January 6, 2017 by The Rye City Review

RyeCity REVIEW THE

January 6, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 1 | www.ryecityreview.com

Rye Historical Society opposes milestone work

Center of attention Charlie Nagle takes the ball

to the hoop against Spring Valley at the Westchester County Center on Dec. 29. Nagle scored 24 points in a losing effort, but the Garnets did also come away from the County Center with a win over winter break. For more, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith

County meets housing deadline; still must submit AI By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Four days before a courtimposed deadline, Westchester County has met and exceeded the core obligations of its 2009 settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD,

county officials said. During a Dec. 27 press conference, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, announced that the county had financed and arranged building permits for more than 750 affordable housing units in its 31 of its predominately Caucasian communities,

surpassing a benchmark set in a 2009 settlement with HUD. Astorino said that the county has financing and permits in place for 790 units, with additional provisions in place to build at least 100 more units in 2017. In 2006, the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York, ADC, sued Westchester

for collecting annual federal block grant money to promote fair housing, and not doing enough to respond to housing needs in its communities. According to the 2010 census, the county population is 15 percent African-American HOUSING continued on page 9

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer While the city has mulled a committee proposal to relocate one of its Benjamin Franklin mile markers, the City Council will again postpone a decision until the end of the month, according to the city manager. According to City Manager Marcus Serrano, with the Rye Historical Society’s recent opposition to the city Landmarks Advisory Committee plan, it is currently unclear when the City Council will make a determination about the project. “The City Council is weighing its options, and the landmarks committee is now gathering more information,” he said. During the last City Council meeting of 2016, the historical society opposed the proposal to relocate and restore one of Rye’s three milestones, known as the 25th, which is currently embedded in a stone wall running along Boston Post Road, to a location on Old Post Road near the Osborn retirement community property; that space is believed to be the mile marker’s first location. In November, the landmarks committee proposed to mount the milestone in protective glass near the retirement property as a way to prevent further deterioration and weather damage. “We recognize the work of the landmarks committee to bring

attention to the [milestones], but our position is that the mile marker should stay where it is,” said Jennifer Plick, the acting director of the Rye Historical Society. “For preservation efforts, it’s probably best that it stays in its current location.” According to Plick, while it is often believed the city of Rye is the only municipality in Westchester County to still possess a full set of mile markers that are either located near or at their original designated sites, their original locations are still somewhat uncertain. According to Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, there were two sets of mile markers. He said the first set was placed in the 1700s by Benjamin Franklin, who was the deputy postmaster general at the time; Franklin constructed 230 milestones at 1-mile intervals along Boston Post Road for regulating postal rates and aiding mail delivery between New York City and Boston. Further, Sack said one of the original markers from that set was probably located somewhere in the vicinity of what is now called the Old Post Road. As a result of an alteration of the route between New York City and Boston in the early 1800s to make the traverse shorter and several other changes since the creation of the milestones, a second set was placed by the MILESTONE continued on page 8

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January 6, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3

City passes override budget, 6.7% tax increase By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With only a handful of alterations, a 2017 budget was adopted by the Rye City Council that will raise the city’s tax rate by 6.7 percent. Among the changes made by the council will be the decision to remove from the budget a longstanding project to improve the city’s five points intersection which encompasses Midland Avenue and Grace Church Street. The project—which has been on the city’s table for several years—was originally included in this year’s budget at a cost of $250,000 and stems from an initiative launched in 2015 called the Safe Routes to School program. Another substantive change will be the City Council’s decision to transfer an additional $173,000 to its contingency fund. The city was required to transfer significant amounts of its contingency fund earlier this year in order to foot the bill for ballooning legal expenses, according to acting Deputy City Comptroller Joe Fazzino. For the first time since a state-mandated tax cap was

invoked by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, in 2012, the City Council also voted to override the cap due to the significant tax rate increase. City Manager Marcus Serrano, who spoke to the Review about the tentative budget in November, said that driving the tax rate increase is a number of cost increases; not the least of which are employee benefits and various state-imposed tax increases. According to Serrano, tax rate increases could become more common in the future if the city fails to find additional significant revenue sources. While the tax rate increase will raise significant amounts of tax revenue for the city—according to Serrano, about $1.6 million in additional property tax revenue over last year— Serrano told the Review that the average household in Rye will only see a real tax increase of about $20 per month. One budgeted position for the city Police Department was removed from the tentative budget first proposed in November; however, according to Fazzino, the department’s active roster will stay the same given the fact the eliminated officer had already been on leave to begin with. The Police

At a glance City Council unanimously voted to adopt a 2017 budget, which included a 6.7% tax rate increase Adopted budget removes a $250K plan to improve three separate intersections across the city For the first time since the inception of a New York state tax cap in 2012, the city budget required an override

Department’s active roster will remain static at 37. Overall, the city’s staff will increase from 155 to 156 with the elimination of one policeman in addition to the hiring of two new firefighters. Among the notable budget items adopted by the City Council are $600,000 in road repaving, sewer line improvements, and improvements to parking lots on 1st and 2nd streets in downtown Rye. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

Rye’s Kelly to leave Fox News for NBC deal One of cable television’s most prominent news anchors, Megyn Kelly, announced her plans to end her time at Fox News Channel for a position with NBCUniversal News Group in the coming months. According to NBC News, Kelly, a resident of the city of Rye, will become the anchor of a new one-hour daytime program that will air Monday through Friday. Further, as part of the multiyear agreement, Kelly will also anchor a new Sunday evening news magazine show to cover breaking news and the network’s political and special events coverage. “While I will greatly miss my colleagues at Fox, I am delighted to be joining the NBC News family and taking on a new chal-

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Megyn Kelly

lenge,” Kelly wrote on her public Facebook page. Since 2013, Kelly has anchored Fox News’ “The Kelly File,” which she helped create. She joined the conservative Fox News Channel in 2004 as a Washington-based correspondent. Before joining Fox, Kelly served as a general assignment

reporter for WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., where she covered national and local stories of interest, including the 2004 presidential race and the D.C. sniper case. Prior to her career in television news, Kelly practiced law as a corporate litigator at Jones Day for nine years and was an associate in the Chicago office of the law firm Bickel & Brewer LLP. “Megyn is an exceptional journalist and news anchor, who has had an extraordinary career,” said Andrew Lack, the chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group. “She’s demonstrated tremendous skill and poise, and we’re lucky to have her.” As of press time, there are no further details about Kelly’s news programs. -Reporting by Franco Fino

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4 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

What’s going on... Rye Free Reading Room

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

Family Story Time and Craft On Saturday, Jan. 7 from 11 a.m. to noon in the Children’s Room. For ages 3 1/2 and up and their grown-ups. This activity takes place on the first and third Saturday of each month. Children will listen to age-appropriate stories and participate in fun games, rhymes and other activities to develop pre-literacy skills and an interest in books and reading. Felt boards and other props are sometimes used to enhance stories and model future classroom experiences. A fun craft project is designed around the story theme or a seasonal topic. Parents and caregivers are asked to assist younger children using scissors, glue and other art materials.

