December 9, 2016

RyeCity REVIEW THE

December 9, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 50 | www.ryecityreview.com

City Fire Department still ‘staffed for failure’

POINT BREAK

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

Residents from Water’s Edge, a condominium development bordering Rye Town Park, have requested that the city foot the bill for a crumbling seawall, originally damaged during Hurricane Sandy, pictured, in 2012.

For story, see page 9.

Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Council to delay Crown Castle decision until January A decision on the controversial proposal from telecom contractor Crown Castle to install wireless infrastructure across the city of Rye will be delayed, as city officials continue to pore over alternatives to a plan residents have criticized at every turn.

According to Rye City Attorney Kristen Wilson, a final determination on the project’s environmental impact—otherwise known as a State Environmental Quality Review, SEQR, process—in addition to a decision on whether or not the city will authorize the project will be extended until the second week in January.

Previously, a deadline was projected for this month.

Additionally, Wilson told the Review in advance of the Dec. 7 City Council meeting, which took place after press time, that she will recommend that the council classify the action as “unlisted” under SEQR. This classification, Wilson said, will make the potential for the requirement of an environmental impact statement far more likely. The determination, she added, would likely fly in the face of Crown Castle’s desire to have the project listed as Type II, a less stringent classification.

Currently, Crown Castle, who

is being contracted by Verizon Wireless, is seeking to install various types of wireless infrastructure across the city in order to bolster cell service for Verizon customers.

In the plan as it currently stands, the company would install more than 60 nodes—wireless signal emitters—upon telephone poles and streetlights, many of which are adjacent to residential homes.

Residents have rallied against the proposal, citing concerns over the plan’s potentially adverse effect on property values and initial concerns over health effects regarding the nodes’

emission of radio frequencies.

Last month, a group of residents who hired their own consultant to analyze Crown Castle’s proposal also submitted an alternative plan to the city that would decrease the number of infrastructure locations to 10, and would also see them installed primarily on government property to avoid impacts on residents’ property values.

Wilson has continuously expressed that the negotiations could potentially devolve into litigation given the existence of a previous contract signed between the city and Crown Castle.

-Reporting by James Pero

Despite petitions from the Rye Professional Firefighters Association to address the lack of a sufficient number of trained fire personnel, it is currently unclear whether the city Fire Department will receive additional funding from the City Council for 2017.

According to John Castelhano, the president of the local firefighters’ union, despite the Fire Department’s historical label of being “staffed for failure,” it’s likely that the department will continue being “dangerously understaffed” in the next calendar year, as the city’s 2017 tentative budget does not earmark any additional funds for hiring new employees. The final city budget is expected to be adopted on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Additionally, City Manager Marcus Serrano said there is no plan to take action on the issue until the forthcoming public safety commissioner is included in the discussion. “I will be reviewing the level of staffing with the new public safety commissioner in the near future,” he said.

On Election Day, in a citywide referendum residents voted in favor of creating a public safety commissioner position and a Department of Public Safety for the purpose of consolidating oversight of the police and fire departments. It is expected that Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran, who was hired earlier

this year, will be tapped as the new public safety commissioner, although Serrano said the position is not likely to be named officially until next year.

“Once that happens, we’re going to make sure the department gets what it needs,” said Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein, a Democrat. “We will continue to support the firefighters.”

In May, the city Fire Advisory Committee recommended the addition of four paid positions to the department’s roster. However, since then, talks of adding staffing have dwindled.

Castelhano told the Review that adding professional firefighters to the department would address a need that it has struggled with over the past two years. He added, with just 17 paid firefighters employed by the city and as little as 30 active volunteers, 12 of whom are trained to fight indoor fires, the department is currently wrestling to keep up with the industry standard of 15 trained firefighters responding to an emergency.

According to Castelhano, the Fire Department is seeking to fill just three paid professional positions to meet those standards and account for a federal law it often violates, which is dubbed the “two-in, two-out” rule. The regulation mandates that if two professional firefighters enter a burning building, there must be two

INSIDE Chris Herren talks drug addiction Story on page 13.

FIRE continued on page 8

2 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3

Gun safety committee mulls options for 2017

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer With a newly opened gun store in the nearby town/village of Harrison fresh on the minds of Rye residents, the city’s recently established gun safety committee is mulling the possibility of responding with legislation as early as January.

According to Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein, a Democrat and co-chair of the committee, the city’s newest committee, which doesn’t have an official name yet, plans to address any possibility of a Ryelocated gun store opening in the future by reinforcing the concepts of gun safety and gun education, and possibly introducing a gun ordinance.

Tagger-Epstein said that while the new committee is still in the preliminary stages of investigating gun-related operations near its community, one of its top priorities will be exploring ways to adjust the city zoning code to prevent gun operations from opening up too close to schools and churches.

“We know that people want to

be heard on this,” Tagger-Epstein added. “There should always be a gun safety and education component to this, and [we] want to make sure you have things in place where they need to be.”

The formation of a Rye committee comes in wake of a controversial gun store that opened its doors in Harrison last month.

After the Harrison Building Department granted a permit to Louis Zacchio to open L&L Sports at 261 Halstead Ave., members of the community became enraged at the idea that a gun store would be opened so close to an area of town where children-occupied schools and religious facilities were located.

In Harrison, petitioners have advocated for tighter gun restrictions by enforcing the Gun Free Schools Act, a federal law which regulates the possession of guns on school grounds or within 1,000 feet of a school.

Zacchio’s gun store is located less than 1,000 feet away from a public elementary school and is near St. Gregory the Great Church. However, despite the public’s outrage, Harrison has no jurisdiction to force the store

to close or relocate, as gun stores are specifically exempt from that federal law.

But that hasn’t stopped other municipalities from taking action to prevent the possibility of a gun store opening in the proximity of a school. The village of Rye Brook recently announced its plans to propose legislation as early as Dec. 13 to regulate where gun operations could open up within the village.

According to Rye City Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran, who cautioned the need for a balanced approach, while Rye is different from its neighboring municipalities, there’s no rush to take action without further investigating a number of possibilities. “Gun safety is something we always have to keep in mind,” he said. “It’s a tricky issue; we also have to keep in mind that we want to protect our Second Amendment rights.”

Councilman Terry McCartney, a Republican and co-chair of the gun safety committee, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Fox manslaughter case adjourned again Emma Fox’s Dec. 6 court date was adjourned, and the Rye resident is now due to reappear in White Plains City Court after the holidays, on Jan. 6.

Fox, 24, is being charged in the death of a 21-year-old Manhattanville College student in October.

She has been charged with an aggravated DWI and firstdegree vehicular manslaughter for striking and killing Robby Schartner on Oct. 9.

Schartner was walking along Westchester Avenue during the early morning hours on his way back to the college after a night out on Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains when

Emma Fox was due to reappear in White Plains City Court on Dec. 6, but the case was adjourned to Jan. 6. Photo courtesy White Plains Police Department

he was killed.

White Plains police reported that Fox had been intoxicated at the time of the incident, with a blood alcohol content of 0.21; the legal limit in New York state is 0.08.

According to police, Fox had been travelling eastbound on Westchester Avenue at about 5 a.m. when she fatally struck Schartner with her car, a 2012 Nissan Sentra.

Fox, who had been held at the Westchester County Jail on a $100,000 bail, was released on Nov. 10.

Stephen Lewis, Fox’s attorney, could not be reached for comment, as of press time.

-Reporting by Franco Fino

Rye City School District’s

Official Newspaper

4 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

What’s going on...

Rye Free Reading Room

ing TV shows and movies. Attendees should bring their fully charged iPads to class. Taught by former IBM executive Mike Negrelli. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Observers are welcome. No pre-registration is required.

3-D Video Game Design with Unity

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

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

Apple iPad workshop Part II On Thursday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Raho Technology Center. This session covers many iPad features such as using the App Store and downloading; using the camera and picture handling; and reading books via iBooks and the Amazon Kindle Reader. Also covered will be iTunes for listening to music, podcasts and view-

On Thursday, Dec. 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the Raho Technology Center. Video games are fun to play, but even more fun to make. Learn how to program characters and worlds of your choosing. Create a 3-D video game with Unity, a powerful game engine. Utilize your imagination to create something that has never been done before. Digital instructor Austin Olney leads the way.

Online registration is required. Sign up at ryelibrary.org. Go to “Programs and Events.” Choose the event and click on the “Register” button.

Modular Origami for Teens 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 compound 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.”

Jay Heritage Center Hearth & Earth Luncheon

On Sunday, Dec. 11 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Start a new tradition and bring your family and friends to enjoy irresistible, heartwarming short plays and stories for the holidays followed by festive refreshments. Tickets: $25.

