March 31, 2017 by The Eastchester Review

Eastchester REVIEW THE

March 31, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 13 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Tuckahoe Independents call for vote recount By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief

Beer Fest of Westchester hit the County Center on Saturday, March 25, where hundreds of beverage options were on display for sampling. For coverage, see page 10. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Bronxville, Tuckahoe propose 2017-18 municipal budgets By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Administrators for the neighboring villages of Bronxville and Tuckahoe say that while they strive each year to craft municipal budgets that stay below the state-imposed tax cap, they are more focused on ensuring that the budgets are fiscally responsible. Bronxville Administrator Jim Palmer and Tuckahoe Administrator David Burke agreed, however, that those two goals don’t always coincide. This month, the villages released their tentative budgets for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, which begins on June 1. But those villages responded differently to the state’s requirement to increase

the amount of money raised by taxes—known as the tax levy— by no more than 1.15 percent or be forced to pass legislation to override that requirement, known as the tax cap. The tax cap tells municipalities how much they can increase the tax levy by, usually the lesser of 2 percent or the rate of inflation. Tuckahoe’s overall budget for fiscal year 2017-2018 is $12.4 million, $7.9 million of which would come from property taxes. About $9.6 million of Bronxville’s $16.1 million proposed budget would be funded by property taxes. In Tuckahoe, the tentative budget proposes a 1.14 percent tax levy increase, a $159,000 increase from last year’s levy. However, property taxes in the

village would be reduced by 1.37 percent, as property values have increased in the Tuckahoe for the first time in at least a decade. Meanwhile, Bronxville’s tentative tax levy increase is more than double the cap at 3.22 percent; the proposed property tax increase is 1.47 percent. The village board in Bronxville adopted legislation to override the cap in February. Palmer said that while the village will cut what expenses are feasible to get the tax levy increase closer to the cap, what he and the Bronxville village board are more focused on is maintaining a budget that will provide responsible services. “We will absolutely do a thorough review of the budget over the course of the next month,

but I do think [the board] will do what’s fiscally responsible and prudent, and be less focused on trying to get it down to that 1.15 number,” he said. Bronxville has overridden the cap every year since the tax cap was imposed by the state in 2011. Last year, Tuckahoe also overrode the cap, which was just 0.12 percent. In Tuckahoe’s budget, remaining under the cap would have meant the village could only collect $9,000 more in taxes from the previous year. Palmer added that remaining under the cap last year would have been nearly impossible for Bronxville as well. “That wouldn’t have covered our overtime for the snowstorm,” he said. BUDGETS continued on page 8

In the aftermath of what was one of the tightest and most hotly contested elections in village history, third-party slate the Tuckahoe Independents have formally requested a recount. According to a member of the Tuckahoe Independents, who wished to remain anonymous, the process employed by Tuckahoe Village Clerk Camille DiSalvo on election night, March 21, in tabulating nearly 50 absentee ballots is what led the independent candidates to formally challenge the results of the election, which saw the Republicans make a clean sweep of the three seats in play. Mayor Steve Ecklond and trustees Tom Giordano and Greg Luisi all secured an additional two years on the village Board of Trustees with their win. “We are not ascribing bad intent, as much as maybe clerical insufficiency,” the source told the Review. “Who verified the village clerk’s numbers? As a matter of formality, is there a check on the village clerk’s tallies?” Republicans fended off two full slates in a race that turned out approximately 1,100 voters, nearly 800 more than when the same Republican trio ran for re-election in 2015. Melba Caliano, who topped the Tuckahoe Independents ticket as its mayoral candidate, was only 51 votes shy of Eckland’s total, and all six trustee candidates were separated by merely 63 votes.

INSIDE EFD names new chief Story on page 8.

On election night, Caliano’s team had two representatives at the Tuckahoe Community Center serving as poll watchers. However, according to Caliano, only one set of results from one of two electronic voting machines was provided. The Tuckahoe Independents are also claiming that they did not receive totals for absentee ballots. “I telephoned Camille’s office that night and left a message and said that I am formally requesting a recount,” Caliano said. Within two days, Caliano said she received a report from DiSalvo and while it appeared that the final numbers held up to scrutiny, she has since asked to examine all absentee ballots. A source who was present at the Tuckahoe Community Center when polls closed on election night refuted Caliano’s claims, telling the Review that tally tapes from the two electronic voting machines were printed and offered to poll watchers who were present. The nearly 50 absentee ballots, which were sealed in envelopes, were then opened and tabulated manually by election inspectors, not the village clerk. RECOUNT continued on page 9

2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017

April 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

April Fools’ Day

Autism Awareness Month NCAA Final Four

Children’s Book Day

NYSELA Gr. 3–8 makeup tests begin

Sexual Assault Awareness Day of Action

NYSELA Gr. 3–8 makeup tests end

NCAA Championship Game

Bronxville PTA 7 p.m.

Lake Isle Advisory Board 7 p.m., Lake Isle

Tuckahoe reorganization meeting 8 p.m.

Tuckahoe planning work session 7 p.m.

Tuckahoe zoning board 7:30 p.m.

The Masters end

Spring break begins, all schools closed

World Parkinson’s Day

World Health Day

EHS Spring Comedy Night 6:30 p.m.

SAT subject tests registration deadline

Eastchester architectural board 7 p.m., Town Hall

All Eastchester schools early dismissal

ACT test

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

Eastchester town board 8 p.m., Town Hall

Palm Sunday

The Masters begin

Stanley Cup playoffs begin

Eastchester zoning board 7 p.m., Town Hall

Good Friday

Tuckahoe Easter Egg Hunt 11 a.m., Parkway Oval Field

Passover begins Bronxville village board 8 p.m. Tuckahoe village board 8 p.m.

Easter

Bronxville Planning Board 7:30 p.m.

Bronxville schools reopen

Tax Day

Eastchester, Tuckahoe schools reopen 4/18

Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe school boards and budget adoptions

Tuckahoe planning board 7:30 p.m.

Waverly PTA meeting 7:30 p.m.

AH/GV Gr. 5 joint event 6:30 p.m.

EHS PTA meeting 7:45 p.m.

EHS Players Club Musical 7:30 p.m.

Earth Day

Eastchester town board 8 p.m., Town Hall Passover ends

EHS Players Club Musical 2 p.m.

EHS Players Club Musical 7:30 p.m.

Eastchester schools drug abuse events

WV/AH/GV Parent-Teacher Conferences

Tuckahoe special budget meeting 8 p.m.

Eastchester traffic committee 7 p.m., Community Room Bronxville zoning board 7:30 p.m.

EHS Spring Concert 7 p.m.