Teacher-in-the-Library On Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Children’s Room. Rye teachers offer after-school homework help to students attending local public and private elementary schools in the Rye area. This is a free program sponsored by the Auxiliary Board of the Rye Free Reading Room, Woman’s Club of Rye/Children’s Philanthropy section, and the PTO of the Rye schools.

The Young Learner: What Parents Need to Know On Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Christine D’Alessandro, the head of the Lower School at Sacred Heart Greenwich, will speak on the developmental stages of childhood and how to encourage children to successfully transition through these years. She will focus on helping parents foster independence to build selfconfidence in young children and positive discipline. There will be a Q&A session following her talk.

Using Your iPhone workshop On Thursday, Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Raho Technology Center. The iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones today. The seminar covers many basic settings; making calls with various available options and placing calls on hold; setting up and using voicemail, and how to set up do not disturb; how to receive and send text messages; how to use FaceTime for video calls; adding contacts; using the Map app for GPS-related directions; connecting to the Internet; and using Wi-Fi to reduce phone charges. This seminar is for people with iPhones or those considering getting one. Attendees with iPhones should bring them to class. Taught by former IBM executive Mike Negrelli. First come, first served. No registration needed.

Teen Coding On Thursday, Jan. 12 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Raho Technology Center. For students in grades 6–12. Registration online opens two weeks before the program date. Please bring earbuds to class. In this one-hour workshop, participants will be introduced to the basics of computer programming through games designed specifically for their age and skill level. Explore the Classic Maze with tutorials starring video lectures by Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies. Create a story or a game using Playlab. Learn about repeat loops, conditionals and basic algorithms.

Estate Planning for Seniors On Saturday, Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Presented by Patricia Micek of Estate Planning & Elder Law Associates LLP in White Plains. The discussion will cover protecting your assets and not losing them to a nursing home. There will be a Q&A session in plain language— no legalese. Call 358-4235 to register.

Kindles and Questions On Saturday, Jan. 14 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Raho Technology Center. Come with your fully charged Kindle reader and your questions about how to find and reserve books via the library’s website and how to download great titles to read and enjoy. Bring your library card and your Amazon.com login information. First come, first served. No registration needed.

Wainwright House

phers that was founded in 1975. Members of The Ground Glass show their work individually in galleries and exhibition spaces as well as in the association’s own juried group shows. For more information on The Ground Glass, visit thegroundglass.org.

Rye YMCA Get ready for 2017

The Wainwright House is located at 260 Stuyvesant Ave. in Rye. For more information, call 967-6080 or visit wainwright.org.

‘Julie & Julia’ screening On Sunday, Jan. 7. Be a guest for a free private screening of Sony Pictures’ “Julie & Julia.” The movie is adapted from the book “The Julie Project,” about a determined young woman, Julie Powell, who decides to cook every recipe in acclaimed celebrity Chef Julia Child’s cookbook over the course of one year in order to chronicle it in a blog. Wainwright invites its friends, supporters, movie buffs and foodies alike for a night at the movies. “Julie & Julia,” on the list of all-time favorite food films, is a fun-filled adventure for anyone who loves food, enjoys cooking, a great meal, or just wants to enjoy a relaxing evening at the hospitable Wainwright House. Wainwright will also be hosting a wine pairing dinner and seminar later in January. Reservations are required for the screening as space is limited. For more information and to register, call 967-6080 or visit wainwright.org.

Volunteer opportunities Wainwright House invites those interested in volunteering to join its volunteer enrichment program. Opportunities are available to train as docents, who would conduct tours of the beautiful mansion, and discuss the history of the house with visitors. Volunteers also help with special events throughout the year in various capacities. Wainwright House is a learning center situated on 5 acres of lawns and gardens, overlooking Milton Harbor on Long Island Sound at 260 Stuyvesant Ave. in Rye. For more information, call Mary de Barros or Angela Sculti at 967-6080 or visit wainwright.org.

The Rye Arts Center The Rye Arts Center is located at 51 Milton Road in Rye. For more information or to register for the programs below, call 967-0700 or visit ryeartscenter.org.

Rye Y’s summer camp guide and spring program guide are now online at ryeymca.org. Camp registration is ongoing for returning campers and their siblings, and registration will start for new campers on Wednesday, Jan. 11. New in 2017 will be early bird rates. Program registration starts with Rollover Week, from Monday, Jan. 9 to Sunday, Jan. 15. Member registration starts Wednesday, Jan. 18, and nonmember registration starts Friday, Jan. 20. Programs start Monday, Jan. 30.

Active Family Friday On Friday, Jan. 13 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A family Nerf Night will be held. Join the Rye Y for a fun and active family evening. Family/youth: $20; non-members: $30 per family. Register at ryeymca.org.

Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester Night of Comedy with Bob Alper On Saturday, Jan. 7 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bob Alper is the world’s only practicing clergyman doing stand-up comedy intentionally, from The Hollywood IMPROV to London theaters. He has appeared on Comedy Central, “Good Morning America,” and Showtime, and was featured on TV’s “EXTRA.” Alper is the author of a warm, poignant book, “Life Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This,” which The Detroit Free Press awarded four stars and called “a volume of spiritual gems.” Alper (and please call him “Bob” or “Rabbi Alper;” anything other than “Rabbi Bob,” which, he says, is “too nauseatingly cute”) earned a B.A. in rabbinic ordination, as well as a doctoral degree, and served congregations for 14 years. All of this, naturally, prepared him for a successful career as a stand-up comic. Cost: $25 per person and includes the show and light refreshments. Purchase tickets online at tinyurl.com/alperCEW. For more information, contact Jane Dubro at 967-4382 ext. 21 or jdubro@ congregationemanuel.org. Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester is located at 2125 E. Westchester Ave. in Rye. For more information, call 967-4382 or visit congregationemanuel.org.

