RyeCity REVIEW THE
March 24, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 12 | www.ryecityreview.com
City suit over Playland thrown out by judge By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
From left, Natasha Caputo, director of Westchester County Office of Tourism and Film, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and Juan Aguilar, the owner of La Chinita Poblana hold a signed Hudson Valley Restaurant Week plate during the wind down of the spring version of Westchester’s week of culinary treats. For story, see page 6. Contributed photo
City Council OKs $825K in Rye Golf Club improvements By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye City Council authorized the use of $825,000 in unreserved funds on March 15 for six major capital improvements to the Rye Golf Club, some of which include a continuation of the greens expansion project that kicked off last fall. The scope of work includes a package of improvements relating to curbing updates near the course’s greens and tee area; an installation of a privacy fence
behind the first practice green and maintenance area; drainage installments; walk bridge repairs on the fourth and sixth holes; and a continuation of the creation of a new practice green and tee area, totaling $308,000. “Those are really good projects,” said Councilman Terry McCartney, a Republican and liaison to the Rye Golf Club Commission, who explained that the greens expansion comes as a result of the increasing foot traffic on the course. McCartney said that while
the club was initially designed to sustain only 10,000 rounds of golf per year, the club has recently faced as many as 30,000 annually. He added that type of increase in foot traffic can cause the greens to become compacted, which can damage the growth of grass. “That makes a big difference,” McCartney said. “Now that we have more foot play, we need to expand the greens to avoid that.” The councilman told the Review that the golf club already institutes an “aggressive” aera-
tion program, in which the groundskeeper uses a machine to pierce small holes in the ground for the purpose of keeping the greens healthy and in good condition. The club will also spend $100,000 to design a replacement to its current irrigation system, which will be part of a much larger project that’s expected to occur in the future, McCartney said. City Manager Marcus Serrano GOLF continued on page 7
A lawsuit filed by the city of Rye seeking to overturn Westchester County’s authority over capital projects slated at Playland was thrown out by a state judge this week. The suit, filed by the city in August 2016, sought to overturn the county’s status as lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQR, which would have given Rye a greater say in the approval of millions of dollars in improvements slated to take place at the park this year. The historic amusement park is located within the city. “We gave it our best shot, but we didn’t prevail,” said Rye Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican. “One thing that has not changed is that the residents of Rye bear 100 percent of the quality of life impacts at Playland.” Sack added that the city will not appeal the judge’s decision due to cost and time constraints. While the city has consistently argued that projects at the park—which abuts Rye’s residential neighborhoods—should fall under the scrutiny of the City Council, a state judge ruled in favor of the county, which owns Playland as a part of the county parks system. According to a decision by Judge Gretchen Walsh, among other things, the city failed to show reasonable evidence
that its neighborhoods would be adversely impacted by the projects. In a statement, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, championed the decision to dismiss the suit. “This ruling means the county can get back to the business of saving Playland,” he said. “We are pleased with this ruling as it enables Standard Amusements, in collaboration with the county, to move forward on our plans to upgrade the grounds in support of our mission.” As per an agreement struck in May between the county and the management company Standard Amusements—the new operators of the nearly 100-year-old amusement park—the park is set to undergo $60 million in capital improvements, the cost of which will be split between the two parties. Under the terms of the deal, Standard would manage the park for 30 years and also pay the county a fee that rises annually by 2 percent. The agreement punctuated years of failed negotiations between the Astorino administration and prospective organizations or companies interested in managing the amusement park; most notably a previous deal brokered between Astorino and local nonprofit Sustainable Playland Inc., which dissolved in the wake of PLAYLAND continued on page 8
INSIDE Rye Town to appeal city tax case Story on page 5.
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March 24, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3
Rye weighs lawsuit over United Hospital project
Rye will mull a lawsuit after key traffic provisions were removed from a plan to revamp the former United Hospital site in the village of Port Chester. File photo
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer After the removal of a major traffic mitigation facet to Starwood Capital’s $450 million plan to revamp the former United Hospital site in neighboring Port Chester, the Rye City Council will ready itself to enter litigation. “These Article 78s are never a slam dunk, so I’m not going into this with any delusions,” said Rye Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican. “But they served this one to us on a silver platter.” According to Sack—who said the city will wait to file a lawsuit against Starwood until the April 6 deadline in hopes of negotiating with the developers out of court—a major provision that would have added two lanes of traffic to one of the development’s major exit points was removed from the project at the last minute. Specifically, the Rye City Council’s focus has been on two major arteries; exit ramps from Interstate 287 and Interstate 95 that already see a high volume of traffic. The project, the City Council worries, may only exacerbate current conditions. Sack said the deviation from the traffic plan—for a project which is proposing 730 units of housing in addition to 90,000 square feet
of retail space—will force vehicles into adjacent Rye neighborhoods through one of its back entrances. “We had relied on the fact that it was in there,” Sack said. “We are shocked and dismayed that it was taken out at the last minute without telling us.” Sack added that the city has been in negotiations with Starwood following the lanes’ removal. The two lanes—which were set to be constructed on Boston Post Road, outside the development’s entrance—had been a long-included facet of the developer’s plan to transform the site, but according to village of Port Chester officials, who voted in favor of accepting a set of crucial zoning changes allowing the project to move forward earlier this month, the two lanes were taken out due to their own traffic concerns; at least for the time being. “If we make Boston Post Road into an eight-lane super highway, it’s going to make it very unsafe for people to cross it,” said Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla, a Democrat. “And it won’t help the aesthetics either.” According to Pilla, while the construction of those lanes is not currently in the plan, Starwood will be required to keep empty where the lanes were slated to be
built, in order to afford the board an option to construct them at a later date. The decision on whether to add the lanes would be the purview of the village board and would likely come after a post-implementation traffic analysis, Pilla said. Additional lanes had been previously included in the project as per the recommendation of traffic consultants hired by the village, the city, and also the New York state Department of Transportation. Rye City officials had also been in active negotiations with Starwood over money the developers agreed to provide toward the city’s traffic mitigation efforts. However, a current offer, according to Councilman Terry McCartney, a Republican, was too low. A zoning change adopted earlier this month will allow the project to press forward into a site plan approval process where the village Board of Trustees would take in additional public input regarding the project. However, litigation could hamper the project’s progress. Rye City Attorney Kristen Wilson told the Review that the city will not be seeking an injunction as the project hasn’t entered the construction phase. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
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What’s going on... Rye Free Reading Room
Rye Library Writers On Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room. Share work and brainstorm with fellow writers and be encouraged in a welcoming and supportive environment. Discuss works in progress, writing topics, the writing process and individual writing joys and challenges. Open to novice and experienced writers.
