Baychester News: Bronx Holds Baby Shower for new Moms

Baychester News: Bronx Holds Baby Shower for new Moms: Bronx Holds Baby Shower for new Moms Marketing & Advertising Solutions Inc. (MAS) presented the third “ Mommy To Bee ...

Bronx Holds Baby Shower for new Moms

Bronx Holds Baby Shower for new Moms

Marketing & Advertising Solutions Inc. (MAS) presented the third “Mommy To Bee Expo” for tri-state area Moms and Moms-to-Be, the ONLY ‘baby shower expo’ in the Bronx! Attendees and their families were so eager, there was a noteworthy line outside the venue an hour before the doors opened! The Villa Barone Manor then filled with 400 mommies, their families, vendors, and sponsors across the Grand Ballroom.

Expectant moms, new moms and moms of toddlers learned about essential products and services from newborn care, childcare, fitness and healthcare, to Baby Products, Entertainment, Apparel & Accessories, Feeding, Gear, Gifts, Insurance, Nursery Products, Photography, Pregnancy & Maternity, and more– all while learning how to prepare for their growing families this spring. It was a baby shower for moms to learn about new baby services, local products and resources, and shop for their baby’s needs, a one-stop shop.

Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Godparents, Aunts, kids of all ages and more were welcomed. Annette Rios of the Bronx said, “We had an awesome time with my daughter-in-law and grandson...great exhibits and informative too.” 

Claire Lopez said, “We had a good time at the expo. Thanks for the info and all the free goodies!” 

Moms were also invited to take a load off and relax while their older children attended onsite daycare provided by Tender Tots Childcare Center, and to enjoy the extensive conference program in the banquet area hosted by Rhina Valentin with light fare and Mommy Mocktails!

Tickets to the event also included access to 60+ vendors and sponsors, spectacular giveaways like a Tike Tech All Terrain X3 Sport Single Stroller valued at $300! Also, a Portrait Experience valued at over $500 from Venture Photography, a lovely multi-colored hospital bag from BFFL, Co, a “Baby Bump Social” reveal party from The Party Styler, a gift basket from BabyGanics and a family 4 pack of tickets to the Bronx Zoo. As well as a complimentary stroller cleaning from Clean Bee Baby while moms shopped. The entertainment and dance contest was offered by The Rhythm Cartel and photos by Miriam Quinn! 

“I was so excited and thrilled that we provided a service to so many expectant moms while they discovered helpful resources for the well-being of the mothers and their babies,” Jacqueline, CEO of MAS, Inc. said. 

The day featured speakers such as Lauren Gould of 80/20 Wellness, Inc., Holly Malone and Renso Vidal from NYC Department of Transportation, Discover A Path to Success for College Savings by Ginger Romero Pardlo of NY’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, and a breast feeding panel discussion led by Tamara Hawkins of Stork & Cradle and Sharen Medrano of NYC Breastfeeding.

Baychester News: YANKEES

Baychester News: YANKEES: Return to Glory? New Faces and Returning Faves Look to Bring Home Another Championship By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 31-...

YANKEES

Return to Glory? New Faces and Returning Faves Look to Bring Home Another Championship

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 31- As the college basketball season reaches its apex, the Final Four, the Major League Baseball (MLB) season is ready to begin in full force. Each team, except the two teams who began the season earlier in March in Australia, have a mark of 0-0.

Hopes are high in the Bronx as there are always expectations among Yankee fans that the team will reach the World Series or, at the least, qualify for the playoffs. 

Great changes have been made since the conclusion of the 2013 season. Iconic figures have departed. Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in MLB history, retired. Andy Pettitte, a mainstay starter for 15 seasons with the Yankees, especially effective in the post-season, retired. 

