Tennis Returns to the Bronx

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 27- Tennis
fans from around the world will once again descend on the Bronx next as part of
the yearly EmblemHealth Bronx Open.

The event is held from August
5-12, 2012 at Crotona Park, Bronx. This year's EmblemHealth Bronx Open is a
$50,000 USTA sanctioned Challenger Event, attracting some of best Women Tennis
Professional players in the world as they prepare for the US Open Championships
at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

EmblemHealth is the title
sponsor of the EmblemHealth Bronx Open, an USTA sanctioned $50,000 women's
tennis tournament Challenger Event. The tournament is held at Crotona Park, in
the Bronx, New York from August 5-12, 2012. Fans have the opportunity to watch
WTA Tour professionals from around the world ranked in the top 200, some of
whom who will compete in the main draw of the 2012 US Open Championships at the
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

Tennis players, enthusiasts
and spectators are invited to a fun-filled week of free special events at
Crotona Park, the Bronx.

Activities include adult and
junior tennis clinics, EmblemHealth Fitness Day For Kids, New York's Bravest
(New York Fire Department) vs. New York's Finest (New York Police Department)
Tournament, and the Disney Kids' Around the World Day Parade displaying the
enthusiasm and artistic talents of NYJTL participants proudly marching with
their 10-foot banners. 

2011 EmblemHealth Bronx Open
Women's Singles Final Recap:

In its 18th year as title
sponsor of the 2011 EmblemHealth Bronx Open, EmblemHealth continued to partner
with the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) to promote education and leading
a healthy, active lifestyle for children and families in New York City.

Andrea Hlavackova, of the
Czech Republic, was the winner over Mona Barthel, 7-6, 6-3, in a hard-hitting
singles final played indoors at Riverside Tennis Club in Riverdale when the match
had to be moved due to torrential downpours. It was the second time in the
tournament’s history that the event final was played indoors.



Throughout the tournament, special events were geared to the dual messages of
using tennis to boost academic and athletic performance. Activities included
Kids’ Fitness Day, daily free tennis lessons, and distribution of more than
2,000 free books to kids. At the Disney Kids’ Day Parade, more than 2,000
children from NYJTL programs marched through in Crotona Park with banners they
designed during their summer programs.



Cablevision has supported the EmblemHealth Bronx Open for the six years
broadcasting the finals, filming ancillary tournament events, and packaging the
final product to air on Cablevision’s Neighborhood Journal. 

The Bionic Senator and the Convicted Councilman

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. has announced that he will be going in for “Knee Transplant Surgery,” and will be better than before. In fact, Senator Diaz said in a press release, he will become “The Bionic Senator.” 

Diaz Sr. had the knee surgery on July 26th and according to him he will be out of action for 5 or 6 weeks to recover. Diaz Sr. adds that he knows that it is election time and with him up for re-election this bed rest will be torture for him. His doctor has told him that he will be back stronger, better, and faster which kind of reminds us of the television show years ago called “The Six Million Dollar Man.” You can read more at my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com.

The second trial of Councilman Larry Seabrook is over, and Seabrook this time was convicted on 9 of the 12 charges against him. This trial centered on the $177.00 bagel receipt that Seabrook had submitted to be reimbursed for which was said to be doctored. We wonder if it was a plain, sesame, poppy or everything bagel. Check my blog for comments on the decision.

Also go to my blog to see the car that current State Senate Minority Leader John Sampson is reported to have smashed up. The Ford Taurus valued at over $35,000 was totaled, but the cost of the crash now estimated at over $70,000 continues to mount as the other cars involved have their damage estimates revealed.

Hopefully the Con Edison lockout is over by the time you read this, but a Con Edison spokesman has admitted that outside contractors have been brought in to help during the lockout. He said that Con Ed is also paying for all expenses by the outside contractors which will be passed on to their customers. Since Con Ed is not paying its regular workers will their consumers then get a refund on that.

We don't have enough room to discuss the proposed sugary soda ban by Mayor Bloomberg, which will be approved by his puppets at the Health Department. We just hope that more city council members oppose the proposed ban like Bronx Councilman G. Oliver Koppell. By the way Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera where do you stand and why.

