December 16, 2016 by The Rye City Review

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December 16, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 51 | www.ryecityreview.com

Purchase storefront demolition completed By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

COST OVERRUN Facing unanticipated legal fees, the Rye City Council has authorized the transfer of $500,000 this year—in addition to an already budgeted $230,000—to cover expenses associated with 25 lawsuits. For story, see page 11. File photo

Old Post Road senior facility proposal delayed By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The city Planning Commission postponed a vote on a proposal from the owners of a vacant, 3-story office building to construct an age-restricted senior living residence at 120 Old Post Road.

According to Andy Ball, a member of the Planning Commission, a resident stepped forward during the latest meeting on Dec. 13 with a number of concerns, and the board ultimately decided to delay the vote until Jan. 10, and after the holidays. Ball said the resident, Robert

Van Derwateren, inquired about whether there would be fencing up during the construction phase, and whether the applicant would be held to the same project duration standards for rock removal as are residential projects, after a rock chipping law was amended by the City Council in October 2015.

The law was altered to restrict mechanical rock excavation by mandating a permit in all circumstances regardless of the longevity of the project. Despite the concerns, Ball confirmed that the developer would have to abide by the FACILITY continued on page 8

The owner of the recently demolished vacant building at 2325 Purchase St., which is located in downtown Rye, currently has nothing planned for the property, according to the city manager. According to City Manager Marcus Serrano, the owner of the demolished property, Grove Park Realty Corp., a subdivision of the Joseph P. Daly Realty Corp., has not submitted a proposal to the city Planning Commission, as of press time. On Dec. 12, construction crews completed demolition of the property on Purchase Street, which is situated in between R&M Woodrow Jewelers and Poppy’s café. But without any official plans announced for the space, it is currently unclear what to expect of the property, which was most recently home to That Pottery Barn, a ceramic crafts supply store, and HomeMade Pizza, Serrano said. “The owner once expressed interest in constructing a 4-story building at the location, but we don’t know yet,” he said. The demolition and current eyesore has drawn concern from some worried about preserving Rye’s historic character.

“The Rye Historical Society is clearly disappointed that the building was torn down given that the downtown area was designated as a historic district,” said Jennifer Plick, the assistant director at the Rye Historical Society. “We hope any future building on the site will take into consideration the historic nature of downtown Rye.” However, according to Serrano, at the moment, the city’s zoning code currently restricts a 4-story building being constructed in the downtown business district anyway. Further, he said, the city Board of Architectural Review will examine the situation when something is eventually proposed. The demolition of the Purchase Street property comes in wake of Rye’s historic T.D.’s Smoke Shop closing its doors at the beginning of the year. In March, the owners of the smoke shop, which was also located on Purchase Street, were evicted after residing there for almost 70 years. After facing a potential rate increase from the property owner, Peggy and Tony D’Onofrio, the smoke shop owners, were forced to close doors as a result DEMO continued on page 7

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December 16, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3

County budget finalized, includes airport deal By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A $1.8 billion budget was passed by both the Westchester County Board of Legislators and County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, this week, even despite lawmakers trepidation over the inclusion of $15 million in tentative revenue from a deal privatizing the county airport. The 2017 budget, which was passed by the Board of Legislators on Monday by a slim margin of 10-7, and modifies a previous budget submitted to the legislative chamber by Astorino last month, will retain the county executive’s proposed flat tax rate, but will also add four additional engineering positions to the county’s depleted Department of Public Works roster, in addition to injecting $1 million to the county’s Title XX child care program as a result of legislators’ amendments. After what was shaping up to be a dead-end deal, legislators also voted to include $15

ready said it would have bid on the contract if there had been an opportunity to do so. “The feeling on our floor was that there might be real merit to participating in this FAA privatization program,” said Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hastings-on-Hudson Democrat, who had previously expressed doubt over the proposal’s efficacy. “And with putting the whole concept out to competitive bid, you could get a deal that is worthy of being signed off on.” The deal plans to extract revenue from the airport by charging a fee for its management while simultaneously—through the FAA’s program—altering a federal law that dictates that revenue from the airport be used for airport-related expenses. Through the program, the county would be allowed to funnel airport revenue into its operating budget. Though the money has been budgeted, Shimsky said any deal, and therefore revenue, is still contingent upon a successful RFP process, necessary ap-

“And with putting the whole concept out to competitive bid, you could get a deal that is worthy of being signed off on .” – COUNTY LEGISLATOR MARY JANE SHIMSKY on privatizing Westchester Airport

million in projected revenue derived from a deal privatizing the management of Westchester County Airport on the condition that the plan undergo a public bidding process. Previously, the $130 million, 40-year agreement, which was sent down to legislators on Nov. 3 by Astorino, a little more than a month before the budget’s final approval deadline, would have given the investment firm Oaktree Management the exclusive bid. After backlash from lawmakers across the board, however, the board voted unanimously to send out a request for proposals, RFP, that could possibly transfer the management of the county’s airport—which is being processed through an FAArun privatization program—to another company. Current operator of the county’s airport, AVPorts, has al-

provals from stakeholders in the airport—including 65 percent of the airlines operating there—and an expedient processing of the application by the FAA, which has in some cases dragged on for as long as 29 months. If that revenue doesn’t come to fruition, Shimsky explained, the money budgeted from the airport deal would likely have to come from the county’s cash reserves, which could have adverse impacts on the county’s AAA bond rating and therefore its ability to issue low-interest debt. The county is already projecting a $30 million budget shortfall for its 2017 budget due to declining sales tax revenue, increasingly high health care costs, and lower gas and energy prices. Currently, of the 10 airports that applied to the FAA’s pro-

