City Island News BX: Workers Flunk Repair

City Island News BX: Workers Flunk Repair: Workers Flunk Repair 1 Month After it was Taken Down, Construction Scaffold Returns Overnight at P.S. 86 By David Greene BRONX...

Workers Flunk Repair

Workers Flunk Repair

1 Month After it was Taken Down, Construction Scaffold Returns Overnight at P.S. 86

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 13- A dozen burly construction workers arrived just before twilight, hours after the last child had left P.S. 86 in Kingsbridge Heights. Workers began putting up the steel and wood sidewalk-shed in the front of the school-- a month after the same workers had dismantled it.

Many of the parents of the 1,600-plus kindergarten and elementary school children who attend the Reservoir Avenue school, dubbed "The Kingsbridge Heights School," and residents of the block were surprised to see what is called a construction scaffold or sidewalk-shed, back in front of the school on the morning of May 1.

One resident recalled, "Yeah, they took it down and it went away and then it came back. It's crazy."

According to Jason Fink at the Department of Education (DOE), "This is an exterior modernization project. Some of the decorative terracotta that was part of the project had to be replaced by the manufacturer, so the contractor is going back to install the replacements."

Fink added that the contractor Vardaris Tech, Inc., was doing the work on the $4.5 million project.

Additional details were revealed when Anjaykumar Shaw of the DOE's School Construction Authority (SCA) stated, "At the time everything was fine and everything was done, but ultimately whatever winter conditions we went through, they went up there and found out what had happened."

Shaw elaborated on the problem, explaining, "Bolsters are the decorative pieces there (in the front of the building) and that bolster had some cracks in it."

Unable to provide an exact timeline, Shaw recalled, "We just realized after the winter, I would say... I don't know exactly, but in the last three or four weeks we came to know there was a problem."

Asked why the scaffolding came down in the first place, Shaw replied, "Oh, because work at the time seemed complete."

A follow up call to Shaw was re-directed to Nicole Halloway, the Bronx Community Relations Manager and the Project Support Manager for the School Construction Authority, who could not provide additional details, stating, "Because the building in question is a DOE facility, we cannot answer questions pertaining to that, only the DOE can."

Several parents stated they were very happy with the school, one believed it to be the largest public school in the borough.

One teacher called it an "A-plus" school and added, "Teacher morale here is great."

However, one parent who claimed her daughter was recommended powerful drugs for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) fumed,  "They told me I had to be sympathetic to the fact that the teacher had 37 students."

Referring to P.S. 86, that parent added, "I feel like every time I hear a teacher, there telling a parent their child has ADHD."

In a follow-up e-mail, Fink stated there would be no additional cost to the SCA, and added the completion date is not yet known.

Calls to P.S. 86 Principal Fiona Tyson and contractor Vardaris Tech were not immediately returned.   

#Schools #Construction #Education #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Yanks Tickled Pink

City Island News BX: Yanks Tickled Pink: Yanks Tickled Pink Pineda Fans 16, Remains Undefeated in 2015  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 11- Sunday’s starting p...

Yanks Tickled Pink

Yanks Tickled Pink

Pineda Fans 16, Remains Undefeated in 2015 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 11- Sunday’s starting pitcher for the Yankees, Michael Pineda, zeroed in on the strike zone throughout his outstanding pitching performance. The Dominican native fanned 16 batters, a career high in seven innings. It is only the seventh time since 1900 that a pitcher has struck out that many in as few as seven innings.

He struck out each of the Oriole batters he faced except J. J. Hardy. It was the second highest total of strikeouts in a single game for the Yankees. He tied the mark set by perfect game pitchers, David Wells and David Cone, and has been bested only by Ron Guidry, who fanned 18 in 9 innings on June 11, 1978.

The 26 year old has exhibited an amazing control of his pitches. On Sunday, he struck out 16 without issuing a walk. The last time a major league pitcher accomplished that feat was on August 19, 2007, when Johan Santana struck out 17 without walking a batter.

The total for his seven starts in 2015 are 54 strikeouts and three walks for an American League high k/bb ratio of 18.00, second only to Bartolo Colon in the majors.

He is one of only five active major league pitchers who have multiple appearances with at least seven strikeouts and zero walks.

