Thursday, November 8, 2012
Bedford Park News: Winners and Losers - Hurricane Sandy
Bedford Park News: Winners and Losers - Hurricane Sandy: 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, November 8- There were lots of losers this past week due to Hurricane Sandy, bu...
Winners and Losers - Hurricane Sandy
100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, November 8- There were lots of losers this past week due to Hurricane Sandy, but there were also a few winners that I will start with. One big winner was President Obama, for his role in getting much needed federal help to areas that were devastated by the hurricane.
I loved how humble once Republican critic (and big supporter of Obama's opponent) New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was in the photo op with President Obama. If you looked closely at one man standing in the background, I thought he could not hold back his feelings by almost cracking up at the situation of Christie and Obama together. Then there was New York Governor Andrew Cuomo who was johnny on the spot to let people know exactly what had happened, and how things were going. MTA Chairman Joe Lotta was also a winner on the way the mass transit situation was handled, even though he was being micro managed by his boss Governor Cuomo. The final winners were all the emergency workers and city workers such as the police, fire, and sanitation workers who worked through (and who many are still working on) the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
As for the losers, we can start with the biggest loser that being Mayor Bloomberg. As usual it was Manhattan first and the other boroughs last. The mayor in his gall wanted to have the New York Marathon run starting in devastated Staten Island. There was just to much outrage at the mayor for this as the New York Post reported that much needed generators and water were in Central Park for the marathon, and other resources were being diverted for the marathon rather than in hard hit areas that really needed them. The outcome was that the New York Marathon was finally canceled. Other big losers were the people whose homes or businesses were leveled, flooded, or damaged. If you lived by a beach in the path of Hurricane Sandy you found a foot or two of not snow, but sand on your street that had to be dug out. There will still be many other losers of Hurricane Sandy as it will have taken over a week for New York City to somewhat recover. Mass transit in the city will only be at about 85 percent of what it normally is, and New Jersey mass transit will take another week or two to be fully operational. It may take up to a month for parts of Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens to have power restored and then start to recover.
Since election day is after our deadline I will predict that President Obama will be re-elected, and that Democrats have a very good chance to close the gap in the New York State Senate if not regain the majority. I spoke to State Senator Jeff Klein who would be in a position with his IDC to possibly become Senate Majority Leader if Democrats take back control of the State Senate. Klein said a few things off the record, and I would have to agree with what he told me. In the local races I see no surprises with all democrats winning, and we will have to see how large the victories are in the 79th and 80th A.D.'s. In the special election to replace Larry Seabrook I see Andy King as the new Councilman, and again we will have to see by how much. It will be the race for City Hall the day after the election. Once the City Council redistricting is over the race for those city council seats will also happen including the soon to be vacant due to term limits 11th, 15th, and 16th districts in the Bronx.
“The Taste of the Bronx” a 12-day event that began November 5th and runs through November 16th is a perfect way to find great deal in some of your favorite Bronx restaurants. 15 percent off your check, $16.14 lunches, and $20.12 dinners can be found at over 35 participating restaurants. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more and see photos of the kick off of “Savor the Bronx Week” that took place at “Oregano Restaurant” or go to savorthebronx.com.
Don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for items that come in after our deadline and photos. We are waiting for damage estimates to come in as up to 10 billion dollars already. has been predicted. Having grown up in Far Rockaway in the 1960s Hurricane Donna hit the area, and was called the hurricane of the century as the Atlantic Ocean met Jamaica Bay at one spot. During Hurricane Sandy the Atlantic Ocean met Jamaica Bay in at least three different spots on the Rockaway peninsula. In the Bronx while the coastal areas flooded and trees brought down power lines the damage was not near that of Staten Island, Coney Island, Long Island or the Rockaways, not to mention some parts of New Jersey.
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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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Heartless Criminals Hit Norwood Church
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, October 23- An Episcopal church in Norwood that had overcome a devastating fire in 2009, must now deal with the damage left by an invader who only got away with a sound-system-- worth about $1,000.
The invasion took place when the heartless criminal or criminals apparently climbed over a fence, before forcing their way through a basement window, sometime between the evening of October 16 and the following morning.
