January 20, 2017 by The Eastchester Review

Eastchester REVIEW THE

January 20, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 3 | www.eastchesterreview.com

EAGLES SOAR

Village Republicans to seek re-election By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

AT COUNTY CENTER Sean Donnellan goes up for a layup against Walter Panas at the Westchester County Center on Jan. 12. Eastchester survived a late run to top Panas 66-60. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith

In state address, Cuomo proposes legislative reform By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Concluding a recent three-day tour across New York state to deliver State of the State addresses, Gov. Andrew Cuomo—while speaking in the state’s capital region—announced plans for ethics reforms which included aspirations to impose term limits on state lawmakers. Foregoing the traditional approach, Cuomo gave six regional addresses in three days instead of one large address in front of both houses of the Legislature. Each speech catered to regionally specific topics. In his final stop on the State of the State address trail at SUNY University at Albany, Cuomo hit some of the same points he

had spoken of during earlier addresses that week; but specific to his presentation on Jan. 11 was a 10-point ethics reform plan aimed partially at state lawmakers. “Unfortunately, in Albany, there have been a series of breaches of the trust,” Cuomo said. “It has happened in the Legislature, both houses; it has happened in the state comptroller’s office; it has happened in my own office.” Most notably, the state Capitol has been in the shadow of recent corruption scandals of former Speaker of the House Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Republican, who both were convicted in 2016 of accepting bribes disguised as

outside income. In response, Cuomo’s proposals would seek to entirely restructure the offices of the state’s senators and assembly members by making those positions fulltime jobs and limiting outside income, restructuring legislative term lengths from two years to four years, and putting two-term limits on all such elected officials. In order to amend the state constitution to extend term lengths and impose term limits, the Legislature would have to vote on it twice: once this year and again in 2019. If approved, the decision would then go the public in a statewide referendum. State Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat who discussed

term limits during his recent reelection campaign, told the Review, “The governor’s plan is the beginning of a discussion, and now we discuss all the different elements of it.” Latimer said he favored 12year limits on all lawmakers in the state, including the governor. He added that extending term lengths was taking the trust of New Yorkers for granted. “As much as the two-year term drives me crazy, I think that people want to know that you’re accountable for them on a shorter term than once every four years,” he said. But any ethics reform discussion may be handcuffed to conversations about salary increases REFORM continued on page 8

The village of Tuckahoe’s mayor and two of its trustees will seek the Republican nomination to run for re-election in March, the Review has learned. According to Mayor Steve Ecklond, a Republican, he plans on running for re-election this year alongside Deputy Mayor Tom Giordano and Trustee Greg Luisi. There are three seats up for grabs this village election cycle. The trio is seeking election to their fourth respective terms in elected office. In Tuckahoe, members of the village board are elected to two-year terms. Although all three incumbents have expressed interest in running again, the village Republican Party will not hold its nominating caucus until Jan. 30 at the Tuckahoe Community Center where the nominations of a Republican slate will become official. The village board has been entirely Republican since May 2015, when Antonio Leo, a Republican, was appointed to fill the vacant seat left by Stephen Quigley, a Democrat, who died in office weeks earlier. Leo and Trustee Steven Alfasi, a Republican, were re-elected last year in uncontested races. Village elections are often subdued compared to their town and city counterparts—which take place on Election Day in November—largely due to population size, shortened campaign seasons, and the unusual timing of a March election. But this year may be unlike any other Tuckahoe election in

recent memory, as a hot button issue seems likely to be the focal point of the campaign. As a result, the Republican incumbents, and in particularly the mayor, could be vulnerable. Anticipating a Brownfield Cleanup project planned for the site of a former industrial dumping ground and former marble quarry on Marbledale Road that is projected to be turned into a Marriott Springhill Suites hotel, hundreds of residents have mobilized since the state Department of Environmental Conservation proposed its plan to remediate the contaminated property in April, filling the village courtroom and the community center several times during public hearings. The Marbledale Road Environmental Coalition, a group of Tuckahoe-area residents demanding more comprehensive testing of the site, collected nearly 1,800 signatures on a petition by September. More than 600 of those signatures were from Tuckahoe residents who are eligible to vote in this year’s election. The village has not seen a voter turnout of more than 300 residents since 2007, when then-Trustee John Fitzpatrick, a REPUBLICANS continued on page 9

2 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017

January 20, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 3

Common Core still a concern amid new regulations By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer An imminent federal education regulation, which would strip Title I funding for public schools with excessive opt-out rates of standardized testing, is set to go into effect at the end of the month. Despite disapproval from lawmakers, parents and educators across the country, the U.S. Department of Education’s controversial amendment to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, ESSA, which was passed by Congress in December 2015, is set go into effect on Jan. 30. ESSA, which reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act, expands the federal government’s role in funding public education. “The outcome of this type of legislation will be to punish large segments of students who are in need of federal dollars to support their education,” said Dr. Louis Wool, the superintendent of the Harrison Central School District. “We do not have the ability nor the right to mandate that people engage in a process that they find to be not in the best interests of their children.” The new amendment to ESSA could label Westchester public schools as “in need of improvement” for any school where 5 percent of students or more opt out of state Common Core testing. As a result, school districts above that threshold would lose its federal Title I funding, which is distributed to schools and school districts with a high percentage of students from lowincome families. The contended Common Core State Standards Initiative, which highlights what students should know in English language arts and mathematics at the end of each grade from kindergarten through 12th grade, is currently authorized and optional in New York state until 2022; the law was adopted in 2010. But in 2022, Common Core will be fully implemented without the option to opt out of standardized testing. The federal ESSA was drafted by U.S. Secretary of Education John King, the former New York state Education Depart-

