April 22, 2016

Eastchester REVIEW THE

April 22, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 17 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Eagles heat up Jess Becchetti throws a pitch against Mamaroneck on April 18. Becchetti and the Eagles topped the Tigers 4-2 to improve to 6-1 on the season.

For story, see page 15.

Photo/Mike Smith

2 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 3

New Rochelle High School gowns spark unrest

By SARAH VARNEY Education Reporter In an attempt to be inclusive to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, New Rochelle High School is moving away from assigning seniors genderspecific graduation robes.

In a letter sent home to parents of graduating seniors, NRHS Principal Reginald Richardson

explained that the adoption of a single color cap and gown would provide a more comfortable experience for some students. He said the change would “create an atmosphere that allows all of our students to enjoy the capstone event of their high school career equally, without the anxiety or fear that gender-specific colors might cause.”

This June, students will be

New Rochelle High School plans to move away from gender-specific graduation robe colors to be inclusive toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

able to choose which color gown to wear, and all gowns will be solid purple when the class of 2017 crosses the stage.

According to Richardson and some high school students, the traditional assignment of white robes for girls and purple for boys was making some students uncomfortable.

But this is not a change all are in favor of.

During a New Rochelle Board of Education meeting held on Tuesday, April 5, more than a dozen New Rochelle High School graduates ranging in age from 18 to 80 stepped up to the podium one by one to passionately denounce the change.

While some parents simply objected to New Rochelle High School ending a long-standing tradition in making the switch to all-purple graduation robes, other parents were unhappy with the motivation behind the change being made.

“A man is a man and a woman is a woman,” Mark McLean, a New Rochelle High School alum, pronounced at the end of his remarks.

Beginning in 2017, all New Rochelle High School seniors will wear solid purple graduation gowns. File photos

New Rochelle resident Pearl Quarles spoke out against the change in defense of the purple and white tradition. “I remember the sea of purple and white robes on graduation day,” she recalled. “It was a sight to see.”

As of press time, a Change. org petition had received 697 signatures. The petition supports “the saving of the traditional attire, of purple and white gowns

for the New Rochelle High School Graduation.”

But Roland Rogers, president of the PTA Council, an organization that acts as a liaison between the individual school parent groups and the Board of Education, was surprised by the strident reactions of those opposed to the change.

In this instance, Rogers was speaking only on behalf of him-

self and his daughter Sophia, a junior who will wear purple at her 2017 graduation.

“I was shaking my head,” Rogers said. “The point of a single color is to unify students, to demonstrate that all students that attain the same degree join their classmates on an equal footing on graduation day.”

Contact: sarah@hometwn.com

4 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

What’s going on...

Eastchester Public Library

ties. This program is geared for children ages 6 and up. Online registration is required.

Mother’s Day Storycraft On Thursday, April 28 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8. Join the library for stories and a craft that makes a great gift. For ages 3 and up.

Zumba demonstration

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

20-/30-something Book Club On Monday, April 25 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This book club for adults in their 20s and 30s will meet monthly and explore a variety of genres.

This month’s book is “The Happiness Project”

by Gretchen Rubin. Join fellow 20- and 30-somethings for a book discussion of this popular New York Times-reviewed YA book, led by 20-something librarian Elizabeth Portillo. Light refreshments will be served. Copies of the books are available at the circulation desk. Pre-registration is suggested online. For more information, contact Portillo at 793-5055 or eportillo@wlsmail.org.

On Monday, May 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Come for a free Zumba demonstration presented

by The Bronxville Fitness Club. The high-energy Latin music will make you forget that you’re exercising. Learn easy-to-follow moves perfect for beginners and seniors. To register, call 337-7680 ext.

24 or email bronxvillelibrary@gmail.com.

Children’s Yoga On Tuesday, May 3 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Children will build focus, confidence and strength as they learn traditional yoga poses, age-appropriate breathing exercises and relaxation skills. Open to children ages 4 to 7. Advance registration is required online at the library’s website; class size is limited.

Children will learn from instructors from the Budding Buddhas Yoga Studio. Include child’s name and age in the comment box when registering.

EPL Film Series

Book Donation Drop-off

On Friday, April 29, “In the Heart of the Sea” will be screened. In 1820, crewmen (Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker and Cillian Murphy) aboard the New England vessel Essex face a harrowing battle for survival when a whale of mammoth size and strength attacks with force, crippling their ship and leaving them adrift in the ocean. Pushed to their limits and facing storms, starvation, panic and despair, the survivors must resort to the unthinkable to stay alive. Their incredible tale ultimately inspires author Herman Melville to write “Moby-Dick.” Rated PG13; running time: 122 minutes.

On Thursday, May 5 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, May 7 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.

Learn to Code On Monday, May 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The library will offer a coding workshop for grades two to five. Coding is a simple way to introduce children to computer programming languages. It is based on a visual, user-friendly language with easy, predefined commands. All participants will receive a certificate of completion from Code.org.

Online pre-registration is required for this program at the library’s website. Space is very limited; this program will fill up. Participants must bring their own laptop and headset. For more information, contact Teresa Chang at 721-8105 or tchang@wlsmail.org.

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

Little Steppers On Monday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

An early literacy program with rhymes, songs, stories, activities and a simple art program for walkers ages 2 and under.

Science and Stories On Tuesday, April 26 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Science concepts, stories and related hands-on activi-

Eastchester Recreation Department Summer camps registration Visit eastchester.org/departments/recreation/index.html for more information on summer camps.

These camps are also open to Tuckahoe and Bronxville residents. You can also reach the Parks and Recreation Department at 771-3311 or recreation@eastchester.org.

Registration is underway at Eastchester Town Hall, located at 40 Mill Road, during the regular business hours of Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Town Hall will not be open on the weekends.

If your envelope is postmarked after Friday, April 29, you will be charged the late registration rates, which will begin Saturday, April 30. Camp registration will close on Sunday, May 15. After May 15, the department will only accept registrations if there are openings in your child’s age group; otherwise they will be put on a waiting list.

If you have more than one child attending one of the camps, there is a $50 discount off the original camp price for each additional child in the same family; the first child pays full price.

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

Eastchester Blue Devils lacrosse Registration for the 2016 Eastchester Blue Dev-

ils’ 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. To register, visit bluedevilslax.com.

The Bronxville Women’s Club

shop with children and families will be held before the performance.

All performances are free and open to the public. The Center for the Urban River is located at 35 Alexander St. in Yonkers. For more information, call 395-2412. Visit sarahlawrence.edu or e-mail collegevents@sarahlawrence.edu to learn more.

Woman of the Year fundraiser

Village Lutheran Church

The public is invited to attend the annual “Woman of the Year” and “Distinguished Community Service Award” evening at the Bronxville Women’s Club on Sunday, April 24 at 5 p.m. The evening will be a wine social with plentiful hors d’oeurves, dessert and coffee following the ceremony. Bronxville resident Dee Sorensen will be awarded Woman of the Year, and Margaret and Anthony Colavita from Eastchester will receive the Distinguished Community Service Award. The evening will be catered by Sheldon Party Services.

For more information and reservations, call 3373252 or visit bronxvillewomensclub.org.

Literature Section guest speaker The Literature Section of the Bronxville Women’s Club is pleased to announce that Ray Geselbracht, a retired archivist, will be its guest on Thursday, April 28 at 1:30 p.m. Geselbracht worked at the historical Truman Library in Missouri, the National Archives in Washington, District of Columbia, and he was the special assistant to the director in Hyde Park, New York. For more information, call 337-3252 or visit bronxvillewomensclub.org.

Sarah Lawrence College ‘Hudson River Through The Arts’ series Sarah Lawrence College will be hosting a “Hudson River Through the Arts” series, containing performances by students about the Hudson Valley.

