November 25, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 48 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Barnes & Noble, at the corner of the Vernon Hills Shopping Center in Eastchester, is the first of the bookseller’s locations to serve beer, wine and entrees, complete with tableside service. For story, see page 10. Photo courtesy Barnes & Noble
Police investigate swastikas found at SUNY Purchase By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Police are investigating hateful images that were found in one of the dorm rooms at SUNY Purchase College on Nov. 20. According to Betsy Aldredge, a spokeswoman for the college, the New York state University Police, UPD, began investigating the vandalism after the college discovered three swastikas drawn on a bulletin board in one of the dormitories late last weekend. After the incident, Thomas Schwarz, the president of the college, sent a message to the campus community. “We con-
tinue to explore our options for protecting our most vulnerable on campus,” he said in the statement. “I urge you all to remain active, engaged and committed to ensuring that our campus is a model for what our nation should be.” Schwarz also warned the community of the repercussions for violating the college’s policy on hate crimes. “I would like to add that hate crimes are considered felonies and are punishable by arrest and dismissal from the college,” he said. Aldredge said that as part of the college’s protocol, any incidents involving a hate crime are first reported to the university’s police, and
are then referred to the “appropriate authorities,” including the Westchester County Intelligence Center, and the Evidence Collection and Bias Crime teams from the New York state police. On Nov. 13, Westchester County police discovered anti-Semitic and anti-African-American imagery along the Bronx River bike path in the city of White Plains. County police said the footpath and bridge were defaced with spray-painted swastikas, KKK initials, and various racial slurs. That investigation is currently ongoing. This also isn’t the first time that SUNY Purchase has been faced with hate crimes.
In March 2015, campus authorities investigated a similar incident involving swastikas that were found spray-painted in a dorm room. According to Aldredge, a student was ultimately arrested and expelled from the college. Aldredge would not provide additional details on that incident. Around the same time, nooses were found spray-painted in another dorm, but that incident remains unsolved. The college’s police said the investigation into the recent discovery of swastikas is ongoing as well, but would not provide additional information, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
Eastchester proposes 3.63% tax rate increase By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The town of Eastchester released its preliminary $36.6 million budget for 2017, in which it proposed a tax rate increase in line with the allowable limit set by the state. As a result of the 3.63 percent tax rate increase, if the budget is adopted, the town would remain under this year’s state-imposed tax cap as it has every year since 2012 when the cap was first instituted. Town Supervisor Anthony Colavita, a Republican, told the Review that the tax rate increase was artificially high because property assessment values have fallen in recent years. Property assessment values in Eastchester and the villages of Bronxville and Tuckahoe have been declining since at least 2008. Townwide assessment, including village properties, has decreased by more than 12 percent since then, including a 2 percent decrease from the 2016 budget. Town Assessor Todd Huttunen said the assessment values have decreased because the town has not had a reassessment on its more than 9,000 parcels of land in several decades. The proposed 2017 budget includes a 3.5 million tax levy for the town’s two villages and the Lake Isle golf course, a property that is town-owned. The tax rate in those areas is slightly lower than in the unincorporated section of the town, at 3.59 percent. In all, Eastchester plans to collect about $20 million in taxes and $11.5 million in other revenues. Colavita said it has become increasingly difficult to keep the budget under the tax cap, and criticized state lawmakers for the program. “I’m astounded at the hypocrisy at Albany,” he said. “There’s no tax cap on them.” Eastchester’s overall expenses
At a glance Tax rate increased by 3.63%, but town property assessment decreased by 2% Eastchester assessment value has decreased more than 12% since 2008 Contribution to employee benefits will cost the town an additional $375K in 2017 $3.2M from town’s coffers to balance the budget, but town still has more than $9M in reserves have only increased by 1 percent, about $400,000, from the 2016 budget. Much of that will be used to fund the increased costs in health insurance and contributions to the New York state retirement program. As a result, the town will pay an additional $375,000 to fund health insurance in 2017. Employees will also have to contribute more of their salaries in order to fund the program. “You have to do more with less, and unfortunately the state gives us no relief whatsoever in the state retirement contribution system,” Colavita told the Review. Regardless of the cost of employment, the town has budgeted to keep all of its positions staffed in 2017. According to Colavita, that includes hiring four new police officers to fully staff the Police Department. The town’s existing coffers may have given Eastchester TAX continued on page 12
2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 25, 2016
