AROUND TOWN NY: Dance troupe kicks off another BAAD season

AROUND TOWN NY: Dance troupe kicks off another BAAD season: Dance troupe kicks off another BAAD season BAAD! – The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance begins its fall season with the BlakTinX Per...

BRONX NEWS: Billion$ Over Budget, New Water Filtration Plant S...

BRONX NEWS: Billion$ Over Budget, New Water Filtration Plant S...: Billion$ Over Budget, New Water Filtration Plant Springs Leak? (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The ...

BRONX NEWS: Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting

BRONX NEWS: Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting: Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting Few Fears Calmed By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Few fears were eased during l...

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 silence sw...

BRONX NEWS: Legionnaires Strike Again

BRONX NEWS: Legionnaires Strike Again: #Legionnaires Strike Again 7 People Infected in Morris Park By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The Legionnaires Epide...

BRONX NEWS: Square Goes Back to the 80’s

BRONX NEWS: Square Goes Back to the 80’s: Square Goes Back to the 80’s BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- On September 26, 2015, the Westchester Square community and merchants paid homa...

BRONX NEWS: #Fordham Rolls Over Monmouth University

BRONX NEWS: #Fordham Rolls Over Monmouth University: #Fordham Rolls Over  Monmouth University  Fordham Rams’ Success Continues By Howard  Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Usu...

Riverdale News: Inside #Pope's Visit to New York

Riverdale News: Inside #Pope's Visit to New York: Inside #Pope's Visit to New York (Pope Francis, courtesy of Antonio Spadaro, SJ, editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica.) B...

Inside #Pope's Visit to New York

Inside #Pope's Visit to New York

(Pope Francis, courtesy of Antonio Spadaro, SJ, editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica.)

By Bob Howe

Papal Reflections  from Joseph M. McShane, SJ, President of Fordham

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 | The White House, Washington, D.C.

I rose at 5 and was on line by 6:10. Although the ceremony did not begin till 9:15, the time flew by. How and why?

The crowd was remarkably upbeat. In addition, I ran into many people whom I knew (which was quite a surprise).

The crowd was diverse and spirited—and very, very gracious. Not a cross word was said by anyone in spite of the long wait. When the President and the Pope finally appeared, the already-high spirits of the crowd really soared. The talks were brief but substantive. The President and the Pope are clearly very fond of one another.

I was deeply impressed with the talks that both President Obama and Pope Francis gave. I was even more impressed, however, by the images that will remain with me forever: the images of two principled men of prayer and peace standing side by side before the whole world, the image of two Americans bearing the weight of the world’s sorrows and hopes on their shoulders, the images of a remarkably diverse and hopeful crowd on the lawn of America’s house, the unforgettable sight of the sun rising on a beautiful early fall day over the City of Washington. Most of all, however, I came away with the sense that the President and the Pope have forged a close friendship, a friendship that gives hope to the whole world.

One of the most interesting encounters I had was with a woman who approached me at the end of the Pope’s remarks and asked me if he had blessed the crowd.

Thursday, September 24, 2015 | St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, N.Y.

Reflections on this evening’s Vespers Service at the Cathedral. Father Scirghi [Thomas Scirghi, SJ, associate professor of theology and rector of the Jesuit community at Fordham] and I made our way to the Cathedral via Metro North. After making our way through the rather rigorous security check point, we were ushered into the Cathedral and found our way to our seats which were behind a massive pillar on the North Aisle. Alas.

During the three hours before the Pope’s arrival, we were treated to a concert by the Cathedral, a lecture on the history of the Papacy, a short presentation on the history of the Cathedral and the recitation of the rosary.

The recitation of the rosary ended at 6:25, at which time the television monitors in the Cathedral were turned on to keep us up to speed on the Pope’s procession down Fifth Avenue. As you might imagine, the mood in the Cathedral became electric as the Pope got closer. Finally, the great bronze doors at the Fifth Avenue entrance to the Cathedral swung open, the organ swelled, the choir began to sing the anthems that signaled the Pope’s entrance.

(007 Actor Daniel Craig)

Then, something rather strange happened: although the congregation initially burst into thunderous applause when the Pope began to make his way up the main aisle, the applause soon became muted. I was taken aback by the sudden change in the volume of the applause until I realized that people had taken out their cellphones to snap pictures of the Pope as he passed by.

