Fordham Wins First Conference Game of the Season

Fordham Wins First Conference Game of the Season

#Fordham #Rams #Basketball #Bronxnews

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 9- A one-sided 83-65 win by the Fordham Rams (6-15, 1-9) over the Saint Louis Billikens (10-13, 2-8) on Saturday afternoon at  Rose Hill ended the nine-game winless streak of the Rams in Atlantic-10 Conference games this season. The campus gym was filled with Fordham enthusiasts, many of whom attended the annual Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony and luncheon earlier in the afternoon. 

The Fordham fans were cheering wildly as the Rams scored the first 12 points of the game. The visitors cut the deficit to two points by the mid-point of the first half after going on a 15-5 scoring run. Interestingly, the first points scored by a Saint Louis player were a three pointer by the only Bronx native on the court, Ash Yocoubou. 

The 6-4 junior is playing his first season with the Billikens after transferring from Villanova. The much travelled young man began his high school basketball years at the American Christian School on Pennsylvania before moving to Long Island Lutheran, where he was the Gatorade New York State Player of the Year in his senior season, 2011.

The Rams never lost the lead throughout the first half. The half ended with Fordham ahead by a score of 33-29.

Saint Louis scored the first four points of the second stanza to tie the score for the first and last time of the game at 19:06. Thirty-two seconds later, a free throw by Mandell Thomas gave Fordham the advantage again, which they never relinquished. A Fordham lead of 45-41 at 14:35 was followed by 11 unanswered points by Fordham that raised the advantage to 15 (56-41) with 11:16 left to play. 

The Rams’ advantage was cut to six, 58-52, at 8:54 after an 11-2 scoring run by the visitors. Fordham’s domination during the final nine minutes, 25-13, gave the Rams an easy win.

After the contest concluded, Fordham’s head coach Tom Pecora spoke of the reasons for his team’s victory, “We were the more aggressive team. They [Rams] went to the free throw line 39 times.” The 30 free throws and 39 attempts were both season highs for the Rams. The visitors only went to the charity stripe 16 times and sunk 12 shots. “We took care of the basketball, 11 turnovers. They really played under control.”  

The Rams only turned the basketball over four times in the second half. The Rams scored 50 in the second half on 66.7 percent from the floor. The Rams also controlled the boards, 33 rebounds to 24 for Saint Louis.

Fordham freshmen Eric Paschall and Chris Sengfelder led the scoring with 22 each. They are the only Division I freshman teammates who have averaged in double figures of points and more than five rebounds each per game. Pecora lauded them, “They’re not freshmen anymore; they’ve played so many minutes.” Sophomore Jon Severe (12) and Mandell Thomas (10) also scored in double digits for Fordham.

A freshman, Davell Roby, led the four double digit scorers on the Billikens with 16. The Bronx’s Yocoubou scored 10 to keep his season average to double figures (10.0 ppg.). 

Fordham travels to the University of Richmond for its next game on February 11. Saint Louis returns home to host Dayton on February 10.

Throggs Neck News: Fordham Welcomes Athletic HOF Class of 2015

Throggs Neck News: Fordham Welcomes Athletic HOF Class of 2015: Fordham Welcomes Athletic HOF Class of 2015 #Fordham #HallofFame #Bronxnews By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 9- On Feb...

Fordham Welcomes Athletic HOF Class of 2015

Fordham Welcomes Athletic HOF Class of 2015

#Fordham #HallofFame #Bronxnews

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 9- On February 7, the newest contingent of former student-athletic standouts were inducted into the Fordham University Athletic Hall of Fame. The first class was inducted during the 1970-71 year and included Frank Frisch “the Fordham Flash” and Vince Lombardi. The seven newest inductees were all students at Fordham during the 21^st century with the exception of one, Kevin Sullivan, who graduated in 1974.

Sullivan was the only one of the seven who participated in water sports. The Bronx native qualified for the Eastern Championships in each of his four years at Fordham as both a swimmer and member of the water polo team. In 1973, he was selected to the All-East Water polo team. 

One track and one field athlete of the first decade of the 21^st century was also inducted. Matt DiBuono (’04), the five-time Atlantic-10 titlist, was a specialist in the hammer, 35 lb. weight throws and the shot put. Tom Dewey, the current Track & Field coach accepted the award for DiBuono. 

Mark Porcaro (’09), in the 400, was the first Fordham runner to win an Atlantic-10 event. The team MVP in all four years at Fordham holds the Fordham indoor mark at 48.11. The Bronx native won the Terence J. O’Donnell Award in 2004.