gram since its introduction in 1996, only one—Luis Muñoz Marín airport in Puerto Rico— has completed the process and has since remained privatized. Even despite the county board’s unanimous decision to pursue the deal, both Shimsky and other Democratic legislators, many of which voted against the approval of the budget, have continued to express concern over what they describe as an “unbalanced” budget. “This budget puts the county’s finances at the edge of the cliff without any financial flexibility,” Democrats said in a joint statement this week. Among the chief concerns listed by the Democratic caucus are what they describe as an overly optimistic sales tax revenue of 3 percent in addition to negotiations regarding the county’s union contracts— all of which are expired this year—which could result in increased salaries and benefits. Lawmakers cut Astorino’s plans for an enhanced Kensico Dam from the budget; an extensive project to revamp the area was announced by the county executive back in October and would have poured upwards of $17 million into a revamped reflecting pool and skating rink. But one major amendment to the budget, prompted by the legislators’ review, will be four new engineering positions to the county’s Department of Public Works. These positions—through supervising construction sites and processing RFPs—will help tackle the $1.5 billion in capital project backlogs that include repairs to roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. “[The budget adds] critical positions to our county police and engineering positions in the Department of Public Works to help address a major backlog of capital projects,” said Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat. Nonprofits, some of which have been faced with significant budget cuts in 2016, will see a marginal increase of $210,000 for community-based organizations in the most recent county budget. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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

pound model of a spinning top, to assess the skill level of the class. Based on those results, he will then follow up with either a six-piece or 12-piece “modular.”

includes an afternoon tea and a docent tour that features Wainwright’s rich history. Reservations are required online, as space is limited. Fee: $25 per person.

Teacher-in-the-Library

Winter solstice celebration

For more information on hours and programs, visit ryelibrary.org. The library will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Dec. 26 for Christmas.

On Monday, Dec. 19 through Wednesday, Dec. 21 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.

Modular Origami for Teens

Wainwright House

On Sunday, Dec. 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join Wainwright for the winter solstice celebration, where participants will connect with nature. The evening consists of a fire ceremony and drumming with Susan Wright, teacher of shamanic practices. The winter solstice is one of the greatest events on the calendar. Come celebrate the solstice through a ritual that honors our ancestors, belief system, and a way of offering prayer and gratitude. A $10 donation is suggested.

On Saturday, Dec. 17 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Online registration is required. Sign up at ryelibrary.org. Go to “Programs and Events.” Choose the event and click on the “Register” button. While the term “origami” is rather widely known, and many are aware of “Compound Origami,” fewer seem to know about “Modular Origami,” in which more than one piece of paper is identically folded to complete the model. Unlike “compound” models, each paper is folded exactly the same, and the resulting “modules” will then join with their identical mate(s)—preferably without any glue. In this class, Doug Caine will start by demonstrating a simple, three-part com-

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 9670700 or visit ryeartscenter.org.

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

Holiday house tour and tea On Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m. Wainwright House is please to invite friends and neighbors to visit during the holiday season. This house tour

Make Your Own Light-up Holiday Card On Saturday, Dec. 17. For ages 7 to 9, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For ages 10 and up, from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The holidays are a time of lights. In this special light-up holiday card workshop, students will learn how to incorporate an LED light into their own unique card design. Along the way, students will learn the fundamentals of circuit design, including separating power and ground, and the fact that energy takes the path of least resistance. Younger students can draw a simple circuit to make their card light up, and older students can create something more complex, incorporating on and off switches, touch pads, or pop-up elements. Let your creativity (literally) shine.

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 photographers 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.

Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester

special in your life. All Young Families Committee events are free and open to the community and are appropriate for ages 6 months through second grade. Start the story of the next generation. For questions, please contact Marcie at maiuvalasit@congregationemanuel.org or call 967-4382 ext. 15. Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester is located at 2125 E. Westchester Ave. in Rye. Visit congregationemanuel.org.

Rye Historical Society Snow globe craft Children ages 7 and up are invited to the Square House Museum in Rye on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to celebrate the winter season by creating a unique snow globe. Participants will learn about the history and popularity of this treasured novelty item and, from an array of seasonal craft materials provided, they can use their imaginations to create a truly one-of-a-kind gift. Children can add a personal touch by bringing a small toy, photo or other small items to include in their custom creation. The cost for this fun and creative program, which includes a tasty treat, is $10 per child. Reservations are suggested as space is limited and can be made by calling the Rye Historical Society at 967-7588. The Square House Museum, located at 1 Purchase St. in Rye, is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit ryehistory.org or call 967-7588.

Rye YMCA Giving Tree The Rye Y is teaming up with the Carver Center for a Christmas toy drive to bring holiday gifts to 50 youth and teens who are members of the Carver Center. Stop by the Rye Y lobby, at 21 Locust Ave. in Rye, and select an ornament from the tree with the gender and age of the child who will receive the gift you purchase. Deliver your unwrapped gift by Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Socks for Kids Project Tuesdays in December from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The Rye Y’s Crafty Crew will knit and crochet socks for babies in homeless shelters. For adults only. No experience necessary. For more information, contact Penny Cozza at penny@ryeymca.org.

December Vacation Clubs From Monday, Dec. to Friday, Dec. 30. Don’t miss out on a great week at the Y. Limited space is available. Choose from basketball, gymnastics, fitness, and the STEAM and Fun Club. For more information and to register, visit ryeymca.org.

Young Families Chanukah Celebration On Saturday, Dec. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester is committed to helping young families begin their Jewish journeys. Bring your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren—any little one who is

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

December 16, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5

Westchester County officials rally to ‘ban the barge’ By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Amidst allegations that the U.S. Coast Guard circumvented proper procedure in order to fast-track approval of 43 additional commercial barge anchorages along the Hudson River, Westchester County officials and environmental watchdogs are calling for the agency to withdrawal its proposal. According to a statement by Pace University’s Environmental Policy Clinic, the proposal— which would speckle anchorages across the lower Hudson River shorelines, from Kingston to Yonkers—skirted procedure in order to avoid scrutiny of its environmental impact. “This is one of the most egregious violations of public transparency and public trust I have seen in four decades working on Hudson River issues,” said John Cronin, a fellow at the Dyson College Institute for Sustainability and the Environment at Pace. The clinic’s chief concerns, according to Cronin, are the