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Westchester County lawmakers and educators have come to disapprove a new federal education regulation that is on the horizon. The new amendment to the controversial Common Core method of testing, which cuts funding to school districts with high opt-out rates, will go into effect on Jan. 30. Photo courtesy GreatSchools.org

ment commissioner, and was signed into law on the same day as the repeal of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, on Dec. 10, 2015. ESSA retains all the stipulations of the No Child Left Behind Act, but shifts the law’s federal accountability provisions to states. The No Child Left Behind Act previously required all public schools receiving Title I funding to administer statewide standardized testing with the stipulation that students make “adequate yearly progress.” For example, each year’s fourth-graders must score better than the previous year’s fourthgraders, or the federal government would step in and set mandatory improvement plans. Local school administrators and lawmakers have contested the methods of the state’s Common Core testing, insisting that it negatively impacts students’ ability to learn as it sets unrealistic educational criteria for success due to the high rate of failure on standardized tests. According to Dr. Brian Monahan, the interim superintendent of the Rye City School District, although each community in Westchester is different, standardized testing clearly impacts all school districts. “We’re concerned about the testing methods and evaluations that accompany those standards,” he said. Monahan added the lack of Title I funding is not necessarily an issue because Rye receives very little of it. However, he said that what concerns parents more about Common Core is the reality that few questions and tests

are released afterwards. According to Monahan, the state does not release standardized tests and questions for public viewing. “Parents want to see what went right and what went wrong,” Monahan said. “We’re seeing that change slowly, but we’re still going to advocate for a more responsible approach to testing.” According to state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat that has long been a vocal critic of the practice of standardized testing, while it’s impossible to calculate just how many ways the new regulations will impact communities, there’s hope that, under new President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Education will change the controversial practice for testing before it harbors any lasting impacts. “The impact of this is unpredictable, and we should always avoid the unpredictable,” Latimer said. Latimer also told the Review that he hopes the state Legislature will consider his recent proposal to allow parents and school districts to opt children with an individualized education program, a learning document that was developed for public school children that need special education, out of Common Core standards and certain testing. “You have to give those children more flexibility,” he said. As of press time, Latimer’s bill, which was submitted on Jan. 11, is awaiting approval of the state Senate Education Committee. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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4 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017

What’s going on... Eastchester Public Library

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

Earring workshop On Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 7 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 women’s shelter. Right now, Lloyd donates about 900 pair a month. This workshop is free and no previous jewelry-making experience is necessary. Just bring your creativity. However, if anyone has any bead jewelry (including broken) that Lloyd can cut up and use for earrings, that is helpful for donations. This workshop is open to teens in sixth grade and up and interested adults. Each participant must register online individually as space is limited. For more information, contact Elizabeth Portillo at 721-8109 or eportillo@wlsmail.org.

AARP Defensive Driving Course On Monday, Jan. 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call the library at 793-5055 to register—spots are filling up fast.

Children’s play meeting On Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. For children in grades 3-5. Online registration is required as space is limited. For more information, contact Jonathan Heifetz at 721-8105 or jheifetz@wlsmail.org. An original script (working title: “The Sea Son’s Quest”) is currently being developed, and will be performed at the library. It is loosely based on Rick Riordan’s “The Lightning Thief,” the first in his bestselling Percy Jackson & the Olympians series of fantasy books rooted in Greek mythology. This is the second year the library is offering this unique program, which combines the love of reading and creativity with public performance. Participation in this project requires an eightweek commitment. All participants are also ex-

pected to read “The Lightning Thief.” There will be seven practices, mostly on Wednesday nights. Tentatively there will be two public performances, one on Wednesday, March 29, with the second that following weekend. Any child who is interested in participating is strongly encouraged to attend this initial meeting. If they cannot make the meeting but still wish to participate, please contact Jonathan in the Children’s Room. Roles will be assigned at the discretion of the children who are writing and directing the play, as well as the children’s librarian. Additional roles such as crew and set design will be needed aside from acting roles.

ext. 24 or email bronxvillelibrary@wlsmail.org.

Intro to Opera On Sunday, Jan. 29 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. For ages 5 and up. Join the library for a family-friendly intro to opera course. Four arias from classic operas will be performed which involve participation from children. There will be sign-up sheet ahead of time so each child can be assigned a role. There will be small props and small costume pieces. Register online as space is limited. Please add child’s name and age in the comment box provided.

Tuckahoe Public Library

Bronxville Public Library

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

For more information on library hours and programs, visit bronxvillelibrary.org.

Teen Yoga with Miss Peggy

Social Needlers On Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon. This is a weekly knitting and crochet hour. Socialize while making beautiful items which we donate to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

College Admissions: Essential Tactics and Skills On Thursday, Jan. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dr. Tony Di Giacomo will be returning to Bronxville Public Library to give a presentation for teens and parents and to discuss the many choices parents and students must make during high school. Di Giacomo will apply his experience from multiple higher education institutions and organizations to answer questions you or your children may have about the admission process, the challenge of choice, and what really matters to ensure success. Learn what to do, now. Your child will be able to understand how to balance the process with schooling; how to engage universities to optimize networking; what universities seek in their applicants; and essential tactics and skills to plan for and apply to college. Register online as space is limited.

Falls Are Preventable! On Thursday, Jan. 26 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Falls are the main reason older adults lose their independence, but falls can be prevented. Please join physical therapist Molly Olivia Roffman, director of StepWISEnow Balance Fitness, to learn more. Please register by calling 337-7680

She’s not crazy, her name just rhymes with it. Read Lenore Skenazy’s column every week in the Review. A past contributor to the Daily News and the New York Sun, Skenazy has also appeared on “The Daily Show,” been profiled in the New Yorker and even had her own reality TV show, “World’s Worst Mom.”

On Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7:15 p.m. Join your fellow teens in a set of strengthening and tensionreducing yoga exercises. No experience required. Please call 961-2121 to register.

Lighthouses on the Hudson On Friday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. Scott Craven will talk about lighthouses in general and our fascination with them. He will then explore why the Hudson River was so important to the development of the country and what role the lighthouses on the Hudson played, starting with the Ambrose Channel lightship and heading as far north as Stony Point. Please call 961-2121 to register.

The Reformed Church of Bronxville For more information, call 337-6776 or visit refromedchurch.org. The Reformed Church of Bronxville is located at 180 Pondfield Road in Bronxville.

La Cambiale di Matrimonio On Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m., the Reformed Church of Bronxville will present a fully staged comic opera, with chamber orchestra and soloists, “La Cambiale di Matrimonio” by Rossini. Rossini’s music is enduringly popular, nearly two centuries after his death; it continues to lift up our spirits in laughter and fun. Perhaps it is the ear-to-ear grin created by each musical phrase, and whether an aria, a march, or a dance, each of Rossini’s works glow with a giggling light-heartedness that is rarely heard elsewhere. Come and warm up your winter blues with this fun-filled opera. The performance will be held in the church’s Edwards Hall, so please arrive early as seating is limited. Free admission.

Westchester Italian Cultural Center The Westchester Italian Cultural Center is located at 1 Generoso Pope Place in Tuckahoe. For more information, call 771-8700 or visit wiccny.org.

Orecchiette Pugliese Style On Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. The little earshaped pasta, orecchiette, is made by rolling the dough into a long cord, which is then cut into halfinch discs. The disc is flattened with the thumb and turned to make the “little ear shape.” Have fun while learning how to make this particular kind of pasta and taste some traditional orecchiette dishes.

Must register in advance and prepay. Members $50; non-members $60.

Eastchester Recreation Winter Vacation Camp Over the school February break, the Eastchester Recreation Department offers weeklong minicamps for Eastchester, Bronxville and Tuckahoe residents in grades K-6. Activities will include arts and crafts, circle games, entertainment, trips and a lunch party. These camps are limited to 40 campers, and sign-up is taken on a first-come, firstserved basis up until the registration deadline of Friday, Feb. 10. The camps run from Tuesday, Feb. 21 to Friday, Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or 5 p.m. for the extended day option. The camps will be held at Haindl Field House, 3 Gabriel Rescigno Drive in Scarsdale. Fee: $175 for sessions ending at 3 p.m.; $240 for sessions ending at 5 p.m. Make checks payable to the Town of Eastchester. To register and for more information, visit eastchester. org/departments/recreation.

UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester Annual Sports Talk Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber will be the guest speaker at UJA-Federation of New York’s 11th annual Sports Talk on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester. Meet Westchester’s business and philanthropic leaders at the event, which features dinner and drinks followed by a friendly competition of Texas Hold ’em and casino games at the free after-party. A silent auction will feature sports memorabilia, golf outings, and gifts. Cost: $360 per person; $180 for young professionals ages 21 to 40. To RSVP, contact Carol Lehrer at @lehrerc@ujafedny.org or 385-2131.

Tuckahoe Village Conservative Committee Caucus Conservatives candidates for village board There will be a caucus of the members of the Conservative Party of the village of Tuckahoe at the Tuckahoe Community Center, located at 71 Columbus Ave., on Monday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. The purpose of the caucus is to nominate candidates for Tuckahoe village mayor for a term of two years and two village trustees also for a term of two years. The election will be held in the village on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Any candidates interested in running should contact Bob Fois, chair of Eastchester Town Conservative Committee, at 874-4429 or robertfois@ gmail.com. 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.

January 20, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 5

EHS Habitat for Humanity Club going strong

Eastchester High School’s Habitat for Humanity Club keeps getting stronger by the year. Photo courtesy Eastchester school district

More than 115 students joined or rejoined the Eastchester High School Habitat for Humanity Club in 2016. At the first meeting last September, the members were introduced to the mission and the goal for the year—to be of service to the community as needed. In October, the work began in earnest. On three consecutive Saturdays, groups of 22 to 27 students volunteered their time in the New Rochelle community. On Oct. 15, volunteers were divided into three groups: one group helped clean the yard of a veteran; the second group painted a garage of another veteran; and the third group helped to organize some newly arrived furniture that would be sold in the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and

gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials and more to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Proceeds are used to help build strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter in local communities and around the world. On the second weekend, one group painted the gym of the Holy Family Church, while the second group helped unload more furniture into the ReStore showroom. Finally, on Oct. 29, a group of 27 students helped remove some debris and unneeded items from the premises, while others helped set up the warehouse. A third group decorated pumpkins brought in by the EHS club members to be given to needy children for Halloween. EHS Habitat for Humanity Club advisor Lina Astarita said, “Our officers have been spearheading some great programs and are fully committed to help-

ing the local chapter of Habitat. Our members have been extremely active and helpful during each event. They are very compassionate about the community around them and want to make a difference.” In the upcoming months, the club plans to continue to be available to provide help where it is needed. In December, plans were underway to add activities such as hosting a holiday dinner. The club has also started to raise awareness about housing concerns by participating in the Walk for Homes, a major advocacy event that draws attention to the issues of substandard and poverty housing. The Eastchester High School Habitat for Humanity Club always welcomes new members who are willing to give back to the community. (Submitted) This was written by EHS student Zoe Leven.