Pineda’s catcher on Sunday, Brian McCann, was impressed, but not surprised by the pitcher’s performance, “He had all three pitches working. When you can throw three pitches for strikes whenever you want that allows the pitcher to attack the hitters. He doesn’t walk any guys. He pounds the zone. His stuff is electric every time he takes the ball.”

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi, a former catcher, described what he saw, “Location, outstanding mix of pitches, deception. A lot of things have to go right to get 16 strikeouts in 21 outs. Oh God, he was really good!”

Girardi explained why he removed Pineda from the contest after seven frames, “The time of the year, how young he is, how important he is to the team, and the pitch count (111).”

The result of Pineda’s work was another Yankee victory and the team’s continued presence in first place in the American League East. Pineda remained undefeated, 5‐0, in his seven starts this season. He is also undefeated in six contests with the Baltimore Orioles, who lost 6‐2, with a mark of 3‐0.

Pineda, naturally a happy person, was overjoyed, “Today was the best game. The weather was like the weather in the Dominican. It’s Mother’s Day.” The devout player’s reaction in general, “Thank you God.”

#Yankees #MichaelPineda #MothersDay #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Celebrate the Bronx

City Island News BX: Celebrate the Bronx: Celebrate the Bronx BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015 BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bron...

City Island News BX: Celebrate the Bronx

City Island News BX: Celebrate the Bronx: Celebrate the Bronx BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015 BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bron...

Celebrate the Bronx

Celebrate the Bronx

BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bronx Week 2015 on Sunday, hosting a celebration of the “Best of the Bronx” with a street festival at the Bronx General Post Office on Grand Concourse and East 149th Street.

“I always look forward to this time of the year, when we celebrate everything that is great about The Bronx,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We kick things off with this great street fair on Sunday, holding 10 days’ worth of amazing and fun events for the whole family throughout the borough, all culminating with the Walk of Fame inductions and parade.”

A full calendar of events is available at www.ilovethebronx.com.

“Bronx Week is the opportunity to showcase the Best of The Bronx,” said Bronx Tourism Council Executive Director Olga Luz Tirado. “There is a lot to celebrate -- tourism, overall, is up in the borough. Our attractions are reporting a substantial increase in visitors. We are enjoying increased positive coverage from media. It's a great time to be in The Bronx right now.”

“Bronx Week is a time to celebrate our businesses, big and small, that provide much needed jobs to our community as well as a time to honor veterans, seniors, youth, volunteers and our hometown greats,” said Marlene Cintron, president of The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

“As a new member to the community, we are excited to be a part of our first Bronx Week and to host the first event with Borough President Ruben Diaz at this iconic site,” said Christine Nebiar, marketing director for Youngwoo & Associates, LLC, who is sponsoring the kick-off event alongside The Bristol Group. “The Bronx has so much to celebrate and we are thrilled to invite New Yorkers to experience the borough at its best. The historic Bronx Post office will transform into a center of culture, community, and commerce and we hope to feature the great talents in food, art, music, and business.”

This year, four new individuals will be inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame. They are actor and activist Malik Yoba; National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes; and actress, author and television commentator Stacey Dash. Longtime borough business leader, philanthropist and the founder of Delicioso Coco Helado, Alfredo Thiebaud will also be posthumously inducted in to the Bronx Walk of Fame.

Bronx Week 2015 is made possible thanks to the support of the Montefiore Medical Center, the principal sponsors of this year’s events.

"Montefiore is proud to support Bronx Week,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO of Montefiore Health System. “Bronx Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate our strengths and the progress we are making to improve our communities. It’s a chance to highlight how healthcare providers like Montefiore, community based organizations and elected officials are joining forces to ensure Bronx residents have the tools and access they need for optimal health and wellness. Working together, the future of our borough is bright.”

Other Bronx Week 2015 sponsors include Care Connect, United HealthCare Community Plan, Healthfirst, HealthPlus Amerigroup, CenterLight Healthcare, conEdison, Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Cablevision, WellCare, Affinity Health Plan, AT&T, News 12, Domino’s, Bronxnet, Delicioso Coco Helado, Bronx Design Group, Emblem, Jewish Home LifeCare, Millennium Medical Staffing, and VNSNY.

#BronxWeek #BronxBoroughPresident #Malik Yoba #Stacey Dash #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Rivera to step down?

City Island News BX: Rivera to step down?: Rivera to step down?  Bx. pol putting pressure in Mt. Vernon race? 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY ...

