Bronx News (Bxnews.net): BP hosts eating contest

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): BP hosts eating contest: BP hosts eating contest Photo by Robert Benimoff Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted the first ever "Bronx Eatin...

BP hosts eating contest

BP hosts eating contest

Photo by Robert Benimoff

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted the first ever "Bronx Eating Contest," featuring empanadas from Havana Cafe in Throggs Neck, at the annual "New York Salutes America" fireworks extravaganza at Orchard Beach on June 25. The event, which is co-sponsored by State Senator Jeff Klein, kicks off the city's week-long celebration of America's independence.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Pols Hail Supremes on #GayMarriage Decision

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Pols Hail Supremes on #GayMarriage Decision: Pols Hail Supremes on #GayMarriage Decision  BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 26- Officials throughout the Bronx hailed the Supreme ...

Pols Hail Supremes on #GayMarriage Decision

Pols Hail Supremes on #GayMarriage Decision 

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 26- Officials throughout the Bronx hailed the Supreme Court’s decision making gay marriage the law of the land.

The court’s 5-4 decision allows gay and lesbian couples the right to marry in any of the 50 states. 

“Today is a historic day in the United States,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “The Supreme Court has made history and affirmed a basic human right today by allowing men and women to legally marry throughout this nation, regardless of their sexual orientation.

“After two decades of litigation, the Supreme Court has finally expanded equal rights and marriage equality to all. I would like to thank the Supreme Court for having the courage to make this bold decision, and I congratulate this nation’s LGBT community for their efforts on this issue,” Diaz said.

“Today the Supreme Court put to rest a decades-long civil rights struggle for marriage equality,” said Rep. Joe Crowley. “In its decision the Supreme Court affirmed what a majority of Americans believe, that marriage between two loving individuals, regardless of their sex, deserves full protection under the law as afforded under the 14^th Amendment. History will remember this day as a watershed moment, a day when ‘we the people’ took another major step toward justice in our enormous and enduring struggle to form a more perfect union.

“So today, as we celebrate this momentous victory for our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters let us also remember those we lost along the way. Those who came before us as activists, advocates, and allies who, when faced with bigotry and violence, did not shrink, but rather stood for the belief that discrimination based on sexual orientation has absolutely no place in the laws and policies of our country. We stand on the shoulders of those giants today, and proudly proclaim love is love.”

“America will never forget this day, and neither will people all across the world who know the meaning of love and compassion,” said Mayor Bill deBlasio “June 26, 2015, will forever be memorialized as a pivotal moment in the history of our nation – the day the Supreme Court affirmed our core values of love, equality, and justice, rejected ignorance and malice, and appealed to the humanity in us all. Our country will finally afford millions of Americans the rights they have always deserved, but until now were unable to exercise. Today, this country is richer – filled with 

more equality, more acceptance, and more love than yesterday. And for the people of this city, where the movement for LGBT rights began in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, we can be proud that we helped blaze the trail to this great victory.”

Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents the 13th Congressional District of New York that includes Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, released the following statement on the Unite States Supreme decision on same-sex marriage:

"Indeed, all love is equal. I applaud the Supreme Court ruling on the same-sex marriage case and reaffirming that the union of the LGBT community should be treated equally. This decision marks another milestone toward American progress as the court reaffirms equal protections guaranteed to all Americans under the 14th Amendment. Today, a long overdue justice and equality have been served.

“Far too many couples have been denied protections by their governments, rights to legally commit to one another, and basic responsibilities as spouse and parents. The Court's ruling today makes it loud and clear that same-sex marriage is less about redefining the institution of marriage, but more so to ensure fundamental rights and dignity that gays and lesbians across the country deserve.

“As our nation celebrates Pride Month, this ruling could not come at a more appropriate time. I am proud that New York State is a leader in marriage equality and I look forward to other states across the nation recognizing this important right for all people. Let us continue on our path towards progress and let nothing stand in the way of ensuring equality for all,” Rangel said. 

#SupremeCourt #GayMarriage #Bronxnews

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Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Nova gives #Yankees boost

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Nova gives #Yankees boost: Nova Return on Mound Gave Yankees boost they Needed    By Rich Mancuso Ivan Nova had a sleepless  Tuesday night  knowing in a few hou...

