March 4, 2016

Eastchester REVIEW THE

March 4, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 10 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Toast the 10th The 10th bi-annual Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is set to run through March 20 with more than 100 participating locations in Westchester alone.

Elected officials from throughout the Hudson Valley, as well as sponsors, celebrated the event’s decade milestone at the kickoff on Tuesday, Feb. 29 at X20 Xaviar’s on the Hudson in Yonkers.

For more, see page 8. Photo/James Pero

Bronxville schools superintendent announces retirement

By SARAH VARNEY Education Reporter Bronxville Union Free School District Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone announced his retirement at the Feb. 25 Board of Education meeting. Quattrone will leave his position effective June 30, 2017 after 11 years as superintendent in the school district.

During his tenure, Quattrone’s signature achievement was the establishment and nurturing of “The Bronxville Promise,” a pledge by the school community including teachers, parents, administrators, alumni and students to encourage the spirit of innovation, to engage as a citizen and to think critically and analytically

as a matter of course.

Board of Education President Denise Tormey said the members were not surprised by Quattrone’s decision, but hadn’t expected him to go public with the announcement just yet.

“It wasn’t a surprise that he was thinking of it and I know that he wanted to make sure that we weren’t caught by surprise,” she said.

Quattrone will help the board hire his replacement over the next school year.

As for his time as superintendent, Tormey said, it has been outstanding. “I think one of his greatest accomplishments has been to put a group of administrators together to deal with the evolving changes in education,”

she said, adding that his dedication and ability to bring the best out of his administrators have been outstanding. “He sees the big picture but he also has a clear view of operations.”

Quattrone is proud of his track record of promoting jobs from within, including promoting teachers to administration positions such as principals and assistant principals.

“We used to promote administrators mostly from the outside [before Quattrone’s tenure in Bronxville], but we’ve been able to move away from that,” Quattrone said. “I think promoting from within strengthens the fabric of the school community.”

As for why now, the team that he has put in place has both ener-

gized him but also made it clear that they’re perfectly capable of “running the place without me.”

Quattrone plans to keep his hand in some aspect of education, perhaps teaching at the university level. A new grandchild on the horizon may also draw him back to the Midwest. Before coming to Bronxville, Quattrone spent 14 years as a superintendent in Indian Hill, Ohio.

Coincidentally, Tormey’s tenure as a board member and board president will end at the same time as Quattrone’s time as superintendent. Tormey does not plan to run for reelection to the board.

She will finish her second term on the board in June 2017.

CONTACT: sarah@hometwn.com

Democratic challenger on Tuckahoe ballot

By KILEY STEVENS Staff Writer As the March elections for the village of Tuckahoe approach, two Republican incumbents will face a challenge from a familiar Democratic face. Current trustees Steven Alfasi and Antonio Leo will be competing against challenger Anthony Fiore Jr. Taking a second crack at the village board, Fiore will look to unseat one of the two incumbents. Fiore ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the board last year.

A volunteer Eastchester firefighter and former auxiliary police officer in Tuckahoe, Fiore, 55, is running as the only Democratic candidate.

Fiore said his experience last year as a first time candidate has prepared him for this year, and he believes he has a better chance of winning the March 15 election. “If I come out closer than I did last year, I’ll be happy,” he said.

If elected, Fiore said he would like to see the fast food ban through, a piece of legislation that the board has currently tabled. He said passing the ban would allow more mom and pop stores to open up and give more people the chance at what he calls the “American dream”: opening a store in Tuckahoe. A lifelong resident of the village, Fiore would also like to see what is left of the village’s parks saved.

If elected, Fiore believes he will bring a people-person personality to the board, citing his knowledge of what residents are talking about around town and being able to relay that to village officials.

Leo, 51, was appointed to the trustee position in May 2015 when former Trustee Stephen Quigley, a Democrat, passed away unexpectedly.

“I’ve never run for public office before, so this is all new to me,” Leo said.

A former chairman of the village Planning Board, Leo, a Republican, said that he’s grateful to have a group of trustees willing to help him with the process. He added that if elected, he looks forward to continue working on the village’s fast food initiative, which aims to keep fast food cahin-like restaurants out of the village. He would also like to see the traffic light on Main Street fixed to be more efficient. According to Leo, it currently takes a long time for the light to complete a cycle. In addition, he’d like to work on keeping taxes in the village low.

Alfasi, a Republican, is also prioritizing low taxes if he is re-elected for a second term as trustee.

“That is a challenge,” he said of lowering taxes, citing increases in workers’ compensation and pension costs as uncontrollable factors. In addition, Alfasi, 50, said he would like to halt village development in the next couple BALLOT continued on page 10

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2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • March 4, 2016

March 4, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • 3

County to fund $58M in Rye Playland projects

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer In an effort to address a significant number of crucial renovations at Rye Playland, an agreement between Republican Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and the park’s management company, Standard Amusements, was amended on Feb. 22 to include $58 million in county-funded capital projects.

However, the amended contract still requires approval of the Westchester County Board of Legislators by a March 31 deadline, otherwise the agreement can be terminated by Standard.

The amended contract also allows for the extension of the co-management period between the county and Standard into the fall of this year. The amendment comes after an extension of the co-management period that occurred last October, which prolonged the period until March 31.

The projects included in the amended deal—which would see Standard Amusements increase its investment in the park by $5 million to about $30 million—would tackle 11 different capital projects, at a total cost of $58 million, to provide renovations to various rides and structures, in addition to the rehabilitation of the park’s shoreline, all of which would be paid for by the county.

According to the amended agreement, the two parties will outline a date for when the capi-

tal projects will be carried out by the county, a timeline that the agreements states must be finalized before by Aug. 31.

The original deal between Standard Amusements and the county was finalized in June 2015 after lengthy deliberations between the county and multiple management companies.

