Eastchester REVIEW THE
December 16, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 51 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Rabin wins fire board election over Napolitano By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer
A new way to pay
Drivers can now pay to park in Bronxville’s Garden Avenue lot using new machines that accept credit cards, but not all users were prepared for the change. For story, see page 7. Photo/Corey Stockton
Fair housing agency sues town over voucher program By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The Fair Housing Justice Center has filed a lawsuit against the town of Eastchester, alleging that the town’s Section 8 housing choice voucher program’s preference for town residents is discriminatory against African-American and Hispanic applicants. The housing choice voucher program allows low-income, elderly and disabled individuals or families to find rental housing in which the property owner is willing to accept subsidized rent payments from the town’s housing agency. The agency receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD.
The Fair Housing Justice Center, FHJC, a Long Island City-based nonprofit civil rights organization, filed a suit on Nov. 21 alleging that Eastchester’s preference to issue housing vouchers to its residents before issuing vouchers to those from out of town is inherently discriminatory because the town’s population is predominantly Caucasian. In the lawsuit, FHJC claims that Eastchester disregards the impact of its policy to give vouchers to residents before non-residents. Katie Garcia, a spokesperson for the FHJC, told the Review, “The town has failed to consider the discriminatory impact of its residency preferences, which result in the
suppression of minority participation, denial of housing opportunities to African-Americans and Hispanics, and perpetuation of residential segregation.” The FHJC also claims that it conducted an investigation concluding that residents on a voucher waitlist in Eastchester can wait for several months for a voucher, while non-residents wait for 10 to 15 years. “By applying residency preferences and warning applicants of the wait, the town discourages non-residents, who are more likely to be African-American and Hispanic, from applying to the program,” the FHJC said in a released statement. According to HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook,
a municipal housing authority can establish preferences for its waitlist as long as those preferences don’t exclude applicants based on marital status, disability, receipt of public assistance, age, race, color, religion, gender or national origin. According to the town’s housing choice voucher administrative plan drafted in 2014, first preference is given to those who have been involuntarily displaced, are living in substandard housing or are homeless, or are paying more than 50 percent of their income in rent. Secondary preference is given to those who live and work in Eastchester or its villages of Bronxville and HOUSING continued on page 9
Starting Jan. 1, 2017, Stuart Rabin will join the Eastchester Board of Fire Commissioners as its newest elected official. On Tuesday, Dec. 13, Rabin won the fire district’s annual election against the incumbent commissioner, Jerry Napolitano, by a margin of 655 votes to 396, according to results compiled by the Board of Fire Commissioners. Rabin, a 35-year resident of Eastchester who has worked for the town for more than 10 years, including in his current role as an office administrator of the Parks and Recreation Department, had been critical of the board’s transparency, budgeting and frequency of legal battles in the month leading up to the election. But after the election, he lauded Napolitano’s efforts to increase transparency since 2011, when he was first elected. “My opponent did give his service for five years, and I’m very appreciative of that,” Rabin told the Review, adding that he would look to build on what Napolitano has brought to the district. During a Dec. 5 debate between the two candidates mediated by Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin, a Republican, Rabin, 37, called for a more detailed budget and regularly scheduled meetings, among other transparency issues. According to the fire district’s bylaws, the district’s scheduled meetings are supposed to be held on the third Thursday of each month; but over the past year, the board has held at least five regular monthly meetings on different
calendar days. During the first regularly scheduled board meeting of each year, the board re-appoints each commissioner to two committees. Rabin said he would be best suited for the district’s facilities and apparatus committee, citing his experience as a facilities administrator with the town of Eastchester. “My hope is to be able to be utilized with my strengths,” he said. He added that he has experience working with unions, and therefore would also be interested in being placed on the district’s professional firefighters committee. Rabin said, overall, he hopes to work with the board to make the district, which has a $16.9 million budget for 2017, more affordable. “I look forward to working with everyone who’s on the board with a shared goal of making our district better,” he added. Rabin was elected to serve from Jan. 1, 2017 until Dec. 31, 2021. Fire district commissioners serve on a volunteer basis and do not receive compensation. The district holds elections annually, as terms are staggered so that one commissioner’s term expires each year. Next year, Commissioner Steven Baker’s seat will be up for election. The fire district has been adamant about increasing voter turnout over the last several years. This year, there were 1,051 voters, down from about 1,600 last year. Napolitano could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
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2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016
Astorino announces Senior Hall of Fame 2016 County Executive Rob Astorino joined in honoring the achievements of 58 senior citizens from throughout Westchester at the 34th annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame awards luncheon on Friday, Dec. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. This year’s program, one of the largest to date, names dedicated veteran and Yonkers resident Jack Lotz as top honoree. “It is a privilege to honor this dynamic group of Westchester residents for their service to others and their dedication to the community at large by inducting them into our Senior Citizens Hall of Fame,” Astorino said. “This longstanding Westchester tradition is our way of recognizing and thanking seniors for their time, energy and commitment to enhancing the quality of life of those around them.” Among this year’s award recipients age 60 and older, four seniors will receive the Special Recognition Award: Jean C. Anderson, of New Rochelle; John F. Larkin, of Eastchester; and Katherine Moore, of Rye.