When he reached the sanctuary, the applause swelled again. Then, the mood changed markedly as the Pope disappeared to vest for Vespers. Ah, the Catholic liturgical decorum reigned as the Pope led us through the opening rites of Vespers.

The Pope began his homily with a heartfelt prayer for the Muslim pilgrims who had died earlier in Saudi Arabia. In the body of his homily, he addressed himself to the priests and religious in the congregation. (As he did in St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington yesterday, he offered his support to the bishops and the American Church for the pain that they (and we) had suffered as a result of the abuse scandals of the past decade.) The high point of his homily, however, was the praise that he heaped on the religious women whose hard work had built the American Church.

He was interrupted three times with thunderous applause when he spoke to and about the nuns. As I looked around the Cathedral, I could not help but be struck by the affection that the whole congregation had for these heroic women. I was also deeply moved to see many of the nuns around me crying for joy at the Pope’s words and the applause with which his words were greeted.

Following the conclusion of the Vesper Service, the Pope made his way slowly through the Cathedral reaching out to the infirm, the young, and the many religious women in the congregation. Then, he climbed into his Fiat and sped away.

The congestion dispersed quickly—but with great joy. For my part, I would have to say that I was deeply moved by his miraculous pastoral touch and the obvious love that he had/has for the Church, and the equally obvious love that the entire congregation had for him.

It was an experience of the Church at her best: inclusive, joyful, eager to embrace and transform the world in imitation of the Lord Himself.

Friday, September 25, 2015 | The United Nations, New York, N.Y.

Pope Paul VI was the first Pope to visit the United States, and the first to address the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Pope Paul VI was the first Pope to visit the United States, and the first to address the General Assembly of the United Nations. (He did so on 4 October 1965, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. I remember that day quite clearly—for a number of reasons.

First, my father (who was the SAC of New York for the State Department of the United States) served as the federal coordinator of security for the Pope’s visit. Second, I was honored to attend the Pope’s Mass in Yankee Stadium. Third, Paul VI’s address to the General Assembly captivated the world (and continues to be one that I find myself returning to quite often. Finally, it was an unbelievably cold day, which made the pilgrimage to Yankee Stadium a particularly challenging one).

I guess that it was because my memories of that first papal visit to the United States and that first papal address to the General Assembly of the United Nations are so rich that I looked forward to today with such eager longing.

I rose at 4:45 and caught the 6:00 train to Grand Central. (I noticed that there was only one person awake in Campbell/Conley/Salice at the time that I boarded the train for Manhattan.) When I arrived at the rendezvous spot to which I had been directed by the Nuncio’s staff, I was escorted to the United Nations and whisked through security. (The ease with which I made it through security is probably due to the fact that I was with Cardinal Turkson from both Ghana and the Roman Curia.)

After just a few minutes, I was led into the Assembly Chamber where I found myself in remarkable company:

Daniel (007) Craig, Bill and Melinda Gates, Mayor Deblasio, Commissioner Bratton, Cardinal Bratton, Cardinals Dolan, Turkson, and Parolin, two Apostolic Nuncios, the editor-in-chief of the Pope’s newspaper, and the Pope’s press secretary (both of the last two are Jesuits)—and what we were told was the largest of the leaders of states ever to attend the opening session of this General Assembly.

From the moment that the Pope first stepped foot on the UN campus, the television monitors on either side of the speaker’s podium kept us apprised of his progress toward the chamber. When he was finally escorted into the chamber, the entire crowd erupted into applause. (I noticed that the often-photographed Daniel Craig turned into an eager photographer as he snapped picture after picture of the Pope as he made his way to the front of the chamber. James Bond was not the only one taken with the Pope. Far from it. Heads of State whipped out their cellphones to capture the moment forever. And the press corps dropped all pretense of being blasé. They cheered, snapped and stood on their tip toes with the abandon of Yankee fans—in a good year.)

When he was introduced and began to speak, Francis captivated everyone — from the most seasoned diplomat to the most fervent believer to the most wary critic. His address championed the poor and marginalized, pled for a complete ban on nuclear weapons, wove together the themes that he wrote of so eloquently in Laudato Si. He was simply extraordinary in all he said. For my part, I was thrilled that he spoke about Paul VI’s visit to the UN fifty years ago, and even more thrilled that he made Paul’s words his own.

Then, it was over. The crowd rose to applaud him. (He was typically quite humble in acknowledging the adulation of the crowd.) And once again, cell phones were whipped out and put to good use to record the event for posterity. (I snapped more than a few myself.)