The controversial third sacker who has blasted more than 600 home runs, Alex Rodrigez, was suspended for the entire 2014 season by the Commissioner of Baseball. Robinson Cano, considered by many observers to be the best second baseman in the majors, signed a 10-year contract for $240 million with the Seattle Mariners. Starter Phil Hughes and reliever Joba Chamberlain signed with other teams as the Yankees showed little interest in signing them.

Last year’s injury riddled team finished the year with an 85-77 record and did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The 2013 Yankees consisted of many reserves who were inserted into the starting lineup in the place of injured star players.

Stars always counted upon for consistency are returning from serious injuries. First baseman Mark Teixeira played only 15 games in 2013 after having suffered a wrist injury that required surgery. The team captain Derek Jeter played only 17 games last year after repeated ankle injuries. Jeter announced that 2014 will be his final season in the majors. He, obviously, will be making his usual supreme effort to lead his club to a successful year. 

Four off-season free agent acquisitions with a combined cost of nearly $500 million are expected to strengthen in the club in a number of areas. For the first time since Jorge Posada was behind the plate, the Yankees have an outstanding offensive and defensive catcher with leadership qualities in Brian McCann. With an impressive Spring Training showing, Francisco Cervelli beat out Austin Romine and J.R. Murphy to be the back-up catcher.

Jacoby Ellsbury, formerly of the Red Sox, will be the lead-off hitter and center fielder for the team. Although he was out two weeks with an injury in March, the Yankees are hopeful he will play a full injury-free season. 

Veteran Carlos Beltran will fill the position in right field. The former Met had envisioned playing with the Yankees years ago. If he remains as he has been the last few years, he will help the Yankees at bat and should also be a boon to the team in the clubhouse. 

Brett Gardner, on the big club since 2008, recently signed a four -year extension for $52 million. Gardner, who has a similar skill set as Ellsbury, will fill the other outfield corner in left.

Veteran Ichiro Suzuki will serve as the fourth outfielder. Alfonso Soriano, who had an excellent season after signing with the Yankees last year will move from the outfield to be the designated hitter.

Kelly Johnson at third and Brian Roberts at second will join veteran Yankees Teixeira and Jeter in the infield. While they cannot be expected to replace Rodriguez and Cano at the plate, the experienced major leaguers should be more than adequate in the field. 

The ace of the starting rotation, CC Sabathia, is hoping to rebound after a poor year. He has again lost weight, which could either be positive or negative. He appears to recognize that he needs to adjust to the loss of velocity on his fastball. 

The second starter, Hiroki Kuroda, is coming off a disappointing second half of the 2013 season. The 39 year-old can benefit the Yankees by helping major league rookie Matsahiro Tanaka adjust to the majors and the United States. 

The three young starters had outstanding springs. Tanaka was 2-0 with an excellent ERA in his appearances. Ivan Nova also pitched well. Michael Pineda, after missing two seasons with injuries, was recently named the fifth starter by Joe Girardi after an impressive Spring Training. 

The key relief spot, closer, filled nearly perfectly by Marian Rivera will be given to David Robertson. Last year’s eighth inning specialist is hopeful of being as successful as he was on 2013 in his new role. The Yankees passed on signing several respected closers to replace Rivera. 

Shawn Kelley and newcomer Jacob Thornton are expected to take over the eighth inning responsibilities. Other returning relievers include David Phelps, Dellin Betances, Cesar Cabral, and Adam Warren.

Will the 2014 version of the Yankees be sufficient to carry them into the playoffs? No one yet knows. Yankees personnel and fans certainly hope for and expect success. 

Baychester News: St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Baychester News: St. Patrick’s Day Parade: St. Patrick’s Day Parade Irish Eyes Smile in the Bronx BRONX NEW, MARCH 17- East Tremont Avenue was a sea of green as Bronx ...

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Irish Eyes Smile in the Bronx

BRONX NEW, MARCH 17- East Tremont Avenue was a sea of green as Bronx residents celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.

