February 26, 2016 by The Eastchester Review

Eastchester REVIEW THE

February 26, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 9 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Bronxville moves forward with LED lighting plan By KILEY STEVENS Staff Writer

Luck of

the Irish

After two years, Mickey Spillane’s is putting the finishing touches on its new rooftop dining area. Part of the new space is expected to open just in time for Eastchester’s St. Patrick’s Day parade next month. For more, see page 9. File photo

2 arrested in Tuckahoe after police seize marijuana plants Two Tuckahoe residents were arrested on Saturday, Feb. 20 after Tuckahoe police responded to a domestic dispute call at a home on Roger Street. Upon entering the home, officers found marijuana plants growing, according to Tuckahoe Police Chief John Costanza, and arrested Andrea Garcia, 30, and Keith Polockow, 32. Costanza told the Review that Polockow made the domestic dispute call to the Police Department at around 1 p.m. Costanza said the department doesn’t discuss details of domestic dispute cases publicly. Garcia was charged with

criminal contempt, a felony, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, and Polockow was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. According to Costanza, officers have been called to the home multiple times in the past. “Mr. Polockow does have an extensive record related to illegal substances,” Costanza added. Neighboring Bronxville and Eastchester police departments assisted Tuckahoe’s officers in the arrests. Costanza said that they helped secure the scene and put both suspects in custody. In addition, the state Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emer-

gency Response Team assisted in the investigation as well. “Often, when using hydroponics for the growth of marijuana, there are sometimes volatile materials used in that process,” Costanza said. The police chief added that the Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team have the expertise and training to gather that particular type of evidence. Both suspects were arraigned, and Garcia was sent to Westchester County Jail with her bail set at $10,000. During her court hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 23, Garcia failed to meet her bail conditions and was remanded back to

Westchester County Jail. Polockow was immediately remanded without bail to Westchester County Jail on Feb. 20. The possession of recreational marijuana has been decriminalized in New York state, meaning people will not face arrest, prison time or a criminal record for possessing a small amount for personal use, up to 25 grams, with a $100 fine for the first offense. Cultivating marijuana of any amount is classified as a misdemeanor and can lead to up to a year imprisonment and/ or a $1,000 fine. -Reporting by Kiley Stevens and Sibylla Chipaziwa

Bronxville is one step closer to installing new light poles and fixtures after the village Board of Trustees approved $137,000 for the installation of 50 new streetlamps. All that remains is for the village to identify a vendor to perform the villagewide installations. The move toward LED lighting came after a 2014 study conducted by LynStaar Engineering PC, of Pleasantville, recommended that the village replace their streetlights with LED bulbs. After the study, the village immediately retrofitted 66 of its 157 downtown streetlamps with LED bulbs, but Bronxville is now working to replace those lamps with new light fixtures and to add more streetlamps to increase lighting. “When we changed out the old fixtures, most of the [LED] lighting was lost because of the inefficient globe style,” Village Administrator Jim Palmer said. According to Palmer, there will be two different types of streetlamps installed throughout the village. The first, referred to by Palmer as “Type A,” a 12-foot pole with a new fixture and LED bulb, will force the direction of the light down on to the street, and the second, “Type B,” a 20-foot pole with teardrop-shaped fixtures and LED bulbs, which will stand taller than the previous globe-shaped fixtures. “What we’re replacing is the

bulbs and the fixtures entirely with LEDs that will produce more light,” Palmer said. He added that where the existing globe fixtures stood, new 20foot high streetlamps will be installed at busy crosswalks and intersections. The new, taller lights will provide additional enhanced lighting and increase safety for pedestrians. A total of 40 “Type A” lights and 10 “Type B” lights will be installed. The goal is to eventually replace all of the lights in the downtown area with LEDs Palmer told the Review that the LED project will be completed in two phases. The first phase is to replace the light fixtures on the east side of the village and install new streetlamps from the intersection of Meadow Avenue and Pondfield Road north up to Kensington Road, and from Sagamore Road to the village line. The second phase will involve replacing the poles, light fixtures and bulbs on the west side of the village. “The poles and the fixtures are going to be much newer. Many of the existing poles are in poor condition,” Palmer said, citing that the new lights are also energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Although the village board made the decision to start changing incandescent bulbs to LEDs in 2014, Palmer said that agreeing upon the aesthetic of the new streetlights and finding the right product for the right price has taken some LED continued on page 8

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March 2016

Planning ahead... Sunday

Monday

TueSday

WedneSday

Eastchester Architectural Review Board sign review 11 a.m., Community Room

Eastchester Town Council 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium Eastchester PTA council meeting 7:45 p.m.

Tuckahoe village board meeting 8 p.m.

International Women’s Day Tuckahoe zoning board work session 6:30 p.m. Eastchester Board of Education work session 8 p.m.

Daylight Savings Time begins

NCAA Selection Sunday

Tuckahoe Board of Education meeting 7:30 a.m., TMS/THS library Bronxville Board of Trustees meeting 8 p.m.

Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day parade 3 p.m.

Palm Sunday

Spring Equinox

World Down Syndrome Day Spring recess begins, schools closed

Tuckahoe village elections 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Community Center Eastchester Town Council 7 p.m., Town Hall Tuckahoe Planning Board meeting 7:30 p.m. Tuckahoe PTA executive board meeting 7:30 p.m., TMS/THS library

American Diabetes Alert Day

EHS PTA executive board meeting 6:30 p.m., EHS EMS PTA executive board meeting 6:30 p.m., EMS Lake Isle Advisory Board meeting 7 p.m., Lake Isle EHS/EMS joint PTA meeting 7:45 p.m.

ThurSday

National Women’s History Month

Eastchester Architectural Review Board meeting 7 p.m., Town Hall Eastchester Environmental Committee 7:30 p.m., Community Room

Spring recess ends, schools reopen

Anne Hutchinson PTA executive board meeting 7:45 p.m., Anne Hutchinson

Eastchester Board of Education work session 8 p.m.

SAT testing

EHS/EMS/TMS progress report period ends ACT registration deadline for April

St. Patrick’s Day

Purim

Eastchester Planning Board meeting 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium

Bronxville zoning board meeting 7:30 p.m.

