March 3, 2017 by The Eastchester Review

Eastchester REVIEW THE

March 3, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 9 | www.eastchesterreview.com

EFD rejects bid, delays Union Corners project By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

MITCHELL HITS MARK

Eastchester junior Cassidy Mitchell, seen here in an early-season game against Ursuline, scored her 1,000th career point on Feb. 23, in a Class A quarterfinal win over Lakeland. Mitchell and the Eagles will take on Walter Panas at the Westchester County Center on March 2, after press time. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith

County lawmakers push to ban sale of synthetic weed By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With a new piece of legislation, Westchester lawmakers will look to piggyback on a recently passed New York City law blockading the spread of a synthetic marijuana known commonly as “spice.” The county legislation, introduced jointly by Republican legislators David Tubiolo and John Testa, would enact a countywide ban on the sale of the synthetic drugs—which are currently sold legally over-thecounter under state law—by amending portions of the county’s consumer protection code. “We’re doing what we can to make our county as safe as possible,” said Tubiolo, of Yonkers.

“These are deadly toxins.” In New York state, both the sale and consumption of the drug have been under increasing scrutiny over the past year, spurred in part by 33 Brooklyn residents who overdosed this past summer on a popular brand of the product sold under the moniker “K2.” The side effects experienced by users of that strain of the drug included extreme disorientation, loss of motor control, and erratic behavior that required police intervention. According to Testa, of Peekskill, at times, the reach of drugs like K2 has hit close to home. Earlier this year, Testa explained, White Plains first responders were called to inter-

vene after multiple individuals began exhibiting what he described as “strange behavior.” Later, Testa said, it was determined that they had ingested synthetic marijuana which had been sold to them only a block away from the county government’s White Plains headquarters. “It was a wake-up call for us to pay attention to this and combat it in Westchester,” Testa said. This past summer, the drug also swept multiple Yonkers residents which resulted in police intervention according to Yonkers Police Sgt. Dean Politopolous. While regulators on both a state and federal level have made attempts to quell the spread of synthetic marijuana

—most notably through a 2012 congressional act that listed many of the compounds found in those drugs as Schedule I substances, the most serious class—the fight has often been a battle from behind. According to Tubiolo, while state and local governments have banned many of the compounds found in the commercially sold drugs, manufacturers have skirted embargos by altering their recipes by just a few molecules. “We were aware that people had been changing the chemicals,” Tubiolo said. “We’re trying to be pre-emptive.” The county law currently before the Westchester Board BAN continued on page 10

The Eastchester Fire District will have to wait to give the Union Corners firehouse the facelift it has been planning for years. The district, which has been considering renovating the 86-year-old station in the Chester Heights section of the town since November 2015 or earlier, published a request for proposals for work on the building’s exterior late last year. But in February, the district rejected the sole bid it received, further delaying work on the firehouse, which is due for both interior and exterior upgrades. The district would not release specific information related to the cost of the bid or what the district had originally estimated the cost to be. The Review has submitted a Freedom of Information Law request seeking the most updated bid specs and all responses to the request for proposals. That response has not been fulfilled as of press time. However, one source with knowledge of the bidding process told the Review that the project was estimated to cost approximately $800,000, while the only bid submitted to the district would have cost more than $1 million. The bid was officially rejected by the Board of Fire Commissioners at its Feb. 15 meeting. During the meeting, Commissioner Peter Incledon, who heads the House and Apparatus Committee, confirmed that, “The bid was substantially

higher than the price that was anticipated to complete the work that was outlined in the bid spec.” The district has previously said that the repairs planned for that station would include mostly aesthetic improvements, including window and roof replacements as well as some of the brick at the front of the building which does not include load-bearing brick. Gutters, leader pipes, woodwork and the chimney cap would also be replaced. The district has said that it plans to run similar renovations on the interior of that firehouse once exterior renovations have been completed. In the meantime, the Union Corners firehouse has already started to show signs of wear in the interior. In November, the terrazzo floor in the station’s single firetruck bay began to give way to the weight of the truck. In December, the district spent $8,016 to purchase steel plates and $9,350 to have those plates welded to the firehouse floor to better support the truck, which had been left outside of the station for a month to stymie the damage. An initial report submitted to the district by FSI Architecture in November 2015 estimated that repairs to both the interior and exterior of the station could cost between $2.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively, although the scope of project work, and therefore likely the associated costs, has been reduced since the report was issued. EFD continued on page 8

2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 3, 2017

March 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday

National Women’s History Month Lake Isle Advisory Board 7 p.m., Lake Isle

EHS Model UN All County Concert – Orchestra 11 a.m.

EHS PTA meeting 7:45 p.m.

Tuckahoe village board 8 p.m.

BHS Council meeting 8:30 a.m.

Eastchester sign review 11 a.m., Community Room Eastchester town board 7 p.m., Town Hall EMS PTA meeting 7:45 p.m.

Daylight saving time starts

Holi

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

Eastchester PTA Council meeting 7:15 p.m.

NCAA Selection Sunday

Bronxville village board 8 p.m.

Spring Equinox

Tuckahoe schools special public vote

World Poetry Day

Tuckahoe general election

EHS EGO Blood Drive 3 p.m.

Marbledale Road meeting 7:30 p.m., Tuckahoe Community Center

Ides of March

BHS Teacher Appreciation Lunch

FRIDAY

THS/MS Taste of Tuckahoe

Eastchester Architectural Review Board 7 p.m., Town Hall

EHS Model UN

EHS Rock Against Cancer 7 p.m.

All County Concert – Band 11 a.m.

Eastchester Environmental Committee 7:30 p.m., Community Room

BHS Musical 5 p.m.

EMS incoming Gr. 6 parent orientation 7 p.m. WEC Theatre Club Play 7 p.m. GV PTA meeting 7:30 p.m.

BMS/ES Teacher Appreciation Lunch

All County Concert — Chorus 4 p.m.

Bronxville zoning board 7:30 p.m. Eastchester school board 8 p.m.

Waverly Book Fair

SAT & subject tests

EMS Council 8:30 a.m.

EHS Ski Trip #5

Waverly Pajama Story Time 7 p.m. EHS Gr. 9 Movie Night 7 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Day

WEC/TMS PTA Science Fun Day Purim begins at sundown EHS Musical 7 p.m.

Eastchester Planning Board 7 p.m., Town Hall EMS incoming Gr. 6 parent coffee 7 p.m.

Superintendent’s Conference Day EHS French Film Night 7 p.m.

EMS Gr. 7 Activity Night 7 p.m. EHS Spring Pep Rally 7 p.m. BMS Gr. 7 Teen Center 7 p.m.

Tuckahoe Planning Board 7:30 p.m.

EHS Ski Trip #4

GV Math Night 6:30 p.m.

Eastchester town board 7 p.m., Town Hall

Eastchester traffic committee 7 p.m., Community Room

World Wildlife Day

EHS La Festa Italiana 6:30 p.m.

GV Gr. 2 Musical Revue 9 a.m.

SATURDAY

Read Across America Day

Bronxville school board 7 p.m.

Tuckahoe sign meeting 2:30 p.m.

Tuckahoe zoning board 7:30 p.m.

Bronxville PTA 7 p.m.

