December 15, 2017 by The Eastchester Review

Eastchester REVIEW THE

December 15, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 50 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Purchase students collaborate on White Plains project

10 years and counting

BLT Steak recently celebrated 10 years on White Plains’ dining scene, changing the face of steakhouses and championing the importance of excellent service. For story, see page 6. Photo/Sibylla Chipaziwa

Bedford supervisor to run for Latimer Senate seat By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Bedford Supervisor Chris Burdick, a Democrat, will add to a pool of candidates looking to fill the seat of former state Sen. George Latimer, as he readies to take the reins as Westchester County executive next month. In a statement on Dec. 5, Burdick said he’s ready to take his political career a step further. “I am looking forward to taking that record, and my work ethic, to the next level by representing the residents of the 37th Senatorial District,” he said. Burdick has served as Bedford supervisor since 2013 and had prior to that served as a councilman dating back to 2007. Among Burdick’s priorities are building party unity, using

his candidacy announcement as an opportunity to criticize the Independent Democratic Conference, IDC, a group of eight state senators who were elected as Democrats but often side with Republican leadership in a power-sharing agreement with the GOP. Though Democrats have a one-seat majority in the state Senate, the IDC gives Republicans control of the Senate. “The IDC-Republican leadership has resulted in a failed record for New Yorkers,” Burdick said in a statement. “Their anti-choice, anti-immigrant, anti-reform record does not reflect the values of Westchester voters.” According to an Associated Press report last month, mainline Democrats in the state Senate and members of the IDC

said they are willing to agree to a proposal allowing for a power-split between leaders of both sides, successfully bringing members of the IDC back into the party’s fold. The IDC emerged as an opposition caucus in 2011 headed by state Sen. Jeff Klein, a Bronx Democrat, who was ousted from party leadership after Democrats lost the Senate majority in 2010. In addition to Burdick, state Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, a Yonkers Democrat, and White Plains’ Kat Brezler—a teacher and campaign organizer for Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, during his presidential run—are also interested in the open seat. It is now up to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, to decide whether to call for a special election to fill the final year re-

maining on Latimer’s term. The other option would be for Cuomo to leave the seat vacant, and ultimately be decided by the November 2018 election. The Senate’s 37th District encompasses Rye, White Plains, Yonkers, Harrison, Mamaroneck, North Castle, Bedford, and Eastchester. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

For the third year in a row, SUNY Purchase College School of the Arts has collaborated with the White Plains Business Improvement District, BID, to exhibit Art in Vacant Spaces, an innovative art project in empty storefronts in downtown White Plains. First launched in 2015, the project was created to improve the visual appearance of several vacant storefronts, thereby enhancing the overall ambiance and pedestrian experience in the downtown. This year, Warren Lehrer, a professor at SUNY Purchase, worked with his Community Design class to populate the storefronts with visual poetry as part of their pro-bono work for the semester. The School of the Arts hired poet Judith Sloan to research and interview people in White Plains, and to write site-specific poems for the project that represent the hopes, desires, memories, and soul of people working and or living in White Plains, leaving room for evocative interpretations by student designers. Sloan wrote poems that would invite experimental and evocative visualizations and collaborations with student designers. In writing the text for fall 2017, Sloan wanted to give voice to the fact that students and community members are living in a difficult, ‘divided’ country. “I wanted to reveal the things that are holding communities together including ideas around what it takes to create a community and maintain a community,” Sloan said. The students in Lehrer’s class visualized the poems, making many variations, using typography, image, shape, and color, then refining their solu-

tions, and making final presentations. This year, the project transformed three vacant storefronts on Mamaroneck Avenue, and included second floor windows for the first time. For her setting of the poem “Recipe for a Loving Community,” Madeline Friedman designed suggestive silhouetted scenes for each of nine sets of second floor windows at 131 Mamaroneck Ave., “inviting the public to engage their imagination and enter the world of the inhabitants. For the trilingual poem “I’m Here,” Kelly Mertz interwove the different languages into line drawings of buildings to evoke the diversity and co-existence found in White Plains. Hailee Knadle’s eye-catching interpretation of “New Rhythms” celebrates the seasons of life cycling through time via evolving shapes and vibrant colors. White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach said, “This initiative between the White Plains BID and SUNY Purchase Community Design students showcases a creative and collaborative approach to public art in an urban setting. The work has enlivened our streetscape and created inspiring and thought-provoking messages about community and place.” Brittany Brandwein, the director of events and business promotions for the White Plains BID and the project manager said, “Collaborating with property owners, city hall, artists, and students is the essence of the project and exemplifies the unifying message we have portrayed in the artworks. For the second year in a row, we incorporated the free downloadable app Otocast into PURCHASE continued on page 8

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Astorino vetoes budget; legislators look to override By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, is expected to veto an incoming budget after county lawmakers voted to include a tax levy increase—something Astorino hasn’t done since being elected in 2010—in their revision of his proposed budget for 2018. In a statement issued on Dec. 11, Astorino revealed his plans to veto the most recent budget plan put forward by lawmakers. “There’s no reason to raise property taxes on the already overburdened residents and businesses of Westchester,” he said in a statement. “I proposed a budget that was balanced and provided sufficient revenues for county services. For that reason, I will veto the budget and its tax increase approved by the Board of Legislators.” The 2018 budget—passed 12-5 by lawmakers—included a 2 percent tax levy increase, which clocked in under the 4.4 percent New York state-imposed tax levy cap. Lawmakers say that the tax increase was to make up for projected revenue shortfalls.