Photos by Gary Quintal

Baychester News: Nobody Told Us About Outbreak

Baychester News: Nobody Told Us About Outbreak: Nobody Told Us About Outbreak Residents Fuming Over Silence on Disease By Michael Horowitz BRONX NEW YORK, MARCH 14- Co-op Ci...

Nobody Told Us About Outbreak

Nobody Told Us About Outbreak

Residents Fuming Over Silence on Disease

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX NEW YORK, MARCH 14- Co-op City shareholders, speaking out during interviews expressed concerns that they had just found out about two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in their building, one from last summer and one from 13 months earlier than that.

Among the Building 27 shareholders who were interviewed, only Teresa Acevedo said that she was not concerned about reports of cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in her building.

Expressing the dominant point of view among those questioned Ariel Jimenez, walking out of his building with his 5-year-old son, Elian, said, “This is really spooky. I’m concerned for the little ones who don’t have fully developed immune systems to fight disease, and, of course, I’m concerned for everyone else in the building. We should have been told about this in December, when management and the city’s Health Department first found out about it.”

Jimenez added, “Like many people in our building, we have had problems with mold in our apartment. Under the circumstances, it should have been even more important for the shareholders in our building to know what was happening in terms of the cases of Legionnaires’ Disease.”

Expressing an even more vocal view, Ethel Minkin stressed, “This whole thing about Legionnaires’ Disease in our building is a shock to me. Riverbay should be sued for this. Co-op City is a nice place, but there are too many secrets. The shareholders have a right to know what’s going on.”

Rena Mena, a former paramedic, added, “We have a whole lot of environmental problems in our apartments. I have toxic black mold in my apartment, which Maintenance workers keep fixing because it keeps coming back. I suffer from asthma, so I’m especially concerned, like Legionnaires’ Disease, that could make it more difficult for me to breathe.”

A shareholder, who wished to remain unidentified, stressed, “We just got through settling an environmental lawsuit in North Carolina, and now, we have to deal with this. I have a 1-year-old daughter, and I’m extremely concerned about our health.”

Baychester News: Spring Events

Baychester News: Spring Events: Avoiding Scams and Fraud The Pelham Bay Library will be hosting a talk on how to avoid scams and fraud at 2 p.m. on March 15. The event...

Spring Events

Avoiding Scams and Fraud

The Pelham Bay Library will be hosting a talk on how to avoid scams and fraud at 2 p.m. on March 15. The event will be presented by Jay Stevens.

Statistics show that criminals scam victims out of billions of dollars every year using various types of fraudulent activities. Avoid becoming a victim yourself. Learn how to recognize the tricks of a con artist and the tell-tale warning signs of a scam.

All Public Library Programs are free of charge and are subject to cancellation without notice.

The New York Public Library's Money Matters series is made possible thanks to the generous support of McGraw Hill Financial.

The Pelham Bay Library is located at 3060 Middletown Road.

For more information: (718) 792-6744 

www.nypl.org

###

Lehman concerts heat up the boro

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts continues its amazing season with seven new shows added to its 2014 roster. 

The new shows include:

Saturday, March 15th- Salsa all-stars, the great Tito Rojas and Gammy Award winner Lalo Rodríguez heat up the stage in Duelo De Exitos, which is sure to have the audience singing and dancing. Produced by LehmanCenter and José Raposo.

Sunday, March 23rd- Hailed as the “pre-eminent guitarist of our time,” multiple Grammy award winner Sharon Isbin will be joined by the Brazilian virtuoso Romero Lubambo and jazz legend Stanley Jordon in Guitar Passions, an exquisite concert of Latin, Jazz & Brazilian guitar music. (Rescheduled from February 9th.)

Saturday, April 19th- The King of Blues is back in the Bronx when the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and multi-Grammy Award winning guitarist BB King lights up the stage with his trusty, lifelong companion Lucille.