November 25, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 3
Manhattanville plans bus service change
Manhattanville College’s administration is contemplating reintroducing its former bus schedule, which included later pickups on weekends, following the death of junior Robby Schartner on Oct. 9. Photo courtesy Karina Cordova
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Manhattanville College administration is leaning toward adjusting its shuttle bus service, following elevated outrage from the student body about the safety of its current schedule. On Nov. 10, Michael Geisler, the college’s president, confirmed that the administration has begun discussing retracting last year’s controversial decision to alter the bus service schedule, according to Touchstone, the school’s newspaper. “I think we’re willing to bring back the bus starting in the spring term,” he said. The interest in altering the school’s bus service comes in the wake of last month’s death of Robby Schartner, a 21-yearold junior at the college who was killed by Emma Fox, of Rye, while returning to campus after a night out in White Plains. As of September 2015, the college decided to cut the last campus bus route on Fridays and Saturdays, which typically returned to campus by 3:30 a.m. As a result, the bus, the Valiant Express, makes its final
return to campus at 1:30 a.m. On Oct. 9, Schartner had been walking along Westchester Avenue in White Plains when he was struck by Fox, 24, who was under the influence at the time of the incident. At the time, police reported that Fox had a blood alcohol content of three times the legal limit in New York state; Fox was measured at 0.21, and the legal limit is 0.08. She is being charged with aggravated DUI and firstdegree vehicular manslaughter. “In regard to safety, this is the best decision the school can make,” said Falon Kirby, a senior at the college. “Students won’t feel stranded or lost [in White Plains], and will know that, no matter what the hour, they will return to Manhattanville College safely.” As part of a new school policy implemented last year, the college altered the schedule for the Valiant Express bus, adding four early morning runs to transport students to and from White Plains Monday through Friday in place of the last two weekend runs. “I love the [late] bus coming back to campus,” said Jess Cowle, a junior at the college.
“I think it’s a great way for students to get home from a night out.” J.J. Pryor, a spokeswoman for the college, previously told the Review that the administration enacted the change in the Valiant Express, which was once dubbed as the “drunk bus,” in order to comply with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986. She said that an institution could potentially be penalized if the college is aware of on- or off-campus conduct that encourages drinking and does nothing to prevent such abuse. But while the school administration plans to reverse course back to its former bus schedule, it’s currently unclear how the college will balance complying with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, and protecting the safety of students returning from downtown White Plains under the influence after a night out. Pryor could not be reached for comment, as of press time. Fox was released from Westchester County Jail on Nov. 10, and is due back in court on Dec. 6. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 25, 2016
What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library
For more information on hours and programs, visit eastchesterlibrary.org
Saving for College workshop On Monday, Nov. 28 from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. This workshop is for high schoolers and parents, and covers the rising cost of education and various methods to help make college more affordable. Some specifics include setting a college savings goal that is right for you; a federal financial aid overview; the FAFSA application and how certain factors (such as expected family contribution) are calculated; different types of student loans; and specific tax-advantaged ways parents can save for their children’s education. Pre-registration online is required. For more information, contact Elizabeth Portillo at 721-8109 or eportillo@wlsmail.org.
Knitting for a Cause! On Wednesdays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For sixth-graders and up and adults. Registration for all sessions, online or at the Reference Desk, is suggested. Last holiday season, the library donated mul-
tiple blankets to Project Linus, which distributes handmade blankets to critically ill children, that were made by from squares created by library patrons. Teens and adults alike came together to learn basic knitting, new techniques, and to put together the blankets. Don’t know how to knit? No problem; beginners and advanced knitters are welcome. Teen librarian Elizabeth Portillo and resident knitting expert Dottie Bicknese are happy to teach. Yarn will be provided at each session, but feel free to bring/use your own as well. There are a few sets of No. 5 knitting needles, but if you have your own please, bring those along. If you start a square but don’t have time to finish it, that is still a huge help as long as you drop it off before a session, so someone else can finish it. You do not need to attend all three sessions to participate. Want to help make blankets but can’t attend? The library welcomes donations of knitted squares—7 inches by 7 inches—ideally knitted with a No. 5 needle, by Friday, Dec. 16. Just drop them off at the Circulation Desk. For more information, contact Portillo at 721-8109 or eportillo@wlsmail.org.