An original $1.8 billion budget sent down by Astorino on Nov. 13 held the tax levy flat for the eighth consecutive year with spending increasing by less than 1 percent. But, in order to achieve that end, the county executive included cuts to the county’s Engineering and Planning departments as well as the elimination of six park curator positions. Astorino was also accused of attempting to hamstring the incoming administration by reducing support staff to the office of the county executive. After deliberations, the revised budget was passed by the county Board of Legislators with bipartisan support in the form of backing from three Republican lawmakers—David Gelfarb, of Rye Brook; Jim Maisano, of New Rochelle; and David Tubiolo, of Yonkers—giving them potentially enough votes to override Astorino’s veto. Among the areas of concern, legislators have pointed to $30 million in tentative revenue that was included in the budget for a deal privatizing the county’s airport—a deal that lacks support from the county Board of Legislators and County Executive-elect George Latimer,

a Democrat. “Just upon our receipt, this budget included a $29 million hole, as the airport deal was rejected by this legislature, the voters, and financial auditors,” said county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat. “For the Astorino Administration to include it in its budget once again—while just showing us the details—is an insult to the people of Westchester.” That deal sought to reclassify the airport under a Federal Aviation Administration-run program that allows participants to transition their publicly owned airports into the private sector and then use subsequent revenue toward an operating budget. Last year, legislators also voted to include $15 million in projected revenue derived the airport’s privatization. An original $130 million, 40year agreement, which was sent down to lawmakers on Nov. 3 2016, would have given the investment firm Oaktree Management the exclusive bid for the project, but the deal was sunk by Democrats who accused the administration of skirting proper request for proposals process.

Despite a veto by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, a supermajority override will help the county Board of Legislators prevail in their passage of a revised 2018 budget increasing the tax levy by 2 percent. Photo courtesy westchestergov.com

Since then, the deal has gone through a formal bidding process resulted in Astorino’s recent selection of Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation, who agreed to a $1 billion deal that would extend for 40 years and throughout its lifespan pay the county $595 million on top of $550 million in capital improvements at the airport.

In addition to raising the tax levy, the Board of Legislators’ revised budget will also restore cuts to the Planning and Engineering departments—positions which will be responsible for handling the $1.2 billion in capital project backlogs—as well as previously nixed county parks curator positions. Seven proposed cuts to the

county executive’s support staff will also be restored for Latimer if the budget is passed as is; three additional positions will also be added in the budget. The Board of Legislators will likely override an Astorino veto and will adopt its budget before a Dec. 27 deadline. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library

holiday treat if you wish.

KEVA Global Design Lab

For more information on hours and programs, visit eastchesterlibrary.org.

The Great American Songbook Part III On Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m. Please join us for an interactive program and informative lecture by Richard Knox on the Great American Songbook. The Great American Songbook, also known as “American Standards,” is the canon of the most important and influential American songs from the early and mid-20th 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 III of this five-part series, Knox will focus on songs composed and recorded during the 1940s, including such great numbers as Jule Styne’s “It’s Magic.” This program is free and open to the public. The series will continue through January 2018.

Chat & Color Book Club On Monday, Dec. 18 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Book Sale Room. Join the Chat & Color Book Club on to discuss this month’s book, “Nine Women, One Dress” by Jane Rosen. Copies of the books will be available at the Circulation Desk. Pictures and colored pencils are provided. Light refreshments will be served. Online registration suggested. Open to adults. For more information, contact Amelia Buccarelli at abuccarelli@wlsmail.org.

Holiday Craft Program On Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Children ages 3 and 4 can join in to make a holiday bracelet. Online registration is required.

On Wednesday, Dec. 20 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. With the Westchester Children’s Museum. For ages 5 to 8. Young architects will take a tour around the world and see different structures throughout various times and cultures. A world map is used to help understand the cultures that developed these buildings and why. This lesson combines history, geography and art, and using the design and architectural principles as inspiration, students will use KEVA planks to create their very own building. Registration is required online.

Preschool Craft On Thursday, Dec. 21 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. For children ages 3 and up. This is a themed craft focusing on the first day of winter.

Tween Cooking Class: Holidays On Saturday, Dec. 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Back by popular demand. Make a yummy treat to bring home for the holidays. For ages 9 and up. Registration is required online. Please include any allergies your child may have in the comment box provided.

Tuckahoe Public Library For more information on hours and programs, visit tuckahoe.com/library.

One-On-One Computer Classes On Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. Classes fill up quickly. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.

Chess On Wednesday, Dec. 20 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. For all ages. Have fun learning the basics of chess, and get the chance to play with a partner. Registration is required by calling the library at 961-2121.

NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital

Westchester County Coin Club On Wednesday, Dec. 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Westchester County Coin Club, WCCC, holds its monthly meetings here 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. 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. 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.

Bronxville Public Library For more information on hours and programs, visit bronxvillelibrary.org.

Adult Book Discussion Group On Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This will be the annual Holiday Party and Poetry Evening at which each reader brings a favorite poem to share aloud with the group. Refreshments will be served, but you are welcome to bring a small

NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital is located at 55 Palmer Ave. in Bronxville. For more information, call 787-1000 or visit nyp.org/lawrence.

