Highbridge News: Workers Flunk Repair

Highbridge News: Workers Flunk Repair: Workers Flunk Repair 1 Month After it was Taken Down, Construction Scaffold Returns Overnight at P.S. 86 By David Greene BRONX...

Workers Flunk Repair

Workers Flunk Repair

1 Month After it was Taken Down, Construction Scaffold Returns Overnight at P.S. 86

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 13- A dozen burly construction workers arrived just before twilight, hours after the last child had left P.S. 86 in Kingsbridge Heights. Workers began putting up the steel and wood sidewalk-shed in the front of the school-- a month after the same workers had dismantled it.

Many of the parents of the 1,600-plus kindergarten and elementary school children who attend the Reservoir Avenue school, dubbed "The Kingsbridge Heights School," and residents of the block were surprised to see what is called a construction scaffold or sidewalk-shed, back in front of the school on the morning of May 1.

One resident recalled, "Yeah, they took it down and it went away and then it came back. It's crazy."

According to Jason Fink at the Department of Education (DOE), "This is an exterior modernization project. Some of the decorative terracotta that was part of the project had to be replaced by the manufacturer, so the contractor is going back to install the replacements."

Fink added that the contractor Vardaris Tech, Inc., was doing the work on the $4.5 million project.

Additional details were revealed when Anjaykumar Shaw of the DOE's School Construction Authority (SCA) stated, "At the time everything was fine and everything was done, but ultimately whatever winter conditions we went through, they went up there and found out what had happened."

Shaw elaborated on the problem, explaining, "Bolsters are the decorative pieces there (in the front of the building) and that bolster had some cracks in it."

Unable to provide an exact timeline, Shaw recalled, "We just realized after the winter, I would say... I don't know exactly, but in the last three or four weeks we came to know there was a problem."

Asked why the scaffolding came down in the first place, Shaw replied, "Oh, because work at the time seemed complete."

A follow up call to Shaw was re-directed to Nicole Halloway, the Bronx Community Relations Manager and the Project Support Manager for the School Construction Authority, who could not provide additional details, stating, "Because the building in question is a DOE facility, we cannot answer questions pertaining to that, only the DOE can."

Several parents stated they were very happy with the school, one believed it to be the largest public school in the borough.

One teacher called it an "A-plus" school and added, "Teacher morale here is great."

However, one parent who claimed her daughter was recommended powerful drugs for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) fumed,  "They told me I had to be sympathetic to the fact that the teacher had 37 students."

Referring to P.S. 86, that parent added, "I feel like every time I hear a teacher, there telling a parent their child has ADHD."

In a follow-up e-mail, Fink stated there would be no additional cost to the SCA, and added the completion date is not yet known.

Calls to P.S. 86 Principal Fiona Tyson and contractor Vardaris Tech were not immediately returned.   

#Schools #Construction #Education #Bronxnews

Highbridge News: Yanks Tickled Pink

Highbridge News: Yanks Tickled Pink: Yanks Tickled Pink Pineda Fans 16, Remains Undefeated in 2015  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 11- Sunday’s starting p...

Yanks Tickled Pink

Yanks Tickled Pink

Pineda Fans 16, Remains Undefeated in 2015 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 11- Sunday’s starting pitcher for the Yankees, Michael Pineda, zeroed in on the strike zone throughout his outstanding pitching performance. The Dominican native fanned 16 batters, a career high in seven innings. It is only the seventh time since 1900 that a pitcher has struck out that many in as few as seven innings.

He struck out each of the Oriole batters he faced except J. J. Hardy. It was the second highest total of strikeouts in a single game for the Yankees. He tied the mark set by perfect game pitchers, David Wells and David Cone, and has been bested only by Ron Guidry, who fanned 18 in 9 innings on June 11, 1978.

The 26 year old has exhibited an amazing control of his pitches. On Sunday, he struck out 16 without issuing a walk. The last time a major league pitcher accomplished that feat was on August 19, 2007, when Johan Santana struck out 17 without walking a batter.

The total for his seven starts in 2015 are 54 strikeouts and three walks for an American League high k/bb ratio of 18.00, second only to Bartolo Colon in the majors.

