Mustangs Kick Off Football Season with Win

By RJ Troche

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- The first time Monroe Mustangs stepped on a football field against real opposition, they showed flashes of brillance in an overwhelming 46-7 win over an undermanned Valley Forge Military Academy team that had many prep school players and a short-handed roster. Regardless, Monroe will start their regular season next Sunday 9/2 on Staten Island against Wanger's JV team feeling good about themselves after their first preseason win. 

"We started slow in the first half, but in the second half we saw more of the things we're capable of," said coach Terry Karg.  "We have more work to do to get where we want to be, but this was a good start."

Monroe marched down the field on their first possesion and crossed the goal line for the first time in their history, appropriately, when New Rochelle native Justin Johnson ran it in from six yards away giving Monroe a 6-0 early lead.

On Monroe's next possesion Johnson fumbled, opening the door for a Valley Forge touchdown, which turned out to be their only score of the day as Monroe took control from there. Monroe went into half time leading the Trojans by a score of 20-7 and piled it on, literally and figuratively.

Some highlights of the day:

Amar Williams was stellar. He scored two touchdowns, the first on a 54-yard punt return and the other on the ensuing Mustangs drive when he hauled in a 29-yard pass from quarterback Carlos Cortez (3-3 73 yards). 

On the final Valley Forge drive of the day, safety Jordan Ford (Calhoun Falls, SC) intercepted a pass on the Mustangs own five-yard line and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown to seal Monroe's victory. 

Genovese Family Member Convicted of 20-year-old Mob Hit

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 24- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a 64-year-old New Jersey man with ties to organized crime is facing life imprisonment after being convicted of murder for his role in a “mob hit” that occurred in the Bronx 20 years ago.

Paul Gaccione, a.k.a. Doc, was found guilty on one count of murder in the second degree in the death of Angelo Sangiuolo, who was 32-years-old when he was shot to death on June 3, 1992. The jury found that Gaccione, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, had acted-in-concert with others in causing Sangiuolo’s death.

State Supreme Court Justice Seth Marvin set sentencing for Wednesday, September 12, 2012 in Part T27. The judge could impose a maximum term of up to 25 years to life in prison.

The jury heard testimony that Gaccione was the driver of a stolen van in which the deceased was a passenger when he was shot numerous times in the torso and head. Following the “hit” in the vicinity of Wilkinson and Westchester Avenues, Caccione drove the van into the parking lot of a nearby McDonald’s Restaurant at 1515 Williamsbridge Road and abandoned the stolen vehicle with the body in it.

During the trial, witnesses testified that the murder had been arranged by Angelo Prisco, a member of the Genovese Organized Crime Family and carried out at Prisco’s direction by John Leto, who shot Sangiuolo to death. The deceased was in the van with Gaccione and Leto under the pretense that Prisco had asked them to help Sangiuolo resolve some problem.

Both Prisco and Leto were prosecuted and convicted for their roles in this killing as well as other crimes, by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The case against Gaccione was referred to the Bronx District Attorney for prosecution because federal authorities lacked jurisdiction under the RICO Statute. Gaccione could not be charged under the federal enterprise corruption law solely on the basis of his participation in the murder.

The case against Gaccione is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Caliendo, of the Rackets Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Glucksman of the Investigations Division.

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News Photog Captures Vicious Pitbull Attack

(Photos by David Greene)

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 22- Dozens of Concourse residents watched in horror as a dog was brutally attacked by a pit bull. Two police officers stayed back at a safe distance, one holding a billy club as a half dozen residents separated the two dogs. The critically injured dog was taken by cab to a local animal hospital, its condition was not known. The alleged owners of the pit bull were allowed to take the dog back inside an apartment building and no report was taken or summons issued by police.

Investigate Cougar Gate!

Naomi Rivera’s Opponent Calls on DA, Attorney General to Probe Alleged Misuse of Tax Payer $

By Robert Press

UPDATE...

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- Follow the money, is what Naomi Rivera’s opponent is saying to investigators in regards to affairs the assemblywoman had with younger men whom she put on staff at her office and at a not-for-profit. The political challenger is calling on the Bronx DA and state Attorney General to investigate alleged misuse of tax payer dollars.