Rye Recreation For more information on hours and programs, visit ryelibrary.org.
Tech and Retirement On Thursday, March 30 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Meeting Room. For the next generation of retirees, one question will trump all others: How do you add life to longer lives? As people live longer, and spend more time in retirement, the challenge will be to get more out of those years. How do you find a rewarding second career? How do you stay close with friends and family? How do you maintain independence and mobility? How do you embrace new experiences? The answer: technology. You will learn: a new array of devices and services that will make it easier for your aging clients to work, stay healthy, live at home and remain connected to friends and family; the opportunity for advisors to become longevity specialists; and practical ideas to help your clients experience the capabilities these new apps and devices.
Summer camp information Summer camps in Rye will run from Tuesday, June 27 to Friday, Aug. 4. Registration is online only. Kiddy Camp registration is ongoing; call 967-2535 for availability. Lower and Upper camps and Camp 78 registration is ongoing. Kiddy Camp is specifically for children ages 3 to 5 (must be 3 by April 30, 2017, or 5 but not entering kindergarten). The camp is a six-week, half-day, classroom-based program. Every day, the children will participate in free play, story time, songs, outdoor play, art, sports, and much more. Special events and entertainment are held weekly to enhance the program. Lower Camp offers an active, supervised camp program for children enrolled in grades K–2 as of September 2017. Camp groups are co-ed by grade. Sports, group games, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, field trips and special theme days are just part of the fun planned for these campers. Upper Camp is specifically for children en-
rolled in grades 3–6 as of September 2017. Campers are grouped by gender and grade. This program gives campers the opportunity to participate in a variety of trips and programs, including sports, games, arts and crafts, indoor rec, a variety of special events and themed days. Camp 78 is for children entering seventh and eighth grade, and combines the best of sports, activities and cool trips. Have fun with old friends and make new ones while participating. Camp 78 starts on Monday, June 26. For specific camp information, fees, applications and other forms, visit ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm.
insiders and parents. A discussion will follow the screening. For more information, visit wainwright.org or call 967-6080.
Annual Oriental Rug Sale On Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will feature discounts from 50 percent to 80 percent, and will include vintage, modern, traditional and custom rugs. Admission is free. For more information, visit wainwright.org or call 967-6080.
Rye YMCA
Rye Arts Center
Program registration
The Rye Arts Center is located at 51 Milton Road in Rye. For more information or to register for a program, call 967-0700 or visit ryeartscenter.org.
Program registration is ongoing for members and non-members. Dozens of programs are available for all ages. Visit ryeymca.org to view program guide and to view registration details.
A Way of Seeing: The Street Portraits of Cal Swanson
Summer Camp registration
On show through Saturday, April 8. Curated by Patrick J. Cicalo. For a decade spanning the ‘70s and ‘80s, Cal Swanson wandered city streets seeking people who attracted his attention. Most of the pictures were taken in midtown Manhattan, a place which had an edginess that has since been whitewashed and dulled. Swanson explored the streets at dusk, as the neighborhood transitioned from bland and bustling to become something more unsettling and dangerous. Each image captures a life story, sharing a powerful and honest glimpse at human expression. Admission is free.
Wainwright House
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.
Free environmental film series On Wednesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. “Vaxxed” examines the compelling evidence behind a cover-up committed by a U.S. government agency responsible for protecting public health. Dr. Thompson, senior scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, confessed that the CDC had excluded critical data in its final report that revealed a causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism. The film features interviews with physicians, public officials, pharmaceutical
Summer Camp registration has started for all campers. The Rye Y offers camps for ages 3 to 14. New this year: early bird rates. Visit ryecamp.org to view the brochure and to register.
Rye Y Weight Watchers Join the Rye Y Weight Watchers—all are welcome. On Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. For more information, call Diana Vita at 967-6363 ext. 211.
Rotary Club of Rye Annual Crazy Legs Fundraiser The Rotary Club of Rye presents the second annual Crazy Legs Fundraiser supporting the scholarship fund and community grants program on Wednesday, April 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Whitby Castle, located at 330 Boston Post Road in Rye. Join neighbors and friends to help raise funds for the high school senior scholarship and community grants programs. This fun evening includes a buffet reception, unlimited beer, wine and soda, and the highlight—judging The Crazy Legs Contest as gentlemen contestants walk the walk and vie for the title of Best Legs and Best Costume. For event tickets and information about becoming a contestant, visit ryerotary.org or contact Pam Dwyer at 967-1679 or Angela Sculti at 671-1764.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester Little Playtimes On Tuesday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Little Playtimes at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester lets little LEGO lovers enjoy big fun. Activities include DUPLO Story Time, Farmer’s Workshop, and the newly added Animal Bingo. Appropriate for children under the age of 5. Cost: $22 for one adult and one child; additional children are $10 and children age 2 and under are free. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald St. in Yonkers. For more information, call 866-243-0770 or visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.