Under the terms of the amended agreement, after a lump sum of $2.75 million, the county will receive a $300,000 annual fee from Standard Amusements, which would increase by 2 percent every year, putting the county’s total amount of money received from the deal at about $13 million over the next 30 years.

Yet, the county will now spend millions of dollars on capital infrastructure upgrades that were not part of the initial agreement.

According to Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, this disparity of investment would put taxpayers on the line.

“The entire idea was that in having the partnership it would reduce the burden to the taxpayer,” she said. “With the number as it stands, I don’t know that we [can] get to that place.”

Parker said a more reasonable amount of money for the county to receive annually from the agreement would be about $1 million per year with a 2 percent increase; a figure that would bring the county to about $41 million during the lifetime of the agreement.

Parker also said she doesn’t currently have a plan to fight the amended agreement, but will continue to review the terms until the March 31 deadline.

“The entire Board of Legislators needs to take a look at what the changes are,” she said.

According to Ned McCormack, communications director for the county executive, however, there are other aspects of the deal that work in the county’s favor. While the original agreement had the county bringing in about 7.5 percent of the park’s profits, the amended agreement will see that rate rise in 10-year increments, with the county earning 8 percent for the first decade, 10 percent for the next, and finally 12 percent for the last.

The amendment does add another $18 million to the $40 million in known capital projects to the park, which the county outlined in a five-year list of capital projects, he said.

According to McCormack, he’s hopeful that the new agreement—which is currently being reviewed by the county Board of Legislators and three board subcommittees—will be approved before the March 31 deadline.

“This agreement provides a very serious path to save Playland,” he said.

Nick Singer, of Standard Amusements, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

County Executive Rob Astorino has amended his Playland agreement with Standard Amusements that includes the addition of 11 capital projects totaling $58 million, which will come at the county’s expense. File photo

4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • March 4, 2016

What’s going on...

Eastchester Public Library

registration is not required. For more information about this program, contact Johnathan Heifetz at 721-8105 or email him at jheifetz@wlsmail.org.

Friends of the Tuckahoe Public Library.

Bronxville Women’s Club

Bronxville Public Library Book donation drop-off

Library Teen Group The Library teen group will meet on Monday, March 7 from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The group, which is open to students in grades six and up, has helped create a lot of new programs for teens and has helped shape the library’s collection. This meeting will discuss the teen group’s future projects. For more information about the meeting, email Elizabeth Portillo at eportillo@wlsmail.org.

Movie showing The library will screen the second movie in the “Divergent” series, “Insurgent,” on Monday, March 7 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side. Rated PG-13, running time: 119 minutes.

Popcorn will be served during this event. For more information or to register for the screening, email Elizabeth Portillo at 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.

Appointments are not necessary first-come, firstserved basis.

Participants can drop off their gently used books at the library on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. until noon. Books will be sold during the ongoing library book sale. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Bronxville Library. Limit is 10 books per patron.

The Art of the Harpsichord Dr. Sandor Szabó will perform works on a harpsichord on Sunday, March 6 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The program includes works from composers of the renaissance, baroque, classical and modern eras. The program will also encompass works by composers native to England, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States, including Bach, Byrd, Couperin, Mozart and Scarlatti. Szabó is the minister of music/organist at The Reformed Church of Bronxville and has performed extensively on the harpsichord, piano and organ throughout major concert halls and churches in Europe and North America. This program is free and open to the public.

Unicorn craft and face paint Join local artists and face painter Ms. Nicole on Thursday, March 10 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Yeager Room for a fun story and face paint. Registration for this program is required. Please include each child’s age when registering for the program.

For more information or to register, call 337-7680.

Tuckahoe Public Library

Book chat and advisory group

39th annual poetry contest

This program, aimed at avid readers in grades four and five, will be held on Wednesday, March 9 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. This program will be in book talk format, and will begin with a librarian highlighting a book that they have enjoyed. Each participant should bring one or two titles that they have enjoyed to share with the group. Time will be set aside at the end of the program to suggest books the library should have more of. Refreshments will be served. This program is free and

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

Fashion show and luncheon The Bronxville Women’s Club, located at 135 Midland Ave. in Bronxville, will be hosting a fashion show and luncheon on Sunday, March 6 at noon. Fashion pieces for men, women and children will be shown, courtesy of Lord & Taylor, and will be modeled by BWC members and friends.

Proceeds from the fashion show and luncheon will go toward the restoration of the Patio Room, which was water damaged over the summer. Tickets to the event are $65 for adults and $15 for students.

For more information or to make reservations, call 337-3252 or visit bronxvillewomensclub.org.

Midland Music concert Midland Music will be performing a concert on Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bronxville Women’s Club. Performing will be pianist Lisa Lui who wowed the audience last season. On the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, and a music historian along with being a concert pianist, Lui will explain and perform Schumann’s Fantasy in C Major and Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor, two of the greatest solo piano works of the 19th century.

Music director of the series is Oxana Mikhailoff.

Tickets costs are $15-$18 for BWC members, $20-$25 for non-members, $18-$22 for seniors and $5 for students. Reserve tickets before March 10 for an additional $30 for dinner at 6 p.m. For more information or to reserve tickets to the performance, call and reserve early for a discount on tickets. For more information, call 337-3252 or visit bronxvillewomensclub.org.

Eastchester Recreation Department

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 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 mid-March. 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. Registrations 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.”

Rye Arts Center

Programs for the disabled

Women’s Day panel discussion

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.

In celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, attend a community event at 7 p.m. held at The Rye Arts Center, located at 51 Milton Road in Rye. A panel discussion, called “Women in Emerging Digital Media Leadership,” will feature Tina Exarhos, former CMO of MTV; Fran Hauser, former president of Time Inc. and digital and venture capitalist; Tiffany Pham, founder and CEO of Mogul; Shenan Reed, president of MEC Digital; and Johanna Zeilstra, entrepreneur and founder of Womensdebate.org. The discussion will be moderated by Suzanna Keith, social media executive. The Q&A will be run by Kim Berns and Deborah Sanguineti of Rye TV show, “What’s My Brand?” For more information and to register for this free event, email skconcepts@hotmail.com or call 925-0753.

