January 15, 2016

Eastchester REVIEW THE

January 15, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 3 | www.eastchesterreview.com

COMEBACK KIDS Alston Tarry goes up for a layup against Rye Neck on Jan. 11. Tarry led the Broncos with 18 points in Bronxville’s 53-35 comeback win over Rye Neck. For story, see page 15.

Photo/Mike Smith

2 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

January 15, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 3

$1.2B biotech facility slated for development

By James Pero Staff Writer A $1.2 billion project slated for development in Valhalla will, according to county officials, bring not just a state-ofthe-art biotech facility to Westchester County, but also thousands of jobs.

The 80-acre, 3-millionsquare-foot facility dubbed Westchester BioScience & Technology Center—which is being developed by Fareri Associates—will encompass two massive research wings, a 100-room hotel as well as a 34,000-square-foot children’s center.

According to county officials, the facility will succeed in not only establishing Westchester as a center for biotech research, but also supplying a healthy amount of jobs to the county. “[The] BioScience & Technology Center [will] create thousands of new construction and permanent jobs, while po-

sitioning Westchester County at the forefront of the region’s emerging new economies,” John Fareri, president of Fareri Associates, said in a statement.

A statement from the county executive’s office indicates that the county can expect to add 8,000 permanent jobs, both entry-level and professional as a result.

“This strategic investment positions Westchester to grow smartly in the future,” said Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, in a released statement. “It creates jobs that play to the strength of the county’s highly-skilled and educated workforce.”

Once built, the county expects the facility to generate $9 million in annual real estate taxes and $7 million in annual rent.

The rent will stem from the fact that Fareri Associates is leasing approximately 60 acres of land from the county located on the Grasslands Reservation.

According to a statement by

county officials, this would be a long-term lease.

Structurally, the facility will also feature large amounts of open space, with about 54 percent of the property being dedicated to open green space.

The open space, however, won’t be the only green aspect of the facility. Much of the facility will also utilize sustainable technologies and energy sources, including solar panels, rain gardens, on-site wetlands and bioswales—landscaping designed to remove pollution from runoff water.

While the funding for the facility is in place, the lease must still be sent to the county Board of Legislators for approval, and must also be approved by Mount Pleasant’s land use boards.

Ned McCormack, communications director for the county executive’s office, could not be reached for comment as of press time. coNTacT: james@hometwn.com

A $1.2 billion biotech facility, which will include two massive research wings in addition to a 100-room hotel, is slated for development on county-owned land in Valhalla. Rendering courtesy Westchester County

4 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

What’s going on...

Eastchester Public Library

Visit eastchesterlibrary.org for more information on these and other events and programs.

Minecraft building workshop This program for children in grades six and up 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.

Baby Laptime On Thursday, Jan. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Come for a half hour of music, movement and storytelling fun. For babies 9 months to 23 months with a caregiver. Walk-ins are welcome.

20/30-Somethings Book Club On Monday, Jan. 25 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Preregistration is suggested at the library’s website, as space is limited. This new book club for adults in their 20s and 30s will meet monthly and explore a variety of genres. This month’s book is “Noggin” by John Corey Whaley. Join fellow 20- and 30-somethings for a book discussion of this popular New York Times-reviewed young adult book, led by 20-something librarian Elizabeth Portillo.

Light refreshments will be served. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. For more information, contact Portillo at 793-5055 or eportillo@wlsmail.org.

Bronxville Public Library

Pre-registration is required by calling 337-7680 ext. 34, as space is limited. Children will build focus, confidence and strength as they learn traditional yoga poses, age-appropriate breathing exercises and relaxation skills. Children will learn from instructors from the Budding Buddhas Yoga Studio.

Wednesday Matinee On Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. “King Creole” is the third movie as part of the library’s Elvis Presley celebration. A New Orleans teenager struggles to graduate from high school while working at a sleazy French Quarter club to support his family. Running time: 116 minutes; rated PG.

Banking Storytime On Thursday, Jan. 21 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

This is a fun introduction to banking and saving for children ages 4 and up. Sponsored by People’s Bank.

‘Health Care Options in Retirement’ workshop Visit bronxvillelibrary.org for more information on these and other events and programs.

Children’s Yoga On Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

On Saturday, Jan. 23 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Approaching age 65? Whether you are employed, unemployed or actively planning retirement, come learn how your health care options change. Topics to be discussed include working past 65, navigating unemployment to Medicare and retirement with benefits. Presented by Westchester’s Seniors Out Speaking, a project of the Westchester Library System.

Tuckahoe Public Library

The library will be closed on Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Visit tuckahoelibrary.org for more information on these and other events and programs.

Painting with Dene Ross On Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn how to paint in the impressionist style with acrylic paint on canvas board.

A discussion with Jane Bryant Quinn On Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall, located at 65 Main St. in Tuckahoe. This event is sponsored by the Tuckahoe Public Library.

Please call the library to register at 961-2121.

Quinn will discuss her new book, “How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide.” A book-signing and Q&A session will follow. A best-selling author and prominent financial journalist, Quinn wrote long-running columns for Newsweek and Women’s Day magazines, as well as a column syndicated to 250 newspapers by The Washington Post. An Emmy award-winner, she appeared on both the CBS-TV morning and evening news, and hosted her own show, “Take Charge!” on PBS. Her personal finance column currently appears in the AARP Month Bulletin.

Babytime Storytime On Thursdays at 11 a.m. Join Miss Ellen for stories and songs for babies. Open to newborns through age 2. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.

Preschool Storytime On Fridays at 11 a.m. Join Miss Ellen for stories and songs for preschoolers. Open to ages 2 to 6. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.

National Puzzle Day On Friday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m., come to the library to celebrate National Puzzle Day by doing all kinds of puzzles. Open to ages 4 to 10. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.

Snow Angels program Volunteers 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.

Bronxville Chamber of Commerce Bayside Travel opening Bayside Travel, formerly of Larchmont, has moved to 69 Pondfield Road. Gramatan Travel, which has existed at that location for more than 50 years and is owned by Bayside Travel, will now also be known as Bayside Travel. To commemorate their new headquarters, Barbara Nichuals and staff will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bronxville’s Mayor Mary Marvin will officiate. Everyone is invited to come and welcome Bayside Travel to the neighborhood.

