August 26, 2016 by The Eastchester Review

Eastchester REVIEW THE

August 26, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 35 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Area residents gather to stem opiate use By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

OVERHAUL Earlier this month, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announced that an engineering firm has been selected to oversee various capital projects at Rye Playland, including improvements to rides and infrastructure as well as the potential redevelopment of the historic pool. For more, see page 9. File photo

Bronxville to complete 2-year LED installation downtown By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The village of Bronxville expects to finish outfitting the entire downtown area with LED light fixtures—a project that began in 2014—by early September. Village Administrator Jim Palmer said the final leg of the project includes installing 10 teardrop-style light fixtures and 40 14-foot lighting structures throughout downtown. He add-

ed that the teardrop lights, which would be installed over the village’s main crosswalks, would be considerably higher than the 14-foot posts, as crosswalks had been among the most poorly lit areas downtown. By the end of the project, the village will have installed LED technology in each of its 157 downtown streetlights. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, light-emitting diodes, LEDs, use less than 30 percent of the energy used by

traditional incandescent bulbs and have up to 25 times the life expectancy. LED lights are targeted and directional; they don’t waste energy by emitting light and heat in all directions. Palmer told the Review that the old fixtures used too much wattage and did not adequately illuminate the areas for which they were intended, adding that many of them were old and dingy. Those lamp posts, along with the lighting technologies, were replaced.

However, not all lamp posts are new, as some downtown light fixtures have been retrofitted. Palmer said that many of the globe-style light fixtures on the west side of the village were retrofitted with LED lighting. But when the lamp posts were replaced, Palmer said, “The village spent a significant amount of time picking out the pole and the fixture and color to try to maintain consistency.” The fixture installation was LED continued on page 5

A resident-led group in Eastchester has joined forces with police in the town and its constituent villages—Tuckahoe and Bronxville—to establish avenues to educate opiate and heroin users and their families on methods to curb and prevent overdose and addiction. The group’s foremost intention, according to Eastchester Supervisor Anthony Colavita, a Republican, is to offer drug addicts and their families a compilation of the best resources and information available. He added that the group—which has not yet been named—is still in its infancy, but that some of the resources they discussed included websites, links and online lectures. “Our initial perspective was going to be for parents,” Colavita said. “How to tell your child is a user; what to do if you suspect they’re using.” The supervisor added that making these tools available online was a major concern for the group because it would allow drug users and their families to anonymously find help without the fear of stigma. According to Colavita, the group was organized by an area resident, whom he kept anonymous for privacy reasons. Timothy Bonci, chief of the Eastchester Police Department, said the resident contacted him after the most recent overdose in the town in July.

Last month, a 24-yearold Eastchester man, whose name was not released by police, died after overdosing on what was reported by police as an unidentified drug labeled “LOCO,” which was likely sold as counterfeit heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine or opiates. “No community is immune; that’s one thing we all know,” Colavita said. “And by no means are we sticking our heads in the sand and saying, ‘We don’t have a problem here.’” Heroin and opiate-related abuse and overdose have been a growing concern nationwide, but have been a particular focal point in New York state. According to statistics from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, the frequency of heroin-related deaths in New York increased by 144 percent from 2005 to 2014, the last year that data has been made available. In the same timeframe, prescription opioid deaths increased by 43 percent within the state. In June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed legislation to combat the heroin and opioid crisis. The legislation limits the amount of opioid pills that can be prescribed at one time, requires the state commissioner of health to report county level statistics on overdose and overdose reversals, and allows more trained professionals to administer DRUGS continued on page 11

2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016

August 26, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 3

Jenkins ‘committed’ to county executive run By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief When Ken Jenkins lost the Democratic nomination for Westchester County executive in 2013, it taught him a lot, he says. Three years later, Jenkins will try to use that experience to propel himself to the top office in the county. Jenkins, a Democrat from Yonkers who currently serves on the county Board of Legislators, formally announced his candidacy for county executive on Aug. 17, well in advance of the 2017 campaign. He wanted to get out early to avoid a situation similar to last time when, he said, some people realized he was running too late in the process. “We’re not going to have that scenario this time around,” he told the Review. Noam Bramson, the mayor of New Rochelle, went on to clinch the 2013 nomination besting Jenkins, but lost the general election to County Executive Rob Astorino, the Republican incumbent.

