Hunts Point News: What do you know about Thanksgiving?

Hunts Point News: What do you know about Thanksgiving?: What do you know about Thanksgiving? Community Board News N’ Views By Father Richard F. Gorman Chairman Community Bo...

Hunts Point News: What do you know about Thanksgiving?

Hunts Point News: What do you know about Thanksgiving?: What do you know about Thanksgiving? Community Board News N’ Views By Father Richard F. Gorman Chairman Community Bo...

What do you know about Thanksgiving?

What do you know about Thanksgiving?

Community Board

News N’ Views

By

Father Richard F. Gorman

Chairman

Community Board #12 (The Bronx)

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 26- Thanksgiving is truly an American holiday. It originated in the New World. Even before it became a national holiday established by law, generations of Americans celebrated a day of thanksgiving for blessings received. Americans, despite diversity in faith traditions, racial and ethnic background, economic status, gender, age, or physical and mental condition uniformly anticipate and celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

One could suppose, then, that Americans know all that is fact about Thanksgiving. Do they? How about you, neighbors and friends? For example, do you know any or all of the following …

• The first Thanksgiving Day was held in the Autumn of 1621, included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians, and lasted three days. Many historians believe that only five women were present at that first Thanksgiving, as many women settlers didn't survive that difficult first year in the New World. 

• Thanksgiving didn't become a national holiday until over 200 years later. Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who actually wrote the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb” convinced President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, after writing letters for 17 years campaigning for this to happen.

• Historians say that no turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving. What was on the menu? Deer or venison, ducks, geese, oysters, lobster, eel and fish were. They probably ate pumpkins, but no pumpkin pies. They also did not eat mashed potatoes or cranberry relish, but they probably ate cranberries. There were no “Turduckens”  --  i.e., a turkey stuffed with a duck that is stuffed with a chicken. These were nowhere to be found during that first Thanksgiving.

• The first Thanksgiving was eaten with spoons and knives, but no forks! Forks were not even introduced to the Pilgrims until 10 years later and were not a popular utensil until the eighteenth century. The Pilgrims, prior to utilizing forks, did use their fingers, however.

• Thanksgiving is the reason for T.V. dinners. In 1953, Swanson had so much extra turkey  --  260 tons  --  that a salesman told them they should package it onto aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes. Ergo, the first T.V. dinner was born!

• Thanksgiving was almost a fast and not a feast! The early settlers gave thanks by praying and abstaining from food, which is what they planned on doing to celebrate their first harvest, that is, until the Wampanoag Indians joined them and  --  lucky for us!   --  turned their fast into a three-day feast!

• Each year, the President of the United States pardons a turkey and spares it from being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner. The first turkey pardon ceremony started with President Harry S. Truman in1947.

• Why is Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November? President Abraham Lincoln said Thanksgiving would be the fourth Thursday in November, but, in 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt moved it up a week hoping it would help improve the Christmas shopping season and spur the economy during the Depression era. It never caught on and it was changed back two years later.

• The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 with 400 employees marching from Convent Ave to 145^TH  Street in New York City.  No large balloons were at this parade, as it featured only live animals from Central Park Zoo.
• Turkey is not responsible for drowsiness or the dreaded "food coma." Scientists say that extra glass of wine, the high-calorie meal or relaxing after a busy work schedule is what makes one drowsy!

• How did the tradition of watching football on Thanksgiving start? The National Football League started the Thanksgiving Classic Games in 1920 and, since then, the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have hosted games on Turkey Day. In 2006, a third game was added with different teams hosting.

• Wild turkeys can run 20 miles per hour when they are scared, but domesticated turkeys are bred are heavier and cannot run quite that fast.

• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States instead of the eagle.

• Americans eat 46,000,000 turkeys each Thanksgiving.

• Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's first meal in space after walking on the moon was foil packets with roasted turkey.

• The heaviest turkey on record, according to the Guinness Book of Records, weighed 86 pounds.

