Bronx News Roundup, April 30

Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas is being sued by a Queens woman who claims the judge borrowed $500,00 from her to pay off gambling debts and keep loansharks at bay.

Congressman Jose Serrano wants the MLB All Star game moved from Phoenix to protest Arizona's new immigration law.

Also on the Serrano front: the rep praised a new bill passed in the House yesterday that gives Puerto Rico, a longtime U.S. territory, the option of becoming a state.

Three lion cubs make their debut at the Bronx Zoo today. You can help name them by submitting suggestions to the Daily News here. 

An Emily Dickinson-themed garden show opens at the Botanical Garden today, an homage to the poet's passion for horticulture.

Environmental justice group Sustainable South Bronx scored a public health award from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Police are looking for the suspect in a March robbery at E. 187th and Grand Concourse.

More on the second lawsuit filed this week against Pedro Espada by the Attorney General's office, from the Village Voice's Tom Robbins. WCBS aslo interviews a whistleblower from Espada's Soundview clinic, who said employees were regularly used to do campaign work for the senator.

A new playground in  Longwood is modeled after a rotary printing press.

Horace Mann in Riverdale made a list of the nation's top 20 prep schools, compiled by Forbe's (NYC had seven schools on the list total).

Bronx News Roundup, April 23

There are, as to be expected, some Espada headlines gracing the papers this morning:

State prosecutors subpoenaed 10 staff members with ties to Espada's Soundview HealthCare Network yesterday. 

The state senator's legacy will be Soundview and sushi, says the New York Times. The sushi, like Larry Seabrook's infamous $177 bagel, is in reference to $20,000 worth of take out  delivered to Espada's Mamaroneck home, paid for by Soundview. The article goes on to say that Bronx residents still view the health clinic as a valuable resource in the neighborhood, though it's gotten "shabby" in recent years.

Espada defended himself on NY1's "Inside City Hall" last night and on "Good Day New York" this morning.

Meanwhile, Espada's newly announced opponent Desiree-Pilgrim Hunter could be picking up support from two major unions: it's said that both the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union and a local chapter of the Transport Workers Union may endorse the candidate.

In other news:

Sustainable South Bronx is approaching its 10 year anniversary. NY1 ran a segment yesterday (earth day) on the group and all the good work it does to green the borough.

A 15-year-old from Throgs Neck is facing 18 months in juvenile detention for driving his family car into a tree in December, killing his 12-year-old neighbor who was in the passenger seat.

Bronx students continue to fight the elimination of free student Metrocards. 

David Gonzalez of the New York Times has been investigating a Brooklyn pastor who hired and promised paychecks to hundreds of residents in Brooklyn and the Bronx--but the jobs, and the money, never existed.

BoogieDowner posts about a NYT's article on the new mall in Rego Park, Queens and how it's become an economy booster there. BD alludes to the killed Related Companies' plan at the Kingsbridge Armory and the (albeit minimum wage) jobs that might have been provided for Bronxites, had it survived.

Bronx News Roundup Feb. 25

A security guard in the Bronx wins 1 million dollars from a scratch off ticket.

More details are being released about the Parkchester grandmother, Angela Barksdale, who killed her four-year-old grandson. The boy and his 18-month old sister lived with Barksdale on Metropolitan Avenue. Police have confirmed that Barksdale had a criminal record and was a convicted felon. The Administration for Children's Services was not responsible for placing the children in Barksdale's home and have removed the sister. Details can be found here and here.

There are going to be more MTA service changes and subway delays. The MTA is attributing the changes to repairs that need to be made.

While a study finds that New York City is the most congested city in the country, the Cross Bronx Expressway at the interchange of Bronx River Parkway was named the worst bottleneck in the nation.

Majora Carter, community activist and the founder of Sustaintable South Bronx, appeared in a commercial during the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. The commercial was sponsored by the company True North.

Bronx News Roundup Oct. 16

Several Bronx cops were honored yesterday for outstanding service, at an awards ceremony in Morris Park.

The first of two public hearings on Mayor Bloomberg's bid to extend term limits is being held today. The Times says the City Hall hearings are the most eagerly anticipated in years. Big crowds are expected. In other news, Bronx Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo now says she's "undecided" on whether she'd vote for an extension. Previously she was in favor. In the Bronx, then, four council members want an extension, two don't, and two are undecided. More here.

Federal investigators say the city may have inflated the estimated cost of the new Yankee Stadium and then lied to the IRS. On the back of these costs, the Yankees were able to secure $942 million in tax-exempt bonds, in the process saving themselves millions of dollars.

A man has been charged with the murder of his baby son in a West Farms homeless shelter earlier this week. Police say John Rodriguez punched 8-month-old Elijah because he wouldn't stop crying.

On Tuesday night a man was murdered inside his Mount Eden apartment, police say.

Monroe College is 75-years-old. The first in a series of celebratory events will be held next Wednesday.

Sustainable South Bronx has co-authored a study calling on city policymakers to implement an "Urban Heat Island mitigation plan." The study says "vegetated and highly reflective surfaces" would help combat global warming, reduce pollution, improve public health, and even strengthen the economy.

The Bronx picked up several awards in the Village Voice's annual Best of NYC readers poll, including best public tennis courts, best Jamaican food, best Latin music store, and, er, best strip club. Boogiedowner has more details.

Last but not least, Freddy, a beloved Fly River turtle who lives at the Bronx Zoo, recently turned 50. He's the oldest known turtle of his kind.

Bronx News Roundup for Aug. 8

The owner of the Kingsbridge Heights nursing home, where workers have been on strike since February, was arrested yesterday under a new state law for allegedly failing to pay into the workmen's compensation fund. More here and here.

Thirty-six artists were selected for a program at the Bronx Museum of arts that focuses on the business side of the art world.

Who woulda thunk it? Bronx County is among the top 10 fastest aging counties in the country according to Forbes Magazine.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith has a memoir coming out that will include tales of his Bronx boyhood. (My wife confirms the rocker's Boogie Down bonafides -- she took music class with Tyler's dad, Mr. Tallarico, at Cardinal Spellman High School in the 70s.)

The Daily News profiles new Sustainable South Bronx executive director Miquela Craytor.