City Island News BX: Dreamers Protest Obama’s Visit to Bronx

City Island News BX: Dreamers Protest Obama’s Visit to Bronx: Dreamers Protest Obama’s Visit to Bronx By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 6- Nearly 50 students of Herbert H. Lehman Colleg...

Dreamers Protest Obama’s Visit to Bronx

Dreamers Protest Obama’s Visit to Bronx

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 6- Nearly 50 students of Herbert H. Lehman College gathered on school grounds to demonstrate against President Barack Obama's historic visit to the Bedford Park school.

Members of the Lehman College "Dream Team" hastily organized the protest to coincide with Obama's little-publicized visit to the school on Monday, May 4.

Many of the student demonstrators chanted slogans like, "Obama, Obama what do you say, how many kids have you deported today," upset that the current administration has not worked out a deal with Congress on immigration.

Christian Beruerio, a member of the Lehman College Dream Team which boasts 50 members at CUNY school's around the state, told the crowd, "I supported Obama thinking that Obama was going to represent the interests of people here in the Bronx" Beruerio continued, "I quickly found out that Obama was no better than Bush. The conditions in which I lived in were no different. I was still unemployed, there was no access to jobs and I'm still struggling to go to school in 2008 and I'm still struggling now working seven-days a week and I still can't go to school."

Fellow Dream Team member Tafadar Sourov fumed, "Obama dishes out billions of dollars to Israel to fuel that settler-colonial genocide state, meanwhile people in Detroit can't even get water."

"People continue to be killed," Sourov continued, "throughout the U.S by police. Black people continue to be killed every 28 hours and what's the best Obama can do? Stay silent on it until people start to riot and then he has to talk about it and the best he can come up with is, 'I'm going to give federal funds for body cameras.' Eric Garner died on camera, what did that accomplish?"

Listening to demonstrators, Lehman student Lincoln Lewis remarked, "Everyone is entitled to their position and opinions and it's good to see them speaking out. I'm not in agreement with some things, but they should speak out."

Asked if he believed if he agreed with some of the demonstrators that President Obama was guilty of war crimes, Lewis replied, "It depends on your definition of war crimes. He could be, but then you'd be opening up Pandora's Box for every president" who could be implicated.

Despite the protest student Stephanie Ramnauth was excited about the visit, "I didn't know until I got to class and they told me the president was here. I wanted to see him because I go here and it's nice to know that the president came to the school.”

#President #Obama #LehmanCollege #Dreamers #Immigration #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: NYCFC Winless

City Island News BX: NYCFC Winless: NYCFC Winless Drought Extends to Seven Matches By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 4- After a Sunday night loss to the Seattl...

NYCFC Winless

NYCFC Winless Drought Extends to Seven Matches

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 4- After a Sunday night loss to the Seattle Sounders (5‐2‐1), 3‐1, at Yankee Stadium, NYCFC (1‐5‐3) continues to languish in the group below the playoff contenders. 

Their six points are only above one club, the Montreal Impact, in the Eastern Conference. NYC’s winless match streak grew to seven after the match on Sunday. For the Sounders, on a hot streak, the win was their third straight and their fourth in the last five matches.

The first goal of the match was scored in the 23rd minute. Obafemi Martins scored his fifth goal of the season, which tied him for first place in the MLS. The native of Nigeria has played the last 12 seasons against top competition in Europe. The striker has played

on clubs in Italy, England, Germany, Russia and Spain. Martins also had 38 caps and scored 18 goals in international competition while a member of his national team. The assist was from Marco Parra, another international who has 30 caps on the Guatemalan National Team.

That was the only goal of the first half. Mehdi Ballouchy knotted the score at 1 with his second goal of the season at the 54th minute mark. He was assisted by Patrick Mullins, a collegiate standout at the University of Maryland.

Four minutes later, the contest took a dark turn for NYCFC as the USMNT captain Clint Dempsey’s goal returned the lead to the Sounders. The United States football legend with 112 caps for the national team has scored goal or assist in each of the six matches in which he participated this season. Like Martins, earlier in the game, Dempsey’s fifth goal added his name to the top scorers in the league. He was also assisted by Parra and by Martins.

