Posts of Headlines

Recession? What Recession?

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 09:55:45 PST

Workers take 2-HOUR lunch breaks PLUS coffee breaks

Stop working at 3 but don’t punch out until 4

Management threatens heads will roll if ‘goofing off’ continues

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 24- Herbert Freedman, in a memo to Riverbay board members, indicated that it is not unusual for Co-op City's Restorations workers to “goof off” during the hours in which they are supposed to be working.

Freedman's comments about Restorations workers could be applied to many in Co-op City's workforce, a number of the community's shareholders have told the News over the years.

Freedman, in a Jan. 11 memo on major waste in the Riverbay Corporation's Restorations Department, said that it was unacceptable for Restorations to start working on apartments at 9:30 a.m. even when their workday starts at 8 a.m.

The top management official's memo added that it was unacceptable for Restorations workers to leave for lunch at 11 a.m. and return to work at 1 p.m. and to stop working at 3 p.m. even though they “punch out” at 4 p.m.

A number of shareholders, including civic activist Frank Belcher, have told the News that it is commonplace for many in Co-op City's workforce to take extended coffee breaks when they get to work, take extended lunch breaks to cash their checks and do their personal business, and to stop working before the end of the workday.

“I'm glad that Mr. Freedman has finally awakened to the fact that many of Co-op City's workers are constantly goofing off,” Belcher stressed, in a telephone interview this week.

The civic activist noted, “I have personally caught workers waiting on line for breakfast and coffee as early as 8:10 or 8:15 a.m. even though they are supposed to start working at 8 a.m. I see workers taking extended lunch breaks to cash checks and go shopping during hours in which they are supposed to be working. When these workers see me, they try to cover up what they are doing.”

Belcher added, “As far as I'm concerned, the buck stops with management as far as this kind of thing is concerned. It is abundantly clear that the workers' supervisors are not doing their jobs. Top management needs to be held accountable for the fact that many in Co-op City's workforce are not doing an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. It is nor acceptable to say that such a lack of productivity is part ands parcel of the Riverbay Corporation's corporate culture and do nothing about it.”

Belcher noted, “Herbert Freedman has been Co-op City's top management official since October 1999, so he has allowed this unproductive corporate culture to continue. The long and the short of it is that everyone who works for the Riverbay Corporation, from Herbert Freedman and Executive General Manager Vernon Cooper on down, must be held accountable for working productively. That means not wasting time during hours in which you are supposed to be working.”

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Links for 2012-02-23 [Digg]

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Smile Perv - Bronxnews
Subway flasher caught on tape

1 percenter no longer voice of opposition

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:22:34 PST

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 23- Riverbay board member Bernard Cylich has lost his role as leader of anti-management forces on Co-op City's board of directors, the News has learned.

Riverbay board member Daryl Johnson, in recent weeks, has made strides toward becoming the leader of the board's minority.

Cylich has reportedly lost much of his credibility because of recent disclosures that he had purchased homes in Copake Falls, NY, and in Charlotte, NC, and had claimed both his home in upstate New York and his apartment in Co-op City as his primary residence.

Cylich reportedly violated state law by claiming both of his homes in New York State as “primary residences “ in order to get STAR tax credits for both residences.

Even though Co-op City attorney Jeffrey Buss has determined that Co-op City is Cylich's primary residence, the board member's hypocrisy has been duly noted in the local community.

The hypocrisy is that Cylich strongly opposes privatization for Co-op City's shareholders (full ownership rights) even though he obviously supports homeownership for himself in other places.

In a recent Viewpoint, Tony Illis, Cylich's former ally on the Riverbay board, said that Cylich should have known better when he claimed two New York State homes as his primary residences in order to illegally get two STAR tax credits.

“Bernie (Cylich) is no longer a major player on the board of directors or in this community,” said one source close to the board's minority, who wished to remain unidentified. We are still committed to the notion that Co-op City's board of directors desperately needs new people, but Bernie is no longer our leader.”

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Smile Perv

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:15:03 PST

Subway flasher caught on tape

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 23- Police are asking for the public’s help in trying to track down a man who exposed himself on a Bronx subway train.

Investigators released surveillance video of the suspect as he exited the turnstiles. At around noon on February 8, the man exposed himself to a female passenger as well as others inside the subway car. The incident took place on a north bound Number 4 train at the 149th Street and Grand Concourse subway station.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male between the ages of 30 and 40. He is about 5 foot 7 to 5 foot 9, 175 to 190 pounds and has a shaved head.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577. All calls are confidential.

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Polar Bears Migrate North

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:40:50 PST

(Photos by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 22- More than two dozen members of the Coney Island-based Polar Bears Club, traveled north for a post-Valentines Plunge into the chilly waters of Orchard Beach.

Despite the air temperatures being just slightly over the freezing point on Saturday, members arrived wearing bathrobes, sandals and summer shorts-- complemented with winter hats with ear muffs.

Tom McGann, a member of the Coney Island Polar Bears for the last 20-years, explained, "Yes, the weather is the warmest it's been since I've been a Polar Bear." Recalling a visit to Orchard Beach a decade ago, McGann, who goes by the nickname, "Iceman," added, "There were chunks of ice floating around in the water."

After jumping in up to her waist, Helmi Hunin of Park Slope, quickly exited the water. Hunin claimed, "The water was great but my feet were getting numb. Now I'm going to sunbathe for a bit, it's warmer out here."

Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., provided a trolley for the bears, which ferried members to the Bronx from Times Square.

Assemblyman Michael Benadetto was on hand to provide moral support, but did not go in, Benadetto told member's, "Polar bears would not even go into the water today, it's just too warm."

Kate Damlbite, a photographer who regularly shoots the polar bears during their swims, was asked if she ever goes swimming, she replied, "You mean in the water? Oh no, I never have, sorry," as she began to laugh. Dambite added, "They beg me to go in but I never have."

Bonnie & Clyde caught on tape

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:25:11 PST

By Dan Gesslein

Cops are looking for a modern day Bonnie and Clyde who forced a Melrose man at gunpoint to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Police released surveillance video of the crime. On the tape the suspect is seen hovering over the victim at an ATM inside a bodega. An image of his alleged female accomplice from inside the store was also released.

At around 10:50 a.m. on February 20, the victim was a approached by the couple in front of 817 Trinity Avenue. Cops say the female suspect handed the male a black semi automatic handgun which he used to force the victim to a nearby ATM. Investigators did not say how much money the victim was forced to fork over to the gun totting pair.

The first suspect is a black male six feet tall and weighs 220 pounds. He has a tear drop tattoo under his right eye and an un kept goatee. He was seen wearing a white wool cap and a white hooded pull over sweatshirt with a Champion logo on the front. The female suspect is between the ages 15 and 18, five foot five and 150 pounds. She was seen wearing a waist length tan jacket and red/blue wool hat.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are confidential.

Bronx Newsline

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:03:19 PST

Here we go again!

Gas prices on the rise

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Espada coached witness, Feds claim

The NY Post reports that former State Sen. Pedro Espada is being investigated for witness tampering in his corruption case.

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Heroin ring run out of car shop?
Federal agents closed down a Bronx auto shop near Jacobi Hospital as part a million dollar heroin ring, the NY Daily News reports.

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Mailmen muggers sought

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:55:15 PST

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb 21- The United States Postal Inspection Service, the police arm of the U.S. Postal Service, has released a surveillance photo of two of the four individuals wanted in connection with the robbery of a letter carrier near Fort Independence Park in Kingsbridge.

According to a flyer released by the service, the four male suspects robbed the letter carrier, who was delivering mail to 3404 Giles Place AT 12:30 p.m., on January 30.

The flyer describes the assailants as four males in their late teens, possibly of Hispanic decent. Two of the four individuals were wearing dark hooded jackets, one wearing darn colored jeans, the other wearing light colored sweat-pants.

An inquiry was made but investigators at The U.S. Postal Inspection Service could not immediately say if the assailants are related to a string of similar crimes across the borough, that took place last year at the same time.

The suspects in that rash of incidents were all between the ages of 18 and 22, and the group of thugs brandished a firearm. In those three robberies, which took place between December, 2010 and February, 2011, the bandits made off with the mail carriers key, which opens the front door of building's and the mailboxes.

The United States Postal Inspection Service pays up to $50,000 for the information leading to an arrest and conviction of anyone robbing a U.S. mail handler. Anyone with any information on the identities of those involved are asked to call: (212) 330-2400, all calls remain confidential.

Cops 1 step closer to hit-n-run killer

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:51:27 PST

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb 21- The NYPD has released a building's surveillance video that shows the heartless driver, joyriding in a stolen car-- who struck and killed a Norwood man on the morning after Christmas. A police source close to the investigation, says they are one step closer to catching the individual.

Josbel Rivera, 24, a Radio Shack employee, was struck and killed as he crossed Mosholu Parkway at Paul Avenue, at 4:24 a.m., on December 26. At the time, police would only say that the vehicle was traveling westbound and the driver fled the scene.

On February 9, the NYPD would release a building's surveillance video showing a man parking a stolen 1999 Suzuki Vitara at the corner of Review Place and W. 238 Street in Kingsbridge, in the early morning hours of December 28. Moments after the man exits the vehicle, the car bursts into flames.

According to the source who declined to be identified, "There was one person seen exiting the vehicle, which was recovered at Review Place and W. 238 Street. The video came from a building in the area and it shows a male leaving the area and a few moments later, the vehicle goes up in flames."

With the car completely destroyed in the fire, taking any, if not all evidence of the individual and his crime, the investigator remained upbeat, stating, "With this video, I believe we are one step closer to identifying and apprehending this individual."

Regina Hall, a resident of Review Place for nearly 30 years, recalls the night the vehicle was torched, as she still has nightmares about it, as the car was parked by her window, when it burned and later exploded.

Hall recalled, "My apartment was orange. I felt the heat and then an explosion and a lot of noise, it was a bad fire." Flames became so intense that Hall, her daughter and the family pooch had to evacuate.

With two bars across W. 238 Street and one more around the corner on Broadway, Hall says, "There's a lot of things going on here," as she points to the fire hydrant on the corner, where drivers pull over, do or sell drugs as the car stereo blasts through her street level windows. Hall concludes, "It's getting bad around here."

AJ never lived up to hype

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:01:14 PST

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 20- Much has changed since AJ Burnett signed a five-year contract with the New York Yankees for $82.5 million prior to the 2009 season. The high hopes held by Yankees management and fans have been dispelled by Burnett’s three disappointing seasons while wearing the pinstripes.

