Monday, November 11, 2013
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Basketball Opens with Wins
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Basketball Opens with Wins: Fordham University Men’s and Women’s Hoopsters Win on First Day of 2013-14 Season Photos by Gary Quintal By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK,...
Fordham Basketball Opens with Wins
Fordham University Men’s and Women’s Hoopsters Win on First Day of 2013-14 Season
Photos by Gary Quintal
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 11- The first games of the 2013-14 college basketball season were played last Friday throughout the nation. In the Bronx, the men’s and women’s teams of Fordham University were both victorious in a Friday night doubleheader at the Rose Hill Gym.
The University of San Francisco Dons travelled 3,000 miles to drop its opening game, 80-66, to Fordham. In the second game, the Fordham men crushed the St. Francis University Red Flash, 87-67.
The visitors from California showed no ill effects from their cross country journey early in the contest as they took an eight point advantage with 11:47 remaining in the half. The Rams then scored nine unanswered points to take a 21-20 lead.
The half ended with Fordham ahead by nine points, 47-38. The first 20 minutes were closer than the lead appeared as there were three ties and six lead changes. Fordham controlled the boards with 26 rebounds to 11 for the Dons, which led the Rams to 15 second chance points to four for the Dons. The visitors led the Rams 11-0 in points off turnovers.
The top scorer of the first half was Hannah Missry. The New Jersey native continued her 3-point excellence from high school as she netted 4 for 8 from the perimeter to score 14 for the half.
The Rams quickly moved to a double digit lead in the second half. A three by Erin Rooney at 8:19 gave Fordham a game high advantage of 18 (67-49). They coasted to the victory.
Fordham senior Abigail Corning led the game in points with 22, 14 in the second half. Rooney achieved a double-double, 19 points and 10 boards. Missry finished with 14 and another Jersey freshman, Danielle Padavano, scored 10.
After two games on the road, the Rams will return to the Bronx to face University of the Pacific on Sunday afternoon, November 17.
Thirty minutes after the women’s contest concluded, the men tipped-off. As in the opening contest, the two teams competed evenly during the early minutes. The score was tied at 19 with 8:57 left in the first half. The Rams scored 17 straight points to gain the ninth lead change of the half and a double figure advantage that was never overturned. The half ended with Fordham leading, 45-27. Mandell Thomas paced the Rams with 13 points and six boards.
Fordham started the second half with a 12-4 scoring run to increase its advantage to 26 (57-31) at 16:24. The Rams were never challenged as their lead only dropped below 20 once in the final 18 minutes. Fordham coach Tom Pecora commented on the late game surge, “We decided to bear down, especially in the second half.
Freshman Jon Severe, New York State’s Mr. Basketball as a senior last year at Christ the King high school, led all scorers with 28 points, a Fordham mark for the first game of a college freshman. Severe was especially accurate from long range, netting 7 of 12 from 3-point range.
Seniors Bryan Smith (18) and Brandon Frazier (10) also scored in double figures. Pecora praised the two, “Great support and leadership from Bryan and Brandon.” Of Smith’s 7 for 14 shooting, Pecora remarked, “Bryan’s an exceptional shooter.”
Pecora although pleased with the result, warned his players and the team’s rooters against being overconfident, “It’s very good for us to come out of the gate like this. Every night is not going to be like this, but we hope many are.”
After a road contest at Syracuse, The Rams return home on Friday, November 15 to play Lehigh.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): City Island Eyesore
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): City Island Eyesore: Pols Sue to Stop New Bridge ...
City Island Eyesore
Pols Sue to Stop New Bridge
BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 8- Standing at the foot of the historic, 112-year old City Island bridge, Senator Klein, community leaders, and local business owners announced the filing of a civil lawsuit against the Department of Transportation as part of their effort to halt construction on the bridge's controversial new replacement. The new bridge's proposed design includes a 150-foot tower and an aesthetic that many residents believes threatens the unique and historic character that drives thousands of tourists to City Island each year. Despite serious concerns raised by community members, Island residents and business owners were never formally invited to be part of the process.
When the Department of Transportation announced work on a temporary bridge in late September, the City Island Civic Association met with Senator Klein to explore possible legal options. After meeting with the City Island Civic Association, Senator Klein, working with volunteer staff members from the offices of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assemblyman Mike Benedetto and Council Member Jimmy Vacca, developed a legal strategy to ensure that voices of City Islanders are heard and that the proposed design is subject to a more comprehensive review prior to construction.
Senator Jeff Klein said, "Putting a cable-stayed bridge over Eastchester Bay is like telling the Starship Enterprise it can land at LaGuardia – it just doesn’t fit. We should not have to sacrifice the majesty of City Island in exchange for a 21st century bridge. As I have said all along, the community should have been consulted throughout this process. With the Department of Transportation moving ahead with a design that does not address some of the community's biggest concerns, I think it's important we file this lawsuit to make sure that the City Island community's voices are heard.
"After reviewing possible courses of action against the proposed design for the new bridge, I have worked with the Civic Association on developing a legal strategy. Working with the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assemblyman Mike Benedetto and Council Member Jimmy Vacca, I plan to do everything possible to ensure that the City Island community's voices are heard."