Coast Guard’s failure to complete any environmental surveys and failure to coordinate with mariners, environmental groups and residents of impacted areas, as per the Coast Guard’s own interagency requirements. “Any projects like this, whether it’s a pipeline, or anchorages, or a power plant, or a proposed development,” Cronin said, “the first thing you’re supposed to look at is the worst possible negative impact. All of this information is completely absent.” Among the Westchester ports that would be affected by the proposal are Montrose Point in Cortlandt Manor, as well as a port in Yonkers that would see the addition of 16 new anchorages alone. While the U.S. Coast Guard has offered its plan to add additional anchorages—the largest of which would be the Yonkers port, which would span more than 700 acres—as a means of increasing safety and thru traffic on the waterway, both county officials and environmental advocacy groups have cast doubt

on the Coast Guard’s motives. “The point that’s being made is that this is needed for safety,” said Leah Rae, a spokeswoman for the environmental advocacy group, Riverkeeper. “We don’t feel they’ve made any rationale for that claim.” In a letter to the U.S. Coast Guard sent by the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey in January, which urges the Coast Guard to move forward with the construction of additional anchorages, one particular passage has given Riverkeeper pause. “For several years the [U.S.] has developed as a major energy-producing nation and the great port of Albany as a leading export port for Jones Act trade of American Bakken Crude Oil and Ethanol,” the letter reads. “Trade will increase on the Hudson River significantly over the next few years… and federally designated anchorages are key to supporting trade.” According to Rae, it’s not just the letter that has drawn the attention of her organization, but also what River-

With the close of a public comment period for a U.S. Coast Guard proposal, that would see the addition of 43 anchorages located on the Hudson River from Kingston to Yonkers, both Westchester County officials and environmentalists are rallying to “ban the barge.” Photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/hudsonriverkeeper

keeper has characterized as the “reindustrialization” of the Hudson Valley. Among the factors contributing to this perceived shift, Rae said, are plans to expand

the capacity of a shipping port in Albany, and potentially ship oil extracted from Canadian tar sands—a bitumenrich sediment abundant in Alberta—on barges down the

Hudson River to refineries in New Jersey. “The bigger picture is using the Hudson [River] as a BARGE continued on page 10

6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 16, 2016

RyeCity REVIEW THE

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Citizens march against fear, hate

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By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor

Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com

“No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” said a group of citizens as they practiced a right that is protected by the U.S. Constitution. At noon on Black Friday, Nov. 25, a few hundred people of all ages, races and religious denominations gathered at the fountain on Main Street in downtown White Plains, just feet from the Trump Tower at City Center. The diverse group convened, organized by the WESPAC Foundation, an organization working for peace and justice, to march and rally with a goal of making Westchester County a “sanctuary” for immigrants, Muslims, and other marginalized groups that could be negatively affected by the imminent Donald Trump presidency.

Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | James Pero ext. 20, james@hometwn.com Reporter | Franco Fino ext. 18, franco@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer Corey Stockton Staff Photographers Bobby Begun, Andrew Dapolite Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Lenore Skenazy, Joe Murphy

The back of JCA’s T-shirt draws attention to police brutality as he performs a song that features audio from the 911 call made by Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. the morning he was killed by White Plains police five years ago.

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The rally gathers around the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in front of the county courthouse. On the statue’s base is a timeless message from King: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Westchester County residents assemble by the fountain on Main Street in White Plains to rally against the possible ramifications of a Donald Trump presidency. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa

Other organizations that participated were the Lower Hudson Valley Chapter of the NYCLU— which has threatened to take the president-elect to court if he creates a registry for Muslims, something Trump mentioned during his campaign; the White Plains-Greenburgh Chapter of the NAACP; Westchester Coalition Against Islamophobia, WCAI; and the Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. Institute for Nonviolence. After a collective march from Main Street to the Westchester County Courthouse, chanting and eventually gathering in front of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr., some members of the aforementioned groups let their voices be heard. “We’ll continue to stand in opposition to any attempt to register and reduce anyone to noncitizen, non-human status,” said Lena Anderson, president of the local NAACP chapter, as Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up” played in the background. “Dr. King will say, ‘Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.’” Many have begun to compare Trump’s presidency to Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, where the oppression of Jews and other people was legal and ignored for too long by the rest of the world. The undoing of all the decades of fighting for civil rights and the rights of women and LGBTQ people is of real concern to many, especially with the president-elect making some questionable appointments to his cabinet, which includes Steven Bannon, former executive chair of the socalled “alt-right,” conservative Breitbart News, who has made comments on the “genetic superiority” of white people over other races.

Many news organizations, including The New York Times and the Associated Press, say “alt-right” is a deceptive term; it is a blend of racism, white nationalism, white supremacy, and populism, which rejects the American democratic ideal that all people are equal. “The people united will never be defeated” was another chant reiterated by speakers and those gathered. City of White Plains Mayor Tom Roach and Greenburgh Town Supervior Paul Feiner, both Democrats, were the elected officials present at the rally. “We are proud, in White Plains, of our diversity,” Roach said. “We need to stand up for the rights that some of us have taken for granted, and make sure that we keep them.” Feiner added to cheers and applause, “None of us should be afraid to speak out, no matter how much our new president tries to intimidate us.” There were two performances, a spoken word piece and a rap song, that focused on police brutality against black men. The song, “Abuse of Power,” performed by artist JCA, features the recording of the 911 call from Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. the morning he was killed by White Plains police in his home five years ago. The rally closed with a prayer from the Rev. Doris Dalton, the executive director of the Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. Institute for Nonviolence and member of the First Baptist Church of White Plains. “Your civic duties have to be part of your daily life,” she said, reminding people that all marches and rallies will be for naught if citizens do not act against bigotry and hate. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

December 16, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7

Fire dept. to hold Candy Cane Run Santa Claus is coming to Rye on Sunday, Dec. 18. Santa and his elves will be traveling around Rye riding on one of the city’s Fire Department firetrucks. Santa will be passing out candy canes and spreading holiday cheer. Please see the approximate schedule bellow for route locations and times. All route times are approximate. You can follow the Rye Fire Department Twitter page, @CityofRyeFire, for up-todate information regarding Santa’s progress.