Ten minutes later, Martins the single season goal and points record holder for Seattle, cored his second goal of the evening. His sixth goal now game him the league lead. In a reversal of the previous goal, Dempsey assisted. The assist, his fifth of the 2015 season, tied him for second in the MLS.

After the match, Martins spoke of the high scoring duo of him and Dempsey, “We did our part. We made it work.” NYCFC coach Jason Kreis said of the Seattle strikers, “We came up against two of the greatest strikers in the league.”

The winningest coach in MLS history, Sigi Schmid of the Sounders, discussed his daily game plan for his club, “It’s about getting points, as many as you can, as fast as you can.”

The three points the Sounders received for the victory raised their season total to 16, which brought them to the top of the western Conference standings.

NYCFC coach Jason Kreis, who in the past had great success as an MLS coach, is finding it difficult to accept his club’s losing record, “I didn’t realize it would be this difficult. [I’m having] a lot of sleepless nights. I have little patience.”

The match most looked forward to by residents of the New York metropolitan area will take place next Sunday night as the NYCFC travels to Harrison, New Jersey to play the Red Bulls.

#Soccer #NYCFC #Sounders #YankeeStadium #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: FREE Bus Rides?

City Island News BX: FREE Bus Rides?: FREE Bus Rides?  Fare-minded Fool Hardy City Council wants to Decriminalizing Fare-Evasion By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, AP...

FREE Bus Rides?

FREE Bus Rides? 
Fare-minded Fool Hardy City Council wants to Decriminalizing Fare-Evasion

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 30- Members of the little known 'Eagle Team' working undercover in plain clothes and searching for fare-beaters along the route of Fordham Road's BX-12 Express Bus, quickly cornered and disarmed their suspect of his knife and placed him under arrest as the City Council continues to negotiate with Mayor Bill de Blasio such minor arrests as fare-beating-- non-criminal offenses.

Members of the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority's unit the Eagle Team and undercover officers from the 48th Precinct asked the individual for a bus receipt as the express bus picked up passengers outside of 464 East Fordham Road at 10:25 a.m., on April 23. The suspect told officers he had no receipt and members swooped into action and quickly removed him from the bus and eventually placed him under arrest.

The suspect, Leonardo Henning, 53, of the Bronx offered no resistance as the unit ordered him off the bus and removed a knife from his back pocket and placed him under arrest. According to the criminal complaint, Henning admitted to cops, "I have a knife, I keep it for protection."

NYPD spokesman Detective Marc Nell said of Henning, "He was arrested for intent to fraud, obtaining transit without payment, a misdemeanor and criminal possession of a weapon." Nell revealed that Henning also had a prior bench warrant out for his arrest, but Nell could not say what that charge was for.

What began as a pilot program on express busses, the Eagle Team expanded in July, 2012 to cover bus routes across the city with high rates of fare-evasion, such as the BX-12 that travels across Fordham Road and Pelham Parkway to Bay Plaza.

The City Council is currently in negotiations with the de Blasio administration that if agreed upon would make such crimes as fare-evasion, drinking alcohol in public and public urination, a violation and subject to a ticket and fine, but would no longer constitute an arrest.

However, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton warned of legalizing quality-of-life crimes, telling reporters on April 27, "If you lose those powers to arrest, that's where Pandora's Box is opened and the 1970's, the 1980's have the potential to come roaring back again."

However, supporters of the idea like City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverto who proposed the change, believe that the overwhelming number of arrests are concentrated in minority neighborhoods, clogging up the courts and the jail system and creating additional tension between minority neighborhoods and police.

One recent video posted on Facebook from February, 2014, shows a pair of cops question a man at what appears to be Pelham Parkway South and White Plains Road. Within minutes, six officers would soon wrestle their subject to the ground and eventually place him under arrest.

Orlando Smith, a University Heights resident who saw the video, fumed, "A confrontation escalating into a beating is inappropriate. It's uncalled for if he doesn't have a weapon and isn't doing anything and is just talking, they shouldn't have the right to put their hands on him."

According to the NYPD, there were 25,867 arrests in 2014 for fare-evasion, but the NYPD does not track how many of those arrests lead to additional charges, for such crimes as drugs or weapon possession.  

#NYPD #FareEvasion #CityCouncil #deBlasio #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up...

City Island News BX: Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up...: Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- Of course there is a concern abou...

Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up

Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- Of course there is a concern about Masahiro Tanaka and how long it will take to get the right-hander back in the New York Yankees pitching rotation. The bad news became official in the fifth inning up in the press box when GM Brian Cashman addressed the media.  

Slight tendinitis in the right wrist have put the Yankees $175 million investment on the 15-day disabled list. So the immediate concern was this latest setback to Tanaka would ultimately mean that Tommy John Surgery is not far behind, and that this has been caused by more strain to the right elbow that shut him down last season.

Cashman would only say that it will be a month before he takes the mound again. That is the Yankees hope though the immediate concern is that there is more damage to the elbow. An MRI earlier in the day, according the Yankees medical report, detected the tendinitis, a mild strain in the forearm and no further injury to the elbow.

Tanaka said through an interpreter by the Yankees clubhouse, “I feel I will come back strong.” And the Yankees hope that is the case, though one longtime American League scout was quick to say that this latest injury has all indications leading to more issues with the elbow and it would not be a surprise if Tanaka does not pitch again this season.

The Yankees certainly hope that is not the situation. And if it is, even with relatively good starting pitching the past week, the Manager Joe Girardi said, “People have to step up.” Chase Whitley the right-hander made his season debut Tuesday night and he stepped up allowing 1-run in five innings in the Yankees 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

It was to be one start for Whitley who was called up to give the starters extra rest with the demanding April schedule. Now Whitley will stay in the rotation and be one of the pitchers to step up. 

“Right now he’s on our rotation,” said Girardi. And without Tanaka, who was scheduled to make his next start Wednesday afternoon, the Yankees have sole possession of first place in the AL east and improved to 4-1 on the six-game home stand. They are also playing good baseball, 10-2 since April 17th,   

Tanaka made four starts, thus far, and has compiled a 3-3 mark with an ERA of 3.22 Whitley joins CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, and Adam Warren in the rotation. By mid June the Yankees expect Ivan Nova to return and fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. And Chris Capuano out with a right quad strain is expected back by the first or second week of May, 

Cashman explained, “Every year you have to deal with adversity. That’s part of a baseball season.” The Yankees will now deal with that and hope Whitley, who was 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes Barre, can continue to one of the arms in the rotation to step it up.

Said Whitley after his first win: “I am not trying to look ahead to anything else. Just pitch when and where they tell me to pitch.” And with no specific timetable as to when or if Tanaka will return, Whitley will now have a set spot in the rotation and fill the void.

In the meantime, Girardi said this latest setback to Tanaka is different from last year. In a way it was because it happened later in the season and that was the elbow that caused much of the concern. The Yankees then were still fighting for a playoff position and now, with April coming to an end, they sit in first place.

But this is April, and as we all know there is plenty more baseball to be played even if the Yankees have won 10 of their last 12 games. 

THE GAME:  The bullpen once again did their job allowing an earned run in 4.01 innings and since April 22 they are 3-0 with four saves, a 0.77 ERA. With Dellin Betences and Andrew Miller not available for the save, Girardi went to Chris Martin who tossed a scoreless ninth inning and notched his first career save.

Prior to Martin, Esmil Rogers threw 2.2 innings of scoreless ball and a hit. A strikeout and ground ball out accounted for two outs and got the Yankees out of a potential jam in the eighth inning.  

“It was a little nerve racking the first pitch but I settled down there,” said Martin, the 28-year old right-hander. “ I feel like everyone is helping this team win. This is a team effort. Hope I can be pitching well and all of us contribute….” 

Brian McCann continued to pace the Yankees with two doubles and drove in three runs. “I feel good, been feeling good all season long,” said McCann. “Hits are starting to fall and I’m finding the barrel.”

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitter @Ring786

#MasahiroTanaka #Yankees #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Ain’t That a Pitch!

City Island News BX: Ain’t That a Pitch!: Ain’t That a Pitch! Masahiro Tanaka to go on Disabled List By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- During the fifth innin...

Ain’t That a Pitch!

Ain’t That a Pitch!

Masahiro Tanaka to go on Disabled List

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- During the fifth inning, the media members at Yankee Stadium were addressed by General Manager Brian Cashman. The GM informed the media that right-hander Masahiro Tanaka will be placed on the 15-day DL. 

He explained that Tanaka arrived at the ballpark at about 2 p.m. and complained that his wrist was bothering him. An MRI was immediately taken that was negative. It was determined that he has slight tendonitis in his right wrist. 