Eastchester Planning Board 7 p.m., Town Hall

BHS Orchestra Recital/ Concert 7 p.m.

Anne Hutchinson PTA

WV/AH/GV Parent-Teacher Conferences

County Shredder 10 a.m., Lake Avenue lot EMS Clothing Drive 10 a.m.

Eastchester SEPTA Bingo and Brownies 7 p.m.

March 31, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 3

Playland lawsuit thrown out by judge By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A lawsuit filed by the city of Rye seeking to overturn Westchester County’s authority over capital projects slated at Playland was thrown out by a state judge this week. The suit, filed by the city in August 2016, sought to overturn the county’s status as lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQR, which would have given Rye a greater say in the approval of millions of dollars in improvements slated to take place at the park this year. The historic amusement park is located within the city. “We gave it our best shot, but we didn’t prevail,” said Rye Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican. “One thing that has not changed is that the residents of Rye bear 100 percent of the quality of life impacts at Playland.”

Sack added that the city will not appeal the judge’s decision due to cost and time constraints. While the city has consistently argued that projects at the park—which abuts Rye’s residential neighborhoods— should fall under the scrutiny of the City Council, a state judge ruled in favor of the county, which owns Playland as a part of the county parks system. According to a decision by Judge Gretchen Walsh, among other things, the city failed to show reasonable evidence that its neighborhoods would be adversely impacted by the projects. In a statement, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, championed the decision to dismiss the suit. “This ruling means the county can get back to the business of saving Playland,” he said. “We are pleased with this ruling

as it enables Standard Amusements, in collaboration with the county, to move forward on our plans to upgrade the grounds in support of our mission.” As per an agreement struck in May between the county and the management company Standard Amusements—the new operators of the nearly 100-year-old amusement park—the park is set to undergo $60 million in capital improvements, the cost of which will be split between the two parties. Under the terms of the deal, Standard would manage the park for 30 years and also pay the county a fee that rises annually by 2 percent. The agreement punctuated years of failed negotiations between the Astorino administration and prospective organizations or companies interested in managing the amusement park; most notably a previous deal brokered between Astori-

JCC bomb threat suspect arrested in Israel Half a world away, a 19-yearold man was arrested at his home in Israel for allegedly leveling bomb threats against Jewish community centers throughout the U.S., which forced the evacuation of local centers in New Rochelle and Tarrytown late last month. The arrest was made by Israeli police on March 23, and the name of the teen has not been released. According to Israeli police, his motive remains unclear. The teen is the second individual arrested in a case involving more than 100 phone threats. On March 3, Juan Thompson, a former journalist from Missouri, was charged with one count of cyber stalking and is believed to be responsible for at least eight of the threats. Authorities do not believe Thompson and the teen are connected. According to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, the teen used satellite equipment and advanced computer technology to obscure his identity and location. The FBI investigated more than 100 calls made as part

no and local nonprofit Sustainable Playland Inc., which dissolved in the wake of potential litigation from Rye and growing public outcry over the size and scope of the plans, and in

particular a sports bubble that was slated for Playland’s main parking lot. According to Dan Branda, a spokesman for the county executive, an engineer’s consortium

to arrive at a construction schedule was held on March 1, but said the specifics of the schedule are “too premature” to discuss. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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Connect with us on

By ANDREW DAPOLITE Contributor

A lawsuit against Westchester County filed by the city of Rye was thrown out by a state judge on Monday, March 20, sinking its hopes of overseeing $60 million in capital improvements slated at Playland Park. File photo

of an ongoing hoax within the last two months, concluding in the arrest of the teen on March 23 at his home in the city of Ashkelon, located along the southern coast of Israel. “It should be noted that a large number of law and order organizations throughout the world collaborated professionally with the Israeli police, which enabled a coordinated, cross-border investigation integrating the technological know-how of multiple enforcement bodies,” Rosenfeld said in a statement. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions echoed Rosenfeld’s comments, citing the cooperation among each country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies. “Today’s arrest in Israel is the culmination of a large-scale investigation spanning multiple continents for hate crimes against Jewish communities across our country,” Sessions said. “I commend the FBI and Israeli National Police for their outstanding work on this case.” While all of the threats across the country proved to be hoaxes, the scare made national news

headlines, with “#IStandWiththeJCC” trending across social media platforms. Growing anxiety prompted President Donald Trump to address the issue in his first address to Congress on Feb. 28. At the 999 Wilmot Road location in New Rochelle, Karen Kolodny, the executive director of JCC of Mid-Westchester, said that about 200 people were evacuated from the building on Feb. 27, including 100 staff members and adult patrons and roughly 100 children, only two hours after the Tarrytown center was evacuated after receiving similar threats. No injuries were reported during either evacuation. In a recent statement released by JCC of Mid-Westchester, Kolodny remarked on the recent outpour of community support. “We are grateful for the remarkable support we have received from local civic, political and faith-based community leaders, and extend once again our appreciation for their commitment to helping make the JCC of Mid-Westchester, a welcoming community convener,” Kolodny said.

4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017

What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library

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

EPL Mystery Club On Wednesday, April 5 at 2:30 p.m. Join the library in exploring the careers and books of bestselling mystery authors of the 1960s, whose literary creations are loved by readers 50 years later. April’s featured author is Dick Francis.

Reading Buddies Book Club On Wednesday, April 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For second and third grades. The Reading Buddies Book Club will discuss James Preller’s “Along Came Spider.” April is Autism Acceptance Month, and this is a story about surpassing peer pressure and accepting others as they are. Online pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Refreshments will be served. Please contact Jonathan Heifetz at jheifetz@wlsmail.org or 721-8105 if your child is planning to attend the book club, and you’d like to reserve a copy of the book.

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

Poetry Reading On Sunday, April 2 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate National Poetry Month by joining the library for a poetry extravaganza exploring race, family, and class. Featuring poets Michael Collins, Claudia Nash and Lisa Rhodes-Ryabchich.

Yoga for Kids On Monday, April 3 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. For ages 4 to 8. Children will build focus, confidence, and strength as they learn traditional yoga poses, age-appropriate breathing exercises, and relaxation skills. Registration required online. Include child’s name and age in comment box when registering.

Rainforest Butterflies On Tuesday, April 4 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Join the library for a spectacular display of tropical rainforest butterflies and moths, many collected by presenter Steve Fratello during his numerous expeditions. Differences between butterflies and moths, tropical rainforest climate and geography, insect body parts, predation, camouflage, life cycles and other topics will be discussed.

