A Meaningful Subway Series Begins

A Meaningful Subway Series Begins

#Yankees vs. #Mets

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- This weekend should see sell‐out crowds and great excitement at Citi Field as the Mets and Yanks meet for a very meaningful three game series. It is the most important Subway Series other than when the two teams met in the 2000 World Series. This one counts for much more than bragging rights.

Both teams are currently good bets to play after the 2015 regular season concludes. Thus, the games being played two weeks before that season ends are very crucial to each team. 

Unless there is a complete collapse on the part of the Mets, it will only be a matter of time before the Amazins clinch the pennant in the National League East for the first time since 2006. Yet, they are coming off a two-game losing streak to the Marlins at their home field, which has been a downer to its fans and personnel. A good showing against their crosstown rivals will not only increase the energy level and confidence, but will assist them in clinching the pennant earlier. Thus, they can better prepare the team for its postseason contests.

Mets skipper Terry Collins recently spoke of the importance of the series with the Yanks, “We’re playing for something big and they’re also. There will be a big crowd, a lot of noise and we have to go out and play...I think we will be excited.”

Although the Yankees seem a sure bet to be a Wild Card winner, that will place them in a must win game against Houston or Texas before qualifying for the American League Division Series. Obviously, capturing the pennant of the American League East would be far more preferable. They are currently trailing the first place Toronto Blue Jays by three games. Thus, it is extremely important for the Yankees to win as many of the games remaining. Winning at least two of the three contests this weekend should raise the confidence of the team before they travel to Toronto on Monday for a three game series with the Blue Jays.

The veteran player who had become the Yankees leader, Alex Rodriguez, expressed enthusiasm of the forthcoming contests with the Mets, “It means everything. NY’s the capital of the baseball world, and to have both teams playing so well and being so relevant, I think it’s an especially important series.”

#Subway Series #Yankees #Mets

BRONX NEWS: He Strangled Hurricane Sandy Victim

BRONX NEWS: He Strangled Hurricane Sandy Victim: He Strangled Hurricane Sandy Victim Man Sentenced for Killing Nurse BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Nurse Madonna Martin survived Hurricane S...

He Strangled Hurricane Sandy Victim

He Strangled Hurricane Sandy Victim

Man Sentenced for Killing Nurse

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Nurse Madonna Martin survived Hurricane Sandy, even though her Far Rockaway, Queens apartment was devastated by the November 2012 storm. But she would barely make it past Thanksgiving – killed not by an Act of God – but an act of a co-worker, Richard Bloomfield, who offered up a room in the Mott Haven home he shared with his mother, only to strangle Martin to death fewer than five days after she took him up on that offer.

Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announces that, following a plea of guilty to manslaughter in the first degree, the 43-year-old Bloomfield has been sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Denis Boyle to 21-and-a-half years in prison followed by five years post-release supervision and a waiver of his right to appeal.

Bloomfield was a dialysis tech who worked with the 22-year-old nurse at the Columbia-Presbyterian dialysis center, and he had a bit of a crush on her. But she lived with her boyfriend in that Far Rockaway apartment, and when Sandy swamped it, she camped out in her boyfriend’s office for a couple of weeks. But when he moved to Florida for a new job and where she was to soon join him, Madonna Martin was temporarily homeless – and Bloomfield made his kind offer.

On November 19^th, Martin moved in to the extra room in the private house the defendant shared with his mom, at 635 Fox Street. But she would live there less than a week. On November 23^rd, Madonna Martin packed up her belongings, ready to move out the next day to join her boyfriend, but Bloomfield figured that if he couldn’t have her, no one could – and he strangled her to death in the wee hours of the morning, just hours before she was going to leave for Florida.

But it got more bizarre. Bloomfield dragged Martin’s dead body into her car. He stuffed all her clothing and belongings in as well, and took off. A mile-and-a-half away, at Bruckner Boulevard and Brook Avenue, he found a dumpster and tossed in all of his victim’s belongings. Then he maneuvered his victim’s dead body into the driver’s seat. And he waited. Hours later, he called 911.

When police and EMTs responded to the scene, he admitted what he’d done, telling them, “I killed my friend. I killed my friend.” And when police went to his apartment and met his mom, she handed them her son’s handwritten note. It was an apology for killing Madonna Martin.

Two family members of Madonna “Donna” Martin read victim impact statements in court. Maricris Etnel described her sister and the impact of her death: “Donna chose to see the good in everyone and trustingly expected them to have her best interest at heart. Instead Richard Bloomfield had ulterior motives when he exploited her innocent and selfless nature by offering a room to rent. Donna’s trusting personality was taken advantage of as she fell victim to the actions of a methodical and malicious man.

“This shocking experience caused my family such an unimaginable pain, heartaches and anguish. Our holidays, birthdays, and seasonal activities will never be the same. Especially Thanksgiving because the anniversary of Donna’s death lies so closely.”

Madonna Martin’s brother-in-law, Gillie Etnel, added:  “Madonna had choices in her life, but she chose the right path. She chose to stay away from clubs and bars, and she chose not to drink and smoke. Instead, she chose to dedicate her life helping and saving lives by becoming a nurse. This career she chose gave meaning to her life because she loved it, and she was excellent in this field. Madonna had a bright future ahead of her, and the defendant chose to take her life in which he does not own.”

