BRONX NEWS: Metro Center is #Legionnaires Free

BRONX NEWS: Metro Center is #Legionnaires Free: Metro Center is #Legionnaires Free ***UPDATE*** BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Going the extra mile appears to have paid off for the...

Metro Center is #Legionnaires Free

Metro Center is #Legionnaires Free

***UPDATE***

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Going the extra mile appears to have paid off for the Hutchinson Metro Center. The campus tested negative for Legionella.

Officials tell the News that despite repeated testing, they decided to clean the cooling towers this week as a precaution. This was done even though testing last week came up negative for Legionella.

According to Joe Kelleher, president of Hutch Metro, all five towers at the property tested negative over the weekend by the Health department. They had previously been tested (results negative), cleaned and disinfected in August as part of a regularly scheduled maintenance program. 

As an extra precaution, the development took the further step of having the towers tested and disinfected AGAIN by their own contractor Monday and Tuesday, even after the Health Department tests came back negative. Kelleher explained that as this only costs a few hundred dollars (about $500 per tower), he ordered it done as an extra precaution for the peace of mind of his tenants and visitors to Hutch Metro, and because the nearby towers at Calvary and Bronx State tested positive. 

Hutch Metro and Simone Development have been extremely proactive in their approach to cooling tower maintenance since the construction of the buildings. 

On the other hand officials at Einstein College are working to disinfect their towers and are working with health officials.

Montefiore Medical Center, which runs the medical school, issued the following statement: 

“Montefiore and Einstein have been compliant with all required NYC Department of Health (DOH) disinfection and testing of our cooling towers. Despite these efforts, the most recent water test conducted by the DOH showed detection of legionella. In coordination with the DOH, we are treating the towers to eliminate harmful bacteria in these water sources, sanitizing the area regardless of the results, and will continue to take every precaution to protect students and staff.”

“The investigation will continue to be run by the DOH. All inquiries about cooling towers should be directed to them.”

In addition to Lehman High School, the following locations also tested positive for the disease: the Chase bank at 2725 East Tremont; Calvary Hospital at 1740 Eastchester Rd.; Lehman High School at 2964 East Tremont; Bronx State Psychiatric at 1500 Waters Pl.; Einstein College at 1199 Sacket Ave., 1845 Eastchester Rd., and 1301 Morris Park Ave.

Shock over the latest revelations is angering and upsetting residents who have not heard anything about the latest revelations.

Before the latest announcement about the sources, an emergency town hall meeting was called for Thursday.

This comes as three new cases of the disease have been diagnosed. The current number of cases has grown to 10.

In Morris Park, residents are on edge. The neighborhood has been decorated for the upcoming Bronx Columbus Day Parade yet all anyone is talking about is the outbreak. The local supermarket has a sign in its window stating that it does not have a cooling tower. This is a reference to the cooling towers in large buildings where the disease has been detected.

Health officials will be on hand to answer questions at Maestros Caterers on Thursday at 8 p.m.

The latest Legionnaires outbreak comes on the heals of an outbreak in the South Bronx which claimed the lives of 12 people and infected 120. There the Opera House Hotel was determined to be the cause of the outbreak.

In January, the first outbreak of Legionnaires occurred in Co-op City. Three people have already filed lawsuits against the management company that runs Co-op City for failing to maintain the cooling towers which they claim resulted in them contracting Legionnaires. 

The outbreaks in such diverse neighborhoods have residents scratching their heads as to what is causing the outbreaks.

In August, Mayor deBasio and Health officials declared an end to the outbreak after no new cases were discovered in the South Bronx.

#Legionnaires #Outbreak #Morris Park #Bronx #New York #Bronx News

BRONX NEWS: #Legionnaires Found in Lehman

BRONX NEWS: #Legionnaires Found in Lehman: Legionnaires Found in Lehman Einstein College, Calvary, Bronx State all Test Positive By Dan Gesslein Shock amongst the city’s sil...