Baseball: Musical Adventures with Concordia Conservatory On Thursday, April 6 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. For ages 3 and up. Celebrate the opening of baseball season with musical readings of “Take Me Out to the Yakyu” and “Casey at Bat.” Sponsored by the Community Fund of Bronxville, Tuckahoe, and Eastchester.

Book Donation Drop-Off On Thursday, April 6 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring in your gently used books for the ongoing library book sale. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Bronxville Library. Limit is 10 books per patron. Books will be screened for suitability before being accepted.

Tai Chi On Friday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to noon. An instructor from Lyte Body Fitness will lead a series of three classes of tai chi. Tai chi is an ancient martial art that combines movement and meditation. Gentle, flowing movements coordinated with deep breathing and mental focus help to improve balance, flexibility, and strength. Space is limited. Registration required. Registration is for all three sessions: April 7, 21 and 28. Call 337-7680 ext. 24 or email bronxvillelibrary@gmail.com. Registration ends on Wednesday, April 5.

Family Yoga On Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to noon. For families with children ages 4 to 8. Children will build focus, confidence, and strength as they learn traditional yoga poses, age-appropriate breathing exercises, and relaxation skills. Registration required online. Include child’s name and age in comment box when registering.

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

Social Security and the New Retirement Reality On Wednesday, April 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This is a free educational workshop for people ages 60 to 70 and retirees. Paul M. Petrone, a social security, retirement income and tax specialist, will discuss when and how to claim Social Security and how to maximize your Social Security income; and solving the retirement income puzzle. Registration is required by calling the library at 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 Easter Egg Hunt The town of Eastchester Recreation Department presents the Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by Comizio Orthodontics. The event will take place on Saturday, April 8 at 2 p.m. at Eastchester Town Hall. Join the town for an eggstravaganza. There will be thousands of eggs scattered on the Town Hall lawn for girls and boys up to fourth grade. Bring a basket to fill up with lots of goodies. You may even catch a glimpse of a special bunny. The event is free to all participants and is held rain, snow or shine.

Summer camps Applications are available online at eastchester. org/departments/recreation, where you will also find more information on the camps below. Summer Camp 2017 early bird registration week will begin on Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 7 at the Recreation Office at Eastchester Town Hall, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sign up by April 7 to receive significant savings. Regular rates begin Monday, April 10. Camp registration will close on Monday, May 15, and applicants will only be accepted if space permits. There are four separate day camp programs for children who turn age 4 by June 27 through youth entering grade nine in the fall of 2017. Camp Rainbow information will be available soon. Please check eastchester.org/departments/ recreation periodically for more information. Camp Galaxy Junior and Senior are full day programs for grades 1–3 and 4–6, respectively. Swimming and out-of-camp trips are included with Camp Galaxy. Both camps begin on Tuesday, June 27. Camp Quest is a travel camp for grades 7–9; trips are taken each day throughout the tri-state area. Please note that registration for this camp is on Friday, March 31 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at Eastchester Town Hall. There will be two sessions: Session A starts on Monday, June 26; Session B starts on Monday, July 17.

Bronxville school news 2017-2018 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.

Westchester Italian Cultural Center Spring language classes For adults, classes for first-time learners only will be held on Mondays, April 3 through June 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Other beginners will have classes on Mondays, April 3 through June 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Returning students will continue in their current time slot, and new students will be put in touch with the professor to determine speaking level and class placement. The fee for the 10 sessions is $300 for members, and $400 for non-members. Also for adults, intermediate classes will be held on Tuesdays, April 4 through June 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Continuing students will continue in their current time slot, and new students will be put in touch with the professor to determine speaking level and class placement. The fee for the 10 sessions is $300 for members, and $400 for non-members. Trial classes are available for $40 upon request. Please call 771-8700 to register for any of the aforementioned classes. For more information, visit wiccny.org.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester Ninjago City Adventure opening weekend Put your ninja skills to the ultimate test in the all-new LEGO Ninjago City Adventure—a 2-story, 2,300-square-foot Asian-inspired interactive play area at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. Ninjas-in-training can test their balance, agility, strength and endurance with more than 20 interactive features on their quest to become a Spinjitzu master. Children in martial arts uniforms will receive $5 off their regular-priced admission ticket in the month of April. The adventure takes place from Friday, April 7 to Sunday, April 9. Starting at $15.95; children under age 2 are free. Hours: Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald St. in Yonkers. For more information, visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester or call 866-243-0770. 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 31, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5

Cuomo touts electric vehicles; unveils $4.8M plan By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer As part of a state initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the governor has announced a plan championing the use of electric vehicles. The plan, which will work hand-in-hand with several other projects already in progress, calls for a total commitment of $4.8 million that includes the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, incentives for employers to encourage employees to drive electric vehicles, and extensive public education and outreach. “With these actions, we are taking another step toward a cleaner, greener and more sustainable New York for all,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. “This multi-pronged campaign will help in this administration’s efforts to fight climate change, strengthen infrastructure to support the use of electric cars, and help reduce New York’s carbon footprint on our roadways.” The goal of the campaign,

which supports the governor’s already occurring ChargeNY initiative, is to help the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. Richard Kauffman, the chairman of Energy and Finance for New York, which governs the state’s Department of Public Service, Power Authority, and Energy Research and Development, said, “We can’t cut greenhouse gasses and reach our emissions reduction goals without also making inroads in the transportation sector.” The campaign will be overseen by the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority, which is responsible for finding and supporting innovative energy solutions for New York’s economy and environment. ChargeNY aims to install 3,000 plug-in electric vehicle, PEV, charging stations throughout the state and support an expected 30,000 to 40,000 PEVs on the road by 2018. Since the start of ChargeNY in 2013, New York state has installed nearly 500 charging sta-

tions, bringing the state’s total to more than 1,100. With the new initiative, which was announced on March 6, the state intends to install 450 charging stations in Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Utica, and Albany. As of press time, there is no information about where the charging stations will be located within the county. State Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, said, “Having these charging stations in Westchester County makes sense because we have a very robust marketplace when it comes to electric vehicles.” Buchwald added that, while state officials are hopeful to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and although inroads have been made in making transportation greener, there’s still more work to be done. “We’ve already made significant progress as businesses are more efficient and are using less electricity than we have in the past,” Buchwald said. “But,

On March 6, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan to spend $4.8 million to support the use of and install 450 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state. Photo courtesy Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

we’ll need to take more steps like this one if we ever want to achieve that goal.” In 2014, the state Legislature passed a bill to allow Tesla Motors, an American automaker, to continue directly selling their clean energy cars in New York. Buchwald said the passing of that bill was another small victory needed to promote electric cars. Prior to that, state lawmakers proposed to end Tesla’s direct sale to consumers with a 2013 bill that would have mandated

vehicles be sold exclusively through dealerships. The motor vehicle company, which has locations in White Plains and Mount Kisco, is the only car manufacturer company in New York that sells directly to customers in retail stores, which is similar to the sales model of Apple, the consumer electronics company known for its iPhone. Other motor vehicle companies sell cars through local businesses based on a dealership contract, in which salespeople sell their vehicles.