At the convention, Jenkins, 55, made a commitment to party leaders not to challenge Bramson’s nomination by way of a primary, a decision he’s proud he stuck to. During this campaign, however, he is willing to fight to the end. “I’m committed to making the case to the people of Westchester both in a primary, if that’s necessary [this time], and certainly in a general election,” he said. Primaries aren’t bad, Jenkins says. “It gets more people involved, more engaged, and the net result is a better product overall. Your person might not win, but you’re able to influence platform and policy,” he said, adding that the Democratic presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders helped reinforce that philosophy. Throughout the upcoming campaign, Jenkins says he plans to expose the financial missteps of the Astorino administration, as well as the “flat-out lies” to protect the county executive’s no

tax increase mantra he’s touted since taking office in 2010. He criticized his political rival for using gimmicks, such as overestimating sales tax income to make the budget numbers work, and then borrowing to compensate for shortfalls in revenue. This year alone, Jenkins says, the county is $26 million over its budget projections. “Borrowing to pay for daily operating expenses is something we wouldn’t do as individuals. You’re shopping with your credit card to put food on your table [and] you’re paying interest on your basic daily needs,” he said. “You can’t talk of a zero percent tax levy and continue to borrow money.” Jenkins says he has delivered tax cuts, maintained programs, and balanced budgets as chairman of the legislative chamber; he chaired the county Board of Legislators from 2010 to 2014. If elected, Jenkins says he would do away with patronage jobs, invest in ailing infrastructure, work to restore the county’s damaged relationship with the

Ken Jenkins, a Westchester County lawmaker since 2007, has decided to run for county executive. Jenkins is the first county executive candidate from any political party to make his intentions known. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

federal government and advocate for a countywide revaluation. To get out from under the stigma of being the highesttaxed county in the country, the lawmaker says Westchester has to first provide property tax fairness before it can offer property tax relief.

One of his platforms is to call for a full-scale revaluation proposal. Jenkins contends that the county currently refunds approximately $10 million a year in tax certiorari claims, or assessment reviews filed in court by property owners. “We don’t get that money back,” he said. “If you are underpaying you’ve

been getting over, and if you have been overpaying you’re taking on too much.” In 2011, the Westchester Collaborative Assessment Commission recommended reforming the property tax assessment system with a loose goal of later JENKINS continued on page 7

4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016

What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library

group on Mondays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Those under stress will benefit from listening to tranquil music while coloring. All coloring sheets and supplies will be provided, and light refreshments will be served. This activity is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.

Tots of Fun: Playdate

you craft a legacy letter. Enrich your friends, children, grandchildren or anyone you hold dear with a special message brimming with love and wisdom. To register, call 337-7680 ext. 24 or email bronxvillelibrary@gmail.com.

Tuckahoe Public Library

On Wednesday, Aug. 31 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. A fun, free play for toddlers age 2 using the library’s tunnels, scarves, instruments and more. For more information on summer hours and programs, visit eastchesterlibrary.org.

Reading Buddies Book Club On Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For children in grades two and three. The Reading Buddies Book Club will discuss Philip Pullman’s “I Was a Rat!” Participants are asked to read the book in advance. Online pre-registration is suggested as space is limited. Copies of the book are available at the Circulation Desk. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Jonathan Heifetz at 721-8105 or jheifetz@wlsmail.org.

Bronxville Public Library

Join Music Boosters

On Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Join this knitting and crochet hour. Participants will chat and socialize while making beautiful items which will be donated to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

On Thursday, Sept. 8 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. In this one-hour presentation, participants will learn tips and tricks to turn print and digital photos from a cluttered mess into an organized system that makes sharing easy. Attendees will walk away with the know-how and inspiration to tackle and streamline their images. To register, call 337-7680 ext. 24 or email bronxvillelibrary@gmail.com.

For more information on summer hours and programs, visit bronxvillelibrary.org.

Legacy Letter Writing workshop

Adult Coloring Group

Starting Friday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join professional writer, Jacqueline Lofaro, for this 10-week writing workshop as she helps

Adults are welcome to join the library’s coloring

Eastchester school district news

Social Needlers

Chosen Moments: photography basics

5K race will take place rain or shine, starting at Eastchester Town Hall. Runners and walkers of all levels are welcome. For more information and to register, visit eastchester5K.org. Preregister and receive a free race T-shirt. Register by Sept. 9 for the $25 early bird entry fee; the fee increases to $35 after that date. Participants under age 12 pay $10 to enter. All funds raised will go to the Eastchester Community Action Program and Eastchester Music Boosters.

For more information on summer hours and programs, visit tuckahoelibrary.org.

Summer Reading Finale Party On Monday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. The library’s Get in the Game READ program for teens will end with pizza, snacks and raffle prizes. To register, call 961-2121.

Teen Yoga Class On Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 7:15 p.m. Join Miss Peggy for the library’s popular yoga class just for teens. To register, call 961-2121.

Eastchester Recreation Department The Community Fund The Community Fund is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1919 to enhance the quality of life for and provide assistance to all residents living in Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe, the BET community. The Community Fund monitors the BET community to determine which services are most needed and provides grant funding and administrative support to the social service agencies and community programs that meet these various essential needs. For more information, visit eastchester.org/departments/recreation/index.html.

Eastchester 5K Race On Sunday, Sept. 25, the third annual Eastchester

Help is needed to continue the support of music education in Eastchester in grades K-12. A full board is needed for the 2016-17 school year. Please consider applying, no experience is necessary. To apply and for more information, visit eastchestermusicboosters.wordpress.com.