Saturday, April 26th- An evening full of memories and great Salsa Romantica and Salsa Dura hits not to be missed as Paquito Guzman retires from the concert stage and celebrates his long, successful musical career in his Great Farewell Concert with the legendary La SelectaOrchestra with Raphy Leavitt. Produced by Lehman Center and José Raposo.

Saturday, May 10th- Light Your Fire on Mother’s Day weekend with Jose Feliciano when the legendary singer-composer and virtuoso guitarist performs an exhilarating mix of soft rock and Latin pop music.

Saturday, June 7th- An evening of songs of time, love and tenderness with the multiple Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Michael Bolton.

Saturday, June 21st- The exclusive NYC engagement of Invincible, A Glorious Tribute to the King of Pop honoring the greatest entertainer of all time as it that brings back the spirit and essence of seeing Michael Jacksonin a spectacular multi-media and live performance.

A complete listing of Lehman Center’s 2014 Spring Season Events is attached.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of LehmanCollege/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. 

Tickets for all shows can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Friday, 10am–5pm and beginning at12 noon on the day of the concert), or through 24-hour online access at www.LehmanCenter.org. 

###

Spring into season with activities

Despite the cold, Wave Hill is holding a series of events to welcome spring.

March 15- Family Art Project: The early bird get into the mobile

Look for the first returning birds and overwintering residents, along with early migrants passing through on their way north. Cut out their birdie shapes and hang and balance them to make a colorful, moving mobile. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

March 15- Tai Chi Chuan    

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. 

March sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) 

Online registration closes at 8 a.m. on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3 p.m. the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

March 15- Winter Workshop: Rephotography Scavenger Hunt 

Gain insight into Winter Workspace artist Brandon Neubauer’s creative process and explore the late winter landscape as a source of inspiration. 

Participants in this workshop will use printed photographs provided by the artist to juxtapose images they take of prominent trees and vistas with those taken of the same locations last summer and fall at Wave Hill. Each participant must bring their own camera or camera phone with the Instagram app and are encouraged to work in groups or pairs; all other materials are provided. 

Workshops are open to all visitors ages 12 and over when accompanied by an adult. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Free with admission to the grounds.

March 15- Garden Workshop: Terrariums 

Don’t have a garden or greenhouse? Create your own tabletop landscape with Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer. Tiny ferns, creeping fig and other tropical plants thrive in the humid conditions of an enclosed glass jar as if in their own miniature greenhouse. 

Create your own fanciful scene with a selection of diminutive plants, perfect for home or office. Ages eight and older welcome with an adult. $45/$35 Wave Hill Member per project. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling (718) 549-3200 x251. 

March 16- Birding Boot Camp

Can you tell a catbird from a cowbird? New birders are invited to join expert birder, naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow to discover the many groups of birds that call New York City their home. 

Through images and a short lecture, Gabriel shares proven techniques to simplify bird identification using visual and audible clues. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. (NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission.)  

Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling (718) 549-3200 x251

March 16- Meditaion 

This fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. 

Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. All levels welcome. Winter sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. 

Registration opens online and onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8 a.m. on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3 p.m. the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

March 16- Garden Highlights Walk 

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Baychester News: Politics

Baychester News: Politics: 100 PERCENT By Robert Press New Club or Revival of an Old One BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 6-  I often look to see what my fellow polit...

Politics

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

New Club or Revival of an Old One

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 6- I often look to see what my fellow political pundits have to say, and often I am amused at what they write. 

One example was that last week Bob Kappstatter, of a similar sounding paper, wrote of an exclusive that he had about a new Democratic Club in the 80th A.D from State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj. I like Kappy a lot especially when he was top dog at the Bronx Daily News Bureau many years ago, but if he had looked at some of his old Daily News clippings he would have known that it was a revival of 80th A.D. Assemblyman Jeff Klein's North Bronx Democratic Club. What with the instability of the Liberty Democratic Association over the past few years, Mark Gjonaj the assemblyman from the 80th A.D. now, and former Assemblyman Klein, now Senator Klein, it makes sense for Klein to revive his old club with his friend Assemblyman Gjonaj. One also never knows when an opponent or opportunity may pop up.