Burnett’s won/lost mark was below .500, 34-35, in the three years. His ERA was a high 4.79. The velocity of his fastball decreased during that period. In addition, to his performances on the mound, there were several controversies.

Burnett balked at pitching to veteran catcher Jorge Posada. During the 2011 season, he cut his palm after slamming his hand into a clubhouse door after a poor performance.

Despite his 10 times on the disabled list in his career in the majors, Burnett was not on the DL during his three years with the Yanks. Although Burnett’s talent is not questioned, he was one of many pitchers who were not able to pitch up to expectations in New York.

The decision to move Burnett was solidified on January 13 when the Yanks added two to the 2012 starting rotation, Hideki Kuroda and Michael Pineda. The two front end starters added to CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova leaves only one opening, the fifth starter slot.

Had Burnett remained he would have been in a contest with Phil Hughes and veteran Freddy Garcia for the fifth spot. Yankees management hoped to remove some of his hefty remaining salary, which can be used to add another batter capable of helping to fill the designated hitter role.

It was reported that the Yanks negotiated with three clubs in an effort to trade Burnett. The Yanks hoped to obtain a suitable hitter in exchange for Burnett. The deals for Travis Haffner of Cleveland and former Yankee Bobby Abreu of the Angels fell through.

The deal with Pittsburgh will lift $13 million of Burnett’s remaining $33 million from the Yankees. Two Class A minor leaguers, both born in Venezuela, will come from the Pirate organization to the Yankees. Exicardo Cayones is a 20-year-old outfielder and Diego Moreno is a 25-year-old righthander. Neither is ready for the majors and likely may never be.

The agreement will not be finalized until Burnett passes a physical exam and Baseball Commissioner “Bud’ Selig approves. All matters were completed by Sunday, February 19 as that is the day that Yankees pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training.

The Yanks wasted no time of earmarking the added funds to sign 16 year major league veteran Raul Ibañez to a one-year contract. The Cuban-American will be returning to the city of his birth. The 39 year-old is expected to be used primarily against righthanded pitchers in the designated hitter slot. He will also play in the outfield when/if the regulars are rested or injured. His ability to play in the field made him more valuable than the other prospective DH candidates, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Vladimir Guerrero to the Yankees. The newcomer will probably alternate with Andruw Jones, who will bat against lefties.

In 2011, Ibañez batted .256 with the Phillies. He hit 20 home runs and drove in 84 runs. He holds a .280 lifetime batting average, and has 252 homers. The outfielder began in the majors in 1996 with Seattle. He went to the Royals in 2001. Ibañez had been with the Phils since 2009.

New York is still hoping for veteran Eric Chavez to return as a back up infielder.

Although the Yankees made have waited until late in the winter to make changes, they intend to begin the 2012 season as a stronger club than last year.

Links for 2012-02-17 [Digg]

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Saying goodbye to a nice guy

Saying goodbye to a nice guy

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:48:45 PST

Hall of Fame Catcher Gary Carter Dead at 57

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 17- The baseball world is mourning the passing of Gary Carter. The 57-year-old former catcher died from brain cancer on Thursday, February 16. An announcement was made by his daughter, Kimmy Bloomers on the website of his family at 4:10 pm.

In May 2011, it was publicly revealed that the baseball great had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Carter had been undergoing treatment for the disease since its discovery. In the third week of January, it was announced that Carter’s condition had worsened as additional tumors were found.

Despite the reality of his worsened health, Carter recently made a visit to his players at Palm Beach Atlantic University where he served as baseball coach for the past two years.

The Baseball Writers’ of America (BBWAA) awarded Carter its Milton/Arthur Richman Good Guy Award at its annual dinner in New York on January 21. As Carter was unable to travel from Florida to accept the honor, Carter’s award was accepted by his son, D.J. who read his father’s speech.

The speech was a testimonial to Carter’s feelings and connection to New York City, “I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the people and city of New York. I have nothing but fond memories of my time here in New York, highly lighted, of course, with the World Series championship in 1986. I still remember the feeling of riding in the World Series parade with over one million people lining the streets to celebrate our championship. The fans were always supportive of me and my family since my diagnosis of brain cancer in May of 2011.”

Although, Carter only played in New York with the Mets for five of his 19 seasons, those years are well remembered by the fans in New York. Carter was obtained before the 1985 season after playing a decade with the Montreal Expos, where he was one of the team’s most popular players.

Although “The Kid” was 31 years old when he came to the Mets and his personality and lifestyle did not mesh smoothly with some of the more raucous men on the squad, he was a vital part of the successful team. The Mets were World Series champs in Carter’s second year in New York. Carter contributed mightily to that World Series victory with nine runs batted in.

Large numbers of New York baseball fans, whether of the Mets or Yankees, remember with great fondness and respect, Carter’s outstanding years in the city. Lifelong Yankees fans Bill Stimers said of the Kid, “Carter turned the 1986 World Series around. He was a great player and a very fine person. We will always miss him. We pray for his family.”

Carter’s eventful years in New York ended as did the 80s. He played the next two seasons in the state of his birth, California. He was with the San Francisco Giants in 1990 and in 1991 he played with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He concluded his outstanding career in the majors in 1992 with the organization that drafted him 20 years earlier, the Montreal Expos. Carter once recalled his career’s end in Montreal, “It was a good way for my career to end going back to the team where my career originated.”