Bronxville events Bronxville Farmers Market On Saturdays through Nov. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at Stone Place at Paxton Avenue, rain or shine. Browse offerings from more than 30 vendors. Visit bronxvillefarmersmarket.com for more information.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital Joint Replacement and Surgery Patient Education classes Every Wednesday from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the NYP/Lawrence lobby conference room. This free class will teach patients scheduled for joint replacement surgery what to expect before and after an operation. To register, call 787-2119. The NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital is located at 55 Palmer Road in Bronxville. For more information, visit nyp.org.

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.

August 26, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5 LED from page 1

The village of Bronxville plans to install the last 50 LED lighting fixtures in the downtown area by early September. Afterward, the village will look to conduct a similar project in the residential area. File photo

done by two local companies; Woodlawn Electric, a company in Yonkers, installed the light posts and fixtures, and D&M Electrical Contracting, a company in Elmsford, did the electrical and wiring work. The budget for light installation is $440,000; however, Palmer said the village will have funds left over in that account after the project is

complete. The village administrator said Bronxville had not yet performed an analysis to predict when it would see a return on its investment; but said that the village expects to see significant long-term savings from the energy-efficient lights. Palmer said the Kraft Avenue parking lot will be the fi-

nal downtown area to receive light fixture updates. Afterward, the village will look beyond the downtown district. “Most of downtown should all be LED, and the next phase the village needs to look at— which we are [looking into]— is converting the residential area to LED,” he added. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

RM Staffing lawsuit granted class action status Former waitstaff of Rye Golf Club scored a major victory on Thursday, July 28 after a judge granted a motion for class action status in a lawsuit seeking uncompensated overtime and tips. According to attorney Brent Pelton, of Pelton and Associates—the firm representing more than 50 former Rye Golf Club staff members in the suit—the judge’s decision is a major affirmation for the group’s claim. “The judge accepted our view,” Pelton told the Review. “Essentially, he gave the workers everything they were asking for.” The lawsuit, which is seeking more than $4 million in damages, uncompensated overtime and gratuities, stems from a financial scandal at the city-owned golf

club dating back to 2012. At that time, Scott Yandrasevich, then the club’s general manager, was caught embezzling approximately $270,000, according to the Westchester County district attorney’s office, through a series of shell companies he created. Yandrasevich was sentenced to one to three years in state prison and has since been released on parole. The biggest of the shell companies, RM Staffing, used by Yandrasevich to funnel funds, staffed many of the plaintiffs who have joined the class action suit. And according to Pelton, the former staff members are eager to receive the money they believe they’re owed.

“The workers who were having their tips misappropriated haven’t received a dime,” Pelton said. “The delay causes financial damage every week.” The decision to grant a class action status comes several months after a successful claim won by the city against its insurance carrier Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, which awarded the city $1.55 million in February, vindicating the city’s belief that Yandrasevich had stolen much more than he was convicted of. According to the decision rendered on July 28, the two parties’ next meeting will be in November for a pretrial conference. -Reporting by James Pero

6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016

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Bookends closes summer Band concert series

Eastchester Town Supervisor Anthony Colavita thanks sponsors Westchester Choice Realty and The Garth Road Cooperative Council, the Recreation Department and the crowd for a well-attended and successful Summer Concert Series.

Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Franco Fino Staff Photographers Bobby Begun, Andrew Dapolite Intern Josh Stabile Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano, Lenore Skenazy

Eastchester’s final Summer Concert at Garth Road Park was on Aug. 17, featuring The Bookends Band performing covers of family-friendly oldies from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Doc Alcott on bass and vocals for The Bookends Band, the final act of Eastchester’s Summer Concert Series.

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Chris Brown on acoustic guitar and vocals.

Tony Summo on lead guitar.

Lou Bellofatto on keyboards and vocals.

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Mike Marble on drums. Photos/Bobby Begun

The audience takes advantage of a beautiful evening at the summer concert, some with lawn chairs and others on picnic blankets.

August 26, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 7 JENKINS from page 3

conducting a full revaluation. However, that plan never gained any traction with the Astorino administration, likely because any reassessment of properties would increase taxes for at least a portion of property owners, causing reassessments to develop the moniker of the political third rail. “Real leaders don’t tell you what you want to hear,” Jenkins said of Astorino, “they tell you what you need to hear.” He has also been critical of the way the county executive has handled the county-owned amusement park, Rye Playland, and the implementation of a federally mandated affordable housing settlement, which dates back to 2009. The deal Astorino struck with the private management company, Standard Amusements, to operate the amusement park for the next 30 years was a mistake, Jenkins says, once the county had to commit $30 million of

taxpayers’ money toward capital investments into the park. He says he would have scrapped the deal and gone back out into the market place to seek additional operators. “Right now, all the power is in the vendor’s hands,” he said. “The fact is, this deal is a bad deal.” Astorino’s handling of the affordable housing settlement, which has pitted the county executive against the federal government, has also drawn Jenkins’ criticism. The agreement stipulates that Westchester build 750 units of housing in designated communities by the end of 2016. Astorino has been outspoken against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, claiming the agency has sought to extend the parameters of the agreement and attempted to strong arm the county into enforcing, by even litigation, zoning regulations on its own municipalities. Due to the standoff, HUD has denied grant funding to the county retroactive to 2013. “The federal

government’s position is we’re giving [the grant money] to someone else,” Jenkins said. “Because of the recalcitrance of this administration we have lost at least $25 million in federal funds. “Penny-wise and pound-foolish is a short synopsis of this administration. I think it’s beyond being shortsighted, the decisions being made. There is no look at the future,” he added. Jenkins was the former chairman of the Yonkers Democratic Party and a past president of the Yonkers chapter of the NAACP. If he wins, Jenkins would be the first African-American county executive elected in New York state. CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com

