Morrisania News: Baby Giraffe

Morrisania News: Baby Giraffe: Baby Giraffe Makes his Zoo Debut Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 29- A mal...

Baby Giraffe

Baby Giraffe Makes his Zoo Debut

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 29- A male Baringo giraffe calf is one of the newest animals at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo.

The young giraffe was born during the winter and lives in the zoo’s African Plains exhibit.

The giraffe’s mother is Margaret Sukari, and the father is James Michael. The Bronx Zoo names all of its giraffes in memory of Mr. and Mrs. James Carter, benefactors for whom the Carter Giraffe Building is named.

Newborn giraffes are approximately six feet tall at birth and can weigh more than 100 pounds. As adults, they can be more than 17 feet tall and weigh more than 3,000 pounds. Giraffes are the tallest animal in the world and have an 18-inch-long tongue that they use to grasp branches and pull leaves from trees.

The gestation period for a giraffe is 14 to 14.5 months. The newborn calf stands and starts walking within the first couple of hours of birth. The calf will nurse for approximately one year, but will begin eating some solid food at three months old.  Eventually it will transition to a diet of leaves, alfalfa, hay, kale, pelleted grain, and other produce.

Giraffes are native to grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands in central, east, and southern Africa. The Baringo giraffe (aka Rothschild’s giraffe) is found in western Kenya and eastern Uganda. While some populations are still robust, the overall population is declining. The Wildlife Conservation Society works across the globe and throughout the giraffe’s African range to save wildlife and wild places. WCS is working to protect giraffes in key African landscapes like Zakouma, Chad, Murchison Falls, Uganda, and in the Sahel of South Sudan.

To plan your trip, visit bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.

Morrisania News: Puerto Rican Day Parade

Morrisania News: Puerto Rican Day Parade: Puerto Rican Day Parade Set for Sunday By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 29- Forget about Fleet week. The real kickoff to su...

Puerto Rican Day Parade

Puerto Rican Day Parade Set for Sunday

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 29- Forget about Fleet week. The real kickoff to summer in the Boogie Down is the sound of salsa wafting through the Grand Concourse during the annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade

This year some 110 groups from throughout the country and South America will march on the Grand Concourse in a celebration of the Bronx’s rich Puerto Rican heritage. The opening ceremony takes place in front of Poe Park at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 1st. The parade will kick off 1 p.m. at 192nd Street and the Grand Concourse.

“The Bronx Puerto Rican Parade is no longer a local activity. Now we have international organizations participating,” said Francisco Gonzalez, chairman of the parade. 

Citing the bands and cultural groups from South America and the Caribbean who will be on hand, Gonzalez said, “We embrace everybody.”

Marriacchi bands, Jamaican steel drum bands, car groups, salsa dancers, school bands, West Indian, salsa, Hip Hop and Ragaeton musicians, bicycle clubs, culture groups etc. from various cultures will all participate in the annual event.

The parade will honor the work of non-profit groups who have been struggling to make their communities a better place and promoting culture despite having a hard time getting funding in this tough economic time. 

Elected officials of all stripes are expected to march in the parade during this heated election year.

In addition to the fun and music, the parade serves a more noble purpose. The event funds the scholarships for the parade prince and princess. The message is one that children from the Bronx can go on to achieve great things.

“If people like (Supreme Court Justice) Sonia Sottomayor can come from humble beginnings so can you,” Gonzalez said.

Morrisania News: Fun in the Sun

Morrisania News: Fun in the Sun: Summer Guide 2014: Where to go and what to do this summer Click here

Fun in the Sun

Summer Guide 2014:

Where to go and what to do this summer

Click here

Morrisania News: We Need Cops!

Morrisania News: We Need Cops!: Hey Blaz: We Need Cops! Too Many Shootings, Too Few Cops! COMMUNITY BOARD NEWS N’ VIEWS by Father Richard F. Gorm...

We Need Cops!

Hey Blaz: We Need Cops!

Too Many Shootings,

Too Few Cops!

COMMUNITY BOARD

NEWS N’ VIEWS

by

Father Richard F. Gorman

Chairman

Community Board #12 (The Bronx)

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 22- Our newly arrived Commanding Officer at the Forty-seventh Precinct, Deputy Inspector Raul R. Stephenson, is certainly receiving his “baptism by fire.” The number of shootings as of late has placed our Precinct in the top tier of shootings in our beloved Borough of The Bronx and the entire City of New York.

I trust that the good Deputy Inspector has not, and will not, become disheartened. I suspect not. Something tells me that he is fired up to make our numbers in this category go down and stay down. I can tell you that my colleagues and I on Community Board #12 (The Bronx) stand ready to support our Commanding Officer in any way that we can. I can tell you that one course of action for which the Community Board will be advocating will remain sizably increasing the number of Police

Officers in our Forty-seventh Precinct.