The first performance, called “How to Hug a Tree,” will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. at The Center for the Urban River and will be presented by the college’s Theatre Outreach program. The musical aims to teach children about the importance of the environment and values like loyalty, bravery and ethics.

On Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m., “Music and Dance Along the Hudson River” is an original improvisational piece created by SLC faculty Kathy Westwater (Dance) and John Yannelli (Music) and performed by SLC students. An interactive work-

Monthly service Village Lutheran Church’s next monthly service of prayer for healing will be held on Saturday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Village Lutheran Church, located at 172 White Plains Road in Bronxville.

For more information about the service, call 3370207 or visit vlc-ny.org.

Junior League of Bronxville Trails shopping event The Junior League of Bronxville is pleased to announce that their successful shopping event, Trails, is back with even more to treasure. The signature fundraiser has been expanded to now include a new two-day format that will take place on Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6, before Mother’s Day. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit jlbronxville.org or email trailstotreasures@jlbronxville.org.

Trails @ Twilight, the newest addition, will be held on May 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Bronxville Field Club, located at 40 Locust Lane in Bronxville. This event will include a fashion show, featuring spring looks from Bronxville boutiques, such as J.McLaughlin, Mano A Mano and Toney Toni & the Gang.

Day 2 will include a boutique event at the Bronxville Women’s Club, located at 135 Midland Ave. in Bronxville, on May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Attendees will not only have the chance to shop from select artisans and vendors, but also will be able to board a trolley to take in an exclusive home tour where food vendors, such as James Grace Pizzelles, will be offering a tasting of their products. Both events will offer amazing raffle items.

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.

She’s not crazy, her name just rhymes with it. Read Lenore Skenazy’s column every week in the Review.

A past contributor to the Daily News and the New York Sun, Skenazy has also appeared on “The Daily Show,” been profiled in the New Yorker and even had her own reality TV show, “World’s Worst Mom.”

April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 5

Oakland Beach area could be redeveloped

Senior crafts give back to the community

Seniors from Eastchester’s Garth Road Senior Center made bookmarks to be donated to the Eastchester Public Library, and welcome donated materials for the project. Photo courtesy Patty George

A request by the town of Rye seeking new management and the possible redevelopment of Rye Town Park and Oakland Beach has attracted a field of six candidates, including some familiar faces to Rye. File photo

By JAMES PERO and Sibylla Chipaziwa Review Staff Oakland Beach and the surrounding area of Rye Town Park could soon see an extensive overhaul.

The Rye Town Park Commission, which sets policy at the park, will mull over proposals from six applicants intent on taking over operations of the park after a recent solicitation for qualifications of potential developers and management companies. The deadline to submit qualifications was March 18.

The outcome of the upcoming selection process could have farreaching effects for a park that in many ways is outdated and in need of upgrades.

Among the applicants are some familiar faces to the area, including Nicholas Singer, co-founder of Standard Amusements—the management company currently in the midst of negotiating a deal with Westchester County to operate Playland—as well as the city of Rye and Dan Biederman, a developer most known for his work at Bryant Park in New York City,

but also previously affiliated with Sustainable Playland Inc., the group initially chosen to redevelop Playland before backing out.

Other applications include Southwest Capital Inc., Caspi Development and Seaside Johnnies, the current restaurant overlooking the Oakland Beach area of the park.

While a similar request for proposals was sent out in 2013, it attracted zero attention. The most recent round, which has asked respondents to take control of the development and operation of the park, has been a stark turnaround.

According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and member of the commission, a more aggressive method in sourcing candidates paid off this time around.

“I expected that there would be a number of responses this time because [the commission] reached out more broadly than we did last time,” said Zuckerman, who took elected office this year, adding that the commission actively reached out to candidates they felt might be interested.

Some of the proposals received

for Rye Town Park offer aggressive plans. Singer’s concept would bring in a wider away of events, food options and even lodging facilities, and possibly rides to the park.

On the less expansive side, the city of Rye emphasized retaining the park’s current character and building on what is already there. The city and town jointly fund operations at the park and capital improvements. The park is situated along Forest Avenue in the city of Rye and incorporates 34 acres of parkland.

Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano said taking over operations of the park would be more about expanding services to residents.

According to Zuckerman, the commission will be tasked with sifting through the options and deciding what’s best for the park’s future.

“This is the beginning of the process, not the end of it,” he said, adding that there isn’t a deadline for making a final decision and that the process will take as long as necessary.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com; sibylla@hometwn.com

Town of Eastchester’s

Official Newspaper

There’s always something new to do at Eastchester’s Garth Road Senior Center, thanks to a series of arts and crafts projects, including beautiful bookmarks.

Each month, seniors at the center use their creative and artistic skills to create the bookmarks, which are donated to Eastchester Public Library. Many similar craft projects are supported by a grant from The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe.

“The seniors use old greeting cards, donated stickers and ribbon, scrapbooking paper and

other pretty embellishments,” said Maureen Casey, program coordinator. “They really take pride in their creations, and each bookmark is labeled on the back ‘made by Eastchester Garth Road Seniors.’”

In addition to donated materials, the seniors contribute funds to cover other small supply costs.

Patrons of the library are enjoying the results.

“People love the bookmarks, which are often gone in an hour,” said Tracy Wright, director of Eastchester Public Library. Pa-

trons can find the handmade bookmarks on the checkout counters at the library.

Recently, the Garth Road project branched out to the children’s section of the library with bookmarks made of empty cereal and snack boxes.

“Our seniors truly enjoy giving back to their community,” Casey said. She added that donations of materials for the program can be sent to her at: Eastchester Town Hall, 40 Mill Road, Eastchester, NY 10709.

(Submitted)

6 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

Eastchester REVIEW THE

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

Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Editor-in-Chief | Christian Falcone ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Suzy Berkowitz ext. 30, suzy@hometwn.com Education Reporter | Sarah Varney ext. 17, sarah@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Barbara Riehl ext. 16, barbara@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Angela Jordan, Kiley Stevens Staff Photographer Bobby Begun Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano, Lenore Skenazy Letters

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If you have a view to express, write a letter to the editor by email to chris@hometwn.com. Please include a phone number and name for verification purposes.

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History and and art collide at

LIGHTSCAPES

By SUZY BERKOWITZ Editorial Assistant

LIGHTSCAPES, camera, action!

Historic Hudson Valley is starting to brighten the bulbs on the third annual LIGHTSCAPES, an interactive art installation taking place at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-onHudson, New York.

The event allows visitors to walk through the historic site and experience a combination of light, sound, video and art that welcomes spring and maintains the Historic Hudson Valley’s undertone of history and education.

Rob Schweitzer, the Historic Hudson Valley’s director of marketing and public relations, said this year’s event will include an installation of more than 7,500 manmade tulips, along with a 10-foot-tall praying mantis sculpture and a 60-foot-long centipede sculpture. The event’s soundscape will include music and effects created by Charles de Saint Phalle and Steve Pol-

lak, who has written numerous songs for the band Phish, and all artwork is made from repurposed recycled materials created

by Hudson Valley-based artists.

The entire multimedia experience is open to all ages and takes place outdoors.

Having been the creative director of Historic Hudson Valley’s Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze—a Halloween-themed walk through exhibition of more than 7,000 intricately hand-carved pumpkins—since 2005, LIGHTSCAPES Creative Director Michael Natiello is well-versed in helping a team of artists complete a large scale project. The Blaze attracts nearly 120,000 visitors annually, including celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris, Martha Stewart and Ben Stiller.

In an attempt to gain LIGHTSCAPES a similar notoriety, Natiello said the 45-minute-long path will provide visitors with a unique and transformative outlook.

“The whole experience and

Classifieds & Legals

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Postmaster

Send address changes to: The Eastchester Review c/o HomeTown Media Group, 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601

Visit us online www.eastchesterreview.com Follow us on Twitter, @eastchesterview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/eastchesterreview The Eastchester Review (permit #106661) is published by Home Town Media Group weekly for an annual subscription of $32.