• Californians consume the most turkey in the United States on Thanksgiving Day!
• Female turkeys, called “hens,” do not gobble. Only male turkeys gobble.

• The average turkey for Thanksgiving weighs 15 pounds.

• Campbell's soup created green bean casserole for an annual cookbook 50 years ago. It now sells $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup.

So how many of these pearls of wisdom did you know?  Regardless of your expertise in Thanksgiving Day trivia, there is one most important thing that all of us know-- viz., that the need for and the origin of Thanksgiving Day both spring from a common yearning to acknowledge God’s loving goodness and His munificent generosity to us. Join me, then, fulfilling this need rooted in the very core of our being by praying these words, taken from the Preface of the Roman Catholic Mass for Thanksgiving Day:

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,

we do well always and everywhere to give You thanks.

We acknowledge You as the Lord of all Nations,

the Creator of land, and sea, and sky,

the Source of the wonders of nature and salvation.

Through Your Word You called all things into being,

that You might bestow on us Your love

reflected in the vastness of the universe

and the bounty of this earth.

You placed creation in our care,

yet You alone sustain all life with the gentle dew of Your Word

and the life-giving breath of Your Spirit.

Your gifts of nature have not exhausted Your goodness,

for the fullness of Your love is revealed by the imparting

of the manifold gifts of Your Grace.

Our hearts are moved to thankful praise,

and so we join the choirs of angels and saints

in proclaiming Your glory.

Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving! See you after the feast!

Hunts Point News: ‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson

Hunts Point News: ‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson: ‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson (Photojournalist Ken Murray is soaked in red paint aimed for Police Commissioner Bill Bratton--Pho...

‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson

‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson

(Photojournalist Ken Murray is soaked in red paint aimed for Police Commissioner Bill Bratton--Photo by James Keinom, NY Daily News via Facebook)

Photojournalist Recalls Paint Toss Aimed for Bratton

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 25- An angry crowd estimated between 300 - 500 took to the streets of Times Square to demonstrate the grand jury's decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson in the August 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, in Ferguson, MO.

Brooklyn-born photojournalist Ken Murray recalled getting the brunt of the red paint tossed at Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on Monday, November 24.

The violence in Ferguson and in Times Square broke out as President Barack Obama was asking the nation for calm and restraint regarding the decision.

Murray recalled, "He (Commissioner Bratton) was being chanted at and told to go home and some other things and then we got down the block a little bit and I got hit with the fake blood behind me, but I got the most of it."

A small army of photographers captured Murray covered in the red paint, mostly missing the intended target Commissioner Bratton.

"I didn't even flinch," Murray added, "I just kept taking my pictures."

Murray then moved with the crowd of police who quickly apprehended the former Occupy Wall Street protester, identified by police as Diego Ibanez, 26.

Ibanez was charged with assault and obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal mischief.

As the crowd broke off into smaller groups, one group estimated at 250 walked and reportedly laid down briefly in the roadbed along the Tri-boro Bridge.

It's not immediately known if any additional arrests had been made.   

Hunts Point News: Subway Push Suspect Arrested

Hunts Point News: Subway Push Suspect Arrested: Subway Push Suspect Arrested Expected to be Charged with Murder By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 19 - Police arreste...

Subway Push Suspect Arrested

Subway Push Suspect Arrested

Expected to be Charged with Murder

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 19- Police arrested a man in connection with the subway push murder of a Chinese immigrant.

Kevin Darden, 34, is expected to be charged with second degree murder charges at the Bronx Criminal courthouse today.

Officials say Wai Kuen Kwok, 61, was standing near the platform’s edge when he was shoved in front of the moving train at just before 9 a.m., on November 16 at the East 167 Street Station.

Kwok, an immigrant from Hong Kong, died instantly as three train cars passed over his body, before the motorman was able to bring the train to a screeching halt.