#Legionnaires Found in Lehman

***UPDATE***

No signs of Legionnaires had been detected at the Hutchinson Metro Center

Hutchinson Metro President Joseph Kelleher issued the following statement:

"The health and safety of those who work  and visit our properties is of the utmost importance to Simone Development. All of our rooftop cooling towers and other equipment are inspected and tested on a regular basis as per department of Health mandates. There are a total of five cooling towers atop two buildings at the Hutch Metro Center and they have been under contract for regular inspection, cleaning and disinfecting on a regular basis since their construction. These towers were all tested during the first week of August by our vendors Cascade Water Services and NALCO Environmental Hygiene Services."

Legionnaires Found in Lehman
Einstein College, Calvary, Bronx State all Test Positive

By Dan Gesslein

Shock amongst the city’s silence swept through Pelham Bay and Morris Park as word dripped out that Lehman High School tested positive for the Legionella bacteria.

In addition, the following locations also tested positive for the disease: the Chase bank at 2725 East Tremont; Calvary Hospital at 1740 Eastchester Rd.; Lehman High School at 2964 East Tremont; Bronx State Psychiatric at 1500 Waters Pl.; Einstein College at 1199 Sacket Ave., 1845 Eastchester Rd., and 1301 Morris Park Ave.

No word about whether the Metro Center and the new Hilton Hotel which are adjacent to Calvary Hospital and Bronx State were impacted.

At Lehman High, classes resumed today after the cooling tower was cleaned. 

“The water in the cooling tower is self-contained and is separate from the water used by the school," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a NBC interview.

Shock over the latest revelations is angering and upsetting residents who have not heard anything about the latest revelations. The Health Department still has not issued press releases and updates about the source of the disease. 

Before the latest announcement about the sources, an emergency town hall meeting was called for Thursday.

This comes as three new cases of the disease have been diagnosed. The current number of cases has grown to 10.

In Morris Park, residents are on edge. The neighborhood has been decorated for the upcoming Bronx Columbus Day Parade yet all anyone is talking about is the outbreak. The local supermarket has a sign in its window stating that it does not have a cooling tower. This is a reference to the cooling towers in large buildings where the disease has been detected.

Health officials will be on hand to answer questions at Maestros Caterers on Thursday at 8 p.m.

The latest Legionnaires outbreak comes on the heals of an outbreak in the South Bronx which claimed the lives of 12 people and infected 120. There the Opera House Hotel was determined to be the cause of the outbreak.

In January, the first outbreak of Legionnaires occurred in Co-op City. Three people have already filed lawsuits against the management company that runs Co-op City for failing to maintain the cooling towers which they claim resulted in them contracting Legionnaires. 

The outbreaks in such diverse neighborhoods have residents scratching their heads as to what is causing the outbreaks.

In August, Mayor deBasio and Health officials declared an end to the outbreak after no new cases were discovered in the South Bronx.

#Legionnaires #Outbreak #Morris Park #Bronx #New York #Bronx News

BRONX NEWS: A-Rod not helping #Yankees as wild card is on hold...

BRONX NEWS: A-Rod not helping #Yankees as wild card is on hold...: Wild Card Woes A-Rod not helping #Yankees as wild card is on hold By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Don’t worry New Y...

A-Rod not helping #Yankees as wild card is on hold

Wild Card Woes

A-Rod not helping #Yankees as wild card is on hold

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Don’t worry New York Yankees fans because it is a matter of a day or two when the wildcard postseason spot is secured. But first the Yankees have to take care of business and they have not looked like a postseason bound team these past two nights in the Bronx against the Boston Red Sox.

Either the Red Sox are having their best month of the season, and they are. Or the Yankees with their 10-4 loss Tuesday night don’t appear to be a playoff ready team. Take the latter because this late in the game the Yankees are not resembling a team of the first half that got them to be where they are.

Blame the pitching for this latest loss. And when starter Michael Pineda gave up six runs in the first inning, that is part of the cause, though manager Joe Girardi won’t be sending the inconsistent righthander to the mound next Tuesday night in the wild card elimination game. 

That task looks more likely is for Masahiro Tanaka who gets a final start Wednesday night, and that gives New York their best opportunity to win and advance to the ALDS. But there are other issues also, and Girardi in these final five games will look at options to get the offense going.