Village Lutheran Church Bible study Warm up on Wednesdays with a pot luck supper and Bible study which will take place on Jan. 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.

January 15, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 5

Eastchester elected officials sworn into office

From left, Town Clerk Linda Laird, Councilman Glenn Bellitto, Judge Janet Calano, Supervisor Anthony S. Colavita, Judge Fred Salanitro, Councilman Joe Dooley, Councilwoman Theresa Nicholson and Receiver of Taxes Rocco Cacciola. All were sworn in during the first town board meeting on Jan. 5 at Town Hall.

On Jan. 5, Supervisor Anthony S. Colavita, councilmembers Joseph Dooley, Glenn Bellitto and Theresa Nicholson, town justices Janet Calano and Fred Salanitro, Town Clerk Linda Laird and Receiver of Taxes Rocco Cacciola took their oaths of office at the town board meeting held at Town Hall. All had been re-elected in

November 2015.

In his remarks, Colavita said that he and the town board will continue to make Eastchester better together with the help of fellow residents. He thanked the electorate and pledged to keep Eastchester affordable while maintaining the high level of services residents enjoy.

Traditionally, the first town

board meeting the year after an election is a reorganizational meeting for the purposes of swearing in elected officials and approving annual appointments to staff, boards and commissions. Many family members and well-wishers were on hand to show their support for all those sworn in and appointed at the meeting. (Submitted)

From left, Glenn Bellitto, Joe Dooley, Anthony S. Colavita, Theresa Nicholson and Luigi Marcoccia take their places as councilmembers at the dais. Contributed photos

6 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

East Eastch Ea stch st chester cheste ester RE EW REVI THE

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Late Port Chester man honored for Mount Rushmore By sarah varNeY Staff Writer After 28 years, the Del Bianco family of Port Chester finally has succeeded in getting the National Parks Service to recognize the contribution of grandfather Luigi Del Bianco as chief carver of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota.

Last week, grandson Lou Del Bianco of Port Chester got the official word that his decades of work trying to persuade parks department officials to honor his grandfather had been rewarded. While details of the actual memorial to be erected haven’t yet been decided, Lou Del Bianco hopes it will be the same as the one erected in Port Chester in 2014 at 68 N. Regent St., near where Luigi Del Bianco had lived.

“The tipping point was the documentation. [The sculptor Guston] Borglum had described in detail the contributions that my grandfather made,” Lou Del Bianco said.

But Luigi Del Bianco’s story has always meant more to his grandson than just a squabble over a piece of granite. That story has morphed into a one-hour stage show that Lou Del Bianco

performs throughout the tri-state area.

On Jan. 12, Lou Del Bianco, an actor, gave a multimedia presentation of the story of his grandfather’s work as one of the chief carvers on the 14-year-long Depression-era project to fifth graders of the Osborn School in Rye. Lou Del Bianco performed the story dressed in the same period clothing worn by his ancestor and spent some of the program speaking in the same half-Italian/half-English language his grandfather used. It included an audience participation segment with five students who each enacted one part of the carving process.

Luigi Del Bianco spent seven years of his life working on the Mount Rushmore project.

In 1933, he was the only person given the title of chief carver.

During the school presentation, Lou Del Bianco showed black and white photos of the workers climbing the 706 steps—half the height of the Empire State Building—to reach the work site. Luigi Del Bianco was paid $1.50 per hour. The entire monument cost approximately $1 million to build.

In order to re-create the huge stone carvings of presidents

Roosevelt, Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, Luigi Del Bianco and his team used a formula of ratios to ensure the carvings were made to scale.

The chief carver was responsible for refinement of the facial expressions for the presidential quartet. One student in the audience asked how Luigi Del Bianco was able to make the pupils of the sculptures’ eyes so lifelike.

Lou Del Bianco explained that the pupils were designed using the same principle as a sundial. The light of the sun is used to give the eyes expression as it moves through the day.

Borglum learned the technique from Auguste Rodin while studying art in Paris and taught Luigi Del Bianco how to use it on the presidential faces. Borglum is credited as the sculptor of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with the chief carver never having been recognized for his work.

Luigi Del Bianco emigrated to the United States after serving in World War I and first settled in Barre, Vermont, where a group of Italian stonecutters had moved to work in the granite quarries. One of Luigi Del Bianco’s peers recognized his talent and recommended him to Borglum.

The chief carver moved his wife and three sons to South Dakota for the project where

In an undated photo, Luigi Del Bianco stands on a scaffold next to the model of Lincoln’s head used to recreate the mountainside Rushmore version. Photos courtesy the Del Bianco family

his sons attended school and his wife ran the family. One son, Vincent, became enamored with horses and the Lakota Sioux Native Americans who lived on a reservation nearby.

Luigi Del Bianco befriended some of the Native Americans, and on Sundays, the family would travel to the reservation where Nicoletta Del Bianco would serve up macaroni and sauce for 100 people or more.

Later in his life, Luigi Del Bianco worked as a stone carver and created more than 500 of the headstones at St. Mary’s Cemetery located in Rye Brook.

Lou Del Bianco only became close to his grandfather in his final years. The chief carver likely succumbed to lung disease in 1969.

Starting in 1988, Lou Del Bianco teamed up with his Uncle Caesar to try and gain recognition for Luigi’s accomplishments. The lesson that Lou

A ratio of 5 feet to 60 feet was used to transfer the dimensions from paper to the mountainside.

The same “grid method” is taught to art students today.

Del Bianco strives to convey in his presentations is one of perseverance.

“If you have a passion, you should keep at it until you succeed,” he said. coNTacT sarah@hometwn.com

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Application to mail at the peridcals postage rate is approved at Port Chester, N.Y., 10573.

Periodicals postage paid at Port Chester and additional mailing offices.