Friday, September 25, 2015 | Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y. Mass in The Garden.

Sadly, the evening began poorly because it took anywhere from two and a half to four hours to get into the Garden. (The lines ran all the way south from the Garden entrance to 23nd Street, west on 23rd Street to 8th Avenue and all the way north on 8th Avenue to 30th Street.) The back-up was due to the intense TSA security screenings that included hand-checking every bag, wallet and belt worn or carried by the twenty thousand worshipers who were making their way to the Garden. (Tempers became quite frayed around 4 p.m.)

Once inside, however, the mood of the congregation changed dramatically—and with good reason. The Garden had been transformed from arena to a peculiarly urban cathedral (New York style), with subdued lighting and liturgical furniture hand-crafted by local artisans. (The Garden didn’t disappear entirely, however: the concession stands remained open until an hour before Mass began, and the Archdiocese filled the three-to-four-hour period before Mass with a rich mixture of catechesis, entertainment by top-draw performers and a bilingual recitation of the rosary.)

The long wait came to a close when the Pope arrived ahead of schedule. Once he arrived, he took two turns around the court in an indoor Popemobile. As you might imagine, the crowd roared when they spotted him. Once again, however, the initial applause and cheering eerily ended as people whipped out their cellphones to snap pictures of the Pope as he circled the floor.

Then, he disappeared and the mood turned liturgical-solemn. At least for a while. The opening hymn was properly festive; the readings were proclaimed with a quiet grace. And then, Francis walked to the lectern to deliver his homily. He drew the congregation in with a combination of wisdom, humility, a few savvy nods to the City and its moods and challenges and its quirky joys. The congregation fell under his pastoral spell and roared its loving approval as he preached. (He slyly looked up from his text. And he smiled. And that smile conquered the crowd.) Fortified by the crowd’s enthusiasm, the 78-year-old Pope grew stronger and more animated the longer he preached. Then came his capstone: the Pope assured the congregation that God lived in our City—with all of its challenges, its smogs and fogs, its joys, sorrows and moods (dark and light). That was all it took. The crowd very nearly swooned. They roared their loving approval of both the (papal) preacher and his consoling/challenging message. And the sedate urban cathedral once again became an arena—and arena of grace. What can I say? The soccer-fan Pope from Argentina hit a home run on a basketball court (the world’s most famous basketball court at that).

As the Mass continued, the arena once again became New York’s new cathedral. With a nod to the universal nature of the Church, the Eucharistic prayer was said in Latin, and the Lord’s Prayer was chanted Latin. A happy chaos reigned at the Kiss of Peace. Twenty thousand souls received Communion. Hymns both ancient and modern were sung with gusto or solemn decorum.

After Communion, Cardinal Dolan rose to thank the Pope for the graces of his visit. The crowd, however, was not going to let the Cardinal to speak for them. They interrupted his address with a series of raucous (hey, it was a New York crowd) standing ovations. (I don’t think it would be wide of the mark to say that they were delirious with joy. And they were determined to let their Father in faith know just how much they loved him. It was also clear that they simply didn’t want their moment of grace to end, and that they simply didn’t want to let Francis go.) As for the Pope, it was clear that he was touched and energized by the loving rapport that he had established with his New York flock.

All good things, however, must come to an end. Before he dismissed the congregation, the Pope departed from the solemn cadences of the Roman Rite and looked directly at his brothers and sisters (or were they his sons and daughters) and asked all of them (us) to pray for him. (At that moment, we were all transported back to the scene that unfolded in St Peter’s Square on the evening on which he was introduced to the world—and asked the vast crowd that had gathered when the white smoke appeared over the Sistine Chapel to pray for him. He need not worry. All who were in the urban cathedral known as MSG will pray for him, the Pope who hit a home run on a basketball court (and the most famous basketball court in the world at that).

I would imagine that the Knicks and the Rangers are jealous tonight. A soccer fan stole the spotlight in their home. And New York embraced a new star. Or basked in the love of a Father who called his sons and daughters to live with a new sense of purpose.

#Pope #PopeFrancis #Papal Visit #UnitedNations #MadisonSquareGarden #BronxNews #Fordham University

Riverdale News: #Pope Watch

Riverdale News: #Pope Watch: #Pope Watch Fordham Prepares for #PopeFrancis’ Visit Will Stream Papal Speech By Joana Mercuri Fordham University BR...