Last fall, Cuomo allocated $3 million for rebates through the Environmental Protection Fund for municipalities to purchase or lease zero-emission vehicles, such as battery electric and hydrogen vehicles, for their fleets, which would include police cars, fire engines and sanitation waste units. State Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017

Eastchester REVIEW THE

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7Sisters Project gives young women a voice

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

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter

General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com

The 7Sisters Project hosted its third LIVE Summit, bringing women from around the Manhattanville College campus together to discuss problems they see in society and ways we can empower women. “Everyone is talking about female empowerment, but no one’s actually doing anything,” said Marilyn Fezza, co-founder and CEO of the 7Sisters Project. On March 2, the Berman Center Theater of the Purchase-area college was filled with students and alumnae eagerly waiting to discuss topics like gender inequality, sexism and racism. Music pumped through the

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speakers playing female-empowering songs like “Run the World (Girls),” by Beyoncé and “Independent Women,” by Destiny’s Child. The open-forum style summit encouraged the audience to shout out their answers to questions prompted by Fezza. “I want to hear from girls from different parts of the country who have had different experiences and different things to contribute,” Fezza said. The 7Sisters Project, which was started in 2010 by Marilyn Fezza and her daughter, Marisa Fezza, co-founder and associate producer, was inspired when Marilyn Fezza realized that young women weren’t being exposed to important issues in the news, and instead were more concerned with celebrity culture. Marisa Fezza made this realization after filming a documentary in her broadcast journalism class about the way pop culture consumes young girls’ lives.

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Marilyn Fezza and Daniel Ryan discuss his work with the Covenant House International. Photo/Taylor Brown

The “7Sisters” in the name, Marilyn Fezza explained, is for the seven continents, which she hopes to reach with the project’s effort. Marilyn Fezza said that she wants to help create a sisterhood that “[takes] back the conversation from the media, [and] factions in society that are trying to oppress women.” As the event went on, women from the audience were encouraged to sit in one of the five seats in the front of the theater to discuss their own experiences on topics suggested by the audience. Chanda Pen Sar, senior class president at Manhattanville College, spoke on the women in leadership panel and discussed her own struggles with seeing herself in a position of power. Pen Sar told the audience how when she first came to the school, she had dreams of becoming the student body president, but instead ran for a lower position, senior class president. She explained that she realized women minimize their goals all the time. Daneil Chambers, a freshman at Manhattanville College, told the Review she was interested in speaking on the panel about oppression. Chambers said that she came to the event to hear other people’s opinions, and hopefully form new ideas based on the conversations around her. “I just want to make sure that the voices

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Follow us on Twitter, @eastchesterview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/eastchesterreview The Eastchester Review is published weekly by Home Town Media Group for an annual subscription of $45. Application to mail at the periodicals postage rate is approved at White Plains, N.Y., 10601. Periodicals postage paid at White Plains and additional mailing offices.

From left, Julia Furlipa, Marilyn Fezza, Opal Vadhan, Chanda Pen Sar and Fallon Kirby discuss women in leadership. Photos courtesy Judy Klym

Marilyn Fezza, co-founder and CEO of the 7Sisters Project, gives her LIVE Summit opening speech on the project and what it means to her.

of those people who are usually oppressed are heard,” she said. Each panel provided a chance for women to connect to one another. During a panel on diversity, where students were encouraged to share their family traditions and values, students found themselves being able to relate to one another’s upbringing. Beyond the student-based panel, there were also five guest speakers who were invited by Marilyn Fezza. This included Opal Vadhan, who was on the original 7Sisters Project panel seven years ago; Daniel Ryan, development manager at Covenant House International, a nonprofit that works with homeless youth; Lauren Frazza, a career coach; Susan Lachs, an advance practice registered nurse; and Helen Rothlein, senior vice president financial advisor at The Compass Group at Morgan Stanley. Each speaker brought something unique to the conversation. Vadhan discussed her work with the 7Sisters project, as well as her own upbringing. Vadhan is a first-generation IndianAmerican and said growing up she didn’t feel represented in the media, and had wanted to change the way she looked to match what she saw around her. Vadhan explained that the work that the 7Sisters Project does is important “because I believe that girls and women should have a space where they can talk about issues that are

important to them.” Lachs provided the audience with tips on how to live healthier, less stressed lives. This included things like getting more sleep and exercise. Rothlein discussed her own work on Wall Street and how important it is for young women to understand and control their own finances. “Women are a financial force to be reckoned with,” she said. Marilyn Fezza said that within the past few months, “the 7Sisters Project has taken on a whole new meaning, because we’re now the only voice we know of that is talking to young women, who are pre-adult, who are saying ‘you matter.’” When asked about plans for future LIVE Summits, Marilyn Fezza said she wants to get enough people on board to “help us build this so that we can create a nationwide and eventually [a] global tour.” Marilyn Fezza explained that this would include going to more local community centers and schools, and to help girls from around the world share their experiences and contribute new things to the conversation. “The 7Sisters movement is one where the collective, all of you here today, transform the narrative,” Marilyn Fezza told the audience. “You right here and right now are creating the world you think we should be living in.” CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

March 31, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 7

8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017

Springtime issues in the village BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

After our very unpredictable winter, my thoughts have turned to spring and some of the issues that are particular to this time of year. The following information is a refresher of procedures and facts germane to such activities. Home renovations and even smaller household projects traditionally commence in early spring. Large and small, most often require a building permit from the village. If you anticipate any work on your home, start by calling the Building Department at 337-7338. The staff can guide you as to whether permits or variances are required. Undertaking work without permits results in the doubling of fees, both on the cost of the permit itself and the estimate of the value of the project. Many residents are running into this problem when they go to place their home on the market and find projects have no valid certificate of occupancy, so the home cannot be transferred. Even seemingly small projects, such as electrical or plumbing work, need permits. The overriding concern is safety both for one’s own home and nearby neighbors. The terms of a village permit allow work to be done from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays only. If the project is one for which a permit is not required, for example, painting, work can be done on weekends. However, even work acceptable to do on weekends must respect the village’s noise ordinance and not create an undue disturbance. Villagers can call the Police Department with any noise concerns. After a permit request is filed, work cannot commence until the permit request is reviewed and signed off by the Building Department. All building permit requirements and applications are now available on our website. Walkways, patios, sheds, emergency generators, roof replacements and fences, even replacements, require building permits. Also, sometime this spring,

