Worcester, MA
Politics
Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts
Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts A pair of prominent public figures have been tabbed for ambassadorships by President Joe Biden. The White House announced that Caroline Kennedy, age 64, the last surviving child of former President John F. Kennedy, has been nominated to serve as an ambassador to Australia after previously filling the same role in Japan for former President Barack Obama. “I am always grateful to the courageous Solomon Islanders and Australian coast watchers who rescued my father during World War 2, and if confirmed, I will work hard to repay this debt," Kennedy said in a statement. "I look forward to collabo…

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by Zak Failla
Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes, NJ
Sports
NJ Track Star Turns Olympic Bobsledder Amid COVID Crisis NJ Track Star Turns Olympic Bobsledder Amid COVID Crisis
NJ Track Star Turns Olympic Bobsledder Amid COVID Crisis A rising track-star-turned-bobsledder from the Garden State is taking on an Olympic challenge amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Lauren Brzozowski of Wyckoff says she’s been working toward her goal of becoming an Olympic athlete for “as long as she can remember.” Brzozowski pursued an incredibly successful athletic career with track in high school before earning a spot on the D1 track team at Elon University before earning the largest international athlete scholarship offered by Loughborough University. The scholarship would allow Brzozowski to represent the university — which is one of th…

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by Valerie Musson
Mount Pleasant, NY
Sports
Swimmer From Westchester Wins Medal At Olympics Swimmer From Westchester Wins Medal At Olympics
Swimmer From Westchester Wins Medal At Olympics A former high school swimming standout in the Hudson Valley can add a new accomplishment to her resume after earning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Early on Wednesday, July 28 in Tokyo, the 19-year-old Kate Douglass, a Westchester native who starred for Pelham High School, won the bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley, behind Japan’s You Ohashi and her teammate at the University of Virginia, Alex Walsh. In earning the bronze medal and a spot on the podium, Douglass posted a personal best time in the pool with a 2:09.04 finish. Her time was less than .50 seconds behind Walsh’s fin…

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by Zak Failla
Newark, NJ
News
Olympic Fencer From NJ Kept Apart From Team In Tokyo Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations Olympic Fencer From NJ Kept Apart From Team In Tokyo Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Olympic Fencer From NJ Kept Apart From Team In Tokyo Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations A 29-year-old olympic fencer from New Jersey has been isolated from his team in Tokyo after sexual assault allegations surfaced. Montclair and West Orange native Alen Hadzic -- an alternate in the men’s olympic fencing épée event -- was required to fly to Tokyo on a separate flight and has been staying at a remote hotel rather than with his 23 teammates in the Olympic Village, the New York Times reports. Hadzic and his attorney denies the allegations, which remain unsolved. The decision to isolate Hadzic was made as a precaution to protect the wellbeing of his teammates and other American…

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by Valerie Musson
Springfield, MA
News
Former Olympian Arraigned On Charges Of Molesting Boys In The Berkshires Former Olympian Arraigned On Charges Of Molesting Boys In The Berkshires
Former Olympian Arraigned On Charges Of Molesting Boys In The Berkshires A former Olympian in track and field has been indicted on 12 counts of indecent assault and battery in connection with complaints that the abuse took place at a camp for boys in Western Massachusetts. Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington announced on Tuesday, March 16, that 69-year-old Conrad Mainwaring, who was residing in Los Angeles, was arrested as he left a California courthouse on a fugitive from justice warrant. Mainwaring, a track coach, had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on the charges.  The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office previously obtained the …

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by Kathy Reakes
Hackensack, NJ
News
Kazakh Olympic Medalist Denis Ten Stabbed To Death Trained Often At Hackensack Ice House Kazakh Olympic Medalist Denis Ten Stabbed To Death Trained Often At Hackensack Ice House
Kazakh Olympic Medalist Denis Ten Stabbed To Death Trained Often At Hackensack Ice House Olympic medalist Denis Ten, who was stabbed to death in Kazakhstan Thursday, was no stranger to the Hackensack Ice House. The two-time world champion trained often with choreographer Nikolai Morozov, facility officials said. The 25-year-old figure skater was reportedly stabbed in the right thigh by two men trying to steal his car's mirrors. Ten won bronze at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in the men’s singles competition and was just the fourth Kazakh athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal. In a tribute to Ten, the Ice House said not only was he an incredible athlete, but "most importantly, …