Eastchester drug abuse event 8 a.m.

Gr. 3–8 NYS ELA tests start

Bronxville Planning Board 7:30 p.m.

Eastchester zoning board 7 p.m., Town Hall

Eastchester drug abuse event 8 a.m.

Tuckahoe schools budget review 7:30 p.m., THS/MS library

National Pi Day

International Women’s Day

THURSDAY

BES Gr. 2 performance 9 a.m.

THS/MS Spring Musical

Gr. 3–8 NYS ELA tests end Bronxville Youth Council Talent Show AH/GV Gr. 4 event 6:30 p.m. EHS Jr. Stay-Awake-athon 7 p.m.

Tuckahoe budget work session 8 a.m. Waverly Gr. K Family Outing 9 a.m.

Eastchester Casino Night 7 p.m.

March 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 3

County strengthens proposed immigration law By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Westchester County Legislature’s Democratic Caucus has added new provisions to its recently proposed Immigration Protection Act, which sets forth a policy on immigration enforcement, in an effort to strengthen the language in the bill.

On Feb. 8, Democrats first introduced the proposed legislation, which aims to prevent Westchester County from aiding the federal government in investigations made on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and national origin. The legislation was submitted to codify existing policies while also drawing from model

ordinances put in place by the New York state attorney general’s office to alleviate concerns about the treatment of immigrants living in county. The Democratic Caucus’ proposal comes in wake of President Donald Trump’s recent initiative to deport undocumented immigrants nationwide. “The intent of this act is to

On Feb. 20, residents and elected officials gathered in downtown White Plains to protest President Donald Trump’s recent federal initiative to deport undocumented immigrants. Photos/Franco Fino

alleviate fear and create protections for our county’s immigrant population without violating federal law,” said county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat. “All too often members of our community, documented and undocumented, are fearful of calling the police or utilizing county services.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, agents have arrested 41 people in the New York metropolitan area in February, according to the federal department. With a growing fear of many more immigration raids to come, on Feb. 24, county Democrats added four new conditions to the proposal, including language that prohibits county officers and officials from honoring requests made by ICE and Customs and Border Protection, CBP, that do not give rise to probable cause, and protects Westchester from liability due to false arrests and imprisonments. Additionally, county Democrats specified that municipal services should be made available to all who are eligible notwithstanding their immigration status, and that confidential information shared amongst coun-

Westchester County Democrats have added more to their recently proposed Immigration Protection Act, which has garnered support from several state and county officials, including county Legislator Ken Jenkins, left, who plans to run for county executive this year.

ty departments should remain safeguarded. According to Joe Sgammato, the press secretary representing the county Democratic Caucus, the new provisions are intended to fortify parts of an existing executive order previously made by former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat, in 2006, which relates to confidential information and immigration status. Sgammato added that with uncertainty about the opinion of current County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, the Democratic Caucus has

proposed new provisions to the Immigration Protection Act to prepare for any potential plan in the future to repeal Spano’s executive order. In Westchester County, the current county executive can repeal any executive order made by someone who previously held the position. But, according to Ned McCormack, the communications director for the county executive’s office, Astorino has no intention of rescinding Spano’s IMMIGRATION continued on page 10

4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 3, 2017

What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library

Practice yoga while interacting with your baby. These weekly sessions include an introduction to infant massage. Space is very limited. Online registration required. Please provide the child’s name and age in the comment box.

Science Sunday! For more information on hours and programs, visit eastchesterlibrary.org.

Reading Buddies Book Club On Monday, March 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This month’s Reading Buddies Book Club for children in second and third grades will be a show and tell. Participants are asked to bring in one to five books they have been reading to share with the group. They should share the books in a way that will make others want to read them—no spoilers! Refreshments will be served. Online registration is required. For more information, contact Jonathan Heifetz at 721-8105 or jheifetz@wlsmail.org.

Bronxville Public Library For more information on library hours and programs, visit bronxvillelibrary.org.

Mommy & Baby Yoga Starting Friday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Open to babies 2 months to 10 months old.

On Sunday, March 5 from 2 p.m. 2:45 p.m. For ages 4 and up. This activity includes science concepts and related hands-on activities.

Adult Coloring Group On Mondays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Coloring has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Come and be creative and meet new friends, all while listening to tranquil music. Coloring sheets and materials will be provided.

Hearing Health and Hearing Loss On Monday, March 6 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Join audiologist Talia Meisel for a lecture on hearing health and hearing loss.

Social Needlers On Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon. This is a weekly knitting and crochet hour. Socialize while making beautiful items which we donate to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Celtic Irish Music and Song On Thursday, March 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come and listen to Ian Gallagher on vocals and guitar performing all your favorite Irish tunes.

Note taking and studying workshop On Thursday, March 9 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. For grades 7–12. In this workshop, Dr. Dominique Padurano, longtime teacher and president of Crimson Coaching, an elite tutoring firm, teaches students a variety of techniques for note taking and studying, two skills essential for secondary school success but often not taught explicitly. She also guides parents through how to effectively monitor and assist their children at home as they experiment with these new strategies. After delivering a short lecture, Padurano will lead participants through a hands-on activity, and will end the evening with Q&A to foster improved communication between parents and children. Online registration is required. Students must be accompanied by a parent and should bring: a day or monthly planner; a list of their current academic assignments with due dates; a notebook; and several colored pens.

Family Yoga On Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This is an interactive yoga session for parents and children. Open to families with children ages 3 and up. Space is very limited. Online registration required. Please provide the child’s name and age in the comment box.

Tuckahoe Public Library For more information on library hours and programs, visit tuckahoe.com/library.

New electronic resources Hoopla, Mango Languages and Pressreader are available now from the library. Enjoy free movies, music, audiobooks, e-books, language-learning resources, and thousands of newspapers and magazines. Ask a librarian how to use them with your own devices.

Weekend Storytime On Saturday, March 4 at 11:30 a.m. For ages 4 to 8. Join Miss Becca for stories and a craft. Please register by calling 961-2121.

Teen Yoga On Wednesday, March 8 from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Learn the basics and go at your own pace. Please register by calling 961-2121.

AARP Tax Aide Program Every Friday through April 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get your taxes done. No appointment necessary; first come, first served.

Eastchester Recreation US Sports Institute programs The town of Eastchester and the US Sports Institute have many classes for ages 2 to 5 to learn soccer or a variety of sports, starting in April. Registration is now open. These morning programs are for all abilities, boys and girls, and provide fun games and activities. Visit eastchester.org/departments/recreation for more information and to register.

TYA Youth Baseball and Softball Open to all children living or attending schools in Eastchester, Bronxville and Tuckahoe. For boys

ages 4 to 12 and girls in grades 2–8, as of May 1, 2017. Fee: $165. For more information and to register for the spring, visit tyabaseball.com. For questions, email rsyphertya@gmail.com.

Bronxville school news 2017-18 transportation Residents of the Bronxville Union Free School District of the village of Bronxville who wish for transportation for school-age children to private or parochial schools for the 2017-18 school year must submit their request in writing by Monday, April 3, 2017 to: The Board of Education, Attention: Mr. L. Daniel Carlin, Assistant Superintendent for Business, 177 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY 10708. Forms are available in the district office. For more details, please visit the district website, bronxvilleschool.org. You will find info under District – Other Information – Transportation Procedures.