One thing is certain about Alex Rodriguez. The 40-year old swing is not there, and the once thought about American League Comeback Player is in a horrendous slump. Boston starter Rick Porcello with his season-high 8 innings got A-Rod to strike out twice. Rodriguez went 0-for-4 and he had trouble connecting on  the 93-mile fastballs thrown by Porcello.

“I just stunk today,” Rodriguez said with a smile after the game. He was being honest and to the point again, in his season of getting to the truth and not hiding behind the curtain.  Since August 1st, Rodriguez is hitting .185, with eight home runs and 24 RBI, and that is quite a difference from a first half and into the end of July.

The Yankees offense at one point, and a lot attributed to A-Rod, has not scored many runs and without A-Rod supplying the punch, it is obvious something may have to be done in these final games, even though he has 32 home runs and knocked in 85 runs.

And it is a matter of the Yankees not being able to handle a lefthander on the mound, though Porcelllo, a righty gave them an opportunity. Not, though with A-Rod, because the long season may have taken a toll, and he will be the first one to admit the Yankees are in good position but he has to get better at bats.

“We just have to take a deep breath and come back and win a game tomorrow,” he said. “I like where we are at.” And then A-Rod did what he does best by analyzing what has gone wrong, at the most important juncture of this long baseball season.

“Obviously,” he said, “It is important for me to swing the bat well. There is no question about it. The senior guys in this room, we have to make sure that we come out and stay relaxed and play good Yankee baseball. Part of that is me swinging the bat well.” 

Well, A-Rod is just a part of it. Greg Bird, the rookie, may be pressing after a 1-for-4 night. He also had trouble with the Porcello fastball and has been pressed into an everyday job at first base with Mark Teixeira out for the season. Girardi is looking at putting catcher John Ryan Murphy at first against left handed pitching.

But it is the A-Rod offense that is so important to this lineup, and right now there is not much time left to get him going again. And with that Tuesday evening wild card elimination game quickly approaching, the bat of A-Rod is vital. More so, if Tanaka is not effective, and if the Yankees have to come from behind, they need the bat of A-Rod to be effective.

Rodriguez said, Porcello dominated him the entire night but it was the sinker and not the fastball. "I didn’t feel really good,” he said. But those in the press box, and the scouts who know the game, were quick to say that this time of year a 40-year old playing the entire season will have difficulty catching up with an effective fastball.

What he did so well to help carry this team was hit in the clutch. Tuesday night with two runners on in the first, Rodriguez struck out. And in the fifth inning he grounded into a double play with no out. 

And because Alex Rodriguez has become the spokesperson this season for his team, he was quick to say about the inevitable wild card clincher: “Everyone is anticipating. It is just important to take it one day at a time and one bat at a time. We have been doing that all year.”

He added, “Nothing is going to be easy. We just have to come back and play good Yankee baseball and we will.” However it has not been good Yankees baseball as of late and the home run ball has also been hard to find. The Yankees have been built to hit the  ball out of the park, and with the exception of a first inning home run from Dustin Ackley, that was it.

More of a concern, after a four-run first inning that put the Yankees quickly back in the game. Porcello and Jean Machi held the Yankees scoreless. It was the second straight game where they scored runs and were shutout along the way.

Pineda was able to settle down and keep the Yankees in the game and that was the one positive that Girardi was able to pinpoint. But getting those two wins for the wildcard these past two nights is becoming an eternity. 

“This is their playoff and they want to make an impact and we would be the same way playing against them,” said Rodriguez about the Red Sox. But the Yankees have a big game to play Tuesday night and the Red Sox are going home, and this is no time for A-Rod or the offense to be non existent.

Girardi said his team is getting good at bats, and attributes the outstanding Red Sox outfield for making the outs. But it all comes down to the offense, and with A-Rod going sour that could mean one game next week and go home for the Yankees. 

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Twitter@Ring786  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

#Yankees #Wild Card #Playoffs #MLB #Red Sox #ARod #Bronx #New York #Bronx News

BRONX NEWS: More #Legionnaires Cases, Meeting Called

BRONX NEWS: More #Legionnaires Cases, Meeting Called: More #Legionnaires Cases, Meeting Called By Dan Gesslein & David Greene An emergency town hall meeting will be held on Thursday t...