Teen Hour of Code: Minecraft Designer On Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For grades six and up. Join the library for its first Teen Hour of Code event. Come learn how to use Minecraft Designer to program animals and enemies in your own version of Minecraft. Online registration is required, and you will need to bring your own laptop to participate. For more informa-
tion, contact Elizabeth Portillo at 721-8109 or eportillo@wlsmail.org.
Bronxville Public Library
For more information on library hours and programs, visit bronxvillelibrary.org.
Minute to Win It: Silent Library-style On Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For ages 11 and up. The library will be combining two popular TV game shows, NBC’s “Minute to Win It” and MTV’s “Silent Library.” Can you complete outrageous games in less than 60 seconds, while remaining silent? Grab a team and find out. The winning team takes home a prize. Online registration is required. Please provide the correct age or grade in the comment box when registering.
ever made by an American president. Dr. Ray Geselbracht’s program will explore the several contexts in which President Truman’s decision was made, and the personal feelings and beliefs that helped persuade him to make it. Geselbracht, archivist for the Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Richard M. Nixon, and Ronald Reagan presidential libraries, has also published numerous articles and has appeared on guest panels on presidential libraries and on the Truman presidency. Registration is required by calling 961-2121.
Tuckahoe Winter Fest On Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Tuckahoe Community Center, located at 71 Columbus Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. The Tuckahoe High School Jazz Band will perform, and there will be raffle baskets and a 50/50 raffle. Come and support the Friends of the Library. For more information, call 961-2121.
Bronxville Women’s Club The Bronxville Women’s Club is located at 135 Midland Ave. in Bronxville. For more information, call 337-3252 or visit bronxvillewomensclub.org.
Book donation drop-off
Bronxville Art Colony tour
On Thursday, Dec. 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3 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.
On Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. Join the Bronxville Women’s Club and learn about the Bronxville Art Colony. View the beautiful art works of former Bronxville artists located in the Village Hall and the Bronxville Public Library. Art historian Jane Warman will be the guide. The Bronxville Historical Conservancy collected and catalogued these paintings. Following the tour, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
Ornament Making On Friday Dec. 2. The first session is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; the second session is from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For adults. Design your own ornament using various embellishments. All materials will be provided. Registration required by calling 337-7680 ext. 24 or emailing bronxvillelibrary@ gmail.com.
Tuckahoe Public Library For more information on library hours and programs, visit tuckahoe.com/library.
Teen Yoga with Miss Peggy On Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7:15 p.m. Join fellow teens in a set of strengthening and tension-reducing yoga exercises. No experience required. Registration is required by calling 961-2121.
Memoir writing class On Thursday, Dec. 1 at 12:30 p.m. Learn how to write about your memories in this program that meets on the first Thursday of the month. Registration is required by calling 961-2121.
Truman and the Bomb presentation On Friday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. It was 71 years ago this August that the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. President Harry S. Truman made the decision to drop the bombs in the hope that the demonstration of their great power would cause Japan to surrender. Japan did surrender, World War II came to a sudden end, and many lives were saved that would have been lost had the war gone on longer. Nonetheless, Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan has become perhaps the most controversial decision
New York-Presbyterian /Lawrence Hospital The New York-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital is located at 55 Palmer Road in Bronxville. For more information, visit nyp.org.
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.
Village Lutheran Church The Village Lutheran Church is located at 172 White Plains Road in Bronxville. For more information, call 337-0207 or visit vlc-ny.org.
Prayer Service The next monthly service of prayer for healing will be held on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m. This service is an opportunity to pray for personal needs and concerns, and to receive anointing with oil. It is also part of the church’s anniversary weekend celebrations, giving worshipers dedicated time to pray for its congregation and its mission. 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.
November 25, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5
Students display art in local gallery “pARTners” is an annual art installation created by students from Eastchester and Tuckahoe High Schools. Inspired by the theme of “Reform & Revolution,” students with special needs, along with their peers and art teachers, have created individual works of art that culminate in this finished installation in collaboration with students from Concordia College’s Education Department, emphasizing the importance of creating art together.