Eastchester Little League 2016 spring season Despite the cold weather, registration for the town’s Little League spring 2016 season is in full

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 4, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • 5

Bronxville Clean Up Crew sweeps competition The Bronxville Clean Up Crew, a team of 10 middle school students who are part of the school’s FIRST Lego League Robotics team, placed fourth in the Robot Game at the Hudson Valley FIRST Lego League Tournament on Feb. 6 in Poughkeepsie.

“As a first-year team, with only one member who had competed before, we looked at the tournament as a learning expe-

rience,” said Lynne Torrey, a middle school teacher and the team’s coach. “The students presented and performed as a team, shared responsibilities and allowed everyone to contribute.

The Bronxville Clean Up Crew represented our school exceedingly well and is already looking forward to next season.”

Every year, the FIRST Lego League releases a new challenge based on a real-world

The Bronxville Clean Up Crew, a team of Bronxville Middle School students who are part of the school’s FIRST Lego League Robotics team, build a robot that would either reduce trash or provide a solution for people to produce less trash.

scientific topic. Teams of up to 10 students are tasked with programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field and develop a solution to the problem while guided by the FIRST Lego League core values. For this year’s topic of recycling, students were tasked with building a robot that would either reduce trash or provide a solution for people to produce less trash.

“Part of the students’ challenge was to design and build a unique robot with LEGOs that successfully performed tasks in a timely manner to win points,” Torrey said. “Not only did they innovate and problem-solve to get that robot to move according to plan, but in working so closely together, I think they discovered valuable qualities in themselves as they contributed to the team goals.”

The students presented their robot to panels of judges and talked about its design, mechanical specifics and programming. Torrey said her students were focused, responsible

The Bronxville Clean Up Crew placed fourth in the Robot Game at the Hudson Valley FIRST Lego League Tournament on Feb. 6 in Poughkeepsie. Photos courtesy Bronxville school district

and accountable.

“There was a strong sense of determination to set up, prepare and not let each other down,” she said. “They asked for clarification when things were unclear, and when it was time to present, they were at their best.”

The Bronxville Clean Up Crew is comprised of Nicholas

Baror, Yega Doma, Jed Donohue, Connor Huang, Annabelle Krause, Andrew Mager, Edward Phillips, Rachel Roberts, Ethan Sanna and Amy Xiwen Xu, under the direction of Torrey and assistant coach Steve Krause. The after school club was created to provide a place for students to explore computer

science, engineering and design skills in a team setting.

“My hope is for the students to have fun while immersed in a science, technology, engineering, art and math experience, and to realize that their accomplishments can potentially change the world,” Torrey said.

(Submitted)

6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • March 4, 2016

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Blind author guides kids in caring for the environment

By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIwA Editorial Assistant When Andrew Kranichfeld started holding programs for schoolchildren based on his first book, “Karen’s Garden,” he would first show them fresh produce. Then he’d pull out a bag of Doritos and tell them to look at the nutrition facts.

“On the back, it would have many ingredients. You don’t even know what half the stuff is,” he chuckled. “I could usually sound them out when I could see, but it wasn’t easy.”

See, Kranichfeld is blind, but he doesn’t let that get in the way of doing what he loves, like running, cooking, going out to eat, enjoying live music and writing.

At age 32, he is a children’s book author with a focus on the environment and gardening.

His latest book, “Oliver Saves the Nature Center,” came out in December 2015 and has themes of Earth science, ecology, community and environmentalism— all topics he feels children should be more aware of during what he feels is an important time in human history. The book stars a character based on Kranichfeld’s older brother, Oliver, who worked at the Rye Nature Center as an environmental educator for five years. Kranichfeld himself used to volunteer there as a summer

Andrew Kranichfeld reads his book, “Karen’s Garden,” to students at the Rye Country Day School. Kranichfeld is blind.

Photo courtesy Andrew Kranichfeld

camp counselor while at Rye High School.

A month or two after turning 26, Kranichfeld learned that he had a brain tumor, which was misdiagnosed twice. His first medical opinion resulted in chemotherapy that made the tumor grow a little bigger. His vision went from being a little blurry, “like wearing glasses with Vaseline on them,” to getting much worse.

When his doctors realized their first mistake, Kranichfeld was then given steroids intravenously, and he lost his sight and gained a lot of weight soon after.

“After I went blind, and getting the brain tumor, I was looking for an outlet for not just creativity, but a way to [produce] something that people would enjoy and learn from, and writing a book seemed like the right way,” he said.

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“Karen’s Garden,” published in September 2012, is Andrew Kranichfeld’s first book. It is dedicated to his mother, who passed away two years prior to its release.

When he holds programs for children, Kranichfeld tells them to be mindful of what they’re putting into their bodies and that being in touch with nature—by gardening, for example—is important. “When you grow the plants yourself, you know they’re fresh; they’re nutritious,” Kranichfeld said. “If you buy them at the store, they might be covered in pesticides, they might have wax on them, they might be old—you don’t really know.”

He stresses the importance of growing food locally, and tells the children he talks to that gardening is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air. “You’re outside, digging in the earth, connecting with Mother Nature.

Everyone these days—young and old people—is always on their cellphones, computers or iPads, so it’s a very important message for little kids that you shouldn’t be on these gadgets all day,” he said.

He ends his visits by showing children the adaptive technology he uses every day, including Facebook, Google, texting and using various iPhone apps. He shows students apps that can tell him money denominations and help him get dressed by identifying the colors of the clothing he picks out. “Getting to spend time with a disabled person, students learn that they’re just a normal person. I’m just different in that I can’t see,” he said.

