Bronx News Network

Huge Water Main Break Floods Jerome Ave.

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A massive water main break in Mount Hope this morning has flooded a portion of Jerome Avenue and surrounding side streets, around 177th Street, NBC is reporting.Check out the video at the link-we’re not talking about a little leak here-the streets are completely washed out and water is practically covering some parked cars.Because of the break, the MTA says riders should expect delays on the 4 line, and there will be no service in both directions between the 167th Street Station and the Bedford Park Boulevard-Lehman College Station. Delays are also posted for the BX1, BX2, BX3, BX18, BX32, BX36, BX40, BX42 and BXM4 buses.We’ll keep you updated as we hear more.

Bronx News Network

Hotel Site on Webster Still Stalled, Now Housing a Boat?

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Remember that controversial plan for a Comfort Inn motel on Webster Avenue that made headlines a few years back? That was when hotel mogul Sam Chang, of the McSam Hotel Group-the man the New York Observer called “the inexhaustible builder of small, limited-service hotels”-was working on a 48-room, six-story project at Webster as long ago as 2006.

Bronx

Bronx News Roundup, July 26

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Weather: Sunny and in the mid-80s today. Story of the Day: Are Bronx Subway Stations the Ickiest?A new report out of the MTA found that the Bronx’s many subway stations are the dirtiest

Bronx

Bronx Events: Oval Park Clean Up Party Tonight

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Friends of Oval Park are hosting a litter pick up party tonight, at Williamsbridge Oval Park, at 7 p.m. Come help pick up trash, hang anti-litter signs and get to know your neighbors better. Garbage bags will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.For more Bronx events and community meetings, check out our calendar, below.Editor’s note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com.

Bronx News Network

Joe Liberatore, Longtime Arthur Avenue Vendor, Has Died

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A plaque on display at the Arthur Avenue Market calls Liberatore “Little Italy’s Mayor.”(File photo by Fausto Giovanny Pinto)Joe Liberatore, one of the original vendors at the Arthur Avenue Retail Market in Belmont, passed away Monday night at the age of 93, according to a post yesterday on the “Arthur Avenue, the Real Italy of New York” Facebook page.Liberatore had been a staple at the Italian indoor bazaar since its opening in 1940, and more recently had been peddling plants and seedlings (like basil, olives and bay leaves) at his Liberatore Joe’s Garden of Plenty.Residents are sharing their condolences and memories of Liberatore on Facebook, here.

Bronx News Network

Street Sculpture Goes Up on Fordham Road

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Bronxites ponder a new art sculpture that’s on display at Fordham Road and Grand Concourse.(All photos by David Greene)By DAVID GREENELocals passing the Grand Concourse at East Fordham Road have been scratching their heads recently at the sight of a newly-erected piece of public art.The ten-foot metal sculpture titled, “Silver,” by Bronx artist Christian Marche was created from recycled materials found on the streets of the city. The work depicts a woman in a cage and a cat sitting on top of a street sign, among other unusual details.

Bronx

Bronx Weekend News Roundup, July 25

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Weather: Finally, some heat wave relief. It’s a breezy 79 degrees right now, with a chance of thunderstorms predicted for later. Temperatures will climb back up again tomorrow but won’t be as brutal as this weekend’s.Story of the Day: Bronx is BoomingThe cover story on this week’s issue of Crain’s New York Business takes a look at the number of positive economic indicators happening in the Bronx right now, and argues the borough is in better shape than it’s been in years. Booms in job growth, wage increases, an influx of new immigrants and affordable housing are all marking a shift in the Bronx, Crain’s Daniel Massey writes.“There was a time when people were running away from this borough,” local developer Radame Perez told the paper. “But that’s an old story.”Quick Hits:Same-sex marriages officially became legal in New York yesterday.