On Thursday, Dec. 15 from 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Don’t miss conversations with arts and parks experts Jay E. Cantor and Lynden B. Miller. There will be a champagne reception, followed by the program and a luncheon. The dress code is festive holiday attire. Enter to win private tours of the 2017 Winter Antiques Show, New York Botanical Gardens, Bespoke Holiday Gingerbread Houses and more. Seating is limited, please reserve early. Tickets start at $150.

All proceeds benefit educational programs in American history, social justice, architecture and environmental stewardship.

For more information, visit jaycenter.org or contact Suzanne Clary at 698-9275 or jayheritagecenter@gmail.com. The Jay Heritage Center is located at 210 Boston Post Road in Rye.

Make Your Own Light-up Holiday Card

Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester

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.

Young Families Chanukah Celebration

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.

Seasons Readings

Rye Recreation Winter program online registration opens at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13 for non-residents, and is ongoing for Rye residents. Register early. Most programs have minimum requirements and may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Nothing cancels programs more than waiting until the last minute to register. In addition, programs have maximum enrollments and may fill up quickly. Visit ryeny. gov/recreation.cfm for more information and to view the winter brochure.

Dear Santa Through Wednesday, Dec. 14. The mailboxes are located at Rye Recreation, 281 Midland Ave., and at the corner of Elm and Purchase streets. Your child’s letter will be taken by special delivery, via reindeer express, directly to Santa Claus at the North Pole. Santa will answer as many letters as possible. No stamps necessary; however, a return address is required.

Pancakes with Santa On Saturday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Damiano Recreation Center, 281 Midland Ave. Registration is required as space is limited to 100 participants.

For ages 2 to 7. Fee: $18 per registrant (children and adults); non-residents add $2. Enjoy a hot buffet breakfast and have your picture taken with Santa.

Santa requests that parents supply gifts for their own child for him to distribute, valued under $20, to be dropped off at Rye Recreation by Tuesday, Dec. 13.

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 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.

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 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5

SUNY Purchase seeks $125K for substance abuse

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer SUNY Purchase has applied for state funding to establish a program aimed at preventing underage drinking and substance abuse on campus, college officials said.

According to Betsy Aldredge, a spokeswoman for the college, the Purchase-located school is seeking state funding administered through the New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to implement a potential abuse prevention program, as part of a recent plan announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, on Nov. 28. “In any way we can, we want to support students dealing with substance issues and, as a whole, support them academically and socially,” she said.

As part of Cuomo’s $2.5 million initiative to fund SUNY and CUNY schools statewide, the state will award 20 colleges with $125,000 annually for five years to develop campus efforts to prevent drug and alco-

hol addiction. Further, the state is seeking to specifically grant the award to colleges aiming to curb prescription drug misuse and underage drinking.

Cuomo’s initiative comes in wake of the tragic death of a 21-year-old Manhattanville College student. On Oct. 9, Robby Schartner was struck and killed

by Emma Fox, of Rye, who was driving under the influence in the White Plains area.

“Time after time, we have seen the reckless behavior, and bad decisions with often life-altering consequences that come with underage drinking,” Cuomo said. “This funding will build on our progress to prevent senseless tragedies and equip students with vital knowledge to curb underage and binge drinking, and provide critical services to those at risk for addiction.”

Aldredge told the Review that SUNY Purchase currently institutes an addiction help program through its wellness center, Wellness@Purchase. The program offers individual and group counseling for students

seeking addiction recovery and help with stress management.

The college also requires all first-year and transfer students to complete the interactive online AlcoholEdu and Haven programs, which assist schools in complying with the federal Department of Education General Administrative Regulations, a set of codes that establish administrative requirements for federal grants awarded to educational institutions.

According to research conducted by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol is still the primary abused drug on college campuses across the country. The institution’s research estimates that more than 80 percent of college students drink alcohol nationwide.

A recent study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that on an average day throughout the past year, 1.2 million of the 9 million full-time college students in the country drank alcohol, and 703,759 used marijuana.

SUNY Purchase is seeking $125,000 in New York state aid annually for five years to establish an addiction prevention program. File photo

Further, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that one in four people ages 18 to 20 report using pre-

scription drugs for non-medical purposes.

As of press time, the anticipated date for the announce-

ment of the selected grant recipients is Feb. 22, 2017.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

RyeCity REVIEW THE

170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000

Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com 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

Barnes & Noble begins

an uncharted chapter

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer In a time when brick and mortar bookstores are becoming a thing of the past, Barnes & Noble is refreshing its approach.

The newest of more than 600 store locations, the Eastchester Barnes & Noble in the Vernon Hills Shopping Center at 680 White Plains Road—which opened its doors to the public on Nov. 23—is the first of a string of new concept stores to serve beer, wine and entrees to its customers.

The bookstore chain is calling the new stores Barnes & Noble Kitchens.

The Eastchester store is smaller than the average Barnes & Noble—22,000 square feet—but it includes a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio with a gas-burning fire pit, a bocce court and a va-

riety of seating options, and a 2,600-square-foot kitchen offering breakfast, appetizers and full entrees from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.

“The objective wasn’t—per se—to create a restaurant,” said Jaime Carey, president of development and the restaurant group at Barnes & Noble. “It was to create a bookstore environment that would be embraced by the community and enjoyed.”

David Deason, vice president of development, added that there are several corners around the store for customers to take a book and a drink and “slip away.”

Although the store has many sections, Kathie Bannon, the store’s manager, said it was designed to feel like a single, seamless space. Specific sections, like fiction and history, are left open rather than enclosed by bookshelves. “If you wanted to get

a goblet of wine from our wine selection, you can walk and browse,” she said. “You can even bring food [around the store].”

But the menu is more similar to a short story than a novel.

There are three breakfast options, three salads, four appetizers and six entrees, in addition to a small kids’ menu.

Sheamus Feeley, the chef who designed the menu, said it was written to be brief. “You could even look at the menu and make that case that, hey, this is relatively ubiquitous,” he said. “And yes, it is. The key is to be able to do a handful of things very well.”

On the reverse side of the menu are six locally sourced craft beers and more than 20 wines, which are served by the glass or by the bottle. The bar also serves a gamut of coffee drinks and teas.

Barnes & Noble at the corner of the Vernon Hills Shopping Center in Eastchester is the first of the bookseller’s locations to serve beer, wine and entrees, complete with tableside service.

Photo/Corey Stockton

The store was designed to engage customers from the moment they walk in. A 600-squarefoot mural on a wall near the entrance—called the author wall— is a word search containing more than 80 authors’ names Barnes & Noble representatives also noted the large word-

Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Lenore Skenazy, Joe Murphy 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 Follow us on Twitter, @ryecityreview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/ryecityreview The Rye City Review (permit #438660) is published by Home Town Media Group weekly for an annual subscription of $32.

Application to mail at the peridcals postage rate is approved at Port Chester, N.Y., 10573.

Periodicals postage paid at Port Chester and additional mailing offices.

The courtyard beside the store features an array of seating, including couches and tables for dining. There is also a gas-powered fire pit and a bocce ball court. Photo courtesy Barnes & Noble

ing on the walls to clearly identify the different sections of the store for easy navigation. And for customers who are looking for something specific, new technology can help them find it. Search kiosks built into the store can help customers find books using an interactive map; and customers can also use the devices to text message with store employees. Employees also carry portable point-of-sale systems for easy checkout.

Deason added that the company was still playing with some of the technologies and learning how to optimize them. He told the Review that while the concept was new, if it is successful, Barnes & Noble may look to convert some of its existing stores into Barnes & Noble Kitchens. “I’m not in a hurry, because I need to know what works,” he said.

The Eastchester location is the first of four Barnes & Noble Kitchen concept stores to open nationwide. The bookseller announced similar concept plans in Edina, Minnesota; Folsom, California; and Ashburn, Virginia.

The store was formerly a Borders Booksellers before that company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011. The storefront had been vacant since.

“The community was really craving and wanting to support another bookstore,” Deason said.

Barnes & Noble gave them that, and then some.

CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7

State pushes new transparency law

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a law that will substantially reduce the amount of time that a government agency has to appeal a judge’s ruling to disclose information via a Freedom of Information Law request. The law will apply beginning in March 2017. Photo courtesy Albany.edu

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer A new law will make it more difficult for government agencies to hide information from the public.

The law, which was proposed by state Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, in April, will limit the amount of time which a government agency has to appeal a judge’s ruling on a Freedom of Information Law request, FOIL, to a higher court.

Before the law was passed, an agency had up to nine months to appeal a judge’s ruling that records should be released, potentially delaying the appeals process in order to delay the release of information for as long as possible.

The new law, which passed unanimously in both legislative houses, cuts that deadline to 60 days to file appeal paperwork; it was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, on Nov. 28.

“New Yorkers have the right to access information from state and local governments,” Buchwald said. “With this new measure, we have empowered all New Yorkers in the name of government accountability and responsiveness.”