On the note of the last sentence it looks like there is going to be a civil war in the state senate among Democrats. Queens Democratic State Senator Tony Avella has joined the Independent Democratic Conference led by Senator Jeff Klein. Senator Avella has become the fifth Democratic State Senator in the IDC, and there may be more coming. More on this in upcoming weeks.

At the 87th A.D. Democratic District Meeting this past weekend, Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. is bowing to State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein, and you can go to my blog atwww.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see the photo. I asked Senator Diaz if he is going to be #6 in the IDC, and he said “Could Be”. The meeting was spearheaded by 87th A.D. Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda (and his district leaders) who said that the turnout was much greater then was expected. Over 250 people were in attendance, and the elected officials included State Senators Jeff Klein & Ruben Diaz Sr., Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, City Council members Anabele Palma & Fernando Cabrera (a possible challenger to State Senator Gustavo Rivera). There is also a photo of Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie talking with Councilman Cabrera, and I asked Assemblyman Heastie if this year was going to be like 2012 where the county Organization endorsed all incumbents. The answer was that we would have to see when primary time rolls around.

The item before the 87th A.D. meeting on my blog is about State Senator Adriano Espaillat now official candidate for the 13thCongressional District, and a walking tour of Fordham Road with State Senator Gustavo Rivera. It was a quiet morning, and the two walked a few blocks in the chilly weather stopping in to chat with some of the people on the street and a few of the merchants. There are some photos of the walk on my blog, and you can see by candidate Espaillat's expression in one of the outside photos of just how cold it was.

Now that it is March it is Irish American Heritage Month and check my blog for events that are going to celebrate Irish American Heritage Month. Bronx Borough President Ruben O'Diaz Jr. is sponsoring an event on March 13th in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is also holding its Irish Heritage Luncheon on Friday March 14th. You can contact the Bronx Chamber of Commerce at www.bronxchamber.org or call 718-828-3900 for more information. The BCC has several other events upcoming.

If you thought that former Mayor Michael Bloomberg had it out for motorist watch out for Mayor Bill deBlasio. Not only do we have the most pot holes ever, but in his “Vision Zero” it is questionable if the city speed limit will be come 25 MPH or even 20 MPH. If only we had a dependable reasonably priced mass transit system, but then there are those who say we should bike it to work. With all the bikes maybe they should be licensed and be required to carry insurance. Many people have horror stories about being hit by speeding bike riders.

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

Baychester News: Legionnaire’s Disease

Baychester News: Legionnaire’s Disease: Health Scare Panic or Coverup? Why Didn’t Officials Inform Community About 2 Confirmed Cases of Legionnaire’s Disease By Michael Horo...

Baychester News: Legionnaire’s Disease

Baychester News: Legionnaire’s Disease: Health Scare Panic or Coverup? Why Didn’t Officials Inform Community About 2 Confirmed Cases of Legionnaire’s Disease By Michael Horo...

Legionnaire’s Disease

Health Scare Panic or Coverup?

Why Didn’t Officials Inform Community About 2 Confirmed Cases of Legionnaire’s Disease

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 6- Two Co-op City shareholders living in a Section 5 building have come down with a severe form of pneumonia that bacteria in the building’s water system may have caused, Levi Fishman, deputy press secretary for the city’s Health Department confirmed this week.

The two who contracted the disease, both of whom live in Building 27, came down with Legionnaire’s Disease in May 2012 and June 2013, correspondence between the Health Department and the Riverbay Corporation has confirmed.

The Health Department’s suggested protocols for guarding against Legionnaire’s Disease, which can be fatal in as many as 15 percent of cases, calls for taking shower heads and water faucets in apartment apart and disinfecting them with bleach and maintaining specific temperatures in the building’s hot- and cold-water supply.