Erin Brooks (’04) was a true student-athlete in her years at Fordham. In addition to contributing to the softball team’s first 30 win season in 2003, Brooks was an Academic All-America in 2003 and 2004. She was the university’s winner of the Hobbs Family Award, which is given to the school’s best female athlete. She has not wandered far from her college sport as she serves as head softball coach at Haverford College. 

Dominique Ligouri Damian (’09) joined her mother, Bette-Ann Speliotis Ligouri as the only mother-daughter duo in the Fordham HOF. The tennis great, like her mom, was a four-time team MVP. She was a First Team All-Atlantic-10 in 2007 and 2009. 

Marcus Stout (’08) was a starter in all four years on the basketball team. He remains in career scoring with 1,709 points and second in threes with 259. Stout was selected to the Atlantic-10 All-Rookie Team. Stout played basketball professionally in Europe for three years. Stout’s coach at Fordham, Derek Wittenburg returned for the ceremony honoring his former player.

Marcus Taylor (’07) was recognized nationally as a defense standout on the gridiron during his years at Fordham. He was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. He ranked high nationally in tackles in 2005 and 2006. Taylor brought his two, young daughters to the podium to accept his award with him.

Porcara gave the response from the honorees. He talked of the meaning of the awards, “This is home to us. Thank you for welcoming us home for this special occasion. Our families have always been our greatest fans. So much credit goes to our coaches and our teammates.” 

Father McShane spoke of the humility of giving the credit to others, “They turn the focus away from themselves to those who were the sources of their strength and their inspirations. Today they are induced into our Pantheon.”

New York Yankee broadcaster, a Fordham graduate, served, as he does nearly every year, as the emcee of the award ceremony, and as usual, did an excellent job. Fordham President McShane referred to him as “the great ambassador for Fordham.”

Throggs Neck News: Retired Jeter Kicks Off Baseball (Card) Season

Throggs Neck News: Retired Jeter Kicks Off Baseball (Card) Season: Retired Jeter Kicks Off Baseball (Card) Season Final Derek Jeter Baseball Card in 2015 Set by Topps #Jeter #Yankees #Topps #Bronxn...

Retired Jeter Kicks Off Baseball (Card) Season

Retired Jeter Kicks Off Baseball (Card) Season

Final Derek Jeter Baseball Card in 2015 Set by Topps

#Jeter #Yankees #Topps #Bronxnews

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 6- Two signs of the nearness of the 2015 MLB season will take place this month. Pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training in two weeks. The other pre-season activity, which took place this week, was the announcement of series 1 of the 2015 Topps set of next season’s baseball cards going on sale.

Trading cards have been of interest to children and adults in this country since the 19^th century. Sports personalities have been the major subject of these collectibles. They were produced for adults in the 1800’s. Many were connected to tobacco products. The very rare T206 Honus Wagner card has been sold for several million dollars.

Topps reflected a change of focus toward youngsters as its consumers in the middle of the 20^th century by producing wax packs, each of which contained a stick of gum and several cardboard cards. The company began in 1938 as a producer of chewing gum and candy. More than ¾ of a century has passed since the company began, but Topps is still producing Bazooka gum and other confectionary products.

During the decades of the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s, children were the primary purchasers of packs of baseball cards, with Topps the major brand. Its main competitor, Bowman, was purchased by Topps, which still puts out cards under that brand.

Since those years, card collecting has become an investment opportunity for many purchasers. Rather than buying individual packs and rushing to open them as was done in the past, complete sets are bought and the box is never open before being re-sold for a large profit. In the 1990’s, gum was no longer put in the wax packs as they could damage a valuable card located next to the stick of gum. In more recent years, a very rare T206 Honus Wagner card was sold for several million dollars.

It would be wrong to write an article on baseball cards or Topps without mentioning the name of Sy Berger. He worked for Topps for more than a half-century. He co-designed in 1952 the Topps set that proved to be the prototype of the modern baseball card. Yearly and lifetime statistics on the reverse, the facsimile autograph and action photos are among his innovations that are still being used. The “father of the baseball card” passed away in December 2014 at the age of 91.

Members of the media were invited to an unveiling of the 2015 set at Topps’ offices in New York at One Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan. Clay Luraschi, vice president of product development at Topps explained what to expect in this year’ set, “This year’s series 1 set…has something for everyone, from the casual fan to the passionate collector with many surprises as well. It is a reflection of what we have seen in recent years, fans wanting a good mix of the present and the past with a little pop culture sprinkled in.”

Very appropriately to many fans, card #1 of the 350 card base set is Derek Jeter’s final regular season card that includes his lifetime statistics. Luraschi spoke on this choice of beginning next season’s card set with a player who retired after the 2014 season, “Usually card #1 is designated for somebody very special. Being a New York company and being that Derek was the captain of the New York Yankees, we felt that card # 1 should be Derek Jeter this year.”