Lastly it appears that those 26 public schools that the mayor wanted to close for poor performance will get to stay open as was the court decision. We have to agree with the mayor about closing schools that perform poorly, but how many have been closed over and over again? By the way it is only a mirror of the mayor’s failed education policy when he only cracked down on the third and seventh grades by holding back students so that next year the 4th and 8th grade test scores would look better at the time of an election year. Since many students do not know the names of almost all of their elected officials and important people in history, we would love to know how many students know the name of the current mayor of New York City. Ed Koch, Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Derek Jeter would probably top the list of countless names.

If you have another name that may top the list, have any comments about this column, 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.

Jerry Seinfeld to Play Lehman

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 26- For the first time in 14 years, Jerry Seinfeld is presenting full performances of his signature stand-up comedy in New York City. Seinfeld will perform five stand-up shows – one in each New York City borough – on five Thursday nights this Fall.

Seinfeld, a New York native, got his start as a comedian in the City in the 1970s, but other than appearing at benefits and occasional short sets at local comedy clubs, he has not performed a full show in a NYC theater since his sold-out Broadway engagement, “I’m Telling You For The Last Time,” at the Broadhurst Theater in 1998, shortly after the final episode of his iconic TV show, Seinfeld.

"I was born in Brooklyn, went to school in Queens and started out as a comedian in Manhattan. I feel like New York City taught me how to be funny. I'm so excited to perform a special series of shows for my beloved home town," said Seinfeld.

Seinfeld’s five-borough performances will all fall on Thursday nights – the same as the television show that bore his name – and will feature special guest Colin Quinn, who Seinfeld directed in the hit Broadway show “Colin Quinn: Long Story Short” at the Helen Hayes Theater in 2010-11.

Tickets for all five-borough shows go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 30 at 10 am. All performances begin at 8pm. 

PLAYING SCHEDULE:

Manhattan

Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 8pm

The Beacon Theatre located at 2124 Broadway

Tickets are available online at www.BeaconTheatre.com or by calling 866-858-0008

Bronx

Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 8pm

Lehman Concert Hall located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West

Tickets are available online at www.LehmanCenter.org or by calling 718-960-8833

Queens (Flushing)

Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 8pm

The Colden Auditorium at Queens College located at 65-30 Kissena Blvd.

Tickets are available online at www.KupferbergCenter.org or by calling 718-793-8080

Staten Island

Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 8pm

The St. George Theatre located at 35 Hyatt Street

Tickets are available online at www.TicketMaster.com or by calling 718-442-2900

Brooklyn

Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 8pm

The Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College located at 2900 Campus Road

Tickets are available online at www.BrooklynCenter.com or by calling 718-951-4500

Stop and Frisk Will Save Lives- Marine Says

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 26- A former Marine from Bedford Park has come out with a new video headed for YouTube, where he defends the NYPD's right in the 'stop and frisk' issue, now pointing to two incidents in his life, one being shot in the south Bronx, while driving a livery taxi-- and more recently, when young punks threw garbage at him in a subway near his home.

Over the years, Ronald James Sorenson, 73, a self-taught lobbyist, has come to the aid of the American flag, defending, "Old Glory," from flag-burning, he has walked to Washington, DC., carrying a monkey, to force law-makers to take a second look at a citizen's right to have exotic pets.

After a recent incident in Kingsbridge, Sorenson, a former member of the U.S. Marine's Boxing Team, decided to make the two-minute video in support of the NYPD. He recalled, "I was coming out of the subway and passed these young kids and as I passed, they threw garbage at me."

In his day, Sorenson would have flattened the trio, but now says, "These days you don't know who has a gun or who will shoot you for absolutely no reason."

Sorenson knows about being shot, he was driving a livery cab in 1969, when he was held-up in the Fort Apache section of the Bronx. Sorenson recalls, "They shot me in one leg and it went through and hit me in the other leg."

Believing that the day of the suicide bomber coming to the New York City Transit system-- is right around the corner, Sorenson adds, "I'm all for Civil rights, but stop and frisk will save lives. The sooner they realize that, the more lives will be saved."

According to the New York Civil Liberties Union and the NYPD's own statistics, the police department has conducted 4 million stop and frisk searches since 2002, when Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office.

With 685,724 of those stop and frisks taking place in 2011, some 600,000 or 88 percent of those stopped were completely innocent of any crime.

On Tuesday, June 26, a Manhattan Appellate court supported Justice Peter Tom's decision to exclude a gun as evidence, after a Bronx cop arrested a teen found to be carrying the gun during a stop and frisk search.

On May 16, a federal judge approved a class-action lawsuit against the NYPD relating to stop and frisk.

