Holiday Tribute to Michael Jackson

Doll House Celebrates 40 Years on Pelham Parkway

(Photos by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 11- For the Garabedian family of Pelham Parkway, they don't just celebrate Christmas-- they live it.

And now for the 40th-consecutive year they have re-constructed the scene that kind of looks like Hollywood's A-list is celebrating Christmas with Santa Claus in Bethlehem.

Like one of Santa's elves, Gary Garabedian, 49, was recently spotted carrying out of his home some of the life-like manikins that weigh up to 40 pounds and securing them into place with a power drill, before another family member tends to its wardrobe.

Before the statues of Audrey Hepburn, Cher, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson are done, a dozen people were outside the home's fence and the available parking spaces in the immediate area were going fast.

Gary Garabeian, 49, later explained, "Every year it's the same theme and every year we keep adding, next year will be Elvis, the Wizard of Oz... we're trying to make it like all of the movie stars came to celebrate Jesus' birth."

In a 2008 New York Times article Garabeian and a family member briefly spoke about a "miracle," or "vision" the family had witnessed in 1973--yet would not reveal.

Garabeian again politely declined the invitation to share their secret, stating, "No we can't reveal that because something special happened to the family and my mother started to do this and we're keeping the tradition going as long as we can, God willing."

Most of the material used to create the 150-plus manikins was trash salvaged from the families fabric business.

When the weather is good, several thousand people will visit in a single night, many tossing dollar bills over the fence. The several thousand dollars raised is later donated to organizations that help children fighting diabetes.

It takes about 37,000 volts to power-up the 50,000-plus lights and displays. After problems in the past, Con Edison regularly visits the home to prevent power failures in the area.

Fact: During the month of December, the families electric bill can run between $1,300 and $1,500.

Myth: Despite it's brightness, the home can't be seen from outer space.

The displays current insurance policy puts its value at between $3 and $4 million dollars. But before any wise-guys get any ideas, the area is under 24-hour video surveillance and it's a regular stop for on and off-duty members of the NYPD.

Weather permitting, the display is on from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. from now until January 6. The home is located at 1605 Pelham Parkway North at Westervelt Avenue in the Pelham Gardens section.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Torre gets Well Deserved Hall of Fame Nod

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Torre gets Well Deserved Hall of Fame Nod: By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 9- Joe Torre is now a legitimate part of baseball history when he got the well- deserved ...

Torre gets Well Deserved Hall of Fame Nod

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 9- Joe Torre is now a legitimate part of baseball history when he got the well- deserved honor of being elected with two other former and living managers into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The announcement was made at the annual baseball winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista Florida.

Torre, along with Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa, former managers of the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals, were unanimously elected by the expansion era committee. The late George Steinbrenner, who hired Torre to manage the Yankees in 1996, was denied induction for the second time.

With four World Series rings, and a successful playing career, Torre, Executive Vice President of Operations for Major League Baseball, joins an elite group of former managers to be enshrined in the Hall.

It is an honor that is well deserved with overall managerial record of 1,173-767 with the Yankees and six American League pennants. Steinbrenner at the time took a chance when he appointed Torre as the manager and there was much skepticism at the time. But, with an array of free agents and support from the Yankees front office staff, Torre was able to utilize what he had and it worked guiding his team to championships in the Bronx.

Previously as a manager with the Braves, cross-town Mets and the Cardinals, Torre did not have much success and that was a primary cause of concern when he was hired by the Yankees. However the names of Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams and many more put a hush to the critics about his managerial ability.

He always said, the players made the job that much easier to manage. On the other hand, those who played for Torre always claimed that he was the proper fit to guide the Yankees. A player’s manager, and one who knew how to take control in the clubhouse when there was any sign of adversity, Torre was respected.

Though in the Torre years, there was little room for adversity as the Yankees, always with the highest payroll in baseball were able to compete and get the players that they needed. 

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Tags: Joe Torre, NY Yankees, Baseball Hall of Fame

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Rams Crush Furman Paladins, 79-48

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Rams Crush Furman Paladins, 79-48: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 5- The contest on Wednesday evening between the Fordham Rams (4-2) and the Furman Paladins (3-...

Fordham Rams Crush Furman Paladins, 79-48

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 5- The contest on Wednesday evening between the Fordham Rams (4-2) and the Furman Paladins (3-4) in the Bronx was only the second meeting between the two teams. In both games, at the NCAA Tournament in 1971 and in the Bronx this week, Fordham was victorious by 31 points. The win raised the 2013 mark of the Rams to 4-2, their most successful start since 2006.