In a released statement, Rob-

ert Freeman, executive director of the New York Committee on Open Government, said, “This measure will solve a problem involving the reality that access delayed is often access denied.”

Freeman could not be reached for additional comment as of press time.

This was not Buchwald’s first attempt to create a law that would expedite the FOIL process. He pushed for a similar bill in 2013 which passed through the state Assembly but did not even make it onto the state Senate floor; and he sponsored another similar bill last year which passed unanimously in both houses before being vetoed by the governor.

In December 2015, Cuomo struck down two laws related to the FOIL appeals process—including Buchwald’s law—and instead instituted an executive order directing state agencies to file appeals to judicial rulings on FOIL requests within 60 days.

However, that order applied only to state agencies—not municipalities or local departments— and did not outline legal penalties for violating the order.

State legislators, however, remain exempt from FOIL laws.

The other law which Cuomo vetoed, proposed by Assembly-

woman Amy Paulin, a Scarsdale Democrat, would have mandated that government agencies reimburse attorneys’ fees to those who won FOIL-related lawsuits against the agency, an amendment to the current law which allows a judge to decide whether the agency is responsible for the filer’s legal fees.

Buchwald told the Review that he hopes the newest amendment to the state FOIL law will make it easier for lawmakers to push for transparency-related laws in the future. “One of my hopes is that by enacting this law it frees up opportunity for myself and others to continue working for improvements for the Freedom of Information Law,” he said.

Buchwald said he has worked toward increasing government transparency since he first took office in 2013. “It takes a lot of persistence,” he said. “But that’s OK, because a lot of reporters and citizens have also shown a lot of persistence when trying to obtain public records.”

According to the legislation, the law will take effect in early March 2017.

Paulin could not be reached for comment as of press time.

CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Like us on facebook facebook.com/ryecityreview

8 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

Rye-ACT, PD to coordinate safe drug disposal

FIRE from page 1

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

Without additional funding in the city’s tentative 2017 budget, it’s unlikely the Rye Fire Department will be able to add career firefighters to the paid roster. File photo

others stationed outside observing in case a rescue is necessary.

Further, he said an Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, representative visited the department during the summer to file a random report of its operations and compliance to federal requirements. He added that the department is expecting to receive a failing report for breaking the two-in, two-out rule. “My understanding is that, instead of fining the department, they would rather have the department in compliance by solving the problem,” he said.

Castelhano also contributed the low staffing to a decrease in volunteer service that he said has gone down through-

out his tenure as a professional firefighter.

When Castelhano joined the department 24 years ago, there were as many as 120 active volunteers, many who were able to battle indoor fires. “In the past, we drew a lot of the volunteer service from the middle class; but because it’s been harder financially on them, the numbers have decreased,” he said.

According to the current terms and conditions of employment between the city of Rye and the Professional Firefighters Association, which covers the period of Jan.1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2015, the starting salary of a professional firefighter is $49,968. After seven years, a firefighter earns

$96,497 a year.

As of press time, the Fire Department does not have a new contract and operates under the previous deal that expired last year.

In September, the department hired two new paid firefighters after two firefighters retired in July. The Fire Department hired Cea Fong, its first female firefighter, and Ryan Iarocci, who both worked for the village of Port Chester Fire Department.

Councilwoman Kirstin Bucci, a Republican and member of the Fire Advisory Committee, and Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, could not be reached for comment, as of press time.

The drug and alcohol abuse prevention organization RyeAction for Children and Teens Community Coalition, RyeACT, announced that it will collaborate with the Rye City Police Department to organize the safe disposal of narcotics and medicine on Dec 10.

According to Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and co-founder of RyeACT, residents of all ages will have the opportunity to turn in unused or expired medication for safe disposal at the police headquarters at 21 McCullough Place.

Nina Cheigh, a member of Rye-ACT and a pharmacist by trade, said that the event will raise awareness and serve as a reminder to residents that the city Police Department institutes the safe disposal policy yearround. She said, currently, the department has a safe disposal container available to residents at all hours of the day.

“Particularly around the holidays, people tend to be more anxious and stressed,” Cheigh said. “There’s also an increased risk of abuse. We’re giving people the idea of looking through their medicine cabinet to just get

rid of what’s expired or whatever they’re not using anymore.”

According to Cheigh, the event is also aimed at tackling a number of issues with disposing medication at home. “You don’t want to dump them in the garbage because people might go through it,” she said. “Also, some chemicals in drugs can leak into our water system by dumping them down the drain.”

The event comes on the heels of Rye-ACT receiving a federal grant of $125,000 for five years for the coalition’s training and infrastructure programs. “It takes a lot of planning to figure out what the right event is,” Killian said. “We want to try to use the grant money the best way possible by having programs that benefit our community and Rye residents as a whole.”

The Rye-based organization is comprised of individuals from the school district, Rye Youth Council, City Council, local clergy, the city Police Department, and St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester, located in Harrison. Further, the coalition has representatives from the Westchester County Department of Health, local businesses, health care-based prevention professionals, parents, members of the media, and advocates from the YMCA.

Rye-ACT, which officially became a group in 2013, is the city’s first drug and alcohol prevention coalition since the citywide DARE program, and after funding for a youth officer in Rye schools was discontinued in 2009.

According to Rye City Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran, the department is currently exploring methods to further combat the use of illegal narcotics, such as instituting a program similar to the one implemented by the neighboring Harrison Police Department, the Heroin Opiate Prevention Effort, HOPE. In Harrison, the Police Department grants amnesty to those seeking to turn in illegal drugs without the threat of being criminally charged.

“With organizations like RyeACT and the [program] in Harrison, the whole idea is to reach the good people that suffer from addiction and divert them from crime; addiction affects all families,” Corcoran said.

Corcoran told the Review that if the department seeks to establish a program granting amnesty to those seeking to turn in illegal narcotics, it’s likely the city charter would have to be amended. “It’s a small piece of the puzzle, but we’re definitely looking into it,” he said.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

The Rye-based drug and alcohol abuse prevention organization, Rye-ACT, will collaborate with the Rye City Police Department on Saturday, Dec. 10 to promote the safe disposal of prescription medication and narcotics. File photo

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9

Water’s Edge seawall in need of repair

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Complaints from more than half a dozen residents living in waterfront condominiums located

in Water’s Edge show increasing concern for a crumbling seawall that has continued to deteriorate after damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy.

But help could be on the way.

Water’s Edge resident, John Linder, 70, who lives in a condominium on the street and spoke publicly to the Rye City Council earlier this month, said that he’s concerned that the wall

continues to present a hazard for passers-by and neighbors.

“It’s enough of a hazard that the town [of Rye] put up a fence,” he said, referring to the portion of the wall situated on Rye Town Park property. “But that doesn’t stop anyone from going up and climbing it anyway.”

According to Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano, the wall, which was originally built in the 1920s and runs along Dearborn Avenue, sustained significant damage in 2012 when Hurricane Sandy ravaged much of the coastal northeast, and has since fallen into disrepair.

With the city nearing a deadline for a 2017 fiscal year budget, which is projecting a tax rate increase of 6.7 percent —2 percent of which is already coming from $600,000 in road

repaving—Serrano said there are no resources currently available for the wall project.

Serrano said that, since 2012, the city has been in the process of securing funds from FEMA— which has pumped resources into various Hurricane Sandy repair projects statewide—that would enable the city to provide those repairs.

According to the city manager, the funding—which has been given a green light from other state agencies—will likely be approved for the project by the end of this month and will go to bid in the winter.

While some residents had claimed that the wall—located at the end of Dearborn Avenue— would only require several thousand dollars to bring it back up to par, Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, said comprehensive

repairs to the structure would cost the city anywhere between $400,000 and $500,000.

Additionally, Sack explained that the portion of the wall located on Rye Town Park property—which is the larger portion—would cost between $600,000 and $700,000 to repair.

Serrano explained that in total the project would cost upwards of $1 million, and would include repairs to the street, curbing, sidewalks, and also improvements to the wall’s design that would fortify it against future storms.

If the grant is awarded, FEMA would foot 90 percent of the repair cost. Serrano said he hopes construction will begin this spring.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

Follow us on Twitter

A crumbling seawall located near Water’s Edge in Rye has some residents rallying to City Council meetings to call for repairs. According to City Manager Marcus Serrano, the project to repair the seawall is likely to be approved by FEMA by the end of the year. Photo/James Pero

@ ryecityreview

10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

‘Newtown’ film shines light on Westchester

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

A screening of the 2016 documentary “Newtown” was held in Harrison on Nov. 21; although purely coincidental, the timing seemed apropos as the issue of gun control has recently surfaced in the Westchester community.

The film, which documents the shooting of 20 children, ages 6 and 7, and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and the emotional trauma that ensued, was featured in the Sundance Film Festival and the

South by Southwest Film Festival. The film was directed and co-produced by Kim Snyder and released in January 2016, three years after the shooting in December 2012. To date, Sandy Hook stands as the deadliest mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history.