Bronxville Adult School Spring semester registration Registration for the Bronxville Adult School spring semester is now open. The BAS Spring Catalog includes dozens of new trips and classes, as well as the return of many popular favorites. Visit bronxvilleadultschool.org to view the interactive catalog.

Westchester Italian Cultural Center 2017 Italy trip This summer, Westchester Italian Cultural Center will be traveling to Sicily and Calabria in Italy. Make memories that you’ll cherish forever. Now it is time to book your spot on this fabulous trip to Italy, and start dreaming of strolling in a piazza while eating the most delicious gelato. To learn more about the trip, visit wiccny.org/travel-program or call the center at 771-8700.

Westchester County news County golf courses scheduled to open The six Westchester County-owned golf courses are scheduled to open for the season on Wednesday, March 15, weather and conditions permitting. Tee time reservations may be made online at golf.westchestergov.com. Reservations may also be made by calling the individual courses. Walk-up reservations will also be accepted at the courses. The courses are: Mohansic in Yorktown Heights; Maple Moor in White Plains; Saxon Woods in Scarsdale; Hudson Hills in Ossining; and Dunwoodie and Sprain Lake, both in Yonkers. Any available E-Z Reserve spots will be sold at the courses. E-Z Reserve enables golfers with a Westchester County Park Pass to block out a regular Saturday or Sunday tee time for a period of 25 weeks. More information about Westchester County golf courses is available at golf.westchestergov.com. 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.

March 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5

Letters to the Editor

Eastchester’s St. Pat’s parade grand marshal To the Editor, It has been said, “St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time—a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.” It is also time to celebrate all things Irish—the arts, food, literature, music, and especially the contributions of Irish-Americans. Sean Mackin, a longtime Eastchester resident and proud Irish-American, epitomizes the spirit of giving and service. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to community and country, Mackin has been named grand marshal for the 13th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade sponsored by the Eastchester Irish-American Social Club, EIASC. This parade, on Sunday, March 12, steps off from Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe at 3 p.m. to travel its route along White Plains Road. Born in Belfast, County Antrim, Mackin became a key voice in the Irish peace process working with elected officials in Washington D.C. to promote peace and justice in Northern Ireland. His efforts began at an early age when he joined the Irish republican movement, was imprisoned several times, even tortured—without charges ever being brought. He immigrated with his family to the U.S.A. in 1983, and after a long deportation fight with the British, he became an American citizen. Forging a path for himself and his family in his new country, Mackin adopted the true American way, and through hard work became a successful businessman as owner of Preferred Mechanical Inc. and Preferred Sprinkler Corp. In addition to his success in business, Mackin is a humanitarian and advocate for Irish-American causes. He is co-founder and chairman of the New York Irish Center, known for its outstanding services to the senior Irish generation and suicide prevention assistance for the Irish community. In 2014, he was honored by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform for his work with undocumented Irish. Mackin is a man of principle that respects the freedoms of this country, and on a daily basis works with people of all backgrounds to accomplish these common goals. He and his wife, Philomena, have been members of the EIASC for 18 years, supporting its many charitable causes. They are the devoted parents of three children: daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Taylor who have three children Gavin, Ryan and Ella Rose; son Sean Og; and son Ciaran and his partner Chelsey and their son Pierce. Like Mackin, they all live in Eastchester. Mackin thoroughly enjoys celebrating all that is Irish. He makes the perfect person to lead us in “transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic” with something that will embrace culture and encourage people of every origin to come out and participate. So in that spirit, I invite you to join

Grand Marshal Mackin, his family and the members of the Eastchester Irish-American Social Club to our 13th annual parade on March 12 and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! All are welcome to join the celebration. After all, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. John G. Murtha President, Eastchester Irish-American Social Club

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6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 3, 2017

2017

Eastchester REVIEW THE

170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000

Tuckahoe Board of Trustees candidates

Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lynne Starr ext. 29, lynne@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Franco Fino Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Aaron Kershaw, Charlie McLaughlin Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano, Lenore Skenazy

Photo/Mike Smith

Greg Luisi STATUS: Incumbent AGE: 63 POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican ENDORSEMENTS: Republican and Conservative parties OCCUPATION: Retired Westchester County corrections officer YEARS IN VILLAGE: 33 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Former executive board member and president of Tuckahoe Youth Association; former color commentator for Tuckahoe High School football and baseball; co-founder of Paul Luisi Foundation for pediatric cancer research ONE THING THE AVERAGE VOTER DOESN’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: “I’m a volunteer docent at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.”

Q. Why did you decide to run for re-election to the village board, and what is your platform? A. There’s still more work that has to be done in the village to allow it to continue to prosper. And this board has ideas that we’re going to hopefully put forward. We’re looking to upgrade the parking meters so you don’t necessarily have to put money into the meter; you can pay using an app on your phone. Another thing that we’re concerned about is we want to continue to monitor development in the village and we want to continue to foster responsible business growth in the village. Q. Have you ever seen a village election in Tuckahoe like this year’s contest with nine candidates, campaign websites and the use of social media for campaigning purposes? A. No. [But] I would never stifle people’s voices to be heard. Let the voters of Tuckahoe decide who the best candidates for this job are. Our track record speaks for itself. Despite the 2 percent

tax cap that the governor [Cuomo] has instituted, the residents have not been deprived of essential services. And now our rating with Moody’s is an A+, and that’s as high as you can go simply because of the size of the village. Q. This election features candidates from an independent ticket, as well as full slates from both major political parties. Do you believe there’s a Democratic or Republican way to govern on the local level? A. Absolutely not. There’s no place for that in a village. You have to do what’s best for the village, what’s best for the residents, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat. You’re not dealing with those larger issues in the village; our big issue last year was the fast food [restaurant ban]. Personally, did I think it was going to be a detriment to the village? No. But I voted [for the ban] because everyone that I spoke to and everyone that came to the village board meetings was against it. I represent those people.

Q. The current board has touted its efforts to rebuild the village’s reserves, which was in the red a few years ago, but now stands at nearly $1.5 million. However, the board, over that time, has also increased its borrowing. To what degree should the village borrow to balance its municipal budget? A. When the interest rate for borrowing is as low as it was or is— when we borrowed that money it was extremely low—it behooves us to borrow that money to pay down our debt. I share a philosophy with Mayor [Steve] Ecklond: when we buy a large piece of equipment, the cost of that equipment should be shared by the people that are enjoying the use of it for the time that they are living in the village. And we’re paying off capital projects that have been sitting here for many years. As long as you don’t borrow more than you can pay back, [it makes] good financial sense. Q. Tuckahoe was believed to be the last LUISI continued on page 8

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STATUS: Challenger AGE: 35 POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Registered Democrat ENDORSEMENTS: Democratic and Hold Hotel Accountable lines OCCUPATION: Head of corporate partnership for Wildlife Conservation Society YEARS IN VILLAGE: Two COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Supporter of Concordia Conservatory, former performer with Master Voices ONE THING THE AVERAGE VOTER DOESN’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: “I used to live on a sailboat.”