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by Cecilia Levine
Ridgewood, NJ
Obituaries
Olympic Legend Anne Donovan Of Ridgewood Dead At 56 Olympic Legend Anne Donovan Of Ridgewood Dead At 56
Olympic Legend Anne Donovan Of Ridgewood Dead At 56 Anne Donovan, a Ridgewood native and legendary figure in women's basketball, died Wednesday of heart failure. She was 56. "While it is extremely difficult to express how devastating it is to lose Anne, our family remains so very grateful to have been blessed with such a wonderful human being," Donovan's family said in a statement.  "Anne touched many lives as a daughter, sister, aunt, friend and coach. Anne was a person with strong faith, courageous spirit, a giving heart and love for everyone," her family's statement continued. "We are so proud of her accomplishmen…

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by Cecilia Levine
Paramus, NJ
Lifestyle
WATCH: Little Paramus Gymnast Has Big Potential WATCH: Little Paramus Gymnast Has Big Potential
Watch: Little Paramus Gymnast Has Big Potential Ask Paramus gymnast Hezly Rivera what cheers her up in the morning and she'll say with a smile: "Coming to the gym." At nine years old, she's the youngest of the four homeschooled athletes who train at ENA Gymnastics in Paramus. But Hezly knows exactly what she's after. "I want to make the national team and go to the Olympics," she said. "I put my best in everything I do and I'm confident and what I'm going to do." Hezly climbed six levels in three years and currently trains at Level 9, working toward the Hopes Elite program. Hopes Elite is considered the st…

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by Cecilia Levine
Hackensack, NJ
Sports
'Where's The Patron?' Hackensack Skater Asks In Comical Olympic Rundown 'Where's The Patron?' Hackensack Skater Asks In Comical Olympic Rundown
'Where's The Patron?' Hackensack Skater Asks In Comical Olympic Rundown Although Hackensack Ice House skater Alexey Bychenko did not qualify for the Olympics with Team Israel, he's making headlines in other ways. BuzzFeed included the 29-year-old in its recently published comical article, "17 Things You've Probably Done When You Were Drunk - as explained by Olympic figure skaters." The picture depicts Bychenko and the other skaters during their routines during the Olympics in South Korea. Team Israel did not qualify for the finals in the event. Israel came in eighth place out of the 10 teams at the end of the short program on Sunday, ahead of Korea a…

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by Cecilia Levine
Pascack Valley, NJ
Neighbors
Hillsdale Reporter Has 'Wizard Of Oz' Approach To Watching Olympics Hillsdale Reporter Has 'Wizard Of Oz' Approach To Watching Olympics
Hillsdale Reporter Has 'Wizard Of Oz' Approach To Watching Olympics From the sofa in his living room, New York Post reporter Mike Vaccaro of Hillsdale revealed the best place to watch the Olympics. On the couch at home. "HILLSDALE, N.J. — Please, take it from me: This is the best dateline of the Olympics. This is my dateline, and if I could be more specific the better one would read like this: FROM THE SOFA OF MY LIVING ROOM IN HILLSDALE, N.J. —" Vaccaro goes on to explain how he loves covering the Olympics -- and has covered six of them. But when it comes to enjoying them, "there is no place like home," Vaccaro said. CLICK HERE FOR …

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by Cecilia Levine
Bergenfield, NJ
Sports
Winter Olympics: These Are The Bergen County Athletes To Watch For Winter Olympics: These Are The Bergen County Athletes To Watch For
Winter Olympics: These Are The Bergen County Athletes To Watch For The flame is lit in South Korea and 11 skaters from Hackensack's Ice House could be coming back with gold medals. Here's who to watch for: Brendan Kerry: The Sydney, Australia native competed in the 2014 Olympics and will be skating in the men's singles. Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje: Weaver, 28, and Poje, 30, are both from Fort Lee and have been skating together since 2006. They competed in the 2014 Olympics. Alexei Bychenko: The Ukraine native currently of Hackensack will be representing Israel in men's single. He is 29 years old and competed in the 2014 Olympics. Daniel Samohin: Born i…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fairfield, CT
Lifestyle
NBC Sports Exec Offers Behind-The-Scenes Peek At Olympics In Fairfield Talk NBC Sports Exec Offers Behind-The-Scenes Peek At Olympics In Fairfield Talk
NBC Sports Exec Offers Behind-The-Scenes Peek At Olympics In Fairfield Talk FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Counting the days until the 2018 Winter Olympics? Get a behind-the-scenes peek at all the festivities on Jan. 25 when broadcaster Rob Simmelkjaer, senior vice president of NBC Sports Ventures, speaks about his experiences at the games at Fairfield Museum and History Center. The Westport resident will present “Backstage at the Olympics with NBC” through the museum’s 2018 Museum After Dark series. The free, two-hour event begins at 6 p.m. “Everyone from tweens to adults will find his presentation fascinating and timely,” said Christine Jewell, the museum’s director of prog…

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by Meredith Guinness