December 23 & 30, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 52 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Residents sue Planning Board over hotel, cleanup By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Nine Tuckahoe residents have launched a lawsuit against the village and state departments responsible for approving a remediation of a toxic site to build a 5-story Marriott hotel. The residents are suing to overturn several decisions which paved the way for a developer, Development Affiliates December 23 & Bilwin 30, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number LLC, to remove contaminants from a 3.5-acre portion of a former industrial dumping site on Marbledale Road and then build a 163-room Marriott Springhill Suites hotel and a 6,400-squarefoot restaurant on the property. The action names several agencies which have signed off on pieces of the development plan since it was first proposed in December 2014, including the New York state Department Yes, 2016 was a memorable year in more ways than one for the town of Eastchester and the villages of of Environmental ConservaBronxville and Tuckahoe. For a recap of the defining issues that helped shape the local community, see page 6. tion, DEC, the state Department of Health, the village Planning Board and the village building inspector. The lawsuit alleges that each tribute $250,000 to that fund The district plans to replace but one of the LaFrance trucks. of the agencies involved made By COREY STOCKTON next year according to its 2017 three of its trucks manufac- Fire Commissioner Steven premature decisions that led to Staff Writer budget. tured by American LaFrance Baker said during a Dec. 2 fire site plan approval for the develCome 2017, the EastchesThe fire board plans to take in 2000 and 2001. American board meeting, “We’re not go- opment. The Planning Board approved ter Fire District will look to advantage of a state law adopt- LaFrance filed for bankruptcy ing to store them somewhere; replace three of its oldest fire- ed in August 2012 called the in 2008 and went out of busi- we’re going to get what we can the site plan by a vote of 3-2 on Oct. 19, a month after it adtrucks out of pocket, planning Piggyback Law, which allows ness in 2014. Since the compa- get back [for] them.” to spend a total of $1.73 mil- governmental bodies to find ny’s dissolution, the fire board The board will also likely journed its decision for up to 60 lion for three identical KME- contracts awarded by manufac- has expressed concerns that it look to sell Engine 28, a Pierce days citing an ongoing study of made rigs. turers to other municipalities, could become increasingly dif- truck previously purchased the plan. Meanwhile, the DEC The fire board had original- and use them to get similar or ficult to find replacement parts for less than $10,000. That rig was overseeing additional site ly speculated that the replace- identical contracts without so- to repair and maintain the dis- was manufactured in the mid- testing by an environmental firm ment trucks could cost more liciting bids. The board plans trict’s three LaFrance-manu- 1990s; the district had been us- hired by the developer. “Both [state] agencies are than $3 million and would re- to piggyback off a KME con- factured machines. ing it as a reserve. deciding first and getting the quire bonding. Since Novem- tract with the Huntington Fire The district also purchased The new KME trucks would ber, the fire board has said that Department in Suffolk County, replace engines 27, 30 and 31, a new command vehicle from information later,” said David it will rely entirely on the dis- New York earlier this year. which are now housed at the Hendrickson Fire Rescue Gordon, an attorney who is reptrict’s reserve fund. The board originally North End station, the Ches- Equipment in 2016, which it resenting the plaintiffs. “And in
LOOKING BACK…
Happy Holidays
Town fire district to purchase 3 new trucks for $1.7M
The district has an apparatus reserve fund of about $2 million. While the new engines would deplete most of that fund, the district will con-
planned to make the purchase this month, but has pushed it back until at least January, according to Dennis Winter, fire board chairman.
ter Heights station and the Fire Department headquarters on Main Street in Eastchester. Once the new fleet arrives, the board will look to sell all
received in October. The vehicle was put into service on Dec. 1.
INSIDE
CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Story on page 5.
the case of the Planning Board, they’re deciding first and asking another agency to get the information later.” On Sept. 15, 2015, the village Planning Board ruled that the developer would not have to submit an environmental impact study of the site as long as it complied with the DEC’s Brownfield Cleanup Program, a program which allows independent developers to remediate a 38 | www.cityreviewnr.com contaminated property under the supervision of the DEC for the purpose of developing it. The lawsuit alleges that this action is illegal because the Planning Board passed responsibility off to another agency. The lawsuit also claims that the DEC and the state health department, in their approval of the developer’s plan to remediate the site, failed to adequately protect public health. The DEC-approved remediation plan does not address the process of leveling soil, known as deep dynamic compaction, which can cause dust to migrate. “The DEC has decided to approve a remedy when they don’t know how the site is going to be prepared and you’re looking at options, all of which are intrusive in one way or another to a toxic waste site,” Gordon told the Review. “The fact that they don’t yet know what [the developer is] doing means that there’s no way a Decision Document [the DEC’s plan of action for the developer to remediate the property] can be upheld as complete and rational in protecting public health.” But Linda Shaw, an attorney
Wegmans to Westchester?
HOTEL continued on page 8
2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016
Happy Holidays!