Fans of the New York Mets should be pleased to know that the first Topps card of Jacob deGrom, listed as a Future Star, is also in this set.

There are also several subsets that have interest beyond the 2015 season and beyond the sport of baseball. There are 10 cards each dedicated to the important life and career of a baseball immortal, Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. “Highlights”, which begins with the first day of Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game streak. “Archetypes”, whose cards include baseball greats such as Hank Aaron. “First Pitch”, including cards with such non-baseball as Jeff Bridges, 50 Cent, Eddie Vedder and 105 year old Agnes McKee throwing out a first pitch in 2014. 

There are autographs and game used memorabilia in addition to the great variety of cards included in a small number of packs.

Looking back at my childhood of collecting cards, I believe they were a tool for improving reading, bettering my facility in math through the statistics listed and  an encouragement to learning the history of people and events before my birth.

Throggs Neck News: Open Season on Officers?

Throggs Neck News: Open Season on Officers?: Open Season on Officers? Group Looked on as Officer Shot from Apt. Window #NYPD #CopShot #Bronxnews By Michael Horowitz BRONX, ...

Open Season on Officers?

Open Season on Officers?

Group Looked on as Officer Shot from Apt. Window

#NYPD #CopShot #Bronxnews

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 5- A 38-year-old Co-op City Public Safety officer was shot in the shoulder, and a second, male officer sustained a broken ankle while trying to control a post-Super Bowl fight, late Sunday night, in the vicinity of 140 Donizetti Place, Riverbay president Cleve Taylor said Tuesday.

Orrin Bacote, 49, of Circleville, NY, was arrested and charged with assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct in conjunction with the melee that left one Public Safety officer hobbled with a broken ankle.

As of early this week, no arrest had been made in connection with the shooting of the female officer who was grazed in her shoulder.

The shot that grazed the female officer’s shoulder came from a window at the Donizetti Place building, police reported.

The female officer was released shortly after being taken to Jacobi Hospital for treatment, but the second officer was still hospitalized as of Tuesday morning, Taylor said.

The shooting of the female officer was publicized in the citywide media, but the injury that the second officer sustained was much more serious.

“The officer who broke his ankle trying to break up the fight was injured very seriously,” Riverbay president Taylor said this week. “The officer who was shot in her shoulder was extremely lucky.”

Taylor said that a large crowd of onlookers gathered, Sunday night, to watch the altercation that Public Safety officers were called to break up at about 11 p.m.

“We take the shooting of a Public Safety officer and the serious injury of a second officer very seriously,” Taylor stressed this week. “I assure you that we are working with the NYPD, we’re going to get to the bottom of this whole thing.”

Throggs Neck News: Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Young Mom

Throggs Neck News: Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Young Mom: Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Young Mom #NYPD #Gunman #Bronxnews BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 5- He shot at one man, aiming to ...

Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Young Mom

Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Young Mom

#NYPD #Gunman #Bronxnews

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 5- He shot at one man, aiming to hit, and he did. But Jeffrey Ramirez’ bullets also took the life of an innocent bystander, young mother Yaritza Pacheco. For that, he was sentenced to 25 years behind bars, announced Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson.

Ramirez was found guilty following a jury trial of manslaughter in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

The 24-year-old Pacheco left behind a daughter, a little girl now seven years old, whose victim impact statement was read in Bronx Supreme Court Justice Troy Webber’s courtroom – “I love my mother and I lost her when I was four years old. I wanted her whole life. It’s really sad to lose someone in your life.

“I wish there was no death in the world.”

But death there was on August 21, 2011, as the then-19-year-old Ramirez aimed his illegally purchased Cobra .380 at homeless man Leonard Shoulders. One bullet grazed Shoulders, but another slammed straight into Yaritza Pacheco’s neck. She took but a few more steps before crumpling to the sidewalk, dead.

Video shows Ramirez walking up to a bodega on E. 174^th Street near Boston Road, where he witnessed Shoulders having a small argument with some other men about jumping a line into the store. Ramirez did not know any of the participants in the matter, but he jumped in to the fray. Shoulders took off in a run with Ramirez in pursuit, firing his gun.

At the same time Ramirez was running down Hoe Avenue, Yaritza Pacheco was just home from her job at a Bronx Applebee’s, seen on surveillance video laughing, her arm around a friend, the pair walking down 174^th Street – and right into the path of Ramirez’ bullets, as he ran down the block, chasing Shoulders.

Later that day, Ramirez attempted to flee not only the jurisdiction, but the country. He was on the jet bridge, steps away from boarding JetBlue 823 at JFK, on a one-way ticket to Santo Domingo and freedom when agents from the Department of Homeland Security detained him.

Following his incarceration, Ramirez will be deported from the country.

Throggs Neck News: Who Killed Former Nurse?