Kranichfeld grew up in Rye, in a household that he called “a unique place,” located in a large field, surrounded by hedges on 4 acres of land near a brook in the backyard. The property also had three greenhouses, only one of which was used for growing food.

“Oliver Saves the Nature Center” is Andrew Kranichfeld’s latest book.

The main character is based off of his older brother who used to work at the Rye Nature Center.

There was an outdoor garden, too, where his mother had friends and some coworkers use part of, like a coop. “People would have their own sections where they’d grow their own fruits and vegetables and they’d share them with each other,”he said.

His mother, Karen, passed away in March 2010 after battling leukemia—just days before Kranichfeld learned of his brain tumor. “I really loved my mom; we were very close,” he said, adding that “Karen’s Garden” is a tribute to her. The book is also important to him because his mother was only 59 when she died.

“This was a way that I could not only tell her story, but maybe get some really young kids into gardening—in a way, passing on her legacy of gardening to other people,” he said.

His family also travelled to some interesting places when he was younger, like camping at a game reserve in Botswana and visiting the J.N. Ding Darling wildlife refuge on Sanibel Island, Florida. He credits his childhood experiences, especially visiting these places he saw as “untouched nature,” as one reason why he cares for the environment.

He also played hockey at Rye

High School for three years. He dabbled in other sports, like soccer and softball, but hockey is the one that stuck.

Although he lives in the Bronx, Kranichfeld still has many fond memories of Rye. “As a community, Rye has really stood behind me,” he said. He mentions an event called the Chowder Cup, a fundraiser on ice, when he was given the nickname “Chowder” after skating for the first time in five years since losing his sight.

With his latest book, Kranichfeld tried to think of a subject that would be relevant to current events and would engage both children and their parents, since they buy the books.

His audience—at least for now—is children because of the books he read when he was young, like Dr. Seuss. He said that although the books were fun, their messages left a huge impression on him.

“We are sort of at a turning point in history where we really need to start doing something about climate change.

That’s what I try to put into my books,” Kranichfeld said. “If everyone starts to make little changes in their lives, it does make a difference.”

CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

March 4, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • 7

Student Faculty Legislator Day provokes discussions Bronxville High School students had thought-provoking and informative discussions during the annual Student Faculty Legislature Day on Jan. 29.

More than 20 prominent speakers, including a Syrian refugee and MSNBC “Morning Joe” hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, discussed this year’s topic, “Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis.”

Members of the Student Faculty Legislature, SFL, which is run by high school students, choose a new topic to explore each year. The student leaders, SFL advisor Dr. Victor Maxwell, Bronxville High School Principal Ann Meyer and parent volunteers arranged for guest speakers and organized various workshops to provide the rest of the students with a better understanding of the topic and an opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion. Each student was assigned to attend two breakout sessions during the day to learn about the problems facing the refugees.

“In order for Bronxville students to be leaders in making decisions on global issues, we need to be educated first,” said Natalia Kaminski, president of the Student Faculty Legislature.

“Everyone is participating in the classrooms, learning something completely new, something

they’ve never heard of before, a perspective they’ve never taken into account before. It’s really important to have that educated background before taking a stand in the Syrian refugee crisis issue.”

The day began with opening remarks by United Nations Information Officer Mita Hosali and Bard College student Sana Mustafa, a Syrian refugee who is in asylum in the United States, before the high school students met in groups with the rest of the speakers. Following the workshops, the students gathered for a presentation by Brzezinski and Scarborough on the politics of the crisis. The day ended with a panel discussion with journalists, professors and prominent humanitarian activists.

“We believe it was important for a non-diverse community like Bronxville to explore the problems that Syrian refugees face overseas and all of the hardships they endure to find peace and seek asylum,” said Aidan Flannery, vice president of the SFL. “There are so many different aspects to the crisis and there are so many moving parts in it, that it is very difficult to help these people. But all these countries need to step forward and take initiative to help them.”

(Submitted)

The SFL Day guests and speakers included: • Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali,

secretary general, Global Network for Religions for Children

• Margi Bhatt,

education officer, Concern Worldwide U.S.

• Iman Boukadoum,

director of community partnerships, Interfaith Center of New York

• Frank Brodhead,

founder, Concerned Families of Westchester

• Abby Bruell,

humanitarian program and policy officer, Concern Worldwide U.S.

• Mika Brzezinski,

co-host, “Morning Joe”

• Danielle Butin,

founder and director, AFYA Foundation

• Allison Casey,

high school program engagement fellow, The U.S. Fund for UNICEF

• Andrew Courtney,

refugee advocate, WESPAC Foundation

• Willa Freij,

reporter, Huffington Post

• Felice Gelman,

Advocate, Refugees: Call to Action

• Anju Gupta,

associate professor of law, Rutgers Law School

• Will Haney,

associate director for external relations, Church World Service

• Mita Hosali,

deputy director, United Nations News and Media Division

• Kate Jordan-Farmer,

knowledge manager, USA for UNHCR

• Mahmoud Mahmoud,

director, Church World Service

• Mayor Mary Marvin, village of Bronxville

• Sana Mustafa, Syrian activist

•Antti Pentikainen,

executive director, Religions for Peace

• Bassam Rifai,

director of government relations, Syrian American Council, SCM Medical

• Joe Scarborough,

co-host, “Morning Joe”

• John Solecki,

senior policy advisor, UNHCR

• Catherine Tinker,

adjunct professor, Seton Hall, School of Diplomacy and International Relations

Bronxville High School students had thought-provoking and informative discussions during the annual Student Faculty Legislature Day on Jan. 29.

• Sylvia Wong,

director of public engagement, Concern Worldwide U.S.