The original design for the Mount Rushmore by sculptor Gutson Borglum called for the hands and torsos of the four presidents. However, that part of the design had to be scrapped when it was discovered that the rock beneath the heads was pegmatite granite which is too granular for carving. Photo courtesy pixabay.com

January 15, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 7

Holiday Mass donation thief caught On Jan. 7 at 9:50 a.m., the village of Bronxville Police Department arrested 66-year-old Frederick T. Nelson, a Yonkers native who currently resides on New York City’s Wards Island. Nelson was charged with burglary in the third degree for stealing a bank bag containing the holiday Mass donations from The Church of St. Joseph, located at 15 Cedar St. in Bronxville, on Dec. 31, 2015.

Nelson was identified from surveillance video by Detective Sgt. Richard Anderson, who also arrested him in September

2011 for committing a burglary at Concordia College in Bronxville.

Nelson was released from the Franklin Correctional Facility located in Malone, New York, to to the New York State Division of Parole on Dec. 30, 2015 after serving a five-year sentence for burglary. Nelson was arraigned before Bronxville Court Justice George McKinnis and remanded to the Westchester County Department of Correction pending his next court appearance on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.

(Submitted)

Photo courtesy Bronxville PD

Fire district seeks part-time treasurer The Eastchester Fire District is seeking to employ a part-time treasurer for 17 hours per week.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the New York State Town Law § 177 “Powers and Duties of Fire District Treasurer,” which can be viewed online by visiting afd.org/Pdf/ TownLawSection176.pdf.

Municipal accounting experience is preferred; a bachelor’s

degree in accounting or finance is required, however an advanced degree is desired; auditing experience is preferred; highly proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Excel and QuickBooks.

The applicant is to be extremely organized and able to prioritize tasks effectively, have the ability to work independently, demonstrate excellent team skills, and have a positive attitude and high

ethical standards. The applicant also needs to be a resident of the town of Eastchester, the village of Bronxville or the village of Tuckahoe. Compensation commensurate with experience.

Please email your resume to treasurerposition@eastchesterfd.com. The hiring process could take several months, so applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. (Submitted)

Rocky is a gorgeous, happy boy, approximately 2 years old. He has a heart condition and requires daily medication which he easily takes. Rocky recently had an echocardiogram and the results were very good.

This doesn’t seem to bother him, as he is a friendly, frisky, happy guy.

Rocky is neutered, up to date with all vaccinations and in good health. The adoption donation for Rocky is $80. To meet this happy-go-lucky kitty, contact Larchmont Pet Rescue at 740-4072/834-6955 or visit NY-PetRescue.org.

(Submitted)

8 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

Cross-village traffic safety BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

Last week, an elementary school student was hit by a car on lower Masterton Road.

Thankfully, the youngster only sustained minor bumps and bruises and the driver was not cited for any improper behavior.

It was truly an accident.

With a fortunate, happy happy ending, the incident gave us a chance to pause and galvanized us to review pedestrian/vehicle safety in the village, particularly near our schools.

It also presents an opportune time to review safety tips at home as well, especially with our students, of course led by adult example.

As a reminder, always walk on the sidewalk and if there is a gap in the sidewalk, walk facing the traffic and hug the shoulder.

As far as transportation by bicycle, only riders 11 and younger may use the sidewalks, with a complete ban on bicycle and skateboard riding on the sidewalks in the business district.

If on a bicycle, ride single file in the same direction as the traffic and come to a complete stop at every street crossing.

In addition, even if it involves extra steps and time, always cross at corners or marked crosswalks.

A particularly dangerous unmarked crossing is the one from the library parking lot to the gym entrance of the school. There are no curb cuts or crosswalk markings by design here, in an effort to discourage crossing mid-traffic. During school construction we made accommodations here, perhaps not wisely, because other entrances to the school building were closed. They were meant to be temporary in nature. There is a crosswalk 300

feet away with a traffic control device and not too far down the street, Theresa, our crossing guard, helps with safe passage.

When crossing, look left, right and left again before stepping into the street. If a car is parked near a crosswalk, make sure there is no driver readying to start up. Also be mindful of the many obstructed view driveways throughout the village and never push or chase a friend anywhere near the street. Walk, don’t run. This gives all drivers extra time to see you.

It is important to remember that a crosswalk is not an extension of the sidewalk. Pedestrians must exercise judgment before stepping off the curb. If choosing to cross mid-street, according to New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, “every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk must yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.”

Drivers in the family are reminded that when a pedestrian is crossing in a designated crosswalk, traffic law dictates that vehicles must yield in BOTH directions.

If in a crosswalk at a traffic light, whoever has the green light, car or pedestrian, has the right of way.

The areas adjacent to all of our schools in the village, including the nursery schools, are designated school zones with a maximum speed of 20 mph.

The area near the Bronxville School, our largest, is particularly busy during drop-off and pickup times so you may want to arrange travel accordingly.

The high school and middle school days begin at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. The elementary school day starts at 8:30 a.m. and finishes at 2:45p.m. The approximately 20-minute period around these times brings many

cars to Midland Avenue, Pondfield Road and Meadow Avenue.

The busy times in town at our eateries for student lunches are 11 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Speaking of the business district, we are very mindful of the numerous “crossing a double yellow line” infractions and have dramatically increased enforcement. Hundreds of tickets were issued during the holidays. It is important to note that our parking enforcement officers are not police officers and cannot stop cars for this violation.

To do our part, the village’s Police Department is going to be especially vigilant when enforcing laws relating to speeding, cellphone usage and texting while driving, failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and the new state idling law. Under the provisions of the new law, all motor vehicles are prohibited from idling for more than three minutes.

We will also ensure that our crossing guards receive the most up-to-date training on safe practices.

As I write, we are also reviewing potential upgrades to the intersection of Pondfield Road and Midland Avenue including the addition of pedestrian crossing devices.

The repair and safe passage of sidewalks are the duty of the adjacent homeowners and we ask you, the residents, to help us by identifying locations in need of sidewalk repair or suggestions to make safer walking routes throughout the village.

I know the police chief is meeting with several residents this week to discuss additional crosswalk markings in heavily traveled areas throughout the village.