Although Furman is not currently a national basketball power, one of its former players, Frank Selvy, accomplished a feat on court not yet reached by another men’s player in NCAA Division I basketball. Selvy in January, 1954, scored 100 points. The two-time All American was the first NBA draft choice at the end of the 1954 season. Selvy played a decade in the NBA, including 1958-59 with the New York Knicks.

Although none of the current Paladins are recognizable by fans in the Bronx, one name should be recognized. Aaron O’ Neill, the starting guard in all seven of his team’s contests this year, is the son of former New York Yankees highly popular right fielder and now one of their TV broadcasters, Paul O’Neill. The younger O’Neill joined the team as a walk-on in his freshman year, 2011-12. O’Neill earned a scholarship this year. He amassed his most minutes in a contest on Wednesday, 24, but did not score.

Fordham’s superiority in athleticism, height and shooting skill was apparent from the earliest seconds of the game. Bryan Smith, after missing the last two contests with an injury, scored the first basket of the evening before five seconds had passed. After gaining a 6-5 lead, the Rams scored 12 unanswered points to take a double digit advantage, 18-5, at 13:49 of the half. 

Leading 30-15 mid-way through the first half, Fordham began a 10-2 scoring run that increased the lead to 40-17 with 5:02 left in the half. As the half-time buzzer sounded Fordham had more than doubled the point total of its opponent, 49-24. 

The Rams, in the beginning of the second half, played in much the same fashion as they did throughout the first. The Rams scored 15 of the first 17 points to amass an overwhelming 64-26 lead with 13:07 remaining in the game. 

A layup by senior Branden Frazier at 9:43 produced largest lead of the game for the Rams, 41 points (72-31). Fordham Coach Tom Pecora gave his reserves the opportunity to see game action during the one-sided contest; 13 Rams played.

Fordham controlled the boards, garnering 45 rebounds to 25 for Furman. The Rams shot 47 percent from the field while its defense held the Paladins to 34 percent and none successful from beyond the arc. 

Three of Fordham’s starters are natives of Brooklyn and all three contributed to the win. While Smith did not again score after his game starting basket, he was crucial under the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds. Freshman Jon Severe, the leading scorer in the Atlantic-10, continued his hot hand with 5 for 8 from 3-point range and compiled a 23 point total. Frazier scored nine.

Two sophomores from upstate New York made important contributions. Mandell Thomas netted 19 points on 7 for 11 shooting from the floor. Ryan Rhoomes achieved a double-double, 15 points and 14 rebounds, in only 22 minutes on court.

Fordham makes its only appearance at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon, December 7, facing the St. John’s Red Storm in the second game of the Holiday Festival doubleheader.

Tags: Fordham, Rams, Basketball

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Woman pleads guilty to doggone assault on bus driv...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Woman pleads guilty to doggone assault on bus driv...: BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 4- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a 19-year-old woman has been convicted of assaulting an...

Woman pleads guilty to doggone assault on bus driver

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 4- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a 19-year-old woman has been convicted of assaulting an MTA bus driver after the driver refused to allow the defendant’s dog to board the bus.

Steangeli Medina pled guilty to assault in the second degree, the top count in the indictment, before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango. Under the plea agreement Medina will be sentenced to six months in jail and five years’ probation.

Medina has also agreed to waive her right to appeal the conviction and will complete a mandatory anger management program. The judge also issued an eight-year order of protection, which prohibits Medina from having any contact with the bus driver.

On December 12, 2013, the defendant will surrender and be held without bail pending a sentencing date which will be set once the Department of Probation has prepared a pre-sentencing report.

The assault occurred on June 21, 2011 at a bus stop on East Fordham Road and Third Avenue when the defendant became enraged because bus operator Marlene Bien-Aime would not allow Medina’s dog to get on the bus without being in a pet carrier. Medina dragged the driver out of her seat, off the bus and onto the sidewalk where Medina struck the victim repeatedly.

As a result, the victim sustained extreme facial bruising and swelling, suffered partial vision loss, which has since been restored, and underwent surgery for injuries to her knee and shoulders. The trauma resulted in the bus driver being off the job on a medical leave for one year.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hilary Chernin of the Trial Division.

Tags: Assault, Bus Driver, Dog