Gallery exhibit Through Saturday, Jan. 14. “A Gathering of Light: The Fine Art Photography of The Ground Glass” will be on display. Last year, The Rye Arts Center re-joined forces with The Ground Glass, a Westchester-based association of fine art photogra-

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

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January 6, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5

Astorino issues luring safety tips Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino advanced his Safer Communities initiative last Friday morning when he issued safety tips for parents and their children about what to do in the event they encounter a predator. Sparked by recent incidents of child luring, Astorino, who was joined by Commissioner of Public Safety George Longworth and county police officers, coined the “3 Gs”: Get Loud, Get Away and Get Help. These 3 common sense steps to safety can prevent tragedies. “This week’s incidents, thankfully, did not result in any abductions,” Astorino said. “However, they serve as a reminder that we must be vigilant and never take our children’s safety for granted. For all the parents out there, as well as teachers and all caretakers, the most important thing you can do is to have this conversation with your kids.” Included among the suggested discussion points: • If anyone ever grabs you, yell and fight. • Yell “stranger” or “he’s not

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, left, alongside Commissioner of Public Safety George Longworth, holds a press conference on Dec. 9 to issue safety tips for parents and their children about what to do in the event they encounter a predator. Photo courtesy Westchester County

my dad.” Get the attention of other people near you. • Be suspicious if an adult you don’t know asks for your help. Common luring techniques are when a stranger asks a child for help in finding a lost dog or help with finding someone or something in another location. • If you feel a car is following alongside you, walk in the opposite direction if it is safe to do so.

• If you have a cell phone and feel unsafe, call 9-1-1 right away. • Always remember, the police are there to help you. Don’t hesitate to call them. The above tips and more suggestions for family discussions are available as part of the Safer Communities initiative on the county website, westchestergov.com/safer-communities. (Submitted)

LWV to sponsor 2 for ‘Students Inside Albany’ If your son or daughter is in high school and is interested in history, government, politics or the legislative process, the League of Women Voters’, LWV, Students Inside Albany Conference in Albany, May 21-24, is designed to increase students’ awareness of their responsibility in a representative government and to provide the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. The conference is free to the participants and is totally underwritten, including room, board and transportation, by the New York State League’s Educational Foundation and the local LWV.

This interactive conference brings together approximately 60 high school students from across the state to learn about New York state government and the process by which citizens can participate in the policy making arena. As part of the program, students (underclassmates encouraged) will tour the Capitol and observe the state Senate and Assembly in action by spending an afternoon shadowing their legislators. Students will participate in a series of interactive discussions with Albany insiders on topics such as the state budget process, the role of lobbyists in

the legislative process, the rights of citizens to access government information, and the role of the media in politics. The two local LWV-sponsored student attendees will be selected by a competitive process. The deadline for submitting applications by email is Friday, Jan. 20, and winners will be announced by Friday, Feb. 3. To obtain an application form please email Stephen McCabe, SIA coordinator, at smccabe40@gmail.com or call 967-9455. For more information on the local LWV, visit LWVRRBPC.org. (Submitted)

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.”

6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

RyeCity REVIEW THE

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County gun show ban

moves forward; faces likely veto

Reporter | James Pero ext. 20, james@hometwn.com

Among the firearms available and on display at the upcoming gun expo, run by Westchester Collectors, will be various styles of pistols, rifles and knives. Photo courtesy Pinterest

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A joint committee meeting regarding a ban on Westchester County-sanctioned gun shows was propelled forward to the legislative floor this Tuesday amidst broad support from legislators’ Democratic caucus. Photo courtesy Board of Legislators’ Democratic Caucus

Delivery

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

Classifieds & Legals

A longstanding debate over the reinstatement of a ban on gun shows at county-owned facilities boiled back to the surface this week after legislation from the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Democratic caucus lurched forward. The legislation, which passed a joint vote held by the Board of Legislators’ committees on Public Safety, Legislation and Parks held this Tuesday would mark a return to a ban previously enacted by former County Executive Andrew Spano in 1999 following infamous shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Tuesday’s discussion over the proposed legislation, which will

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be debated by the full 17-member board on Jan. 9, was prompted by an upcoming gun show scheduled at the Westchester County Center for Jan. 20-22; the occurrence of which, according to Democratic lawmakers, was only made apparent to them in the days preceding the new year. Even with support of the full nine members of the board’s Democratic caucus, County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, is expected to veto the legislation if passed by the Board of Legislators. In that event, according to Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, the ban would require a super majority vote of 12 lawmakers—three of those Republican—before it’s signed into law. However, according to John

Testa, a Peekskill Republican, there seems to be little political will amongst his fellow Republican lawmakers to give any legislation banning shows at county facilities the requisite push. “We will not be supporting an outright ban on gun shows and will not override the county executive if he vetoes the legislation to ban gun shows altogether,” Testa said. Behind the potential ban, according to Legislator Ben Boykin, a White Plains Democrat, are concerns that gun shows—which were reinstated by Astorino in 2010—could promote the deregulated sale of firearms. “Bottom line, we as a county do not want to open ourselves up to more exposure to these dangerous weapons than we already

are,” Boykin said. In their condemnation of county-sanctioned gun shows— which act as a hub for those looking to buy, sell or browse various long- and short-barrel firearms—Democrats have cited the risk of potential “straw man” purchases and illicit “gray market” sales that may skirt background check laws imposed by New York’s Secure Ammunition and Firearms, SAFE, Act. Parker, a longtime supporter of the ban, expressed concern that the sheer breadth of the show, coupled with a lack of enforcement, could possibly lead to illicit gun sales slipping through the cracks. “We have about eight officers for 2,200 people,” Parker said referring to the show’s typical daily attendance. “That, to me, seems woefully inadequate.” According to George Longworth, the county commissioner of Public Safety who answered questions from lawmakers on the subject of a ban this week, there have been no direct recorded instances of such illegal purchases as a result of the show to date. Board Democrats have already faced staunch opposition on the ban from lawmakers across the aisle who feel the initiative not only impinges on residents’ civil rights, but lacks any factual basis. Jim Maisano, a New Rochelle Republican, who also serves on the board’s Legislation Committee, has been among the most vocal critics of a potential ban. “[Democrats] didn’t introduce a single piece of evidence to sup-