Traditionally, our local Precinct has been routinely short-changed when it comes to the assignment of new and/or additional Police Officers. In terms of territory required to be policed, the “4 – 7” ranks right near the top in our Borough. I hasten to add that the confines of the Precinct are by no means contiguous and compact. The Woodlawn Heights neighborhood juts out on the northwestern margins of Bronx Community District #12 and the Pelham community that includes that portion of The Bronx that bears a Pelham Manor / Westchester County Zip Code and that one must traverse through Westchester in order to access correspondingly hangs out like an appendage along the District’s northeastern boundaries. This geographical idiosyncrasy, with its nonconforming peculiarity, does not make for easy patrolling.

Add to this the fact that the population of Community Board #12 (The Bronx), thanks to the haphazard, pro-development-despite-the-detriment policies of the prior Municipal Administrations of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, has substantially shifted upward and you have, in my humble estimation, a cogent and reasonable argument that more cops are called for in the “4 – 7,” and sooner rather than later. Nevertheless, One Police Plaza, “1 – P – P,” as it is affectionately called, the Headquarters of the New York City Police Department (N.Y.P.D.), stubbornly clings to the outdated and specious argument that the Precinct is adequately staffed by a sufficient number of cops.  Maddeningly, the powers-that-be at Police Headquarters cite alleged scientific and statistical support for this rather unscientific determination that totally and obviously ignores the aforesaid significant facts. They routinely allude to the rather mysterious and not-ever-to-be-faulted “RAND FORMULA” that supposed provides a systematic, precise and infallible methodology for assessing how many Police Officers are needed and justified in any given command.

“RAND FORMULA” be damned! Whatever it is, it does not suffice for our Forty-seventh Precinct. We genuinely and straight away need more Police Officers and we should not continue to be short-changed. A new Administration sits tall in the saddle at City Hall. It has promised to be more attentive to the needs and concerns of our neighborhoods.

Let it hear this concern of Community Board #12 (The Bronx) and be attentive to this need.  Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised and signaled that he is neither enamored nor bound to the priorities and approach of Administrations past. This issue of ours would be an excellent opportunity and venue to so demonstrate.

Our men and women in the Laconia Avenue stationhouse do an outstanding job protecting us day in and day out. It is about time that they got more help to do so. They deserve it . . . . . . and so do we! What do you say, Your Honor? May we have more cops . . . . . . PLEASE?!?!?

Until next time, that is it for this time!

Morrisania News: Bronx Week Parade

Morrisania News: Bronx Week Parade: See More Parade Photos: Click Here

Morrisania News: Bronx Week Parade

Morrisania News: Bronx Week Parade: See More Parade Photos: Click Here

Bronx Week Parade

See More Parade Photos:

Click Here

Morrisania News: Doubleheader

Morrisania News: Doubleheader: Yanks-Pirates Split Doubleheader By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 19- For the first time in a decade, a single-admission...

Morrisania News: Doubleheader

Morrisania News: Doubleheader: Yanks-Pirates Split Doubleheader By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 19- For the first time in a decade, a single-admission...

Doubleheader

Yanks-Pirates Split Doubleheader

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 19- For the first time in a decade, a single-admission doubleheader was played in the Bronx. The last time Yankee fans in the Bronx could see two games in one day for the price of one was on September 29, 2004. A very large crowd of 46,858 took advantage of the fine weather to flock to Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Game One

The Yanks continued their domination over the Pirates in the Bronx with a 4-3 win in game one of the twin-bill. The victory raised the Yankee mark to 8-0 in their inter league games played in the Bronx.

A first inning solo homer by Pirate second sacker Neil Walker was answered by three Yankee runs in the bottom of the inning. The first five Yankee batters reached base successfully. Brett Gardner walked. Derek Jeter followed with a single. Jacoby Ellsbury was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. Mark Teixeira drove in two runs with a single, which increased his hitting streak to eight straight games. The third run was knocked in by Brian McCann who singled. 

In the second, a single by Kelly Johnson, augmented by a stolen base and a throwing error by the Pirate catcher brought him to third. He was driven across the plate by Gardner’s double.

After the contest, Yankee starter Hiroki Kuroda explained the benefit of the early scoring of his teammates, “They gave me an early lead in the game [and] I was more aggressive.”

Fortunately for the Yanks, the four runs were sufficient for the win as the team’s sole offense after the second inning was a single by Zoilo Almonte in the fourth. He was the only one of the last 20 Yankee batters to reach base and he was picked off first. 

Kuroda earned his first winning decision since April 14. He yielded three runs, five hits and two walks in his six innings on the mound. 

Yankee relievers, Matt Daley, Matt Thornton, Adam Warren and David Robertson blanked Pittsburgh in the final three innings. Robertson earned his eighth save of the year by retiring the last four Pirate batters, three by strikeout. 