Q. Your entry into the village board race was an unusual one. Why did you decide to run, how did that decision come about, and what is your campaign platform? A. I got involved to make an impact. I work for a very large notfor-profit; so I’d like to think that I’m a pretty mission-oriented person and I spend my work day— most of my waking hours—trying to make a difference, saving the environment, educating people and helping to inspire people about wildlife and wild places. I am fortunate that in my professional and personal life I’ve had the opportunity to manage multimillion dollar budgets; I manage a team; I have lots of clients. And I think Tuckahoe can benefit from having some people bringing those transferable skills to civic government and represent the community. And I felt that the current leadership wasn’t the best advocate for the community. I want to try to elevate thinking strategically about the future of Tuckahoe. Q. You’re running in this election as a Democrat. Do you believe there’s a Democratic or Republican way to govern

on the local level? A. I think, as compared to the national scale, that party, perhaps, is not as important. That being said, what we see in the current leadership and the current [village] board is that they’re all Republicans and that they all come, maybe, from similar backgrounds. And that’s not true of Tuckahoe at large. If you look at the streets of Tuckahoe you see a much more spectral community. I think the government should reflect that. We have Republicans and Democrats and independents in Tuckahoe, but we don’t have that on the board. It’s not just about party, but about diversity of race, of socioeconomics. There are no women on the board. As a woman, I’d like to represent 50 percent of the community. I think that’s what’s more important. Do I believe in Democratic values? Absolutely. Do I think that’s the only way to get anything done? No. Q. You’ve touted you’re experience working with multimillion dollar budgets. Give an example of how the village of Tuckahoe could reduce expenses in its municipal

budget without impacting essential services to residents of the community. We have a [$12 million] budget in Tuckahoe. And it’s also my understanding that we have debt of about $6 million. And we might have some money in reserves right now, [about] $1.5 million. In my opinion, that’s not the most responsible fiscal management. Tuckahoe should be a mature municipality; we’ve been around for a long time. It seems like they’ve been keeping taxes relatively low but also kicking the can down the road and using bonding or borrowing as a solution for trying to have an appearance of fiscal health that’s not really there. My concern is that down the road, future leadership [could] have to raise taxes because of the current [board’s] actions. In the last three to four years, we’ve doubled the debt. Q. Tuckahoe is amid a re-development, including the Quarry Place Apartments on Midland Place and the Marriott Springhill Suites Hotel on Marbledale Road. If elected, what would you do to ensure THOMPSON continued on page 9

March 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 7

2017

Photo/Mike Smith

Jessica Cioffoletti STATUS: Challenger AGE: 41 POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Registered Democrat ENDORSEMENTS: Tuckahoe Independents Party OCCUPATION: Associate director of Arts in Education at Arts Westchester YEARS IN VILLAGE: Born and raised; moved back in 2010 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Former member of board of trustees at the College of New Rochelle’s Castle Gallery; former gallery board member at Westchester Arc; former member of gallery advisory committee of United Hebrew Center of New Rochelle; former secretary of Marbledale Road Environmental Coalition ONE THING THE AVERAGE VOTER DOESN’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: “I’ve visited over 15 countries, including Iceland, China, Argentina and New Zealand.”

Q. Why did you decide to run for village board, and what is your platform? A. It came out of the whole Marbledale [Road Brownfield Cleanup Program] issue. I was a concerned parent. I became a real activist in part of that movement and then I realized that the issue wasn’t just the quarry. It was a bigger issue; it was an issue about trust and about our political leaders in Tuckahoe not giving the community a voice or giving them a platform or listening and understanding that the community was intelligent enough to be able to guide what was happening and advise what was happening. Our platform is pretty simple. It’s about sensible development. [It’s about] really listening to the community, meaning what they think would be appropriate in the village. [Another platform is] better fiscal management and more transparency in government. Q. This election features candidates from your independent ticket, as well as full slates from both major political parties. Do you believe there’s a Democratic or Republican way to govern on the local level? A. Local politics is a lot less about whether you’re a Democrat or a

Republican. I really think that our public officials are there to serve the community and to listen to the voices of the community. It’s really a public service position. For us, what we’re really interested in is issues, and not Democratic or Republican. It doesn’t really have a play in what we’re talking about. Q. Your ticket spawned out of opposition to the controversial hotel development on Marbledale Road. Tell our readers how that community opposition grew into political action. A. It was really about getting more testing. We were asking for an environmental impact study. It spun out of that because I sat at a lot of board meetings, and I spoke up at a few of them; but I also spent a lot of time listening. What I heard was a really angry community—everyone was kind of wondering how did we not know about this and how did this happen—and our village officials kept saying the same things over and over again. They should have been listening to the community a long time ago. They should have been informing [us]. It spun out of a major lack of trust and communication that

just happened to stop with the Marbledale [Road] issue. Q. One of your initiatives is to institute term limits on both elected and appointed boards in the village. Unusual on the local level, why is there a need for term limits in this community? And, how many terms are you proposing for officials? A. We haven’t [decided] on exact [parameters of the] term limits. But we’re seeing that the village has gotten stale in terms of ideas; the same people are running over and over and I think it’s really important for new ideas to come out of the village, and new people. There’s a whole new demographic coming out of Tuckahoe and those people need to have a voice, too. Q. The use of social media platforms has played a role in this campaign unlike any other in Tuckahoe’s political history. Your slate has also campaigned on the integration of social media into the village’s communication with its residents. Why is social media such an effective and important communication tool and, if elected, how would you use it as a trustee, specifically? A. This is the world we live in. We can’t rely on paper or TV. We need to communicate with people the way they like to communicate. There’s a whole new

demographic in Tuckahoe who isn’t reading the newspaper or watching TV. Some of them don’t even have cable. Updating [the village] website is one thing, and providing clear information on [it]. Perhaps using email blasts for important information, or Facebook or Twitter. We know that that’s an effective way of communicating with people. Q. Tuckahoe is amid a re-development, including the Quarry Place Apartments on Midland Place and the Marriott Springhill Suites Hotel on Marbledale Road. If elected, what would you do to ensure that development continues to reflect the character of Tuckahoe, and what is your personal vision for the village? A. Tuckahoe is so unique. It’s a small little village with two sections, and it’s always been desirable for people to live in a village like that. It requires involving the community, but I think it’s about finding these gems in the community and the places that people want to go to. We don’t need a lot of one thing in the village; we need a variety of things. It’s about being very selective about what needs to go into the CIOFFOLETTI continued on page 10

8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 3, 2017

The construction continues, and more BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

As an update, Midland Avenue has been opened to southbound traffic. The northbound lane is still a very active work site. We do expect Con Edison to finish the gas replacement work on this side by Tuesday, Feb. 28, and we will open the lane immediately following the last inspection. As one major project mercifully winds down, Con Edison notified us that there is an emergency situation on Route 22 near Elm Rock Road that requires them to replace a gas main. From what we can gather, the line may have been compromised by the persistent water leak in the vicinity that was only recently repaired by Suez. Since Route 22 is a state road, the village has no control over closure, detours or construction permits. We have been notified that the hours of work will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a completion date of March 20. We will closely monitor and share updates as we receive them. Continuing the theme of traffic and safe passage, many of you have suggested increasing the number of stop signs in the village as a way to slow traffic. On this subject, the village is guided by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, MUTCD, by the federal Department of Transportation. Decisions made contrary to their advice can impact liability. The MUTCD explicitly states that “a stop or yield sign should not be used for speed control.” They are also not intended for a thru-street, only those with intersections. Historically, placement of stop signs that run contrary to the above guidelines have actually proven to increase speed as a result of drivers accelerating after coming to the stop. In addition, there is an increase in the incidence of rear end collisions at locations of improperly placed stop signs. Also, in the interest of safety, residents have proposed the use of “Children At Play” or “Slow

