Eastchester REVIEW THE
January 8, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 2 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Natalie Kister blows past an Edgemont defender on Jan. 5. Kister scored 19 points in the Broncos’ 73-39 blowout win. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith
2 • The eastchester review • January 8, 2016
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Pango parking app takes off in Bronxville By sarah varney Staff Writer The move by Bronxville residents to use Pango, the mobile app to pay for parking, is steadily gaining ground with nearly 500 transactions logged since Dec. 18. Village Administrator James Palmer dubbed the period between then and Jan. 1 as a “soft implementation” that gave the village and Pango time to troubleshoot software or user problems. “It’s absolutely gaining trac-
tion every day especially when you consider the holidays,” Palmer said. Currently, nearly all of the village’s 1,200 coin-operated meters are now tagged with the Pango emblem that informs parkers that a meter’s code is part of the company’s database. The app was created to give users an alternative way to pay, Palmer said. The plan to implement Pango was first announced in October 2015. The Israel-based app is free
Patrons of Pondfield Road will now have the luxury of parking with a pay-by-phone app. File photo
for Android and Apple smartphone users. Area residents can use it to pay for parking or add more time to a space they’re already using. By creating an account with a credit or debit card link, the Pango app handles the transaction automatically. But the app won’t enable meter feeding. “It only allows you to go up to [the] limit on that particular meter,” Palmer explained. The history of parking enforcement in Bronxville is surprisingly colorful. “It’s militant here,” Mary Anne Healey said. Healey, a Bronxville resident who was born and raised in the village, recalled a particularly notorious meter maid who was tough to avoid. “Around the holidays, the local merchants used to hire people dressed up as elves to feed the meters and avoid tickets,” she said. “I think [Pango] could be really useful.” Several other bystanders said they heard of the app but had not yet downloaded it. “I will try it. I’m not good at downloading apps, but I’ll try,”
said one shopper who declined to give her name to the Review. Palmer said the village will be doing more outreach with the Bronxville Chamber of Commerce to help spread the word about Pango. Also, starting Jan. 1, all on-street parking meters will require payment from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Parking lot spaces will continue to be free after 6 p.m. However, enforcement of the new hours of operation has been tabled until the chamber and village officials hash out the expanded meter hours, Palmer said. Although excited about Pango, the chamber is opposed to the new evening meter enforcement and has requested that the policy be reconsidered by the village. “Fortunately, our village officials are highly dedicated to the business district and are never reluctant to reverse a decision if convinced to do so,” Susan Miele, director of the chamber, wrote in an email to the Review. The pay-by-app system is currently in use in several municipalities in Pennsylvania, including Harrisburg and Scranton. Similar app-based parking systems are currently in use in
Although nearly all of Bronxville’s 1,200 parking meters now bear the Pango logo, but a brief survey of passers-by indicates that many residents are not aware of the mobile app. Photo/Sarah Varney
New Rochelle, parts of Yonkers and Mount Vernon.[Palmer added that parking kiosks are probably the next step in Bronxville’s parking plans. Parking ki-
osks with pay stations are probably the next step in Bronxville’s parking plans, Palmer said. cOnTacT: sarah@hometwn.com
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What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library
will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each participant will need their own Minecraft account and device to build on. Each building task will have a time limit, as well as surprise objects to incorporate. Online registration is required for this program. For more information or to register online, contact Elizabeth Portillo at 793-5055 or eportillo@wlsmail.org.
Bronxville Public Library
Minecraft building workshop This program for children in grades six and up
Thursday matinee As a tribute to Elvis Presley, the library will be screening the movie “Jailhouse Rock” on Thursday, Jan. 14 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Elvis saves a woman from an assault, but kills her attacker and is convicted of manslaughter and sent to jail. While in jail, he takes up the guitar and becomes a singing sensation. Running time: one hour and 36 minutes; not rated.
Book Chat and Advisory Group This drop-off program for children in grades four and five will be on Wednesday, Jan. 13 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The program is aimed at avid readers, and will be led similarly to a book chat. The librarian in charge will highlight a book that they have enjoyed, and participants will be asked to bring in one or two of their own titles to share. Time will be set aside at the end of the program for an advisory meeting, where the participants will be able to offer their suggestions about what type of books they would like the library to have more of. Online registration is required for this program. For more information or to register online, contact Jonathan Heifetz at 721-8105 or jheifetz@wlsmail.org.
and design of henna tattoos. Participants will first learn how to do henna with chocolate on cookies and will then get their own designs done. All henna designs last anywhere from one to four weeks. Registration is required for this program, and must be done in person at the Children’s Reference Desk. A permission slip must be signed by a parent or guardian in order for a teen to participate in the workshop.
Book donation drop-off Participants are encouraged to bring in their gently-used books for the library’s book sale on Saturday, Jan. 9. All proceeds from the book sale will benefit the Friends of the Bronxville Library.
Henna workshop for teens Body artist Marie Nugent will be teaching a henna workshop for teens ages 12 and up on Monday, Jan. 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The workshop will include the history, traditions and safety
Community volunteers and donations Snow Angels needed The Snow Angels program needs volunteers to aid the elderly and disabled with snow removal. All requests from volunteers are matched up with a request from someone who lives near them and who has requested help with snow/ ice removal. Volunteers will receive community service hours from the program coordinator. Those who are interested should contact Sheila Marcotte at tuckahoesnowangels@yahoo.com, and parents can contact her at 309-6947. Marcotte will then contact the program coordinator directly.