Throggs Neck News: Who Killed Former Nurse?: Who Killed Former Nurse? Person of Interest Sought in Melrose Homicide #NYPD #Nurse #Homicide #MelroseHouses #Bronxnews By...

Who Killed Former Nurse?

Who Killed Former Nurse?

Person of Interest Sought in Melrose Homicide

#NYPD #Nurse #Homicide #MelroseHouses #Bronxnews

By David Greene and Andre Rivera

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 4- Homicide detectives are set to release a video of a "person of interest" wanted for questioning in regards to the killing of a retired hospital worker, who died mysteriously at the Melrose Houses.

Police say Eric Simmons, 68, a retired nurse was found with serious trauma to his head in the ninth-floor stairway at 320 East 156 Street at just before 1 p.m. on January 28.

Investigators say he died from blunt force trauma to the head, but could not say if Simmons had been struck over the head or if the injuries were suffered during a fall down the stairs.

One police source stated that officials were working on releasing a video that shows Simmons walking in the courtyard of the building with an unidentified male, just shortly before he died.

Police do not believe robbery was a motive and at least one packet of heroin was found at the scene.

Friends say Simmons was a retired nurse who had worked at the psychiatric ward at Lincoln Hospital, until his retirement in 2013. Friend's also say he was a former resident of the area who often visited friends in the area.

As workers from the medical examiner's office removed Simmons' body from the building, one friend vowed, "We are going to get them."

A second police source stated that Simmons had nine arrests, including several drug charges.   

Throggs Neck News: Speaker Carl Heastie?

Throggs Neck News: Speaker Carl Heastie?: Speaker Carl Heastie? Why Bronx Pol is Poised to Replace Silver #CarlHeastie #SheldonSilver #BronxNews 100 PERCENT By Rob...

Speaker Carl Heastie?

Speaker Carl Heastie?

Why Bronx Pol is Poised to Replace Silver

#CarlHeastie #SheldonSilver #BronxNews

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 2- It is now a foregone conclusion that Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie will be the next speaker of the state assembly. Former Speaker Sheldon Silver has stepped down as of Monday 11:59 p.m. and the Interim Speaker is now Assemblyman Joseph Morelle. It is only a formality that the assembly votes in Heastie (which may have already been done by the time you read this) on or before the February 10^th mandated deadline for a vote.

As of our deadline it is only a matter of time that the only other assembly member who announced for the speaker ship role Assemblywoman Kathleen Nolan drops out to support Heastie. Nolan is from Queens where Queens Democratic County Leader Joe Crowley has announced the Queens county organization's support of Heastie to be the next speaker of the assembly.

One aftershock of Carl Heastie becoming Speaker is that he will be giving up his position of Bronx Democratic County Leader. Right now there are two friendly Bronx elected officials who might be vying for the position of Bronx Democratic County Leader. The two are the current Bronx Democratic County Committee Chairman Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo of TEAM DIAZ. That could allow a third candidate to possibly put together enough votes to become a force in the negotiations, or even become the next county leader. City Council members and the Borough President can not become the county leader because a city elected official is barred from holding that position. That is why county leaders are state or federal elected officials, as is the case in Queens with Congressman Crowley, Manhattan with Assemblyman Wright, and the Bronx with Assemblyman Heastie. Heastie does not have to step down as county leader, but he would not be able to give the proper attention to both the speaker ship and county leader position.

Go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for daily updates on the next speaker “The Bronx's Own” Carl Heastie, and for whom his replacement as Bronx Democratic County Leader might be. There is a look at Assemblyman Heastie from his days at Harry S. Truman High School circa 1985. He hasn't changed much, still with that boyish look, but he had a full head of hair in high school.

As for the U. S. Attorney's office looking into new speaker Heastie's affairs, as county leader a few years ago that was tried with an assemblyman as a mole from the U. S. Attorney's office. That assemblyman however found nothing, and was allowed to be re-elected twice after a Grand Jury found evidence of fraud. That assemblyman finally is no longer in office.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie will have a lot to do, and be pulled from all sides. He must remember what his job is, ignore lobbyists, and don't buckle under to the Governor and Senate Majority Leader. Speaker Heastie you are the hope of millions of people.

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

Throggs Neck News: Fordham Hits Wall

Throggs Neck News: Fordham Hits Wall: Fordham Hits Wall #Fordham #Rams #BronxNews  By Howard  Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, February 1- After having been victorious in 10...

Fordham Hits Wall

Fordham Hits Wall

#Fordham #Rams #BronxNews 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, February 1- After having been victorious in 10 of their most recent 12 contests, the Fordham Rams women’s team (15-7, 7-2) ran into a defensive roadblock in the Duquesne Dukes (14-8, 6-3) that they could not overcome. 