Other members of the Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Class of 2016 include: Irwin Rothman of Bronxville; Jim Fillis, of Eastchester; Mary Kingsley, of Harrison; Jack Adler, of Larchmont; Kathleen Flynn, and Barbara Werber, of Mamaroneck; Ruth Katz, and Janice Malett, of New Rochelle; and Ralph Vellone, of Rye. The Senior Citizens Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services, DSPS; the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; Westchester County Livable Communities; and the Westchester Public/ Private Partnership for Aging Services. Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care in Scarsdale is a co-sponsor. DSPS commissioner Mae Carpenter said the achievements of the Hall of Fame honorees show the importance of people giving back to their communities and to each other. “The honorees show that age is never a deterrent to being a vital member of our society,” she said. “In fact, it’s an
advantage because of the life experiences they bring with them. Their generous contributions have helped to make Westchester one of the most senior-friendly places in the world.” The Senior Hall of Fame began in 1983—the 300th anniversary of Westchester County’s founding. Its purpose was to showcase how seniors contributed to building the county, and more than 1,100 seniors have since been inducted. To be nominated, seniors must have made significant and enduring contributions to enhance the quality of life in Westchester through their professional work, volunteer achievements or both. Nominations are made by members of the community, and the honorees are selected by a panel of judges and Hall of Fame members. The names of past honorees are engraved on plaques that are permanently displayed at the DSPS office in Mount Vernon. Top Honors: John “Jack” Lotz, of Yonkers Lotz is a lifelong Yonkers resident. As an actor and mem-
John F. Larkin, of Eastchester. Photo courtesy Westchester County
ber of the Screen Actors Guild since 1978, his roles have included roles in “Raging Bull” and “The Sopranos.” He was also a stunt driver in many films. His latest role was Ruben in “The Hurricane Carter.” He has also been a referee in professional wrestling and boxing. As a volunteer, Jack has supported
and had leading roles with the Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans Organizations, the Korean War Veterans and the New York State Korean War Veterans. The past four years he has organized events for the Veterans State Nursing Home and the Federal Nursing Home Building 6 in Montrose. He has started a fund with the Yonkers Veterans Posts for needy and homeless veterans. He is the founder of the Medal of Honor Ceremony and has worked with members of the Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans to find a site to house the Yonkers Veterans Museum. His focus is also on helping youth learn more about veterans and he has organized bus trips to Montrose Nursing Home and Kings Bridge Veterans Hospital for local middle and high school students. In addition, Jack was one of the organizers of the Veterans March on Washington, D.C., for mandatory health care for all veterans. A man of many accomplishments, he has received the Americanism Award twice in recognition of his efforts within the veteran’s community. Jack and his wife Mary have been married over 63 years and have five
children, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Special Recognition: John F. Larkin, of Eastchester Larkin is a lifelong Westchester resident. He worked for 37 years as an educator and coach at Mount Vernon High School. He taught government and economics, as well as world and American history. John won several “Coach of the Year” awards in basketball and softball. John is an active member and leader of several committees for the John A. Keogh Council 2108 of the Knights of Columbus, including membership and the Knights of Columbus Food for Families Committee. Every weekend, he drives to East Harlem to deliver food, clothing and shoes and works in the Solanus Casey Soup Kitchen. He spends considerable time recruiting volunteers and members to help encourage more giving and support for the charities he is involved in. He and his wife, Julie, also volunteer at the Adult Learning Center in New Rochelle, where they teach English as a Second Language. Together they have three children and recently welcomed a granddaughter to the family. (Submitted)
December 16, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 3
County budget finalized, includes airport deal By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A $1.8 billion budget was passed by both the Westchester County Board of Legislators and County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, this week, even despite lawmakers trepidation over the inclusion of $15 million in tentative revenue from a deal privatizing the county airport. The 2017 budget, which was passed by the Board of Legislators on Monday by a slim margin of 10-7, and modifies a previous budget submitted to the legislative chamber by Astorino last month, will retain the county executive’s proposed flat tax rate, but will also add four additional engineering positions to the county’s depleted Department of Public Works roster, in addition to injecting $1 million to the county’s Title XX child care program as a result of legislators’ amendments. After what was shaping up to be a dead-end deal, legislators also voted to include $15 million in projected revenue derived from a deal privatizing the management of Westchester County Airport on the condition that the plan undergo a public bidding process. Previously, the $130 million, 40-year agreement, which was sent down to legislators on Nov. 3 by Astorino, a little more than a month before the budget’s final approval deadline, would have given the investment firm Oaktree Management the exclusive bid. After backlash from lawmakers across the board, however, the board voted unanimously to send out a request for proposals, RFP, that could possibly transfer the management of the county’s airport—which is being processed through an FAA-run privatization program—to another company. Current operator of the county’s airport, AVPorts, has already said it would have bid on the contract if there had been an opportunity to do so. “The feeling on our floor was that there might be real merit to participating in this FAA privatization program,” said Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hastingson-Hudson Democrat, who had previously expressed doubt over the proposal’s efficacy. “And with putting the whole concept out to competitive bid, you could get a deal that is worthy of being
After backlash from many legislators, a deal to privatize Westchester County Airport will move forward after a bipartisan decision to budget $15 million in prospective revenue. Photo courtesy westchestergov.com
signed off on.” The deal plans to extract revenue from the airport by charging a fee for its management while simultaneously—through the FAA’s program—altering a federal law that dictates that revenue from the airport be used for airport-related expenses. Through the program, the county would be allowed to funnel airport revenue into its operating budget. Though the money has been budgeted, Shimsky said any deal, and therefore revenue, is still contingent upon a successful RFP process, necessary approvals from stakeholders in the airport—including 65 percent of the airlines operating there—and an expedient processing of the application by the FAA, which has in some cases dragged on for as long as 29 months. If that revenue doesn’t come to fruition, Shimsky explained, the money budgeted from the airport deal would likely have to come from the county’s cash reserves, which could have adverse impacts on the county’s AAA bond rating and therefore its ability to issue lowinterest debt. The county is already projecting a $30 million budget shortfall for its 2017 budget due to declining sales tax revenue, increasingly high health care costs, and lower gas and energy prices. Currently, of the 10 airports that applied to the FAA’s program since its introduction in 1996, only one—Luis Muñoz Marín airport in Puerto Rico— has completed the process and has since remained privatized. Even despite the county board’s unanimous decision to pursue the deal, both Shimsky and other Democratic legislators, many of which voted against the approval of the budget, have continued to express concern over what they describe
as an “unbalanced” budget. “This budget puts the county’s finances at the edge of the cliff without any financial flexibility,” Democrats said in a joint statement this week. Among the chief concerns listed by the Democratic caucus are what they describe as an overly optimistic sales tax revenue of 3 percent in addition to negotiations regarding the county’s union contracts—all of which are expired this year— which could result in increased salaries and benefits. Lawmakers cut Astorino’s plans for an enhanced Kensico Dam from the budget; an extensive project to revamp the area was announced by the county executive back in October and would have poured upwards of $17 million into a revamped reflecting pool and skating rink. But one major amendment to the budget, prompted by the legislators’ review, will be four new engineering positions to the county’s Department of Public Works. These positions—through supervising construction sites and processing RFPs—will help tackle the $1.5 billion in capital project backlogs that include repairs to roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. “[The budget adds] critical positions to our county police and engineering positions in the Department of Public Works to help address a major backlog of capital projects,” said Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat. Nonprofits, some of which have been faced with significant budget cuts in 2016, will see a marginal increase of $210,000 for community-based organizations in the most recent county budget. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016
What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library
Adult Coloring Group On Monday Dec. 19 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Coloring has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Come and be creative and meet new friends, all while listening to tranquil music. Coloring sheets and materials will be provided. Light refreshments will be served.