Officers from the 52nd Precinct arrived at the Church of the Holy Nativity, located at 3061 Bainbridge Avenue at E. 204 Street to make out a report of the incident.
The suspects smashed through several doors and shattered a window in their futile attempt to locate valuables. The perpetrators also rifled through several cabinets and a desk, before locating the sound-system, made up of a microphone and several speakers.
The church would hold prayers the following Sunday without the needed sound-system.
One source at the church stated that detectives dusted for fingerprints and will look at surveillance video surveillance from the area.
The church suffered heavy smoke and water damage during a Halloween morning blaze in 2009 that also destroyed a row of businesses that are only now being rebuilt.
Investigators handled a case of a string of break-ins at houses of worship back in September, 2011, including a $4,000 theft at the St. Raymond's High School for Boys. The damage to windows and doors and other equipment was estimated at $90,000.
Police would later charge Dimas Cuadrado, 29, of Throggs Neck. The suspect was eyed by investigators in as many as a dozen cases, but was only charged in three.
However, while Cuadrado was in custody, a second string of break-ins occurred the following month in Norwood, Bedford Park and Kingsbridge Heights. Break-ins were reported at Our Lady of Refuge, St. Ann's Church, St. John's Church, the Kingsbridge Evangelical Lutheran Church and Our Lady of Angels.
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Monday, October 22, 2012
Bedford Park News: Prez Race is Even
Bedford Park News: Prez Race is Even: 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, October 18- The second debate between the presidential candidates was won by incumben...
Prez Race is Even
100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, October 18- The second debate between the presidential candidates was won by incumbent Democrat President Barack Obama.
You could see the Republican challenger Romney in a snowball fight without his “MITTS”. This time it was Democrat Obama who outwitted “MITT”. Romney was off his form of the first debate as there was a different moderator who kept control of this debate. The rust was taken off President Obama, and he looked like the Obama who won the debates in 2008. The third and final debate is after our deadline so next week we will tell you who we thought the winner of that debate was, and who we think will win the election. Right now it appears to be “EVEN UP” between the two candidates.
Saturday was the Annual Mosholu Parkway “Spruce and Clean Up” by the Bedford Mosholu Community Association. BMCA President Barbara Stronzer had her usual crew along Mosholu Parkway raking, painting, and planting flowers. This year however four generations of the Gjonaj family were on hand to help. New 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj brought his 87 year old grandfather Ejlu, mother Rosa, wife Roberta, sons Nicholas & Joseph, and a few more nieces and nephews. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see some photos of the event and the four generations of the Gjonaj family.
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 118 years of service to the Bronx. The BCC will be holding their “10th Annual Awards & Scholarship Banquet on Thursday November 1st at Marina Del Rey. Cocktails begin at 5:30 PM with dinner to follow later. To purchase tickets or for further information you can call BCC at 718-828-3900, or e-mail gabrielle@bronxchamber.org.
Distinguished past honorees include Fordham University, Manhattan College, Calvary Hospital, The New York Yankee Organization, George, Hank, & Jennifer Steinbrenner, Mr. Reggie Jackson, Mr. Randy Levine, Mr. Ray Negron, Anheuser Busch, The Bronx Zoo, The Bronx Botanical Garden, and Mr. Regis Philben to name only a few. This year is a tribute to BCC founder Elias Karmon, who in 2002 helped resurrect the BCC from its then dormant stage. Mr. Elias Karmon passed away in 2008 at the age of 98, and was known as “MR. BRONX”.
Finally, I want to say when are we going to get Channel 11 back on Cablevision? It is now over 3 months, and Cablevision has substituted various different programming in place of WPIX TV while the two companies dispute. Where are our elected officials & the FCC, and is Cablevision in a breech of contract to carry local channels. If the latter is true, then let’s open up the cable television area covered by Cablevision to any and all cable television companies that will carry the local channels in addition to Cablevisions only competition Verizon Fios that is not available yet in many areas of the Bronx. We have had enough of Cablevision’s imposed blackouts while they try to get more money from suppliers and subscribers. Congress needs to look into this matter and the sooner the better. By the way Cablevision does not have an exclusive right to the Bronx. There are four buildings that are in the Bronx which are part of the Marble Hill Houses that are serviced by Time Warner Cable. If Time Warner Cable services those four Bronx buildings why can't other Bronxites then get Time Warner Cable?
