Riverdale-Jaspers-baseball

Jasper Named Top-30 Candidate for Senior CLASS Award

RIVERDALE, NEW YORK, March 1- Manhattan College second baseman Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) was selected as one of the 30 NCAA Division I baseball student-athletes to be considered for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award. 

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award in April. Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.

Camastro is a two-year team captain who has led the Manhattan baseball team to back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships. The Lagrangeville, N.Y. native received All-MAAC honors the last two seasons, earning First Team recognition in 2012. Camastro is 16th all-time in program history with 172 career hits, and he is in striking distance in becoming only the 13th Jasper to reach the 200-hit plateau.

He has been a model student-athlete during his career in Riverdale earning MAAC All-Academic Team honors the last two years. Camastro has been named to the Manhattan College Dean’s List. He was also nominated for the College’s prestigious Gunn Medal Award, which is presented to a graduating senior who has made the most significant contributions to Manhattan during their undergraduate years.

Camastro has also been very active in the community, volunteering his time at a local community center in the Bronx on a consistent basis. He has helped organize other community efforts with his teammates to support initiatives such as Wounded Warriors Program, American Red Cross and Toys for Tots with a local elementary school.

Camastro currently leads Manhattan batting .500 with six hits and a .600 on-base percentage after the Jaspers’ first series of the season at Florida International last weekend. Manhattan travels to No. 23 Florida Gulf Coast for a four-game set this weekend, beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Fort Myers, Fla.

Bronxnews-City Council-Race

Race to Replace Foster in Council Begins

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, March 1-We told you weeks ago that 77th A.D. Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson was going to be running for the soon to be vacant 16th City Council seat currently held by Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster.

On Thursday February 21st Assemblywoman Gibson surrounded by her mentor Current Bronx Deputy Borough President Aurelia Greene (and former 77th A.D. Assemblywoman), Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Congressman Jose Serrano, State Senators Rivera and Serrano, Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster, and several of her fellow assembly members made it official that she was running for the City Council 16th Council District seat. The 77th A.D. Male District Leader Benny Catala (we are told) will be running in the special election that will fill the vacant 77th A.D. seat after Assemblywoman Gibson is elected to the City Council.

Senator Jeff Klein held his 18th Annual Black History Month Breakfast this past Saturday, and you can see how things have changed in a few short years. I remember attending a past breakfast where Former Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson was the keynote speaker. That was of course the last time the Democrats held the majority in the state senate. Pardon me, Democrats outnumber Republicans again this year, but it is Senator Klein, not Senator Sampson, who is in charge of the entire senate body. This year former City Comptroller Bill Thompson was the keynote speaker, where as it was Jeff Klein who backed Thompson in his race for Comptroller even though Thompson's opponent was heavily favored to win the Bronx, which he did.

Over 300 people were in attendance, the honorees were Mount Vernon City Council member Richard Thomas, President of the Pelham Parkway Houses Ms. Herma Williams, President of the Throggs Neck Houses Ms. Monique Johnson, and Community Board 8 member Lamont Parker. You can go to my blog at www. 100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see photos of the event.

Friday night February 22nd was the 2nd annual African-American Abrazo by Team Diaz to celebrate Black History Month. Team Diaz consists of State Senator Reverend Rubin Diaz Jr., Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda of the Castle Hill, Concourse Village, Parkchester, Soundview, and West Farms areas. The honorees were Police Officer Cleneth A. Davis, Ms. Linda Jordan, Deacon Emeritus Douglas B. Williams, Ms. Viola L. Doswell, and Master Michael Dean. On hand with Team Diaz were Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, Assemblyman Eric Stevenson, Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson, City Comptroller John Liu, and Councilwoman Letitia James (candidate for Public Advocate). There were also two of Senator Diaz's choices for public office Rev. Eric Salgado for Mayor, and Rev. Joel Bauza for the term limited 15th City Council seat.

Sex Offender Charged in Laundromat Rape

Sex Offender Charged in Laundromat Rape

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, February 28- Police arrested a Level 3 sex offender who reportedly raped a worker at a Norwood laundromat.

Officers arrested 44-year-old Danny Gonzalez and charged him with rape, robbery and assault.

Officers were called to the Broad Laundry, located at 3181 Webster Avenue, at just after 8 a.m., on February 17.