Community food drive Eastchester Community Action Partnership, ECAP, will be collecting nonperishable food items this holiday season, including canned goods, rice, pasta, hot and cold cereal, boxed foods and sauces. Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated. Donations can be dropped off at ECAP, located at
142-144 Main St. in Tuckahoe. For more information, contact Don Brown at 337-7768.
Tuckahoe Senior Center Painting class This six-part painting series will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Tuckahoe Senior Center, located at Fr. Fata Hall at Assumption Church in Tuckahoe, and will be led by Anne Tascio. The class will feature lessons in the style of artist Bob Ross, including his brush techniques. By the end of the class, participants will have created their own paintings to be displayed. Class fees are $3. For more information or to register, call 337-8487.
Membership renewals It’s that time of year again for members to renew their memberships. In mid-January, members will receive a membership form to be completed and returned with the annual dues of $20. The form will allow the senior center to update all membership information, including emergency contacts. For more information, call 337-8487.
Village Lutheran Church Bible study Warm up on Wednesdays with a pot luck supper and Bible study which will take place on Jan. 13, 20, 27 and Feb. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dinner will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Bible study will be from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring a main dish or a salad to share. The Rev. Dr. Robert Hartwell will lead the discussion about what the Bible is, how we got it and what it means to us today. For more information or to sign up for the event, call 337-0207 ext. 1003. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.
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County awarded $2M to prevent homelessness Bronxville School Foundation seeks nominees Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announced that the county was recently awarded a $2 million federal grant to help prevent homelessness and promote independence for young adults when they leave the county’s foster care system. Each year, approximately 75 young adults age out of foster care. “This grant, which we appropriately call ‘Westchester Building Futures,’ is designed to provide resources and life lines to young adults transitioning to living on their own,” Astorino said. “We hope our efforts will become a model nationwide.” Westchester is one of only six communities nationwide— and the only one in New York state—to be awarded the grant. This phase of funding builds on a 2013-15 planning grant totaling $720,000. If Westchester’s program is successful, the next and final phase would be full implementation and potential replication nationwide. The Westchester Building Futures, WBF, program is centered on four cornerstones: social and
emotional well-being; permanent connections; education and employment; and stable housing. At the core of the program is a peer-to-peer navigator network that matches alumni of foster care with at-risk young adults who are transitioning out of the system. These trained peer navigators will work hand-in-hand with experienced professionals to help guide the youth through the community’s myriad of service resources. The grant, which totals $670,000 per year through 2018, was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families to the county’s Department of Social Services, DSS. Westchester’s Child Welfare division currently has about 600 children of all ages in its foster care system. A little more than half of these youth are between the ages of 14 and 21, which is the target population for the WBF initiative. Annually, about 75 youth ages 18 to 21 leave the county’s foster care system. This
figure includes children who voluntarily exit at age 18 and others who must leave by their 21st birthday. Kevin M. McGuire, DSS commissioner, said the grant money will help the county to implement comprehensive strategies that will benefit these older children—not just in the field of housing, but also in employment and education. The young people themselves are expected to be part of the implementation and evaluation process, he added. “Who better than the youth who have lived the experience to tell us what their needs are and how we can help,” McGuire said. The implementation team also includes partners from Fordham University’s Children and Families Institute for Research, Support and Training; the National Center for Social Work Trauma Education and Workforce Development; Center Lane; Family Ties of Westchester; Westchester’s Student Advocacy; You Gotta Believe; and Casey Family Programs. (Submitted)
Now in its 25th year of helping enhance education at The Bronxville School, The Bronxville School Foundation will accept nominations through Feb. 3 to fill open positions on its board of directors for the upcoming year. Candidates should be village residents who will work with current board members to raise funds and support grants that will enhance educational programs in the Bronxville school district. Senior citizens, parents of alumni and community members without children are encouraged to express interest. The directors reflect a broad and diverse cross-section of the community. The foundation was established as a nonprofit in 1991 by the Trustees of the Bronxville
School Board of Education, citizens of the community and supporters of the school who understood that raising private funds from school families and village residents to supplement the district’s budget was important to maintaining a top-notch school district. The foundation’s board of directors consists of 30 people, including one member of the board of education, the superintendent of schools, and the vice president of the PTA. The foundation’s nominating committee’s primary role is to identify motivated, hard-working leaders for possible nomination to the Bronxville School Foundation. The committee considers recommendations from within the board itself as well as from individuals who express
interest through the foundation’s office. To express interest, propose candidates or learn more about the foundation, contact Executive Director Peggy Williams at 395-0515 or pwilliams@bronxvilleschool.org. Written correspondence should be forwarded to her attention at The Bronxville School Foundation, 177 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY 10708. Candidates should include specific information about involvement in the community and the school. Other details regarding background or relevant experience should also be included. Additional information about the Bronxville School Foundation can be found at bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org. (Submitted)
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6 • The eastchester review • January 8, 2016
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Mamaroneck to draft local pet store law By KiLey sTevens Staff Writer The village of Mamaroneck has begun drafting a local law to regulate pet stores, loosely based on the regulatory laws of Suffolk County. This recent push for legislation surfaced in August when residents began protesting a village pet store, Best Breeds Puppies and Kittens on Mamaroneck Avenue. Residents claimed that the animals at the shop were not properly cared for, and that their breeding origin was questionable, with some protestors believing the dogs came from puppy mills, establishments that breed puppies under inhumane conditions. The owner of the shop, Richard Doyle of Mahopac, N.Y., has had a series of run-ins with the law, including being charged with three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and one count of selling a diseased animal. One of the storefronts, located in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., has since closed. One of the counts for animal cruelty involved Doyle performing unlicensed eye surgery on a dog. In December 2015, he was arrested at one of his other storefronts, American Breeders in
Pet store owner Richard Doyle has been arrested for animal cruelty, selling a diseased animal, and, most recently, witness tampering. Doyle owns several stores including Best Breeds Puppies and Kittens in the village of Mamaroneck. Photo courtesy Danbury Police Department
Donna Dickerson organized two rallies which took place on Aug. 2 and Aug. 9, 2015, at the Best Breeds storefront on Mamaroneck Avenue.