Join in and see if you can conquer the theme.
Preschool Craft On Thursday, Dec. 22 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. For ages 3 and up. This will be holiday-themed stories followed by a craft project.
Tuckahoe Public Library
Yoga Kids 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.
Christmas Craft On Monday, Dec. 19. For ages 3 and 4, from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; for ages 5 and up, from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Online registration is required. Participants will make two fun Christmas projects to brighten your holiday season.
Mother Goose Time On Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Join Miss Teresa for a musical adventure to the Mother Goose land with songs and fun. For 18 months to 3 years old. No registration required.
On Mondays from 4 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Children will build focus, confidence and strength as they learn traditional yoga poses, age-appropriate breathing exercises, and relaxation skills. For ages 4 to 7. Online registration is required, and includes three sessions: Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Please include the child’s name and age in the comment box.
Social Needlers On Wednesday, Dec. 21 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.
Dawny Dew concert On Wednesday, Dec. 21 from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. Best for ages 2 and up. This is a fun singalong filled with music and puppets.
Bronxville Public Library
LEGO Makerspace
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 Monday, Dec. 26 for Christmas.
On Wednesday, Dec. 21 from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For ages 11 and up. This is a great way for participants to use their creativity and building skills while following certain themes each time.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital The NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital is located at 55 Palmer Road in Bronxville. For more information, visit nyp.org.
Look Good Feel Better On Monday, Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby Conference Room. Look Good Feel Better is a free program designed for women dealing with hair loss and skin changes from chemotherapy and radiation. You will learn specific techniques to help you look and feel your best while undergoing treatment. To register, call 800-227-2345.
Weight Loss Surgery Seminar 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.
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.
Singalong with Miss Elaine On Monday, Dec. 19 at 11:30 a.m. For newborns to age 6. Registration is required by calling 961-2121.
On Tuesday, Dec. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the lobby Conference Room. You are invited to attend a free preoperative education seminar. Led by the NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital clinical team, you will learn about weight loss surgical options, risks of surgery, expected weight loss and lifestyle changes that are required following surgery. To register, call 787-4000.
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
BabyTime StoryTime On Thursday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. Stories and songs for babies up to 2 years old. Registration is required by calling 961-2121.
StoryTime On Friday, Dec. 23 at 11 a.m. Stories and songs for ages 2 to 7. Registration is required by calling 961-2121.
Westchester Italian Cultural Center
The Village Lutheran Church is located at 172 White Plains Road in Bronxville. For more information, call 337-0207 or visit vlc-ny.org.
The Westchester Italian Cultural Center is located at 1 Generoso Pope Place in Tuckahoe. For more information, call 771-8700 or visit wiccny.org.
Round-The-Table Carol Sing ‘Good Tidings We Bring’
On Sunday, Dec. 18 at 10:45 a.m. A service of lessons and carols to tell the good news of Jesus’ On Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. Natale is by far birth. With carols and hymns led by the Chancel the most important holiday of the year in Italy, and Choir, Youth Choir, Village Bells, Village Brass family gatherings are the most important part of and strings. the festivities. During this time, families reunite, German Christmas service spending time together celebrating old traditions that have been passed down from one generation On Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. A service of lesto the next. Rediscover the magic of Christmas, sons and carols in the German language. and join the Westchester Italian Cultural Center to Lessons & Carols make traditional pizzelle and enjoy a special show based on one of the most heartwarming stories by On Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. This wonderTomie DePaola: “Merry Christmas Strega Nonna.” ful evening is filled with music led by The Chapel Laura Caparrotti, of Kairos Italy Theater, will take School choirs. you into Strega Nonna’s world as she learns about the true spirit of Christmas when a special someDeadline for our What’s Going On one gives her a gift that she will never forget. Child section is every Thursday at noon. Though fee: members $30; non-members $40. One parent space is not guaranteed, we will do our best and child fee: members $40; non-members $50. to accommodate your listing. Please send all Special rate for family up to five people: members items to news@hometwn.com. $60; non-members $70.
Merry Christmas with Strega Nonna
December 16, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5
Ulbricht to teach ballet master class at JCC New York City Ballet principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht will once again teach an intermediate-level ballet master class, with pianist Miles Fusco, at the JCC Dance School on Wednesday, Dec. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon. This will be Ulbricht’s seventh year teaching the JCC’s Holiday Master Ballet Class. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, Ulbricht began his dance training at the age of 11. At age 16, Ulbricht was invited by the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet, to continue his training. In 2000, he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet and a year later, he joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet.
In 2005, Ulbricht was promoted to the rank of soloist; he has been a NYC Ballet principal dancer since 2007. Currently, Ulbricht is the artistic advisor of Manhattan Youth Ballet; coartistic director of the New York State Summer School for the Arts in Saratoga Springs; and serves as a consultant to a number of schools and guest teacher at the School of American Ballet and the Ballet Academy East. He also teaches at wellknown national dance schools, private schools and universities throughout the United States. The dynamic Ulbricht is also co-founder of Dance Against Cancer, an annual fundraising event to benefit the American
Cancer Society, and directs Stars of American Ballet, a chambersized group of top-level ballet dancers that tours the world as an outreach program. Fusco, who is on faculty at the JCC Dance School as a pianist, holds two degrees from Juilliard and has worked with such artists as Alvin Ailey, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Erik Bruhn, Fernando Bujones, Margot Fonteyn, Carla Fracci, Cynthia Gregory, Susan Jaffe, Rudolph Nureyev, and Twyla Tharp. The JCC Dance School, one of Westchester’s most respected dance programs, provides all levels of dance training by professional faculty for pre-school, teen and adult students. Classes include ballet, pointe, hip hop, tap, contemporary, musical theatre jazz, salsa, Israeli folk and Zumba. Most ballet classes feature live piano accompaniment. JCC Dance School students have gone on to careers with professional dance companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Norwegian National Ballet.