Weight Loss Surgery Seminar On Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the hospital Lobby Conference Room. The Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital invites you to attend our free preoperative education seminar. This seminar is led by clinical staff to provide information regarding surgical options, expected weight loss, and lifestyle changes required after weight loss surgery. All patients considering weight loss surgery are required to attend a seminar prior to scheduling a first appointment. Registration is required by calling 787-4000.

Joint Replacement Seminar On Wednesdays, Dec. 20 and 27 from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the hospital Lobby Conference Room. Are you tired of knee, hip or shoulder pain? Have you scheduled joint replacement surgery? Whether or not you are planning to get a new knee or hip, all are welcome to attend this pre-operative joint replacement patient education class. You’ll learn firsthand about the surgical and rehabilitative

experience and meet the hospital’s multidisciplinary team who can answer your questions. Registration is required by calling 787-2119.

Aphasia Support Group Meeting On Wednesdays, Dec. 20 and 27 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, Palmer Hall, first floor, Rehabilitation Department (Speech Office). Aphasia is a communication disorder that often results from damage to the brain— usually caused by stroke. It can affect the ability to speak and understand, read and write. These free meetings are for anyone who has the condition and are led by an NYP Lawrence speech therapist. The gatherings offer information on how to improve communication, the latest in aphasia research, language games, and a place to make friends in a supportive environment. Family members and caregivers are welcome. For more information call Dahna Stadtmauer or Meagan Moscaritolo at 787-3373.

can be dropped off at the Easchester High School Security Desk. Items which can be included in stockings: tuna packs; breakfast bars/power bars; trail mix/dried fruits/nuts/sunflower seeds; microwaveable food; cereal in single packs; snacks/candy/gum; Q-tips; powdered drinks: iced tea, lemonade, fruit punch; toilet paper/baby wipes; toothbrushes/toothpaste/ dental floss; Vaseline; foot powder; eye drops/ nose drops; sunscreen; socks/gloves; playing cards/ crossword puzzles; magazines/books; DVDs/new CDs; iTunes gift cards; AT&T phone cards; Best Buy gift cards; Christmas candy and decorations; room fresheners. Do not put in anything that can crumble, break or spill. Please do not include any pork products. It is also nice to add a cheerful holiday card.

County news Golf course closings

Eastchester Rotary Club

The six county-owned golf courses will close for the season after play on Sunday, Dec. 31. They will remain open until that date, weather and conditions permitting; check with the individual course. The courses are Dunwoodie, 231-3490, and Sprain Lake, 231-3481, both in Yonkers; Maple Moor, 995-9200, in White Plains; Mohansic, 862-5283, in Yorktown Heights; Saxon Woods, 231-3461, in Scarsdale; and Hudson Hills, 864-3000, in Ossining. The courses are expected to reopen in March, weather and conditions permitting. The exact date will be announced.

High school service opportunity

LEGOLAND Westchester

The Eastchester Rotary is looking for high school-age members for its Interact Club, which meets one to two nights per month and develops service initiatives locally and worldwide that are supported by the Eastchester Rotary, part of Rotary International, a prominent worldwide service organization. This is a community-based group, and is open to Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville residents who can be students attending any public or private high school, no matter where it is located. Maybe you or someone you know has participated in the past, or are interested in joining. The Interact Club will have its own directives and leaders, and will be directed by Eastchester Rotary members Dr. Joe Comizio and his wife Carolyn Comizio. This is a great service opportunity, and has been very popular and successful in the past. Please join, and feel free to pass this along to your friends who may be interested. Please respond by email to rotary@comizioorthodontics.com with your interest and contact information: name, high school you attend, age, school year, cellphone number and email address.

Bricktacular

Living with Cancer Support Group On Thursday, Dec. 21 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Cancer Center Conference Room, on the hospital’s first floor. This ongoing support group is for adults who have been recently diagnosed with cancer or are in treatment, led by licensed clinical social workers from Gilda’s Club Westchester. To register, call 644-8844, or email Joan Jacobus at jjacobus@ gildasclubwestchester.org.

Eastchester schools news Stockings for Soldiers The Eastchester Teachers Association, ETA, is running its annual drive to send filled stockings to soldiers. The ETA is partnering with Homes for Heroes, the Never Forget Foundation, and the Pearl River American Legion, which will ship and deliver the stockings to soldiers overseas, returning veterans, and to the Montrose VA Hospital. Parents are invited to send in items to help fill almost 200 stockings purchased by the ETA. Donated items can be given to homeroom teachers in a bag, envelope or box to the attention of Clare Delongchamp, Eastchester Middle School, or they

Tis the season to be jolly at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester during Bricktacular. Join in on the festive holiday fun every weekend in December as you walk through a Winter Wonderland-themed MINILAND searching for LEGO presents in a bricktastic scavenger hunt. Help the LEGO delivery truck get all of the hidden presents delivered by the holiday for a chance to win a family four pack of annual passes. Snap a photo with our custom holiday themed builds created by Master Model Builder Anthony Maddoloni, and enjoy winter and holiday-themed mosaic builds in the Master Builder Academy. All visitors receive a limited edition Collector Holiday LEGO Brick. Annual pass members can keep warm with a free hot chocolate every weekend. On Christmas Day, the center will be open for Bricktacular’s last day. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald St., Yonkers. Tickets start at $15.95; children under 2 are free. Opening hours for Bricktacular in December: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Monday, Dec. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 866-243-0770 or visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester.

Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.