Any and all safety suggestions are welcomed and needed.

Do not hesitate to reach out.

Professional music series continues at BWC It may have been a cold evening outside, but it was hot inside the Bronxville Women’s Club, located at 135 Midland Ave. on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Midland Music, the professional music series of the Bronxville Women’s Club, presented an outstanding recital by pianist Vassily Primakov, who presented selections from Polish composer Frederic Chopin.

Oxana Mikhailoff, the series’ director, said that more than 130 people came out to hear Primakov, touted as one of the world’s preeminent Chopin interpreters. The audience wasn’t disappointed, and they were treated to two encores following the program. Those with advance reservations enjoyed dinner before the concert catered by Sheldon Party Services.

The next concert on the

series will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

Titled “Slavic Discoveries,” it will feature soprano Hanna Golodinskii and pianist Oxana Mikhailoff in an allSlavic program that includes romances by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak. For more information and reservations, visit bronxvillewomensclub.org or call 337-3252.

(Submitted)

Vassily Primakov at the piano during the recital. Midland Music, a music series of the Bronxville Women’s Club, hosted the evening of Chopin compositions.

Town of Eastchester

Official Newspaper Eastchester Schools

The audience waits for the start of Vassily Primakov’s piano recital on Jan. 9 at the Bronxville Women’s Club.

Contributed photos

January 15, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 9

County legislators pass climate change resolution

By replacing its traditional street lights with LEDs, the city of Yonkers is expected to save more than $18 million in energy costs over the next 10 years. Photo courtesy city of Yonkers

BY KiLeY sTeveNs Staff Writer The Westchester County Board of Legislators passed a resolution last month, making the county the latest municipality to become a New York Climate Smart Community.

The resolution, originally introduced to the board by county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, will add Westchester to a network of communities throughout the state who have begun to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take steps to adapt to climate change. The pledge, which is comprised of 10 key elements, was written by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Climate Change.

Of all of the counties in New York state, Westchester has the most municipalities who have signed the resolution, with 29 out of the 43 towns, cities and villages already committed to taking the pledge. Parker said she decided to introduce the pledge to Westchester after attending a meeting about climate resilience with FEMA and the DEC. “By becoming a climate smart community, we would be tackling some of the issues related to climate change,” Parker said. She added that the county would also become eligible for funding to-

ward flood mitigation and storm hardening, two problems Westchester faced following Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The vote for the resolution passed 16-1, with the only dissenting vote coming from Legislator Michael Smith, a North Castle Republican, who told the Review that the resolution was never properly examined. “[The resolution] was rushed to be accomplished by year-end and it was not done in a proper manner.”

Smith, no longer on the board, didn’t seek re-election last year after taking over as president of Berkeley College.

Several municipalities in the county have already begun taking steps to become more environmentally conscious and to save money on energy costs.

In 2014, the city of Yonkers replaced all 11,300 of their street lights with LEDs. According to the city’s website, the project is expected to save taxpayers $18 million in energy costs over 10 years, and reduce Yonkers’ carbon footprint by 3,000 tons each year.

George Oros, chief of staff to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, said that because there are many factors that contribute to climate change and many reasons for its cause, the Astorino administration will not involve itself in that

political “debate.”

“But we are going to implement things that are environmentally friendly and save the taxpayers money,” he added.

Astorino’s administration has already made strides to improve environmentally-conscious programs, including recycling plastics of all numbers, a decision made in 2011, before which the county had only recycled plastics labeled with numbers one and two, according to Oros. Each plastic has a specific number, one through seven, identifying which type of resins it is made with.

Other efforts to improve the environment are also already in place.

The organization Sustainable Westchester, a union of Westchester local governments that promotes effective sustainability initiatives, was formed in 2014 when the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium, NWEAC, and the Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium, SWEAC, merged.

The village of Tuckahoe, a member of Sustainable Westchester, is one of 14 Westchester communities yet to sign the New York Climate Smart Community pledge.

“Back in 2013, the village was looking to adopt a modified version of the 10-point Climate Smart pledge,” said Tuckahoe Mayor

Steven Ecklond, a Republican.

“At the time, it was brought to our attention that [the DEC’s Office of Climate Change] required, required that the entire pledge be adopted as is with no changes.”

Ecklond and Tuckahoe decided to continue solely as members of Sustainable Westchester. Tuckahoe recently received multiple awards from the Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District, along with the New York State Society of Professional Engineers (Westchester-Putnam) for “a model of green infrastructure” for their reconstruction project of the Fisher Avenue parking lot in Tuckahoe, in which the village installed an oil, contaminants and water separator, an electric car charging station, and pervious pavement which allows rainwater to be naturally filtered through the soil rather than ultimately ending up in the Bronx River. The mayor added that plans for adopting the Climate Smart pledge will be reviewed at a later date.

Parker hopes the municipalities that have not yet signed the pledge will be encouraged to do so once the new energy conservation

and sustainability director for Westchester County officially takes his position sometime this year. In April, the Board of Legislators passed legislation creating that position, and in August, Timothy Carey, former president of the New York Power Authority, was appointed to the position by the Astorino administration. Although appointed, Carey has not yet been officially approved by the board, according to the administration.

According to Parker, one of the director’s responsibilities will be to educate municipalities on how to reduce greenhouse gases and

their dependency on fossil fuels.

In addition to the environmental impact of adapting to climate change, Parker said this resolution will be an economic victory for the county.

“I think that when you can make the case that these [changes] are good going forward for something like climate change, that doesn’t necessarily speak to all residents,” she said. “But when you tell them it can save them money, it speaks to those who are less moved by the climate change movement.” coNTacT: kiley@hometwn.com

Climate Smart Community pledge qPledge to be a Climate Smart Community rSet goals, inventory emissions, plan for climate action sDecrease community energy use tIncrease community renewable energy use uRealize benefits of recycling and other climate-smart, solid waste management practices

vReduce greenhouse gas emissions through use of climate-smart land use tools wEnhance community resilience and prepare for the effects of climate change xSupport development of a green innovation economy yInform and inspire the public zCommit to an evolving process of climate action

10 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

The background to Eastchester’s founding in 1664

This is the seventh in a series of articles on the Colonial and revolutionary history of Eastchester.