• 1 p.m.: Indian Village - stopping at the intersection of Mendota and Onondaga. • 1:30 p.m.: Louden Woods stopping at the intersection of Thistle and Holly Lane. • 2 p.m.: Dublin- stopping at the intersection of Maple and High Street. • 2:30 p.m.: Rye Recreation stopping at the Rye Rec parking lot. • 3 p.m.: Playland Manor stopping at the intersection of Roosevelt and Rosemere. • 3:30 p.m.: Milton Point -

stopping at the Milton School parking lot. • 4 p.m.: Hix Park - stopping at the intersection of Lindbergh and Hix. • 4:30 p.m.: Osborn School stopping at the Osborn School parking lot. • 5 p.m.: Glen Oaks - stopping at the intersection of Glen Oaks and Coolidge. • 5:30 p.m.: Greenhaven - stopping at the intersection of Rye Road, Norman Place, Norman Drive and Captains Lane. Happy Holidays! (Submitted)

DEMO from page 1

of not being able to afford the forthcoming rent increase. That property has since remained vacant, and it is currently unclear what the property owner has planned for the space. As of press time, there is no indication when Grove Park Realty Corp. will put forth a proposal to the Planning Commission. Serrano added, “When the owner makes a proposal, it may take a couple months or several years before it gets approved depending on how complicated the proposal is; it’s impossible to say right now.” CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Even with the completion of the demolition of the vacant property at 23-25 Purchase St. in downtown Rye, there is still no indication what the property owner has planned for the space. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

8 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 16, 2016 FACILITY from page 1

Mori is a handsome, 14-week-old kitten with light brown ears and tip of tail, along with blue eyes. Rescued in Port Chester with the other kittens in his litter (now adopted), he lives with another cat and older dog in his foster home. Mori is a bit shy, but warms up to lots of petting and tender loving care. He will make a great addition to a family with older children, or a couple. Mori’s adoption donation is $100 plus $60 for the neuter deposit. To meet Mori, please contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

city’s laws on mechanical rock removal. He also told the Review that rock would not be crushed on site. Regarding tabling the vote, Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano said, “They just wanted to make sure everyone’s concerns were addressed first, and they wanted to leave the door open for another meeting.” The owners of the property, the Old Post Road Associates, are proposing to construct a 135unit, 55 and up age-restricted, 4-story housing complex, replacing and demolishing an outdated office building that has remained vacant as far back as 2009. According to Jonathan Kraut, an attorney representing the owners of the property, following a forthcoming approval, construction will commence immediately and will be completed within an 18 to 22 month time frame. Last year, the Rye City Council approved a change in the city’s zoning code to allow for construction of an active senior residential facility at the Old Post Road location. Previously, the property owners were un-

The city Planning Commission delayed a vote on a proposal to construct an age-restricted senior living facility on Old Post Road until Jan. 10. The building, which formerly housed commercial office space, has been vacant since 2009. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

able to move forward with the project, as the zoning only allowed for office building use in that area. In 2012, the Old Post Road Associates, which are a subsidiary of the Rye-based Alfred Weissman Real Estate, proposed to construct a Hampton Inn ho-

tel at the property. However, following communitywide disapproval, the idea was abandoned. As of press time, there is currently no information about the potential cost of living in the complex. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

December 16, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9

‘Larchmont’: A father, a son, and a small town By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor With a population of 6,000 in an area just over 1 square mile, the village of Larchmont may not seem so small to its residents. However, “Larchmont,” a new indie film from two village natives, highlights just how quickly news can spread, and how inescapable that can be. Twenty-four-year-olds Ben Zuckert and Will Seife, both former Larchmont residents who now live in Brooklyn, coproduced the movie. “We were born [in Larchmont] and grew up there; we both went to Chatsworth, and then Hommocks and then Mamaroneck High School,” Seife said. “We actually grew up down the street from each other [in Larchmont Manor],” Zuckert added. “Larchmont” marks the duo’s first feature film, which was shot in various locations in Larchmont in the summer of 2015 in just 18 days with help from about 70 people—many of them

local residents—in front and behind the camera. “The shoot was very exciting, but also very stressful,” Zuckert told the Review. “We had to make sure we got everything in those 18 days.” Obstacles included working with actor union guidelines and labor rules. “It was a blind faith operation that it was going to work out,” Zuckert said. “We both lost a lot of weight.” Seife said, “We were both wearing a lot of different hats for the shoot.” Zuckert said he realized he wanted to shoot a movie in his “beautiful” hometown while he attended Tufts University. “Larchmont” focuses on the relationship between a recent college grad questioning his choice to continue on to medical school and a recently unemployed father. “[Larchmont] affects both of the characters’ stories; at least for the dad, who lost his job but doesn’t want his friends to know,” Zuckert added. “But because Larchmont is such a small town, word starts to get out

quickly, and people start to approach him about it.” The son is affected by the village because not many people his age, between 22 and 30, live there, while his father has to deal with neighbors and friends wondering what he is doing with his life. “If we had taken this story and placed it somewhere else, it would have been a totally different story with how these characters would’ve coped with these situations,” Seife said. “Larchmont” is an independent release; the company that released the film, Sugarsoap Productions, was founded in the fall of 2014 by Zuckert and Seife, a few months after the movie was conceptualized. The film simultaneously premiered on Oct. 22 at the Yonkers Film Festival, YoFiFest, and the Twin Cities Film Festival in Minneapolis. “It was really nice to have the premiere very close to Larchmont so we could get a lot of the cast [and crew] out, and people who are close to us,” Seife said of the Yonkers premiere.

A scene from the movie “Larchmont” featuring actor Brian A. Mason, who plays the role of a son who is questioning his choice to go to medical school upon returning home after graduating from college. Photo courtesy Ben Zuckert

The Larchmont Public Library will hold a free screening of the film on Sunday, Dec. 18 starting with refreshments and popcorn at 3:30 p.m. The Emelin Theatre in the village of Mamaroneck, in conjunction

with the Center for Continuing Education’s Notable Neighbors series, will hold a screening on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. “People have been hearing about this [movie] or maybe saw us shooting around town,”

Seife said. “We want to give a lot of opportunities for [local residents] to see it.” For more information, visit larchmontmovie.com. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 16, 2016 BARGE from page 5

corridor,” she said. Likewise, the county government has shared similar concerns over the proposal that has managed to unite both Westchester lawmakers and the Republican administration of County Executive Rob Astorino in rallying against it. Astorino, after the plan’s initial introduction in June, criticized the project, calling it a “giant parking lot” for barges containing oil that, under the parameters of the proposal, could sit for months on end in county waterways. “In the language of the proposal, ‘long-term’ is defined as 30 or more days. That’s not stopping by, that’s moving in,” Astorino said. “It’s classic federalgovernment-vagueness: Today’s ‘30 or more’ could be tomorrow’s ‘in perpetuity.’”