Mark Gjonaj candidate for the 80^th assembly district sent the following statement: “The Post story shows a clear misuse of public tax payer dollars, which only serves to further voters’ lack of confidence in their elected officials. These allegations necessitate an immediate investigation by the Bronx District Attorney and the NY state Attorney General. I am sure on election day, the voters will make their voices clear that this behavior is no longer acceptable by their public officials.” 

Another opponent of Assemblywoman Rivera Adam Bermudez said, "I believe that no voters who have heard the well reported facts regarding misappropriation of tax dollars will vote for the incumbent Assemblywoman. 

In what has become the second of a series of stories the New York Post last Sunday had a front page story about Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera titled “SUGAR MAMA.” 

This was a tell all story by “BOY TOY” #1 Vincent “Vinny” Pinela on how he got a job as executive director of a non profit The Bronx Council for Economic Development. In the Post article Pinela claims that he had no experience in non profits, but was hired at a salary of $60,000 at the urging of Assemblywoman Rivera after the two started to see each other. The Post article goes on to say that Pinela and Rivera shared an address for parts of 2008 and 2009, that the non profit received over $300,000 in grants from the state, and that Assemblywoman Rivera herself steered just under half of the monies to the non profit herself.

As for where the state monies went, the Post says that romantic dinners, a payment of over $40,000 to a production company owned by one of the assemblywoman’s family members for work done in 2007, and political expenses and donations, (which the Post says were not allowed by a non profit) were among other items. 

"The allegations made by Mr. Pinela against me are untrue and are made intentionally and maliciously to defame my character, and to question my integrity. Friends, and constituents who know me, know that these are baseless accusations. I will not let myself be distracted from the work that needs to be done in my district," said Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera.

As to why the article brings in her father Assemblyman Jose Rivera who was the Bronx Democratic County Leader from 2002 until 2008, I spoke with Mr. Mike Nieves (her father’s campaign manager), who said “Jose Rivera's daughters private life has nothing to do with her father.” 

I spoke to several other people which included Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. who asked me to make sure that I mentioned that He was the first elected official to endorse Mark Gjonaj for the 80^th Assembly seat, not Naomi Rivera. Political Strategist Patrick Jenkins spokesman for the Bronx Democratic County Organization said, “The Bronx Democratic County Organization stands behind Assemblyman Naomi Rivera and continues to support her, and will not change their position.” Again there were some supporters of Assemblywoman Rivera who did not want to comment.

You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com and check the archive section on the left for the links to both Sunday's and Monday's New York Post stories.

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Yanks are Sitting Pretty

Beat Boston to Continue Command of First

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- More than 330,000 fans came to Yankee Stadium during the most recent seven game homestand of the Yankees. Many fans took advantage of summer vacations to spend some time at the great ballpark in the Bronx.

The first four games were contests between the Texas Rangers, leaders of the American League West, and the Yanks, leaders of the American League East. Fans could have been witnessing a preview of the ALCS. The battle between the two American League powerhouses was centered upon which of the two clubs would finish the 2012 season with the best record in the league, thus capturing home field advantage in the American League Championship Series.

The two clubs entered the series with identical won/loss marks, 67-47. The Yanks clinched the four-game series by winning the first three contests while holding the Rangers to a total of four runs. Yankees starters David Phelps, Hiroki Kuroda and Freddy Garcia each won one contest.

The Texas offense came to life in the final game on Thursday by scoring 10 runs on 16 hits. The 10-6 victory allowed the Rangers to leave the Bronx without having been swept.

Although the Yanks gave up 10 runs on Thursday, manager Joe Girardi reflected on the team’s fine work, “We pitched pretty well. We swung the bats pretty well. We played pretty good baseball. We’re in the race for the best record.”

After the Rangers limped out of town on Thursday night, the Boston Red Sox began their second three-day visit within a month. The three sell-out crowds were treated to some interesting baseball between the arch-rivals in the American League East.

The Yanks, more than any other club in the majors, have lived and died by the home run. On Friday, their season high of five homers provided them with a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox. On Saturday, the only run scored by New York was by a solo home run by Curtis Granderson. The single run was not sufficient as Boston won by a score of 4-1.