Worldwide Red Cross Month

WEC second marking period ends

Eastchester Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee 7 p.m., Eastchester library auditorium

Tuckahoe Sign and Awning meeting 2:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday

SaTurday

THS progress reports out

Eastchester zoning board meeting 7 p.m., Town Hall Tuckahoe zoning board meeting 7:30 p.m. Bronxville Planning Board meeting 7:30 p.m. Tuckahoe PTA general assembly 7:30 p.m., Cottle Auditorium

TMS Career Day

Friday

EMS parent orientation for incoming 6th-graders 7 p.m., EMS

Good Friday

Bronxville village offices closed

February 26, 2016 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • 3

3-way race for county district attorney job

Bruce Bendish

By aNGELa JOrDaN Staff Writer With former Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore now a state judge, and her replacement choosing not to seek election this November, three candidates have entered the race to take over the spot as the county’s top prosecutor. The latest entry is Bruce Bendish, a White Plains Republican, who announced his candidacy for Westchester DA on Feb. 18 at a press conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains. Bendish, 69, served as an assistant district attorney in Westchester County for 14 years before he opened a private practice for criminal defense with fellow attorney Peter Goodrich. “I am not a career politician,” Bendish said when announcing his candidacy. “I’ve never run for office, and have no desire to hold any other position than the office of district attorney.” Bendish will receive a primary challenge from Mitch Benson, a New Rochelle Republican, who launched his campaign website and announced his candidacy a day earlier on Feb. 17. Before entering the race, Benson, 56, was a prosecutor in Nassau County for 10 years, and served as a prosecutor in Brooklyn for 20 years prior to that. “I have been involved in hiring and training hundreds of ADAs, and I have been a frontline prosecutor,” Benson said. Also, on the Democratic side, George Fufidio, of Eastchester,

2016

Mitch Benson

announced his candidacy last month. Fufidio, 58, has been a criminal defense lawyer since 1988, but served as a prosecutor in the Westchester County DA’s office prior to that. He described his time as a Westchester prosecutor as the best experience he’s had, and said he has a deep-rooted respect for the DA’s office. All three candidates cited the heroin epidemic throughout the county as a priority, but each attorney elaborated on different methods for tackling the issue. Bendish put an emphasis on youth outreach, and said he would specifically like to send ADAs to middle and high schools throughout Westchester more often to discuss the serious nature of the issue and warn teenagers about the dangers of drug abuse. “Part of it is an educational factor, because the district attorney is not confined to the four walls of a courtroom,” Bendish said. Fufidio discussed the importance of rehabilitation in tackling the drug issue, and promoted the use of treatment courts during sentencing. “Too many people are in the system for addiction and mental illness,” he said. “More people need to be eligible for treatment courts. My experience with treatment courts is that they are effective.” When asked about treatment courts, Benson said it is important to “strike a balance.” He said there are treatment programs that are appropriate in some cases, but that “the focus is on creative techniques to pursue major distributors.” Benson also identified the heroin epidemic as a problem throughout all of New York, and said that statewide initiatives must be taken as well to tackle the issue. In addition to addressing problems such as heroin, illegal handguns and cybercrimes,

George Fufidio

Bendish also said that he wants to establish a veteran’s treatment court in Westchester. “They deserve a court that understands their problems, and a court that is connected to other veterans’ administrations services,” he said. Benson cited gang violence as another major issue in Westchester that he would address as DA. He said that prosecuting gang violence can become difficult when witnesses are coerced into silence. “We need to facilitate a culture in which witnesses are encouraged to come forward,” Benson said. “You have to be aggressive and committed in tough prosecution against violent criminals, that way people don’t see dangerous felons back on the street.” Fufidio, who is currently a member of the New York State Permanent Commission on Sentencing, said he is passionate about increasing the age that a person can be tried as an adult from 16 to 18 years old. He said that minors are all too often treated as criminals before the court considers treatment or additional supervision for youthful offenders. All three candidates had positive things to say about DiFiore, and expressed desires to continue building on her legacy. DiFiore, a Democrat, appointed the chief judge of the state Court of Appeals last month. In her place is acting District Attorney James McCarty, who has no plans to run in November’s special election. DiFiore’s DA term doesn’t expire until the end of 2017. Primary elections for Westchester take place on Sept. 13, and the general election is Nov. 8. The Westchester DA is elected to serve a four-year term. cONTacT: angela@hometwn.com

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What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library

from Teachers College at Columbia University. Her specialties are weight loss, digestive issues and gluten-free living.

Book donation drop-off On Thursday, March 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring in your gently used books for the ongoing library book sale. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Bronxville Library. Limit is 10 books per patron. Visit eastchesterlibrary.org for more information on these and other events and programs.

Tuckahoe Public Library

Board game afternoon An all-afternoon board game day will take place on Sunday, Feb. 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come for the whole time or stop by throughout the program. Participants are welcome to bring their own games or play some of the ones set up. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided. Pre-registration is suggested but not required. For more information or to register for the event, call Elizabeth Portillo at 793-5055 or email eportillo@wlsmail.org.

Free AARP tax help There will be free tax help by AARP every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until April 12. No appointments necessary; first come, first served.

Bronxville Public Library Visit bronxvillelibrary.org for more information on these and other events and programs.

‘Boost Your Immunity’ workshop On Wednesday, March 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Don’t let yourself get run down during these cold months. Give yourself a natural boost to stay healthy during cold and flu season. Come to this workshop where we will discuss specific foods and lifestyle tips that will keep you going strong. Bring your questions. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. Presenter Daryl Moss is the owner and founder of Mission to Wellness LLC, a company dedicated to helping her clients on the path to a healthier, happier, less-stressed life. She is a certified holistic health counselor, and received her training at the Institute for Integrated Nutrition in New York City, with an additional certificate in health counseling

Community news Emergency notification system update The town of Eastchester has a new emergency notification system with new features and capabilities. The new Swift911 system will enable the town to send messages in different types of formats such as emails, texts and voice calls. Residents can choose the formats and types of alerts they would like to receive. Residents can also download the Swift911 Public App available for Android, iPhone or Windows Phones, or text SWIFT911 to 99538 for instructions on downloading the app. The old notification systems will be deactivated on March 1. After that date, residents must be signed up with Swift911 in order to receive any notifications from the town. For more information, call the Supervisor’s office at 771-3303.