Danbury, Conn., on two felony counts of witness tampering following an investigation conducted by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Animal Control Division and the Danbury Police Department, according to
Danbury Police Lt. Chris Carroccio. Carroccio said that while the Department of Agriculture was interviewing two witnesses in the animal cruelty case, they became suspicious when both witnesses gave identical written statements.
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Protesters stand on Mamaroneck Avenue to rally against the owner of a local pet store last August. File photos
Danbury police were able to determine that Doyle had instructed both witnesses how to write their statements, Carrocio said. Now that New York state allows local governments to enact a local code, village Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, believes it is up to Mamaroneck to ensure that pet stores are operating ethically, which will be a major part of the proposed legislation. Another part of the proposed law will include protecting the consumer in the event that a diseased or unhealthy animal is purchased. “I think it is the business of this village to protect the animals that are here,” the mayor said at a recent Board of Trustees work session. Local municipalities were
previously not allowed to enact local laws regarding pet stores and puppy mills. Rosenblum said the proposed law would be used to open a public hearing for residents to make suggestions, and that the village’s Board of Trustees would amend the law as they saw fit. Rosenblum added that the draft of the law should be ready to be discussed at the village board’s next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 11. Rosenblum also wants to ensure that part of the law states that under no circumstance may someone who has been convicted of animal cruelty or anything of the like open a pet shop in the village of Mamaroneck. cOnTacT: kiley@hometwn.com
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8 • The eastchester review • January 8, 2016
Astorino launches Keep Healthy campaign County Executive Rob Astorino joined the Westchester County Department of Health and local health clubs on Jan. 5 to announce the county’s Keep Healthy campaign—an education initiative focused on providing residents with best practices and services to help lead a healthier lifestyle. The campaign brings county health department professionals to five locations of three area fitness centers—Crunch, Club Fit and 24 Hour Fitness—on Tuesdays in January to offer free flu shots, blood pressure screenings and #KeepHealthy tips and information. Each of the health clubs will also provide free guest passes and giveaways to visitors and club members during the health department’s visit. “The county teaming up with Crunch, Club Fit and 24 Hour Fitness is a great way to help residents keep their New Year’s resolutions to stay active and lead healthier lives,” Astorino said, kicking off the campaign at Crunch in White Plains. “The Keep Healthy campaign accomplishes three things: it gets free health services and information to residents, it promotes healthy living and it supports local businesses.” Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler explained that the health department targeted health clubs to reach adults between the ages of 18 and 50 who are less likely to make time for a flu shot or check their blood pressure than children or seniors. “Keeping healthy is all about the choices we make, both large and small. The decision to get a flu shot or take your blood pressure
BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin
On Jan. 5, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announces the county’s Keep Healthy campaign at a Crunch gym in White Plains. Photo courtesy Westchester County
can be the first step to a healthier you,” Amler said. Representatives from the local health clubs were excited to partner with the county to support the healthy living campaign. “We at Crunch are thrilled to help keep Westchester healthy,” said Eric Jozwiak, district marketing manager for Fitness Holdings, owner of Crunch in White Plains and Port Chester. “We think this is a great benefit for anyone who cares about their health and encourage residents to come to our club.” Karen Santiago, manager at 24 Hour Fitness in Yonkers, added, “We at 24 Hour Fitness are glad to join Westchester County to offer more ways for our members to stay healthy this year. We believe real health and fitness begins by understanding your current mindset—the set of beliefs that determines what you do—so you can start taking steps to achieve your goals.” Bill Beck, president of Club Fit, said, “We’re delighted to team up with Westchester County to put the focus on fitness and health. Keeping Westchester healthy is our mission, too. We hope this initiative will encourage new
members to stop by and join us.” To take advantage of the free flu shots, blood pressure screenings and health information, visit one of these clubs: Jan. 12 • crunch, Port chester, noon to 2 p.m., 24 waterfront Place • crunch, white Plains, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 1 North Broadway Jan. 19 • club Fit, Briarcliff Manor, noon to 2 p.m., 584 North state road • club Fit, Jefferson valley, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 600 Bank road Jan. 26 • 24 hour Fitness, Yonkers, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 589 tuckahoe road The health department’s brochures and flyers will be available in the department’s clinics in White Plains and Yonkers, on the department’s website and distributed at health fairs, community events and through partnerships with other health providers and county departments. Tips and information will be shared through social media on Facebook.com/wchealthdept and on Twitter @wchealthdept. (Submitted)
Art teacher to participate in AIM program Eastchester High School art teacher Rachel Sydlowski has been chosen to participate in the Artist in the Marketplace, AIM, program. Now in its 35th year, the program provides professional development opportunities to emerging artists residing in the New York metropolitan area. The program consists of a 13week seminar, including evenings and weekends, that addresses practical concerns and cultivates networking opportunities. Every two years, AIM introduces the work of 72 artists to
New York state villages face added burdens
a greater audience via exhibition and catalogue. Participating artists are encouraged to build their networks through the program’s collaborative structure. Every year, a panel of five arts professionals selects 36 artists to participate in the program. AIM sessions are led by a faculty of specialists, including established artists and new artists. Topics covered include community, grant writing, a writing workshop, copyright, contracts, art market, a studio visit, art criticism and marketing. (Submitted)
Eastchester High School art teacher Rachel Sydlowski has been chosen to participate in the AIM program.
