Woodlawn Cemetery Designated A National Historic Landmark

Photo courtesy of Woodlawn Cemetery

On June 30, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that Woodlawn Cemetery, along with 13 other sites across the country, was designated a National Historic Landmark. The title recognizes Woodlawn’s role in preserving and celebrating those who have helped shape the world, according to a press release. The prestigious title has been designated to less than 2,500 places, making the cemetery one of a few.

The 150-year-old, 400-acre Woodlawn Cemetery is located in the Bronx neighborhood of the same name, and is the final resting place to some significant people in our nation’s history: music icons like Celia Cruz to local legends like jazz musician Billy Bang to former New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was one of many who advocated for the cemetery to become a National Historic Landmark.

“The Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place for many famous Americans and it is vitally important to preserve our nation’s history for ourselves and for the generations to come,” said the Borough President, who submitted a letter that supported the cemetery’s designation back in October of 2010.

“Without our history we do not know where we came from and we do not know where we are headed,” Diaz continued.

Memorial Services for Ozzie Brown to be Held Today

Ozzie Brown, a colorful, loquacious and dedicated member of the Bronx's Community Board 7 who was also active in the civil rights movement and an advocate for diabetes awareness, died last week after a battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

Services are being held today for Brown at John J. Fox funeral home at 203 E. 201st St. (at the corner of E. 201st Street and Grand Concourse) from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who said Brown was "one of his best friends," will speak at the night service.

In an interview this morning, Carrion called Brown a "true Renaissance Man."

“Ozzie was a worldly person,” Carrion said. “He brought a mix of experiences that many people would be surprised to hear about. He was a musician, a promoter of music, a philosopher, a lover of the arts.”

We'll have more on Brown's life and legacy tomorrow and in the next edition of the Norwood News, which hits streets tomorrow.

Bronx Events: Homeowner Resource Fair

Do you owe property taxes or water and sewer charges? Are you on the 2011 NYC Lien Sale List?

If you are, you only have until August 1 to make sure your lien doesn’t get sold to debt collectors!

Come and get help at tomorrow's West Bronx Homeowner Resource Fair organized by University Neighborhood Housing Program and co-sponsored by City Councilman Fernando Cabrera.

You will be able to ask the DEP and Dept of Finance staff about your options for affordable payment plans, removing your name from the lien sale list, and scheduling a home inspection to address leaks or issues with water meters. Come find out how to cut energy and water costs and get a free weatherization kit and learn about foreclosure prevention assistance and loan modifications from a counselor.

To RSVP or find out if you are on the lien sale list call University Neighborhood Housing Program at 718-933-2539.

For more info about this event and others, check out our Events Calendar:

Editor's note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com.

Bronx News Roundup, Tuesday, July 12

Speed roundup today, folks.

Weather: Brutal today in the Bronx and most of the rest of the country. Stay inside and drink lots of water. High in the upper 90s with extreme humidity.

Quick Hits:
Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. continues to enjoy support from staunch opponents of legal gay marriage, including the Unification Church (aka the Moonies) and a notorious anti-gay state representative from Oklahoma.

Two Bronx cops from the 46th Precinct were arrested on Monday for allegedly beating a man who apparently was heckling the officers after being arrested in February.

Borough President teaches about sex

Schools need to talk frankly about sex, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. told The Hunts Point Express in a no-holds-barred press conference.

The borough president then proceeded to frank talk himself.

See what he had to say to The Hunts Point Express.

Commuter Headache: Major Renovations Continue at E. 180th Street Station

Construction at the E. 180th Street-White Plains Road subway station will be
 finished this winter, according to the MTA. (Photo by Fausto Giovanny Pinto)

Editor's Note: this article was originally published in the July issue of the Tremont Tribune, out now.

By JEANMARIE EVELLY and FAUSTO GIOVANNY PINTO

The subway station at East 180th Street and White Plains Road, which serves the No. 2 and 5 trains, is undergoing “total rehabilitation” by the Metropolitan Transit Authority—a two-year project that has turned the site into a construction zone, to the distress of straphangers.

“We’re exposed to this asbestos and dust when we walk through here every day—you can smell it,” said rider Susie Martinez. “Then on the platform you have to walk on this little catwalk because there's only one stairway. It’s dangerous.”

The renovations, which started in 2009 and should wrap up this winter, are part of a $40 million project to repair the dilapidated station and make it fully wheelchair accessible. Construction has been aggravated over the past few months by an influx of extra passengers forced to stop at the station because of suspended No. 2 and 5 train service between East 149th Street-Grand Concourse and East 180th Street.