Memorial fundraiser/health challenge

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

39th annual poetry contest The 39th annual Tuckahoe library poetry contest is back and open to children in grades four to eight. One entry per student is allowed, so pick your best poem. Make sure to include your name, address, phone number, school name and grade on your entry and give it to your English teacher. All entries must be at the library by Friday, April 1. An awards ceremony will be held for poets who win first, second and third prize for each grade. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Tuckahoe Public Library.

Creative writing workshop On Monday, Feb. 29 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re interested in story writing, come and join this workshop for adults. Call the library at 9612121 to register.

Singalong with Miss Elaine On Monday, Feb. 29 at 11:30 a.m. Share some of your favorite songs with Miss Elaine and her guitar. Open to newborns to age 8. Call the library at 961-2121 to register.

Eastchester and Tuckahoe experienced the tragic loss of two members of our communities this past year. Nicholas DePippo, 23, and John Crimmins, 22, were dearly beloved by friends, family and community members. Now there is a new opportunity to support commemorative funds that have been established in their names. Former Eastchester resident Nick Biagioni has created a fundraising activity that will allow participants to take part in this effort while simultaneously meeting a healthy weight goal. Individuals can join the challenge by participating and getting sponsors to back their weight loss efforts, or by pledging money to a participant. Sponsors can pledge money for each pound lost, or make a flat donation over the next few weeks. The minimum loss is 5 pounds, and the maximum is 30 pounds. The max is set to cap the potential money a donor will be responsible for pledging. The link to participate is anython.com/ event/7731/participate. The link to sponsor a participant is anython.com/operation199-event. The challenge will end on Saturday, April 16. Proceeds will be divided evenly between the Nicholas A. DePippo Athletic Scholarship Fund and the John Crimmins Foundation, which will fund seizure disorder research.

Eastchester Recreation Department Programs for the disabled The town of Eastchester welcomes the participation of all residents and recognizes the importance of providing recreational programs in the most integrated setting. If special accommodations are needed to assist in the meaningful participation and inclusion of a disabled participant, please call Sally Veltidi, Eastchester recreation superintendent, at 771-3311. The Recreation Department— serving Eastchester, Bronxville and Tuckahoe— is part of the South East Consortium for Special Services, a nonprofit organization which provides year-round therapeutic recreational programs for persons with disabilities. The organization offers a variety of weekly programs for disabled persons

ages 5 and up. For further information, visit secrec.org or contact Jerry Peters at the South East Consortium, 740 W. Boston Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543; by calling 698-5232 or emailing info@ secrec.org.

Eastchester Little League Registration for the town’s Little League spring 2016 season is in full swing. All boys (ages 4 to 16) and girls (ages 4 to 12) who reside and/or attend school in either Eastchester, Tuckahoe or Bronxville are eligible to register. For most age levels, our season starts in early April and runs through late June. Visit eastchesterll.org for more information on all of the tremendous programs the Little League offers for every age group and skill level. ELL strives to make the game fun and challenging for all children. Spring is just around the corner. Register today.

Eastchester Soccer Youth Let your child join the fun. Register now for the ESYA’s spring 2016 season. Visit sportssignup. com/eastchester.start or eysoccer.com for additional information and for online registration.

Eastchester Blue Devils lacrosse Attention all girls in third and fourth grade. Do you want to learn how to play one of the fastest growing women’s sports? Want to have an awesome sports experience? Sign up for Eastchester Blue Devils girls 3/4 lacrosse. Practices start midMarch. Season dates are 12 April to 12 June. To register, visit bluedevilslax.com. If you have any questions, contact coach Chris Johnson at flyhornets@gmail.com or 787-0395. Also, registration for the 2016 Eastchester Blue Devil’s Spring Lacrosse is now open for boys and girls grades three to eight. Registration for boys and girls grades K-2 is currently underway. For more information, contact Neill Kelly at kelly.ebdlax@ gmail.com; or to register, visit bluedevilslax.com.

Bronxville school district news Transportation to nonpublic schools Residents of the Bronxville Union Free School District who wish for transportation for their school-aged children to private or parochial schools for the 2016-17 school year must submit their request in writing by April 1 to: The Board of Education, Attn: L. Daniel Carlin, 177 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY 10708. For more details, visit the district’s website at bronxvilleschool.org. You can find information by clicking on “District,” then “Other Information” and then “Transportation Procedures.”

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.

February 26, 2016 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • 5

3 BHS students earn top honors at Scholastic Awards Three Bronxville High School students earned top honors when they received Northeast Regional Honorable Mention at the prestigious Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, the awards program identifies students with exceptional artistic and literary talents. Carlie Hoffer, Georgia Lazaroni and Hiroko Mitsui were each recognized for their work, which stood out among entries from thousands of students nationwide. Bronxville art teacher Nicole Schorr said she suggested her students enter the awards program for a chance to have their hard work and talent recognized by experts in the field. “I’m so proud of my students,” Schorr said. “I wanted to create an opportunity for them to have their work reviewed by esteemed judges and receive their feedback, which gives the student-artists insight into their own works. These three students share a natural ability and passion for art.” Hoffer received honorable mention for her painting, “Sun Radiating Through Fall Trees,” created with chalk pastel and watercolor. “Carlie is a very focused artist with an uncanny ability to create tremendous texture and mark-making effortlessly,” Schorr said of her student. “Her artworks can be likened to investigations, her textural landscape focused on the subtleties of color and direction of light through trees.” Lazaroni received honorable mention for her oil pastel land-

From left, Bronxville High School’s Georgia Lazaroni, Carlie Hoffer and Hiroko Mitsui earned top honors when they received Northeast Regional Honorable Mention at the prestigious Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Photo courtesy Bronxville school district

scape titled “Northbound.” “She has a natural looseness to her work,” Schorr said. “She has a rich, natural drawing style that allows for a variety of line quality and movement. It seems very second nature to her.” Mitsui received honorable mention for “Lunar Highway,” a colored pencil drawing. “She has a beautiful exactness and precision to her work,” Schorr said. “She has a strong aesthetic and an intuitive understanding

of color and design.” Mitsui’s work was displayed in Bronxville High School’s rotunda, while Hoffer’s work was part of the Young Artists Exhibition at the Katonah Museum of Art. More than 320,000 students entered the Northeast Regionat-Large competition. Only 10 percent of entrants received honorable mention, 8 percent Silver Key Awards and 5 percent Gold Keys. (Submitted)