From Home Town Media Group Publishers of
The Mamaroneck Review • The Harrison Review The Rye City Review • The Eastchester Review The City Review New Rochelle Howard P. Sturman, Publisher Christian Falcone, Associate Publisher, Editor-in-Chief Sibylla Chipaziwa, Assistant Editor
Design Team: Editorial Staff: Advertising Staff: Arthur Gedin Jim Grasso Andrew Dapolite
Mike Smith James Pero Corey Stockton Franco Fino
Lindsay Sturman Lynne Starr
December 23 & 30, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 3
Rye Brook sends gun law to Planning Board By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer After proposing a local law to regulate where gun stores would be permitted to open within the village, the Rye Brook Board of Trustees referred the draft legislation to the Planning Board for further input on Tuesday, Dec. 13. In its current form, the law would amend a section of village law to prevent commercial storage and display of firearms, ammunition and explosives within a certain distance from schools and religious buildings. The most recent draft of the law does not specify what that distance will be. According to Village Administrator Chris Bradbury, Rye Brook is seeking input from the Planning Board on whether the distance should be 400 feet or 500 feet. The law would give additional discretion to the village board to approve or deny the location of a gun store. “What we’ve tried to do is to create a law that regulates but doesn’t prohibit,” said Village Attorney Edward Beane, adding that it would be a violation of the Second Amendment to prohibit
the sale of guns villagewide. But village attorneys may still need to revise the language of the law, as state and federal laws which regulate gun licensing and distribution could preempt the local law. The law was proposed as a proactive measure after a gun store in Harrison opened last month on Halstead Avenue less than 1,000 feet away from one of the town’s elementary schools and a local church, which prompted an online petition that has accumulated nearly 3,500 signatures as of press time. Although the federal GunFree School Zones Act prohibits carrying a gun within 1,000 feet of a school unless the weapon is unloaded and stored in a locked case, a provision within the law allows gun shops to operate within the 1,000-foot zone. Harrison officials have said they are also considering legislation to regulate the location of gun retailers, although it is unclear whether that law would apply to the Halstead Avenue store, L&L Sports. However, according to Jonathan Kraut, an attorney for
Harrison, there is currently no law related to gun shops in the works. Kraut referred to a U.S. circuit court ruling in May, which said that in order for a municipality to write a zoning ordinance that would restrict gun store locations, it would first have to demonstrate that a gun store would increase crime or place a burden on residents. Harrison officials have expressed their interest in addressing residents’ concerns, while also making note of how those laws have been challenged at the federal level. Earlier this month, Bradbury and Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, told the Review they planned to collaborate in considering legislation to restrict where gun shops could open. “We have had continuing discussions with Mayor Belmont and we continue to keep them up to date as we move along,” Bradbury told the Review, “and we expect that they will do the same in return.” Belmont could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Town of Eastchester’s
Official Newspaper
4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016
What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library
Monday, Dec. 26 for Christmas; and on Sunday, Jan. 1 and Monday, Jan. 2 for New Year’s.
Social Needlers On Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon. This is a weekly knitting and crochet hour. Socialize while making beautiful items which we donate to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. For more information on hours and programs, visit eastchesterlibrary.org. The library will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Dec. 26 for Christmas; and from 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 to Monday, Jan. 2 for New Year’s.
A Celebration of ‘The Snowy Day’ On Thursday, Dec. 29 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Join the library for a celebration of Ezra Jack Keats’ winter classic, “The Snowy Day.” There will be a reading of the original book, as well as a reading of Andrea Davis Pinkney’s lyrical biography, “A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of the Snowy Day.” This will be followed by a showing of Amazon’s new animated “The Snowy Day” special, narrated by Laurence Fishburne. This is an all-ages program. No pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Jonathan Heifetz at 721-8105 or jheifetz@wlsmail.org.
Bronxville Public Library For more information on library hours and programs, visit bronxvillelibrary.org. The library will be closed from 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24 to
Electronic Board Day On Thursday, Dec. 29. This is a teen STEM program to get tweens and teens critically thinking, following directions precisely, and working with electronics and circuits. Each session participants will be putting together different projects in order to make sirens, blinking lights, “tweeting bird” noises and more. Registation is required online.
Beading workshop On Thursday, Jan. 5 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Learn how to create your own beaded necklace. Space is limited; registration required. Call 337-7680 ext. 24 or email bronxvillelibrary@gmail.com.
Book donation drop-off On Thursday, Jan 5 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring in your gently used books for the ongoing library book sale. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Bronxville Library. Limit is 10 books per patron. Books will be screened for suitability before being accepted. Here are a few things to consider: Books must be in good condition; No mildew, musty
odors, stained pages, torn covers or pages, broken spines, excessive writing or highlighting; No textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines or workbooks, law or medical books; No books on technology, science or travel that are more than 2 years old.
Tuckahoe Public Library For more information on library hours and programs, visit tuckahoe.com/library. The library will be closed from 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Dec. 26 for Christmas; and from 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 to Monday, Jan. 2 for New Year’s.
Giving Tree Buying books for the public library in someone’s honor or memory is a unique gift that contributes to the community and provides a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. Please take a moment to select a book from the library’s giving tree and give the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital The NewYork-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.
Eastchester Recreation Third grade Basketball Clinic This program is open to all third-graders, girls and boys, who live in Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville, and is an introduction to the exciting game of basketball. Fun and fundamentals will be the primary focus of this instructional program. This clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturdays from Jan. 7 to Feb. 11 for six weeks at the Anne Hutchinson School Gym. Fee: $70, checks made payable to the Town of Eastchester. For more information and to register, visit eastchester. org/departments/recreation.
WestCop/ECAP Annual MLK Breakfast The 32nd annual MLK Breakfast will be held on Monday, Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. at the Reformed Church of Bronxville, located at 180 Pondfield Road in Bronxville. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children age 12 and under. Call 337-7768 for more information. 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.
December 23 & 30, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5
Wegmans eyes Westchester County By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The town/village of Harrison is seeking to approve a developer’s plan to replace an old office complex at 106-110 Corporate Park Drive with a Wegmans Food Market, which would be the first of its kind in Westchester County. Normandy Real Estate Partners, which owns an abundance of property on the “Platinum Mile” along the Interstate 287 corridor, and Wegmans, are proposing to construct approximately a 125,000-squarefoot, 2-story grocery store, which will also include a café area, at the Corporate Park Drive location. Wegmans is a privately owned regional supermarket chain headquartered in Gates, New York, which is located near the city of Rochester. The company, which owns 92 stores across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, is known for selling locally sourced food and has operated since its
founding in Rochester in 1916. The proposed facility in Harrison would replace three existing underutilized office buildings on Corporate Park Drive, but not the EastRidge Enrichment Center and White Plains Daycare and Preschool, which is located at 109 Corporate Park Drive, at the rear of the property. The planned supermarket also comes on the heels of the approval of Harrison’s first mixed-use facility at 103105 Corporate Park Drive. In September, the Town Council approved the construction of a 421-unit rental development and indoor parking garages known as the Residences at Corporate Park Drive. “This is all part of a long project that we began four years ago,” said Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, referring to one of his initiatives since taking office in 2012. “It’s amazing how much growth we’ve seen on Westchester Avenue since we began repurposing the land.”
