Fordham Women Edge Davidson on Senior Day

Fordham Women Edge Davidson on Senior Day

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 2- The Fordham Rams women’s basketball team (19‐10, 11‐5) played its final basketball game of the regular season at The Rose Hill Gym on Fordham’s Bronx campus. Since it was the final home game of the season as well, the four graduating players were honored on the court prior to the contest.

After not starting a game in her first two injury affected years at Fordham, Emily Tapio started every game in her junior and senior seasons. The Brewster, New York native is the leading scorer on the team, averaging 12 points per game. Of even greater importance to her future life, the Business Administration major was named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Another Business Administration major, Liz Milner of Cold Spring, New York was also named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Milner has not seen action during the past two seasons because of a torn ACL she suffered prior to the 2013‐14 season. Despite her injury, she is always present at games and strongly supports her teammates.

Taryn Durant started 15 games this year after only one start during her first three years at Fordham. Coach Stephanie Gaitley praised the Psychology major after the final home game for her consistency on and off the court and remarked, “She is a joy to work with.”

Tiffany Ruffin is not a Fordham senior. She graduated from Boston College in 2013 and is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Media Management at Fordham. Ruffin has fit in easily and quickly with her teammates. She directs the Fordham offense as its point guard. Gaitley recognizes the importance of the newcomer and has said, “We will go as far as Tif does.”

The Davidson Wildcats (5‐24, 1‐15) were Fordham’s final regular season opponent. They entered the game with a 10-game losing streak, so most observers believed the Rams would have an easy win.

Although the visitors took a 4‐3 lead in the first minute of play, it was the final advantage for the Wildcats in the first half. Fordham then, as expected, dominated play with a 20‐6 scoring run, which gave the Rams a 23‐10 lead at 8:33. The half ended with Fordham leading, 31‐21.

A layup by Durant at 12:06 in the second half brought the Rams another double digit advantage. It appeared to many that the Rams would now coast to victory. The visitors then scored 12 unanswered points to take a 42‐40 lead with 7:14 remaining in the contest. The change in the game led Gaitley to remark after the game concluded, “We (Fordham) need to do a better job to stay composed during an opposing run.”

Fordham on the strength of its seniors, closed the contest with a 14‐4 scoring run to win, 54‐46. The three seniors who played, Tapio, Ruffin and Durant, scored 16 of Fordham’s final 18 points.

Gaitley looked upon the bright side of the surprisingly difficult contest, “This was actually good for us as the conference tournament is going to be a grind.”

Fordham finished the season fourth in the Atlantic‐10, thus, giving them a bye in the first two rounds of the conference championship, which begins on March 4. They will next play at 2 pm on March 6 in the quarter‐final round of the A‐10 Tournament.

#Fordham #Rams #Basketball #Bronxnews

Wakefield News: What Happened to $10M Savings?

Wakefield News: What Happened to $10M Savings?: What Happened to $10M Savings? Residents Forced to Pony Up More as No One Questions Where Millions Went By Michael Horowitz BRONX...

What Happened to $10M Savings?

What Happened to $10M Savings?

Residents Forced to Pony Up More as No One Questions Where Millions Went

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 27- What ever happened to the $10 million in annual savings the Riverbay Corporation was supposed to realize by refinancing the community’s mortgage through Wells Fargo Bank and HUD in 2012?

That’s what Riverbay board member Daryl Johnson and a leading supporter of Co­-op City’s privatization were asking this week.

Johnson noted, “It’s clear to me that the answer is that Co­-op City will continue to waste whatever money it saves as long as the Riverbay Corporation’s wasteful corporate culture isn’t changed. As long as we continue to approve major extra expenses on contracts after they are agreed to, we’re going to keep spending whatever money that we might save.”

Johnson stressed, “The real losers in all this are the shareholders, who are now being asked to pay another increase in carrying charges, after repeated increases in carrying charges during the time when Marion Scott ran Co­-op City’s management.”