#Pope Watch

#Pope Watch

Fordham Prepares for #PopeFrancis’ Visit

Will Stream Papal Speech

By Joana Mercuri

Fordham University

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- There is just one day until Pope Francis arrives in New York City as part of his visit to the United States, and Fordham is making arrangements to get the University community as involved as possible.

In the days leading up to the pope’s visit, Fordham has been preparing “spiritually and pastorally” in every way it can, said Lito Salazar, SJ, executive director of campus ministry. “We are encouraging daily and Sunday Mass homilists to consider invoking Pope Francis’ words or commenting on his global pastoral ministry whenever relevant to unpacking Scriptures at liturgical celebrations,” Father Lito said.

“In addition, the intentions of the pope and his visit have been and will continue to be in the intercessory prayers of the faithful. The Holy Hour devotion set for Mondays will have the same intention.”

Watch the pope live

The pope’s address to the United Nations, which takes place Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:30 a.m., will also be live streamed from the McGinley lobby at Rose Hill; Lowenstein 2nd floor plaza at Lincoln Center; and Room 228 at Westchester.

In addition, students can enter into a lottery to win a ticket to that evening’s papal Mass at Madison Square Garden. The lottery can be found in the student tab at my.fordham.edu.

Students and community members will also have the opportunity to pray evening vespers along with the pope as he leads evening prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday, Sept 24. Beginning 6:45 p.m., the vespers will be streamed at University Church and Our Lady’s Chapel at Rose Hill and at Blessed Rupert Mayer, SJ Chapel at Lincoln Center.

Community service

On Saturday, Sept. 26, students are invited to participate in a community service project in honor of the pope’s visit. Participants will join Habitat for Humanity’s Pope Francis House in Yonkers to help construct homes.

“Care for the poor and the marginalized is a central theme of Pope Francis’ papacy, and using our gifts and talents to care for the needs of others is something that’s part of Fordham’s identity as a Catholic and Jesuit school,” said Conor O’Kane, director of campus ministry at Rose Hill.

“The pope has an authenticity and spiritual freedom that resonates with our students,” O’Kane said. “His leadership and emphasis on what it means to be a person of faith in the world today is a question that’s relevant to all of our students. So his messages have been animating all that we say and do here [in campus ministry].”

#Pope #Pope Francis #Fordham University #Holy Father 

BRONX NEWS: Farewell to Yogi

BRONX NEWS: Farewell to Yogi: Farewell to Yogi Yogi Berra: An icon to many on both sides of town By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Prior to the ...

Riverdale News: Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger

Riverdale News: Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger: Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger                 BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- They’re the little blue pills – and little yellow...

Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger

Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger

               

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- They’re the little blue pills – and little yellow pills – that are often instantly recognizable. But what a lot of consumers didn’t recognize is that these Viagra and Cialis pills were knock-offs – made from the same or similar ingredients as the real thing, but not manufactured by pharma giants Pfizer and Eli Lilly.

And now, announced Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, 49-year-old Babou Jobe (pron JOE-bee) has been sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, half of which he paid. Jobe pled guilty on an earlier date to Trademark Counterfeiting in the second degree, a Class E Felony. He was sentenced by Justice Marc Whiten of the Bronx County Criminal Court.

When Jobe was arrested on September 18, 2014, at a store at 6 East 184^th Street in the Fordham section of the Bronx, he had in his possession nearly 14,000 Viagra and Cialis pills in bottles and blister packs, along with a sheaf of Viagra labels. All were counterfeits.

The Viagra pills contained the active ingredient of the real drug, but at less than 15 percent of the advertised dosage and the filler material included vulcanized rubber. Jobe told investigators, “Yeah, I know it’s fake,” admitting that he’d been selling the counterfeits since 2012, making about $1,500 a month.

The packaging for both the Viagra and the Cialis pills was close, but no cigar. Noted one representative of Eli Lilly and Co., the maker of Cialis, the bottles not only had invalid lot numbers, but the coloration and design was off.

Jobe, in taking this plea, also waived his right to appeal and, as a non-US citizen, is subject to deportation to his native Gambia. At his sentencing he stated, “I’m very sorry for what I did and I ask for forgiveness from the Court.”

The case against Jobe was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Peter D’Angelo and Supervising Assistant District Attorney Cristina Park of the Bronx D.A. Arson/Auto/Economic Crime Bureau. Jobe’s arrest resulted from an investigation initiated by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor with assistance from the New York County District Attorney’s Office.

