A Star is Born

Printed in the JFK Press

FRESH FACES AT JFK

The JFK girls basketball team has relied on strong senior leadership to advance deep into the PSAL playoffs the past two years.
This season, O’Neil Glenn needs a few freshmen to play significant roles if the Knights are to be successful.
Glenn expects freshman forward Leshauna Phinazee and frosh guard Chelsea Custidio to compete for starting spots. Either way, both first-year phenoms will play big minutes in the Knights’ season opener next Wednesday.
Fellow freshmen Dmitria Abbott, Deaisia Acklin and Chelsea Custodio also could make important contributions.
The coach said he noticed some “growing pains” when the Knights scrimmaged CHSAA power Mary Louis earlier this month, but he’s optimistic that the first-year players can quickly adapt to the high level of competition in Bronx/Manhattan ‘AA.’
“We’re not rebuilding, we’re just renewing,” said Glenn, who is beginning his 10th year behind Kennedy’s bench. “I don’t think anyone expects us to be as good as we’ve been in the past when you lose so much the last two years, but we’ll see.”
Robyn Jenkins, Teara Shaw and Keonti Powell return from last year and will give Kennedy stability and firepower in the backcourt, along with Jazzarae Campbell, a junior guard who led the Knights JV to the city title.
Darleen McLeod, Nene Coulibaly and Iraida Santiago will patrol the paint for the Knights. Glenn doesn’t need his frontcourt to do anything fancy: “Rebound, rebound, rebound,” Glenn said when asked what he’s expecting out of his forwards and center.
The coach isn’t dwelling on the significant talent the Knights have lost over the past two seasons; Tatiyiana McMorris, who led the Knigths to the 2007 final, is a sophomore at Marquette and Danay Collier, who helped JFK reach the semis last year, is a freshman at Monroe Community College in Rochester.
Despite the loss of all that star power, Glenn says this group could reach similar heights. “We have girls on our team who started numerous times last year,” Glenn said. “The goal is semifinals or better. We just have to come out and play.”

CHSAA GIRLS

An Era Comes to An End and A New Beginning

Hi Fam,
As of November, 2008, I was let go from my job. Now, you may say this is a sad event, but I have to say, this time has given me a full aspect of true friendship. I was called by people on my job I did not expect, and received no calls from the ones I did. It has also allowed me to sit back and look at just how life throws you a monkey wrench and what we do with it. I have a job interview December 2nd and hope all will go well. If not, I will persevere.

Happy 48th!!

Thus far, man have not come up with a way to preserve or found the “fountain of youth” However, how can one explain how Merlin, in her 48th year from birth still radiate such beauty after all this time. Though never said enough, I love my sister. She has been the foundation of my being here today, and for that I will always thank her. At 19, when we, Cherrie Ann and I were left with no adult guidance, Merlin stepped in and held it down. Working for a law firm on Wall Street, she worked her way up the ranks and was a high level administrative assistant. When faced with the prospect of raising her niece a few years later, she quit to be closer to home and take care of the family. Since that time, she has dedicated herself to her family and their upbringing. She allowed me to wallow in the house for a few years when she made me get up off my rump and go to school. I can’t begin to say or even think how I could ever show her my gratitude but to let her know how much we love her. Congratulation Merl, you’ve been the matriarch of the family for over 35 years in the US, and we love you for it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and many more.

Three down, 1 More to Go

This year, Dmetria A. graduated from Junior High School. She is now headed to High School in the Bronx. She has already been drafted to the varsity basketball team and hopes to bring prominence to the squad. Good Luck D.

Gone Fishing

In more years than I’ll like to count, I had forsaken ever going fishing again (I caught poison Ivy my first time out). However, I was given a second chance at enjoying a sport Big John P. loves so much. Little John N. & I was taken to a surreal spot in the Connetquot (co-net-kwat) River State Park Reserve for fly fishing. It was hot, a couple of flies buzzing around, but was truly a great day of fun sitting and chewing the rags with two of my best friends. I caught a 12” and John N. caught a whopping 21”, (However, without John P's experience and tatics, John N. would never have caught the monster "which took over 30 minutes"). unfortunately John P. didn’t catch anything himself, but it was the companionship I think most of us enjoyed that day.
Even though it was a spectacular day for gelling with your friends, we could not end it without getting a little drunk before coming home with our catch. We stopped at the Beer Garden to throw back a few and talk our tall tales of fighting the big catch and how he got away. LOL. I look forward to doing this again and maybe John P. and I will outdo John N. with our catches next time.

Let The Family Plan Your Next Vacation/Trip

Hello everyone, a family member is bringing something to the table for ALL

Introducing "Thongs Travel Service"

Traveling these days is hectic, expensive, and can be time consuming looking for that discount. Samuel can save that time and effort in bringing the best prices for us. Do your research and then turn to Samuel’s Travel Services and you’ll find the speed and commitment in offering an even better deal. Let’s support our family in his endeavor and grow as a unified unit. You can contact Samuel’s travel company at www.ytbtravel.com/thongs or connect to it directly on my links Page (located on the right). Keep it in the family as they say!

Connecting with Family

Samuel and Lystra T.
During the past weekend of the 4th of July, the family (Pam, Erica, Dmiteria, Prince, & I) visited our cousin Lystra and her husband Samuel in PA. It was great seeing Lystra after donkey years (more than 30) and the warmth of her family, I vaguely remembered her, being so young, but it was great to see family all the same. The mountains offered a breath of fresh air away from the city and just living in nature, and at night, it was so dark you could not see your hands in front of you. We were treated as honored guest, as we partook of Mauby, and a first day’s breakfast consisting of bake and salt fish (Mmmmm). I did not know what to make of Samuel upon first hearing about him, but after meeting him, I felt as though I was catching with my big brother who just lost touch for a while. Samuel and Lystra are God’s children and revere themselves in the word/work or God, they are truly inspirational. Lystra, being a typical great wife completes him and they are committed to one another. They are both entrepreneurs, as you will learn later on when Samuel gets his traveling company in order and Lystra gets back into selling her famous pepper sauce; “It’s all about the taste.” We (adults) traveled around town and did some minor sightseeing and somehow ended up in a video game room. Needless to say, Samuel and myself found ourselves on a motorcycle riding game (he never bothered to tell me rode motorcycles for a number of years, thus officially whooping my butt good) Lol. On Sunday we visited their place of worship, Shawnee Tabernacle, where a sermon on reverence (fear of God and Church) was preached. I hope the kids were listening carefully because it talked of the complacency in society today where we praise/look past behavior not in conjunction with scripture. I for one am guilty of some transgressions, but one day, I hope to be in that number. This first meeting was just the start of many and we hope to visit them again as they will be welcomed into our home here in the city. See the family timeline on website and see where Lystra and Samuel are. (This website was designed in mind to have immediate family only, but I feel that Samuel is part of the family as he is working on his own historical lineage site. So look out for his family genealogy also coming soon)
I also wanted to mention Ken and Joyce, Samuel and Lystra's neighbors. These guys are funny! a great addition to an already splendid weekend.