December 15, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5

BHS orchestra spreads holiday cheer at Lawrence Hospital

From left, Bronxville High School students Christopher Hutchins and Masha Popovic on violin, Bronxville High School orchestra director Dr. Denise Lutter, Bronxville High School students Claire Rich and Theodore Liao on cello, Kirsten Ircha on viola, Sarah Whitney on violin, Amy Xu on cello and George Daher on violin. Photo courtesy Bronxville school district

Members of the Bronxville High School orchestra, led by orchestra director Dr. Denise Lutter, spread holiday cheer by performing an arrangement of holiday classics for the staff and patients at Lawrence Hospital on Dec. 8. “I was delighted when one of the doctors borrowed a student’s cello and played two selections with us,” Lutter said. “We hope that impromptu moments such as this bring joy to those who work

in stressful, demanding professions, and we hope that the music served to brighten the spirits of the patients.” Lutter and the group of students – George Daher, Christopher Hutchins, Masha Popovic, and Sarah Whitney on violin, Kirsten Ircha on viola, Theodore Liao, Claire Rich, and Amy Xu on cello – performed favorites such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Up on the Housetop,” “Jolly

Old Saint Nicholas,” “Deck the Halls” and “Carol of the Bells.” They performed throughout the hospital, including the maternity ward, cancer center and orthopedic department. As members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the students use their musical skills in service to others. In the past, Bronxville students have performed at nursing homes, senior centers and local churches. (Submitted)

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Eastchester REVIEW THE

P.O. Box 485 White Plains, N.Y. 10602 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 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 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. 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, P.O. Box 485 White Plains, N.Y. 10602

BLT Steak White Plains celebrates 10 years By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor BLT Steak’s White Plains location turned 10 years old recently, and the restaurant has helped change classic steakhouses from being an old men’s club to a place where anyone can wine and dine. “The comment I heard most when we first came was ‘Wow, this is the first restaurant in Westchester that feels like I’m eating in Manhattan,’” said Keith Treyball, president of ESquared Hospitality, BLT Steak’s parent company. “I heard that three times a night in the beginning.” To celebrate 10 years, BLT Steak offered popovers with golden tickets inside, which included prizes such as gift cards, a night in a Ritz-Carlton deluxe room, and “The Golden Experience”: a three-course dinner with wine pairings for two. Treyball said one thing that has set the restaurant apart over the past decade has been its attention to not just the meat—a 28day dry-aged porterhouse for two is one item—but appetizers and side dishes as well, which currently includes grilled double-cut smoked bacon, hen of the woods mushrooms and duck fat hash browns. While 90 percent of BLT’s menu is set, current executive chef Andrew Schilling’s playground is the “blackboard menu,” which tends to focus on peak season ingredients, sourcing locally whenever possible. “The original chef [when BLT Steak opened in 2007] spent a lot of time making a menu that spoke to not only men, but to women,” Treyball said, mentioning great salad offerings and lightening up the décor as examples. “We took that to the next level.” BLT Steak also stands out because of its seafood offerings, another remnant of the location’s first chef. “He brought a component to the menu which I don’t think you saw at other steakhouses,” Treyball said. “A lot of people followed suit afterwards.” BLT wanted to grow its brand, hence the reason to open up at the Ritz-Carlton Westchester; ESquared has maintained relationships with hotel groups. It also made sense as some patrons had dined at the Midtown location on 57th Street and lived in Westchester County. “Now Westchester has become quite a savvy dining scene, and I think a lot of that has trickled out from Manhattan,” he added. Treyball stressed the importance of service as much as the cuisine. “A bad waiter can’t save a good meal, but a good waiter can save a bad meal,” he said, adding it’s all about reading the guest, and making sure that their experience is a memorable one. “Throughout the years, BLT Steak has remained a go-to restaurant. Ten years is a pretty good run,” Treyball said. There are Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners available for reservations.

BLT Steak’s tuna tartare with avocado and soy-lime dressing is a popular appetizer.

To celebrate 10 years in White Plains, BLT Steak guests were treated to popovers with golden tickets inside, offering some delectable prizes.

CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

Visit us online www.eastchesterreview.com

The White Plains location is bright with high ceilings and touches of wood and leather.

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.

BLT Steak The rib-eye, arguably the most flavorful cut of steak, served with bone marrow. Photos courtesy BLT Steak

at The Ritz-Carlton Westchester 221 Main St., White Plains 467-5500 bltrestaurants.com/blt-steak/white-plains

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Taxes and food composting BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

Many of you have inquired but unfortunately the village is unable to accept payment in advance for taxes due in future years because Bronxville is required to follow the procedures set forth in the New York state real property tax law. Specifically, taxes can only be collected after the tax receiver has issued a tax warrant, published appropriate notices with due dates, and filed a tax roll identifying the amount due from each property. These steps follow after the village board has established a budget, tax levy and tax rate for the ensuing year and after the assessor has published an assessment roll. The village of Bronxville is even more unique than all other villages in Westchester County since it collects school taxes, and therefore cannot issue a tax warrant until we also receive a tax levy from the school. In other words, the village cannot simply accept payment since we are required by law to follow collection procedures consistent with state law and on a schedule consistent with all villages in Westchester County. The following is a compilation of issues that have crossed my desk in the past few weeks. Though no unifying theme, they are germane to day-to-day governance. As a follow-up to my last week’s column on food waste, our forward-thinking neighbors in Scarsdale and Larchmont most recently launched a food composting program in lieu of hauling food waste to landfills at a substantial cost to the community, thereby depositing rotting food that releases methane, a