Management officials are insisting that there is no problem in any of Co-op City’s water systems, and Fishman said, this week, that there is no evidence of any current problem with the water that Co-op City’s shareholders use.

Fishman said, this week, that the suggested protocols for stopping the spread of Legionnaire’s Disease are suggestion only --- that the building’s management and shareholders are not required to follow them.

The News, after learning about possible cases of Legionnaire’s Disease in Co-op City from an informed source who wished to remain unidentified, waited for more than two weeks for Health Department officials to respond to the newspaper’s pointed and meticulously drafted questions.

Correspondence between the Health Department and the Riverbay Corporation, which Herbert Freedman first supplied to the News, confirmed that officials of both Co-op City’s management and the city’s Health Department have known about the potential health risk to shareholders in Building 27, where the two who contracted Legionnaire’s Disease lived, and Buildings 26 and 30, which are connected to the same water system, since at least Dec. 3 of last year.

An estimated 1,400 families use the water system that may be at issue. 

However, at this time, Fishman said that the Health Department can’t be sure that the victims of Legionnaire’s Disease got it from bacteria in their building’s water system or from other sources.

The Health Department is concerned about the water system serving Building 27 because the two Co-op City shareholders who contracted Leionnaire’s Disease live in that building.

In response to questions from the News, which Herbert Freedman found out about secondhand, the Co-op City official angrily accused the newspaper of spreading “panic” in the local community.

In response, Christopher Hagedorn, editor and publisher of the News, called Freedman’s charge outrageous, saying, “The people of Co-op City have a right to know what’s going on in their community. They certainly have a right to know about potential health risks. We have an obligation to alert shareholders to potential risks to their health once we confirm that they may exist.”

In an e-mail to the News, Freedman strongly indicated that information about a potential health risk from Legionnaire’s Disease should be withheld.

He stated, “Hate to mess up your lead story this week, but I am hoping you are responsible enough not to attempt to start a panic in coop (Co-op) City.”

In a direct response to Freedman, Hagedorn stressed, “We obviously have more confidence in the ability of the people of Co-op City to process information than Mr. Freedman does. We intend to report this extremely important story in the great traditions of the free press, which our nation’s Founding Fathers guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. We will not be silenced by diatribes or sarcastic comments from Herb Freedman or anyone else.”

Bundled Up Burglar Wanted

Bundled Up Burglar Wanted

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 5- Providing few details, police hope that surveillance photos will lead them to the identity of a burglary suspect who broke into two homes over a three-day period.

Investigators will only say that the two break-in's took place on January 6 and January 9.

One crime was committed within the confines of the 52nd Precinct and the other in the 50th Precinct and both locations were within walking distance of each other.

After gaining entry the suspect flees with cash and jewelry.

The individual is described as a 40-year-old male white or Hispanic, 5 foot 9 and weighs 170 pounds. On both days the subject was wearing a black North Face-type coat, blue jeans and black cap and ski mask.

Anyone with any information on the suspect's identity is asked to call the 52nd Precinct's detective squad at (718) 220-6134.   

Baychester News: Buzzer Beater

Baychester News: Buzzer Beater: Buzzer Beater Gives La Salle a 64-62 Win over Fordham By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 3- The season’s second larges...

Buzzer Beater

Buzzer Beater Gives La Salle a 64-62 Win over Fordham

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 3- The season’s second largest crowd (3,017) at Fordham’s Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx left disappointed after Saturday’s contest in which the Fordham Rams (9-18, 2-12) were defeated on a buzzer beating layup by Tareek Duren, which gave the 64-62 victory to the La Salle Explorers (14-14, 6-8).

The disappointment was magnified as it appeared to many of the onlookers that the game was headed to overtime when senior Brandon Frazier blocked Duran’s attempt at a game winning layup. The officials decided the game was not over and resumed play with 0.07 on the clock. Duren was not to be denied as he netted his fourth field goal to win the game. 