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

Periodicals postage paid at Port Chester and additional mailing offices.

Historic Hudson Valley has seen much success with other large-scale exhibitions, including The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, which sees nearly 120,000 visitors annually. Photos courtesy hudsonvalley.org.

the transformative quality of art will help put visitors in touch with a greater force,” he said. “I want people to have the same feeling they get after seeing a good movie or reading a good book.

At the end of the day, I want people to be happy.”

Natiello said managing a team of artists working together on a large-scale project is not very difficult when a shared vision is kept in mind. He said he allows room for creative decisions and freedom of expression, and working with so many artists has allowed for the birth of creative and interesting ideas that help propel the collaborative effort forward.

Being that LIGHTSCAPES is a relatively new tradition, Schweitzer said the production team combines trial and error and visitor feedback to make the exhibition bigger and better each year, from both a creative and operational standpoint. He said ensuring that operational matters flow seamlessly make it that much easier for visitors to enjoy their experience from all angles. Since Historic Hudson Valley, a nonprofit organization based in Pocantico Hills, New York, is dedicated to promoting the public education of historic landmarks of national significance in the Hudson Valley, Schweitzer said LIGHTSCAPES attempts to both educate and entertain visitors.

Natasha Caputo, director of Westchester County Tour-

Historic Hudson Valley gears up for the third annual interactive art exhibition, LIGHTSCAPES, taking place at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

ism and Film, said that annual signature events like LIGHTSCAPES provide residents and visitors with a unique setting to view outdoor exhibitions throughout the Hudson Valley, providing them with an enjoyable time where they won’t be disappointed.

“We continue to showcase Westchester County as a stage for big events that help drive tourism to the region, which

translates into a positive economic impact,” she said. “It just gives people another reason to ‘meet me in Westchester.’”

LIGHTSCAPES will open on Friday, April 29 and will run Thursday through Sunday until Memorial Day, May 30. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. For more information, visit hudsonvalley.org/ events/lightscapes/faqs.

CONTACT: suzy@hometwn.com

LIGHTSCAPES includes sculptural art made from repurposed recycled materials by local Hudson Valley-based artists, as well as music and special effects.

April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 7

BHS students present ideas to tech leaders

From left, Instructional Technology Specialist Brad Ashley, Director of Technology Jennifer Forsberg, Remi Laurence, Caroline Paulson, William Cioffi, Kenneth Taylor, Bronxville High School Principal Ann Meyer, and Charles Vorbach. The Bronxville High School students presented their innovative work at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center Technology Expo on Friday, April 8. Photo courtesy Bronxville school district

Bronxville High School students, who are experts in the technology field and members of the district’s Student Help Desk, presented their innovative work at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center, LHRIC, Technology Expo on Friday, April 8 in Briarcliff Manor in front of area technology experts and educational leaders.

The students, juniors William Cioffi, Remi Laurence, Caroline Paulson, Charles Vorbach and sophomore Kenneth Taylor, discussed the program’s benefits and how they’ve been able to integrate the independent study into their high school schedules.

They answered questions and demonstrated some of the recent work they’ve been involved in, including troubleshooting, website development, computer science and programming, cybersecurity, film production and theater technology.

“They are the first students in our area to use the online Help Desk system called ‘Service-

Now’ that other technicians use,” Director of Technology Jennifer Forsberg said. “They work throughout the school building and present themselves in the classrooms to help teachers with technology solutions. They have also formed after-school sessions to work with peers.”

Forsberg said the idea behind the Student Help Desk program was to engage students in different aspects of technology and encourage them to be leaders and innovators in their school and greater community, which are skills closely aligned with the dispositions of the Bronxville Promise.

“We are growing the program to help them share their knowledge,” said Forsberg, who submitted a proposal to have her students present at the LHRIC Technology Expo. “I hope it’s a model for other districts. In addition, I think that presentation skills for all students are important. One of the goals of the conference was to learn from other

districts in the area and get new ideas on the innovative ways they are using technology.”

Forsberg said the presentation was well received by area school district representatives and she believes they learned that students can take the lead in technology problem-solving.

Cioffi said he’s been able to help others while learning more about technology and its various components through the Student Help Desk program. He said he enjoys solving problems and collaborating with others on team projects.

“It’s one thing to read the troubleshooting section, and it’s another thing to experience it yourself,” he said. “In the real world, you need to learn how to solve problems and apply them yourself. In this case, you’re the ‘human’ instructional manual and you’re helping other people. No two problems are the same and the enjoyment I get out of this program is finding elegant solutions to a problem.” (Submitted)

Eastchester Union Free School District’s

Official Newspaper

This good-natured adult tabby named Scarlett loves people. When visitors come to her room, she meows and taps them, as if to say “Take me!” So endearing!

Sweet Scarlett would thrive in a home that can provide her with the affection she craves and would do well with gentle children age 7 and older. She also is good company for other easygoing kitties.

Don’t make Scarlett wait any longer to warm your home with her affection.

Scarlett is in good health, spayed, up to date with all vaccinations and microchipped. The adoption donation for this sweetie is $80. To meet Scarlett, contact Larchmont Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or visit NY-PetRescue.org.

(Submitted)

8 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

Infrastructure projects and temporary inconveniences BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

This beautiful weather signals the start of virtually all of the village infrastructure projects that have been in the conception/ planning/bidding stage throughout the winter months.

With these improvements will come some traffic detours and temporary inconveniences. We ask for your patience as the end results will be so beneficial to the village.

First out of the box is the reconstruction of the brick road surface on Park Avenue. The gas connections have been resolved, the bricks have been delivered to the site and the work will begin from top down, necessitating closure of the road segment.

Lasting 100-plus years, this road has proven to be the most cost-effective in the village, as it would have been paved more than 10 times by now if it was original blacktop. It proves the old adage that sometimes the more expensive choice proves to be the bargain.

Sadly, the adage also proved to be true in the case of the village front walk. Pavers instead of real bricks were laid only a few decades ago and their durability proved brief.

As a result, this coming Thursday, we will have the pre-construction meeting to coordinate the new project using real brick and bluestone. In addition to more durable materials, the lighting will be improved and a village seal will be inlaid as a lasting historical feature. All of the above was planned in concert with the ADA rules of height and incline.

On the day following the front walkway pre-construction meeting, the principals will meet to do the same for the long-

planned and awaited FEMA flood mitigation project. Set to begin on the Village Hall lawn and traverse Palumbo Place, the school will not be disrupted until post-commencement. As you can imagine, many entities have been involved, including environmental agencies, our utilities and a traffic analysis as we map and coordinate the route of the mitigation conduits.

The village storage area used to warehouse the road bricks will now take delivery of our new streetlight heads and poles.

In just two weeks, work will begin in the east side business district to install 40 new shorter poles and 10 longer ones with energy-saving LED heads. The older poles in various stages of disrepair will be salvaged for parts to repair those that remain so all lighting poles throughout the village will be in pristine shape. The days of ugly black electrical tape holding lights together will be gone!

Street striping, with a concentration on the crosswalks in and near the business districts, will begin soon after the light pole installations. Some of the costs will be recouped from a payment received from Cablevision as compensation for their opening of some of our newly paved surfaces to enhance cable coverage. In an effort to increase visibility and with it, hopefully safety, more “brick” stamped crosswalks will be added in congested areas.

On a parallel track, some of our smaller projects have begun either with in-house staff or contractors previously hired for defined tasks.

As example, our very versatile Department of Public Works staffers have installed a better slide at the Sagamore Play Park and removed and then replanted foliage that was either prickly to the touch or served to

SCHOOL NEWS?

Contact OUR EDUCATION reporter

attract bees.