Despite the enthusiasm for the planned Wegmans grocery store, the town will have to approve a zoning change on Dec. 15, after press time, to allow the company to set up shop in the special business district of town. “At this point, there is very little to it, but I think it would be a wonderful addition to our community,” said Harrison Councilwoman Marlane Amelio, a Republican. “From what I’ve heard, it’s a wonderful store that offers just a variety of great food products, and we’re looking forward to it.” Wegmans, in partnership with developer Steiner NYC, a Brooklyn-based firm, is planning to open a second location in the New York metropolitan area. The company is anticipating opening a supermarket along Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Admiral’s Row, which is located along the East River, in 2018. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
Normandy Real Estate Partners and Wegmans Food Market are proposing to construct its first supermarket in Westchester County along the Platinum Mile in Harrison. Photo courtesy Wegmans.com
6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016
Eastchester REVIEW THE
170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000
Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com
Year in REVIEW
Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com
EASTCHESTER, FIRE UNION STRIKE NEW DEAL; AVERT GRIEVANCE
Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com
Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lynne Starr ext. 29, lynne@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com
TUCKAHOE PLANNING BOARD APPROVES HOTEL; LAWSUIT FOLLOWS
Staff Writers James Pero, Franco Fino
Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano, Lenore Skenazy Letters
The community’s opinion matters. If you have a view to express, write a letter to the editor by email to chris@hometwn.com. Please include a phone number and name for verification purposes.
Community Events
After filing a grievance in May alleging that the Eastchester Board of Fire Commissioners had failed to adequately contribute to the New York state retirement system for its professional firefighters, the Eastchester Professional Firefighters Local 916 union took the fire board to arbitration over an ambiguity in its contract related to a final year average salary pension plan. If the union won, the district would have had to pay $5.2 million as a lump sum or $7 million over five years, and threatened to cut a dozen or more jobs in order to make room in the budget. As a condition of the new contract between the union and the district, signed days before the fire board election in December, the union agreed to drop its grievance as part of the deal. The union had been operating under an expired contract since the end of 2014 n
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Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin
Staff Photographer Andrew Dapolite
As we close the book on 2016, the Review staff has huddled together to rank the top storylines surrounding the communities of Eastchester, Bronxville and Tuckahoe over the last 12 months.
After a developer applied to the Planning Board to build a 5-story Marriott hotel on a contaminated former industrial landfill on Marbledale Road, and subsequently applied to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Brownfield Cleanup Program in 2015, the DEC issued a plan of action to remediate the property, prompting protest from hundreds which included rallies and petitions. Area residents called for comprehensive testing of the entire 7-acre landfill site, rather than the 3.5-acre center portion which had been labeled for development, and also called for real-time air monitoring. In October, amid further testing of the site, the Planning Board approved the site plan by a vote of 3-2, which included the DEC-proposed cleanup. A group of protestors has filed a lawsuit against the Planning Board in an attempt to overturn the ruling n
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FIRST-EVER BARNES & NOBLE KITCHEN OPENS IN EASTCHESTER
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After first announcing that it was eyeing the location of the former Borders Booksellers in the Vernon Hills Shopping Center for a new concept store in January, Barnes & Noble opened the first ever Barnes & Noble Kitchen—selling beer, wine and food with full tableside service—in November. The bookstore includes a bar for both caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, a full restaurant and kitchen, an outdoor patio with a bocce court and fire pit, and Barnes & Noble’s newest bookselling technologies, including interactive maps and an app that lets customers send text messages to store employees to find the merchandise they’re looking for n
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TUCKAHOE BANS FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS
Months after a Subway restaurant opened on Main Street in Tuckahoe, the village board amended its zoning code in an attempt to ease residents’ concerns of national chain fast food restaurants altering the character of the village. Beginning in early 2015, when it was originally proposed, residents rallied against the location of the Subway. According to the amendment, “fast-casual” restaurant applications will each be considered individually. The town of Eastchester passed a similar ban on fast-casual chain restaurants in 2013. There have been no applications submitted to the village since passage of the amendment n CONTINUED on next page
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December 23 & 30, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 7
EASTCHESTER SUED OVER SECTION 8 HOUSING
In November, the Fair Housing Justice Center, FHJC—a Long Island City-based civil rights nonprofit organization—sued Eastchester over its Section 8 housing practices, alleging that the town’s preference to give housing vouchers to residents before non-residents was inherently discriminatory; the town is predominantly Caucasian. The FHJC is seeking to remove the town’s preference for residents from its housing code, and also hopes to collect legal fees and damages from Eastchester. In 2010, the FHJC sued the town of Yorktown for similar reasons, and settled in 2012. As a result, Yorktown had to pay the FHJC’s legal fees and stop administering housing choice vouchers preferentially to Yorktown residents n
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BRONXVILLE GETS VILLAGEWIDE SECURITY CAMERAS
The village of Bronxville announced plans to install 33 security cameras throughout the village, prioritizing roads that connect the village to other municipalities. The cameras are also focused on several areas in the business district, including outside of banks and on street corners on Kraft Avenue, Pondfield Road, Palmer Avenue and Station Plaza. According to police Chief Christopher Satriale, 18 cameras have been installed already, and the remaining 15 have been ordered. The total project is expected to cost the Police Department $300,000 from its capital budget. The department had used privately owned surveillance cameras at Concordia College and NewYorkPresbyterian Hospital to make several arrests this year n
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COUNTY SIGNS SCOUT FIELD OVER TO EASTCHESTER
After nearly a decade of consideration, the town of Eastchester and Westchester County agreed to a five-year deal with an option to extend that gives Eastchester the responsibility to maintain Scout Field. As part of the agreement, the town and county will collaborate to renovate the field, including paving the parking lot and driveway, installing fencing, and furnishing the field with benches, bleachers, scoreboards and trash cans. The village of Bronxville signed an auxiliary agreement with Eastchester, accepting day-to-day maintenance of the field. Meanwhile, the county will maintain responsibility for the Boy Scout cabin located on the property. The deal was signed by the town in April and the county in May n
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BRONXVILLE MODERNIZES ITS PARKING SYSTEMS
Bronxville made several adjustments to its parking policies and infrastructure this year, beginning with the launch of the Pango mobile app, which allows customers to pay for parking using smartphones and is available on the Google, Android and Apple app stores. In May, the village rolled back its paid parking hours, no longer requiring payment after 6 p.m. in lots and after 7 p.m. on streets. And earlier this month, the village introduced three digital pay stations in the Garden Avenue lot, accepting coins, cash and credit cards. According to Village Administrator Jim Palmer, the new Kensington garage, which is expected to be open in 2017, will have the kiosks already installed, and then the village may look to install similar kiosks in other lots within village boundaries n