More than 20 prominent speakers, including a Syrian refugee and MSNBC “Morning Joe” hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, discussed this year’s topic, “Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis,” at Bronxville’s annual Student Faculty Legislature Day. Photos courtesy Bronxville school district

8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • March 4, 2016

th 10

Hudson Valley sets the table for

By SuZY BERKOwITZ Editorial Assistant The Hudson Valley has long been a source of fresh air and fresh food, and the culinary creations it has to offer will be showcased during the 10th biannual Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.

Presented by The Valley Table, a regional food magazine, Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, running from March 7 through March 20, incorporates more than 200 restaurants from Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties, 127 of which are located in Westchester.

The event kicked off on Monday, Feb. 29 at X20 Xaviars on

the Hudson in Yonkers with a special Toast to the 10th celebration. Chefs, sponsors and county executives from participating regions all came together to recognize the event’s decade milestone, the impact it has had on businesses, tourism revenue and exposure, and to enjoy the sampling of fine cuisine on hand for the event.

“Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is really a celebration of everything that has made the Hudson Valley a great dining destination,” said Janet Crawshaw, founder of restaurant week and publisher of The Valley Table.

According to Crawshaw, the event launched in 2006 with 70 participating locations, and has vastly expanded, now bring-

ing out roughly 250,000 diners and generating $10 million in revenue.

Restaurants throughout the area utilize the promotional opportunity to highlight unique dishes that will keep diners hungry for more while expanding

Peter Kelly, chef, owner of X20 Xaviar’s on the Hudson and co-chair and founding board member of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, pours locally sourced wine for guests at the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week kickoff event on Tuesday, Feb. 29. Photo/James Pero

the profile of the Hudson Valley as a go-to source of fine dining.

Well-known chef Peter Kelly, owner of X20 Xaviars on the Hudson, co-chair and founding board member of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, opened his first restaurant in the Hud-

son Valley back in 1984 and said restaurant week has helped put the Hudson Valley on the map as a premiere dining location.

“It’s nice to see the Hudson Valley coming into its own,” Kelly said. “It’s amazing to see that this is now home to some of the most renowned chefs.

They’re beginning to see what I’ve known for 30-plus years.”

In Harrison, Anthony Delfino, owner of participating restaurant Delfino’s on Halstead

Avenue, is excited to showcase a meatball dish in a truffle polenta as an appetizer and a lobster and avocado omelet for Sunday brunch.

Delfino said his location has consistently participated because it’s a great opportunity to find new customers and show them standout dishes.

“I’m most excited about the menu we’ve put together,” he said. “We’ve created something CONTINuED on next page

Participating location Chat 19, an American grill in Larchmont, will be showcasing a balanced menu consisting of chicken, fish, meat and pasta dishes for diners to try. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

March 4, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • 9

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week’s Themed Cocktails Hudson Valley Drake Manhattan created by The Iron Horse Grill in Pleasentville

2 1/4 oz. Tuthilltown Hudson Baby Bourbon 1 oz. Graham’s 10-year Tawny Port • 1 (1/2 oz.) bar spoon maple syrup • Dash of angostura bitters • •

Pour all ingredients over ice into a mixing glass • Stir the drink and strain into a cocktail glass • Garnish with brandied cherries

Westchester Whiskey Sour created by Madison Kitchen in Larchmont

2 sprigs fresh rosemary 3 oz. 287 Whiskey • 3/4 oz. White Oak Farm maple syrup (Yorktown Heights) • 1/4 oz. rosemary simple syrup • 1 oz. lemon juice • 1 oz. triple sec •

Restaurant week sponsors Widow Jane Distillery, left, based in Brooklyn, New York, and Dennings Point Distillery, based in Beacon, New York, provide samples of their products during Tuesday night’s kickoff event. Photo/James Pero

different and unique that people will really love.”

Another participating location, an American grill on Palmer Avenue in Larchmont called Chat 19, will be showcasing a balanced menu of chicken, fish, meat and pasta dishes this year to accommodate all different tastes. Manager Maurizio Caputi said restaurant week is a great opportunity to gain clientele that wouldn’t normally frequent the location.

Westchester County Execu-

tive Rob Astorino recognized how much restaurant week has grown.

“This is really a great opportunity to sample the restaurants you’ve always wanted to try,” he said. “It’s a half a billion dollar industry; it’s growing leaps and bounds.”

The event runs for two weeks every spring and fall, showcasing the quality and service of eateries from the mid- and lower Hudson Valley regions. A list of participating restaurants

can be found at valleytable. com, and each location’s prix fixe menu can be found on their corresponding website. Offers include three-course dinners for $29.95 and three-course lunches for $20.95, not including the cost of beverages, tax and tip. Diners interested in sampling participating restaurants’ menus can make reservations on opentable.com or call locations directly.

CONTACT: suzy@hometwn.com

•

Crush large sprig of rosemary by hand and add to shaker • Add all ingredients and ice to shaker • Shake vigorously for 15 seconds • Strain mixture into martini glass and garnish with remaining rosemary sprigs and orange slice

The Hudson Hop created by The Tap House in Tuckahoe

1 oz. blood orange juice 6 dashes of The Hudson Standard Lovestruck Bitters • 1/2 oz. St. Germaine • •

Shake and pour over snifter with ice • Top it off with Capt. Lawrence Freshchester Pale Ale

The Southside Sazerac created by the Saint George Bistro in Hastings-on-Hudson • • • • • •

2 1/2 oz. high-proof rye just under 1/2 oz. simple syrup 3 dashes aromatic bitters 2 dashes orange bitters Delaware Phoenix Walton Waters Absinthe Large orange twist

Fill a rocks glass with water and ice to chill it • Combine the rye, simple syrup and bitters in a cocktail shaker • Add ice and shake well • Discard the ice and water from the rocks glass, then spray or coat the inside with absinthe • Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker into the glass • Garnish with the orange twist

Le Express Fizz created by Le Express Bistro and Bar in Poughkeepsie Italian restaurant Delfino’s on Halstead Avenue in Harrison will be participating in Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, showcasing unique standout dishes from their menu, including a lobster and avocado omelet as a brunch dish. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