Mario Perez, the boyfriend who was just a day away from spending the rest of his life with the victim, also spoke to the defendant and the Court: “Madonna showed me how to enjoy life.  After the hurricane, we lived at my job.

               

Perez described how he went down to Florida to his new job and how Martin was to join him right after: “Five days she was out of my sight – and that’s all it took for this man to kill her…No time will ever replace the time I would have had with her.”

Addressing Bloomfield, Perez concluded, “You took pure joy from this world.”

#Hurricane Sandy #Strangled #BronxDA #Richard Bloomfield

BRONX NEWS: Hope for Pope's Visit

BRONX NEWS: Hope for Pope's Visit: Pope’s visit to New York Viewed as uplifting occasion  By Michael Horowitz      BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Most Bronx resident...

Hope for Pope's Visit

Pope’s visit to New York

Viewed as uplifting occasion 

By Michael Horowitz

    

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Most Bronx residents seem to be looking forward to Pope Francis II’s visit to New York City next week, viewing it as an uplifting occasion in a world that is in desperate need of the spirituality that he exudes.

Sylvia Greenebaum explained, “The Pope is a wonderful man who is reaching people all over the world. He’s a wonderful man who takes an interest in the average person.”

Ted Jefferson added, “The Pope’s visit is a blessing that we need very badly. I’m a Christian, and the Pope is a great man of God, and it is inspiring that he is coming to New York. There is so much killing in our world, and there is an evil spirit that seems to be involved in everything. We all need to see someone like the Pope because we have every reason to appreciate who he is.”

Juliette Owusu, with her young children, Elijah and Elizabeth in tow, stressed, “The Pope’s visit is a great opportunity for everyone who believes in Christ. He is an icon who is having a big and positive influence on the world. He commands our respect.”

Carmen Kalmanowicz, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, emphasized, “I like the fact that the current Pope is expressing a more modern brand of religion than other popes have. A lot of people love him, and so do I. I would love to talk to him during his visit to New York City. I like the fact that he, like I, is not focused on Catholicism alone. He’s a man of the church who is reaching out to Catholics, as well as people who have religious beliefs that are different from his.” 

Susan Wilson added, “I think that it’s good that the Pope is coming to New York. It’s important that he come to see the city, and I’d love to see him if I could."

Sylvia Samuel, echoing the sentiments of other Co-op City shareholders, emphasized, “We need to see the Pope. He’s a spiritual person, and I feel his spirit in very positive ways. I feel his positive energy whenever I see him on TV.”

Expressing a minority view among Co-op City shareholders, Kimberly Brown said that the Pope’s visit to New York City means nothing to her. 

#Pope Francis #Papal Visit 

BRONX NEWS: Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused

BRONX NEWS: Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused: Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused What to Do With An Empty Ice Rink? Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK (BRON...

Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused

Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused

What to Do With An Empty Ice Rink?

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- It seems that after Mayor Bloomberg had to have an ice skating rink in Van Cortlandt Park, the space is now empty, and becoming an eyesore to the community. 

I am talking about the old unused tennis court that sits on Broadway just south of the end of the # 1 Subway line. Over 3 years ago Mayor Bloomberg had the Parks Department put out a Request For Proposal to have an Ice Skating Rink be put in the unused tennis court on Broadway. The RFP was sent out, and a contract was drawn up with the vendor and the city. It was for 15 years with an increasing scale of fees to be paid to the city after the first two free years of the contract.

Ice Rinks Inc. which has other ice skating rinks in city parks was the vendor, and for the first year of operation of the Van Cortlandt Park Ice Skating Rink everything seemed to be going well. In the second year of operation was where things seemed to fall apart. It was a rather warmer winter, and the equipment that Ice Rinks Inc. had put in seemed to be having problems. The ice was soft at times, and the rink could not be used. This led to a decline in attendance and in revenue for Ice Rinks Inc. The rink was shut down more than two weeks before its scheduled closing as the chillers were no longer effectively making the ice hard. Ice Rinks Inc. was unsure if they could return the next year as new chillers would have to be installed, and that was going to cost to much money to be profitable. It seemed that the vendor wanted to redo the contract that gave them two free years of operation, so they could continue rent free.

The result was that Ice Rink Inc. pulled out of the contract with the city, and the city and community were back to having an eyesore of an empty area that now had permanent electrical equipment, and other permanent large metal casings so tennis was no longer an option for this space in Van Cortlandt Park. That was over a year ago, and looks like it will be permanent since the Kingsbridge National Ice Center in the nearby Kingsbridge Armory will become a reality.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Councilman Andrew Cohen have come up with an idea for the unusable tennis area on Broadway. The four elected officials want to have a weekend market similar to the one that is currently in Bryant Park, which by the way Bryant park also has an ice skating rink that is very successful. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see the letter that the four elected officials have sent to NYC Parks Commissioner Michael Silver requesting that this eyesore of an area in Van Cortlandt park be transformed into a marketplace such as is in Bryant Park in Manhattan.

This Sunday is the North Riverdale Block Festival sponsored by the North Riverdale Merchants Association and KRVC. Riverdale Avenue between West 258^th and West 259^th Street will be closed to traffic with the exception of a lane for emergency vehicles and regularly scheduled buses that will be running on a Sunday schedule. The event will run from 12 – 4 PM -, and will feature live music all day, clowns, face painting, many more children s activities, and also pony rides.

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 call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.