try to feed, fertilize, and trim your trees. The village does not have a tree ordinance as we have historically relied on the foresight and stewardship of our residents to value this intrinsic asset. With few, though glaring exceptions, this has been the case. Many of our neighboring communities have enacted tree ordinances of late, and the care and stewardship of the privately owned trees is something we are monitoring very closely as the loss of even one healthy tree affects the entire village ecosystem. We at the village have redoubled our efforts to preserve municipal trees. The villageowned “street” trees serve architectural and engineering functions beyond the aesthetic value. They enhance building design, reduce glare and reflection, screen unsightly areas, muffle urban noise, and reduce the “heat island effect” caused by pavement and commercial buildings. As an added plus, trees grow in value as they age while most other municipal assets including roads and sewers decline in value. Trees on private property produce even greater monetary value. Studies have demonstrated that 10 to 23 percent of the value of a residence is based on its tree stock. A municipality also captures some of this monetary value as enhanced property values increase assessed values and the resulting tax base. Trees also provide important symbolic links with the past and are important often simply because they have lived through eras with which we have few other connections left. Spring also fosters “spring cleanups” on many fronts. If you want to rid your home of furnishings or large bulk waste, pickup schedules and payment can be accomplished 24/7 on our website, villageofbronxville.com, saving a trip to Village Hall. Also, the purchase of new recycling bins can be accomplished in the same way with delivery of bins to your home by our Department of Public Works staff. Spring also brings more residents out walking, jogging and exercising pets.

The village requires dog owners to pick up after pets. The village’s infrastructure and water system is damaged by the deposit of doggie bags down our sewers. The bacteria that enters our water system are extremely toxic and long-lasting. The repair of a sidewalk, cracked or damaged from the wear and tear of winter, is the responsibility of the homeowner. If you notice a sidewalk needing attention, contact the village’s Building Department and staff will issue a “notice of cure.” No monetary penalties will attach unless the notice is ignored. The warmer weather also brings an increase in door-todoor solicitations. Individuals selling goods cannot do so legally without first receiving a permit from the village. Do not hesitate to call the Police Department if the salesperson cannot produce their permit. Upon investigation, the police have found that some of the charities that were purported to benefit from our purchases were nonexistent. The First Amendment does protect all those “selling” an idea or cause, so groups such as Jehovah Witnesses or Greenpeace do not need permission to ring your bell. To limit this kind of visit, a small “No Solicitation” sign near the front door has proven effective. Spring also brings greater turnover of residents in village houses and apartments. Residents of some of our townhomes and apartment complexes often rent parking spaces on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, when one sells or purchases a unit, the parking space is not part of the deed of transfer. This confusion has led to many frustrated new purchasers. However, there is a solution. If you plan on purchasing in the village, one can put their name on the waiting list in anticipation of purchase. Conversely, if you plan on selling in the not-too-distant future, you may put your name on the waiting list as well to save a spot for your anticipated purchaser. We will also be sprucing up village benches, receptacles, polishing plaques and bringing everything out from under the winter blanket.

EFD appoints captain as probationary chief By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer After interviewing two candidates to replace fire Chief Michael Grogan, who retired on March 31, the Eastchester Board of Fire Commissioners promoted Capt. Brian Tween to probationary chief to begin on April 1. The district interviewed two active captains in the Fire Department—Tween and former Assistant Chief Ralph Stupple— on March 25 in anticipation of Grogan’s retirement. Commissioner Steven Baker said that both candidates were qualified and well-prepared, but that they each possessed a unique set of skills. Ultimately, the board chose Tween, announcing the decision during a public meeting on March 27 after commending Grogan for 40 years of service to the Fire Department with a standing ovation. BUDGETS from page 1

And both administrators said they now are worried that New York state could be looking to further reduce municipal services. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed 20172018 state budget includes a proposal requiring Westchester County to draw a plan consolidating services between municipalities. Cuomo has tied that plan to municipal aid funding, which amounts to about $70,000 for Bronxville and about $79,000 for Tuckahoe. Palmer and Burke said that they already frequently try to consolidate services with surrounding municipalities, specifically each other and the town of Eastchester. County Legislator Sheila Marcotte, a Republican whose district includes Eastchester and Tuckahoe, said Westchester communities have been working to consolidate services for decades. “Cuomo clearly is not in touch with the municipalities in his own state,” she said. “He hasn’t taken the time to look at the good work done by [the officials].” Palmer and Burke said receiving state assistance is imperative to village operations, as the cost of running a village is increasing faster than the allowable tax levy. For example, Bronxville’s police contract guarantees a 2 percent pay increase to each union mem-

Fire board Chairman Dennis Winter emphasized that the new chief will be responsible for taking the department in the direction that he sees fit. “It’s [his] job to put [his] personal impression on the department,” Winter said. Tween told the Review he was excited to take over, and that he was coming into the position with ideas to move the department forward. “We need to modernize the fleet,” he said. “They’re already talking about buying three new apparatuses.” As a former training officer, he added that he would focus his approach on training. Tween will have Grogan to lean on for guidance during his first three months on the job. The department has retained Grogan as a consultant for $7,450 for 90 days. The Board of Fire Commissioners said his role during that period would be to inform Tween of how decisions have historically

been made, and help him navigate through the minutia of contracts and agreements involving the district or firefighters union. The new chief said he appreciated the board’s effort to create a learning environment for his first three months, adding that the position which used to facilitate learning the chief’s roles—the assistant chief—was abolished in July 2016. Stupple had been the assistant chief until then. After appointing Tween, the board approved up to $10,000 for the new chief to have the chief’s office and the district’s front office painted, carpeted and refurnished. Tween will be held in a probationary period for six months with an annual salary of $137,409. His probationary period concludes on Sept. 30, at which point he could agree to a long-term contract with the fire district. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Proposed village budgets at a glance