Bronx Weekend News Roundup, July 11

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Weather: Another hot and humid day, with a high of 88 degrees in the Bronx. Temperatures will hit the low 90s tomorrow, so stay cool.

Story of the Day: Jeter's Hits 3,000
As we're sure all of the Bronx and most of the world knows already, Bronx Bomber Derek Jeter made history on Saturday with his 3,000th career hit during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Here's a video--complete with joyous commentary from the guy who filmed it off of his TV--of Jeter's historic home run.


Quick Hits:
A Bronx man ran over his girlfriend in midtown early Saturday morning--with his estranged wife's car--after a drunken argument between the two.

Bronx Events: Barefoot Dancing

Barefoot Dancing is back in Van Cortlandt Park every Thursday night in July!
Each week is a celebration of diverse cultures featuring live traditional music and learn-as-you-go dance moves.

July 14: Brazilian Dance with Abada Capoeira
July 21: West African Dance with Tokounou
July 28: Japanese Okinawan Dance with Sachiyo Ito & Company

For more info about this events and others, check out our Events Calendar:

Editor's note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com.

Kingsbridge Armory discussed on BronxTalk this Monday night

This Monday night Kingsbridge Armory Task Force member and BOEDC President Marlene Cintron will be the guest on BronxTalk to discuss the latest report on Kingsbridge Armory.  Beginning at 9:00pm host Gary Axelbank will quiz Ms. Cintron about the task force's recommendations for renovating the Armory and other related issues. 

Viewers can have their say by calling in at 718-960-7241 during the program.  


Last week BronxTalk featured gorgeous underwater photos taken by Bronx jeweler and scuba enthusiast  Allan Freilich.  Here's the link to it:  BronxTalk - July 4, 2011


On Monday, July 18, the program will turn its attention to the Indian Point nuclear power plant.


One of New York City's longest running TV talk shows now in its 17th year, BronxTalk is seen each Monday night at 9:00pm on Bronxnet's Cablevision channel 67.  It's also on Verizon Fios channel 33 and streamed live at www.bronxnet.org.  Hosted by Gary Axelbank and produced by Jane Folloro, BronxTalk is repeated each day at 9:30am, 3:30pm, and 9:00pm. Archives are available here:  BronxTalk archives

Bronx Crime Watch: Still Waiting on Neighborhood Crime Stats

Don't think we've forgotten about this, NYPD. As we've said repeatedly: These neighborhood crime statistics would be an invaluable resource for citizens. It's our contention that precinct-wide crime numbers are almost completely useless if we still don't know, specifically, where the crimes are happening. Our count-up (see below) starts from when we first formally requested sector stats for the 52nd Precinct last June. In October of last year we requested sector stats for every precinct in the borough. We received initial form response letters from the NYPD, but no statistics. For some background, see our Norwood News' editorial here.

Yankees' Jeter '2' Close to History and Other Bronx Sports Stories

Here's a long overdue look at some of the biggest and latest Bronx sports stories out there right now. 

Jeter's Two Shy of 3,000 Hits
Bronx Bomber Derek Jeter's quest for 3,000 hits continues as the team lost to division rivals the Tampa Bay Rays last night. The Yankee captain went 1 for 5 on the night, leaving him just two hits shy of the magical 3,000-hit milestone (only 27 hitters in Major League history have surpassed the mark). The Yankees lost 5-1. Bartolo Colon struggled through 5-2/3 innings, surrendering all five runs. Jeter is 1 for 2 lifetime against rookie Jeremy Hellickson, tonight's starter for the Rays.

Punchin' at the Paradise Results

Bronx News Roundup, Friday, July 8

Weather: It says on weather.com that it's 77 degrees out this Friday morning in the Bronx. But my sweat-drenched body and wardrobe begs to differ. If it is, it's a thick, muggy, shirt-sticking-to-your-back 77.  Thunderstorms are expected later today and tonight.

Story of the Day: From a Window and a Bucket, the 'Best Ices' in the Bronx
During these sweltering dog days of summer, Providence Lamuitt, an 81-year-old gramma, is probably making a a small fortune selling ices -- some say the "best ices" -- out of her apartment window on Tiebout Avenue near E. 181st Street. Lamuitt, known as "gramma" to customers, grew up experimenting with ice mixtures while growing up in her native Puerto Rico. She moved to her current apartment 30 years ago and began selling ices out of it in the mid-1990s. Her business model is simple. Customers yell up to her window for a certain flavor. She lowers a metal bucket down to the street with a rope to retrieve the money, a bargain at 50 cents a pop. Moments later, your order arrives in the same bucket. "My ices are the best because I have lots of experience," she tells the Daily News. See video below:

Quick Hits: