June 16, 2017

RyeCity REVIEW THE

June 16, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 24 | www.ryecityreview.com

City yet to fully revive Human Rights Commission

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

Jonny Parks, a singer-songwriter from White Plains, released “The Portia LP,” a rhythm and blues and soul-inspired album on May 20.

For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Jonnyparks.com

Council makes Crown Castle scoping public affair

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Amidst litigation between the city and telecom contractor Crown Castle, the City Council will prepare to conduct its Environmental Impact Statement, EIS, by holding a public scoping meeting designed to help hone in on a future review of the company’s infrastructure proposal.

The public scoping meeting, which was scheduled for July 12, will help formulate a scoping doctrine, a document that will help guide an environmental review of Crown Castle’s plan to install more than 70 additional wireless locations across the city and marks the next step in a review process under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQR. According to City Attorney

Kristen Wilson, while public scoping meetings are not always held during environmental reviews under SEQR, public interest on the topic—which has been avid—has created the impetus for one.

“Because of public interest, it would only benefit the city to hear input from the public,” she said. “I would rather be criticized for having too much comment than not SCOPING continued on page 8

Despite reviving Rye’s local Human Rights Commission at the beginning of the year, the mayor has been slow to appoint all of the committee’s members.

Since its reintroduction in January, which came in response to a perceived uptick in racially motivated vandalism throughout Westchester County, Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican who suggested reviving the committee, has only appointed two members to serve in the group.

With as many as six individuals having been suggested last month as appointments by Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein, the committee’s chairwoman, the mayor hasn’t publicly stated when he will make the appointments official.

As the mayor, Sack is responsible for approving appointments of all of the city’s committees and commissions.

“I was hoping [the mayor] would make the appointments during the June [City Council] meeting, but he didn’t, and that’s disappointing,” said Tagger-Epstein, a Democrat.

“Some people want to make this political, but I just want to do good for our community and neighbors.”

The next Rye City Council meeting is scheduled for July 12.

Meanwhile, the commission has met, but while the group calls for having nine members, the only other individual serving on it is resident Marion Anderson. “We’re starting from the ground up, and in order to revive the commission I do need a team,” Tagger-Epstein told

the Review, explaining that having only two members has made it difficult to get started on planning the direction of the committee. “People have been committed to supporting us at meetings, but [we] can’t do this alone.”

Sack’s call to reignite the committee earlier this year marked the return to a local commission format and the end of a 13-year hiatus without one in which the city of Rye relied solely on the much broader county-centric commission.

Throughout the past two decades, several Westchester municipalities have weeded out their local local human rights committees in favor of the county’s larger commission.

But with a number of instances of racially charged vandalism springing up throughout the county, including instances of anti-Semitism involving racist graffiti and swastikas being drawn in public places, the call has never been stronger to bring back Rye’s local Human Rights Commission, Tagger-Epstein said.

The issue came to a head earlier this year when graffiti depicting swastikas on the Bronx River Parkway was discovered.

Prior to the revival of the city commission, the committee’s last meeting occurred in 2004. At the time, the commission had nine members and spoke about an abundance of topics relating to diversity, affordable housing, coordination of diversity workshops, and COMMISSION continued on page 9

2 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017

Two local libraries recieve construction grants Sen. George Latimer and Assemblyman Steve Otis are pleased to announce important state construction grant awards for the New Rochelle and Rye City library systems. The grants are part of a $19 million capital fund appropriation for public library construction in the 2016 state budget.

The Rye Free Reading Room has been awarded $31,129 to create a quiet study space in the library, while the New Rochelle Public Library will receive $78,804 to install a new HVAC system in its main library building. New Rochelle was also awarded a $28,804 grant to replace the interior windows of the Huguenot Children’s Library.

Otis is a staunch advocate for our public libraries and has consistently fought to increase library construction funding in the state budget. Otis, who serves on the Assembly Libraries and Education Technology Committee, said, “These grants will help to modernize and enhance our library spaces, making them more efficient, functional and enjoyable for residents. State assistance for these important projects eases the burden on local property taxpayers to make these improvements.”

“For many years, libraries have served as a cornerstone in our com-

munities. From the earliest days to our golden years, libraries provide access, education, and information.

We have a responsibility to our communities -- parents and children as well as the libraries, staff and the dozens of volunteers who support them -- to ensure that the facilities are top notch and best serve all those who utilize them,” Latimer said.

Tom Geoffino, director of the New Rochelle Public Library, said, “Our success in obtaining the grant money for our HVAC improvement project is crucial in allowing our facility to function in a comfortable and successful manner during the hot summer months. The viability of this project is due in large part to the great work of Senator [George] Latimer, Assemblyman [Steve] Otis and all of our wonderful representatives in Albany.”

“The funds from the New York State Construction Grant program allow us to transform our spaces to best suit the needs of our community,” said Rye Free Reading Room Director Chris Shoemaker. “These new quiet study spaces give teens and tutors a place to learn, and provide small business owners places to work and grow. We’re grateful for our legislators’ longtime support of libraries and the construction grant program. We’re excited to connect

the hundreds of students and business owners a month who already depend on the library for space to study with these new rooms.”

Public libraries throughout the state are in urgent need of renovation and upgrading. A recent survey documented public library construction and renovation project needs totaling more than $2.2 billion. More than 51 percent of the more than 1,000 public library buildings in communities across New York are over 60 years old. Another 33 percent are more than three decades old. Many of New York’s local public libraries are unable to accommodate users with disabilities, are energy inefficient, cannot provide computer and internet access to users because of outdated or inadequate electrical wiring, and do not have sufficient space to house the library’s expanding collection or accommodate meeting room needs.

“Libraries provide critical access to information for all residents and help to bridge the digital divide for economically disadvantaged students, job seekers and seniors,” observed Latimer and Otis. “They are the very heart of the civic and cultural life of our local communities. We are pleased to announce these important library construction awards and will continue to push for

The Rye Free Reading Room was awarded a $31,129 construction grant to create a communal study space. Photo courtesy apconst.com

The New Rochelle Public Library was awarded a $78,804 construction grant to install an HVAC system, as well as $28,804 to replace the windows in the Huguenot Children’s Library. File photo

increased library funding as part of the budget process.”

Earlier this year, the Legislature approved $24 million in the

2017-2018 state budget for library construction projects that will be announced in the spring 2018.

(Submitted)

June 16, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3

Dems secure Independence endorsement

Rye Town Park hosts Twist of Fate

“Twist of Fate” will be performing on June 27 as part of the Twilight Community Concert Series at Rye Town Park. Contributed photo

Rye’s Democratic ticket for this year’s upcoming City Council election took a major step in receiving the endorsement of the Independence Party. From left, Sara Goddard, Ben Stacks, Josh Cohn and Julie Souza. Photo courtesy Meg Cameron

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Westchester County Independence Party has endorsed the Rye Democrats slate for City Council.

The Democratic ticket, led by Josh Cohn as its mayoral candidate and Julie Souza, Sara Goddard, and Ben Stacks, got the nod of approval in beating out their Republican counterparts.

Democratic Party Chairwoman Meg Cameron told the Review that, with the endorsement, her party is hoping to have broad support from voters of all political parties in the upcoming election against incumbent Mayor Joe Sack, current Councilman Terry McCartney, and newcomers Elizabeth Parks and Susan Watson. “We are very pleased to have received the Independence Party’s endorsement,” she said.

The backing of the Independence Party has been an indicator of success in recent Rye political races.

The Democrats were previously endorsed by the party in the last election cycle in 2015.

That year, Democratic candidates Emily Hurd, Danielle Tagger-Epstein and Jeffrey Taylor vied for three open seats on the council, ultimately capturing two of the positions. Tagger-Epstein and Hurd prevailed in that election.

“We are once again thankful for the endorsement and the continued support from the Independence Party,” said Tagger-

Epstein, who added that she believes the endorsement will play a crucial role in the upcoming election as it did for her two years earlier. “Our [2017] ticket is strong with clear leadership qualities.”

The party also endorsed three of the Republican Party’s candidates during the 2013 election, championing Sack and Julie Killian and Kirstin Bucci, the latter of which was a newcomer at the time.

McCartney ran for election that year as well, but did not receive the party’s endorsement, which instead went to third party candidate Jason Mehler, who lost his bid for City Council.

According to the county Board of Elections, the city of Rye is home to 465 Independence Party voters, making it the third largest political party. The two major political parties in Rye account for 3,731 registered Democrats and 3,698 Republican voters. However, there are also 2,918 non-affiliated voters in the city.

Rye City Republican Party Chairman Tony Piscionere said he tends to think the Independence Party’s endorsement doesn’t matter, and he hopes he’s right in November. “I think it’s really unfortunate that they got the endorsement,” he said. “With all due respect to the [Democratic] candidates, our candidates beat them in qualifications. I think we have a much stronger ticket.”

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Rye City’s

Official Newspaper Rye Schools

The Twilight Community Concert Series at Rye Town Park continues on June 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a performance by Twist of Fate, a locally-based band.

Led by Adam and Dayna Reist, this five member band is built around the tropical sounds of the steel drums. And they’re about as local as you can get—Dayna Reist teaches second grade at nearby Milton School. But the band’s playlist comes from all over the Reggae, Ska, Jamaican and American Pop music scenes.

Concerts are held at the Rye Town Park South Pavilion, located at 95 Dearborn Ave., looking out over Long Island Sound.

Space in the pavilion will be set aside for dancing, which is highly recommended for

people of all ages.

All concerts will be held rain or shine, except in case of thunderstorms. Picnicking is welcome. Some seating will be available, but people are encouraged to bring blankets or beach chairs. Dining and takeout is available at the nearby Ocean Grille restaurant.

This is the second of seven free concerts that will be held on Tuesdays in June, July and August. Major support for the concert series comes from TD Bank.

Additional support comes from Rye Beach Pharmacy.

For further information phone Rye Town Park at 967-0965 or visit the park’s web site at Townofryeny.com/rye-town-park-andbeach. (Submitted)

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4 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017

What’s going on...

Rye Free Reading Room

Room, Woman’s Club of Rye/Children’s Philanthropy section, and the PTO of the Rye schools.

Pajama Storytime

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

Family Story Time and Craft On Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to noon in the Children’s Room. For ages 3 1/2 and up and their grown-ups. This activity takes place on the first and third Saturday of each month. Children will listen to age-appropriate stories and participate in fun games, rhymes and other activities to develop pre-literacy skills and an interest in books and reading. Felt boards and other props are sometimes used to enhance stories and model future classroom experiences. A fun craft project is designed around the story theme or a seasonal topic. Parents and caregivers are asked to assist younger children using scissors, glue and other art materials.

Teacher-in-the-Library On Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Children’s Room.

Rye teachers offer after-school homework help to students attending local public and private elementary schools in the Rye area.

This is a free program sponsored by the Auxiliary Board of the Rye Free Reading

On Thursday, June 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Children’s Room. For ages 3 and up and their grown-ups. Come in your PJ’s and bring your favorite blankie and teddy bear and join the librarians for stories, songs, and a bedtime snack.

Teen Reading Raffle Starting Friday, June 23, tell the library what you thought about the books that you read. Your book reviews are raffle tickets to win fun prizes. Write as many reviews of different books as you like—including audiobooks and graphic novels. Just drop a review into the raffle box in the Teen Room. Enter all summer long through Saturday, Sept. 9.

Ryebrary S.T.E.A.M.ers On Saturday, June 24 from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room. All Ryebrary S.T.E.A.M.ers in grades one and two are invited to join the librarians once a month in the new “S.T.E.A.M. LAB,” where literacy meets S.T.E.A.M. Each month, participants will read a book together. Then, taking inspiration from the story, kids will be taught how to think with their hands and minds.

It’s inquiry-based learning combined with a hands-on activity.

June’s book is “Hot Diggity Dog: The History of the Hot Dog” by Adrienne

Sylver. The S.T.E.A.M. activity will be making a solar hot dog cooker. Children do not have to pre-read the book. Pre-registration is required online. Visit ryelibray.org, go to “Programs & Events,” “Kids,” the event date, and then “Register.”

Rye S.T.E.A.M. ROLLERS On Saturday, June 24 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room. All Ryebrary S.T.E.A.M. ROLLERS in grades three and four are invited to join the librarians once a month in the new “S.T.E.A.M. LAB,” where literacy meets S.T.E.A.M. Each month, participants will read a book together. Then taking inspiration from the story, kids will be taught how to think with their hands and minds. It’s inquiry-based learning combined with a hands-on activity.

June’s book is “Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave” by Laban Carrick Hill. The S.T.E.A.M. activity will be making something out of clay. Children do not have to pre-read the book. Pre-registration is required online. Visit ryelibray.org, go to “Programs & Events,” “Kids,” the event date, and then “Register.”

Rye Historical Society Hands-on-History Summer Camp Parents looking for something fun, a little different and educational for their children to do this summer will find just the perfect camp experience at the Rye Historical Society’s annual Hands-on-History Summer Camp at the Square House Museum in Rye. Girls and boys ages 7 to 13 can spend three fun-filled weeks experiencing and learning about everyday life in earlier time periods of history.

The 2017 camp schedule runs Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from July 11 to July 28. Week 1 will take campers back to colonial America; Week 2 will be in the Victorian era; and Week 3 will bring them up to the early 20th century.

The cost per child for the full three weeks is $450 for members, and $525 for non-members. Weekly sessions and rates are available and is $150 for members and $175 for non-members. A 10 percent sibling discount is also available.

Campers bring their own lunch and drink; snacks will be provided. To register, call the Rye Historical Society at 967-7588. The society and its Square House Museum are located at 1 Purchase St. in Rye, and are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit ryehistory.org or call 967-7588.

Rye Town Park Season permits The Rye Town Park Commission is encouraging residents to buy season permits and take full advantage of the beautiful park and Oakland Beach. It is offering “high tide” benefits for a “low tide” cost. And, they’ve held the line on prices—no increases for residents.

Beach access is free for all permit holders.

For a family of two adults and all children under age 18 a season permit is only $150.

That’s good from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Individual adult permits are only $110.

Parking for permit holders is deeply discounted, compared to those without permits.

These discounts include the daytime beach season from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends, as well as the pre- and postseason periods.

Senior permits (ages 62+) are $20 and include free parking. Platinum family ($300) permits also include free parking. Parking only permits are $150. Seniors who have passes dated on and before 2010 DO NOT have to renew their passes.

Credit card payments will be accepted for season permits. The park accepts MasterCard, Visa and Discover. They also accept checks or money orders payable to Rye Town Park.

People have two options in paying for their permits: mail the completed forms back, with payment by check or providing credit card information; or bring them to the park permit office, which will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New permit holders will have to provide a proof of residence (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.).

Note: Non-residents can also purchase discounted season permits: $60 for seniors; $250 for singles; and $350 for family rates.

For further information and details, call the park starting 967-0965. More information is available at ryetownpark.org.

Rye Youth Soccer Fall 2017 registration Online registration is open at ryeyouthsoccer.org for fall intramural soccer for boys and girls grades K–5. The season will begin Saturday, Sept. 16 and end Saturday, Nov. 4, with no games on Sept. 30. Complete details on dates and times of the program can be found on the website. Questions? Contact Patti Adimari, registrar, at pattirys@optonline.net or 967-5273. Scholarships are available upon request. Please note: coaches should also register to coach in their online account.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester Dads go free Treat dad to a special day by bringing him to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. In honor of Father’s Day, dads go free with the purchase of a kid’s ticket on Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18.

Dads are encouraged to come and have a great time building LEGO creations together and playing with their children. The offer is valid with advance and walk-up ticket purchases. Purchase tickets online with promotional code 171020.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald St. in Yonkers. Starting at $15.95; children under 2 are free. Hours are Friday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 866243-0770 or visit legolanddiscoverycenter. com/westchester.

Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon.

Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.

June 16, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5

County launches drug abuse response

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Westchester County has launched a new program aimed at integrating the response of several county agencies, local officials and community leaders to the growing drug abuse epidemic.

On June 7, in the Westchester County Center, County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, launched Project WORTHY: Westchester Opioid Response Teams Helping You, which he said was established to combine all of the county’s individual resources to combat a dramatic spike in opioid-related

deaths over the last several years.

Heroin and opioid use has been recognized as a growing and widespread problem across Westchester County, New York state and the country; the rate of deaths caused by opioids in the county has quadrupled since 2010, according to Westchester officials.

County Executive Rob Astorino speaks at the launch of Project WORTHY: Westchester Opioid Response Teams Helping You on June 7 to fight the opioid epidemic. Photo courtesy Westchester County

Several local communities have previously established their own committees and task forces to combat drug abuse in those areas. But, according to Astorino, the goal of Project WORTHY is to transcend municipal and organizational barriers keeping key community leaders from working together to combat drug addiction.

“In Westchester, we are blessed with an abundance of resources,” the county executive said. “But, their effectiveness can be limited if they remain in geographic and bureaucratic silos.”

Project WORTHY is aimed to establish response teams made up of health professionals, law enforcement, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, clergy, business leaders and youth to help those suffering from addiction and to educate communities about prevention, intervention and responses to addiction.

To kick off the initiative, a panel of county commissioners addressed the County Center room full of community leaders, discussing the pervasiveness of opioid addiction and the problems in confronting it.

And they discussed some initiatives the county has already undertaken to address those problems, including training and arming first responders with the opioid-countering drug, naloxone, establishing anonymous drug drop-boxes at local police sta-

tions, and participating in joint federal and local task forces to take down illegal drug rings and doctors who over-prescribe opioids.

Astorino said there are four prongs to Project WORTHY: education, prevention, integration and action. According to Ned McCormack, a spokesman for the administration, those four prongs become two separate rolls for members of the response teams. Community members in teams can be dispersed to give integrated advice, helping communities to confront individual problems. The teams will also be mobilized to give informational seminars and forums, helping communities recognize signs of abuse, and discussing how to talk about and address the issues locally.

About 200 local officials and community leaders attended the program’s kickoff.

“Today was all about bringing everybody together and building the response teams and getting the ball rolling,” McCormack said.

While the program has no clear first action, county officials said getting all of those community leaders together to organize response teams was a necessary first step.

Astorino said, “Opioid addiction can be stopped. We will continue to fight, and Project WORTHY can make us more effective.

CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017

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SUNY Purchase student

releases first LP

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter

Just a few days out of his first semester of senior year, singer-songwriter Jonny Parks released his fourth album, proving you can have the best of both worlds.

Parks, who has been producing music since 2014, said that he’s successfully managed to find a balance between his academic studies and professional career as a musician, even if it means compromising on his sleep schedule.

Parks has one semester left at SUNY Purchase, where he is pursuing a B.A. in literature. He explained that the only thing standing in the way of him and his degree is his senior project, which involves an analysis of the folk music scene in the 1960s.

“I just wanted to pick something musical,” Parks told the Review in an interview this week.

Parks came to SUNY Purchase in 2014 after leaving SUNY Fredonia.

He explained that he chose to attend Purchase because he wanted to be closer to his home in White Plains.

White Plains is where he began working with Rich Fabrizio, an engineer and producer at Frequency Recording. The two have worked together since Parks’ first EP “DrugFall” in 2014. “[Jonny Parks] is one of the best singer-songwriters I work with,” Fabrizio said. Fabrizio explained as they’ve continued to work together, he’s helped convince Parks to get more into production, adding in bass,

Singer-songwriter Jonny Parks performs his soul-inspired music at Silvana in New York City.

“The Portia LP,” released on May 20, is singer-songwriter Jonny Parks’ first LP. Photos courtesy Facebook.com/Jonnyparksmusic

drums and keyboard to his other albums.

“We basically built a band around his songs,” he said.

Through this process, Parks has been able to take genres like rhythm and blues, jazz and soul and turn it into his own unique sound.

He explained that when in the studio, “I have this mindset of, ‘this has to be perfect because it’s on record.’ So I’ll end up re-doing the vocals like 10 times.”

Parks began working on his fourth album in fall 2015, and says that it was influenced by his job at a country club and its wealthy members.

His most recent album

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Singer-songwriter Jonny Parks began work recording “The Portia LP” at Frequency Recording in fall 2015.

Photo/Taylor Brown

features 14 songs originally written, of which he said his favorite track is “Reprise (From Heaven).”

He explained that the creation of this song involved rewriting and reproducing one of his old songs.

Parks has been writing his own music and playing guitar since he was in high school.

He explained that John Mayer was a big influence for him when he first began pursuing music. “[Mayer’s] a brilliant writer, so I just [tried] to emulate him,” Parks said.

Only a few weeks into the release of his latest album, Parks is pleased with the positive reaction

that it has received, especially after the self-doubts he experienced during the year-and-a-half-long creation process.

He said he was worried about the reaction to his album because, “[it’s] not the same as a typical pop singer.”

Parks said that his sound isn’t something you would normally find on a Top 40 chart and that throughout the process of creating his newest album, “I thought, ‘Maybe this is a little too unique.’”

He said he spoke with one of his friends, who helped him realize that his particular style was something he should be proud of.

Parks publishes some of his live performances and music videos on his own YouTube channel.

Accompanying one of the tracks, “Smoke and Mirrors,” off his new album is a music video, which was filmed, directed and edited

by Parks’ long-time friend, Steven Ferri.

Parks and Ferri first met in eighth grade, but only three years ago did the two begin to work together on Parks’ music.

“The way he is with his music, that’s kind of an extension of who he is,” Ferri said.

He explained that the only difficulty they’ve had working together is having time in between school to do it. “[We] don’t like to rush anything,” he said.

For his next album, Parks said that he has some idea of what he wants it to look like.

“Each project [I work on], I want it to sonically sound different,” Parks said.

Parks’ latest album can be found on Spotify, iTunes, Google Music and Tidal.

CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

June 16, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7

Ralph’s Ices closure may be imminent After a year of deliberations over a controversial Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream shop in Mamaroneck, the zoning board may be poised to deny a special permit application, effec-

tively shuttering the business’ doors for good.

“Everybody agrees that there was a problem with Ralph’s,” said Barry Weprin, the local zoning board

chairman. “Everybody also agreed that the changes they were making would make things better. The disagreement is if [the changes] would be enough for Ralph’s to operate.”

Currently, Weprin said, there are three members of the five-member zoning board who are prepared to deny a special permit for the business, meaning the 946 E. Boston Post Road business would lack the necessary approval to continue operations.

The pending denial of a special permit application from Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream, located in nearby Mamaroneck, may shutter the establishment’s doors for good. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Such a denial would follow multiple appeals by residents of that neighborhood that eventually saw the business transition into being processed as a fast food establishment as opposed to its original classification as a retail establishment

by Mamaroneck Building Inspector Dan Gray.

In the event that a special permit application is denied, Weprin said that the business will either be closed immediately or may be given a grace period in which it can phase its operations out.

Alternatively, Weprin added that Scott Rosenberg, the owner of this particular Ralph’s franchise, could sue the village of Mamaroneck, marking the second time he has done so. A previous lawsuit filed by Rosenberg in August 2016 looking to undo restricted hours imposed by the zoning board was thrown out by a judge shortly thereafter.

Although Rosenberg was forced to undergo a site plan review after a zoning appeal was launched in July 2016, according to Weprin, no major work has been done to rectify exacerbated traffic conditions caused by Ralph’s influx of patrons.

Residents in the vicinity of Ralph’s, namely those living on Keeler Avenue, have now long contested the introduction of the popular storefront, citing it as the root of onerous traffic conditions and noise in their neighborhood.

-Reporting by James Pero

8 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017

Ocean Grille offers concert series

SCOPING from page 1

From left, Sal Lagonia, Ken Greene, Mike Latini, Jim Nowak and Tom Durante, members of The Class Action Band. Photo courtesy Loretta Lagonia

The Ocean Grille restaurant at Rye Town Park is presenting a series of lawn concerts at the north end of the park on the hill facing the Long Island Sound.

The Thursday evening concerts will feature performances by regional bands from the tri-state area.

The first concert will be on June 29, featuring the music of The Class Action Band from Yorktown. The concert will start at 6:30 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. Additional concert dates and performers will be presented when they are arranged.

The band performs covers of 1970s and 1980s musicians such as Chicago, Huey Lewis and the News, the Eagles and more.

“We try to play things that every other band doesn’t play, so we have songs in our set list that are different,” says Gary Cusano, co-founder of The Class Action Band. “It’s songs you know, but songs that are uncommon for a rock and roll cover band.”

For example, the band performs “Miami

2017,” a lesser-known song by Billy Joel.

The song is certainly not exclusive to band’s set list, but the band puts a twist on it that many bands certainly don’t.

Admission is free, and food and beverages will be on sale at the snack bar by the north beach entrance. Restrooms are located there as well.

Regular parking rates will apply. People living near the park are encouraged to walk.

People must provide their own seating, either lawn chairs or blankets. Flashlights and insect repellant are also recommended.

The concert location can be reached by walking north on the beach path from Ocean Grille.

In case of rain, the concert will be cancelled. The call as to whether a concert is cancelled will be made by 3 p.m. the day of the concert.

For more information, contact the Ocean Grille at 921-6104, or Rye Town Park at 9670965. (Submitted)

As litigation between the city and telecom contractor Crown Castle’s drags on, the public will have a chance to help set the parameters of an upcoming environmental review. File photo

enough.”

Josh Cohn, the Democratic candidate running for mayor this year, called the decision to make the scoping process public a necessity.

“I think that it’s obligatory given the level of public concern there’s been over Crown Castle,” he said, mentioning that he believes the meeting should be held in September, when less Rye residents are away on vacation.

Public input on Crown Castle’s proposal—which is being extended at the behest of Verizon Wireless in an attempt to increase wireless capacity in Rye—has been unparalleled throughout the last year, prompting long public meetings and debate between councilmembers and the public.

Last month, after the City Council denied Crown Castle’s application, citing concerns over the noise and aesthetic impact on Rye’s neighborhoods, the company sued the city in federal court, marking the beginning of a legal battle between the two that will ultimately decide the fate of Crown Castle’s application.

According to Wilson, after the city moved to dismiss a complaint filed by Crown Castle, claiming that Verizon Wireless—who was not named as a party in the suit—should be added, and that the lawsuit should be moved to state courts, the company refused

to amend its complaint and is now opposing the motion.

Concurrently, Crown Castle is continuing to pursue a preliminary injunction that would prevent the city from terminating a 2011 agreement between the two parties that dictates when, where, and how the company can modify its infrastructure. Wilson said that all of the papers will be submitted on both the preliminary injunction and the complaint

by June 23.

While the litigation between the two parties is decided in the courts, the city will also push forward on an initiative to update their city code governing telecommunications law in hopes that the revamp will help give the City Council greater control over Crown Castle’s application and others like it in the future.

Specifically, the revamp will hone in on Chapter 196 of the city code and will focus primarily on how additional wireless infrastructure may affect neighborhood aesthetics.

Wilson said June 23 will be the earliest possible date at which a federal judge can make a decision on the next steps for litigation.

Councilman Terry McCartney, a Republican, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

June 16, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9

Rosenblum snags Ind. line in county race

COMMISSION from page 1

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

After suggesting reviving the city Human Rights Commission this year in response to a number racially charged vandalism throughout Westchester County, Mayor Joe Sack still hasn’t appointed all of the committee’s proposed members. File photo

television programming focused on racism in comedy.

After its revival, the local commission most recently played a role in helping draft a proposal submitted by Tagger-Epstein to establish a policy on immigration for the Rye Police Department. Although it was tabled by the City Council in May, Public Safety Commissioner Michael Corcoran is expected to release a new immigration plan for the department in July incorporating

facets of Tagger-Epstein’s tabled proposal.

City Manager Marcus Serrano said he isn’t aware if there is a timeline for when the appointments to the Human Rights Commission will be made official. He added that it would be “entirely the mayor’s call.”

Sack and Councilwoman Julie Killian, both Republicans, could not be reached for comment, as of press time.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Coby is the kind of dog you can’t help but fall in love with when you meet him. He is a Lab mix, about a year old and weighs 36 pounds. He is very sweet, friendly and loves playing with other dogs.

Coby is neutered, vaccinated, dewormed and microchipped. Make him part of your family for an adoption donation of $300. To meet Coby, call Pet Rescue in Harrison at 834-6955 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

With the formal backing of the Independence Party, village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum received his first major boon toward defeating incumbent county Legislator Catherine Parker in an upcoming race for the Westchester’s District 7.

“It’s very satisfying to get an endorsement by any group,” said Rosenblum, a Republican. “My entire experience [as] an elected official has always been guided by public service versus politics.”

This will mark the fourth time that Rosenblum, a four-term mayor, secured the Independence Party’s endorsement in his political career, and a reversal from a previous county race that saw the party endorse Parker, a Rye Democrat, over her Republican challenger Susan Watson, of Rye. No Republican candidate in any of the county’s legislative districts received an Independence Party endorsement in 2015.