Our cleaning of the village sewer infrastructure is in its final phase with 20 needed repairs pinpointed, the majority of which are the direct result of the age of the pipes. We cast the cleaning net far and wide, and reached some pipes long overlooked. As evidence of this was the recovery of a spoon in the detritus clearly engraved “Gramatan Hotel”!

Thanks entirely to grant monies, you will see a new garbage/ recycling truck on the road in the coming days. The grant award was a direct result of the demonstrative success of the percentage of recycling by our residents so the financial savings was the reward for your collective efforts.

The Scout Field renovation program is scheduled to be voted upon at the county level literally as I write, with a very positive outcome expected. Following this vote, under the auspices of the town of Eastchester and the county, the village and the Bronxville School will be doing our parts to make the new field space a reality by spring 2017. I believe it will prove to be a safety valve for all sports.

Very in-house, Village Hall is involved in an energy audit in hopes of reaping some savings after a review of our internal systems.

Against the above backdrop, the village Board of Trustees also met in many extra sessions to craft a budget for the fiscal year 2016-2017.

The end result is a modest tax increase of 0.78 percent, or $50 on a home with a value of $2.5 million dollars. The above was accomplished without any diminution of services.

I will write at length next week about the nuts and bolts of the budget due to be filed with the state on May 1.

sarah varney

sarah@hometwn.com

legal notices PROBATE CITATION

SURROGATE’S COURT – WESTCHESTER COUNTY SECOND AMENDED CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God Free and Independent

File No. 2015-1217

TO: IRENE DANTONA MELOCHIK a/k/a IRENE DANTONA MARKOWICZ Vladimir Rajcok, whose whereabouts are unknown, and if he is deceased, to all the unknown distributees, heirs at law and next of kin of Vladimir Rajcok and to all the unknown distributees, heirs at law and next of kin of FLORENCE ANN SABOL a/k/a FLORENCE SABOL, their guardians, committees, conservators or assignees, and if any of them survived FLORENCE ANN SABOL a/k/a FLORENCE SABOL but have since died or become incompetent, their successors in interest, executors, administrators, legal representatives, devisees, legatees, spouses, distributees, heirs at law, next of kin, committees, conservators, guardians or any person having any claim or interest through them by purchase, inheritance or otherwise.

A petition having been duly filed by FRANK MASICK who is domiciled at 9218 Dayton Pike #73, Soddy Daisy, Tennessee 37379.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Westchester County at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. , 18th Floor, White Plains, New York on May 18, 2016 at 9:30 o’clock in the fore noon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the Estate of FLORENCE ANN SABOL a/k/a FLORENCE SABOL lately domiciled at 1 Rivervue Place, Tuckahoe, New York admitting to probate a Will dated October 9, 2002, a copy of which is attached, as the Will of FLORENCE ANN SABOL a/k/a FLORENCE SABOL deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that [ X ] Letters Testamentary issue to: FRANK MASICK Dated, Attested and Sealed April 8, 2016 BRANDON R. SALL Hon._____________________________ Surrogate

_____________________________ Chief Clerk Howard Garfinkel, Lauterbach Garfinkel Damast & Hollander, LLP Attorneys for Frank Masick, Petitioner

Tel: 845-368-4400

49 North Airmont Road, Suite 101, Suffern, New York 10901 Address of Attorney

Fax: 845-368-4446

[NOTE: This citation is served upon you are required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.]

April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 9

The significance of the Eastchester Covenant HISTORICALLY SPEAKING Richard Forliano

An important question that people only recently have been asking is: What specifically is the significance of the town’s most precious and important document, the Eastchester Covenant?

Nineteenth-century historians as early as 1848 published transcripts of the Covenant. For almost 3 1/2 centuries, Eastchester town clerks have preserved a copy of the original 1666 transcription by the first town recorder, Richard Shute.

Why after more than three centuries do people want to know more about this document written by our Puritan founders?

Part of the answer lies in the negative way that Puritans have been perceived in most of American history. New England Puritans, including the first families to settle Eastchester in the 17th century, have been viewed by historians and writers as joyless, petty, dark-minded; firm believers in human depravity, witch hunters and theocrats. Starting in the mid-20th century, prominent historians and intellectuals came to the realization that Puritan settlements, including Eastchester, were much more vital, diverse and democratic than had been initially believed. Eastchester’s founding families created a society bonded by moral and spiritual principles, in that 17th-century settlement of Eastchester a culture was created in which the inhabitants lived by the Christian principles of love, compassion, generosity, mutual support, integrity and compliance.

The 26 founders of the town who signed the Eastchester Covenant were also firm believers in governance by the people. From the very beginning, town meetings were held to decide on important local decisions, running in contradiction to how local decisions were made in surrounding manors and municipalities.

From the origin of the town, the men who put their signatures on the Eastchester Covenant were insistent on maintaining the right to elect representatives to a colonial assembly. When in 1689 the concept of consent of the governed was threatened when the king threatened to terminate the newly won right to send repre-

sentatives to a colonial assembly, 70 Eastchester farmers—some of whom had most likely signed the Eastchester Covenant—took up arms in Leisler’s Rebellion.

The person most responsible for pointing out the importance of the Eastchester Covenant, also known as the “Ten Farms” Covenant, is the prominent political scientist and historian Stephen Schechter. In 1986, Schechter was appointed executive director of the New York State Bicentennial Commission celebrating the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Four years later, Schechter, in conjunction with Pulitzer Prize nominee Richard Bernstein, published a book called “Roots of the Republic: American Founding Documents Interpreted.” In that publication, the Eastchester Covenant is listed with many of America’s most famous documents, including the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut and the United States Constitution. Why? The Eastchester Covenant is the only known surviving Colonial era civil covenant in New York state and one of approximately 60 surviving civil covenants in New England and New York colonies signed between 1620 and 1708. The Eastchester Covenant, a framework for a good society, is a blueprint or mission statement on what type of society the founders wanted to build. It is a significant document that articulates the specific qualities of local communities that create a society capable of preserving long lasting republican institutions. At the heart of the Eastchester and other civil covenants is the belief that local governance can be created by the consent of the people, not from a king or queen.

Seventeenth-century Puritans were well aware of their rights as Englishmen dating back to the Magna Carta. Their descendants would stand up for those rights, and some during the American Revolution would be willing to fight and die for what they considered were “inalienable rights.”

The Eastchester Covenant provides a framework for a good society, a mission statement for what type of community the founders wanted to build. In political terms, the original town of Eastchester and its covenant was an early experiment in govern-

In his book “Roots of the Republic,” Stephen Schechter, a nationally known political scientist and historian, ranks the Eastchester Covenant along with many of America’s most famous documents.

Photo courtesy Richard Forliano

ment by the people.

In 1733, a Dutch printer named John Peter Zenger in the first issue of his newspaper printed an article about an attempt by a corrupt royal governor named William Cosby to fix an election to the colonial assembly in Eastchester. The citizens of Eastchester—a good number of them direct descendants of the original founding families—successfully resisted this attempt to take away the right to vote.

Zenger did not write the article on the Eastchester election, but printed a copy written by an opponent of the royal governor.

He never went to Eastchester and when he was put on trial for seditious libel in New York City, the article on Eastchester was not included in the charges brought against him. What is significant about this event is that the citizens of Eastchester were willing to stand up for their right to freely elect their representatives.

A highly moral group of Puritans founded the town of Eastchester in 1664. A society was set up where everyone cared about each other, where decisions and disputes were settled by consensus, and one in which they were cognizant of their rights that had evolved over the centuries.

In the next article, different ways the citizens of Eastchester have followed the Eastchester Covenant throughout American history will be articulated.

Please contact us at historian@eastchesterhistoricalsociety.org about any comments or questions you might have about this column. Also, any questions about sources of information will be addressed.