New York City Ballet principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht will once again teach an intermediate-level ballet master class at the JCC Dance School on Dec. 28. Photo courtesy JCC
The fee for the master class is $35. Space is limited. Pre-regis-
tration is required. To register, contact the JCC front desk in
person or by phone at 472 3300 ext. 0. (Submitted)
6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016
Eastchester REVIEW THE
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Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lynne Starr ext. 29, lynne@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Franco Fino
‘Larchmont’: A father, a
son, and a small town By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor With a population of 6,000 in an area just over 1 square mile, the village of Larchmont may not seem so small to its residents. However, “Larchmont,” a new indie film from two village natives, highlights just how quickly news can spread, and how inescapable that can be. Twenty-four-year-olds Ben Zuckert and Will Seife, both former Larchmont residents who now live in Brooklyn, co-produced the movie. “We were born [in Larchmont] and grew up there; we both went to Chatsworth, and then Hommocks and then Mamaroneck High School,” Seife said. “We actually grew up down the street from each other [in Larchmont Manor],” Zuckert added.
“Larchmont” marks the duo’s first feature film, which was shot in various locations in Larchmont in the summer of 2015 in just 18 days with help from about 70 people—many of them local residents—in front and behind the camera. “The shoot was very exciting, but also very stressful,” Zuckert told the Review. “We had to make sure we got everything in those 18 days.” Obstacles included working with actor union guidelines and labor rules. “It was a blind faith operation that it was going to work out,” Zuckert said. “We both lost a lot of weight.” Seife said, “We were both wearing a lot of different hats for the shoot.” Zuckert said he realized he wanted to shoot a movie in his “beautiful” hometown while
he attended Tufts University. “Larchmont” focuses on the relationship between a recent college grad questioning his choice to continue on to medical school and a recently unemployed father. “[Larchmont] affects both of the characters’ stories; at least for the dad, who lost his job but doesn’t want his friends to know,” Zuckert added. “But because Larchmont is such a small town, word starts to get out quickly, and people start to approach him about it.” The son is affected by the village because not many people his age, between 22 and 30, live there, while his father has to deal with neighbors and friends wondering what he is doing with his life. “If we had taken this story and placed it somewhere else, it
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Some of the cast and crew at the “Larchmont” screening at YoFiFest in October. From left, actor Gregg Edelman, co-producers Ben Zuckert and Will Seife, and actor Will Jacobs.
A scene from the movie “Larchmont” featuring actor Brian A. Mason, who plays the role of a son who is questioning his choice to go to medical school upon returning home after graduating from college. Photos courtesy Ben Zuckert
would have been a totally different story with how these characters would’ve coped with these situations,” Seife said. “Larchmont” is an independent release; the company that released the film, Sugarsoap Productions, was founded in the fall of 2014 by Zuckert and Seife, a few months after the movie was conceptualized. The film simultaneously premiered on Oct. 22 at the Yonkers Film Festival, YoFiFest, and the Twin Cities Film Festival in Minneapolis. “It was really nice to have the premiere very close to Larchmont so we could get a lot of the cast [and crew] out, and people who are close to us,” Seife said of the Yonkers premiere.
The Larchmont Public Library will hold a free screening of the film on Sunday, Dec. 18 starting with refreshments and popcorn at 3:30 p.m. The Emelin Theatre in the village of Mamaroneck, in conjunction with the Center for Continuing Education’s Notable Neighbors series, will hold a screening on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. “People have been hearing about this [movie] or maybe saw us shooting around town,” Seife said. “We want to give a lot of opportunities for [local residents] to see it.” For more information, visit larchmontmovie.com. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
December 16, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 7
Parking kiosks installed in Garden Ave. lot By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The village of Bronxville is now offering another method to pay for parking in one of its most crowded lots, although the rollout hasn’t been without any glitches. On Dec. 1, the village installed three digital parking kiosks in the Garden Avenue lot. The machines allow users to pay with coins, $1 or $5 bills, and Visa or MasterCard. “It’s about offering alternatives and providing systems that are more convenient and user-friendly for shoppers and patrons,” said Bronxville Village Administrator Jim Palmer. Bronxville purchased the machines from T2 Systems in September for about $11,000 each. The traditional coin-operated, single-space parking meters are no longer in place; they have been replaced with small signs that denote parking space numbers. In September, Palmer told the Review that the village chose the Garden Avenue lot for the first wave of parking kiosks because
that lot has the widest variety of allowable parking times. Some spaces are designated for twohour parking, while others are allotted for three or four hours. Long-term parking is also allowed there for merchants with the required decals. But amid the village’s attempt to modernize, both merchants and shoppers have expressed concerns over flaws in the new technology. “They’re not ideal,” said Gina Ginzo, who works adjacent to the parking lot. “These [kiosks] are not in the favor of employees.” Ginzo added that going from her car to the kiosk every time she parks adds an extra step to her daily process. Others users of the kiosks complained to the Review that the machines don’t issue change for patrons who pay more than the exact amount required. “Why should I give them an extra quarter?” said Tony Boreli, an Eastchester resident, after reading a sticker posted on one of the pay stations that explained the policy. “I pay enough in taxes already.”
Overall, however, customers said that the machines were easy to operate, although with the rollout many patrons have forgotten to record their space number before going to the kiosk to pay for parking, and therefore had to return to their cars. In response, Palmer said the village will post more signage throughout the lot reminding patrons to record their space number. He added that the village was working to see what changes it could make to improve the software and machine prompts, but that some of the issues would resolve themselves as customers get acclimated. The village will continue to allow drivers to use Pango, a mobile app for Apple, Android and Google, which allows customers to pay for parking in all municipal spaces throughout the village directly through their phones. According to T2 Systems website, the machines used in the Garden Avenue lot also allow customers to extend parking time through an app, separate from Pango, and can send mobile alerts if a customer’s time is
Two pay stations in the center of the Garden Avenue parking lot accept coins, bills, Visa and MasterCard. Another pay station is located near the stairs that lead from the lot to Pondfield Road. Photo/Corey Stockton
about to expire. In addition to the Garden Avenue lot, the Kensington parking structure, a 309-space underground parking garage being built in tandem with a condominium development scheduled to be available for village use sometime in 2017, will have similar parking kiosks installed for when the structure is ready for use.