Richard Friedman, a real­ estate professional who continues to strongly support Co­-op City’s privatization, stressed, “I have no use for what Riverbay president Cleve Taylor has to say, just as I had no use for what Herbert Freedman and the people with Marion Scott had to say. Mr. Taylor is falling back on the shareholders for more money, when he should, instead, be looking for new ways to increase income, such as through privatization and the development of commercial properties, and looking to cut expenses.”

Friedman stressed, “Raising carrying charges is the easy way out for any management. It’s easier to require that the shareholders pay more than to come up with other ways to maximize income and decrease expenses.”

Friedman concluded, “I watched Cleve Taylor, on TV, as he held court during recent town hall meeting on the proposed 4.5 percent increase in carrying charges. The whole thing literally turned my stomach, because, once again, the shareholders were being hoodwinked into believing that there was no way around the proposed increased increase in carrying charges.”

#RealEstate #CoopCity #Bronxnews

Wakefield News: RESIDENTS’ SHOCKING VIEWS ON ISIS:

Wakefield News: RESIDENTS’ SHOCKING VIEWS ON ISIS:: RESIDENTS’ SHOCKING VIEWS ON ISIS: Terrorists Not Monsters Just Confused Young Men Who Need More Education There’s Nothing Obama Can ...

RESIDENTS’ SHOCKING VIEWS ON ISIS:

RESIDENTS’ SHOCKING VIEWS ON ISIS:

Terrorists Not Monsters

Just Confused Young Men Who Need More Education

There’s Nothing Obama Can Do

By Koi Germany

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 26- Co­-op City shareholders, speaking out on ISIS and its threat to Western Civilization, reacted in a variety of ways when they were recently interviewed.

Some of those questioned called the ISIS terrorists “monsters,” while others focused on the need to reeducate young Muslims.

As shareholder Peggy Sarvis stated, it starts with “young, confused people.”

And with the terrorists continuing to resort to brazen displays of violence, shareholders were asked about how they believed the President is handling the situation.

“He can only do so much,” shareholder Charles Aponte stressed. “Muslim countries need to unite and chip in; the United States can only do so much.”

Terry Richardson, a long­t-ime shareholder agreed, stating, “The President’s hands are tied. He can’t change the attitudes of those in the Middle East.”

The issue of homegrown terrorism was also broached as shareholders took a firm stand on the matter.

“It is something we should be concerned about as well,” opined Marcus Minott.

With the issue becoming more pressing, there is a call for action on the part of the people, to do something to halt ISIS’s reign of terror.

“I just think they need to be terminated,” Phyllis Hairston­Talley conveyed. “President Obama has

a nation to think about.”

Koi Germany is a sophomore at Hunter College and a long­time resident of Co­-op City.

#ISIS #Terrorists #Obama #Bronxnews

Wakefield News: Cat Lovers Give City the Bird

Wakefield News: Cat Lovers Give City the Bird: Cat Lovers Give City the Bird  Said Officials Would Kill Rather Care for Strays Photo by Andre Rivera BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUA...

Cat Lovers Give City the Bird

Cat Lovers Give City the Bird 

Said Officials Would Kill Rather Care for Strays

Photo by Andre Rivera

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 25- The future of curbside animal shelters like this one, recently spotted near the Grand Concourse in Norwood, remain uncertain as the City Council will soon vote on a bill that would bring an intake center for stray animals to each borough. 

Despite all the snow and cold temps, animal lovers across the city have been refusing to call the Center for Animal Care and Control for fear that if the cats are not quickly adopted, they would be put to sleep. Residents say an unnamed animal lover began taking care of these stray cats in the area more than three years ago and the kitty motel sits on an abandon lot. 

The City Council's Health Committee was expected to discuss the bill on February 25, that if the bill passed, would establish a full-service animal shelter in every borough.   