#Viagra #Arrest #Bronx DA

BRONX NEWS: Shops Look to KO Deadly Weed

BRONX NEWS: Shops Look to KO Deadly Weed: Shops Look to KO Deadly Weed BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Elected officials and bodega owners have banned together to KO the sale of synth...

Riverdale News: There's Never a Traffic Agent or Police Office Whe...

Riverdale News: There's Never a Traffic Agent or Police Office Whe...: There's Never a Traffic Agent or Police Office When You Need One By Robert Press You may be asking yourself, why is this ...

There's Never a Traffic Agent or Police Office When You Need One

There's Never a Traffic Agent or Police Office When You Need One

By Robert Press

You may be asking yourself, why is this beer truck (from Manhattan Beer Distributors) parked in the middle of the intersection of West 238th Street and Greystone Avenue? You would also have to ask why is this beer truck blocking a cross walk. Why is this beer truck parked on the wrong side of the street? Then ask where were are all the traffic agents or police officers to ticket this illegally parked beer truck?

This Beer truck from Manhattan Beer Distributors was delivering  beer for almost 30 minutes to only one of the delis on West 238th Street in the vicinity of Manhattan College where there is suppose to be a strict student code on nderage drinking, as most students at Manhattan College are under the age of 21.

At a recent Community Board 8 Public Safety Committee meeting a local bar on West 238th Street was getting beat up for sales of beer to underage Manhattan College students during a liquor license renewal application hearing. The owner and manager of the bar stated that the bar does not sell beer to underage students, and said that it was the two delis that are on either side of the bar which are open 24 hours that are the culprits. It was said that on Friday afternoons a trailer full of beer stops on the street to drop off the beer in question that is being consumed.

The evidence is clear that these photos of a Manhattan Beer Distributor truck stopped by Friday afternoon taking the driver and his helper almost 30 minutes to unload their order for only one of the two delis which the bar owner and manager said occurs.

Bronx Sports: Fordham Retains Liberty Cup

Bronx Sports: Fordham Retains Liberty Cup: Fordham Retains Liberty Cup Rams defeat Columbia for fifth straight year  BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- In each of his four years at...

Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

#Mets Dominate Quiet Bombers

By Howard Goldin

QUEENS, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- The reward for the victor of Friday night’s Subway series contest at Citi Field was far more important than bragging rights. The Mets, victorious over the Yankees, 5‐1, raised their lead over the second place Washington Nationals to nine games in the National League East with 15 games remaining and cut the magic number to clinching their first pennant in a decade (2006) to eight.

The defeat of the Yanks cost far more than embarrassment as they fell to 4.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East, the largest deficit for them in the 2015 season.

On July 31, the Mets had a mark of 53‐50, trailed the Nationals by two games. The Yanks were in first place with a six-game lead and their season record was 58‐44. Since that date, the Mets have compiled a record of 31‐13, 17 of those victories have been comeback and the Mets have also tied the Blue Jays for the major league lead with 72 home runs. On the other hand, the Yanks have only played .500 ball (22‐22).

The difference in success between the two clubs can be traced in large part to unexpected decisions made by the management of each prior to the trading deadline, July 31. The reputation of the Mets ownership for not spending large amounts of money to acquire top talent from other teams or calling up their young and talented hurlers from their minor league system earlier than planned have been disregarded this year by general manager Sandy Alderson once a decision was made that a pennant was within reach in 2015. The Yankees also changed from their recent free spending methods in order to obtain a championship each season by making no major moves this year.

The result of Friday’s contest was a reflection of those earlier decisions. Steven Matz, in only his fifth start in the majors, gave up a run in the first, but held the Yanks scoreless in the next five frames to raise his record to 4‐0. His skipper, Terry Collins, remarked, “He was really impressive. He settled down [and] gave us six innings.”

Newcomer to the Mets, Yoenes Cespedes, has been carrying the team since his first game on August 1, but was hitless on Friday. Collins commented, “As good as Yo has been, it’s going to take a lot more than one guy to win games.” The home run was decisive from some of the other guys. Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy hit solo home runs off Masahiro Tanaka and veteran infielder Juan Uribe, another July acquisition, hit a two run homer in the seventh.

Collins praised his importance to the team, “This guy is a big time player. Not only has he been a terrific guy in the clubhouse [but] he’s gotten big hits for us.”

