Bronx News Roundup, Monday, Aug. 8

Happy Monday, Bronxites! Your weather forecast for today calls for sunshine and temps in the high 80s.Story of the Day: Espada Spent the Most Senate Cash File photo by Jeanmarie Evelly Pedro Espada’s lavish spending habits have him back in the headlines again (just in case you’ve forgotten, see here.) State Senate documents released this week show that the

Bronx Events: Health Fairs & Screenings

It’s National Health Center Week, and Bronx Community Health Network (BCHN) will be hosting a number of events at 10 Bronx locations to commemorate the occasion and raise public awareness about the health services they offer.There will be a health fair tomorrow at Poe Park (Grand Concourse and East 192nd Street) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring free health screenings and health information, interactive physical activity, nutrition demonstrations, and gifts.

Fire on Gun Hill Road and Rochambeau; Minor Injuries to 3 Residents, 3 Firefighters

Fire marshals strap on their boots to investigate a Norwood fire that may leave several families homeless temporarily. (Photo by Alex Kratz)At about 9:45 a.m. this morning, Ashley Santiago looked out the window of her apartment on the corner of Gun Hill Road and Rochambeau Avenue and saw fire raining down from the sky.”My mom told me, ‘Look, there’s fire coming down from the sky,'” she said, two hours later.Dressed in shorts and a tank top, the 18-year-old grabbed her wallet, cell phone and keys and ran out of the building, 3504 Rochambeau Ave., along with the her mother, aunt and two dogs. On the way out, one of the dogs, Nena, a Rottweiler-Pit Bull mix, ran back up the stairs, forcing Santiago to run after her and corral her before she made it up to the fifth floor where a fire had engulfed a corner apartment.Santiago’s family and every other resident, including two teenagers who were in the apartment where the fire erupted, made it out of the building in plenty of time, but damage from the fire may leave several families homeless, at least temporarily.

Breaking News: PS 51, The Bronx New School, To Be Moved Because of Contamination

[Update 4:17 p.m.: Just heard from the DOE. Spokesperson Marge Feinberg says the school will be moved, not closed. The TCE was found during a inspection of the property as the DOE was looking to renew its lease on the Jerome Avenue building. A copy of the letter is included after jump.] This week, the Department of Education and the principal of PS 51, the Bronx New School, sent out a letter to parents saying the Bedford Park elementary school will be closed moved due to Trichloroethylene contamination.The letter sought to assure parents that there were no immediate health risks and referred questions to the city Health Department. It said the school would be moved, but it did not say where to.

Bronx Sports Roundup: Yankees-Red Sox, Youth Baseball Controversy, Fordham Footballers Go Pro and More

Editor’s Note: In lieu of a news roundup today, which we couldn’t get to because of a fire and school building contamination, we offer you this Bronx sports roundup, courtesy of BxNN intern and Yankee fan Justin Bodden. By Justin BoddenRed-hot Yankees set to take on Red Sox for division leadThe most famous rivalry in all of sports resumes tonight as the Yankees face the Red Sox at Fenway for the lead in the AL East. The Bombers come into the series sizzling: winners of their last 7 games and coming off a sweep of the White Sox in which they didn’t walk a single batter. The Red Sox and their line-up full of MVP candidates are coming off a split with the Cleveland Indians. Both teams are tied for the second best record in the majors at 68-42.

Urban Entrepreneurship Forum

To boost job growth in the city, the White House Business Council and the Office of Public Engagement co-hosted an Urban Entrepreneurship at Monroe College on Monday.The Obama Administration says it is committed to supporting local entrepreneurs and helping create a new generation of urban entrepreneurs in hope that entrepreneurship will help create jobs and economic opportunity.The event brought together a diverse group of city leaders, entrepreneurs, future entrepreneuers, and foundation heads. The day consisted of a series of panels, speakers, and roundtables that addressed the barriers and challenges to urban entrepreneurs, funding and

Bronx Film: Buzz Building for 'Gun Hill Road'

[Video: a trailer for Bronx-based film “Gun Hill Road,” which opens tomorrow.]I picked up the Village Voice near the Kingsbridge Road 4 train stop yesterday and, because I’m a movie junkie, immediately turned to the film reviews. It included a short and positive portrait of “Gun Hill Road,” an independent movie written and directed by Bronx-born filmmaker Rashaad Ernesto Green, starring two well-known Bronx actors, Judy Reyes and Esai Morales.That’s good news for Green’s film, which made it’s New York debut at the first-ever Bronx Film Festival in May. Only one problem: the reviewer said the movie is set in Brooklyn! Doh! Finally, an independent Bronx film starts building buzz (apologies to “City Island” fans) and the Boogie Down gets mistaken for trendy Brooklyn.