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6 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • February 26, 2016

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New LGBT-friendly bar lights up Westchester

Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Editor-in-Chief | Christian Falcone ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Suzy Berkowitz ext. 30, suzy@hometwn.com Education Reporter | Sarah Varney ext. 17, sarah@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Barbara Riehl ext. 16, barbara@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Angela Jordan, Kiley Stevens Staff Photographer Bobby Begun Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano, Lenore Skenazy Letters

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Ignite Bar and Bistro opened in November 2015 and serves as one of Westchester County’s first LGBTfriendly dining and drinking locations. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

By SUZY BErKOwITZ Editorial Assistant Among the various bars and restaurants that line Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains, one stands out from the crowd: Ignite Bar and Bistro. Open since November 2015, Ignite is one of Westchester County’s first LGBT-friendly dining establishments—welcome to all, but built to serve as a safe

haven for those who identify as part of the LGBT community. “Ignite adds a bit of color and culture to the community, and it’s something completely different from anything else around here,” Ignite owner, Kevin Burke, said. “In Manhattan, there’s a gay bar on every street. As people become more progressive, they realize that this is something they want in their neighborhood.” Burke, 33, who has vast ex-

perience hosting parties in the downtown White Plains area, said that after producing events in various venues for several years, he was looking for a spot to call his own, and after scoping out a space, he decided to make his goal of opening an LGBT-friendly bar with a New York City vibe in the Westchester area a reality. Although owing a bar and restaurant comes with a lot of responsibilities, Burke, of Yonkers, said everything is com-

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Owner Kevin Burke said he wanted to give Westchester County a glimpse into New York City’s bar scene with Ignite’s bar and lounge atmosphere.

Ignite is open seven days a week and is known for its Tuesday night karaoke and Sunday brunch featuring neighborhood drag queens. Photos/Suzy Berkowitz

ing together fairly quickly, and he hopes his business will give him a chance to become more involved in the community. One such community member that Ignite has already positively impacted is Judy Troilo, executive director of The LOFT: LGBT Community Center. Based in downtown White Plains, The LOFT provides legal, medical and psychological support to LGBT individuals within Westchester County and the lower Hudson Valley area. “The LOFT supports any organization that serves or provides a space for the LGBT community,” Troilo said. “Ignite is a beautiful, charming place, and we will most certainly help to promote Kevin’s vision.” Troilo said that it is important for members of the LGBT community to have access to a place like Ignite because it is a venue where people feel safe to be themselves. Troilo said the fact that Ignite is both a restaurant and a bar is also important because it accommodates people who want to have a night out in any capacity. She said she is excited to collaborate with Ignite to host events in the future. “We’ve come a long way, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” she said. “Everybody’s welcome there, and that’s im-

portant to know. If you embrace us, we’ll embrace you.” Although Valhalla’s The B Lounge was the first full-service gay bar to open in Westchester in 2011, Troilo said Ignite is different from any other location in the county. Burke said he could see his location quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite. Besides serving as a regular restaurant and bar seven nights a week, Ignite, which is known for its extensive wine list, also uses its space to host Sunday brunch with a drag show and Tuesday night karaoke. Although Burke has received an outpouring of positive feedback since Ignite has opened, he has also been hit with some online negativity as well. He said those who are against having this kind of establishment in their community weed themselves out from becoming involved in it, and that although it’s unfortunate that not everyone can enjoy, understand or agree with Ignite’s culture, there are plenty of other bars in the area. “I look beyond the negative reviews because there’s so much more to do,” Burke said. “Every time I step back for a second and observe the interactions and the smiles and the laughter, it makes my heart swell.” cONacT: suzy@hometwn.com

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Cities, towns and villages need more state funds High school student honored at poetry competition BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

The 2016 state legislative session has begun and as a corollary, state and local elected officials put together legislative priorities. Our common objective is to encourage the governor and our legislators to provide local governments with the resources and flexibility needed to deliver essential municipal services in the most cost-effective manner for the taxpayers we serve. Since a state-local fiscal partnership is essential to economic vitality, unrestricted state aid is needed now more than ever, given the 2 percent cap which is actually a 0.12 percent cap in all upcoming local budgets. However, inexplicably, cities and villages have not received an increase in unrestricted aid (AIM funding) since 2008. School districts, on the other hand, have experienced significant year to year increases far exceeding the funding of the entire AIM program. The governor’s proposed budget adds $1 billion to school aid versus no increase to municipalities despite the same tax relief rationale. Since cities and villages are the primary caretakers of essential public infrastructure such as water and sewer systems, state funds must be earmarked to pay for these needs as communities continually defer infrastructure projects in order to fund the most basic daily municipal services under the pressure of the tax cap. The tax cap is a powerful disincentive to undertake longterm municipal repairs as their financing is not exempt from the cap. For example, if the village stayed under the 2 percent (or 0.12 percent tax cap) this year, we could only spend an extra $11,000—and obviously would have to forego the $5 million FEMA flood mitigation grant as it requires a local contribution. The State Comptroller’s Office recent report estimates that infrastructure repairs statewide

now have a funding deficit of $657 billion annually. Thus, the governor’s proposed budget of $250 million for infrastructure repairs for the next fiscal year doesn’t even scratch the surface. In addition to deteriorating subterranean infrastructure, local roads and bridges are in similar disrepair. According to the state comptroller’s report referenced above, 48 percent of state roads are in “fair to poor” condition and one-third of all bridges are structurally deficient (as was the case on Parkway Road), yet highway improvement money to assist local governments has remained flat. For example, our village received approximately $111,000 last year from the state—enough to pave about six short village blocks. Net-net, the unintended consequence of the tax cap is that state infrastructure is arguable in its worst condition in a generation. Despite all the pleas from local officials, there is still nothing that prohibits the state Legislature from enacting unfunded mandates—now upwards of 200 on the books. On the local officials’ list of priorities is legislation to prohibit the enactment of statutory or regulatory mandates which impose a direct or indirect fiscal burden on local government without provisions to cover the financial burden. Other local legislative goals that would help local governments generate needed revenue to balance budgets and provide services without always looking to the property taxpayers include: • Legislation that would permit municipalities, at local option, to impose charges on tax exempt properties to defray even a portion of the cost of the services local governments supply, the most costly of which are fire and police protection. • The restructuring of the gross receipts tax, GRT, levied on the gross operating income of utility companies operating within a municipal border. Currently, communities have the option to impose a tax at the rate of 1 percent though