port their claims,” said Maisano, who was in attendance for Tuesday’s joint committees’ meeting. “It’s just politics; they’re making it a political issue.” Maisano, whose own constituents in Pelham and New Rochelle have offered the legislator mixed feelings on the potential ban, said any embargo could also potentially fly in the face of federal law. “They want to do a show of a legal product, a product that the Supreme Court says we have a constitutional right to use,” Maisano said. “[Use of the center] should be open and fair.” Even in the event that a ban passes before the center’s scheduled show, County Attorney Robert Meehan has indicated that given a pre-existing contract between the county and event operators, Westchester Collectors, the expo would still take place, otherwise the county may risk legal action. The upcoming show—which county Parks Department officials said is expected to net the county $29,000—would mark the first of such exhibitions since 2012. A show in 2013 was canceled by Astorino following a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A separate piece of legislation put forth by Republican lawmakers that would codify the New York Attorney General’s Model New York Gun Show Procedure was tabled at Tuesday’s committee meeting, but will be heard in early February. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

January 6, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7

Park nets $265K in surplus; restaurant still vacant By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye Town Park Commission is currently soliciting short-term, stopgap offers from vendors to operate the park’s vacant restaurant, and snack and concession stands in wake of Seaside Johnnies’ exit, but members will not reveal any potential candidates until the submission deadline, according to the commission president. According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and the president of the park commission, while the commission has received an undisclosed amount of verbal inquiries and several restaurateurs have viewed the park premises, the commission has decided to keep negotiations confidential until Jan. 12, the deadline to submit a letter of interest. While the commission has endured pressure to make a deal once the former operators of the park’s restaurant, Seaside Johnnies, walked away, Zuckerman said the commission

is no longer as worried about its current restaurant vacancy, following a positive financial year in 2016. He said the park commission pulled in a $265,000 surplus in revenue last year, which would cover any operating deficit for the upcoming season, if necessary. “The past year was a good year, and we’re still looking to be as successful this year,” Zuckerman told the Review. “Until we get a concrete proposal or consideration, it’s too premature to reveal anything.” The commission is seeking a one-year deal with vendors interested in taking over the facilities formerly occupied by John Ambrose and Sam Chernin’s Seaside Johnnies, who vacated the property at the end of last year after failing to reach an agreement for a short-term license extension. On Dec. 21, 2016, the commission began soliciting proposals to operate either one, some or all of the food facilities at the park. Rye Town Park, which overlooks

Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound, includes a beach side restaurant, a beach shop and snack bar, pavilions, and a bath house. Additionally, there is a second snack bar located at the north entrance of the park. “We’re not specifically anticipating anything,” Zuckerman said. “There may be proposals to take over just the restaurant and others for just the concessions stands.” According to Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the commission, the commission is also honing in on selecting a restaurant consultant to draft a new request for proposals, RFP, to solicit restaurateurs for a long-term deal for the period beginning in 2018. Last June, the park commission sent out an RFP and received two proposals, one from Ambrose and another from Angelo Liberatore, an operating partner of the Fort Pond Bay Company, which operates restaurants Half Moon and Harvest on Hudson in Westchester

The Rye Town Park Commission has begun soliciting offers to operate the park’s food service facilities for 2017, but members of the commission will not reveal any potential candidates until the Jan. 12 deadline to submit a proposal. Photo/James Pero

County. But in August, after Liberatore subsequently withdrew his proposal due to short notice in preparation for 2017, the commission decided to reject Ambrose’s 10-year proposal, which led to a communitywide consensus to start the RFP process over with a professional restaurant

consultant. According to Killian, a committee consisting of herself and Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla, a Democrat and a member of the commission, and two residents—one from the town of Rye, Dan Tartaglia, and the other from the city of Rye,

Russ Gold—will select the restaurant consultant. The committee met on Jan. 4 to discuss the selection of the consultant. As of press time, there is no clear candidate for the position. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

8 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

Dreams of yesteryear versus today

MILESTONE from page 1

SENIOR INFORMATION SUBJECTS JOSEPH MURPHY

With recent opposition from the Rye Historical Society, it is currently unclear when the City Council will make a decision on the Landmark Advisory Committee proposal to relocate and restore the 25th milestone. File photo

Westchester Turnpike Authority. Sack said that set of milestones, which include the current 24th, 25th and 26th milestones, were positioned along the current Boston Post Road by former Mayor John Motley Morehead almost 100 years ago. However, Maurio Sax, a member of the landmarks committee, said the committee still plans to support its project, in

which the A.M. Art Conservation Company has been commissioned to restore and relocate the 25th milestone for $14,600. “We’re not changing history,” he said. “These mile markers bring communities together, and we want preserve that history.” In comparison, Sack said relocating the milestone would in fact change its historical value. “I am not inclined to agree to

have the mile marker moved,” he said. “[The] mile marker was not originally located in the vicinity of the Old Post Road area. It would not be historically accurate to make this drastic change.” As of press time, the matter is scheduled for a public hearing on Jan. 25. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Alzheimer’s Association offers educational programs The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will offer two educational programs in Westchester in January. “Healthy living for your brain and body: Tips from the latest research” will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont. This program looks at the latest research in diet, nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement to help participants form a plan for healthy aging. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-272-3900 or the library to register at 834-2281.