The students from the Eastchester High School’s Global Crafts class created silhouettes of each other to represent a diverse selection of activists and bold personalities, such as Wilma Glodean Rudolph, Helen Adams Keller, Susan B. Anthony, Alicia Garza and others. Considering the theme “Reform & Revolution,” students looked to revolutionary figures of the past and present to inspire their work. Matthew Robinson, the Eastchester High School art teacher
Students from the Eastchester and Tuckahoe high schools are participating in an art installation, “Reform & Revolution,” at the OSilas Gallery through Dec. 10.
who taught the student artists, said, “It was beautiful to see such a diverse group of students working together on this body of work. They selected topics and figures that were meaningful to them, and physically used their own silhouettes to embody those concepts.” The exhibit is presented under the auspices of The Heart of Neiman Marcus, a national philanthropic commitment to focus both national and local charitable giving to support the arts in communities where their stores are located. Their stated mission is “to help bring enriching arts experiences to youth... because ART changes lives.” Local high school students displaying work at the gallery include Ryan Allen, Jeffrey Allocco, Alyssa Anicito, John Arce, Anthony Arjune, Sophia Boscia, Bianca Miranda Carreon, Gaetano Catalano, Catherine Rose Clark, Preston DePalma, Eric Dollinger, Andrew J. Donovan, Nkechi Dara Eke, Hazel Nadia Grant, Michael Grossman, Kevin Kujawa, Mat-
Two local high school student works on display at the OSilas Gallery at Concordia College. Photos courtesy Eastchester school district
thew Bernard Lappetito, Ellena Maravegias, Alyssa Massa, Julie Ann Murtagh, Isaiah Nitis, John Dominick O’Connor, Evelyn Jones O’Dwyer, Sedona Paykin, Genti Shala, Ruby Siegel, Francesca Nicole Spinetti, Matthew Tyler Stern, John Stevko, Dan-
iel Thomas Sullivan, Matthew James Teator, Naoki Tsunawaki, and Evan Wasserman. The exhibition, free and open to the public, is on display through Saturday, Dec. 10 at the OSilas Gallery at Concordia College, located at 171 White Plains
Road in Bronxville. Gallery hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit osilasgallery.org. (Submitted)
Tasting
6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 25, 2016
Eastchester REVIEW THE
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Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising | Lynne Starr ext. 29, lynne@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Franco Fino Staff Photographers Bobby Begun, Andrew Dapolite Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano, Lenore Skenazy
A chef from Hive Living Room + Bar at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel hosts a cooking demonstration for attendees with his son acting as sous chef.
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Community Events
Cerebral Palsy of Westchester sponsored a food and wine tasting event on Nov. 7, featuring more than 25 of the area’s finest restaurants and beverage establishments. The event took place at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in West Harrison, where attendees purchased tickets to benefit the nonprofit organization. In addition to tastings from throughout the county and Connecticut, Marty’s Jazz Trio provided a relaxing musical accompaniment, as chefs from Hive Living Room + Bar as well as Crabtree’s Kittle House Restaurant and Inn performed cooking demonstrations. Cerebral Palsy of Westchester’s mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. The organization provides essential services, vocational training, recreation, rehabilitation and advocacy to thousands of children
Family members from family-owned Walter’s Hot Dog Stand in Mamaroneck serve hot dogs from their Palmer Avenue restaurant, a registered historical landmark.
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, a local microbrewery based in Elmsford, taste-tested some of its most famous craft beers.
and adults in Westchester and Fairfield counties. All proceeds from the event will be put towards efforts to aide children and adults suffer-
ing from cerebral palsy who require need services in order to better enjoy activities regardless of the level of their abilities. -Reporting by Andrew Dapolite
If you have an event you would like to share with the community, send it to news@hometwn.com.
A fondue fountain coats fruits and sweets with chocolate.
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From left, CPW board President Richard Osterer; Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont; Linda Kuck, executive director; Kiyoko Brown, board secretary; and Venita Osterer, board member.
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.
Fairfield Cheese Company, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, provides all sorts of artisanal cheeses. Photos/Andrew Dapolite
November 25, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 7
Drones, contamination and community gardens BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin
In last week’s column, I spoke of immediate term priorities for communities throughout the state as elected officials prepare for the upcoming 2017 legislative session. The following are some lookahead legislative goals as municipalities react to an ever changing world especially in the area of technology. As examples: Allow publication of official notices online New York state law is replete with provisions requiring local governments to publish official notices in local print newspapers at a cost of tens of millions of dollars yearly. With the decline in newspaper circulation and the decrease in the frequency of local publishing, municipalities should be allowed to communicate to their citizenry via online news outlets and their own municipal websites. A larger number of interested parties would be reached in a timely, efficient and costeffective manner. The irony is that as politicians are excoriated in the print media for imprudent spending and poor stewardship, the lobbyists are working aggressively to retain this outmoded expense to the taxpayer they are championing. Regulate drone activity Advancements in technology and the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent adoption of regulations for commercial use are accelerating drone use throughout the country. With the increase in drone use comes legitimate concerns about privacy and nuisance. While federal law and regulations substantially pre-empt local regulations, there are areas of the law, including property rights and the issue of trespass and nuisance activities, that are in the purview of states. However, current New York state laws are vague, ambiguous and apparently unenforceable with respect to flying over one’s property without owner permission.