Likewise, county Legislator Catherine Borgia, a Peekskill Democrat, whose district would be directly affected by the proposal, has spoken out against the new anchorages. “Placing what amounts to floating parking lots for oil-filled vessels is both economically and environmentally unsound,” she said. “These anchorage grounds would be placing our community at risk by allowing millions of gallons of oil to park in our backyard.” Online comments for the proposal located on the federal register website, which have been pouring in since August, have swelled to more than 8,200, as of press time, and have taken an overwhelmingly negative spin; according to Rae, unprecedentedly so. “We’ve seen that level of outcry for things like fracking,” Rae said. “The number of comments

isn’t unprecedented, it’s the unanimity of people that live along the river; the bipartisan nature of people against this plan.” With the public comment period closed as of Dec. 6, the U.S. Coast Guard will now pore over feedback and may or may not schedule a round of hearings based on the response. According to Cronin, though a hearing is warranted in both his opinion and his peers’, the Coast Guard is not required to do so by law. Furthermore, since navigational issues in the U.S. are handled strictly from a federal level, there is little recourse for state or county government to block execution of the project from a legislative standpoint. “I suspect that if they don’t have a hearing, there will be litigation,” Cronin said. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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Trust in the Crown Castle era THE COUNCIL CORNER Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein

One of the key takeaways from our recent national elections is that trust in our institutions and government has collapsed. When surveyed about Congress, banks, insurance companies, big business, and the media, people overwhelmingly express negative sentiments and distrust. They feel those institutions do not work for everyone but more narrowly reflect the interests of the “special interests” that have gained economic power and influence over those institutions. Is local government immune from this crisis of trust? The simple answer is no, it’s not immune; but through engagement, authenticity and dialogue, local representatives can and must work to renew that trust. The debate around Crown Castle’s application to install wireless nodes around the city has, for some residents, challenged this trust to its core. Questions have been raised about why approvals in the past were granted and whether imminent approvals in the near future are likely. There are some who believe that secretly several members of the Rye City Council are eager to rubber stamp approvals. What are citizens to make of this? The City Council has heard concerns expressed about the long-term trajectory of a wireless policy in the city where corporations seem to have more power than the people who live in it. Where the willingness of the council to stand up and fight for the community to get the best deal for residents is questioned. This is especially fraught given that there is no consensus

on what the long-term implications and risks are, what exactly the city should be fighting for, and given federal laws suggesting wireless providers have similar rights to utilities, what is even possible to achieve. Over the course of the last nine months, the City Council has listened and taken to heart citizens’ concerns and made a commitment to working through a wide variety of viewpoints. We have consulted with legal experts and engineers on the risks and costs to our community and we have yet continued to ask questions. As resident Sam Powers said at our Dec. 7 council meeting, “ We have to have better considerations of the long-term implications. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are going to be hundreds of cell towers in Rye over the next five years. What you do here has massive implications— for everybody.” However we got here, the question before us today is how to get the best outcome for our city now and moving forward. This, though we are not clear what precedents and unforeseen consequences our decisions may establish. This is why, in spite of fears that the council has made up its mind, it has been slow and deliberate to act. Surely, if the council wanted to put the issue to bed, it would have acted before citizens became sensitized to the issues. To the contrary, the City Council—all its members—are intent on creating the greatest leverage possible for our city. We are taking advice from engineers and legal experts, and we continue to listen to our community, to welcome input and debate. This is not to say that we agree with all the recommendations put forth. One recommendation, for instance, is to place 100-foot cell towers in several locations across the city.

We view this at least as potentially controversial as any other suggestion we have heard. There are times when advised by legal counsel, city counselors are not able to reveal their full hand, lest they undermine the city’s legal position, and play into Crown Castle’s hands. But we understand that to simply say “trust us” doesn’t cut it either. We are searching for the right balance between transparency and discharging faithfully our responsibilities to our city. It’s been almost one year since I joined the City Council, one of two Democrats to gain a seat on the council. I made two commitments at that time: one, to stand up for the progressive values I hold dear; and second, to operate in a spirit of nonpartisanship. While I do not know what conclusions each council member will ultimately reach with regard to how we resolve the Crown Castle application— and we may reach opposing views—for now, I have found council members to be open to all options and committed to good faith consideration of all ideas and legal strategies. The logic of representative government is to say, “We’re here on your behalf, to act in your interests, so trust us to do what is best for you.” But the reality is trust today is in short supply. We must work where possible to be transparent, to engage our community in dialogue. But we must also ultimately have the courage to reach a viewpoint and a decision, and be held accountable for our votes. For me, that decision point has not yet come, and I believe it has not yet for other council members either. We continue to educate ourselves and search for options to gain maximum leverage within the law to protect the longterm interests of our community. CONTACT: dtaggerepstein@ryeny.gov

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.”

December 16, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11

City Council contends with large legal fees In order to pay for ballooning legal expenses, the City Council voted last week to transfer $300,000— an additional $200,000 was transferred earlier this year—from both contingency and general funds for use by the Legal Department, making a total of $500,000 transferred to cover costs this year. Deputy City Comptroller Joe Fazzino, agreeing that the current city expenses on legal fees this year have already greatly exceeded previous years, said that typically the city budgets about $230,000 for its Legal Department annually. According to City Manager Marcus Serrano, to date, the city has already spent more than $600,000 on litigation. Behind the unanticipated cost in legal expenses, according to Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, is the city’s involvement in various ongoing lawsuits in addition to the threat of more legal spats. “The reason why we have to transfer the money is because there have been some unexpected legal expenses in 2016 that we didn’t anticipate, or know about, or budget for,” said Sack at a meeting earlier this month. Currently, according to City Attorney Kirsten Wilson, the city is embroiled in 25 lawsuits, and of those suits, 15 could have a direct impact on city coffers. The rest—which are mostly civil suits—she said, would be paid for by the city’s insurance carrier. The following is a breakdown of four of the most high-profile, and high-cost, lawsuits on the city’s table:

Save the Sound Cost: $166K By far the city’s most expensive lawsuit has been one by the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound, which—in addition to 10 other municipalities across Westchester County—alleges that the city is operating in violation of the EPA’s Clean Water Act due to degraded sewer infrastructure. This suit was launched in 2015 and also encompasses neighboring municipalities like Harrison and Mamaroneck. Porous sewer lines, Save the Sound alleges, have resulted in waste leaking into the Long Island Sound— a protected body of water— through storm water and runoff. Currently, the city is in negoti- Aging and faulty sewer piping throughout the city has led Save the ations with the group and is look- Sound, an environmental advocacy group for the Long Island Sound, to target Rye as one of several communities in Westchester County ing to reach an agreement that allegedly polluting the sound. Facing an expensive lawsuit, the city has would analyze, and in the future, been in settlement talks with Save the Sound, but there has not been any resolution, as of press time. File photos move toward repairing sewers.