“It’s a film about grief, and about trauma and coping as a community,” said Marie Cuomo Cole, one of the film’s producers, adding that besides the issue of gun control, community resilience was one of the biggest themes which she hoped to address in producing

the documentary.

Whether because of the degree of emotional suffering the film depicts or its timeliness to issues currently in Harrison, the screening drew tears from its audience. “I feel like Newtown could have been Harrison; it could have been Rye,” Cuomo Cole said. “It could have been any-and-every-town, U.S.A. I think that’s what really struck so many people about the tragedy.”

According to Galina Chernykh, the Harrison Public Library’s executive director, the screening was set up several months ago; but the timing of

A scene from the “Newtown” documentary featuring one of the wrenching funerals following the Sandy Hook tragedy.

The “Newtown” film, released on Jan. 24, 2016, documents the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and the emotional fallout of the parents, teachers and rescue workers that resulted. Photos courtesy newtownfilm.com

the event seems appropriate, as an ongoing debate over L&L Sports, a gun store that opened on Harrison’s Halstead Avenue in early November, continues to draw significant amounts of attention. An online petition on Change.org protesting the location of the store, which is less than 1,000 feet from an elementary school, has nearly 3,500 signatures, as of press time.

“I think the response has been, at the onset, prudent,” Cuomo Cole said about the local issue in Harrison. “It’s important to check out the sellers. There are many bona fide, acceptable sellers and there are those that are not, so I think that the caution is well-supported.”

The controversy over the store’s opening has even led neighboring communities to mobilize.

In the city of Rye, a gun committee has been formed in the wake of the Harrison saga, which aims to promote gun safety measures and may look to establish zoning tactics to put stricter regulation on where a gun store can be located. And in the village of Rye Brook, a draft legislation is being proposed that would also look to regulate where gun shops could be located.

The success of local laws could eventually have ramifications for Westchester as a whole.

If any of those potential laws garner enough support on the local level, Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, said she may consider proposing one on the county level. “It should be on notice that this is something that we should certainly look into, and doing something on a county level would be fantastic; but I don’t think the county executive [Rob Astorino] would support it,” she told the Review.

Parker referred to legislation proposed in June to reinstate a ban on gun shows at the Westchester County Center which was enacted in 2000 under then-County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat. Astorino, a Republican who took over as county executive in 2010 after defeating Spano, repealed the ban that year.

The contentious fight over gun control is evident in “Newtown”; Cuomo Cole is no stranger to school shootings, having previously produced a documentary on the mass shootings at Virginia Tech. In 2010, she was a producer of the film “Living

for 32,” a documentary about the push for gun control legislation after the 2007 shooting of 32 students at Virginia Tech.

A similar surge in gun control laws also occurred after Newtown.

Just a month after that tragedy, Cuomo Cole’s brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed the Safe Act into law in New York state. That law widened the definition of assault rifles, put stricter limits on magazine capacities, and put tighter restrictions on the background check system in the state.

The Safe Act also included an amendment to the Mental Hygiene Law, requiring mental health professionals to report patients who they considered could be hazardous to themselves or others if they possessed a gun.

Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old Sandy Hook shooter who also took his own life during the event, had been diagnosed with several behavioral and cognitive disorders, including Asperger’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and sensory-integration disorder, according to his father, Peter Lanza.

CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11

What’s headed for your plate RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

OK, I did it. I actually gave my head a pitying shake when a friend told me she’d just discovered a fantastic restaurant in Jackson Heights that sells the giant Indian crepes called dosas.

“It’s so great!” she said. “It’s called–” “Dosa Delight,” I interrupted, as condescending as if she’d just discovered a great fast food restaurant called McDonald’s.

But food pride goeth before a food fall. Just a day later, I found myself speaking with Katie Sutton, vice president of culinary innovation at the food trendwatching company (yes, there are such things) Food and Drink Resources. I’d read some of their predictions—egg pizza from Georgia (the country), Japanese cuisine by way of Peru, and even fried Brussels sprouts—in an industry newsletter called Restaurant Hospitality. Could these eats truly be coming our way?

Turns out they’re already here… and I’m one of the last to know. But possibly, so are you.

For instance, Sutton said, both coasts are currently obsessed by poke, and it’s not a virtual reality game on your phone. It’s a Hawaiian dish consisting of cubes of raw fish marinated in sauce and served in a bowl, sometimes with rice.

There are already several poke (poh-kay) shops in the city, some so popular that long lines form at lunchtime. Having once been absolutely positive that sushi was going to prove a flash in the pan (or, more accurately, a flash in the non-pan, since it’s

raw), I feel reluctant to predict a quick demise for this new fad.

But really, how many Hawaiian creations have made it to the big time and stayed there? Besides Obama, I mean.

For now, though, poke is so ubiquitous that New York eateries are already cross-pollinating it with other popular foods, leading to items like the poke burrito.

Meantime, the “phorrito” is another rising star. That’s a burrito filled with Vietnamese pho, a soup of braised meat, herbs and noodles. All of which leads me to my Food Theory No. 1: Wrap a burrito around anything that’s already delicious and it will be a hit.

Theory No. 2 is: The gloppier the better, which is why we’re talking about eating a wrap filled with soup. But you can also see this trend with egg sandwiches. Sutton pointed to a West Coast restaurant called Eggslut, famous for the runniest eggs around.

Another big trend she’s seeing is fruit soups. “It’s like taking a smoothie and dumping it into a bowl and putting chunks of fruit into it,” she said. So here’s my Food Theory No. 3: Anything chunked and put into a bowl is going to be a hit.

One particular ingredient finding its way into these soups is dragon fruit, which I’ve seen at Asian fruit stands for years but have always been too unnerved to try. They’re pink and green and look straight out of Dr. Seuss. But to catch up with the trends, I finally got two in Flushing, sliced them open and: Total shock! One was white inside with poppy seed-like seeds, but the other was ruby red, same seeds. So gorgeous!

And so incredibly bland!

Yecch. They tasted like giant kiwis, minus all the flavor. And the fact that they cost about $5 each just makes me wonder how popular this fruit can ever be.

But I’m the gal who bet against sushi, so let’s move on.

Another counter-intuitive trend is dark food on dark plates. After what feels like a century of ever lighter cuisine, Sutton says the trend has gone 180. Charring, once known as “overdone,” “burnt” or “ruined” in my family, is now one of the two hippest methods for preparing vegetables. (The other is deep frying.) She says she has started charring her salad greens on the grill, which I could understand if they got kind of pleasantly caramelized. But I tried charred broccoli recently, and simply cannot understand why my own, equally unhip method of broccoli prep—steaming till it is bendably soft and slightly gray—lost out. Douse really soft broccoli in melted butter and I say yum.

Of course, I say that when you douse almost anything in melted butter. (I’m convinced that why lobster made it big: The shameless butter-dipping it made chic.)

And speaking of dipping, the last food trend we’ve got time for today is deconstructed ramen called tsukemen. The noodles are separate from the broth.

You dip them in and slurp them down.

Slurping, glopping, chunking and wrapping are clearly the order of the day, so here’s Food Theory No. 4: Any obscure cuisine that we haven’t discovered yet will burst onto the scene in 2018.

And in 2019, it will be wrapped in a burrito.

CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

The Classifieds • Advertising that gets results OUR RATES:

UP TO 4 LINES $42.50 for 2 weeks minimum. Each Additional Line $2.00

AUTO DONATIONS Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Call 914-468-4999 Today!

Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Call 315-400-0797 Today!

COLLECTABLES TO P C A S H PA I D I N S TA N T LY F O R COLLECTIBLES! -WE BUY Baseball Cards, Autographs, Records, Silver Coins, Golf Items, Art, Jewelry, Comics Etc., Call Joe Today @ 914-310-5153

FARMING Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 1-866-309-1507 www.BaseCampLeasing.com

HEALTH

HOW TO REACH US:

(914) 653-1000 x27 Fax: 653-5000 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203, White Plains N.Y. 10601

JOBS AT JCC

( C O NT’D )

Part-time Recreational Gymnastics Coaches The Gymnastics Department is looking for recreational gymnastics coaches who have knowledge and love of the sport of gymnastics. Some experience preferred. Must work well with kids and have the ability to communicate with parents. Must be qualified to coach ages 5-12 and be available weekday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. All level coaches are eligible for hire. If you are interested in being a part of our staff at the JCC, please contact Tiffany Smith, Gymnastics Director at smitht@jccmw.org Development Director The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking an experienced Development Director to implement the existing fundraising strategies at the JCC, as well as develop avenues to nurture potential new donors.

Director of the Sports and Fitness Center The Jewish Community Center of MidWestchester is looking for a Director of its Sports & Fitness Center. Person will supervise all activities in the department. Please send resume and cover letter to resumes@jccmw.org.