10 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

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

1 Beverly Road, Eastchester $1,250,000 Sale Date: 3/1/16

5 Carrie Place, Eastchester $775,000 Sale Date: 2/24/16

8 Park Avenue Terrace, Bronxville $1,025,000 Sale Date: 3/9/16

14 Bronson Avenue, Eastchester $825,000 Sale Date: 3/9/16

21 Crow’s Nest Road, Bronxville $5,200,000 Sale Date: 3/15/16

22 Joyce Road, Eastchester $590,000 Sale Date: 2/29/16

22 Pleasant Place, Tuckahoe $595,000 Sale Date: 3/22/16

22 Sunny Brae Place, Bronxville $2,200,000 Sale Date: 3/15/16

34 Warren Avenue, Tuckahoe $605,000 Sale Date: 3/2/16

68 Bell Road, Eastchester $687,500 Sale Date: 2/25/16

78 Kensington Road, Eastchester $900,000 Sale Date: 2/26/16

101 Joyce Road, Eastchester $715,000 Sale Date: 3/18/16

102 Park Avenue, Eastchester $1,625,000 Sale Date: 3/15/16

128 Vernon Drive, Eastchester $790,000 Sale Date: 2/29/16

405 New Rochelle Road, Bronxville $750,000 Sale Date: 3/18/16

50 Lake Shore Drive, Eastchester $1,205,000 Sale Date: 3/3/16

11 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

Business Briefs Weichert family launches new property management brand The Weichert Family of Companies recently announced the launch of its wholly owned property management company, Aureus Property Management. Aureus builds upon Weichert’s more than 30 years of experience and proficiency providing inhouse property management services by consolidating its property management businesses into this new entity poised to become the industry leader in personalized property management solutions.

The new company’s name, Aureus, comes from the name of the gold coins that served as the primary monetary unit in ancient Rome. This reflects Aureus’s mission to deliver a level of service and trust that constitutes the gold standard in property management. The company offers a broad range of property management services for property owners, relocating employees and renters, including tenant screening, marketing, property maintenance and rent collection.

Mike Williams, who has more than 15 years of experience in managing commercial and residential properties for corporations and retail customers, will serve as president of Aureus. Most recently, he served as president of Penn Property Management and previously was vice president of property management for the Long & Foster Companies. In his new role, Williams will oversee all corporate functions and service teams and hold ultimate responsibility for the company’s strategic growth and the execution of the Aureus value proposition. He will report directly to Brian Schuckalo, president of Weichert Enterprise Solutions.

“In the property management industry, the most important competitive differentiators are service quality and trust,” Williams said. “Property owners must feel confident that their homes and other assets are in good hands. Rental agents must feel confident in recommending our services, knowing that their clients’ service expectations will be exceeded.”

Williams added, “Our new brand identity is rooted in service and trust, promising a customer service experience that cannot be found with any of our competitors and, in fact, represents our industry’s gold standard. I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver on this promise.”

Leveraging Weichert’s legendary service culture, Aureus colleagues will receive the same intensive customer engagement training that helped make Weichert a customer service leader among real estate service providers.

Since 1969, the Weichert Family of Companies has grown from a single office into one of the nation’s leading providers of homeownership services by putting its customers first. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance. Weichert leverages its customer website, weichert.com, one of the most visited real estate websites in the nation, to help families and individuals realize the dream of homeownership through quick and easy access to listing information and the services of its real estate professionals nationwide. For more information, Weichert’s customer service center can be reached at 1-800-USA-SOLD. Weichert franchised offices are independently owned and operated.

BCW EXPO attracts more than 1,500 visitors

be affected. It also acts as an information resource for the business community and government leaders at all levels.

Houlihan Lawrence launches Chinese web experience

More than 1,500 people got a close look at the products and services provided by some of the area’s elite vendors and merchants during The Business Council of Westchester’s annual EXPO, held on Thursay, March 17 at the Hilton Westchester.

The EXPO, in its 14th year, featured more than 180 exhibitors, “experience stations” and “Ask the Expert” booths. Exhibit spaces were buzzing with business leaders and decision makers, cementing the EXPO’s status as the most influential businessto-business trade show in the Hudson Valley.

Visitors mingled with representatives of leading brands in education, health care, hospitality, insurance, real estate, banking, nonprofits, law, marketing and more. Many carried premium items ranging from stress balls and pens to lint brushes and towels. And when they weren’t milling about the booths, attendees could be seen sampling pulled pork, Italian ices and other delicacies from the ample food stations.

“This year’s EXPO was one of the best ever. It’s a terrific way to promote business growth and entrepreneurial opportunities. The EXPO provides a vibrant arena for connecting with potential clients and business partners to forge long-lasting, profitable relationships,” said President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester Marsha Gordon.

“I want to thank this year’s sponsors for their tremendous support, and I want to thank our EXPO Committee for a job well done.”

Keynote speaker Lorraine Santoli, the former director of corporate synergy for The Walt Disney Company, kicked off this year’s EXPO with a passionate address about the importance of collaboration among teams within an organization. She told the audience she understands the negative connotation tied to synergy in the workplace, but she also knows that developing synergy among teams can be a springboard to tremendous success.

“Done well, synergy works,” said Santoli, who offered anecdotes detailing wildly successful marketing campaigns she developed around Disney favorites Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. “You will create marketing magic, because it’s all about teamwork. Synergy support must start at the top and work on all levels. And it should be fun, because something that is fun is a better motivator.”

The county’s largest and most influential business membership organization, The Business Council of Westchester is committed to helping businesses market, learn, advocate and grow. In addition, The Business Council of Westchester is actively involved in reviewing federal, state and county legislation and regulations in order to assess the potential impact on the business community and to influence the outcomes through advocacy when the business community’s interests may

In response to increasing local interest by Chinese homebuyers and investors, Houlihan Lawrence, the leading residential brokerage in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Fairfield counties, has launched a traditional Chinese-language version of its website.

The site offers a seamless browsing experience for Chinese viewers by pairing a curated selection of properties with deep links to its premier listings translated on LuxuryPortfolio.com.

“We are proud to extend our capabilities to meet the needs of this premium market,” said Chris Meyers, managing principal of Houlihan Lawrence. “It is important for us to evolve our tools for international home buyers in order for all clients to have an easy, accessible experience.”

This new feature is a result of Houlihan Lawrence’s growing demand from Chinese users. Traffic from China to HoulihanLawrence.com more than doubled in 2015 as compared to 2014, and inbound web leads from Chinese buyers have increased significantly since last year. Houlihan Lawrence has been steadily attracting Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking agents to the company, with a dozen native speakers dispersed among its offices. The agents have been reporting a growing demand from Asian investors for better digital home buying tools and a desire to correspond primarily through popular messaging platform WeChat.

Vice President of Global Business Development Elizabeth Nunan explains, “By featuring our luxury properties in traditional Chinese, Houlihan Lawrence and our sellers will benefit from an increased global presence among this ever-important audience as Chinese are now the biggest foreign buyers of U.S. housing.”

According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, within the year since March 2014, Chinese investors spent $22 billion on real estate in the United States, or nearly one quarter of all international sales. Roughly 51 percent of the deals were in New York. In 2015, they poured $28.6 billion into properties in the U.S. The northern New York City suburbs are considered a prime opportunity among Chinese buyers. “Trophy” homes in close proximity to the city make for an attractive investment in times of China’s economic uncertainty and dwindling living space. Top-tier schools, better health care and refreshing green space only amplify the draw.

For more information, visit houlihanlawrence. com/chinese.

Built upon 125 years of family tradition, Houlihan Lawrence, the leading brokerage in New York City’s northern suburbs, is committed to exceeding

expectations in every aspect of the real estate process. The firm today serves more than 90 communities with 30 offices and more than 1,200 agents, leveraging global partners on six continents and in 56 countries. The company ranks 13th of all brokerages nationally and achieved a total sales volume of $5.4 billion in 2015. For more information visit houlihanlawrence.com.