Carter performed admirably during two decades as a major leaguer. He scored 1,025 runs and hit safely 2,092 times in 2,296 games. The dependable power hitter blasted 324 homers and drove in 1,225 runs.

His impressive stats were not compiled through longevity alone but by his outstanding play on a yearly basis. In his rookie season, Carter was runner-up to hurler John Montefusco in the voting for the NL Rookie-of-the Year. The catcher was a National League All-Star in 11 seasons. His hitting earned him the Silver Slugger five times. His ability behind the plate was rewarded with a Gold Glove for three seasons.

The achievements of Carter’s career in baseball were rewarded by a place in the pantheon of heroes in Cooperstown, New York. Carter was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in the summer of 2003. He is the only player inducted into the HOF wearing an expos cap.

Links for 2012-02-16 [Digg]

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Beloved teacher mowed down
Arsenal uncovered - Bronxnews
BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 16- Cops uncovered a small arsenal, complete with machine guns, when they executed a search warrant in Olinville.

Arsenal uncovered

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:09:28 PST

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 16- Cops uncovered a small arsenal, complete with machine guns, when they executed a search warrant in Olinville.

At around 5:30 p.m. on February 13, officers from the 47th Precinct executing a search warrant at 659 E. 220th Street, discovered the cache of weapons which included: a MAC-10 .45 caliber, a TEC-9 9mm., a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, a Hi Point 9mm handgun, a Bryco 9mm handgun and a Jennings .22 caliber handgun.

Police arrested David Saunders, 45, and Olympia Striplin, 37, and charged them with six counts of criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of possession of stolen property.

Bronx Newsline

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:05:06 PST

Cops shoot unarmed Wakefield teen,

Suspect struggled with cop, possibly trying to flush drugs
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And you thought A-Rod was screwing the Yanks
Woman arrested for allegedly shaking Cashman down over affair claim
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2 hurt when bus strikes car

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:05:06 PST

(Photos by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 13- Two people were extricated by members of the FDNY, after a bus struck a passenger vehicle at the intersection of the Grand Concourse and E. 204 Street.

The crash took place at 3:30 p.m., on Friday, February 10, when a BX 1 traveling northbound, struck the vehicle's passenger door, trapping the driver.

The victims were removed by members of Ladder 37 and transported to St. Barnabas Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. None of the two dozen passengers of the bus were injured.

800 pot plants seized

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:05:06 PST

A pot farm grows in the Bx.

800 pot plants recovered in Morris Park bust

(Photo courtesy of NYPD)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 1- A small army of police raided a five-story building in Van Nest and discovered the climate controlled building was being used to grow and package marijuana, removing nearly 800 of the illegal plants.

Officers from the 49th Precinct spent much of the day removing the plants, after members of the NYPD's Narcotics Borough Bronx executed a search warrant on Tuesday, January 31, at 610 Morris Park Avenue, just five short blocks away from the NYPD's Transit District 12 headquarters.

Inside the five-story building police discovered the commercial building had been turned into a hydroponics oasis with an elaborate irrigation system and ventilation system-- with some plants as, pardon the pun, high as 7-feet tall.

One business owner from the block, who was away on a job at the time of the police operation, stated, "I don't know what your talking about."

A resident of the block, repeated, "I was downtown working." The shocked resident continued, "Really, that's unbelievable... the building’s like it always is, it just opens and closes once in awhile." He then added,"I guess they were that good" until they got caught.

The New York City Department of Building's (DOB) lists the location as an, "E-1 Warehouse," with two complaints and five open violations. Oddly, there are no names listed as the legal owner of the property.

Police would not give an estimate on the street value on the haul, discuss suspects, or elaborate on what led them to the location, as the investigation continues. Meanwhile, police arrested three men in connection with the pot farm: Brian Munoz, Diego Reyes and Victor Reyes. All three were charged with criminal possession of marijuana and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Baby New Year

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:05:06 PST

The first baby of 2012 in NYC was born at the Montefiore Medical Center North Division. Rania Ali weighs 7 lbs. 3.8 oz. and is 18 1/2" long. The family lives in the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx and is originally from Pakistan. Rania has an older brother named Ryan who is 3 1/2.

Bad Call

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:05:05 PST

Cops arrest man who called to confess killing girlfriend

By John Majeski

Police arrested the boyfriend of a woman he boasted he killed when he called cops from a pay phone.

Police received a call from a Manhattan pay-phone, at 6:40 p.m., on January 9, when Stephen Bolt, 35, allegedly told police that he had killed his girlfriend Dawn Monaco, 47, and that he was suicidal. Police officers arrived at the pay-phone, outside of 140 Church Street, but the man was gone. Bolt was arrested two days later.

Officers would arrive at 1690 E. 174 Street, and discovered the woman dead inside the couple's 12th floor apartment. Sources say she had been beaten and strangled. The victim had suffered severe head trauma and had been dead for several days, but the Office of the City's Medical Examiner was still determining the cause of death.

Outside the building, one distraught woman screamed at police

officers, "You should have come." Residents say that the couple

brought cops to the building so many times, that officers from the 43rd Precinct stopped responding to the address.

According to resident Marva Webb, "They were shelter people who were housed here. All I know is that they used to argue and fight a lot in here, but it's really gotten out of hand."