The background behind the founding of Eastchester in the summer of 1664 is incomprehensible without taking into consideration the intense and oftentimes violent international rivalry between the Netherlands and England over colonial possessions and maritime trade. The Dutch colony of New Netherlands stretched from Connecticut to Delaware and included presentday New York City. The Dutch name for Manhattan was New Amsterdam. This entire area of New Netherlands was located in a precarious position between English colonies in New England and their first settlement in Virginia.

For 17 years, two men with different temperaments and outlooks exemplified the conflict between their respective countries.

In 1647, Peter Stuyvesant was named director general of New Netherlands. He replaced William Kieft, whose brutal and disastrous policies against the Native Americans led to a war that almost destroyed the entire Dutch colony.

Stuyvesant, a war hero who had lost a leg fighting in the Caribbean, was intelligent, able and pigheaded. Under his leadership, the threat of immediate Native American attacks was removed and prosperity returned. Stuyvesant also did all in his power to prevent the encroachment of the English into Dutch territory.

One of Stuyvesant’s nemeses was a swashbuckling English adventurer from Connecticut named Thomas Pell, featured in the last column. The rivalry began in 1647 when one of Pell’s vessels filled with beaver skins was halted in the East River by Dutch authorities under Stuyvesant’s command. His cargo of valuable skins was confiscated. Seven years later, Pell purchased a huge tract of disputed lands from five Lenape chiefs along the shore of the Long Island Sound westward to the Hutchinson River. By gaining dominion over these lands, Pell believed he could block any

came to live on land owned by another country, the Netherlands.

But it was not an easy decision.

Some of the original settlers along with many of their grandparents and parents had made the trek from England to Boston, from Boston to other towns in Connecticut and finally to Fairfield. Now they, like some of their parents, were moving again and forced to operate under extraordinary precautions.

Did Thomas Pell assure them that the treaty he signed with the Native Americans would ensure tranquil relations? Were they confident that Peter Stuyvesant, in nearby New Amsterdam (Manhattan), would not force them to swear allegiance to the Netherlands? Did they believe that they could sustain their Puritan values and culture 18 miles from New Amsterdam, filled with taverns, houses of ill repute, and people who spoke many languages? Did they feel that their new settlement of Eastchester would provide them with more opportunities than they had in Fairfield? History does not give clear answers to these questions.

Sometime in August 1664, the 10 Puritan families disembarked from a ship and made a settlement somewhere near where Co-Op City is located in the present-day Bronx. They called this village composed of 10 farms Eastchester. A few weeks later in September, English gunboats sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam.

Stuyvesant was forced to surrender all Dutch territory without firing a shot.

Great Britain annexed the New Netherlands from Connecticut to Delaware. Pell, in a manner of speaking, had finally achieved victory over his old adversary.

Stuyvesant continued to live on his old estate on Manhattan Island until his death in 1672, outliving Pell by three years. And the settlement of Eastchester began to take shape.

The next article will introduce Eastchester’s most precious and oldest document, the Eastchester Covenant.

Please contact us at historian@eastchesterhistoricalsociety.org about any comments or questions you might have about this column.

Peter Stuyvesant, left, the last Dutch governor of New Netherlands, surrendered the colony to the English without firing a shot in September 1664. Photo courtesy New York Historical Society

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further movement of Dutch settlers into English territory in Connecticut.

A year after signing the treaty, Pell gathered 15 men to settle the village of Westchester on the land he had purchased. It was no coincidence that war had broken out in Europe between England and Holland. When Stuyvesant learned about this intrusion, he ordered the settlers of Westchester to leave. Dutch paranoia was so intense that Wall Street was erected in lower Manhattan as a barrier to prevent an English invasion.

Conflict persisted for almost two years and was finally resolved when the settlers of Westchester were forced to sign an oath of allegiance to the king of Holland. Pell lost £500 in his illfated attempt to establish an English beachhead near New Amsterdam. By this time, Pell was now living permanently in Fairfield, Connecticut, a town a town that was on the western edge of the Puritan wilderness.

By 1664, the town of Fairfield was experiencing some difficulties. Like other New England towns in the mid-17th century, there were more town residents than town members and more town members than church members. Dissension became so intense in Fairfield that a fine had to be imposed for disorderly conduct at town meetings. While the exact issue that caused so much tension is not known, Pell was able to convince 10 Puritan farm families to leave Fairfield and start a settlement in disputed Dutch territory, just north of the settlement of Westchester, now under allegiance to the Netherlands.

On June 24, Pell, an unlicensed land agent, granted to Phillip Pinckney and James Evert a deed to the land that would become Eastchester at a spot near where Anne Hutchinson had built her farm. Pell’s motives were not complicated. He wanted to establish a fifth column or cultural beachhead near the more diverse Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam. His previous attempt nine years before where he both financed and encouraged the settlement of the town of Westchester—today in the Bronx—had ended in failure.

There are no written accounts of why the original 10 Puritan farm families left Fairfield and

INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

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January 15, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 11

12 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

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LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC): Name: PREMIER SEALCOATING LLC, Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/10/2015. Office location: Westchester County, SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: C/O PREMIER SEALCOATING LLC, 186 Woodside Ave., West Harrison, NY 10604.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. Latest date upon which LLC is to dissolve: No specific date.

Notice of Formation of Circle Tech Solutions, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 10/29/2015. Office location: Westchester County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 2 Gedney Esplanade, White Plains NY 10605. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of SM Memphis Property NYLLC. Articles of Organizationfiled with SSNY on 10/01/15. Office location: Westchester County SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 135 Elwood Ave, Hawthorne, NY 10532. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

The Tuckahoe Housing Authority will be opening its Section 8 waiting list for two days only: FEBRuARY 9, 2016 Tuesday and FEBRuARY 10, 2016, Wednesday.