Saturday afternoon’s game at the Rose Hill Gym on Fordham’s Bronx campus was the least effective offensive performance by the Rams since early season losses to Syracuse and Seton Hall. The win for the Dukes was their fifth in the last six contests.

A layup by Emily Tapio of Fordham began the scoring at 18:33. After the score was tied at 4, a 9-3 scoring run by the Dukes brought them to their largest advantage in the first half, 13-7, at 12:44. A 10-2 Fordham scoring run followed to give the Rams their final lead of the contest, 17-15, 6:02. The visitors closed the half with a 9-2 run to go ahead, 24-19.

Despite controlling the boards, 21-20, Fordham shot very poorly from the floor during the first half. They sunk only 8 of their 30 shots for a miniscule 26.7%. 

The Dukes continued their strong first half finish by scoring the first eight points of the second half to take their largest advantage of the contest to that point, 32-19, at 17:36. Five straight Fordham points cut the deficit to below double figures, 32-24, for the final time in the game. An 18-9 scoring advantage by the Dukes gave them their largest lead of the game, 50-33, with 6:12 remaining. Fordham ended the game with a 13-6 scoring run, but it was insufficient to bring the Duquesne lead to single digits.

Although the Rams improved their shooting percentage to 34.4 percent in the second half, they exhibited other weaknesses. They lost control of the boards, 27-16 in rebounds. The Dukes’ self-control kept the Rams off the free throw line. The Rams only took one free throw in each half while the visitors had 12 attempts from the charity stripe.

Duquesne’s leading scorer, April Robinson, again led her team with 18, 13 of them in the second half. She has scored in double figures in 21 of her 22 games. Amadea Szamosi led all scorers in the first half with 10. She finished the game with 15.

Hannah Missry led the Rams with 12 points, all on 3’s. Tapio scored 11. Tiffany Ruffin grabbed 10 boards.

The Rams will host St. Bonaventure on Thursday night. The Dukes host VCU in their next game on Saturday afternoon.

Throggs Neck News: Top 4 Criminally Stupid Acts

Throggs Neck News: Top 4 Criminally Stupid Acts: Top 4 Criminally Stupid Acts #NYPD #CriminallyStupid By Dan Gesslein We all know that if criminals weren't dumb they woul...

Top 4 Criminally Stupid Acts

Top 4 Criminally Stupid Acts

#NYPD #CriminallyStupid

By Dan Gesslein

We all know that if criminals weren't dumb they wouldn't get caught. But some crimes are so dumb you wonder how these criminal masterminds thought they would get away with it.

1. Striking the (Grand)MotherLoad.

If you are going to risk being seen on surveillance video committing a home invasion in a highly populated building during the holidays make sure it's worth it.

A trio of robbers conned their way into an 83-year-old woman's apartment by claiming to have a delivery for her.

They tied up the elderly woman with duct tape and searched for the treasure they thought the woman had stashed away. No this wasn't a doorman building on the Upper West Side where riches would surely be behind every apartment door. This was in a run down apartment building in the Tremont section of the Bronx.

The criminal masterminds made off with a whopping $5.

Honorable mention goes to another group of super villains who mugged a teenager for food stamps. These geniuses did not seem to care that the food stamps were on an EBT card with the victim’s parent’s name and could be easily tracked. 

2. The Tax Man Cometh

The only constants are death and taxes, so the old saying goes. Hollywood is littered with former A-listers who now star in any flaming turd to pay their tax bill because they thought they could cheat Uncle Sam. We're looking at you Nicholas Cage.

The owners of 3 Bronx steak houses allegedly thought they could slide one past the tax man. According to officials the owners collected 100,000 in taxes on sales in their restaurants but failed to pay the tax man.

The owners were charged with tax evasion.

3. Sheer Stupidity

Hey armed robbers need to look their best too. But don't rob your barber especially if you have a distinctive look.

A Bronx man with a drooping eye sat down for a haircut inside a Westchester Avenue barbershop.

After getting a trim the man pulled out a gun as he and his accomplices proceeded to rob the other customers, before fleeing down the street with the shop's cash register.

Cops were able to identify the suspect from the barbers' description and from the shop's surveillance video.

Guess he should have worried about wearing a disguise rather than sitting down for a trim.

4. Crime of Fashion

When you want to rob a bank the best thing to do is to keep a low profile. Wear something low key as to not draw attention to yourself. The last thing you want to do is look as if you were posing for a fashion catalog.

One man took a wrong turn in the Bay Plaza Mall and looked like he was heading for the Sean John department at Macy's. He was dressed with a luxuriously looking scarf and high-end shades and pea coat.

