![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.norwoodnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Page-3-Photo-14.jpg\")
<\/a>ONE OF THE musical guests performs during\u00a0the Annual BID Fall Festival in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n
The Annual Jerome Gun Hill (JGH) Business Improvement District (BID) Fall Festival returned to Norwood on Saturday, Oct. 25, with various members of the community honored during the event.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The festival took place, as usual, along Jerome Avenue between East Gun Hill Road and Mosholu Parkway, where residents, young and old, mingled around the various stalls, soaking up the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Musical highlights included Ayanna Williams and her band, Kat Abreu, Luis LaFama and his band, as well as a live DJ. There was also a dance performance by Danza Fiesta, during which dancers paid tribute to Puerto Rico by waving flags and more due to the fact that the festival took place during Puerto Rican Heritage Month (celebrated in November).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Elsewhere, in addition to a host of food, drink, clothing and other gift stands, there was a pumpkin patch, face-painting, a fun BID photo booth, other family-friendly activities, and tabling by several community associations and organizations providing helpful health-related and other information.<\/p>\n These included Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7), Montefiore Health System, Montefiore Mosholu Community Center, New York Public Library, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, Heart to Heart Home Care, and Norwood Community Library.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Bronx CB 7 District Manager Karla Cabrera Carrera received this year\u2019s public service award from BID Executive Director Daniela Beasley, who thanked all who attended, organized or sponsored the event, as well as those who ensure the local business district thrives.<\/p>\n \u201cWe honor our public service award recipient with someone who is making a true difference in our community, and so I\u2019d love to welcome to the stage Karla Cabrera Carrera from Community Board 7 (CB7),\u201d said Beasley.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s give it up for Karla,\u201d she added. \u201cIf you don\u2019t know about Community Board 7, you can attend their meetings to know everything that\u2019s going on in the community. They do amazing work and we can hear a word from her.\u201d<\/p>\n Greeting those gathered, Cabrera Carrera, accompanied on stage by her young daughter, said it was an honor to serve as the district manager for Bronx CB7. Gesturing to CB7\u2019s table located on Jerome Avenue, she said, \u201cIf you\u2019re unfamiliar with what community boards are, and what they do, and their role in the community, you can drop by our table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n She continued, \u201cI\u2019m just so grateful to have great partners that I work with here at the Jerome Gun Hill BID, Daniela and her whole team. I\u2019m not going to name them all because I will leave someone out but thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Franklyn Polonia, founder of Haven Staffing Solutions and Poliris Akinci, co-owner of Haven Staffing Solutions, who was not present at the festival, received this year\u2019s awards for community service. \u201cWe recognize those who serve with heart and dedication,\u201d Beasley said of the award.<\/p>\n Of Polonia, she added, \u201cHe is such a great partner to the BID. He helps with all our clean-up days and any projects that we have that we need some extra hands [with] or his expertise with staffing. He\u2019s always the absolute best so let\u2019s hear from him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Accepting the award, Polonia said, \u201cThank you. This is an honor and such a pleasure to work with the Jerome Gunhill BID and with Daniela and the entire team. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In reference to the Sallie Caldwell Lifetime Leadership Award, presented this year to Esme Sattaur Low, who is also a Bronx Community Board 7 board member, Beasley also paid tribute to Caldwell, a former BID board member who died in recent years and who she said was a great active member of the community.<\/p>\n<\/a>ESME SATTAUR LOW is presented with a lifetime leadership award by Jerome Gunhill BID Executive Director Daniela Beasley at the Annual BID Fall Festival in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n<\/a>DANZA FIESTA PERFORM at the Annual Jerome Gunhill BID Fall Festival in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n<\/a>DANZA FIESTA PERFORM at the Annual Jerome Gunhill BID Fall Festival in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, as one of the performers waves a Puerto Rican flag high in the air. November marks Puerto Rican Heritage Month in New York City.\u00a0
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n<\/a>A YOUNG CHILD and a friend attend the Annual BID Fall Festival in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n<\/a>FRANKLYN POLONIA, FOUNDER of Haven Staffing Solutions, is presented with two community service awards for himself and for Poliris Akinci, co-owner of Haven Staffing Solutions, by JGH BID Executive Director Daniela Beasley at the Annual BID Fall Festival in Norwood, The Bronx on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Photo by Miriam Qui\u00f1ones<\/p>\n