“Know the 10 signs: Early detection matters” will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 at Bronxville Public Library, 201 Pondfield Road in Bronxville. This program looks at the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Early detection is important because it allows more time to begin drug therapy, enroll in clinical studies, and plan for the future. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-272-3900 or the library to register at 337-7680. These programs are supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org/hudsonvalley to learn more or call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800272-3900. Caregivers in need of assistance and support can also call this number for a 24-hour helpline. (Submitted)

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It was the time of year when people were swamped with many tasks, from shopping, to buying presents, and making arrangements for family and friends. No doubt, many were overwhelmed with the chores. Truth be told, there must have been modifications initiated to assure families that changes would be welcome. Elders in particular were more sensitive. They witnessed changes in their families through the younger generations. The “look backs” were embraced because of many positive memories. Some elders who witnessed the comparisons of yesteryear and today might have been astonished. Traditions of worship as well as fashion styles were radically different. Parents were trying to grasp how the conversions evolved. Some thought the differences were expressed through generational influences. The mysteries in the lives of the living seemed to influence an awakening of moral assertions. In retrospect, the recent presidential campaigns had a profound effect on our country. Understanding the swift changes brought our culture to new heights. In this country, we became aware that tomorrow’s foci were puzzling. For some it was impossible to cite the specificity of the changes. However, this author was struck by the writing of

a 15-year-old “honor student” from Minnesota who rewrote “The Lord’s Prayer” (see below), whereby he expressed his summation of these observations. He articulated the occurrences in his personal “prayer” that I felt was worth repeating. His analysis of the changes over the enduring generations was thought provoking. He summarized changes in our culture and lifestyles, recognizing their effects in our history. My response? I thought it would be an excellent exercise for us to examine the content as to how we are living our lives, using this “prayer” to echo our consciousness. Thank you for reading; and I invite you to share any ideas you feel we need to address, and hopefully you will advise me of them. You can reach me at gunnerjpm@gmail.com or call me at 643-7813. (By a 15-year-old school kid in Minnesota who got an A+ for this very entry)

The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of him very odd.

We can get our condoms and birth controls, Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles… But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, No word of God must reach the crowd.

If scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights, And anytime my head I bow Becomes a federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.

For praying in a public hall Might offend someone with no faith at all. In silence alone we must meditate God’s name is prohibited by the state. We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks… They’ve outlawed guns, but first the Bible. To quote the good book makes me liable. We can elect a pregnant senior queen And the ‘unwed daddy’ our senior king, It’s inappropriate to teach right from wrong. We’re taught that such judgments do not belong.

It’s scary here I must confess When chaos reigns the school’s a mess. So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot; my soul please take! Amen.

January 6, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9 HOUSING from page 1

and 22 percent Hispanic; but several municipalities within the county had less than 2 percent of an African-American population and less than 5 percent Hispanic population. Facing a multimillion dollar lawsuit, the county—under the direction of former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat—agreed to settle the case by promoting affordable housing in 31 of its communities, including building at least 750 units and analyzing zoning laws in a seven-year period. During his press conference, Astorino, who fought the settlement after defeating Spano and taking office in 2010, maintained his position that the population disparity was a result of economics and not discriminatory zoning practice. But Craig Gurian, executive director of the ADC, told the Review, “The county executive’s statement, as usual, is breathtakingly dishonest.” According to the ADC, some of the units that Westchester built do not comply with the terms of the settlement, which mandates that the county prepare at least 630 units in

municipalities with the lowest minority populations. According to the ADC, the county only prepared 283 units in those areas. “When you exclude the cheating units, the county is actually hundreds of units short,” Gurian added. “I couldn’t care less, really, what the ADC has to say at this point,” Astorino said in the county press office in White Plains. “I’m just concerned about making sure we finish the terms of the settlement and that we move on.” The county will still have to meet additional requirements outlined in the settlement before concluding the decade-long saga with HUD. The county must get approval from HUD on its efforts to advertise the affordable housing market; it says it has spent more than $1 million on advertising and outreach, more than double what was required in the settlement. Westchester will also need HUD to sign off on an analysis of impediments, AI, to fair housing. The county has already submitted eight AIs, each of which had found that Westchester’s zoning was not racially exclusionary. HUD rejected all eight of the AIs,

claiming they were inadequate. In July 2016, U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Denise Cote, who has been overseeing the case, ruled that Westchester would need to hire a consultant to oversee the ninth AI. According to Astorino, that AI is being reviewed by a consultant and will be released in mid-January. “We scrubbed everyone’s zoning code, even the communities that were not part of the settlement,” Astorino said. “And we found that everyone, in their various ways, permitted multifamily housing—permitted affordable housing.” Astorino, locked in a contentious battle over housing for years, reiterated his criticism of the federal government, which has often suggested that Westchester should sue individual municipalities which were not doing enough to promote affordable housing or had exclusionary zoning. “We have shown that Westchester is… a county that can successfully and firmly stand up to an overzealous and overaggressive federal government on behalf of our cities, towns and villages,” he said. Last May, a HUD-appointed

monitor overseeing the county’s adherence to the settlement recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice should take legal action against seven of the 31 municipalities which he felt were not complying with the settlement. That monitor, James Johnson, resigned in August. The housing department has not appointed Johnson’s replacement; and Astorino said he has asked the Department of Justice to forego appointing one. “Given the county’s progress, the county has told the U.S. attorney that we do not think a new monitor is necessary at this point,” he said. “And, so, we feel very strongly that if a new monitor is appointed—and we see no reason why one should be—that that choice should be that of the incoming secretary of HUD, Dr. Ben Carson, and not Julian Castro, who is on his way out.” Astorino said that he plans to speak with Carson, a fellow Republican, once he is officially appointed as HUD administrator this month, and that the two had already discussed the settlement in June before Carson was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican. He added that he

On Dec. 27, County Executive Rob Astorino announced that the county had surpassed the 750-unit threshold set in a 2009 affordable housing settlement before the Dec. 31, 2016 deadline. According to Astorino, the county has arranged for 790 and plans to build at least 100 more. Contributed photo

also spoke to Trump about the settlement in June. “It’s time for a conclusion,” Astorino said. “As the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said, ‘At some point in time this litigation has to be ended.’ That time should be near.” Alexander Roberts, cofounder of the Westchester Workforce Housing Coalition, told the Review that the county can continue to do more to

promote zoning for affordable and multi-family housing. “I would like to see [the county] continue the interest in getting the affordable and fair housing that we need in this county to continue to grow,” Roberts said. “It’s not just a racial issue or equity issue. It’s an issue of failure to allow the free market in housing to operate.” CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