Instead the man was seen on surveillance video inside the Chase Bank passing the teller a note demanding cash. However, cops said he fled the bank without the cash.

Guess he couldn't go clothes shopping with his haul.

Honorable mention goes to the academic geniuses who decided to assault an NYPD lieutenant during a protest on the Brooklyn Bridge. Not only did one of the assailants, who turned to be a graduate student at Columbia, looked like she was posing for the Neiman Marcus winter catalog but she also failed to cover her face. She did not seem to care that when she hit the cop she was on the Brooklyn Bridge, which given the fact that is a huge potential terror target AND is near Police HQ there were a slew of cameras documenting the attack. 

Guess she needs to go back to fashion school because she certainly isn’t a grad from the School of Hard Knocks.

Throggs Neck News: Bx. Woman Wins Nearly $200G at Empire Casino

Throggs Neck News: Bx. Woman Wins Nearly $200G at Empire Casino: Bx. Woman Wins Nearly $200G at Empire Casino #Jackpot #EmpireCity BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 27— A Bronx women hit a $191,023 jac...

Bx. Woman Wins Nearly $200G at Empire Casino

Bx. Woman Wins Nearly $200G at Empire Casino

#Jackpot #EmpireCity

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 27—A Bronx women hit a $191,023 jackpot at Empire City Casino on January 24, the second six-figure score in January. There are still seven jackpots worth six-figures reading for the taking at the Yonkers casino.

The winner made a $6 wager at one of the popular Wheel of Fortune slots, and a life-changing $810,000 jackpot is still up for grabs, would-be record at Empire City.

Last November 14, Moosue Stefern of Bergenfield, New Jersey hit the record $509,121.96, more than double the previous record, and currently the largest in the eight-year history of Empire City (opened in 2006).

According to New York State Lottery reports, Empire City Casino returned nearly $7.2 billion to bettors in 2014.

Throggs Neck News: So Long Shelly

Throggs Neck News: So Long Shelly: So Long Shelly Which Bx. Pol may profit from Silver’s Demise? #SheldonSilver #Politics #NYS 100 PERCENT By Robert Press B...

So Long Shelly

So Long Shelly

Which Bx. Pol may profit from Silver’s Demise?

#SheldonSilver #Politics #NYS

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 28- It looks like the end of the road for current New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was taken into custody by the FBI last week. He was arrested and charged with using his position to gain over $4 million in bribes and kickbacks by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. The U,S, Attorney took over the investigation of the Moorland Commission which was set up by Governor Andrew Cuomo to root out corruption in Albany. Cuomo disbanded the Mooreland Commission over 18 months ago when the U.S. Attorney's office got hold of the information collected by the Mooreland Commission.

There are five charges pending against Speaker Silver dating back to 2000. Charges include Silver's association with the law firm of Weitz and Luxenberg, and another unnamed real estate firm. If found guilty Silver could face up to 20 years on each of the five counts in the complaint. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com archive on the lower left to the January 22nd listing titled New York State Assembly Speaker arrested to read more on these charges. Speaker Silver's court date is February 23rd, and he can continue to remain as speaker and an assemblyman until he is convicted.

As always with most powerful political leaders such as Silver has been, almost all of his colleagues in the assembly are standing with him, as is NYC Mayor Bill deBlasio. I spoke to several Bronx assembly members who all spoke off the record, but when it came to a new speaker only one mentioned the name of the current Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie, and it was not the first name.

There are now questions of why governor Cuomo shut down the Mooreland Commission. Was the commission getting too close to what the U. S. Attorney has found, because it was legislatures like Speaker Silver who were balking at the inquires of the commission? Could it have been that Governor Cuomo when he ended the Mooreland Commission in mid 2013 did not want any bad publicity or even worse arrests, such as has happened to Speaker Silver and whomever might be next including the governor himself possibly? Or was it that Governor Cuomo shut the Mooreland Commission down because he had an arraignment with the U.S. Attorney's office to continue what the governor did not want to do, that being arrest his fellow colleagues in Albany?

State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mike Benedetto, Councilman Jimmy Vacca, Several Community Board 10 members, and local Ferry Point community residents last Friday protested the use of the closed Capri Motel located at 555 Hutchinson River Parkway (just before the Whitestone Bridge) to house two known level 2 and 3 sexual predators in with the 200 people and children at the city shelter. All said that they were not against the shelter, which the city did not communicate with the community on, but the lack of screening that has allowed the at least 2 sexual predators to live in the 94-unit former motel with children. You can go to my blog to read more and see photos of the elected official, and the old Capri Motel in the background that is now a homeless shelter.