Installing the new kiosks in other lots in the village, such as the Kraft Avenue lot—mostly used by merchants and MetroNorth commuters—may be put on hold until then. “We’ll absolutely look at [other lots],” Palmer said. “Before we jump to that we’ll probably look at the Kensington garage.” Palmer added that he has also met with a company to discuss
smart parking meters, individual meters made for street-side parking which accept credit and debit cards as well as cash and coins. The village could soon look to install those meters along Kraft Avenue and Pondfield Road. Currently, those meters only accept coins or payment via the Pango app. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016
Re-examining Bronxville’s business district BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin
P U B LI S H ES
Mamaroneck THE
REVIEW
CityREVIEW T Harrison NewRochelle REVIEW THE
Eastchester REVIEW THE
INSIDE
HE
INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY
www.hometwn.com | 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203, White Plains N.Y. 10601 | (914) 653-1000
The village trustees and I are embarking on a review of all of our policies/regulations/ time frames for operation in our business district with the goal of sustaining and in some cases revitalizing areas of our “downtown.” Given the continuing appearance of empty storefronts coupled with less than robust sales for some existing businesses, a re-examination of the village’s role in this is the prudent approach. In essence, in this very competitive environment, we want to ensure that the village has no barriers that serve as disincentives to opening a business in Bronxville when compared with neighboring communities. With the steady rise of Internet commerce and big box retailers, the shopping paradigm has clearly changed, requiring an examination of methods for conducting commerce. Some of the questions/issues requiring review are the following: • The village’s active discouragement of national chains (yet, we have the king of all national franchises—Starbucks). Is this still good policy? • Should the procedural and location restrictions currently placed on service businesses versus the sale of retail goods be minimized in light of the fact that many of the successful new businesses are those with a product that cannot be purchased at midnight on the Internet? For example, a ballet class or tutoring service. • Many parking issues come to the fore (operating under the caveat that we cannot increase inventory immediately.) -How do we give an incentive to merchants and their employees to park in remote avail-
able locations versus feeding the meters on the prime parking streets, thereby filling spaces better used for potential customers? -Is better signage needed to direct shoppers to the available parking places off of the major thoroughfares? As a corollary, how do we change the culture that assumes if there is no parking on Pondfield Road or Park Place, there is no parking to shop? -Under the parking aegis, how do we balance the need for parking enforcement both in terms of the revenue it produces as well as ensuring a turnover of spaces for additional shoppers with the loss of goodwill generated with perceived aggressive and uneven enforcement, cognizant of the fact that loss of goodwill has a monetary value as well? -Should we be bonding for a municipal parking garage as the next major capital project? • How do we market the village, perhaps with a more regional approach utilizing the growing benefits of social media, while in concert emphasizing to village residents the nexus between shopping local and lower taxes? • Is there recourse when landlords make demands in leases that cause prospective renters to do business elsewhere? This is a particularly frustrating issue as an inflexible landlord can keep a store empty, rendering it unattractive to the overall streetscape as well as dampening the perceived vitality of the rest of the business district— and if empty long enough, can petition the village for a tax reduction! New York state law has no provisions for penalty taxation of perpetually empty store fronts. We are, however, looking into other options offered, including an inspection fee schedule for vacant spaces. • Are the village’s planning/ zoning regulations and approv-
al process time frames in line with like communities competing for the same businesses? • Is it beneficial to encourage more outdoor dining? If permitted, should it be subject to a yearly permit review based on cleanliness, noise and proper amount of approved seating? • Is there a fair, non-subjective method to monitor the outdoor display of merchandise? As example, beautiful flowers and plants add beauty to the streetscape whereas snow shovels and cases of water do not. • Are the village’s code provisions relating to signs in store windows in concert with current needs? Should our regulations be enforced more vigorously to achieve a more attractive visual appearance? Per our current code, none of the signs posted advertising school plays, charity auctions, etc. are permissible. Yet it is very hard for merchants to turn down students or loyal customers who ask to post an announcement of community events. • Should we be spending more municipal money on beautification and streetscape? • Is there a way to get some of our merchants to improve the condition/cleanliness of their sidewalks/trash system/storefronts somewhere between gentle suasion and punitive fines? Net-net, times have changed for good or for ill in the business environment, and the village has to keep pace on the above subjects to maintain the beauty and aesthetics that make Bronxville the unique and historical village it is. Many of our residents are experts in some of the above areas due to professional training and expertise or simply because they are the boots on the ground experiencing the village every day as a resident and consumer. I ask your feedback as we clearly enter a new era in retail services. My email address is mayor@vobny.com.