Astorino seeks Senior Hall of Fame nominations Do you know a senior who is making or has made a positive difference in Westchester County through his or her professional life, volunteer work or both? If so, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino invites you to submit a nomination to the Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, now in its 34th year. “The Hall of Fame is a special tradition that honors seniors who have given their time and energy to improve the quality of life in their communities or the county at large” Astorino said. “Don’t miss this great opportunity to shine a light on people who merit special recognition for their contributions.” Those selected will be inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame at a festive luncheon on Friday, Dec. 2 in the Grand Ballroom of the Westchester Marriott Hotel

in White Plains. Nominations are due by Friday, Sept. 16 and may be obtained online at westchestergov. com/seniors. To be nominated, a person must: be at least 60 years old and live in Westchester; have made significant contributions to improve life in the county; be an outstanding leader or advocate; have done professional work that reflects innovative solutions to fulfill unmet community needs (if nomination is based on paid professional work); and not be a past Hall of Fame inductee (see the list of former inductees at westchestergov.com/seniors). All nominations will be reviewed by a judging committee of past Senior Hall of Fame honorees, members from the county Department of Senior Programs and Services’ Aging Network, the county’s Senior Council and

the Older Americans Act Advisory Council. Gala hosts are the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services, DSPS, Westchester County Parks and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services. DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said that seniors have helped Westchester to become known for its renowned quality of life. “Today’s older generation molded a way of life that reflects the caring and generosity of its people,” she said. Please submit your nominations online at westchestergov. com/seniors, or if you prefer to mail your nomination, contact Rose Cappa at rose@theeventdepartmentny.com or 747-0519. Also contact Cappa to learn how to become a Hall of Fame sponsor or to sponsor a particular honoree. (Submitted)

Town of Eastchester

Official Newspaper Eastchester Schools

8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016

August 26, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9

County chooses Playland engineer By JAMES PERO Staff Writer The selection of a consortium of engineering firms responsible for overseeing a slew of capital projects at Rye Playland marks

a major step forward in actualizing renovations at the outdated amusement park. Earlier this month, following a brief request for proposals, RFP, process, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Re-

publican, announced that a consortium of engineering firms led by LiRo Engineers Inc. has been selected to take on various park renovations. “Hiring this consortium is the next step towards making the

new Playland a reality,” Astorino said. “The consultants will ensure this series of capital projects is streamlined and executed efficiently.” Among the major renovations in the pipeline for the park—which hasn’t seen any significant work since the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy necessitated ma-

jor repairs to Playland’s boardwalk and Ice Casino—are various improvements to rides and infrastructure, as well as the potential redevelopment of the Playland pool. A deal struck between the management company Standard Amusements and the county in May will see the investment of $32 million from the county and

Renovations to Rye Playland take a step forward after a consortium of engineering firms was chosen by the county to lead the redevelopment process. File photo

$27.5 million from the company, and will run for 30 years. Nick Singer, co-founder of Standard Amusements, lauded the county’s expediency in the RFP process, which was launched in July. “The speed with which Westchester County completed the RFP process and selected LiRo is impressive by any measure,” Singer said. According to a statement by the county, a construction schedule for projects at the park will be finalized by the end of September. Currently, one major project already being mulled over by the county Board of Legislators would decide the future of Playland’s historic pool. Legislators must decide whether to replace the pool— which continues to suffer from significant leakage—or foot the bill for costly renovations, estimated at nearly $10 million. So far, Standard has expressed its desire to have the pool removed and to repurpose the existing site for a veranda serving light refreshments. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016

August 26, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11

Chapel School preschool wins ‘Best of Westchester’

DRUGS from page 1

The Chapel School’s Preschool program has been awarded Westchester Magazine’s “Best of Westchester.” The title was earned after the magazine ran its yearly poll, asking readers and those in the community to vote for their favorite establishments. The “Best of Westchester” list represents the best the county has to offer in food, family, entertainment, beauty categories and more. The results are

based on Westchester Magazine survey readers’ votes. This isn’t the first time the preschool program was honored; it was also voted as the best in 2014. The Chapel School is known for its knowledgeable and nurturing staff, well versed in child development and appropriate practice. “We feel it is important to teach children through sensory learning within a developmentally appropriate Christian curriculum,” said Michelle