Tuckahoe Bronxville

Budget

$12.4M $16.1M

Budget increase

$131,134

$275,666

Tax levy increase*

1.14%

3.22%

Tax rate change

-1.37%

1.47%

*New York state’s tax levy increase cap for FY 2017-18 is 1.15%

ber. As a result, overall police spending would increase by nearly $200,000 in Bronxville’s proposed budget. And both municipalities use New York State Health Insurance Plan, which increased its premiums by 12.1 percent this year. “We know health care is difficult on a national level,” Burke said. “It’s also difficult on a local level.” For Tuckahoe, a large increase in expenses would also come from increased engineering consultant fees. After maintaining that expense line at around $2,000 to $3,000 for at least the past four years, that line surpassed the budget by more than $34,000 so far this fiscal year, as the village has tried to defend against a lawsuit filed to overturn the Planning Board’s ruling to approve a Brownfield Cleanup Program and Marriott hotel on Marbledale Road. Anticipating similar expenses next year, Burke has proposed $25,000 for engineering costs. Those additional expenses will continue to support

the village’s engineering research in combatting the litigation, and would fund additional research into two nearby sites, which the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has labeled potential state cleanup sites. Meanwhile, most village revenue other than taxes will continue to come from parking fees and fines. Tuckahoe plans to collect more than $1.4 million in parking revenue; and Bronxville expects to see more than $3 million from parking permits, fees and tickets. Some of that will come from the new parking structures at the Kensington Road residential development, which Palmer said he anticipates will be open to the public in early June. The tentative budget projects $285,600 in parking revenue from that structure for Bronxville. Both villages have scheduled budget hearings for Monday, April 10, and are required to adopt a final budget by May 1. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

March 31, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9

Westchester Airport deal ready to go to bid

RECOUNT from page 1

TUCKAHOE

As of press time, Caliano said that she is still waiting to hear back from DiSalvo on the absentee ballots, but after she reviews them her team is prepared to accept the results. “The procedures that are in place need to be tighter than we saw that night,” said Caliano about pushing for a more stringent review process. “People have died for a vote, that’s how important it is. We take it for granted and we shouldn’t.” CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com

Election Results MAYOR:

ECKLOND 409* CALIANO 358 FIORE 332

TRUSTEE: GIORDANO

394*

LUISI 378* CIOFFOLETTI 368 THOMPSON 360 DERISE 347 NABER 331

* incumbents

Town of Eastchester

Official Newspaper A crucial deal privatizing the Westchester County Airport is readying to go out to RFP after being sidelined by county lawmakers during last year’s budget deliberations. File photo

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A plan to privatize the county’s airport is ready to go through a more rigorous vetting process after lawmakers collectively pumped the breaks on a previous version by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. Earlier this month, consultants hired by the county presented a plan to send out a request for proposal, RFP, for a multi-million dollar deal privatizing the Westchester County Airport that was sent down by the administration late last year just before the passage of the 2017 county budget. Dan Branda, a spokesperson for the county, declined to say what type of interest the county has received for the airport, if any. Lawmakers plan to have the RFP out by the end of the month. Absent from the most recent version of the plan, however, is an exclusive deal with the investment firm Oaktree Capital Management, which was previously slated by Astorino in November 2016 to become the sole operator of the county-owned airport. After criticism from lawmakers who accused the Oaktree deal of skirting proper bidding procedure, it was eventually sidelined

from the county budget, but a new proposal, resulting from the RFP process, will be vetted by lawmakers who hope to finalize a plan before the passage of the 2018 budget later this year. According to a schedule proposed by the county’s hired consultants, all proposals to operate the county’s airport would have to be submitted by July with a final deal potentially in place by November 2017. Adding pressure on lawmakers will be $15 million in prospective revenue from the plan that was going to be used to help balance the 2017 budget; that money has become an increasingly critical piece of the county’s fiscal future amidst projections of waning sales tax revenue and burdensome health care costs. Lawmakers are still hoping to transfer extra revenue from any potential airport deal this year into the county’s general budget in order to deal with ongoing fiscal shortfalls. But in order to redirect revenue from the airport, lawmakers will have to register it through a Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, privatization program; a process that was initiated last year. Before the county can execute on its plan, the FAA must

approve the process. In some cases, approval processes have dragged on for years. Of the 10 airports that applied to the FAA’s program since its introduction in 1996, only one—Luis Muñoz Marín airport in Puerto Rico—has completed the process and has since remained privatized. Currently, under federal law, any revenue earned at the airport can only be used for airport-related purposes. Many of the county lawmakers, who had previously criticized the deal’s last minute introduction—it was sent down to legislators for approval less than a month before the budget deadline—and lack of bidding process, have since changed their attitudes toward the plan. “The Board of Legislators insisted that any deal to privatize our county’s airport had to result from a fair and open bidding process,” said Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hastings-on-Hudson Democrat, who initially opposed the privatization plan. “In my mind, only deals that properly address… the county’s long-term financial interests, the traveling public, the neighboring communities and the environment are worthy of consideration.” CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

Eastchester Schools

10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017

Homestyle Caterers hosts

Beer Fest

The Westchester County Center was overflowing on March 25, literally, as Homestyle Caterers hosted the Beer Fest of Westchester. More than 1,200 lovers of beer and cider filed into the center to sample beverages from more than 300 breweries, some as far away as Iceland. Al Ciuffetelli, owner of Homestyle Caterers and event organizer, said his company wanted to improve on the previous year’s event at the center, which is located in White Plains, adding more food and entertainment in the form of Shilelagh Law, which claims to be New York’s thirstiest band. “There was somebody who did the [Beer Fest last year], but it didn’t work out,” Ciuffetelli said. He told the Review that people approached his company to host the beer fest this time around. “We [gathered] 300 craft beers, instead of 200,” he added. “There are some local wineries here as well.” The festival took six months of planning for it to ultimately come to fruition. “It wasn’t an easy job, it was very difficult because of the timing, especially after St. Patrick’s Day,” Ciuffetelli said of locating and organizing the different manufacturers. Ciuffetelli added that Homestyle Caterers, which operates a Nathan’s food truck out of the White Plains space, has hosted

many events at the County Center. “It’s a good thing for people to utilize this facility,” he said.