Children” signs in child-rich neighborhoods. Again, MUTCD and state and federal traffic standards reject the use of these signs because they openly suggest that playing in the street is an acceptable safety practice. The signs also give parents and especially children a false sense of security as the sign is assumed to provide protection, when in reality, it does not. Studies demonstrate no evidence that these signs result in reduced pedestrian accidents or lower vehicular speed. If the village placed these signs, it would imply that the village condones children playing in the street, and thus expose us to greater liability. On the other hand, signs that alert drivers to nearby playgrounds are extremely beneficial because these parks, such as our own Sagamore Park, are often located in areas where a reasonable driver would not expect a large group of children to be congregated. In the same vein, bicycles and skateboards may not be ridden on the sidewalks in our two village business districts. Crosswalk safety is also a major concern. The soon-to-be installed overhead lights on Kraft Avenue and on the west side near the train station will aid greatly in visibility. I know on dark winter nights with pedestrians clothed all in dark colors, drivers had to exercise great caution because at a crosswalk, the pedestrian has the undisputed right of way. When a pedestrian enters a designated crosswalk at an intersection that is not controlled by a stop sign or traffic light, the law gives pedestrians the exclusive right of way. The law not only requires the car in the immediate lane to stop, but also the cars traveling in the opposite direction. A good example of this would be the intersection near the soccer store. If the intersection at a crosswalk has a stop sign or traffic light, as in the configuration near Rosie’s Restaurant, the pedestrian must obey the traffic control device and yield to cars as directed. Pedestrians crossing a

roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk must yield the right of way to all vehicles. With spring in the air, many residents are also inquiring as to what can be thrown away as garbage, recycled or requiring a special pickup. Plastics marked 1 through 7 can be recycled. These include some not obvious items such as medicine containers, yogurt cups, shampoo bottles and even buckets and flower pots. The caps and lids of containers are now also recyclable, as well as aerosol cans. Added to this list are cereal boxes even with the wax lining; phone books; pizza cartons; corrugated cardboard; glossy magazines and inserts; aluminum trays and foil; egg cartons; and detergent bottles. The following are items that cannot be accepted for recycling: paint or oil cans; Pyrex; plastic and Styrofoam packing materials; waxed cardboard such as milk cartons; cardboard containing any trace of food; paperback and hardcover books; clothes hangers; and plastic that is not coded, such as found in large toys and plastic tableware. Only glass that has been used for packaging food or beverages may be recycled. Light bulbs, mirrors, and ceramic and kitchen cookware must be placed in the regular garbage. If you have other items that need to be disposed of, call our Department of Public Works at 337-7338 and arrange for a bulky waste pickup. Items such as carpeting, furniture, mattresses and box springs are picked up on a weekly basis. Refrigerators (with Freon and doors removed), air conditioners (with Freon removed), washers, dryers, televisions, and computer monitors are picked up during the second week of each month. The village cannot accept car batteries, construction debris, stone and concrete, propane tanks, tires, bathtubs and water heaters for removal. The service costs $20 and all items should be placed curbside by 7 a.m. on the morning of the scheduled pickup.

@ eastchesterview

2017 LUISI from page 6

municipality in Westchester County to hire a person to oversee the day-to-day operations of the village, hiring Village Administrator David Burke in July 2014. What has creating that position done to make the village more efficient? A. He’s there eight hours per day in Village Hall; so everyone answers to him. Having David Burke there, who has weekly staff meetings and keeps a constant eye on the money that’s being spent, and the money that’s coming in, and making sure that we’re filing our paperwork, ensures that we don’t get into [the financial trouble of years ago]. David can sit down five days a week at Village Hall and shop for better rates on workers’ compensation, better insurance and health plans, and he can also work on applying for grants. He’s worth every dollar that he’s paid. And he knows what our philosophy is and what we’d like to see done; and he carries that forward. Q. Tuckahoe is amid a re-development, including the Quarry Place Apartments on Midland Place and the Marriott Springhill Suites Hotel on Marbledale Road. What is the village board doing to ensure that development continues to reflect the character of Tuckahoe, and what is your personal vision for the village?

A. Other than Marbledale Road, there isn’t much more opportunity for new development in Tuckahoe. And according to the master plan, what’s allowed there is already in place. If we think that something needs to be changed, then we need to bring back a master plan committee and have them look at this. And that’s something that we probably will do once this hotel project is completed. Maybe we’ll have to put a moratorium on development; that might be something that we have to think about. But again, other than Marbledale Road, there are no tracts of land that I foresee being developed. Q. When looking at the ongoing residential development of the village, to what extent does the village need to consider the concerns of the Tuckahoe school district, which is currently considering a multimillion dollar capital project to address overcrowding issues in the schools? A. How is it overcrowded if [no developments are] done yet? None of those developments that were such a concern are online yet. What they feared never came to pass because of the village of Tuckahoe. If they’re overcrowded right now, where did it come from? It would be incumbent upon us to conduct a study; and I would be in favor of that.

Q. What should the role of the village be in relation to the Marbledale Road Brownfield Cleanup Project? If re-elected, how do you plan to ensure that the project is done in a safe way for the residents of Tuckahoe and neighboring communities? A. Because of the village Planning Board resolution, that site will be monitored in perpetuity. Westchester County will also be responsible for monitoring the soil vapor extraction system because they’re the ones that issued the permit. And you have [the village-appointed environmental scientist] Mike Musso; you have [the village-appointed environmental lawyer] Mike Bogan; you have the test results available on our village website, and we have the bimonthly meetings that are held with the developer so that everyone knows what’s being done. We’re going to continue to do that. Q. Residents have aired their concerns over the Marbledale Road hotel since the project was initially proposed in 2014. What benefits will that development bring to the community? A. It’s going to bring 80 permanent jobs to the area. And now we have a 3 percent hotel occupancy tax. So now the village of Tuckahoe will have a steady revenue stream that will help to offset the costs of our essential services. -Reporting by Corey Stockton

EFD from page 1

The Union Corners firehouse in Chester Heights has been marked for repairs for years, but the Eastchester Fire District will have to further delay the renovations, rejecting a bid submitted in February which the district said was too expensive. Photo courtesy Google Maps

Now that it has rejected the February bid, the board could look to submit another request for proposals in the near future. During the most recent fire

board meeting, Dennis Winter, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, said, “We’ll be talking about this sooner than later, probably.”