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The whole issue of illegal surveillance as well as the pre-emption of state and local laws to the FAA authority is currently a source of debate and uncertainty. Expansion of Uber, Lyft and other ride hailing technologies Uber and Lyft are clearly surpassing traditional taxi and forhire vehicles business models and technologies in substantial areas of the country with a concentration in urban centers. Riders surveyed use them for the ease of payment and arranging a ride, reliability, cost, and short wait times. Clearly, this is the wave of the future and the demand for expansion is significant. In New York, Uber and Lyft are used widely in New York City but are non-existent in the rest of the state. Two major impediments in New York include insurance carrier issues and the myriad of regulatory jurisdictions that for-hire vehicles must be registered with and licensed by. Legislation has been proposed to centralize regulatory authority at the state or county levels. The immediate benefit is the enhanced local economic development that this service has already demonstrated it delivers; the downside being local government will not have access to driving records, possible criminal records, DWI conviction, etc. that they do when licensing local taxi services and their drivers. Strengthening of electronic waste laws In 2010, New York state enacted the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act to assist local governments with the expensive and fast-growing electronic waste system stream by requiring electronics manufacturers to fund a recycling infrastructure and relieve local governments of mounting fees for safe disposal. Manufacturer funding has been inadequate and inconsistent, and small communities cannot sustain the cost of the proper stewardship of electronic recycling. Funding for water contamination testing The mounting evidence of water contamination in recent years nationwide has called into ques-
tion the belief of most New York residents that access to safe clean drinking water is a foregone conclusion. Just this past year, the village of Hoosick Falls discovered that perfluorooctane acid, the chemical found in nonstick pan coating (Teflon), had poisoned its well and caused vastly increased incidences of cancer in the community. Currently, state law does not cover the entire cost of local testing and remediation in the schools per a state Education Department mandate, so the costs fall on every community, large and small. Promote the accessibility of farmers markets and community gardens Eating locally grown and produced food is not only more nutritious for consumers, but economically beneficial for local farmers. Bills are in the Legislature to offer benefits to our farmers who share their produce locally. Thanks to the effort of the Chamber of Commerce, the village trustees, who I am proud to say saw the benefit of the farmto-table concept early on, and the tireless efforts of former Chamber of Commerce director, Mary Liz Mulligan, Bronxville has had a thriving farmers market for over 15 years. Community gardens offer other means of ensuring the availability of local produce to residents, and are associated with increased psychological wellbeing and social relations among community members. Again, I am proud to say thanks to the vision of the Bronxville Green Committee and its irrepressible chairperson, Ms. Mulligan, in collaboration with the village trustees and the generous support of our local Rotary Club and the expertise of Broadway musician cum master gardener, village resident Dave Phillips, our garden located near the paddle tennis courts is realitybuilt, irrigated and set for planting in early spring. Everything grown, hopefully through the efforts of a cadre of interested villagers, will be donated to our neighbors in programs in Mount Vernon, Tuckahoe and the Westchester Food Bank.