Fox manslaughter case adjourned again Emma Fox, of Rye, who has been charged with an aggravated DWI and first-degree vehicular manslaughter for the death of 21-year-old Manhattanville College student Robby Schartner, is due to reappear in White Plains City Court on Jan. 27 after her Jan. 6 court date was adjourned. On Oct. 9, Fox, 24, struck and killed Schartner, of Fishkill, while he was walking along Westchester Avenue in White Plains during the early morning hours on his way back to college. Police reported that Fox had been intoxicated at the time of the incident when she struck and

Emma Fox

killed Schartner, who was returning from a night out on Ma-

maroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains. Fox was measured with a blood alcohol content of 0.21; the legal limit in New York state is 0.08. Initially, White Plains police reported Fox had been travelling eastbound on Westchester at about 5 a.m. when she fatally struck Schartner with her car, a 2012 Nissan Sentra. However, her whereabouts at the time of the incident are still unclear. White Plains police Lt. Eric Fischer could not be reached for comment, as of press time. -Reporting by Franco Fino

Dig Inn

6 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017

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 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 Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lynne Starr ext. 29, lynne@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Franco Fino Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Aaron Kershaw, Charlie McLaughlin

burrows By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor

Looking for a finer, healthier alternative to fast-casual dining? Dig Inn, a popular Manhattanbased eatery, has opened its largest and first suburban location in Rye Brook. With 12 locations in Manhattan and another in Boston, Dig

into Westchester

Inn focuses on seasonal vegetables that are “mindfully sourced,” according to Matt Weingarten, the franchise’s culinary director. The menu features bowls for breakfast, lunch and dinner, filled with grains, fruits and/or vegetables— a trend that has exploded onto the food scene over the last year. The restaurant also features “the Melting Broth,” made with no waste

ingredients and kombu seaweed. According to Adam Eskin, founder and CEO of Dig Inn, unique to the new Rye Brook location, which officially opened its doors on Jan. 12, is a kids’ menu, a “chef’s table” menu featuring a cheese board and a vegetable charcuterie, a deli and open seating space. The kitchen area takes up most of the restaurant, and

Columnists Mary Marvin, Richard Forliano, Lenore Skenazy Letters

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Dig Inn CEO and founder Adam Eskin, left, lends a helping hand in preparing bite-sized samples from the chef’s table menu. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa

Popular Manhattan eatery Dig Inn has arrived in Westchester, opening its 14th location in the Rye Ridge Shopping Center in Rye Brook. Pictured is the location’s 10-seat bar with a selection of beer, wine and cider. Photo courtesy Dig Inn

includes a barista station and an intimate, 10-seat bar with a selection of beer, cider and wine. Weingarten said Dig Inn’s philosophy is the pleasure of food, and sharing it with loved ones. It is provides for six core menu changes over the course of the year. While this more nutritional cuisine is vegetable-based, there are options for meat lovers as well, such as charred or herb-roasted chicken, wild Sockeye salmon and herb-grilled steak. The menu also clearly indicates which dishes are vegan and whether they contain soy, dairy, gluten or nuts. There is an array of drink options as well, with espresso drinks, including a seasonal rosemary latte; the beans are courtesy of well-known Counter Culture Coffee. A lighter, refreshing option that may also catch your eye is the iced matcha from MatchaBar, another New York City favorite. Eskin said he wanted to open a suburban location for some time, as he has friends who are Manhattan transplants that still work in the city but have moved to

Westchester County to raise their families; hence the kids’ menu and a family meal option that serves four to six people. The question Eskin had in mind with the Rye Brook location was, “What is it we can do to have leverage in the area?” And the answer appears to be fresh, locally sourced food for all ages, at any time of the day. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

The iced matcha, from MatchaBar, is a featured beverage on the restaurant’s menu and is also served hot.

Dig Inn

112 S. Ridge St., Rye Ridge Shopping Center, Rye Brook

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.

305-8463 Dig Inn features bowls with an array of vegetables, grains and protein. From left, the Harvest bowl, a breakfast offering; a Marketbowl with herb-roasted chicken, and another with grilled organic tofu.

diginn.com

January 20, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 7

Bronxville schools commended for computer science The Bronxville Union Free School District was acknowledged in a White House press release on Dec. 5 for its continued efforts to provide computer science education to all students

by implementing new computer science programs and expanding its course offerings. The announcement coincided with the beginning of Computer Science Education Week and the

international Hour of Code event that served as an introduction to computer programming. During the week, Bronxville students in kindergarten through 12th grade engaged in a variety of coding

exercises that exposed them to the science of computer programming. “Computer science is an important language for students to experience,” said technology director Jennifer Forsberg. “In many cases, students are just the consumers of technology, but we’d like to prepare them to become creators and provide them with opportunities to learn about the different aspects of it.” The school district was acknowledged for its efforts, which were influenced, in part, by former President Barack Obama’s call to action to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn computer science. Given the growing demand for computer science knowledge

and coding skills, Obama encouraged schools and districts nationwide to implement new computer science programs or expand course offerings. This year, the Bronxville schools partnered with the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center to bring in a coding consultant who teaches students in kindergarten through second grade how to code. The Bronxville School Foundation generously funded the learning opportunity. Meanwhile, Brad Ashley, the school district’s K–12 instructional technology specialist, has been teaching coding to students in grades 3–5. “Having our youngest students learn coding and computer

science this year is very exciting,” Forsberg said. “We now have 100 percent participation in the elementary school. Coding and computer science can start at any age, and we’re thrilled to support our youngest learners to be innovators, collaborators and creative thinkers.” While computer science is already part of the curriculum for students in grades 6–12, high school students have access to additional course offerings this academic year. “We anticipate more growth and opportunities for our students,” Forsberg added. “We are also upgrading the middle school curriculum to include more coding, robotics and physical computing.” (Submitted)

