Three former Mustangs go pro!

Bandoumel, Nared, and Dezouvre to play in Europe

By Gary Axelbank

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 7- Three Monroe Mustangs greats have signed on to continue their careers as professional basketball players in Europe.  

Djim Bandoumel will be playing for Forca Lleida in Spain, Tyrone Nared will be in Germany with the UBC Tigers Hannover, and Randy Dezouvre has signed with BC Aarhus in Denmark. All three played together on Monroe's 2010 national tournament team before continuing their college careers in the NCAA.

“These players embody the opportunity that is Monroe Mustangs basketball,” said Coach Jeff Brustad of his team that is one of only eight to have participated in three consecutive NJCAA national tournaments in the last 22 years. “Many young athletes have dreams of playing professional ball and don't know how to realize them. But Djim, Ty, and Randy showed that it can be done if they start out as Mustangs.” 

Bandoumel, a 6 foot 8 French Canadian, was a strong inside player and shot blocker who emerged as a team leader at Monroe. In his sophomore year, Djim averaged 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game and helped lead the Mustangs to a 29-8 overall record, Region 15 and District III titles, and a seventh-place finish at the national tournament. 

He then went on to star at the University of Idaho, averaging 7.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg in his two years there.

The 6 foot 6 Nared, who hails from Woonsocket Rhode Island, made a name for himself with a 2010 playoff run that culminated in a remarkable post season performance and an exclamation point in the final game of the national tournament when he banged home five three-pointers to propel Monroe to victory.   It was a stunning moment for a big, front-line player.

At the University of Oregon he also showed flashes of brilliance, even making ESPN's top-ten highlights of the day for his trademark put-back dunk, which was the  first-ever dunk on opening night of the Matthew Knight Arena. Nared also got UO's first-ever block and three-pointer in their new home.

At Monroe the 6 foot 4 Dezouvre showed flashes of brilliance, emerging as a vital cog on that 2009-10 Mustang team, averaging 11.1 ppg, 5.24 rpg, and shooting 70.6% from the free throw line. But it was in the national tournament that Dezouvre really proved his mettle, providing dynamic hustle and a never-say-die approach that inspired his team. He averaged 13.5 ppg, 3.75 rpg, and shot 84.6 percent from the charity stripe in the nationals. 

He also starred for Iona where the Montreal native became known for making big plays at big times.

Dezouvre will be playing in BC Aarhus, which is Denmark's second largest city. Aarhus competes in Denmark's Ligaen, the country's top division. He is the lone North American on the roster for the upcoming season.

“Each of these three were great players for Monroe. They were good students and solid citizens who were not afraid to put their work in. Now they're reaping the rewards of all that work,” said Coach Brustad. “We are proud of them and proud of our basketball program for giving them the foundation to make their hoop dreams come true.”

Back to School Sale! 4G LTE GalaxyS III 16GB only $199.99 while supplies last! Free Shipping Limited Time Only, While Supplies Last! Free DROID Charge by Samsung, plus Free Shipping

 

30% OFF Sitewide with code: YOUROCK Sale 70% off 

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Second Homicide at Parkchester Building this Summe...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Second Homicide at Parkchester Building this Summe...: (Homicide detectives return once again to Unionport Road.--Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, Septem...

Second Homicide at Parkchester Building this Summer

(Homicide detectives return once again to Unionport Road.--Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- Police are looking for the gunman who shot and killed a Parkchester man, the second killing in the building since June.

Few details were available, but according to the NYPD, a still-unidentified 23-year old man was discovered by a friend inside a first-floor apartment at 1553 Unionport Road, at 2:51 p.m., on Friday, August 31.

Police are withholding the name of the victim pending notification of family members, but did state that the victim had lived in the apartment.

The victim was discovered with a single gunshot wound to the head.

The building was the site of a shooting back on June 22, where one man was killed and another wounded, police at the time described that killing as a, "drug related robbery."