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8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 25, 2016
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Barnes & Noble begins
an uncharted chapter By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer In a time when brick and mortar bookstores are becoming a thing of the past, Barnes & Noble is refreshing its approach. The newest of more than 600 store locations, the Eastchester Barnes & Noble in the Vernon Hills Shopping Center at 680 White Plains Road—which opened its doors to the public on Nov. 23—is the first of a string of new concept stores to serve beer, wine and entrees to its customers. The bookstore chain is calling the new stores Barnes & Noble Kitchens. The Eastchester store is smaller than the average Barnes & Noble—22,000 square feet—but it includes a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio with a gas-burning fire pit, a bocce court and a va-
riety of seating options, and a 2,600-square-foot kitchen offering breakfast, appetizers and full entrees from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. “The objective wasn’t—per se—to create a restaurant,” said Jaime Carey, president of development and the restaurant group at Barnes & Noble. “It was to create a bookstore environment that would be embraced by the community and enjoyed.” David Deason, vice president of development, added that there are several corners around the store for customers to take a book and a drink and “slip away.” Although the store has many sections, Kathie Bannon, the store’s manager, said it was designed to feel like a single, seamless space. Specific sections, like fiction and history, are left open rather than enclosed by bookshelves. “If you wanted to get
a goblet of wine from our wine selection, you can walk and browse,” she said. “You can even bring food [around the store].” But the menu is more similar to a short story than a novel. There are three breakfast options, three salads, four appetizers and six entrees, in addition to a small kids’ menu. Sheamus Feeley, the chef who designed the menu, said it was written to be brief. “You could even look at the menu and make that case that, hey, this is relatively ubiquitous,” he said. “And yes, it is. The key is to be able to do a handful of things very well.” On the reverse side of the menu are six locally sourced craft beers and more than 20 wines, which are served by the glass or by the bottle. The bar also serves a gamut of coffee drinks and teas.
Barnes & Noble at the corner of the Vernon Hills Shopping Center in Eastchester is the first of the bookseller’s locations to serve beer, wine and entrees, complete with tableside service. Photo/Corey Stockton
The store was designed to engage customers from the moment they walk in. A 600-squarefoot mural on a wall near the entrance—called the author wall— is a word search containing
more than 80 authors’ names Barnes & Noble representatives also noted the large wording on the walls to clearly identify the different sections of the store for easy navigation. And for
The courtyard beside the store features an array of seating, including couches and tables for dining. There is also a gas-powered fire pit and a bocce ball court. Photo courtesy Barnes & Noble
customers who are looking for something specific, new technology can help them find it. Search kiosks built into the store can help customers find books using an interactive map; and customers can also use the devices to text message with store employees. Employees also carry portable point-of-sale systems for easy checkout. Deason added that the company was still playing with some of the technologies and learning how to optimize them. He told the Review that while the concept was new, if it is successful, Barnes & Noble may look to convert some of its existing stores into Barnes & Noble Kitchens. “I’m not in a hurry, because I need to know what works,” he said. The Eastchester location is the first of four Barnes & Noble Kitchen concept stores to open nationwide. The bookseller announced similar concept plans in Edina, Minnesota; Folsom, California; and Ashburn, Virginia. The store was formerly a Borders Booksellers before that company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011. The storefront had been vacant since. “The community was really craving and wanting to support another bookstore,” Deason said. Barnes & Noble gave them that, and then some. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
November 25, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11
12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 25, 2016
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Notice of Formation of Analemma Heavy Industries, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 8/26/2016. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 63 Melrose Drive., New Rochelle. NY 10804. Purpose: any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of Frances Grey, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 08/11/16. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 27 Stone Cabin Rd., New Rochelle. NY 10801. Purpose: any lawful activity.
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administration officials some room to work with while staying below the tax cap. The town has appropriated $3.25 million from its fund balances to help balance the proposed 2017 budget. That injection of surplus constitutes about 10 percent of the overall budget. According to Colavita, the town purges some of its fund balance each year so that it doesn’t have to raise taxes unreasonably while sitting on taxpayer money. Eastchester’s fund balance is more than $9 million, about 26 percent of the 2017 budget; a ratio which helps the town to maintain its Aaa credit rating. Meanwhile, the town also has about $10 million in debt. For the 2017 budget, Eastchester has proposed allotting $2.9 million to service its debt. Most of that debt has been used to fund capital projects including road paving, sidewalk repairs and special projects. Colavita said the town will look to propose its capital projects budget in March or April. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Make it your year… ...to own your own home!