Speaking of the building's landlord, Webb added, "He gets his $3,000 a month to house people in the shelter but he's not there for the working people who are here every day, who pay rent."

Residents say the couple was last seen on New Year's Eve, the pair was often spotted collecting bottles and cans for the deposit as a way of making some quick cash.

Linda Lincoln, 52, a friend of the victim, recalled, "She used to come to my house to hide and I would help keep her safe." Lincoln said the last time had been just before Christmas. Lincoln would add, "She was a very good person, she use to go to church every Sunday."

Friends of the young woman also charged that repeated beatings by the boyfriend led to two miscarriages as well as a broken collarbone and pelvis.

Bank robber

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:05:05 PST

Burly bank robber hits Parkchester

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, Jan. 19- A burly bank robber made off with cash when he struck a Parkchester bank last week.

At around 1:20 p.m. on January 14, cops say the large man walked up to a teller at Chase Bank on Metropolitan Avenue and demanded money. The suspect fled on foot with an undetermined amount of cash.

Police released surveillance video of the suspect in the hopes that the public can identify the bank robber.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Beauty queens make Vets their Valentines

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 13- Senator Jeff Klein was joined by Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes and Miss USA 2011, Alyssa Campanella for his 17th Annual Valentines for Vets event.

They delivered Valentine’s Day cards and gifts to Veterans at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The gift presentations will be followed by a performance from the SUNY Maritime Color Guard.

The cards and gifts are the creation and generous donation of students from across the 34th Senate District.

"I'm proud to sponsor 'Valentines for Veterans' each and every year. This event, now on its 17th year, is a small and meaningful way to give back to our veterans. These heroes have given so much to our country and in some cases, have made the ultimate sacrifice."

"It was a humbling experience visiting with the injured vets at the James Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center," said Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella. "My grandfather served in the Navy and a close friend of mine also served in the military, so I know how lucky we are to have these brave men and women defending our freedom. As Miss USA, I want each and everyone of them to know how thankful we are for their service."

Bronx Giant basks in Super Bowl win

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 6- There were celebrations in the homes of most New Yorkers who were glued to their television screens rooting for the Giants to be victorious in Super Bowl XLVI. The yearly football ritual had greater meaning for New York and New Jersey natives and residents as the Giants defeated the favored New England Patriots, 21-17 in a very competitive and exciting football contest. The football house parties took on a higher level of intensity and joy when the Patriots were unable to score a touchdown in the final play of the game.

History was repeated when the Giants defeated the Patriots as they did in the Super Bowl of 2008. Although the oddsmakers were incorrect in their prognostications of a New England victory, Giants fans well remembered the 24-20 Giants victory of New England on November 6. That regular season win only increased the confidence of the players and their rooters.

Eli Manning, as he did in 2008, was the deserved recipient of the Super Bowl MVP trophy. He completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards, threw a touchdown pass and was not intercepted. Manning’s passes were caught by nine different Giants. The most successful receiver was Hakeem Nicks, who caught 10 passes for a total of 109 yards.

The Giants took a quick 2-0 lead on a safety. They trailed at halftime, 10-9. The final Giants tally, a six yard touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw came with 57 seconds remaining in the game. As in the Super Bowl of four years ago, the winning score by the Giants over the Patriots came in the final minute of play.

The contributors to the championship were many. Those in the Bronx were proud of a native son, defensive tackle Chris Canty. The 6-7, 317 pound defenseman was part of an effective defensive unit that prevented the offense led by Tom Brady from erupting.

Brady was born in the Bronx on November 10, 1982. He played high school football in Charlotte, North Carolina and collegiate ball at the University of Virginia.

The defensive specialist was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 in the 4^th round (#132). He played with Dallas for four seasons. He returned to his home town in 2009 as a Giant. He started all 16 games of the regular season this year.

During media interviews the weekend of the Super Bowl, he spoke of the cohesiveness of the Giant defense, “We understand that no man is above the unit and that we all have to work in order to be successful. When one guy is successful, we’re all successful. A high tide raises all boats. That’s how we look at it. We work together as a unit to stop the run and get after the quarterback.”

Before the contest, Canty tweeted predicting a win and a parade on Tuesday. He then deleted the tweet. His initial prediction was accurate.

More than one million fans are expected to cheer the Giants tomorrow in lower Manhattan for the parade that begins at 11 am, and at a public ceremony at City Hall.

Bronx Newsline

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

Boo hoo for Lillo as ‘Soprano’s’ actor is sued for Country Club prison smackdown

BRONX, NEW YORK, Jan. 31- Looks like Little Lillo has met his match- a lawyer. The actor-turned thug, who dodged a murder rap for his part in a burglary that ended in a Bx cop getting killed, is being sued for his smackdown of a petty criminal in a country club prison.

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2 hurt in shopping cart attack near Yankee Stadium

BRONX, NEW YORK, Jan. 31- Two men were hurt, one critically when someone threw a shopping cart from an upper level of a parking garage at the Bronx Gateway Center.

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Cops arrest man in carjacking with 3-year-old inside

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Bx woman embezzles $1M

from church

The NY Post reports that a Bronx woman is accused of embezzling $1 million from the Archdiocese.