Rye & Harrison Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com

1 Azalea Circle, Purchase $3,350,000 Sale Date: 10/28/16

2 Ironwood Lane, Rye $1,350,000 Sale Date: 9/28/16

2 Keane Court, Rye $2,170,000 Sale Date: 10/4/16

2 Theresa Lane, Harrison $750,000 Sale Date: 11/15/16

3 Stuyvesant Avenue, Rye $2,180,000 Sale Date: 9/9/16

4 Philips Lane, Rye $3,500,000 Sale Date: 10/13/16

4 Fox Run, Purchase $2,700,000 Sale Date: 9/29/16

5 Ralston Street, Rye $1,952,500 Sale Date: 9/28/16

10 Morris Court, Rye $2,246,250 Sale Date: 10/5/16

11 Sylvanleigh Road, Purchase $2,550,000 Sale Date: 9/27/16

12 Taylor Avenue, West Harrison $515,000 Sale Date: 11/4/16

16 Jean Street, Rye $3,273,040 Sale Date: 10/11/16

17 Harrows Lane, Purchase $1,310,000 Sale Date: 9/22/16

19 Elmwood Avenue, Rye $2,115,000 Sale Date: 8/15/16

22 Lawrence Lane, Harrison $2,550,000 Sale Date: 10/31/16

23 Locust Lane, Rye $2,821,500 Sale Date: 10/25/16

January 6, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11

Rye & Harrison Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com

24 The Crossing, Purchase $1,575,000 Sale Date: 11/1/16

26 Davis Avenue, Rye $1,427,000 Sale Date: 9/20/16

27 Hughes Avenue, Rye $2,195,000 Sale Date: 10/13/16

27 Yarmouth Road, Purchase $853,000 Sale Date: 11/15/16

28 Brae Burn Drive, Purchase $1,620,000 Sale Date: 10/26/16

31 Harrows Lane, Purchase $1,350,000 Sale Date: 9/30/16

34 Griswold Road, Rye $4,166,600 Sale Date: 10/27/16

38 The Crossing, Purchase $1,550,000 Sale Date: 9/15/16

41 The Crossing, Purchase $845,000 Sale Date: 11/10/16

44 Greenhaven Road, Rye $3,200,000 Sale Date: 10/21/16

45 Oakwood Avenue, Rye $1,427,500 Sale Date: 9/29/16

50 Oakwood Avenue, Rye $1,900,000 Sale Date: 10/21/16

71 Bradford Street, Harrison $850,000 Sale Date: 11/2/16

144 Macri Avenue, West Harrison $525,000 Sale Date: 10/28/16

149 Lakeview Avenue, West Harrison Sale Date: $716,200 11/22/16

1593 Old Orchard Street, West Harrison $1,275,000 Sale Date: 10/6/16

12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

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January 6, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13

A breakthrough about breakthroughs RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Oh, to be a scientist 50 or 60 years ago, warning people about the stuff they really needed to know: Stop smoking! Don’t take Thalidomide if you’re pregnant! For God’s sake, ditch the Corvair unless you WANT to get impaled on your gear shift! Your findings would make headlines and the people reading about them would end up safer and healthier. Score. But today, the safest time in human history, a time in which Americans are living a full six years longer than even in 1990, you can’t turn on your media device without hearing about another new thing you supposedly must stop doing/eating/ touching/breathing IMMEDIATELY—or else. Coffee! Lack of coffee! Plastic bottles, cellphones, GMOs. Non-organic cantaloupe! My gosh, the Environmental Working Group can’t STOP warning us about lipstick: “Millions of women get a little bit of toxic lead on their lips each day with every swipe of their lipstick,” reads a press release. Okay, that sounds scary, but are they dropping dead? See earlier paragraph: We are living longer than ever today, and that doesn’t seem to be because women have stopped wearing lipstick. It is precisely that disconnect that drove Dr. Geoffrey Kabat to write his new book, “Getting Risk Right: Understanding the Science of Elusive Health Risks.” Kabat is a cancer epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. He has published 140 scientific papers on the factors that

play a role in causing cancer and other diseases. And he is sick of watching the rest of us wake up and get warned that if we do X (it’s always changing), we will regret it till the day we die. Which will be next Thursday. “You need to make distinctions,” the doctor told me in a phone interview. There’s a difference between large-scale, longterm, replicated studies, and the fly-by-night “breakthroughs” that the media loves to report on. Kabat is quick to remind us of the big, proven health risks we can actually get a handle on: Don’t overdrink. Quit smoking. Lose weight and get some exercise. Go for effective screenings, have your kids vaccinated, and if somehow you can avoid poverty and depression, more power to you: those are real risks, too. And yet, that “boring” list takes a back seat to the danger du jour: Drinking hot tea, or using nail polish. What gives? “There is a crisis in the field of biomedicine,” he writes, the crisis of “hyper-competitiveness.” We civilians tend to think of researchers sitting in their labs, conducting experiments with only humanity’s welfare in mind. But the truth is, scientists also have to make a living. That means, “they may feel the need to overstate the importance of their work in order to attract attention and obtain funding,” Kabat writes. And increasingly, they are publishing results that cannot be replicated, either because the studies they did were too small to really measure a phenomenon, or were simply shoddy. What’s more, there is a herd mentality in science as in any field. So if some research area becomes a hot topic, many scientists will pile on, in part because that’s where the money is, and in

part because if your findings go against the grain, you will be on the outs. Remember all the research in the ‘90s showing that a low-fat diet is good for you? But it’s not, if you substitute sugar for fat, as many food companies proceeded to do. “The large-scale and dramatic change—sometimes referred to as the ‘SnackWell phenomenon’—has been credited with making a substantial contribution to increasing rates of obesity,” Kabat says. Another problem plaguing modern science—or those of us trying to make sense of it—is the fact that with ever more sensitive instruments, scientists can measure ever smaller stuff. So when, for instance, we hear that there are trace elements of a toxin in our blood, we tend to think, “Yikes!” Not, “I wonder how important one drop in a trillion is?” (Answer: It’s not. It’s like one drop of poison in 20 Olympic pools.) The result of a flood of studies, shoddy research, scientific groupthink and the media’s mania for scaring us means that “a high percentage of [Americans] worry about risks for which there is little persuasive support,” writes Kabat. “The latter include pesticide residues on produce, food additives, genetically modified foods, stress, and hormones in beef.” Holy modified mangoes! Those aren’t about to kill us? See above again: Longest lifespans in history. So how can we know which headlines to trust and which to ignore? Here is Kabat’s rule of thumb, one that I am going to adopt: “The more dramatic the result, the less likely it is to be true.” CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