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November 25, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 13
Old jokes to die laughing at RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
An elderly man comes into a bar and notices a lovely lady about his age having a drink by herself. He pulls up a stool, leans over and asks, “So... do I come here often?” Sure, laugh. Or cry. Fact is, we’ll all be the lady or the man some day—God willing. In the meantime, we can tremble, or simply grab a copy of “Die Laughing: Killer Jokes for Newly Old Folks,” the new book by William Novak. The cover shows a cane slipping on a banana peel. But the real joke is on the rest of us who didn’t think of this great idea first. Novak, 68, is the author of 25 other books, and, by the way, father of BJ Novak, writer, actor and executive producer of “The Office” (he played Ryan Howard). Papa Novak is probably best known as co-author of “The Big Book of Jewish Humor.” But he says he was between books— “which is a ‘writerly’ way of saying unemployed”—when he hurt his shoulder and had to go to physical therapy for the first time in his life. So he’s stretching, aching, and dealing with doctors when he realizes: This is not a unique experience. What the world needs is a joke book about exactly this—the changes that eventually come to your body, your routine, your love life (!), and especially, your short-term memory: Mr. Jackson, your test results have come back, and I’m afraid I have a double dose of bad news. Just tell me. I can handle it. Okay. You have cancer, and you also have Alzheimer’s. That’s terrible. But at least I
don’t have cancer! Eleven publishers told Novak no. One (obviously) said yes, so Novak started collecting jokes. As he did, he realized two things: First: “No joke is ever told for the first time.” Proof? Two older men, acquaintances but not really friends, are sitting on a park bench. One turns to the other and says, “Remind me, was it you or your brother who died last winter?” Novak says that when his friend told him that joke, he loved it and immediately decided to include it. Then, a few weeks later he was in Vermont and found “The World’s Oldest Joke Book.” It was literally a book of thigh-slappers from 4th century Greece—including the joke, “Was it you or your brother...?” But if there are no new jokes, what is eternally new is the strange sensation of having been a young person but now gradually experiencing all the things you associate with old people. To make some sense of this, Novak arranged the jokes into chapters on things like “Long marriages,” “New partners,” “Sex” (yes, I will get to some of these), “Death,” and then its funnier counterpart, “The afterlife.” So, sex? A man goes into the confession booth. “Father,” he says. “I’m 82 years old. I have children and grandchildren, but last night I made love to a girl who’s 24. And not just once but twice!” “Tell me,” says the priest, “when was the last time you came to confession?” “This is my first time. I’m Jewish.” “So why are you telling me?” “Telling you? I’m telling everybody!” For sexier ones, buy the book. Or, heck, here’s one... sort of: Mrs. Silver, a former seam-
stress, was walking through town when a flasher stepped forward and opened his raincoat right in front of her. She looked at him and asked, “You call that a lining?” When I was reading these jokes, a strange thing happened to me that might happen to you, too. I heard them in my father’s voice. That’s not just because my dad loved to tell jokes—toward the end of his life that’s what he asked me for most: “Got any new ones?” It’s because jokes themselves are almost an artifact of another era, one that’s dying off. “Funny people these days, they do routines and many are terrific. But they’re not jokes in the form we know them, the ‘Two guys walk into a bar,’” Novak said. Today’s comics “tell stories, or riff, but what I’m interested in—one of my goals— is to preserve the art of the joke, which I fear is leaving us.” The guys who’d grab a mic and rat-a-tat-tat, “My wife drove her car into the living room”type of gags aren’t here anymore. Where’d they go? Here’s a clue: Two old friends made a pact that whoever dies first would come back and tell the other what it’s like. So one day Pete gets a call from Richard, who died of a heart attack. Pete says, “What’s it like?” Richard tells him: “I start off with a big breakfast. Then I have sex, and after that I lie in the sun. Then it’s time for lunch, followed by a nap and more sex until it’s time for dinner....” Pete is thrilled. “I had no idea heaven would be like that!” “Who said anything about heaven? I’m a bull in Wisconsin.” We should all be so lucky. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 25, 2016
Giving thanks LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
It’s no big secret; 2016 has been a pretty dismal year. An interminable, contentious presidential election; heaps of celebrity deaths; the theatrical release of the massively overhyped “Suicide Squad”; I’d imagine that the majority of Americans are looking forward to putting the last 12 months in our rearview mirrors. But with Thanksgiving this week, this just isn’t a time for people to dwell on the black cloud of bad news that seemed to hang over our heads all year; it’s a time to count our blessings. And if you’re a sports fan, those blessings were plentiful, indeed. 2016 has been a phenomenal year for sports on just about every level. The first honest-to-goodness great moment that comes to
mind is the NCAA basketball finals between Villanova and North Carolina, a game that my Wildcats won on a last-second buzzer beater by Kris Jenkins, back in April. Sure, it was a fantastic game from my standpoint—a lifelong Wildcats fan who was too young to remember Nova’s last title in 1985—but for the average sports fan, it was nearly just as thrilling; an alltime great finish to an all-time great game. And that just seemed to set the stage for a number of wonderful championship scenarios. In May, Leicester City captured the English Premier League Crown after starting the season as 5,000-1 underdogs. In June, the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off an amazing three-game comeback to topple the Golden State Warriors (who had just laid claim to being the best regular season NBA team of all time) and bring a major title to Cleveland for the first time in 68 years.