The multi-homer hitter for the Yankees on Sunday night was not the usual suspect. Icharo Suzuki homered in consecutive at bats to the delight of the full house. He followed the two four baggers with an infield single. Much less surprising was that Derek Jeter hit safely in his first three at bats. The three hits raised his career total to 3,251, one below Napoleon Lajoie, who is in 12^th place. The four Yankee runs were scored by the two future Hall of Famers, Jeter and Suzuki. Each crossed the plate twice during the game.

Hiroki Kuroda held Boston scoreless for 6.1 innings before surrendering a solo home run to Adrian Gonzalez. That homer was the only run given up By Kuroda in his eight innings on the mound. The 4-1 win was the ninth in his last 11 decisions.

The Yanks are still leading the race in the A.L. East, but the final outcome has not been decided. Tampa, in second place, has won 11 of its last 13 and Baltimore, in the third place, has won 11 of 15. The Yanks will face the Rays in six additional games and will play Baltimore on seven more occasions. The Yankees have kept pace with their challengers, winning 9 of their last 12 contests. The home games were not only a financial success, but were beneficial to the pennant race for New York as the Yanks won five of the seven games played.

The ability of the Yankees to win on the road as effectively as they do at Yankee Stadium will also be a factor in the race for the American East title as 16 of the club’s next 22 games will be played on the road.

The answer to where the Yankees will place as the regular season concludes may be a little clearer to discern on August 27 when the Yanks return to the Bronx after a six game road trip.

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Bombers in sweep mode with latest win over Rangers

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 16- The four-game series in the Bronx this week with the Yankees and Texas Rangers could be a possible prelude to the American League Championship Series in October. So far, after the Yankees rain delayed 3-2 win Wednesday night, the advantage in October could go to New York.

Pitching wins games in the post season, and Yankees starters have certainly quieted a potent Texas lineup. Freddie Garcia, making his 13^th start of the season followed the two-hit shutout of the night before allowing two runs in 6/2-3 innings in winning his third straight start.

Garcia (7-5) allowed four hits and the Yankees bullpen did the rest. Rafael Soriano threw a scoreless ninth and recorded his 29^th save.

“Our guys have done a tremendous job,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “I applaud out pitches.” Ivan Nova, (11-6) will try and get the Yankees a sweep over the Rangers as the series concludes Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

But it seems the Yankees pitching staff this season has found a way to keep Texas off the bases. The Rangers came into the series as the top hitting team in baseball with a .276 average.

“Once again pitching stops everything,” commented Rangers manager Ron Washington.

Yankees pitching has held Rangers batters to a .199 average this season, and until Josh Hamilton hit the first of two home runs in the fourth inning, another one in the sixth, accounting for their only runs, the Yankees staff had held Texas scoreless for 19 consecutive innings in the Bronx.

“They scored a bunch of runs the first night,” added Washington. “Last night they got another good pitching performance from Kuroda. Tonight we were in the ballgame. But you have to give them credit. Their pitching stopped us.  We’re a team that can score runs but we just haven’t been able to score any right now in these three games here.”

Washington said he was hoping to see his team score some runs Thursday afternoon. But the way the Yankees starters have been going in this series, there may be no need to rush CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte off the disabled list and back in the rotation.

Said Garcia, who has not lost to the Rangers since 2004, “When you see one guy pitch, and the other guy pitch you’re thinking you got to go out there and try to do the same.” He is 5-0 with a 1.90 ERA during the streak against Texas.

Texas has scored four runs in the three games and has lost eight straight games in the Bronx. Hamilton reached a career high in home runs with 33, and became the second player to drive in 100 runs this season, next to Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera.

“When you are seeing the ball good you feel like you feel like you can pretty much hit anything,” said Hamilton who had a four-home run game earlier this season at Baltimore and recorded his seventh career multi-home run game.

Hamilton came up in the ninth inning against Soriano with a chance to tie the game and struck out.

A three-run third inning was enough runs for the Yankees. Nick Swisher drove in a run off with a double off Texas starter and loser Scott Feldman (6-7). Swisher has driven in seven runs in the series, including a grand slam home run Monday night and a two-run blast Tuesday.

New York won for the seventh time in the last eight games. 