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-Reporting by Corey Stockton
8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016
Recapping 2016 in Bronxville BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin
As the end of the year swiftly approaches, it is timely to recap on many fronts. • Sales tax Our sales tax revenues are slightly lower than year to date. It will not have a budgetary impact because based on our prognostication of the trajectory of internet sales, we budgeted an even smaller revenue stream as compared to years’ past. • Parking revenues Meter revenues are up both in lots and on streets. This is a result of an uptick in use, which can only be a good omen for our businesses as well as the extension of the meter time from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. We expect a further revenue boost when the Kensington garage comes onine in the spring. • Ancillary fixed costs We are already seeing an electrical savings as a result of the installation of the new energyefficient LED lights in the business district. Our diesel and unleaded fuel costs were even lower than projected, as was our liability insurance as we aggressively renegotiated our premiums. The new lighting and the extended foot candles/visibility aided in the recalculation of premium numbers. Building permit revenue was up but essentially as a result of the Kensington Road and NYP Lawrence Hospital projects. Going forward, we expect building permits to level off as we are essentially built out as a community, and will rely only on the less expansive improvement of existing structures. The “bad news” items are the projected increase in health care premiums estimated to be at least 7 percent and most likely more, and the unrealistic Rate of Return percentage on the New York State Pension Fund, which
will most probably not materialize resulting in increased local contribution. • FEMA flood mitigation project A massive auger boring machine will be staged in the coming days to bore 20 feet below Midland Avenue and thread a steel casing through the soil. The depth is required to avoid compromising the existing labyrinth of utilities and stormwater mains. The project is on schedule, moving forward as planned, weather permitting. • Kensington development All of the concrete work, which was very intrusive to neighbors and traffic flow, has been completed. The contractor will work through the winter months as planned. The placement of new granite curbing is underway, and work is continuing on the interior of the parking garage readying for a spring opening. The sidewalk will be laid in January if the weather cooperates. • Parking Pay station kiosks that enable patrons to simply use their parking space number to purchase time are now available in the Garden Avenue lot. The three kiosks are conveniently located and accept coins, $1 and $5 bills, MasterCard and Visa. Patrons can also continue to use our pay-by-phone app Pango if that is more convenient. • Leaf pickup going forward I opened the conversation by design just at the close of this season’s cycle, so we as villagers can have a deliberative discussion on the merits of mulching in place, collecting leaves in compostable bags, vacuum truck pickup curbside or a combination thereof. A gardening lobbying group quickly descended on the village to refute the merits of everything but labor-intensive manual leaf removal. Please be assured our conversation will include residents,
village public works staff, and our local gardening companies who serve us so loyally. I don’t anticipate engaging the advice of any lobbying groups in our village decision-making. Whatever we decide as a community, we do have to change the habit of depositing leaves in the public right of way. Their slipperiness and narrowing of the roadway have contributed to auto accidents, and when washed down the streets after a rainstorm, our sewers are clogged. We then spend far too much of your taxpayer dollars on cleaning out our storm sewer system solely due to leaf obstruction. • Business district public comment Many of you responded with very helpful, constructive comments on the issue of maintaining the vitality of our business. A sampling of the comments: Continue to discourage the large national chains, or in the alternative bring in high-end or “anchor” ones. Take advantage of the burgeoning youth population and provide more young child services/activities including art studios, Gymboree and children’s music spaces. Make parking signage clearer and modernize meters to accept all varieties of payment. More vigilance both from the village and shop owners in keeping the streets and storefronts clean and attractive and sidewalks free of debris. Extend store hours into the evening to accommodate villagers who want to shop in town but never arrive home by a 5 p.m. close. Add a hardware store to the mix. On behalf of my fellow trustees and the Village Hall staff, I wish you happiness and family joy as you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah in the coming days.
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HOTEL from page 1
The site of the Brownfield Cleanup on Marbledale Road is the subject of a lawsuit filed in late November. Some Tuckahoe residents have alleged that several bodies which oversaw the plan to remediate the property—which has been approved to become a Marriott hotel—were too quick to make decisions. Contributed photo
for Bilwin Affiliates, told the Review that dynamic compaction will not be used on the site. She added that, while the DEC plan does not scrutinize some details of the proposed remediation, the developer must also adhere to the DER-10, a set of overarching guidelines that the DEC employs on all remediation projects. The residents are also taking legal exception to the scope of the project in relation to the overall size of the former 7-acre landfill; the approved remediation
only pertains to the 3.5-acre center portion. The remainder of the site is being considered for a separate DEC-regulated program. Hundreds of Tuckahoe residents and more than 1,000 participants from surrounding municipalities had spoken out against the plans to remediate the site since the DEC released a draft of the remediation plan back in April. A group of protestors called the Marbledale Road Environmental Coalition has protested several details of
the plan, citing the proximity to the Waverly School in nearby Eastchester, concerns over remediation of the larger site, and fears of unearthing unforeseen toxins or disturbing drums full of contaminants, which had been reportedly dumped into the site when it was used as a landfill from the 1950s through the 1970s. Before that, the site had been excavated as a marble quarry. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Alzheimer’s Association offers educational programs The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will offer two educational programs in Westchester in January. “Healthy living for your brain and body: Tips from the latest research” will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont. This program looks at the latest research in diet, nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement to help participants form a plan for healthy aging. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-272-3900 or the library to register at 834-2281. “Know the 10 signs: Early
detection matters” will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 at Bronxville Public Library, 201 Pondfield Road in Bronxville. This program looks at the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Early detection is important because it allows more time to begin drug therapy, enroll in clinical studies, and plan for the future. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-2723900 or the library to register at 337-7680. These programs are supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health. The Alzheimer’s Associa-
tion is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org/hudsonvalley to learn more or call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800272-3900. Caregivers in need of assistance and support can also call this number for a 24-hour helpline. (Submitted)