“That’s our goal, to make the County Center great again.” -Reporting by Sibylla Chipaziwa

March 31, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter The spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week featured La Chinita Poblana, a Mexican restaurant located in Irving-ton, as part of a celebrating the end of the event. This two-week semi-annual event is presented by The Valley Table, a quarterly magazine that explores different restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley. This season’s restaurant week ran from March 6 to March 19, and featured 119 restaurants throughout the county, and 230 restaurants in the Hudson Valley area. A representative for Westchester County Tourism and Film explained that

restaurant week tries to encompass all types of cuisines. Restaurant week usually begins with a kickoff, which Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino attends as well. The restaurant week kicked off on March 7 at Benjamin’s Steakhouse in White Plains. Astorino along with Benjamin Prelvukaj and Benjamin Sinajaj, owners of the steakhouse, created the “Astorino Sirloin.” The event began to wind down on March 16, where Astorino and members of the Westchester County Office of

Tourism and Film paid a visit to La Chinita Poblana. Astorino met with Roberto Facal, the manager, Juan Aguilar, the owner, and the waitstaff of the Mexican restaurant. Astorino donned a traditional white apron, and joined Aguilar in the kitchen where the two prepared a dish. Astorino also signed a plate decorated with a Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, HVRW, logo and the restaurant’s name. Astorino ended the visit with a speech highlighting how Aguilar’s accomplishment of opening this restaurant shows

“that the ‘American Dream’ is alive and well.” “The immigrant experience, and Juan’s was something we had heard about it, it was something we thought was really neat,” said Gregory Garvey, communications manager for Westchester County Tourism and Film. Aguilar, who emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. when he was 13, started out working for a restaurant as a bus boy, and worked his way up the chain of command until he was ready to open his own establishment. Aguilar opened La Chinita Poblana four years ago, saying that after working for restaurants for so many years, he wanted to take a chance at creating and running his own place. He explained that he liked the area, and wanted to bring a different style of cuisine to Irvington. Aguilar said that the hardest part about starting his restaurant was the beginning. “It’s a lot of work, and a lot of pressure,” he added. The restaurant, which is located on Main Street, serves lunch and dinner. The restaurant is open from noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon to

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, center, poses with the manager of La Chinita Poblana Roberto Facal, left of Astorino, and the owner Juan Aguilar, right of Astorino, along with members of the restaurant staff. Photo courtesy Gregory Garvey

11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. “This year, we hadn’t done it yet, we wanted to highlight [the] culture cuisines that we have,” Garvey said. Included in some of the restaurant week deals were brunch, lunch and dinner specials, including $22.95 for three-course lunch specials and $32.95 for three-course dinner deals. These prices were for the fixed price menus which include multiples options for appetizers, entrees and desserts. The restaurants participating in HVRW are made available online for diners to explore and make reservations. The website gives diners the option to view

restaurants under certain categories like “hot and new” including restaurants like Little Crepe Street in Mount Kisco, Red Zebra in Sleepy Hollow, and Tutta Bella Trattoria in Scarsdale. Another category was “Zagat rated,” which included Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, PLATES in Larchmont, and Moderne Barn in Armonk. “Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is the perfect time to try new restaurants and cuisine throughout the county, while getting to know our local entrepreneurs,” Astor-ino said. For those who miss-ed out on restaurant week, there is a fall event that begins on Oct. 30 and ends on Nov. 12. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

Left, linguine Mama Tereza. Right, octopus under the bell. Both dishes are from Dubrovnik in New Rochelle, one of the locations featured during the restaurant week. Photos courtesy Valley Table

12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017

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My pillow’s smarter than your pillow RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

If you’ve been wondering what to do with all that extra cash you’re so sick of, I hope you hightailed it over to the Luxury Technology Show last week in Chelsea. Otherwise, you might not be aware of some of the must-haves coming soon, or already upon us, like the smart pillow. Now, a truly smart pillow would have a mallet that knocked you over the head every time you couldn’t sleep. (Well, every time you were in BED and couldn’t sleep. You wouldn’t want the pillow/mallet chasing you around the apartment.) But this smart pillow, the Zeeq, does things like detect when you are snoring. Then it gently vibrates so you’ll shift position. This is an improvement on the old “smart device” you may have employed, also known as “your spouse,” who would gently (or not) kick your shin when you started sawing logs. For $299, the Zeeq also streams music, and since it, like everything else in the world, is linked to your phone, which is linked to your life, Zeeq also keeps a record of how your sleep correlates with how much you ate, walked, ran, exercised, napped, drank wine and guzzled coffee during the day. Then, as you start trying to calculate out all the connections between those variables—hmm, five blocks of walking and one latte plus a nap minus a Chardonnay—you find your eyes swimming. And so, it works! Other booths were filled with

high-tech wrinkle reducers, headsets that look like iPhone earmuffs, apps to interact with your dog when you’re on the road, and earbuds that do everything but revive the dead. So it was refreshing to find stumble upon a booth selling something that didn’t seem too hard to operate. “OPEN CAN!” I commanded, and voila! The voice-activated garbage can opened up. This can is not actually on the market yet, explained Mia Fields, who works for simplehuman, a line of home goods found at Bed Bath & Beyond and beyond. But come May, you will at last be able to talk to your trash receptacle. And if you don’t feel like chatting, a wave of the hand opens it, too. I didn’t want to mention that there are already garbage cans on the market where you press a little pedal with your foot, no voice recognition or batteries are required. So I shut up (like a garbage can messing with its owner) and asked Fields about the other item on display: A light-up makeup mirror. The mirror’s lights are controlled by, what else? Your phone. But this is not a question of “off” and “on” or even “daylight” versus “Hollywood.” “There are 50,000 different light settings,” Fields said. So, for instance, “If you want to do your makeup based on the lighting in your office, you can take a photo in the app and mimic the same lighting on the mirror.” This struck me as the most first world solution to the most first world problem I’d ever heard. But when I mentioned the mirror to two of my friends, they both thought it sounded fantastic.

A male friend has a similar reaction when I tried to describe the “Fizzics” geegaw at the show. “If you take a can or bottle of beer and do a normal pour”—the Fizzics demonstrator proceeded to pour a can of beer into a plastic cup—”the bubbles are all different sizes. You lose the flavor and aroma.” You do? I didn’t want to drink the beer, so the demonstrator obliged by drinking it for me and shaking his head to indicate this sub-optimal beer experience. BUT, put your can or bottle into the “Fizzics” machine, and the ultrasound technology controls things so precisely that when you press a lever and the beer comes out, the bubbles are perfect and the head is more impressive than the snow on Mount Fuji. The demonstrator drank this beer for me too, exclaiming at its creaminess and aroma. “The micro-foam locks all the flavor in!” His eyes looked slightly glassy as the next customer came up to ask for a demonstration. But it was a happy glassy. And then there were the folks selling the LumiDiet—a belt the size of the one you get if you’re heavyweight champion of the world (no pun intended), except it’s lined with red LED lights. When the lights are on, the belt melts the pounds away. The marketing specialist, Jay Lee, said, “We recommend you use it prior to exercise, for better, faster results.” Yes, I’ll bet that helps. “Can I eat while I wear it?” I asked, causing Lee to snap, “You can’t eat five hamburgers a day and still lose weight.” Maybe technology still can’t do everything we need it to. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Earth Day photo contest announced