Tween, preschool director at the school. “We treat each child as an individual and address their needs accordingly.” Village Lutheran Church and The Chapel School are located at 172 White Plains Road in Bronxville, across the street from Concordia College. For more information about the church, the school and its programs, call 337-3202 or visit thechapelschool.org. (Submitted)

Following the most recent drug-related death in Eastchester last month, residents of the town, Bronxville and Tuckahoe have organized with local police to discuss creating pathways to inform the public on how to identify and help stop family members from using heroin and opiates. Photo courtesy livestrong.com

overdose-reversal drugs. The new program in Eastchester would function separately from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, DARE, a nationwide drug awareness program taught in elementary and middle schools by trained police officers. Bonci said the Eastchester Police Department enrolled three officers for DARE training this year. As part of a report written in 2003, then Surgeon General David Satcher said DARE was an ineffective tool for curb-

ing drug use. “It is hard to teach children who have not gone through puberty how to deal with the peer pressure to use drugs that they will encounter in middle school,” the report claimed. Colavita said the town will continue to promote the DARE program, but added that the new community group has potential to reach addicts and their families beyond childhood. The Eastchester, Bronxville and Tuckahoe police depart-

ments also collaborate with the town/village of Scarsdale for a task force called BESTADE to crack down on underage drinking and illegal drug use. But Bonci said the community group is different in that it focuses more on informing the public than enforcing the law. Tuckahoe police Chief John Costanzo and Bronxville police Chief Chris Satriale could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Tuckahoe BOE announces new asst. principal At an Aug. 10 special meeting, the Board of Education of the Tuckahoe Union Free School District voted to appoint Scott DeBellis as the Tuckahoe Middle/High School assistant principal beginning Sept. 1. DeBellis will be replacing Peter Carucci who recently accepted the position of principal at Haldane High School. DeBellis is a 13-year educator who has served as an assis-

tant principal at Lehman High School in New York City for the past seven years. He also served as a physical education teacher and head varsity wrestling coach at Lehman from 2003 to 2009. He has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Physical Education from Hunter College, as well as a Master of Science in School Building Leadership from Mercy College. He possesses his permanent New

York State School Administrator and Supervisor certification. “Mr. DeBellis’ references from the New York City Public Schools were very strong, and we believe his experience with a wide range of building level administrative responsibilities will enable him to make a smooth transition to the assistant principal position in our school district,” said Superintendent of Schools Carl Albano. (Submitted)

Westchester Magazine readers voted The Chapel School’s Preschool program as the best in the county for 2016. Contributed photo

Buster is one very cool dude. Laid-back, sweet and gentle-natured, he loves affection from humans and gets along well with other cats and dogs. He has the cutest little “meow” and is the ultimate companion. Buster is approximately 3 years old, neutered, fully vetted and in excellent health. His adoption donation is $80. To meet Buster, call Larchmont Pet Rescue at 835-3332/4133 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016

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LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Qualification of Salus Security Services, LLC. Appl. for Auth. filed with NY Dept. of State on 7/5/16. Office location: Westchester County. NY Sec. of State designated agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served, and shall mail process to 11 Gramatan Ct, Bronxville, NY 10708. DE addr. of LLC c/o Vanguard Corporate Services Ltd., 3500 S Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901 on 6/15/16. Purpose: any lawful activity. NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, GREEN TREE SERVICING LLC, Plaintiff, vs. DANIEL WALSH, BERNADETTE M. WALSH A/K/A BERNADETTE WALSH, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly filed on June 16, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Westchester County Courthouse, Lobby, 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, White Plains, NY on September 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., premises known as 209 Dante Avenue, Tuckahoe, NY. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Tuckahoe, Town of Eastchester, County of Westchester and State of New York, Section 38, Block 7 and Lot 17. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 70450/14. Anthony S. Colavita, Esq., Referee Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, Peddy & Fenchel, P.C., 100 Garden City Plaza, Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff LEGAL NOTICE: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF TUCKAHOE, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the PLANNING BOARD, of the village of Tuckahoe, will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY EVENING, AT 7:30PM on: September 15, 2016 At the Village Hall, 65 Main Street, Tuckahoe, New York to consider the application of: The Pilates Boutique Residing at 273 Columbus Avenue Tuckahoe, NY 10707 This property is located at: 273 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 And is also known as SECTION 42 BLOCK 9 LOT 15 The nature of the application is for the following relief: SITE PLAN All interested parties are urged to attend this public hearing at which time they will be afforded the opportunity to express their views and or submit written communications to the Village Clerk or The Zoning Board of Appeals, 65 Main Street, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 THE PILATES BOUTIQUE, AUGUST, 18 2016 LEGAL NOTICE: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON APPEAL BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF TUCKAHOE, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, of the village of Tuckahoe, will hold a public hearing on WEDNESDAY EVENING, AT 7:30PM on: September 14, 2016 At the Village Hall, 65 Main Street, Tuckahoe, New York to consider the application of: The Pilates Boutique Residing at 273 Columbus Avenue Tuckahoe, NY 10707 who appeals the decision of the Building Inspector, who denied the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy to: The Pilates Boutique This property is located at: 273 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 And is also known as SECTION 42 BLOCK 9 LOT 15 The nature of the application is for the following relief: SPECIAL PERMITTED USE All interested parties are urged to attend this public hearing at which time they will be afforded the opportunity to express their views and or submit written communications to the Village Clerk or The Zoning Board of Appeals, 65 Main Street, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 THE PILATES BOUTIQUE, AUGUST, 18 2016