To check on his elbow, a second MRI was taken that was also negative. It was realized that there was a very mild strain in his forearm.

To be careful it was decided to place Tanaka on the disabled list. He will be immediately shut down for 7-10 days. Cashman said the organization was taking a “safe, conservative route.” His elbow appears fine, but it will probably “be a month till he gets back to the rotation” according to Cashman. 

Tanaka was scheduled to pitch on the following day, Wednesday afternoon. He has made four starts, thus far, and has compiled a 3-3 mark with an ERA of 3.22.

Cashman explained, “Every year you have to deal with adversity. That’s part of a baseball season.” 

#MasahiroTanaka #Yankees #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Yanks Win Battle But Mets Could Win the War

City Island News BX: Yanks Win Battle But Mets Could Win the War: Yanks Win Battle But Mets Could Win the War More to Come in September for Subway Series By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK,...

Yanks Win Battle But Mets Could Win the War

Yanks Win Battle But Mets Could Win the War

More to Come in September for Subway Series

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 27- At the end of the evening Sunday the New York Mets left the Bronx with the best record in baseball and still a first place team. The Yankees took two out of three games from them in this first of two interleague series between the two teams with a 6-4 win.

So until they meet again in September at Citi Field, three more games in the Mets home ballpark, we may have more of a clear picture where either team will be in October. Because it is April, they say the games mean nothing. But losing games this month can come back to haunt a team that is in the thick of a pennant race in September.

The Mets feel they will be there in September, as do the Yankees. Fans for both teams also have those hopes for playing baseball in October. With that in mind, and with the anticipation and drama of these three games now in the books, there are no answers as to where they will be during that tough stretch of games in September.

it is simple: April is almost over and the Mets have accomplished something they have not done since their championship year of 1986 and left the Bronx with a 14-5 record, the second best for the franchise to start the season, and Monday night play three at Miami before heading home Thursday for four games with the Washington Nationals.

That’s seven with division opponents and before the series with the Yankees, they compiled and tied a club record 11-game winning streak by going 13-3 against the Nationals, Philadelphia and the Marlins of Miami.

Along the way the Mets realize they will have a few bumps on the road. They did Sunday night committing  a season-high four errors that prevented them from taking two of three games from the Yankees.

"In a game like this, you can't make those mistakes," their manager Terry Collins said. "Just a bad night for us. For the most part they’ve played pretty well.”

But they did not play well  Sunday night and it was a game that did not resemble their sparkling play in the month of April. Eric Campbell forgot how many outs there were on the base paths and got doubled up. The middle infield at short and second, Daniel Murphy and Wilmer Flores, each committed an error and are tied with the team lead with four.

Murphy botched a double play groundball in the fifth inning and Wilmer Flores at shortstop was charged with a throwing error to first that prevented the Mets from doubling up Alex Rodriguez. That got some attention despite Murphy going 2-for-3 and tying a career high with two doubles.

“We got this ugly one out of the way,” Michael Cuddyer said. “We’re going to go to Miami and play better.”

Cuddyer got a ball in left that got to second base late and that enabled  Chris Young to cross the plate in a four- run second Yankees second inning that increased their lead to 5-2.    

So there is every indication, and with five months and a long season ahead, that the Mets will be where they want to be in September. Playing the Yankees then will have more significance than these last three games in the Bronx.

“Mistakes are a part of the game,” Flores said. And for the most part, Flores has been handling the position well at shortstop, Collins made reference that Flores had two bad games in the first week.

Said the manager, “Until tonight, he hadn’t had an error since.”

But September is a month the Yankees want to make sure is significant to them. They feel they will be a part of the mix and return to the postseason after a two year absence. These games with their cross town rivals was just as important to them as it was to their fans.

And those three games in September with the Mets will be more important and have implications for the Yankees if they play like they have been, going 8-2 since April 17 after starting the season at 3-6. This series did not mean they have taken the town away from the Mets as much as Yankees fans would like to believe.

“We won the series and that gets you to October,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Winning series has been a trend for his team that came off a 7-3 road trip before this first Subway Series in the Bronx. And if they continue to do that, then come September when they meet the Mets again, those games will be significant.  

  

However, again, that is a long time off. The Yankees have been hitting and overall getting the pitching, in particular out of the bullpen where they shutout the Mets after the fifth inning and did not give up a hit in 4-⅔ innings.