more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Food scraps are collected in counter top pails and transferred to the municipal recycling centers at no additional cost. Pretty much everything is accepted including cut flowers, paper goods and coffee grinds. The only items forbidden include plastics, pet waste, diapers and Styrofoam. Food composting makes sense because it returns the nutrients back to where they came from—the soil. Worldwide, there currently is a soil crisis because organic materials from the earth are being removed at a rapid rate leaving our soil degraded and impoverished. Compost is so important because it enhances overall soil health as organic rich earth retains moisture better and mitigates the impacts of drought. Nearby Anne Hutchinson School in Eastchester was a pioneer in separating their lunch room food waste from garbage. The Bronxville Green Committee is looking into the logistics of starting a program in the village with the major obstacle being space near the DPW complex to collect and store the compost. The following is a recurring issue that comes up every year as a provision in New York state law that virtually every elected official wants repealed. It demonstrates how just a few paragraphs inserted by special interests can literally add billions of dollars to state and local governments. Yet another reason why we have to be alert to virtually every piece of legislation that makes it to the governor’s desk. It’s hardly news that New York roads, bridges, tunnels and pipelines are crumbling. Gov. Andrew Cuomo himself pointed out that 60 percent of our roads and 6,000 of our bridges statewide are in need of immediate repair,

and the MTA, LIRR and subway system are in beyond deferred maintenance condition. Clearly an infusion of funding is needed but there are also obvious steps that can be taken to maximize the current use of allotted resources. New York has costly barriers, the most notable the “Scaffold Law,” that make it truly the most expensive place on Earth to build. Under the law, unique to only New York state, the courts hold contractors and property owners, including municipalities and public agencies like the MTA, absolutely liable for gravity-related construction injuries, even if the contractor or owner had nothing to do with the accident. The effect is astounding. The New York State School Boards Association estimates the scaffold law wastes $400 million in construction costs statewide. Researchers for the Regional Plan Association confirmed that this law was a major driver in making the Second Avenue Subway the most expensive subway project in the world. The law literally drives insurers out of the New York market or forces them to hike rates, now the highest in the country. As example, the Port Authority pays, on average, more than twice as much for “losses” on the New York side of a bridge versus the New Jersey side—same project, same contractors, same laws of gravity, just different liability rules. A unique and heartening coalition of groups including local governments, taxpayer groups and affordable housing advocates including Habitat for Humanity—just about everyone but the trial lawyers—have called on Albany to reform this. We are hoping for success in this legislative term.

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First-class entertainment in your backyard By DORIS SHAW BLOCK Contributor Look no farther than Larchmont, Mamaroneck and New Rochelle for wonderful and affordable performances by committed groups of professional artists during the upcoming holiday season and throughout the new year. There is no need to travel afar for first-class entertainment. The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit’s Nov. 14 breakfast program featured nonprofit high-quality performing arts venues in our community. The panel included New Rochelle Opera’s co-founder and artistic director, Camille Coppola, who opened the program by singing an aria from “The Merry Widow.” The other noted speakers were Mark Ettenger, president of the Emelin Theatre board of directors; Eric Milnes, director of music at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck; and Tony Coretto, president of The Westchester Chorale. Coppola co-founded New Rochelle Opera 33 years ago with a dual mission of providing young opera singers with a performance venue and the community with an appreciation of live opera. The company performs a fully staged and costumed opera with professional singers each year at the Ursuline School. Next June, the company will perform Puccini’s “La Boheme.” Mamaroneck’s Emelin Theatre, a multi-genre performance venue with the motto “world class right here,” recently celebrated its 45th anniversary with a gala featuring Tony Award-winning singer/actress Kelli O’Hara. With 110 performances annually entertaining an audience of 25,000, the Emelin provides an enormous variety of affordable, quality performances by well-known artists, including all types of music, dance, comedy and children’s’ programs. There is also a popular Wednesday evePURCHASE from page 1

the project that gives viewers detailed information about window designs from all three years that are currently on view.” Lehrer said, “This class enables senior graphic students to work on projects with real clients, collaborators, budgets, deadlines. But the scale of this project is especially exciting for the students. And I like that it engages students to think about poetry, and issues having to do with community and public art.”

Mark Ettenger, president of the Emelin Theatre board of directors, standing, speaks about performing arts in the community at the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit breakfast program in November. Contributed photo

ning film club showing independent and foreign films. St. Thomas will be celebrating its 200th anniversary with five major performances at 4 p.m. on the following Sundays: Dec. 17, Feb. 4, March 25, April 15 and June 10. Musical director Eric Milne crafts programs drawing from all traditions of music. “Handel’s Messiah,” performed last year to much praise, will be repeated this year on Dec. 17, featuring the Choir of St. Thomas, an orchestra of Baroque instruments and internationally acclaimed soloists. The Westchester Chorale, founded in 1965 and currently resident at the Larchmont Avenue Church, is the oldest chorus in Westchester County, with a mission of presenting the best in choral music. Under the musical direction of Douglas Kostner, the 35- to 45-member chorus performs fall and spring concerts showcasing diverse musical traditions. On Dec. 16 at 4 p.m., the chorale also will perform “Handel’s Messiah.” The panelists spoke about their organizations’ outreach to, and involvement with, the local communities and their efforts to reach diverse audiences. Coppola teaches local school children about opera and then brings them to a per-

formance for their first live opera experience. Ettenger noted that artists performing at the Emelin have conducted master classes at local schools, and the Emelin offers student and group discounts. The Emelin has made efforts to showcase a variety of performers and engage diverse audiences, including dance programs with dancers of color and presenting “The Sound of Music” with Spanish subtitles. Milne noted that St. Thomas offers free concert admission to anyone unable to pay and stressed the church’s mission of encouraging and celebrating diversity, inclusiveness, and service to the community. Coretto noted the Westchester Chorale’s policy of student discounts and free admission to children under 12.