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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Google Helps Bronx Small Biz Get Online
BRONX, NEW YORK, October 22- This week, Google brought its New York Get Your Business Online program to NYC with events throughout all five boroughs. Launched last year in Albany and Buffalo, New York Get Your Business Online helps drive economic growth by giving small businesses the tools and resources to establish a website, find new customers, and grow their business.
The event, held at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, is the final one in a week-long series that has reached all five boroughs and included almost a thousand of NYC’s small businesses. At each event, Google has worked with small business owners to create their own websites courtesy of Intuit. Businesses have also received a customized domain name, free web hosting for one year, a local business listing on Google Maps, free tools, training and resources. Google experts have been on hand to train the business owners on how to reach more customers online.
“We are committed to making sure the City’s small businesses are online so potential customers can find them,” said Susan Molinari, Vice President, Public Policy & Government Relations, for Google. “Many small businesses do not have a website because they think it is too expensive, too difficult or too time consuming to create. New York Get Your Business Online helps small businesses easily and quickly create their own web presence and start growing their businesses online.”
New York Get Your Business Online is an easy and fast way for Bronx small businesses to get a website and become more visible online, where the majority of people are going to find goods and services. While 97 percent of Americans look online for local products and services, 53% percent of New York’s small businesses do not have a website or online presence.
“As a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee I am deeply involved in matters involving the internet and I know that having a presence on the internet is an absolute necessity today,” said Congressman Eliot Engel. “More and more, commerce is becoming e-commerce. This is an opportunity to raise your presence beyond your neighborhood and spread the word much further afield about what you can do for your customers and to attract new ones.”
During this morning’s session, State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson stopped by to visit and speak with the business leaders who were participating.
Businesses unable to attend the event can still get a free website, resources and more information about the program by going to www.NewYorkGetOnline.com.
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Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Good, The Bad & the Zombies
(Photos by Robert Press and Ken Carozza)
Comic Con 2012 – Review
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- If you did not attend the sold out Comic Con 2012 here is just a little recap of what you missed.
As soon as you got near the Javits Center you entered another dimension. A dimension of comic characters coming to life as many Comic Con 2012 attendees were dressed as their favorite comic characters for the daily costume contest. There were the usual Supermen & Supergirls, Batmen & Robins, Vampires & Zombies, many of the new comic characters, and even characters that were made up that people might want to see. When I asked some people why they came in their outfits, the answer was “This is the only time other than Halloween that I can dress up like this”.
While there were dozens and dozens of booths selling comics going back to first issues of almost any and every comic book printed, and artists signing and posing for pictures. Comic Con 2012 was more than just comics. There were “Spotlight Comic Guests”, “Featured Comic Guests” “Spotlight Entertainment Guests”, (such as Adam West T.V.'s
original Batman, Julianne Moore of Carrie, Kevin Bacon of the Following, Vanessa Williams of 666 Park Avenue, Christopher Lloyd of Back to the Future fame, Lou Ferrigno of the Hulk fame, WWE star Booker T, and Divas Kelly Kelly and the Bella Twins Brie and Nikki, and former boxer/wrestler Butterbean to name only a few. Each day was a different line up of stars and characters.
I went Friday and went back on Sunday to the Javits center for “Kids Day”. Sunday was the most crowded as line waits were about one half an hour or more at several “hot” booths. On Sunday three stars of wrestling Tito Santana, Brutis “The Barber” Beefcake, and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, were taking photos with the attendees. Greg Valentine appeared in April at St. Francis Xavier “Wrestling Night” event in the Morris Park area of the Bronx. Also with a Bronx connection was Gregory Lamberson author of the “FRENZY WAR”, who with his Bronx partner Marc Makowski made the “SLIME CITY” cult film series of movies.
You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see photos of Comic Con 2012 for Friday and Sunday at posts that are sandwiched around the Liberty Democratic Club 5th Annual Award Dinnerand post. Check the archive section for other items that were related to Comic Con 2012. People who attended Comic Con 2012 said that they can not wait for Comic Con 2013.
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