December 23 & 30, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9
Eastchester during the Revolution: Part 1 HISTORICALLY SPEAKING Richard Forliano
Heroic images of the American Revolution have always been taught to generations of American schoolchildren. We envision Paul Revere on his midnight ride, warning the countryside that the British are coming. We see George Washington’s bedraggled army crossing the Delaware on Christmas Eve, and gaining the next day a much-needed victory over Hessian mercenaries. As a starving American army freezes at Valley Forge, we hear Thomas Paine’s encouraging words, “These are the times that try men’s souls…. The summer soldier will soon shrink from the struggle but the winter patriot will endure.” We thrill when George Washington claims final victory at Yorktown as the tune, “The World Turned Upside Down,” plays in the background. More sophisticated students of history know that during America’s war for independence, there was a war within a war; a war so devastating that long after it was over, residents would look back with sadness and anger. During this war that created the American nation, the town of Eastchester and other parts of Westchester County, located only a few miles from Manhattan, experienced calamitous depredations more constant and severe, with few exceptions, than any area of the United States. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American nation in 2026, new stories emerge about the role of Westchester County and the Founding Fathers in the war that would become a major turning point in world history. Let us go back to those transformative days when the British Parliament had closed the port of Boston, put that city under martial law, and witnessed open conflict at Lexington and Concord. At the start of hostilities in Massachusetts, the farmers of
Eastchester as well as Westchester County showed little interest in the activities of their fellow colonists complaining about unfair taxes and the price of tea. The industrious, hardworking and apolitical farmers of Westchester, using the Hutchinson and Bronx rivers, had a ready market in nearby New York City for meat, dairy products, grain and vegetables. Here, there was little poverty or crime and neighbors enjoyed each other. There was little audience for Paul Revere as he rode through Westchester County, up and down the Boston Post Road to stop here to describe injustices inflicted on the citizens of Boston about British tyranny. It would be an understatement to say that change was unwelcome. Westchester residents established the Sons of Liberty and ignored a 1774 invitation from New York City to create their own Committee of Correspondence. On the eve of the American Revolution the farmers, mill owners, tavern keepers and other residents of the wealthiest county in the colony of New York had worked hard to achieve their comfort. They greatly resented and resisted any change that participation in an armed conflict with Britain would represent. After the outbreak of hostilities in Boston, the Tory or Loyalist faction (those Americans who sided with England) was in the majority. Initially, a prominent and wealthy Loyalist elite attempted to convince less educated farmers that joining a revolution against England was fraught with dangers that far exceeded any benefits that might result. Some prominent members of the Loyalist elite were Frederick Philipse III, owner of the manor that encompassed almost half of Westchester County; Judge Jonathan Fowler, a descendant of a signer of the Eastchester Covenant and the patriarch of one of Eastchester’s largest and most influential families; and last but not least,
the Rev. Samuel Seabury, the Episcopal minister of Eastchester’s only church, Saint Paul’s (now a National Historic Site). In 1774 and 1775, Seabury, an uncompromising Loyalist, anonymously published a series of pamphlets in local New York City newspapers commonly called “Letters from a Westchester Farmer.” A slight, boyish 19-year-old college student of questionable birth and a recent immigrant from the Caribbean had most likely read Seabury’s pamphlets published in the New York City press. On July 6, 1774, this young man named Alexander Hamilton attended a meeting of the militant Sons of Liberty. He endorsed the Boston Tea Party, deplored the closure of Boston’s port, endorsed colonial unity against unfair taxation, and came down in favor of a colonial boycott of British goods. The stage was now set for first a war of words. It would be the Loyalist Episcopal minister, Samuel Seabury, backed by the aristocratic merchant class and landowners against this young radical college student, Alexander Hamilton. In the next article, the story of this fascinating exchange of words will be examined as Westchester County, the colony of New York, and the Patriot opposition are forced to confront the power of the British Empire. Many thanks to Edna Gabler, author of the chapter “Caught between the Lines, Eastchester and the American Revolution” in “Out of the Wilderness: The Emergence of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, and Bronxville (1664-1214).” Her thorough research and lucid writing made this article possible. Please email historian@ eastchesterhistoricalsociety. org with any comments or questions you have about this column. For more information on the Eastchester Historical Society and its numerous programs, visit eastchesterhistoricalsociety.org.
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10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016
Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com
1 Kensington Terrace, Bronxville $952,000 Sale Date: 10/27/16
4 End Place, Eastchester $750,000 Sale Date: 11/2/16
10 Vernon Drive, Scarsdale $702,000 Sale Date: 9/27/16
18 Hilltop Road, Bronxville $1,085,000 Sale Date: 10/28/16
25 Warren Avenue, Tuckahoe $737,500 Sale Date: 9/30/16
32 Hathaway Road, Bronxville $859,000 Sale Date: 10/26/16
55 Lispenard Avenue, Bronxville $750,000 Sale Date: 11/11/16
62 Waterside Close, Eastchester $715,000 Sale Date: 11/7/16
69 Woodruff Avenue, Scarsdale $1,156,000 Sale Date: 9/13/16
77 Highland Avenue, Eastchester $870,000 Sale Date: 8/19/16
83 Highland Avenue, Eastchester $800,000 Sale Date: 10/11/16
97 Kensington Road, Bronxville $895,000 Sale Date: 9/28/16
108 Lakeshore Drive, Eastchester $2,050,000 Sale Date: 11/15/16
158 Park Drive, Eastchester $960,000 Sale Date: 11/21/16
182 Woodruff Avenue, Scarsdale $725,000 Sale Date: 11/22/16
250 Marbledale Road, Tuckahoe $695,000 Sale Date: 10/6/16
December 23 & 30, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11
Business Briefs Simone hosts Westchester urban development meeting
Simone Development Companies, developer of the Boyce Thompson Center, recently hosted a breakfast meeting of Westchester/Fairfield Chapter of the Urban Land Institute, ULI, at the new mixed-use center in Yonkers. One hundred people attended the Sept. 23 program, which included tours of the 85,000-square-foot center which is nearing completion. The program included presentations by Guy Leibler, president of Simone Healthcare Development; Chip Marrano, president of MCG Construction Company; Ron Hoina, partner of Design Development; Wilson Kimball, commissioner of planning and development for the city of Yonkers; and Cynthia Williams, project director for Simone Development Companies. Simone recently announced that WESTMED Medical Group will occupy two floors at the Boyce Thompson Center in a new 20,000-squarefoot building, constructed on the south side of the original building. With the new lease, the Boyce Thompson Center is now over 70 percent preleased to 10 tenants. About 25,000 square feet of medical office, set for retail and restaurant space, remains available for lease. In addition to WESTMED, health care tenants at the new Boyce Thompson Center include Gastroenterology of Westchester LLC; Juvanni Med Spa; Fresenius Medical Care; and St. John’s Riverside Hospital. Retail and restaurant tenants include Fortina Restaurant; The Taco Project; Family Wellness Pharmacy; Tompkins Mahopac Bank; PLUSHBLOW Blow-dry Bar; and Ultimate Spectacle. Located off Executive Boulevard in northwest Yonkers, the Boyce Thompson Center is an innovative mixed-use development featuring new office space for businesses and medical practices, retail stores, banking and restaurants. The historic Boyce Thompson building, which was built in the 1920s, is being restored to its original character. The center will also include outdoor site amenities such as areas for seating, eating and learning.