The New York state comptroller’s office recently announced that beginning with the June 2016 budget cycle, the 2 percent tax cap law will translate into only a 0.12 percent tax ceiling for villages in compliance. This unrealistic limit was extrapolated from a signature piece of legislation for the governor, which limits spending growth to either 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. In contrast, state spending is not limited in this way, nor are the projected increases in the more than 200 unfunded mandates annually delivered to villages from Albany. Clearly, the tax cap operates in a politically expedient vacuum devoid of economic realities. Although it is rhetorically brilliant, the long-term detriment of the tax cap cannot be overestimated. As illustrated, if Bronxville were to come in under the cap in this budget cycle, we would have to forfeit $5 million-plus in FEMA flood mitigation monies because our 12.5 percent matching share would exceed the tax cap limit. Unlike the exception made for school districts, capital improvements and infrastructure repairs undertaken by a municipality are not exempt from the tax cap spending calculation. This prohibition creates the most powerful disincentive for communities to repair one of the nation’s most aging infrastructures. In an effort to counter the unrealistic 0.12 percent spending increase ceiling, many of our neighboring villages, including Tuckahoe, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley and Hastings, petitioned for a 3 percent hotel tax on each rented room; the logic being that the revenue would be a user tax, rather than a property tax, and the increased funds would at least keep local services flat. Even though the governor signed an almost identical bill allowing the city of Yonkers to generate this revenue, he vetoed it for local villages after most of Westchester’s elected officials and the bipartisan Westchester
Municipal Officials Association objected to it. Why are there disproportionate burdens on villages, including the unrealistic 0.12 percent tax cap, the lack of an exemption for capital/infrastructure repairs and the continuation of the Metro-North tax for municipalities only, which cost our village a half percent tax point yearly? As a close follower of the governor’s statements, I have concluded that the tax cap legislation and the recent veto are rooted in the governor’s overarching goal of municipal consolidations. When he was our attorney general, Andrew Cuomo’s office submitted a bill allowing any citizen of New York state to start the process of the dissolution of a village, regardless of whether they lived in that village, by garnering the support of only 10 percent of the residents who voted in the last mayoral election. To put the governor’s bill into context, a non-resident would need to find only eight Bronxville residents to force a villagewide referendum or vote on dissolution. The incredibly flawed bill was amended several times, but the new bill passed has provisions that require communities to vote on their own dissolution before a consolidation plan and financial impact statement are produced. The village of Seneca Falls went this route and is now mired in years of litigation between cost sharing and financial obligations with its merged town. On the subject of consolidation, Cuomo states that there are 10,500 government units in New York state, which are far too many in his estimation. Refuting this, the state comptroller’s office sets the number at 4,200. Included in both calculations are all of the Off Track Betting operations and Industrial Development Authorities, which have no taxing authority, so both numbers are misnomers. In his stump speeches, the governor states, “I support consolidations. I think if you said to the taxpayers of most districts in this state, I know you like to have your name and identity. Is it worth $2,000 a year—the supposed, though undocumented, savings from consolidation—to have your
name and identity, they would say, ‘Change my name.’” The statistics don’t bare this out. Since the most recent revision of the Consolidation Law was enacted in 2007, thanks to the governor’s efforts as attorney general, one community in the state, Altmar, with a population of 407, has consolidated with its neighbor. Based on the federal census of local governments per capita, there is also no correlation between the number of governmental layers and a person’s relative tax burden. Two of the most intenselygoverned states are New Hampshire and Oklahoma, yet they are two of the least taxed. New York and New Jersey are near the bottom in governmental units, but are near the top in tax burden. This is the result of New York’s “trickle down” policy of making local governments shoulder tax burdens shifted from Albany. In Westchester County alone, $225 million collected annually at the local level is remitted to Albany for the state Medicaid program. Westchester County taxpayers could see this $225 million in local tax relief immediately if the governor and the state legislature would only do what 49 other states have done already and fund Medicaid at the state level. The consolidation theme mirrors the tax cap mantra in its political appeal and simplicity of message, but again does not address the true underlying issues. Eliminating a few positions in a police or public works department does not ameliorate the underlying unsustainable pension system. Rather, consolidation puts an added distance between the taxpayer and their government. I would also argue that elected officials closest to the impact of their decisions, and personally sharing the financial consequences thereof, make the more efficient decisions and are directly answerable to their constituents, be it at Village Hall or in the aisles of Value Drugs. Consolidation decisions should be made on factors unrelated to the vicissitudes of the current Albany agenda, rather on the benefits to the most important special interest group, the New York state taxpayers.