Investigators used area surveillance video to track the 'person of interest,' turned suspect as be boarded a Bx-35 bus into Highbridge where the surveillance video lost the man.

Shortly after the release of the surveillance video police questioned and later arrested Darden.

A second person was reported struck by a train at the St. Lawrence Avenue Station at 6:45 a.m. on Friday, November 14. Although no criminality was suspected, the condition of that victim was not immediately known.

Officials from the Metropolitan Transit Authority say that Kwok was the 50th person to die in a subway mishap this year, but the first to die at the hands of another individual.

Anyone with information on the individual or his whereabouts is asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

Hunts Point News: Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

Hunts Point News: Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away: Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away (Bill Stimers with Bert Blyleven, a Basebll Hall of Famer, in the broadcast booth at YS.    —Ph...

Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

(Bill Stimers with Bert Blyleven, a Basebll Hall of Famer, in the broadcast booth at YS.    —Photo by Howard Goldin)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 15- There are very few fans of sports teams who have become a part of the organization they root for. Bill Stimers, who passed away at the age of 67 on Thursday at the Hebrew Home of Riverdale, his place of residence for the past 10 months, was considered a valued member of the Yankee family by the Steinbrenners. 

Stimers, a devoted rooter for the Yankees since his early childhood, met Steinbrenner at Shea Stadium, where the Yankees played their home games during the refurbishment of Yankee Stadium, shortly after the Cleveland businessman led a group that purchased the Yankees from CBS. The story, as Stimers always told it, went like this, “I said to George, ‘Let’s hope the Yankees win today,’ and he just took a liking to me.”

Stimers was an only child, a brother died in a miscarriage, born to a middle class couple in Queens. His father worked on the Long Island Railroad and his mother was a telephone operator. The couple and their young son moved to Brentwood, Long Island, where they each remained for the rest of their lives. Even though both parents worked full-time, they were devoted to their son. To the day of his death, he told stories of his parents concern for him to a close friend. He remembered them with love and respect and was not embarrassed to say how much he still missed them.

At the age of five, Stimers attended his first baseball game in May of 1952. As his memory was astonishing, decades later he recalled seeing Mickey Mantle hit a home run and the Yankees winning the ballgame. He did not return to the Stadium for several years as his father thought he was too young for such an outing. 

He was an enthusiastic sports fan, especially of baseball, throughout his life. His ability to remember what he read, what he heard and what he witnessed made him exceptionally knowledgeable of many topics. He was one of the most well-known callers to radio station WFAN, where he was known as “Bill the Baker”

The sobriquet came from Stimers’ occupation at Entenmann’s Bakery in Bay Shore, Long Island. In his senior year in high school, Stimers worked in a co-op program at Entenmann’s. He kept the job after his graduation, and worked there until his retirement at the age of 50. 

Over the past several decades, Stimers attended many MLB All-Star Games and  World Series games. He told interesting stories of many events such as the earthquake during the World Series in San Francisco and seeing the final hit (#3,000) of Roberto Clemente. 

For whatever the reason, Steinbrenner was dedicated to the well-being of Stimers. On July 26, 1976, Stimers moved to a seat with his own nameplate in the Press Box at Steinbrenner’s behest. The Yankee owner told Stimers, “You’ll be more valuable to me in the press box than in the stands.” Stimers’ seat was next to Steinbrenner’s box in the old Stadium. The Yankee owner and members of his family often came to Stimers’ seat and engaged the dedicated fan in conversation. Steinbrenner joked with him, solicited advice on players and discussed that day’s game. He also invited Stimers to travel with the team to post-season playoff trips. 

Bill, who considered Steinbrenner his greatest friend, liked to recall that shortly after his mother died, Steinbrenner invited him to travel to the American League Division Series. When Stimers was threatened with the loss of the family home due to a second mortgage that his late mother took out, the Yankee principal owner saved the home by paying off the money owed. Those who are familiar with the relationship between the two men understand the charitable nature and compassion that was an important part of Steinbrenner.