March 24, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5
Rye Town Park tax-exempt feud continues By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The town of Rye and the Rye Town Park Commission are considering petitioning to the state’s highest court a recent appellate court ruling that allows the city of Rye to impose a real estate tax on the park’s restaurant, the Review has learned. According to a town official, the town and the park commission will seek to settle the affair in the state’s Court of Appeals to dispute Rye City Assessor Noreen Whitty’s 2011 decision to revoke the tax-exempt status of the land where the upcoming restaurant, Ocean Grill, is situated. The restaurant was also the longtime home of Seaside Johnnies, which closed its doors at the end of 2016. The move to appeal to the state’s highest court comes as a result of a decision that was handed down in November by the Second Department of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, which confirmed the city of Rye’s ability to tax that portion of park.
In the midst of the town’s decision to likely file another appeal of the case, Rye City Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican and member of the park commission, said the ongoing battle between the two municipalities should be over at this point. “As far as I’m concerned, the city won the case,” he said. “The [town] hasn’t paid any bills and they need to start doing that.” As of press time, the town has not paid any taxes due to the city, according to Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano. As a result of the appellate court’s ruling, the town has to pay $110,000 in taxes to the city dating back to 2011. Rye City Attorney Kristen Wilson, said, “They’re obviously not happy with the decision. It’s unfortunate that we have to continue this litigation but it’s certainly their right.” While the park was originally created as a public area in 1907, Rye City’s assessor decided that it would be taxable in 2011, after existing on the land for 104 years exempt from
taxation by the city’s governing body. The property, which housed the park’s former restaurant at the time—Seaside Johnnies—was initially placed on the city’s tax roll and the decision was upheld by the city Board of Assessment Review, after Whitty deemed the private corporation should be taxable. Meanwhile, Al Ciuffetelli, the president of Homestyle Caterers Inc., which owns and operates Ocean Grill, said he was unaware the two municipalities were involved in litigation regarding the park’s tax-exempt status. Earlier this month, Ciuffetelli accepted a deal with the park commission to run a steak, seafood and grill outlet in the old Seaside Johnnies restaurant space and a Nathan’s Famous fast food chain in the park’s concession areas for 2017. Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the park commission, declined to comment. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
The town of Rye and the Rye Town Park Commission are seeking to appeal to the state Court of Appeals a decision that was handed down last November that allows the city of Rye to impose a property tax on the park’s restaurant. File photo
6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • March 24, 2017
RyeCity REVIEW THE
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Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com
The spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week featured La Chinita Poblana, a Mexican restaurant located in Irvington, as part of a celebrating the end of the event. This two-week semi-annual event is presented by The Valley Table, a quarterly magazine that explores different restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley. This season’s restaurant week ran from March 6 to March 19, and featured 119 restaurants throughout the county, and 230 restaurants in the Hudson Valley area. A representative for Westchester County Tourism and Film explained that restaurant week tries to encompass all types
Reporter | James Pero ext. 20, james@hometwn.com Reporter | Franco Fino ext. 18, franco@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer Corey Stockton Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Aaron Kershaw, Charlie McLaughlin Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Lenore Skenazy, Joe Murphy
of cuisines. Restaurant week usually begins with a kickoff, which Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino attends as well. The restaurant week kicked off on March 7 at Benjamin’s Steakhouse in White Plains. Astorino along with Benjamin Prelvukaj and Benjamin Sinajaj, owners of the steakhouse, created the “Astorino Sirloin.” The event began to wind down on March 16, where Astorino and members of the Westchester County Office of Tourism and Film paid a visit to La Chinita Poblana. Astorino met with Roberto Facal, the manager,
Letters The community’s opinion matters. If you have a view to express, write a letter to the editor by email to chris@hometwn.com. Please include a phone number and name for verification purposes. Community Events If you have an event you would like to share with the community, send it to news@hometwn.com. Delivery For home delivery or to subsribe, call (914) 653-1000 x27. Classifieds & Legals To post your notices or listings, call (914) 653-1000 x27. Postmaster Send address changes to: The Rye City Review c/o HomeTown Media Group, 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Visit us online www.ryecityreview.com
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Left, linguine Mama Tereza. Right, octopus under the bell. Both dishes are from Dubrovnik in New Rochelle, one of the locations featured during the restaurant week. Photos courtesy Valley Table
Juan Aguilar, the owner, and the waitstaff of the Mexican restaurant. Astorino donned a traditional white apron, and joined Aguilar in the kitchen where the two prepared a dish. Astorino also signed a plate decorated with a Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, HVRW, logo and the restaurant’s name. Astorino ended the visit with a speech highlighting how Aguilar’s accomplishment of opening this restaurant shows “that the ‘American Dream’ is alive and well.” “The immigrant experience, and Juan’s was something we had heard about it, it was something we thought
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, center, poses with the manager of La Chinita Poblana Roberto Facal, left of Astorino, and the owner Juan Aguilar, right of Astorino, along with members of the restaurant staff. Photo courtesy Gregory Garvey
was really neat,” said Gregory Garvey, communications manager for Westchester County Tourism and Film. Aguilar, who emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. when he was 13, started out working for a restaurant as a bus boy, and worked his way up the chain of command until he was ready to open his own establishment. Aguilar opened La Chinita Poblana four years ago, saying that after working for restaurants for so many years, he wanted to take a chance at creating and running his own place. He explained that he liked the area, and wanted to bring a different style of cuisine to Irvington. Aguilar said that the hardest part about starting his restaurant was the beginning. “It’s a lot of work, and a lot of p r e s s u r e ,” he added.