Buffalo, Yonkers and Rochester have the flexibility to impose up to a 3 percent tax. Westchester communities seek legislation to allow all communities to be treated fairly at the higher rate. • In recognition of the new cellular technology, the state of New York and the city of New York have added wireless technology to their gross receipts tax calculation. Local governments ask for permission to replicate these laws and add cellular telephone services to the GRT equation. • The enactment of legislation to allow local communities to generate legal notices on websites or electronic newspapers versus the current print publication requirement. Not only is it significantly more expensive, but the circulation of local print papers has decreased to the point where the intent of the law to provide timely and widespread notification has also been usurped. • The repeal of the anachronistic “Scaffolding Law” which would translate into thousands of dollars of insurance cost savings for every municipality. Enacted in 1885, and the only one left on the books in the nation, our state law holds contractors, employers and property owners absolutely liable for gravity-related injuries even if the worker was “grossly negligent.” (Included in this definition is the use of drugs or alcohol while working and failure to use any safety devices.) As a result of just this one law, New York state insurance premiums are 300 percent to 1200 percent higher than the rest of the nation. Yearly, the new law was stopped at the desk of Speaker Sheldon Silver, who had a relationship with Weitz & Luxemborg, a law firm specializing in plaintiff cases relating to scaffold injuries. The above are just a sampling, a tip of the iceberg of the legislative needs that necessitate enactment if New York taxpayers are ever to lose their dubious distinction as the most highly taxed citizens in the nation.

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Bronxville High School junior Mia Bettino received one of the top honors at the Poetry Out Loud Hudson Regional Competition on Feb. 2, earning a spot in the state competition, which will be held on March 14 in Syracuse. “Mia’s performances connected not only with the material, but also with the audience,” said Victor Maxwell, an English teacher and poetry coach at the high school. “She made movies in the audience’s mind, turning the words into living images for them to experience.” Poetry Out Loud is a national contest that encourages students learn about poetry through memorization and recitation. The program helps them master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyra-

Bronxville High School junior Mia Bettino receives one of the top honors at the Poetry Out Loud Hudson Regional Competition on Feb. 2, earning a spot in the state competition. Photo courtesy Bronxville school district

mid structure that begins at the classroom, then takes schoolwide winners to the regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals. “Students choose, learn and then recite the poems at compe-

titions, where they are judged not only for accuracy, but for conveying the meaning of the poem in a dramatically appropriate way,” Maxwell said. “Successful reciters step into the shoes of the poet and gain an intimate and subtle knowledge of their poems.” Bettino, who advanced to the Poetry Out Loud Hudson Regional Competition for the second year in a row, won the schoolwide contest. She and sophomore Eva Cagliostro, who was the schoolwide runner-up, competed at this year’s regionals against 16 students from eight local schools. At the state competition, Bettino will compete for a spot in the national finals and a chance to win cash awards and school stipends for the purchase of poetry books. For more information on Poetry Out Loud, visit poetryoutloud.org. (Submitted)

Fabio’s Hair Studio gives back to Bronxville Fabio’s Hair Studio, a staple in the Bronxville community, donates its services for the 13th year in a row, helping the students of Bronxville High School in the production of their annual musical. This year, using its skills and training, the studio will be part of “Les Misérables.” Fabio’s staff will collaborate in an effort to transform the cast into artistic perfection, all while creating a French rustic look for the musical. Fabio’s does not just limit their services to the Bronxville area; surrounding schools, like Eastchester High School and Concordia College, have all worked with

Fabio’s to enhance their performances with a touch of glamour as well. Throughout their involvement, Fabio’s Hair Studio has developed a close relationship with faculty and students regarding them as “an extended part of the Fabio’s family.” Not only do they transform their look for the performances, but also help create a relaxing and enjoyable environment for the students. Fabio’s will be packing up all their professional tools and relocating backstage at the Bronxville High School’s new auditorium on March 2 to March 5 for the annual musical. Fabio’s Hair Studio is known

as the trendiest salon in Bronxville, with a team of professional and creative artists that deliver an outstanding service. The international creative team not only develops their own signature styles, but also incorporates inspiration from South America and Europe. With their main priority being “customized service,” Fabio’s offers a relaxing and friendly environment, providing “the best experience of the day” for their clients. Fabio’s also regularly involves themselves in the community offering free services for local school plays, as well as donating gift certificates to organizations in the area. (Submitted)

LED from page 1

time. The village set aside $375,000 in its capital budget to fund the project. Now, the village must go out to bid on a vendor who will install the new streetlights, rather than assigning the task to the Department of Public Works. “There’ll be a separate vendor who will do the installation because of the scope of the work,” Palmer said. Once the village can decide on a vendor, the work will begin. Palmer said he hopes to begin the installations in the spring. cONTacT: kiley@hometwn.com

The village of Bronxville is moving forward with plans to replace more streetlights with LED bulbs, pictured, and to install additional lights at busy intersections and crosswalks in the village. File photo

February 26, 2016 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • 9

Mickey Spillane’s rooftop bar readies to open After two years of construction, permit issuances and gathering all the right materials, Mickey Spillane’s rooftop dining area is close to its grand opening. The restaurant, located at 431 White Plains Road in Eastchester, is hoping to have part of the new space open for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the town on Sunday, March 13, according to bar manager Mike DeVivo. DeVivo said that the 1,200square-foot dining area is getting

the finishing touches put on it as the pub prepares for the warmer months ahead. He added that because of the pub’s small size, many Eastchester customers were retreating to its bigger sister pub, Maggie Spillane’s in Mount Vernon, during the summer months. According to DeVivo, Maggie’s has 9,000 square feet to work with, and an already open rooftop dining area and bar. “With this new space, we’ll be able to keep our own customers,”

