Eastchester REVIEW THE
January 7, 2022 | Vol. 10, Number 1 | www.eastchesterreview.com
County board makes history, elects women chairs
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Photo/Anastasiia Rozumna
Iona College to host 2022 Slam Dunk Showcase See some of the area’s best high school basketball match-ups during the Slam Dunk Showcase on Sunday, Jan. 9 at Iona College’s Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle. “This is the perfect opportunity for our student athletes to demonstrate their talents and athletic abilities to their families, friends and Westchester’s basketball fans,” County Executive George Latimer said. Westchester County Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor added, “We are excited to host twelve high school basketball teams at the Slam Dunk Showcase this year. I’m sure it will be a day filled with competitive play and our local stars will shine on
the Iona Gaels NCAA Division I College basketball court.” This year’s one-day event is presented by the Westchester County Parks Department. Admission is $5 per day. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the event and parking is free. Iona College is requiring all guests 5 years of age and older to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a qualifying negative COVID-19 molecular/PCR or antigen test to gain entry into Hynes Center. •Fully Vaccinated: For this purpose, an individual is “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19 at least 14 days after they have received the second dose in a
two-dose series—Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna—or at least 14 days after they have received a single-dose vaccine (e.g. Johnson and Johnson/Janssen). •Qualifying Negative Test: PCR/molecular test (sampled within 72 hours of the event) or a negative rapid/antigen test (sampled within 24 hours of the event)
administered by a health care professional that includes their name and the date of the test as proof. Self-administered at-home rapid/ antigen tests will not be accepted. All spectators are expected to wear masks at all times in the Hynes Center, regardless of vaccination status. (Submitted)
The showcase will feature six extremely competitive high school match-ups, featuring teams from Westchester, Rockland, and surrounding counties as follows:
Girls Putnam Valley -vs- Walter Panas Girls Harrison -vs- Albertus Magnus Boys Middletown -vs- Mt. Vernon Boys Walter Panas -vs- White Plains Girls Ursuline -vs- Mahopac Boys Briarcliff -vs- Hastings
10:15 a.m. 12 p.m. 1:45 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 7 p.m.
The Board of Legislators began the 2022-2023 legislative term electing District 9 Legislator Catherine Borgia as chair, and District 6 Legislator Nancy Barr as vice chair, during a special meeting Monday night. Borgia is only the second woman to serve as chair, following the late Lois Bronz, who chaired the board in 2002-2003. This is the first time in the board’s history that women will simultaneously fill both posts. The election of Borgia and Barr followed the swearing in of all 17 legislators. Borgia becomes chair after a long career in public service: working in the New York State Assembly as a staffer for several years, serving on the village of Ossining Board of Trustees, and then serving two terms as supervisor of the Town of Ossining before being elected to the Board of Legislators in 2012. Borgia served as Chair of the Board’s Government Operations Committee in 20122013 and then as the Democratic Majority Leader for the 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 terms. She championed historic, life-changing legislation including the Immigrant Protection Act, Employee Earned Sick Leave, Safe Leave, the Fair Chance to Work Act, Coop Disclosure, and the Wage History Discrimination Law. She served as the Board’s Budget and Appropriations Committee Chair for the 20182019 and 2020-2021 terms. During that time, she worked
with the County Executive’s administration and her colleagues on the Board to pass budgets that cut the county’s property tax levy and rebuilt the county’s reserve funds while investing in the county’s infrastructure and providing much needed services for county residents, especially during a global pandemic. “I look forward to working with the County Executive, our new leadership team, the entire legislature, and our partners in federal, state and local government, to lead Westchester through this pandemic and on to better days,” Borgia said. “We will continue to provide the resources needed to help every resident of Westchester thrive.” Barr comes to the office of vice chair having served on the Blind Brook School Board for six years, including as president and vice president. Barr was first elected to the Board of Legislators for the 2018-2019 term. Since joining the Board, Barr has worked diligently on environmental issues, including passage of a ban on expanded polystyrene food containers and advocating for the expansion of the county’s compostable waste program. She has worked to protect county residents by introducing and passing the Wage Theft Law and championing the creation of the county’s Advisory Board on People with Disabilities. She was instrumental in raising the age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21 years old. (Submitted)
For local sports coverage and commentary, see pages 15 & 16
Mike Smith