Westchester’s Independence Party boasts the third largest number of registered voters of any political party in the county, making up about 4 percent of the total number of voters with 21,555 total.

This year’s bid for county legislator will be Rosenblum’s first run for higher office and likely his toughest challenge yet.

Parker, a two-term incumbent, dealt readily with Watson in 2015, successfully raking in more than 59 percent of the vote.

“I have spoken with many people who are members

Candidate for Westchester County Legislator Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, has locked up the Independence Party endorsement, marking the first major boon for his campaign to overtake incumbent Catherine Parker, a Democrat from Rye. File photo

of the Independence Party, and as true independents, they feel no party insider can speak for them, and that they will continue to support me,” Parker said. “At the end of the day, the individual votes cast are what ultimately stand for endorsement. I am grateful to those that can see that this is just inside baseball.”

So far, in the early stages of either side of the campaign for Westchester’s 7th District, language has been soft even despite heightened partisan tensions on a state and national level.

“I’m running for office and not against anybody in particular,” Rosenblum said.

Westchester County’s 7th District encompasses the city of Rye, the town and village of Mamaroneck, the village of Larchmont, and portions of the city of New Rochelle and the town/village of Harrison.

County legislators are elected to serve two-year terms with an annual compensation of $49,200.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017

Sponsored by

The Review, in collaboration with ArtsWestchester, offers a rundown of art-related events throughout Westchester County. You can find our Arts in the Area page each month.

their costumes and theatrical backgrounds recapture the energy and style of the legendary band. White Plains Performing Arts Center will present a performance by Almost Queen on Friday, June 23. All proceeds from the band’s concert merchandise are donated to Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity that was founded by Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor, and manager Jim Beach, in memory of Mercury, who died from AIDS in 1991. Almost Queen bassist Randy Gregg, who plays the role of John Deacon, told ArtsNews that guests can expect to hear “the big hits,” with which the band enjoys seeing fans “ranging from 8 to 80 years old” sing along.

Speaking about his admiration of Queen, he added: “They paved the road and we’re just walking on it.” For more information, visit wppac.com.

-Mary Alice Franklin

SNDF’s Parkinson’s dance program takes place every Monday year-round (this session ends on June 18 and will resume on Aug. 21).

According to Judith Ross, community relations director at SNDF, the classes serve a special need in the community and also fulfill SNDF’s mission to bring dance to everyone. Additional special needs classes include “Moving Wheels and Heels Dance Intensive,” a one-week dance experience for students with and without disabilities (June 19 to June 24).

Both Parkinson’s programs integrate movement from modern, ballet, tap, folk and choreographic repertory and include an array of music. Megan Williams, choreographer and dance instructor at RAC, explains that the art of dancing inspires a transformation in participants and frees them from their daily routine: “When patients step into the dance room, they are no longer a person with Parkinson’s. They become beginner dancers on a fun artistic pursuit.” Both classes welcome walk-ins. For more information, visit ryeartscenter.org and steffinossen.org.

-Rocio De La Roca

A bird’s-eye view at Bullseye Glass

Bill Burr performs at The Capitol Theatre Comedian Bill Burr will take the stage at The Capitol Theater with a set of three 18-and-over shows from Thursday, June 29 through Saturday, July 1. Burr is known for his direct comedy style that offers a cynical take on common experiences within our culture—whether he is complaining about his GPS device or about notions of religion. Often sparing no feelings, his anecdotal humor is cutting and honest, putting political correctness on the back-burner for the sake of his art. Named one of Rolling Stone’s 50 best stand-up comics of all time, Burr has had numerous stand-up specials on Comedy Central and Netflix, as well as his television roles on “Chappelle’s Show,” “Breaking Bad” and his animated Netflix series, “F is for Family.”

His popular off-the-cuff, twice-weekly comedy podcast, “Monday Morning Podcast,” spurred “All Things Comedy,” a distribution network founded by Burr and fellow comedian Al Madrigal, which is owned and operated entirely by comedians. For more information, visit thecapitoltheatre.com.

-Mary Alice Franklin

Queen, recreated in Westchester

Diehard Queen fans want to relive the band’s live concerts. New Queen fans who never got the chance to see them perform want to experience what it was like to see iconic singer Freddie Mercury command the stage. For all of the above, cover band Almost Queen is as close to the real thing as one can get. The four-piece band has a sound that is reminiscent of Queen’s harmonies, while

Local art orgs bring dance to Parkinson’s patients This June, the Rye Arts Center, RAC, and Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation, SNDF, each offer specialized dance classes in a creative group setting for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The programs are both based on The Mark Morris Dance Company’s internationally acclaimed Dance for PD program and are led by professionally trained dancers whose knowledge about movement benefits their participants. Parkinson’s causes the death of nerve cells in the brain that release dopamine, a chemical which facilitates movement in the body. Although dance is not a cure for the disease, according to the Dance for PD program’s resources, it does help patients to build a stronger connection to movement and also instills confidence.

RAC, which launched its Dance for Parkinson’s program in 2011, offers free classes on Wednesdays and Fridays year-round (except August). Noah Opitz, director of Development at RAC, has noticed that the classes create a sense of community for the participants. “Depression is common among PD patients, and programs like these provide them with a support group,” Opitz explains.

The work of Montana glass artist Richard Parrish is on display in a solo exhibition that has traveled to Bullseye Glass Resource Center in Mamaroneck from the Rockwell Museum in Corning, New York. “Aerial Perspectives” draws from Parrish’s experiences as an architect, bringing shapes, patterns and vibrant washes of color to his landscape-based kiln-formed works. By mapping out fields, rivers and crop irrigation patterns, these pieces provide viewers with a look at the natural world from an aerial viewpoint.