2 oz. Laird’s Applejack brandy 3/4 oz. apple cider syrup • 3/4 oz. lemon juice • 1 local farm-raised egg white • •

Shake all ingredients well for 30 seconds • Garnish with sage

The Apple Royale Created by the Iron Horse Grill in Pleasantville

1 oz. Harvest Spirits Core Apple Brandy 4 oz. apple cider or apple juice • 1 oz. sparkling wine or champagne • •

Hudson Valley county executives, chefs and guests toast 10 years of restaurant week at X20 on the Yonkers waterfront. Photo/James Pero

Chill all ingredients • Into a cold martini glass, add two drops bitters, swirl it around • Pour ingredients • Add cinnamon stick and serve • Note: For apple cider, we use Thompson Cider Mill

10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • March 4, 2016 BALLOT from page 1

of years until the village can assess the impact of such developments on the village, traffic and infrastructure.

Alfasi, a 13-year Tuckahoe resident, believes his greatest achievement thus far as a trustee has been in regards to budgetary issues and trying to keep village taxes low.

Alfasi told the Review that he “championed” the village separating capital budget projects from its overall budget process. Now, the village votes

on capital budget expenditures separately from its general budget.

A member of the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals for two years before he was elected trustee, Alfasi is also an attorney who works primarily on trusts and estates cases. He also serves as special counsel to the Republican caucus of the Yonkers City Council.

Mayor Steve Ecklond, a Republican who was reelected last year, called Leo and Alfasi excellent public servants. “I hope the resi-

dents realize that and respect that when they go to the polls.”

Ecklond said that Alfasi’s background as an attorney provides a legal perspective while Leo’s background in architecture serves village development well.

Board of Trustees members are given an annual stipend of $5,000 and are elected to twoyear terms. Village elections will take place on Tuesday, March 15.

CONTACT: kiley@hometwn.com

From left, Republican incumbents Steven Alfasi and Antonio Leo will take on Anthony Fiore Jr. in this year’s village election. Fiore was defeated in his previous attempt to win election to the Board of Trustees last year.

File photos

Town of Mamaroneck halts residential development The town of Mamaroneck, like many communities in Westchester, is struggling with development. In February,—after a residential moratorium was put in place as of December 2015— the town’s governing board held a special meeting to further the discussion of large scale residential developments.

According to Town Administrator Steve Altieri, the threemonth moratorium came as a response to a growing concern from residents who feel that larger homes are threatening the character of their neighborhood.

“There seems to be a demand

for larger homes, for more upto-date floor plans,” Altieri said.

“We’re seeing people tearing down existing homes and building new homes.”

Prior to the moratorium, Altieri said the only site plan ordinance that existed in the town’s code related to commercial developments, not residential ones.

As a result, many tear downs of single family homes that resulted in site plans calling for the regrading of property and intrusive rock chipping—construction-related digging that breaks ground and causes loud noise disturbances— were being carried out without the

town board’s say.

A similar moratorium passed in the village of Larchmont in January after concerned residents flocked to a village board meeting in droves to protest the demolition of an iconic home at 40 Ocean Ave. How the board plans to address the perceived problems with the town code and development trends remains to be seen, but will materialize in the months to coming, according to Altieri.

“Now we can take the time to look and change the law appropriately,” Altieri said.

-Reporting by James Pero

More on municipalities needing more state aid BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

This week’s column is an addendum to my last column: more local in focus, enumerating the legal changes needed to aid Westchester communities in reducing the property tax burden. All of the following must be advanced by the state Legislature and signed by the governor, as they are not in the purview of local governments.

A frequently misunderstood area of revenue generation is the prosecution by local municipal courts of infractions relating to the violation of state vehicle and traffic laws.

Most residents believe that a speeding ticket, perhaps with a fine of $125, immediately contributes to the local coffers. It is quite to the contrary.

A current state law sets the local reimbursement rates on tickets, and we are capped at $15 per transaction, regardless of the violation or ticket amount, with no provision for inflationary adjustments. As a consequence, $15 doesn’t come close to covering court expenses and villages actually lose significant funds handling these cases for the state. When a local police officer pulls you over for speeding, his or her motive is safety only because the time it takes to issue and adjudicate the ticket is actually a loss for the municipality. The current law needs to be amended to more equitably distribute the fine amounts to account for the costs associated with maintaining and operating a local court system.

The old adage about it being the end of the month so tickets are issued to increase the coffers is truly a misnomer.

For Bronxville, two current state laws will directly and negatively impact us in the coming year as a result of our undertaking the FEMA-backed flood mitigation project.

Since the project is a capital investment, our local financial share is not exempt from the state tax cap legislation. This law must be amended to encourage local governments to undertake infrastructure im-

provements free of legal constraint, especially in light of the fact that it is estimated that New York state infrastructure improvements are underfunded by an astounding 70 percent.

In tandem with the FEMA construction is the overlay of the Wicks Law. Dating back to 1912, it continues to be one of the most onerous mandates facing local governments. Unlike private construction projects, schools and local governments are required to bid separate plumbing, heating/ ventilation/air conditioning and electrical contracts. This multiple bidding requirement has the effect of increasing costs and delaying projects.

Estimates are that the exact same project undertaken by a public entity versus a private contractor will add 15 to 25 percent to the final cost.

Another extremely costly set of tax laws particular to Westchester County property taxpayers relate to the MTA. Local municipalities pay both an MTA Platform Tax and an MTA Payroll Tax to the state of New York via our town and county taxes. Our town of Eastchester pays a staggering $1.3 million annually to comply with MTA mandates. It is particularly unfair because despite the fact that Connecticut residents comprise a significant percentage of MTA ridership, they pay nothing toward platform maintenance, whereas a property taxpayer in Westchester, who may not even make use of the train system, is shouldering the burden. At the very least there should be a requirement that the monies are used effectively on actual platform/station maintenance.