Finally, with the primary for the 15th Congressional seat a little over a year away, former Harlem Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell (and previous candidate) has announced that he will be going for the soon to be vacated seat by current Congressman Charles Rangel, which Adam's father held before Congressman Rangel. Take this for what it is, as we don't believe this will be the last term for Congressman Rangel, especially with the possibility of the speaker's position opening up in the state assembly. Manhattan Assemblyman Keith Wright was a front runner for Rangel's seat, but he is also a front runner to replace current Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver should Silver have to leave office from his charges of corruption by the U.S. Attorney's office. I believe should Assemblyman Wright become the speaker of the assembly that Congressman Rangel will run for at least one more term.

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

Throggs Neck News: Blizzard Overblown

Throggs Neck News: Blizzard Overblown: Blizzard Overblown ‘Historic’ Screwup Shuts City Down #Blizzard #Cuomo #MayordeBlasio Photo by David Greene By Dan Gesslein ...

Blizzard Overblown

Blizzard Overblown

‘Historic’ Screwup Shuts City Down

#Blizzard #Cuomo #MayordeBlasio

Photo by David Greene

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 27- You call that a Blizzard? Bronxites awoke to find the Storm of the Century was anything but as the city received half to three times less snow than was forecast.

Yesterday Mayor Bill deBlasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo urged residents to stay in their homes because of the massive historical snowfall heading for New York City. Planes were grounded. The subways were shut down and the highways and roads were banned of all traffic except for emergency vehicles. Drivers breaking the ban were threatened with tickets costing up to $300.

The true effect on local restaurants is unknown since the mayor grounded takeout deliveries. The ban on non-

(Fear the snow. Gov. Cuomo told residents to stay home because of the "historic" blizzard)

emergency vehicles was extended to bicycles and scooters leaving restaurants to only deliver takeout by foot.

Instead of the big dig, Bronxites woke up to a mere 

sprinkling of the most 12 inches of snow not the 24 to 36 inches that were forecast. Many residents breathed a sigh of relief and were happy that the cleanup would go quickly.

There were no major outages reported throughout the borough by Con Edison.

(Road conditions the day BEFORE the blizzard were far worse than the blizzard itself. -Photo by Dan Gesslein)

“As of 11:30 am Tuesday I am getting reports that asphalt can be seen on main thoroughfares and that the Sanitation Dept. is well on its way to addressing side streets,” said Councilman James Vacca. "The fact that this storm was not as bad as anticipated will certainly mean a quicker snow cleanup on the week ahead."

Travel was worse the day before the storm with limited plowing and salting on the Hutch and I-95 which snarled the rush hour traffic home. Those who raced back from work to get home before the supposed massive storm were instead forced to brave snow and ice covered roads of the traffic snarled I-95 and Hutchinson River Parkway. Riders jammed subways before being stuck in the city.

As for the hysteria caused by the build up to the snowstorm, the reaction among officials was simply “My Bad.” The massive press conferences at a sanitation garage declaring the state of emergency by deBlasio was replaced with a simple one sentence statement issued this morning by the mayor’s stating that the roads were reopened. 

Who is to blame for shutting down the city? Well one weather forecaster took to Twitter to voice his mistake.

“My deepest apologies to many key decision makers and so many members of the general public,” tweeted National Weather Service meteorologist Gary Szatkowski. “This is a big forecast miss.”

Many took the screw up in stride but were not sure how this could be such a miss.

“They do realize that we get snow storms in January right?” asked one frustrated commuter. “This is the Bronx. A few flakes is not the end of the world.”

"I do not criticize forecasters," Gov. Cuomo said at a news conference after the storm. The governor said he would rather be "safe than sorry."

Throggs Neck News: Ban sex offenders from shelters-pols demand

Throggs Neck News: Ban sex offenders from shelters-pols demand: Ban sex offenders from shelters-pols demand #SexOffenders #Homeless #Shelters BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 25- State Senator and Inde...

Ban sex offenders from shelters-pols demand

Ban sex offenders from shelters-pols demand

#SexOffenders #Homeless #Shelters#NYPD

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 25- State Senator and Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein), together with Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Councilman James Vacca, members of Community Board 10, the Ferry Point Park Civic Association and Friends of Ferry Point Park called on the New York City Department of Homeless Services to ban level two and level three sex offenders from temporary emergency housing and homeless shelters used to house families with children.

“Allowing high-level sex offenders to stay in family shelters where vulnerable women and children are trying to get back on their feet is not only troublesome but dangerous. With more than 60,000 homeless New Yorkers sleeping in New York City shelters and thousands more out on the street, we need to take every measure to protect those in our care,” said Senator Klein. “That’s why I have introduced legislation in the State Senate that would prohibit the NYC Department of Homeless Services from placing these risky offenders in shelters housing women and children. This is a critical measure in ensuring the safety and security of all homeless New Yorkers and I look forward to working with my partners in Albany to see this important piece of legislation passed in the coming weeks and months.”