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Applications sent by mail/ email or dropped in a rent box will NOT be considered. THA Address: 4 union Place, Tuckahoe NY10707.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Eastchester will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 7:00pm at the Eastchester Town Hall, 40 Mill Road, Eastchester New York on the application of 5 Leticia Road-Eastchester for Zoning Variance to Zoning Variance for new front covered portico affecting the premises known as Section 70, Block 4, Lot 14 on the tax map of the Town of Eastchester, New York and known as 5 Leticia Road - Eastchester.

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January 15, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 13

A Jew walks up to St. Peter...

RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

You’d think this would be good news to a Jew like me: The Vatican has declared that my tribe can get into heaven.

In a statement just released in honor of the 50th anniversary of the “Nostra Aetate”—itself a high point in Jewish-Christian relations, in that it stated Jews should not be considered “accursed by God” (yay!)—the Vatican has gone one step further.

The new document states that “it does not in any way follow that the Jews are excluded from God’s salvation because they do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel and the Son of God.” In other words, Jews are now heaven-eligible—which has me very worried. (How Jewish is that?)

You see, until now, I was already a little obsessed by what qualifies a person for a post-life thumbs up or down. And by “a little obsessed” I mean, I worried that if I ate a piece of bacon, it would make me a bad Jew, which then might damn me to hell, even though we don’t really have hell, so maybe even framing the question that way was a sin, meaning I was headed to some sort of miserable afterlife that supposedly doesn’t exist, with or without a devil/pitchfork/lake that burns without

giving off any light, etc.?

See? So Jewish.

And then, when I did something actually unkind—and by “unkind” I mean screaming at a cabbie who totally deserved it, because he made a right-hand turn while I was in the crosswalk, but still, those guys have a hard life and are barely surviving, thanks to Uber—I’d worry, well, was that one little blow-up actually going to tip the scales?

I’ll be standing before St. Peter as he looks at a list of everything I did and asks, “Why did you yell at the poor cabbie?

They’re barely surviving, thanks to Uber,” and he shakes his head like, “Sorry, you blew it,” and then he pushes the little button that opens a trapdoor in the floor.

All this while I’m still in the crosswalk, shaking my fist.

“Don’t worry about hell!” my husband has told me, over and over. (Am I dishonoring him by writing this?) “We don’t believe in it!”

But now, sheesh. All bets are off. I mean on! That whole Pascal’s wager thing is now in our court: Bet that there is a God and if we’re right, infinite rewards await us if we can just keep it in our pants (metaphorically speaking). But bet that there is no God (or heaven), go rip-roaring wild, and we could be in for a world of pain (and jackals gnawing our intestines) later. That was a wager we Jews didn’t have to worry about.

Until now.

So how good do we have to be to go upstairs? What is the fine print? Is one “Godd*mn it!” all it takes to rip up our VIP pass?

Or do I have to be Bernie Madoff before I worry?

Or, to put it a bit more proactively, how can I prove my heaven-worthiness?

Jews were already told to live righteously, give generously, dress warmly (well, most of us were). We already know we’re not supposed to murder, steal or commit adultery. The real trip wire on that list is, “Thou shalt not covet.” But even if we did covet—come on, who doesn’t— it wasn’t like we were immediately disqualified from anything great. Coveting a fantastic house, less jiggly thighs or a job that pays more than freelance journalism, did not mean kissing goodbye to eternal life and harps that, because they are in heaven, must not sound as horrible as I imagine 10 billion amateur harpists must sound. We Jews just knew we were supposed to try to not covet so much.

No wonder the goyim drink.

(I’m kidding! I’m kidding! St. Peter, it was just one dumb, slightly un-P.C. joke. Come on!)

Now I’m a Jew faced with all the worries of a Christian without even Christmas to ease the pain. Because a Jew celebrating Christmas? I’d hate to think where they’d end up.

But I probably will. coNTacT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Celebrate MLK Day with Volunteer New York!

Volunteers celebrate after participating in last year’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

Photo courtesy Volunteer New York!

Volunteer New York! is offering more than 25 service opportunities in honor of the 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service on Jan. 18. The volunteer opportunities on Saturday, Jan. 16 will impact and support local causes, such as Disaster & Emergency Services, Family Services, Hunger & Homelessness, Civic & Community, Children & Youth Education, Health & Wellness and Senior Services.

“MLK Day is a day we can choose to come together as volunteers, inspired by a message of hope and equality, and enact positive change by addressing local needs. We welcome all volunteers to share this dream with us and carry on the vision of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” says Volunteer New York! Executive Director Alisa H. Kesten.

Families or individuals can sign up at volunteernewyork.org/ MLK. Many of this year’s MLK Day volunteer opportunities are family-friendly. Volunteering with your kids is a great way to introduce the value of service to youth.

Here is a list of some MLK Day service projects taking place on Jan. 16: • Painting at The Carver Center in Port Chester from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family-friendly for ages 16 and up.

• 2-1-1 disaster volunteer preparedness with United Way of Westchester and Putnam in White Plains from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Minimum age: 18.

• Clothing sorting for children in need with Family Services of

Westchester (FSW’s The Sharing Shelf) in Port Chester from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family-friendly for ages 10 and up.

• Clothing sorting, coordinating and packing with WJCS– Kid’s Kloset in White Plains from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Familyfriendly for ages 12 and up.

• Create craft bags for children in shelters with My Sisters’ Place in White Plains from 10 a.m. to noon. Family-friendly for ages 5 and up.

• Updating and sorting magazines with New Rochelle Public Library in New Rochelle from 10 a.m to noon. Family-friendly for ages 5 and up.

Other MLK Day events: • College application assistance for Latino community with Latino U College Access Inc. in White Plains on Sunday, Jan. 17 from noon to 2 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For the full list and descriptions of more than 25 active projects, which will take place throughout Westchester and Rockland counties, visit volunteernewyork.org/MLK. In remembering the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is also important to remember his prolific role as a mentor in his community and to his followers.