New dermatologist joins Scarsdale Medical Group Scarsdale Medical Group, a multispecialty practice serving Westchester and Fairfield counties and the surrounding Hudson Valley area, is pleased to announce the appointment of dermatologist Dr. Smeeta Sinha. Sinha began seeing patients on Friday, April 1 in the Harrison office, located at 550 Mamaroneck Ave. Sinha practices cosmetic as well as general adult and pediatric dermatology.

Sinha obtained her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, graduating with highest honors. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, NJMS, where she was elected president of the NJMS chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Honor Medical Society. Sinha completed her internal medicine training at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and a residency in dermatology at NJMS, where she was selected to serve as chief resident. She then completed a cosmetic dermatology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Prior to joining Scarsdale Medical Group, Sinha was a staff dermatologist for a private practice in New Jersey.

“We are happy to welcome Sinha to Scarsdale Medical Group,” says managing partner Dr. Kenneth Croen. “We are excited to further contribute to the advancement of medical and cosmetic dermatology and provide high quality dermatological care which the community has learned to expect from us.”

Sinha joins dermatologists Drs. Alison LindsayBeltzer, Jeffrey Goldstein, Jennifer Goldwasser and Dorian Gravenese. To make an appointment call 723-8100. To learn more about Scarsdale Medical Group, visit scarsdalemedical.com or call 723-8100.

The next Business Briefs section will run in May. Please send any submission for our May edition to news@hometwn.com, with “Business” in the subject line of your email. Each submission may include one picture. If you have any questions, email us at news@hometwn.com.

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12 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

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April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 13

Did 4 young women go to prison for being gay?

This will sound strange but it only gets stranger: A man in the Yukon who lives in a hut and has a team of 30 mush dogs got interested in the topic of female sex offenders. Go figure.

The man, Darrell Otto, may tread the frozen tundra, but like everyone else, he’s got Internet access, and somehow he stumbled upon an odd case: Four Texas lesbians were convicted, when they were in their very early 20s, of raping two young girls in a tequila-soaked orgy. By the time Otto was reading about them, the women had been in prison four or five years, but they had at least another decade to go. One of them, in fact, had 30 years to go.

That’s a long sentence.

The more he read about the case, the more Otto wanted someone to dig deeper. At last he found the National Center for Reason and Justice, NCRJ, a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying false allegations of harm to children, which agreed to investigate. Here’s what they found.

The girls, who were 7 and 9 years old, had been staying with their aunt, 20-year-old Elizabeth Ramirez, for a week. Two months later, they told their grandmother they’d been raped

by Ramirez and her friends.

The facts of the story were confounding at best. First of all, the girls said all four of the women raped them, even though two of the women’s work schedules would have made that almost impossible. Then, their details differed widely on retellings: Sometimes the girls said they

than is on the board of the NCRJ, the group that took on this case.

Back then, she says, many people assumed that anyone gay was also a child predator.

Nathan urged one of her protégés, Deborah Esquenazi, to keep digging, even as she convinced the Texas Innocence Project to do the same.

As a gay woman herself, just coming out, Esquenazi went to meet the women in prison and was shocked to find, “They were no longer angry. They just wanted to tell their story.”

So she brought along a video camera, and bore witness over the next few years to an extraordinary turn of events.

First, the doctor who insisted the physical evidence “proved” rape admitted that she was wrong. It turns out that hymen lines are a normal variation.

Second, a new Texas bill that allows people to appeal if their convictions were based on “junk science” brought the case back to court.

And finally: one of the victims, now 20-something, recanted her testimony. She said she’d felt guilty for two decades.

Then, after more than a decade in prison, the women were released, but not exonerated.

They’re in legal limbo, working factory jobs as they await what happens next.

Which is the red carpet.

Esquenazi’s documentary, “Southwest of Salem,” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 15. The San Antonio Four were there, their first time in New York. It should all be pretty sweet.

But not as sweet as justice.

By Hillary Volper During the latter part of the 20th century, newer therapies such as Dialetical Behavioral Therapy, DBT, along with mindfulness meditation, have promoted the use of the breath to manage stress.

Thicht Nhat Hanh, former Pulitzer Prize nominee and meditation teacher, writes, “Regardless of our internal weather—our thoughts, emotions and perceptions—our breath is always with us like a faithful friend. Whenever we feel carried away, sunk in emotion, or caught in thoughts about the past or the future, we can return to our breathing to collect and anchor our mind.”

Last year, a new client and I worked on a behavioral model to control his angry outbursts at staff meetings. I chose to teach him how to pause and breathe slowly during meetings when he felt triggered.

Called to HR twice, my client had been warned to change his attitude. His searing remarks in office meetings, caused by frustration with administration, were seen as criticisms and challenges to his boss’ authority. Frightened of losing his job, he was open to experimenting with new ways of managing his anger when he began therapy.

Together we analyzed each challenging office incident and formulated newer responses that were less combative and more conciliatory. During our sessions he shared his difficulty with decoding people’s body language and social cues, and I in turn assured him that social skills were teachable.

I compared learning new so-

cial skills to learning a new golf swing. Needing to improve a golf game, a person typically hires a pro for lessons. Often a teacher suggests a new golf swing to improve a game. At first, there is resistance to the new swing, and a student finds it awkward and uncomfortable. But with practice and determination, the new swing ultimately becomes natural, and the person’s game improves. This explanation left my client hopeful and ready to work on his problem.

At this point, I suggested using his breath before responding in staff meetings. He needed to pause as the urge to respond erupted, and then follow with a deep breath. Pausing and breathing enabled him to determine whether his comments would be seen as helpful or inappropriate. Sometimes one breath is not enough to stave off a reactive response, and so I suggested taking more breaths to slow his reactions.

Our nervous system reacts to danger either by wanting us to fight or flee challenging situations. Research shows that breathing slowly lowers our blood pressure and calms our responses. In my client’s case, he wanted to “fight” both his boss and the administration. Pausing and breathing deeply would help him learn to not react but respond with objectivity.

In the initial stages of working with his breath, my client complained that breathing in meetings with his boss and colleagues felt as if he had placed a muzzle over his mouth. He practiced pausing and breathing, and found it becoming easier to not respond in meetings. During the next few

months, he became skilled at not reacting and his boss once more sought out his opinions on department matters. HR dropped their complaints and he felt ready to leave therapy, having learned to master his responses by pausing and breathing.

We can all benefit from working with our breath to ease our stress. Here are five tips to working with your breath: • When triggered by an event, note your bodily discomfort.

• Pause, take a deep breath and, if necessary, take another.

• Continue to breathe as a means of slowing your reactions.

• Notice that it may take a few minutes to calm your emotions. If you find the event losing its importance, then you have achieved your goal. You are now ready to respond rather than react to the incident.

• And lastly, remind yourself that “conscious” breathing is healthy, and an easy way to de-stress.

Over the years, I have helped a number of clients learn to pause and breathe slowly to control their emotional reactivity. Other clients have found breathing helpful in managing repetitive negative thoughts. One mother reports her daughter now tells friends to take deep breaths when they are upset. Quick and assessable, it is a helpful technique for all of us to develop and use.

Hillary Volper, LCSW is a psychotherapist in private practice in Westchester and New York City. To contact Hillary you can email her at HGVolper@aol.com or go to her website HillaryVolper.com

CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

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were together during the attacks, other times, apart. Sometimes they said they were threatened with a knife, other times, a gun.

But most damningly of all: the same girls had told a strikingly similar story two years earlier. That time, it was about their mom. This was when their dad, Javier Limon, was engaged in a bitter custody battle with her.

Limon figured large in this case too. He had been in love with Ramirez and outraged when she turned him down. He vowed vengeance on her and her family. Slate reports that Ramirez received love letters from Limon.

She was not allowed to enter them in her defense.