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com. Watch and listen to Rich tonight on www.inthemixxradio.,com live at 10:30 p.m. as he hosts Keep it in the Ring w/Rich&Jason.

So Who's on The Primary Ballot?

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 13- First, on Saturday August 25^th from 1 – 6 p.m. The Committee of 100 Democrats will be hosting our 8th Annual Free Community Barbecue. This year our Free Community Barbecue will take place on East 204^th Street between the Grand Concourse and Mosholu Parkway. We will be honoring Congressman Eliot Engel for his distinguished record as an elected official, Community Board #7 District Manager Fernando Tirado for his outstanding work in the local community, and our special Guest of Honor will be New York City Comptroller John Liu who is doing an extraordinary job as a watchdog of the city's financial affairs. There will be food, lots of different entertainment, and of course lots of speeches by your elected officials.

We told you last week that the “COURT PHASE” of the election process was going on where as even though the Board of Elections ruled those RENEGADE candidates on the ballot, it was time for KING STANLEY (Bronx Democratic County Lawyer Stanley Schlein) to go into high gear. From the words he uttered at the Board of Elections “Similar Handwriting, Forgery, and Fraud” that the board does not rule on KING STANLEY was going to court to knock off those RENEGADE candidates that dare challenge Loyal Bronx Democratic County backed candidates. Well here is what happened.

In the 79th A.D. candidate Isreal Martinez was thrown off the ballot by KING STANLEY so incumbent Eric Stevenson will not have a Democratic primary opponent, but there will still be a primary for the two District Leaders and Male State Committeeman in the 79th A.D.. King Stanley also was successful in getting various RENEGADE candidates that were running for minor party positions knocked off the ballot. However only the 81st, 83rd, and 85th A.D.'s are free of any primary in September.

77th A.D. incumbent Vanessa Gibson will face Edwin Figueroa and Anthony Curry. 78th A.D. incumbent Jose Rivera will face his current 78th A.D. State Committeeman Richardo Martinez. 80th A.D. incumbent Naomi Rivera will face Mark Gjonaj, Irene Estrada Rukaj, and Adam Bermudez. 82nd A.D. incumbent Michael Benedetto faces Egidlo Sementilli. 84th A.D. incumbent Carmen Arroyo faces Charles Serrano and Maximino Rivera. 86th A.D. incumbent Nelson Castro faces Richard Soto. With no incumbent in the 87th A.D. Luis Sepulveda faces Daniel Figueroa. The one Bronx State Senate race has 33rd S.D. Incumbent J. Gustavo Rivera facing Manuel Tavares, and in the Civil Court 2nd Division Bronx Eddie McShan faces Juana P. Valentin. A party position race that will be closely watched will be in the 77th A.D. to see if party insider Benny Catala can win back his District Leader position that incumbent Mark Escoffey Bey won in a surprise victory in 2010. Check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for the link to the Board of Elections site with the most recent update of all the candidates that are on the September Primary ballot for all five boroughs and all parties for any September primary.

On the Monday August 5th show of Bronxtalk hosted by Gary Axelbank his guest was Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie. County Leader Heastie was asked some very tough questions about what was going on under his leadership as county leader such as the recent challenges to all opponents of the Bronx elected officials this year. There were also a few callers that did not hold back on their comments and questions to Chairman Heastie. We will say that the questions were all answered, Chairman Heastie was very professional in his answers, and he did not get up and leave as a few elected officials have done in the past. By the way the previous Bronx Democratic County Leader Jose Rivera refused to appear on Bronxtalk, and we are told that debates are being set up for the viewers. We wonder if Assemblyman Rivera will show up for his debate, and when we asked his daughter Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera if she would debate we heard what is the next question. Check my blog for the link to see the Bronxtalk Carl Heastie interview.

Lastly, Check my blog to read about and see photos of National Night Out festivities from the 49th, 50th, and 52nd Precinct Council events. Also check the archive section to read about and see photos of the murals that local children in the Morris Park area painted on the wall of the Amtrack underpass on Bronxdale Avenue. This event was brought together by State Senator Jeff Klein, Community Activist (and candidate for the 80th Assembly) Mark Gjonaj, the Chairman and District Manager of Community Board #11, the Morris Park Community Association, and others.

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.