Neil A. Carousso produces and co-hosts WCBS Newsradio 880’s Small Business Spotlight series with Joe Connolly. Click here to watch the weekly video segments featuring advice for business owners on survival, recovery and growth opportunities.

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  • NYC Marathon: Debut Runner Wins Women’s Title In Upset, Men’s Champ Wins For 2nd Time

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    NEW YORK (WCBS 880/AP) – More than 50,000 runners made their 26.2-mile trek through the five boroughs on Sunday as part of the 49th annual TCS New York City Marathon.

    They hailed from all over the city and from around the world, kicking off the race at the Verrazzano Bridge on Staten Island at 8:30 a.m.

    The weather was perfect for the race, with temperatures rising from the 40s into the low 50s by afternoon under sunny skies.

    Like every year, the race has led to plenty of street closures. Find a complete list of the closures here.

    About a million spectators filled the streets surrounding the route, banging drums and cheering on the runners, from the brownstones of Fort Greene to the towering apartment buildings of Long Island City.

    Thousands of NYPD officers joined the spectators. Security was tight, with hundreds of blocker trucks and other safety measures protecting attendees.

    In the race, Joyciline Jepkosgei powered away from four-time winner Mary Keitany to win the women’s title at the New York City Marathon in her first race ever at 26.2 miles.

    Jepkosgei crossed the finish line in Central Park in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 38 seconds Sunday, seven seconds off the course record.

    The 25-year-old Jepkosgei holds the world record in the half-marathon but had never run this distance. The Kenyan pulled away from countrymate Keitany with about three miles to go. Keitany collapsed after finishing 53 seconds later.

    Jepkosgei is the youngest winner in New York since 25-year-old Margaret Okayo in 2001. She also won the New York City Half-Marathon in March and is the first runner to win both events.

    Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya won his second men’s title in three years at the New York City Marathon.

    Kamworor crossed the finish in Central Park at 2 hours, 8 minutes and 13 seconds Sunday.

    He pulled away from countryman Albert Korir in the 24th mile. Korir finished second, and Ethiopian non-elite runner Girma Bekele Gebre was third.

    The 26-year-old Kamworor finished third last year after winning in 2017.

    He was greeted at the finish line by training partner Eliud Kipchoge, who completed the first sub-2 hour marathon last month — a feat accomplished under conditions so tightly controlled it didn’t qualify for the record books.

    Kamworor, also the world record holder in the half-marathon, is the 10th multi-time winner.

    Defending men’s champion Lelisa Desisa dropped out after seven miles, perhaps hurting following a grueling victory at the sweltering world championships last month.

    Desisa, who is from Ethiopia, was in 17th place at the seven-mile mark before leaving the course. It was 45 degrees F at the start of the men’s race, ideal for marathoning.

    Manuela Schär of Switzerland has won her third straight women’s wheelchair title at the New York City Marathon, giving her eight consecutive marathon major victories.

    After rolling ahead of the record pace for much of Sunday’s race, Schär crossed the finish about a minute off the mark at 1 hour, 44 minutes and 20 seconds.

    Daniel Romanchuk of the United States repeated as men’s wheelchair champion in another tight finish over Switzerland’s Marcel Hug.

    Romanchuk held off Hug with a final sprint through Central Park, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 37 minutes and 24 seconds. Hug was one second behind for a second straight year, and Germany’s David Weir and American Aaron Pike were also within 10 seconds.

    Last year, Romanchuk became the first American and youngest competitor to win the men’s division as a 20-year-old. He followed with victories this year at the Boston and London Marathons. Hug took the New York title in 2016 and 2017.

    Among the runners was 86-year-old Ginette Bedard of Howard Beach. She’s the oldest person running in the race, and this is her 17th New York City Marathon. She said it helps her mentally and physically.

    Douglas Bonmon of Michigan was sporting a pink bathrobe as he waited to start the race. This was his seventh marathon, but his first in New York.