Winter could not be reached for additional comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

March 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9

State DMV increases railroad crossing violations

2017 THOMPSON from page 6

The New York state Department of Motor Vehicles has increased the points assigned to motorists for violating traffic infractions made near railroad crossings. Photo courtesy wikipedia.org

The New York state Department of Motor Vehicles is cracking down on motorists that violate traffic regulations near railroad crossings. In August 2016, the DMV increased the points assigned to automobilists from three to five for infractions made near railroad crossings in an effort to prevent train crashes at the nearly 2,700 crossings statewide. The announcement was made recently during a state legislative budget hearing on transportation on Feb. 15. “If you are knowingly reckless at railroad crossings, you are putting yourself, those around you, and those in the train at risk for a catastrophe,” said state Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat. “I’m pleased that the state government is taking seriously the con-

cerns of Westchester residents by showing how important it is to be careful at these crossings.” Prior to the change in the rules of the road, a traffic infraction near a railroad crossing only warranted a fine and a three-point penalty, which is the same value for speeding one to 10 mph above the speed limit anywhere else. In New York, the DMV may suspend drivers’ licenses if a motorist accrues 11 points in an 18-month period. According to Theresa Egan, the executive deputy commissioner of the state DMV, the new rule aims to protect motorists rather than punish them. “It’s very difficult to change behavior, [but] saving lives is certainly [our] main priority,” she said. The change in the DMV regulations comes just two years af-

ter the deadly Metro-North Harlem Line train crash in Valhalla in which six individuals were killed as a result of a train’s collision with an SUV. The crash was the deadliest in Metro-North history; it was also the deadliest crash in the country since the Washington Metro train collision in 2009, in which eight passengers were killed. “In my mind, the rule change comes directly from the unfortunate tragedy [in Valhalla],” Buchwald said. Initially, changes to increase the points for railroad crossing violations were rejected by the DMV, according to Buchwald, who introduced legislation in 2015 for a law change related to traffic infractions near railroad crossings; that proposal was made before the DMV changed the rule. -Reporting by Franco Fino

that development continues to reflect the character of Tuckahoe, and what is your personal vision for the village? A. It’s my job to arrange corporate partnerships for an organization that’s been around since 1895. In a lot of ways, it’s very analogous. The Bronx Zoo is this beautiful, architectural iconic landmark and it’s my job to bring in money from corporations who want to put their brand somewhere. And that can be tacky, but we have to raise money. So every day, I’m trying to find solutions that are going to align two brands and ultimately reflect the character of the Bronx Zoo. I think that’s probably going to be a similar challenge on the board. How do we find new ways to bring in money and attract businesses and attract people to live there, but at the same time maintain the character? And I think the best solution is a better master plan, better strategic planning and vision. Q. What would be your main priorities when revising the master plan and what areas of the village do you think need the most attention? A. There are some vacancies on Main Street that can be addressed. I’m not sure that I have all the solutions yet, but I’d like to encourage a dialogue. I think on Columbus Avenue there’s also a lot of opportunity for development. I think that even just enriching some of the public garden spaces or recreation spaces for kids can be part of a solution. We’ll look at the community center and the library and some of these institutions that are already in place. I think we also have to be mindful [that] the schools are getting crowded. That needs to be a consideration as well in the master plan. Q. What should be the role of the village

be in relation to the Marbledale Road Brownfield Cleanup Project? If elected, how do you plan to ensure that the project is done in a safe way for the residents of Tuckahoe and neighboring communities? A. I work for an environmental organization. I’m not a scientist but I am a pragmatist. I do value science and I also value the health and safety of citizens in our community. One thing that my running mates and I represent is to look at all of the independent contractors [on this project] and decide if they’re the right people for the job. That’s part of the responsibility on the [village] board. At this point, there’s only so much we can do. But, what I’ve noticed in the recent board meetings is that there doesn’t seem to be much difference of opinion among board members. Perhaps that’s happening behind closed doors. I think true discourse is important and I think if we’re able to shift the makeup [of the board] so we have some difference of opinion, there’s a greater chance to see change. Q. Do you think the current village board’s degree of oversight on the Marbledale Road project is an adequate response to the concerns of residents? A. No. Even if they thought that it was adequate, they certainly didn’t make that clear to the community. There’s a lack of compassion; there’s a lack of communication; there’s a lack of transparency. But that aside, I think there were poor decisions made, perhaps, too quickly. We only have one Tuckahoe. We only have one planet. So these have to be thoughtful and ethical choices. Q. Your opponents, The Tuckahoe Independents, have accused your ticket of running on the Marbledale Road hotel issue only to procure votes, claiming that no one

on the Democratic side spoke up in 2016 when the controversial project was going through the Planning Board process. How do you respond to those claims? A. I was not as involved at that point in time, but that doesn’t mean I’m not inspired to take action now. That’s like saying that someone that just got hired for a job is not as motivated to be an agent of change because they weren’t with the company last year. All I can say is that Change for Tuckahoe represents [a] new perspective and we all genuinely want to make a difference. I’m newer [to the issue], but I also bring a lot of other experiences. I work for an environmental organization. I’m a woman. I like to think that we share more values than we disagree on. So, moving forward, I hope we’ll all work together. Q. Your party’s campaign has pointed to the opioid epidemic in Westchester County, as well as throughout the state and nationwide. What can the village board do combat this growing problem, and how could it interact with neighboring municipalities to advance that fight? A. Perhaps the community center can be a venue for convening some meetings. One of my neighbors is doing research about the national epidemic. She is a person that I would invite. I would like to have people speaking to what’s happening on the national level so we can understand some of the trends, the risk factors to look for. I would invite scientists and health professionals; I would invite families that may be impacted. I’d like to reach out to Eastchester and Bronxville and to make sure that we have affluent [residents] represented but also low-income [residents]. There could even be some local business owners that would like to get involved as well. There could be a causemarketing angle. -Reporting by Corey Stockton

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10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 3, 2017

2017 CIOFFOLETTI from page 7

village and not overdeveloping. We’re a small village; we can only have so much development.

budget. I’m in the nonprofit sector. What I do is figure out ways to work with a little bit of money and cut budgets and expenses to make things work well.

Q. One of the campaign platforms of your slate is “better fiscal management.” What is one area where the current village board could be more responsible with its budgeting practices, and what would you do differently in that instance? A. I think bringing new businesses into Tuckahoe, and bringing in more desirable businesses would help the budget and would help in terms of taxes. We need to bring in more sales revenue and sales taxes to help our budget, and to help our residents in terms of taxes. In terms of cutting expenses, we’d have to study the

Q. What should be the role of the village be in relation to the Marbledale Road Brownfield Cleanup Project? If elected, how do you plan to ensure that the project is done in a safe way for the residents of Tuckahoe and its neighboring communities? A. That’s complicated at this point because of the [lawsuit against the Planning Board, the DEC and the state Department of Health]. So that’s in the hands of the Westchester County Court. There’s not much that can be changed about it at this point. But what we can do is keep advocating—like we’ve been do-