The restaurant, which is located on Main Street, serves lunch and dinner. The restaurant is open from noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. “This year, we hadn’t done it yet, we wanted to highlight [the] culture cuisines that we have,” Garvey said. Included in some of the restaurant week deals were brunch, lunch and dinner specials, including $22.95 for three-course lunch specials and $32.95 for three-course dinner deals. These prices were for the fixed price menus which include multiples options for appetizers, entrees and desserts. The restaurants participating in HVRW are made available online for diners to explore and make reservations. The website gives diners the option to view restaurants under certain categories like “hot and new” including restaurants like Little Crepe Street in Mount Kisco, Red Zebra in Sleepy Hollow, and Tutta Bella Trattoria in Scarsdale. Another category was “Zagat rated,” which included Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, PLATES in Larchmont, and Moderne Barn in Armonk. “Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is the perfect time to try new restaurants and cuisine throughout the county, while getting to know our local entrepreneurs,” Astorino said. For those who miss-ed out on restaurant week, there is a fall event that begins on Oct. 30 and ends on Nov. 12. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com
March 24, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7 GOLF from page 1
said, “With these improvements, the club wanted to make it a better experience for its members. Financially, the [club] is very strong and the future looks very bright.” Serrano said there will be an estimated $2.1 million remaining in the golf club’s unreserved fund after spending $825,000 on the latest round of improvements. In addition to that, McCartney said the golf club is able to fund the capital improvements entirely with money raised by membership fees, which has been virtually unaffected by the misapplication of tainted pesticide that plagued the club in the summer of 2015 leaving most of the course’s greens unplayable. The councilman added that, at that time, the golf club’s unreserved fund balance was estimated to be only $750,000. That changed after the city won $2.5 million in a lawsuit settlement from Tesenderlo Kerley Inc., the distributer of the fungicide that was misapplied to the greens. Of that settlement money, $2.1 million was designated for capital improvements. There is currently no time-
At a glance $137,500 will be spent on the installation of curbing along the entrance, driveway and traffic circle at Whitby Castle The golf club parking lot asphalt will be replaced for $35,000. Another $60,000 will go toward the replacement of the cement patio on the rear of Whitby Castle and also fund the hiring of an engineer to assess the club’s HVAC system The club will also resurface the pool locker room floors, add new pool-area lounge chairs, and hire an engineer to design any bid documents for potential improvements, at a cost of $184,500
On March 15, the Rye City Council approved six capital improvements to the Rye Golf Club that will cost the city $825,000, coming from the golf club unreserved fund. File photo
table for construction to begin. According to McCartney, minor improvements such as the walk bridge repairs will likely occur
during the season, while the major projects, such as the greens expansion, are planned to start around the beginning of November.
Councilwoman Kirstin Bucci, a liaison to the golf commission, and Jim Buonaiuto, the general manager of the golf club, could
not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
8 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • March 24, 2017
Why government needs volunteers THE COUNCIL CORNER Councilman Richard Mecca
There are 62 chartered cities in the state of New York. The village of Rye, created in 1904, became the city of Rye in 1942. No city has been chartered since. Rye is considered among the smaller cities, ranked the 37th largest. Being a city has certain advantages and disadvantages. If we remained a village, we would function under the umbrella of a town. Within the town of Rye exists the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook. The town of Rye collects and guarantees the taxes for those villages and school districts. If a property owner is in arrears in taxes, the town must make good on the payment and is responsible for collecting the taxes which are in arrears. The same holds true for our city. We collect taxes for the Rye City and Rye Neck school districts and remit those taxes to their boards. A city has a right to set its
own sales tax rate; however, it takes an act of the New York state Legislature to enact such taxing powers. The city of Rye has determined it is to our advantage to share in the Westchester County sales tax because the cost and expense to collect and enforce a local sales tax law would not yield sufficient revenue to justify such an endeavor. Our share of the 2016 New York state budget, Aid and Incentive for Municipalities, AIM, was $1.2 million; whereas the village of Port Chester, physically smaller but with a larger population, only receives $399,935, a fiscal advantage of being a city. Most cities have their own Civil Service Employment List and can restrict hiring to that list, however, it is very costly to maintain. Westchester County allows the small cities of Peekskill and Rye to share in the countywide list. Westchester County bears the cost and responsibility of scheduling the testing dates and maintaining a list of eligible personnel. The larger cities of White Plains,
New Rochelle, Yonkers and Mount Vernon need to hire staff to maintain their own list of eligible personnel. The governmental structure of a small city is different than a larger city. A small city, such as Rye, relies heavily on boards and commissions run by volunteer citizens. In our current government structure, the City Council (all elected volunteers) hires a city manager to take charge of day-to-day operations of the city. Numerous department heads report to the city manager to insure enforcement of the city’s laws, regulations and policies, as well as compliance with state and county laws. For example, New York state does not require municipalities to pick up garbage. This decision falls to the local governing body. However, Westchester County requires all municipalities to collect recycling. In the city of Rye, the Department of Public Works, DPW, collects rear yard refuse twice weekly as a policy set by the City Council. The mandated weekly curbside recycling is provided for com-