Lehrer received a 2017 Design Educators Award for the White Plains Storefront project from Design Incubation, a national organization that fosters dialogue between design educators, and grants awards for excellence in teaching and research. The White Plains Storefront Project was one of five projects the community design class worked on this semester. Other projects include a public art project for the Harrison Public Library, a catalogue for an ex-

hibition of activist graphics, a poster campaign for WESPAC’s Westchester Social Forum, and campaigns for SUNY Purchase’s Natural & Social Science symposium and lecture series. The White Plains BID appreciates the city of White Plains for their support, and for the generous sponsorship from LANline, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Eugene & Emily Grant Faculty Incentive Fund. For more information, visit wpbid.com/art. (Submitted)

This breakfast forum was hosted by the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit, an informal community council that seeks to make life better for all in the tri-municipal area. The Local Summit’s Dec. 19 breakfast program will feature a discussion with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Shaps on Mamaroneck’s growing enrollment and space challenges. All breakfast programs are held at Nautilus Diner in Mamaroneck at 7:45 a.m.

December 15, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9

B’ville students engage in Hour of Code programs

Bronxville Middle School seventh-graders experiment with Java script to create their own videos effects and graphics during Hour of Code. Photos courtesy Bronxville school district

Joining millions of students worldwide, Bronxville School students in kindergarten through 12th grade engaged in a variety of coding and computer programming activities for an Hour of Code from Dec. 4 through Dec. 8. The event is a popular feature of Computer Science Education Week that nurtures students’ creativity and problem-solving skills. “In our third year, we’re continuing to get 100 percent participation in the elementary school,” said Brad Ashley, the Bronxville school kindergarten through 12th-grade technology specialist. “Over the last few years we’ve developed a new computer science curriculum for our elemen-

tary school. We consider it the new literacy because we feel that students need coding in their daily lives if they’re going to compete in a 21st century world, and Hour of Code really helps to get students energized.” While the Hour of Code activities are different from the regular curriculum, they support the district’s vision and enable students to make connections and explore similar concepts to what they’re studying in their classes. “We’re showing that computer science is the new literacy and why the Hour of Code is so important,” Ashley said. Throughout the week, the district provided a variety of

self-guided coding activities, based on grade level, to the students. Middle school students participated in the Hour of Code during their technology classes in which they learned how to develop their own apps, engaged in block-based programming and experimented with Java script to create news videos. Meanwhile, members of a new app design class at the high school created their own Hour of Code and engaged in coding exercises using the Swift programming language. To watch a video about Bronxville school’s Hour of Code participation, visit the district’s website at Bronxvilleschool.org. (Submitted)

Bronxville Elementary School fourth-graders engage in a variety of coding and computer programming activities during Hour of Code.

10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 15, 2017

December 15, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11

Sponsored by

portraiture. “Patriotism” by John Murphy is pictured above. Veterans in Focus will be on view through Dec. 23 in Gallery9, ArtsWestchester’s ninth-floor gallery in White Plains. For more information, visit artsw.org/jhproject. -Rocio de la Roca

‘The Gift of the Magi’

Mahlstedt Gallery explores photography in digital age During a time when carrying a high-quality camera is as ubiquitous as owning a smartphone, Mahlstedt Gallery has taken a step back to look how today’s professional photographers are growing and changing with this ever-evolving technology. Mahlstedt presents “Contemporary Photography,” an exhibition that features works by five digital artists: Aitor Arana, Andrei Tallent, Astro de Sagun, Lori Hutchinson and Philip McKay. Each of these photographers experiments through new creative outlets like computer programs, which allows them to more properly express their artistic vision. Various and ever-changing digital advancements allow for these artists to convey their expressions through a diverse range of innovative processes. This provides new possibilities for a more meaningful visual communication with its viewer as well. “Contemporary Photography” is on view through Jan. 4, 2018 in New Rochelle. For more information, visit jam415.com.

-Mary Alice Franklin

Photos by local veterans at Gallery9 in White Plains An exhibition, “Veterans in Focus,” will feature the photography of nine veterans who participated in an eight-week program by artists Joseph Squillante and Karen Ann Sullivan, both members of ArtsWestchester’s Teaching Artists roster. Squillante and Sullivan collaborated with the nonprofit organization Josephine Herrick Project, JHP, to create a free program that provided students with the tools needed to express themselves. During the program, which was initiated and financially supported by the JHP, veteran participants from the Vet Center in White Plains were able to implement a variety of photography techniques through in-studio classes, field trips and on-location photography sessions. The 27 works on view will reflect the wide range of the veterans’ interests to include abstracts, street photography, nature, architecture and studio

Holiday highlights M&M Performing Arts Company presents the classic Christmas tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cranky and greedy man who is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Actor Michael Muldoon will recreate Charles Dickens’ own performances of his timeless novel “A Christmas Carol” in the historic period setting of Lyndhurst Mansion, which will be specially decorated for the holiday season. Guests will travel throughout the main floor of the Gothic Revival style building as they meet the spirits and characters from the story. Throughout the course of the play, the spirits transform his view of the world, making him a kinder man. Muldoon will give each character its own persona with different voices and styles. Through Dec. 30. For more information, visit lyndhurst.org.