Sorenson's, 'Stop and frisk' video can be found at: 

 http://youtu.be/XehbGDRrOFI

Cheer Up Supe, You Can Always Play for the Eagles

Superintendent Charged with Running Massive Dog Fighting Ring in Apartment Building

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 25- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a grand jury has indicted building superintendent Raul Sanchez on numerous charges of animal fighting and cruelty, including the staging of dog fights, as well as breeding, training and selling dogs for the purpose of having them engage in fights.   

This indictment is the result of a long-term investigation conducted by the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department. 

Sanchez, 57, of 1254 Sherman Avenue, the Bronx, has been charged with 63 counts of prohibition of animal fighting, 13 of which are felony offenses; 6 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals; 6 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. The most serious offense, Prohibition of Animal Fighting, is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 4 years in prison.

The charges in this indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Sanchez, who was arrested on June 21, 2012, was arraigned on the indictment before State Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Justice Villegas adjourned the case to August 3, 2012 in Part 60. Sanchez is being held in lieu of bail set at $50,000 cash or $25,000 bond.        

It is alleged that the dogfights, as well as the breeding, training and selling of the animals occurred between October, 2011 and June, 2012 in the basement of 1254 Sherman Avenue. When investigators executed search warrants at that location on June 21, 2012 they recovered 50 Pit Bull terriers, six treadmills, several rubber tires, scales, and various medicines. Also recovered were a fighting ring and carpeting both of which were stained with blood. The dogs, found housed in cages which were stacked in a room at the rear of the basement, ranged in age from several weeks to five years and were in varying stages of health. Many of the animals had scars which were consistent with dog fighting.      

The dogs were removed and placed in the custody and control of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals where they are receiving medical treatment and being evaluated for adoption, if possible. 

District Attorney Johnson thanked the following for their hard work during the nearly year-long investigation: Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Brandler of the Rackets Bureau, Detective Investigators Rocco Galasso and John Reilly of the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, NYPD Detective John Zerafa of the Vice Enforcement Division, Major Case Bureau, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the not-for-profit animal welfare group United Action for Animals.

Fight Over Barmaid Led to Cold Blooded Murder-DA

 

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 25- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced the conviction of a 28-year-old man on murder and illegal gun possession charges stemming from a dispute over a barmaid in January 2008.

William Gay, of Washington Avenue, the Bronx, was found guilty on one count of murder in the second degree and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree in connection with the death of Glenn Terrell. Terrell, 27, was shot once in the back of the head on the sidewalk in front of the Crystal Lounge Bar at 1035 Prospect Avenue.

State Supreme Court Justice Ann Donnelly set sentencing for Monday, August 6, 2012 in Part H96. Gay is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life on the murder charge and up to 15 years imprisonment on the gun charge. The jury deliberated for about five hours, following a nearly two-week long trial, before reaching the guilty verdict.

During the course of the trial, the jury heard testimony that the female bartender and the deceased had planned to spend time together at his apartment when her shift ended. As preparations were being made to close the bar, the woman stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and saw the defendant with whom she had also had a casual social encounter a few weeks earlier. When the woman greeted Gay and the two exchanged kisses, Terrell, the deceased, told her that she was leaving with him. Gay responded by shooting Terrell in the back of his head with a 9MM semi-automatic handgun.

Eastchester Heights Goes Green

 

(Mayor Bloomberg hosted an
event to congratulate Taconic Investment Partners and Clarion Partners on
conversion to natural gas at Eastchester Heights.- Photo by Jill Lotenberg)

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 24-
Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently hosted an event to congratulate Taconic
Investment Partners and Clarion Partners on their conversion from #6 heating
oil to natural gas at Eastchester Heights, a 1400-unit rent-stabilized development
that was one of the city’s top 10 users of heavy oil.

The conversion will reduce
carbon emissions at the property by nearly 60 percent while lowering energy
costs by at least 25 percent. The changeover also enables Eastchester Heights
to opt out of its Title V air permit and makes it eligible for emission
reduction credits.

At the event, Mayor Bloomberg
also announced more than $100 million in financing and other new resources to
help city buildings convert to cleaner fuels. The financing and assistance
results from innovative partnerships between leading banks, energy providers
and environmental groups, and are a part of the NYC Clean Heat program the
Mayor launched in 2011 to help buildings meet cleaner fuel requirements.