pliance with the law set by Westchester County. The head of the DPW, Ryan Coyne, is responsible for scheduling and staffing (among many other important responsibilities), but the city manager is ultimately responsible for compliance. Quiz: Who should you call if your garbage is not picked up? Our Building Department is responsible for enforcing the New York state building codes (all nine documents), as well as local zoning codes. In the city of Rye, there are three volunteer bodies which interface with the Building Department: the Zoning Board of Appeals, ZBA; the Planning Commission; and the Board of Architectural Review, BAR. The ZBA and the Planning Commission review land use in the city of Rye. These are also volunteer boards which meet on a regular schedule. As one of its responsibilities, the ZBA decides property setbacks and floor area ratios, FAR, and reviews applications for structures which may vary from current regulations. While applicants may find this process a needless annoyance, enforcement of zoning regulations enables our community to maintain desired standards. Another function of the ZBA is to delineate residential, commercial and mixed use areas of our community. Citizens tend to react to issues which impact them directly. Neighbors will come out if they feel a new prop-
erty will gave a negative impact on their property. The ZBA must view all proposals from both a “small picture/big picture” lens. In the city of Rye, the B-1 district is designated for small neighborhood businesses and allows for one- and two-family residences. By establishing zoning rules which govern what can be built, as well as defining activities which can occur in those zones, the ZBA functions are critical to maintaining the character of the community. I consider myself fortunate to live near a B-1 district, which provides easy access to G. Griffin Wine and Spirits, Playland Market, On the Way Café and Rye Beach Pharmacy! Visitors to my home are envious. The Con Edison facility located on Theodore Fremd Avenue is designated as a B-6 area. It operates around the clock with trucks coming and going. This property was intentionally located on property near the New York State Thruway and the railroad tracks to avoid disruption of the residential areas. The importance of the integrity of the ZBA is illustrated by these examples. The presence of the noted businesses located across the street from my home enhances our neighborhood; a poorly planned placement of a business has the potential to damage its surroundings. The Planning Commission has the responsibility for reviewing site plans and the Wetland
and Water Course Law. If you have noticed, Rye Country Day School is undergoing renovations. Before this project could begin, the Planning Commission had to review parking, traffic flow, water retention and the impact on water quality. We have a surprisingly large number of wetlands, and each one is treated as a valuable resource for water quality. This commission supports the city in maintaining a “long-term” vision for our community. Quiz: Which boards will review your proposed addition if there is designated “wetlands” on your property? The BAR reviews every application for exterior changes or new construction to insure consistency with the existing character of a neighborhood. While this process can be viewed as an obstacle to some applicants, it should be noted this process is conducted by a committee rather than one individual who can deny or rubber stamp a project. Quiz: Which boards would review an addition to a front porch to your existing home? I will continue my description of the remainder of our city boards in my next article. In the meantime, it is my intention to raise your awareness of the volunteer commitment of your friends and neighbors. They dedicate many hours to our community because they value Rye and what it has to offer. CONTACT: rmecca@ryeny.gov
PLAYLAND from page 1
A lawsuit against Westchester County filed by the city of Rye was thrown out by a state judge on Monday, March 20, sinking its hopes of overseeing $60 million in capital improvements slated at Playland Park. File photo
potential litigation from Rye and growing public outcry over the size and scope of the plans, and in particular a sports bubble that was slated for Playland’s main
parking lot. According to Dan Branda, a spokesman for the county executive, an engineer’s consortium to arrive at a construction schedule
was held on March 1, but said the specifics of the schedule are “too premature” to discuss. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
March 24, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9
THE RYEFULL CITYPAGE REVIEW • March 24, 2017 10 • INSIDE - TEMPLATE
2017 RYE CITY REVIEW NCAA TOURNAMENT CHALLENGE
ROUND 2
ROUND 3
REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
REGIONAL FINALS
March 16-17
March 18-19
March 23-24
March 25-26
1 Villanova 16 Mount St. Mary’s 8 Wisconsin 9 Virginia Tech 5 Virginia 12 N.C Wilmington 4 Florida 13 E. Tennessee St. 6 SMU 11 Prov/USC 3 Baylor 14 N. Mex. St. 7 South Carolina 10 Marquette 2 Duke
Villanova Wisconsin Virginia Tech
REGIONAL REGIONAL THE FINALS SEMIFINALS COUNCILWOMAN’S BRACKET March 25-26 March 23-24
1 Gonzaga 16 S. Dakota St. 8 Northwestern 9 Vanderbilt 5 Notre Dame
Florida Virginia
12 Princeton 4 West Virginia
FINAL FOUR
13 Bucknell
NEW YORK
KANSAS CITY
11 Xavier 3 Florida St. 14 Fla Gulf Coast 7 St. Mary’s
15 North Dakota
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
South Carolina Duke
Gonzaga
Gonzaga
Iona 14 Michigan 7
Michigan
Oklahoma St. 10 Louisville 2
Louisville
Kentucky
Jacksonville St. 15 N. Carolina 1
N. Carolina
Texas Southern 16
N. Carolina
Gonzaga
Arkansas 8
Arkansas Gonzaga
N. Carolina
Seton Hall 9
Middle Tenn St. Minnesota
West Virginia Bucknell
Minnesota 5 Middle Tenn St. 12
Butler
Butler 4
Butler
WEST
Winthrop 13
SOUTH
SAN JOSE
Xavier Maryland
MEMPHIS
Kentuckyl
Gonzaga
Villanova Gonzaga Kansas Kentucky
UCLA 3 Kent St. 14
Kentucky
Dayton 7
Wichita St.
Wichita St. 10
Kentucky
CHAMPIONSHIP Gonzaga Kentucky
Arizona
Kansas St. 11
UCLA
FINAL FOUR Arizona
Cincinnati 6
Cincinnati
UCLA
1ST PLACE 47 PTS.
Florida St.
Kentucky 2
Kentucky
North Kentucky 15
NATIONAL CHAMPION
2ND PLACE 47 PTS.
3RD PLACE 45 PTS.
FINAL FOUR
CHAMPIONSHIP Villanova Kansas
NATIONAL CHAMPION Villanova
Villanova West Virginia Kansas N. Carolina
Duke Arizona Oregon N. Carolina
FINAL FOUR
CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL CHAMPION West Virginia
Sports Editor MIke Smith
NATIONAL CHAMPION Duke
9TH PLACE 40 PTS.
CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL CHAMPION
NATIONAL CHAMPION
Kansas
Councilwoman Emily Hurd
Northwestern
Editor-in-Chief Christian Falcone
Gonzaga
Louisville
Villanova N. Carolina Councilman Terry McCartney
N. Carolina
11TH PLACE 35 PTS.