Town of Eastchester’s
Official Newspaper
December 16, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9 HOUSING from page 1
The Fair Housing Justice Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization, has sued the town of Eastchester for its preference in administering Section 8 housing vouchers to residents before non-residents. File photo
Tuckahoe, and then to those who live in Eastchester or its villages. According to the FHJC, 75 percent of those who hold Eastchester’s 255 housing choice vouchers are Caucasian, whereas 15 percent of the town’s voucher holders are African-American and 9 percent are Hispanic. Conversely, in Westchester County, only 18 percent of the voucher holders are Caucasian, whereas 48 percent are African-American, and 33 percent are Hispanic. The Review has submitted a Freedom of Information Law, FOIL, request to the town seeking the demographic statistics of the town’s housing voucher holders and those on its waitlist. The 2010 census recorded Eastchester’s population at
about 83 percent Caucasian. The same census had Westchester County at about 57 percent Caucasian. The FHJC launched a similar suit against the town of Yorktown in 2010 and settled two years later. As part of the settlement, Yorktown can no longer preferentially administer vouchers to town residents, and was required to continue its Section 8 housing program until those on the waitlist at the time of settlement had each received an opportunity for a voucher. Yorktown also had to reimburse the FHJC for attorneys’ fees. The nonprofit organization claims it is seeking similar results from its lawsuit against Eastchester. Garcia said FHJC is
also seeking damages. Eastchester was one of the 33 predominantly Caucasian communities named in HUD’s lawsuit against Westchester County, in which HUD said the county had not done enough to promote fair and affordable housing in those communities. As part of a 2009 settlement of that lawsuit, the county was required to provide 750 new units of affordable housing by the end of this year. However, that lawsuit was related to HUD’s affordable housing program, not its Section 8 housing program. Louis Reeda, an attorney for the town, did not return a request for comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Mori is a handsome, 14-weekold kitten with light brown ears and tip of tail, along with blue eyes. Rescued in Port Chester with the other kittens in his litter (now adopted), he lives with another cat and older dog in his foster home. Mori is a bit shy, but warms up to lots of petting and tender loving care. He will make a great addition to a family with older children, or a couple. Mori’s adoption donation is $100 plus $60 for the neuter deposit. To meet Mori, please contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016
December 16, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11
Students attend medicine career event On Dec. 8, more than 300 high school students and parents visited Eastchester High School for the second health care careers interactive fair sponsored by NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital of Bronxville. Students from public and private high schools throughout Westchester County were invited to gain hands-on experience and speak directly with doctors and other health professionals about career options. Students learned how to intubate and suture mannequins; examine the chambers of a pig’s heart; scope a knee with the guidance of an orthopedic surgeon; and use laparoscopic instruments as if they were performing an actual surgery. Participants included NYP Lawrence Hospital physicians, ColumbiaDoctors, NewYorkPresbyterian Medical Group Westchester, physical therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, physician’s assistants, first responders, medical students, and other allied health professionals. Founded in 1909, NewYorkPresbyterian Lawrence Hospital has a long and well-established
history of providing superior healthcare 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-of-the-art comprehensive Cancer Center, accredited by the American College of Surgeons with Commendation, offers 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, the faculty practice of Columbia University Medical Center. For more information, visit nyp. org/lawrence or call 787-1000. ColumbiaDoctors makes medical history, and changes pa-
tients’ lives, every day. It is among the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast, with more than 1,700 Columbia University Medical Center physicians, surgeons, dentists, and nurses. Columbia clinicians and researchers exemplify the excellence for which the university is known around the world. They are renowned for their expertise in specialty and subspecialty care, with more than 230 areas in all. Its clinicians harness the latest in scientific research to deliver the newest, most promising treatments directly to its patients. Many of ColumbiaDoctors clinicians rank among the most highly regarded health care professionals in their fields. Its faculty brings the highest standards of compassionate, collaborative care to its patients at NewYorkPresbyterian Hospital, No. 1 in New York City, its affiliates in the region, and in offices located in Midtown Manhattan, Washington Heights, the Hudson Valley, and across the tri-state area. For more information, visit columbiadoctors.org. NewYork-Presbyterian is one
Dr. Carlos Flores, director of Emergency Medicine at NYP Lawrence, shows Zharia Crisp of New Rochelle High School how to suture a mannequin’s arm. Contributed photo
of the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare delivery networks, focused on providing innovative and compassionate care to patients in the New York metropolitan area and throughout the globe. In collaboration with two
renowned medical school partners, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian is consistently recognized as a leader in medical education, ground-breaking research and clinical innovation.
NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the largest healthcare providers in the U.S. Each year, nearly 29,000 NewYork-Presbyterian professionals deliver exceptional care to more than 2 million patients. For more information, visit nyp.org. (Submitted)
12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016
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JOBS AT JCC For additional information on employment at The Jewish Community Center, JCC, visit jccmw.org/employment-opportunities Communications Associate The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking a Communications Associate to join its Marketing and Communications team. The associate is responsible for creating and distributing communications material for the agency. Email marketing, direct mail, social media outreach, and other digital publications as well as creating some traditional brochures and posters. Half-time position at 20 hours per week. Nursery School Teacher The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking an enthusiastic individual for a teacher position beginning January 2017. The person selected for this position must possess a minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential for the infant/toddler level. This person must have a warm, friendly personality, relate well with children and adhere to program philosophy which includes: implementing daily lesson plans, maintain accurate records, communicate effectively with children and families, oversee all daily aspects of classroom, work effectively as a team and perform other duties as assigned. Aquatics Director The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking an experienced individual who will provide direction and leadership to the Aquatics department. The Aquatics Director will follow all Department of Health (DOH) aquatics standards to maintain safety for all programs in and around the pool area. Candidates should plan to start in December. This is a full time 40 hour position with benefits including building supervision on weeknight/weekends. Certified Pool Operator License a plus.
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Part-time Recreational Gymnastics Coaches The Gymnastics Department is looking for recreational gymnastics coaches who have knowledge and love of the sport of gymnastics. Some experience preferred. Must work well with kids and have the ability to communicate with parents. Must be qualified to coach ages 5-12 and be available weekday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. All level coaches are eligible for hire. If you are interested in being a part of our staff at the JCC, please contact Tiffany Smith, Gymnastics Director at smitht@jccmw.org Development Director The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking an experienced Development Director to implement the existing fundraising strategies at the JCC, as well as develop avenues to nurture potential new donors. Director of the Sports and Fitness Center The Jewish Community Center of MidWestchester is looking for a Director of its Sports & Fitness Center. Person will supervise all activities in the department. Please send resume and cover letter to resumes@jccmw.org.
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LEGAL NOTICES 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. Notice of Formation of Kayefe, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 8/02/16. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Kenneth F. Eichler, 134 Seton Drive, New Rochelle NY 10804. Purpose: any lawful activity. 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.
