Eastchester REVIEW THE
November 3, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 44 | www.eastchesterreview.com
County announces drug takeback program
Over the weekend, dogs of all ages—including Trump dog—came out to the Yonkers Downton Waterfront in their Halloween costumes to participate in the ninth annual Pet Parade. For more, see page 11. Photo courtesy Rachel Cauvin Photography
Tuckahoe school district uses technology in education Tuckahoe’s schools continue to pursue technology initiatives to enhance learning for students. In the area of visual literacy, Tuckahoe High School, THS, and Middle School ELA teachers enriched their skills through professional development at the Jacob Burns Film Center this past summer. This initiative has increased student engagement with the use of WeVideo to create videos and integrate visual information in the
analysis of literature. Dr. Bart Linehan, THS Principal, states, “With today’s technology, our students live in the visual world. Our teachers are now instructing our students to be critical thinkers in the visual medium by analyzing story elements, similar to the skills they’ve utilized in works of literature and nonfiction.” In another initiative, select classes at THS and Tuckahoe
Middle School welcomed Google Expeditions AR to classrooms on Oct. 26. According to Google, the software maps computer generated images onto the classroom so students can walk around the objects, get in close to spot details, and step back to see the full picture. Students were loaned smartphones loaded with the augmented reality technology which al-
lowed them to delve into and feel physically immersed in lesson content. Earth Science classes integrated this new educational technology into their study of weather by viewing 3-D hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanoes while History classes could explore ancient Roman artifacts and Biology classes explored the details of DNA and the musculature system. (Submitted)
As part of National Prescription Take Back Day, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is making it easier for residents to safely dispose of their old and excess drugs and medications. On Nov. 4, Westchester County will open its Household Material Recovery Facility, H-MRF at 15 Woods Road in Valhalla from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m for the second Saturday in a row. The goal of Prescription Take Back Day is to provide safe, convenient, and responsible ways of disposing potentially lethal and addictive prescription drugs, while simultaneously educating the public about the potential for abuse and medications. “People often ask, ‘what can I do in this opioid crisis?’” Astorino said. “The best way to keep these prescriptions drugs out of reach is to get rid of them and to properly dispose of them. All too often, addiction starts with the medicine cabinet and ends in tragedy.” For people who cannot make Saturday drop-offs, the facility will be open on Nov. 14 and the first Tuesday of every month thereafter. The added drop-off days coincide with a national movement highlighting the dangers of prescription drugs and opioids. Additionally, residents can drop off medications at select local police departments at any time, or at two pharmacies that currently have lockboxes: CircleRx Pharmacy on Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon and Walgreens Pharmacy on Nepperhan Avenue in Yonkers. “I provide this service as a way of helping people,” said Mark Rauchwerger, president and pharmacist at CircleRx
Pharmacy. “It’s quick, easy and safe. If I can prevent even one person from overdosing on opioids, it’s well worth the effort.” Dr. Sherlita Amler, commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Health, noted that it’s important that people properly dispose of their mixed medications, and that medications should never be thrown in the trash, flushed down the toilet or washed down the sink because they could taint ground and surface waters and harm those ecosystems. “We must attack this national health crisis from every front,” Amler said, “and opening up the county’s recovery facility is a safe, easy and inexpensive way to properly dispose of unused and expired medications.” When it began in 2008, Westchester’s medication take back program was the first of its kind in New York State. It has since grown, and been replicated, and continues to be available at the Household Material Recovery Facility, by appointment and select days. When delivering medications to the H-MRF, keep all items in the original container or, if unavailable, put them in a sealable plastic bag. Liquid medications should be in their containers in sealable plastic bags. County staff will be on hand to accept expired and unused medications for disposal. For more information or to learn how to drop off medications at your local police department, refer to the Safe Medication Disposal brochure or call the Recycling HelpLine at 813-5425. (Submitted)
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CPW to host Taste of Westchester Join Cerebral Palsy of Westchester, CPW, for A Taste of Westchester; a food and wine tasting event that will feature more than 30 of the area’s finest restaurants & top chefs noted for their cuisine as well as a worldly selection of wine, beer and spirits from different beverage establishments. The event will take place at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in West Harrison on Nov. 13 at 6:15 p.m. The chef from Hive Living Room + Bar will be hosting a cooking demonstration, Williams Sonoma will be hosting a cutlery demonstration, and Aries Wine & Spirits will be hosting a wine and food pairing at their table for all event attendees, along with a silent auction and raffle.
Cerebral Palsy of Westchester’s Taste of Westchester event features more than 30 restaurants from around the county. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/Cerebral.Palsy.Of.Westchester
A very special thank you to our gala event sponsor TD Bank. All the proceeds from this event will benefit CPW’s mission to ensure that children and adults with disabilities receive need services and enjoy activities regardless of the level of their abilities. Tickets are $125 per person,
and can be purchased at Ticketriver.com/event/24418. Sponsorship and journal ads are available. For more information or to participate in the event, contact Stephanie Russo, the associate executive director at CPW at 937-3800 ext. 411 or email Stephanie.Russo@ cpwestchester.org. (Submitted)
NY Reading Foundation holds first fundraiser
The New York Reading Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is preparing for its first annual fundraising event. “A Night on the Town” is honoring Archbishop Stepinac High School and will feature casino games, live music provided by Night Song, food and an open bar. The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 7 p.m. to midnight at Mulino’s at Lake Isle Country Club, located at 660 White Plains Road in Eastchester. Donations are being accepted,
and sponsorships are available. Current sponsors are Ray Catena BMW of Westchester and LEXCO Wealth Management. There will also be a raffle at the fundraiser, with only 500 tickets to be sold at $375 each. The grand prize is a 2018 BMW M550i valued at $97,200, courtesy of Ray Catena BMW of Westchester. The second prize is $10,000 cash, and the third prize is $5,000 cash. To buy event and raffle tickets, visit NYReadingFoundation.org.