MISCELLANEOUS

I F YOU USE D TH E B LOOD TH I N N E R XARELTO and suffered internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, required hospitalization or a loved one died while taking Xarelto between 2011 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800-535-5727

SAWMILLS from only $4397.00-MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship!

FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills. com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N

HELP WANTED

REAL ESTATE

AIRLINE CAREERS Start Here, Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance.

Call AIM for free information 866-296-7093

ABANDONED FARM! 26 acres-$49,900 Gorgeous acreage with views, nice pond, in a Perfect country setting! Quiet town road with utilities! EZ terms! 888-905-8847

JOBS AT JCC For additional information on employment at The Jewish Community Center, JCC, visit jccmw.org/employment-opportunities Communications Associate The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking a Communications Associate to join its Marketing and Communications team. The associate is responsible for creating and distributing communications material for the agency. Email marketing, direct mail, social media outreach, and other digital publications as well as creating some traditional brochures and posters.

Half-time position at 20 hours per week.

Nursery School Teacher The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking an enthusiastic individual for a teacher position beginning January 2017. The person selected for this position must possess a minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential for the infant/toddler level. This person must have a warm, friendly personality, relate well with children and adhere to program philosophy which includes: implementing daily lesson plans, maintain accurate records, communicate effectively with children and families, oversee all daily aspects of classroom, work effectively as a team and perform other duties as assigned.

Aquatics Director The JCC of Mid-Westchester is seeking an experienced individual who will provide direction and leadership to the Aquatics department. The Aquatics Director will follow all Department of Health (DOH) aquatics standards to maintain safety for all programs in and around the pool area.

Candidates should plan to start in December. This is a full time 40 hour position with benefits including building supervision on weeknight/weekends.

Certified Pool Operator License a plus.

LE N DE R OR DE R E D SALE! 39 acresassessed value-$95,700 Available now for $89,900!. Catskill Mountain views, woods, fields, apple trees, great hunting! 3 hrs NY City!

Owner terms! 888-479-3394

WANTED TO BUY Original illustration art done for magazine, book, pulp, paperback and comic covers and interiors, ads, calendars, posters, pinups, sci-fi, westerns, etc.

Also antique paper: maps, posters collections of photos, postcards, autographs, etc. Finder’s fees paid. Contact Matthew at Mwi0729@aol.com or 914-588-9359.

LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Formation of DD-tech USA, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 10/04/16. Office location: Westchester County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 7014 13th Avenue, suite 202, Brooklyn, NY, 11228. Purpose: any lawful activity.

DEADLINE:

Placement, correction or cancellation of an ad may be phoned in any time before noon on Monday for publication

SPORTS

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13

Missing the ePoint LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

At the risk of sounding like an old, out-of-touch curmudgeon, I have to admit; I do not understand the world of eSports.

In late October, as all four major American professional sports were in full swing, Madison Square Garden played host to a competition of a different sort, something called the League of Legends World Championship semifinals. The event pitted four of the best professional video gaming teams from around the globe against each other as they battled for the chance to compete for something called the “Summoner’s Cup”—presumably by hurling digital fireballs at one another— in front of a full house at MSG, a historic venue that once hosted phenomenal bouts of actual athletic competition, including the first fight between Muhammad

Ali and Joe Frazier.

Now, I don’t begrudge anyone their particular areas of fandom—lord knows that I have my fair share of interests that stray from the beaten path—but seeing the throngs of excited cosplayers streaming into the world’s most famous arena to watch eAthletes eCompete on the Jumbotron, I couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, popular culture is starting to pass me by.

I may not consider myself a “gamer,” but I’ve played my fair share of video games through the years. Nintendo—and all of its subsequent successors—played a big part in my childhood, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ll still fire up the Xbox once in a while for a quick game of FIFA against my buddies.

But spending my hard-earned money to watch teams of strangers manage squads of digital sprites in virtual combat? For me, that’s just a bridge too far.

I enjoy watching sports, be-

cause I can appreciate the inherent drama in seeing the human body overcome its very real limitations; until I see Eli Manning cast a real-life Chaos Bolt at the Philadelphia Eagles, please forgive me if I don’t find the feats of these professional gamers impressive.

But, I appear to be on the wrong side of this one.

Over the last decade or so, eSports—the name given to professional, competitive video gaming—has become a big business. Arenas all over the world—especially in Asia—sell out for events; well-known companies toss money at the world’s top gamers in an attempt to woo free agents; and the best teams in the world are often embroiled in controversies about illegal tactics, espionage and tampering.

Heck, some colleges here in the United States have even begun establishing scholarships for promising eHighSchoolers.

My nephew, who is 10, spends less time playing video

Ex-NBA player shares story

Chris Herren speaks at Eastchester High School on Nov. 28. A former NBA player, Herren struggled with drug addictions that cost him his career—and nearly his life. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Monday, Nov. 28, the Eastchester school district held its first event in an ongoing series about student wellness and drug abuse prevention, as former NBA player Chris Herren, an ex-heroin addict, spoke with local students and parents about

his own battles with drugs and alcohol that cost him his athletic career—and nearly his life.

With an escalation in heroin use in the area and several recent overdoses among youths in Westchester, the district decided to bring Herren in to speak on three different occasions over a two-day span— twice on Monday, and once

again on Tuesday morning—in an attempt to shed light on the dangers and consequences of drug and alcohol use for teens, framing his own struggles to overcome addiction as a warning.

Herren, a father of three, stressed that although teenagers are often quick to shrug off cautionary tales of drug use, insisting the same won’t happen to them, addiction is an all-tooreal threat that destroys lives— and families—indiscriminately.

“I remember being at these, listening to some 35-year-old guy talking and I didn’t take it seriously,” Herren told the audience in the high school’s auditorium. “But I was ignorant; I thought I was above it.”

A native of Fall River, Massachusetts, Herren, 41, rose to prominence as a high school basketball player, becoming a McDonald’s All-American and one of the most highly coveted college recruits in the nation.

He committed to play for Boston College in 1994, but drug

Fans pile in to the Key Arena in Seattle to watch professional video gamers square off in a Dota 2 tournament. Sports Editor Mike Smith may not understand competitive gaming, but that doesn’t mean that the sport isn’t growing. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

games and more time watching the YouTube videos of Internet celebrities who make millions of dollars by posting their Grand Theft Auto play-throughs online.

Imagine that; people making money by playing a child’s game. It’s a pretty preposterous proposition.

You can keep your eSports,

thank you every much. I think the Knicks are playing tonight.

addiction quickly cut short his career with the Eagles, prompting a transfer to Fresno State where—despite his struggles with prescription pain pills, including a stint in rehab during his junior year—he played well enough to get selected in the second round of the NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets.

Unable to kick his habit to prescription opioids—at his peak Herren said he took 1,600 milligrams of Oxycontin painkillers a day—he lasted just two years in the NBA before playing abroad and getting hooked on heroin.

He would overdose four times, be charged with seven felonies, and contemplated suicide at various times before finally getting clean on Aug. 1, 2008. Three years later, he formed The Herren Project to increase drug awareness education and to provide help and treatment to those hoping to break their addiction. His story was also the subject of an Emmy award-winning ESPN documentary titled “Unguarded,” which aired in 2011.

Herren, who gives motivational talks ranging from prep schools to prisons roughly 250

times a year, told the audience that he believes that his story is not atypical of many addicts.

What started as “harmless” alcohol use in high school, often in homes where adults were present, became a steppingstone to harder and more dangerous substances. Of his 14 high school teammates, Herren said, seven ended up becoming addicted to heroin.

In that vein, he believes that open dialogue between parents and children is an important first step toward combatting future addiction.

“I grew up with the attitude and belief that drinking beers and smoking pot on Friday nights was right, that there was nothing wrong with it,” he said.

“I hung out in basements where parents told us we were safe, and allowed us to drink, as long as we didn’t drive.”

Herren, who said his goal is to impact just one person each time he gives a talk, also proposed that schools across the country take steps toward focusing more class time to address these issues.

“Wellness should be a core class,” he said. “In a lot of schools, kids aren’t having

these classes and these talks until they are 16 or 17.”

Herren’s talk was the first in what the school district hopes will be a path toward an ongoing dialogue in the community about the pressures and challenges facing students today.

On Dec. 5, Dr. Michael Nerney will give a lecture about risk assessment and stress in the adolescent brain. In February, the family of Justin Salamone, a Mahopac teen who died of a heroin overdose in 2012, will share their story, and the speaker series will be rounded out by an appearance by police officer Jermaine Galloway, who will discuss how parents can identify telltale signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teens.

On Monday night, Herren admitted that while there is no surefire way to completely stamp out drug use, lines of communication between parents, teachers, students and law enforcement officers can go a long way toward saving lives.

“Addiction is tricky,” he said. “Nobody knows who is carrying that card in their back pocket.”