A call for Westchester photographers

-Mary Alice Franklin

Mr. Dickens tells ‘A Christmas Carol’

The Review, in collaboration with ArtsWestchester, offers a rundown of art-related events throughout Westchester County. You can find our Arts in the Area page each month.

ArtsWestchester, in partnership with the African American Men of Westchester, seeks nominations for the inaugural Larry Salley Photography Award. The award was created to celebrate the life and artistic achievements of Lawrence “Larry” C. Salley, who was an active member of both organizations. This competition is open to Westchester-based photographers who have a significant body of work of outstanding artistic merit. The recipient will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to have a three-month residency in one of ArtsWestchester’s artist studio spaces at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. The award will be presented at ArtsWestchester’s annual Arts Award Luncheon in April 2018. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 2, 2018. For more information, visit bit.ly/LarrySalleyPhoto.

exhibition, a timely show about the state of voting rights in America today. For more information, visit artsw.org/giveusthevote.

ArtsW invites guests to ‘Get Over the Hump’ ArtsWestchester presents a happy hour pop-up shopping experience in its gallery on Dec. 20 to help visitors through the mid-week slump. As part of its monthly “Get Over the Hump” Wednesday series, guests are invited to enjoy a glass of wine and do some last-minute holiday shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts by four local designers. Matt Gualco reinterprets well-known written works and lyrics onto posters. Tatjana Kunst’s handmade utilitarian ceramic pieces, such as stoneware candles, jewelry, and planters are often decorated with motifs and carvings inspired by the natural world. Jody Lee will display glass homeware items, such as coasters, ornaments and plates, which incorporate marine- and nature-inspired details. Elena Rosenberg’s hand-knit and crocheted accessories and clothing are original designs made almost exclusively with natural materials. Guests can also view the contemporary artworks in ArtsWestchester’s “Give Us The Vote”

A production of “The Gift of the Magi” will return to the Schoolhouse Theater, SHT, stage this winter. With little to no money to their names, a young married couple, Della and Jim, set out to buy each other Christmas gifts. Della sells her long hair to buy Jim a fob chain for his family heirloom watch. Meantime, Jim sells the watch to buy Della combs, which she can no longer use for her long, beautiful hair. The famously ironic ending leaves the couple with a lesson about their priceless love. The family-friendly play has been adapted from a celebrated O. Henry story by SHT’s artistic director Bram Lewis. Through Dec. 24. For more information, visit schoolhousetheater.org.

TENET Vocal ensemble TENET will fill Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts’ Rosen House with the sounds of time-honored carols from America and Europe during its “Candlelight Carols” event. The New York-based quintet of singers will be joined by lutenist Hank Hejink for this night of intimate carols, both new and old. The program includes 20 songs, including the traditional French hymn “Veni, Veni Emmanuel,” Richard Dering’s “Ave Virgo Gloriosa,” and Francis Cutting’s “Greensleeves.” Guests can tour the Rosen House, a 1930s Mediterranean-style structure that will be decorated for the holidays, before the performance begins. On Dec. 16 and Dec. 17. For more information, visit caramoor.org.

‘The Nutcracker Dream’ Ballet des Amériques will present “The Nutcracker Dream,” pictured above, a holiday production choreographed and coached by the organization’s artistic director Carole Alexis, in its Port Chester studio. The ballet is an adaptation of the classic “The Nutcracker,” which also takes excerpts restaged after Rudolph Nureyev. The story follows Marie, who falls asleep and dreams of a prince and of a fantastical world of sweet treats that is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The production will feature students of the Ballet des Amériques school, who will be supported by the professional dancers of the company. Four performances will be offered on two days, Dec. 16 and Dec. 17. For more information, visit balletdesameriques.com.

Winter Pops Westchester Philharmonic’s annual Winter Pops concert will feature Broadway star Laura Michelle Kelly at SUNY Purchase College Performing Arts Center on Dec. 17. The vocalist created the role of Mary Poppins on London’s West End before starring in “South Pacific,” “Finding Neverland” and more. Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins will make a special appearance to perform her acclaimed solos from “Fiddler on the Roof.” The program, to be led by conductor Ted Sperling, will include Broadway and American Songbook hits (“Shall We Dance,” “Get Happy,” “Almost Like Being in Love,” “Let It Go”), holiday fare (“Favorite Things,” “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Joy to the World”) and classical favorites by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. For more information, visit westchesterphil.org.

Concert of Peace For the 23rd year, Songcatchers will bring an evening of peace to Westchester County on Dec. 17. The organization’s intergenerational concert choir and ensemble will present a program consisting of songs of peace, interfaith carols for Christmas and Hanukkah and carols of different cultures, such as Spanish, African and Scandinavian songs. Holiday songs will include “Carol of the Bells” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain” for audience participation. The concert will be held at the College of New Rochelle Chapel. For more information, visit songcatchers.org.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ George Bailey will once again gain an appreciation for his life in Bedford Falls when Jacob Burns Film Center displays this classic holiday hit on the big screen. In this 1946 black and white film, George is visited by angel Clarence after experiencing a particularly bleak period in his life. Clarence puts life into perspective for him by showing George what life would be like if he never existed. The film, which stars James Stewart and Donna Reed and was directed Frank Capra, will screen during Christmas week, from Dec. 21 through Dec. 25. For more information, visit burnsfilmcenter.org.