The two day, three-game visit to the Bronx was a home coming for Pedro Alvarez, the Pirate third baseman. Alvarez, a native of the Dominican Republic, lived in the area as a teenager and attended an academically prestigious school in the Bronx, Horace Mann, before enrolling at Vanderbilt University. In the stands supporting the Pirate clean-up batter in his first MLB games at Yankee Stadium were his parents, sister and other relatives and friends. 

Alvarez’s single in the fourth gave him a hit in 18 of his last 20 interleague games.

Game Two

Thirty minutes after the first game concluded, the second began.

The rare opportunity to be in a ballpark for seven hours may be more difficult for some than they would have realized. The length of time affected both the crowd in the stands and the players on the field. 

The vast majority of the crowd left the park early. The starting lineup for each team in each game was quite different. The sloppiness was more apparent than usual. Each team committed two errors in the second inning, which allowed runners to score. Two base runners were thrown out trying to stretch and a runner was picked off base. 

Each starter, Vidal Nuno for the Yankees and Garrit Cole for the Pirates, pitched effectively for six innings. Interestingly, Cole was originally drafted by the Yankees, but did not sign so he could attend college. 

In the seventh, Yankee reliever Alfredo Aceves gave up a home run to Josh Harrison, the first batter he faced. The homer broke a 3-3 tie to give Pittsburgh the lead and eventually the win. The Pirates scored an additional run, but the Yankees did not. 

The 5-3 win by the Pirates ended the Yankee Stadium winning streak over Pittsburgh in the Bronx.

Morrisania News: Gunning Down Carjackers

Morrisania News: Gunning Down Carjackers: Hero or Vigilante? Man Charged with Gunning Down Carjackers BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announc...

Gunning Down Carjackers

Hero or Vigilante? Man Charged with Gunning Down Carjackers

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a Grand Jury has indicted defendant Jeffrey Pierre in the shooting deaths of two men May 9^th, 2014 at 4:35 AM, on Rombouts Avenue in the Bronx.

Pierre, age 33, is alleged to have shot to death Kaiison Lewis, 23 and Jermaine Johnson, 28.

It is alleged that Pierre was in his 1998 Mercedes-Benz outside 3805 Dyre Avenue, waiting to get food, when Lewis and Johnson got into the car as well. The men then exited Pierre’s vehicle, running a block-and-a-half and getting in to Johnson’s car, a 2002 Acura, which was parked in front of 3730 Rombouts Avenue.

Pierre is accused of following them to that location, where he allegedly opened fire, killing both men. Thirteen shots were fired from a 40-caliber semi-automatic weapon at the two victims. Police say Pierre fled the scene and was apprehended a few minutes later on Dyre Avenue after throwing the gun on the ground. That 40-caliber firearm was recovered. During the investigation, a 9-mm semi-automatic weapon was also recovered on the ground lying next to Johnson’s vehicle.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Paul Rosenfeld.

Morrisania News: Another Violent Week Across the Borough

Morrisania News: Another Violent Week Across the Borough: Another Violent Week Across the Borough By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- The mild temperatures have continued with the ...

Another Violent Week Across the Borough

Another Violent Week Across the Borough

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- The mild temperatures have continued with the string of violent incidents this past week that have left at least five people dead and 11 wounded, after nearly a half dozen incidents across the borough. 

At 11 p.m. on May 8, the body of a man was discovered by police on the roof of the Gun Hill Houses at 711 Magenta Street. Police say he had been shot in the head and back.

Detectives would later release photos of several tattoos on the man's arms and hand in hopes that someone would recognize the still-unidentified victim. described as a white male between 20 and 30 years-old.

Police were called to reports of shots fired at 4:42 a.m., on May 9, when they discovered two men who were shot and mortally wounded on Rombouts Avenue in the Eastchester section.

In what was being described as a carjacking gone wrong, police discovered Mount Vernon residents Jermaine Johnson, 28, and Kaiison Lewis, 23, both been shot multiple times. Johnson died at the scene and Lewis died a short time later at Jacobi Hospital.

Police have charged Jeffrey Pierre, 33, in the crime.

On May 11, officers in the 43rd Precinct were called at 4:45 a.m. to the intersection of Castle Hill Avenue and Gleason Avenue in the Parkchester section.

The 22-year old male victim was shot in the head and chest and died at Jacobi Hospital. A second victim was also shot, but was expected to survive.

Police in the 47th Precinct were called to 768 East 215 Street in Williamsbridge at 9:30 p.m. on May 11 and discovered Quashawn Thomas, 19, had been shot in the head.

Thomas was rushed to Montefiore Hospital North where he died a short time later. Police reported they continue to hunt for this assailant.   

Morrisania News: Bronx Veterans Honored

Morrisania News: Bronx Veterans Honored: Bronx Veterans Honored The Monroe college Student Veterans Association (SVA) participated in the official breakfast honoring Bronx v...