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December 16, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 13
Stephanie, the scorpion whisperer RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
Stephanie Loria would like to set the record straight: “If you get stung by a scorpion and you are a healthy adult, you won’t die.” She paused, then added, “You may wish you were dead. But they get such a bad rap.” Yes, pity the poor scorpions—so misunderstood. Fortunately, the species has Loria on their side. A native of Glendale, Queens, and graduate of New York’s Catholic school system, she is perhaps the city’s only scorpion apologist. She loves the creatures, researches them, and this fall she got her Ph.D. in scorpion studies from the American Museum of Natural History’s Richard Guilder Graduate School. Other grads included a frog researcher, a bat specialist getting an honorary degree, and a guy who has identified 70 new species of wasps. Not sure I’d want to be at their Christmas party. But having never seen an actual scorpion—or scorpion researcher—I did want to meet Loria. So the other day I went to the museum and was escorted past dozens of dinosaur-demanding school groups, up to the restricted fifth floor, past hundreds of lockers housing insect specimens, and then through a hall lined with clear plastic boxes containing... omg. Tarantulas. Live tarantulas, the size of chipmunks, waving their furry legs. How did “Night at the Museum” miss these guys? One floor up I found Loria in her lab, scorpions at her side— dead. “We have some live stuff
downstairs, but those are more like pets,” she said. “These I actually collected during my trips to Southeast Asia.” And how does one collect a scorpion? Well, Loria said, cheerful as a flight attendant, you just have to go into the jungle at night. Scorpions are black, so you can’t see them except by using an ultra-violet flashlight, but then they phosphoresce like Jimi Hendrix posters. They also shed their exoskeletons. So you look for glowing bits of dead scorpion on the trail leading you to a live one and then, using foot-long tweezers, you try to grab it as fast as you can before it scurries into its borrow. At that point, says Loria, you often have “moths swarming around your face and you’re swallowing them, and sometimes you’re also near ants, and you’re covered with them, and some of them are pretty nasty.” Long story short, if you don’t manage to grab the scorpion with the tweezers, sometimes you just dig them out. That’s right: You stick your hands into a scorpion den HOPING you’ll find some. One time, Loria recalls, she and her advisor were on a nighttime hunt in the Malaysian jungle when suddenly, a scorpion stung him. “Two of his fingers were paralyzed and he had a burning sensation moving up his arm and into his chest,” says Loria. “It was just me and him in the middle of nowhere.” THEN WHAT HAPPENED??? “He took an antihistamine,” says Loria. By the morning, he was fine. After an agonizing night. Loria won’t let this prejudice you against scorpions. There are 2,200 species of them, she
says, and only 45 have poisonous venom. What’s more, they can live up to 25 years, and are members of the arachnid family, like spiders, but less popular. At arachnid conventions (I know, I know), “85 to 95 percent of the talks are about spiders,” says Loria, bummed. Scorpions get no respect. And yet, they have been around since before the dinosaurs. In her own pre-history, Loria grew up digging millipedes and centipedes out of her backyard and bringing them inside, to her parents’ non-delight. She had an ant farm, a moth farm, and a grammar school teacher who showed her rubber replicas of bugs and encouraged her curiosity. One time, Loria wore a dead cicada’s shell on her nose to freak out her schoolmates. It worked. But Loria wasn’t really trying to disgust anyone. She was just fascinated by the “behind the scenes” work that insects and arachnids do. “If you watch any nature shows on TV, it’s always about big cats, or other mammals we relate to.” But the real heroes, she says, are the smaller creatures we rely on. Bees pollinate. Millipedes play a role in decomposing. Spiders and scorpions keep the insect population down. By high school, she was taking after-school classes at the museum and did an internship studying flamingo behavior. Now that she has her Ph.D., she is heading to San Francisco to start studying the evolution of scorpion venom. Her future looks so bright, she has to pinch herself. Before anything else does. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Protect your home against holiday fires Across New York state, people are putting in Christmas trees, hanging festive lights, lighting candles, and otherwise readying for the holiday season. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, FASNY, urges all New Yorkers to enjoy the holidays with care, as this time of the year typically sees an uptick in home and house fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, from 2010 to 2014, fire departments in the United States annually responded to an average of 210 fires that could be traced back to Christmas trees. On average, one of every 34 Christmas tree-related fires resulted in a death, compared to the average of one death for every 142 home fires. A full third of these Christmas tree fires began because of faulty or haphazard holiday lighting and wiring. “FASNY urges all New Yorkers to exercise care and caution while enjoying this holiday season,” said FASNY President Ken Pienkowski. “Please be certain that your homes are properly protected against fire, which includes showing care when setting up decorations, and ensuring smoke alarms are installed and functioning. Taking these simple steps will not only protect oneself, but also the brave firefighters who would respond to the emergency.” In addition to the following holiday-specific safety tips, having working smoke alarms is critical in protecting against fires. Three of every five home fire deaths in the United States occur in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. In 2015, legislation was passed and signed in Albany that will require all smoke alarms sold in New York state to be equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries capable of powering the device for at least 10 years. These alarms do not require bat-
tery changes during their lifespan, and greatly reduce the possibility of human error impacting the fire safety of the home. FASNY and the National Fire Protection Association offer the following safety tips. When choosing a Christmas tree: • Check a tree for dryness while at the seller’s lot—shake the trunk above a light-colored surface and watch for falling needles. If too many dry needles fall, choose a fresher tree. A locally grown tree from New York may be fresher than one brought in from out of state. • Avoid trees with an artificial-looking green tint on the branches or trunk—these trees may have been spray-painted to improve their appearance. The paint used may be combustible and could be hazardous as well. When in doubt, ask the seller if they sell painted trees. • Have the merchant saw off an inch or two from the trunk of the tree to help keep the tree fresh longer at home; also, if your tree is left outside, placing the trunk in a bucket of water will help keep it fresh. • When disposing of a tree, DO NOT leave it inside a home or building; DO NOT place it against the exterior of a home or building. In both cases, the tree is likely dried out and thus poses an increased fire hazard. When choosing holiday decorations and lighting: • When possible, choose decorations made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or noncombustible materials. Look for these designations on the product’s packaging. • Purchase lights and electrical decorations stamped with the name or symbol of an independent testing lab—for example, “UL” or Underwriters’ Laboratories—and ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance. • Carefully inspect new and