Aspiring student photographers and artists who demonstrate their talent and knowledge about how the power of the sun can help our planet can win some great prizes in the “Are You a Solar Superstar? Make a Difference One Ray at a Time” contest. Sponsored by Sunrise Solar Solutions LLC, the contest calls for entries that show how solar power makes the Earth a better place. “Earth Day [April 22] isn’t just about promoting renewable energy, it’s about demonstrating our support for the protection of the environment,” said Doug Hertz, Sunrise Solar Solutions president. “We are committed to the communities we serve here

in the Hudson Valley, and we want to help educate children and their parents about the power of renewable energy.” The contest is open to all middle and high school students attending schools in Westchester and Rockland counties. The contest calls for students to create an original piece of artwork or a photograph that demonstrates how solar power makes our Earth a better place and how it can help us save energy and reduce our carbon footprint. Entries should be submitted as a JPEG file via email to earthday@sunrisesolarllc.com by Friday, April 14. Two grand prize winners will be selected; one from the high

school and one from the middle school category. Each of the top winners will receive a $200 Amazon gift card. Two second-place winners will also be selected and will each receive a $100 Amazon gift card. In addition, all entries may be showcased in a traveling public gallery display, as well as on the Sunrise Solar Solutions website, Facebook page, and in Sunrise Solar Solutions marketing materials and/or advertisements. For more information about the “Are You a Solar Superstar? Make a Difference One Ray at a Time” contest, call 747-2500 or email earthday@sunrisesolarllc. com. (Submitted)

Edward, about 5 1/2 years old, is the sweetest cat ever. He never hisses, swats, growls or even bats an eye, no matter what. He is a handsome boy with distinctive “black cat” markings: fascinating gray eyebrows, a gray/black tabby tail, and amazing light golden eyes. Edward has been diagnosed with diabetes and is receiving two injections a day to properly treat it. An easy kitty to medicate, he is fine with nonaggressive cats and has lived with dogs comfortably. Currently in short-term foster care, he is now ready for a long-term foster home with possibility to adopt. Edward is neutered and up-to-date with all vaccinations. To meet Edward and to learn about fostering this very special cat, contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or 835-4133 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017

The first pitch LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

The Major League Baseball calendar is set to kick off on April 3, and while every team’s fan base comes into the season with a host of questions about playoff chances, roster spots and divisional races, I’ve got another question as we wait for Opening Day. Will President Trump throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park? Now, before huge swaths of readers begin to turn the page, alarmed at politics creeping into the sports section, fear not; this isn’t a politically charged column. But for some reason, presidential first pitches have always been an interest of mine, and after hearing reports this week that Trump was considering making the long walk out to the mound this year, I’m wondering

if he will go through with it. There’s a long history of presidential first pitches, dating all the way back to William Howard Taft in 1910. Every sitting president since then has undertaken the task at least once, be it before Opening Day, the MLB All-Star Game or a World Series contest. The degrees of success have been, well, varied. Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously hit a newspaper camera back in 1940. In 2009, Barack Obama made waves for his first pitch at the All-Star Game in St. Louis, and was derided for his decision to wear jeans, and worst of all, a Chicago White Sox pullover. George W. Bush, on the other hand, fired a perfect strike from the mound before the first World Series game in New York City following the events of 9/11 in what even his most ardent critics would agree was a moment that transcended our national pastime.

So what will President Trump do? I have no idea. There’s no doubt that the president has a long history with baseball. He played the game in high school and was a longtime fixture at Yankee Stadium when the Bronx Bombers were owned by his pal George Steinbrenner. He fashions himself as a man of the people, and what better way to demonstrate that by participating in a century-old tradition that is about as American as it comes? On the other hand, he similarly revels in the idea of being an iconoclast, of breaking away from the trappings of the presidency, so maybe he will forgo the pitch? Not to mention, the crowd in Washington, D.C.—a city in which Trump drew just 4 percent of the vote in the presidential election—might not give him the warmest reception, something that might also scare him away from stepping on the field.

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SPORTS

Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is coming up on April 3. Sports Editor Mike Smith wonders if our newly elected president will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Photo/Mike Smith

But if he’s reading—he isn’t— I’d urge him to get out there on Monday, throw out the first pitch, and let us get on with the baseball season as if was simply business as usual in the Capitol.

It may not fix the problems facing this country, it may not bridge any political divide between our citizens, but it will, for at least a few minutes, possibly distract us from the grave

problems facing our nation. And at its core, isn’t that what baseball is all about?

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

SPORTS

March 31, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15

Broncos ready for opener By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Every spring, Bronxville’s lacrosse team finds itself in the mix for a Class C championship while navigating a set of unique challenges. This year, a veteran-laden Broncos team

once again has aspirations of reaching the title game, but will have to overcome some concerns about depth triggered by early injuries to do so. Bronxville returns eight starters from last year’s 11-9 squad, something that head coach Tim Horgan says has made the

Jack Kiefer works the face-off against Rye’s Peter Chabot.

A Bronxville player looks for an open teammate during a scrimmage at Rye High School.

preseason easier from a coaching standpoint. Being able to rely on a strong group of seniors and a junior class that have been through the postseason wars means that the team’s younger players have a chance to learn from their peers. “Typically, it helps having those older guys on the team because they can coach even when they’re standing off to the sideline in a drill,” Horgan said. “You don’t have to worry about every little thing in practice when you have that group of seniors and juniors who have been on a team for three years.” And, of course, it also helps when the upperclassmen can emerge as key cogs during ingame scenarios. Horgan is expecting big things from all three of his senior co-captains: goalie James Swartz, who will play at Harvard next year; middie Andrew Murray, who is currently recovering from a shoulder injury; and attacker Ara Atayan, who could be one of the top offensive forces in the section this year. “Ara has always been one of the better players on the team, but his voice wasn’t always the loudest, simply because there were guys older than him,” Horgan said. “But this year, he is one of the loudest, he’s leading through his work ethic and dedication to the team, and you’re seeing that rub off.” With a lack of depth, the Broncos will look to the squad’s younger players to pick up the pace of the varsity game quickly, as a banged-up Bronxville squad will be tested right from the getgo. The team’s first few contests come against Class A Fox Lane and Syracuse-bound attacker Matt Mangan, Connecticut powerhouse Staples, and Florida’s St. Paul’s Academy. “We’re a small school, so missing a couple of guys can hurt us, and we have a very, very tough schedule,” Horgan said. “We’re just hoping that if we do lose some games, we will be able to learn from those losses and come into the playoffs having been battle-tested.” The Broncos open the season on Thursday, March 30, after press time, when they host Fox Lane. CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

James Swartz makes a stop against Rye during a preseason scrimmage. Swartz is one of three senior captains on the Broncos this year.

Mac Crawford makes a move to the net on March 24. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • March 31, 2017