Bronx Veterans Honored

Bronx Veterans Honored

The Monroe college Student Veterans Association (SVA) participated in the official breakfast honoring Bronx veterans. Along with Allen "Chief" Hansen, CPO/ EOD, USN (Ret), who is the Director of Monroe's Veteran's Services and a member of the Borough President's Veterans Advisory Council, 10 Monroe students who have served in the military attended.

"This is a great event for our students to see that the Borough President and the people of the Bronx appreciate their service," Chief Hansen said. "Also, it's educational because they meet people who fought in earlier wars and get a greater understanding of who they are in the long line of American servicemen and women. It's definitely something they learn and benefit from."

Morrisania News: Terminator Tanaka

Morrisania News: Terminator Tanaka: Terminator Tanaka Pitcher Shuts Down Mets, Gives Yankees Hope By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 15- Masahiro Tanaka is n...

Terminator Tanaka

Terminator Tanaka

Pitcher Shuts Down Mets,

Gives Yankees Hope

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 15- Masahiro Tanaka is now the stopper for the New York Yankees. The Mets were first hand observers and will not say anything different after the right-hander shutthem out at Citi Field Wednesday evening. And there should be no doubt about the stopper role because that is what the Yankees needed to end a four-game losing streak.

He was also what the Yankees needed to stop a six-game losing streak against the Mets dating back to last season. And with CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, and Michael Pineda, three quarters of the Yankees’ starting rotation on the disabled list this is what manager Joe Girardi was looking for.

“We needed a win,” Girardi said. “After losing a couple of tough games at home he got better as the night went on. He’s been special. The young kid throws good… he has a lot of weapons and knows how to handle the baseball.”

Though Girardi did admit, Tanaka will be managed differently because of the injuries. In other words, despite getting the first complete game shutout of his Major League career, Tanaka who threw 114 pitches, will be protected from going the route. Girardi knows he does not need his best to also go down with an injury.

But, Tanaka was purchased by the Yankees to pitch like every other starter. Go deep into games and get the win, providing there was enough run support. The Mets showed a resurgence of power and run production, in two games at Yankee Stadium this week, but they came home to Citi Field and again their bats went quiet.

And it was attributed to Tanaka who became the first Yankees rookie pitcher to begin the season at 6-0. At this rate, and there is every expectation he will continue to be dominant, Tanaka is a cinch to win the AL Rookie of the year or AL CY Young Award.

However, there is a long way to go before Tanaka is considered for those prestigious post season awards. The Yankees are more inclined for Tanaka to keep pitching well, and to be the one who can keep the ship afloat as their ailing pitching staff gets back to health.

Here is how dominating Tanaka was: He threw 28 splitters where the Mets hit into eight outs and managed only one base runner. Eric Young Jr. hit a double in the sixth inning, one of their four hits and that was the only other time they had a runner reach second.

He had the Mets swinging and missing. He had them confused at the plate, just as he has done in seven previous starts against American League opponents. So, by now, not even teams in the National League can figure a way to hit that splitter.

"I knew what was coming, but I couldn't hit it," the Mets’ Daniel Murphy said. "He's commanding all his pitches to all zones. The splitter is the equalizer. You don't see it that much, someone using it in any count like that.”

Tanaka said, through his Japanese translator, "I just go up there and basically try to win every single game.” At this rate, and the way the Yankees have been scoring runs, they would love to see Tanaka on the mound every game.

The spotlight of pitching in this inter-league Subway Series game, and opposing the debut of Mets rookie pitcher Rafael Montero, did not cause a distraction. He gets on the mound and gets the job done, as has been the situation since his debut on the mound at Yankee Stadium last month.

He became another storyline in what has become an interesting three games between the Yankees and Mets….

As for the Mets, who will debut rookie Jacob deGrom in the series finale Thursday night, manager Terry Collins praised Tanaka. deGrom is one of those young promising arms getting an early season look, like Montero early in the season, and needed with Dillon Gee on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lar.

Collins also saw the difference again of long balls that went for outs at Citi Field. Six home runs hit by the Mets in two games at Yankee Stadium will make a manager see things differently.

He said, "You asked me about the home run barrage? We hit three of them tonight. They were just in the wrong park.”

The night belonged to Tanaka and the Yankees. And the Mets may have come to a decision and anointed Jennry Mejia as their closer when Kyle Farnsworth was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas. Though Farnsworth has a right to refuse the assignment and could be with another team.

To that, a frustrated and disappointed Farnsworth had his say in the matter. He said there was anger and disappointment in the decision to let him go. And for the Mets, who appeared to have Farnsworth in the closer role, it was another way to get the bullpen up to par. Farnsworth was not the answer, neither is Jose Valverde who could also be out the door.

But the Yankees have a different situation. They have a stopper in Masahiro Tanaka.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Morrisania News: JLo

Morrisania News: JLo: Jenny Wants Kids to Walk Around the Block JLo Fights Obesity in the Bronx BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 14- Montefiore Medical Center...