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10 • The eastchester review • January 8, 2016
Local students chosen for all-state ensembles Seven Bronxville High School students were selected for Area All-State music ensembles by the Westchester County School Music Association, WCSMA, for its 2015 Area All-State Festival Concert held on Thursday, Nov. 5 at SUNY Purchase. Junior Michael Landy served as principal oboist of the Area All-State Band. Landy has also been named to the 2015 New York All-State Symphonic Band. Selected for the Mixed Cho-
rus were seniors John George Brakatselos, bass, and Alekzandra Thoms, soprano. Selected for the Women’s Chorus were seniors Noor Banihashem Ahmad, soprano, and Caroline Schetlick, alto. Thoms has also been named to the 2015 New York All-State Mixed Chorus, while Schetlick recently performed with the 2015 All-National Mixed Choir in Nashville, Tenn. Selected for the String Orchestra were sophomore string
BHS students head to Princeton Model UN
bassist Eva Cagliostro and junior violinist Remi Laurence. Performers were chosen by WCSMA on the basis of auditions at last spring’s New York State School Music Association, NYSSMA, Solo Festival. WCSMA, the county arm of NYSSMA, sponsors the Area All-State Festival each year as the equivalent of an allcounty festival for Westchester sophomores, juniors and seniors. (Submitted)
BHS students win Bill of Rights essay contest
Bronxville High School students stepped into the shoes of United Nations ambassadors to debate a variety of current issues during a four-day trip to the Model United Nations Conference at Princeton University. Photo courtesy Bronxville school district
Bronxville High School’s Nicola Phillips and Charles Vorbach won prizes in the New York Civil Liberties Union Bill of Rights Essay Contest. Vorbach won first place overall for the Lower Hudson Region, which is comprised of seven counties, while Phillips won first prize for the Bronxville’s schoolwide competition. Photo courtesy Bronxville Union Free School District
Two Bronxville High School students have won prizes in the New York Civil Liberties Union, NYCLU, Bill of Rights Essay Contest. Junior Charles Vorbach won first place overall for the Lower Hudson Region, which is comprised of seven counties, and senior Nicola Phillips won first prize for the Bronxville’s schoolwide competition. “It is a tremendous honor for both award winners to be recognized by the NYCLU for a variety of reasons,” social studies teacher Steve Klurfeld said. “The attention to historical detail, level of analysis of complex legal discussions and clarity of speech in both essays is very impressive.” The Civil Liberties Union Bill of Rights Essay Contest focused on the right of free speech and
entities that serve the public. Students were required to assess the constitutionality of an MTA decision about political advertising. According to contest rules, the essays that get selected as best must effectively address the topic, have a structured argument, cite appropriate background information and case law, and display quality writing. “The organization is focused on civil liberty issues, so they are experts in this field, which means that our winners provided the highest level of analysis of the essay question,” Klurfeld said. “Additionally, the contest called for analysis of a very complex situation that appears difficult to resolve on the surface, and even more complex when you examine the issue closely.” Vorbach and Phillips were
both recognized during the Bill of Rights Day Awards Ceremony at St. Paul’s Church in Mt. Vernon on Dec. 15, which also marked the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and the church is where the contested election of 1733 took place. At the time, newspaper publisher John Peter Zenger was arrested for reporting that the election was rigged. He is remembered as one of the earliest fighters for freedom of the press. Both students were presented with a certificate from the NYCLU. In addition, Vorbach was awarded $300 and Phillips won $100 for their essays. “The writing submitted by our students contained many qualities that I hope all of our students strive to achieve,” Klurfeld said. (Submitted)
Bronxville High School students stepped into the shoes of United Nations ambassadors to debate a variety of current issues during a four-day trip to the Model United Nations Conference at Princeton University, held Nov. 19 through Nov. 22. At the conference, which was attended by hundreds of high school students, the student-delegates drafted resolutions, made alliances with other delegates and advocated their positions. Each of the 19 Bronxville students, in grades 10 through 12, had to learn about the specific country they were assigned to and understand the complexity of resolving different problems and current issues. During the conference, they participated on various commit-
tees such as General Assembly, which encompassed the departments of World Health Organization; Economics and Finance; Disarmament and International Security; Social, Humanitarian and Cultural; and Office on Drugs and Crime—Specialized—which included NATO— and Crisis—which included the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Korean Unification. “The experience provided a unique opportunity for our students to practice so many important life skills such as problem-solving, negotiating and defending a position while at the same time learning about complex world problems,” said Steve Klurfeld, faculty advisor for the Model U.N. club at the high school.