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

SPORTS

Tigers edge Garnets ICE HOCKEY

league

MAMARONECK 4 (OT) RYE 3 HOMMOCKS ICE ARENA

12/2/16

Game Notes: • Rye goalie Jack Petrucelli made 25 saves for the Garnets • Will Hynson, Seamus Carrol and Ryan Kirkpatrick all scored for Rye • Prior to the game, Mamaroneck raised its 2016 state champs banner

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Prior to Mamaroneck’s Dec. 2 home-opener against rival Rye, the Tigers celebrated their 2016 New York state title by raising their championship banner in the corner of the Hommocks Ice Arena. However, when the puck finally dropped, the reigning champs got a taste of just how tough life at the top can be, as they fended off a stiff test from the Garnets to come away with

a 4-3 overtime win.

For the Tigers, the game was proof that they should expect every team’s best efforts from here on out, while the Garnets, still searching for their first win of the season, acquitted themselves nicely with a strong showing against one of the state’s top teams.

“I think we have a tendency to raise our game to our competition,” Garnet coach Pete Thomas said. “We had a good practice this week; we came into the game feeling pretty good.”

Rye drew first blood, as goals from Will Hynson and Ryan Kirkpatrick gave the Garnets a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. Mamaroneck owned the next stanza however, getting an early score from Connor LeBlanc and a power-play goal by Jack Dente with less than a minute to go in the second.

Seamus Carrol evened the score at 3-3 with 12 minutes to play, but it would be Dente’s game-winner—with just 1:42 left to go in overtime—that ultimately sealed the win for the Tigers.

“I’m absolutely proud of how

we played, even if the end result is obviously a disappointment,” Thomas said. “You never know how overtime goes, a bounce here a bounce there, but we had ourselves in a position to win.”

With the victory, the Tigers improved to 3-0 on the season, and will look to keep their win streak going as they head up north to take on Shenendehowa and Saratoga this weekend. The Garnets, at 0-2, will tangle with White Plains on Dec. 7, after press time, before taking the ice against two non-section teams at Pelham’s annual winter tournament this weekend.

After a good performance against Mamaroneck, Thomas said he believes his team is ready to turn the corner.

“We might not have [one or two standouts], but we are a very deep team and we just have to figure out our chemistry,” he said. “We want to be challenged early and often, and see some tough competition right off the bat; we just have to approach every game like we approached Mamaroneck.”

Henry Alimanistianu dives for the puck against Rye. Photos/Mike Smith

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com Rye goalie Jack Petrucelli blocks a shot from Mamaroneck’s James Torre. Petrucelli had 25 saves in a losing effort for the Garnets.

Patrick Lee takes a hit from a Rye player at the Hommock’s Ice Arena.

Mamaroneck topped Rye 4-3 in overtime.

Harrison Schreiber battles for control of the puck against Rye on Dec. 2.

INSIDE

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15

Lifestyles of Westchester County/DECEMBER 2016 VOL. 5 NO.9

INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Holiday

GIFT GUIDE 2 Decorate for the year, not just the holidays 2 Shop for the holidays at Lester’s 2 Take care of yourself at Addison Street Spa 2 Fine gifts from Talner’s storefront

16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

GIFT IDEAS

for last-minute shoppers

Avoid theft during the season of giving

Early bird shoppers may purchase and even wrap gifts before December, but eleventh-hour shoppers may need some help come the holiday season. For those last-minute folks, there still are plenty of ways to ensure your shopping list is checked off. The following gifts are quick to purchase and can still make for thoughtful presents.

Liquor or wine basket: Prepackaged spirits often come with decorative glasses and other accoutrements for entertaining. What’s more, they’re convenient to purchase if you’re on a time crunch.

Fueling station gift card: Drivers will appreciate a gift card to their favorite fueling station. Such cards suit anyone who has a car and frequently travels or commutes.

Food basket: A visit to the supermarket or a convenience center can yield many tasty finds that can be packaged together into a gift basket. Pair foods with a gift card to that retailer.

Streaming service: Offer to treat a loved one to a month or two of their favorite streaming television or movie service. If they already have streaming subscriptions, offer to cover the cost of the subscription for a few months.

Premade gifts: Don’t overlook your local pharmacy as a place to find convenient gifts. Look for unique items in the seasonal aisle, where you might be able to find stocking-stuffer toiletries or cosmetic gifts that suit several people on your shopping list.

The holiday season is a special time of year to give thanks and spend time with loved ones.

While the holidays are an inherently happy time, that joyful mood can be marred by the crooks who like to take advantage of people’s generosity, as well as their propensity to pay less attention to their surroundings as they do during less hectic times of year.

Instances of certain crimes, particularly theft and identity theft, increase around the holiday season. Allstate Insurance advises that breakins in residential areas may increase during the holiday season as well. That’s because thieves know that many homes are empty or cars are full of high-priced presents.

To put the focus back on good cheer, delicious food, celebrations and gifting, individuals can heed the following tips to protect themselves and their property this holiday season.

Park in well-lit areas while shopping. Aim for a spot under a street lamp or as close to the front door of the store as possible.

Routinely put packages in the car so they do not become too cumbersome and bog you down. Some thieves prey on people who cannot defend themselves because their hands are full of packages.

Place gifts in the trunk of the car. Make sure they are covered up and out of sight if you do not have a trunk. Take your packages straight home after each shopping trip.

Do not carry excess cash or credit cards you don’t plan to use. Leave the full wallet at

home so it does not fall into the wrong hands or end up being stolen. Keep important credit card numbers in a safe place at home.

Exercise caution around strangers. While you want to be friendly this time of year, this is a time when thieves may use various tactics to distract or disarm potential targets.

Always leave lights on at home and do not forget to lock doors and windows when leaving the house. Empty houses are prime targets for burglars. Always give the impression that someone is home.

Don’t advertise purchases. Keep mum about that big-screen TV or gaming system you purchased. Do not leave packages or boxes lying around outside your home. Instead, discard them only on the morning of garbage pickup.

Keep an inventory of purchases and belongings. This will prove handy if you are a victim of theft and have to file an insurance claim.

Use encrypted shopping sites. Many online retailers employ encrypted websites so customers can securely make purchases. Patronize only these retailers when shopping online.

Be aware of credit card skimmers. Thieves may put skimming devices on ATM machines and credit card machines to steal card information.

If a machine does not look right, do not use it.

Avoid being victimized by crooks this holiday season by prioritizing safety at home and when shopping for gifts.

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 17

Select educational gifts for children When shopping for holiday gifts for children, shoppers can easily be overwhelmed by the many toys, electronics, apparel and other items available for kids. Those who may not be up-to-date on the latest trends may even find shopping for kids a bit like solving a difficult puzzle.

While some shoppers may want to get kids the flashiest toy, others may prefer gifts that are both fun and mentally stimulating. Developmental toys and educational games for kids make for popular gifts. Toy and game manufacturers continue to develop products that integrate logic, reasoning, language stimulation, and motor skill development. Shoppers looking for fun, educational toys and games for the kids on their shopping lists have a host of items to choose from.

Building blocks: Blocks that enable children to design and construct are popular among youngsters of various ages. Blocks come in many different forms, from early education wooden blocks that fill nursery floors to the more intricate, interlocking building sets that are coveted by older children.

STEM toys: Some of the latest trends in children’s toys veer away from regular video games and apps and cater to the rising interest in STEM. STEM is an acronym for science, technology and math. Early introduction to STEM-related skills can pay dividends later in life, considering students who have an emphasis on STEM knowledge are highly coveted among employers. STEM toys

may include robot-building kits, toys that help young learners test the boundaries of physics, apps that help kids learn computer programing, and even scientific experiment kits that illustrate cause and effect.

Sensory toys: Young children can benefit from toys that stimulate the senses. Items to consider include water toys, sands (including the newer kinetic varieties), playdoughs, musical instruments, and bubbles. Even food-related toys, such as those that encourage baking or cooking, will appeal to various senses and can help kids learn valuable skills.

Imaginative play toys: Imaginative play is an effective way to stimulate creative thinking and may help children become better learners. The Creativity Institute, specializing in toys for creative play, says playing is important to children and the way they practice growing up. According to an article by Dr. Scott Kaufman that appeared in Psychology Today, “Systematic research has increasingly demonstrated a series of clear benefits of children’s engagement in pretend games from the ages of about two and one half through ages six or seven.”

Dress-up toys, puppets, dolls, action figures, and toys that mimic real-life activities are all examples of products that promote imaginative play.

Educational toys can be included on holiday gifting lists. Not only will they encourage children to play and have fun, but they’ll serve as building blocks to a lifetime of learning as well.

18 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

Decorate for the year, not just the holidays We all know the hustle and bustle that goes along with the holidays. We shop, plan our menus, and adorn our homes with festive décor, all in anticipation of opening our homes and sharing our traditions with loved ones.