Big hits were something the Yankees lacked without Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann in the starting lineup. The Yanks left 10 runners on base while only going 2 for 8 with RISP in their 25th one run scoring game this season.

#Yankees #Mets #SubwaySeries #Tanaka #Yoenes Cespedes

Riverdale News: Bronx DA SEEKS JUDGESHIP

Riverdale News: Bronx DA SEEKS JUDGESHIP: BRONX D.A. SEEKING JUDICIAL NOMINATION BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)-  -- Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announces that, today, ...

Bronx DA SEEKS JUDGESHIP

BRONX D.A. SEEKING JUDICIAL NOMINATION

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)-  -- Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announces that, today, he informed his staff he has now requested that Bronx County Democratic Chairman Marcos Crespo support his nomination for a  position as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court.

Johnson said, "This spring, I did what I have done every four years, which was to submit my name for re-election to continue in the role of District Attorney for another term.  And once again, the Bronx Democratic Party, as well as the Republican and Conservative Parties, bestowed upon me their nomination to serve as District Attorney for another term.

“I have gained tremendous satisfaction from working with this Office and all its staff to provide justice and fairness for the people of The Bronx.  However, after 42 years of public service, including the U.S. Navy, The Legal Aid Society, as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney, as a Criminal Court Judge, and as the D.A. for the past 27 years, after much inner reflection, I have concluded that I would like to serve in another capacity. It is time for change in my life. The judicial position will allow me to make  a career move that provides the change that I seek without giving up public service.

“Contrary to what has been reported, no one, including anyone associated with the Bronx Democratic Party, has ever offered me another position, nor has anyone asked me to step down or retire as the District Attorney. I have, over the years, enjoyed their full faith and support both personally and through many electoral processes.

“I understand that this position cannot be offered to me prior to the Judicial Convention on Thursday, September 24th. I would not make that presumption. In fact, having gone to the Convention in 1987 as the candidate of the then County Chairman and coming out without the nomination, I understand the process better than most. I realize that the decision rests solely with the Judicial Delegates.

“Should I not be granted the nomination, I will stand for reelection in November to the position of District Attorney in order to continue to serve the people of the Bronx, a job that I love.  It is a position that allows me to secure justice for Bronx residents and the people of New York.

“I will be making no further comment on this subject."

#BronxDA #Robert t. Johnson

Bronx Sports: A Meaningful Subway Series Begins

Bronx Sports: A Meaningful Subway Series Begins: A Meaningful Subway Series Begins #Yankees vs. #Mets By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)-  This weekend should see sell‐out...

BRONX NEWS: Hope for Pope's Visit

BRONX NEWS: Hope for Pope's Visit: Pope’s visit to New York Viewed as uplifting occasion  By Michael Horowitz      BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Most Bronx reside...

Riverdale News: Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused

Riverdale News: Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused: Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused What to Do With An Empty Ice Rink? Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK (BRON...

Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused

Despite Hype Ice Rink Sits Unused

What to Do With An Empty Ice Rink?

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- It seems that after Mayor Bloomberg had to have an ice skating rink in Van Cortlandt Park, the space is now empty, and becoming an eyesore to the community. 

I am talking about the old unused tennis court that sits on Broadway just south of the end of the # 1 Subway line. Over 3 years ago Mayor Bloomberg had the Parks Department put out a Request For Proposal to have an Ice Skating Rink be put in the unused tennis court on Broadway. The RFP was sent out, and a contract was drawn up with the vendor and the city. It was for 15 years with an increasing scale of fees to be paid to the city after the first two free years of the contract.

Ice Rinks Inc. which has other ice skating rinks in city parks was the vendor, and for the first year of operation of the Van Cortlandt Park Ice Skating Rink everything seemed to be going well. In the second year of operation was where things seemed to fall apart. It was a rather warmer winter, and the equipment that Ice Rinks Inc. had put in seemed to be having problems. The ice was soft at times, and the rink could not be used. This led to a decline in attendance and in revenue for Ice Rinks Inc. The rink was shut down more than two weeks before its scheduled closing as the chillers were no longer effectively making the ice hard. Ice Rinks Inc. was unsure if they could return the next year as new chillers would have to be installed, and that was going to cost to much money to be profitable. It seemed that the vendor wanted to redo the contract that gave them two free years of operation, so they could continue rent free.