It is no wonder there is an exodus to adjacent states.

On another front, Westchester communities, like most communities nationwide, should be allowed to collect a Hotel Occupancy Tax as a user fee to cover additional expenses due to hotel use, most notably police and fire protection.

Currently, our neighbors in New Rochelle, Yonkers, Peekskill, Rye City, Rye Brook and Mamaroneck Village are allowed to collect a tax to cover their extra costs. However, in the last legislative session, a

bill to allow Greenburgh, Tarrytown, Tuckahoe, Ardsley, Elmsford and North Castle to be treated similarly was vetoed without explanation by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Westchester communities are seeking uniformity and fairness, as the location of a hotel’s boundaries should not be the deciding factor in whether or not this legislation is passed.

Finally, The Triborough Amendment, unique to New York state and under the umbrella of the Taylor Law, has an extraordinary impact on the finances of local governments.

In essence, the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law prohibits a public employer from altering any provision of an expired labor agreement until a new agreement is reached. The effect is automatic and mandatory pay increases where a salary step or longevity schedule exists, even though the agreement has expired.

The amendment serves to undermine the collective bargaining process by discouraging unions from offering concessions or givebacks, since as long as no agreement is reached, the terms of the current contract remain in effect. For example, why would a union that is receiving 100 percent in health care benefits in a contract dating back five years when the cost structure was different be incentivized to come to the bargaining table at a time when employees are now contributing to their health care costs?

In contrast, in the municipal sector of the 49 other states and the private sector nationwide where collective bargaining has existed for more than 60 years under the National Labor Relations Act, no similar obligation is imposed upon employers who are parties to a labor contract.

All of the above legal constraints contribute to the declining population of New York state as every one of the above laws place an enormous financial burden on the average citizen.

Repeal of any of them would have a direct effect on our local bottom line and the costs that are always passed on to the local taxpayer.

March 4, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • 11

Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com

124 Anderson Avenue, Eastchester $680,000 Sale date: 12/28/15

3 Consulate Drive Unit 3A, Tuckahoe $280,000 Sale date: 1/11/16

132 Pondfield Road, Bronxville $837,500 Sale date: 1/8/16

152 Park Avenue, Eastchester $745,000 Sale date: 1/8/16

27 Tudor Lane, Eastchester $795,000 Sale date: 1/14/16

33 Lakeview Avenue, Eastchester $890,000 Sale date: 1/5/16

40 Hathaway Road, Bronxville $1,400,000 Sale date: 1/25/16

57 Northway, Bronxville $1,296,750 Sale date: 1/4/16

72 Lyons Road, Eastchester $640,000 Sale date: 1/13/16

165 Park Drive, Eastchester $555,000 Sale date: 12/30/15

22 Sylvan Avenue, Tuckahoe $597,500 Sale date: 12/28/15

34 Bradley Road, Eastchester $665,000 Sale date: 1/5/16

44 Waterside Close, Eastchester $566,000 Sale date: 1/21/16

380 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe $645,000 Sale date: 11/5/15

7 Forbes Boulevard, Eastchester $895,000 Sale date: 12/29/15

6 Apple Court, Eastchester $1,025,000 Sale date: 12/22/15

12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • March 4, 2016

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March 4, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • 13

Why I’m chewing the instruction manual RHYMEs WITH cRAZY RAZY Lenore Skenazy

Man versus man. Man versus nature. Man versus himself.

We learned in high school English that these are the three great themes in all literature, to which we must add one more: Man versus newly purchased dishwasher.

Oh, perhaps there are those who would quibble that “The Old Man and the Maytag” just does not carry the same gravitas as a grizzled grump in a boat moping about a marlin. (That was the basic plot, right? With some metaphors thrown in?) But that’s only because they are not sitting in my kitchen examining, once again, a bunch of strangely slimy plates and still-milky glasses that just spent the past 90 minutes getting the wash of their lives. A wash courtesy of our new, ergonomic, Europeanmade dishwasher with more buttons than a BlackBerry and all the cleaning power of a bar of Motel 6 soap.

“Read the manual,” said my husband when I called him at work to complain that the dishes looked as if they’d been licked by a camel with a cold.

Read the manual? Perhaps he’d like me to perform a double cornea transplant while I’m at it. Maybe I can pop over to Afghanistan and hammer out some kind of evening of healing songs

and stories with the Taliban, too.

Did I mention the manual for this machine is 55 pages long and includes a section on, among other things, how to “Delay Start” the wash cycle? As if it’s a NASA launch and there’s a funnel cloud headed toward Cape Canaveral?

Manuals are great for people who read manuals. I have a husband and son who sit down and actually absorb the information, connecting the words to the diagrams to the real-world thing in front of them. They poke and prod, and suddenly the thing lights up or rings or records a TV program they then can play later.

Bully for them.

The other 98 percent of us open randomly to a page, see a line like “Press and hold the 1 and 3 buttons and at the same time, turn on the dishwasher with the ‘On’ button” and wail in there-goes-my-marlin despair.

Here, you try reading about that “Delay Start” feature: “To delay the start of the wash [or NASA launch—L.S.], press the 18 button until the desired delayed start time appears in the time display. The delay start is set in one-hour steps up to nine hours. If the Delay Start button is pressed after the ninehour mark the delay start feature will be cancelled and must be reselected.”

Copy that, Houston? I mean, typing it out, word for word, I do get the basic idea: Goof in

pressing button 18 and you have to start again. But that’s just one tiny paragraph about one tiny button for one ridiculous feature I will never, ever use. There are still another 54.5 pages about all these other features: the “optic indicator” (the thing has eyes?) and the “data plate” (calling HAL!) and everyone’s favorite, the “non-return valve.” How I love to curl up with a good page or two about non-return valves!