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Williamsbridge fire claims one life

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Bronx Newsline

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

2 dead in Deegan crash

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 2- The NY Post reports that a driver and his passenger were killed when his car plowed into a concrete pillar. Three other passengers critically injured.

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Staples cashier skims $180K from customers

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 2- News12 reports that a Bronx woman has been charged in an identity theft scam in which she allegedly charged customers $180K by stealing their credit card info.

Bronx shootings

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

Shootings in Norwood Continue

By David Greene

NEW YORK, Dec. 7- Investigators continue to piece together the events leading up to the shooting of a man, reportedly shot in the back, at the corner of E. 209 Street and Hull Avenue.

Police were called to the Villa Deli, located at 3294 Hull Avenue, at 11:48 p.m., on November 26. Officers from the 52nd Precinct immediately stopped a group of men and discovered the victim had been transported to a local hospital via a civilian auto. The unidentified victim was expected to survive.

The following day a resident of the troubled block was seen packing up his belongings into a boxed truck. Asked if he was moving out because of crime in the area, the man replied, "Oh yeah, this block is crazy. I had heard about the shooting, but I had already moved out," when the incident took place the night before.

A second resident recalled, "I heard five shots and watched a group of four or five men run down E. 209 Street towards Perry Avenue." Police were reportedly looking for five males, all wearing dark colored clothing.

Meanwhile, another person was reported shot at 2780 University Avenue, near E. 196 Street, at 6:16 p.m., on December 5. Information on that incident were not immediately available.

Meanwhile, detectives from the 52nd Precinct continue to investigate two recent homicides in their command. On October 29, Bimal Chanda, 57, was beaten inside his building on W. 190 Street. Chanda expired from his injuries on November 2. On November 5, Edwin Valdez, 21, was shot in the chest on Bainbridge Avenue and E. 198 Street. No suspects have been apprehended in either case.

Despite the rash of homicides in the area, the NYPD maintains that homicides in the Norwood, Bedford Park and Forham areas are down with seven homicides reported so far in 2011. Last year at this time the 52nd Precinct had reported nine.

Great Deals on Digital Cameras 12/4-12/10

Charter School to hold lottery for neediest kids

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 13- The Children’s Aid Society announced a first-of-its-kind lottery system for its new charter school in the South Bronx’s Morrisania neighborhood. The lottery system for Children’s Aid College Prep is open to all students but will emphasize particularly needy students.

“We have always focused our resources on the most vulnerable young people in New York City and our first charter school will be no different,” said The Children’s Aid Society President and CEO Richard Buery. “All children will be a part of our new school, but those who have been involved in the child welfare system or who have other challenges that can dampen academic success should be given an additional boost.”

All applicants will receive one entry in the lottery and an additional entry for each of the following categories:

·Students who come from single-parent households

·Students from households below the NY self-sufficiency standard

·Students who have not attended a full-day kindergarten

·Students who are English language learners

·Students who have been involved in the child welfare system.

For example, a student from a single-parent household and has been involved in the child welfare system will receive three entries, or chances to get in. The lottery will be held on April 9^th at 11am at The Next Generation Center at 1522 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx.

Ads in both Spanish and English will begin running today in an assortment of New York daily and weekly print outlets.

Poverty levels in Morrisania—a community where Children’s Aid has established service hubs and community schools serving more than 10,000 people over the last 10 years—exceed those of other New York City neighborhoods. Currently 57% of children in Morrisania are growing up in poverty and only 27% perform at or above grade level on standard reading tests, more than 15% lower than the City average.

The charter school is the first for Children’s Aid and will implement a community school model proven effective in improving academic performance, increasing attendance and retention, building confidence and self-esteem and addressing an extreme need for health services among poor children. Community schools differ from other schools because they provide comprehensive services for children, including medical, dental, and mental health services, after-school programming, summer camps and family support services. Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School will incorporate community school best practices with a newly designed, rigorous instructional program that puts students on a college-bound path early.

“We know that the best way to escape poverty is through a holistic approach to supporting children that includes health, social, recreational and youth development services, in addition to education. The new charter school will combine excellent instruction, quality arts, sports and enrichment programs, and effective social services for children and their families, and create a school where every child is put on the path to college,” said Buery.

The Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School will serve 120 students in Kindergarten and 1st grade and eventually approximately 300 students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. The Children’s Aid Society’s deep roots in the South Bronx and its multi-site service centers in the surrounding community will enable the proposed school to provide effective youth development practices, comprehensive health care and a commitment to empowering parents, foster parents and other care-giving adults to become full partners in their children’s success.

The Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School is accepting applications for K-1 through April 2, 2012, more information at www.childrensaidcollegeprep.org. The school will open in August 2012.

Cheap skate?

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

Mini ice skating rink green lighted for Van Cortlandt Park

By Robert Press

NEW YORK, Dec. 7- At the November 30th Community Board 8 Parks Committee meeting, Davita Mabourakh of the Parks Department presented a plan for a mini ice skating rink to be built on the same location of the proposed full size ice skating rink in Van Cortlandt Park. This mini rink will be built by the winning bidder (and only bidder) of the Request For Proposal (that ended in May 2011) of the full size rink, who by the way just happened to help put the RFP together IceRinkEvents.