FINAL FOUR
CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONSHIP
Duke Xavier Oregon Seton Hall
Duke UCLA
Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein
NATIONAL CHAMPION
FINAL FOUR Duke Arizona Kansas UCLA
Florida Louisville
Northwestern N. Carolina
NATIONAL CHAMPION
10TH PLACE 36 PTS.
CHAMPIONSHIP NATIONAL CHAMPION
Councilwoman Julie Killian
Florida Maryland Louisville N. Carolina
Marquette Northwestern Michigan N. Carolina
Villanova Arizona Kansas N. Carolina
Gonzaga Kentucky
FINAL FOUR
FINAL FOUR
Duke Kansas
Villanova Gonzaga Louisville Kentucky
Duke Oregon
FINAL FOUR Duke Arizona Kansas UCLA
6TH PLACE 43 PTS.
FINAL FOUR
West Virginia Kansas Reporter James Pero
5TH PLACE 44 PTS.
FINAL FOUR
8TH PLACE 41 PTS.
7TH PLACE 41 PTS.
Gonzaga
4TH PLACE 44 PTS.
FINAL FOUR Villanova Arizona Kansas N. Carolina
Reporter Franco Fino
Michigan Louisville
Northwestern
Councilwoman Kirstin Bucci
Publisher Howard Sturman
Oregon 3
Louisville
Arizona
2 Arizona
Rhode Island 11
Oregon
St. Mary’s
10 VCU
Creighton 6
Rhode Island
Oregon
Gonzaga
Xavier Maryland
6 Maryland
Vermont 13
MIDWEST
Kansas
Villanova
Purdue 4
Purdue
April 1
EAST
Iowa St. 5 Nevada 12
Purdue.
Duke
West Virginia Bucknell
Miami (FL) 8 Michigan St. 9
Iowa St.
Baylor
Notre Dame
Kansas 1 NCCENT/UCD 16
Kansas
Duke
15 Troy
March 16-17
Michigan St.
Baylor
South Carolina
March 18-19
Kansas
Florida
Prov/USC SMU
ROUND 2
Kansas
Wisconsin Villanova
Villanova Virginia
ROUND 3
NATIONAL CHAMPION
UCLA
Duke Oregon
Mayor Joe Sack
NATIONAL CHAMPION
Duke
March 24, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11
12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • March 24, 2017
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LEGAL NOTICES Notice of formation of KIA PENG PARTNERS, LLC. Articles of Organization filed New York Sec. of State (“NYSS”) 02/08/17. Office location: Westchester County. NYSS designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. NYSS shall mail a copy of any process to c/o The LLC, 28 Intervale Place, Rye, New York 10580. There is no specific date set for dissolution. Purpose: to engage in any lawful activity or act. Name and Business Address of Organizer is Adeline P. Malone, Esq., 6369 Mill Street, P.O. Box 510, Rhinebeck, NY 12572. Notice of Formation of PVE Consulting, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/26/2008. Office location Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 63 Brown Ave, Rye, NY 10580. Purpose: any lawful activity.
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Notice of Formation of NYXT, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 03/09//17. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: PO Box 814, Port Chester NY 10573. Purpose: any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of Lucy’s Garden Life LLC. Art. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/20/2017. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: LLC, 387 Forest Ave., Rye, NY 10580. Purpose: any lawful business, purpose or activity.
Publish your LLC notice in our newpapers! New York State law requires that all LLC companies publish a Notice of Formation within 120 days of forming or else your LLC will be suspended. All five of our newspapers LE G A L NO are designated by the Noti TICE c Gold e o f F S Westchester County Clerk orma man, filed t L with LC. Arts i o n o f for this urpose. (S S N NY S of O Y) ec rg Allow us to guide you through SloScation: Soonu 1/02/1y7o. f State . t O NY hch ffi what can be an unnecessarily of LL is design ester Co ce unty. ated C up a a o g s n ain ag complicated process. We w SSN s t i t m a hom proc ent Y y provide the template for Jack shall ma b e s e r ess v Road Eichman, il process e d . your , any la NYC 10 134 Sten to: 8 wful t publication along with activit 20. Purpo on y. se: the notarized affidavit signed by the publisher. For more informationemail us at ads@hometwn.com.
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March 24, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13
The genetic crystal ball RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
Congratulations, you’re going to have a baby! Would you like to know if, 50 years or so down the line, he or she might develop colon cancer? And by the way, the baby may also have a slightly increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Would you like to know about that, too? And how about the odds of acne? Aieee! These are not the questions any of us have ever had to answer… till now. But thanks to an ever-expanding arsenal of genetic testing, sometimes at birth, sometimes in utero, and sometimes even before the baby is conceived (that is, by testing the potential parents for genetic abnormalities), new dilemmas are headed to a pregnancy near you. The genetic tests being developed today are “revolutionizing what we can know about babies, and how we perceive and treat and prevent disease,” says Bonnie Rochman, the former health reporter at Time Magazine and author of the new book, “The Gene Machine: How Genetic Technologies Are Changing the Way We Have Kids – and the Kids We Have.” Back in 1971, when Rochman was an embryo, all her mom knew was that a baby was going to appear in about nine months. No one could test the gender, much less any genetic anomalies. But today, I myself have two sons who were tested back when they were eight-cell embryos for a genetic mutation they had a 50 percent chance of inheriting: Marfan syndrome. It’s a disease my husband has, which can cause things like blindness
and heart trouble. Thanks to Yale geneticist Dr. Petros Tsipouras, who located the gene and then figured out how to test for it even while our kids were still in test tubes, we “engineered” the Marfan syndrome out of them. This was not an easy or cheap process, but we are very grateful for the results—our Marfan’sfree sons. But today, 20 years later, genetic testing is even more widely available, for far more issues, and it is this expanding universe that Rochman dives into. “How much information do we want to know?” asks Rochman. That’s the heart of the matter. We already routinely test babies for certain diseases, “some of which may quickly prove fatal if not detected,” she says. Early detection leads to early intervention and “there’s little question that newborn screening has saved countless lives.” But now, if a new test shows that a baby has a slightly elevated chance of developing, say, schizophrenia, is that something parents would want to be aware of? Or would it simply make them worried? One mom Rochman interviewed in her book had a prenatal test where the doctor announced he’d found something abnormal, but added, “We don’t know what it’s going to mean.” So the woman had new information—something was “off”—but no clue as to whether it would affect her child’s life, or when, or how seriously. “This is going to happen more and more,” says Rochman, as science develops tests “so sensitive they can uncover information no one fully understands.” That is precisely the issue Dr. Tsipouras, our geneticist, is working on now, as CEO of a new company called Plumcare.