Crown Castle Cost: $72K In July, the City Council voted to retain outside council to help navigate a controversial proposal from the telecom contractor Crown Castle that could see the addition of more than 60 wireless signal emitters atop telephone poles and streetlights citywide. Over the summer, residents came to City Council meetings in droves, voicing concerns over the proposals effect on property values in addition to adverse health effects. While the two parties are not currently engaged in a court battle, City Attorney Kristen Wilson has expressed that Crown Castle’s proposal could easily result in litigation in the future as the city tries to balance a con- As the city deliberates over whether to call for an environmental review of the telecom provider Crown Castle’s proposal to install wireless tract previously struck between transmitters throughout areas of Rye, litigation hangs in the balance the two parties in 2012 with con- largely based on an agreement that was reached between Crown Castle and the city in 2011. cerns from residents.

Playland Cost: $73K After a spat over which entity should be in charge of overseeing a slew of proposed capital projects at Rye Playland this summer, the city decided to sue Westchester County over alleged SEQRA violations. The suit contends that the city, not the county, should be the lead agency in charge of determining whether or not $60 million in proposed projects would impact the city’s adjacent neighborhoods. The lawsuit marks another legal bout in a long and conten- With the redevelopment of Playland in the works for several years, Rye tious relationship between the has been embroiled in ongoing controversy with Westchester County. county and Rye over the historic Most recently, the city has taken the county to court for the right to lead a multitude of capital projects at the county-owned amusement park, county-owned amusement park, which is being managed by a handpicked private operating company, which sits in the city’s backyard. Standard Amusements.

RM Staffing Cost: $80K On top of those suits, the city lawsuit that stems from fallout over monies stolen by former Rye Golf Club general manager Scott Yandrasevich over a sixyear period. The lawsuit, which was granted class action status earlier this year, consists of more than 50 members of the club’s former waitstaff who are seeking reimbursement for unpaid tips and overtime. Disgruntled former employees have rallied outside of City Council meetings several times, protesting what they believe to be an undue delay in compensation from the city. According to City Comptroller Joe Fazzino, this year’s expenses exceed the average amount of money budgeted for legal fees, which have hovered around $230,000 over the past several years. According to Fazzino, the cost allocated should be enough to cover the city on legal expenses for the remainder of the year, and likely won’t have any broader impacts on the budget, like money drawn from reserves, due to the expenses. - Reporting by James Pero

is also looking to come to a resolution on a lingering class action

Since Scott Yandrasevich left Rye Golf Club in 2013, former employees of one of his several shell staffing companies, RM Staffing, have banded together in a more than $4 million class action lawsuit against the city for unpaid overtime and tips.

12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 16, 2016

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December 16, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13

Stephanie, the scorpion whisperer RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Stephanie Loria would like to set the record straight: “If you get stung by a scorpion and you are a healthy adult, you won’t die.” She paused, then added, “You may wish you were dead. But they get such a bad rap.” Yes, pity the poor scorpions—so misunderstood. Fortunately, the species has Loria on their side. A native of Glendale, Queens, and graduate of New York’s Catholic school system, she is perhaps the city’s only scorpion apologist. She loves the creatures, researches them, and this fall she got her Ph.D. in scorpion studies from the American Museum of Natural History’s Richard Guilder Graduate School. Other grads included a frog researcher, a bat specialist getting an honorary degree, and a guy who has identified 70 new species of wasps. Not sure I’d want to be at their Christmas party. But having never seen an actual scorpion—or scorpion researcher—I did want to meet Loria. So the other day I went to the museum and was escorted past dozens of dinosaur-demanding school groups, up to the restricted fifth floor, past hundreds of lockers housing insect specimens, and then through a hall lined with clear plastic boxes containing... omg. Tarantulas. Live tarantulas, the size of chipmunks, waving their furry legs. How did “Night at the Museum” miss these guys? One floor up I found Loria in her lab, scorpions at her side— dead. “We have some live stuff

downstairs, but those are more like pets,” she said. “These I actually collected during my trips to Southeast Asia.” And how does one collect a scorpion? Well, Loria said, cheerful as a flight attendant, you just have to go into the jungle at night. Scorpions are black, so you can’t see them except by using an ultra-violet flashlight, but then they phosphoresce like Jimi Hendrix posters. They also shed their exoskeletons. So you look for glowing bits of dead scorpion on the trail leading you to a live one and then, using foot-long tweezers, you try to grab it as fast as you can before it scurries into its borrow. At that point, says Loria, you often have “moths swarming around your face and you’re swallowing them, and sometimes you’re also near ants, and you’re covered with them, and some of them are pretty nasty.” Long story short, if you don’t manage to grab the scorpion with the tweezers, sometimes you just dig them out. That’s right: You stick your hands into a scorpion den HOPING you’ll find some. One time, Loria recalls, she and her advisor were on a nighttime hunt in the Malaysian jungle when suddenly, a scorpion stung him. “Two of his fingers were paralyzed and he had a burning sensation moving up his arm and into his chest,” says Loria. “It was just me and him in the middle of nowhere.” THEN WHAT HAPPENED??? “He took an antihistamine,” says Loria. By the morning, he was fine. After an agonizing night. Loria won’t let this prejudice you against scorpions. There are 2,200 species of them, she