The thing is, I don’t want a dishwasher that requires years of study. I don’t want anything in my house that requires years of study, be it my phone, my digital toaster (guess which spouse bought that?) or my master’s degree. I got one of those in less time than it is taking me to calm down about THIS STUPID NON-WASHING DISHWASHER! AND MANUAL! Update: When the toasterbuying dishwasher-decider-inchief arrived home, he thumbed through the 55-page marriage destroyer and discovered the problem. I hadn’t put in precisely the right amount of detergent: two flat tablespoons. No more, no less. How could I have missed the “Adding Detergent” instructions? There they are, just 28 fascinating pages in. Right after the marlin eats the old man and licks his bones clean. Next time, when I choose the dishwasher, I know what I’m going to get. A marlin.

Enjoy April Fools’ Day at a live comedy show

By MARA RuPNERS Contributor We all know the drill. Come April 1, it is wise to watch one’s step. Be on your toes. Read anything and everything with a healthy dose of skepticism, and think twice before agreeing to run a strange errand. On this day, outlandish tales, practical jokes and silly pranks of all kinds abound. It’s harmless and in good fun, and we all get caught up in it—but have you ever stopped and wondered why?

The origins of April Fool’s Day are hazy, as a quick Google search will tell you. There are many theories. One has to do with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in parts of Europe during the 1500s, which moved the new year from late March to Jan. 1, and opened up the opportunity for peasants to try to fool their neighbors into celebrating New Year’s festivals on the wrong day. Other theories tie the holiday to the Vernal Equinox, or the arrival of spring, with its fickle weather. Others see its roots in ancient festivals—

Hilaria, a Roman end-of-winter celebration; the medieval Festus Fatuorum (Feast of Fools) that evolved out of the Saturnalia; the northern European Festival of Lud, who was a Celtic god of humor; or perhaps even the Hindu spring festival of Holi.

Many of these theories sound far-fetched enough to be April Fool’s tales themselves, and in the end, we will probably never know. And, in the end, it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that, in our fast-paced and intense world, we take a day each year to lighten up, play along, and have a really, really good laugh.

On that note—and this is no joke—The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College is getting in on the April Fool’s Day fun by presenting one of the funniest live shows you will ever see.

Experience Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” as they team up for “Two Man Group”—a riotously funny, interactive and completely improvised tour de force. They will play the fools, so you don’t have to. The performance begins at 8 p.m. on Fri-

day, April 1. Tickets are $45, $50 and $60, and good seats are still available.

Also at The Center this month: Montana Rep’s new production of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” on March 10; Irish fiddle sensation Eileen Ivers and her band on March 11; a National Theatre Live screening of “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” on March 12; the renowned baroque orchestra and chorus Apollo’s Fire performing Bach’s “St. John Passion” on March 13; and a Rising Alternative screening of Puccini’s “Tosca” on March 20. Visit The Center’s website for complete event details and tickets.

Mara Rupners is the director of marketing at The Performing Arts Center.

The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, N.Y. 10577 Box Office: 251-6200 Hours: Tuesday-Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and on weekends before performances Website: artscenter.org

CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

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(Submitted)

14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEw • March 4, 2016

SPORTS

A golden week LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

When you look at the sports landscape this time of year, championship week in Section I couldn’t possibly come at a better time.

I mean, just take a gander at what’s going on around the world of sports: the Super Bowl has come and gone, the interminable slog toward the NHL and NBA playoffs continues, and the most exciting news coming out of MLB Spring Training these days concerns the daily commute of Mets’ outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Mamaroneck goalie Tommy Spero raises his arms in victory at the Brewster Ice Arena. With a 5-1 win over Suffern, Mamaroneck won its first section crown since 2009. Photo/Mike Smith

SPORTS

(Editor’s note: on Monday, he took a horse to the ballpark!)

Not real exciting, but at least the last week has been a godsend in terms of generating a little sports buzz, locally.

It helps, of course, that this was a pretty strong year for teams in the area. Mamaroneck’s ice hockey team and Rye’s girls basketball squad proved as much with some well-deserved section titles. But the sports hysteria went far beyond the teams that happened to bring home the gold; it was just about the atmosphere in general.

It’s been pretty much established that few venues across New York state can consistently get quite as rowdy as the Westchester County Center. The arena, which traditionally hosts the semifinal and championship rounds of the boys and girls basketball playoffs, certainly did not disappoint this year as area fans turned out in droves to pack both levels. On Feb. 28, during the second half of the Class A girls finals between Ursuline and Rye, Garnet fans in attendance seemed to take over the gym as

Two Mamaroneck Tigers embrace after winning the section title on Feb. 28. Photo/Mike Smith

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The Rye girls basketball team celebrates its section title win at the Westchester County Center on Feb. 28.

For Sports Editor Mike Smith, following the title runs of our local squads has made up for a dearth of pro sports drama in the last two weeks. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Rye extended its lead, supporting their girls—and good-naturedly joshing the opposition— until it seemed like the foundation was shaking.

And it wasn’t limited to the County Center; Mamaroneck fans headed up to the Brewster Ice Arena two hours early to secure a good vantage point for the game. And once the game started, as the Tigers dominated Suffern in each facet of the game, you could sense the anticipation boiling over in their fans, ready to erupt when that final buzzer sounded.

And boy, did they ever.

I know I often write about sports fans behaving badly.

They’re easy targets. But this past weekend, I was heartened to see the opposite: fans taking cues from their team, getting loud, and helping to raise the stakes in the some of the biggest games of the year. The fact that these fans were so heavily invested in the outcome of these games— and by extension, the success of these student-athletes—is always fantastic to see.

When the alternative is scour-

Taylor Maurer drives to the hoop in front of a packed house at the Westchester County Center. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

ing the sports pages for quotes about Yoenis’ latest Palomino, it kind of makes you wish that championship week could

last a little longer.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

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