Bronx News Roundup, July 26

Weather: Sunny and in the mid-80s today.

Story of the Day: Are Bronx Subway Stations the Ickiest?
A new report out of the MTA found that the Bronx's many subway stations are the dirtiest  in the city, plagued by garbage, leaks and rodents. MTA board member Charles Moerdler, who lives in Riverdale, told his fellow board members that some local stations were in such bad shape they could be condemned, a sentiment echoed by Borough President Diaz who says the Bronx is tired of waiting for much-needed station renovations.

Which made us want to ask you, our dear readers: what do you think is grimiest subway station in the Boogie Down? Where would you most like to see a makeover? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Bronx News Roundup, Wednesday, May 4

First off, thanks to Adi for his light sleeping habits and nimble early-morning camera work. Now let's get to more Bronx news out there on the webosphere.

Weather: As you can probably tell by looking out your window right now, it's raining and it's expected to continue until the late afternoon. It will cool tonight, with temperatures dropping into the mid-40s. More rain tomorrow.

Story of the Day: Judge Upholds Guilty Verdict for Riverdale Bomb Plotters
In her ruling yesterday, federal judge Colleen McMahon said it was "troubling" how doggedly a government  agent worked to engage the four would-be terrorists who were found guilty in October of plotting to bomb two Riverdale synagogues (and shooting down military transport planes at Stewart International Airport), but said they still deserved to go to prison. These men couldn't hold Osama bin Laden's tunic, the judge implied. According to the NY Times, McMahon wrote that convicted plotter "[James] Cromitie is not a particularly intelligent man, but it defies reason to think that he was unaware” of what was going on. For more bomb plot background , check out the Riverdale Press' Adam Wisnieski's work.

Quick Hits: 
Police are investigating the 17-year-old baby-sitter of a nine-month-old baby who died Tuesday morning after being found unconscious in a Marble Hill apartment. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the teenager admitted to punching the baby in the stomach.

Bronx State Senator Jeff Klein and his independent caucus want to ban doctors and other health care professionals from wearing neckties, jewelry or other fashion accessories that might carry carry yucky germs.

Bronx Pastor Suzan Johnson Cook, who grew up in Wakefield and founded the Bronx Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, was tapped by the Obama administration to be the nation's Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, which just may be the coolest title of any government post.

Residents hope a new Van Nest property owner delivers on his promise to clean up what they say is a drug den.

More on the sparkling new $65.5 million homeless intake center on East 151st Street.

Erika Marte, a senior at Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice, was one of 17 New Yorkers to win the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. Marte, who lives in Van Nest, will attend Hamilton College in the fall and wants to be a teacher when she's done with her own schooling.

Crotona Park Post Office to Close April 22; More Bronx Closures Loom

By Rachel Sander

The United States Postal Service has decided to close the Bronx’s Crotona Park Post Office at 1682 Boston Road and a spokesperson warned that more closures could be on the way.

Van Nest Post Office at 715 Morris Park Ave., Oak Point at 839 East 149 Street, as well as the processing unit of the Bronx General Post Office on 149th and Grand Concourse are all on the "consolidation" list, which means they are on the chopping block. A decision could be made on Van Nest and Oak Point in a matter of weeks, but spokesperson Darleen Reid said the decision on whether or not to close the Bronx processing plant was still more than six months away.  

Last week, the Norwood News reported on the reopening of the Mosholu Post Office on Jerome Avenue. At the end of the article, Reid said: “The public should know we are looking at stations and branches nationwide and in the Bronx for closures. The volume of mail is plummeting and we need to save money any way we can and one way we can do this is by consolidation.”

Today, Reid confirmed Crotona Park Station will close on April 22. Reid assured us that a public service announcement will be made to inform the public of closure on website and posted at the office. She said this decision is final.

Bronx Weekend News Roundup, Nov. 8

Congratulations to all the Bronxites and everyone else who completed the NYC Marathon yesterday.

Most runners didn't notice crossing the borough's brand new Willis Avenue bridge, which was floated into place in early October. “I was too busy trying not to suffer,” a firefighter who works in the Bronx told the NY Times.

Some video from the race. Gebre Gebremariam of Ehtiopia took the men's title and Kenya's Edna Kiplagat won the women's race. Also competing: NY1's Bronx reporter Dean Meminger.

In his column about the race, the Times' George Vecsey said the crowds in the Bronx seemed "better" than in years past.

Several news outlets picked up on the story of a 21-year-old Mt. Hope father charged with causing the death of his 8-week-old daughter. At the arraignment Friday night, prosecutors say Gregory Gray gave conflicting statements to police about how the child was injured. Gray, who his uncle called a "loving kid," pleaded not guilty.

NPR has piece on "The Anthology of Rap," a new book about the evolution of the music genre born right here in the Boogie Down nearly four decades ago. 

A profile of Frank's Sport Shop owner Moe Stein, whose family has been in the sport and uniform business for almost 90 years near Park and Tremont avenues. Here's some video of Moe in action (watch this, Moe's hilarious). More from the Times earlier this year, and from the Tremont Tribune last year. 

After starting 0-5, the DeWitt Clinton football team has streaked to four straight wins and a PSAL playoff birth after undressing Lehman High School on Saturday, 48-6.

The Bronx Science girl volleyball squad is also streaking into the PSAL playoffs.

Could the Hunts Point Market be moving to Jersey? 

A new farming school is coming to the south Bronx.

An entrepreneur is taking advantage of the ban on cell phones at Bronx public schools by offering to baby-sit students' electronic devices for $1 a day. His mobile mobile phone depository offers its services at Lehman and Clinton high schools.

Friends worked hard to get the name of a fallen Vietnam War soldier from the Bronx, Peter Wiesneifski, included on a Van Nest war memorial.

The custodian of the Bronx's Theodore Roosevelt High School is being accused of using city workers to renovate the homes and apartments he owns.

Bronx News Roundup, June 3

Another great day in the BX, another day of news! Enjoy!

According to authorities, toxicology tests show that the officer who killed himself, another officer and injured four women, in a car crash last month on the Bronx River Parkway, had an alcohol level twice the legal limit. NY Times has the story here.

The sudden oil spill into the Bronx River yesterday, came from a 12-story apartment complex in White Plains. The leak spanned three to four miles. According to a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Conservation, some wildlife has been affected.

Four men have been charged with running a $5.7 million medicaid scam. With a clinic in the Bronx, next to the Bronx VA, they allegedly bribed homeless medicaid recipients to come to their office for unnecessary dental treatments.

Co-op City residents are getting fed up with all the garbage that continues to pile up as 100 of maintenance workers continue to strike against the management company and the new contract they have offered.

A failed robbery attempt in a home in the Van Nest section of the Bronx led to the shooting of two adults and a 14-year-old boy. All were taken to Jacobi Medical Center and are in stable condition.

The Child Sex Abuse Bill gets denied for the fifth year in the New York Legislature. The bill is asking for victims to be allowed to file lawsuits against predators well after the stature of limitations has expired.

Mayor Bloomberg takes another shot at making elections non-partisan. Legal experts argued in a rowdy meeting last night at Lehman College over whether nonpartisan elections would hide candidates' beliefs from voters.