IMMIGRATION from page 3

lators. If passed in committee, the bill would then require the vote of nine members of the full 17-member Legislature for it to be approved. County Legislator David Gelfarb, a Rye Brook Republican, said he could not support the legislation without hearing from the Westchester County Department of Public Safety first. “I think we should do everything we can to promote legal immigration and protect hardworking immigrants that contribute to our county,” he said. “However, we need to hear from [the Department of Public Safety] on how it might impact them.” On Feb. 27, a number of Democratic elected officials held a rally in support of the proposed law in White Plains, including state Sen. George Latimer, of Rye; state Assembly-

order. “When County Executive Astorino came into office, he went through and rescinded a number of executive orders, but not this one because he thought it had merit,” McCormack told the Review. McCormack declined to comment on the proposed legislation however, which he confirmed the county administration has not even read to this point. “We want to make sure the county and all its citizens are taken care of, but we first want to wait and see when the [bill] is final,” he said. The bill, which was referred to the committees on Budget and Appropriations, Legislation, and Public Safety and Social Services on Feb. 13, is sponsored by eight Democrats on the Westchester County Board of Legis-

BAN from page 1

Westchester lawmakers will work to block the sale of legally sold synthetic marijuana that have swept the state for the past several years. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

ing—for more air monitors and better testing and a better way to protect the community within our limits. Q. Do you think the current village board’s degree of oversight on the Marbledale Road project is an adequate response to the level of concerns raised by Tuckahoe residents? A. I think that there can always be more done. The lack of transparency and communication early on was a big problem. I do think that—in terms of what’s happening now—the village building inspector and the mayor should [continue] making visits to the site and making sure that the digging that’s happening now is happening the right way.

of Legislators hopes to combat what lawmakers have described as a “cat-and-mouse game” of altering chemical cocktails by providing a broader definition of the banned substances that might catch more products in its net. Now, Tubiolo said, lawmakers will move forward in hashing out details of just how the ban will be enforced, whether through the county Department of Health, consumer safety, law enforcement or all three.

Testa said a law could potentially be introduced as soon as this summer, but not before legislators receive additional input

from relevant agencies as well as the public. “Hopefully it’s [introduced] sooner, rather than later,” Tubiolo said. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

-Reporting by Corey Stockton

man David Buchwald, of White Plains; county Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, of Ossining; and county Legislator Ken Jenkins, of Yonkers, who recently announced his bid for county executive this year. “In the days since the Immigrant Protection Act was written and introduced, we have seen a huge swell in grassroots support,” Borgia said. “At a time in our nation when divisions run deep, it is encouraging to see so many of my neighbors ban together to say we must pass this bill to help our immigrant brothers and sisters.” George Longworth, the commissioner of the county Public Safety Department, could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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March 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 13

Danny and the dinosaur(s) RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

If anyone could lay claim to the excuse “I’m not fat—I’m big boned,” it’s the titanosaur on view at the American Museum of Natural History. This creature has a thigh bone 8 feet tall. Taller than Shaq! That’s not just a big bone; it’s the biggest bone in the biggest dinosaur ever discovered. And yet, the titanosaur began life in an egg the size of a “large grapefruit,” said Danny Barta, a Ph.D. candidate in the museum’s Richard Gilder Graduate School. Barta is studying dinosaur growth—how do you go from the size of a piece of fruit to something 120 feet long, especially when you’re a vegetarian? “They must have spent most of their day eating,” Barta said. It just goes to show that anyone hoping an all-kale diet will do the trick may end up sorely disappointed. (And extinct.) The titanosaur is so big, you see it burst into a grin, Holy moly! It doesn’t even fit in one of the museum’s cavernous rooms. Instead, its giant skull sticks out into the hallway, like a dog who can’t wait to go for a walk. And, for the record, what’s on display is not the actual skeleton. It’s a 3-D scanned cast of the bones, which is in some ways even more amazing: Something 100 million years old has been recreated by a technology that didn’t come into its own until the 2000s. But if you’re hankering for “real” relics, all you have to do is turn around. There, on display for the first time, are about 30

fossilized bones from the museum’s “Big Bone Room”—a room Barta compares to a library’s “oversize book section.” These bones include a leg bone the size of a 7-year-old North American Studentis (that is, a third-grader), and vertebrae that look like snow tires. They’re all part of a longnecked plant-eating diplodocus dug up by the museum’s dinosaur hunter Barnum Brown (yes, named for the circus meister himself), with Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1897. Ironically the men had gone to Wyoming seeking fossil evidence of ancient mammals, the bones of which do not make for amazing crowdpleasers. Instead, they found this giant beast, which launched the museum’s dinosaur collection. Barnum would go on to discover the first tyrannosaurus rex. Barta actually hails from Wyoming himself, and when he went on trips to the local museum, he fell in love with the dinosaurs. Now he spends his time studying the specimens at the museum and heading out to find more. He spent last summer in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, which sounds like a dream come true. “You wake up, you have breakfast—we’re in a tent—and then you walk around and look to see if there are any bones or eggshells sticking out of the ground. And probably every few minutes you’re seeing something. Oftentimes, it’s just some fragments, but sometimes it can be part of a skeleton,” he said. Sign me up! “We had really nice weather—it barely topped 100,” Barta added. “And we experienced one sandstorm.” Okay, maybe he doesn’t re-

ally need my help. Once someone discovers what looks like a decent set of bones, the team carefully covers these with the tools of the trade: tin foil, paper towels or toilet paper. “Fossil collecting has hardly changed at all since Barnum Brown’s day,” Barta said. With the bones protected, the team digs a trench around the skeleton and covers the whole thing with a plaster of Paris “jacket.” Then they dig it up, and ship it to the museum, where three “preparers” excavate the bones, using brushes, dental picks and a whole lot of patience. But what excites Barta is that the Gobi site has yielded dozens of specimens of one of the dinosaurs he is studying most intently, the “Haya griva” (named for the Hindu god Hayagriva). Adults of this species are about the size of a beagle, the littlest ones are the size of crows. What he has now are a series of skeletons, affording him a sort of time-lapse look at how they grow. “Each is a snapshot from a stage of life,” Barta explains. Imagine if the only skeleton left of humans 100 million years from now was that of a 5-year-old. Future earthlings would assume Homo sapiens generally grew to the height of a Great Dane. So how do you get a full picture of the life cycle of an animal that’s extinct? “Any living animal, we could watch,” Barta points out. But with dinosaurs, you need skeletons of all different ages. That’s what he has in front of him now. And if he or anyone else ever needs a different dino to study, the museum has tons more—literally. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

It’s a mouthwatering March in Westchester There are plenty of tasty opportunities for visitors in Westchester County this March. “With more than 100 Westchester restaurants participating, Hudson Valley Restaurant Week offers diners every cuisine imaginable,” said County Executive Rob Astorino. “The county is also thrilled to be participating in New York’s Maple Festival this spring. Bring the whole family for a pancake breakfast and discover how maple syrup is made right here in Westchester.” Fit for Foodies The most popular foodie event is back. Spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, HVRW, takes place from Monday, March 6 through Sunday, March 19. More than 100 Westchester County restaurants will be participating in HVRW from classic favorites to brand new spots. Participating restaurants offer a threecourse, prix fixe dinner menu for $32.95 per person (plus tax, beverage and gratuity) and may offer a three-course lunch menu for $22.95 per person (plus tax, beverage and gratuity). For more information on Spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, visit valleytable.com/hvrw.