Klurfeld, who has been bringing high school students to the Model U.N. Conference every year for close to 20 years, said students get to exercise all of the Bronxville Promise dispositions by being engaged citizens and demonstrating their leadership, critical thinking and collaboration skills. The Bronxville High School students who attended the conference were Noor Ahmad, Henry Anderson, Mallory Bates, Ellie Briskin, Michael Calabrese, Katie Canty, Audrey Kim, Michael Landy, C.C. Langhoff, Gabriella Markola, John Markola, John Marshall, Ohto Pentikainen, Patrick Rich, Liam Smyth, Saige Sunier, Will Tague, Tim Weir and Trevin Winston. (Submitted)
January 8, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 11
Food Bank, Whole Foods to give back The Food Bank for Westchester, which operates the county’s largest food collection and emergency distribution network, recently announced a new partnership with Whole Foods Market that will help feed the county’s food insecure population. On Wednesday, Jan. 13, 5 percent of net sales from purchases at Whole Foods Market’s Westchester County locations—which include Port Chester, White Plains and Yonkers—will go to The Food Bank for Westchester to help provide food to hungry families in the county. “We are grateful that Whole Foods Market has partnered with us for this wonderful initiative,” said Ellen Lynch, president and CEO of Food Bank for Westchester. “We encourage people to shop at Whole Foods locations in Westchester County on Jan. 13 to help us continue
our efforts to feed the hungry in our neighborhoods. Every penny counts.” There are 200,000 hungry individuals in Westchester County; that is 1 in 5 people. More than 33 percent are children and more than 22 percent are seniors. The Food Bank for Westchester provides 95 percent of all emergency food distributed in Westchester, sourcing and supplying food to more than 265 local hunger-relief programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, child and adult-care centers, and shelters. “At Whole Foods Market, we’re proud to offer support for organizations whose goals most closely reflect our mission and core values,” said Elisa Mondragon, marketing team leader at Whole Foods Market Yonkers. “We’re excited to partner up and provide financial support for The Food Bank for Westchester,
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honoring the hard work they do each and every day to fight food insecurity throughout Westchester County.” For more than 25 years, The Food Bank for Westchester has led the fight against hunger in Westchester County, delivering more than 6.3 million meals to people in need just last year. The Food Bank for Westchester’s collaborations with major retailers and corporations, and its expertise in food procurement, storage, and distribution, turns every $1 donated into $4 worth of fresh food provided for our hungry neighbors in Westchester County. For information on the Food Bank for Westchester, visit foodbankforwestchester.org. For more information about Whole Foods Market, visit wfm.com or check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (Submitted)
@ eastchesterview
A Food Bank for Westchester volunteer helps organize food at a warehouse. The food bank is partnering with Whole Foods Market to provide food to the county’s hungry and food-insecure. Contributed photo
12 • The eastchester review • January 8, 2016
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LEgAL NOTIcEs NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Todd Huttunen, duly appointed Assessor of the Village of Tuckahoe, N.Y. has filed with the Village Clerk the Tentative Assessment Roll of the Village of Tuckahoe upon which taxes for fiscal year June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017 will be levied. Also, the Board of Assessment Review and the Assessor will meet for the purpose of completing said Roll and hearing determining complaints in relation thereto at Village Hall Meeting Room (65 Main Street) on the 16th day of February 2016, between the hours of 5 P.M. and 9 P.M. A copy of the Tentative Assessment Roll may be seen at the Office of the Village Clerk, Room, 206, Village Hall, and 65 Main Street during the business hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Monday to Friday from the date of February 1, 2016 until February 16, 2016. Grievance Forms may be obtained at the office of the Village Clerk. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Camille DiSalvo, Village Clerk Dated Tuckahoe, N.Y., January 5, 2016
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January 8, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 13
Resolutions for slackers who already blew it ‘Show Boat’ at the Westchester Broadway Theatre RHYMEs WITH cRAZY RAZY Lenore Skenazy
Readers: Right about now, you may be feeling bad about the resolutions you’ve already broken, crushed into a million pieces and washed down with a pint of banana chocolate swirl Talenti ice cream. But there’s no need to hate your sweets-addicted, never-getahead, willpower-of-a-gnat (who doesn’t exercise) self. No need, indeed. A yearlong resolution is simply too hard. The trick is to clear your mind and resolve to spend just two hours as the new you during a post-New Year’s, twohours-only resolution. It’s easy! Here’s how I did it. As of Monday, Jan. 4 at 9:30 a.m., I re-resolved that: • I will not eat a second breakfast, right down to the extra buttery toast, with the excuse that I get my best work done right after a satisfying breakfast! But...buttery toast. Mmm... • No, wait: Diet! I will eat better! I will welcome kale! “Hi Kale! This is the garbage can.” • No, no, no. They say that after you do something for 30 days, it becomes a habit. So if I can just spend the next two hours being good, that’s like 30 days on Mercury, right? And then I’ll be trim and healthy and positive— positive I need more butter-slathered toast. • No! Positive about life and health and exercise! Like, I am positively glad I just joined the gym for a full year starting, um, let me check—it started Satur-
day? I’ve already wasted almost a week of this ridiculous overpriced gym filled with torture equipment and people who look like they should be doing Dasani ads? They lift up their water bottles literally perpendicular to the ground and gulp with such enjoyment, it’s like they think there’s a hidden camera, when all there really was was me, walking around the exercise room right before New Year’s, checking it out. And then I decided, “Yes! I’ll join for the free January and THEN BE STUCK PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE FOR THE NEXT 11 MONTHS.” • OK, reset. The joyous exercisers are not “them,” they are me. I will become one of them. Hello, yoga for beginners! • But wait, are there actually any yoga beginners left, besides me? I remember trying yoga once so long ago, it was before some cynical yogi came up with the idea of yoga mats—something you have to buy to do something that about a billion people do every day who live on lentils. Do you suppose they scrimp and save so that one glorious day, God willing, forget about replacing the dead goat, they can buy a yoga mat? Or yoga PANTS? • Can you believe that stupid gym? Filled with sweaty hypocrites who can’t stop gulping water, wearing pants that cost more than a micro-loan that could give children fresh goat milk every day and lift an entire family out of poverty? No way am I going there! For exercise, I’ll just start getting off the subway one stop earlier. • I will also quit reading my emails when I should be—wow,