-Mary Alice Franklin

These articles appear in the December 2017 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy of the full issue is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.

12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 15, 2017

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SPORTS

14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 15, 2017

The Empire strikes back LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

If the Yankees’ introduction of Giancarlo Stanton this week came as something of an early Christmas present to area baseball fans, make no mistake; there is plenty of holiday cheer to go around. As a devoted Red Sox fan, I’m not here to chip away at the impact of the signing; injury issues aside, Stanton is a heck of a ballplayer and should play a large part in making the Yankees’ lineup one of the most feared in the past few years. But as scary as the newfangled Murderer’s Row looks on paper, the Stanton move has also been a gift to those—like myself—who don’t root for the Bombers. It has finally made the Yankees the Evil Empire again. Last year was a weird one for Yankee-haters. Because as good as the Yanks were—they were one win away from a

World Series berth—they were also oddly compelling. With a youth movement afoot in the Bronx, the organization trotted out tons of likeable homegrown talent, like Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, that made them tough to root against. It’s not that I didn’t root against them; I did, but after years of decrying our American League East rivals for going out and buying high-priced free agents to compete, it was fun to watch them take the field with exciting, young players that were a product of a robust farm system. But now that the Yanks have added the reigning National League MVP to their ranks after a ridiculously one-sided trade, all that goodwill has flown straight out the window. And that’s a good thing for the sport. Stanton, Judge, Sanchez and shortstop Didi Gregorious—arguably the Yanks’ top four sluggers coming into the spring—smacked a combined 169 home runs last year, one

more than the entire Red Sox team. If they duplicate those numbers this season, that is going to be a tough lineup to pitch against for sure, especially given the friendly confines of many AL East ballparks. And that’s exactly how I like it. At least for me, rooting for the Red Sox is more enjoyable when they fall somewhere between the lovable losers they were for the first 20 years of my life and the presumptive favorites to reach the World Series. And with the Yankees seemingly standing as a formidable roadblock to another postseason appearance, the narrative is already built in for the upcoming year. Can they topple the mighty Yanks this year? That remains to be seen. But the journey just got a whole lot more interesting, and as a fan, that’s really all I can ask for.

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

On Monday, Dec. 11, the New York Yankees officially announced reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton as the newest member of the ballclub. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks it was a great day for Yankee haters. Photo courtesy commons.wikimedia.org

SPORTS

December 15, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15

Broncos earn first win boys basketball non-league

BRONXVILLE 55 HASTINGS 48 BRONXVILLE HS

12/11/17

Game Notes: • Alston Tarry led with 20 points & Billy Ramundo scored 12 • The win was Bobby Russo’s first as the Broncos’ head coach • Bronxville will take on Pleasantville in the first round of the Bill Green Tournament on Dec. 15 By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Dec. 11, the Bronxville boys’ basketball team earned its first win of the 2017-2018 season, utilizing a late surge to top Hastings 55-48 at home. As the Broncos prepare for a grueling week, highlighted by the Bill Green Tournament this weekend, head coach Bobby Russo is hoping that the team’s first victory, after opening the season with two losses, serves as a stepping stone to bigger things.

Eddy Connors looks for an open teammate on Dec. 11.

First-year head coach Bobby Russo paces the sidelines during his team’s Dec. 11 game against Hastings. Bronxville’s 55-48 victory was Russo’s first head coaching win with the program.

The triumph over Hastings was Russo’s first-career win with the Broncos, but the first-year head coach admitted that he was

Alston Tarry makes a move toward the hoop against Hastings on Dec. 11. Tarry had 20 points in the Bronxville win.

just happy to see the team begin to round into form. The Class B Broncos’ first two games—losses to Class AA Horace Greeley and Class A Brewster—may have been uphill battles, but the win over the Yellowjackets proves that Bronxville can hang with some of the tougher teams in their own division. “Obviously that first win is a big deal for me, but after games against Horace Greeley and Brewster, two bigger schools, it was just good to see the team succeed,” he said. “Going against Hastings, a school our size, definitely gave us some confidence.” The Broncos jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead before the Yellowjackets climbed back into contention. But Bronxville was able to clamp down defensively in the second half and extend the lead. Alston Tarry led all scorers with 20 points, while Billy Ramundo added 12 in a game that Russo said exemplified the sort of unselfish basketball that the Broncos will need to play in order to be successful. As Tarry will likely garner increased attention from opposing defenses, Russo said that it will be up to Bronxville’s complementary players to help shoulder the offensive load. “[Tarry] is one of the best players in the league,” Russo said.

Liam Bishop drives along the baseline against the Yellowjackets. Photos/Mike Smith

“But from our standpoint, we are at our best when we have two or three guys scoring in double-digits.” Bronxville will be back in action on Dec. 13, after press time, when they take on league foe Edgemont. Edgemont is

currently 0-3 on the year and is coming off a 58-34 loss to Putnam Valley on Dec. 11. Following their tilt with the Panthers, the Broncos will prepare for the two-day Bill Green Holiday Tournament which kicks off on Dec. 15. Their first-round oppo-

nent will be reigning Section I champion Pleasantville. “It’s a big week for us,” Russo said. “We play some good teams and we would like to build on what we’ve been doing.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • December 15, 2017