Fordham names new dean of professional studies Fordham University has announced the appointment of Anthony R. Davidson, Ph.D., as the new dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, the university’s college for adult and nontraditional students with a campus in West Harrison. Davidson, who previously served as dean of the School of Business at Manhattanville College in Purchase, was chosen following a national search. He is an award-winning educator who has more than 30 years of experience as a dean, professor, consultant, and entrepreneur. Among his initiatives at Manhattanville, Davidson created and launched the Women’s Leadership In-
stitute; launched a certificate program in nonprofit management in conjunction with industry leaders; forged exchange agreements with other area colleges; and collaborated with the schools of education and arts and sciences to develop joint- and dual-degree programs. Davidson earned both his bachelor’s degree in marketing, magna cum laude, and his MBA in business policy and finance from Bernard M. Baruch College of the City of New York, and earned a doctorate in management and systems science from Cass Business School of the City University of London. From 1990 to 2000, Davidson served as a professor at a number of New York-area universities, teaching management at Hofstra University and at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, management and business strategy at Adelphi University, and management and information systems at Yeshiva University. Davidson is author or co-author of many invited presentations and papers on business and higher education issues. He is an advisory board member for the World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare & Higher Education, for the Institute for Risk Management, and for various nonprofits. He also consults for senior management in numerous sectors including technology, health care, and education.
Lawrence Hospital recognized by state health department NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville is pleased to announce it is one of only 25 hospitals to be recognized by the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Immunization Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program. The hospital has been placed on the Immunization Action Coalition Birth Dose Honor Roll by achieving a 90 percent or higher coverage rate in 2015 for the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine and also passed their most recent lot quality assurance visit. “We are pleased to be a leader in the fight against hepatitis B and I am proud of the physicians, nurses, and staff members of NewYorkPresbyterian/Lawrence Hospital who are dedicated to the health of our communities,” said Michael J. Fosina, president of New York-Presbyterian/ Lawrence Hospital. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all endorse the hepatitis B birth dose. According to its letter of endorsement, “It is recommended that the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine be administered prior to hospital discharge for every newborn in the United States. In addition, the birth dose coverage rate has been adopted as a measure of hospital quality by the National Quality Forum. This birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine is the first step in creating a vaccine safety net that will protect infants from hepatitis B infection and from the development of chronic hepatitis B infection if acquired through contact with an infected mother, household member, or caregiver. Data from the July 2011 to June 2012 National Immunization Survey, NIS, found that 70 percent of U.S. newborns received a dose of hepatitis B vaccine by 3 days of age. The NIS data show a marked amount of variability by state in the use of the birth dose,
ranging from 88 percent all the way down to only 29 percent. This variability indicates that it is feasible for most states to do substantially better on their birth dose coverage, and that all states need to improve the use of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine to enhance protection of newborn infants. An estimated 800 U.S. newborns are still becoming chronically infected with hepatitis B each year from exposure at birth or during the first months of life. We are encouraging all hospitals to have policies in place to protect newborns from this important cause of liver failure and liver cancer.” Founded in 1909, NewYork-Presbyterian/ Lawrence Hospital has a long and well-established history of providing superior health care to the residents of southern Westchester County and its surrounding communities. The 288-bed hospital joined the NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network in 2014 and offers a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, a renovated Maternity Department and an Emergency Department providing emergency care to approximately 42,000 people annually. A new, state-ofthe-art comprehensive Cancer Center, accredited by the American College of Surgeons with Commendation, will offer infusion, radiation therapy and support services. NYP/Lawrence provides additional support and care to area residents through NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group/ Westchester, a multispecialty physician practice, as well as ColumbiaDoctors. For more information, visit nyp.org/lawrence or call 787-1000.
Leason Ellis ranks high in lawyer rankings Intellectual property law firm Leason Ellis LLP, located in White Plains, tops the charts in the Super Lawyers listings for Westchester County in 2016. Attorneys Paul Fields, Melvin Garner, Adda Gogoris, Yuval Marcus and Peter Sloane were all named to the list. Mel Garner has also just celebrated his 10th consecutive year as a “Super Lawyer.” He was first named in 2006. Super Lawyers further recognized two of the firm associates this year. Cameron Reuber and Lauren Sabol were both received the distinction of “Rising Stars.” Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The next Business Briefs section will run in January. Please send any submission for our January edition to news@hometwn. com, with “Business” in the subject line of your email. Each submission may include one picture. If you have any questions, email us at news@hometwn.com.
12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016
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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.