this prince in Nigeria needs help securing his insurance windfall—concentrating. • What’s more, I will spend at least part of my day at my desk standing, since sitting is the new smoking. • Or maybe I just won’t start smoking, or even vaping. Because vaping is the new smoking, too, except no one can agree if it’s going to kill you or just make someone want to kill you because you’re such a poser. Question: How hip is it to smell like a grape Tootsie Pop? • Resolution: I will not keep drifting off topic! I will concentrate on eating better, exercising more and focusing on my toast— work, I mean! Focusing on my work! I will also read more books, call my relatives, write “thank you” notes and—OMG! NOTES! • I will mail out my holiday cards! • OK, yes, yes, I will also write them first, and put them in envelopes. What am I, Superman? I suppose you think I should find a bunch of stamps, too? Which would mean digging through the stationery drawer, which no one has successfully dug through since stamps came in a roll and you had to lick them. They had prices on them, too. Speaking of which, how many 37-cent stamps does it take to mail a holiday card around mid-January? • Presidents Day is a holiday too, you know. I’ll just say, “Happy Presidents Day” on them. It’s my personal toast to our presidents. • TOAST!!! cOnTacT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
The musical “Show Boat” will be running in the Westchester Broadway Theatre through Jan. 31. Written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, the story follows the lives, loves, and losses of a troupe of riverboat performers aboard the Cotton Blossom floating theater on the mighty Mississippi. Its timeless score contains beautiful and emotionally-charged songs, including “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” “Make Believe” and “Ol’ Man River.” “Show Boat,” departed from typical musical comedy material, is based on a best-selling novel by Edna Ferber, and is a melodrama with musical numbers that actually reveal character and further the plot. The musical illuminates the racial and social changes that were shaping the country from 1890 to 1927. It features a multiracial cast and a plot that deals with the plight of an interracial couple for whom it’s illegal to perform together in certain
southern states. Richard Stafford, a Westchester Broadway Theatre favorite, will direct and choreograph the show, with musical direction by Ryan Wise. The production stars Sarah Hanlon as Julie Laverne; Lee Harrington as Magnolia Hawks; John Preator as Gaylord Ravenal; Jamie Ross as Cap’n Andy; Karen Murphy as Parthy Hawks; Amanda Pulcini as Ellie May Shipley; Michael James Leslie as Joe; Daniel Scott Walton as Frank Schultz; and Inga Ballard as Queenie. The production will also feature the talents of Malcom Armwood; Eric Briarley; Erin Chupinsky; Michael Dauer; Jonathan Freeland; Alia Hodge; Justin R.G. Holcomb; Celeste Hudson; Paul-Jordan Jansen; Leisa Mather; Zoie Morris; Gabriella Perez; Kristyn Pope; Adam Richardson; Roger Preston Smith; and Karen Webb. Set and costume design is by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case; lighting design is by
Andrew Gmoser; sound design is by Jonathan Hatton and Mark Zuckerman; and hair/wig design is by Gerard Kelly. Steve Loftus is the technical director; the production stage manager is Victor Lukas; and properties are by Grumpy Props. Lisa Tiso is the associate producer. Ticket prices for dinner and a show range between $56 and $84 depending on the performance chosen. Beverage service, gratuities and tax are not included. Discounts are available for children, students and seniors during selected performances. To make reservations, call 592-2222 or visit BroadwayTheatre.com. For discounts on group reservations of 20 people or more, call 592-2225. For luxury boxes for private parties of 6 to 22 people, call 592-8730. Enjoy dining and theater in an elegant private box. Additional features include an expanded dinner menu, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres a private powder room and luxury box reserved parking. (Submitted)
This adorable girl is about 1 and a half years old and 40 lbs. Ashley is a collie mix with a very sweet personality. She is totally housebroken and great in the home. Ashley doesn’t do well with other dogs on a leash and needs a fenced-in yard. She is a wonderful girl that loves life and makes you smile. Ashley loves getting belly rubs and will crawl into your lap and hang out with you. She loves to play fetch and will always bring her toy back to you. Ashley is spayed, vaccinated, dewormed, heartworm-tested and micro-chipped. Why not donate $300 to Larchmont Pet Rescue and make Ashley part of your home. To learn more, call 834-6955 or visit NYPetRescue.org. (Submitted)
SPORTS
14 • The eastchester review • January 8, 2016
Misery loves company LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
I swear that I’m not a spiteful person, but when it comes to sports, it seems like a healthy dose of “schadenfreude” is sometimes unavoidable. Last Sunday, while watching my New York Giants put the finishing touches on a dreadful 6-10 season—and Tom Coughlin’s coaching career—the only thing that gave me any sort of comfort was seeing the Jets’ season come to an equally disastrous end. I know. I’m a bad person. The truth is, even for a Giants fan, this wasn’t a hard Jets team to root for. After jettisoning swagger-y blowhard Rex Ryan in the offseason, Gang Green was under new management in the form of Todd Bowles, a coach cut from the same cloth as the no-nonsense Coughlin. They
played hard-nosed defense, had the franchise’s most explosive offense in more than a decade and had a likeable—if not imperfect—signal caller under center in Ryan Fitzpatrick. What’s not to like? But jealousy is a strange emotion. I came into Week 17 with every intention of rooting for the Jets to beat the Bills—now helmed by Ryan—and clinch a playoff spot. But as the two 1 p.m. games unfolded, I found myself almost subconsciously cheering each Buffalo thirddown conversion, delighting in the growing despair of the Jets fans around me. I guess part of it is the residual resentment built up from the Rex Ryan regime. I never had strong feelings one way or the other about the franchise before Rex took over, but his tenure was marked by the kind of bravado and boastfulness that doesn’t engender a lot of goodwill from opposing fan bases.
Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin lost his job after another bad season for Big Blue. For Sports Editor Mike Smith, the only silver lining is that the Jets aren’t in the playoffs either.
But mostly, it had to do with the Giants’ failures. If I had to watch my team blow chance after chance and miss yet another postseason, why should anyone else—let alone people I have to
To CoVER loCal spoRTs, you nEEd a
LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow @eastchesterview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates
see every day—have the right to be happy? Am I being juvenile? You bet. But at least I’m not alone. Throughout the course of the game, I was communicating with some friends in a group chat, the majority of whom were Giants or Eagles fans, and had no real stakes in the Bills-Jets game. Only my friend Mike, a season ticket-holder for years, swears allegiance to New York’s other team. But as Fitzpatrick’s interceptions doomed the Jets, you would have thought the rest of us were members of the so-called “Bills Mafia.” GIFS of plane crashes, buttfumbles and jubilant Rex Ryan celebrations flooded the chain, as we did our best to pile on to our buddy’s already crummy day. I may not be proud of myself, but if I can’t be proud of the Giants, watching someone else suffer might just be the next best thing. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a Tyrod Taylor jersey to order.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
On Jan. 3, Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills dashed the Jets’ playoff hopes with a 22-17 win over Gang Green. For a Giants fan like Sports Editor Mike Smith, the Jets’ loss was a bright spot in an otherwise terrible NFL season. Photos courtesy Wikipedia.com
SPORTS
Broncos sharp in decisive win
Natalie Kister goes 19 points in Bronxville’s 73-39 win.
Maggie O’Reilly battles for position on a rebound. O’Reilly scored 15 points last Tuesday, 13 of which came in the first half.
January 8, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 15
By MiKe sMiTh Sports Editor After a long layoff, the Bronxville girls basketball team took the court on Jan. 5, hosting the Edgemont Panthers in both teams’ first contest of 2016. Although Broncos’ head coach Donny Lucas expected his team to be a bit rusty, it didn’t take long for the Broncos to find their rhythm, as they dominated the Panthers en route to a 73-39 win. Natalie Kister led Bronxville with 19 points and Maggie O’Reilly netted 15 as the Broncos pulled away in the second half, overcoming a slow start that saw the Panthers keep pace through the first 10 minutes of regulation. By halftime, the Broncos had built a 35-26 lead that continued to grow as all but one active Bronxville player recorded a point in the second half. Prior to Tuesday’s game, Bronxville had not played since Dec. 22. “Early on, Edgemont hit some of their open shots and our defense wasn’t there, maybe because we were off for two weeks,” Lucas said. “But as the game went on, we woke up at some point.” Bronxville exploited Edgemont’s defensive pressure throughout the game, turning the Panthers’ full-court press into several fast-break points. According to Lucas, the ability to run the floor has been a strength of the Broncos all season long. “We’re very athletic; we’ve got a bunch of soccer players and bunch of lacrosse players and a few basketball players,” he said. “But unlike today, where we scored a lot, sometimes we can have a bit of trouble executing in half-court.” At 7-2 on the season, however, the Broncos haven’t seemed to suffer too much when the tempo slows down. “When you have just two losses, to Irvington and Valhalla, that’s not bad,” Lucas said. “We hoped to be right where we are.” Lucas is confident that his team can build upon its quick start in January, and the Broncos seem poised to do that, especially once they get healthy. “We still have some injuries to a few guards, but we’re hoping to get them back soon,” Lucas said. “But in the meantime, we’re getting good experience; we have 11 players on the roster and we go 11 deep.” The Broncos will need all
Ellie Walsh dribbles through traffic on Jan. 5. Bronxville is now 7-2 on the season.
Alyson Schultz brings the ball upcourt against Edgemont. Photos/Mike Smith
hands on deck on Jan. 8, when they host Putnam Valley and Cornell-bound center Reena Olsen in what will be Bronxville’s first real test of the new year. “They have a 6-foot-3 center,
they’re committed, they’re disciplined,” Lucas said. “They can cause some havoc, but hopefully, in our gym, we can handle it.” cOnTacT: sports@hometwn.com
16 • The eastchester review • January 8, 2016