Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 23

We'll start this week off with the story of an uplifting fundraiser held by Love Gospel Assembly Church, which was gutted in a four-alarm fire in July, at Lehman College on Saturday. The event was attended by Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who both vowed to help the church rebuild.

Speaking of Espada, the NY Post reports that the Senate Majority Leader failed to disclose campaign spending for at least two food giveaways -- one on Reservoir Avenue and one across the street from St. Brendan's Church in Norwood. A spokesman for Espada said the spending would be disclosed during the next filing period. Espada has racked up tens of thousands of dollars in campaign finance violations over the years.

More than a dozen school workers, including at least two in the Bronx, have been terminated since 2009 for falsifying excuses for missing work.

State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. has spent more than $16,000 to maintain a fleet of seven campaign vehicles that ride around his district, "blaring music" and spread the "Vote for Diaz" message. Diaz says he is a master at "street campaigning." His opponent in the upcoming primary, Charlie Ramos, says he'll be going be going to door-to-door, talking to voters.

A funeral was held for Tashawn Bromfield, the 16-year-old from Connecticut who was killed in the Bronx last weekend.

Preservationists are planning to protest the city's plan to cut down 73 trees on Pelham Parkway. The city says it needs to cut down the trees to install new guardrails and other safety measures.

To culminate HOPE week, the Yankees surprised Bronx sisters Johanna and Melinda Arias.

Cops nabbed a Bronx gunman who fired at them in Williamsbridge on Saturday.

Love Gospel Assembly Seeking Help to Rebuild After Fire

Love Gospel Assembly, the Grand Concourse church gutted in a July 25 fire, is ramping up its fund-raising efforts and asking the public for help as they work toward rebuilding.

In a letter, Assembly head pastor Bishop Ron Bailey asks "Fellow Co-Laborers in Christ" to "stand with us prayerfully and financially during this critical time in the life of our ministry."

Considered by many congregants to be a beacon of a light in the community -- the church is located on the Concourse between 183rd Street and Field Place -- Love Gospel Assembly has some 600 parishioners and also operates a soup kitchen out of its basement.

"We have the awesome privilege of ministering  to the poverty-stricken and homeless of our community," Bailey wrote. "Yet now, we are without a home. With the help of God and others, we can be restored and rebuilt so that we may continue to see broken lives transformed by the power of God."

The church has set up the "Love Gospel Assembly Operation Restoration Fund," which people can donate to by going to the church's website: lgabronx.com, clicking on "Donation Tool"  on the left side of the page and then scrolling down to click on "Operation Restoration."

On Saturday, the church is holding a fundraiser at Lehman Center's concert hall from 1-3 p.m. where people can donate in person. And you can also donate by mailing a check payable to "Love Gospel Assembly" to 2435 Grand Concourse 2nd Floor, Bronx NY 10468. Put "Attention: Operation Restoration."

Love Gospel Assembly is currently holding services on Friday evenings and Sundays at Walker Memorial Baptist Church, 120 E. 169th St., between the Grand Concourse and Walton Avenue.