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August 26, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 13

Is the walk to school really so terrifying? RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Can we please stop telling parents that it is normal to be terrified for even the shortest periods of time when kids are doing the most mundane activities: Walking to or from school? Because here’s what NBC’s Alyssa Newcomb reported recently in a piece called “Backto-School Safety Tech That Helps Keep Kids Safe” (The title alone reinforcing the idea that kids are NOT safe without us taking new, tech-assisted precautions): “No matter how mature and responsible a child is, those few blocks without adult supervision are enough to make most parents worry.” Since when? Since crime is back to the level it was in 1963? Since we are living in the safest times in human history, according to Harvard’s Stephen Pinker? Since even child deaths at the hand of a kidnapper—already extremely rare—are now one-fifth of what they were just 20 years ago? “Most parents worry” about a few-block walk, in these particularly safe times, even if they know their kids are mature and responsible? That seems like some kind of illness. Yes, it’s normal to worry if the neighborhood is truly crime-ridden. And naturally, it can be worrying if a child is late getting home, or if it’s the first week of school and the child is just getting used to the walk. But for parents to worry no matter how mature their kid, how short the walk and how safe the

neighborhood does not make sense. Igniting the fuse of fear makes sense for only two groups of people: The media, who depend on fear to keep us engaged, and the makers of tech tracking devices, who depend on our dollars to stay in business. After all, if they can convince us that it is normal to fret any time we take our eyes off our kids, they can sell us products that keep our eyes upon them. And so reporter Newcomb goes on to list four products that track kids and apprise the parents of their location. The PocketFinder is one. It goes into the child’s backpack and “updates a parent’s smartphone with their location every two minutes.” Obsessed much? It also alerts parents the second their child veers off the proscribed path. What a joy that makes walking home: Follow that squirrel for a block and mom calls 911. Then there’s Life360, which is free and sounds like Harry Potter’s Marauder’s Map, showing every family member’s location. But if you pay a premium (aha!), you can get “expanded history data and a live adviser for urgent situations.” Just suggesting “urgent situations” makes the walk sound dire. The Canary, also profiled, is part of a $199 home security system, allowing you “to see live video and hear audio from their home. Parents can even replay the video clip from when their child walked in the door, ensuring that they were with only authorized house guests.” Maybe it should really be called the Stool Pigeon. It seems

less like a normal household deIn honor of those whose lives vice and more like the CCTV were lost or forever changed by above the door at a 7-Eleven. the tragic events of Sept. 11, And finally there’s the August 2001, County Executive Rob Smart Lock which lets you “see Astorino will join with Volunteer and speak to whoever is at your New York! and Robison Oil to door, even if you’re not home.” It host the “9/11 Day Serve + Realso locks and unlocks your door member” volunteer opportunilong distance, “making it ideal if ties from Friday, Sept. 9 through your kid forgets their key,” ac- Sunday, Sept. 11. Service projcording to Newcomb. At $400, ects will kick off from 2 p.m. to it might be more ideal to make 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Counyour kid a few extra keys, or even ty Center in White Plains, and hide one someplace clever. will run throughout the weekend So now I too have some ad- at locations across Westchester vice on how to keep your kid and the surrounding area. safe on the way home from Westchester County’s forschool—advice that the TV re- mal 9/11 memorial ceremony at port, in its haste to hail techno- The Rising at Kensico Dam in logical solutions to nearly non- Valhalla will begin at 7 p.m. on existent dangers, forgot. Teach Sept. 11. As always, the public is your children to: invited to attend. Look left, look right, look left “On the 15th anniversary again when crossing the street. of the terrorist attacks of Sept. Make sure that anyone turn- 11, 2001, we as a community ing sees them in the crosswalk. continue to come together in Ask strangers for help if they remembrance and unity, provneed it. Teaching “stranger dan- ing that love and service will ger” removes all the people who always prevail,” Astorino said. could help them in an emer- “Last year, we had 1,200 volungency. (Remember that Utah teers put 1,670 hours of service Boy Scout who was lost for back into the community as part three days because every time of 9/11 Day. This year offers so he heard a search party member many great ways to volunteer, calling his name, he scampered whether it’s giving blood, feedoff to hide from the “stranger?”) ing the hungry, educating our However, also teach your children or thanking our veterkids that they while they can ans. I hope you’ll all join us in TALK to anyone, they cannot remembrance.” go OFF with anyone. The theme of this year’s 9/11 And they should not get into Day is “Service. Empathy. Unisomeone’s car. ty.” Many volunteer opportuniThose are tips that make a lot ties are family-friendly and all of sense and, by golly, they are will help support one of 40 lofree! Of course, for a premium, I cal nonprofits and causes. Regwill add a new and pointless tip ister online at volunteernewyork. every month. Sign up now! org/service or call 948-4452 for more information. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com Westchester County will also host its annual employee blood drive in partnership with the New York Blood Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the