JLo

Jenny Wants Kids to Walk Around the Block

JLo Fights Obesity in the Bronx

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 14- Montefiore Medical Center announced a new partnership with the Lopez Family Foundation and the establishment of the Center for a Healthy Childhood. 

Designed to promote healthy living through community health programming and messages and a healthy environment, the new initiative builds upon Montefiore’s activities throughout its health system and the community-at-large and Jennifer Lopez’s long-standing commitment to improving the health and well-being of women and children.

“My roots are in the Bronx. It was natural to join forces with Montefiore, an organization that has cared for and served the Bronx for more than 100 years,” said Jennifer Lopez. “Our foundation has done amazing work improving the health and well-being of children around the world and now we’re looking forward to expanding the efforts underway in the borough where I grew up.”

The need in the Bronx is real. Of 62 counties in New York State, the Bronx is ranked last in overall health outcomes. The Bronx also continues to be the epicenter of high rates of obesity, diabetes, asthma and teen pregnancy.

“We are so pleased to work with Jennifer and her Foundation to impact real change for people living in the Bronx and the surrounding region,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO, Montefiore. “Our partnership is unique and our goals are large, but we are committed to expanding our efforts and continuing to reach patients and their families, children and young adults in school and community members in an impactful way.”

The Lopez Family Foundation is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women and children. The organization advocates and invests in policies and programs that make a positive, measurable impact on communities. It strives to support organizations that make a difference in the lives of families around the world.

“We consider it a great honor to bring our efforts to the community in which we grew up and continue to love,” said Lynda Lopez. “Through this partnership, we know we can make a big difference to improve the health and well-being of families in the Bronx – and that brings us great joy.”

For more information about Montefiore and its commitment to the community, visit www.montefiore.org/community.

Morrisania News: Grand Disaster

Morrisania News: Grand Disaster: Grand Disaster Mets once again made Yankee Stadium their home By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 14- The Mets bid a far...

Grand Disaster

Grand Disaster

Mets once again made Yankee Stadium their home

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 14- The Mets bid a farewell to Yankee Stadium this season. And perhaps they would want to play in the Bronx more after another two-game series sweep over the Yankees. That’s four straight wins in the Bronx dating back to last season and now six straight over their cross-town rivals.

In all probability, the two teams won’t meet again in October, but for some reason, Yankee Stadium has a way of making a hitter look better. What looked like a dismal offense the past two weeks has become a distant memory and after their 12-7 win Tuesday night, you wonder if Manager Terry Collins would prefer the next two games to be played in the Bronx and not at Citi Field.

“A lot has to do with the ballpark,” commented Collins. “Guys get a descent pitch they know they can drive. For sure we have swung the bats better here.” His team scored a season high 12-runs Tuesday night and in the two games hit six home runs.

They don’t get that type of offense at Citi Field where the dimensions are different. Curtis Granderson knows. He spent enough time at Yankee Stadium, and hit 64 home runs when he wore pinstripes at the new Yankee Stadium. Add two more with long balls in the first two games of this home-and-home series.

But, Citi Field is different. Granderson can’t hit the home run to right, or over the fence in any of the other power alleys. Though the more viable explanation about Granderson is, he is not the same hitter that once was.

And 21- runs in two games for the Mets, well that was a rarity until they came to the Bronx. A lot may be attributed to the decimated Yankees pitching rotation that has manager Joe Girardi doing some patch work with three front line starters on the disabled list.

“We have to stay in rotation,” said Girardi. “These are the people we have.” Vidal Nuno got roughed up in 3 1/3 innings and it was not pretty. The night before, Hideki Kuroda allowed four runs in six innings. When the series shifts to Citi Field Wednesday night, the 5-0, Masahiro Tanaka gives some hope for the Yankees to get a win.

Oh, then there is the Thursday night series finale. The Yankees will have Chase Whitley on the mound making his major league debut. 

There are concerns for the Yankees, but the Mets want to take this momentum to Citi Field. The Mets believe this is psychological and the same production coming in the Bronx can continue in their home ballpark.

“When you play here you know you can score,” said Granderson who hit his fifth home run with two on that put the Mets in front 4-0 in the first inning. “Now we have to take that to our place.”

But, Granderson and the Mets have been trying to figure it out for the first six weeks of this season. They have been trying to figure a solution to the power outage at the plate since their new ballpark opened five years ago and they know Citi Field is not Yankee Stadium.

One media member in the Mets clubhouse commented, “The architects got it wrong” when it came to the construction of Citi Field. Of course they did, because Citi Field is not a hitter’s park, though opposing hitters have never seemed to complain when they bang out hits and the home runs, again maybe attributed to a psychological issue with the Mets over the years.