Stimers retained his seat in the Yankee Stadium Press Box through the 2012 a. L. Division Series. He attended only nine games during the 2014 season, but had a seat in the lower stands. 

On an even more personal note, another devoted Yankee fan and extremely knowledgeable observer of baseball, my brother Jeffrey also passed away in 2014. The two had many congenial baseball conversations. Jeffrey was well-educated and had much knowledge and understanding of many diverse matters. He worked quietly, but with great capability and effort for the New York State Court System for many years. Despite being a private person and soft-spoken, he was very pleasant to spend time with because of his highly advanced sense of humor and kindness. Like Bill, the 65 year-old man passed away far too soon. He was a blessing to his family and all who knew him.

May you rest in peace Jeffrey and Bill. You are both missed.

Hunts Point News: Enough of the A-Rod Circus

Hunts Point News: Enough of the A-Rod Circus: Enough of the A-Rod Circus By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned...

Enough of the A-Rod Circus

Enough of the A-Rod Circus

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned to town. The A-Rod drama was not expected until February in Tampa Florida when the New York Yankees assemble for spring training, but we should not be shocked that he admitted the truth, under oath to a DEA investigator about using PED’s.

It is typical Alex Rodriguez territory to be in this position. And it has spread to the New York airwaves as two popular talk show hosts got involved in who was credible when asking A-Rod ro tell the truth last November. Rodriguez on one show said he never took PED’s and we didn’t believe the fraud then.

That is why it came as no shock Wednesday when a Miami Herald report said that A-Rod told the truth. After all this has always been the Alex Rodriguez saga of not telling the truth. And if he did not have the appropriate millions to have proper representation he may have had to tell the truth.

Should we forgive Alex Rodriguez? Some will say yes because his year-long suspension from Major League Baseball was served. The Yankees await the A-Rod arrival and continued circus in February and the drama will continue. It does not have to continue if the Yankees decide to eat up a remaining three-years and $61 million that remains on a contract that should have never been granted.

That was then. The Yankees upper brass, those who were dragged into the A-Rod legal battle and the circus, will have a way with dealing with this latest report. They wish it would all go away, however their fraud of a player is around for the duration. All they can do is hope that Rodriguez is healthy and will offer some type of offense to a lineup that could not score runs this past season.

They hope their fraud will be able to handle a plan at third or first base, or play a regular role in the lineup as the designated hitter, and to that there is no certainty. The Yankees are not getting younger with a damaged A-Rod in their everyday lineup but they may have no other choice to put him on the field as much as possible.

Getting back to the Alex Rodriguez image of being damaged is another issue. The Yankees as an organization have to play two sides with the damage control and continue dealing with the circus. Opposing players, at least those who did not experiment with Ped’s, will go with the flow and not make A-Rod a public issue.

Then there are the fans, many who will continue to boo when A-Rod takes the field again. Rodriguez to them will be a hero if he becomes a legitimate hitter again without the use of a steroid support system. Rodriguez may never be the same hitter he was without that support system and also take into account he has had limited playing time the past two years.

So where do we go from here? The gut feeling is, and a general consensus: Enough is enough of this A-Rod circus. Yes he served the penalty and was off the field as his Yankees teammates failed to make the postseason a second straight year. The steroid era, according to what has been determined, is over in the game of baseball. But as long as Alex Rodriguez is around the discussion may never end.

Because Alex Rodriguez, who many consider to be a fraud, is around the game again. Each time he resurfaces the talk about steroids and Ped’s will not go away. Even if the master of deception admitted his guilt to the authorities, he will never be considered that legitimate and talented ballplayer that had a quest to be the first to hit 800 career home runs.

Alex Rodriguez never played the game on an even level playing field. The circus is back in town and now that we are aware of his admission there is more reason not to grant him a chance for respect.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  www.newyorksportsexaminer.com