But take a step back and ask yourself, why do we wait until for the holidays to arrive to make our homes a reflection of our best, brightest dreams? Our homes should be where we are truly most comfortable and surrounded by

our favorite things every day of the year. Our homes should be a furnished to mirror our taste and lifestyle. This is easier said than done for many people. One way to bring your yearround style to life is engaging with an interior decorator.

If you’re like most of the clients Decorating Den works with, you want a beautifully custom designed look, but truly don’t know how to make that vision a reality. You might not be

sure of how to put it all together. You may have sentimental items that you do not want to remove. You might fear that if you call a professional decorator, your home will end up featuring that decorator’s taste—not yours. And last, but certainly not least, you might not be even sure you can afford the services of a professional decorator.

Fortunately, a new Decorating Den Interiors has opened in your area to bring design and style to everyone. From design concept to completion, designers can help save you valuable time and money by guiding your decisionmaking process through a myriad of functional and decorative ideas. When they come to your home, you’ll be shown samples of custom window treatments, bedding ensembles, floor covering, wall covering, accessories, lighting, upholstered furniture and case-goods.

Clients enjoy the collaborative design process used by designers from Decorating Den as we work together to fulfill your vision. This process gives homes a unique look, different from what we always see in the big retailers or

neighborhood stores. Designing around how you live in your home can help you make it not just comfortable, but a place you will be proud to show to friends and family not just during the holidays, but 365 days a year.

Decorating Den Interiors serves the Westchester County area, including Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye, Harrison, Bronxville and New Rochelle. For more information, contact owner and interior decorator Marni Sugerman at 829-5100, or visit marni.decoratingden.com.

(Submitted)

technology and online marketing workshops for communities in Westchester in order to help our local businesses thrive. We are also available to provide private consultations for companies looking to succeed online.

This holiday season, give the gift of a 2

hour in-person, one-on-one online marketing & brand strategy session at our office in White Plains for $150 (usually $450) available now through Dec 31st. For more information, contact Jaime Urteaga, the owner of Digital Chair, Inc., at jaime@digitalchair.com.

Buy for your business this holiday season

As another New York winter creeps in with its cold and westwardly breeze, it’s easy for the streets of Westchester to misplace their hustle and bustle of foot traffic and community energy. Worse yet, the allure of local stores and restaurants fall victim to the stay-at-home giants of couch-side shopping, Amazon and Seamless.

The holiday season peaks as the biggest retail-spending season of the year, with more and more business being done online now more than ever. What most local companies don’t realize is that they don’t have to go to the mattresses to leverage some technology to their advantage and “get in the game” so to speak.

It’s nearly 2017 and technology is becoming cheaper and more available than ever. Websites, for better or worse, can be made by anyone with some technological savvy and a few hours at their disposal. Social media accounts can be

used to communicate offers and drive brand reach locally, yet their untapped power is often overlooked and underestimated. By mixing some business and technology know-how, one can change the competitive field around them and leverage certain tools to drive a far-reaching and conversion-centered marketing campaign that helps attract people to you or your business.

For the sake of brevity, I’ll focus on Google, the low-hanging fruit for local businesses. If you look up a local business (food, legal, home, fun), statistically, you’re most likely to look them up on Google’s search engine. Google has a free business listing that takes under an hour of time to set up. All you have to do is fill out a form, verify your business information (they send you a postcard with a code and call you), and then you’re done. From there you can start benefiting from the positive reviews your clients leave you and how they affect the choice of the eager consumer searching for a local service in their town. You can upload pictures that show your products, staff and the service providers.

This simple tool and can distinguish you from your competition when it comes time for a consumer to decide where to spend their money.

Keep in mind, your competitor may be Amazon, or another global internet giant, so a loss of a client could be a loss for the local community.

At Digital Chair, we’re putting together some

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 19

How to find great gifts for the family handyman For those people who don’t know a box cutter from a box saw, shopping for men and women who like to get their hands dirty around the house can be a difficult task. Home improvement projects are complex undertakings that often involve the use of complex tools, and novices may be lost in the proverbial woods as they look for gifts for their loved ones who can’t wait to swing hammers around the house.

Though there’s always an element of risk when shopping for gifts for loved ones, the following hints might help shoppers with no knowledge of home improvement projects find gifts that will please their favorite handyman.

Take inventory of his or her existing tools.

When shopping for the DIY enthusiast in your family, try to take inventory of his or her tool chest before beginning your search. Make note of any tools that look new, checking those off your shopping list, and any that look like they need replacing. Use your phone to photograph any unfamiliar tools that you might want to replace so you know what to look for when visiting the hardware store.

Think of what your relative likes to do most.

The family handyman may have a particular area of home improvement expertise or something he or she is especially passionate about. Does your loved one prefer to work in the garden? Is he into woodworking and making decorative items for

the house? Think of what he or she likes to do most and then look for something that will make that hobby more enjoyable. While multipurpose tools might make for welcome gifts, something more specific to his or her particular passion may make an even better gift.

Think outside the (tool)box. While new tools might make a handyman’s day, they are not the only items that make great DIY gifts. Consider enrolling your loved one in an advanced class so he or she can learn more about a favorite hobby.

Or gift a magazine subscription so he or she can stay abreast of the latest DIY trends and topics.

Such gifts are great options for shoppers hesitant to purchase potentially costly tools that may or may not be hits with their relatives.

Speak with a professional. If you can’t access your loved one’s workshop or simply don’t know what he or she might want, ask a local contractor for gift recommendations. For example, a carpenter might know just what will elicit a smile from woodworking enthusiasts, while landscapers might be able to suggest items for gardening or lawn care enthusiasts. Advancements are always being made in the home improvement industry, and those people who make their living in that industry might be great resources as you try to find the go-to gift for your loved one.

Finding a gift for the family handyman might be difficult for shoppers with no DIY experience

of their own. But a little forethought and perhaps some professional assistance can be just what

shoppers need to find gifts their loved ones will cherish for years to come.

20 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

Shop for the holidays at Lester’s

The holidays are better at Lester’s, where you’ll find the biggest selection of uniquely chic gifts from wow-factor brands that do cool best. Beyond the most wanted clothing and footwear, some of the season’s bestselling musthave items include S’well Bottles, fur slides and other cold weather accessories, stylish tech toys, statement jewelry, fun pillows, whimsical snow tubes, patched up clothing, cozy blanket sacks, sports team logo and player gifts and more.

Every gift, perfectly wrapped and ready for giving. Don’t miss a great selection of grab bag and teachers’ gifts, too—perfectly priced at $30 and under.

Set your sights on sun, sand and Lester’s for the best collection of cruise essentials for your winter getaway. Bold beachwear, breezy coverups, night out styles, gorgeous sandals, and chic totes for women, men, kids and baby.

How to organize office gift exchanges

Happy shopping, happy holidays and happy travels!

Lester’s is located at 18 Rye Ridge Plaza in Rye Brook. For more information, visit lesters.com.

(Submitted)

Close-knit groups of employees commonly exchange gifts with one another come the holiday season. Friendly coworkers enjoy bringing smiles to the faces of their friends and fellow employees, and these informal gift exchanges can benefit company morale and establish a familial atmosphere at the office.

In spite of the good-natured reasons to exchange gifts with coworkers, some people are nervous about the prospect of gifting fellow employees. Questions regarding what makes for an appropriate gift or how much to spend may arise, turning office gift exchanges into potentially puzzling situations.

Those ready to participate in office gifting can follow certain etiquette guidelines to take the anxiety out of office gifting.

Determine if there is an office policy governing gift exchanges. Some businesses may have a specific policy in place that establishes guidelines on what makes acceptable, appropriate gifts for coworkers. The larger the company, the more specific the policy is likely to be.

Consider the overall office climate. Is yours a relaxed working environment, or is it ultraformal? Allow the corporate culture to play a part in your gifting decisions. A gift that may be appropriate for a smaller, casual company may not be fitting for a large, rules-heavy corporation.

Always let common sense prevail.

Establish a spending limit. Spending limits let

everyone know just how much to spend. Resist the urge to go above and beyond. While you may just want to be generous, others may view an expensive gift as a way to show off or an attempt to flatter a coworker oreven a boss.

Think of life outside the office. When shopping, start thinking about what your coworkers like to do when they are not at work. For example, golf enthusiasts may enjoy a box of balls or a gift certificate to play at an area course. Stick to generic gifts if you are unsure of what your coworkers do when they are not working. Personalized holiday mementos, gadgets for entertaining, items that can be used around the office or foodrelated gift baskets make great holiday gifts. Remember to take into account others’ religions and traditions when shopping.

Avoid gifts that are overly personal. Steer clear of giving fragrances or cosmetic products because you do not know what the other person will like. Scented products also may send the wrong message, indicating you think someone needs to cover up with an aroma. Clothing is another gift to avoid, as certain items may be seen as suggestive and you may not be in tune with the recipient’s personal style.