Village of Bronxville’s

Official Newspaper Bronxville Elementary School students participate in a variety of coding exercises during the Hour of Code, which exposed them to the science of computer programming. Photo courtesy Bronxville school district

8 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017

Ideas to revamp the business district BRONXVILLE TODAY Mayor Mary Marvin

I want to thank all of you for responding to my request for input as to how to sustain and energize our business district. I was so gratified by the number of respondents as well as the quality of the suggestions. It just further demonstrates the commitment community members have to the existence of a small village business culture. The following are just a representative sampling of the ideas put forth. In their entirety, they will be shared with all the constituent groups, including village staff, elected officials, shop owners, landlords and the Chamber of Commerce, and given a serious vetting and evaluation. Streetscape comments • Cleaner sidewalks, less garbage on the street, cleaner waste receptacles, more plantings, less merchandise-impeding pedestrian passage, and tighter control on the cleanliness of outdoor dining spaces. --Many of these responsibilities are jointly shared by shopkeepers, landlords and the village. The village commits to increasing our vigilance in the business district in our maintenance obligations, as well as requiring the merchants to do the same, most notably the care and washing of their abutting sidewalks. • In the same vein, many thought store windows were cluttered with advertisements and paper signs, negatively impacting their attractiveness. Residents encouraged the village to be more vigilant in enforcing code regulations relating to window displays. Types of businesses needed for a retail mix • A well-stocked hardware store with a locksmith. • More goods catering to men and boys, including shoes, lacrosse and football gear, and birthday present options.

• Activities especially for young people, capitalizing on their increased numbers in the village, including ballet space, arts and crafts, youth exercise, and a pottery studio. --Note: When a second-grade class did a “shopping in our village” survey, a vast majority of the children voiced dislike for the car rides needed to buy their clothes and shoes. • Allow national chains to come to the village if they have a needed product and fit in with the village character. Public relations • Start a regular feature in our online paper that highlights one store owner and their goods and services to educate the reader as to what is available in the village and to make a personal connection with our shopkeepers. • In the same theme, centered on the holidays, have a local shopper suggest gifts for mom, dad and toddlers; in a fashion, a virtual stroll through the business district for residents who may be commuters and not often in the village shops and unaware of all our offerings. • Have a local Bronxville Restaurant Week. • Adopt the “10% Program” initiated by many New England small towns to encourage residents to move even 10 percent of their purchases “back home” from the Internet. • Follow the lead of other small businesses, in Beacon Hill as an example, and display prominent decals that say proudly, “Locally owned.” • Meet with the nearby communities for a summit on best practices and innovative ideas that have proved successful in other small business districts. • Make better connections with school and church organizations to partner on purchasing/promotion of local stores and events. Parking/traffic • Increase the inventory some

way, somehow of available spaces for patrons. • Create incentives to encourage business employees to remotely park away from the needed on street customer spaces. • Change our parking culture. Residents who moved here from the city and thought locating a spot four blocks from a museum was a good find versus now for some not finding a spot on Pondfield Road equates to there’s no parking to shop. • Make Park Place a pedestrian esplanade to encourage festivities and street activities. • Make Pondfield Road one way to end the double yellow line crossing for parking spaces and improve traffic flow. Rents/landlords • Find some way to incentivize new businesses to come to Bronxville. • Conversely, also find a way to financially penalize landlords for multi-year empty storefronts. • Lower rents. --Caveat landlords and then shopkeepers absorb a significant amount of school taxes incorporated into their rental costs and do not have the legal option to use our school system. Outreach • Continue to educate the public on the direct nexus between local shopping/increased sales tax revenue and resulting lower local property taxes. • Conduct a communitywide “Survey Monkey” to learn what shoppers truly want in the local business district. Just since Christmas, North, a beautiful upscale women’s clothing store, closed as well as Candyland on Park Place, and we lost one of our most venerable retailers, Joan Manning, a 50-year shop owner who passed away over the holidays. We are at a watershed in the local economic climate. Please help us start new traditions, add vibrancy and re-energize our historic business district. It is to all our benefit.

REFORM from page 1

for lawmakers. In 2015, Cuomo appointed a commission to discuss raising the base salary for legislators, which has not changed from $79,500 since that rate was set in 1999. But in November 2016, the commission blocked the raises, and said it would be willing to readdress the discussion before 2017 if the Legislature called a special session to address ethics reform, including term limits. The special session never occurred. The state Legislature will now have to wait until 2019 or later to see a salary increase. “When you are in public service, the reward you get is not in a paycheck,” Cuomo said during his address. “You can make a lot more money outside of public service. The reward is you believe that you are doing a good thing and you believe you are making a difference.” Latimer has said he would oppose pay increases. “I don’t think we’ve earned it,” he said. “We have to produce results significant enough to justify an increase in compensation.” Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, said he was not prepared to vote in favor of raises. “For any pay

One day after his Westchester County State of the State address, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo discussed his plan to reform the state’s legislative houses by imposing term limits and turning Senate and Assembly positions into full-time jobs. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

increase to go forward, you actually have to convince New Yorkers that that’s the right thing to do,” he said. “I don’t think that argument has been made.” Latimer and Buchwald both said that they do not earn any outside income and are, in es-

sence, already full-time elected officials. This year marks the halfway point of Cuomo’s third term as governor. There is no term limit on the governor’s office in New York state. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Meet Jenny, an adorable shepherd/Lab mix, about 3 to 4 months old. She is super sweet and loves everyone she meets, human and furry alike. She’s very good-natured, smart and playful. She knows some basic commands and will make a wonderful companion. Jenny is up-to-date with vaccinations, in excellent health and microchipped. Her adoption donation is $300. To meet Jenny, please contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