says, and only 45 have poisonous venom. What’s more, they can live up to 25 years, and are members of the arachnid family, like spiders, but less popular. At arachnid conventions (I know, I know), “85 to 95 percent of the talks are about spiders,” says Loria, bummed. Scorpions get no respect. And yet, they have been around since before the dinosaurs. In her own pre-history, Loria grew up digging millipedes and centipedes out of her backyard and bringing them inside, to her parents’ non-delight. She had an ant farm, a moth farm, and a grammar school teacher who showed her rubber replicas of bugs and encouraged her curiosity. One time, Loria wore a dead cicada’s shell on her nose to freak out her schoolmates. It worked. But Loria wasn’t really trying to disgust anyone. She was just fascinated by the “behind the scenes” work that insects and arachnids do. “If you watch any nature shows on TV, it’s always about big cats, or other mammals we relate to.” But the real heroes, she says, are the smaller creatures we rely on. Bees pollinate. Millipedes play a role in decomposing. Spiders and scorpions keep the insect population down. By high school, she was taking after-school classes at the museum and did an internship studying flamingo behavior. Now that she has her Ph.D., she is heading to San Francisco to start studying the evolution of scorpion venom. Her future looks so bright, she has to pinch herself. Before anything else does. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Protect your home against holiday fires Across New York state, people are putting in Christmas trees, hanging festive lights, lighting candles, and otherwise readying for the holiday season. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, FASNY, urges all New Yorkers to enjoy the holidays with care, as this time of the year typically sees an uptick in home and house fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, from 2010 to 2014, fire departments in the United States annually responded to an average of 210 fires that could be traced back to Christmas trees. On average, one of every 34 Christmas tree-related fires resulted in a death, compared to the average of one death for every 142 home fires. A full third of these Christmas tree fires began because of faulty or haphazard holiday lighting and wiring. “FASNY urges all New Yorkers to exercise care and caution while enjoying this holiday season,” said FASNY President Ken Pienkowski. “Please be certain that your homes are properly protected against fire, which includes showing care when setting up decorations, and ensuring smoke alarms are installed and functioning. Taking these simple steps will not only protect oneself, but also the brave firefighters who would respond to the emergency.” In addition to the following holiday-specific safety tips, having working smoke alarms is critical in protecting against fires. Three of every five home fire deaths in the United States occur in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. In 2015, legislation was passed and signed in Albany that will require all smoke alarms sold in New York state to be equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries capable of powering the device for at least 10 years. These alarms do not require bat-

tery changes during their lifespan, and greatly reduce the possibility of human error impacting the fire safety of the home. FASNY and the National Fire Protection Association offer the following safety tips. When choosing a Christmas tree: • Check a tree for dryness while at the seller’s lot—shake the trunk above a light-colored surface and watch for falling needles. If too many dry needles fall, choose a fresher tree. A locally grown tree from New York may be fresher than one brought in from out of state. • Avoid trees with an artificial-looking green tint on the branches or trunk—these trees may have been spray-painted to improve their appearance. The paint used may be combustible and could be hazardous as well. When in doubt, ask the seller if they sell painted trees. • Have the merchant saw off an inch or two from the trunk of the tree to help keep the tree fresh longer at home; also, if your tree is left outside, placing the trunk in a bucket of water will help keep it fresh. • When disposing of a tree, DO NOT leave it inside a home or building; DO NOT place it against the exterior of a home or building. In both cases, the tree is likely dried out and thus poses an increased fire hazard. When choosing holiday decorations and lighting: • When possible, choose decorations made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or noncombustible materials. Look for these designations on the product’s packaging. • Purchase lights and electrical decorations stamped with the name or symbol of an independent testing lab—for example, “UL” or Underwriters’ Laboratories—and ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance. • Carefully inspect new and

previously used light strands. Look for frayed cables and replace any damaged or missing bulbs before plugging lights in. • Do not overload extension cords, power strips, or electrical outlets. • When using power cords to illuminate outdoor displays, ensure that they are designated for EXTERNAL or outdoor use only— NEVER use power cords that are meant for indoor use. This information is usually indicated on the product’s packaging. • Turn lights off overnight. If possible, use a timer device to turn your lights off automatically. This not only lessens the risk of fire, but saves on energy bills as well. If you light holiday candles or candelabras (menorahs, window candles, etc.): • Keep lighted candles and candelabras at least 1 foot away from any combustible materials. DO NOT place candles anywhere near window curtains, furniture, wrapped gifts or anything else that could ignite. • Place candles and candelabras where they cannot be knocked down or tipped/blown over. If possible, keep the candle inside a weighted holder or one with a wide base. • Extinguish a candle before it burns to within 2 inches of its holder. • NEVER leave a lighted candle unattended—extinguish a candle before leaving the room. • Discourage the use of candles in bedrooms and other areas where you may fall asleep. • Store matches and lighters in high places, out of the reach of children, and ideally inside a locked cabinet. • Consider using battery-powered candles instead; if using electrical “plug-in” candles, follow manufacturers’ instructions. For more information, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website at nfpa.org. (Submitted)

14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 16, 2016

Foul shots LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching a lot of Knicks basketball, but lately, I’ve been thinking about free throws. Over the last week, the Knicks have squared off twice against the Sacramento Kings in contests that have featured two All-Star big men—Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and Knicks center Joakim Noah—who just so happen to be absolutely abysmal from the charity stripe. Now, perhaps it’s a little bit unfair to put Cousins’ struggles from the line quite in the same vein as Noah’s. So far this year, the burgeoning superstar has shot just 75 percent from the foul line, which is bad enough to put him in the bottom 25 of all qualified NBA players. Noah, on the other hand, who made his money as a player who can do just about everything

other than score the basketball, has been more than a bit worse, making his free throws at an absurd 31 percent clip. It might seem strange to see these stars—men at the top of their physical profession—fail so mightily at what seems to be the easiest part of their jobs, but then I started to think that maybe shooting foul shots is one of the sneakily most daunting tasks in sports. Putting aside the physical aspects of the free throw (it’s been well documented that taller players are at a disadvantage when it comes to hitting at a high percentage), I have to imagine that the foul line is the loneliest place in all of sports. Athletes—no matter the level—are certainly not exempt from facing mental obstacles. Just look at a golfer who inexplicably loses the ability to sink putts or a baseball player—looking at you, Steve Sax or Jon Lester—who suddenly can’t make a routine throw to a base; a small hiccup in the mind can undo