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County Center. To sign up or learn more, please contact Janet Lokay at jel1@westchestergov. com or 995-2127. “Join us as we remember the unity and compassion that was shared by the many first responders, blood donors and volunteers who came together after 9/11, and help us shine our light on the service and empathy that carries us forward,” said Alisa H. Kesten, executive director of Volunteer New York! “We encourage families, individuals and business groups to register today to honor the lives of those lost through these individual acts of service.” David Singer, president of Robison Oil, the presenting sponsor, said, “Our company was built on service—service to our customers and our community. That is why Robison is honored to be able to support this important day for families and individuals of all backgrounds to join together and volunteer. This is an important day in our community to serve and take action.” For a complete list of the 40 local 9/11 Day service projects, locations and their descriptions, which are scheduled from Sept. 9 through Sept. 11, visit volunteernewyork.org/service. 2016 9/11 Day participating nonprofits and causes include: Afya Foundation; A-HOME; Atria Senior Living - Briarcliff Manor; Community Service Associates; the #DadBeThere Fatherhood Initiative; Dominican College Project; Family Ser-

vices of Westchester: The Sharing Shelf; Girl Scouts; Graham Windham; Hillside Food Outreach; Humane Society of Westchester; Junior League of Central Westchester; Leake & Watts; Life Progressive Services; LiveOn New York; Meals on Wheels; Mercy College, Montrose Veterans Hospital; My Brother’s Keeper; My Second Home; New York Blood Center; One Sandwich at a Time; Open Door Family Medical Center; Operation Gratitude; Ossining School District; Our New Way Garden & Acorn Organics; Pace University Project; Project Linus; Ronald McDonald House of GHV; Rye Nature Center; Schaffer Extended Care Center; Teatown Lake Reservation; United for the Troops; Volunteer New York! Hunger Relief Corps; Westchester County Department of Health; WJCS Kids’ Closet; Westchester Parks Foundation; WestCOP; and Worldwide Community First Responder Inc. The core mission of Volunteer New York! is to inspire, mobilize and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support nonprofits and improve the quality of life in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. For more than 66 years, the organization has encouraged adults to serve, youth to build character, families to bond, young professionals to lead, mature adults to share their wisdom, and businesses to engage through volunteerism. Volunteer New York! helped coordinate more than 270,000 hours of service, which were devoted last year to more 500 nonprofits at a value of more than $7.3 million. For more information, follow @volunteerNYnow on Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest volunteering news in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam, or visit volunteernewyork.org. (Submitted)

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14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016

Fantasy overload LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

If there’s one piece of advice for all of you fantasy football enthusiasts out there, it’s this: Nobody, and I mean nobody, cares about your fantasy football team. Over the last 10 years or so, fantasy football has become an unavoidable facet of American sports culture. With fantasybased programing across both television and online platforms generating around $5 billion of advertising revenue annually, it’s pretty clear that Americans’ love affair with pretending to be NFL general managers isn’t ending any time soon. And man, it’s really starting to become a drag. It’s becoming tough to escape fantasy football talk, especially around this time of year, when legions of fans are gearing up for their annual

drafts. Hours upon hours of draft preview podcasts, spanning radio and television chatter, and “fantasy football experts” expounding upon their Top 10 practice squad tight ends? It’s a bit overwhelming. Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve been playing fantasy football for at least half my life. It’s a fun way to spend the season, a great way to connect with friends, and it helps me stay plugged into what’s happening around the league after my New York Giants get off to an inevitable 1-5 start. But I’ll tell you something: I don’t feel the need to talk about my team, “The Tupa Mario Bros,” every time somebody brings up football. Fantasy football’s growth is quickly transforming the way we talk about NFL around the watercooler. In the old days, if Larry Fitzgerald hauled in a gamewinning catch on Monday

SPORTS

Night Football, the next day’s chatter would be about the acrobatic grab or the drama of a prime time NFL game. Nowadays, any conversation about said catch is centered on how that reception won/lost the game for your buddy and how great/awful points-perreception scoring is, and what moves you suggest he make if he hopes to secure a berth into his nerd league playoffs. Years ago, our fantasy football drafts were a fun way to spend an afternoon, talk some smack, eat way too much and engage in a little banter about the upcoming season. Last August, my buddy Jones showed up to the draft with a computer program that he wrote to optimize his draft order based on projected scoring numbers for the first 10 weeks of the regular season. I think we’re starting to take this a little too far. So yeah, by all means, enjoy your fantasy football season.