Checks are payable to: The New York Reading Foundation, 273 Columbus Ave., Suite 2A, Tuckahoe NY 10707. For more information, please contact Karen Jordan, fundraising chair of The New York Reading Foundation, at 260-1100 or KJordan.NYReads@gmail.com. General inquries can be made by calling 337-6357 or emailing NYReadingFoundation@gmail. com, or by visiting NYReadingFoundation.org. (Submitted)
A Taste of Westchester participants • Albanese’s Chocolate Fantasies • Antipasti di Napoli at The Briarcliff Manor • Aries Wine & Spirits • Basta • BLT Steak • Blue Moon Mexican Café • Capt. Lawrence Brewing Co. • Chocolations • Coffee Labs • Crabtree’s Kittle House
Restaurant & Inn • Don Coqui • Emma’s Ale House • EQUUS Restaurant • Grapes and Greens • Hardscrabble Cider • Havana Central • Hive Living Room + Bar • Longford’s Own-Made Ice Cream • Lulu Cake Boutique • Mionetto
• NoMa Social • Opici • Polar Beverage •Quenas Restaurant • R&K Imports • Texas De Brazil • The Gourmet Taste Catering • Walter’s Hot Dogs • Williams Sonoma • Wine Worldwide • Winebow • Wood & Fir
Village of Eastchester’s
Official Newspaper
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What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library
Meetings are open to the public. WCCC membership is open to those who have attended at least three meetings. Interested? Email newsletterwccc@ gmail.com to subscribe to WCCC’s monthly newsletter. Have questions? Contact the club’s president, Joe, at jjt2821@aol.com, or secretary, Scott, at slkconv@aol.com.
Collection for Friends of EPL Tag Sale For more information on hours and programs, visit eastchesterlibrary.org. The library will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 7 for Election Day, and on Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of Veterans Day.
Teen Gaming Afternoon On Saturday, Nov. 4 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring your own games or play some of the ones the library will have set up. There will be video games to play as well. Light refreshments will be served. Online registration suggested. For more information, contact Amelia Buccarelli at abuccarelli@wlsmail.org.
The Great American Songbook Part I On Sunday, Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m. Please join the library for an interactive program and informative lecture by Richard Knox on The Great American Songbook, the canon of the most important and influential American songs from the early and mid20th century. They include the most popular and enduring melodies from the 1910s to the 1950s that were created primarily for Broadway musical productions and Hollywood musical films. In Part I of this four-part series, Knox will focus on songs composed and directed prior to the 1930s including such great numbers as Irving Berlin’s “Always,” Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust,” and James Monaco’s “You Made Me Love You.” This program is free and open to the public.
Westchester County Coin Club On Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The Westchester County Coin Club, WCCC, holds its monthly meetings at the Eastchester Public Library. The club, which has been around since 1934, is for numismatists, or collectors of U.S. and foreign coins, paper money, tokens, and medals. Meetings are typically the third Wednesday of each month. The meetings run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; there is a “trading table” from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Light refreshments are served at each meeting, and the club generally holds a holiday party each December and a banquet each spring.
From Saturday, Nov. 11 through Thursday, Nov. 16. The library will accept donations for the Friends of the Eastchester Library Tag Sale. It will accept the following donations: toys, games, puzzles, household items, Bric-a-Brac, sports equipment, jewelry and accessories, and small electric appliances. Please make sure that all items are in good condition. Stuffed animals, clothes and shoes will not be accepted. Please save book donations until after the tag sale.
Earring Making Workshop On Monday, Nov. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Join local Bling’s the Thing founder Joan Lloyd in making earrings for a cause. For every pair you make to keep, you make one to be donated to a battered women’s shelter. Right now, Lloyd donates about 900 pairs a month. The workshop is free and no previous jewelry-making experience is necessary. This event is open to ages 8 and up. Registration required. Each participate must register individually, as space is limited. For more information, contact Amelia Buccarelli at abuccarelli @wlsmail.org.
Bronxville Public Library For more information on hours and programs, visit bronxvillelibrary.org. The library will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
Book Drop-Off and Book Swap Through Sunday, Nov. 5. Are you tired of the books you have, but don’t want to spend money buying more? Trade in your used books. Step 1: Bring in the books you don’t want anymore. Gently used adult, children, and teen books— fiction and nonfiction. Take them to the Yeager Room on the lower level of the library. Note: Only gently used books that are not moldy, dusty, yellowed or ripped, highlighted or broken. Please, no reference books or textbooks. Limit of 35 books per family. Step 2: Get a ticket. Count the number of books you brought in. When you leave them in the Yeager
Room, pick up a Book Swap ticket and write that number down on it. Take the ticket home with you. Step 3: Come to the Book Swap. Don’t forget to bring your ticket. Pick out the same number of books you dropped off. Turn in your ticket to the clerk at the Circulation Desk on the first floor. Last book drop-off date: Friday, Nov. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Book swap dates: Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 5 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Remaining books not traded will be available for purchase in the lower level lobby starting Monday, Nov. 6. Book sale proceeds benefit the Friends of the Bronxville Library. The Book Swap is held on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 337-7680.
Storytime Election From Monday, Nov. 6 through Thursday, Nov. 9. It’s the library’s annual Storytime Election! Stop by the Children’s Room, examine campaign posters, step inside the voting booth, and cast your vote for the next character president. Fun for all ages. This year’s candidates are: Ms. Frizzle & the Magic School Bus; Elephant & Piggie; Geronimo & Thea Stilton; Clifford & Emily Elizabeth; Curious George & the Man in the Yellow Hat; and Fly Guy & Buzz.
Bulbs in Bloom On Thursday, Nov. 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. This workshop is perfect for people who have little or no experience with bulbs or those who want to have bulbs in bloom in their homes or gardens throughout the year. You will learn how to select and purchase healthy bulbs and how to care for them. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 337-7680 ext. 24 or email bronxvillelibrary @gmail.com.
SAT practice test On Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A full-length practice exam to prep you for the real test. Administered by Revolution Prep. What to bring: pencils, a snack, an approved calculator, and water. Register through the library’s website; include name, age, and email. For more information, contact Calvin Fortenberry, director of School Partnerships – East at Revolution Prep, at 516-366-1624 or calvin.fortenberry@revolutionprep.com.