Kirsty Buchanan, curator of Collections at The Rockwell Museum, explains that “by manipulating the expected vantage point, Parrish controls our engagement with the subject matter and causes us to view the shifting topography of America from a different perspective.” The installations investigate this interaction, between the natural environment and human beings’ shifting involvement and imposition within that landscape. “Aerial Perspectives” is on view through Saturday, July 1. For more information, visit bullseyegallery.com.

-Mary Alice Franklin

‘Burgers, Beers and B-flat Minor’ on Father’s Day

On Sunday, June 18, Westchester Philharmonic presents a full day Father’s Day

celebration: “Burgers, Beer and B-flat Minor.” This season finale places guest pianist Conrad Tao on stage with New York City Ballet’s Music Director, conductor Andrew Litton. The program will include Weber’s “Overture to Euryanthe” before Tao joins in Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” and Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.”

Following the concert, the Philharmonic invites audiences to join Litton, Tao and members of the orchestra at a barbecue, complete with cold beer and live bluegrass music. Music lovers can start their day by attending an open, free-of-charge rehearsal at 11 a.m. They can also add to their musical experience with a pre-concert discussion between Litton and Tao with the Philharmonic’s artistic and executive director Joshua Worby one hour before the performance, at 2 p.m. The concert will take place at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College. For more information, visit westchesterphil.org.

-Mary Alice Franklin

PAC launches free arts access program

Pelham Art Center, PAC, has announced a public art program in conjunction with the grand opening of the newly renovated Wolf Lane Park in Pelham. This “Public Art in the Park” program aims to promote free arts access for the public. The inaugural exhibition in the sculpture garden area of the park is Anki King’s “Human Nature,” which will be on view at both the park and PAC’s courtyard through Saturday, Sept. 2. The Norwegian artist creates sculptural figures, composed of rebar, wood and natural materials, which explore the human connection to the natural world. “‘Human Nature’ speaks to humanity’s dependency on nature and the tension effected, as humanity… is at the same time capable of destroying [nature]—and thereby itself,” King said. For more information, visit pelhamartcenter.org.

-Mary Alice Franklin

Group tours available in ArtsWestchester’s gallery

ArtsWestchester encourages groups, schools and organizations to book a private group tour of its current “From the Streets” exhibition. The show explores the evolution of graffiti and street artists, from vandals to cultural trendsetters. For more about the exhibition, visit artsw.org/fromthestreets. Docent-led tours are available by appointment on Tuesdays through Saturdays in ArtsWestchester’s gallery until Saturday, July 15. To schedule this art experience, contact Kim McKoy at 428-4220 or kmckoy@artswestchester.org.

These articles appear in the June 2017 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy of the full issue is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.

June 16, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11

Moonshade and other summer surprises

On Aug. 21, the first total solar eclipse visible only in the U.S. since 1776 will take place. It will also be the first total solar eclipse to sweep across the entire continental U.S. in 99 years. The U.S. Postal Service will release a stamp, pictured above, to celebrate, made with thermochromic ink, which changes color with heat and light. Photo courtesy Richard Ilse

By RICHARD ILSE Contributor Got a minute? How about 1,440 of them?

May seem like a lot, but when you add them all up they equal a single day. This summer, there is a day that may have you questioning time itself. Imagine waking up in your backyard, or on the beach from a midday nap and it looks kind of dark out. You check the time; it’s midafternoon, and then you look to the sky. The sun is there, but yet it’s not! What on earth is happening?

Welcome to the first total solar eclipse visible only in the U.S. since our nation’s founding in 1776. It will also be the first total solar eclipse to sweep across the entire continental U.S. in 99 years, according to NASA. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets in the way of the sun, turning day into an eerie twilight.

The day is Monday, Aug. 21, and even the U.S. Postal Service is celebrating it by releasing a “Total Solar Eclipse” forever stamp on the summer solstice in June and it will have a high tech twist to it that’s never been done. It will use thermochromic ink, which changes color with heat and light. Use your finger and rub the eclipse image and it will reveal an underlying image of the moon.

Remove your finger and the image reverts back to the eclipse once it cools. The back of the stamp will also provide a map of the eclipse path so it will tell you exactly how close you are to it. Best thing we’ve done to

the moon since we went there!

As for other celestial celebrations this summer, our nighttime skies will offer up two distinct meteor showers. The first is called Alpha Capricornids and occurs from mid-July through early August, with the best night being on Saturday, July 29. Although only producing a few per hour, what’s best about this shower is the bright fireballs it produces. Then there is the Perseids meteor shower in August, peaking around Saturday, Aug. 12 with a rate of 50 to 75 per hour. The Perseids are particles released from comet Swift-Turtle during its numerous returns to the inner solar system.

Turning from space to time, this summer sets up as an average summer length wise in terms of how many days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The Fourth of July however comes on a Tuesday, so if you do not already have it, put in for Monday off.

There are also other notable holidays you can put in for time off. I kid you not, you can look these up. Next is Sunglasses Day on Tuesday, June 27. In July, the third is Disobedience Day (use that to call in sick on that Monday if needed). July 5 is National Bikini Day, and then Relaxation Day is on the 15th. Then there is the most absurd one, Take Your Pants for a Walk Day on the 27th; now there’s an exercise in futility. In August, another good day to take off is Just Because Day on the 27th.

So enjoy your summer, and remember on Aug. 21 you can wake to the sun twice.

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12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017

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A petition having been duly filed by Melody James- Parton, who is domiciled at 400 West 43rd St. Apt. 13-R, New York, NY 10036.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Westchester County, at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, 18th Fl. White Plains, New York, on August 16 2017, at 9:30 A.M. o’clock in the fore noon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of James Arden, a.k.a James Malchor Arden a.k.a Jim Arden lately domiciled at 1 Landmark Square, Unit 317, Port Chester, New York 10573. admitting to probate a Will dated June 22, 2016, as the Will of James Arden, deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that Letters Testamentary issue to: Melody James-Parton Dated, Attested and Sealed HON. Brandon R. Sall June 6, 2017 Surrogate

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June 16, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13

SPORTS

14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017

Let the mystery be LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

I don’t want to launch into another “get off my lawn”-type old fogey complaint about baseball stats here, but I feel like my hand is being forced. Now, I’ve made my peace with a lot of the new-fangled metrics like Ultimate Zone Rating and Win-Shares. Those stats, while not necessarily my cup of tea, at least serve a purpose in the game; they help front-office types evaluate players using advanced metrics to measure performance.