Mabourakh said that this mini ice skating rink would not have to go through the same process as the full size rink, comparing it to a traveling circus that does not have to be approved by the city Franchise and Concessions Review Committee. She added that there would be only temporary structures such as the rink, portable toilets, and tents set up for whatever was needed. The needed cost of the electric upgrade estimated at $125,000 for the full size rink would be paid by IceRinkEvents and not the 34^th Street Partnership as before.

According to the plan the ice chillers are on the site next to the electric upgrade in the nortwest corner of the tennis courts on the Broadway side. It would appear that there is now not enough room to place a permanent rink inside the fence of the tennis courts with the changes.

Community Board 8 Chairman Robert Fanuzzi told us “there is no rational, as we can see, as to changing the concession process, and this should conform to the Franchise Concession Review Process.” Other board members were openly against any ice skating rink now proposed at VCP due to the delay of announcing the winning bidder, and lack of information by the Parks Department.

Mabourakh asked the Parks Committee for the approval of the rink at the meeting, and said that there now is no need for input from anyone to go ahead with the mini rink. The full community board will decide at the monthly CB8 meeting Tuesday December 13^th being held at the Riverdale Y.

Great Deals on Digital Cameras 12/4-12/10

Christmas

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

Santa makes early stop at Bronx Zoo

Bronx, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2011 – Santa and Mrs. Claus made an early stop at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo to g

bring some holiday cheer, as toys donated to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr’s annual toy drive were presented to children of Bronx military families.

The toys have been collected by the WCS zoos and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Borough President’s office. Bronx Toys, a local toy manufacturer, also made a significant contribution of their New York City-themed toys.

“These soldiers and their families have sacrificed so much for all of us,” said John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. “WCS is honored to have the opportunity to help make the holidays a little brighter for these special families.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr said: “We want to make sure this holiday season is extra special for the children of these brave individuals, who often times had to leave their families behind during the holidays to serve our country. We want our local veterans and their families to know that we support them, and there aren’t enough words to express our gratitude. We hope that this toy drive will put a smile on the faces of their brave children.”

Lenny Caro, President and CEO of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce said: “The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and the Bronx business community always supports the men and women who fight for our country. During the Holiday season, it is very important to remember those families who are home waiting for their loved ones to return. We are proud to support these families with toys and holiday cheer.”

The partnership between the Bronx Zoo and the Borough President on the toy drive has become an annual tradition. The Bronx Zoo serves as a collection point for new, unwrapped toys donated by members of the community for distribution to underprivileged members of the community by the Borough President’s office.

WCS is also partnering with City Harvest to collect food for underprivileged New Yorkers. Food collected from the food drive helps provide nutritious meals every day to people in New York City who turn to food assistance programs.

For more information, please visit www.wcs.org/foodtoydrive.

Christmas message

bronxnews@gmail.com (Bronx News) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:04:54 PST

Celebrating the true meaning of Christmas

COMMUNITY BOARD NEWS N’ VIEWS

Father Richard F. Gorman

Chairman

Community Board #12 (The Bronx)

BRONX, NEW YORK, Dec. 21- Yes, it’s Christmas . . . . . again!

All of the familiar indices of this Holiday have reappeared. The Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center has been lit. The stores along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan are decorated with displays that delight the young at heart regardless of actual age. The center median of Park Avenue is decked out in an array of lights that resemble an endless column of twinkling candelabra. Department stores, shopping malls, and outlets are packed with Christmas shoppers seeking to unearth just that right kind of present for this loved one or that. Santa Claus is ensconced on his throne at Macy’s in Herald Square, attentively taking orders from anxious boys and girls determined to find just what they ordered under their Christmas tree. Christmas carols flood the airways as well as hallways, elevators, offices, homes, and houses of worship. Students at school breathe a sigh of relief as they leave the hallowed halls of academia for their first substantial vacation break since returning in September from the Summer hiatus. Traffic is abominable . . . . . EVERYWHERE! Holiday shoppers and people in general look exhausted . . . . . EVERYWHERE! Fingers ache from the never-ending assemblage and wrapping of gifts and the panicked penning of Christmas cards. The annual lawsuits about the placement of Nativity scenes in public spaces and facilities are underway in courts across the land as some attempt, yet again, to get Christ out of Christmas and to eradicate the story of the first Christmas from our yearly commemoration of it. I wonder if some folks who so assiduously go about wishing others a Happy “Holiday” even know what holiday is being celebrated!

Yes, once more, Christmas has arrived! The decorations, the music, the parties, the shopping, the presents, the traveling, and the fine food and drink are all as they should be. We engage in these apropos rituals of the Season and subject ourselves to the insanity of holiday hubbub because it is Christmas and that’s what Christmas is all about. However, one aspect of Christmas, to which we pay due lip service each year, always escapes somehow our ability to make it as real and as much a part of our life as are our Christmas songs, trees, parties, merriment, delights, and dining.

When the angels of God first appeared to simple shepherds over 2,000 years ago on the hills adjacent to Bethlehem in order to announce the good news and the glad tidings of the birth of Jesus, they proclaimed peace on earth and good will to all. This is the quintessential message of Christmas, what Christmas is really and truly all about. Christmas is the end of estrangement and division in our lives. No more will there be rift and rupture between God and His Children and among the Children of God themselves. The Golden Rule -- “Love one another as I have loved you! Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!” -- is promulgated as the rule of life for all peoples without exception or distinction. This is the hope and the vision of Christmas. The question is why we get all tied up with the accidentals and the incidentals of Christmas -- i.e., the gift giving, the shopping, the eating, the imbibing, etc. -- and completely cast aside the essentials of Christmas -- viz., peace, fraternity, concord, decency, and justice. We are so busy with “doing” Christmas that we deny ourselves the very gifts, if truth be told, that God wants us to have each and every Christmas, nay, each and every day of our life. Isn’t it about time to make our Christmas complete?