COLLECTABLES
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Notice of Formation of LEONE ONE LLC. Art.of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 11/30/16. Office location : Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 9 Cedar St. Tuckahoe. NY 10707. Purpose: any lawful activity. NOTICE OF FORMATION of Frayne Associates, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on October 4, 2016. Location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent for service of process on LLC. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to Frayne Associates, LLC located at 84 Summit Ave., Bronxville, NY 10708. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 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 7:30 PM on January 11, 2017 at the Village Hall, 65 Main Street, Tuckahoe, New York to consider the application of Andrea Golka of AMG Architecture & Design, LLC residing at 29A North Main Street., Marlborough, CT 06447 who appeals the decision of the Building Inspector, who denied the issuance of a building permit to Leslie Graham residing at 171 Lake Avenue, Tuckahoe, the owner of the property. The property is located at 171 Lake Avenue, Tuckahoe and is also known as section 36, block 2, lot 18. The nature of the application is for the following relief: Second floor addition above the existing first floor structure zoning ordinance: 4-3.41, 4-3.42, 5-1.6.3. 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, New York 10707. December, 7, 2016
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December 23 & 30, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 13
To live or die trying RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
A few years ago, a firefighter in Sacramento, California, Mike DeBartoli, noticed his hands cramping up. He figured it was a symptom of the job. But when the cramps got worse, he went to his doctor and heard the three letters no one wants to hear: ALS. DeBartoli has Lou Gehrig’s disease, a disease that robs the body of its ability to function and is always fatal. Unless... DeBartoli heard that there were some new drugs in the pipeline that could possibly slow his disease. He volunteered—begged—to be one of the guinea pigs in a clinical trial, but was turned down, in one case because he was taking other medicines for blood pressure and depression, and in another case because he was, ironically, too sick. When drug companies are testing their new treatments, their candidate profiles are so specific that most people who have the disease don’t actually qualify. In fact, only 3 percent of people desperate to get into clinical trials ever do. Which brings us to our topic today: The Right to Try. The Right to Try is a law that allows people who are terminally ill to try a drug that is promising but has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. “Patients who face imminent death ought to have the option to be able to try these new drugs, even if we don’t know they’re going to work, or what the side effects will be, [or]
the exact dosage,” says Christina Sandefur, executive vice president of the Goldwater Institute, which supports the initiative. This sounds like it would be a popular law, and in many states it is: In the last three years, 32 states have passed the Right to Try, usually with enthusiastic bipartisan support. California passed it last year, unanimously. But in New York, a Right to Try bill, proposed by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal and Sen. Kemp Hannon, did not get out of committee. Let’s see what that means for the people of New York state. When a person is terminally ill, the clock is ticking. Yes, they can apply to the FDA for a compassionate exemption, but this is so complicated and so few make it through, it’s like applying to be an astronaut. For starters, there’s a daunting amount of paperwork that must be filed by the patient’s doctor. It takes about 100 hours to gather all the information and fill out all the forms—in other words, more than two weeks of a doctor’s time devoted just to one patient. Then the request has to go through a lengthy approval process, when ever hour is critical. “There have been examples of patients that are trying to get these exceptions and sometimes they’re finally granted, but too late,” says Sandefur. The patient is underground. The reason the FDA makes access to these unproven drugs so difficult can probably be traced to the agency’s founding. It began in 1902 after a Diphtheria drug proved ineffective. Well, actually, it proved worse than that. It was fatal. Clearly America needed someone to certify the safety of our drug supply, and
thus the FDA was born. Then, in the 1960s, a drug widely prescribed to pregnant women in Europe was blocked by an FDA doctor here, Frances Oldham Kelsey, who’d heard of its side effects. The drug was Thalidomide, which caused serious birth defects, and thanks to Kelsey many American children were spared its devastation. It’s wonderful that the FDA was on the ball. But that episode of well-warranted precaution seems to have led to an agency so ultra-cautious that today it is preventing people from taking experimental drugs that may kill them—even though they’re going to die anyway. The potentially dangerous drugs are also the only potential lifesavers. The way the Right to Try is written, the only people who’d be allowed to take as-yet-unapproved drugs are those with no other hope. The drug would have to have passed at least the first stage of testing at the FDA. But then, instead of a patient starting the bureaucratic nightmare of applying to the FDA for a rare compassionate exemption (the FDA grants about 1,000 a year—even as more than 500,000 people die of cancer), all it would take is the doctor, patient and drug company agreeing to start the regimen. The FDA would not have veto power. DeBartoli, the fireman with ALS, put it this way in an interview with the Goldwater Institute: “I don’t know who the FDA thinks they are protecting.” The drugs in the pipeline might not save DeBartoli, but he deserves the right to try. Not just the right to die. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
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14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016
SPORTS
Protecting the shield LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
If I’ve had one problem with the NFL this year, it’s been all the inconsistency. But I’m not talking about the New York Giants’ hide-and-seek offense, or inconsistency in the quality of play—after all, the Thursday night games have been consistently terrible. I’m talking about the decisions made by officials—both on the field and in the league office. The games this past weekend really shined a light on some of the inexplicable decisions made by the NFL, both in terms of flags thrown and fines levied. The story, perhaps, that got the most airtime was probably the penalization—and subsequent lack of a fine—for Zeke Elliot’s “Salvation Army” celebration. In case you missed it, Elliot, Dallas’ phenomenal rookie running back, scored a touchdown
against Tampa Bay and, in a particularly inspired post-score bit, ran over to a large Salvation Army kettle on the sidelines and hopped inside it. As with all celebrations involving a prop, the stunt was immediately flagged and most viewers assumed that Elliot would be fined by the league for his antics. But the NFL, after some deliberation, decreed that the running back’s antics would not affect his wallet, deeming that it simply brought more exposure to the Salvation Army charity that has some affiliation with the league—and with Elliot’s Cowboys. Now, I don’t care that Elliot wasn’t fined. I have no problem with NFL players showing a little creativity when it comes to touchdown celebrations, and I think the league would be better off if they allowed players to show off their personality some more. But this is the same league that fined Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. for gesturing as if he were taking a picture of team-
mate Victor Cruz after a touchdown, something Beckham pointed out on Twitter. “That’s funny that there’s no fine for that,” Beckham tweeted. “I could only imagine if I was the one to do it.” And he’s not the only player who thinks that the league is selective in enforcing some of its rules. On Monday night, Cam Newton, who probably takes more of a beating than any other quarterback in the NFL not named Ben Roethlisberger, was hit in the head by a Redskins defender as he slid, feet first on the field, a play distinctly verboten under today’s NFL rules. There was no flag on the hit, however, but Newton—who has repeatedly complained about officials allowing him to be targeted illegally—was penalized for tossing the ball at the player who took the cheap shot. I can only imagine Newton’s frustration a quarter later, as a completely legal hit on his Redskins’ counterpart drew a flag and
Over the last few seasons, the NFL has come under fire for its perceived selectivity in enforcing its own rules. Sports Editor Mike Smith believes that maybe the league’s lack of transparency is hurting its bottom line. Photo courtesy NFL.com
extended a drive for Washington. These are just the latest in a long line of inexplicable decisions made by the league.