The company will be sequencing newborns’ genomes, but he realizes a full-blown report is not something everyone is ready for. “My mother would say, ‘Don’t interfere with God’s plan.’ My wife would say, ‘What can I do with this information?’” says the doctor. But younger people, he believes, are more comfortable handling and assessing information. And frankly, they’re the ones doing the reproducing. So his company is developing a rubric of when and what information to share. The questions that must be answered before passing on any information are: 1. Is this information relevant to you, specifically? For instance, if a baby has a genetic variation, but it’s one shared by his completely healthy dad, uncle and grandpa, it probably won’t have any ill effects. 2. What are the odds? If seven out of 10 people with this genetic variation get seriously ill by age 5, that’s quite different from nine out of 10 living to a ripe old age. The odds must be taken into account. 3. When and how will this change affect the child? Is it in 10 years, or 70? Will it pack a wallop or is it often mild? The idea is not to freak parents out. It’s to alert them to problems before they occur, rather than reacting to them once they appear. Medically, it means we’re moving from curing diseases to prevention via prediction. “When we talk about the info tech revolution, this is the next stage,” says Rochman: Using deep data to understand and change our DNA destiny. “And,” she adds, “we’re only at the beginning.” CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Rye City
Official Newspaper Rye Schools
Astorino announces keynote for fathering conference Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino recently announced that Mike Brady, president and CEO of Greyston, a leading social enterprise whose world-renowned Greyston Bakery provides employment opportunities that help lift people out of poverty, will be the keynote speaker at the third annual New York Fathering Conference taking place on Tuesday, April 4 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. “Mike Brady offers a visionary approach to business growth and social empowerment,” Astorino said. “Greyston Bakery’s model of Open Hiring creates opportunities for everybody, regardless of their background or work history. It provides people who want to work with the employment, skills, resources and dignity they need to break the cycle of poverty while supporting the overall growth of the business. We are honored to have him as our keynote speaker at this year’s Fathering Conference.” The theme of this year’s event is “Ready to Work: Navigating Home, Job and Community.” The program will include 21 workshops on topics such as job retraining, hiring trends, navigating government programs, men’s health and wellness, parenting skills, and ways to better engage fathers. Up to 400 fathers and service providers are expected to attend, so please register in advance to secure your spot at readytowork. eventbrite.com. Registration is $45 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and beverages. The County Center is located at 198 Central Ave. in White Plains. For more information, please contact Joseph D. Kenner, deputy commissioner of social services, at jkenner@westchestergov.com. As president of Greyston Bakery in Yonkers for four years, Brady drove strategic business development with long-standing partner Ben & Jerry’s and with new partners such as Whole
Mike Brady, CEO and president of Greyston, will cover topics like hiring trends, men’s health, and ways to become a better father as the keynote at this year’s New York Fathering Conference. Photo courtesy linkedin.com
Foods Market. During this time, the bakery realized nearly 100 percent revenue growth and became New York state’s first registered benefit corporation. Brady recently took responsibility for all Greyston’s programs and businesses, including workforce development, community gardens, housing, health services and an early learning center. Brady’s passion lies in the integration of business and social good, particularly through the scaling of Open Hiring throughout the country. “Open Hiring has the potential to create opportunities all across the country for people facing barriers to employment,” Brady said. “Our commitment to the community and to the people is at the core of everything we do and I look forward to sharing our approach with everyone at the Fathering Conference.” Following the morning keynote address, a panel discussion will focus on the theme of the conference, “Ready to Work: Navigating Home, Job and Community,” featuring: Donald Somerville of The Children’s Village as moderator; Mike Brady, president and CEO of Greyston; Dion Drew,
Greyston Bakery employee and father; Rosa Boone, DSS deputy commissioner; and Alphonso Simmons, R.E.A.L. Parenting Program coordinator, of Family Services of Westchester. Organized by the New York Fathering Conference Planning Committee, a collaboration of government and nonprofit leaders, the conference is part of Astorino’s ongoing #DadBeThere fatherhood initiative. The goal is to target the full spectrum of fathers, from those who are present in the home to those who are not. One of the highlights of Astorino’s fatherhood initiative is the R.E.A.L. Parenting Program, which is helping participants to find and keep employment, manage their child support payments, improve their parenting and relationship skills and most importantly, to be the positive role models their children and families need. To learn more, please visit westchestergov.com/ dadbethere. “The role of a father is critically important,” Astorino said. “Families are stronger when a dad is actively involved, and society is stronger as a result.” (Submitted)
Connect with us on @linkedin.com/company/hometown-media
SPORTS
14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • March 24, 2017
The purest joy in sports LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
Shortly after Duke’s basketball team won the ACC tournament two weeks ago, a group chat between my buddies and I began blowing up. Our friend Phil, an avid Blue Devil fan, sent a litany of texts explaining in no uncertain terms that, as Duke was far and away the best college basketball team in the country, it would only be a matter of time before they’d be cutting down the nets once again as longtime coach Mike Krzyzewski took home his sixth national title. The messages were peppered with casual denigrations of the teams the rest of us supported and rooted for in the deep-seated sense of entitlement that Cameron Crazies—much like Yankee fans—seem to exude. So boy, did it feel good on Sunday night when the Dukies