Detectives continue to investigate, but could not immediately say if the two shootings were related.

A friend of the victim vowed, "This isn't the last you've heard of this."

Back to School Sale! 4G LTE GalaxyS III 16GB only $199.99 while supplies last! Free Shipping Limited Time Only, While Supplies Last! Free DROID Charge by Samsung, plus Free Shipping

 

30% OFF Sitewide with code: YOUROCK Sale 70% off 

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Three Autos Destroyed by Falling Tree at the Bronx...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Three Autos Destroyed by Falling Tree at the Bronx...: (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- A large size tree came crashing down at the Bro...

Three Autos Destroyed by Falling Tree at the Bronx Zoo

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- A large size tree came crashing down at the Bronx Zoo, apparently taking down a fence and destroying several parked vehicles.

Police were called to the Zoo's Southern Boulevard gate, shortly after the incident took place at 1:20 p.m., on Saturday, August 25. The incident was reported at the Asia parking lot near Jungle World.

Initial reports stated that four cars and an, "exterior animal fencing," was compromised, but that no animals were released.

A spokesperson for the zoo first denied that the incident took place. As a pair of reporters arrived at the scene, at least three zoo vehicles blocked the area where police officers and zoo officials were surveying the damage.

A second spokeswoman from the Wildlife Conservation Society claimed it was a tree limb that caused the damage.

Within minutes the two journalists were asked to leave the zoo.

The site of the fallen tree is a stone's-throw away from where seven family members were killed when their car plunged off the Bronx River Parkway and landed in an unused parcel of land within the zoo back on April 29.

After repeated inquiries, Stephen Sautner, the Director of Communications for the Wildlife Conservation Society stated that a press release was sent out to local media outlets, however, Mary Dixon the Vice President of Communications, stated a short time later, "We did not send a release out because no people or animals or exhibits were around or affected."

Dixon continued, "This happened on a road leading into the zoo where cars can park, (but) not in a zoo parking lot. A perimeter fence was affected, not heavily damaged, and no animals were behind those fences, simply a perimeter fence."

Dixon added that the owners of the cars were all assisted during the incident.

Back to School Sale! 4G LTE GalaxyS III 16GB only $199.99 while supplies last! Free Shipping Limited Time Only, While Supplies Last! Free DROID Charge by Samsung, plus Free Shipping

 

30% OFF Sitewide with code: YOUROCK Sale 70% off 

SHE WILL SURVIVE

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- The headline refers to a wonderful free concert in Seton Park last week by POP singing star Gloria Gaynor that over 600 people attended. Songs such as “I Will Survive”, "Never Can Say Goodbye", Going Out of My Head", others, and a special tribute song to her late friend Donna Summer were belted out by the 63 year old singer who started out in the mid 1960's. I asked some people if they were Gloria Gaynor fans and the answers ranged from I wasn’t born yet but I love her songs to why do you think I am here. The concert was one of a month long of free concerts that State Senator Jeff Klein put together as his “August Summer Concert Series” throughout his district.

You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more about the concert, and see photos of the concert. The local elected officials (and those who want to be next year) were out in force at the concert. There is one photo of current Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz speaking on behalf of Civil Court Judge candidate Eddie McShan he supports with possible 2013 city council candidate Andrew Cohen in the photo.

Speaking of Senator Jeff Klein, on Friday he was joined by City Council Traffic & Transportation Chair Jimmy Vacca, Assembly members Mike Benedetto and Marcos Crespo, and local community leaders and business owners to blast the New York City Department of Finance. It seems that two years ago the fine for overnight truck parking on residential city streets was increased from $65 to $250 and $500 fines for repeat offenders. All the Department of Finance has to do is revise its summonses to include this violation which it has not done. Senator Klein said that the reason it has not been done is that there is room on the summons for the traffic agent or police officer to write the violation in, which is not happening. Klein added that the city is loosing over $3.5 million a year in his district alone, which citywide adds up to about $8.83 million. We have seen tractor trailer trucks parked overnight on the service road of the Henry Hudson Parkway as well as many other places in the Bronx. Klein added that it is cheaper to pay a $65.00 fine than to have to find off street parking and lodging, and that was why the fine was increased to deter that.

