, according to billboard.com.

Bronx News Roundup, June 11

Another day, another political scandal. Actually, two political scandals.

An organization created by Councilman Larry Seabrook has left the "lightest of footprints" since it was founded 10 years ago, according to The Times. But that hasn't stopped it raking big bucks, by subleasing space at inflated rates to other groups associated with Seabrook - money that was later reimbursed by the city.

Allegations of financial impropriety have dogged Seabrook since the 1990s. For a quick sampling see here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Also in today's papers: Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo's grandson, who serves as her chief-of-staff, has been charged with stealing $200,000 from a non-profit. Some of the money was allegedly spent on flights to Puerto Rico for Arroyo and her daughter, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

Assemblyman Jose Rivera is proud of Espada, whose defection means the Democrats no longer hold the Senate. On a sidenote, very few Bronx pols (to my knowledge) have openly criticized Espada since this whole thing kicked off, despite the effect his actions will likely have on many of their legislative agendas.

Espada once wore a wire to secretly record conversations with the Rev. Al Sharpton, Seabrook, and others.

Espada is playing down an apparent burglary at his co-op in Bedford Park. BoogieDowner, did you hear about this?

Still on Espada, a quick look at who he could face in next year's Democratic primary.

A Daily News columnist bashes the Bronx DA's office for failing to prosecute anyone for the murder of toddler Khamerin Antwine two years ago. In the Mount Hope Monitor, recently, we wrote about another Bronx toddler whose murderer has yet to be caught

On a happier note, Green Carts are gaining a foothold in the Bronx and other parts of the city where fresh produce is hard to come by.

A new 5,000-square-foot museum is opening tomorrow in the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, on Palliside Avenue.