Tuckahoe Public Library
For more information on hours and programs, visit tuckahoe.com/library. The library will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
Kids’ Yoga On Monday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. For ages 2 to 5. Join Miss Peggy for stretches and story time. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.
One-on-One Computer Classes On Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. This is a 30-minute session by appointment only. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.
Memoir Writing Workshop On Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. Learn to write about your memories in this monthly program. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.
Native American Culture & Customs On Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. For ages 7 to 10. Chris from the New Canaan Nature Center will take students on a trip back in time using the Nature Center’s Native American artifacts, games, and stories. Participants will discover how Native Americans sharpened their hunting skills and passed down their culture and stories. Children will experience artifacts relating to everyday Native American life and play a game. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.
SAT practice test On Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For grades 7–12. With Brienza’s Academic Advantage. This is a practice SAT test. After scoring the tests, academic advisor Adam Ratner will email the results and, if requested, have an individual session with parents to explain a student’s scores, focusing on strengths and weaknesses, and proposing a custom plan for future study and improvement. To register, contact Liz Siracusa at the library at 961-2121 or speak to any staff and provide the student’s name, phone number and email address, and the parent’s name, phone number and email address.
Eastchester news EMS PTA Fall Clothing Drive On Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eastchester Middle School main entrance on Route 22. Support Eastchester Middle School and clean out your closet or attic at the same time. The school gets money for each pound of clothing collected. Donated items are sent to needy areas of the world. No need to step out of your car—students will take the bags from you. Kindly put all items in a sealed plastic bag. EMS collects: wearable and usable clothing for men, women and children; shoes, belts and handbags; linen (bedding, curtains, towels); stuffed animals; hard toys (no large toys like play kitchens or swings). Sorry, no books. Any questions? Please contact Jennifer Ruckdeschel at jenruck1226@gmail.com.
WestCOP/ECAP Thanksgiving Drive WestCOP/ECAP is a nonprofit agency located at 142 Main St. in Tuckahoe. It services at-risk families, seniors and veterans residing in Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville. Every year, WestCOP/ ECAP reaches out to the business community, schools and individuals for monetary donations, Shop Rite gift cards, dry and canned goods together with nonperishable items such as rice, pasta, boxed milk, aluminum pans, aluminum foil, etc. These donations are needed as soon as possible to afford volunteers time to pack the baskets or boxes with a complete Thanksgiving Day meal. The Thanksgiving baskets will be distributed to the community on Tuesday, Nov. 21. If you have any questions, please give WestCOP/ECAP a call at 337-7768 and ask for Don Brown or Sarah Mangum. 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.
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BES students learn with help from pumpkins
Letters to the Editor
Vote Latimer for county executive To the Editor, I’d like to remind readers that if you are fed up with Donald Trump, you don’t have to wait until 2020 to express your displeasure! Vote for George Latimer for county executive on Tuesday, Nov. 7, instead of Trump’s friend Rob Astorino, who is funded by the conservative Mercers. Many Democrats stay home in “off years” like this one, but it is vital to go to the polls and have your vote count. If you dislike gun shows and oppose the noisy expansion of Westchester Airport (and its potential to contaminate our drinking water), if you think it is outrageous that Astorino is suing Indian Point for closing down its dangerous nuclear power plant, and if you want to send a message that you oppose all things Trump, vote for George Latimer, a true progressive who possesses integrity, grit, and heart. Catherine Hiller, Mamaroneck Students participate in hands-on activities with their pumpkins. Photos courtesy Bronxville school district
Bronxville Elementary School kindergartners, who recently picked the perfect pumpkins from a pumpkin patch on school grounds, took on the roles of scientists to closely examine and study their pumpkins. As part of the annual pumpkin study, the students participated in a number of hands-on activities that were designed to introduce them to different math, science and language arts concepts over the course of two weeks. The lessons started off by building the students’ language skills as they described and drew their pumpkins, focusing on their shape, color, size and texture. As part of a science lesson, the kindergartners tested to see if their pumpkins would float or sink in water. They also employed a variety of math skills to examine their pumpkins, including sorting them, measuring their weight, height and circumference, and counting their seeds. The pumpkin patch was made possible thanks to the help of parent volunteers who set up, decorated and ran the event before the students brought their selected pumpkins to their classrooms. (Submitted)
Students show off their pumpkin art work.
Kindergarteners learn about math and science using pumpkins they chose from the school’s pumpkin patch.
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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
Amazon County offers viable locations for
headquarters
Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin
Amazon’s current campus is home to 40,000 employees.
Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Nancy Kaplan ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Franco Fino Staff Photographer Jen Parente Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano
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 If you have an event you would like to share with the community, send it to news@hometwn.com. Delivery For home delivery or to subsribe, call (914) 653-1000 x27.
Amazon’s Seattle location has 33-building campus. Photos courtesy Amazon
By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter With Amazon’s final decision on a second corporate headquarters a few months away, West-
chester County has put forward a proposal highlighting several potential locations. Since the submission deadline closed on Oct. 19, Amazon has announced that it received 238
Classifieds & Legals To post your notices or listings, call (914) 653-1000 x27. Postmaster Send address changes to The Eastchester Review c/o HomeTown Media Group, 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Visit us online www.eastchesterreview.com
Follow us on Twitter, @eastchesterview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/eastchesterreview The Eastchester Review is published weekly by Home Town Media Group for an annual subscription of $45. Application to mail at the periodicals postage rate is approved at White Plains, N.Y., 10601. Periodicals postage paid at White Plains and additional mailing offices.
Westchester County has offered the old IBM campus in Somers, pictured, as a potential location for Amazon’s second headquarters. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.com
proposed locations from across North America. Several of the proposals came from within New York state. “It will mean a lot depending on the site that’s selected,” said George Oros, chief of staff for the administration of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. “It would mean a lot to that local municipality.” In early September, Amazon first announced it was opening submission proposals from areas interested in becoming the home to the retailer’s second headquarters. In a press release, Amazon said the new headquarters would “be a full equal to our current campus in Seattle.” Amazon’s Seattle location is 8.1 million square feet, and employs more than 40,000 people. “It would be a tremendous economic growth factor for the county,” Oros told the Review. Amazon announced that the second location would eventually employ 50,000 people, and that the company would invest more than $5 billion in construction.
“Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, said in the announcement. “We’re excited to find a second home.” However, the company has yet to explain why it has an interest in opening a second headquarters. According to Oros, some of the proposed locations are the former PepsiCo headquarters and the former IBM headquarters in Somers, which both met the minimum requirements that Amazon has for its new location. These requirements include being a maximum of 45 minutes from an airport, no more than 2 miles from a major highway, and at-site access to mass transit. Other locations offered by Westchester County consist of sites in the cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and White Plains. Oros explained that the county’s own airport, mass transit system, including the Bee-Line, and affordable office spaces make Westchester a strong contender. New Rochelle, in a separate proposal, offered Davids Island, an uninhabited 120-acre island on the Long Island Sound, and the downtown area as part of its own package to Amazon. New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, a Democrat, said the city’s main focus is on the downtown area, but that Davids Island was included because “it’s a unique asset.” Bramson site’s the city’s combination of “livability and affordability” as one of the reasons New Rochelle should be considered a force to be reckoned with. “[There are a] number of specific sites that the development
team of RDRXR have the ability to build upon, we envision all of those as in play for Amazon,” Bramson said, referencing the city’s master development company which is overseeing all projects in the city. Along with the submitted proposals, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has offered Amazon the state’s Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit incentives that would come along with choosing New York State as the new headquarters location. The tax credit is part of the Excelsior Jobs Program, which incentivizes companies to move their business to New York by offering jobs, investment, research and development, and real property tax credits. A release from Cuomo’s press office states that these incentives will apply to any of the proposed areas in the state. John Ravitz, executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Business Council of Westchester, a business membership organization, said that if Amazon would move to Westchester it would be a “win-win.” “Westchester makes so much sense for Amazon, for so many reasons,” Ravitz said. “What we’re presenting to Amazon is that Westchester County is the intellectual capital of the state.” As for local businesses, Ravitz said that, “Thousands of employees [would be] there on a daily bases, [and] are going to be able to see and participate in all the exciting businesses we have in Westchester County.” Amazon is currently in negotiations with the proposed sites, and intends to make an announcement on its decision in 2018. CONTACT: taylor@homtewn.com
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On the Community Restorative Justice program Recruiting people to fight in ‘The Great War’ BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin
Approximately one year ago, I wrote of the ground breaking new program in the Bronxville Justice Court, the Community Restorative Justice Initiative, CRJ. I am proud and grateful it has been a success and a model for many other progressive communities. First conceived by our Senior Justice George McKinnis, the program was designed to give our justices an alternative to incarceration that has a reasonable opportunity to change a criminal defendant’s anti-social behavior for the better, in a manner that incarceration in today’s prison environment is highly unlikely to do. Studies have documented that many prisoners come out of incarceration more anti-social, and more dedicated to criminal behavior than when they began their incarceration. As a result, Judge McKinnis saw the need for an alternative or substitute for prison time that offers therapies and interventions calculated to change behaviors. As assistants to our two village justices, George McKinnis and George Mayer, Doris Benson and Mary Mackintosh have been made volunteer members of the Bronxville Court staff to assist in the operation of the CRJ. With the cooperation of the prosecution, defense and the court, a candidate will be identified if a good fit for the CRJ program. The individual is usually a person who plea bargained from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor as this takes the defendant out of the New York state Supreme Court system and places him or her under the auspices of our village justice court. The village received enormous
assistance and encouragement for this program from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in White Plains, and Janet DiFiore, now our state’s chief justice, was instrumental in the formation of CRJ. After a worthy candidate is identified, they are interviewed by court staff with the prosecution and defense invited to attend. If all agree, the court orders the defendant to meet with Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities, TASC, staff members at the Westchester County Department of Health which deals with drug, alcohol and mental issues that a criminal defendant may exhibit. TASC then expands the analysis of the defendant with the aid of therapists and doctors to determine issues in their background— mental, educational or physical disabilities, drug or alcohol abuse— and if existing, whether these problems can be cured or eliminated and lead to significant change in the defendant’s behavior. If a positive recommendation is received, CRJ staff and the village court, with TASC’s aid, will draft a one-year program for the defendant and circulate to the prosecution and defense. The prosecution has the authority to drop the misdemeanor charge if the defendant successfully graduates from the program. Once a month, the defendant must meet with the village court justice, CRJ staff who have been mentoring them each step of the way, the court clerk, assistant district attorney, defense counsel, and a representative of TASC. The defendant is either praised or admonished, and at the end of 12 months, a private graduation ceremony is held—often the first moment of positive praise and honor for the individual. Two defendants have already successfully graduated from
Bronxville’s program. As one can see, the program is extremely labor-intensive and requires unrelenting dedication on the part of many in the legal pipeline. But a human life is truly at stake, and I can think of no worthier and more rewarding endeavor. On every level this program makes sense. If any other institution in America were as unsuccessful in achieving their ostensible goals as our prisons, we would shut them down tomorrow. America passed the point of negative return long ago. We now lock up seven times as many people as France, 11 times as many as the Netherlands, and 15 times as many as Japan. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that national prison recidivism was at 67 percent. Most experts with knowledge of the field agree that the American justice system has been reduced to a gratuitously expensive system of punishment. Behavioral and rehabilitative therapy methods, as exhibited in the village’s CRJ program, have been proven to reduce the recidivism rate by 10 to 30 percent, but according to one study, only 5 percent of American prisoners have access to them. When you think about it, an inmate while confined does not work, support his family or pay taxes. Because of incarceration, families are broken up; ex-convicts become unemployable, resulting in an increase of the American poverty level by a staggering 20 percent. The village is so fortunate to have such visionary, compassionate and enormously dedicated court team which is now setting the standard for local and state courts—yet another example of the dedicated citizenry we have in our special village.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING Richard Forliano
This column was written with Michael Fix, historian emeritus, Eastchester Historical Society. In the early winter of 1917, only a minority of Americans had seriously contemplated the possibility of entering what we call today World War I. Little preparation had been made to fight a war in Europe. In 1914, the United States Army had less than 100,000 troops, with 27,000 in the National Guard. Three years later when the United States entered the conflict, the U.S. military ranked 17th in the world behind Serbia. When President Woodrow Wilson asked for 1 million volunteers in the spring of 1917, only 73,000 stepped forward. For the most part, before the outbreak of World War I, wars were fought between armies, not nations. The utter savagery and ghastly carnage of “The Great War” coupled with the stalemate in the trenches almost seemed beyond the comprehension of the ordinary citizen. When Wilson in April of 1917 was able to get Congress to declare war, support for this war was far from unanimous. Before America’s entry, one of the most popular songs in America was “I Didn’t Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier.” This ballad was a mother’s cry for neutrality and a reaction to the slaughter in Europe. Nine million ethnic German Americans comprised the largest immigrant group in the United States. Many of them opposed entering the war against their former homeland. The timing of the war could not have been worse. In 1917, America had not yet come to terms with the massive industrial development following the Civil War and the vast immigration it had sparked. The movement from the farm to more crowded urban areas, the right of workers to organize, women’s suffrage, and the adjustment to new technologies like the automobile, electricity, the telephone, and silent film were still works in progress. Entry into this war required the mobilization of every resource; human, moral, and material.