Thornton-Donovan 2017: An Andean adventure When Thornton-Donovan School in New Rochelle opens its doors for year No. 116, seven of its upperschool students will be in three different countries and three other high schools. T-D has a vast network of sister schools sprinkled around the world and quite regularly sends its own to them, and receives international student visitors from them. T-D has been pioneering in international education for decades and its student ambassadors use the school’s exchange program as ways to sharpen their diplomatic skills. With Liam Gorbutt in Japan, Janine Peroune in Germany, and Nikki D’Annunzio, Ben Rufa, Gavin Tomlinson, Diale Takona and Rayaan Ba in Italy, T-D will begin the 2016-17 school year on Sept. 8. T-D is an independent and international day school with grades K–12. It boasts of its small size and small classes. It has 170 students from 40 different countries. T-D’s grades 9–12 will open at near capacity. In February 2017, T-D will begin its Andean adventure and travel to Peru in February and

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continue the undertaking by “Flying with the Condors” in Ecuador in April 2017. T-D’s 2016-17 academic theme will focus on Machu Picchu and Galapagos. As is the tradition, T-D’s graduates get accepted to many of America’s most elite colleges and universities as well as the world’s most prestigious institutions. Some of them are: DePaul, UConn, Haverford, Elon, UNC, Notre Dame, Dartmouth, Fordham, Case Western Reserve, American, George Washington University, St. Andrews,

University of Nottingham, Nanzan University (Japan), N.Y.U., University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, and McGill. T-D teaches numerous foreign languages: French, Spanish, Russian, German, Italian, Greek and Latin. Japanese is also offered in the early spring, as T-D continues to visit Hiroshima in July of each year. Admission information can be procured by contacting Director of Admissions Steven Schlitten at sschlitten@td.edu or visiting the school’s website at td.edu. (Submitted)

Over the last decade, fantasy football has become a big-money industry that has become tough to avoid if you happen to use the Internet. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks it’s all become a bit too much. Photo courtesy Yahoo.com

Pick your teams, root for your guys, and send passive-aggressive emails out to the other people in your league if you think they’re abusing their vetoes whenever trades pop up.

Just keep all that stuff to yourself, because I don’t care. But while I have your attention, I just wanted to ask your opinion. Do you think it’s worth taking Ezekiel Elliott

in the first round? I’m kind of on the fence, and right now, I could use all the help I can get.

Follow Mike on Twitter @livemike_sports

SPORTS

August 26, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15

WFAN holds charity softball game By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Thursday, Aug. 18, sports radio personality and New Rochelle native Craig Carton returned home, leading a celebrity-laden team against all-stars from the city in an annual charity softball game at City Park. The game, now in its fifth year, gave area fans a chance to see local softballers square off against a host of former professional athletes, and helped raise money for the New Rochelle Parks and Recreation Gift Fund. Carton, who co-hosts the popular “Boomer & Carton” radio show on WFAN alongside retired NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1987 and has returned to his hometown for the last five years for the annual charity softball game, tabbing his former teacher and New Rochelle football coach Harold Crocker to manage the city team while he and Esiason captained the WFAN All-Stars. This year, the celebrity team included NHL player Matt Martin, former NFL player Chris Simms, local NFL product Ray Rice and a number of other onair personalities from the radio station. Former New York Yan-

Craig Carton, left, poses for a photo with New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson and Boomer Esiason prior to the fifth annual Boomer and Carton All-Star Softball game in New Rochelle on Aug. 18. Carton and Bramson were classmates at New Rochelle High School.

kees great Mariano Rivera, who lives in Rye, also took the field, but opted to play for the New Rochelle squad, manning first base for much of the game before coming on, naturally, to close out a 7-6 New Rochelle win. “I always talk about New Rochelle fondly, and the fact that we get to come out here, support the Parks and Rec and shine a light on New Rochelle, that means the world to me,” Carton said. “And for the people coming

WFAN radio host Craig Carton takes a cut at the annual WFAN Charity Softball game on Aug. 18 at City Park in New Rochelle. Carton, a New Rochelle native, has come back to his hometown for the softball game for the past five years.

out to support us, people coming out here for the first time, that’s what New Rochelle is really all about.” Crocker, who currently serves as the director of Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation at Ramapo College, said that he is not surprised at all by his former student’s success in the radio world, where he as emerged as one of the most influential radio hosts in the area, or by his desire to give back to the community. “Even back then, you knew that [Carton] was a character, but he was someone that had a lot of character,” Crocker said. “He always had this go-get-it attitude, he’s a great guy, a great family man, and great for the city of New Rochelle.” Carton’s popularity in his hometown was certainly on display last Thursday, with the hundreds of fans in attendance, although the former Huguenot is quick to shift the reason for the turnout onto the other notable figures on the field, including Rivera and Rice. “You can forget about me, you have Ray and Mo, who is the greatest closer of all time,” he said. “But it shows that these guys care about giving back, they have pride in what they do and where they come from, and it really changes the dynamic of what we’re trying to do out here.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason swings the bat on Aug. 18.

Ray Rice tries to tag a runner out at second base. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • August 26, 2016