SPORTS
Earlier this month, the Chicago Cubs erased a similar 3-1 hole (against Cleveland) to win their first World Series title since 1908, setting off a massive victory celebration in the Windy City that drew some 5 million fans. And as far as amazing individual accomplishments go, there were plenty to go around. American swimmer Katie Ledecky caught the nation’s eye with her record-setting performance at the Rio Olympics, and Yankees rookie Gary Sanchez launched homers at an unheardof rate following his August callup to the big leagues. Sure, we said goodbye to a few giants of sport this year, too. But even the swan songs for some of our most accomplished pro athletes were amazing to watch. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz clubbed the most homers (38) in major league history for a player over 40. Longtime Dodger announcer Vin Scully retired as well, but after only a long—and well-deserved—fare-
On Thursday, Nov. 24, people all over America will gather together to break bread and give thanks. Here’s what Sports Editor Mike Smith has to give thanks about this year. Photo courtesy metrocreativeconnection.com
well tour that allowed fans all over the country to reflect on his unparalleled career. Even Peyton Manning said goodbye after “leading” his team to a win in Super Bowl 50.
But don’t worry, Peyton fans, you can still see him 200 times on Sundays, shilling for Nationwide Insurance. So yeah, we may have had a few rough spots this year. But
there’s also been a lot to cheer about. And for that, we give thanks.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
SPORTS 2016-17 Eastchester Boys Basketball Schedule
November 25, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15
2016-17 Eastchester Girls Basketball Schedule
2016-17 ETB Ice Hockey Schedule
Date Time Opponent
Date
Time Opponent
Date Time Opponent
12/01 12/09 12/13 12/15 12/21 01/04 01/06 01/10 01/12 01/17 01/19 01/20 01/27 02/01 02/03 02/07 02/09
12/01 12/06 12/09 12/15 12/21 12/28 01/06 01/10 01/12 01/18 01/27 01/30 02/01 02/03 02/06 02/13
5 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 12 p.m. 7 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 7 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 6 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m.
11/30 12/05 12/10 12/12 12/16 12/17 12/19 01/07 01/11 01/16 01/23 01/28 01/30 02/03 02/07
7 p.m. 7 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 7 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 7 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 7 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m.
*Denotes beginning of tournament
@ @ vs. @ @ vs. vs. @ vs. vs. vs. vs. @ @ vs. vs. @
EASTCHESTER* ARDSLEY* SLEEPY HOLLOW HARRISON* BREWSTER ARDSLEY BYRAM HILLS PELHAM WALTER PANAS** RYE LINCOLN TUCKAHOE BYRAM HILLS RYE HARRISON PELHAM NANUET
**Game at Westchester County Center
Eastchester battles against Harrison in a February playoff game last year. The Eagles are looking to make a deep postseason push once again. File photos
@ vs. @ @ @ @ @ vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. @ @ @ vs.
EASTCHESTER* TAPPAN ZEE ARDSLEY* PELHAM* JOHN JAY CROSS RIVER DOBBS FERRY* BYRAM HILLS PELHAM RYE HARRISON BYRAM HILLS BEACON RYE HARRISON GORTON ARDSLEY
4:10 p.m. 8 p.m. 7:10 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m. 12 p.m. 8:05 p.m. 9:10 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 5 p.m. 8 p.m. 8:40 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
@ vs. @ vs. vs. @ vs. @ @ vs. vs. @ vs. @ vs.
NYACK MAMARONECK B IRVINGTON NYACK LAKELAND BYRAM HILLS FOX LANE MT. PLEASANT MAMARONECK B NON-REGION NEW ROCHELLE PEARL RIVER MT. PLEASANT LAKELAND IRVINGTON
Benny DiMirco drives against Harrison in a 2016 game. DiMirco is one of several graduated players the Eagles will seek to replace this year.
16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 25, 2016