The outdoor patio, which remains unfinished, is currently being tiled under a makeshift roof to protect workers from the weather.

he said. While the Review was visiting the restaurant to take a tour of the soon-to-open dining area, co-owner of the Spillane’s pubs, Mike Hynes, was covered in saw dust as he helped contractors put up molding and put finishing touches on what will soon be a full bar. Hynes said that he was excited to have the project done and open to the public. The indoor space, with a full bar and two large televisions for sporting events, will hold parties. Adjacent to the space is a so-far unfinished outdoor space, currently covered by a makeshift roof so construction workers can finish the work without worrying about impending weather. Large paned windows separate the indoor and outdoor space, something DeVivo said will create an open-air effect for customers. The indoor dining area will be able to seat 60 people for a private party, and also be used for regular business. The outdoor patio will be able to seat about 70 additional people, according to DeVivo. -Reporting by Kiley Stevens

Co-owner of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hynes, back right, assists workers with the construction of a full bar in the new rooftop space of the pub, which will be open soon for parties and regular business. Photos/Grace Quinton

10 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • February 26, 2016

No witchcraft trials in Colonial Eastchester HISTORICALLY SPEAKING Richard Forliano

The original town of Eastchester was more like a New England village outside of Boston or Hartford than a settlement 18 miles from the more diverse, tolerant and multiethnic New York City. Eastchester was founded by Puritans, a people whose religious beliefs penetrated all discourse, underlay all thought, marked all observances, and gave meaning to every public and private crisis. There was no separation of church and state in today’s sense. The sacred and the secular were one. Family, churches and towns were covenanted with God. Put in simpler language, the Puritans believed that they had been charged by God to save humanity by founding a new society, divinely inspired, a beacon on a hill; a community of saints for all mankind to see. Sometimes Puritanism led to excesses. In the late 19th century and for a good deal of the 20th century, the Puritans were viewed by historians and writers as joyless, petty, darkminded, firm believers in human depravity, witch hunters and theocrats. Historians starting in the mid-20th century realized that Puritan settlements were much more complex, and exhibited variety, diversity and vitality than initially believed. The nascent community of Eastchester is a prime example of the latter. Witch trials and executions were quite common in New England in the latter half of the 17th century. The notorious Salem Witch Trials in 1692 in which 20 people were wrongfully executed is the most notable example of witchcraft hysteria in communities founded by Puritans. Yet there were never any witch trials in Eastchester. Why? One of the people who, with her husband, Richard, came to Eastchester was Sarah Sanford Shute. Her uncle, Andrew Sanford, a physician in Hartford, and his wife Mary, were accused of witchcraft. Mary was convicted of witchcraft in 1662 and presumably executed. The memory of the incident must

have been fresh in Sarah’s mind when she arrived in the settlement that they would call Eastchester in the summer of 1664. But Sarah Shute was not the only arrival to this area affected by the witchcraft mania that took place sporadically throughout New England at this time. Thomas Pell, who sold a large portion of his land to his Fairfield neighbors, knew firsthand about the damage from witchcraft trials. The wife of his acquaintance Thomas Basset, who fought with Pell during the Pequot War, was executed in Stratford, Connecticut, in 1651. By 1653, Pell and his new bride, the widow Lucy Brewster, were living in Fairfield. There, the first wife of Roger Knapp was convicted of witchcraft and executed in 1653. Thomas Pell, educated at Cambridge and a brother of John, a renowned mathematician, linguist and political advisor, most likely was aware of the injustices and havoc caused by witchcraft trials. In 1665, Pell’s stepson, Thomas Brewster, according to Article 19 of the Eastchester Covenant, became the first and only ordained Puritan minister to preach in Eastchester. Nathaniel Brewster graduated from one of the first classes of Harvard in 1642. He served as a preacher in England from 1643 until 1663. After preaching in England, he returned to America two decades later after “The Great Ejection” that followed the 1662 Act of Uniformity reestablishing the Anglican Church as the established Church of England. In the “Great Ejection,” Brewster and about 2,000 others left their positions as Church of England. Thomas Brewster left Eastchester for Setauket, Long Island, where he would preach for 25 years until his death in 1690 (Setauket is the place where the AMC series “Turn: Washington’s Spies” is based). Early in his tenure as a preacher there, a local husband and wife, Ralph and Mary Hall, were accused of practicing witchcraft and harming local residents who became sick. There is strong circumstantial evidence that Brewster brokered an agreement with his

stepfather, Thomas Pell, to allow the Halls to flee to Minneford Island (today City Island), part of Pell’s land. The noted Pelham historian, Blake Bell, speculates Thomas Pell’s pangs of remorse about his community of Fairfield’s earlier involvement in witchcraft hysteria played a role in allowing Ralph and Mary Hall settle on his land. The Puritan village of Eastchester never had any accusations of witchcraft, no less a trial. Evidence suggests that important people and their families—Thomas Pell; his stepson, the Rev. Nathaniel Brewster; and Eastchester’s long serving town clerk, Richard Shute, along with his wife, Sarah—had an aversion to the witchcraft hysteria that would sweep through New England until the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The late 17th century community of Eastchester is a prime example of the vigor and diversity of many Puritan towns that were established during that period in New England, New York and New Jersey. In the next article, information about how founders of the original town of Eastchester were able to overcome the wilderness. This column would not have been possible without the research and writings of: Regina Baio, “The 1665 Covenant: Life in Seventeenth-Century Eastchester” in “Out of the Wilderness: The Emergence of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, and Bronxville (16641214);” Blake Bell, “Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, Stepson of Thomas Pell,” home page of the Historic Pelham Blog, published Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2014; David Tompkins, “Eastchester Village: Colonial New York: 1666-1698, Maps and Inhabitants” (Eastchester, New York: Eastchester Historical Society, 1997); and David Weir, “Early New England: A Covenant Society.” Please contact us at historian@eastchesterhistoricalsociety.org about any comments or questions you might have about this column. Also any questions about sources of information will be addressed.