So while I might not be running to my Baseball Encyclopedia to measure Rod Carew’s all-time Batting Average on Balls in Play numbers against Tony Gwynn’s, I’ll allow that it has a place in today’s game.

But sometimes, I think numbers take away from the reasons we love the game.

For me, baseball has always been as much about the numbers (755 home runs, 2,632 consecutive games played or 5,714 strikeouts) as it has been about the mythology

surrounding those marks.

On Sunday afternoon, Yankee rookie Aaron Judge—a colossal human being even compared to most NFL stars—hit an absolute bomb at Yankee Stadium. I know it was a bomb because I saw it come off his bat, clear the left-centerfield wall, and hit a fan in the walkway beyond the outfield bleachers.

Right away, watching that game on TV, I was convinced it was the hardest hit ball I had ever seen. I didn’t need numbers to tell me what my eyes had already seen.

But of course, the numbers were coming.

Judge’s ball traveled 496-feet— the furthest homer, the MLB claimed, since they starting tracking those stats in 2009. Further, the ball left the bat at a 28-degree launch angle with an exit speed of 119 miles per hour and reached an apex of 125 feet above the field’s surface.

And I was told there would be no math on this exam.

These numbers aren’t even all that illuminating in the first place.

Stats like these are so new, there’s no real historical context in which to place them. But my biggest prob-

lem with the whole numbers game is that it’s going to change the way we talk about baseball.

Just look at the way that people talked about ballplayers in the old days.

Cool Papa Bell was so fast that he could “turn off the lights and hop into bed before the room got dark.” Walter Johnson threw the ball so hard that Ty Cobb once said it “looked about the size of a watermelon seed and it hissed at you as it passed.”

Mickey Mantle, who once reportedly hit a ball 563 feet at Tiger Stadium—obviously before the Statcast era—once inspired a sportswriter to say, “There is no sound in baseball akin to the sound of Mantle hitting a home run, the crunchy sound of an axe biting into a tree, yet magnified a hundred times in the vast, cavernous echo-making hollows of a ball field.”

As purple as the prose may have been, the poeticism that players from an older generation elicited from fans is one of the main reasons that baseball held such an important place in our nation’s dialogue for so long.

Sports Editor Mike Smith was certainly wowed by Yankee slugger Aaron Judge’s 496-foot home run on Sunday. But sometimes, he’d like to watch a game without being bombarded by numbers. Photo/Mike Smith

Obviously, that was always going to change. We no longer get our information about the game’s top players from newspaper stories— we get to watch them every night if we so choose. But even if we don’t regard their feats with the same mythical reverence that was a part

of sports fandom, I still don’t understand the rush to quantify everything we see on a ball field today.

Sometimes, a little bit of mystery is a good thing.

Follow Mike Smith on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A

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

SPORTS

Carver to head Hudson Valley team

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor

On June 6, Mamaroneck head coach Tyrone Carver was picked to head the Hudson Valley team in the BCANY Summer Hoops Festival, which will take place later this summer. Carver previously served as an assistant in the tournament under former coach Bill Thom.

Four months after guiding his squad to a near first-round upset over eventual Section I runner-up Scarsdale, Mamaroneck basketball coach Tyrone Carver has a new gig—at least for the summer.

On June 6, it was announced that Carver, who just finished his 12th year at the helm of the Tiger program, would be in charge of some of the area’s brightest stars, as he would take over head coaching duties of the Hudson Valley team in the upcoming Basketball Coaches Association of New York Summer Hoops Festival Tournament that will take place in August.

Former Croton-Harmon coach Bill Thom, who previously ran the Hudson Valley team, was ineligible to resume his duties this year due

to his involvement as an assistant coach on the collegiate level at Birmingham-Southern, a Division III school in Alabama.

But Carver’s past participation in the tournament and his prominence on the local basketball scene made him a natural fit.

“They needed a replacement and I had previous experience of being on Coach Thom’s staff a couple of years ago,” Carver said.

“It’s an honor for some of your colleagues to think that you can handle a position of this stature, and I want to thank [Lower Hudson Basketball Coaches Association] President Anthony Nicodemo for thinking that I was capable of this.”

With the Summer

June 16, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15

Hoops Festival set to kick off in Johnson City on Aug. 4, Carver won’t have much time to ease into the position. The first of four tryouts for the Hudson Valley team will commence on June 8, after press time, at Hendrick Hudson High School.

The team will eventually be made up of some of the top public and private school players from the immediate area. Carver said that he and his staff, which includes current Fox Lane head coach Mike Tomassi and Hen Hud JV coach Steve Purcigliotti, will be looking for those who possess the skills to match up with some of the state’s

Tyrone Carver prowls the sideline during a February playoff game against Scarsdale.

Tyrone Carver draws up a play for his Tiger team during the 2016-2017 season. Contributed photos

standout ballers but will also relish the opportunity of playing for the Hudson Valley.

“We are obviously looking for talented players,” Carver said. “But we’re also looking for guys who this is going to mean something to; guys who will take pride in this process and play together and go for a gold.”

The Hudson Valley’s last gold medal at the games came in 2014, but Carver maintains that, more often than not, the process can be just as fulfilling as the final result.

“I think it’s a fun experience for some of our players to play with their friends who they may compete against, but don’t get to play with,” he said. “To come together, to play for the Hudson Valley, I think it means something to be a part of that.”

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 16, 2017