January 20, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 9

Mamaroneck supports Green Light driving initiative At a glance By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor

Following in the footsteps of the villages of Ossining and Port Chester, and with a robust Hispanic population, the village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees unanimously voted to support undocumented immigrants’ ability to obtain driver’s licenses. The initiative, referred to as the Green Light NY initiative, aims to gain equal access to New York state driver’s licenses regardless of one’s immigration status. The proposal, which was approved by the village board on Jan. 9, was first brought before the board in December by representatives of the local Community Resource Center, CRC, which was founded to help integrate immigrants into the community. New York state currently prohibits hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants from obtaining driver’s licenses. The common denominator amongst the three communities in Westchester County that have adopted the initiative is a large Hispanic contingent. According to 2010 U.S. Census data, Hispanics made up 41.4 percent of Ossining’s population; and in Port Chester, they comprise 59.4 percent. Both villages adopted the Green Light initiative in December 2016. Meanwhile, in the village of Mamaroneck, just under a quarter of its population is Hispanic. Being prohibited from obtaining driver’s licenses puts undocumented immigrants in a bind, as they cannot purchase or register a vehicle, or obtain car insurance, which affects one’s

Hispanic residents make up just under 25% of the village of Mamaroneck’s population The Green Light NY initiative aims to give all drivers access to a license, regardless of immigration status Undocumented immigrants’ quality of life, including getting to work, school or a hospital, can be adversely affected by not having a reliable source of transport

quality of life, including having difficulty getting to work and/or school, a hospital or a place of worship. There are concerns of high costs from accidents, safety on the roads from people driving without being licensed, and immigrants’ fears of being pulled over and ticketed for driving illegally. Tainya Flores, a village of Mamaroneck resident of 18 years, said Green Light NY caught her interest due to the number of immigrants in the local community without a reliable form of transport. “So many people are afraid to even drive in the town of Mamaroneck,” she said. The New York Immigration Coalition, a nonprofit organization with the aim to “unite immigrants, members and allies so all New Yorkers can thrive,” launched the Green Light NY: Driving Together campaign in 2016 to help undocumented immigrants outside of New York City. A similar initiative was launched in 2006; and in 2007, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, signed an executive order allowing undoc-

umented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, only to wilt under political pressure. Currently, there are 12 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, which allow undocumented immigrants access to a driver’s license. Following the vote, there were applause and smiles abound in the village of Mamaroneck Courtroom. “We are completely relieved,” said Jirandy Martinez, a co-executive director of the CRC, “and so excited that the village of Mamaroneck stands with immigrants and understands our plight.” Gail Vidales, another co-executive director of the CRC, said she hopes the approval by Mamaroneck will have a “trickling down effect” on other area municipalities. “There’s still a lot of work to be done,” she added. “[We need to] encourage other municipalities and educate them about the importance of safety. That’s what it comes down to.” CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

EMS Players Club presents ‘Midsummer!’ On Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the EHS Auditorium, the EMS Players Club presents “Midsummer!”, two great plays in one evening: “A Midsummer Vacation Nightmare” by Tim Kochenderfer, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare. In “A Midsummer Vacation Nightmare,” a pair of starcrossed lovers attempt to find a way to transfer out of Athens High School before the principal forces them date other peo-

ple. All the while, a janitor with magical powers and some mischievous fairies make trouble for a group of students trying to mount a school play. This will be followed by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Shakespeare’s most popular comedy. Four youths flee into a magical wood to find their true love. Along the way, they encounter warring factions of fairies and slow-witted craftsmen. It is a classic tale of love, magic and mystery.

This evening of comedy and drama is the EMS Players’ biggest yet! More than 40 amazing performers will be acting out these two plays back-toback with a 15 minute intermission. Come out and lend your support to the young and growing EMS drama program. Tickets are general admission and can be purchased at the door starting at 6 p.m.; $5 for students/ seniors and $10 for adults. (Submitted)

REPUBLICANS from page 1

Fiore, the only Democrat who ran for trustee that year, secured 133 votes. Ecklond, Giorando and Luisi have run together on Republican tickets since 2011. Ecklond had previously served as a village trustee dating back to 2004. The 2017 Tuckahoe election will be held on March 21 with

a single polling location at the village community center. The term for the elected mayor and trustees would begin on April 1. The mayor receives a salary of $7,282 per year and each trustee receives an annual salary of $5,075.

Democrat, won the mayoral election against incumbent Mayor Michael Martino, a Republican, by a vote count of 746 to 704. When they ran in 2015, Giordano and Luisi each received slightly less than 200 votes. Ecklond received 225. Anthony

CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

@ eastchesterview

10 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017

January 20, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 11

12 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017

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Notice of Formation of Kayefe, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 8/02/16. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Kenneth F. Eichler, 134 Seton Drive, New Rochelle NY 10804. Purpose: any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of LEONE ONE LLC. Art.of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 11/30/16. Office location : Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 9 Cedar St. Tuckahoe. NY 10707. Purpose: any lawful activity. NOTICE OF FORMATION of Frayne Associates, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on October 4, 2016. Location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent for service of process on LLC. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to Frayne Associates, LLC located at 84 Summit Ave., Bronxville, NY 10708. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That the Architectural Review Board of the Town of Eastchester will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 2nd, 2017 at 7:00pm at the Eastchester Town Hall, 40 Mill rd, Eastchester New York on the application of Carmelo Abate for Architectural Review to erect two single family dwellings, affecting the premises known as Section 57, Block 4, Lot(s) 12 on the tax map of the Town of Eastchester, New York and known as 42 Lakeview ave Scarsdale, NY 10583.