Instead, the trial was about four gay women, in a conservative Texas town, right on the heels of the “Satanic Panic,” a period of time when Americans across the country became convinced that day care workers were dismembering babies, drinking blood and ritually raping preschoolers.

It sounds outrageous now, but people went to prison, sometimes for decades, for ostensibly making their toddler students dig up bodies in the graveyard, or flying them down to Mexico to be raped by the army—and back by circle time. (Look up the case of Frances and Dan Keller.)

In the end, the fate of the San Antonio Four was sealed when a doctor testified that the lines she saw on one of the girl’s hymens were irrefutable proof of rape.

The women entered prison reviled as child molesters—and lesbians.

“Many of these cases were fueled by homophobia,” says Debbie Nathan, the Brooklyn-based author of “Satan’s Silence: Ritual Abuse and the Making of a Modern American Witch Hunt.” Na-

Managing stress by using your breath

INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

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SPORTS

14 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

Dressed for success?

LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

I hate to say it, but I think the Rangers are in trouble.

After a listless Game 2 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, April 19, I don’t hold out a lot of hope for the Blueshirts this year. But it’s not the Penguins’ penalty kill that has me in knots, and it’s not the neutral-zone turnovers or the Rangers’ defensive lapses that keep me up at night.

It’s the fact that maybe my lucky Jeff Beukeboom sweater just isn’t so lucky anymore.

I like to think that I’m a pretty rational guy. More often than not, I am able to look at a situation objectively and use reason, facts and observations to make decisions in both my personal and professional life.

When it comes to cheering on my favorite teams, however, you can throw all of that right out the window.

I’ve had a few “lucky” jerseys over the years that run the gamut of my sports fandom.

From the Beukeboom duds— a holdover from the Rangers’ last title in 1994—to my Jeremy Shockey replica away jersey that I’m convinced was the difference-maker for the Giants during their 2007 Super Bowl run, I hold fast to the belief that my sartorial choices have a direct impact on the professional teams I root for.

None of my articles of clothing has been luckier or more effective than my old college batting practice jersey that I began wearing in 2004, when the Red Sox erased a 3-0 ALCS deficit and won eight straight games to capture their first World Series title since 1918. But I honestly feel like Boston’s success over the last 12 years (three World Series titles!) has been intricately tied to both the roster the Sox’s front office has put together, as well as my strategic decision to break out my Dickinson pullover

only in must-win games.

Lately, however, the magic seems to have worn off on my Ranger threads. Luck is like gum, I’ve found; it eventually loses its flavor, and maybe I used up all of that luck in the Rangers’ rally against Pittsburgh in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.

So what do I do now? Is it time to retire the Beukeboom jersey?

Look, I know it’s stupid. I know that the jersey I wear while the Rangers play has about as much bearing on the outcome of this playoff series as the countless other traditions other fans have been keeping to help their team win since the beginning of time.

I might as well just sit at home, wearing sweatpants and cheering the Rangers on silently from the couch.

But really, wear is the fun in that?

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

To COVER local sports, you need a

LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow @eastchesterview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates

Sports Editor Mike Smith is worried that his Jeff Beukeboom jersey might be out of luck. But really, what are his other options? Photo/Mike Smith

SPORTS

April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 15

Eagles rally against Tigers SOFTBALL

non-league

EASTCHESTER 4 MAMARONECK 2 EASTCHESTER HS

4/18/16

Game Notes: • Jess Becchetti picked up the win for Eastchester with five strikeouts on the afternoon • Sophia Tiso drove in the go-ahead run for the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth inning • Both Eastchester and Mamaroneck have one loss on the year

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Eastchester junior Sophia Tiso came through in the clutch on April 18, smacking a twostrike, two-out offering from Mamaroneck’s Gianna Magrino into right field to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning and propel the Eagles to a 4-2 win over the previously unbeaten Tigers.

At 6-1 on the season, Tiso and her Eastchester teammates

Alyssa Cermele swings at a pitch in a win over Mamaroneck.

are flying high thus far, and wins like the one they scored on Monday are helping to build some momentum as the second half approaches.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles, who struggled to break out against Mamaroneck’s promising freshman hurler, gathered together for a brief meeting. According to Eastchester coach Chris Walpole, the message was a simple one: somebody was going to have to come up with the big hit.

Daniella Chiodi fields a throw on a steal attempt. Photos/Mike Smith

“We had left a lot of people on base early on, so we talked about it in the huddle, we knew that someone had to step up,” Walpole said. “Today, it was Sophia who came through.”

With two outs and a runner on second, Tiso slapped the ball through the right side of the infield to plate the go-ahead run.

“I had two strikes on me so I knew I had to put the ball in play,” Tiso said. “[Magrino] was throwing pretty good, but I just had to pull the ball to get the run in.”

Jess Becchetti throws a pitch against Mamaroneck on April 18. Becchetti struck out five batters and allowed just five hits in Eastchester’s 4-2 win.

The Eagles would tack on another run to head into the top of the seventh inning with a tworun lead, which was all they needed. Pitcher Jess Becchetti, who allowed just five hits on the day, was able to close the door and nail down the Eagles’ sixth win of the season.

“This is a great Mamaroneck team,” Tiso said. “But with the way Jess was pitching, we knew there was no way they were going to score in the seventh.”

Mamaroneck came into Monday’s game sporting an unblemished record and seemed to grab control early after first baseman Jess Fiacco hit a second-inning drive to right field that was initially ruled to be a solo home run. But after Walpole went out to argue the call, the umpires held a quick conference and determined the ball had travelled under the fence and ruled the hit a ground rule double. Becchetti buckled down afterward and left Fiacco stranded on the bases.

“You never know [if they are going to overturn the call], it depends on what umpire you have

Gianna Magrino throws a pitch against Eastchester. The freshman has pitched well for Mamaroneck so far this year.

and if he’s willing to bend,” Walpole said. “I didn’t have a good angle on it, but our fans out there beyond the fence really helped us out with that.”

Mamaroneck will look to rebound from its first loss of the year with a tough league game against New Rochelle on April 19, while the young Eagles, who

have defied expectations with a 6-1 start, aim to continue their winning ways against Rye on April 20, after press time.

“We’re the underdogs this year,” Tiso said. “We’re a very young team, but we are playing with a lot of confidence.”

Contact: sports@hometwn.com

16 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 17

18 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

Who has your back?

The dental profession has educated us well on the importance of dental hygiene. Regular brushing, flossing and checkups to prevent tooth decay is a message we hear from dentists and the toothpaste industry.

But did you know that the

spine can decay as well? The spinal column, or your backbone, can develop sharp thornlike pieces called “spurs” and at the same time, the discs or the cartilage in between the vertebrae can shrink or deteriorate. In some cases, the spine can even

fuse together and you wouldn’t even know it.

The spinal column contains the spinal cord and the nerves that regulate every process in the human body. Breathing, digestion, reproduction and the immune system are all controlled by messages that start in the brain and go through the spinal column. We know your teeth are important, but if you had to choose, the spine has much greater importance, and besides, you can replace all your teeth.

You cannot, however, replace your spine.

A doctor of chiropractic uses safe, gentle spinal “adjustments” to restore motion to the spine and prevent spinal degeneration.

Most chiropractors use massage therapy, physiotherapies and other modalities to relax the muscles, which help to prepare the body to hold the adjustments.

You probably brush, floss and see your dentist for your dental hygiene. The question is, who is doing your spinal hygiene? Visit a doctor of chiropractic today and allow them to do a thorough exam of your spine and nervous system.

Dr. Richard Davidson is the director of Westchester Family Chiropractic at 550 Mamaroneck Ave in Harrison. Call 346-5200 for more information.

April 22, 2016 • The eastchester review • 19

How to ease your dental anxiety Few people relish the idea of going to the dentist. Dentists prod and poke sensitive areas of the mouth, but their efforts are for the benefit of their patients.