#Cats #Shelter #NYC #Bronxnews

Wakefield News: Eagle Flies High in Tourney

Wakefield News: Eagle Flies High in Tourney: Eagle Flies High in Tourney By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 25- Number 10 seed Eagle Academy for Young Men hosted ...

Eagle Flies High in Tourney

Eagle Flies High in Tourney

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 25- Number 10 seed Eagle Academy for Young Men hosted the opening round of the 2015 PSAL Boys Basketball AA division Tournament on February 24th playing #23 Beach Channel.  

Underdog Beach Channel responded to the challenge holding close and eventually tying Eagle Academy twice in the second quarter before taking a 24-21 lead on a three pointer with 3:51 remaining in the second.  

Eagle would later tie the score a third time before two Beach Channel field goals in the final 45 seconds of the half gave Beach Channel its largest lead of the night 31-27.  

Eagle Academy poured it on the the second half, using consecutive three pointers to cap a 13-2 run taking a 40-33 lead that that they never relinquished. 

Eagle Academy cruised past Beach Channel 73-59. 

PSAL playoffs are slated to run through March 14th with the Second round to begin February 26th and 27th.  

#PSAL #Basketball  #Sports

Wakefield News: Christening shooting

Wakefield News: Christening shooting: Gunman gets 50 yrs for christening shooting that left 10-yr-old girl dead #Gunman #NYPD #DA #Bronxnews BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUAR...

Christening shooting

Gunman gets 50 yrs for christening shooting that left 10-yr-old girl dead

#Gunman #NYPD #DA #Bronxnews

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 23- District Attorney Robert Johnson announced that 32-year-old Edgar “Puebla” Morales has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the August 18, 2002 shooting at a christening party that took the life of 10-year-old, Melany Mendez, and paralyzed a bystander, Javier Tochimani.

After a six-week-long re-trial in October, 2014 before Justice Peter Benitez, Morales was convicted of: attempted murder in the second degree (Class B Felony), manslaughter in the first degree (Class B Felony), gang assault in the first degree (Class B Felony), criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Class C Felony), conspiracy in the fourth degree (Class E Felony).

Morales was originally tried and convicted in late 2007 in the first-ever use of the New York State Anti-Terrorism Statute against an organized gang, the St. James Boys (SJB), which sought to dominate the neighborhood around St. James Park in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. That conviction was overturned by the New York State Court of Appeals in late 2012, which ruled that (in spite of language in the statute describing terrorism as acts “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population”) that law did not apply to the illegal acts of gang members committed in order to coerce or intimidate adversaries.

The crimes took place when gunfire erupted outside the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Hall at 1891 McGraw Avenue.  

Innocent bystander Mendez was shot once in the head by a stray bullet during an altercation that began when Morales and other SJG members invaded a baptism party being held there.  Confronting a man whom they believed to be a rival gang member, words were exchanged and the target and his friend, Tochimani, attempted to leave. Morales and several other SJG members followed them outside, where they assaulted the two men and opened fire, killing the little girl and leaving the second victim permanently paralyzed.

Prior to sentencing, emotional victim impact statements were presented by Mendez’ best friend, and by Tochimani, speaking from the wheelchair to which he is permanently confined [his written statement in Spanish delivered by a Court interpreter and paraphrased here] – “He [Morales] has deprived me of my freedom…for the last 12 years my children have grown up without a father who can simply be with them…my wife is abandoned without my support. My beloved mother, every day since this horrible tragedy wakes up hoping that her son may one day walk. My family has been completely destroyed by these bad people.”

Tochimani is not only confined to the wheelchair, but has also lived in an institution since the day he was shot.

Says District Attorney Johnson, “The state's highest court may have found that these acts cannot be prosecuted using the state terrorism statute, but the terror perpetrated by organized gangs will not be tolerated, and we will bring members of these gangs to justice using the full force of the law.”

After Morales finishes his sentence he will have five years post-release supervision and will be subject.