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January 20, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 13

When in rage, blame the mom RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Remember the bad old days when a rape victim would show up in court and the defense attorney would say, “Why was her skirt so short?” As if the woman caused her own rape. Only gradually did it dawn on us what was really going on: We were “blaming the victim.” Basically, we’re all so afraid that something awful like this could happen to us or a loved one that we automatically come up with a way to reassure ourselves it never will. We tell ourselves, “We’re totally different, so we’ll be safe.” Once we recognized how cruel and clueless it to believe that only bad people get hurt, we became a more empathetic society. Except when it comes to moms. “Blaming Mothers: American Law and the Risks to Children’s Health” is a new book by Pace University law professor Linda C. Fentiman that looks at the way we have kept moms in the crosshairs of our condemnation. From pre-birth through adolescence, when something goes wrong with kids, often it is considered morally, and even legally, mama’s fault. For instance, when a woman in Utah elected not to have a cesarean section and one of her twins was a stillbirth, she was charged with murder. The fact that stillbirths are fairly common didn’t matter. Nor did the fact that she had no intention of killing her child. All that mattered was the fact that, conveniently, there was someone to blame. A South Carolina mom, Regina McKnight, was also con-

victed of homicide in the stillbirth of her baby, because she admitted to using cocaine when pregnant. I think we all agree it’s tragic that people get addicted to drugs. But the idea that cocaine causes stillbirth is not medically supported. Moreover, as a friend of the court briefing noted, “nicotine use, poor nutrition, lack of prenatal care, or other conditions commonly associated with the urban poor” are all sub-optimal. Does that mean we should prosecute any pregnant woman who’s not upper-middle-class “perfect”? McKnight’s 20-year sentence was reversed seven years later by the state’s Supreme Court. Fentiman also looks at the issue of child abuse. Often when a child is hurt or killed by a dad or the mother’s boyfriend, it is the mom who is prosecuted, for not stopping it. The completely unrealistic idea is that the moment a mother realizes her child is being abused, she must move out of the house and report the abuser to the police. Otherwise, she can be considered guilty for failing to act. “The legal system is not taking into account all the structural barriers that impede women from leaving their husbands,” Fentiman said in a phone interview. For instance, sometimes the woman has no money to leave, or no place to go. Sometimes she is afraid that if she calls the cops, the abuser will become even more violent. But the law seems to believe a good mom should be a perfect mom, no matter what the obstacles. How did we get so harsh? Fentiman lists several unconscious biases at work: 1. Hindsight Bias: Once a tragedy has occurred, it’s impossible to look back and truly see

things the way we saw them before the bad event. Now that we know the sad truth, it feels like it must have been obvious. Why didn’t the mom predict and prevent it? 2. The Fundamental Attribution Error: This is the unconscious belief about karma—that bad things only happen to bad people. Naturally, if something bad happens to US, we understand all the variables that led to it—all the things beyond our control. But when something bad happens to someone ELSE, we think they could have stopped it but didn’t. Shame (and blame) on them. 3. The Reasonable Man Theory: In the olden days, negligence was determined by whether someone did what “the reasonable man” would have done in the situation, like not leaving a 4-year-old home alone for a weekend. But now that we think about “the reasonable woman,” the bar is higher. “A reasonable mother is supposed to be superhuman and always do anything to minimize the risk to her children and to selflessly never do anything for herself,” says Fentiman. So if something bad happens to a child while the mom was, say, napping, she can be blamed for daring to shut her eyes. 4. Causation: The American legal system holds the primitive notion that there’s only one cause of any problem. So the child who is beaten to death is not a victim of some toxic combination of poverty, an abusive dad, and a broken CPS system. The tragedy is simply the fault of a mom who didn’t save the child. It’s easy and satisfying to blame the mom. Someday, we’ll also realize that it’s wrong. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Westchester’s newest family fun, camp event

Two kids try their hand at lacrosse with the help of Topside Lacrosse employees. Photo courtesy Davler Media Group

Westchester Parents Day is a full afternoon of fun and activities and classes for kids and information for parents on relevant local businesses and camps, where kids will be entertained and parents enriched—for one family admission. Featuring more than 50 exhibitors, Westchester Parents Day has expanded, from the former Westchester Camp Fair, to include a wide variety of exhibitors and amusement. It is produced by Westchester Parent, the authority that delivers superior choices about how to spend time and money to more than 1 million area parents each month, through its seven award-winning parenting magazines including Westchester Parent and its website, NYmetroparents.com. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Westchester Children’s Museum. Westchester Parents Day will

take place Sunday, Feb. 5 from noon to 3 p.m. at Crowne Plaza, located at 66 Hale Ave. in White Plains. Westchester Parents Day will offer many activities and classes to entertain children of all ages. Classes booked so far include: a live animal encounter with Animal Embassy; music and movement with Bach to Rock; a museums without walls activity from Westchester Children’s Museum; a lacrosse clinic with Topside Lacrosse; and a crafts project and a soccer clinic with Mount Tom Day Camp. In addition to many of the exhibitors and camps having activities at their booth space, painting, a photo fun booth, kids DJ dance party, a chocolate dipping fountain by Chocolate Works, costume characters, free cotton candy, a gaga pit, and more will also be offered. Every family gets a free gift bag, courtesy of

Westchester Parent and the exhibitors. While the children play and learn, parents will be able to explore offerings from more than 50 camps, exhibitors and experts. They can meet providers for health care, after-school programs, nursery schools, birthday party places and many, many more. Tickets to the event are $15 per family (two adults and up to four children) at the door, and there is an opportunity for free advance registration at westchesterparentsday.com with the coupon code “RELEASE.” Free tickets can also be found at the many places that Westchester Parent is distributed throughout the county—at play and activity centers, toy stores, pediatricians’ offices, etc. For tickets and the latest news, visit westchesterparentsday.com. (Submitted)