ArtsWestchester honors 5 ‘Wonder Women’

From left, 2016 ArtsWestchester gala honoree Maria Ferreira; ArtsWestchester board president Bob Roth; gala honoree Emily Grant; ArtsWestchester dinner chair Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson; gala honoree Mary Calvi; gala honoree New York state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins; ArtsWestchester dinner chair Geoff Thompson; and gala honoree Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel. Contributed photo

ArtsWestchester honored five “Wonder Women” during its annual gala on Nov. 19 at The RitzCarlton Westchester in White Plains. The honorees were: Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, chair of the New York State Council on the Arts; Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York state senator and Democratic Conference leader; Maria Ferreira, area president for Wells Fargo; Emily Grant, lifetime arts patron; and Mary Calvi, award-winning CBS 2 news anchor. Diamonstein-Spielvogel is a national arts advocate, producer, preservationist, curator, civic activist and author of 23 books. Dedicated to preserving and enriching cultural life across the nation, her career of cultural leadership includes serving on the boards of countless major arts institutions and on city, state and federal councils and cultural commissions. In 1966, as the first director of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Diamonstein-Spielvogel initiated the first public performance in Central Park of the Metropolitan Opera, and first exhibition of outdoor sculpture, with the work of Tony Smith in Bryant Park. She was appointed by President Reagan to the U.S. Holocaust Museum Board in 1987 and President Clinton appointed her to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in 1992, where she became the first woman elected vice chair in the Commission’s 100-year history. In 2008, President Obama appointed her to the American Battle Monuments Commission, where she has was recently elected chair of the Memorials Committee. She is founder/chair of the NYC Landmarks 50+ Alliance; and on the boards of the Fresh Air Fund, Friends of the High Line, and Trust for the National Mall.

Stewart-Cousins is a longtime supporter of ArtsWestchester’s mission to keep the arts accessible and thriving in Westchester. A Yonkers resident, she is a vocal advocate for the value of the arts and quality education in our communities. Since the very beginning of her tenure in government, Stewart-Cousins has espoused the values of empathy, empowerment and civic engagement. These values, along with her strong belief in advocating for the underserved and championing the needs of working families, has distinguished her as a trailblazer in local and state government. Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the state Senate in 2006 and in 2009, Stewart-Cousins made New York State history as the first African-American woman to preside over the Senate. StewartCousins also served for a decade as a Westchester County legislator where she authored and passed landmark legislation including Westchester County’s first human rights laws. A Yonkers native, Ferreira is the suburban New York and Connecticut community banking area president for Wells Fargo. Her duties span six counties from New York’s northern Hudson Valley to Connecticut’s Fairfield County. In her role at Wells Fargo, she provides executive leadership for retail and business banking operations covering 50 retail banking stores and 398 employees. Wells Fargo is a corporate leader when it comes to the arts, supporting the arts-in-education programs of ArtsWestchester in some of the most impoverished communities in the county. A passionate community leader, Ferreira has been a dedicated member of the ArtsWestchester board of trustees since 2014. She currently serves on the Grants Committee where

her professional experience and leadership skills have made her one of its most valuable members. A lifetime arts patron, Grant has been a driving force in the cultural community since moving to Westchester in 1955. In the ensuing years, she and her husband, Eugene, have positively impacted almost every cultural organization in the county—Purchase College Foundation, ArtsWestchester, the Emelin Theatre, the Westchester Holocaust Commission, Caramoor, the Westchester Philharmonic, Manhattanville College, and the Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges. A little-known fact is that she served as an occupational therapist for soldiers in World War II in her native Canada, where, even then, she utilized the healing power of the arts on the wounded. She is truly a woman ahead of her time who manages to keep hearth, home, family and community a priority. Calvi is an award-winning journalist, currently an anchor for CBS 2 News This Morning and CBS 2 News at Noon. She has provided live breaking news reports on a wide range of stories across the tri-state area for over two decades and has won six Emmy awards, including one for an in-depth series on sexual pedophiles, “Predator Next Door.” Her credits include the New York Festival’s World Media Awards, a National ACE Award for Excellence in Journalism, a Clarion Award for Excellence in Reporting, and the ACIM Award for Excellence in Community Service. As the first lady of Yonkers, Calvi and her husband, Mayor Michael Spano, have supported the positive economic impact of the arts throughout the city of Yonkers as well as the power of the arts to inspire children in the Yonkers public schools. (Submitted)

14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

Tweet storm

SPORTS

LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

In my 32 years on this planet, I’ve certainly racked up my fair share of regrets. From never learning how to control my temper on the baseball field until after I graduated from college to using lyrics from the Goo Goo Dolls in my high school yearbook quote, there is a litany of things in my life that I look back on with shame; wondering what the heck I was thinking at the time. And over the last year or so, I’ve come to add my lionization of former major league pitcher Curt Schilling to the list. And man, did I love Schilling. As a big-game pitcher, at least in the last 15 years, nobody was better. The playoff wins, the bloody sock—and the way he tortured the Yankees with both the Diamondbacks and the Red Sox—for a Boston fan like me, you couldn’t help but love the guy.

On Jan. 18, the Baseball Writers Association of America will announce the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees. Sports Editor Mike Smith doesn’t expect Curt Schilling, pictured, to be on the list. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

Rye Athlete of the Week ISABEL ABT By LIAM BRENNAN Contributor This week’s Athlete of the Week is Isabel Abt, senior captain for the girl’s varsity squash team. So far, the team is off to a 6-1 start this season, and a big reason for their success has been Abt’s strong leadership and play. Head coach Tony Campbell thinks very highly of Abt’s work ethic. “Isabel is a super hard worker at practice,” he said. “[She] helps lead, organize and encourage all facets of the 45-player

squash program.” Teammate Caroline Neave credits a large part of the team’s success to Abt. “Isabel’s encouragement and work ethic have resulted in many more team wins,” Neave said. “Isabel’s impact on the team will surely be missed next year.” Abt is also a member of the girl’s varsity tennis team. Although she excels on the tennis and squash courts, that doesn’t mean she isn’t an exceptional student. Abt is a member of the National Honor Society and won the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Book Award.