SPORTS

years and years of work on the most basic fundamentals. But whereas a case of the yips on the baseball field or on the golf course can serve to quickly derail a once-promising career, bad foul shooting in the NBA seems to be an accepted part of the game. As long as a player can help his team in other ways, like the explosive DeAndre Jordan, he’s going to be out on the court, playing meaningful minutes, and inevitably called upon to head to the foul line several times a game. Late in the Knicks’ Sunday night win over the Kings, Noah was fouled late in the game and proceeded to sink both shots to help New York hold on to a slim lead. But it wasn’t the Knicks big man’s actual shots that came to mind when I thought about the game the following day. After Noah’s first shot, Cousins walked up to him with a smile on his face and mimicked his “unique” motion, causing Noah to flash a sheepish grin.

Will Tuck takes a foul shot during Mamaroneck’s Dec. 9 game against Suffern. If you ask Sports Editor Mike Smith, the foul line is the loneliest place in all of sports. Photo/Mike Smith

And maybe, that’s the most healthy way to deal with being a poor shooter from the

line; just chuckle, put your head down, and keep shooting until you make one.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

Rye Athlete of the Week Ryan Kirkpatrick

By LIAM BRENNAN Contributor This week’s Athlete of the Week is Ryan Kirkpatrick, a senior right wing on the boys’ varsity hockey team. Although the team has gotten off to a rough 2-3 start, Kirkpatrick has excelled, scoring two goals against Byram Hills and another against Mamaroneck. Head coach Peter Thomas said that Kirkpatrick is one of the most dedicated and spirited players on the team. “Ryan is one of the hardest workers on the ice,” Thomas said. “[He is] tenacious on the forecheck and gets to the front of the net to score goals for us.” Teammate Will Tutun agreed

with Thomas’ assessment. “Ryan is a grinder when he gets the mini motor going,” Tutun said. “Ryan gives it his all, and that pushes the rest of us to do the same.”

Kirkpatrick is also a member of the boys’ varsity lacrosse team, earning all-section honors. Following high school, he will be attending Franklin & Marshall College.

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SPORTS

Rye wins Clinton Classic BOYS BASKETBALL

non-league

RYE 60 PLEASANTVILLE 49 RYE HS

12/10/16

Game Notes: • Charlie Nagle scored 17 points and was named the tourney MVP • The Garnets’ balanced offense has been a huge boost early in the season • Rye is aiming for an appearance in the Class A sectional semis

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor With a 60-49 win over Pleasantville in the finals of the annual Cliff Clinton Classic on Dec. 10, Rye continued its hot start to the season and improved to 3-0 on the year. But although Rye has been flawless early on in the winter campaign, head coach John Aguilar knows that there is still room for improvement as tougher tests loom on the horizon for the Garnets. Against the Panthers on Saturday night, senior Charlie Nagle continued his torrid play, leading all scorers with 17 points to

claim tourney MVP honors. But Nagle was not alone in his offensive production, as four other players—including Brett Egan, who finished with 11 points— scored at least nine in the win. According to Aguilar, that offensive balance has been a big factor in Rye’s three wins. “I think the biggest key to what we’re doing right now is that we’re getting balanced scoring,” he said. “Off the top of my head, we’ve had at least five guys reach double-digits so far this year.” Although Rye has a number of talented, experienced perimeter shooters, including Nagle,

Seamus McCrohan goes up for a shot against the Panthers. McCrohan’s play in the paint has been integral to Rye’s success so far.

Egan and Michael Carty, much of the Garnets’ offense has been predicated on the interior play of Seamus McCrohan. Against the Panthers, the athletic big man finished with nine points and six rebounds, but also forced Pleasantville to pack the paint, setting up scoring chances for the Garnets’ wing players. “He was even getting doubleteamed at points, which really helped with our spacing,” Aguilar said. “Early on this season, we have made it a point to purposefully feed him the ball in the middle early on, and he’s shown a great ability to finish at the rim.” Despite a 3-0 record, however, Aguilar acknowledged that his team is about to enter a difficult stretch that should be an eye-opener for his veteran squad. Upcoming games against Somers, Saunders, Spring Valley and Byram Hills—all top teams in Class AA and A— should provide the Garnets a good example of what to expect come playoff time. “It’s probably one of the toughest tests for anyone, and its going to be a good measuring stick to say the least,” Aguilar said. “There’s really no room for error against teams like that.” As far as what his team will need to do to remain successful moving forward, Aguilar said that while the early signs have been encouraging, his team will need to step up their game when they face some of the bigger, more physical teams in Section I. “Our defense has been great so far, but you even saw it in the second half against Pleas-

December 16, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15

Brett Egan battles with a Pleasantville player on Dec. 10.

Michael Carty looks for an open teammate at the Cliff Clinton Classic.

antville, we need to get better at boxing out and limiting second chances,” he said. “It sounds simple, and we’ve been in the right position; we just need to

be able to get those rebounds and start pushing the ball in our transition game.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Charlie Nagle beats a defender off the dribble on Dec. 10 at Rye High School. Nagle scored 17 points against Pleasantville. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 16, 2016

FROM OUR LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFITS

WAINWRIGHT HOUSE Happy Holidays from our house to yours… Join us in 2017 for enriching experiences, social and educational events, yoga, tai chi and workshop classes Jan. 15 – Sunday Music Brunch Jan. 28 – Wine Pairing Dinner To learn more:

www.wainwright.org — 914-967-6080

SPRYE Announces A New Associate Membership Option This membership allows a greater number of local residents to participate in our social and educational programs. You can now gift yourself or a loved one with a meaningful Full or Associate Membership. Choose the option that is right for you at this time. Stay connected to your community by taking advantage of our services. SPRYE’s mission is to enable older citizens to remain in their own homes and the communities they love for as long as possible by ensuring access to essential services and programs. Memberships are available for those 60 years and older in the communities of Harrison, Port Chester, Rye and Rye Brook.

Call 914-481-5706 or email director@sprye.org for more details.