A depiction of a Puritan woman being accused of witchcraft in New England in the late 17th century. Photo courtesy Richard Forliano

Poor Christian was hit by a car and has nerve damage, so his face will always look a little droopy. The vet said he is healing amazingly and will live a full life. This sweet and spunky tabby holds no grudges—he is just ready for a new start at life and a home that will love him forever. Christian holds his own with other cats and has a strong streak of independence. He loves people and enjoys being held—a real cuddler. He would do best in a home without dogs. He is neutered and up to date with all vaccinations. The adoption donation is $80. To meet Christian, contact Pet Rescue at 740-4072/835-3332 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

February 26, 2016 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • 11

12 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • February 26, 2016

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February 26, 2016 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • 13

Branding sex offenders’ passports: Why? RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Two weeks ago, just one day after President Barack Obama signed legislation that will brand the passports of sex offenders, a federal court challenge was filed against it. The International Megan’s Law is supposedly a way to alert foreign countries of sex offenders who may be traveling there for sex tourism or trafficking purposes. Of course, who isn’t against sex trafficking? We all are! But branding people’s passports isn’t going to do any good. The U.S. Department of State itself found that the law’s rationale is “very misleading.” And after conducting a study, the General Accounting Office “found no evidence that the offenders used their passports to commit sex offenses abroad.” Got that? No. Evidence. But heck, what’s a complete lack of evidence compared to political grandstanding? The bill was sponsored by Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey and passed both houses with only a single brave lawmaker, Democrat Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, speaking out against it. He said that while he endorsed the bill’s provisions to notify foreign countries about sex offenders’ travel plans, he was repulsed by the idea of the “unique passport identifier,” which is government-speak for passport branding. “It is simply bad policy to single out one category of offenses

for this type of treatment,” Scott told the House. “We do not subject those who murder, who defraud the government or our fellow citizens of millions and billions, or who commit acts of terrorism to these restrictions.” Terrorists? Pffft. It’s only sex offenders who must declare their past deeds this way. And that is what the court challenge is hinged upon. “We don’t want those ‘identifiers’ on anybody’s passport,” says lawyer Janice Bellucci, president of the group California Reform Sex Offender Laws, who is filing the federal challenge on behalf of four sex offenders. “Our strongest argument is that it violates the First Amendment, because that ‘unique identifier’ is compelled speech.” In other words, “The government is making you say something you don’t want to say.” Bellucci has been down this legal road before. Twice, she argued against California towns that forced sex offenders to put “No trick or treating” signs on their doors, and twice, she won. A third time, she sued the California Department of Corrections for the same thing. The department told registrants they had to put that sign on their doors on Halloween, and if they didn’t have a home and lived in a tent, well by golly, they had to put a “No trick or treating” sign on their tent flap. And if they were living in a sleeping bag at the side of the road, they had to put a “No trick or treating” sign on their sleeping bag, too. Presumably this would help fend off the hordes of children

seeking bite-sized Snickers from the homeless. Bellucci won that case, too. Like candy-doling by Halloween-activated predators in sleeping bags, the problem of registrants traveling abroad for sex tourism is also not a common one. Smith, the sponsor of the bill, wrote that “currently, tens of thousands of offenders could be traveling abroad as child sex tourists.” But they aren’t. The U.S. Department of Justice itself says that about 10 Americans a year are convicted of “sex crimes against minors in other countries.” In the meantime, there are more than 800,000 people on the Sex Offender Registry—about a quarter of whom are minors. This means that the vast majority of registrants—at least 790,990 of them—are not sex tourists. And yet we won’t give them the basic right of traveling this great earth. The United States has never branded anyone’s passport until now. Somehow, we have survived more than 200 years of giving all citizens the right to serve their time and then go on with their lives. Former drug dealers can travel south of the border. The Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13 crews can hop on a plane to Monaco. But sex offenders, including teens who sexted and former flashers now in their 80s, will be branded with the scarlet letter and kept in internal exile. It’s for the sake of the children, of course. It always is. cONTacT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Yonkers Film Festival seeks material to screen “We’re looking for compelling stories that are well told,” said Patty Schumann, YoFiFest’s director and programmer. “We’re not overly hung up on when the movies were made or if they are premieres. We just want to share great films with an enthusiastic and supportive audience.” “It’s a great chance for filmmakers to screen their films in a warm, friendly and fun atmosphere,” added the festival’s executive director, Dave Steck. “We’ve worked hard to make it the kind of festival where we’d want to hang out and screen our own films.” Building on the success of its past festivals, YoFiFest, the Yonkers Film Festival, will be four action-packed days of watching and talking about movies. This year, YoFiFest plans to screen more than 100 films, including features, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos and student work. The very popular “mini film school” will return, featuring discussions and workshops led by top industry

professionals on various aspects of filmmaking. Each day also has receptions and after-parties where filmmakers and attendees will get the chance to meet and talk about movies. “YoFi is one of the best film festivals that I have attended and I encourage other filmmakers to submit here. I look forward to attending again next year,” said Kal Toth, director of the feature documentary “Building Magic” that screened at last year’s festival. Alexzander Ellenbogen, whose short film “The Good Day” also screened at YoFiFest 2015, said, “It was an amazing experience from beginning to end. The workshops taught me valuable information about the industry.” Located on the Hudson River and adjacent to New York City, the festival draws its filmfriendly audiences from New York City, Westchester County, the Hudson Valley and the entire New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tri-state region. YoFiFest was awarded the

Best of Westchester’s “Best New Film Festival” and was recently named one of 2016’s “39 Most Notable Events” by Westchester Magazine. It was also cited as one of “The Top 10 Hippest Things About Yonkers” in 2015 when Yonkers was dubbed the Hudson Valley’s “Hippest Town” by The Journal News and LoHud.com. YoFiFest is an eco-friendly festival, so to reduce waste and environmental impact, films can be submitted digitally at YoFiFest.com through FilmFreeway or WithoutABox. For updates and the most current information, visit YoFiFest.com. (Submitted)