The renewed call comes in response to shocking revelations and widespread press reports that two male sex offenders currently reside at the Crystal Family Residence, a new 95-room family shelter and former location of the controversial Capri Whitestone Motel in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx. Curtis Bolden, a 58-year-old male, convicted on two counts of rape in the first degree and released from prison in 2010, was found to be living at the shelter on January 15th. One week later, James Bryant, a 50-year-old male convicted of molesting a 7-year-old child, was also found to be living at the family shelter.  

Senator Klein’s legislation would prevent harmful predators, including level two and level three sex offenders, from being housed in family shelters and require by law that they be placed in adult-only shelters or shelters without children. This important legislation would bring the shelter system up to speed with current social services law that bars level two and level three sex offenders from living in public housing.

“The Department of Homeless services had acted with arrogance when they forced this shelter upon our community and refused to work with with elected leaders in finding an alternative site,” said Assemblyman Benedetto. “Now they have apparently shown incompetence in selecting a managing agent who doesn’t bother checking whether they are putting sex offenders in a shelter where young children are being housed. This is intolerable.”

“Our shelters are safe havens for families and children experiencing the most difficult of hardships,” said Bronx Councilman Vacca. “We cannot, in good conscience, accept the risk of allowing sex offenders to live in close quarters with these already vulnerable families.”

“We fully support this positive change directed at the safety and welfare of residents at the Crystal Family Residence. This is a significant first step in making New York City shelters safer for the women and children who reside there, but there is still work to be done,” said Martin Prince, Board Chair of Community Board 10. “The homeless population in New York has increased astronomically in recent years. Making sure that each and every person who needs a home is provided with the safe haven they so deserve is of the utmost importance.” 

“As we try to adjust to this ‘surprise’ homeless shelter that was placed about 200 ft. away from our very populated park, with no security cameras and or Parks Enforcement Patrol we are now shocked by the knowledge that sex offenders imported from other areas are also living among the families without their knowledge,” said Dorthea Poggi, President of the Friends of Ferry Point Park Organization and member of the Citizens Advice Board for the Crystal Family Residence. "This is unacceptable by any responsible standards.” 

“In our opinion, while it’s nice to provide shelter to those in need, it is not without consequences. It has been brought to our attention that there are registered sex offenders residing at the former Capri Motel, now known as the Crystal Family Residence. The proximity to Msgr. Scanlan High School, Ferry Point Park and the newly developed Target location, as well as residents and homeowners of Ferry Point, is questionable,” said Jo Anne Sohmers, President of the Ferry Point Civic Association. “Furthermore, sex offenders should not be placed in a home that clearly houses women and children. We fully support Senator Klein's efforts to pass a bill which would ban registered sex offenders from residing in any family homeless shelter.”

The Crystal Family Residence is a family homeless shelter located at 555 Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx. The new residence was converted from the former hot-sheet hotel, the Capri Whitestone, in September, 2015. 

Throggs Neck News: Restaurant Owners Busted for Tax Evasion

Throggs Neck News: Restaurant Owners Busted for Tax Evasion: Restaurant Owners Busted for Tax Evasion  #Taxes #NYPD #Restaurant BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 23-  The New York State Department of Taxat...

Restaurant Owners Busted for Tax Evasion

Restaurant Owners Busted for Tax Evasion 

#Taxes #NYPD #Restaurant

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 23- The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced that the co-owners of three restaurants in the Bronx have been arrested for sales tax evasion.

The defendants were identified as Marlon J. Muentes, 58, of Allerton Ave., the Bronx, and Teodoro Mosaurieta, 67, of Woodhaven, NY, and their three equally co-owned Bronx-based restaurants, which have previously closed: King Steak Corp. at 500 East 149th St., 463 Willis Ave. Corp. at 463 Willis Ave., and 849 Castle Hill Corp., located at 849 Castle Hill Ave.

The defendants were charged on January 20 with multiple felonies, including grand larceny and criminal tax fraud.  They allegedly collected $100,000 in sales tax from customers at the three restaurants but failed to remit those funds to the State as required by law.

The next court date has not been set. The defendants, if convicted, could serve from 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Tax Department's Criminal Investigations Division and will be prosecuted by the Bronx County District Attorney's office.

A criminal complaint is an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Each year, New York State businesses collect more than $25 billion in sales tax from their customers. The vast majority of the funds (97%) are remitted voluntarily by businesses to the Tax Department for state programs and distribution to local governments.

Taxpayers who believe a business hasn't collected the proper sales tax, or has collected it but failed to remit the funds, can report tax evasion and fraudonline at the Tax Department's Web site or by calling 518-457-0578. The information is kept confidential.