Whatever it is, this Mets team comes home Wednesday evening with a psychological advantage over the Yankees. Quickly, the mighty Yankees are not as invincible as they once were.  

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  www.newyorksportsexaminer.com  

Morrisania News: Parkchester Chorus

Morrisania News: Parkchester Chorus: Parkchester Chorus Wraps up Bronx Week with Concert Continue the celebration of everything “Bronx” as Parkchester Chorus, 74 years youn...

Parkchester Chorus

Parkchester Chorus Wraps up Bronx Week with Concert

Continue the celebration of everything “Bronx” as Parkchester Chorus, 74 years young, concludes the Bronx Week celebration on Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m.

Parkchester Chorus spring theme, “The Heavens Are Telling”, is a journey through the cosmos, in music and song. This concert, developed by Parkchester Chorus long time Director, Mrs. Lorraine C. Nanko, is built around James Weldon Johnson’s poem, “Creation”. This special and unique concert, scheduled for Sunday, 3 p.m., May 18, 2014, contains many types of music all honoring heaven and the universe.  

One of the most unique factors of Parkchester Chorus is that the chorus consists of talented Bronx vocal musicians of all ages and experienced instrumentalists. The concert is held at First Presbyterian Church at Throggs Neck, 3051 East Tremont Avenue, across from Lehman High School. The entrance to the parking lot is on Dudley Avenue, off East Tremont Avenue.  Limited parking is available. First Presbyterian Church is easily accessible by train or bus as it is just two and a half blocks up from “The Square” on East Tremont Avenue and Westchester Square.  

Tickets are $20 for Adults and $10 for Students. 

Keep in mind that Director, Lorraine C. Nanko, the Fine Arts Director at Cardinal Hayes High School, was inspired to create this concert and has embroidered a program containing vocal music from the church to Broadway, all relating to the heavens, stars and sky and the spoken word of the magnificent poem of James Weldon Johnson, “Creation”.  Parkchester Chorus website has recently been updated.  

The website address is http://www.parkchesterchorus.org/.  You may also call: 718-409-1051, for further information and please leave a message.

Morrisania News: Fun at the Fair

Morrisania News: Fun at the Fair: Fun at the Fair (Photos by Gary Quintal) Fun shone through for youngsters during the annual Fair at the Square event at Westche...

Fun at the Fair

Fun at the Fair

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

Fun shone through for youngsters during the annual Fair at the Square event at Westchester Square on Saturday. Before the torrential rains struck, youngsters enjoyed a day of fun including rides, face painting and music from the likes of K-Andance.

See More Pix At Bronx News https://sites.google.com/site/bronxnews/ 

Morrisania News: Lady Rams Crowned Champs Again

Morrisania News: Lady Rams Crowned Champs Again: Lady Rams Crowned Champs Again By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 12 - By coincidence, the Atlantic-10 Softball Champions...

Lady Rams Crowned Champs Again

Lady Rams Crowned Champs Again

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 12- By coincidence, the Atlantic-10 Softball Championship was played on the home field, Bahoshy Field in the Bronx, of the #1 seed, the Fordham Rams. The home field had been a decided advantage to the Rams this year as they were winners in 14 of the 15 games they played during the regular season at Fordham.

Fordham’s Bridget Orchard, the Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year, appeared to have her team primed for the tournament as the Rams were victorious in 15 of their final 17 regular season games. They lost their last two contests to Dayton after winning 15 in a row.

The Rams, the first seed in the A-10 Championship received a first round bye last Wednesday. They faced the University of Massachusetts, the victor over Dayton in the first round, at noon on Thursday.

With the bases loaded in the second, Rachel Gillen grounded into a fielder’s choice that drove in the first run of the game. UMass tied the game at one in the third, but that was the last run scored by the visitors.

Fordham catcher Gabby Luety blasted a three-run homer in the third. Two innings later, third sacker Kayla Lombardo hit a two-run home run to move Fordham ahead by a score of 6-1. 

With the bases filled and two out in the bottom of the sixth, the Rams added three more runs on three singles by Paige Ortiz, Gillen and Cora Ianiro to end the game, 9-1, by the mercy rule. 

A-10 Co-Pitcher of the Year Michele Daubman was the winner of her 16th game of the season.A-10 Player of the Elise Fortier failed to get a hit but scored three runs.

The winners of each contest, Fordham and #2 seed St. Louis, met at noon last Friday. Interestingly, the Atlantic-10 Co-Pitchers of the Year, Daubman for Fordham and Brianna Lore of the Billikins, were in the circle to start the contest. 

To no one’s surprise, the hurlers engaged in a pitchers’ duel in which no runs were scored during the first five frames. Billikins worked Daubman for a run in the sixth with a lead-off single, a sacrifice but that pushed the runner to second and a run scoring single by Kelsey Biggs. 

