Talk Bronx New York

The Fordham Road Business Improvement District announced that 76 BID businesses are participating in a special Holiday Shopping Promotion in which they will offer 10% public discounts (consumers must display one of the many BID sponsored newspaper/magazine advertisements, downloadable online coupons or a MetroCard at the time of purchases, some restrictions may apply) from Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 20. A portion of these businesses will also have extended shopping hours on each Friday until 9 p.m. during the promotion dates.

BID-sponsored print advertisements are running in the Bronx Times Reporter, the Daily News, the Mount Hope Monitor, the Norwood News and Time Out New York Magazine. There will also be web and on-air radio promotions and television commercials. Read more..

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                                     An artist’s rendering of the proposed Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment

 The stormy issue of the Kingsbridge Armory development moves to the Bronx borough president’s office Monday night with a public hearing.

Residents will weigh in on the controversial plan by The Related Cos. to develop the nine-story, red brick former National Guard armory into a shopping mall.

The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Lovinger Theater on the campus of Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West.

Those interested in speaking should call (718) 590-3541, though advance notice is not required. Written testimony will also be accepted.

The plan has come under fire, primarily because of the developer’s plan for a supermarket in the armory.

Local Community Board 7 approved the plan - with conditions - July 14.

Last Friday, all eight members of the City Council’s Bronx delegation asked Mayor Bloomberg in a letter to reject the developer’s supermarket proposal.

Under the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process, the proposal next requires advisory approval or disapproval from Borough President Ruben Diaz and the city Planning Commission, as well as a final binding vote by the City Council.

With 45 markets already within a 2-mile radius of the armory, the council delegation argued the proposed 60,000-square-foot market would drive at least some of them out of business.

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 Ruben Diaz Jr. swears in as Bronx borough president today at Lehman College

Hard hit by a recession that has pushed Bronx jobless numbers into the double digits and painful budget cuts to city services and his own staff, Ruben Diaz Jr. was formally sworn in Thursday as 13th Bronx borough president.

In an inaugural speech at Lehman College, Diaz, 36, pledged to “work tirelessly and without compromise … for our seniors, our children and our hardworking families.”

Gov. Paterson, Mayor Bloomberg and other elected state and city officials were on hand to extend their well-wishes.

Addressing a 10.5% local unemployment rate - the highest in the city - Diaz told the audience the most important goal on his agenda would be economic development - “and we will tackle the issue head-on.”

In particular, he cited developing training programs for “green” jobs - “building green roofs, retrofitting boilers and making our existing building stock more energy-efficient.”

He also cited the continuing need for improving local schools, including partnering “with community and faith-based organizations to develop after-school and arts programs in every neighborhood.”

With health care the borough’s single largest employer, Diaz said he would encourage the growth of new medical fields, such as bio-pharmaceuticals.

Proclaiming a theme of “One Bronx,” the new borough president said he also will charge local business improvement groups with developing a strategic plan to “ensure the strength of all our business districts.”

Diaz said that he will reach out to citywide leaders on issues “from business and labor to education and the environment.” Read more..

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Bronx boosters are raring to turn this four-mile stretch into a pathway to a more sparkling future

The intersection of the Grand Concourse and 161st Street, as seen from the top of 888 Grand Concourse. Joyce Kilmer Park is in the center, with the Bronx County courthouse on the left, and Yankee Stadium in the background

The intersection of the Grand Concourse and 161st Street, as seen from the top of 888 Grand Concourse. Joyce Kilmer Park is in the center, with the Bronx County courthouse on the left, and Yankee Stadium in the background.

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Dave Valentin

Emmy-winning Latin jazz flutist Dave Valentin will appear at the Bronx Arts Ensemble’s annual jazz concert, Sat., Feb. 28 at 8 pm at the Russian Mission to the UN Residency, Mosholu Avenue at W. 255 Street, in an exciting evening of pop, R&B, Brazilian music and Latin jazz. Appearing with Valentin will be members of his quintet - Bill O’Connell, piano, Lincoln Goines, bass, Robby Ameen, drums and Richie Flores, congas.

Performing a variety of ethnic and classical flutes, Dave Valentin’s playing combines a popular and accessible form of Brazilian, salsa, merengue, funk and jazz. A native of the south Bronx, Valentin began with bongos and congas, later focusing on the flute at the urging of his teacher, Hubert Laws. He has recorded 25 albums and has performed with such legendary performers as Tito Puente (as his music director), Machito, Herbie Mann, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Barreto, Eddie Palmieri and Johnny Pacheco. Voted “Best Jazz Flutist” in Jazzis Magazine for the past eight years, his most recent CDs, for Highnote Records, are World on a String (2005) and Come Fly With Me (2006). Mr. Valentin is a proud Bronx resident and active member of his community. Read more..

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