    “It’s like the United Nations of running,” said race director Jim Heim.

     

    Neil A. Carousso produced WCBS Newsradio 880’s team coverage of the 49th Running of the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3, 2019.

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  • Major Takeaways From The WCBS BNB Bank Business Breakfast

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    NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Two major themes emerged at Thursday’s WCBS BNB Bank Business Breakfast on Long Island — the advantages of being local and getting noticed with your own unique business story.

    Joe Connolly hosted the event at the Huntington Hilton and was joined by Mark Burford, co-founder of Blue Point Brewing Co., Kathleen King, founder of Tate’s Bake Shop, and Jaclyn Rutigliano, co-founder and CEO of Hometown Flower Collective, LLC.

    Burford said years ago people would ask if the locally made beer would make them sick and now local is a point of pride.

    King built a chocolate chip cookie and bakery empire from scratch, but it wasn’t always easy. She says when she was knocking on doors to get Tate’s cookies into stores, occasionally someone would say “What makes you think these are good?”

    Rather than debate with them she would just say, “I think they’re good” and walk out, thinking to herself, “They’ll be calling me someday!”

    King says, “You believe in your own product, you believe in yourself. I love proving people wrong.”

    Connolly reports it seemed like more business owners compared to the previous breakfast in Junesaid business is up — namely in financial services, aviation and technology.

    “When I asked is anybody seeing signs of a slowdown only two business founders raised their hand and one told me later the last eight months have been great it was due to slow,” Connolly said.

    When business owners asked for advice on how to get their business noticed, Rutigliano, a rising star in the Long Island business world, asked them, “What is your story?” She said it’s critical for business owner to tell their unique story on their website and “About Us” page because it will make them stand out.

    One new business that drew a lot of interest at the breakfast is 3MomsOrganics.com, which sells TickWise — a DEET-free all-natural tick and insect repellent. It was started by two moms from Long Island and they say the third mom is the customer. They’re registered to sell in New York and New Jersey.

    New York Mets legend and businessman Ed Kranepool, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ’69 Miracle Mets Championship Season, made a special appearance and shared how to transfer a wining attitude and championship spirit in sports to business.

     

    Neil A. Carousso is the producer of the WCBS Business Breakfast programs hosted by Joe Connolly.

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  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman Opens Up On Being Held at Gunpoint: ‘What Am I, Pablo Escobar?’

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    By Jacquie Cadorette

    Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman sat down with Anthony Scaramucci and his wife, Deidre Scaramucci, to open up about his experience with being nearly arrested for driving a “stolen” car. Turns out, the situation was more embarrassing than anything else.

    The Scaramuccis recorded their RADIO.COM Original podcast, “Mooch and the Mrs.,” live from New York City’s Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday. When Cashman took the stage, Deidre couldn’t resist asking him about the details of his near-arrest.

    Cashman begins by explaining what happened. Back in August, he went outside in the morning to take a cruise in his convertible Jeep, only to find that the car had been stolen. The car was soon recovered without damages.

    Upon retrieving the car and driving back to his home, Cashman quickly learned that the vehicle had not yet been taken off of the “stolen” list. He was pulled over, held at gunpoint, and asked to raise his hands above his head.

    As terrifying as the situation sounds, Cashman remembers one overwhelming emotion: embarrassment. “I wasn’t scared, I was embarrassed,” he explains. Patrons of a nearby Starbucks saw the whole thing.

    The Yankees GM could only imagine what they must have been thinking. He continues, “They’re thinking, ‘What am I, Pablo Escobar?’”

    Still, Cashman lauds the NYPD for their fast acting, despite having mistaken Cashman for a thief. “I give a huge applause to them,” he says of the incident.

    Cashman’s got one confession regarding the whole ordeal. “I just didn’t want the body cam footage coming out,” he explains.

    You can hear more about Scaramucci and his guests by downloading the RADIO.COM app here.