got eliminated by South Carolina. The Blue Devils were trailing by 10 in the final minutes when we started letting Phil have it. Memes of Duke guard/villain Grayson Allen tripping random opponents, images of Blue Devils with Jordan Crying-Faces superimposed on them, secondby-second updates of a score that was increasingly going the Gamecocks’ way; we were pouring it on thick. Thirty minutes after the game, Phil finally responded to us, although both AP Style and common decency pretty much prohibit me from telling you what he said. Outside of watching your own team win (my Villanova squad was similarly eliminated in the second round on Saturday), seeing the teams you despise—especially when your friends root for them—can provide some of the purest joy in the sports world. I don’t think it makes me a bad guy to take such delight in the failures of my buddies’
teams, but that’s just the nature of sports. Heck, that kind of schadenfreude even caused me to root against my own selfinterests. I had Duke advancing to the finals in most of my tourney pools, but it was absolutely worth having my brackets busted in order to see Coach K get bounced by a No. 7 seed. As it turned out, this weekend turned out to be a veritable cornucopia of petty fandom on my part. On Saturday night, the USA knocked the Dominican Republic out of the World Baseball Classic, and although I was proud that the Stars and Stripes lived to play another day, thanks in part to a spectacular home run-robbing catch by Adam Jones, I was positively cackling at the idea of being able to twist the knife a little bit when I saw some of my friends from San Pedro the following morning. I had a litany of “Plátano Power” jokes lined up to go, and suffice it to say, I used them all. Maybe it’s an ugly part of
TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A
LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow Mike Smith @ryecityreview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates
On March 19, the Duke Blue Devils got eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Despite it ruining his bracket, Sports Editor Mike Smith couldn’t be happier. Photo courtesy Duke.edu
sports fandom, maybe it’s spiteful, but honestly, right now, I don’t care, because I got the chance to gloat.
Just please don’t make fun of me when the Red Sox finish third in the American League East this year. That would be
supremely uncool.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
SPORTS
March 24, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15
Local fighters take the stage By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Only hours before prizefighter Bryant “Pee Wee” Cruz stepped through the ropes at Madison Square Garden on March 18, his stablemates at Champs Boxing Club in New Rochelle had a local showcase of their own as they faced off against a squad of boxers from Ireland at the club’s Division Street gym. And although Cruz was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt to challenge for a lightweight title that evening, Champs’ owner Ryan O’Leary feels that the day was a runaway success—both for his professional pupil and for his newer charges who got the chance to compete in front of a packed house earlier in the day. Although fighters from Champs often take part in events throughout the tri-state area, Saturday’s seven-fight card gave several pugilists—including many first timers—a chance to compete in the familiar confines of the club’s New Rochelle gym. Opponents on the afternoon
Heather Flaherty, right, embraces opponent Rebecca Weiss and trainer Ryan O’Leary following a 130-pound Masters bout at Champs Boxing Club. Flaherty took the decision.
included a handful of fighters from Ireland’s Kinsale Boxing Club who often travel to the states to take on international competition. “This was in the works for about three months, we mostly had some younger boxers and some of the older, senior boxers,” O’Leary said. “We
generally fight all over the [New York] boroughs so to have it here, in our small space with a lot of fans, it really was an impressive time.” “I just think that for those having their first fight, this was the most comfortable place it could have happened,” he added. The Champs squad earned a
Elvis Cardenas fires a straight right hand during his 135-pound bout against John O’Brien.
Brittany Plummer from Champs Boxing Club lands a right hand against Denice O’Leary from Ireland on March 18. Plummer was victorious in her first amateur fight.
clean sweep over Kinsale’s fighters, and a few others, including Heather Flaherty, found success against domestic competition as well. Flaherty, a 47-year-old mother of three from Greenwich, Connecticut, outpointed Rebecca Weiss from Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn in her in-ring debut, much to the delight of a boisterous throng of fans from her hometown who traveled down to New Rochelle to watch the fights. “[Flaherty] comes in every day and works her head off, and she must talk to everyone, because she had a group of people there who all had shirts with her name on it,” O’Leary said. “And she was in there against a good experienced girl, it was nonstop action and that was a huge victory.” Elvis Cardenas, a 16-yearold New Rochelle resident, who won his first bout as a member of Champs, beating 135-pounder John O’Brien from Ireland, said that getting the chance to show off his skills in front of a rabid home crowd made all of the work that he has put in over the last two years worth it. “It’s exciting when people come in, it’s exciting for everyone,” Cardenas said. “When the bags
Champs coach Keith Brown waits for the decision after his fight against Kinsale Boxing Club’s Will Rosall. Photos/Mike Smith
are here, you’re working, but getting the chance to spar, it’s just more, more, more.” After the afternoon bouts concluded, several members of the club headed down to Madison Square Garden where Champs professional Pee Wee Cruz got a chance to battle for the WBC Continental Americas Lightweight Championship against undefeated prospect Ryan Martin. The fight was Cruz’s first since returning to O’Leary’s gym a few months ago, and marked the longest layoff of his professional career as the Port Chester native had not had a bout since last April’s win over Moises Delgadillo. Though Cruz was game, the undefeated Tennessean stopped
him in the eighth round of the first televised undercard of the Gennady Golovkin versus Danny Jacobs pay-per-view. Despite the loss, O’Leary was happy with the way Cruz shook off some of the ring rust. “[Martin] was really tough and Pee Wee hadn’t fought in a year, so I thought he did some really good things,” O’Leary said. “The most important thing is that [Cruz] knows that he belongs there now. If we’d had more training, he definitely would have gone the distance, so we’ll just have to tweak some things and hopefully we will be back there, fighting for another title.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • March 24, 2017