Nova gives #Yankees boost

Nova Return on Mound Gave Yankees boost they Needed   

By Rich Mancuso

Ivan Nova had a sleepless Tuesday night knowing in a few hours he would be making his season debut Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees right-hander was anxious to get the ball again after a 14-month recovery and rehab stint from Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

The wait was over and Nova was a boost the Yankees needed. More so, because the Yankees top three in the rotation of Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia had three consecutive bad starts, Nova had to be a stopper and he was as New York took the finale of a three game series with a 10-2 win over the lowly Philadelphia Phillies.

And it was important for Nova to prove that his comeback was complete. Just as important was the Yankees getting a win and preventing the Phillies from getting a three-game sweep in the Bronx. 

“Sinker was really  good and the curve,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi about Nova. The manager said everything was good and that included the command and how Nova kept his pace.  It was Nova’s first Major League appearance since April 19th of last year at Tampa Bay, and the final numbers showed he was ready:

He retired eight of the first nine batters faced, 19 of his first 22, tossed 6.2 innings, allowed three hits, two walks, had one strikeout and allowed no-runs. 

The last number, no runs was a change of pace because over the past three games the Yankees starters and bullpen allowed 34 runs to the Phillies, a team that scores the second fewest runs in baseball. There was no doubt that Nova is what the Yankees needed as they embarked on their two city road trip, with four games at Houston and three against the Los Angeles Angels.

Girardi never had his doubts about Nova. “He’s pitched well in our rotation the last few years,” he said. “We missed him the last 14-months.” 

And Nova is what the Yankees need now, especially when it appears that Sabathia is no longer pitching like an ace, there are questions about a Tanaka elbow and then there is the inconsistency of Pineda. 

Until what Nova did on the mound Wednesday afternoon. the lone reliable Yankees starter has been Adam Warren who got a win over the Detroit Tigers last Friday night, and it will probably mean he returns to the bullpen unless Girardi decides to go with a six-man rotation.  

The command from Nova was nice to see, and the talk was how hard the 28-year old worked hard to get back.

“It was more than expected,” Nova said about his return performance in the Bronx. He was asked if this was more special than his debut with the Yankees, and his first start in 2010.

“This was more,” he said, “Because I worked through rehab.” It was 14-months and constantly working with the rehab process down in Tampa Florida, but starting a season on the sidelines and anxious to get back made the process easier for Nova, who according to Girardi has always been instrumental in the Yankees pitching rotation.

Said Nova, who was thrilled to be back and contributing to his team,”I think that’s one of the best things, not only to come back, but to do it in front of the Yankees fans. It’s amazing the way they treated me today, so I’m really happy.”  When his day was over after throwing 92 pitches, the 45,877 in the matinee crowd gave Nova a standing ovation and he responded by tipping his cap. It was a happy return and the outing Nova, the Yankees and their fans needed. Girardi had said the pitch limit for this first start would be no more than 95 pitches.

Nova added, “ When I was walking to the mound, I didn’t believe it had been 14 months.  I was able to keep calm and try to do my best out there. Think positive the whole time. I was ready to go.”

But five days ago, in a final rehab start at Triple -A Scranton, Nova was ineffective and the curve ball, this according to a longtime scout, was not breaking as he allowed five earned runs, and seven hits in seven innings. There was discussion of possibly moving back his return and having one or two more rehab stints at Scranton. 

The schedule is favorable for Nova to be here now and contribute, and Girardi commented that works in his favor to build up more. 

“Thing is, he is healthy and sound,” Girardi said.  “He’s not thrown a lot of innings this year  so its not like you’re asking him to throw 200 innings.”  And the ability to throw strikes and get fly ball outs showed that the command was there.

And there was that pace that Nova had, something that impressed Girardi and his teammates who were more than happy to see him back on the mound.

“Not a whole lot works him up but given the circumstances and the year off he had, it would be easy to be a little too aggressive out there,” said John Ryan Murphy the catcher who saw the calm and comfort Nova had behind the plate.

“Early in the game,” Murphy said, “we just wanted to get rolling and get him some outs under his belt and we did that. He got comfortable there and kept his nerves calm and did a great job.”

And for the Yankees it was what they needed as they gained a game on Tampa Bay in the tight AL East race for first place in late June. 

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

#IvanNova #Yankees #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): The end of Cole Hamels

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): The end of Cole Hamels: Was Cole  Hamels  loss to Yanks on Wednesday his final game with the Phillies? By Howard  Goldin Although most of the writing on th...