Fire And Water
Written by Cory Twibell Friday, 01 February 2013 00:00
Westbury’s Keith Barnes wraps up SUNY Maritime football career as a D3 All Star
He was called the hardest-hitter among Green Dragon football players in the last decade at Westbury High School.
“I remember one game specifically. We played Elmont in the playoffs and lost by a touchdown, but the collisions – you felt it on the sideline,” said Westbury Athletic Director Doric Capsis.
As the familiar saying goes – some things never change.
Westbury’s Keith Barnes (class of 2006) recently made his final tackle at the NCAA Division 3 Senior Bowl, a game to which Barnes was invited following a storied career for the SUNY Maritime Privateers.
That last tackle was one of seven Barnes recorded in the game – and hundreds the Westbury native earned in his four-year career.
Since Maritime’s program was reinstated in 2006, Barnes, an international transportation and trade major, set several school records ablaze.
This past season alone, Barnes was named the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Defensive Player of The Week three times. The linebacker led not just the ECFC, but the entire nation, in average tackles per game (8.33) and finished with 124 total tackles on the year – six more than the next closest player, who appeared in 11 games to Barnes’ nine. He was also named the ECFC Defensive Player of the Year … both in his sophomore and junior seasons.
Barnes wreaked havoc on opposing offenses – thanks in part to his off-season work in the weight room, where he twice earned the Iron Privateer Level award for lifting a combined total of 1,625 pounds (junior year) in four max-out attempts.
And though his career is over, Barnes’ list of accomplishments is seemingly endless. The accolades date back to his freshman year, when Barnes’ teammates voted him the squad’s Defensive MVP.
“Barnes was a combination of speed and power. He would get to the point of contact rapidly and deliver a tremendous clean hit on the running backs, always driving them back,” Capsis said. “It was like an explosion.”
Many former Green Dragons also suited up for the Privateers this season, including Chrisrichard JeanBaptiste, Hugh O’Brien and Thomas Davis. The starting salary for Maritime graduates in 2011 was $60,000.
While Barnes’ explosively loud tackles were often mistaken with backfiring cars, the linebacker himself is much more unassuming.
“He was quiet. He wasn’t a guy that talked any ‘BS.’ He did all his talking on the field,” Capsis said.
News
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
In what is hoped to be a step forward for the Westbury School District’s ongoing search for a superintendent, the board of education voted to terminate its contract with search firm Hazard, Young, Attea. However, questions still remain. Will the board continue the search with another firm? Will the board conduct the search themselves? Will it consider current Interim Superintendent Mary Lagnado for the position? And of course, how long will the process take before a permanent superintendent is named?
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
The Westbury Board of Trustees has decided to grant Avanti a special use cabaret permit for a probationary six months.
The club had its permit rescinded six weeks ago after being in violation of several conditions, including noise and not reporting police activity. It now is required to operate under stricter conditions, including revised operating hours (they can be open until1 a.m. Sunday to
Wednesday and until 2 am. Thursday to Saturday) and having to keep a log book of any police activity. Much of the debate over Avanti had to do with an advertisement that promoted an event of a sexual nature. Club owner Barry Ceriano insisted that nothing of such a nature happened at Avanti and he was unaware of the ads, however the mayor said that the advertisement itself was in violation of the club’s permit and that the owner was responsible for all events that went on in his club. In that strain, the new permit includes a condition that says “applicant shall be responsible for any and all activities or events occurring at the premises. In the event that the applicant uses or engages the service of a booking agent, event planner, promoter…applicant shall use a written contract…and shall remain responsible and liable for any and all violations of the permit.” The following condition also says “any advertisement…of any event at the Premises, that advertises or promotes an event that would be a violation of this Permit and conditions, is itself a violation.”
Sports
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Carle Place softball avenges semi-final loss to Locust Valley
Avenging the previous day’s loss and moving themselves one step closer to a possible county title, the Carle Place Frogs Softball team beat out the Locust Valley Falcons Wednesday, May 15 in a game two rematch for the Nassau County Class B Semi-Final, 12-3.
Friday, 17 May 2013 00:00
Westbury Okinawan Karate recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary of coming to the Westbury Recreation Center. Since then, the dojo has trained 250 students, ages six and up, in the art of karate with the style of traditional Okinawan ShorinRyu Shidokan.
Founded by sensei John Power, the classes seek to instill the confidence and strength needed to obtain success in everyday life.
“A lot of kids are lacking confidence,” said Power. “We let them practice leadership in the class and this contributes to their confidence.
Calendar
Kevin James At NYCB - May 30
Car Show And Wash - June 1
The Price Is Right - June 2
Columns
Building Better Legislators
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
Quietly Vindicated
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
Health Insurance Crisis Still Here
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