A Sweet Spring Celebrate New York’s Maple Festival on Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19 and, and Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26. Visit White Oak Farm, the only commercial producer in Westchester County and the closest sugar house to New York City offering visitors tours of the beautiful sugar house and the opportunity to learn how maple syrup is made. No registration necessary for tours. Complete your sweet experience by enjoying a delicious pancake breakfast at Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center, which is just up the road from White Oak Farm. Advanced registration is required for the pancake breakfast. Visit brownpapertickets.com/profile/128237 to purchase pancake tickets. Stay and Play At The Ritz-Carlton New York in White Plains, luxury hotel packages allow visitors to experience everything that makes the hotel unique. The Ritz Carlton has several special offers this spring, including the Reconnect Package and the Discover With You Package. Visit ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ new-york/westchester/offers for

more information. The Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown is offering many opportunities for rest and relaxation. Visit its spa or enjoy delicious dining at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Find out more information at marriott.com/ hotels/hotel-deals/nycwe-westchester-marriott. For the latest events and happenings in Westchester, log onto visitwestchesterny.com, like on Facebook at facebook.com/westchestercountytourism, follow on Twitter @westchestertour or call 1-800-833-9282. View the new travel guide by visiting instagram.com/visitwestchesterny. To view the Westchester County Destination Guide, please visit bit.ly/2cCFErf. Tourism & Film is Westchester County’s official destination marketing organization. Its mission is to generate economic benefits by enhancing the image and promoting Westchester County as a premier business and leisure destination in the Hudson Valley region. The Tourism & Film office in Westchester County is a division within Astorino’s Office of Economic Development. (Submitted)

Muffin is a charming, pastel dilute calico mix, about 7 months old and kittenish as can be. Grayish with a wonderful contrasting ginger face, she is very playful and gets along well with her foster’s other cats and kids. She will be wonderful as a family cat. Muffin is spayed, up-todate with all vaccinations and microchipped. The donation for Muffin is $100. To meet this lovely girl, please contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or 835-4133, or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 3, 2017

SPORTS

A shot at greatness LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

The last time I took in a showdown between New Rochelle and Mount Vernon at the Westchester County Center, the result was undoubtedly the best game that I’ve had the privilege of covering during my tenure at the Review. In the 2013 Class AA finals, a game in which the Knights were heavily favored over the Huguenots, the finish—New Rochelle standout Khalil Edney’s half-court, game-winning, buzzer-beating heave— remained atop ESPN highlights for weeks. The aftermath of what became known as “The Shot,” however—the fans storming the court, the conference by the officials and the wild Huguenot celebration— may have been more memorable than the play itself. Between the confusion and the

euphoria in the building, it reminded me a lot of the Best Picture announcement at the Academy Awards last Sunday. It would have been a wild scene no matter where it took place; Mount Vernon High School, New Rochelle’s O’Brien Gymnasium, or a blacktop court at a random playground. But the fact that it took place at the County Center just made it feel more important, and now there’s a chance for a repeat performance when the two teams square off in the Class AA quarterfinals on Friday night. Every year, athletes, sports writers and basketball fans alike look forward to Championship Week. From Monday to Sunday, there’s a full slate of games at Westchester’s most famous arena featuring the best teams from all around Section I going at it for the ultimate prize in local basketball. It’s not that the games seem to matter more at this time of year; it’s that they actually

do. Every team comes into this week just two wins away from hoisting the gold ball, and you can invariably see that in the pace of the games. Each possession, each shot, each defensive stop is its own mini drama in a four-quarter game that is already chock full of narrative arcs. It’s impossible to not get caught up in all the hoopla, regardless of if you have a dog in the fight or not. Now, I have no way of knowing if this year’s teams are going to reach the promised land. The Review has three teams still alive as of press time, and the Tuckahoe boys, the top seed in Class C, will kick things off on Wednesday afternoon, after press time. But regardless of how it turns out for Tuckahoe, New Rochelle or Eastchester’s girls, one thing is for certain; each of these ballclubs has a unique opportunity ahead of them. It’s unlikely that any of these teams will, like those 2013

New Rochelle senior Jarett Haines grins after the Huguenots’ Class AA quarterfinal win against Fox Lane on Feb. 24. With the win, the Huguenots earned the right to play at the Westchester County Center this week. Photo/Mike Smith

Huguenots, find themselves as the darlings of the national sports media, but you don’t need

a “shot” to make this a worthwhile experience. All you need is a chance.

Follow Mike Smith on Twitter @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

March 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15

Eagles fly to County Center GIRLS BASKETBALL

class a

QUARTERFINALS

EASTCHESTER 70 LAKELAND 56 LAKELAND HS

2/23/17

Game Notes: • Cassidy Mitchell scored 27 points, including her 1,000th career point • Ashley Anello scored 19 • The Eagles will play Walter Panas at the Westchester County Center on March 2, after press time By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor If Cassidy Mitchell was unaware that she was getting close to a milestone, it’s not her fault; there were other

things on her mind. On Feb. 23, Mitchell scored her 1,000th career point in the Eagles’ Class A quarterfinal contest against Lakeland, but the Eastchester standout was far less concerned with her scoring prowess than she was about leading her team to an appearance at the Westchester County Center this week— which she did, as No. 5-seeded Eastchester topped the No. 4 Hornets 70-56, thanks in part to a 27-point outburst from their junior star. “I actually didn’t even know about [the milestone] coming into the game, so it was kind of a surprise,” Mitchell said. “It was just a great game that we came together and won to make the semifinals.” Eastchester head coach Lindsay Farley said that Mitchell’s versatility has been

Ashley Anello drives to the lane against Harrison during a regular season game. Anello had 19 points against Lakeland on Feb. 23.

a boon for the Eagles over the last few years, and that despite Mitchell’s ability to score, it is her unselfishness that sets her apart. “It’s really great to have a kid like Cassidy, who has a great outside game,” Farley said. “She can take the ball to the basket, but when teams are taking something away, she finds other ways to contribute. And what makes us what we are is that we have a complete team and on any given day, anyone can step up and score double digits.” Against Lakeland, it was Ashley Anello who emerged as the Eagles’ second option, as the sophomore tallied 19 points in the win. “I was really proud of the way it was a total team game and we shared the ball well,” Farley said. “We were prepared and we were confident.” With the win, the Eagles advanced to the Class A semifinals, where they will take on top-seeded Walter Panas on March 2, after press time, at the Westchester County Center. Panas is coming off a hardfought 71-65 quarterfinal round win over Eastchester’s league rival Harrison, and could present matchup problems for the Eagles up front. The Panthers had five players reach double-digit point totals in the quarterfinals, led by Danielle Marante, who scored 17. “Panas is a No. 1 seed for a reason; their post game is their strongest aspect,” Farley said. “But we just have to keep playing team basketball; everyone has to do their part.” As for getting the chance to play at the County Center, Farley believes that her team will not be intimidated by the opportunity. “We’ve been talking about the gym, how the baskets are the same height, how the foul line is the same distance; it doesn’t matter where you are,” she said. “And what’s good about the semifinals is that neither team has played at this gym yet, and anyone can win.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Cassidy Mitchell brings the ball up the floor during an early-season contest against Harrison. On Feb. 23, Mitchell scored her 1,000th career point in a playoff win at Lakeland High School.

Cassidy Mitchell grabs a rebound against Harrison. Mitchell’s versatility has been integral to the Eagles’ success this year. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 3, 2017