previously used light strands. Look for frayed cables and replace any damaged or missing bulbs before plugging lights in. • Do not overload extension cords, power strips, or electrical outlets. • When using power cords to illuminate outdoor displays, ensure that they are designated for EXTERNAL or outdoor use only— NEVER use power cords that are meant for indoor use. This information is usually indicated on the product’s packaging. • Turn lights off overnight. If possible, use a timer device to turn your lights off automatically. This not only lessens the risk of fire, but saves on energy bills as well. If you light holiday candles or candelabras (menorahs, window candles, etc.): • Keep lighted candles and candelabras at least 1 foot away from any combustible materials. DO NOT place candles anywhere near window curtains, furniture, wrapped gifts or anything else that could ignite. • Place candles and candelabras where they cannot be knocked down or tipped/blown over. If possible, keep the candle inside a weighted holder or one with a wide base. • Extinguish a candle before it burns to within 2 inches of its holder. • NEVER leave a lighted candle unattended—extinguish a candle before leaving the room. • Discourage the use of candles in bedrooms and other areas where you may fall asleep. • Store matches and lighters in high places, out of the reach of children, and ideally inside a locked cabinet. • Consider using battery-powered candles instead; if using electrical “plug-in” candles, follow manufacturers’ instructions. For more information, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website at nfpa.org. (Submitted)
14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016
Foul shots LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching a lot of Knicks basketball, but lately, I’ve been thinking about free throws. Over the last week, the Knicks have squared off twice against the Sacramento Kings in contests that have featured two All-Star big men—Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and Knicks center Joakim Noah—who just so happen to be absolutely abysmal from the charity stripe. Now, perhaps it’s a little bit unfair to put Cousins’ struggles from the line quite in the same vein as Noah’s. So far this year, the burgeoning superstar has shot just 75 percent from the foul line, which is bad enough to put him in the bottom 25 of all qualified NBA players. Noah, on the other hand, who made his money as a player who can do just about everything
other than score the basketball, has been more than a bit worse, making his free throws at an absurd 31 percent clip. It might seem strange to see these stars—men at the top of their physical profession—fail so mightily at what seems to be the easiest part of their jobs, but then I started to think that maybe shooting foul shots is one of the sneakily most daunting tasks in sports. Putting aside the physical aspects of the free throw (it’s been well documented that taller players are at a disadvantage when it comes to hitting at a high percentage), I have to imagine that the foul line is the loneliest place in all of sports. Athletes—no matter the level—are certainly not exempt from facing mental obstacles. Just look at a golfer who inexplicably loses the ability to sink putts or a baseball player—looking at you, Steve Sax or Jon Lester—who suddenly can’t make a routine throw to a base; a small hiccup in the mind can undo
SPORTS
years and years of work on the most basic fundamentals. But whereas a case of the yips on the baseball field or on the golf course can serve to quickly derail a once-promising career, bad foul shooting in the NBA seems to be an accepted part of the game. As long as a player can help his team in other ways, like the explosive DeAndre Jordan, he’s going to be out on the court, playing meaningful minutes, and inevitably called upon to head to the foul line several times a game. Late in the Knicks’ Sunday night win over the Kings, Noah was fouled late in the game and proceeded to sink both shots to help New York hold on to a slim lead. But it wasn’t the Knicks big man’s actual shots that came to mind when I thought about the game the following day. After Noah’s first shot, Cousins walked up to him with a smile on his face and mimicked his “unique” motion, causing Noah to flash a sheepish grin.
Will Tuck takes a foul shot during Mamaroneck’s Dec. 9 game against Suffern. If you ask Sports Editor Mike Smith, the foul line is the loneliest place in all of sports. Photo/Mike Smith
And maybe, that’s the most healthy way to deal with being a poor shooter from the
line; just chuckle, put your head down, and keep shooting until you make one.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
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LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow @eastchesterview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates
SPORTS
December 16, 2016 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15
Broncos pound Panthers girls basketball non-league
BRONXVILLE 46 PLEASANTVILLE 31 BRONXVILLE HS
12/8/16
Game Notes: • Brooke Tartarian led all scorers with 16 points, while teammate Ellie Walsh added 12 • Bronxville’s press helped the Broncos build a 15-point lead in the first quarter • Bronxville is 1-1 on the year By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Dec. 8, Bronxville’s girls won their first basketball game of the season, topping Pleasantville at home in a 46-31 rout. For a veteran-laden Bronxville team, the win is a good first step toward asserting itself as a viable contender in the Class B landscape. Now, said head coach Donny Lucas, the girls just need to keep the momentum going. Bronxville’s defensive pressure set the tone for the game,
Brooke Tartarian drives to the hoop against Pleasantville on Dec. 8. Tartarian had 16 points in the Broncos’ win.
as the Broncos’ utilized traps to force early turnovers by the visiting Panthers and jumped out to a 19-4 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Broncos made the most of their looks at the net, with Brooke Tartarian leading all scorers with 16 points; senior guard Ellie
Senior Ellie Walsh brings the ball up the floor against the Panthers. Walsh finished with 12 points.
Walsh chipped in 12. “I was very happy with our three-quarter press, I think it really helped us come away with some big steals,” Lucas said. “Playing that high tempo style really worked for us.” The victory puts the Broncos at 1-1 on the season; although Lucas has even found positives in the team’s 53-22 season-opening loss to Briarcliff on Dec. 6. Briarcliff, which made it to the Class B quarterfinals last year, entered into this season as one of the favorites in Class B, and the Bronxville coach believes that game helped his squad take stock of where they need to improve. “I thought we played well,” he said. “But Briarcliff is a great team, probably one of the top two teams in the section, so that was a good test for us.” Bronxville comes into the season with a ton of veteran leadership, with 10 returning players back in the mix. Lucas returns four starters from last year’s team, and he feels that with captains Walsh and Natalie Kister leading the way, the team has a chance to come away with a high playoff seed. “Ellie and Nat are very important, they’re seniors,” Lucas said. “So they’ve been working very hard, they know what they are trying accomplish this year.” Bronxville’s fifth starting
Allie Berkery pushes the tempo on Dec. 8. Bronxville’s defense led to good scoring chances for the Broncos.
Olivia Jensen looks for an open teammate. Photos/Mike Smith
spot, he added, is still up in the air, with a number of players in the conversation. “We haven’t set anything yet,” he said. “But we have
six or seven girls we can put in there, all competing for that spot.” The Broncos will be back in action on Thursday, Dec. 15,
when they take on Pawling in the first round of the annual Bill Green Tournament. CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 16, 2016