Consider personal or handmade gifts as well. Engraved picture frames, hand-picked gift baskets filled with homemade treats or gift certificates to favorite coffee shops or lunch spots in the vicinity of the office make ideal office gifts.

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 21

How to navigate return policies

The holiday season is rife with merriment and gift-giving. Shoppers flock to stores in an effort to find the ideal gifts for everyone on their lists.

While shoppers hope the presents they select will be well-liked, many know that not every gift will be the perfect fit.

It’s in shoppers’ best interests to familiarize themselves with store return policies to avoid being stuck with unwanted purchases or losing money on exchanges. Knowledge of store policies also is useful information to pass on to gift recipients, so that they will be able to realize the full benefit of their gifts should something need to be replaced.

Shoppers who anticipate a loved one returning their gift would be wise to always include a gift receipt with gifts. Some stores offer only store credit to people who return gifts without receipts, while others may not allow non-receipt returns at all. In addition, some retailers only offer non-receipt refunds that are equivalent to the lowest recent sale price.

Consumers can arm themselves with this information and take a proactive approach to holiday shopping.

Visit the customer service desk and ask for the complete return and exchange policy.

Study the policy to understand how exchanges or

refunds are handled.

Think about purchases before making them, which may cut down on the number of exchanges or returns necessary.

Keep all receipts in a safe place. Opt for emailed receipts whenever possible, as such receipts may be easier to catalog and less likely to go missing.

Ask for gift receipts if you are uncertain if the gift recipient will like the gift or you aren’t sure on sizing or fit. Attach this receipt to a tag so it does not get lost during wrapping.

Visit the return desk during off-peak hours, such as dinnertime or early in the morning, when employees will be less harried and better able to work with you on facilitating exchanges.

Make purchases on store credit cards or other credit cards. Doing so may make the purchases easier to track if the receipt goes missing.

Shop at retailers with notoriously good return policies. Money magazine and GOBankingRates say that Nordstrom; L.L. Bean; Bed, Bath & Beyond; JC Penney; and Costco have the most generous return policies.

Returns and exchanges are a part of holiday giving. Consumers who educate themselves on stores’ return policies can make the holiday season easier for themselves and their loved ones.

22 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016

Take care of yourself at Addison Street Spa

At Addison Street Spa, “It’s about wellness.”

Since 1999, that has been our motto. Our mission is to provide a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Addison Street Spa is a getaway conveniently located in the quaint village of Larchmont in lower Westchester. We are easy to access by personal or public transportation and welcome anyone seeking to look and feel their very best. We offer exceptional therapeutic, energetic and specialized bodywork treatments, including favorites like Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, pregnancy massage and Reiki. We offer personalized facials for all skin types and treatments to address your skin care issues. Our product line, Dermalogica, is highly recognized and provides effective skin care solutions for in-spa services and home care. For the finishing touches, waxing and other beauty enhancement services are available.

Our talented staff of aesthetic and bodywork

professionals has many years of experience and a wide knowledge of therapeutic bodywork techniques and skin care treatments. Awarded “The Best Deep Tissue Massage’” in Westchester in 2015, we are well-known for the amazing hands, caring hearts and skill of our practitioners.

We welcome you to come and experience our cozy space where our friendly service coordinators are excited to recommend the perfect services for your needs and ensure you have an enjoyable experience. Men, women and teens ages 13 and up are sure to find services to please.

It’s the perfect time and the perfect season to share a pampering experience. To make it easy and affordable, we are happy to offer special prices on our highly acclaimed, client-recommended service packages. Gift certificates are now on sale for these service combinations: • Age Smart facial and Trilogy hot stone massage: $260

• Swedish massage and 30-minute foot massage: $140 • Swedish massage and European facial (two hours): $190 • 45-minute massage and 45-minute facial: $160 • Series of six Swedish massages or European facials: $570 Instant gift certificates can be printed from our website at addisonstreetspa.com. You can also

call us at 833-3223, or come and see us at 9 Addison St. in Larchmont.

Don’t forget to pamper yourself in this demanding, high stress time of year. We look forward to serving you this holiday season and continuing to be a part of your wellness journey in the coming new year.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Addison Street Spa! (Submitted)

December 9, 2016 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 23

Last-minute holiday shopping tips

Fine gifts from Talner’s New Rochelle storefront Leonard Italiano would be amazed by the vast and prestigious selection of jewelry, crystal, china and other fine gifts that fill the Main Street store at the corner of Centre Avenue.

Italiano was one of New Rochelle’s premier jewelers, first working door to door and then in an upstairs store on Mechanic Street as early as 1924.

Despite his birth name, Italiano was not of Italian descent; he was one of New Rochelle’s early Jewish shopkeepers. By the time he opened a small Main Street store near Centre Avenue in 1928, he had changed his name to Leonard Talner.

His brother, Joseph, joined the business and took over its management when Leonard died in 1941. Like his brother, Joseph also died in his early 50s, just seven years later. Leonard’s widow and her cousin, Arnold Heaps, ensured the continued operations and high standards of the store. Leonard’s son, Robert, joined the family business after serving in the Korean War. In 1960, he and Heaps purchased the store from the other Talner family members and began expansions. By 1962, they enlarged the store by purchasing the adjacent hat store, dress shop and Fannie Farmer Candies. Seventeen years later, when Robert Talner died, Heaps became the sole owner.

Talner Fine Jewelry and Roadside China

Holiday shopping season typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and extends all the way to Christmas Eve. While that’s a considerable amount of time for shoppers to find gifts for everyone on their shopping list, many people will still find themselves putting holiday shopping off until the last minute.

In certain ways, last-minute holiday shopping is easier than ever. Thanks to online retailers who can ship products overnight, men and women who delay their holiday shopping have more options at their disposal than they did before the arrival of the Internet. And unlike the days of yore when the best deals were largely exclusive to Black Friday, some shoppers find that competition between online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar stores is so great that deals can be found regardless of when they begin shopping. But while waiting until the last minute to begin holiday shopping may not be as risky as it used to be, shoppers may still benefit by sticking to certain strategies so they can find the perfect gifts without breaking the bank.

Stay within your budget. Even last-minute shoppers have holiday shopping budgets. But it can be harder for last-minute shoppers to stick to their budgets because they have less time to comparison shop and hunt for deals. As the holiday shopping season winds down, resist the temptation to go over budget. If a gift you had in mind is available but more than you can spend, look for something else. Overspending on holiday shopping in December is a recipe for debt in January, and no shopper wants to begin the new year weighed down by consumer debt.

Shop local. National chains and big box retailers are renowned for rolling out great deals during the holiday season, but such stores may have very limited or unimpressive inventory left by the time last-minute shoppers begin shopping. Local retailers are often incapable of slashing prices as significantly as their larger competitors, and that may mean they have more extensive inventories available throughout the holiday shopping season. In addition, shoppers who stick with local retailers won’t have to pay shipping costs to ensure items arrive on time.

Shop during off-peak hours. Shopping during off-peak hours can help last-minute shoppers make efficient use of the limited time they have to buy gifts for their loved ones. Visit stores early in the morning or late at night, or schedule a midweek afternoon shopping trip so you aren’t spending what little time you have left waiting on lines or hunting for parking.

Give something less traditional. Holiday gifts need not come from stores. Rather than spending their time shopping for gifts for loved ones who seemingly have it all, last-minute shoppers can give the gift of a donation in their loved one’s name. Last-minute shoppers who want to give something more tangible can create a homemade gift that’s both unique and heartfelt. If your DIY skills are lacking, give a loved one the gift of a night out on the town at your expense.

Shoppers who wait until the end of the holiday shopping season to begin their searches for holiday gifts can still find great gifts without going broke.

draws customers from throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties who want quality merchandise and superior service.

The shop carries a select line of fine jewelry, including many set with diamonds or gemstones, watches and estate jewelry. In addition, Talner is renowned for expert watch and jewelry repairs, serving generations of loyal satisfied customers, even those who have moved away from the region but still return to purchase that special engagement ring or gift. Talner holds a special place in the hearts of many.

Talner also offers the largest selection of tabletops in Westchester County, with a full line of elegant china and beautifully crafted crystal from prestigious companies such as Lalique, Lenox, Baccarat, Waterford, and Herend. It is the place to shop for gifts of distinction and the perfect place for bridal registries. The shop’s distinctive gift boxes are recognized and welcome everywhere.

Over the years, Talner’s gracious and accommodating service, and distinctive and top-quality jewelry has attracted the likes of Tommy Manville, Theresa Brewer, Dennis James, Peter Lind Hayes, and other celebrities who made their home in New Rochelle. Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of the Talner store’s first customers are now buying engagement rings here. (Submitted)

24 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • December 9, 2016