So what should we do in this regard? How do we get to the core and the kernel of Christmas? Well, how about just starting to practice the Golden Rule in our life? One might inquire precisely how one might go about doing so, so here is a straightforward and unpretentious rule of thumb: DO NOT TREAT ANYONE IN A FASHION THAT YOU WOULD DEEM DETRIMENTAL OR OFFENSIVE TO YOU AND ALLOW NO OTHER PERSON TO SUFFER SUCH A TYPE OF INDECENT BEHAVIOR! Sometimes, in pondering moral and ethical issues in our day and age, our thinking gets all too cloudy and complicated. We oftentimes raise more questions than we answer or give rise to more problems than we resolve. Too frequently we victimize ourselves by creating false dilemmas or, in the height of immaturity and/or arrogance, reason ourselves precisely to the conclusion that we desired all along. No wonder the world is sometimes in such sad shape. We deliberately mire and muddle our life in the confusion and the disarray of our selfishness and stupidity, preferring our ignorance to be our bliss. We time and again know what we have to do in order to rescue ourselves but lack the moral fiber and the strength of character to liberate ourselves.

However, no individual requires a degree in rocket science to follow the Golden Rule. We are all quite cognizant of what hurts us and what we would not want done to us. Such things, therefore, should not be done to anybody, either by us or by another individual. If our neighbor should transgress against us, we should not respond in kind. Why? The great Mahatma, Mohandas K. Gandhi, would tell us that adherence to the practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will result in a world of blind people who are incapable of properly chewing their food and of hungry people who are unable to see where they are going. A person treating me in a wrongful manner does not justify my visiting the same offense upon him/her. When I treat another human being in this way or that, I am telling the whole world that it is fitting and proper to treat me in the exact, same way. This, without question, is the height of wisdom. Needless to say, though, it does not take a genius to recognize the truth of this principle or to live by it.

So let’s make this unrealized Christmas hope the Christmas gift that our world has long been awaiting. Let’s begin the process of making peace on earth and bringing good will to all by living as we should and enabling our neighbor to do likewise. Again, as Mahatma Gandhi would tells us, the only problem with this core belief of Christianity is that Christians do not observe it. You know, it is never too late to begin. Wouldn’t it be great to prove even Gandhi wrong at last? It certainly would make for the best Christmas ever and, needless to say, a better world in which to live.

I wish all of my friends and neighbors in Community Board #12 (The Bronx) and throughout our beautiful Borough of The Bronx a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy 2009.

To my Jewish friends who have begun their celebration of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, I pray that the light of the Lord’s wisdom and the warmth of His love will bring my Ancestors in Faith great peace and joy.

To my Muslim brothers and sisters, who earlier this month on the Fifth of December commemorated their Holy Feast of Ashura, I pray that Allah will endow you and your loved ones with His choicest blessings.

To all of my friends in the African-American community who will observe Kwanzaa this month, I send my respect, love, and sincerest wishes for prosperity and happiness.

As we celebrate, each in our own way and in accord with our own tradition, let us not neglect to say a prayer for those whose sacrifice, courage, and dedication make possible our being able to mark and make merry this Christmas and Chanukah Season in peace and in security. Let’s not overlook the service of our men and women in the Armed Forces of the United States abroad and of the men and the women of the New York City Police Department (N.Y.P.D.) and the New York City Fire Department (F.D.N.Y.) here at home. Because they are watching the wall, walking a beat, and responding to alarms for us, we can truly have a safe and serene Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa in a country that is free.

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Links for 2012-02-14 [Digg]

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Sharpton demands investigation into fatal police shooting - Bronxnews
News from throughout Bronx, NY

Links for 2012-02-13 [Digg]

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Golden Gloves in the Bronx
BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 13- The opening rounds of the 2012 NY Daily News Golden gloves returned to the Bronx Friday evening at Saint Raymonds High School.
Fordham loses doubleheader in overtime
BRONX, NEW YORK, Feb. 13- A full house, 3,200 fans, witnessed an exciting, competitive basketball game between the Fordham Rams (9-14, 2-8) and the Dayton Flyers (15-9, 5-5) on Saturday afternoon at the Rose Hill Gym that needed five minutes of overtime to determine a victor. The result of each of the two halves and the overtime were decided within the final seconds.
Beauty queens make Vets their Valentines

Links for 2012-02-10 [Digg]

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Comrade Moneybags?
Riverbay board member Bernard Cylich, a strident opponent of privatization here who owns private homes in Copake Falls, NY, and in Charlotte, NC, would have the people of Co-op City believe that he is “the little guy.” That's what Cylich told the Daily News, last week, in response to revelations, first published in the City News, that the left-wing board member owns homes, as well as a Florida timeshare, valued at more than $600,000.

Links for 2012-02-08 [Digg]

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Giants hailed as kings of NY
See photos of fans and players from the parade honoring the Super Bowl champs.