And with Alex Rodriguez hitting a solo home run in the first inning off Jonathon Niese, number 659 of his career, and one shy of tying Willie Mays, the Yankees are feeling more confident about their lineup. A-Rod has been an early season surprise and faces a possible battle of an incentive clause in the contract that the Yankees have said they will not pay him when he surpasses Mays, and if he passes the other all-time home run leaders.

One of those milestones will happen way before September. Perhaps the Mays’ milestone comes this week when the Yankees host Tampa Bay for three in the Bronx. All that matters now is that the Yankees have something to play for when they meet the Mets again in September.

The Mets feel they will be there. Hey, losing two out of three to the Yankees in the Bronx does not have the implications of three games in September. But when the time arrives, and if these two teams are playing for something then, an Alex Rodriguez milestone won’t matter if his 40-year old body is still producing runs, something more important. 

That is runs for the Yankees in September. And for the Mets, with this promising pitching that was showcased these last three games, they can only hope that they play errorless baseball that will get them to September.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitter@Ring786

#SubwaySeries #Yankees #Mets #ARod #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Princesses Promote Parade

City Island News BX: Princesses Promote Parade: Princesses Promote Parade  BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 24- Young Bronx princesses got their chance to shine and promote the upcoming B...

Princesses Promote Parade

Princesses Promote Parade 

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 24- Young Bronx princesses got their chance to shine and promote the upcoming Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade.

The Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade Inc., presented their annual Miss PR. Infantil for young girls of ages 6-9 years old on April 18, 2015. It was held at the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) located at 2500 Halsey Street, Bronx New York. 

The coordinator for this event was: Melissa Martinez. The Miss Puerto Rico Infantil Pageant is a traditional coronation event that selects a queen, 1st princess and 2nd princess for the annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade on May 31st. 

The pageant consisted of three categories in which each has a point scale. The three categories consisted of Talent, Evening Wear and Questions. Additional special

awards were chosen by the contestants themselves in which they voted for the most friendly (Ms. Amistad), and for the contestant who raised the most money (Ms. Cooperaciòn). Ms. Fotogenica (Ms. Photogenic)was chosen by none other than one of the photographers at the event. 

Subsequently, judges scored the contestants on stage presence, eye contact, and confidence as they demonstrated their individual talents. The third category of evening wear consisted of the girls modeling elegant evening gowns. Judges searched for poise, presence, and confidence as they modeled the stage. For each category, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places were filled with the winners with the most points. 

The heaviest weighed segment of the Infantil pageant was the Questions & Answers portion. The winners were

chosen based on the following characteristics: confidence, composure, charisma, speech, vocabulary, grammar and communication. 

Winners included: 1st princess Kayla Cordero, Queen Jade Rivera, and 2nd princess, Alani Lopez. The judges at the pageant included: Bryanna Borges, Alexa Tirado, Felicita Rivera, andRev. Carmen Hernandez. The young ladies each represented the different cities of the Caribbean island and the order went as follows: Queen Jade Rivera represented Cabo Rojo, 1st princess Kayla Cordero represented Loiza, 2nd Princess Alani Lopez represented Bayamon, Olivia Lopez represented San Sebastian, Jazlene Class represented Humacao, and Jennifer Medina represented Ponce. 

In next to no time: the Juvenil Pageant for contestants ages 10-14 years old will be held on April 25, 2015 at the same location. The Women’s and Men’s Pageant will be scheduled for May 17thand May 23rd respectively, so be on the lookout for an announcement.

Also, save the date: Sunday, May 31st, will be the 29th annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Grand Concourse from 192nd street to Van Courtlandt Avenue East. The parade will kick-off at Poe Cottage Park at 10 am so stay tuned!  

#PuertoRicanDayParade #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Justice Bites Back as Phony Dentist Charged with A...

City Island News BX: Justice Bites Back as Phony Dentist Charged with A...: Justice Bites Back as Phony Dentist Charged with Assaulting Patients She called herself “Dr. Val” –but it’s alleged that Valbona Yze...

Justice Bites Back as Phony Dentist Charged with Assaulting Patients

Justice Bites Back as Phony Dentist Charged with Assaulting Patients

She called herself “Dr. Val” –but it’s alleged that Valbona Yzeiraj is not only not a doctor – but also that the dental procedures she performed harmed her patients. 