Police say the suspect forced the 27-year-old woman into a back room where he attacked her.

The victim was later transported to a local hospital and was expected to recover.

The following Tuesday detectives identified the suspect through a nearby surveillance camera. Police say the suspect Gonzalez, is a career criminal with arrests dating back to 1990. Police sources say Gonzalez is a level 3 sex offender who has served 13-years in prison for rape and other offenses.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Monroe Runners on Track to Victory

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Monroe Runners on Track to Victory: By Gary Axelbank BRONX, NEW YORK, February 27- Three Deep in the heart of Texas this weekend, Monroe's top 22 indoor track and field ...

Monroe Runners on Track to Victory

By Gary Axelbank

BRONX, NEW YORK, February 27- Three Deep in the heart of Texas this weekend, Monroe's top 22 indoor track and field athletes hope to make their mark at the 2013 NJCAA Men's & Women's Indoor Track & Field National championships. The Mustangs' largest-ever entry in the indoor nationals features several top-ranked performers. As a team, the Monroe athletes will compete in a range of dashes, relays, and jumping and throwing events, testimony to the program's depth and versatility.

"Since we began practicing in the fall, this weekend at Texas Tech in Lubbock was circled on our calendars," said Coach Mark Goodman. "We'll be fielding a large team and a strong one. I could single out the athletes who have had some of the nation's best peformances as the ones with the highest expectations, but the fact is, every one of our athletes who will be competing is pumped and primed to make a showing for the royal blue and gold. They all can't wait to get there and do their thing."

For Monroe's best jumpers, deuces are wild - they're each ranked second in the nation. Sengalese freshman, Mamadou Gueye is ranked at #2 in both the long jump (7.83m) and triple jump (16.17m) and freshman high jumper Dennisha Frazier, from Washington, DC, is also ranked at #2 (1.68m). Sophomore pole vaulter K'don Samuels is ranked at #2 (4.80m) as well.

Mr. World, Columbian sophomore Francisco Escobar, will also be pole vaulting and freshman David Henry from Longview, NY will be in the triple jump.

As for the women sprinters, Westchester freshman Jessica Barrera has had a great indoor season, posting a 57.44 in the 400m, good for fifth best in the nation. Sohpomore sensation from the nation's capital Manaiza Kelley will be running in the 55m and 200m in Texas. Also, Monroe will field the #5-ranked 4x400 relay team (3:55:36).

On the men's side Florida freshman Khalfani Bernard (12th, 21.67) and Brooklyn freshman Christopher Lewis (29th, 22:07) will run in the 200m and Joel Johnson (8th, 48.59), also a Brooklyn freshman, and freshman Antoine Davis (12th, 49.03) from Newburgh, NY will compete in the 400m. Sophomore Brooklynite Earl Lucas (7th, 1:21:12) is entered in the 600m and Damion Walker (11th, 1:56:24), a freshman from Queens is in the 800m. Monroe's 4x400 relay team will try to best their #7 (3:15:43) standing.

Running distance for Monroe at the nationals will be Gambian sophomore Ansu Sowe (10th in the mile, 4:21:91 and 14th in the 3000m, 8:51:52).

Monroe's 2012 national champion outdoor discus thrower Lithuanian sophomore Tautvydas Kieras will be turning his talents indoors in the shot put (13th, 15.32m) and weight throw (13th15.50m).

"One thing that characterizes our team is its diversity," said Coach Goodman. "Our athletes come from a variety of backgrounds and places. But what they have in common is their love of their sport and their desire to achieve. Taking a talented team of this size to the national meet is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people," he said, " and competing in this scenario is the payoff. We expect to not only simply be there, but to make our mark and our stand as Monroe Mustangs."

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): TAXED OUT OF BUSINESS

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): TAXED OUT OF BUSINESS: Biz Owners Face Showdown on Taxes Tomorrow BRONX, NEW YORK, February 27- Co-op City's management has set Thursday, Feb. 28, for a show...

TAXED OUT OF BUSINESS

Biz Owners Face Showdown on Taxes Tomorrow

BRONX, NEW YORK, February 27- Co-op City's management has set Thursday, Feb. 28, for a showdown meeting with merchants on an impasse over real-estate taxes. 

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