Fear of the dentist’s chair is not uncommon, and that anxiety prevents millions of people from seeking proper preventative dental care. The consequences of succumbing to those fears extend beyond pain or lost teeth. Diseases of the mouth have been linked to other ailments, including diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

A fear of the dentist may stem from past unpleasant experiences, such as a dentist with a poor chair-side manner, while others may fear the lack of control they experience while in a dentist’s chair. According to Ellen Rodino, PhD, who has studied dental fear, lying down with a dentist hovering above you can be off-putting. Couple that with the discomfort many

people have when instruments that interfere with their ability to communicate are placed in their mouths, and fear of the dental chair does not seem so unreasonable.

Easing fears at the dental office involves communication with the dentist and his or her staff, as well as finding a dentist with whom you feel comfortable. Working through your fears of the dentist is an important step toward getting the oral health care you need.

Gagging According to the American Dental Association, authors of the study, “Gagging and Its Associations With Dental CareRelated Fear, Fear of Pain and Beliefs About Treatment” found patients who have a higher frequency of gagging problems during a dental visit are more likely to experience higher levels of dental care-related fear and fear of pain. They also

may have more negative beliefs about dental professionals and dental treatment.

Patients should discuss their propensity for gagging with the dentist or hygienist in advance.

Some dentists can recommend nose breathing and other relaxation techniques. Distractions, such as televisions in the examination room, also can help to relieve anxiety and the likelihood that you may gag while in the dentist’s chair.

Dentist also may opt for smaller cleaning instruments or take other measures to reduce the liklihood of stimulating a gagging reflex.

Sounds The sounds of cleaning tools and drills elicit fear in many people. But ignoring or avoiding such sounds can help men and women conquer their fears of the dentist’s chair. On your next dental visit, bring a pair of headphones and some favorite

music to listen to while you’re in the chair.

Pain Some dentists cause unnecessary fear in patients because they assume every person in the chair has the same pain threshold. One person may be able to tolerate a tooth extraction without numbing, while another may need pain relief for a routine cleaning.

Fearful patients should make their needs and fears known.

Speak to your dentist about what can be done to deal with the pain. Discuss the procedure and find out if novocaine or another pain reliever can be used.

Although use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, has diminished in dental practices, a dentist may offer medication to relieve anxiety or even sedate patients who are especially nervous.

Pain may be more tolerable if you ask the dentist to take frequent breaks or use a numbing agent on your gums. Dentists may prescribe a sensitivityrelieving toothpaste prior to certain dental procedures if your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold.

Rushing Patients can help themselves relieve anxiety by choosing appointment times that are convenient and at times when they’re less likely to be rushed. An early-morning appointment or a weekend appointment may have patients in and out faster, which cuts down on anxiety-inducing wait time.

Choice of provider Your choice of dentist may come down to who is in your health insurance network. Those with more flexible insurance plans may have more freedom when choosing a dentist. In either case, people should interview dentists and get recom-

mendations from others to find a provider that will keep comfort and care in mind. Especially fearful individuals may need to use a dentist who specializes in sedation dentistry to make their visits more tolerable.

Avoiding the dentist because of perceived pain or other fears is unnecessary.

Advancements in today’s dentistry coupled with open communication can alleviate situations that cause anxiety.

20 • The eastchester review • April 22, 2016

Natural ways to relieve chronic pain

Chronic pain can be debilitating and interfere with daily life in various ways. Over-thecounter, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are some of the most widely used medications in the United States, but when such medications prove ineffective, prescription pain relievers, which can be addictive, are often a pain sufferer’s next choice.

Consumer Reports indicates that roughly 45 people per day in America die from overdoses of opioid-containing pain medications, which include methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Prescriptions for these drugs have climbed 300 percent in the last 10 years.

Although opioids can be safe when used properly to treat short-term pain, too often their usage leads to misuse and dependence, especially when they are used to treat chronic pain.

For long-term pain from arthritis, research suggests that nonopioid medications and even nondrug treatments often provide relief with less risk of addiction and overdose than opioids. Reducing pain using alternative methods with less risk can involve rethinking trips to the medicine cabinet. Doctors and naturalists may advocate for

natural pain relievers as a first step to managing pain.

Massage There’s more to massage than working out the kinks of tight muscles. Massage may help boost the body’s levels of endorphins and serotonin, both of which are natural painkillers and mood regulators. The Mayo Clinic’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program has conducted a number of studies on massage as treatment for pain following surgery, ultimately finding that massage significantly relieves pain and reduces anxiety.

Dietary changes Pain is often linked to inflammation in the body. When eating, choose foods that won’t worsen existing inflammation.

Eating less sugar, dairy, and gluten products, which can contribute to inflammation, can help a person feel better. Increase consumption of foods that reduce inflammation, such as raw vegetables.

Hot and cold therapy Cold compresses can reduce inflammation quickly and also serve as a local anesthetic. Heat therapy can ease aches and pains and make muscles more flexible. Try applying a hot compress prior to stretching to

make limbs more limber.

Take the sun A Boston University study that examined 221 men and women with knee osteoarthritis found that those who spent 15 to 20 minutes in the sun increased their body’s production of vitamin D and experienced less pain as a result. When the sun is scarce, it’s adviseable to get between 400 and 800 IUs of vitamin D daily through supplements and foods.

Brisk walking Fast walking is a low-impact cardiovascular exercise that utilizes most of the body. Walking encourages blood circulation, removes toxins, burns calories, and stabilizes blood fats and sugars. Plus endorphins released from exercise can help a person feel good. A great thing about walking is just about anyone can do it.

Mind-body exercises Exercises that combine focus with stretching can alleviate physical pain and improve mental clarity. Look for yoga, pilates and meditation classes and give them a try.

Chronic pain may be relieved with the use of natural remedies, which help pain sufferers reduce their reliance on over-the-counter or prescription medications.

Cancer screenings men should consider Cancer screenings play an important role in cancer prevention. Screenings may not prevent people from getting cancer, but they can detect the presence of cancer before a person begins to experience any signs or symptoms. Screenings also can help doctors catch cancer before it metastasizes, or spreads, to areas of the body outside the area where it originated.

Many women get routine mammograms to detect for breast cancer, but women are not the only ones who should include cancer screenings in their healthcare routines. Men also can benefit from screenings, discussing the pros and cons of each with their physicians during routine health examinations.

• Colon cancer: Men should begin getting screened for colon cancer at age 50, though those with family histories of colon cancer or other colon issues should begin even earlier, as family history increases a man’s risk of developing colon cancer. Colon cancer screenings may discover a type of growth known as a polyp, which is typically benign and can be removed before it develops into cancer. The American Cancer Society notes that men have various options to choose from with regard to screening for colon cancer. Such options include a colonoscopy, a stool DNA test and a camera pill.

Speak to your physician about these options and discuss your

family history, which will influence how frequently you need to be screened for colon cancer.

• Lung cancer: Screening for lung cancer is most important for men who currently or recently smoked. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for men between the ages of 55 and 80 who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Screening should be discontinued once a man has not smoked for 15 years or

has developed a health problem that substantially limits a man’s life expectancy or his ability or willingness to undergo curative lung surgery. (Note: Pack-year history is calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked.) The ACS notes that the risks associated with lung cancer screenings typically outweigh the benefits for men who have never smoked or quit long ago.

• Prostate cancer: The National Cancer Institute notes that prostate cancer is the most common nonskin cancer among men in the United States. Being 50 years of age, black and/or having a brother, son or father who had prostate cancer increase a man’s risk of developing the disease. The NCI notes that screening tests for prostate cancer, which include a digital rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen test, come with risks, and men should discuss these risks and the potential benefits of prostate cancer screenings before deciding to be screened.

Cancer screenings can detect cancer in its earliest stages, and as men get older, they should discuss their screening options with their physicians.