The Rams took the final lead in the seventh in a most exciting manner. With one out, Fortier took a 3-2 over the fence in right to tie the game at 1. The homer was her 18th of the 2014 campaign and her 44th at Fordham, one short of the school record. The next batter, Lombardo, followed with her 10th of the season to give the Rams their final lead. 

Lombardo, Fordham’s third sacker, spoke about the back-to-back homers after the game, “Elise and I, the third and fourth hitters, are supposed to put the ball out of the park. In that situation, we were just doing our job.”

Daubman’s 18th win of the season was protected by Patti Maloney, who earned her A-10 record sixth save of the year.

The two teams met again on Saturday afternoon in the championship final. Lombardo, a junior, expressed her feelings about the championship encounter after the win on Friday, “We’re set to play our game and go out with the same desire and hunger that we always have. We’re just on a mission. We want to repeat so badly.”

Lombardo did not underestimate her teammates as Fordham defeated St. Louis by a score of 11-0 in the Championship final on Saturday. Freshman Sydney Canassa led off the bottom of the first with a home run to put Fordham ahead. A double by Amy Van Hooten and an rbi single by Luety scored the second run of the inning.

The Rams scored four in the second capped by a two-run homer by Fortier. The home run was her 19th of the season and her 45th as a Ram. Thus, she broke the Fordham career mark for four baggers in only three seasons as she spent her freshman year at Stony Brook. 

Six hits and an error gave Fordham six runs in the third frame. Luety began the damage with a home run. 

Again, the Co-Pitchers of the Year of the Atlantic-10 began the game in the circle. Lore of the Billikins had pitched two games on Friday and was obviously not up to her usual manner. She gave up 11 runs and 11 hits in 2+ innings. She was unable to retire any of the five batters she faced in the third. Daubman who pitched two hit ball in the five innings of the game, earned her third win. She was voted the MVP of the Championship. Luety, Daubman’s catcher remarked, “She [Daubman] perfected everything this year.”

The A-10 championship for the Rams was their third in the last four years. The victory automatically qualifies Fordham for the NCAA National Softball Tournament. On the evening of Sunday, the brackets of the tournament were announced. Fordham is going to Tallahassee on Friday evening to face #8 seed Florida State. The two other schools in the foursome are South Florida and South Carolina. The tourney is a double elimination so the rams will also be facing at least one of the other Southern colleges.

Morrisania News: Who said Stop and Frisk was finished?

Morrisania News: Who said Stop and Frisk was finished?: Stop-and-Frisk: Down but Not Out; NYPD Investigates Bronxite's Video (One of three officers question 21-year-old Brian Garcia wh...

Who said Stop and Frisk was finished?

Stop-and-Frisk: Down but Not Out;

NYPD Investigates Bronxite's Video

(One of three officers question 21-year-old Brian Garcia who recorded the encounter.)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 9- A young man's cell phone video captured NYPD officers in Queens telling him he was not being frisked as one officer later informed him -- he was being patted down for weapons.

Brian Garcia, 21, is not ashamed to admit he had succumbed to the drug-flooded streets of the South Bronx and the borough's anti-crime tactics used by the NYPD and had fled to his mother's home in the Rockaways, where the video was recorded.

On April 8, Garcia says he was standing outside of 433 Beach 40 Street and he started shooting his video shortly after officers from the 101st Precinct pulled up in a patrol car.

Standing a few buildings away from his mother's residence, Garcia recalls, "I was outside the building and they were looking and pointing at me, so I started recording them on my cell phone."

On the 1:56 video, after asking Garcia to take his hands out of his pockets, the officer asks, "You got no weapons on you, right?"

The officer then starts to tell Garcia, "I'm just going to..." as he appears to start patting down the young man's pockets, when the young man fires back, "No, I don't give you consent to search me."

The officer repeatedly tells Garcia, "I'm not searching you."

The video shows the officer patting down Garcia's pockets and ankles, when the patrolman is heard telling Garcia, "I searched you to make sure you didn't have any weapons."

According to the New York State Criminal Procedure Law, section 140.50 states the search is allowed if the officer, "reasonably suspects that he is in danger of physical injury."

Garcia is then heard telling the three officers, including one ranking member, "It's unconstitutional," when Garcia is cut off as at least one officer physically struggles with him and the phone now shows only brief moments of the scuffle.

Recalling the moment, Garcia claims, "They went for my phone, but I didn't let them take it." He added that he handed the phone off to a friend so the video would not be erased. He was handcuffed and placed inside the patrol car.

After watching the video, Kate Rubin, the managing director of the Civil Action Practice at The Bronx Defenders, stated, "This video makes it clear that while recorded stops and frisks are down, the NYPD still has a long way to go to ensure that the conduct of individual officers is both lawful and respectful of the communities they serve."

Shortly after reviewing the video, Sergeant Brendan Ryan, a spokesman for the NYPD's Office of Deputy Commissioner of Public Information offered a one-sentence statement that read, "The incident is being investigated by the Commanding Officer of the 101st Precinct."

