Bronx

Bronx Sports Roundup: Red Hot Gardner, New Fordham Baseball Coach, and More

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Yankees’ Gardner the GreatYankee speedster Brett Gardner has been on an absolute tear since the All Star break, and River Avenue Blues breaks it all down. He’s batting over .500 since the Midsummer classic. Since the start of the 2010 season Gardner been one of the most productive players in all of the majors, with only a handful of players besting his production since then. There’s even been talk of sliding him into the leadoff spot, moving Yankee captain Derek Jeter down in the order. Watch some of the gritty outfielder’s best moments:New Coach For Fordham U’s Baseball TeamFordham University’s storied baseball team just got a new head baseball coach.

Bronx News Network

Stringer Releases Chinese and Spanish Language Immigration Manual

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The office of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has released Chinese and Spanish versions of the Immigrant Rights and Services Manual, according to a press release.The manual provides information on immigration laws designed to protect immigrants, ways to engage with the community through local groups and college aid for undocumented students.”Obtaining comprehensive information like this can be vexing for anyone, but it can be much more so if you are among the nearly 40% of New Yorkers who was born in another country,” Stringer said in a statement.Stringer also announced translations to Russian, Korean, French, and other languages are on the way.You can access the Chinese version here, and here is the Spanish version. A free print copy can be obtained by calling 212-669-8300, or by heading to the Stringer’s website.

Bronx

MTA Chief Resigns; Bronx's Vacca, Transit Chair, Responds

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Big state-wide news is rippling through New York. MTA Chief Jay Walder resigned today to head an even larger international transportation company. Bronx Councilman Jimmy Vacca quickly sent out a statement saying a worthy replacement needs to be installed quickly as the MTA faces enormous challenges.Vacca:“This resignation comes at a crucial time. A year after the worst service cuts in the MTA’s history and yet another fare and toll increase, the most serious challenges for straphangers may still lie ahead. While Chairman Walder deserves credit for taking on many structural issues that previous MTA leaders had delayed for a tomorrow that never came, the MTA continues to face a $250 million operating gap and a capital budget that runs out January 1.

Bronx

Union to Hold 'Emergency Rally' to Save Bronx Post Offices

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Next Wednesday, Bronx postal workers will team up with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. to protest the steady stream of Bronx post office closures, including the phasing out of the borough’s processing center. Since the beginning of the year, the United States Postal Service has closed the Crotona and Oak Point post offices. The Van Ness office was also slated to be shut down, but an outcry from residents and elected officials have put that closure on hold for the time being.According to James Perez, a union rep who works at the Bronx processing center on East 149th Street, the USPS has already begun shifting about half of the processing of Bronx mail to Manhattan and is intent on shuttering the center altogether and displacing its 271 workers. (Earlier this year, the USPS said they were contemplating a consolidation plan, but had not implemented it.) Chuck Zlatkin, the legislative director for the New York Area Postal Union, says “there’s nothing good in [these closures] for anyone.”He says eliminating the processing center will not only displace workers (who might go to Manhattan, but also could end up being transferred anywhere within a 50-mile range of New York City), it will delay delivery of mail to the entire borough, hurt local businesses around the plant who won’t have those 271 customers anymore and increase pollution with the increased truck traffic. The rally will begin at 10 a.m. at the recently-closed Oak Point office at 839 E. 149th St.

Bronx

Bronx Crime Watch: Williamsbridge Drug Gang Indicted

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A Bronx grand jury indicted 40 supposed drug dealers last week in connection to a massive cocaine-selling scheme in Williamsbridge, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s office.Police had been watching the group for over two years, in an investigation that sounds like something straight out of “The Wire,” complete with undercover drug buys and taped telephone conversations.The dozens charged stand accused of selling seven kilograms (that’s over 15 pounds, or $250,000 worth) of crack cocaine a week, setting up shop along White Plains Road, between 211th and 241st Streets. Two men believed to be the masterminds behind the enterprise-Sean “Showboy” Nelson, 31, and Jason Weir, 27, both of the Bronx-face the most serious offense of the group and a mandatory life prison sentence if convicted.

Bronx News Network

Energy-saving Tips for Heat Wave Survival

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With highs in the 90s for the rest of the week, Con Edison is providing tips to conserve energy.Run energy-draining appliances like washing machines, ovens, dishwashers, or dryers in the morning or at night, when it’s cooler. Get $30 back in rebates from Con Edison when you buy an Energy-Star room air conditioner. Con Ed offers a free programmable thermostat to anyone with central air conditioning. Head to their website to find out how to get one.Turn off your lights and other appliances when not in use. The company says it will have extra personnel to address additional problems incurred by the heat wave.

Bronx

Bronx National Night Out

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Bronx police precincts are holding National Night Out events across the borough on Aug. 2. The NYPD sponsored events are designed to increase awareness about crime and drug prevention, along with strengthening neighborhood spirit, according to Borough President Ruben Diaz.Residents can participate in games and munch on food while getting to know local officers.Click here to find more information about your neighborhood’s National Night Out.

Bronx

Bronx Events: Fun Outdoor Summer Stuff, Tonight

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(Photo: Bronx Council on the Arts)If you’re looking to take advantage of the great outdoors before the next two days of super-stifling heat hit (it’ll be a manageable 80 degrees tonight), there are a couple of events taking place in the parks.Flutist and Latin Grammy Award nominee Dave Valentin will perform tonight at Wave Hill, at 7 p.m., part of the park’s “Sunset Wednesdays” and the Bronx Council on the Arts’ “Bronx Beats” concert series. The show is free with admissions to the Wave Hill grounds ($8 for adults, $4 for students and seniors and $2 for kids over six.) Visit www.wavehill.org or www.bronxarts.org for more info.For those with little ones, Friends of Crotona Park will be showing Justin Bieber’s movie (they made a Justin Bieber movie?) “Never Say Never,” at the park’s amphitheater, at Charlotte Street and Crotona Park East. Show starts at 8 p.m.; come early to have your face painted by Chussie the Clown. The film is free, but bringing your own blankets and chairs is recommended. Call 718-716-1128, ext.