La Salle got off early and led 9-0 at 15:43. A free throw by Sam Mills at 12:24 raised the lead to double figures, 14-4, for the first time in the game. At 9:23, a layup by Steve Zack brought the Explorers their largest lead of the game, 21-6. The Rams did not reach double figures until 11 minutes and 30 seconds had elapsed when a basket by Ryan Rhoomes gave them a total of 10 points but they finished the first half by outscoring the visitors 21-9 to cut the deficit to three, 30-27. 

The visitors increased their lead to double figures again (42-32) when Jerrell Wright scored at 15:23 of the second half. A 14-5 scoring run culminated with two free throws netted by Fordham freshman Jon Severe cut the La Salle advantage to a single point with 11:15 remaining. Although the Rams never led, a jumper by Bryan Smith knotted the score at 62 with 35.6 seconds on the clock. 

Frazier’s 23 points and six assists were the high totals for either team. His 1,548 points is ninth in Fordham career scoring and his 476 assists ranks second in team history.

The tie was as close as Fordham was able to get. The loss dropped the Rams to undisputed last place in the Atlantic-10 Conference with two games left to play. Fordham travels to Rhode Island on March 5 and then returns home to host the George Washington Colonials.

Baychester News: Manhattan Jaspers Edge Iona

Baychester News: Manhattan Jaspers Edge Iona: Manhattan Jaspers Edge Iona in Overtime By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 3- On the last day of February, two elite tea...

Manhattan Jaspers Edge Iona

Manhattan Jaspers Edge Iona in Overtime

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 3- On the last day of February, two elite teams of the Metropolitan Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the Manhattan Jaspers (21-7, 14-5) and the Iona Gaels (19-9, 16-3) engaged in a hard-fought and thrilling contest that was not decided until the final seconds of overtime. The game had been tied nine times with the lead changing hands on 13 occasions. The result of this contest at the Draddy Gym in Riverdale was quite different than the first between the two schools this season played on the last day of January that was won by Iona, 85-73. 

The Jaspers took an early 11-6 lead that was followed by 11 unanswered points by the Gaels. With Iona leading, 20-13, the Jaspers’ eight straight points gave them a 21-20 advantage. The lead gravitated back and forth several times until the final four minutes of the first half when Manhattan outscored Iona, 9-2 to end the half ahead by a score of 45-35. That was the only double figure lead of the close contest.

Despite the Manhattan lead, Iona had a higher percentage of success from the floor. This was nullified by the control of the offensive boards by the Jaspers which allotted them nine more shots than Iona. 

An opening 10-3 scoring run by the Gaels in the second half lowered the deficit to three points, 48-45. At 13:49, a basket by junior Emmy Andujar raised Manhattan’s lead to seven, 54-47. The two points broke his career high of 19. The score was tied at 61 with 7:30 remaining. It was knotted three more times in regulation including at 71 when time ran out. 

Andujar’s performance in the five minutes of overtime was crucial to the Manhattan victory. After stealing the basketball, he successfully drove to the basket and was fouled. The three points broke a 73 tie and that lead was never overturned. The visitors had possession with Manhattan leading, 80-77, but did not make the shot. Andujar was the leading scorer of the game with a single game career high of 28.

As it was the final home game of the season, three Manhattan seniors were honored prior to the game. Michael Alvarado suffered an ankle injury after being on court only six minutes. His one assist and three points raised his career totals to 1,374 points and 353 assists. 

George Beamon recorded his fifth double-double (13 points and 11 rebounds). His 1,778 career points ranks fourth in the college’s totals. 

The other senior, Rhamel Brown scored 9, grabbed 9 boards and blocked 4 shots. He ranks second in shots blocked in the NCAA this year and is first as a Jasper with 367. He is eighth at Manhattan with 781 boards and has scored 1,108 points. This is the first time in Manhattan history when each of three seniors have scored more than 1,000 points at the school.