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But since his retirement, it’s become increasingly clear that “Big Schill” is nothing but a selfdeluded, loud-mouthed jerk. And it’s probably going to keep him out of the Hall of Fame. Now, I’ll do my best to keep politics out of a sports article, even though Schilling himself has brought about his downfall in part by becoming a prolific purveyor of borderline racist “alt-right” memes. But let’s just say that when you preface a tweet about gun violence stats in Chicago with the disclaimer that you “in no way meant to trivialize a War Zone,” chances are that “trivialization” is exactly what you’re going for. The gatekeepers of the Hall of Fame—members of the Baseball Writers Association of America—are a notoriously vindictive bunch. It has been welldocumented that players who are popular with baseball writers are often given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to enshrinement, while others, like Jim Rice, who enjoyed frostier relationships with the scribes, are forced to wait and watch other less-deserving players get

the call before them. Over the last few years, Schilling hasn’t made a whole lot of fans among baseball writers. Doubling down on the antiMuslim tweets that got him fired by ESPN, Schilling has spent the last year becoming something of a social media surrogate for President-elect Donald Trump while echoing the sentiments of some Trump supporters who called for the lynching of journalists, and making public, inappropriate japes about ogling underaged girls. Recently, he even announced his intention to run for a senate seat in Rhode Island— which, coincidentally, is the same state that gave Schilling’s start-up video game company, 38 Studios, a $75 million loan. The company declared bankruptcy after just six years, leaving Rhode Island taxpayers to foot a $28.2 million bill. As baseball writers—including Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy who was once a vocal supporter of Schilling—began to rethink his Hall of Fame candidacy, Schilling kept talking, calling out the writers for treating him unfairly because of his beliefs, while also maintaining that inclu-

sion into the Hall of Fame didn’t really mean that much to him. But the thing about Schilling— and one of the main reasons that I loved him as a player—is that he has long been obsessed with the history of the game. Even his Twitter handle, @Gehrig38, is a testament to that. So if you don’t think this is killing him, I think you’d be wrong. Unfortunately for Schilling, however, his ego just won’t allow him to admit that maybe he’s made a few missteps since his retirement. There are unquestionably worse people in the Hall of Fame than Curt Schilling, people who have done far worse than support a particular candidate and send out a few bad tweets. There are some—and will be more in the next few years—that have actually cheated the sport itself. But Schilling is not going to get in because apparently nobody told him that “Cowboy Up” doesn’t involve getting on a high horse. And the fact that he can’t see that makes me sorry that I ever rooted for the guy in the first place.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

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LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow Mike Smith @ryecityreview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates

SPORTS

Garnets topped by Tigers BOYS BASKETBALL

non-league

SPRING VALLEY 60 RYE 46 WEST. COUNTY CENTER

12/29/16

Game Notes: • Charlie Nagle led the Garnets with 24 points • The Garnets made just two of 17 3-point attempts • Rye is 5-1 on the season

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor After reeling off five straight wins to start the season, the Rye boys’ basketball team suffered its first defeat on Dec. 29, when it fell to Spring Valley in a 60-46 clash at the Westchester County Center. Rye’s early-season success may have Garnet fans hoping for a return to the County Center in February, but head coach John Aguilar said that the road

will only get tougher for his squad from here on out. Poor shooting proved the difference-maker in Rye’s first loss, as the Garnets shot just 14-51 from the field and connected on just two of 17 3-point attempts while making just 55 percent of their free throws on the night. Senior guard Charlie Nagle had 24 points, but was the only Garnet player to crack double-digits. Despite their ineffectiveness on the offense end, the Garnets were able to keep the game close until late, cutting Spring Valley’s lead to just four points with three minutes left until a 10-0 Tigers’ run sealed the win. “We only shot 27 percent from the field, but I think we got the shots we were looking for,” Aguilar said. “I don’t think the final score was really indicative of our performance at all.” Aguilar also believes that while the high ceilings at the County Center can conspire to create bad shooting nights for teams unfamiliar with the venue, his Garnets simply happened to catch the Tigers on an off night. One week earlier, on Dec. 23, the Garnets played another game at the arena, besting Class A contender

January 6, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15

Somers 58-44. Overall, Aguilar said that the experience of playing two early-season games at the County Center should help the Garnets as they head into the midst of league play in January. “I think it was huge for us, we’ve got eight seniors and one goal, which is to compete for a league title,” he said. “Both of those games [against Somers and Spring Valley] were crossover games that pushed our limits physically, and we just came out on the right end against Somers.” The boys will be back in action on Jan. 4, after press time, against league foe Byram Hills, which came into the season as one of the top-ranked teams in the state, before taking on rival Harrison at home on Saturday, Jan. 7. On Jan. 13, the Garnets will travel to compete against Class AA Mamaroneck in the first round of the Tigers’ annual winter tournament. So far this season, the Tigers are unbeaten at home. “We’re going to see Byram Hills twice, we are going to see Tappan Zee, and those teams are ranked in the top 10 of Class A,” Aguilar said. “And we’re heading to Mamaroneck to take them on at home which is always tough, so I think these early games were a good measuring stick for us.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Seamus McCrohan kicks out a pass off a rebound against the Tigers.

AJ Thompson goes up for a layup at the Westchester County Center. Photos/Mike Smith

Charlie Nagle goes up for a shot against Spring Valley at the Westchester County Center on Dec. 29. Nagle had 24 points in Rye’s loss to the Tigers.

Michael Carty spots up for a jumper against Spring Valley. Carty has been a big reason for Rye’s 5-1 start this year.

16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

January 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY New Year’s Day

MONDAY

New Year’s Day observed, schools and government offices closed

TUESDAY

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, schools and government offices closed

All schools reopen

WEDNESDAY

Rye City Board of Education meeting 8 p.m., MS Multipurpose Room

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

City Council meeting 7:30 p.m., City Hall

Rye Neck school board meeting 7 p.m., MS/HS Library

Boat Basin Commission 7 p.m., Damiano Center

NYS Regents Exams

City Council capital projects workshop 7:30 p.m., City Hall

Rye City school board meeting 8 p.m., MS Multipurpose Room

City Council meeting 7:30 p.m., City Hall

Heard in Rye Speaker Series 7:30 p.m., Rye Community Synagogue

Daniel Warren Book Drive begins

SATURDAY

NYS Regents Exams

Chinese New Year