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The entire village of Tuckahoe came out to support the troops during World War I during a parade. Photo courtesy Richard Forliano
The need for progressive reform would have to be put on hold. The American people, for better or worse, had to be turned into one hot mass, ready to enlist or submit to the draft, to give money, and to make any sacrifice required of them. Over the next 19 months, every available medium was used to create enthusiasm for the war effort. A week after war was declared, a federal Committee on Public Information, CPI, was formed to gain unqualified support from the public for the war. The war was portrayed as an epic struggle to free the world from tyranny, to fight a war to end all wars. The CPI generated newspapers, magazines, fliers, posters, songs, films, rallies, parades and speakers to raise money, register for the draft, conserve food, and volunteer time to do what was necessary to save the world for democracy. From its inception, the Committee on Public Information was successful. The first challenge was establishing a military force capable of fighting in this ghastly war. Voluntary recruitment was not enough to raise the necessary number of troops. Conscription was unavoidable, and in May of 1917 the Selective Service Act was passed. All men between the ages of 21 and 30 were required to register for military service. To avoid the draft riots that took place during the Civil War, the draft was conducted by lottery. By the end of the war, more than 4.5 million American men and 11,000 American women served in the armed forces. Four hundred thousand African-Americans were called to active combat. In all, 2 million Americans fought in
French trenches. The Scarsdale Inquirer stated that throughout Westchester County, there was no reluctance to register and not one case of disorder. About 10 percent of the city of Mount Vernon enlisted. New Rochelle had 2,300 enlistees, and Yonkers with a population of 91,000 had almost 8,900 enlistees. Our town of Eastchester had 771 enlistees out of a population of 7,600. Draft dodgers, back then known as slackers, were few. On the homefront, recruiting soldiers was only a part of the arduous task ahead. Raising money, producing supplies, food and equipment, and raising morale were other tasks ahead. The next articles will explain how this was accomplished. Many thanks to the lower Westchester Historians Roundtable for their pioneering research that made this article possible: Eloise Morgan, former Bronxville Village historian; Ray Gelebracht, Bronxville Village historian; Phil White, Tuckahoe Village historian; Gigi Carnes, president, Crestwood Historical Society; Lissa Halen, curator, Eastchester Historical Society; David Osborn, site manager, St. Paul’s National Historic Site; Donna Jackson, acting Mount Vernon City historian; and especially Barbara Davis, New Rochelle City historian. Please contact us 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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November 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9
The Birch Collective brings Quebec flair to Westchester By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor It seems like most restaurants that have opened this year are on the “new American, farmto-table” path. But The Birch Collective has brought a certain je ne sais quoi to downtown White Plains. The two-story eatery offers comfort food with a French-Canadian flair. So, of course, there’s poutine; the two chefs are from Montreal, and I, honestly, was taken back to long weekends in that city. There is something for everyone on the menu, which features some American classics and dishes with interesting names, like the Wings Beneath My Wind (no typo here). Also, all sauces, marinades and drink purees are made in-house, including a savory caramel drizzle served over tempura cauliflower bits. Perhaps the biggest draw to The Birch Collective is the
drink menu, with cocktails as big as you could imagine and creative names and recipes to boot. If you are an Instagram foodie, you may have seen Finding Nemo: a neon blue cocktail that tastes like bubblegum and gin, served with shark-shaped candy floating around in a sturdy plastic bag. Add to all of this décor that calls to mind a home by the lake with lots of wood, hits from the 1980s and beyond playing through the speakers, and a great staff led by owners Matthew Gagnon Guastaferri, 33, and Pierluc Dupont, whom you’ll see greeting patrons often. “It’s really important to connect,” Gagnon Guastaferri said. “We want to create an experience, not a transaction.” Gagnon Guastaferri has spent half of his life in the hospitality industry, boasting experience in about 25 restaurants and bars across the spec-
One of the many “Birchtails”: the Birchberry Mojito made with a raspberry and rhubarb purée, littered with fresh blueberries.
