Reading for a long weekend

This week's Press includes stories about a Five-O sergeant who doubles as a novelist, a UFT lawsuit to keep John F. Kennedy High School open, a Riverdale teen suing the city for wrongful arrest and a Horace Mann junior's performance at one of the city's hottest jazz clubs.

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Bronx Week’s historic tour

As he drives along the Bronx’s grand thoroughfares, the borough’s official historian sees the buildings and roads around him through a different lens than most.

Nondescript buildings bordering either side of the Mosholu Parkway appear to be just that to most people. But during yesterday’s Bronx Week Historic Trolley Tour, Mr. Ultan showed Boogie Downers that practically ever corner is rich with stories.

Those buildings overlooking the Mosholu were the childhood homes of fashion barons Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.

Over in the South Bronx’s antique district is the oldest post office in the Bronx, and it looks just like it did the day its construction — financed by the Carnegies — was completed.

As he rides along the Caribbean grocery and auto-shop Mecca that is Boston Road, Mr. Ultan is reminded of a famous traveler who once came to halt while traveling along the same path on his way to Philadelphia from New England.

Founding father John Adams decided to give his trip a breather after he received news that an epidemic of Yellow Fever was striking out Phillies left and right.

“He came down with a case of the smarts,” Mr. Ultan said of the future-Presidents’ decision.
Mr. Adams chilled in the Bronx for a couple of months while waiting for the City of Brotherly Love to recover.

--Graham Kates

Santa Fé Grill back open

Santa Fé Grill, which was closed temporarily by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Tuesday, is back open just in time for Cinco de Mayo!

The restaurant will serve five Tecate beers for $10 and Chiles Enogado, a dish popular in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the Mexican army beat the French on May 5, 1862 in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War.

Efrain Farciert, the chef and owner of the restaurant, said a Health Department inspector came on Tuesday morning just as he was discovering the restaurant had a broken fridge.

“We threw everything out. We did everything they asked to do,” Mr. Farciert said. The inspector returned late Wednesday night and confirmed that the restaurant was sanitary enough to reopen.

Barber's life in the Bronx?

Tiki Barber is leaving his depression behind with the help of girlfriend Traci Johnson, a former NBC intern, according to a story in the New York Post.

Mr. Barber’s career with the Giants and disagreements with head coach Tom Coughlin led to his retirement from the NFL and then to a job with NBC from which he was fired. To top it off he is going through a divorce with his estranged wife, Ginny.

Check out The Post’s article to read more about Mr. Barber and Mr. Johnson, who apparently live in Riverdale with their two King Charles dogs.

No man's Marble Hill

There's a Marble Hill "No Man's Land" story, this time from The Daily News' Thursday "Bronx News" section. The article, "One neighborhood, 9 different legislators," includes Marble Hill residents Urban Ellis and Paulette Shomo, who live next door, but are in different boroughs.

According to the article, Councilman Oliver Koppell — who's district includes one-eleventh of the Marble Hill Houses — said he's never been inside.

Beep BronxTalks about ice skating and reservoir access

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. visited Gary Axelbank on BronxTalk on May 3.
The Beep addressed a range of issues, from the worldwide news of Osama bin Laden's death to local news including the Van Cortlandt ice skating rink, the Kingsbridge Armory and Jerome Park Reservoir. For these three local issues, Mr. Diaz makes one basic point: Bronxites and Bronx legislators want a say in what goes on in our borough.

On the Van Cortlandt ice skating rink plans:
"Why not have one here in the Bronx? In Van Cortlandt I know that there are different personalities that are on either side of the debate and sometimes personalities can cloud a policy issue ... conceptually when its all said and done, I would love to see an ice skating rink in our borough" he said, adding that he thinks the public should have direct input into the plans.
On the Jerome Park Reservoir:

"We realize that there are some safety issues that we have to discuss but nonetheless we want a say-so, we want a seat at the table and ultimately some level of access so people can enjoy the reservoir," he said.

Breaking News: Teen questioned in baby death

Check our site for the developing story.

Your thoughts on Bin Laden?

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