    Neil A. Carousso executive produced the “Mooch and the Mrs.” live event at Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, including leading event planning, guest booking, activation, sales, and technical, digital and engineering support. 

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  • ‘RHONJ’ Alum Jacqueline Laurita Says New Podcast ‘Lets Her Let Loose’

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    By Tarrah Gibbons, RADIO.COM

    Several guests appeared on the live taping of RADIO.COM original podcast, “Mooch and the Mrs.” on Tuesday night including “Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum Jacqueline Laurita.

    During their conversation, Laurita talked about her RADIO.COM original podcast “The LookOver Ladies.”

    The podcast features just about any topics that are on a woman’s mind.

    Jacqueline Laurita, the host and former housewife of seven seasons, joins her girlfriends Jill Ashley and Melissa Polo as they talk about their hectic and exciting lives. “It’s our platform to let loose and talk about things that women love to talk about,” she said.

    “We all have backgrounds in beauty, health, wellness, fashion,” Laurita said. “We touch on all that but then we always go off on tangents and just start talking [about] random, inappropriate things,” she continued.

    But the “Real Housewives” star has never been shy when it comes to her personal life. She recently shared that her son, Nicholas, has autism.

    “My life is very autism focused. I have a son with autism. I help families that are affected by autism all the time.,” Laurita said.

    She uses her real-life experiences to help other families who have children with autism. Laurita said she coaches them to live healthy lives every day.

    In terms of her podcast, she sees it as an opportunity to escape the craziness of day-to-day life. “This is my kind of release to let go of all that and just be a girl,” she said.

    “The LookOver Ladies” can be found on the RADIO.COM app and everywhere podcasts are available.

    Neil A. Carousso executive produced the “Mooch and the Mrs.” live event at Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, including leading event planning, guest booking, activation, sales, and technical, digital and engineering support. 

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  • ‘RHONJ’ Alum Kathy Wakile Talks New Foodie and Travel Podcast

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    By Tarrah Gibbons, RADIO.COM

    Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum Kathy Wakile opened up about her new RADIO.COM original podcast, “Eat Live Love Indulge with Kathy Wakile.”

    During Tuesday night’s live recording of RADIO.COM original podcast “Mooch and the Mrs.” with Anthony Scaramucci and his wife Deidre, guest Wakile opened up about her own future endeavors.

    As Wakile sat down with the Scaramuccis she described her podcast as being a “conversation we have around the table.”

    “Food is the common denominator in all of our lives. It brings us all together,” Wakile said.

    The first intro to her podcast kicked off on August 28 and September 17 was the second episode where she and her husband traveled to Portugal and Spain.

    “It’s really about the conversations while we are traveling,” she said. “It could be your family discussions, you know, around the table, and what comes up,” Wakile continued.

    “I learned a long time ago when you learn how to cook, and you’re good at it, you always have friends,” Wakile said.

    Wakile also opened up on her daughter’s health. Her daughter had to undergo two brain surgeries to remove a benign tumor.

    “We were shocked,” Wakile said. “Totally shocked, and 10 years later, fast forward -she’s in nursing school. She decided to go in that career path because she wanted to give back,” she continued.

    Wakile said her daughter is feeling great and has two semesters left in nursing school.

    Wakile joined ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’ during the show’s third season in 2011, and later wrote a national bestselling cookbook called, “Indulge: Delicious Little Desserts That Keep Life Real Sweet.” She also launched a line of desserts, called, Indulge with Kathy Wakile, created the Indulge cannoli kit, and opened Pizza Love, an Italian restaurant in New Jersey.

    “Eat Live Love Indulge with Kathy Wakile” can be found on the RADIO.COM app and everywhere podcasts are available.

    Neil A. Carousso executive produced the “Mooch and the Mrs.” live event at Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, including leading event planning, guest booking, activation, sales, and technical, digital and engineering support. 

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