trum, in all positions. He has French-Canadian blood, grew up in New Hampshire, and has spent about nine years in New York City. He also happens to be a singer-songwriter. Upon visiting Montreal for the first time, Gagnon Guastaferri remembered how much attention the Quebecois pay to food, especially to sauces and marinades. “I was blown away by the food,” he said. “They don’t put up with any crap.” Unless you’ve been to the province of Quebec, you may not have been exposed to its cuisine. The Birch Collective was a year and a half in the making, with the goal of bringing something unique to the White Plains dining and bar scene. Gagnon Guastaferri and Dupont, who also hails from Montreal, clicked upon meeting each other, and practically agreed on everything concerning the restaurant’s concept. They sampled food from various restaurants nationwide, and looked in Brooklyn and even New Jersey for the space. “We said, ‘Let’s go somewhere they need us; let’s be a big fish in a small pond,’” Gagnon Guastaferri said on selecting White Plains as the restaurant’s home. “I know that people expect a great culinary and mixology experience in cities.” All of the restaurant’s elements have a story. According to Gagnon Guastaferri, the yellow birch is the official tree of Quebec, and symbolizes new beginnings. Every table is made from wood from birch trees, and communal tables are a part of the mix. The space is very welcoming; hence the restaurant’s name. To add a personal touch, on the way up to the mezzanine space, childhood photos of staff line the wall of the stairs. Gagnon Guastaferri and Dupont plan on expanding The Birch Collective as a brand, with more locations in the future and even putting their housemade sauces on sale. “We were thinking bigger than just a restaurant,” Gagnon Guastaferri said. “Here, we’re growing.” CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
As it gets darker outside, The Birch Collective remains warm and inviting.
A cross section of the Birch Burger: bacon jam, cheddar, lettuce, confit tomato, onion and the housemade big Birch sauce served on a brioche bun. The burger is also served with a fried pickle, not pictured.
Poutine Québécois: french fries, cheese curds and brown gravy, topped with smoked meat from the popular Mile End Delicatessen in Brooklyn. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa
The Birch Collective 91 Mamaroneck Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 437-9065 thebirchcollective.com
10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 3, 2017
November 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11
Yonkers celebrates
9th annual Pet Parade A pitbull shows off her pretty in pink look.
This pooch will put a spell on you, and now you’re hers.
Farrah Enriquez, 6, and Bella, a 13-year-old maltese. Contributed photo
The Yonkers Downtown/Waterfront paved the way for hundreds of paws, as pups and their owners took part in the ninth an-
nual Yonkers Pet Parade to celebrate Halloween. On Oct. 22, more than 90 dogs dressed as popular political
Taco Bell announces its newest mascot.
Owners join their pets in getting dressed up for the parade. Photos courtesy Rachel Cauvin Photography
figures, comic book superheroes and Disney princesses joined the weekend event in hopes of scoring a win in the Halloween costume contest. “[We tried] to create an event that was inclusive of the many pet owners in the area and also provide an opportunity for people in the broader region to have an excuse to come and visit downtown,” said Jaime Martinez, executive director of the Yonkers Downtown Business Improvement District, BID, a nonprofit that supports development in downtown Yonkers. The parade took place from noon to 2 p.m., where dogs were treated to delicious animal-friendly snacks and crisp bowls of water. “It’s a great opportunity to get out there [and] meet with other pet owners,” Martinez told the Review. He explained that participation in this year’s parade tripled from last year, with 94 dogs registered for the costume contest, and more than 300 people
in attendance. The pets were judged in three different categories: “Scariest Dog,” “Funniest Dog” and “Judge’s Choice.” The panel of judges consisted of Martinez’s daughter, volunteers from the BID, and Bark and Purr, a luxury pet boutique along the Yonkers waterfront which sponsored the event. One of this year’s parade attendees was Danielle Kelly, who marched in the parade with Bella, her 13-year-old Maltese. Kelly said it was her first year in the parade, and added that she would definitely go again. “I thought it was really cute,” she said. “It seemed like the pets really enjoyed it as well.” As for Bella, who was dressed as a little red devil, Kelly said that her pup loved spending time with the other dogs on a sunny afternoon. At the end of the parade, the pets were treated to free treats, some water and certificates commemorating their participation. -Reporting by Taylor Brown
This bee is all bark and no sting.
Costume contest winners: SCARIEST SMALL DOG: Louie, wearing a spider SCARIEST MEDIUM/LARGE DOG: Chuck Norris, dressed as a cowboy FUNNIEST SMALL DOG: Cooper, dressed as Darth Vader FUNNIEST MEDIUM/LARGE DOG: Duke, dressed as a cowboy JUDGES CHOICE: Poppy, dressed as Batman
12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 3, 2017
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Notice of Formation of JACK ANTHONY REALTY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/12/2017. Office: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Jack Anthony Realty LLC, 676A White Plains Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Purpose: any lawful business, purpose or activity.
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Formation of Andretta1954, LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/5/17. Office loc.: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail process to is Agostino DiFeo, 39 Forbes Blvd., Eastchester, NY 10709. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of New Castle Scone Company, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 9/27/17. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: INCORP Services, Inc. One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue. Suite 805-A, Albany, NY. Purpose: any lawful activity.