With less than 16 months left in his city council term Councilman G. Oliver Koppell is cleaning up streets in his district. Koppell has gotten additional litter baskets for some street corners, and has had the Department of Sanitation clear debris from a major step street in his district. Go to my blog for more details on this, the latest list of events for Wave Hill, and other information. Just look at the archive section on the left and click on a month to see news or events that happened in that month.

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have a Riverdale event listed or covered in this column you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

Back to School Sale! 4G LTE GalaxyS III 16GB only $199.99 while supplies last! Free Shipping Limited Time Only, While Supplies Last! Free DROID Charge by Samsung, plus Free Shipping

 

30% OFF Sitewide with code: YOUROCK Sale 70% off 

In the dark on Homeless Shelters

Wakefield Area News

By Mary V. Lauro

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- Before we get to the phone call which inspired this column, we mention that with summer's end, meetings will begin again. 

Please mark the dates since postage is expensive and not everyone has e-mail. The League will have its first meeting on September 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Barnes and Boyd Avenue. The 47^th Precinct Community Council will have its first meeting at 8 p.m. on September 12, also at Redeemer Lutheran which brings us to the fact that the 47's current commanding officer, D.I. DeEntremont has been transferred out of the 47 Pct. to the prestigious Fugitive Enforcement Unit.

We are most appreciative of DI DeEntremont's command of the 47^th Precinct these past three years. Given the fact that he was understaffed, he did a tremendous job in keeping as much peace as possible. He also had a very soothing personality and was most cooperative with the community through the 47^th Precinct Community Council. He did not see the community as an enemy, and, in return, we saw him as a friend.

The bright side to this loss is that we will gain DI Brian Mullen who comes to us after a stint in the 33^rd, 52^nd and 44 Precincts. His reputation is also sterling. If past is prologue, he may continue the good community-police relations that marked the tenure of DI DeEntremont.

Regarding that phone call, the voice was that of an intelligent female. Our number had been given to her by CB 12. She was distraught. How could it be, she asked, that neither she nor her neighbors knew that three homeless shelters were scheduled to be built in the community? Her mother lives on Bronx Boulevard, she said, less than two blocks away from the Muller Army Reserve Center on Nereid and the Balfour building on Bronx Boulevard. And, what about this AID's (Praxis Initiative) center being built opposite Food Town on White Plains Road? Don't we count she asked plaintively? Why have we been kept in the dark?

We explained as best we could all we had done since May 2009 on the three shelters: the petitions, the letter writing, the protests, the busloads of people. We told her how Praxis wooed all our elected officials including our Community Board and how Wakefield was kept in the dark until Praxis had them all in tow.

What about the Community Board, she wanted to know. What did it do? She was told the chair wrote long columns, but the Board never discussed the situation. She wanted to know whether it notified the community and why notices were not placed in store windows or flyers sent to all residents within a certain distance from the shelters. We could not answer but she did.

She said, "That priest does not want to see any community uprising. He doesn't want to lose control. I went to two meetings there and swore I would not go again. It was like a high school class with the priest sitting up front and doing all the talking. The agenda was a joke. Same agenda two times and I understand from other people who have gone that it is the same every month. Neither the Board members nor the audience have any idea what the hot topics are. The community is left out in the cold with no voice at all. It seems the main interest of the Chair is to close the meeting by 9:30”

We'll end here, but we will have more to say.

Back to School Sale! 4G LTE GalaxyS III 16GB only $199.99 while supplies last! Free Shipping Limited Time Only, While Supplies Last! Free DROID Charge by Samsung, plus Free Shipping

 

30% OFF Sitewide with code: YOUROCK Sale 70% off