Many—mostly Pats fans—believe that the Giants, who were just found guilty of illegal walkietalkie use during their game two
weeks ago against Dallas, got off lightly with a small fine and a downgraded fourth-round pick for their transgressions. Some players, like the Jets’ Sheldon Richardson, are able to lead police on a high speed chase, fail drug tests and face only a fourgame suspension, while others, like the Bills’ Seantrel Henderson, has to miss 10 games for a second failed drug test—even though it has been well documented that Henderson uses marijuana to treat his Crohn’s disease. Viewing numbers for football have been down this season, and the league is scrambling to find out why. In my mind, it’s not the oversaturation of games during the week, a lack of compelling prime time match-ups, or a dearth of star power that is hurting the league. I think that fans are starting to realize that the NFL is less concerned with adjudicating fair punishments and more concerned with “protecting the shield.” Now if they could only figure out what that meant.
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Lennon takes over Rye lax By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor For the first time in more than a decade, the Rye boys’ lacrosse team will have a new face as the head of the program, as Steve Lennon was formally approved as the incoming varsity head coach at the Rye City Board of Education meeting on Dec. 13. Lennon, who spent the last four years at the helm of the Eastchester program, will be taking over for co-head coaches Brian and Scott Dooley, who have been with the district since 2004. “I found out in late October that the Dooleys were leaving and that the job was opening up,” Lennon said. “I felt that this was what was best for me, and my family, coming to a program that is perennially in the top 10.” After spending five years coaching the JV team at Lakeland/Panas, Lennon quickly made an impact when he took over the Eastchester program in 2012. In four years there, his
teams posted a 45-26 record, captured the school’s first-ever league title in 2013, and set new win records every year for the past three seasons. In 2016, Lennon earned Section I’s Class B Coach of the Year award, and his Eagles reached the sectional semifinals, where they fell to eventual champion Yorktown. Coincidentally, Rye also reached the Class B semis last year. According to Lennon, his biggest success in Eastchester was not necessarily measured by wins and losses, but in how many of his players invested time in the offseason to improving their lacrosse skills. “I’d say the culture definitely changed,” he said. “I think the kids started to buy in to playing year-round. I still encourage having multi-sport athletes, but I think playing games in the offseason, keeping the stick in their hands, that’s what made a big difference.” In Rye, Lennon will step into a program that has a bit more
history behind it. Under the Dooleys, Rye won five straight section titles from 2005 to 2010. And several players on the 2017 team, including Will Hynson, Owen Hull and Peter Chabot, have already committed to Division I college programs. “I called a meeting for Monday [Dec. 19] with the entire team, I want to get going right away,” Lennon said. “There’s a lot of preparation that goes into it, so sitting down with the team and the rest of the coaches in the program is important.” As far as the team he left behind, Lennon admitted that accepting the new job was bittersweet. “It’s absolutely one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made,” he said. “It was always my goal to turn Eastchester into that team that contended for a section title ever year; now I’m just trying to do the same thing at Rye.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
On Dec. 13, Steve Lennon was announced as the new head coach of the Rye boys’ varsity lacrosse team. Lennon was named the Section I Class B Coach of the Year last year while at Eastchester High School. Contributed photo
SPORTS
December 23 & 30, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15
THE ROUNDUP Tuckahoe 82 Eastchester 62 Children’s Village 46 AT CHILDREN’S VILLAGE 12/19/16 Harrison 51 Tuckahoe blasted Children’s BOYS BASKETBALL
AT HARRISON
12/15/16
A strong second half propelled the Eagles to a first-round win over Harrison on the opening day of the fifth annual Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament at Harrison High School, as the Huskies wilted in the third quarter. Eastchester, led by Jack Heffernan and Luke Elson, was able to open up a 34-27 lead heading into the fourth and only added to that lead with a strong finish. The Eagles would go on to drop a game to a solid Peekskill team in the finals on Dec. 18, falling to the Red Devils 67-41.
Bronxville 56 Dobbs Ferry 45 AT BRONXVILLE
12/18/16
Following a loss in the first round of the Bill Green Invitational, the Bronco boys roared back to a consolation game win, topping the Eagles by 11 points at home. Jack Reilly paced Bronxville with a team-high 22 points, but Alston Tarry (14 points) and Matt Toal (11) also reached double digits.
Village on Monday, nearly doubling the point total of their hosts to come away with a onesided win. Alex Williams had 19 points for Tuckahoe, which had a number of players contribute offensively off the bench.
Trailing 21-8 after a quarter of play, Eastchester climbed back into contention, thanks, in part, to a tremendous effort by Fiona Teahan, who tallied 15 points and 14 rebounds in the comeback. Cassidy Mitchell, who has been the Eagles’ top scorer this year, scored a game-high 22 points. The win came in the opening round of Pelham’s holiday tournament, but the remainder of the schedule was postponed due to weather.
Tuckahoe 58 Blind Brook 44 Bronxville 57 AT MAMARONECK 12/20/16 Tuckahoe had no problems Hamilton 31 with games on back-to-back days, as they followed up a win over Children’s Village with another double-digit win, this time over the Blind Brook Trojans. Jordan Lewis has 23 points to set the tone for the Tigers.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Eastchester 63 Pelham 58 AT PELHAM
12/15/16
On Thursday, the Eagles scored a monumental comeback win over a league rival, erasing an early 13-point deficit to outlast the Pelicans.
AT BRONXVILLE
Eastchester’s Jack Heffernan goes up for a layup against Harrison. Eastchester topped Harrison, but fell in the tournament finals to Peekskill.
12/18/16
In the championship round of Bronxville’s Bill Green Invitational, Aly Schultz scored 13 points to nab MVP honors as the Broncos continued their strong play this year. Schultz was not alone in her offensive production however, as Ashley Kay netted 18 points and Brooke Tatarian added 15 of her own. Tatarian was also named to the All-Tournament team. Bronxville is currently 5-1 on the year. -Reporting by Mike Smith To report game scores, you can email Sports Editor Mike Smith at sports@hometwn.com.
Matt McLaughlin feeds an open teammate on Dec. 15. Photos/Mike Smith
Eastchester’s Luke Elson loses the ball in a Dec. 15 matchup with Harrison. Eastchester beat the Huskies 62-51.
A Huskies player tries to dribble into the lane against Eastchester.
16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 23 & 30, 2016