He is one of only five active major league pitchers who have multiple appearances with at least seven strikeouts and zero walks.

Pineda’s catcher on Sunday, Brian McCann, was impressed, but not surprised by the pitcher’s performance, “He had all three pitches working. When you can throw three pitches for strikes whenever you want that allows the pitcher to attack the hitters. He doesn’t walk any guys. He pounds the zone. His stuff is electric every time he takes the ball.”

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi, a former catcher, described what he saw, “Location, outstanding mix of pitches, deception. A lot of things have to go right to get 16 strikeouts in 21 outs. Oh God, he was really good!”

Girardi explained why he removed Pineda from the contest after seven frames, “The time of the year, how young he is, how important he is to the team, and the pitch count (111).”

The result of Pineda’s work was another Yankee victory and the team’s continued presence in first place in the American League East. Pineda remained undefeated, 5‐0, in his seven starts this season. He is also undefeated in six contests with the Baltimore Orioles, who lost 6‐2, with a mark of 3‐0.

Pineda, naturally a happy person, was overjoyed, “Today was the best game. The weather was like the weather in the Dominican. It’s Mother’s Day.” The devout player’s reaction in general, “Thank you God.”

#Yankees #MichaelPineda #MothersDay #Bronxnews

Highbridge News: Yankees Dynamic Duo

Highbridge News: Yankees Dynamic Duo: Yankees Dynamic Duo Ellsbury, Gardner Score By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 9- For an organization to be successful, th...

Yankees Dynamic Duo

Yankees Dynamic Duo

Ellsbury, Gardner Score

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 9- For an organization to be successful, there is a need for each of its employees to recognize his/her role and be capable of fulfilling it. In baseball, the lead-off batter and the hitter who follows are called the table-setters. The players in those positions need to reach base often, advance as far as possible and be in a position to score if the hitters batting after them fulfill their roles as power hitters and runs batted in specialists. 

This year’s lead-off hitter on the Yanks, Jacoby Ellsbury, has been extremely consistent and capable of fulfilling his responsibilities. In his 28 games, Ellsbury is one of the top ranked players in a number of offensive categories. He is batting .362. His two hits on Thursday night extended his hitting streak to 10 games. In his team high 13 multi-hit games the Yankees have an 11-2 record. 

He has reached base far more often than any other member of the Yankees. In addition to his 42 hits, he has drawn 13 walks and been hit by a pitch on three occasions for an on-base-percentage of over .439. This outstanding ability to reach base has placed him near the top of the American League rankings of scoring with 24 runs scored in his 28 games. 

Not only does he reach base often, but quite often manages to advance on his own. He paces the A.L. with 11 stolen bases and has only been thrown out stealing four times. 

The second place hitter on the Yankees, Brett Gardner, is close to Ellsbury in these positive offensive categories. He is batting .326 with an on-base-percentage of .412. The left fielder has 29 hits, drawn 13 walks and been hit by a pitch twice. 

The two 31 year-old players, born 17 days apart, scored four of the five runs of the Yankees on Friday night. They began in the first inning. 

Ellsbury led off with an infield single, which extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He moved to third on a double to left by Gardner. The next batter, Alex Rodriguez, drove in the first run of the contest with a deep sacrifice fly to center. Catcher Brian McCann knocked in two more runs with a home run to left. Before 20 minutes had elapsed, the Yanks led the orioles, 3-0.

Two more Yankees runs scored in the third frame on similar circumstances as in the first. Ellbury walked to begin the inning. He moved to third on a single to right by Gardner. The left fielder then stole second to put two runners in scoring position, his ninth stolen base of the season. With two out, McCann was intentionally walked to load the bases. The table setters each scored again as Carlos Beltran doubled, but the slower McCann was thrown out at home. The Yanks now lead 5-0.

The two outfielders were largely responsible for Friday’s Yankee win, and have been instrumental in the Yankees current first place standing in the American League East.

#Yankees #JacobyEllsbury #BrettGardner #Bronxnews

Highbridge News: Celebrate the Bronx

Highbridge News: Celebrate the Bronx: Celebrate the Bronx BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015 BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bron...