Westchester Library System updates board of trustees

Alex Payan

Julie Mills-Worthey

Sean Ryan

The Westchester Library System welcomes Julie Mills-Worthey, of Mount Vernon, as the District XIII representative covering Mount Vernon, and Sean Ryan, of Armonk, as the District V representative covering Armonk, Bedford Village, Mount Pleasant and Pound Ridge. Alex Payan, of Port Chester, was reelected as the District X representative covering Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye City and Rye Town and began his five-year term along with the others as of Jan. 1. “We are pleased to have these talented and experienced individuals join our board and look forward to their active participation,” said Terry Kirchner, WLS executive director. “Their diverse

knowledge and extensive community engagement will bring new insight to the Westchester Library System.” In addition, the WLS board elected the following officers for 2016: Catherine Draper, of Pelham, as president; Mary Amato, of Yonkers, as vice president; Sean Ryan, of Armonk, as secretary; and Edris Scherer, of North Castle, will continue as treasurer. The Westchester Library System includes 38-member public libraries located throughout the county and is one of New York state’s 23 public library systems. WLS and its member libraries have a total collection of more than 5 million items, including 3.7 million books

and audio recordings, videocassettes, DVDs, print serials and other materials. The mission of the Westchester Library System is to ensure that all residents have seamless access to excellent library service throughout Westchester County. The Westchester Library System serves as a center of innovation for the Westchester County library community and provides model programs, affordable and easyto-use information technology, and support services that enable libraries to continuously improve service to their communities. WLS is located at 540 White Plains Road, Suite 200, in Tarrytown. For more information, visit westchesterlibraries.org. (Submitted)

14 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • February 26, 2016

SPORTS

Voices in the crowd LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

You just have to love playoffs. It’s that time of the year when all the sweat and hard work start to pay off, when one false move can be the difference between victory and defeat, and when everyone needs to be on top of their games and sustain a fullthrottle effort for a full contest. I’m just talking about the fans, but I guess the players need to be ready for it, too. Regardless of the level of athletic endeavor, athletes are quick to point out that once the postseason rolls around, there is a perceptible shift in the intensity of a ballgame. Sure, some of it stems from the step up in competition, and some of it stems from the raised stakes of the situation, but I’d argue that, for better or worse, it’s the increased participation of fanbases that makes the sectionals such a special time.

And it’s certainly a doubleedged sword. In the eight or nine games I’ve covered over the first few rounds of the playoffs so far, I’ve certainly seen my fair share of terrific crowds. Last Friday, I took a swing up north to Nanuet and Tappan Zee high schools to see Rye and Harrison compete in the Class A quarterfinals, and I was absolutely blown away by the way those host schools were able to pack their gyms to the rafters. Rabid student-sections cheering on their classmates, throngs of younger children lining the court, these gyms were absolutely rocking. In the case of Harrison, which took topseeded Tappan Zee down to the wire, sure it was tough to watch them fall short in the final seconds, but I couldn’t help but watch the Dutchmen fans storm the court as time expired with a certain amount of admiration and excitement. Of course, not every fan “gets it.”

Last week, one of the Review’s girls basketball teams fell behind early, prompting a few parents to loudly call for the home players to remove their heads from their posteriors—albeit not in those exact terms. At a first-round hockey game, one father, who traditionally sits on the other side of the rink from the rest of his team’s fans, would launch into an expletiveladen tirade every time his son’s team turned the puck over in the neutral zone. The skater probably didn’t mean to “bleepin’” give it away, so cut the kid some slack. I understand that sometimes, emotions get the best of us. It happens to everyone. But when it comes to high school sports, sometimes the adults have to act like, well, adults. If you don’t have anything nice to say, people, maybe don’t buy a ticket next time. I don’t think anyone will miss you.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

Dutchmen fans at Tappan Zee High School fill the bleachers for the team’s quarterfinal playoff matchup against Harrison on Feb. 21. In the last week, Sports Editor Mike Smith has seen both the best and worst of sports fandom. Photo/Mike Smith

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

February 26, 2016 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • 15

Koalas top Eagles in semis By MIKE SMITh Sports Editor Eastchester’s plans to ride a winning streak all the way to the Westchester County Center were dashed on Friday, Feb. 19 when the Eagles fell 72-47 to top-ranked Ursuline in the Class A semifinals. Regardless of the disappointing

end to the season, however, Eastchester coach Lindsay Carr was impressed with the strides her squad made this year. Although the Eagles came into Friday’s game with the unenviable task of tangling with the top seed, Carr pointed out that following Eastchester’s first-round win over

Fiona Teahan attempts a layup against the Koalas.

Harrison, the team didn’t come into Friday’s contest with any kind of trepidation. “They knew it was going to be a tough game, maybe the toughest we’ve had,” she said. “But I don’t think they’ve ever come into a game higher.” Ursuline forward Katie McLoughlin shined, putting up 29 points on the afternoon and converting 13 of 15 free throws. Kayla Guerra, a 5-foot-9 guard, also caused problems for the Eagles, scoring 19 points as the Koalas coasted into the semifinal round. “I think [Ursuline] is a really great team,” Carr said. “They’re an AA team that came down to Class A, they’re tall and they presented some defensive match up problems for us.” The height disparity was especially evident because the Eagles were forced to play without Amanda Shkreli, who has been battling injuries over the last two weeks. According to Carr, Ursuline’s ability to clean up on the glass helped set the tone for the game. By halftime, Ursuline was already running away with the game, holding a 40-25 lead. “We couldn’t get rebounds or push the ball,” she said. “We had trouble getting into a rhythm.” With the win, Ursuline advances to the semifinal round on Feb. 25, where they will take on No. 4 seed Albertus Magnus. The Falcons are coming off a 61-56 win over Peekskill. Carr hopes that coming so close to a spot in the County Center will serve as motivation for the returning Eastchester players. With three starters— Fiona Teahan, Julie Mitchell and Cassidy Mitchell—slated to return, the expectations should be higher in 2017. “Every year has been a bit of a building year,” Carr said. “Last year, we had no expectations at all and made it to a first-round game; this year, we went one further. “We’ve got a nice solid core group coming back,” she added. “But we’re still going to be struggling with our height.” cONTacT: sports@hometwn.com

Cassidy Mitchell hoists up a shot against Ursuline on Feb. 19. Eastchester fell to the Koalas 72-47.

Gabby Riccardi brings the ball up court on Feb. 19. Photos/Andrew Dapolite

An Eastchester player tries to maneuver around an opponent in their 25-point loss in the Class A quarterfinal.

16 • ThE EaSTchESTEr rEVIEw • February 26, 2016