Speaking on a condition of anonymity, one Queens cop who has made countless stop-and-frisks offered, "There's a lot of things we have to take into account that the public does not see. We also don't know why the officers were there in the first place, but I don't see anything wrong with the stop."

Garcia is currently facing as many as nine years in prison after an April 8, 2013 incident in the Bronx, where he claims a female undercover officer's promise of sex prompted him to take her to the local drug spot when he was later arrested on Simpson Street. Garcia is due back in court on May 21.

For more on this story and to view the controversial video, go to: DavidgreeneNYC.com.   

Tags: stop and frisk

Morrisania News: Bronx Week is Here

Morrisania News: Bronx Week is Here: Bronx Week is Here (Photo by Seitu Oronde) 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 7- T he official start to ...

Bronx Week is Here

Bronx Week is Here

(Photo by Seitu Oronde)

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 7- The official start to Bronx Week is Thursday, May 8^th. Bronx Week will run through Sunday, May 18^th ending with the Annual Bronx Week Parade across Mosholu Parkway, and the Music and Food festival that follows the parade. You can go to http://ilovethebronx.com/ , scroll down to the Bronx Week calendar of events to see Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s letter of invitation to the events, and then browse the six full pages of events that are scheduled. As always there may be some additions that may not be listed or changes to events due to unforeseen circumstances. At the end of each event you will see that the event is free or in the case of a few events there may be a small charge due to the cost of running the event. There are also e-mail listings or phone numbers to call to reserve your place at an event or if you want more information on the event listed.

Bronx Week is being kicked off on Monday. May 5^th with the official announcement by Bronx Borough President Diaz, and his wonderful staff needs to be thanked not only for the great jobs they do every day, but in putting together Bronx Week schedule of events. You will see me at some of the events and as I have the past few years I will cover the Bronx Week Parade along with the Music and Food Festival that you do not want to miss. Hopes are for good weather, but the parade and festival has, and will go on rain or shine. Check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for recaps of events from Bronx Week, and the many photos of the events.

The 13^th Congressional race is heating up now with four official candidates. While it is a two-candidate race between the incumbent Congressman Rangel and his opponent from two years ago there are two other candidates one of which may be the difference in the Democratic primary. Things are different this year as Congressman Rangel's base has shrunk even more, while his opponent State Senator Adriano Espaillat's base has increased. While there were three other candidates in the last election those three candidates drew more votes from Senator Espaillat than Congressman Rangel. This year is another story as Senator Espaillat has picked up many of the Bronx endorsements that Congressman Rangel had in the last election, and the candidate coming out of Congressman Rangel's base is much stronger that the last election. He will pull more votes away from the congressman which should be the deciding factor in what many believe will be the defeat of Charles Rangel. The Hispanic candidate put up by “Political Venturing Businessman” Richard Soto will only help State Senator Espaillat since she is unknown and has little resources, unlike the past election where the other candidates drew votes from Senator Espaillat.

The Bronx State Senate race that should provide enough excitement is the 33^rd State Senate race where the two previous incumbents have wound up on jail, and current 33^rd State Senator Gustavo Rivera still has not answered the question I placed in this column two months ago. I repeat my question to Senator Gustavo Rivera since the acquisitions of election fraud against the good senator from the 2013 special election for the 86^th A.D. have disappeared. Gustavo Rivera are you wearing a wire for the U.S. Attorney or any other law enforcement agency?

The question refers to acquisitions of election fraud in the special election to replace former 86^th A.D. Assemblyman Nelson Castro where candidates who did not win accused Senator Rivera of several election fraud violations which appeared in several news outlets including this paper. Assemblyman Castro was found to be wearing a wire for four years when charges of election fraud against him disappeared so he could become a government informant. As for the most recent charges of election fraud against Senator Rivera Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson told me that I would not believe whatever he would say, and then said that he could not comment on anything that may be under investigation. Is there a third elected officials from the 33^rd state senate seat in a row under investigation, and possibly headed to jail in the somewhat near future? By the way Senator Rivera's will have a real opponent running against him this year that being Councilman Fernando Cabrera.

Lastly close to 600 people came out in the pouring rain to the Bronx Conservative Party Dinner last Wednesday night. Bronx Conservative Party Chairman Bill Newmark did not disappoint those who braved the rain by having an exciting program with awards to several prominent people in business, public service, and politics. The big hit of the night was the Man of the Year Award which was given to Buffalo Businessman and past candidate for governor Mr. Carl Palidino. Palidino was very honest in telling some great political stories including that he wants to help this year’s Republican candidate for governor Rob Astorino. First however Palidino said that he has to get rid of the New York State Republican Leader Ed Cox who Palidino said needs to be replaced if the NY Republican Party is to move forward and regain its lost power. Check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for more on the Conservative Party dinner and the photos of the many who attended.

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.