“We can’t forget that January is also National Mentoring Month and what that means in relation to Dr. King, who set such a strong example, and what we can learn from that. We need more mentors and tutors in our community in order to ensure the

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next generation of great leaders,” Kesten said.

The core mission of Volunteer New York! is to inspire, mobilize, and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support nonprofits and improve the quality of life in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. For the past 65 years, the organization has encouraged adults to serve, youth to build character, families to bond, young professionals to lead, mature adults to share their wisdom and businesses to engage through volunteerism.

More than 270,000 hours of service were devoted last year to 500 nonprofits at a value of more than $7.3 million. Companies that strongly support the mission of Volunteer New York! are Scent 2 Market, Bunge Limited, New York Life, PepsiCo, Robison Corporation, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Con Edison, Entergy, Keystone Property Group, M&T Bank, MasterCard, Morgan Stanley, Reader’s Digest, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., TD Bank, Xylem Inc., The Dannon Company, The Rollins Agency Inc., Enterprise, IBM, MAG Real Estate Advisors Inc., O’Connor Davies, LLP, Pentegra Retirement Services, Reckson– Division of SL Green Realty Corp, and RPW Group. Ongoing support is provided by Westchester County, the Corporation for National and Community Service and the New York State Commission on National and Community Service. (Submitted)

@ eastchesterview

SPORTS

14 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

The agony of defeat LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

If you hail from Minnesota or Cincinnati, or root for the football teams in those areas, I want to offer my condolences. I don’t know how you got out of bed on Monday.

Over the weekend, the Vikings and Bengals suffered absolutely brutal losses in the NFL Wild Card round, and while any defeat in the playoffs is painful, the way these teams lost—and the continued futility of the franchises in question—ensures that the unpleasant memories of this weekend will stick with these fan bases for a while.

I mean, these losses were painful.

On Saturday, the Bengals had Pittsburgh dead-to-rights. Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sidelined with a shoulder injury, and the Bengals

had the ball—and the lead—with 1:30 left to play. But then, as they say, the Bengals bengaled.

A Jeremy Hill fumble gave the Steelers one last shot, Big Ben came back into the game, and the Cincy defense lost its cool, leading to 30 yards of knuckle-headed penalties from Vontaze Burfict and Pacman Jones to set up a game-winning Pittsburgh field goal. As good as Marvin Lewis’ Bengals have been in the regular season over the last 13 years, the head coach is now a dismal 0-7 in the postseason.

The Vikings, who have been similarly unlucky in the playoffs—neither they nor Cincinnati have a Super Bowl win to their names—also wrote another chapter in their tortured history the next day. With time running out at home against the Seahawks, Minnesota’s kicker Blair Walsh—who had previously accounted for all nine of the Vikes’ points on the day— lined up for a 27-yard game-

winning field goal, which should have been a chip shot for Walsh, but, this being the Vikings, he shanked it wide left to lose the game.

Two devastating losses, sure, but coming from a Red Sox fan, these are losses the fans should have seen coming.

When you root for a team that consistently rips your heart out in the postseason, it begins to wear on you. I can remember Aaron Boone’s home run to end the 2003 ALCS like it was yesterday. It wasn’t a shock to me then; it wasn’t surprising at all. After all, the Red Sox were perennial losers; it wasn’t a question of if they were going to lose to the Yankees, it was a question of how.

Keep in mind, I was too young On Jan. 10, Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh shanked a 27-yard field goal to cost the Vikings a win in the NFC Wild Card game. Walsh’s miss will go down alongside Gary Anderson’s in the annals of Minnesota’s to remember the Buckner game tortured football history. Photo/Jeffrey Beall in 1986 or the Bucky Dent homer in 1978, but those losses be- “cursed” title the following year, game with at least a glimmer of hang in there, this drought can’t possibly last 86 years. come part of the collective mem- and since 2004, I’ve witnessed optimism.

For Vikings and Bengals ory of a fan base, feeding into a two more Red Sox championships. Because of that, I can fans, however, that optimism Follow Mike on Twitter sort of perpetual negativity.

Now, the Sox shed their watch even the tightest playoff still needs to be earned. But @LiveMike_Sports

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

SPORTS

January 15, 2016 • The easTchesTer review • 15

Broncos rally past Panthers By miKe smiTh Sports Editor On Jan. 11, two young teams took the court as Rye Neck traveled to Bronxville to tangle with the Broncos. In the end, Bronxville’s slight edge in experience—and the return of junior point guard Matt Toal—proved to be the difference-maker, as the Broncos overcame a sixpoint halftime deficit to top the Panthers 53-35.

Toal, who finished with 11 points, all of which came in the second half, finally returned to the lineup after missing the majority of the season because of a back injury. His presence played a key role in Monday’s win, as the three-year starter helped spark the Broncos’ 34-10 second-half run.

“We came out slow in the first half,” Toal said. “But once I started to shoot a little better, I think other people started to feed off that.”

Alston Tarry, 19 points, and Jack Reilly, 17, also got into a rhythm in the second half, something that head coach Brian Senior attributes, at least in part, to the effect that Toal’s return has had on the squad.

“We’re a young ball team, so having a point guard that has game experience is a calming influence,” Senior said. “It allows everyone to play within themselves and not try to do too much.”

Alston Tarry goes for a layup against Rye Neck on Jan. 11. Tarry led Bronxville with 19 points in the Broncos’ 53-35 win over the Panthers.

Bronxville also stepped up its defensive intensity in the second half, harassing the Panther guards near half court and disrupting Rye Neck’s offensive flow. Rye Neck was only able to score one basket in the first five minutes of the half, something Senior said reflected the commitment to the game plan.

“We just had to make a couple of adjustments, we were leaving the middle wide open in the first half,” he said. “In the second half, we were able to shut it off.”

Containing Rye Neck sophomore Kol Lewis, who scored nine points in the first half and finished with 14, was among the Broncos’ goals in the second half. “[Lewis] was definitely our

Rye Neck’s John Luiso and Bronxville’s Matt Bettino battle for a rebound.

main focus, as well as not giving up open perimeter shots,” Toal said. “We didn’t bail them out, we didn’t let them get to the line and we rebounded much better.”