Now, the 45-year-old woman faces criminal charges in the Bronx, announces Bronx County District Attorney Robert Johnson, as Yzeiraj was arraigned this week on the Supreme Court indictment which charged: assault in the second degree (Class D Felony, 2 counts); assault in the third degree (Class A Misdemeanor, 2 counts); unauthorized practice (NYS Education Law §6512) (Class E Felony, 5 counts); attempted grand larceny in the third degree (Class E Felony, 1 count) and reckless endangerment in the second degree (Class A Misdemeanor, 3 counts).

It is alleged that Yzeiraj of White Plains, NY, claimed to have had dental training in her home country of Albania, but was neither trained nor licensed in the United States. She is accused of treating patients at the office of Dr. Jeffrey Schoengold, at 3800 Independence Avenue, where she worked as an office manager. Some of her dental procedures, which included root canals, came with a bite – it is alleged that at least one patient got an infection from a botched root canal, and another suffers persistent pain two years after treatment.

The illegal dental practice is alleged to have been conducted between late 2012 and the summer of 2013, out of Dr. Schoengold’s offices, “Dr. Val” seeing patients when he was not there. When the dentist discovered her activities, Yzeiraj was fired. But it is further alleged when she left, she attempted to take money from the practice.

Yzeiraj pled not guilty to the charges before Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett. Bail was set at $20K bond/$10K cash and her case has been adjourned to May 28^th. Justice Barrett also barred her from working anywhere in regard to dentistry for the duration of her case.

If convicted of the charges, Yzeiraj faces up to seven years behind bars. The charges in this indictment are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

#NYPD #BronxDA #PhonyDentist #Yzeiraj #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Death Over Parking Space

City Island News BX: Death Over Parking Space: Country Club Man Charged with Beating Neighbor to Death Over Parking Space BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 22- District Attorney Robert J...

Death Over Parking Space

Country Club Man Charged with Beating Neighbor to Death Over Parking Space

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 22- District Attorney Robert Johnson announced the Supreme Court arraignment of Gjok Deda (pron: ZH-AWK DAY-dah) in the death of his downstairs neighbor, 68-year-old Ronald Antonucci, in the parking lot of the apartment building they lived in at 1110 Stadium Avenue in the Country Club section of the Bronx.

Deda, who will turn 41 years old later this week, pled not guilty before Supreme Court Justice George Villegas, to the single charge of manslaughter in the first degree, a Class-B Felony.

The row between the two men occurred in the early morning hours of March 19^th, 2015, when Deda allegedly became enraged because Antonucci was backing out of a parking space he felt was too close to him and his daughters. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Deda is accused of repeatedly punching the older and much smaller 5-foot-8 and 156-pound Antonucci in the head.  Antonucci died shortly after from what the medical examiner described as multiple blunt force trauma to the head.

If convicted of the charges, Deda faces up to 25 years behind bars, and deportation to his home country of Albania. The charges in this indictment are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case against Deda has been adjourned to July 13, 2015 in Part 77, before Justice William Mogulescu, Bronx Supreme Court, 265 E. 161^st Street.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Erin Kelsh of Trial Bureau 20/50.

#NYPD #BronxDA #ParkingSpace #GjokDeda #RonaldAntonucci #CountryClub #Bronxnews

City Island News BX: Softball

City Island News BX: Softball: Rams Sweep St. Joes By Gary Quintal  BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 20- With Atlantic 10 conference play entering its final two weeks, ...

Softball

Rams Sweep St. Joes

By Gary Quintal 

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 20- With Atlantic 10 conference play entering its final two weeks, fourth place Fordham hosted fifth place Saint Joseph's University at Bahoshy Field this weekend.  

The Fordham Rams swept Saint Joseph's in impressive fashion, not only winning all three games, but shutting Saint Joe's out of the entire series, taking the Saturday double header 8-0 twice and finishing Sunday with a 4-0 victory.   

The victories place Fordham into third place in the Atlantic 10 with an 11-5 conference record (25-17 overall), while Saint Joe's falls to seventh place with a record of  21-15 (6-8 conference).  

Fordham returns to the Bronx next weekend to start their final home-stand of the season against A-10 opponent George Washington. 

#Fordham #Softball #SaintJosephsUniversity #Bronxnews