City Island Civic Association Officer, Barbara Dolensek said, “For over 10 years the Civic Association has tried to get the Department of Transportation to honor our concerns about the new bridge, but they continue to force a bridge on us that City Island residents and business owners don't want. Finally, with the help of Senator Klein and other local elected officials, we have found a way to make sure our voices are heard!”
In the lawsuit, the City Island Civic Association and Barbara Dolensek, challenge the action of the New York City Department of Transportation in moving forward with the replacement of the City Island Bridge and the construction of such replacement bridge by the contractor, Tutor Perini Corporation, without a completed Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (“ULURP) review. The ULURP review is required under Section 197-c of the New York City Charter. The purpose of the ULURP review is to measure the impact of proposed land uses and to take into account community input.
On September 30, 2013, the New York City Department of Transportation issued a Notice to Proceed with construction to Tutor Perini Corporation, without a completed ULURP review. As a result, NYC DOT is in violation of procedures set forth by ULURP.
The City Island Civic Association and Barbara Dolensek are seeking a Court order compelling a completed ULURP review prior to any funds being allocated or expended for or beginning construction in connection with the replacement of the City Island Bridge and a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to maintain the status quo during the pendency of this action. As the press conference concluded, Senator Klein was notified that the temporary restraining order had been issued.
“The people of City Island have the right to voice their concerns or support for the construction of a new City Island Bridge, and this lawsuit will ensure that this proposed bridge is subject to complete review. I strongly believe that the DOT should begin the ULURP process immediately, so that City Island residents have their chance to speak out on this proposal before a single shovel hits the ground. City Island residents have expressed real concerns with the design and cost of this bridge and it is imperative that the ULURP be completed with transparency and collaboration with the residents and businesses of City Island before the City moves forward with its new design. I look forward to an amicable resolution to this entire matter,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Assemblyman Mike Benedetto said: "The proposed bridge in no way reflects City Island's unique charm and seaside landscape. That's why I have stood with the residents, business owners, community leaders and local elected officials in supporting legal action against the new bridge. We know that a new bridge is necessary, but I believe that the design should incorporate the input of the community it serves."
“For years, I, along with my fellow elected officials and the City Island community, have expressed our concerns about this new bridge, but the Department of Transportation has done little to address these issues. Once this lawsuit is filed, we can let the courts decide if this project should proceed as planned,” said Council Member Jimmy Vacca.
City Island Chamber of Commerce President Skip Giacco said, "From the Chamber's point of view, City Island is successful as a destination because it offers an alternative to the high-rise, high-density parts of the city. If built, the bridge, in its current design, will mark the beginning of a change on City Island that many residents and business owners don't support. At the very least, I believe that taking legal action will help ensure that our community's input is taken seriously."
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Johnson Avenue Festival Sunday
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Johnson Avenue Festival Sunday: Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 8- If you liked the recent Riverdale Avenue Festival, those folks at KRV...
Johnson Avenue Festival Sunday
Riverdale Report
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 8- If you liked the recent Riverdale Avenue Festival, those folks at KRVDC are at it again with the upcoming Johnson Avenue Festival that will tale place on Sunday, November 10th on Johnson Avenue Between West 235th & West 236th Streets from 12 – 4 p.m. There will be live music, face painting, original art for sale, delicious food available, games, children's activities, informational advice by professionals in several fields, and lots more on the Johnson Avenue that day.
The Johnson Avenue Festival is held so people will get to know all the stores on and around Johnson Avenue, and an have an opportunity to spend some time on the New Johnson Avenue Shopping area. There are some new stores however with the recent closing of Oregano’s there are still several vacant stores in the Johnson Avenue shopping area. It is hoped that this festival may spark an idea or two that will fill one or two of those once thriving stores that are now empty.
On Thursday, November 7th Community Board 8 will be having its Land Use Meeting at the Conservative Synagogue on West 254th Street & the Henry Hudson Parkway service road north. There are three items scheduled on the agenda, and items 1 & 3 may be of interest to different people.
Item #1 is for a proposed six-story mixed use commercial, community, and residential building with a full two level parking cellar located at 5959 Broadway at West 242nd Street & Manhattan College Parkway.
Item #3 is a presentation by Simone Management of demolition, construction, and development of an 11-story medical facility with parking. 3741 & 3735 Riverdale Avenue and 3644 Oxford Avenue are the current building addresses that are being demolished.
There is wide speculation about Item #3, which has been seen to be in drawings a recessed 11-story building from Riverdale Avenue. It is believed that an 11-story building can be built on Oxford Avenue next to a current 11-story co-op building, but the height can only be six stories on Riverdale Avenue.
This new medical building would be a partnership of Montifore Hospital which currently has a clinic on Johnson Avenue, and Westmed which manages three excellent medical facilities in Westchester County. This would be a full service facility of a hospital, but have no hospital beds. All medical testing and specialty doctors would be in the new medical facility as are in Westmeds current facilities that are in partnership with other hospitals. New jobs would be provided and this facility would be a great benefit to the community. More on what went on at this meeting in next week's column.
Don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for the latest on both of these items, and other items such as the latest listing of events going on at Wave Hill, items that may come in after our deadline, and the photos of the events such as the upcoming Johnson Avenue Festival.
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.
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Red Panda Cubs Make Their Zoo Debut
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Red Panda Cubs Make Their Zoo Debut: BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 8- Four red panda cubs are debuting at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo and Prospect Park Zoo. ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)