Rye Neck will look to bounce back from the loss on Jan. 12, after press time, when they host Hastings. The Broncos will travel to Ardsley on Jan. 12 before gearing up for a showdown with a strong Woodlands team on Jan. 15, and hope that the return of Toal will continue to pay dividends.

“It was tough watching, especially when we went on a bit of a losing streak,” Toal said. “I felt like I should be helping the team, but now I’m feeling pretty good.”

Noah Caplan makes a cut against Bronxville. Photos/Mike Smith

coNTacT: sports@hometwn.com

Matt Toal looks for an open man on Jan. 11. Toal, who has missed the majority of the season with a back injury, scored 11 points in the second half of Monday’s game.

16 • The eastchester review • January 15, 2016

SPORTS

concussion task force unveils 10 ‘Best Practices’ On Monday, Jan. 11, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino was joined by local, state and national experts and advocates in concussion care as he unveiled 10 “Best Practices” to address gaps in the way sports concussions are identified and treated, with a particular focus on reducing the risks for high school athletes.

In July, Astorino created the Westchester Concussion Task Force with the goal of developing a model program to improve the outcomes of the full spectrum of sports-related concussions. The task force is made up of local doctors, educators, coaches and trainers, all with experience in concussions, some with nationally-recognized expertise.

The 10 practices have already been endorsed by the Brain Injury Association of America and New York state.

“I grew up playing sports, my kids play sports, and I coach them, so I strongly be-

lieve in and encourage sports participation for all young people,” Astorino said. “But I am equally an advocate for sports safety and education on how to best prevent and treat injuries if and when they occur.”

The 10 practices have been published in a booklet called “Safer Sports: A Collaborative Response for Westchester to Sports-Related Concussions.”

The booklet, which also contains information and resources related to concussions, is available online at westchestergov. com/safer-communities.

“Concussion treatment, like all medical issues, is a complex subject. Our goal is not to scare parents, suggest we have all the answers or to insert county government into an area where the primary responsibility rests with parents and school officials,” Astorino said. “Our goal is simply to play a helpful role. One way the county can do that is to bring resources, and we have done just that with the creation of the Concussion Task Force

and the publication of the Safer Sports booklet. Our next step is to get the information distributed as broadly as possible.”

The Safer Sports initiative was launched after a meeting between Astorino and Dr. Mark Herceg, the county’s mental health commissioner. Herceg explained how there were gaps in current concussion protocols at the high school and youth sports level, suggested the creation of a concussion task force, and Astorino gave him the green light.

“The more resources you can bring to a problem, the better the result,” Herceg said. “We think concussion treatment will be much improved by improving the coordination, collaboration and communication on the part of everyone involved in treating an injury. Many times parents whose children sustain concussions, either in sports or otherwise, don’t know which provider to see for their symptoms. Schools and providers need to work together and

that’s what we are promoting.”

Scott Cohen, a Scarsdale junior and concussion care advocate, was on hand on Jan. 11 to support the effort. Cohen sustained a concussion as a freshman football player and had lingering issues.

“Many of my teachers didn’t know how to handle me as a student and I had other issues that took a while to resolve,” Cohen said. “I really like this plan and feel that it would have helped me in my situation because it emphasizes a team approach, awareness, training, immediate assessments and returning to the classroom. I’m happy to endorse this plan and believe that it will help future athletes should they get injured.”

Astorino said the task force will stay together and continue to explore frequency, recovery times and gender differences in concussions at the high school and youth sports level and they would all work to encourage local schools and youth sports organizations to adopt the best practice guidelines.

Safer Sports is the latest initiative in Astorino’s Safer

Communities campaign, which was launched in 2013 and emphasizes partnerships and comprehensive problem solving among all stakeholders to improve the health and safety of our communities. Previous ini-

tiatives have addressed school absenteeism, suicide prevention, youth mental health first aid and improved protocols for handling active shooter scenarios on school campuses.

(Submitted)

The 10 Best Practices in concussion management at the high school, youth sports level 1. Start with awareness Formally educate parents, students, athletes, coaches, appropriate school personnel and youth sports programs about concussions and school protocols before participating in sports.

2. Build a team Encourage schools and youth sports organizations to have a designated concussion management team, CMT, that brings together experts trained in concussions. The team should meet or communicate regularly. At minimum, the CMT should include, but not be limited to, an athletic trainer, physician, nurse, athletic director and school/neuropsychologist.

3. Report what you know Ensure that all concussions are reported, along with any lasting symptoms from the field or playground, to parent, to the ER, to health professional and to the classroom. Concussions do not just happen in a game; they can happen in gym class or at recess.

4. Assess the situation immediately Utilize athletic trainers and conduct sideline assessments that can be compared to baseline behavior in order to capture concussions in real time as they occur.

5. Don’t “one-stop shop” for answers Districts and youth programs should provide referrals to specialists (neurologists, physical therapists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neuropsychologists) as needed, to treat specific symptoms. One provider should not be the “one-stop shop” for all symptoms.

6. Understand the big picture Ensure everyone involved understands the impact a concussion can have on behavioral, academic, emotional and physical maturation of young children.

7. Stay current Health care providers evaluating children and adolescents must maintain a current level of understanding of the diagnosis, treatment and management of sports-related concussions.

8. Encourage training Ensure that properly-trained professionals, such as athletic trainers, are available to conduct sideline tests and that the results are reviewed and interpreted by a neuropsychologist or school psychologist.

9. Beware of simple answers Schools, youth programs, parents and students need to be aware that concussions are a clinical diagnosis, and that it takes more than a single or brief computerized test to understand the extent of the injury.

10. Focus on return-to-learn

Scott Cohen, a Scarsdale High School junior, speaks at a press conference as Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino looks on. Astorino recently unveiled 10 practices to help reduce the risks of concussions to student-athletes. Photo courtesy Westchester County

As important as return to play is for a child, it is more important that schools have a return-to-learn plan RTL, to address issues children face as they return to the classroom after an injury. Returning to the classroom does not always parallel returning to play.