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14 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017

Brick the Knicks LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

With the Giants and Jets off for the winter and the Rangers marching slowly but steadily toward another appearance in the NHL playoffs, one might think that the back pages of local papers would be hurting for salacious sports stories. Fortunately for us drama enthusiasts, however, we still have the Knicks. It’s hard to say exactly where this season went wrong for the Knicks. After all, this was a team that, just a few weeks ago, looked like it might be one of the five best teams in the Eastern Conference. With Kristaps Porzingis emerging as the team’s franchise player, Derrick Rose offering some rare glimpses of his MVP days, and role-players like Kyle O’Quinn or Mindaugus Kuzminskas providing the occasional spark off the

bench, the Knicks may not have been contenders for the Larry O’Brien trophy, but they were at least fun to watch. Since the end of December, however, the Knicks have been fun to watch for a different reason. Starting with a Christmas Day loss to the Celtics, the Knicks have undergone a mid-winter swoon, dropping 11 of their last 13 games. As one might expect, the drought has been marked by some pitiful basketball; lackluster defensive efforts, an inability to close games out late—all marks of a bad team. But it has been the Knicks’ off-court issues that have really made this latest stretch feel “special.” You have Knicks’ president Phil Jackson—who has shied away from the public eye since his early-season comments about LeBron James that were tinged with racial insensitivity—sniping at Carmelo Anthony through team-friendly

SPORTS

reporters. You have Anthony— whom I have defended in the past—openly musing about waiving his no-trade clause and clearly going out of his way to get ejected from games the Knicks needed to win. Rose went AWOL for a game, flying back to Chicago to visit his family with nary a headsup to the organization. I’ll say this about the Knicks: if they’re going to go down in flames, they are going to do it in the biggest way possible. This is New York, after all. And honestly, if they’re not going to turn their play around, I don’t mind the dysfunction. While I feel bad for head coach Jeff Hornacek, who, at this point, must certainly be rethinking his decision to come to New York, if the Knicks are going to be bad, they had better be entertainingly bad. If I had my druthers, Carmelo would park himself on the offensive end and refuse to pass half-court until the Knicks fi-

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

Over the last month, the New York Knicks have become the joke of the NBA. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks that they might as well embrace their status. Photo courtesy Knicks.com

nally ship him off to Cleveland; Rose would post random Instagram shots from Las Vegas as the Knicks battle the Pacers in Indiana; and Porzingis would continue to nurse his Achilles in-

jury until someone in the Knicks organization figures out what the heck is going on with this team. If the Knicks are going to be a laughingstock, they might as well embrace it.

This way, we’ll have something to talk about until the hockey playoffs start in April.

Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports

SPORTS

January 20, 2017 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • 15

Eagles hold on against Panas boys basketball non-league

EASTCHESTER 66 WALTER PANAS 60 AT COUNTY CENTER

1/12/17

Game Notes: • Luke Elson scored a game-high 22 points • The Eagles entered the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead • Panas was led by David Reynoso and Brandon Ramos, who both had 17 By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Luke Elson would be the first person to tell you that, when it comes to foul shots, he’s far from automatic. But on Jan. 12, it was the senior captain’s performance at the line that helped Eastchester hold onto a 66-60 win over Walter Panas at the Westchester County Center. Hitting 8-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter, Elson’s steady hand helped stave off a late charge by the Panthers and ensure an Eagles victory. Elson scored a game-high 22

Luke Elson drives to the hole against Walter Panas on Jan. 12 at the Westchester County Center. Elson scored 22 points to lead the Eagles to a 66-60 win.

points in the win, but it was his performance in the final minutes that proved the difference-maker for the Eagles.

Anthony LeStrange tries to break the Panthers’ press at the Westchester County Center.

“I’m usually not the best foul shooter on the team, I’m not the one who should be on the line,” Elson said after the game. “But our guards weren’t hitting so I just had to step up as a senior, as a captain.” Prior to his late-game heroics, the 6-foot-2 senior had an injury scare, when a fall in the third quarter temporarily forced the captain off the court as he sought medical attention for his wrist. After getting taped up, however, Elson returned to the floor to provide a boost. “Honestly, I thought it could have been a broken hand, that’s what it felt like,” he said. “But it’s happened before; I play football so I’m used to getting banged up. It turned out just to be a stinger, and I told coach [Fred DiCarlo] that I was good to go in for the fourth.” Although they controlled the action for nearly the entire game and came into the fourth quarter with a 48-35 lead, the Eagles had some difficulty holding Panas at bay in the final frame. The Panthers’ activity on the offensive glass and their ability to get to the line saw them cut the lead to five points with just under a min-

Sean Donnellan drives to the hoop for a layup. The Eagles held on despite Walter Panas’ late run.

ute left. Brandon Ramos and David Reynoso both had 17 points in the losing effort. “They were good shooters, they were aggressive, and they were driving and drawing contact,” Elson said. “They were hitting 3s from deeper than we expected and they just played with heart and kept fighting.” Overall, Elson said that the Eagles felt good about their performance, especially their ability to adjust to playing at the Westchester County Center. “It’s a great experience, it’s a bigger court and we’re not used to it,” he said. “It’s a great atmosphere, playing on a professional court with professional rims, so it’s definitely something different, and it’s special.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Jack Heffernan makes a move against the Panthers. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE EASTCHESTER REVIEW • January 20, 2017