Bronx News Roundup, Oct. 1

If you couldn't tell by the soggy weather this morning, it is indeed October now. Because of the rain, expect subway delays if you haven't already experienced them. On to the news!

First, an awesome picture of some of the subway flooding problems and a report that the 4 train was delayed after a tree fell near the 167th St. stop. [Update: a reader alerted us that this photo was taken in 2006. But it's still awesome.]

As of 10:57 a.m., the MTA was reporting delays on the 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, B, D F, M, and N, Q, R lines.

To the relief of its 800-plus workers and doctors, Westchester Square Medical Center, slated to close on Dec. 31, will remain open but the amount of beds in the hospital will shrink, state Health Department officials say.

Internal Affairs reportedly raided 12 Bronx police precincts to seize and audit all tickets handed out over the past 13 months. 

The late actor Tony Curtis grew up in the Bronx, the son of dirt-poor Hungarian immigrants. His given name: Bernie Schwartz.

Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez points out that Eva  Moskowitz, who founded the Harlem Success charter schools and opened two new schools in the Bronx this year, spent some $1.3 million on marketing and recruitment, which swelled the waiting list to get in and pressured state officials to let her open schools. Gonzalez admits the schools have been successful, but says the money is the reason regular public schools can't compete.

The trial of four men accused of plotting to bomb two Riverdale synagogues is nearing conclusion as the defense wrapped up its case yesterday. They called very few witnesses, instead relying on their cross-examination of a government informant who they say entrapped their clients. Closing arguments begin Monday.

The Bronx driver accused of beating a traffic cop pleaded not guilty yesterday after turning himself in to authorities.

The Manhattan College and Fordham University men's soccer teams face off tomorrow night.

A deal to save the so-called "birth place of hip-hop" is near completion.

Hostos Community College is hosting a dominoes tournament on Sunday that will benefit the school's Emergency 100 and Scholarship fund. Entry is $30. Winners can earn up to $2,000 in prizes.

And finally, after conducting an online poll, the Wildlife Conservation Society has named the new beaver recently found in the Bronx River. It's Justin Beiber, er, Beaver. Justin joins Jose who was discovered in 2007 and named after Bronx Congressman Jose Serrano. The discover is another great sign of the river's resurgence. Plust, the two are planning a world-wide tour to the delight of pre-adolescent beavers everywhere.

Bronx News Roundup, May 11

In an editorial yesterday, El Diario La Prensa said "some of the points [State Senator Pedro Espada] has been raising in the face of accusations from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo merit discussion."

Cash-strapped Westchester Square Hospital seems to be hanging on and has filed a five-year plan. Officials now believe that the hospital is capable of surviving on its own.

Happy 70th Birthday Parkchester! This Saturday, the Parkchester community will be celebrating the housing development's 70th anniversary by the Metropolitan Oval.

The latest on the peace talks between Assemblyman Carl Heastie (the Bronx Democratic party boss) and Assemblyman Peter Rivera.

Governor Paterson's emergency budget bill has been approved by legislature. This will allow Paterson to furlough about 100,000 state employees without pay for one day.

The State Education Department and New York teachers unions has come to an agreement that could revamp teachers evaluations and connect them to students' test scores. At the moment, teachers are simply rated satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

Veteran Democratic consultants Patrick Jenkins and MarySol Rodriguez have founded a Bronx-based political consulting firm. State Sen. Eric Schneiderman, who's running for attorney general candidate, is already a client.

Senators Diane Savino and Jeff Klein are sponsoring a bill that would ban convicted sex offenders from living in public housing.

A lab-tech in the NYPD's forensics department has been suspended for allegedly falsifying drug-test results.

Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 11

Just in time for Veteran's Day, the Jericho Project, a housing group, broke ground on a new building in Kingsbridge that will provide housing to low-income vets.

Nurses at the Westchester Square Medical Center staged a protest yesterday demanding better pay and an increased level of patient staffing.

A Bronx Army Sergent tells his story of witnessing and following the horrific gunman in Fort Hood, Texas through his deadly massacre of military troops and civilians.

A New York City school program, "Power Brain Education," was recently linked to an alleged cult that supposedly cons investors into practicing medically unproven health activities.

Yesterday, as part of a deal between New York City and Philadelphia forged during the Yankees and Phillies World Series, the Hunts Point Market in the Bronx sent 10 tons of food to the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market. In return, the Hunts Point Market will receive 10 tons of food from the market in Philadelphia.

A Bronx FDNY veteran proves he has a taste for flavor. The firefighter has made it to the final round of the Daily News’ first FDNY Five Alarm Cook Off thanks to his culinary skills.

Bronx News Roundup, Sept. 17

A horticulture program, run out of a greenhouse on East 160th Street, is helping homeless people stay drug-free.

The Hofstra University student who said she was raped by five men, including two from the Bronx, has recanted her story.

Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit that builds affordable housing, has put a green roof on one of its buildings in the South Bronx.

A 57-year-old man was shot dead on Fairmount Place in East Tremont last night.

The state has given Westchester Square Medical Center another year to find a suitable buyer. Both New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Mount Sinai Medical Center are said to be interested. Previously, it was feared that the medical center would close for good.

A police officer died yesterday at the 46th Precinct's station house on Ryer Avenue, following a suspected heart attack.

Leonel Fernandez, the president of the Dominican Republic, is visiting the Bronx on Monday.

Urban Assembly for Applied Math and Science, a middle school on Bathgate Avenue, has been honored for its math teaching.

Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 16

Getting a late start today, but on to the many links we need to get to:

Local students and organizers went to the Community District 10 Education Council meeting last Thursday to demand more school seats to alleviate overcrowding. [More on this meeting later. We were there as well and it was not pretty. Students and teachers, one by one, told horror stories of kids trying to learn (and teachers trying to teach) in stairwells, windowless storage closets and water bug-infested locker rooms.]

Speaking of overcrowding, recent data released by the DOE says class sizes have gone up since last year. The Daily News says state budget cuts may further hinder the DOE's efforts to reduce class size in the city.

In his Bronx political column, the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter says Joel Rivera will definitely run for borough president if (when?) the current BP Adolfo Carrion takes a job with the Obama administration. Rivera planned on running until the term limits extension put Carrion back in play to keep his job. Now, if Carrion's gone, Rivera would face off against Assemblyman Ruben Diaz and, possibly Kappstatter says, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

On Sunday, the Times profiled Bronx environmental justice superstar Majora Carter, who recently took her game national with a new for-profit consulting firm and country-wide speaking engagements.

A Bronx teen tells the Daily News about his harrowing fight with a knife-wielding BMW driver who attacked the teen for leaning on his ride.

Westchester Square Medical Center is in danger of closing.

More from trial of former actor Lillo Brancato (pictured right, with boxer Zab Judah), who is facing murder charges. In his testimony, Brancato said he was drug addict, not a murderer.

WNYC goes to a Bronx high school to talk about the worsening economy.

-Photo by David Greene