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November 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 13
LEGAL NOTICES
REGINALD A. LAFAYETTE Commissioner Fax 914-995-7753 JEANNIE L. PALAZOLA Deputy Commissioner
DOUGLAS A. COLETY Commissioner Fax 914-995-3190
DOROTHY L. DIPALO Deputy Commissioner
25 Quarropas Street | White Plains, NY 10601 914-995-5700 | www.westchestergov.com/boe
OFFICIAL 2017 GENERAL ELECTION NOTICE Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4-120 of the Election Law, notice is hereby given that the official General Election will be held on November 7, 2017 from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. for registered voters in the County of Westchester for the public offices listed below: PUBLIC OFFICE Supreme Court Justice County Executive County Clerk County Court Judge Family Court Judge County Legislator - CLD 1 County Legislator - CLD 2 County Legislator - CLD 3 County Legislator - CLD 4 County Legislator - CLD 5 County Legislator - CLD 6 County Legislator - CLD 7 County Legislator - CLD 8 County Legislator - CLD 9 County Legislator - CLD 10 County Legislator - CLD 11 County Legislator - CLD 12 County Legislator - CLD 13 County Legislator - CLD 14 County Legislator - CLD 15 County Legislator - CLD 16 County Legislator - CLD 17 Town of Bedford - Supervisor Town of Bedford – Councilmember Town of Bedford – Town Clerk Town of Bedford – Town Justice Town of Cortlandt - Supervisor Town of Cortlandt – Councilmember Town of Cortlandt – Town Clerk Town of Cortlandt – Town Justice Town of Cortlandt – Receiver of Taxes Village of Croton-on-Hudson – Mayor Village of Croton-on-Hudson – Village Trustee Town of Eastchester - Supervisor Town of Eastchester – Councilmember Town of Greenburgh - Supervisor Town of Greenburgh - Councilmember Town of Greenburgh - Town Clerk Town of Greenburgh – Town Justice Town of Greenburgh – Receiver of Taxes
Village of Ardsley – Mayor Village of Ardsley – Village Trustee Village of Ardsley – Village Trustee (Unexp.) Village of Dobbs Ferry – Mayor Village of Dobbs Ferry – Village Trustee Village of Dobbs Ferry – Village Justice Village of Irvington – Mayor Village of Irvington – Village Trustee Town of Harrison - Supervisor/Mayor Town of Harrison - Councilman/Trustee Town of Harrison - Town/Village Clerk Town of Harrison – Town/Village Justice Town of Harrison – Receiver of Taxes Town of Lewisboro - Supervisor Town of Lewisboro – Councilmember Town of Lewisboro – Town Justice Town of Lewisboro – Receiver of Taxes Town of Mamaroneck - Supervisor Town of Mamaroneck – Councilmember Town of Mamaroneck - Town Justice Village of Mamaroneck - Mayor Village of Mamaroneck – Village Trustee Town/Village of Mount Kisco - Mayor Town/Village of Mount Kisco – Trustee Town/Village of Mount Kisco – Town Justice Town/Village of Mount Kisco - Library Trustee Town of Mt. Pleasant - Supervisor Town of Mt. Pleasant - Councilmember Town of Mt. Pleasant - Town Clerk Town of Mt. Pleasant – Receiver of Taxes Town of Mt. Pleasant - Superintendent of Highways Town of New Castle - Supervisor Town of New Castle – Councilmember Town of New Castle – Town Justice Town of North Castle - Supervisor Town of North Castle - Councilmember Town of North Castle – Town Justice Town of North Salem- Supervisor Town of North Salem - Councilmember Town of North Salem – Receiver of Taxes
Town of North Salem – Superintendent of Highways Town of Ossining - Supervisor Town of Ossining - Councilmember Town of Ossining - Town Justice Town of Ossining – Receiver of Taxes Town of Ossining - Superintendent of Highways Village of Ossining – Village Trustee Town of Pelham - Supervisor Town of Pelham - Councilmember Town of Pelham - Town Clerk Town of Pelham – Receiver of Taxes Town of Pound Ridge - Supervisor Town of Pound Ridge - Councilmember Town of Pound Ridge – Town Justice Town of Pound Ridge – Receiver of Taxes Town of Rye - Councilmember Town of Rye – Town Clerk Town of Rye - Town Justice Town of Somers - Supervisor Town of Somers - Councilmember Town of Somers – Receiver of Taxes Town of Yorktown - Supervisor Town of Yorktown - Councilmember Town of Yorktown - Town Justice Town of Yorktown – Superintendent of Highways City of Mount Vernon – Comptroller City of Mount Vernon – Councilmember City of Peekskill - Mayor City of Peekskill – Councilmember City of Rye - Mayor City of Rye – Councilmember City of White Plains - Mayor City of White Plains – Councilmember City of Yonkers – Council President City of Yonkers – City Court Judge City of Yonkers – 2nd Council District City of Yonkers – 4th Council District City of Yonkers – 6th Council District
SPORTS
14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 3, 2017
The start of something good? LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
It may be too early in the year to pose this question, but, given the state of the organization, who knows if we’ll get another chance to ask, “Are the Knicks… good?” After three predictably terrible performances to start the 20172018 NBA season, the Knicks having seemingly turned things around over the last week, ripping off three straight wins—including a one-sided trouncing of the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers—which is starting to give New York fans something that’s been in short supply recently; namely, hope. Now, I’ll come right out and answer my own question. The Knicks are not, in fact, good. They’re not going to win their division, they’re not going to make the playoffs; heck, they probably won’t even win 25 games. But it’s amazing to see local fans, heartened by a small three-game surge, once again begin to buy into bas-
ketball at Madison Square Garden. Conventional wisdom states that when all things are going well in the Big Apple, New York, more than anything else, is a basketball town. But in the last 20 years, there’s been awfully little for Knickerbocker fans to get excited about. Sure, there was the bout of early onset Linsanity back in 2012, and the good vibes engendered by Amar’e Stoudemire’s first few months with the Blue and Orange back in 2010. But those were the exceptions, rather than the rule. Last season, in which the Knicks went out and spent liberally to bring in the likes of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, was supposed to be a return to playoff contention for the ballclub. Instead, a 31-51 campaign marked the nadir of Phil Jackson’s troubled tenure as team president, ultimately leading to the Zen Master’s long overdue dismissal last June. So you can’t blame Knick fans—especially after the team jettisoned star forward Carmelo Anthony in the offseason to expe-
dite a rebuild—to be resigned to yet another year of abject failure. When the Knicks started 0-3, it simply seemed to be business as usual. But over the last few games, we’ve seen something else happening. Kristaps Porzingis is finally emerging as the kind of bona fide star he’s shown glimpses of becoming in his first two seasons, averaging 29 points a game and dropping 39 on the Nuggets on Monday night. Enes Kanter, who came over in the Anthony deal, is averaging a double-double and doing great work on the glass. Even Jarrett Jack—who, frankly, I’d forgotten was still in the league before he signed as a free agent—is chipping in, providing the Knicks with a true pass-first point guard that they’ve lacked since Chauncey Billups was on the squad. More than anything, this team has been fun to watch over the last week or so, which is a lot more than you can say about recent iterations of the Knicks. I’m not saying it’s going to last. The roster is full of retreads and players who wouldn’t ever see the floor on teams like the
TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A
LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow @eastchesterview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates
After six games this season, the New York Knicks are a surprising 3-3. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks it’s too early to jump on the bandwagon, but he isn’t going to stop watching. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.orglivemikebball.jpg
Spurs or the Warriors. But with a dearth of other options to cheer for—the Rangers have been absolutely brutal thus far—what’s the harm in dipping
our toes in the water of Knicks’ ed them to this year, so maybe that is cause for celebration. fandom? Sure, the Knicks are only 3-3. But they’ve already won Follow Mike on Twitter more games than I expect@LiveMike_Sports
SPORTS
November 3, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15
Tigers bow in finals BOYS SOCCER
class c
FINALS
SCHECHTER 2 TUCKAHOE 1 LAKELAND HS
10/28/17
Game Notes: • Section I scoring leader Miles Ogihara scored the game’s first goal for Schechter • The Lions outscored the Tigers 12-0 in two regular season games • Nick Zingara scored the Tigers’ lone goal By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Oct. 28, Tuckahoe’s soccer season came to an end on the section’s biggest stage, as the Tiger boys fell 2-1 in the Class C finals to a talented team from Solomon Schechter. Although the Tigers fell short of their ultimate goal, however, head coach James Sweeney believes that the 2017 season is a sign of things to come for the program. Despite playing the Lions to a scoreless tie in the first half, Tuck-
Tyrone Malango brings the ball up the field against Schechter on Oct. 28. Photos/Mike Smith
ahoe found itself on the defensive shortly into the second half when Section I’s leading scorer
Miles Ogihara slipped behind the defense to break a scoreless tie. Another score off a Jon Tolchin-
A Tiger pushes passed a Solomon Schechter defender at Lakeland High School.
