Bronx News Roundup, Mondary Morning, Oct. 21

Good morning (early afternoon) everyone. Here's a few news links to accompany your cup of coffee today. Some hot topics to discuss.

The NY Times is obsessed with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's link to the Bronx, well, specifically the South Bronx. In any case, this story in yesterday's Metro section examines the quasi-socialist leader's relationship with the Bronx, where he has donated discounted heating oil and millions for development programs through Venezuela's oil company, Citgo.

This quote sums up the Times' angle on the story: "It is an unlikely flow of largess, from an oil-rich South American country where much of the population lives in poverty to one of the neediest pockets in the seat of American capitalism."

Here's a look at the organizations and programs that will benefit from the Chavez money.

Some weekend crime stories:

Two men were stabbed, one to died, during a robbery in Mt. Eden early Sunday morning.

After an earlier stabbing death in Fordham on Saturday, a man was arrested and charged with murder.

Also on Saturday, a 7-year-old girl was hit by a car in Baychester.

Jose Calderon was convicted last week of manslaughter in the beating death of Quachaun Brown, 4, in Norwood last year. The jury acquitted Calderon of the more serious murder charge. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he's sentenced Nov. 1.

The NY Post and Gothamist report on a dogfighting "lair" here in northwest Bronx on Valentine Avenue. Warning: there are some graphic and unsettling images with these stories.

And, finally, here's a Times City section story about Mexican immigrants who fear for their safety in the North Fordham area here in the Bronx. Father John Jenik, of Our Lady of Refuge Church, is quoted in the story.

Often Jenik is alone in decrying the violence and drug activity in that troubled neighborhood. In an email sent to the Norwood News yesterday, Jenik said that, for the first time ever, drug dealers were conducting transactions in his church. Not a good sign.

Note: Please feel free to weigh in here on Bronx crime and safety concerns, Hugo Chavez or anything else you feel is of concern. We want to ramp up the discussion and hear from everyone.

Bronx News Roundup for Oct. 10

The murder trial of Norwood resident Jose Calderon is into its second week. Calderon, 19, stands accused of killing Quachaun Browne, 4, the son of his then girlfriend. Yesterday, Quachaun's older sister described the savage beatings Calderon unleashed onto Quachaun in the weeks leading up to his death. The family lived on Kossuth Avenue. Here's how the Norwood News reported the tragedy at the time. Quachaun's mother, Aleshia Smith, has already pled guilty to first degree manslaughter.

Bronx Borough President and mayoral hopeful Adolfo Carrion gets profiled in today's AM New York. It's a mostly positive look at the former school teacher, but it does touch on one of the major controversies of his time as BP, namely the allegation that he removed several Community Board 4 board members for voting against the new Yankee Stadium.

The 2008 Zagat guide for New York City restaurants is out, as is the Michelin one. In the Zagat survey, the Bronx has 28 entries, up from 25 in 2007. Meanwhile, Steve Cuozzo of the Post takes issue with the whole process in a column titled "Take both of these books and stuff' em."

NY1 has a potentially interesting piece about Bronx GED students getting the runaround from an alternative school. Strangely, there's no mention of the school's name or where it is.

According to the The New York Sun, the New York Botanical Garden is about to "unveil the most extensive display of chrysanthemums cultivated in the imperial style that has ever been seen outside of Japan." The exhibit opens on Oct. 20.

The Bronx, not known for its proud soccer tradition, may be harboring the next Freddy Adu in the form of JFK sophomore and goal machine Karamba Janneh.

Who knew? Everyone knows J-Lo was born in the Bronx, but LiLo too? Wikipedia confirms it, so it must be true. Here's a list of other famous Bronxites.