February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Collins, 48, made history a few years ago when she was appointed first woman commander of a shuttle.
The mother of two – she has a daughter Bridget and son Luke – Collins is commanding a 12 day mission that NASA hopes will put to rest many of the fears and problems that have dogged the shuttle program since the Columbia tragedy in February, 2003.
In addition to Collins, the Discovery carried six crew members including chief pilot Jim Kelly.
Eileen Collins is not the first Collins to soar into space. Astronaut Michael Collins was pilot of the Apollo Command Module during the first moon landing in July, 1969.
DEATH OF KEN POWERS
Ken Powers, one of the tri-state area’s most prominent Irish American military historians, has died. He was 76.
Powers died peacefully at his home in Westport, Conn. He had been battling both cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease.
A native of Floral Park, New York, Powers worked for the Stauffer Chemical Company before joining the Aberdeen Proving Grounds as curator of its military exhibit.
A veteran the National Guard who retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel, Powers was also a 50 year member of the 69th Regiment in New York City where he served as the unit’s military historian. He marched in 50 Patrick’s Day parades.
In 2002, Powers donated a large portion of his military collection, including items of the 69th Regiment, to Collins Barracks Museum in Dublin for an Irish regimental exhibit that will open in 2006.
Powers was a member of the Gaelic American Club, the Wild Geese, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Company of Military Historians.
Survivors, in addition to his wife Pamela of forty-nine years, include sons, Timothy Patrick Powers and Brian Winthrop Powers, daughters, Aileen Moira Kennedy of Kensington and Sheila Colleen Casinelli and six grandchildren.
Contributions in memory of Ken Powers may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 1 Park St., Norwalk, CT 06851.
YONKERS NOT GUILTY PLEA
A 25-year-old Co. Tyrone man has pleaded not guilty to a second degree manslaughter charge linked to a fatal accident on a Yonkers street.
Christopher Kiernan is facing a potential maximum sentence of five to 15 years if found guilty.
Kiernan, an undocumented immigrant and Yonkers resident who does not possess a valid driving license, is accused of killing mother-of-three Carlene Joseph.
He was driving a Ford Explorer on the evening of Monday, June 20, when he collided with Joseph, 36, and her husband, Emanual. The couple was walking home after shopping.
A subsequent test of Kiernan’s blood revealed that he had 0.23 of one percent by weight of alcohol in his blood, or five times the legal New York State limit.
During an arraignment hearing in Westchester County Court last week, Kiernan entered the not guilty plea.
According to the Journal News, Kiernan said he must have fallen asleep at the wheel because he did not realize what had happened until he got out of his car and saw Carlene Joseph lying on the ground along Kimball Avenue.
The court heard that Kiernan, in a statement to police, admitted drinking in the Corrib Tavern on Yonkers Avenue between 6 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. that evening.
Kiernan was initially charged with vehicular manslaughter but the charge was upgraded by Westchester District Attorney Janine Pirro following a grand jury hearing.
Emanual Joseph is recovering from injuries. Kiernan is being held without bail as he is also facing deportation proceedings.
IAUC FOR PITTSBURGH
The Irish American Unity Conference will hold its 22nd National Convention Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Pittsburgh,
“The theme of this conference will be British accountability,” said IAUC president Andy Somers.
Somers said the conference will focus on “Britain’s involvement in murder, police corruption, injustice, and the derailing of democracy” in northern Ireland.
“With this conference we hope to send a wake up call to all Americans. If you think it’s over, think again,” said Somers.
The conference program will include an address by Canadian Judge Peter Cory who has investigated allegations of collusion involving the security forces and paramilitary groups in the North. Details on the conference are available from I-800-947-IAUC, iauc@iauc.org or (412)782-2715.