A Tuckahoe player chases down a ball in the Class C soccer finals on Oct. 28. The Tigers fell to Solomon Schechter in a tight 2-1 game.
sky free kick gave Schechter a 2-0 lead until there were just nine minutes left to play, when Tuckahoe’s Nick Zingaro put the Tigers on the board. Unfortunately for the No. 2 seed, it was as close as they would get, and Schechter would go on to claim the Class C crown. But even if Tuckahoe wasn’t able to unseat the Lions, the game did show a remarkable turnaround from two regular season contests that saw Solomon Schechter outscore the Tigers 12-0. “We felt coming in that the scores of those games weren’t a true testament to our team,” Sweeney said. “Both times, they just kind of buried us in the beginning, but we really turned it on [on Saturday] and you saw the difference.” Sweeney believes that the decision to man-mark Ogihara helped to limit the standout’s effectiveness, and that offensively, Tuckahoe’s patience is something that has been building for a few weeks now. “In our last 10 games, we went 7-3 and I think you saw that the boys really started to believe in
the style of soccer we were trying to play,” he said. “This wasn’t going to be the traditional Tuckahoe style of kick and run, and toward the end of the year, you saw them buy in.” The results have been evident, as Saturday’s appearance in the finals marked the Tigers’ first since 2001. “I wanted the guys to know after the game, that they are at the starting point of something in Tuckahoe,” Sweeney said. “It’s been a while since we’d been here, but with all future teams, I want anything short of a section finals to be a disappointment.” Tuckahoe will graduate a total of 14 seniors this spring, but will return six players who either started or saw significant time. Those returning players, Sweeney said, will be tasked with continuing to raise Tuckahoe’s profile within Section I. “I just want them to continue the leadership and be a presence in the building,” he said. “It’s a small school, and numbers are so important, so I want them to continue to go out and advocate for soccer.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • November 3, 2017
SPORTS
Broncos cruise to finals FIELD HOCKEY
class c
SEMIS
BRONXVILLE 4 VALHALLA 0 BRONXVILLE HS
10/31/17
Game Notes: • Kat Ungvary had two goals and one assist • Hannah Weirens, Sunday Ladas also scored for the Broncos • Bronxville will play Pawling in the Class C finals on Nov. 1, after press time By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Oct. 31, the Bronxville field hockey team punched its return ticket to the Class C section finals with a strong showing against a good Valhalla team. Avenging a loss earlier this season to the Vikings, the No. 1 seed Broncos took control early and never let up, cruising to a 4-0 semifinal win. After dominating possession for much of the first half, Bronxville finally broke through 22 minutes into the game when Sun-
Kat Ungvary gets her stick on the ball. Ungvary had two goals and one assist in the win.
day Ladas collected a pass from senior Kat Ungvary to record the first goal of the game. Two
Sunday Ladas challenges a Valhalla defender for control of the ball on Nov. 1. Ladas broke a scoreless tie with 8:42 left in the first half.
minutes later, Hannah Weirens padded the lead with an unassisted goal that gave the Broncos a two-goal lead heading into intermission. Ungvary closed out the scoring in the second half, striking twice, and Bronxville goalie Katie Gordon stopped both shots she faced to preserve the Bronco shutout. “One hundred percent, our momentum is up whenever we score the first goal of a game,” Ungvary said following the victory. “We know we have a strong defense to go along with our offense, so our intensity was high.” The game was a stark contrast to the first meeting between the clubs this year, which Valhalla won 1-0. “It definitely helped to be on our home turf, we were higher-seeded so we came in confident,” Ungvary said. “We did have a little hesitation at first because they had beaten us, but our coaches told us to make sure we came out strong with a burst.” Ungvary also believes that Bronxville’s difficult regular season schedule—which included games against bigger schools like Mamaroneck, Rye and Scarsdale—has helped the Broncos prepare for their postseason campaign which has seen them outscore opponents 12-0 thus far.
Fiona Jones controls the ball against the Vikings on Nov. 1. Bronxville topped Valhalla 4-0 in the Class C semifinals. Photos/Mike Smith
“We had a big win over Scarsdale early in the season, so that helps our confidence,” Ungvary said. “And for the veterans on this team, considering we lost in the state semis last year, our goal is to get back.” In order to do so, however, they will first need to get past Pawling in the Section I finals, which will be played on Nov. 1, after press time, at Pace University. The Broncos scored a victory over the Tigers on Oct. 3, but Ungvary admitted that Bronxville will not be overconfident heading into the title game. “We beat them before, but our coaches always tell us that beating a team twice in one season is a hard thing to do,” she said. “Pawling is a good team and it’s always a great game, so we are looking forward to it.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
Ava Austi drives toward the goal against Valhalla.