The result was that Ice Rink Inc. pulled out of the contract with the city, and the city and community were back to having an eyesore of an empty area that now had permanent electrical equipment, and other permanent large metal casings so tennis was no longer an option for this space in Van Cortlandt Park. That was over a year ago, and looks like it will be permanent since the Kingsbridge National Ice Center in the nearby Kingsbridge Armory will become a reality.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Councilman Andrew Cohen have come up with an idea for the unusable tennis area on Broadway. The four elected officials want to have a weekend market similar to the one that is currently in Bryant Park, which by the way Bryant park also has an ice skating rink that is very successful. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see the letter that the four elected officials have sent to NYC Parks Commissioner Michael Silver requesting that this eyesore of an area in Van Cortlandt park be transformed into a marketplace such as is in Bryant Park in Manhattan.

This Sunday is the North Riverdale Block Festival sponsored by the North Riverdale Merchants Association and KRVC. Riverdale Avenue between West 258^th and West 259^th Street will be closed to traffic with the exception of a lane for emergency vehicles and regularly scheduled buses that will be running on a Sunday schedule. The event will run from 12 – 4 PM -, and will feature live music all day, clowns, face painting, many more children s activities, and also pony rides.

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.  

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Movie in the Park Night

Movie in the Park Night

Riverdale Report 

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Saturday Night was Movie Night in Seton Park where the movie 'The Lion King' was presented by State Senator Jeff Klein and KRVC. 

Over 300 people attended the movie on a Labor Day holiday weekend where many people are away. The audience camped out on the infield of the baseball diamond as the giant inflatable movie screen was set up on home plate. Before the movie Ms. Tracy Shelton (Executive Director of KRVC) thanked Senator Klein for his help in making this and other events for the community happen. Senator Klein was brief in his comments (as it was getting dark) thanking Ms. Shelton and her organization KRVC. Then the movie 'The Lion King' began. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see photos of the event, Senator Klein, the crowd, and sponsors such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Country Bank, and KRVC. The next event by KRVC is the North Riverdale Merchants Association Street Festival on Riverdale Avenue between West 256^thand West 259^th Streets on Saturday September 29^th from 12 – 4 PM. Riverdale Avenue will be closed to traffic from West 256^th Street to West 259^th Streets both ways, however there will be a lane open for buses and emergency vehicles sectioned off. 

In case you missed it like most people and most of the parents at the Kennedy Campus there was a Town Hall meeting held last week to inform everyone of the progress of the situation at the Kennedy Campus after the huge gas explosion that ripped apart the 6^th floor of the building. Representatives of The Department of Education, School Construction Authority, and Department of Health were on hand to tell the few parents in attendance that the school will open on the first day of the school year, and that 15 classrooms on the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th, floors will be closed and partitions have been put up to keep the students away from the closed off areas. 

The School Construction Authority rep Ms. Grillo said that the three workers were still in the hospital and were now having skin grafts over the parts of their bodies that were burnt in the gas explosion. She also said that the reconstruction work will not be done during school hours, the entrance and exits to the school will all be open, the damage is mainly to the 6^th floor area with some damage to the floors above and below where the explosion took place. Mr. Wehle of the Buildings Department said that the building was structurally sound, and safe to occupy. Mr. Dandrea of the Health Department said that air test have and will be done to ensure that the inside environment is safe. Mr. Shea of the Department of Education said that meals will be provided to the students, but that the gas will not be turned on until it is declared safe by Con Edison to, and he had no timetable for that. To a question of heat he answered that heat in the building is not provided by gas. Check my blog archive on the lower left for the heading Kennedy Campus to reopen for more details, and a current photo of what the area where the gas explosion now looks like with many rooms covered with tarps where the windows were blow completely out by the gas explosion. 

The main complaint of the few parents who attended the Town Hall meeting was the lack of notification to parents of the town hall meeting, and where their children were going to be placed. Everyone on the panel said that every effort was made to open the Kennedy Campus on time, and that the building be safe with any areas where the gas explosion affected be closed off completely. The work to rebuild the building will begin sometime next year. I asked Ms. Grillo of the SCA if the work was being done by the contractor or was it a sub contractor, and if the workers doing the work were licensed for the work they were doing. Ms. Grillo answered that it was a sub contractor, and that they were licensed plumbers doing the gas line work. She also said that the original contractor would not be doing any of the reconstruction work. I wonder however since there were sub contractors who wee doing the gas work were they checked out by the SCA before the work was done (or explosion happened), and on how many other SCA jobs are there sub, and even sub/sub contractors who never bid or gave any information to the SCA. 

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.  

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