National Night Out in the Bronx Features Legendary Latin Jazz Pianist Gilberto Colon, Jr.

National Night Out Oval Park from Alex Kratz on Vimeo.Above is a quick 360 degree look at the National Night Out event in Williamsbridge Oval on Tuesday night, which was highlighted by the music of legendary Latin jazz keyboardist Gilberto Colon, Jr. and his band Ensalada de Pulpo. (“Pulpo” is Colon’s nickname; it means octopus in Spanish. Octopus Salad is the name of the band. For years, Colon played with Salsa legends Hector Lavoe and Tito Puente.) National Night Out was held in every precinct in the borough and is an annual event designed to foster a more positive relationship between police and community residents. Organizers deemed the Oval Night Out a big success.

Bronx News Roundup, Thursday, Aug. 4

Weather: Not too hot today: sunny with some clouds. Unlike last night, it should stay pretty clear through the evening. Story of the Day:A second water main break this morning on Jerome Avenue less than a mile away from where last week’s was. The Daily News reports that the break occurred around 6 a.m. and was shut off by 7:45 a.m. This break caused far less damage than last week’s, but still left two inches of water in the street. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, the two breaks are not related or an indictment of a failing water main system.

Report: Suicidal Woman Jumps in Front of 1 Train in the Bronx

The Riverdale Press describes a gruesome scene that played out this morning on the elevated 1 train at 231st Street when, police and witnesses say, a “middle-aged woman” intentionally jumped onto the tracks and waited for an oncoming train to strike her. She died with her unnaturally contorted body in view of many onlookers. “The foot was above the torso,” one witness told the Press.

Bronx News Roundup, Tuesday, Aug. 2

Weather: After today’s sizzler – high of 92 expected – Bronx air will cool back down into the low 80s tomorrow and should stay comfortably below 90 for the rest of the week.Story of the Day: Bronx Kids Writing Around Town This summer, the Bronx Council on the Arts is transporting Bronx youngsters to destinations outside of the Northern Borough for rich cultural experiences they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to enjoy. Before, during and after they go to galleries, museums or places like the Anne Frank Center in SoHo, the kids write about what they’ve seen and experienced. The goal of the Bronx Write Bus, says program director Maria Romano, is two fold: keeping kids stimulated and off the street and, at the same time, exposing them to cool cultural places and ideas. Good story from former BxNN intern turned Times scribe Andrew Boryga. The program ends next week.

Bronx Reps Say Debt Limit Deal Unfairly Burdens Middle Class, Gives Free Pass to Rich

[Video: Engel talks about his opposition to the debt limit deal.] Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of a budget agreement that would allow the nation to raise its debt ceiling while making trillions of dollars in cuts to government spending programs. Last night, the Republican-controlled House approved the same plan and President Obama is expected to sign it immediately before the country starts defaulting on its debt obligations. While Democrats were split evenly between yays and nays, the three Bronx representatives, all Democrats, in the House – Jose Serrano, Eliot Engel and Joe Crowley (who’s more of a Queens guy than a Bronx guy, but he still counts) – all voted against the deal. Each said the plan would unfairly burden middle class Americans and eat into the nation’s social safety net, while allowing the ultra-rich and large corporations to get off easy. Serrano summed it up best: “My constituents will not benefit in the slightest from this package—and in fact will suffer from its effects. They work hard, and pay their taxes, and should not see the social safety net that they rely on slashed solely to preserve low tax rates for billionaires.

National Night Out Locations in the Bronx

Tonight is National Night Out, a broad attempt to bridge the gap between police and the communities they serve. It’s also about building community, hanging out in your local parks and getting some safety tips (and often a free bike helmet). Below is a list of every National Night Out event in the Bronx:40th Precinct/Community Board #1St. Mary’s Park at the 147th Street Comfort Station3-7 p.m.41st Precinct/Community Board #2Police Athletic League 991 Longwood Ave. between Southern Boulevard & Kelly Street4-8 p.m.42nd Precinct/Community Board #3Metropolitan Oval (Parkchester)3-7 p.m.44th Precinct/Community Board #4East 169th Street between Gerard Avenue and Walton Avenue3-8 p.m. 45th Precinct/Community Board #10Co-op City – Section 5 Greenway (pedestrians enter at Elgar place.

Local Businesses Struggle after Bronx Water Main Break

A day after a water main burst under Jerome Ave., businesses were still cleaning up. (J. Bodden)Editor’s Note: A spokesman for Small Business Services, which is aiding merchants in the recovery effort, said there will be a recovery meeting for business owners and other concerned parties tomorrow, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m., at Davidson Community Center, 2038 Davidson Avenue. By Justin BoddenA little more than twenty-four hours after a water main break left Jerome Avenue in Mt.

News from Mott Haven and Melrose

The new issue of the Mott Haven Herald is out, with stories that remember the contributions of Evelina Antonetty, surveys an exhibit that enshrines South Bronx buildings, looks at the latest safety efforts in public housing and tells the story of women who’ve gotten their GEDs through a local program, and more. Check it out at www.motthavenherald.com.